Information Notice No. 88-46: Licensee Report of Defective Refurbished Circuit Breakers
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
July 8, 1988
Information Notice No. 88-46: LICENSEE REPORT OF DEFECTIVE REFURBISHED
CIRCUIT BREAKERS
Addressees:
All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power
reactors.
Purpose:
This information notice is being provided to alert addressees of licensee
reported information that defective refurbished electrical equipment, such
as circuit breakers (CBs), may have been supplied to nuclear power plants.
It is expected that recipients will review this information for applicability
to their facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar
problems. However, suggestions contained in this information notice do not
constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response
is required.
Description of Circumstances:
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has informed NRC that it placed a
purchase order for 30 new, non-safety-related, molded-case, KHL 36125-type
CBs manufactured by the Square D Company (Square D) with a local electrical
distributor. These CBs were intended for use in non-safety-related applica-
tions at PG&E's Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant.
According to PG&E, the distributor in turn placed the order with a local sup-
plier who bid the lowest price and promised the quickest delivery. The CBs
were delivered directly to the Diablo Canyon plant by the supplier; the dis-
tributor did not have an opportunity to inspect the CBs. Square D, aware of
the purchase order, questioned its failure to receive an order for the unique
vintage KHL 36125-type CBs. With PG&E's permission, Square D inspected the
CBs and determined that PG&E had been given refurbished, rather than new, CBs.
Square D tested and performed detailed examinations of the CBs, and the
results reported by PG&E follow.
A. Physical Examination
The yellow side labels used on the CBs were suspect in that the CB model
numbers were typed on the labels whereas authentic labels are preprinted.
The CBs departed from normal appearance in other respects as well.
8807080006
. IN 88-46
July 8, 1988
Page 2 of 3
The individual CB cases and each of the CB components appeared to be
Square D products; however, the individual CBs incorporated components
of different years of manufacture. Each CB bore evidence of having been
opened and reassembled.
B. Electric Testing
Square D subjected the CBs to five electrical tests. None of the CBs
complied with Square D or Underwriters' Laboratory (UL) specifications
for all of the tests, and several of the CBs were out of tolerance on
each of the tests. At least four of the CBs failed to trip under circum-
stances in which they are designed to trip.
Discussion:
In the past, there have been instances in which licensees purchased commercial-
grade components, such as CBs, relays, trip units, and other electrical compo-
nents, from electrical distributors and have received components that did not
meet the original purchase order requirements. NRC has received additional
information indicating that the problem of surplus or defective refurbished
CBs may also apply to CBs sold under other manufacturers' names (e.g., General
Electric, Westinghouse, ITE, Cutler Hammer, and Sylvania).
The electrical suppliers involved in refurbishing and sales of circuit breakers,
including the Diablo Canyon, Square D circuit breakers, apparently include
five California corporations. These companies are (1) General Circuit Breaker
& Electric Supply, Inc., (2) HLC Electric Supply Co., Inc., (3) Pencon Inter-
national, Inc., doing business as General Magnetics/Electric Wholesale, (4)
California Breakers, Inc., and (5) Anti-Theft Systems, Inc., doing business
as ATS Circuit Breakers and as AC Circuit Breaker-Electrical Supply.
NRC has an investigation and vendor inspection in progress at the above compa-
nies. On the basis of the information developed to date, a preliminary list
of customers of the five companies including a list of nuclear utilities
(where available) is provided in Attachment 1. Attachment 2 contains a list
of original equipment manufacturers whose names may have been used on surplus
or refurbished equipment sold as new equipment. The information included in
Attachments 1 and 2 is only preliminary and is provided to assist licensees in
reviewing the potential of having procured suspect electrical equipment at
their facilities.
Licensees are reminded of the requirements to ensure that procured items meet
the relevant specifications and codes and are suitable for the intended appli-
cation. Licensees should consider, as a matter of prudence, the need to
inquire of and to verify with their authorized distributors the sources of
procured materials, equipment, and components. Licensees may meet these
requirements by effectively implementing their quality assurance (QA)
programs, particularly in the areas of vendor evaluations, vendor
surveillances, receipt inspection, bench tests, and post-installation tests.
. IN 88-46
July 8, 1988
Page 3 of 3
NRC is gathering additional information to determine what further actions are
necessary. The primary purpose of this information notice is to alert
addressees of the situation as soon as possible. The NRC is considering
issuing a bulletin to followup on this information notice when the NRC has
sufficient information to define requirements.
No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.
If you have any questions about this matter, please contact one of the techni-
cal contacts listed below or the Regional Administrator of the appropriate
regional office.
