EPS Magazine February 2013

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CONTENTS

PUBLISHER

Danny J. Salchert OFFICE MANAGER

Anita Salchert ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Jerry DiChiara jerryd@epsmag.net CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Derek Gaylard CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Ken Whiteside CIRCULATION DIRECTOR

Pam Fulmer

6 FEATURES 6 Solar Trends for 2013

By Ken Whiteside

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Smallest State, Biggest Payback Rhode Island firm uses GPS and a robotic total station, sees gains in both savings and efficiency.

CASE STUDY 26 Upgrade at Ronald McDonald House Keeps Families Connected High-bandwidth copper wiring provides faster and more reliable service

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DEPARTMENTS 28 34 40

Industry News Product Focus Ad Index

ON THE COVER Photo courtesy of Sokkia

PRESIDENT

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

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

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Electrical Products & Solutions • February 2013

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FEATURE • Ontility

Solar Trends for 2013

By Ken Whiteside

S

olar energy plays an increasingly important role in the mix of fuels that are used meet the rapidly growing global demand for electricity. While it’s true that solar PV generation at the beginning of 2013 still provides only a single-digit fraction of that demand, solar is outpacing some traditional fuels in the amount of newly built generating capacity.

This is happening at the same time we are seeing the largest surge in domestic oil and

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Our need for dependable power is too great and until the storage challenge is met (it will be), solar will serve as a peak demand source.

gas production in decades, proving what some of us have been saying for several years: The fuel we use to produce electricity is not an either/or choice - either fossil fuels or solar, either natural gas or renewables. It is all of the above. Over the coming decades, cleaner fuels will continue replacing dirtier ones in the same way that smaller,

Electrical Products & Solutions • February 2013

lighter, more fuel efficient engines have replaced cast-iron, gas hog V-8s in our automobiles.

But solar or wind or any other single source isn’t going to replace all fossil fuels overnight. Our need for dependable power is too great and until the storage challenge is met (it will be), solar will serve as a peak demand Continued on page 8

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FEATURE • Ontility

Continued from page 6

source. The bottom line here is that like personal computers in the 1980s and telecom in the 90s, energy, especially electric energy, is the “next big thing” and there are tremendous opportunities for anyone involved in its production, including those of us in the solar industry.

During the first three quarters of 2012, the total installed solar electric generating capacity grew to 1,992 megawatts surpassing in nine months 2011’s annual total of 1,885 MW. The third quarter 2012 was the third largest on record for the U.S. solar industry, with 684 MW of PV capacity installed between October first and the end of last year. That’s a 44

One factor that has helped fuel that rocket is the steady decline in the cost of solar electric systems, especially the cost of silicon PV modules. percent increase over the same period in 2011. In its “U.S. Solar Market Insight Q3 2012” (the most current figures available) the Solar Energy Industries Association forecast that an additional 1,200 MW of PV capacity would be installed in the fourth quarter of 2012 alone, bringing the total for the year to 3,200 MW and the cumulative total to more than 6.4 GW. So in spite of an abundance of cheap natural gas and the usual mix of business trends, public policy and politics, the solar market continues its rocketlike climb.

One factor that has helped fuel that rocket is the steady decline in the cost of solar electric systems, especially the cost of silicon PV modules. From early 2011 through September of 2012 (the most recent data available), solar module process plummeted by 58 percent, driving down the installed price for PV systems from around $5.50 per Watt to a national average of less than $4 per Watt, under $3 per Watt in some areas of the U. S. and less than $2 per Watt for some utility-scale systems. On a typical 6 kW residential system that’s a savings of more than $10,000. When the U.S. De8

partment of Energy announced its Sun Shot initiative goal of $1 per Watt, it was seen by many as overly optimistic and unrealistic. It is now seen as certainly achievable, some predicting reaching that benchmark by 2015.

That precipitous price drop over the past year or so has been not very good for manufacturers with too much production capacity and distributors holding inventory worth less than they paid for it. The industry has seen the fall-out in the form of plant closings, bankruptcies and trade

Electrical Products & Solutions • February 2013

restrictions to protect the domestic market from dumping of surplus product by foreign interests. Radically lower prices have, however, been a tremendous boon to consumers and consequently, solar contractors and electrical contractors in the solar business. Look back at the figures at the top of this article and think about the size of the solar industry when we generate even a modest 15% of our power with solar PV. Then think about what your business will look like if you Continued on page 12 get on board now.

