EPS Magazine June 2014 by Brian DiChiara

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CONTENTS

PUBLISHER

Danny J. Salchert OFFICE MANAGER

Anita Salchert ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Jerry DiChiara jerryd@epsmag.net CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Derek Gaylard CIRCULATION DIRECTOR

Pam Fulmer

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Mandeep Khera • Craig Robinson Greg Smith

FEATURES 6

Networked Wireless and Open Standards The One-Two Punch for Smart Buildings By Mandeep Khera

The New Fundamentals of Professional Cable Labeling Clear, standards-based labeling of Cat5 and Cat6 cabling in communication networks and data hubs is essential for every professional installer and helps ensure quality and warranty protection By Craig Robinson

There’s New Business on the Horizon with Solar By Greg Smith

COMPANY PROFILE 26 Protect Yourself Miller Safety Consultants — A Leader in Arc Flash Protection

DEPARTMENTS 28 Industry News 34 Product Focus 40 Ad Index ON THE COVER Cover photography courtesy of SMA America

Electrical Products & Solutions • June 2014

PRESIDENT

Danny J. Salchert Executive and Advertising Offices 3591 Cahaba Beach Road Birmingham, AL 35242 toll free: 800.981.4541 phone: 205.981.4541 fax: 205.981.4544 www.epsmag.net • danny@epsmag.net Electrical Products & Solutions™ is published twelve times a year on a monthly basis by ABD Communications, Inc., 3591 Cahaba Beach Road, Birmingham, Alabama, 35242, USA. Electrical Products & Solutions™ is distributed free to qualified subscribers. Non-qualified subscription rates are $57.00 per year in the U.S. and Canada and $84.00 per year for foreign subscribers (surface mail). U.S. Postage paid at Birmingham, Alabama and additional mailing offices. Electrical Products & Solutions™ is distributed to qualified readers in the electrical contracting industry. Publisher is not liable for all content (including editorial and illustrations provided by advertisers) of advertisements published and does not accept responsibility for any claims made against the publisher. It is the advertiser’s or agency’s responsibility to obtain appropriate releases on any item or individuals pictured in an advertisement. Reproduction of this magazine in whole or in part is prohibited without prior written permission from the publisher. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ABD Communications, Inc., P.O. Box 382885 Birmingham, Alabama 35238-2885 PRINTED IN THE USA

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FEATURE • Daintree Networks, Inc.

Networked Wireless and Open Standards The One-Two Punch for Smart Buildings

By Mandeep Khera, Vice President, Marketing and Channels, Daintree Networks, Inc.

he reduction in energy usage has quickly become a top priority for owners of commercial and industrial buildings, governments, utilities and others to help save money. This is also due to the various government entities that are increasingly requiring compliance with standards related to energy management and usage reduction. Examples include ASHRAE 90.1 and California’s 2013 Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards – a new, more stringent implementation set to go into effect July 1, 2014. The revised Title 24 code requires businesses to implement technologies that en6

able highly efficient and ultimately zeronet-energy buildings, such as intelligent networked systems for controlling and managing energy-related applications throughout a warehouse, office or other commercial facility. Wireless networking removes a number of limitations, such as which devices can be controlled (lighting, thermostats, plug-loads and CO2 sensors, to name a few), where they can be placed, degree of granularity, and so on. Of course lighting is where there is some of the greatest need and opportunity for implementing smart energy management solutions, and lighting also provides an entry point for expanding a company’s

Electrical Products & Solutions • June 2014

energy management strategy. Automated lighting control systems allow lights to be turned off or dimmed to accommodate time and usage factors, providing the correct amount of light where and when it’s needed. These systems can reduce building energy consumption by 70 percent or more, and when combined with LED lighting, savings can top 90 percent. Other benefits include improved operational efficiencies and enhanced occupant comfort. The cost of wiring is incentive enough for many building owners to make the move to wireless systems, which are typically organized using a “mesh” architecture. This means that Continued on page 8

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FEATURE • Daintree Networks, Inc.

Continued from page 6

Figure 1 – Sample: Daintree Networks’ open, networked wireless solutions for smart building control.

each device in the network can communicate with a controller through at least two pathways, and can relay messages for its neighbors. Data is passed through the wireless network from device to device, using the most reliable communication links and most efficient path, until the destination is reached. The process of integrating wireless controls has typically relied on third-party or custom wireless adapters to enable wireless integration with existing fixtures. While they enable fixture manufacturers to take advantage of wireless controls without making any product changes or commitments, and are suitable for retrofit situations, these “two-box” solutions can be costly, especially for granular control, and lengthen the payback period. An alternative, of course, is to use zonal control to reduce these costs. The next step would be embedding an integrated wireless module, consisting of the microcontroller, transceiver and antenna on a printed circuit board, directly into a light fixture’s driver or power supply. While the per-fixture cost is lower than “two-box” solutions, a third-party module manufacturer takes a profit on each unit, and the installation requires some custom engineering and wireless expertise. Fully integrating the wireless radio-frequency (RF) IC into the LED driver is more desirable in terms of functionality and per-fixture cost. While this approach is quite cost effective, it involves the most demanding engineering effort and requires 8

