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CONTENTS
PUBLISHER
Danny J. Salchert OFFICE MANAGER
Anita Salchert NATIONAL SALES MANAGER
Jerry DiChiara jerryd@epsmag.net CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Derek Gaylard CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Ken Whiteside • Bob Baginski Janice Bonk CIRCULATION DIRECTOR
Pam Fulmer
PRESIDENT
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FEATURES 6 Solar Mythbusting By Ken Whiteside
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Cobra Wire & Cable By Bob Baginski and Janice Bonk
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Interpreting Insulation Tests
DEPARTMENTS 28 Industry News 32 Product Focus 40 Ad Index ON THE COVER Photo courtesy of ONTILITY
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Electrical Products & Solutions • October 2011
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 • ONTILITY
By Ken Whiteside
Solar Mythbusting
et’s do some solar mythbusting. In light of the recent demise of a high profile solar company and the subsequent media hype, congressional committee hearings and political posturing, it’s a good time for a reality check on the health of the solar electric industry.
L
MYTH #1: The solar industry isn’t creating any jobs. OK, let’s start with an easy one. First, the industry grew by 69 percent in the past year, making it one of the fastest growing sectors in the U.S. economy. You can’t have that kind of growth without creating jobs. Next, according to the results of an employment survey conducted by the Solar Foundation, an independent research group in Washington DC, the solar indus6
try now employs more than 100,000 Americans, double the number in 2009. They work at more than 5,000 companies, the vast majority of which are small businesses, in all 50 states. The survey results, released in October, show that between August 2010, and August 2011, solar industry job growth was 6.8%. That’s in contrast to a 0.7% job growth rate in the economy in general. ONTILITY, a wholesale distribution, training and consulting company, serves as a good example. It was launched in 2009 with fewer than ten employees; now there are 77, and that number goes up every month. That’s more than 60 jobs which didn’t exist two years ago. ONTILTY is not unique and illustrates not only the rate of solar job creation, but also how those jobs are being created.
Electrical Products & Solutions • October 2011
The key to understanding the persistence of this myth is in the Solar Foundation report about where jobs are being created, in small businesses. There are no Ford or Walmart sized solar companies setting up huge plants and hiring 10,000 workers at a time. There are, however, hundreds of electrical contractors, and solar companies steadily hiring well-trained people and building solid sustainable businesses. These jobs pay above average wages, offer tremendous long-term career opportunities and for the most part, can’t be exported. The energy industry has always been a good place to work – many of the best jobs of the 20th century were in the oil business. The good jobs of the 21st century will continue to be in energy, but the majority of those new Continued on page 8
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energy workers will be dealing with re- amount of sunshine as Alaska. newable sources instead of fossil fuels.
MYTH #2: Solar works only in states like California. Sure, there is plenty of sunshine in California, and Arizona, and New Mexico. There is also plenty of sunshine for solar energy in other places. Actually solar energy works in all 50 states. The truth is that by at least one measure, California is not the leading location for solar. Less than one-third of the photovoltaic (PV) capacity installed in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2011 was installed in California and more PV was installed on commercial buildings in New Jersey than in California during that quarter. If solar PV technology didn’t work, building owners in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Michigan and New York wouldn’t be buying it. And worldwide, Germany has more installed solar capacity than any other country and it receives roughly the same 8
MYTH #3: The market for solar energy is very small.
When you look at current production capacity alone, then yes, solar represents far less than 10% of total U.S. electricity production. Look at the growth rate however, and the picture changes. In 2010 alone, $6 billion worth of finished solar energy systems were installed in the U.S. and as noted in Myth #1, the solar market grew by 69 percent last year. Photovoltaic and solar-thermal energy systems are predicted to meet most of the world’s demand for electricity by 2060, and half of all energy needs. The International Energy Commission’s renewable energy division is set to publish a report later this year revising its previous forecast which showed that solar would meet about 21 percent of the world’s power needs in 2050. Cedric Philibert, senior analyst in the renewable energy division at the IEC said, “Photovoltaic and concen-
Electrical Products & Solutions • October 2011
trated solar power together can become the major source of electricity. You’ll have a lot more electricity than today but most of it will be produced by solar-electric technologies.” This scenario indicates that there are lots of solar energy systems to be sold, designed and installed. The global economy runs on electricity and even transportation is getting into the mix in a very big way. So the demand for electricity will continue to grow at an astounding rate. Continuing even the 40-60% annual solar growth rate we’ve seen over the past few years will not achieve the IEC’s prediction – the solar market must grow significantly faster than it has been growing. At the turn of the 20th century, most American homes and businesses were still lit by oil lamps. Most industrial operations were powered by direct hydro or steam. Electricity was seen as a novelty, with not enough market penetration to have any real impact on the nation or the economy. But the rate of growth of Continued on page 12
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electrical infrastructure and generating capacity was astronomical; likewise with solar today.
MYTH #4: Solar energy is too expensive for widespread usage. For a long time many people took an overly simplistic approach to determining the financial return on solar energy system investments. The only factors considered were how much the system cost and when it would return 100% of that cost in energy savings – when it would pay for itself. The answers were generally supportive of the myth that solar is expensive and not worth it. Now we have better financial analysis tools which make it possible to take a more comprehensive approach. The number of years it takes for a system to pay for itself isn’t the only advantage to investing in solar. Solar energy is immediately cost effective in many locations across America.