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FEATURE • Ontility

Continued from page 8

a degree, your location will dictate what kind of solar business opportunities are available.

One of the largest barriers preventing more individuals and commercial property owners from installing solar has for years been the substantial up-front financial outlay required. Even with generous incentives, it takes thousands of dollars out of pocket to buy a system. And even though the return on that investment is very attractive, especially when compared to the volatility of securities markets and historically low interest rates on fixed rate investments, if the cash isn’t available, none of those factors matter.

Removing this barrier is another factor that is driving the solar market this year, especially the residential market.

In the same way that zero-down leasing programs make it possible for people to drive new automobile or reliable work truck, solar leasing programs allow people to enjoy the benefits of solar electric production without making a large cash investment. Lease programs are configured in a variety of ways depending on local regulations and utility comAnother factor which will influence can’t build a hugely successful residen- pany policies, but essentially, a solar solar business development is highly re- tial solar company in Arizona or work on leasing company installs and owns the Continued on page 14 gionalized. The numbers shown in the utility-scale projects in Delaware, but to system while the graphs illustrate the status of all three of the major categories for PV systems, residential, commercial and utility-scale.

The market, as has always been true, is highly fragmented and varies greatly from state to state. California continues to represent about a third of the national market, but other states and regions are closing the gap. And almost every area is setting standards and establishing practices which are consistent with local market forces and circumstances. In Hawaii for example, where land is expensive, rooftop systems dominate the market.

That translates to a large number of distributed generation facilities. In 2012, the number of permits for PV systems doubled over all previous years. In Arizona, though, the vast majority of solar production capacity last year was in the form of large utility-scale systems – no surprise in an area with lots of sunshine and vast expanses of open land. In New Jersey, New York and other eastern states where urban areas are full of commercial buildings, incentives favor commercial property owners. Not to say that you 12

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FEATURE • Ontility

Continued from page 12

property owner makes a fixed payment and benefits from lower utility bills. The lease company handles the installation and all the permits and other paperwork.

The customer sees an immediate reduction in utility bills because power is being generated on-site by the solar array and because leases are set up so that the combination of the now lower utility payment and the lease payment is lower than the utility bill was before solar was installed, the customer saves money overall.

While solar leasing is a strong market driver in the growing number of states where it is allowed, contractors need to proceed carefully. Leasing programs can be complex and require good administrative processes and someone to take care of all the paperwork. They also require a substantial capital outlay on the part of the leasing company. So, the best play for many electrical contractors may be to work with an already established leasing company – you do the installation let someone else take care of the administrative overhead.

The solar industry is not driven solely by lower process and new financial models. Technological innofaster installation then vation is also a strong The solar industry either DC string infactor. One such innovaverter systems or tradition is having a big imcontinues to be tional micro-inverter pact on the industry, the star of a systems, and the confiACPV – a real game dence of working with changer. An ACPV sorecovering familiar wiring methlar module is delivered economy – ods. from the manufacturer growing markets, Micro-inverters have of distributor with the been around for a few micro-inverter already adding jobs, years and have been inattached to the back of providing new stalled on thousands of the panel. Installation is buildings. And like the fastest we’ve seen business most new technologies, because the panels aropportunities and the early versions were rive at the job site fully problematic in some sitroof-ready – just mount continuing to uations. The failure rate them to the racking sysinnovate. (mostly due to overtem, plug them together heating) among some of using the built-in locking connectors, run a single ground wire those initial models was higher than anfor the array and bring the home run to a ticipated, especially in extremely hot junction box. Its all AC house wire from parts of the country. And with systems that point on – no more complicated than where each micro-inverter must be indiwiring a clothes dryer. ACPV provides vidually attached to the racking before the

solar panels are installed, job time and cost were higher than was hoped. As the bugs have been worked out of the equipment designs and the installation procedures, micro-inverters have become more reliable and installation times in the acceptable range.

Being hyper-sensitive to the history of micro-inverters, the companies bringing ACPV to market, most notably SolarBridge Technologies of Austin, Texas, have tested and retested their products under the harshest conditions possible: extreme heat and high humidity. And because the module and the micro-inverter are integrated, SolarBridge offers the same 25-year guarantee on their micro-inverter as the panel manufacturers provide for the module itself..

