Electrical Apparatus
The Magazine of Electrical &
Electronic Application & Maintenance

August 2003 Columns and Departments

Items in columns and departments from the August 2003 issue, Vol. 56, no. 8, © 2003 Barks Publications, Inc. See also  August 2003 Table of Contents and Previous issues 

• Editor's Comment Perspective on current and upcoming issues.  In this issue ..As buildings age, elevator work grows - the growing sophistication in an industry that is coming a long way from the simple "motor shop" ... EA's growing worldwide readership - a list of countries representing the readership of Electrical Apparatus ... Coming in September - EIC/EMCW coverage, unsafe rigging and lifting practices, and more ... by Horace B. Barks, Editor and Publisher

• Let's Solve Your Problem The longest-running and one of our most popular features, Let's Solve Your Problem answers real questions posed by people in plants and service shops around the U.S. and abroad. Selected Q&A's from this column are available in our popular Let's Solve Your Problem books. This month's problems include: Predicting motor life ... What relay protection for induction generators .. Should balance weights be welded to rotors? ... Can starters cause radio interference? ... How to test for loss of vacuum in interrupters ... Why do permanent magnets stay permanent? ... Does BIL (Basic Impulse Level) apply to medium-voltage motors? ... Should bus joints be plated? ... Why two different values of full-load current? ... Why should corona be worse indoors? ... Switching motor leads to trace current unbalance ... Insulating as opposed to isolating transformers ...  Edited by the EA staff 

You are invited to send questions to this department. Your identity will be kept confidential, but we ask that you include your name, affiliation, postal (not e-mail) address, and telephone number. If you'd like a pre-publication reply, enclose a stamped envelope and we'll try to respond promptly. We cannot provide personal consultation or supply winding data.

• Letters  In this issue ... Summaries in English, from Jim Wills, Engineer, Kennedy Space Center, Kennedy Space Center, Florida ... Testing motor efficiency, from Dave Sexsmith, President, Dynamic Industrial Rewind, Ltd., Prince George, British Columbia, Canada ... Solving the puzzle, from David Baucom, Electronics Technician Chief, U. S. Navy Reserve, stationed in Kuwait:

“Dear Electrical Apparatus: I am currently serving in Kuwait with the U. S. Navy; I was called to active duty with my unit (Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare) in January. Throughout the deployment my wife has forwarded my subscription to me here in the desert. It has been one of my only sources of reading material, and I have shared (the issues) with others. We constantly read and re-read until the magazine is in tatters...Thanks for your magazine, I look forward to reading it in the comfort of my home or office soon.”

(The writer was one of 80 readers who submitted a correct answer to the puzzle that appeared in our popular “Brainteasers” feature in the June EA.)

Electrical Apparatus invites letters, 250 words maximum. All letters, including e-mail, must include name, company, title or position, phone number, city, state or province, and country. We may edit your letter for clarity and space.— Editor

• Trade associations,  professional societies and government activities  News of non-profit  government, and other organizations serving the electrical mechanical industries.  This issue: The Adhesive and Sealant Council announces session information for its 2003 Fall Convention and Exposition at the Donald E. Stephens Center in Rosemont, Mi ( see www.ascouncil.org/meetings)....AR1 Standard 390-2001 is approved by ANSI (American National Standards Institute -  ari@ari.org) ... Study entitled "Securing America's Future: The Case for a Strong Manufacturing Base," commissioned by the Council of Manufacturing Associations, contends that manufacturing erosion is threatening the nation's standard of living (www.nam.org/future) ... EASA seminar attendees learn practical tips on d-c motors ... Refrigeration Service Engineers Society introduces its "I=B=R" schools at four Northeast locations (www.rses.org ) Edited by Joseph Hoff 

  Note:  the 2003 EMBR lists contact information for more than 140 associations ... To update or add a listing to the 2004 EMBR, email eamagazine@barks.com 

• Electrical Manager ...A potpourri of news and features, selected and edited for maintenance and service managers.  In this issue:  Don't rely solely on e-mail for sales calls and other company business ... Too many of us are naive about retirement ... Rules for managing risk ...

