The coronavirus pandemic sparked a host of innovations in the NFPA codes and standards development process. For two weeks in October 2018, several hundred experts from across the electrical industry gathered at a hotel in San Diego to complete the second draft of the 2020 edition of the National Electrical Code®. For more than eight hours a day, the hotel’s large …
During the life cycle of a substation automation system (SAS), it takes considerable effort and time to test the communication, interlocking logic, and proper operation of all signals transmitted to supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems. In a substation that makes use of IEC 61850 communication, all the engineering and configuration data can be saved in standard-format files — the …
NETA’s Corporate Alliance Partners (CAPs) are a group of industry-leading companies that have joined forces with NETA to work together toward a common aim: improving quality, safety, and electrical system reliability. Our continuing CAP Spotlight series highlights some of their individual successes. In this issue, NETA World interviews Brian Bianchi, Director of Sales and Marketing at Utility Relay Company. NW: …
This edition of the Tech Quiz discusses one thing we all deal with, either at home or at work: low-voltage circuit breakers. Typically, they can last for years without causing problems, but they do require some maintenance and care. Continue on to find out what’s in store for you! 1. When the topic of low-voltage circuit breakers comes up, what …
Falls from ladders account for 20% of all fatalities and lost-workday injuries in general industry according to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) statistics. Ensuring that all ladders meet OSHA and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards is critical in mitigating this statistic. OSHA Regulatory Requirements OSHA published an update to its walking-working surface rule (Subpart D) for general industry …
Emergencies always seem to occur on Fridays and weekends, and true to form, a panicked customer called about a power outage to a significant portion of a college campus on a Friday morning. It seemed likely to be a 4,160 volt cable or unit substation problem, so we pulled two technicians away from an acceptance testing project and got them on …
Multi-function numerical generator protection relays can calculate the insulation resistance of a synchronous generator field winding to ground. The calculation can be performed on an energized or de-energized generator. The particular relay discussed in this article uses a separate module located close to the rotor slip rings and brushes to monitor the field. The close proximity of the module to …
This issue of NETA World continues with the deep dive into the NFPA 70E revisions that went into the 2021 edition. Part 1 in the Winter 2020 issue covered the reorganization (which was not nearly as extensive as in previous editions); reviewed Article 100 Definitions; and began on Article 110 General Requirements for Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices with Section 110.1 …
It is January 20, 2021, and the country is in the midst of a resurgence of the COVID-19 virus. The Conference Committee, in consultation with the NETA Board of Directors, has decided to go totally virtual with PowerTest 2021, the premier electrical maintenance and safety conference intended for all electrical professionals and especially beneficial for field service technicians, inspectors, utility …
Circuit breakers used in low-voltage applications include air circuit breakers, insulated-case and molded-case circuit breakers, and miniature circuit breakers. Air circuit breakers or low-voltage power circuit breakers typically function as the incoming device on a low-voltage switchboard. In the event of an overload condition or short circuit, current sensors in low-voltage power circuit breakers measure high currents and send the …