EPS Magazine May 2012

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CONTENTS

PUBLISHER

Danny J. Salchert OFFICE MANAGER

Anita Salchert ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Jerry DiChiara jerryd@epsmag.net CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Derek Gaylard CONTRIBUTING WRITER

James White CIRCULATION DIRECTOR

Pam Fulmer

16 FEATURES 6 How Professional Are

Our Electrical Workers?

By James White

16

Thermography in the Data Center

DEPARTMENTS 26 Industry News 32 Product Focus 40 Ad Index

ON THE COVER Arc flash survivor with no injuries Photo courtesy of Shermco Industries

PRESIDENT

Danny J. Salchert

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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 • Shermco Industries

How Professional Are Our Electrical Workers?

By James White, Shermco Industries, Inc.

I’m certain to get death threats just asking this question. Everyone considers themselves to be a professional. Case in point; my wife and I bought an older home and it needed some painting. I would rather get beat with a rubber hose than paint, so I decided to contract it out. One of the painters that showed up to quote the work gave me a lower-than-expected price. When I started asking what he was going to do and how he was going to do it, he became indignant and said, “I’ll have you know I’m a professional”. I responded, “So are prostitutes”. We parted company. Look at Figure 1. This was observed at one company I visited and the safety equipment had a lot of dust on it.

Is this professional?

So, How Professional Are You? It’s a fair question, especially when we get down to the personal level. How professional are YOU? I conduct a lot of training at a lot of sites. In almost every company and site I go to the people have a high level of technical expertise and can perform that part of their jobs very well.

However, to be a professional, what OSHA calls qualified, means that in addition to those technical skills an electrical worker must also have safety training and skills. Our work culture often stands in the way of our being professional.

In a November, 2007 paper titled, “Survey of Electrician Work Practices” presented by Michael McCann (director of safety for the CPWR-The Center for Construction Research and Training) and Jeffery Potts (occupational health & safety specialist with the Catholic University of America) 5,000 electrical workers were sent a survey asking several questions.

Some of the responses were surprising: Continued on page 8

Figure 1: Improper storage of life-saving PPE

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FEATURE • Shermco Industries Question How many years of experience?

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Have you worked on live circuits in the last 30 days?

76% 22%

Response 1 to 10 years 11 to 20 years Over 20 years

22% 26% 52%

Question Were you trained to work on live circuits?

79% 12%

Yes No

Question How long was the training?

Response 39% 61%

The 22% of respondents who stated they had not worked on live circuits in the last month were also asked if they had performed specific job tasks during the last month:

Task Voltage testing

Response

4 hours or less Over 4 hours

These results should scare everyone.

39% of the people doing energized work have had less than four hours of training!

In all honesty, I would be in that category when I worked in the field, as well.

Safety training was brief and to the point and a lot was left unsaid, probably because it was assumed you’d figure it out after you made contact. I did figure it out, but that’s not a safe way to learn, nor is it what OSHA or NFPA 70E has in mind, either. Some other questions and responses from that paper:

Operating a circuit breaker or fused switch with the cover open Opening hinged covers to expose bare, energized parts Removing/installing circuit breakers or fused switches

% Answering “Yes” to These Tasks Who Originally Answered “No” to “Performing Energized Work in the Last Month” 63% 47% 47% 38%

Working on energized parts

29%

Repairing energized circuits

16%

The complete list in the paper includes 14 tasks specifically covered as energized work tasks in NFPA 70E Table 130.7(C)(15)(a). 85% of the people who originally answered “No” to the question of whether they had performed energized work later answered “Yes” to performing one of these 14 tasks. Assuming these people are not “village idiots”, what’s going on? One possible answer is that people tend to see routine tasks as benign, even if they are high risk tasks. When teaching electrical safety courses I’ll often ask attendees if they need to wear PPE for low-voltage work. They often answer that they don’t. After all, it’s “just 120 volts”, or “it’s just 277 volts” and so on. I even had one student tell me, “it’s just 69kV”! He typically worked on 230kV up to 550kV and 69kV just didn’t seem like that big a deal to him. Our perception can be faulty. Figure 2 shows a utility lineman performing switching.

Professional?

Another factor that comes into play is our self-image; our “inner persona”. The dangers of working with electricity were part of the reason I initially became interested in electrical work. I thought it was “cool” to work on something others Figure 2: I was on my way to the beach.

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Yes No

Electrical Products & Solutions • May 2012

avoided. It elevated my self-image. Men especially tend to do really stupid things in order to impress ourselves (self-image) or others. Just look at the abundance of videos on You Tube™ or other web sites showing seemingly normal men doing extremely stupid things, just to get on camera. While flying back from one job I was reading the US Today® and an article from some medical university (can’t remember which one) stated that a recent study they had conducted showed that in men under the age of 25, the part of the brain that recognizes danger is under-developed. Talk about a waste of money!

