Electrical Apparatus
The Magazine of Electrical &
Electronic Application & Maintenance

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May 2006 Columns and Departments

Items in columns and departments from the May 2006 issue, Vol. 59, no. 5, © 2006 Barks Publications, Inc. See also  May 2006 Table of Contents and Previous issues 

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• Editor's Comment Perspective on current and upcoming issues... by Horace B. Barks, Executive Editor 
  In this issue: How seriously should we take electromagnetic fields? Are service people getting too old? Correction re: Fox Bros. Electric Motor Service Co's street address:  It is 861 W. College St. And, on p. 21, the article should have stated that the company "sells," not "installs," submersible pumps.

• 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: What connections to test insulation resistance? ... Why equalizers only in slow-speed motors? ... What overvoltage can capacitors withstand? ... When can a motor start on unbalanced voltages? ... How long should V-belts last? ... Do space heaters need ventilation? ... What limits induction generator application? 

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:  Looking for 'huge' wire winding machines, from Dan Mahoney, Auburn, Massachusetts ... Adding start to punch press motor, from James Lisius, Manager, Contractors Electric, Inc., Redford Township, Michigan ... Constant voltage transformer, from Larry Ellison, Ellison Repair Service, Bozeman, Montana ... Derating curve important ... Kind words from Donald J. O'Boyle, Consulting engineer, Peckville, Pennsylvania, M. Giannattasio, Engineer, Key Span Energy, Hicksville, NY and Gary Rasmussen, Advanced Power and Controls, Santa Ana, California ...

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. In this issue:   Edited by the EA staff
  In this issue  - American Society of Safety Engineers to meet in Hawaii ... New world markets for the U. S. electroindustry .. Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute reports air conditioner, heat pump sales break records ... EASA exhibit reservations are up over 20% ... National Electrical Manufacturers Association applauds increased solid-state lighting research and development budget ... Power Transmission Distributors Association to hold fall conference ... National Association of Electrical Distributors reports strong sales growth ...

  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 --Regal Beloit buying Chinese motor makers ... A.O. Smith completes purchase of GSW, Inc. ... Leviton Manufacturing Co forms wiring device unit .. Pratt & Whitney sells turbines to China ... Traction Motor Service adds machines ... Siemens divests itself of Siemens Westinghouse Technical Services Pte Ltd ... 3-D Service company offers windmill service ... Fluke earns certification by the German Association for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies ... Richmond, Virginia's Delta Automation is distributor and service center for WEG Electric ... Cascade Electrical Agents, Inc. represents SLi Light's products in Washington, Alaska and northern Idaho ... Agents Midwest Ltd. covers the Chicago area and northern Illinois for SLi Light ... Company anniversaries for KJ Electric and Artos Engineering ... Baldor Electric reports increase in sales and earnings ...Edited by Kevin Jones

• EA reader at ease  ... Stories featuring unusual or interesting avocational interests of our readers.
  In this issue - Jasper Fisher, vice president and general manager of Rexel Motor Repair, Alton, Illinois, is a horseman who rides for relaxation and enjoyment of the outdoors.
  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

• Calendar Briefs - Upcoming trade shows, symposia, and events... Edited by the EA staff
  In this issue - conferences, meetings, conventions and more, from May 2006 through October 2006 ...Also, call for papers on infrared thermography, solicited by Snell Infrared for presentation at the June 2007 Thermal Solutions Thermography Conference.

• Trilingual summary For our international readers, each month one featured topic is presented in French, Spanish and German. In this issue - EMF revisited: The studies continue (read an online English summary)

• Accounting for management  In this issue - Tax strategies for business real estate - buying and selling business property the smart way.
  By William H. Wiersema, CPA, EA Contributing Editor and author of Steps to a Successful Service Shop.

• Safety and health in the workplace   In this issue - Using safety knives safely - They're safe only when one knows how to use them.
  By Richard B. Elsberry, EA Contributing Editor

• Standards briefs  updates of standards and related information.  In this issue - Grounding proposals nationally recognized (American National Standards Institute) ... ANSI adopts standards in collaboration with the National Electrical Manufacturers Association ... Underwriters Laboratories publishes a revised edition of terminal block standard ... New distribution standards released by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers .... International Electrotechnical Commission membership grows to 135 countries.   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:   A-C drive troubleshooting, from EMA Electronic Maintenance Associates, www.emainc.com ..  Servo motors, from Quality Solutions Co., www.motor-solutions.com  ...  Light-emitting diodes from The Lighting Research Center of Renssaelaer Polytechnic Institute - www.lrc.rpi.edu .... Vibration analysis, from the Vibration Institute ... Motor/generator maintenance, from Jarsco Engineering Corp, TECO-Westinghouse and  Iris Power Engineering www.irispower.com ..... Corrosion testing, from ASTM International ... Power quality ... Power quality, from PowerCET Corp www.powercet.com ... 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.

• Names and Faces ... News and photos of industry people on the move and in the news.  In this issue  -Therese Blum of The Eraser Co....Jeffrey Seagle (pictured) of  Stahlin Non-Metallic Enclosures...Blake Lloyd of Iris Power LP, Etobicoke, Ontario ... Coretta Turner of Rexel, Inc.... Mark Lowry of the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society...  Kevin Hudson of John C. Dolph Co. ... Ryan Smith of Ametek Specialty Metal Products ... Jim Jones of Staco Energy Products Co. ...Paul Suzio (pictured) of Bridgeport Fittings, Inc.... Dr. Michael Sturm of  Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH ...Mike Lewis of Brooks Utility Products ...Edited by the EA Staff

• New Books Recently published books, reviewed by our editors. In this issue - Standard Handbook of Chains, by J. L. Wright, CRC Press  ... Electric Motors and Drives ... Electric Meter Reading Handbook ... (reviewed by Richard L. Nailen)

• Literature Announcements of guides, catalogs, brochures, product specifications and other literature. In this issue - floor box selection guide from Hubbell Wiring Device-Kellems ... torque tools brochures, from Wera Tools ... industrial electrical enclosures and systems from Adalet ... Test tools catalog from Fluke Corp.  .
  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.

• Product briefs Photos and announcements of new products. In this issue - Enclosures from Vortec/ITW and Stahlin ... Motors & Gearmotors from Bison Gear & Engineering and Baldor Electric Co ... Safety fire-proofing tape from Burlington Safety Laboratory ...  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.

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

• Direct and Current Breaking news of interest to the industry, from The Editors of Electrical Apparatus. In this issue -Mandatory purchases of NEMA premium motors ... Registered Traveler program ... new record keeping regulations ... the EPA's Equipment Replacement rule .. Navy bans cell phones behind the wheel .. statewide inspection of mines ... CEO pay keeps getting bigger ...
  By the Editors

• 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. 

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

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

• Deaths  - Obituaries of industry people. 

• Electronics (Automation briefs)  - the latest in products for electronics and systems applications   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 .

• 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. 
  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

• 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.