Part 21 Report - 1996-490

 
 
ACCESSION #: 9605210523

                                             Thomas&Betts

AMERACE
ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS

May 9, 1996

Director
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
United States
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, D.C. 20555-0001

Dear Sir / Madam:

As previously notified via the attached letter sent to Mr. Gregory C.
Cwalina we are currently in the process of relocating the nuclear product
line.  During the changeover of responsibility, an engineering
documentation review revealed that a component may exhibit a less than
desirable characteristic at extreme elevated temperatures while the ETR
relay is in the energized state.  We are currently evaluating components
with a higher temperature rating which will improve our overall product
performance.  Although we have no failure reports to date, we are
informing you of a potential abnormal condition.

The condition only affects the Agastat ETR "A" time range relay which is
considered a nuclear qualified control relay.  It is important to note
that Amerace does not recommend the use of its products in the
containment areas of Nuclear Power Generating Stations.

The Agastat relays were not qualified in the continuously energized state
as documented in the Nuclear Environmental Test Report No. ES-2000.  The
identified relays potentially contain a capacitor which under extreme
environmental conditions could fail to operate if left in the
continuously energized state.  For example, operating at the maximum
specified temperature (an abnormal environment of 156 F) while
continuously energized.  This failure mode does not exist if the coils
are not continuously energized.

A review of our records indicate that relays shipped between 8/14/195 to
4/1/96 are affected.  A list of the customers and the quantities of the
relays that were purchased is attached.  These customers are being
notified (via registered mail) of the potential problem and will be
requested to evaluate their application and if required return the relays
for repair and/or replacement.

If I can be of further assistance, please contact me at (941) 575-8440.

Sincerely,

Edward Jacobs
Quality Assurance Manager

                                                               nrdnot.doc

Agastat ETR "A" series relays shipped from
8/14/95 to 4/1/96

                         PART                     SERIEL
CUSTOMER                 NUMBER         QTY       NUMBERS

Cegelec Automation, Inc  ETR14D3A004    48        95340468 THRU 95340490
                                                  95360271 THRU 95360295

Commonwealth Edison      ETR14I3A004    3         95411025 THRU 95411027

Entergy Operations       ETR14IA004     1         96081541

G.E.  Nuclear Energy     ETR14D3AC200   8         95340455 THRU 95340456
                           4004                   96081513 THRU 96081514
                                                  95371417, 95470300,
                                                  96101582 96120240

Georgia Power            ETR14D3A       13        96113048 THRU 96113059
                                                  96140320

National Technical       ETR14D3AN      4         95400223 THRU 95400226
  Systems

Northern States Power    ETR14D3A       6         96140361 THRU 96140366

Nutherm International    ETR14D3AN      3         95410953 THRU 95410955

Peco Energy              ETR14D3AC2     14        95350710 THRU 95350713
                                                  95411021 THRU 95411024
                                                  95440215 THRU 95440220

Spectrum Technologies    ETR14D3AN      4         95410956 THRU 95410959
  USA

Tennessee Valley         ETR14D3AN      11        95340457 THRU 95340467
  Authority              ETR14B3A       10        95371650 THRU 95371659

Vermont Yankee Nuclear   ETR14D3A       2         95360269 THRU 95360270

Washington Public Power  ETR14I3A       2         96120748 THRU 96120749

                                                             nrcnotat.doc

                                                       Thomas&Betts

AMERACE
ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS

April 11, 1996

Mr.  Gregory C.  Cwalina, Acting Chief
Special Inspection Branch
Division of Inspection and Support Programs
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
United States
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, D.C. 20555-0001

RE:  Relocation of Agastat and Buchanan Nuclear product lines.

Dear Mr. Cwalina:

On January 2, 1996 Thomas & Betts acquired the Amerace group of
companies.  Thomas and Betts has been engaged in a restructuring of its
operations throughout the country in order to make them more efficient
and economical in today's highly competitive market.  As part of this
overall effort the Agastat and Buchanan Nuclear product fines will be
moved from the Punta Gorda facility to the Brooksville, Florida facility.
The target date for moving and startup of operations in Brooksville is
the end of May, 1996.  This target date is based on delivery schedules
and may be subject to a limited delay.

The same specifications, materials, manufacturing processes, equipment,
inspection and testing of Agastat relays and Buchanan One Piece Terminal
Blocks will be in place at the Brooksville facility.  There will be no
changes made to the 10CFR50, Appendix B program due to the move.

Ed Jacobs, the Quality Manager at Punta Gorda will be working with
Brooksville personnel until this project is complete.  He may be reached
at (941) 575-8440.

Bob Souden is the Quality Director at the Brooksville facility.  He may
be reached at (352) 544-4013.

I would like to request postponing the NRC inspection which is currently
scheduled for April 22-26, 1996 at Punta Gorda and in the near future re-
schedule the audit for Brooksville.  Thank you in advance for your
consideration.

Sincerely.
Rick Phillips
General Manager

cc: Joseph Petrosino                                           nrcclo.doc

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