Electrical Apparatus
The Magazine of Electrical &
Electronic Application & Maintenance

September 2007 Columns and Departments

Back issues
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• Editor's Comment In this issue - An engineering failure - and a century-old success - in Minneapolis ... What are engineering schools doing about curricula? ... This months cover - a salute to insulation ... And after the cover, a particularly strong package of editorial information ... 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 - Motor current: up or down when voltage decreases? ... Does BIL mean anything for motors? ... Can ASD determine a motor's efficiency? ... What limits apply to contact resistance? ... Does soft starting mean less demand? ... Effect of service factor loading not clear  ...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 - A question inspired by the July article "What determines motor end play?" from Brian Inman, Inman Electric, Inc., LaSalle, 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 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  - the National Electrical Manufacturers Association is pleased with energy legislation ... The National Association of Electrical Distributors will study product liability ... Austin Bonnett wins the EASA achievement award from the Electrical Apparatus Service Association ... RSES, the HVACR Training Authority, group sessions are approved for credit ... the American Society of Safety Engineers will offer online seminars to address safety issues ... The Association for Facilities Engineering moves its corporate headquarters to Washington D.C. ...  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 - John C. Dolph Co. bought by Von Roll USA ... Motion Industries buys Northwest distributor Gerrish Bearing Co ... New Zealand firm Commtest Instruments Ltd. and  Pittsburgh Electrical Insulation  each open offices in Beijing ... GE Motors wins supplier award from Flowserve Pump Division of Irving Texas ... Johnstone Supply Inc launches Las Vegas distribution ... Strong quarterly reports from Lincoln Electric, A.O. Smith, Emerson Electric Co., Baldor Electric Co., ABB Ltd., Regal-Beloit Corp and Tyco Electronics ... Corrections re: Adwel International and Iris Power Engineering from July Business briefs - Iris Power Engineering produces partial discharge test equipment for insulation conditioning monitoring on rotating electric machines  ...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 September 2007 Electrical Apparatus is Roy Corbitt, service manager at Houma Armature Works and Supply, Houma, Louisiana.  Roy owns a Harley Davidson Night Train and rides on a regular basis.

  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 - Nanotechnology fights theft of copper wire for Dallas-based Oncor Electric Delivery ... Dominion Resources moves forward with wind farm development plans, in partnership with Shell WindEnergy, Inc. ... Plans for coal-fired plants are put on hold throughout the country ... Large power users say they are misunderstood re: deregulation ... Edited by Kevin Jones

• Say It Right ... The popular column about language in the workplace. In this issue - What's the effect of 'effective'? Often as not, confusion  ...  by Richard L. Nailen, P.E., EA Engineering Editor

• Standards Briefs  Updates of standards and related information. In this issue - Gabon is the 76th nation to join the International Electrotechnical Commission's Affiliate Country Program.  The IEC also recently published new standards and publications ... The National Electrical Manufactures Association issues guidelines on conduit and lamps ... The American Society of Safety Engineers issues a package of construction/demolition site safety standards. ... Edited by the Electrical Apparatus staff. 

• Calendar Briefs - Upcoming trade shows, symposia, and events. In this issue - events from September 2007 through June 2008 ... Edited by the EA 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 All-Test Pro  ...  Servomotor training from Quality Solutions Co ... Arc-flash protection from American Trainco ... Welding from the Lincoln Electric Company ... UPS's and batteries from Ametek Solidstate Controls ... Embedded networks from CAN in Automation ... Power quality from PowerCET Corp ...Pumping Systems from Pumping Machinery LLC ...  Motor & drive application from Baldor Electric ... Drives and controls from Bosch Rexroth Corp .. High-voltage maintenance from Ox Creek Energy ... Professional certification from the Association for Facilities Engineering ... Infrared thermography from Snell Infrared ... 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.

• 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 - Corrosion College to partner with Purdue University ... Stahlin sponsors members of high school robotics team ... The most recent Katrina victim - Tulane University's computer science, electrical, mechanical and civil engineering programs ... $100 million gift to University of Illinois to fund science and engineering initiatives on campus ...  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

• Trilingual summary For our international readers, each month one featured topic is presented in French, Spanish and German. In this issue - New horses in the motor efficiency derby (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 - Workplace injuries and illnesses require quick medical response ...   By Richard B. Elsberry, EA Contributing Editor

• Accounting for management  Business financial planning, tips, information and best accounting practices.  In this issue - Audits of private companies held to new standards - The good news is that the process has become more effective to execute. ...By William H. Wiersema, CPA, EA Contributing Editor and author of the recently published book, Steps to a Successful Service Shop.

• International Trade Shows  Information and calendar for upcoming shows around the globe. In this issue - Tips for exhibiting at trade shows ... The GCC Cigres Exhibition in Abu Dhabj... the BIEL Light_Building Buenos Aires ... The Power& Energy Forum in Kiev ... Productronics in Munich .. Electra Mining India in New Delhi ... Semicon Japan ... Elecrama in Mombai, India ... International Exhibition on Electric Power Electrical Engineering in Wenzhou, China .. Edited by the EA Staff

• Literature Announcements of guides, catalogs, brochures, product specifications and other literature. In this issue - Linear motors and stages from Baldor Electric Co ... Welding equipment and materials from Lincoln Electric Co ... Canned hermetic motors from Peerless Electric Motors ... Guide to power factor and harmonics from Staco Energy Products Co ... Hand tools from Wiha Tools ... 2007 test tools catalog from Fluke Corp ... High amerage single pole connectors from Leviton Mfg. Co   ...  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.

• Automation Briefs  High-tech products of use to the industry. In this issue - Pushbuttons from EAO ... Servo controllers from QuickSilver Controls ... Soft starters from ABB ... Sensors from Phoenix America and Macro Sensorts ... Flash drives from Cyber Research.  Edited by David P. Tryling

• Product Briefs  Photos and announcements of new products. In this issue - Interconnections from Heyco Products and Galvan Industries ... Controls from Eaton-Cutler Hammer ... Enclosures from Vortex/ITW Air Management .. Safety from Hubbel Wiring, Capital Safety and Seaward Group USA ... Software from Vector Fields, Inc. ... Switching Devices from EAO and Electroswitch Corp ... Test Equipment from Slaughter Co, Inc. , E.O. Schweitzer fg. Co and B&K Precision ... Tools from Wright Tool Company, Bondhus Corp, and LoggerHead Tools LLC  ...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.

• Names and Faces ... News and photos of industry people on the move and in the news. In this issue - Kirk Graham of Volland Electric Equipment Corp ... Jack Hasson of John C. Dolph Co. ... Carla Russo of Eleantas PDG, Inc. ... Mark Williamson of Darby Electric Co ... Enrique Santacana of ABB, Inc. ... Scott Mann of Brooks Meter Devices ... and Mark Wicks of Gamewell-FCI ...Edited by the EA Staff

• New Books Recently published books, reviewed by our editors.  In this issue, Photovoltaic Systems, by J. Dunlop, American Technical Publishers, Inc.

Also 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.

• Deaths  - Obituaries of industry people.   In this issue - Julian Thomas 'Tommy' Wood of North Georgia Electric Company

• 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.  ... from The Editors of Electrical Apparatus.