Electrical Apparatus
The Magazine of Electrical &
Electronic Application & Maintenance

October 2008 Columns and Departments

Back issues
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• Editor's Comment In this issue - Coils get top billing in two autumn trade shows ... US Civil Rights legislation to protect the disabled ... Remembering Norton Satz and Colleen Jones ... 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 - Using air pressure to clean electronic gear ...Ambient temperature is not well defined ...How are multiple efficiencies combined? ... What’s special about a farm duty motor? ... Is motor inrush reduced by a quicker start? ...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  -  ISA sponsors student and young professional activities to attract youth ... American Society of Safety Engineers to award nearly $123,000 in student scholarships ... Power Transmission Distributors Association’s “Next Generation” task force ... MANA, the association of interdependent manufacturers and representatives, continues its series of professional development forums ... National Association of Electrical Distributors releases electrical distributor employee compensation report ... University of Industrial Distribution to hold second session, Dec. 2-5 in Indianapolis.  ...Edited by Elizabeth Van Ness

Note:  the 2008 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 - Ametek completes acquisition of the programmable power business of Xantrex Technology, Inc., Burnaby, B.C. ... Orion Fans expands North American network - ElectroSonic, Inc., of Ottawa, will provide technical support and “on demand” distribution services ... Motion Industries purchases Drago Supply, a regional industrial supplies company based in Port Arthur, Texas ... Lafert North America adds Spina Electric Co., of Warren, Mich., as its new stocking distributor ... Baldor buys Poulies Maska, Ste.-Claire, Quebec, a designer, manufacturer, and marketer of sheaves, bushings, couplings, and related mechanical power transmission components ... Chromalox introduces Etirex brand in Canada ... ABB service hub opens in New Berlin, WI (pictured, below) ... Edited by Josh Hoff

• EA reader at ease  Spotlighting the off-work activities and interests of members of the electromechanical industry. In this issue - Cynthia Langhirt and her husband Bruce love to fish. Cynthia is President of Mid-Ohio Electric, Columbus, Ohio.
   

Send your suggestions for Profiles to Electrical Apparatus, 400 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 900, Chicago, III. 60611; (312) 321-9440; Fax (312) 321-1288; e-mail eamagazine@barks.com .

• Say It Right ... The popular column about language in the workplace. In this issue - Are all standards truly "standard"?  ...  by Richard L. Nailen, P.E., EA Engineering Editor

• Standards briefs  Updates of standards and related information. In this issue -  The Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers and the International Electrotechnical Commission to join forces ... American National Standards Institute revises hazardous location motor standard, adopts other standards... National Electrical Manufacturers Association publishes electricity metering guidelines ... International Electrotechnical Commission finalizes international wind turbine standards ... Edited by the Electrical Apparatus staff. 

• Electropix  Photographs of people, places, equipment and more. In this issue - A green light for green energy As crude oil and other fossil fuels continue to fluctuate wildly in price, several projects involving alternative forms of energy have moved steadily forward. In Europe (above), the European parliament last month “voted overwhelmingly in favor” of legislation that will push the European Union towards a goal of 20% renewable energy by 2020. At the end of the European Wind Energy Conference & Exposition recently, executives of Dallas electromechanical service firm Shermco Industries (below left) met with European wind energy leaders to discuss participation by U.S. companies in European wind energy events. And what’s said to be the largest building-integrated photovoltaic laminate roof-top power plant in the southeastern U.S. (below right) has begun service at a sheet metal fabrication plant in Bensen, N.C.

• Training Briefs Announcements of workshops, seminars and instructional materials.  In this issue - Centrifugal pump repair & root cause failure analysis from The Electrical Apparatus Service Association ... Fire systems, from Fire-Lite Alarms ... Ultrasonics, from Branson Ultrasonics Corp. ... Relays and substations, from Megger ... Circuit breakers, from Megger ... Welding, from Lincoln Electric Welding School ... Corrosion prevention, from Corrosion College ... Plant maintenance, from All-Test Pro ... Servo motors, from Quality Solutions ... UPS’s and batteries, from Ametek Solidstate Controls ... Power quality, from PowerCET Corp. ... Motor & drive application, from Baldor Electric Co. ... Professional certification, from the Association for Facilities Engineering ... Infrared thermography, from Flir Systems   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.

