Lets share @ElectroStores.org | Site-Wide Activity

Bourns became a registered member

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 10:02:45 +0000

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, My personal take on an ACB (Air Circuit Breaker)

Sat, 19 Sep 2020 17:43:21 +0000

This is no explanation about ACBs…just a personal glance of the user experience.

Operator interface:

I prefer non “menu-driven digital display” (unless it is one that shows you everything without […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, My wish list for circuit breakers

Sat, 19 Sep 2020 17:23:36 +0000

Can’t I dream a little bit too…

And no, nothing to do with internet of things and comms and displays…no, no, no.

That’s not it!

Just plain and simple practical features…

* Would be nice […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, Is the Clockner-Moeller and Cuttler-Hammer brands dead?

Sat, 19 Sep 2020 16:56:30 +0000

When I qualified as an electrician there were Clockner Moeller and Cuttler Hammer giants we built a high affinity for because of their reliability and serviceability…What happened?

Eaton: Does it still […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, This is how a (circuit breaker) datasheet is supposed to be...

Sat, 19 Sep 2020 16:02:54 +0000

Originally I started this “technical corner” because I believed information was either too complicated, too disparaged, but most of all too dispersed (all over the place- UL there, IEC there etc) in relation to […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, My take on protected information from companies.

Sat, 19 Sep 2020 13:59:18 +0000

Product technical / data sheets: Is that all it provides, data?
I could look at a datasheet only and tell you books about the product and the spirit of the company and its management.

In this brave new world of […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, My goodness...look at this circuitbreaker...what a beauty!

Sat, 19 Sep 2020 13:57:39 +0000

Checkout this circuit breaker on the left…

I have not seen these breakers with an eye…

I got onto this manufacturer based on their splendid datasheet.

But look at that beautiful breaker on […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, Open-circuit voltage does not exist...really?

Sat, 19 Sep 2020 13:49:55 +0000

We know what it is, and its condition, but by itself, it does not exist.

I cannot believe the concept of OPEN CIRCUIT VOLTAGE is confusing, but it seems it is…at least for some.

Some come to this […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, Faradays experiment: The discovery that put our civilization on its way...creating electricity.

Sat, 19 Sep 2020 13:06:41 +0000

In 1820 Mr. Michael Faraday proved we can “make” electricity from magnetic fields using this experiment.
This is the electrician’s version of Faraday’s experiment.
—===—

And what doe […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, The Ampere experiment from 1820 how it's done today!

Sat, 19 Sep 2020 12:48:57 +0000

Quiz: Does a cable carrying DC current create a magnetic field around it, or not?

This experiment proved all current-carrying cables exude a magnetic field paving the way for electrical generation […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, Electric shock / Electrocution- when do we die?

Sat, 19 Sep 2020 09:59:35 +0000

As if we don’t know it already, lets quickly recount electricity and the biological body. Since the body consists of 70 percent water it is only natural it will conduct electricity. Each of us has a different […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, What exactly is this utilization categories for circuit breakers?

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 20:32:16 +0000

Circuit breakers are designed according to he purpose it must serve ..in this case protecting a circuit – with the smallest size wires – whilst still having to contend with all kinds and of types of loads, thus it […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, Selecting a circuit breaker from a sales point of view.

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 19:31:16 +0000

Note: Since I am not the curator of the Electrical fraternity but just another peanut wanting to bring a message of safety across, let’s share some more info so better informed choices will be made.

First and […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, What is this 17.5mm with DIN rail mounted circuit breakers?

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 19:24:37 +0000

By some unwritten rule – or maybe the first successful manufacturer designed it with this width and voila it became the default with for the smallest single miniature circuit breaker.

And so it also came to […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, Why on earth is there two voltages on a single pole circuit breaker?

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 18:58:26 +0000

What is the real voltage rating when it says 240/400V on circuit breakers?

A better question to ask is why not just put 400Vac?

The technical problem is: Ratings change at different voltages so this can’t […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, How do I determine the Prospective Short Circuit Current for a site?

