Podcasts about vfds

In this short podcast episode, we go back into the history of the trades, namely the battle over frequency (and how each side had to give until it hertz). The low hum of motors is alternating current: electricity moving back and forth through copper 60x per second (in the USA and Canada, at least). In another version of history, that pulse could be 50x per second instead (as in much of the remainder of the world). The forgotten frequency war is the lesser-known sequel to the war of the currents. Tesla's AC power prevailed over Edison's DC, but different motor and generator companies chose different alternating current frequencies. Westinghouse chose 60 cycles per second, whereas General Electric experimented with 25-40 cycles per second, and Europe-based Siemens and AEG standardized around 50 hertz. These different frequencies set the rhythm for everything that turns or glows, and electric parts that didn't match often failed. Nevertheless, the engineers of the companies defended their own frequencies. In the 1910s, the US began merging electrical grids to set a single standard. Westinghouse had the most dominant technology at the time, and 60 hertz became the norm in the USA. However, across the pond, 50 hertz made more sense for the European infrastructure that was in place and being rebuilt after WWI, and it was solidified by the rebuilding efforts of WWII. As a result, roughly 2/3 of the planet uses a 50-hertz frequency. The two frequencies are incompatible because motors will travel at a different speed than their design while drawing the same current, leading to reduced capacity or overheating. In the 1960s, international companies produced dual-rated compressors and motors, but global trade is still complicated by different frequencies, and moving entirely to a single frequency is impractical due to the infrastructure disruption required. However, modern VFDs and inverter technology can change frequencies as they enter the motor, thus solving the battle over frequency and reminding us that flexibility is the real future.   Have a question that you want us to answer on the podcast? Submit your questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/hvacschool. Purchase your tickets or learn more about the 7th Annual HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium. Subscribe to our podcast on your iPhone or Android. Subscribe to our YouTube channel. Check out our handy calculators here or on the HVAC School Mobile App for Apple and Android.

Join the Refrigeration Mentor Hub here Learn more about Refrigeration Mentor Customized Technical Training Programs at www.refrigerationmentor.com/courses This episode is is on oil management for CO2 refrigeration systems, another of our "Morning Coffee" sessions with longtime refrigeration professionals Andrew Freeburg and Erik Holland.  We cover the intricacies of oil separators, the role of velocity in oil management systems, the significance of net oil pressure, the impact of variable frequency drives (VFDs), and common troubleshooting techniques. Interested in joining the next Morning Coffee live? Join our FREE Refrigeration Mentor Community today. In this episode, we cover: -Challenges in oil management -Components of oil management systems -Practical tips and troubleshooting -Oil management in compressors -Oil sensor issues -VFDs and compressor rotation -Gauges and proper wiring -Scroll compressor lockups -Pressure differentials in oil separators -Maintenance and efficiency in CO2 systems -Advancements in CO2 technology Helpful Links & Resources: Episode 105: Oil Management w/ Philip Walker Arneg Systems Episode 253. CO2 Experts: Designing an Oil Management System with Nabil Cook Episode 358. Trend Graphs and CO2 System Troubleshooting with Andrew Freeburg and Erik Holland  

In this episode of the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast, hosts Brett Wetzel and Kevin Compass dive into eventful and humorous field experiences. They discuss classroom quirks, where students showed up late and brought unexpected humor to the sessions. Brett fights a battle with his malfunctioning computer, while Kevin shares the challenges of troubleshooting and maintaining complex refrigeration systems, including a recurring issue with a CCC M30 bleed through. Tune in for insights into resolving low-load issues on refrigerant racks, compressor dilemmas, fan speed settings, and the pros and cons of digital compressors versus VFDs. The duo also delves into some of the design quirks of refrigeration equipment and offers practical tips for keeping your systems running smoothly.

In this episode of the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast, hosts Brett Wetzel and Kevin Compass dive into eventful and humorous field experiences. They discuss classroom quirks, where students showed up late and brought unexpected humor to the sessions. Brett fights a battle with his malfunctioning computer, while Kevin shares the challenges of troubleshooting and maintaining complex refrigeration systems, including a recurring issue with a CCC M30 bleed through. Tune in for insights into resolving low-load issues on refrigerant racks, compressor dilemmas, fan speed settings, and the pros and cons of digital compressors versus VFDs. The duo also delves into some of the design quirks of refrigeration equipment and offers practical tips for keeping your systems running smoothly.

Shawn Tierney meets up with Ivan Spronk of Siemens to learn about the SINAMICS G220 Clean Power Drive in this episode of The Automation Podcast. For any links related to this episode, check out the “Show Notes” located below the video. Watch The Automation Podcast from The Automation Blog: Listen to The Automation Podcast from The Automation Blog: The Automation Podcast, Episode 251 Show Notes: Special thanks to Ivan Spronk of Siemens for coming on the show, and to Siemens for sponsoring this episode so we could release it “ad free!” To learn about the topics discussed in this episode, checkout the below links: White Paper – Drives Harmonics – Siemens US SINAMICS G220 Website SINAMICS G220 Catalog Siemens Product Configurator (SPC) for quick part number selection and access to data sheets and CAD files Siemens energy savings calculator, SinaSave  Read the transcript on The Automation Blog: (automatically generated) Shawn Tierney (Host): Thank you for tuning back into the automation podcast. My name is Shawn Tierney from Insights and Automation. And this week, I meet up with Iren Sprock from Siemens to learn all about their g two twenty clean power drive. I also wanna thank Siemens for sponsoring this episode so I can bring it to you completely ad free. So with that said, I wanna welcome back to the show Ivan from Siemens to talk about VFDs. And, this is something we’ve been wanting to talk about for a while. But before you jump into your presentation, Ivan, could you introduce yourself to our audience for those who maybe didn’t catch your last appearance? Ivan Spronk (Siemens): Thanks a lot for just having me, back to the show here. I got a slide up here that introduces myself. I’m the product manager for the Synamix variable frequency drives for Siemens here in The US. So, yeah, happy to be back on your show. And what I would, like to talk to you about and discuss with you is our latest variable frequency drive. It’s the g two twenty and specifically the clean power drive. This is a best in class solution for a grid friendly power quality when using variable frequency drives. So Shawn, you audience may be wondering why we should discuss power grids and variable frequency drives, but I’ll just say if you’ve been around variable frequency drives or VFDs as I’ll refer to them, you’ve likely had conversations or heard something about VFDs creating or generating harmonics on the power grid. Shawn Tierney (Host): Oh, yeah. Yeah. Ivan Spronk (Siemens): Yeah. Or maybe you’ve, you know, someone in the audience has been involved in a situation where harmonic current and associated voltage distortion on your plants electrical grid were causing overheating on transformers and cabling or potentially causing circuit breakers to trip their fuses to open. Or maybe you’re just an engineer looking to select and specify a variable frequency drive and you may need to answer some questions about harmonics that typical VFDs generate. You can relate to any of those or if you’re just interested to know more about this topic, we’ll invite you to stay tuned here for the next thirty five to forty minutes for discussion on power quality and VFDs. So, Shawn, I’d like to just ask you, have you heard anything about the power grid lately? Shawn Tierney (Host): Well, yes. I’ve heard lots about the power grid. I know that this is more and more becoming a big issue because when you have a lot of VFDs producing all kinds of harmonics, that can cause lots of problems like the ones you just mentioned. But, also, the utilities are starting to to see this and saying, why are we putting up with this? So aside from the power grid needing to be hardened against all kinds of things, everything from EMTs to, you know, just, you know, Yahoo’s shooting transformers in the middle of nowhere. This has been a, I think, a big and growing issue. That’s why I’m glad that you’re on the talk about this because in the preshow, we just really I really got a sense of how important this was, you know, in 2025 and going into 2026. Ivan Spronk (Siemens): Lots of conversations about the grid and really how the grid electrical grid is being stretched. And with all of the, you know, data centers being built, you know, lots of conversations about how power is gonna be supplied with those. In other words, I think for maybe the first time in twenty five to thirty years, they’re anticipating our usage and power requirements going up. So that’s why I think all these utilities and plant operators are interested in the grid. So some reasons to discuss then the power grid and variable frequency drives is variable frequency drives very useful for motor control, but left unchecked, they can introduce several power quality issues. Harmonics, as you can see on the screen here, typical VFDs use rectifiers that generate nonlinear currents that also distort the voltage waveform and these harmonics can propagate through the electrical grid. And, you know, with that voltage waveform potentially affecting other equipment or you know at worst case other utility customers. These voltage fluctuations can lead to flicker in lighting and perhaps even take other sensitive devices offline. Typical VFDs some of them can negatively impact power factor. Again, something that’s of interest to utilities and plant operators. And just you know there could be some resonant frequencies set up that may interfere with other things. So those are all things that yeah, harmonics, and you know, the voltage fluctuation, things that are unfavorable I’ll say. And what I’d like to do here Shawn is just gonna introduce, you know, what I want to tell you is we have a very unique product here in the SINAMICS g two twenty clean power drive. Three advantages of this product we’ll wanna talk about here through through the course of this podcast. One is the clean power technology. So you can see total harmonic current distortion is well under the strictest harmonic standards there at less than 2%. It delivers near unity power factor under almost any load conditions. And I’ll just say, you know, there has been technologies out there that have been able to produce, you know, those two attributes of of, you know, low current harmonic distortion and near unity power factor. But what’s most unique about, this product we’re that we’re launching here is the compact space saving design, and it is the smallest low harmonics drive in the market. And also available, it’s all self contained, so there’s nothing extra to install. It’s all in one footprint. And I’ll give you an example here. This product is released up to a through 150 horsepower now. By the end of the year we’ll have it released up through 200 horsepower. So this is a relatively new product on the market. But that 200 horsepower drive imagine this Shawn less than three feet tall, less than 12 inches wide, and about 14 inches deep. That’s a 200 horsepower drive, that will guarantee these, things I’ve got got here with low distortion and near unity power factor. Shawn Tierney (Host): You know, that’s not something I would have thought of is that these clean drives are more clean power drives are typically larger than their standard cousins. And so the fact that you’ve been able to get these smaller and closer to the sizes of the standard drive is pretty impressive. Ivan Spronk (Siemens): You’re quite we we’d like to think so. Let’s dig into, you know, first of all, if, you know, I I said variable frequency drives or typical very free frequency drives can generate harmonics. So why why would people wanna use VFDs? Turns out variable frequency drives are really good at two things. One, saving energy, and two, improving processes. So just, you know, kind of as a reminder, why do people wanna use variable frequency drives? Just a reminder. Yeah. Half the world’s electricity is used by motors operating pumps and fans and compressors. And just as a reminder, Shawn, if you’ve got a 20 horsepower motor operating and I just use twelve hours a day, two sixty five days a year, I used average commercial power rate of 12¢ a kilowatt hour, that electric motor is gonna cost you running across the line around $5,500. If I operate that motor with a VFD and I’ve got opportunity to adjust the speed, you know, based on demand, electricity cost is half of it. So $2,500 And that even gets more grows your savings grow if I consider a 100 horsepower motor operating twelve hours a day, two fifty days a year, again, with that same kilowatt hour. You know, that running that electric motor across the line is gonna cost you, you know, I’ve got on the screen here $28,000. I’ve got the opportunity to adjust speed and control speed as I do with the VFD, and the application can, of course, doesn’t have to be run at full speed. You know, just typical savings again is gonna it’s gonna cost you less than half to run that electric motor. So I like to put those numbers in front of people, Shawn, because I think people lose sight of how much it costs to run an electric motor. So any thoughts on that? Shawn Tierney (Host): Yeah. You know, when I first got in this industry back in ’90, this was big. This was talked about all the time. They were like, if you get a fan or pump and you don’t have a VFD on it, you’re just wasting money. And and and to some extent too soft status. But the point being that, you know, if the way you drove your car was you just put the pedal to the metal everywhere you went, you could just realize that’s not gonna be very efficient, you know, fuel wise. And so, you know, putting aside the process thing, because many processes, you can’t just do a cross line starter. Right? It would be great for the process, but, typically, fans and and pumps, I mean, the the amount of savings is tremendous. And I know for a very long time, this was, you know, it was up there with, lighting, up upgrading your lighting in your plant. You’re just installing VFDs or upgrading VFDs from very old VFDs. A lot of times, the cost savings and the rebates would make the the project pay for itself within a year or two, if not sooner. So it’s, for anybody listening, I know all the old timers out there are like, yeah, know all about this, but maybe he’s listening and you haven’t taken a look at that, definitely call your, local representative and ask him about energy savings with VFDs because it’s huge. I mean, it’s just massive. As you show in this slide, you know, but it’s it’s it’s just it’s it’s super. Now at your second point, processes, yeah, some processes I mean, they wouldn’t be possible if all you had was across the line. You know, we we think about, you know, needing a very precise control, very precise movement, maybe not servo control, but in some cases, you know, just, you know, starting the VFD across the line would, you know, would break things. Right? You need to coast up and coast down, and, you know, be able to vary the speed based on the but what part of the what product you’re making sometimes. But let me turn it back to you. Ivan Spronk (Siemens): Sure. So one of the links that I’ve got in my resources is a a a link to it’s called CNA Save. It’s just our Siemens name for our, energy savings calculator. So somebody, you know, with that link, somebody could go in there and very quickly, you know, put in their own horsepower and speed profiles and energy costs and see for themselves, you know, more dialed in. So yeah. And I liked your your conversation about the process. I mean, so I think what I’m trying to establish on this slide really is VFDs are very useful and very effective at helping manage costs and improve process. So, you know, VFDs are not going away. So now let’s then dive into figuring out, okay, how do we handle harmonics that typical drives generate. So first, Shawn, let’s start with a conversation about what are line harmonics, and I’ve just got a few slides here to talk about that. But we’ll relate it to, you know, what we call linear loads, which is like an induction motor or resistors or incandescent lamps. They draw sinusoidal or linear current proportional to voltage. So in other words, for the audience on the looking at this slide here you can see very nice looking sine waves. Yeah. In this country of course that’s coming from our power plants at 60 Hertz. Looks very nice, right? Well, when you put a nonlinear load on your electrical distribution center system, yeah, and nonlinear loads are any power electronic device that’s converting AC power to DC power. So that’s what we’re doing in a VFD, we’re converting AC power to DC power. But also computers, you know, that’s obviously not the same talking in the same magnitude of power, but this is what computers are doing. Same thing with LED lamps now, Discharge lighting. And very interestingly enough, this is also what’s going on in EV charging stations. You know, you’re converting AC power to DC power, so that’s considered a nonlinear load. And what happens there in a nonlinear load is it doesn’t draw, it just draws power in pulses when the capacitors need to charge. So think about these capacitors charging more at the top of the waveform, And that’s then what causes these variations in both voltage and current, from the fundamental sine wave. And you know, in very simple terms, that’s what these harmonics are. Yeah. They’re non sinusoidal, they’re nonlinear, and even since it’s changing with the applied voltage. So there’s some things that they, you know, negative impacts we’ll say. And again, for the audience that’s looking at the slide there, you can kind of see some of these nonlinear currents stacked up there. Point is it creates a much more complex waveform, and there’s current flowing at those multiple frequencies. So Shawn, I’ve got for for people that are maybe having a hard time visualing this up, I’ve got a little example. So can you think, Shawn, of a musical group that sings in parts? Shawn Tierney (Host): Mhmm. Ivan Spronk (Siemens): Even if we can’t mention them on the air, you can we can all think of, you know, a group that’s in Yep. Yep. Yeah. Exactly. So here we go. We’ve got a musical group singing in different parts, and these different musical parts are sung at different pitches or frequencies. And that all blends together to make a richer sound. Right? Well, we can think of that fuller sound that’s flowing at those frequencies. That’s kinda like more current flowing in there. So, you know, to back to our harmonics example. So, yeah, there’s world flowing at these other frequencies other than 60 Hertz, and that kind of fundamentally becomes a problem we need to deal with. And then in that in that group, Shawn, can you think of someone what does it sound like when they sing off key? Shawn Tierney (Host): Absolutely. Who doesn’t sound good. Ivan Spronk (Siemens): Does it so maybe we’ll think of that as voltage distortion. So we gotta gotta do something about that too. So Shawn Tierney (Host): Yeah. I’d like to you know what? For me, you know, to and I think the charts for those listening, I think the charts really spell it out. They’re color coded, and they show the different harmonics. And for me, I think charting it is kinda one of the ways to understand it visually because if you think about let’s say you have a large rock, a medium rock, and a small rock, and you throw all three at the same time into a pond. You can visually see the big ripple, the medium ripple, and the small ripple, but it’s really hard for you to understand as they’re spreading out what the effect would be on, you know, any any, you know, maybe toy boats that your kids have in the water or grandkids have in the water. Right? And so it it’s it’s a very tough for for human beings to try to keep in their head more than three things happening at a time. Right? And so and so I I love seeing the chart here, and it shows the relationship to when the capacity of charging and how that affects the primary and the sympathetic and the different waveforms. And I just know that these are, you know, inducing currents, And each one of these are inducing currents, but it’s like that throwing multiple rocks into into a body of water. I just can’t I, you know, I need to see it. I need to draw it out. I just can’t, you know, understand. Hey. Well, that me means this little boat’s gonna go to the Northwest because, you know, you know, and this is where I think it’s it’s easy to overlook the effects that these harmonics have because it is it does get kinda complicated to visualize. Ivan Spronk (Siemens): Yeah. No. I I like that analogy of, the rocks and the water too. You can see those wave forms and yeah. It becomes, you know, more current flow that has to be dealt with. And and the voltage notching is something again, talking about typical VFDs. I’ve got a little picture here of yeah, showing in the center of the screen there. Just main section of a typical VFD with the rectifier front end that’s a six pulse, standard six pulse rectifier in there that’s what you know is very very common. You can see the DC link capacitors in the middle there, and of course the inverter section on the output which is recreating that sine wave. But let’s turn our attention to you know the input waveform that we’re showing. You can see you know drawing power creating those that notched waveform. And really what I want to point out on this slide is okay that’s kind of at the top of the slide I’ve got a picture of OneDrive doing that that you know on any given distribution system there’s a variety of loads right? Each with its own signature that interacts with each other, So you end up in trying to show down in this down in the orange section here of this drawing. Okay all of these different loads combined with their own signature to create kind of a system signature if you will. And then what happens is, okay, you’ve got standards that we’ll talk about here a little bit, but standards and specifications, you know, you’ll see if you’re an engineer dealing with harmonics, you know, they often refer to this point of common coupling. So that’s kind of what I’m trying to come across on this slide here as well is when you have a system, you know, it’s very useful to identify this point of common coupling where you’re gonna measure, these harmonics. So you’ll see that in a lot of specifications. Not sure if you ever seen that, Shawn. Shawn Tierney (Host): No. And and and just the point of common coupling, when you’re saying that you’re referring to go ahead. Give me that again. What what does that actually mean? Ivan Spronk (Siemens): If you notice over on the right side here, we’ve got a different loads. I’m showing I’m showing a couple of different drives. I’m showing few motors operating across the line, each with their own signature, but that ends up creating, you know, on the distribution system, you know, a system signature. So we need some place, you know, to decide, you know, if you’re trying to meet a spec, well, tell me then where I have to measure it. So that becomes that’s what this point of common coupling is. And I just wanted to get that term out there because people have often heard of this. Sometimes it’s right at the we’ll say the you know connection to the Utility Transformer. If you’re a plant operator maybe you’ve got a handful of buildings over here and you want to define a point of common coupling between some of these other buildings. Mhmm. But it’s just a, yeah, place to define for a measurement. Shawn Tierney (Host): So in this case they have let’s say they have a transformer here. This transformer feeds two, let’s say, VFDs and then two motor starters. So they’re exactly at that point, you know, on the outfeed of the transformer, which we know we have four loads on, to be that point of common coupling. Because what’s gonna happen is we have all these different loads, so we have all these different waveforms. We have the different harmonics from the VFDs. So that’s gonna average together to give us a a waveform that’s the combination of those four devices, And that’s point of common coupling. Alright, I’m with you. Thank you. Ivan Spronk (Siemens): Exactly. Again, just one other factor, just to talk about a factor that impacts the magnitude of harmonics, is something else you’ll see in a lot of specifications is what’s called the relative short circuit ratio. And really this is just a metric that’s used when evaluating the grid’s ability to support variable frequency drives and and really any other nonlinear load, which, you know, we mentioned LED lighting and there’s other nonlinear loads out there too. But what it does is compares the strength of the grid or distribution system maybe that you have in your plant to the size of the connected load. And of course, this ratio and therefore the magnitude of the harmonics is impacted by transformer size, by what you all got connected if I’ve got other reactors, how much cable I’ve got connected. And then probably most importantly by load size and type. In other words, by load size I mean, okay is this 50 horsepower or 200 horsepower? And by type meaning, is this 300 horsepower running across the line or is it on a with a VFD? I like to give an example there, Shawn. Water treatment facilities often you hear a lot about harmonics in those facilities because often there’s such big motor loads being controlled by VFDs and that is by far the largest represents the largest percentage of load on that transformer. Right? So I’ve got to imagine kind of this remote water treatment facility, you know, what’s out there? Probably four to five to six depending on how big it is, you know, huge motors running pumps, right? And not much else. So there’s an example of people that would be you know very concerned about how much you know what percentage of nonlinear load do I have on my transformer? So that’s kind of all relates back to this short circuit ratio. Again, something you see in a lot of specs. So just trying to give some definition around what that is. Sure if you got anything, any questions or anything you wanted to add or? Shawn Tierney (Host): No. I I appreciate that. Appreciate you going over. Ivan Spronk (Siemens): No. Kind of a point I’m trying to make is, you know, there’s multiple factors that impact the magnitude and lots of things to think about and figure out. It’s like, wow. If you’re a plant engineer with responsibilities for a power grid, wouldn’t it be great not to have to think about this? And I guess ask you to remember, you know, why I showed you at the beginning of this is, well, our our product, you know, take that whatever’s I drive is giving you no distortion at the terminals, no, you know, near unity power factor. So it becomes something that can really simplify. Yeah. Make make make a life of a plant engineer much simpler by specifying products that are you know low harmonic content. So let’s talk just okay so we kind of defined variable frequency drives. We we like them. They do a lot of good things. But okay there’s some things going on with harmonics. Okay so what’s what’s necessarily bad about these harmonics? So I’ve got a couple slides here showing that’ll walk us through the effects of, you know, kind of the pain points of harmonics. So, you know, with regards to transformers, generally, remember we talked about there’s there’s more current flowing at these other frequencies. So that’s gonna induce some additional heating and additional losses, likely to see some insulation stress, possibly even some resonant frequencies that are gonna set up core vibrations. So those are some of the, you know, undesirable things with generators. You know, there’s most good sized facilities have a standby generator. Right? Well, now if I’m operating a lot of nonlinear loads, I’d really start to need need to start to pay attention to, okay, is my generator gonna work to power these nonlinear loads? So something to consider there. And what what ends up happening is you people may have to oversize that generator Shawn Tierney (Host): Mhmm. Ivan Spronk (Siemens): To be able to run these nonlinear loads. And dropping down to cables and conductors again, if I’ve got more current flowing through them, that’s gonna increase your cable losses due to increased cable resistance caused by the skin effect, which is something that in tendency of alternating currents to flow primarily along the surface of the conductor. Yeah. Increasing or decreasing its ability to, you know, do its job and really deteriorating the the insulation, due to excessive heating. So those are all, you know, negative things that happen when you have a lot of harmonics. Right? Alright. Looking at one more slide of just some, you know, negative impact on circuit breakers or that may trip prematurely or fuses that may open prematurely. Again, thermomagnetic circuit breakers have these bimetallic strips that may be impacted by those additional currents flowing. Electronic type circuit breakers use current sensors which need to account for, you know, these harmonic currents. Yeah. Most circuit breakers are designed to trip at a zero crossover point. So with these distorted currents, you know, there may be some spurious zero crossovers. And then kind of some similar problems with fuses again due to heating effect. This RMS current and non uniform current distribution through the fuse element. You know, what tends to happen is people may have to oversize fuses. But of course, I’m also, you know, to match that actual RMS curve that’s flowing with these harmonics. But okay, that’s not necessarily unless somebody’s out there measuring it, they don’t know what that is. Right, Shawn? And I’ve got codes to meet. I can’t just put a way bigger fuse in. So, you know, it kind of becomes this balancing act. Right? Yep. So Yeah. So those are all things, you know, that happen when you have a lot of harmonics. Again, I can kind of summarize them on one slide here. Line, you know, line harmonics produced by these nonlinear loads cause overheating, inefficient operation, you know, and more losses, perhaps some premature line tripping, perhaps some system oscillations and instability, perhaps noise, and and yeah. And reduced power factor. So none of those are good. Right? In general, reduced efficiency, increased power loss and energy costs, and of course then higher carbon emissions as well. And yet to kind of summarize this all up, current distortion is is bad, infects your all your systems. You gotta account for it. Voltage distortion is often the one that will get people that it’s much worse because that goes all other systems as well if if left unchecked. So that’s my kind of my summary slide there of effects of harmonics and why we wanna do things to control them. So any any thoughts or questions there, Shawn? Shawn Tierney (Host): No. I think I think the slide does a good job of showing that, you know, this isn’t not just for your VFD, VSD. It’s the other things on the line too that you’re affecting. Right? So so now I’m sure some of the, some of those, listening or watching have have stories of where, you know, one drive, two drive wasn’t a problem, four, five, six drives, and they started seeing these issues because it was cumulative. Right? You know, the more drives you have. So, I’d love to hear any stories you guys that are listening and watching have about this and what you did to resolve it. But, this is this is I mean, in some cases, you may just need to get a VFD, like this clean power drive that eliminates this problem versus, you know, other ways of dealing with it. Ivan Spronk (Siemens): Sure. Oh, so, yeah, that that leads well into my next kind of couple of slides here. I mean, harmonics are not new. Line harmonics voltage distortion isn’t something that’s new. I mean, this this has been around for as long as VFBs has been around. So people have come up with, you know, ways to mitigate this. And I’ve got, you know, five of those methods listed on the screen. And we’re just gonna kinda very quickly step through these. But the last one there is really we’re gonna get to okay. What is in the g two twenty that makes it unique, and why do I wanna talk about it? So again, what and we’ll come back to this summary slide at the end here, but just okay. Like I said, people have come up with a handful of different ways to try and mitigate harmonics. First one is just, you know, a simple line reactor. And what you also see is some manufacturers, and Siemens has done this too, to some of our lines. We have DC chokes in the, you know, in that DC link section. You know, it’s an inductor and really all that’s doing is imposing, you know, opposing rather the rate of change of current flowing through it. So it kinda takes the top off of those notches if you you will. Yeah. It’s simple, probably economical. It’s usually applied to each VFD. If you know something about what impedance you need, there’s there’s a selection you know available in these AC line reactors. You can select the impedance you want. But some of the negative things is they take up more panel space. They gotta wire it. And in reality, it only offers kind of a small improvement. So people invented other things. So the next thing I got here is people came up with, they call them massive harmonic filters. They’re also called line harmonic filters, you know, LHF, you see that or harmonic trap filters. And what these do is they eliminate or control kind of those dominant lower order harmonics. I didn’t talk about this much, but these harmonic currents that are flowing they’re they’re much more dominant kind of at the lower end of the frequency range so they these harmonic trap filters work on, you know, those low order harmonics. And they they can be effective for, you know, putting in front of a drive. Kind of what they consist of is a LC circuit there, maybe with a damping resistor, and they get tuned to these specific frequencies. So but again, it’s a device that takes up panel space. I have to install that separate from the drive, so I gotta wire it. And then they don’t do a very good job because they still have, you know, voltage notching and instability on gen generator operation is a a is a known problem with these things. And okay you’re introducing more losses to the system. So that’s passive harmonic filters. The next thing I’ve got here is, you may have this has been pretty common in the industry. It’s called the 18 pulse front end. And really what this does is uses takes your incoming three phase power and really converts it to nine phases with a, you know, special transformer, that creates a phase shift between these different, now nine phases, so I can now I gotta have this 18 pulse, diode bridge and you can kinda see that on the on the slide here too. So I need, you know, this involves a lot of equipment. I need this auto transformer, I need a different rectifier bridge, you know, a much bigger one really, but it does do a really good job of yeah. So I’m not drawing current in big chunks anymore, I’m drawing current more often. Right? Because I’ve got this, you know, 18 pulse rectifier. So it really does a good job of meeting, you know, there’s a standard out there called IEEE five nineteen that’s referenced, that we’ll talk about just a little bit more here in a bit. And these also, work relatively well with the standby generator. Some of the negative things is, okay, you know, soon as I introduce that transformer and more switching, that reduces my system efficiency. And really the big one is this takes a ton of space to not only mount that transformer, but that, 18 pulse rectifier. I got a wire between all of that. So it ends up being a pretty substantial product cost in terms of component cost and and floor space cost. So, but you know has been widely used in the industry but a lot of metal, you know copper and iron, being used in that solution. Next IBT bridge and a DC bus much like the front end, front two parts of that AC drive that I showed you. So we’ve got kind of a the front end and a DC bus set in there. And what this really does is monitors the current and then really generates compensation current in opposite phase to offset harmonics. So this can be, you know, effective. The waveform looks pretty good. It’s unaffected by impedance changes because it’s managing the switches. But yeah, it tends to be you know more complex, it’s more expensive than passive filters, and again it becomes another device to install. Permissioning can be a bit of a challenge because you gotta get this tuned to obtain optimal performance. Although there are some self tuning ones out there that, you know, help take that burden away. But, yeah, you gotta install another piece of equipment that takes up think of it as, you know, two thirds of another VFD setting out there. Right? Shawn Tierney (Host): I would think it is also less energy efficient too because so we all know we have noise canceling headphones. They take power to generate a cancel waveform. Right? So we were already losing power because of harmonics, and now we’re generating another waveform to cancel out the harmonics. So it just seems like we’re losing more energy to produce this canceling wave. So it I mean, I could if this is the option that works, then you have the space granted, but it seems like it’s less energy efficient than maybe a passive filter. Right? But I don’t know. What do you I mean, two thirds more of the panel space as a as just the VFD alone. That sounds like a lot of equipment. Ivan Spronk (Siemens): Give you a a fucking waveform. So I think that’s why people like it. But, yeah, it is definitely something that’s more complex. And and again, I think also there’s that commissioning aspect. And another thing is okay. So you get it set up on a given distribution system and it’s doing great. Okay what happens when I add a couple of more drives on this distribution system? It’s gonna change the dynamics and may need to do some recommissioning. So again it’s something that a plant operator would would need to you know pay attention to. So all those methods and and what I’m gonna get to next is something that’s actually in the G220. So all these previous method methods you know kind of works to a degree and each kind of has its maybe strong points and and not so strong points. But what I want to talk about now is something that’s called active front end. And this is you know, the g two twenty clean power drive is a version of this active front end. So active front ends. So what do we mean by that? Basically, it’s, you know, a sinusoidal input rectifier. And we are controlling the commutation or when we’re conducting energy. So with that we can get, you know, if done right we can have a high dynamic response. So we can respond to, changes for instance, you know, voltage dips in the distribution center excuse me, distribution system. And and because of that, then we we can also kinda get because we’re controlling when we’re conducting current, you know, it’s it’s near you unity power factor. So, yeah. These active front ends have been versions of these drives out there as well. What’s unique about the g two twenty is that it’s a two quadrant active front end. So power is flowing only in one direction. So in other words from the supplier line source, you know, through the drive to the motor. These are called clean power. So you hear the name clean power infeed that’s because okay the, you know, the infeed or line supply is is clean. This is known as something, out in the industry. They’re called Vienna bridge rectifiers. Vienna bridge rectifiers, something that was invented in the mid nineties. And basically, I I just put up a, you know, bigger diagram of kinda what’s going on here. There you can kinda see, okay, it is only two quadrant, but there’s this three level switching process that really reduces all these lower ordered harmonics. So this provides them a stable controllable. The advantage is five voltage DC output, so there’s no voltage reduction going on. Makes it ideal for high power applications like VFDs. And again, remember I mentioned earlier in the conversation here, electric vehicle chargers. So this is a technology that’s been popularized by some of the people. Yeah. Making electric vehicle chargers as well. So and really, yeah. What we’re doing here is using on smaller sizes MOSFETs or on larger sizes, you know, IGBTs here in the power section. Mhmm. And then using a very, you know, part of the sauce here is the control or of the pulse width modulation to manage power inflow is is really, as short a sentence as I can come up to describe what’s going on here. With this, because we’re only controlling power in one direction, there’s some ability, you know, we we don’t have as many switching losses. Again, because we’re only dealing with two quadrants, it’s a compact size, but it is non regenerative. And I I just what I’ll do here is I’ll put up, you know, a four quadrant comparison. So there are active front ends out there that are four quadrant, which has more of a full IGBT, you know, front end to it. The advantage of that is you do get power flow. It is regenerative. You do get power flow in both directions. But of course now I have higher losses because I’m switching in both directions and and you know, just a little bit less efficient. So really kind of coming back to what’s in the the g two twenty clean power drive is this two quadrant Vienna Bridge rectifier. Again because we’re only controlling power in one direction there’s some space savings that that come from that. So yeah and I’ll just add a two quadrant so that’s why this is targeted at you know, non regenerative load applications like pumps and fans. Right? And compressors. Those are not regen load applications. If you need something, you know, four quadrant that would be, you know, like think of a hoisting application or something like that. Maybe large centrifuges or something like that that has a lot of mass that’s been accelerated up and yet can capture some region on the D cell. But that’s kind of, what’s in the g two twenty clean power drive. So, Shawn, I’ll just kinda stop there and the and by the way, the waveform is fantastic. Just dialed that in there. So any thoughts or questions or what’s on your what’s on your mind there? Shawn Tierney (Host): Yeah. No. That’s important to know. So, you know, you got the two quadrant version in the Clean Power g two twenty. And the important thing here is you’re gonna get beautiful. You’re gonna get beautiful elimination of harmonics. You’re gonna have a beautiful waveform. But when you make this choice, you’re also opting out of, regen, like you said, like a hoist or a large inertia load. There’ll be no regenning, which in some cases, you’d be choosing a different VFD. That’s just a different application. Right? Ivan Spronk (Siemens): Exactly. Shawn Tierney (Host): But I think most VFD applications, at least the ones I’ve seen over the years, do not have any regen. Right? They’re your standard purpose, even your high performance VFDs are not doing regen or anything any any type of regeneration capabilities. So I think for most applications, that’s not gonna be an issue, but it’s important to point out. Ivan Spronk (Siemens): What do you think? In the you know, some people we’ve asked questions about, why didn’t you just make it four quadrant? Well, let me ask you, Shawn. What do you think’s less expensive to make? A a two quadrant or four quadrant version? Shawn Tierney (Host): I got a feeling the four quadrant may be twice as much. Yeah. Well, at least that part of it. Right? The front end. Ivan Spronk (Siemens): And when do you think would, you know, take up more handle space Shawn Tierney (Host): at two quadrant or four quadrant? Yeah. Exactly. Exactly. Yeah. Ivan Spronk (Siemens): So, I mean, it’s it’s a very targeted, again, targeted at those, applications that are non region load applications, which Yeah. I’ll I’ll submit that’s at least 80% of them, you know, what’s out there. So if so, again, this really just to emphasize, it’s it’s a Vienna bridge rectifier. So, you know, some uniqueness there. But then really, also the software side of it, you know, building the, algorithm to manage that power flow and assure efficient operation is what’s been done in the g two twenty drive. And yeah. With regards to nice looking waveforms, it’s a lights out, you know, the best looking waveform out there. And matter of fact, I’ve got one more slide here that shows just, you know, development team took one of our g two twenty products, you know. So this is what’s shown over on the left side here is just your standard our, you know, waveform. You can see kind of the double humped waveform there. If you put a passive harmonic filter in front of the g two twenty, you know, waveform starts to look pretty good. But now if you just use a clean power drive, you get a very nice looking waveform. All that worrying about what the effect of harmonics how they’re generated you don’t have to think about that anymore because right at the input terminals of the drive you know, we’re giving you very very low turn harmonic distortion. So and and also that near unity power factor. So that’s really the advantages of the clean power drive. Shawn Tierney (Host): Well, and I you know, just for the audio audience, I mean, we’re looking at the standard g two twenty, right, your standard drive. You’re looking at a total harmonic distortion of, let’s say, 33. Well, you put that passive harmonic filter on, that’s standard drive. Now we’re down to around 4%. Right? But if you have a lot of those drives, that may not be enough. Right? So with the clean power g two twenty, we’re down to under 2%, 1.9 total harmonic distortion. And you see that I know you guys listening can’t see it, but you can see that in the waveforms. All the viewers who are watching can see the waveforms definitely the improvement as you go through each of these options. And, again, you’ll know if you need clean power. Right? I’m fairly sure that, you you know, if you don’t need clean power, you don’t need it. Right? But if you need it Right. And and this is something that I think we’ll see more and more because quite honestly, I mean, power fact, we all know how that affects your utility bill and how our company thinks about that. And so we can accept more stringent controls over time as, yes, the systems become more advanced. You know, you’re gonna get dinged if you have really bad power, you know, the quality of the power. If you’re causing problems down, you know, for the rest of the block or for the rest of the, business park, they’re gonna start tracking that. So let me turn it back to you, Evan. Ivan Spronk (Siemens): Yep. We’re kind of to the end. I’ve got a couple of slides just to summarize what we’ve talked about here. You know, the the g two twenty is, a new drive for us. It’s our next generation SINAMICS product. And really this drive was designed and built on four pillars of digitalization. So in the form of you know, having a digital twin capability to help engineers shorten design and engineering efforts when sizing a drive system, and then tools to optimize operation once it’s up and running. You can see another pillar of secure, meaning security, with regards to cybersecurity and and safety that protects people from machines and protects machines from people as well and other sinister actors. And ease of use, you know, next generation product starting with a clean sheet of paper. Okay. Some things were done with regards to selection, configuring, commissioning, training, things like that with making the product as easy to use as possible. And then this fourth pillar of being sustainable, you know optimizing manufacturing resources and materials used, even operational efficiency during the life of the product and then even considering you know the end of the product life cycle. So all of those things designed into the Sinamics G220 and then if we look again specifically at the advantages of the clean power drive, you know that nice clean low low total distortion that complies with the harmonic standards, near unity power factor, and again, in that space saving design. And just to kinda give you an idea, I’ve I’ve been telling you it’s small, and I think I maybe let the cat out of the bag at the beginning of the, presentation as well. Yeah. Here’s here’s kind of a table that shows dimensions, and there’s that 200 horsepower drive that I referenced. So, yeah, this this technology, you know, it’s not like buy the drive and buy buy something else to add on to it. It’s all in one package. And, yeah, that that 200 horsepower drive, you know, 31 inches tall, less than 12 inches wide, and about 14 inches deep. That’s a 200 horsepower clean power drive that would yeah. You wouldn’t have to think about all this harmonic stuff. And I’m not gonna put up a chart that shows competitor a, b, and c and and our product next to it. But you can take that table and go find go look at other people’s solutions and you’ll see yeah. It’s it’s a very compact device. So that’s kind of the point of that slide there, Shawn. And, yeah, really my last slide then just kind of I have drawn heavily from a white paper that my counterpart, Nikun Shah, wrote. So we’ll give you a link to go download that, white paper. That discusses a little bit more. I’ve kinda mentioned on and off, I triple e five nineteen. That is by far the prevalent standard in this country for, yeah, describing what harmonics are, different medication techniques. And then, you know, there’s tables in there. It’s like, okay, if you’re being called to meet specification at triple eight five nineteen, you know, here are the harmonic current distortion levels and voltage distortion levels that that you need to meet. So that’s all laid out in that white paper. Yeah. And then we’ll give you a a link to our website, to the g two twenty catalog. I have another very useful feature shown that I’ll give you a link to is the seamless product selector where you can go and, you know put in a part you know very quickly pick a part number and then get to some you know CAD models of it. And then I’ve mentioned that energy savings calculator at all. So Shawn that’s kind of what I had for today. I hope that was interesting to you and, more importantly, interesting to your audience. Shawn Tierney (Host): Yeah. And I just wanna remind the audience that we had you on to talk about the g two twenty a while back. We also had Jackie on that go through commissioning the one twenty and the two twenty. So if you’re kinda curious, how do you do that in TIA portal? Because I’ve never done that before. So Jackie came on, and she walked us through that for both of these two models. We also have received some samples from Siemens. So we will be, trying those out them ourselves here in the in the studio. Don’t know. Don’t have a date on that. We’re a little backed up here. But, definitely, they’re right in front of me every day, so I don’t forget about them. So we’ll be doing that as well. And, then we’ll make those available to our in person students who come to the school as well as we’ll add those as lessons to the online course over at the automation school. But so lots of stuff. We’ve had a lot of coverage. If you have any questions, check out this white paper. I’m sure we just touched the surface of what’s in there. And, of course, Ivan and all his colleagues at Siemens would love to hear from you. And, Ivan, let me, pass it back to you for the final word. Ivan Spronk (Siemens): Yeah. Just thank you so much for having me on, Shawn. Shawn Tierney (Host): Well, I hope you enjoyed that episode. I wanna thank Ivan for coming on the show and giving us that very technical presentation, which I totally enjoyed. I hope you guys did too. Also wanna thank Siemens for sponsoring this episode because you guys know I love to really stem completely ad free and available to the entire public. So with that said, I also wanna thank you for tuning back in this week. If you think about it, please give me a thumbs up or a like or a five star review. That is the best way for me to find new vendors to come on the show. And with the exception of Thanksgiving week, we should have a show every week up until the last two weeks of the year, and we are already recording shows for next year. So I’m excited about that. If you know any vendors you think we should be on the show, please reach out to them. I’m working on a new media guide as well, and so, we’d love to have them on the show this coming year of 2026. So with that said, I just wanna wish you all good health and happiness. And until next time, my friends, peace. Until next time, Peace ✌️  If you enjoyed this content, please give it a Like, and consider Sharing a link to it as that is the best way for us to grow our audience, which in turn allows us to produce more content

Six area volunteer fire departments (VFDs) have been granted funds from the Texas A&M Forest Service, which approved 4 million in funding to award 558 fire trucks and 321 slip-on units to Texas volunteer fire departments Oct. 14 through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program. Area departments receiving grants include: • Blackhill VFD, Atascosa County — 0,000 for a water tender and ,000 for a slip-on unit • Jourdanton VFD, Atascosa County — ,000 for a slip-on unit • Karnes City VFD, Karnes County — 5,000 for a large brush truck • New Berlin VFD, Guadalupe County — 0,000...Article Link

Send us a textPower problems don't announce themselves—they show up as dead fans, stressed birds, and energy bills that creep higher every month. We invited superintendent electrician Cody Pommer of Interstates to walk through the electrical decisions that quietly decide whether a poultry site runs smooth for years or limps from fix to fix. Together, we unpack where farms get into trouble—moisture, dust, untrained panel work—and the simple, proven steps that keep people safe and equipment alive: correct NEMA ratings, low-point drains, GFCI protection, better cable selection, and a disciplined maintenance plan.Cody breaks down why electrical rooms pay back in longevity and safety, and why grounding and bonding are non-negotiable in wet, high-dust environments. We dig into smart controls and VFDs that fine-tune ventilation and lighting, explore modern fire detection with aspirating systems, and call out the shortcuts that cost the most—skipping VFD-rated cable, ignoring voltage drop on long runs, and leaving new equipment to soak in the weather. We also talk resilience: generator strategies that share load across houses, peak-shaving to tame demand charges, and design choices that make future add-ons cheap rather than painful.Looking ahead, we connect the dots between reliable power and better data. AI is accelerating everything from egg counting accuracy to anomaly detection and design workflows, but it needs clean signals and thoughtful integration to shine. For smaller and mid-size barns, we highlight accessible control options that unify ventilation, feed, and lighting with mobile monitoring—practical tools that deliver immediate clarity and long-term savings.If you care about flock health, uptime, and a utility bill that doesn't spike when the weather does, this conversation is your blueprint. Subscribe, share with a producer who needs a safer setup, and leave a review with your top electrical headache—we'll tackle it in a future show.Hosted by Brandon Mulnix - Director of Commercial Accounts - Prism ControlsThe Poultry Leadership Podcast is only possible because of its sponsor, Prism ControlsFind out more about them at www.prismcontrols.com

Variable frequency drives, or VFDs, have long offered the opportunity to boost the energy efficiency of rotating equipment such as pumps and fans. But when VFDs are fully integrated into a plant's control system architecture, new levels of plantwide optimization are possible. Control's Keith Larson caught up with Chad White, leader of the North America sales organization for Danfoss, and Raj Nara Yanan, product manager for Honeywell Process Solutions, at the recent Honeywell Users Group meeting in San Antonio to discuss how Honeywell's partnership with Danfoss is unlocking new possibilities.