• Calendar Briefs - Upcoming trade shows, symposia, and events. In this issue - events from October 2008 through June 2009 ... Edited by the EA Staff

• New Books Recently published books, reviewed by our editors.  In this issue - Residential Wiring to the 2008 NEC. By J. Markell. Craftsman Book Company, $42.00, 298 pages.

  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.

• Accounting for management  Business financial planning, tips, information and best accounting practices.  In this issue - Smart ways to reduce expenses - Money saving ideas for challenging economic times ...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 - Feds aim to raise workplace toxin exposure levels...  By Richard B. Elsberry, EA Contributing Editor

• Web briefs ...  Selected websites for the electromechanical specialist, annotated with details of especially valuable content.  In this issue - Cummins Power Generation— www.cumminspower.com  ... Internet FAQ Archives— www.FAQS.org  ... Rotating Electrical Machines Association— www.rema.uk.com  ... Robinson Fans— www.robinsonfans.com  ... Ian C. Purdie— www.electronics-tutorials.com  ... Design Science License— www.allaboutcircuits.com  ... David Ullian Larson— www.electricianeducation.com  ... Branom Instrument Co.— www.branom.com  ... General Cable— www.generalcable.com  ... ElectroStatics, Inc.— www.electrostatics.com  ... High Voltage Connections, Inc.— www.highvoltageconnections.com  ... University of Massachusetts— www.ceere.org  ... U.S. Dept. of Energy Industrial Technologies Program— www1.eere.energy.gov/industry  ... Alternative Energy— www.alternative-energy-news.info  ...

  Edited by the Electrical Apparatus staff. 

•   Names and Faces ... News and photos of industry people on the move and in the news. In this issue -  From Regal Beloit Corp, Bud Pritchard (above, left) ... Keith Tipper of Leeson Electric (above, center)... Ty Smith of Wright Tool Co. (above right) ... IEEE’s Robert C. Degeneff, recipient of the 2008 IEEE Herman Halperin Electric Transmission and Distribution Award ... Paul Goodson of the Automation Federation (below left)... Storm Kauffman of MPR Associates ... Lovejoy, Inc.’s Al Bergiel and Greg Taylor ... Robroy Industries’ Michelle Crocker (below right) ... Nanmac Corporation’s Sheila Giordano  ...Edited by Bill O'Leary

• Deaths  - Obituaries of industry people.  In this issue - Norton Satz, longtime advertising executive who directed Republic Steel Corp, Torq, and other industrial accounts.

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• Literature Announcements of guides, catalogs, brochures, product specifications and other literature.  In this issue - wiring device catalog from Hubbell Wiring Device-Kellums ... Dodge MagnaGear XTR gear reducer brochure, from Baldor Electric ... Test tools accessories catalog from Fluke Corp ... Metals and Alloys in the Unified Numbering System, from ASTM International...  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 - Oscilloscope from B&K Precision ... Position sensor from MacroSensors... Switches from EAO Switch Corp. ... Rotary actuators from Oriental Motor USA ... Automation motors from Bodine Electric, Schneider Electric and QuickSilver Controls... By David Tryling

• Product briefs Photos and announcements of new products. In this issue - Circuit interrupters from Cooper Bussmann, ABB, and Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories ... Interconnections from Galvan Industries , Bridgeport Fittings, Cooper Wiring Devices, and Marinco Electrical Group ... Switching devices from Leviton Mfg. Co., GE Consumer & Industrial, Del City, and Switches Plus ... Test instruments from B&K Precision Corp., Extech Instruments, and Brunelle Instruments, Inc. ... Tools from Klein Tools, Swanson Tool Co., The Eraser Co., Wright Tool Co., Makita USA, Xuron Corp., and Bondhus 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 - Guidance on water-damaged equipment issued .... France second in European renewable .... GE and Google partner in grid management .... Power transmission sales retract slightly .... Europeans unaware of recycling regulations .... OSHA hearing on personal protective equipment  from The Editors of Electrical Apparatus.