  "Electrical Manager" is a copyrighted feature of Electrical Apparatus.  Any kind of reproduction, including electronic transmission, without permission of Barks Publications is illegal and is prohibited. 

• Business Briefs Business news and announcements, including facility briefs, financial briefs, certification achievements, and distribution news. In this issue:   KJ Electric of Syracuse, continues state energy rebates ... Buffalo-based Volland Electric Equipment Corp named Rockwell Automation distributor  ... The A.O. Smith Electric Products Co. plant in Mebane, N.C  honored for safety record ... St. Louis-based electrical manufacturer Emerson is a new Indy Racing League sponsor ... Minarik Automation and Control of Glendale. Calif., signs a national distribution agreement with Safe-T-Sense of Elgin, IL ... Bicron Electronics Co., Canaan, Conn., is appointed exclusive U.S. distributor for Japan Shindengen solenoid firm ...Baldor Electric's quarterly and annual sales decline ... Galvan Industries, Inc.. Harrisburg, N.C., names three sales reps: UN Yanow & Co., Gumersell Cashdan, Inc., and The Power-Path Co. ...IPC Resistors, Inc., Mississauga, Ontario, selects Sikkema Electrical Sales as representative ... $90 million Saudi Arabia contract goes to Zurich-based power and automation equipment manufacturer ABB  ...Edited by Kevin Jones, EA Senior Editor

• Calendar Briefs - Upcoming trade shows, symposia, and events, from August  through November 2003 ... Edited by Joseph Hoff

• Web briefs ...  Selected websites for the electromechanical specialist, annotated with details of especially valuable content  .. In this issue: • Easier Electric— www.basler.com   • MRC Bearings. Inc.— www.mrcbearingservices.com  • Lord Corp.— www.lordmpd.com  • Vibrolek, Inc./Ltd,— www.vibrotek.com  • Signal Transformer— www.signaltransformer.com  • Lubrizol Corp.— www.lubrizol.com  • MTE Corp.— www.mtecorp.com   • Clare Instruments US, Inc.— www.clareinstruments.com  • Noria Corp — www.oilanalysis.com  ...Edited by the Electrical Apparatus staff. 

• Training Briefs Announcements of workshops, seminars and instructional materials, and our Training Index, listing program topics featured in Training Briefs in the past year.    In this issue: Motion control, from The Motion Institute, Birmingham, Ala. ... Electrical testing, from AVO International Training Institute, Dallas. Tex. 75237 ... Maintenance management, from Hayo Consultants of Albuquerque ( www.hayoconsultants.com) ... UPS system maintenance, from Solidstate Controls, Inc., Columbus, Ohio (www.solidstatecontrolsinc.com/seminar.html ) ... Standards compliance Training seminars on CE Marking from  Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pa. ... Workplace safety from Behavioral Science Technology, Inc., Ojai, Calif.  ( www.bstsolutions.com/leadingwithsafety.htm ) ... Motors and drives from Baldor Electric Co., Fort Smith, Ark. ... Power quality Battery management training and UPS power protection systems from Solidstate Controls, Inc., Columbus. Ohio (  www.solidstatecontrols.com/seminar.html ) ... Motor failure and repair from the Electrical Apparatus Service Association (  www.easa.com ) . Edited by Joseph Hoff 

Producers of workshops, seminars, and instructional materials are encouraged to mail announcements to Training Briefs Editor, Electrical Apparatus. There is no charge.