The price of solar modules has dropped 30 percent since the beginning of 2010 as the industry scales up and companies innovate with new products and manufac-
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Electrical Products & Solutions • October 2011
turing techniques. Also, new financing options allow homeowners and businesses to lower their up-front investment and start saving money on Continued on page 14
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their utility bills as soon as they turn on their solar systems.
MYTH #5: If solar power really worked, it wouldn’t need government support. No one questions the technology behind burning coal and natural gas to make steam, spin a turbine and produce electricity. So why is there a continuing subsidy for coal? Why do we subsidize oil and gas exploration? Energy drives the economy and decades ago the U.S. decided to support energy development. Every major energy source and technology has benefited from federal government R&D support and incentives of various types. This is true of the oil, natural gas, hydroelectric, nuclear and biofuels industries — all of which continue to receive government support today. There is no correlation between the effectiveness of a technology and the presence of government support. took to manufacture and install the system. Given that PV module warranties are MYTH #6: Solar products are generally in excess of 20 years, a PV sysall made in China. tem will produce far more energy over its Tell that to a sizable number of the lifetime than was consumed to manufac100,000 solar workers who are directly in- ture it. Technological progress and volved in the manufacture of PV modules, economies of scale continue to reduce the inverters and other solar equipment. Talk energy consumption of PV manufacturing to the folks at the Suntech plant in Arizona while simultaneously increasing energy or the Solectria factory in Massachusetts. output efficiency. In 2010, the U.S. was in fact a net exporter of solar products, including equip- MYTH #8: Solar energy needs a ment sent to China. Sure, Chinese technological revolution to go companies produce a lot of PV cells and mainstream. panels, but they aren’t the only source and Solar technology is the revolution. Tothere is much more to a solar energy sys- day’s solar technologies are mature, relitem than cells. In 2010, total U.S. exports able and improving. The rate of adoption of solar energy products were worth $5.6 and the continuing equipment price drop billion, and net exports came to $2 billion. (solar panel prices have fallen 30 percent On the whole the solar industry generated in the past year and a half) indicate that a $6 billion in direct value in 2010. Of that, massive technological breakthrough is not more than $4.4 billion, or 75 percent, ac- required for success. Henry Ford didn’t crued to the United States. need a revolution in automotive technology; he needed scalable manufacturing MYTH #7: Solar devices require and good marketing. And needless to say, more energy to manufacture automobiles improved along the way. But the industry didn’t have to wait for a techthan they produce in their nological revolution to enable its success lifetime. – cars and trucks went mainstream long Studies have conclusively demon- before automotive technology had moved strated that energy payback for beyond its raw beginnings. photovoltaic (PV) energy is now less Likewise, solar isn’t waiting for some than three years. That means that in three future technological revolution before goyears the energy produced by a PV sys- ing mainstream – it’s doing that now. No tem will surpass the amount of energy it scientific breakthroughs are required for 14
Electrical Products & Solutions • October 2011
solar energy to power America. And as it is with any technology, the next generation will look at our solar electric systems as quaint relics. Have you seen an eight foot diameter satellite TV dish lately? The bankruptcy of a single company in an emerging industry is no cause for alarm. The solar industry is not, as some would have us believe, on the brink of collapse. Researchers recognized the same early struggles in the auto industry nearly five decades ago. They found that automobile production increased nearly 50,000% from 1899 to 1919, but that the number of automakers declined by 77% in the same period. Many lesser companies were shaken out with such speed that the average automaker’s life expectancy during this time was less than six years. There were plenty of detractors then, just as there are today. The president of the Michigan Savings Bank once told Henry Ford‘s lawyer, “The horse is here to stay, but the automobile is only a novelty.” Oil and gas investors might want to believe that solar is a similar novelty, but history tells a different story. Worldwide solar power generation has increased 15,000% in the past 27 years. Solar energy development really has only just begun. As they say in my part of the country, “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.” ❏ Ken Whiteside is Director of Education at ONTILTY. He writes from Austin, Texas.
