Power Generation, Distribution & Protection . . . |
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Protect Your Plant
If you want manufacturing to perform at world class levels, you need to predict component and equipment failures. Power shows how Entergy uses its Performance Monitoring and Diagnostic Center (PM&DC) for early detection of impending failures. The PM&DC identifies problems before the plant's SCADA system reaches alarm limits.
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World's Longest Subsea Cable
Subsea high-voltage cables provide integral links between countries and from offshore wind power stations to the mainland. The world's longest subsea cable was recently put in service between Norway and The Netherlands. T&D World says the cable is 580 km long, weighs 47,000 tons, and can handle 450 kVDC.
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Solid State Switches Beat Relays
Some say conventional switch solutions using electromechanical relays and fuses can't provide system diagnostics and fault reporting. This switch for automotive lighting applications overcomes the disadvantages. It provides diagnostics for the switch, light source, and wiring harness; and comprehensive fault management and load control.
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Predict Connector Failures
Weakened, dirty, and/or corroded electrical connections have a high resistance to current flow and generate excess heat. A good way to spot high connector heat and predict failures is with a non-contact thermometer. Increases of 10° C from ambient temperature indicate a poor connection, ground in circuit, or unbalanced load.
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New Terminal Block and Shrink Sleeve Marking Options
PHOENIX CONTACT Inc., USA
Phoenix Contact's thermal transfer printers mark terminal blocks, wires, and equipment with clear, non-smearing 300 dpi output that withstands harsh industrial conditions. The new THERMOMARK W2 thermal transfer printer also now simultaneously prints on both sides of Phoenix Contact's endless shrink sleeves.
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ROHM's Hall Effect ICs Offer Industry's Smallest Packages, Lowest Sandby Current
Rohm Electronics
Gaining traction in switching applications, ROHM's high-performance hall effect sensors provide an effective alternative to mechanical switches, offering increased reliability, lower power consumption, and other cost/performance advantages in a range of portable electronic applications that require smaller packages.
More information.
View the white paper.
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Problems Starting Motors with Extreme Loads?
ABB Low Voltage Products & Systems
Tired of the endless maintenance costs; operating extreme loads with typical motor starters? ABB has a better idea: Extreme Duty Softstarters. Experience an immediate reduction in your maintenance and downtime costs. XD Softstarters reduce downtime in two vital locations: at the starter and in the drive train. Complimentary details — save $$$.
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Machine Tool Control Transformers
PowerVolt, Inc.
The international series CT transformers are especially suited for requiring high inrush current and output voltage stability. This is typically the case when electromagnetic devices such as relays, solenoids, contractors, bells, signals, and alarm systems are initially energized. Specifically designed for electrical control applications.
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BPA Cuts PCBs in Capacitors
Millions of electric capacitors worldwide are filled with polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB). PCB is a great insulator, nonflammable, and retains its chemical properties for decades. But PCB may also cause cancer; that's why Bonneville Power Administration spent $102 million over 17 years replacing more than 100,000 capacitors.
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Track Items with Pinpoint Accuracy
Ultra-wideband real-time location systems (RTLS) can locate up to 11,000 items in a 20 m radius with 10 cm accuracy. But competing products use proprietary protocols that confuse customers and slow adoption. RFID Update says that startup DecaWave is committing to produce an 802.15-standard RTLS chip.
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Christmas Goes Nano
One type of LED light using quantum dots, a technology based on semiconductor nanocrystals, may be lighting up Christmas decorations as soon as next year. Small Times says that quantum dots allow LEDs to be offered in a wide range of colors, unlike current technology which severely limits LED color choices.
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Make Yourself Invisible
Ever wished that you could just disappear for a while? Researchers at UC Berkley are working to making this fantasy a reality with a 3D material that can reverse the direction of visible and near-infrared light. According to Nano News, this could lead to advances in nanocircuitry, optical imaging, and invisibility cloaks.
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Corrosion Resistant Fans
Applied Technology LLC
Applied Technology's corrosion-resistant fans utilize special fine grain stainless steel bearings and shafts and special formulated corrosion protection lubrication, for long bearing life in corrosive operating conditions. The printed circuit board, components, and coils are conformal coated to minimize moisture or contaminants from effecting electronic performance of all electronic circuits. Learn more.
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ProgramaCube® Slashes OEM Control Design Cost
ABB Low Voltage Products & Systems
An OEM designer selects a ProgramaCube® control relay from ABB to replace a legacy PLC controller. The resulting custom control system is smaller, 73% less expensive, and 10x more reliable. Backed by a 10-year warranty. Programming time is eliminated; enclosure size, components, and connections are all slashed by 50%.
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ADOD Series Automotive Delay-on-Dropout Timer
Amperite Co.
Features:
• Solid state circuitry
• Automotive voltage range
• Delay-on-dropout function
• 40 Ampere SPST relay contact (form A)
• Compact size
Visit our Web site www.amperite.com or call at (800) 752-2329. |
Cost-effective Copper Bus Bar Punching
Foremost Machinery Corp.
The Foremost-JFY MC-40 CNC bus bar punching machine is for copper bus bars applications up to 5/8 in. thick and 8 in. wide. It offers switchgear manufacturers the reliability of a machine with: Fanuc controller and servo components, ABB motors, Bosch Rexroth hydraulics, NSK bearings, and SMC and Festo pneumatics. More about Foremost Machinery.
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Careers & Commentary . . . | |
Advance Your Career ONLINE
Drexel University
A better education means a better career. Earn a top-ranked Master's or Bachelor's degree or a certificate online from Drexel University Online. Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, Library and Information Science, and MORE.
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How Do Your Engineering Skills Stack Up?
My Perfect Gig, Inc.
Engineers are always in demand, but how do you stack up in the marketplace? Do your skills match up with what the best companies need? Visit MyPerfectGig.com to find out.
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Keep Your Job
If you want to keep your job in today's weak economy, you need to deliver value to the enterprise. This automation.com white paper details how engineers can save their company up to 10x their salary cost. Continuous improvement can typically save 2% to 6% of total annual manufacturing costs by delivering energy, quality, and production benefits. Control engineers handle control system design and installation, troubleshooting, maintenance and upgrades, networking, security, training, project management, continuous improvement, and anything else relating to the control system, instrumentation, software, and databases.
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Hubble Hurting
MSNBC.com says the Hubble Space Telescope is broken, but NASA may have a fix. In September, the telescope's main command handling electronics began to fail. Remote repairs to switch to the backup system are in progress, but have hit some snags. If the fix can be implemented, images could resume transmission shortly. If not, the telescope will have to wait for a visit from the space shuttle Atlantis next year.
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Share Your Thoughts . . . About This Month's Topic
Great New Product, You Can't Have It
Advanced technologies produce products that could cause harm in the wrong hands. Should products such as invisibility cloaks and eavesdropping hardware be closely controlled or even banned?
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