en_US English
en_US English es_MX Spanish
My Account
Brainfiller.com Logo Horizontal
Facebook Linkedin Youtube

Technical Articles

Brainfiller Library

United Kingdom Article – Fear of Flashover

June 28, 2007

This article by Jim Phillips of the U.S. and Mike Frain of the U.K. elevated the awareness of the electrical flashover (arc flash) hazard in Europe to a new level. This ultimately lead to one of the very first public forums in which the authors and a member of the British Health Safety Executive (HSE) discussed their views on the subject of electrical flashover (arc flash in the U.S.) PPE happens to be last resort in the UK risk control

Read More »

Surf’s Up – Broadband Over Power Lines

November 28, 2006

Are we on the edge of another technological tidal wave or will this just be a small ripple in the pond? Surfing the internet is once again beginning to move in a whole new direction. For the past several years there has been slow and steady growth towards using existing electric power lines for broadband. Known as “Broadband Over Power Line” or BPL, the concept is simple. In fact, electric utilities have been transmitting data on transmission lines to control

Read More »

Dress for Success – PPE Selection

November 28, 2006

NFPA 70E has given a whole new meaning to the phrase “dress for success.” Correct PPE selection can make the difference if the very rare but potentially deadly arc-flash occurs.  This article discusses PPE selection based on the 2004 Edition of NFPA 70E. Dress for Success – Oct 2006

Read More »

Electromagnetic Compatibility of Variable Frequency Drives

June 28, 2006

Every electrical component can produce EMI when energized. Electromagnetic compatibility issues in the form of Electromagnetic interference is caused by the voltage and current in the form of electric and magnetic fields. Depending on the strength of the fields, EMI can degrade or disrupt the performance of other devices. As power increases, the EMI can increase and if not considered in the design and installation of a device, significant problems can result. Some equipment intentionally produces emissions, such as cellular

Read More »

Snow Job! Behind the Scenes – Ski Resort Electrical System

March 28, 2006

Every November the snow making equipment at your favorite ski resort is expected to start up flawlessly. The pumps, compressors, mechanical and electrical systems are good to go. The lifts are ready for the tens of thousands of people heading to the slopes. But what does it take to make all of that happen? Earlier this year I made a trip to Mount Snow, located in the mountains of Vermont, to take a look behind the scenes of a ski resort

Read More »

NEC and Hazardous Locations

November 23, 2005

The NEC defines a “Hazardous Location” as a location “where fire or explosion hazards may exist due to flammable gases or vapors, flammable liquids, combustible dust, or ignitable fibers or flyings.” There are 13 articles and 68 pages in the…

Read More »

Grounding Power Distribution Systems

August 28, 2005

The NEC contains specific articles that dictate when you shall ground, when you shall not ground, and when you are permitted – but not required – to ground. These code requirements are based on various factors such as whether or not there are connected phase to neutral loads, whether only qualified persons service the installation, and operating voltage levels. Jim Phillips, P.E. – April 2005 – NECDigest Download Article: Grounding Power

Read More »

OSHA, NEC, NFPA – Pieces of the Puzzle

June 28, 2005

The next time you are near the bulletin board at work, look for the poster that has the words “It’s the Law” and “OSHA” on it. It has probably been hanging there for a very long time but most people never really notice it or seem to read it. Further down on the poster is the statement “each employer shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are

Read More »

Testing for Improved Power Distribution Reliability

December 28, 2004

Those responsible for a facility’s operation hear the same thing over and over again – reduce costs and improve productivity. Much attention has been given to reducing raw material and labor costs, increasing production efficiency, automating processes, and other key areas, but what about the often overlooked cost of an electrical outage? Depending on the type of facility, one outage can paralyze building systems and cost thousands – or even millions – of dollars in lost production, downtime, damage to

Read More »

Recent Posts

Categories

Categories