EPS Magazine September 2013

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CONTENTS

PUBLISHER

Danny J. Salchert OFFICE MANAGER

Anita Salchert ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Jerry DiChiara jerryd@epsmag.net CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Derek Gaylard CIRCULATION DIRECTOR

Pam Fulmer CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jeff Jowett • Susie Minton

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FEATURES 6 Measuring Low Resistance Part 1 of a 2 Part Article

By Jeff Jowett

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It’s Time to Embrace Advanced Lighting Controls as Manufacturer’s Focus on Ease of Design and Installation

By Susie Minton

CASE STUDY 22 Eastern Washington University Finds NexLight Controls Both Simple To Use And ‘Rock Solid’ Reliable

DEPARTMENTS 28 40

Product Focus Ad Index

ON THE COVER DLRO10HD going to work bond testing in the Thames estuary Kentish Flats

PRESIDENT

Danny J. Salchert Executive and Advertising Offices 3591 Cahaba Beach Road Birmingham, AL 35242 toll free: 800.981.4541 phone: 205.981.4541 fax: 205.981.4544 www.epsmag.net • danny@epsmag.net Electrical Products & Solutions™ is published twelve times a year on a monthly basis by ABD Communications, Inc., 3591 Cahaba Beach Road, Birmingham, Alabama, 35242, USA. Electrical Products & Solutions™ is distributed free to qualified subscribers. Non-qualified subscription rates are $57.00 per year in the U.S. and Canada and $84.00 per year for foreign subscribers (surface mail). U.S. Postage paid at Birmingham, Alabama and additional mailing offices.

Electrical Products & Solutions™ is distributed to qualified readers in the electrical contracting industry. Publisher is not liable for all content (including editorial and illustrations provided by advertisers) of advertisements published and does not accept responsibility for any claims made against the publisher. It is the advertiser’s or agency’s responsibility to obtain appropriate releases on any item or individuals pictured in an advertisement. Reproduction of this magazine in whole or in part is prohibited without prior written permission from the publisher.

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Electrical Products & Solutions • September 2013

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FEATURE • Megger

By Jeff Jowett

T

Measuring Low Resistance Part 1 of a 2 Part Article

he operation of electrical equipment depends on the controlled flow of current within the design parameters of the given piece of equipment.”1 This seems like a statement of the obvious, yet it is so obvious that it is easily honored in the breach. The ever-present common multimeter actually aids the dissimulation because of its ubiquity and ease of use. Everybody has one, and one of the three common functions is resistance measurement. What’s the problem?

In describing true low resistance measurement, relative values are critical. Measuring resistance with a multimeter will provide a general assessment of a circuit element or conductor, or the routing of a conductor in a circuit. It will indicate basic continuity, or give the assurance that an electrical contact exists. But more rigorous testing is required in order to fully evaluate a circuit or conductive element. Multimeters typically operate at around five volts and provide only a few milli-amps of test current. An especially good one might output 200 mA and measure down to 0.01Ω.

On the high end, some measure into the low megohms. But with only a few volts, insulation is not being stressed at operating levels and no more than a basic measurement is provided. In worst case, a multimeter reading might actually prove counter-productive, as when a stranded grounding conductor in a line cord is hanging by a few threads. It will still indicate basic continuity.

“Generic multimeters do not supply enough current to give a reliable indication of the current-carrying capabilities of joints, welds, bonds and the like under real operating conditions.”2 “Measuring low resistance helps identify resistance elements that have increased above acceptable values.”3 For testing on this more demanding, and revealing, level, a genuine low resistance ohmmeter is a requirement. A low resistance ohmmeter generates test current on the amperage 6

level, typically 10 Amps. Resistance is measured down to micro-ohm accuracy.

That’s typically three to five powers of ten lower than a multimeter can deliver. To draw the test current at such low values, only a few milli-volts are required. The instruments always operate on dc. In the case of the frayed grounding conductor, the reading would be discerning enough to clearly reveal the problem, or the current might burn the connection open. To better appreciate why such low values of resistance are critical, one need only consider the formula W = I2R, the rate at which electrical energy is converted to heat. Wattage is the current squared times the resistance.

