EPS Magazine June 2016

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CONTENTS

PUBLISHER

Danny J. Salchert OFFICE MANAGER

Anita Salchert ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Bart Beason bart@epsmag.net CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Derek Gaylard CIRCULATION DIRECTOR

Pam Fulmer CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Aaron Saak • Tom Connell • David Sooner

18 COVER STORY 6

How Addressable Fire Alarm Technology Can Make Life Easier for Electrical Contractors

By Aaron Saak and Tom Connell

FEATURES 14 Availability, Efficiency and Flexibility Go Hand in Hand With Power Quality

By David Sonner

18

Use the Right Tools to Ensure you’re Running an Effective Preventative Maintenance Program

DEPARTMENTS 26 Industry News 32 Product Focus 40 Ad Index ON THE COVER Photo provided by Tyco

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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Electrical Products & Solutions • June 2016

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cover STORY

Tyco

How Addressable Fire Alarm Technology Can Make Life Easier for Electrical Contractors

By Aaron Saak and Tom Connell

E

lectrical contractors deal with a number of different systems and functions on a daily basis, and their work directly impacts the quality of the building and the safety of the people who use it. One important aspect of an electrical contractor’s job is the installation of fire alarm systems, which play a critical role in creating a safe environment and keeping a building operational. In order to provide optimal protection, fire alarm systems must be installed properly and comply with applicable codes and standards.

Electrical contractors take these re-

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quirements very seriously in fulfilling their responsibilities on behalf of the general contractor and/or building owner. At the same time, electrical contractors strive to achieve their own business objectives when installing a fire alarm system. In simplest terms, this means completing the job as quickly, cost efficiently and profitably as possible.

It’s never easy to meet these types of challenges. But the good news is that today’s innovative fire alarm technology can enhance overall protection while also driving increased efficiency, lower costs and better business outcomes for electrical

Electrical Products & Solutions • June 2016

contractors and building owners alike.

While a multitude of technologies are used to protect a building, addressable fire alarm systems can be particularly beneficial for contractors. Addressable technology has been used for many years on the fire detection side of fire alarm systems.

Now addressable notification is available as well, and the combination of these technologies provides contractors with a powerful package of potential benefits.

Fast, Cost-efficient Installation Addressable technology can have a big impact when it comes to Continued on page 8

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cover STORY

Tyco Continued from page 6

system installation. Addressable systems leverage “smart” technology that differentiates them from conventional fire alarm systems. Conventional notification has its place in certain applications, but the wiring tends to be restrictive and rather inflexible. These limitations in programmability and flexibility can make conventional systems more difficult to install and configure.

Addressable systems, by contrast, are easier and more cost-effective to install, operate and service. In an addressable system, each device has its own unique address and is enabled for two-way communications with the fire alarm panel.

System devices are electronically supervised 24/7 by the fire alarm panel. Addressability, two-way communication and electronic supervision allow for sophisticated fire alarm operations. In these systems, the supervision of the circuit is not dependent on an end-of-line resistor or the in-and-out wiring to each device on a loop. Rather, the addressable communica-

tion to each device is direct to that device, regardless of the wiring path.

From an installation perspective, addressable systems can offer considerable value to contractors and help cut installation time and cost by 30 percent or more.

Here are a few of the reasons why: Flexible wiring architecture: The wiring architecture of an addressable system is very flexible, so more appliances can be connected per circuit. This allows for more efficient wire runs and makes it easier to correct wiring mistakes. Wiring distances can be increased significantly, with circuits supporting a larger number of appliances. The flexibility of the wiring also means that fewer power supplies, batteries and dedicated AC lines are required.

Use of smaller gauge wire and t-tapping: Devices can be installed with smaller gauge, unshielded wiring. This reduces material costs per job. In addition, addressable technology allows for t-tap wiring, which enables contractors to complete projects with fewer wires and makes

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Electrical Products & Solutions • June 2016

it easier to add new devices to an existing system. Because addressable systems do not have to be wired on a loop, new devices can be wired to a nearby junction box rather than back to the main panel.

Setting of candela levels from the panel: The ability to set notification appliance candela levels from the fire alarm panel also helps reduce installation time and is much more efficient than hard setting the candela levels. In addition, a report showing each device and its candela setting can be generated for the building owner or AHJ.

