EPS Magazine September 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 WRITERS

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André Rebelo • Marc Gallo Michael Neary • Lonnie D. Clove CIRCULATION DIRECTOR

FEATURE 6 Got Infrared?

Pam Fulmer

Boost Your Electrical Contracting Business with IR

By André Rebelo

WHITE PAPER 14 Addressing Today’s Dimming Challenges with a Universal Control

By Marc Gallo, Ph.D., P.E. and Michael Neary

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT 24 Introducing the Split PVC Wye: A Unique Product For Your Electrical and Communications Conduit Infrastructure

By Lonnie D. Clove

DEPARTMENTS 30 Industry News 34 Product Focus 40 Ad Index ON THE COVER The FLIR i3 Infrared Thermal Imager Photo courtesy of FLIR

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Electrical Products & Solutions • September 2012

PRESIDENT

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

Electrical Products & Solutions™ is distributed to qualified readers in the electrical contracting industry.

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

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

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FEATURE • FLIR

Got Infrared?

Boost Your Electrical Contracting Business with IR

By André Rebelo

The Golden Opportunity Since the onset of the “Great Recession” back in 2007-2008, electrical contractors, from large regional companies to in-house electricians, to the owner/operator, all have seen impacts to their business from a number of factors. New commercial and residential construction slowed to a crawl.

Home improvements with “nice-to-have” electrical upgrades vanished. Jobs that did come in were by and large repairs and installations that needed to happen. As a whole, the scale of the industry contracted.

Now, as a number of positive economic indicators point to growth in various sectors, bright spots are emerging with opportunities for increasing busi6

ness. In a climate like this, the playing field has been leveled for many electrical contractors and there is as much opportunity for growth as there is for loss of market share in your region.

Now is the time to stand out. Larger companies are scrambling to reorganize.

Established companies try to tend a withering base of reliable referrals. Here is a golden opportunity open to change the game, connect with customers, and grow your business.

What Sets You Apart?

value proposition for customers comes from how you relate with customers. For example, are you responsive? Do you offer 24 hour emergency service? Do you provide a report of your diagnostics when troubleshooting?

Another part of it comes from the technology and tools you use. Sure, customers may not be dazzled by how your new cable lube saves time on wire pulls. Or even that your multimeter uses the same batterypack as your drill. They can’t always relate with that.

Think about messages that communi- The Infrared Advantage cate how you stand out from the competiInfrared technology on the other hand, tion. Give customers a reason to think offers a crystal clear picture of the problems about what sets you apart. Part of this you find on the job, where Continued on page 8

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FEATURE • FLIR

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glowing colors shout out “This motor is costing you hundreds of dollars a month!” or “This wiring is a fire hazard!” or “This pump need replacing before somebody gets hurt!”

Infrared (IR) cameras, also known as thermal imagers, can be used anywhere temperature is an indicator of an anomaly. For example, in a hospital plant, corroded electrical connections concealed in an overhead busbar duct are heating up. In a plant, an under-lubricated and overheating motor is caught before a failure would require a costly and unexpected replacement instead of a planned repair. Medium voltage cubicle panels control and protect electrical machines and lines. With an infrared window installed on the panel doors, an electrical worker uses an infrared camera to inspect energized internal electrical components for temperature abnormalities without the direct exposure from removing covers and panels.

In residential work, many of the same scenarios apply on a smaller scale. A good example is the inspection of electrical panels where overloaded or deteriorated circuitbreakers glow brightly on the screen of a thermal imager.

Not only is this technology used to find problems, it provides something a customer 8

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of pixels of temperature data is smaller than ever. Many electrical contractors don’t realize that there are now models available under $1,200 with the capabilities of $5,000 imagers from just a few years ago. These are also useful for a business owner who wants to purchase multiple cameras—one for each truck for example. Point-and-shoot infrared cameras offer entry-level performance at a price point that makes it easier than ever to “get into infrared.”

IR Thermometer vs.

