Electrical Apparatus
The Magazine of Electrical &
Electronic Application & Maintenance

March 2005 Columns and Departments

Back issues
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• New - Engineering Education    By Josh Hoff
  From our March issue - A glimpse into today's engineering classrooms
  In this quarterly feature, we will report on college and university courses relevant to expanding electromechanical activities, as well as pre-college programs. Engineers in the US number more than two million, and job openings for electrical engineers are expected to increase 21%-35% by 2006.  This trend is inspiring new and diverse engineering education programs across the country, from pre-engineering to nanotechnology.

  The appearance of Engineering Education is particularly significant in these times when second and third generations of what were once simply "motor repair shops" have taken over management of companies that have become much more.  These new leaders are often educated to manage companies that are increasingly challenged by developments and changes in the industrial world. Education will play an important role in their preparation. We welcome material and information about educators, institutions, and curricula that is appropriate for this, our latest new feature.

  Pictured:  Dmitri Litvinov, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering, and the principal investigator of a new research project that recently received funding from the National Science Foundation. If he and other UH engineers are successful in their bid to create the first nano-patterned medium recording at the scale of one terabyte per square inch, it will become feasible to store the entire Library of Congress on a Palm Pilot or 1,000 movies on a 2-inch disk.

  Every issue of Electrical Apparatus features regularly scheduled columns and departments, with information of importance to our industry.  To order back issues or to subscribe, visit our online webstore.

• Editor's Comment Perspective on current and upcoming issues... by Horace B. Barks, Executive Editor 
  In this issue:  Up the ladder of engineering education - introducing our new department ... The late arrival of nanotechnology ... People who make news ... When to (and when not to) use e-mail ... Attend the NMW Show ...

• 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.  Edited by the EA staff 
  In this issue:  Does a non-ventilated motor still need cooling? ... Insulation for motors on ungrounded system? ... Can RTD's respond to stray harmonic fields? ... What's best material for connection hardware? ... US-made motors used on foreign voltages? ...  

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  Comments and questions from readers of Electrical Apparatus
  In this issue:  The National Electrical Code revision, from David Bredhold, Application Engineer, Eaton Electrical, Cutler-Hammer Products, Louisville, Kentucky ... Bronze rebabbitting? from Paul Wiseman, Repair Shop and Field Service Manager, Dreisilker Electric Motors, Glen Ellyn, Illinois ... Photovoltaic inverters, from John Leyzorek, Leyzorek Machine and Tool Company, Marlinton, West Virginia ... End bell opening, from Herb Morenson, The Motor Shop, Grand Rapids, Minnesota ... Kind words from Carlos Rosales, Carlos Rosales Motor Repair, Goodyear, Arizona

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.   Edited by the EA staff

  In this issue - The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute's "Cool Connections Public Policy Symposium" ... EASA, tuning up for the Opryland Show (national convention to be held in Nashville, June 25-29) ... The Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association designs core curriculum .. Quest for Excellence XVII Conference ... American Society of Safety Engineers increase training for the Latino workplace ... The United Parcel Service Foundation funds ASSE scholarships for undergraduate and minotiry students ... Geraud Darnis is new president of the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute; Debbie Hawkins becomes first vice chairman, and lifetime achievement awards go to Daniel W. Holmes, Jr. (Morrison Products) and Kenneth A. Ohlemeyer (Sporlan Valve Company) ...

  Note:  the 2005 EMBR lists contact information for more than 140 associations ... Update or add your listing to the 2006 EMBR.

• Business and financial briefs  News of expansions, relocations, annual reports, and more, about companies serving the electrical mechanical industries  ...Edited by Kevin Jones
  In this issue: North Carolina Holland Industrial Inc. is turned over to employees ... Denco Lubrication Ltd., is acquired by Bijur Lubrication Group ... Infrared Solutions enters marketing partnership with Jenoptik Laser,Optik, Systeme GmbH ... Superior Essex agrees to buy Nexans wire assets ... New building for Monarch Group's specialty services ... LEDtronics and Schneider Electric raise money for tsunami relief ... Sales slump leads Littelfuse to cut jobs ... No end seen for copper demand growth according to Phelps Dodge ... ABB power project will further EU links ... John C. Dolph reports best year ever for worldwide sales ... Distributor brief  EFC Interational is named master distributor for BigHead Bonding Fastners ... Financial briefs - reports from Minarik  Corp and Baldor Electric .

• Accounting for management  Business financial planning, tips, information and best accounting practices ...By William H. Wiersema, CPA, EA Contributing Editor and author of the recently published book, Steps to a Successful Service Shop.
  In this issue - Why budgeting is essential for a business - It's not a waste of time; don't neglect this tool for gaining valuable insights ...

• Names and Faces ... News and photos of industry people on the move and in the news...Edited by Sarah E. Wittliff
  In this issue - Ricardo Bartsch of WEG Electric Motors (pictured) ... Emily Huang (pictured) and James Ramsay of the American Society of Safety Engineers ... Ken Tevebaugh of Minarik Automation and Controls ... Dan Neeser, of Cooper Bussmann ... Shawn Dorsey of John C. Dolph Co ... Power Measurement's Dan Button (pictured) and Bryan Taylor ... Thomas Skul of Posi-Charge ... Jeff Alva, Darron Lacey and Daniel Fielder of Cooper Wiring Devices ... Dan Neeser and Kevin Peterson (both pictured) of the IEEE Industry Applications Society ...   Beant Nindra (pictured), Bill Moore, Ben Carr and Yefim Slobodinsky of National Electric Coil ... Jody McKeown (pictured in the magazine) and Wayne David Morgan  of Klein Tools ...