Shawn Tierney meets up with Ashley Weckwerth of ISA to learn all about the OT Cybersecurity Summit in this episode of The Automation Podcast. For any links related to this episode, check out the “Show Notes” located below the video. Watch The Automation Podcast from The Automation Blog: Note: This episode was not sponsored so the video edition is a “member only” perk. The below audio edition (also available on major podcasting platforms) is available to the public and supported by ads. To learn more about our membership/supporter options and benefits, click here. Listen to The Automation Podcast from The Automation Blog: The Automation Podcast, Episode 245 Show Notes: To learn about our online and in-person training courses please visit TheAutomationSchool.com. Read the transcript on The Automation Blog: (automatically generated) Shawn Tierney (Host): Welcome back. My name is Shawn Tierney from Insights and Automation, and I wanna thank you for tuning back in to this episode of the automation podcast. This week on the show, I have Ashley Weckworth from ISA to talk about the OT cybersecurity summit they just held over in Europe in Brussels, and, very interesting conversation about OT cybersecurity. In addition to that, I had a couple announcements. First off, I wanted to let you know that I have rebooted the automation news podcast, and I renamed it Automation Tech Talk. And I’m trying to do a show at least three or four times a week at lunchtime. So if you’re not already subscribed to the old automation news podcast, you should be able to find it now as Automation Tech Talk. And, I’m just trying to spend ten to twenty minutes every lunch trying to share some knowledge that I have with the community. I also wanna mention that if you are a listener, I’m running a special 20% off, sale on my courses over at the automationschool.com. You will not see that there. It’s only for those listening. And I know most of you are already automation experts, so you don’t need to take these courses. So, really, this would be something you would pass on to the people who work for you or people you know who need to get up to speed on whether they need an introductory PLC course, so they need to get up to speed on ControlLogix, CompactLogix, s seven twelve hundred and fifteen hundred, PanelView plus, USC, and so on. So in any case, to get that discount, that 20% off any course or bundle of courses at $99 or more, All you have to do is send me the email address of the person who wants the discount. And, of course, we do do, group enrollment with, we’ve done it with a lot of Fortune 500 companies. Actually, I got a new order that just came in I gotta process. But, when we do a group enrollment, you you enroll, like, several people at your shop, and then I enroll them all at once, and you get a discount a quantity discount and all that. So in any case, if you have any questions about that, just go to the automationschool.com. All my contact info is at the very top, my voice mail, my email. You can even fill in a form there or book a meeting with me. But, please let me know if you know anybody who needs training. Even if you just want me to reach out to them to see if I can help them with their training needs, please let me know over there. And with that, let’s go ahead and jump into this week’s episode of the automation podcast. And, Ashley, I know this is your first time on the show. So before we jump into the summary of what what what this OT cybersecurity summit is and what it was all about and the highlights and all that good stuff, before we even get into that, could you tell the audience a little bit about yourself? Ashley Weckwerth (ISA): Yeah. Thank you, Shawn. I appreciate being here. My name is Ashley Weckworth. I am located in Orlando, Florida. I’ve been a volunteer for ISA for twelve years now. I actually have a day job, though. I’m a volunteer with ISA, which is the International Society of Automation. But in my day job, I’m actually a project manager for automation projects, so specifically SCADA systems projects for the electric grid right now. But our company also supports many other industries, so I actually started my career out. I was a chemical engineer. So I like to tell people, you never know how you’re gonna find your way to automation professions. There’s so many different varying degrees and everything that kinda lead us to this place. But I graduated in chemical engineering, went into instrumentation and controls, for the oil and gas industry. So doing a lot of, you know, it was PLCs or DCS systems that we used. But essentially, as I actually got my pro professional engineer license in control systems. So as a chemical engineer, you don’t know a lot about instrumentation controls and automation, at least I didn’t. And so I was actually recommended to join ISA right out of school. So I joined ISA in June 2012 and became a volunteer leader at the local section in 2013 and then just grew, in my volunteer roles, and I am now the ISA president-elect secretary. So what that means is in 2026, I will be the, ISA president for that calendar year. So I’m excited to be here today, to talk to you all about the ISA OT Cyber Summit. I actually was able to attend this event this year. It’s the third year that ISA has done this event. The first year was Aberdeen, Scotland. The second year was in London. And then this year, the first year I was able to attend was actually in Brussels, Belgium. So we’ve been all over Europe in different capacities, and I was really excited to attend this event. And I wanted to come on here today, and I’m so thankful you allowed us to come on here today to just tell your audience and community that are all very, enthusiastic about automation about this summit. So, hopefully, maybe they wanna attend in the future or maybe just can see what ISA is all about, and look into it more. So I’m really excited. Shawn Tierney (Host): No. And thank you for coming on. You know, it’s we we all get so wrapped up in our day to day that it’s great to have people on, like, from ISA to tell us what’s going on. And, you know, maybe, you know, you’re you get in a position later in your career where you can actually spend some time after work, you know, meeting with, your colleagues from all kinds of different industries. ISA is a great place to check into and and get involved with. But let me go ahead and turn it back to you. Ashley Weckwerth (ISA): Yeah. No. And, Shawn, you’re so right in the sense of I tell people is even though right now I’m not really in the day to day cybersecurity or OT cyber space, this conference was actually still really beneficial because of all the diverse connections that I gained there. It was actually the first time I had been more of the minority coming from The United States in the sense that you had people from Spain. You had people from, you know, Belgium, of course. You had France, you had Ireland, you had London in The UK. Right? You had different perspectives that everybody’s trying to come together. And ISA had this vision statement that’s create a better world through automation. Is and that’s truly what this group’s trying to do is we’re trying to protect all of our automation systems in the OT space against those vulnerabilities or those threats and how it will impact us from an operational standpoint, but also a business standpoint. So I thought even though I’m not in it day to day, like you mentioned, is sometimes I just have my blinders on, do my job, know what I’m doing, is it was very unique to talk to these folks at the socials and in the the meetings and listen to them to really expand my knowledge of what automation can be and also what we can do to protect it, but also just, like, building those connections because you never know where your career might lead. And I really did value that. So, with that, I did wanna mention that ISA OT Cyber Summit did have two unique tracks this year. I do feel like we try to change up the tracks based on what’s happening in today’s world, what people are talking about, the trends in this area. And so this year, we had a chain a track called threat intelligence. So really just identifying threats, knowing the vulnerabilities, knowing how to respond and react to those, how to prepare for those threats. So that was one track that we had, and the other track was securing the supply chain. Shawn Tierney (Host): Hey, everybody. Just wanted to jump in there for a minute and pay the bills and talk to you about some of the changes coming to the courses at theautomationschool.com. If you’re watching this video, then you will see me standing in front of a bunch of equipment, and that’s because I am updating actively updating all of my PLC courses as well as filming new additions. So I just wanna make it very clear. If you buy the existing course today, you will get the updated edition as well. And, there are some add on courses I’m doing that will be optional. You can buy them or not buy them. But in any case, I just wanted to let everybody know that I wanna protect your investment. I know I’ve been doing this for twelve plus years, you know, on my own as the automation school and the automation blog. And twenty five years before, I was, you know, working as a, a specialist. But I just wanted to let you know that, you know, if you make an investment today, you’re not gonna miss out on what I previously did, but you’re also gonna get what I continue to do. And that that’s very important to me. And all my courses are buy once own forever. So if you, make the investment if you made the investment, let’s say, going back to 2013, 2014, you’re still gonna get the updated, courses. So I know a lot of people get confused when you start looking at the new versions of Studio 5,000. It looks different, you know, than even version 30. Right? And so, you know, I figured it was you know, a lot of people too move to a Windows 11, and, there’s some new cool stuff I wanna include. You know, over the time, I’ve looked for different hardware sales and, you know, I bought a lot of different equipment, you know, just out of my own pocket that I wanna show you guys as well. So with that said, that’s an update on the automation school. Now let’s get right back into this week’s podcast. Ashley Weckwerth (ISA): So making sure that when we have disruptions to those supply chain areas or what those disruptions might look like, how are we gonna adapt to those? What does that mean to do to make sure that we’re being dependable and reliable in what we’re trying to accomplish in the supply chain and making sure we understand those impacts as well. So two different tracks. Of course, we had speakers, that sometimes overlapped both because they do kinda intertwine together. We had 40 speakers, two thirty attendees, and over 20 sponsors this year. So the event just continues to grow and grow. But the, the real thing that I loved about the conference and the content was it it actually shocked me how transparent and open the conversation was, because I feel like at some conferences, you go and you feel like you’re just sitting and being, like, preached at. And you’re like, I don’t know if I agree with that. At this conference, I felt like was different. It had more panel discussions. And one that really stood out to me is it was a panel discussion about ITOT convergence. And now this has been a theme word for years now. Right? IT, OT convergence, that’s the way to go. It actually took a shift in the the discussion in the panel discussion where people were actually like, why? Why why are we trying to do that? It seems like IT just wants to do that, and OT is being told you must do that. And so I thought it was and and you would think that we were about to go, like, in a boxing ring, but we weren’t. Right? It was actually, like, people wanted to hear and be inclusive of counterarguments, which, again, I think was very unique for this kind of conference in the sense of you might think that we were trying to push OT, IT convergent, but it was no. Like, let’s discuss the pain points and the challenges and where we like, what’s holding us back from converging? What are the benefits of that convergence? And I thought what was unique is we had IT backgrounded people on the panel as well as OT backgrounded people. So you kinda see both sides where they actually had people raise their hand what their background was in. And it was kinda unique to see the audience members being like, yeah. I came from the IT background, and I’m being told I need to watch over this IT space or the IT people raising their hand or OT people. I’m sorry. OT people saying, yeah. I came from the OT side, and I want the IT side to to watch what they’re asking and be careful and stuff like that. And so I, again, wanna go back to it was very cool to see the diverse connections in this group, but also the inclusiveness that we weren’t trying to push ideas. We were trying to get people talking about the options and what’s available and why. And I so I thought it was interesting that I feel like I’ve always heard, like, we wanna push towards convergence, with, you know, just having better data, knowing what’s happening through the whole system, and and from a cyber aspect. But I thought it was unique to hear how we could work together and keep them still separate in some certain situations and and why. And so that was that was unique to me. I I thought I was like, wow. This took a it took a turn, but in a positive way. And I think we all left there really challenged with where do we want this to head, why, and how do we get rid of those pain points. So Yeah. You know, I Shawn Tierney (Host): think a lot of controls engineers, right, they they know their they know their IT guys. So let’s say you’re an NGS er, and they know but they know the the cost of downtime. Mhmm. And and in many cases, there’s there’s no convergence because Right. There’s there’s no tolerance for downtime. If you’re making computer chips or you’re making, well, I guess, even potato chips, you you really downtime is such a profit killer. Right? And Yeah. In in some cases, it can it can take years to recover from a day or a week of downtime. And so that mission critical aspect of what we do in industrial automation is not always that mentality is not always present in IT. In many companies, and I’m not saying all IT people, but in many companies, IT is a firefighter. They’re a tech who’s been thrown into the, you know, thrown to the wolves, and they’re fixing everything from smartphones to, you know, trying to get the UPS, replaced to, you know, somebody needs a better monitor to the to the CEO, maybe needs a little hand holding to get the PowerPoint to work. So, yeah, different worlds and and and it’s so you every every and I’m sure you see this in your business, but every site, every customer seems to be unique well, because they have unique people. Right? But every site you go to is even different sites in the same company. They have different cultures and just I guess they all have unique people, unique teams, so they’re gonna that’s gonna happen. But, yeah, I can definitely see where you’re coming from, with with that. That sounds like it was a very interesting discussion. Ashley Weckwerth (ISA): Right. And you bring up a great point in the sense of I I remember specifically this, CISO or CISO, you know, chief information security officer from Johns Mansville came in and was talking about how he came from an IT background and was told you’re kinda leading this. And he noticed that he had the gap from the OT lens and that downtime, like you’re talking about, or the individual plant to where he did a strategic hire, essentially, or move to bring in an OT lens into his, you know, umbrella, essentially, to make sure he wasn’t, like, missing something or speaking and not realizing that impact of downturn. And that’s that’s actually Scott Reynolds who talked here, I believe, last year about this summit, is that’s who he brought under him to bring in that, you know, OT thought process, and they actually do travel to their different locations. Like you said, every plant’s different, every manufacturing facility is different, to make sure they’re hearing the unique circumstances and what they can do to support, but also not just, like, pushing them to do it a certain way knowing that there are the variances. So I think that you’re exactly right. So perfect. So the other side, right, is that that’s really trending right now and especially in Europe, which I learned, fun fact, I was like, why is this conference in Belgium and in Brussels? And I did not realize that Brussels is, like, the de facto capital of the EU, the European Union. And so there’s a lot of regulation that is happening in Brussels and and things that, like, come down from a compliance standpoint. And so a lot of the other, you know, discussions that happened was regarding the regulatory landscape across, all the all the world essentially and, like, NIST two, which I had to write this down because I am I’m not as familiar with NIST two, is network and information security directive. There’s been NIST one for a while or just NIST, and now they’ve come up with an update that actually spans across multiple sectors. And we can see from NIST two and from RED, which is radio equipment directive, and just other cyber initiatives and regulation coming down, cybersecurity initiatives, that more and more government or state officials are seeing the vulnerabilities that could happen or the risk that could happen if they don’t say you shall follow this or do something to protect your OT systems from, you know, disruption, from downtime, all of that, especially the those, again, like you mentioned, mission critical things. And and and there and I’m gonna talk about one specifically, one session that stood out with this. But I do want us to all be aware is, like, with these regulatory and governmental mandates or guidance or directives, is there are products out there and standards out there that a lot of people are leaning on to make sure they are protected and, you know, ready for an incident and how they respond, how they react if it happened. And I I think last time this was also talked about is six two four four three. I think you all had Eric Cosman on Shawn Tierney (Host): Yes. Yeah. Ashley Weckwerth (ISA): On an episode as well. So I would advise anybody that isn’t familiar with 62443, go back, look for that episode to really dive into the meat of what that is. But ISA developed the the IEC ISA six two four four three standard that has different different layers to it that you kinda can pick it which layer you need to do based on where you stand in this process. But, essentially, is because ISA has this as the foundation is this is what a lot of regulators are looking at to be like, you need to make sure you’re doing this. You need to make sure you’re being as compliant as you can be with six two four four three. So that’s why ISA continues to host this event and talk about it because we can see from a regulatory, you know, perspective that it is coming. And and and it has been coming for a while now, but I think it’s now being more enforced than ever before in certain regions. So just keep that in mind. Shawn Tierney (Host): Yeah. You know, I think, and and I may get this wrong, but from a previous coverage of NIST and NIST two, you know, it’s it’s, you know, from memory, just going by memory. You know, NIST was really about core providers. So those people who, if they got hacked, could really affect society in a big way. And with NIST two, right, it broadens that. So some industries that you may think, well, you know, if that plant goes down, it’s really not gonna well, it could affect your your community, your city in a big way. You just may not be have been aware of that previously. And so, you know, in America, I think you’re absolutely right. You know, not that we’re gonna get those same regulations, probably not word for word, but, you know, a lot of OEMs here are shipped there. Right? A lot of integrators work on machines here ship there. But beyond that, understanding what the threats they’re trying to protect from, the six two four four three layered you know, the different layers of standards, You know? So you understand what when you see a product, right, like a remote access product, and it has all these different numbers on it, you understand what are they protecting? What kind of what kind of security was built in, baked into this product? Like, this this product has this number on it. That means they went through all kinds of testing and and, you know, and to to make sure that their, you know, processes and the product itself and the supply chain and all that. So I think it’s very helpful. Not that we’re going to necessarily have to meet this and this too. We may have similar regulations, but the fact that you’re staying up to date with what’s going on in the world as far as cybersecurity is concerned. And we’ve had so many vendors on talking about zones and conduits and Yeah. Just all kinds of all kinds of different things, you know, secure remote access, VPNs. And all of this plays a role in in you know, there’s just so many great products out there, but, you know, that that’s my pitch for why staying abreast of these is important. In worst case scenario hey, everybody. Just wanted to break in here and pay some bills. Did you know that the automation school is a factory IO reseller? That’s right. Not only that, I have questions on using factory IO with ControlLogix and CompactLogix, with the MicroLogix and Slic 500, and with the micro 800. Now factory IO is a three d, factory simulator that allows you to really practice your programming skills, not on an actual machine, but on a three d simulation of a machine. And I’ll tell you what, some of these, are really challenging. Right? The early editions are not the early levels aren’t really that hard, but as you get them to lesson three, four, five, six, and more, they start getting much harder. And a lot of times, we utilize, like, a state machine to solve them because, like, if we have, merging two different conveyors or if we’re checking for the height of packages and things like that, or we’re filling a tank, whatever we’re doing, a lot of times you wanna take a very sequential approach to those type of applications, whereas other applications, you know, you take more of a batch approach. But in any case, if you don’t know anything about Factory IO, go check out lesson one zero two in any of my PLC courses, and I put a little demo in there along with the free utility I give away with my courses as well as for the compact and control logics. There’s another package we sell called, PLC Logics that is similar to Factory IO, but it doesn’t require a PLC. It doesn’t require that you have your own license of Studio 5,000. It’s actually it’s all self contained training, software. So check those out over at theautomationschool.com. And with that, let’s jump right back into this week’s episode. Don’t connect the plant flow to the Internet. You know? I know you I know you wanna be able to VPN in and check on your PLCs, but, you know, just make sure that connection is ultra secure. If you’re not if you’re not sure if it’s secure, unplug it and and do the research because, you know, we’ve heard about the pipeline where there was, you know, a cyber attack and there was, you know, ransomware, and we’ve heard about hospital hospitals and, you know, just, you can pretty much think any place in our society, there’s been a ransomware attack. And so we’re just gonna be cognizant. We heard a major news talking about don’t even charge your phone at the airport because Right. Cult I don’t know how to get in, but culprits have been going in and hacking the physical hardware so they can steal your information when you’re using The US. So we all have to help each other stay up to date on this. We gotta share these stories. That’s what people do best is share stories about things that are important that we need to know about. And, you know, that’s that’s kind of my pitch for staying. Let me turn it back. Let me turn it back to you. Ashley Weckwerth (ISA): Well no. And you bring up it honestly makes me think about a session that happened about Wi Fi. Is it it’s talking about Wi Fi security, and I know that I’m just as, like, guilty of this where we’ll just sign on to what we believe is the local safe Wi Fi, whether it’s the airport. Yep. Or the use case that he gave me even here, like, how many of us signed into the hotel’s Wi Fi? Shawn Tierney (Host): Yeah. Ashley Weckwerth (ISA): Right? And he talked about how and he kept saying, hypothetically, to make sure because he knew it was against the law, but, like, hypothetically, I could spoof it right now. Right? Is essentially and he went through how he could do it. Right? How he could use a device, hypothetically, in his laptop to essentially make the Wi Fi go out for a second, create a new Wi Fi with a very similar name that makes you believe that that’s now the new connection that you have to, you know, say that you’re joining and, you know oh, there it is. My my current hotel Wi Fi went off. There’s the other name that looks very similar Shawn Tierney (Host): Yeah. Ashley Weckwerth (ISA): And joining and not realizing you’re joining, that unsecure network. They can get in different ways now. So you’re you’re very right. As I tell people, is is really that threat intelligence track at OT, cyber made me, in a good way, again, expand my knowledge for what is possible out there, but also, like, what what I should be thinking about taking into consideration in my day to day home personal, you know, career and life and what I’m doing. But also, what am I doing in the job that I should be second guessing or making sure I’ve thought through? Are there any loopholes or gaps that someone could get in or is already in? Right? Shawn Tierney (Host): Well, that’s the thing because you bring most people are bringing their devices to work. So if you get hacked at the airport or get hacked at the hotel, that’s a vector into your company. And a lot of companies, that’s where that’s where the intrusion comes from a personal device. I mean, today, it used to be people are a little on and don’t bring your devices. And today, everybody brings their phone with them everywhere. Yeah. And so that is a vector into the plant. And that’s another reason why maybe your POC and HMI and SCADA system and VFDs and everything that you have in your network should only talk to a list of approved IP addresses and proved you know? You know? Maybe there should be some digital signatures there. I’m not saying for for certain networks, but for other networks that are more wide open, like, maybe you plant for a Wi Fi, maybe you should be locked down a little bit more. Maybe it shouldn’t be a great place to to stream you to. But, anyways, let me turn it back to you. Ashley Weckwerth (ISA): Well and and you, doctor, her name was doctor Marina Krotafil, And I’m gonna say it wrong. She actually shared a case study. Now I won’t give all the details of the case study, but, essentially, is it talked through how even at, like, state sponsored cyber operations. So when we’re talking, you know, we’re talking maybe, like, everybody thinks, like, hackers are, like, you know, the the people that just have too much time. They wanna do ransomware, get money. They wanna get through it’s like, you know, you think about especially with all the things happening in the world today is Mhmm. Countries against countries or states against states, essentially, that want to get in and disrupt the economy or disrupt and show their power can do so through cyber attacks. And she actually talked through how attackers, especially at a state level, that get recruited by a state, maybe like a Russia, you know, at first, like, essentially, she went through different scenarios where is if a if a government official or government wanted to get in and learn the vulnerabilities and all that for another, entity or another country, they know how to do that. Right? They know how to essentially make it to where they they’re testing their limits. Right? How long does it take them to get caught? How long does it take them to to make you notice that they’re in your system? How what do you do about it? Like, they’re essentially, she gave examples in this case study where everything certain state sponsored cyber operations do is strategic. Right? They’re testing their limits. They’re testing their capabilities. They’re testing and training up folks for when they actually want to do something. And I think you mentioned this in other, podcasts too that I listen to is, like, we gotta be cautious that people could be lurking. They could be in. They could be just not making themselves known in our critical infrastructure. And and, again, she she spun it in such a way that I’m not here to scare anybody on this podcast, but, essentially, just being aware that people are very smart, and we need to be smart and ahead of that as well. And that’s what I think this conference allows us to do is it shares best practices. It shares that knowledge. It builds those connections. So now, like, you kinda mentioned, there’s so much equipment that you can buy and vendors selling different things that have different security settings. Like, all those sponsors make great products. And and understanding what they can do, what they can’t do helps us be able to protect ourselves, get ahead of these risks, get ahead of these potentials, and not be afraid. Right? It’s kinda like you put a lock on your door to make sure you’re not just welcoming anybody in, not that you’re gonna plan for someone just to walk in your house that’s not welcome. Right? Is we wanna make sure we’re doing what we can, and I think that’s what this conference really allowed is to know the risk out there, to be aware of the situations, the cyberattacks that have happened in in recent history, but also, like, what can I do as an end user, as a consultant, as an integrator, as a product, you know, manufacturer? What can I do to make a difference to help safeguard our OT systems and make a difference and and protect them? Shawn Tierney (Host): You know, I I I restore to the people. They’re like, well, why would they hack us? And it’s like, you know, take a step back. You know, the first of all, these people who are working for their governments, whether it’s The US, whether it’s EU, any country in the world, you name it. Right. They all they all think that they’re doing a patriotic thing working for their com their country. In every country, every almost virtually every country in the world, virtually every one of them have been hacked by almost every other one of them. Yeah. And we don’t know who hacked for us. Right? This is the eye for the eye thing. Like, it’s been going on for so long. You know, did the French start it? Did the Americans start it? Did the Russians start it? Did no. Every country in the world’s been hacking every other country. There there’s no tracing back to who started this this roller coaster of hacking, but everybody’s perceived like the other people are hacking me, so I have to hack back. So you just have to be cognizant of that and and and understand that it may not be you. It may not be your company. It may not even be what you make that’s the target. You may just be the punch back for the punches they received last month, and you’re just the only target they can hit. And so we we, you know, let’s stop all the punching. Let’s secure our facilities. So so we frustrate all of these, including our own, all these people who are trying to illegally hack into different companies and and cause problems like the ransomware. And, you know, I and and it’s real. And, you know, it came years ago, it came to me. I put a SCADA server as a demo for my customers. I put it on the Internet. I was just like, hey, boss. Give me a cable modem. I’m gonna put my server on. I’m gonna demo, you know, web based SCADA to all my, to all my great customers in the area. And the thing was hacked within a day. I mean and I’m going back twenty years now. This is twenty years. It was hacked in a day. And every week, I would spend a couple hours trying to make it hack proof. You know? And, you know, this was before I even you know, firewalls were even, like, consideration for a small business. Right? And so, yes, the people are being hacked all the time. Yep. We we you know? And and we have to be vigilant against those hacks. And we gotta people are tired of me saying this. Also, please back up your PLC HMI SCADA systems and all those VFPs. Ashley Weckwerth (ISA): Just in Shawn Tierney (Host): case. Stuff up just in case. It’ll there there’s so much room on your hard drive now. You could back it all up a thousand times, and you would still have room left over. So I like to Ashley Weckwerth (ISA): Can you imagine how much money you would save having that backup ready to go instead of like you mentioned, downtime earlier, right, is Yeah. Essentially, if if something were to happen, right, say, ransom ransomware hap whatever. Right? Is is you you end up saying, no. We’re not paying it, and you lose everything. Is now if you had to rebuild all of that code and all of your systems and get everything back talking to each other is I mean, I don’t even wanna do the math. I mean, you’re talking you’re you’re not you’re losing revenue, just whatever you’re producing or making with that system, but you’re also now spending money to get it back to whereas if you had the backups already ready. Yes. You’re still gonna have downtime. You’re still gonna have to get everything back up, but you’re saving all that developmental time to, like, redo it all, essentially. Shawn Tierney (Host): Sometimes you can’t. There are some machines that are so complicated. Right. And they, you know, they may have had changeover. Nobody may have that file anymore. So take your take your own future in your own hands, back up everything, back it up more at once. Right. You know, and take it like Microsoft will tell you if you go to any type of server type of training or certifications, you’re gonna have a copy of that off-site. They all cannot be on your site because if there’s a fire where you store all that stuff, you don’t have any backups anymore. So very interesting stuff and, you know, I hate to preach. I know the the I know the audience is used to me saying this stuff, but, but it’s so important. I I I’ve had multiple customers well, former customers, colleagues, audience members tell me about their horror stories where they had ransomware, and it’s just it truly is devastating to the companies. Right. And it really, like, I mean, it hurts people’s paychecks because, you know, there’s no raises that year, no bonuses that year, sometimes layoffs. So Ashley Weckwerth (ISA): Oh, yes. It kills the culture. I mean, truly. And and that’s where I and I I think sometimes we take for granted, kinda like you mentioned at the beginning. We put our blinders on. We just do our job. We think we’re doing our job, and you don’t think about all these things. And I think that’s the the benefit of groups like this. Right? Your podcast, bringing a community together to talk about things like this, lessons learned, things that I’ve learned in my career, my product. Like, you’re getting knowledge out there, and that’s exactly what ISA is trying to do as well. It’s like, why do we all have to learn by the the hard way or learn by things happening when you have all these resources? That’s what I think frustrates me the most sometimes is people will be like, well, I didn’t know that. Shawn Tierney (Host): Hey, buddy. I just wanted to jump in here and pay some bills and tell you about my training at the Automation School, my in person training that I do right here in my offices in the beautiful Berkshires. So many great things to do out here in Western Massachusetts. We’re about an hour away from Albany, New York. And one of the things you’re gonna find with my training that you’re not gonna find with, the big vendors is, you know, I can kinda customize it for you. Right? So, you know, if you wanna do, like, a day of, Allen Bradley PLCs and a day of Siemens PLCs, I can do that for you. Also, you know, we teach not just using the the trainer trainer boxes, but we also teach using factory IO so that even the most advanced students should have a full day’s worth of work or two or three full days depending on what you wanna do. And you’re gonna see over the coming weeks, I’m adding even more hardware to the training room. I’m, creating all of these one by one demo boards that I’ll be showing you guys in on the, the lunchtime show that I’m doing, where, I’m bringing in things like Flex IO, Point IO, you know, seventeen sixty nine distributed IO, fifty sixty nine distributed IO. All these things that, you know, if you go to some of the place where they just bought, you know, APLCs and APCs and say, here’s a manual, you’re not gonna get the same experience. So in any case, if you have any needs for in person training, maybe you don’t wanna send your folks off to the factory for $5,000 a pop and have them gone for a week, get in touch with me, and you can see all these details about what I’m doing over at the automationschool.com forward slash live. That is where I have not only information about my in person training, I have pictures of the training room, I got pictures of the building. I also have all the local hotels. Within three miles, we have all of the big hotels as well as all of the kind of fun stuff you can do in the Berkshires when you come out here, like visit the Norman Rockwell Museum, climb Mount Greylock, and there’s so many other things to do as well out here. And a lot of historical places too, like Susan b Anthony’s home or Herman Melville’s home and so on. So with that, I just wanted to tell you about my in person training that I’m offering here in my office. And now let’s jump right back into this week’s show. Ashley Weckwerth (ISA): And I’m like, but you gotta, like, you gotta go find that out. Right? You gotta ingrain yourself in a community that knows more than you do and admit you’re not the smartest person in the room. Right? And and learn from the group. Right? Learn from the greater good that is really trying to help make make the world a better place. I know it’s a a tagline, but, essentially, that’s true. Right? Like, you’re trying to get the automation community more knowledge, more information, and that’s what ISA is trying to do. And I think it’s nice to know that you don’t have to do it alone in the sense of whether you’re starting out in automation and you have no clue what you just signed up for, or you’re in it. You’re now charged with making sure the OT system’s safe is knowing that there’s conferences out there that specialize in OT cybersecurity as well as, like, standards that tell you how to make sure that you’re protecting your OT cyber, you know, security assets and all that stuff, but also training courses. So I think Scott mentioned this last year, but we did the same thing this year where we hosted two training courses with this conference that you could sign up for. One of them even sold out, and that was using the IEC ISA six two four four three standard, like how to use it to secure your control systems. Literally a two day course sold out. Full house packed room. Marco Aiola? I can’t ever say his last name. Sorry, Marco, if you’re listening. He is great if you’ve never met him, but he has tons of knowledge. He he trained that or taught that course this during this conference in Belgium. So if you’re not sure where to start and you’re just like, I just need to, like, wrap my head around what this standard is, maybe reading, you know, a standard is not what you love to do, maybe you want someone to teach you what’s in there and how to use it, that’s the place to start, as well as, Steve Mustard taught, assessing the cybersecurity of new and existing systems. So industrial con industrial automation control systems. So Steve Mustard’s also been on an episode. He taught a a class as well at Brussels. And so I just wanted to encourage everyone that is listening, is you don’t have to be an automation professional alone. You don’t have to do figure out how to just make sure you’re safe and secure alone. Get involved in communities like this podcast, like ISA. Find those people that have walked it, have learned from mistakes, have done things because there’s resources out there that you can find and get involved in, whether that’s discussion boards, conferences, standards, training, all of the above, podcasts. I just I think that’s where I truly people are like, why are you involved in ICA? I’m like, why wouldn’t I be? Like, it’s like you just it’s so much knowledge. It’s so take it take it with what I I say as I just ask people to get involved. That that’s what I’m saying in in any automation community. Shawn Tierney (Host): Yeah. And if you’re an engineering manager out there, consider, you know, be in the first take the first step. Get yourself involved with your local chapter. Right? And maybe it is an ISA. Right? If you don’t have an ISA local, there’s probably another another similar organization, and get involved. And if you find it valuable, right, that whatever it is, an hour or a week, an hour a month, then, you know, encourage the people who work for you to also get involved. It’s it’s yes. Some of them may find may network a little bit and find a new job, but then again, you may find people to fill positions you’re open. So but it did just, you know, this this this industrial automation, industry is so tiny. Right? To tip to, like, health and fitness, right, or or all those type of things that that, you know, we’re we’re at a disadvantage as far as, you know, just be able to have, you know, everybody on the corner. Had there’s a gym on every corner or there’s Yes. You know, a a maker shop on every corner. Well, with industrial automation, you know, a lot of times, we can’t visit each other’s facilities just because of intellectual property. So so consider that, and there’s some great places online, plcs.net, misterplc.com, and other forms online. We get the ISA and other organizations. So, yeah, I definitely, confirm that too. We wanna we wanna encourage people to get involved. And I know a lot of folks are like me. You got family, you got kids, grandkids. You’re just busy all the time. But if you’re able to, and and I live in the boonies, but if you’re able to, get involved. So I I definitely encourage that. Yeah. Ashley Weckwerth (ISA): Exactly. And I have I have two boys on my own, two and six. And the the joke around ISA is that they’re the youngest members because they are going to be I literally have bought merch with ISA on it for them because it’s just one of those things that the it it it does take a village to be part of something like this and and try to really make a difference. So I do wanna go back a step. You mentioned this too, and I think it’s so valuable. I joined ISA because my manager found the value and said, you should join ISA because it will skyrocket your career. You’ll learn from other professionals. You’ll network. You’ll get up to speed faster in this type of industry with if you didn’t. Right? And I can tell you as as working for the same company now for thirteen years, that that hasn’t been a true statement. Is is it truly enabled me to, one, get involved in this industry, grow from an I and c engineer, you know, putting in big EPC projects, engineer procurement construction projects, you know, midstream refineries to now managing automation projects for my clients. And it I I I truly credit getting involved in the automation community because, again, it’s a small world. I’ve literally met people across The United States that are like, I feel like I’ve gotten an I like, an email from you. Like, are you part of ISA? Like, it’s truly, like, you don’t realize how that, like, comes full circle. You’re like, yes, I am. And, like, what how do you and how are you involved? So I’ll just say, I totally agree. And I do want to say, if you go to events, is you might start you might be the first to hear something that’s in the works or that’s starting. So I did wanna mention in here, because I think it’s it’s a really cool, initiative that’s rolling out, is our group ISA Secure, which, again, focuses on six two four four three, is they’re rolling out the industrial automation control system security assurance program this fall. So there was a session on it at the conference to announce it, and there’s a whole, flyer on it. You can find it at isasecure.org. What it’s doing is it’s kinda coming full circle. Right? Is ISA developed a standard. They then made training for the standard. They then, you know, essentially said, okay. What else can we do? Okay. Let’s do ISA secure and really, like, certify devices and and things that that fall as ISA secure. They’re doing what they should be doing. And now it’s saying, now let’s offer a site assessment program to where we will validate or essentially not prove, but essentially, they’re gonna say, yes. You are following what you can do for six 2443. And so it’s gonna roll out this fall, so more details to come. Like I said, there’s a two page flyer on it. It goes through different stakeholder benefits depending on, are you an asset owner? Are you an insurance underwriter? Are you, you know, an end you you know, I said end user, but you know what I mean. It essentially is it kinda lays out that they’re going to come in and say, yes. You are being compliant with 62443 as the person that, you know, wrote 62443 is essentially kind of validating that through this new, it’s called ACSSA. We love acronyms in ISA, and control systems love acronyms. So we had to fit the the part there. So all to say, I think it’s good to join events because they’re the first ones to know. I learned that at the conference. So it’s essentially it’s like you’re always finding out what’s coming ahead that you can be on the lookout for, what can help you instead of going down a rabbit hole that you didn’t even realize this was coming into play. So Shawn Tierney (Host): That’s awesome. That’s awesome. Was there anything else you wanted to share with us about the event? I know we covered a lot of ground already. Ashley Weckwerth (ISA): Yeah. Shawn Tierney (Host): But were there other things that you wanted to talk about? Ashley Weckwerth (ISA): The only thing I wanted to say was, I know I mentioned this before, but I would say get involved at a conference that maybe is overseas if you ever get the opportunity. Next year, it’s going to be in Prague, Czech Republic, also in the month of June. You’ll find all the details coming out, on our website, o t c s, for OT cybersecurity, summit, .isa.org. And I I want to just reiterate that you really do build that diverse connections. You build confidence if you’re doing it the right way. You get the knowledge if you essentially, you know, needed more knowledge on what to do to secure your OT assets. So I I just think going to a conference like this really builds that community, that network, and that confidence. And so I encourage you all to join, but, essentially, I think you should look at our pictures on our website. It makes it look like you missed out. I will say it was a lot of fun. I was so glad to join. But I do thank you, Shawn, for letting me be here today. Shawn Tierney (Host): No. And it’s great to hear what, ISA is doing. You guys do so much. And I know this, this security summit, OT security summit, or cyber summit is a big part and and and touches on a very important aspect of what, the audience the people in the audience do on a regular basis. And, we love getting updates from you guys. Maybe we can get you back in a few months to talk about, some maybe something else you guys are working on. But, in any case, we Ashley Weckwerth (ISA): should that. Shawn Tierney (Host): Yeah. I really appreciate you coming on today and, bringing us up to speed on the the summit. Ashley Weckwerth (ISA): Well, thank you, Shawn. I really appreciate you and your community. Shawn Tierney (Host): Well, I hope you enjoyed that episode, and I wanna thank Ashley for coming on the show and talking OT cybersecurity with us. It sounds like a great opportunity to go to this, event if you especially if your company has, offices in Europe. It’s not something that I think I could do as a self employed person here in The US, but, definitely, any of you folks out there who are, you know, working with your European counterparts, maybe going to SPS over there, this may be a trip you may wanna consider. And, of course, please check out the ISA. They’re a great organization, and we love having them on the show. I also wanna thank our sponsor, the automationschool.com. If you know anybody looking for PLC, HMI, or SCADA training, whether it be in person right here in this office or it’d be online, please, contact me directly at theautomationschool.com. You’ll see all my contact links up at the top of the site. And with that, I wanna wish you all good health and happiness. And until next time, my friends, peace. Until next time, Peace ✌️  If you enjoyed this content, please give it a Like, and consider Sharing a link to it as that is the best way for us to grow our audience, which in turn allows us to produce more content

In Episode 221 of Manufacturing Hub, hosts Vlad Romanov and Dave Griffith sit down without a guest to share valuable real-world lessons on data collection, manufacturing intelligence, and implementing solutions that deliver measurable ROI. This episode wraps up the month's theme on manufacturing intelligence by tying together the insights from previous episodes and putting them into the context of real plant-floor projects.Vlad begins with an in-depth story from his time at Procter & Gamble, where he led an energy monitoring project with the ambitious goal of reducing power consumption by 20 percent. He explains the practical challenges of turning a corporate initiative into an actionable plant-level strategy, from limited baseline data to deciding between standalone meters and integrated monitoring solutions. Vlad shares the lessons learned in balancing cost, data ownership, and scalability, and why a more open solution can sometimes offer greater long-term value than proprietary systems.Dave then takes us into the world of pet food manufacturing, where millions of dollars in raw materials can be lost each year due to inaccurate batching and poor measurement practices. He walks through the process of defining the problem, setting up data collection without overhauling legacy systems, and using that information to identify overages, improve tolerances, and design remediation strategies. The conversation dives into practical engineering decisions, such as when to invest in VFDs for precision dosing, when to redesign process equipment, and how to ensure data insights lead to lasting operational changes.The discussion expands into organizational challenges, including why decision-makers often lack actionable visibility into losses, how to present findings in terms of tangible business impact, and the cultural shift required to actually use the data once it is available. Vlad and Dave also explore examples from discrete manufacturing, where OEE tracking and daily direction setting (DDS) meetings help guide capital allocation, continuous improvement initiatives, and team alignment. They share observations on why some facilities succeed with these systems while others fall back into old habits.Timestamps00:00 Introduction to Episode 221 and monthly theme recap02:00 Vlad's background and approach to modernization projects04:50 Dave's background and focus on data-driven manufacturing solutions06:30 Recap of previous episodes on data collection, historians, and MTP/MCP07:30 Vlad's Procter & Gamble energy monitoring project case study13:40 Addressing power blips, capacitor banks, and ROI considerations19:10 Choosing between proprietary and open monitoring solutions23:40 Dave's pet food manufacturing story and raw material variance29:50 Methods for data collection without disrupting legacy systems34:20 Improving accuracy, process changes, and remediation strategies44:00 Organizational challenges in acting on data insights52:00 OEE, DDS meetings, and capital allocation in discrete manufacturing59:50 Predictions for the future of manufacturing intelligence and AI integrationReferences MentionedIgnition by Inductive Automation – https://inductiveautomation.com/Ignition Community Conference (ICC) – https://icc.inductiveautomation.com/Procter & Gamble – https://us.pg.com/Rockwell Automation – https://www.rockwellautomation.com/Mettler Toledo – https://www.mt.com/Badwater Ultramarathon – https://www.badwater.com/“Can't Hurt Me” by David Goggins – https://davidgoggins.com/book/About the HostsVlad Romanov works with manufacturers to modernize operations by bridging the gap between legacy systems and today's technology. He specializes in assessing current states, designing scalable architectures, and implementing solutions across control systems, SCADA, and MES infrastructures. His mission is to help plants run better from a technical and operational standpoint, whether through unlocking critical data from PLCs or leading full-scale digital transformation initiatives.Connect with Vlad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vladromanov/Dave Griffith has over 16 years of experience in automation and manufacturing, with a technical foundation in aviation and aerospace. His work spans from OEM manufacturing to food and beverage production, with a strong focus on data-driven projects that deliver ROI. Dave leads teams at Kaplan to unlock operational data, design integration strategies, and deploy solutions that improve efficiencies and reduce waste.Connect with Dave: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davegriffith/