Since current is squared, it can be readily seen how a comparatively small change in resistance can produce a considerable increase in heat. Excess heat production can be damaging and dangerous, and

Electrical Products & Solutions • September 2013

FIGURE 1

render an electrical system less efficient.

How does the design of a low resistance ohmmeter meet these demands? Fundamentally, the configuration is that of a Kelvin bridge: four terminals, two carrying current through the test item, and two detecting voltage drop caused by the resistance across the item (Fig. 1). The tester measures the current it is able to establish, and then the voltage drop is used to calculate resistance by Ohm’s Law. Lead resistance and contact resistance are eliminated by the four-wire configuration. The tester makes its measurement against whatever amount of current is able to flow, thereby eliminating lead resistance and contact resistance from the measurement. Whatever current there is after lead and contact resistances are overcome is the parameter that determines the measurement. Similarly, the voltage probes Continued on page 8

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FEATURE • Megger

Continued from page 6

are connected across a high internal impedance so that no more than negligible current flows in this circuit. The contact resistance produces no discernible voltage and thus has no effect on the potential difference detected by the probes. The Kelvin bridge configuration eliminates the effects of lead and contact resistance, and renders a pure measurement of the test item alone.

By comparison, multimeters make twowire measurements. This may be acceptable, so long as the probes’ contact resistance and series lead resistance, plus any parallel leakage resistances, do not degrade the quality of the measurement beyond an acceptable point. “A low resistance measurement is typically a measurement below 1.000 ohm.”4 Against this requirement, a two-wire measurement can introduce an error of several percent. Even in quality meters that permit lead resistance to be zeroed out, contact resistance still remains. This can vary with temperature and change of position, and typically contributes in the range of 35 mΩ per each probe. For

cruder levels of measurement, such contributions may be discounted. Similarly concerning the influence of thermal emf (electromotive force). Where true low resistance measurement is involved, these otherwise negligible sources of error become huge by comparison, and cannot be left unaccounted.

Why is 10 A industry standard for low resistance testing? By comparison, would a 9 A test be invalid? Of course not! Much of instrument specification, design and performance are based on compromise and accommodation. A 10 Amp test provides a working approximation to the current in many electrical services, thereby affording a rigorous test of the current-carrying capabilities of electrical components and not just a mere continuity test. At the same time, it allows testers to be made light and portable.

More current improves signal-to-noise ratio and aids noise suppression. But more current also increases heating capability.

This in turn can influence test results, and in extreme can damage equipment. Current se-

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Electrical Products & Solutions • September 2013

lection, then, must be made judiciously against the parameters of the test item.

Good quality testers will balance current against load and display this to the operator.

Some permit the operator to set a current limit, for heat-sensitive test items like fine wiring. But never think that a nominal 10 amp test is somehow invalid if it loads down to a lower current. The tester is providing an accurate measurement within it parameters. Expecting to force too much current through the test item will only skew results unrealistically, and can be damaging. Some industries prefer testing at higher currents, but these are quantum leaps, not mere adjustments. Utilities want circuit breaker contacts to be tested at currents commensurate with their operating values, and hence 100, 200, and 600 Amp testers are commonly in use.

Test leads are not to be taken for granted, as they sometimes are with multimeter functions. With this level of current transmission and degree of precision required, leads become a significant Continued on page 12

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FEATURE • Megger

Continued from page 8

FIGURE 2

part of the test and often must be matched to the application. Kelvin clips, alligator clips, C-clamps, fixed points and springloaded points, plus other designs, may all find some particular use. But for maximum precision, it is recommended that the potential leads be separated from the currents by a distance that is 1 ½ times the circumference of the test item.5 The reason is to have uniform current density across the potential probes, which requires a specific distance from the point of injection in order to stabilize (Fig. 2). Note that for convenience, many test lead designs incorporate one pair of current and potential leads into a single handle, making it look as though there are only two leads. Look closely and you will note that in such designs one side of the clip is always insulated from the other and marked with a P to tell the operator that this is the potential contact. (During testing, the potentials are always positioned inside of the two points of current injection.) This dual configuration, called a “duplex” lead, may violate the 1 ½ times rule stated above and introduce a slight error. But “duplex” leads remain popular for their ease of use with only a tolerable additional error. For repeat tests, lead position must be duplicated precisely. In many cases, a specially designed test fixture should replace leads (Fig. 3).