wireless stock keeping units (SKUs). Recently, Daintree Networks and LG Electronics announced, a digital serial interconnect pluggable option developed to drive deployment of wirelessly connected lighting systems integrated with buildingand energy-management systems in commercial office and industrial facilities. The two companies collaborated to embed the ZigBee wireless networking standard directly into LED drivers used in LG LED overhead troffer lighting fixtures, enabling interaction with the Daintree ControlScope™ networked wireless control platform. The ControlScope platform can control the LG fixtures out-of-the-box, provide actionable information through data analytics, and integrate the system with building-management systems. With this option, the same module is used for all drivers with the appropriate interface, eliminating the custom engineering required for both the integrated module and the integrated wireless IC. Some lighting manufacturers believe that the digital serial interconnected pluggable modules’ time-to-market and SKU-management advantages trump the cost and other advantages of the previous two options. Using wireless LED drivers eliminates both the expense and installation challenges associated with a separate wireless adapter which has been required for granular wireless control of overhead troffers in commercial and industrial buildings until now. Daintree estimates that with the LG-Daintree solution, companies can ex-

Electrical Products & Solutions • June 2014

pect to save up to 85 percent per fixture in equipment and labor when installing wireless communication, and can also improve energy efficiency by up to 90 percent. This brings us to overall energy management. Using open-standards along with modern enterprise-class wireless networking technology provides added flexibility, reliability, scalability, ease of installation and use to enable building managers to monitor, measure and manage not just lighting, but also smart thermostats, plug-load controls, CO2 sensors, and a host of other building controls. Advanced thinkers support open systems and believe that the right way to deliver the greatest energy efficiency is through the use of open standards, which allow lighting and building automation products to work together seamlessly – without proprietary, closed technology. (Fig. 1) Open standards provide interoperability between devices of different manufacturers and systems, which enable the evolution of technology and benefits the end-user through increased price competition. This allows facility or sustainability managers to “future-proof” their facility infrastructure with best-of-breed products from different manufacturers and choose the components that best fit their specific needs. Technology based on open standards offers support for a wide range of applications as well as the flexibility to easily add future service and product upgrades. Building managers can continue to work with the products and vendors they trust, while gaining all the benefits of networked wireless control. Facing compliance with new, more stringent energy-efficiency standards, facilities can realize efficiency improvements of up to 90 percent utilizing a wireless approach. Moreover, an open standards-based solution can deliver cost and flexibility benefits compared with proprietary wireless systems – signaling that a new era in networked-wireless building energy management has arrived. And, with open standards driven technology, a company can expand the solution to address the broader Enterprise Internet of Things™ issues. ❏

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FEATURE â&#x20AC;˘ Brother Mobile Solutions

n accurate and complete infrastructure labeling system is essential to every professionally installed structured cabling system. Whether your project is a new construction or upgrade of an enterprise communications network, data hub infrastructure, or an A/V or security system, the most recent ANSI/TIA 606-B Structured Cabling Standard offers a complete plan for a labeling system that reflects industry best practices. Clear, accurate labeling of wires, cables and connectivity components is the hallmark of a truly professional installation. Why? Because labeling simplifies maintenance and troubleshooting, saving time and costs when making repairs or implementing moves, adds and changes (MACs). Standards-based labeling also lowers the long-term cost of ownership, and ensures quality assurance and audit 12

compliance with manufacturer and installer warranty terms. The main purpose of using labels as part of an effective cable administration system is to accurately identify all physical infrastructure components and accelerate tracking and tracing of connections from one end of an installation to the other. Bi-directional labeling is extremely helpful when the site owner, installer or a future service provider needs to know where the other end of a cable run is. With a standards-based labeling scheme in place, they can simply read the label at both ends rather than having to physically track it.

About the 606-B Standard The ANSI/TIA 606-B Standard for component identification and administration now covers facility classes of every size and type and adds more granularity

Electrical Products & Solutions â&#x20AC;˘ June 2014

to the labeling and identification specifications within each type. Although not mandatory, the standard helps contractors and installers ensure a professional installation and long-term quality assurance. On the labeling side, the 606-B Standard calls for text on the labels to be machine-generated and visible, and for cables and pathways to be labeled at both ends for ease of tracing from either direction. In addition, labels should meet the UL969 specification for legibility, defacement and adhesion. This means they should be rugged, tamper- and smear-resistant and able to withstand environmental conditions such as heat, moisture and ultraviolet light. And, they should have a design life equal to or greater than that of the labeled components. On the cabling administration side, the Standard states that the facility owner or IT staff must ensure Continued on page 14

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FEATURE • Brother Mobile Solutions

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The Brother P-touch EDGE® PT-E550W is the first handheld industrial labeling tool to offer WiFi connectivity, enabling wireless data transfer and direct printing from smart devices in the field. It is the latest generation of Brother’s popular P-touch EDGE product line.

that the cable and component identification system is updated to reflect future upgrades and MACs, and that a permanent record of the original installation and subsequent changes is maintained for the life of the system. This complete and up-todate record of the physical infrastructure provides all parties with an accurate blueprint to follow should the configuration need to be re-created, in whole or in part, due to damage or destruction from fire, flood, earthquake or other disaster.

