A Trident temporary power restoration unit came back to the shop with 12,360 hours on the meter.
The control unit arrived for routine service with other older units in the same fleet. Inspection found the Trident in great condition. It is going right back out.
12,360 hours is 515 days of connected time. A year and five months if the clock never stopped. The unit restored a missing hot or a missing neutral on live services for that long, then passed a service check and returned to the truck.
That is the record to use when the question is whether a one-man service saver holds up in the field.
What 12,360 hours means
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Connected hours on the meter | 12,360 |
| Equivalent 24-hour days | 515 days |
| Equivalent years of continuous dwell | 1.41 years |
| Shop result | Great condition, returning to service |
Connected hours are dwell. The Trident was energized on customer services for that long. A unit one troubleman can carry gets used. Hours follow use.
Why the autotransformer can sit in weather that long
The long-duty part of Trident is the 10 kVA module, not the cart. The seal is on that autotransformer casing.
Chemical weld between cap and base
As of 6/20, Trident autotransformers receive chemical welding between the cap and the base. That joint is the two-part casing. The weld closes it so water has no path in. The seal is not a gasket you hope stays seated after years of yard work. It is a chemical weld on the housing that holds the winding.
That seal is what keeps moisture, chemicals, dust, vibration, and corrosion off the internal transformer windings in storm and utility conditions.
Hermetic potting in flame-rated ABS
Trident autotransformers are hermetically sealed in high-strength, flame-rated ABS polymer. The enclosure is fire-resistant resin. No grounding required on the modules. The case does not rust, and the winding is not an open stack in damp air.
What the seal is, and what it is not
The chemical weld is on the autotransformer casing only. It makes the cap and base one closed housing so water cannot enter the module. It is not a claim about every accessory in the kit. It is the reason a 10 kVA puck can sit in rain, melt, and standing water at the meter for the kind of dwell this hour meter shows.
| Design item | What it does |
|---|---|
| Chemical weld, cap to base (as of 6/20) | Closes the two-part autotransformer casing so water has no entry path |
| Hermetic potting in flame-rated ABS | Seals the winding, fire-resistant housing, no rust |
| Protection inside that casing | Moisture, chemicals, dust, vibration, corrosion |
| Individual 50A breakers | Each 10 kVA module can be shut off on its own |
| Custom weatherproof control case (standard as of 7/1) | Protects the control unit the crew leaves outside |
| IP66 | Filed with UL after the seal and potting updates, pending |
| Made in Shelton, CT | Domestic build, serviceable fleet asset |
Weatherproof control case
As of 7/1, the weatherproof case is standard on Trident. The older case remains available at a reduced cost. The control unit is what carries the meter, the breakers, and the connections the troubleman handles every ticket. Weatherproofing that case is how the system stays a complete outdoor tool, not only a sealed transformer with an open box beside it.
Individual 50A breakers
Each 10 kVA autotransformer has its own 50A breaker. One module can be shut off without dropping the other blindly. If only one module is on a house and the load tries to exceed what that module should carry, that breaker opens. Selective shutoff is how a modular 20 kVA system (two times 10 kVA) stays safe on a 100A or 200A ticket.
One-man design is why the hours add up
Trident is the handheld member of the PowerBack family. About 45 lb per 10 kVA transformer plus a 9 lb control unit. Built for backyards, easements, gravel, and flooded ground where a wheeled cart stops.
A unit that heavy crews postpone does not reach 12,360 hours. A unit one person can carry does. This meter is that loop: deploy, restore, leave it, recover it, deploy again. Then routine service, clean bill of health, back on the truck.
Wheeled PowerBack units still belong on 30 kVA and 50 kVA multi-home work. Trident belongs on the single-home ticket where weight and access decide whether power comes back in minutes.
What those hours are worth
The ROI is emergency underground work that did not have to happen the night of the fault.
For the connected time on this meter:
- The customer had 120/240V
- The crew was not running temporary overhead through the yard
- The splice waited for locates, daylight, and planned labor
- That O&M overtime stayed off the ticket
12,360 hours is a long record of that trade. The ending is the useful part: inspected, great condition, going back out.
FAQ
What does 12,360 hours on a Trident mean?
The unit was connected and energized on customer services for 12,360 hours. That is 515 days of dwell. It passed routine service and is returning to the field.
Is the chemical seal the whole kit or the transformer?
The chemical weld is on the autotransformer casing. Cap and base are sealed so water cannot enter the module.
When did the chemical weld start?
All Trident autotransformers as of 6/20 receive chemical welding between the cap and the base.
Is the weatherproof case standard?
Yes, as of 7/1. The previous case is still available at a reduced cost.
Is Trident IP66 listed?
IP66 testing has been filed with UL after the seal and potting updates. It is pending.
Why does each module have a 50A breaker?
Each 10 kVA autotransformer is independently protected. A module can be shut off on its own.
Is Trident a service saver?
Yes. Trident is a portable temporary power restoration autotransformer. Field names include service saver, add-a-phase, and restore-a-phase.
Where is Trident made?
Shelton, Connecticut, by Bridgeport Magnetics Group.
Product Callout
Bridgeport Magnetics Trident 20 kVA
One-man temporary power restoration unit. Field example: 12,360 connected hours, great condition, returning to service. Chemically welded autotransformer cap and base so water cannot enter. Hermetic flame-rated ABS modules, individual 50A breakers, weatherproof control case. Made in the USA.
Phone: (203) 954-0050
Email: [email protected]
