May 2004 

Below are listed featured articles from the May 2004 issue, Vol. 57, no. 5 © 2004 Barks Publications, Inc. ... see also May 2004 departments and columns and Previous issues.

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• A capital idea: Squeezing profits out of operations    Attendees at the convention of EASA will take up the subject of efficiency, both financial and production  By Kevin Jones, EA Senior Editor

• EASA goes to Washington  Things to see and do in the nation's capital between sessions of the Electrical Apparatus Service Association's June convention  By Joseph S. Hoff, EA Special Features Editor

• The use (and misuse) of "voltage testers"     About the "Wiggy" and other instruments and how to use them.
  When technicians service electrical equipment or diagnose system problems, they usually seek to deenergize all circuits. Sometimes, however, electricians must work directly on, or near, energized circuits—and this calls for simple and safe means of determining which terminals or conductors are energized (and therefore dangerous). This important article walks readers through the various types of voltage detectors that can be used for this purpose, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each.
  Read an online summary (trilingual summary appears in the magazine) By Richard L. Nailen, RE., EA Engineering Editor

• Bearing life versus temperature  Heat - how bad is it?  By Richard L. Nailen, RE., EA Engineering Editor

• Analog sensor calibration In this digital age, it's important not to overlook the analog data that's part of control systems  By David Tryling, EA Electronics Editor

• The alarming gap in forklift safety  Disagreement over how best to ensure forklift safety has led to a curious absence of safety standards.  This article includes critical things that shop personnel should know.  By Richard B. Elsberry, EA Contributing Editor

• Getting more out of financial statements    To get to the root of business problems may require digging more deeply than you're accustomed to.  By William H. Wiersema, CPA, EA Contributing Editor

See also May 2004's Departments, columns