Electric motors are the key factor in many industrial processes and can account for up to 70% of the total energy consumed in an industrial plant and consume up to 46% of all generated electricity worldwide. Given their precarious nature for industrial processes, the cost of downtime associated with failed motors can be tens of thousands of dollars per hour. Ensuring that motors are efficient and operate reliably is one of the most important tasks that maintenance technicians and engineers face daily.

In many circumstances, energy efficiency can mean the difference between profitability and financial losses. And, since motors consume such a significant portion of energy in industry, they have become the main target for generating savings and conserving profitability.

Traditional motor testing methods

Calculating electric motor performance and effectiveness in traditional methods should be well distinct. However, the process can be inflated to set up and difficult to apply in working processes. To measure electric motor efficiency both the electric input power and mechanical output power must be established over a wide range of dynamic operating conditions. The traditional method of measuring motor performance first requires technicians to install the motor into a motor testbed. The testbed consists of the motor under test, attached to either a generator or dynamometer.

During testing the load is varied to determine the efficiency over a range of operating modes. The testbed system may seem straightforward but there are several essential disadvantages:

1. The motor must be removed from the service.
2. The motor load is not truly representative of the load the motor serves while in service.
3. During testing, the operation must be suspended (creating downtime) or a replacement motor must be temporarily installed.
4. Torque sensors are expensive and have a limited operating range, so several sensors may be needed to test different motors.
5. A motor testbed that can cover a wide range of motors is expensive and the users of this type of testbed are typically specialist motor repair or development organizations.
6. “Real-world” operating conditions are not taken into account.

Electric motor parameters

Electric motors are designed for specific kinds of applications depending on the load, and each motor has different characteristics. These characteristics are classified according to the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) or International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards and have a direct effect on the operation and efficiency of the motor. Each motor has a nameplate that details key motor operating parameters and efficiency information in accordance with either NEMA or IEC recommendations. The data on the nameplate can then be used to compare the requirements of the motor against the true operating use mode.

A new approach

The Fluke 438-II Power Quality and Motor Analyzer provide a modernized and cost-effective method for testing motor efficiency while eliminating the need for external mechanical sensors and costly downtime. The Fluke 438-II, based on the Fluke 430-II Series Power Quality and Energy Analyzers, has its full capability to measure power quality while also measuring mechanical parameters for direct-on-line electric motors. Using data from the motor nameplate (either NEMA or IEC data) coupled with three-phase power measurements, the 438-II calculates the real-time motor performance data including speed, torque, mechanical power and efficiency without the need for additional torque and speed sensors. Also, it directly calculates the motor de-rating factor in operating mode.

The data required by the Fluke 438-II to perform these measurements is entered by the technician or engineer and includes the rated power in kW or HP, rated voltage and current, the rated frequency, rated cos φ or power factor, rated service factor and motor design type from the NEMA or IEC classes.

How it works

The Fluke 438-II unit provides mechanical measurements (motor rotating speed, load, torque, and efficiency) by applying proprietary algorithms to electrical waveform signals. The algorithms combine a mixture of physics-based and data-driven models of an induction motor without requiring any of the pre-measurement testing typically needed to estimate motor model parameters, such as stator resistance. Motor speed can be estimated from the rotor slot harmonics present in the current waveforms. Motor shaft torque can be related to induction motor voltages, currents and slip by well-known but complex physical relations. Electric power is measured using the input current and voltage waveforms. Upon obtaining torque and speed estimates, the mechanical power is computed using torque times speed. The motor efficiency is computed by dividing the estimated mechanical power by the measured electric power. Fluke conducted extensive testing with instrumented motors driving dynamometers. Actual electric power, motor shaft torque and motor speed were measured and compared to the values reported by the 438-II to determine accuracy levels.

Summary

Taking critical motor efficiency measurements is simplified by eliminating the need for external torque and separate speed sensors, making it possible to analyze the performance of most industrial motor-driven processes while they are still in service. This gives technicians the ability to decrease downtime and gives them the opportunity to trend motor performance over time, giving them a better picture of overall system health and performance. By trending performance, it becomes possible to see changes that may indicate forthcoming motor failures and allow replacement before failure. For best Fluke 438-II in the Philippines, check out our products at https://presidium.ph/product-category/products/fluke-industrial-group-tools/power-quality/.

