Making Amendments
Oct 1, 2007, By Beck Ireland, Staff Writer
Although the three-year Code-making cycle for the 2008 edition of the National Electrical Code (NEC) recently closed, the dust has not yet settled on...
Battery Sizing Basics
Sep 1, 2007, By Shanmuga S. Pandian, SOFCON
Because stationary batteries and 48VDC power systems serve as lifelines for telecommunication networks, the reliability of these systems is of the utmost...
Seeing the Light
Sep 1, 2007, By Gary Nangle, P.E., Cronis, Liston, Nangle & White, LLP
Although industrial lighting has historically been a step behind technologies used for other building types, many of the advancements made over the past...
Magnetic Motor Starter Basics
Sep 1, 2007, By Steve Vidal, P.E., Joseph J. Vidal & Sons, Inc.
The NEC defines a controller in a few different ways. In Art. 100, a controller is described as a device or group of devices that serves to govern, in...
Calculating Arc Flash Energy Levels
Sep 1, 2007, By Benjamin O. Medich, P.E., Ballinger
While not a major topic of consideration when designing and maintaining facilities in past years, code-enforcement bodies have become increasingly aware...
The Case of the Knockoff Motor
Sep 1, 2007, By Curtis E. Falany, P.E., FORCON International Corp.
Have you ever heard the expression, green is ground the world around? I have, many times. But do you ever personally check the green conductor to see...
The Changing Face of CPM
Sep 1, 2007, By Tom Zind, Freelance Writer
The advent of ever-more powerful software has relieved contractors of tedious work ranging from bookkeeping to taxes to estimating. Time that used to...
Addressing Arc Flash Concerns Through Smart Design
Aug 1, 2007, By Bill Woods P.E., Integrated Engineering Solutions
Every so often, the electrical industry is able to add to our understanding of what makes a safe, well-designed electrical system. This knowledge can...
Spin-Offs
Aug 1, 2007, By Beck Ireland, Staff Writer
At first glance, Kay-R Electric, Syracuse, N.Y., seems like a typical electrical contracting firm. The company specializes in electrical construction...
Putting the P in Engineer
Jul 1, 2007,
A century ago, the first engineering licensure law was enacted. Now, every state regulates the practice of engineering to ensure public safety by granting...
The Basics of Large Dry-Type Transformers
Jun 1, 2007, By Keith Lane, P.E., SASCO
Like all of the electrical distribution equipment serving critical systems, transformers are a key component. That's why it's crucial to evaluate your...
Mitigating Harmonics in Industrial Environments
Jun 1, 2007, By John Houdek, Allied Industrial Marketing
No harmonic mitigation solution is ideal for every application. So, once you or your client decides to reduce harmonic distortion on a facility electrical...
When Lightning Strikes
Jun 1, 2007, By Keith Lane, P.E., SASCO
Lightning protection can be a critical part of any building's infrastructure, providing protection to people and property. When assessing a particular...
Standard Motor Control Circuit Primer
Jun 1, 2007, By Steve Vidal, P.E., Joseph J. Vidal & Sons, Inc.
Single-phase and 3-phase AC squirrel cage induction motors need some type of control circuit to initiate a start or stop function. The two types of ladder...
Nothing but Blue Skies
Apr 1, 2007, By Beck Ireland, Staff Writer
Revenue for overall design services remained hot for the majority of engineering firms in EC&M's 2007 Top 40 list. Commanding a sunny average year-over-year...
Electrical Equipment Issues for Parked Aircraft
Apr 1, 2007, By Mike McClelland, General Dynamics Information Technology
Replacing many older aircraft ground servicing electrical systems, solid-state frequency inverters (SSFI) are primarily being used these days as a cost-savings...
Ladder Logic Basics
Apr 1, 2007, By Steve Vidal, P.E., Joseph J. Vidal & Sons, Inc.
A specialized segment of the electrical construction and maintenance industry, AC motor control is an area that requires specific knowledge in order to...
Inside Information
Mar 1, 2007, By Beck Ireland, Staff Writer
Much like the dilemma of the chicken and the egg, it's difficult to pinpoint the origin of the perceived lack of true technological innovations for the...
Software Simplifies System Design
Mar 1, 2007, By Tom Zind, Freelance Writer
As electrical system design work grows more complex and becomes more closely linked with other project design elements, design engineers are turning to...
Proper Working Drawing Sets: An Engineer's Perspective
Mar 1, 2007, By Brian Nicholson, P.E., C&I Engineering
On any given construction project, multiple parties work together toward common goals to complete the job on time, on budget, and without any accidents...
