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  Anyone who makes their living by working with electricity quickly develops a healthy respect for anything with even a remote chance of being "live." Yet, the pressures of the getting a job done on time or getting a mission-critical piece of equipment back on line can result in carelessness and uncharacteristic mistakes by even the most seasoned electrician… The list below was developed by FLUKE as a quick reminder of what not to do when taking electrical measurements: Replace the original fuse with a cheaper one. If your digital multimeter meets today's safety standards, that fuse...

We’re unpacking transformers in our NEW series. An important discussion point is the protection of transformers. In this article, we give an overview of protection schemes specifically for oil-type transformers. Catch-up on previous articles in the series: Part 1: Understanding Transformers and how they work Part 2: Advantages, disadvantages and types of 3-Phase Transformers...

Welcome to part two in your guide on 3-Phase Transformers. In this NEW series, we’re unpacking the different types of these transformers, how they are connected, their advantages and disadvantages as well as a view on the protection they require. Stay tuned to catch the entire series! Part 1: Understanding Transformers and how they work Part 2: Advantages, disadvantages and types of 3-Phase Transfor...

Welcome to your guide on 3-Phase transformers – what are they, what different types exist, how are they connected, what are their advantages and disadvantages and how do you protect them… We’re answering all these question in our NEW series. Don’t miss out, SUBSCRIBE to receive these newsletters straight to your inbox!   What are Transformers? A transformer is an electrical device that consists of two or more coils of wire that transfers electrical energy by means of a changing magnetic field. A voltage transformer is a sta...

Residual Current Monitoring in an Industrial Environment We're wrapping up our series on Condition Monitoring, by discussing Residual Current Monitoring (RCM) as an essential system to implement in any industrial environment. By monitoring the state of the electrical system in a facility, RCM assists in detecting faults early – reducing downtime and saving money. Catch up on previous articles in our ...

Are electrical motor faults and failures a prominent cause of downtime in your facility? Then you should be engaging in methods to increase the lifespan of your equipment. In our latest series on Condition Monitoring, we’re unpacking the various means of predictive maintenance and equipment preservation.   In Part 1...

When vibration increases beyond normal levels, it may be a sign of alignment issues or a source of trouble. In order to avoid costly downtime, you will need fast and actionable answers. In our NEW series on Condition Monitoring, we’re discussing what it entails to implement a condition monitoring system in a facility. In Part 1...

Monitoring machines for vibration can save you time and money. A machine going offline can impact quality and production. Monitoring machines for vibration issues identifies trends and helps reduce the potential for the machine going offline. In our NEW series on Condition Monitoring, we’re unpacking what it entails to implement a condition monitoring system in a facility. In Part 1...

Employing a condition monitoring system in your facility can ensure the reliability of your operations. How? By implementing processes to monitor your equipment, you can ensure machine up-time, the reduction in consequential damage to machinery, and the improvement of the overall operational efficiency. In this NEW series, we introduce you to condition monitoring. In Part 1, we start by reviewing the various benefits of a condition monitoring system, the commonly used techniques and the different types of condition...

What is Partial Discharge (PD)? A partial discharge is an electrical discharge or spark that bridges a small portion of the high voltage insulation between two conducting electrodes or a conducting electrode and earth. Partial discharge can occur at any point in the insulation system, where the electric field strength exceeds the breakdown strength of the insulating material. Partial discharge can occur in voids within solid insulation, across the surface of insulating material due to contaminants or irregularities, within gas bubbles in liquid insulation or around an electrode in gas (corona...

Are you considering efforts to reduce the electricity cost in your plant? Do you require extra power for a plant upgrade, but without having to change the existing electrical supply? If you answered ‘Yes!’, then you will appreciate this NEW series on power factor correction. In this informative 2-part read, we begin by outlining what power factor is. In the second article, we will discuss power factor correction and how it is performed to achieve a maximum power factor of 1 (unity). What is the Power Factor? The power factor is a ratio between ...

Is your facility connected to a mobile network that is slow in speed? Is your equipment taking too long to upload pertinent system information? Are you often having to deal with frustrated employees or customers as a result? In this quick informative article, we introduce you to the 5G mobile network – the answer to slow and delayed communication. Learn about how 5G compares against the previous generation and how it could potentially affect your business. What is 5G? 5G is the new global wireless standard, known as the 5th generation mobile networ...

We’re wrapping up our series on Variable Speed Drives! Missed out on the first two articles? In Part 1, we introduced you to the basic principle of operation of a VSD, and touched on their key benefits In Part 2...

