On 07/15/2024 MES territory manager, Mike Peters, was excited to be on hand for the testing and installation of Central Power’s (Minot, ND) first G&W Electric Company 72.5KV Viper-HV recloser. G&W field service technician, Christopher Humphrey, performed the successful hi-pot testing for each phase early in the morning. The modules then made their 2-hour journey to CP’s Bowdon substation and the installation was completed by 7PM. The next day they connected the control cables to the modules and to the G&W /SEL 651R recloser control package. A successful test of their SCADA system communications was performed, and on the morning of the 16th it was energized and load applied!
They received their second Viper-HV in early October and recently completed the installation outside of their Pingree substation.
They are using the Viper HV as an inline breaker. It was determined that the relaying at the substation would have a tough time seeing end of line faults. With limited fault current at the end of the transmission line, they determined a mid-line breaker would help in trip times as well as sectionalizing.
