EPS Magazine, March 2011

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CONTENTS

PUBLISHER

Danny J. Salchert OFFICE MANAGER

Anita Salchert NATIONAL SALES MANAGER

Jerry DiChiara jerryd@epsmag.net CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Derek Gaylard CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Karen Dorman, Matt Luger Michael Gersmeyer

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CIRCULATION DIRECTOR

Pam Fulmer

FEATURES 6 The High Demand for Lab Connectivity The Benefits of Pre-wired Anodized Aluminum Raceway For Power, Data/Communication and Lab Gas Connection Products

By Karen Dorman

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Wire & Cable Marking

5 Ways Labels Can Increase Your Productivity

By Matt Luger

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Why Solar? Why Now?

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Backup Power Getting Smarter, Smaller Thanks to New Technology

By Michael Gersmeyer

DEPARTMENTS 34 Product Focus 40 Ad Index

ON THE COVER Cover photography provided by PG LifeLink

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.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ABD Communications, Inc., P.O. Box 382885 Birmingham, Alabama 35238-2885 PRINTED IN THE USA

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FEATURE • PG LifeLink

The High Demand for Lab Connectivity The Benefits of Pre-wired Anodized Aluminum Raceway For Power, Data/Communication and Lab Gas Connection Products

By Karen Dorman, LabLink Product Manager, PG LifeLink

V

ersatility and scalability are the most important design factors in modern laboratory space planning today. “Private research companies make

physical changes to an average of 25% of their labs each year while most academic laboratories change 5 to 10% of their layouts.” (Architectural Science Review)1

(Watch & Tolat, 2007)2 As research priorities and funding shift, facilities must be able to adapt quickly. Power, data and plumbing utilities must be flexible and easily re-routed to accommodate portable workstations. Customizable connection management solutions give architects and engineers options well beyond the standard “pipe and box”, by providing ways to build versatility into any laboratory design.

Typical connectivity configurations include devices secured to removable cover plates

“Use of pre-wired service pedestals, power strips, power poles, service carriers and ceiling connection plates can reduce electrical installation expenditures by 70%.” on service pedestals, power strips, power poles, ceiling connection plates, overhead service carriers and surface metal raceway.

This provides easy access in the field and maximizes the ability to add or delete power, data/communication and lab gases.

The power and data/communication demand in laboratories continues to grow, driven by the technological requirements of today’s research methods. There is a greater need for enhancing access to advanced technology and data analysis for a wide array of research projects. This has amplified the importance of connectivity devices that are easily accessible, versatile and add to an aesthetically pleasing Continued on page 8 6

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work environment. These aspects have become a high priority as research facilities strive to bring in top scientists and personnel to their institutions.

New and renovated academic and healthcare laboratories utilize pre-wired lab connectivity solutions. These products are constructed from extruded aluminum, with barrier channels that provide isolation between adjacent power, data/communication and lab gases. Factory assembled raceway systems offer an aesthetic advantage as well as considerable time savings at installation, as opposed to field cutting and wiring bulk raceway components. Use of pre-wired service pedestals, power strips, power poles, service carriers and ceiling connection plates can reduce electrical installation expenditures by 70%. That is a major reduction in labor associated with wiring the devices in the field. Since the material is shipped ready to be installed, installation time is reduced, resulting in a reduction of overall costs by up to 60%. There is also the added benefit of lower scrap rates as opposed to doing the work in the field, since pre-cut and pre-fit cover plate lengths reduce material costs by as much as 25%.

Engineered and manufactured to plan specifications, pre-wired and pre-assembled raceways bring devices and circuits exactly where the end-user needs them. This greatly improves the functionality of laboratory systems and eliminates a great deal of preplanning and rough-in on the installer’s part. In addition, due to their modular design, these raceway systems are easily 8

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reconfigured in the event that a space is re-purposed.

