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Active Power, Reactive Power, Apparent Power, and the Role of Power Factor

Active Power, Reactive Power, Apparent Power, and the Role of Power Factor

The diverse power terms in electrical generation systems include active, reactive, and apparent power, all of which lead to the introduction of ‘power factor’ effectiveness in an AC circuit.


The Annual EETech Engineering Survey of 2022

The Annual EETech Engineering Survey of 2022

The quality of content from our educational site comes from understanding our audience and your needs. Help give us the best snapshot of today’s control industry, along with a free chance to win one of several Amazon card prizes!


News Aug 09, 2022 by David Peterson
Grounding for Control Transformers

Grounding for Control Transformers

Grounding transformer connections presents its own set of challenges. This article addresses these challenges and several common configurations for control transformer grounding.


Finally: Phoenix Contact Unveils XTV Push-in Connector Type Suitable for Stranded Wire

Finally: Phoenix Contact Unveils XTV Push-in Connector Type Suitable for Stranded Wire

Three main terminal block styles have dominated the control landscape: screw-down, spring-clamp, and push-in. Although this last style speeds up troubleshooting and installation, it has been a challenge to accept stranded wires, until now.


News Aug 02, 2022 by David Peterson
Banner Releases its New R70 Ethernet Data Radio for Industrial Networking

Banner Releases its New R70 Ethernet Data Radio for Industrial Networking

Banner releases its latest industrial Ethernet communications extension, the R70 Ethernet Data Radio, to help manufacturers embed the IIoT within their operations.


News Jul 25, 2022 by Stephanie Leonida
Interrupting Dangerous Current Flow: Fuses vs. Circuit Breakers

Interrupting Dangerous Current Flow: Fuses vs. Circuit Breakers

Fuses and breakers are some of the most common safeguards to prevent electrical shock and fires. Learn about these two pieces of industrial equipment and the difference between slow blow and quick blow responses.


CTRL F3: Factory Explosion Field Study

CTRL F3: Factory Explosion Field Study

The CTRL F3 series reviews field studies and failures in the field focused on control fails, fixes, and facts. This article covers an explosion at an industrial sawmill.


Negative Effects of Grounding (Earthing) a DC Power Supply

Negative Effects of Grounding (Earthing) a DC Power Supply

DC voltage systems exist to provide controllers and field devices with stable power, but it is not always clear when these systems should be bonded with the earth ground of the AC line voltage supply.


Working With Legacy Systems—Why Use Serial to Ethernet Converters?

Working With Legacy Systems—Why Use Serial to Ethernet Converters?

One common challenge when working with legacy control systems is establishing communication with old devices that use old protocols like RS232 and RS485. Learn about the importance of converting from serial to Ethernet.


Configuring a Network With Pneumatic Valve Manifolds

Configuring a Network With Pneumatic Valve Manifolds

There are many distributed fieldbus capabilities for valve manifolds that can save on network overhead and wiring. In this article, we will look at PLC programming of fieldbus manifolds highlighting Festo's CPX layout.


A How-to Guide to Control Automation Day 2022

A How-to Guide to Control Automation Day 2022

Welcome to Control Automation Day 2022—Control.com’s digital-only event for engineers! Here is your guide to navigating the keynote addresses, live educational sessions, and exciting giveaways from your favorite manufacturers!


News Jun 20, 2022 by David Peterson
Clarifying Misconceptions About Theoretical vs Physical Circuits

Clarifying Misconceptions About Theoretical vs Physical Circuits

Control engineering is integrally woven together with electricity and electrical circuits. Even so, sometimes the most basic scenarios become misunderstood through lack of training or experience.


Industrial Cabling Solutions: HELUKABEL Acquires EKD and Sangel

Industrial Cabling Solutions: HELUKABEL Acquires EKD and Sangel

HELUKABEL adds EKD Systems and Sangel Systemtechnik to its network to become a complete electrical connection system solution provider.


News May 26, 2022 by Stephanie Leonida
Controlling Hydraulic Devices with Open and Closed Loop Systems

Controlling Hydraulic Devices with Open and Closed Loop Systems

What if you could control the end position and the speed of a hydraulic actuator accurately with just a simple signal? Some systems use simple open/close valves, but others require far more precision.


Control.com Announces Control Automation Day 2022!

Control.com Announces Control Automation Day 2022!

Control Automation Day 2022 will be on June 21st, focusing on PLC systems, packed with keynote addresses, educational live sessions, and exciting giveaways from your favorite manufacturers!


News May 18, 2022 by David Peterson
The Cat’s Out of the Bag - Demystifying Network Cables

The Cat’s Out of the Bag - Demystifying Network Cables

What’s the difference between a Cat 6 and a Cat 6a cable, anyhow? Ethernet cables must meet certain performance standards, and these standards can be quite confusing at first glance.


Up Close and Personal With Automated Ag Equipment

Up Close and Personal With Automated Ag Equipment

Our Control Automation engineering staff got the chance to visit a commercial farm in North Dakota and learn the hardware and software making these huge automated tractors ready for high-tech ‘field’ work.


Dynamic Braking Resistors for Motor Control Applications

Dynamic Braking Resistors for Motor Control Applications

Large DC and AC motor drives often provide terminals for installing a braking resistor. What are these resistors, and how do they slow down a machine? What hazards and cautions must be considered?


Replacing a Control Cabinet with Modules? Beckhoff Says Yes!

Replacing a Control Cabinet with Modules? Beckhoff Says Yes!

Beckhoff Automation is advancing the concept of reducing cabinet space and lowering construction time with their recently announced MX-System.


News Apr 21, 2022 by Shawn Dietrich
Introduction to Safety Relays

Introduction to Safety Relays

Redundancy and safety are often seen together in industrial safety systems. Safety relays monitor emergency devices to switch contacts based on status - but what makes them different from normal relays?