Virtual Skylights Offer a Sunny View 24/7
May 1, 2008, By Stefanie Kure, Senior Associate Editor
Most people probably don't consider a six-month dental checkup particularly inspirational, but for Bill Witherspoon, a trip to the dentist's chair prompted...
The Soft Sell
May 1, 2008, By Beck Ireland, Staff Writer
Early in his career, Jamie Wilkie, owner of Mister Sparky of Greenville, S.C., learned a valuable lesson. Eight years ago, Wilkie already a licensed master...
Picking the Proper PPE
May 1, 2008, By Larry Altmayer and Kenneth Cybart, Littelfuse, Inc.
When working on energized equipment, electricians and maintenance technicians can find themselves in a catch-22 situation: Wearing too much personal protective...
Article 450: Transformers and Transformer Vaults
May 1, 2008, By Mike Holt, NEC Consultant
The operation of any facility depends on power distribution, which, in turn, depends on transformers. Safe and reliable operation of transformers is crucial...
Illustrated Catastrophes
May 1, 2008, By Joe Tedesco, NEC Columnist
As usual, never consider the following commentary associated with these photos as a formal interpretation of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Without...
Safety in Numbers
May 1, 2008, By Michael Eby, Editor-in-Chief
Safety is job one. Put safety first. Safety is no accident. These are all slogans you've probably heard a hundred times before. Unfortunately, each and...
Code Quandaries
May 1, 2008, By Mike Holt, NEC Consultant
What are the requirements for installing isolated ground receptacles?...
Tool Trouble
May 1, 2008,
A forgotten tool proved to be more than just a minor inconvenience for one unfortunate electrician. Working in a power distribution panel that contained...
10 Project Pre-Planning Ideas That Work
May 1, 2008, By David Brown, D. Brown Management
During a typical construction day, more than 35% of a contractor's time is spent on activities other than actual installation work. This could be anything...
Massport Takes Wind Out of High Energy Costs
May 1, 2008,
Boston-based Massport has partnered with AeroVironment, Monrovia, Calif., and Groom Energy Solutions, Salem, Mass., to install 20 building-integrated...
Ways to Reduce Arc Flash Energy
May 1, 2008, By Bob Fuhr, P.E., PowerStudies.com
Reducing personal injuries from arc flash events should be the main goal of any arc flash hazard assessment. Many facilities have locations where the...
Managing Your Emergency Lights
May 1, 2008, By David Herres, Master Electrician
For large commercial or industrial facilities that may not have windows or those that continue operations during the night shift, a power outage can create...
NEMA Establishes Premium Electronic Ballast Program
May 1, 2008,
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), Rosslyn, Va., recently created the NEMA Premium Ballast Program. According to NEMA, the program's...
Surge Strips vs. Plug-in Power Conditioners
May 1, 2008, By Andy Goldin, Powervar
If you've ever wondered how surge protector strips are different from plug-in power conditioners, you're not alone. The enormous difference in price makes...
Product News
May 1, 2008,
Universal covers Capable of mounting either horizontally or vertically, Red Dot universal covers feature innovative adapter plates to support GFCI, duplex,...
Employers Face Stiff New Penalties for Immigration Violations
May 1, 2008,
For the first time since 1999, the federal government is raising the civil penalties on employers that violate immigration law, according to a recent...
NECA Joins U.S. Green Building Council
May 1, 2008,
Green construction is everywhere these days, and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), Bethesda, Md., is making sure its members are...
Business Park Development Poised to Boost Arizona Economy
May 1, 2008,
Kicking off the first phase of what is projected to be a 1,600-acre, 19.6-million-square-foot master-planned business park in Goodyear, Ariz., the first...
Science & Technology Building Anchors New University Campus
May 1, 2008, By Stefanie Kure, Senior Associate Editor
Located on the border of Texas and Arkansas, Texas A&M University-Texarkana (TAMUT) is an upper-level university offering programs and courses to approximately...
Battling the Big Apple and Winning
May 1, 2008, By Tom Zind, Freelance Writer
New York, New York. I want to wake up in a city that never sleeps, to find I'm A-number-one, top of the listIf I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere...
Short-Circuit Calculations: The Easy Way
May 1, 2008,
Short-circuit currents represent a tremendous amount of destructive energy, which can be released through electrical systems under fault conditions. Baseline...
Playing it Safe
May 1, 2008, By Bob Mitchell, Integrated Management Group
Electrical contractors should not need to be told about the importance of a well-defined and laid out safety program. It's no secret that construction...
Focus on Safety
May 1, 2008,
Hard hat Fibre-Metal brand Supereight SE2 sensor caps offer multidirectional protection by providing a dual-impact energy control system, which the company...
Product News
May 1, 2008,
Digital multimeters The Resi-Pro line of digital multimeters includes two versions. The 61-312 model offers residential electricians auto ranging and...
Skyrocketing Steel Prices Rock Electrical Market
May 1, 2008,
Electrical manufacturers are being forced to increase prices by at least 5% to 10% on steel products. Industry observers say contributing factors include...
