By protecting your electrical system and your equipment, you save a significant amount of money in the long run on potential repairs or replacement. All it takes is an initial investment in surge protection, and you can trust that the investment will pay for itself in the long run.

When purchasing a surge protector for your business, make sure you find one with a sufficient surge protection rating, a high energy-absorption rating, sufficient clamping voltage and one that has enough outlets for the equipment you’ll be running (while considering max capacity).

Here are the main types of surge protectors you can choose from for your business:

• Level 1 surge protectors: The Level 1 surge protector (also referred to as a service entrance surge protector) is both the strongest and largest type of surge protector you’ll find on the market—and one that makes a very effective initial line of defense against potential power surges. These surge protectors get installed close to utility poles, right where the electricity comes into your main breaker panel. This type of exterior surge protector is designed to keep your equipment safe from surges that might come from lightning. They’ll usually feature alarm systems that inform you when they need to be replaced or repaired.
• Level 2 surge protectors: A Level 2 surge protector is designed to protect some of the electronic equipment you have that might be particularly sensitive to power surges. Typically, these surge protectors are located inside a building’s main breaker panel. They’re capable of offering protection against both small and large power surges and can be used in commercial, industrial or residential settings.
• Level 3 surge protectors: A Level 3 surge protector is one that’s most likely to be used at the outlet level and in residential or office settings. This type of surge protector is a power strip that plugs into an outlet to block lower-level power surges from reaching devices such as appliances, computers, TVs, power tools and other such equipment. They’re generally best used alongside other forms of surge protection to provide better overall protection to the electrical system.
• Level 4 surge protectors: A Level 4 surge protector can provide wired-in surge protection for industrial and commercial equipment. They’re often used for protecting devices such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs), motor drives and servos. They come in wall-mounted and DIN-mounted layouts depending on your needs.

These are just a few examples of the types of surge protectors you can find on the market today. If you’re interested in learning more about the importance of surge protection and why you should use a surge protector in your building, we encourage you to contact our team at Ham’s Electric, Inc. with your questions.

Here are just a few reasons why it is beneficial for facilities of all sizes and types to invest in industrial power monitoring systems.

You’ve already had a key piece of equipment fail

Power monitoring systems serve as a preventative measure to help you predict potential equipment failure before it happens. They provide you with insight into the operation of your motors, transformers, pumps and electrical equipment and determine whether they are vulnerable to premature failure.

Pay special attention to issues such as: causes of excessive heat; micro-jogging or motor vibration in motor bearings; and heat and wear of cable insulation that could potentially result in short circuits.

If you need reliable, clean power to run safely

Any type of facility that requires constant, uninterrupted power for operation will need to be able to track its most critical power components in real time. Industrial power monitoring systems help you make sure that you aren’t overloading any of your equipment and that the equipment present isn’t setting off any alarms. You can also track metrics such as the number of times equipment has turned on or off or the total run hours for the equipment.

These metrics of reliability are important to track so you can keep the power on at your facility, increase the lifespan of your equipment and potentially cut costs.

You’ve experienced devices tripping or resetting

If you have a programmable logic controller (PLC) or distributed control system (DCS) that has been having issues with unexplained resets or power cycling or if you have a circuit breaker that keeps tripping for mysterious reasons, you could benefit from the use of an industrial power monitoring system.

Over time, this so-called nuisance tripping could have a significant negative effect on your facility. It could compromise the quality of your products or result in your emergency power supply system coming online in a situation when there is not actually an emergency.

This problem is typically a result of undervoltage, with voltage falling below IEEE standards, but there are other potential causes, all of which can be monitored and analyzed by an industrial power monitoring system.

You need to generate power reports for compliance purposes

There are many types of facilities that are required to generate and submit emergency power supply system (EPSS) reports for the purposes of compliance with federal or industry standards. Industrial power monitoring systems are able to automate this testing and reporting for equipment such as generators and transfer switches, which can make compliance a breeze and take quite a bit of work off your plate.

To learn more about the benefits of industrial power monitoring systems, get in touch with the power monitoring experts at Ham’s Electric, Inc. with any questions you have.

A nuisance tripping AFCI is a frequent problem. It could also be a sign of something worse going on. Read on to find out how to prevent this nuisance tripping.

Wiring problems

There are a couple of common wiring issues that could result in nuisance tripping. When AFCI circuit breakers are installed, the wiring needs to be done a bit differently, but it was common for electrical technicians to install them the same way. At the time of installation, it would appear to be fine, but down the line, improper wiring will cause nuisance tripping AFCI.

Another potential issue is related to incompatibility with multi-wire circuits. A licensed professional technician will be able to get to the root of the problem and identify a solution.

Circuit overloads

This is a leading cause for circuit board tripping. When the draw on electricity exceeds the actual capacity of the circuit, then the circuit breaker will trip. For example, if you’re trying to use a waffle maker, a coffee maker and a microwave in a kitchen, you might trip your circuit breaker. Also, old appliances tend to have higher power draws that could cause the circuit to overload. Watch out—overloading the circuits can be dangerous if not addressed.

Frayed wires

If you’re having consistent problems with nuisance tripping, it’s a smart idea to check all your wires. Wires aren’t immune to wear and tear, so check them frequently. Frayed, damaged or melted wires often lead to circuits tripping and can create very hazardous conditions.

