Revere Electric

Choose Zebra for Maximum Adaptability in Fixed Scanning

2022-06-13T15:45:50+00:00

A hallmark of Zebra’s new fixed industrial scanning and machine vision portfolio is adaptability. Spend even a few minutes digging into the details of their comprehensive hardware lineup and Zebra Aurora, the unified software that drives the entire platform, and you’ll be impressed by the broad range of capabilities, easy scalability, and built-in upgrade path that Zebra has delivered.

As you drill into the details of Zebra’s solution, one area where adaptability and flexibility become readily apparent is in the range of lighting options and optical accessories that are available across their entire lineup of Fixed Industrial Scanners and Machine Vison Smart Cameras. There’s little doubt that this is driven by Zebra’s long history of global leadership in the data and image capture space. In fact, when you consider that high-performance scanning is one of Zebra’s core capabilities, it’s no surprise to see how well they understand the ways that lighting and optics can make or break a barcode or image capture solution.

So, let’s take a look at some of the lighting and optics options that Zebra is offering with their lineup of Fixed Industrial Scanners and Machine Vision Smart Cameras.

Lighting Options

Zebra offers a range of external LED light bars and ring lights that can adapt any of their Fixed Industrial Scanners or Machine Vision Smart Cameras for use with different substrates and under different lighting conditions. The workhorse FS40/VS40 models also offer a full range of red, white, blue, and infrared internal LED ring light options.

This gives you the flexibility to adapt your lighting for a wide variety of situations. For example, red (625nm wavelength) lights are typically used to capture images on paper, blue (465nm wavelength) lights can improve image capture with metallic substrates, white lights help capture colored barcodes printed on paper, and infrared (IR) lights can be used with clear liquids or when users don’t want to see any visible lighting.

The FS40/VS40 model also includes an optional multicolor internal ring light that combines 8 white, 4 red, 4 blue, and 8 IR LEDs on a single ring light for maximum flexibility from a single camera.

Depending on the fixed scanner/smart camera model, internal and external polarizers are also available to reduce glare from reflective surfaces.

Filters and Optics

The flexibility of Zebra’s fixed scanning and machine vision solutions continues with a range of filters and lenses available for certain models.

FS40/VS40 and FS70/VS70 Fixed Industrial Scanners and Machine Vision Smart Cameras offer a range of red, blue, and IR bandpass filters, plus IR/UV blocking filters to limit interference from sunlight and other IR light sources. Optional high-contrast polarizing filters are also available.

And, for the ultimate in imaging adaptability, Zebra’s FS7/VS70 models can utilize a range of external C-Mount lenses in 8mm, 12mm, 16mm, 25mm, and 35mm focal length. This range of lenses gives you all the control you need to adapt the FS70 or VS70 for virtually any focal distance or depth of field.

Contact Revere Electric to Learn More

Zebra’s portfolio of fixed industrial scanning and machine vision solutions can be adapted to cover virtually any data and image capture challenge with a full range of accessories, including lighting, filters, and optics. To learn how this level of flexibility will benefit your business, contact Revere Electric Supply.

Mersen Can Help You Comply with the 2017 National Electrical Code®

2020-09-25T21:10:05+00:00

The National Electrical Code® (NEC) is the most widely adopted Code in the world. Approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the NEC is the most complete set of electrical Code requirements that govern electrical installations in the interest of safety for persons and property.

The 2017 edition of the code introduced a requirement for Surge Protective Devices (SPDs) in Industrial Machinery with safety interlock circuits. The requirement is in Article 670.6 and reads “Industrial machinery with safety interlock circuits shall have surge protection installed.”

Revere, together with our premiere partner Mersen, can provide education and solutions that will keep your facility in compliance. Below are some of the areas in which Mersen can be of assistance:

Mersen has a large variety of type 1 surge protective devices to cover most rating requirements for field additions. Mersen also has several type 1 component assemblies for installation in control panels (645.18: Surge Protection for Critical Data Systems | 670. 6: Surge Protection for Industrial Machinery | 695.15: Surge Protection for Fire Pump Controllers).
Mersen has a full line of Type 1-listed SPDs for all applications. The Mersen models are designed to protect service entrances, panels, and point-of-use equipment (620.51 (E): Surge Protection for emergency elevator, dumbwaiter, escalator, moving walk, platform lift, or stairway chairlift).