So the solar industry continues to be the star of a recovering economy – growing markets, adding jobs, providing new business opportunities and continuing to innovate. ❏

Ken Whiteside is Director of Solar Training for ONTILITY, a national leader in consulting, EPC and wholesale product sales for the solar industry. Ken writes about renewable energy, workforce development and education from his desk in Austin.

For more information about how you can get into the solar business, visit www.ontility.com or contact Ken and his team by e-mail: training@ontility.com.

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FEATURE • Sokkia

Smallest State,

Biggest Payback Rhode Island firm uses GPS and a robotic total station, sees gains in both savings and efficiency.

T

hough a fairly new company, Site Resources, LLC has quickly established itself as a major player in the Providence-area site development/construction market. It did so by combining equal parts hard work, good planning and wise use of available technology. The latter part of that equation first came in the form of GPS and was followed up shortly thereafter with the addition of a robotic total station (both units were from Sokkia).

While each instrument has made an indelible mark on how Site Resources does business, the robotic total station’s impact has been particularly telling. Since adding the instrument in early 2011, the company has seen a dramatic upturn in efficiency— so impressive an improvement, in fact, that payback on the station was realized faster than they’d ever envisioned. Now, between the two pieces of equipment, not only have they streamlined many areas of their onsite effort, they are easily able to tackle larger projects than ever before, setting them up for even more growth.

Different Directions Based in North Kingstown, RI, just south of Providence, Site Resources was born out of a larger firm in which two brothers, former co-owners of a large home building/site work firm, parted ways.

“The other company still does all the home building, but Mark DePasquale, our owner, chose to focus instead on the site work portion of the business,” says Glen Skurka, Site Resources’ Project Engineer.

“That was about four years ago, and, at the beginning it was just Mark, a foreman, a single piece of heavy equipment and a couple of employees. About a year into the venture, they brought me on board from a local engineering Continued on page 18 16

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FEATURE • Sokkia

Continued from page 16

firm to add surveying expertise to their expanding list of strengths. Today we are up to about 35 employees and keeping busy, even in this tough economy.”

Prior to his coming to Site Resources, Skurka says the company generally paid original designers for all the layout work.

Adding a GPS-based capability to the operation, they felt, would be the first step in eliminating all such costs. With that in mind, they contacted Bob Girard, from Eastpoint Lasers (Hooksett, NH).

“Mark already had a 15-year history of working with Bob and Eastpoint, and we’d also purchased Carlson’s Takeoff software from them,” says Skurka. “We really liked the job they did for us, and in a business like this, finding the right person and company to help when making a shift in technologies is important.”

Sky’s the Limit With a game plan in mind, and a couple liked what they saw, and purchased the “We were in the early stages of doing of larger projects looming, Site Resources unit. Skurka says doing so essentially site work for a new BJ’s, a large wholedemoed a Sokkia GRX1 GNSS system, changed the way they did business. sale chain here in the Continued on page 20

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FEATURE • Sokkia

Continued from page 18

needed to be headed.”

From there, he adds, the company was able to bid more aggressively on projects that once seemed out of reach, an effort that landed them a trio of new Walmart stores. They followed that up with work for a new Lowe’s home improvement store and a Kohl’s department store, as well as a CVS pharmacy, a dormitory at the University of Rhode Island, a community center in Providence and a Jewish Temple not far from their office.

“The workload has been pretty amazing,” says Skurka. “Having GPS has helped us grow at a pace that was way beyond our projections. In fact, it got to the point where we knew we needed to add another unit to keep things going, so earlier this year, we started contemplating an additional purchase from Eastpoint.”

Bring in the Robot region, and felt it was the ideal job to on what it saved us in terms of survey Much of the area around Providence make the move on,” he says. “We were costs, changes and overall efficiency, we is heavily wooded—great from both an impressed right from the outset and, based knew this was direction in which we aesthetic and an Continued on page 22

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FEATURE • Sokkia

Continued from page 20

environmental standpoint, not so much for optimum GPS use. Having been stymied on several occasions when heavy tree cover degraded their satellite signal, Site Resources began considering an alternative to a second GPS system to meet their expansion needs.

