Precision Electric, Inc. » Field Experiences

Paper and pulp industry

Ryan Chamberlin — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 14:32:32 +0000

We’ve Been Servicing the Industrial World Since 1983.

Minimize Your Downtime. Maximize Your Productivity.

Call Toll Free: 1.877.625.2402

Processing pulp and paper is a demanding industry. Crushing loads, high humidity, dirt, dust and grime can all take a toll on the best precision equipment in your manufacturing facility. Keep your equipment in prime operating condition by calling us. Or when a breakdown occurs, you can depend on Precision Electric to provide a wide selection of services, products and/or technical support. Our Automation Controls Group was designed to integrate industrial equipment and industrial electronics for paper and pulp manufacturers around the globe, among other industries. Click here to learn more about the Precision Electric Automation Controls Group. Nearly all servo motors in the paper and pulp manufacturing world can be repaired for a fraction of what it will cost to buy a new one. We provide expert repairs for all AC servo motors as well as brushless servo motors, and DC servo motor products, and all other related equipment. Click here to learn more about these products and services. We are a single, reliable source for a wide selection of field and in-shop services. Our objective is to to reduce your operating costs by minimizing downtime, improving efficiency and extending your machinery and equipment life. Precision Electric will work around the clock 24/7 for emergency breakdowns all year round. All of our repair services are covered by a One-Year comprehensive warranty unless otherwise stated on your quote. Precision Electric has been providing comprehensive AC & DC Servo Motor Repair and CNC & Spindle motor repair services for over 25 years. We routinely repair domestic and foreign motors. To learn more click here. If you have paper and pulp electrical manufacturing equipment that you want quoted for repair, or if you want a quote to replace something specific, let me know. I am available via email or telephone. When you call Precision Electric a human being will always answer, because we do not believe voicemail is logical in our industry. Ryan Chamberlin Inside Sales, Customer Support ryan@precision-elec.com Call Toll Free: 1.877.625.2402

How do I use three phase equipment with single phase power

Ryan Chamberlin — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:25:02 +0000

This is popular subject here at Precision Electric. We receive emails and calls all the time for customers who have three phase equipment and need to operate this equipment from single phase power. Since most higher horsepower drives only accept three phase input power, many customers are left with little options or alternatives. However, we have a solution for these applications. Before you derate your drive it is most important to ensure the drive you are using is properly suited for your application. The following are some basic guidlines to help you in determining whether or not your Variable Frequency Drive is suitable for your application:

Gather motor nameplate data including horsepower (HP), current (Amps), motor voltage, input line voltage and power source phase.
Determine which type of drive your application will require. The type will fall under the category of either Volts per Hertz (V/Hz), closed-loop vector, or open-loop vector (Sensorless Vector).

Heres how to derate a three phase drive for single phase power:

Determine the motor horsepower and motor current
Choose drive with a Horsepower higher than the Horsepower of the motor to compensate for the additional input current from the single phase power source.

The simplest formula used for these types of applications is: The drive max current needs to be greater than that of the motor current. Take your motor current and multiply by 1.73. Then choose a drive that is rated at or higher than the revised current. Example:

Drive rated current > Motor Current Rating * 1.73
Drive rated current > 27 Amps * 1.73
Drive rated current > 46.71

Now it has been determined this example application will need a 230 VAC 3 phase Volts per Hertz (V/Hz) Variable Frequency Drive with an input current rated at or above 47.0 amps. This particular application would need a 15hp 240V three phase drive to operate on single phase power. Ryan Chamberlin Inside Sales, Customer Support ryan@precision-elec.com Call Toll Free: 1.877.625.2402

Variable frequency drive torque control inverter vfd

Ryan Chamberlin — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 19:17:43 +0000

We’ve Been Servicing the Industrial World Since 1983. Minimize Your Downtime. Maximize Your Productivity

Call Toll Free: 1.877.625.2402

Customers of Precision Electric have been using variable frequency drives to better control torque on electric motor applications for a number of years. This posting is to help you decide what type of variable frequency drive will work best for your application. For a new VFD application:

Research the motor and VFD specifications.
Research your application requirements.
Learn more about the VFD products that are available to you.
Understand the features of those VFD products to determine what is an appropriate solution for your application.

