Electrical Apparatus
The Magazine of Electrical &
Electronic Application & Maintenance

June 2007 Columns and Departments

Back issues
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• Editor's Comment In this issue - EA is read on all continents - in more than 40 countries ... Welcome, readers in the armed services ... What to look for in this issue - Southern Apparatus Service in West Monroe, Louisiana ...the EASA Show  ... ... 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 - Does the Code require unbalance protection? ... Relating stator heating to accelerating rotor ... Dealing with induction generator phase rotation ... How long should ball bearings last? ... Does a lower ambient allow motor overloading? ... Can a motor stand more than one explosion?  ... Camera flash could cause a power outage ... Be careful in dealing with 'demand' savings  ...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 literature on capacitors, from R. Gibson, APC Engineering & Manufacturing, Aurora, IL ... When welding cable is used for other purposes, from David Bredhold, Application Engineer, Eaton/Cutler Hammer, Louisville, Kentucky ... Kind words, from Buddy Dawson, Salesman, Northport Electric Supply, Northport, Alabama; Harold Little, Owner, Harold's Electric Motor Service, Chico, California, and Danny White, Wichita, Kansas.

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 - EA Contributing Editor William Wiersema's address to EASA members in Darien, Illinois (pictured) ... U. S. standards group ASTM International signs Memorandum of Understanding with the Russian Federal Agency on Technical Regulation and Metrology ... New Zealand seeking closer trade with China ... Underwriters Laboratories and the Fire Protection Research look more closely at residential fires ... Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute warns of legislative meddling ... Penn State solar team wins research grant from the Foundation for Electrical Construction - National Electrical Contracting Association and Electri International will work with the school to promote the role of qualified electrical contractors ... National Association of Electrical Distributors receives $250,000 education and research pledge from Panduit Corp ... 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.

• Business and financial briefs  News of expansions, relocations, annual reports, and more, about companies serving the electrical mechanical industries. In this issue - Superior Essex buys Nexan Canada Wire ... Ametek acquires SCR and Seacon Phoenix interconnect lines ... Kinetek acquires customer motor maker Howell Electric Motors ... Power Distribution, Inc., is sold to Bertram Capital ... Lincoln Electric opens regional distribution and training facility in Chicago ...Gexpro is new name for GE Supply, following its purchase by Rexel Group ... Klein Tools founder honored by International Lineman's Museum in Shelby, N. C. ...Financial Briefs  - first quarter reports from Baldor Electric Co., Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc., A.O. Smith Corp, Emerson Corp. Regal-Beloit Corp. and Littelfuse  ...Edited by Kevin Jones

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

  In this issue - The featured Reader at Ease in the June 2007 Electrical Apparatus is Jim McKee, owner of Alabama Electric Motor Service in Sheffield, Alabama. Jim is a member of a train and model train club, the Mid-South Live Steamers. He owns an engine and a riding car, in which he can sit to ride around.

  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 - Circuit breaker servicing: Is it for you?  (read an online English summary)

• New Books Recently published books, reviewed by our editors.  See our Book Review webpage, and also 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. In this issue - Lead-free Solder Interconnect Reliability (Hardcover) by Dongkai Shangguan

• Accounting for management  Business financial planning, tips, information and best accounting practices.  In this issue - What does this job really cost? A look at deficiencies in quoting and costing systems used by service shops  ...By William H. Wiersema, CPA, EA Contributing Editor and author of the recently published book, Steps to a Successful Service Shop.

• Say It Right ... The popular column about language in the workplace. In this issue - Resist the word resistant  It may mean different things in different circumstances - even to different people ...  by Richard L. Nailen, P.E., EA Engineering Editor

• Safety and health in the workplace How companies and their employees can guard and enhance their health and safety.  In this issue - Welding fumes raise new health concerns - Respiratory risks may be greater than many imagined ...   By Richard B. Elsberry, EA Contributing Editor

• Engineering Education    By Josh Hoff
  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 - Summer program helps student play engineer .. Getting students hooked on engineering early on ... Online degree to boost energy industry ... Plagiarism on the rise among college students...

  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

• Names and Faces ... News and photos of industry people on the move and in the news. In this issue -Bud Hittie of Kinetek ... Jeff Vaughn of Darby Electric Co., Inc. ... J. Craig McAtee of Power Transmission Distributors Association ... Mikaël Le Guern of Eurotherm ...Edited by the EA Staff

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

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

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

• Direct and Current Breaking news of interest to the industry. In this issue - Business conditions up for second consecutive month ... Sales growth slows for electrical distributors ... Purchasing executives expect continued growth ... Manufacturing technology consumption rises ... Kodak takes on HP with printer wars .... No savings from early daylight savings time? ... from The Editors of Electrical Apparatus.