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46 SUN SMART SOLAR Think about solar installations the same way you think about sunscreen, writes Gary Busbridge. Simply buy quality products.

50 GOT THE POWER Power factor correction can lead to additional business for electrical contractors. Phil Kreveld covers the considerations.

58 HITTING THE MARK On 1 March 2016, the three existing compliance marks contractors will be familiar with are being consolidated into a single compliance mark - the RCM.

26 EIGHT IS ENOUGH As interest in Category 8 cabling applications increases, Patrick McLaughlin asks suppliers for insight on the new protocol.

Certifying trade 34 FINDING THE PATH Need a cash fl ow boost? Renewable energy A proposal to include a requirement for in- certifi cates mean you can get thousands of building telecommunications pathways and dollars for a few pieces of paper. 22 spaces in the National Construction Code has been put forth by the ABCB.

Features

32 BATTERY BUSINESS Regulars As energy storage solutions enter the market, electricians 12 INDUSTRY NEWS should get up to speed with the new technology. 20 PRODUCT NEWS 70 NECA NEWS TRAINING DIARY 38 GIVE UPS? 99 105 TRADESTUFF Technical aspects of the uninterruptible power supply will be of interest to electrical contractors. Phil Kreveld provides an overview. > 76 TOOLS

42 FIRED UP > 80 TIPS The fi rst part of this series described how heat stems from > 92 TRANSPORT current in a resistive element, and how faults can cause fi res. George Georgevits now outlines some cases. 6 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016

EDITORIAL

THE ENERGY STORAGE ELECTRICAL SPIN CYCLE IS HERE CONNECTION

t is a long held belief that energy But, is it? Or is Tesla the Apple of MANAGING DIRECTOR storage will be the future of the the electrical industry? Is Powerwall Jeff Patchell [email protected] I electrical contracting market. The its iPod moment? rising cost of electricity, the increased The Powerwall isn’t a new concept GENERAL MANAGER awareness of energy efficient technologies – others have been working on similar Jeremy Sweet [email protected] – in particular solar – and the desire ideas for a while now, but it has caught for energy independence at a national the public’s attention (just like the iPod). EDITOR Paul Skelton level are all driving us towards a greater It’s very pretty (like the iPod) and more 03 9542 9016 proliferation of home batteries. expensive than some of its competitors [email protected]

Electrical Connection, for one, has been (also like the iPod). EDITOR – harping on the subject for some time now. The biggest challenge facing ACROSS THE TRADES And we’re not alone. Powerwall’s popularity among contractors Jacob Harris [email protected] But much like LEDs before it, the battery is that it isn’t coming through the market is starting to be inundated with wholesaler market. Instead, retailers are STAFF WRITERS Jacob Harris, Joe Young dubious and unsubstantiated claims now having a crack at going direct. This from suppliers trying to cash in on the could mean that someone somewhere GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kylie Mibus burgeoning market. overseas in a call centre will try to specify Specifically, some suppliers claim their a system for a property they have never PRODUCTION TEAM products can be charged by the grid or a seen and have no understanding of the Sam Elliott, Gail Dwyer generator while they can only be charged home owners’ consumption pattern. CONTRIBUTORS by solar panels. Others don’t work at all in This will lead to a lot of dismayed Phil Kreveld, David Herres, Gary Busbridge, Patrick McLaughlin, Kate Jordan, Andrew periods of grid power loss. customers who blame the industry as a Spence, Steve Arthur, Brian Seymour, Ian One of the reasons these claims enter whole and give up on the technology. Millner, Susan Neill

(and are allowed to confuse) the market Now is the ideal time for contractors ADVERTISING 1800 063 371 is that there are no clearly defined and wholesalers to come together to Simon Clark installation or performance standards figure out how they can be the arbiters of 0428 733 248 for the new solutions. On the plus side, energy storage in Australia. TO SUBSCRIBE Standards Australia is working on some Australia Freecall 1800 623 214 New Zealand 613 9542 9000 but in the meantime spurious claims will Until next time, Fax (with credit card details) 03 9542 9090 continue. By mail, please write to the address below In this instance, electrical contractors PUBLISHED BY: need to act as an educational resource for Connection Magazines Pty Ltd Unit 2/18-22 Lexia Place, the community, explaining the ins and outs Mulgrave, Victoria 3170 of the technology. This means you need to AUSTRALIA learn as much as possible about it too. ISSN 1839-2288

Disclaimer: TESLA IS HERE The opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Recently, a number of companies Although all materials are checked for accuracy, no liability is assumed by the publisher for announced ‘exclusive’ partnerships with any losses due to the use of material in this Tesla to supply the company’s Powerwall magazine. Copyright 2016 by Connection Magazines. All rights reserved. No part of to the Australian market. this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any For about $10,000, consumers now have form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, access to what is being touted as the next photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior permission of Connection Magazines. best thing since sliced bread. Paul Skelton

8 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016

CONTRIBUTORS

PHIL KREVELD GARY BUSBRIDGE GEORGE GEORGEVITS DAVID HERRES Let’s Get Technical The Buzz Troubleshooting Maintenance

Phil Kreveld is an electrical Gary Busbridge has been George Georgevits manages David Herres is author of engineer with broad with Clipsal for more than his own engineering two books published by experience in electrical and 40 years. Since 1997 he consultancy, Power and Digital McGraw-Hill and has wrtitten electronic instrumentation, had been involved with Instruments. PDI specialises over 80 articles for electrical including relay testing power Standards Australia and has in lab and fi eld testing and and electronic publications and power quality analysis. held memberships in several troubleshooting of cabling throughout the world. Standards committees. systems and components.

> See pages 38 and 50 > See page 46 > See page 42 > See pages 44 and 54

BRIAN SEYMOUR STEVE ARTHUR IAN MILLNER PAUL SKELTON Estimating Guiding Light Networking Editorial

Brian Seymour MBE, industry Steve Arthur has been involved Ian Millner has over 30 years’ Paul Skelton is a multi- consultant, author of Electrical in the electronic component experience in business, award seeking journalist Estimator’s Labour Unit and lighting industry for more telecommunications and and magazine editor. For Manual and Starting Out, than 15 years in Australia vocational training. He the past nine years he has conducts regular industry and internationally. Steve established (and later sold) been actively involved training programs throughout has previously led the OEM Milcom Communications, with the electrotechnology Australia on behalf of the business for Philips Lighting in a Registered Training sectors, looking for ways electrical and air conditioning Australia and is now its trade Organisation, and is now a to help readers build their industries. channel manager. consultant. businesses.

> See page 60 > See page 58 > See page 66 > See page 8

10 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 Summer’s here!

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For more information contact your local BDM or call us on: Ph: 1300 300 304 Fx: 1300 300 307 E-mail: [email protected] www.prysmiancable.com.au INDUSTRY NEWS

SOUTH AUSTRALIA LIGHTS THE WAY ON ROAD TO RENEWABLES NECA ANNOUNCES STUDENT OF The South Australian Government’s THE YEAR AWARD WINNER announcement that the state will produce zero net emissions by 2050 is a commitment that will drive positive change and unlock many economic opportunities over the next 35 years, the Clean Energy Council (CEC) says. CEC chief executive Kane Thornton says the South Australian Government continues to show strong leadership progressively higher levels of renewable that is delivering renewable energy energy and continue to operate a stable investment and cutting emissions, energy system. and its plan to be a net exporter “Currently about 40% of the power of renewable energy is extremely across the state comes from renewable welcome. energy, and the Australian Energy The National Electrical and “A long-term transition plan for a Market Operator says the system will Communications Association cleaner energy sector with strong remain secure and meet its reliability (NECA) has named Reece Jongenelis market signals will attract major private standards in the coming years – (pictured left) as the 2015 winner sector investment to the state. It is meaning at least 99.98% of power of the NECA School Student certainly achievable and the South demand will be served. Commitment to Industry award. Australian example to date shows that “Policymakers, regulators and market “Reece is clearly a high-achiever,” much higher levels of renewable energy operators need to take a more strategic said judges Stuart Diepeveen and are possible throughout the rest of the approach to prepare for the necessary Tom Emeleus, each of whom head up country,” Kane says. changes in our electricity system, and NECA Group Training Organisations. “This goal will need to be accompanied the renewable energy industry looks “We weren’t surprised when we by smart energy market reform forward to working constructively and found out that Reece had also won that ensures the state can run on collaboratively with these groups.” several other awards this year. He is exactly the kind of student we MELBOURNE TO HOST THE NATION’S LARGEST TRADES AND SKILLS CHALLENGE welcome to our industry.” Australia’s finest young apprentices, selected to progress onto the national Not only has Reece taken first trainees and students are gearing competition, where the pressure will prize in the NECA School Student up for the ultimate challenge: The be on as they undertake three days Awards, but he has received five 2016 WorldSkills Australia national of intensive competition against the additional accolades: competition, to be held this year in nation’s best in the hopes of being §Ŷ Marist Scholarship 2015 Recipient. Melbourne. named the national champion in their §Ŷ South Australian School-based Supported by the Victorian respective skill category. Apprentice of the Year 2015. Government, the national The competitors that progress to §Ŷ 2015 SA Training Awards People’s competition will be held from 6 to the national competition will spend Choice Winner. 8 October 2016 at the Melbourne the coming months dedicating every §Ŷ Finalist 2015 Australian Training Showgrounds. Close to 500 spare moment to honing their skills Awards. competitors from all corners of with the support of their trainers and §Ŷ Marcellin Apprentice of the Year Australia will compete in over 50 employers. 2015. skill categories, including electrical. WorldSkills Australia will find its This year’s runner up was Their journey began at the first national champions from 17 Jodie Crayden – from Woodvale WorldSkills Australia regional to 19 May at the Air Conditioning Secondary College, Western competitions held in 31 regions Refrigeration and Building Services Australia. Christopher Cover – from across the country. As the regional (ARBS) exhibition, which will host the Groves Christian College, Queensland competitions draw to a close, 2016 WorldSkills Australia National came in third. stand-out competitors will be Refrigeration Competition.

12 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 TESLA POWERWALL NOW AVAILABLE IN AUSTRALIA In December, a number of companies panels or from the grid, when utility SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC ENFORCES PATENT RIGHTS AGAINST CLIPSO announced partnerships (several of rates are low. Automated, compact which were ‘exclusive’) with electric and simple to install, Powerwall Schneider Electric has successfully vehicle maker Tesla, to import and sell enables customers to maximise self- enforced its registered patent the company’s Powerwall home battery. consumption of solar power generation. rights against Clipso Electrical. One of the companies, Origin Energy, CSR Bradford – a company perhaps The Federal Court has made says installation of the Powerwall best known for insulation – will also Orders in Schneider Electric’s system will commence in February 2016. supply and install the Tesla Powerwall favour, to declare that Clipso Origin chief executive of energy battery throughout Australia and New Electrical’s CLIPSMART USB markets Frank Calabria says, “By Zealand early in 2016 as part of a fully charger infringed Schneider offering rooftop solar with home integrated and automated system, Electric’s innovation patents. batteries, Origin is able to provide including PV panels and inverter. Importation and sale of households with greater control over Executive general manager CLIPSMART USB products will their energy use than ever before. Anthony Tannous says: “Just as Tesla “Customers can now also make their has revolutionised electric vehicles, cease, with all stock currently in investment in solar work harder, as excess Tesla Energy’s Powerwall will deliver the marketplace required to be electricity produced during the day can consumers personal control and delivered to Schneider Electric. be stored for use at a later time when the management of energy consumption. Clipsal and Schneider Electric solar panels do not produce electricity.” Savings in electricity are now easily Partner Business vice president Origin is bundling the Tesla Powerwall achievable.” David Gardner says: “This with Trina solar panels and the Solar The Tesla Powerwall home battery announcement from the Federal Edge inverter as part of a home energy unit is fully automated and simple to Court is a great step for Schneider solution. install, with no maintenance required. Electric to protect the hard “Home batteries will not be for At 1.3m x 0.86m and a depth of only work we do in designing and everyone at this early stage, but with 18cm it features a sleek design to developing reliable and innovative more than 80% of solar owners in a make it architecturally appealing. The products for our customers. recent survey indicating they would Powerwall batteries can be installed We value our intellectual consider buying a home battery, Origin indoors or outdoors and are controlled property highly and are proud is ideally placed to help consumers find via a web and mobile app interfaced of the reputation associated the right solution for them with its end with the specialised inverter. with the Clipsal by Schneider to end offering,” Frank says. The Daily 7kWh Powerwall will cover Electric brand.” Energy retailer Simply Energy has most of an Australian family’s power Clipso Electrical distributes a also announced that it will begin to offer requirements during the evening, the Tesla Powerwall. using energy stored from solar panels wide range of electrical products Part of the global ENGIE group, Simply during the day. The Tesla Powerwall under the CLIPSO trademark in the Energy also expects to install the first can provide an emergency backup in Australian market. Powerwall units in early 2016. the case of a grid outage and multiple Schneider Electric is continuing Simply Energy chief executive Carly batteries can be scaled together to meet to pursue Clipso Electrical in legal Wishart says Tesla’s home battery higher energy requirements if needed. proceedings for use of the CLIPSO storage had attracted enormous Widely praised as the future of name, infringement of Clipsal’s interest. sustainable living, home battery storage DOLLY SWITCH trademark, “Coupled with our solar PV offering, is considered the tipping point in making infringement of Schneider we see home battery storage playing solar energy a practical and affordable Electric’s registered design a major role in the transition to a low solution for everyday Australians. rights, contraventions of the carbon economy,” Carly says. CSR Bradford’s integrated power Australian Consumer Law and The Tesla Powerwall is attractively storage solutions will be available passing off. designed and is a conveniently-sized directly through its Bradford Energy The case is scheduled to be home battery capable of charging from Solutions, or through any one of its heard in May 2016. a range of energy sources including solar many Approved Installers.

www.electricalconnection.com.au 13 INDUSTRY NEWS

ACCC URGES BUSINESSES TO CHECK THAT THEIR CONTRACTS ARE FAIR EVS TO POWER HOMES IN WA The Australian Competition and check that your contracts are compliant.” The Government of Western Consumer Commission (ACCC) is urging The law applies to standard form Australia has enabled owners of businesses to closely review the contracts between businesses where home batteries and electric vehicles standard form contracts they use when one of the businesses employs less than to export electricity to the grid. dealing with other businesses. 20 people and the contract is worth up The state’s Energy Minister, Dr A new law will take effect on 12 to $300,000 in a single year or $1 million Mike Nahan, told a conference that November 2016, following a 12 month if the contract runs for more than a year. he has embraced the ‘Uber-fication’ of the electricity sector, saying it transition period, that offers small Standard form contracts provide little was important to challenge the businesses protections against unfair or no opportunity for the responding largely state-controlled market. contract terms offered by other (usually party to negotiate the terms – they are “This arrangement now means larger) firms. offered on a ‘take it or leave it’ basis. eligible customers can install This law supplements the existing law “The new protections will help battery storage or EV facilities to on unfair contract terms for consumers. address significant imbalances or complement their solar systems and The ACCC, Australian Securities and disadvantages to small businesses in export unused electricity onto the Investments Commission (ASIC) and their dealings with other businesses network,” Dr Nahan says. state and territory offices of fair trading by allowing the courts to declare void “This is an important development given the emerging are responsible for enforcing the law. unfair terms within standard form future trends which forecast “This new law is a positive step for contracts,” Dr Schaper says. widespread installation of PV plus small businesses that are presented If you’re from a small business and storage systems.” with standard form contracts,” ACCC you’re offered a standard form contract deputy chair, Dr Michael Schaper says. that includes a term you think is unfair, RECALL: MR16 DIMMABLE LED DRIVER “For every business that deals with visit the ACCC website to find out about There is a product recall on LEDified’s small businesses, now is the time to your protections under the law. 10W MR16 dimmable LED driver. An internal fault in the driver can cause it DESA AUSTRALIA JOINS THE ENGIE GROUP to fail. DESA Australia has announced that Middleton said that the move into Identifying features global energy and services company the ENGIE group created exciting Batch numbers 1351, 1418 and 1424 ENGIE has formally assumed 100% opportunities for DESA’s employees in for model numbers MR1650270700D ownership of the shares of the terms of the diversity of services the and MR1650400700D. company through its subsidiary: ENGIE business will now be able to offer its What are the defects? Energie Services S.A. customers. An internal fault in the driver can The DESA acquisition is in line with “It’s a great step forward for DESA cause it to fail, which may expose live parts or cause a fire. ENGIE’s strategy to help customers and puts the business in a unique What are the hazards? achieve their energy efficiency, position in our industry. It will also Risk of electric shock and fire. environment, operations and generate exciting development Dates available for sale maintenance objectives by offering opportunities for staff,” Dennis says. 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014 customers a one-stop shop for multi- DESA managing director Gerard Where the product was sold technical services, asset-based energy Whitely paid tribute to the role Dennis Victoria performance and environmental and his co–founders Stephen Scott and Traders who sold this product solutions. David Dewar had played in building This product sold direct to customers “With the ability to draw on ENGIE’s DESA into what it is today. through LEDified only. extensive expertise and our other “Dennis, David and Stephen have Supplier businesses in power generation and built a fantastic business as evidenced LEDified Lighting Corporation Pty Ltd retail, we have the opportunity by ENGIE’s interest in it. They will What should you do? to grow DESA even further,” says always be recognised as the founders If possible, avoid using the Jérôme Tolot, executive vice president of the business and I know they look downlights. LEDified Corporation will in charge of the Energy Services forward to seeing what the business be contacting the affected consumers. For further information on this recall, Business line. can achieve under ENGIE’s ownership,” contact LEDified Corporation for DESA chairman and founder Dennis Gerard says. replacement of LED drivers.

