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Another training article. Something my trainees weren't doing very well -drilling. Not very exciting, but someone might find it useful.

For my first blog post this year I thought I'd provide you with a couple of light-hearted and entertaining looks at the English language. The first shows you just how confusing the language can sometimes be, whilst the second demonstrates why some suggest that English spelling should be reformed.

Here are some links to ESL sites and lesson plans, etc, related to the World Cup.

The world has a common language to solve its common problems. So says Jay Walker in the following video. Here he explains why two billion people around the world are trying to learn the world's second langauage, English.

At TEDxRainier, Patricia Kuhl shares astonishing findings about how babies learn one language over another -- by listening to the humans around them and "taking statistics" on the sounds they need to know. Clever lab experiments (and brain scans) show how 6-month-old babies use sophisticated reasoning to understand their world.

"Thief don’t like to see thief carry long bag" means that a dishonest person dislikes competition from other like-minded persons.

Editor's note:  There are a few variations of this idiom found online, such as "Tief nuh like si neda man wid long bag" and "Thief neva like fi see thief with long bag", but they all express the same idea.

Nowadays, it seems that everything we do tends to be somehow automated. The very same is happening in electrical distribution systems. The distribution system at the medium voltage (MV) or low voltage (LV) levels is designed using different structures such... Read more

The post The essentials of automation applied to distribution systems via PLCs, SCADA, IEDs, and RTUs appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.

Electrical distribution systems comprise a large number of remote applications and locations, and it has traditionally been challenging to monitor and regulate these remote applications and sites. Utility companies have been installing remote terminal/telemetry units, often known as RTUs, at... Read more

The post Three most common SCADA applications in MV/LV distribution systems you SHOULD know appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.

Title: Australian Rhyming Slang 2
Topic: Cockney Rhyming Slang
Level: Advanced
Information: Choose the correct answer.
Link: https://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/570.html

Title: Test Your Spelling 3
Topic: General
Level: Intermediate
Information: Choose the correct answer.
Link: https://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/577.html

Nowadays, HV/EHV substations have become pretty complex from the design point of view. Besides the main electrical equipment, which must be designed and selected correctly, there are several auxiliary facilities without which a substation would not be able to operate... Read more

The post The essential HV/EHV substation auxiliary facilities you should know about appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.

For a power system to operate efficiently and securely, the importance of the correct and coordinated provision and control of reactive power cannot be overemphasised. It is necessary to examine reactive power requirements under both steady-state and dynamic conditions. Although... Read more

The post Parameters of generators, transformers, lines and cables for vars, voltage and loads control appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.

The largest public power company in the U.S. is launching a program to develop and fund new small modular nuclear reactors as part of its strategy to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

I just read a great post by John Kleeman on the Questionmark Blog that I wanted to share with you concerning test anxiety. We have previously discussed test anxiety (here and here), but it is interesting to read Kleeman's take on the difference in test anxiety between online and paper and pencil assessments. Here is the post in its entirety:

I’ve been reading about test anxiety (concern or worry by participants sufficiently severe that it impacts test performance). I’d like to share some tips on how online assessment sponsors can reduce its likelihood.

When creating and delivering tests, you seek to accurately measure knowledge, skills or abilities. Often you want to check competence or mastery for workplace or compliance reasons. If some of your participants have severe test anxiety, this doesn’t just disrupt them, it makes your test less accurate in measuring real performance. You might end up failing someone who is competent, just because anxiety affects their test performance.

Many studies (for example here) report that online tests cause less test anxiety than paper ones. Here are some suggestions on reducing test anxiety:

1. Some people have anxiety about a test because they haven’t mastered the subject being tested. Provide a clear description of what each test covers before the time of the test, and provide study resources or instruction to allow people to master the subject.

2. Test anxiety can also feed on unknowns, for instance on unfamiliarity with the test or believing untrue myths. Share information about the test’s purpose and what you do to make it fair. Also share information about the content: how many questions, how the scoring works, how much time is available and so on. Explain what happens if someone fails – for instance is it possible to retake?

3. It’s hugely valuable to provide practice tests that participants can try out before the real test. This will tell them where they are strong and weak and allow them to gain confidence in a less stressful environment prior to the real test. See my article 10 reasons why practice tests help make perfect exams for other reasons why practice tests are useful.

4. Give participants an opportunity to practice using the same type of computer, mouse, keyboard and user interface as will be used for the real test. This familiarizes them with the test environment and reduces potential anxiety, particularly for those who are less computer literate. If you are using Questionmark to deliver the test, make practice sessions available with the same template settings and the same types of questions. (Sometimes this is done with a fun quiz on a different topic, just to get people accustomed to the user interface.)

5. If you provide guidance to test-takers, point to self-help resources for people who have test anxiety. ETS provide a good resource here for instance. Another resource from the University of California is here.

6. Some self-help resources suggest breathing exercises or other exercises people can follow to reduce tension for people who are anxious about tests. Provide an environment where this is practical and train your test administrators and proctors about the prevalence of test anxiety.

7. If you have a way of encouraging test takers to sleep, take exercise and eat healthily, all these things aid a rational approach to taking a test and reducing anxiety.

8. If it works in your programme, consider whether it’s worth having a series of tests rather than a single test, so there is not a single “make or break” moment for participants. A series of tests can have other benefits too. It makes cheating harder, and by spreading out learning and revision, it can make participants retain the learning better.

