Information Notice No. 82-04: Potential Deficiency of Certain AGASTAT E-7000 Series Time-Delay Relays

                                                            SSINS No.:  6835
                                                            Accession No.: 
                                                            8202040107 
                                                            IN 82-04 

                                UNITED STATES
                        NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
                    OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT
                           WASHINGTON, D.C.  20555

                               March 10, 1982

Information Notice No. 82-04:  POTENTIAL DEFICIENCY OF CERTAIN AGASTAT 
                                  E-7000 SERIES TIME-DELAY RELAYS 

Description of Circumstances: 

On February 2, 1982, the Control Product Division, Amerace Corporation 
informed the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission that approximately 20 
percent of their AGASTAT E-7000 Series time-delay relays manufactured during 
the period between July 15, 1981 to January 12, 1982 may not operate 
properly. 

Quality Assurance tests performed to ascertain acceptable performance over 
extended time periods have determined that the pneumatic timing diaphragm 
manufactured by one of two diaphragm suppliers exhibited a bleed-out of a 
fluid substance as a function of time and temperature.  This substance may 
affect the diaphragm seal on the relays operated at high temperatures for 
extended periods, resulting in shorter time delays than those set on the 
relay dial. Although the temperature required to initiate significant 
bleed-out would not be encountered in the majority of these relay 
applications, it is within the range of nuclear safety qualification tests 
required by IEEE-323 and IEEE-344. 

In a letter dated February 2, 1982, the Control Products Division of Amerace
Corporation requested users to return all of the discussed relays for 
inspection and possible replacements.  Copies of the letter and a list of 
the users are enclosed.  The Control Products Division records do not 
identify individual nuclear power plants because most shipments were made to 
nuclear steam supply system (NSSS) suppliers, vendors, panel manufacturers, 
architects and engineers and utilities. 

This information notice is provided as an early notification of a 
potentially significant matter.  It is expected that recipients will review 
the information for possible applicability to their facilities and take 
appropriate action as necessary.  No specific action or response is required
at this time.  If you have any questions regarding this matter, please 
contact the Regional Administrator of the appropriate NRC Regional Office. 

Attachments:
1.  List of customers to whom applicable relays were shipped.
2.  Recently issued IE Information Notices