Professional Electrician & Installer September 2022 by Hamerville Media Group

GIMME 5M! WE LOOK AT THE BENEFITS OF THE NEW SELECTRIC 5M-PLUS RANGE ON YER BIKE WHY ONE ELECTRICAL BUSINESS OWNER HAS SWAPPED FOUR WHEELS FOR TWO ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: TECHNICAL ADVICE l NEW PRODUCTS l NEWS l TOOL REVIEWS l PRIZE DRAWS AND MORE... ELECTRICIAN&INSTALLERPROFESSIONAL THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE ELECTRICAL TRADE SEPTEMBER 2022 FREETOTHETRADE

Lighting solutions: from concept to reality 55 How do you profit from EV’s evolution? 89SeptemberRegulars 2022 Volume 38 No.8 Technical & Training Profiles & Special Reports 35 The types of batteries available and their typical applications 39 Why contractors need to plan ahead when digging in busy towns and cities 46 What does the introduction of protected escape routes mean for cable routing and equipment in these areas? 48 From Apprentice to Technical Engagement Manager: how did it happen? 51 What exactly is a ‘prosumer’? Prize Draw 99 WIN! Amazing C.K Tools prize bundles to be bagged 55Lighting How do products make the journey from creative spark to fully installed? 59 The five best retrofit lighting solutions for commercial lighting projects 62 Why your customers should speculate to accumulate 65 How lighting controls can ensure compliance with changes to Part L Building Regulations 68 Can your choice of batteries for emergency lighting help to achieve energy and cost savings? 71 The role that Human Centric Lighting has played in improving the conditions at one of Dublin’s leading teaching hospitals 72 Lighting control for large LED loads: what are the key things to consider? 74 We review the Ovia Inceptor Slate Blacklit LED Panel Light 75 Putting the Engex 700LM Pocket Flood Light to the test 77 3D printed luminaires: why do they matter? 19 We catch up with an electrical business owner who has swapped four wheels for two 24 Do you need relationship support from our industry charity? 27 ESP celebrates a very special anniversary 5 VIEWPOINT 7 NEWS 16 ELEX COVENTRY PREVIEW 31 THE ROAD TO NET ZERO 32 CODEBREAKERS 43 DR ZZEUS 44 MADE 2 MEASURE 49 THE TRAINING GROUND 75 ASK OVIA 81 CAPTAIN C-TEC 100 PRODUCTS IN PRACTICE 120 CAUGHT ON CAMERA Products & Business Solutions 83 Why ToughBuilt’s knife range is literally cut from a different cloth 86 The features that matter most when it comes to thermal imaging cameras 89 How do installers navigate the ever-evolving EV charging industry? 92 We report back from the Ford E-Transit launch event 95 Why frustrations with a common on-site issue inspired one electrician to come up with a solution to the problem 96 Can job management software help you get your life back? 98 The C.K Tools 5-Piece Dextro VDE Screwdriver Set gets the ‘product test’ treatment 99 We take the Ideal 37-020 Pro Series Premium Tool Pouch for a trial run 103 Rounding-up the latest products, tools and equipment to help you in your work COVER STORY 22 We discover more about the 5M-PLUS range from Selectric PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN September 2022 3 Total Average Net Distribution: Certification76,995 period: 1 January 2021 - 31 December 2021

Research shows that rebalancing ‘green’ taxes, called levies, on electricity and gas will help to drive down the cost of electricity and reduce customers’ bills. E.on says this policy could see £100 saved per year for up to 70% of households.Oneissuewith abandoning environmental levies, however, is that the UK will effectively lose its funding source to invest in renewables, leading to potentially greater dependency on the fossil fuels we’re trying to move away from.

With Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak left as the remaining candidates to fill the seat at the head of the table, their recent leadership debates have involved energy bills and Net Zero targets – both areas that could swing the balance when it comes to policies and ideas that can move the country forward.

@proelectrician

Have a good month and we hope you enjoy this month’s bumper 124-page issue.

As such, the ECA, which represents 3,000 Member businesses in the electrical and engineering services sector, has made three immediate proposals for the next PM:

“The devastating July heatwave should give ample warning to the next Prime Minister that climate change cannot be ignored. The quickest way to enact real, lasting change is to make it easier for UK households to access cheap, clean energy and to know how their taxes are being used to make Net Zero happen,” added Andrew.

The reality is that governments around the world are reliant on household use of electricity in the challenge to beat climate change. A strategy that ensures affordable and fair energy pricing – right now, and also in the future – will give the whole world a better chance of achieving its goal.

Boris’ exit has left the door ajar for a successor who can introduce fresh, logical thinking and ideas, with representation from within the electrical sector –namely the ECA –calling for the next leader to transform the way energy is taxed, to make sure Net Zero energy sources are incentivised, and consumers’ bills are reduced.

It has also been suggested that gas suppliers should face some kind of windfall tax, especially as some private suppliers have seen profits increase massively during the energy crisis. A tax on these profits would help to create a different pot of cash that could be invested in renewable energies for the future and help to create electricity price-cuts in the shorter term.

The second item on the ECA proposals is one that is of particular interest. Why are electricity prices four times more expensive than gas? And what impact will this have on the electrical industry in general? In 2021, 40% of the UK’s electricity was generated from renewable energy sources. However, fuel taxes on domestic electricity bills are 20% higher than on gas, meaning renewable energy is more heavily taxed. Although the wholesale price of electricity is much cheaper than gas (as are the running costs), it’s the environmental taxes that are ultimately proving the killer. Because electricity uses renewable technology, such as solar power and wind, those charges are applied to electricity rather than gas.

professionalelectrician pe@hamerville.co.uk Professional Electrician, Regal House, Regal Way, Watford, Herts, WD24 4YF

PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN September 2022 5 Meet the team

Image References (Adobe Stock): Pg 7 EV Charging © Alex Pg 24 Broken Spirit © Andrii Yalansky Pg 31 Digital Home © Kras99 Pg 39 Street Workers © Angela Bragato Pg 40 Road Signs © LensCap50 Pg 51 Prosumers © Yauhen Pg 52 Installing Solar © Franco Lucato Pg 55 Bright Ideas © Monster Ztudio Pg 59 Reception © Who Is Danny Pg 68 Modern Battery © Zetha_Work Pg 77 3D Puzzle © Andreas Prott Richard Bowler Electricity prices must come to the ‘four’ Editor’s Viewpoint Editor RICHARD BOWLER email: pe@hamerville.co.uk Digital Manager REBECCA MCGEOCH email: rmcgeoch@hamerville.co.uk Digital Assistant ADAM ROBERTS email: aroberts@hamerville.co.uk Advertisement Manager ANTHONY SCOTT email: ascott@hamerville.co.uk Assistant Advertisement Manager IAN email:TURNERianturner@hamerville.co.uk Design ADEEL QADRI Production Assistant KERRI SMITH Group Production Manager CAROL PADGETT Distribution Manager KARL CLARK Managing Editor TERRY SMITH Printed by: WALSTEAD PETERBOROUGH Published by: HAMERVILLE MEDIA GROUP Regal House, Regal Way, Watford, Herts, WD24 4YF Tel: 01923 237799 Fax: 01923 246901 Email: PROFESSIONALpe@hamerville.co.ukELECTRICIAN is the business journal for the electrical contracting industry. It is available to the trade at leading electrical wholesalers throughout the UK. © 2022 Subscriptions to PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN are available. Please contact us for rates.

ECA Director of Workforce and Public Affairs, Andrew Eldred, commented: “In light of the recent leadership debates, where energy bills and Net Zero were at the fore, we want to remind the two remaining candidates that now is the time to refresh outdated energy policies, incentivise renewable energy generation, and ultimately bring down the skyrocketing cost of energy for Britain’s homes and businesses.”

1. Transparency on the use of ‘green’ taxes from our fuel bills, to demonstrate fair investment in Net Zero infrastructure 2. Parity between gas and electricity taxes in fuel bills 3. In the longer term, moving incentives for low carbon energy into general taxation.

At the time of writing, the race to replace Boris Johnson as Conservative Party leader is gathering pace.

If individuals want to join City & Guilds’ campaign, they can make a pledge online and C&G will issue you with a City & Guilds digital credential that you can share with your networks.

Furthermore, thanks to the digital delivery, all content can be adapted in line with any changes in regulations, meaning users can be assured that the information shown is up to date. Initially loaded with 35 guides, covering topics such as Application of RCDs and Risk Assessment in The Workplace, the NICEIC App will grow with additional content being added as required.

Fully searchable and clearly displayed, these engaging guides are optimised for handheld devices and operate seamlessly across both Android and iOS systems.

JTL has crowned the winners of this year’s National Apprentice of the Year awards.

City & Guilds is calling on industry to ensure all those working on EV charging point installations are equipped with the skills they need to install chargers in a way that’s safe for both themselves and consumers.

NICEIC unveils Pocket Guide App

PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN September 2022 7 For the latest electrical news visit www.professional-electrician.comnews @proelectrician professionalelectrician pe@hamerville.co.uk Professional Electrician, Regal House, Regal Way, Watford, Herts, WD24 4YF GET MORE DETAILS AND DOWNLOAD THE APP AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ001

As the recipient of JTL’s National Apprentice of the Year Award 2022, Michelle was presented with the winner’s silver cup and £1,000 cheque from JTL. C&G calls on industry to improve EV charge point installation competence

Michelle takes top spot at JTL Apprentice Awards

Leicestershire-based Michelle Robinson, who works for Electract’s inspection and testing team since ﬁnishing her apprenticeship with the company, was named the winner of the JTL National Apprentice of the Year Award for 2022.

As part of the selection process, each ﬁnalist was invited to be interviewed by National Delivery Director, Judi Wheeler.

With the vast majority (73%) of respondents likely to seek work in installing or repairing EV charge points in the next 12 months, this demonstrates a clear risk unless companies ensure their workforce have the necessary training, skills, knowledge and experience to undertake this work safely.

Once completed and reviewed, it was agreed that Michelle, Tommy, and Alex should be named JTL’s national winners.

This new research is supported by ﬁndings from CENEX and OZEV (compiled for the Department for Transport) which reported that nearly a ﬁfth (18%) of new at home charge point installations installed as part of the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) had dangerous or potentially dangerous issues, and only 32% were labelled as satisfactory.City&Guilds is asking people in the industry to support its call to professionalise the EV charging market by making their own commitment to drive up standards and promote safety.

York-based Tommy Rice who works for JDL and Lincolnshire-based Alex Jolley who works for Dornan Engineering Services Limited, were named the national winners of the Mechanical Engineering Services (MES) and Paul McNaughton Electrical (formerly Electrical Apprentice) awards respectively. After being crowned winners for their academic and practical progress at JTL’s Regional Awards earlier this year, Michelle, Tommy and Alex went on to compete against eight other regional electrical and MES winners at JTL’s National Awards ceremony.

NICEIC has launched its all-new Pocket Guide App for electrical professionals. Free to download and available to all NICEIC certiﬁed businesses, the App houses a bank of 35 technical reference guides, all updated to BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 where relevant. Also included are handy calculators for checking Zs values, Adiabatic Equations, Conductor Resistance and Length and Design Current.

In a survey of 500 UK electricians conducted by Censuswide on behalf of City & Guilds, 99% of respondents understood there to be major risks associated with electrical vehicle charging work. Despite the dangers, only 28% of respondents said they have so far undertaken speciﬁc electrical vehicle charge point training.

The new qualiﬁcation has been introduced in response to the UK’s aim to become net-zero by 2050. The transport sector is one of the biggest emitters of CO2 and a major source of air pollution in cities. Decarbonising transport is therefore essential, and one of the primary drivers enabling this strategy is the adoption of EVs. In addition to the government's net-zero ambition, consumers in owner-occupier ﬂats and rented properties can access a 75% contribution towards the cost of one chargepoint and its installation through an OZEV (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles) authorised installer.

Roundtable results Earlier this year, City & Guilds hosted an industry roundtable which highlighted concerns about the current skills gap of limited numbers of trained electricians carrying out installation work and a growing number of poorly installed EV chargeThesepoints.results prompted City & Guilds to introduce a new suite of EV qualiﬁcations aimed at practicing electricians wishing to reskill in order to safely install and maintain EV Thechargepoints.qualiﬁcations are intended for three separate markets, namely design and installation of domestic and small commercial EV charging installations, design and quality assurance of largescale EV charging installations and the installation and maintenance of largescale EV charging installations.

Upon successful completion, you will receive a City & Guilds 2921-31 Certiﬁcate of Competence. Low Carbon Technologies Centre of Excellence opens too NAPIT's new centre of excellence for low carbon technologies, located at its Mansﬁeld headquarters, has opened its doors to learners, including those wishing to upskill in low carbon cutting-edge technologies. Designed to offer a variety of low carbon training, the centre will offer courses on solar PV, heat pumps, energy storage, and electric vehicles.

The two-day course will provide you with the technology speciﬁc knowledge that is required to install EV charging points with conﬁdence.

NAPIT Training introduces new EVCP qualiﬁcation and Centre of Excellence to help bridge skills gap

NAPIT Training supports these changes in the industry and now offers the domestic and small commercial EV charging installations qualiﬁcation at all three of its training centres as well as pop-up centres across the UK.

“As NAPIT is a microgeneration certiﬁcation scheme provider, offering a route for training, certiﬁcation and assessment for low carbon technologies all in one place enhances our offering to tradespeople looking to showcase their competence,” adds Brett.

“We’ve created a space for tradespeople to learn about ever developing low carbon technologies which includes the use of all the necessary training rigs and components with an outdoor rooﬁng structure that stimulates real-life conditions for solar PV installations,” states Brett Forster, Head of Training at NAPIT. For more than a decade, NAPIT has been offering a range of courses with a team of professional trainers who each have many years' experience. Through its new centre, NAPIT aims to develop a centralised location for learning that brings together many areas. In the new hub, learners will be able to take advantage of excellent training facilities that provide real-life work scenarios and will be able to earn industry-recognised credentials upon successful completion.

GET MORE TRAINING AND COURSE BOOKING DETAILS AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ002 8 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN

NAPIT Training has launched a new EVCP course, Level 3 Award in the Design and Installation of Domestic and Small Commercial Electric Vehicle Charging Installations (City & Guilds 2921-31).

For the latest electrical news visit www.professional-electrician.comnews @proelectrician professionalelectrician pe@hamerville.co.uk Professional Electrician, Regal House, Regal Way, Watford, Herts, WD24 4YF

Royal call of duty crowns Clive’s 40-year career

@proelectrician professionalelectrician pe@hamerville.co.uk Professional Electrician, Regal House, Regal Way, Watford, Herts, WD24 4YF

UK Power Networks’ Asset Inspector, Clive Ward, who is 56, has joined UK Power Networks’ 40-plus Club for long-serving staff. Clive joined the company aged 16 as an apprentice electrician training at Dover in Seeboard’s training centre. His job involved rewiring houses, including shower, cooker and heating circuits and renewing fuse boards. He said: “One of the highlights of my career was a ﬁve-year contract to test and update the wiring in the Royal residences including Buckingham Palace, Royal Mews and Clarence House.

An Epsom man whose job took him behind the scenes at Buckingham Palace has been honoured after 40 years in the electricity industry.

For the latest electrical news visit www.professional-electrician.comnews

“I worked in the centre room that leads to the Buckingham Palace balcony and remember people below that saw the curtains twitching while we were working in there and thought we were royalty, but it was just us! “I also worked in the Queen’s bedroom once, because we had to test all the switches, sockets and light ﬁttings in eachCliveroom.”alsoworked on electrical fuse-boards, sockets and lighting circuits at Heathrow Airport for three years at night. Ten years were spent working for Runnymede Borough Council’s maintenance department, testing, repairing and renewing council tenants’ house lighting and power. Now as an Asset Inspector, Clive inspects, maintains and looks after up to ten electricity substations per day in the Guildford, Croydon and Kingston areas.

M&E

An East Midlands mechanical and electrical contractor that started life in the CEO’s garage is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year.

Partnership gives Sevadis a ‘Jump’ start

Formerly Woodward Electrical, Woodward Group was originally founded by the company’s CEO, Alan Woodward, in 1987 and set up from the garage at his house in Burton on Trent. The company quickly took off, and following a period of sustained growth, Woodward Group lay down roots at a modern facility on Granary Wharf Business Park in 2015, where it is still based today, and has recently purchased a larger office on the same estate to allow for further expansion. As well as maintaining longstanding clients over a 35-year period, Alan’s proudest achievement with Woodward Group is when his son, Aden, took on the role of Managing Director in 2013. Aden hopes to continue his father’s ambition of growing the team further and feels passionately about developing the company’s charitable, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) efforts.

12 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN GET MORE DETAILS ABOUT JUMPTECH’S EV INSTALLATION SOFTWARE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ004

Craig Slater, Managing Director of Sevadis, said: “We’re delighted to be collaborating with Jumptech to support our growing network of Sevadis approved installers, providing them and their customers with a streamlined and transparent installation process.”

To launch the campaign, WernerCo has recently carried out research amongst professionals and non-professionals to determine their work at height practices. The research revealed that when purchasing access equipment, stability and safety are the most important factors when choosing equipment for professionals, secondary to price and value.

Sevadis has announced a new partnership with software provider, Jumptech to support the roll-out of the nation’s network of EV charging points. The partnership brings together two leading EV charging companies to provide electrical installers and contractors with an efficient and streamlined chargepoint installation process. The Jumptech platform will simplify the install process for Sevadis’ installers, commercial customers and EV driving customers and keep all parties informed about progress of the projects.

WernerCo to reach new heights with ladder safety campaign contractor celebrates 35 years in business

The collaboration comes at an exciting time in the industry where the number of EV chargepoint installers is increasing, alongside the demand for EV chargepoints across both domestic and commercial properties.

WernerCo has also recently become a Gold Supporter of the No Falls Foundation, a charity dedicated to working at height and height safety. The charity has three objectives: raising awareness of the risks associated with working at height; undertaking research into the causes; and providing guidance and support for those affected by a fall.

WernerCo has unveiled a new safety campaign – Stepping up to Ladder Safety – to promote best practice when working at height. The campaign explores how to stay safe on-site for both construction workers and health and safety professionals. As part of the campaign, WernerCo has created a series of guides covering topics such as how to use equipment safely as well as offering practical training courses.

VIEW WERNER’S LADDER SAFETY GUIDES AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ003

Phil Nunn, CEO & Founder of Jumptech, said: “Sevadis has a great product range which is increasingly popular with installers and commercial customers. We’re looking forward to working with the team to make it simple for drivers and businesses to switch to electric vehicles.”

Investment in production and testing expertise from Seaward is helping an importer and distributor of domestic lighting ensure products supplied to trade customers across the UK work safely.

HAL makes light work of electrical safety testing

Didi Prakova, Pacific’s Technologist, said: “It now only takes us 15 seconds on average to complete a full product electrical safety test cycle, which is easily done at the press of a button. This is a major step forward thanks to Seaward’s input and a significant benefit to our distribution operations, particularly when product demand is purpose-builttestedProductshigh.”arefullyatPacific’sfacility using the HAL, verifying the safety of lights imported from South East Asia before they’re distributed to trade wholesalers across the UK. This includes batch-testing of current ranges as part of quality control procedures along with 100% checking of all new product introductions.

For the latest electrical news visit www.professional-electrician.com

news GET MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE SEAWARD HAL RANGE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ005

Huddersfield-based Pacific, which is quality assured by the Lighting Industry Association, has been involved in the design and import of a wide range of lighting among other household products for over 50 years. This includes contemporary table and floor lamps, wall lights and outdoor lighting. After investing in a HAL LED, the firm has been working closely with Seaward to develop an effective regime to secure optimum electrical test performance, improving both the speed and accuracy of product safety checks carried out by the quality and safety compliance department.

Hager has new team members Insight YOUR INTEREST AND OUT MORE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ006

The member beneﬁts include: A ﬁrst look at new products

This is an exciting chance to provide a manufacturer with feedback based on your years of experience and contribute your ideas to help shape product developments and services at Hager.

What's in it for you?

Members of the Insight Team get to see product concepts during design phases and provide their feedback, whether it be via an online survey, a call with Hager product managers, an installation trial or a focus group. All forms of feedback are highly valued by the Hager team. Product trials Some of the projects asked of the Insight Team include a request to test products before they get launched into the market. This is to ensure products can be fully reﬁned prior to launch, to ensure they are of the quality expected fromMembershipHager. is free and ongoing, with the option to opt-out at any time.

FIND

@proelectrician professionalelectrician pe@hamerville.co.uk Professional Electrician, Regal House, Regal Way, Watford, Herts, WD24 4YF Fancy shaping future developmentsproduct with Hager? Then the Insight Team could be for you! The Insight Team is an opportunityexclusiveHager offers to electrical contractors and electricians, enabling them to share their voice and provide valuable insight that could impact future developments. Why join the team?

Hager values what customers think and what they have to say. Joining the Insight Team is a great way for you to get more involved in the industry and make a difference.

Taking place across two days, ELEX – the leading UK exhibition for electrical professionals –returns to Coventry (14th/15th September) and we’ve got great news for visitors that are serious about their CPD! AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ007

Recent changes to The Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS) which sets out the minimum requirements for a business to be recognised as technically competent by a Certification or Registration Body, includes a requirement for businesses to maintain appropriate records of qualifications, training (including Continuing Professional Development) and experience.

To support this requirement, EVERY ELEX seminar is now CPD accredited, ensuring those individuals who make the time and effort to attend will receive a direct certiﬁcate of completion, which can form a key part of your ongoing Continuing Professional Development record.

CONTINUE YOUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AT ELEX COVENTRY! 16 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIANYOUR SHOW, NEAR YOU... •At a venue near you •Across two days •Free parking (van friendly) •Free entry •Free T-Shirt & a free bacon roll* (*limited to first 1,000 visitors) •Show •CPD•Networking•Meet•Hands-onbargainsdemosmanufacturersopportunitiesaccreditedseminarsandcertificates PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN ELEX 2022 The Electricians’ Exhibition

With industry regulation and legislation changing constantly, the extensive ELEX seminar programme will cover an array of topics, including the latest Amendment 2 to the 18th Edition and the changes this covers, along with best practice and technical advice for professionals to get stuck into. Presentations will be delivered by experts in their ﬁeld and the only cost to delegates is their time.

ELEX Coventry takes place on 14th/15th September at the Coventry Building Society Arena, with stops in Exeter and Sandown still to come on the calendar later this year.

All seminars will take place in the IET Seminar Theatre located centrally in the exhibition hall and there’s no need for delegates to pre-book, just pre-register to attend the Whethershow.youneed some advice on the direction the sector is heading, want to chat with manufacturers about their latest solutions, view live demonstrations of the latest products or bag yourself a great show deal on tools and equipment from leading brands, your regional ELEX tradeshow has it all.

IDEAL Industries considers exhibitions to be a powerful platform to engage with electrical contractors. They enable us to network, share information, promote our business and build relationships.

As well as catching up with existing customers and ﬁnding out what their current needs are and how we can help, it allows us to meet potential new customers, demonstrate our innovations and highlight the many advantages of working with us.

QWhat is it that you value about face-to-face events when compared with virtual/digital equivalents?

The end user is the key provider of ideas into our R&D funnel and is the starting point for our Voice of Customer research, leading to the development of new products that make electricians’ lives safer and easier.

It’s understandable that some people might be apprehensive about being in a relatively conﬁned space with a high density of people. If you’re one of them, perhaps consider avoiding the ﬁrst day and attending at another time when these events tend to be a bit quieter.

QWhat would your advice be to those that might be discouraged from attending live events post-pandemic?

Furthermore, the personal attention you can demonstrate proves that you are actively listening to them and you can answer any questions they have about the products, recommend options and learn about the issues they face in their everyday working lives.

