Electrical Industry Articles and Stories

Three years ago, I decided to finally bring my home into the modern age, in terms of its electrical distribution system. Gone was the 50-plus-year-old, 60-amp fuse box (yes, I said “fuse box”), along with the similarly low-capacity line from the pole to the house. In their place, a new 200-amp service line and breaker panel.

Designing industrial facilities is rarely a paint-by-numbers effort because each plant faces unique considerations, based on what it’s producing and the resulting safety and power requirements. That means power distribution equipment also needs to be custom designed.

The rapid advancement of technology and the growing need for energy efficiency have transformed the way businesses handle energy management. Smart metering and monitoring has proven to be a game-changer in the commercial and industrial sectors.

When working as an electrician in a processing plant, I was often called in to work on renovations, new area construction, and emergency repair scenarios. Often there wasn’t permanent power available, so temporary power using extension cords was necessary to power up tools and equipment for the job.