Where have all the wires gone?

By Dominick DeLuca

As a business owner, back in the 90’s I wired a Coax token Ring Network and what a pain that was.  When ethernet came out, it simplified office computing by requiring less wires.  A little over 13 years ago, I used my first ethernet controller – the Nanodac by Eurotherm, which brought up the question: What would ethernet do to the control industry? Well, it took a while, but it has now changed the way we put things together.

A feature that is unique to EUROTHERM/WATLOW is what they call master communications.  This allows several of our controllers to communicate via ethernet.  Now this is a game changer. 

We now have the ability to read and write to an SCR power controller using the Nanodac Controller/Recorder. Instead of sending 4-20mA to the SCR, we communicate digitally which allows us to send a precise command signal to the SCR. The real fun, though, begins when we start grabbing information from the SCR. The Nanodac is both a recorder and a controller and has 4 hardwired inputs as well as 26 soft channels which can be used for values over the Ethernet. The most common values we bring back into the nanodac are the Voltage, Current, Resistance, and overcurrent trip status. KW and Power Factor.  We also can store the Setpoint of the controller.  

Three of the powerful results of this:

1. PRECISE CONTROL

We can control at a decimal point.  The signal is repeatable and will not bounce around like many analog signals.  

2. DIAGNOSTICS

In the event of an issue, we can go back and look at the voltage and the current to see if there was anything unusual about them.  By recording the Command Signal and resistance, we can tell if there has been a change in the load.  Some heaters have a resistance change over time, so we are able to monitor this and schedule a change of heaters before it affects the end product, or worse, fails and takes down the furnace.  

3. COST

The cost of the Nanodac is much less than that of adding sensors to measure and record voltage, current, and resistance along with the panel space and installation of those sensors.

These are just some of the examples.  Everyone wants data.  More and more things are coming out with an ethernet port.  As the world evolves, New England Temperature Solutions will stay on the leading edge.  If you would like to speak, have a Zoom call, or, if you are old fashioned and want to meet in person, please feel free to contact me to discuss how ethernet can be a game changer for your company. 

Ethernet & Bluetooth Communications – Did you know?

By Bob Pierce

• Watlow / Eurotherm Temperature / Process controllers can be ordered with optional Ethernet communications (Modbus TCP Protocol is standard or Ethernet/IP Protocol is optional).
• Watlow / Eurotherm Data recorders come standard with Ethernet communications (Modbus TCP Protocol is standard or Ethernet/IP Protocol is optional).
• Eurotherm’s latest release, the EPC Series Temperature / Process controllers are designed with native, high-speed Ethernet, and Achilles Level 1 certified for resilience against cyber-attacks.
• Ethernet communications is an ideal component for digitized Industry 4.0 and IIOT “Industrial Internet of Things” applications.
• Modbus TCP and Ethernet/IP protocols provide seamless integration with most PLC and SCADA systems software platforms.
• Watlow / Eurotherm can provide best practices documentation for Cybersecurity when implementing an Ethernet Industrial Controls Network.
• Watlow Temperature / Process controllers can be ordered with Bluetooth communications (at no charge) to be used with the EZ-LINK™ mobile app compatible with IOS and Android smartphones.
• Provides full descriptions of parameters and error codes
• Allows remote access capabilities without the use of cables or converters
• Provides the ability to configure the product and save parameter sets

See Andy’s Bluetooth Video for more information and a visual. 

All over the country, law enforcement agencies hold various events to raise awareness and funds for the Special Olympics. The money raised goes towards buying uniforms, sports equipment, and travel expenses for the kids participating who may otherwise not have been able to go due to financial reasons. If you come across the opportunity to participate in one of the events, we highly recommend it! Not only is it doing good for the community and for kids who may have been left out due to their differences, but it will also give you a sense of pride and joy that you helped make a difference for someone. (They also make the events fun!)

There are many held throughout the year around the country, but two more events this year in our area are the Peabody Holiday Torch Run 5k on December 3rd and the Everett Polar Plunge on December 10th!

For this month, though, .just as the kids who put their heart and soul in their challenges during the Special Olympics, we also put our hearts and soul into moving two fire trucks!

Lisa’s Track: GO TEAM!