Arc fault

AFCI breakers are a relatively recent addition to the country’s electrical codes. These breakers will trip whenever an electrical spark or arc is found in a wire. Arcs occur in the early stages of an electrical issue. This means the AFCI breakers will shut down the circuit before degradation leads to a dangerous situation. AFCI technology has been required on new construction since 1999.

Incompatible devices

An AFCI prevents electrical fires via detecting electrical arcs and tries to differentiate normal arcs from those that could cause a fire. But this isn’t quite perfect—there are some devices that the AFCI board may think are dangerous that are actually fine. Some devices that are common problems in compatibility with AFCI are TVs, fluorescent lights and treadmills.

We hope this guide on how to prevent nuisance tripping is helpful. Are you looking for a high-quality electrical contractor? Turn to the licensed professionals at Ham’s Electric Inc. For more than three decades, we’ve provided electrical services to our loyal customers, and we offer 24-hour emergency services to keep your facility’s electrical supply flowing. Contact us today to learn more about our services.

The basics of a power quality analysis

A trained professional will analyze how power flows through the system, along with related factors like grounding and harmonics. Completing this process requires special training, as technicians are analyzing a particular set of values in areas like voltage, currents, waveforms and more.

Power quality data analysis provides information that electrical technicians then use to determine how well a building’s power system is—or isn’t—working and which electrical issues are causing problems. Using the right power analysis could help your business save thousands of dollars every year by preventing repairs and service interruptions while also lowering utility costs.

The importance of performing power quality analysis

This is a critical part of making sure your facility runs efficiently and safely. Facility operators should schedule these tests as part of a standard maintenance routine rather than in response to a specific problem. Even in the absence of obvious power supply issues, regular analyses are vital.

That’s because they provide an opportunity for technicians to spot small problems before they become big ones. This can result in drastically reduced downtime and, over the long term, save you money. A technician will use a variety of tools and diagnostic equipment to evaluate whether each power source is performing to its best ability.

Tools technicians use in power quality analysis

Obtaining and interpreting quality, usable data in this process can be intimidating for the uninitiated. Power quality analyzers are the most common tool utilized to monitor real-time readings and collect data that is then sorted through automatically. These handheld analyzers are generally between 4 and 5 pounds and used to record amperage, frequency, dips and swells in voltage values, inrush current values, harmonic currents and light flicker. When the analyzer records these parameters, it’s possible to address most power issues.

Bringing in the pros

It is possible to obtain your own power quality analyzer and complete the process on your own. However, a trained electrician will be able to provide you with much more accurate and relevant information. They’ll identify problems accurately and present potential solutions that will work. Unless you have a deep background in and understanding of electrical work, this is a task best left to licensed professionals.

We hope this guide answers your questions about power quality parameters and analysis. At Ham’s Electrical Inc., we’ve been in the business of providing essential electrical services since 1986. We do it all, from data center upgrades to hospital systems to critical power systems and more. Our talented team of technicians is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for installation, service, maintenance and more. Give us a call right now to schedule a consultation or service appointment.

Whether you’re a healthcare facility, telecom company or other critical service, it’s crucial to have emergency and standby power systems ready to go. When an outage strikes, the consequences could range from expensive downtime to life-or-death outcomes.

Here’s a closer look at some of the reasons why generators are important to your business:

• Keep all critical systems operating: Hospitals are a great example of why a company or facility needs to have an emergency generator system. If a power outage strikes, hospitals can’t afford to have their equipment go down. After all, respirators, monitors and other critical equipment are always in use, helping keep patients alive. Even a minute without power could have devastating results for vulnerable patients. Whether you operate a hospital or other type of business, having backup power generators will ensure that all of your critical systems continue to operate.
• Prevent expensive downtime: Downtime can cost thousands of dollars per hour, and your business may be completely halted until the power is back up. When you have a backup generator, the automatic transfer switch will immediately flip as soon as the power goes out. Your business won’t suffer any downtime—or loss of productivity—which means that you can go about business as usual. Given how often the power goes out during extreme weather, this is a smart solution for many businesses.
• Protect your customers’ data: When you’re in a business that collects customer data, power outages can create data vulnerabilities. Customers and clients want to know that their sensitive information is kept safe no matter what. A backup generator makes this possible. Your servers, computers, phones and other devices may not even register the outage, since your generator will automatically switch on.
• Keep the lines of communication open: Finally, installing a backup generator ensures that the lines of communication remain open. If you’re providing a critical service, like emergency services or healthcare, this is even more important during an outage. Your generator will support your phone lines and servers so that customers still get the same level of service they’ve come to expect.
• Maintain comfortable environments: In some parts of the country, summer can see temperatures well over 110°F on a regular basis. When the power goes out during a heat wave, it can be deadly. Emergency generators ensure that your indoor temperatures remain comfortable and safe for everyone.
• Prevent spoilage: Finally, if you’re in the food, pharmaceutical or other temperature-sensitive business, your emergency and standby power systems will prevent your products from spoiling during the outage.

Now that you know why generators are important, contact Ham’s Electric, Inc. for your own emergency and standby power systems. No matter the size and scope of your business, we can provide power solutions to meet your needs.