“Again, we talked to Bob Girard and started looking at a robotic total station,”

says Skurka. “While our GPS was irreplaceable on larger jobs and those with a clear southern exposure, we needed something for our smaller projects and those jobs in really wooded areas. The robot really doesn’t care about trees—it works no matter where it’s sitting. It was the obvious choice for us, we made it, and it’s been paying dividends almost since day one.”

Foremost among those dividends, is an ability to now perform their own “limit of disturbance” work, the function that establishes the boundary to which trees can be cleared, and at which silt fence can then be placed. In the past, says Skurka, that work used to be subcontracted out to a survey crew.

“Even on a smaller job, that would cost us about $4,000 in survey costs to lay out for the silt fence,” he says. “On larger projects, the savings are even more dramatic. On the Walmart job, for example, we had to mark trees for 6,000 feet through the woods; that would have cost us about $20,000 to lay out. Now, instead of paying someone to do it, we did it ourselves for about $3,000. In a matter of about two weeks’ time, that’s a savings of $17,000 made possible by a $30,000 instrument. A couple jobs like that—which we’ve already had—and it’s easy to see how the technology has paid for itself.”

One Man Crew According to Skurka, the robot’s appeal can also be found in its ease of use and ability to capitalize on single-person operation. “There was an upcharge in going to a robotic total station versus a manual one, there’s no denying that,” he says.

“For us that was about $15,000. However, I would have to pay a second man at least $45,000 a year to help run a manual station, so the difference—and then some—is immediately offset.

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FEATURE • Sokkia

Continued from page 22

surement,” says Skurka. “They’ve designed the instrument to deal with a lot of things that would normally mess with a prism and total station. That’s helped us out quite a bit.”

Good Across the Board

In addition our unit is much faster than shooting it manually—which means we can get into and out of projects quicker.

And, on a typical job, we can probably get 200-300 shots versus only 100 with a manual station, so accuracies are much better.”

The accuracies and ease-of use to which Skurka refers, are made possible by what Sokkia cites as its advances in laser technology, an optimized optical design, major advances to the unit’s motor drive mechanism, and a more refined tracking 24

algorithm—all of which combine to provide an extremely robust auto-tracking capability. The unit is designed to track a moving prism even in strong backlight or with repetitive interruptions in the line-ofsight, thereby reducing the possibility of losing a prism lock. However, even if the lock is lost, the on-demand remote control system allows the robot to instantly recover the prism lock.

“We’ve had no trouble maintaining a lock at all, even when we are well into the woods doing a limit of disturbance mea-

Electrical Products & Solutions • February 2013

Versatility between instruments is yet another benefit Skurka cites as being helpful to their operation. He says that the data collector on the rod of the robot is interchangeable with the GPS. “So if we are working on one of the larger jobs and I need to get into the woods for some reason, I can set up the robot and switch right over to it with the same data collector, the same file, shoot my points and go right back to the GPS, all in the same system.”

Though Site Resources currently does not have machine control on any of its dozers or excavators, Skurka says they would also be able to take that same file, load it into any machine and work off it.

“And that might still be an option one day,” he says. “Right now, however, we are really pleased with the new capabilities this equipment has afforded us—and the savings that came along with it. We are also confident in knowing that a simple phone call to Eastpoint Lasers will get us what we need and ensure an excellent level of support. That’s a really good thing to know as we move forward.” ❏

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CASE STUDY • Copper Development Association Inc.

Upgrade at Ronald McDonald House Keeps Families Connected High-bandwidth copper wiring provides faster and more reliable service

A

t the Longfellow Park home, it’s not uncommon to see a family huddled around the computer taking turns typing away at the keyboard and smiling for the person on the other end.

For the sick or injured children staying at the Longfellow and Cherry Street facilities in Kansas City, MO, which are both owned and operated by the Ronald McDonald House Charities, the Internet represents a critical communications lifeline to their extended families back home.

No matter the time of day, you can always find a person logged onto one of the desktop computers in the communal living space, or connected to a laptop in their own bedroom of the house, said Holly Buckendahl, the CEO and executive director of the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

“Childhood illness presents unpredictable challenges, and it is imperative that families have access to computers and internet services to easily and quickly foster connectivity with family and friends,” said Buckendahl. “Families regularly check email, view Skype, and post information on their Caring Bridge and Facebook pages for support and to update others on the status of their child. The Internet is also a powerful tool for parents to research medical treatment information, as well as to access online support groups. “ This is why the upgrade to the wiring system at the Longfellow house was so very much appreciated by the staff and the resident guests, she added.