Pre-wired connectivity systems are UL Listed and fully compliant with applicable Codes, including NEC (NFPA-70). It should be noted that some of the standard code requirements for connectivity products include the need for normal and emergency power to be separated. In fact, NEC Code states that, “wiring from an emergency source or source distribution over current protection to emergency loads shall be kept entirely independent of all other wiring and equipment, unless otherwise

Electrical Products & Solutions • March 2011

permitted”. (National Electrical Code)3 In some states, including California, strict adherence to this separation of power is required. Also, it should be understood that data, gas and power can’t occupy the same raceway channel and provisions must be made to ensure that they are kept separate.

Extruded aluminum connectivity products in academic and healthcare laboratories also have an aesthetic advantage that can’t be overlooked. The aesthetic value of extruded aluminum alloy can be summed up in its properties. The primary advantage is corrosion resistance, making this material more conducive to a laboratory environment. Anodized aluminum is extremely durable, easy to maintain and clean. Aluminum also withstands aggressive conditions experienced in many laboratories.

The other benefits of extruded aluminum, as noted by the AEC (Aluminum Extruders Council)4, include: • Lightweight – Aluminum is about 1/3 the weight of steel. This makes handling the material easier and reduces shipping costs.

• Strong – Aluminum profiles can be made as strong as needed for the majority of applications.

• High strength-to-weight ratio – Aluminum can bear heavier loads at a lesser weight than steel.

• Non-sparking – This feature makes aluminum suitable for laboratories where, in most cases, both flammable and combustible liquids are used. Continued on page 12

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FEATURE • PG LifeLink

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“…the demand for connectivity products will increase due to the ever evolving technology needed for research methods and data analysis.”

• Resilient – Combines both strength and flexibility. Aluminum provides flex under load and springs back when impacted.

• Non-combustible – Aluminum does not burn at any temperature nor does it emit toxic fumes.

• Suited to cold – The strength of aluminum increases in very cold temperatures making it a good fit for cool laboratory environments.

• Allows for various finishes – Aluminum easily accepts many finishes. These finishes include: liquid paint, powder coating, anodizing and electroplating.

Finishes can add to the service life of the aluminum with, for example, an anodized coating having a service life of approximately 20+ years.

• Recyclable – Aluminum has a high scrap 12

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management solutions that are easily installed, movable and can be upgraded will be critical to the Architects and Engineers that are responsible for successfully designing and implementing these projects.

As with any project, the choices available need to be evaluated so the right product is provided to meet the needs of the enduser. As hospitals and universities try to attract top personnel to their facilities, aesthetics, as well as functionality, must be a consideration. Recognizing the benefits of pre-wired anodized aluminum raceway for power and data requirements is one Along with extruded aluminum’s ma- way to address this demand in an efficient terial advantages there are process ad- and cost effective way. ❏ vantages that are well suited to power and data/communication connection References products for laboratories. In addition to being attractive there is the added ad- 1 Architectural Science Review, Volume vantage in the ease of fastening, the ver- 50.3, pp 281-292. 2007 University of satility of joining extruded aluminum Sydney. www.arch.usyd.edu.au.asr sections, shorter lead times and its cost 2 Watch, D., & Tolat, D., (last updated 03effectiveness.

14-2007). Research laboratory. Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG).

Conclusion http://www.wbdg.org/design/research_lab.p As academic and healthcare research hp (accessed 6 June 2007). facilities continue to expand or renovate 3 NEC 2008 Handbook, NFPA 70: National laboratories, the demand for connectivity Electrical Code®, 700.9 Wiring, Emerproducts will increase due to the ever gency System. evolving technology needed for research 4 Copyright 2010 Aluminum Extruders methods and data analysis. The require- Council. http://www.aec.org/exbasics/ ment for wire and cable connectivity aluminum.html. value and “can be recycled indefinitely without losing any of its superior characteristics, making it especially appealing according to both environmental and economic criteria.”4 This is a very important characteristic since the need to reduce the solid waste that is put into landfills is becoming paramount.

• Green attributes – Aluminum can be recycled, is sustainable and has versatility.

These are key attributes required for material being used in the construction of green buildings.