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CASE STUDY • Cobra Wire & Cable
Cobra Wire & Cable
By Bob Baginski and Janice Bonk
obra Wire & Cable’s story started in 1988 when it opened its doors for business with a team of experienced wire and cable experts. Paying homage to an industry rich in history having its beginnings in the nineteenth century, Cobra looked to improving the future of the industry, both here and abroad. It is said that large scale mining of copper had its origins in the late 1800’s, primarily in the American West, where small copper mines existed around our country. The electrical wire mill industry began in 1877 when Thomas Doolittle of Connecticut developed hard-drawn copper wire. This wire was strong enough to be strung overhead on poles – the first utility poles! Around the same time, telegraph wires were being installed underground to prevent thievery of the copper insulated product, much like today’s problems in the telecommunications industry. We can all agree, wire and cable has come a long, long way and is rich in history. Many in this industry played a part. Cobra Wire & Cable is part of this honored history. Over the centuries, commodity driven markets relied on specialists to meet their ever changing needs. Original equipment manufacturers (OEM’s) not only rely on wire and cable specialists to provide the technical knowledge and support, but also to de-
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velop wires and cables to meet specific needs. Over the decades Cobra Wire & Cable partnered with its customers, going beyond the standard customer buy/sell relationship, taking ideas to the lab, building prototypes, having these tested and approved. These relationships continue and help bring cutting edge products to the market. Cobra set the standard in providing this type of support before
In 1877, when Thomas Doolittle of Connecticut developed hard-drawn copper wire, the electrical wire mill industry was born. 16
Electrical Products & Solutions • October 2011
the term “value added” became so prevalent in the industrial manufacturing world. Let’s take a look back at history. In the 1980’s, the industrial battery manufacturers were marketing UL and CSA approved batteries, however, these batteries were being made with a cable that didn’t carry these approvals. The industry was using a standard welding cable that wasn’t UL or CSA tested. One of the drawbacks of using welding cable was this lack of testing for this particular application. The lack of UL and/or CSA recognition was also a concern among electrical engineers in the marketplace. Understanding the concerns of the industrial battery market, Cobra accepted the challenge to develop a cable for the battery industry that could not only meet the needs of the industry but exceed them, adding value to the customers’ product at the same time. Engineering now had its task; it was time to take battery cable to the next level. Partnering with Underwriters Laboratories, Cobra developed a state of the art cable that is now the gold standard for manufacturers in the industrial battery marketplace. Cobra’s list of customers who manufacture batteries included the most prestigious flagship battery manufacturers in the world. Continued on page 18
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CASE STUDY • Cobra Wire and Cable
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Partnering with Underwriters Laboratories, Cobra developed a state of the art cable that is now the gold standard for manufacturers in the industrial battery marketplace. These companies now supply UL & CSA approved batteries to the industry and these batteries are made with UL & CSA approved Cobra Wire Battery Systems Cable®. This cable has the added benefit of being zero halogen and environmentally friendly. A key consideration during the development of this product was durability that would exceed the then “standard” welding cable. Cobra’s Battery Systems Cable® passed the rigorous testing of UL Standard 3311. This UL3311 product also offers a variety of other UL approvals that exceed welding cable. Cobra’s thermoset ethylene propylene diene monomer - or EPDM - insulation has excellent abrasion resistance, stripability, flexibility and dielectric strength. UL Style 3311 offers 90° temperature rating. Overall, insulation thickness at is .080 for smaller gauge sizes and .095 for 1 gauge and larger. Cobra’s Battery Systems Cable® has a thicker jacket than standard welding cable. The stranding on this cable, a 30 gauge, Class K bare copper, allows the product to be extremely flexible for ease of use. It is this flexibility that allows for easier bends and installations required for the ever demanding need for space. Producing the product in black and red is a bonus, allowing a positive and negative option. Additional recognitions have been added since the initial testing done on the Cobra product. Canadian Standard CL905 was added, giving the product better recognition in the Canadian markets. Equally important, Cobra and Underwriters worked together to add UL 3279. The UL style 3279 was included to increase the temperature rating to 105° and the product is printed with VW-1 (UL’s vertical flame test). And in a world where environmental stewardship is no longer a feel good option, but a mandatory obligation, Cobra’s Battery Systems Cable® is RoHS compliant. Cobra’s UL3311 battery cable can be used throughout the world markets. 18
Once these approvals were obtained, a full force marketing campaign introduced this cable. Cobra focused primarily on the industrial battery market. Other markets emerged and included most DC Power applications like batteries, forklifts, chargers; uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and more. Another major development in the history of the wire and cable market came after a prominent manufacturer of UPS systems in the United States talked to Cobra about increasing the flexibility of wire
for their products. This company’s goal was to promote a smaller UPS unit with the same capacity that a larger one could offer. Their biggest challenge was a need for an internal wire that was able to offer the same output and be able to be installed in the smaller space without causing too much stress on the connections. Their priority was a cable with flexibility to fit newly developed, smaller units. A softer insulation compound and class K stranding were the answer. The results were outstanding and the new product developed
Electrical Products & Solutions • October 2011
was marketed as Cobra X-Flex®. Cobra’s X-Flex® is a thermoplastic insulated product that offer a unique flame retardant polyvinyl chloride(PVC) compound (VW-1) and is moisture, abrasion, acid, diesel fuel and oil resistant. National Electrical Code types for this cable include MTW & THW. This cable complied with UL style 1232 and 1284. Again, Cobra pursued approvals with the Canadian Standards Association. The product is also used in the Canadian market. The cable is designed with a 30 gauge stranding for added flexibility without changing the electrical integrity. Producing the product in black and red was an additional bonus, allowing a positive and negative option.
Always looking toward the future, Cobra had additional recognitions added since the initial testing and development was completed years ago. UL styles 1337, 1338, 1339, 10070 and 10269 were added to increase the applications where X-Flex® cable could be utilized and increased the voltage rating to 1KV. Additionally, Tray Cable use or TC was added to compliment the product. The cable is also used in the marine industry, and was tested and approved to BC-5W2. The process was complete and after significant testing, this UPS manufacturer switched all of its internal wiring to Cobra’s X-Flex®. This cable is also used for additional applications including load banks, inverters, battery cable for marine markets and more. Cobra differentiates itself by listening to customers’ needs. Utilizing resources on research and development allows Cobra to harness its technical expertise to develop products that are effective, efficient and competitive. Cobra brought a value added proposition to the table decades ago that raised the expectation of their customers, suppliers and employees. Cobra Wire & Cable helped create the wire and cable history. ❏
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FEATURE • Megger
Interpreting Insulation Tests nsulation testing is the application of a high voltage across insulation and measuring the resistance of the insulating material. It is a fairly quick and easy test to perform, and useful in two ways: first and most immediate, for troubleshooting; second, for improved longterm maintenance. For troubleshooting, an insulation test quickly reveals the condition often referred to colloquially as a “ground”; that is to say, a short to ground. If insulation has broken down, either catastrophically (lightning, flooding) or gradually (operational wear), an insulation test will reveal this in seconds. The common term “ground”, of course, refers to breakdown between conductors and ground, but an insulation test will also reveal a similar condition between phases, between windings, or between any other electrical conductors that should be isolated from each other. It’s simply a matter of properly connecting the test leads across the two elements of concern.
