There are many ways to measure current. The traditional methods of taking current measurements by inserting a shunt resistor or using a current transformer have the disadvantage of having to break the circuit conductor. For current transformer there are also models that can be installed in place without cutting the cable (more expensive and usually →
Selecting the Best Battery for Embedded-System Applications article tells that non-rechargeable (primary) batteries find wide use in mainstream embedded-system applications. This category of batteries includes alkaline devices, which manufacturers typically fabricate using manganese dioxide and zinc powder with a caustic alkali of potassium hydroxide as an electrolyte. The nominal voltage of an alkaline cell is →
Should the power wires be overhead or underground? Underground power line feasibility article talks on the feasibility on using underground lines instead of overhead lines. Both underground and overhead lines have their good and bad properties. Burying power lines is not cheap, it is said the cost would be $1M per mile to convert existing →
An electromagnetic field (also EMF or EM field) is a physical field produced by moving electrically charged objects. It affects the behavior of charged objects in the vicinity of the field. The electromagnetic field extends indefinitely throughout space and describes the electromagnetic interaction. It is one of the four fundamental forces of nature. EMF measurement →
It is sometimes suggested that a mains power isolation transformer might be used to solve the ground loop problem. It is true, that many times a mains isolation transformer does help, but not always. A system with properly used isolation transformer is still safe, it can be even safer than system without isolation transformer. Remember →
Grounding and shielding is an often misunderstood process. It is common to hear quotes ranging from “it’s just black art!” to “the rules change all the time!” and “there’s no way to understand it!” These statements are often repeated but not true. There is a process, it hasn’t changed, and the more one knows about →
There has been articles telling that Boeing 787 planes are grounded over safety concerns in USA. The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered U.S. airlines to stop operating the Boeing 787, after a series of battery and fuel system failures have called into question the airworthiness of the newly developed composite aircraft. Japan’s two biggest airlines →
A recent white paper from APC-Schneider Electric authored by Neil Rasmussen takes a hard look at grounding practices and the use of the signal reference grid in data centers. The Grounding and the Use of the Signal Reference Grid in Data Centers paper contends that signal reference grids are automatically specified and installed in data →
Protecting your data center against power failure is crucial to providing maximum availability. Power loss or poor power quality is a major contributor to data center server down time. This task takes more than simply having UPS and a backup power source, such as a generator. Dual Power Paths: A Crucial Element in a High-Availability →
There has been a debate going on for some years if the traditional AC or new DC power distribution is best approach to power a data center. The DC power side has been pushing their technology with claims of quite considerable power savings. In many published articles, expected improvements of 10% to 30% in efficiency →