Why perform low resistance testing as part of electrical maintenance? There are four primary reasons: 1. Prevent long-term damage to electrical equipment.

2. Reduce or eliminate energy wasted as heat.

3. Keep equipment operating at full power.

4. Assure current flow sufficient to activate protective devices in event of fault.

FIGURE 3

FIGURE 4

mon test items (IUTs) are switches, circuit breakers, transformer and motor windings, bus bar and rail bonds, battery straps, squirrel cage bars, cable joints and bonding to ground. Corrosion, vibration, temperature effects, loss of torque between mating surfaces, electrical stresses from voltage spikes and current surges, and metal fatigue can exert negative impact on bonds, welds and clamped contacts. Industries that rely heavily on low resistance testing include power generation and distribution, mines, railroads, chemical plants, refineries, telecommunications, automobile and aircraft manufacturers, and UPS battery-backup systems. Some specific illustrations are in order.

Any piece of electrical equipment may If a motor appears to be losing power, a benefit from low resistance testing. Com- low resistance test should be performed.

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Electrical Products & Solutions • September 2013

Testing can also be done when bearings are being replaced or at annual shutdown. Motor armatures are tested to identify shorting between adjacent turns or conductors.

Squirrel cage bars can separate from end plates, reducing performance. Bar-to-bar testing on DC rotors identifies open or shorted coils (Fig. 4). Keeping and examining periodic records enables overheating effects to be recognized. ❏ Source of information: Peter E. Langan, A Guide to Low Resistance Testing, Megger® 2005 1 Ibid., p. 3, 2Ibid., p. 10, 3Ibid., p. 3, 4Ibid., p. 3, 5 Ibid., p. 11

Be sure to read part 2 of this article next month in the October 2013 issue of Electrical Products & Solutions.

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FEATURE • Lunera Lighting

It’s Time to Embrace Advanced Lighting Controls as Manufacturer’s Focus on Ease of Design and Installation

By Susie Minton

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oday, there are many reasons to be excited about lighting controls.

They save enormous amounts of lighting energy, create better building environments, and make occupants happier in their spaces. And of course, lighting standards and codes continue to push buildings towards the use of advanced controls. None more so that California’s Energy Code, Title 24. Come January 2014, advanced centralized lighting controls with dimming will be a standard for most commercial interiors. Moreover, any lighting retrofit including ballast changeouts and other routine “maintenance” that affects 10% of a space or greater will need to comply with the current Title 24 2013 Code. As we know, Title 24 standards have a tendency to quickly spread east.

Are you ready?

With all the great attributes of advanced lighting controls, why does widespread adoption in today’s commercial buildings remain so low? Do building owners not care about increased energy savings and occupant productivity? I truly believe the challenge lies not in the concepts, not in the price of the solutions, but rather the implementation of projects. Although great lighting control strategies like occupancy sensing, daylight harvesting, tuning, and personal controls sound simple, the reality is that the complexity of it all

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can just become too overwhelming for building owners and their facilities representatives. Many rather take a passive role, waiting for the choice to be made for them, as many California building will experience in a few short months.

The time is now. Many lighting and control manufactures are committing to bring quality performance solutions to the market with newly available technologies that streamlines the design, installation, and operation of these advanced systems.

Before I get into the new stuff, let’s quickly review how and why things got

Electrical Products & Solutions • September 2013

so messy in the first place. It is important to understand how we got here to appreciate the innovative paths forward.

