Megohm Meters are devices that are typically used to perform insulation resistance tests, otherwise known as Megger tests.   These meters are scaled to read in megohms or millions of ohms.  Tests performed with megohm meters are aimed at determining the effectiveness of the insulation in resisting the flow of electrical current.  The voltage will typically range from 1000V to 5000V.  The megohm meter can be used to check the quality of the insulation both when the product is being used, or when it is being manufactured.

When using a megohm meter, the equipment under testing is usually connected to the meter, and the voltage is ramped from zero to the final value desired.  Once the selected voltage value is reached, it is maintained at that value for a prescribed period, usually for a few seconds before the resistance test is measured.  A higher insulation resistance reading indicates a better insulation.

Megohm meters are classified as two types; the handheld and the bench top models.  The handheld version is widely used in field and maintenance applications.  The bench top model is primarily used in research and production environments.  Aeorspace, defense, industrial, automotive, electronics, and medical are other applications.

A new law regarding arc flash, established by the NESC states, “Effective as of January 1, 2009, the employer shall ensure that an assessment is performed to determine potential exposure to an electric arc for employees who work on or near energized parts or equipment.  If the assessment determines a potential employee exposure greater than 2 cal/cm2 exists, the employer shall require employees to wear clothing or a clothing system that has an effective arc rating not less than the anticipated level of arc energy.”

This law will require workers to wear arc flash suits when exposed to an exposure greater than 2 cal/cm2.  Arc flash is the result of a rapid release of energy due to an arcing short circuit between two or more adjacent conductors.  The cause of the short normally burns away during the initial flash, and the arc fault is then sustained by the establishment of a highly conductive plasma.  Arc flash produces temperatures above 35,000 degrees and statistics say 2000 people are admitted to the hospital every year because of arc flash injury.  The risk of arc flash has contributed to new laws such as the one stated previously beginning in 2009.  It is imperative to protect yourself from the dangers of arc flash by wearing the proper personal protective equipment when working anywhere a potential exists for arc flash.

Tic Tracers, also known as hot stick testers can be used to troubleshoot many issues in a wide variety of industries.  They are a relatively simple testing instrument that help electricians identify common electrical problems.  Use them to check fuses and breaker panels or to locate heating wires within walls.  They can locate breaks in insulated wire and heating elements, or to check voltage in outlets, switches and transmission lines.  These testers can also be used to do a safety check on power tools and appliances.  Some tic tracers are designed to find blown fuses or test light fixtures.  Some can even locate neutrals, ground faults, and high voltage lines without interrupting power.

Proximity voltage detectors allow you to detect electricity without breaking into power lines. The Proximity tester has a Beeper effect, the closer it comes to live electrical lines, the louder the signal of the beeper become. You don’t have to assume the unnecessary risk of touching live electrical wires when using this type of Tic Tracer.  Safety is always a high priority when working near any energized circuit.  Using a tic tracer will help keep you safe when troubleshooting electrical problems.

An important step that business and home owners can do to increase safety is to properly label hazardous, emergency and essential items in the home, office, or shop.  Portable label printers like K-Sun’s newest LABELShop® BEE3™ can help make this task easy.  Professional labels are a great deal more durable than former labeling methods such as masking tape and markers.

Ideas for safety labeling in the home include:

• Label a car seat or booster with your child’s name, date of birth, parent(s) name(s), emergency contact information, allergies, or anything else relevant
• Label skateboards, bicycles, and other recreational equipment with reminder labels such as “wear your helmet”
• Label telephone receivers with codes for voicemail access and emergency numbers
• Label fire routes and exits in the home along with instructions
• Important information such as health and medical files can be identified with color-coded labels so the files can be immediately accessed
• Personal items and toys can be color-coded for each child
• Label each circuit/fuse on electrical and circuit breaker panels with the appropriate area or appliance it serves
• Label other utility valves, such as natural gas with instructions for switch off
• Label any locked storage areas in the home, shop or garage for hazardous materials
• Label the date when batteries in smoke alarms or filters in the heating or air conditioning system need to be changed

This list of what items can and should be labeled is extensive.  Safety is extremely important in the home, shop and office, and using a labeling machine can drastically improve safety and increase awareness.

Although variable frequency drives are gaining a lot of popularity, they are not simple devices.  These drives are full of electronics and therefore susceptible to all sorts of problems.  These problems can range from incoming power disturbances to environmental hazards.  They have an important function and offer huge energy savings.  In mechanical applications they allow fine adjustments that wouldn’t be possible by other methods.  To keep motors running it is important to follow certain procedures, and avoid many errors.  The following is a list of these procedures:

1) Start with baseline readings of the motor by using a multimeter. Measure the starting and running amperage, the running voltage and the leg-to-leg balance.  It is also a good idea to connect a thermocouple to the clamp meter to compare results.

