Test Wall: To ensure that every repaired or rebuilt used product is fully tested in all aspects Lamonde Automation have built a test wall containing all Texas Instruments PLC systems and configurations... A wide range of test fixtures have been created in order to quickly test to specifications and documented proceedure ... Each item is fully tested on every channel and a Certificate of Conformity or fault report produced listing the test results...
Compliance: Membership of ERA (Electrical Research Association) in Leatherhead www.era.co.uk enables us to deal reliably with compliance issues, standards and product validation requirements by all industries... Lamonde Automation maintains an extensive library of TI manuals and firmware releases. Several systems require complimentary firmware levels between parts and Lamonde will advise you on any compatibility issues...
Test Report: All repairs are returned with a test report detailing the faults detected, when known. This is to assist you in determining whether external influences have caused the part failure. We have learnt from previous experience which components regularly fail, due to inherent wear-out mechanisms, and replace all these prior to testing the product. If the product then passes functional test we consider that the fault will have been age related. Generally the TI product range was, and still is, designed for a 10 year 100,000 hour product life, but this life will be shortened by operation in high ambient temperatures. Certificate of Conformity: Purchased rebuilt parts are issued with a certificate of conformity to the original TI specifications. We detail power supply values, and I/O levels for all channels.
This is essential to ensure correct operation of protection components, and detect marginal operation. This certificate details the tests we perform on every item, which ensures an almost zero returns rate after repair. If a return is received we handle this as a top priority and review our test procedures to identify the fault that occurred...
Component Quality: Electrolytic capacitors are an indispensable major component in all electronic designs. The can size in an electrolytic and the temperature rating of its end seal sets its life. Robust product designs will use large can size axial electrolytics with a rated life of 2000 hours at 105 degC operating temperature, whereas compact designs will utilize small radial 1000 hour 85 degC capacitors.  Each 10 degC drop in actual operating temperature doubles the capacitors life. If the internal cabinet temperature is 45 degC maximum then a component life of 2000 x 26 or 128,000 hours (14.6 years) can be achieved. Pressure to reduce product size has resulted in smaller capacitors being used, with 85 degC rating, but still of a good quality initial 2000 hour life. This reduces the component life at 45 degC to 32,000 hours (4-years). Some repair companies change electrolytic capacitors, but may use general grade products rated at 500 hours at 85 degC, which reduces the repaired product life to just the 1-year warranty period. Items classed as "Original New Boxed" and "From Working Units" very rarely have had their capacitors changed. Only Fully Rebuilt products can assure you long trouble free product life. Lamonde Automation utilize modern high quality electrolytic capacitors, with improved end seals and subsequent smaller can sizes to upgrade the original design life of products, where this is possible. Opto-isolators have an inherent wear out mechanism. Most of the types used in legacy PLC equipment are now obsolete, but were chosen by TI for their specified half-life. Lamonde Automation will pay extra to obsolete component suppliers in order to fit the original components, or will source comparable alternatives with specified half-life characteristics. Commercial grade components do not have specified half-life characteristics. Not every product designed by TI was 100% perfect. Through our experience we correct marginal design problems, and have redesigned several of the power supplies, utilizing off the shelf modern power supply modules with all the required CE/UL approvals, and around these standard supplies we have produced the required protection circuitry and extra large brownout holdup capacitors of the original designs.

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