Easier Acceptance Testing and Troubleshooting Troubleshooting can be a major factor in how fast and smooth a fire alarm installation project goes.

Delays are a major problem for electrical contractors because they hold up permitting and project completion; end-of-project delays on a new building can cost an owner a Continued on page 12

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cover STORY

Tyco Continued from page 8

considerable amount of money each week.

Wiring issues and other challenges can occur with the installation of a fire alarm system, making it vitally important that contractors have fast, precise and reliable ways of troubleshooting any problems that arise.

Due to the complexity of the design of conventional systems, wiring changes or errors can be difficult to locate and resolve – consuming valuable project time and labor. With a conventional system, the contractor has to test an entire circuit to identify a problem.

Troubleshooting is faster and easier with an addressable system. Faults can be isolated down to the device level. Similarly, testing of a repaired device can be performed at the device itself, without the need to activate the circuit.

Contractors can also take advantage of a testing and troubleshooting tool now available that’s specifically designed for addressable circuit wiring. In essence, this device is a portable fire alarm panel. It enables contractors to quickly verify that wiring and peripheral devices are installed correctly and operating properly – even before being connected to the fire alarm control panel. The instrument is battery operated and simple to use and leverages advanced software technology to scan hundreds of addressable fire alarm system devices and pinpoint potential problems such as ground faults, shorted wiring, or incorrect or duplicate addressing. Contractors who have used this tool have experienced faster installation and fewer troubles associated with the startup of the system and related acceptance testing.

Test information can also be downloaded to a laptop or tablet for electronic report generation and archiving.

Simpler Retrofits and System Expansions In addition to the benefits that addressable technology brings to installation, it also makes retrofit and system expansion projects easier for contractors.

Addressable systems are extremely scalable and upgrades to new technology platforms can be completed efficiently and cost-effectively.

For example, in many cases an existing conventional system can be upgraded without the costly removal or replacement of existing field devices, wiring, conduit 12

or fire alarm panel back boxes. Typically, a contractor can use the existing wiring infrastructure and eliminate the time-consuming task of finding and replacing endof-line resistors. This speeds project completion and also reduces disruption for building occupants and facility operations.

Put all of these benefits together and it’s clear that addressable fire detection and notification technology is making a difference for contractors – in terms of installation efficiency, cost savings and the overall level of protection. These technologies are here to stay and will continue to evolve, holding the promise of even more capability and more value in the future. ❏ Aaron Saak is Vice President and General Manager of Tyco SimplexGrinnell, a Tyco integrated solutions and services business with over 400,000 customer accounts in the United States and a long-standing reputation as a leader in the fire protection and life safety industry. Saak has been with Tyco for over five years, advancing through a series of key general management and executive leadership roles. Before assuming his current role, he served most recently as General Manager of the Water & Mechanical business at Tyco Fire Protection Products. Saak has a strong record of growing revenue, improving profitability and developing and

Electrical Products & Solutions • June 2016

executing business strategies in complex environments. Earlier in his career, he held important management positions at General Electric over a 10-year period, with noteworthy accomplishments that included leading a team on the initial public offering of Genworth Financial and integrating several acquisitions.

Saak holds a Ph.D. and a master’s degree in engineering from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Illinois.

Tom Connell, Senior Product Manager, Tyco Fire Protection Products is an entrepreneurial leader, manager and visionary with a proven track record of establishing organizational vision and implementing it in a continuously changing environment. A proven leader and team builder excelling at meeting the organization’s vision, mission, and goals. Expert at building coalitions internally and with Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, and international organizations. Seasoned executive producing high-quality results by analyzing problems, calculating risks and applying technical knowledge to make decisions that manage human, financial, and information resources strategically meeting and exceeding organizational goals and customer expectations.

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feature ARTICLE

Emerson

Availability, Efficiency and Flexibility Go Hand in Hand With Power Quality

By David Sonner, Vice President Marketing, Liebert AC Power at Emerson Network Power

D

on’t assume that utility power is tect against certain types of power distur- than a standby design at providing quality clean and ready to support IT and bances. Because of this, topology is a pri- power because it provides a limited level

data center operations. Power quality must be much better than what comes out of the wall in order to avoid power disruptions such as sags, brownouts and outages. Even a 10-minute outage is a punch in the financial gut considering the average cost of downtime is nearly $8,000 per minute, according to a 2013 study by the Ponemon Institute. Unfortunately, many power users don’t think about the quality of the power supporting their applications.

