Resources | PetersonBros

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Dec 30, 2020
5 min

Easily Identify Open and Short Circuits

In the world of electrical troubleshooting, very few problems would be accused of being 'really simple'. But then, on the other hand, the...

15 views0 comments

David Peterson

Dec 3, 2020
3 min

Why is "Arc Flash" such a Big Deal?

In the world of electronics, safety is always a big deal - for good reason. Most people have gotten some small shock from an electric fen...

15 views0 comments

A Bold Statement: All Electrical Problems Boil Down to One Cause

David Peterson

Nov 17, 2020
3 min

A Bold Statement: All Electrical Problems Boil Down to One Cause

The title should cause some sparks, no pun intended. It really is a bold assumption - that we can summarize every electrical problem in t...

22 views0 comments

Why Does a Motor Use So Much Current at Start-Up?

David Peterson

Nov 3, 2020
3 min

Why Does a Motor Use So Much Current at Start-Up?

Nearly every experienced industrial electrician has started up a motor at some point. When a motor starts, it consumes a lot of current -...

17 views0 comments

David Peterson

Oct 22, 2020
4 min

The Basics of Programming HMIs

Ever since touch-screen applications first appeared, the devices (notably phones and tablets) using this technology have gotten faster an...

80 views0 comments

3 Key Considerations to Future-Proof your Automation

David Peterson

Oct 7, 2020
4 min

3 Key Considerations to Future-Proof your Automation

Whether you are designing a new machine control system or retro-fitting an older machine into the 21st century, there is a looming questi...

2 views0 comments

David Peterson

Sep 28, 2020
3 min

Humans and Machines Interacting

Using machines to accomplish tasks with more than mere human effort alone has been the goal of humanity for ages. Before motors and combu...

9 views0 comments

What Makes 'Network Problems' so Terrifying?

David Peterson

Sep 21, 2020
4 min

What Makes 'Network Problems' so Terrifying?

Of all the problems that can haunt an industrial technician, network problems can top the list of most intimidating. The main reason for ...

10 views0 comments

David Peterson

Sep 4, 2020
5 min

How do Stepper Motors Work?

This mysterious type of motor is found in all kinds of CNC machines and 3D printers, plus tons of other applications that require precisi...

22 views0 comments

David Peterson

Aug 25, 2020
4 min

Voltage vs Power - Different, But How?

When we read the data sheets and instructions for electrical devices, there are a few words that we might expect to see - voltage, curren...

8 views0 comments

David Peterson

Aug 17, 2020
3 min

The Right Tool for the Right Job

As humans, we are interested in getting quick results - instant gratification. Plus, we're lazy and want to get things done without doing...

16 views0 comments

Do I Need to be an Electrician AND a Programmer?

David Peterson

Aug 10, 2020
3 min

Do I Need to be an Electrician AND a Programmer?

Let's face the facts. We've seen the signs of changing technology. It shouldn't be any surprise that systems with big voltages and system...

14 views0 comments

Why are there SO MANY Different Kinds of Motors?

David Peterson

Aug 5, 2020
4 min

Why are there SO MANY Different Kinds of Motors?

When it comes to providing motion in a system, there actually aren't a whole lot of options. We usually turn to either traditional fueled...

90 views0 comments

Back to Basics - How AC Electricity Works

David Peterson

Jul 31, 2020
4 min

Back to Basics - How AC Electricity Works

To be honest, I've always had a hard time understanding Alternating Current (AC) voltage. Direct current (DC) is usually driven by a chem...

26 views0 comments

David Peterson

Jul 17, 2020
2 min

Back to Basics - Buttons and Switches

There are many manual devices used to control an electrical system. We use the word 'Manual' to refer to how it's operated - not by anoth...

7 views0 comments

David Peterson

Jul 13, 2020
4 min

Understanding 3-Phase Motor Wiring

3-phase synchronous motors are just about the simplest of all motors that can be created. The simplicity is due almost entirely to how 3-...

16 views0 comments

David Peterson

Jul 8, 2020
2 min

Back to Basics - What is a PLC?

Until the late 1960’s, the hard-wired circuits were the only option for industrial control. These were often confusing and difficult to c...

26 views0 comments

David Peterson

Jul 1, 2020
3 min

Variable Frequency Motor Drives

There is a wide variety of motors used for industrial equipment including both DC and AC, but the 3-phase synchronous AC motor is the mos...

16 views0 comments

Why is 'Programmable' such a Big Deal in Automation?

David Peterson

Jun 24, 2020
3 min

Why is 'Programmable' such a Big Deal in Automation?

The idea of automation has existed for many decades - way before the first computer circuits. The ability to allow the environment to inf...

12 views0 comments

How a Little Wiring Knowledge Leads to Huge Downtime Savings

David Peterson

Jan 13, 2020
4 min

How a Little Wiring Knowledge Leads to Huge Downtime Savings

In this article, I’m going to explain several different ways in which training in the areas of wiring and electrical troubleshooting can ...

17 views0 comments

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