Electrical Control for Machines

Delivering coverage that is both comprehensive and current, ELECTRICAL CONTROL FOR MACHINES emphasizes modern control systems that contain mature technologies, expanding technologies, and new technologies.

Extremely reader friendly, the text presents information in a logical and systematic sequence that facilitates learning, taking readers from basic principles to advanced applications while limiting the jargon to terms widely accepted by control manufacturers and equipment users.

System design issues and troubleshooting techniques are applied to real-world applications that reflect the range of technologies found in today's industrial systems.

Highly practical and realistic examples feature the use of common equipment and procedures, enabling readers to readily apply what they have learned to solve real-world problems.

Concise text explanations, insightful diagrams, and engaging photographs make it easy to read, understand, and learn from the book.

End-of-chapter review questions underscore key points while a comprehensive glossary helps readers understand and master key terms.

Quick reference appendices offer instant access to frequently used electrical symbols, measurement units, rules of thumb, electrical formulas, electrical codes and standards, power factor corrections, and more.

Recommended web sites at the end of each chapter link readers with additional information, manufacturers, and professional organizations.

Expanding on the power and control circuitry required to operate electrical machinery, the Seventh Edition describes the bus system and the use of bus plugs as a means of power distribution throughout a factory. Included transformer calculations and the sizing of transformers helps technicians understand what values to expect (voltage and current) when troubleshooting equipment. Explanations of insulation classifications, conductor ampacity, and conductor color code help readers identify and select proper wiring for a given application. The text also covers the trend toward 24 VDC as the standard control voltage for equipment.

While the text discusses the trend away from relay control to PLC control and the advantages to using PLCs to control machinery, it still offers thorough coverage of relay circuits to provide basic understanding of control circuits along with knowledge that may be easily transferred to an understanding of PLC circuits. Expanded coverage and clarification is now included on such key concepts as PLC scan, addressing schemes, power supply functions, memory, I/O status, and peripheral devices. The use of Ethernet as a common protocol for control systems is also highlighted.

New explanations of variable frequency drives are also included. As the cost of electrical components decline, the use of drives to control motors is continually becoming more affordable.

New coverage of the normal state for switching devices helps readers gain a thorough understanding of this concept--which is required to understand circuit diagrams and the proper operation of the devices.

An introduction to fail-safe designs illustrates how this practice is critical to the proper functionality of safety circuits, quality control systems, and processes by ensuring the integrity of switching devices.