There are a several different types of Variable Frequency Drives. The following is a short summary of the three different types of drives that are available, and when these types of drives should be considered in an application: V/Hz (Volts per Hertz) Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) The most commonly used and most basic VFD available; this product is for a basic application in pumps, fans, conveyors, blowers and others. These applications do not require high starting torque, full motor torque at low rpm, and/or speed feedback. Most V/Hz VFDs have adequate programming features for many applications. Be certain adequate I/O and programming features are available to meet your application requirements. This product is an inexpensive alternative to a phase converter since they will accept single phase input while providing three phase output. Sensorless (Open Loop) Vector Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) The next VFD type that is commonly used in a lathe, mill or any application where full torque is require throughout the motor speed range. Sensorless Vector VFDs are are also referred to as open loop vector drives; these drives are more complex than V/Hz drives and should always be applied to applications where high starting torque and/or full torque operating at low RPM is required. If speed feedback and/or extremely complex programming must be considered in your application you CANNOT use a sensorless vector VFD. Sensorless vector/open-loop vector VFDs do offer complex programming to a certain degree, but when your application exceeds sensorless vector programming features, there is a third solution. Closed Loop Vector Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) This next level of VFDs are more advanced. Applications that require accurate speed regulation and feedback from the motor and/or require complex programming will require a closed-loop vector drive. This type of VFD is often offered as a “three in one” and able to operate in all operating modes.

V / Hz (Volts per Hertz)
Sensorless (Open Loop) Vector and
Closed Loop Vector

These products are complex and extremely efficient when properly applied. Used in the most complex, advanced manufacturing facilities across the world, closed-loop vector technology has few limits in drive technology. The product features are phenomenal. Applications where these products are utilized provide superior speed regulation and torque performance.

Before choosing a drive for your application consult with a qualified integrator, distributor, or manufacturer who will ask all the right questions and make an appropriate recommendation. Here at Precision Electric Inc we offer proper service and telephone support from when you, or your qualified electrician, are setting up the drive for your application. Call us today. Ryan Chamberlin Inside Sales, Customer Support ryan@precision-elec.com Call Toll Free: 1.877.625.2402

Infrared thermography testing services

Ryan Chamberlin — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 18:07:55 +0000

Infrared inspections provide a means to view systems (electrical, mechanical, building envelopes) under normal operating conditions to identify abnormally hot (or cool) areas or components. This is a powerful maintenance tool. In many instances, equipment failure is preceded by a period of increasing heat. This is especially true of electrical equipment. With infrared thermography you can identify overheating electrical connections and other machine components, scheduling repairs to be made during planned downtime. This increases reliability and productivity for the entire operation.

Financial Savings

Fewer interruptions while in operation mean more uptime and greater productivity.

Equipment problems are fixed before they fail and damage or destroy the rest of the machine.

Identifying developing problems and planning the repairs results in fewer “panic situations”, those costly predicaments that force excessive overtime and monetary premiums for emergency rush equipment orders.

Safety

An industrial process that runs reliably and without surprises produces a safer work environment. Many industrial processes are complex and run at high speed. A sudden failure on one machine can have a cascading effect of failures that may include flying debris.

Fire avoidance. Overheated electrical connections can start fires. You may have heard of a fire in your area that it was caused by “faulty wiring”. This means many things including bad design and overloaded circuits. It also commonly means a bad electrical connection that was overheating and was not found in time.

