U. S. Food and Drug Administration
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
FDA Prime Connection

M-b-303 (Supplement I) - Taylor ERC Field Modifications
 
 
HHS:PHS:FDA:CFSAN:OC:DCP:MSB
 
                              200 C Street, SW
                              Washington, DC 20204
 
                              M-b-303 Supplement I
 
                              December 1, 1992
 
 
TO:       All Regional Food and Drug Directors
          Attn:  Regional Milk Specialists
 
FROM:     Milk Safety Branch (HFF-346)
 
SUBJECT:  Taylor ERC Field Modifications
 
 
Over the last several months we have received rare but troubling reports of
unusual occurrences with regard to the function of Taylor ERC Safety Thermal
Limit Recorder-Controllers used on HTST pasteurization systems.
 
These include pen spiking, flow diversion valves "locking" in forward flow and
display and/or pen drift.
 
The cause of these problems has been investigated and found to be "noisy"
electrical signals in the current received by the ERC.
 
We have received a letter from Mr. Steven Frate of the ABB Kent Taylor Company
detailing the causes of these problems and their company's proposed solutions.
 
 
We have reviewed this letter and believe it to be an accurate description of
both the problem and the solution.
 
All units manufactured since February 1, 1992 now contain the capacitors,
inline filters, and resistors and include the minor internal adjustments
needed to implement the ABB Kent Taylor proposed solution.
 
The letter also describes what is required to modify older units to eliminate
these same concerns.
 
We recommend that older units be so modified.
 
Also enclosed is a list of the new catalog numbers.  This may be of assistance
in determining which units are older and may need to receive this additional
power supply protection.
 
Modification parts and installation instructions and/or assistance is
available from ABB Kent Taylor stocking representatives - a map showing which
representative services your area is enclosed.  Additional technical questions
regarding these corrective measures may be addressed to:
 
                                 Steven Frate
                            ABB Kent Taylor Company
                               1175 Johns Street
                          Rochester, New York  14692
                                (716) 273-6250
                                (FAX) 273-6282
 
Copies of this memorandum with attachments are enclosed for distribution to
state milk sanitation regulatory agencies and state milk rating officers in
your region.
 
 
 
 
 
                              Steven T. Sims