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“High-bandwidth copper wiring (Category 5e or better) was chosen for the Longfellow house because it’s faster and more reliable than standard telephone cable and can handle multiple IP-phone lines and support high-speed internet access,” said Lindsay Allen, VP of Marketing for Superior Essex Communications LP, the company which manufactured the copper wiring. “It’s one of the best options to carry voice, data and other services from where they enter the house/building to every room.”

All Ronald McDonald Houses in the U.S. are equipped with Wi-Fi service, provided free of charge by AT&T. When they’re not chatting with friends and family, the children also use the Internet to keep up with their school work and receive online tutoring. This couldn’t have been possible without the home being wired for Internet, allowing the children and their families to get online freely from virtually any point of the house.

There could be as many as 60 families staying at both facilities at any given time.

On average, 125 people could be living in the homes temporarily while their loved ones receive medical care at Children’s Mercy Hospital for cancer, are on a wait list for an organ transplant or are strong enough to go home after a premature birth.

Electrical Products & Solutions • February 2013

While the average stay is 5 to 9 days, some families will remain at the home for up to a month in one of the long term suites. A smaller percentage, about 5- to 6-percent, may stay for several months including up to a year. A majority of the families are from Missouri or neighboring Kansas (2 to 3 hours away), but the Longfellow house opened its doors to visitors from 25 different states last year, added Buckendahl.

Internet access points were installed in each bedroom as well as four Internet connection sites in the family room. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Internet access were also added to the staff offices.

Teague Electric installed a hardware solution composed of 50,000 feet of CAT 5e and CAT 3 copper cabling and 62.5 Multimode Fiber Optics Cable manufactured by Superior Essex.

By installing this copper cabling system, the system is guaranteed to meet IEEE 802.3ab Bit Error Rate requirements, and guaranteed to support current and future applications designed for CAT 5e, including Voice over IP and Power over Ethernet. ❏ For more information about copper cabling, visit www.copper.org.

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Industry NEWS

Innovative Solar Venture Funds Four Community Solar Projects

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reen Mountain Power, National Life Group and Green Lantern Capital have collaborated to pilot an innovative way to finance the development of solar projects, producing clean energy and immediate savings on electric bills for customers. Two of the pilot projects are located in Rutland County, one is in Washington County, and one is in Chittenden County. Green Lantern Capital partnered with AllEarth Renewables, the Vermont-manufacturer of the dual-axis AllSun Tracker, to work with host customers and install the solar farms at the Poor Farm in the City of Rutland, Cold Hollow Cider Mill in Waterbury, Woods Market Garden in Brandon, and the Town of Williston. The projects totaling 600kW were installed this fall and earlier this winter. The event celebrating the initiative was held at the Cold Hollow Cider Mill, which thanks to its new solar orchard, will

now get two-thirds of its power from the sun and save money annually. The host customers participating in the program can reduce their electric utility bills and in the future they will have the opportunity to make their own solar investments by buying the projects at a reduced cost. “This represents a new paradigm for solar financing in Vermont. With incentive programs drying up, innovative financing will become increasingly important to solar vendors and host customers. And by pooling funds at this kind of scale, we greatly improve the economics of solar. These projects provide host customers immediate savings on their electric bills, and give them the opportunity to make their own long-term investments. It’s win-win for all,” said Luke Shullenberger, founder and CEO of Waterbury-based Green Lantern Capital. “This is a great way to increase the number of small re-

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Electrical Products & Solutions • February 2013

newable generation projects throughout the state,” said Mary Powell, president and chief executive officer of Green Mountain Power.

“We embarked on this project as a way to support our customers who want to lease solar arrays and we are pleased that one of the projects will contribute to our goal of making Rutland the regional solar capital.” “National Life Group has been using the sun to help power its Vermont headquarters since 2008,” said Tom Brownell, the company’s chief investment officer. “We are pleased to participate alongside Green Lantern and Green Mountain Power in these projects and look forward to supporting the future development of solar energy in Vermont.”

“This is an exciting initiative for expanding renewable energy investment in Vermont.

