Avoid Wiring Errors
Issue 40 - 2018Notebook IssueProductTerminal Blocks & Wiring

Avoid Wiring Errors

In a Control Design September 2018 Automation Basics column titled “Terminate the Rat’s Nest”, author Dave Perkon gets right to the point when he writes, “For those who think it’s okay to open a control enclosure and see a monochromatic rat’s nest of wires without any wire labels, you should be aware, that’s worst-case practice.”…
Open System Provides Precise Temperature Control
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomationDirect SpotlightFacilitiesIndustryIssue 41 - 2019Notebook IssuePLCProcess ControlProductProgrammable ControlSystem Integrators

Open System Provides Precise Temperature Control

System integrator Affinity Energy worked with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to design and install a new temperature control system for their research chambers. By Allan Evora, President of Affinity Energy The University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill was spending too much time and money supporting an existing control system….
Choosing the Right Industrial Automation Controller
+Tech TopicsLearning ResourcesProductProgrammable ControlUncategorized

Choosing the Right Industrial Automation Controller

When selecting a controller, current and future needs should be considered to ensure flexibility. Winn Paulk is the Automation Controls Group Product Manager at AutomationDirect, and he wrote an article appearing in the September-October 2018 issue of IMPO titled Choosing the Right Controller for Your Industrial Automation Application. Here’s a summary, please click on the…
Wide and Narrow Views of Position Sensors
+Tech TopicsDiscrete SensingLearning ResourcesProductSensors Automation

Wide and Narrow Views of Position Sensors

Andrew Waugh, Product Manager, Sensor and Safety Products at AutomationDirect.com, wrote an article for the September 2018 issue of Design World titled Wide and Narrow Views of Position Sensors, here’s a summary.  Limit switches, photoelectric switches and laser sensors all provide position sensing, but depending on the application some shine and reflect better. Waugh points…
How to Choose an Industrial Automation Controller
ProductProgrammable Control

How to Choose an Industrial Automation Controller

Choosing the most effective controller requires careful evaluation of multiple requirements. Jeff Payne, Automation Controls Group Product Manager at AutomationDirect, wrote an article appearing in the August 2018 issue of Applied Automation titled How to Choose an Industrial Automation Controller. There are many important items to consider when choosing a controller for machine and process…
Specifying Thermal Management Systems for a Control Enclosure
Enclosures & AccessoriesProduct

Specifying Thermal Management Systems for a Control Enclosure

Jim Krebs, technical marketing engineer at AutomationDirect, wrote an article in Processing magazine’s July 2018 issue titled Specifying Thermal Management Systems for Control Enclosures Most automation and electrical devices must be housed in a control enclosure when used in industrial environments. This includes controllers, drives, power supplies, disconnects, fuses, terminals, relays, contactors and more. Krebs…
Comparing Ladder Logic and Object Oriented Programming
+Tech TopicsLearning ResourcesProductProgrammable ControlUncategorized

Comparing Ladder Logic and Object Oriented Programming

Jerry Reaves, PLC silo product manager at AutomationDirect, wrote an article for the July 2018 issue of Control Engineering titled Comparing ladder logic and object oriented programming In the article, he discussed how many young automation professionals are comfortable with object oriented programming (OOP), but Reaves says ladder logic remains the standard for industrial automation applications:…