Is there a device that can reduce downtime whilst increasing the lifespan of your electrical motor? In our NEW series, we’re unpacking Variable Speed Drives. In Part 1, we introduced you to the basic principle of operation of a VSD, and touched on their key benefits In Part 2, we give an overview of the types of VSD’s, and delve into how a VSD works Watch this space to catch the full se...

Do you see your plant constantly on a breakdown as a result of a motor failure? Are you forced to spend a vast amount of time replacing electrical motors that are essential to the productivity of your plant? Is there a device that can reduce downtime whilst increasing the lifespan of your electrical motor? In this NEW series, we discuss Variable Speed Drives as an essential component to increase the lifespan of your electrical motors and reduce maintenance-associated downtime.  In part 1, we give you an overview of VSD’s – what they are, their benefits and the protection they offer t...

Step into the future with the arrival of The Fourth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 4.0. Large-scale machine-to-machine communication and the Internet of Things (IoT) are being integrated for increased automation, improved communication, and self-monitoring. Is your facility ready for the automation of traditional manufacturing and industrial practices, using modern smart technology? Welcome to Industry 4.0 The fourth industrial revolution, which came into existence in the past few years, is established as Industry 4.0. More flexible production, greater productivity, and the development of ...

When vibration increases beyond normal levels, it may be a sign of alignment issues or source of trouble. In order to avoid costly downtime, you will need fast and actionable answers. In this article, we outline when and how to use & set-up vibration monitoring on assets. Missed out on the first article in the series? Click below to catch up now: Part One – Understanding vibration: Causes and effects Why choose vibration monitoring? The need for actionable data in plants and other facilities is typically unquestioned by most reliability and maintenance teams. Where people typically diverg...

Monitoring machines for vibration can save you time and money. A machine going offline can impact quality and production. Monitoring machines for vibration issues identifies trends and helps reduce the potential for the machine going offline. In the first article of this NEW series, we will outline what vibration is, common causes of vibration and the effects of vibration. Watch this space to catch the full series! What is Vibration? Vibration is simply a back and forth movement—or oscillation—of machines and components in motorized equipment. Vibration in industrial equipment can be a sympto...

We’re wrapping up our series on Circuit Breakers by taking a look at: 1. The common reasons why an industrial circuit breaker might trip 2. How to size a circuit breaker Missed out on previous articles in this series? Click below to catch up now! Part One              - Circuit breaker basics and how they compare to fuses Par...

The next article in our series on Circuit Breakers discusses a few common types of breakers. Missed out on the first two articles? Follow the links below to catch up on parts one and two in the series: Part One - Gain an understanding of what circuit breakers are, how they work and how they compare to fuses. Part Two - Learn about...

In this NEW series, we will be taking you through the ins and outs of circuit breaker technology. Part one of the series shares a basic understanding of what circuit breakers are, how they work and how they compare to fuses. In Part two below, we get into the detail of circuit breaker components. Watch this space to catch the full series! What does a circuit breaker comprise of? Although low and medium voltage circuit breakers have unique designs that are speci...

High magnitude abnormal currents could be a result of various faults that may occur at your facility. These lead to the unnecessary replacement of equipment and electrical wiring - a costly affair, especially if it causes production downtime…. Is there protection that will prevent this from happening in your facility? In this NEW series, we will be taking you through the ins and outs of circuit breaker technology. In part one of the series, we give you an understanding of what circuit breakers are, how they work and how they compare to fuses. What is a Circuit Breaker? A circuit breaker is an ...

Transient earth faults can be dangerous to your workforce, and can also be the cause of significant downtime. Is your facility adequately protected against them? In this article, we’re giving you a basic understanding of transient earth faults, how to detect them and how to prevent them. Describing Transient Earth Faults A transient earth fault is an inadvertent fault that occurs when a conductive path is created between the phase and ground conductor. It results in the electrical system being short-circuited and this current then flows through the system. The cause of Transient Earth Faults ...

The first “thing” on the Internet was created in 1982: a soda machine at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that reported on the number and the temperature of the drinks it contained. It was unique back then, but by some point in 2008 or 2009, the number of things connected to the Internet came to exceed the world’s human population for the first time in history. Since then, the “Internet of Things” (IoT) has experienced a rapid expansion. According to predictions, the number of “things” will exceed 30 billion in 2020 and 75 billion in 2025, worth an estimated $1.6 trilli...