While virtual events were certainly better than nothing, the conversations that ﬂow naturally during face-to-face events are more credible, effective and enjoyable. Face-to-face events build trust and strong relationships and customers feel as if they have connected with you.

I think most of us took trade events for granted pre-pandemic but people are now chomping at the bit to get together. This was particularly evident at the ELEX show in Bolton, where IDEAL Industries had its busiest event ever. We even had to have additional stock brought in, as we sold out of our bestseller in the ﬁrst morning!

The most important point, however, is to get feedback on our products and on the challenges electricians face on a day-to-day basis so we can manufacture products that combat these challenges.

You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone! Two years of not being able to meet up and working in isolation have contributed to a renewed appreciation of face-to-face contact.

QWhat plans does IDEAL Industries have for its live event presence for the rest of this year? We will be exhibiting at the ELEX shows in Coventry and Sandown and look forward to seeing as many of you as possible.

QDo you think the return of in-person trade events and shows is an important step for the electrical industry?

Brett Smyth, Managing Director at IDEAL Industries, explains why you can’t beat the personal interaction offered through trade shows and exhibitions.

Put simply, face-to-face trade events offer the perfect opportunity for industry professionals to come together.

QWhy do you believe it is important for brands, suppliers and installers to have in-person events available and running again?

“IT’S NICE TO BE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL AGAIN AT ELEX” PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN September 2022 17 Sponsored by

QDo you think the pandemic has helped create a better appreciation of in-person events?

It is tremendously important and something I and the rest of the IDEAL Industries team have missed over the last couple of years.

PROFILE CYCLING PROFICIENTLY

PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN September 2022 19

QTell us more about your background and motivation behind the decision to launch your company, Cycling Sparks?

QHow have you found the work-related practicalities (such as transporting materials to/from locations) of making the switch from your previous method of work transportation? When I started out on my own in 2017 ownership and use of the eCargo bike wasn’t massive and it was (and still is) a very expensive purchase, so that wasn’t an option at the time. My original bike was nothing fancy (I still have it) so I had to make things work. How to cope with a bit of 2 meter trunking? Use bungee cord at the back and front. How about a drum of cable? Stick it in a pannier bag along with accessories. All the while my key tools and drills were transported in my trusty Clearlybackpack.eachdaily job now required more thinking and planning in terms of the materials that were actually needed, and this was a real change from most companies I’d worked for previously.

The main question we often get asked is how we transport ladders and heavier items. We’re lucky to have use of some great cycle logistics ﬁrms in London who will deliver ladders and any items 3 meters and above, as and when I need them. There is a premium for this service but it closes the loop and means we’re not tied to vans or adding to pollution levels where we live and operate.

As far as my professional electrical career is concerned, I’ve had a varied experience so far. I’ve worked for a big national, moving on to a small local ﬁrm using vans after that. I was then employed on large sites for a few years before eventually going out on my own. At one point I was working for a ﬁrm on a big site in SW London that was particularly difficult to get to from the south east. I’d recently been diagnosed with a heart condition and a friend suggested getting a bike to do the commute. I was 34 at the time and hadn’t ridden a bike since I was a kid. I’ll admit I was a bit nervous at the start but after a day of riding, that was it! I carried on cycling to work with my tools on my back and came up with the name of the business during one of my commutes.

With London’s roads becoming more congested and polluted, it was a no-brainer for me to continue cycling to work when I decided to go it alone and start my own company.

By 2019, I’d eventually got enough funding together to purchase an eCargo bike that would ﬁt in the storage area in the ﬂats where I live. That investment

We talk to Aaron Fleming-Saheed, to ﬁnd out more about his decision to use two wheels instead of four and how this helped inspire the launch of his electrical business – Cycling Sparks.

PROFILE opened up so many more doors for me. I could now go further to jobs and carry more than before, which meant I could offer more services.

QWhat have been the most signiﬁcant challenges (business or otherwise) you’ve faced since launching Cycling Sparks? I guess the biggest challenge has been changing peoples’ mindsets of what you can do by bike. I got a few laughs on-site when I ﬁrst started but I’ve just persevered with the idea and with the recent events over the past few years the business has naturally come into its own.

QHow have things been going for the business in general?

20 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CYCLING SPARKS AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ008

All images © Andy Matthews

Personally, I hope to take my business as far as I possibly can by continuing to grow it by moving into other sectors. But on a larger scale, as we take new recruits on and our opportunities expand further, I hope to effect change in the way things are done in metropolitan cities and to make things better for the environment.

QWhat beneﬁts can fellow electricians experience by making a similar switch from four wheels to two? The sheer simplicity in using a bike makes it quite a robust choice. There’s a long list of additional benefits, but I’ll begin with the one that will probably be at the top of most readers’ minds currently: Fuel. We don’t pay for it. We’re not queuing up for hours fighting to get some and we’re not beholden to the ludicrous price hikes. It means our business is a bit more stable than running a fleet of vans and the costs of servicing and ownership that also come as part of that. Parking. It’s a nightmare in London at the best of times. We can pretty much go to a job anywhere we want without having to worry about finding a spot or paying for it. Time. I used to spend hours in traffic when I had a vehicle. I hated it. Now I just set off when I want without having to factor in hold-ups such as school runs or roadworks. Health. When I was on a regular bike I lost a lot of weight pretty quickly. My commute wasn’t massive, I think it was 13 miles both ways. Admittedly since using eCargo bikes some of the weight has come back on but you still get a decent work out. The environment. I hope the recent heatwave has made it clear just how important climate change is. Using bikes minimises your carbon footprint drastically. You also have to ask how sustainable is it going to be to continue to use a van in built-up areas if things keep going the way they are? Sparks are a pretty bright bunch (well, some anyway) and we should be leading the way in how we’re going to deal with climate change in the trades.

Good! It’s been a lot of fun. I’ve done everything incrementally over the past ﬁve years and it’s taken a lot of trial and error to see what works well and what doesn’t. By September 2021 I’d decided there was enough demand and wanted to push things further with the business so I ordered five large eCargo bikes which we received earlier this year. As a result, we’ve been able to broaden our scope of activities even further and I’ve started taking people on.

QWhat do you hope to achieve through Cycling Sparks in the future?

he 5M-PLUS range is Selectric’s ﬁrst screwless plate design. Minimal and elegant in design, the range consists of a clip-on front plate which covers the base of each product, metal rockers and LED neons. Each accessory has a metal screwless plate which easily clips on once the product has been successfully wired up. This means the front plate can be applied after decorating, avoiding any paint mishaps, and resulting in a neat and clean overall ﬁnish.

Bespoke lasering is also available on request which is ideal for multiple switch combinations. Plastic reduction A recent overhaul to the 5M-PLUS packaging has resulted in less plastic waste to reduce carbon emissions and help protect the environment. Selectric made a resolution to reduce the total amount of plastic used in the manufacturing process, so the products now come in recyclable bags, with the heavier products such as 2 gang USB sockets and shaver units being presented in biodegradable cardboard inner boxes.

SCREWLESS PLATE DESIGN OFFERS COUNTLESS ‘PLUS’ POINTS

We discover more about the Selectric 5M-PLUS range.

There are over 300 items totalling thousands of combinations to suit every possible need. Plates are available with up to 12 apertures and there is no need for a yoke system; modules simply screw directly into the back of the plates.

22 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN

GRID360 range

The products feature integral gaskets to prevent moisture transferring from the wall to the product. This ensures the plate remains untarnished. It is incredibly easy to change the faceplate whenever you might decide, either as a direct replacement or for a different interior style should you choose to redecorate. This is all possible without the need for any special tools or expert electrical knowledge. The neons within the range are all LED for improved energy efficiency and have a sleek streamlined aperture. Unlike traditional neons which take a few seconds to warm up, the LED neons reach full brightness as soon as the power source is switched on. Additionally, the lifespan of the neon is not affected by the number of times you ﬂick the switch.

The 5M-PLUS products ﬁt all standard metal back boxes and dry lining boxes, allowing a simple exchange for any products you may already have installed.

The 5M-PLUS range has gone from strength to strength and, due to increased demand, Selectric has developed eight combinations of popular plate finishes and inserts, the most recent being matt black. The matt black finish features a new hard wearing chip resistant paint formula, making it much tougher than previous versions. Furthermore, the new paint technique conforms to all the latest environmental regulations in order to control pollution and manage natural resources with the purpose of protecting the environment. Keep your eyes peeled for a new finish in the 5M-PLUS range that will hit the shelves soon –the 5M-PLUS antique brass.

COVER STORY

Many of the accessories in the range are CE and UKCA approved and comply with the very latest standards. There is a ﬁve-year plate guarantee across the range for ultimate peace of mind.

Selectric’s GRID360 range is also worth a mention. With modular plates and modules available that correspond with all 5M-PLUS ﬁnishes, it makes it incredibly easy to create any arrangement of personalised products.

The Other House, South Kensington The Portfolio Club has refurbished the former Harrington Hall Hotel (which has been empty for six years) and brought it back into use under the new brand name –The Other House, which is located close to Hyde Park and Knightsbridge and on the doorstep of some of London’s most iconic cultural landmarks. Taking a strong stand on environmental responsibility, The Other House was designed to promote physical and mental well-being. Built sustainably, natural products have been used wherever possible. With tree-ﬁlled courtyards and green roofs, the designers have created a sanctuary in the heart of the city to relax and restore. Selectric collaborated with the designers and contractors and created a bespoke antique brass screwless plate for this project. The company also developed some custom toggle switches exact to the client’s requirements whilst complimenting the traditional style of the refurbishment, showcasing the very best in British craftsmanship and award-winning design.

HarbourSouthamptonHotel & Spa, Ocean Village Southampton’s only 5-star hotel, the Southampton Harbour Hotel & Spa, has transformed Ocean Village. Set on a small, private marina with a striking ’super yacht’ style design, the critically acclaimed ﬂagship hotel is known for its stunning contemporary interiors. On the ground ﬂoor, The Jetty restaurant drifts out on to an extensive outdoor terrace, featuring luxury relaxation pods to take in the marina views. The hotel was named ‘Hotel of the Year’ at the prestigious C&IT Awards. The 5M-PLUS screwless range in satin chrome grey insert was used throughout this project.

WHICH BUILDING PROJECTS HAS THE RANGE BEEN SELECTED SCREWLESS RANGE FROM SELECTRIC BY VISITING: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ009

Romans International, Surrey Hillman Architects and SJ Martin & Co. have been working with Romans International to extend its luxury car showroom, making it one of the largest luxury car dealerships in the UK. Although the structure of the existing Ford buildings has been kept, an extensive renovation has taken place inside and out. Selectric's contemporary 5M-PLUS satin chrome with grey insert range has been used throughout the large open-plan area, providing the ultimate combination of quality and style.

FOR? PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN September 2022 23 BROWSE THE FULL 5M-PLUS

SPECIAL REPORT

‘TOXIC’TACKLINGTRAUMA

“Yet only 4.4% of victims end up being supported by local services, with 11% of male victims and 7.2% of female victims saying they’ve considered suicide as a result.”

A case in point – Steve’s story Steve was in a relationship a few years ago with an abusive woman who struggled with alcohol addiction. He stayed with her longer than he should have done simply because he insisted she had 'a lovely side' that he believed in. After years of abuse, Steve finally made the decision to leave his partner. He got a new flat and eventually formed a new healthy relationship. But his ex-girlfriend refused to let Steve be happy. She couldn't allow him to move on with his new partner, and over a series of months, she did everything in her power to break them up, loitering around his new flat and shouting death threats and obscenities through his letterbox. On one of these occasions, she physically assaulted both Steve and his partner. The police were called and an injunction was taken out to protect them both. Although this stopped the abuse, the months of trauma had become too much for Steve’s new partner and she subsequently ended theUprelationship.untilthispoint, Steve had been motivated at work, active at the gym, and generally had a positive outlook on life. But the trauma caused by his ex-girlfriend left him struggling to get out of bed and resulted in him being signed off work and feeling on the verge of a mental breakdown. He started medication prescribed by his GP but he was placed on the end of a long waiting list to access any form of counselling. His manager visited him at home and advised him to seek support, so Steve contacted the EIC through the helpline. He spoke with a caseworker on the phone and relayed the traumatic events of the last few years. The EIC sourced a therapist just days after the first contact. After just one session with the therapist, Steve has said he is starting to feel better and more positive about the future. The ‘power’ to make a difference The help Steve was able to access is due to the support of the EIC and the powerLottery. It means he is getting the support he needs to access therapy, put the abusive relationship behind him and start the process of moving on with his life. Without powerLottery, the EIC wouldn’t be able to offer this support to people like powerLotterySteve.is the only lottery made for our industry, by our industry. It gives players 40 chances to win cash prizes ranging from £50 to £1,000 every single month. A £10,000 draw bi-yearly gives entrants even more opportunities to win.

We learn more about the relationship support services on offer from our industry charity, the Electrical Industries Charity (EIC).

Our entire life is formed of relationships so it’s no surprise that they can hugely impact our mental and physical health. A relationship between two people who don’t support each other is termed a ‘toxic relationship’ and can occur with a partner, family member, friend or colleague. Toxic relationships can be hugely damaging.

In 2020, the Office for National Statistics report that an estimated 2.3 million adults aged 16 to 74 in England and Wales experienced abuse in their relationship with a partner. 26% of the instances reported to police were committed against men. Yet only 4.4% of victims end up being supported by local services, with 11% of male victims and 7.2% of female victims saying they’ve considered suicide as a result.

24 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN

Following a number of years of growth, the business was relocated in 2009 to a larger, purpose-designed head office and warehouse space in Redditch, Worcs. Elite supplier In 2011, ESP was acquired by Scolmore Group in what was seen as the coming together of two companies with a focus on innovative product development and excellent customer service. ESP continues to operate as an independent business within Scolmore Group, which also includes Click wiring accessories, Ovia lighting and Unicrimp cable accessories. Over the ensuing years, ESP continued to expand the business and develop its product portfolio, which included CCTV, fire protection, security floodlighting and access control. In 2014 a brand new product category was added to the line-up with the launch of the Duceri emergency lighting range. This brought to the professional electrical contractor a range of emergency exit signs and bulkheads, with a selection of self-test fittings subsequently added.

Special Report

as a leading ﬁre protection and security products supplier, ESP is celebrating 30 years in business this year with 2022 looking set to end as another record year for the business with major new developments and expansion plans coming to fruition.

Founded in 1992 as Electronics Line UK, the company initially consisted of a small team distributing wireless intruder alarm systems to wholesalers before expanding into the CCTV market. In 1996 the company was officially launched to the electrical wholesale market as ESP (Elite Security Products).

THE RISE OF THE SECURITY GUARDS

Hot stuff With parent company, Scolmore Group, continuing to flourish and expand, the acquisition of Sangamo, the specialist supplier of time switches and heating controls, was also completed, with the new range sitting under the ESP umbrella of products.Established since 1921 and based in Glasgow, Sangamo has built up an

As the company celebrates a special anniversary this year, we discover how ESP has provided security to installers for the last three decades, and beyond.

PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN September 2022 27

Special Report excellent reputation and an extensive product range which was seen as an ideal ﬁt within the Scolmore Group portfolio.

ESP continues to invest in all aspects of the business – infrastructure, people, products and services – so that it remains fully equipped to meet the demands of an evolving electrical industry.

New brand identity

Installer support A commitment to offering an outstanding service is what helps to make ESP stand out in this market. Installers and wholesalers alike can take advantage of a raft of additional services and beneﬁts to help them make the most of the products and solutions that the company offers.

A beacon of assistance In recent years

“The addition of a ﬁre commissioning service last year means that customers now have the choice of a full ﬁre alarms system package.”

All products operate under a single App – the ‘Click Smart+’ App – which is completely subscription-free, with no additional fees incurred. By bringing the operation of the Fort range under the well-established, tried and tested Click Smart+ App, users will have control of a raft of connected home and security products all from one secure, easy to access platform.

under the name Beacon, the new disabled refuge range was launched earlier this year and comprises a variety of products that are speciﬁcally designed to assist emergency evacuation situations in a wide range of buildings and venues –with the aim of helping people with limited mobility to safely exit the building. The Beacon ‘master stations’ are the central point of the disabled refuge system, which combines ﬁre telephone handsets, disabled refuge outstations and emergency alarms to form one fully integrated system.

ESP has been taking on an increasing number of larger, speciﬁcation type projects and identiﬁed an opportunity to expand its product portfolio to offer a comprehensive disabled refuge range that meets the requirements of BS 9999:2017 and Building Regulations Approved DocumentMarketedB.

28 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN BROWSE THE FULL ESP PRODUCT RANGE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ011

There are currently two separate training programmes that are offered free of charge – a one-day ESP Product Overview of the company’s core product categories – and the ESP Addressable Fire System Programming, which is aimed at competent contractors that already have a good knowledge of installation and regulatory requirements for ﬁre system installation.Acrossthe CCTV and ﬁre protection ranges, ESP also offers free design services. The aim is to provide installers with expertise in choosing the right products and solutions to create a scheme that meets the requirements of the project in question and is compliant with all of the relevant regulations and standards.

The addition of a fire commissioning service last year means that customers now have the choice of a full fire alarms systems package, with access to a free design service, a vast selection of products, the commissioning service, plus technical support from a team of qualified and experienced engineers.

Sangamo’s location in Glasgow gives the company the perfect manufacturing base and regional office to service customers all over Scotland and the north.

ESP continued its focus on expanding into other categories that complemented the portfolio with the launch of Fort Smart Security –a complete range of smart security products, including intruder alarms, video doorbell, video security light, sensors and a selection of HD cameras.

Smart technology In 2021

Earlier this year, as part of the ongoing evolution of the company, ESP decided to overhaul its brand identity and a new logo was unveiled. The creative design team was tasked with a brief to create a new brand identity that would help the company maintain its presence and stand out in what is an increasingly competitive sector.The new visual identity needed to reﬂect the company’s current standing and its ambitious growth plans, as well as appealing to a new audience. It also needed to sit well within the overall Scolmore Group branding.

Last year ESP revamped its Sangamo Choice Plus and Powersaver Plus heating and timer controls range, with the main aim of introducing features that assist with efficiency and performance and that ultimately drive down energy usage and costs.

uring the pandemic, our homes became the place we spent so much more of our time. Since then the world has continued to rapidly change around us, with new technologies and energy-hungry devices entering our homes.

Why is home energy management so important though? 40% of UK emissions come from households. At the same time, homes are becoming even more electrified, with an increase in electric vehicles, electric central heating and electric cookers. The presence of smart and sustainable home solutions can empower homeowners to make the best use of domestic-scale renewable energy generation and battery storage technologies.

‘Prosumers’ are already generating electricity from rooftop solar panels or small-scale wind turbines, storing this power for later use when the wind isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t shining, or selling the excess power back to the grid.

In parallel, digitalisation also provides us with an opportunity to accelerate our energy transition to renewable sources, achieving a major victory for sustainability and the environment.

Comfort, convenience, and cost come to mind when we think of smart homes, such as the benefit of lowering energy bills. Companies should make smart, sustainable home technologies easier and more intuitive for consumers to use, which is the only way to accelerate adoption and deliver an end-to-end experience.

We have just eight years to reduce our emissions by half, as a first step to reach our net zero goals of 2050. We must empower people to live their lives safely and without impacting their lifestyles. To achieve these goals, innovation is key to developing new products and to continue improving them based on real-time customer insights. Our homes should improve our lives, not complicate or compromise them.

By Tom Gillam, Electrician Programme Manager at Schneider Electric

It’s no surprise then that some questions keep us up at night: Is my home safe? Is it comfortable to live in? Why is my energy bill going up? Is my home sustainable? One of the biggest challenges we see is energy efficiency.

Change is a good thing – show them Digitalisation will help to make our homes cleaner and more environmentally friendly. However, we know well enough that for any tech adoption to succeed, the customer has to see real value being delivered.

Sustainable home improvement is life improvement

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Energy is quite literally, going ‘out of the window’ due to poor insulation.

Now more than ever, ‘smart’ is important for our future when it comes to sustainable homes, and how we can accelerate its adoption.

ZEROTOROADTHENET

Home is where the smart is It all starts with home automation. We’ve seen the first stage of digitalisation with global penetration of smart homes reaching 12.2% in 2021. While there is so much more room to grow, the smart home category already gives us a platform to make our homes more sustainable –through electrification.

Fortunately, digitalisation provides us with reasons to be optimistic. A new generation of smart and digital technologies are poised to help our homes be more cost efficient, while improving lifestyles through comfort and positive health outcomes.

Change needs to happen – and fast, so our homes become more sustainable, people-centric, resilient, and efficient.

Even if you feel something won’t come into contact or be seen, the correct method of enclosing terminations must always be used.

CODEBREAKERSTHE ELECTRICIAN MB ELECTRICS: I FOUND THIS WHILE I HAD MY HAND UNDER THE FLOORBOARDS! One of the most dangerous and negligent thought processes we see is “if it’s out of sight and no one can touch it, it’s okay”. We often find this in lofts and under floorboards, where the installer thinks that no one will touch it, so they believe it’s safe. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth.

GET THE BOOK AND CRACK THOSE

IET 18th

Protectionoutcome.fromaccess to live parts is the most basic requirement of BS 7671, followed by, amongst other things, not allowing thermal damage to occur to the surrounding area. Using what appears to be a supporting joist as a terminal block has added the risk of fire should an overload, arc, or loose connection develop.

Access to live conductors 134.1.1, 416.2.1

32 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL

Terminations in conductors not made in a suitable enclosure 134.1.1, 131.3.2, 526.5 C1C2C1 CODES! Updated for BS 7671:2018+A2:2022, NAPIT’s EICR Codebreakers publication is purpose-written to aid contractors, inspectors and clients, and now includes updates to align with Amendment 2 of the Edition Wiring Regulations. The book is the perfect technical aid for electrical professionals and their customers.

The danger of contact with live conductors here is incredibly high; as the inspector has stated, he actually found it by touching it, presumably with the power isolated, or there could have been a very unpleasant

Single insulated cables not taken into an adequate enclosure 134.1.1, 526.8

The Observations, Regulation infringements and Codes applicable to this observation would be:

Access to live parts from modified BS 1363 plug top 134.1.1, 416.2.1 C2C1

Modification to a BS 1363 plug top exposing conductor pins 133.1.1, 133.1.3, 134.1.2

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The Observations, Regulation infringements and Codes applicable to this observation would be:

The A2:2022 18th Edition Codebreakers publication is priced at £22.00 (members) and £24.00 (non-members). It is available in both hard copy and digital versions * Price is VAT exempt and excludes postage and packaging. Need help with cracking those all-important EICR codes? Every month the technical team at NAPIT will be studying your latest ‘Caught on Camera’ photos and offering advice on the next steps, should you find a similar installation. If you want the team at NAPIT to help crack your codes then send your pictures through to us at: pe@hamerville.co.uk

OLIVER FREEMAN: THIS WAS AN INTERESTING FIND IN A CAFÉ RECENTLY… I can’t begin to understand the thought process that someone went through to justify this. The only hope here is that it wasn’t an electrician. As we don’t know the reasons behind it, we can only guess as to why they’ve done this. As it’s a café, maybe they didn’t want their customers to use the spare socket-outlet on the two-gang outlet. I can only assume that by switching the socket-outlet off, they felt it was safe, where in fact, the complete opposite has been accomplished. Before the days of readily available R1+R2 adaptors for testing, it was often the case that inspectors made up their own, and this may be one of those, that has been left behind after testing. Regardless of its origins, the pins of the BS 1363 plug chassis are now exposed to touch by anyone that comes into contact with them. If the socket-outlet switch is inadvertently pushed into the ‘on’ position, there is direct access to live parts. Even in the off position, if there is a potential difference on the cpc from leakage currents etc., there is a possibility of a perceived shock or worse. As this is a café, ordinary persons and children are at high risk of electric shock. This modification shows an inept lack of knowledge of the dangers associated with electricity. This is precisely the reason EICRs need to be carried out regularly. Although arguably, not technically the remit of BS 7671, I feel that the modified BS 1363 plug top is being used as a part of the fixed installation, so it should be dealt with accordingly on the BS 7671 EICR.

