Distribution Protection and Relaying Basics 

John Aultman, P.E., and Josh LaBlanc, P.E., Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

This course provides an overview of the principles for protecting distribution feeders and buses. Protection and control systems are a critical part of the transmission and distribution systems that feed power to cities and industries.

Topics include:

• Basic Circuit Theory including power system faults and relay fundamentals
• Recloser control training including distribution feeder protection and troubleshooting topics
• Regulator control training including an overview of regulators, panel settings and troubleshooting regulator control circuits
• Causes of Harmonics using the SynchroWAVe Event to identify harmonics

To enhance user experience in this course, participants should bring a laptop with AcSELerator Quickset installed. 

Hands-On Metering: Intermediate to Advanced

Larry Chapman, Chapman Metering

The purpose of this class “to assist field personnel in finding metering errors that are adversely affecting billing accuracy and/or personal safety of the technicians involved in maintaining this equipment.” This class has several work stations to test different configurations of meter installations.

Hands On Work Stations:

• Single Phase Metering and 3-phase Metering stations. Participants will properly wire the stations.
• Station trouble shooting. Stations will have errors that need repair and testing.

Topics Include:

• Metering of 3-phase Services using Self-Contained and Transformer Rated Meters
• Proper Selection of Voltage and Current Transformers
• Transformer Burden and Sizing of Metering Conductors

• Single Phase Transformer Rated Meters

• Proper Grounding

• Meter Safety

• AMR Metering-Changes

Participants are asked to bring hand tools, safety glasses, secondary gloves and an ammeter. These materials are needed for hands on work stations.

Voltage Regulators

John Thierfelder, EATON

A well-maintained voltage regulator helps ensure more reliable power and increased safety. Proper maintenance also saves time and money by avoiding system downtime and extending equipment life. This course is an overview covering CL-7 control, and voltage regulator basics to improve equipment performance, increase voltage regulator reliability and ensure operator safety.

Topics include:

• Voltage regulator theory and application
• Control hands-on exercises
• Control panel retrofitting
• Voltage regulator receiving, handling and maintenance
• Tap-changer maintenance and inspection
• CL-7 control settings and features and voltage regulator schematics and troubleshooting
• Safe regulator bypassing and voltage regulator safety topics

Training materials and CL-7 voltage regulator controls will be provided for hands-on training.

John Aultman, P.E. Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories
John Aultman received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degree from the University of North Dakota in 2009. He started his career as a Field Service Engineer, then Application Engineer for Rockwell Automation/Allen-Bradley in their Industrial Plant Services division. After helping start up a new business, John worked as a Sr. Engineer/ Co-Owner at an electrical engineering and consulting firm supporting heavy industrial and electrical utility customers across the Midwest.
He has been working at SEL as an Application Engineer since September 2020. His primary roles include providing technical support on relay protection related topics in all areas of power system protection as well as teaching / presenting on these topics.

Josh LaBlanc, P.E. Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories
Josh LaBlanc is an Application Engineer with Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories. His primary roles are providing quality technical support on protection related topics in all areas of power system protection and presenting on those topics. He has worked at SEL for 3 years. Prior to joining SEL, Josh spent 6 years as a Relay and Maintenance Engineer at Minnesota Power in Duluth, MN. Josh also spent 2 years as a Power System Engineer for Enbridge Energy in Superior, WI.
He graduated from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.

Larry Chapman, Chapman Metering Company
Larry Chapman is a highly respected, highly qualified instructor having worked in the metering field his entire career. Chapman Metering Company was started in 1960 by Larry’s father. Larry started his career in metering by joining his father in the family business and by 1979, Larry had assumed responsibility of running the company expanding their operations into Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Missouri. In the early 1990’s, the first automated meter reading system showed up in the Midwest bringing a new opportunity to grow the company. A partnership with Nishnabotna Rural Electric Cooperative in Harlan Iowa was created to meet the demand of deploying and retrofitting the new automated equipment and the company relocated to Avoca Iowa, where it is still located today.
Although retired, Larry continues to share is immense knowledge in all things related to metering by continually conducting training classes.

John Thierfelder, EATON/Cooper Power Systems
John Thierfelder is a highly qualified engineer and instructor with many years of experience working with voltage regulators and related products. He has worked for EATON/Cooper Power Systems since May 2000 holding positions such as Design Engineer, Warranty Service Manager and Senior Application Engineer. He is currently the Product Manager of their Voltage Regulators division and an instructor for EATON’s Voltage Regulator training school.
John graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.