Q. Why is Cooper discontinuing R-Temp fluid when it is so tried-and-true?

A. Indeed, R-Temp set the bar for less-flammable fluids back in 1975. Since then, it has had a flawless fire safety record through more than one million unit years of service in transformers. Today’s customers, however, require even more value from their dielectric fluid, and they have been rapidly converting to our Envirotemp FR3 fluid, thus decreasing the demand for R-Temp. Due to this growing customer preference, the high quality supplier of HMWH base oil for R-Temp fluid has made the business decision to cease its production.

Q. Can I get in a last order for R-Temp or is Cooper completely out?

A. In order to give our customers ample time to plan and execute the conversion from R-Temp fluid, we have secured a sufficient supply to meet normal demands until the end of 2005. That said, the sooner you change over to Envirotemp FR3 fluid, the sooner you can start realizing the cost-saving advantages of enhanced transformer insulation life, performance, and fire safety, as well as FR3 fluid’s favorable environmental attributes.

Q. Isn’t there a one-for-one substitute for R-Temp on the market?

A. No. We have seen no documentation that any other non-silicone fluid meets both the National Electric Code^® (NEC)^® and National Electric Safety Code (NESC) standards for less-flammable formulation as well as the UL^® listing requirements for use in electrical transformers (EOVK listing). Simply put, Cooper’s Envirotemp FR3 fluid is the only dielectric fluid to meet our strict quality control for optimum transformer cooling characteristics, while offering additional advantages such as the highest flash and fire points, best environmental profile, extended transformer insulation life, and lowest cost.

Q. Are there potential risks associated with switching from Cooper’s R-Temp to less-flammable fluids that are not UL-listed as a transformer fluid?

A. It’s impossible to calculate the potential risks. There is no data that we have seen that supports the safety from tank rupture and fire of using a fluid that does not have UL “EOVK” listing as a dielectric and cooling medium in electrical transformers. We are not aware of any full scale testing documentation, required to achieve UL EOVK status, that supports the suitability of such liquids for new or retrofilled transformers. In addition, now that the premium base oil supplier is exiting the business, there are serious questions on the availability of base oils that consistently meet and exceeded all of the ASTM and IEEE^® properties.

Q. As the market for value-added dielectric fluids continues to expand, won’t customer preference for Cooper’s Envirotemp FR3 force suppliers of competitive fluids to make the decision to discontinue their products as well?

A. Good question. The answer is that there is no way to predict whether suppliers to our competitors will discontinue their products or not, but the possibility certainly exists. What we can say unequivocally is that Cooper has offered Envirotemp FR3 fluid commercially since 1999 and will continue to offer it in the future. So if you don’t want to change out from R-Temp fluid now, and then from a competitor’s fluid down the road, the logical choice is Envirotemp FR3 fluid.

Q. Is Envirotemp FR3 fluid compatible with R-Temp fluid?

A. Absolutely. FR3 fluid is entirely miscible (mixable) and compatible with R-Temp fluid. It can be used to top off existing transformers filled with R-Temp fluid. It can also be used to retrofill R-Temp fluid-filled transformers, thus extending the insulation life and increasing the capacity of the transformer.

Q. Is Envirotemp FR3 fluid compatible with other less-flammable fluids offered by competitors?

A. FR3 is entirely miscible (mixable) and compatible with commercialized less-flammable fluids made by other manufacturers—with the exception of silicone, which is not compatible with any other dielectric coolant type including mineral oil. It can be used to top off existing transformers filled with other less-flammable, non-silicone fluids. FR3 fluid can also be used to retrofill transformers filled with most other less-flammable, non-silicone fluids, thus extending the insulation life and increasing the loading capacity of the transformer.

Q. Is Envirotemp FR3 proven to be an effective dielectric for transformer components?

A. Yes. Cooper has thoroughly tested and proven the effectiveness of FR3 with all Cooper Power Systems components for transformers.