Electrical Apparatus
The Magazine of Electrical &
Electronic Application & Maintenance

June 2008 Columns and Departments

Back issues
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• Editor's Comment In this issue - Our industry is thriving in an economic downturn. ... Hedging economic conditions: challenge versus opportunity ... Workers’ compensation: claims down, fraud up ... 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 a motor winding have a ‘BIL’ rating? ... Insulation resistance tests may not suffice ... Take care with kVA code letter ... Is megohmmeter testing destructive?... Several factors influence breaker operating time ...Repaired vs. replaced: Which is more reliable?...What’s meant by a ‘Schleif Test’?  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 - Phasors and vectors, from Michael Kelly, University of Missouri, Kansas City

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 June 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 Association of Electrical Distributors warns that Private-label imports may raise risk of liability... Professional Electrical Apparatus Recyclers League reports year’s progress ... Executives from two National Electrical Manufacturers Association member com­panies have been chosen to join the Electricity Advisory Committee at the U.S. Dept. of Energy ... Webinar will cover maintenance strategies ...New seminar at EASA web site ... Education will be focus of HVACR conference ... Adhesive and Sealant Council observes golden anniversary  Edited by the EA staff

Note:  the 2008 EMBR lists contact information for more than 140 associations ... Update or add your listing to the 2009 EMBR.

• International Trade Shows  Information and calendar for upcoming shows around the globe ..In this issue - Trade show activity taking place September - December 2008. In locations from Kazakhstan to the Phillipines, Bulgaria to Taiwan, opportunities to display and examine electrical and electronics products in the global marketplace will be found throughout the closing months of 2008.  Edited by the EA Staff

• Standards briefs  Updates of standards and related information. In this issue - EU opposes U.S. OSHA’s NRTL method of product certification . . .IEC standards are increasingly adopted in U.S. ...Comment sought on two IEEE changes ...National Electrical Manufac­turers Association reissues condensed motor-generator standards ...American National Standards Institute adopts ANSI/IEEE C57.93-2007 ... Edited by the Electrical Apparatus staff. 

• Business and financial briefs  News of expansions, relocations, annual reports, and more, about companies serving the electrical mechanical industries  In this issue -Aviation Technology to distribute specialty cleaners and industrial chemicals in the Middle East for Turbine Services Penetone Corp. ... Zero Ground wins mine safety approval ... Leroy-Somer names Shermco Industries North American servicer ... Emerson Electric Company reports 10% order increase Financial briefs  from Fidus Systems, Inc. and Bosch Rexroth AG Edited by Kevin Jones

• EA reader at ease  ... Spotlighting the hobbies and off-work activities of Electrical Apparatus readers.

  In this issue - Paul Duman, who works in service and sales for Dynamics Research Corp, pictured with his daughters Caryn (left) and Sarah, coaches softball.

  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 June 2008 through November 2008 ... Edited by the EA Staff

• Accounting for management  Business financial planning, tips, information and best accounting practices.  In this issue - Business strategies for tough times Tough markets present opportunities as well as challenges ...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 - Workers’ Compensation claims decline, but fraud persists And it’s more frequently committed by employers than by employees ...  By Richard B. Elsberry, EA Contributing Editor

• Literature Announcements of guides, catalogs, brochures, product specifications and other literature.  In this issue - Catalog of electric motor and drive products from Baldor Electric Co. ...Emergency lighting UPS brochure... catalog of welding equipment from Lincoln Electric Co., ...Bulletin describing electrical hand tools from Gardner Bender ...  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 - Bill Simpson of Pittsburgh Electrical Insulation ... Vincent Petrella (top row left) , George Blankenship (top row right), and Scott Funderburk (second row left) of Lincoln Electric Co .... James T. Ryan (second row, right) of W.W. Grainger, Inc. ... Steven Anixter (third row, left)  of Advance Electrical Supply Co., Inc. ... Burt Schraga (third row, right)  of Bell Electrical Supply. ... Russell Bernstein of Ferraz Shawmut (below) ... Tom Van Wert and Ray Morris of Ansell ... Scott Holdridge and Ron Widup of Shermco Industries... Edward Matheny of Miscor Group, Ltd.... James Parejko of Bison Gear & Engineering Corp. ...Edited by the EA Staff

• Training Briefs Announcements of workshops, seminars and instructional materials.  In this issue - Encoders and Tachometers, at the IEEE Pulp and Paper Conference, Seattle, Wash., www.pulppaper.org .... Welding, from Lincoln Electric ... Plant maintenance, from All-Test Pro... Motors and generators, from EPRI Power Generation and TECO-Westinghouse Motor Co. ... Servo motors, from Quality Solutions Co.... Corrosion testing, from ASTM International (formerly the American Society of Testing and Materials), www.astm.org  ...UPS’s and batteries, from Ametek Solidstate Controls ... Power quality, from PowerCET Corp ...Motor & drive application, from Baldor Electric Co....Drives and controls, from Bosch Rexroth Corp....Professional certification, from AFE Virtual Classes for Facilities Professionals ... Various offerings in Infrared thermography, from Flir Systems, Inc., The Electrical Apparatus Service Association, and Snell Infrared ...High-voltage maintenance, from Dan Ninedorf, Ox Creek Energy. Edited by Bill O'Leary

  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 - How often can that motor be started?  (read an online English summary)

• Automation Briefs High-tech products of use to the industry. In this issue - Voltage monitors from ICM Controls ... Limit switches, from Omega Engineering ... Cooling fans, from Orion Fans ... Ethernet coupler, from Berlin-based Ethernet Powerlink Standardization Group ... Position sensor, from Macro Sensors ...Digital speed control, from Oriental Motor ... By David P. Tryling

• 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 - Reaching out to female engineering students at Smith College ... Louisiana Tech wins IEEE-USA video contest... 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

• Product briefs Photos and announcements of new products. In this issue - Power quality, from Raycap, Inc., Fluke Corp, Eaton Corp. and Megger ...Circuit interrupters from Ferraz Shawmut ... Enclosures, from Stahlin ... Programmable vibration switch, from Balmac, Inc. ... Red steel fire alarm boxes from Bridgeport Fittings, Inc., ... Titanium-clad copper electrodes from Anomet Products, Inc. ... Power distribution cabinet, from Staco Energy Products Co....Three-layer laminated packaging film from ITW Richmond Technology...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.

• Utility Briefs  News of the utility industry. In this issue - Energy group linked to Oxbow Corp’s wind farm opposition ... New study by the Natural Resources Defense Council will outline emissions allowance effect ... ‘Crazy’ ants threaten Houston electrical gear.... Edited by Kevin Jones

• 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 rose in the first quarter ... Demand for controls took a hit. ... Distributors’ performance forecast met expectations ... Missouri may get tougher on copper theft ... from The Editors of Electrical Apparatus.