2) Make other measurements periodically.  Take additional amperage, resistance and insulation resistance reading, comparing them to previous readings.  If the measurements deviate by more than 5-10%, start looking for bad electrical connections or loose fitting mechanical connections.

3) Check the protection.  Look at the protection systems to see if the fusing is correct, and if the overload contacters are set too high or too low.  Check to see if the fuses are rated properly and if they blow repeatedly.

4) Don’t change parts instead of troubleshooting the actual problem.  Do not just change out parts until the problem goes away for that technique is extremely costly, and makes it much harder to find the original problem.

5) Check the line at the motor, not just the panel on the wall.  The problem may lie in the wiring, not the motor.

6) Make sure it is the right motor.  At times, motors can be put into applications they were not designed for.

7) Check for power problems.  After a power issue, it is very important to measure the power to see if the problem has been corrected.

Troubleshooting problems with VDFs can be complicated and time consuming, and it is important to follow steps to identify the root problem.

Three different ways exist to measure power; active power, reactive power, and apparent power.  Active power is measured in watts (W or true power), reactive power is measured in volt-amperes reactive (VAR) and apparent power is measured in volt-amperes (VA).

Active power (W) or true power = useful work.  Watts can be determined by multiplying voltage and current.  Utility charges are based on watts.  This equates to the amount of power it takes to do a given amount of work.  Due to the amount of reactive power in a system, one might need to consume more current which means the same amount of work is accomplished by drawing more watts.

Reactive power (VAR) = necessary overhead.  Reactive power energizes the magnetic fields of inductors (coils) and charges capacitors; therefore, motors, transformers, and capacitors all require VARs.  Reactive power cannot be avoided in overhead ac power circuits.

Apparent power (VA) = system capacity.  VA can be defined as a measure of system capacity.  The system VA must have the ability to supply the VARS and watts required.  Transformers are not sized in watts; they are sized in VA or kVA.

Power factor (PF) = W/VA.  Because watts measure useful power whereas VA measures supplied power, watts/VA = useful power/supplied power.

We just received the new easy to use H.I.D. (High Intensity Discharge) Testers. Simply screw in and turn on the power! Internal Lamps Indicate If The Starter (Ignitor) Or Ballast Needs Replacement. Suitable for H.I.D. ballasts circuit with a starter. Can be used on high pressure sodium, metal halide, and mercury vapor. Checks starting pulse voltage and open circuit voltage.

How to test a hid lighting fixture

1. Make sure power is off
2. Screw H.I.D Tester into Medium Base lampholder and turn power on
3. The H.I.D. Tester checks the starting pulse voltage and the open circuit voltage (OCV) of the ballast
4. The H.I.D. Tester is compatible with the H.I.D. ballast (HPS and MH lamps) 35W up to 175W

What is a data logger?

A Data logger is a sophisticated device, capable of measuring just about any type of variable including light, humidity, density, current and temperature. These electronic devices record data over time or in relation to location. They are usually small, battery powered and portable. Sensors, internal memory and a microprocesser are components of data loggers.

What is the benefit of a data logger?

A huge benefit of using data loggers is to have the ability to collect data on a 24 hour basis. They can be left unattended to measure and record information for any given monitoring period.

What are applications of data logging?

Many applications exist for data logging. Only a few are touched upon here, for the list continues to grow as the instrument’s capabilities become known within different industries. Weather stations have a huge need for data loggers due to their ability to record wind speed, direction, temperature, relative humidity and solar radiation. Any hydrographic recording such as water level, water depth, water flow, water pH, and water conductivity can also be measured with data loggers. Soil moisture level recording and gas pressure recording are other measurements a data logger will monitor. The following list includes other useful applications for data loggers:

• Road traffic counting
• Measure temperatures of perishables during shipments
• Process monitoring for maintenance and troubleshooting applications
• Wildlife research
• Vehicle Testing

What can I use to both record and log information simultaneously?

The Amprobe DMII Pro Power Recorder/Logger is an example of a complete data logging kit. It includes four 1000 amp clamp-on current probes, four voltage leads with clips, RS-232 PC interface cable, software and an integrated hard case. The following features apply to this extremely useful instrument:

• Works with single and three phase systems (Y and delta)
• Capable of recording all parameters (single or three phase) simultaneously
• All readings are True RMS (TRMS)
• User selectable rates allow recording from one hour to several months
• Five built-in selectable languages: English, Spanish, French, German and Italian
• Readings and charts can be viewed on the DM-II LCD screen or downloaded to a PC
• Intuitive, very easy to use, Windows compatible PC software
• Line or battery powered