• Deaths  - Obituaries of industry people.   In this issue, Boyd Dixon (left), shop foreman and 16-year employee of West Fraser Electro/Mechanical Ltd. in Prince George, British Columbia ... and Raymond Markham (right), founder of Markham Electric Motor Service, Chanute, Kansas

• Calendar Briefs - Upcoming trade shows, symposia, and events... Edited by Sarah E. Wittliff 
  In this issue - conferences, meetings, conventions and more, from March 2005 through October 2005 ...

• New Books Recently published books, reviewed by our editors.  In this issue, Risk Assessment of Power Systems: Models, Methods and Applications, by Dr. W. Li, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.   See also our Book Reviews webpage, and 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.

• Web briefs ...  Selected websites for the electromechanical specialist, annotated with details of especially valuable content.  In this issue:  www.dextermag.com ... www.okonite.com ... www.elexp.com ... www.nema.org ... www.eng-tips.com ... www.powerqualityanddrives.com  ... www.crouse-hinds.com ... www.epri-peac.com ... www.engineeringtalk.com ... www.weg.co.nz ... www.arnoldmagnetics.com ... www.hamarlaser.com ... www.efinet.com ... www.usbr.gov  ... Edited by the Electrical Apparatus staff. 

• EA reader at ease  ... Stories featuring unusual or interesting avocational interests of our readers.
  In this issue - Motor service director is tennis entrepreneur     Norm Kopp, Director of Motor Business at Windings, Inc., is the founder and president of the New Ulm Tennis Association, in the heart of the scenic Minnesota River Valley.  Pictured with Scott Ward, Windings Inc's VP of Quality
  By Joseph S. Hoff, EA Special Features Editor

  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

• Training Briefs Announcements of workshops, seminars and instructional materials, and our Training Index, listing program topics featured in Training Briefs in the past year  ... Edited by Sarah E. Wittliff 
  In this issue:  Quality methods, from American Society for Quality, www.asq.org ... Servomotor training from Quality Solutions Co., www.motor-solutions.com ... Electric power training from Kilowatt Classroom, www.kilowattclassroom.com  Motor/generator rewinding, from EPRI Power Generation and Teco-Westinghouse Motor Co - joliver003@aol.com   Motor application and maintenance, from the Electrical Apparatus Service Association, www.easa.com ... Professional certification, from The Association for Facilities Engineering - www.afe.org ..Edited by Sarah E. Wittliff

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

• Standards briefs  updates of standards and related information... In this issue - Aluminum conduit standard is now available from the National Electrical Contractors Association (see link to "wiring methods" at www.necaneis.org)  ... OSHA recognizes revised lockout/tagout standard ... the National Electrical Manufacturers Association offers a fresh look at ground fault protective devices ... The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers publishes an expanded look at diagnostic testing ... Underwriters Laboratories revises GFCI standard   ... ..  Edited by the Electrical Apparatus staff. 

• EMBR update  - changes to the Electromechanical Bench Reference 2005, the annual buyers' guide that readers received with their December 2004 Electrical Apparatus.  Following publication of the directory, corrections and additions appear in subsequent issues of the magazine. 

• Cy's Super Service, Motorhead and Generatorhead Comic strips featuring characters from our favorite cartoonists. 
  In this issue - Cy's offers a trade show incentive that falls flat  ... Genny Generatorhead gets a new set of shoes....

• Trilingual summary For our international readers, each month one featured topic is presented in French, Spanish and German. In this issue - How to - and how not to - write a motor repair specification (read an online English summary)

• Direct and Current Breaking news of interest to the industry, from The Editors of Electrical Apparatus.
  In this issue: The Electroindustry stock index ... voice activated speech recognition systems ... wireless communications ... facial piercing .. inconsistencies in veterans benefits ... jobs in North Dakota ...

• Say It Right ... The popular column about language in the workplace  ...  by Richard L. Nailen, P.E., EA Engineering Editor   In this issue - calling for 'high quality' may not get it ... everyone knows it when they see it, but just what is it?

• Electronics (Automation briefs)  - the latest in products for electronics and systems applications  Edited by David P. Tryling  In this issue - brushless servomotors from Baldor Electric .. computers and accessories from B&B Eletronics and CyberResearch ... Control components from Elibrecht Electronics, Astec Power, Automation Systems , Micro Plastics, Inc., and BK Precision ...Sensing devices from Macro Sensors of New Jersey and LMI technologies . Simulation software from Electronics Workbench  ..

• Literature Announcements of guides, catalogs, brochures, product specifications and other literature.  ...  Edited by the EA staff    In this issue, offerings from Bridgeport Fittings, Kingsbury, Inc., Tyco Electrnoics, Brady Corp., Magid Glove & Safety Mfg. Co., B&K Precision Corp., Stahlin Non-Metallic Enclosures and Clare Instruments ...

  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.

• Electrical Manager ...A potpourri of news and features, selected and edited for maintenance and service managers.   In this issue, an interview with Lisa Lineal, owner of Lineal recruiting services, Trumbull, Connecticut, which has specialized in placing people in the electrical industry for 24 years ...

  "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. 

• Product briefs Photos and announcements of new products ...Edited by the EA Staff.  In this issue, switching devices, tools, circuit interrupters, controls, enclosures, interconnections, measuring equipment, motors and gearmotors, power quality and safety products...

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.

• Certification briefs  Updates on certification Edited by Kevin Jones

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

• Utility Briefs  News of the utility industry .. Edited by Kevin Jones

• 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 

• Question of the month

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