Other advantages of thermography:

Shows a visual picture so temperatures over a large area can be compared

Able to find deteriorating: (higher temperature components prior to their failure)

Measure or observe in areas inaccessible or hazardous for other methods

Non-destructive test method

Locate defects in shafts, pipes, and other metal or plastic parts

Call Precision Electric, and schedule infrared thermography services to prevent unnecessary damages to your industrial equipment. Ryan Chamberlin Inside Sales, Customer Support ryan@precision-elec.com Call Toll Free: 1.877.625.2402

service Fanuc industrial servo motor drive equipment

Ryan Chamberlin — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 13:52:41 +0000

We’ve Been Servicing the Industrial World Since 1983. Minimize Your Downtime. Maximize Your Productivity

Call Toll Free: 1.877.625.2402

Over the years Precision Electric has worked closely with Fanuc Corporation with regard to industrial servo motors and other related equipment. Precision Electric has been repairing and selling Fanuc products for about 15 years. Many times we get inquiries for Fanuc servo motor repairs and/or replacements. Over the years customers of ours have told us that certain Fanuc products cannot be replaced or repaired. More often than not we have found this to be untrue. When customers are in demand of a repair or replacement, be it a Fanuc product or other related product, we have come up with solutions for our customers. Our highly trained service technicians have repaired hundreds of Fanuc servo motors that have been claimed to be ‘unrepairable’ by other facilities around the United States. Fanuc servo drives and Fanuc servo motors are in high demand for industrial manufacturing facilities around the world. When replacement cost seems cost-prohibited, or, if lead time for Fanuc products is extreme, we recommend seeking repair alternatives to our customers. We suggest that if you run into a situation where you need a repair or replacement on any Fanuc product, that you contact Precision Electric with your equipment. Ryan Chamberlin Inside Sales, Customer Support ryan@precision-elec.com

Should I use an Inverter Rated Motor VS General Purpose Motor

Ryan Chamberlin — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 20:16:59 +0000

General purpose AC motors have been around for many years. An inverter-duty motor is a much newer concept that became necessary as motors began to be driven by variable frequency drives. An inverter-duty motor can withstand the higher voltage spikes producted by all VFDs and can run at very slow speeds without overheating. This performance comes at a cost: inverter-duty motors can be much more expensive than general purpose motors. General purpose motors can be run with drives in many applications; however inverter-duty motors are designed to handle much lower speeds without overheating and they are capable of withstanding higher voltage spikes without their insulation failing. With the increased performance associated with inverter-duty motors comes an increase in cost. This additional cost can be worth it if you need greater performance. Ryan Chamberlin Inside Sales, Customer Support ryan@precision-elec.com

How to Use a Three Phase Motor with Single Phase Power

Ryan Chamberlin — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:11:57 +0000

We receive inquiries all the time from customers who have three phase equipment and need to operate the equipment from single phase power. The main question we get is “How do I size a three phase drive for single phase input supply?” For those of you who are not already aware, we offer variable frequency drive products that are designed for single phase input, three phase output. The products that are available however max out at 3hp or 5hp. If you have an application that exceeds the 3-5hp range you can de-rate a three phase variable frequency drive for use with single phase input power. The formula we use for de-rating variable frequency drives for use with single phase power is as follows: We start with the motor current and multiply it by 1.73, then we take the revised current and size a variable frequency drive with the corresponding amps. For example. Lets say I have a 7.5hp motor that pulls approximately 23 amps; I want to use a vfd, however I only have single phase 230V line voltage. I need to multiply the 23 amps by 1.73 which gives me the new revised current (39.73 amps) Now I know I need a three phase 230V drive that is rated at 40 amps or higher. A vfd that is rated at approximately 40 amps is about 15hp, and for this particular application would run a 7.5hp 240V drive perfect on 240V single phase power. Precision Electric, Inc highly recommends contacting us or someone with experience to safely install variable frequency drives and/or electric motors. Ryan Chamberlin Inside Sales, Customer Support ryan@precision-elec.com

Industrial Manufacturing Control Panel Design & Manufacturing

Ryan Chamberlin — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 15:12:33 +0000

We’ve Been Servicing the Industrial World Since 1983.

