Latest HVAC Articles

Categories

How Do You ‘Megger’ a Motor? Understanding Motor Insulation Resistance

How Do You ‘Megger’ a Motor? Understanding Motor Insulation Resistance

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?


Electrical Drawings, Schematics, and Wiring Diagrams: How to Read Them

Electrical Drawings, Schematics, and Wiring Diagrams: How to Read Them

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.


What is a Soft Start? Reducing Start-up Load on Motor Circuits

What is a Soft Start? Reducing Start-up Load on Motor Circuits

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.


HMS Networks To Acquire Red Lion, Expanding North American Presence

HMS Networks To Acquire Red Lion, Expanding North American Presence

HMS Networks is set to expand its influence in the North American market through its definitive agreement to acquire Red Lion Controls. The $345 million deal is expected to close in early 2024.


News Jan 04, 2024 by Stephanie Leonida
Star-Delta Wiring for Reduced Voltage Starting of 3-Phase Motors

Star-Delta Wiring for Reduced Voltage Starting of 3-Phase Motors

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.


SMC Releases New Condensation Checker and Flow Controller for Water

SMC Releases New Condensation Checker and Flow Controller for Water

SMC has released two new components: a digital temperature and humidity switch to monitor moisture in pneumatic systems and a flow controller for water to be used in cooling systems.


News Dec 31, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich
PLC Naming Conventions: How Should I Write My Tag Labels?

PLC Naming Conventions: How Should I Write My Tag Labels?

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.


Variable Air System Pressure with New AutomationDirect Transducers

Variable Air System Pressure with New AutomationDirect Transducers

When precise pneumatic control is required, on/off valves are insufficient. A new series of variable 4-20 mA valves from AutomationDirect provides more precise linear pressure control.


News Dec 28, 2023 by Austin Futrell
What is a Circuit Breaker?

What is a Circuit Breaker?

We depend on circuit breakers all the time, even when you have a day off or work from home. These overcurrent protection devices keep machines running safely, reducing the risk of fires and arcing.


Phoenix Contact Launches New Line of Power Supplies for Commercial Use

Phoenix Contact Launches New Line of Power Supplies for Commercial Use

Phoenix Contact announced the release of a new, cost-effective line of power supplies with basic power functionality. The ESSENTIAL POWER line of power supplies is designed for commercial industries.


News Dec 27, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich
Honeywell To Strengthen Building Automation With Latest Acquisition

Honeywell To Strengthen Building Automation With Latest Acquisition

Honeywell will purchase Carrier’s Global Asset Solutions business, acquiring its digital locking hardware and software platforms. The acquisition will bolster Honeywell’s building automation products and services.


News Dec 26, 2023 by Seth Price
Beijer Adds to BFI Frequency Inverter Family With High-Power VFDs

Beijer Adds to BFI Frequency Inverter Family With High-Power VFDs

Beijer Electronics has recently added 200 kW and 250 kW power inverter models to the existing BFI-P2 and BFI-H3 product lines for large pump, fan, and motor applications.


News Dec 21, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich
Monitor Current and Machine Health With Sensing Coils From Banner

Monitor Current and Machine Health With Sensing Coils From Banner

Banner Engineering has introduced a flexible, easy-open loop current monitoring sensor for constant monitoring of electrical currents up to 6000 amps.


News Dec 16, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich
Understanding the 17xx | Your Rockwell/Allen-Bradley Hardware Encyclopedia

Understanding the 17xx | Your Rockwell/Allen-Bradley Hardware Encyclopedia

Rockwell Automation’s Allen-Bradley control hardware catalog has long included many series that start with 17xx, but what are these lineups, and what function do they serve?


Mennekes Announces New Range of Ganged Motor Disconnect Switches

Mennekes Announces New Range of Ganged Motor Disconnect Switches

Mennekes has released a multi-gange 30 to 60-amp disconnect assembly, featuring a modular design for ease of engineering and a sloped top for protection in harsh washdown environments.


News Dec 14, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich
What is a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD)?

What is a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD)?

When we need to change the speed of an industrial motor, whether to control a process or save energy costs, we turn to the variable frequency drive, better known simply as a VFD.


Strain Gauges: Real-World Considerations and Typical Applications

Strain Gauges: Real-World Considerations and Typical Applications

In this article, we will explore real-world considerations for strain gauge performance and typical applications. We’ll be talking about foil and wire strain gauges, but ignoring semiconductors.


Info Byte: What Do NC and NO Mean?

Info Byte: What Do NC and NO Mean?

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.


Web-Based HMIs: Future Or Fad? HMI Project and KEB Say ‘It’s Here’

Web-Based HMIs: Future Or Fad? HMI Project and KEB Say ‘It’s Here’

Partners HMI Project and KEB Automation have launched HELIO, a new web-based HMI application for creating interactive web pages that can control and monitor automated equipment.


News Nov 26, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich
Data Flow Tutorial With Mage.ai | Part 2: Initializing the Software

Data Flow Tutorial With Mage.ai | Part 2: Initializing the Software

Data pipelines are software services that progress the data from source to storage, hopefully without too much programming complexity. In this article, we begin by initializing the mage.ai software.