All I have to do is remember when I was 19 or 20 and how bullet-proof I thought I was at the time. Or observe my two sons as they passed through that age. They were certain they were coated with Teflon®! As my dad would often say to my brothers and me, “It doesn’t look like you’re getting any smarter as you get older. Maybe you will get more experienced!” The other saying he had was, “Experience is what you get just after you really need it”. Truisms are true.

I’m Not Like That, Jim My wife says testosterone shrinks brain cells. She may be on to something.

Those of us who are more experienced know where we can Continued on page 12

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FEATURE • Shermco Industries

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cut corners without getting blown up (most of the time), and once we do something wrong and are not immediately killed or injured, it’s now “our” way of doing that task.

We have a lot of pride invested in that method and don’t need someone telling us we are wrong. We’ve got years of experience to prove that it’s a good way to do things! There’re two problems with this attitude. The first problem is that younger, less experienced workers may be observing what we are doing and try to replicate it.

They may be able to mimic us for a time, but then they may find themselves in the deep doo-doo. Truth be known, we are at risk of being injured or killed, also, because our “better” way of doing things probably involves time-saving, inherently unsafe work practices. In a lot of cases we aren’t good, we’re just lucky.

I still run into a large number of electrical workers, technicians and engineers, who don’t know what NFPA 70E is. Others “have heard about it”. They know very little about OSHA regulations, other Figure 3: Arc flash burn victim than lockout/tagout. Their idea of working safely is what I was taught in the 1970s. Their work culture is based on being “manly” and not wearing arc-rated PPE or using rubber insulating gloves.

Professional?

On The Other Hand There is a large, and growing, number of electrical workers and safety professionals that are striving to be professional, even though they are “just blue collar” workers. These are the people who take the time and effort to learn how to do the work safely, they put into practice the OSHA regulations and NFPA 70E standard, they actively work towards improving what they do and how they do it – safely. It does take more time and effort to do things the right – read that as the safe – way and it does slow things down.

Jobs have to be planned out and resources have to be made ready prior to jumping into the job. Planning the job can be more difficult for a lot of people than doing the actual task itself.

There has been a significant shift in the work culture of electrical workers in the last ten years. Venues like the IEEE/IAS Electrical Safety Workshop and people like Danny Liggett and H. Landis Floyd have been working tirelessly to educate and change that culture. But “culture” 12

Figure 4: Arc flash survivor with no injuries

changes slowly, sometimes too slowly, especially for those involved in electrical arc flash events or lose limbs and life due to electrical shock. In the early 1970s some of the high-voltage electricians I worked with would grab onto 110V and see who could hang on the longest! I was consid-

Electrical Products & Solutions • May 2012

ered something less than manly because I declined to (potentially) electrocute myself for the sake of my ego. What was wrong with me!!

Pop quiz. Who looks more comfortable, the person in Figure 3 or Figure 4?

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FEATURE • Shermco Industries

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There is a large, and growing, number of electrical workers and safety professionals who put into practice the OSHA regulations and NFPA 70E standard, they actively work towards improving what they do and how they do it – safely.

Summary Being a professional is a state of mind, not a college degree. When we prepare to perform a task, any task, we should prepare for it like a professional. “Good enough from my house” is not good enough. Right is right, and that is what we, as professionals, should strive for.

Working safely and professionally is work, at first. With practice it becomes habit, the good kind of habit. One of the keys to being professional is to not develop bad work practice habits. If we start out the right way, it’s easier to stay that way. If we start out with a lot of bad work practice habits, it’s like breaking any other bad habit; really hard work and very frus-

trating. Those of us who are older and more experienced have a duty and obligation to help the younger and less experienced learn how to be professional in all aspects of the job. So, just how professional are you? ❏ About the Author: James R. (Jim) White is the Training Director of Shermco Industries, Inc., in Dallas, Texas and has been with Shermco since 2001. Shermco provides electrical power system testing and maintenance, electric rotating machinery rebuild and repair, as well as hands-on safety and technical skills training for electrical

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systems. Jim is the Principal member of the NFPA technical committee “Recommended Practice for Electrical Equipment Maintenance” (NFPA 70B) and represents the National Electrical Testing Association (NETA) as an Alternate member of the NFPA Technical Committee “Electrical Safety in the Workplace” (NFPA 70E), as well as representing NETA on the ASTM F18 Committee “Electrical Protective Equipment For Workers”. Jim is the past Chairman of the 2008 IEEE Electrical Safety Workshop, an IEEE Senior Member and in 2011 received the IEEE/PCIC Electrical Safety Excellence award.

Jim is author of the books “Significant Changes to NFPA 70E – 2012 Edition” and “A Practical Guide to OSHA and NFPA 70E”, both published by American Technical Publishers (ATP). Jim is one of only 120 NETA Certified Level IV Senior Test Technicians in North America.