9. People with disabilities are more likely to suffer test anxiety. Ensure that your program of accommodations takes this into account. See this helpful article on reducing test anxiety for people with disabilities.

10. Above all, create good quality, fair tests. If you follow good practice in authoring your questions and assessments, then there is less to be anxious about, as the test will be a good measure of performance. See Questionmark’s white paper “Five Steps to Better Tests” for some helpful advice in creating tests.

Many Questionmark users provide very effective practice quizzes and tests which help reduce test anxiety, and I hope these tips are helpful, too.

I’d love to hear additional input or suggestions.

CIMC introduces the next generation of our online catalog, featuring curriculum and assessment products.

The auxiliary DC control power system is considered the most crucial element of a protection, control, and monitoring system. The failure of the direct current (DC) control power can result in the inability of fault detection devices to identify faults,... Read more

The post Auxiliary DC power system used for fault detection, trip coils and remote operation appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.

To be honest, transmission and distribution networks are full of problems. But that’s nothing new, and you already knew that. This technical article will shed some light on solving some pretty severe problems in transmission and distribution networks by using... Read more

The post Controlling power system parameters through reactive power (VAr) compensation appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.

Nowadays everybody speaks about power quality. For many reasons, I would say. Electrical energy is now polluted more than ever, and consumers are more sensitive to power disruptions and fluctuations than a small flower to the stronger wind. But, it... Read more

The post Five power quality devices that every commercial plant must have installed appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.

Measuring power quality and finding a bugbear in the network which is messing with the power are considered a highly paid job. Every electrical network and its problems with harmonics, transients, or disturbances are unique and need careful planning, setting... Read more

The post How to measure power quality? What devices should you use and what to measure? appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.

The first technique to control harmonic-related problems in the industry involved substantial use of single-tuned filters to offer a low-impedance path to harmonic currents. Interestingly, it is not difficult to find harmonic-producing loads in the megavolt-ampere range in the industry... Read more

The post Six methods to control the flow of harmonic currents and decrease harmonic distortion limits appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.

Most living rooms require flexible lighting design solutions because they serve a broad variety of changing functions. The lighting in a typical living room should comfortably serve small group conversation, larger social gatherings that include casual eating and drinking, and... Read more

The post Visual Tasks of Typical Living Room Lighting appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.

These are the input data for the following calculation: An office area has length: 20 meter; meter; meter. The ceiling to desk is 2 meters. The area is to be illuminated to a general level of 250 lux using twin... Read more

The post An example of calculating the number of indoor lighting fixtures appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.

A lighting control system is to be developed. The system will be controlled by four switches, SWITCH1, SWITCH2, SWITCH3, and SWITCH4. These switches will control the lighting in a room based on the following criteria: Any of three of the... Read more

The post Let’s develop the simple PLC program for lighting control system appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.

There are a lot of opportunities to optimise lighting system in (almost) any industrial facility. Seven practical energy-efficiency opportunities to reduce energy use cost-effectively are given below: Lighting controls Replace T-12 tubes by T-8 tubes Replace mercury lights with metal halide or... Read more

The post 7 energy-efficiency improvement opportunities in lighting system appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.

To achieve the best overall outcome in a lighting installation, it is important to avoid the tendency of rushing straight into luminaire selection before determining more broadly what is required from the system. The use of a structured design process... Read more

The post 7 key steps in lighting design process appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.

Architects of development houses usually select the locations for switches, receptacles, and luminaires at a quality and price level determined by the builder. However, purchasers of architect-designed, custom-built homes usually have an opportunity to decide on the selection of luminaires... Read more

The post Guidelines To Residential Room Lighting appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.

New Articles Entry: 'Writing in English problems and solutions' has just been added to the Articles area of UsingEnglish.com.

New Lesson Plans Entry: 'Silent letters in Financial English' has just been added to the Lesson Plans area of UsingEnglish.com.

New Articles Entry: 'Listening in English problems and solutions' has just been added to the Articles area of UsingEnglish.com.

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New Articles Entry: 'Reading English with your child: problems and solutions' has just been added to the Articles area of UsingEnglish.com.

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Circuit breakers (CBs) do interrupt fault currents and close onto faults. Besides, they could be used as isolation devices like disconnectors. The CBs manufacturers’ brochures and standards provide extensive data to select and assess the CBs performance, but designers must... Read more

The post MV/HV switchgear (circuit breaker) switching capability and suitability for specific applications appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.

This technical article discusses the essentials of transformer differential protection and restricted earth fault protection schemes, contrasting the two and elaborating on why the latter is necessary. Furthermore, it reveals the outcomes of stability tests performed on a 502 MVA... Read more

The post Mastering stability test of power transformer: Differential and Restricted Earth Fault (REF) protection appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.

This technical article provides a collection of the common drawings that are sent by the manufacturer to the client for approval and reference. The goal of these drawings is to verify that the transformers that are going to be manufactured... Read more

The post Contract drawings for a power transformer – The checklist you should always follow appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.

This article addresses the Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) concept in several aspects that matter the most in selecting the proper VFD for applications. One of the important factors is the control type required for a given application since it is... Read more

The post Guidelines for selecting the proper Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) for motor applications appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.