The answer to this question appears at the end of this newsletter.

Modify to Speed Repairs
A textbook example of production process improvement is the practice of replacing the screws in a jig (assembly used for holding a part) with flip levers. Rather than turn a screw 16 times, you flip a lever once. This is a huge time-saver.

Some of the access panels you encounter during a repair use screws to hold their covers in place. Replacing these with flip levers can reduce downtime and possibly improve the integrity of the enclosure. Examine equipment to see where doing this might make sense.

Note that arc blast and other considerations rule out doing this on power distribution equipment. In fact, you should inspect covers on distribution panels for missing screws. If a cover has 18 screw holes, leaving in only six screws will save time during repair or maintenance. However, that cover could become a deadly missile during a fault, instead of serving to protect people and property from the blast.


Clear Up Current-Limiting Con-fuse-ion
A semiconductor fuse is not a special fuse made of silicon. It's a very fast-acting fuse designed to protect power semiconductors.


Operation
NEC in the Facility
The maximum rating of an overcurrent protective device (OCPD) for a motor depends on the type of OCPD and the type of motor. Taking these variables into account, Table 430.52 provides four columns of multipliers to use on the Full Load Current (FLC) so you arrive at the correct maximum rating.


Safety
When safety may be in doubt, do you voice your concerns? If so, great. But are you looking for someone to tell you it's OK, or are you trying to ensure you've identified the possible safety problems? Don't accept an answer just because it makes things easier or conforms to your earlier idea of what conditions probably are. Accept the explanation only if it comes with verification.

A good answer to a safety question involves proving that something is safe. And that begins with asking the right question. "Did you lock it out?" is not the right question. Instead, ask, "Can you walk me through the system, and show me how you identified all possible energy sources?"


Quiz Answer
Answer to Electrical Troubleshooting Quiz
You know safety can't be compromised, and you don't want to be the one responsible for increasing downtime. It appears, however, that you must make a trade-off between job efficiency, safety, and uptime. Fortunately, things aren't always as they appear.

One solution is to reduce the scope of your department's responsibilities. For example, outsource certain tests. Or, outsource some of the construction work that maintenance gets saddled with. But expenditure approvals and other obstacles might be in the way.

Now, revisit the fastener issue. Would replacing those slotted head screws with Phillips-head or Torx screws void the equipment listing or approval? Probably not, but run this by the manufacturer to be sure. Then, invest in the industrial-grade, battery-powered screwdrivers with industrial bits. Instead of twisting each screw by hand, you can zip them in and out almost instantly.