Wylex isolators

RF Lighting · 24 Aug 2014

Any one been having issues with these 4 pole isolators?

I've had two of them on different sites fail with one of the phases open circuit within the last month. One of them was less than three years old.

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RF Lighting
24 Aug 2014
1

JohnW2 · 24 Aug 2014

RF Lighting said:
I've had two of them on different sites fail with one of the phases open circuit within the last month. One of them was less than three years old.

Strange. Were the two that failed operated very often?

Did they fail after they had been manually opened (i.e. failed to re-close when 'told to'), or did they just spontaneously 'go open circuit' whilst they were closed (which would seem a very strange thing to happen)?

Kind Regards, John

RF Lighting · 24 Aug 2014

I don't think either of them were ever normally touched. The one in the picture supplied a car ramp in a farmers workshop. It was rarely live as it was generator fed, and very lightly loaded.

JohnW2 · 24 Aug 2014

RF Lighting said:
I don't think either of them were ever normally touched. The one in the picture supplied a car ramp in a farmers workshop. It was rarely live as it was generator fed, and very lightly loaded.

How odd. I presume it showed no signs of having been traumatised?

Kind Regards, John

garlicbread · 24 Aug 2014

I have had 2 of these become faulty after installing them with a few months. One was exactly the same problem as you, where a phase was not isolating through the switch and gave a continuity reading through the switch in both on/off positions.
The other fault was if the switch was latched all the way to the on position it didnt work. If you pulled the switch down a couple of mm it turned on. Pretty strange fualt and deffinetley a manufacturing fault. Replaced both and havent had any problems since.

RF Lighting · 24 Aug 2014

Both switches were in good physical condition. I stripped down the one in the picture and all the contacts looked clean and in good condition.

I've been installing these isolators all my career with no issue, but to me it's just another sign that wylex have lost the plot. I certainly won't be installing any more of there products.

JohnW2 · 25 Aug 2014

RF Lighting said:
Both switches were in good physical condition. I stripped down the one in the picture and all the contacts looked clean and in good condition.

Did your autopsy give you any answer as to how/why one of the poles got 'stuck' in the open state? Weak spring?

Kind Regards, John

ricicle · 25 Aug 2014

That's the 921E isnt it Rob?
Never known one fail, but not sure of their work load.

Has it been used to switch heavy loads online?

RF Lighting · 26 Aug 2014

No it was just supplying a hydraulic car ramp and would never have done on load switching. I've been using them for years but the two recent failures is a bit of a worry for me.

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Wylex isolators

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