Power Generation, Distribution & Protection . . . |
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Busy Airport Gets Upgrade
Medium-voltage switchgear performs circuit interruption via one of four technologies: open-air, oil, vacuum or sulfur hexafluoride. T&D World tells why Commonwealth Edison selected open-air for an upgrade at O'Hare International Airport. Newer design switchgear overcame the high failure rates of existing open-air switchgear.
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Coal Converts to Biomass
Public pressure is forcing existing U.S. coal-fired plants to make significant investments. Power says FirstEnergy in Ohio will spend $200 million to convert its coal-fired Burger Plant to burn biomass to avoid a court-ordered shutdown. Similar projects will provide substantial business opportunity for providers of electrical components needed for conversion.
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Smallest Board-to-Board Connector
A board-to-board connector may be the world's smallest. Reported in ECNmag.com, the 0.4 mm-pitch board-to-board connector has a 0.8 mm stacking height and a 3.2 mm width. The area beneath the connector is fully insulated, allowing designers to run tracks beneath. The connector also provides audible and tactile click mating.
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Connect PCs to Your Big Screen
Movie downloads get easier, but many PCs don't have the connectors or processing power needed for external high definition monitors. WindowsForDevices.com says this motherboard is optimized for home media server applications. It has a video processor, DVI and S-Video connectors, and RCA jacks to connect to A/V equipment.
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MSK Developing Rad Hard Motor Drives for Space Use
M.S. Kennedy Corp.
The M.S. Kennedy Corporation is developing radiation hardened motor drives for use in space applications such as satellites, planetary exploration vehicles, and launch vehicles. These motor drives are constructed with rad hard components and utilize hybrid microcircuit assembly methods to minimize size and weight while offering very high performance and reliability. Learn more.
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LED Lens Mounts, Lightpipes, LED Cable Sockets, and More!
Visual Communications Company, Inc.
Contact us for a complimentary sample of our LED mounting solutions. We have thousands of parts and part combinations in stock that can meet your exacting requirements. Click on the photo and visit us for a complete look at our LED cable sockets, moisture-sealed light pipes, LED lenses, spacers, and more!
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DC Power Supplies Any Way You Want
Acopian Power Supplies
If a standard power supply does not meet your requirements, use the online System Builder. We'll modify the specs, ratings, and configuration of a supply and can combine several power supplies into a Multiple-Output Power System with the operating features you specify and ship it within nine days!
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Ultra-fine Micro Wires
Coast Wire & Plastic Tech., Inc.
Coast Wire is a manufacturer of ultra-fine micro wires for implantable medical devices. We can design assist your requirements utilizing gold, platinum, platinum/iridium, and other special metals in diameters as small as a human hair with insulation thicknesses down to 0.001 in. We offer prototypes at competitive prices and quotes in 24 hours. Learn more.
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Sensors, RFID & Passive Components . . . |
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Sensor Wins Big
A mid-infrared (MIR) spectrometer was named one of the 100 most technologically significant products by American R&D magazine. The inline MIR spectrometer continuously measures the concentration of liquids consisting of several different components. The spectrometer can directly connect to a process for online analysis
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Resistors Remarkably Stable
Do you use resistors in applications with highly variable ambient temperatures? This EE Herald article and video describes resistors that maintain their rating through extreme and sudden temperature changes. In addition to a very low temperature coefficient, these bulk metal foil resistors minimize inter-parameter compromises.
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Nanolight Conversion
Metal-based nanophotonics can squeeze light into nanoscale structures much smaller than conventional optic components. Nanophotonics could produce computer chips by coupling signals from nanophotonic waveguides to electrical devices. Small Times says research consortium IMEC developed a coupling method — an integrated electrical detection system.
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Wii Gets MEMS Sensor
Gyroscopes are better than accelerometers for sensing game controller motion. Two MEMS gyroscopes usually are needed to sense pitch-and-yaw, but EE Times Asia says the world's first pitch-and-yaw MEMS gyroscope is now reality. The gyroscope senses both axes used by remote controls and baton-shaped game controllers.
For more on this subject, subscribe to GlobalSpec's e-Newsletter DirectU2 The world of MEMS Technology.
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Islatrol® IE Series Noise Filter/Surge Suppressor
Emerson Network Power ® Surge Protection
The Islatrol IE Series Active Tracking Filter® is a series-connected DIN/flange mount high-frequency noise filter/surge suppressor. Its ideal applications include critical industrial loads drawing up to 20 Amps of continuous current, while typical applications include any microprocessor-based products, including industrial PLCs, OEM applications, and motion control systems.
Why Active Tracking filters? |
LED Driver Power Supplies
LHV Power
LHV Power (FKA HiTek Power) offers a line of power supply products designed for LED lighting applications. These power supplies are designed to provide a cost-effective, robust, and efficient solution to the power requirements for LED based signage or other LED lighting requirements. Currently we have two power levels, 6 W and 12 W.
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Coils & Transformer Manufacture
CWIEME Ltd.
The largest gathering in the Americas of Coil & Transformer Manufacturing & Repair Equipment, Components and Materials — coils, transformers, bobbins, magnet Wire, insulation and varnish, terminals, cores, laminations, magnets, and more — Chicago CWIEME 2008 — see more in three days than you would see all year.
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Extech Reveals New Digital Mini Microscope
Extech Instruments Corp.
Extech's powerful MC108 couples microscope optics with digital camera convenience. The MC108 is ideal for PCB/soldering inspection and other quality control tasks.
• Zoom: 27x optical, 4x digital, 108x total
• 2.5 oz, pocket-sized design
• 1.8 in. color LCD
• Adjustable LED illumination
• USB2.0 for download convenience and PC-monitor viewing
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Careers & Commentary . . . | |
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Top Five Innovation Challenges
Innovation is the lifeblood of manufacturing. Innovation is important, but it's not easy. This Control Design editorial reviews the results of a recent innovation survey that identified the top five challenges to innovation. Finding a way to free up employees from current responsibilities to give them time to innovate was number one, and focusing on the right problem was also highly rated. How much more difficult is it to innovate in a down economic period?
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Electric Trains Grow Up
Many engineers played with electric trains when young, and some still do. Now U.S. railroads may be playing with electric trains too, switching from the diesels that most use now. The Journal of Commerce says the main challenges will be changing out locomotives and adding transmission line systems. An interim solution would be dual locomotives that could burn diesel, or use electricity on parts of track linked to a transmission grid.
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Share Your Thoughts . . . About This Month's Topic
Plant Conversions the Answer?
Newer technologies allow many existing power plants to be converted to more efficient and cleaner forms of energy generation. Instead of trying to site and build new pants, is conversion a better alternative?
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