In addition to Surge Solutions, Mersen provides other Solutions for your Equipment & Facility:

Properly applied Amp-Trap 2000® current limiting fuses can help to increase SCCR of a panel (409.22, 430.99, 440.10, 620.51, AND 670. 5: Field Marking of Available Fault Current).
Surge-Trap® surge protective devices protect against voltage spikes and have a built-in rating of up to 200kA SCCR.
The finger-safe power distribution blocks (FSPDBs) can also have a 200kA rating with feeder fuses (620.16: Short-Circuit Current Rating for Elevator Control Panels).
The Amp-Trap 2000® family also delivers current-limiting fuses that may increase the SCCR of transfer switches per the manufacturer’s instructions. (700. 5 , 701 . 5 , 702.5, 708.24: Short-Circuit Current Rating Documentation and Field Marking).
Products such as the UltraSafeTM USFM fuse holder directly replace circuit breakers having the same width as type IEC motor starters.
Mersen is one of the largest suppliers of semiconductor fuses in the world and offers a wide variety of voltage and amperage ratings in many different shapes, sizes, and mounting configurations (430.130: Branch Circuit and Ground Fault Protection for Single Motor Power Conversion Equipment).

Reach out to your Revere Account Manager for more information.

Downloads

Industrial Machinery and Surge Protection Devices

2017 NEC Changes in Overcurrent and Surge Protection

Electrical Protection Solutions for Industrial Control Panels

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How Revere and R&D Custom Automation are Helping Fight COVID-19

2020-04-02T05:00:00+00:00

How Revere and R&D Custom Automation are Helping Fight COVID-19

Revere Electric Supply is collaborating with our customers daily to help fight the pandemic that we are experiencing today. An Illinois based customer, R&D Custom Automation, located in Lake Villa, IL, builds high speed custom Automation Machinery for the Pharmaceutical industry. They are currently developing Automation Machinery for the COVID-19 vaccine.

The machine they are producing will coat and package the vials for the COVID-19 vaccine, which is expected to hit clinical trials in August. R&D’s equipment typically uses advanced Robotics, Mechatronics, and vision systems. This project will include over a dozen Rockwell Automation Kinetix 5500 Servos and utilize AMCI integrated steppers. This solution, customized by Revere Electric, will provide a fully integrated solution for smooth rotation of product while inspecting the line scan vision systems; as well as auto adjusting camera positions based on the application’s needs.

For more information on how Revere Electric can help you automate your next application, contact us at https://www.revereelectric.com/contact-us. To learn more about R&D’s automation machinery capabilities contact Eric Holmes or Javier Gumucio at 847-395-3330 or visit their website at https://rdcustomautomation.com.

Look Around, Gear is Everywhere!

2018-12-04T20:43:27+00:00

Gear is Everywhere!

Hi there. Angie Rypel, your friendly neighborhood Motor Control Center Specialist here. I’ve been looking around lately, and do you know what I’m coming to realize? Gear. Is. Everywhere. Literally everyone I meet needs power. To bring it into their facility, to distribute it, to condition it, to transfer it or prop it up in case of a failure, to use it to start motors or to turn on lights.

Revere has an entire team of resources devoted to Power Distribution Products [“Gear”] - consisting of dedicated Inside and Outside specialists (AKA Product Managers) that can help you spec and size the right product for any application. And with manufacturers such as Eaton, Allen Bradley, Liebert, Bussman, and Asco, you know you’ll always be getting the right “Gear” for your application.

Specialties Include:

Low Voltage and Medium Voltage Switchboards
Low Voltage and Medium Voltage Transformers
UPS Equipment
Unit Substations [Metal Enclosed – Metal Clad]
Automatic/Manual Transfer Switches
Power Factor Correction Solutions
Arc Flash Mitigation
Panelboards [Distribution & Lighting]
Motor Control Centers
Circuit Breakers [Miniature, Molded Case, Draw Out]
Coordination Panelboards
Voltage Sag Correctors
Power System Studies

So, if you need help with a power distribution application, don’t fear. Get your gear here at Revere!

