HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2k - Purchase of 6.6 Amp Isolation TransformersPurchase Order for 6.6 amp Isolation Transformers January 16, 2018
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DATE: January 16, 2018
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Tom Tait, Public Works Services Director
By: Tyler Polidori, General Services Superintendent
SUBJECT: PURCHASE ORDER WITH SOUTH COAST LIGHTING & DESIGN FOR
THE PURCHASE OF 6.6 AMP ISOLATION TRANSFORMERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $66,411.31
Recommendation: Approve
SUMMARY
The City of Arcadia’s street lighting system is comprised of over 3,900 Southern
California Edison (“SCE”) and City owned streetlights. There are about 400 City owned
street lights that were initially installed when homes were built, and are called 6.6 series
street lights. Replacement parts to keep the 6.6 series street lights working have been
difficult, if not impossible, to locate. The Public Works Services Department has been looking for ways to upgrade/repair the system and prolong the life span of the 6.6 series
street lights. Recently, staff located a vendor that specializes in maintaining 6.6 series
street lights and has manufactured an isolation transformer that converts series
electricity into parallel electricity at the light pole.
It is recommended that the City Council approve a sole source purchase order with
South Coast Lighting & Design for the purchase of 6.6 amp isolation transformers in the
amount of $66,411.31.
DISCUSSION
The City currently owns and maintains approximately 400 6.6 series street lights located
in 3 areas of the City (Santa Anita Oaks, Rancho Santa Anita, and Santa Anita Village).
The 6.6 series street lights can no longer be maintained due to the inability to obtain
replacement incandescent lamps and bayonet sockets. Many of the light poles have been retrofitted using a ballast-type kit to convert the incandescent lamp into a high-
pressure sodium lamp. However, these kits can no longer be used because they draw
too much power from the SCE transformer, and when too many high-pressure sodium
ballast kits are installed, they overload the transformer, causing the light to not work.
Purchase Order for 6.6 amp Isolation Transformers January 16, 2018
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Recent isolation transformer technology has the ability to convert series circuits into parallel circuits, which enable the use of low wattage LED lamps. The LED lamps
consume much less power than the high-pressure sodium ballast retrofit kits that have
been utilized in the past. The Public Works Services Department (“PWSD”) is currently
organizing a 6.6 series street light retrofit pilot project that will upgrade 63 light poles in the Santa Anita Village area with isolation transformers and LED lamps. This will restore power to many light poles that are currently not working, and ensure reliable and
uninterrupted operation of the remaining light poles in the area. A total of 88 items will
be purchased. The PWSD will use 63 isolation transformers for the Santa Anita Village
retrofit project. The 25 additional isolation transformers will be used to make repairs to other series street light poles located in the City. Each isolation transformer costs $689. The isolation transformers require the use of a low wattage LED light so that the circuit
is not overloaded. LED lights are more energy efficient and last longer than high-
pressure sodium lights. Rewiring the entire 6.6 series circuit system into a modern
parallel lighting system would cost about $4.5 million. The isolation transformers are manufactured by OV20 Systems, LLC. and are a
propriety design product that cannot be obtained from an alternative vendor. There are
currently no other products available that perform a similar function as the OV20
Systems isolation transformers. South Coast Lighting & Design is the exclusive distributor of this product. Therefore, it is recommended that the City Council approve a sole source purchase order with South Coast Lighting & Design for the purchase of
isolation transformers.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental
Quality Act (“CEQA”), and it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the
environment. Thus, this matter is exempt under CEQA.
FISCAL IMPACT
Each isolation transformer costs $689. The total cost for this purchase is $66,411.31 for
88 units, including tax and delivery charges. Sufficient funds are available in the
Department’s Fiscal Year 2017-18 Lighting District Operating Budget for the purchase of isolation transformers.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve a sole source Purchase Order with South Coast Lighting & Design for the purchase of 6.6 amp isolation transformers in the amount of $66,411.31.
Purchase Order for 6.6 amp Isolation Transformers January 16, 2018
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