Electric utilities are in peril, according to Wade Null, the new senior instructor for CZAR Inc. Change has brought new challenges to maintenance philosophies, and Null will present what has changed, what will change and what needs to change in maintaining circuit breakers in “A Guide to the Relative Importance of High-Voltage Circuit Breaker Tests,” session on Thursday, Oct. 4, at Finepoint’s 2007 Circuit Breaker Test & Maintenance Training Conference.

Null is definitely qualified to present such a topic after more than 40 years in the industry. He began his career in 1966 with Pacific Gas & Electric Co. He actually retired from PG&E where he was everything from journeyman electrician to substation support specialist.

“As a substation technical support specialist, I received numerous calls to resolve problems with equipment in the field,” Null said. “This exposure provided opportunities to work with manufacturers in the design and application of their equipment, identifying problems and issues in design, workmanship, and material improvements.”

At Czar, he now provides training to utility personnel in substation maintenance procedures; diagnostic testing; developing substation maintenance programs and procedures; transformer diagnostics; load tap changers diagnostics and maintenance, lubrication and mechanism service.

“I enjoy training utility personnel,” Null said. “It is a richly rewarding experience and allows me to share the information I have gathered over the years with others in the utility industry.”

In his session, Null will cover what methods of testing can be performed on a circuit breaker that is in service and is difficult to remove from service. He will also show what types of diagnostic tools are available in today’s market and why the “first trip” or “first operation” is so critical to diagnosing a problem.
He will ask and answer the questions of what do manufacturers provide, do not provide, and what more can manufacturers do to help the utility? Can we expect more from the manufacturer?

Attendees will learn what “Tribology” is and why it is critical to the operation of a circuit breaker.

Guide to the Relative Importance of High-Voltage Circuit Breaker Tests; Thursday, Oct. 4