Above anything else, safety in-home or workplace has to be a priority. According to OSHA and NFPA 70E, to ensure safety especially in a workplace, workers must de-energize all energized parts to which they will be exposed unless required for troubleshooting.

It may seem easy to place electrical equipment in an electrically-safe work condition but actually there’s more to it than just that, there are several factors you need to consider.

Planning

Proper planning is safety’s friend. A rigid and detailed plan before diving into the process makes everything easier and you will be freed from any harm. In this case, it will make testing simpler and safer.

Risk Assessment

A risk assessment has to be done. This is required by NFPA 70E 110.1(G) Electrical Safety Program, 130.1 Working While Exposed to Electrical Hazards, 130.4 (A) Shock Risk Assessment and 130.5 Arc Flash Risk Assessment.

Free from distractions

Before going into the process, workers must be fully prepped with tools and equipment and must be secured to their body to avoid falling off or any other possible distractions that might destroy the focus and might lead on to possible accidents.

Traffic in the area

Anything that isn’t necessary in the workplace must be put somewhere safe or things like barricades or barriers, vehicles or forklifts must be strategically positioned to exact places so it wouldn’t cause traffic. This is because these are factors that cause substantial hazards and if not attended to readily may pose threats or accidents.

Secure Work Permit

A secured Energized Electrical Work Permit is also required by NFPA 70E Section 130.2 (B). In this section, it indicates the assessments that are needed to be done, required PPE and precautionary measures in the work zone.

Given these factors to ensure safety in the workplace, workers must also remember these things before taking a single measurement.

• Is this troubleshooting for the absence of voltage?
• What required test instruments are needed?
• Is a safety backup required? Do workers need training for CPR/use of an AED?
• Where will the safe work zone be established?
• What personal protective instruments are needed?

In testing for the absence of voltage which will verify if the voltage isn’t present before the beginning of work, you might also need to consider a non-contact proximity tester.

Running around the business in the vicinity of an electrically-active workplace, precautionary measures are absolutely needed. But before you go into the process of testing, be sure to be equipped with the right tools and equipment like professional digital meters to keep you away from harm or possible accidents. Visit us at www.presidium.ph to get the best and quality-assured digital multimeter for your business.

Cheers to developments in technology, thermal images are now more affordable, easier to use and better deployed in industrial and commercial markets than ever before. ­­

This is a pleasant development for contractors looking into adding thermal imaging into their services, as most customers would have likely heard about thermal imaging and how it can improve their business.

Thermal cameras as the name suggests, produce thermal (heat) pictures of equipment which enables you to have a powerful demonstration to display indications that your equipment is about to fail.

For contractors, your edge is your experience in handling different types of equipment and failure scenarios. Like any troubleshooting scenario, the person using the thermal camera should draw on experience to analyze and understand the readings. With this, you can easily identify if the reading indicates that the electrical panel is hot and whether you should investigate the connections or the load.

Additionally, thermography is also helpful for regular maintenance and troubleshooting. It can easily help you identify which facility and units are critical to performance.

Thermal tools can easily be a part of your regular site inspections or during troubleshooting calls.

To maximize the effectiveness of your thermal imaging tools, it is also advisable to enroll in courses from reputable trainers on how to use them. This will give you a competitive advantage if you decide to offer thermal imaging as part of your services, as you will have the credentials, theoretical and practical knowledge on how you can get the best results from your thermal camera.

Here are just a few things on what you learn about in thermal imaging training:

• How to use the thermal camera
• Applications with the greatest return on investment
• How to properly perform inspections
• How to interpret results and generate meaningful and actionable reports
• How to safely conduct thermography inspections in an industrial work environment

Source: Fluke.com

In summary, it would be beneficial for contractors to be equipped with thermal cameras. To maximize your investment in buying one, make sure that you take the time to train on the basics of using it and train by learning by using the tool to improve your services. Remember, the more you use, the more familiar you become in using thermal imaging tools. Visit our website at www.presidium.ph to know more about our products. GET A FREE DEMO https://presidium.ph/contact-us/

Thermal imagers aren’t your typical cameras. In addition to the standard lens that comes with it, most of them are compatible with other optional lenses as well. Changing the standard lens with a macro, telephoto, or wide-angle lens effectively gives you a different camera. This means it can give you more range and accuracy in capturing images anywhere, whether it’s right across you or hundreds of feet away.