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FEATURE • Brady North America

WIRE & CABLE MARKING

5 Ways Labels Can Increase Your Productivity

By Matt Luger, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Brady North America

W

hen you’re on the job,

labeling may seem like a rather time-consuming, mundane task.

Most of us don’t give much thought to it – it’s just one of those things that’s a necessary part of the job. But if you stop and give some thought to how you are identifying your wire and cable, you’ll find that there are a number of opportunities to increase efficiencies throughout your labeling process.

Here are 5 things to consider that can help you become more efficient and costeffective with your labeling and identification operations – saving your business time and money with every job.

1. Not all labels are created equal.

The quality of your marking materials can have a big impact on your overall job productivity. If you’re creating make-shift masking tape labels or just using a basic office labeler, you’re missing out on big efficiencies. Your labels are likely to curl up or fall off, and the print will likely fade or smear.

The cost of re-labeling far exceeds the cost of any label, so the last thing you need is to complete a job, only to find out you

have to re-label because your markers didn’t stick or are now un-readable. Go for industrial grade sleeves or wrap-around markers with a thermal transfer printer - and be confident in the durability and longevity of every label in the job.

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Electrical Products & Solutions • March 2011

If you’re already using sleeve markers, one of the first things you can improve is the shrink-ratio. A 3-to-1 shrink ratio sleeve will shrink to fit more wire diameters per sleeve part than a 2-to-1 shrink ratio sleeve.

This allows you to reduce the quantity of sleeve parts you need to inventory. And besides that cost savings, you also avoid needing to make as many part Continued on page 16

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FEATURE • Brady North America

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How to Select a Wire Marker

By Adrien Powers, Marketing Product Manager, Brady North America There are four main questions to ask yourself when you’re starting the process of marking wires.

These questions will help you select a wire marker that best suits your needs.

1. Are you marking the wire before or after termination?

Sleeve markers can only be used before termination because they must be slipped over the open end of the wire. These non-adhesive markers provide flexibility as they can be moved prior to being heatshrunk. Once shrunk, these markers fit snugly around wires for permanent identification which will stand up to harsh environments.

Self-laminating wire markers or wrap-around markers can be used either before or after termination. When using a wrap-around marker, the legend is visible from all sides since the marker completely wraps around the wire. A self-laminating marker is a special type of wrap-around marker that has a clear portion that will wrap around and laminate the legend.

This ensures that the legend is protected from chemicals and abrasion.

Self-laminating wire markers provide long-lasting protection for custom-printed identification.

2. What gauge wire are you marking?

The size of the wire determines the length of the self-laminating/wrap-around marker or the diameter of the sleeve to be used. Most wrap-around styles can be used for a range of sizes.

3. Will you print your own markers or purchase preprinted ones?

Preprinted markers are available in a large variety of stock legends, and custom legends are available for any large jobs. These markers come in a variety of packaging and formats for ease of use and ease of transport. They are ideal for any application.

Printable markers are meant to be printed with variable legends as needed.

Various methods for this include: portable wire marking printers or computer software linked to thermal transfer, dot matrix, laser or ink-jet printers. An extensive array of sizes are available for every application. These printable markers offer the flexibility of printing legends on demand. They are also ideal for applications that require long legends.

changeovers in your printer, speeding the printing process.

2. Substitute your engraved plates with labels.

Engraved plates can be costly and the ordering process can be lengthy. Even if you do your own engraving, there are better solutions out there that are quicker, easier and far less expensive.

Many companies are switching to “labelplates” or “raised panel labels,” a new type of label material that simulates rigid engraved plates. These labels can be printed in house, which gives you much more legend flexibility, faster printing time and cost savings up to 80% over engraved plates. These new alternatives to engraving can run through desktop and portable thermal transfer printers which many electrical contractors already own. They are available in multiple sizes - including 22.5 mm and 30.5 mm, keyed and non-keyed push button configurations.

3. Equip yourself to label on the spot.

Have you ever been on site and realized that you’re missing some labels? It’s a hassle to have to go back to the shop to print just a few labels. It’s a waste of time and it takes your focus off of the job at hand.

