Tag: electrical safety

Electrical Safety

Power Supply Voltage Drops: The Basics

If you’re noticing decreased efficiency in your electronic systems and equipment, they may be experiencing what’s known as voltage drop. While power supply voltage drops can be damaging, understanding the basics and how to combat them can help you prevent future harm and protect your equipment. Keep reading to make sure you understand what a voltage drop is, common causes, and how to reduce the risk of voltage drops.

What is a Voltage Drop?

A supply voltage drop describes how the energy of a power supply decreases as the electrical current flows through passive elements in an electrical circuit. The potential for voltage drop increases with the length of the circuit. The further the electricity travels from the power supply, the higher the risk of voltage drop, resulting in weaker currents and decreased power.

Excessive voltage drop can be damaging and may lead to disruptions, inefficient electrical systems, and even mechanical harm. These issues can negatively impact your electrical equipment, potentially resulting in higher operating costs and decreased productivity. Understanding some of the most common sources of voltage drops can help you better prepare for and prevent damage to your electrical systems.

Common Causes of Supply Voltage Drop

  • Length of the power cable
  • Cable gauge size
  • Using AC power over DC power
  • Amount of current at the power supply
  • Power line resistance

How to Measure Voltage Drop

While small amounts of voltage drop are expected―especially for lengthy electrical circuits―monitoring for excessive voltage drop can help protect your equipment and prevent harm.

Ohm’s law describes a formula to calculate the proportional relationship between voltage, current, and resistance. The formula to calculate voltage drop is:

V = I x R

Where V represents voltage, I represents current, and R represents resistance. For further assistance in calculating voltage drop, contact a team member at Quail Electronics, Inc.

Minimize Voltage Drop in Your Power Supply

You can use various techniques to compensate for the effect of voltage drop on long circuits or where voltage levels must be accurately maintained.

  • Appropriate Wire Size: The most important factor in avoiding excessive voltage drop is selecting the correct wire size. Choose a wire gauge appropriate for the distance and current you require to best reduce resistance in your system.
  • Increase Conductor Size: One of the simplest ways to reduce voltage drop is to increase the diameter of the conductor between the source and the load, lowering the overall resistance.
  • Routine Inspection: Regularly examining your power cables and electrical systems will help you quickly identify any significant voltage drop. Make any necessary repairs as fast as possible to avoid lasting damage or costly maintenance.
  • Specialized Power Supply Design: Custom-made power cords and connectors can help you easily balance power loads and regulate voltage levels for improved performance.
  • High Voltage Power Cables: Using high-voltage power cords increases the amount of voltage flowing through a circuit and minimizes the amount of current. Higher voltage levels result in decreased voltage drop.

Learn more about global voltage standards with our helpful International Voltage and Frequency Guide.

Contact Quail Electronics, Inc. Today with Any Questions

With over 30 years of industry experience, Quail Electronics, Inc. is a leading expert in all things electronic. We offer competitive pricing, convenient same-day shipping, and minimal order requirements to get you precisely what you need for your applications. Our trained specialists can answer any questions and help you choose the best types of power cords for your requirements.

For more information about supply voltage drop and how to protect your electrical equipment, contact Quail Electronics, Inc. today, and our team will assist you with any questions.

How to Protect Your Electronics

summerheatpalmtree-587117Ahh, Summer.  It’s already  one of the hottest years on record for much of California, and in light of  soaring temperatures, it’s an important time to closely monitor your valuable electronics and data centers.  You’ll want to make sure air-conditioning and water-cooling systems are working properly, but there are more steps you can take to ensure your electronics survive the heat.

Fact:  Electronic devices tend to run 10-20 degrees higher than room temperature. If temperatures become too hot, outside cooling and ventilation is needed to prevent overheating.  While air-conditioning may fit the bill, in some cases you may want invest in an environmental monitoring system to ensure your electronics keep safe. Continue reading How to Protect Your Electronics

Halloween Electrical Safety

HalloweenPowerCordIt’s that time of year again, when things get a little spooky.  The stairs creak a louder, there seems to be more sounds in the dark, and even though you know it’s your neighbor’s dog, you can’t help but think “Werewolf” when you hear it howl at night.  The spookiest thing for me, though, is Halloween electrical safety.