Choose the Right Labeling Tool Selecting the right labeling tool to generate clear, legible labels for wires, cables and connectivity components will help make the job easier and work crews more productive. The best of today’s next-generation, industrial handheld labeling tools are affordable and richly functional, incorporating smart technology, intuitive 14

navigation and broad flexibility to adapt to a variety of installation tasks. To maintain high efficiency and productivity at the job site, it’s important to equip installers with a tool that’s easy to use without extensive training, as well as ergonomically designed to fit the hand comfortably without stress or strain. For long service life in the field, you also want a labeler that’s rugged, reliable, and as maintenance-free as possible. Thermal printers are a popular choice because they don’t require any ink, and they can format and print a wide range of conforming label types up to 24mm or 36mm wide using easy snap-in tape cartridges. The tapes generate durable ULapproved polyester laminated labels which encapsulate the print between two protective layers to ensure long-term integrity, legibility and adhesion, thus complying with the 606-B standard for

Electrical Products & Solutions • June 2014

labeling system longevity. Some smart labeling tools offer a choice of wireless connectivity options, as well as built-in software that allow users to download and store data from common databases. They also allow for on-site download and printing of previously saved custom or pre-formatted label templates, as well as previously programmed Alpha/numeric serialization of labels. These capabilities can dramatically increase labeling speed and productivity in the field.

More Features to Look For Additional key features that can increase labeling workflow speed and efficiency on the job include: • QWERTY-style keyboard with clearly marked buttons, easy-to-follow navigation menus, and smart application keys that allow faster formatting of Continued on page 16

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FEATURE • Brother Mobile Solutions labels with just a few keystrokes. • Large backlit LCD display screen to provides high visibility for fast, easy label design and editing. • Faster printing speeds to increase efficiency of label design and printing so workers can accomplish more during a shift. • PC connectivity and built-in software and memory that allows users to download and store data to create custom designed labels, in addition to using pre-formatted label templates provided with smart labelers. • Automatic font-sizing to create clear, readable labels that conform to short and long identifier formats, so users can quickly adapt label size and design for cables, fiber, wire bundles, faceplates, patch panels, punch blocks, control panels, and more. • A multi-lingual user interface, while not essential, can help make the labelers more user-friendly for today’s diverse work crews.

Smart labelers should be able to accept a variety of interchangeable tape cartridges to create different types of labels. The most common choices are HGe and TZe tapes, which come in various sizes, colors and adhesive backings. Some contractors also opt to use HSe heat shrink tubing, a thin flexible tube that contracts when it is heated with a heat gun. When applied to an individual cable or bundle of wires, fibers or cables, the HSe tubing forms a strong, secure sleeve which provides insulation, strength and strain relief to prevent flexing or crimpling at the wire-to-termination point. Some newer labeling tools make printing on heat shrink tubing fast, easy and economical.

The Hallmark of a Professional Installation While cable labeling is only one facet of a structured cabling system, compliance with the 606-B guidelines helps organizations future-proof their projects by providing a dynamic plan to maximize

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Electrical Products & Solutions • June 2014

performance, minimize downtime, and reduce rebuilding costs in the event of a disaster. The relatively low cost and customized high performance of today’s handheld industrial-grade labeling solutions make them a worthwhile investment. A standards-compliant labeling system also sends a strong signal to your customers about the quality of your work. It is a relatively simple and cost-effective way to mark your company as highly skilled and professional. And that can help generate repeat business, favorable customer recommendation and more jobs in the future. ❏ About the Author: Craig Robinson manages growth strategy, channel, and business development initiatives for the Brother P-Touch EDGE® brand of products. Brother Mobile Solutions is a premier provider of innovative on-demand mobile printing and labeling solutions for the mobile workforce. For more information, visit www.edgelabeling.com.

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FEATURE • SMA America

There’s New Business on the Horizon with Solar

By Greg Smith, Senior Technical Trainer, SMA America

hether exploring new opportunities, evolving with the times or pursuing an advantage over competitors, electricians are entering the solar market faster than ever. As one of the most promising renewable energy sources, photovoltaics (PV), which generates electricity from sunlight, offers the greatest potential for continued and sustained job growth. According to a recent report by GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association, “the U.S. installed 1,330 megawatts of solar PV in Q1 2014, up 79 percent over Q1 2013 and making it the second-largest quarter for solar installations in the history of the market.” It went 18

on to forecast that PV installations in the U.S. “will reach 6.6 gigawatts in 2014, up 39 percent over 2013 and nearly double the market size in 2012.” Strong growth is expected in all three major market segments: residential, commercial and utility-scale. Electricians making the transition to solar without any applicable experience will have to consider the design, installation, operation and maintenance of PV systems, all of which require specific types of training. Luckily, electricians typically transition well into the solar industry due to their requisite knowledge and transferable skill sets; all they need is PV-specific training about the Continued on page 20

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FEATURE • SMA America

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very little servicing and are lighter, more reliable and more efficient with each new generation. On the other hand, module-level power electronics have gained momentum in the residential solar market—where they are most applicable—in the last few years. MLPE include micro inverters and DC optimizers, which are mounted onto or behind individual solar modules. These converters are able to capture module-level data and present it to the end user, providing a granular level of PV system output. Although it comes with a higher cost, with micro inverters, electricians can quickly enter the solar industry due to the ease of design and minimal training required. With so many inverter options available, it can be daunting to determine which topology is best for a particular application. However, there are a few inverter manufacturers that offer micro, string and central inverters and are able to guide the installer to the ideal device for the given project. String inverters offer electricians more opportunities in residential, commercial and utility-scale applications and can be just as simple to install as micro inverters, with the right training.

