TRANSFORMADRY-600™

TRANSFORMADRY™ Silica Gel Breathers protect High Voltage Transformers from dangerous flash-overs, which can be created by moisture ingress over time. Our silica gel breathers are made from clear polycarbonate, which allows for the easy reading of the colour-change gel within them, whilst at the same time avoiding the fragility of glass breathers. TRANSFORMADRY™ units are easy to fit, and can be attached via their simple 3/4 inch female thread.

Note: These items are also known as ‘Transformer Breathers’.

TRANSFORMADRY™ Silica Gel Breathers prevent moisture ingress into high-voltage transformers, and thus act as industrial dehumidifiers; this reduces the risk of dangerous “flash-over” events and ensures the safe operation of electricity substations, within the transmission and distribution network. HV transformers heat-up and cool during use, and this causes the air within them to expand and contract. To prevent over-pressure events, HV transformers must allow air to both escape and return, as the heating cycle progresses. Our silica gel breathers allow air-flow through their structure; this stops any pressure from building-up, whilst at the same time removing moisture from the exterior atmospheric air, as it enters the HV transformer

The desiccant silica gel contained within our breathers contains an indicating agent which allows service engineers to identify when the breather needs to be replaced. In simple terms; when the silica gel breather contains orange beads, the unit is new and fresh… and when these beads change colour to green, then it’s time to fit a new silica gel breather !

Our Silica Gel Breathers are primarily used by high-voltage maintenance contractors, who service HV transformer sites that form part of national electricity networks, and or local power sites. Wherever electricity needs to be ‘stepped-up’ to a higher voltage for long-distance transmission, or ‘stepped down’ again for local consumer usage, you will find high-voltage transformers and one of our silica gel breathers. Industrial Power Plants and Electrified Railways also use HV transformers, and thus Silica Gel Breathers also.

TRANSFORMADRY™ Breathers dry external atmospheric air, as it flows into the HV Transformer unit, acting like an Industrial Dehumidifier. Our high-quality TRANSFORMAGEL™ Silica Gel absorbs the moisture as the air passes through, stopping any moisture ingress causing flash-overs. Our Silica Gel Breathers also change colour to indicate when they are ‘new’ and also when they ‘saturated’ and need replacing.

Baltimore’s Silica Gel Breathers also incorporate one-way valves as part of their air intake nozzle. This prevents the indicating silica gel within the breathers from being prematurely activated/depleted, which in turn prolongs the life of the breather, and decreases the number of service visits required by the maintenance engineers.

What are the benefits of our Silica Gel Breathers compared to other similar products ? …Good question ! …Our Silica Gel Breathers contain a SAFE indicating agent, that notifies engineers when the silica gel has been fully saturated and when the device needs to be replaced. This indicating agent does not make use of Cobalt Chloride chemistry, and therefore is not subject to Health and Safety directives issued by the European Union.

Furthermore, whilst other silica gel breathers appear to contain similar orange-to-green indicating gel, our breathers contain TG3 TRANSFORMAGEL™ that has a “traffic light” colour-change characteristic. Our TG3 gel is red/orange when “dry”, and yellow/amber when 50% saturated, and then green/dark green when 100% saturated. This “Traffic Light” transition gives maintenance engineers a mid-point indication, that allows them to schedule breather replacement more accurately.

Another great reason for using our Silica Gel Breathers is the robustness of their construction. The strong adhesives used and the metal mesh incorporated into the breather nozzle, means that they can resist being left out, in adverse and insecure environmental conditions.

If you are wondering what size Silica Gel Breather you should be using, then the answer is quite simple – it depends on your transformer size. We generally recommend using 600g breathers for any unit that’s below 1,500 Litres, and for transformers between 1,500 – 3,000 Litres, we suggest using our 1200g breathers. For more information, please give us a call on: +44 (0)1628 531 900, or simply press the ‘Contact Expert’ button at the top of this page.

• In French, they are called: “Dessiccateur à gel de silice”.
• In German, they are called: “Silicagel-Entlüfter”.
• In Italian, they are called: “Essiccatore con gel di silice”.
• In Polish, they are called: “Osuszacz z żelem krzemionkowym”.
• In Portuguese, they are called: “Respiro com gel de sílica”.
• In Swedish, they are called: “Silicagelavfuktare”.
• In Spanish, they are called: “Respirador de gel de sílice”.