At 5:45 AM on a particularly cold winter day, an industrial manufacturing plant experienced a significant electrical fault event on a 15kV substation that feeds power to approximately 30% of the manufacturing operations. FAULT ON FEEDER M1A: WHAT HAPPENED? The main circuit breaker in one of the plant’s three medium-voltage substations experienced a fault, arc flash event, and subsequent trip …
In this issue of NETA World, we focus on medium-voltage circuit breaker test methods and the analysis of the resulting test data from those methods. Be sure to check out “Power Factoring Medium-Voltage Breakers” by Rick Youngblood of Electrical Maintenance & Testing and “The Why of Medium-Voltage Circuit Breaker Testing” by Paul Grein of Group CBS Testing for a good …
A test technician’s toolbox can never have too many options. The more ways we can detect or confirm a problem in a piece of equipment, the better. Early in my career at Duke Energy, I was never satisfied with just one test result indicating a problem, and I often second-guessed myself as to whether the equipment was bad or if …
I think it’s fair to assume that if you’re a NETA Technician taking time out of your day to read this article, you have most likely performed more than your share of medium-voltage circuit breaker testing. With that in mind, the goal is not to focus on how to test, but rather to dive a bit deeper and discuss what …
ANSI/NETA ETT–2018 REVISION SCHEDULED FOR 2021 A project intent notification has been published in ANSI’s Standards Action. The initial ballot is expected in summer 2021. A second ballot is scheduled for issue in fall 2021. The revised edition of ANSI/NETA ATS is scheduled to debut at PowerTest 2022. ANSI/NETA ETT establishes minimum requirements for qualifications, certification, training, and experience for …
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 …