Charles E. Rossi, Director
Division of Operational Events Assessment
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical Contacts: K. R. Naidu, NRR
(301) 492-0980
Jaime Guillen, NRR
(301) 492-1170
Attachments:
1. Preliminary List of Customers (Intermediate Suppliers)
of Suspect Electrical Equipment
2. Preliminary List of Original Equipment Manufacturers
Whose Names May Have Been Used on Surplus or
Refurbished Equipment Sold as New Equipment
3. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
. Attachment 1
IN 88-46
July 8, 1988
Page 1 of 2
PRELIMINARY LIST OF CUSTOMERS (INTERMEDIATE SUPPLIERS)
OF SUSPECT ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
Organization Location Nuclear Utility
(if available)
Westinghouse Electric St. Louis, MO; Boston, MA;
Supply Co. (WESCO) Boise, ID; Atlanta, GA;
Charleston, SC; Panama, FL;
Santa Clara, CA; Fresno, CA;
Sacramento, CA; Shreveport, LA;
Green Bay, WI; Elk Creek, IL;
Albuquerque, NM; Mobile, AL;
Ft. Worth, TX; Baton Rouge, LA;
Birmingham, AL; East Hartford, CT;
Kokomo, IN; Jackson, MS;
Milwaukee, WI; Beaumont, TX;
Nashville, TN; Skelton, WV;
Albany, NY; Hartford, CT;
Portland, ME; St. Paul, MN;
Minneapolis, MN; other locations
Power Conversion Huntington Beach, CA
Rockwell International Los Angeles, CA
Arkansas Power and Light Little Rock, AR ANO
Southern California San Clemente, CA; SONGS
Edison other locations
Phoenix Electric Phoenix, AZ
Rensenhouse Electric Topeka, KS
Breaker and Control Houston, TX
General Electric Company Baltimore, MD; Houston, TX;
Landover, MD; Chantilly, VA;
Emeryville, CA; Elmhust, IL
Southern Electric Alexandria, LA
Supply Company
Cleveland Electric Company
. Attachment 1
IN 88-46
July 8, 1988
Page 2 of 2
PRELIMINARY LIST OF CUSTOMERS (INTERMEDIATE SUPPLIERS)
OF SUSPECT ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
Organization Location Nuclear Utility
(if available)
Stokley Enterprises Norfolk, VA
Taylor Electric Company Portland, OR
Graybar Ventura, CA; Atlanta, GA
Hughes Aircraft El Segundo, CA
Houston Electric Houston, TX
Distribution Company
ITE Electrical Products Atlanta, GA; Knoxville, TN
Knudson Corporation Los Angeles, CA
Georgia Power Company Milledgeville, GA
. Attachment 2
IN 88-46
July 8, 1988
Page 1 of 2
PRELIMINARY LIST OF ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT
MANUFACTURERS WHOSE NAMES MAY HAVE BEEN USED
ON SURPLUS OR REFURBISHED EQUIPMENT SOLD AS NEW EQUIPMENT
Manufacturer Model Number Equipment Description
Square D B19.5; B22 Heater for overload relay
General Electric 12HGA11S52 Auxiliary relay
Exide Company NX400
Spectro Inc. V00014 Mercury lamps
Bussman Company REN15 15-amp 250-V fuse
Bussman Company NOS-30 30-amp 600-V fuse
(unknown) FSN 5925-628-0641 Circuit breaker
Westinghouse DB-50 Trip unit
Westinghouse DB-25 400-amp circuit breaker
Westinghouse HKB3150T Trip unit
Westinghouse KB3250F Frame
Westinghouse FB3020 Circuit breaker
Westinghouse FB3070 Circuit breaker
Westinghouse FB3050 Circuit breaker
Westinghouse EHB3040 Circuit breaker
Westinghouse EHB3025 Circuit breaker
Westinghouse LBB3125 Circuit breaker
Westinghouse HKA31250 Trip unit
Westinghouse JA3200 Circuit breaker
Westinghouse EHB2100 Circuit breaker
Westinghouse CAH3200 Circuit breaker
. Attachment 2
IN 88-46
July 8, 1988
Page 2 of 2
PRELIMINARY LIST OF ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT
MANUFACTURERS WHOSE NAMES MAY HAVE BEEN USED
ON SURPLUS OR REFURBISHED EQUIPMENT SOLD AS NEW EQUIPMENT
Manufacturer Model Number Equipment Description
Westinghouse 225N Navy trip units
ITE EF-3B100 100-amp circuit breaker
General Electric AK-2-75-3 Circuit breaker
General Electric AK-2 Circuit breaker
General Electric AK-1-50 Circuit breaker
General Electric AK-1-75 Circuit breaker
General Electric B; TDQ; TFJ Circuit breakers
General Electric TCVVFS Circuit breaker
ITE ET; KA Circuit breakers
Cutler Hammer -- Circuit breakers
Zinsco/Sylvania -- Circuit breakers
Bryant -- Circuit breakers
Murry -- Circuit breakers
Federal Pacific Electric -- Circuit breakers
Company
. Attachment 3
IN 88-46
July 8, 1988
Page 1 of 1
LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
NRC INFORMATION NOTICES
_____________________________________________________________________________
Information Date of
Notice No._____Subject_______________________Issuance_______Issued to________
88-45 Problems In Protective 7/7/88 All holders of OLs
Relay and Circuit or CPs for nuclear
Breaker Coordination power reactors.
88-44 Mechanical Binding of 6/24/88 All holders of OLs
Spring Release Device or CPs for nuclear
in Westinghouse Type power reactors.
DS-416 Circuit Breakers
88-43 Solenoid Valve Problems 6/23/88 All holders of OLs
or CPs for nuclear
power reactors.
88-42 Circuit Breaker Failures 6/23/88 All holders of OLs
Due to Loose Charging or CPs for nuclear
Spring Motor Mounting Bolts power reactors.
88-41 Physical Protection 6/22/88 All holders of OLs
Weaknesses Identified or CPs for nuclear
Through Regulatory Ef- power reactors.
fectiveness Reviews (RERs)
88-40 Examiners' Handbook for 6/22/88 All holders of OLs
Developing Operator or CPs for nuclear
Licensing Examinations power reactors.
88-39 LaSalle Unit 2 Loss of 6/15/88 All holders of OLs
Recirculation Pumps With or CPs for BWRs.
Power Oscillation Event
88-38 Failure of Undervoltage 6/15/88 All holders of OLs
Trip Attachment on General or CPs for nuclear
Electric Circuit Breakers power reactors.
88-37 Flow Blockage of Cooling 6/14/88 All holders of OLs
Water to Safety System or CPs for nuclear
Components power reactors.
88-36 Possible Sudden Loss of RCS 6/8/88 All holders of OLs
Inventory During Low Coolant or CPs for PWRs.
Level Operation
_____________________________________________________________________________
OL = Operating License
CP = Construction Permit
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