Practical guides for plants that run on automation
How to identify the right part, choose a replacement drive, find a fault and plan spares before something stops.
Identify parts
9 October 2026 · 2 min read
How to read a PLC module label before you ask for a quote
The few details on a PLC or I/O module label that decide whether a replacement will fit. What to photograph and what to write down.
Read the guide10 October 2026 · 2 min read
Siemens order numbers explained: how to read a 6ES7 part number
What the blocks in a Siemens order number mean, how to tell an S7-300 from an S7-1500 from the first digits, and why the last block matters.
Read the guide10 October 2026 · 2 min read
Motor nameplate explained: every field and what it means for a replacement
Read a three-phase motor nameplate: kW, volts, amps, rpm, frame, IE class, IP rating and mounting. What to send when ordering a replacement or a drive.
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Fault finding
10 October 2026 · 2 min read
Why VFDs trip: common causes and what to check first
Overcurrent, overvoltage, undervoltage, overtemperature and earth-fault trips explained, with a practical first-pass check for each.
Read the guide10 October 2026 · 2 min read
PLC will not go to RUN: a structured first-pass checklist
A step-by-step way to diagnose a PLC stuck in STOP or showing a fault light: power, mode, LEDs, diagnostic buffer, memory, hardware changes and communications.
Read the guide10 October 2026 · 2 min read
4–20 mA loops explained: how they work and how to fault-find them
Why 4–20 mA is the industrial standard, how two-wire and four-wire transmitters differ, what the fault bands mean and how to find a bad loop.
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Selecting equipment
10 October 2026 · 2 min read
Soft starter or VFD? How to choose for a motor
What a soft starter does, what a variable frequency drive does, and a simple way to choose between them for pumps, fans, conveyors and crushers.
Read the guide10 October 2026 · 2 min read
Choosing an industrial sensor: inductive, capacitive or photoelectric
How to match a sensor to what it must detect, and the details that decide whether a replacement fits: sensing distance, mounting, output type and connector.
Read the guide10 October 2026 · 2 min read
Repair, replace or retrofit: what to do when a drive or PLC fails
A practical way to choose between repairing a failed drive or PLC module, replacing it like for like, or using the failure as the moment to upgrade.
Read the guide10 October 2026 · 3 min read
Choosing a replacement VFD: eight things to check before you order
How to select a replacement variable frequency drive: motor data, duty rating, supply, control interface, altitude derating, braking and parameter migration.
Read the guide10 October 2026 · 2 min read
24 V DC power supplies in control panels: sizing, headroom and warning signs
How to size a 24 V DC supply, why headroom matters, what ageing looks like, and how a weak supply causes random PLC stops.
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Planning and risk
10 October 2026 · 2 min read
A part is discontinued: five routes to keep the machine running
The five options when a PLC, drive or HMI is no longer sold new, what each is good for, and what to check before you commit.
Read the guide10 October 2026 · 2 min read
New, new old stock, surplus, refurbished or used: what the terms mean
Plain definitions of the condition terms used for automation parts, and what to ask for in writing before you buy.
Read the guide10 October 2026 · 2 min read
Control panel preventive maintenance: a practical checklist
A schedule of checks that catch heat, dust, loose connections and ageing power supplies before they stop production, with a frequency for each.
Read the guide10 October 2026 · 3 min read
Critical spares for a production line: what to keep on the shelf
How to decide which automation spares are worth holding in stock, using downtime cost, lead time and failure history instead of guesswork.
Read the guide10 October 2026 · 2 min read
Load shedding and your control system: protecting PLCs, drives and panels
Why damage happens when power returns, and what surge protection, voltage monitoring, UPS, drive settings and PLC retention can do about it.
Read the guide10 October 2026 · 2 min read
Obsolescence planning for automation: lifecycle stages and what to do at each
How manufacturers phase out PLCs and drives, how to audit your installed base, when to buy last-time spares and when to migrate.
Read the guide10 October 2026 · 2 min read
Genuine, grey-market and counterfeit automation parts: how to protect your plant
Why fake and unauthorised parts reach plants, the warning signs, and the questions to ask any supplier before you buy a PLC, drive or sensor.
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