Out of sight, out of mind is a common aphorism, but when it’s applied to standby backup batteries, it can — and does — become catastrophic. Standby battery banks support production lines, hospitals, computer rooms, and entire facilities to provide an alternate power source should utility power fail. The standby battery is the interface between a smooth transition and total …
Partial Discharge
Partial discharge in electrical equipment insulation can lead to catastrophic failure. NETA Certified Technicians must understand the reasons partial discharge may occur and how to properly detect, diagnose, and correct it. 1. What is partial discharge within an insulating system?a. A brief short circuitb. A voltage spikec. A small explosiond. A small electrical discharge 2. How frequently might partial discharge …
Better Questions = Better Outcomes
For great leaders, safety is typically not their number one priority; it is an unwavering core value. Priorities change, while values remain constant in all situations. Great leaders also typically want to have success….operational success, individual success, and especially safety success. SAFETY SUCCESS How do you define safety success? Have you achieved safety success if you have zero recordable …
Improvements to REF Protection for Low-Resistance Grounded Systems
A restricted earth fault (REF) protection element provides sensitive detection of ground faults near the neutral of a transformer wye-connected winding. The sensitivity gains from the REF element are especially more valuable if the equipment is low-impedance grounded. Security of the REF element may be jeopardized by external faults, such as a phase-to-phase-to-ground or an evolving fault with CT saturation. …
Ensuring Proper Insulation Power Factor Test Procedures
Electrical insulation is designed to keep current from flowing where it shouldn’t. Insulation integrity is therefore critical and is assessed via a battery of tests. Many things can compromise the results of these tests, including temperature, humidity, erroneous test procedures, etc. Previously, I wrote about the effects of humidity on insulation integrity tests. This time I focus on erroneous test …
The Importance of NFPA 70E to OSHA Violations and Fines
You have probably seen OSHA’s recent guide titled Protecting Employees for Electric-Arc Flash Hazards. If not, you can find it here: https://www.osha.gov/electrical/flash-hazards. OSHA produced the guide to assist employers and employees in understanding and protecting against arc flash hazards, which brings about an interesting thought about OSHA and its relationship to NFPA 70E. It reminds us of how important it …
PowerTest25: An Invaluable Opportunity
As we step into 2025, I am thrilled to welcome you to the Spring issue of NETA World. I hope you are reading this at PowerTest25, NETA’s premier event bringing together the brightest minds in the electrical power systems industry and offering a platform to learn, share, and grow. The field of electrical power systems continues to evolve, and one …
The Importance of Grounding Renewable Systems
Storms with lightning are a major cause of electrical system interruption.
Solar Installations and Testing
Solar energy is a significant factor in today’s electrical energy market. NETA Certified Technicians need to understand how solar panels function and become familiar with best practices for installation, testing, and maintenance. 1. What type of energy do solar panels convert into electricity? a. Chemical b. Nuclear c. Radiant d. Gravitational 2. What type of electricity is generated within solar …
Arc-Rated Clothing and Electrical Hazard Footwear
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