So, while an electrical contractor can put IR Imager the blame on the recession as to why he hasn’t upgraded to a thermal imager, the reNaturally, there is a return on investment is pretty quick when you luctance or at least skepticonsider the low entry cost and the potential cism when exploring a new added business from having a tool that sets technology like infrared. After all, is it anything more than a fancy laser you apart. infrared thermometer? Actually, there is a big difference. IR thermometers only mea- The $peed of Infrared sure one spot at a time. Plus, with a numerOne less obvious cost/benefit advantage ical readout, they can’t display an image of that comes with a thermal imager is that it where the problem is. Their accuracy also dramatically accelerates diagnostics. Scan goes downhill the farther away you are a job site and find the problem more from the target. quickly. Faster jobs with better accuracy The price leap from a single-spot laser were unheard of previously but now, it’s infrared thermometer with a numerical possible with a thermal imager in hand. readout to a thermal imager with thousands When minutes equal Continued on page 12 can understand beyond technical descriptions—an actual picture of what’s wrong. Whether you show the problem right from the screen of your thermal imager, or download it and email the picture, or include it in a formal thermography report, each of these help your customers relate to what you found. This makes it easier to get the “Yes” for repairs and gives customers confidence in the work you’re performing.

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FEATURE • FLIR

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dollars, an IR camera will help you get work more efficiently than ever. more done in less time. The proverbial neeWhen you do decide to spend over a dle in a haystack can’t hide from infrared. thousand dollars on a tool, you want ruggedness you can trust. Even entry level Options for Getting Started models like the FLIR i3 are tough enough Where does a first-time infrared camera to withstand a 2-meter drop and stow right user go? What is a good model to look at alongside other tools. To help the anxious for your requirements? Take the FLIR i3 first-time infrared user, FLIR offers their for example. This entry-level model is con- industry-leading “2/5/10 warranty.” This sidered a “point and shoot thermal imager” warranty provides 2 years of coverage on because it’s very easy to operate right out of all camera components, 5-year battery covthe box. It is a matter of time before im- erage, and a remarkable 10-year warranty agers like this replace laser infrared ther- protection for the infrared detector. Since mometers currently in use. It’s rugged they make their components from start to enough to keep in the tool bucket and does- finish, they are confident of “what’s inside.” n’t break the bank for the owner/operator electrician. Plus, it’s ideal for making in- Get Ahead of the Competition frared scans the first step at every jobsite.

Infrared is one trend that is not going Instead of a single temperature, the FLIR away. FLIR, an industry leader in infrared i3 can capture 3,600 calibrated temperature and a name that’s familiar to many servicemeasurements in every image. You get a men and women as well as veterans, has a complete thermal picture that immediately bold motto: “infrared everywhere.” That vishows where hot spots and other heat-re- sion is starting to materialize in the electrilated problems are, so you can find them cal industry. Electrical workers who scoffed faster, diagnose them more accurately, and at IR as a pricey, nice-to-have toy are taking

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a serious second look. It’s a very dynamic market with more and more changes to benefit users. For example, there are many budget-friendly options now. More electrical workers are realizing an infrared thermometer just doesn’t cut it anymore. And as infrared becomes more familiar in the mainstream, it becomes a recognizable way for electricians to stand out from the competition.

With thermal imagers, it’s an exciting time for technology that electrical contractors can really use. And, it’s an exciting time for growth opportunities in your business. When you field a call from a prospective customer trying to gather quotes for a job, have them ask other bidders if they will be using infrared. “What’s infrared?” Plant the seed and from here, the infrared advantage begins for you and your business. Using infrared not only makes sense, it will help you “make cents.” ❏ André Rebelo, FLIR Commercial Systems, www.flir.com/breakthrough

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WHITE PAPER • Leviton

Addressing Today’s Dimming Challenges with a Universal Control

By Marc Gallo, Ph.D., P.E. and Michael Neary

Current state of lighting controls and lamps Across the globe, the lighting industry is in the midst of significant change. A combination of government legislation impacting the usage of incandescent lamps and shifting consumer attitudes about the importance of energy and cost savings is expected to help energy efficient lighting alternatives, most notably light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and compact fluorescent lamp (CFLs), gain a significant portion of market share.

