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  • LIGHTING: more >>

    • Contemporary trends in lighting design

      by Paul Pamboukian, Pamboukian Light Design

      One of the most contemporary trends in lighting is how humans relate to light. Not much has really changed in terms of lighting design over the last 25 – 30 years. The same principles have been in practice since the days of Richard Kelly, the American lighting designer, who is, today, considered one of […]

    • A guide to the types of luminaire

      Information from SAFEhouse

      Users have an endless choice of luminaires or “light fittings” for lighting interior and exterior areas. While product safety is important, so is the creation of a safe and attractive lighting. Since the safety of products and their reliability are defined fairly clearly in standards and specifications, these can be determined through suitable testing […]

    • Evaluating performance of LED-based luminaires

      Information from Philips Lighting SA

      This article sheds light on the evaluation of manufacturers’ performance claims by explaining the different “initial” and “over time” performance criteria for LED-based luminaires. There has been a significant increase in the use of LED-based luminaires in recent years. Initially, there were no universal standards available to measure or compare the performance of LED-based […]

  • SWITCHGEAR & DRIVES: more >>

    • Direct torque control – a motor control technique for all seasons

      Information from ABB

      Using VSDs with direct torque control increases motor torque response dramatically. The performance of asynchronous AC motors in today’s applications comes from modern electronic controls such as variable-speed drives (VSDs) and accurate motor models whose sophisticated control algorithms can be executed rapidly by high-performance digital signal processors. Electric motors are often at the spearhead […]

    • Explosion proof electrical equipment

      by Mike Rycroft, EE Publishers

      Accidental or naturally occurring explosive atmospheres, which occur as a result of the process, activity or product in the environment, are encountered in many industrial and mining situations. In these conditions, a single small spark can initiate a large explosion, and care needs to be taken when using electrical equipment in these environments. In […]

    • An alternative to SF6 in electrical switchgear

      by Thomas Diggelmann, Denis Tehlar, Jocelyn Chang and Sebastian Zache, ABB

      For decades, the unique properties of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) have made it popular as an insulation and switching medium for electrical switchgear. SF6 is a greenhouse gas and there are life-cycle management costs associated with its use. For some years, ABB has been conducting research into alternatives with lower environmental impact but with insulation […]

  • MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY: more >>

    • Correction of power factor on resistance welding machine loads

      by HJ Yelland

      From the ICMEESA archive Loads from resistance welding machines often cause trouble, especially where large machines not fitted with power factor correction are involved. The load taken by a resistance welding machine is invariably intermittent and it draws a large single phase current of low power factor (0,3 to 0,5 lagging). With modern “tube” […]

    • Welding in hazardous locations

      Compiled by Pieter Coetzee, Explotac

      Flying sparks and incorrect welding practices can cause premature failure of explosion protected equipment. Flying sparks due to welding and cutting are the main causes of fires and explosions in hazardous locations. The welding arc creates extreme temperatures, and may pose a significant fire and explosion hazard if safe practices are not followed (see […]

    • The Hall effect and its applications

      Information from ICMEESA

      Although discovered as long ago as 1879 by E Hall at Johns Hopkins University in the USA, it is only in comparatively recent years that any commercial exploitation has been made of the Hall effect. Based on the Lorentz force, the effect occurs when an electrical conductor is placed in a magnetic field. If […]

  • INSTALLATION & CONTRACTING: more >>

    • Corrosion damage in earth-termination systems

      by Veiko Raab, DEHN + SÖHNE

      It is not possible to protect earth electrodes from corrosion by separating the metals from the soil as all common sheaths have a high electrical resistance and eliminate the effect of the earth electrodes. Earth electrodes made of a unitary material are prone to corrosion due to corrosive soils and the formation of concentration […]

    • Earthing: Can we afford the confusion?

      by David Leigh, Matra Engineering Services

      This article illustrates the widespread lack of knowledge on the subject of earthing. We find that the implementation is often inadequate at locations where effective earth electrodes are required. It is generally acknowledged that there is a lot of confusion among those responsible for the implementation of earthing practices. The confusion is at all […]

    • Using Li-ion batteries in UPS applications

      by Patrick Donovan and Martin Zacho, Schneider Electric

      Longer lifespan, reduced size and weight, faster recharge times and declining prices have made lithium-ion batteries an appealing energy storage technology. This article answers some questions new users may have.  In the simplest of terms, a battery is an electrochemical device that stores energy and releases it as electricity. Batteries are typically organised in […]

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