• Automation briefs  - the latest in products for electronics and systems applications ... In this issue - A new Ethernet controller card .. .Products for motion and motion control ... a new series of two-phase stepper motors ... a series of crimp connectors for large-gauge wire ... connectors available in three sizes from 22-10 AWG ... a servo drive designed as a cost-effective device for both OEM's and end users ... a connectors for Profibus which provides an LED display for bus power, termination errors and bus presence ... a new industrial Ethernet radio ... a photoelectric sensor designed for economical broad-based use ... hipot testers .... and clips or labels which can show different levels of impact and sensitivity ... Edited by David P. Tryling 

• Literature Announcements of guides, catalogs, brochures, product specifications and other literature. In this issue ...welding products catalog from The Lincoln Electric Co, Cleveland, Ohio ... motors, speed control systems and cooling fans catalog from Oriental Motor U.S.A., Torrance, California ... Brushless servomotors brochure from Baldor Electric, Fort Smith, Arkansas ... Relays, circuit breakers, contactors and transformer catalog from Tyco Electronics, Harrisburg, PA ... Nylon hardware catalog from Micro Plastics, Inc., Flippin, Arkansas ...  . Edited by the EA staff

  Mail announcements of new products and literature to Editorial Department, Electrical Apparatus (page 2). No faxes, e-mail, electronic submissions (CD-ROM's, etc.) or follow-up calls, please. There is no charge for publication, which does not constitute endorsement, nor can we verify product claims.

• Names and Faces ... In this issue: Christopher Ruttle of A.O. Smith ... Richard D. Welch of Quin-T Group ... Jim Clark of Staco Energy Products Co ... Robert Jacobs at Omron Electronics LLC ... Gary Byars of HMI Electric, Memphis, Tenn.  .... Edited by Joseph Hoff

• Deaths  - Obituaries of industry people.  In this issue:  Clifton Richards, founder, Richards Electric Motor Co., Quincy, Illinois.

  Clifton E. Richards, who helped her husband. Carl Richards. found Richards Electric Motor Co., Quincy, 111., died May 9, 2U03 in her home. She was 83.

  A graduate of Canton (Mo.) High School, Mrs. Richards and her husband lived in Canton, Mo., until he entered the Navy during World War II, During the war, she lived and worked in Staten Island, N.Y. When her husband was transferred to the Pacific, Mrs. Richards returned to Canton until the end of the war. Shortly thereafter, the couple founded the company.

  Mrs. Richards was a member of the Vermont Street United Methodist Church in Quincy, III, She was an animal enthusiast. raised African violets, and fished at Lake of the Ozarks.

  She is survived by her husband, three nephews, two nieces, and several great-nieces and great-nephews.

• Product briefs Photos and announcements of new products ...In this issue, a coaxial cable stripper .. wire stripper/cutters .. low-profile socket/ratchet sets ... a commercial wire routing kit ... insulated screwdrivers and pliers ... a combination pocket flashlight/a-c voltage detector ... ergonomic electrician scissors/splicer's snips ... a class J fuse holder ... angle brackets and J-hooks ... a true RMS power clamp-on meter ... a handheld power/power quality meter ... a differential voltage probe ... a distribution protection relay ... chartless electronic recorders ...   Edited by the EA Staff.

Mail announcements of new products and literature to Editorial Department, Electrical Apparatus (page 2). No faxes, e-mail, electronic submissions (CD-ROM's, etc.) or follow-up calls, please. There is no charge for publication, which does not constitute endorsement, nor can we verify product claims.

• Braintrainers  Puzzles you and your colleagues can solve for fun and, if your answers are correct, for recognition in Electrical Apparatus.  by Lillian Nielsen, Special Correspondent  This issue features readers who submitted the correct answer to the Tic-=Tac-15 puzzle in the June EA , including winner Vernon Roley of Roley Electric, Warren, Minn. ,who was the first to submit a correct answer.   Other brainy winners were:

