|  On June 16, Schneider Electric initiated a recall on Square D QO Plug-on-Neutral Load Centers, also known as Load Centers, Breaker Boxes, and Electrical Panels due to a potential issue with the load center overheating, which poses thermal burn and fire hazards. The recall impacts 1.4 million units in the United States and 289,000 units in Canada. |
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|  It could be argued that the maintenance department doesn’t have enough resources to engage in power quality-related maintenance. Equipment failures from poor power quality keep them busy, after all. And besides, they don’t possess the specialized test equipment to do this kind of work (even though the plant engineer has unsuccessfully made several purchase requests for it). A power monitor on large motors will help with load-generated transient power events. |
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|  The plant has an incredibly complex line that makes an incredibly profitable product. For this product to stay in demand, the defect rate must be extremely low. Thus, operators can stop the line at any time for any reason. A single motor drives the main conveyor for this system. However, it often will not start for up to 30 minutes after the downtime reason is resolved, which puts the total acceptable downtime past the point where the line can meet demand. How do you solve this? |
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|  Article 430, Part IV provides the requirements for motor branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-fault protection. torque motor circuits are a special case. For all other types of motor circuits, use Table 430.52 plus apply all the details in 430.52(C). For all motors, make sure the motor branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-fault protective device doesn’t prevent it from starting. |
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|  Companies comprising EC&M’s 2022 Top 40 Electrical Design Firms (ranked by annual revenue reported from the previous year’s business on its annual survey completed this spring) logged combined 2021 electrical design-specific revenues of $3.167 billion (see Rankings Table on page 20). Adjusting significantly for the inclusion of a leading company that did not participate in the survey last year, revenues for this year’s Top 40 still topped last year’s total of $2.301 billion by 13%. |
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|  Once again, San Jose/Sunnyvale/Santa Clara, Calif. topped this year's ranking of the top 10 highest-paying cities for electrical engineers, according to the latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics in its “Occupational Employment and Wages May 2021 Study.” Although California certainly leads the pack when it comes to electrical engineer compensation, several other cities may catch you by surprise and have you wanting to pack your bags. |
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|  Fill in the blank. In marinas, boatyards, and commercial and noncommercial docking facilities, the NEC requires a(n) _____ disconnecting means, which allows individual boats to be isolated from their supply connection. |
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|  Recognizing the need for developing safe electrical work practices at the start of a career, the Kansas City Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee — a training apprenticeship program for electricians — signed an alliance with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration offices in Kansas City, Mo., and Wichita, Kan. |
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|  Article 240 provides the requirements for overcurrent protection and selecting/installing overcurrent protective devices (OCPDs) — typically circuit breakers or fuses. Overcurrent exists when the current exceeds the ampere rating of equipment or the ampacity of a conductor due to an overload, short circuit, or ground fault. |
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|  EC&M print and digital edition subscribers can vote between now and midnight on June 24 to pick the product you believe should be crowned 2022's Product of the Year. |
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|  Answering your NEC questions. Test your NEC knowledge with these questions from NEC Consultant Mike Holt regarding Code requirements for documentation of hazardous (classified) locations. |
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|  These cables modernized the application of electric cables for heating, which had previously seen minimal advancement. Many electrical professionals are familiar with self-regulating heater cables, yet few understand exactly how they function. The explanation often hear is is “you put it on the pipe, and it just works.” This article provides a brief history of this groundbreaking invention as well as a fundamental understanding of the construction and application of this type of heater cable. |
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|  Inattention has been a major safety and performance issue for many years. It is often a result of a distraction such as a ringing phone or a conversation attempt made by someone else. Many people consider themselves capable of multitasking, yet they proceed through a task without paying attention to what they are doing. However, the human brain can’t multitask. Depending on how you handle it, a moment of inattention can provide a helpful break or lead to tragedy. |
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Members Only |  FREE PREMIUM CONTENT: In this episode of “EC&M Tech Talks,” Randy Barnett, a journeyman electrician, inspector, author, trainer, and electrical safety expert, discusses the importance, background information, and steps necessary for electrical lockout/tagout (LOTO). This Tech Talk video provides workers an overview of the requirements for lockout/tagout and a walkthrough of the eight steps required to establish an electrically safe work condition. |
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Members Only |  FREE PREMIUM CONTENT: In this episode of EC&M Code Conversations, Editor-in-Chief Ellen Parson and Code Consultant Russ LeBlanc discuss Sec. 210.52 to get to the bottom of the requirements for receptacle outlets and ranges. |
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Members Only |  In this episode of “EC&M On Air,” Editor-in-Chief Ellen Parson discusses present and future applications for robots in the construction industry with a panel of experts: James "Jim" Barrett, Turner Construction; Phil Nimmo, MCA Inc.; Aidan McGuire, Hilti; and Tyler Parker, Black & Veatch. |
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| Take this quiz on electric shock drowning (ESD) and enter for a chance to win a $25 gift card to Amazon, iTunes, or Cabela’s! |
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