Cleaning up (conditioning) the utility power and making sure it’s reliable is vital for critical operations. However, in addition to ensuring availability, organizations today must also operate efficiently—in terms of both energy and management resources—and be flexible enough to quickly and cost-effectively adapt to changes in business strategy and computing demand. It’s the job of the uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system to provide a consistent source of conditioned power, and with the right UPS it’s within every organization’s grasp to support availability requirements and also to achieve a cost-effective, efficient and flexible power infrastructure.

mary determinant of system reliability and functionality, two key elements of availability.

The three basic types of UPS topology are passive standby, line-interactive and online double-conversion. While passive standby scores high for simplicity and lower cost, the limitations of the design typically restrict its use to small singlephase, less-critical loads often related to a single workstation or similar application.

Passive standby lacks power conditioning, experiences brief power interruption during transfers, and may have generator compatibility issues.

Line-interactive topology resembles passive standby except a transformer or inductor is located in series between the utility power source and the load. A lineinteractive UPS can be more effective

Resiliency/Availability Availability of critical IT applications is required to meet business demands for today’s anywhere, anytime IT. UPS topology—the UPS unit’s internal configuration—plays an important role in power quality and keeping applications available.

UPS topology determines the relationship between the UPS output power quality and incoming utility power and, ultimately, how effectively the UPS will pro14

Electrical Products & Solutions • June 2016

of power conditioning; but it can still be prone to passing some electrical disturbances through to the connected devices.

A line-interactive technology allows for higher power capacities over standby designs and may be suited for certain data operations.

As availability requirements have risen, the third UPS topology, online double-conversion, has become the preferred topology for the data center and many IT applications. This type of UPS ensures complete power conditioning and isolates connected equipment from the power source. When configured properly, it is the only topology that protects against the full range of power disturbances experienced by IT and data center power systems, as illustrated in Continued on page 16 the table below.

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Emerson Continued from page 14 System Flexibility and Rapid Deployment In addition to resilience and efficiency, organizations must be able to plan for future capacity, and they need applications and systems to be up and running quickly to meet business demands. Flexible, rapidly deployed power systems satisfy the need to grow quickly, easily and costeffectively. And, when capabilities are expanded, there may also be a need to add, update or modify power infrastructure to support changing IT systems.

Some new technologies simplify and speed the process of deployment and making changes. Flexible power system designs are available that can meet future capacity or redundancy demands, including systems with a modular design or scalable platform that can be delivered and installed conveniently.

While high power quality is essential to availability, battery quality is also important to keep critical systems operating.

In the 2013 Ponemon Study on Data Center Outages, system batteries were identified as the weakest link in the power chain. One problem is that batteries may not last as long as their rated service life, which makes it important to use a battery monitoring system so battery health can be predicted and proactively managed, as well as remotely monitored and supported by services such as emergency dispatch.

Efficiency/Cost Control If you’re wondering what efficiency has to do with power quality, consider that the most advanced online double-conversion UPS systems use energy optimization controls, frequently referred to as “eco-mode,” to allow extended operation of the static bypass transfer switch, effectively bypassing the conversion process and the energy losses associated with it.

Properly implemented, the controls will sense potential disturbances upstream of the inverter and open the transfer switch when required, so disturbances can be corrected by the inverter. Keeping the inverter “hot” while the system is in bypass ensures fast response to changes in power quality.

Beyond the relationship between efficiency and power quality, the positive relationship between efficiency and cost control is also strongest with the most ad16

vanced UPS systems. Power systems are available that meet midsize IT budgets, for example, but the outdated or ineffective power systems found in many facilities drive energy costs up. If a UPS only meets the average efficiency of 86.6 percent, there’s much to gain from deploying a highly efficient UPS system that achieves 94-95 percent efficiency and that is Energy Star qualified. At electricity costs of $.10/kWh, this can save $1,000 annually per 100kW for every efficiency point gained. So, for instance, going from an 87 percent efficient 100kW UPS to a 94 percent efficient UPS of the same size generates savings of $7,000 a year. Replacing older systems also minimizes the likelihood of age-related equipment failure and the associated costs.