If you’re in the market for a UPS, read our quick article to learn UPS basics, the type of protection they offer, and what important considerations you should keep front of mind when selecting a UPS… What is a UPS? An uninterruptible power supply or uninterruptible power source (UPS) is a device that: 1. Provides back-up power when utility power fails, either long enough for critical equipment to shut down gracefully so that no data is lost, or long enough to keep required loads operational until a generator comes online. 2. Conditions incoming power so that all-too-common sags and surges...

READ | The latest edition of SANS 10142-1 has been published! The third edition of SANS10142-1 (The wiring of premises Part 1: LV installations) has recently been published. In this article, we’ll outline why the standard was revised, along with the most important changes made. What is SANS 10142-1? This South African standard is referenced for all forms of low voltage electrical installations. The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHS Act) deems it compulsory for electrical installations to comply with all requirements of the standard. Moreover, the OHS Act stipulates that a registere...

Grounding is so much more important than most people think! Grounding errors can cause electrical shock, fires, equipment damage, and power quality problems. In this article, we’ll give you a basic understanding of grounding and outline its importance. What is a ground? The US National Electrical Code (NEC) Article 100 defines a ground as: “a conducting connection, whether intentional or accidental, between an electrical circuit or equipment and the earth, or to some conducting body that serves in place ...

Safety is still a prevalent topic that needs to be kept front of mind - no matter how compliant your facility is, or how informed you assume your employees may be… Facilities that prioritize workplace safety report fewer accidents and a higher productivity rate. The best tip for a safer facility is to make it visual. Hazard communication using labels and signage assists workers to clearly identify risks. In this article, we provide a few reminders on workplace safety – a great read to share with all your colleagues and staff! How safe is your workplace? Standardizing all processes and pr...

What is Partial Discharge?  A partial discharge (PD) is an electrical discharge or spark that bridges a small portion of the high voltage insulation between two conducting electrodes or a conducting electrode and earth. Partial discharge can occur at any point in the insulation system, where the electric field strength exceeds the breakdown strength of the insulating material. PD activity can have a detrimental effect on your MV and HV assets.  Click here ...

Did you know that regular inspections using infrared cameras can help keep your facility’s systems running efficiently? Using thermal imagers is also a safer way to detect system failures, especially in hazardous environments. Whether you’re looking for hot or cold spots, or the apparent surface temperature of a component or target area, using infrared cameras help you find problems quickly and safely. In this article, we’re discussing the use of infrared cameras in industry for preventive maintenance and the promotion of safety. Let’s start by taking a glance at how infrared cameras work, the...

The electrical event that produces the most significant downtime is the transient. A transient is also known as a spike or surge, although, generally these terms refer loosely to the same event. Transients are high energy (with magnitudes in the thousands of volts) and short duration (with rise times in the 1 to 10 microsecond range). Since they are sub-cycle events, they should not be confused with longer duration events such as swells or temporary over-voltages. Click here...

In Part 1 of this informative 2-part read, we began by outlining what power factor is. In Part 2, we discuss power factor correction and how it is performed to achieve a maximum power factor of 1 (unity). The power of unity Power factor correction is performed to restore the power factor as close as possible to unity. This is done with the addition of capacitors to the electrical network. It will compensate for the reacti...

We’re wrapping up our Power Quality series by giving an overview on power factor and the correction of poor power factor. If you missed our previous articles in the series, click below to catch up now!     1. An Introduction to Power Quality     2. Understanding Power Quality issues and what to do about them:         a) Voltage instability...

Over the past few weeks, we’ve discussed facets of Power Quality in our new series. We’re just scratching the surface of Power Quality (PQ) to give you a basic understanding on the aspects that contribute to poor PQ, and what you can do about them: Understanding Power Quality Understanding Power Quality issues and what to do about them: a) Voltage instability...

  In the first article of our new series, we learnt that good power quality saves money and time, ensures a safer workplace, prolonged equipment life and increased efficiency. On the other hand, we also learnt that poor power quality often leads to reduced energy efficiency, and various other downsides. Power Quality has become increasingly prevalent in industry. Power Quality is also such a vast topic that can be discussed at length. We’re just scratching the surface of Power Quality (PQ) to give you a basic unde...

What is power quality, and how important is it? Good power quality saves money and time, ensures a safer workplace, prolonged equipment life and increased efficiency. On the other hand, poor power quality often leads to reduced energy efficiency, and various other downsides. The topic of Power Quality has become increasingly prevalent. Power Quality is also such a vast topic that can be discussed at length. In this series, we’re scratching the surface of Power Quality (PQ) to give you a basic understanding on the aspects that contribute to poor PQ, and what you can do about them: Underst...