6 Steps for a Safer Lockout/Tagout Programs

Working with machinery and industrial equipment can be extremely dangerous. Because of this, as a precaution, most machines are designed with safety equipment and controls to keep everyone safe. When not in use, most machinery can also pose a threat to workers wellbeing. As long as equipment is plugged into an energy source, a safety  … Read more

Preventive vs. Predictive Maintenance: What’s the Difference?

Keeping your client’s facility equipment running at optimal performance is vital. Preventive and predictive maintenance are two of the most common types of maintenance programs designed to increase the reliability of an organization’s assets and reduce failures and interruptions in workflow. Because the two are relatively similar, the electrical experts at North Central Electric are  … Read more

What Is an Infrared Thermal Scan and Why Is It Important?

Infrared thermology is the process of using a thermal imager to detect infrared energy (radiation or heat) omitted from an object, converting it to temperature and displaying the result as a real-time image. These images are called thermograms. Thermograms can easily show heat-producing objects that are invisible to the naked eye. Infrared thermal technology is  … Read more

Spring Cleaning for Your Electrical Power Facility

As we shrug off the chilly winter weather, it’s time to make way for a new season, filled with warmth and sunny days. Now that spring is officially here, it’s a great time to tackle your facility’s maintenance spring cleaning checklist as well as taking the time to clean up your electrical safety program. Oftentimes,  … Read more

What Causes Electrical Transformers to Fail?

A transformer is an electrical device that consists of two or more coils that transfers electrical energy from one electrical circuit to another. They are used to boost voltage levels to transfer energy long distances and then lower voltage levels to decrease line losses during transmission. While power transformers often require less care compared to  … Read more

The Who, What, Where and Why of NERC Compliance

NERC has been the primary point of contact with the U.S. government for the electric industry since 1968. This corporation was established in case of a breach in national security or a critical infrastructure issue arises. NERC is authorized by the Federal Regulatory Commission (FERC) to ensure the dependability and consistency of the North American  … Read more

Load Bank Testing: What It Is and Why Your Business Needs It

Having a fully functioning and reliable standby generator in the event of an unplanned power outage is imperative to keep your business up and running. The purpose of an emergency generator is to supply your facility with power when an emergency arises and power from the grid is lost. When faced with this situation, you  … Read more

Power Factor Testing: What It Is and How It Will Help Your Facility’s Electrical Equipment

Whether you operate a casino, aviation center, power plant or oil facility, electrical power equipment can fail—no matter what your facility may be! Often, these failures occur because the insulation system is damaged, and regularly scheduling a power factor test can prevent them from happening. Not only can this test detect if there’s deterioration within  … Read more