Other efficient, cost-effective UPS designs that meet the unique needs of midsize data centers and IT organizations include: Flexible power hardware assemblies that provide a simple, predictable expansion path—allowing organizations to more easily plan and manage future costs.

Pre-engineered systems that save installation costs and are easily deployed.

Small form-factor units that take up less room, or scale up instead of out, preserve valuable facility space.

High power factors, which ensure more power is provided in a smaller footprint, thus increasing system capacity while minimizing cabling and installation costs.

Electrical Products & Solutions • June 2016

Putting it all Together There are a number of new technologies that build on the online double-conversion topology to lower capital and operating expenses, while providing greater scalability and minimizing availability compromises, including: • Transformer-Free UPS: Offers high efficiency, smaller footprint and improved flexibility while providing high levels of availability.

• Capacity-On-Demand: Enables modularity within the UPS module itself, providing additional capacity through either software or hardware modules – without increasing footprint requirements.

• Active Eco-Mode™: Allows doubleconversion UPS systems to achieve the highest possible efficiencies by transferring the UPS to static bypass during normal operation.

• Intelligent Paralleling: Improves the efficiency of redundant UPS systems by deactivating UPS modules that are not required to support the load and taking advantage of the inherent efficiency improvement available at higher loads.

With the multitude of options available for delivering high quality uninterruptible power, organizations have more ways to ensure application availability, improve energy efficiency and better manage capacity via their UPS systems. ❏

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feature ARTICLE

REED Instruments

Efficiently detect electrical issues

Use the Right Tools to Ensure you’re Running an Effective Preventative Maintenance Program

T

he right tool certainly helps save you time and makes the task at hand easier to accomplish. To ensure Electricians and Industrial Maintenance personnel keep their electrical/ mechanical equipment up and running and avoid unforeseen equipment failure, many Industrial Maintenance teams have implemented their own Preventative Maintenance Programs. To ensure an effective program is implemented and efficiently run it is important to keep on top of best program trends and practices including staying informed of new equipment and tools that can help save you time during routine equipment inspection.

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When it comes to the latest in advanced test and measurement technology, maintenance professionals have generally been faced with the tough decision to choose between buying expensive test equipment and saving a few dollars by purchasing a lower priced instrument with limited features. Whereas in the past a user may have had to sacrifice choosing the best tool for their needs, many technological advances have made today’s leading test and measurement instruments available to many without breaking the bank. Industrial Maintenance teams now have access to innovative feature rich instruments while staying within tight de-

Electrical Products & Solutions • June 2016

partmental budgets. The following are a few examples of commonly used test & measurement instruments used in Preventative Maintenance programs for Electrical and Industrial applications.

Quickly Pinpoint Electrical and Mechanical Issues with Infrared Thermography Infrared Thermography offers electrical maintenance personnel a cost competitive, user-friendly choice over traditional single point infrared thermometers. Thermal imagers are a non-contact instrument with a portable design making it safe to measure temperature Continued on page 20

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REED Instruments Continued from page 18

from a distance, even in the tightest, most awkward locations.

Thermal Imagers are especially beneficial in preventing risks and failures in electrical and mechanical applications.

Thermal imaging scans visualize and analyze temperatures of electrical systems quickly and accurately and are also very useful in evaluating mechanical equipment such as motors, bearings and steam traps. Adding a thermal scan to your Preventative Maintenance program routine can help prevent unexpected outages and reduce risk and insurance liability for manufacturers and industrial plants. Electrical equipment such as distribution panels, motor control centers, switchgear, and other critical equipment should be scanned as part of your program to identify potentially dangerous conditions, avoid costly downtime and unexpected equipment failure. Infrared scans should be conducted by trained professionals on energized equipment during peak demand periods in order to identify the most serious problems. If an issue is identified, a shutdown can be scheduled and the appropriate parts replaced during a de-energized period resulting in quick turnaround, reduced downtime and save the company unexpected costs.