14 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 AUSTRALIA’S FIRST G.FAST TRIAL A SUCCESS NBN LAUNCHES FIRST BROADBAND nbn has successfully completed its first and fibre to the node (FTTN) rollouts SATELLITE INTO ORBIT trial of G.fast technology, providing under the nbn. Blasting 36,000kms into space from faster speeds over copper networks. Tony Cross, chief architect of the nbn, Guiana Space Centre in South America, The trial, conducted in Carlton, announced the new technology at the Sky Muster is one of the world’s most- Melbourne, hit speeds of over 600Mbps Broadband World Forum in London. advanced communication satellites and over 100m of existing copper wire. “We are very excited about the will play a critical role in providing fast G.fast technology will: potential that G.fast offers. It has broadband access to around 400,000 §Ŷ Make gigabit-level aggregate bit rates the potential to give us tremendous Australian homes and businesses. possible by adding spectrum to copper flexibility in delivering very fast speeds Over the coming months the satellite lines. The technology is equivalent to end users in a wide range of different will undergo final technical testing ahead to adding extra lanes to a highway. environments,” he says. of its commercial launch scheduled for Current VDLS2 lines use spectrum up “This is fantastic news because G.fast mid-2016. Once available, the service is to 17MHz. G.fast widens this spectrum can deliver exciting new services such expected to provide wholesale speeds to 106MHz. Anticipated amendments as symmetrical speeds, which will offer significantly faster than those currently will use frequencies up to 212MHz and new possibilities for both residential and used now. take bit rates to 1Gbps and beyond. commercial end users. We look forward nbn chief executive Bill Morrow says Current lab tests have hit 967Mbps on to working alongside our global peers the satellite will provide access to fast 20m of copper wire. to further develop our understanding of broadband for the parts of Australia that §Ŷ Provide fibre to the premises (FTTP) this great technology.” need it most. equivalent speeds without the Other jurisdictions exploring G.fast “With the launch of Sky Muster, we’re intrusive nature of an FTTP rollout. services include Taiwan, where one step closer to changing the digital The distance between homes and the Chunghwa Telecom has launched face of our nation,” he says. node, or last mile, becomes far less commercial G.fast services, and BT “The ability to video conference friends important with G.fast as it is able to in the UK which is in the final stages and family, study courses online and visit achieve higher network speeds over of trials. doctors from your lounge room will all be longer copper line distances. Retail service providers are due to possible in areas which have traditionally §Ŷ Be used in conjunction with the begin trials of G.fast technology in the struggled to access basic internet services fibre to the basement (FTTB), fibre first half of 2016, with the launch of like online banking and shopping. to the distribution point (FTTdP) commercial services anticipated in 2017. “Many homes and businesses in regional and rural Australia still rely on RECALL: CABLEPI (WIRE ALERT) dial-up level speeds and have little or no There is a product recall on CablePI Where the product was sold access to a commercial broadband service - a device that detects an electrical Tasmania – this satellite will help to close the divide fault known as a broken neutral Traders who sold this product and ensure no-one gets left behind.” and has been in use in Tasmania The device was distributed by for almost five years. In some Aurora Energy Pty Ltd (Tasmanian TE REOPENS IN CHRISTCHURCH circumstances, the device may Networks Pty Ltd has now taken overheat causing the outer case to The Prime Minister of New Zealand, responsibility for CablePI (Wire the Rt. Hon John Key, has officially distort and/or melt. Alert) devices). opened TE Connectivity’s new facility Identifying features Supplier in Hillsborough, Christchurch. Serial number ending in 13. Tasmanian Networks Pty Ltd What are the defects? The building has been custom What should you do? In some circumstances, the device designed to meet very high standards Consumers should immediately may overheat causing the outer case and to enhance employee health and stop using any device with a serial to distort and/or melt. number ending in 13. Tasmanian wellbeing with a light, airy, flexible and What are the hazards? Networks Pty Ltd should be futureproof fit-out. The defect may cause smoke or contacted on 1300 361 811 (between TE Connectivity’s new building ignite causing a fire. 9am to 5pm AEDST) to arrange is across the road from its former Dates available for sale the return of the device and a premises, which was badly damaged in 1 December 2013 to 30 June 2014. replacement. the earthquakes.

www.electricalconnection.com.au 15 INDUSTRY NEWS

LIGHTING COUNCIL AUSTRALIA PUBLISHES AN INTRODUCTION AUSTRALIAN SOLAR COUNCIL TO LIGHTING CONTROL PATRONS ANNOUNCED The peak body for Australia’s lighting The Australian Solar Council has industry has prepared an introductory LIGHTINGHT NGG CCOCONTROLSNTR I named three eminent Australians as guide outlining the benefi ts of lighting NTRODUCTION its inaugural Patrons. control. ACT Deputy Chief Minister and Lighting Controls Introduction Labor MLA Simon Corbell, former explains the part that lighting control Federal Liberal leader Professor systems play in achieving an energy John Hewson and former Senator effi cient lighting design; increased Lighting control systems
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SFHVMBUJPOT Australian Solar Council chief maintenance improvements and www.lightingcouncil.com.au executive John Grimes says. compliance with building regulations. “Australia has the world’s best Lighting Council Australia chief Overriding such systems is possible. solar resource and the world’s best executive Bryan Douglas says using “Research is starting to affi rm that solar brains. We can and should be lighting control can cut energy bills, productivity benefi ts and increased the world leader in solar. reduce greenhouse emissions and make learning outcomes can result from “After a positive start the Solar a lighting system fl exible and convenient varying lighting intensity and colour due Council calls on the Turnbull to use. to reinforced circadian rhythms.” Government to end moves to abolish “For example, using a light level switch Lighting control can provide the Climate Change Authority, the to control external building lighting will conveniences and benefi ts for all Clean Energy Finance Corporation mean that external lights are not left on types of buildings and applications. and the Australian Renewable in the day time,” he says. Designers, installers, specifi ers and Energy Agency (ARENA) and calls “Occupancy sensors and automatic building owners should discuss their on all political parties to commit light dimmers can switch or dim needs with their lighting equipment to more ambitious greenhouse lighting automatically so that spaces supplier or refer to the capability section emission reduction targets, and a are lit to pre-determined illumination of the Lighting Council Australia website, positive solar plan for Australia.” levels and only when occupied. www.lightingcouncil.com.au.

RECALL: 240W LED HIGH BAY LUMINAIRE The 240W LED high bay luminaire from as an anchorage. The terminal block §Ŷ QLD – Commercial Solar Group Beijing Hua Xin Liu He Investment on the secondary driver may be prone §Ŷ QLD – Haymans Electrical Toowoomba (Australia) Pty Ltd has been recalled to charring. In addition, the accessible §Ŷ QLD – OzLED after it was discovered that the metal fi ns on the LED luminaire may not §Ŷ QLD – Auzion luminaire has a fl exible supply cord that be earthed. Supplier may be tied in a knot and used as an What are the hazards? Beijing Hua Xin Liu He Investment anchorage. This means there is risk of Risk of electric shock and potential (Australia) Pty Ltd electric shock and potential fi re hazard. fi re hazard. Identifying features What should you do? Dates available for sale The 240W High Bay LED Luminaire Stop using the lumainaire 17 May 2012 to 1 October 2014 under recall can identifi ed by the model immediately by switching off the power number: FK-GK240. Where the product was sold at the socket outlet and unplug it from the socket outlet. Remove the luminaire This can be found on the label sticker §Ŷ Queensland safely and contact your supplier. on the top of the LED luminaire. §Ŷ Western Australia Please direct any queries concerning What are the defects? Traders who sold this product this recall to Beijing Hua Xin Liu He The luminaire has a fl exible supply §Ŷ WA – Brooks Construction Investment (Australia) by calling 08 6555 cord that may be tied in a knot and used §Ŷ WA – Solar Harness 1815 or emailing [email protected].

16 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016

INDUSTRY NEWS

NBN RELEASES LEAD-IN TRENCHING GUIDE FOR NBN PUBLICATION OF SA/SNZ TS nbn has recently released its Lead-in nbn states in the document that 1158.6 AND MODIFIED ADOPTION Trenching Requirements guide that the trench must be constructed and OF IEC 60598.2.3 outlines its requirements for lead-in reinstated (together with any termite Standards Australia (SA) Technical trenching from the nbn boundary to the barriers and other building elements) in Committee LG-002, Lighting for building entry point. accordance with all relevant laws and Roads and Public Spaces, has The document is intended to provide regulations (which may vary between completed a multi-stage process guidance to property developers, states and territories). to revise AS/NZS 1158.6:2010, consultants, builders and customers on For new building construction, nbn Lighting for Roads and Public how to locate the nbn property entry recommends the use of a trench provided Spaces – Part 6: Luminaires. point and the nbn lead-in requirements for, or to be shared with, another service SA has now published SA/ for the premises. (e.g. the electrical mains power). SNZ TS 1158.6, Lighting for roads nbn requires the property developer, For established premises, the nbn and public spaces - Luminaires builder or customer to provide a suitable trench must be kept well away from - Performance, and AS/NZS trench for the installation of nbn lead-in any other existing underground 60598.2.3, Particular requirements cabling between the nbn property entry services for safety reasons and to avoid - Luminaires for road and street point and the building entry point. damaging the other services. lighting. This began as a process to REVISION OF INSTALLATION VET FEE-HELP REFORMS APPROVED revise AS/NZS 1158.6:2010 to REQUIREMENTS FOR GRID The Federal Government’s Higher accommodate LED technology CONNECTION OF ENERGY SYSTEMS Education Amendment (VET FEE-HELP requirements. Following multiple VIA INVERTERS Reform) Bill 2015 passed through the rounds of public and stakeholder Standards Australia has recently Senate last week with the support of consultation, it was decided published AS/NZS 4777.2, Grid connection the Opposition and minor parties. that the most appropriate way of energy systems via inverters – Part The new rules, which came into effect forward was a modified text 2: Inverter requirements. Prepared by on 1 January 2016, provide greater adoption of IEC 60598.2.3 by Technical Committee EL-042, Renewable protections for students and seeks technical committee EL-041, Energy Power Supply Systems & to increase the standards of the VET Lamps and Related Equipment, Equipment, this standard replaces AS sector through the stamping out of to address safety requirements 4777.2-2005 and AS 4777.3-2005. unscrupulous marketing and enrolment for luminaires, and a technical Much anticipated by industry, it defines practices. These amendments include: specification regarding minimum performance and safety §Ŷ providers must assess the student’s performance requirements by requirements. Its scope focuses on the capacity to undertake the course for LG-002. design, construction and operation of which they are enrolling; AS/NZS 60598.2.3 covers the inverters intended for use in inverter §Ŷ stronger safeguards for under 18 minimum safety requirements. energy systems for the injection of electric year old students so that they cannot It is a modified adoption of the power through an electrical installation be signed up for a VET FEE-HELP loan IEC standard, due to the varying into the grid. without parental consent; operating and environmental “With more than 1.4 million inverter §Ŷ new entry requirements for registered conditions found in Australia and energy systems already installed Australia training organisations seeking to New Zealand. wide and another 130,000 inverter energy become a VET FEE-HELP provider; SA/SNZ TS 1158.6 forms part systems being added each year ,this §Ŷ pausing payments to training of the AS/NZS 1158 series, which standard is important for all Australians,” providers for new enrolments until covers lighting schemes for the EL-042 chairman Nigel Wilmot says. concerns about poor performance generality of roads and outdoor This standard falls within AS/NZS are addressed public areas. The document defines 4777, which will shortly see the addition NECA chief executive Suresh enhanced luminaire performance of AS/NZS 4777.1, Grid connection of Manickam has welcomed the new and durability provisions to energy systems via inverters – Part 1: measures as good news that seeks to account for extreme Australian and Installation requirements. address industry concerns about VET New Zealand conditions. Publication is anticipated for 2016. provider performance.

18 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016

NEW PRODUCTS

CLAMP METER TOWEL RAIL TIMER Fluke CABAC www.fl uke.com.au www.cabac.com.au Often the most frustrating task for electricians The S-Click Real and maintenance technicians is to troubleshoot Time towel rail intermittent faults because they rarely occur timer kit from at convenient times. The new Fluke Connect- CABAC delivers enabled 370 FC Series Clamp Meters log warm and dry measurements to pinpoint intermittent faults towels at the time precisely without the need for the technician you need them. to be present. Those measurements are then The timer automatically turns the wirelessly transmitted to the Fluke Connect app power on every day at pre-determined on smart phones or tablets and automatically times, then automatically turns off. uploaded to the cloud, keeping technicians The duration times can be pre-set from outside the arc fl ash zone and away from one to six hours. It will also remember dangerous moving machinery, improving safety. routine times even after power failure. The CAT IV 600 V, CAT III 1000 V safety-rated Designed, engineered and clamp meters offer advanced troubleshooting manufactured in Australia the kit performance to capture a wide range of includes a CABAC HNS710RT 2-Wire measurements with a single tool, including proprietary in-rush measurement Real Timer, a CABAC wall plate, cable technology to fi lter out noise and capture motor starting current exactly as clamp, CABAC/HPM-style push button, the circuit protection sees it, and an expanded measurement range to 2,500A Clipsal-style push button, insulation AC with the iFlex fl exible current probes, which provide access to large breakdown sticker, HNS710RT conductors in tight spaces. instruction sticker and HNS710RT-Kit towel rail.

TEMPORARY SITE BOARD DUCTED AC UNIT ENCLOSURE Bovara Fujitsu General Siemon www.bovara.com.au www.fujitsugeneral.com.au www.siemon.com Bovara has launched a new Fujitsu General has launched three Siemon has range of temporary power new high static single phase ducted air announced a new 24- site boards, DIN TYPE 400, conditioning systems. port MAX zone unit which are a cost-effective The indoor units can be split into two enclosure designed to solution for electrical parts, making it easier to install within support cost-effective contractors who want to ceiling cavities. An automatic static zone cabling in a have more DIN powerpoints pressure setting allows users to set the variety of enterprise in less space. They are fully static pressure to match the installation, workspaces by wired, labelled and enclosed in a 400 x helping to maintain optimum airfl ow enabling shorter, 400 x 170mm IP23 metal enclosure. while reducing the time required for easy-to-manage connections to work Laser cut and assembled with commissioning. area or equipment outlets. precision, they are engineered and Key energy management features The unit enclosure accepts ports using designed to accommodate eight to 14 include a new V type indoor heat Siemon copper or fi bre MAX outlets, DIN powerpoints along with a one phase exchanger, high effi cient DC fan motor Z-MAX Category 6A outlets or TERA main switch or three phase outlet. In with lower power consumption and a Category 7A outlets to support a wide addition, they are workcover-compliant new airfl ow design. range of horizontal copper and fi bre and are also available in different applications. It features foam gasketing electrical confi gurations upon request. to minimise vibration and prevent dust The new temporary power site boards ingress and includes easy-to-remove are also backed by a 12-month ‘quality knockouts to facilitate routing cables in assurance’. and out of the enclosure.