Tony Mormino is joined by Louie and Peter from ABB to break down Variable Frequency Drives—what they are, how they save energy, and why they're essential in today's HVAC systems. From fan laws to harmonics to ABB's new smart factory, this episode blends technical insight with real-world perspective (and a few laughs along the way). As mentioned in the podcast here is the link to the ABB Drives Training YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DrivesTraining

Shawn Tierney meets up with Eugenio Silva of Emerson to learn all about Dust Collection Systems, and Emerson’s Monitoring and Control Solution in this episode of The Automation Podcast. For any links related to this episode, check out the “Show Notes” located below the video. Watch The Automation Podcast from The Automation Blog: Note: This episode was not sponsored so the video edition is a “member only” perk. The below audio edition (also available on major podcasting platforms) is available to the public and supported by ads. To learn more about our membership/supporter options and benefits, click here. Listen to The Automation Podcast from The Automation Blog: Read the transcript on The Automation Blog: (automatically generated) Shawn Tierney (host): Welcome back to the automation podcast. My name is Shawn from Insights, and I wanna thank you for tuning back in. Now in this episode, I had the pleasure of meeting up with Eugene Silva from Emerson to learn all about the industrial control and monitoring system that comes with their industrial dust collectors. Now I thought it was very interesting. I hope you do as well. But before we jump into this episode, I do wanna thank our members who made the video edition possible. So So when a vendor does a sponsor of the episode, the video becomes a member only perk, and that is just $5 a month to get started. So thank you members for making the video edition possible. With that, I also wanna thank our sponsor for this week’s show, the automationschool.com and the automationblog.com. I have an update later in the show what’s going on on both sites, and I hope you’ll, stick around and listen to that, towards the end of the show. But with that said, let’s go ahead and jump into this week’s episode of the automation podcast. It is my pleasure to welcome Emerson back on the show and Eugene on the show to talk about dust collector monitoring. You guys can see the slide if you’re watching dust collector monitoring and control solutions. I’m excited about this because this is a solution versus, like, a discrete product. So with that said, Eugene, would you please introduce yourself to our audience? Eugenio Silva (Emerson): Yes. Shawn, thank you very much for this opportunity. Hello, everyone. Here’s Eugenio Silva. I’m a product manager, intelligence automation within Emerson, the discrete automation part of Emerson. I’m glad today gonna share some, some of our understanding and learnings with the dust collector monitoring control solution. And, when I talk about that, Emerson is also involved in in others, types of solutions that, our purpose is to drive innovation that makes the world healthier, safer, smart, and more sustainable. And I’m also responsible for continuous emission monitoring, pest collectors is one, utility, energy and compressed air management solutions. So for today, I prepared something that, we go a little bit, into why this type of, test collector solution is important, from understand of our customers and industry point of view. We’re going to look into the fundamentals of a dust collection, from the particle sensors to the dust collector systems, and then dive in into the dust collector solution where I’m going to provide you, some features, also explanation why they are there, and how this kind of capabilities deliver value to our end users and customers, and, hopefully, to have time as well to have a short, recorded demo that, brings us, full scope how the operators look into into that solution when they they use it. Shawn Tierney (host): But before we jump in, I wanna thank the automationschool.com for sponsoring this episode of the show. That’s where you’ll find all of my online courses on Allen Bradley and Siemens PLCs and HMIs. So if you know anybody who needs to get up to speed on those products, please mention the automationschool.com to them. And now let’s jump back into the show. Eugenio Silva (Emerson): In terms of key applications, industries use cases, dust collector is essential for many industries that produce dust, produce any kind of a pounder, any kind of a fume, and typically air pollution control, boundary processing, handling, industrial dust, fume ventilation are covered by one or another way by dust collectors. And, the industries that I put in both, these are the the dirty ones in the sense that they produce a lot of, particle, either in terms of gases or dust. Therefore, the regulations that are in these industries are quite strong. So cement, metals, chemical plus, carbon, black and toner, like lithium battery assembly, disassembly, metal foundry. And what is interesting is the either you produce a waste that you have to manage it properly, can be also recycled, for example, in the industries like plastics in food or wood. All the collected dust that you have, you can also reuse and sometimes recycle. But why? Why this is important? Why is it important to extract dust from these industries? Let’s start on the right side because this is what the the customer is looking for. Because the cost of our pollution, the hazards, this this safe safety accidents that can be caused by this kind of harmful airborne and particles and forms are so substantial, then of course, it’s very much regulated in all these industries. And if you calculate the costs on the public health, Sometimes big accidents in plants where even big fires or hazards to people operating the plant. We talk about billions per year, the cost of that. And one of the consequences of having such issues is that when the dust extraction system is not working properly or you have really a downtime. For example, I’m going to explain that this really depends on components that are very, they use so often that they wear down, like filters, like post files. And each time that we have a downtime is not the cost of the dust collector downtime that’s important. It’s the overall downtime costs that imposes to the operation of the plant because in order to be conformist, they have to stop operating until they fix the issue. And these downtimes, of course, arise in many ways in different aspects. How complex is this dust collector. But I’m I’m going to give you, some insights that, if a dust collector system does not have any solution to monitoring real time or control, the efficiency. Basically, the personnel is managing these assets without any sight, and everything can go wrong. That’s why the TCO and the maintenance aspects are quite important. Because if you’re not aware where is the problem, when you have to plan and this becomes a firefighting or reactive mode, then your costs are going to be quite high. And when you talk about the TCO, it’s about the cost of the equipment, the acquisition, the cost of operation, meaning not only the personnel, but in this case, we use a lot of compressed air. I’m going to explain why. The maintenance costs, as we explained, and the disposal costs. Disposal means, the filter bags that must be replaced and and changed, but also the the dust, the fume, all the elements that must be, properly managed and recycling sometimes. So this is the aspects why it’s important. Now let’s turn us about, the benefits and savings. So if you use the dust collector solutions, of any kind that can monitor in real time all the aspects, of the operation of a dust collector system and, also contributes turning maintenance from reactive to preventative and maybe predictive, then the best thing that you can do is to avoid huge penalties. As you can see on this graph, every decade, let’s say, the fines are getting steeper. And the reason for that is because of the the damage and the result of a big, like, say, issue on the plant regarding to this dust part is is quite heavy. So, therefore, we talk about 100 k’s or even plus in some industries like primary metal and chemical, where one single incident, it’s about a 100 k in average or more. And then, of course, to avoid that and to be completely compliance, you have to operate that systems, in many cases, 24 by seven. And, therefore, any way possible to reduce downtime and, as a plus, reduce the energy costs because for compressed air, you have to use electricity, then, it pays off because you’re going to be full time compliant. And the other thing is if you do properly, monitor and control your dust collector system, you also increase the filtration efficiency. So that means you are far from the high levels, where after that threshold, you would be penalized. You can operate under, conformist, under compliance, but can also expand the equipment life. For example, the life bags, the post valves, you don’t have it to replace as often, which is the case if you don’t do any real time monitoring diagnostics. On the left side, the way that we talk about improving maintenance is the total cost. When we talk about the filter life, at least one unit of a filter, It’s about 18 k, US dollars. And you see that, the tip of a iceberg is just the purchase price. The dust collector system, like, of course, has an acquisition cost. But below that, as a total cost of ownership, you have the energy that you expand utilizing the systems. You have the filter bags. You have to keep parts in your inventory. You have to dispose of that. And, of course, you have the downtime costs and also the labors labor costs. Now I’m going to just to give, a chance to say, okay. Tell me how a dust collector system works. Shawn Tierney (host): Before we get to that, we gotta pay the bills. So I wanna tell you about our sponsor, the automationschool.com. It’s actually the next room over. We have a huge training room. We have, some of the most unique products you’ll be able to work on. You know, I know everybody has a bunch of CompactLogix or s seven twelve hundreds or 15 hundreds and, you know, VFDs and HMIs. But some of the products we have here, you’re not gonna find in anybody else’s training room, not even the factory’s training room because we cover all different products. Right? So if you’re coming over to do training with us, you can actually learn Siemens and Allen Bradley at the same time. You can learn how to get Siemens and Allen Bradley to talk together. You guys know I’ve covered that on the show, but you could do it hands on. And some of the other things is like working with third party products. Right? So, you know, if you go to a vendor’s course, they’re not gonna have third party products. But we have as you remember from the wall in my studio, we have all kinds of third party products. And I’m gonna be taking some more pictures of all the different labs we have, the equipment we use, with these third party products. So if you know anybody looking for training and we can do custom things too. So if you wanna start training at noontime or 01:00 because you’re gonna drive in three or four hours away, I was recently just at a, large vendor’s customer doing some training on their behalf. And, yeah, that was a long drive. So if you want your, students to show up in person at twelve or one and then train and then at the on the last day, leave around twelve or one, we can do that as well. I don’t care. We could actually run into the night if you wanted to go, do evenings. Or, again, some people don’t learn very well in the evenings, but in any case, because I own the company, we can do whatever you want. As long as we have the equipment and the time to put it together, we’ll do it for you. So I just wanted to make you aware of that. We also if you’re, just wanna come yourself, if you go to the automationschool.com forward slash live, you will see a place where you can preregister for an upcoming class. And when I get enough people to sign up, I’ll reach out to you and tell you what date is gonna be held. And by preregistering like that, you will save $50 off the $500 price. And if you’re already a student, you will save the price of your online course off of the in person course. So maybe you bought my $200 Siemens or CompactLogix, ControlLogix cost. They’re gonna get that off of that $500. Right? And if you don’t own the online cost, don’t worry about it. If you come here for in person training, at the end of your training, we’re gonna enroll you, in one of those online courses completely free of charge so you can continue your learning. And you don’t have to worry about trying to blitz all the content while you’re here because whether you’re here for a day or five, it doesn’t matter. Whatever you have left to learn, you’ll be able to do it after hours at home, and there’s no additional charge for that. So with that said, let’s get back into this week’s episode of the automation podcast. Eugenio Silva (Emerson): And these are going to be general principles and basics. In general, a dust collector system looks like this. It’s a unit where the air is pulled in at the bottom of the compartment, and this could be forced or not. And then the air gets out, on the top, the outlet, and the dust is collected on the outside of the bag. So if you see this, in this picture, we have one full bag in kind of light brown color with a specific fabric, could be porosis fabric, a PVC, or some even paper in some cases. And then the cleaner exceeds at the top. And the what happens is that the dust cake builds up on the bags, on the outside part of the bag. And, if you see the number one on top, in that particular, entry point, we have two pulse valves with, compressed air in order to shake a little bit these, post bags, filter bags, and then knocks down the dust out of these bags, and then they are collected by a hopper at the bottom. Okay? So that’s basically, in general, how it works the principle. It’s a bit more complicated. Here is just to show that in order to automate a dust collector system including the filter bags, we use, a combination of, electrical and pneumatic, components. And these are from post valves, the ones that continuously blow air into these pipes, the compressed air tanks that hold the right pressure and the right compressed air capacity in order to keep the filtration efficiency very high. Then you have the filter regulators that, you have to bring, the pressure of this line to higher enough, to to be efficient, but not so high to spend too much compressed air. Then you can use controllers, black boxes that are able to do a time based sequencing, but these are not so so much sometimes efficient because it doesn’t take into consideration all the diagnostics that you can get out of it. And then, basically, the very important element is this, particle sensor that is on the outside of the clean air because that is gonna be your canary in the mind. Right? It’s gonna be the one that indicates if the filter, system is efficient efficient and if the the job is done right. And then the other things. But let’s go back to a very interesting view. You remember this picture here that, you you’re looking at, a cross session of the dust collector. Now you could imagine how it looks like from the top. From the top, it looks like that. There is a compressed air tank, that covers, certain portion of the filters units. For example, it’s very common that a filter, complete filter unit, might have different compartments. And in each of these compartments, you have a series of filter bags. And then imagine that you provide short but very powerful pulses of compressed air that are periodically injected on top of this columns. And below, there’s a filter bag. So, therefore, they are going to to receive to expand a little bit, and the dust cake then, outside of of their surface follows. And by inertial forces, of course, this dust is accumulated at the bottom, which is, extracted into a hopper. Of course, now depending of the number of the filters per line, per roll, these pulse valves needs to pulse a little bit faster or not. And the interval time, if you just follow time based approach, could be three to six minutes. Now if you calculate the average filter units, you may have 12 of these filter bags. You can have about seven to 10 pulse valves per unit. It’s very common that, one large installation would have about, like, 500 pulse valves and four, six times more filters, install it. And imagine that if each of them having boost every three minutes, 24 by seven, during seven days a week. So can you imagine the amount of compressed air that can be spent? That’s why these pulses must be very short and powerful, in hundred milliseconds to avoid it also big waste. I think that, picture on the left side, just to simply say that, it’s a lot of, interesting things to to get the dust removal, but basically is a jet of compressed air on top, that shakes the filter. And then by gravity, the dust cake is removed. Shawn Tierney (host): It’s not just a filter. You know, I think main main people may just think, well, a dust collector is just this bag that catches all the dust. You’re actually, you know, you’re you you do have the bags, but, you’re using compressed air to sequentially, depends depending on how many you have, shake those bags in a sense by blowing air into them, to shake off the dust so it falls into the hopper. And so I can you can definitely see, like you were mentioning, if you have lots of these cylinders or these bags, then the sequencing has to be, you know, pretty pretty precise and and pretty, repeatable to make sure you’re you’re cleaning all of the bags off. And I’m I’m assuming too, you need to know when the hopper is full because everything stops working if if if the hopper gets, over full. So very interesting. I think your diagrams do a great job of explaining it as well. Eugenio Silva (Emerson): Yeah. If I play a little bit when I mention that, it’s a a little bit the reverse, way of our vacuum cleaner. Right? Because Yeah. We suck the the dust inside of the bags. Mhmm. And when the bags are completely full clogged, the suction, power, it’s far reduced. Right? So then you have to to empty our, let’s say, filter bags. Here is the although the all the dust is accumulated on the outside, the outer surface of the fabric, but the effect is the same. If there’s so much dust on the surface or out of the surface, then, the air that is shown here, the intake, the air, and then the filter simply stops. That’s why affects completely the efficiency of, that, unit. And the post jet cleaning is a way to unclog or to clean, the filters in order to bring them to the more efficient operation. Shawn Tierney (host): Yeah. Especially if you have lots of dust, you need an automatic way to continue to clean it and get it off of the filter and into the bin. So yeah. No. That makes a lot of sense. Eugenio Silva (Emerson): Yeah. In in other cases, although you talk about, dust, of course, it could be any kind of a pounder. Like, for example, in the foods and beverage industry, you don’t want this for example, let’s say, a dry milk production. You don’t want that dust to be floating around because it can bring contamination. But believe it or not, it can ignite fire sometimes. So that’s why it’s important to to get that completely eliminated. So this is the part that very people would say, okay, on the outlet where the the air should be cleaner, as you can see on the right side, that this, particle sensor is located at the outlet, clean air side. It has a very interesting the way it works is quite interesting. We use a we have a sensor in our portfolio called p 152 that, we take advantage of this triboelectric effect. Basically, this sensor, is coated with PTFE or a Teflon layer, so it’s completely electronic, electric isolated from from, of course, the media. And then when the dust starts touching, that probe, a DC charge is transferred. But because of this, sensor probe is completely isolated, we set the flow layer, the resolution and the electric charge is in the order of a peak ramp. So 10 minus 12. And that the resolution is about point five picoamp. So, therefore, if you’re touching the particles, depends of their size, They are going to generate more or less electricity that’s going to be transferred. And the ones that are just surround, they are not touching. For example, imagine that this, duct air exhausting pipe is quite big. A bit half meter, maximum one meter around that sensor, the particle also generates, induced charge in AC. And by measuring that, we have an idea about how clean is, of course, there that’s getting out. But it’s a bit more tricky than you can imagine because it looks like this. Shawn Tierney (host): Hey, everyone. I hope you enjoy this week’s show. I know I really enjoyed it. And, of course, I wanna thank our members for making the video edition possible. So this vendor did not sponsor this episode. So the video edition is available for members, and there’s some great graphics in their presentation you guys may wanna check out. Now with that said, we do have some really exciting podcast episodes coming up. I’m sitting down with Inductive. I’m sitting down with Software Toolbox. I’m sitting down with Siemens and a bunch of other vendors. So we have plenty of new podcasts coming up in the coming weeks this summer. And I also wanted to give you an update of what’s going on over at the automation blog. We’ve had some new articles come out. Brandon Cooper, one of our freelancers, wrote a great article about emulating Allen Bradley e threes. We had a vendor, actually, submit an article and sponsor the site to submit an article about what makes a good automated palletizer. We also had an update about the automation museum. That’s a fundraiser we’re running. We’re trying to open a automation museum. I got a lot of legacy stuff I’d like to donate to it, and I’d love to have it so you can come in and actually walk through, not just see the stuff, but actually learn on it. Right? So maybe you have some old stuff in your plant. You come out to the automation museum, and you can learn how to use it. With that said, we’re also looking at possibly doing a podcast for automation museum to drive awareness of legacy automation. So any of you out there interested in that, contact me directly. And, you can do so over at the automationblog.com. Just click on the contact button. And, we also have an article two articles from Brandon Cooper about things he learned as he transitioned from working in a plant to traveling around and visiting other plants to help them with their processes and automation. So check those articles out over at the automation blog. And finally, over at the automation school, you know, we have the new factor IO courses. We also have I just added a new lesson to the logics version of that course. Somebody wanted to try to use bit shifts instead of counters, so I added a lesson on that. Plus, I’m now starting to update all of the courses, including the brand new ones I’m working on. So you’re gonna see a brand new start here lesson later in the week, and I’m working on some cool emulation, lateral logic for my PLC courses that if you don’t have any push buttons or limit switches, you can actually use this code I’m gonna give you for free to simulate the widget machine that I use as kind of the basis for my teaching. So in any case, check that out if you’re in one of my PLC courses over at the automationschool.com. And with that said, you know, I’m very thankful for all the vendors who come on, especially those who sponsor the episodes so I don’t have to do these commercials. I’m not a big commercial guy, but I do wanna thank you for hanging in there and listening through this update. And now we’ll get right back into this episode of the automation podcast. Eugenio Silva (Emerson): Every time you get, use the jet boost with the boost valves on top of the filter bags, it creates a peak. So that means the cleaning cycles that are happening in a duration of, just a 100 milliseconds. That’s why they are very, very thin. And they happening every two, three minutes, per roll. They have to they have in nature a little bit of noise because imagine that every time that, you clean, more dust gets into inside of the the filter back. So that means it’s like when you clean your vacuum cleaner, immediately when you turn on that, some of this dust is gonna get inside immediately, and that’s the peak. But now imagine that, you have a rupture in the filter or you have a big role because, unfortunately, these the things are wear out. And then these peaks starts getting higher and higher. So, therefore, what we do when we, put that solution in place for a little time, let’s say, couple of days, we needed to kind of, set up, these thresholds. We need to figure out the level of noise that could be because depends very much the capacity, the types of, of a test. But once you do that, in our solution, we set the thresholds like alarming, a warning alarm, which means that after that point, the maintenance crew, starts looking at, that could be a early indication that a filter bag is not okay until the maximum point that avoids any any nonconformist, issue, which is already a rupture. You really pass the time where this filter, must be replaced. Shawn Tierney (host): So we’re looking at this chart for those who are listening. And the particle sensor, you know, it’s measuring the particles as air flows normally. But during the pulse, right, we’re forcing a lot of air back in, back down. So we’re getting a lot more, you know, than the average air would have x amount of particles. But if we’re forcing a bunch of it back in, we’re gonna see a lot more particles per, let’s say, hundred millisecond pulse. Right? So we do expect a peak when we when we pulse it because we’re just forcing a lot of get back go into the reverse direction. So we can we catch the bag loose. But what you’re saying here on this chart, I find so in so much interesting. So you can quantify, like, the expected increase in, in dust that you’re gonna sense with the sensor when you go in the reverse, when you pulse pulse, blow the ear downwards to, to shake the bag free. But you’re saying if that if that extra increased amount of detected dust is either too high, above normal, or too low below normal, then that tells you that you you could either have a clogged bag or you could have a burst bag. Is that am I understanding that correctly? Eugenio Silva (Emerson): Yes. Is this correct? And then the interesting thing is that as soon as you’re getting closer to replace a filter back, this baseline starts raising a bit with a kind of, how can I say, there is a drift? Why? Exactly what you said. A filter is completely clogged. It’s not yet any rupture, but is the efficiency of the cleaning is not so okay. So therefore, this slightly changes needs to be analyzed. Why I’m showing row one to row 10? Exactly in the picture, if you remember, a compartment filter with several, let’s say, filter bags, they are under the row. So under the row one, you may have 10 filter bags, row two, row three, and so on. So that means you are able to indicate which row is the problem, but it might be that you still need to check further which of the filters in that particular row have the problems. The more quick this peak happens, more number of, filter bags can have a problem. Shawn Tierney (host): Mhmm. Eugenio Silva (Emerson): Okay? Shawn Tierney (host): So you have one sensor on the exhaust, and you’re sequencing through, you know, blowing out or shaking out, you know, pulsing each of the rows. So that’s why we see, you know, one reading across the, you know, across the horizontal, and we see your row, row one, row two, row three, row four, each of them with discrete values or pulses. And like you just said, if you have multiple issues on a row, then you’re going to see, you know, a higher or lower peak depending on what the issue is. I’m with you. Eugenio Silva (Emerson): Yes. That’s why I’m going to show the other diagnostic capabilities that we needed to associate with this, particle sensor. And just to remember that, this particle sensor, we simply use one unit on the outlet part. That’s why I needed to make the sequence in serialization of the post because then I need to to synchronize with the post jets of every role. Shawn Tierney (host): Mhmm. Eugenio Silva (Emerson): No? Row by row. Shawn Tierney (host): And I think too, if you tried to do them all at once, the the you would need a lot higher pressure. So it it kinda makes sense to do it row by row because it reduces your maximum pressure required. Eugenio Silva (Emerson): Yeah. In this practical sense, we’re not be able to Shawn Tierney (host): Differentiate. Eugenio Silva (Emerson): Identify which of the roles, would be the problem. That’s why we kind of still have to do that. But now let’s give in a solution overview, and I think that, some of the key capabilities and features are going to highlight even more, the other, diagnostic capabilities that we are able to to provide in order to identify correctly and early as possible such issues. So this is a typical dust collector system. And if you look at around, if this dust collector system is just, let’s say, automated with nomadic electric components and they don’t have real time monitoring, you’re not really know the emission level. If it also this is not real time monitoring with some diagnostics, then you are not able to identify when this particle sensor, for example, is completely taken by, the dust because the humidity entrance in that, in that pipe, or it might be that, it’s so dirty, your dust that, is already ingrained so much on the probe. Mhmm. So that’s why the poor, reliability or the low level sensitivity of that could be affected. And if you were not monitoring, these signals that I showed the these peaks synchronized with the post valve jets Mhmm. You don’t have any early warning. Okay? The post valves basically are coils. They are solenoid coils Shawn Tierney (host): Mhmm. Eugenio Silva (Emerson): With tag diaphragms that open and close at the speed of a hundred milliseconds. The point is that their life time is about a couple of millions of cycles. Mhmm. But imagine, in some cases, one, two years is already enough to to have end end of life. So a fault valve, has to be connected to a control system because you need to know if this is a short circuit or if the diaphragm is completely open. And you can only do that if every time that you cycle the valve, you also, check that. For example, the power that, you drive the coil gives you a feeling if that is a coil that is already gone. Okay? Now let’s talk about the compressed air. Right? If you have a a filter that is open, there’s a rupture. If you have, a diaphragm that’s completely gone open, you start consuming higher and higher the compressed air. The point is this is continuously increasing. You can just imagine that this is normal. But if you go into average and look at this in a historical way, you’re gonna see that this trend is caused because of the broken post valves, for example. So that’s why it’s also important aspect of the automation solution is to minimize the usage of the compressed air is to have a clearly operating under a baseline that is normal. The filter bags, independent of the materials, because if you talk about life sciences, foods, chemical, or metal, they have a different materials. They have a different, where else, lifetime span. The point is the costs might be the filter itself is not so expensive. But going up there, exchange stopping, moving things around, getting the dust out before you change, putting all the personal protection equipment may take hours. So, therefore, that is the cost of that. And if you’re not able to prevent or even have an early warning when that is going to occur, is gonna be a reactive, maintenance issue. Right? So that’s why just convincing that, it’s worth looking into different aspects. And that’s why, on the left side, when we talk about solutions, we talk about, the connectivity part that, we have to work with devices that are hard or four to 20 milliamps. Some of devices are modbus to CP. Newer actuators in post faults could be mu m q t t or even OPC UA. That’s the the PLC part that, we have. And we can work with pneumatic systems, for example, that they turn at AP, PROFINET, or any other, standards. Then, of course, we have the IOs, that, we have to look at to control the post jet systems, but also to monitor the differential pressures, to measure the compressed here in some cases, until the parts where at the top, we put HMI SCADA software platform that, we pre engineered, in order to to make it simpler the development, of that solution by our OABS or many cases directly to our end users. And all in the right are the elements that we offer in our portfolio. Some cases, OEMs of a dust collector systems just to take from us, and they might be that they have their own solution as well. Shawn Tierney (host): So just for the audio audience, I know we’ve covered these products a lot, especially on the news show. But, I mean, I’m just wanna kinda go through a couple of these things. You got the ASCO product line. Right? So remote piloted valves and, you know, all of those, that category, you know, the, pulse valves. But we also got the Advantex, which we’ve talked about, like figure filter regulators and, different cylinders. Topworks, which I think we’re all familiar with, proximity sensors and whatnot. And, some of the other products you guys, Rosemount, differential pressure transmitters. We also see, we have, the PAC systems. In this case, you could have edge analytics, and so you may have one of the PAC systems, edge IPCs. And we even see the, down in the corner there, the Emerson PLC and IOs, which I think we’re all familiar with as well. So that kinda shows you how, you know, this solution, you know, they’re taking all these different products they have in their catalog and putting it together in one solution, which is, you know, you kinda need all this stuff. You know, basically understanding how it works. We just went through it. And so it’s interesting. I don’t think I’ve seen a slide yet from Emerson where they kinda include in one application all, if not all, many of their their, different product lines. And then, the the skate on the top, it looks like, just some beautiful screens and charts and and, you know, dials showing the current status. So, and and I I didn’t mean to interrupt you, Gino, but nonetheless say that, especially since the people listening, they’ll be familiar with all those trade names because we’ve covered those in the past. But, in any case, let me turn it back to you. Eugenio Silva (Emerson): No. No. It’s thanks for highlighting. And I I say that, when I introduce myself that I’m from the discrete automation part of Emerson. Mhmm. Because most of, people would know Emerson by the Rosemont, for example, pressure, Fisher valves, and then the, you know, the delta v, DCS. Right? This is the discrete automation part, and that’s why probably something new, for everybody here. Thank you very much. So when I look at that in a nutshell, we, of course, have to put the sensory devices, the PLC on top, the HMI scanner. And, basically, what we provide is real time monitoring of this particulate, emissions. We detect but also locate where the leak is by compartments in rows. You can see on the picture that, on the top of this HMI screen, we have a filter unit with three compartments, compartment one, two, three. And each compartment has these rows on top, which is the number of rows, then the more a number of filter bags that, within each, compartment. So, therefore, just locating which compartment and which row, you have a problem, I can tell you it saves half day of the people, in the maintenance. We also optimize the push at cleaning. It’s an, patent based algorithm that is completely adaptive, and works not just with the post valves, but, we put, head pressure sensors. And this fluctuation and the differential pressure that we measure from the outlet and inlet allows us, of course, to, increase or decrease the frequency of these push heads, which allows not only to be more efficient, but also minimize compressed air. And then finally, when you talk about solidoids involved diaphragms, these ones we can indicate one by one where they have problems. So, therefore, if you look at down to the other HMI screen, there are two rows on top. The one that is a solenoid, the one that is a diaphragm, and these vertical bars are the filter bag health. If they are getting closer to red with the high levels, meaning that, their life span is already gone. And if you have, light indicators on the solenoid, the diaphragm depend of the color might be that you have a short circuit fail, open diaphragm. Therefore, you have also to replace. And, basically, when we install that solution, sometimes our customers, ask it to also integrate with their control systems. So, therefore, they compress their generation, the fan, the hoppers, the safety alarms, of the plant sometimes are fully integrated as well. Now let’s talk very much about few features features because these are the ones that probably you haven’t seen yet. Wanna talk about our HMI control system is based on Movicon, Movicon next platform. And, basically, it provides everything that you know from the Scott HMI. And that’s why to use this in general for applications like OIE, energy management, in some others, infrastructure monitoring, like, smart cities, wastewater facilities, solar, mega mega plants, etcetera. Of course, it provides data visualization, but, I like to highlight that, you could ask we provide connectivity to all major POCs that you can imagine, with communication drivers. Of course, the open standards like OPC UA, like, Modbus. And on the lower part, the the green, let’s say, the the gray part here is what we used for that solution. Sometimes we use a geo maps, to indicate where the filters are. Some geo references, let’s say geo fences as well. The people have to be, with a personal protection equipment to be there. So there are some, real time, data that, of course, we are collecting for the particle emissions and other elements like differential pressure, header pressure. And then you have the headlines. You can see some screens that are completely dedicated to alarms and alerts. And one of these, diagnostics that you see are related to the solenoid, to the filter bag, and to the diaphragm diagnostics. A lot of them are diagnostic get diagnosed in different ways. For example, the solenoids, we look into the power output of our IO cards to see if the valve post the solenoid is open or complete short circuit. The filter bag, I already explained it. We detect with some logic with the the particle sensors, And the diaphragm diagnostics is based on the header pressure because if it’s this diaphragm is completely open, the differential pressure within the chamber, it starts fluctuating, and then you know that there’s something wrong there. But all of them increases the filtration efficiency, changes from reactive to predictive maintenance, of course, keeps the site compliant, minimize dust emissions, and for sure increase equipment lifetime, like the filter units, and reduce the compressed air usage. If you sum up all of that, the return in investment is it might be quite fast, of course, for large big large installations might be within two years, but it’s still a very fast return in investment for that particular solution. That’s what it looks like. A little bit, let’s say, zoom in. You see that they’re not nice looking, but they indicate graphically where the issues are, the number of issues, on this screen about thresholds alerts. The second one on the right side, is like the number of cycles. Imagine that every pulse valve would have, about a couple of millions of cycles of lifetime. Here, you can at least predict when or how many spare parts that, you need to have in the next quarter. And then, the yellow or red signals means that, red gone, you have is a faulty. And the white ones or the red the yellow ones are the ones that, you need to watch because they’re getting closer to the lifetime dead of lifetime. The other aspect is, like I said, when thus collector systems, you acquire that without the solution, it comes with this sequence box, which basically is a time based posting. So it keeps posting three to six minutes, like I I said, hundred milliseconds, but it can change. It’s it’s fixed. And that means that leads to, an excessive use of the post valve. So you’re going to wear out quite sooner than it should, but also reduce the valve back life because stretching the the the back filters, of course, you’re gonna also wear out, and you waste much more compressed air than than probably you should. That’s why we implemented this other two types of a post jet cleaning methodologies. One is on demand. That really depends on the high differential pressure between the the chamber and, you can set, in the in the solution how these multiple filter lines are going to operate normally, And this differential pressure threshold can be, for example, when the efficiency is getting bad, the differential pressure gets lower. And then if that is within a certain band, you can estimate that, there is accumulation of the cascade. The other one is very, intelligent. It’s a function block, in our PLC that, does a dynamic change. So, therefore, you put the single set point and the adaptive algorithm based on the virtual pressure starts controlling the intervals between the posts. So the idea is that to optimize by eliminating unnecessary posts in the cycle of these valves and also minimizing the compressed air. Of course, when you install the solution and, you put the set point for the first time, the system needs a little bit time to learn, and it’s a learning algorithm that, starts adapting. And very soon, it starts performing optimally. Okay? Shawn Tierney (host): Hey, everybody. I just wanna jump in here one more time. Just thank our members, both on YouTube and at the automationblog.com. I got some really exciting stuff coming up for you guys, in the fall. I’m I just have this huge plan that I’m working on. And so, I really just thank you guys for being members. Don’t forget, you get access to Discord. Don’t forget, there’s a whole library of older episodes you get to watch. It’s such just what I’m doing this month for members. It’s, you get a whole library of stuff. We did so much member only content over the last couple of years that you have hundreds literally hundreds of hours of content that you and only you get access to as a member, whether you’re on YouTube or you’re at theautomationblog.com. And, of course, if you have any questions about your membership, reach out to me directly, please. And with that, let’s go ahead and jump back into this week’s show. Eugenio Silva (Emerson): And that looks like that. This is just another, possibility to see. You see that, on the left side, you see a particular rows, and each of these rows have the filter bags. Each filter bag has a vertical bar that indicates the healthy of that solenoid diaphragm is on the top. And then, each of these compartments can navigate from one to another. Then you have other additional elements like the header pressure, differential pressure, particle density, and you have a trained diagram that, you are able also to generate reports, but you also also to to monitor, in order to to type a little bit, the parameters in order to be more efficient. And then, completely right side, if you have more than one dust collector, you can create different screens if you want. But the idea here is that the C1, C2 means compartment one, two, three. Again, a diagnostics that leads to preventative predictive maintenance and avoids completely reactive maintenance. Interesting, if you don’t know, in order to replace a single filter, in order to check if a solenoid valve is completely short circuits, In order to see if, a diaphragm valve is open, you needed to get there in this personal protection equipment using mask, gloves. You need to go up. You need to kind of get to know where these things are. And imagine that if you could avoid and just look at the screen and say, hey. I know that this is the compartment one of the filter a, and I know where I needed to look at. And by the way, I have the spare part because I had early indications to fix it. So then we are not just talk about reduction time, but, I guess, reduction costs and avoid to put people every time in such a very interesting environment. Okay? I’m not going through the the right part because you can imagine that this is a description of how things are usually done. And if you turn this around into a proactive predictive maintenance, then you have less and maybe faster steps. And you can prevent and can plan in advance when you wanna go with these, units, and you have to wear this equipment for protection. So very quickly in the developer position. Of course, like any solution, customers are interested to know if, they can pay off payback very quickly. So the return investment of that. So that’s why we check, the size, the number of, units, what’s the minimum size the customer could start with, because the it’s a pre engineered solution, how fast it could be that we implement in the whole site. It could be also, of course, calculate how much their current expenditure in terms of maintenance, reactive maintenance, the cost of utilities like compressed air, how many times they have to or they have downtime issues. And from that, we can prove very quickly, very simply that, it’s worth investing in automation. 20 to 30% of our reduction is a lot if you consider that they use a huge amount of compressed air. And compressors, they use electricity. So, therefore, if you’re able to reduce compressed air, you also increase your operation efficiency because cost of utilities is one of the points. Downtime is everything. Maintenance, it’s about preventing that you need to do these manual inspections. Just go there, check, and come back, and you see that, okay, we could wait for another week. But because I’m here, I’m going to change anyhow the filter. And that, of course, you’re not, increasing the lifetime of our equipment. And interesting that some downstream equipment, like the blowers, like the vacu pumps, if they get a lot of dust or excessive dust, they also, damage them. So therefore, maximizing maintenance, optimizing every step pays off in that sense. And finally, of course, customers do that because they want the full compliance. Every possible issue can be tracked, can be report. The efficiency of the systems can be audit ready, reports. It can re really prove that you can you are reducing part commissions. You provide a lot of visibility what’s going on. So, therefore, the technical teams are in very high confidence to operate the system. Because if without, they are operating blindly, And that’s why they feel a bit concerned many times that, might be that the bad things are just going to happen. In a nutshell, we talk about savings, extending the filter life. We talk about savings, reduce the compressed air. We can avoid downtime. Each downtime is one event that costs not only in the maintenance part here, but also the whole production costs that are not calculate here. And half the penalties that, if you have a single issue, it’s gonna be a big one. So, therefore, it’s a good way to give customers an idea why they should invest the CapEx parts and how we can help with the OPEX to save, their budgets in the sense of operating dust collector systems. So, Shawn, if I have time three minutes, I’m going to run this HMI demo because then you can see on the screen how the different screens are operated, but it’s up to you if I if I if if I need to do that. Shawn Tierney (host): Yeah. Go ahead. Eugenio Silva (Emerson): Okay. So this is an HMI demo, of course, simulated here because imagine it’s not possible to connect to live or to have all this whole equipment. So then I’m going to click here. So, basically, you see how a operator would navigate the type of information that, is provided. I made this click through very quickly because then we don’t owe too too much time here. But you see that, you are able to trend the particle density, the air consumption. You can set the alarms. You can indicate which boost valve is not okay. How is the level of filter bags? And now the settings. The cleaning, these are the parameters that you can adjust. Like I said, we have an adaptive learning algorithm, but in many cases, you needed to steer at least set up, the sensors as well, how sensible sensitivity of that. There are many different thresholds. And then the diagnostic part, for the diaphragm and the rupture where you can detect. And once this is done, you can see that, you have, quite, interesting information. For example, if you change, you devolve, you reset the counter. These are the alarms that you can acknowledge, etcetera. Okay? And, that’s it. That was the case. Shawn Tierney (host): Yeah. That gives you a good idea of what you’re getting with as far as the HMI is concerned, and, it’s good to see a full screen. I mean, it looks it looks like a very well designed HMI. From my perspective, it looks like it’s really giving you it’s focusing in on any errors. So you have, like, just standard graphics, a very good looking graphics, and then if there’s an error, you see it in red or yellow, really calls the eye to it. But, Eugeno, I see that, there’s a QR code on the screen right now. Can you tell people where that goes? Eugenio Silva (Emerson): Yes. It goes to the product page on our Emerson.com site. And from there, you can request for demo. We can request for proposal. We can request for more information. So this is the entry point for you to go to know, how it how we provide that solution, which kind of, basic elements. And there, we have also the related product pages if you wanna get, get to know more. Shawn Tierney (host): And I think the important part here is a lot of times you you, you know, when when you have a dust collector system that is that is constantly needing care, right, to keep you in compliance and make sure your products are products are being made correctly and you’re keeping people safe and all of that, You know, these systems, you’re gonna they’re they’re gonna be expensive. And, you know, larger systems, of course, are gonna be expensive. And so that cost savings, it’s like energy savings we do with VFDs on pumps and fans. Right? Or energy savings we do when we’re doing lighting, the folks over at Emerson are gonna wanna help you kinda quantify that because, you know, they know that for you to be able to justify not only, hey. This has given us a lot of problems. We know it’s costing us money. You also wanna know your ROI. Right? And so they’re gonna work with you on that because that’s on these big projects, those are those are some of the things that we have to look at to be able to, you know, to budget correctly. Anybody who has ever been in the budgeting part of a company knows you just don’t spend money because it’s fun. You know, you have to have a reason beyond everything. So I would I would guess I’m right on that, Eugenio. Eugenio Silva (Emerson): Yes. And, Shawn, although I just covered the technical part, of course, without any commitment, we can talk to customers and consult them Yeah. To look it around and see, in terms of maturity, how they operate this dust collector systems. We can, of course, check the install base. We have a questionnaire, that can fill it in. We can understand the size. We can, for example, talk about the energy consumption, the number of, hours that they are spend or active maintenance. And based on that, we give them opportunity to analyze whether they want to invest in that solution, which is a CapEx investment, but, also improve how much reduction they could have on the OPEX part. Shawn Tierney (host): Yeah. Which is which is, yeah, how they’re gonna justify it. Well, Eugeno, I wanna thank you for going through that. I really enjoyed your presentation. I learned a lot more about about, this product line and actually this product category than I that I knew coming in, and you’re I think you did a great job of walking us through it all. So thank you very much for coming on the show. Eugenio Silva (Emerson): Shawn, on behalf of Emerson, we appreciate this opportunity. It’s my first one here, so I also enjoy it, and this was was great. A great conversation, great questions, and, thank you. Shawn Tierney (host): Well, I hope you enjoyed that episode. I wanna thank Eugene for coming on the show and bringing us up to speed on dust collector systems. I really didn’t know all of those technical details, and I really appreciate him going through that. And it’s cool to see how they integrated so many different Emerson products into that solution. I mean, it’s just not like a PLC into my o. The sensors, this I mean, you guys, sorry. I’m not gonna go through it again. But in any case, really appreciate that. And I also appreciate our members who made the video addition possible. Thank you, members. Your $5 a month not only locks this video, but so many other videos that we’ve done, hundreds of videos I’ve done over the last twelve years. So thank you for being a member and supporting my work. I also wanna thank the automationschool.com and the automationblog.com. I hope you guys listened to that update that I included in the show. So many good things happen at both places. I hope you guys would take a moment to check out both websites. And with that, I just wanna wish you all good health and happiness. And until next time, my friends, peace. The Automation Podcast, Episode 241 Show Notes: To learn about becoming a member and unlocking hundreds of our “member’s only” videos, click here. Until next time, Peace ✌️  If you enjoyed this content, please give it a Like, and consider Sharing a link to it as that is the best way for us to grow our audience, which in turn allows us to produce more content

We talk to Matt Asbill from Motion Industries he blows our minds with all the wealth of knowledge the guy has about VFD's trouble shooting and applicationsIn this episode, dive deep into the technicalities of HVAC systems with guest expert Matt. Sponsored by Western Meyer Industries and Parker Sporlan, we touch on the importance of differential pressure monitors, the viability of using VFDs during various seasons, and the significance of contactor cycles. Learn about common issues like motor failures, control transformer burnouts, and the specifics of pulse width modulation. Matt shares insightful tech tips for troubleshooting and maintaining efficient HVAC systems, ensuring you stay ahead of common pitfalls. Whether you're dealing with random over current trips, phase imbalances, or programming quirks, this episode is packed with valuable solutions. With a mix of expert guidance and some light-hearted humor, this is a must-watch for every HVAC technician out there!