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FEATURE • Ideal Industries

Thermography in the Data Center

T

oday’s data centers are high-density environments, stacked with powerful equipment. This has meant there has become a greater emphasis on condition monitoring and preventative maintenance strategies to avoid costly downtime. Infrared thermography is one of the most important sensing technologies that can help identify problems that could impact on the facility’s energy performance and operations. This article

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discusses the growing use of thermal imaging technology, its role in data center predictive maintenance and energy auditing, and the features to look out for when choosing a device.

Data centers will increasingly be a major part of the business architecture because of the growth in cloud computing.

Data center owners who in the past have relied upon conventional maintenance programs are today Continued on page 18

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FEATURE • Ideal Industries turning to preventative maintenance activity to ensure that critical elements of the data center’s power supplies and its contained equipment can be continually monitored. When facilities consume mass amounts of energy, it is imperative that the primary power supply is regularly monitored not just for energy efficiency gains but to ensure reliability of operation.

Thermography provides the means by which ongoing preventative maintenance can be carried out, enabling engineers and contractors to inspect vital HVAC equipment, cooling systems, electrical switchgear, Power Distribution Units (PDU) and other electrical devices. Thermal imaging, or infrared thermography, visualizes and measures infrared radiation emitted from objects. This technology can therefore be applied in any circumstances where the performance or condition of a component can be revealed by means of a thermal difference. The amount of infrared radiation emitted by a surface depends on both its temperature and its

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emissivity. Surfaces that are good reflectors (e.g. polished metal) are poor emitters, and surfaces that are good emitters (e.g. human skin) are poor reflectors. The emissivity of a surface is the ratio of energy radiated by that surface to energy radiated by a black body at the same

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temperature. Infrared energy makes up one part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

The naked eye cannot see infrared energy because it is emitted from objects as heat, not reflected as light. The hotter an object, the more thermal energy it emits.

Infrared thermal imaging Continued on page 20

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FEATURE • Ideal Industries cameras are detector and precision optics platforms that provide a visual representation of infrared energy emissions.

Where quantitative information is required, the thermal camera can also provide accurate surface temperature values of the object being viewed. The images generated can then be saved for later analysis and report generation.

Electrical parts that are damaged or about to fail will emit heat. The thermal camera detects any excessive heat in relation to the ambient temperature. For electrical maintenance, thermal imaging technology can help engineers check for loose or over-tight connections, identify overloaded components, evaluate uneven voltage distribution and recognize failed or fatigued components within a distribution system without the need to isolate circuits.

Let’s look at one common element of a data center’s electrical infrastructure: switchgear. It is not unusual for switchgear to experience over time surges

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in current, which can lead to connections working themselves loose. This problem can go undetected if relying on the naked eye to notice it. Poor connections can lead to loss of connectivity, overheating, fires and power outages – all of which would be potentially disastrous. Using thermal imaging, it is possible to identify hotspots within switchgear to show up any potential problems, allowing the engineer to rectify them.

The benefits to the business are significant. First, it means there is no disruption to normal operations as it may be possible to avoid shutting down the facility to fix the problem. Second, regular monitoring with thermal imaging cameras to ensure the data center’s power distribution boards, isolators and automatic switching panels are all in sound working order can help the business to comply with regulations.

For the testing to be a true and accurate insight into what is happening, it’s important that thermal images are taken when

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Electrical Products & Solutions • May 2012

the electrical system is under load, not just when it is on standby. Constantly checking the system can lead to better diagnosis of any problems and enable maintenance engineers and contractors to formulate a more effective plan of action to overcome any issues.

In addition, the use of real time data provided from thorough and regular monitoring of the system can extend the life of the system and result in significant cost savings. By identifying the inevitable degeneration of power equipment, replacement activity can be planned at the optimum time, avoiding major disruption to the business.

Along with using thermal imaging for preventative maintenance, the technology also offers significant energy saving benefits. Green issues are prominent in the data center industry. Analysts estimate that the growing global demand for smarter computerized devices and the increased shift towards Cloud computing will triple the information Continued on page 22

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FEATURE • Ideal Industries

and communications technology sector’s demand for electricity consumption in 2020 from 2007 levels.

Companies can achieve major cost savings if they identify the areas in which they are losing energy from their premises. This is where thermal imaging comes in. This technology can help to provide a complete picture of a building and its energy performance, or more specifically, a particular zone or piece of equipment. The results of thermal imaging surveys can help businesses to adopt a systematic approach to reducing energy consumption.

Using thermal imaging it is possible to scan computer rooms and entire buildings 22

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to identify problem areas such as overloaded racks and power cables, or even if IT equipment is placed backwards and is blowing hot exhaust back into a cold aisle.