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 12:42:08 +0000

Surprisingly there are multiple ways to determine the Prospective Short Circuit Current Value.

It is also important to note that the value closest to the transformer is the highest and decreases according to […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, Prospective Short Circuit Current...how complicated is it?

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 12:25:38 +0000

Lets first kill what it is: Imagine you switch the kettle on at home. The element that heats up the water will pull a certain amount of “controlled” current.

Look at the back and you will see the wattage rating […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, In the circuit breaker tripping graphs what exactly does the "hot" and "cold" trip lines mean?

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 12:17:13 +0000

I always thought it meant before a trip it is seen as cold and after a trip it is seen as hot.

*Now I know in ACB jargon this implies “symmetry”

Well In the ABB electrical installation handbook 6th […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, Circuit breaker tripping point deviation due to grouping

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 10:49:29 +0000

Circuit breakers mounted in a row, without any spacing between them, brings about the grouping derating factor,

Much is to be considered, like how much current and how much “percentage load” flows through each […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, Circuit breaker tripping deviation from manufactures(Temperature)

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 10:24:54 +0000

Depending on the technology used temperature does affect the tripping point of a circuit breaker.

What does this mean in real terms?

If you are the type of designer that runs components to the max then it is […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, Circuit breaker tripping point deviation due to frequency

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 09:56:16 +0000

I never thought anyone might want to use poor circuit breaker in this type of environment.

I mean 50/60Hertz is what she’s designed for.

But, we learn everyday…

What if you did want to use it under a […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, The tripping point of a circuit breaker deviates due to temperature.

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 09:42:30 +0000

Thermal technology based circuit breakers operate on the principle of two dissimilar metal fused together – and each expands differently during temperature changes.

The higher the temperature, the more the […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, Selecting a circuit breaker based on its supply.

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 05:53:48 +0000

electing a circuit breaker based on its supply …What?
In my opinion, from all the considerations in selecting a circuit breaker, this is the most important of all.

Why?

This is the only rating which, if […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, Changeover switches from manufacturers

Wed, 16 Sep 2020 17:38:55 +0000

Traditionally we would use contactors, the workhorses for electricians – but the new age has brought us a wide range of solutions when it comes to changeover systems.

Ps: Much of our posts is a work in progress […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, Changeover switch - What exactly is this?

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 10:34:41 +0000

Imagine the power to the building failed…stranded you are.

So you go out and purchase a generator but how to connect this to the building…such that when the mains power does return we can switch back to […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, Generator controller

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 10:06:30 +0000

Why do I need a generator controller?
Let’s cover the basics first:
What is the thing we call a “generator” anyway?
We know it is an alternative electrical supply source, right!
…

So, normally it […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, Don't purchase any busbars (systems) unless you check this first

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 09:46:55 +0000

Remember this about busbars:

It must comply with IEC 60439-1, with regards to the following:

The current density of copper busbars shall not exceed 2 A/mm2 for currents < 1 600 A, or 1,6 A/mm2 for […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, Standards: Do I use a circuit breaker or an isolator as the main switch for a panel?

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 09:26:49 +0000

This post is continued from: In an enclosure…do I use a isolator or a circuit breaker?

Since we already had an introduction – lets jump directly into what the regulations […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, For a seperate enclosure...do I use a isolator or a circuit breaker?

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 07:47:51 +0000

In an enclosure…do I use an isolator or a circuit breaker?
Sometimes it gets confusing as what shall we use as the mains switch for a DB or electrical panel/enclosure: – Do we use an isolator or do we use a […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, A global perspective of where earthing/grounding fits in the electrical reticulation system

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 06:32:10 +0000

Across the world power utility companies provides us electricity in different formats but fundamentally they are all the same.
From the power station driven by – hydro (water), coal/steam or nuclear the […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, A much deeper discussion of the circuit breaker tripping graph

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 15:25:23 +0000

A much deeper discussion of the tripping GRAPH presented by manufacturers.
This is a continuation from posts:

An introduction to the circuit breaker tripping curve.
What does an adjustable […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, A deeper discussion of the LSI (G) from a manufactures point of view.