Today, there are more than four billion incandescent lamps in U.S. homes, but recent predictions show that LED lighting will capture as much as 50 percent of the consumer market by 2015. While LED and CFL lamps continue to draw market share from incandescent lamps, a problem arises as consumers still need further education about how these new lamps will correspond with their existing incandescent dimming devices.

The problem, however, is that nearly all dimmers found in homes today were designed for standard incandescent lamps.

Dimmable LED and CFL lamps tend to interact quite differently when used with these devices. Although dimmable LED and CFL lamps are marked as compatible with incandescent dimmers, there are various degrees of what can be defined as “compatible.” When using an energy efficient bulb, the homeowner generally expects to have performance similar to what they’re used to with incandescent lamps.

However, a number of issues may occur when attempting to use dimmable LED or CFL lamps with an incandescent dimmer, including: • Reduced dimming range • Flickering or fluttering of the lamp • Inconsistent performance based on the number and assortment of lamps controlled by one incandescent dimmer Specifically, the three primary causes for these inconsistencies are: (1) Incandescent dimmers are not designed for Continued on page 16 LED or CFL loads,

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WHITE PAPER • Leviton

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(2) the lack of industry standards that guide performance requirements, and (3) the existing residential wiring infrastructure limiting performance of modern lighting controls.

Varying loads lead to mixed results Although there are applications where LED and CFL lamps will operate with an incandescent dimmer, in general, performance will be inconsistent. A major issue is in the design of each lamp type. The incandescent lamp by nature represents a simple resistive load with a linear response to the dimmer set point. LED and CFL loads by design are quite complex compared to the incandescent lamp and presents technical challenges to an incandescent dimmer.

Standard incandescent dimmers work particularly well with this type of load by switching on at an adjustable phase angle after the start of each alternating current half-cycle, thereby altering the voltage waveform applied to lamps.

LED Lamp Load

In contrast, LED lamp loads can vary greatly across different manufacturers and Electrically speaking, the incandescent designs, but most can be characterized by lamp is simply a coiled wire filament load a diode-capacitor power supply feeding a which can be modeled by a resistance. constant current source. The diodes recIncandescent Lamp Load

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tify the applied AC voltage, allowing it to charge the storage capacitor, while the LED elements draw a constant current from the power supply related to the desired dimming level and brightness.

What makes this type of load different from incandescent lamps is the nonlinear relationship in which the applied voltage and the current flowing into the load are related. In incandescent lamps, the applied voltage across the load and the resulting current flowing through the load are related linearly Continued on page 18

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WHITE PAPER • Leviton

by Ohms Law (V = IR).

In LED loads, the applied voltage and resulting current flow are not related by a simple linear relationship. Current flows from the applied voltage to the load only when the magnitude of the applied voltage exceeds the stored voltage on the power supply capacitor.

Therefore, the current flowing from the supply to the lamp depends both on the instantaneous value of the input AC voltage waveform and the brightness of the LED lamp. Changing the intensity or dim-

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ming level of the LED lamp affects where in the AC line cycle the load begins to draw current. This also affects the amount of current that surges into the lamp at this point of the line cycle.

State of Regulatory Affairs A lack of dimming performance standards within the lamp industry has led to additional complications between lamps and dimming devices. This lack of standardization can be seen not only in varying characteristics between manufacturers,

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but also by product within some manufacturers’ product lines. While one lamp may be able to be dimmed by a particular dimming device, others cannot, thus defeating the ability to have central dimming control.

Efforts to establish a performance standard for solid-state dimming controls todate have been guided by single source lighting committees like the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). NEMA has developed a standard titled SSL 6-2010 Continued on page 20

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WHITE PAPER • Leviton which provides guidance to LED lamp manufacturers for suitable operation of standard incandescent phase cut dimmers.

However, currently this standard does not provide a rating scale or detail what is considered compatible.

Current UL standards, notably UL 1472, are intended to regulate the safety of dimmers. One notable issue addressed

by UL 1472 is in-rush current which is generated at the start up of many LED and CFL lamp loads. High in-rush current can result in switch contacts failure, which is a safety hazard in many field applications – such as dimmers – where the switch is serving as the disconnect means.

