Motor Control Starter Basics (Direct-On-line)

The term "Motor Control Starter" is actually confusing for some people. Technically, the main purpose ng motor starter is not to start the motor, but to let motor start and run without damage.
The term starter is based only on the overload relay that is used to protect the motor from starting current.

In simplest form, motor control starter can be seen in a Direct-On-Line circuit which is composed of MCCB, Magnetic Contactor and Overload Relay.

1)  Molded Case Circuit Breaker (MCCB) - Ang circuit breaker ay may tatlong functions: (a) Isolator, (b) Proteksyon a circuit sa Overload, Grounding at Short Circuit (c) Switching purposes. Sa Control Panel, nasa itaas ang breaker dahil ito ang unang main protection na kakailanganin sa motor. In case may exposed wires na nagcause ng electrical leak o short circuit, agad agad itong magtritrip.

 Kadalasan din itong ginagamit para mahiwalay ang power supply sa motor sakali may preventive or corrective maintenance na gagawin.

2)  Magnetic Contactor  - Ang magnetic contactor ay isang klase ng relay na ginagamit para sa frequent switching ng isang circuit.  Para lang itong "pinalaki na auxiliary relay" - may electromagnectic coil at nagproprovide ng karagdagang contacts sa circuit para sa ON-OFF mode.

Importante ito sa Motor Control.  As per definition ng mga nauna kong articles, ang relay ay power device na kayang kontrolin ang mas mataas na boltahe. Sa concept ng magnetic contactor, halimbawa, ang may 24VAC coil na contactor ay pwedeng kontrolin ang mas mataas na 220 VAC switched circuit. Dahil sa magnetic contactor,  naging posible din kabitan ng ibang mas maliliit na devices para sa motor.  (For instance, ikonekta lang sa contactor ang ilang auxiliary relays at pwede nang lagyan ng karagdagang pushbuttons, pilot led lights at selector switches)

Ang magnetic contactor ay gamit para sa Manual Control or Automatic Control System.

Paano naman ito gagana? Simple lang. Ang Contactor sa Direct-on-line ay nasa Normally Open (N.O) na position. Pag dadaan ang current sa coil (or maenergize ang coil sa technical term), ang contacts na magkahiwalay ay magdidikit, magcloclose ang circuit at mag-Start ang motor.

3) Overload Relay - Sa baba ng magnetic contactor ang overload relay. Ipinapares  ito sa magnetic contactor pasa sa Overload Protection. Ang OL Relay ay hinahayan ang mga short current overloads na dumadaan sa motor sa unang andar nito ngunit automatic na nagtritrip pag naging tuloy-tuloy ang overload current.

Sa principle ng magnetic induction, ang isang motor ay kailangan ng malakas na current para maset up ang electromagnetic field. Ibig sabihin, isang malakas sa sipa ng kuryente muna, para mapaandar ang motor. Ang disadvantage dito, pag parati itong mangyayari, madaling mag-iinit ang motor na pwede ikasira kaagad nito.

Ang overload relay ang solusyon sa isyu ng high starting torque. Dahil dito, naging posibleng gamitin ang motor nang hindi nasisira kaagad. Naiiwasan nating maoverheat ang motor. In short, iwas sunog sa motor windings.

Additional notes:

• Magnetic Contactor + Overload Relay = Motor Starter. Ang simpleng motor starter ay kailangan lang ng dalawang devices.  Kaya lang, walang kakayahan ang magnetic contactor na magcause ng power intteruption sa tuwing may short circuit. Dito pumapasok ang MCCB.

•  Molded Case Circuit Breaker + (Magnetic Contactor + Overload Relay) = Combination Magnetic Starter  

Capacitor Basics

Why is capacitor needed for a motor? Capacitor is needed for a motor for starting and also is used for keeping a motor from running. To help you understand, think of a motor at rest first. The  motor capacitor provides extra winding for the circuit to run. It stores charge, then releases that stored electrical charge to help start an electrical motor (starting capacitor). In short, it gives the motor a "start up". Then it gets disconnected after the motor reaches a certain speed.

However, in case the motor drops below a required speed, another capacitor switches back into electrical circuit and to keep it from spinning (run capacitor).


Now that capacitor is explained, how can we test it if it is a good capacitor or not?
Well, the most common and recommended way is the use of multitester.


As per electrical standards, we can measure if there is electrical resistance. As per sample photo, we can see that there are 3 terminals - for F for, Herm (hermetic compressor) and the third is C for common. First make sure tester is in zero amps when the positive and negative probes are connected. After that, check resistance of the folowing : Common-fan and Common-herm. If there is still a resistance, then it is a good capacitor.

Health and Safety Basics

Accidents may happen anytime. It just happens when all of us are unprepared  and busy doing things. It can be anywhere at anytime.