Shawn Tierney meets up with Jackie Stokes of Siemens to learn how to commission VFDs using StartDrive in this episode of The Automation Podcast. For any links related to this episode, check out the “Show Notes” located below the video. Watch The Automation Podcast from The Automation Blog: Listen to The Automation Podcast from The Automation Blog: Read the transcript on The Automation Blog: (automatically generated) Shawn Tierney (Host): Everybody, thank you for tuning back in. In this episode, I actually meet back up with Jackie Stokes from Siemens to learn how to use a start drive to commission Siemens drive, specifically the g one twenty and the g two twenty. Although, I’m sure some of the other drives are very similar. And this actually came from a request from a viewer who’s who asked that we have somebody on the show us that. And because I’m not the expert, I reached out to Jackie and she agreed to come on. So I’m looking forward to that. Now we’re gonna cover the g one twenty. The g two twenty, we’re gonna cover how to change Siemens drives to be Ethernet IP instead of PROFINET. They have Ethernet IP built in, which is really cool. And then we’re gonna cover some free training they have coming up. I will include those links below as well as the links from Jackie below in the description. You should see that on all platforms. And I do wanna reach out to you and ask for a favor. I’m coming up on my ten year anniversary of doing this full time, and I was hoping that you guys could help me out to reach a 100,000 subscribers on YouTube. Now I know a lot of you listen on Apple, a lot listen on Spotify, a lot of you consume the shows over at the automationblog.com, and I appreciate you all. But I thought, wouldn’t it be great if I could hit a 100,000 subscribers over on YouTube by the end of the year? And maybe if we do, we could have a celebration. We could do a live stream, do some q and a. I’d love to hear what you guys thought over I actually started the channel twelve years ago. I was doing a part time to start, and I’d love to know what your favorite episodes were or what episodes what kind of episodes you like to see in the future. And so if you guys I know even if you’re on another platform, if you do have a YouTube account, if you could swing by, it’s at insights I a. That’s a lot shorter than insights in automation. So I shortened it up, I think it was a year ago or two years ago. So it’s at insights I a. Again, if you guys are up to it, I’d love to try to hit a 100,000 subscribers by the end of the year to celebrate my tenth year doing this full time. And with that, let’s go ahead and jump into how to use StarDrive to set up and commission Siemens VFDs like the g one twenty and g two twenty. Jackie, welcome back to the show. I’m so happy to have you back on and here to talk about using, Siemens VFDs inside of TIA portal. Now we’ve talked about your VFDs so many times on the show over the years, and but we’ve never actually, like, put one in TIA portal and tried it out. And I had actually had a a viewer ask about that. So thank you for agreeing to come back on. And just in case, some of the audience members didn’t watch the previous episodes where you were on, Could you quickly introduce yourself before jumping into our topic for today? Jackie Stokes (Siemens): Sure. And thanks for having me back on the show. So my name is Jackie Stokes. I am a marketing programs development manager at Siemens. I work in the motion control business unit. I’ve been in the business for, oh my goodness, I’m getting old, like, fourteen years now. So I but I’ve been with Siemens for about three and a half years. So, yeah, we’ve talked about, our drives family. I think most recently, we talked about the Synamix g two twenty drive with Ivan, one of our product managers. But, yeah, happy to be back and talking about how to integrate our VFDs into portal. Shawn Tierney (Host): Yeah. And I appreciate that. I mean, you don’t know what you don’t know. And so when we’re going to integrate our first, you know, drive into TIA Portal, it’s kinda like, well, what do we do? And so I wanted to have you on. I I could have fumbled through it myself, but I’m like, why not just talk to the experts? So let me turn it back to you, and, let’s go ahead and jump in. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): Yeah. Sure. So, I have just brief slides before we get hands on. I have a demo unit with me, but just wanna cover what we’re talking about. So we’re talking about our general purpose VFD. It is called SINAMICS g one twenty. So Sinamics is the name of our drive family, and g stands for general purpose. So that’s kind of the decoder ring for Sinamics g one twenty. It does come in a few different flavors. It comes in a modular version version, which we’re using today. It comes in a compact version, which is g one twenty c, And it also comes in a distributed or on machine version, which is, g one twenty d or a similar drive, g one fifteen d, and that d is for distributed. So the modular version of this drive, comes with a control unit, a power module, as well as an operator interface. So you can kind of see on the pictures to the right, what this looks like. So the control unit can be separated from the power, module, and then the operator interface can be separated from the components as well. So we’re using control unit two forty e Dash two p n dash f, and then we’re using a power module two forty dash two IP 20. The firmware version, I believe, is the latest. It’s firmware version 4.7 service pack 14 hotfix four. And the software, we are using start drive. StartDrive is our software for commissioning drives, and it’s in TIA Portal. So if you don’t, have a TIA Portal license, to program our PLCs, for instance, StartDrive is free. So you can download StartDrive and it will open essentially in TIA Portal. It’s just that if you’re using the free version of StartDrive and you don’t have a license for TIA Portal like programming the PLCs, you won’t be able to program a PLC in it, but you will be able to commission your drive. So that’s the little distinction between Start Drive and TIA Portal. There is also a Start Drive Advanced, for advanced features and programming in the drive that you do have to pay for, but, most of what you can do and what we’ll do today, you can do in the free version of StartDrive, and we’ll give you a link to that, how to download StartDrive. And, of course, this is just one way to commission a drive. You can also commission it with that industrial operator panel, the IOP dash two, which you can see on your screen. We also have a basic version of it, and then we do have a smart access module which generates, a Wi Fi hotspot, and then you can, you know, step away from the drive, connect on your phone. So three different ways to commission that drive. But if you’re a portal user and you’re using a Siemens PLC or maybe you just, you know, want to do this in software, it’s really easy to do as well. So I’m going to give you a brief overview of what we’re doing, so the procedure, and then I’ll jump into the software and show you what we’re doing. So basically, basic, we’re going to start off with opening TIA Portal, creating a new project, we’ll go online with the drive via accessible devices. This is where we have the opportunity to assign a name and IP address to the drive, and then we will add the drive to the project. So we are going to upload the device as a new station. So once it’s in the project, we’ll go online with the drive. We’re gonna use a commissioning wizard, which is gonna step us through all the parameters and settings that we need to commission the drive. We’ll do a motor ID and tuning and optimization. And then finally, we’ll just kind of take a look at the parameters and other features that we can see in portal. So with that, I am going to switch screens. So now we are in, my other computer, which we’re gonna use to program the drive. So what we’re gonna do is we’re gonna open TIA portal. I already have it open, but you can see the icon here. We are gonna use TIA Portal v 20, so this is the latest version of Portal. And this is what it looks like when you open Portal. What you wanna do is create a new project. So I’m just gonna hit create a new project. We’ll call this g column 20. Okay. So if you’ve never seen TIA Portal before, you have a lot of different options, and it can be slightly overwhelming. So I recommend we go to project view, and that’s a good way to just jump into what we need to see, for our commissioning. So the first thing we wanna do so this is what portal looks like. A lot of different windows, a lot of things going on. At the end, I’ll talk about some free training we have. If you’re unfamiliar with portal and you want to, just see what it looks like and understand all the windows and buttons and how to be efficient in the tool. But for today, I’m just gonna show you the commissioning. So under online access, I’m just gonna expand this on the left hand side. So this is our project tree. You can see we don’t have any devices here. You could add a new device if you wanted, but right now, we’ll just look at our online access. So these are all the things that we can access online, our communications. I’m gonna click up here, which is accessible devices. And up here, this is how we’re gonna find the drive. So on my computer, I am networked to the drive. So I’m connected to an Ethernet switch on the drive itself, and then my computer has two Ethernet ports, and the port I’m looking for is this, gigabit network connection. So this is the one that’s tied to the drive. You may have to adjust these settings on your own PC in order to see the drive. But, once you have these configured, you know, you can see different options here. You’re gonna hit start search, and as we’re waiting, one thing to keep in mind is you will need to configure your network adapter settings so that you’re on the same subnet mask as this drive. So, just make sure your PC is configured properly. Otherwise, it won’t be able to find the drive. So here we are. We see this G 120 Drive one. It has this IP address, one nine two point one six eight point zero point one, and you can see the device type here. So, earlier I mentioned that control unit, that CU two forty e, that is the drive we’re connected to. So we’re gonna hit show here. We’re gonna highlight it, and then we’ll hit show. Shawn Tierney (Host): Now just for the audience who is listening, there is an option there to flash the screen. So like I showed you with the PLCs in previous episodes, you can do that with the drive as well. It has a little checkbox here. So if you had three or four drives side by side, you could make sure you connect it to the right one by flashing the screen. So go ahead. I’ll turn it back to you, Jackie. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): Yeah. That’s a that’s a good point. So right. I I have just one demo unit in my room, so I know what I’m connected to, but that is that’s a very good point. You can flash that little LED. So now you can see we have under online access, under this, gigabit port network connection, we have this g one twenty drive, and this is where we can go to online and diagnostics, and we can make some changes here. So you’ll see, we know we’re online. So this is another key thing when you’re commissioning drives or any devices within or working with devices within TIA Portal is making sure you’re online with the the correct device and and that you are online. And so this turns to orange up here, and you can see, like, online access here. So that’s an indication that you are online with that device. So we’ll go to functions here, and this is where you can assign a name. So if you wanted, we could call this drive underscore one. And then what you do is just hit assign name. And then, like, let’s say we wanna change the IP address to dot three, and we’ll assign the IP address. So we changed the name, we changed this IP address. If you double click on update accessible devices, you can see that our drive one drive underscore one name changed and that, the IP address changed. So that’s what we that’s what we’re looking for. So we just made those changes to the drive. Now what we can do, and, actually, once you change the IP address, you might need to cycle power. So I’m gonna cycle power to the drive. One second. But what we can do in the meantime is we can upload this device as a new station. So what this is going to do is it’s going to put the drive into the project and it’s creating this drive underscore one. And it’s giving us a little bit of a warning, but that’s okay. We’re gonna upload from the device. Okay. So now we see drive underscore one in our project tree. I’m going to kind of minimize this online access, and we’re gonna look at the drive up here so we don’t get too confused. So here, we wanna make sure we want to go online with the drive so we can make sure you so, you know, once you if you’re following along, you wanna make sure you select this drive, especially if you have lots of other things in your project tree, because you can go online with a lot of different things. So if you have I remember when I was first learning, portal yeah. If you don’t have the right thing selected and you select go online and you’re going online with something else, that’s not quite right. So make sure you have it selected and then hit go online up here. It’s this little orange connector. And then you’ll see this green check mark. So that indicates that we are online and connected and the drive is happy. So now we’ll go to the commissioning wizard. So under here, we’ll double click commissioning, and we have a few options here. So you see the commissioning wizard. We see control panel, motor optimization, and this backup and restore. So we’ll start here with the commissioning wizard. And then, basically, it’s just gonna step us through how we wanna set up this drive. So we have some options here, the application class. So, there’s expert, which means that all the options are available in the wizard. There’s standard drive control, which again is the most common applications. And then we have dynamic drive control. So these are more advanced applications. So you can kinda read through this. And if you had questions about what I should be using, you can click this little green arrow here at the bottom for online help. So we’ll just click standard drive control, and we’ll hit next. And this is where you have the option. You need to tell it, are you connected to a PLC? If you are, where that ramp function is. Is it in the PLC, or are you gonna do it in the drive, or is it gonna be a standalone drive, no PLC? So I’ll walk through this scenario with, standard drive no PLC, and then I can also show you what it looks like if you go the PLC route and how that configures. But a lot of the things are are the same. So you have an IO configuration here. You have some options. I’m gonna choose 12. As you can see at the top here, they’re predefined interconnections of the inputs and outputs. However, you can change them later. So, choose the one that best fits your application, but, again, keep in mind, you can change it later if, you change your mind or need to change something. We’ll click next. We are using this motor. So I’m just gonna keep this here, this IEC, and then two twenty volt. We do not have a breaking resistor, and we do not have a filter. Again, this is where you have the option to select a filter if you are using one, and then it’ll give you a few more. I’ll just show you an example. So if we had a a sine wave filter third party, you would have to input these values. But for this application, we’ll choose no filter, and then we’re gonna enter the motor data. So this is where you’re going to need to read your motor nameplate data, and then we’ll input the motor nameplate data here. So right now we have point nine seven, point one eight and kilowatts, and then 350 RPM, and then we’ll hit next, and then we’ll hit next. This is where, I wouldn’t don’t touch the current limit. I’m not gonna touch the minimum speed or maximum speed. You have the option here to change your ramp up time or ramp down time if you want. So just, for example, we’ll change these values here, and we’ll click next. You have an option to change the application, so constant loads, speed to dependent load, and then the motor identification. So if you want, inhibited, identifying motor at standstill, or motor data identification. So I’ll click, this option two here, and then it says that the motor data identification will be performed at the next time that the drive is enabled. And then we’ll hit next. And then here, we’ll save the RAM to ROM, so it’ll be saved in the drive. And then we’ll hit and you can see the summary up here. So, you have the opportunity, like, if you’re reading through this and maybe you mistyped your motor current, you can go back and, change that setting right now if you wanted. So I would recommend that you read through this, make sure it’s all correct, and then hit finish. So now we are saving to the eprom. I’m going let’s see what’s so it says maintenance required in lower component. So we’re gonna look at diagnostics here. So you can see, sometimes you wanna you know, if this is unhappy, you kinda wanna see what’s going on. So we’ll go to this online and diagnostics here. Diagnostics, general. Okay. So you can see, you know, we have our name of our drive and the part number, but let’s look at active faults on alarms. Okay. And what it doesn’t like, the motor data identification activated. So it basically, it’s looking for that motor data, and that’s why it’s it’s giving us this little maintenance required. So what we can do is we’ll go back into commissioning. We’ll go into motor optimization here. And so once you click on it, it’s gonna give you a warning. This motor identification is performed once the drive is enabled. So we’ll click okay. And then what we can do so first, what you can we’ll hit, activate here. We’ll click accept, and then we’ll switch on. And then our motor ID is done. And you can see here, it has switched from that, kind of wrench icon to this green checkbox icon, which means that we did a good job. Shawn Tierney (Host): So it went through and, identified the motor. It applied power to the motor, and I couldn’t see what was happening with the motor. Did it turn the motor at all, or did it just supply power to it? Or Jackie Stokes (Siemens): Yes. So it just supplied power to it. So and you can see here the the following parameters are determined or changed when the motor with with the motor data identification. So this is what it’s looking at. And we did a stationary measurement, so it did not rotate during that measurement. Shawn Tierney (Host): Okay. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): And then we can deactivate control. Yes. Okay. And then we can look at the control panel. So this is kinda cool. This allows you to test the drive in TIA Portal. You know, we didn’t write any PLC programming. We haven’t, you know, since I have this demo unit, it’s wired up for these particular, you know, little switches that I have on it. But Mhmm. Regardless and independent of that, we can actually, you know, kinda jog and turn on the drive and just test it out. So I’m gonna hit activate master control. And again, it’s gonna give us a warning because the drive can move. So just be aware of what you’re doing. It wants to make sure you’re you’re okay with this. So I’m gonna hit accept. We can give it a speed set point, so we’ll give it 200 RPM, and then we can give it a forward command. We can tell it to go backwards. We can increase the speed. And, you know, you can jog forward to this momentary push button here. And yeah. So it says a nice way to to kinda test it out right here. And then we can deactivate the control. And so and then once you’ve done this, you know, you can go to backup and restore. So this will save RAM to RAM. We can save it here. It’ll save RAM to RAM. One thing that I should have done when I was first starting out, and that is restore to factory settings. So I won’t do this now, but you can you know, if you get in a situation where you do need to restore to factory settings or, you gotta drive from somewhere else and you need to restore it, you can do that within TIA Portal. So we could do that now and then and then redo the commissioning. So occasionally at least in my experience with the demo units, sometimes they come in and you don’t know what someone has done with them. Sure. So you wanna start with this. But since I’ve been playing around with this demo, for the past few days, I kinda know what’s in it. Shawn Tierney (Host): Yeah. And that would be important too if you took the if you’re repurposing it from one application to another, you definitely wouldn’t wanna wipe out everything, restore it to the factory defaults before you, before you use it on a new application. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): Yes. And that is something, that’s something you can do in, that online access area. So once you’re you know, so here, when you first saw that drive before you upload it as a new station, you have that ability. You know, again, it’s in that commissioning menu. It’s it’s mirrored up here too. Yeah. But you can go there and do that backup and restore. So that’s the best practice, again, if you’re repurposing a drive. But if it’s out of the box, you know, it’s already at factory default. So once your drive is in a good state, you’ve done your commissioning, you’ve saved RAM to ROM. What you want to do is you want to make sure your drive is selected, which it should be, but we’ll just go offline here. And then what you wanna do, just to be sure so your project should match what was in the drive, but, a good best practice here is to upload from the device. So that means your project will match whatever is in the drive right now. So this is just warning us, this Telegram configuration, but we’ll hit upload from device. And then we will save our project. So that is, how you make sure your project now matches the drive. And then if you wanted, you could, you know, have another drive that you’re connecting to, and you could then download to that device, but we know the project matches. So that was a good overview of commissioning basic commissioning for Synamix g one twenty. Our newer drives look a little different. The commissioning wizard is different. So we’re coming out with our next generation of Synamics drives, two drives to look out for. One is our motion drive. So it’s a servo motion. It is the Synamix s two ten, and then we have a new drive, the Synamix g two twenty, who Ivan, our product manager for that product, was on the show about a year ago and talked in-depth about it. But the whole product family sits a little bit higher than the g one twenty in terms of, capabilities and performance. So it’s not a successor to the g one twenty. It’s it’s a complement to the product portfolio. But I’ll just give you an overview of what that looks like. We can since I don’t have this demo myself, right now, I’m gonna add a new device. So, again, another idea if, let’s say, you wanted to get your project already so that once your drive arrives, you can just simply download to it. Another way to do this is to add a new device here in your project tree instead of scanning for it, you know, on the network, assuming you’re connected to a physical device. We can just add it here, do all the commissioning, set up all the parameters, and then once you get the physical drive, you can download to that drive. So, as you can see here, on the left hand side, we have controllers, HMI, PC systems, drives. So it’s gonna let you add whatever you want to your project. I have it selected on drives, and we’ll name this, g two twenty. And then here, you know, we’re just gonna filter down. So you see all of our g drives here. The g two twenty is at the bottom. We’ll do g two twenty PROFINET also means Ethernet IP, and make sure the version, article number, and we’ll hit okay. Ah, so if you listen to Ivan’s overview of the g two twenty, one of the new features is its security. And when we say security here in this context, we’re talking about user security. So user management and access control, also known as UMAQ or abbreviated UMAQ. So what you have the opportunity to do here is to configure your security settings. If you want, you can also continue with low security settings. But this is what this looks like. I’ll just kinda walk through what it looks like. So start a new configuration, what it is. So if you’re unfamiliar with user manage management and access control, this is what it tells you you can do with this tool. So you can enable UMac for the project and prompt users to log in in order to work with the project. You can enable UMac for the drive and prompt users to log in in order to work with the drive via the web server and start drive. So one of the new commissioning options that you have with our next generation of drives is a web server. And, again, I don’t have the drive with me now, so I won’t show you the web server. We’ll just show you TIA Portal, but that’s what it’s referring to when it says this web server. So just be aware if you check these boxes, and then these later steps will go through, you will have to know your username and password or you will not be able to access this drive. So, just remember to save save your passwords, if you do yes. If you do go down this route. Now, the scenario of I lost my password, I lost my username, I can’t access this drive. How do I get around that? Well, the only way to get around that is you’re going to have to get a u sorry, an SD card and insert that into the drive and it will have just reset. Txt on it, so a reset text file. Shawn Tierney (Host): Okay. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): Yes. So there is a way. It’s you’re not totally, you know, in trouble there, but, you will have to reset the whole drive. So there’s no there’s no, secret way of getting around it. So if you do enable that, that is how you would restore your drive or get access to it again, and then you can see here. So, data encryption, if you wanted, you could do this, Activate user controls incomplete. Ah, okay. So it said it was incomplete because we did not specify a password, so we have to specify a password here. And I think it has some requirements for your password, so you just wanna make sure you remember this one. We’ll hit okay and then next. It doesn’t like this. I have to click I have read the information above. Yes. Okay. Click next. Username. So you could allow a guest to enable access to the drive. It’s up to you. Uses the anonymous user, so we’ll hit yes. Allow data exchange via fieldbus. So is the anonymous user as they is used for fieldbus communication. So again, just want to make sure you understand these settings. The SDI standard panel access, so we’ll allow the drive to be changed via the standard panel without a username and password, web server access, so again going through all the different ways to access this drive and making sure you are okay with how you’re accessing it. Data encryption, next, and then we will hit finish. So it’s pretty in-depth. Again, you if you don’t want to, you can skip the security settings. You can also go back and reconfigure them too. So if you’re just working on this project, you know, you don’t you can configure it later. So here, similar to that, drive one, which is the g one twenty, we have all of our options here. We’re gonna go to device configuration or yes. So we’ll look at our device configuration. You can see here, we have our Synamix g two twenty. We have a motor here, which we actually don’t have a motor. So let’s see here. Properties. Yes. So we just added the drive. We didn’t add a motor. So we can add the motor here. This is where we’re gonna enter our motor data, for whatever motor we have. So I’m just gonna make up some values. This is what’s on my current demo unit, so point seven. Obviously, you wanna look at your motor nameplate and make sure it matches, and then we’ll go to our guided quick setup. So little different look and feel, compared to what we did with the g one twenty. It’s giving us a warning here, so the device is not specified. Specify the device first. We can click on this here. So it wants a little bit more information on what drive we’re using. Shawn Tierney (Host): Yeah. The power. Right? Jackie Stokes (Siemens): Yes. So, again, since we’re, we cheated well, I wouldn’t say cheated. But with the g one twenty, when you have it, when you’re online with it, you can upload as new station, so it’s detecting what you have. Mhmm. But since we don’t have that, we’re making this up in the project. It needs to know, the information. So we’re just gonna pick this one here to satisfy the requirement, and now it’s now it’s happy again. So we’ll go back to quick guided startup. Yes. And our warning went away. I’ll just move this down. Alright. So connection to the PLC. Define connection. Actually, I’m gonna minimize this window here. Yes. Do you want to connect it? Will it connect to a PLC via Telegram? In this case, we’ll say yes. It won’t be standalone. It’ll be connected to a PLC. And then do we want the ramp function in the drive, or do we want in the PLC? We’ll say we want it with the drive. And then, you know, if you’re using safety integrated functions via Prophysafe, you can check that box. So we have made our selections here. Actually, let’s I wanna see green check boxes at the top. Okay. So we’ve made our selection and you can see the green box. So we we have done completed this step. So select the application, we’re gonna select speed control, we’ll go next. The operating mode, so similar to that g one twenty, it’s asking a standard drive control, dynamic, and you can see how this changes, or selecting other closed loop control modes. So we’ll go back with standard drive control and click next. Here are the limits. So again, that maximum and minimum speed, this ramp up time, we’ll change it to five seconds. Our limits has turned green. So again, we have an option here, this fieldbus with data switch over. You can delete all these connections if you want, but, this is just how your digital inputs are, digital inputs, digital outputs, analog inputs, and analog outputs are connected. So you have the option if you wanna get rid of them, or if you want to to keep them and modify them. So we’ll just keep them, and we’ll hit next. Shawn Tierney (Host): Graphical mapping there of each digital and each IO point to the actual value in the drive, where the previous drive, we had a bunch of items to choose from. We chose 12, which was the standard, you know, your standard inputs and outputs and analog values. But here, it’s very graphical. I like this. This looks really cool, and it looks like it almost looks like I can go in, like, the where it says no connection. D I four. Right? No connection. It looks like you could choose, like, a yeah. Look at that list. A whole list of parameters that you could choose to put in that spot. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): Yes. Exactly. You can get to this setting in the g one twenty. It’s just not part of the commissioning. Shawn Tierney (Host): So Okay. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): So but that’s a that’s a good point. So in here, in the, you know, in this newest generation of drives, the commissioning, you have the option to set this up here. But, yeah, it you’re right. You can do it in the g one twenty, but it it doesn’t prompt you right from the get go. Shawn Tierney (Host): Okay. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): I’m gonna go back to application setting because I just wanna make sure I you can show more data. Let’s see. Okay. Now that looks good. Next. Telegram. Here we go. So since we’re talking to a PLC, it wants to know which Telegram we’re gonna use. So the Telegram is basically that exchange of data between PLC and drive. It comes from, like, the PROFI drive, profile. So it’s kind of a a PROFINET thing term, I guess, I should say. So you want to know what I’m trying to say is you wanna know what each of these telegrams mean in terms of status and control words and the information being exchanged between PLC and drive. So we usually use well, I shouldn’t say usually, but we use, like, Siemens Telegram three fifty two, for basic, like, speed control. But you can choose any of these telegrams, and I would encourage you, if you’re not familiar with telegrams, to, you know, look at the table, see what what kind of data is being exchanged between the drive and PLC, so that you’re selecting the correct one. And you can change this later if you want. So so, you know, so if, if you make the wrong selection here, you can go back and change it. Shawn Tierney (Host): Now it looks like it wants us to update the, IO configuration now because we changed the Telegram, which would make sense. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): Ah, yes. And, I’ll go back to that for a second. So if you go to this PZD interconnections and this and so this is, process data. That’s what the PZD kinda stands for. If we click on that, you can see here what, the Telegram configuration looks like. So you can see, you know, the alarm code, the fault code, current torque speed, and the control. And then that’s in the receive direction. So that’s just what it looks like here. K. And you’re right. So if we go IO configuration Yes. So you’re right. Since we are using Telegram three fifty two, we are not having these IO connections connected to parameters within the drive. Next. We’ll be prompted for this rotate and optimize. So again, we have this option, identify motor data, optimize PDs controller, identify motor data at standstill. So we’ll just keep that and hit next. And at the end here is our summary. So these are all the changes we made, similar to g one twenty. You can go through, make sure you set everything correctly, and then you would perform a download, except we, don’t have our drive yet. So you can’t quite do that right now. But what you can do, is you can save this. So you can save your project, and then once you get your drive, you can, go online with it and download to that drive. Shawn Tierney (Host): Excellent. I mean, it’s interesting to see the difference between the, the original one we looked at, the g one twenty, and then this model, the g two twenty, and to see how the the wizard changed over time. And it’s it’s just very interesting. This one seems to be more like like, it’s offering you more details upfront. And, but it’s good to know both because you may have a one twenty or a two twenty or some other drive, so understanding the different interfaces is very helpful. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): Yes. So now what I wanna show so right now we have this drive configured, to run with a PLC. We’ve have it configured for Telegram three fifty two. And then what we can also do so, like, say we’re in a scenario. Right now it’s configured all the drives are configured, for PROFINET out of the box this G120 and this G220. But let’s say we have a scenario where we need to configure it for ethernet IP. So maybe we’re using a non Siemens controller. How would you do that? So it’s a little different in the g two twenty compared to the g one twenty. So I just want to make, you know, our viewers aware of these differences. So what we wanna do in the g two twenty is we wanna go to this drive here. We’re going to hit properties. So we’re gonna pull up this window, so that we can see it while close out that commissioning window. So now we’re in the properties of this. And what we want to do is go to protection and security here. Shawn Tierney (Host): Mhmm. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): And ports and protocols, and this is the fieldbus and related protocol configuration. So this is where we can switch to Ethernet IP or Modbus TCP. We’re gonna switch to Ethernet IP, and then we’ll hit okay. And that’s all we had to do. So again here, you could right click. I think you can yeah. Right click and hit properties here, and then that would is how you find it. Shawn Tierney (Host): Nice. That was easy. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): Yes. Now what’s different is in the g one twenty, so we’ll go up here. It’s actually just a parameter in the g one twenty. Oh. So this is a little different. So what I do usually is I go to parameter view, and then I go to display extended parameters. So this shows all the parameters. And I’m gonna hit control f, so I’m gonna find it. And it’s parameter twenty thirty for field bus. Let’s go find it. And you can see here, you know, since we made this a standalone drive, it has no protocol, and this is where you can change it from PROFINET or Ethernet IP. Shawn Tierney (Host): Nice. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): So the big difference here is, like the g one twenty, the s one twenty, these all have a parameter, parameter twenty thirty, and you just change one parameter and it switches between Ethernet and PROFINET. In the newer drives, you have to go into the device properties, ports and protocols, and make that change if you wanna make it. Shawn Tierney (Host): That’s good to know. It’s, I don’t think I woulda guessed that. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): It was something we learned when we got our new demos. So is there anything else? Shawn Tierney (Host): I think that’s enough to get anybody started. I mean, it’s always good. If you have to sit down with a new VFD, it’s always good to have somebody kinda walk through it first, and then that gives you the confidence to get in there. You know you could get something working. And I I don’t think you’ll ever get through one of these commissionings without having to crack the book. You’ll definitely wanna read any literature that comes with the VFD. There’s safety stuff in there you gotta know about, because you’re gonna follow NEC and all those other applicable, codes, but, and all, you know, safety safety codes as well. But, you know, I think, you know, just having somebody it’s one thing to read a book. It’s another thing to see actually somebody walk through it. And I know I feel a lot more confident, that I’m, you know, now going and trying something out than I would have before you came on and showed us how to do this. So I really appreciate you, Jackie, the time. And I don’t know. Was there anything else you want to show? Jackie Stokes (Siemens): Yes. I do wanna show, some resources we have, to get you guys started and, you know, help you on your journey to commissioning cinematics drives in TIA Portal. So if you are new to, TIA Portal, Synamics drives, just integrating maybe a PLC into TIA Portal, integrating a drive into TIA Portal, we have a really cool tool. So, or I should say a really cool class. So it’s TIA University. So they’re free expert led workshops, and self study courses. So there are some basic video series. Again, most of this is for, you know, PLC, TIA Portal. However, they do incorporate how to integrate a Dynamics drive into this. So if you’ve never opened up TIA Portal or if it’s been a while, I recommend you do this TIA Test Drive class. So it happens every month. It’s a full day. It is virtual instructor led, so you’ll be able to remote into a TIA portal project and follow along with the instructor. So you will get to be hands on, but you can do it from your office, from home, from wherever. Again, it’s a day long class. You can download the syllabus here and take a look. So that’s the TIA test drive. Gives you a really nice overview of TIA Portal and all the things you can do with it. We also have another class called Merge Logics with TIA Portal. So if you’re a Rockwell user, familiar with Studio 5,000, Logix Designer, and you have a a TIA portal project or a Siemens project coming up and you’re like, oh, I’m not quite sure, how to do that. This gives you context of TIA or this presents TIA portal in the context of what you’re used to in Logix. So if you’re familiar with Logix, the instructor, kind of translates that into TIA Portal for you. So if you’re used to one thing, this is what it looks like in TIA Portal. So again, if you’re, you know, familiar with, Studio 5,000, this will give you a really nice overview. Similar to that TIA test drive class, it’s offered every month. It’s a day long class. It’s hands on but virtual. So, again, we use a hypervisor. You’ll be able to remote into a virtual machine and, get hands on with the software. So I encourage you guys to, join one of those classes or both. And then I also want to I’ll give you these links, or rather Shawn will in the video. So this just kind of covers, all things, Dynamics drives. I’ll link to our website, overview of our VFDs and our high performance and servo drives, distributor DC drives, digital drive train, and then our tools and resources. So we have our Siemens product configurator, sizer, TIA selection tool, SINAMICS selector mobile app, drive connections or drive applications. Here I’ve added this Ethernet IP connectivity. So if you are using SINAMICS drives on Ethernet IP, this will give you all the resources you need to set that up, one, in the drive and then, two, we have add on instructions, EDS files, things like that to make your life easier. And then of course TIA Portal, Dynamic Start Drive, this is what this looks like. So if you do not have Start Drive yet you can download the latest version here And again, that, start drive is within TIA Portal and it’s free, so feel free to download it. And with that, Shawn, it’s been so great to show you all about, TA portal and commissioning, so dynamics drives in it. So feel free to reach out to me again. Shawn Tierney (Host): Jackie, thank you so much for, taking time out of your busy schedule to do this for us. I know, you know, a, an audience member, you know, asked to, us to kinda cover that, and I’m like, you know, and I’m like, I’ll get Jackie back on the show. So thank you for coming on and showing us star drive and how you know, even though it’s integrated in the TI portal, that component allows us to commission our VFDs, you know, upload from download to them, change parameters, you know, identify the motor, and just everything you walked us through was very helpful. And I’m hoping the audience guys, let me know in the comments. Did you think that was helpful? And, do you have any follow-up questions? I think we covered so much territory. I don’t have any questions right now, but I would be, I would be interested in knowing what the audience thinks. And, again, Jackie, thank you so much for your time and for showing us how to use stock drive. Jackie Stokes (Siemens): Thank you, Shawn. Shawn Tierney (Host): Well, I hope you guys enjoyed that episode. I wanna thank Jackie for coming on and teaching us how to use stock drive. I’ve never used it before, so I really appreciate you’re coming on. And if there’s other things you guys wanna see, let me know. I’m have no problem reaching out to the vendors. Sometimes, like, great vendors like Siemens and Rockwell and Schneider and other great vendors, they come on and they’ll they’ll offer it. Sometimes I get crickets, but that’s okay. You don’t know until you try. So if there’s anything else you’d like to see, let me know. And if you do have a YouTube account, maybe you’re watching this on YouTube or you’re listening on Apple or Spotify or at the automationblog.com, please consider giving me a sub over on YouTube. I really would like to try to hit a 100,000 subscribers before the end of the year. It’s kind of a stretch goal, but, you know, this is my tenth year doing this full time, twelfth year since I’ve created the, created the blog and the YouTube site. And I’d really like to see if we couldn’t hit that. I don’t ask a lot. I you know, I’m not one of those people who like to ask for subs and likes and whatnot. I know you have to do it, but in any case, if you guys don’t mind, I’d love to try to hit that number. So if you can help, that would be awesome. In any case, with all that said, I wanna wish you good health and happiness. And until next time, my friends, peace. The Automation Podcast, Episode 240 Show Notes: Special thanks to Jackie for coming back on the show, and to Siemens for sponsoring this episode so we could release it Ad Free! Below you’ll find the timestamps Shawn mentioned in the intro, and helpful links  Jackie provided: Timestamps G120: 9:39, 14:59 G220: 28:09 Ethernet/IP: 43:41 Free Training: 47:59 Siemens VFD Links: SINAMICS StartDrive (within TIA Portal) for easy commissioning SINAMICS Low Voltage Drives website Resources for SINAMICS VFDs on EIP and integration with Allen-Bradley PLCs Resources for SINAMICS VFDs and High Performance drives Get started with TIA Portal. Free, one-day, virtual, instructor-led course Know Studio 5000 but not TIA Portal? Free, one-day, virtual, instructor-led course will guide you through TIA Portal, putting terms and practices into a familiar context Siemens documentation, technical support Until next time, Peace ✌️  If you enjoyed this content, please give it a Like, and consider Sharing a link to it as that is the best way for us to grow our audience, which in turn allows us to produce more content

Join Jim and Sam for the latest episode of ROK Talk on drives as they explore the risks corrosive gases can pose in your plant. Find out the reasons why VFDs are vulnerable to these gases and how to protect your plant. Learn how to combat corrosion-related downtime, protect your equipment in harsh environments and increase productivity. Leave a comment on Spotify or email us if you have suggestions for upcoming podcasts, to give us feedback or get information on new episodes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RAROKTalkDrives@rockwellautomation.com.⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, we're on location at Tigerflow in Dallas, TX, taking you inside the full build process of a packaged pump skid—from raw steel to a fully enclosed, job-site-ready system. I'm joined by Kasey Mitchell from Insight Partners and Leonel Amparano from Tigerflow as we walk through each phase: welding, painting, pump installation, VFDs, filtration, final assembly, and more. You can see the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel HVAC TV.

Join Brett Wetzel and Kevin Compass on this episode of the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast, where they dive deep into the week's escapades, including installing and troubleshooting VFDs set high in the air, navigating the quirks of Danfoss icad and CCM valves, and battling unforeseen issues with CO2 stores. They also share tips for overcoming common HVACR challenges, like high-pressure alarms, low receiver levels, and dealing with troublesome solid-state relays. Whether you're facing the world's smallest terminal blocks or trying to keep your cool with heat-radiated sensors, this episode has something for every refrigeration pro.

Join Brett Wetzel and Kevin Compass on this episode of the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast, where they dive deep into the week's escapades, including installing and troubleshooting VFDs set high in the air, navigating the quirks of Danfoss icad and CCM valves, and battling unforeseen issues with CO2 stores. They also share tips for overcoming common HVACR challenges, like high-pressure alarms, low receiver levels, and dealing with troublesome solid-state relays. Whether you're facing the world's smallest terminal blocks or trying to keep your cool with heat-radiated sensors, this episode has something for every refrigeration pro.

On March 5, 2025, Texas A&M Forest Service, through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) Assistance Program, has awarded 94 grants totaling .1 million. Grants proposed at this meeting will assist VFDs across Texas in purchasing equipment such as dry hydrants, fire and rescue equipment, personal protective equipment, and training aids. District 2 Emergency Services Inc. in Wilson County is among the recipients; the agency has been awarded ,000 for personal protective equipment. District 2 Emergency Services provides fire-protection and emergency medical services to a 39-square-mile area in northcentral Wilson County. Part of the department's funding comes from property taxes...Article Link

In this episode of Control Intelligence, written by contributing editor Jeremy Pollard, editor in chief Mike Bacidore explains the many advantages of variable frequency drives.

A fire broke out last night in Forest at Forest Lumber Company, multiple VFDs arrived to put the blaze out. MPD, Metro, and MFD responded to an accident on 35th Ave Tuesday, minor injuries were reported. Governor Tate Reeves sets a Special Election to replace Jennifer Branning's seat in the senate, Branning was just elected to the MS Supreme Court.

In this short podcast episode, Bryan answers a listener-submitted question: How do inverter air conditioners work? Inverter-driven systems have variable capacity to match loads. We can provide cooling or heating BTUs to match the needs of the space without overcompensating or undercompensating and causing temperature swings. Load matching also helps us get better efficiency out of the system. High-humidity climates also benefit from load matching, as equipment doesn't dehumidify well unless it has been running the entire time. When set up and designed properly, variable frequency drives (VFDs) improve comfort, efficiency, and even dehumidification. You can "overclock" your compressor to get more BTUs out of it without oversizing, particularly when you have high heating loads due to the cold weather. Inverter-driven equipment takes AC power in, runs it through a rectifier circuit, and turns it into rough power that resembles DC power. The current is then smoothed out and goes through the inverter bridge circuit. Unlike an analog AC wave, we rely on pulse-width modulation (PWM) to simulate three-phase power and control the motor speeds according to a space's needs. We typically troubleshoot residential inverter-driven equipment by following the manufacturer flowcharts and possibly by communicating with tech support. Commercial VFDs are external to the motors and tend to be a bit more universal rather than manufacturer-specific.   Watch the livestream about VFDs & inverters with Matthew Taylor and Corey Cruz HERE, and you can also watch the livestream about cold climate heat pumps with Ross Trethewey and Russ King HERE. Learn more about NCI's High-Performance HVAC Summit at https://www.gotosummit.com/.  Have a question that you want us to answer on the podcast? Submit your questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/hvacschool.  Purchase your tickets or learn more about the 6th Annual HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium. Subscribe to our podcast on your iPhone or Android.   Subscribe to our YouTube channel.  Check out our handy calculators here or on the HVAC School Mobile App for Apple and Android.

Join Kurt as he interviews the very knowledgeable Bill Hartwick, owner of Filter Specialties Inc.  They discuss VFDs (servo drives) and how they bring significant savings to plastics processing equipment of any vintage.  The savings are huge!For more information, you can contact Bill through Simcoe Plastics at:info@simcoeplastics.comAll messages will be relayed to him.Find Simcoe Plastics on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTubeFind Kurt Stahle on Linked-In and "That Plastics Guy" group.Subscribe to our newsletter, too!All links here https://linktr.ee/kurt_stahle

In this episode of Control Intelligence, editor-in-chief Mike Bacidore explains how variable frequency drives provide efficiency, reliability and safety in manufacturing.

In this short Q&A podcast episode, Bryan answers Jeremy's question about checking the charge on rooftop units, and he gives some RTU tips. Rooftop units often come in sets, so you can use a thermal camera to look at all of the RTUs and compare them. A thermal imaging camera may even show you where subcooling begins in the condenser, which can be a useful diagnostic hack. Try to avoid hooking up gauges each time you check the charge on a rooftop; RTUs have a fixed factory charge, and losses from your gauges can add up over time. Your senses will also come in handy; check for odd sights, sounds, and smells. Checking suction pressure and superheat is less risky and imperfect, but it'll give you some diagnostic data. You can also check discharge temperatures to check for signs of compressor overheating (remember: 225 stay alive).  Here are some tips for RTUs: Get familiar with the service manual and wiring diagrams; these items will help you with the job and help you build on your knowledge of RTUs in general. Make sure you have all of your materials at the ready, including extra screws. Make sure you have access to the BAS system, if necessary. Safety is critical on rooftop units, especially when it comes to ladders, lockout/tagout, and ensuring that you have safe access to the unit (this burden is often on the client).  Pay attention to specialized equipment, including ERVs and economizers. Be mindful of curb installation, transformer taps, and phase monitoring, as those items may not be set up properly. Build up a basic working knowledge of variable frequency drives or VFDs (or know where to find information about them; THIS livestream is a good start), Keep systems clean to prevent overheating. Prevent oil logging whenever you have to replace a compressor.   Have a question that you want us to answer on the podcast? Submit your questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/hvacschool.  Purchase your virtual tickets for the 5th Annual HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/Symposium24.  Subscribe to our podcast on your iPhone or Android.   Subscribe to our YouTube channel.  Check out our handy calculators here or on the HVAC School Mobile App for Apple and Android.

