Electronic switches are in growing demand in industrial plants.

Operations, instrumentation, and maintenance personnel are attracted to how electronic switches combine the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of a mechanical switch with the comparative intelligence of a transmitter. Three types of efficiencies can be identified from this:

1. Cost efficiency
Equipment manufacturers (e.g., skid builders) that use mechanical instrumentation are often looking for ways to deliver better value for end-users (e.g., plant operators) while maintaining or improving their profit margins.

One way to deliver that improved value affordably is to replace mechanical instrumentation with electronic switch technology. 2 wire electronic switches like the United Electric Controls’ Excela eliminate the need for the equipment designers to add new conduit wiring or infrastructure on their skids, saving design and material costs. They achieve the best incremental benefit per unit cost compared to transmitters.

2. Maintenance efficiency
Field research has shown that it takes an average of up to 12 hours a year to maintain a mechanical switch in a plant. Conversely, it takes 30 minutes a year to maintain an electronic switch, which can also be programmed onsite, reducing maintenance time by up to 20 times. The electronic option offers better reliability and accuracy, reducing device maintenance downtime significantly and improving maintenance efficiency.

3. Operational efficiency
Electronic switches come with features that help the operator improve efficiency. For instance, UE’s Excela comes with a trip filter function that helps to dampen the switch response and prevent any intermittent false trips on the equipment. This helps improve equipment uptime and overall operational efficiency.

Electronic switches can help operations, maintenance, and instrumentation personnel creates new efficiencies for their plant and equipment, achieving the best performance upgrade per unit cost.

About the Author: Julian Yeo, Strategic Marketing Manager.

Julian Yeo is a Strategic Marketing Manager for United Electric Controls and is responsible for international marketing and business development. Prior to this, he was product manager for UE’s gas detection and electromechanical switch product lines. Julian has been with UE for 7 years.

Email: jyeo@ueonline.com