I, as a person, have witnessed some accidents that should have been prevented. Kakalungkot lang at di naiwasan.

1) Electric Shock ng Isang Pintor Habang nasa Hagdan:

Isang araw sa trabaho, para maabot ang pinipinturahan ng aming isang pintor, hinawakan nya ang threaded bar kung saan nakasabit ang fluroresent lamp. Ang hindi nya alam, grounded ito. Mula sa ilaw ay dumaloy ang kuryente sa threaded bar na kinapitan nya at sya ay nakuryente't nahulog pa sa hagdanan.

Cause of Accident:      Walang suporta o tagahawak ng hagdan kahit mataas ang pinipinturahan nya
                                       Exposed / Uninsulated wiring na nagcause ng grounding
                                       Walang PPE like safety helmet at gloves

     Consequence       :    Dahil sa pagkahulog, naospital sya nang tatlong linggo.


2) Heat Stroke ng Isang Driver - Isa sa mga napasukan kong projects ay supply and installation ng mga runways sa airport. Ang aming masipag na driver noon ay hatid sundo ng mga materyales sa gitna ng init ng araw. Ilang oras na walang hinto sa trabaho kahit sobrang init. Minsan napagod sya, dumiretso sya sa barracks at natulog kaagad, nang hindi manlang umiinom g tubig. Heat stroke ang inabot nya.

     Cause of Accident:  Prolonged exposure sa mataas na sikat ng araw
     Consequence        :  Heat Stroke



1) Common terms used in Health and Safety

•   Hazard - anything that has potential to cause harm
•   Likelihood - chance that a hazardous event may occur
•   Consequence -outcome of the hazardous event
•   Risk level - Likelihood x consequence. This is used to identify if some control measure should be done or not.
•  Risk control - taking suitable measures to eliminate and control risks
• Accident - undesired injury or property damage
• Near-miss  - Any accident avoided or accident that almost happened

2)  Three Key Reasons To Manage Safety

• Moral / humanitarian reason - We all have this moral obligation to everyone not to cause harm to others. 
• Legal - As per law, a person or company can be penalized if found guilty of negligence,  work ethics and offensive assaults to employees directly or indirectly. 
• Financials - All accidents and illnesses costs money.

3) Identifying Hazard -  Hazards are in different form. Some of the conditions / hazards listed below are those we even consider common and not harmful, but actually display risks also.

• Aggression and violence - Verbal and physical abuse, threats, assaults
• Bullying - Power tripping or anything that makes a person feel singled out for unfair treatment by a boss or a colleague. Intimidating others, insults or causing injury to other persons.
• Chemical and harmful substances - Examples are adhesives, cleaning agents, fumes from welding, dusts and bacterias,
• Electrical hazards - Anything that can cause electrical faults and shocks, such as bare wires of old appliances and octopus wiring
• Fire
• Entrance and Exit
• Heights 
• Poor Lighting
• Prolonged work with computers
• Slips and Trips
• Temperature - too much cold or too hot. As we all know our body can only adjust to a certain level of temperature. For instance, in the event of a heat stroke, the body heats up continuously, until it suddenly lose the ability to perspire. A good analogy is that in a car engine. If the car runs for long hours, it overheats until its exhaust system cannot cope up. It could be saved if the car pauses and rests after a long drive. However, if the car becomes too much hot to handle, the engine just suddenly disintegrates and stops.
• Noise
• Stress - Yes, this maybe categorized by many of us as a common and simple issue but for a health and safety practitioner, this is one of the most neglected work hazards
• And the long list goes on and on..

4) Risk Assessment Form

Anyone can make a simple risk assessment checklist. It does not have to be complicated and overtechnical. I have a sample risk assessment form below:

          

Work Activity / Hazard          People Affected      Likelihood x Consequence       Risk Level

1)  Supply of chemical to               AC technician               2        x      2                            4

     chillers / chemical hazard

2)  Changing of lights from a        Electrician                     2        x      3                            6

     20-feet ceiling / heights

3) Rooftop works / prolonged         AC technicians            3        x      3                            9

     exposure to the sun

The risk level results will be evaluated with the Risk Matrix (can be in 3x3 matrix or 5x5 matrix). Sa example sa taas, ang ginamit ay 1 - 3 scale kung saan 1 ang minimum at 3 ang maximum. Mas mataas na risk level, mas dapat gawan ng control measures. Di na kailangan pang magkaroon ng mga near-miss incidents or accidents.

Be your own health and safety practitioner. 

6 Golden Rules For a Healthy Heart

Let's do some Math!


I researched before and found out that an average heart is only about 5 inches in length and 3.5 inches in width. That is only a 1 handful equivalent. However, I am truly amazed of how it strongly functions.