Two-wire vs. three-wire installations A third major issue is that most of the existing residential wiring infrastructure was built without a neutral wire at the switch box. The absence of the neutral wire is referred to as two-wire lighting control while the inclusion of a neutral at

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the switch box is referred to as three-wire lighting control. The option of two specific types of lighting control wiring installations for dimmers poses certain challenges that lighting control designers need to account for in planning to control a broader range of lamp types with a single dimmer.

There are significant differences in performance between these two installations in terms of how the dimmer circuitry is powered and how line synchronization is obtained. When used to drive incandescent lamp loads, these differences are mostly negligible. But, when used to drive

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LED loads, they present significant challenges to stable dimming and lighting control.

All phase-controlled dimmers need to synchronize within an AC line in order to work correctly. Without the ability to sense the AC line and its zero-crossings, a phase-controlled dimmer would not detect the correct timing for switching the AC voltage, and it would lose its ability to control and dim the lamp load. The end result is flickering and fluttering of the light output.

In three-wire installations, three wires – line, load and neutral – Continued on page 22

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WHITE PAPER • Leviton in addition to ground are present in the lighting control wall box. The line wire comes from the AC power source and supplies power for both the dimmer and the load. The load wire is connected to the lamp load and provides a return path for the power delivered to the load. The third neutral wire provides the essential return path for the dimmer even when the load is disconnected or isn’t drawing any current. This ensures that the dimmer device has a direct connection to the AC power source regardless of the state of the load. This third wire not only ensures that the dimmer has power, it also provides a clean signal of the incoming AC power source for detection of zero-crossings and synchronization with the line – both essential to stable phase-controlled dimming.

In two-wire devices and installations, only two wires are present in the wall box: the line wire and the load wire.

With only two wires, the dimmer must rely on the current passing through the load to both power its own internal circuitry and to detect zero-crossings for synchronization with the AC line. If the load current is regular, as is the case for incandescent lamps, then stable line synchronization and ample power for the dimmer’s internal circuitry are both easy to obtain. With LED lamps, however, the load current is much smaller and much less regular, and line synchronization becomes difficult. Without adequate supply and stable line synchronization, lamp flickering may result.

Code changes create further compatibility challenges In 2011, the National Electrical Code (NEC) added a requirement to new installations requiring a neutral wire in all switch boxes. Although there was strong concern of the additional construction costs, this requirement was added after twelve years of debate and effectively addresses advancements in lighting controls that require a neutral wire for safe and effective operation. Many lighting control devices require that the switch be provided with standby voltage and current at the switch in order to operate.

In the past, many electricians did not include a neutral conductor at switch locations, and the result was the equipment grounding conductor being used as the 22

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neutral conductor. While the current on the equipment grounding conductor is typically less than 0.50 mA, the accumulation of many switches can result in an unacceptable amount of current on the equipment grounding conductors. With this change, gone are the days of using dead end three-way switches and two conductor switch loops.

Don’t get left in the dark Although the latest NEC requirements include the use of a neutral wire in all new switch boxes, the vast majority of existing installations, pre-2011, likely do not have a neutral wire present. Understanding this, it should be assumed that in all likelihood a home’s system is a two-wire system. Therefore, dimming products introduced into the market must be able to offer not only a three-wire solution for meeting all the necessary requirements of today and tomorrow’s lighting, but also remain backwards compatible to work effectively with all two-wire solutions as well.

Today, device manufacturers, such as Leviton, are offering newer options that better understand and utilize the unique characteristics of CFL and LED lamps. In the past, manufacturers offered a relatively low-tech approach to “universal” dimming with simple trim adjustments to eliminate flickering, possibly at expense of dimming range. However, the newer technology available today features microprocessor-based controls optimizing LED performance by eliminating some of the issues detailed earlier while still maintaining expected dimming range.

Each of these newer, energy efficient lamps has specific needs for proficient dimming, so device manufacturers and major lamp manufacturers must collaboratively work together to develop internal testing protocols to ensure compatibility.

Product evaluation needs to take place, determining consistent dimmer performance – measuring dimming range, pop on voltage, drop out voltage, appearance of flicker, noise and in-rush current – with specific lamps.

