Electrical Apparatus
The Magazine of Electrical &
Electronic Application & Maintenance

February 2008 Columns and Departments

Back issues
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• Editor's Comment In this issue - Readers respond to the EMBR '08 ... Editorial calendar: what it is and isn't ... Technical times two, plus - a wealth of riches in this issue ... 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 - Can motor design suit out-of-phase reclosure? ... How should one shield RTD wiring? ... Is a withdrawn standard a legitimate reference? ... Is motor starting time a good measure of integrity? ... Does inverter duty affect insulation class? ... Rotor cage resistance vs. motor starting current ... 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 - "Why use bypass contactors with AFD's?", from David Bredhold, MS, Application Engineer, Eaton/Cutler-Hammer, Louisville, KY

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

• Electrical Manager ...A potpourri of news and features, selected and edited for maintenance and service managers. In this issue - When giving references, stick with just the facts ... Beware the limitations of limited liability companies ... Avoiding tax trouble by being nice to the IRS  ... Edited by Kevin Jones

  "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. 

• Trade associations,  professional societies and government activities  News of non-profit  government, and other organizations serving the electrical mechanical industries.  In this issue  - The Electrical Apparatus Service Association (EASA) announces theme of its annual convention and releases the latest EASA Technical Manual on CD-ROM ... The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute merges with the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association - new association will be known as the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute ... ASTM International (formerly known as the American Society of Testing and Materials) releases a new testing manual ... A new digital library is available from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers , in partnership with Scitation, a project of the American Institute of Physics ... The Chicago-based Power Transmission Distributors Association will hold its seventh annual Canadian Conference in May ... Eaton Corp's CEO Alexander "Sandy" Cutler wins an honor from the National Electrical Manufacturers Association ...  The American Society of Safety Engineers meets in Baltimore ... National Association of Electrical Distributors creates a new set of business development tools for electrical contractors ...  Edited by the EA staff

  Note:  the 2008 EMBR lists contact information for more than 140 associations ... Update or add your listing to the 2008 EMBR.

• Business and financial briefs  News of expansions, relocations, annual reports, and more, about companies serving the electrical mechanical industries. In this issue - General Electric Co gives up its vehicle leasing company PHH, announces plans to partner with SunPower Corp to finance five solar power projects in California ... Executive of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association suggests that electrical equipment sales are nearing a peak ... Regal Beloit acquires Alstom, Indian motor business ... Siemens Energy and Automation, Inc., completes expansion of Ohio plant ... Lincoln Electric forms a joint venture with Zhengzhou Heli Welding Materials Co, privately owned Chinese manufacturer ... Ametek, Inc. acquires California instrument maker California Instruments Corp ... W.W. Grainger, Inc., anticipates sales above estimates... Emerson Electric sells instrument unit to American Industrial Partners Capital Fund ... Tyco Electronics sells its power systems business to Gores Group LLC ... Motion Industries opens two new branches, in Conroe. Texas and Demopolis. Alabama ...   ...Edited by Kevin Jones

• Utility Briefs  News of the utility industry. In this issue - Pacific Gas & Electric in buoy power generation deal with Finavera Renewables, Inc.  ... Landowners in West Virginia hold out for free electricity in settlement with Allegheny Energy ... U. S. Congress agrees to increase funding for a nuclear energy loan program ... "Clean" coal plants are under closer scrutiny .. ... 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 February 2008 Electrical Apparatus is Danny Keeney, heavy crew supervisor at Brazos Electric Cooperative in Waco Texas.  Danny is an accomplished gunsmith, whose work is characterized by a preoccupation with precision and a commitment to quality and safety.

  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. In this issue - events from February 2008 through October 2008 ... Edited by the EA Staff

• Standards briefs  Updates of standards and related information. In this issue - Motor terminology standard amended by the International Electrotechnical Commission ... the National Electrical Manufacturers Association issues new publications ... The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) solicits public comment on new or revised standards... ... Edited by the Electrical Apparatus staff. 

