By understanding how much money you are currently spending on your appliances and home electronics, you can find ways to cut costs and save money. Using the information found in this article, you will be able to calculate how much energy an appliance is using and, in turn, find ways to cut costs and make [...]
The Technician scratched his head and surveyed the scene. He then asked himself, “It’s dead, but what is it supposed to do?” Methodically, like a detective, he breaks down the purpose of a Motor Control Center (MCC), and how it relates to the downed HVAC unit. An MCC is a group of one or more [...]
The detective approached the scene like he always did, observing the behavior of the crowd as he stepped under the yellow tape surrounding the area. It is important to stay detached from the circumstances and evaluate all […]
If your job involves work within, or you are considering a career related to, modern industrial facilities, the odds are that you have come across the term Instrument Control Loop. This term defines a common and important aspect of modern industrial facilities. For evidence of just how important knowledge of it is, drop the term [...]
Through my work as a member of Technology Transfer Services (TTS), I was lucky enough to spend some time in West Central Africa over the past few years, helping to improve maintenance and operations at industrial facilities. One of the issues that my team and I frequently encountered involved warehouse managers and their attempts to [...]
The terms software and firmware both refer to digitally stored programs and data structures that are read and written by computers. In the PLC world, software is usually reserved for computer applications that allow the logical creation, monitoring, and troubleshooting of a PLC program. One example of PLC software is the RSLogix program developed by [...]
The operation of a PLC is very simple. The processor makes decisions based on a ladder logic program written by the user. In order to use the program properly, the PLC must communicate with the various field devices it is tasked with monitoring and controlling. It then compares the actual conditions of the field devices [...]
Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) have become an integral part of the industrial environment. As a technician involved with the processes controlled by PLCs, it is important to understand their basic functionalities and capabilities. […]
Gases are commonly used throughout industry. These gases come in several forms and are often as dangerous as they are useful. The following article provides background knowledge of these gases. Gases in compressed form serve countless indispensable roles in modern technology. Oxygen is used extensively to produce stronger and cheaper steels. Acetylene welding and brazing [...]
In 1905, the Grover Shoe Factory boiler exploded, collapsing the building and engulfing it in flames. Fifty-eight people were killed and 150 more injured. This event led to the development of safety laws and a national code for the safe operation of steam boilers. The CB-Hawk boiler management control system (”Figure 1”) combines the functions [...]