This can have a dramatic impact on the efficiency of the cooling system. The same can be said for when cold air escapes under a rack where a brush grommet should have been placed.

Where thermal imaging is used to assess cooling systems and heat generating equipment, it allows engineers and contractors to evaluate the temperature of the facility, locating zones and the degree to which temperature controlling units are actually cooling or heating the room. This allows these systems to be arranged for

Electrical Products & Solutions • May 2012

optimal performance, helping to increase the premise’s energy efficiency and lowering operational costs.

The growing use of thermal imaging technology has brought the cost of equipment down. In addition, enhanced ease of use makes thermal imaging much more viable for in-house maintenance engineers to carry out ongoing monitoring. Where once companies would employ a specialist to carry out formal checks, in-house engineers can now do it themselves as part of regular preventative maintenance and energy efficiency auditing. In many cases, it only takes one fault to be identified for the tool to pay for itself.

When considering Continued on page 24

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FEATURE • Ideal Industries which type of thermal imaging camera to purchase there are a number of key features to look out for. Primarily, the quality of the image should be a major consideration. Owing to technological developments, it is now possible to find a device that delivers an exceptional high-resolution thermal image at an affordable price.

Another important consideration is a detector that is fully radiometric, meaning it will capture temperature measurements over the entire image.

Image fusion, available on the IDEAL HeatSeeker 160 and the original HeatSeeker thermal imager, allows the user to view the subject as either a digital image or a thermal image of the equipment, or a blend of both. By combining visible and thermal images the user is able to get a clear image of the equipment being monitored while easily seeing potential faults.

The HeatSeeker also features four cursors that are moveable across the large 3.5” LCD screen, thus allowing easy comparison of items in a scene with individual

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emissivity settings to get a more accurate measure of actual temperatures. By switching on the tracking function two cursors can be activated to simultaneously find the hottest and coldest points in the image. This function is particularly useful for quick fault finding, plus it eliminates any guesswork. Temperature sensitivity is also a key feature to look for when choosing a thermal imaging camera because it can affect the accuracy of the temperature measurements. The industry standard for temperature accuracy is ±2°C. Thermal imaging has become a far more accessible technology that is enabling traditional routine maintenance programs to be replaced by condition monitoring and predictive maintenance strategies. In addition, with the green agenda high on data centers’ agendas, the technology can help organizations to comply with their energy efficiency obligations. ❏

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Industry NEWS

Bridgeport Provides Contractors Quality, Innovation, Selection and Availability with AC/MC Cable Fittings New product selection guide offers contractors a full range of cable fittings that make their jobs easier and faster Bridgeport Fittings has issued a new product brochure that shows contractors how they can obtain a wide selection of the best quality, innovative AC/MC cable fittings from one of the industry’s leading fittings manufacturers. Bridgeport’s cable fittings are designed to help make a contractor’s job get ‘done fast, done right.’

The new, four-color, 12-page brochure illustrates Bridgeport’s full line of cable fittings, from duplex snap-ins and single and double screw connectors to transition couplings and universal straps with stronger straps. The product guide also shows innovations like deep-slot, tri-head screws, tapped locknuts that don’t ‘jump’ threads and snap-ins that snap out easily as well.

Bridgeport’s selection of products also

includes large feeder cable fittings that are ideal for industrial facilities like paper mills, chemical and utility plants, educational and office buildings, as well as multi-family, residential complexes.

The Bridgeport AC/MC cable fittings come in a variety of materials for any job’s needs: steel, malleable and zinc Bridgeport Fittings is a leading supplier of quality fittings to the industrial, commercial and residential channels of the electrical industry. Nearly three-quarters of Bridgeport’s product volume is manufactured in the U.S. For more information, contact: Bridgeport Fittings, Inc., 705 Lordship Blvd., Stratford, CT 06615; Tel: (203) 377-5944; Fax: (203) 381-3488; or visit www.bptfittings.com. ❏

Rosendin Electric’s Participation in Associated Schools of Construction Student Competition Helps Train Next Generation of Project Managers Rosendin Electric Expands Support for ASC Western Region Student Competition with Open Call to Train Student Teams from Any College Rosendin Electric, one of the nation’s largest private electrical contractors and a 100% employee-owned company, was back again this year with an extended program to support construction management students participating in the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Western Region Student Competition held in Reno, Nevada. Rosendin Electric has committed to support the student teams by offering assistance to any school participating in the competition.

Every year, students from construction management schools across the country compete in the regional ASC Student Competitions to win trophies and monetary prizes. Each team of six students must complete a complex problem in various construction categories, including one in the electrical industry. Since the ASC added the electrical question to the Western Regional competition in 2008, Rosendin Electric has offered comprehensive training to stu26

dents to bring practical experience and expertise to help them solve the problem.

Rosendin Electric is committed to expand and continually offer its support program to any college participating in the electrical problem.