4. In what type of environment will these wire markers be placed?

It is extremely important to select a wire marker material that will last for your application. Too many companies go to the trouble of marking only to have to do it all again because they did not select the correct material. Be sure to ask yourself these questions before you select your wire marker: • Does it need to withstand contact with oil, water, chemicals or solvents?

• Are there self-extinguishing properties or requirements?

• Will the marking be exposed to high temperatures?

• Any government or special specification requirements?

• Should it withstand dirt and environmental factors?

Adrien Powers is the Marketing Product Manager for Wire and Cable ID at Brady North America.

To learn more about selecting a wire marker, visit the wire and cable ID section of www.BradyID.com.

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Electrical Products & Solutions • March 2011

To be prepared for on-the-job printing, it’s smart to have a durable, handheld label printer on hand when you’re not by your desktop printer. You can create those labels quickly, on the spot, without interrupting your installation job. Today’s portable printers can print on the majority of the label materials and sizes that your desktop can; the end result is a seamless appearance to your project done with the least amount of time and work Continued on page 18 interruption.

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FEATURE • Brady North America

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wire ID label will allow you to remove the label from the original location and reposition it at the actual “shorter” end of your job. You avoid wasted wire, wasted labels and the trip back to the label maker to make the replacement label. Good quality repositionable labels are specifically designed for wire identification and have excellent holding power, yet allow for clean removal, repositioning and reapplication.

5. Smarter equipment increases speed and reduces waste.

4. Add specialty labels to your material mix.

Using familiar, tried-and-true materials may seem like the best way to get the job done quickly and efficiently, but you could be missing out on efficiencies from specialty materials.

For example, if you label both ends of a wire and then after running it through your panel and components find that you have several feet of excess wire, a repositionable

As technology continues to progress, thermal transfer printers are getting smarter, faster and easier to use. Desktop printers now come with smart cell technology that automatically recognizes the material installed and will calibrate the printer accordingly for faster printing and easier formatting. The latest models also have touch screen displays and drag and drop editing – so you can see what your label will look like as you’re designing it.

There’s no need to guess and create “test

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Electrical Products & Solutions • March 2011

labels,” which can save you a significant amount of time and drastically reduce your label waste.

Choosing the right label design software to drive your printer can further increase efficiency. A high-quality label creation software program will contain pre-designed formats and parts lists for all types of labels including specialty wire markers, terminal block strips, and in-panel component markers required for electrical installations. It’ll also give you the ability to integrate your existing AutoCAD data, so you can easily extract your data and import it directly onto your label files. Batch printing from the software is also a big time saver. These desktop printer/label software combination systems are particularly ideal for high volume projects. ❏ Matt Luger is the Senior Product Marketing Manager for Benchtop Printers at Brady North America. To learn more about wire and cable identification, visit www.BradyID.com.

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FEATURE • Ontility

potential in an industry than asking the people who are running companies how many people they need to hire.

Of the approximately 2,500 companies surveyed: • More than half said that they will be hiring in 2011.

• 61% said that electrical skills and experience are very important.

• 51% said that being a licensed electrician is very important. ratory (NREL), a research arm of the De- • 59% said that knowledge of NEC Article partment of Energy, will soon release the 690 is very important results of a national survey of solar companies. I got a preview of the results durDigging a little deeper in the report ing a recent Webinar. The focus of the shows that among all categories of worksurvey is employment in the solar indus- ers, including electricians, roofers and othtry: how many people are working in solar ers in the building trades, more now, how many will be hired this year, electricians will be required than any other what skills and what kinds of training will occupation. The number of electricians be required, what experience will em- with solar specific skills will increase by ployers be looking for, what trades will approximately 42% this year and solar insee a crossover effect. In my opinion there stallation work will require an additional isn’t a much better gauge of the growth 30,000 electricians.

Continued on page 22

Why Solar?