Rechargeable batteries (secondary) This category of battery can be recharged and hence re-used. Though the initial cost is typically more than for a comparable primary battery, when properly used and maintained they do have a significant life span, in terms of the number of times they can be discharged/recharged.Greatcaremustbetaken to ensure that any replacement battery is suitable for use with the associated charging equipment. Attempting to re-charge a non-compatible battery may lead to non-functioning equipment or the risk from fire or Examplesexplosion.ofthecommon types of rechargeable batteries (Fig 2) include: lead-acid, nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd), nickel-metal hydride (NiMH), lithium-ion (Li-ion), and rechargeable alkaline.

The lead-acid is the oldest battery technology still in common use. They are used mostly for larger power applications where weight is of little concern. They are typically used in central battery emergency lighting systems and for the back-up supply for This article from the technical experts at NICEIC looks at the types of batteries currently available, including their typical applications. However, the construction and chemical processes during the charging/discharging cycle of batteries is outside the scope of this article.

The zinc-carbon battery (Fig 1(i)) is one of the oldest types still in current use. Its terminal voltage 2 is slighter higher than is available, size for size, for the alkaline (Fig 1(ii)) or lithium (Fig 1(iii)) battery. Its current output is the lowest of all the popular non-rechargeable battery types, which makes it suitable for small load applications such as torches.

Fig 1. Non-rechargeable batteries (primary cells)

Battery types A battery is an electrochemical energy source which can deliver only DC voltage and current.

Lead-acid batteries

Batteries are classified into two different categories:

PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN September 2022 35 TECHNICAL & TRAINING

(i) Primary cells – which are non-rechargeable (ii) Secondary batteries – which can be Arecharged.primarycell is a battery that is specifically designed to be used only once and then discarded. The functionality of a secondary battery1 is exactly the same as that of a primary cell but is typically a group of one or more cells arranged in a series/parallel network so that the voltage or current respectively (or both) can be raised to desired levels. It is also capable of being recharged.

nce considered heavy and cumbersome and only capable of delivering a relatively small current in proportion to their size and weight, advances in battery technology have seen the performance of batteries improve significantly.Batteries are the main power source for many electronic and wireless devices, such as mobile phones, smart home sensors, cordless power tools, etc. They are often employed, on a larger scale, within electrical installations to provide as a back-up source for many safety services (see Regulation 560.1 of BS 7671 ) and, more recently, in electrical energy storage systems (EESS).

The alkaline battery, when compared to the zinc-carbon, has a higher energy density 3 and a longer shelf life. However, the lithium battery out-performs both alkaline and zinc-carbon batteries by a considerable margin. Its energy density is five times greater than an alkaline battery and ten times greater than a zinc-carbon battery.

BATTERY TYPES AND THEIR TYPICAL APPLICATIONS

Summary

This article has looked at the common types of batteries available, including non-rechargeable primary cells, and secondary batteries which can be re-charged. Also considered briefly was their operational characteristics and typical applications for use. Where it is necessary to replace old rechargeable batteries, precautions must be taken to ensure the replacement battery and charging unit are compatible.

Nickel-cadmium Although these batteries are very rarely used today, they are relatively cheap and their discharge rate is very low when compared to Ni-MH batteries. One disadvantage is they have a ‘memory’. This means that the battery will remember the point in their charge cycle where recharging began. Therefore, during subsequent uses, voltage will drop at that point as if it had been discharged. It is more viable to use a Ni-Cd battery continuously until it is totally depleted before recharging. When used in conjunction with manufacturer’s instructions, a nickel-cadmium battery can last for 1,000+ cycles before losing capacity. Nickel-metal hydride These batteries are preferable to Ni-Cd batteries because of their lower environmental impact. This includes the materials used to construct the batteries and the safe disposal of spent batteries. They have a greater terminal voltage than for Ni-Cd batteries but less than for alkaline batteries.

“Where it is necessary to replace old rechargeable batteries, precautions must be taken to ensure the replacement battery and charging unit are compatible.”

The modern Ni-MH battery offers up to 40 percent higher energy density compared to Ni-Cd, powering devices for longer for an equivalent rated battery. However, it is less durable than the Ni-Cd and cycling under heavy load and storage at high temperature reduces its service life. The Ni-MH suffers from a considerably greater self-discharge when left unused than a Ni-Cd. One of its main limitations is that the Ni-MH generates more heat while charging and requires a longer charge time than the Ni-Cd. The trickle charge is critical and must be carefully controlled.

Some advanced chargers provide a “step-differential charge” which allows for an initial fast charging state before reaching a threshold voltage; at which point the battery is required to cool before entering a state of trickle charge, where the charging current is continually reducing until the battery is fully charged.

There are many types of Lithium-ion batteries, and used in a wide range of applications. They are generally low maintenance and can resist the “memory effect” whilst tolerating a wider range of temperatures.Onedisadvantage is their fragility, and the need for a protection circuit to keep them working safely, as required under the IEC 62133-2: 2017 standard when used in portable equipment.

Typically, where individual cells are arranged to form a battery, such as those used in electric vehicles, precautions must be taken to reduce thermal runaway between cells and prevent the risk of fire. Such precautions generally include thermal protection to limit the transfer of heat between cells, and fire blocking foam to suppress any fire.

In all cases when handling or using batteries for different applications manufacturer’s instructions should always be followed.

2 Terminal voltage is the open-circuit voltage which is available before a load is connected

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Fig 2.

Common rechargeable batteries

1 Often called storage batteries

TECHNICAL & TRAINING 36 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN fire alarm and detection systems, and in some uninterruptible power source (UPS) systems.Theycan be used in home energy storage systems (EESS) as a cost-effective option. Where this may be the case, consideration must be given for the provision of adequate ventilation due to the risk from battery gassing during the charging process, manufacturer’s instructions should always be considered.However, when compared with other types such as the Li-ion, they have a reduced lifespan and lower depth of discharge (their low energy density means they cannot be stored in a discharged condition).

Lithium-ion batteries

3 Energy density is the amount of energy stored per unit volume

Footnotes & References

Due to their ability for high energy release these batteries incorporate a fuse that operates on high current and temperature which may render the battery useless

4 Some types may incorporate a reset switch

Difficult and dangerous Digging into urban streets is difficult and potentially dangerous work. And it seems that it’s becoming riskier.

Walk down any high street in one of our towns or cities and you’ll soon come across the barriers that mark out a hole or trench where cables or pipes are being laid. As businesses and homes require more energy connections or internet connectivity, the number of contractors breaking ground in our streets is growing.

AVOID DIGGING INTO DISASTER!

TECHNICAL & TRAINING

The Energy Networks Association reports electric cable strikes have increased 46% since the end of lockdown. On average, 70 people each year are seriously injured as a result of contact with underground electricity cables. These are not the only potential hazards under our streets. There are gas and water pipes as well as telecomms cables to be aware of when undertaking these projects. The problems are exacerbated when working somewhere like the City of London where there are narrow streets and heavy traffic to navigate.Thereis guidance on how to approach these projects safely. HSG47 Avoiding danger from underground services from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) outlines three important stages of safe work during excavation: l Planning the work l Locating and identifying buried services l Safe excavation But not everyone is following the guidance. Figures show that around a third of construction workers fail to check for underground electricity cables when digging on-site.

Here are ﬁve tips to give you a head start when digging in built-up areas: 1. Do your research A project that involves digging into city streets should start with careful research. Designing the preferred route includes making a request for statutory drawings for utilities. It’s also crucial to take the time to walk the route because this will provide a clear view of any potential physical challenges in the area. A visit to the site can help to identify risks in the work location that may not be marked on the drawings. This is far more common than many people realise, as the drawings rarely keep pace with the addition of road layout, new street furniture, pipes and cables. More worrying, there are rogue contractors who lay cables and services without regard to safety of others who may have to work in the area next.

Tony Abbott of ECA Member ﬁrm Modus Utilities, explains why contractors need to plan ahead when digging in our busy towns and cities.

PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN September 2022 39

5. Prioritise safety As electrical contractors, we know the importance of prioritising safetyfor ourselves and our clients. With accidents on the rise in excavation projects, it’s time to put that same focus on ensuring that contractors adopt robust safety standards out on the city streets.

40 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN LEARN MORE ABOUT ECA MEMBERSHIP BY VISITING: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ015

“On average, 70 people each year are seriously injured as a result of contact with electricityundergroundcables.”

3. Give it enough time We’re all aware that projects are increasingly time pressed. Working anywhere in London is challenging because permissions to access roads may have to come from more than one Local Authority and involve Transport for LondonNone(TfL).ofthese bodies wants to close city roads for very long. As a result, it’s likely that the excavation contractor has limited time and space to get the work done, and that’s often when safety takes a backForseat.example, the permitted area for digging may be very restricted on a busy road. Ideally, the contractor should work 500mm either side of a cable to avoid contact. But if a cable lies very close to the edge of the allocated work area, it could be tempting to lift the tarmac, ‘just to see what’s there’. This is when accidents can happen. It’s vital to take the time to stop work and assess how to proceed to undertake the work safely (extending the work zone, or extending the permit, even if that seems counterintuitive). Planning ahead means that decisions are not left to a time-pressed site foreman who may make a bad decision with the best intentions.

4. Pre-planning and assessing proposed routes This can highlight the danger areas and these potential problems can be controlled by instructing the excavation teams on how to investigate (no dig zones). These clear instructions reduce the risk of a bad decision being made for the best of intentions due to perceived pressure by the excavation teams. The need to excavate in our city streets is growing. As new buildings are constructed, they require the utilities that are vital for modern life. What’s more, government is driving the development of low-carbon district heating systems in urban areas, which will add to the challenge as more pipes are laid.

TECHNICAL & TRAINING

2. Planning and checking Although we can use a CAT 4 Plus scanner to track electrical cables, it does not provide accurate depths. If cables have been laid incorrectly this can be very dangerous to anyone working on the project. We have seen high voltage cables laid at 180mm when the depth should be 750mm.Planning and checking literally saves lives. In theory, it might be possible using modern technology such as ground penetrating radar to map the cables and pipes under London’s streets. But, leaving aside the cost of that project, the map would also soon be out-of-date as things change almost on a weekly basis. So we rely on everyone in our sector working safely and keeping good records, which is not always the case.

ORDER GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE BOOKS AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ017 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN September 2022 43

The second clause in the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order is Article 17 Maintenance: 17.— (1) Where necessary in order to safeguard the safety of relevant persons the responsible person must ensure that the premises and any facilities, equipment and devices provided in respect of the premises under this Order or, subject to paragraph (6), under any other enactment, including any enactment repealed or revoked by this Order, are subject to a suitable system of maintenance and are maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair. This is where your client will be in breach of the regulations, which state that the equipment and the responsible person must ensure that it is subject to a suitable system of maintenance. The persons who specify a suitable system of maintenance are usually the manufacturer and unless the manufacturers have some sort of strange clause in their instructions, they all specify the use of BS 5839 for maintenance.

The simple answer is that it will not comply with BS 5839-1. The longer answer is that the client can take any risks he wants to with life safety and that is his prerogative, just like anyone deciding to drive their car above the speed limit. However, both would be the wrong thing to do.

DOWNLOAD REGULATORYTHEREFORM FIRE SAFETY ORDER AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ016 REGULATORYTHEREFORM FIRE SAFETY

Dr. Zzeus

Failure to do either is a criminal offence, assuming there is a risk assessment in place that would state the BS 5839 system be installed.

Clause 45.3 of the British Standard states that for a part one system, the period between successive servicing and inspection visits shouldn’t exceed six months. This means that six months after the service visit the system is deemed to be non-compliant with the standard. This will more than likely affect his insurance and possible local authority regulations, especially if the hotel has a bar. He is correct in that BS 5839 is a code of practice, however, BS 5839 becomes intertwined with quite a few pieces of legislation and regulations that affect anyone deciding to not have their fire alarm maintained in a suitable system of maintenance.Thefirstlegislation to consider is the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order. Firstly a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment must have been carried out, which would detail the fire alarm requirements as set out in article 13 Fire-fighting and fire detection: 13.— (1) Where necessary (whether due to the features of the premises, the activity carried out there, any hazard present or any other relevant circumstances) in order to safeguard the safety of relevant persons, the responsible person must ensure that — (a) the premises are, to the extent that it is appropriate, equipped with appropriate fire-fighting equipment and with fire detectors and alarms. This statement requires the person who has a legal requirement to be competent in doing a fire risk assessment and ensure the fire alarm system is suitable and installed to the manufacturer’s requirements.

Q. I’ve been instructed by my client that he only wants his fire alarm and detection system serviced once per year. He has a small hotel with 14 rooms but claims that because he is only open from March to November and then for two weeks at Christmas, he doesn’t need it serviced twice per year and that BS 5839 is only a recommendation. Is this correct?

Finally, Article 50 of this legislation states that: 50.— (1) The Secretary of State must ensure that such guidance, as he considers appropriate, is available to assist responsible persons in the discharge of the duties imposed by articles 8 to 22 and by regulations made under article 24. The government issued numerous books on the Regulatory reform fire safety order; these are free to download via the links at the end of this article. There are books for every type of premises covered in the legislation, including accommodation. These books clearly state that the fire alarm used should be BS 5839 and that fire alarm systems should have six monthly servicing intervals. Furthermore, preventive maintenance should be carried out by a competent person with specialist knowledge of fire-warning and automatic detection systems.

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The must-have tool for this job is a good earth leakage clamp meter, like the new Megger DCM305E. This will measure earth leakage currents as small as 0.001 mA without the need to make connections to the circuit under test. And it has a really great new feature –peak hold. This means you can clamp the meter around the live and neutral conductors of the circuit under test at the distribution board, then go round the site switching on/off the appliances fed from this circuit. When you go back to the meter, this will show the maximum earth leakage current. Peak hold will also help you trace intermittent faults. Leave the meter clamped on a circuit for a while and, when you return, you can read the peak leakage current, even if it only lasted for a short time.

44 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN You ask: I’VE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF TROUBLE RECENTLY WITH NUISANCE TRIPPING OF RCDS AND RCBOS. IT’S OFTEN DIFFICULT TO TRACE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT’S INTERMITTENT. DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS?

Working on your own? Need some technical advice? Don’t know where to turn? Ask Megger. What it doesn’t know about installing and testing electrical systems isn’t worth knowing. Every question will be answered by the Megger Technical Team, and the best will be published in Professional Electrician. So, take advantage of the ‘every question answered’ guarantee today. email your questions to: meggermeasures@hamerville.co.uk

Megger says:

Another big bonus is that as well as measuring small earth leakage currents, the DCM305E can be used for general purpose current measurements up to 100 A, and it gives true RMS (TRMS) readings that are unaffected by harmonics in the supply system. OR DOWNLOAD THE DCM305E EARTH LEAKAGE CLAMP METER TECHNICAL GUIDE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ018

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Existing text for Regulation 422.2

Reasons for change Before introducing the latest requirements of Regulation 422.2, I’ll explain why the existing Regulation required

Escape route Path to follow for access to a safe area in the event of an emergency (see also protected escape routes).

The newly-revised Regulation 422.2 introduces the concept of protected escape routes and requires: Cables or other electrical equipment shall not be installed in a protected escape route unless part of: l An essential fire safety or related safety system l General needs lighting l Socket-outlets provided for cleaning Themaintenanceorrequirements of this Regulation are very easy to understand, but perhaps the hard part is working out how we determine what a protected escape route is? We will start off by looking at the definition provided in BS 7671 Part 2. BS 7671 Part 2 definitions

The other issue is that external influence BD1 was not included in the existing list of conditions, meaning that if you had a building type within this category, the requirements of Section 422 could be ignored. BD1 conditions are for low density occupation with easy exit, and although the conditions are favourable for evacuation, it doesn’t necessarily mean such installations don’t require the extra measures given in Section 422 if there is a particular risk of fire associated with the building type or use. The Regulation was therefore flawed. Protected escape routes

Previously,modification.Regulation 422.2 referenced three conditions for evacuation in an emergency –BD2, BD3 and BD4 –and stated that the subsequent Regulations in Section 422 referred to these conditions, see Fig 1 One of the challenges of using such conditions to determine if the relevant requirements of Section 422 apply, is ﬁnding out which condition is applicable to the building undergoing the work. After all, electrical designers aren’t ﬁre engineers.

KEEP OUT!

A study of these deﬁnitions shows that there is a distinct difference between a protected escape route (with its special ﬁre resisting properties) and a regular escape route. Therefore, if the building has been designed correctly, the correct means of escape should have been provided.

The latest update to the Wiring Regulations 7671:2018+A2:2022BS includes significant updates to Section 422, which deals with ‘Precautions where particular risks of fire exist’. New definitions have been introduced, with existing conditions for evacuation in an emergency deleted, so all in all, a lot to get our heads around.

46 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN TECHNICAL & TRAINING

In order to understand the terms used, I’ve included the new definition for protected escape routes, as well as the standard escape route definition: Protected escape route A route enclosed with specified fire-resisting construction designated for escape to a place of safety in the event of an emergency (see also escape route).

What does the introduction of protected escape routes mean for cable routing and equipment in these areas? NAPIT’s Technical Events Manager, Paul Chaffers, examines the requirements following the publication of BS 7671:2018+A2:2022.

Conclusion Fire safety in buildings can be complicated. Therefore, any proposed work that encroaches on a protected escape route should be approached with caution. Discussions with the building owner or the person responsible for the building will be necessary as they should have details of the fire safety design of the building.Where fire safety strategy plans or risk assessments are not available, expert fire safety advice should be obtained to identify any protected escape routes. Where work is to be carried out, it is recommended that electrical designers and installers provide the responsible person with details of the electrical system and the maintenance requirements so this information can then be added to the fire safety manual.

GET MORE DETAILS ABOUT NAPIT MEMBERSHIP AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ020 “Any

RANGE

l Fire-resistant cables complying with test requirements of BS EN 50200, BS 8434 or BS 8491, appropriate for the cable size and with BS EN 60332-1-2 A wiring system maintaining the necessary ﬁre and mechanical Regulationprotection422.2.1

Further information As part of the launch of BS 7671:2018+A2:2022, all of NAPIT’s comprehensive collection of technical guidance books have been updated to give you the latest information.

FIG 2: Example of an escape route, which may contain combustible material, carpets, etc

FIG 3: Example of a protected escape route (ﬁre sterile) GUIDANCE BOOKS AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ019 proposed work that encroaches on a protected escape route should be approached with caution...”

Means of escape Simply put, the means of escape is the method provided within a building that allows safe escape to a place of safety, usually the open air. In smaller buildings or buildings with a straightforward layout, this is carried out by reducing the distance needed to be travelled to exit the building. For this type of arrangement a regular escape route is usually all that is required, see Fig 2 But for larger, more complicated buildings where longer distances have to be travelled, protected escape routes are used in order to protect escapees during evacuation. Protected escape routes are arranged with one or more of the following: l Protected lobby l Protected corridor l Protected stairway By design, these protected routes are fire and smoke-resisting but should also be fire sterile and preferably contain no combustible material. Think of a concrete staircase in a car park, and you will get the idea – see Fig 3 So, what can be installed? Well, actually very little; whilst general needs lighting and socket-outlets for cleaning or maintenance are permitted, care should be taken to avoid excess cabling within these areas. Note 2 of Regulation 422.2 suggests that cables in protected escape routes should be limited to lighting and associated accessories, including emergency lighting and fire detection and alarmDependingsystems.on the fire safety strategy for the building, other alarm systems may be required and, therefore, suitable for inclusion within protected escape routes. Nuclear buildings and chemical plants are given as an example in BS 7671 Appendix 13 Escape routes and fire protection Cable choice Wiring systems used for safety services are deemed suitable for protected escape routes, as referenced in Regulation 560.8.1, as follows:

l Mineral insulated cable systems complying with BS EN 60702-1 and BS EN 60702-2, and BS EN 60332-1-2 Fire-resistant cables complying with IEC 60331-1, IEC 60331-2 or IEC 60331-3 and with BS EN 60332-1-2

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provides alternative solutions where cables with resistance to flame propagation according to the recommended requirements of the relevant part of BS EN 60332-3 series may be used, or where cables are contained in the following cable management systems meeting the recommended requirements of BS EN 60332-1-2: Non-flame propagating conduit systems to BS EN 61386 l Non-flame propagating cable trunking systems and cable ducting systems to BS EN 50085 Additionally, cables must have a minimum of 60% light transmittance when tested in accordance with BS EN 61034-2.

PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN September 2022 47

Having completed my apprenticeship, I decided to go at it alone and started my own electrical business working for a large restaurant chain carrying out planned maintenance on all aspects of the electrical system as well as upgrading lighting systems to the more recognised LED lighting. Setting up and running your own business is tough. You have to be prepared to make sacrifices and put your life on hold as you establish your business and reputation. You also need to consider what other skills you need to run a business besides your electrician’s qualifications, such as taking care of admin, marketing, and finance to name a few. After a year I decided this was not for me and I took up a position with a facility maintenance company carrying out work for blue chip companies, undertaking a range of jobs across different trades and not just electrical.

Like many in the industry, a career as an electrician was my main focus during the three years that I undertook my apprenticeship at Bedford College under the NICEIC training programme. I started my apprenticeship with a small company called Anvil Energy Saving Installations. The work I handled was varied and included rewiring and Solar PV installs, as well as works on food processing plants and LED upgrades.

Opportunity knocks I carried on with this role for two years, when I was approached with a new opportunity to join Certsure –more commonly known as NICEIC – as part of the marketing technical team. I was one of two presenters touring the country delivering tech talks to contractors, gaining experience in the regulations publications and also developing vital presentation skills. It was during this time that I was provided with the opportunity to join Scolmore Group as Technical Engagement Engineer. Working for a manufacturer isn’t something I’d ever considered, but it was a natural move from my role with Certsure – putting my in-depth knowledge of the electrical industry and standards, and also my newly acquired presenting skills to good use. I now head up Scolmore’s Technical Engagement team. My role includes engaging with professional contractors and electricians to advise and educate them on the right solutions and products to meet the ever changing regulations and technical requirements of the industry. I also help develop and present training content across Scolmore’s social media channels, including the SGTV YouTube channel.

Jake Green,

Perks of the job Working for a small ﬁrm like this has its perks. Whilst you may not always earn the most in your class, you do have the advantage of working closely with the electrician on the job and really get the attention you need to hone your skills and also to progress with your studies.

The sky’s the limit When you set out with your apprenticeship under your belt, you just never know where it will take you. For many, working on the tools is something they’ve always wanted to do and they enjoy the new challenges that it brings as technologies evolve. For others it provides a platform to explore and experience a range of different roles. A number of the Directors at Scolmore started out on the tools and have worked their way up and on to the board, where they now use their expertise at corporate level. The sky really is the limit!

decadehissincepathstalkswithEngagementTechnicalManagerClickScolmore,aboutthedifferenthiscareerhastakenheﬁrstcompletedapprenticeshipoveraago. TECHNICAL & FROMTRAINING THE APPRENTICE TO THE SORCERER 48 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN

THE TRAINING GROUND

To have gained the knowledge and skills needed to successfully complete the assessment, you should have a minimum of ﬁve years working in the industry as a practising electrician, not including time spent in full or part time training. Many training providers operate within this requirement, however there are a number who are far too ﬂexible over the entry requirements and some individuals are being put through with insufficient experience.

The EWA is not a box-ticking exercise or short-cut to becoming qualiﬁed. In addition to completing the qualiﬁcation units, you also need to complete the AM2E which is an in-depth practical assessment of competence. Those who don’t have sufficient breadth of experience or knowledge are unlikely to meet the standard needed.