20 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 PLASTIC PIPE LOCATOR ACTIVE FILTERS DIGITAL MULTIMETER Subsurface Instruments Schneider Electric Keysight Technologies www.ssilocators.com www.schneider-electric.com.au www.keysight.com The AML PRO Schneider Electric Keysight Technologies from Subsurface has announced has announced two Instruments the availability of new handheld digital uses ultra-high the AccuSine PCS+ multimeters (DMMs). radio frequencies and AccuSine PFV+ The U1280A and U1240C to fi nd differences in active fi lters. Series handheld DMMs densities. This offers the AccuSine PCS+ is a fl exible, high- are extremely rugged and come with an best method for locating PVC performance active fi lter that stabilises extended battery life of 800 and 400 and PE pipes, as well as nearly any electrical networks, providing ultra- hours respectively. Both are certifi ed to other object that has an edge. fast, extremely accurate harmonic IP 67 for complete protection against dust Weight just 1.1kg, the AML PRO cancellation, power factor correction and immersion of water up to 1m, and are features new microprocessor and load balancing. It exceeds all capable of withstanding up to a 3m drop. intelligence and patented radio wave harmonic standards worldwide and is With 60,000-count display resolution, technology in a durable ABS housing. the only harmonic fi lter in the world the U1280 Series 4.5-digit handheld DMMs It also comes with a rechargeable to have THD(I) or THD(V) set points (it offer the precision and accuracy needed for lithium battery and noise isolating provides 3% THD(I) when 3% impedance installation and maintenance work. headphones. Other features include and fi lter output is greater than 50% The U1240C Series 4-digit handheld a backlit display, GPS plotting and of its rating). Unlike passive fi lters, DMMs come with 10,000-count display tracking, 32 sensitivity settings, a AccuSine PCS+ cannot be overloaded resolution and provide a broad range of digital levelling meter and a digital and is best applied as a system-wide measurement functions for installation targeting indicator. solution to provide dynamic output that and maintenance work in industrial adjusts as the load changes. facilities.

SPRING CONTACTS POLYCARBONATE ENCLOSURE Treotham Automation NHP www.treotham.com.au www.nhp.com.au The ilme SQUICH NHP has introduced Fibox ARCA CMSH 830V inserts polycarbonate enclosures designed are spring contacts especially for use in harsh and demanding that need no tools for environments. connection and allow Manufactured using glass-reinforced the tightening of the polycarbonate, this new combination is as wire to be done by an actuator button. strong as steel without any risk of corrosion, The fast and simple system can be and at one-sixth of the weight. This means used with all types of enclosures. The extended lifetime and increased possibility inserts are available in 3-, 6- and 10-pole of one-man installation. The rugged ARCA versions, with two auxiliary poles. range is also high-impact and UV resistant, It is a simple system that doesn’t aesthetically pleasing and provides excellent require any special wire preparation protection against vandalism. or tools, except for a 0.5 x 3.5mm With no requirement for complicated screwdriver. It therefore offers a tools courtesy of patent pending, easy-to- reduced preparation and cabling time. use DIN-rail frame set design and innovative It can be used with fl exible and rigid lockable inner door, customisation is easily wires with a cross section between achieved either on site or in the factory. Due to the polycarbonate based 0.14mm² and 2.5mm². It also offers a material there is no hazardous dust or swarf residue produced when drilling/ great fastening solution and excellent cutting, ensuring it is safe and simple to install. resistance to strong vibrations.

www.electricalconnection.com.au 21 COVER STORY

TRADE SECRET IS A CERT

NEED A CASH FLOW BOOST? having difficulty with cash flow in your 2020. (The RET was reviewed by the RENEWABLE ENERGY business as a result? Federal Government in June 2015 and CERTIFICATES MEAN YOU CAN The solution to all these problems, reduced from the previously legislated GET THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS in some way, could be the renewable 41,000GWh to 33,000GWh.) FOR A FEW PIECES OF PAPER. energy certificate (REC). In addition to RECs, state-based PAUL SKELTON TELLS HOW. RECs are the byproduct of the energy efficiency schemes also offer Howard Government’s renewable environmental certificates that can add re you struggling to compete energy target (RET) – a policy value to your business. with other sparkies in your area? designed to ensure that at least Under the various schemes, people A Are they undercutting you, 33,000GWh of Australia’s electricity can earn the following simply by making and you can’t figure out how? Are you comes from renewable sources by energy-efficient changes to their properties: > RECs under the RET; > Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificates (VEECs) through the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target (VEET); or, > Energy Savings Certificates (ESCs) through the NSW Energy Savings Scheme (ESS). The certificates can later be traded in for a cash rebate, potentially improving a contractor’s cash flow and competiveness in the market. “High energy users, carbon producers and energy retailers around the country have a liability under the RET, which came into effect in 2001 as part of the Howard Government’s Climate Change Action Plan,” Greenbank Environmental chief executive Fiona O’Hehir says. “It started as a 2% target but has since increased to 20% by 2020. “Now if you install, say, a solar water-heating system, then you’re not contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, which means you’re entitled to create RECs. RECs are worth money on the environmental market, which works similar to a stock exchange. “So if you want to know why you’re losing market share, chances are that your competitor is offsetting the cost of a system with RECs.”

WHAT IS VEET? VEET is a Victoria-based scheme and

22 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 is one of the energy efficiency schemes reduce their energy consumption. (excluding any shortfall it is allowed to operating across the country to reduce “The number of tonnes of greenhouse carry forward to the next compliance greenhouse gas emissions. gases you abated is how many year), it must pay a penalty.” It is also designed to encourage certificates you earned,” Ben says. investment, employment and technology “The VEET program was then THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SOLUTION development in industries supplying expanded into the commercial market, Most recently, in December 2015, the goods and services that reduce consumer and the advent of LED meant that the South Australian Government passed its use of electricity and gas. most common way of earning VEECs was own legislation that would make similar The scheme operates by placing a the replacement of halogen lamps with savings possible in the South. liability on large energy retailers in LED lighting.” The Local Government (Building Victoria to surrender a specified number Upgrade Agreements) Amendment of VEECs every year. Each certificate WHAT IS THE ESS? Bill 2015 is designed to overcome represents one tonne of greenhouse Just like its Victorian counterpart, barriers to environmental upgrades gas abated. the NSW ESS reduces electricity of existing commercial buildings The VEET Act and regulations allow consumption in NSW by creating – upgrades that can reduce costs for accredited entities to create VEECs financial incentives for organisations to for tenants while improving the when they help consumers make selected invest in energy savings projects. carbon footprint and environmental energy efficiency improvements to their “Energy savings are achieved by performance of existing buildings. home or business. installing, improving or replacing energy “This Bill has the potential to create For example, LED lighting that meets savings equipment,” a spokesman says. hundreds – if not thousands – of the regulations is eligible for a deemed “The ESS is governed by NSW important jobs and free up more than quantity of VEECs when installed by an legislation. It places a mandatory half a billion dollars in potential CBD accredited business. obligation on ‘liable entities’ (eg: energy capital investment,” Climate Change “Electricians can now register with retailers) to obtain and surrender ESCs, Minister Ian Hunter says. the Essential Services Commission which represent energy savings. “It clears the way for building owners – which administers VEET – so that “The development of the policy to begin revitalising our ageing building installation of energy efficiency framework is the responsibility of the stock, which will have the added benefit product can attract VEECs,” a Victorian Office of Environment and Heritage of advancing our plans for Adelaide Department of Primary Industries and the Department of Trade and to become the world’s first carbon spokesman says. Investment, Regional Infrastructure neutral city. “When electricians involve themselves and Services. “For commercial property owners, in the scheme, either directly or “When businesses invest in reducing building upgrades can reduce operating through a third party, the revenue their energy use, ESCs are created by costs, increase yields, help attract and created through the sale of certificates voluntary scheme participants that retain tenants and improve asset values. means they can offer discounts to their have helped to implement those energy “Benefits to tenants include net customers, thereby making themselves savings activities. reductions in operating costs, improved more competitive.” “Electricity retailers, which are indoor amenity, staff productivity and VEET is a market-based scheme, mandatory scheme participants, contributions towards corporate social meaning the value of individual then buy the ESCs to meet their own responsibility goals – not to mention certificates is determined by supply legislated targets, as required by law. greenhouse gas savings of up to 32%.” and demand. Electricity retailers are “The price of certificates varies due The Property Council of Australia’s SA required to purchase or generate VEECs to supply and demand and can fluctuate executive director Daniel Gannon says to reach defined targets each year. considerably depending on market the legislation will lead to a number of Greenbank settlements manager and conditions. Historically, ESCs have benefits, in particular to tradespeople. head of energy efficiency Ben Redmond traded between $14 and $32. “The Building Upgrade Finance explains that the VEET was established “There is no maximum price for an mechanism makes economic sense, not as a residential scheme. Home owners ESC; however, the penalty price acts as only for building owners and occupiers as could change their incandescent globes a practical maximum price: if a liable a means of managing their utility costs, to CFLs or electric water heaters to entity does not surrender the required but for the businesses that can provide instantaneous gas or solar, which would number of certificates in a given year the clean technologies and solutions

www.electricalconnection.com.au 23 that lift building performance,” he says. “Financing such upgrades through Building Upgrade Finance may offer a number of benefi ts compared to other forms of traditional fi nance – the potential is limitless and could be applied to offi ces, shopping centres, hotels, healthcare facilities, university buildings, factories and warehouses.”

HOW YOU CAN BENEFIT “These state schemes are really set up to make energy effi ciency more affordable,” Ben says. “The idea is that contractors can design and install an energy effi cient system for $X, knowing that they’ll earn a number of certifi cates from the replacement of the existing system, which can then offset the cost. “This means they can give a ‘discount’ to the property owner. “Once the system is installed, the contractor can come to Greenbank, which will create the certifi cates, and we will buy them from the contractor. Of course, the home owner could do this themselves but that is rare, with the installer/contractor acting on the property owner’s behalf.” Greenbank is Australia’s largest Ben says about 95% of solar installers the certifi cates is negated. environmental certifi cate creator already claim RECs, but a large number “It’s so much easier to come to a and trader. It essentially acts as an of hot water and lighting installations company like ours.” ‘aggregator’, purchasing RECs, VEECs haven’t been subject to a claim. The process is simple, he says. and ESCs from contractors and property “A lot of credits are just going to waste. Contractors can simply set up an account owners then selling them in large bundles “Installers need to understand that with Greenbank online. Claiming RECs to retailers to offset their liability they can use these certifi cates as a after opening an account can also be “Greenbank essentially provides sales tool. You can reduce the cost to done online or via an app. installers with practically instant customers without losing any income. Of Given the increasing pressures cash fl ow. Once we receive the signed course, because the certifi cates trade on facing tradies, remaining competitive forms and mandatory supporting the market, the price fl uctuates, so that’s and maintaining a steady cash fl ow documentation, we pay within 24 hours a risk you’ll need to manage. is imperative for survival. As you when our customers use our online REC “However, you have 12 months after are already installing energy saving portal and phone app. a solar system has been commissioned systems, why not use all the tools at “Once we have purchased the to create and sell the certifi cates, so you your disposal? certifi cates, we adopt all compliance and can study price fl uctuations the same As Fiona says: “Where else can you pricing risk. That’s why a service like ours way you would the stock market and sell get thousands of dollars for six pieces is very appealing to installers. They don’t when the price is high.” of paper?” have any compliance risk of the regulator Ben notes that installers can generate saying something was fi lled out wrong and their own certifi cates, but it’s a lot of > Greenbank Environmental contractors have to go back to the site.” work – to the point where the value of www.green-bank.com.au

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CATEGORY 8 QUESTIONS ANSWERED

AS INTEREST IN CATEGORY and channel distance, as well as other data rate over Cat 6A because 10GBase-T 8 CABLING APPLICATIONS performance characteristics you deem is still the fastest twisted-pair-based data INCREASES, PATRICK appropriate. Please describe how, if at rate recognised by IEEE 802.3. Therefore, MCLAUGHLIN ASKS SUPPLIERS all, the TIA is approaching backward even if a Cat 7/7A cabling system is FOR INSIGHT ON THE NEW compatibility between Cat 8 and previous- installed, any available active equipment PROTOCOL. generation twisted-pair systems.) would be limited to 10Gbps performance. Answer provided by Leviton Network Cat 7/7A is not a recognised category by Solutions senior product manager TIA. (See Table 1.) s the Telecommunications Mark Dearing: Cat 8 is a signifi cant departure from Industry Association (TIA) Since Cat 5e was introduced in 1999, one previous systems in that it uses a A TR-42.7 sub-committee of the constants in structured cabling has frequency of 2,000MHz, and is limited to works diligently toward fi nalising the been the 100m, four-connector channel. a 30m two-connector channel. Unlike Cat specifi cations for Category 8 twisted- As data rates have increased, one of the 5e through Cat 6A, which could use either pair cabling systems, we asked several primary differences between category unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) or shielded members of the subcommittee to answer systems is the frequency at which the cable construction, Cat 8 will require some questions about Cat 8. signal is transmitted over the cable. shielded cabling. The most likely cable Q: Can you provide a summary of how Cat 7/7A offers a 100m four-connector construction for Cat 8 will be 22-AWG S/ a Cat 8 cabling system’s capabilities channel using shielded cabling and has FTP cabling. compare to those of previous-generation been designed to transmit signals at a Cat 8 is also unique in that the twisted-pair cabling systems, such as frequency of 1,000MHz. Even though Cat International Organisation for Cat 6, 6A, 7, 7A, etc? (Please address 7/7A operates at the higher frequency, Standardisation (ISO) standard will bandwidth, channel confi guration there is no corresponding improvement in recognise two different classes of product. (This topic is covered in greater TABLE 1 detail later in this article.) Class I is based Attribute Category 5e Category 6 Category 6A Category 7/7A Category 8 on the traditional RJ45 connector, while Frequency 100MHz 250MHz 500MHz 1,000MHz 2,000MHz Class II will accept non-RJ45 connectors similar to Cat 7/7A. While both solutions Maxiumum 100Base-T 1,000Base-T 10GBase-T 10GBase-T 25GBase-T data rate 40GBase-T will offer backward compatibility in terms Distance 100m 100m 100m 100m 30m of transmitting the lower category data Number of 4444 2 rates (1G or 10G), the Class I solution offers connectors in a migration path using the RJ45 connector channel platform. For example, a customer might Cable UTP or UTP or UTP or Shielded Shielded install a Cat 8 jack-to-jack link now, but construction Shielded Shielded Shielded continue to use Cat 6A patch cords until Connector RJ45 RJ45 RJ45 Non-RJ45 Class 1: RJ45 the active equipment is upgraded. While Type Class 2: Non RJ45 the ISO standard includes both classes, the TIA Cat 8 standard will only recognise TABLE 2 a Class I solution. ISO Cabling ISO (components) TIA (cabling and components) Q: Given Cat 8’s capabilities, where and Class D Category 5e Category 5e how is it most likely to be deployed (e.g. Class E Category 6 Category 6 in a data centre vs. a corporate LAN, top- of-rack vs. end-of-row architectures)? Class EA Category 6A Category 6A Class I Category 8.1 Category 8 Answer provided by CommScope engineering senior principal Masood Class F Category 7A No equivalent A Shariff: Class II Category 8.2 Class II Cat 8 cabling is designed to support

26 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 emerging IEEE 25GBase-T and 40GBase-T Cat 8 specifi cations are in concert with standards organisations has been needed as server-to-access-switch the IEEE’s 40GBase-T and 25GBase-T very positive and constructive, with interconnect applications. This need has specifi cations? several common members attending the been identifi ed and available, or under Answer provided by Masood Shariff: meetings. development, over optical fi bre links for The IEEE 802.3bq Task Force is Q: Can you explain the relationship longer reach (up to 500m), or twinax links collaborating with TIA TR-42.7 and between the TIA and ISO/IEC groups for short reach (up to 7m). ISO/IEC/JTC 1/SC 25/WG3 to ensure working to defi ne Cat 8 cabling The opportunity for balanced twisted- consistency and compatibility of the specifi cations? Specifi cally, how are the pair as a cost-effective viable media cabling specifi cations within the ‘link two groups’ efforts similar and how do option for the intermediate distance needs segment’ specifi cations in IEEE 802.3bq they differ from each other? Observers between 5m and 30m, suffi cient to serve applications. Liaison letters to clarify of the standards-creation processes see 20 cabinets or racks in a data centre, led requirements or provide additional terms like ‘Class II’, ‘Cat 8.1’, and ‘Cat 8.2’. to the initiation and development of both information are generated at most The meanings of these terms are not the IEEE 802.3 application standards and meetings and latest drafts of the TIA necessarily self-evident. the associated TIA as well as ISO/IEC Cat 8 and ISO Cat 8 specifi cations are sent Answer provided by Siemon director cabling standards. to the IEEE 802.3bq committee, where of standards and technology Valerie Q: What communication or they are posted in a ‘private’, password- Maguire: collaboration is taking place between protected area for members to review The TIA TR-42 Telecommunications the TIA and the IEEE-particularly the and comment. The relationship between Cabling Systems Engineering Committee 802.3bq Task Force-to ensure the TIA’s IEEE 802.3bq and its companion cabling and the joint technical committee

