Cricket ground bowled over with lighting solution

01-12-2016

Hager and switch panel partner, Select Switchgear have teamed up with D&H Group to provide a dedicated switch panel solution to control six, 45-metre high floodlight columns installed at one of English cricket’s most famous grounds.

The Bristol County Ground, home of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club since 1870, is now clearly illuminated by 432 metal halide light fixtures to meet the night cricket lighting demands of the English Cricket Board, as well as the stipulations set down by the International Cricket Council for appropriate playing conditions if playing cricket after dark.

The project, which was completed in readiness for the 2016 season, was a collaborative effort under the overall direction of system designer Shane Tugwell from D&H Group.

He says: “I have a long standing and strong relationship with Hager and its switch panel partner, Select Switchgear. Tasked with finding a switch panel solution to work alongside the installation of six new floodlight columns, it was a straightforward decision to specify the panel from this source as I knew the standard of the work and professionalism of the team would be extremely helpful on a major project of this type.”

The switch panel was specifically installed to run the floodlight columns only and was designed to provide circuit protection and switching for the columns. There are twelve integral switches within the panel, with two switches included for each individual floodlight column.

Shane Tugwell continues: “There were a couple of small issues at the outset, but the technical support team were quickly on site to ensure that they were resolved without delay, after which the installation of the switch panel and the floodlights was highly successful.

"After being let down by another supplier on a previous project and then working with Jason Pritchard (Key Accounts Manager) at Hager on other subsequent jobs, I have found them to be an ideal partner, so we continue to work with them on projects that require the manufacture of switch gear since then. I always specify Hager products as I know I can rely upon them totally.”

The switch panel was delivered to site in three sections. The onsite civil engineers created a base for the panel’s final location which allowed the electrical team to bring up their cables from the bottom of the panel. Each section of the panel was then lifted into place by using a forklift truck. The panel was loosely bolted together, following which the Select team came to site to finally commission the panel. There are twenty final circuits feeding the floodlight columns which were brought into the bottom of the panel and terminated into the contactors.

The success of the installation was down to teamwork, as Shane Tugwell concludes: “Installing an international cricket venue floodlight solution is not without its challenges. But in this case, thankfully the switch panel was not one. To have the expert Select team at the end of the phone, together with the service and performance reliability we get from Hager technology, made for a great combination, and was instrumental in ensuring this part of the project was seamless.”