Switchgear Project Management Overview

https://www.revereelectric.com/switch_gear_design

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Understanding Local Motor Disconnects (UL 508)

2018-08-30T14:48:51+00:00

Local Motor Disconnects (UL 508)

Let’s break down the characteristics of a local motor disconnect under the UL 508 standard for devices and components, which is intended to be used for starting, stopping, regulating, controlling, or protecting electric motors and industrial equipment.

Technically speaking, it’s important to mention that it was Section 430.102 that provided the requirements for understanding when a disconnect must be used. Specifically, an individual disconnect must be installed for each motor controller and that disconnect must be in sight from the motor controller. To translate that as simply as possible, every motor has to have a local disconnect and it has to be close to where the motor is controlled. The biggest key phrase in this requirement is the phrase “in sight from” and it is defined in the following way by the NEC in Article 100:

Where this Code specifies that one equipment shall be ‘in sight from’ another equipment, the specified equipment is to be visible and not more than 15 m (50 ft) distant from the other.

The majority of local motor disconnects are non-fused for the simple reason that fusing is typically already provided at the branch circuit and additional fusing is not necessary. However, in circumstances where that is not the case, for whatever reason or there are special circumstances, local motor disconnects have a fusible option as well. Beyond fusing, local disconnects typically have auxiliary contacts to wire back to a VFD (Variable Frequency Drive) or PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) and are HorsePower Rated based upon the possibility that the switch will be used to break the direct motor power under load.

Would you like to learn more about IL508 and local motor disconnects? Contact your account manager or fill out our solutions information request form.

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Pentair Electrical is Now nVent

2018-05-25T18:16:19+00:00

Pentair Electrical is now nVent

Today marks a new day for Pentair Electrical as they officially become nVent! As nVent, the organization will bring a laser-focus on connection and protection to customers, employees, partners and shareholders.

Following the separation from Pentair, nVent will be a $2.1 billion global company that provides enclosures, electric heat tracing solutions, complete heat management systems, and electrical and fastening solutions. For more than a century, their inventive products have provided solutions to customers like you. They invent. They innovate. It’s their legacy. Hence the name: nVent.

Their mission reflects this: “We believe that safer systems ensure a more secure world. We connect and protect our customers with inventive electrical solutions.”

You likely will associate nVent with one of their prominent product brands: nVent CADDY, ERICO, HOFFMAN, RAYCHEM, SCHROFF and TRACER. These will be their principle brands, going forward. Products with other brand names, such as nVent ERIFLEX, LENTON, NUHEAT and PYROTENAX, will continue to be promoted and sold, as they are brands trusted by global customers. Further, product names such as nVent CADDY Rod Lock, nVent RAYCHEM TraceTek and hundreds of others will remain in the product portfolio.

So why the spinoff from Pentair? Being a separate company means nVent will be highly focused on helping customers connect and protect their electrical systems in facilities where the cost of failure is high and electrical performance is crucial. A singular focus will more efficiently and seamlessly help enhance productivity and reduce cost of ownership by simplifying installation and minimizing downtime.

Though a new company, nVent is not a new organization. The separation from Pentair means the new growth focused company begins with well-established Win Right values and a robust culture. Their 9,000 employees around the world look forward to strengthening their innovation, velocity and customer-first teamwork.

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Protect Yourself From the Environment with the Proper Enclosure

2017-10-06T15:43:55+00:00

Over the course of the last few months, we have all been drawn to the devastation that has occurred due to the hurricanes. While we live in the Midwest and don’t typically have to worry about hurricanes; we do have customers that reside in these areas and we also have our own internal and external environmental conditions where protection is needed.

One easy solution that protects electrical equipment from liquid, solid and corrosive resistance is the use of the proper type of enclosure. A standard NEMA 12 enclosure will resist splashing water, but not water under pressure. A NEMA 4/4X enclosure will protect the components inside an enclosure. A NEMA 4X enclosure, made from stainless steel, will provide a high level of corrosion resistance and would be a perfect solution where salt water is involved.

When it comes to enclosures, Hoffman has a wide range of product offerings to safely house electrical systems and electronic components in environments subject to potentially hazardous atmospheres created by vapor or dust, corrosive conditions and condensation, humidity, high internal and external temperatures, and weather extremes.