I
For troubleshooting, an insulation test quickly reveals the condition often referred to colloquially as a “ground”; that is to say, a short to ground. In order to correctly test the insulation in realistic terms, a high voltage is applied. Multimeter readings taken at a couple of volts don’t tell much about the insulation’s condition or ability to stand up against the rigors of operation on utility voltage as well as the possibility of transients. The insulation tester, or megohmmeter, applies some test voltage that is commensurate with the operating voltage of the equipment under test. A small amount of current will be pulled through even the best of insulation, but the smaller, the better. This is termed “leakage” current, and is converted via Ohm’s Law to the resistance 20
of the insulation (and, of course, the greater, the better). In the instance of complete breakdown, “dead short” or “bolted fault”, interpretation is fairly clear. The reading will be in fractions of megohms, often a row of zeroes or off the low end of the scale. However, troubleshooting may require the identification of “high resistance” faults, where there is still enough leakage between conductors or to ground to cause interference to optimal performance of the electrical system. Interpreta-
Electrical Products & Solutions • October 2011
tion of test results now becomes more difficult, and requires more basic knowledge from the operator. Moreover, when testing in the second application, for long-term maintenance of “good” equipment, the question is no longer one of “good” or “bad”, but becomes “how good?”. The operator will be seeing test results that give an indication of where the equipment is on its life cycle, much like a car odometer but in reverse (as equipment Continued on page 22
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ages, the readings become lower), and this requires even more skill and background knowledge. Significant considerations include the different operations of digital and analog instruments, the enormous range of “good” readings, and the critical factor of time in an insulation test. The effective operator must be familiar with all of these. It doesn’t take as much background knowl-
edge for simpler functions like voltage and current measurements, but where insulation is concerned, resistance readings are a quantum leap in interpretation. The challenge starts with “getting” the reading! It’s not like a voltmeter, where there’s a push of a button and there it is. Insulation readings change with time and, depending on the size and construction of
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the test item, it can be a long time. Here, a review of digital and analog units is in order. Both types are found in abundance. Analog models tend to have the pointer resting at the high end of the scale. At the start of the test, they peg to the low end, then gradually drift back toward their rest position. If the pointer pegs low and stays there, test over…the test item has broken down and needs repair. The drifting back is what calls for interpretation. A word of further caution: testers with multiple functions, like resistance and continuity, may have the respective scales running in opposite directions, so that what’s “good” on one is “bad” on another. Always become familiar with the coordination between selector position and scale movement. Digitals are a bit more difficult. With analogs, the operator quickly comes to look for smooth pointer travel, but digitals just throw up numbers at a rate depending on the sampling interval in the chip. This can be very confusing if not made familiar. Which one is the “right” number? What is happening is that the dc test voltage being applied by the tester is charging the innate capacitance and absorption in the design of the test item. The bigger and more complex the test item, the longer this will take. Experienced technicians with analog testers often just look for smooth pointer sweep and don’t bother too much with the associated numbers. With digital, this is more difficult for the eye to do, but the main consideration is that the numbers continually rise. A model with a combination digital-analog display considerably mitigates this issue. Erratic pointer travel, or numbers that rise and drop back, indicate a problem on the test item. Varying readings are all the “correct” measurement for the time at which they were taken. The reading indicates the resistance at the particular voltage and state of charge at that time. Note that organizations such as ASTM, IEEE and the like always specify every relevant detail of a recommended test. Properly detailed data sheets will do likewise. In field operation, it isn’t necessary to be so detailed in order to make the necessary determinations, but the technician should be aware that every variable introduces some error, however small. With insulation testing, the time at which the reading was taken, from the start of the test, is critical. The operator is looking Continued on page 24
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for at least a stable reading, though not necessarily a final one (resistance may continue to gradually rise by smaller and smaller increments for hours). When a stable reading is achieved, what then? Insulation resistance starts in the megohms and goes to tera-ohms… thousands of thousands. This enormous possible range isn’t matched by most other common electrical tests. It might seem helpful for the instrument to have a red zone on the scale. Some testers, designed for highly specific applications, may. But those intended for general use do not. Why? Because an insulation test may be performed on any electrical product, the range of application is almost as enormous as the range of measurement. There are just too many variables. The manufacturer of the tester would then be liable, and asking to be sued out of business. Instead, the tester provides a reliable reading, tells the operator the relevant information, and the operator must then make the interpretation. How?
A convenient shortcut…even a blessing in some instances…is to have an industry standard to meet. It is not uncommon for a given industry, like nuclear, telecom, and so forth, to have an established resistance value that they want met. Smaller organizations, like a company or an insurer, may have done likewise. In these cases, the technician needs only to see that the value is met and the readings aren’t erratic, and the test is done. By extension, the recommendations of general standards agencies, as already mentioned, can be substituted. Organizations like IEEE, IEC, and others provide minimum recommended insulation resistances for various categories of equipment. Just correctly identify the category of the item being tested and reliable information will be available to evaluate the test result. The manufacturer of the test item may have provided a specific recommendation of their own in the specifications, but this often is not the case. In its absence, the more general data of the standards agencies is invaluable.