By Lisa

With the fall/winter seasons upon us, many youth sports programs are starting back up with the new school year.  Also, many adults are looking to change up their spring/summer workout routines by joining sports leagues to add something new. Whether you are an adult or a youth, athlete or participant in a league for recreation, team sport or a sport for one– it’s a good idea to train for it. Preparation is key. It’s like studying for an exam or job training.

Some benefits of training before participating in a sport include: better performance, enhanced competitive confidence, physical strength and endurance needed to play at your best, and–most importantly–lowers the risk of injury. The intensity of your ‘sport’ participation–intense competition or just for fun–will determine the depth of your training regimen. Some factors/ components to consider are:

• Speed, Agility, Power
• Sport/Position movement patterns
• Nutrition
• Functional movement
• Flexibility
• Cardiorespiratory Fitness
• Body weight movement
• Core stability
• Muscular endurance
• Muscular strength
• Balance
• Stretching
• Recovery

Below are two examples of some suggested components/exercises to include in a training routine geared towards a specific sport:

SOCCER:

Lower body exercises: To improve strength, power, and explosiveness. Helps to accelerate quickly and change direction with ease. Ex. squats, lunges, deadlifts, and leg presses.

Plyometrics exercises: Help players to generate explosive power and speed and improve their vertical jump. Ex. jumping lunges, jump squats, and box jumps.

Core strength: Helps players to maintain balance, stability, and control while running and changing direction. Ex. Planks, side planks, and russian twists.

Speed/Agility drills: Ex. Cone drills, ladder drills, and shuttle runs.

Cardiovascular exercises: Ex. Running, cycling, and swimming.

PICKLEBALL:

Lower body exercises: For strength. Helps perform quick movements, balance and stability. Ex. Squats and lunges.

Upper body exercises: For strength: Helps with powerful shots, posture, and better control. Ex. Pushups and Rows.

Core strength: Helps with endurance and stability. Ex. Planks, floor crunches.

Cardiovascular exercise: Helps with quick lateral movements, energy, and endurance. Ex. interval training, cycling, stair climbing.

Speed/Agility drills: Ex. Ladder drills, cone drills, side shuffles.

No matter what sport, remember everyone is different and there is no one-size-fits-all approach.

Aspects such as, goals/what you hope to achieve, what position is being played, current fitness level, types of exercises, and any areas of weakness/injury history should be considered. 

Another factor to take into account for determining weights, reps, sets for each exercise, training schedule, is whether it’s a sport where you want to build strength and endurance or bulk up. All training should be done under the supervision and direction of a coach or trained professional.

Before participating in any exercise program, consult your doctor and a trained professional to learn what program is right for you and how to perform each exercise safely and in proper form.

This one’s for Budster

By Bree DeLuca

At the beginning of August, while surrounded by the beautiful rolling mountains of New Hampshire, my brother–Jay–and his fiancee had to say their final goodbyes to my nephew pup. Some of you knew Buddy, either through the videos we would make, from pictures, from visiting our office, or from him barking while we were on the phone (which, thankfully, was not often!). 

Buddy grew up at NETS, Inc. He has been the office mascot from the time he came into Jay’s life Christmas 2010. Every day he would come here and bring smiles and joy. He wasn’t an active pup, so it worked out nicely having him here, raising the morale, ensuring Jay and I took our breaks to bring him outside, and giving the UPS guy an extra excuse to go to the butcher so that he could bring Buddy in a bone! Even when Jay decided to take up computer programming and left NETS to pursue his new career path, I was given the honor to pick Budster up and drop him off every day so that he could still be here with everyone since not every company allows dogs in the office. In 2018, though, Bob found out that his asthma was actually due to being allergic to dogs, so I had to stop bringing him in, but that didn’t deter us from keeping him the mascot! (And yes, we MAY have considered kicking Bob out instead of Buddy – just kidding!)

When he was in the office, he would mostly lay on his dog bed with his head hanging off the side, lay in the middle of the hallway so that we would have to walk over him, alert us of any visitors (the UPS guy being his absolute FAVORITE!), or eat my breakfast while I made my coffee. He was such a good dog, and I’m so happy that I got to be a big part of his life. As Missy mentions in her piece – furry friends only have us, so we need to make sure to give them the best life we can with what we have – and I know that Jay did that for Bud, and I am happy I got to be a big part of that as well.