What is Patch Cable ?

 patch cable or patch cord or patch lead is an electrical or optical cable used to connect ("patch-in") one electronic or optical device to another for signal routing. Devices of different types (e.g., a switch connected to a computer, or a switch to a router) are connected with patch cords. Patch cords are usually produced in many different colors so as to be easily distinguishable, and are relatively short, perhaps no longer than two metres. Types of patch cords include microphone cables, headphone extension cables, XLR connector, Tiny Telephone (TT) connector,RCA connector and ¼" TRS phone connector cables (as well as modular Ethernet cables), and thicker, hose-like cords (snake cable) used to carry video or amplified signals. However, patch cords typically refer only to short cords used with patch panels.

Patch cords can be as short as 3 inches (ca. 8 cm), to connect stacked components or route signals through a patch bay, or as long as twenty feet (ca. 6 m) or more in length for snake cables. As length increases, the cables are usually thicker and/or made with more shielding, to prevent signal loss (attenuation) and the introduction of unwanted radio frequencies and hum (electromagnetic interference).

Patch cords are often made of coaxial cables, with the signal carried through a shielded core, and the electrical ground or earthed return connection carried through a wire mesh surrounding the core. Each end of the cable is attached to a connector so that the cord may be plugged in. Connector types may vary widely, particularly with adapting cables.

Patch cords may be:

• Single-conductor wires using, for example, banana connectors
• Coaxial cables using, for example, BNC connectors
• Twisted pair Cat5, Cat5e, or Cat6 cables using 8P8C (RJ-45) modular connectors with T568A or T568B wiring
• Optical fiber cables

Stratums in NTP (Network Time Protocol)

Network Time Protocol is a hierarchical protocol and is divided into stratum which define the distance from the reference clock. A reference clock source that relays UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) time and has little or no delay is known as a stratum-0 device. Stratum-0 servers cannot be used on the network, instead, they are directly connected to computers which then operate as primary time servers.

A primary server that receives a time signal from a stratum 0 device either through the GPS network or national time and frequency transmission is known as a stratum-1 device. On a network a stratum 1 time server supplies the time to other devices on the network which are known as stratum-2 devices. These also can be used as a time source and equipment that connects to a stratum-2 device to receive it become stratum-3 and so on.

NTP can handle up to 16 different stratum levels, although the lower down the hierarchy you go the less accurate the devices become. However, to make the system more reliable, each client can receive a time source from multiple servers. Stratum 2 devices and below can also synchronise with each other. The NTP software monitors continuously the figures of stability and accuracy of all the servers and always chooses a server with the best figures.

Multiple stratum are used an in larger networks because to bombard a single stratum-1 time server with NTP requests from thousands of machines could cause it to overload or block the network itself with workstations/routers etc repeatedly waiting for their time synchronisation requests to go through.

Courtsey: http://ntpserver.wordpress.com/2008/09/10/ntp-server-stratum-levels-explained/

Star Delta Transformer ?

A delta-wye transformer is a type of three-phase electric power transformer design that employs delta-connected windings on its primary and wye/star connected windings on its secondary. Aneutral wire can be provided on wye output side. It can be a single three-phase transformer, or built from three independent single-phase units. An equivalent term is delta-star transformer.

Delta-wye transformers are common in commercial, industrial, and high-density residential locations, to supply three-phase distribution systems.

An example would be a distribution transformer with a delta primary, running on three 11kV phases with no neutral or earth required, and a star (or wye) secondary providing a 3-phase supply at 415 V, with the domestic voltage of 240 available between each phase and the earthed (grounded) neutral point.

The delta winding allows third-harmonic currents to circulate within the transformer, and prevents third-harmonic currents from flowing in the supply line.^[2] Delta connected windings are not common for higher transmission voltages (138 kV and above) owing to the higher cost of insulation compared with a wye connection

What is Transducer

A transducer is a device that converts a signal in one form of energy to another form of energy.^[1] Energy types include (but are not limited to) electrical, mechanical, electromagnetic (includinglight), chemical, acoustic and thermal energy. While the term transducer commonly implies the use of a sensor/detector, any device which converts energy can be considered a transducer. Transducers are widely used in measuring instruments.

A sensor is used to detect a parameter in one form and report it in another form of energy, often an electrical signal. For example, a pressure sensor might detect pressure (a mechanical form of energy) and convert it to electricity for display at a remote gauge.

An actuator accepts energy and produces movement (action). The energy supplied to an actuator might be electrical or mechanical (pneumatic, hydraulic, etc.). An electric motor and aloudspeaker are both actuators, converting electrical energy into motion for different purposes.

Combination transducers have both functions; they both detect and create action. For example, a typical ultrasonic transducer switches back and forth many times a second between acting as an actuator to produce ultrasonic waves, and acting as a sensor to detect ultrasonic waves. Rotating a DC electric motor's rotor will produce electricity and voice-coil speakers can also act as microphones.

What is Transducer

A smart transducer is an analog or digital transducer or actuator combined with a processing unit and a communication interface.^[1]

As sensors and actuators become more complex they provide support for various modes of operation and interfacing. Some applications require additionally fault-tolerance and distributed computing. Such high-level functionality can be achieved by adding an embedded microcontroller to the classical sensor/actuator, which increases the ability to cope with complexity at a fair price.

In the machine vision field, a single compact unit which combines the imaging functions and the complete image processing functions is often called a smart sensor.

Success Story: Automatrix Solutions completes its First Year of existence

It is surely a pleasure to inform that Automatrix Solutions has successfully completed its first year after being incorporated in November 2012.

This year had been a challenging year which certainly brought many successes all along.

Just to mention few:
1. We built-up a team of highly efficient and enthusiastic engineers.
2. Successfully completed the OEM trainings of our engineers on Substation Automation Technologies.
3. Begged more that 6 orders of Substation Automation Systems for State Power Utilities & PSUs
4. Commissioned and Handed over Two Projects to Customers, which was only possible by the true efforts of our engineers. Thanks Team.
5. Cultivated employee & environment safety culture - Released & Enforced the EHS Policy & Guidelines for our engineers & people working with them.
6. Established Own Web & Email domain System, Website, Blog & FB knowledge sharing portal open to everybody.

This is just a start and many more successful events & opportunities will be coming in Automatrix Solutions' hands. We are working hard & smart to grab all of them.

The management of Automatrix Solutions expresses its gratitude to its customers and employees for supporting us completing our first year with a Success Story.

From, Automatrix Solutions,

Manish Sharma

For more information visit our website: www.automatrixsol.in
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IOCL Mathura - 6.6kV/415V Data Concentrator + HMI System at FCCU Unit - Mathura Refinery

 Project awarded by Siemens Ltd. for providing the services for substation automation Data Concentrator + HMI commissioning at Indian Oil Corporation Ltd's Mathura Refinery for 6.6kV / 415V substation of FCCU Unit in Mathura. Technip KT is the technical consultant for the project. Data Concentrator will collect the data at bay level on IEC60870-5-103 protocol from Numerical Relays afterwards transfers the same to Siemens HMI and Honeywell Control Center on IEC60870-5-104 protocol. Data Concentrator and HMI system is based on Siemens' state of art SICAM family energy automation products.