How Proper Grounding Protects Substations and Workers

Jeffrey R. Jowett, MeggerColumns, Spring 2024 Columns, Tech Tips

Designing, installing, and maintaining an adequate grounding system is as important a part of substation design and maintenance as any other. “Out of sight, out of mind” definitely does not apply here. The grounding grid is not only essential to proper function and power quality but is also critically important to worker safety as well as that of public passersby. …

OOPS Protection Scheme Logic

Steve Turner, Arizona Public Service CompanyColumns, Relay Column, Spring 2024 Columns

An out-of-phase synchronization (OOPS) event results in a torque transient on the generator and prime mover. It exposes the generator, generator step-up (GSU) transformer, and system elements to a current transient that puts mechanical and thermal stresses on windings and other conductors.  These transients can be significant and result in through-current magnitude equivalent to a three-phase fault located at the …

Laws of Relay Testing

Mose Ramieh, CBS Field ServicesColumns, In the Field, Spring 2024 Columns

Relay testing has long been one of the more technically demanding and complicated aspects of the business of electrical acceptance and maintenance testing. The plethora of skills required to be an excellent relay technician includes (in no particular order) electrical theory, power system design, AC and DC control drawing interpretation, and the ability to simulate power system faults to name …

NFPA 70E Requirements: The Baker’s Dozen of Electrical Safety

Ron Widup, Shermco IndustriesColumns, NFPA 70E and NETA, Spring 2024 Columns

First published in 1979, NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, has evolved tremendously over the years and is arguably the premier electrical safety work practices standard available to the electrical worker. The current 2024 edition is 113 pages, three chapters, and 19 Informative Annex sections. Many sources of information and safety knowledge are embedded in these pages, …

Protective Relays

Virginia Balitski, Magna IV EngineeringColumns, Spring 2024 Columns, Tech Quiz

Protective relays are critical power systems components, and it is essential to design and use them properly to detect power system issues. As NETA-certified technicians, we must be familiar with the purpose and operation of various types of protective relays.  1. Which type of relay was the earliest design for protective relaying? a. Interconnector relay b. Electromechanical relay c. Static …

Drug and Alcohol Policies: Are They Up to Date?

Paul Chamberlain, Asplundh Engineering Services, LLCSpring 2024 Columns, Columns, Safety Corner

On a recent family vacation to Florida, this author was amazed at the number of locations openly advertising the purchase of medical marijuana. This discovery highlighted the need to revisit current information on the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana (Figure 1).  With recreational or medical marijuana use now legal in many US states, workplaces should review their health and …

Welcome to PowerTest 2024!

Eric Beckman, IPS PowerServe, NETA PresidentPresident's Desk, Columns, Spring 2024 Columns

The saying, “Everything’s bigger in Texas,” has never sounded better than when it refers to NETA’s PowerTest24 Conference scheduled for February 26 to March 1, 2024, at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas. Early registrations are on pace to make this year’s conference the largest ever hosted by NETA, and it wouldn’t be possible without the invaluable sponsors and speakers …

Advances in Ground Testing

Jeffrey R. Jowett, MeggerColumns, Tech Tips, Winter 2023 Columns

The fundamental principles of electrical ground testing were laid down in the early 20th century, with much of the pioneering work done by Frank Wenner of the U.S. Geological Survey. The most basic and widely used method for measuring soil resistivity bears his name. These principles still underlie ground testing into the present century, but many improvements have been made …

Utilize a Great Resource: NFPA 70E Handbook for Electrical Safety in the Workplace

Ron Widup, Shermco IndustriesColumns, NFPA 70E and NETA, Winter 2023 Columns

You may have seen my LinkedIn post about this, but we’ll expand further with some examples to highlight this resource for a better understanding of NFPA 70E. There were two points to the message:  Edited by Dean Austin, Chris Coache, and Corey Hannahs, the authors do a great job of providing usable information to us, the electrical workers. It was …

Milestone | Mile·Stone / ˈmī(-e)l-,stōn: A Significant Point in Development

Eric Beckman, National Field Services, NETA PresidentColumns, President's Desk, Winter 2023 Columns

As milestones go, January 16, 2023, might well be considered a significant point in development within our industry. That is when NFPA 70B became effective as a standard recognized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).   While long accepted as an industry-leading recommended practice, ANSI certification brings changes to NFPA 70B. In this edition of NETA World, our contributors …