Cables
Five key factors to the correct cable selection and application
It is essential to know cable construction, characteristics, and ratings to understand problems related to cable systems. However, to correctly select a cable system and assure its satisfactory operation, additional knowledge is required. This knowledge may consist of service conditions,… Read more
Oct 31, 2016 | By Edvard Csanyi
Electric Motor
Wiring of control power transformer for motor control circuits
The motor branch circuit is usually a segment of a larger electrical distribution network in an industrial plant. The motor circuit supplies the required power to the various control devices in order for them to operate. In some cases, the various… Read more
Oct 28, 2016 | By Edvard Csanyi
Energy and Power
Tips for power factor correction and good protection of capacitors
Loads such as induction motors draw significant reactive power from the supply system, and a poor overall power factor may result. The flow of reactive power increases the voltage-drops through series reactances such as transformers and reactors, it uses up… Read more
Oct 26, 2016 | By Edvard Csanyi
Electric Motor
14 electrical characteristics of the motor you should know
Electrical characteristics like voltage, frequency and phase of power supply should be consistent with the motor nameplate rating. A motor will operate satisfactorily on voltage within 10% of nameplate value, or frequency within 5%, or combined voltage and frequency variation… Read more
Oct 24, 2016 | By Edvard Csanyi
Energy and Power
How electricians choose the most suitable protection devices
There are at least four main issues electricians must take care off very carefully when choosing the most suitable protection devices. Of course, there are dozen of other issues, but let’s try to define the most important ones from the aspect of… Read more
Oct 21, 2016 | By Edvard Csanyi
Industrial Automation
5 good methods to apply for successful PLC troubleshooting
PLC troubleshooting can be performed in many different ways and as the engineer’s experience always plays the major role in successful resolving of such issues, five methods have been developed. Let’s describe these five most common methods for troubleshooting the PLC… Read more
Oct 19, 2016 | By Edvard Csanyi
Energy and Power
Aluminium or copper busbar trunking system? What do you say?
These two materials (aluminium and copper) are both physically and economically viable for use as conductors in power busbar trunking systems (BTS). Some manufacturers of busbar trunking systems offer a product with copper busbars and others offer a product with… Read more
Oct 17, 2016 | By Edvard Csanyi
Electric Motor
Practical tips for installation and using of thermistor motor protection
Thermistor is a small non-linear resistance sensors, which can be embedded within the insulation of a motor winding, to provide a close thermal association with the winding. It’s made from a metal oxide or semiconductor material. The relationship between resistance… Read more
Oct 14, 2016 | By Edvard Csanyi
Power Substation
Paralleling and ferroresonance as special problems with transformers
Occasionally, crews must install distribution transformers, either at a changeover or for extra capacity. If a larger bank is being installed to replace an existing unit, paralleling transformers during the changeover eliminates the customer interruption. In order to parallel transformer… Read more
Oct 12, 2016 | By Edvard Csanyi
Energy and Power
Guidelines for good consumer unit design and low electric fields in the house
The consumer unit is the “fuse box” which goes between the electricity meter and all the electrical circuits in the house. Modern units do not contain fuses, but miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) which have replaced them. They often also contain… Read more
Oct 10, 2016 | By Edvard Csanyi
Energy and Power
Best practice for using surge protective devices (SPDs) and RCD together
Where the power distribution system incorporates RCDs transient activity could cause RCDs to operate and hence loss of supply. Surge protective devices (SPDs) should wherever possible be installed upstream of RCD to prevent unwanted tripping caused by transient overvoltages. Where… Read more
Oct 07, 2016 | By Edvard Csanyi
Energy and Power
4 steps to diagnose a potential harmonics related problem
If a plant engineer suspects that he might have a harmonics related problem, the following steps can easily be performed as an initial investigation into potential problems: Look for symptoms of harmonics as listed in Table 1 below. If one… Read more
Oct 05, 2016 | By Edvard Csanyi
Energy and Power
Problems with audible substation noise and what you can do about it
Audible substation noise, particularly continuously radiated discrete tones (e.g., from power transformers), is the type of noise that the community may find unacceptable. Community guidelines to ensure that acceptable substation noise levels are maintained can take the form of governmental… Read more
Oct 03, 2016 | By Edvard Csanyi
