SR-11-14-1972-7C}v
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CITY OF SANTA MONICA
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INTER-DEPARTMENT MEMO
DATE: Yovember 6, 1972
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TO: Perry Scott - City P'Ianager (Through: E. D. !McAteer - Director
of Public Works
FROM: Dean Watts - Public Facilities Superintendent
SUBJECT: Replacement of Airport Administration Building Electrical
Service
On four occasions, three in August, 1972,and one in September,
1972, power outages occurred at t'rie Airport Administration building by
main fuses burning out, The equipment and tiviring in the building was
subsequently checked and found to be in a state of good repair. Next,
a load check was performed by use of a recording amMeter and the
current vaas found to peak at 225 amps. .The present main service switch
is rated and should be fused at 200 amps.
In order to maintain service to the building, the 200 amp.
fuses were paralleled with fuse links capable of handling 225 amps as
a temporary measure. This of course is illegal and the wiring in the
building. is presently overfused and not properly protected. It should
also be mentioned that the building is being served vrith another service
at a different location and. 65 amps per leg is being drawn at that point.
Two services to one building is illegal according to code and this situa-
tion probably occurred also as a temporary measure.
In attempting to ascertain the reason why the Airport building
shows an overload, the folloiti*ing factors were arrived at:
Increased number of businesses occupying building
Improved lighting to latest IES standards
Additional heating
More machines of various types such as:
Three xerox machines
Printers
Copiers
Dispensing machines, hot
Drinking water coolers
r^ans
Coffee machines
Air conditioning units
Drill press
Grinder
Air compressor
Office machinery
Adding machines
T.ypesariters
P~Iimeograph machines
Comptometers
and cold beverage
- 1 -
To: City i~+?anager i~,ovember 6, 1972
Subject: Replacement of Airport Electrical Service
At the outset of this investigation, it was believed that the
load had been greater some years back because the building housed two
machine shop type operations t~rhich are no longer here. However, the
source of power for the machines was 480 volt three phase power and that
service has since been removed. Even if it vaere still available, it
would be unuseable because all of the equipment presently in the building
is 120/240 volt single phase and therefore not compatible.
It is now recommended that a nevr 600 amp 120/240 volt single
phase service be installed to replace the underrated 200 amp service
and the 100 amp service now drauring 65 amps. This will insure proper
service to the building, eliminate the illegalities and make the building
safer. Also with one service instead of tvvo, a savings in energy cost
should be affected because a lower rate schedule will be reached sooner
than with two meters. the estimated cost for the new service including
a temporary tie-over and some inside rewiring is X4,000.00. The service
rating includes a margin for future additional load requirements vrhich
seem to be inevitable in these times.
Dean i°iatts
public racilities Maintenance
DGd: cros
cc: Airport Director