Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about our services, response and EnerGuard.
What does Conception FG do?
Conception FG is a team of service technicians specialized in marine electrical systems. We do onboard electrical troubleshooting, preventive maintenance with thermography and megger testing, marine electrical panel fabrication, main switchboard replacement, automation, commissioning and energy efficiency with our EnerGuard solution.
Do you offer 24/7 emergency service?
Yes. Our emergency line 1 877 724-2462 answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in English and French.
Where are you located?
Our office and shop are at 835A, Grand Rang Saint-François, unit 5, Saint-Pie, Quebec. Our technicians are based in Saint-Pie, Quebec, and in Hamilton, Ontario.
What area do you serve?
The whole St. Lawrence River, estuary and gulf corridor and the Great Lakes. We also support projects abroad, such as barge construction in China.
Do you work at sea?
Yes. We work dockside, at anchor, in dry dock or at sea as needed. The EnerGuard system, for example, can be installed at sea during normal vessel operations.
Do you build electrical panels?
Yes. We design and build custom marine electrical panels in our Quebec shop, including our own Marine Series stainless steel line, and install them on board.
What is EnerGuard?
EnerGuard is Conception FG's solution that uses variable frequency drives to regulate the speed of seawater (SW) and low temperature (LT) cooling pumps to the real demand. It cuts fuel use and GHG emissions. Fully designed in Quebec, it is in service on 7 vessels.
Is EnerGuard under warranty?
Yes. EnerGuard has a 2 year warranty from commissioning, with remote debugging first. Financing based on actual fuel savings may also be offered.
How can I estimate EnerGuard savings for my vessel?
Use the online EnerGuard calculator: enter your pump power, operating hours, engine load and water temperature to get pessimistic, realistic and optimistic estimates. A dedicated study then confirms the figures for your vessel.
Is the preventive maintenance report signed?
Yes. Our preventive electrical survey ends with a report signed by an engineer, with every fault photographed and ranked by urgency.
Are you a ComAp partner?
Yes. Conception FG is a ComAp Channel Partner in Quebec. We sell and integrate ComAp parts, including generator and engine controllers, with installation, programming and commissioning.
Do you sell electrical parts?
Yes. We supply electrical components for vessels and industry, and our technicians can help identify the right part number.
What languages do you work in?
English and French, in Quebec and in Ontario.
Do you respond at night and on weekends?
Yes. The emergency line 1 877 724-2462 answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including nights, weekends and holidays.
Where do you respond to emergencies?
Across the St. Lawrence River, estuary and gulf and the Great Lakes, from our technicians based in Saint-Pie, Quebec, and in Hamilton, Ontario.
What should I have ready before calling?
The vessel position, the alarms shown, the equipment affected and what happened just before the failure. This lets us bring the right tools and parts.
Will I receive a report after the job?
Yes. Every emergency call ends with a service report and recommendations to prevent the failure from happening again.
What types of vessels do you serve?
Merchant vessels, tankers, barges and government vessels, in Quebec, Ontario and along the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes corridor.
Do you work while the vessel is in operation?
Yes, when the work allows. We work dockside, in dry dock or at sea, around the vessel schedule.
Are you a residential electrical contractor?
No. Conception FG is a team of service technicians specialized in marine electrical systems. We work on board vessels and for the maritime industry.
Do equipment need to be shut down for thermography?
No. Thermography is done while equipment runs under load, which is exactly what reveals hot spots.
Is the report signed?
Yes. The final report is signed by an engineer and shows every fault photographed, ranked by urgency, with the recommended correction.
What happens after the survey?
We can correct the faults found at preferred rates, then measure again. The before and after report is provided at no charge.
How often should a vessel electrical survey be done?
The most useful time is before the navigation season or a long voyage, and after major work. Tracking megger values over time shows degradation.
Where are your panels built?
In our shop in Quebec. Every panel is checked in the shop before it is installed on board.
Can you build a panel from our old drawings?
Yes. Send us your existing drawings or a description of the need: we survey, update the drawings and build the panel.
Do you install the panels you build?
Yes. Our technicians install them on board and commission them. We can also support your in-house crew.
How long is the vessel out of service?
It depends on the switchboard and the vessel. We plan the work around the vessel schedule to limit downtime, often during a technical stop or dry dock.
Do you check protection coordination?
Yes. A protection coordination check and functional tests are part of every replacement.
Can a drive be installed without stopping the vessel?
Often yes. Installation can frequently be done during normal vessel operations, depending on the system.
Do you program the drives?
Yes. We handle selection, installation, programming, tuning and integration with vessel sensors and alarms.
Do you commission equipment installed by others?
Yes. We carry out testing and commissioning even when the installation was done by your crew or another supplier.
What documentation do you provide?
Updated drawings, the test report and the settings retained. We also walk the crew through the system.
Can you update old or incomplete drawings?
Yes. We survey the installation on board and revise the drawings so they match the actual installation.
What is 3D scanning of a panel used for?
It measures the real dimensions of an existing panel and its location on board, so the replacement panel is designed to fit and connect the first time.
Can I see the panel before it is built?
Yes. We model the panel in 3D and you approve the layout before the shop starts fabrication.
Why do a short-circuit study on a vessel?
To check that every breaker can interrupt the possible fault current at its location, and that protections are coordinated to isolate only the faulted section.
Should the study be redone after changes?
Yes, when a major source such as a generator, transformer or switchboard is added or replaced, because fault currents change.
Can you coordinate the construction of a vessel or barge in Asia?
Yes. We have developed a network of contacts and trusted partners in Asia and we have a representative on site. We provide shipyard supervision, inspections and quality control at every stage, for example for barge construction in China for a Canadian shipowner.
Do you manage projects outside Canada?
Yes. For example, we managed a turnkey barge construction project in China for a Canadian shipowner, with on-site supervision and quality control at every stage.
Can you identify a part from a photo?
Yes. A clear photo of the nameplate or label often lets us confirm the exact part number and rating before ordering.
Electrical failure on board or a project to plan?
Our team answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in English and French.