However, issues arise with this type of independent testing. Without a defined set of industry standards, device manufacturers are developing their own internal grading scale to rate lamp performance. These company-established standards are sub-

Electrical Products & Solutions • September 2012

jective based on specific products, and the variances may pose a problem for designers, installers and consumers. As discussed in prior sections, now more than ever, establishing industry-wide performance standards is imperative.

Conclusion As energy efficient lamps continue to penetrate the lighting market, the availability of new lighting controls that meet the specific needs of these lamps is increasing, allowing consumers to take fuller advantage of all of the benefits of the newer, more energy efficient lamps.

New dimmers need to offer complete functionality – compatible with a twowire approach to meet the needs of the existing electrical infrastructure prior to 2011, while incorporating future-proof technological advancements that are adaptable to three-wire installations as well as the next generation of lighting requirements.

Designers, installers and consumers should become familiar with the nuances of these energy efficient lamps and educate themselves on how they will interact with specific dimming controllers to ensure the maximum benefits of the energy savings and ambiance are achieved.

About the Authors Michael Neary is a Product Line Manager for Leviton’s Residential Lighting Controls business. A veteran of the lighting industry with more than 15 years of experience in lighting technologies, Mike earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from SUNY New Paltz and an MBA from LeMoyne College.

Marc Gallo, Ph.D., P.E. is a Senior Electrical Engineer for Leviton’s Residential Lighting Controls business. With more than 20 years of lighting controls design experience, Marc has designed innovative lighting systems for a widerange of applications. Marc is also a licensed professional engineer and holds a Ph.D. from the Polytechnic Institute of New York University.

1 http://www.energystar.gov/ia/products/downloads/CFL_ Market_Profile.pdf 2 http://techcrunch.com/2011/02/15/philips-predicts-ledswill-take-50-percent-of-lighting-market-by-2015/ 3 http://www.nema.org/stds/complimentary-docs/upload/ SSL%206%20Contents%20and%20Scope1.pdf 4 http://ulstandardsinfonet.ul.com/scopes/scopes.asp?fn= 1472.html

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT • CONDUIT REPAIR SYSTEMS, INC.

Introducing the

Split PVC Wye: A Unique Product For Your Electrical and Communications Conduit Infrastructure

By Lonnie D. Clove

NEARLY TWENTY YEARS AGO sweeps. The engineering and sales de- sweeps rolled off the assembly line.

Conduit Repair Systems, Inc. started business with a newly patented snap together split conduit. The founders of the company were excited to see the large response they received in the marketplace for their split conduit and split couplings.

However, it wasn’t long after business had started that customers began asking if they could get certain accessories produced to go along with the split conduit products such as 90 degree and 45 degree split 24

partment went out into the marketplace to see if there was anything similar in nature to what these customers were requesting.

The company discovered that there was not any other type of 90 degree split sweep available. With this information in hand, the engineering department went to work to create the molds and procedures necessary to bring the world 90 degree split sweeps. After nearly three months of development the first 90 degree split

Electrical Products & Solutions • September 2012

Now as we fast forward to today Conduit Repair Systems, Inc. has once again received many requests from customers to add a new accessory to their split conduit product line. “Over the past couple of years we have seen an increasing request for a split PVC wye” said Paul McMullin, National Sales Manager. Due to this continual request from customers to produce a split PVC wye it was decided by the company Continued on page 26

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT • CONDUIT REPAIR SYSTEMS, INC. management to again do a study to determine the product feasibility. As the engineering and sales departments went out into the marketplace to again see if there was anything similar in nature to the split PVC wye that customers were requesting, the company again discovered that there wasn’t any other type of split PVC wye available. With this information in hand,

Continued from page 24

the engineering department again went to work to create the molds to bring the world the first split PVC wyes’. After a number of months of development the first split PVC wyes’ recently rolled off of the assembly line and are now available.

The company has initially produced these new split PVC wyes’ in 2 inch and 4 inch sizes. The company has stated that

as demand increases and requests come from their customers for other sizes they are open to expanding the line into all sizes they currently offer. The new split PVC wyes’ will be available individually or as a prepackaged kit containing a split PVC wye along with three split adapter couplings. The split adapter couplings will allow users of the product to attach each leg of the split PVC wye back to regular round schedule 40 PVC conduit.

