When you get the call, “The motor won’t start,” you’d best have a logical and systematic plan in place to approach the problem. “Easter egging” just doesn’t work unless you happen to be very lucky!

Let’s face it: Diagnosing electric problems is a pain, to say the least. You can get far with a test light and your trusty digital multimeter, but you still might end up just throwing parts at the ...

Transmitter power is not the sole issue, but rather a combination of power and proximity. The lowly cell phone a few inches away may cause more problems than the broadcast transmitter a mile away. The ...

If you are an electronic experimenter who cannot get his circuit working, this is for you. I really feel your pain as it brings back my own unpleasant memories – yes, we have all been there. Here are ...

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. When undertaking DIY electrical projects at home, safety should always come first. Whether you're adding a dimmer switch, installing a new ...

Bob’s approach to problem identification and isolation is applicable to a wide spectrum of engineering disciplines. His guidance helps readers gain an intuitive grasp of pinpointing problems. Chapter ...

Relays usually are driven using optocouplers, which offer isolation between analog and digital grounds to ensure that switching currents in the relay coils do not affect the noise margin of the ...

In Part 1 of this two-part series, we presented a 3-phase, 480VAC motor circuit with its associated controls (Figure). We stepped through a logical, systematic approach to troubleshoot the main power ...