PV Training Programs

The two main inverter categories for available technologies, applications and residential applications are string invertinstallation best practices. ers and module-level power electronics PV Applications (MLPE), while commercial applications and Components favor string inverters and/or central inWhile most new entrants focus on se- verters. The latter is also typically selected lecting the right solar module, the key for large utility-scale applications that recomponent that most often determines the quire maximum power. Because each type performance of a system – as well as the of inverter has its strengths and weakprofitability of an installer’s portfolio – is nesses, there is no one-size-fits-all soluthe inverter. The inverter is the heart and tion. brains of the PV system, converting the String inverters—named for the process direct current harvested by the solar mod- of connecting a string of modules in a seules into usable alternating current and ries to increase the system voltage—have performing all of the necessary power been the standard for PV installations for conditioning and control processes. Be- decades. Depending on the size of the incause it’s where the intelligence of the verter, multiple strings are connected in system is kept and where failures are most parallel to increase the total current of the likely to occur, paying particular attention PV array, increasing the DC power. String to this component is paramount for gener- inverters have remained the most popular ating the most return on investment for conversion devices by solar installers bethe system owner. cause they are easy to maintain, require 20

Electrical Products & Solutions • June 2014

High-quality PV training is imperative because home owners, plant owners and utilities need to feel confident that the solar systems installed on their properties will not only operate correctly and safely, but will continue to make power for 20plus years. For electricians looking to enter the solar industry, there is a wide variety of training options available. Most formal PV training programs prepare new solar professionals for the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) certification, a credential that is considered the “gold standard” of the PV industry. NABCEP offers an impressive framework dedicated to safe installation practices and the promotion of consumer confidence. While NABCEP certification is not a necessity, it adds credibility to the installer. One way to attend PV training is through formal learning institutions, such as community colleges and trade schools. Many of these offer renewable energy programs and solar-related classes, with certificates and degrees Continued on page 24

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FEATURE • SMA America awarded after completion. Electricians can easily research facilities and programs in their area online. Another option is professional solar industry training organizations, such as Solar Energy International. Their programs cover almost every specialty and are typically very comprehensive in course delivery and design, offering a wide selection of hands-on and online programs tailored to specific areas of renewable energy. These, and other, training organizations can be found online and it is important to select one that is accredited in order to build a credible portfolio of program certificates. For PV design, training or installation, courses targeting the National Electric Code (NEC) are vital. Bill Brooks, Mike Holt and John Wiles are veterans in interpreting, writing and teaching NEC and frequently hold seminars and write articles for leading renewable energy publications pertaining to code issues and compliance.

Continued from page 20

Finally, some solar equipment manufacturers even offer high-quality training that covers all aspects of the solar industry, creating a smooth transition for electricians. Product training ranges from marketing to installation, from sales points to in-depth technical data. While most people may think of product training as being just about inverters and solar modules, there are many more areas of PV installation that require special training. In addition to learning or keeping up-to-date on NEC, installers need racking and flashing skills along with electrical safety training. Others installing large central inverters may require something more specialized with OSHA-approved arc flash instruction, while those performing a site survey need to learn how to use pyrometers, shade evaluation tools and software imports. Regardless of the type of application— residential, commercial or utility-scale— opportunities for them to become a part now is an exciting time for electricians to of the most dynamic and qualified segenter the solar industry. There are many ment of the energy sector. ❏

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COMPANY PROFILE • Miller Safety

Protect Yourself Miller Safety Consultants — A Leader in Arc Flash Protection

ince Miller started Miller Safety Consultants, a veteran owned business in 1999. The goal of the business was to provide cost effective safety consulting, employee training such as: confined space entry, fall protection, electrical safety and provide sales of electrical shock and flash protective equipment and fall protection equipment to businesses in the Washington DC area. Reliance Industries provided fall protection products and much of the sales and training was on behalf of the supplier. In 2000, the owner decided to retire from his business, and Vince decided to discontinue the fall protection line of his business and concentrate more in the electrical training and products. Vince had been a distributor for Certified Insulated Products (CIP), a manufacturer of electrical insulated tools and electrical arc flash clothing manufactured by Otex in Rochester, New York. As a distributor, Vince provided sales through his internet website and much through relationships with electrical contractors. His training was a classroom 26

environment and was provided directly to customers but he also taught as a subcontractor for other safety consulting companies and the Chesapeake Safety Council in Baltimore, Maryland. In 2005, Vince partnered with Vivid Learning Systems in Cascades, Washington to provide on-line training in safe work practices. Training in electrical safe work practices is still provided locally in the Washington DC area and as a partner with an