Some of the industries that Hoffman specializes in include:

• Onshore and offshore oil and gas

• Chemical and petrochemical

• Pulping and paper plants

• Pharmaceutical

• Grain processing and storage

Interested in learning more about how we can help protect your investments? Our Enclosure Specialists are ready to help you access your needs and provide the perfect enclosure for your applications.

Pentair Hazardous Locations Brochure

Pentair Hurricane Gustav WhitePaper

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UL 508 and NEC Code Updates for SCCR

2017-10-06T15:38:57+00:00

Recent updates to the UL 508 and NEC codes have put a greater emphasis on making sure that electrical panels can maintain their integrity under major fault conditions. The safety of the system is determined by the short-circuit current rating (SCCR) of the panel, in conjunction with the available fault current where the panel is located. Local inspectors must now make sure the SCCR meets or exceeds the available fault current before they can approve a panel to be used. This makes it more important than ever to make sure your panel is designed properly, so that it meets the SCCR requirements, while not being over-engineered.

The short circuit current rating of a panel is the amount of energy, usually expressed as a value in kilo-Amperes (kA), that the panel can handle without causing fire, a shock hazard, or explosive danger. Misapplied panels can not only be a safety hazard in the facility, but could cause additional downtime as well.

The available fault current where the panel is located can be affected by many influences in the facility. Some influences include, the size of the upstream transformer, the size of the electrical conductors feeding the panel, and the length of the electrical conductors feeding the panel. Unless the end user has already completed an arc-flash analysis of their facility, it is unlikely that they will know the available fault current where the panel will be located. Most facilities have locations with available fault currents as high as 20 to 50 kA or higher, potentially causing an issue where a panel only meets default SCCR values of 5 or 10 kA. On the flip side, many panel builders will build every panel to meet 65 or 100 kA even though the available fault current where it is installed is much lower. In this case a competitive product, closely designed to the available fault current could come in at a lower price, potentially causing lost business, or lower margins

To give yourself the greatest competitive advantage, while maintaining your margins, it is important to have your customer provide the available fault current and design your panel accordingly.

The SCCR of a panel can be calculated in accordance to UL standard 508A, supplement SB. The National Electric Code also references UL 508A, supplement SB for SCCR calculation, so it is important even if the panel is not being designed to, or marked, with a UL label.

Determining the SCCR of a panel is accomplished in three steps:

First, establish the short circuit current ratings of individual power circuit components.
Second, modify (limit) the available short-circuit current within a portion of a circuit in the panel due to the presence of current limiting components.
Third, determine the overall panel short-circuit current rating.

Determining the SCCR of the individual power circuit components is accomplished in three ways. The first, and easiest, way is to evaluate the SCCR rating marked on each component. If an SCCR rating is not marked on the component, then the second way is to use a table provided by UL which provides default values for the components. The table ratings are generally low though, 10 kA or less. The third way is to use components that have been tested together to achieve higher SCCR ratings. Examples of the third way are two and three component starters which have had the components tested together, or power distribution blocks and terminal blocks tested with fusing or circuit breakers to achieve greater than 10 kA ratings. Rockwell Automation has made the process of finding their tested ratings very easy, just follow the weblink.

Though not part of the SCCR process, another aspect of component ratings to consider is the type of coordination. The different types refer to the amount of acceptable damage to the components that is allowed in the case of a short circuit event. Lower types can be less expensive upfront, but cause significant damage to the components resulting in increased downtime before the panel can be repaired and put back into service. Higher types, or “Self-protected” ratings, are often more expensive up front, but are generally damage free in the case of a short circuit, so that the panel can be put back into service as soon as the short is repaired. Understanding the level of risk your customer is willing to accept is another way to design a panel that specifically meets your customers’ demands while keeping a competitive advantage.

The second step of determining the SCCR rating of a panel is to use current-limiting devices, fuses or circuit breakers marked current-limiting, in the feeder circuit to reduce the available fault current non-interrupting devices in the branch circuit. The branch circuit is considered all devices from the load to the first protective device upstream from the load. Branch circuit protectors are not able to take advantage of the current limiting, so they must match the feeder protector SCCR to allow the branch circuit devices downstream to take advantage of the current limiting. In a current limiting panel, the branch components must only meet or exceed the peak let-through current of the feeder protection device.

