Intelligent Power Today Magazine

Answering frequently asked questions about arc flash relays

BY BOB ZWEIFEL, Littelfuse

The dangers of an arc flash incident—burns, blast, molten metal ejected at ballistic speeds—are by now familiar to every electrical worker. Most electrical professionals have read about strategies to minimize arc flash hazards, including arc flash relays. Now many of them are seriously considering integrating arc flash relays, but they have many questions about how to install this unfamiliar technology and exactly what the benefits will be.

Electrical Source Magazine and Littelfuse, based on the company’s frequently asked questions, offer some insight on how to apply these valued...

Infrared and electrical safety: meeting safety requirements using IR windows and thermal imaging

BY COLIN PLASTOW, FLUKE Electronics

By installing IR (infrared) windows, panes or ports, technicians using thermal imagers can inspect live electrical equipment without removing protective covers. Unlike a port or pane, the additional protection afforded by infrared (IR) windows comes from their crystal optic construction, which is designed to better protect technicians under fault conditions resulting from unexpected component failures or work on other parts of the system. This substantially reduces hazard ratings and, in most cases, allows the thermographer to work more safely, minimizing the need...