Electrical Products & Solutions • June 2014

electrical engineering firm and online. The training is based on the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) standards and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E standard. Miller Safety Consultants is now a distributor for Cementex USA, Burlington, New Jersey, for insulated tools and equipment and clothing from OTEX Protective, Rochester, New York. The majority of his sales of products are from the web-based store. Cementex is nationally known for their quality equipment. Otex Protective is becoming more known for their quality clothing. For years, they have manufactured their products under other provider labels. Vince chose to not create his clothing line, but to sell the manufacturer product. Vince has worked with many electrical company employees to fine-tune the clothing to be more comfortable for the user. Working closely with the manufacturer, they have made slight changes in how the cloth pattern was modified to meet final production. An example is the lightweight 40 Calary vented hood offered by Otex. The material is of the latest technology. The vented assembly is constructed for balance on the back of the hardhat and the airflow is 35 CFM to prevent fogging of the face shield and provide cooling to the worker. It took over a year to develop the product with the user prior to having the hood “flash tested”. This product is now standard issue with many electrical contractors. Being a small business and having quality providers has resulted in satisfied customers for Miller Safety Consultants. Being a direct supplier for OTEX Protective, another small business means customized customer needs can be met. ❏

For more information, visit Miller Safety Consultants at: www.millersafetyltd.com, email Vince at: sales@millersafetyltd.com or give him a call at (703)367-0404.

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Industry NEWS

Kaelus and Advanced Test Equipment Rentals Announce New Rental Partnership Advanced Test Equipment Rentals becomes valued rental partner of Kaelus products. Advanced Test Equipment Rentals (ATEC) partners with Kaelus to become a rental distributor of Kaelus products. Kaelus manufactures Passive Intermodulation (PIM) Testers for the wireless telecommunications sector, and ATEC is one of the largest rental companies of test equipment for the telecommunications, aerospace, semiconductor, consumer electronic, and many other sectors. PIM, the non-linear junction that causes interference in the RF path generated at the cell site is a performance concern for wireless carriers AT&T Mobility, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular. PIM testing at cell towers has become a must over the last decade, and the international standard, IEC 62037 was

created to detail PIM measurement setup and specified power level for testing. ATEC has been renting test equipment since 1981 and is committed to providing customers with the best equipment in the industry, backed by certified lab technicians, expert technical support, and worldwide shipping. The partnership will improve availability of PIM testers to the wireless carriers and their sub-contractors erecting and maintaining the cellular infrastructure. “We are pleased to be working with Kaelus in this partnership and continuing to provide our customers with the best-inclass products,” said Jill Berg, President of ATEC. “With this new agreement, the Kaelus products will continue to be top

rental equipment at Advanced Test Equipment Rentals for a long time to come.” Kaelus is excited to be partnering with Advanced Test Equipment Rentals.” said Jack Cowper, President of Kaelus, “The ATEC partnership enables a larger audience to take advantage of Kaelus’s industry-leading PIM testing equipment through rental, lease or purchase options. ATEC has a strong presence in the test and measurement market and shares Kaelus’s commitment to service excellence”. ❏ View Kaelus how-to product videos at www.atecorp.com/kaelusvideos. For a complete list of all Kaelus products visit www.kaelus.com or www.atecorp.com/kaelus.

Advanced Test Equipment Rentals is a leading high tech equipment rental company, ISO-9001 certified and now ISO/IEC 170252005 & ANSI/NCSL Z540-1-1994 accredited, that provides complete general and special purpose electronic, electrical, and environmental test equipment solutions for analysis, inspection, measurement, monitoring, simulation, powering, certifying and commissioning of products and electrical infrastructure. ATEC serves an incredibly diverse customer base, made up of aerospace, automotive, biomedical, communications, consumer electronics, defense, environmental, engineering, marine, power and energy grid, transportation, and compliance testing companies. Rent now from the ATEC extensive inventory of equipment at www.atecorp.com. ABOUT ADVANCED TEST EQUIPMENT RENTALS

Kaelus, www.kaelus.com, a recognized leader in PIM test instruments, DAS point of interface solutions, cell-site filters, combiners and tower mounted amplifiers, was formed by the combination of Summitek, Allrizon Communications, Triasx PTY Ltd., and the Telecom division of TRAK Microwave Ltd. This heritage and combined experience allows Kaelus to excel by developing technically differentiated offerings improving network performance. ABOUT KAELUS

Smiths Microwave, www.smithsmicrowave.com, is a leading provider of components, sub-assemblies, antennas and systems solutions, primarily for defense and aerospace applications, and solutions that test, filter and process high-frequency signals for wireless telecommunication networks. Alongside Smiths Connectors and Smiths Power, Smiths Microwave is part of the Smiths Interconnect division of Smiths Group www.smiths.com, a global leader in applying advanced technologies for markets in threat and contraband detection, energy, medical devices, communications and engineered components. Smiths Group employs more than 23,500 people in over 50 countries. ABOUT SMITHS MICROWAVE