What experience do I need to get onto the Experienced Worker Assessment? I’ve heard mixed reports from people who have spoken to different training providers.

VISIT THE TESP WEBSITE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ021

The EWA is an opportunity for people who perhaps didn’t get a chance to do an apprenticeship but are working in the industry and have signiﬁcant experience.

If you don’t have much experience but are employed, you could consider registering on an apprenticeship as your training will be funded, or completing via the self-funded route on the TESP website, which might also attract funding for candidates in England.

In the short term, NET is checking AM2E applications and ﬂagging any issues or suspicions to be investigated by the awarding organisations responsible for the EWA qualiﬁcation.Revisions to the assessment are underway and soon there will be much tighter direction of training providers –if they don’t adhere to the pre-requisites, they will not be allowed to offer this route.

Since its launch there have been a signiﬁcant number of people completing the Experienced Worker Assessment (EWA); and with the recently strengthened EAS requirements even more individuals are now going to be following this route.

* The cost of solar PV has fallen by as much as 75% over the past decade

Add to this the combined impact of rising energy bills and fears over insecurity of supply, and many would-be prosumers are beginning to bring their plans forward. The barriers? Well, these are the traditional ones associated with all new technologies. While consumer awareness is growing, it isn’t yet commonplace. There is a lot of education needed to support the switch as it isn’t simply about the physical and ﬁnancial aspects of installing these technologies. To make the best use of them, there is an element of behaviour change needed, particularly when it comes to heat pumps. As always, cost is a primary barrier. While prices are coming down, new technology always carries a hefty price tag in the beginning. Much is, however, being done in this area, and the government is supporting innovation to lower manufacturing costs. This action is further backed by grants to support low carbon heating installations and VAT breaks on material costs. Even the big banks are getting in on the act with the likes of Lloyds and Santander reaching out to consumers with loans to support sustainable home improvements.

* Battery technologies are allowing consumers to capture energy during times of plenty and use it later.

The term prosumer has many meanings. However, in our world (electrotechnical), a prosumer is an entity or party which can be both a producer and consumer of electricalCurrentlyenergy.theEuropean

Disrupting the traditional model, whereby power stations supply power to customers across the UK, many of these prosumers are purely focusing on becoming more (or entirely) self-sustaining “off-grid”, while others are actually working to become signiﬁcant contributors to the grid, selling the surplus energy generated. This step-change is being made possible by the rollout of battery storage technology. Consumers are now not only able to generate electricity via technologies such as solar PV, they can store it and choose when to utilise it, such as during peak hours when electricity supply is expensive. Adding this previously missing link opens up a world of opportunities and choices.

QSounds exciting, but what are the drivers and barriers? The drivers of this trend are plentiful:

POWER

“The European Renewable Energies estimatesFederationthatthere will be as many as 24 million clean energy prosumers in the UK by 2050...”

Renewable Energies Federation estimates that there will be as many as 24 million clean energy prosumers in the UK by 2050, up from 1 million back in 2015.

PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN September 2022 51

TECHNICAL & TRAINING

QFor those who may be unfamiliar with the term, what is a ‘prosumer’?

As energy prices soar to levels previously unseen and concerns grow around supply security, the role of prosumers looks set to accelerate. But what is a PROSUMER? We sit down with NICEIC’s Head of Technical Services, Paul Collins, to learn more.

* Consumer awareness of climate issues is prompting many to invest in cleaner technologies

QOk, so are we talking about solar panels generating electricity to run homes and buildings? Yes and no. Right now, prosumers predominantly generate their electricity through solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on their roofs. However, technology is evolving, and this is only one of the systems being deployed.

* The uptake of electric cars is rising, and consumers want greener, less expensive ways of charging these vehicles

While we feel there is much more to be done, the 10-point plan has set out the road map, and we anticipate further TO THE PEOPLE

For example, if you’re undertaking a re-wire or replacement of a consumer unit which doesn’t have any spare ways, now might be the time to talk to your customers about adding provisions to support installations in the future.

Competence is vital, change is coming, and as the old saying goes ‘failing to prepare is preparing to fail’. If you want to make the most of the opportunities coming down the track, consider training and upskilling in the likes of solar PV, heat pumps and EV charging installations. If expanding your business model isn’t quite right for you, you still need to ensure you are up to speed with the regulations related to low carbon technologies.

QDo you think more legislation is needed to mandate the use of low-carbon technologies? I think there needs to be a combination of ﬁnancial incentives and supporting legislation, both of which are starting to come through. As a country, we have a legally binding commitment to reach net-zero by 2050. To do this, the way we heat/ventilate our homes and buildings and power our transport must evolve, and many small but significant steps will be taken along the way.

You will note, the recently released Amendment 2 of BS 7671 added to the existing requirements around the installation of Solar PV systems and detailed how prosumer equipment might operate. It covers key areas such as energy efficiency measures and the interface with the grid, as well as the management of electricity consumption, renewable sources of electricity, and energy storage. Being up to speed in this area is vital as you will increasingly be called upon to deﬁne and install electrical equipment for these new systems. You are also keenly positioned to advise your customers and help them to prepare.

A recent example of this was seen in the introduction of Part S of the Building Regulations (England), which came into force in June. Under this rule, all new builds and buildings undergoing major renovations are now required to include provisions for EV charging infrastructure. Add to this the major plans seen in the 10-point plan, such as the ban on the sale of fossil-fueled boilers in 2035, and it’s clear we’re heading for mass-market adoption of low-carbon technology.

QHow do you predict this will all play out and how quickly will we see signiﬁcant change? That’s a difficult one to answer as there are so many variables involved. What I will say though is the prosumer trend is only going to accelerate over the coming years. If you’d have asked me the same question a couple of years ago, I’d have said there will be a steady growth in prosumers over a number of years. However now, as people are worried about the energy crisis and security of supply, I expect to see things ramping up sooner, especially after energy prices go up again in October.

support will be forthcoming in the future

TECHNICAL & TRAINING 52 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN GET MORE NICEIC TRAINING COURSE DETAILS AND DATES AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ022

QWhat advice would you give electrical professionals around taking advantage of the rise in prosumers from a business perspective?

NICEIC offers a wide range of courses to support contractors looking to upskill in the maintenance and installation of low carbon technologies.

We understand money is tight for all at the moment, and for many installing heat pumps and/or solar panels today may simply be out of the question. However, by thinking about the supporting infrastructure during maintenance and planned upgrades, consumers could be making savings in the future.

THESEEINGLIGHTOFDAY

LIGHTING

PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN September 2022 55

We pride ourselves on being a company which listens to its customers and we openly engage with contractors and end users to help make our products easier to install, cost and energy-efficient, and aesthetically pleasing.Weactively encourage customer input and take the feedback we receive via our media platforms seriously. This approach enables us to apply more practical features into our product. The circular economy is also a priority, so we look at how the design of our new light ﬁttings can make them easy to repair, to extend their lifespan. Value for money has always been central to the Ansell brand, but we believe it is the clever additions to our design commercial office, retail and educational applications. Collaborative design Input from contractors was crucial to the design of the Otto Evo, which has been lauded for its quick, simple and expertiseexperienceon-the-groundTheirandinformedaraft of labour-saving features, including the adjustable, sliding dropped wire suspension cabling on the luminaire with centre pull clips which can be effortlessly manoeuvred to location grooves, as well as pre-set markings to facilitate ﬁxing, spacing and alignment. Upgrades or servicing can be carried

Encouraging customer input

When Ansell Lighting creates a new luminaire design, a huge amount of work will have already been done before we embark on putting the design and production process in motion. At the centre of all our product development is the contractor who will install the luminaire and the customer who will be investing their money in it.

Richard Kemp, Head of Innovation for Ansell Lighting, explains how the company’s products make the journey from creative spark to safe, functional and eye-catching installations in locations such as hospitals, warehouses, schools and homes.

LIGHTING out safely and conveniently thanks to a lift-away top section which allows instant access to internal components and wiring.

Our project engineers carefully review the market to ensure we are making products that are current and meet the latest legislation –and at competitive prices to please the professional electrical wholesale chain. All products are carefully designed using 3D CAD to create initial drawings which form the template for a 3D plastic model. This is where we start to put our innovation to the test.

Producing the goods

Good quality production is an area that we really understand, and one which we’ve invested in over many years. The result is a very skilled supply chain that works with us to ensure the latest materials and machinery are used. Quality and continuity is a top priority and even after production has started, we monitor goods throughout the entire process. External auditors continually check our supply chain to ensure that our products are produced to A1 standard. Our loyal customer base expects nothing less. From production line to purchase At the end of the production process we’re always conﬁdent that we have a product that fulﬁlls our criteria of meeting health and safety standards, installation needs, energy efficiency goals, functionality requirements –and is visually impressive.

The process up to this crucial point might have taken many months, during which time our marketing and sales teams will have been gearing up to swing into action. The product might ﬁnd its way to one of our state-of-the-art showrooms, in Belfast, Warrington and Dublin, where its beneﬁts can be demonstrated in-situ to wholesale customers, contractors, architects and consultants.

We’ll have marketed it across all media platforms to ensure our customers know there is a new product to look out for, while our Warrington and Belfast sales teams are fully informed and prepared to answer any questions our customers mightTherehave.isreally just one ﬁnal stage left, the purchase of the new Ansell Lighting product. That is down to our customers –the very people who have informed every aspect of its journey from concept to reality. AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ023

Robust design review

56 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN BROWSE THE LATEST ANSELL LIGHTING PRODUCT CATALOGUE

Ansell Lighting has achieved LIA Laboratory Certiﬁcation 003 for our luminaire testing facilities in Warrington –one of just six laboratories in the UK to have achieved the accreditation. This enables us to validate the quality and performance of all our new products in-house, using our state-of-the-art goniophotometer, the Gonio Tunnel.

The prototype enables us to thoroughly investigate how the product will work in the real world –Is there adequate wiring space? Does it allow for future upgrades? –and ensure that our design translates into a workable and impactful product. Usually, we will make a series of working samples. These are shown to Ansell’s internal technical committee for evaluation and initial feedback. Then it is on to the all-important contractor feedback. This always provides valuable reinforcement of our designs. It can be a very grounding exercise but we’re always conscious that a well thought out product with good reliability is paramount. All feedback is good feedback, after all. Quality and performance testing

Over a three month period our 3D design prototypes are run through a series of rigorous tests encompassing thermals, electro-magnetic compatibility, harmonics, ingress protection, impact testing and material ageing, to ensure complete accuracy and compliance with industryWhenstandards.we’recompletely satisfied, we will pass the products to an accredited test house for final certification as an added assurance of quality.

The design also delivers beneﬁts for the end user, featuring optional functions such as an integral microwave sensor, corridor control and digital dimming for energy savings, and compatibility with Octo smart control for ultimate user control.

REQUESTSRETROFIT

Request 2: CCT and wattage selectable LED If you’re looking for a way to offer clients more flexibility with their lighting design, without any major works needing to take place, there are adjustable downlights available with in-built CCT and wattage selection that can easily replace existing non-selectable fittings. These downlights can be retrofitted into a range of existing ceiling holes: the Discus Max CCT Selectable, for instance, has a bracket that can be adjusted to fit cut-outs between 65mm and 310mm. With the Discus, you can select between three colour temperatures – 3000, 4000 and 5700K – and three wattages of 15, 22 and 28W, without the need for extensive drilling, replastering and decorating after the job.

W hat’s not to love about a retrofit project? They’re faster, less disruptive and don’t come with the added complications of a full re-design – that is, if you can get the products you need to fulfil the brief. If you can’t, then retrofit requests can soon become a nightmare, with client expectations and the harsh on-site reality failing to match up. Yet with LED continuing to develop, and new solutions available in everything from motion sensors to emergency lighting, there are more retrofit possibilities to offer your clients than ever before. Here, we round up five retrofit solutions for your next commercial lighting project that will help you deliver on your client requests for minimal disruption and maximum efficiency:

PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN September 2022 59 LIGHTING

From motion sensors to emergency lighting, the team at Red Arrow rounds up ﬁve of the best retroﬁt lighting solutions for commercial lighting projects.

Request 1: Fuss-free emergency lighting If retrofitted emergency lighting has you thinking of bulky battery packs stuck on ceilings, think Surface-mountedagain. emergency lighting has moved on, with new Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery technology meaning that compact, slimline emergency lights can now be installed with minimal disruption to completed projects, or any premises where it’s difficult to drill into ceilings to install recessed lighting, such as listed buildings or awkward building conversions. As well as being smaller, this new breed of surface-mounted emergency lights is longer-lasting in terms of recharge and discharge cycles, too. The Sentinel range of 3W surface-mounted emergency lights has a depth of just 108mm, and is suitable for both open areas and escape routes

The Discus Max CCT Selectable is also available with integral PIR, allowing you to retroﬁt motion-controlled lighting with minimal disruption on-site. These are a good option for commercial clients who may be looking to cut down on their energy consumption, allowing lights in areas such as hallways and stairwells to switch off when they are out of use, but without the need for a full overhaul of the lighting design.

Request 3: PIR control Adding lighting control to an installation doesn’t always require additional devices or switches to be added to the circuit. If you’re looking to add PIR control as part of an LED retroﬁt, you can install luminaires with motion sensors built into the ﬁtting, not as an addition to the lighting system.

Ceiling tiles and panels used to be notoriously difficult to retroﬁt with LED.

For a neat and tidy way to replace compact fluorescent downlights with an LED alternative, the Venus compact downlight range provides excellent like-for-likeAvailablesubstitutions.in150,170and 200m versions, Venus downlights can slot neatly into existing compact fluorescent cut-outs while ceiling brackets also adjust from below using a screwdriver to get a precise fit, so you shouldn’t have to ‘fill in’ any gaps around the fitting.

Venus products can also be another easy way to retroﬁt emergency lighting into existing lighting schemes when combined with a Titan remote emergency conversion kit, converting the ﬁtting into an integral emergency light.

Request 4: Compact ﬂuorescent downlights replacements

While one option was to fit standard LED downlights into a tile to replace the fluorescent panel, it wasn’t always the best way to achieve an equivalent light dispersal. Probably the easiest retrofit example is taking out a 600x600 panel with fluorescent or compact fluorescent in the luminaire and replacing it with a 600x600 LED panel. Significant energy savings can be made by doing this and with the latest back-lit panels and high-quality TP(a) rated high performance microprism diffusers of <UGR19 they can reduce the glare too.

One company that is helping to source better retrofit options is Red Arrow Electrical. As well as developing products with easy retrofitting in mind, the technical and design helpline is open to any installer looking for product advice. The team can even supply full customer lighting designs to client specifications. RANGE BROCHURE

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LIGHTING

Request 5: LED ceiling panels

AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ024

Lumen output This effectively measures how much light is emitted into a space by the luminaire. To work through an example, let’s look at a 12m x 12m office space where LED panels are being used. There are multiple options when looking at the lumen outputs that could be selected to illuminate the space. By using a higher lumen level (such as 3,500 lumens) but fewer panels, this makes not only the cost of the panels lower, it also delivers a better return on investment when taking into consideration the cost of energy consumption. By working through this for each installation, it can be clear to see which lumen output and quantity of luminaires will deliver the best results.

Correct light distribution In certain applications where luminaires

SPECULATE TO ACCUMULATE

With the cost of energy having reached its highest ever levels, these surging price hikes are clearly having a major impact on budgets. While this is frustrating, there are considerations that can be made at the lighting design stage to keep these costs to a Lightingminimum.suppliers and contractors play a key role in the overall energy consumption of a lighting installation. After all, their knowledge and expertise can have a signiﬁcant impact when reducing ongoingEnd-userscosts.may feel that keeping the cost of solutions as low as possible is the most important goal. However, if contractors have an opportunity to discuss energy savings with them, and how this links directly to lifetime cost savings, this can encourage a shift in thinking as well as adding value.

LIGHTING 62 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN

The key considerations To deliver true energy savings, there are several aspects of a lighting installation that need to be considered: Lux levels

Every project has a minimum lux level that it truly needs to offer comfortable lighting. If lux levels are too high or too bright, it can be unpleasant for those exposed to that lighting, while also using more energy than is necessary. To put this into context, CIBSE recommendations for offices are 300 lux for screen-based work and 500 lux for paper-based work. Yet data shows most offices are 20 - 40% over-illuminated, creating discomfort and using energy unnecessarily.

Simon Shenton, Head of LED at Luceco Group, looks at how spending more upfront can save money in the long-term when specifying your next lighting installation.

Having had them in my possession for a while, I finally got around to fitting a few of the Luceco FType Compact fire rated downlights recently. What a fantastic product this is! The range uses the latest Samsung chips which offer 100 lumens per watt output, are 30-60-90 minute fire rated and Parts L, C and E compliant. New features to this upgraded range include a more compact height, NHBC Certified for I-JOIST applications and new 4W versions that are Part L exempt.

COMPACT RANGE

LEARN MORE ABOUT LUCECO’S FREE LIGHTING DESIGN SERVICE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ025 “A

Product performance

Luceco Lighting offers a free lighting design service to provide contractors and end users with solutions for any lighting projects, compliant with the latest British Standards and CIBSE lighting guidelines. As part of this service ROI estimates can be provided to indicate potential return and energy savings. BITGREATOFKIT”

Jeff Jones of The DepartmentTechnical sheds some light on Luceco’s FType Compact LED Fire Rated Downlights. FTYPE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ026

It is widely recognised that the performance of a light ﬁtting is a direct correlation to the make-up of its components. The focus here is the amount of light that a luminaire puts out, and how this can be maximised. The performance of raw LED chips is continuously growing, with the average raw LED lumens now sitting around 160 Lm/W. Once this is surrounded by metal casing and covered with a diffuser, the amount of light can be signiﬁcantly reduced in lower cost products. This is a prime example of where choosing a more premium solution, such as those designed and manufactured by Luceco Lighting, will deliver in the long-term. The amount of light that can be achieved through a better quality product will mean less luminaires can be used, once again showing where cost savings can be achieved.

have multiple light distributions, the overall lighting result and energy consumption is hugely affected. There are examples where two luminaires, both offering 1,000 lumens, can deliver vastly different light levels into a space. By choosing a wider beam angle, less luminaires could potentially be used, which then in turn uses less energy –delivering cost savings.

The product is easy to ﬁt and utilises solid sprung clips to hold the unit in place. The loop in/loop out NEL-NEL terminals feature a push-in connector block, which is a huge improvement over screw down terminals and there is adequate space for supply and feed cable into the integrated Power Supply Unit (PSU). Dim2Warm and Colour Changing versions are also available, which provide varying lighting colour temperature options to suit different environments. Rubber shrouds are supplied with the downlight to reduce installation damage to plasterboard around the ﬁtting aperture. One feature I really love is the removable bezel for decorating and/or changing the style without changing the whole light –a great bit of kit!!

PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN September 2022 63

Lighting controls

LIGHTING GET MORE DETAILS ON THE LUCECO

Another important consideration for commercial buildings is the use of lighting controls. Now mandated under Part L of the building regulations, these are no longer a ‘nice to have’ option. However, they can save an additional 30 - 40% of energy, on top of the savings outlined earlier. Due to luminaires being off or dimmed for longer, lighting controls enable the life of luminaires to be extended. Luceco Lighting offers a range of commercial lighting controls that can be speciﬁed as part of a lighting project. Be clear from the outset While it can be difficult to convince end-users to spend more at the outset, if the energy savings can be identiﬁed, it becomes a much better project for both the contractor and those who are responsible for paying the bills.

LIGHTING

THE ROAD TO ‘L’

PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN September 2022 65 In June of this year new requirements outlined in the 2021 edition of Part L Building Regulations came into effect in England. The changes affect engineers, electrical contractors, consultants, and lighting designers, and apply to all buildings that aren’t a residence. So, whether you work with universities, schools or offices, it’s critical that you understand how to guarantee compliance.Manyofthe changes focus on making new constructions more sustainable. All non-domestic new builds must produce 27% fewer CO2 emissions than previous standards, while existing buildings need to install new controls that improve the efficiency of their heating and hot water boiler systems. However, a particularly complex amendment impacts the lighting inside non-domestic new builds.

Changes to lighting regulations and new requirements for lighting controls In previous editions, there were no explicit requirements for lighting controls, meaning the use of high efficacy lighting was enough to comply. However, this was a missed opportunity. Using lighting controls will always enhance energy savings. With a systems approach, intelligent lighting control can overlay multiple energy savings strategies, such as presence detection or daylight harvesting, with timers, and more importantly with high end trim.

Miguel Aguado, Marketing and Technology Manager at Lutron, looks at recent changes to Part L Building Regulations and how lighting controls can ensure compliance.

“This is the ﬁrst time that UK building regulations have proveinitially,lightingincorporatedcontrols.Andtheserulesmaytoughtomeet.”

The environmental impact of lighting So far, the CIBSE has focused much of its attention on the heating and ventilating changes of Part L, rather than lighting control. However, lighting can be one of the single biggest energy consumers, and expenses, within an organisation. According to the Carbon Trust, lighting accounts for around 20% of all the electricity used in the UK. In an average office building, this ﬁgure grows to around 39%, and climbs higher in specialised settings such as healthcare facilities (43%) and hotels (55%). So, it’s crucial to explore ways to reduce consumption while minimising impact on an organisation’s productivity and customer services.

Now, the minimum lighting efficacy has been raised to 80 luminaire lumens per circuit watt for display lighting and 95 luminaire lumens for general lighting. Spaces must not be over-lit, and each lighting circuit must have a kw/h meter, unless a lighting control system that can calculate and share the energy usage is installed. Meanwhile, the tools used to verify compliance of a building (SBEM) will also expect the use of occupancy detection and daylight sensors.

The impact of smart lighting controls

66 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN BROWSE THE FULL LUTRON PRODUCT RANGE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ027 “Now the minimum lighting efficacy has been raised to 80 luminaire lumens per circuit watt for display lighting and 95 luminaire lumens for general lighting.”

Beneﬁts of lighting efficiency

To compensate for lumen depreciation over time, lighting is usually over-speciﬁed, and spaces are often over-lit, causing issues beyond the obvious waste of energy. An over-lit space can result in uncomfortable glare on computer screens, dampening productivity.

This is the ﬁrst time that UK building regulations have incorporated lighting controls. And initially, these rules may prove tough to meet. So, why is lighting now in the spotlight? And is there a simple way to manage a building’s lighting to ensure adherence and efficiency?

It’s clear, then, that boosting energy efficiency not only reduces overheads, but can boost organisational proﬁts, too. But why the speciﬁc need for lighting controls?

LIGHTING

In 2021, 28% of UK consumers stopped using certain brands or products due to ethical or sustainability-related concerns. 34% began using brands because of their environmental values. Greener policies even help to motivate internal workforces, with researchers noting a 16% productivity boost in ﬁrms with sustainable practices.

The climate crisis is now ﬁrmly at the forefront of consumers’ minds, with recent COP26 events and IPCC reports laying bare the changes required to curb emissions. Net-zero targets are fast approaching, too, with all sectors of the UK economy set to be decarbonised by 2050. As a result, the public is becoming increasingly eco-conscious and voting with their wallets on the sustainable values they want organisations to uphold.

Of course, many of us are well accustomed to the classic ways of reducing lighting energy usage. Think energy-saving bulbs, use of natural light, movement sensors, and more. But now, the rules specify the need for a lighting control system. And while it’s great to tick the regulatory box, organisations shouldn’t simply make these changes due to the law –there’s huge business value in being energy efficient and using smart technologies.