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www.electricalconnection.com.au 27 NWHSSTRAUTUMN_3465_01/16 of the International Organisation for developing requirements for the balanced topologies, ensure that your jack-to-jack Standardisation and the International twisted-pair media that will support the links are no more than 24m in length and Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/ 25GBase-T and 40GBase-T applications that you do not need more than 6m of IEC JTC 1) share similar missions of that are currently under development patch cords in total. What this means for developing, maintaining, and promoting by IEEE 802.3. ISO/IEC is developing patching is you could have two, 3m patch standards related to information and requirements for Class I cabling cords, a 1m and a 5m patch cord, or any communications technology. However, constructed from Cat 8.1 components, combination that adds up to 6m or less. while TIA standards represent the and Class II cabling constructed from For top-of-rack topologies, the 3m consensus positions of their North Cat 8.2 components. TIA is developing reach should be more than sufficient to American corporate constituents, ISO/IEC requirements for Cat 8 cabling cover any direct switch-to-server links, JTC1 standards represent the consensus constructed from Cat 8 components and especially if the data centre had been positions of their member countries. is also undertaking an initiative to develop using technologies like SFP+ that have a As a result, voting within these Class II cabling requirements that will reach limit of about 5m. organisations is also different, with harmonise with ISO/IEC. Class I and Cat Q: How similar can we expect Cat 8 TIA recognising one vote per member 8 cabling specifications support modular products to be compared to jacks and plugs company and ISO/IEC recognising one RJ45-style connectors. The performance existing in the market today? Will products vote per member country. A voting associated with Class II cabling can only be field-terminable? And with Cat 8 being practice that accommodates regional be realised when Cat 8.2 cables are used a shielded technology, are there any preferences is the key reason why there in conjunction with non-RJ45 interfaces anticipated concerns for installers? are additional shielded options, such such as the Siemon TERA connector. Answer provided by Frank Straka: as Cat 7A/Class FA specified in ISO/IEC Draft ISO/IEC Class I and II, and TIA Cat Cat 8 products are anticipated to standards compared to TIA standards. 8 cabling specifications, are mature and be significant upgrades over existing (See Table 2.) currently circulating for industry comment Cat 6A products due to the four-times While specifications for same- and review. increase in bandwidth. However, these bandwidth balanced twisted-pair copper Note that Class I, Class II, and Cat upgrades will primarily occur internally cabling systems are well harmonised 8 cabling is characterised to 2GHz to the jack and plug in order to meet that between TIA and ISO/IEC, there are a and intended to support 30m cabling bandwidth. Externally, they will be about few differences that stand out-most channels that contain no more than two the same form and fit as prior category notably the naming convention for these connectors. These channels and the jacks. This makes sense, as they need cabling systems. In ISO/IEC standards, emerging 25/40GBase-T applications that to work with the same patch panels, structured cabling components (e.g. they support are specifically targeted for switches, and other equipment with cables, connecting hardware, and deployment at the data centre “edge,” which users are familiar today. patch cords) are characterised by a where server-to-switch connections are Cat 8 will be field-terminable. Now given performance “category” and are mated to made. Data centre designers who can that Cat 8 is shielded, field-terminable, form a permanent link or channel arrange their rack and cabinet layouts and with a very high bandwidth, expect that is described by a performance to support maximum 30m channel there to be at least some improvements “class.” In TIA standards, components and connections at these locations today made to how jacks are terminated in the cabling are both characterised by will be well-positioned to migrate to field to both meet this new bandwidth a performance “category.” ISO/IEC 25/40GBase-T when the technology and to ensure a good bond with the shield. and TIA equivalent grades of cabling, becomes available. For many contractors, the biggest change arranged in order of increasingly more Q: What steps can a customer take will be going into a shielded system stringent transmission performance, are today to design their facilities in such a and ensuring that the cable is properly shown in the table. way that they are “future-ready” to install grounded. If we connector companies do Note that, although ISO/IEC Class Cat 8 when product becomes available? our job right, grounding the Cat 8 cables I and TIA Cat 8 cabling systems are Answer provided by Panduit product and connectors will be a seamless process specified to 2,000MHz, they will not be development manager Frank Straka: for the installer. electrical supersets (i.e. exhibit superior Cat 8 is a 30m channel, comprising a performance) of ISO/IEC Class FA cabling 24m permanent link and up to 6m of patch This article originally appeared in up to 1,000MHz. cable. Therefore, when planning data Cabling Installation & Maintenance. Both the ISO/IEC JTC1 and TIA TR-42 are centres with end-of-row or middle-of-row Reproduced with permission.

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EVERY YEAR, FIVE MILLION like this and is probably one of NICKEL-CADMIUM (NICD) the reasons why the Queensland BATTERIES ARE SENT TO Government chose to work with LANDFILL, DUMPING 90 Lighting Council. We have built up a TONNES OF CADMIUM INTO THE lot of experience with FluroCycle, and ENVIRONMENT. NOW, A NEW ExitCycle closely mirrors FluroCycle in its SCHEME AIMS TO RECYCLE THESE approach,” Bryan says. EMERGENCY AND EXIT LIGHTING “The scheme will operate along very BATTERIES INSTEAD. KATE similar lines to FluroCycle, in that we will JORDAN REPORTS. have a signatory category of ‘battery collector’. Those collectors will collect the product and transport it to the ighting Council Australia has recycling centres.” launched a new battery recycling campaign, Lighting Council is working As yet, the scheme does not have any L initiative to prevent cadmium, a with the Queensland Department of publicised goals. highly toxic heavy metal, entering the Environmental and Heritage Protection “As this is a pilot program, we have environment. on a voluntary pilot program to recycle not established recycling targets; Cadmium is used in approximately exit and emergency lighting batteries. however, recyclers are required to 90% of emergency and exit lighting While the main reason for basing the provide Lighting Council with recycling batteries and is almost as toxic as pilot in Queensland is the support of the data as part of their signatory mercury – and yet 90,000kg of this local government, the Sunshine State commitments,” Bryan explains. heavy metal is dumped in Australian also makes an ideal testing ground, Lighting Council is acting on its own landfills every year. Bryan says. initiative in setting up the scheme; “It is very important that we begin “Queensland is very suitable for this there’s no push from government or to divert cadmium from landfill, collect pilot project. It will provide valuable environmental groups. it and recycle it,” says Lighting Council lessons for us in getting these batteries “We like to think we’re acting chief executive Bryan Douglas. from both a major metropolitan area and responsibly as an industry and taking “It’s quite similar to mercury in regional centres to recycling centres,” responsibility for the products our its toxicity and there is insufficient he says. members are putting onto the market,” attention given to address the potential “At this stage it is a Queensland Bryan says. hazards. project, with the generous support of The Queensland Government is vocal “Emergency lighting is ubiquitous. In the Queensland government, but at the in its support of ExitCycle. almost every commercial establishment end of the 12 month pilot period, we do “We are proud to support Lighting we see emergency lighting and that is why hope to migrate the initiative to a fully- Council and encourage the use of we have so many ending up as landfill. We fledged national scheme.” environmentally appropriate solutions to need to address this problem now.” Lighting Council’s role is to recruit managing our wastes,” says Queensland Lighting Council already has a similar signatories for the initiative, as it did Minister for Environment and Heritage scheme called FluroCycle that focuses (and continues to do) with the FluroCycle Protection, Dr Steven Miles. on mercury-containing lamps. This scheme. FluroCycle currently has more “A number of large businesses and nationwide voluntary scheme encourages than 200 signatories, providing an organisations such as the Brisbane commercial and public organisations excellent base of potential signatories Convention and Exhibition Centre have to become signatories, committing for the new scheme to draw from. The already committed to battery recycling themselves to recycling mercury- success of the FluroCycle has certainly and should be commended.” containing lamps and in return improving helped the launch of ExitCycle. their environmental reputation. “FluroCycle provided some valuable > ExitCycle On the back of the successful FluroCycle lessons for us in rolling out a program www.exitcycle.org.au

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AS ENERGY STORAGE > Accreditation endorsement for design/ with the changing market, the products SOLUTIONS ENTER THE MARKET, install GC PV systems with energy and the installation practices. ELECTRICIANS SHOULD GET storage. > Training institutions were not prepared UP TO SPEED WITH THE NEW Or: for the industry’s training demands and TECHNOLOGY. GSES DIRECTOR > An electrician’s licence. initially did not have enough educated SUSAN NEILL EXPLAINS WHY. > Accreditation for design/install stand- and prepared trainers. alone power systems. > The cost of PV was driven down as ublicity relating to ‘energy storage’ > An engineering qualification. manufacturing competition and volumes emanates from all sectors of the > Accreditation for design of GC PV increased. This created a positive P energy market. systems. feedback effect and resulted in rapid Industry journalists, network operators, > Accreditation endorsement for design of growth in the market that compounded energy retailers, equipment retailers, GC PV systems with energy storage. the above two issues. wholesalers, system designers and Or: > Government policy on schemes designed installers are all spreading the word. > An engineering qualification. to help the industry fluctuated. (Although As an engineering consultancy and > Accreditation for design of Stand-alone there is no need for government training company, GSES understands that systems. schemes to further accelerate the energy the knowledge and skills for competently These qualifications represent the storage market, there is uncertainty in operating in the energy storage market minimum knowledge and skill for anyone the wider regulatory environment for are extensive – and often glossed over working in this market, and similar electricity supply.) with advertising generalities. expertise should underpin any products This rush towards a new technology offered by wholesalers and retailers. WHY THE HYPE? raises the question: What base knowledge The continuing price decrease relative and skills would be considered necessary WHAT CAN WE LEARN? to shipped quantities of lithium ion for this market? The energy storage industry is likely to batteries creates a market catalyst for Qualifications have been developed to undergo the explosive growth we have energy storage. ensure that appropriate knowledge and seen with GC PV. Bloomberg New Energy Finance skills are developed in the industry. The The latter experience has revealed has been monitoring the experience available qualifications pathways are: several facets that may threaten the curves of PV compared with lithium ion > An electrician’s licence. storage industry’s successful evolution: batteries, as shown in as shown in the > Accreditation for design/install grid- > The compliance regime (Australian accompanying graph. The cost reduction connected (GC) photovoltaic (PV) Standards, industry guidelines, and for Li-Ion technology in relation to systems. network regulations) failed to keep pace production anticipates rapid demand for this technology similar to what happened 100 with PV. Crystalline The global PV industry has struggled Si PV module to manage technical and performance 10 1998 compliance in this rapidly evolving market. 2004 2008 1988 (USD/W, USD/Wh) (USD/W, For PV industries in emerging economies 2010 this continues to be an issue. 1 2014 To deal with the situation, new Standards have evolved – internationally H1 2014 m=24.3%

Historical price Historical price Li-ion EV battery pack cross-referenced so that countries don’t 0.1 m=21.6% 1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000 1,000,000 10,000,000 have to develop the material individually. Cumulative production (MW, MWh) However, the need for technician-level Note: prices are in real (2014) USD Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Maycock, Battery University, MIT training is still noticeably absent. It is a Lithium-ion EV battery experience curve compared with solar PV experience curve. high priority in some developing markets.

32 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 GC PV is now on a clearer growth path. storage units currently on the market are ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT The technical and compliance implications often inadequate and misleading. Training The economic rationales and are more manageable, as experience, is therefore required to ensure that assessments that surround energy training regimes and trained personnel installers have a thorough understanding storage systems are varied and in many permeate all levels of the industry. of the technologies they are installing, what cases not defined by current practices, the limitations are and how to properly regulations and Standards. GROWTH assess the information in a datasheet. There is much uncertainty about the The industry consensus is that the technology’s performance, capabilities energy storage market will match, if not CONFIGURATION and longevity. exceed, the historical growth of the GC An energy storage system can be The pricing of electricity and its supply PV market. configured in several ways. is also subject to continual variations It is important to note is that storage Is the energy storage system in addition and performance stipulations. Therefore growth cannot necessarily be viewed as to a new or existing GC PV system? Is the any proposed business models of energy an extension of the GC PV market. intended storage system stand-alone or storage companies could be inaccurate Industry, households and GC? The system’s designer, installer and over time. governments will investigate installing equipment supplier all have to understand, energy storage, and this will involve quote and install the correct solution. STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES product and service providers with little GSES has identified the following There are no Australian Standards or or no experience in GC PV. possible system configurations: guidelines applying to energy storage as Such service providers must develop > Single hybrid inverter – provides currently promoted in the market. an underpinning knowledge of the functionality of GC PV and regulates the Standards exist for stand-alone technology and the market to service battery charge and discharge. Capable systems, power systems and stationary these enquiries. of providing some back-up for selected batteries, but they deal only with lead/ AC loads. acid technology, not lithium ion (most GC TRAINING > Single inverter with separate solar battery products). The knowledge and experience controller – provides functionality of GC Revisions are under way, but energy requirement for the design and PV as well as some back-up for selected storage systems are being sold and installation of energy storage in the AC loads. installed according to current Standards current market consists of: > Two inverters with connecting switching and laws. In many cases these are > Electrical work. device – this configuration has both imprecise and not technology specific. > GC PV theory, product and installation inverters, the specified loads and the grid So, how will the industry monitor the knowledge. all connected. state of health, performance and financial > GC PV energy storage theory, product > Multi-mode and GC PV inverter – this is a viability of energy storage systems? PV and installation. simple configuration with a conventional can be very forgiving, but energy storage > Network connection. GC PV system operating as normal, and does not provide the same comfort. > Financial assessments, etc. a battery system essentially operating Without an adequate understanding of independently supplying specified loads. CONCLUSION the above topics and issues, systems will > Multi-mode and GC PV inverter – both Regulations must catch up with energy be installed that are not appropriate and inverters are able to supply the specified storage, and products need to stabilise in are potentially unsafe. loads independently of the grid. the market. Currently, it is only possible to complete In addition to any of these Until then, there should be continuous the required units of competency that deal configurations, systems can be set up professional development for all levels with battery installation if the student has to optimise self-consumption of solar of the industry. Participants must be first completed the units for GC PV. generation. equipped to quote, supply and install Given that battery systems do not An external current sensor monitors the acceptable and safe storage systems in necessarily need to be installed alongside customer’s mains to detect when power is the absence of specific Standards and a PV system, how will these installers gain being exported to the grid. This allows the guidelines. the required information and training? multi-mode inverter to seamlessly switch In addition, the performance and between import/export to the batteries in > GSES product data quoted for equipment and order to minimise exporting PV to the grid. www.gses.com.au

www.electricalconnection.com.au 33 TELECOMMUNICATIONS

SPACES FOR IMPROVEMENT

A PROPOSAL TO INCLUDE A “Retrofi tting is horrendously to stay at home for longer or disabled REQUIREMENT FOR IN-BUILDING expensive and in a lot of cases [especially people to live more independently – will TELECOMMUNICATIONS in the case of class 2 buildings] all rely on a connection to the internet. PATHWAYS AND SPACES IN THE permission needs to be sought from the “Wireless technologies are great NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION CODE owner or body corporate before work if they’re non-essential but if they’re HAS BEEN PUT FORTH BY THE can commence. All this can be easily supporting an essential service – if, for AUSTRALIAN BUILDING CODES avoided by considering the need for example, they’re monitoring someone’s BOARD. JACOB HARRIS CAUGHT pathways and spaces from the outset.” health, dialysis machine or oxygen levels UP WITH IAN MILNER OF THE While the proposal covers class 1, 2, 3, – they’re not reliable enough.” CABLING ADVISORY GROUP TO 5, 6 and 9c buildings, it recognises that In Ian’s opinion, communications have GET HIS STANCE ON THE SUBJECT. the provision of telecommunications been an essential service, not a luxury, becomes more diffi cult the larger and for a long time and the communications more compartmented buildings become. pathways and spaces that have been And that multi-dwelling units (MDUs), described in the proposals currently one are the days when the such as class 2 buildings, present the before the ABCB really only go as far as simple act of connecting greatest challenge. supporting the carriers getting services G a telephone line saw your These diffi culties are compounded into the building. connectivity needs met. Indeed, as further when adequate pathways and “There’s no use having a service in the we come to rely more heavily on spaces are not afforded at the time of building if you can’t get it to the room technological solutions for the supply of essential services, it is necessary to ensure spaces and pathways for The ABCB is looking at requiring the inclusion of the requisite telecommunications telecommunications pathways and spaces in buildings infrastructure are present in buildings via the National Construction Code (NCC). at the time of construction. To this end, the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) is construction. The proposal identifi es these it’s needed in. It’s an over-reliance on running a consultation process on a spaces as being: telecommunications wireless. Mobile technology is brilliant proposal to require the inclusion of entry points, telecommunications but it doesn’t come with the same level telecommunications pathways and equipment rooms or fl oor distributors of functionality. For example, in the spaces in buildings via the National and telecommunications risers between future there is going to be a range of Construction Code (NCC). The Cabling storeys. essential devices and systems in many Advisory Group has been a part of For Ian though, pathways and spaces homes which require uninterrupted this process. are only the beginning: an important power. Now it’s impractical to have an “Currently there is nothing in the fi rst step but not the fi nal solution. uninterruptible power supply (UPS) or NCC that requires a developer to give “I personally think it doesn’t go far little battery backup systems for every any consideration to the supply of enough. In 2015, it is very short sighted different service,” says Ian. communication services to a building. to only consider pathways and spaces “Ideally, users will have a central A lot of existing buildings have had if you don’t also consider wiring or system to support all their essential Telstra cable installed as part of the pre-wiring premises. We’re no longer services via Power over Ethernet (PoE), build but there’s no pathway to lay new just looking at a telephone and access one UPS, and a programmable PoE cables. Also, in many buildings there’s to the internet. Moving into the future, switch. If you start thinking about it no space to install the equipment the safety and security alarm systems, that way, pathways and spaces are technology now requires,” says technical medical alerts, e-health and access great – we’re heading in the right consultant to the Cabling Advisory to assistive technologies for the aged direction – but is that enough in 2015? I Group Ian Milner. and the disabled – which allow people think it’s short sighted.”