Electrical Products & Solutions • June 2014

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Industry NEWS

CDA’s Electrical Expert to Speak to Public Safety Communication Professionals at APCO about the Importance of Grounding and Bonding Session Track to Offer Tips on Preventing Service Disruption and Equipment Breakdown at Communication Facilities What is time worth to a television station going off the air or a 9-1-1 call center going offline? To the customer watching at home, being disconnected means an evening spent without his or her favorite TV sitcom, but to a person involved in an accident seeking emergency police or fire services, it could mean the matter of life and death. David Brender, the National Program Manager for Electrical Applications at the Copper Development Association (CDA), has been selected to speak at the APCO 2014 Conference & Expo this summer to address issues like these and discuss the importance proper grounding and bonding has for communication facilities. Brender’s session is taking place at 3 p.m., Aug. 4 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. In his hour-long presentation, Brender will share a variety of case histories related to communication facilities that were disrupted by lightning strikes or inadequate electrical grounding systems, and

highlight how adapting the power quality infrastructure can benefit any facility that operates electronic equipment. “Grounding and bonding electrical systems is paramount for any communication facility because it provides a low impedance path for transient overvoltages, such as lightning, to flow safely to earth,” said Brender. “Without a secure system in place, service can be interrupted causing equipment to be affected, damaged or — even worse — fail, at a critical time.” In order to be effective, the entire grounding system needs to be properly designed, using listed connectors and corrosion-resistant materials that meet or exceed the NEC parameters. For example, a lightning protection system must be well-grounded in order to work properly. Copper and its alloys are the most common materials because they provide superior reliability, corrosion resistance and avoid oxidation complications at connections.

“What I try and stress to folks who attend my session is that the cost of creating a proper grounding system is very inexpensive relative to the great number of benefits,” said Brender. “The pay back can usually be met within six months or less.” Brender, who has been giving presentations for CDA on grounding and bonding for more than 12 years, spoke recently at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show in Las Vegas. For more information about copper grounding systems or to access a variety of CDA’s electrical case studies, please visit www.copper.org. ❏ The Copper Development Association is the information, education, market and technical development arm of the copper, brass and bronze industries in the USA. Learn more at our blog coppertalk.org. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/coppertalk.

ABOUT THE COPPER DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION

Carhartt Flame-Resistant Insulated Outerwear Styles UL® Classified to NFPA 2112 Help tp Keep Workers Protected and Compliant on the Job Carhartt, America’s premium work wear brand since 1889, today announced that its insulated flame-resistant (FR) outerwear styles are UL® Classified to the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) 2112 safety standard. Previously, UL® testing methods were designed for non-insulated garments which prevented certification for many outerwear styles. UL® has updated testing protocols that best meet end users’ “fitness for use,” resulting in certification of insulated outerwear. “Although for years Carhartt has offered FR pants, shirts, unlined coveralls, sweatshirts and base layers UL® Classified to NFPA 2112, we are now adding insulated FR outerwear that meets the NFPA 2112 safety standard,” said Tom Kiddle, Director of Specialized Sales at Carhartt. “We wanted to give our customers what they need on the job site and the addition of NFPA 2112 insulated outerwear allows workers to layer up in Carhartt and still be compliant.” The Carhartt UL® Classified to NFPA 2112 insulated outerwear will be available August 1. To see the complete line of Carhartt Flame-Resistant offerings, visit www.carhartt.com. ❏

Electrical Products & Solutions • June 2014

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Industry NEWS

EMCOR Group, Inc. Subsidiary Completes Contract for Comprehensive Electrical Infrastructure on the Port of Miami Tunnel Project EMCOR Group, Inc.’s Florida branch of its Dynalectric Company subsidiary provided the comprehensive electrical infrastructure for the Port of Miami Tunnel project. The contract was awarded December 2012, and on May 19, 2014, 17 months later, the Port of Miami Tunnel was dedicated. Dynalectric Company, a premier electrical contractor serving southern Florida, is a subsidiary of EMCOR Group, Inc. (NYSE: EME), a Fortune 500® leader in mechanical and electrical construction, industrial and energy infrastructure, and building services for a diverse range of businesses. The Port of Miami Tunnel is a twin tube, 4,186 foot tunnel more than 100 feet

below Biscayne Bay and provides direct access to the Port of Miami Cargo and Cruise Terminals from major expressways, relieving traffic congestion in Downtown Miami. Dynalectric Company was responsible for providing the electrical infrastructure for the tunnel. Scope of work included the installation of 1,444 lighting fixtures, more than 200,000 feet of conduit (including 100,000 of stainless steel conduit), and more than 1,000,000 feet of wire throughout the twin tunnels. “We are delighted to have played a significant part in the infrastructure of this critical, high-profile project,” stated Jim DiLullo, President of Dynalectric Company. “Our deep and comprehensive ex-

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Electrical Products & Solutions • June 2014

pertise in electrical construction enables us to take on these most challenging and important projects, while effectively and efficiently serving our clients’ needs.” ❏ Since 1978, Dynalectric Company has been delivering a full line of innovative electrical solutions that address the industry needs of clients throughout southern Florida. Dynalectric offers its customers seamless specialty contracting solutions, including mechanical and electrical construction, energy infrastructure, and facilities services. Additional information on EMCOR can be found at www.EMCORGroup.com. ABOUT DYNALECTRIC COMPANY

