Intelligent Power Today Magazine

News and Trends

Introducing Intelligent Power Today

Welcome to Intelligent Power Today Magazine, our publication that explores and explains the who, what, where, when, why and how of intelligent electrical devices, a collection of complex mechanical devices and sophisticated control systems used in industrial, commercial, and institutional facilities—also known as intelligent buildings.

According to the Institute for Building Efficiency, intelligent buildings use smart technologies to improve system functionality, control operating costs, and to keep building occupants safe, secure, comfortable, and, of...

Buyer's Guide

News & Trends

State of Industry

Illuminating Decisions: EPRI Lights the Way for Modern Lighting Adoption

Facility managers and operators understand the critical role lighting plays in their daily operations. Accounting for roughly 30% of a commercial building's energy load, lighting significantly impacts energy consumption and associated maintenance costs. However, focusing solely on the...

Featured

Advanced protection against electromagnetic exposures and electric arc

HAZARDS AROUND While working live in the energized grid, presence of voltage around the workers requires special attention. However, live-line (live working) techniques are widely applied for decades, several accidents in the past prove that the level of safety must be improved to minimize...

2024 CE Code Training - Better Understanding of the Rules

CE Code training is intended to do a lot more than instruct about what changes have taken place since the last time Canada issued a national electrical code. We are producing a series of courses across Canada by one of Canada’s leading experts on the 2024 Edition of Canada’s Electrical...

Electrical Protection

The Switchgear Survival Guide

10 suggestions to optimize equipment life and enhance reliability

BY HAL THEOBALD, Schneider Electric

With increasing dependence on computers and automated processes, most modern facilities cannot afford downtime. According to studies published by the Hartford Steam Boiler Insurance Company and FM Global, “Electrical equipment failures account for millions of dollars in damage and lost business every year.”

Performing proper maintenance on a facilities’ electrical equipment can reduce the risk of an unplanned outage and help extend useful life of the asset. In today’s economy, budget constraints on capital improvement projects will mean more reliance on existing equipment maintenance.

Electrical switchgear is composed of passive and active components. The passive components include the horizontal and vertical bus structures while the active components are the power circuit breakers and fusible switching devices.

The main function of the active components is to protect the electrical assets downstream, to disconnect the circuit, and to...

Electrical Protection Articles

Cybersecurity for Protective Devices

Zero-Trust Security: Securing Electrical Protection

The ever-increasing reliance on interconnected electrical protection systems necessitates a robust cybersecurity posture. Traditional perimeter-based security models, which rely on strong external defenses, have proven insufficient against sophisticated cyberattacks. Zero-trust security offers a...

Transformer Protection

Transformer Protection And High Impedance Faults

Electrical transformers are vital components of the power distribution network, ensuring the transfer of electricity across various voltage levels. Protecting these transformers from faults and failures is crucial to maintain the reliability and efficiency of the electrical grid. One of the...

Generator Protection

Coordinating Protection for Generator Safety

The reliable operation of a power grid hinges on the proper functioning of its generators. Protecting these critical assets from internal faults and external disturbances is paramount. However, achieving this protection presents a complex challenge – ensuring fast fault clearing times to...