Today’s thermal cameras are three times more sensitive, five times faster, come loaded with features, and are generally less than $4000, compared to earlier models which neared the 20K price range. Cameras like the REED R2050 and R2100 are used in many Preventative Maintenance programs and would be suitable for most Electrical and Mechanical inspections. The R2100 Thermal Imager features a 160 x 120 infrared detector which would be equivalent to using 19,200 infrared thermometers and combining their temperature points to map a thermal image. The R2100 can detect temperatures between -4 to 752°F (-20 and 400°C) and thermal and visual images are displayed on a vivid 3.5” color LCD touchscreen. In addition, the R2100 comes with a 5.0 megapixel digital camera, 20X digital zoom and the ability to change out lenses with optional telephoto or wide-angle lenses better suited for specific applications (i.e. buildContinued on page 22 ing inspections).

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Electrical Products & Solutions • June 2016

(Above) Quickly identify and locate electrical issues.

(Left) Inspect mechanical and electrical equipment.

(Below) Test, measure and inspect with confidence.

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REED Instruments Continued from page 20

Electrical Meters and Testers Predictive Maintenance programs also benefit from the use of modern technology in electrical instruments like multimeters, clamp meters and voltage dataloggers.

Digital Multimeters (DMMs) like the REED R5007 Multimeter feature a builtin non-contact voltage detector and is capable of measuring AC/DC voltage and current, frequency, resistance, capacitance and temperature. Attach the optional R5900 Magnetic hanging strap to the double molded plastic housing and instantly free up both hands to effectively concentrate on the task at hand. The R5007 also features relative and data hold functions, diode check and continuity test and includes a backlit LCD display to assist in dimly lit environments.

Industrial technicians and maintenance personnel can use clamp meters to repair systems, troubleshoot installation prob-

lems, and perform scheduled services.

Many of today’s clamp meters combine many similar features to digital multimeters with the addition of a clamp jaw that fits around a conductor to measure current without cutting through wires, touching or interrupting the electrical circuit.

The R5040 REED AC/DC Clamp Meter is an auto-ranging multimeter with a clamp that measures AC and DC up to 1000A and is equipped with a built-in non-contact voltage detector in the tip. It also includes a 4,000-count backlit LCD display for visibility in low-light light environments and ships standard with test leads, a thermocouple probe (for contact temperature measurements) and carrying case.

Another essential tool for every electrical maintenance professional is a voltage/current datalogger. In an application requiring continuous electrical monitoring for both current and voltage this type of instrument is ideal. The REED R5003 AC Voltage/Current Datalogger is a two-

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Electrical Products & Solutions • June 2016

channel AC device capable of monitoring and logging up to 256,000 data measurements. Once logging is complete the data can be downloaded via the USB interface and trends can be identified, compared versus previous data and further evaluated with the included software.

Vibration may be the Earliest Indicator of Equipment Failure In many cases vibration can be the first indicator of equipment issues including gear wear, coupling/shaft misalignment or looseness. Vibration meters and data loggers aid maintenance professionals in collecting balance and alignment data of rotational and moving equipment by measuring velocity and acceleration to detect when equipment (i.e. shafts, pumps, fans and motors) are at risk of developing a problem. Recording vibrational data at set intervals is key to early detection to identify issues and avoid equipment failure. Instruments like the REED Continued on page 24

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REED Instruments Continued from page 22

SD-8205 Vibration Meter/Data Logger offer a high degree of accuracy with a +/-5% and a 0.5 to 199.9 mm/s velocity range with 0.1 mm/s resolution and an easy to read LCD display with backlight.

The SD-8205 can be setup to continuously monitor equipment over a set period to track trends as equipment loads change over time.

Simple Tools Help Diagnose Electrical Issues REED Instruments continues to launch innovative tools in the electrical space with the new REED R5500 Circuit Breaker Finder. This versatile 3-in-1 instrument features a circuit breaker finder to quickly identify which receptacles are tied to their respective breaker, a receptacle tester to ensure proper outlet wiring and a GFCI tester to ensure outlets protected by a ground fault are functioning properly. The R5500 can be used in home and industrial applications where wire or cable carrying alternating current must be located, repaired or

replaced. The transmitter can be used as a stand-alone instrument to verify the proper wiring of receptacles and/or GFCI outlets are functioning correctly.

Test, Measure and Inspect with Confidence Since 2004, REED Instruments has been providing quality portable precision test and measurement instruments used every day by industrial maintenance teams, electricians, quality control departments, HVAC/R contractors and health & safety professionals among others. Backed by 4 strategically located laboratories across North America, REED Instruments prides itself on supporting REED instrument users with accredited laboratories capable of repairing and calibrating REED products to NIST standards.