This partnership allowed for new community solar projects that feature local investors, local renewable energy, local manufacturing, and local economic benefits. It provides a great local benefit all around,” said David Blittersdorf, president and chief executive officer of AllEarth Renewables. ❏

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Industry NEWS

Kaiser Electric Renovating Saint Louis University West Pine Gym for New Center for Global Citizenship

K

aiser Electric crews have begun significant interior renovations to Saint Louis University’s Bauman-Eberhardt Center, formerly known as the West Pine Gym. The Bauman-Eberhardt Center, along with the recently renovated Des Peres Hall, will serve as the university’s new Center for Global Citizenship.

Renovations to the former gym, located at 3672 West Pine Blvd. in St. Louis City, are expected to be completed in May and include installation of a wall dividing the gym and converting half of the space into the Global Student Commons area and the other side into a 1,000-plus-seat, high-tech auditorium.

An interior bridge that will connect the east and west sides of the building and a café carved out of the east-side bleachers is also

planned in the major renovation project.

Kaiser Electric is installing new lighting throughout the facility, providing dimming and lighting controls, renovating the office area surrounding the old gym, installing a new fire About Kaiser Electric: Kaiser Electric has alarm system and fire pump, and providing been providing electrical contracting and electrical service for a new HVAC system. Mcengineering services to the St. Louis metro Carthy Building Companies, Inc. of St. Louis is area for more than 60 years. The company the general contractor on the project. focuses primarily on industrial, commercial, Originally built in 1928, the West Pine Gym healthcare, design/build and communications was the location of a 1964 address from Dr. projects and employs 150 field electricians Martin Luther King, Jr. and a 1966 concert by with a fleet of 50 vehicles. Kaiser Electric is The Byrds, among other distinguished lectures headquartered in Fenton, MO with divisions in and performances. The gym was last used in Central Missouri and Southern Illinois.

February 2008 for a women’s basketball game.

For more information about Kaiser Electric, Various departments have used the offices in visit http://www.kaiserelectric.com/ the facility for the past several years. ❏ or call 636-305-1515.

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Industry NEWS

Fire-Lite Alarms Provides School District Affordable, Non-Proprietary Fire Protection Tennessee School District Standardizes on Fire-Lite Systems Following 12-School Upgrade

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ire-Lite Alarms by Honeywell (NYSE:HON) systems transformed the fire protection throughout a dozen elementary, middle and high school facilities in the Cheatham County School District, Ashland City, Tenn. On top of replacing a patchwork of antiquated systems with non-proprietary technology able to be purchased and serviced by any licensed fire alarm dealer, Fire-Lite Alarms’ innovative retrofit capabilities allowed the district’s budget to cover a more extensive fire alarm renovation.

The district had reached a point where replacement parts for its assortment of older conventional and addressable fire alarm systems were hard to come by, and servicing was shoddy, at best.

“There was so much frustration,” confirms Joey Dority, maintenance director, Cheatham County Schools. “It was a very bad situation before Fire-Lite came in.”

While searching to replace only its facility’s fire alarm control panels, the district’s biggest priority was finding a non-proprietary system as they had no interest in being tied to one contractor.

“We wanted something that no matter who, what, when, or where, they could work on the

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system at the drop of a hat. That was the biggest selling point with the new systems,” relates Dority.

Beyond Fire-Lite’s non-proprietary nature, the district was thrilled to learn the existing wiring could be re-used, making it affordable for Cheatham to fully replace all devices (i.e. smoke detectors, pull stations, horns, strobes, etc.) in each school as well.

“By re-using the wire in all 12 schools, we probably saved between $120,000 and $150,000 dollars,” explains Mike White, account executive for Interactive Systems of Nashville, Tenn., the systems installer.

“In fact,” adds Dority, “the savings we incurred was probably the number one thing that allowed us to do this project as a whole from top to bottom.”

Utilizing a mix of addressable fire alarm control panels from Fire-Lite, Interactive Systems was able to scale the systems to the size and needs of each facility. Altogether, nine MS9200UDLS, two MS-9600UDLS and one MS9050UD panels were installed.

As for the new devices, a mix of pull stations, smoke detectors and heat detectors were utilized, with 75 of these initiating devices needed for each elementary school and nearly

Electrical Products & Solutions • February 2013

200 for the middle and high school facilities.

The 12 schools are also covered by a full scope of new notification appliances, including strobes, horn/strobes and speaker/strobes.