One camera for everything

While a standard lens can do the job perfectly for occasions such as performing a general inspection of electrical equipment around a factory, you’d be limited should you need to scan a larger area like the ceiling or roof of a factory or warehouse. A wide-angle lens would be needed in such cases and it would be really useful if you are also a home inspector and you would need to scan the outside of a house. When it comes to scanning overhead vents or ductwork or high power transmission towers, a telephoto lens is your best bet which can allow you to work from the ground. An infrared camera can do all of that, with all the lenses packed into one single camera.

Importance of infrared lens material

It is important that the lenses you use are engineered for the most efficient transmission of energy to the detector. The first choice for the quality of infrared lenses is Germanium because it is transparent in the infrared spectrum and has a high index of refraction. Germanium lenses are protected by engineered coating, provide the most efficient material to transmit energy to the detector, making high-quality infrared images.

If you can get “smart” add-on lenses that can be swapped and used among multiple compatible cameras without any special recalibration for each camera, you can save a lot of time and money in being able to quickly swap out lenses for whatever the situation calls for. For best Fluke Ti401 PRO Thermal Camera, get a demo at https://presidium.ph/product-category/products/fluke-industrial-group-tools/infrared-cameras/.

A successful project comes to a great strategic vision, even the little things or the tiniest details count if you put your job and craftsmanship.

With Fluke, they think what a successful project is because working with professionals who use the products are taken into a “little thing”. Hence, electrical leads and added features make them more versatile, durable, and above all, safer.

The new Fluke TL175 TwistGuard™ Test Leads is the world’s first adjustable length tips designed to be used for CAT II, CAT III, and CAT IV environments. For CAT III and CAT IV higher-hazard conditions, a twist retracts the tips to reduce the possibility of accidental contact with energized surfaces while for CAT II, it extends the tips for better access to hard-to-reach contacts such as within wall outlets. The Fluke TL175 TwistGuard™ shows the correct category rating whether the tips are retracted or extended.

A system for safe testing

Test instruments and accessories used for electrical testing comprise a safety system called the personal protective equipment (PPE). According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, test equipment is an important part of PPE. Each piece of equipment used for testing such as clothing, gloves, and eyewear to digital multimeters and test leads must be designed and approved to work safely in the testing environment.

Test leads and other accessories should make sure that are rated for safe use where you’re working. Leads should maintain its usage category (CAT) rating or as high as the multimeter you are using. If the test leads did not reach the multimeter, you are putting yourself in danger. But in today’s standards, does lead come with the product?

Double-insulated, extra-safe

The Test leads that gathered years ago may not be fitted with the insulation needed for today’s electrical environment. In relation, the test leads would likely suffer from wear and abuse that can damage the insulation such as leads that have been strained in a panel door or kinked due to sharp bends have decreased insulating capability at stress points.

Fluke TwistGuard™ together with the double-insulated WearGurad™ wires can provide a safer advantage. The inner contrasting color shows through if the outer layer of insulation gets nicked or worn means it is time to replace a new set of leads.

The wires which rated at temperatures of -20 °C to 55 °C (-4 °F to 131 °F) are insulated with silicone can withstand high temperatures and remains flexible in the cold and their universal input plugs are compatible with all instruments that accept standard 4 mm shrouded banana plugs. Accessories like the Fluke AC72 Alligator Clips simply slide onto the extended tips. The TL175 test leads also accept threaded accessories, such as 4 mm lantern adapters.

The Fluke engineers planned for another “little thing” which is durability because TwistGuard™ leads have extra-heavy-duty strain relief on both probe end and plug end that tested more than 30,000 bends without failure.

For best Fluke TwistGuard™ in the Philippines, check out our products at https://presidium.ph/shop/.

For anyone working around electricity, always make your safety a priority. How? One is, be wary about how you are dressed up, make sure to be guarded with safety suits, shoes, glasses, shields, hard hats, gloves, and especially the tools that you carry. And by tools, we mean insulated tools such as screwdrivers, pliers, cutters and other battery-operated tools.

Deenergizing the equipment is your first resort in working with electricity but sometimes it can be so risky especially that energized equipment has unknown energy pathways that may be fed on the equipment you are working on.

How insulated hand tools keep you safe?

High-quality insulated hand tools are duly designed to protect you in hazardous and unforeseen situations such as electric shock or may reduce the possibility of arc faults caused by short circuits.

But first, it is necessary to be familiar with both regular hand tools and insulated tools. The regular ones are mostly coated with rubber over plastic handles while the insulated ones are built with a special combination of materials that blocks potentially hazardous voltages.