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Product FOCUS Breakthrough Cree XLamp XM-L2 EasyWhite LED Delivers 38 Percent Performance Improvement First LED of its Size to Enable Color-Consistent 50-Watt Halogen Performance Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq: CREE) introduces the new XLamp® XM-L2 EasyWhite® LED, delivering more than 1,100 lumens of color-consistent light from a 5mm x 5mm package and enabling a 38 percent gain in light output and efficacy as a drop-in upgrade to the first-generation XM-L EasyWhite LED. Built on Cree’s EasyWhite technology, which combines the industry’s tightest color binning and intense light output from a single LED, the XM-L2 EasyWhite LED is optimized to replace halogen technology. “The new XLamp® XM-L2 EasyWhite® LED offers greater optical control and an immediate performance boost to our existing designs using the XM-L EasyWhite LED,” said Tom Tang, Chairman, Tons Lightology Inc. “Having a drop-in replacement eliminates the need to redesign existing products, which lowers costs and helps speed our time to market.” Developed to be used as a single component in small form factor lighting designs, the XM-L2 EasyWhite LED is designed to emulate the appearance and match the color consistency of halogen lamps. The XM-L2 EasyWhite LED offers 2-step and 4-step MacAdam ellipse bins to deliver the industry’s best color consistency, which is required for retail, residential, museum and hospitality applications. “Cree continues to lead the way in optimizing LEDs for optical performance and color consistency,” said Paul Thieken, director of marketing, LED Components, Cree, Inc. “We were the first to introduce an LED optimized for 50-watt halogen performance with the XLamp® MT-G EasyWhite® LED. Now with the XM-L2 EasyWhite LED, Cree delivers the same amount of light with the best color consistency in a package that’s 70 percent smaller, reducing the system cost for LEDs in halogen replacement applications.” For more information, visit www.cree.com

Kim Lighting Takes Landscape Lighting to a New Level with First Bluetooth® Controlled LED Outdoor Luminaries Hubbell Lighting, a world leader in lighting innovation, has launched the first outdoor LED luminaire controlled by using Bluetooth® technology—Kim Lighting’s LightVault® 8. The solid brass fixture, which features leading-edge LED optics, uses high-speed Bluetooth® technology to enable field aiming and dimming while offering control from your iPhone, Android or tablet. Representing a new family of LED in-grade luminaires, the versatile LightVault® 8’s Bluetooth connectivity makes it stand out amongst its competitors. This innovative solution has allowed Kim Lighting to keep the LED light engine completely sealed from the ingress of water, dust, mud and debris. In addition to custom dimming and aiming using a Bluetooth®enabled iOS or Android device with Kim Lighting’s LightVault® 8 app, the light distribution can be customized using optional hex louvre, prism lens and spread lens filters. The in-grade luminaire moves 15 degrees in any direction and offers variable dimming to 20% in 1% increments. The luminaire is available in spot, wall-wash and narrow flood in-grade applications; multiple color temperatures; up to 2,500 lumens output; and flat-lens, half-shield, eyeball, rock guard and directional marker-style housings. The LightVault® 8 runs cool to touch (less than 40 degrees C) and the LEDs have a life in excess of 100,000+ hours. The Bluetooth®-enabled LightVault® 8 expands Hubbell Lighting’s robust collection of wireless lighting solutions and puts control at your fingertips. For more information, visit www.hubbelllighting.com

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Product FOCUS Greenlee® Launches the Bending Revolution Greenlee has launched the Bending Revolution this summer to showcase its new and current revolutionary bending products. With features that provide consistent accuracy, increased productivity and mobility, the 855GX IntelliBender, the Shotgun Shoe and the 881-Mobile Bending Table all guarantee greater efficiency. The 855GX is Greenlee’s most advanced programmable bender with smart sensors that know exactly what diameter and type of conduit is being bent for consistent and accurate bends. The Shotgun Shoe can bend up to four pieces of conduit at a time on a single shoe. The 881-Mobile Bending Table can move through doors, excellent for mobility at the jobsite. As part of the Bending Revolution, end-users can register at www.bendingrevolution.com to receive updates on new products, special offers, events and contests, and will also receive a free Bending Revolution Welcome Kit. Distributors can also request a Bending Revolution Distributor Kit with items to help them highlight Greenlee’s bending products. The kits for distributors will be available in late June. Greenlee is known as a global leader in the professional tool category. The Rockford, Illinois-based company develops high quality innovative products distinguished by customer-driven design and differentiated by supply chain excellence. Greenlee also leverages its powerful brands such as Greenlee Communications, Greenlee Utility, Sherman + Reilly, HD Electric and Klauke in the electrical, construction and maintenance markets worldwide. For more information, visit www.greenlee.com