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 10:40:33 +0000

This topic jumps straight into the topic of diffrent manufacturer ACB trip relay controllers and the in-depth functions…and it will always be an introduction because this can really go deep…

The […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, Circuit breaker LSI(G): What does this acronym really mean?

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 09:51:08 +0000

The LSI(G) circuit breaker controller in perspective
What does this acronym really mean?
Lets first see where it comes from:
The types of circuit breakers are referred to by the technologies we utilise […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, Introduction to circuit breakers

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 06:39:16 +0000

An introduction to the circuit breaker tripping curve.
So, If I pulled 6Amps through a 6amp circuit breaker will it trip?
If you said yes then you must hang around this site much more frequently.
So when does a […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, Can a circuit-breaker really explode? When?

Sun, 13 Sep 2020 15:35:40 +0000

A circuit breaker will be damaged by a higher than designed fault current that it has to make/break…this is the “Rated Breaking Current”, normally referred to as the kA of the circuit breaker.

If this energy […]

GScrim3's profile was updated

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 22:30:35 +0000

GScrim3 became a registered member

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 22:22:45 +0000

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, Important references and resources to acknowledge

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 11:00:47 +0000

Index:

Online Libraries.
Online resources.
Education
Web contacts
MicroProcessors

Libraries

—

Name
Description
Link

IEC docs standards database

IEC […]

Gary Scrim wrote a new post, Transformer protection from a standards point of view.

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 07:56:34 +0000

Transformer protection from a standards point of view.

IEC 61558-1
NEC Art 240.3
SANS

1phase and delta/delta transformers we can rely on the secondary protection providing p […]

GScrimES wrote a new post, What is this IP rating really all about?

Sat, 20 Jul 2019 09:33:25 +0000

What is this IP rating really all about? (all)
IP = International Protection Rating.

It’s a cool coincidence that it could stand for Ingress Protection – for that is what I suspect most of us […]

GScrimES wrote a new post, Primary protection of transformers(all)

Sat, 20 Jul 2019 09:24:25 +0000

Primary protection of transformers.

For the primary I always simply said:
The control fuse/circuit breaker with a current rating of minimum transformer rating = 1.3xImax that’s it.
The thinking b […]

GScrimES wrote a new post, What a great question: Sizing of transformer protection.

Sat, 20 Jul 2019 09:20:07 +0000

Do you protect the primary or secondary – or both?
This applies to just about all types of transformers, but there are occasions when special considerations come into effect, like safety applications when it is […]

GScrimES wrote a new post, There is a thief in the electrical system: Power Factor

Sat, 20 Jul 2019 09:11:18 +0000

I promise you will never forget this any more!
kW = voltage x current x pf

We say the better the power factor i.e. the closer to 1 the better…

So:

Say 34.4kW= 400V x 100amp x 0.869(pf)

Say 40kW= […]

Mays became a registered member

Mon, 15 Jul 2019 18:58:55 +0000

GaryEstore became a registered member

Mon, 15 Jul 2019 11:07:50 +0000

GScrimES wrote a new post, Insisting on using a circuit breaker for FULL MOTOR PROTECTION!

Sat, 06 Oct 2018 12:47:32 +0000

Basics on selecting a circuit breaker for FULL MOTOR PROTECTION (tech).
**This customer insists he CAN use a normal circuit breaker for FULL motor protection!!
First lets us qualify the title: I am not referring […]

Electrician became a registered member

Tue, 25 Sep 2018 12:45:45 +0000

sales1's profile was updated

Sun, 23 Sep 2018 07:25:36 +0000

sales1 became a registered member

Sun, 23 Sep 2018 05:52:26 +0000

GScrimES wrote a new post, Circuit breaker cascading/coordinating: - Can you imagine you make a electric short in your house and you trip the whole suburb...

Tue, 19 Jun 2018 10:02:31 +0000

It is Saturday night and you are having a grand party…the powerful sound system is tuning out the music…pulling heavy amps.

There comes the drunk uncle…he trips over the self-made extension cord and there […]