Why Power Factor Correction Is Important

In the article, it explains several reasons why it is important for electrical loads in industrial settings to be measured and have power factor correction. Power factor is used to measure active, working power and it is ideal to have a 1.0 rating, which means all the power is going towards performing work. The farther the power factor is from 1.0 the less efficient the system will be and produces more strain on the equipment from the higher currents. Three benefits to correcting the power factor include: lowering utility bills, reducing power and loading on the the distribution network, and lessening carbon emissions. There are several ways for industrial and commercial operations to correct their power factors; such as, adding capacitor banks that counteract the cause of low power factor, removing wasted energy and its harmful effects.

Avoiding Electrical Hazards In Your Work Environment

During any type of job, there are always electrical hazards that are sometimes ignored or not thought to be dangerous until disaster strikes. Many unexpected accidents can be prevented with the proper care and knowledge of electrical safety. On item specifically, that is popular in many offices on chilly days, is the use of space heaters. These warming devices although keep personnel more comfortably warm while working but they also demand a fair amount of energy, so it is best to always have they plugged directly into a wall and never use extension cords, power strips, or surge protectors.  By plugging in too many items into one power source, a risk of blowing/burning up circuit breaker or even starting a fire. In the article, they further discuss using proper tools for any job inside or outside in order to use proper electrical equipment for safety needs.

Preventing Breakdowns and Fire Hazards with Thermal Inspections

Having to deal with unexpected downtime with failures due to a damaged electrical panel can create big headaches with a big price tag for repairs for companies to have to handle. If connections or components overheat, there are many risks including a fire hazard with electrical shorts. One of the biggest problems during an inspection is not all problems with an electrical panel can be seen visibly which is why a solution for this could be a routine inspection with the use of thermal cameras that can read accurate temperature readings from a safe distance. In the article, the inspection with proper tools is suggested for this preventative measure done by FLIR company. Having proper maintenance and repairs done is always key to running a successful business no matter the size or nature. If ever in need of replacement parts for your electrical needs, JP Electrical Company specializes in your electrical needs and are happy to answer any questions.

More Details Emerging on Digital Circuit Breakers

Many aspects of the electrical industry are all transitioning to a more digitized world which is now including the digital circuit breakers. Traditional mechanical circuit breakers have been around since the late 19^th century when Thomas Edison first came up with the idea. Many homeowners are familiar with their circuit breakers when a fuse is blown and a person has to go looking in the dark for a switch to turn back on but, on a commercial aspect of the situation, it can be very dangerous, since commercial building’s electrical panels are slow enough that it still allows short circuits or arc flashes that can, in bad situations, even kill people. In January of this year, a a company called Atom Power was the first to pass a test to bring digital circuit breakers to the market. In this article, the author further explains what makes a digital circuit breaker not only safer to utilize, but also can help eliminate other products that will be no longer needed. There is great potential in this new-found technology and surely Atom will not be the only company to continue research and development on these coming into the future.

Our J&P Family Has Expanded to Three Locations!

As we wrap up the third quarter here at J&P (can’t believe it’s already the Holiday season!), we welcome winter with open arms AND the addition of a few more new employees.  Charles, Noah, and Michael are going to be helping in the shop at the Warren location and Jacob is our newest addition to the bus duct warehouse helping as job-site support, forklift, and duct reconditioning. 

Duct Shop in Port Huron, MI

Charles, Noah, and Michael

ASHRAE releases expanded, revised version of Standard 90.1

Standard 90.1 has been a dominating benchmark for energy codes in the commercial building space since 1975, but recently a large update to this benchmark has been released that brings about important changes for all relevant industries to be aware of. ASHRAE released a revised and much-expanded version in and for 2019 and includes changes regarding lighting, mechanical, budget method, and performance rating methods, to name a few. On the mechanical side, for one example, the revised version allows designers the option to use 90.4 instead of 90.1 for rooms with IT equipment load larger than 10kW.

It is highly encouraged for all professionals in relevant industries to be familiar with this expanded and revised version of a Standard that has such a wide footprint over many different industries.

The Importance of Preventative Maintenance of Bus Ducts

Having an uninterrupted supply of electricity for customers is the main goal of a power generation industry to allow them to meet their demands. It can be very costly for a company to have any unplanned downtime due to any equipment failures. This is a fact when looking at bus duct systems since they effectively transfer power to switchgear and other loads. To prevent avoidable downtimes from occurring it is imperative to have preventative bus duct maintenance in place.

Neglect on Systems

Too often, critical systems like bus ducts that transmit power at industrial buildings go neglected. The reason behind this is because people are under the wrong concept that since bus duct systems do not consist of moving internal parts that they do not need regular maintenance or service. Over time, carbon and other foreign debris can build up and contaminate the bus systems that will, in turn, cause cataclysmic arcs and damage the equipment. Without proper inspection and preventative maintenance performed regularly, the equipment will have without a doubt have unexpected failures that will cause outages, can further damage equipment and increase safety risks for personnel as well. 

Preventing Failures

It is very important to have regular and systematic inspections of the bus duct systems performed. If the installation is done in unfavorable conditions, for example, high temperature/ humidity or environments with a lot of dust it is recommended these inspections are performed at a more frequent interval in these instances. The most common failures that are observed during bus duct failures can range from damaged gaskets/ bellows, grounding issues, cracked weld joints, conductor connection integrity, and even improper termination design or installation.

Installing New Bus Ducts

One factor to consider when installing a new or replacing bus duct system is to consider the ampacity requirement for your actual operating environment as opposed to just choosing one based on a standard chart’s temperature assumption. The most bus generally occupies at high-temperature areas since they are installed near the ceiling. Temperatures will continue to fluctuate while under load or no load as well, so it is important to do the research and know the limits of the equipment. Another good piece of advice is to install extra protection with service conductor bus ducts to protect the bus duct zone from fault. It may be an extra up-front cost but the savings from downtime in the future will be well worth it.

J & P Electrical Company is a full-service electricalcompany that supplies contractors, end users, and supply houses with new surplus, quality reconditioned, and obsolete electrical equipment. We offer a wide range of electrical equipment such as bus plugs, bus ducts, panelswitches, and transformers. Services include asset management, product reconditioning, and electrical products. More information can be found at https://www.jpelectricalcompany.com