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NECA HAS DEVELOPED AN APP that will be available could be THAT PROVIDES ITS MEMBERS overwhelming, but the app is designed WITH CURRENT, WIDE-RANGING to be easily navigated and is fully INFORMATION AT THE TOUCH searchable. OF A BUTTON – AND BETTER With the TKB app, NECA will also YET, IT’S FREE TO MEMBERS. have the ability to anonymously track KATE JORDAN HAS THE STORY. which queries are most common and then provide targeted education on those matters. ustralian Standards are “For example, there’s a requirement often expensive, cumbersome now as part of the standard testing in Aand heavy, and can easily Victoria to do fault loop,” Rod says. become outdated. Further, standards “We know that a lot of contractors are just one part of the mass of and electricians don’t fully understand information that electricians need it. So, if we found that we were starting to be able to access, such as Service to get lots of people searching for and Installation Rules, the National ‘fault loop’, we could then run some Construction Code and forms from free information sessions on how to energy distributors. calculate fault work.” In this age of information, it has been Access to TKB is simply through difficult for electricians to find the It’s every standard that most the NECA website. TKB will form an information they need – until now. contractors use and if there are any integral part of the technical support The National Electrical and amendments, it updates automatically,” services that NECA currently offers and Communications Association (NECA) he says. is fully supported through its Technical has just released the Technical “The other big advantage is that it’s Services Department. Knowledge Base (TKB) app that aims fully searchable. If I put in ‘emergency to solve the above problems. It’s and exit lighting’, it will come up with all >NECA essentially an online database that’s the relevant standards and regulations www.neca.asn.au accessible from smart phones, tablets that apply to that.” and desktop computers that will The app is designed so that each provide NECA members with access to state can upload the information that is THE FOLLOWING AUSTRALIAN up-to-date standards and information most relevant to its members. STANDARDS WILL BE INCLUDED IN TKB relevant to their state as part of their “Some of the information will be > AS/NZS 2067 membership fees. common, but we will run information > AS/NZS 2293.1 The TKB originated in Western that is specific to Victoria. > AS/NZS 2293.2 Australia when the local NECA branch As an example, the Victorian > AS/NZS 3000 setup a searchable database on its members will have access to: > AS/NZS 3001 website. With good feedback from > Victorian Service and Installation > AS/NZS 3003 members there, the association decided Rules. > AS/NZS 3008.1.1 to expand the initiative nation-wide. > Electricity Safety (Installations) > AS/NZS 3010 NECA Victoria senior member Regulations 2009 V5. > AS/NZS 3012 services officer Rod Lovett is fervent > Energy Safe Victoria Alerts and FAQ. > AS/NZS 3013 in his praise of the app. > Relevant sections of the National > AS/NZS 3439.4 > AS/NZS 4509.1 “The biggest advantage of it, from Construction Code. > AS/NZS 4777.1 a contractor’s perspective, is that > Electrical Product Recalls. > AS/NZS 5033 the information is always current. The sheer mass of information

36 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016

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PARDON THE INTERRUPTION

TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER Static Bypass Switch SUPPLIES WILL BE OF INTEREST Bypass Mode TO ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS. Bypass AC source PHIL KREVELD PROVIDES Normal Mode AN OVERVIEW. Inverter Critical Load Normal AC source

his article deals with the static Rectifier/ Storage Energy Mode uninterruptible power supply Charger T (UPS), the rotary storage type (RUPS) and the diesel rotary storage type (DRUPS). The accent is on large systems – Static Bypass Switch 500kW and higher. Almost invariably, Bypass Mode these are used in tier IV redundant Bypass AC source power supplies. Normal Mode

Although redundancy is imperative Series xf Critical Load for failsafe conditions, the many Mains ways in which it is achieved are not Static Switch discussed because much depends on individual sites. The Uptime Institute – an independent Series (Delta) Parallel Converter Converter advisory organisation focused on Stored Energy Mode improving the performance, efficiency Battery and reliability of critical infrastructure for the information economy – defines Figure 1: The double conversion (left), and delta conversion schemes. four levels: > Tier IV: Fault intolerant site infrastructure. Genset Static Bypass > Tier III: Concurrently maintainable site AC infrastructure. Automatic Critical AC Output Rectifier Inverter > Tier II: Redundant capacity components Transfer Switch AC/DC DC/AC site infrastructure (redundant). >Tier I: Basic site infrastructure Utility DC BUS (non-redundant). AC > Tier IV: Guaranteeing 99.995% availability. DC > Tier III: Guaranteeing 99.982% AC availability. > Tier II: Guaranteeing 99.741% availability. Flywheel > Tier I: Guaranteeing 99.671% availability. Tier IV has all components fully fault Figure 2: A flywheel-backed, double conversion UPS. (Source VYCON VDC.) tolerant, including uplinks, storage, servers, plus heating, ventilation and Although defined in IT terms, etc, can be subject to the same air-conditioning. operating theatres, dialysis centres, requirements. Tier IV – in addition to

38 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 BY PHIL KREVELD duplication, triplication, etc, aspects The delta inverter provides proportional to: to achieve redundancy – also implies incremental energy to the load (to make MR2 N2 special engineering measures, some of up for system losses). The primary of Where M is the mass, R the radius, and which are highlighted here. the delta transformer is, in effect, a N the revolutions per second or minute. variable impedance controlled by the The principle of the UPS is shown in UPS SYSTEMS delta inverter. Figure 2. The systems dealt with include: When the mains static switch operates The AC motor/DC generator > Battery-backed static inverters to the off position, the load receives flywheel unit can be powered from supported by diesel generators; power from the parallel converter. the auto-transfer switch end or the > flywheel-backed (RUPS – or rotary The series (or delta) converter makes inverter output. UPS) static inverters (the energy up for any difference between the The flywheel includes a hub that is stored in the flywheel takes the place voltage on the output of the UPS and formed from aerospace-grade steel, a of batteries, and the flywheel is driven the voltage from the mains during high-speed permanent magnet motor by a motor generator) with long normal operation. It also controls the generator, and contact-free magnetic (more than 5-30 seconds) interruption input power factor to unity as it is it bearings that levitate and sustain the support from a diesel generator; and takes up mains current that is sinusoidal rotor during operation. > DRUPS without batteries. and in-phase with the mains voltage. Typically the DC generator will supply We can’t do justice to the ‘economy’ Furthermore the series-inverter a 500V DC link. The manufacturer, argument when choosing a particular controls the charging of the battery. Vycon, states that a 300kVA UPS system, as this depends on particular The mains static switch protects against would have up to seven seconds of site requirements. back-feed into the mains. uptime for the diesel generator to However, in the case of DRUPS, the Double conversion systems can draw come on line. For additional capacity, idea is to eliminate batteries altogether. a considerably higher harmonic current flywheels can be paralleled. A battery is a limited-life storage than delta systems unless fitted with medium, and in Tier IV there must be input filtering or harmonic traps. In both DRUPS no risk regarding availability, including topologies the static bypass switch has These systems are generally devoid of batteries. Long power interruptions, to be synchronised with the inverter/ battery static USP circuitry. outstripping battery capacity, must be parallel converter. As in the system described above, taken into account. the bridging energy during change over Valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA) FLYWHEEL-BACKED STATIC from mains to UPS is supplied by a batteries are commonly used, although INVERTERS flywheel. The flywheel inertia should be there are nickel-cadmium batteries in use The earliest forms of UPS systems thought of as the combined inertia of a for some major energy storage systems. seem to have been rotary, although that motor generator and coupling. The basic VRLAs are considered to be reliable, with might be historically debatable. idea is shown in Figure 3. relatively low maintenance. A rectifier circuit maintained a The synchronous motor/generator Notwithstanding the marketing battery bank driving a DC motor/AC is connected to the second motor/ arguments from suppliers, battery- generator. The inertia of the motor/ generator coupling flywheel combination backed UPS systems are usually generator provided change-over energy. via a bi-directional power converter. employed for ratings below 500kVA. The A supplemental flywheel accommodated Under normal mains conditions, the energy storage density of flywheels is changeover in a few seconds, allowing a synchronous machine operates as an lower than that of VRLAs, and by a factor ride-through with sufficient frequency over-excited synchronous condenser, of 10 compared with Li-ion batteries. as well as voltage stabilisation. correcting power factor and drawing The energy stored in a flywheel only energy for windage and bearing BATTERY-BACKED STATIC UPS is proportional to the square of the losses for the entire ‘rotating system’. The two important topologies are the rotational speed, and to its moment The buffer inductor (tapped inductor) double conversion and delta schemes, as of inertia. In an ideal flywheel, all of has a low mutual inductance impedance shown in Figure 1. the mass is concentrated at its outer but a high impedance providing The double conversion topology has radius, giving it a moment of inertia isolation for the synchronous motor/ the advantage of isolating the load but is proportional to the square of the generator, which regulates the critical less efficient than the delta circuit. radius. Thus the energy stored is load voltage.

www.electricalconnection.com.au 39 A little more detail is shown in – is a more ‘hardened’ system. DRUPS systems (being AC without Figure 4, including the diesel generator A clear advantage of battery storage sine wave shaping using pulse width necessary for longer mains failure is its efficiency compared with flywheel modulation) do not reflect harmonics periods. storage. The trickle charging during into the mains. The power converter in Figure 4 looks normal operation is about 10% of the a lot like the double conversion system energy required to maintain flywheel POWER FACTOR discussed above. However, the DC link rotational speed. We are focusing on displacement connecting the two motor generators In cost per kilowatt, high-power power factor, whereas total power has no batteries. flywheels and lead acid batteries are factor also takes account of harmonic of the same order. Lead acid batteries distortion. ROTARY AND STATIC have a much higher energy storage Displacement power factor is a When UPS systems go beyond 1MW, density than flywheels. substantial cost addition to many power the DRUPS technology is more likely to On the other hand, if chosen for bills. It is therefore of importance to UPS be chosen. areas subject to poor power quality, systems, since we are talking here of Some practical considerations have batteries can be subject to excessive 1MW systems and greater. been mentioned, namely that DRUPS as cycling and their service life will be In the case of DRUPS technology, the a system – without limited-life batteries reduced. use of synchronous motors provides power factor adjustment, from lagging (running as a motor) to leading (running as a synchronous condenser), so that maintaining a power factor of unity is Bypass Switch Bypass Mode no problem. DRUPS systems, being AC Bypass AC source Normal Mode throughout, can be affected by the Input disconnect Output disconnect Critical Load input capacitance of IT power Mains supplies, thus exposing standby Stored Energy Mode generators to leading power factor. Induction In static UPS systems, AC to DC Coupling/ Flywheel converters can have much lower power factor. Synchronous Thyristor converters in normal Motor/Generator full load operation have lagging Bi-directional Power Converter power factors, the reason being that commutation to the off-state can only Figure 3: Basic topology of a DRUPS. happen at zero current. Any inductive part of the DC link (usually an inductor- capacitor circuit) will extend the current on each half cycle. If insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBT) are employed in the AC to DC conversion, the displacement power Mains All Load factor is essentially unity because IGBTs can be gated on and off. This is a more costly conversion, as G G freewheel (snubber) diodes must be M used across the switching transistors (these conduct the current due to the collapsing magnetic field of inductors). Figure 4: DRUPS, power converter, and diesel with coupling to synchronous Lagging power factors are not motor generator. problematic for standby generators

40 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 unless lower than 0.7 when the issue if the generator full load capacity When a diesel engine is operated on automatic voltage regulator (AVR) runs is closely matched to the static UPS. light loads, it will not attain its correct out of excitation current control range. With a prolonged outage, say, in operating temperature. When operated Leading power factor is a problem, in excess of 20 seconds, the generator for extended periods, unburnt fuel is that lower and lower excitation current will start up and supply the AC to DC exhausted and noticed as wetness in is necessary to control voltage as more converter. Frequency and voltage the exhaust system, hence the term power is drawn. The AVR therefore runs stability at the site should be such that wet stacking. out of range much more quickly and the DC link battery bank is not being The obvious solution is to run the voltage can rise to dangerous levels. needlessly exercised. generator set with an electrical load The static UPS double conversion that reaches the designed operational HARMONICS topology (Figure 1) is better suited to temperature of the diesel, or The export of current harmonics stable synchronisation than the delta approximately 75% of full load. is mainly a problem for static UPS conversion topology. This is because Prolonged operation at low load systems. the former is entirely isolated from the will eventually mean an expensive engine overhaul. The use of resistor load banks to be Selection of static or rotary UPS should take account switched in when light load conditions of power quality of incoming supply. pertain is recommended. This can be an automatic switching-in, or as part of a regular maintenance procedure. In an unfiltered state the commonly mains (yet is mains synchronised under used six-pulse converter generates more normal operation). BATTERY AND SYSTEM MONITORING than 30% of total harmonic current When a power outage occurs, the The monitoring of batteries is distortion (THID). This can be reduced to inverter supplying the critical load is essential for UPS systems. about 7% by a second transformer and self-synchronised, maintaining this On-line monitoring requires parallel connected six-pulse converter, state until power restoration when string current monitoring, and also making a 12-pulse converter. synchronisation is derived from the monitoring of individual cell voltages – The latter makes sense for higher static transfer switch. that being necessary to prevent a rating UPS systems. For a six-pulse In the delta scheme, frequency cell of lower capacity being driven system the principal harmonics are stability is important. The inverter into reverse condition. the fifth and seventh; for a 12-pulse has to be in synch with the generator, For preventive maintenance, an off-line converter, the eleventh and thirteenth. because in essence it is regulating the ‘state of health’ test is recommended. Passive filters for mitigating voltage to the mission-critical load. Capacity tests (discharge tests) should harmonics employ capacitors as Frequency stability is the main issue be done at the installation (acceptance parallel elements and inductors as for DRUPS systems. The employment of test) within the first two years of series elements. synchronous motor-generator-flywheel service, and at intervals no greater than Under light IT load, the input to combinations provides a stable basis. 25% of the expected service life. the UPS converter appears mainly For on-line battery monitoring, a capacitive, and that can be a problem DIESEL ENGINES radio-based method is preferable, as it for the standby generator. This is Diesel generators, particularly when obviates extensive cable harnesses. sometimes taken care of by switching not fully loaded for extensive periods, USB and RS-232 (serial port) out capacitors under light load are more prone to ‘wet stacking’. connectivity may be suitable for small conditions. The use of active harmonic Most standby generator systems up installations. However, data centre filters removes the problem but adds to 5MW use the reciprocating internal UPS systems should include internet substantially to the overall cost. combustion engine as the power source protocol connectivity to allow remote to drive the generator. management across an Ethernet local OPERATION WITH STANDBY Diesel is a convenient fuel source, area network – the same mechanism GENERATORS and the compression ignition systems that supports remote server, storage Frequency stability is of importance of diesel engines have a much higher and other systems management in the – there are no golden rules, but it is an thermal efficiency. data centre.

