Electrical Engineering Blog

Digital tools for finding and buying panel components

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Molly Hannigan
OEM Sales Manager
ABB Electrification Business

The pandemic greatly increased the use by manufacturers and distributors of digital and online tools to stay in touch with customers. Panel builders are using these digital tools for finding and buying panel components needed to keep production on track.

3 big benefits of an energy management system

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Kevin Jordan
Market Development Manager
ABB AbilityTM

For facilities where power is critical and costly facility owners and managers rely on energy management systems (EMS) to better control their power distribution devices. Increased control is just one of three benefits of an EMS.

Power circuit breaker ratings explained

Darryl Moser
Sales Enablement Manager
ABB Electrification Products Division

When selecting the right low voltage power circuit breaker for an application, it is important to consider both short-circuit current ratings and short-time current ratings. Understanding these performance characteristics will help you choose between the various circuit breaker designs.

4 Steps to calculate short circuit ratings in industrial control panels

This article has been updated March 2024, read the latest version here.

Daniel Lightsey
ABB Ability Smart Power
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Marcel E. Valdes, PE, IEEE Fellow
Applications Engineering Manager

ABB Electrification Business

Short-circuit current ratings (SCCR) are a critical specification when designing industrial control panels. Determining the appropriate SCCR actually requires no calculations. Instead, there is a simple, four-step process to follow.

A simpler safety fence solution

Darrell Burkeen
Certified Machinery Safety Expert (TÜV NORD)
ABB Jokab Safety Products

A simpler safety fence solution for manufacturers that provides effective protection from danger. A new approach to fence design helps make it easier to design, purchase, install and maintain safety fence systems.

Bigger motors need better protection

John Belshe
Product Marketing Manager
ABB Electrification Products Division

Your large (>400 HP) motors require special protection to ensure reliable operation and a long life. Learn how the features of today’s smarter motor-protecting circuit breakers are up to the task.

3 levels of device monitoring

John Belshe & Kevin Jordan
Product Marketing Managers
ABB Electrification Products Division

More and more panels are incorporating smarter breakers with sensors that can provide alerts and take action when they detect an issue. Panel builders can choose from 3 levels of device monitoring, taking a good/better/best approach to providing their customers with these benefits.

The power of panels that can talk

William Lindstrom
Global Product Manager
ABB Electrification Products Division

Try to imagine doing business today without your cell phone. You probably can’t. In the same way, panel builders using communication-enabled devices like breakers and automatic transfer switches can’t imagine a panel without them.

Renewables generate opportunities

Allen Austin
Market Development Manager – Renewable Energy & Power Generation
ABB Electrification Business

Both residential and commercial customers are increasingly turning to renewable energy sources that’s creating huge demand for energy storage systems. Panel shops should be looking at how they can be part of this growth.

Throw away your relays

If you appreciate the wisdom of combining the fax, scan, and copy functions into a single device, the benefits of combining the function of relays and meters in your breakers should be crystal clear. Read more about the benefits of smarter breakers and why you should throw away your relays.