Heavy 3-Phase Infrastructure
1600A Form 4 Main Switchboard Upgrade, Sandyford, Dublin 18
Replacement of an obsolete 1980s main switchboard with a modern 1600A Form 4 Type 2 compartmentalized switchboard with auto-changeover and power factor correction.
Project Scope & Challenge
The facility houses 14 commercial tenants and a regional data hub. The changeover required a complete weekend electrical shutdown with temporary generator backup:
- Main Board Rating: 1600A 400V 3-Phase 50Hz with 50kA fault rating.
- Power Factor Correction: 250 kVAr automatic stepped capacitor bank to eliminate ESB wattless power surcharges.
- Surge Protection: Type 1+2 coordinated SPDs protecting tenant server circuits against grid transients.
- Cutover Execution: Completed within a strict 36-hour weekend window with zero overrun.
"The new switchboard achieved full Safe Electric compliance, reduced site energy losses by 14%, and eliminated all utility power factor penalty charges."