www.electricalconnection.com.au 41 ELECTRICAL FIRES

FEELING THE HEAT

THE FIRST PART OF THIS SERIES damage through abuse. One or more DESCRIBED HOW HEAT STEMS of the socket contacts can become FROM CURRENT IN A RESISTIVE splayed and may no longer make a ELEMENT, AND HOW FAULTS low-resistance contact when a power CAN CAUSE FIRES. GEORGE plug is inserted. GEORGEVITS NOW OUTLINES If the load happens to be a blow SOME CASES. heater or hair dryer, the plastic constituting the plug and the socket can melt and eventually cause nearby ver the years, I have combustible materials to ignite. investigated a diverse range of Ceiling-mounted halogen downlights O electrical fires. operate at very high temperature. For The list includes house fires caused by ventilation and safety, the Wiring Rules defective wiring, incorrectly installed specify clearances from adjacent timber. lighting and lightning strike. It also If ceiling insulation covers such a fitting, includes vehicle fires. it will prevent ventilation and may constitute a fire hazard. WIRING AND FITTINGS DEFECTS This type of lighting has been known Fixed mains wiring in domestic and to cause roof fires if not installed most commercial applications commonly correctly, if ventilation has subsequently uses some form of PVC insulated cable. been obstructed, or if associated power The most common type is thermoplastic supply components have failed (eg: step- sheath flat cable (cream colour). A plug-in circuit breaker that has caught down power transformer or ballast). The PVC insulation will burn when fire due to a high-resistance joint. Halogen downlights are being heated and emit toxic fumes (including replaced by far more efficient and chlorine gas); however, PVC is not an cooler-running LED designs. accelerant – once the source of heat is The wiring for power points and removed, it will not sustain a fire. lighting is usually daisy chained. Thus VEHICLE FIRES An electrical fire can be caused by power points and light fittings can Electrical wiring in vehicles differs arcing between two conductors or by act as connection points for two or from mains wiring in several ways. the heat from ohmic losses in a high- more cables. Each joint, if not installed It operates from DC and employs a resistance joint. correctly, can be a source of ignition low-voltage source (usually 12V or 24V). Indoor mains wiring originates from under certain conditions. By necessity, the source (the battery) some form of switchboard, and each I have encountered many cases of a has to have a very low impedance in conductor is connected to a protective tunnel terminal, used for terminating order to operate the starter motor. device (fuse or circuit breaker) by means the cable at the rear of the power point, To deliver enough power to the of a screw terminal. has not been correctly tightened. headlights or ignition system, the If this screw terminal is not tightened Under heavy load (eg: a clothes operating currents are generally sufficiently, it will constitute a high- dryer) the high resistance caused by much higher than those in domestic resistance joint. Under a high current the loose joint has caused the cable mains circuits. Because of this, vehicle load, such a joint will heat up and can be to heat up and catch fire. This can wiring systems do not tolerate faulty a source of ignition. spread to timber in the wall and cause connections or unfused short circuits. Protection devices that plug into a serious fire and smoke damage to Some time ago I examined a European switchboard can also fail and burn if the the house. sports car that had caught fire while socket they plug into does not make a Similarly, power points and power being driven. Fortunately, the vehicle good contact. boards can suffer internal mechanical was close to the workshop where it

42 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 BY GEORGE GEORGEVITS was usually serviced. The driver made it to the workshop and the battery was quickly disconnected. (NB: With any form of electrical fi re, the fi rst action is to disconnect the supply.) Inspection of the fi re-damaged area in the engine bay revealed that the fi re was associated with wiring supplying one of the electric radiator fans (this car had two). Electric radiator fans are invariably high-speed, high-power devices. This is necessary for suffi cient radiator cooling in hot weather. Closer inspection of the fan revealed that one of the push-on spade Fire damage near a particular wall stud. connectors was only half mated. The high-resistance joint caused by this The wire seemed to have been Part of my brief was to advise defect generated enough heat to added after the truck was built, whether the fi re was electrical, whether melt the wire’s plastic insulation and probably to supply some form of the wiring complied with the Wiring subsequently cause ignition. aftermarket accessory. Rules, and whether it might have The incident occurred while the Unfused wiring like this is a bad idea. been damaged by another trade vehicle was idling in traffi c on a hot A short circuit to the chassis can create a after installation. day. The fi re started when the fan very large fault current that will quickly The burn pattern indicated the fi re thermostat cut in and quickly spread to melt and burn away the wire insulation. was associated with electrical cables nearby plastic parts in the engine bay. It will keep on supplying heat until the passing through a hole in a stud. The The driver was lucky to make it back to wire eventually melts and the circuit is wiring could not have been damaged the workshop. broken, just like a fuse. after installation, as any such fault In another case, I was called upon to In this case, I calculated that the would have tripped the relevant inspect a fi re-damaged semi-trailer. wire could readily carry more than circuit breaker. The driver had been travelling at 500A before melting. The damage appeared most severe high speed when he noticed the In all likelihood, the fi re started when near one of the studs, and was much smell of burnt plastic in the cab. He this wire rubbed against part of the worse for a ~100mm length along a pulled over as quickly as he could, but vehicle’s hot chassis until the plastic particular cable. Most peculiar! the cab had fi lled with acrid smoke. He insulation was worn away, thereby A neighbour said the fi re had started left the vehicle to burn, fearing for his creating a dead short to the chassis. during a violent thunderstorm, soon safety. Had he disconnected the The 270Ah battery could easily after a very loud thunderclap. battery, the damage would have been supply many hundreds of amps. The An online lightning strike database much reduced. wire would have glowed white hot revealed that there had been a very When I inspected the prime mover, it before melting. All nearby plastic parts close lightning strike at the time of the was obvious that the fi re had started in would also have caught fi re. fi re. That afternoon there were more the engine bay. than 1,000 within 50km of the site. Inspection of the wiring remnants LIGHTNING STRIKE In my view, lighting had struck the revealed a short length of heavy gauge One inspection involved a new, roof, followed the sarking and stud wire that was connected directly (ie: unoccupied house that had caught fi re. down the wall and arced across to the unfused) to the positive supply rail The damage appeared concentrated mains cable, thereby burning away on the engine bay fi rewall. The other around a run of fi xed mains cabling the insulation on that one cable. The end of this wire was just a melted blob containing six or so cables inside a breaker for that circuit (and only that of copper. plasterboard wall. circuit) had tripped.

www.electricalconnection.com.au 43 RCDS

GIVE ‘EM A BREAK

THE CIRCUIT BREAKER HAS SAVED A LOT OF LIVES. DAVID HERRES OUTLINES THE ROLE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF A SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE DEVICE.

ircuit breakers play a vital role in all electrical systems – residential, C commercial and industrial. Breakers are rated in amps, the amount of which is plainly printed on the end of the handle. The purpose is to automatically open a circuit in the event of over-current, by which is meant electrical current in excess of the rated ampacity of the conductors. If the ampacity is exceeded, the This residual current device interrupts both conductors. temperature of the wire will rise. This is usually due to an increase in supply voltage, short circuit caused by a line- telegraph networks long before the first breakers are reliable and rarely fail. It is to-line or line-to-ground fault, or an power distribution system was built. a simple matter to swing the wires over increase in the connected load. If a breaker becomes faulty, it is to a good breaker. Prolonged or repeated temperature preferable for it to trip when there is no An individual circuit outage generally rise will damage the wire insulation. overload rather than fail to trip when falls into one of three categories, In a severe case, the copper can get needed. In fact, that is how they are although there are grey areas. red hot inside the wall, igniting nearby designed. Breakers do not stick or lock The breaker may fail to reset, thereby combustible material and causing a in the on position. The price we pay for signifying a dead short, or it may hold widespread fire. that kind of performance is that they for a short interval before tripping Breakers perform the additional occasionally nuisance trip. again. Otherwise, it may hold for quite function of acting as a manual switch. To prevent damage to a computer’s a long time, sometimes hours, before After a fault has been corrected, the hard drive, an inexpensive cutting out. tripped breaker can easily be reset. uninterruptible power supply (UPS) will The latter is because breakers in Fuses are also effective over-current provide continuity of power when a common use are inverse time devices, devices. A moulded-case switch looks circuit cuts out. with the ability to tolerate a small just like a breaker and snaps into a load Life support equipment, either in amount of over-current for a long time centre in the same way, but it has no a health-care facility or in the home, and a greater amount of current for a over-current interrupting capability. generally has elaborate automatic back- short time. Codes require that if you brace the up power. Increasingly, this set-up is An accurate picture can be gained handle of a breaker in the on position seen in family homes. from current measurement using the device will still trip without moving When an over-current device powers a clamp-on ammeter (trade name the handle in the event of overload. down a branch circuit, the first move is Amprobe). If the breaker holds long Circuit breakers have been around to determine whether it is performing enough, you can check the current at for a long time and they are extremely its protective function or just nuisance each outlet until the fault is located. reliable. They were used in early tripping. For the most part, circuit If there are loads plugged in, one of

44 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 BY DAVID HERRES them is probably faulting. Electrical current is everywhere the same in a the grounded refrigerant, and any equipment, especially motors, tend non-branching circuit). imperfection in the light coating of to draw more current as they age, In a two-fault situation (involving insulation will allow current leakage to due to internal insulation gradually connectivity of the hot wire and loss ground. breaking down. This can also happen if a of connectivity of the equipment- Moreover, an undetected nuisance- transformer is connected. grounding conductor), when someone tripping incident can lead to the loss of A hair dryer or laptop computer, touches the energised metal, some of freezer contents. when the internal battery is being the current goes to earth. A dedicated non-RCD circuit should be charged, may be the culprit. Unplugging The RCD monitors both current paths, run for a refrigerator, even in a kitchen. connected loads one at a time, with performing a continuous differential RCDs should not be used in circuits a clamp-on ammeter at the entrance measurement. If the difference exceeds for fire alarms, life support and other panel, will quickly locate the fault. The a specified limit, typically 6mA, the essential services. Amprobe ‘hold’ function is useful in this device interrupts the circuit. The amount If the cause of nuisance tripping is not procedure. and duration of the brief electric shock apparent, and substitution has ruled Nuisance tripping can also be a is not enough to constitute a hazard. out the device, take a good look at the problem with residual current devices Many of these devices combine the wiring. Cable rubbing on grounded (RCDs). In the United States and Canada function of an over-current device, and metal pipe or an errant nail can create these are known as ground-fault circuit they can also be used as a switch by a problem, or there may be moisture in interrupters (GFCIs). The purpose and pressing the ‘test’ button. the wall. inner workings of both are similar, but the circuit deployment varies due to different phasing arrangements. Since their introduction in the 1960s, RCDs NEC and CEC, as well as the Australian have greatly reduced the number of non-utility and New Zealand Wiring Rules, require such devices in sensitive locations – electrocutions, especially in homes. wherever the proximity of electrical power and water may lead to a shock. Since their introduction in the 1960s, The newer RCDs have an LED that Does the nuisance tripping occur and subsequent widespread use, RCDs indicates a tripped condition, so it is after heavy rain? Perhaps an outdoor have greatly reduced the number of possible to know at a glance where receptacle has been bugged off a non-utility electrocutions, especially the problem lies. Moreover, if the RCD kitchen or bathroom receptacle to in homes. is not getting power, it will not reset, obtain the required RCD protection. The equipment-grounding conductor providing immediate information on the If cable connectors have been over- usually completes the circuit to the status of the upstream portion of the tightened in older concrete block or entrance panel, then the over-current branch circuit. masonry constructions with metal device trips. However, in some instances Unfortunately, RCDs are prone to wall boxes, there may be enough that conductor breaks or has not been nuisance tripping, which is often current leakage to cause RCD tripping. properly hooked up. The result can be an caused by a defective load. The first If so, it may be possible to loosen the electric shock – sometimes fatal. step is to unplug all downstream loads, connectors and slide in a slit piece of The RCD takes the form of a breaker one at a time. cable jacket. in the entrance panel or load centre, (Remember: nothing that happens If wiring runs are suspected, the a receptacle at the wall outlet, or a upstream of the RCD, including diagnostic procedure is to progressively moulded-case device built into a power conductor imbalance, can cause tripping. isolate segments of the branch circuit cord and located adjacent to the plug. The device monitors only downstream by temporarily unhooking the hot The hot wire and neutral return wiring, devices and loads.) wires, one at a time, until the fault has conductor of a 240V circuit both Some loads are incompatible with been located. pass through the device. Normally, RCDs, and refrigeration equipment is However, in residential construction the current in the supply and return one example. most of the wiring is behind finished conductors is equal (conforming to In a hermetically sealed compressor, walls, so some hard work may be Kirchhoff’s Current Law that electrical motor windings are submerged in in order.

www.electricalconnection.com.au 45 THE BUZZ

SKIN IN THE GAME

THINK ABOUT SOLAR t’s that time of year – out comes ‘Slip, slop, slap, seek and slide’ is very INSTALLATIONS THE SAME WAY the sun, off comes the shirt, suntan good advice for all tradies. But this YOU THINK ABOUT SUNSCREEN, I central. article is not just aimed at helping you WRITES GARY BUSBRIDGE. But there are hazards associated to be sun-smart. SIMPLY BUY QUALITY PRODUCTS. with getting that suntan, and we all The solar energy revolution has been know that we should ‘slip, slop and slap’ under way for quite a few years. By as a matter of course. That is, slip on the end of 2014, government support a shirt, slop on the 30+ sunscreen and had led to the installation of about 1.5 slap on a hat. You could take it further million small-scale solar power systems with: seek shade or shelter and slide on across the country. some sunnies. According to the Clean Energy Council, these systems produced about 2% of the country’s total electricity, and the fi gures can only have increased through 2015. Although this has been a boon for clean energy production, it has been far from smooth from an installation perspective. First, there were the more than dubious installations using various government rebates to provide ultra- low-cost systems to the home owner. This was devastating for the reputable electrical contractor who wanted to provide a quality installation with quality components. Basically, the bad guys cut out any reputable contractor because of price. Fortunately, things have calmed down and there are many who now provide that system at an effective price, using quality products. There were lots of horror stories of poor workmanship and lack of service back-up. If something went wrong, home owners ended up with no support whatsoever – they were probably left with just a phone number. Most of the cowboys have now left the market. The AS/NZS 5033 Photovoltaic Installations Standard has been published for quite a while, and in recent times the AS/NZS 4777 Standards for Inverters and Inverter Installations (Part 1 and Part 2) have been published.

46 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 BY GARY BUSBRIDGE

From a Standards perspective things of switches if applied appropriately. units, and an indoor unit where it is not are all tickety-boo… or are they? However, it needs further exposed to weather. Among the problems that have environmental considerations There should also be some derating arisen, by far the worst is the number specifically related to Australian and factors for the rated current based on of fires caused by the DC solar isolator New Zealand requirements. the ambient temperatures where the switches, whether on the roof or on the Some of the detail now being unit will be installed. This may affect wall near the inverter. considered should help with your the ratings of the solar installations. The cross-sectional size and the number of cables accepted into There were lots of horror stories of poor terminals along with specific torque workmanship and lack of service back-up. If ratings on the terminals are also expected to be on the instructions. something went wrong, home owners ended up with Third, there are some physical no support whatsoever – they were probably left performance issues to look for. The with just a phone number. operating method of the switch should be independent, meaning that the user has no control of the switching action The regulator in Queensland has done selection, so the following should be within, even though the user operates extensive work in the field to check considered as a requirement before the switch. installations and staff were horrified by buying solar isolators. The switches shall also be suitable for the number of dubious quality DC solar (It will be a future requirement, isolation purposes and able to be locked isolators in the systems. but this sort of information and in the ‘off’ position. Some brands that caused fires performance probably applies already Fourth, and this is an important have been recalled, and you may to reputable manufacturers’ products.) aspect of the installation, you must deal have seen the notices. These brands First, look for the marking, and with the effects of moisture ingress in were of poor quality with ineffective by this I mean the label. It should the enclosure. switching contacts, which would preferably be on the front of the cover Think about how the conduit is not have survived the performance so that it can be easily seen after fitted to the enclosure, as heating requirements of a DC isolator Standard installation. and cooling during the day and night in any shape or form. The essential information is the does cause some condensation in Given the evidence gathered by trade name, the catalogue number, the enclosure. the Queensland regulator, it’s hardly the IP rating (eg: IP56), DC-PV2 To this end, have all conduit entries surprising that there’s a bit of work to classification, the rated current of the to the bottom face of the enclosure do in tidying up the loose ends. switch in the enclosure, the AS/NZS so that any condensation build-up will A recently updated international 60947-3 Standard number and the drain into the conduit. This has been Standard for DC isolators is being mounting orientation. standard practice for many a year adopted in Australia as AS/NZS 60947- For your information the DC-PV2 among sparkies installing in harsh 3. It’s highly likely that the DC solar is described as: connecting and environments. isolator will be called up in legislation disconnecting PV circuits where If you want to be sure, drainage as a ‘Level 3 or declared article’. significant over-currents may prevail glands can be fitted to the enclosure Before being sold in Australia, these and where current flow can be in both that will allow drainage but won’t items will have to show compliance directions; for example, where several compromise the IP56 rating. to the Standard and be marked with strings are connected in parallel and The trick is to buy reputable products the Regulatory Compliance Mark (an to the same inverter, or one or more for your installations – just like using approved product). strings with a battery. a reputable sunscreen to protect It is most important to remember Second, the product should carry your skin. that the current AS/NZS 60947-3 the manufacturer’s instructions Standard for DC isolators is robust and for the installer. The information provides the necessary performance should contain details of installation > Clipsal by Schneider Electric and verification detail for these types requirements for the IP56 outdoor www.clipsal.com