“It was a pretty straightforward swap out, part for part,” relates White. “It was simple to program and very understandable, not to mention the fact that it’s a very rugged and reliable system.”

Cheatham was also pleased with the speed of the installation.

“We did all 12 schools in just 10 weeks,” reports Dority. “We were literally done in next to no time and each building was only down for four days at the most.”

So far, the schools have found the new system incredibly simple to use. Service calls have decreased from two or three a week, to possibly one per month for mostly non-system related issues, such as a student hitting a horn/strobe with a ball.

“If a principal calls and tells me there is an issue, they already have an idea of what’s going on before I get on-site. Sometimes we can even solve the issue over the phone,” says Dority.

Likewise, the maintenance staff can easily re-set the pull stations with a key, as opposed to tracking down a specialized Allen wrench or other tool.

In the near future, Cheatham County plans to either expand a current facility or build a new high school and Fire-Lite systems appear to be their undisputed choice for fire protection.

“We will be sticking with the Fire-Lite panels not only for the sake of standardization, but it’s been such a good deal so far,” relates Dority. “I can’t see any reason whatsoever to move away from it in the future.”

According to White, it is not just disgruntled school districts like Cheatham who are opting for Fire-Lite systems.

“There’s a growing interest in non-proprietary systems and Fire-Lite is one of the only non-proprietary technologies that meet the needs of facilities who are used to having a proprietary engineered system,” he explains.

Consequently, White is witnessing an uptick in non-proprietary fire alarm installations in all markets, including commercial, medical, retail and industrial.

The capabilities of Fire-Lite Alarms systems, along with a library of technical documentation and free software tools are available on www.firelite.com. Fire alarm installers and facility managers are also encouraged to take advantage of Fire-Lite’s array of instructor-led, hands-on trainings and online courses, as well as the free Webinars it offers. ❏

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Product FOCUS Bridgeport Introduces Non-Metallic, Multi-Angle, Liquid-Tight Connectors LNMFC units are resistant to salt water, acids, oil and grease and many common solvents Bridgeport Fittings has introduced non-metallic, multi-angle (0-to-90 degrees), liquid-tight connectors.

The new swivel-type connectors (480-NMLTS and 481NMLTS) are made of nylon construction that resists salt water, weak acids, gasoline, alcohol, oil, grease and many common solvents.

With the Bridgeport connectors, no disassembly is required. The 480-NMLTS (1/2-inch KO size and 1/2inch NPT) connectors install by pushing the connector onto the conduit or tubing and tightening the sealing nut. The 481-NMLTS connectors come in a 3/4-inch KO size and 3/4-inch NPT. Both connectors are cULus Listed.

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, visit www.bptfittings.com

Enhanced Redi-Rail™ Cable Tray System from Cooper B-Line Delivers Lower Total Installed Cost New Pre-Punched I-Beam Design Maximizes Design and Installation Flexibility Cooper B-Line, a global provider of innovative, labor-saving support systems and enclosure solutions for engineered facility subsystem applications, has enhanced its Aluminum Redi-Rail”! cable tray system to offer users even more benefits. Featuring a new I-Beam side rail design, the new Redi-Rail system reduces design time, installation cost and total material procurement costs by up to 15 percent.

Backed by over 50 years of cable tray engineering and design expertise, Cooper B-Line has optimized the side rails of the enhanced Redi-Rail cable tray system. The new system utilizes the efficiency of the I-Beam shape along with the strength and corrosion resistance of Aluminum 6063-T6 material. With this enhancement, Cooper B-Line’s Redi-Rail system is now easier to cut, handle and install while still maintaining a NEMA 12B load rating. Additionally, the IBeam design increases the material beneath each rung, creating positive rung support for increased safety and system lifespan.

The new Redi-Rail system has also optimized the location of Redi-Rail’s industry leading pre-punched rung and splice holes. The holes are strategically positioned at the top and bottom of the I-Beam web along the entire length of straight sections and fittings. This eliminates the need for any field drilling due to splicing or accessory attachment, thus reducing installation time versus traditional cable tray systems.