Why Now? he U.S. solar electric mar-

T

ket in 2011 is predicted to grow in excess of 50%. While these kinds of predictions always spark a bit OF skepticism for me, there is ample evidence that this one is accurate and perhaps even a bit conservative. During the past five years, the solar market has averaged a more than 35% annual growth rate and the past two years have shown greater than 40% annual growth while much of the rest of the economy was flat at best.

The National Renewable Energy Labo-

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FEATURE • Ontility

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In one region, 60% of companies sur- For example, if you’ve built a solid resiveyed reported difficulty hiring electri- dential contracting business and want to expand into the commercial market, you cians with solar specific skills. know what to do. Yes, there will be a Are you seeing an opportunity technical learning curve, new skills to achere? quire, but you’ll likely continue working The solar project landscape is changing with the same suppliers you’ve worked too. While residential systems continue to with in the past and for the most part the be a significant percentage of all those in- same support services you have in place stalled, changes in incentive programs and now will extend to the new market. Sales other market drivers are motivating com- and marketing will involve new clients mercial property owners to invest in solar and new ways of addressing their needs, and the number of utility-scale (10MW but these will likely be an expansion of and larger) systems is predicted by some what you’re already doing. Expanding market watchers to soon be the fastest your business into solar, while similar in growing market segment. The larger the some ways, is a bit more of a stretch in system the more specialized electrical others. knowledge is required.

First, the industry is new and changing The opportunities are abundant. Now more rapidly than other parts of the eleclet’s look at some key ingredients of a trical trades. New products are introduced successful entry or expansion into the so- almost monthly bringing new techniques lar PV market. for installing and using them. And best Expanding your business or launching a practices, while emerging, are not as new venture requires knowing, among firmly established as those in other parts 10,000 other things, exactly what the job of your business. So, there is more to learn is and how to do it, getting the right mate- and more that’s new. rials for the job, having a strong support This is going to be an obvious statenetwork and devising a solid marketing ment coming from me; training cannot be and sales strategy. If you are already run- over-emphasized. Safe, high quality solar ning a successful business, you know how PV system installation is more complex to do these things within your industry. and differs from typical electrical work 22

Electrical Products & Solutions • March 2011

more than many people, even electricians, think. DC current for example: Even a modest 5kW residential system will operate at 350-500V DC. If an electrician’s entire experience has been AC, even if it has included high voltage industrial work, high voltage DC is foreign territory and its unique characteristics are reflected in every aspect the system, from the modules on the roof to the inverter. And if you are working in an area where off-grid system are in demand and battery backup is included, then the differences between what you need to know and what your electrical experience has taught you are even greater.

Training, especially a good entry level course, can provide another somewhat intangible benefit: It can show you where you and your business will best fit in the solar industry; it will help you find a niche in a new and emerging industry and market. Some people come to class knowing exactly how they’re going to launch their new venture. Some know they don’t know and come to class to find out what the possibilities are. Others discover new ways of thinking about their business and how they can succeed in solar. There’s nothing like a comprehensive immersion in a subject to show you Continued on page 24

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how and where you fit.

Next, as with any venture, you need a good wholesale distributor who can deliver what you need when you need it at competitive prices. In this highly dynamic industry it is easy for the supply chain to become fragmented and unreliable. Product availability is a challenge for contracting of any kind and solar is no exception. Job specs change between the initial design and final execution because a specific module or inverter is not available in sufficient quantity. Last year, a number of U.S. project designs had to be modified when much of the production capacity of a particular module manufacturer was diverted for a couple of months to supply modules for a few utility scale projects. So it is critical that you establish a relationship with a stocking distributor which has not only deep enough inventory to smooth out the ups and downs of product availability brought on by cyclic supply and demand in a global market, but also has the tech-

nical expertise to help you make logical, cost-effective choices when project specs need to change.

Finally, a solid network of seasoned professionals will help ensure that you can deliver on solar jobs you sell. You need to know that someone’s got your back.