• International Trade Shows  Information and calendar for upcoming shows around the globe. In this issue - Deutsche Messe Hannover ... Power Industry & Electrical Engineering in Russia ... Indonesia-China Electrical Power Equipment & Technology Conference & Exhibition in Jakarta ... China International Machinery & Electronic Products Exposition ... Electric Asia in Malaysia .. Electronic Manufacturing Technology South China and Nepcon South China ... .. 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 -Sleeve bearings: modern use for an old technology.  What's new about their care and application. (read an online English summary)

• Literature Announcements of guides, catalogs, brochures, product specifications and other literature. In this issue - Bulletins featuring self-shielded flux-core wires, gas-shielded flux-core wires and stainless steel and high alloy consumables from Lincoln Electric Company ... "Material Dispense Valves for Applying Adhesives, Sealants and Lubricants" from Sealant Equipment & Engineering, 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.

• Accounting for management  Business financial planning, tips, information and best accounting practices.  In this issue - You've bought the company - now what?   Acquiring the keys to the front door is just the beginning ...By William H. Wiersema, CPA, EA Contributing Editor and author of the recently published book, Steps to a Successful Service Shop.

• Safety and health in the workplace How companies and their employees can guard and enhance their health and safety.  In this issue - Statistically speaking, OSHA inspections are not for everyone - For a majority of U.S. industrial work sites, the federal occupational safety agency's bark is generally worse than its bite ...   By Richard B. Elsberry, EA Contributing Editor

• Automation Briefs  High-tech products of use to the industry. In this issue - Clamp meter from Fluke ... LCD interface from Saelig ... Motion controller from Baldor Electric ... Linear encoder from Heidenhain ... Emergency stop from Human Machine Interface ... Fuse holder from Keystone Electronics ... Microstepping motor from Oriental Motor. By David P. Tryling, EA Contributing Editor

• Say It Right ... The popular column about language in the workplace. In this issue - Wait just a moment - Don't refer to a span of time unless you're prepared to define it  ...  by Richard L. Nailen, P.E., EA Engineering Editor

• Names and Faces ... News and photos of industry people on the move and in the news. In this issue - Michael Trivisonno (pictured) of Swiger Coil Systems LLC ... Richard Taborski of Miscor Group Ltd. ... Sean Sweeney of Answell ... Alex Nino, Alex Salter (pictured) and Robert Vennstra of Gamewell-FCI ... Mike Kirkman of Interconnect Devices, Inc ...  ....Edited by the EA Staff

• Deaths  - Obituaries of industry people  In this issue - Richard E. Stone, owner of Stone Electric, Eldora, Iowa.  

• Training Briefs Announcements of workshops, seminars and instructional materials.  In this issue - Motors and generators from EPRI Power Generation and TECO-Westinghouse Motor Co., Managed by Jarsco Engineering Corp ... Corrosion testing from ASTM International ...Servomotor training from Quality Solutions Co ...   Machine alignment from Machine Dynamics, Inc. ... Welding from the Lincoln Electric Co ... Power quality from PowerCET Corp ... Motor & drive application from Baldor Electric ...High-voltage maintenance from Ox Creek Energy ....  Professional certification, from the Association for Facilities Engineering ... Drives and controls, from Bosch Rexroth Corp ... Infrared Thermography from Snell Infrared ..Also - Ludeca, Inc., opens a new training center devoted to alignment and balancing - information is available at www.ludeca.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.

• Product briefs Photos and announcements of new products. In this issue - Adhesives and Sealants from Epoxies, Etc. ... Safety products form HazardGuard Safety Wire, USRADAR, Inc., and Capital Safety USA ... Software from Dolphins Software and Tri-Global Technologies LLC ... Drives & Inverters from Yaskawa Electric Corp, ABB Automation Products and Electro Static Technology ... Interconnections from Panduit Corp and Wieland Electric, Inc. ... Measuring Equipment from Eaton Corp, Flir Systems, Palmer Wahl, Balmac and 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.

• 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 - Power transmission product sales fluctuate ... credit crisis affects small businesses ... Small business continues to lead growth ... California plans incentives for engineers ... Commerce Secretary reports export increase .. from The Editors of Electrical Apparatus.