Purpose
The lecturing team will present, from a practical point of view,
the basic principles of the physics, metallurgical and chemical
phenomena involved in the operation of electrical connectors and
electrical switches. They will emphasize design and application
to practice, rather than formula derivation. The Course is
intended for development engineers who desire a solid foundation
in electrical contact principles and practice.
Course Overview
The Course will cover:
1. low-voltage electrical contacts such as those found in the
computer, communications, appliance and automobile industries.
2. power applications as in motor controllers, circuit breakers,
and other low and medium voltage industrial equipment.
3. power utility connectors in transmission and distribution
circuits.
Benefits Gained
When you return to the job you should be able to:
1. Analyze the design of an electrical contact and understand the
purpose of each major feature;
2. Estimate the extent to which each feature is likely to achieve
its purpose under given operational and environmental conditions;
3. Select an appropriate contact for a particular use;
4. Solve common contact deign problems using course-presented
relations;
5. Design suitable tests for the environmental, operational, and
accelerated testing of contacts, and interrpret the results;
6. Understand the common failure mechanisms which occur in
contacts;
7. Analyze failed contact, determine the cause and suggest design
improvement.
Who Should Attend
Research, Development and Design Engineers working in the
electronics, computer, automotive, power and military industries.
A bachelors degree or equivalent in a physical science or
engineering is desirabe.
Support Materials
- Electrical Contacts - Principles and Applications, edited by
Paul Slade
- Course notebook with overheads and reference papers
Content
The basic requirements of a good electrical contact. Properties
of metallic surfaces, and surface infractions influencing
electrical contact behavior. Principles of electrical conduction
through metallic constrictions, temperature of joule-hearted
contact spots, lubrication fundamentals, effect of conductive,
insulating and intermetallic layers, and characterization of
surface roughness.
Mechanical and electrical conductivity properties ofcopper and
aluminum base materials. Deign guidelines for the optimal
performance of computer, amomotive, power and utility connectors.
Effects of plastic flow and stress relaxation on connector
performance.
The fundamentals of contact action during the making and breaking
of an electrical circuit, covering a range from low-level through
industrial control switching devices and circuit breaker. The
electric arc, high cuffent contact, closed contacts, opening
contacts, interruption in DC and AC circuits. Contact wear,
welding, design for switching contacts. Contact material
manufacture and design.
Chemical reactions at surfaces: their influence on contact
performance. The use of metallic coatings in contacts.
Fundamentals of fretting and of friction, wear and lubrication as
applied to sliding metallic contact behavior. Sliding contacts.
Properties of contact materials: fabricated and electroplated
precious metals, silver-based alloys, base-metal alloys.
Environmental testing of contacts and contact materials.
Experts in Electrical Contacts
Dr. P.G. Slade
Course Director
Lecturer on arcing contacts
Cutler Hammer, Horseheads Operations
Horseheads, NY, USA
607-796-3230
Dr. Paul G. Slade received the B.S. and Ph.D degrees from the
University of Wales, Swansea, U.K., the Diploma of Mathematical
Physics from the University of Wales, Swansea, U.K., and the
M.B.A. degree from the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
He has broad research experience covering a wide range of
problems associated with switching electric current, the welding
of electric contacts in air and vacuum, the properties of arcs,
and the effect of arcing on electrical contacts, and current
limiters. He presently has the position of Manager Vacuum
Interrupter Technology, Culter Hammer, Holeheads Operations,
Horseheads, NY. Dr. Slade is a Fellow of IEEE.
Mr. W.H. Abbott
Lecturer on contact materials and Contact Corrosion
Program Manager, Engineering Mechanics
Battelle Columbus, Columbus, Ohio, USA
William H. Abbott received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from
the Universiyt of Massachusetts in 1962. He continued his
graduate studies in Metallurgy and Physics at Ohio State
University and joined Battelle Columbus in 1962, where he is
currently a program manager in the areas of electronics
reliability, electronics corrosion, and environmental reactions
on materials and component. Mr. AbboH is a member of IEEE and
NACE and past charman of ASTM B-4. He is the author of more than
20 papers in the field of electrical contacts and connectors.
Dr. R.S. Timsit
Lecturer on Contact Fundamentals
Consultant
Timron Scientific Consulting, Inc.
Markham, Ontario, Canada L3R 1El
Dr. Timsit holds a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of
Toronto. He spent 20 years at Alcan International Ltd where he
led major R&D thrusts relating to the surface properties of
aluminum relevant to electrical connectibility, metal-casting,
metal-working,, lubricafion, wear, surface modificafion, brazing
and others. He developed novel analytical techniques for
electrical contacts, high-resolution microscopy, nanoindentation
measurements, and is the inventor of a novel brazing technology
for aluminum. He is recipient of two IEEE Best Paper Awards and
of the Peaslee Brazing Award from the American Welding Society.
He holds several patents and has authored about 100 publications.
He is active in IEEE and several other engineering/scientific
organizations, including the International Conference for
Electrical Contacts. From 1994 to 1999, Dr. Timsit was Director
of Technology at AMP of Canada where he headed the global R&D
activities of AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, PA, in relation to
power connector. He is currently President and Principal
Consultant at Timron Scientific Consulting Inc. located in
Toronto, Canada.
Registration
Registration information will be updated every year when its
available. Check with the IEEE office for latest info.
Hotel Reservations
A block of rooms in the course hotel will be reserved for class
attendees at special IEEE rates. Check with the IEEE office for
latest info.
Mail Registration to:
IEEE Intensive Course Registrar, Attn: Diana Krynski
I445 Hoes Lane,
Piscataway, NJ 08855-1331
(732) 981-3414 - Telephone
(732) 465-6447 - FAX
Updated: September 2002