Offering an extensive line of over 150 instruments to assist with electrical applications including electrical inspection, preventative and predictive maintenance programs, REED offers a number of Mul-

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Electrical Products & Solutions • June 2016

timeters, Clamp Meters, Insulation Testers, Thermal Imagers and Electrical Testers to suit your electrical application.

All REED products are covered by a standard 1 year manufacturer’s warranty.

To learn more about REED Instruments’ complete line of test and measurement tools suited for your application visit REEDinstruments.com REED Instruments are available for purchase through REED’s network of authorized distributors across the United States.

MSRP for the items mentioned in the above article are as follows; R2050 ($1095), R2100 ($3495), R5007 ($89), R5900 ($20), R5040 ($199), R5003 ($319), SD-8205 ($695) and R5500 ($35). ❏

REEDinstruments.com

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industry NEWS A New Solar Array Comes to Life at Vermont Tech Vermont Technical College has flipped the switch on a new solar farm that is projected to produce nearly 1 million kWh of clean, Vermont renewable energy each year. The array of 100 locally manufactured solar trackers by AllEarth Renew-

ables, Inc. of Williston, Vt., has been in operation since February 29 on the northeastern edge of the Randolph campus.

The project is having a multifaceted impact: It helps the college move toward renewable energy sources, it saves money

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on power, and it serves as an educational tool for students in the college’s renewable energy and engineering technology programs. Students were on hand to learn about the installation of the project, and will have ongoing access to the project as an on-campus learning renewable energy laboratory.

The 500kW project includes one hundred 5kW AllEarth Series 20 dual-axis solar trackers, which rotate during the day to follow the sun, producing more solar power. By feeding the campus-generated solar power to the grid, Vermont Tech receives net metered energy credits and the college cuts its monthly power bill.

Today the college reports that the homegrown power created by its renewable energy operations is adding up. These campus operations displace an equivalent quantity of electricity to its normal usage.

Students have access to the solar array as part of some of Vermont Tech’s academic programs. The college offers an innovative bachelor’s degree in Renewable Energy, and a Continuing Education division that delivers a variety of courses and workshops focused on the renewable energy industry and solar installation. Vermont Tech is the only solar training provider in Vermont acknowledged by Interstate Renewable Energy Council, which provides nationally-recognized training and credential programs.

“Vermont has one of the highest rates of solar jobs per capita in the nation,” said Andrew Savage, Chief Strategy Officer at AllEarth Renewables. “The career opportunities in the industry continue to grow year after year, and to work on the forefront with Vermont Tech makes for a great partnership.”

“I am excited about this project and the future of this college as a hub for teaching and learning the vital skills connected to clean energy in Vermont,” said Vermont Tech President Dan Smith. “We have inContinued on page 28 tegrated renewable

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industry NEWS Through the project, students also gain exposure to the local Vermont labor and suppliers from around the state of the solar trackers, such as major manufacturers like NSA Industries in Lyndon and St. Johnsbury, which fabricates metalwork components. ❏

energy and sustainable land use practices into our curriculum, and have installed renewable energy projects on campus. This solar project is part of that larger vision and it’s an important asset for the practical education we deliver.”

Vermont Tech’s solar array follows the creation of another large renewable project on-campus: the farm and community anaerobic digester nicknamed “Big Bertha.” It transforms farm manure and clean food residuals into renewable electricity for Green Mountain Power, renewable heat for the college, and recycled nutrients for area farms.

About Vermont Tech: Vermont Tech is a leading public college with a mission of applied education. One of the five Vermont State Colleges, Vermont Tech serves students from throughout Vermont, New England, and beyond at its two residential campuses in Williston and Randolph Center, regional campuses in Brattleboro and Bennington, and at six nursing campuses located throughout the state. Vermont Tech takes an optimistic, rooted and personal approach to education to support students in gaining the confidence and practical skills necessary to not only see their potential, but to experience it. The college's academic programs encompass a wide range of engineering technology, agricultural, health,

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and business fields that are vital to producing the knowledgeable workers needed most by employers in the state and in the region. www.vtc.edu.