A lighting control system allows firms to manage the lifetime light output of luminaries, right across their properties. This begins with the installation of both single room and whole building solutions. Then, Facilities Managers can remotely monitor and adjust levels of electric light and daylight from their computers, while reporting and analysing usage for future optimisation. This extra control helps to slash electricity waste and boost energy savings, while transforming occupant productivity and wellbeing, too. For instance, managers can nurture moods in indoor spaces with tuneable white and warm dimming tools. They can control window blinds to offer stronger privacy in an occupied meeting room, and greater visibility in a presentation space. They can even focalise natural light on a sunny day to reduce eye strain and headaches, and boost the mood of occupants. After all, 78% of office workers say that access to natural light supports their overall happiness –leading to stronger individual engagement and performance.So,whilethere are incredible examples of the cost-saving advantages of lighting controls –such as The New York Times reducing its overheads by $600,000 –the benefits span much wider. And with new Part L Building Regulations now in force, it’s more important than ever for buildings to be built or retrofitted with a lighting control system. That way, you can ensure your customer’s space is future-proofed for long-term compliance, sustainability, and productivity.

Battery charging and energy consumption

YOURWHAT’STYPE?

Emergency lighting is required by law for all commercial premises and HMOs for illumination when the normal lighting fails. It is mandated by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, more often called the ﬁre safety order or the RRO and also Building Regulations. For emergency lighting systems, the battery must be a rechargeable type and so the choice of battery can impact the amount of energy consumed, due to the way it is charged.

Traditionally the most popular batteries used in self-contained ﬁxtures were Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cad). A mainstay for emergency lighting applications, Ni-Cd has been used for many years due to its robust nature and ability to operate in harsh environments such as integral luminaire conversions.

Emergency lighting is parasitic. This means that in normal situations it is in ‘standby’ mode, and its effects will not be seen unless there is a power failure. Despite this, the battery must remain fully charged and ready to provide emergency illumination when required. For this reason, the way the battery is charged inﬂuences the amount of parasitic energy consumed. Ni-Cd batteries prefer to be constant current charged, resulting in almost all the delivered load being consumed by the charge duty. This also results in energy lost as heat as the current is continually passed through the battery. Using Ni-Cd, a typical 3W non-maintained luminaire consumes around 2.5W of power per hour.

Battery types

A major benefit of LiFePO₄ is that it prefers to be intermittently charged rather than constant current charged. This means that once the battery is fully charged, the battery charger switches off, typically for around four minutes out of every five, before undertaking ‘top up’ charging for one minute out of every five. As well as being much kinder to the battery, this results in a far more efficient charge cycle which, coupled with Lithium’s much lower self-discharge rate, (3-5% per month compared to 10-20% per month for Ni-Cd), means that using LiFePO₄, a typical 3W non-maintained luminaire will consume around 0.7W of charging power.

Peter Adams, Technical Manager at NVC Lighting, looks at why the choice of batteries for emergency lighting can help to achieve energy and cost savings.

New technology More recently, the self-contained emergency lighting sector has seen a transformation in its impact on parasitic energy consumption with the advent of Lithium based battery technologies; in particular, Lithium Iron-Phosphate (LiFePO₄), the preferred choice for the industry. Its very high-density energy (size to capacity ratio), coupled with its cell chemistry means LiFePO₄ is perfectly set up for self-contained emergency lighting. It has a high-temperature tolerance (higher than Ni-Cd), making it extremely versatile for luminaire integral conversions, and its lack of heavy metals and hazardous chemicals make it kinder to the environment and easier to recycle.

“Its very high-density energy (size to capacity ratio), coupled with its cell chemistry means LiFePO4 is perfectly set up for self-contained lighting.”

A drawback is that the battery has a relatively low energy density (size to capacity ratio), making it unsuitable for ﬁtting into newer, more discreet LED luminaires. A further disadvantage is that Cadmium is a hazardous chemical which brings end of life disposal and recycling challenges.

LIGHTING 68 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN

Assuming an average price of electricity of £0.145/KWh and a parasitic usage of 24hrs/day, the savings can be calculated in monetary terms on an annual basis as follows:

BROWSE THE NVC UK EMERGENCY LIGHTING BROCHURE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ028

NVC SENECA using Ni-Cd Charging power: 2.3W (2.3 x 24) = 55.2 watt-hours/day/1,000 = 0.0552kWh/day (x 0.30) = 0.17 pence 0.17 x 365 = circa £6.20 annually NVC SENECA PRO using LiFePO₄ Charging power: 0.7W (0.7 x 24) = 16.8 watt-hours/day/1,000 = 0.0168kWh/day (x 0.30) = 0.05 pence 0.05 x 365 = circa £1.80 annually This equates to an average saving of £4.40 per luminaire, per year, every year! A further benefit of the intermittent charge cycle, coupled with the lower self-discharge rate is that LiFePO₄ has a much greater design life (up to eight years compared to the four years of Ni-Cad) resulting in much lower maintenance costs, a lower need for recycling and less cost for replacements. At NVC we’re committed to Lithium technology. Our dedicated PRO emergency luminaire range already uses LiFePO₄ and by the end of 2021 we aim to replace all of our Ni-Cd offerings with the technology. This offers our customers peace of mind in the knowledge that they have a robust and compliant emergency lighting system that provides significant savings on parasitic energy usage, financial gains, and less environmental impact. Our PRO range is also complemented by an automatic self-test facility which tests in line with BS EN 50172:2004 and BS EN 60234:2012. This negates the need for costly and time-consuming manual testing and maintenance, bringing about substantial payback over time. Such is our confidence in LiFePO₄ technology, we now offer a seven-year warranty on all of our contractor range of products, and our PRO range of dedicated emergency luminaires, including the battery.

St James’s, a teaching hospital in Dublin, recently underwent a retroﬁt of ROBUS HUMANITAS Human Centric Lighting in its Mercer’s Institute for Successful Ageing (MISA) state-of-the-art-facility–a for integrated clinical services and a hub for world-leading research in ageing.

The ROBUS HUMANITAS Human Centric lighting system allows the user to experience the right light at the right time. The Human Centric lighting cycle initiates a 24-hour human circadian rhythm cycle that simulates the light output during the autumnal equinox. This is achieved by the composition of light intensity and light colour changing over the course of the day.

The Facilities Manager at St. James’s Hospital approached the local electrical wholesaler for advice on a lighting solution that would work best for the hospital’s particular needs, and the ROBUS HUMANITAS range was suggested.

Flexibility and control

Patient and employee betterment

The ROBUS HUMANITAS Human Centric lighting system takes into consideration the impact of lighting on the occupant’s wellbeing, productivity and comfort, making it the ideal solution for the MISA Centre.

DOCTOR’S ORDERS BROWSE THE FULL ROBUS HUMANITAS RANGE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ029 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN September 2022 71

In addition to the scene settings, the HUMANITAS MODUM has three cycles. Cycles differs from the scenes on the modem in that they operate on a 24-hour constantly updated cycle. The Human Centric Lighting cycle (HCL) initiates a 24-hour human circadian rhythm cycle. This simulates the light output during a typical day. During the cycle, the light is constantly on with the levels of blue light content varying. The HCL+ is the same as the HCL cycle but delivers illuminance boosts throughout the working day when visual acuity is required. Finally, the custom cycle gives complete ﬂexibility to the users at the MISA centre by allowing a fully conﬁgurable 24-hour, 7-day cycle.

LIGHTING

From concentration to peaceful relaxation With the ROBUS HUMANITAS Human Centric lighting range, the MISA Centre can choose from various scenes and cycles to suit its needs on a day-to-day basis. The four scene set options available are Activate, Focus, Neutral, and Calm. Activate gives a burst of blue light which will allow people in the room to become more alert. Focus is designed to give a light output that increases concentration and comprehension. The neutral setting gives a 50:50 mix of warm white and cool white light and is best used as standard workplace lighting.

Alternatively, the calm setting has little or no blue light, enabling patients to settle down into peaceful relaxation.

As a technologically evolving and innovative institution, continuing to take steps that advanced both patients’ and employees’ betterment was integral. The effects of lighting on individuals took centre stage in determining the optimal lighting for a speciﬁc area.

Eight SPACE HUMANITAS panels were installed in the creative life workshop in St. James’s, a facility which is concerned with mental health and wellbeing.

Result By integrating ROBUS HUMANITAS products, the MISA centre can compensate for insufficient daylight exposure experienced by patients by balancing their circadian rhythm. This will result in better nightly sleep and accelerate recovery times. We learn more about the role that ROBUS’s Human Centric Lighting has played in improving the conditions at one of Dublin’s leading teaching hospitals.

Light balancing circadian rhythms Research has found that the lighting where we work, rest, and learn needs to be optimised to work in harmony with our bodies’ natural circadian system. The human circadian rhythm is the body’s natural 24-hour cycle that needs to be reset every day. People who beneﬁt from this type of lighting report improved moods, concentration, and productivity levels.

Control mixed loads on a single circuit

Adding lighting control to mixed LED loads on a single circuit can be hard work, no matter the lighting project or lighting control solution chosen. This is because each dimmable LED ﬁtting or driver has different minimum and maximum levels that it can be adjusted to.

n this article we hope to debunk the ‘ins and outs’ of lighting control for large LED loads as well as explaining the key things that professionals should consider before getting started on a project that requires lighting control.

Dimming LED from more than one point on a single circuit is a solution that’s often restricted to expensive, bespoke lighting systems with complex conﬁguration requirements.Ifaclientwants to dim and control the lighting from multiple locations on a single circuit it can be done cost-effectively without requiring expensive rewiring or complicated computer programming. This is an element of lighting control that’s often overlooked by installers.

LIGHTING 72 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN

Imagine you’re adding lighting control to a space with a number of recessed GU10s, as well as LED strip lighting and some hanging, handcrafted pendants all on the same circuit. You need a product that can handle the respective loads of all fittings and fixtures and ensure that the lighting control all works in-sync. The key thing to look for is the capabilities of a lighting control product’s internal settings. It benefits the installer to have the opportunity to pre-set the control’s internal settings so that the lighting output doesn’t end up dipping below the capacity of the drivers that have the highest minimum level.Not only does this make sure that the lighting control all works in-sync, but also that the controls are programmed to keep all the lighting within a consistent range of output, that works for all the fittings and drivers on the circuit, every time. Multi-point lighting control

Take Zano Controls’ ZBARLED as one example. The ZBARLED is a remote loads: what are the key things to consider? The team at Zano Controls offers more advice.

While it mostly occurs when the circuit is first switched on, it can also happen during the mains cycle as the reservoir capacitor requires a charge. The bigger the spike or the longer the duration, the more it affects an LED installation, increasing the load and potentially changing the dimmer or lighting control solution you need to install. Many lighting control options, no matter how bespoke or tailored to your specific lighting requirements, aren’t powerful enough to cope with Inrush current. Flicker, buzz and even LED dropout are by-products of Inrush current wreaking havoc on an LED install. When dealing with large loads, you need a lighting control solution that is powerful enough to handle the various complications of Inrush and can provide flicker-free, silent, and reliable lighting control. This is where Zano Controls’ ZBARLED really comes into its own. THE ZANO CONTROLS ZBARLED RANGE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ030

When adding lighting control to a larger LED-lit room, you need a lighting control product that can handle all the different possibilities that that space will be used for and makes it easy to create a lighting design scheme for multi-use spaces. For example, the same commercial venue could be rented out for conferences, performances, weddings, health and exercise, or worship, all of which require speciﬁc and varied lighting conditions.

The challenges of Inrush current Many LED drivers and ﬁttings produce a large spike of current as they turn on, which can be much higher than the advertised wattage of the LED on its packaging. Inrush is the spike in current that’s drawn by the LED power supply.

In some of these scenarios, being able to achieve low-level lighting will be just as important as making sure the ﬁnished result provides optimal lighting where and when needed. A product that can be multi-functional and control the lighting to low levels smoothly as much as it can make use of the circuit total load, without any ﬂicker, buzz or dropout is imperative.

Creating ﬂexible lighting control

The versatility of the ZBARLEDs pairing with different control options means that there are no restraints to your installation and that you and your clients can select the controls that ﬁt the character and usage of different areas.

dimming pack that can be installed through a break in the circuit or a junction box, works with existing twin and earth cable and can be paired with up to 32 rotary control points. It works with specially designed ZBARCR rotary controllers or retractive push-up/down (toggle, rocker etc.) switches and push/button switches.

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“I'VELIGHTING SEEN THE LIGHT” 74 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN BROWSE THE FULL OVIA LIGHTING RANGE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ031

Very few restrictions

There are other brands that I've tried in the past that have the same diffuser and design on some of their models, but I have to say that this is the ﬁrst occasion that I've realised how effective it is.

The Ovia Inceptor Slate ceiling panels are TP(a) as standard. This means they can be used almost without restrictions, unlike TP(b) rated fittings. They are designed to fit standard 600mm x 600mm panel sizes, making them an ideal retrofit for existing, less efficient lighting alternatives.

For example, if you're installing LED lighting in a corridor where people are just passing through you don't necessarily need to utilise a unit with a UGR <19 rating. You are, however, going to get far less complaints from people working in offices (and therefore less call backs) if you ﬁt this speciﬁcation of panel from the get-go.

Putting the Ovia Inceptor Slate Backlit LED Panel Lights to the test recently has been a real eye opener. The ﬁrst thing to mention is that the panels feature a UGR <19 diffuser, which makes them perfect for an office or commercial environment.

The previous LED panels mounted in our office (from another manufacturer) didn't have the UGR <19 feature and I found that after sitting in the office for more than four or five hours I started to getWhatheadaches.I’velearned is that one LED lighting solution doesn’t fit all. For every lighting project you undertake, you need to consider the specific requirements and source the correct LED fitting.

The range includes various options –30W standard backlit LED panels; 30W 3 in 1 dimmable backlit LED panels; 30W low-glare backlit LED panels and 30W 3 in 1 dimmable, low-glare backlit LED panels.

They also come in a choice of warm white, cool white and daylight colour options and they are IP44 rated. They feature the Click Flow connector which is pre-wired to the panel driver. This is a real bonus as other LED panels I've purchased previously haven't come with any kind of plug-in connection at all, meaning the installer has to purchase one separately or use another form of pre-wired system which might not be easy to work with. Go with the Flow Thanks to the Click Flow connector, you can terminate the cables and carry out testing on the circuit before putting the LED panels in place, thus minimising the potential for damage to the driver or the panelI'veitself.been really pleased with the Inceptor Slate Backlit Panel. It provides a great light output and is a product that I would certainly recommend to anyone who has a commercial project coming up in the future.

Steve Hewish, Approved Electrician at Turrell (Electrical Contractors), tries out one of the leading lights from Ovia's lighting portfolio – the Inceptor Slate Blacklit LED Panel Light.

For a unit of this size, the product boasts a decent charge and run time, with around two hours of use on full power (700 lumens output) and up to 10 hours when in low power mode (100 lumens output). It can also be charged from a USB point, meaning you can charge the unit up when you’re in the van between jobs. This pocket light offers a 6500K colour temperature and IP65 rating and I found that the spread and power of light, particularly in high power mode, was very impressive.

LIGHTING BROWSE THE PRODUCT DATA SHEET AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EA J032

–7.2W standard with 60 LEDs per metre in warm white and cool white –14.4W standard with 120 LEDs per metre in warm white and cool white –7.2W RGBW with 48 LEDs per metre, offering up to 16 million colour options –14.4W RGBW with 60 LEDs per metre, offering up to 16 million colour options.

Step forward Engex’s 700LM Pocket Flood Light –a compact, lightweight and portable work light that is easy to tuck into the side of your tool bag/box.

4. Switch on the power. With a variety of strips, connectors, and drivers available in the range, you have the flexibility for complete customisation, whether working within domestic, retail, or outdoorScolmoresettings.has recently added a Smart RGBW LED Tape Controller to its ClickSmart+ home automation range. This is a wireless control solution that allows you to control LED tape lighting wherever you are via the ClickSmart+ App. column to put questions to Head of the Ovia Lighting business, Mike Collins, and his team of experts.

Set up is easy in four simple steps:

your

ne thing that I’ve been looking to add to my tool kit for quite some time is a small work light that is bright enough to illuminate a large distribution panel, but not so big as to need an extra hand to carry it around.

ASK OVIA®OKS ASA AIOVVO 01827 300 01827wwwww.oviaUK.com640.oviaUK.comw300640

PUT YOUR QUESTION TO THE ASK OVIA TEAM AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ033 VI S IT THE AS K OVI A MICR OS ITE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/E A J034 “A WITHPACKAGESMALLBIGRESULTS”O

2. Utilising the plug and play connections, connect the end of the LED strip to one of the driver leads 3. Connect the driver lead to the chosen LED driver. Then ensure the LED driver is connected to the mains

where you get

the

Our Inceptor Intense range is the perfect solution for under cabinet lighting. These 24V LED strips are available in cool white, warm white and RGBW, which offers up to 16 million colourTheoptions!stripscome in four pre-cut lengths – 0.5m, 1m, 2m and 5m – and they use a plug and play system, which makes installation really quick and easy. They’re IP20 and IP65 rated and come in the following options:

Another nice feature is the powerful magnet that is built into the base of the product and is ideal for mounting to ceiling grids, panel boards and even to the van when charging up. This is a cracking little tool that offers ﬂexibility to the end user and boasts power way beyond its size.

Steve Hewish is in the hot-seat once more as he reviews the Engex 700LM Pocket Flood Light.

1. Peel the adhesive back from the LED strip and place down on a clean and even surface

QWHAT IS THE BEST SOLUTION FOR UNDER CABINET LIGHTING AND WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND FROM THE OVIA RANGE? The

Simon Greenwood, Sales Director Trade & Speciﬁcation, Signify UK&I, has the answers.

LIFE IN 3D

LIGHTING

Generally, 3D printing is set to change the way we make almost everything. Unsurprisingly, the lighting industry, too, is showcasing the fact that 3D printing isn’t just a hype. Colombia’s El Dorado International Airport has reduced its carbon footprint with almost 9,000 3D printed downlights, while a leading Dutch supermarket chain Dekamarkt has undertaken a custom lighting retroﬁt, with recyclable 3D-printed luminaires. So how do 3D lights help these businesses?

What is a 3D printed luminaire?

Whether these needs are performance improvements (higher efficacies in lumen per watt (lm/W) or better light quality), a diverse look and feel (different colour, texture, or shaped housing), or a system upgrade, the modular concept facilitates these needs. Instead of replacing the whole luminaire, modules can be exchanged or added, thus preserving value, and avoiding waste – making this method all about CO2 reduction, waste reduction and capability to make where you sell.

In a traditional manufacturing process, the components might be made in a different country, sent by sea freight to another location, then delivered by truck to a distribution centre to sit in stock until it is ordered. With 3D printing, we don’t need to do any of that. Everything is made to order, produced, and shipped locally with minimal components and parts. This

The lighting industry is accelerating the transition from a linear to a circular economy as these luminaires are designed to meet speciﬁc needs and uses for a variety of applications/sectors.

Supporting the sustainability agenda 3D printing is a powerful tool that helps design and manufacture customised, recyclable products for consumer and business customers. At Signify, we lead by example. Our 3D printed luminaires are designed for a circular economy and a lower carbon footprint. For example, some luminaires are printed with 100% recyclable polycarbonate and are fully reused at the end of their lifetime, avoiding material waste.

PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN September 2022 77

Today, the adoption of 3D printing as a “new” manufacturing standard is growing rapidly. Designers and engineers around the globe are discovering the new and unique advantages of this technology.

Because they’re locally printed and produced in Europe this eliminates long-distance shipping. Furthermore, the light weight of polycarbonate slashes their carbon footprint by up to 75% when compared to their traditionally manufactured counterparts, making these luminaires an ideal choice for any organisation with a sustainability agenda.

3D printed luminaires: why do they matter?

3D printed luminaires are a great option to retroﬁt existing buildings with the right lighting type or to simply opt for a customized bespoke design to complement the interiors of a building. With ambitious sustainability targets for us a nation to live up to, we at Signify are serious about the need to reduce waste and the carbon footprint of businesses, while supporting customers’ needs at the same time. 3D printed lights offer that exact solution.

Additive manufacturing in the lighting industry will allow manufacturers to create uniquely designed lighting products which will suit the exact need of the customer and enrich the wholesalers’ product portfolio. This also gives customers architectural and aesthetic flexibility to design bespoke fittings with innovative designs, different shapes and more complexWhat’scolours.more,customers can order products at a minimum quantity of just one luminaire, making this an even more attractive offer. For example, this can help cater to the need for one recessed downlight with an unusual size cut-out for a retrofit while featuring a range of bezel colours, optics, or controls such as Interact wireless, Dali and emergency.

3D printed luminaires can also offer improved customer satisfaction, making this a win-win for the manufacturer, the customer, and the installer – encouraging us to be a part of a changing world and to take a step in the right direction. A solution for now and the future

78 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN LEARN MORE ABOUT SIGNIFY’S 3D PRINTING SERVICE AND SOLUTIONS AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ035

The biggest advantage is that 3D printed luminaires are made to a customer’s precise speciﬁcations, blending with existing ﬁxtures or integrating highly customised design features, and delivered in a fraction of the traditional manufacturing lead time. A 3D printed luminaire has nearly a 47% lower carbon footprint for its materials, production, and logistics than its conventional equivalent.

LIGHTING means less inventory in warehouses. At the end of the product’s lifecycle, the materials can be easily broken down then simply shredded and recycled. What’s more, when compared with traditional luminaries, these innovative circular designs use no paint as the lamps are already pigmented, as well as less parts, and fewer screws.

Fit for the circular economy With circularity as an integral part of a sustainable future, 3D printing also supports any organisation’s sustainability objectives, while offering a combination of lighting design, installation, and maintenance (under a service we call ‘Lighting as a Service’). Built on the concept of circular lighting, the design and install, operation, and maintenance of the product ensures there is no need to discard a luminaire. With the connected system these lights work on maintenance is easy, which cuts down on waste, costs, downtime, and manpower. This model gives the customer the ﬂexibility to return the equipment, re-use it, or recycle it, making these luminaires one of the best examples of how sustainability can usher in innovation and free up investment resources in other avenues. Not ‘if’ but ‘when’ 15 years ago, our studies suggested that LED lighting will be the next big thing and sure enough, LED innovations disrupted the lighting industry and set it on a new course.AtSignify, with customers focusing on a green future, we believe that 3D printing is no longer a matter of ‘if’ it is going to happen, rather than ‘when’ it is going to happen and electrical installers should make the most of the opportunity presented by this innovation.

GET MORE DETAILS ABOUT C-TEC’S PRODUCTS AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/E A J 0 4 1

“A determination to challenge convention and to push the boundaries Knives are a staple item used daily by all trades. However, their everyday nature doesn’t mean they have to employ an everyday design. We catch up with ToughBuilt to ﬁnd out why its range is literally cut from a different cloth.

PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN September 2022 83 Innovation and ToughBuilt go hand in hand. The US manufacturer of hand tools and jobsite products was born out of a desire to help professionals work stronger, smarter and faster. It began by drawing on the experiences of its team, many of whom had worked in the trade, its own observations and on feedback from professional users to develop intelligently designed jobsite products with an inventive twist. And the company hasn’t stopped inventing since. “ToughBuilt has never been interested in designing and manufacturing ‘me-too’ products,” Matt Handley, ToughBuilt’s European Head of Marketing, comments.

PRODUCTS & BUSINESS SOLUTIONS A CUT ABOVE THE REST

It features a removable ‘quick-eject’ magazine which can be preloaded with ﬁve blades ready for immediate use and there is space for a further 10 blades to be safely and securely stored behind a snap shutOncedoor.the magazine is loaded into the knife, a safe release button allows the knife’s existing blade to be removed quickly before a fresh blade can be driven into position with the slide of a thumb. The entire process takes just seconds. On top of this, the magazine can be dropped clear of the knife using a simple one-handed trigger operation, allowing a new magazine of fresh or different blades to be reloaded with speed and ease. The magazine also features an integrated indicator with three positions which makes it easier to identify what type of blades a magazine contains at a glance.