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Another technique is cross comparison of similar test items. Chances are the overall electrical plant at which testing is being done will have similar items.; motors or wiring circuits, for instance, that are the same or similar and installed at the same time. If a reasonable degree of consistency can be recognized across similar items, and then one reads decidedly lower, that one should be flagged for more intense scrutiny. Incipient failure may be accordingly recognized. Always remember to allow for size. The more insulating material there is, the more opportunity for leakage current and the lower the reading. With wiring and cabling, if everything else is equal, a circuit of twice the length will have half the resistance of the shorter. Still another convenient technique is that of the self-contained test. A number of these have been devised; standard procedures that produce a figure of merit. Examples are Polarization Index (PI), Dielectric Absorption Ratio (DAR), Dielectric Discharge, and Continued on page 26
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Step Voltage. These are particularly useful on large equipment where arriving at a stable reading may take prohibitive time. Hence, they don’t depend on absolute numbers but rather on a comparison of numbers within the test procedure. Uncontaminated insulation will show steadily rising numbers throughout the duration of a test as charging currents go to zero. Hence, the final number will be comparatively high and the ratio to a reading taken at the start of the test will be high. By dividing one number into the other, a ratio is produced independent of the actual numbers, and the operator can make a reliable evaluation on this alone. This is called Dielectric Absorption Ratio, and newer materials are yielding results in shorter test times; one minute into three, and even thirty seconds into one minute. More traditional materials exhibit greater absorption characteristics, and the long-established standard test is one minute into ten. This is the well-known Polarization Index. Dielectric Discharge is a similar test
based on comparison of relaxation current, when the test item is discharging after the conclusion of the test. It cannot be performed manually and must have a specific function built into the tester. Step Voltage makes a comparison at increasing voltages
Good insulation will stand up to voltage increases while deteriorated material will pass more leakage current with each increase. rather than extended time. Good insulation will stand up to voltage increases while deteriorated material will pass more leakage current with each increase. By far, the best standard to apply is a
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previous test record. Unfortunately, they often do not exist. But when available, there is no better way to interpret a test result. If the reading is holding steady, even though not especially high, the equipment is in much better condition than one with a high reading dropping rapidly. In the former instance, there could be widely distributed leakage throughout the body of insulating material with no localized deterioration that will lead to eventual breakdown. In the latter case, the item could be picking up moisture or contamination that will significantly shorten its life cycle but could be curtailed if known. A previous reading will readily indicate this trend whereas a lone reading will not. If all else fails and a determination must be made on the spot, there is the old reliable One Megohm Rule. Insulation resistance must be at least one megohm per thousand volts of operating voltage, and never less than one. It isn’t demanding or overly scientific, but in a pinch will do until more data can be collected. ❏
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Industry NEWS
Students at Okanagan College Benefit from Solar Energy System in New School Year College to benefit from educational, environmental and financial benefits hen students at Okanagan College’s new Centre of Excellence in Penticton plug in their laptops this fall, they’ll only have to look up and outside to see the source of their energy. The solar energy system at Okanagan College’s newest building is the largest system developed in Western Canada. SkyFire Energy, one of Canada’s most experienced solar EPC contractors, was the project developer for the 260 kW solar energy system which is using 1,106 Conergy P solar modules, on the rooftop of Okanagan College’s newest building on its Penticton campus. Generating about 292,500 kWh per year, the solar energy system will help the building - the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Technologies and Renewable Energy Conservation – meet the goal of being energy neutral over the course of an annual operating cycle. With school back in session and students on campus, the college will have a threefold benefit from the system. One, the solar energy system will help the College reach the goal of meeting the Living Building Challenge of net-zero energy and water consumption. In the Okanagan’s sunny summer months, the solar energy system will at times exceed the building’s needs and the energy will be fed into the grid. In the winter, the College will draw from the grid to meet the campus’s energy needs. Decreased operating costs in terms of energy consumption are another benefit, but the College will also benefit from educational benefits for students The photovoltaic system will be used as a learning tool and integrated into the college’s trades and technology classes. With the interconnection recently completed, students and teachers have already reacted positively to the system. The Okanagan College Students Union (OCSU), for instance, decided to contribute to the College’s fundraising efforts around the building. Prompting the investment decision was knowledge that the College was demonstrating leadership in incorporating sustainability into the building and curriculum. “When you sit down and realize that the
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“The solar potential in Western Canada is exceptional. It will take industry leaders, like SkyFire and the Okanagan College, to ensure that this market grows to meet that potential.” — Jared Donald, President of Conergy Canada