www.electricalconnection.com.au 47 BILLING

A TARIFF-IC OPPORTUNITY

Glenn explains that the theory behind the introduction of multiple tariffs is to steer people’s behaviour. “From a customer’s perspective, things are getting a lot more complicated. They now have to understand all of these new tariffs and change their behaviour accordingly, which in some cases just isn’t possible,” he says. “A few electrical students I know struggle to tell the difference between power and energy, so how will home owners fare?” This is where educated contractors come into play. “People are starting to call out for help. Home owners and small business operators are looking for clarity in regards to tariffs and how to save money. This means there’s an opportunity for AS POWER BILLS BECOME business and grids. He says the issue of contractors to be providing advice to INCREASINGLY CONFUSING, complex tariffs presents an interesting their customers. ELECTRICIANS SHOULD USE THE business opportunity to contractors – “At the other end of the spectrum, OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE THEIR that of education as well as upselling there’s an opportunity for contractors CUSTOMERS ON HOW TO SAVE new technologies. to be installing new technologies, like MONEY. PAUL SKELTON EXPLAINS. “Utilities are trying to make things a lot batteries, which are really well suited more complicated,” Glenn says. to helping customers save money given “The increased complexity of tariffs the new tariff structure. Alternatively, o you remember when reading solves a number of problems for people you could install load management a power bill was simple? When who run the electricity network. The technology or timers on some circuits. D there were two tariffs – peak theory is that you can use higher prices to The truth is, there are a range of options and off-peak – and you could pay the bill get people to spread their usage out, which available to contractors. knowing that it was probably correct? means there will be less peak demand. “This is a complex issue and people Times certainly have changed. Under “Another problem utilities are facing will pay more should they not change the guise of ‘making things fair’, utilities is around the use of solar and the fact behaviour, which many people don’t have added so much complexity to the that people who have lots of solar often know how to do.” process that these days your power don’t use a lot of electricity from the Glenn suggests contractors look at bill may as well be written in Farsi. grid, but still require access at night the Federal Government’s Energy Made Surprisingly, though, the increased or on overcast days. As a result, these Easy website, which offers guidance on convolution of power bills could be a customers don’t really pay much for all the tariffs in Australia. It will help to good thing for electrical contractors, the grid, which makes grid-reliant users get a better understanding of how to particularly those with SME customers. believe they are subsidising them. assist your customers. Glenn Platt leads the Grids and Energy “As a result, utilities are using a Efficiency program within CSIRO’s ‘demand tariff’, where you get pinged Energy Flagship, which focuses on solving based on the maximum load you draw > Energy Made Easy the energy challenges of consumers, from the grid.” www.energymadeeasy.gov.au

48 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 lbox Your online too .COM.AU ELECTRICALCONNECTION POWER FACTOR

QUALITY MATTERS

POWER FACTOR CORRECTION CAN POWER FACTOR because that takes into account current LEAD TO ADDITIONAL BUSINESS A power factor of 0.9 lagging – not harmonics as well. There is some doubt FOR ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS. too shabby, you might think – implies a on the sensitivity of metering in respect PHIL KREVELD COVERS THE phase angle difference between voltage of harmonics in a particular installation. CONSIDERATIONS. and current of almost 26°. However, it's a safe assumption that the In kVA terms there's an 11% increment kVA (when based on Kilowatts divided compared with kilowatts, and the by the displacement power factor) gives aximum demand in Australia possibility of a sharp increase in the the demand on which the tariffs would has been growing much more power bill. To correct the power factor be based. M strongly than aggregate to 1.00 requires almost half the kilowatt terawatt-hours, particularly in the value in kVArs. CORRECTION EQUIPMENT northern states. In short, that’s where the cost-benefit With the exception of electronic loads Yet even in the south, kVA demand calculations come in: weighing up the such as IT power supplies, most loads has become an important consideration cost of correction against potential draw lagging current. in distribution companies’ capital savings in electricity. Correcting kVArs is almost invariably expenditure. As a result, consumers Correcting the power factor to 0.95 handled by capacitors, their leading in areas previously not subject to kVA requires about one-seventh of the current offsetting the load current tariffs are facing substantial increases in kilowatts in kVArs, reducing kVA to 5% lagging reactive component. their energy bills. of kilowatts thus minimising the chance Commercially available equipment Electrical contractors willing to take of a bigger power bill. mostly employs capacitor-based an interest in this field can make an The power factor in discussion is the correction. However static var economic case for installing power displacement power factor, equal to compensation equipment is also factor correction gear, and thereby gain the cosine of the phase angle difference available. The latter type uses solid-state increased business. between voltage and the fundamental switching to generate anti-phase current. This article deals with technical 50Hz current – ie: cos φ where φ is the A note of caution: the different aspects and some matters relating to phase angle. technologies have advantages and installation and service. It’s not the total power factor, disadvantages. Electrical Connection does not offer editorial advice. We highlight matters so that readers can investigate technical features and, where necessary, seek independent advice. iC a Va Based on the technical literature, it Za iC seems that some static var compensation b Vb Zb equipment (in particular STATCOM, see iC V c c below), offer important advantages. Zc These include stepless adjustment of Source Voltage reactive compensation, and leading as well as lagging power factor correction. GTO Voltage Source Inverter a b c I I I I I I HARMONICS Office buildings, malls, supermarkets, etc, have high harmonics generating loads. There’s a common assumption that Variable Inductive Load the displacement power factor is close to unity, but this is not always borne out Figure 1: Schematic for a STATCOM. by measurements.

50 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 BY PHIL KREVELD PQSine™

I a i a+ Active Harmonic Filter for Ideal Power Quality

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i20 i60

ico Ib- Ic- Figure 2: In general, unbalanced currents can be resolved into a-b-c (positive sequence), a-c-b (negative sequence) and a0- b0-c0 zero sequence components.

Thyristor-based converters in variable-speed drives for fans, chillers, compressors, etc, have lower power factors than insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) and gate turn-off (GTO) thyristor switched converters. The latter two have a power factor very close to 1.00. Wall-mounted design Floor-mounted design Phase-fired thyristor equipment – used in heating, gluing, heat treatment, etc – has a poor displacement power factor. Phase firing at 30° (1.7 milliseconds from the zero-crossover) produces a displacement power factor of 0.78. The harmonics Product highlights content for the current is close to 50%. Harmonics further reduce the total power factor but have .
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()& "' schematic is shown in Figure 1. For sales and inquiries from Australia The circuit looks a lot like those employed in active harmonic filters, but in this case the control scheme is different in and New Zealand please contact: important ways. [email protected] or phone 1300 309 303

www.epcos.com/pqsinewww.electricalconnection.com.au 51 Although details of the compensation control diminishes inrush current and will vary between commercially available 250% improves response time. equipment, in each case the fundamental 200% 200% current is extracted by some means – fast PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE Fourier transform (FFT), notch fi lter, etc. 150% Temperature degradation, in terms of Pulse width modulation, adjustable component value and reduced lifetime, is 100% per phase, basically allows adjustment 100% a serious problem. of power factor per phase and also the 50% It should be dealt with by regular 50% balancing of phases. life rated of Percent preventive maintenance testing, including 25% For many installations, phase balancing 0% capacitance measurement. is a very important feature requiring 0 600 700 800 900 Twice yearly check-ups, including a dynamic response, in that phase Temperature in centigrade verifi cation of capacitance values, are loading fl uctuates in many if not most recommended. But this is rarely done installations. Figure 3: Capacitor lifetime versus in practice, even though it is desirable There is little or no detail in suppliers’ temperature. for continued effective operation of the technical literature on how phase equipment. balancing is achieved. One method is Problems occur with frequently possible by way of control protocols CAPACITOR-BASED CORRECTION exercised capacitor banks, particularly converting unbalanced currents into Metallised polypropylene (MPP) in regard to inrush current. This can be symmetrical components. See Figure 2 capacitors have greatly improved several orders of magnitude larger than for a brief description of symmetrical capacitor bank reliability compared under steady-state conditions, thereby components. with earlier types using polychlorinated causing contacts to weld. The negative sequence controller injects biphenyl (PCB) dielectric material. capacitive or inductive negative sequence MPP capacitors are durable and SELECTING CORRECTION EQUIPMENT currents of opposite phase to that of the generally offer a self-healing feature. Signifi cant harmonics, load unbalance load negative sequence currents. When they short out, the conductor area and power factor variations must be As a result, the network sees surrounding the shorted area vaporises, taken into account. symmetrical load current and phase thus removing the shorted circuit. The It is a very good idea to carry out a voltages without exchanging power with capacitor continues operating, with thorough power quality survey before the network. Note: the zero component slightly lower capacitance. specifying power factor correction fl ows only in a four-wire distribution The self-healing feature is convenient, equipment. system or otherwise in delta windings of but if capacitors continue operating Specifi cations for new installations transformers. beyond their design constraints they may describe in detail the equipment to It is advisable to examine phase start to have multiple shorts and can lose be quoted on, but they lack information balancing features closely and seek capacitance more rapidly. on power quality at the site. This adds to practical verifi cation if that feature is Capacitor banks are generally potential future problems such as voltage crucial for an installation. connected in delta circuits, using power regulation, resonance and imbalance. factor as measured on one phase as the For existing installations a power OTHER COMPENSATION basis for power factor correction. quality survey should be conducted over The use of thyristors and GTOs as Specialised contactors are sometimes a reasonably long period. This will allow switching elements for capacitors – and employed with early-make contacts in as many possible variations in electrical sometimes parallel connected inductors series and a current-limiting resistor to parameters as possible to be captured and – is well established in MV and HV help ‘form’ the capacitor, followed by the contrasted against incoming power line transmission. later main contact closure. conditions. Problems in power quality at The STATCOM had its start in MV Some contactors employ the use of that stage cannot easily be compensated. distribution, and more recently it has small, air-core inductors to limit inrush Although not a direct power factor come into use in LV networks. The term current. However, this technology issue, phase balancing is very important. static var compensator is generally increases the response time of power Many types of load – in particular reserved for equipment switching factor correction equipment. Zero induction motors – respond badly to passive components. voltage cross-over thyristor (triac) phase imbalance.

52 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 Why put it all on the line because of a non-certified lug? 7KH$XVWUDOLDQDQG1HZ=HDODQG6WDQGDUGDQGVSHFL½FDWLRQVIRUOXJVOLQNVDQGFRQQHFWRUVLV XQLTXHFRPSDUHGWRWKHUHVWRIWKHZRUOG7KHVHVWDQGDUGVZHUHGHYHORSHGWRSURWHFWOLYHVDQG EXLOGLQJVEHFDXVHDQLQIHULRUOXJFDQUHVXOWLQDQDUF¾DVKH[SORVLRQRURWKHUGDQJHURXVMRLQW IDLOXUHV 'RQµWJHWFDXJKWRXWE\IDOVHVWDWHPHQWVFODLPLQJSURGXFWVDUHFRPSOLDQW°GHPDQGDYDOLGWHVW FHUWL½FDWHDQGORRNIRUDFOHDUGLVWLQFWLYHEUDQGQDPHRQWKHSURGXFW )RU\RXUSURWHFWLRQRQO\XVH&$%$&EUDQGHGOXJVOLQNVRUFRQQHFWRUVDQGUHVWHDV\NQRZLQJ&$%$&

OXJVOLQNVRUFRQQHFWRUVDUHGHVLJQHGPDQXIDFWXUHGDQGFHUWL½HGWR$XVWUDOLDQDQG1HZ=HDODQG Quality ISO 9001 6WDQGDUGV&HUWL½FDWLRQWHVWLQJLVFRQGXFWHGLQDQLQGHSHQGHQWO\DFFUHGLWHG1$7$7HVW/DERUDWRU\ Play it safe, with CABAC branded certified lugs, links and connectors. Visit www.cabac.com.au/certifiedlugs for more information.

Certified? Always look for the CABAC icon and testing certificate ANTENNA SYSTEMS

TASTY DISHES

in textbooks and on the internet. Otherwise you could find some malfunctioning equipment and dive right in. You may not have an oscilloscope or spectrum analyser just yet, but bring along your multimeter. If a TV is completely dead – dark screen, no sound, no illuminated LEDs on the front panel – it probably means the internal power supply is defective. (Occasionally the problem is as simple as a defective power cord or tripped breaker.) If the set shows signs of life but the video and/or audio quality is poor or the video has difficulty staying in synch, there will be a range of possible faults. The way to proceed is to examine the transmission line, including modem, cable box and antenna. (A satellite dish is technically a type of antenna.) A good tool in this endeavour is a field strength meter. It can measure the transmitted signal in space or at various points along a transmission line. This can also be done using a small portable TV SATELLITE DISH WORK CAN BE Communications circuitry is one area with an RF port on the back panel that A PROFITABLE SIDELINE FOR that has a lot in common with power accepts a coaxial cable connector. ELECTRICIANS, AS THE TOOLS and light. Design, installation and repair Troubleshooting consists of moving AND EXPERTISE ARE ALREADY IN concepts are simple, but task-specific along the transmission line and watching PLACE. DAVID HERRES OFFERS demands have a way of becoming for an abrupt change in signal strength, AN OVERVIEW. complex and detailed. Of course, indicating the fault location. electricians are used to that. For campus-style buildings under onstruction workers of all types Many homes in the developed world single ownership, the coax is usually are severely affected when the have TV and an internet connection mounted on power poles some distance C economic climate is uncertain using cable or a satellite dish. below the grounded conductor and demand for new building blows hot Audio, video and data transmission associated with the high-voltage circuit. and cold. operate at much higher frequency than You will need a cherry-picker. Electricians seem to survive the 50Hz or 60Hz we are accustomed to To make this type of transmission downturns fairly well. One coping in power and lighting. For home owners cable work, inline amplifiers are located mechanism is to reach out into closely it’s a mysterious world of bandwidth, at less than 100m intervals to make related fields such as refrigeration and harmonics and duty cycles. up for signal attenuation, and these data networking. Electricians have For an electrician it’s not a very big amplifiers need power to bias the tools and knowhow that are applicable step beyond Ohm’s law and familiar semiconductors. wherever electrons or photons are being notions of capacitance and inductance. The power is carried along with the moved about. There is abundant information available RF signal in the coax. It may be AC or

54 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 BY DAVID HERRES

DC and is typically about 60V. The power can be introduced reflectors conforming to that particular curve are widely used. at either end of the transmission line or anywhere along the Light bulb reflectors and remote listening devices are other way. All that is needed is a small cord and a plug-connected examples. AC-powered transformer connected to the coax. The dish gathers the signal contained in electromagnetic If this power is out, the good news is that AC voltage can be energy coming from the satellite and focuses it at the input used for troubleshooting the line using a standard multimeter. end of the feedhorn, which is mounted at the dish’s focal point. Many users, especially residential, receive television This segment of the signal path provides lots of passive programming via a satellite dish. Large hotels and similar amplification, the amount determined by the diameter of the facilities, often with multiple buildings some distance apart, dish. (With higher power transmission in recent years, it has are also good candidates for this technology. become possible to reduce the size of the dish.) The troubleshooting techniques mentioned for coaxial cable The dish must be precisely aimed so as to pick up the signal are relevant because the signal has to be conveyed to the from the satellite, which occupies a fixed position in the sky receiver in the building. However, installation, maintenance directly over the equator. The satellite must be at a specific and overall troubleshooting are somewhat more complex. altitude – 35,786km – to avoid crashing into the earth or flying Satellite dishes are generally used in remote locations. They off into space. Small on-board rockets maintain the position. function well, with video and audio quality equal to, or better There are thousands of satellites in geostationary orbit, and than, those of cable – notwithstanding occasional weather- additional satellites are launched as needed. related outages. Satellites contain transponders, typically numbering 24. The defining feature of a satellite system is the parabolic Each of these is a semi-autonomous transmitter/receiver metal antenna. A parabola is one of Euclid’s conic sections, and connected to a power supply and antenna. Programming ProTag PrimeTest Elite Australia’s Most Advanced Test & Tag System The ProTag Elite System tests portable appliances and RCDs, takes asset photos, prints Elite UV resistant test tags and downloads results to PC. Mains & battery powered. Faster testing & asset management for mining, construction, factories & workshops.

