From: Andrew deLaski [mailto:adelaski@standardsasap.org] 

Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2011 1:26 PM 

To: Richard Parker 

Cc: Robert Carmichael; Michael Rivest; John Cymbalsky; Caskey, John; Dan Cohen; Brian Coffey; 

Matthew Nardotti 

Subject: Re: LV Talks: Draft Informal survey of small, low-voltage manufacturers 

Rob and Richard: 

I agree with the modification suggested for question 7. A potential "future" standard would not 

"require" mitering since wound cores are an option to reach the targeted efficiency levels. Given 

the options to make more efficient transformers, perhaps the question should be re-phrased to be 

more open-ended. Perhaps something like "In the event the next efficiency standard cannot be 

met by butt-lap designs, how would you expect to respond? 

Also, in addition to sourcing the cores another option for small manufacturers might be to source 

the finished transformer. I realize this will not be an attractive option if covered transformers are 

a big piece of a particular company's business, but for those for which covered transformers are a 

small piece of their overall operations and revenue, this may be a viable option. My 

understanding is that there is already some re-labeling of finished transformers in parts of the 

market. 

Thanks for the chance of offer input. 

-- Andrew 

On Wed, Dec 7, 2011 at 12:13 PM, Richard Parker <richardparkerdc@gmail.com> wrote: 

All, 

These look good to me. Andrew and John Caskey: do these questions cover the issues you 

would need resolved to inform your vote? 

One very minor tweak: Rob Greeson has indicated that FedPac would probably prefer wound 

cores to mitered at EL 3 and above for larger volume production as mitering can be slow. So 

you might want to consider tweaking Q7 to read "favored mitering or wound cores" instead of 

"required mitering." 

Richard

On Wed, Dec 7, 2011 at 9:50 AM, Robert Carmichael <robert.carmichael@navigant.com> 

wrote: 

All,

Attached is the list of questions for small manufacturers.
Thanks,

Rob

Rob Carmichael | Energy | Navigant Consulting, Inc.

1801 K Street NW | Suite 500 | Washington, DC 20006

Office: 202.481.7393 | Fax: 202.973.2401

From: Richard Parker [mailto:richardparkerdc@gmail.com] 

Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2011 8:39 AM 

To: Michael Rivest; John Cymbalsky; Andrew Delaski; Caskey, John; Dan Cohen; Robert Carmichael; 

Brian Coffey; Matthew Nardotti; Richard W. Parker 

Subject: LV Talks: Draft Informal survey of small, low-voltage manufacturers

 

Mike and team, 

As you may recall, we all agreed last Friday to send out and/or call the small manus in the low 

voltage space to pose a series of questions we discussed in meeting generally. The plan was to 

draft a brief questionnaire and circulate that questionnaire internally before sending out/calling 

so that stakeholders could make sure their key questions are addressed. 

I realize everyone is stretched for time at present, so in the interests of expediting process I offer 

the following queries that I believe more or less capture the kinds of things we talked about 

needing to find out. This draft is offered just to get the discussion going. I have no pride of 

authorship and I'm sure your team can refine these questions to make them more artful, precise, 

relevant. 

Main thing is we need to get the questionnaire finalized and presented to the companies so we 

can get answers ASAP. 

I know Andrew DeLaski and John Caskey expressed an interest in getting these sorts of 

questions answered, so I will invite them to weigh in as well with any suggested changes. If we 

don't need all this information, by all means let's eliminate any questions that aren't needed. 

Once the questions are settled, we need to discuss manner and timeframe for presenting them -- 

through written questionnaire or phone calls. 
Best, 

Richard 

Draft questions 

1. What is your total annual sales volume, and total employment? 

2. What is your total annual sales of transformers? 

3. What volume of sales (by $ and/or MvA) are covered products [Navigant to supply 

definition of what that is]? 

4. What proportion are exempt products [Navigant to supply list of exemptions]? 

5. Do you ship low-voltage transformers that exceed the current efficiency standard of 98% 

efficiency (in the case of Design Line 7, which are 3 phase transformers from 15-150 

kVA) or 98.60% efficiency (for Design Line 8 which are 3ph, 225-1000 kVA)? If so, 

what efficiency levels do they reach and what is the volume of sales at each higher level? 

6. Do you outsource any of your cores for covered products? If so, what proportion of cores 

are outsourced? 

7. If you make your cores internally, please answer the following questions: 

o what core design do you manufacture (e.g. butt-lapped, step-lapped) 

o what core steels do you employ? If more than one, please indicate the percentage 

mix of steels. 

o Do you have utilize mitering techniques currently? 

o Do you make wound cores currently? 

o If hypothetically the industry were to move to a higher efficiency standard for 

low-voltage transformers at which efficiency level (EL) (see table below) would 

you find it expedient to convert to mitering or wound core designs (please 

specify) and what would the total and per unit costs of conversion be? 

 

Current 

Standard EL 1 EL 2 EL 3 EL 4 EL 5

Design Line 7 (DL7) 3ph, 15-225 kVA 98.00% 98.47% 98.60% 98.60% 98.80% 98.

Design Line 8 (DL 8) 3 ph, 225 - 1000 kVA 98.00% 98.47% 99.02% 99.25% 99.32% 99.

 

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-- 

Andrew deLaski 

Appliance Standards Awareness Project 

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