The field included 1,300 students from 64 schools throughout Regions 6 and 7, which covers the Rocky Mountains and western United States. This year, Rosendin Electric worked with student teams from seven schools, including Arizona State University, Auburn University, Boise State University, California Polytechnic State University, California State University at Chico, Purdue University, and Sacramento State University.

The problem posed for 2012 was the construction of a multi-level condominium in a high-density location in San Francisco.

Rosendin Electric has an office in San Francisco and the company’s experts are familiar with the unique aspects of the city’s zoning

Electrical Products & Solutions • May 2012

and construction, so they were able to assist the ASC competitors using their special knowledge. More than 20 Rosendin Electric employees from engineering, estimating, safety, business development, operations, and human resources volunteered their time to help students prepare for the competition. A number of students received on-site training at Rosendin Electric’s San Jose headquarters and Rosendin Electric experts traveled to school locations to offer on-campus training as well.

“This annual competition continues to raise the bar for both students and contractors,” said Richard Wilder, Human Resources Manager for Rosendin Electric. “We love supporting the ASC because it gives us an opportunity to train students using our best practices, and perhaps meet budding project managers who could be working for Rosendin Electric in the near future. In fact, we hired a winner from last year’s student competition. The entire industry benefits from this collaborative competition.”

This year’s ASC Region 6 and 7 winners in the electrical category were Auburn University with first place, Purdue University taking second place, and California Polytechnic at San Luis Obispo taking third place. ❏

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Industry NEWS

Cooper Lighting Solutions Help Long Lake Elementary School Become a Model of Energy Efficiency Provide Traverse City Area Public Schools with New, Sustainable Learning Environment Officials at Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) recognized that Long Lake Elementary School needed a major overhaul. Out of renovation options, the District opted for a complete rebuild of the nearly 50-year-old building in an effort to make the new school a model of energy efficiency and sustainability. To help achieve its overall goal of creating a high-quality, LEED-certified visual learning environment, the school turned to energy-efficient solutions from Cooper Lighting, an industry leader committed to delivering innovative products and driving transformational technology in the lighting industry.

“The project originated from the need to replace an outdated elementary school that was built in the 1950s and out of options for renovation,” says John E. Dancer, AIA, vice president, Cornerstone Architects. “The project is part of an overall effort to bring the TCAPS elementary schools into the twenty-first century, and to design efficient ‘Learning Centers’ to serve TACPS students in today’s world.”

The building design team’s lighting goal for the new $8.3 million, 50,752 square foot facility was to provide a comfortable atmosphere with flexible controls for the interior and sufficient illumination for safety in the exterior areas of the school. After analyzing the project based on cost and lighting calculations, the TCAPS design team selected a wide range of highly efficient interior fluorescent fixtures and exterior LED products from Cooper Lighting.

“To satisfy the interior lighting goals, we designed recessed, pendant and highbay linear fluorescent fixtures with multiple controls to allow users to determine the level of light that best suited their needs,” says Jason VanBrocklin, PE, president, Nealis Engineering, Inc. 28

The fixtures included Cooper’s Portfolio downlights in the media center and corridors, as well as multiple products from the company’s Corelite and Metalux lines used in the classrooms, offices, cafeteria, gymnasium and other locations throughout the school.

For each exterior space, the design team specified conventional lamping with an LED alternative in order to compare initial cost during the bidding process. For the entries and exits, compact fluorescent wall packs were specified; for the parking lots and driveway, pole-mounted metal halide fixtures were chosen. The resulting analysis, based on cost and lighting calculations, overwhelmingly favored LED fixtures for all three applications. This guided the design team to choose LED products including Invue Entri LED Wall Mount Luminaires for the entries and exits and McGraw-Edison Ventus Outdoor LED Area Luminaires for the parking lots, main entrance and along the driveway.

“The biggest lesson learned from this project has to be the even distribution of light that the Cooper Lighting LED fixtures produce,” says VanBrocklin. “There are no hot spots directly underneath the

Electrical Products & Solutions • May 2012

pole-mounted fixtures, creating a more even distribution of light.”

Cooper Lighting’s outdoor LED luminaires incorporate patent-pending modular LightBAR™ technology that features the company’s patented AccuLED Optics™ system, setting the industry benchmark for reliable photometric performance, scalability and energy efficiency.

The system’s unique application-specific design allows lumen and energy output to be customized to fulfill the exact needs of the outdoor space—eliminating wasted energy and obtrusive spill light. The technology provides up to 75 percent energy savings over standard H.I.D. systems while also providing a 50,000+ hour rated life, six times longer than the traditional metal halide sources found in most outdoor applications.