  David Allen, Exxon Mobil Chemical Co., Edison N.J. Ken Andrews, Ken's Electric Motor Repair, Seville, Ohio Bob Ausloos, E.I.S., Oshkosh, Wis. H.S. Bains, Yuba City, Calif. Dave Baucom, U.S. Navy Reserve, Kuwait Don Baucom, Armature Winding Co., Inc., Charlotte, N.C. Mike Baznik, Seven Hills, Ohio Jay Beaudry, Beaudry Electric Motors & Equipment, Sheboygan, Wis. Jim Bergman, Arizona Electric Motor Service, Tucson, Ariz. Rob Berry, R&J Control, Inc., Dover, N.J. Chuck Bigwood, Bigwoods Electric Motor & Supply Co., Wahpeton, N.D. Russell Brooks, IPSCO Steel, Inc., Musca- tine, Iowa John Brown, South Carolina Electric & Gas, Jenkinsville, S.C. Steve Burrow, J&J Armature Works of Louisiana, Inc., Lake Charles, La. David Cook, Cook's Consulting Services, Peoria, Ill. Brian Cothran, EMD Electric Motors and Drives, Inc., Anderson, S.C. Orvin Craley, Motor Technology, Inc., York, Pa. Bob De Lay, Southern California Edison, Westminster, Calif. Madan Dev, U.S. Dept. of Energy, Miamis- burg, Ohio Jeff Dittmer, Federal-Mogul Corp., Skokie, Ill. Becky Earl, Southern Electric Coil, Inc., Hammond, Ind. Ron Eberlein, Weyerhaeuser Container Board, North Bend, Ore. Bud Fisher, Manitowoc Electric Motors, Manitowoc, Wis. Kirk Franz, Rockwell Automation, Houston, Tex. David Friemoth, Commercial Lithograph —CSS Publishing Co., Lima, Ohio Gary Fuerhoff, Pierce Utilities, Pierce, Neb. Bruce Gillis, Gillis Electric, Inc., Brooks-ville, Fla. Mark Harper, Twin City Electric Co., Little Rock, Ark. David Harvey, Q.E.M. Inc., Dewey, Okla. Dwight Hebert, National Electric Motor & Supply Co., Baton Rouge, La. Tim Hensley Jr., Mills Electric, Hammond, Ind. , Tony Hephner, Koontz-Wagner Electric Co., Inc., Bryan, Ohio Mike Hill, Quality Electric Motor Service, Inc., Louisville, Ky. Don Hillman, People's Cooperative Service, Rochester, Minn. Hermann Huegli, Kilred Winding Industries Ltd., Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada Rick James, James Electric Motor Services, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Joe Janke, Guaranteed Finishing Unlimited, Cleveland, Ohio Ed Kaht, Bruce Electric Equipment Corp., Lindenhurst, N.Y. David Little, Shermco Industries, Dallas, Tex. Terry Locke, Flolo Corp., Bensenville, Ill. Frank Mack, Carolina Armature Works, Inc., Fayetteville, N.C. Jay Malo, Dreisilker Electric Motors, Glen Ellyn, Ill. Douglas McClung, Syngenta Crop Protection, St. Gabriel, La. Mark McLees, TEC Industrial, Cedar Rapids, Iowa Jim Meade, Electric Motor Shop, Wake Forest, N.C. Mark Melchiur, Brooks Electronics, Lenexa, Kan. John Mitchell, Commercial Electric Products Corp., Cleveland, Ohio Todd Moline, Industrial Equipment Services, Jacksonville, Fla. Antonio Moreno, T&M Electric, Inc., Miami, Fla. Sarah Murphy, Cheyenne Electric Motors, Las Vegas, Nev. Mike Nahorney, Advance Electric Motors, Portland, Ore. Gary Nelson, Nelson Electric Motor Service, Inc., Alliance, Neb. Fallie Pafford, Walhalla, S.C. Charles Parron, Electrical Equipment Co., Raleigh, N.C. Arvind Patel, Control Components, Inc., Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. John Peerbolte, Englewood Electrical Supply, Hammond, Ind. Rosemary Perez, M&I Electric Industries, Beaumont, Tex. George Pfister, Flanders Electric Motor Service, Evansville, Ind. Dave Pointis, Belden Wire & Cable, Richmond, Ind. Steven Rauch, Electrical Repair Service, Birmingham, Ala. Richard Rensock, Lloyd's Electric Co., Ferndale, Mich. John Resosky Jr., Electric Motor Service, Finleyville, Pa. Dennis Rimmel, Sloane Electric, San Diego, Calif. Jennifer Ritchie, Gary Electric Motor Service, Gary, Ind. Charles Sample, Tennessee Valley Authority, Huntsville, Ala. George Scherer, EMSCO Electric Motor Service Corp., Buffalo, N.Y. Walter Simmons, Buna Electric Motor Service, Buna, Tex. Russell Sinift, Teledyne Continental Motors, Toledo, Ohio Homer Snow, Snow Electric Co., Winston- Salem, N.C. Norbert Steck, Dreisilker Electric Motors, Glen Ellyn, Ill. John Steffi, Madison-Kipp Corp., Madison, Wis. Tom Tallman, Swiger Coil Systems, Inc. Cleveland, Ohio John Taylor, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Clarks Hill, S.C. Timothy Thomas, Suncoast Electric Motor Service, Tampa, Fla. Lou Van Hout, Shakopee Public Utilities Commission, Shakopee, Minn. Rod Vellenoweth, Tri-State Electric & Machine Co., Inc., Glen Dale W.Va. Joe Verano, Cape May, N.J. Donald Willier Sr., Willier Electric Motor Repair, Gibbsboro, N.J. Bryan Young, Mt. Vernon Electric, Mt. Vernon, Ill.

