Substation Controller suits retrofit and upgrade projects.
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Press Release Summary:
iBOX(TM) Serial Substation Controller combines multiple communication ports and local I/O in small footprint. It includes 8 digital input points and 4 controls. Unit is compatible with D25 multifunction intelligent electronic device, which functions as PLC, substation LAN node, IED gateway, bay level controller, power quality monitor and fault/event recorder. Optional LogicLinx® soft logic automation tool smoothly implements distribution automation applications.
Original Press Release:
GE Power Systems Develops iBOX Serial Substation Controller
Product is ideal for retrofit and upgrade projects
LAS VEGAS, NV-February 4, 2003-GE Power Systems announced today that its Substation Automation Solutions business has developed the iBOX(TM) Serial Substation Controller, an economical substation controller that combines advanced functionality, multiple communication ports and local I/O in a small footprint that is ideal for retrofit and upgrade projects. The announcement was made at this year's DistribuTECH Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.
"Cost is an important factor for our customers when deciding what substation controllers to purchase," explained Carolyn Shockley, general manager for the Substation Automation Solutions business, based in Atlanta. "With the iBOX, we've developed an economical alternative to existing companion products, with all the functionality of a high-end controller, including eight digital input points and four controls. The relative low cost of the iBOX can facilitate the automation of more devices, leading to improved management of substation equipment and resources."
The iBOX is a new product offering from the company, but it is based heavily on an existing product line. The product is fully compatible with the company's D25 and D20 automation product lines. The D25 is a multifunction intelligent electronic device (IED) which functions as a programmable logic controller, a substation local area network node, an IED gateway, a bay level controller, a non-certified revenue class meter, a power quality monitor and a fault/event (waveform) recorder. The D20 is a platform for substation automation and its family of products is capable of handling the monitoring, control, automation and communications from the smallest distribution substation to the largest transmission station.
The iBOX has numerous advantages. It has a much larger feature set than other low-cost controllers as well as a larger protocol set. The feature set includes a single point of failure and automation applications. An optional LogicLinx® soft logic automation tool smoothly implements popular distribution automation applications, such as capacitor bank control, outage prevention programs and feeder resource optimization. It has a Microsoft Windows®-based LogicLinx Editor, making it easy to build, implement and maintain multiple automation algorithms on-line.
"We certainly think this product will be a good fit for small utilities, co-ops and municipalities," stated Shockley.
For more information about the iBOX Serial Substation Controller, contact GE Power Systems product specialist Jim McGhee in Calgary at (403) 214-4505 or at jim.mcghee@ps.ge.com.
GE's comprehensive transmission and distribution automation assemblage includes expert services to cost-effectively manage and execute substation automation projects, from design engineering to installation and commissioning. The collection of services is complemented by an assortment of products and solutions such as controllers and intelligent electronic devices (IEDs), portable test equipment, and transformer management systems which enable utility personnel to further improve asset performance and network reliability.
About GE Power Systems
GE Power Systems (www.gepower.com) is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation technology, energy services and management systems with estimated 2002 revenues of nearly $23 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Power Systems provides equipment, services and management solutions across the power generation, oil and gas, distributed power and energy rental industries.
For more information, contact:
Dennis Murphy
GE Power Systems
(770) 859-6948
dennis.murphy@ps.ge.com
Ken Darling or Howard Masto
Masto Public Relations
(518) 786-6488
kenneth.darling@ps.ge.com
howard.masto@ps.ge.com
