13/08/2026
🌱 NEW – Cloudburst® Annual Service & Preventative Maintenance Package
This blocked £10 air filter could be taking years off the life of a £5,000+ drive.
The photograph below is from a real irrigation control panel – and the air intake filter was almost completely blocked.
It might not look like a major problem, but restricted airflow can dramatically increase temperatures inside a control panel and prevent Variable Speed Drives (VSDs) and other electronic equipment from cooling correctly.
Heat is one of the biggest enemies of power electronics.
VSDs contain temperature-sensitive components, particularly the electrolytic capacitors used within the DC bus. As a general engineering principle, a 10°C increase in operating temperature can approximately halve the expected life of temperature-sensitive electronic components.
A blocked filter can therefore contribute to premature ageing of a drive worth thousands of pounds.
And it isn't just the VSD.
Excessive panel temperatures place additional thermal stress on PLCs, 24VDC power supplies, HMIs, communications equipment and other electronic components, potentially reducing their service life and increasing the likelihood of failure when the system is needed most.
With irrigation systems often working hardest during the hottest and busiest part of the year, preventative maintenance makes sense.
That's why we're introducing the Cloudburst® Annual Service & Preventative Maintenance Package.
The annual service includes, but isn't limited to:
⚡ NICEIC Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
Inspection and testing of the electrical installation, helping customers meet their electrical maintenance obligations and any applicable insurer requirements.
🔧 Electrical connection & torque checks
Motor, VSD, isolator and appropriate power connections inspected and checked to the manufacturer's specified torque where applicable. Thermal cycling, vibration and repeated operation can contribute to connection problems over time.
🌡️ Thermal imaging inspection
Thermal inspection of electrical equipment under load where practical, helping identify abnormal heating and potentially deteriorating connections before they develop into failures.
🌬️ Replacement of panel ventilation filters
All panel air filters replaced and ventilation paths inspected to maintain adequate airflow through the enclosure.
❄️ Cooling system inspection & cleaning
Panel cooling fans, VSD fans, heatsinks, vents and airflow paths inspected for contamination, obstruction and correct operation.
⚙️ VSD health checks
Drive fault histories, operating temperatures, running hours and available diagnostic information reviewed for indications of developing problems. Fan and capacitor life information will also be checked where supported by the drive.
🖥️ Cloudburst® software updates
PLC and HMI software updated to the latest applicable Cloudburst® release, including reliability improvements and additional functionality where available.
🔐 HMI, modem & communications updates
Firmware and communications equipment reviewed and updated where appropriate to maintain security, compatibility and operational reliability.
💾 System backup
Current PLC, HMI and VSD configurations backed up and archived, providing an up-to-date recovery point should equipment ever need to be replaced following a failure.
🔌 Full control panel inspection
PLCs, power supplies, relays, contactors, protective devices, terminals and other components inspected for signs of overheating, deterioration, contamination or damage.
📋 Annual condition & preventative maintenance report
A report detailing the work completed, equipment condition, defects identified and any recommendations – allowing maintenance to be planned before a minor problem becomes an in-season breakdown.
Already using Cloudburst® 4G Remote Access & App Support?
The new annual service package can be added to your existing annual Cloudburst® 4G Remote Access & App package, bringing remote connectivity, software support, electrical inspection and preventative maintenance together into one annual package.
Irrigation control equipment operates in a demanding environment. Heat, dust, moisture, long operating hours and periods of intense seasonal use.
A little preventative maintenance can make the difference between finding a developing problem during a planned winter service visit and finding it when the irrigation system stops in the middle of July.
Prevent it in winter. Don't discover it in summer.
🌱 Cloudburst® Irrigation Control Systems
Connected. Maintained. Ready when you need them.
Contact us for details of our new annual service packages.