Today's episode is all about On-Machine® motor control solutions—both servo class drives as well as VFDs. Justin Garski joins Jim and Sam to offer his expert insight to wage the war of in-cabinet vs. decentralized solutions.  Take a look at our On-Machine Calculator to get a better understanding about what On-Machine solutions can do for you: https://configurator.rockwellautomation.com/#/configure/template/ROI Calculation Email us if you have suggestions for upcoming podcasts, to give us feedback or get information on new episodes ⁠⁠⁠RAROKTalkDrives@ra.rockwell.com.⁠⁠

In this episode of the Pumps & Systems podcast, we're speaking with Kevin Haggerty, Garry Queen and Adam Dillon from Dynamatic, who are going to be telling us about the differences between eddy current drives (ECDs) and variable frequency drives (VFDs) in pumping applications. Tune in the first Wednesday of every month for new episodes of the podcast! Pumps and Systems Podcast homepage: https://www.pumpsandsystems.com/podcast/ Pumps and Systems Magazine: http://www.pumpsandsystems.com Opening music: Know Myself - Patrick Patrikios Closing music: Freeling - Lauren Duski #pumps #podcast #drives #VFDs #ECDs

Ever want to go back to the future? Wonder where variable frequency drive (VFD) motor control technology came from? Dave Dahl turns on the way back dial as he joins Jim and Sam where he'll give an overview of VFDs and their significance in various industries over time. In this episode we'll go back in time and explore the history, evolution and impact of VFDs. Email us if you have suggestions for upcoming podcasts, to give us feedback or get information on new episodes ⁠RAROKTalkDrives@ra.rockwell.com.⁠

This week I meet up with Kelby Seyl of Unitronics to learn all about their PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, and Servos in this episode of The Automation Podcast. For more information, check out the "Show Notes" located below the video. Watch to the Podcast on The Automation Blog:  Listen to the Podcast on The Automation Blog: The Automation Podcast, Episode 197 Show Notes: Special thanks to The Automation School for making this episode possible! To learn more about their PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses, click on the link below: TheAutomationSchool.com Until next time, Peace ✌️  Shawn M TierneyTechnology Enthusiast & Content Creator Have a question? Join my community of automation professionals and take part in the discussion! You'll also find my PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com. If you found this content helpful, consider buying me a coffee here. (27 views)

Welcome to Episode #312 of the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast! In this riveting installment titled "VFDS: What The HeX Do These Parameters Do??," we delve deep into the perplexing world of Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) and their enigmatic parameters that often leave even seasoned professionals scratching their heads. Joining us in this episode is none other than the VFD Wizard himself, Matt Asbill from Motion Industries. With his unparalleled expertise and years of experience in the field, Matt demystifies the complex functionalities and settings of VFDs, shedding light on how they can be optimized for advanced refrigeration systems. Throughout this episode, we'll explore: The basics of VFD technology and its critical role in refrigeration applications. A deep dive into the most baffling VFD parameters, understanding what they do, and why they're essential. Practical insights from Matt Asbill on troubleshooting common VFD issues and optimizing performance for energy efficiency and longevity. Whether you're a seasoned engineer, a refrigeration technician, or just someone fascinated by the intricacies of refrigeration technology, this episode promises to enrich your understanding of VFDs and help you navigate their complexities with greater ease. Don't miss out on this enlightening discussion with special guest VFD Wizard Matt Asbill. Tune in to unravel the mysteries of VFD parameters and elevate your knowledge to the next level. Visit our website https://www.advancedrefrigerationpodcast.com/ for more episodes and resources to boost your expertise in advanced refrigeration systems. Remember to subscribe, share, and leave your feedback. Stay cool, and keep tuning in to the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast for more insights and expert discussions in the world of refrigeration.

We speak to Tony Furst from Armstrong Fluid Technology about proper VFD grounding and a phenomenon known as "Fluting". www.cintas.com/HVACKnowItAll Save 8% on your purchase https://www.trutechtools.com/ with promo code knowitall Check out the HVAC Know It All app app.hvacknowitall.com https://www.hvacknowitall.com/pages/about Visit HVAC Know It All on social media Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hvacknowitall/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hvacknowitall1/

Welcome to Episode #311 of the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast! In this riveting installment titled "VFDS: What The HeX Do These Parameters Do??," we delve deep into the perplexing world of Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) and their enigmatic parameters that often leave even seasoned professionals scratching their heads. Joining us in this episode is none other than the VFD Wizard himself, Matt Asbill from Motion Industries. With his unparalleled expertise and years of experience in the field, Matt demystifies the complex functionalities and settings of VFDs, shedding light on how they can be optimized for advanced refrigeration systems. Throughout this episode, we'll explore: The basics of VFD technology and its critical role in refrigeration applications. A deep dive into the most baffling VFD parameters, understanding what they do, and why they're essential. Practical insights from Matt Asbill on troubleshooting common VFD issues and optimizing performance for energy efficiency and longevity. Whether you're a seasoned engineer, a refrigeration technician, or just someone fascinated by the intricacies of refrigeration technology, this episode promises to enrich your understanding of VFDs and help you navigate their complexities with greater ease. Don't miss out on this enlightening discussion with special guest VFD Wizard Matt Asbill. Tune in to unravel the mysteries of VFD parameters and elevate your knowledge to the next level. Visit our website https://www.advancedrefrigerationpodcast.com/ for more episodes and resources to boost your expertise in advanced refrigeration systems. Remember to subscribe, share, and leave your feedback. Stay cool, and keep tuning in to the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast for more insights and expert discussions in the world of refrigeration.

VFD & Breaker Sizing | Advanced Refrigeration Podcast Episode 308 Welcome to another cutting-edge episode of the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast, the go-to platform for HVACR professional development and insights. In this episode, we delve deep into the critical topics of Variable Frequency Drives (VFD) and breaker sizing, crucial components for optimizing efficiency and reliability in refrigeration systems. Join our experts, Brett Wetzel and Kevin Compass, as they unpack the intricacies of VFDs, exploring how these devices can significantly reduce energy consumption and extend the life of your refrigeration system's motors. We'll also guide you through the nuances of breaker sizing, ensuring your systems are safe, compliant, and running at peak performance.Whether you're a budding technician or a seasoned professional, this episode is packed with valuable knowledge, from practical tips to the latest industry trends in CO2 systems, case diagnostics, and EMS programming. Stay ahead of the curve in commercial refrigeration and HVAC technologies with our in-depth discussions, tutorials, and live Q&As.Don't forget to subscribe to our channel for more HVACR training and insights, and join our community of professionals committed to excellence in the field. Your journey to mastering refrigeration technology continues here! Links: Advanced Refrigeration Podcast: https://www.advancedrefrigerationpodcast.com/Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: Advanced Refrigeration Podcast #HVACR #Refrigeration #VFD #BreakerSizing #AdvancedRefrigerationPodcast #ProfessionalDevelopment #co2 #refrigeration #refrigerationsystems #refrigerationtech #hvac #hvacservice #hvaclife

Rhydon and Dennis start their 3-Part Series of 2023 End of Year Review Specials with a discussion on the highs and lows of sales this year. Joining the two is long time listener and returning guest Zach, who is an in-home comfort specialist as mentioned in his previous appearances on the show. The three went through their wins and losses, this years experiences with homeowners and other stories from the field and wholesale life. #HVAC #HVACCREW #HVACR #HVACRND #TRADECREW #AC #AIRCONDITIONING #AIRHANDLER #ATTIC #BOILER #BUSINESS #BUSINESSDEVELOPMENT #COIL #COLD #COMBIBOILER #COMEDY #CONSTRUCTION #CONTRACTOR #CRAWLSPACE #DRYBULB #DUCT #DUCTLESS #DUCTWORK #EEV #ELECTRICAL #EPISODE #EQUIPMENT #ERV #FANCOIL #FLEX #FURNACE #GASFURNACE #HEAT #HEATPUMP #HP #HRV #INVERTER #MINISPLIT #MULTIFAMILY #NEWEPISODE #NEWPRODUCT #NEWS #NEWSHOW #PODCAST #PLUMBING #RNC #SHEETMETAL #TANKLESS #TANKLESSWATERHEATER #TECHNICIAN #TECHREP #TRADE #TRADES #TRAINING #TXV #VARIABLESPEED #WATERHEATER #WETBULB    Air balancing, Air conditioning, Air curtains, Air filtration systems, Air handlers, BAS, BMS, Building automation systems, Building energy modeling for HVAC, Business, Business Development, Cased Coils, Coils, Commercial refrigeration, Compressors, Condensers, Consulting, Cooling systems, Cooling tower systems, Dehumidification systems, Duct cleaning, Ductless mini-split systems, Ductwork design, EEV, Electrical, Electronic Expansion Valve, Energy efficiency, Energy efficiency in HVAC, Energy, management software, Energy management systems, Energy-efficient HVAC technologies, Energy-saving tips for HVAC, ERV, Evaporative coils, Evaporative condensers, Evaporative, cooling systems, Evaporators, Geothermal HVAC systems, Green building HVAC solutions, Heat exchangers, Heat load calculation, Heat pump maintenance, Heat pumps, Heat recovery, systems, Heat recovery ventilation, Heat transfer in HVAC, Heating systems, High-efficiency, furnaces, Hot Gas Bypass, Hot Surface Ignition, Hot Water, HRV, HVAC, HVAC airflow, measurement, HVAC controls and thermostats, HVAC industry trends, HVAC installation guide, HVAC maintenance tips, HVAC repair techniques, HVAC retrofitting, HVAC system airflow, balancing, HVAC system automation, HVAC system balancing, HVAC system commissioning, HVAC system components, HVAC system control strategies, HVAC system controls, HVAC, system controls integration, HVAC system design software, HVAC system energy audits, HVAC, system integration, HVAC system life cycle cost analysis, HVAC system noise reduction, HVAC, system optimization, HVAC system preventive maintenance, HVAC system programming, HVAC, system reliability, HVAC system troubleshooting guide, HVAC system upgrades, HVAC, system zoning, HVAC training, Hydronic heating systems, IAQ, IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) testing, IAQ monitoring devices, Indoor air purification, Indoor air quality, Inverter, Inverter Compressor, Inverter Equipment, Load calculation in HVAC, Plumbing, Radiant heating and cooling systems, Refrigerant leak detection, Refrigerant recovery and recycling, Refrigerant types, Refrigeration, Refrigeration cycle, Refrigeration principles, Refrigeration system maintenance, Refrigeration, system retrofits, Refrigeration system troubleshooting, Reheat, Reheat System, Residential Air, Conditioning, Residential Cooling, Residential Equipment, Residential Heating, Residential, HVAC solutions, Residential New Construction, RNC, Smart thermostats, Tankless, Tankless, Water Heater, Territory Manager, Thermal Expansion Valve, Thermal insulation in HVAC, Troubleshooting HVAC, issues, TXV, Variable frequency drives (VFDs), Variable refrigerant flow (VRF), Variable speed, technology in HVAC, VAV (Variable Air Volume) systems, Ventilation systems, Water Heater

Mike Bacidore explains how VFDs compare to motor starter, inverter or variable-speed drives in this episode of Control Intelligence.

In this numb, cold episode of the STAB! show, person of growth and host Jesse Jones welcomes a familiar, but different panel of Frankie Lord, Kameron Schmid & Nick Pettigrew to share their three VFDs, Halloween pick-up lines to and from slasher movies, plastic vampire teeth, & an amateur haunted house, breakfast cereals branded around … Continue reading »

Rhydon and Dennis sit down for their third Thanksgiving episode since the beginning of the show and discuss the latter's most recent golfing escapades, freezing pipes for service repairs and their upcoming trainings together. Also, they bring on a special holiday guest and announce a Black Friday Deal that is on the way. #HVAC #HVACCREW #HVACR #HVACRND #TRADECREW #AC #AIRCONDITIONING #AIRHANDLER #ATTIC #BOILER #BUSINESS #BUSINESSDEVELOPMENT #COIL #COLD #COMBIBOILER #COMEDY #CONSTRUCTION #CONTRACTOR #CRAWLSPACE #DRYBULB #DUCT #DUCTLESS #DUCTWORK #EEV #ELECTRICAL #EPISODE #EQUIPMENT #ERV #FANCOIL #FLEX #FURNACE #GASFURNACE #HEAT #HEATPUMP #HP #HRV #INVERTER #MINISPLIT #MULTIFAMILY #NEWEPISODE #NEWPRODUCT #NEWS #NEWSHOW #PODCAST #PLUMBING #RNC #SHEETMETAL #TANKLESS #TANKLESSWATERHEATER #TECHNICIAN #TECHREP #TRADE #TRADES #TRAINING #TXV #VARIABLESPEED #WATERHEATER #WETBULB    Air balancing, Air conditioning, Air curtains, Air filtration systems, Air handlers, BAS, BMS, Building automation systems, Building energy modeling for HVAC, Business, Business Development, Cased Coils, Coils, Commercial refrigeration, Compressors, Condensers, Consulting, Cooling systems, Cooling tower systems, Dehumidification systems, Duct cleaning, Ductless mini-split systems, Ductwork design, EEV, Electrical, Electronic Expansion Valve, Energy efficiency, Energy efficiency in HVAC, Energy, management software, Energy management systems, Energy-efficient HVAC technologies, Energy-saving tips for HVAC, ERV, Evaporative coils, Evaporative condensers, Evaporative, cooling systems, Evaporators, Geothermal HVAC systems, Green building HVAC solutions, Heat exchangers, Heat load calculation, Heat pump maintenance, Heat pumps, Heat recovery, systems, Heat recovery ventilation, Heat transfer in HVAC, Heating systems, High-efficiency, furnaces, Hot Gas Bypass, Hot Surface Ignition, Hot Water, HRV, HVAC, HVAC airflow, measurement, HVAC controls and thermostats, HVAC industry trends, HVAC installation guide, HVAC maintenance tips, HVAC repair techniques, HVAC retrofitting, HVAC system airflow, balancing, HVAC system automation, HVAC system balancing, HVAC system commissioning, HVAC system components, HVAC system control strategies, HVAC system controls, HVAC, system controls integration, HVAC system design software, HVAC system energy audits, HVAC, system integration, HVAC system life cycle cost analysis, HVAC system noise reduction, HVAC, system optimization, HVAC system preventive maintenance, HVAC system programming, HVAC, system reliability, HVAC system troubleshooting guide, HVAC system upgrades, HVAC, system zoning, HVAC training, Hydronic heating systems, IAQ, IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) testing, IAQ monitoring devices, Indoor air purification, Indoor air quality, Inverter, Inverter Compressor, Inverter Equipment, Load calculation in HVAC, Plumbing, Radiant heating and cooling systems, Refrigerant leak detection, Refrigerant recovery and recycling, Refrigerant types, Refrigeration, Refrigeration cycle, Refrigeration principles, Refrigeration system maintenance, Refrigeration, system retrofits, Refrigeration system troubleshooting, Reheat, Reheat System, Residential Air, Conditioning, Residential Cooling, Residential Equipment, Residential Heating, Residential, HVAC solutions, Residential New Construction, RNC, Smart thermostats, Tankless, Tankless, Water Heater, Territory Manager, Thermal Expansion Valve, Thermal insulation in HVAC, Troubleshooting HVAC, issues, TXV, Variable frequency drives (VFDs), Variable refrigerant flow (VRF), Variable speed, technology in HVAC, VAV (Variable Air Volume) systems, Ventilation systems, Water Heater

In this short podcast, Bryan breaks down the differences between analog and digital sine waves. Analog readings deal with an unlimited number of values; they are very precise and can have any number of decimals. As a result, the alternating current (AC) analog sine readings have very smooth curves when we read them on an oscilloscope (in the US, we see 60 peak-and-valley cycles per second because the frequency is 60 hertz).  Variable frequency drives (VFDs) and ECMs work with digital outputs instead. The alternating current (AC) input is flattened out and then replicated as a direct current (DC) digital output that mimics an analog sine wave using technologies like pulse-width modulation (PWM). Digital outputs appear as a series of steps on an oscilloscope, but PWM doesn't output different "steps" of voltage. PWM just changes the length and frequency according to the duty cycle (percentage of the time energized or unenergized). Digital scrolls turn on and off very often, and the time they spend "on" is the duty cycle, which determines how it stages up and down. While ECM motor modules usually won't work with regular motors, VFDs can run with typical motors and modify sine waves. These sine waves don't have a smooth curve, but the digital waves can be smoothed out while voltage and current are modified. If VFD-driven motors aren't designed or shaft-grounded properly, electrical discharge machining (EDM) can happen with high-frequency voltage spikes, which can damage the shaft and bearings.   Learn more about the 5th Annual HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/Symposium24. If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE.” Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@HVACS.  “Check out our handy calculators HERE or on the HVAC School Mobile App (Google Play Store or App Store).

Rhydon and Dennis catch up after two busy and hectic weeks and talk everything from traveling and training to being the extra body in a delivery truck to make sure things get done. They also discuss customers hooking them up with fresh varieties of meat and the latest on Pink Warrior Youth Athlete Ricki Lee and her success on the water.   #HVAC #HVACCREW #HVACR #HVACRND #TRADECREW #AC #AIRCONDITIONING #AIRHANDLER #ATTIC #BOILER #BUSINESS #BUSINESSDEVELOPMENT #COIL #COLD #COMBIBOILER #COMEDY #CONSTRUCTION #CONTRACTOR #CRAWLSPACE #DRYBULB #DUCT #DUCTLESS #DUCTWORK #EEV #ELECTRICAL #EPISODE #EQUIPMENT #ERV #FANCOIL #FLEX #FURNACE #GASFURNACE #HEAT #HEATPUMP #HP #HRV #INVERTER #MINISPLIT #MULTIFAMILY #NEWEPISODE #NEWPRODUCT #NEWS #NEWSHOW #PODCAST #PLUMBING #RNC #SHEETMETAL #TANKLESS #TANKLESSWATERHEATER #TECHNICIAN #TECHREP #TRADE #TRADES #TRAINING #TXV #VARIABLESPEED #WATERHEATER #WETBULB    Air balancing, Air conditioning, Air curtains, Air filtration systems, Air handlers, BAS, BMS, Building automation systems, Building energy modeling for HVAC, Business, Business Development, Cased Coils, Coils, Commercial refrigeration, Compressors, Condensers, Consulting, Cooling systems, Cooling tower systems, Dehumidification systems, Duct cleaning, Ductless mini-split systems, Ductwork design, EEV, Electrical, Electronic Expansion Valve, Energy efficiency, Energy efficiency in HVAC, Energy, management software, Energy management systems, Energy-efficient HVAC technologies, Energy-saving tips for HVAC, ERV, Evaporative coils, Evaporative condensers, Evaporative, cooling systems, Evaporators, Geothermal HVAC systems, Green building HVAC solutions, Heat exchangers, Heat load calculation, Heat pump maintenance, Heat pumps, Heat recovery, systems, Heat recovery ventilation, Heat transfer in HVAC, Heating systems, High-efficiency, furnaces, Hot Gas Bypass, Hot Surface Ignition, Hot Water, HRV, HVAC, HVAC airflow, measurement, HVAC controls and thermostats, HVAC industry trends, HVAC installation guide, HVAC maintenance tips, HVAC repair techniques, HVAC retrofitting, HVAC system airflow, balancing, HVAC system automation, HVAC system balancing, HVAC system commissioning, HVAC system components, HVAC system control strategies, HVAC system controls, HVAC, system controls integration, HVAC system design software, HVAC system energy audits, HVAC, system integration, HVAC system life cycle cost analysis, HVAC system noise reduction, HVAC, system optimization, HVAC system preventive maintenance, HVAC system programming, HVAC, system reliability, HVAC system troubleshooting guide, HVAC system upgrades, HVAC, system zoning, HVAC training, Hydronic heating systems, IAQ, IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) testing, IAQ monitoring devices, Indoor air purification, Indoor air quality, Inverter, Inverter Compressor, Inverter Equipment, Load calculation in HVAC, Plumbing, Radiant heating and cooling systems, Refrigerant leak detection, Refrigerant recovery and recycling, Refrigerant types, Refrigeration, Refrigeration cycle, Refrigeration principles, Refrigeration system maintenance, Refrigeration, system retrofits, Refrigeration system troubleshooting, Reheat, Reheat System, Residential Air, Conditioning, Residential Cooling, Residential Equipment, Residential Heating, Residential, HVAC solutions, Residential New Construction, RNC, Smart thermostats, Tankless, Tankless, Water Heater, Territory Manager, Thermal Expansion Valve, Thermal insulation in HVAC, Troubleshooting HVAC, issues, TXV, Variable frequency drives (VFDs), Variable refrigerant flow (VRF), Variable speed, technology in HVAC, VAV (Variable Air Volume) systems, Ventilation systems, Water Heater

Rhydon and Dennis catch up post their trip to Chicago and have an inspired discussion on many things in the Wholesale process of HVAC. From the Manufacturer to the Manufacturer Representatives and down to the distribution channel that provides everything to the contractor, the R&D duo break down some myths and misconceptions about what life is like on the other side of the field. #HVAC #HVACCREW #HVACR #HVACRND #TRADECREW #AC #AIRCONDITIONING #AIRHANDLER #ATTIC #BOILER #BUSINESS #BUSINESSDEVELOPMENT #COIL #COLD #COMBIBOILER #COMEDY #CONSTRUCTION #CONTRACTOR #CRAWLSPACE #DRYBULB #DUCT #DUCTLESS #DUCTWORK #EEV #ELECTRICAL #EPISODE #EQUIPMENT #ERV #FANCOIL #FLEX #FURNACE #GASFURNACE #HEAT #HEATPUMP #HP #HRV #INVERTER #MINISPLIT #MULTIFAMILY #NEWEPISODE #NEWPRODUCT #NEWS #NEWSHOW #PODCAST #PLUMBING #RNC #SHEETMETAL #TANKLESS #TANKLESSWATERHEATER #TECHNICIAN #TECHREP #TRADE #TRADES #TRAINING #TXV #VARIABLESPEED #WATERHEATER #WETBULB    Air balancing, Air conditioning, Air curtains, Air filtration systems, Air handlers, BAS, BMS, Building automation systems, Building energy modeling for HVAC, Business, Business Development, Cased Coils, Coils, Commercial refrigeration, Compressors, Condensers, Consulting, Cooling systems, Cooling tower systems, Dehumidification systems, Duct cleaning, Ductless mini-split systems, Ductwork design, EEV, Electrical, Electronic Expansion Valve, Energy efficiency, Energy efficiency in HVAC, Energy, management software, Energy management systems, Energy-efficient HVAC technologies, Energy-saving tips for HVAC, ERV, Evaporative coils, Evaporative condensers, Evaporative, cooling systems, Evaporators, Geothermal HVAC systems, Green building HVAC solutions, Heat exchangers, Heat load calculation, Heat pump maintenance, Heat pumps, Heat recovery, systems, Heat recovery ventilation, Heat transfer in HVAC, Heating systems, High-efficiency, furnaces, Hot Gas Bypass, Hot Surface Ignition, Hot Water, HRV, HVAC, HVAC airflow, measurement, HVAC controls and thermostats, HVAC industry trends, HVAC installation guide, HVAC maintenance tips, HVAC repair techniques, HVAC retrofitting, HVAC system airflow, balancing, HVAC system automation, HVAC system balancing, HVAC system commissioning, HVAC system components, HVAC system control strategies, HVAC system controls, HVAC, system controls integration, HVAC system design software, HVAC system energy audits, HVAC, system integration, HVAC system life cycle cost analysis, HVAC system noise reduction, HVAC, system optimization, HVAC system preventive maintenance, HVAC system programming, HVAC, system reliability, HVAC system troubleshooting guide, HVAC system upgrades, HVAC, system zoning, HVAC training, Hydronic heating systems, IAQ, IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) testing, IAQ monitoring devices, Indoor air purification, Indoor air quality, Inverter, Inverter Compressor, Inverter Equipment, Load calculation in HVAC, Plumbing, Radiant heating and cooling systems, Refrigerant leak detection, Refrigerant recovery and recycling, Refrigerant types, Refrigeration, Refrigeration cycle, Refrigeration principles, Refrigeration system maintenance, Refrigeration, system retrofits, Refrigeration system troubleshooting, Reheat, Reheat System, Residential Air, Conditioning, Residential Cooling, Residential Equipment, Residential Heating, Residential, HVAC solutions, Residential New Construction, RNC, Smart thermostats, Tankless, Tankless, Water Heater, Territory Manager, Thermal Expansion Valve, Thermal insulation in HVAC, Troubleshooting HVAC, issues, TXV, Variable frequency drives (VFDs), Variable refrigerant flow (VRF), Variable speed, technology in HVAC, VAV (Variable Air Volume) systems, Ventilation systems, Water Heater

Rhydon and Dennis catch up after a busy two weeks that included Dennis training all over and Rhydon heading to FHP training with Bosch in Florida. The two discuss everything from A2L changes coming for Bosch Water Source to High Efficiency Furnace news and the true difference between competition and collaboration. #HVAC #HVACCREW #HVACR #HVACRND #TRADECREW #AC #AIRCONDITIONING #AIRHANDLER #ATTIC #BOILER #BUSINESS #BUSINESSDEVELOPMENT #COIL #COLD #COMBIBOILER #COMEDY #CONSTRUCTION #CONTRACTOR #CRAWLSPACE #DRYBULB #DUCT #DUCTLESS #DUCTWORK #EEV #ELECTRICAL #EPISODE #EQUIPMENT #ERV #FANCOIL #FLEX #FURNACE #GASFURNACE #HEAT #HEATPUMP #HP #HRV #INVERTER #MINISPLIT #MULTIFAMILY #NEWEPISODE #NEWPRODUCT #NEWS #NEWSHOW #PODCAST #PLUMBING #RNC #SHEETMETAL #TANKLESS #TANKLESSWATERHEATER #TECHNICIAN #TECHREP #TRADE #TRADES #TRAINING #TXV #VARIABLESPEED #WATERHEATER #WETBULB    Air balancing, Air conditioning, Air curtains, Air filtration systems, Air handlers, BAS, BMS, Building automation systems, Building energy modeling for HVAC, Business, Business Development, Cased Coils, Coils, Commercial refrigeration, Compressors, Condensers, Consulting, Cooling systems, Cooling tower systems, Dehumidification systems, Duct cleaning, Ductless mini-split systems, Ductwork design, EEV, Electrical, Electronic Expansion Valve, Energy efficiency, Energy efficiency in HVAC, Energy, management software, Energy management systems, Energy-efficient HVAC technologies, Energy-saving tips for HVAC, ERV, Evaporative coils, Evaporative condensers, Evaporative, cooling systems, Evaporators, Geothermal HVAC systems, Green building HVAC solutions, Heat exchangers, Heat load calculation, Heat pump maintenance, Heat pumps, Heat recovery, systems, Heat recovery ventilation, Heat transfer in HVAC, Heating systems, High-efficiency, furnaces, Hot Gas Bypass, Hot Surface Ignition, Hot Water, HRV, HVAC, HVAC airflow, measurement, HVAC controls and thermostats, HVAC industry trends, HVAC installation guide, HVAC maintenance tips, HVAC repair techniques, HVAC retrofitting, HVAC system airflow, balancing, HVAC system automation, HVAC system balancing, HVAC system commissioning, HVAC system components, HVAC system control strategies, HVAC system controls, HVAC, system controls integration, HVAC system design software, HVAC system energy audits, HVAC, system integration, HVAC system life cycle cost analysis, HVAC system noise reduction, HVAC, system optimization, HVAC system preventive maintenance, HVAC system programming, HVAC, system reliability, HVAC system troubleshooting guide, HVAC system upgrades, HVAC, system zoning, HVAC training, Hydronic heating systems, IAQ, IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) testing, IAQ monitoring devices, Indoor air purification, Indoor air quality, Inverter, Inverter Compressor, Inverter Equipment, Load calculation in HVAC, Plumbing, Radiant heating and cooling systems, Refrigerant leak detection, Refrigerant recovery and recycling, Refrigerant types, Refrigeration, Refrigeration cycle, Refrigeration principles, Refrigeration system maintenance, Refrigeration, system retrofits, Refrigeration system troubleshooting, Reheat, Reheat System, Residential Air, Conditioning, Residential Cooling, Residential Equipment, Residential Heating, Residential, HVAC solutions, Residential New Construction, RNC, Smart thermostats, Tankless, Tankless, Water Heater, Territory Manager, Thermal Expansion Valve, Thermal insulation in HVAC, Troubleshooting HVAC, issues, TXV, Variable frequency drives (VFDs), Variable refrigerant flow (VRF), Variable speed, technology in HVAC, VAV (Variable Air Volume) systems, Ventilation systems, Water Heater

Rhydon and Dennis welcome Kyle Beo of Beo AC and Refrigeration from Baton Rouge, LA. Beo made some bad choices at a young age and his decisions saw him have to face some tough consequences and difficult challenges. However, thankfully he is willing to talk about his past and how it gave him the opportunity to start over in a place where many think their future is hopeless. Through his challenges he found a means to rebuild and start a new chapter in his life in the world of HVAC and now he is paying it forward.    #HVAC #HVACCREW #HVACR #HVACRND #TRADECREW #AC #AIRCONDITIONING #AIRHANDLER #ATTIC #BOILER #BUSINESS #BUSINESSDEVELOPMENT #COIL #COLD #COMBIBOILER #COMEDY #CONSTRUCTION #CONTRACTOR #CRAWLSPACE #DRYBULB #DUCT #DUCTLESS #DUCTWORK #EEV #ELECTRICAL #EPISODE #EQUIPMENT #ERV #FANCOIL #FLEX #FURNACE #GASFURNACE #HEAT #HEATPUMP #HP #HRV #INVERTER #MINISPLIT #MULTIFAMILY #NEWEPISODE #NEWPRODUCT #NEWS #NEWSHOW #PODCAST #PLUMBING #RNC #SHEETMETAL #TANKLESS #TANKLESSWATERHEATER #TECHNICIAN #TECHREP #TRADE #TRADES #TRAINING #TXV #VARIABLESPEED #WATERHEATER #WETBULB    Air balancing, Air conditioning, Air curtains, Air filtration systems, Air handlers, BAS, BMS, Building automation systems, Building energy modeling for HVAC, Business, Business Development, Cased Coils, Coils, Commercial refrigeration, Compressors, Condensers, Consulting, Cooling systems, Cooling tower systems, Dehumidification systems, Duct cleaning, Ductless mini-split systems, Ductwork design, EEV, Electrical, Electronic Expansion Valve, Energy efficiency, Energy efficiency in HVAC, Energy, management software, Energy management systems, Energy-efficient HVAC technologies, Energy-saving tips for HVAC, ERV, Evaporative coils, Evaporative condensers, Evaporative, cooling systems, Evaporators, Geothermal HVAC systems, Green building HVAC solutions, Heat exchangers, Heat load calculation, Heat pump maintenance, Heat pumps, Heat recovery, systems, Heat recovery ventilation, Heat transfer in HVAC, Heating systems, High-efficiency, furnaces, Hot Gas Bypass, Hot Surface Ignition, Hot Water, HRV, HVAC, HVAC airflow, measurement, HVAC controls and thermostats, HVAC industry trends, HVAC installation guide, HVAC maintenance tips, HVAC repair techniques, HVAC retrofitting, HVAC system airflow, balancing, HVAC system automation, HVAC system balancing, HVAC system commissioning, HVAC system components, HVAC system control strategies, HVAC system controls, HVAC, system controls integration, HVAC system design software, HVAC system energy audits, HVAC, system integration, HVAC system life cycle cost analysis, HVAC system noise reduction, HVAC, system optimization, HVAC system preventive maintenance, HVAC system programming, HVAC, system reliability, HVAC system troubleshooting guide, HVAC system upgrades, HVAC, system zoning, HVAC training, Hydronic heating systems, IAQ, IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) testing, IAQ monitoring devices, Indoor air purification, Indoor air quality, Inverter, Inverter Compressor, Inverter Equipment, Load calculation in HVAC, Plumbing, Radiant heating and cooling systems, Refrigerant leak detection, Refrigerant recovery and recycling, Refrigerant types, Refrigeration, Refrigeration cycle, Refrigeration principles, Refrigeration system maintenance, Refrigeration, system retrofits, Refrigeration system troubleshooting, Reheat, Reheat System, Residential Air, Conditioning, Residential Cooling, Residential Equipment, Residential Heating, Residential, HVAC solutions, Residential New Construction, RNC, Smart thermostats, Tankless, Tankless, Water Heater, Territory Manager, Thermal Expansion Valve, Thermal insulation in HVAC, Troubleshooting HVAC, issues, TXV, Variable frequency drives (VFDs), Variable refrigerant flow (VRF), Variable speed, technology in HVAC, VAV (Variable Air Volume) systems, Ventilation systems, Water Heater

Rhydon and Dennis welcome YouTube and social media sensation Jacob Krauss to the show. One of the five Episode 100 Giveaway Winners, Jacob and the guys had previously met briefly at the 2023 AHR Expo in Atlanta. The trio discuss the Koolin with Krauss HVAC story of how he got into and remained in the trades. Additionally they talk about doing HVAC for the love of the challenge and the satisfaction of seeing what you have accomplished in a hard days work. Also make sure to take advantage of Jacob's Troll Clothing discount code: KRAUSS10 on www.trollcoclothing.com! Dirty Hands, Clean Money! #HVAC #HVACCREW #HVACR #HVACRND #TRADECREW #AC #AIRCONDITIONING #AIRHANDLER #ATTIC #BOILER #BUSINESS #BUSINESSDEVELOPMENT #COIL #COLD #COMBIBOILER #COMEDY #CONSTRUCTION #CONTRACTOR #CRAWLSPACE #DRYBULB #DUCT #DUCTLESS #DUCTWORK #EEV #ELECTRICAL #EPISODE #EQUIPMENT #ERV #FANCOIL #FLEX #FURNACE #GASFURNACE #HEAT #HEATPUMP #HP #HRV #INVERTER #MINISPLIT #MULTIFAMILY #NEWEPISODE #NEWPRODUCT #NEWS #NEWSHOW #PODCAST #PLUMBING #RNC #SHEETMETAL #TANKLESS #TANKLESSWATERHEATER #TECHNICIAN #TECHREP #TRADE #TRADES #TRAINING #TXV #VARIABLESPEED #WATERHEATER #WETBULB    Air balancing, Air conditioning, Air curtains, Air filtration systems, Air handlers, BAS, BMS, Building automation systems, Building energy modeling for HVAC, Business, Business Development, Cased Coils, Coils, Commercial refrigeration, Compressors, Condensers, Consulting, Cooling systems, Cooling tower systems, Dehumidification systems, Duct cleaning, Ductless mini-split systems, Ductwork design, EEV, Electrical, Electronic Expansion Valve, Energy efficiency, Energy efficiency in HVAC, Energy, management software, Energy management systems, Energy-efficient HVAC technologies, Energy-saving tips for HVAC, ERV, Evaporative coils, Evaporative condensers, Evaporative, cooling systems, Evaporators, Geothermal HVAC systems, Green building HVAC solutions, Heat exchangers, Heat load calculation, Heat pump maintenance, Heat pumps, Heat recovery, systems, Heat recovery ventilation, Heat transfer in HVAC, Heating systems, High-efficiency, furnaces, Hot Gas Bypass, Hot Surface Ignition, Hot Water, HRV, HVAC, HVAC airflow, measurement, HVAC controls and thermostats, HVAC industry trends, HVAC installation guide, HVAC maintenance tips, HVAC repair techniques, HVAC retrofitting, HVAC system airflow, balancing, HVAC system automation, HVAC system balancing, HVAC system commissioning, HVAC system components, HVAC system control strategies, HVAC system controls, HVAC, system controls integration, HVAC system design software, HVAC system energy audits, HVAC, system integration, HVAC system life cycle cost analysis, HVAC system noise reduction, HVAC, system optimization, HVAC system preventive maintenance, HVAC system programming, HVAC, system reliability, HVAC system troubleshooting guide, HVAC system upgrades, HVAC, system zoning, HVAC training, Hydronic heating systems, IAQ, IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) testing, IAQ monitoring devices, Indoor air purification, Indoor air quality, Inverter, Inverter Compressor, Inverter Equipment, Load calculation in HVAC, Plumbing, Radiant heating and cooling systems, Refrigerant leak detection, Refrigerant recovery and recycling, Refrigerant types, Refrigeration, Refrigeration cycle, Refrigeration principles, Refrigeration system maintenance, Refrigeration, system retrofits, Refrigeration system troubleshooting, Reheat, Reheat System, Residential Air, Conditioning, Residential Cooling, Residential Equipment, Residential Heating, Residential, HVAC solutions, Residential New Construction, RNC, Smart thermostats, Tankless, Tankless, Water Heater, Territory Manager, Thermal Expansion Valve, Thermal insulation in HVAC, Troubleshooting HVAC, issues, TXV, Variable frequency drives (VFDs), Variable refrigerant flow (VRF), Variable speed, technology in HVAC, VAV (Variable Air Volume) systems, Ventilation systems, Water Heater

Rhydon and Dennis enjoy a great episode filled with good times and technical difficulties from the beginning to the end. All the headaches worked to highlight what became the main focus of the show, which morphed into a discussion about the rapid pace of technological advancement hampering the development of person to person communication in the trades and in everyday life. The two conversed about the importance of eye contact, a quality handshake and body language when talking with homeowners and fellow tradespeople. They also discussed some of the short falls that they are both seeing in everyday life in regards to the same thing. They also closed the show with a great "Crawlspace Confession," and a surprise cameo! #HVAC #HVACCREW #HVACR #HVACRND #TRADECREW #AC #AIRCONDITIONING #AIRHANDLER #ATTIC #BOILER #BUSINESS #BUSINESSDEVELOPMENT #COIL #COLD #COMBIBOILER #COMEDY #CONSTRUCTION #CONTRACTOR #CRAWLSPACE #DRYBULB #DUCT #DUCTLESS #DUCTWORK #EEV #ELECTRICAL #EPISODE #EQUIPMENT #ERV #FANCOIL #FLEX #FURNACE #GASFURNACE #HEAT #HEATPUMP #HP #HRV #INVERTER #MINISPLIT #MULTIFAMILY #NEWEPISODE #NEWPRODUCT #NEWS #NEWSHOW #PODCAST #PLUMBING #RNC #SHEETMETAL #TANKLESS #TANKLESSWATERHEATER #TECHNICIAN #TECHREP #TRADE #TRADES #TRAINING #TXV #VARIABLESPEED #WATERHEATER #WETBULB    Air balancing, Air conditioning, Air curtains, Air filtration systems, Air handlers, BAS, BMS, Building automation systems, Building energy modeling for HVAC, Business, Business Development, Cased Coils, Coils, Commercial refrigeration, Compressors, Condensers, Consulting, Cooling systems, Cooling tower systems, Dehumidification systems, Duct cleaning, Ductless mini-split systems, Ductwork design, EEV, Electrical, Electronic Expansion Valve, Energy efficiency, Energy efficiency in HVAC, Energy, management software, Energy management systems, Energy-efficient HVAC technologies, Energy-saving tips for HVAC, ERV, Evaporative coils, Evaporative condensers, Evaporative, cooling systems, Evaporators, Geothermal HVAC systems, Green building HVAC solutions, Heat exchangers, Heat load calculation, Heat pump maintenance, Heat pumps, Heat recovery, systems, Heat recovery ventilation, Heat transfer in HVAC, Heating systems, High-efficiency, furnaces, Hot Gas Bypass, Hot Surface Ignition, Hot Water, HRV, HVAC, HVAC airflow, measurement, HVAC controls and thermostats, HVAC industry trends, HVAC installation guide, HVAC maintenance tips, HVAC repair techniques, HVAC retrofitting, HVAC system airflow, balancing, HVAC system automation, HVAC system balancing, HVAC system commissioning, HVAC system components, HVAC system control strategies, HVAC system controls, HVAC, system controls integration, HVAC system design software, HVAC system energy audits, HVAC, system integration, HVAC system life cycle cost analysis, HVAC system noise reduction, HVAC, system optimization, HVAC system preventive maintenance, HVAC system programming, HVAC, system reliability, HVAC system troubleshooting guide, HVAC system upgrades, HVAC, system zoning, HVAC training, Hydronic heating systems, IAQ, IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) testing, IAQ monitoring devices, Indoor air purification, Indoor air quality, Inverter, Inverter Compressor, Inverter Equipment, Load calculation in HVAC, Plumbing, Radiant heating and cooling systems, Refrigerant leak detection, Refrigerant recovery and recycling, Refrigerant types, Refrigeration, Refrigeration cycle, Refrigeration principles, Refrigeration system maintenance, Refrigeration, system retrofits, Refrigeration system troubleshooting, Reheat, Reheat System, Residential Air, Conditioning, Residential Cooling, Residential Equipment, Residential Heating, Residential, HVAC solutions, Residential New Construction, RNC, Smart thermostats, Tankless, Tankless, Water Heater, Territory Manager, Thermal Expansion Valve, Thermal insulation in HVAC, Troubleshooting HVAC, issues, TXV, Variable frequency drives (VFDs), Variable refrigerant flow (VRF), Variable speed, technology in HVAC, VAV (Variable Air Volume) systems, Ventilation systems, Water Heater