At rest, a heart beats 50-99 times a minute and even faster than that when a person is at work. There is 1,440 minutes per day so that means a heartbeat is around 100,500 plus per day and going around 1 million heartbeats in 1 week.


By personal experience, I have come to hear the first heartbeat 💓 of a baby 👶 at 6 weeks old. So just thinking how many times our heart beats from the day we existed until now is a Huge Blessing.


Ever since it is started pumping blood for oxygen circulation in our body, it works non-stop 24/7 - such a big responsibility for a small but powerful heart.


Thus, we should take care of it as much as we can. I have some of the golden rules I take personally to keep a healthy heart.


1)  Be a morning person!

     This statement is something I myself is still on the maintaining process since I am used to sleeping late at nights during the past 10 years. However, come to think of it. Getting up in the morning early, getting the bed neatly fixed early, and getting all other activities started early makes it sound more refreshing especially, when you have a great - tasting and a balanced diet Breakfast.  After all, energy and nutrients we need during the day can be found in a nutritious morning meal.

Take it from our grandparents as an example. It is good to wake up early and get a full breakfast. It's even more delicious while sipping hot coffee drinking milk, and oftentimes done while reading newspaper. A good way of feeding the tummy early as well as feeding the mind.



2) Keep Monitoring

    Part of a healthy lifestyle is keeping the blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol in check. We may not have time and money to go the the hospital or Private clinic, but hey, there are public medical centers (barangay health centers in the Philippines) to go to. With regular check ups, we can learn if you have to adjust something with respect to gender and age group and take advice from health practitioners on what steps to take to reach or maintain those numbers.


3)  Putting Vices Out

     Smoking is one of the leading causes of heart diseases and even increases stress level. Quitting is the best thing you can do for a healthier heart. Our risk of a heart attack is reduced by half, just a year after giving up. This is just one of the many vices to be mentioned. We know what the others are.

4)  Sleep, More Time to Dream

Sleep is an essential part of keeping the heart healthy also. not having enough sleep can increase risk on cardiovascular disease regardless of age or health habits.

5) Do Warm Ups, Sit Ups and Regular Walks.

In short, Exercise. Research shows that excess fats, especially belly fats are linked to higher blood pressure ad unhealthy blood lipid level. A healthy balance diet is much better is partnered with regular body exercises.  As for me, I only do what fits me, no need to overdo these type of things.  Just making sure our calories are reduces and our body weight our trimmed down if required.

It's actually easy to get the heart rate up during common days - taking stairs instead of escalators in the malls, walking through colleague's desks at work instead of just texting or calling him up. doing physical things adds up to a healthier heart. ad it can also be fun too!

6) Be happy

Laughing can lower stress homones, and even decrease inflammation of the arteries. It even raise level of "good cholestherol" in our body. Sharing a hug and a smile whenever we can has always a good effect to our body. Also, good jokes in stressful days are also effective. After all, laughter is the best medicine, as they say.

Usapang Aircon - AHU's

Kadalasan, kapag centralized system ang gamit sa AC, may makikita tayong naglalakihang mga ducting sa rooftop. Sa dulo nito, malapit sa mga motor control na panel, ay ang mga AHU kung saan makikita ang mga blower, filter, heat recovery wheel, etc.

Ang mga AHU's ay isang malaking air handler na 100% gumagamit ng outside air para maging malamig.

Karaniwang maihahalintulad ito sa malaking box na puno ng electrical at mechanical components para sa kailangang airflow sa isang lugar.

Heto naman lang iba't ibang bahagi ng AHU.

1) Supply duct
2) Fan compartment
3) Isolator para sa vibration
4) Heating or cooling coil
5) Compartment para sa mga filter
6) Mixed air duct

My Personal Book Review on Mr. Chinkee Tan's "Diary ng Pulubi"

It's been awhile since I read a book. However, one Sunday evening, after my work, I found myself meeting a Kabayan here in Dubai to buy "Diary ng Pulubi". It was an urge for me since I have watched some of sir Chinkee Tan's inspiring videos.

The red book is small, only around 4 x 7 inches (estimate lang, wala akong ruler) and has 122 pages. This can be categorized as a pocket book. Even though it is small, it is full of words of wisdom and practical tips from our favorite wealth and life coach.

Diary of Pulubi has 22 Categories explained thoroughly:

1. Shopping now, pulubi later
2. Magarbong Wedding now, pulubi later
3. Yabang now, pulubi later
4. Upgrade now, pulubi later
5. Ayaw Magbaon now, pulubi later
6. Party now, pulubi later
7. Sobrang Matulungin now, pulubi later
8. Asiong Aksaya, pulubi later
9. Travel now, pulubi later
10. Kape-kape now, pulubi later
11. Pasalubong now, pulubi later
12. Bonggang Date now, pulubi later
13. Utang now, pulubi later
14. Pa-beauty now, pulubi later
15. Credit Card now, pulubi later
16. Pagpapautang now, pulubi later
17. Gadgets now, pulubi later
18. Celebrate now, pulubi later
19. Walang Bank Account now, pulubi later
20. Kain sa Labas now, pulubi later
21. Takaw-tingin now, pulubi later
22. Tambay now, pulubi later

As you can see, halos lahat ng financial issues natin ay nabanggit nya. Hindi man applicable ang iba, karamihan dito ay relatable. 