In addition to the pre-punched holes in the side rail, the enhanced Redi-Rail design continues to utilize Cooper B-Line’s patented fastener-hole design in each rung to mechanically fasten rungs. The mechanically fastened rungs mean that each rung may be moved or removed, allowing designers and installers the ability to optimize rung placement for precise cable dropouts. Additionally, rungs may be added to the system either within or outside the side rail walls for additional cable support or added capacity.

For more information, visit www.cooperindustries.com 34

Electrical Products & Solutions • February 2013

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Product FOCUS Greenlee Communications 910FS Optical Fusion Splicer – Designed to Meet Virtually Any FTTx application Minimizes splice losses and rework time The Greenlee Communications 910FS Optical Fusion Splicer is designed to allow technicians to splice a variety of fiber optic cables, in both indoor and outdoor applications.

The 910FS features easy-to-change adapters that allow quick changes from 250 m bare fiber to 900 m buffer, as well as dual cameras with 240X magnification and a 5.7” color LCD screen for clear fiber analysis. SC and LC splice-on connectors are also supported, and advanced auto core alignment technology helps technicians reduce preparation time and yield lower connection losses.

The 910FS comes with 60 preset splice modes as well as custom user-defined modes, and is capable of storing up to 5,000 splice results. The unit is powered by a long-life Li-ion battery to increase reliability and productivity when testing, analyzing, and repairing fiber optic cables.

The Greenlee Communications 910FS Optical Fusion Splicer is available as either a standard Fusion Splicer and Cleaver Kit, or a Contractor Fusion Splicer Kit. Greenlee is now There with You™ on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. For the latest product announcements, competitions, promotions and videos, visit: • www.greenlee.com • www.facebook.com/GreenleeTools • www.youtube.com/GreenleeDEMO • www.twitter.com/GreenleeTextron For more information, visit www.greenlee.com

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Product FOCUS New Insulation Resistance Testers from Megger Offer Precision and Accuracy Compact, lightweight units feature rapid charge capabilities Megger, one of the world’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of test equipment and measuring instruments for electrical power applications, now offers three versatile insulation resistance testers (IRTs) rated at 5 kV and 10 kV. Ideal for use by electrical contractors, wind farm and solar generation operators as well as power generation, testing service and industrial manufacturing companies, the 5 kV MIT515 and MIT525 and 10 kV MIT1025 are compact, lightweight and have rapid charge capabilities.

Designed to ensure the highest precision possible, both 5 kV units offer 5% accuracy up to 1 T , while the 10 kV unit offers 5% accuracy up to 2 T . The MIT515, MIT525 and MIT1025 are rated for use at an altitude of 3,000 meters and still maintain a CAT IV 600 V safety rating, allowing for dependable use in the widest range of applications.

Uniquely engineered to charge while operating, the MIT515, MIT525 and MIT1025 continue to take measurements when connected to line power with a fully discharged battery. This intelligent feature ensures an optimum charge, resulting in minimal charge times. All units feature a lithium-ion battery and can test continuously for up to six hours on a single battery charge.

The compact, rugged design of the new IRTs allow for easy and effortless transport. They are double insulated and built into a unique dual case designed to be fire-retardant. The IP65-rated case also prevents penetration of water and dust.

For more information, visit www.megger.com

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Electrical Products & Solutions • February 2013

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Platinum Tools® Launches EZ-VIKING™ Crimp Tool The New EZ-VIKING™ Crimp Tool was Developed to Meet the Needs of the Most Discerning and Quality Sensitive Installation Professionals, and to Surpass the Most Demanding Network Performance Standards Platinum Tools®, the leader in solutions for the preparation, installation and hand termination of wire and cable, announces the launch of the new EZ-VIKING™ crimp tool (p/n 100544). The EZ-VIKING modular plug terminator is now shipping.

“The Platinum Tools EZ-VIKING Crimp Tool was developed to meet the needs of the most discerning and quality sensitive installation professionals in multiple markets, including commercial, residential, high-end data centers, aerospace, and military, while surpassing the most demanding network and data communication performance standards,” said Lee Sachs, Platinum Tools, Inc. president and general manager. “This professional crimp tool is precision manufactured to the highest international standards. It delivers the highest quality and consistent modular plug terminations available in the market today.”

“We will continue to innovate and improve our unique “EZ” family of connectors and compatible tools,” added Sachs. “Products designed to increase an installer’s efficiency have been the key to our success and they will continue to dominate our product line in the future.”

For more information, visit www.platinumtools.com

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