About AllEarth Renewables / AllEarth Solar Trackers: AllEarth Renewables, headquartered in Williston, Vt., manufactures the AllEarth Solar Tracker, a dual-axis solar tracker that uses innovative GPS and wireless technology to follow the sun throughout the day, producing up to 45 percent more energy than rooftop solar. The company has manufactured and installed over 3,800 solar tracker systems to date.

Among its product awards, the dual axis tracker was named a "Top-10 Green Product" by BuildingGreen magazine and "Top Product of the Year" by Solar Power World. The company’s ground-mounted, pre-engineered solar trackers are designed for residential and commercial-scale installations. The company is a 4-time "Best Places to Work in Vermont" recipient. For more visit, www.allearthrenewables.com

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new PRODUCTS Cree Extends Groundbreaking OSQ Series to Deliver 58 Percent Efficacy Increase and New Higher Output Luminaire Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq: CREE) extends the groundbreaking performance of its industry-leading OSQ Series Area and Flood LED luminaires, delivering up to 58 percent more efficacy on existing lumen packages at up to 136 lumens-per-watt (LPW) for increased energy savings. The series also now offers a new OSQ™ 28L Outdoor Area and Flood LED luminaire option, delivering up to 28,285 lumens and enabling the replacement of HID fixtures up to 1000W. The result is better light for more applications, including open parking, walkway and common area within commercial, residential, healthcare, campus and municipal environments.

“The unmatched performance of the OSQ Series is another example of Cree’s commitment to providing better light that goes beyond the industry standard for our customers,” said David Elien, Cree senior vice president, lighting. “The new OSQ™ 28L Outdoor Area and Flood LED luminaire helps customers reduce energy usage by up to 80 percent when replacing outdated HID fixtures up to 1000W to deliver vastly improved light experiences.”

Utilizing Cree’s cutting-edge technology, the OSQ Series blends extreme optical control, advanced thermal management and modern clean aesthetics to dramatically reduce maintenance and energy costs for a rapid return on investment. Built to last, the housing is rugged cast aluminum with an integral weather-tight LED driver compartment.

Versatile mounting configurations offer simple installation, and its slim low-profile design minimizes wind load requirements and blends seamlessly into the site, providing even quality illumination.

Available in 3000K, 4000K and 5700K color temperatures with a 100,000-hour rated lifetime, the OSQ Area and Flood LED luminaires are backed by Cree’s industry-leading 10-year warranty.

For more information, visit http://lighting.cree.com/osq-series

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new PRODUCTS Platinum Tools® Ships Net Chaser™ Ethernet Speed Certifier and Network Tester; Featured at 2016 InfoComm, Net Chaser is a Complete Solution to Test & Speed Certify Data-Carrying Capabilities of Ethernet Cables up to 1 GB/S Platinum Tools®, the leader in solutions for the preparation, installation, hand termination and testing of wire and cable, is proud to announce the Net Chaser™ Ethernet Speed Certifier and Network Tester (p/n TNC950AR) is now shipping, and that it will be featured during InfoComm 2016, held from June 810 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, booth C4726. The Net Chaser has an MSRP of $1,899.95.

“Made in the USA, the Net Chaser Ethernet Speed Certifier and Network Tester offers a complete solution to test and speed certify the data-carrying capabilities of Ethernet network cables up to 1 Gb/s by testing for noise in the network, detecting faults in the cable wiring, and ensuring that cables are able to support the speed capabilities of active equipment,” explained George Jang, Platinum Tools, Inc. product manager. “The Net Chaser’s advanced discovery gives the clearest vision of network layout and interfaces between active components such as servers, switches, routers, etc. All the information is collected, stored, and ready for reporting Ethernet speed certification (Speed Certification to IEEE standards 802.3ab; Cable testing to TIA568A/B). Installers have asked for a tester that validates data cables by testing all the parameters they need to test beyond verifying proper terminations. The Net Chaser is a proven product that does just that.”

To certify Ethernet speed performance of cable runs, the Net Chaser conducts Bit Error Rate (BER) tests by sending data packets down specified cable runs at defined data rates to check for errors at the maximum throughput of the link. The Net Chaser reports on signal quality that can impact high-speed data transmission by measuring signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Skew measurements report on the signal time delay between pairs that can impact Gigabit data transmission.