Conduit Repair Systems also produces a split coupling that connects split conduit to split conduit. The split couplings that connect to split conduit will also be available in the kits if customers need to extend split conduit on one or more of the legs of the split PVC wye.

Even though this product is new and has recently finished all of its testing there is already a number of uses customers have suggested to the company as they have requested the product. Some of the proposed uses have been by communications companies needing to split off their existing fiber optic lines to take fiber into individual homes or businesses. Other electrical contractors that have requested the product have suggested that they will use the split PVC wyes’ in applications where they need to pull a new cable through an existing conduit but at some point along the existing conduit they need Continued on page 28 the new line to branch FOR FREE INFO, CIRCLE 44 ON READER SERVICE CARD

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT • CONDUIT REPAIR SYSTEMS, INC. off in a different direction than the existing conduit. Over the years the company has been surprised at the many different applications customers have come up with for all of their split conduit products. Paul McMullin, National Sales Manager, said “I am certain that we will be surprised at all of the unique ways our customers will use this new split wye, just as we have

Continued from page 26

been surprised at the many unique applications customers have used our split sweeps and our other split conduit products”. One of the new areas of business that Conduit Repair Systems has seen tremendous growth over the past couple of years has been with solar companies utilizing their split sweeps in large solar farm construction. Some of these large

solar companies have also indicated that the split PVC wye will be a very useful accessory in the construction of their solar farms. Municipal street light departments have also been one of the industry areas that have regularly made requests for the split wye. The company feels that the uses and applications for the split PVC wyes’ will be almost limitless as contractors, utilities, communication and telephone companies begin to understand the cost and time savings a product like this can offer them.

Other products produced by Conduit Repair Systems include split conduit, split couplings, split adapter couplings, split 45and split 90- degree sweeps, and prepackaged conduit repair kits. The company offers all of their sizes of products in schedule 40; some sizes are also available in schedule 80 and type C. All of their products have been specifically designed for power and communications applications. Conduit Repair Systems products all use UL approved plastic and conform to NEMA standards. Additionally, Conduit Repair Systems’ products can be made watertight when properly installed following their installation instructions. The products are available in 1”, 1-1⁄4”, 1-1⁄2”, 2”, 2-1⁄2”, 3”, 4”, 5”, and 6” sizes. You can find more information by visiting the company’s website at www.conduitrepair.com.

Conduit Repair Systems products are one-of-a-kind and very unique. The company believes that by their adding a split PVC wye to their product line they are continuing to develop and offer the best quality, one-of-a-kind conduit repair products on the market. ❏ FOR FREE INFO, CIRCLE 45 ON READER SERVICE CARD

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Industry NEWS

Conergy Completes 1.8MW Solar Electric Installation for Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. 1.8MW solar farm among largest in Pennsylvania In April, Conergy was joined by Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. (Aqua) Chairman Nicholas DeBenedictis, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett and other state, local and environment officials to commission Conergy’s 1.8MW solar electric energy system installation at the Pickering water treatment facility, now the 8th largest solar farm installation in Pennsylvania. The installation has transformed a 6.5-acre area into a highly-productive clean energy generation plant creating green jobs, alleviating congestion on the PJM grid and producing clean, renewable energy that will save Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. (Aqua) $250,000 on its energy bill. The project – known as the Aqua Pickering Solar Farm – is currently producing 2.3kWh of peak-time energy a year for the treatment and transportation of water to approximately 500,000 residents of 27 municipalities in Chester Delaware and Montgomery counties in South-eastern Pennsylvania. The solar farm will not only power Aqua’s Pickering water treatment facility in Schuylkill Township, Pennsylvania, but also alleviate congestion on the PJM grid, resulting in savings to consumers by reducing line losses and congestion charges. PJM is a regional transmission organization (RTO) that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity across 13 states and the District of Columbia.