PRODUCTS & BUSINESS SOLUTIONS has always been central to our approach. We are proud to be a disruptor brand and where we can’t reinvent the wheel, we’ll certainly do our utmost to improve it.”

ToughBuilt’s Reload Knife is supplied with two magazines and a pack of ﬁve versatile straight blades and ﬁve ultra-durable hook nose blades. The magazines can be also used with most standard sized aftermarket blades and with additional blade formats such as hawkbill, serrated, and curved.

“A leap forward in capabilities on a product used every now and then is great, but when you can pioneer advances on a tool used every day, the gains in productivity and efficiency really stack up.”

The introduction of ToughBuilt’s new Reload Knife comes shortly after the launch of the manufacturer’s world-ﬁrst 2-in-1 Scraper Utility Knife, which combines a utility knife and scraper in one tool, with the ﬂick of a button.

Knives may be one of the oldest hand tools known to man with a history stretching back 2.5 million years, but that hasn’t stopped ToughBuilt taking a tried and tested design and enhancing it to pioneer truly next generation solutions.

The wider ToughBuilt knife range also includes ﬁrmly established and popular products such as a Folding Hawkbill Knife, a Tradesman Knife with sheath and an Insulation Knife, also with sheath. Without exception, all of these products employ a heavy-duty construction using premium grade materials and beneﬁt from innovative features to increase their ease and effectiveness of use.

He concludes: “Ultimately, it has a cumulative effect where even small enhancements can make a massive overall difference.” RELOAD KNIFE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ036

“The ToughBuilt Scraper Utility Knife was one of our proudest innovations of 2021,” explains Matt. “It can be used as a utility knife to cut all manner of materials or as a scraper to remove paint, sealants, putty, adhesives and labels from surfaces like windows, mirrors and tiles. Plus it has a paint can opener and carry loop at the bottom. Our brand new Reload Knife is the perfect follow-up product in this category.”

84 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN WATCH A DEMO VIDEO OF THE TOUGHBUILT

“Our unrelenting focus on delivering new innovations in a category like knives reﬂects our desire to offer the professional user the maximum possible beneﬁt of our forward-thinking approach,” says“AMatt.leap forward in capabilities on a product used every now and then is great but when you can pioneer new advances on a tool used every day by every trade, the gains in productivity and efficiency really stack up.”

Wide and varied range

Pioneering world ﬁrsts

The latest hand-tool invention in the range is the ‘Reload Knife’. This new product enables the user to maximise their productivity by reducing the amount of time and effort required to change blades.

Like all ToughBuilt knives, the Reload Knife has been engineered from the ground up to be ToughBuilt in name, and in nature. As a result, and again like all the other products in the range, it is backed by ToughBuilt’s 25-year guarantee, which applies to the tool only (rather than the blades). To enjoy this peace of mind, you simply need to register your purchase using an easy to complete online form on the company’s website.

Quick thinking Arguably, few product lines demonstrate ToughBuilt’s commitment to rewriting the rulebook more than its knife range.

Consider current and future needs

Thermal imaging cameras have a wide range of features. Designs can measure temperatures at specific points or present a snapshot of the heat signatures in an area. Some cameras are for measuring objects at a distance or focusing on a limited temperature range. Size, portability and even the types of files created vary by device. Devote time to evaluating your needs and specifying the features that will best meet them. Concrete specifications and details on how the tool will be used can be used to prioritise features and narrow down your purchasing options.

Resolution is usually the ﬁrst speciﬁcation people evaluate when selecting a thermal imaging camera, and for a good reason –it determines image detail and measurement performance. Resolution is based on the number of detector elements on the focal plane and is usually expressed as pixel count or with horizontal and vertical resolution such as 160x120. A 160x120 camera has a detector with 160 pixels across, 120 pixels tall, and a pixel count of 19,200 pixels. Another standard resolution is 384x288 (110,592 pixels).The higher IR resolution improves the detail in the image and the ability to measure targets (even small ones) from further away.

Brent Lammert of HIKMICRO explores the features that matter most when it comes to thermal imaging cameras.

Thermal imaging cameras are versatile tools, but they can also involve a signiﬁcant investment.

Look for higher resolution cameras such as 8 MP if you plan to include high-quality visual and thermal images in your reporting. The ease of taking both the thermal and the visual pictures simultaneously will save you time in the ﬁeld and in your reporting.

2. Visual camera resolution

3. Focus There are three types of focus — ﬁxed, manual, and auto — each with a speciﬁc purpose. Fixed focus reduces cost and complexity and offers less clarity over the working distance. Fixed focus cameras can be a good choice for professionals who need quick measurements while working close to equipment or when detailed reporting is not required.

PRODUCTS & BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

Key features to look for Some features are more important than others. The most important ones affect an image’s level of detail but also determine accuracy, reliability and precision. These six features determine the quality of the measurements taken by a thermal imaging camera:

PICTURE PERFECT? 86 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN

Many thermal cameras also include a built-in visual camera. A low-resolution optical camera is helpful to add graphic detail to the thermal image with Picture in Picture or Fusion modes.

1. Infrared resolution

There are so many applications for thermal imaging that it is important to know how you will use it and why you want to add it to your toolbox. Instead of attempting to meet many needs, focus on meeting the needs of the primary users. Otherwise, choosing a thermal imaging device for general use risks ending up with one that meets no one’s needs and therefore is not used.

Understanding key features helps you deﬁne your needs and expectations so you can get the most for your money.

On the other hand, manual focus and autofocus provide sharp images over a broader range of distances with noticeable improvements in image quality. The quality and type of lens, combined with the ability to manually or automatically adjust the focus, determine not only image clarity but also measurement precision.

As with any signiﬁcant equipment investment, the warranty and customer service are important. While the best warranty is the one you never have to use, a generous warranty helps safeguard your purchase. At HIKMICRO, we offer a three-year warranty on the system and 10 years on the detector.

featuresgoalThewhenpurchasingathermalimagingcameraistogetthemostdesiredfor your target price point. Picking the best option takes forethought and research. While features such as laser pointers and built-in lighting may be helpful, they have little impact on the image quality or the camera’s reliability. High IR resolution, decent optical resolution, multiple focus modes, high frame rates and a warranty that shows that the company backs its product are far more important.

BROWSE HIKMICRO’S RANGE OF THERMAL IMAGING CAMERAS AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ037

A feature that often goes unnoticed during buying decisions is battery life. When you’re in the ﬁeld or at a job site, long battery life comes in handy. You don’t want your thermal imaging camera to die when there’s still work to be done. Thermal cameras offer either internal batteries or interchangeable (tool style) batteries. For internal batteries, make sure the run time will be adequate for a full day of operation. For systems with interchangeable batteries, ensure it includes at least two batteries and that the charger can recharge both.

The camera’s frame rate indicates the number of images taken per second. Most products on the market offer a frame rate of 9 Hz or slower. In comparison, HIKMICRO cameras are 25 Hz or faster. Higher frame rates provide smoother video and easier viewing for the operator. This is especially important for measurements on fast-moving objects or for panning across a scene to inspect a larger area.

6. Battery life

An out-of-focus image will blur background temperatures with the target being measured and can lead to signiﬁcant error. It is an important feature that expands the versatility of the camera.

4. Frame rate

5. Warranty

From sales and marketing to technical education, we sit down with Sevadis’ Sales Manager, Simon Crangle, Marketing Manager, Sultana Rahman and Zak Lee, Head of Technical, to discuss how installers can navigate the ever-evolving EV charging industry.

PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN September 2022 89

FURTHER (EV) EDUCATION

Benefits such as increased footfall; the ability to generate additional revenue and profit in the future; satisfied customers and employees as well as being recognised as a forward-thinking sustainable businesses are all key selling points when pitching to business owners. For business owners to ‘buy into’ and to believe in the need for EV charging points as an additional service to their offering, being equipped with knowledge on the short and long-term benefits is pivotal.

QWhy is it important that electrical professionals get to grips with the beneﬁts of EV charging and the way this knowledge can play a supporting role in selling a chargepoint installation service?

SC: We’re currently experiencing demand for EV charging point installations like never before (particularly within commercial settings) as more businesses take advantage of OZEV grant funding and also begin to understand the long-term opportunities that EV charging facilities bring. However, some businesses are still at the stage of pondering whether the investment in EV charging points is necessary right now. Our answer will always be ‘yes’ and this is down to the ampliﬁcation of electric vehicles now on UK roads. Understanding what the advantages that EV charging points can present to businesses could be the reason why business owners change their perspective on the installation of EV charging points at their premises.

PRODUCTS & BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

A recent study reported that 4 out of 5 users on LinkedIn are involved in the decision-making process –that’s a lot of decision makers that can inﬂuence whether a business implements the installation of EV chargepoints or not. Taking this statistic into consideration, having an active LinkedIn proﬁle is a no-brainer for individual installers and installation companies.

I’m often asked by our approved installers ‘what type of content works well on LinkedIn?’ The answer varies and is dependent on what the installer is trying to achieve, but one thing I must say is that valuable content is key. Whether it’s a case study; industry news; an article you’ve written yourself; a simple graphic explaining your services or even a meme, this content must provide value to your audience in order for them to engage.

QWhat are you doing to ensure installers are equipped with the technical knowledge to feel conﬁdent in installing EV charging points?

QHow can installers who may be new to EV installationschargepointmakethemost out of the ‘free’ marketing and outreach platforms that are out there? SR: My ﬁrst piece of advice, particularly for installers who want to branch out to commercial EV chargepoint installations, is to ensure that you as an individual and as a company are active on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a powerful tool for sales, awareness and general networking, which in turn can lead to business generation.

A common question from business owners includes ‘will the charging points really generate additional revenue for my business?’ Although it’s easy for us to say ‘yes,’ business owners require answers that provide them with the conﬁdence to invest in the chargepoint installations.

90 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN BROWSE THE FULL

To gain that conﬁdence, installers have the responsibility to understand why EV chargepoints provide their customers with ample opportunities. For installers to gain this knowledge, it is our responsibility, as the EV chargepoint provider, to ensure they are equipped with the guidance and materials to support them in understanding why EV charging points are beneﬁcial to their customers.

We’re seeing more installers that use their creativity and authenticity on LinkedIn to sell their EV chargepoint installation services and it’s working –they are receiving engagement from their local connections to their wider connections which are consequently leading to initial conversations that lead to conversions.

“... installers leave our training sessions not only feeling conﬁdent about the technicalities of the installations, but also feeling excited to work with us...”

PRODUCTS & BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

ZL: At Sevadis, myself and the team believe in providing installers with the technical support they need throughout their EV chargepoint installation journey, however getting to grips with the product is the ﬁrst and foremost priority. We offer our approved installers training sessions that are easily accessible, straightforward and engaging. This approach ensures that installers leave our training sessions not only feeling confident about the technicalities of the installations, but also feeling excited to work with us. One of the key areas we’re focusing on is supporting training centres and colleges with their EV chargepoint installation courses, including delivering training sessions to students as well as providing the institutions with the materials for teaching and training their course attendees. At Sevadis, we’ve made it our responsibility to make sure that prospective EV chargepoint installers are trained to the best standards and are left assured when using our products. We’re now also attending college seminars to advise and to educate the next generation of EV chargepoint installers on the evolving electric vehicle industry, because let’s face it, the electric future will be in their hands. RANGE OF EV CHARGEPOINT SOLUTIONS AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ038

SEVADIS

The launch of any new Transit, and there have been eight upgrades during its almost sixty years of unrivalled success, is always a headline grabber, of course, but few have been as eagerly anticipated as the E Oneversion.would imagine that – given what is at stake for the company globally – the vehicle has been tested and trialled more rigorously than any of its previous incarnations and feedback from businesses across the spectrum has played a key role in delivering a vehicle which will set the benchmark towards complete electriﬁcation of the Ford commercial offering within the next decade. We all know, that right now, the diesel version, in terms of price and range, still makes most sense for professional tradespeople but there will come a time when the talking has to stop and the combustion engine will, well, self-combust!

PRODUCTS & BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

Ascompetitors.aserialA-lister, with ownership of Britain’s perennial best-selling van – the Transit – you get the distinct impression that for them it was more a case of the old saying: “marry in haste, repent at leisure.” And, of course, now the music has stopped, Ford has dramatically appeared centre stage with what looks very much like a double act which could top the bill for the foreseeable future. E numbers add up

Large selection of models Currently there are 25 models of the E version on offer with multiple lengths and heights, as well as gross vehicle weights from 3.5 to 4.25 tonnes and payloads up to 1,758kg to choose from. Rear wheel conﬁgured, there are also three driving modes to select – normal, eco and slippery – and the regenerative braking system is graduated – unlike some There are still some obvious cons to driving an allelectric van but, thanks to Ford, these could soon be outnumbered by the Pros. We report back from the ETransit launch event.

It’s not like the mighty Ford to ever be late to the party, so eyebrows were certainly raised when the company didn’t immediately jump on the electric van bandwagon like so many of its commercial vehicle

LIKEPARTYIT’S 2030! 92 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN

By then of course, the market will have evolved signiﬁcantly but right now, pound for pound, the E-Transit looks like being a real game changer in terms of appeal to theFormasses.onething it is aggressively – and many would say much more realistically –priced with basic models starting at around £47,000 plus VAT. That’s still a considerable investment but one which should very quickly start paying dividends in terms of lower running and overall maintenance costs which are predicted to be 40% lower than equivalent diesel-powered models. A 68-kWh battery will do around 197 miles and rapid charging can be completed to 80% capacity in just over 30 minutes. Unfortunately, even Ford can’t hide the fact that fully laden in winter with the heater on full blast this will be reduced quite signiﬁcantly. However, unlike many other electric vehicle manufacturers, Ford is being up front about this and pretty much guarantees a range north of 100 miles whatever the conditions.

In keeping with the party atmosphere, amidst a wall of dry ice, Ford took the opportunity to give the assembled press gathering a sneak preview of what’s up next – the biggest selling Transit Custom as a fully electric vehicle. Indeed, by the end of 2024 Ford will have ﬁve pure electric vans within its growing stable. DETAILS ABOUT THE FORD E-TRANSIT AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ039

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Strategically placed sockets One thing that tradespeople in particular will really applicate are the three strategically placed 2.3kw sockets in the cab and cargo area which can be used to power work tools and lighting. Most importantly, extended use will not drain the battery signiﬁcantly with an hour’s work using only about three miles of mileage. And rather than a site supervisor ordering a downing of tools, the van itself will ﬂash its lights and honk its horn to make sure there is enough juice to get home. Behind the wheel, one of the most surprising aspects of the base 180 hp 450Nm engine is just how much power it can generate, considerably more than any diesel transit available, making it extremely quick off the mark and, of course, noticeably quieter.

For these guys and girls Ford, in partnership with British Gas/Centrica, will now install a rapid charging connective wall-box at home and any oversight with regards to plugging in will be met with low charge sound alerts, avoiding the unwelcome possibility of ending up stranded on the hard shoulder before the day’s work has even begun. And in the event of that highly unlikely scenario, there is a one-year electric roadside assistance package including rescue charging. Go with the PRO It’s all part of the Ford PRO concept which you can sign up for whether you are a one-man owner, a ﬂeet operator, or, indeed, if you don’t actually own a Ford vehicle at all. It’s a dedicated service covering sales, conversions, ﬁnancing, servicing, smart charging, and software all under one central umbrella.

There’s an impressive 12” touch screen lifted from the electric Mustang which runs a fully integrated Sync 4 multimedia system as standard, as well as heated folding mirrors, quick clear windscreen, cruise control plus a host of the very latest driver assistance aids which have rightly earned the Transit the reputation as one of the best appointed and safest LCVs around.

As Ford Pro CEO, Ted Cannis explains: “The biggest bugbear of any small business is paperwork and the ambition of Ford PRO is taking away the hassle of admin with automatic billing for charging, mileage reports, servicing reminders and so on.”

We often hear about vehicles being returned to a depot for overnight charging but what about the one-man van owner? The Transit clearly wouldn’t be the iconic preserve of the white van man without the army of electricians, builders and plumbers, who after a hard day’s graft park up at home overnight.

vehicles which almost slow to a stop the moment the foot is removed from the accelerator. The ride experience is also enhanced thanks to a cleverly reengineered suspension system to accommodate the drive motor.

Top marks all round then for the new van, but crucially Ford has also correctly identiﬁed that one of the biggest obstacles to going fully electric in the minds of many potential owners is the sheer hassle and anxiety surrounding the actual charging process.

If you’d like to receive more information about the product directly, please contact: sales@baileystc.co.uk We ﬁnd out why frustrations with a common on-site issue inspired one electrician to come up with a solution to the problem.

“The reason that strength is important is that all 3.5mm screws used to be manufactured from electro plated brass, so if you over-tightened you would likely strip the screw thread and not the lug. Today a lot of these products are made from steel, so making sure that REBBAL is made from a thicker material than the original lug immediately provides more threads.”

The replacement lug is manufactured in 2mm thick steel which is much thicker than the original lug. There are also more screw threads holding the 3.5mm thread, which puts less strain on the screw threads and helps to prevent damage and failure of the screw.

He continues: “After scouring the market for a solution that would provide simplicity of ﬁtment and added strength, we came up empty handed. It was at this stage that we decided to design our own product – REBBAL – which we believe will save end users both time andREBBALmoney.”(Replacement Electrical Back Box Attachment Lug) gives the movement and adjustment of the original sliding lug, so it can even be used to replace the ﬁxed side if movement is needed to square up the front plate because the back box isn’t level.

The product has been tested and used by electricians in the ﬁeld, with glowing references for the time saved and ease of use that the product provides.

PRODUCTS & BUSINESS SOLUTIONS WATCH A REBBAL PRODUCT DEMONSTRATION VIDEO AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ040 A REBBAL WITH A CAUSE PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN September 2022 95

As an electrician, Shaun Kempson was becoming frustrated with the process of arriving on-site for second fix on a project only to find the back box lug was damaged or missing. The process of making good could easily then turn a five minute job into a few hours, at least.

Tested in the ﬁeld

It was at this stage that he decided to do something about the issue, as he explains: “We wanted something which was easy and quick to ﬁt but would be stronger than the original.

It has been designed for use on back boxes from 25mm deep upwards, though operators may need to use a longer 3.5mm screw if the back box is set deeply within the plaster.

From initial quoting, through managing jobs, materials and contractors, to invoicing and chasing late payment, the software can help business owners keep track of all areas of their company by making processes more efficient.

Q Where did the idea of Fergus come from? Fergus was created by Dan Pollard, an experienced plumber from New Zealand who has run his own business for decades. Dan had become increasingly frustrated by the difficulty he had keeping up with admin and often found himself snowed under. His work/life balance suffered as a result. Using his own experiences, he sought to develop a system which saved time, streamlined admin and helped people get paid. In short, he wanted to help users to recapture their quality of life and spend more time doing the things they enjoyed.

The result was Fergus, named after his trusty best friend, Fergus the dog (pictured above). Since then, the business has grown and after signiﬁcant investment, we’re now in eight countries serving over 18,000 trade companies and counting.

QWhat are its main features? It’s packed with features to keep on top of a job from start to finish. For instance, you can create quotes on the spot, send out invoices or chase late payment with automated SMS messaging. The visual calendar gives a complete overview of what jobs are booked, the dates they’re booked for, and their progression. If you have a team, they can be assigned to a job in seconds by just dragging and dropping their name on it. They’ll automatically receive notification via our App, so there’s no need to phone or meet with them. You can see where your teams are, where they’ve been, how long they’ve been on a job, and whether they’ll make the next one on time! Bigger jobs can be broken down into milestones, which makes managing costs and progress easier. Changes can be instantly made to a job. The cost and purchase of all materials can be logged, templated gas and electricity certificates

QHow long does it usually take to learn to use the software? It doesn’t take long, and our customers can vouch for this. If you can spare an hour for a demo and initial walk through you will ﬁnd it is very simple, yet it can save you hours of admin time.

QWhat problems does it solve? Despite the digital revolution being over 30 years old, more than 75% of tradespeople still use manual systems and processes to manage their business. This is inefficient and can lead to a poor work/life balance. It hampers cash flow, lowers profits, can be confusing and causes significant stress for the business owner. Fergus streamlines and connects all the different aspects of a business.

PE talks to James Chillman, UK Country Manager of Fergus, the job management software which has launched in the UK and aims to give electricians a better work/life balance.

GET YOUR LIFE BACK! 96 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN

PRODUCTS & BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

“You can see where your teams are, where they’ve been, how long they’ve been on a job, and whether they’ll make the next one on time.”

QHow much does it cost? We have a ‘Free’ plan which is a simplified version of the software, with no commitment. A ‘Basic’ package at just £20/month significantly reduces your admin time and any duplication on jobs and then the ‘Professional’ package at £30/month is a fully-fledged trade toolkit giving you in depth insights into your business.

can be filled in, while hazards and on-site incidents can be logged, and sign-offs recorded. The App summarises each job, too. So, if it’s going over budget or taking longer than expected, it’s easy to see why and fix it. All aspects of the business are controllable within the easy-to-use status board. And they all work seamlessly together so, for example, quoting and invoicing is made simple and pain-free.Byuploading price books, material costs will appear in quotes automatically, and can be adjusted by creating tiered mark-ups for different clients or job types. Mark-ups can be added to materials for smaller jobs, or discounts can be offered where beneficial, such as for repeat customers.

QCan Fergus help a business to grow? By helping your business to run smoothly and efficiently, the software reduces stress and the likelihood of burnout. By streamlining admin, revenue is optimised. More time can be spent attracting new clients and doing paid work. Invoicing and chasing late payments is made easy and balance sheets are healthier too.

FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT FERGUS AND TO BOOK A FREE DEMO VISIT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ042

SCREWDRIVERS” 98 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN BROWSE THE FULL C.K DEXTRO VDE SCREWDRIVER RANGE BY VISITING: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ043

The right mix The selection on offers covers the vast majority of scenarios you’ll be faced with and I think that C.K has got the mix just right. There have been many occasions in the past where I’ve purchased screwdriver sets and at least two or three will never get any use at all. That is deﬁnitely not the caseOverall,here! this is a really good all round set of screwdrivers that you’ll get great use from over time. Full marks to C.K for some of the additional features that have been incorporated in these tools.

n ﬁrst impressions these Dextro VDE Screwdrivers from the folk at C.K Tools certainly look the business. They’re presented well in a nice looking box and there’s a strong selection of 5 x screwdrivers to choose from (2 x pozi and 3 x ﬂat), with all the relevant screwdriver types and sizes in there. C.K also offers a 7-Piece set for those who are after a more complete set.

Real world use

Individually tested VDE approved, the tools are individually tested to 10,000V for safe live working up to 1,000V. They’re insulated along the full length of the screwdriver up to the last 10-15mm, offering reassurance to the user that the item is safe in the event of a live working issue.

PRODUCTS & BUSINESS “YOU’LLSOLUTIONSBE WELL

Each screwdriver boasts a quality Chrome Vanadium steel blade for longer, more durable use, while helping to avoid those broken tips that can so often be the scourge of a trade professional’s life. They also feature a long fine neck for precise fingertip control and a precision machined tip for a more exact screw fit and damage-free screwdriving. The handle has a comfortable feel and I found that my fingers wrapped around it with ease. It is injection moulded directly to the blade to give a stronger bond for increased reliability and durability. The ridges along the head also give extra grip to the user in the last ¼ turn – a useful design.

One thing I also noticed on initial use is the fact that the screwdrivers are each marked on the top end of the handle (called ‘Tip Type’ marking), to assist with identifying the right choice of screwdriver for the particular task at hand. I’ve not seen this feature on any other screwdriver I’ve used before, but it is certainly a very goodOveridea!the last few months I’ve used this set as much as possible and I can admit that they’re the only screwdrivers that I now keep in my tool belt. In fact, I’ve actually become quite territorial and have yet to let anyone else use them. They’re extremely comfortable to operate, and feel solid and well built, which in turns brings conﬁdence in their performance during use. Interestingly, since I started using the screwdrivers I’ve had no aches or sores on the palms of my hands at all, which I can’t say has been the case with other sets that I’ve used previously.

