Information Notice No. 83-19: General Electric Type HFA Relay Contact Gap and Wipe Setting Adjustments

                                                            SSINS No. 6835 
                                                            IN 83-19  

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

                               April 5, 1983 

Information Notice No. 83-19:   GENERAL ELECTRIC TYPE HFA RELAY CONTACT 
                                   GAP AND WIPE SETTING ADJUSTMENTS 

Addressees: 

All holders of a nuclear power reactor operating license (OL) or 
construction permit (CP). 

Purpose: 

This information notice is provided as a notification of a potentially 
significant problem pertaining to the General Electric (GE) Type HFA relay 
contact wipe and gap adjustments. Improper adjustments can affect the 
performance of the relay during seismic events. Addressees are expected to 
review the information for applicability to their facilities. No specific 
action or response is required. 

Discription of Circumstances: 

On July 26, 1982 the GE Nuclear Power, Division in San Jose, California, 
reported to the NRC under the provisions of 10 CFR Part 21 a condition 
pertaining to HFA relay contact calibration. During qualification testing of
HFA relays it was noted that relay contact adjustments such as the wipe and 
gap settings affected the relay performance during seismic testing. The 
problem was identified by GE as the incorrect contact gap and wipe setting 
of norctsally closed (NC) contacts on some HFA relays. (NC means closed in 
the deenergized state.) 

Generally, the relays are initially manufactured with the contacts normally 
open, but can be changed to normally closed. This change is usually 
performed at the factory upon request of the purchaser; however, the change 
can be made in the field. In either case the contact gap and wipe settings 
must be adjusted properly. If not properly adjusted, the relay contacts may 
not perform their safety function. 

HFA relays are used in most safety related systems in BWRs and are also used
in some safety systems in PWRs. However, it must be noted that not all of 
these HFA-relays have NC contacts and therefore may not be affected by the 
gap and wipe setting problem. 

GE Nuclear Power Systems Division has informed all affected BWRs of this 
potential problem by Service Information Letter No. 44, Supplement 4, 
Attachment B, dated July 27, 1982. However, not all PWR owners may be aware 
of this problem. 

8303040018 
.

                                                           IN 83-19 
                                                           April 5, 1983  
                                                           Page 2 of 2 

The instruction booklets (GEH 2024 for type HFA 51 and GEK 45484 for type 
HFA 151) are normally supplied with the relays. Any purchaser that did not 
receive the booklets can obtain a copy from: 

                         General Electric Company 
                         Power System Management Business Department 
                         205 Great Valley Parkway 
                         Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355 
                         Attention: Customer Service 

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact the 
Administrator of the appropriate NRC Regional Office or this office. 


                              Edwards L. Jordan, Director  
                              Division of Emergency Preparedness 
                                and Engineering Response  
                              Office of Inspection and Enforcement 

Technical Contact:  W Laudan, IE 
                    (301) 492-9759 

Attachments: 
List of recently issued IE Information Notices 
.