First-of-its-kind training covers fieldbus installation and testing techniquesBAYTOWN, Texas, February 15, 2007 -- The Fieldbus Center at Lee College, a National Science Foundation (NSF) recognized and funded institution, today announced it is offering a FOUNDATION fieldbus training course for power and wire installers. The two-day course covers installation and testing of fieldbus physical layer components." Fieldbus for Power and Wire Installers" was developed to meet process industry requirements for instrumentation personnel trained in FOUNDATION fieldbus installation techniques.
From commissioning to startup, it provides a vendor-neutral perspective on the wiring, isolation, shielding and grounding of fieldbus device segments.According to Fieldbus Center Director Chuck Carter, the "Fieldbus for Power and Wire Installers" course was developed with the help of leading fieldbus equipment suppliers, engineering firms, and end users. "Thanks to the support of the automation community, the Fieldbus Center now offers a training solution that makes the installer a key player in ensuring segment wiring and power requirements are fully understood, and met, prior to the final installation of field devices and host interfaces," said Carter.
"This course works to reduce the time lost in tracking down problems that can arise any time a communication signal is put on a set of wires with improper terminations, incorrect grounding, or poor shielding." The new training course allows up to 12 students at a time to receive instruction in laying out, securing, terminating and testing wiring used for FOUNDATION device networks. Students also learn about the construction and testing practices needed to verify that installed fieldbus segments support system quality.
Specific course topics include: wire characteristics, polarities, shielding topologies, grounding topologies, power supplies, conditioners, terminators, termination techniques, surge protection, safety barriers and repeaters.During the first day of training, hands-on exercises involve testing un-powered and powered fieldbus segments with a variety of traditional and specialized test equipment. In addition, students study a variety of segment documentation techniques. The second, optional day of instruction goes in-depth into Intrinsic Safety (IS) barriers, Fieldbus Intrinsically Safe Concept (FISCO), Fieldbus Non-incendive Concept (FNICO), repeaters and specialized diagnostics.
About the Fieldbus Center
Located approximately 30 miles east of Houston in Baytown, Texas, the Fieldbus Center at Lee College is recognized and funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The Fieldbus Center's mission is to provide technical education solutions for networking, instrumentation, and electrical technologies impacted by the advent of fieldbus. The Center develops hands-on programs for teaching fieldbus and process control systems, creates and maintains an applied research center, and develops multi-craft curriculum for fieldbus and industrial networking technologies.