Gary Fisher of Lougar Electrical tries out the C.K Tools 5-Piece Dextro VDE Screwdriver Set. ‘SET’ WITH THESE

The Ideal Pro Series Premium Tool Pouch replaced a similar slightly smaller tool pouch which I’d used to carry what I call my ‘90% tools’ –my favourite selection of screwdrivers, hand tools and other bits and bobs that I simply can’t do without.

For over 100 years, C.K Tools has been at the forefront of hand tool manufacturing and develops its products in collaboration with trade professionals, ensuring they’re engineered for long-life performance and safety. Its Dextro VDE Screwdrivers are no exception. Through end-user research, C.K Tools found that when it comes to working on control panels, terminals or electrical/mechanical equipment, precision, control, and the right amount of torque on the last quarter turn are the most important characteristics needed in an electrician’s screwdriver. In partnership with the leading product design school at the University of Wales, C.K Tools’ Dextro VDE Screwdrivers were developed and designed to provide the ultimate comfort and control. Not only that, but the screwdrivers are also VDE certiﬁed, giving them highest form of independent safety testing and accreditation in the electrical trade, with every screwdriver tested to 10,000V.Alsoavailable as part of the prize is a C.K Tools Essential Tool Kit, containing some fantastic tools for those common electrical ﬁxes. Its lightweight compact design makes it the perfect "grab and go" tool kit and it can even be worn on a belt for greater accessibility and mobility. We’ve got 5 x Dextro Screwdriver (7 Pc) & Essentials Tool Kit (6 Pc) bundles up for grabs. C.K

’ve had lots of tool bags over the years –from rucksacks, to tote bags to holdalls. Each one, I’ve found, has had its pros and cons. For example, tote bags can carry lots of tools and are easy to access but they can weigh a lot, whereas rucksacks are easy to carry but ﬁnding tools buried in the bag can be irritatingly time-consuming.

BROWSE THE IDEAL PRO SERIES BAG RANGE BROCHURE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ045

It has an array of different sized pouches and pockets which allow me to store all of my most commonly used tools with ease. The slightly larger size of the main pockets also permits storage of one or two larger tools, such as my impact driver.

“IT IWITHEVERYWHEREGOESME”

TOOLS DEXTRO SCREWDRIVER & ESSENTIALS TOOL KIT BUNDLES, SIMPLY FILL OUT THE CONTACT FORM AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ044 Deadline for entries: 10/10/2022. Usual T&Cs apply. HOW TO ENTER WIN A SUPERB C.K TOOLS BUNDLE! WIN PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN September 2022 99

The unit is just the right size to make it easy to carry around from task to task without pulling an arm out of its socket while the shoulder strap allows hands-free use on longer walks.

Pete Monfort of Monty Electrics and Arena Training has a new companion onsite this month as he tries out the Ideal 37020 Pro PremiumSeriesToolPouch.

PRODUCTS & BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

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The build quality is rugged with a tough carry handle, strong webbing and zipped compartments. The stitching is also heavy duty and a useful tape holding chain ensures a selection of tapes can be carried.

Overall I was really impressed with this product and it now goes everywhere with me.

luxury

There’s no stopping Wapping as Hager

100 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN Products IN PRACTICE BROWSE HAGER’S RANGE OF CONSUMER UNITS AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ046

“The electrical contractors were looking for product solutions around the consumer units, wiring accessories and media plates that combined style, proven functionality, and cost-effectiveness to help enhance the apartment interiors.

Fulﬁlling the brief Hager fulﬁlled the order for the large volume of Design 50 and Design 30 consumer units without any delay to ensure the installation schedule was met. With its easy installation design characteristics, the electrical contracting team said they found the units straightforward to work with, which helped maintain the construction timetable.

John Crane, Sales Engineer for Hager, explains: “The prestigious harbourside development had a design ambition that meant that all aspects of the luxury apartments were speciﬁed to a high level.

A combination of Hager’s product solution functionality and style, as well as a service to count on, has supported a new and high-end residential development in the heart of Bristol. Developer ORB Mechanical & Electrical was appointed by Balfour Beatty to deliver a complete electrical installation at 256 high-end apartments at a new Bristol neighbourhood, Wapping Wharf, located along the city’s harbourside. Working to a speciﬁcation from the electrical installation contractor, Hager supplied its eye-catching Design 50 and Design 30 consumer units for the apartments. In addition, the project also saw the speciﬁcation of wiring accessories, including twin sockets and light switches, together with the innovative Sollysta media plate as part of a successful delivery and installation project.

For the most high-end apartments, the consumer units were specified to be recessed; this meant the Design 50 consumer unit, with its sleek and rounded flush profile, offered the project a high aesthetic standard and reliable functionality, easy access and straightforward installation. The Design 30 consumer units were then installed at the remaining properties

Design 50’s ﬂush and sleek rounded proﬁle suited the project aims perfectly.”

John continues: “With the support of our wholesaler network and by maintaining communication with ORB Electrical, we were able to ensure that all the required products were sourced and delivered to site as required.

The ability to recess the units meant the apartments achieved a seamless in-situ ﬁnish, in keeping with the overall design vision for the project.

In addition to the consumer units, Hager also supplied all the required wiring accessories needed to furnish each apartment. Provided in a moulded white finish, the range of light switches and twin sockets matched the interior designAnd,perfectly.withaneed to ensure that each apartment owner would have sufficient electrical sockets and connection points to accommodate the growing range of electrical devices that require power or charging, the project has also incorporated Hager’s Sollysta media plates within each of the apartments. Situated discreetly, the attractive plate outlets can simultaneously accommodate numerous devices such as TVs, satellite boxes, broadband connections, and DVDs. The added beneﬁt of being able to hide all the associated power cables helps provide a tidy overall appearance. supports development

“This commitment to providing an industry-leading service is a key priority for Hager and one that helped the smooth installation of the electrical components for the Wapping Wharf development.”

Recessed LuxPanel Extra luminaires were used throughout the installation, controlled by Luceco’s wireless lighting control system – Platform. Platform sensors were used to provide occupancy and daylight dimming facilities with switches pre-set with scenes for different lux levels depending on the time of day and staff shift arrangements. Simple operation of the system provides various lighting control options including dimming, scene setting, presence and daylight control, all helping to reduce energy consumption and operating costs, whilst creating a comfortable lit environment. Consultancy services were provided by Pick Everard, based in Nottingham and the electrical installation was carried out by Brook & Mayo.

“The challenge is that options to mitigate poor air quality are limited. With only one office per ward, the spaces are constantly in use day and night. Without any mechanical air extract the only option is opening the door or window – resulting in increased heating costs and potential breaches in conﬁdentiality.”

Mark continued: “We replaced the existing light ﬁttings with CleanLight LED panels, and disruption was minimal with the entire installation taking less than a day to complete.”

CleanLight from Lightico has been chosen by St Gemma’s Hospice in Leeds to protect the team as they offer end of life and palliative care for patients.

CleanLight is a powerful LED panel proven to clean the air by destroying viruses and bacteria wherever it shines. Approved by eminent microbiologist Dr Carl Edwards and extensively tested in laboratories, as well as numerous real world trials, CleanLight has been proven to eliminate the problem of bacteria, pollutants and odours in the air across a number of differentLighticoenvironments.wasinvited into St Gemma’s Hospice in Leeds to carry out their Clean Air MarkAudit.Garrett, Managing Director at Lightico, explained: “Our Clean Air Audit is a precise, scientiﬁcally veriﬁed process that accurately measures airborne pathogens and shows where the potential for onward transmission of disease is greatest.

The Clean Air audit consisted of three sampling areas. Each was exposed to the air for 60 minutes. This gives Lightico a quantitative estimate of the air concentration of micro-organisms in the air.

Luceco has recently lit facilities at Horizon Place for East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EMAS). EMAS provides emergency medical services, urgent care, and patient transport services for 4.8 million people, covering Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire Leicestershire, Rutland, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire.Phase1oftheproject included the relighting of the Incoming Call Centre, a very busy environment operating 24/7 and a pivotal element of the services provided by EMAS. The open plan space required eight zones which could be separately controlled, providing various levels of illumination to assist with the activities of the call centre and to help promote wellbeing in a setting dealing with emergency situations.

From here a detailed analysis of the airborne threats are veriﬁed and tabulated with a solution presented.

Lightico shines as St Gemma’s Hospice chooses CleanLight

Luceco Project Manager, Leigh Davey, said: “With many organisations looking to become more environmentally friendly and reduce their energy and operating costs, lighting controls can help save around 6070% on energy consumption and ensure spaces are lit appropriately to provide safety, security and comfort using scene setting, presence detection and daylight dimming controls. Platform offers high value return-on-investment on new or existing lighting installations as well as extending the life of the luminaires due to reduced operating hours.”

sponsored by www.electricalcharity.org BROWSE THE FULL CLEANLIGHT RANGE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ048 GET MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE PLATFORM WIRELESS LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ047 Luceco gives Ambulance Service a better Platform

TrunkingPerimeterTAMLEX

Tamlex launchedhasa new range of currentlytrunking,perimetersteelavailable in square dado and chamfered skirting profiles. Offering superior mechanical strength and additional protection against fire, the range is an ideal solution for installation in high traffic areas such as hospitals, educational facilities and public buildings. The trunking is powder coated white as standard, offering a simple yet clean solution. The range can also be supplied in other RAL colours as well as in a self-colour galvanised finish. Both ranges are available with a choice of two or three compartments in 150mm or 200mm high profiles. The three compartments can provide effective cable segregation, whereas the two compartments offer a more compact and discrete solution. The system is quick and easy to fit with pre-pierced fixing holes in the base.

HellermannTyton has boosted its FCT convoluted tubing range by launching an enhanced UV-resistant conduit, designed to route and protect wiring and withstand high levels of UV exposure. From solar installations to PV power plants, the FCT UV is suited to any external applications where additional UV resistance is needed. Manufactured using UV stabilised PA6 Nylon in black, the product is designed with the highest UV resistance capabilities and a minimum of 25 years of UV protection in northern hemisphere conditions. Created halogen-free, it is lightweight, ﬂexible, and intended to protect cables from external exposure and crush damage. With an operating temperature of -40ºC to +125ºC and available in nine sizes from 6.9mm to 26mm, the FCT UV can be made to order to suit any outdoor application.

UV-resistantHELLERMANNTYTONConduit

BROWSE THE FULL RANGE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ049 BROWSE THE RANGE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ050 BROWSE THE PRODUCT DATA SHEET AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ051 GET MORE DETAILS AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ052

The Axiom Wiring Accessory Range is turning a corner with the introduction of Axiom Curvex. Designed to complement modern interiors, this attractive modular white accessory range, manufactured in durable fire-resistant thermoplastic, has a low profile and elegant rounded curves on all four sides. The extensive range is designed to meet the vast majority of installer requirements, with switches up to 3 gang/2 way, 20A and 45A double pole, plus intermediate and dimmers. Sockets have 1 and 2 gang single/double pole fittings, switched and unswitched, plus a range of data and shaver sockets, 45A cooker switches, fused connection units and more complete a Curvex range of up to 50 lines. Designed for ease of installation, Curvex features solid screws for deep fastening into terminal blocks, with captive screws and clear terminal markings to ensure long lasting connections.

MARTINDALE ELECTRIC DT173 Digital Thermometer

PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN September 2022 103 Products round up

Ideal for both hot/cold water systems and wet cooling systems, the DT173 thermometer is perfect for HVAC servicing and monitoring. It is a single input digital thermometer, supplied with a bead thermocouple as standard, and is compatible with Martindale’s full range of K type probes, including air probes, penetration probes and clamp and surface probes. As part of the ThermokitLGN Legionella Testing Thermometer Kit, which also includes two robust surface and immersion probes, you can monitor and test the temperature of both standing water, and the surface of pipes and tanks which form part of a water system. The DT173 has a measuring range of -200°C to 1372°C and a MIN/MAX/AVG mode for recording extremes of readings. When used like this, the auto power off function is disabled to allow you to record over longer periods of time. The thermometer is supplied in a tough holster and has large digits and a back light for easy viewing in all light conditions.

CED ELECTRICAL Axiom Curvex Range

Special design features that aid installation include:

The LINCHR has built-in PEN fault protection, which saves installation time while ensuring safe grounding, meaning you can install multiple EV chargers in one day.

104 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN Products round up BROWSE THE FULL LINCHR H-SERIES RANGE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ053 LINCHR H-Series special designs ensure easy

2. Neat and compact With dimensions of 260x260x100mm the product can be carried with one hand, and it is really easy and quick to install.

The strong electricity wiring area is independent of the weak connection area. The input terminal block is 400V/220V strong current wiring and equipped with a wiring protection cover to prevent the risk of accidental electric shock during debugging, as well as maximising the safety of installation personnel.

3. Pre-maintenance scheme

5. Professional installation training

LINCHR offers professional training programs to help professionals to complete LINCHR H-Series installations, as well as after-sale consulting services.

4. Strong and weak electricity separation design

After fully understanding the market demand, LINCHR engineers launched the H-Series smart EV charger, whose comprehensive and intelligent functions can meet the modern needs of consumers.

Once the LINCHR H-Series is attached to a column or wall, just one person can complete on-site wiring, commissioning, and 4G SIM card installation on the front, without having to remove the entire EV charger in a complex way. This allows the installer to complete the task in the shortest working time possible.

Rising vehicle costs, coupled with increasing energy prices and high inﬂation, will keep demand growing as drivers seek cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternatives to gasoline and diesel vehicles. That inevitably means more demand for charging points for electric cars.

Sales of plug-in cars rose 77% to 327,000 last year, according to the latest ﬁgures from the Department of Transportation.

A lot of interest has been generated since the H-Series launched in the UK at the end of April, with one user stating: “To be honest, I was a little nervous when I ﬁrst got it, but after testing the product I was blown away by its performance. It was easy to install, I ﬁnished it in no time, it worked well and we are already talking about further cooperation.” installation

1. Built-in O-PEN fault detection

Steve added: “Premﬂex is already generating a lot of interest and we expect to see strong take-up from our UK-wide wholesaler customer base.” FULL PREMFLEX RANGE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ054

Termtech, a leading supplier of cable accessories to the electrical sector, has launched Premflex, a premier range of conduit and glands. Available in a wide range of materials to meet the needs of almost any environment, Premflex specification includes Bare Galv, PVC Coated Galv and LSZH Coated Galv with sizes ranging from M16 up to M50, bulk coil sizes or contractor packs.

A ‘Prem’ and proper range Termtechfrom

“Premﬂex was designed and produced in response to customer feedback with end users keen to see a Termtech product that competed at the high end of the conduit market.”

Steve Parry, Commercial Director of Termtech, commented: “This is a brand new product range that caters for those contractors looking for a high quality product that is built to last and packaged to help make installation easy.

Designed in both a ﬁxed and swivel gland option across the entire range, the product is available boxed, on a high quality drum for transport.

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ControllerSmartSCOLMORELEDTape

C.K Tools has introduced several additions to its power tool accessories offering, with ﬁve new SKUs added to its Blue Steel impact drill bits range. The range extension includes a number of C.K Tools’ most popular impact drill bits but now available in trade pack sizes, reducing the need for merchant trips in the middle of jobs. Developed in collaboration with trade professionals, the Blue Steel impact drill bits are manufactured from specially formulated V8 steel alloy for extreme toughness and extended working life. They also feature torsion control technology to withstand the stresses of high torque applications and are colour-coded to aid with easy identiﬁcation in any tool bag or work environment.

C.K TOOLS

Blue Steel Drill Bits Additions

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There are three different modes available – White, Colour and Music. White mode allows control of the brightness of the LED tape, while with the Colour (RGB) mode you can choose any colour to create a range of lighting effects. With the ClickSmart+ App open and set to ‘Music’ the LED tape will change colour with the music. The new controller also offers dimming and saturation adjustment features to help create the right light setting at all times of the day, The Smart LED Tape Controller is compatible with all current Ovia LED Tape variants and requires the ClickSmart+ Hub (sold separately).

Scolmore continues to develop its ClickSmart+ home automation range and has introduced a new Smart RGBW LED Tape Controller – a wireless control solution that allows you to control LED tape lighting wherever you are. The Smart LED Tape Controller can be used with the ClickSmart+ App to create a wide range of lighting effects to suit the mood or occasion required.

Products round up

ELECTRICSCHNEIDEREasy9CompactMultirowCU

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RangeLuminaireENDURALEDVANCE

With a multitude of design and mounting options, the ENDURA range of excitingluminairesoutdooroffersilluminations for outdoor projects and garden installations, ideal for creating a relaxing night-time atmosphere or security conscious space. The range includes a selection of contemporary LED lanterns based on high-quality aluminium, with high energy efficiency. One option, The ENDURA STYLE Lantern Modern, provides a wall-mounted luminaire and bollard lantern available in two heights, with IP44 class. The range also offers mobile wall and bollard luminaires for spot lighting solutions. The ENDURA STYLE Midi Spot is a ﬂexible outdoor wall LED spotlight with adjustable luminaire heads, allowing for choice between single or dual-lamp spotlights. In addition, these ﬂexible miniatures will light up a balcony, wall or terrace with warm white lighting.

The next generation Easy9 Compact Multirow Consumer Unit incorporates flexibility, simple installation and ample cable space to easily connect multiple devices and provide peace of mind when it comes to regulatory compliance. The fully compliant BS 7671 unit offers flexibility in device configurations, is suitable for AFDD installations, and has additional module capacity for larger installations too. It provides electricians with the ability to tailor the fit to the specifications of any new build or retrofit project, while also leaving capacity to meet the energy consumption demands of the homes of the future. A low-profile cover allows homeowners and electricians to situate the solution wherever necessary, without having to compromise on functionality and scalability due to lack of space. The curved profile lid, white finish and minimalistic markings ensure the unit blends into its environment seamlessly.

Knightsbridge goes full tilt with conﬁgurable downlights 108 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN Products round up BROWSE THE SPEKTROLED PRODUCT INFORMATION PAGE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ059

The wattages and CCTs are switch-selected on the rear of the downlight body. At 5W, SpektroLED delivers up to 465 lumens and up to 795 lumens at 8W. The four CCTs available are 2700, 3000, 4000 and 6000K, representing warm white through to daylight. The choice of five bezels then allows further customisation to complement or contrast with any interior décor or colourway.

The new SpektroLED Tilt variant increases the options again. Like the fixed model, Tilt offers a choice of two wattages – 5 and 8W – five colour temperatures (CCTs) and five bezel finishes, from white and matt black to chrome, polished chrome and brass; resulting in 40 different style and performance permutations.

Installation is straightforward. Both units feature simple first fix power connectors with loop in/loop out terminals that can be terminated and hidden away while other works are finished. The downlight can then be plugged in to complete the installation after decoration, ensuring easy maintenance and access to the innovative CCT and power properties. The downlights are fire rated for solid timber, web joist and I-joist installation for up to 90 minutes depending on materials. They’re additionally IC rated for retention of efficiency of mineral wool insulation in the ceiling void. SpektroLED Fixed has an IP65 rating from below, making it suitable for use in bathrooms and wet rooms, while SpektroLED Tilt is rated at IP20. Once installed, SpektroLED will give 50,000 hours of rated LED life and can be used with most leading and trailing-edge dimmers, though compatibility should be verified beforehand. A five-year warranty guarantees peace of mind.

The next step in its lighting evolution has arrived with the inclusion of SpektroLED Tilt to the configurable, Knightsbridge SpektroLEDSpektroLEDseries.offers so many combinations of wattage, colour temperature and bezel choice that the product provides a genuine 40-in-1 fire-rated downlighting solution, now in both fixed and tilt versions. With the introduction of SpektroLED, Knightsbridge has removed the limitations of traditional downlights, offering versatility, performance and style in one package, and allowing for customisation and personalisation of lighting design without resorting to multiple lamp types.

Hager has launched its next-generation Power and Lighting Electrical Distribution Boards, designed to offer greater conﬁguration ﬂexibility and increased energy consumption data transparency within commercial buildings.

The new board uniquely provides load type labelling on the meter to easily identify small power (SP) and lighting (LL) circuit electrical parameters. This helps electrical contractors and system integrators to select the correct registers and associated values when integrating the energy data into the EMS/BMS systems and, ultimately, provides improved transparency around energy consumption.Alongside energy data transparency, board aesthetics are also optimised with the attractive Hager glazed door design ensuring the board can be on view within commercial premises.

The boards – available in 125A and 200A ratings –deliver an innovative, reliable, high-quality, and ﬂexible electrical distribution solution for easy installation and the delivery of energy data insight within commercial premises. They’re based around a new energy meter, and enable building owners, managers, landlords, and tenants to better understand where energy is being consumed, and potentially wasted. They also provide access to improved and simpliﬁed energy monitoring and the integration of the associated data into a commercial building’s environmental monitoring or building management system.

Available as a standard 125A two section Power and Lighting board, or an innovative three section 200A rated board, set-up options are provided that enable the board to be used in different operating mode conﬁgurations, whilst retaining the correct labelling of load type on the meter.

REQUEST MORE INFORMATION ON THE RANGE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ060 Enhance

HageroptionsLightingPowercommercialyourandDBwith

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CA 8345 Power Quality Analyser

Drawing on vast experience of LED technology since 2003, the new generation of exterior LED lighting solutions incorporates the very latest high-power LED technology, making luminaires more efficient, robust, and reliable, helping you to reduce your energy consumption, carbon emissions and light pollution. At Gemma Lighting the entire manufacturing process is carried out at the company’s Portsmouth head office. This ensures the team has complete control over the design and quality of the ﬁttings which leave the premises. It also means Gemma Lighting can offer a range of LED colour temperatures and bespoke painted ﬁnishes with a fast turnaround to meet your application requirements.

Products round up 110 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN CHAUVIN ARNOUX

GEMMA LIGHTING

LED Lighting Range

Equally well suited for diagnostic fault finding on electrical installations, auditing electricity consumption and validating the quality of electrical supplies, the new CA 8345 power quality analyser from Chauvin Arnoux combines exceptional flexibility with ease of use, extensive communication options and full compliance with IEC 61000-4-30 Class A. The CA 8345 sets new standards for versatility and convenience, and is suitable for use on all types of single- and three-phase systems up to 1,000 V. Measurements supported by the CA 8345 include all standard parameters such as voltage, current and frequency, together with P, N, Q1, S and D power values. Total and per-phase energy values can also be measured, along with details about harmonics from DC up to the 63rd order, and inter-harmonic subgroups from 0 to the 62nd order. TrueInrush technology is supported, and all measurements take DC components fully into account. Results are shown in real time on a 7” colour touch-screen display which, according to the measurement in progress, can be configured to show numerical data, graphs, oscillograms or phasor diagrams.

BlackD-LINEFinish

D-Line has launched a black ﬁnish version of its popular circular adaptors range. They enable 30x15mm 1/2-round D-Line trunking to interface with a 20mm circular knock-out on metal-clad surface boxes. Previously available in white only, this accessory addresses demands where for example, black D-Line trunking is used as an alternative to conduits on ﬂat surfaces. D-Line products are available from all electrical wholesalers.

LEDXCITEStrip Lights

BROWSE THE FULL PRODUCT RANGE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ061 GET MORE DETAILS AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ062 BROWSE THE CA 8345 POWER QUALITY ANALYSER TECHNICAL DATA SHEET AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ064

Circular Adaptors

Gemma Lighting is an award winning and internationally trusted UK designer, manufacturer, and supplier of high-quality exterior LED lighting solutions. The company was established to create an innovative concept for environmentally friendly lighting requirements. Much more than just a sales force, the Gemma Lighting team consists of test technicians, product designers and lighting designers to ensure clients receive full technical support and exceptional service.