Ten to Fifteen years ago, advanced lighting controls and architectural dimming systems were synonymous. Buildings applied lighting control systems to achieve architectural details or flexible functionality… energy savings was a nice byproduct but not the emphasis for application. Generally these dimming systems were centralized and specialized to the particular installation and lighting load types. They were well thought out and planned by certified engineers and lighting designers, always watched by the careful eye of the lead architect.

As lighting management controls including occupancy sensors and relay switching became more abundant, an increasing goal to provide advanced lighting controls to more buildings began to grow. In an effort to keep costs low and paybacks high, manufacturers frequently chose distributed, piecemeal approaches that fostered low initial cost solutions but put incredible burdens on contractors and facilities personnel to Continued on page 16

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FEATURE • Lunera Lighting install, operate, and maintain equipment.

As building owners desired more control and integration over their buildings, these cost effective distributed systems were stretched beyond their feasible implementation, resulting in lost confidence of users in many applications. The good news is that there has always been great product on the market and great outcomes, when

Continued from page 14

that product was installed and applied in the way envisioned by the manufacturer.

The challenge came that when electrical contractors who did not have the experience with these systems took the place of factory commissioning agents. In the end building owners and mangers were left with undesirable outcomes.

Fast forward several years, and we are

in a whole different place. Controls manufacturers have learned that their solutions must be cost effective and well performing; they should also be easy to design, install, and maintain. The parallel development and adoption of solid-state LED lighting makes this transformation even more remarkable.

A number of single and partner manufacturers offer new integrated lighting and controls solutions. Today, I will explore three different approaches that represent common simplified applications of advanced lighting systems in the market: single manufacturer, manufacturer partners, and integrated open protocol designs. My intent with calling out specific manufactures is to highlight the approach and not necessarily accentuate the product brands. If readers have further questions about the stated application, I am certainly available for further discussion.

Acuity Brands® provides an example of a single manufacturer integrating controls technology together with lighting luminaires. Today, you can purchase several Acuity Brands luminaires with embedded controls technology. For example, the RTLED is available ready to receive the nLight® controls protocol, eliminating the need for traditional “powerpacks” and switching devices. The nLight controls system communicates directly with the solid-state luminaire, proContinued on page 18 viding full range FOR FREE INFO, CIRCLE 40 ON READER SERVICE CARD

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FEATURE • Lunera Lighting dimming and electronic off control. The advantage is a simplified single supplier lighting solution that warranties the complete system and decreases risk that system components will not work together as anticipated. However, these single manufacturer solutions frequently include proprietary technology, requiring future additions and replacements to stay within the same manufacturer product family.

Lunera® Lighting partners with Lutron® Electronics to bring comingled power distribution, emergency power, and advanced controls in a simple low voltage package called the PowerHive™.

This lighting module distributes low voltage normal power, emergency power, and digital EcoSystem® controls to its solid state Lunera luminaires. Such an approach provides simplified design and lower cost installation of solid-state devices, reducing the number of AC power connections by 90%. Customers can then choose the desired wired or wireless controls solutions, whether room or

Continued from page 16

building wide, from Lutron’s vast product portfolio. Although the controls and luminaires are not warrantied together, users can be confident that partners such

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Electrical Products & Solutions • September 2013

as these designed solutions together, involving rigorous testing and evaluation of the combined systems and standing Continued on page 20 behind their designs.

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FEATURE • Lunera Lighting The idea behind Daintree Networks’ approach is to develop a series of embedded, open protocol wireless ZigBee® devices that connect control systems and luminaires. Such a component approach to systems integration provides many control and luminaire options for system designers and customers alike. Moreover, components can be shifted in the future as needs or technology warrant.

The primary drawback to this approach is similar to many solutions today; determining responsibility for overall system operation can be vague. One way to guarantee performance of such open systems is to engage with a third party commissioning agent, who will often take responsibility for the installation and ongoing operation of such system approaches.