There are 4 patterns that Sir Chinkee used in this book:

1) A situation or circumstance is presented first kung saan tayo mapapagastos. (2 or more situations per chapter)

2) Then he objectively states the common Kabayan mindsets

3) After that, Sir Chinkee gives us the possible consequences on different choices

4) Then he ends the chapter with his generous advice

Ang mga topics na nadiscuss may not applicable to all but there are always some that would be good catch. Others may also think na ang librong ito ay predictable na at alam na natin lahat ng pwedeng isulat dito. Pero, subukan nyong basahin at marami ka pa ding marerealize na maling paniniwala. 

Sample quote on his first financial issue: Shopping

"Sale! Buy 1 Take 1 Promo! 50% on all items! Limited offer!   ...Wala naman masama sa pamimili, lalo na kung may nakalaan kang pera para dito"

The first category refers to biglaang shopping from titingin-lang-ako-status to bilhin-ko-na-kasi-nakasale-kahit-di-naman-kailangan. Sa mga unang pages palang, marami nang paalala ang binigay ni Sir Chinkee Tan sa kanyang mambabasa.

• Aside from financial literacy, our wealth and life coach has a natural sense of humor that readers will not be bored even if he / she sits for hours quietly reading the book. Positive vibes lang, nakakatuwa.
• The book is also easy to understand. Kahit nasa elementary palang basta marunong nang magbasa, maiintindihan ang libro. This is not the usual financial literacy book na punong puno ng technical terms at economics principles. Ang librong ito ay pang masa: para sa bata, matanda, ate, kuya, para sa lahat..
• Another good thing is that the book gives its readers the time to pause and analyze their choices. Sa bawat end ng chapter, mayroong section na "Think, Reflect, Apply" kung saan pwede isulat ang mga sagot sa guideline questions sa space na binigay sa page.

This is a good gift for your loved ones at para na din sa sarili mo dahil applicable sa pang-araw araw nating pamumuhay.  Habang nag-iipon tayo, maari itong maging guide - something that a person should read over and over again. 

It's all about Savings.

This is a certified 100% book to keep.

(Sir Chinkee. sabi mo dun sa likod ng libro mo, "I'll hope you'll enjoy reading this book, MATUTO at MALIWANAGAN".  Tama kaw Sir Chinkee, marami nga kami matututunan dito. Kudos to you!!)

In case, nandito kayo sa UAE at gusto nyo makakuha ng copy, pwede kayong mag-inquire sakin about sa libro. ;) Just comment down below.

The Female Icon Behind "We Can Do It Poster"

In our society, people usually seek inspirations and something to look forward to in achieving their dreams and holding on to their own ideals. One iconic poster we have from way back 1940's shows a young lady in a red bandana with white polka dots flexing her arm as a sign of strength.

Nowadays, many images and photos are based on this poster as shown below: 

Even Beyonce tried to recreate the iconic post. 

 A lot of recreations and parodies also can be found in social media. Please see sample photo below. 

It's funny and amazing at the same time as to how famous and powerful it has been. The "We Can Do It" poster became an icon of feminism and Women's Empowerment. It is something that remind us, women, of what we can do, what we can be and what we can achieve in circumstances that many were previously denied of. 

I was just going through some articles when I happened to see these. They became more interesting to me when I learned that the woman behind the original photo herself fought for her own identity for that inspired poster for years.

After the Pearl Harbor Attack, women took charge of males' jobs since the men have to go for military missions. Naomi Parker Fraley, an Oklahoma native, fresh from her 20's, was one of the young ladies who worked in a factory for manufacturing airplane wings. A photo of hers was taken in 1942 operating the machines as a riveter.  This was found and used by Westinghouse, a large electric company in US as an inspiration for the poster. 

It was only in the 1980's, that Naomi learned about her photo. However, it was already credited to the famous model "Geraldine". For years, Naomi fought for her identity since it was her picture that was used for the poster, and not any other lady. She would willingly tell her stories over and over again of how she, her sister and her other female colleagues took part in helping their society during the second world war. It was only last 2015 when she was already 94 when the Court confirmed and gave the title to her as the iconic woman behind the poster. She was very happy at that time. More than 2 years later, at 96 years, Naomi died with pride and honor. She was indeed a True Icon.

(How iconic is she?!? She has her own international bronze statue in London, UK as Rosie the Riveter.)