Electrical Apparatus
The Magazine of Electrical &
Electronic Application & Maintenance

March 2007 Columns and Departments

Back issues
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• Editor's Comment Our readers react ... About an update on flicker (read an online summary of the article) ... more about lighting and light curtains ... Plant equipment showcase  ... by Horace B. Barks, Executive Editor

• 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.  In this issue - Capacitors - compatible with solid-state starter? ... Beware of antioxidants in bus bar joint hardware ... Is corona a problem in motors below 4,000 volts? ... Motor frame expected to carry magnetic flux? ... Does motor voltage affect the thermal damage curve? ... What is the heating effect of a soft start?  ...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  Comments and questions from readers of Electrical Apparatus. In this issue - Seeking information on coil forming, from Dan Mahoney, Auburn Mass. ... Sharing a back issue of EA, from Doug Dean, Application Engineer, Vanner, Inc., Hilliard, Ohio ...

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 - New guide offers tips on declarable substances from ASTM International ... National Electrical Manufacturers Association broadens scope of associate memberships ... Adhesive and Sealant Council is set for spring convention ... Energy-Efficient Ethernet Group formed by IEEE ... Electrical Safety Foundation elects new board of directors ... Transmission distributors sponsor Hannover pavilion .. Hydraulic Institute introduces partnerships...  Edited by the EA staff

  Note:  the 2007 EMBR lists contact information for more than 140 associations ... Update or add your listing to the 2009 EMBR.

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

  In this issue - Rich Thomas, owner of Thomas Electric Motor in Salt Lake City, Utah, owns an assortment of old electric motors, meters and test instruments.

  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 .

• Business and financial briefs  News of expansions, relocations, annual reports, and more, about companies serving the electrical mechanical industries. In this issue -Sonepar USA subsidiary buys Burmeister Electric Co of Minneapolis and High Voltage Testing Laboratories of Fargo, ND.  ... Walco named Siemens Solution Partner ... Dynamics Research moves to Richfield, Ohio ... Baldor completes the Reliance Electric buy ...Mocap acquires Dip Molding division of Steere Enterprises ... Monarch Group doubles its space in new Melvindale, Michigan facility ... National Electrical Manufacturers Association reports rebound in Electroindustry Business Confidence Index ... Financial briefs   Revenue and profits reports for Baldor Electric Company ... Emerson Electric Co ... John C. Dolph Co   ...Edited by Kevin Jones

• Utility Briefs  News of the utility industry. In this issue - Montana lawmakers consider reversing deregulation laws governing utilities ... Conservationists spar over Maine Mountain Power wind power project ... Puget Sound Energy settles privacy violation charges ... Pennsylvania energy plan proposed .. Edited by Kevin Jones

• Electronics (Automation briefs)  - the latest in products for electronics and systems applications. In this issue - Sensors from American Sensor Technologies and Macro Sensors ... Networking, from CyberResearch ... Step motors, from QuickSilver Controls ... Oscilloscopes, from Saelig Co.   Edited by David P. Tryling 

• Standards Updates of standards and related information. In this issue -Corporate aid speeds up the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers standards writing ... American National Standards Institute announces additional harmonization with EU standards ... National Electrical Manufacturers Association effects further delay in metric-only labeling ... Maintenance standard upheld by the National Fire Protection Association ...  Edited by the Electrical Apparatus staff. 

• Say It Right ... The popular column about language in the workplace.  In this issue - Once is enough:  In writing, repetition is more likely to weaken than strengthen your point   ...  by Richard L. Nailen, P.E., EA Engineering Editor

• 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 - University of Maryland seeks lead in research ... Indiana students win engineering ethics prize ... Engineering educators teach cultural sensitivity ...  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 - Mechanical motor repair from Electrical Apparatus Service Association, www.easa.com ... Machine alignment and motor bearings, from Machine Dynamics, Inc., .... Plant maintenance, from American Trainco, www.americantrainco.com ... Servomotor training, from Quality Solutions Co., www.motor-solutions.com ... Motor diagnostics, from All-Test Pro LLC, www.alltestpro.com ... Embedded networks, from CAN in Automation, www.can-cia.org ...UPS's and batteries, from Ametek Solidstate Controls, www.solidstatecontrolsinc.com ... Pumping systems, from Pumping Machinery LLC, www.pumpingmachinery.com ... Motor & drive application, from Baldor Electric Co., www.baldor.com ... Motor service and repair, from the Electrical Apparatus Service Association, www.easa.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.

• Trilingual summary For our international readers, each month one featured topic is presented in French, Spanish and German. In this issue - An update on flicker  (read an online English summary)

• Calendar Briefs - Upcoming trade shows, symposia, and events. In this issue - events from March to November 2007 ... Edited by the EA Staff

• EMBR update  - changes to the Electromechanical Bench Reference 2007, the annual buyers' guide that readers received with their December 2006 Electrical Apparatus.  Following publication of the directory, corrections and additions appear in subsequent issues of the magazine. 

• Safety and health in the workplace How companies and their employees can guard and enhance their health and safety.  In this issue - Light curtains can enhance machine safety and productivity - Originally banned by OSHA, these safety systems are becoming increasingly easy to implement.   By Richard B. Elsberry, EA Contributing Editor

• Accounting for management  Business financial planning, tips, information and best accounting practices.  In this issue - How audit standards affect your business - New standards, even for small companies, emphasize documentation ...By William H. Wiersema, CPA, EA Contributing Editor and author of the recently published book, Steps to a Successful Service Shop.

• Names and Faces ... News and photos of industry people on the move and in the news. In this issue - John Smith (pictured) of the Eraser Company ... Martin Swarbrick of Bison Gear & Engineering ... Richard Williams of Dominion Electric Supply and the National Association of Electrical Distributors ... Monte Roach of Actuant Corp ... Michelle Jaworowski of the National Association of Electrical Distributors .. Donna Waterstraat (pictured) and Vijay Kumar Tahiliani of Robroy Industries ... Steven Richman of Milwaukee Electric Tool ... Thad Frost (pictured) and Robb Black (pictured) of Profibus and Profinet North America ..  ...Edited by the EA Staff

• Product briefs Photos and announcements of new products   In this issue - Motors & gearmotors from Toolmex ... Interconnections from Bridgeport Fittings, 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.

• Product briefs Photos and announcements of new products. In this issue - Insulation, from Dow Corning ... Measuring equipment, from Fluke ... Safety eyewear, from Klein Tools ... 12 volt valve-regulated lead-acid battery, from Energsys ... Transparent vacuum sealable packaging from Cortec Corp ... Switching devices, from Elecvtroswitch and Hubbell Wiring ... Tools, from Thomas & Betts, Wera, Makita, the Eraser Company, Streamlight, Inc., Wright and Bondhus ... Test instruments from All-Test Pro, Extech, B&K Precision, Megger, Fluke, and Extech  ...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. In this issue - Sales growth slows for distributors ... Power transmission sales are up ... Help-Wanted advertising index increases ... Canadians get airport biometrics.... Terrorist watch list being cleaned up ... from The Editors of Electrical Apparatus.

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

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