My intent in the aforementioned paragraphs was to provide a few highlights of where integrated lighting and control solutions are headed. While many may still feel such advanced lighting scenar-

Continued from page 18

ios are for only the elite, it is time to shift thinking. Such approaches systematically result in lighting energy reductions of over 70% and significant increases in occupant satisfaction, making even the simple payback equations of advanced lighting and control solutions viable for even the most discerning financial analyst. Now, manufacturers are truly considering and mitigating the barriers of difficult design, installation, and operation. The examples provided here exemplify different approaches to the same problem – mitigating the difficulty of installation and management of

About the Author: Susie Minton is the Director of Marketing & Business Development for Lunera® Lighting and lighting industry leader with 14 years of experience taking advanced lighting control capabilities to commercial market applications. Most recently Ms. Minton led marketing for another Silicon Valley startup, Lumenergi®. She also managed marketing for the Controls division of Acuity Brands® and previous to that held various positions, including Commercial Systems and Product Sales, for Lutron® Electronics. Ms. Minton is a Trident Scholar and graduate of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis Maryland, receiving B.S. in Oceanography.

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advanced and often complex digital lighting solutions. It is thanks to this digital revolution in lighting that we are able to make such large strides forward in our industry. Even some of the most innovative technology industries are taking notice and joining in the effort.

While several of the manufacturers listed above are considered established industry leaders, others are newer players from Silicon Valley’s innovative community. Thus, if you haven’t yet updated your consideration and adoption of advanced lighting controls, now is the time! ❏

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CASE STUDY • NexLight

Eastern Washington University Finds NexLight Controls Both Simple To Use And ‘Rock Solid’ Reliable

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astern Washington University is a public university located in Cheney, Wash. Situated just 17 miles southwest of the state’s second largest city – Spokane – the university offers a comprehensive liberal arts curriculum to more than 12,000 undergraduate students.

Craig Opsal is the electrical shop supervisor and is responsible for taking care of the university campus. He maintains electrical, all the lighting and high voltage, elevators, fire alarms, maintenance, construction and service calls. For 10 years he has monitored and maintained the activity in nearly 60 buildings – covering approximately three million square feet of space. students, several buildings came online and many other universities today, EWU is As the university began to grow and Opsal noticed that the university had three committed to ensuring their facilities are bemore academic programs were offered to different lighting control systems. Like ing updated to meet Continued on page 24

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CASE STUDY • NexLight university green initiatives, save energy, provide greater occupant control and comfort and meet the latest energy codes.

Planning for future growth was necessary and choosing a solution that was simple and reliable, yet afforded flexibility, was of paramount importance. However, being a public university, the state requires that vendors are chosen, based on

Continued from page 22

the lowest bids.

“With this process, you often end up with a menagerie of different solutions and have no way to consolidate,” Opsal said of his challenge.

“You end up with multiple vendors. It has become a major hurdle – to be able to go to one specific provider/manufacturer and basically get that service.”

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Electrical Products & Solutions • September 2013

Opsal began retrofitting existing buildings in 2008. Some of the original equipment was 20 years olds. “We had three different control technologies on campus that we could compare,” Opsal explained.

“We had many issues with two of them and, they were outdated. Based on actual results, we felt that NexLight (the third of the existing systems) could probably fit our needs better than the other two for ease of programming and future expansion.”

Opsal constantly had to call for customer service support because the two other original control systems were not performing up to speed. These systems often required maintenance and repair. Each service call increases the real cost of ownership.

“As panels failed, we retooled with NexLight equipment,” Opsal said. “Overall, it’s a very easy system to do retrofits with and remodel with using the 2-wire system.”

Thus far, four multi-level buildings have been totally retrofitted. Panels have been installed in Hargreaves Hall, the Computing and Engineering Building, URC and the 153,000 sq. ft. John F. Kennedy Library.

Built in 1940, Hargreaves Hall served as the original campus library until JFK Library was constructed in 1968. Hargreaves Hall is now an academic building with classrooms on four levels.

The Computing and Engineering Building opened in the fall of 2005 and is a fourstory, concrete-and-steel framed facility, anchored by a multi-story atrium. The building features a variety of state-of-theart classrooms, fully equipped 21st century laboratories.

