Short Circuits
Feb 1, 2007,
The Bubble Machine In the early '70s, I worked for the Navy in a shop that primarily performed maintenance for Navy housing. Neither myself nor my fellow...
In the Ballpark
Feb 1, 2007, By Michael Hughes, CPE, Bergelectric Corp.
Webster's defines estimate as: A statement of the cost of work to be done. For those of us in the electrical world, what this really means is: How much...
The Troubles with Dialing in Proper Circuit Breaker Protection
Jan 1, 2007, By Bill Bardsley, Square D/Schneider Electric
If a motor isn't adequately protected, a short circuit will likely result in premature replacement. Then there's the problem of nuisance tripping upon...
Short Circuts
Jan 1, 2007,
A Shocking Ending Right after I got involved in the electrical trade, I was paired with an older journeyman to learn the tricks of the trade. We were...
The Case of the Surface Miner Electrocution
Jan 1, 2007, By James Angelo Ruggieri, P.E., General Machine Corp.
There was no question how the accident happened that day. On a cold winter afternoon in northwestern Ohio, a dredge operator was electrocuted when he...
From the Forensic Files of NIOSH
Jan 1, 2007,
Even the most experienced electrical industry employee is susceptible to on-the-job hazards. Case in point: A journeyman electrician with 20 years of...
Short Circuits
Dec 1, 2006,
Balancing Act The office we were running conduit in about 30 years ago was of typical wood-frame construction, about 9 feet high, inside a 25-foot warehouse....
Streamlining the Energized Work Permit Process
Dec 1, 2006, By Larry Ayer, P.E., Biz Com Electric, Inc.
Filling out paperwork for electrical permits and inspections and submitting a drawing to the local building department for plan review is already time...
Post-Electrocution Acts that Save Lives
Dec 1, 2006,
While most electrical safety plans make every effort to ensure no one is ever electrocuted, electrocution is an ever-present danger for those in the electrical...
Let Your Fingers Do the Walking
Dec 1, 2006,
The Internet can be a powerful marketing tool. In fact, the Web has all but replaced the Yellow Pages as a way for consumers to locate local service providers....
The Beauty of Half-Splitting
Nov 1, 2006, By Daryn Lewellyn, Lewellyn Technology, Inc.
Contrary to popular belief, the act of troubleshooting is not always about your tools; it's often about your mind. Many maintenance personnel are too...
In Search of the Perfect Project Manager
Nov 1, 2006,
Instead of spending so much time chasing after the ideal of that perfect project manager, it may be more profitable for construction companies to create...
Short Circuits
Nov 1, 2006,
Tennis Anyone? One day, I was assigned the task of checking out a tennis ball machine at a private tennis court. When I arrived at the site, I saw the...
The Case of the Self-Closing Switch
Oct 1, 2006, By John J. Nicholas, JNLV Consulting Co., Inc.
When a Southern California plastics extruding company planned upgrades to its main switchgear distribution, an experienced and well-qualified electrical...
Grounding Mobile Construction Equipment
Oct 1, 2006, By Jaclyn Alcantara, Associate Editor
As the nation's power demands have increased over the past few decades, the nature of the hazards posed by overhead transmission and distribution lines...
