[jiro_iro]

Friends,
I've been working for a small plastic molding factory. I've been operating the machines and now I wish to understand the way the electricity works around here. The electrician that had worked here left and I have a feeling I'll be the one responsible. I don't mind at all. In fact, I'm thrilled to learn new things. I guess at the moment I won't need to do anything as long as everything runs smoothly. However I'd like to have an overview of how things work, how the electricity is distributed, what the use of each component is, how the capacitors help, how regulators regulate, and anything around them. Little by little from you, I will try to put them together and get a head start from there. To begin to understand this, I think I can only ask for your help, not just search the internet, because there is a unique setup that I need to understand to begin with. I have compiled some pictures of my power box in question. Please take a look and leave comments. I'll really appreciate it. Thanks a lot. It's here : Picasa Web Albums - iro - Power Box

[stanfortyman]

My honest comments?
Learning as you go is fine for something's, but you REALLY should know what you are doing BEFORE you put your hands into that mess.

If you know what you are doing but just have to learn that particular system, then good luck and be safe. That's really all I can say.

[KISS]

I can't tell very much from the picture. Yes, it looks like a 3 phase distribution panel of sorts with a controller.

To learn how something works, you will need to know what the inputs and outputs are and what's being measured and a little about the process.

Now, you can progress to looking at how the schematic does this and to try to locate the physical pieces on the schematic.

For the most part, I see lots of DIN mounted circuit breakers, buttons, meters lights and a controller.

I don't know what the cylindical objects are.

DIN stands for Deutche (spelling) Industrie Norn

Or a German Standard. Not all rails are the same, but the T shaped is the most common. Some termnal blocks mount on both kinds of rails. Check out Weidmuller's Home and Phoenix Contact and WAGO. Another supplier of good quality parts is Idec.

In your picture, there may be solid state proportianal controllers. I don't know.

The Rail mounting is like an erector set. If you design something using this technique, you MUST:

Think about a rail arrangement. Put in wireduct to make things neat.

Create a termination area for external cables and then work on the glue.

I really didn't see any wireduct, so the install looks sloppy.

Labeling is very important as well. Label by circuit numbers and not what they connect to.

e.g. Don't use Blower 1, use A001 or something, because these wires could be used in an upgrade. Don't label things Co2, but maybe S21 for Solenoid 21. Later S21 could become air.

Some stupid managers get upset about it.