power for the projectors and computers is coming from the sun, and that at times the building will produce more energy than it will use, you appreciate how we can use technology and innovation to address problems,” says Cory Nelmes, a student who has been anticipating her first classes in the building, and who is also Financial Co-ordinator for the OCSU. Apprentice and entry-level electricians being trained by the College will also be able to learn how the system functions, monitor energy production, and see how the system integrates into the rest of the building’s infrastructure and with the municipal power grid. The decision to deploy solar energy at the campus was an easy one for Okanagan College. The climate and rooftop were ideally suited for solar energy. “Even as we were planning and building the Centre of Excellence, students and staff were excited by the energy-saving efforts and technologies being employed. Sustainability ranks high among our goals at the College, and the solar energy system on this building is a key component of our efforts,” says Okanagan College’s Director of Facilities, Steve Robinson. “We at SkyFire Energy are excited to
Electrical Products & Solutions • October 2011
have been involved in another school-based educational system as it will allow the current generation of students to learn the benefits of solar first hand. This installation and Okanagan College training will help to grow the solar industry in British Columbia and Western Canada. A showcase project such as this one provides an excellent reference point for the industry and raises the bar for photovoltaic installations in Canada,” said David Kelly, an owner of SkyFire Energy. SkyFire Energy chose Conergy P modules due to their low-price, high-performance characteristics, their Conergy-backed warranty and quality control and for the excellent customer service and resources from Conergy technical and sales staff. “Installations of this size and profile built in Western Canada really showcase the diversity of the Canadian photovoltaic market,” stated Jared Donald, President of Conergy Canada. “The solar potential in Western Canada is exceptional. It will take industry leaders, like SkyFire and the Okanagan College, to ensure that this market grows to meet that potential. We applaud Okanagan College for its environmental leadership and innovative education programs.” ❏
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Industry NEWS
IDEAL Promotes Nick Shkordoff to Group Vice President/General Manager of Electrical Division Glenn Hollister to head up new Safety & Health Division ceeding Mr. Shkordoff. IDEAL INDUSTRIES, Jim James, President and INC., a worldwide leader in CEO of IDEAL commented tools and supplies for profeson the announcement: “Nick’s sional contractors, today anpromotion is the product of the nounced the executive significant achievements he promotion of Nick Shkordoff made at APP and IDEAL to Group Vice PresiCanada, as well as the respect dent/General Manager of the he has earned from his peers, Electrical Division. distributors and customers Prior to today’s announcewithin the industry.” ment, Mr. Shkordoff was PresIn taking on an expanded ident of Anderson Power Nick Shkordoff role within IDEAL, Mr. ShkoProducts (APP), a subsidiary of IDEAL that designs and manufactures high rdoff will be responsible for overall busipower interconnects and accessories. Pre- ness strategies, product development, viously, he was President of IDEAL IN- marketing and sales. “I look forward to working with the DUSTRIES Canada. In addition, Jeffrey Burkhardt, currently IDEAL customer base and contributing to Vice President of Global Sales and Mar- the division’s continued growth and success keting for APP, has been appointed that with the support of a proven management company’s new General Manager, suc- team and a range of innovative products
and programs,” said Mr. Shkordoff.
HEALTH & SAFETY DIVISION FORMED Mr. Shkordoff will replace Glenn Hollister as Group Vice President/General Manager of the Electrical Division. Mr. Hollister will launch a newly formed division of IDEAL that is focused on the fastgrowing Health and Safety market. A highly valued member of the IDEAL team since 1974, Mr. Hollister has served the company in a series of positions of increasing responsibilities, having held several sales and marketing positions before being appointed General Manager of the company’s Canadian subsidiary and later as Vice President of Marketing at IDEAL headquarters in Sycamore, Illinois. He next assumed the role of Vice President/General Manager of the new Test & Measurement division. In 2007, Mr. Hollister became Vice President/General Manager of the Wire Termination group, best known for its Wire-Nut® line of twist-on wire connectors. In 2009 he was promoted to Group Vice President/General Manager of the Electrical Division. For more information please visit http://www.idealindustries.com. ❏
Rosendin Electric Receives Gold Vision Award from Constructech Magazine Company Singled Out in Specialty Contractor Category for Initiating Job Site QA/QC Mobile Reporting Rosendin Electric (www.rosendin.com), the nation’s largest private electrical contractor and a 100% employee-owned company, today announced the company has received the Gold Constructech Vision Award in the Specialty Contractor category. The award, announced yesterday at the Constructech Technology Day Conference in Oak Brook Terrace, Illinois, was given in recognition of Rosendin Electric’s innovation in automating quality control and quality assurance (QA/QC) using mobile computing technology on the job site. Working with Vela Systems (www.velasystems.com), Rosendin Electric was able to create a new approach to manage QA/QC in the field using mobile technology such as tablet PCs and iPads to deliver access to information and metrics, allowing executives and project managers to make more informed decisions. Rather than carting reams of paper and tubes of drawings to the job site, Rosendin Electric can now turn field data into powerful electronic information for managing quality and safety. Project teams can manage day-to-day communications regarding issues on the job site using consolidated data, and managers and executives can view metrics across projects, identifying trends in field performance, quality, safety, and other areas. Specific benefits from the initiative include: 30
Electrical Products & Solutions • October 2011