This kind of expertise comes in the form of engineering and design support; a necessity especially on your first few jobs. No matter how much training you get, how many hours you spend in the classroom or lab, the real world will throw things at you that you didn’t talk about in class – no different in solar than any other business. Apprentice electricians have a journey level or master electrician close by, someone to guide and supervise. You need the same thing in solar. Connect with a system designer you can rely on, someone with experience designing the kinds of systems you are selling. If you are bidding on 500kW job for a big box retailer for example, a system designer with who hasn’t designed anything larger than a

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4kW residential system, even though they may have designed a hundred of them, may not be your best choice. Build bench strength through networking or by contracting with a solar expert who can provide that strength.

Support also includes financial services.

Financing solar jobs can be complicated, especially when there are multiple incentives involved. Tax credits, rebates from utility companies, power purchase agreements, loan guarantees and grants can add layers of complexity. Like the technology, this part of the industry is also changing rapidly with new methods and tools, so it is important to build a relationship with a company that can offer advice and services to help you navigate the financial side of solar.

Why solar? Because it holds enormous growth potential. Why now? Because solar is still, as they say, a ground floor opportunity. Put all the ingredients in place and you are set to take good advantage of the opportunities. ❏

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FEATURE • GE

Backup Power Getting Smarter, Smaller Thanks to New Technology

By Michael Gersmeyer

budget. Home Generator Systems by GE feature the patented Symphony II Power Management System™ – breakthrough technology that gives homeowners the flexibility they need in a power outage with a smaller, smarter generator.

Smarter Technology = More Flexibility

I

n October of 2010, the Electric Power Research Institute reported that in 2009, 500,000 people on average were affected by power outages on a daily basis. With staggering numbers like those, more and more homeowners are looking for backup power solutions. While portable generators offer immediate power in emergency outage situations, they require the user to refuel every six to eight hours, and have other limitations. A more permanent solution is a home standby generator and automatic transfer switch that utilizes either natural gas or liquid propane for a seamless, automatic transition to backup power.

Traditionally, standby generators have powered only select circuits, or have been very large and more costly. But now, a key breakthrough in power management allows electrical contractors to offer homeowners a less costly way to provide whole house backup power when utility power goes out.

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In the past, generators were created to power just a few essential appliances. As people demanded access to more appliances, generators got bigger, and so did the price tag. For budget-conscious consumers, and those with smaller yards, they were left with little choice: purchase a smaller backup generator that limited what could be powered in an outage.

Homeowners now have a backup solution that meets their needs and their

Electrical Products & Solutions • March 2011

With generators that power only the essentials, which can be only 50% of a home’s total power needs, homeowners are forced to decide in advance of an outage what items they can power. Often times, this meant limiting their choices to only 16 selected circuits. And because appliances such as a central air conditioner, electric oven or electric clothes dryer require a large amount of power to start up, homeowners needed to assign more than one circuit in order to power each of these high wattage items, reducing the total number of items powered.

An alternative to select circuits is a larger, more costly, whole house generator that can handle the startup needs of high wattage appliances. However, this isn’t very efficient because power requirements are reduced dramatically once high wattage appliances are running; so, there isn’t a need for those extra kilowatts of Continued on page 28

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power. Generators that offer too little or too much power have left consumers with few choices, and little flexibility.

GE Generator Systems, with Symphony II Power Management, manage the startup requirements of those high demand appliances, resulting in a ‘right-sized’ generator that is smaller, more fuel-efficient and more affordable. Through intel-

ligent engineering, Home Generator Systems by GE feature control modules that make installing a generator even easier and offer greater flexibility.

Symphony II control modules use a home’s existing wiring and can be installed at any point between an appliance and the electrical panel. As a result, installation is easier for the electrician and more affordable for the homeowner. Although most homes may only utilize two of the modules to power their high wattage appliances, the GE Generator System can support up to eight modules, providing homeowners with the flexibility to add modules as their needs change.

A Seamless Power Transition It’s the job of a permanently installed generator to sense when utility power goes out so it can turn on and provide consumers with a reliable backup power solution. GE Generator Systems and Symphony II Power Management extend that seamless transition, automatically managing high wattage power loads exactly when, and where, homeowners need it.