For more information, visit www.platinumtools.com

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new PRODUCTS Klein® Tools 12:1 Dual-Laser Infrared Thermometer provides better visualization and more accurate performance Klein Tools, for professionals since 1857, introduces a multi-function 12:1 Dual-Laser Infrared Thermometer (Cat. No. IR5) at an opening price point for professional-grade IR thermometers.

The IR5 features dual-lasers that use a tight 12:1 distanceto-spot ratio for accurate measuring of temperatures between -22°F and 752°F. It also offers several calculation modes for a wide range of temperature measurement applications.

“Dual-laser targeting technology makes it easier to visualize the area being measured by an IR thermometer, resulting in more accurate measurement performance versus a single laser,” said Sean O’Flaherty, director of product management, “As an added value, Klein Tools is able to offer this dual-laser functionality at a price point that is in line with an IR thermometer that uses a single laser.”

The IR5 is compact with a soft-touch, overmolded housing for comfort, and can withstand drops of more than six feet onto concrete or steel.

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new PRODUCTS Steel City® Residential Floor Box Conceals Outlets and Plugs While in Use New Thomas & Betts Recessed Floor Box Allows Lid to Close with Plugged-In Cords The Steel City® Residential Floor Box, new from Thomas & Betts (T&B), is a single-gang, recessed floor box for wood subfloors that conceals outlets and plugs while in use.

The recessed floor box, designed for single- and multi-family housing, also allows the lid to be closed, even when the cords are plugged in.

The Steel City single-gang, recessed residential floor box is a cost-effective solution for power, voice or data connections in open-space areas that features a drop-in design for quick, one-step mounting to wood floors. The kit also includes installation instructions with a template for the floor opening.

“We developed the Steel City Residential Floor Box to conceal connections to service lighting, entertainment equipment and computers while still in use,” Ralph Donati, product marketing director at T&B, said. “In addition to being able to close the lid while cords are plugged in, the recessed floor box features a flip-up handle to open the cover without tools.”

The Steel City Residential Floor Box includes a die-cast cover that is available with a brass or nickel-plated finish. It is UL/CSA approved as a 15A, 125V tamper-resistant receptacle.

Thomas & Betts Corporation, a member of the ABB Group, is a global leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of essential components used to manage the connection, distribution, transmission and reliability of electrical power in utility, industrial, commercial, and residential applications. With a portfolio of more than 200,000 products marketed under more than 45 premium brand names, Thomas & Betts products are found wherever electricity is used. Thomas & Betts’ headquarters are in Memphis, Tennessee.

For more information, visit www.tnb.com

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advertiser INDEX

JUNE 2016

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

Company

PG#

AEMC INSTRUMENTS IBC AMTEC PULLING GRIPS 26 AUTAC INC. 37 BOLT STAR/CONSTRUCTION INNOVATIONS 36 CONDUIT REPAIR SYSTEMS 4 COPPER DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION 17 DABMAR LIGHTING 36 E-Z METER 28 FACILITY RESULTS 36 GEAR ARC SAFETY 11 GENERATOR INTERLOCK TECHNOLOGIES 7 GLOBAL TEST SUPPLY 23 HIOKI USA 5, 9, 21 KRENZ & COMPANY 28 LARSON ELECTRONICS 31 MAGNEPULL 34 MILLER SAFETY CONSULTANTS, LTD 39 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC POWER PRODUCTS, INC 27 NET ZERO USA 3

RS# 2 43 25 49 6 14 51 44 50 11 8 17 7, 9, 16 45 22 48 26 19 5

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Company

PG#

RS#

NORTHWEST LIGHTING SYSTEMS ORBIT INDUSTRIES PHASE-A-MATIC PLATINUM TOOLS POWER & TEL REDFISH INSTRUMENTS SP PRODUCTS SPERRY INSTRUMENTS STOUT TOOL SYLVANIA TCP THE HOME DEPOT TOPAZ LIGHTING TYCO SIMPLEXGRINNELL UNITED RENTALS UNIVERSAL ELECTRIC CORPORATION UTILITY METALS VOLT LIGHTING

35 38 32 19 29 40 1 22, 24 32 IFC, BC 30 13 8 25 15 33 10 40

24 52 47 15 20 53 4 41, 42 46 1, 3 21 12 40 18 13 23 10 54

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