Bridgeport Fittings Introduces TL Series Threadless Grounding Bushings Grounds and bonds unthreaded Rigid/IMC conduit to enclosures Bridgeport Fittings announces the new insulated TL Series Threadless Grounding Bushings for grounding and bonding unthreaded Rigid/IMC conduit to enclosures or equipment. The bushings’ plastic liner protects insulated conductors from abrasion during pulling or due to mechanical vibration. The new bushings, made of a malleable iron, zinc-plated body, are designed with a tin-plated lay-in lug that allows for easy installation and alignment of AL/CU conductors where the raceway is required to be grounded. The Bridgeport bushings are available in sizes ½-inch through 4-inches with multiple lug options. They meet the requirements of NEC Article 250.92 for bonding of equipment services and NEC 250.97 for circuits rated over 250V, and are cULus Listed. Bridgeport Fittings is a leading supplier of quality fittings to the industrial, commercial and residential channels of the electrical industry. For more information, visit www.bptfittings.com

Electrical Products & Solutions • June 2014

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Product FOCUS IDEAL Introduces Compact, Low-Profile COB Array Holder IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC., a leading supplier of LED components to OEM light fixture manufacturers, today introduced the new Chip-Lok™ Jr, a compact, low-profile version of the company’s original Chip-Lok COB (Chip On Board) array holder. The new Chip-Lok Jr. provides improved design flexibility when integrating smaller arrays into compact fixtures and lamps. IDEAL will preview the Chip-Lok Jr. next week at the Light + Building trade fair in Frankfurt, Germany, scheduled for March 30 to April 4, 2014. Light + Building is the world’s largest trade fair for lighting and building products. IDEAL will exhibiting in L+B Stand 8.0, K86. “LED lighting manufacturers are always looking for ways to decrease array installation time while increasing overall reliability and quality control,” said Ben Swedberg, Business Unit Manager of IDEAL. “Our new Chip-Lok Jr. meets those requirements with its small footprint that fits virtually any size fixture and is configured to hold arrays from Cree, Citizen and most other leading manufacturers. It is another example of IDEAL helping OEMs drive down system cost, increase system reliability, and bring their designs faster to market.” Measuring only 35mm in diameter, the Chip-Lok Jr. occupies approximately 50 percent less area than the original. It stands 0.3mm in height above the array to allow unmatched access to LES for optics. Screw mounting holes at 25mm and 35mm spacing further enhance design flexibility. The size and mountings are consistent with Zhaga parameters, providing a means for OEMs to standardize on luminaire components and utilize COBs from different manufacturers. For more information, visit www.idealindustries.com

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Platinum Tools® Features New EZ-RJPRO™ Termination Pod at InfoComm 2014 Platinum Tools®, the leader in solutions for the preparation, installation and hand termination of wire and cable, is proud to announce it will feature the new EZ-RJPRO™ Termination Pod, a complete turnkey field kit (P/N 90173), at InfoComm 2014, June 18-20 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, booths C5238 & N368j. Now shipping, the EZ-RJPRO Termination Pod has an MSRP of $279.00. “Our new EZ-RJPRO Termination Pod is designed for the professional installer providing everything he needs for consistent, repeatable terminations and overall quicker and easier installations,” explained John Phillips, Platinum Tools, Inc. product manager. “This heavy duty kit is the perfect solution when working with both delicate as well as high performance, larger OD cables that are tougher to terminate due to larger wire gauges, thicker, harder insulation on the conductors and pair separating splines. Not only will you overcome these connectivity obstacles but you can be assured that every termination will meet FCC specifications.” The “EZ” crimp & trim, modular plug termination kit Includes: • EZ-RJPRO HD Crimp Tool - P/N 100054 • Cat5e/6 Cable Jacket Stripper - P/N 15015 • Electrician’s Scissors - P/N 10517 • EZ-RJ45® Cat5e connectors (100 each) - P/N 105003 • EZ-RJ45® Cat6 connectors(100 each) - P/N 105004 • EZ-RJ12/11 connectors(50 each) - P/N 105005 For more information, visit www.platinumtools.com

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May 2014 • epsmag.net

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

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AEMC INSTRUMENTS BROTHER MOBILE SOLUTIONS, INC. BYTE BROTHERS CONDUIT REPAIR SYSTEMS CONTINENTAL CONTROL SYSTEMS, LLC COPPER DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION DABMAR LIGHTING DAINTREE NETWORKS E-Z METER GENERATOR INTERLOCK TECHNOLOGIES GENSCO HB BRACKETS HIOKI USA INFRARED CAMERAS INC. ITOOLCO KRENZ & COMPANY MEGGER

IFC BC 5 4 40 37 39 33 39 7 32 11 19, 21 38 17 24 IBC

1 3 7 6 54 25 53 23 52 8 45 11 15, 17 51 14 43 2

MH RHODES/CRAMER COMPANY MILLER SAFETY CONSULTANTS, LTD. MINUTEMAN UPS MP GLOBAL PRODUCTS LLC NORTHWEST LIGHTING SYSTEMS PHASE-A-MATIC POWER & TEL POWER-ONE STEELMAN INDUSTRIES STRIP-TEC TCP TECHLINE MFG THE HOME DEPOT UNDERGROUND DEVICES UTILITY METALS WAHOO INNOVATIONS, INC.

38 27 29 22, 23 31 24 15 1 40 16 35 3 13 25 10 9

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