How long will Therm-A-Guard® protectors last?
All Therm-A-Guard® models come with a 10-year warranty; however, many utilities across the US and abroad currently have Therm-A-Guards® installed for well over 10 years without any degradation in color or physical characteristics of the guard. The long life, with zero material change, despite years of blistering sun exposure, is attributed to the high levels of UV inhibitors added to our raw material.
Can Therm-A-Guard® be installed hot?
Yes. Our medium, large and extra-large guards have hot stick handles and an easy-to-use latching system to install the guards hot when required. Our smallest guard, however, does not have hot stick handles. The small guard was designed for use where space and clearance between bushings might be a problem; extended hot stick handles could made proper clearances an issue.
Will infrared inspections be performed accurately with Therm-A-Guard® wildlife protectors installed?
Yes! Infrared inspections can now precisely detect hot spots on wildlife guarded equipment using the patented Therm-A-Guard® design. The view is clear enough to easily determine the exact cause of the hot spot and its actual temperature. Conventional solid wildlife guards mask this view and make it nearly impossible to accurately detect and report these hot spots.
Can Visual Inspections Be Performed Accurately?
Yes. Visual inspections can be performed on Therm-A-Guard® protected electrical equipment without having to remove the guard prior to the inspection. Additionally, sight gauge oil levels in bushings can now be verified along with visual conditions of the bushing.
How Large are the openings in the Therm-A-Guard's® sidewall
The openings in the Therm-A-Guard® are approximately 3/10" in size. These openings are large enough to allow an unobstructed view of your protected equipment yet small enough to prevent wildlife from coming into contact with the energized equipment.
What is the thickness of the Therm-A-Guard®?
The Therm-A-Guard® has a body thickness approximately 1/10” thick The bottom bushing skirt grips and top exit lead fingers taper down to approximately 3/100” thick allowing for easy trimming to accommodate various exit lead and bushing skirt diameters.
Will the Therm-A-Guard® lower equipment operating temperatures?
Yes. The open design of the Therm-A-Guard® allows for increased air circulation around the guarded equipment thus maintaining cooler operating temperatures. Cooler temperatures are critical to the life expectancy of your bushing's gaskets.
How does the latch and hinge operate?
Therm-A-Guard® is designed with a truly unique latching system. The system has multiple independent latching points insuring a secure hold to the wildlife guarded equipment. Designed with a conventional hinge system, as opposed to a living hinge, the Therm-A-Guard® can easily be removed and reinstalled without fear of damaging the hinge assembly.
Where is the Therm-A-Guard® manufactured?
The Therm-A-Guard® Wildlife Protector is manufactured in Tampa Bay, Florida U.S.A. Manufacturing in our ISO certified facility insures quality parts and materials in every Therm-A-Guard®.
What size bushing does Therm-A-Guard® fit?
We offer four (4) sizes of Therm-A-Guard®s that will cover nearly all bushings and potheads; overhead distribution transformers; substation transformers; substation breakers; regulators and reclosures. Please see our guard specification sheets for exact dimensions.
Is the Therm-A-Guard® UV stabilized?
Yes. All Therm-A-Guard® models are UV stabilized with a .75% HALS UV stabilizer. This high level of UV stabilization is more than triple that of most outdoor polyethylene products and will provide a minimum of 10 years of outdoor life without degradation.
Has a wind load study been performed on the Therm-A-Guard®?
Yes. The Therm-A-Guard®s were installed on various sized bushings with top exit leads. The bushings and Therm-A-Guard®s were then subjected to sustained winds beginning at 50 MPH and continuing up to 125 MPH. The Therm-A-Guard® latching system held the guards firmly in place (Wind loads above 125 MPH were not tested). Additionally with our open mesh design there is considerably less surface area for the wind to affect the bushing cover than with a solid wildlife protector.
How and where is the Therm-A-Guard® installed?
The Therm-A-Guard® is usually installed around the first skirt (top) below the exposed bushing or pothead connector. It can, however, be installed around the second skirt or the bushing cap if size or clearance is an issue. The larger guards were engineered to allow any one of the three or four hinges to be cut out for side-exit leads. The smaller guard was designed so that solid areas around the two hinges could be cut out to accommodate side exit leads. Additionally, the flexible bushing grips, located at the bottom of the guard, can be easily trimmed to accommodate various size bushing skirt diameters.
What material is the Therm-A-Guard® made from?
Therm-A-Guard® wildlife protectors are produced from an engineering-grade, high-density polyethylene called Marlex 9018, manufactured by Chevron-Phillips Chemical Corporation. (Complete material specifications and data sheets are available). The Therm-A-Guard® has a smooth, highly polished surface allowing rain to wash away contaminants that could otherwise build up. Both the polyethylene material and the colorant additive are UV stabilized.