Minimize Your Downtime. Maximize Your Productivity.

Call Toll Free: 1.877.625.2402

For more than 27 years Precision Electric, Inc has been a recognized leader in the design and manufacture of custom control panels. We specialize in retro-fitting equipment for customers with obsolete and non-efficient equipment using the newest available technology. Our dedicated engineering and manufacturing staff can design, build a solution, provide comprehensive field installation and start-up services, and support for a wide range of industries. Products range from simple operator stations to multi-door control cabinets for production equipment. We also provide application specific design and build of industrial computer and PLC machine control systems. Our order volumes range from one-of-a-kind assemblies to multiple units. Field Services: Precision Electric provides a comprehensive portfolio of engineering and technical support services to the industries we serve, including: • On-site engineering, installation and commissioning • Custom report writing and field documentation • PLC programming and custom software • And more Ryan Chamberlin Inside Sales, Customer Support ryan@precision-elec.com

How to Repair Loose/Bad Electrical Connections

Ryan Chamberlin — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 14:48:55 +0000

We’ve Been Servicing the Industrial World Since 1983.

Minimize Your Downtime. Maximize Your Productivity.

Call Toll Free: 1.877.625.2402

Are you experiencing a problem with your electrical connection? Typically one of two issues cause connection problems: 1. Loose connections 2. Bad connections-resulting from the following:

Using incorrect lug-bolt-screw sizes

Cross-threaded connections

Oxidized contacts

Wrong wire size

Connection contact corrosion

Many peoples’ first response to connection problems is to tighten a bad connection, however this usually does not help. Tightening a bad connection usually creates more problems to existing conditions. The best solution to repair a bad connection is to uninstall connection, clean or replace bad parts, and reinstall connection. If you’re certain a connection only needs tightened the best way to ensure the connection is not over tightened is by using a torque wrench with the correct values recommended by the manufacturer. If you have an electrical board or other related piece of equipment that needs connections repaired, your best solution is to send it Precision Electric so we can inspect and repair your equipment beyond the OEM’s standards. We have been working on industrial manufacturing equipment since 1984. Our products and services exceed that of our competitors. Ryan Chamberlin Inside Sales, Customer Support ryan@precision-elec.com

Food Processing Manufacturing Industrial Products & Services

Ryan Chamberlin — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 17:53:20 +0000

We’ve Been Servicing the Industrial World Since 1983. Minimize Your Downtime. Maximize Your Productivity.

Call Toll Free: 1.877.625.2402

High humidity and daily washdowns can take their toll on the best food processing equipment. Precision Electric offers superior performance products, repair and maintenance services to keep your pumps, compressors, blower assemblies, and other critical machinery running at peak performance. To keep your equipment in prime operating condition, or when a breakdown occurs, you can depend on us to provide a wide selection of support. Precision Electric offers Nema 4x enclosed drive products, Nema 4x gearboxes, pumps, custom control cabinets, AC electric motors, among several other food processing machinery and equipment; we also have capability to rebuild your machinery and equipment. Proven support to reduce operating costs by minimizing downtime, improving efficiency and extending equipment service life. We are responsive to your needs 24/7. While you can choose from any of the many products and services we offer, our sales and support representatives can help you select a blend of these services to meet you facility’s specific goals and requirements. Be it a new, existing or anticipated project, let us go to work for you. We have over 100 years of combined experience in the industrial manufacturing industry and we have been in business since 1983. If you have equipment that needs rebuilt we offer those services to our customers as well. You can send in anything to Precision Electric for repair; from servo motors, circuit boards, servo drives to plc’s, AC/DC electric motors, pumping equipment and more. We will provide you with a free quote upon receiving your equipment. In many cases we offer quote estimates prior to you sending your equipment to us. Click here to see our Industrial Food Processing Solutions brochure. Ryan Chamberlin Inside Sales, Customer Support ryan@precision-elec.com