Volume 10 Issue 1, January 2008
We hope you find this issue of our e-mail update of what's new at AutomationDirect informative and, at times, a little amusing.
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We always welcome your comments or suggestions concerning this newsletter.

Editor's note:

Happy New Year

AutomationDirect is proud to be a part of your new year. We've started the year off strong and look forward to providing you with more award-winning customer support, quality parts, helpful tutorials and useful product information. This will be an exciting year and we are glad to share it with you.

In this month's newsletter, you'll learn of the newest products we have available, read the latest company news, and then take a break with the Lighter Side.

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i-Catalog Emphasizes Convenience

After months of testing, AutomationDirect has launched an interactive version of our latest print catalog. Perhaps you are on a job site but your printed catalog is back at the office. Simply access the i-Catalog on your laptop, flip through the pages and click on active part numbers to get more information, view the complete price list, and move the items to your shopping cart. If you're familiar with our catalog, or just like to browse for products, the new i-Catalog is a very efficient way to build your order.

Give our i-Catalog a try, and send us any feedback, just drop an email to marketing@automationdirect.com.

Talk to Us about Safety
We need your expert opinions! Click here to fill us in on your use of safety PLCs and other safety products, and get a $20 Home Depot Gift Card for completing the survey. The survey will be open for a limited time, so don't delay!

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Introductory Pricing for IronHorse™ General Purpose AC motors

For a limited time, you can save up to 15% on IronHorse general purpose AC motors. Introductory prices start at $86.00 for single-phase 1/3HP rolled-steel frame models. Available up to 300 hp, all IronHorse motors have a base speed of 1800 RPM and are electrically reversible.
The MTR series 56C frame motors, in one-third to 2HP sizes, are housed in rolled steel, totally enclosed fan cooled (TEFC) enclosures.
Three-phase industrial duty MTC series motors are T frame TEFC units available in one to 300 HP sizes, featuring ribbed cast iron frames to ensure maximum cooling.
IronHorse AC motor accessories include Stable™ motor slide bases, replacement capacitors and centrifugal switches. Available C-flange kits can be used for C-face mounting of the cast iron MTC series motors.
IronHorse general purpose motors are available for same-day shipping and are backed by a two-year warranty.

See the full line on general purpose motors, visit: www.automationdirect.com.

Industrial Ethernet Switches Available

The new Stride™ industrial-grade unmanaged Ethernet switches and media converters are designed specifically for PLC, HMI and drive users. Available are 5-port and 8-port Ethernet switches, 4-port and 8-port Ethernet switches with one 100BaseFX fiber port, and a 100BaseFX Ethernet to Fiber Media Converter. Stride Ethernet Switches are true plug-and-play devices which automatically determine and remember devices connected to each port and only route messages through the appropriate ports, increasing data throughput and efficiently utilizing bandwidth. Even under heavy I/O and data exchange, Stride switches and the Ethernet control network maintain more consistent cycle times. Stride industrial Ethernet switches and media converters start at $99, are DIN-rail mountable and are UL, CSA, and CE certified, as well as rated Class I, Div.2 for hazardous locations.

To learn more about our Stride Ethernet products,
visit: www.automationdirect.com

General Purpose Wire

AutomationDirect now offers building/hookup wire. Intended for general purpose applications, THHN building wire, with PVC insulation and Nylon jacket, is available in 4-14 gauge sizes consists of 19-strand 600V uncoated copper wire, making it ideal for new construction or rewiring applications, THHN can be used in wet or dry locations. MTW-type wire is available in 10-16 gauge sizes, and consists of 19 and 26-strand 600V bare, annealed copper. MTW-type wire is primarily used in control cabinets, machine tool applications, and appliance wiring applications. Available in 500-foot spools, prices start at $32 for MTW-type wire. TFFN-type wire is available as 16 gauge, 26-strand, 600V, uncoated copper and is primarily used as fixture wire in dry locations. TFFN-type wire is UL approved and is $38 for a 500-foot spool. All wire types are UL rated.

To see our selection of wire visit: www.automationdirect.com

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Molded Case Circuit Breaker line extended

AutomationDirect has extended its line of Molded Case Circuit Breakers to include 15-100 Amp G-Frame and 100-225 Amp F-Frame models. They are UL listed for installation in UL 508 control panels. Their small size, in relation to standard circuit breakers or other comparable devices, saves panel space. You can view the MCCBs and accessories here.

Find out more here.

Foot Switches and LED Versions of 22 mm Pushbuttons, Selector Switches and Lights

AutomationDirect has added foot switches to its line of product offerings. These switches, in single and double units, are designed for machines such as shearing and spinning machines, lathes, wrapping machines and riveting machines and presses. Foot switches are available in two operational formats: free movement and foot switched locked in neutral position.

AutomationDirect has also extended its line of 22mm metal pushbuttons to include 24V and 120 V LED illuminated pushbuttons, selector switches, and pilot lights. Replacement LED bulbs are also available in convenient two-packs.

To see the selection of foot switches and pushbuttons,
visit: www.automationdirect.com

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PLCs and Radios Help Deliver Clean Water in Idaho

Post Falls, Idaho is a small town that has been growing up. This small community of 19,000 people, located near the Idaho/Washington border, has experienced incredible population growth in the last 10 years or so.

Along with this growth has come the need for water - lots of it. Ross Point Water District has the responsibility of providing water for the ever-increasing demand. A prior control system at Ross Point Water consisted of four wells and one reservoir tied together with long distance solid-state relays that transmit signals via telephone wire for on/off states, such as sensing the level of the reservoirs and turning pumps on and off.

Working together with Empire Control and Automation, Ross Point Water put together a control system that is both reliable and practical, using the latest technology. They implemented a PLC/radio communication system that makes the district less dependent on the phone company for its daily operation.

The new water system is made up of five AutomationDirect PLCs (DL05 and DL06 models), five radios, an autodialer, two AutomationDirect operator touch screens and three operator text panels. "AutomationDirect offered the best of all worlds - quality, dependability, and affordability", says Dan Seldon of Ross Point Water.

Find out more on this and many more applications here.

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Taken from one of those "www." places

A country church in the hills of Tennessee was finishing a week of revival services, when the preacher asked if anyone had a special need for prayer.

One man came forward and said, "Preacher, I want you to pray for my hearing." The preacher placed his hands on the man's ears and earnestly prayed for about 10 minutes.

Afterward, the preacher said, "Brother, how's your hearing now?" The man replied, "I don't know. It comes up next Thursday."

Play your cards right and…
Get your very own AutomationDirect deck of playing cards with all our products on them. Keep them handy for a quick card game at lunch or for when you need to see what we carry – think of it as a short-form catalog! Click here.

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