Aqua received a much-coveted $1.5 million grant for the solar installation, which was disbursed from the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA), funded in part with federal stimulus dollars. ROSI, or Return on Solar Investment, can be found in many aspects of this well-crafted project. Pickering Solar Farm will generate approximately 50 thousand MWh of solar photovoltaic electricity over the project’s lifetime. Aqua’s decision to produce electricity from solar energy versus traditional fossil-fuel-fed power plants over the coming decades keeps more than 50,000 tons of carbon dioxide and related greenhouse gasses from entering Pennsylvania’s air. This translates into the equivalent of 170,070 gallons of gasoline, thereby reducing CO2 emissions by 2 million pounds each year which is the equivalent emissions from 297 passenger cars or the equivalent of planting 2313 acres of carbon-sequestering trees, eliminating the pollutants that would come from 49 million car miles and offsetting the burning of 4,300 barrels of oil annually. Kurt Zwerko, President of Conergy Projects, Inc., says Conergy is building a reputation for providing innovative solutions for utilities from coast to coast.

“Our 3 MW solar energy solution for Exelon’s Power Team transformed the gray dirt of 16.5 acres of landfill buffer to pay dirt. And Conergy’s 1.6 MW solar energy solution at California’s South San Joaquin Irrigation District is saving the agency $400,000 a year in energy costs while providing a unique cost-benefit analysis on how two distinct solar energy solutions – crystalline panels and thin-film – perform under a range of climatic conditions,” he noted. ❏ FOR FREE INFO, CIRCLE 46 ON READER SERVICE CARD

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Industry NEWS

Leviton Acquires Home Automation, Inc. Acquisition broadens Leviton’s home automation controls offering Leviton recently announced the acquisition of Home Automation, Inc. (HAI), a leader in home automation controls for residential and light commercial applications.

HAI enhances Leviton’s current home automation offerings by providing homeowners with solutions that combine security, energy management and entertainment controls, in user-friendly applications.

Integrating HAI products with Leviton’s solutions provides homeowners with a smart choice for automation and remote access capabilities. HAI has a wide-ranging product offering, from systems that allow homeowners to control their automated video surveillance system and audio devices over the Internet to programmable thermostats and light switches

accessible directly from a smart phone.

“Leviton’s acquisition of HAI represents a significant expansion of our offerings in the residential market, and furthers Leviton’s commitment to providing customers with the latest technologies as affordable, easy-to-use solutions,” said Daryoush Larizadeh, Chief Operating Officer of Leviton.

“Leviton and HAI are two established brands coming together to offer a complete whole home automation solution that customers can trust.”

HAI will operate as a new, standalone business unit, branded HAI by Leviton, and maintain operations in New Orleans.

The new business unit will be managed

by Jay McLellan, current CEO and presi-

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dent of HAI, who will report directly to Daryoush Larizadeh. HAI product lines will soon be available through Leviton’s U.S. and international channel partners and distributors. Leviton also plans to provide its builder and contractor network with the necessary training for installing HAI systems.

“We are proud to be part of the Leviton team, joining a company with a rich history and well-established brand,” added Mr. McLellan. “Through the combined technologies from Leviton and HAI, we anticipate continued growth and innovation in the home automation space, providing homeowners with additional advancements for years to come.”

The acquisition of HAI continues Leviton’s commitment to strategic growth and innovation. Leviton has evolved into a global provider of electrical wiring devices, data connectivity solutions and lighting and energy management systems for a variety of end-use markets. ❏

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Product FOCUS Bridgeport Introduces Intersystem Ground Rod Bridge Clamp Patented Mighty-Bond® solution for ground rod applications connects multiple systems to same electrical grounding rod Bridgeport Fittings has introduced the Mighty-Bond® Intersystem Ground Rod Bridge Clamp (IGBC-063), an intersystem bonding device utilizing four terminal points for connecting multiple grounding and bonding conductors in conjunction with the electrical GEC to a ground rod. The easy-to-install, patented solution is UL-Listed for ½inch and 5/8-inch ground rods and meets the requirement of NEC Article 250.94.

Bridgeport’s innovative ground rod bridge clamp is manufactured with a precision-machined, corrosion-resistant brass body and comes with stainless steel screws that make installation fast and simple. The Mighty-Bond product provides electrical intersystem bonding of cable/TV, telephone and data communications systems by securing their grounding conductors to the ground rod via a 4-terminal clamp.

