Electrical Apparatus
The Magazine of Electrical &
Electronic Application & Maintenance

July 2007 Columns and Departments

Back issues
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• Editor's Comment In this issue - The inspiring story of Rapa Electric ... The post office does it again - reduces service ... Our engineering editor Richard Nailen turns out his 500th article ... Something to look at: new tax laws on research ... Employers can be the key to preventing tetanus ... by Horace B. Barks, Editor and Publisher

• 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 - 'Fault' may mean more than one condition ... Can capacitors be used on lower-voltage circuit? ... How is inverter duty capability verified? ... Does overload setting relate to service factor? ... Can VFD cable serve as equipment grounding? ... When do capacitors cause harmonic resonance?  ...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 books on basic magnetism, from Dan Mahoney, Auburn, Massachusetts ... Kind words from John Ranieri, owner, Ranieri Electric Motor Service, Dafter, Michigan ...

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

• Business and financial briefs  News of expansions, relocations, annual reports, and more, about companies serving the electrical mechanical industries. In this issue - Baldor selling Reliance service segment ... Interconnect Devices is bought by a private equity firm ... Adwel International and Iris Power Engineering merge ... New distribution site for Sunbelt Transformers ... Ametek acquires Hamilton Precision Metals ... Eaton buys SMC Electrical Products, Inc's adjustable speed drive line ... Magrol SA acquires sensor manufacturer Reznicek & Hlach SA ... Emerson Electric Company wins Canadian contract to automate an oil sands upgrader facility near Edmonton ... Honeywell Power Products appoints Southeast Security Products for southeast sales ... 100th anniversary for Draeger Safety, Inc. ... Sixtieth anniversary for Rainbow Electric Company  ...Edited by Kevin Jones

• Trade associations,  professional societies and government activities  News of non-profit  government, and other organizations serving the electrical mechanical industries. In this issue - Moderate sales growth for transmission distributors announced by Power Transmission Distributors Association ... Professional Electrical Apparatus Recyclers League strives for increased standards ... Underwriters Laboratories warns of counterfeit lighting fixtures and a-c adaptors ... American National Standards Institute and the Standardization Administration of China cosponsor "Active Industry Participation in Standardization" symposium ... National Electrical Contractors Association to examine green construction at October convention ... National Association of Electrical Distributors names new board of directors ... International Electrical Testing Association (NETA) moves headquarters to Portage, Michigan ...  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 - The featured Reader at Ease in the July 2007 Electrical Apparatus is Scott Clark, owner of Mallum Electric, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Scott is a Wissota auto racer who finds power in the pedal and possibilities up ahead around the bend.

  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 .

• Utility Briefs  News of the utility industry. In this issue - Reliability standards are now enforceable ... Copper is increasingly attractive to thieves ... Public power providers look to the future ... PG&E offering solar energy grants to 22 underserved schools for solar science projects ... Edited by Kevin Jones

• Calendar Briefs - Upcoming trade shows, symposia, and events. In this issue - events from September 2007 through June 2008 ... Edited by the EA Staff

• Trilingual summary For our international readers, each month one featured topic is presented in French, Spanish and German. In this issue - What determines motor end play?  (read an online English summary)

• Safety and health in the workplace How companies and their employees can guard and enhance their health and safety.  In this issue - Puncture wounds require care to avoid lockjaw. Many adults have no protection against an infection that can be fatal ...   By Richard B. Elsberry, EA Contributing Editor

• Accounting for management  Business financial planning, tips, information and best accounting practices.  In this issue - New tax rules about research - New government regulations make RD deductions easier  ...By William H. Wiersema, CPA, EA Contributing Editor and author of the recently published book, Steps to a Successful Service Shop.

• 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 - Electric Power Planning for Regulated and Deregulated Markets, by Dr. A. Mazer ... Electrical Contacts: Fundamentals, Applications and Technology, by M. Braunovic, V.K. Konchits, and N. K. Myshkin ... Electric Drives, Second Edition, by Dr. I. Boldea and S.A. Nasar ... Wind and Solar Power Systems: Design, Analysis and Operation, Second Edition, by Dr. M. R. Patel

• Web briefs ...  Selected websites for the electromechanical specialist, annotated with details of especially valuable content. In this issue - Tyco Electronics papers www.circuitprotection.com ... IRD Balancing technical papers  www.irdbalancing.com ... Advanced Energy how to's  www.advancedenergy.org ... Cortec fundamentals and technical papers www.cortecvci.com ... Adhesives & Sealants Council 88-page bonding/adhesives textbook and other references www.ascouncil.org ... H. B. Land  arc flash information www.arcfault.org ...  Electric Power Consultants, LLC technical articles www.epc-website.com ... Brithinee Electric "All About Motors" www.brithinee.com ... Northeast Power Systems, Inc. technical notes  www.nepsi.com ... Bearing Specialists Association "bearing briefs" www.bsa.org  ... BEVI A/S (Denmark) library on torque topics and other research/reference www.bevi.dk ... Staco Energy Products Co guides, notes and news www.staco-news.com ... Boyce's Pages Electrical References and Explanations http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/boyce_smith/HOMEPAGE.htm   ... Kele, Inc.  Technical reference library www.kele.com 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 - Motor diagnostics from AllTest Pro  ... Welding from the Lincoln Electric Co ... Servomotor training from Quality Solutions Co ... Arc-flash protection from American Trainco ... UPS's and batteries from Ametek Solidstate Controls ... Motor/generator maintenance from Jarsco Engineering  ... 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. 

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

• Direct and Current Breaking news of interest to the industry. In this issue - Demand for motors creeps up, barely .. Profits for distributors rise sharply ... Power transmission and motion control sales lag ... Manufacturing expanded for fourth consecutive month ... Compact fluorescents not so environmentally friendly ... from The Editors of Electrical Apparatus.