David Peterson
Introduction to Allen Bradley Data Highways
Check out Jon's latest article on Control.com! An introduction to Allen-Bradley's Data Highway networks! Control.com has done an amazing...
top of page
Search
David Peterson
- 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,...
245 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...
31 views0 comments
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...
43 views0 comments
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 -...
56 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...
131 views0 comments
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...
6 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...
15 views0 comments
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...
44 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...
29 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,...
10 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...
22 views0 comments
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...
30 views0 comments
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...
103 views0 comments
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...
49 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...
11 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...
383 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...
30 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...
18 views0 comments
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...
21 views0 comments