During installation, the electrician works with the homeowner to prioritize highwattage appliances. When a power outage occurs, the system provides power to all non-managed items first. The Symphony II Power Management system determines remaining, available power, turning on high-wattage items one at a time. Because the homeowner has assigned priorities to the managed, high-wattage items, the system will deliver power to high priority items first. If a higher priority item should need more power, Symphony II will automatically turn off the lowest priority item until enough power once again becomes available.

For example, a homeowner could set the air conditioner as priority one, and the dryer as priority eight. The homeowner begins to turn on the items that have been assigned Priorities one through seven. So what happens when the homeowner turns on the dryer, which is priority eight? Because the power management system recognizes that the power needs of the eight items are approaching the generator’s capacity, the power management system turns off the dryer. As soon as one of the items labeled Continued on page 32 priority one through FOR FREE INFO, CIRCLE 32 ON READER SERVICE CARD

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FEATURE • GE

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seven turns off and capacity becomes available, the Symphony II turns on the dryer.

The Symphony II power management system continues to manage power throughout the home, providing the homeowner with access to high-wattage items that would have previously required a much larger generator or going without.

And just like all automatic standby generators, when Symphony II senses utility power is restored, it automatically shuts down the standby generator and returns to utility power, monitoring for the next power interruption.

long as the exhaust is placed at least five feet away from open doors, windows or vents, the unit itself can be placed closer to structures than most other models – providing both electricians and homeowners even greater flexibility when determining placement on the property.

With new technology and a new design, GE Generator Systems, featuring Symphony II Power Management, provide electricians with backup power solutions that meet the ever-evolving demands of homeowners. ❏

Smaller Generators, Whole-House Power

Michael Gersmeyer is a Product Manager for the Standby Power Group at Briggs & Stratton, the exclusive licensee of Home Generator Systems by GE.

New to the market this month is the 13kw* Generator System by GE, featuring the Symphony II Power Management System. The sleek new design with removable panels gives technicians easy access for fast and affordable service calls and routine maintenance. Plus, the new 13kw* unit is NFPA 37 compliant, so as

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*This generator is rated in accordance with UL (Underwriters Laboratories) 2200 (stationary engine generator assemblies) and CSA (Canadian Standards Association) standard C22.2 No. 100-04 (motors and generators.

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Product FOCUS Bridgeport Fittings Introduces Mighty-Bond™ High Performance Grounding Products Precision-machined enclosure grounding connectors and couplings are low cost and easy to use Bridgeport Fittings announced the low cost and easy to use MightyBond™ enclosure grounding connectors and couplings. The patent pending products are constructed with precision-machined brass bodies, steel locknuts and stainless steel screws for optimum performance and a professional installation appearance.

The MC Series Connectors and MCC Series Couplings are used to bond a grounding electrode conductor to an enclosure or raceway. Both ½” and ¾” trade sizes perform in accordance with NEC article 250.8 and are cULus Listed for grounding per UL467. The units are also tamper resistant when the termination screws are mounted inside the box. The MCC Series Couplings can be used with rigid conduit to bond the raceway.

Bridgeport grounding products also include intersystem grounding clamps and bridges. The IGBC Series grounding rod clamp is compatible with 5/8” ground rods and has four intersystem bonding termination points. The IGB Series grounding bridge can be used as an equipment bonding terminal under conduit and cable fittings. Both units are constructed with brass bodies and stainless steel screws and are engineered in accordance with NEC article 250.94.

The Mighty-Bond™ grounding products are part of Bridgeport’s exclusive and innovative “Mighty-B”™ line of high-quality, high-performance products focused on getting a contractor’s job “done fast, done right.”

For more information, visit www.bptfittings.com

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Product FOCUS

IDEAL Expands Thermal Imaging Line with New Higher Resolution HeatSeeker® 160 Camera IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC. recently announced the release of the HeatSeeker® 160 thermal imaging camera for electricians and maintenance engineers that need a highly accurate, easy to use troubleshooting solution at a price they can afford.