With all of your lighting and blow up vampires and ghastly decorations, it’s very easy to get swept up in the holiday spirit.  However, Halloween electrical safety is very important.  The first thing to check when unloading old decorations is that there are no frayed or exposed wires.  Decorations can sit in storage for so long that you never know what little creatures may have chewed through the wire, or what kind of damage they may have suffered. Continue reading Halloween Electrical Safety

Conductor Colors

wiresI’ve already declared my unbridled love for color, so there is no more of an appropriate time than the present to talk even more about colors.  However, in this post, we are discussing conductor colors.  In every standard cord, there are three conductors connecting the wires to the proper slot; ground, neutral or live, and providing inner insulation.  Matching up each wire to the proper conductor is very important to ensure electrical safety, so each conductor is color coded! Continue reading Conductor Colors

RoHS and REACH Compliance

You may have noticed an uptick in the terms “RoHS” and “REACH” compliant.  They seem like technical, foreign terms. In reality, though, they’re there for your protection. Quail Electronics is RoHS and REACH compliant, but that probably doesn’t mean a lot to you unless you know what those terms mean. We’ve included a description of those terms, and why they’re important.

RoHSRoHS stands for the Restriction of Hazardous Substances directive.  RoHS regulations were developed in the UK to promote environmental and human safety.  The goal of the RoHS directive is to protect consumers from substances that have been found to be hazardous. RoHS regulations became official on July 1, 2006.  While RoHS regulations were initially only used in the UK, other countries have begun to adopt them. Continue reading RoHS and REACH Compliance

Hospital Grade Lighted Cords

emergencyHospitals are great. Sure, they get a bad rap sometimes, but think about it. Everyone who works in the hospital, from the doctors to the janitors, each works together in unison, to try and save people’s lives. Yes, even the janitor. They are responsible for cleanliness, which is the cornerstone of fighting disease. But with so many people relying on so many different electronic devices, it’s important to guarantee power at all times, from operating room machines to power cleaners.  That’s where Hospital Grade Lighted power cords come into play! Continue reading Hospital Grade Lighted Cords

The Auto-Lock®: Guaranteeing a Steadfast Connection

C14_C19_5287Some people have two left feet.  I believe that I have two left feet and a third invisible foot that exists only to trip me in very important moments. It’s an issue. During my senior prom, while showing off my signature Hammer moves, I tripped and unplugged the DJ booth and all of the lights, resulting in complete darkness and silence for about ten minutes. In college, while rushing to finish a project, I tripped over a power cord in the computer lab which turned off every single computer, resulting in a sprint for my life as a mob of caffeinated procrastinators chased me through the quad at 3 am. I have ruined countless presentations, proposals, and parties.

For some industries, the importance of maintaining constant power is far more important than my two left feet. Hospitals need to ensure that power can be supplied to operating room machinery seamlessly. Storage facilities need to supply power to all of their mainframes. The OEM marketplace is well aware of the necessity of power supply. But how do you guarantee this? Continue reading The Auto-Lock®: Guaranteeing a Steadfast Connection

Polarized: It’s Not Just for Sunglasses

Polarization often reminds people of sunglasses, but it’s actually an electrical term as well! Who knew? (Well, I did, but I’m the exception, not the rule). My knowledge of polarization was particularly useful the other day. I was playing a casual game of croquet with my friend, Quincy Quail, when he started complaining about plugs to me, of all things.

“What’s the point,” he asked, “of having those 2 little prong things different sizes? I always try to plug lamps and things like that in, and I end up doing it backward! It’s so frustrating!”

I realized that many people must have this problem and that as a power cord blogger, I have a responsibility to the world to make sure people are getting the most out their sockets, and understand why their plugs are the way they are.

Continue reading Polarized: It’s Not Just for Sunglasses