Rhydon and Dennis welcome another member of the #TradeCrew faithful to the show in Massachusetts Sheet Metal Legend, Caio Torres, known to the HVAC world as SheetMetalHVAC. The guys talk about life in the trades from an immigrant family perspective and how Caio has been forging his own path as a Blue Collar worker proving that Dirty Hands truly does equal Clean Money. We also would like to dedicate this show to his late Grandfather who was a major part of him becoming the hard working man he is today.          #HVAC #HVACCREW #HVACR #HVACRND #TRADECREW #AC #AIRCONDITIONING #AIRHANDLER #ATTIC #BOILER #BUSINESS #BUSINESSDEVELOPMENT #COIL #COLD #COMBIBOILER #COMEDY #CONSTRUCTION #CONTRACTOR #CRAWLSPACE #DRYBULB #DUCT #DUCTLESS #DUCTWORK #EEV #ELECTRICAL #EPISODE #EQUIPMENT #ERV #FANCOIL #FLEX #FURNACE #GASFURNACE #HEAT #HEATPUMP #HP #HRV #INVERTER #MINISPLIT #MULTIFAMILY #NEWEPISODE #NEWPRODUCT #NEWS #NEWSHOW #PODCAST #PLUMBING #RNC #SHEETMETAL #TANKLESS #TANKLESSWATERHEATER #TECHNICIAN #TECHREP #TRADE #TRADES #TRAINING #TXV #VARIABLESPEED #WATERHEATER #WETBULB    Air balancing, Air conditioning, Air curtains, Air filtration systems, Air handlers, BAS, BMS, Building automation systems, Building energy modeling for HVAC, Business, Business Development, Cased Coils, Coils, Commercial refrigeration, Compressors, Condensers, Consulting, Cooling systems, Cooling tower systems, Dehumidification systems, Duct cleaning, Ductless mini-split systems, Ductwork design, EEV, Electrical, Electronic Expansion Valve, Energy efficiency, Energy efficiency in HVAC, Energy, management software, Energy management systems, Energy-efficient HVAC technologies, Energy-saving tips for HVAC, ERV, Evaporative coils, Evaporative condensers, Evaporative, cooling systems, Evaporators, Geothermal HVAC systems, Green building HVAC solutions, Heat exchangers, Heat load calculation, Heat pump maintenance, Heat pumps, Heat recovery, systems, Heat recovery ventilation, Heat transfer in HVAC, Heating systems, High-efficiency, furnaces, Hot Gas Bypass, Hot Surface Ignition, Hot Water, HRV, HVAC, HVAC airflow, measurement, HVAC controls and thermostats, HVAC industry trends, HVAC installation guide, HVAC maintenance tips, HVAC repair techniques, HVAC retrofitting, HVAC system airflow, balancing, HVAC system automation, HVAC system balancing, HVAC system commissioning, HVAC system components, HVAC system control strategies, HVAC system controls, HVAC, system controls integration, HVAC system design software, HVAC system energy audits, HVAC, system integration, HVAC system life cycle cost analysis, HVAC system noise reduction, HVAC, system optimization, HVAC system preventive maintenance, HVAC system programming, HVAC, system reliability, HVAC system troubleshooting guide, HVAC system upgrades, HVAC, system zoning, HVAC training, Hydronic heating systems, IAQ, IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) testing, IAQ monitoring devices, Indoor air purification, Indoor air quality, Inverter, Inverter Compressor, Inverter Equipment, Load calculation in HVAC, Plumbing, Radiant heating and cooling systems, Refrigerant leak detection, Refrigerant recovery and recycling, Refrigerant types, Refrigeration, Refrigeration cycle, Refrigeration principles, Refrigeration system maintenance, Refrigeration, system retrofits, Refrigeration system troubleshooting, Reheat, Reheat System, Residential Air, Conditioning, Residential Cooling, Residential Equipment, Residential Heating, Residential, HVAC solutions, Residential New Construction, RNC, Smart thermostats, Tankless, Tankless, Water Heater, Territory Manager, Thermal Expansion Valve, Thermal insulation in HVAC, Troubleshooting HVAC, issues, TXV, Variable frequency drives (VFDs), Variable refrigerant flow (VRF), Variable speed, technology in HVAC, VAV (Variable Air Volume) systems, Ventilation systems, Water Heater

Rhydon and Dennis have a good old fashioned beer with a buddy discussion as they talk about everything going on in their worlds of HVAC Distribution and personal reality. Looks like it's time for another move for Dennis and another one for Rhydon as well as everyone just seems to be getting all grown up around here. Come crack a cold one with the guys and enjoy some HVAC Family conversation.   #HVAC #HVACCREW #HVACR #HVACRND #TRADECREW #AC #AIRCONDITIONING #AIRHANDLER #ATTIC #BOILER #BUSINESS #BUSINESSDEVELOPMENT #COIL #COLD #COMBIBOILER #COMEDY #CONSTRUCTION #CONTRACTOR #CRAWLSPACE #DRYBULB #DUCT #DUCTLESS #DUCTWORK #EEV #ELECTRICAL #EPISODE #EQUIPMENT #ERV #FANCOIL #FLEX #FURNACE #GASFURNACE #HEAT #HEATPUMP #HP #HRV #INVERTER #MINISPLIT #MULTIFAMILY #NEWEPISODE #NEWPRODUCT #NEWS #NEWSHOW #PODCAST #PLUMBING #RNC #SHEETMETAL #TANKLESS #TANKLESSWATERHEATER #TECHNICIAN #TECHREP #TRADE #TRADES #TRAINING #TXV #VARIABLESPEED #WATERHEATER #WETBULB    Air balancing, Air conditioning, Air curtains, Air filtration systems, Air handlers, BAS, BMS, Building automation systems, Building energy modeling for HVAC, Business, Business Development, Cased Coils, Coils, Commercial refrigeration, Compressors, Condensers, Consulting, Cooling systems, Cooling tower systems, Dehumidification systems, Duct cleaning, Ductless mini-split systems, Ductwork design, EEV, Electrical, Electronic Expansion Valve, Energy efficiency, Energy efficiency in HVAC, Energy, management software, Energy management systems, Energy-efficient HVAC technologies, Energy-saving tips for HVAC, ERV, Evaporative coils, Evaporative condensers, Evaporative, cooling systems, Evaporators, Geothermal HVAC systems, Green building HVAC solutions, Heat exchangers, Heat load calculation, Heat pump maintenance, Heat pumps, Heat recovery, systems, Heat recovery ventilation, Heat transfer in HVAC, Heating systems, High-efficiency, furnaces, Hot Gas Bypass, Hot Surface Ignition, Hot Water, HRV, HVAC, HVAC airflow, measurement, HVAC controls and thermostats, HVAC industry trends, HVAC installation guide, HVAC maintenance tips, HVAC repair techniques, HVAC retrofitting, HVAC system airflow, balancing, HVAC system automation, HVAC system balancing, HVAC system commissioning, HVAC system components, HVAC system control strategies, HVAC system controls, HVAC, system controls integration, HVAC system design software, HVAC system energy audits, HVAC, system integration, HVAC system life cycle cost analysis, HVAC system noise reduction, HVAC, system optimization, HVAC system preventive maintenance, HVAC system programming, HVAC, system reliability, HVAC system troubleshooting guide, HVAC system upgrades, HVAC, system zoning, HVAC training, Hydronic heating systems, IAQ, IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) testing, IAQ monitoring devices, Indoor air purification, Indoor air quality, Inverter, Inverter Compressor, Inverter Equipment, Load calculation in HVAC, Plumbing, Radiant heating and cooling systems, Refrigerant leak detection, Refrigerant recovery and recycling, Refrigerant types, Refrigeration, Refrigeration cycle, Refrigeration principles, Refrigeration system maintenance, Refrigeration, system retrofits, Refrigeration system troubleshooting, Reheat, Reheat System, Residential Air, Conditioning, Residential Cooling, Residential Equipment, Residential Heating, Residential, HVAC solutions, Residential New Construction, RNC, Smart thermostats, Tankless, Tankless, Water Heater, Territory Manager, Thermal Expansion Valve, Thermal insulation in HVAC, Troubleshooting HVAC, issues, TXV, Variable frequency drives (VFDs), Variable refrigerant flow (VRF), Variable speed, technology in HVAC, VAV (Variable Air Volume) systems, Ventilation systems, Water Heater

Rhydon and Dennis are excited to welcome Rachelle Martins, known in the social world as HVAC_Install_Her on Instagram and TikTok. She and her husband are an install team for Raleigh North Carolina based Air Experts: Raleigh Heating and Air. She is also a proud daughter of the trades as she grew up in a family HVAC business in Massachusetts before coming to the Carolinas. It was a pleasure to spend some time heating about her life and story as a woman in the trades and we hope her candidness and openness help to bring more awareness to the potential for females in this business.     #HVAC #HVACCREW #HVACR #HVACRND #TRADECREW #AC #AIRCONDITIONING #AIRHANDLER #ATTIC #BOILER #BUSINESS #BUSINESSDEVELOPMENT #COIL #COLD #COMBIBOILER #COMEDY #CONSTRUCTION #CONTRACTOR #CRAWLSPACE #DRYBULB #DUCT #DUCTLESS #DUCTWORK #EEV #ELECTRICAL #EPISODE #EQUIPMENT #ERV #FANCOIL #FLEX #FURNACE #GASFURNACE #HEAT #HEATPUMP #HP #HRV #INVERTER #MINISPLIT #MULTIFAMILY #NEWEPISODE #NEWPRODUCT #NEWS #NEWSHOW #PODCAST #PLUMBING #RNC #SHEETMETAL #TANKLESS #TANKLESSWATERHEATER #TECHNICIAN #TECHREP #TRADE #TRADES #TRAINING #TXV #VARIABLESPEED #WATERHEATER #WETBULB    Air balancing, Air conditioning, Air curtains, Air filtration systems, Air handlers, BAS, BMS, Building automation systems, Building energy modeling for HVAC, Business, Business Development, Cased Coils, Coils, Commercial refrigeration, Compressors, Condensers, Consulting, Cooling systems, Cooling tower systems, Dehumidification systems, Duct cleaning, Ductless mini-split systems, Ductwork design, EEV, Electrical, Electronic Expansion Valve, Energy efficiency, Energy efficiency in HVAC, Energy, management software, Energy management systems, Energy-efficient HVAC technologies, Energy-saving tips for HVAC, ERV, Evaporative coils, Evaporative condensers, Evaporative, cooling systems, Evaporators, Geothermal HVAC systems, Green building HVAC solutions, Heat exchangers, Heat load calculation, Heat pump maintenance, Heat pumps, Heat recovery, systems, Heat recovery ventilation, Heat transfer in HVAC, Heating systems, High-efficiency, furnaces, Hot Gas Bypass, Hot Surface Ignition, Hot Water, HRV, HVAC, HVAC airflow, measurement, HVAC controls and thermostats, HVAC industry trends, HVAC installation guide, HVAC maintenance tips, HVAC repair techniques, HVAC retrofitting, HVAC system airflow, balancing, HVAC system automation, HVAC system balancing, HVAC system commissioning, HVAC system components, HVAC system control strategies, HVAC system controls, HVAC, system controls integration, HVAC system design software, HVAC system energy audits, HVAC, system integration, HVAC system life cycle cost analysis, HVAC system noise reduction, HVAC, system optimization, HVAC system preventive maintenance, HVAC system programming, HVAC, system reliability, HVAC system troubleshooting guide, HVAC system upgrades, HVAC, system zoning, HVAC training, Hydronic heating systems, IAQ, IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) testing, IAQ monitoring devices, Indoor air purification, Indoor air quality, Inverter, Inverter Compressor, Inverter Equipment, Load calculation in HVAC, Plumbing, Radiant heating and cooling systems, Refrigerant leak detection, Refrigerant recovery and recycling, Refrigerant types, Refrigeration, Refrigeration cycle, Refrigeration principles, Refrigeration system maintenance, Refrigeration, system retrofits, Refrigeration system troubleshooting, Reheat, Reheat System, Residential Air, Conditioning, Residential Cooling, Residential Equipment, Residential Heating, Residential, HVAC solutions, Residential New Construction, RNC, Smart thermostats, Tankless, Tankless, Water Heater, Territory Manager, Thermal Expansion Valve, Thermal insulation in HVAC, Troubleshooting HVAC, issues, TXV, Variable frequency drives (VFDs), Variable refrigerant flow (VRF), Variable speed, technology in HVAC, VAV (Variable Air Volume) systems, Ventilation systems, Water Heater

On Monday's Show, Accuweather's Heather Zehr talks about upcoming stormy weather. Mon County Republican Executive Committee Vice Chair Paula Martinelli has details on the 2023 Reagan Dinner. Mon County Del. Joe Statler is frustrated over funding for EMS and VFDs.

Rhydon and Dennis discuss the growth of the show and their excitement about what all is in process for the future. The duo recount their trip to the Red Oak Brewery and Lager Haus from last Friday evening, as well as catch up on the next round of EP103's Bosch homeowner discussion with another follow up. Then they wrap it up with some High SEER talking points for contractors, customers and homeowners in regards to humidity and comfort.        #HVAC #HVACCREW #HVACR #HVACRND #TRADECREW #AC #AIRCONDITIONING #AIRHANDLER #ATTIC #BOILER #BUSINESS #BUSINESSDEVELOPMENT #COIL #COLD #COMBIBOILER #COMEDY #CONSTRUCTION #CONTRACTOR #CRAWLSPACE #DRYBULB #DUCT #DUCTLESS #DUCTWORK #EEV #ELECTRICAL #EPISODE #EQUIPMENT #ERV #FANCOIL #FLEX #FURNACE #GASFURNACE #HEAT #HEATPUMP #HP #HRV #INVERTER #MINISPLIT #MULTIFAMILY #NEWEPISODE #NEWPRODUCT #NEWS #NEWSHOW #PODCAST #PLUMBING #RNC #SHEETMETAL #TANKLESS #TANKLESSWATERHEATER #TECHNICIAN #TECHREP #TRADE #TRADES #TRAINING #TXV #VARIABLESPEED #WATERHEATER #WETBULB    Air balancing, Air conditioning, Air curtains, Air filtration systems, Air handlers, BAS, BMS, Building automation systems, Building energy modeling for HVAC, Business, Business Development, Cased Coils, Coils, Commercial refrigeration, Compressors, Condensers, Consulting, Cooling systems, Cooling tower systems, Dehumidification systems, Duct cleaning, Ductless mini-split systems, Ductwork design, EEV, Electrical, Electronic Expansion Valve, Energy efficiency, Energy efficiency in HVAC, Energy, management software, Energy management systems, Energy-efficient HVAC technologies, Energy-saving tips for HVAC, ERV, Evaporative coils, Evaporative condensers, Evaporative, cooling systems, Evaporators, Geothermal HVAC systems, Green building HVAC solutions, Heat exchangers, Heat load calculation, Heat pump maintenance, Heat pumps, Heat recovery, systems, Heat recovery ventilation, Heat transfer in HVAC, Heating systems, High-efficiency, furnaces, Hot Gas Bypass, Hot Surface Ignition, Hot Water, HRV, HVAC, HVAC airflow, measurement, HVAC controls and thermostats, HVAC industry trends, HVAC installation guide, HVAC maintenance tips, HVAC repair techniques, HVAC retrofitting, HVAC system airflow, balancing, HVAC system automation, HVAC system balancing, HVAC system commissioning, HVAC system components, HVAC system control strategies, HVAC system controls, HVAC, system controls integration, HVAC system design software, HVAC system energy audits, HVAC, system integration, HVAC system life cycle cost analysis, HVAC system noise reduction, HVAC, system optimization, HVAC system preventive maintenance, HVAC system programming, HVAC, system reliability, HVAC system troubleshooting guide, HVAC system upgrades, HVAC, system zoning, HVAC training, Hydronic heating systems, IAQ, IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) testing, IAQ monitoring devices, Indoor air purification, Indoor air quality, Inverter, Inverter Compressor, Inverter Equipment, Load calculation in HVAC, Plumbing, Radiant heating and cooling systems, Refrigerant leak detection, Refrigerant recovery and recycling, Refrigerant types, Refrigeration, Refrigeration cycle, Refrigeration principles, Refrigeration system maintenance, Refrigeration, system retrofits, Refrigeration system troubleshooting, Reheat, Reheat System, Residential Air, Conditioning, Residential Cooling, Residential Equipment, Residential Heating, Residential, HVAC solutions, Residential New Construction, RNC, Smart thermostats, Tankless, Tankless, Water Heater, Territory Manager, Thermal Expansion Valve, Thermal insulation in HVAC, Troubleshooting HVAC, issues, TXV, Variable frequency drives (VFDs), Variable refrigerant flow (VRF), Variable speed, technology in HVAC, VAV (Variable Air Volume) systems, Ventilation systems, Water Heater

Rhydon and Dennis get back in the saddle with a great catch up show discussing all that has been going on in their world of Manufacturers Representation and Distribution. After some much needed time to get stuff done both personally and professionally the two return to the mic recounting jobsites, homeowner conversations, funny interactions, great local food spots with heartwarming history, a coffee house in a funeral home, and so much more. You won't want to miss it #TradeCrew!         #HVAC #HVACCREW #HVACR #HVACRND #TRADECREW #AC #AIRCONDITIONING #AIRHANDLER #ATTIC #BOILER #BUSINESS #BUSINESSDEVELOPMENT #COIL #COLD #COMBIBOILER #COMEDY #CONSTRUCTION #CONTRACTOR #CRAWLSPACE #DRYBULB #DUCT #DUCTLESS #DUCTWORK #EEV #ELECTRICAL #EPISODE #EQUIPMENT #ERV #FANCOIL #FLEX #FURNACE #GASFURNACE #HEAT #HEATPUMP #HP #HRV #INVERTER #MINISPLIT #MULTIFAMILY #NEWEPISODE #NEWPRODUCT #NEWS #NEWSHOW #PODCAST #PLUMBING #RNC #SHEETMETAL #TANKLESS #TANKLESSWATERHEATER #TECHNICIAN #TECHREP #TRADE #TRADES #TRAINING #TXV #VARIABLESPEED #WATERHEATER #WETBULB    Air balancing, Air conditioning, Air curtains, Air filtration systems, Air handlers, BAS, BMS, Building automation systems, Building energy modeling for HVAC, Business, Business Development, Cased Coils, Coils, Commercial refrigeration, Compressors, Condensers, Consulting, Cooling systems, Cooling tower systems, Dehumidification systems, Duct cleaning, Ductless mini-split systems, Ductwork design, EEV, Electrical, Electronic Expansion Valve, Energy efficiency, Energy efficiency in HVAC, Energy, management software, Energy management systems, Energy-efficient HVAC technologies, Energy-saving tips for HVAC, ERV, Evaporative coils, Evaporative condensers, Evaporative, cooling systems, Evaporators, Geothermal HVAC systems, Green building HVAC solutions, Heat exchangers, Heat load calculation, Heat pump maintenance, Heat pumps, Heat recovery, systems, Heat recovery ventilation, Heat transfer in HVAC, Heating systems, High-efficiency, furnaces, Hot Gas Bypass, Hot Surface Ignition, Hot Water, HRV, HVAC, HVAC airflow, measurement, HVAC controls and thermostats, HVAC industry trends, HVAC installation guide, HVAC maintenance tips, HVAC repair techniques, HVAC retrofitting, HVAC system airflow, balancing, HVAC system automation, HVAC system balancing, HVAC system commissioning, HVAC system components, HVAC system control strategies, HVAC system controls, HVAC, system controls integration, HVAC system design software, HVAC system energy audits, HVAC, system integration, HVAC system life cycle cost analysis, HVAC system noise reduction, HVAC, system optimization, HVAC system preventive maintenance, HVAC system programming, HVAC, system reliability, HVAC system troubleshooting guide, HVAC system upgrades, HVAC, system zoning, HVAC training, Hydronic heating systems, IAQ, IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) testing, IAQ monitoring devices, Indoor air purification, Indoor air quality, Inverter, Inverter Compressor, Inverter Equipment, Load calculation in HVAC, Plumbing, Radiant heating and cooling systems, Refrigerant leak detection, Refrigerant recovery and recycling, Refrigerant types, Refrigeration, Refrigeration cycle, Refrigeration principles, Refrigeration system maintenance, Refrigeration, system retrofits, Refrigeration system troubleshooting, Reheat, Reheat System, Residential Air, Conditioning, Residential Cooling, Residential Equipment, Residential Heating, Residential, HVAC solutions, Residential New Construction, RNC, Smart thermostats, Tankless, Tankless, Water Heater, Territory Manager, Thermal Expansion Valve, Thermal insulation in HVAC, Troubleshooting HVAC, issues, TXV, Variable frequency drives (VFDs), Variable refrigerant flow (VRF), Variable speed, technology in HVAC, VAV (Variable Air Volume) systems, Ventilation systems, Water Heater

Rhydon and Dennis catch up after a busy couple of weeks as they completed their 100th and 101st episodes as well as the full EP100 Giveaway process. The heat is on and it looks like the summer is finally going to get busy. Dennis is in full moving mode as the rocking chair creaks remind everyone and Rhydon is working on a bunch of new business in both the retrofit market and the Charlotte RNC market, plus the most recent Jobin check-in made for a great show. Also enjoy the inside joke about the show name once you listen and understand. #HVAC #HVACCREW #HVACR #HVACRND #TRADECREW #AC #AIRCONDITIONING #AIRHANDLER #ATTIC #BOILER #COIL #COLD #COMBIBOILER #COMEDY #CONSTRUCTION #CRAWLSPACE #DRYBULB #DUCT #DUCTLESS #DUCTWORK #EEV #ELECTRICAL #EPISODE #EQUIPMENT #ERV #FANCOIL #FLEX #FURNACE #GASFURNACE #HEAT #HEATPUMP #HP #HRV #INVERTER #MINISPLIT #MULTIFAMILY #PODCAST #PLUMBING #RNC #SHEETMETAL #TANKLESS #TANKLESSWATERHEATER #TRADE #TRADES #TXV #VARIABLESPEED #WATERHEATER #WETBULB    Air balancing, Air conditioning, Air curtains, Air filtration systems, Air handlers, BAS, BMS, Building automation systems, Building energy modeling for HVAC, Cased Coils, Coils, Commercial refrigeration, Compressors, Condensers, Cooling systems, Cooling tower systems, Dehumidification systems, Duct cleaning, Ductless mini-split systems, Ductwork design, EEV, Electrical, Electronic Expansion Valve, Energy efficiency, Energy efficiency in HVAC, Energy, management software, Energy management systems, Energy-efficient HVAC technologies, Energy-saving tips for HVAC, ERV, Evaporative coils, Evaporative condensers, Evaporative, cooling systems, Evaporators, Geothermal HVAC systems, Green building HVAC solutions, Heat exchangers, Heat load calculation, Heat pump maintenance, Heat pumps, Heat recovery, systems, Heat recovery ventilation, Heat transfer in HVAC, Heating systems, High-efficiency, furnaces, Hot Gas Bypass, Hot Surface Ignition, Hot Water, HRV, HVAC, HVAC airflow, measurement, HVAC controls and thermostats, HVAC industry trends, HVAC installation guide, HVAC maintenance tips, HVAC repair techniques, HVAC retrofitting, HVAC system airflow, balancing, HVAC system automation, HVAC system balancing, HVAC system commissioning, HVAC system components, HVAC system control strategies, HVAC system controls, HVAC, system controls integration, HVAC system design software, HVAC system energy audits, HVAC, system integration, HVAC system life cycle cost analysis, HVAC system noise reduction, HVAC, system optimization, HVAC system preventive maintenance, HVAC system programming, HVAC, system reliability, HVAC system troubleshooting guide, HVAC system upgrades, HVAC, system zoning, HVAC training, Hydronic heating systems, IAQ, IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) testing, IAQ monitoring devices, Indoor air purification, Indoor air quality, Inverter, Inverter Compressor, Inverter Equipment, Load calculation in HVAC, Plumbing, Radiant heating and cooling systems, Refrigerant leak detection, Refrigerant recovery and recycling, Refrigerant types, Refrigeration, Refrigeration cycle, Refrigeration principles, Refrigeration system maintenance, Refrigeration, system retrofits, Refrigeration system troubleshooting, Reheat, Reheat System, Residential Air, Conditioning, Residential Cooling, Residential Equipment, Residential Heating, Residential, HVAC solutions, Residential New Construction, RNC, Smart thermostats, Tankless, Tankless, Water Heater, Thermal Expansion Valve, Thermal insulation in HVAC, Troubleshooting HVAC, issues, TXV, Variable frequency drives (VFDs), Variable refrigerant flow (VRF), Variable speed, technology in HVAC, VAV (Variable Air Volume) systems, Ventilation systems, Water Heater

Whether you are a armature Pilot, Possum wrangler or HVAC guy, you don't want to miss Rhydon and Dennis's show with special guest, Taylor from Taylored Air. This young up and coming business owner is one of the future faces of our industry and it was great to spend some time with him to get to know his past, present and future in HVAC. Enjoy Trade Crew, Cheers! #HVAC #HVACCREW #HVACR #HVACRND #TRADECREW #AC #AIRCONDITIONING #AIRHANDLER #ATTIC #BOILER #COIL #COLD #COMBIBOILER #COMEDY #CONSTRUCTION #CRAWLSPACE #DRYBULB #DUCT #DUCTLESS #DUCTWORK #EEV #ELECTRICAL #EPISODE #EQUIPMENT #ERV #FANCOIL #FLEX #FURNACE #GASFURNACE #HEAT #HEATPUMP #HP #HRV #INVERTER #MINISPLIT #MULTIFAMILY #PODCAST #PLUMBING #RNC #SHEETMETAL #TANKLESS #TANKLESSWATERHEATER #TRADE #TRADES #TXV #VARIABLESPEED #WATERHEATER #WETBULB    Air balancing, Air conditioning, Air curtains, Air filtration systems, Air handlers, BAS, BMS, Building automation systems, Building energy modeling for HVAC, Cased Coils, Coils, Commercial refrigeration, Compressors, Condensers, Cooling systems, Cooling tower systems, Dehumidification systems, Duct cleaning, Ductless mini-split systems, Ductwork design, EEV, Electrical, Electronic Expansion Valve, Energy efficiency, Energy efficiency in HVAC, Energy, management software, Energy management systems, Energy-efficient HVAC technologies, Energy-saving tips for HVAC, ERV, Evaporative coils, Evaporative condensers, Evaporative, cooling systems, Evaporators, Geothermal HVAC systems, Green building HVAC solutions, Heat exchangers, Heat load calculation, Heat pump maintenance, Heat pumps, Heat recovery, systems, Heat recovery ventilation, Heat transfer in HVAC, Heating systems, High-efficiency, furnaces, Hot Gas Bypass, Hot Surface Ignition, Hot Water, HRV, HVAC, HVAC airflow, measurement, HVAC controls and thermostats, HVAC industry trends, HVAC installation guide, HVAC maintenance tips, HVAC repair techniques, HVAC retrofitting, HVAC system airflow, balancing, HVAC system automation, HVAC system balancing, HVAC system commissioning, HVAC system components, HVAC system control strategies, HVAC system controls, HVAC, system controls integration, HVAC system design software, HVAC system energy audits, HVAC, system integration, HVAC system life cycle cost analysis, HVAC system noise reduction, HVAC, system optimization, HVAC system preventive maintenance, HVAC system programming, HVAC, system reliability, HVAC system troubleshooting guide, HVAC system upgrades, HVAC, system zoning, HVAC training, Hydronic heating systems, IAQ, IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) testing, IAQ monitoring devices, Indoor air purification, Indoor air quality, Inverter, Inverter Compressor, Inverter Equipment, Load calculation in HVAC, Plumbing, Radiant heating and cooling systems, Refrigerant leak detection, Refrigerant recovery and recycling, Refrigerant types, Refrigeration, Refrigeration cycle, Refrigeration principles, Refrigeration system maintenance, Refrigeration, system retrofits, Refrigeration system troubleshooting, Reheat, Reheat System, Residential Air, Conditioning, Residential Cooling, Residential Equipment, Residential Heating, Residential, HVAC solutions, Residential New Construction, RNC, Smart thermostats, Tankless, Tankless, Water Heater, Thermal Expansion Valve, Thermal insulation in HVAC, Troubleshooting HVAC, issues, TXV, Variable frequency drives (VFDs), Variable refrigerant flow (VRF), Variable speed, technology in HVAC, VAV (Variable Air Volume) systems, Ventilation systems, Water Heater

In this episode recorded live at AHR Expo 2023, Matthew from JCI (Johnson Controls) joins Bryan to talk about rooftop unit (RTU) retrofit facts and considerations. When doing an RTU retrofit, you want to make sure you know the budget before anything else; larger budgets will allow you to implement things like VFDs and even VAV technology. In many cases, you may consider adding an economizer for "free" cooling and energy savings. You also want to know what you will get out of a retrofit in terms of value, especially when it comes to system efficiency and longevity. Some common IAQ upgrades for RTUs include improved filtration, especially with MERV 13 filters. Economizers also allow you to control the amount of outside air with the help of an exhaust system or even barometric relief. UV lighting can also be used in light commercial RTUs. When doing a retrofit, you'll want to pay attention to the existing equipment's footprint. Sticking to that footprint will make the replacement aspect easier. The utility and electrical infrastructure are also important to consider, as you won't want to replace the existing piping, wiring, and connections.   With regulations and technology constantly changing, it helps to be able to contact the manufacturer to assist with the retrofit process. Companies like JCI are trying to assist contractors with installations by providing guidance and education in the field. Matthew and Bryan also discuss: Matthew's professional experience at JCI Adding economizers and VFDs Convertible filter racks Cost-benefit analysis resources Changing regulations Interfacing with the manufacturer during the retrofitting process   To learn more about JCI, visit https://www.johnsoncontrols.com/. Learn more about the HVACR Training Symposium or buy a virtual ticket today at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium.  If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE. Check out our handy calculators HERE.

Your favorite podcast hosts, Chris and Dave, are kicking off their first recording of 2023 by spearheading some topics that many find to be confusing. We're talking about setting up/troubleshooting items utilizing variable outputs, including Variable Speed Compressors, Digital Compressors, Variable Speed Condenser Fans to name a few. Did you know that Danfoss was the first company to mass-produce VFDs for 3-phase AC induction motors in 1968?So, check out the full episode above to get some clarity in the new year! The Controller Talk Podcast, presented by Danfoss North America is hosted by Food Retail Tech Support experts Dave Yoder and Chris Brown, highlighting best practices for utilizing Danfoss controls in the supermarket and warehouse industries that you won't find in any manual.Drop us an email with suggestions for topics to cover, questions to answer, or comments to discuss on future episodes! ControllerTalkNorthAmerica@Danfoss.com

We speak to Anish Suthesh Arul from Armstrong Fluid Technology about VFD or variable speed drive basics. Jobber 40% off offer from Dec 19 to 22 and 26 to 30 https://getjobber.com/hvacknowitall. Jobber Summit link http://bitly.com/ http://www.cintas.com/HVACKnowItAll. Save 8% on your purchase https://www.trutechtools.com/ with promo code knowitall Check out the HVAC Know It All app app.hvacknowitall.com https://www.hvacknowitall.com/pages/about Visit HVAC Know It All on social media Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hvacknowitall/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hvacknowitall1/

Jackie Stokes explains how to use Siemens VFDs with Allen-Bradley PLCs on Ethernet/IP, RIO, or DeviceNet in Episode 130 of The Automation Podcast. For more information, check out the "Show Notes" located below the video. Watch the Podcast:  Listen via Apple, Google, Pandora, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, YouTube, Amazon Music, Stitcher, RSS, or below: https://theautomationblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/TheAutomationPodcast-E130-Using-Siemens-VFD-with-A-B-PLCs-and-Networks.mp3 The Automation Podcast, Episode 130 Show Notes: Special thanks to Jackie Stokes of Siemens for coming on the show! You can now support our work and join our community at Automation.Locals.com! Thanks in advance for your support! Vendors: Would you like your product featured on the Podcast, Show or Blog? If you would, please contact me at: https://theautomationblog.com/contact Until next time, Peace ✌️  Shawn M TierneyTechnology Enthusiast & Content Creator Have a question? Join my community of automation professionals and take part in the discussion! You'll also find my PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com. Sponsor and Advertise: Get your product or service in front of our 75K followers while also supporting independent automation journalism by sponsoring or advertising with us! Learn more in our Media Guide here, or contact us using this form. (180 views)

In this short podcast in our electrical myths series, Bryan talks about some inductive current myths. There is a common myth surrounding voltage drop in inductive loads. When you decrease the voltage in a circuit with a resistive load, you'll see a relatively proportional drop in resistance (ohms) and current in accordance with Ohm's law. So, we'll see a decrease in current, but we have to keep in mind that load temperatures also affect the resistance (and the current, by extension). Some people will claim that reducing the voltage in an inductive load (like a motor or compressor) will increase the current. That is actually generally a myth; many people believe this myth because the current drop is NOT proportional, unlike in resistive loads. The resistance that shows up in a motor is called inductive reactance, which is an opposing magnetic field that creates back electromotive force (back EMF) and impedes the circuit. Back EMF and inductive reactance contribute to the impedance or total resistance of the circuit. Decreasing the voltage may cause the resistance to increase, as some of the work will start contributing to heat instead of mechanical motion; the motor derates, becomes less efficient, and draws more current than it needs, but it doesn't actually draw more total current. However, some variable-speed motors on VFDs may draw more current because the motor module speeds up the motor to make up for the voltage deficiency, static pressure, etc. ECMs also fall into this category and may draw more current if the motor module or VFD calls for it. However, in terms of simple electrical math without VFD logic, the current won't typically increase if the voltage drops, even in inductive loads.   If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE. Check out our handy calculators HERE.

In this episode, we connect with Jacob Becker, system solution architect at system integrator Tri Tech Automation, to answer an Automation World reader question about how soft starters and VFDs compare.  We explore their differences and similarities regarding motor speed control, cost, performance parameters and tuning capabilities, and for which applications each technology make the most sense.

This week Jackie, Craig, and Rafael of Siemens update us on VFD and Servo Drives on Episode 119 of The Automation Podcast. For more information, check out the "Show Notes" located below the video. Watch the Podcast:  Listen via Apple, Google, Pandora, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, YouTube, Amazon Music, Stitcher, RSS, or below: https://theautomationblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/TheAutomationPodcast-E119-Siemens-Drives-and-Motion.mp3 The Automation Podcast, Episode 119 Show Notes: Special thanks to Jackie, Craig, and Rafael from Siemens for coming on the show! You can now support our work and join our community at Automation.Locals.com! Thanks in advanced for your support! Vendors: Would you like your product featured on the Podcast, Show or Blog? If you would, please contact me at: https://theautomationblog.com/contact Sincerely, Shawn TierneyAutomation Instructor and Blogger Have a question? Join my community of automation professionals and take part in the discussion! You'll also find my PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com. Sponsor and Advertise: Get your product or service in front of our 75K followers while also supporting independent automation journalism by sponsoring or advertising with us! Learn more in our Media Guide here, or contact us using this form. (17 views)

Kody, Mike, Christian, and Harry are back at it talking about all the recent VFD and Stagehand vNext development going on. In addition Harry and Mike talk about the new free turntable template now available for download.

Bryan lays down some motor speed facts in about 10 minutes in this short podcast episode. We can figure out how quickly a single-phase motor (PSC) will run if we understand how many cycles it will make per second. In the USA, the standard hertz is 60 Hz (60 rotations or magnetic alternations per second). Motors are inductive loads that create an electromagnetic field with a spinning rotor and stationary stator; the amount of poles on the stator determines how quickly the rotor spins (RPM). In the RPM counts, there are some allowances for slip. Slip varies depending on the load, with excessive loads causing more slip. Some multi-tap blowers have additional winding resistance and decreased current (due to the extra taps), which increase the slip. The rated load RPM usually accounts for the RPM at high speed, not medium or low speed with added resistance. On the other hand, variable-speed motors or ECMs are powered by a variable frequency (sometimes a variable frequency drive or VFD). The motor control takes the incoming electrical frequency and converts it into a new frequency (turning AC power to DC and controlling the cycle rate). These motors also tend to be more efficient as a result. The RPM is more variable on these motors with VFDs, whereas we could only manipulate the RPM of single-phase motors by changing the number of poles. When replacing a motor, you can't use a replacement motor with a higher rated RPM than the original motor. The only way to change the RPM is to get a new motor with a different number of poles, increase slip to make it slower or decrease slip to bring it closer to synchronous speed, or adjust the frequency.     If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE. Check out our handy calculators HERE.

Chris Micallef, the CEO of Falkonair, joins Nathan Orr at AHR to discuss energy savings for three-phase equipment. They also explore some of Falkonair's controls for compressors, especially on DC inverter equipment. Falkonair has software that allows users to control all types and brands of three-phase compressors with compatible variable frequency drives (VFDs). The software recommends the compatible VFD based on the amperage readings. Falkonair aims to bring this software to the refrigeration industry and then move on to HVAC contractors and data centers. The control unit adjusts the compressor speed to respond to changes in refrigerant charge levels (based on discharge temperature). These controls protect the compressor and maintain efficiency, even under less than ideal operating conditions. Energy efficiency can increase by 35% with Falkonair's control units in place. You can expect longer runtimes, a reduction in short cycles, and a reduction in humidity. If the refrigerant loss is too great, then the control can also shut down the compressor. However, it should take less time for a facility manager to notice that refrigerant loss is happening. The controls use temperature probes, so they don't cut into the refrigeration circuit. Although VFDs are good for reducing vibrational wear and tear, we have to be aware of potential issues with harmonics. Harmonics can damage the bearings, especially on pumps that don't have oil constantly lubricating the bearings. Chris and Nathan also discuss: VFD sizing considerations How Falkonair's AI works with hot gas bypass  Software commissioning Oil return sequences on DC inverter systems Hertz ranges and limitations per compressor type How Falkonair's control units can exceed 35% efficiency gains   Learn more about Falkonair at https://falkonair.com/.  If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE. Check out our handy calculators HERE.

Whether you've already purchased an electric motor or are still in the planning stage, familiarizing yourself with the different electric motor controls can help you maximize the productivity and efficiency of your operation while extending the service life of your motor, electronics, and all the mechanical assets connected to your motor. Motor control is any switch or device used to start, stop, or control the speed of an electric motor. Because each application has unique objectives and operating parameters, it is often necessary to control the motor's speed and protect it from a variety of risks specific to your usage. To select the right control for your application, the first step is to take a look at what you need the motor to do, and then select the motor control that gives you the capabilities you require. Soft Starters If your motor will be started under substantial load, especially if it occurs frequently, there is a high risk of damage from the electrical and mechanical shock that occurs when full power is applied to a motor at standstill. Depending on the load, a motor may experience a current surge up to five times the rated level at start-up, which can damage sensitive electronics and overheat the motor windings, drastically reducing its service life. This current surge also makes the motor accelerate suddenly, causing mechanical shock that can damage the motor bearings, gearbox and driven load. Over time, this will greatly increase maintenance, operational downtime, and parts replacement costs. It is highly recommended to install a soft starter to safely manage your motor's start-up process if your motor is started under a substantial load. The soft starter ramps up the power to the motor slowly, alleviating current surges and preventing overheating in the windings. This means that your motor will accelerate slowly and smoothly, protecting the motor, gearbox and load. You can also customize the soft starter's start-up parameters, including the time it takes to reach full speed, to suit your project needs. When your electric motor is required to run at full speed all the time, a soft starter may be sufficient. However, to precisely control and manage your motor's speed during all phases of operation and respond to changes in operational conditions, speed control is necessary. Speed Controls Speed controls enable your electric motor's speed to be continuously adjusted to meet the requirements of your operation, giving you the ability to maximize efficiency and performance at all times. Speed controls can replace soft starters to safely bring an electric motor up to speed, maintain a specific speed or adjust to changing circumstances. They are often capable of providing dynamic braking, which is useful for quickly and smoothly bringing a heavy load to a stop. AC and DC speed controls operate on different principles, but they are designed to achieve the same result. AC motor speed controls are commonly divided into two categories: Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs), and Vector Controls, also known as Field Oriented Controls (FOC). VFDs manage the speed of the motor by modifying the frequency of the power supply and are the most common and cost-effective way to control the speed of an AC motor. However, they lose precision at lower speeds and are unable to create holding torque in a motor. Vector Control drives enable the speed of an AC motor to be precisely controlled over the entire speed range, even giving a motor capability to provide full torque at zero speed (holding torque). They achieve this by managing the motor's speed and torque separately, using a sophisticated control algorithm to produce the desired output. This enables servo-like control of an AC motor, a capability that was previously only available with DC motors. Vector Control drives are generally more expensive than VFDs, but their precise speed-control capability is essential for many finely-tuned, responsive electric motor applications. A special Vector Duty or Servo motor is needed for this type of drive. DC motor speed control is much simpler, as it only requires management of the input voltage, which is usually achieved using a PWM voltage regulator. DC speed controls also provide good precision over the entire speed range of the motor. Magnetic Starters A magnetic starter is a device that enables an electric motor to be started and stopped safely, especially when operating a heavy load. Magnetic starters offer controls for the operator and safety protections to prevent damage to the motor in case of overload. Magnetic starters consist of an electromagnetic contactor or switch and a thermal overload relay. The relay is usually closed manually by the operator pushing the start button. It is then held in a closed position by an electromagnetic force that can be automatically cut off when a hazardous situation is detected. The relay opens when excessive current passes through or overheating occurs, opening the switch and cutting off power to the motor to protect it from damage. If you start your motor with a heavy load, or it experiences intermittent high load during operation, it is recommended to use a magnetic starter to protect your motor from damaging surge currents. Summary Selecting the right motor controls gives you the capability to fine-tune the productivity of your application and protect valuable assets from electrical and mechanical damage. Here at eMotors Direct, we offer a comprehensive range of electric motors, gearboxes, and motor controls, giving you the components you need to build a complete package that meets all your performance objectives.

Brett Wetzel and Kevin Compass from the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast join us to discuss commercial rack refrigeration and identify components. In supermarket racks, we typically have anywhere from 2-5 compressors on a single rack (with multiple evaporators, metering devices, and sometimes even condensers). These compressors may come in several varieties (including screw and scroll) and be digital or have VFDs. They also have common suction and discharge headers.  The compressors all share oil from a single system. Oil separators can come in three varieties: centrifugal, impingement, and coalescing (most efficient). The separator would feed into the reservoir, which stores oil.  Many rack systems use several different valves. Check valves to direct the refrigerant flow, especially on heat reclaim systems and split condensers. In some cases, there is a three-way valve or a solenoid valve that controls or stops the refrigerant flow. LDR (liquid differential regulating) valves maintain the required differentials during defrost. Ball valves can be found all over a rack (liquid line, suction line, discharge line, etc.) and can isolate a line. Standard and balanced-port TXVs or EEVs may also appear on racks. There is also an EPR, which controls evaporator temperature and pressure. Grocery systems have a drop leg before the receiver, which stores liquid refrigerant. We want a full column of liquid leaving the receiver, which we can confirm with a sight glass rather than subcooling. Brett, Kevin, and Bryan also discuss: Reheat and excess heat Split condensers Drain leg/drop leg vs. liquid line Mechanical subcooling and heat exchangers Counterflow piping Hot gas vs. Kool gas defrost Standard vs. balanced-port TXVs Distributors Evaporator fin spacing Cleaning components   Check out the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast on any podcast app of your choosing. If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE. Check out our handy calculators HERE.