Fused transformers are also a form of current limiting device. As an example, a 10 kVA transformer limits the available energy on the load side to less than 5 kA. Which is a value most devices can meet, even if using unmarked components and the UL table for the rating. This is especially important for control circuits, as most of the time it is those components that are limited to 5-10 kA.

After the individual component SCCR is determined, tested coordination ratings have been verified, and current limiting circuits have been evaluated, the complete panel can be assigned to the equivalent of the lowest rated device.

Building to a specific SCCR rating can be confusing at first, but Revere Electric has the resources to train and assist panel builders in ways to evaluate their panels properly and design to the most efficient rating for their customers.

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Summarizing NEC 2017 Changes

2017-10-06T14:45:37+00:00

Standards can be confusing! In the North American machine marketplace, the key standards are UL508, NFPA79 & NFPA70 (National Electric Code). Below are some key changes that are being required with the latest version of NFPA70 (National Electrical Code) 2017.

Short Circuit Current Ratings (SCCR):

The NEC 2017 edition increases awareness of the proper application of electrical distribution equipment with regard to SCCR and expands the types of equipment that require SCCR marking.

Mandatory Equipment SCCR Marking:

409.110(4) Industrial Control Panels
430.8 Motor Controllers
430.98 Motor Control Centers
440.4(B) Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Equipment
620.16(A) Elevator Control Panel
670.3(A)(4) Industrial Machinery
700.5(E) Transfer Equipment for Emergency Systems
701.5(D) Transfer Equipment for Legally Required and Standby Systems
702.5 Transfer Equipment for Optional Standby Systems
708.24(E) Transfer Equipment for Critical Operations Power Systems.

Requirements for Equipment SCCR to be Greater than the Available Short Circuit Current:

110.10 Circuit Impedance, Short-Circuit Current Rating, and other Characteristics
409.22(A) Industrial Control Panels
440.10(A) Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Equipment
620.16(B) Elevator Control Panels
670.5(1) Industrial Machinery

Available Short-Circuit Current:

The proper application of electrical equipment includes rating the equipment to handle available short-circuit current levels and marking that level on the equipment after installation.

110.24 Service Entrance Equipment
409.22(B) Industrial Control Panels
440.10(B) Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Equipment
620.51(D)(2) Elevator Control Panels
670.5(2) Industrial Machinery

Surge Protection:

For increased protection and reliability, the NEC 2017 expands requirements for safety-related circuits. Surge protection is required for fire pump controllers, critical operations data systems, industrial control panels, including machinery with safety interlock circuits, and disconnects that supply emergency system loads. Updates include:

620.51(E) – Surge protection is now required where any of the disconnecting means for elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators, moving walks, lifts and chairlifts have been designated as supplying an emergency system load.
645.18 – New requirement for surge protection in critical operations data systems.
670.6 – Surge protection is now required for industrial machinery with safety interlock circuits.
695.15 – A listed surge protective device must now be installed in or on fire pump controllers.

Looking for the latest version of NFPA 70, Check out their website.

If you have questions regarding the standards, our domain experts are ready to assist you. Contact us any time!

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I Love My Shielded Box Store ENET Cable! Why Should I Use 600V Cables?

2017-03-16T15:29:57+00:00

Have you heard the saying, "you get what you pay for"? Well, that certainly applies in this case.

Here are some reasons why we feel you should only use 600v cable in your manuacturing facility:

Quality, reliability, and durability, from the connector to the crush resistant heart of the cable.
Developed specifically for EtherNet/IP, 600V cable supports voice, video and data – all in the same environment.
This advanced cable allows direct application in the same space as other 600V cables – while still providing noise immunity and without additional barriers and raceways.

With these impressive features, the 600V Ethernet cable will provide users with a huge competitive advantage in the marketplace. But beyond being feature rich, there are regulating principles that in some applications, will necessitate the use of a 600V cable.

How Does Safety Come Into Play?

The guiding principle in application of any NFPA standards is safety. Applications governed under NFPA 79 are considered to have inherent mechanical protection as an element of the installation. This wiring is typically well protected mechanically and not accessible to untrained workers.

