October 2009

Cover Story

Fair Trade

Oct 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Beck Ireland, Staff Writer

OSHA evaluates product safety compliance mechanisms in the interest of U.S.-European trade agreements...

Features

Customer Positioning Tips for Electrical Contractors

Oct 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Dr. Perry Daneshgari and Heather Moore, MCA, Inc.

Customer positioning and control (CPAC) method helps electrical contractors examine the quality of production by identifying the demands placed on an organization’s resources relative to the value produced...

Keeping Track

Oct 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Beck Ireland, Staff Writer

Electrical contractors do much more than track their fleets with the help of mobile resource management (MRM)...

Ten Tips for Increased Tax Savings

Oct 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Mark Battersby, Freelance Writer

Practical planning strategies for electrical contractors who want to keep their tax bill at its legal minimum this year and every year...

The Basics of Control Relays

Oct 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By David Bredhold, Eaton Corp.

Inside the world of control relays, including how they’re constructed, how they work, and where they’re used...

Selective Coordination Using Circuit Breakers

Oct 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Benjamin O. Medich, P.E., Ballinger

How to design an electrical system in which the upstream protective device (fuse or circuit breaker) nearest to the system fault clears the fault without affecting the protective devices that are upstream from it...

Industry Viewpoint

Product Certification

Oct 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Michael Eby, Editor-in-Chief

Industry veterans debate what the European request to change the product certification process in the United States could mean for the electrical industry...

National Electrical Code

Health Care Facilities

Oct 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Mike Holt, NEC Consultant

Article 517 provides the requirements for those parts of health care facilities involving examination and treatment of patients...

Illustrated Catastrophes

Oct 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Brian J. McPartland, NEC Consultant

As usual, never consider the following commentary associated with these photos as a formal interpretation of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Without criticizing anyone or any product, the following scenarios present us with serious safety questions....

What's Wrong Here?

Oct 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Brian McPartland, NEC Consultant

How well do you know the Code? Think you can spot violations the original installer either ignored or couldn't identify? Here's your chance to moonlight...

Code Quandaries

Oct 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Mike Holt, NEC Consultant

For a 240V to 208Y/120V transformer, is it better to bond the neutral to the metal frame at the transformer itself, at the panel, or at both locations?...

Product of the Month

Combination AFCIs Save Time, Money, and Possibly Lives

Oct 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Stefanie Kure, Senior Associate Editor

Siemens new 2-pole combination-type arc fault circuit interrupter (CAFCI) reduces wiring costs and installation/ troubleshooting time...

V/D/V Today

Low-Voltage Cabling Requirements for Harsh, Industrial Applications

Oct 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Peter McNeil, L-com Global Connectivity

How to select the right type of cabling for your industrial network...

Lighting & Control

How to Light Hazardous Environments

Oct 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Steven L. Henry, EGS Electrical Group

Lighting fixtures play a critical role in the safe, efficient, and productive operation of any industrial facility or production process....

PQ Corner

The Basics of Using Circuit Breakers with Surge Protectors

Oct 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Dion Neri, MCG Surge Protection

Clearing up confusion over what type of circuit breaker to use with surge protectors...

Construction Watch

Hopes for Non-Residential Sector Recovery Remain Strong

Oct 1, 2009 12:00 PM

Industry report reveals higher levels of construction spending, particularly for infrastructure projects, may put non-residential market on the road to recovery...

Analysis Finds Construction Employment Losses Severe in Most States

Oct 1, 2009 12:00 PM

Construction employment in United States sees sharp declines in all but two states from August 2008 to August 2009...

Shocking Stat of the Month

Oct 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Source: National Association of Home Builders

Number of points the Housing Market Index (HMI) rose in September...

Analyze This

Oct 1, 2009 12:00 PM

-65,000: Number of jobs lost in the construction field in August. With monthly losses averaging 117,000 over the six months ending in April, employment...

Project Spotlight

Army Training Center Achieves 30% Energy Savings over ASHRAE 90.1

Oct 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Stefanie Kure, Senior Associate Editor

Sustainable design of new Armed Forces Reserve Center in New York helps it attain SPiRiT Gold certification...

Product Spotlight

Focus on Relays

Oct 1, 2009 12:00 PM

New product spotlight on relays for electrical contractors, electrical engineers, and plant facility personnel...

in this issue

product spotlight

EV charger tester

May 25, 2012 8:26 AM

The Electrician is portable tester that verifies critical power and safety requirements of electric vehicle (EV) chargers...

View all 2012 Product Spotlights

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