• Gathering of more consistent, measureable quality control data; • Use QA/QC information gathered from projects to proactively identify trends and reduce both jobsite and corporate risks; • Understand quality performance to better manage post-project evaluations; • Avoid claims by providing a secure audit trail of the progress of quality and construction; • Increase profitability by reducing costly rework; and • Accelerate project delivery by saving time normally spent on less efficient means of communication. “Receipt of the Vision Award is a testament to Rosendin Electric’s commitment to bring the latest technology into the field, where the work gets done,” said Sam Lamonica, Vice President and CIO for Rosendin Electric. “We look at the QA/AC reporting initiative as the first phase of an ongoing project to untether functionality throughout core disciplines, including safety and other mission-critical functions. Being able to automate QA/QC means we no longer have to wade through thousands of activity codes, and we are assured that the right information is being delivered to the right people, fast.” ❏
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Product FOCUS Acuity Brands Expands Lithonia Lighting LED Retrofit Portfolio with Introduction of RTLED RELIGHT New Luminaire Assembly Kit Targets Renovation Applications Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI; “Company”), a market leader in innovative energy-efficient lighting and control solutions, has expanded its LED indoor ambient lighting portfolio with the launch of the Lithonia Lighting® RTLED™ RELIGHT assembly kit. The RTLED RELIGHT kit is a high-quality, volumetric assembly designed to bring the advantages of LED lighting to renovation projects. It joins the RTLED, ACLED, TLED and VTLED as part of Lithonia Lighting’s versatile recessed LED indoor ambient lighting product family. The RTLED RELIGHT brings an updated look to a space without ever breaking the ceiling plane. The easy one-to-one fixture replacement installs from below the ceiling and offers a high quality of light with the added benefit of energy savings. The energy savings can be maximized by the use of advanced LED lighting technology, full range dimming, and flexible, intelligent control options. “The RTLED RELIGHT complements the expanding Lithonia Lighting indoor ambient LED product portfolio for both new and renovation construction projects,” said Dave Ranieri, Acuity Brands Lighting Vice President and General Manager, Lithonia Lighting Commercial Indoor Products. “The ability to offer a retrofit LED product that upgrades the quality of light and improves energy savings is a unique solution,” Ranieri continued. The RTLED RELIGHT is available in 2’x2’ and 2’x4’ configurations for parabolic and lensed troffer upgrades. The RTLED RELIGHT is available nationally through Acuity Brands’ Lithonia Lighting sales representatives and authorized distributors. For more information, visit lithonia.acuitybrands.com/Relight/LED_RELIGHT.aspx
Bridgeport’s Mighty-Bite™ PUSH-EMT® Fittings Make Connecting EMT Conduit Faster Than Ever Bridgeport Fittings’ new Mighty-Bite™ Push-EMT® fittings make connecting EMT conduit faster and easier than ever before. All a contractor needs to do is simply push a Mighty-Bite fitting onto the conduit for a secure connection in just seconds – an approximately 75 percent quicker installation than conventional fittings. Constructed of the highest quality, corrosion-resistant zinc, Mighty-Bite fittings are easily removable and reusable. The design features precision cast threads and a reversible zinc serrated locknut. Mighty-Bite fittings are the dry location complement to Bridgeport’s Mighty-Seal® wet location line. Mighty-Bite fittings are cULus Listed and are manufactured in the U.S.A. The new fittings will be on display at the Bridgeport exhibit (Booth #1727) at NECA 2011, October 23-25, in the San Diego Convention Center. The Mighty-Bite connectors are part of Bridgeport’s exclusive and innovative “Mighty-B”™ line of high-quality, high-performance products focused on getting a contractor’s job “done fast, done right.” Bridgeport’s Mighty-B fittings are represented by “Mighty-B,” a contractor’s superhero who stands for the innovation, speed, and maneuverability of the Bridgeport line. Mighty-B™ himself can be followed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CallMightyB, or visited on the Bridgeport website at www.bptfittings.com/MightyB. 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 32
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Product FOCUS NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH! Accu-CT™ High-Accuracy Split-Core Current Transformer At Greenbuild 2011, Continental Control Systems will launch its new Accu-CT™ high-accuracy split-core current transformer, engineered for use with any of the company’s WattNode® energy meters. This latest addition to Continental Control Systems’ portfolio of current transformers offers unprecedented linearity (.2%) over an extremely wide range of rated current ranging from 1% to 100% of rated current. With its distinctive design and color coding, the Accu-CT can be identified immediately as a high-accuracy current transformer. The device’s unique latching mechanism enables safe single-handed installation, making the Accu-CT current transformer easy to install. Its low voltage rating/operation (0.333Vac output at rated current) allows for installation without a shorting block. Designed specifically for revenue grade requirements, the Accu-CT complies with the AARA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) and will provide for both ANSI C12.1 accuracy requirements for the California Solar Initiative (CSI) (listing pending) and for ANSI C12.20 (.5% accuracy) for tenant submetering and billing when used with a WattNode energy meter. The UL-recognized and CE-marked current transformer is available in rated current sizes of 5A, 20A, 50A, 100A, 200A, and 250A, with inside dimensions of .75 inches by .75 inches (20 mm by 20 mm). The device features 8-foot 22AWG twisted-pair leads. For more information, visit www.ccontrolsys.com
