Solar SB 14-045
Solar SB 14-045
Solar SB 14-045
NOTICE: Service Bulletins are proprietary to Turbomach SA, Via Campagna 15, CH-6595 Riazzino,
Switzerland. The Type of Change and Recommended Compliance specified reflects Turbomach’s best
judgment regarding the Service Bulletin. All questions should be directed to your Turbomach Field Service
Representative. Solar, Saturn, Centaur, Taurus, Mercury, Mars, Titan, SoLoNOx, and Turbotronic are
trademarks of Solar Turbines Incorporated. Cat and Caterpillar are trademarks of Caterpillar Inc.
Specifications subject to change without notice.
TBM#: SB 14-045
ISSUED: 17.02.2015
PRODUCT: CENTAUR 40, CENTAUR 50, MARS 100, MERCURY 50,
TAURUS 60, TAURUS 70, TITAN 130, TITAN 250
MODEL(S): Generator Set
Specifics: Turbotronic 4 Controls
DISTRIBUTION: TBM Worldwide
1794-IRT8XT FLEX I/O MODULES (SPN 1089240-31)
SUBJECT: EXHIBITING ERRATIC TEMPERATURE READINGS
Type of Change: Product Reliability
Recommended
Compliance: Earliest Opportunity
Type of
Modification: Inspection
Purpose:
To announce the recall and replacement of certain 1794-IRT8XT thermocouple / RTD / millivolt
modules exhibiting specific failure conditions.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Between May 2013 and May 2014, eleven IRT8XT modules (SPN 1089240-31) were returned to
Solar® for failure analysis after exhibiting erratic temperature readings resulting in package
shutdowns. The symptoms reported to date include short duration but extreme spikes in
temperature readings, slowly downward drifting of multiple temperature channels and, in one
instance, all channels of the defective module reading the maximum temperature extreme for its
configuration.
The recently concluded root-cause analysis identified a manufacturing process deficiency at one of
Rockwell®’s component suppliers involving a specific module component. The supplier of that
component reports a less than 1%failure rate for that specific component.
Template SB Caterpillar Confidential: Green Page 1 of 5
rev. cb – 01.02.2012
That component supplier also advises that components exhibiting the defect will exhibit it from the
time of manufacture. While it may be factual that a module that will exhibit any of the above
symptoms will do so from the time of its first use, reports related to modules returned for these
symptoms indicate that it will likely take some time for the degree of spikes or drift to disrupt
package operation. Data from the modules returned to Solar for these symptoms indicate a time
period of 5 to 13 months of module operation before the symptoms reach the point of disrupting
package operation with the majority of the returned modules causing failures in the 5 to 9 month
time period.
If you have any IRT8XT thermocouple / RTD / millivolt Flex I/O input modules with Solar part
number 1089240-31 or TBM code 27000139 exhibiting any of these symptoms, see the ACTION
REQUIRED section below for resolution.
ACTION REQUIRED:
If you have any 1794-IRT8XT thermocouple / RTD / millivolt Flex I/O input modules with
Solar part number 1089240-31 or TBM code 27000139 exhibiting any of the symptoms
described in the GENERAL INFORMATION section above, take the following steps to get a no-cost
replacement. Any other Turbomach/Solar P/N is exempt from this specific recall.
• Contact your local Turbomach/Solar Service Parts provider to order replacement modules free of
charge. Please have the following information available at the time of order:
– Labor costs
– Duties
– Shipping costs
• After replacing old modules, fill out and sign the affidavit form (Figure 1), and then return it as
directed on the affidavit to avoid being invoiced for the new modules.