Latest Circuit Protection Technical Articles

A practical, experience-driven guide to designing and wiring electrical cabinets for machine-tending robotic cells.

A practical, experience-driven guide to designing and wiring electrical cabinets for machine-tending robotic cells.

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?

Explore how modular hardware, predictive diagnostics, and fault-isolating technologies are transforming control panels…

Explore how modular hardware, predictive diagnostics, and fault-isolating technologies are transforming control panels into resilient, self-healing systems.

An interposing relay is an interface between a control system and a higher power circuit to provide isolation or…

An interposing relay is an interface between a control system and a higher power circuit to provide isolation or amplification of mismatched voltage and current from a control to a load circuit.

When the blinking lights on automation devices stop blinking, the control cabinet is often the go-to troubleshooting…

When the blinking lights on automation devices stop blinking, the control cabinet is often the go-to troubleshooting culprit, but how do you make the best judgments for quickly locating the problem?

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.

The purpose of LOTO is to create a method of reducing the chance that a worker will be exposed to hazardous energy.…

The purpose of LOTO is to create a method of reducing the chance that a worker will be exposed to hazardous energy. It’s important for companies to establish an SOP for standardized LOTO practice.

The choice to ground or float a power supply is not always clear in the NEC. This article explains floating or fixing a…

The choice to ground or float a power supply is not always clear in the NEC. This article explains floating or fixing a DC supply with respect to ground and how circuits can be functionally constructed both ways.

Power and control interruptions are, at best, problematic. In some applications, it’s catastrophic. Learn about…

Power and control interruptions are, at best, problematic. In some applications, it’s catastrophic. Learn about redundancy for the system, power supplies, control devices, and network topologies.

Even though electrical safety practices have existed for over a century, arc flash safety has only gained traction in…

Even though electrical safety practices have existed for over a century, arc flash safety has only gained traction in recent decades. This article discusses the danger and prevention of arc flash injury.

Some terminology, like 'normally open' and 'normally closed' switch contacts, is common throughout industry but can still…

Some terminology, like 'normally open' and 'normally closed' switch contacts, is common throughout industry but can still be confusing, misleading, or even hazardous if not properly understood.

Electrical grounding is used to accomplish several different tasks, but none more important than for the safety of users…

Electrical grounding is used to accomplish several different tasks, but none more important than for the safety of users and equipment while maintaining strict adherence to regulations.

Learn all about the power supply: modular and built-in devices that deliver electricity to the PLC backplane and modules,…

Learn all about the power supply: modular and built-in devices that deliver electricity to the PLC backplane and modules, and learn the difference between control and field device power delivery.

Some devices, like switches, are non-polar; you can connect them in either direction. What makes diodes so special, and…

Some devices, like switches, are non-polar; you can connect them in either direction. What makes diodes so special, and how can you tell the right way from the wrong way?

Do you know enough about electricity to poke around in a conversation, but not inside a breaker panel? Read on for an…

Do you know enough about electricity to poke around in a conversation, but not inside a breaker panel? Read on for an introduction to electricity in a way you’ve (probably) never heard it before!

Protection against faults is crucial for any electrical system. This article examines various protective devices,…

Protection against faults is crucial for any electrical system. This article examines various protective devices, highlighting their roles and best use cases to ensure system integrity and longevity.

Every automated cell requires a ‘brain’ in order to achieve the required tasks. How do you determine the necessary…

Every automated cell requires a ‘brain’ in order to achieve the required tasks. How do you determine the necessary I/O, communication protocols, and processor necessary for controlling your system?

This article investigates the basic principles of inverters, different types of DC-to-AC conversion, and common…

This article investigates the basic principles of inverters, different types of DC-to-AC conversion, and common applications for generating AC voltage in manufacturing.

We know what a circuit breaker is meant to do: stop the flow of electricity in case of a fault or failure. But just like…

We know what a circuit breaker is meant to do: stop the flow of electricity in case of a fault or failure. But just like fuses, breakers and overloads respond differently depending on the load.