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Tip of the Week: The Real Value of T&M Equipment

Nov. 23, 2015
You have a wide array of test and measurement equipment available to you today, but how are you managing your test data?

Test and measurement equipment has advanced hugely since the days of the analog Volt-Ohmmeter (VOM) in the phenolic case. In addition to the highly advanced DMMs that have replaced those instruments, we are now empowered by other test equipment such as:

  • Clamp-on meters. In essence a variation on the DMM, these come in a variety of configurations that help in difficult measurement situations.
  • Infrared tools. These have opened up a whole new way of (literally) looking at maintenance. The tools in this category range from spot temperature thermometers to highly capable thermographic cameras. Simply adding an entry-level thermographic camera to your instrument collection provides solid gains; fully embracing a thermography program brings even greater benefits.
  • Vibration testers. Gone are the days when you were limited to taking voltage measurements to maintain your motors.
  • Insulation testers. If you care about your cables, you perform insulation resistance tests. Taking baseline measurements after installation then then trending periodic (e.g., annual) test results enables you to predict and prevent catastrophic failures.
  • Ultrasonics. Useful in many ways. Finding leaks in a plant air-distribution system is one way to bring electrical demand down.
  • Moisture meters. If you’ve encountered corrosion, you already know why these are essential.
  • The videoscope. This is hard to beat on cool factor. And it can eliminate a lot of very uncomfortable contorting as you try to see behind, under, or over things.

But with all of this testing and measurement capability, what are you actually doing with the test results and measurement data? If you have not done so already, start looking at connectivity-capable (e.g., Bluetooth) instruments that enable you to go well beyond the old-school paper reporting process.

As you add connectivity-capable tools to your testing and measurement arsenal, you’ll begin to change your processes to make them more agile and your team more capable.

About the Author

Mark Lamendola

Mark is an expert in maintenance management, having racked up an impressive track record during his time working in the field. He also has extensive knowledge of, and practical expertise with, the National Electrical Code (NEC). Through his consulting business, he provides articles and training materials on electrical topics, specializing in making difficult subjects easy to understand and focusing on the practical aspects of electrical work.

Prior to starting his own business, Mark served as the Technical Editor on EC&M for six years, worked three years in nuclear maintenance, six years as a contract project engineer/project manager, three years as a systems engineer, and three years in plant maintenance management.

Mark earned an AAS degree from Rock Valley College, a BSEET from Columbia Pacific University, and an MBA from Lake Erie College. He’s also completed several related certifications over the years and even was formerly licensed as a Master Electrician. He is a Senior Member of the IEEE and past Chairman of the Kansas City Chapters of both the IEEE and the IEEE Computer Society. Mark also served as the program director for, a board member of, and webmaster of, the Midwest Chapter of the 7x24 Exchange. He has also held memberships with the following organizations: NETA, NFPA, International Association of Webmasters, and Institute of Certified Professional Managers.

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