Current flow in wires is often modeled with a perfectly circular cross-section, with the size of the wire being responsible for the maximum current. This is true, but there’s more to the story.
October 18, 2023 by David Peterson
There are two types of winding designs inside three-phase industrial motors: Wye and Delta. Although the motors and connections look similar on the outside, this article discusses the internal construction for Delta wound motors.
October 16, 2023 by David Peterson
Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) are designed as an endlessly-looping program, examining all lines of code as rapidly as possible. Following are a few critical tips for when programmers only need to run a series of single operations at startup.
August 21, 2023 by David Peterson
Variable control allows external conditions, like temperature, to be monitored so the controller can activate devices to heat or cool the system as needed. Simulate a temp controller with low-cost components!
May 16, 2023 by Dr. Don Wilcher
Designing, installing, and maintaining control systems involves a lot of wires. Each wire has a purpose, often indicated by the color of the insulation. But what are the common colors, and what do they mean?
May 15, 2023 by Seth Price
Field-oriented control (FOC), also called vector control, can control 3-phase alternating current motors and brushless DC motors. Read more to learn its advantages, how it works, and its best applications.
March 19, 2023 by Damond Goodwin
Large motors require a circuit to turn on and off. This may be as simple as a single on/off drum-type switch or as elaborate as a VFD unit. Learn about some common control circuit designs for typical three-phase motor requirements.
February 26, 2023 by David Peterson
We are taught that parallel circuits maintain equal voltage across all branch resistors, equally sharing the source voltage. But reality is often far from ideal, and individual devices certainly impact the rest of the circuit.
January 12, 2023 by Seth Price
