Electrical Apparatus
The Magazine of Electrical &
Electronic Application & Maintenance

March 2008 Columns and Departments

Back issues
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• Editor's Comment In this issue - Generating electricity by walking ... more about generators - Anderson, South Carolina ("The Electric City") puts old electrical equipment on display at the Arts Center Warehouse  ... your letters ... 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 - Does NFPA 70E apply to d-c circuits?...Hotter bearing may have reduced load rating...Why not higher voltage for motor hipot test?...Voltage drop limits vary around the world...What’s the lower limit for insulation resistance?... Does speed matter when regreasing bearings?...Why cable rating doesn’t match motor voltage... What’s the meaning of "loading factor"?  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.

• Trade associations,  professional societies and government activities  News of non-profit  government, and other organizations serving the electrical mechanical industries.  In this issue  - Manufacturers’ Agents National Association plans third Keystone All Rep Conference (April, Baltimore) ... Professional Electrical Apparatus Recyclers League to discuss counterfeiting at May conference in California ... ASTM International seeks award nominees ... Electrical Apparatus Service Association chapter officers to hold preshow meeting for training and networking ... Electrical conductors are topic of ASTM International workshop ... American Society of Safety Engineers to present safety experts at June conference in Las Vegas ...  Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute of Arlington, Va., newly merged with the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association, renames website URL to www.ahridirectory.org 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 - Integrated Power Services of Greenville, S.C., buys Electro-Mec, a power-services company based in Indiana, Pa ... Canadian service company Delom Group reorganizes Entreprise d’Elec­tro­mecanique Delstar, Omega Machine Shop, and Services Electromecaniques Roberge into Delom Services, Inc. ... Shermco is named authorized service provider for ABB BU machines and BU LV motor products ... Iris Power, of Etobicoke, Ont. establishes branch office in Beijing
  Distributor briefs - Coleman Cable, Inc., of Waukegan, Ill. will expand in Pleasant Prairie, Wis.... ABC Supply Co., Inc., of Beloit, Wis. will be primary distributor of Flir infrared cameras to the roofing industry ... All American Semiconductor renews relationship with Tyco Electronics
  Financial briefs- Reports from Regal-Beloit Corp, Emerson Electric Co., W.W. Grainger,  Rockwell Automation, Inc and Littelfuse s      ...Edited by Kevin Jones

• Utility Briefs  News of the utility industry. In this issue - Wind energy capacity surged in 2007 ... Lawsuit charges Duke Energy Corp. paid kickbacks ... Feds say worker at San Onofre nuclear power plant faked records ... Feds inspect Point Beach Nuclear Power Station in Two Rivers, Wis...   Edited by Kevin Jones

• EA reader profile  ... Spotlighting Electrical Apparatus readers on the job.

  In this issue - Hubbell Wiring Systems’ Bob Murphy discusses how brands can carry a company through a recession.

  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 .

• 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 - Ohio State University seeks undergraduates for research projects (undergraduate student Rebecca Routson and assistant professor Robert Siston are working to base the design of an assistive walking device on a child’s gait, daily activities, and a mechanical analysis of the child’s current walker. - pictured, left) ... Students at Duke University use Ipods to reinforce learning ... National Science Board issues Science and Engineering Indicators 2008, a biennial report on the state of science and engineering research and education in the United States ... Students stay connected digitally at Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan ...

  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

• Standards briefs  Updates of standards and related information. In this issue - International Association of Electrical Inspectors seeks more National Electrical Code clout ... Chinese National Committee of the International Electrotechnical Commission and the Shenzhen Institute of Standards and Technology promote internationalism ... National Electrical Manufacturers Association publishes revised standard for HPS lamps ... The National Electrical Manufacturers Association ( http://global.ihs.com) expands magnet wire standard ... Edited by the Electrical Apparatus staff. 

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

• Training Briefs Announcements of workshops, seminars and instructional materials.  In this issue -Motor fundamentals from The Electrical Apparatus Service Association ... Electrical service and safety from Shermco Industries ...Servo motors from Quality Solutions Co....Corrosion prevention from Corrosion College... Motors and generators from EPRI Power Generation and TECO-Westinghouse Motor Co. ... Corrosion testing from ASTM International (formerly the American Society of Testing and Materials),... Power quality from PowerCET Corp. ... UPS’s and batteries from Ametek Solidstate Controls ... Welding from Lincoln Electric Co.... Motor & drive application from Baldor Electric Co ... 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 The Electrical Apparatus Service Association and 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.

• Trilingual summary For our international readers, each month one featured topic is presented in French, Spanish and German. In this issue - Tricks and traps in three-phase winding connections (read an online English summary)

• Accounting for management  Business financial planning, tips, information and best accounting practices.  In this issue - Business startups for realists - To be successful, you must determine where your competitive advantage truly lies ...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 - OSHA's amended PPE rule may cost employers $85 million - Enhanced safety is cited as justification ...   By Richard B. Elsberry, EA Contributing Editor

• Names and Faces ... News and photos of industry people on the move and in the news. In this issue - Jerry Davis (pictured, above left) of Robroy Industries ... Alex Harvey (pictured, above center), Jeff Pchola, Dave Ernst, and Ken Hoyt of Stellar Materials, Inc. ... Sean Fitzgerald (pictured, above right),  Robert Colling, Wilton George, Michael Hall, and Thomas Taylor of The Eraser Company, Inc.... Thomas J. Summerson, honored with the Francis L. LaQue Memorial Award by ASTM International’s Committee ... Mark Campion (pictured, below left) of  Pentadyne Power Corp. ... Billy Stanfill (pictured, below right) of Staco Energy Products Co....Edited by the EA Staff

• Product briefs Photos and announcements of new products. In this issue - Tools from Klein Tools,  The Eraser Co, LEDtronics and  Wright Tool Co. ... Circuit Interrupters from Cooper Bussmann ... Drives & Inverters  from  ABB Low Voltage Products ... Interconnections from Bridgeport Fittings and Cooper B-Line ... Measuring Equipment from Fluke Corp ... Contact surface pressure indicating sensor film from Sensor Products...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 - 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

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

• 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.