In this special crossover episode of the Side Alpha Podcast, Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Chris Cebollero, the host of Inside EMS, about the major news and trends impacting fire and EMS in 2021. Bashoor and Cebollero unpack issues related to apparatus and ambulance safety, the COVID-19 vaccines, ET3 and telehealth, the use of ketamine, mayday training, and staffing shortages.  Read more from our 2021 year-in-review special coverage. And check out these related stories: ‘The Year of the Vaccine': 2021 gave us vaccine protection and pushback Project Mayday 'It's time to declare a staffing mayday': 21 ways VFDs can break the mold Why every firefighter-paramedic must know the story of Elijah McClain

Electric motors are often required at potentially explosive or flammable sites, such as chemical plants, coal mines, or petrochemical plants. Accidents could result in damage, injury, or loss of life. This makes it vitally important to select a motor that won't create an ignition source. Let's take a look at the four key criteria used to classify different types of hazardous locations and how electric motors are designed and rated to operate safely within them. Understand The Hazard When selecting a motor for a hazardous location, the first step is to classify the site according to the standards that apply in your local area. In the US, hazardous location classification is determined by the National Electrical Code (NEC), while the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) applies in Canada. In practice, site classification is complex and requires a thorough inspection and analysis of every aspect of the motor's environment. Consult the relevant safety authorities in your local area for detailed guidance. The following sections will give you a broad overview of the four main criteria used. 1. Class The Class of a hazardous location describes the form that the principal hazardous material takes within it. There are three Classes, in order of highest to lowest risk of ignition. Class I locations contain highly flammable gases and vapours in the atmosphere, which could be explosive when ignited. Examples include petroleum refining plants, gas plants, spray painting facilities and refuelling areas. Class II locations contain combustible or electrically conductive dust particles in the air. Materials such as coal dust or flour and conductive particles such as aluminum and magnesium dust can become highly explosive when dispersed in the air at sufficient concentrations. Class III locations describe environments where combustible material is present in a larger particulate form, such as filings and shavings, usually settled on surfaces. Examples include industries where the processing of wood or textiles takes place. 2.Division The Division of a hazardous location describes the conditions under which the principal hazardous material is present, and there are two divisions. Division I locations designate areas where the material is present under normal operating conditions, either as part of the process itself or during a scheduled activity such as maintenance. Division II locations are those where the material is exposed only under abnormal conditions. The material will usually be present in a contained volume such as inside sealed pipes or tanks, potentially coming into contact with the motor only during an accident such as a rupture or leak. 3. Group The Group that a hazardous location belongs to represents the behaviour of the principal combustible material after ignition. There are seven Groups labelled from A to G. Groups A, B, C, and D describe flammable or explosive gases, vapours, and liquids, in order of highest to lowest risk. For example, acetylene, a particularly volatile gas that burns intensely, belongs to Group A, while Group D contains the less dangerous ethanol. Groups E, F and G contain combustible dust that would create a Class II hazard in order of higher to lower risk. Materials range from aluminum dust in Group Eto corn, sugar and wheat flour in Group G. 4. Auto-Ignition Temperature It is important to obtain the Auto-Ignition Temperature (AIT) of the hazardous materials in the vicinity of a motor. This is the minimum temperature at which a material will ignite independently, without any other ignition source. As you will see in the following sections, this is a key part of determining whether a motor is suitable for the site. In practice, the AIT value is not simple to obtain, as it depends on environmental factors such as oxygen concentration and environmental pressure. Mixtures of several different materials can complicate this step further, and a conservative estimate may be required. Choosing A Motor Once a site has been classified, it is time to choose a suitable motor. Let's look at the types and ratings of electric motors designed for hazardous locations. Motor Ratings Hazardous location motors usually come with a rating for the Class, Division, and Group for which they are suitable. For a long time, only Division I motors were rated, so many motors do not have a Division rating as they were rated for Division I locations by default. Division I motors can operate in Division II locations but may be over-engineered and unnecessarily costly compared to Division II rated motors. Electric motors also come with a T-code rating, which specifies the maximum temperature that any part of the motor surface that might become exposed to a hazardous material will reach, including in the event of burnout, power overload or locked rotor. This temperature rating must be compared to the AIT of hazardous materials at a site to determine if the motor surfaces pose a risk of ignition. Motor ratings must be authorized by safety authorities such as the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) in North America or the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). Explosion-Proof Motors Explosion-proof motors, which are a requirement for Class I, Division I locations, must be able to contain an internal explosion of a specified hazardous material without creating an ignition source for the environment around them. This is based on the assumption that over some time, the gases and vapours in the atmosphere around the motor could make their way inside, coming into contact with internal elements that could produce a spark or generate excessive heat, especially during a fault. Explosion-proof motors are designed with thick, hardened cases to contain the pressure of an initial explosion, and they must allow hot gases to escape in a controlled way that does not create an ignition source. To do this, they use flame paths, which are long, narrow corridors through which burning gases can escape while being cooled to a safe temperature. Flame paths are usually built into the shaft or body of the motor. Division II Motors These can often be regular TEFC motors that have been CSA approved for use in Division II areas. They must include a secondary nameplate with the CSA rating, Class/Division/Group rating and a Temperature Code. Dust-Ignition Proof Motors In Class II locations, where the hazardous material is present in the form of airborne dust, a dust-ignition proof motor is required. This type of motor features dust-proof seals and bearings that prevent dust from entering the motor altogether. It is important to determine the T-code rating of dust-ignition proof motors properly. They often accumulate a layer of dust on the outside of the motor body that inhibits cooling and increases the surface temperature. Using VFDs In Hazardous Locations Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) modify the frequency of an AC power supply, enabling speed control of AC electric motors. However, they often create extra heat inside the motor due to the creation of harmonic frequencies in the motor windings. Additionally, when VFDs are used to run a motor slower than the motor's base speed, it can greatly affect a shaft-mounted fan's ability to provide cooling. Explosion Proof Inverter duty motors designed to work with VFDs while mitigating these heating effects are available. It is important to keep in mind that these motors must meet the Division, Class, Group and T-code ratings of the area and be rated for VFD use. Summary Now that you are familiar with the key concepts used in hazardous location classification, as well as the motors designed for different types of hazards, you have taken the first step toward selecting the right electric motor for your needs. https://www.emotorsdirect.ca/motors/explosion-proof

Jon Mosterd of Danfoss Drives joins the podcast to talk about variable frequency drives (VFDs) and the shift toward intelligent controls. Topics covered include: Today's VFDs and how they are different What is different between normal VFDs and Intelligent controllers Benefits of investing in intelligent controls How intelligent controllers are used in the water and wastewater industry More on efficiency with intelligent controls. Subscribe to the Pumps & Systems podcast on any podcast platform. Email host Drew Champlin at dchamplin@cahabamedia.com.

The following interview was recorded Wednesday, Aug. 11, at the Henderson County Courthouse Annex. == This week's County Report with Judge Wade McKinney focuses on COVID-19. I. Current Stats (:38) As of this recording, there were 438 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in TSA-G. Henderson County is part of Trauma Service Area G (TSA-G), which serves Tyler/Longview and includes about 960,000 people. Hospitalizations in the region have increased by 158 patients in the past six days. Prior to this, the fastest increase in hospitalizations in our region was a 141-patient jump in the 14 days from Dec. 24 to Jan. 7. "When you look at the accelerated rate of hospitalizations across the region, it is arguably worse in that aspect than it ever has been," said Judge McKinney. In addition to the COVID-19 surge, hospitals are also dealing with staffing shortages and an increase in non-COVID illnesses. II. Emergency Management Committee (9:30) The Henderson County Emergency Management Committee has been meeting weekly about COVID-19 issues. These meetings have at times included representatives from UT Health East Texas and State Rep. Keith Bell's office. Judge McKinney said there is very little the County can do in direct response to the current surge. "The Governor's Executive Order ties the hands of any local government or official from imposing restrictions of any type to help meet the needs of the pandemic," said Judge McKinney. The Judge said the County can help by working with UT Health East Texas regarding personnel retention. "To be sure that our hospital system here stays very strong," he said. The County has also started working with the Hospital Authority Board to make sure there's a system in place for the County to be able to send some of the federal ARPA money to the hospital for personnel. In addition, Fire Marshal Shane Renberg has been in contact with local VFDs to ensure they have access to masks and gloves. III. Governor's Actions (16:30) Gov. Greg Abbott did announce a series of actions this week aimed at COVID-19. Using staffing agencies to find out-of-state medical personnel to help hospitals Asking hospitals to voluntarily postpone elective medical procedures Opening more antibody treatment centers Increasing vaccine availability IV. Vaccinations (21:04) While the idea of COVID-19 vaccinations has become controversial, political and medical leaders around the state are urging Texans to get the vaccine. During a NET Health press conference on Monday, officials from both UT Health East Texas and Christus Mother Francis both said that 95 percent of the COVID-19 patients in their hospitals were unvaccinated. Here in Henderson County, there has been a jump in the number of people getting vaccinated with more than two thousand getting their shot in the past two weeks. That's at the highest level since March. Judge McKinney said that vaccinations have become readily available. By far the favorite vaccination source in Henderson County is the local pharmacy.

Adjustable-speed drives can be variable-frequency speed drives(VFDs)—which refer to alternating-current drives only, or variable-speed drives (VSDs) which can be alternating-current or direct-current drives. Either of these can vary the speed of a motor, one by altering frequency and the other by adjusting voltage. But how does this affect the conductor sizing for the motor branch circuit? Does it even have an effect? Find out in this video on the topic of adjustable-speed drives.

AC induction motors are used in many industrial applications as well as commercial and domestic products and appliances. Due to their design, the speed of these motors is determined by the frequency of the supply power, and the current determines the motor torque (turning force) in the motor, which is determined by the voltage of the supply. To effectively manage the speed of the motor, even when the load varies, it is necessary to control both the frequency and the voltage of the supply power. This opens the possibility of great improvements in efficiency and productivity and reductions in maintenance costs. Managing the speed of an induction motor is achieved by using a solid-state electronics device called a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD), sometimes known as a Variable Speed Drive (VSD) or simply as an AC drive. This device provides the ability to modify supply power frequency and voltage, giving operators and manufacturers fine control over how a motor behaves in an application. The motors used with a Variable Frequency Drive are usually three-phase induction motors due to their popularity and widespread usage. Still, VFDs can be used to achieve speed control with single-phase and synchronous motors as well. How a VFD Works The key goal of a Variable Frequency Drive is to modify the frequency and voltage of the supply power. Doing this converts the alternating current (AC) power of the supply to direct current (DC), adjusts the voltage, and then converts it back to AC power at the desired frequency. The first stage of a VFD is the converter. This device is typically a six-pulse full-wave diode bridge designed to only allow a single polarity output regardless of the input's polarity. This means that the alternating current (AC) on the input is converted to direct current (DC) at the output. In the second stage, voltage adjustment is carried out. Typically, this is achieved using a Pulse Width Modulator (PWM). This device takes the power at the input and pulses it at the output, which causes the voltage at the output to fluctuate. By controlling the pulse rate and using a capacitor on the output, the result is smoothed out at the desired voltage. This makes it possible to achieve a wide range of output voltages from an input source. The final stage of a VFD involves converting the voltage-adjusted input from DC power back to AC power. The device used to do this is known as an inverter. The output of the inverter stage of a VFD is usually quasi-sinusoidal, which is suitable for a motor. Benefits of VFDs Regardless of the application, there are innumerable benefits to controlling the speed of a motor using a Variable Frequency Drive. The main benefit is efficiency. When motors run at a constant speed that is not determined by the application, they are rarely operating near maximum efficiency. Depending on the application, this can result in substantial power costs and loss of productivity. With speed control, the optimum speed for each application can be determined and maintained. This doesn't just mean savings in operating costs, but also the potential to claim benefits from energy efficiency tax incentives and utility rebates. Another advantage of speed control using a Variable Frequency Drive is a reduction in maintenance costs. When motors run faster than they need to, the entire mechanical system, including the motor, bearings, gearboxes and peripherals such as pumps or conveyor belts, wear out faster. Additionally, the shock of starting at full speed can create stress on the entire system and result in more frequent mechanical failure. In the long term, this can add up to a high cost. By controlling the speed of the motor with a Variable Frequency Drive, the lifetime of the entire system can be extended, reducing maintenance costs and the requirement for new parts. Using a VFD has the added benefit of protecting the motor and the entire system from fluctuations in the supply power that may be outside the control of the operator or manufacturer. Because VFDs maintain the supply's frequency and voltage, they provide over-voltage, under-voltage, and phase protection to the motor. This reduces stress, maintains optimal operating conditions and increases the lifetime of the system. Summary A Variable Frequency Drive is a handy device that provides you with fine control over your motor's speed and torque, allowing you to tailor the speed of the motor to the application, increasing efficiency and productivity, and reducing maintenance costs.

Understanding variable frequency drives (VFD's) can be difficult and in this episode Chase Boehlke does a fantastic job of breaking down this technology.  He shares the general design differences in a VFD and other motor starting devices.  Understanding variable and constant torque applications are areas that Chase unpacks.  Ever heard of an IGBT? Chase's explanation of that technology is sure to clear the air.When it comes to applications the selection process can be complex to ensure the right VFD solution is selected to meet the required operation.  Chase reviews several applications that are common to industry to help listeners understand some of the variables that need to be considered before investing time and resources to ensure success. This episode is full of nuggets to help the industrial end user make more informed decisions with VFD technology.  Other areas such as heat, control, coordinated systems, reactors and multi-motor applications are all topics reviewed.  Guest: Chase Boehlke - Motion Control at SiemensHost: Chris GraingerExecutive Producer: Adam SheetsAdditional Resources: EECOonline.comHow to Select Between a Soft Starter and VFDWhat to consider with a VFD StartupWhat is a VFD

VFDs- In episode Kevin and I discuss control techniques on controlling compressors and controlling condenser fan motor VFDs. We also discuss on how they should be set upand little tricks enhance and some basic program them properly

Tim Skell, a veteran Sales Application Engineer for ABB joins the podcast to share his knowledge on variable frequency drives, better known as VFDs. Listen here to learn everything from what a VFD is to how they work to how to evaluate potential service partners in this industry. YouTube Chapter Links 00:00 - Intro 04:00 - What is a VFD and how does it work? 06:57 - What happens when you put a VFD on an older piece of equipment? 09:38 - What are the benefits of VFDs? 17:04 - What can facility managers do to help maintain their VFDs for peak performance? 21:24 - What kind of maintenance agreement would you recommend having with a VFD service provider? 22:43 - How do you choose a good VFD service partner? 25:29 - How do you differentiate one VFD manufacturer from another? 27:54 - What are some of the latest trends in VFDs? Additional Information Harmonics in HVAC applications – ABB: An important topic to be aware of for facility folks in charge of hospitals, data centers, universities with science/technical labs – anyone with sensitive equipment who needs clean/quality line power: ABB Drives HVAC Webinar Series: On-demand webinars for a variety of HVAC VFD topics including VFD101 content Proper BACnet Integration to a VFD (Page 8) – BACnet International Journal

Rok Talk on Drives is a new podcast from Rockwell Automation The topics will be focused on Drives and include both medium and low voltage VFDs, as well as servo drives. Topics could cover areas of packaging and applications for drives. Tune in for all the information you never knew you needed about drives.

Rok Talk on Drives is a new podcast from Rockwell Automation. The topics will be focused on Drives and include both medium and low voltage VFDs, as well as servo drives. Topics could cover areas of packaging and applications for drives. Tune in for all the information you never knew you needed about drives.

Tom Stephan, Training Manager for Goulds Water Technology, and Dave Kill, longtime industry professional and advocate of education in the residential water industry, discuss the growing demand for education throughout the industry, including the ongoing importance of the basics of pump training and sizing, as well as the need for advanced technology training with the rise of variable frequency drives (VFDs) and controllers in the marketplace. Stephan and Kill also describe the evolution and variety of educational opportunities provided today, including “training the trainer” with in the field training, leading in-person classes at the Goulds Water Technology Factory School, and offering on-demand online e-Learning courses and instructional YouTube videos. Learn more about training and education opportunities for industry professionals: http://goulds.com/ Watch YouTube training videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcPr3E-nIy0&list=PLlYcUvq1mcD9nRloe0QXMFwDb76g9FRtv

Host Kyle DelPiano talks with colleague Jennifer Freres, Americas Product Manager, Motors for Xylem, about ECM motors and the latest motor technologies and requirements, VFDs, and the future of ECM motors in HVAC applications. Learn more about Bell & Gossett ECM motors at http://bellgossett.com/

Dave Stover, Market Development Manager for Turbine Products at Xylem, explains the challenges of irrigation and water scarcity facing today’s farmers and how variable frequency drives (VFDs) are helping to provide efficient solutions for a variety of applications in different regions and geographies across the country. Learn more about irrigation solutions at http://goulds.com/irrigation-products/

This week I answer a question about trimming impellers on pumps that have VFD's. After reading a little bit I think I have a good response thanks to Norm Hall over at RL Deppmann. It is a rather short episode so listen and share it. Show notes as per usual can be found over at www.hvac360.com/138 . Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Good times this week as Emily & Dean discuss Flintstones architecture, poofy LED dresses, the Pololu Maestro, the Netflix series "The Creative Brain", a screaming roomba, RTFM, a strand beast bicycle and wiring up a VFD.

Steve Zakula, a senior product marketing manager, joins the Pumps & Systems podcast to discuss the harmonics mitigation process as it relates to variable frequency drives (VFDs). Some questions include: What are harmonics? Where are harmonics commonly found? Why should we be concerned about harmonics? What are ways to avoid or mitigate harmonics? If you have harmonics, how do you get rid of them? Subscribe to the Pumps & Systems podcast on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts and all other podcast platforms. Email host Drew Champlin at dchamplin@cahabamedia.com