“Working with Traverse City Area Public Schools provided us with a great opportunity to showcase the extent to which our efficient solutions can help facilities achieve energy-saving goals,” said Mark Eubanks, president, Cooper Lighting. “We are honored to be part of the Long Lake Elementary project that has become a model for energy efficiency and sustainability and we encourage other school districts to follow their example.”

Long Lake Elementary School was completed in September 2011 and is currently seeking LEED Silver Certification.

Cooper Lighting has made a significant investment in people, resources and technology to ensure the company provides first-class solutions to its customers’ lighting challenges. The Company offers a range of indoor and outdoor LED lighting products and controls, all of which are specifically designed to maximize energy and cost savings. For more information, visit www.cooperlighting.com. ❏

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Industry NEWS

IDEAL Industries Networks Announces Move To New Headquarters IDEAL Industries Networks US, the network testing division of IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC. is relocating its headquarters to a state-of-the-art facility in

San Diego, CA, expected to open in June. ities for research and development.

The new space will accommodate IDEAL “The new headquarters responds directly staff, help expand training facilities and to the evolving needs of our business and programs, and provide upgraded capabil- our team,” said Jason Butchko, vice president and general manager for IDEAL Industries Networks, US. “We're now in a more accessible location for customers and partners as well as visiting employees of IDEAL. The new offices also represent an exciting, collaborative work environment for our staff here, which was an important factor in the choice of location.”

Located at 15070 Avenue of Science, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92128, the space will house customer service, technical support, product maintenance/repair, R&D, sales and marketing, and administration for the Networks and Test business units.

Given the explosive growth in network deployments over the past decade, a large percentage of IDEAL electrician customers have successfully expanded their businesses into LAN installation and maintenance, relying upon IDEAL solutions for both types of applications.

During the past two months IDEAL Industries Networks has added new leadership to its R&D, sales and marketing departments. It has also launched two new products that have taken the industry by storm: the NaviTEK® II, the fastest, most cost-effective Ethernet Service and Cable Tester available to frontline technicians, and an all-in-one Test-Tone-Trace Kit that performs essential cable testing functions required in the Security, Data/Network, and A/V markets.

For more information, visit us online at www.idealindustries.com. ❏

If you have industry news that you would like published in Electrical Products & Solutions magazine please email it to danny@epsmag.net for review.

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Product FOCUS Introducing the Non-contact Phase Rotation Meter Model 6610 The Phase Rotation Meter Model 6610 is an essential tool for any installation, inspection and maintenance facility. The Model 6610 is a non-contact (no metal contact points) phase meter designed to identify phase rotation on 3-phase systems and identify live and open/de-energized phases. The phase order is determined as soon as the leads are connected. The presence of live wires and phase sequence are provided by LED indication and buzzer as soon as detection has occurred. The Model 6610 is ideal for installing rotating machinery or motors, and for checking generator phase rotation direction.

Features: • No direct electrical contact (no metal contact points) • Operating voltage: 75 to 1000VAC • Frequency range: 45 to 65Hz • Phase rotation LED indicators (ABC or BAC) • Bright LED indication Live or Open Phase (A, B, C) • Includes three attached color-coded test leads with non-metallic alligator sensor clips for easy connection to the device under test • Low battery indicator • Back cover includes a magnet feature that can mount the instrument onto any metal cabinet panel for easy measurement • EN61010-1; 1000V CAT III; 600V CAT IV Applications: • Verify incorrect phase wiring • Detect open or de-energized phases • Determine correct wiring for proper rotation on motors, pumps, etc.

For more information, visit www.aemc.com

Cooper Wiring Devices New Wall & Corner Mount Passive Infrared Occupancy Sensors Offer Performance, Increased Energy Efficiency Intuitive sensor offers real-time adjustments to maximize potential energy savings Cooper Wiring Devices, a leading electrical wiring device manufacturer for industrial, commercial and residential applications, has combined innovative design and energy savings to create its line of Wall & Corner Mount Passive Infrared Occupancy Sensors. Featuring self-adapting sensors, this great new solution offers complete, no-gap coverage to ensure proper illumination and increase efficiencies in any space.

Designed to detect motion from heat-emitting sources, Cooper Wiring Devices’ Passive Infrared sensor products rely on a segmented Fresnel lens that provides optimum sensitivity and performance. When utilized in the Automatic-ON mode, lights are turned on only when a person is detected in the room.

For added efficiency and savings, certain models also include a day-lighting feature that prevents additional light sources from activating when the room is already adequately illuminated by natural light.

“Energy savings and efficiency are extremely important characteristics our end-users look for in a product,” said Laura Ulz, President Cooper Wiring Devices. “That’s why we’ve worked hard to develop our new Lighting Control sensors.

Offering simplified operations and energy savings, they are the ideal choice for commercial buildings, schools and offices.”