Bridgeport’s Mighty-Bond® Intersystem Ground Rod Bridge Clamp is part of Bridgeport’s exclusive and innovative Mighty-B™ line of highquality, high-performance products that allow contractors to safely and easily install electrical systems while getting the job ‘done fast, done right.’

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

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Product FOCUS

Fulham Launches FREELITE Photoluminescent Exit Signage Fulham’s new FREELITE photoluminescent emergency exit signs require no batteries or electrical power other than the normal existing ambient light in your facility (minimum 5 ft candles). FREELITE™ technology absorbs light when it is available, then the self-illuminating materials in the signs shine bright when the lights go out. These LEED Points-qualified signs don’t need testing or maintenance (other than occasional dusting) and won’t fail during power loss. FREELITE™ technology is Tritium-free (non-radioactive) and fully recyclable. Fulham also offers custom photoluminescent solutions, including trim for fire emergency equipment, extinguisher covers, tiles, switchplates, running man signs and more.

For more information, visit www.fulham.com

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Product FOCUS Klein Tools® Introduces the Electrical Industry’s First Laser-Etched Fiberglass Fish Tapes Save money, time and materials with more accurate conduit run measurements Klein Tools for professionals since 1857, introduces the industry’s first fiberglass fish tape with permanent laser-etched measurements marked in descending one foot increments. The non-conductive fish tape increases productivity by eliminating the measurement step when pulling wire or cable through conduit. Electricians and cable installers can instantly and accurately measure the length of conduit runs while fishing by reading the amount of tape left to pay out. This avoids expensive re-work and wasted materials saving both time and money.

Designed for flexibility and easy navigation, Klein’s new laser-etched fiberglass fish tapes slide effortlessly over existing wires or cables and through multiple bends. A durable, flexible seven inch leader pushes through crowded conduit. The descending laser measurement markings quickly let users know how much tape remains on the reel. Klein’s exclusive fish tape case saves time and effort by taking up to 15% more tape in a single revolution. The lightweight tapes resist harsh elements and are strength-rated for up to 500 pulling pounds.

The Klein Tools new laser-etched fiberglass tapes are available in three sizes: 50’ Laser-Etched Fiberglass Fish Tape (Cat. No. 56009) 100’ Laser-Etched Fiberglass Fish Tape (Cat. No. 56010) 200’ Laser-Etched Fiberglass Fish Tape (Cat. No. 56014) For more information, visit www.kleintools.com

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

Company

PG#

RS#

11 IBC BC 23 28 36 32 15 26 40 27 34 3 36 9 7 16 29 19 38 IFC

11 2 3 17 45 51 48 13 44 56 19 50 5 52 9 8 41 20 15 53 1

AEE SOLAR AEMC INSTRUMENTS ALCAN CABLE AMERICAN PIPE & PLASTICS AMERICAN TECHNICAL PUBLISHERS ARPI OF USA BACKWOODS SOLAR BRADY WORLDWIDE BYTE BROTHERS CALIFORNIA TURBO CONDUIT REPAIR SYSTEMS COPPER WIRE STRIPPER EXTECH INSTRUMENTS E-Z METER FLIR GENERATOR INTERLOCK TECHNOLOGIES GENSCO HIOKI USA ICC KRENZ & COMPANY MEGGER

Company MH RHODES/CRAMER COMPANY MINUTEMAN UPS NATIONAL WIRE & CABLE NEXLIGHT NORTHWEST LIGHTING SYSTEMS PG LIFELINK PHASE-A-MATIC PHILIPS CAPRI PLATINUM TOOLS PRUF LED SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC SNAPNRACK SOKKIA SOUTHWIRE STEELMAN INDUSTRIES STRIP-TEC SUMMIT TECHNOLOGIES T3 INNOVATION THE HOME DEPOT UNDERGROUND DEVICES UTILITY METALS

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PG#

RS#

34 33 30 4 31 25 38 1 37 40 21 17 5 35 32 12 39 18 13 20 10

49 22 46 6 21 18 54 4 24 55 16 14 7 23 47 40 25 42 12 43 10

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