Latest Energy & Infrastructure Technical Articles

Servo motors are common in all kinds of motion control applications for various industries, but what are these devices,…

Servo motors are common in all kinds of motion control applications for various industries, but what are these devices, and what makes them different from standard AC or DC motors?

Automated control systems incorporate virtualization technology to reduce physical hardware, automatically minimizing the…

Automated control systems incorporate virtualization technology to reduce physical hardware, automatically minimizing the cost of IT/OT equipment, installations, and maintenance efforts.

Using a Raspberry Pi and the OpenPLC software platform, create a simple PLC that can be programmed in ladder diagrams…

Using a Raspberry Pi and the OpenPLC software platform, create a simple PLC that can be programmed in ladder diagrams with remote access and I/O monitoring dashboards.

What is pressure? Everybody knows about this important quantity, but how do you define it? How do you measure it? Where…

What is pressure? Everybody knows about this important quantity, but how do you define it? How do you measure it? Where does it come from? In this article, we’ll learn about the basics of pressure.

This article investigates the basic components and wiring conventions for common three-phase motor starter…

This article investigates the basic components and wiring conventions for common three-phase motor starter configurations, including direct online, reversing, and star-delta.

Effectively managing data includes processing it after initial collection: performing calculations, reviewing for…

Effectively managing data includes processing it after initial collection: performing calculations, reviewing for anomalies, and displaying the data for easier actionable insights.

This article investigates the basic qualities that make up a safety PLC, what distinguishes a safety PLC from a standard…

This article investigates the basic qualities that make up a safety PLC, what distinguishes a safety PLC from a standard model, and the reasons for which a safety PLC may be critical.

Electrical and mechanical measurements are often labeled with "RMS" and "True RMS." Aside from the simple math…

Electrical and mechanical measurements are often labeled with "RMS" and "True RMS." Aside from the simple math definitions we learned in electronics class, why is this distinction actually important?

Have you ever heard of a relay? Of course you have. There are many different kinds, plus hundreds of different trade…

Have you ever heard of a relay? Of course you have. There are many different kinds, plus hundreds of different trade lingo names. What are some of the most common, and how do we use them?

Knowing what kind of control system to use: that’s a question that must be answered before setting up the factory…

Knowing what kind of control system to use: that’s a question that must be answered before setting up the factory floor. Why would someone choose pneumatic over electrical controls?

Storing data long-term for recording and reporting purposes is the job of the utility data warehouse, quite different…

Storing data long-term for recording and reporting purposes is the job of the utility data warehouse, quite different from data-collection processes that optimize systems and predict failures.

Within motors, two very different types of resistance are evident. The resistance of the windings is measured with a…

Within motors, two very different types of resistance are evident. The resistance of the windings is measured with a normal multimeter. But what is insulation resistance, and how is it measured?

In order to trace control system problems to the core, the ability to read and interpret various resources, from…

In order to trace control system problems to the core, the ability to read and interpret various resources, from facility-level diagrams to machine-level wiring layouts, is critical.

Converting different numbering systems is quite common in PLCs and structured text codes. Why? Because people read…

Converting different numbering systems is quite common in PLCs and structured text codes. Why? Because people read decimals. Computers read binary. Processors read sets of bits. Not so simple.

Controlling the startup of a motor not only reduces the wear on the motor, but eases the burden on the electrical supply,…

Controlling the startup of a motor not only reduces the wear on the motor, but eases the burden on the electrical supply, reducing infrastructure demands and the running cost of industrial loads.

Protecting equipment and personnel from overcurrent dangers, like sparks and fires, is the primary job of the humble…

Protecting equipment and personnel from overcurrent dangers, like sparks and fires, is the primary job of the humble fuse, one of the most basic, yet critical of all safety devices.

We conclude the data flow project with the step of developing a business intelligence dashboard to present machine data,…

We conclude the data flow project with the step of developing a business intelligence dashboard to present machine data, at a reliable schedule, to a leadership or maintenance team.

Digital controls like VFDs and soft starts have advantages by elongating start time, but simple strategies for starting…

Digital controls like VFDs and soft starts have advantages by elongating start time, but simple strategies for starting motors with a reduced current draw, like star-delta (or wye-delta) are common.

It’s important to consider your PLC tag naming convention when using different styles. Learn when and why you might…

It’s important to consider your PLC tag naming convention when using different styles. Learn when and why you might even use more than one, depending on the circumstances and scope of your project.