Under the NEC, mechanical safety and crush resistance, as well as fire resistance, are much stronger elements of the standard. For example, under the NEC, the smallest conductor allowed in a 600V cable tray is 18AWG, with significant insulation thickness and abrasion resistance. The smallest conductor allowed in a power limited cable tray is 22 AWG. In most cases, 600V AWM wiring does not meet the mechanical requirements of the NEC for Cable Tray, or Power Limited Cable Tray applications.

In fact, crush resistance is not only important to safety, but in the case of data cables, crush resistance may be a significant factor in network performance. In data cables the cable designs include important aspects not typically found in other electrical conductors. The uniform and measured spacing of conductors in each pair, and the proximity of the pairs to each other, both significantly influence performance of data cables. Crushing of data cables by heavy power cables will likely result in potential performance degradation and signal loss. Cables designed to lay in proximity to heavy power cables must have the inherent crush resistance to retain their critical mechanical parameters while subject to the bending, crushing and heating loads associated with a power cable environment. This is critical if the user wants to maintain the inherent performance of the cable.

Beyond the pure mechanical performance required for reliable signal transmission, the 600V power and control, tray environment creates other challenges. Beyond the NEC requirement that the cables be listed as 600V Type TC to meet the mechanical and fire safety requirements, these cables must also perform in the presence of significant electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference. In order to perform in that environment, a mechanical design with thick jackets ensures increased mechanical separation. Increased shield performance is essential to reducing induced voltage to a level which will not affect sensitive network circuits.

What Does This Mean?

A 600V tray-rated Ethernet cable is the only solution that meets the requirements of the NEC if the cable must run in a 600V cable tray. Sometimes the limitations of the physical infrastructure make the installation of a 300V power limited or communications tray impractical. In this case, the 600V Ethernet cable with a TC rating would be the only compliant solution. An example of a system that might benefit from the use of TC Ethernet is a connection to a remote drive. It may be convenient and economical to run the control signals in the same cable tray that feeds the drive, rather than install separate communications infrastructure. The same would be true for any remote system component that has both a 600V feed and a network communications requirement. If the cable is entirely contained within a single enclosure, a 600V AWM design may well meet the regulatory requirements. If the system has a separate communications infrastructure, then CM(R) rated product will likely suffice from an electrical safety perspective. In many cases, the use of a 600V TC-rated Ethernet cable (which would be 18AWG or greater) can avert the need for separate communications infrastructure, and thus provide cost savings and code compliance, following NECessary safe practices as guided by the National Electrical Code.

Whether your lighthouse is safety compliance or network reliability, 600V industrial cables will provide the coverage you need.

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Stainless Steel Conduit Tackles Harsh Environments

2014-10-31T00:00:00+00:00

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Electrical conduit strung through harsh environments requires a tough exterior shell. One material stands above others in providing protection for conduit in the toughest of conditions – stainless steel.

Stainless steel’s protective properties begin with corrosion resistance. The chromium in stainless steel means a surface that is cracked or scratched will generally “heal itself” by oxidizing over the abrasion to protect against further corrosion. This can be particularly important in gaseous environments like waste water treatment or chemical plants.

Stainless steel holds up in extreme temperatures too, from the sub-zero climate of a commercial food processing freezer to the – literal – blast furnace temperatures of a steel mill, power plant or pulp & paper processing plant.

Calpipe,maker of Calbrite stainless steel conduit and fittings, lists among the leading markets for stainless steel conduit: food & beverage; pharmaceutical, petrochemical and chemical; pulp & paper; water & wastewater; power plants, energy and power generation. Many of these environments, the company says, combine some collection of harsh temperature or caustic chemical processes, and all benefit from the lower-cost, lower-maintenance longevity of stainless steel over other conduit materials such as galvanized, aluminum and PVC-coated pipes.

In addition, Calpipe touts the environmental friendliness of stainless steel conduit, noting it will not burn or emit dangerous smoke and carcinogens, has a usable life of 50+ years in most cases, and is easily installed using standard contractors tools and construction methods.

“For many applications, stainless steel has the lowest maintenance cost and the lowest total lifecycle cost of any other UL-approved conduit material,” states Matt Westerfield, Sales Manager and Director of Operations for Calbrite.

Written byJames R. Dukart