Electrical Apparatus
The Magazine of Electrical &
Electronic Application & Maintenance

Current Issue Table of Contents

About Electrical Apparatus

Subscription Information

Advertising Information

Staff

March 2006 Columns and Departments

Items in columns and departments from the March 2006 issue, Vol. 59, no. 3, © 2006 Barks Publications, Inc. See also  March 2006 Table of Contents and Previous issues 

Back issues
Save postage and handling fees: Order back issues direct from our online webstore.  Current and back issues are $5.00 each. To purchase copies by mail or telephone, using credit card or check, contact Barks Publications, 400 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 900, Chicago, IL 60611-4104  (312) 321-9440 tel, (312) 321-1288 fax. Non-credit card orders add postage and handling:  $1.25 for first copy, plus $.50 for each additional copy. (No postage and handling is charged for orders placed on the web.)

We welcome your comments and inquiries re: subscriptions and advertising. Please include your name and contact information.  

• Editor's Comment Perspective on current and upcoming issues... by Horace B. Barks, Executive Editor 
  In this issue: We mourn the passing of Baldor's Rollie Boreham (pictured, right) ...Stacy Whitman and her report on Poppleton Electric, Seattle ...  Copyright laws ... A new site for National Manufacturing Week ...

• 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: Why shaft steel should be magnetic material ... How does reciprocating load affect motor winding? ... What supports the voltage unbalance curve? ... Disagreement about motor starting current ... A time limit on service factor load?? ... How much heat for control enclosures? ... What frequency exists in a d-c armature?

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 WillPOWER endowment at United Cerebral Palsy, from Jim Keck, Joliet, Illinois ... Request for an article on how boost/buck transformers work, from Larry G. Ellison, Ellison Repair Service, Bozeman, Montana ... Electrical connections, from David B. McDonald, Electrical Drives Specialist, Integrity Integration Resources, Plano Texas...Motor starting characteristics, from Dick Geiken, Dreisilker Electric Motors, Inc., Glen Ellyn, Illinois...

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 December 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. In this issue:   Edited by the EA staff
  In this issue  - Electrical Manufacturing & Coil Winding Association seeks convention papers ... Industrial controls continue to gain according to the National Electrical Manufacturers Association ... Las Vegas EASA convention slogan will be "Manage to Win" ... U. S. and Canada groups join to reduce electrical deaths ...

  Note:  the 2006 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   In this issue -- Kencoil recovering from Hurricane Katrina ... Kingsbury, Inc., expands repair facility in Hatboro, PA ... Technology licenser Raser Technologies, Inc., buys Amp Resources generation firm ... Siemens Energy & Automation acquires Berwanger, Inc., oil and gas service provider ...Schneider Electric takes ownership of CIH Ltd in Cliipsal Asia joint venture ... Underwriters Laboratories opens HVAC/R testing facility ... Emerson Network Power acquires Artesyn Technologies of Boca Raton, Florida ... WEG Electric Motors produces its 100 millionth motor ... New headquarters for Bosch Canada in Mississauga, Ontario (pictured)  Financial Briefs Regal-Beloit, A.O. Smith... ...Edited by Kevin Jones

• Calendar Briefs - Upcoming trade shows, symposia, and events... Edited by the EA staff
  In this issue - conferences, meetings, conventions and more, from March 2006 through October 2006 ...

• Standards briefs  updates of standards and related information  In this issue - International Electrotechnical Commission announces 2006 publication of four of the five parts of its lightning protection standard ... The Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers publishes IEEE 62.2 Guide for Diagnostic Field Testing of Electric Power Apparatus - Electric Machinery ... American National Standards Institute invites public comment on adoption of the revised National Electrical Safety Code ... Terminal block standard revised by Underwriters Laboratories ..   Edited by the Electrical Apparatus staff. 

• EA reader at ease  ... Stories featuring unusual or interesting avocational interests of our readers.
  In this issue - Larry Flynn, who serves as co-owner of Industrial Motor & Control, Inc., in Tucson, Arizona, is well-acquainted with the thrill of big game hunting
  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

• Trilingual summary For our international readers, each month one featured topic is presented in French, Spanish and German. In this issue - Safe starting time - What does it mean? (read an online English summary)

• Safety and health in the workplace   In this issue - In search of a good night's sleep
  By Richard B. Elsberry, EA Contributing Editor

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

• Accounting for management  In this issue - How businesses can save on income taxes
  By William H. Wiersema, CPA, EA Contributing Editor and author of Steps to a Successful Service Shop.

