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...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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 -...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
102 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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
20 views0 comments