The new LED strip lighting range from xcite covers a wide variety of requirements for indoor and outdoor ambient, or general lighting applications. With single colour and RGB kits available in IP20, IP65 or IP67 rating, the range offers excellent performance and value for money. With reel lengths ranging from 5m up to 50m, the xcite LED strip kits are ﬂexible and provide plenty of coverage. Available in three colour temperature options of 3000, 4000 and 6000k, customers are offered a choice between a daylight visual or a warmer indoor style lighting display. RGB kits come with simple remotes to allow users to change the colour of the LED strip whenever it suits, to create new and vivid atmospheres. This makes it perfect when following the mood and for quickly changing the style of wherever the strip is placed –that could be for parties, bedrooms, events and even the classroom! WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ063

ESP 32 Inch LED Monitor

BROWSE THE TECHNICAL DATA SHEET AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ065 DOWNLOAD THE PRODUCT DATA SHEET AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ066

EVCC300MEGGEREV

The EVCC300 electric vehicle charger checker from Megger is a convenient and easy-to-use all-in-one tool for checking the electrical safety and correct operation of Mode 2 and single-phase Mode 3 EV charge points rated at up to 32 A. Suitable for use with the vast majority of charge points in use, the EVCC300 is self-contained and provides fast results that include invaluable pass/fail guidance. With a robust gun-shaped body optimised for convenient handling, this instrument offers an extensive range of operational and safety checks. Operational tests include proximity pilot (PP) and control pilot (CP) checks. Uniquely, the EVCC300 not only sets the CP conditions, it also reads the CP code received back from the charger and conﬁrms that it meets the requirements of IEC 61851-1:2017, without the need to use an external oscilloscope.

With more homeowners and businesses relying on multiple cameras to cover and protect all areas of their properties and premises, the new 32” LED monitor from ESP will allow them to capture and view all images on one screen, helping them to easily keep track of any movement and activity. The monitor offers the perfect combination of 4K resolution and a widescreen 32” panel size with the 4K resolution supported through two HDMI ports. The monitor features in-built speakers and is supplied with a desktop stand. An additional wall mount bracket is also available separately.

Charger Checker

Make your next oneROCCOdecisionlightingasolid 112 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN Products round up BROWSE THE ROBUS 2022 PRODUCT CATALOGUE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ067

All in all, the ROCCO, with its super strong components, durability, reliability and IK10 diffuser is a must-have when it comes to lighting and a perfect ﬁtting for outdoor, residential and community security.

No matter what project you’re about to undertake ROBUS has a lighting solution to suit every location, requirement and budget. When it comes to outdoor and functional lighting, products should not only be easy to use, easy to maintain, cost-effective and thoroughly enhance the space the unit was installed for, it should also play a vital role in security.Soitgoes without saying that a bright, dependable, robust and sturdy lighting system is essential in residential, commercial, leisure, hospitality and healthcare settings –and the ROCCO surface fitting, a new product from ROBUS, is not only durable but is designed to last. With a die cast surface mount IP65 fitting, this heavy-duty product has a high efficacy of 125lm/w and can be used in both an indoor and outdoor setting, due to its IP65 classification. It has a polycarbonate opal diffuser, metal base fittings and stainless-steel screws and works in temperatures as low as -25˚C right up to a very hot 45˚C. It is also highly efficient, exceeding 125 lumens per watt. Thanks to its BESA box mounting facility and conduit entry points, installation is easy and it is also modular and can be used with the ROBUS plug-in emergency pack (R16EMPK-PSU) by simply connecting the inline connectors inside the fitting. The standard fitting can be changed to emergency and there is also the option of changing the trim to an Eyelid version accessory, as required.

In addition to its strength, the ROCCO has been designed with the ROBUS conversions team – ensuring that aspects of the design are easy to use, and practical for installers.

The ROCCO, which comes with a five-year warranty, is ROBUS’ first diecast fitting and it is so strong that it simply can’t be broken. It is the ideal lighting system for security purposes and can be used in outdoor parking areas, tunnels, walkways, building entrances, loading bays, fire assembly points and other similar areas. It is suitable for wall and ceiling mounting both indoors and outdoors and comes with metal base fittings which are a requirement with local and town Aestheticscouncils.arealso important, so despite the fact that it has multiple mounting points, it is still a slim and neat device, which looks good in any setting. Durability and easy installation are the key features of this product, making it a great choice for any type of project.

GET MORE DETAILS ON DOORBIRD’S A1121 SYSTEM AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ068

Take control with DoorBird A1121 device

The multifunctional A1121 access control device is equipped with two relays, allowing trigger actions at two doors or gates as well as HTTP(S) calls. The A1121 can also be paired with DoorBird’s A1081 I/O Door Controller, which provides three additional relays per device. Access control occurs by entering PIN codes on the illuminated keypad or via the multi-frequency RFID reader using an RFID transponder.Theadministrator can define different schedules and actions for each PIN code and RFID transponder to assign individual access rights to authorised persons. An integrated tamper sensor can detect when the device is removed and send a push notification to the administrator. All functions can be configured remotely via the free DoorBird App or the web-based administration tool.

The new DoorBird A1121 access control device with keypad and RFID function aims to reach a new milestone in the field of intelligent door communication and is particularly suited to places where no video intercom system is desired. For example, the compact device can control access to garages, side doors, bicycle cellars, storage and service rooms. To match the installation environment, customers can choose from a variety of front panel finishes. In addition to brushed stainless steel, more surfaces and colours are available from stock, such as bronze, titanium, DB 703 pearled dark grey and RAL 7016 anthracite gray. Thanks to the weatherproof housing, the device can be surface or flush mounted in both outdoor and indoor settings. The stand-alone solution also features a configurable Wiegand interface, enabling integration into existing access control infrastructures and alarm systems.

OutdoorKNIGHTSBRIDGERangeBrochure

This innovate product from Niglon features a simple and effective design and has been conceived/developed out of the necessity to stop wasting time and money caused by damaged cable drums. The reelsaver is manufactured in the UK from fully recyclable ABS and polycarbonate materials, can cater to a maximum cable size of 6mm T&E and offers easy unreeling and full protection for cable drums.

ExpansionAccessoriesUNICRIMPRange

The Wiska Consumer Unit Relocator (818CUR) offers the perfect

Seeking to empower residents to create safer and healthier homes, Aico has launched the third iteration of the HomeLINK App for Residents. The App provides an innovative solution to some of the housing sector’s biggest challenges, such as damp and mould and poor indoor air quality, allowing residents to take the ﬁrst steps in improving their home’s health. It is a complementary addition to Aico’s HomeLINK Internet of Things (IoT) platform, which includes a network of ﬁre and carbon monoxide alarms, environmental sensors and the Ei1000G Gateway that connects them all. Designed to provide residents with detailed information about the health and safety of their home, the App provides users with hints, tips and recommendations to better their home’s indoor environmental conditions, in turn, improving their own health and wellbeing.

solution when relocating a consumer unit in a domestic dwelling. The product comes complete with WAGO Conductor DIN-rail terminals with Lever and Push-in (8 x 2102-1201, 8 x 2102-1204, 8 x 2102-1207, 2 x 2110-1201, 2 x 2110-1204, 2 x 2110-1207). The unit is made from polycarbonate and features a temperature range of -25˚C - 85˚C. It also boasts IP65 protection. BROWSE THE E-BROCHURE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ072 WATCH A SUPPORTING PRODUCT VIDEO AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ069 GET MORE PRODUCT DETAILS AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ070 BROWSE THE FULL UNICRIMP RANGE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ071

Compiled into a single handy reference, The Complete Outdoor Range, this 49pp brochure is packed with high quality full colour product and lifestyle illustrations and shows how Knightsbridge caters for all demands in weatherproof and garden installations. Available from all major wholesalers, the outdoor collection includes single gang, two gang and RCD sockets, fused spurs, switches and switch boxes (including remote-controlled items); plus ancillaries such as enclosures and connectors. Floodlights for domestic and commercial purposes, as well as external decorative ﬁttings, are available, as are spike and groundlights for gardens and decking.

114 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN Products ROUND UP BROWSE THE PRODUCT DATA SHEET AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ073

Unicrimp continues to expand its range of cable accessories and has added three new products – Nylon Meter Tail Glands, Saddle Bar Spacers and Catenary Kits. The new 32 and 40mm White Nylon Meter Tail Glands with Plug are designed to house incoming cables on a metal consumer unit and provide the ideal solution to house incoming cables requiring entry through a 32mm or 40mm knockout due to their specialist grommet allowing ﬁtment for 25mm² or 16mm² meter tails. A blanking insert plug is also supplied as standard for optional use should no earth wire be present. Additionally, 20mm and 25mm white metal Saddle Bar Spacers offer the perfect solution for support and spacing between conduits and mounting surfaces. Finally, Catenary Kits have also been added to the range, comprising 1 x 30m length of 3mm steel wire rope, 1 x zinc plated strainer, 4 x 3mm steel wire rope grips, 2 x 3mm steel wire eyelets, 1 x hook wall plate and 1 x wire ring plate.

HomeLINKAICO App for Residents

ReelsaverNIGLON

ConsumerWISKA Unit Relocation Kit

WATCH THE GATOR PRODUCT VIDEO AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ076 GET MORE RANGE DETAILS AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ074 BROWSE THE NEW CATALOGUE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ075 WATCH A PRODUCT DEMO VIDEO AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ077

StepCutKNIPEXCable Shears

With the StepCut Cable Shears, KNIPEX makes it easier to cut single and multi-conductor cables made of copper and aluminium up to a diameter of 15 millimetres (50 mm²). Solid NYM cables can be cut easily and precisely up to a maximum of 5 x 4 mm². The stepped blades, with a milled serrated edge on the front and a ﬂat edge on the back, have been additionally induction-hardened. The shears can cut wires and strands one after the other, thus reducing the effort required by up to 40%. The innovative step cutting allows for a clean cut without the cables being crushed in the cutting process. The new KNIPEX StepCut is only 160 mm long and weighs relatively little. In addition, the ergonomic design of the handles enables an optimum cutting feel even with larger diameters. A pinch guard also prevents injuries; the bolted joint makes the cable shears precise and smooth-running.

DRAPER TOOLS 2022-2024 Catalogue Draper Tools has announced the launch of its 2022-2024 catalogue. With 968 pages, the new catalogue features over 11,000 lines, and includes over 1,600 newly introduced products since the last publication. This new edition is in a new font making it even easier to read, and the revised design has simpliﬁed content. Products are organised across industry and type – from electrical to engineering, construction, power tools and accessories, gardening, hand tools, workshop equipment and storage solutions – and brand. Highlights include the modular storage solution – BUNKER – and sections dedicated to the latest ‘go to’ for electricians, the new XP1000 range of fully VDE compliant screwdrivers and pliers.

116 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN Products ROUND UP

SOLID GEAR Prime GTX Footwear Incorporating some of the most advanced technical features in safety shoe design, the Prime GTX features a high-performance blend of ergonomic design, athletic comfort and S3 protection. It features hi-tech, lightweight construction that’s enhanced by the top-performing E-TPU mid-sole, which delivers added comfort and protects against long-term knee and foot fatigue. The GORE-TEX upper with its stretch technology provides efficient waterprooﬁng while the locking drawstring and BOA Fit System ensures the shoe ﬁts like a glove. Available as a shoe or ankle boot style, the Prime GTX is more than just a safety shoe –it’s an important part of your PPE on-site that will keep your feet fresh, safe and dry all day long.

OVIA LIGHTING Gator LED Street Lighting Range Ovia’s portfolio of floodlight solutions includes the Gator range of LED Street Lighting with CTA Switch. With an IK10 housing and IP66 rated, Gator is ideal for lighting larger outdoor areas, such as car parks and walkways, and is designed to be quick and simple to install via toolless entry, with the toolless gear tray allowing for easy maintenance. There are three size/wattage options to choose from –large (135W), medium (65-100W) and small (20-40W) – and they offer 50,000 hour lifetime and 85˚ x 150˚ beam angle. They’re available in a grey finish and come with a five-year warranty. The reversible mount option is an additional feature. The mount bracket can be rotated and pivoted to allow for vertical or horizontal fitment with no additional joints required. The Spigot size is 76mm and a wall bracket is available. The shorting cap can be replaced with a photocell sensor to assist with energy saving.

SNICKERS WORKWEAR Autumn Workwear System

The battery-powered LAX 600 and LAX 600 G multi-line lasers from STABILA are versatile tools that make indoor measurements simple and straightforward. Three 360° lines allow for efficient levelling in the horizontal and vertical position at the same time, while two vertical lines at right angles to one another enable the room to be divided into 4 x 90°. And then there’s a plumb line upwards and downwards, created by the point of intersection of the vertical lines, and a horizontal line for exact height transfers and precise layout work. For electrical installers, the lasers can be used for transferring heights quickly and easily, aligning plug sockets, switches and cable ducts horizontally and vertically with one another. The LAX 600 features red laser lines with a measuring range of up to 30 metres, while the LAX 600 G has green lines for even better visibility over a measuring range of up to 40 metres.

BROWSE THE FULL RANGE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ080 ORDER YOUR COPY OR BROWSE THE ONLINE VERSION AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ079 118 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN Products ROUND UP BROWSE THE FULL SNICKERS RANGE AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ078 BROWSE THE FULL RANGE OF XCITE CABINET LIGHTS AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/EAJ081

New from xcite comes a range of cabinet lights including a slimline under cupboard cabinet light, circular under cabinet downlight, and triangular under cabinet downlight – all neat, compact fittings designed to provide high quality illumination in kitchens and domestic applications. The subtle fixtures can be recessed mounted to ensure they are flush with the underside of the cabinet/cupboard, or there are surface mounted options if access is an issue. Simply snap into the frame for surface mounting, or the fitting can be recessed using the spring clips. xcite’s triangular cabinet lights can be fixed to the cabinet and the wall behind to create an angle for the fitting itself – directing light away from the wall and towards the work surface or ground for improved visibility. With close proximity between the light source and surface, the cabinet lights are designed with a frosted polycarbonate diffuser to reduce the “spotting”, avoiding reflection of LEDs on a high gloss worktop. Both the frame and bezel are supplied in a choice of two colour options: white or satin nickel.

CableMARSHALL-TUFFLEXManagementCatalogue

CabinetXCITELights

Multi-lineSTABILALasers

Snickers Workwear’s body-mapping jackets, tops, trousers and accessories work together for sustainable working comfort and protection wherever and whenever its needed. Designed for trade professionals who want maximum functionality and mobility on-site, they incorporate the very latest in high-tech fabric technology for top-class performance. The new clothing in the Autumn Workwear System includes windproof, waterproof and Hi-Vis garments for both men and women to keep them warm, dry and visible all day, every day. So, when the weather takes a turn for the worse, make Snickers Workwear your ﬁrst choice for tackling the toughest of jobs and the worst of weather.

Marshall-Tufflex has released its new catalogue. Featuring the latest Marshall-Tufflex and Bendex product innovations – including the Basor metal and PVC cable trays and ‘Tufflex Tile’, installers can order a hard copy to be delivered free of charge or download from the company’s website. Titled The Ultimate Guide to Cable Management, the new catalogue is an essential resource for electrical contractors and engineers. Inside, professionals can ﬁnd detailed information on both the Marshall-Tufflex and Bendex ranges, spanning both PVC-U, GRP and metal cable management solutions and accompanying accessories suitable across any application. Also featured is the Basor wire basket and the new metal and PVC cable trays that enable simple routing and support of power and data cables.

R E G I S T E R F O R F R E E AT W W W. E L E X S H O W. I N F O THE HANDS-ON TRADESHOW FOR PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIANS 1000’S OF SHOW DEALS ● TOP ELECTRICAL BRANDS ● FREE CPD SEMINARS ON WIRING REGS AMENDMENT 2, CIRCUIT PROTECTION, EICRs, EV CHARGING AND MORE ● FREE ENTRY ● FREE PARKING ● FREE PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN T-SHIRT ● FREE BACON ROLL F O RT H C O M I N G S H O W S : ELEX 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN The Electricians’ Exhibition Sponsored by CBS ARENA COVENTRY CBS ARENA COVENTRY WESTPOINT EXETER WESTPOINT EXETER SANDOWN PARK SURREY SANDOWN SURREY 14TH & 15TH SEPTEMBER 2022 20TH & 21ST OCTOBER 2022 3RD & 4TH NOVEMBER 2022

120 September 2022 PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN C AM E RA CAUGHT ON P.E ELECTRICAL: The longer you look at it, the worse it gets. Perfect for a Monday morning! STEPHEN MCNALLY: Stupidity at its ﬁnest! SOCIAL SNAPS! TIM BURGE: This was found on a recent EICR! TOM: Turned up to undertake an EICR at a village hall and found this mess lurking under the DB cover… FLOW ELECTRICS: This ﬁnd on a new job is certainly a new way of installing an earth rod – the steel rebar piranha nut!

DAMIAN SLEBODA: Just one of many pictures found from this installation that was supposedly carried out by an electrician!

And one to be proud of from ACASEY_SPARKY12-hourday,butatleast some results to show for it. Get your regular fix of CAUGHT ON CAMERA!

MTS.ELEC: Here’s one that I spotted recently – a splendid attempt at extending a ringmain MARK BENNETT: This one was found while carrying out an EICR…

PE’s website includes weekly Caught on Camera ‘Exclusives’, featuring the best (and worst) of the shocking snaps that readers have posted to our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram pages. Don’t forget to tag us in on your posts, or DM us your pictures and caption directly and you may just see your pictures featured on these pages or our website.

J&M ELECTRICAL (WEST LONDON): We got a call to a PRS rented property to look at some storage heater issues. We discovered a newly changed consumer unit. Wired off-peak restricted circuits on a 24-hour peak supply, and this…

PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN September 2022 121

ADVERTISER INDEX Armeg Ltd .......................................................................................page 94 www.rdr.link/EAJ100 Aurora Ltd .......................................................................................page 57 www.rdr.link/EAJ101 Bird Home Automation Group .................................................page 49 www.rdr.link/EAJ102 Bright Business Advice.............................................................page 109 www.rdr.link/EAJ103 Carl Kammerling International Ltd ..........................................page 41 www.rdr.link/EAJ104 Castline Systems .........................................................................page 115 www.rdr.link/EAJ105 CED ...................................................................................................page 64 www.rdr.link/EAJ106 Challenger ......................................................................................page 70 www.rdr.link/EAJ107 CHAUVIN ARNOUX UK Ltd .......................................................page 91 www.rdr.link/EAJ108 Chint Europe (UK) Ltd .................................................................page 54 www.rdr.link/EAJ109 C-TEC Ltd ..........................................................................................page 11 www.rdr.link/EAJ110 C-TEC Ltd .......................................................................................page 101 www.rdr.link/EAJ111 Cudis Ltd .........................................................................................page 88 www.rdr.link/EAJ112 Deta Electrical Company Ltd .....................................................page 13 www.rdr.link/EAJ113 Di-LOG Test Equipment .............................................................page 53 www.rdr.link/EAJ114 D-Line (Europe) Ltd .....................................................................page 115 www.rdr.link/EAJ115 Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) .............................page 67 www.rdr.link/EAJ116 Electrium Sales Ltd ......................................................................page 25 www.rdr.link/EAJ117 Electrorad U.K. Ltd .........................................................................page 9 www.rdr.link/EAJ118 ELEX .................................................................................................page 119 www.rdr.link/EAJ119 Elite Security Products Ltd ........................................................page 88 www.rdr.link/EAJ120 Fergus ............................................................................................page 102 www.rdr.link/EAJ121 Forum Lighting Solutions .............................................................page 6 www.rdr.link/EAJ122 FS Cables Ltd ................................................................................page 117 www.rdr.link/EAJ123 GAP Lighting Ltd ..........................................................................page 60 www.rdr.link/EAJ124 Gemma Lighting (UK) Ltd ..........................................................page 87 www.rdr.link/EAJ125 Hager Ltd ........................................................................................page 85 www.rdr.link/EAJ126 Hamilton Litestat ..........................................................................page 69 www.rdr.link/EAJ127 HellermannTyton Ltd.................................................................page 106 www.rdr.link/EAJ128 IDEAL INDUSTRIES EMEA .........................................................page 34 www.rdr.link/EAJ129 ITW Construction Products .......................................................page 94 www.rdr.link/EAJ130 JCC Lighting Products Ltd .........................................................page 61 www.rdr.link/EAJ131 LED Group .......................................................................................page 10 www.rdr.link/EAJ132 LEDVANCE Ltd ..............................................................................page 73 www.rdr.link/EAJ133 Lewden Ltd ......................................................................................page 91 www.rdr.link/EAJ134 Linkcharging Technology Company Ltd...............................page 26 www.rdr.link/EAJ135 Luceco plc ........................................................................................page 18 www.rdr.link/EAJ136 Martindale Electric Co. Ltd ........................................................page 42 www.rdr.link/EAJ137 Megger Ltd .....................................................................................page 37 www.rdr.link/EAJ138 Mer Fleet Services .......................................................................page 117 www.rdr.link/EAJ139 Metrel UK Ltd ................................................................................page 30 www.rdr.link/EAJ140 ML Accessories Ltd ......................................................................page 79 www.rdr.link/EAJ141 ML Accessories Ltd ......................................................................page 93 www.rdr.link/EAJ142 NAPIT Training ..............................................................................page 29 www.rdr.link/EAJ143 NICEIC..............................................................................................page 82 www.rdr.link/EAJ144 Niglon Ltd ................................................................................pages 14, 15 www.rdr.link/EAJ145 NVC Lighting..................................................................................page 76 www.rdr.link/EAJ146 Ovia Lighting ..................................................................................page 111 www.rdr.link/EAJ147 Phoenix Contact Ltd ..................................................................page 105 www.rdr.link/EAJ148 Prefect Controls Ltd ....................................................................page 117 www.rdr.link/EAJ149 Proteus Switchgear .....................................................................page 80 www.rdr.link/EAJ150 Red Arrow Electrical Distribution Ltd ....................................page 82 www.rdr.link/EAJ151 Robert Bosch Ltd ..........................................................................page 38 www.rdr.link/EAJ152 Rolec Services Ltd .......................................................................page 113 www.rdr.link/EAJ153 Saxby Lighting ...............................................................................page 45 www.rdr.link/EAJ154 Schneider Electric ...........................................................................page 4 www.rdr.link/EAJ155 Schneider Electric .......................................................inside back cover www.rdr.link/EAJ156 Scolmore International Ltd ......................................................page 102 www.rdr.link/EAJ157 S.E.C Solutions Ltd ......................................................................page 117 www.rdr.link/EAJ158 Sevadis .............................................................................................page 97 www.rdr.link/EAJ159 Termination Technology Ltd ....................................................page 115 www.rdr.link/EAJ160 Tesco Mobile Ltd ...........................................................................page 21 www.rdr.link/EAJ161 The Electrical Academy .............................................................page 115 www.rdr.link/EAJ162 The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) ......page 50 www.rdr.link/EAJ163 Timeguard Ltd ...............................................................................page 58 www.rdr.link/EAJ164 ToughBuilt .....................................................................inside front cover www.rdr.link/EAJ165 UNICRIMP Ltd ...............................................................................page 85 www.rdr.link/EAJ166 V-TAC UK Ltd ............................................................outside back cover www.rdr.link/EAJ167 Wise Controls ................................................................................page 117 www.rdr.link/EAJ168 WISKA UK Ltd ..............................................................................page 107 www.rdr.link/EAJ169 XS Training Ltd .............................................................................page 50 www.rdr.link/EAJ170 Here is a useful summary of all the adverts that appear in this issue of Professional Electrician. Each is listed with its page number and a direct URL that will get you straight to the relevant online information.