According to NFPA 70E (National Fire Protection Association), using insulated tools is required when dealing with electricity beyond 50 V. This move is especially important for electricity-centered businesses as this could not just save an employee’s life but could also free you from additional expenses and liabilities caused by the accident.

Insulated tool certification

A certified insulated tool must pass through with international standards including IEC 60900 and ASTM F1505. They must undergo thorough testing by third-party labs and can withstand hard use, extreme temperatures and even live flame. They also need to achieve a 1000 ac rating so it can be used in a live panel but only if necessary.

Given that, Fluke insulated tools are engineered to reach that level of protection complying with international standards. We do the same line of stringent requirements and testing to our hand tools for safety, reliability, and ergonomics. They are built by CMV steel for superior durability and designed using the most state-of-the-art facilities and advanced techniques in Germany.

Safe and ergonomic

Fluke insulated hand tools are manufactured with best practice to serve the best way possible. They adapt to the hand so as to prevent you from getting motion injuries or fatigue. Our insulated pliers and cutters work with extreme gripping strength and slim enough to be held easier.

Again, if you work around electricity, you need to look for the best options around you for your safety. With Fluke, we got you covered. Visit our website at www.presidium.ph to know more about our products.

All electrical machines are powered by an electric motor. In fact, a common industrial plant may consume up to 46% of all generated electricity worldwide. That’s nearly half of the energy consumption that we use. Electrical machines are especially critical for industrial processes hence, any machine breakdown may cause a lot of disruption and a lot of money. Ensuring that motors are efficient and operating at their maximum capacity is one of the most important tasks that technicians and engineers deal with every day.

It’s safe to say that efficient use of electricity is mandatory especially for businesses as inefficiency may lead to financial losses. And since electricity is one of the highest consumers of energy in the industry, it has become a primary target for generating savings and maintaining profitability.

The traditional processes of testing machinery used to be costly and difficult to apply in the working process and at times, it might require you to completely shut down the machine which would mean downtime, just to technicians can check the machine. Luckily, electric motor testing tools that provide more accurate results and have easier processes are now available for us to use anytime.

Fluke 438-II Power Quality and Motor Analyzer

Testing tools such as the Fluke 438-II provides a streamlined and cost-effective method for testing motor efficiency while eliminating the need for external mechanical sensors and costly downtime. It provides mechanical measurements (motor rotating speed, torque, and efficiency) by applying proprietary algorithms to electrical waveform signals.

Using modern and advanced testing tools gives technicians the ability to decrease downtime and give them the opportunity to trend motor performance over time. This way, they are able to see the overall system health and performance. With this, you are sure to save a lot of time and energy consumption at a lesser cost.

Make sure you are buying authentic measuring tools. Visit www.presidium.ph for more product information.

Designed to communicate results and produce action, Thermal imaging inspection reports detect repair orders or requirements to monitor equipment.

This report usually includes thermal and digital (visible light) images and shows details such as the date and time of inspection, location of potential problems and even work order numbers.

On top of this, thermal inspection reports should present a summary that shows potential problems, locations and the corresponding level of urgency (how critical) the problems or issues are.

While the main purpose of the report is to point out issues, it is still crucial to take note that not everyone who reads the report are as well-versed in thermography.

This brings in the importance of having and using a thermal imaging analysis and reporting software to improve the image and make the results more visible to the untrained eye.

Here are the three easy ways of how experienced thermographers can enhance thermal images:

Adjusting level and span

Thermal images exhibit a hot spot and a cold spot, that may or may not be problematic. With a thermal imaging software, you can easily readjust the level (mid-point) and span (the difference between the minimum and maximum temperatures) of your image to highlight the area of concern.

Choosing the right color palette

Thermal imaging software allows you to change the palette in the camera or in the software. A monochromatic palette like grayscale or amber works great to show subtle differences. On the other hand, high contrast palettes make it easier to quickly find obvious anomalies.

Blending infrared and digital images

If your thermal imager is equipped with a built-in digital camera, it’s advised to set the blend to 100% thermal when you’re scanning the component. As the digital camera will still be capturing the visible image in the background, you can blend the digital and infrared images in the software to highlight any anomalies you want to call attention to in your report.

For the best Fluke thermal imaging solutions in the Philippines, check out our products at https://presidium.ph/shop/.

