Helpful Articles

A New Approach to Maintaining Process Control Field Devices Adding microprocessors to field instruments has transformed them into data acquisition systems and transmission terminals. Now technicians can use well-designed software to see what is happening inside plant instrumentation

A Summary of AC Induction Motor Monitoring - requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing.

Audit of key data is essential for electrical equipment Critical plant electrical equipment may be unfixable by maintenance teams if the required information is not readily at hand. An audit to collect all the needed data will help shorten shutdowns and diminish downtime

Basic Overview of RCM Based Approach for Motor Management Programs Electric motor systems are the primary drivers of all industrialized nations. The application of a motor management program is necessary for bottom-line profits in all industrial facilities and commercial buildings. A key consideration for the development of these motor management programs is ensuring that it is the most cost effective program possible. The use of combined Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) based and a follow-up Backfit RCM based program, for continuous improvement, is an outstanding process for achieving this goal. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the application and implementation of an electrical RCM/backfit RCM based program designed to guide the user in the development and continuous improvement of a motor management and motor diagnostics program and not to discuss the details of the processes.

Choosing the right fieldbus How do you find the ideal fieldbus for your needs? There is no single fieldbus that can fulfill all requirements for every application. There can be considerable differences in communication requirements for different applications, therefore the fieldbus must be selected according to certain requirements

Controlling the speed of electric motors The pros and cons, costs and efficiencies of various drive technologies for automation applications

Creating Reliable Electrical Connections Cleaning, filing, and abrading surfaces are among the options

Curbing repeat motor failures How Norfolk Southern Railway got control over short-term motor failures

Drives up to challenge of chemical plant The movement of tons of different materials places tough demands on motor controls, which must be able to change motor speeds over a constantly expanding capacity range

Electric Motor Monitoring With Your Microlog - requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing.

Electric Motors: Repair or Replace? How to evaluate the variable factors in a repair or replace decision when electric motor troubles strike

Electrical Safety Basics Following these safety principles can provide a safer work environment

Electrical Tricks of the Trade Tricks of the Trade are very practical ideas that will save you time and a little frustration

Electrical Troubleshooting This article from Larry Bush of maintenancepolicy.com contains a number of practical tips to assist with troubleshooting of a range of electrical and electronic equipment.

Electronic Drives Technical Tips - Hot Spares and Load Testing One suggestion we often make regarding critical applications is keep your spare drive powered up!

Extend Motor Life with Improved Bearing Care

Failure Analysis of Electronics Assemblies Here's what you need to know before, during and after electronics assembly failure analysis.

Fieldbus Device Maintenance - Do I Need to Go to the Field Anymore? The fieldbus era has ushered in a whole new approach to configuring, diagnosing and maintaining a plant’s field devices. Field device information that used to require a trip to the field is now available remotely over the fieldbus. This paper, written by Alan R. Dewey of Emerson Process Management explores the impact that this change will have on the role of the plant engineering and maintenance staff. - requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing.

Fieldbus Improves Control and Asset Management Information generated by smart field instrumentation can significantly improve production efficiencies - requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing.

Flux Diagnostics Electric motors convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. In the most common type of electric motor, AC induction, electric power is not conducted to the rotor directly, but receives its power inductively. The construction and operational weaknesses of induction motors are dominated by this principle. This article addresses specific frequencies of interest when performing flux diagnostics

Focus on Energy Efficiency Harmonic Discord: Preventing harmonic problems caused by Variable Speed Drives

Helping Motors Keep Their Cool

How a Photoswitch Saved My Job The messages contained in this article from Larry Bush are: anyone can make a mistake and, when in doubt, check the factory specifications of the equipment you are working with

How serial comms can save thousands By adopting serial communications, a typical installation in say, a paper mill, can save more than $23,000 over a hard-wired solution. This example explains how

How to install a drive system successfully Why you need to read the manual, use the right tools and take your time

How to Set Up and Use Your Microlog Data Collector/Analyzer for Motor Current Analysis - requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing.

Integrating Vibration, Motor Current, and Wear Particle Analysis with Machine Operating State for On-line Machinery Prognostics/ Diagnostics Systems (MPROS) - requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing.

Managing with motor moisture Tips and hints to keep electric motors dry and extend their operating life.

MCM : A New Technology in Predictive Maintenance MCM (Motor Condition Monitor) is a device that has the capability of detecting impending mechanical and electrical failures in motors and motor based systems at the early stages of fault development. The experimental modelling technology used in MCM can automate fault detection and prevent unplanned machine failures. The paper describes the technology and presents the results of experiments that were done to prove the capability of the MCM device in fault detection

Megger on the Move!

Merging AC drives & fieldbus technology The growing use of fieldbus technology in AC drive installations could save industry considerable costs. But just what are the considerations that you need to make when choosing fieldbus for your application? Gert-Jan Nijmolen, technical product manager, fieldbus modules, ABB, offers some practical advice.

NFPA 70E Electrical Standard for Electrical Safety Requirements for Employee Workplaces NFPA 70E addresses electrical safety requirements for employee workplaces that are necessary for the practical safeguarding of employees in their pursuit of gainful employment

NFPA 70E Electrical Standard for Electrical Safety Requirements for Employee Workplaces - Part 1 of 2 NFPA 70E, addresses electrical safety requirements for employee workplaces that are necessary for the practical safeguarding of employees in their pursuit of gainful employment

Overheating Electric Motors: A Major Cause of Failure On-line technologies permit assessment of the entire motor system to facilitate troubleshooting

Partial Discharge Analysis Partial discharges are small electrical sparks that occur within the electric insulation of switchgear, cables, transformers, and windings in large motors and generators. Partial Discharge Analysis is a proactive diagnostic approach that uses Partial Discharge (PD) measurements to evaluate the integrity of this equipment. - requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing.

Persistence needed to track TV/radio Interference When a complaint is about TV interference or the inability to get a specific radio channel, a specialist must be assigned to the case. New York State Electric & Gas Corp (NYSEG) relies heavily on ultrasonic technology

Powering up motor efficiency Can an energy-efficient motor be rewound without reducing its efficiency?

Protecting Mission Critical Electronics Using power conditioning, surge protection, and grounding provides a defense against the disruption, degradation, and destruction of mission critical electronic equipment

Revitalizing an Aging Grounding System Checking, testing, and updating installations improves overall electrical parameters

Selecting the correct horsepower motor Electric motors operate at their best power factor and efficiency when fully loaded so you do not want to purchase a motor that is too big, and common sense dictates that one that is too small is even worse. In the following paragraphs we are going to learn how to select the correct motor for your centrifugal pump application

Solving Motor Failures Due to High Peak Voltages and Fast Rise Times

Temperature’s "Shocking" Effect on Electrical Control Systems

The Trouble with Torque in Electrical Connections Torque and force are not the same

The True Cost of COTS The sure sign of momentum is when a movement acquires its own acronym. The current enthusiasm for commercial off the shelf technology is known as COTS, and one avionics expert suggests it may be prudent to rein in the present enthusiasm

Track Corona Discharges with Ultrasonic Detector Ultrasound detectors perfectly complement infrared instruments for the routine examination of electrical equipment. While infrared inspections allow operators to detect light that the eye cannot see, ultrasound allows them to detect sounds that the ear cannot hear.

Troubleshooting Variable Speed AC Motor Drives

VFD Drive Technology Can Save Over 30% In Energy Costs Now that AC variable speed drives have become so accepted into the industrial market, the potential for retrofits and new installations remains very high.

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