Snowstorm temporary power restoration is difficult when the only tools on the truck are 150 lb wheeled service savers. Ice, snow, and finished yards stop a cart before it reaches the meter. A 45 lb modular autotransformer gets one troubleman to the socket, restores the missing hot leg, and keeps the customer online until the permanent dig can be scheduled.
The January Call
A residential service lost one hot leg after a snowstorm. The remaining hot and the neutral were still good. Half the 120V circuits and all 240V loads were out. The driveway and side yard were covered in ice. A traditional wheeled service saver (the class often called a Servisavor or Restore-Lite style cart) weighed well over 150 lb. Unloading it and rolling it across the slick surface would have required two people and still risked a fall or a stuck cart.
The troubleman carried the modular units by hand. One 10 kVA autotransformer and the control unit restored the missing hot leg at the meter. Full 120/240V returned. The underground cable repair was scheduled for the following week when the ground and the weather allowed a proper dig. The customer had power the entire time.
Why Heavy Wheeled Units Fail in Snow
| Condition | 150+ lb wheeled service saver (Servisavor / Restore-Lite class) | 45 lb modular autotransformer |
|---|---|---|
| Ice and snow | Hard to roll, high tip and slip risk | Carried by one person |
| Stairs, gates, alleys | Often cannot reach | Hand-carried to the meter |
| Finished yards | Cart path damages landscaping | No cart required |
| Crew size | Frequently two people | One troubleman |
| One-man lift limits | Often exceeded | 45 lb per autotransformer |
Older and current wheeled service savers were built for open driveways. When the path is ice or a narrow side yard, the cart becomes the limiting factor. Snowstorm temporary power restoration needs a unit that can be carried.
How the Restoration Works (No Generator)
The unit is a temporary power restoration autotransformer. It does not need a generator. It uses the two remaining good conductors on a 120/240V or 120/208V service to regenerate the missing one.
- Open hot leg: one good hot + good neutral → restores the missing hot
- Open neutral: two good hots → restores the missing neutral
One 10 kVA module covers a 100A service. Two modules restore up to 200A. Installation uses a meter adapter at the socket. No temporary overhead lines are pulled across the yard.
| Method | Equipment needed | Snowstorm practicality |
|---|---|---|
| Generator | Fuel, noise, exhaust, separate grounding | Poor – logistics and placement issues |
| Temporary overhead lines | Extra crew, poles or trees, liability | Poor – ice, traffic, and yard hazards |
| Heavy wheeled service saver | Cart, two people, clear path | Limited on ice |
| 45 lb modular autotransformer | Existing good conductors only | High – carried to the meter |
Key Features That Matter in Winter
| Feature | Field benefit |
|---|---|
| 45 lb autotransformers | One-person carry under typical one-man lift rules |
| Dual-trip protection on each auto | Independent breakers protect each module from overcurrent; thermal protection guards the windings |
| Hermetically sealed transformers | Epoxy-sealed construction keeps moisture and snowmelt out of the windings |
| Locked connections | Secure mating so vibration or movement does not loosen field connections |
| No generator required | Pure autotransformer; uses only the conductors that are still energized |
| Modular | Carry only what the service needs |
The dual-trip design means each autotransformer has its own overcurrent protection. A problem on one module does not take the other offline. The hermetic sealing and locked connectors are intended for units that sit outside for days in wet or freezing conditions.
The Week-Later Permanent Repair
Because power was restored immediately, the utility did not dig the cable in the snow. The unit stayed at the meter. A week later the crew returned, removed the modules, completed the permanent splice, and restored the normal secondary. The customer experienced one short outage at the start and normal power for the rest of the week.
| Timeline | What happened |
|---|---|
| Day 0, snowstorm | Failed hot leg confirmed. 45 lb modules installed. Power restored. |
| Days 1–7 | Unit left on site. Customer has full 120/240V. |
| Day 7 | Permanent cable repair completed. Modules removed. |
This is the operational value of snowstorm temporary power restoration. The temporary unit buys calendar time so the dig happens in better weather and on normal crew hours.
FAQ
Does this need a generator?
No. It is an autotransformer. It regenerates the missing hot or neutral from the conductors that are still good.
How does it compare with a Servisavor or Restore-Lite in snow?
Those are typically heavier wheeled carts. The modular 45 lb design is carried by one person and reaches meters a cart cannot.
What is dual-trip protection?
Each autotransformer has its own breaker for overcurrent. Thermal protection also guards the windings if the unit stays loaded for an extended period.
Can it stay outside in snow and rain?
The transformers are hermetically sealed and the connections are locked. The system is designed for temporary outdoor use while the permanent repair is completed.
When should a utility choose this over a wheeled unit?
When the meter cannot be reached by a cart: snow, ice, stairs, alleys, gates, or finished yards.
Is this a service saver?
Yes. It is the modular, one-person option in the temporary power restoration line. It is also called an add-a-phase or add-a-leg unit in some regions.
Product Callout
Bridgeport Magnetics Trident
45 lb modular autotransformer for snowstorm temporary power restoration. Restores a missing hot leg or missing neutral at the meter. No generator required. Dual-trip protection on each autotransformer. Hermetically sealed. Designed for one-person deployment in ice, snow, and hard-to-reach locations. Made in Shelton, Connecticut.
Phone: (203) 954-0050
Email: [email protected]
bridgeportmagnetics.com/trident-service-saver/