The IDEAL HeatSeeker 160 features a Class II laser and delivers a higher resolution thermal image (160 x 120, 19,200 pixels) and a two-megapixel visual image for ultra-sharp images in a wide temperature range of 14° F to 482° F with an industry standard accuracy of ±2° C. Designed for non-contact preventive maintenance, it identifies potential problems before they occur by detecting hot spots on motors, switch gear, processing pipes, compressors and fuse panels. Its broad range of applications also includes energy audits, for example, finding air escaping from HVAC ducts or identification of inefficient heating and cooling transfer. In the data center, the HeatSeeker will pinpoint overheating servers, UPS, cooling systems and PDU before their imminent failure, giving the IT technician needed time to react.

For more information, visit www.idealheatseeker.com

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Product FOCUS Milwaukee® Introduces New M18™ Cordless 3/8” Right Angle Drill Driver with Electronic Clutch Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation expands its M18™ LITHIUM-ION system with the new M18™ Cordless 3/8” Right Angle Drill Driver. As the only 18V Right Angle Drill with an adjustable clutch feature, the new tool provides eleven torque settings, plus one drill mode, for complete control in closequarter fastening applications.

“The combination of a 3.75” total head length and an integrated Electronic Clutch make this tool the most compact 18V Right Angle Drill Driver in the industry,” says Christian Coulis, Sr. Product Manager for Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation. “Whether an Electrician is drilling holes in a confined space or a Cabinet Builder is putting the final touches on the assembly, this tool will fit into tight spaces and provide the control needed for precision applications.”

Featuring a 3/8” one handed, keyless ratcheting chuck, the user can quickly change bits without additional tools. In addition, an extended paddle switch design provides easy trigger actuation from the top, middle, or bottom of the tool to allow the user to change hand position depending on the application.

Complete with an LED light to illuminate the work surface and up to 125 in-lbs of torque, the M18™ 3/8” Right Angle Drill Driverprovides unmatched versatility, ease of use and power.

Among the first products powered by REDLITHIUM™ battery technology, thenew Right Angle Drill Driverwill deliver unmatched run-time, performance and durability for the professional tradesman. The M18™ Cordless Platform continues to be the fastest growing LITHIUM-ION system with over 25 tools to date. Milwaukee® is committed to the ongoing development of this platform and will continue to provide innovative solutions that offer industry leading reliability, performance and ergonomics.

For more information, visit www.milwaukeetool.com

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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#

Company

AEE SOLAR AEMC INSTRUMENTS ALBER CORPORATION ARPI OF USA BATTCON 2011 BRADY WORLDWIDE BYTE BROTHERS CABLOFIL CONDUIT REPAIR SYSTEMS CONDUX INTERNATIONAL COPPER DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION DC POWER SYSTEMS EXTECH INSTRUMENTS / FLIR SYSTEMS E-Z METER GENERATOR INTERLOCK TECHNOLOGIES HIOKI USA KRENZ & COMPANY MEGGER

15 IFC 4 36 40 19 28 24 10 34 29 30, 31 3, 9 36 7 11 38 1

13 1 6 36 40 15 32 31 10 35 20 21 5, 9 37 8 11 38 4

NORTHWEST LIGHTING SYSTEMS ONTILITY LLC PG LIFELINK PHASE-A-MATIC SESSION SOLAR SMARTGUARD PRODUCTS SOKKIA SOLMETRIC SOUTHWIRE STEELMAN INDUSTRIES STRIP-TEC THE HOME DEPOT TOSHIBA INTERNATIONAL CORP UNDERGROUND DEVICES UNITED COPPER INDUSTRIES UTILITY METALS VERVE LIVING SYSTEMS

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33 21 IBC 38 13 25 5 23 35 34 18 17 27 32 37 39 BC

22 16 2 39 12 18 7 17 23 34 30 14 19 33 24 25 3

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