For reliable performance and reduced commissioning times, Cooper Wiring Devices’ Wall & Corner Mount Passive Infrared Occupancy Sensors rely on Instinct Technology. This innovative technology continuously self-adjusts sensitivity and time delay in real-time allowing users to maximize potential energy savings.

Additional features include a self-adjusting Auto OFF delay of five to 30 minutes; adjustable ambient light level feature from 0 – 300 foot-candles; and California Title 24 compliance. Products are with a white finish and in coverage patterns of 90 linear feet or up to 1200 square feet.

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Product FOCUS Legrand/Pass & Seymour Introduces Tamper-Proof USB Charger Receptacles Legrand/Pass & Seymour (P&S), a leading provider of electrical wiring devices and home systems, has announced the availability of its USB Charger with Tamper-Resistant Receptacle.

Perfect for residential use, the USB Receptacles feature a combination of 2 USB “A” style charging outlets and a 15 amp A.C. tamper-resistant receptacle. This allows multiple 5-volt DC electronic devices to be powered up at one time via USB cables, eliminating the need for bulky transformer style plugs and potentially reducing energy costs. The USB outlets are for charging only - not data transfer.

“The Combination USB Charger Tamper-Resistant Receptacle replaces any standard duplex receptacle and offers the safety of a tamper-resistant receptacle and the convenience of USB charging outlets” says Thomas Roy, senior product line manager for Legrand/Pass & Seymour. “The 2.1A USB outlets are convenient and work with all 2.0/3.0 USB-style electronic devices, including the entire range of Apple products.”

With its compact design, the USB Charger with Tamper-Resistant Receptacle is no larger than a standard combination device. It easily replaces any existing duplex receptacle and uses standard decorator style wall plates.

The Combination USB Charger with Tamper-Resistant Receptacle is compatible with the following products: • iPad • iPhone • iPod • Tablets • Mobile Phones • Smartphones • Nintendo 3DS • Sony PlayStation Vita • Bluetooth Headsets • Digital Cameras • Kindle • GPS, and much more For more information, visit www.legrand.us

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Product FOCUS Accuracy Where It Matters Most in the New Megger 5 and 10-kV Insulation Testers Megger’s new 5- and 10-kV Insulation Resistance Testers (IRTs) are designed based on significant feedback from actual end users and over 100 years of knowledge in insulation testing. The new range consists of three models: two 5-kV units (MIT515 and MIT525) and a 10-kV unit (MIT1025).

A key productivity feature is the ability to take measurements while connected to line power when battery is fully discharged (charges while operating). The new MIT units feature a lithium-ion battery with an ultra-fast charge time. Two and one-half hour full battery charge time (1/2 hour charge for one-hour testing) significantly increases efficiency. In addition, the units are capable of continuous testing up to six hours (5 kV) on a single battery charge.

Our units offer 5% accuracy all the way up to 1 TW at 5 kV and 2 TW at 10 kV, ensuring the highest accuracy where it matters most. A CATIV 600 V safety rating on all terminals allows for safe use in the widest range of applications. The units are rated for use to 3000 meters while maintaining the CAT rating. An industry best fully-specified guard terminal performance ensures the highest accuracy of measured values.

The MIT515/525/1025 units offer exceptional versatility in a compact, rugged and lightweight unit that allows for easy use and effortless transport. They are built into a unique dual case design for fire-retardant protection while maintaining ruggedness.

The case is rated to IP65, preventing water/dust ingress.

With a high noise immunity specified at 3 mA, accurate measurements are easily obtained even in a range of electrically noise environments from industrial locations to HV substations. Date and time-stamped stored test results allow you to identify results and know exactly when the tests were performed.

For more information, visit www.megger.com

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Bridgeport Fittings Introduces Easy-to-Use Solar Panel Grounding Connectors Units prevent galvanic reactions, enhance conductivity, while saving time and money Bridgeport Fittings introduces easy-to-use solar panel grounding connectors that are designed to prevent galvanic reactions and enhance conductivity, while saving time and money.

The grounding connector’s body has extruded serrations for breaking the anodized finish on photovoltaic modules and frames. The serrations in the wire binding break corrosion on the grounding wire, eliminating the need to prepare the surfaces of the PV module, the frame or the ground wire.

The new product’s unique clamp-on design also means that no mounting holes are required. The connector simply clamps onto the frame of the solar panel.

The unit is UL 467 Listed and accommodates aluminum or copper #4 to 14 AWG. The connectors also feature stainless steel hardware.

Bridgeport Fittings is a leading supplier of quality fittings to the industrial, commercial and residential channels of the electrical industry.

For more information, visit www.bptfittings.com

Next Generation TMC2/TMC2X Glands Reduce Cost and Installation Time to Terminate MC Electrical Cables Next generation TMC2 and TMC2X cable glands are engineered to securely terminate interlocked /corrugated aluminum or steel armor jacketed metal clad cables (Type MC/MC-HL), and continuous welded armor cables (Type CLX or TECK) to form mechanical watertight connections, while also providing excellent ground continuity for cable armor. These types of cables are increasingly being installed as service, feeder, and branch circuit cables for lighting, power, control, and signaling circuits.