Another building that has been retrofitted with lighting controls is URC — the University Recreation Center, which opened in 2008. It includes a fitness facility, indoor running track, gymnasium, ice rink and climbing wall and contains a restaurant with a state-of-the-art display cooking openair kitchen.

All of these buildings have been equipped with NexLight 2-Wire Networked Control Systems. In addition to the indoor spaces, outdoor lighting was also included in the project. These outdoor area and path lights are controlled with a combination of time clock scheduling and photocell override to provide safety and convenience depending on activity in and around the buildings. A combination of LED and metal halide lamps are used outdoors for security Continued on page 18 and parking lot areas

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CASE STUDY • NexLight on the 300-acre park-like campus.

Now code compliant with the latest ASHRAE 90.1 standards, these updates have also increased energy savings. The University currently pays five cents per kWh and the addition of lighting controls has saved a minimum of 15-20 percent.

Perhaps the more significant savings has come with the reduced cost of ownership.

The need for any maintenance or repair of these systems has been virtually eliminated.

Simplicity, effortless scalability and extreme reliability were the main reasons that NexLight was chosen for the state’s fastestgrowing public institution.

“The NexLight control systems have been a big success for Eastern Washington University in the buildings that we have installed them in,” Opsal said. “Because of this we have been able to reduce energy costs in those areas. They have given us many control options without all of the headaches that other programmable systems bring.”

The NexLight 2-Wire Network Lighting

Continued from page 24

Control System connects all relay panels, switches and sensors via Panasonic’s lowvoltage “Full-2Way” communications bus with its unique topology free and polarity neutral design. This provides the contractor, facility manager or end user with the flexibility to easily readdress switches and loads without the need to rewire or relocate.

“We really appreciate the ease in which we can add a switch, sensor or additional remote relay for added lighting control and simply tie them in with the two-wire bus,” Opsal explained. “The system is also more user-friendly than the others we used as far as programming.” And ease of programming is critical, especially when schedules change often.

EWU is now using the NexLight Web Server, which provides the potential to connect, monitor and control all of the campus lighting connected to NexLight systems from a central location such as a laptop computer or tablet device.

“The system is easy to use,” Opsal said.

“You can just go in and make changes to

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Electrical Products & Solutions • September 2013

the schedule at a moment’s notice. That’s a bonus to us. We can easily adjust schedules for a buildings open and close.”

More buildings are planned for updates and will be retrofitted with NexLight’s 2Wire Network Lighting Control System.

Keeping up with the latest in green technology, EWU also plans to convert classrooms to LED fixtures. Patterson Hall, an academic building that was named after University President Don Patterson (195467), and a residential hall, are in the final stages. Senior Hall, one of the University’s oldest buildings and on the National Register for Historical Places, is also slated to be retrofitted with new controls.

“One of the biggest things for us is the integrity of the company and that they stand behind us to make sure that we are taken care of. They do a great job making sure we have what we need and with follow-up to see if we have any programming issues.

We have never had to call.”

And that’s one less headache for Opsal. ❏

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Product FOCUS New LC8 Modular Contractor Panel Provides Off-the-Shelf Versatility for Interior and Exterior Lighting Control Applications WattStopper has announced a modular panel to provide electrical contractors with cost-effective code-compliant lighting control for a wide variety of small projects.

The new LC8 panel allows installers to quickly configure customized control solutions from just three standard off-the-shelf products. The panel accommodates up to four relay modules, with any combination of two different types of module. Choices include a dual single-pole 120/277 VAC relay module and a single double-pole

208/240/480 VAC relay module. Each panel is equipped with a system clock and touch screen interface for simple scheduled control, including astronomic control options. Accessories include an exterior photocell and a new line of lowprofile decorator style switches for manual control.

The LC8 is ideal for applications such as small stand-alone retail projects, libraries or bank buildings, or for controlling lobbies, corridors, public spaces or exteriors of larger buildings. The new panel will appeal to electrical distributors as well as contractors because it is a price leader in its category, and because its modular design facilitates quick and easy configuration for so many applications.