• Direct and Current Breaking news of interest to the industry, from The Editors of Electrical Apparatus. In this issue: Unfairly traded insulators from Japan ... private electric companies ... product counterfeiting ... older persons ... downloaders of movies and music .. and Federal Register subscribers... by the Editors

• Accounting for management  This issue: Taking a service specialty national - A look at the resources that need to be in place before you make the leap to a larger market By William H. Wiersema, CPA, EA Contributing Editor and author of the recently published book, Steps to a Successful Service Shop.

• Safety and health in the workplace This month - How and why immunization can prevent serious illnesses - Most workers should consider being inoculated for protection against many fatal diseases for which vaccines have been developed ...   By Richard B. Elsberry, EA Contributing Editor

• Trilingual summary For our international readers, each month one featured topic is presented in French, Spanish and German. This month: "How to go about 'commissioning' a new motor'"

• Say It Right ... The popular column about language in the workplace.   by Richard L. Nailen, P.E., EA Engineering Editor 

• Electripix  Photographs of people, places, equipment and more ..

• Standards briefs  .... Edited by the Electrical Apparatus staff. 

• EA reader at ease  ... Stories featuring unusual or interesting avocational interests of our readers. 

  Do you know someone working in the electrical aftermarket with a hobby or interest that could be featured in "EA reader at ease"? Tell us who they are, what they do, and how we can contact them to find out more about their special passions. Send your suggestions to Electrical Apparatus, 400 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 900, Chicago, III. 60611; (312) 321-9440; Fax (312) 321-1288; e-mail eamagazine@barks.com .

• EMBR update  - changes to the Electromechanical Bench Reference 2002, the annual buyers' guide that readers received with their December 2001 Electrical Apparatus.  Following publication of the directory, corrections and additions appear in subsequent issues of the magazine. 

• New Books Recently published books, reviewed by our editors.  See also Books for the Plant and Shop from Barks Books, including titles from the editors of Electrical Apparatus, including our latest new book, Let's Solve Your Problem - Volume III.

• Utility Briefs  .. .. Edited by Kevin Jones

• Classified Advertising Equipment, jobs, businesses, business opportunities and services.

• Cy's Super Service, Motorhead and Generatorhead Comic strips featuring characters from our favorite cartoonists. 

• Advertising Index  An easy to use reference to the advertisements in Electrical Apparatus magazine.