Understanding the components of the Siemens Simocode Motor Management system is crucial.  The modular design breaks down into three primary components: Base Unit Measurement Module Operator Panel This design opens…

Protect, monitor, and control your motor via the Siemens Simocode Motor Management system. Your motor assets are crucial to the operation! The modular design creates a ton of flexibility to…

Variable Frequency Drives (VFD) are not intended to be used as a form of circuit protection (smoke in = good; smoke out = bad).  In of themselves they offer small amounts of…

An Overtemperature fault is a common in Variable Frequency Drives and can be found in numerous applications. The fault occurs when the heatsink on the drive exceeds a measured allowable set…

For those in manufacturing you may have heard a new term floating around called IO-Link.  Here is a breakdown of what it is and how it can provide value to…

Anyone who manages, installs, and supports variable frequency drives (VFD’s) knows it is a good day when the equipment is running, and shafts are turning.  What happens when that happy…

Anyone who manages, installs, and supports variable frequency drives (VFD’s) knows it is a good day when the equipment is running, and shafts are turning.  What happens when that happy…

5 Steps To Begin Variable Frequency Drive Troubleshooting OH NO! Your Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) is not working! What do you do?! Here are 5 steps to begin troubleshooting.  …

The guide downloads right to your computer. Follow the step by step guide for information to install iQagent AR to your device and get started today! If you haven’t heard…

When sizing a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD), the most important consideration is to match the size of the VFD to the AC induction motor.  AC induction motors have nameplates that…

Electric motors have been around since the 1800’s creating torque for many applications.  As applications got more sophisticated the need to vary the speed of the motor began to surface. …

Usually, when someone goes to start programming automation devices, the software can become overwhelming very quickly. What software do I need? Where is it all located? Siemens has taken a new approach to this problem…

When wanting to add a PLC to TIA Portal, there are a few different options to consider.  The version of Step 7 you have, Basic or Professional, determines which PLCs can be added to a…

When working with a Siemens variable frequency drive (VFD), there are a couple of different software options available for those that desire to utilize that technology. All programming can be done from the operator panel on…

Variable Frequency Drives (VFD) are an electronic control device used to provide adjustable speed control for AC and DC electric motors. The most common AC motor type is an AC…

Buzzwords in industry are everywhere you look:  Smart manufacturing, industry 4.0, smart factory, AI, ML, VR and the list goes on and on. Let’s review a term we hear regularly…

What comes to mind when you hear the words “Product Security”? This can be a confusing topic, and to help lay a foundation of understanding, here are some of the…

There is a lot of information circulating about WiFi in general but when you begin to zone in on Industrial WiFi the knowledge bank isn’t as plentiful. The term industrial…

As we move further into an increasingly data-driven world, safe connections to sensing, processing, and control devices are key to the success of your organization. So what is remote connectivity…

We recently had a customer ask, would their 20-year-old pump motor work on a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD), and would a VFD manufacture guarantee that the VFD would not damage…

Will the ability to use hardwired or ethernet control help my facility with labor costs or reliability? Can eliminating the need for a multimeter and having someone walking around to…

When it comes to industrial networks understanding all the terms, technologies, and acronyms that are used can be overwhelming for those new to this industry. Not to be confused with…

A Short Circuit Study is an analysis of the protective devices of one’s electrical system, such as fuses, circuit breakers, fused switches, or any other devices intended to protect the…

A coordination study is used to determine how devices will behave when they are subjected to overcurrent or short current situations. This is important because unless protective devices are properly…

Industrial cyber security is a hot topic these days. With the changing technical landscape, we are seeing post Covid-19 along with extensive advances in technology, the need for data integrity…

As more and more devices are networked and logically connected, a greater need for a sound cyber security policy and system come into play. As the world is shifting to…

A load flow study is a study that helps to determine proper loading as well as whether the proper voltage is maintained at each circuit due to voltage drop. In…

An uninterrupted power supply (UPS) is used to provide backup power for a certain amount of time to your devices. It is a battery-operated device that is plugged into the…

One of the most prominent systems in modern industrial automation is the AC inverter duty motor and associated Variable Frequency Drive (VFD). From winding nonwoven fabrics onto cardboard cores for…

Throughout the many applications and instances of automated industrial systems, motor control is a hot topic. One particular component that has a prominent role in this space is the variable…

Some common mistakes in the field are people referring to switchgear, switchboards, panelboards, and motor control centers as all the same thing. This can be confusing for people coming on…

A Circuit Breaker (C/B) is a mechanical device that will involve a magnetic solenoid and bimetallic strip inside. When the strip heats up due to current, it will bend and activate the solenoid to trip…

ANSI stands for American National Standards Institute is a nonprofit association that has been around since the early 1900s. They are more focused on making sure that product is built…

What typically comes to mind when you hear Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO)? Safety is usually the number one thing that comes to mind. Being able to safely lock out…

Knowing how close you can physically get to electrical equipment is key to staying safe in an industrial environment. So why would you need to engage with this equipment? It…

Consider the following basic objectives when defining an intelligent motor relay: Increase reliability, improve safety, and reduce the operating costs of motor systems. Minimize time to commission and maintain. Standardize…

Why is Preventative Maintenance (PM) important? Much like doing things around your house such as changing your HVAC filters or changing the oil in your car, gear in your facility…

There are some basic processes that will enhance electric motor reliability. Let’s review some of the high-level items that will give you a great start: Ensure motor design meets application…

Testing power distribution equipment is important and knowing where to test can be confusing. A good understanding of the one-line helps and as technology has evolved virtualizing the one line…

So, just what is an arc-flash study? With a need to understand what dangers may exist in your electrical system, the arc-flash study takes a holistic look at the entire…

Soft starters are an excellent method of controlling your motor, given that the application fits the bill. With the three prominent methods of controlling a motor in industrial applications –…

With so many different applications in industry and numerous variances of an application types, such as water/wastewater, paper mills, nonwovens manufacturers, where do you begin selecting the correct drive type…

One-Line visualization is an interactive diagram of the electrical distribution system in a facility. In that interactive environment, we aren’t looking at a static view of equipment, but we get…

Let’s get real for a minute. When it comes to Ethernet IP – Rockwell comes to mind.  When we hear Profinet – Siemens comes to mind. While they are not the only vendor that utilizes Profinet they are…

Power monitoring can be the crystal ball that a facility needs to understand and analyze the present, past and future regarding power consumption and it’s demand and anomalies. This technology…

We want to promote the right practices in industries around how to safely rack in and out circuit breakers. There are too many instances where what gets attention is when things go wrong. While…

Interoperability is the ability of a machine or product to exchange or send information and the ability for a node receiving the data to process and utilize the information. The…

Today, Industrial networks are tasked with moving huge amounts of data, include process critical items, at a staggering pace. So how do you know if you have a safe, well-designed…

Best Practices for Racking a Circuit Breaker In and Out Racking a circuit breaker in and out is one of the riskiest actions taken by an employee when it comes…

The Arc Quenching Switchgear is Game Changing Technology For those that have experienced an arc flash incident you know the impact it can have on your facility and more important…

Imagine if you could take your single line and bring it to life with data! It’s possible and in this video, Mike Rathbun walks you thru how to begin implementing…

The Future in Circuit Breaker Technology is Here. The ability to access critical live data at the circuit breaker level exists and Eaton’s Power Defense line of breakers is the…

How to Start Monitoring Power This video tackles the journey that many people face when deciding to implement power monitoring at their facility. With so many different protocols, devices and…