Panel configuration takes just a few minutes, and each panel provides zone-based control of up to eight channels of lighting. The relay modules simply clip onto a DIN rail in the LC8 panel via integral connectors. Zones respond to control signals from the system clock or accessory photocells, switches, occupancy sensors or other input devices. The panel is shipped with pre-programmed control scenarios to simplify setup of automatic lighting control for energy savings and code compliance. Users program the LC8 with a backlit touch screen interface that offers context-sensitive onscreen help.

For more information, visit www.wattstopper.com FOR FREE INFO, CIRCLE 47 ON READER SERVICE CARD

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Product FOCUS PORTER-CABLE® Expands 20 Volt MAX Linked System™ with Six New Cordless Tools New tools, combination kits, and lithium ion batteries added to expand the breadth of the High Performance Cordless Line PORTER-CABLE recently announced the expansion of its 20V MAX Linked System™ for tradesman.

PORTER-CABLE is adding six new cordless power tools, new combination kit solutions, and a new MaxPack extended runtime 20V MAX Lithium Ion Battery to the popular 20V MAX Linked System. The new cordless tools include the Reciprocating Tiger Saw®, 6-1/2 inch Circular Saw, Oscillating Tool, Cut-off Tool/Grinder, Jigsaw, and Pivoting Flashlight.

The PORTER-CABLE MAX Linked System maximizes a lithium ion battery platform that provides the performance, ergonomic design, and features needed to complete an extensive range of applications on the jobsite. The lithium ion batteries maintain a charge for up to 18 months, so the tools are ready to go when you are.

“We recognize that tradesman continue to demand more from their cordless tools and these new PORTER-CABLE cordless power tools exceed expectations at a great price,” said Wil Granger, group product manager, PORTER-CABLE. “Understanding a tradesman’s product needs on the jobsite has allowed us to develop new cordless tools that deliver the right mix of power and performance, plus the features that make the tools easy to use without a big price tag.”

Building on the line’s interchangeable lithium ion battery system, the PORTER-CABLE Compact 1.5 amp-hour (PCC680L), and the new 4.0 amp-hour (PCC685L) 20V MAX lithium ion MaxPack™ battery packs offers expanded options to build a cordless system tailored to a tradesman’s specific needs on the jobsite. The PORTER-CABLE Fast Charger (PCC690L) can be purchased separately.

For more information, visit www.portercable.com

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Electrical Products & Solutions • September 2013

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Product FOCUS Platinum Tools® Launches 360 Degree External Ground Crimp Tool Now Shipping, the Lightweight, Easy-to-Use CT-360 Performs 360 Degree Crimps on the External Ground Tab of Shielded RJ45 Connectors for Cat5e, Cat6E, Cat7, Cat56, and Cat6A Cables for a Concentric Termination with Full Control Platinum Tools® is proud to announce that its new 360 degree CT-360 External Ground Crimp Tool (p/n 12360C) is now shipping.

“The Platinum Tools CT-360 performs 360 degree crimps on the external ground tab of shielded RJ45 connectors for Cat5e, Cat5/6, Cat6E, Cat6A and Cat7 cables,” explained Lee Sachs, Platinum Tools, Inc. president and general manager. “The design allows the installer to perform a concentric termination with full control, preventing over/under crimping the external ground tab.”

Specifications for the 360 degree External Ground Crimp Tool include: • Non-ratcheted design • Dual cavity covers wide range of cable ODs • Maximum: 8.5mm /0.335 inch • Minimum: 6.2mm /0.245 inch • Spring loaded • Simple design, easy-to-use • Works on most external ground tabs • All steel frame • Black oxide finish • Dimensions: 7.25 in. x 2.25 in. x .75 in. (184mm x 57mm x 19mm) • Weight: 9.5 oz – 265 g For more information, visit www.platinumtools.com

