Electrical Product Resources

Coronavirus – How to Keep the Power On

Coronavirus is the buzzword. We are making history in our current state of global pandemic. If you’ve been living under a rock, COVID-19 is a disease that affects the respiratory cells. More specifically, SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that enters the respiratory cells, replicates, and proliferates throughout the lungs, causing pneumonia. We won’t get too deep in the science, but let’s talk about what’s happening outside and what this means for electrical contractors…

5 Tips on How to Choose a Reliable Surplus Electrical Vendor

Training

Price is usually one of the main deciding factors that people look for when buying anything. However, we all know that not all vendors are created equally – so to speak. Opting for a vendor because of their cheaper price points may become expensive in the long run. There are better ways to choose a …

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Important Things to Consider When Buying Surplus Electrical Equipment

Training

General Advantages General Disadvantages 1. Cost efficient 1. Limited availability of uncommon items 2. Readily available inventory 2. New technology can be slow to market 3. Minimal obsolescence in cycle 3. Requires more attention to vendor qualifications 4. More choices for buyers sourcing material 5. Focused on medium and small size contractors 6. …

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What’s the Difference Between Short Circuit and Overload Conditions?

Safety

Short circuit and overload conditions are a bit different but they both pose similar dangers. Read on to see their slight differences. Short Circuit – We know that current flows in a path from point A to B – this is considered one phase. A short circuit occurs when current flow deviates from that path in two different ways: phase-to-phase (direct short) or phase-to-ground (ground fault). When current flows from one phase to another, also known as a direct short, that huge amount of current…

GE Armor Clad Bus Plug

Training

This General Electric Armor Clad (AC) plug is an older bus plug version that’s been replaced by the newer GE Spectra bus plugs. The AC plug family is one of the most popular GE bus plug systems. This family of bus plugs has been in the market for many years. The 600V line are the most popular varieties in the family. They have amperages that range from 15A to 800A. Although these bus plugs have been replaced by the newer version (GE Spectra bus plugs), Armor Clad…

GE Spectra Series Bus Plugs

Training

General Electric (GE) Spectra Series bus plugs replaces the older generation Armor Clad plugs, which had no current protection bust are still also popular nonetheless. Nowadays, these newer vintage Spectra bus plugs are widely used and come in different configurations. They are available as fusible or circuit breaker type plugs with either a 3 or 4 wire. These plugs have various fuse classes, frame types, and interrupting current rating. You can also choose to get them with or without ground.

Can Circuit Breakers Go Bad?

Training

If you’re asking “can circuit breakers go bad?” – it’s most likely because yours stopped working, or at least it seems like they’ve stopped working. The short answer is – yes, they can actually go bad. Like many electrical items, circuit breakers could break down due to a few reasons. It’s a good idea to …

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How To Replace and Install Circuit Breakers

Training

Replacing and installing circuit breakers could get tricky, especially if you’re a beginner and not a hundred percent sure what you’re doing. First, always be safe and consult a professional electrician. If you have electrical skills to replace and install breakers, then realize that circuit breakers normally do not need to be replaced unlike fuses. …

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Circuit Breakers Installation

Training

Electrical Panel Upgrade: Should You Replace the Entire Box? If you live in an older home or just need to upgrade your electrical panel, there are some things you may want to consider before you move forward with the project. Here are some things to think about. A panel upgrade generally requires replacement of the …

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NEMA Enclosure Types

Training

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) set safety, reliability, and efficiency standards. These standards apply to enclosures, which vary in the way they’re constructed for their specific use and environmental conditions. There are many types of NEMA enclosures that we have listed here. It is a good idea to take note of the enclosures that …

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What is the Most Popular Brand of PLC?

Training

So you want to know what the most popular PLC brand is that other contractors/engineers are using. This is a valid question because who would not want the cream of the crop? The problem is, there are so many great Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) manufacturers that it’s a little tough to say which is the …

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Protection Type Reference Chart

Safety

Here is a protection type reference chart guide. Find protection type, breaker type, and their description. Check what you need for your job and/or project.

Motor Control

Training

In 1887 Nikola Tesla invented an alternating current (AC) Motor to harness the power of electricity. It is a great invention but not as useful unless operators could turn the motor on and off. Therefore the “knife switch” was created, which connected the power to the motor when the operator manually pulled the switch to the “on” position.

Did Square D Go Out of Business?

Training

Fun fact, Square D did not change its name until 1917, fifteen years after the company was established.The name change was due to the brand’s trademark “D” on conduit boxes and switches. Since then,Square D has been a leader and an innovative company in the electricity and automation management industry. Square D did not go …

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Electrical Bucket – Motor Control Center (MCC) Bucket

Training

Electrical buckets are more commonly known as motor control center (MCC) buckets. Essentially, they are metal enclosures that house the control portion of a motor control center. They play a very important role in the industrial power control and distribution systems.

Who Makes Siemens Breakers?

Training

The simple answer is, of course, Siemens – they make their own well-known and durable breakers. Siemens has been around for over 150 years in engineering and world history in general. They have been making circuit breakers for a long time and are one of the top breaker manufacturers in the industry. Their simple design make …

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Guide To Eaton HFD 65k Circuit Breakers

Featured

Here is a quick guide to Eaton HFD 65k Circuit Breakers. These Eaton / Cutler Hammer “HFD 65k” Circuit Breakers are part of the Series C, F-Frame type circuit breakers. Eaton / Cutler Hammer panelboards type PRL3 and type PRL4 as well as POW-R-LINE C switchboards use these breakers as branch devices. HFD 65k breakers …

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Shunt Trips – Shunt Trip Circuit Breakers

Training

A shunt trip is an optional accessory device that electricians and/or manufacturers install to a circuit breaker. This is known as a shunt trip circuit breaker. Some circuit breakers allow shunt trip kits to be installable in the field. Others require factory installation when ordering the circuit breaker. You can check your specific type of …

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What Does BD1520 Breaker Mean?

Training

BD1520 is an Eaton / Cutler Hammer brand miniature molded case circuit breaker. This breaker is a tandem / circuit limiting breaker. In other words, BD1520 is a double circuit breaker that takes up one circuit breaker space on a panelboard. However, it does not have a common trip or handle tie for simultaneous disconnecting of …

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Why Circuit Breakers Fail

Safety

Who doesn’t get a little frustrated when the power goes out every now and then? Especially when you’re in the middle of something. Circuit breakers seem to fail at the least opportune time. But why do circuit breakers fail anyway? First, let’s get back to the basics. We know that circuit breakers trip when there’s …

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