Installing a reversing contactor is only half the project; ensuring safety and reliable performance under load is a top priority for motor control designs.
Installing a reversing contactor is only half the project; ensuring safety and reliable performance under load is a top priority for motor control designs.
When motors drive in parallel from a single main power source, do they each need an individual VFD? Check out why this is…
When motors drive in parallel from a single main power source, do they each need an individual VFD? Check out why this is useful in some cases, and take note of some necessary precautions.
Requiring multiple AC motors to start simultaneously is a common need for conveyors within manufacturing plants, but can…
Requiring multiple AC motors to start simultaneously is a common need for conveyors within manufacturing plants, but can we really reduce costs and panel space by eliminating redundant components?
Part 2 of a 2-part series. A practical look at how normally closed (NC) power contacts and feedback can drive loads…
Part 2 of a 2-part series. A practical look at how normally closed (NC) power contacts and feedback can drive loads toward a defined safe state under real‑world faults.
A practical look at how 2NO/2NC contactors and auxiliary contacts can clean up command, feedback, and fault logic in…
A practical look at how 2NO/2NC contactors and auxiliary contacts can clean up command, feedback, and fault logic in motor circuits.
This guide shows you how to set up RS-485 communication between the FX3U PLC and the FR-D700 inverter with the…
This guide shows you how to set up RS-485 communication between the FX3U PLC and the FR-D700 inverter with the FX3U-485-BD. You can control speed and monitor the system using ladder logic.
Control.com chats with Weidmüller to get some insights about data center automation, learning about security,…
Control.com chats with Weidmüller to get some insights about data center automation, learning about security, environmental impacts, regulations, and more.
Motor speed control can be a tricky process, due to the variety of options. In a VFD, speed can be controlled using fixed…
Motor speed control can be a tricky process, due to the variety of options. In a VFD, speed can be controlled using fixed values, digital or analog signals, or communication networks.
You’ve seen it a thousand times: 24 volts powering a device or representing a trigger signal, but what makes 24 VDC…
You’ve seen it a thousand times: 24 volts powering a device or representing a trigger signal, but what makes 24 VDC such a versatile voltage, and what about the other voltages in control cabinets?
Not every control system requires an expensive PLC. This tutorial will introduce Node-RED, a popular programming…
Not every control system requires an expensive PLC. This tutorial will introduce Node-RED, a popular programming environment that can be installed on a low-cost single-board controller.
Electrical and automation components drive modern HVAC efficiency and reliability. Sensors, relays, and controls enable…
Electrical and automation components drive modern HVAC efficiency and reliability. Sensors, relays, and controls enable predictive maintenance and efficiency while keeping systems running smoothly.
Managing the climate inside a building is critical for both people and infrastructure. Managing the climate is the job of…
Managing the climate inside a building is critical for both people and infrastructure. Managing the climate is the job of HVAC control systems, but what’s inside an HVAC system, and how do they work?
Learn how electric actuators can replace fluid systems with SMC’s e-Actuator series, offering simple setup, clean…
Learn how electric actuators can replace fluid systems with SMC’s e-Actuator series, offering simple setup, clean operation, and accurate motion contro
Learn about some of the basic Boolean logic gates using the graphical PLC language of function blocks, recreating ladder…
Learn about some of the basic Boolean logic gates using the graphical PLC language of function blocks, recreating ladder logic and other IEC languages with a digital flair.
Handshaking between robots can be handled in many ways, one of them being GE-FANUC’s protocol called “Ethernet Global…
Handshaking between robots can be handled in many ways, one of them being GE-FANUC’s protocol called “Ethernet Global Data,” or EGD. Learn how to set up EGD on a pair of FANUC robots.
H-bridge circuits are commonly used to provide current switching capabilities to different electrical components in…
H-bridge circuits are commonly used to provide current switching capabilities to different electrical components in automated systems like motor control circuits, VFDs, and DC/AC current conversions.
Dynamic braking resistors stop motors more quickly by converting the rotational energy, but how do we select the correct…
Dynamic braking resistors stop motors more quickly by converting the rotational energy, but how do we select the correct one and configure a PowerFlex drive to utilize the resistor effectively?
Filters and reactors can protect your electrical devices, but what is the difference between these two kinds of devices,…
Filters and reactors can protect your electrical devices, but what is the difference between these two kinds of devices, and are they supposed to be installed before or after a VFD?
A shunt resistor connects in series with a load to measure the high current in the DC circuit. Using Ohm's law, the…
A shunt resistor connects in series with a load to measure the high current in the DC circuit. Using Ohm's law, the current value can be calculated by measuring the voltage across the shunt.
Since their creation, DC motors have become a part of our everyday lives. In this article, we’ll examine the…
Since their creation, DC motors have become a part of our everyday lives. In this article, we’ll examine the differences between various types of field-wound and permanent magnet DC motors.