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Product FOCUS Western Power Distribution Deploys Tollgrade LightHouse® Platform in the United Kingdom for Grid Modernization Project Tollgrade provides real-time visibility into distribution grid to improve reliability and ease transition to a low-carbon future Tollgrade Communications, Inc., a global leader in providing network assurance solutions to the world’s largest utilities and telecommunications providers, today announced that a new 50 hertz version of its industry-leading LightHouse distribution line sensors has been successfully deployed at Western Power Distribution (WPD). WPD is one of six electricity Distribution Network Operators in the United Kingdom responsible for the Midlands, South Wales, and the South West, delivering electricity to more than 7.7 million customers over a 55,300 square kilometer service area. It is leading a number of innovative, low carbon projects as part of the Low Carbon Network Fund, introduced by UK energy regulator, the Office of the Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), to prepare for the electricity network of tomorrow – assisting the uptake of low carbon technologies, helping provide affordable and reliable solutions for energy users.

With this deployment, the LightHouse platform is providing WPD with real-time visibility into its distribution grid, allowing the network operator to improve reliability and optimize network planning as it eases its transition to a low-carbon future.

For more information, visit www.tollgrade.com

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Product FOCUS Toshiba Introcuces New PAR30 Long and Short Neck LED Lamps with Higher Power Factor and Reduced Wattage Toshiba International Corporation’s LED Lighting Division recently released their versatile new PAR30 long and short neck lamps, which serve as a direct replacement for 60 to 75W halogen lamps. Toshiba continues to support global energy savings with these new LED products by increasing power factors while decreasing the wattage of each lamp, from 16 watts to just 13 watts.

With a rated life of 40,000 hours, the PAR30S and PAR30L are ideal for recessed downlights, track fixtures and open hanging fixtures.

Other notable features include: • Undergoing ENERGYSTAR® testing • Available with 800 lumens • Available in 2700K, 3000K and 4000K color temperatures • Spot, narrow flood and flood beam angles: PAR30L: 25° and 35° beam angles PAR30S :10°, 25° and 35° beam angles • Improved dimming, Lutron C•L dimmer compatible • High power factor (PF 0.96) • Uses up to 75 percent less energy than halogen lamps • Emits up to 90 percent less UV light compared to halogens • Rated for both damp locations and enclosed fixtures • Contains no mercury or lead • Manufactured to ANSI standards • Five-year limited warranty* For more information, visit www.toshiba.com/lighting ■ ■

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Advertiser INDEX This advertisers index is compiled as a courtesy to our readers. While every effort is made to provide a complete and accurate listing of companies, page numbers and reader service numbers, the publisher is not responsible for errors.

Company

PG#

RS#

8 IFC 28 36 9 34 4 29 40 21 36 3 24 22 7 26 31 11 15 1 27 38

39 1 47 53 9 51 6 20 55 16 54 5 45 44 8 46 21 11 13 4 19 25

ADVANCED TEST EQUIPMENT RENTALS AEMC INSTRUMENTS AMERICAN TECHNICAL PUBLISHERS ARPI OF USA BYTE BROTHERS CALIFORNIA TURBO CONDUIT REPAIR SYSTEMS COPPER DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION COPPERWATCHER DYNATECH E-Z METER ENCORE WIRE EXTECH INSTRUMENTS FLIR GENERATOR INTERLOCK TECHNOLOGIES GENSCO HATICON SOLAR HB BRACKETS HIOKI USA I TOOL COMPANY I-GARD CORPORATION KACO NEW ENERGY

Company KRENZ & COMPANY MEGGER MH RHODES/CRAMER COMPANY MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL NABCEP NORTHWEST LIGHTING SYSTEMS PHASE-A-MATIC PLATINUM TOOLS POWER & TEL SOKKIA SOUTHWIRE COMPANY STEELMAN INDUSTRIES STRIP-TEC THE HOME DEPOT TOSHIBA INTERNATIONAL CORP. TYNDALE COMPANY UNDERGROUND DEVICES UTILITY METALS WATTSTOPPER WINDY CITY WIRE YOKOGAWA CORPORATION

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Electrical Products & Solutions • September 2013

PG#

RS#

30 IBC 34 37 17 33 30 35 23 5 BC 18 20 13 39 40 32 10 16 19 25

48 2 52 24 14 22 49 23 17 7 3 41 43 12 26 56 50 10 40 15 18

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