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Product FOCUS Blackburn® Storm-Safe® Service Entrance Disconnect System Minimizes Hazard; Enables Quick Power Restoration New Product from Thomas & Betts De-Energizes Cables Downed by Storm Debris The Blackburn® Storm-Safe® Service Entrance Disconnect System from Thomas & Betts de-energizes and releases utility service entrance cables when they are struck by debris, eliminating a safety hazard to the public, emergency responders and utility repair personnel. With the Storm-Safe system, utility repair personnel can restore power quickly and at minimal cost by installing a new link and re-inserting the contacts. The Blackburn® Storm-Safe® Service Entrance Disconnect System is comprised of two primary components: a mechanical breakaway link and mating contacts for the electrical service. When the service cable is struck by debris, such as falling tree branches during a storm, the Storm-Safe system’s breakaway link releases the service mechanical support and disconnects the electrical service, which de-energizes the cable without damaging utility equipment or the customer’s premises. “Utility lines downed by falling debris are not only a safety hazard, but also may cause costly damage to utility equipment and the customer’s property,” said Mike Cawood, product manager for Thomas & Betts. “The damage, as well as the risks posed when the cable remains energized, often delays the restoration of service.” The mechanical breakaway link breaks at a prescribed force to prevent damage. The mating contacts separate after the line breaks for a safe disconnect of power. The Storm-Safe system is available in single-service, two-service and threeservice kits, and is fully rated for 200-amp service. For more information, visit www.tnb.com
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Product FOCUS New Digital Multimeter Measures Up to Demands of Commercial and Industrial Electricians IDEAL today unveiled the next generation of its advanced digital multimeters, the 480 Series, providing commercial and industrial electricians with the industry’s highest levels of measurement accuracy, versatility and safety at the most affordable price. “When compared to the current number one selling multimeter in the electrical distribution channel, the 480 Series delivers greater value with more features and improved accuracy,” said David Skowronski, Product Manager for IDEAL. “Value is always important to our customers, but it has never been more critical than in today’s economy. The 480 Series multimeters deliver a high price-to-performance ratio.” Compact for one-handed operation and built exceptionally rugged, 480 Series multimeters offer a winning feature set that includes: True RMS voltage and current measurements, 6000-count resolution, an analog bar graph, active backlight LCD display, Auto-VLoZ to eliminate ghost voltages, and VoltSense™ non contact voltage detection. AC + DC True RMS ensures worry-free readings where harmonics exist, a common problem with today’s high-tech commercial circuits. In addition, the multimeters give users the versatility to accurately measure electrical frequency, capacitance, resistance, continuity and diodes. Another key feature contributing to the success of 480 multimeters is Smart Data Hold, a built-in alert system that lets the user know if there is a steadier reading available when the input signal is changing rapidly or is noisy. And because safety is a hallmark of all IDEAL testers, the new 480 Series is independently tested to Cat IV-600V and Cat III-1000V safety standards. There is also a magnetic hanger for easier set-up and viewing while freeing user’s hands for other tasks. For more information, visit www.idealindustries.com
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Platinum Tools’® New Xtender Pole™ Allows for Ceiling Installations without Leaving the Work Floor The Xtender Pole™, the innovative telescoping tool from Platinum Tools, Camarillo, Ca., not only saves contractors and low voltage installers money, but also speeds installation time and improves worker safety. The Xtender Pole allows installers to hang ceiling wire, jack chain, hardware and threaded rod all from the work floor. Powered by any 3/8-inch or ½-inch battery-operated or corded drill, Xtender Pole also can be used for overhead lag screw installation. The Xtender Pole provides a safer way to reach areas that previously were dangerous or inaccessible to ladders, scaffolding, and scissor lifts…including vaulted ceilings, over stairwells, and through ceiling grid. Its thin profile allows access to tight spaces. According to Platinum Tools, a worker using Xtender Pole can install as many as 100 ceiling wires per hour. The Xtender Pole also helps eliminate costs associated with scissor lift rentals. Made of aircraft quality aluminum, the Xtender Pole is available in 2 adjustable length models: the Xtender Pole-12 for up 18 foot ceilings and the Xtender Pole-18 for up to 24 foot ceilings. What makes the Xtender Pole most unique, are the adapters that are specific to each application. The wire adapter hangs 12-or 9-gauge wire, while socket adapters work with 3/8-inch or ¼-inch threaded rod up to 10 feet long. Additional features include a ¼-inch hex adapter that transforms the pole into a long screwdriver and a twist-out element that prevents over-torquing and strips out. Xtender Pole will never replace a scissor lift or ladder, but for many jobs, it is quicker, easier and safer. Cutting expenses bolsters the bottom line, and is especially important in today’s economic climate. Xtender Pole helps installers cut labor costs, reduce installation time and improve safety… all with one tool. For more information, visit www.platinumtools.com
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Advertiser INDEX This advertisers index is compiled as a courtesy to our readers. While every effort is made to provide a complete and accurate listing of companies, page numbers and reader service numbers, the publisher is not responsible for errors.
Company
PG#
RS#
Company
AEE SOLAR AEMC INSTRUMENTS ALCAN CABLE ARPI OF USA BYTE BROTHERS CONDUIT REPAIR SYSTEMS CONTINENTAL CONTROL SYSTEMS, LLC COPPER DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION COPPER WIRE STRIPPER DH SOLAR EXTECH INSTRUMENTS/FLIR SYSTEMS E-Z METER GENERATOR INTERLOCK TECHNOLOGIES GENSCO HIOKI USA ICC KRENZ & COMPANY
11 IFC 25 36 22 15 34 31 39 10 3, 9 36 7 24 23 17, 19 38
11 1 18 46 41 13 45 21 50 10 5, 9 47 8 42 17 14, 15 48
40
Electrical Products & Solutions • October 2011
PG#
RS#
LAPP USA MEGGER MINUTEMAN UPS NORTHWEST LIGHTING SYSTEMS PG LIFELINK PHASE-A-MATIC PLATINUM TOOLS QUICK MOUNT PV SCHOTT SOLAR SOKKIA STEELMAN INDUSTRIES STRIP-TEC
IBC 21 27 29 1 38 4 35 13 5 34 12
2 16 19 20 4 49 6 23 12 7 44 40
SUNWIZE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. THE HOME DEPOT UNDERGROUND DEVICES UTILITY METALS
37 BC 26 33
24 3 43 22
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