Intelligent Power Today Magazine

News and Trends

Counterfeiting Kills

Each year, the counterfeiting of well-known brands and products continues to rise, creating an even more threatening problem. Such well-known counterfeited brands, including consumer safety and critical electrical products, are estimated to be five to seven percent of world trade. The International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition (IACC) estimates that the counterfeiting of distinguished brands costs industries $600 billion each year worldwide and may result in as many as 750,000 lost jobs every year in the United States.

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Buyer's Guide

News & 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...

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...

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...

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

Generator Protection

Integration of Generator Predictive Maintenance

The reliable and efficient operation of power grids relies heavily on the effective protection of generators. Traditionally, generator protection focused on reacting to faults after they occur. However, advancements in sensor technology, data analytics, and machine learning are enabling a paradigm...

Motor Protection

Compatibility Issues with Generator-Backed Power Systems

Line-interactive uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems play a vital role in maintaining seamless operation during power outages. Their integration with backup generators, however, can pose challenges regarding synchronization and power quality. While both UPS systems and generators serve as...

Monitoring Circuit Breakers

Monitoring circuit breakers: Reviewing current testing methodologies BY FINLEY LEDBETTER, Group CBS Circuit breakers, from low-voltage molded case to high-voltage SF6 (sulfur hexafluoride) circuit breakers, all connect and isolate electrical loads from downstream machinery. While some breakers are...

Lightning Protection Systems

Advancements in Lightning Rod Design: Early Streamer Emission (ESE) Technology

Lightning protection systems have evolved significantly, with Early Streamer Emission (ESE) technology emerging as a groundbreaking advancement in lightning rod design. ESE technology aims to proactively protect structures from lightning strikes by initiating an upward streamer earlier than...