• Electronics (Automation briefs)  - the latest in products for electronics and systems applications In this issue - What's ahead in automation -- Five technologies that may be at the forefront this year - Display and PLC's ... Safety products ... Wireless networking ... Machine vision ... Drives ... Edited by David P. Tryling 

To submit products for "Automation Briefs" include a photo and website URL to a page where our readers can learn more about your product over the web (URLS are published in the magazine.)  Fax or conventionally mail press releases or announcements to Electrical Apparatus, 400 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 900, Chicago, IL 60611; Telephone (312) 321-9440; Fax (312) 321-1288; or email eamagazine@barks.com .

• Deaths  - Obituaries of industry people. In this issue:  A tribute to Roland "Rollie" Boreham, former head of Baldor

• Engineering Education   
  A glimpse into today's engineering classroom in a quarterly feature which reports on college and university courses relevant to expanding electromechanical activities, as well as pre-college programs.  In this issue - Semiconductor group seeks to retain students ... Who needs an MBA? ... MIT weighs in on MBA ... Education notes on ethics, Washington Internships for Students of Engineering (pictured), and Women in engineering ...
  By Josh Hoff

  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. Send information about engineering education programs and events 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
  In this issue:   Light-emitting diodes from The Lighting Research Center of Renssaelaer Polytechnic Institute - www.lrc.rpi.edu ... Vibration analysis, from The Vibration Institute ... Predictive maintenance, from All-Test Pro - www.alltestpro.com ... Motor/generator maintenance, from Jarsco Engineering Corp, and  Iris Power Engineering www.irispower.com ... Corrosion testing ... Maintenance management ... Power quality ... Servo motors ... Motor & Drive application ... Motor service and repair ... Drives and controls ... Infrared thermography ... Edited by the EA staff

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

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

• Literature Announcements of guides, catalogs, brochures, product specifications and other literature. In this issue -- Plastic fasteners from Micro Plastics ... the 2006 Relay catalog from Amperite Co ... Rubber lip seals from Inpro/Seal Co ... the 2006 Pigalog from New Pig ... pocket size carbon brushes guide from Helwig Carbon Products ... Power quality solutions capability from Staco Energy Products ... tool catalog from Wright Tool ... Shop tools and machinery catalog from Enco ...
  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.

• New Books Recently published books, reviewed by our editors. In this issue -

  

   

  The Electric Generators Handbook, by I. Boldea and the Harvey's Electrical Code Field Guide
   

   and the Harvey's Electrical Code Field Guide

• Product briefs Photos and announcements of new products. In this issue - Adhesives and Sealants from Master Bond and Epoxies, Etc. .. Drives & Inverters from Yaskawa Electric America and electro Static Technology ... Measuring Equipment from Meterman Test Tools, Z Meters and Trek, Inc. ... Short circuit proof isolation transformer from Foster Transformer and Diesel engine generator set from Caterpillar, Inc.  ... 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.

• Direct and Current Breaking news of interest to the industry, from The Editors of Electrical Apparatus. In this issue - The US is a "manufacturing economy" ... A US - South Korea free trade agreement ... Independent contractor status and harassment ... Competition from China and South Korea .. Recycled thermostats ... Postal rates...
  By the Editors

• Web briefs ...  Selected websites for the electromechanical specialist, annotated with details of especially valuable content.   Edited by the Electrical Apparatus staff. 

• Electrical Manager ...A potpourri of news and features, selected and edited for maintenance and service managers. 

  "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. 

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

• International Briefs -Edited by the EA Staff

• EMBR update  - changes to the Electromechanical Bench Reference 2006, the annual buyers' guide that readers received with their December 2005 Electrical Apparatus.  Following publication of the directory, corrections and additions appear in subsequent issues of the magazine.

• Certification briefs  Updates on certification Edited by Kevin Jones

• 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.