Latest Energy & Infrastructure Technical Articles

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.

We depend on circuit breakers all the time, even when you have a day off or work from home. These overcurrent protection…

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.

For large process systems, learn how the location of data indication and flag processing can increase or decrease the…

For large process systems, learn how the location of data indication and flag processing can increase or decrease the burden on computers at the device, RTU, or main computer level.

Rockwell Automation’s Allen-Bradley control hardware catalog has long included many series that start with 17xx, but…

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?

Choosing the right connector for industrial applications is no small feat. This article will discuss factors you must…

Choosing the right connector for industrial applications is no small feat. This article will discuss factors you must consider, including electrical, mechanical, and shape.

When we need to change the speed of an industrial motor, whether to control a process or save energy costs, we turn to…

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.

In this article, we will explore real-world considerations for strain gauge performance and typical applications. We’ll…

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.

To transfer data from a local spreadsheet to a database to create visual dashboards, we must now define the outbound…

To transfer data from a local spreadsheet to a database to create visual dashboards, we must now define the outbound integration to the PostgreSQL database through the mage.ai editor.

Some terminology, like 'normally open' and 'normally closed' switch contacts, is common throughout industry but can still…

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.

In this article, we will explore the inbound integration to the mage.ai pipeline, connecting to the spreadsheet data…

In this article, we will explore the inbound integration to the mage.ai pipeline, connecting to the spreadsheet data source using the Google Sheets API through a JSON credentials file.