Voltage Transducers Used in Solar Panel Arrays
Voltage Transducers Used In Solar Panel Arrays Designed & Assembled in the USA Challenge Solar Panels (photovoltaic arrays) are used primarily in two ways: 1. To charge batteries that are used to power remote loads where installing a connection to the utility grid would be cost prohibitive, and2. To energize installations where the DC power…
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Battery Charging System
Battery Charging System Designed & Assembled in the USA Challenge Voltage Sensing, Charging Control, Overcharge Protection, Under Voltage Protection, Fault Detection Solution Battery charging systems are utilized in many applications including renewable energy storage, cell towers, electric grid support, and rail transportation. In each of these applications, voltage transducers are a critical component as they…
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Preventative Maintenance Using Ground Fault Monitors
Challenge: There are many industrial applications where monitoring electrical heating elements for leakage to earth is needed. Insulation of electrical apparatus may degrade over time contributing to leakage. When a heating process should not be interrupted until the process is completed, disconnecting power through a ground fault circuit interrupter is not an ideal approach. For…
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Electrical Heating System Protection
Challenge: The National Electric Code requires that all (with few exceptions) electric heating sources be protected against faults to ground. Combinations of electrical heating systems and moisture can present a challenge in ground fault protection. Insulation systems of heating elements can degrade over time in the face of wide temperature variations, constant expansion and contraction,…
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How to Detect DC Current Leakage to Earth
Challenge: Detecting low level AC current without adding a physical connection and added burden to the circuit is relatively easy and quite common. In North America, all electrical outlets mounted in wet environments are required by codes to be protected with ground fault relays to save lives by cutting the power when a very small…
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How to Detect Ground Faults in Semiconductor Fabrication Equipment
Challenge: Fabricating silicon wafers into semiconductor chips involves many hazardous chemicals and extreme heat that must be precisely controlled. The SEMI standard S22-071b provides guidelines regarding the safety of semiconductor processing equipment, including Emergency Mains Off (EMO) circuitry design. This requires that if any problem occurs during processing, the operator can easily disconnect main power.…
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Adjustable Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter Solutions for Commercial Kitchens
Challenge: The NFPA NEC 2017 Sec. 210.8 requires electrically operated commercial kitchen equipment with “single-phase receptacles rated 150 volts to ground or less, 50 amperes or less, and three phase receptacles rated 150 volts to ground or less, 100 amperes or less” to have GFCI for personnel protection installed. Prior to this change, only 15-…
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Ground Fault Detection for High Current Circuits at Marina Docking Facilities
Challenge: Recent updates to NEC Code 555 require Marina owners to consider ground fault protection at both the individual slips and at the power distribution center feeding the separate branches to each slip’s power pedestal. Typical power feeds now require relays that can handle conductors carrying more than 300 amps necessitating the solution to involve…
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