The TMC2 is designed to be installed in non-hazardous locations, while the TMCX2 is rated for hazardous areas including explosion-proof and dust-ignition proof applications such as petrochemical plants.

FASTER INSTALLATIONS The key to the glands' success is reduced installation time: They require no disassembly and feature a simplified two-piece design that allows the contractor to ground the armor and seal the outer jacket in one action. Because both pieces insert onto the cable during assembly there are no parts to drop or lose -- a big advantage when working high on a ladder or scaffold.

Their slim, compact profile requires only minimum space between knockouts or hubs. When installing hundreds of cables, faster installation equals considerable cost savings.

RAPIDEX SEALING The explosion-proof, dust-ignition proof TMC2X utilizes RapidEx high-speed liquid resin sealing compound that applies easily and sets within minutes, displacing any air while creating a reliable seal with no gaps or voids. Once cured, RapidEX adheres reliably for the life of the cable gland with no cracking or shrinking no matter what the temperature. The glands features an integral "O" ring face seal for 4X and IP68 rated protection in corrosive, wet locations, such as a marina, outdoor parking structure or paper manufacturing plant. An additional Integral Deluge proof seal is available for extreme offshore and onshore environments. RapidEx performance, coupled with the gland's durable, corrosion-resistant materials, translates directly into lower maintenance expense.

Appleton TMC2 and TMC2X cable glands are available in trade sizes from 1/2-inch to 4-inches with multiple cable O.D. ranges per hub size in either copper-free aluminum, nickle-plated brass or stainless steel construction.

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Product FOCUS FLIR T-Series Infrared Cameras Introduce Thermal Image Enhancement Technology FLIR Systems unveiled the new FLIR T420 and T440 thermal imagers today. These high-performance infrared cameras launch innovative new imaging capabilities that help professionals find and capture problems more easily and with dramatically more vivid thermal images.

Introducing MSX™ Thermal Image Enhancement The T420 and T440 infrared cameras arm users with superior infrared imaging resolution that works harder to reveal trouble spots.

In addition to sharp thermal resolution at 76,800 pixels (320x240) for accurate diagnostics even from a distance, the new T440 features MSX™ Multi-Spectral Dynamic Imaging, a FLIR exclusive. MSX adds the detail of real-time visible spectrum images captured by the built-in digital camera to thermal spectrum images, providing extraordinary sharpness, contrast and clarity previously unavailable in thermal imaging. MSX instantly highlights where the problem area is for easier orientation to help customers and co-workers see what needs repairing.

Other versatile imaging capabilities include scalable picture-in-picture and thermal fusion for easier image identification and added context. To drive home findings, thermographers can also add voice and text comments to images or sketch circles and arrows right on the touchscreen (T440). The T-series’ ergonomic rotating optical block swivels vertically up to 120° making it easy to properly aim at targets without compromising your view of the large 3.5” (89mm) color touchscreen.

Whether a high-powered thermal camera is needed for predictive maintenance, electrical diagnostics, building and home inspections, or energy audits, FLIR’s new T-Series infrared cameras offer unrivaled capabilities backed by industry-leading innovation.

For more information, visit www1.flir.com/t-series

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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 ACME ELECTRIC AEE SOLAR AEMC INSTRUMENTS AMERICAN PIPE & PLASTICS INC. ARPI OF USA BRADY WORLDWIDE BYTE BROTHERS CONDUIT REPAIR SYSTEMS COPPER DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION COPPER WIRE STRIPPER EXTECH INSTRUMENTS / FLIR SYSTEMS E-Z METER GENERATOR INTERLOCK TECHNOLOGIES GENSCO GRAPHIC PRODUCTS, INC. HIOKI USA ICC

40

PG#

RS#

Company

1 11 IBC BC 36 35 30 4 13 34 3, 9 36 7 24 34 23 21

4 11 2 3 48 23 44 6 12 46 5, 9 49 8 43 47 17 16

Electrical Products & Solutions • May 2012

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RS#

KRENZ & COMPANY MEGGER MINUTEMAN UPS MITCHELL INSTRUMENTS NFPA 2012 SHOW NORTHWEST LIGHTING SYSTEMS PG LIFELINK PHASE-A-MATIC PLATINUM TOOLS SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC SNAPNRACK SOKKIA

38 IFC 27 29 39 31 25 38 33 15 17 5

50 1 19 20 24 21 18 51 22 13 14 7

STRIP-TEC T3 INNOVATION THE HOME DEPOT UNDERGROUND DEVICES UTILITY METALS

14 18 19 20 10

40 41 15 42 10

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