How will Artificial Intelligence Change the Smart Buildings Industry? Dollar Driven Decision-Makers want Data into Insights, Insights into Action, and Action into Revenue. Will AI Deliver? CTN 305 Interviews: Show Notes Eric Stromquist: 00:00:00 Hi. Welcome to Control Talk Now, you’re Smart. Buildings video cast and podcast for the weekend in March 3rd., 2019 . We give you all the Smart Building and HVAC Controls News of the Week. and That’s right. Folks marches here. Episode 305 I am Eric Stromquist. , I am joined as usual by your co host and mine The Man, The Myth, the legend the one, the only Kenny Smyers the control man from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Kenny. you’ve been out sunbathing today, right? Ken Smyers: 00:00:26 No, I have not been sounds good. We got another two to four inches of snow again last night. And, February beat us up pretty bad, but we’re looking forward to the break in the weather. Eric Stromquist: 00:00:52 well, listen dude, we don’t have time to talk about that. We don’t have time to talk about much of anything. You know why we got two fabulous guests lined up. So, let’s get right to that. But before we do check out the post on controlled trends this week a big one, our friend Aaron Gorka, another next generation innovation podcasts dropped on Friday,, so be sure to check that out. Alot of good stuff on the on that which we’ll come to. Well you just have to go to the site to read it at controltrends.com Kenny with that, let’s introduce our first guest Ken Smyers: 00:01:27 Our next guest is the one and only Ken Sinclair, owner editor of automated buildings. And this month we’ve got something really interesting because I think Ken is going to help us differentiate between artificial intelligence and automated intelligence. Welcome to the show. Ken Sinclair. Ken Sinclair: 00:01:45 Welcome Ken! Thank you very much. ControllTrends. Always a pleasure to be here I appreciate it. Eric Stromquist: 00:01:51 I guess we should just start with you have to be intelligent before any of that’s relevant. Ken Sinclair: 00:01:59 Actually. Actually you’re quite right on, I’m one of the tweets. They actually picked that up and uh, they just pointed out that the, the, the intelligent part is us. We keep forgetting that we, I think we tried to imitate the artificial piece of artificial intelligence rather than the intelligent part. Uh, and it’s hard. It’s harder to be the intelligence. Ken Smyers: 00:02:20 No, I guess just going to say Ken, you know, it’s another great addition. Uh, just, uh, keep a common and is an amazing benefit to our industry that you’re, you’re able to grab all this new stuff coming out and start to make sense of it because when I read, whereas reading some of your, your, uh, entry, sir, in your first, uh, your editorial, when will we ever see a artificial or automated intelligence come into being? I mean, we close. I mean like when you didn’t have, are like, say Scown foundry and I had mentioned, you know, you know, you got, uh, somebody collecting information data. So we wrote a program, so you’re autonomize or automate the collection data, sends it somewhere Ken Smyers: 00:03:00 where it’s being processed by another basically program. So we took the humans out of the elements is going from, you know, machine information, but that back to computer machine information and it completes it. In your opinion, artificial intelligence or what does that sort of striving for is that we maybe try and redefine that a little better once it’s done and once it works and once it’s successful, I believe what it is is automated intelligence, right? And what we’ve done is we’ve learned how, and we probably did that through augmented intelligence and we may have used a artificial intelligence from computers to create that. But in the final analysis, it’s when it’s done, it’s actually a couple of lines of code in this machine and a couple of lines of code and that machine pushing information back and forth. So really all we’ve done is does that look any different than the DDC? Ken Sinclair: 00:03:59 Looper you know, it’s just, it’s just artificial or pardon me, automated intelligence. I keep getting my words mixed up here. The other thing is, uh, took a look at Wikipedia unwell. They define artificial intelligence and it’s totally clear that they’re confused as well. One of their, one of their best definitions is that they like is that artificial intelligence is what hasn’t been done. And I kind of liked that definition too, is every once in a while we hear somebody thinking about something that’s never been done and they actually believe that they can do it. And uh, once they do it, I think it changes. I think it is no longer artificial. I think it’s either automated and it’s either augmented, uh, it’s uh, you Eric Stromquist: 00:04:49 Ken, you’re going to go down in the history books for this cause Descartes said, I think therefore I am. And now I think you’ve just rephrase that to I think therefore I am artificial. Ken Sinclair: 00:05:00 Well actually there’s a good one. Whoever, whoever chose the acronym for for this, this broad method of having machines out think us and they called it artificial, you know, and it’s like wow, artificial has never been a positive word. I don’t think. I don’t think it’s a, it’s an adjective that we, you know, you look real artificial. I think it’s optimistic thinking on our part. But you’ve told us a story right before we turned the recorder on about the, the two machines and the camera. Will you tell our audience that story? Cause I think that is very interesting now. Okay. What kind of goes along like this is a, as we start to automate intelligence, we, we have two machines. The first machine, uh, is, uh, is uh, a ring. Somebody’s doorbell and it, it sees the person walking up and re prerecorded it. And when they push the button and it sends that prerecording to another machine than the other machine determines whether it’s going to allow that person in. Ken Sinclair: 00:06:02 And there’s all this data going back and forth. But when the artificial intelligence machines, uh, they start to, so the decisions are no longer made by people. The two machines, they get together and they say, these people are so dumb. Why did they bother generating a picture and sending the file when in fact, all we really need is the data. Because we don’t look at, we don’t know what a picture looks like, getting way, we just know what the data looks like. So we see that face. There’s a Pi data pattern. When we see that data pattern, that’s what we let the person in. So all of a sudden this gets really scary because they can do stuff faster, quicker and better than us. Uh, so that’s sort of getting into what I think artificial intelligence is, is when the machines start mocking us. What’s, I think they may be doing a bit now. Eric Stromquist: 00:06:51 Well, but Ken, I mean this is what Ilan Musk and some others have really gotten up in arms about and concerned about and I, and he’s a hell of a lot smarter than I am, but okay, so let’s take that same conversation between the two machines and instead of, they’re so dumb. They got it. You know, why do we don’t need a picture too? They’re so dumb. Why do we need them? So let’s just, we got him in the building over there was talk to our friend, the building automation system and building x, and we’ll tell building automation says to lock all the doors and turn the heat on and override the bypass on the boiler. So blows up. That’s one where we could get rid of, right? I mean, this is Ken Smyers: 00:07:25 Guys, you know, there’s several, there’s several books on this and I’ll tell you what, I’m reading one right now and it’s by a Daniel Sora as it is exactly that. It’s the Damon. So the guy passes away and as he leaves behind a, a giant Damon that runs and competes against the top minds in the world where it’s based on a game. So your concept, can I, I’m digging it and here’s why. I looked up their artificial intelligence and it basically just as anything that’s not human. So you have human intelligence that’s, that’s an eight to us that’s coming out of great minds like yours and Eric’s and, and some of mine. But the, Eric Stromquist: 00:08:01 these are such thing as a dumb ass machine, right? Ken Smyers: 00:08:05 When anything is not human is considered to be non human or artificial. So, but I think what we’re seeing, um, and, and again, I think we move into it because of exactly what you just said there. The data going on so fast with the recognition a week, last week, our big thrust, uh, on controlled trans was we did a shot, a recognition. So you had to ballistic sensors and things that could move so much faster. It makes so quick notifications. They can, human errors couldn’t differentiate between shot a gun or I’m sorry, a bullet being fired versus a backfire from a vehicle where the odd, the sensor could distinguish it immediately threw the ballistics through the, um, the sound acoustics and, and the, um, the flash she gives and notify something in three seconds, which takes a human that they’re not sure what they heard. They don’t know what to do, they’re stymied or whatever. Ken Smyers: 00:08:56 So that disbenefit, uh, is, is exactly, I think too, it’s, it’s an artificially gained intelligence where we did, we don’t have the capabilities in Nate Dar, so I’ll, we, we turn it over to our, our algorithms that are powered by Ip conductivities and Zip. We, did we get the benefit of this artificially, uh, you know, provided intelligence that is, or isn’t the bad guy or is, or is it the good guy? Whatever. So anyhow, great, great, great subject. Eric Stromquist: 00:09:26 No, no, no but, but, but I just want to get one step further. Kenny and Kevin Hart had a chance to listen to last week’s episode, but you know, Roger, even I can Honeywell come up with this sort of, you know, using those centers and then incorporating them so that if something does happen, you know, the first responders know exactly where, where to go and it can save a lot of lives. But Kenny, you know, the next step of this is they’re not going to send first responders. You can just send a drone in there. A drone is going to go into school and track those guys down or are bad people down just like that. So again, it’s very ironic that a one level we get very, very much, much safer and everything has a lot more convenient. But on another level, we’re really open ourselves up to some huge vulnerabilities here. Eric Stromquist: 00:10:11 If Elon Musk and some of these other folks are right, it’s okay. I’m not worried about gas cause I’m already, you know, Elon Musk has got this deal. He’s already started this company where they got the chips for the brains. And I’ve already, I’m on the, I’m on the waiting list for that and if it gets too bad with the machines, I got a ticket tomorrow so I’ll be out of here. But maybe I’ll go back and spinning off of Ken’s comment is that his definition of artificial is anything that doesn’t involve us. And I think, uh, I’m not sure about you, but I’m not sure I want to talk about anything that doesn’t involve us. So that’s what happened back to automated intelligence and action camp. But the other component has to be the self learning aspect of it too, right? I mean that has to filter in whether it’s automated or harder official that he can begin to learn right. With the cell phone in Algorithms. That’s gotta be a piece of it. Ken Sinclair: 00:11:02 Thanks Ken. But I’m not sure that, I don’t see that as a, that’s again, as an automated intelligence is basically, it’s just learning, learning how to better automate cause another perception, the way you look at that. Anyway, it’s early days. Um, the, uh, I don’t know if you caught the end of one of my articles there and then I talked about awful made it buildings and uh, uh, we were, we went through eight, we went through a period, it’s actually a 2002 article that I included a linking to. And uh, what happened with, uh, this was as we hit the web. So we went through the DDS, we went through awful, made it building several times. We went through awful, made it buildings. In the early days of DDC we had all these DDC systems that didn’t really work, but there so exciting that we kept on pursuing the, we actually figured out how to make those things work. And then we hit the web and we started getting a whole bunch of stuff as a web controlling MREs, the DDC controller. We have those. And I don’t see this as any different. We’re exactly in the same spot, except we’ve got this intelligence automation that’s Kinda falling from the sky on us. And, uh, we’re, we’re into another period of awful made it buildings until we get this straightened out. Eric Stromquist: 00:12:21 Hmm. What do you see some of the possible headwinds? I mean in terms of the problems, when you say awful, awful, made it, I mean obviously we went from pneumatics to DDC, there was a learning curve and things sorta had to, to get worked out. Do you see anything different with on the automated Ken Sinclair: 00:12:38 controls now it’s going to go faster if there’s going to be more people involved in it because of the iot industry. And ultimately I think, I think, but the problem is, is the uh, uh, Ben Ben, back to what Ken said, is it artificial is defined as things that don’t involve us. And I think if somebody, if we turn loose a machine, it’s not going to run the building the way we want, whether it, whether it attacks us or, uh, even if it doesn’t attack this as even tries to run it to the best of it’s knowledge, it’s going to need some guidance and what we need to learn. So what I see the, uh, intelligent automation phase era, that’s the year I think we’re in right now is we need to learn more about what we can do with this technology. How much should we can machine learn, uh, because we got to learn how to walk before we can allow AI to run our buildings. Ken Smyers: 00:13:42 Well, I, I agree with you and again, it’s always fun to take things to a, you know, an immediate, uh, you know, the word, the farthest point from, from reality, you know, or likelihood. But, um, in the, um, in your march edition, you also, we have another, a great article and great background to some really heady thought, but actually it gives us the, the nuts and bolts of it from a sit. How young thing again and, and, and how, you know, she takes the example of autonomous vehicle and how it would, it does, it reduces the risk of life. It reduces, you know, allows, it frees humans to do more things. Uh, you know, that the car can do that. It alleviates you from doing work. It’s, you know, it’s like a, the amazing thing the locomotive did versus the horse and buggy thing. So she has a great article in there. Um, what, what, what did she bring to you as far as the, you know, her insight using the autonomous vehicle? A analogy to our buildings. I mean, it’s a great article, but I thought, you know, what was your synopsis of that? Ken Sinclair: 00:14:42 I summarize, summarized it in a, in a tweet this morning and the fact that we were pushing back and forth some stuff and it, uh, I said that, uh, you know, the having your driverless vehicles running into our buildings I think is really good stuff because this whole atonomous side of the automated vehicle has whole bunch of social issues. It has a whole bunch of quick control things you were talking about. There’s no way that you know, that some of this stuff can be controlled so quick, but, and that’s of course, the second part of our theme that we were talking a theme is the automated intelligence with autonomous interactions. I don’t know that we’ve really thought of of it in two pieces like that. Here’s the intelligence of what it is we’re going to do. And then as soon as we do it, there’s a reaction, let’s put in another control loop to control the reaction. Ken Sinclair: 00:15:38 And I think if we look at the auto industry, they’ve got their spending scabs of bucks on this and they’re moving through. So I think we need to kind of try and understand better what they’re doing. Ironically enough for articles this month or right on our nose talking about, uh, what they’re doing in Stanford there. And, uh, the young girl on energy prediction is amazing. It picks up on last month and fills right in and she’s particularly well spoken and she’s speaks to it. I think what we also have to, you know, get used to, as people are going to call it artificial intelligence or call it augmented intelligence or automated intelligence and, uh, we’re going to be getting used to the fact that maybe it’s just best we call it AI and then substitute our own, uh, uh, okay. Okay. Different definition of that connotative definition. Yeah, that’s, that’s, yeah, I think you’re right. Yeah. Well, okay. Got It. Cool. Eric Stromquist: 00:16:41 Let me hop in real quick, if you don’t mind, Kenny, before we get to the next article, I think one of your buddies is responsible for all these annoying phone calls I’m getting from these chat bots. Oh those damn things are talkative as hell. But uh, but speak a bit if you would, because it seems like we might be going from a Gui graphical user interface, you s C U I, which you’ve been talking about for a while. But now I see it in black and white and I connecting the dots are going inadvertently can you’re responsible for all these damn calls. I’m getting Ken Sinclair: 00:17:19 no doubt, no doubt. My only defense is as they all, they all sit that they all come with an autonomous interaction. And the autonomous interaction is as if you don’t ever answer the phone or say hello. They won’t, they don’t do anything. So if you actually can out think them. So if you, uh, when it comes, you get one of these chat bot calls. If you don’t say anything and nobody says anything for about a half minute or something, you can just hang up cause it’s no person. So anyway, uh, the, yeah, the, you see, what do we call it? User interface, text voice. The more, so we’re seeing this, I mean it’s running rampant now with the speakers and all kinds of devices that actually have, uh, these, Ken Sinclair: 00:18:08 the Hay googles and the Alexa’s built right into them. And I think we’re going to see more and more of that. And now what I think the, the, the conversational user interfaces is that now devices, we’ll start talking like that and we can start using whatsapp, WeChat, uh, ims soldier and in some of these things. And actually, uh, the very quick segue is that we could actually, uh, you know, text to turn the lights on. The big advantage of that is it keeps a record of all of the commands you can, you can, you can say to your wife, you turned the heat up. And she said, no, she didn’t. And she says, it shows that Santa Time you put it up five degrees. So how that conversation goes, that damn machine is obviously wrong. Ken, you’re not going to win that argument or call my lawyer. Actually, I was going to bring that up. I was going to bring that up early when, when Ken was talking about how, how carefree these machines, good thinking. I think that was the biggest single thing is that the machines can move without lawyers. So that’s the thing that mobilizes us all. Well there then, you know what, there might be a silver lining after all I’m ever my friend. Eric Stromquist: 00:19:27 Ken do you have any more question for Ken? Ken Smyers: 00:19:30 No, no, no. I just, again, that does so much to talk about every time we were bringing something up. So again, it’s a collection of jewels I think, you know, because uh, you know, going over the march articles and how they come together, like you say, it’s like a phenomenon. You started at subject and all of a sudden something provides, you know, it’s like willing it into being like you get this critical mass and all of a sudden people were also thinking that way and just that part from Sydney. Uh, the article from us sit on a jump. The, that contributions inside that article or immense because it talks about, you know, the, you know, the energy, the automatic provisioning of, of, of, you know, in other words, if we had a limited amount of energy on the grid and we had sustained the most important critical buildings and whatever, uh, you know, we’re going to one day rely on that to be done, you know, through uh, I just watched a presentation on, on a new drive coming from Siemens and this drive is already smart grid ready. Ken Smyers: 00:20:29 In other words, it’s ready to go to the next level, uh, and not go into the network would go right to the cloud and put VFDs on, on an application, uh, and it can alleviate a btu meters because the, the VFD can calculate the flow and see how many BTUs you’re using saving of Dagon. Holy Moly. This is, this is another thing that you were talking about right before we have our session here. I listened to this and I’m thinking this is getting really, really interesting because if you could put this artificial intelligence or augmented intelligence or automated intelligence to work, we are going to become a greener planet quicker. We’re going to be able to use this to make our take the best steps forward. But you know, I think would you said true that if somebody doesn’t answer the phone, guess what? Nothing happens. No, no artificial or augmented intelligence occurs because people don’t start using this technology in buildings. We’re not getting anything done. Eric Stromquist: 00:21:31 Well yeah, but you’re saying it’s reactive now, meaning you have to initiate this step, but Ken Smyers: 00:21:36 pretty easy. Did you have to make this step, you have to take the investment, you have to invest, you have to invest in technology, Eric Stromquist: 00:21:40 right? No, you have to invest in technologies. But would your, your point, which is a very valid one. We like your, Ken’s point about the following. If you just don’t say anything, right, it doesn’t, it doesn’t activate, you know, the program. Yeah. But, and I think that’s kind of a very calm, you know, good thought. But then eventually it will be where they’ll just be proactive. They’ll figure it out, west cans and clear again. I’m just going to start damn talking cause I know he’s not going to answer first and then, uh, then we’ll start sending pictures or something to you. That’d be crazy. But Ken Sinclair: 00:22:13 I think this might be the, the edge of the automated automated buildings and automated interfaces and stuff that we need to work out. And I think that’s why we have to be involved in this too, as I, yeah, I’m not sure that artificial intelligence is going to be able to figure that out and come up with any better solution. Uh, what it would say is it’s a solution we don’t want to hear is don’t ever talk to a human. They’re just, they’re just impossible. Only talk to machines. You know? It’s funny you say that because, Eric Stromquist: 00:22:45 you know, I was thinking while you were talking about what’s the definition of artificial intelligence, you know, Kenny had a good one. You had a good one. And I was going to say that, well, uh, you’d have to have an original thought to not be artificial intelligence, but then I think about it, I’m not sure. Most humans have many original thoughts either. You know, there’s some of us who do, but it’s a, it really is fascinating. And then what I’m really interested, forget the buildings. I am serious about this, putting the brain, the chip and the brain. I mean, have an augmented intelligence on board connected to your mind. And Musk has been working on that. So it’s literally, you know, you’re not gonna have to go to school and, and what are you just going to buy the, uh, the chip for American history and you’ll know everything you need to know about it? Ken Sinclair: 00:23:30 Actually, uh, I think, uh, as, I was really pleased with Theresa’s article this month, and, uh, I think it came partly from her going up and spending some time with the folks at bedrock and in Detroit and watching what they’re doing up there. She, she came out and she’s picked up on this theme and she calls it the community of practice in building automation. Uh, you can actually even drop the building automation because it’s basically, I hadn’t seen it so clearly as she depicts it, that we all belong to a community of practice and both of your supply companies are, they are communities of practice and basically that’s what you’re selling. Then that’s your, you’re really your value and automated buildings is a community of practice. People who actually believe in somewhat a common belief of, you know, of how we might automate buildings. We also have things like backnet, which is a community of practice. Ken Sinclair: 00:24:27 We have Niagra and basically what’s happening is they’re becoming the building blocks of our industry. And this is how we build stuff is uh, when you find a community of practice that you haven’t, haven’t been exposed to, you guys are all excited and then you figure out how can we make that community of practice part of our community of practice and that increases your value. That’s a lot of what I, I think we all do is, is basically share this information. The advantage of attaching yourself to a community of practice is it comes complete with resources. People, people who understand that and we need to keep creating those and, and basically distributing that information. So anyway, I think that’s going to be our next direction. That’ll not, that won’t be the theme for, um, April because the theme for April is going to be cybersecurity. Speaker 4: 00:25:25 But halfway through it I’m going to write an article on the community of practice and just kind of tie all of these communities together. And if you just let your mind role and think how important, how important are all those things to your business, your everyday business. I mean, you could say you could, you could almost go down your drawers there, your La Aisles, and you say this belongs in the back net. This is a Nagra. This is a Johnson. This is a, you know, all of them are communities of practice that you’re doing it. What’s your big claim to fame? One of your big claims to fame is that you crossover many lines of a communities of practice. Ken Smyers: 00:26:04 Hmm. Not sure when I read that I had this word Papa, they kept coming up with that was, or your collaboratorium. In other words, you know, the, the thing that I think I’ve witnessed or we’ve all witnessed, but in particular is how quickly certain things get done when there’s that collaboration or does community of practice where you overlay all these experts and all this, all these, you know, leading, uh, you know, uh, pioneers because we’re talking about three things right there that we’re are all articles, project haystack, biennial, haystack connects conferences coming up from San Diego, mid May, uh, Co controls con con a skull, Scott Cochran. He’s got a great spring Ken Smyers: 00:26:44 conference coming up where the, uh, you know, Cochran is going to share a great deal of information, um, you know, regarding new technologies and things that the, uh, you know, it’s very important. So yeah, I did that community practice. It makes total sense what you’re saying would tree says, but um, can you see it? I’ve shared it that she went back to this Nydia and got approval to reproduce this graphic. But if you Kinda, if you kind of just read all the little, uh, you know, things that are written around there, that’s what you do every day, right? Listening, challenging buildings, sharing everything that’s on that thing is basically what your companies do to pull together your community, give and get support. Yup. Yup. So, uh, you know, just it’s, it’s kind of, I dunno, we used to, you know how you have to filter because there’s so much out there. Uh, the malty general generational engagement. So there’s our young guns. Yeah. Yeah. So it’s kind of amazing that, that this is kind of a map of who we are and where we came from. Um, and I think we need to work more on this map so we can better understand what I might be talking about. Cause I probably don’t understand what automated intelligence might be. I think what we have to do is kind of maybe do an intelligence inventory. Eric Stromquist: 00:28:14 You know, Ken, listen, listen, you’re missing the whole point here. Look, I’ll have my machine, my machine call, uterine machine and they a lunch and figure all this stuff out. We’re not going to have to communicate anymore. We just have the machines. We’ll have the community of practice. That’s, that’s where you’re going with this, right? Ken Sinclair: 00:28:30 Uh, well I dunno, look, look at, look at all the touchy feely things on the, on the docket there. Yeah. That’s one thing that machines aren’t y’all like, you know, like you’re saying caring, healing and listening or new superpowers. Yeah. Eric Stromquist: 00:28:46 I’m going to tell you some, most of it you have to ask yourself a question is empathy, which is what all those things are. Is that a learned skill? Cause I told you this on a show before when I was in southern California about two years ago, the debate on the radio, because they just come out with the sex Bot and they were teaching them artificial intelligence that can be more empathetic and the debate on the radio as a view if you had sex with the sex bot where you cheating and so it’s, you know, it’s, I maybe you think about it. I think empathy is learned. We teach our children how to be empathetic. I think I’m at least, I think that we could debate that. Whether that’s an innate human quality or dress up. We just learn when we get culturized by growing up by our parents and going to school. It is the question, then we’ll be able to program it into the machines and there’ll be more empathetic than we are. Ken Smyers: 00:29:36 Well, to Ken’s point, I think that’s both. I think that’s what you can’t put inside the artificial intelligence or machines is you can’t put Ken Smyers: 00:29:42 that inate stuff. And you know, you have different psychologists saying different things, but we all come from the same well of consciousness. You know, we pass through a w what’s his name, your different Freud. Another colleague came through with young where we all with this guy, Joe Campbell travels the world, hundred 50 countries and how 150 different countries come with the same basic belief system. You know, about how you got here and where you’re going afterwards, you know. But to your point, I think, um, the, uh, subjects that we’re talking about is, is that this thing almost looks like a 1970. Remember how we did the we generation iGeneration we generation or the me Generation Innovation is almost looks like our whole concepts or taken a different direction where it used to be individuals, there were the major players in the industry and they dictated science stuff and now we’re seeing all this technology come in and it’s just dumping all these new possibilities. Ken Smyers: 00:30:41 And so this community of practice to me is an extension of of basically the thing you did with the collaboratorium. I’ve never seen so many people be willing to share so much what used to be like a sensitive information or proprietary information, but they want to get something done in order for them to get their agenda done quicker. They collaborate with somebody that’s also doing something better than they are and instead of each trying to create your own wheel, they’re putting together a, you know, this, this, this community and it’s an amazing thing because Hastac is it? We’re going to talk about haystack some at some point and, and we just have to celebrate what they did because that’s what they did. They did this, this amazing linkage of, of a lot of people that couldn’t really define how they were going to get there. Somebody laid down a map and then people contributed to it. And next thing you know, you’ve got a yellow brick road. Eric Stromquist: 00:31:29 Well listen, I want to, Ken, I want to follow up, uh, on your last episode, uh, El or semi last, last month’s edition because you know what, you had become quite a cult hero amongst the young young guns in our industry for, for numerous reasons. But the big one is a, and I’m going to ask you to expand on this is, you know, when you become, when you’re disrupted disruption. And so one of the questions we got from our community has asked, can you know, talk about the process of disrupting disruption. I mean, how would I do that? Because you know, you’ve seriously the young, I mean we were bringing in it kind of like a hero to these folks. Now again, how do we disrupt disruption? Well, I think it’s interesting once you learn how to grow younger, which is a, is a skill that takes a bit and you basically, Ken Sinclair: 00:32:27 yeah, Ken Sinclair: 00:32:27 bring these guys on his trusted advisors and start to understand and try to get inside their heads are at least closer to it. You understand this whole what the significance Ken Sinclair: 00:32:40 of being a digital native is. I mean, we’re looking at this from such a wrong way. You know, all our, we keep going off on these tangents. They don’t even think about that. They grew up with all this stuff falling on them and they understand they had been, don’t have the fear of the machine that we do because they understand the machine, they understand data that give it the data. We take the data away, you know, and uh, I think they just see it in a completely different light. So for them disrupting disruption, although they do it to themselves as well because they’re there a way ahead on the front. Some of the stuff they’re disrupting is totally amazing. I barely understand. But our disruption is easy. It’s easy to disrupt us and to disrupt the disruption is, is uh, is easy as well because our industry is slow to move. Ken Sinclair: 00:33:32 And, uh, we’re actually starting to see some of this stuff coming. We’re actually seeing, uh, you know, wifi sensors. We’re seeing the wire disappearing in our buildings and more, more devices, more it devices starting to appear. So that’s, that’s very disruptive. But it inside of it comes a gazillion opportunities and we’re getting where we had a, like a very small slice of the industry, things that were involving, now we’re involving integrator piece of the industry. So yeah, I don’t know. That answer wasn’t very good answer. I was kinda hoping you’d say something like, we know we got to kill the machines or something like that. You know, that’s what I was going for, Matt. Ken Smyers: 00:34:20 Well, I’ll tell you that again. You got an amazing job to kill the kids first day. Cause that’s the, they’re, they’re, they’re becoming closer and closer to these machines and they’d rather talk to the machines and us. I saw somebody put a, uh, I don’t know where it was, linkedin or somewhere, but it had all these kids in this beautiful museum in front of one of the most classic art and they’re all single child was looking up at the art, uh, and they were on their phones, iPhones or smart devices or whatever. And it just really caught it. Oh know to be in the middle of it, you know, our world thinking that we had, we had put these things on the wall to the epitomize the highlights of humankind and our loftiest, you know, artists and these kids just totally not interested. And so we’ll accept it. It’s funny cause sometimes the guys looking at it and what they’ll tell you is that’s not really the original. The original is in Spain, in the small town, this is a copy. Ken Sinclair: 00:35:21 We’re always checking facts. You assume that sometimes they’re, you know, they’re doing something different, but sometimes they’re just, they’re just way ahead of you. And lucky. Now, I’ll tell you what I learned my lesson and I, when we were talking about an old timer, walks into the office, a Johnson controls had a uh, a, a couple years ago, Eric and I were at it and they explained the mistake. They’d invested so much money in recruiting the top a young guns that could possibly get their hands on. Uh, and, and then they were losing them after the second year and it all boiled down to their boss and, and the one classic example they gave through where they had the outbrief thing and the people had to, could, could hear what they were being accused of or the bosses criticism from the young person’s perspective. And here it was that the guy who thought they were all screwing around on their smartphones and they were actually doing work and research because the companies that their, their, their, their computer system was so slow and lagging and they had so many security still at that they couldn’t get the information they needed to complete the project that was due. Ken Smyers: 00:36:20 So they were actually doing double time using their own device to get some information that the computers that they were given to is their work. Computers couldn’t perform and be, he looked outside, he said, everybody’s playing with their phones or playing games. There was an assumption that they were screwing off and here they were very, you know, professionally you’re trying to get the Dang job done. And they were being, you know, uh, there were being hindered by, anyhow, we, you’ve got a couple of good articles, this thing by Marc p talk and it’s got a picture and it says, you know, the built environment has been changing drastically, but what, what does mark say he says is two nights, 2019 the year of truth for the built environment. And he has all these questions. He has, well, two nights, 2019 be the truth that our dialogue senators around the proven technologies. So what’d you think about that? And it’s like the 10 commandments of, of the built space. Ken Smyers: 00:37:14 Yeah, that’s good. I’ve been, I’ve included in my article a link to it. Uh, it’s super mark. Mark always is very succinct and being able to kind of pull out around, uh, and it’s okay. So maybe this is the truth of artificial intelligence that I’m talking about is that I’m saying maybe, maybe we don’t want to call it that. Maybe we want to call it art or a automated intelligence. And I don’t know, sometimes by just calling something different, you start to discussions and I think that’s what I really want to do is start the discussion. We can, I think you’ve got an add on. Your name needs to be automated buildings and intelligence. How’s that? That’s right. Well the other problem is if I didn’t call it automated intelligence yeah then that’d be obsolete. I’d have to, I’d have to, how I got it. There was two choices. I either had to change automated buildings.to artificial buildings.com and I don’t think I would’ve sold with it after 20 years. Automated building Sterns to artificial buildings. So we had to, had to go to automated intelligence. I like that. I do automated versus our, I don’t like artificial either. Not to think about it cause you know, it always meant something unnecessarily sinister but not necessarily Ken Smyers: 00:38:31 as, as as you know, as firing as it could be. Artificial means that’s made up and, and, and not genuine. And so maybe we will help the mate, the next group of solution providers change it from artificial intelligence to automated intelligence. Eric Stromquist: 00:38:46 So Ken, uh, listen to about march of March issue is out automatedbuildings.com, be sure to check the I can, would you be able to hang around a bit longer and talk with us with our next guest?. Okay. Ken. So where are you going to be traveling this spring where it looks like we might be crossing paths a little bit. Okay. Well we’re off to Detroit and early May to control con we was just before this conference call, I was talking with Scott and the bedrock, a Joe from bedrock and uh, exciting stuff happening there. Actually. He, he just come back from Korea and some going to be some amazing stuff. I could tell you, but I’d have to kill you, but don’t, don’t, don’t do that. We’re going to be there too. So it’s going to, okay, I told you today I’d have to kill you. But Scott was Scott. Speaker 4: 00:39:32 It was Scott in Korea or a the gift. Actually, Scott Scott was a fighting icebergs and a theory coming out of the lake or something like that. He was driving in his car, asked for video, and he took his phone and held it up against the windshield and told me I was driving. So, so listen to, you can still go there. Are there links both on automated buildings.com site and control trends, uh, hey, be get a chance to go to this conference is fantastic. And uh, the next big conference had coming up is haystack and our next guest is going to be able to talk a bit about that, Kenny. So how about introducing him? Ken Smyers: 00:40:07 I’d love to, in fact, um, I’d like to introduce Ruairi Barnwell. He is a group principal at d l r and the DLR group, uh, was recently recognized that the controlled trends awards because they won the project haystack award. And that’s a very, very exciting thing. And, uh, we’re very happy to welcome to the show, Rory Barnwell. Welcome to show Roy everyone. Good to see you again, buddy. Ruairi Barwell: 00:40:32 Hey guys, how’s it going? Great to be here. Eric Stromquist: 00:40:34 Good to see you too. You were on episode 222 and uh, I’ll always remember that it was great, lively conversation and, uh, could you give a sort of a refresher and an update on what’s going on with DLR group? Ruairi Barwell: 00:40:48 Sure. Well, thanks again guys. Really excited to be back on again. Um, I guess just to recap on DLR group who we are and what we do. And so we’re a large design firm. Um, you know, 1200 people, 30 offices around the, around the globe, um, architects and engineers, um, you know, our core American sectors or education, workplace justice and civic, uh, hospitality. We’re actually the largest education design firm in the world. So that leads us down some pretty interesting paths. Um, so yeah, that’s kind of a, we’re busy. I’m sitting here in Chicago right now and looking out the window and, uh, all the cranes and all new construction going on. So, yeah, Ruairi Barwell: 00:41:32 we’re trying to make it, Ken Smyers: 00:41:36 yeah. Good stuff. All right, well, we’re really happy to see you down in Atlanta and, uh, recognize you right away. And we have to say hello before the show actually gotten underway. But, uh, you wonder, pretty impressive. Tell us about the project Haystack Award and how you guys won that. Ruairi Barwell: 00:41:54 Well, it was quite an honor. We’ve obviously been big believers in haystack and you know, practitioners, the haystack methodology and what we do and how we, you know, collect and, uh, organize and analyze data to our, our smart building a praxis are amongst monitoring based commissioning. Uh, you know, how we, what we call building optimization. That’s the practice I lead. Um, so yeah, it was quite an honor, right? I mean, well, the night that was a controlled times Lord. Eric Stromquist: 00:42:36 Yeah. So an engineer and designer standpoint as well as a, you know, an energy optimizer and buildings for our community might not know. What do you see the advantage is to project haystack? Ruairi Barwell: 00:42:49 Um, well, again, for us, you know, a large part of what we do within DLR group, uh, our building optimization practice is, I mean, it’s just dealing with data and at the end of the day, um, we’re answering the try to answer the same questions as everyone else in our community is what do we do with that data? How do we make it actionable? How do we organize it, you know, create some actionable insights from that data. So what are, we’re trying to optimize the energy use of a million square foot commercial office in downtown Chicago or, you know, a college campus in the suburbs. MMM. It’s, you know, it’s the same drive trying to answer the same questions as everyone else. Ken Smyers: 00:43:35 What are your clients asking for now? What are your types of clients and what do they ask? So you’re the largest provider of services to the education world. What are they asking for? Ruairi Barwell: 00:43:46 Yeah, I mean, as an example, you know, we’re working with large school districts here in Chicago across the country. Um, you know, going and getting ready to go out for a large bond referendums, you know, they’re trying to answer some big questions like, are we, uh, you know, how are we, you know, here in Chicago, we’ve got a couple of districts going out for $180 million contract for, and then down in Texas, they don’t, they’re close to a billion. I mean, figuring out Texas, right? But we’re all trying to answer the same questions. You know, are we, should we build new versus renovation, throwing good money after bad, you know, how are the buildings performing and should we invest in these existing buildings? Should we decommission them, build a new, know you were high performing buildings and, um, you know, they’re, they’re asking the same questions. You know, how, you know, how do we benchmark buildings? Ruairi Barwell: 00:44:40 You know, I think we’re, we’re recognized as a, as an industry and this community in particular that, you know, energy benchmarking alone. There’s not a, it’s not a good indicator of how well, or poorly performing. So we’re starting to look at the other key performance indicators that, you know, how is, how, how, how well a building is performing. I in indoor environmental quality tracking, indoor air quality and thermal comfort of occupants, Acoustic Comfort, visual comfort, your user functionality. Now these are, these are things that we’re trying to tie real data to versus, you know, we’ve, we’ve talked about him, I think this conversation has been pretty mainstream for the last couple of Ken Smyers: 00:45:22 the metrics. Are you able to provide additional metrics to improve the understanding of how important those, those things that you had mentioned, lighting, acoustics, I mean, does that, does that really have a profound impact on the educational environment or is that more, is that hard? Ruairi Barwell: 00:45:38 No, no, absolutely. I think we’re getting past, we’ve made a very focused decision to kind of try and there’s so much noise and marketing, you know, yeah. Spills everyone to call them. Um, we’ve already focused on trying to get some good case studies and trying to, you know, for example, in a couple of cool projects you’re working on right now we’re doing a large project with the GSA. We’re part of the Harvard School of Public Health. Um, it’s doctor Joe Allen’s group, um, where we’re trying to evolve their post occupancy evaluation process. Um, really tried to add another dimension to, um, to their, you know, what they’re, they’re trying to fill it up and evidence based design library so they can continually iterate there. We’re working directly with their workplace, um, uh, workplace global workspace leader and um, you know, adding in that realtime indoor air quality, indoor environmental quality is more than just the air quality and all the occupants satisfaction. Ruairi Barwell: 00:46:44 Um, putting real metrics to that and tying that back to work or productivity. So that’s again, I think that’s been a manager in conversation now for, for a couple of years where I’m, I’m pretty excited with the crossover between, you know, worker productivity, the workplace, um, you know, getting some proper metrics for that to education. So now we’re starting to see equal amounts of research being done and if not a little more now at the moment with, um, you know, students, you know, student achievement, you know, how does the, out of the class, how did the before, how does the performance of the built environment, the classroom impacts a student’s learning ability, you know, the cognitive of a, of a child brain. How that, um, how, you know, is is the classroom ventilated enough? Is it too hot, too cold or the acoustics poor, the lights too harsh or too damn, you know, we’re working in a school districts that have, you know, kind of okay lighting retrofits that were driven by energy, not so much the, you know, the function of the classroom. Um, and, and again, and try and tie that back to, you know, how engaged the student is and ultimately student achievement. And I think we’re looking at more or less the same ties as a, as far as on the workplace side and an office and productivity. Ruairi Barwell: 00:48:11 Okay. Well, uh, honestly we’re in the middle of, uh, of working on this GSA project is ongoing. It’s on the boards right now. That’s why it’s top of my mind. But he’s kind of, well, I’m, I’m excited about. Um, so I would say look for the, I think this would be the third iteration of the cog effect study from Harvard School of Public Health. Um, and so that, you know, that’s only going to get, there’s just going to be more iterations of that until, you know, I think, okay, we’ve withdrawn it’s common sense, you know. Um, I think that we’re just trying to put real data to it. Um, you know, another project I’m really excited about, we’re working with Chicago public schools and the third largest school district in the country where, you know, there, uh, there, uh, exploring an initiative for a lot of textile and that’s zero school and you know, we can have a, it’s really easy. You haven’t that Sarah School, right? Turn off the light board up the windows, tell the kids the worst, some colts and light some candles. You know, we want a second, but Marcy sophisticated approach than that. Um, so we’re, uh, you know, using the same data gathering, collecting, collecting data, organizing it, analyzing it, modeling it for future retrofits, you know, trying to show, uh, I’m not, uh, basically a roadmap for how can we get to the zero? What is it feasible? I mean, that’s the question we’re trying to answer. Ken Smyers: 00:49:51 Amazing work bringing our, bringing emotions to buildings. In other words, we’re taking the things like comfy that began way back when, where it was giving people with smart devices the opportunity to interface with building automation system to get some kind of an immediate response if they needed air conditioning or heating, whatever. And as soon as they were company, they hit a button, say coffee. So Ken has done a lot of studies and a lot of work on it. Can, I know you got to have a good question for Rory regarding these, these exact studies because isn’t this the chance that they, the, the emotional side of a building can be exposed through these new retrofit new programs? Ken Sinclair: 00:50:29 I think he has an excellent start. And actually I’d like to start by applauding what, uh, what he’s doing. And his company is certainly for a major consultant to embrace haystack and, uh, the other health parameters of buildings and put them in their lead is, is significant than I think he is definitely an example to, oh, a lot of consultants who are, are kind of hiding, hiding their head from all of this. And uh, so he’s well on his way and as the exposes all his data, he is going to be able to interpret the emotion of a building. I’ll be better than anybody. And uh, the fact it’s going to be in haystack standards, uh, is also exciting, uh, because that means that when we do analytics and we start to use a voice interface and device lifts interfaces and the autonomous interactions, uh, I think he’s ahead of the game and even even to speak to our, uh, our march theme, the Automated Intelligence, uh, I think he’s well on his way to achieving that as well. So I would probably just start with a whole bunch of Kudos. Ruairi Barwell: 00:51:51 Thank you. Ken Sinclair: 00:51:54 No, actually the question I would like to ask you is how do we get a string of consultants like you? I mean that’s our problem as an industry is really have traditional consultants that are controlled by lawyers that are immobilized and they’re putting in their 1956 system because they worried that they’re going to get sued if they try anything new. So you guys somehow, uh, moved over into risk management. They’re looking at changing world. How’d you do that? Ruairi Barwell: 00:52:31 We’re talking about energy or whatever we’re talking about indoor air quality, indoor environmental quality in general. The level of transparency. We’re at the tip of the iceberg there. Um, you know, the sensors are becoming cheaper and more available. You know, we can, where we can practically do realtime indoor air quality monitoring. We’re working because you know, a friend of the show, Albert, he’s on it, you know, how is already working on a real time. We’re going to be using his sensors for, to, to track this real time. It’s very affordable sensors that are high quality that are going to still meet the well building standards for accuracy. The problem with answers as you got what you pay for. So if you can get, you know, the correct, mmm, Ruairi Barwell: 00:53:26 nope. We’re tracking typically CO2, that’s the one we all kind of default to, but also PLCs, how the material selection impacts the environments. Um, pm 2.5, you know, how the, how to particulate matter in the air stream, you know, how well are we still trading the air, how clean was the air. A lot of this technology comes from China, I believe it or not because the outdoor air so poor over there. This is kind of initiatives, you know, the badge of honor in China is to show that, hey, it’s not necessarily I got to lead platinum building , I’ve got to building with clean air.. You start to see initiatives like, uh, you know, the recess, uh, certification reset in the certification. That’s primarily based on just, uh, it’s only based on indoor air quality, you know, so, Speaker 6: 00:54:19 right. Ruairi Barwell: 00:54:25 Well, you know, it, it’s, it’s, it’s a fun vibe, you know, practice a little bit. You know, scary time, you know, for, for uh, when we disclosed this amount of information to a building operators, we work with property management firms. We work with a nutshell reads, um, ourselves as a design firm. Now our level of transparency, our post postdoc, the evaluation for our own designs, it’s become a lot more rigorous. So, you know, not only are we focused on energy and the outcomes and okay, are we know we got to hit this Gui for the building. What now? What are we going to hit this threshold for co two levels for particulate matter or you know, for um, the materials that were, that, you know, everything from them at the carpet that’s been selected impacts the indoor air quality impacts. Ken Sinclair: 00:55:16 Go ahead. No, I was just wanting to pick, pick up on that. That’s another interesting side of it is as the devices and the things are starting to talk to us, I just came off a conference call with getting ready for the control con event in Detroit and Joe from bedrock had just come back from Korea and he’d been talking to the LG folks and the LG folks on their units are absolutely prepared to provide complete open all of the information they have internal to their units and so all of a sudden pick up. That’s like a whole new world to us was where the OEM always kind of kept everything and you bought it and you know he never really knew what it does now into your transparency of data. You’re having this, these machines and as a consultant you can control that in the fact that you say, I want devices that are more transparent and that they give me new data. If they don’t give me my data, I’m going to buy product B, not product day because Ken Sinclair: 00:56:24 this guy gives me more data every week. Gives me the most data, maybe the product as long as it gets Ruairi Barwell: 00:56:32 after your original question. And how do we get more people on board? I think the really nice thing about working with an entity like the GSA is that they’re doing this to be the, to be a leader. Everything we’re doing is going to be published publicly available. There’s no secret there. You know, everything. We’re going to be doing this completely open and we’re kind of share best practices super. And that’s why, you know, so we’ve teamed with Harvard, uh, there they’re just going to continue to do great things and change the industry. Um, uh, we’re starting to see, you know, Lawrence Berkeley national labs and the Department of Energy got on board with these, you know, these same metrics and uh, um, ourselves and, uh, four or five or order pure group, uh, your, um, companies are, are currently work in the early stages with the national labs and Department of Energy to, to kind of just a roadmap out how prevalent types of analytics that we’re doing. Ken Smyers: 00:57:34 A couple of things, you just came back from an important trip this morning, didn’t you? You were in Minneapolis, Minnesota this morning and you came back. Ruairi Barwell: 00:57:41 Yeah. Minneapolis is a near and dear to my heart. That’s where if my second city, so I grew up in Ireland. If you can’t tell from my accent, cargo is my city. Been here for 20 years now, but my wife is from Minneapolis, are on Minneapolis office. Nope. We’re kind of tied at the hip with, with, uh, with them how we’re structured regionally, our CEO, it’s up there. Um, so yeah, I came back from probably the only place right now do any major city that’s colored in Chicago at the mall. I didn’t, I wasn’t very sure if I’d make it out with the smell. Um, but I was up there. Yeah. For a, a very special read them. We were actually taken off, well, don’t kick it off. My good friend, uh, broad culture over at Hga, uh, has, uh, has over the past a year, 18 months. It’s been very successful with a couple of more teammates that heads up there and getting the big TC, uh, group going up at the building intelligence group, twin cities. And um, so we had a great, uh, meeting. We thought I had some great meetings over the past couple of months and that’s really, uh, so last night there was maybe 60, 70 people. Um, kind of the same cross section of card that you’d see at real calm. I’d be gone, you know, systems integrators, vendors, you know, some more proactive, um, design consultants, you know. MMM. Usual Xbox, you know. Um, Ruairi Barwell: 00:59:22 but everyone comment that, um, there’s really no outlet for smart. There’s really no smoking. We got USG, we see receive, got Ashrae for the engineers, but there’s really no local connection point or you know, people in the smart building industry. I was amazed. I had done a fantastic job up there. In fact, I should probably got him on Eric Stromquist: 00:59:46 right. It’s very dynamic individual. Ruairi Barwell: 00:59:50 Oh yeah. It’s fantastic. And uh, he’s done a great job with that. So, um, as a result of the success of a big building intelligence group, twin cities, we’re going to start a big shy here, April. So we’re saying we’re going to basically start the Chicago franchise here for anyone out there that’s in the Chicago area. Hit me up and I’ll give you the details on the first meeting. It’s going to be on April 11th year. We’re going to host the first one at our office, uh, looking for volunteers and Geneva, our committee members and everything else. So we’re looking to get a good group here. It’s a kickoff. The, uh, the first one, Ken Smyers: 01:00:30 critical. How’s the soccer program going? I understand. Last time we talked to you, you are, and your soccer outfit because you were heading down practice, Ruairi Barwell: 01:00:39 right? You know, uh, I got one thing I have in mind for soccer. I have plenty of sad. Ken Smyers: 01:00:45 Yeah. Ruairi Barwell: 01:00:47 Liverpool happened to have my liver big Liverpool Fan, so nervous times at the moment that we got them to every run in here for the Premiere League. Hopefully. Uh, the first year [inaudible] 92 I think so, Eric Stromquist: 01:01:07 yeah. We’ve got a pretty good soccer team down in Atlanta now that make us do Ruairi Barwell: 01:01:12 awesome. Yeah, no, I’m a, I’m a big Chicago fire power as well. They were doing nearly as good as your guys are doing. Ken Smyers: 01:01:21 Yeah, you can pay more money. Eric Stromquist: 01:01:31 You know, I wanted to sort of ask and sort of cycled back around to, it seems like you’re doing things and getting things done that, you know, we treat very few consultants sort of getting the traction. You aren’t terms of changing how people are doing, building automation controls and, and making a more emotional and all that stuff. You know, for our audience in mind, I know you guys have all of the offices I think in 30 countries or there abouts. Ruairi Barwell: 01:01:57 Well it’s, it’s 30 location. The majority of those are in the Norton in North America. We’ve got an office in Shanghai, Dubai in Nairobi stuff. The kind of global reach it. Yeah. Yeah. Ken Smyers: 01:02:09 So I was just curious if, if you see things differently or done differently in different countries and is it part of how you guys are sort of being innovative, the fact that you sort of have a global perspective instead of a just a North American history Ruairi Barwell: 01:02:23 perspective? I think it’s definitely an advantage. You know, I think myself personally, we have a lot of interactions with my, my old college buddies are working across the world and uh, your fellows kind of been a front runner, but I truly believe we’re in the right place here and not there. There’s so much exciting things going on here in North America. I think the change that’s going to happen from here, there’s so much innovation, so much, uh, so much, okay, it’s mainstream now. You know, we’re not talking about someone, not something on the periphery. You know, when you see big players like the GSA, you know, when you see people like Chicago public schools, you know, I’ve mentioned there their public sector. I think I actually Ma personally got most enjoyable working with developers that I, you know, I enjoy the fast paced nature of a working with developers. Ruairi Barwell: 01:03:16 And you know, when you start to see, you know, the people who are typically focused on dollars and cents and bottom line and that’s it gotta be like that when they start to focus on wellness and amenities. But you know, again, it’s still dollars and cents. Attracting and retaining the best tenants in your building is still attracting and retaining the best talent for those tenants. So when you start to see, you know, a smart building, uh, strategies start to filtrate into the, into the mainstream because it makes sense for these dollars are the developers to do it. You know, that that’s a woodwind. Eric Stromquist: 01:03:55 Yeah. Cause it seems like the buildings are going to be more competitive as Ken Saint Claire, who’s our resident millennial here has pointed out that, uh, you know, you better have a nice space if you want me to come into the office and work. So, so I think, you know, there’s a lot of awareness about wanting to have a great space and energy efficient space and obviously a space that leads to productivity. So it seems like that conversation is shifting. Where will you say developers and owners are more open to having that versus just being driven by energy or low cost when so hopefully that trend will Ruairi Barwell: 01:04:25 absolutely. Yeah. I mean one of the most progressive developers we’re working with here locally in Chicago, Sterling Bay, you know, they uh, they, uh, Google’s Midwest headquarters, Mcdonald’s global headquarters, moved downtown from suburbs group on Gogo, go down the list. And uh, you know, we’re doing a lot of work with them on their existing building side. But also we’re, we’re really lucky in Chicago. We’ve got a very progressive utility as well. So we’ve got combat in Chicago and we’ve got some legislation at the state level, like the future and jobs act, that kind of mine bass. But these guys have to invest in energy efficiency programs. But we’ve got the monitoring based commissioning program here in Chicago, which is really a, you know, it’s a fantastic

It's fast approaching 2 years since the FDA implemented its revised guidance for antibiotic use in food animals. At the center of the effort is the veterinary feed directive (VFD). The post FDA's antibiotic guidance and VFDs continue a smooth transition appeared first on Pig Health Today.

It’s fast approaching 2 years since the FDA implemented its revised guidance for antibiotic use in food animals. At the center of the effort is the veterinary feed directive (VFD). The post FDA’s antibiotic guidance and VFDs continue a smooth transition appeared first on Pig Health Today.

When Peter Schneider, DVM, heard FDA auditors were at the door to see the operation's VFDs, he remembers feeling a little nervous. The post Knock, knock: Swine veterinarian shares experiences from VFD audit appeared first on Pig Health Today.

When Peter Schneider, DVM, heard FDA auditors were at the door to see the operation’s VFDs, he remembers feeling a little nervous. The post Knock, knock: Swine veterinarian shares experiences from VFD audit appeared first on Pig Health Today.

Chuck Fernandez, Siemens product manager for low voltage enclosed drives, joins the Pumps & Systems podcast to talk variable frequency drive (VFD) options to meet IEEE 519 standards. What is the best drive technology to ensure compliance with IEEE Std. 519 in municipal pumping projects? There’s no simple answer. Each situation and application is different. Fernandez explains the differences and benefits of five different technologies including active front end (AFE) and 18 pulse. It is aimed at the end user and EPC engineers who are seeking to apply VFDs in these critical applications.

Patrick Hogg of Nidec Motor Corporation joins the podcast to discuss how motors run on VFDs and how these two components interact. Some discussion points from within the podcast: Why is this a hot topic to cover and why would people be interested? How a drive affects a motor and how to protect the motor from those effects. What to consider when installing the components together. Does the interaction of the components affect efficiency? Do pump users need to make any changes to their pump before adding a variable speed drive system? What are some worst-case scenarios for installations? SEPCO is the presenting sponsor of this podcast. Visit sepco.com, email info@sepco.com or call 800.633.4770 for your sealing system solution needs and tell them you heard about SEPCO on the Pumps & Systems podcast.

You won't want to miss the July Issue of SESK-U! Visit www.sesk-u.com to become a member!   So here are 3 things that will help you know when you can use a VFD.   1- The need to reduce energy consumption and energy costs. I'm not going to get deep into this one now because that is going to be the subject of next weeks episode. But know for now that that is a major reason to use a VFD.   2 - Greater production through efficiency and better process control. hey your motors are most efficient, you'll have less mistakes and production levels will increase. This typically generates more revenue, or cuts costs. You might not completely get this, but think about a conveyor belt. If it's jerky on starts and stops it could really mess things up.   3- Lastly, VFD's will extend equipment life and cut down on maintenance. No one likes to have to replace equipment on a regular basis or have to spend time or money having equipment down for repair. Using VFD's helps equipment last longer and reduces downtime because the VFD will keep the motor running at it's optimal speed. One of the biggest benefits of having VFDs optimally control the motor’s frequency and voltage is that the VFD will offer better protection from issues like electro thermal overloads, it gives phase protection, prevents under voltage and overvoltage, etc.. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stuff-electricians-should-know/support

Welcome back to our Podcast! If you're new to the channel, thanks for joining us. We hope you like what you hear! If you're returning, welcome back! In this episode, Mike Close and I sit down with John Schafer, a Partner at Webco INC, and a Manufacturer Rep for Magnetek Material handling. With over 30 years of experience, he was a great resource to take us through the ins and outs of Variable Frequency Drives. In this Podcast we cover: What the VFD is and how it’s used What components it affects and problems VFD can solve How it’s important to be transparent with operators and installers while switching or adding a new VFD system to your facility For more information about Mazzella Companies, head over to Https://www.mazzellacompanies.com To learn more about Magnetek, head to: https://www.magnetek.com/ 

ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast|PodCast for Week Ending August 21, 2016 introduces the ControlTrends Community to the executive forces now driving Distech’s redoubled efforts to deliver maximum synergy and value within the building space. Gain some invaluable insight into the innovation at work inside Acuity Brands Inc. Scott Muench and J2 Innovations at Realcomm| IBcon; Updated Honeywell software and contractor releases; Lynxspring reveals their JENEsys® Edge 100 Controller; Intel’s influence on the Smart Building; NexDefense SANS Institute Fictional Cyber Attack; and BASSG — Getting Better all the Time! J2 Innovations on using data to make buildings smarter. The Easy Way to Move and Use Data in a Smart Building. Data, data everywhere! Big data is in vogue in the building automation and smart buildings controls industry, but like everything else that is new and exciting, there are lot’s of things that have to be dealt with once the initial buzz of excitement is replaced with “how the heck do we implement this?” For one thing, the cost… data might be free, but moving it around and using it can get expensive quickly. You Missed the VFD Training Live Stream… We will post a copy of class soon! Tim Chamblee conducted Variable Frequency Drive training and provided an in-depth explanation of the application benefits, the potential energy savings, and the importance of proper grounding and wiring methods — and then demonstrates of the standard VFD applications, and highlighted the tremendous energy savings opportunities — available using a VFDs. Look for many more live training events from the Stromquist & Company in the near future. Honeywell | Home 3rd Quarter 2016 Residential Partner Update. Please join us as we introduce Honeywell’s latest residential products designed to better serve your business. FROM THE HONEYWELL NEWSROOM: A recent study from Honeywell found that 9 in 10 Americans long for a connected device to automate and control features in their home when they’re out of town. In fact, more Americans (39%) worry about locking their doors than about packing essentials like toothbrushes, underwear or mobile phone chargers (36%), and one-third of Americans with a security system can’t even remember if they turned on the alarm before leaving. Honeywell Releases MAXPRO Driver for WEBs-AX Software. Availability of MAXPRO driver for WEBs-AX Software. Honeywell is pleased to announce the release of the MAXPRO driver for WEBs-AX Controllers and WEBs-AX Supervisors which is based on the Niagara AX framework. The MAXPRO driver has been tested and qualified on WEBs-AX 3.6.407.2, WEBs-AX 3.7.108.2, WEBs-AX 3.8.41.2, WEBs-AX 3.8.111 and on the latest MAXPRO NVR software version (v.3.5.0 build 81). Lynxspring Announces Immediate Availability of the JENEsys® Edge 100 Controller. New Controller Delivers the Niagara Framework® to the Edge! Dear Lynxspring Business Partner: We are pleased to announce the release and availability of our new JENEsys® Edge 100 Controller (JENE-EG100). Purpose-built, this Niagara-based controller is the first of its kind. Delivering the Reliability of Niagara to the Edge! JENEsys® Edge products are a new generation of controllers combining the Niagara Framework® with Lynxspring’s Onyxx® platform. Distech Announces New VP of Global Sales. Controls people never die they just change companies… This just in from Martin Villeneuve, President, Distech Controls: Acuity Brands continues to position itself as the global market leader to deliver high-performance and innovative solutions to our customers. Acuity Brands is committed to building an infrastructure designed to extend our leadership positon; intensifying our efforts around our tiered solutions strategy is an essential component to accomplish our breakthrough objectives. To successfully execute our strategy, I am pleased to announce Dan Flaherty as the new VP of Sales for Distech Controls reporting to me. Dan has over 20 years of experience leading sales and marketing organizations that go to market through distribution, contractor, and agent channels in the HVAC, Security, and Fire Suppression industries. ControlTalk NOW interview with Martin Villeneuve, President at Distech Controls, Dan Flaherty, Distech’s VP Global Sales, and Eugene Mazo, Eugene Mazo, VP — IoT, Customer Experience. While Acuity is deciphering and translating all the possible value synergies it now has available, these three top industry experts will help to set new standards in the HVAC, BAS, and a host of other emerging markets. Each of these executives is a formidable expert in their fields and with their combined talents, they are confident that they will deliver the next generation of innovation and technology — because they have the talent, engineering, and the resources needed — to get it done. Don’t miss this great video interview! How Intel is Influencing the way we do Smart Buildings. If you want to see how you might be doing smart buildings in the future, look at what Intel is doing using IOT strategies now…. once Pandora’s box is open… As human beings we like consistency …..”if it’s not broke ” …. and other adages that pass as wisdom, influence us whether we like it or not. This kind of thinking will get you killed in today’s smart buildings controls market. We have been doing building automation controls since the death of pneumatic controls. We know what works — and we don’t mess around with what works… because it works! NexDefense SANS Institute – Fictional Cyber Attack. CAUTION: Regardless of your position in the world, this video should almost ruin your day, and linger long enough to bother you… for at least a week… but, will it motivate you to allocate the resources and processes your organization’s needs to deal with this kind of cyber incident? Therein lies the cyber security rub. This NexDefense SANS Institute module provides a demonstration of a fictional cyber attack against a control system reliant infrastructure. It is a learning tool for educational purposes and designed to help organizations better understand and develop exercise scenarios. While the module was played during a large industry exercise, it was utilized to provide cybersecurity training awareness for the participants. BASSG — Getting Better all the Time! We saw the original “Young Gun”, Alper Üzmezler, managing partner and chief innovator at BASSG Graphics, showed us his new Edge controller at the 2016 Niagara Summit Product showcase. Alper, never one to sit still, has made some improvements since New Orleans. His Edge controller packs a powerful punch. Among other things it includes: Visualytik (HTML5 drag and drop visualization engine with block programming), EAC Engine (Optimization engine in which it will consume live, historical and analytics data and write to real-time controls), Analytics Engine, and a Sedona Realtime control engine. The post ControlTalk NOW — Smart Buildings VideoCast|PodCast for Week Ending August 21, 2016 appeared first on ControlTrends.

Episode 003 of the Agriculture Proud Podcast features a discussion on a hot topic for both consumers and agriculture producers today. At the end of 2016, we will see the mandatory implementation of rules that will change how antibiotics are used in livestock. Veterinary Feed Directives (VFDs) are a result of changes to FDA's Guidances #209 and #213, which were finalized in the summer of 2015. Information about the changes can be found on the FDA's website. In this this podcast episode, I pull a file out of the archives from my time with MSGA, and have a conversation with Dr. Bruce Hoffman of Elanco Animal Health. Dr. Hoffman does a good job of addressing the larger context of issues surrounding antibiotics use in livestock today, how this use relates to consumer concerns about food safety, and gives us good tips on how to prepare for pending changes for antibiotics use. A few important points to pull out of our conversation regarding antibiotics and Veterinary Feed Directives: VFDs will not be difficult to comply with if we prepare for and become familiar with the requirements. These changes affect shared class antibiotics. Livestock producers still have the ability to use antibiotics for the use of control, treatment and prevention of diseases. These changes will encourage a better working relationship between producers, veterinarians and nutritionists. Producers should take this as an opportunity to learn more about antibiotic messaging and consumer concerns on the topic. More information about VFDs can be found in the VFD Central section at Feedstuffs.com. Learn more about the implementation of VFDs here. You can also learn more about Elanco's work to address global hunger at EnoughMovement.com. (that address is a correction after the audio was recorded) I hope you enjoy this episode of the Agriculture Proud podcast. Check out all my episodes at BeefRunner.com/podcast. Like what you see here? Sign up for my newsletter to be notified of future stories and weekly headlines. Click here to sign up. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/beefrunner/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/beefrunner/support

ControlTrends thanks Neptronic, this week’s ControlTalk NOW Platinum sponsor. Founded in 1976, Neptronic has a rich history of HVAC industry firsts, beginning with the earliest adoption and advancement of the direct coupled actuator (DCA) conversion in the North American market. Neptronic continued its industry innovation with the introduction of the ball valve and the capacitance fail safe feature (1996 Patent) — and more recently, won a coveted 2014 AHR Expo Innovative Award for their SKD Humidifier. Neptronic is a private corporation that designs, manufactures and distributes products for the HVAC industry, whose product line includes intelligent controllers, electronic actuators, actuated valves, humidifiers and electric heaters. U.S. Department of Energy Webinar on Smart Grid Data Privacy: A Voluntary Code of Conduct. ControlTrends Community, here it is. Participation is requested (and important)! DOE information release, November 17, 2014: On Wednesday, December 11, 2014 the Energy Department’s Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability in coordination with the Federal Smart Grid Task Force will conduct a webinar to conclude the development phase of a Voluntary Code of Conduct (VCC) related to privacy of customer energy usage data for utilities and third parties. ControlTrends Training: High Pressure Refrigeration Controls: A special thanks to Mike Glenn from Johnson Controls for putting this training video on High Pressure Refrigeration controls together. You can also check out Mike’s video on low pressure refrigeration controls by clicking here. These switches regulate critical functions within a refrigeration system and are essential to its proper operation. Low-pressure switches are commonly used to control compressor operation or act as a low-limit control. We Need to Talk: Intel’s MICA — My Intelligent Communications Accessory. Okay, this version is a limited featured, fashion accessory for stylish women, but a few beefed-up wearable siblings, with shock-proof and waterproof features, can’t be far behind. This is the CONTEXTUALIZATION PRINCIPAL’s best example so far — that has figured out, “INTELigently,” how to claim enough wearable body real estate without significant negative consequence, and takes the lead as the Star-Trecky IoT game-changer that will link every aspect of your life to a connected device worn on your wrist. Get your VISAs out, it’ll probably be ready for your holiday purchases. Read more on Intel’s website! GC Valves TIP: Solenoid Valves for Oil & Gas Burner Pilot Applications: GC Valves offers very competitive, high-quality solenoid valve solutions for general purpose, oil and natural gas burner, and custom-solenoid valve applications. Now that the cold weather has arrived, here is a reminder that GC Valves manufactures some of the most popular pilot valves for oil and natural gas burners. Introducing 2014 Residential Thermostat of The Year Nominee: Honeywell Lyric Round is cool again! Round is cool again! Honeywell introduced the T87 Round thermostats when Ken Smyers, the man, the myth, the legend was but a mere tike. Round gave way to rectangular shaped thermostats and round stats got lost in the thermostatic style wars. It took a guy from Apple, Tony Fadell, to make round cool again when he introduced the Nest thermostat a couple of years ago. Not to be out done, Honeywell, the original purveyors of round, packed over 100 years of Honeywell control know-how into the ultra cool Honeywell Lyric. How a VFD Pays for Itself:This week Stromquist hosted a Drive to Savings Day with Siemens and GA Power to educate our customers on the benefits of Variable Frequency Drives and GA Power’s current rebate programs for VFDs and other HVAC equipment. Most people already know that installing a VFD can save money by cutting back on the energy it takes to run equipment, but not everyone is aware that there are additional savings to reap by taking advantage of GA Power’s rebate opportunity. For any NEW drive installed on existing equipment, GA Power will issue a $50 per HP rebate. So a 20 HP drive will bring a $1000 rebate. Add that to the money saved in energy costs, and the new drive will pay for itself very quickly! Smart Meters and Big Brother Video Editorial. Check out this video from Minivan Jack! Is he just being paranoid or does he have a point? If not through a smart meter, what about through a Nest thermostat collecting your information? Let me know what you think in comments. Contemporary Controls’ Modbus Profile Builder Software for the BASgatewayLX is Now Available! November 2014 — The BASgatewayLX uses a csv (comma separated value) file that is uploaded to it to provide the modbus point list that will be polled. Contemporary Controls builds these Modbus maps and posts them on our BASgatewayLX profile page. If you need a Modbus that is not currently on line please contact us, and we will enjoy creating it for you. The post ControlTalk NOW for the Week Ending November 23, 2014 appeared first on ControlTrends.