There are a lot of factors affecting the cooling performance of an air conditioning unit, such as the relationship between dry bulb temperature, wet bulb temperature, relative humidity, and dem point temperature. Making sure that these facets are good to add to the overall performance of the unit and, essentially, occupant comfort.

To make sure that an air conditioning unit is running at maximum capacity, HVAC technicians usually use a sling psychrometer and psychrometric chart. These devices are also called “humidity” meters, and in order to make sure that your unit is still working great, you need measuring devices that are accurate, more convenient to use and can be used in various locations even unsuitable for sling psychrometers.

If you want to do an HVAC evaluation and diagnostics on your unit, you need a device, such as the Fluke 971- a measuring device that can calculate wet bulb temperature and dew point temperature.

To better understand how to properly measure and evaluate your air conditioning unit, here are key terms you need to be familiar with:

Wet Bulb

Closely related to enthalpy or the total heat in the air (dry bulb and wet bulb). In a psychrometric chart, the wet-bulb lines are nearly parallel to the enthalpy scale and values.

Dew Point

This is critical in both hot and cold weather evaluations. Duct surface temperature must be maintained above the dew point to prevent condensation whether inside or outside of the conditioned space.

Relative Humidity

This must be kept low enough to ensure inside wall and window surface temperatures do not approach dew point. If condensation appears on window or wall surfaces, condensation hidden within envelope walls will be likely.

If you want to do an HVAC evaluation and diagnostics on your unit, you need a device, such as the Fluke 971- a measuring device that can calculate wet bulb temperature and dew point temperature. Visit www.presidium.ph and view our wide range of measurement devices that will suit your needs.

No idea what kind of insulation resistance tester to use? Not sure which model is working with the best efficiency? We have conked-out our answers to your queries when it comes to deciding which is the best insulation resistance tester to use.

Make A List of Equipment for Testing

First things first, make a list of all the equipment you will need with their nominal voltage rating (seen on the equipment’s nameplate) for an insulation resistance testing. It is necessary to identify the nominal voltage rating so you could determine what test voltage is needed from the tester. Also, you will also need to indicate the number of insulation resistance tests you plan to perform in a year. As you go along the process, you will surely be surprised of how features of the tester work, the quality, and durability it brings as how it is designed to be, especially how relevant it is for everyone.

Identify Voltage Requirements

It is important to know that the output test voltage applied to equipment has to be based on the manufacturer’s recommended DC insulation resistance test voltage. However, if the test voltage is not indicated, you may refer to the International Electrical Testing Association’s table of recommendations. It is important to note down the most suitable insulation resistance tester that can supply the output test voltage needed. Also, not all insulation resistance testers are the same – some testers can only support somewhere between 5000 V dc – 10,000 V dc. Please refer to the table of recommended test voltages and minimum insulation values below.

Know Where Will the Testing Take Place

Knowing the testing environment and the other uses of your insulation resistance tester can greatly benefit you in choosing other additional features. A digital multimeter and the ability to use one instrument for both insulation resistance tests can also add convenience to the process.

Some insulation resistance testers can be very large and not portable, so there is a need for circuits and equipment to be verified as electrically de-energized first before an insulation resistance tester is connected to the equipment so it wouldn’t be a hassle for you to carry the insulation resistance tester to various locations.

What You Learn from an Insulation Resistance Test

Insulation Resistance Testing puts a qualitative value on both conductor insulation and internal insulation. It is done by applying a dc voltage to the conductor equipment under test.

There are a couple of things to remember as you go along the test and it’s essential to always be guided by these. First, as the charging current begins to build, it is normal to see a low value on the meter face. With more current flowing out of the test, the lower the megaohm reading.  A higher megaohm is directly associated with good insulation quality.

Absorption or polarization is the next current flowing towards the equipment. The amount of absorption is dependent on the contamination of the insulation. When there’s moisture in the insulation, the absorption value will be high and the resistance is low.

Experience Level

The ability of the test instrument will be as good as the person’s experience level on reading it. You must consider your expertise in selecting the insulation resistance tester that you must use. Though, insulation resistance testing training needs not to be extensive.

Also, make sure the insulation resistance tester that you will purchase must support the output test voltage and other functions.

If you having trouble choosing the correct resistance insulation tester, you must choose the ones that provide troubleshooting efficiency and complete maintenance records over time.

Learn more about the various products of Fluke Industrial Group and Fluke Calibration, check them out at Presidium.PH!