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www.electricalconnection.com.au 55 is beamed up from transmitters on audio, video, synch and metadata for First, the desired channel is selected. earth and the transponders rebroadcast the programming. Some signals are encoded to prevent 100-plus channels, multiplexed and at Because the frequency is high, parallel unauthorised access. A smartcard, a different frequency so as to avoid capacitive and series inductive losses inserted into a slot in the receiver, blanking out the incoming signal. are great, and transmission via ordinary performs the decoding function. Separate transponders serve different cable is precluded. Proprietary microchips enable menu areas on earth with slightly overlapping For that reason, the signal at the interactivity with suitable on-screen footprints, providing complete coverage dish’s focal point must travel through a graphics. of the assigned geographic region. waveguide to the location of the down The signal frequency is reduced to Installation of a satellite dish is converter. A waveguide is a bolted and RF compatible with the television set straightforward except for the aiming gasketed pipe of rectangular cross- and fed into it through a short coaxial process, which is highly exacting. It’s section with a polished reflective inner cable. When there is stereo capability, like hitting a rubbish bin lid at a surface that channels the signal about 1m colour-coded cables with RCA jacks distance of five miles. If the dish is not to where it enters the low-noise block. are used. pointed correctly, performance will Inside the feedhorn is a polariser. Satellite dish systems are also used be compromised. Its purpose is to double the number for internet access where cable is not You can use the on-screen signal of available channels by sending two available. This is a more expensive strength meter or a portable instrument separate signals on each frequency. and elaborate system compared with made for the purpose. These signals are either vertically or TV, and more expertise is required for It’s not feasible to point the dish in horizontally polarised, and they occupy installation and troubleshooting. various directions and watch the meter the same frequency. The desired signal For one thing, the dish has to be aimed more accurately, because any attenuation will show up in the quality of the internet connection. Also, unlike Communications circuitry is one area that has a lot in TV, an internet installation involves common with power and light. transmission up to the satellite so that there can be interactivity. Two coaxial cables connect the modem in the building to the low noise for a response. You probably wouldn’t is chosen in the feedhorn. block that is part of the feedhorn/dish find a signal, or you would lock onto a In early satellite dishes a servo motor assembly. This is usually a twin cable signal from the wrong satellite. rotated a polariser to select the channel, with a grounding wire included. The correct procedure is to look up but now the mechanism is electronic. When working on an internet dish, online the setting for your location. Aim Because the low noise block contains you must beware of radiation burns, the dish in that direction then tweak it in semiconductors, power supply voltages which can occur if the system goes into to lock onto the strongest response. are needed. A DC supply voltage transmission mode while you are at the If the dish is pier-mounted, the originates in the building, and travels focal point. metal post should extend well below over the coaxial transmission line to Then there’s the sometimes difficult grade (depending on local soil, wind the site of the dish. Two voltage levels matter of configuring the owner’s and frost conditions) and set in (typically 13V and 17V) select the type of computers and mobile devices, which concrete. If it’s roof- or wall-mounted, polarisation (horizontal or vertical). involves installing cabling or enabling it is important to lag-screw the mount In circular polarisation, clockwise wireless with the network name and securely into sound timber framing. If it or counter-clockwise rotation is password in each device. is spongy or loose, long-term alignment selected, doubling the number of TV and internet satellite dish will not happen. channels available. providers offer extensive online training Apart from pointing the dish, The signal, reduced to a frequency with examinations and certification. installation is not difficult but you need compatible with coaxial cable and Lots of technical data is included, plus to understand the circuitry. The signal correctly polarized, travels to the practical information on installation from the satellite is high-frequency receiver in the building where four with particular emphasis on mounting electromagnetic radiation that carries operations are performed. and aiming the dish.

56 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 Old dogs.

New tricks.

WWW.TRADESDIARY.COM.AU

Over 1,000 courses online now. GUIDING LIGHT

SPOTLIGHT ON COMPLIANCE

ON 1 MARCH 2016, THE THREE including Philips Lighting, broadly product is the manufacturer’s or EXISTING COMPLIANCE MARKS welcomed the opportunity for a supplier’s declaration that the product CONTRACTORS WILL BE FAMILIAR nationally consistent approach for being specified or installed complies WITH - C-TICK, A-TICK AND RCM - product safety and performance with the applicable ACMA technical ARE BEING CONSOLIDATED INTO A standards, and an improved regulatory standards. SINGLE COMPLIANCE MARK - THE framework for equipment suppliers From 1 March 2016 even though RCM. STEVE ARTHUR, TRADE and consumers. suppliers must use the RCM as the CHANNEL MANAGER, PHILIPS The industry recognised that there compliance label, it is likely there will LIGHTING AUSTRALIA EXPLAINS. were many benefits across the board still be devices that are labelled with to the application of one form of the C-Tick or the A-Tick and these can compliance mark for electrical safety continue to be supplied until labelled rior to 2010 the Australian and electro-magnetic compatibility stock has been exhausted. Communications and Media (EMC). On 1 March 2016, the three P Authority (ACMA) proposed existing compliance marks contractors CHECKING FOR ELECTRO-MAGNETIC changes to labelling arrangements will be familiar with - C-Tick, A-Tick and COMPLIANCE for electrical product supplied in RCM - are being consolidated into a Contractors are often required to Australia and the implementation of a single compliance mark - the RCM. specify products sight unseen or may be consolidated Regulatory Compliance handed a product to install by a project Mark (RCM). WHAT DOES THE RCM MEAN? manager or home owner. At the time the lighting industry, The single RCM on an electrical If in doubt about the compliance of a product, contractors can visit the national database that has been designated for all supplier registration, which can be found on the Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council (ERAC) website (www.erac.gov.au). This is a database is jointly used by the ACMA, ERAC and Radio Spectrum Management (New Zealand). A supplier intending to supply devices that are required to be labelled under an ACMA Labelling Notice must register on the database as a ‘responsible supplier’.

CHECKING FOR PRODUCT SAFETY All electrical equipment in Australia and New Zealand must comply with the fundamental safety requirements and any relevant standards under applicable state, territory and national electrical safety legislation. If there is any doubt about product safety, contractors can look up products on the Electrical Equipment Safety On 1 March, the Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM) will become the only compliance System (EESS), a national database mark for electrical safety and electro-magnetic compatibility. administered through ERAC, that

58 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 BY STEVE ARTHUR records the registration details of documentation to ‘prove’ that the therefore negligible in comparison to the responsible suppliers of electrical product being supplied is compliant. potential financial and personal costs equipment in Australia and New Zealand. This includes a test report or technical associated with installing a product that A new EESS is being introduced by construction file showing the device does not meet Australian standards. some Australian State and Territory complies with an applicable technical electrical equipment safety regulators. standard as well as a declaration of CONTRACTOR COMPLIANCE AND Under the EESS the previous risk levels conformity and description of the device. SAFETY CHECKLIST for electrical equipment (ie. Prescribed/ It is important to note contractors Electrical and lighting product Declared and Non-Prescribed/Non- still need to be mindful that even compliance and safety in Australia tends Declared) are being replaced with a when purchasing well-known and WREHµDVVXPHG¶UDWKHUWKDQTXDOL¿HG7R three tier risk level system. Under this reputable brands, the product must be avoid non-compliant product: new system, the risk levels a contractor approved for sale and use in Australia. > Purchase products from a local needs to be familiar with are: Philips Lighting and other reputable reputable wholesaler (offline or online) > Level 3 (formally prescribed/ declared manufacturers go through a lengthy > Choose well-known brands with a equipment) - product must be approvals process to ensure product reputation for quality approved and certified as compliant compliance in Australia. Although > Search the ACMA and EESS database to use prior to sale, evidenced by a products may look similar on the to check for product compliance and Certificate of Approval/Conformity; surface, if they are not approved for safety be marked with the RCM; have a use in Australia there are possibly > For individual product compliance registered Responsible Supplier differences in specifications and details, contact the manufacturer or (whose name and details are linked to materials that could pose safety risks. local distributor directly the equipment) and be registered on > Watch out for obvious signs the ERAC database. WHAT’S THE RISK FOR THE including no certification marks, no > Level 2 (new level introduced by EESS) CONTRACTOR? supporting compliance documentation - there is currently no equipment It is crucial for contractors to forthcoming from the equipment classified as ‘Level 2’, however state remember what is at risk when supplier or unclear installation regulators have indicated that purchasing and installing products instructions. luminaires may be moved from Level 1 that do not comply - customer safety, Contractors can get actively involved to Level 2 in future. livelihood and reputation are just the with electrical industry initiatives such > Level 1 (formally non-prescribed tip of the iceberg. as Does it Comply?, an initiative aimed at equipment) - equipment requires In Australia, the liability for products stamping out the use products that do evidence that the items meet the that are found to be non-compliant to not comply with Australian Standards. relevant standard at the time the item Australian standards usually falls on Visit www.doesitcomply.com.au, to was either manufactured or imported. the manufacturer or importer of the complete the online training module. This evidence is to be kept by the product. However, if it can be proven that For information on product ‘responsible supplier’ for a period of 5 the electrical contractor knew that the compliance, or to report a suspected non- years starting on the day the item is product was non-compliant, some of the compliant or counterfeit product visit the last manufactured or imported by the liability will also fall to the contractor. ERAC website - www.erac.gov.au responsible supplier. If it is the electrical contractor that For updates on Australian Standards purchases product from overseas, then visit www.standards.org.au CHECK WITH THE SUPPLIER the contractor is considered to be the There have been examples of where importer of the product and therefore Steve Arthur has been involved in the RCM has been used by opportunistic liable for damages that arise from its the electronic component and lighting importers on non-compliant product. non-compliance. industry for more than 15 years in So if there is any doubt, contractors It is important to note here that liability Australia and internationally. Steve can contact the supplier and/or for incorrect installation of complaint has previously led the OEM business for manufacturer directly. products also falls to the contractor, not Philips Lighting in Australia and is now If an LED luminaire is compliant for the manufacturer or importer. bringing his expertise and passion for example, the supplier should be able to With so much at stake, any upfront lighting and energy efficient LED lighting produce, upon request, the appropriate savings on a product purchase is solutions to the Trade Channel.

www.electricalconnection.com.au 59 ESTIMATING

SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN

should be able to list the materials required for a specifi ed job. However, when it comes to labour, the estimator must take into account the aforementioned variable risks, which all affect labour time. Most projects that go belly-up fi nancially do so because of labour overrun triggered by many of these factors.

FINANCING Do you have enough money to fi nance the project? Many contractors believe that this is not a problem, because of progress payments, and their exposure is minimum. But even working with a customer who pays on time, there is a delay between lodgement of the progress claim and the payment. Most construction contracts have a payment clause stating that the FOCUSING ON THE BASIC SKILLS lifeblood that keeps the organisation monthly claim must be lodged by a NEEDED IN AN ELECTRICAL in business and protects the owners certain date and it will be paid 21 days CONTRACTING BUSINESS, BRIAN from bankruptcy. from receipt of claim. So, from the SEYMOUR TELLS HOW TO Contracting is a gambling business – the beginning of the month until payment, MANAGE THE PLANNING AND bid is made and the risk is taken that the seven weeks will elapse during which ACHIEVE A PROFIT. job will follow the anticipated schedule. you must fund the project. So many risk factors come into play If you have to go into bank overdraft even in the most basic installations: or borrow money for this funding it will usy electrical contractors weather; availability of labour, tools eat into your profi t. Even with small doing their estimates and and equipment; accidents; strikes; service jobs, if you allow your customer B administration on the run availability and delivery of materials; credit by sending an invoice after leaving seldom think logically about the and access to work areas all affect the the job, you will be funding this account profi table outcome. bottom line. until you receive payment. Here is a defi nition of profi t according And a greater profi t usually equates to I always advise new contractors to to Investopedia: greater risk. take a leaf out of the appliance servicing A fi nancial benefi t that is realised when These are just the everyday hazards industry and demand payment at the the amount of revenue gained from a that can affect your job. Other areas end of the job – in cash or EFT – because business activity exceeds the expenses, that have a signifi cant bearing on every unpaid day has an effect on your costs and taxes needed to sustain the profi tability are outlined below. expected profi t. activity. Any profi t that is gained goes to Also, be sure to pay your suppliers on the business owners, who may or may TIME time. Poor payers get poor service and not decide to spend it on the business. Time is a vital element in maximising this will have an effect on your jobs if Therefore profi t is more than the profi t, and it’s the hardest to assess. you cannot get materials when required fi gures on the balance sheet, it is the Any tradesperson worth their salt to meet deadlines.

60 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 BY BRIAN SEYMOUR

OVERHEADS and a wide-ranging break-up of prices SOME ESSENTIAL TIPS: This is basically the money required to and schedule of rates, causing the final keep your business operating whether > Tip#1 Pay your suppliers on time – selling price to be calculated too quickly late deliveries can eat into profits you have any paying work or not. and resulting in omissions > Tip#2 Consider the risk factor – does it Electrical contractors’ overheads outweigh the opportunity? Another regular mistake in generally run between 15% and > Tip#3 Monitor cash flow – long underquoted tenders is the omission of 25% of total sales, but this can vary payment periods have a detrimental prime cost, provisional and contingency dramatically depending on the type of effect on profit sums; EBA; GST; site allowance; travel; work undertaken. To establish the most > Tip#4 Do not willingly deceive yourself site accommodation; or failure to include by underestimating your overheads realistic percentage for your business it sub-contract prices. is wise to consult an accountant. > Tip#5 If you don’t have the expertise, These mistakes can cause prospective consider the most economical way of The overheads for an electrical acquiring it customers to lose faith in your company. contractor include administration and > Tip#6 Identify your profitable A good, well thought out selling price office expenses, vehicles, telephone and customers and concentrate marketing assessment sheet will flag up these internet, depreciation, bad debts and strategies to them specified sums and service costs, acting collection expenses, industry subscriptions, > Tip#7 Use a tender checklist to ensure as a double check to ensure you don’t all costs are accounted for licences, advertising and promotion. omit them from the final selling price. > Tip#8 Remember: no customer, no job However, there can also be job- – keep the relationship strong specific overheads, which are incurred CUSTOMER RELATIONS. > Tip#9 Profit is the lifeblood of the on particular job sites. These may business The customer is the person who pays include travel beyond the usual your wages, therefore ‘no customer, no job’. radius, hire of specialised equipment, A profitable company maintains good site storage, accommodation, site a tender for high-voltage installations, customer interaction and provides an transport, site lifting, site allowances, putting floodlights on a high-rise building, outcome with a quality consistent with and utilities fees and charges. All need working 500m underground, or installing the customer’s requirements. to be included in the final selling price expensive and sensitive equipment in a The old adage ‘the customer is always to maintain profit. multimillion-dollar laboratory. right’ is only partly true. The customer may know what the desired outcome WORKFORCE EXPERTISE COMPANY EFFICIENCY should be, but in many cases will have Does your team have the expertise to Is your customer base growing each no idea how to arrive at it. complete the job? year, and are you generating repeat This is where the electrical contractor As mentioned, the jobs with more risk business or continually marketing to becomes an advisor, to work with the – and those that include new technology new possibilities? customer to provide the highest-quality – are greater profit makers. If you do not You will need to identify customers installation for the price. have the expertise, how much will it cost that generate the most profit and Profitable tenders are often won to hire or sub-contract this work? concentrate your marketing strategies due to the electrical contractor If any new technology is going to on them. offering alternatives that produce a mean regular business, will a training Their jobs are usually those for more aesthetic outcome or a more program be worth the investment in which your team has the most expertise efficient installation. time and money? and can carry out the work with In any market segment there are maximum efficiency. electrical contractors who are more DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY profitable than the rest. They secure In sports such as surfing and UNDERQUOTING the best jobs, they have an amicable gymnastics, higher marks are given Estimating is fraught with potential customer base and they maintain a according to the degree of difficulty, and disaster when tender deadlines are dedicated team. the same applies in business. extremely short or when multiple These companies plan their operations Tasks involving a degree of danger tenders are due on the same day. and follow through with the plans. would reduce the number of rival Adding to these difficulties are They have established benchmarks of tenderers. However, you would need high 11th-hour variations and additions to excellence that they continually practise, levels of expertise to consider submitting the project, very late supplier quotes and it is reflected in their bottom line.

www.electricalconnection.com.au 61 ON THE JOB ADVERTORIAL

SIEMENS PUSHES THE BUTTON ON NEW RANGE OF SIRIUS ACT SIGNALLING DEVICES

SIRIUS ACT IS A COMPLETELY NEW SYSTEM OF COMMANDING AND SIGNALLING DEVICES DEVELOPED BY SIEMENS. A MODULAR SYSTEM, IT FEATURES A ROBUST DESIGN WITH IP69K DEGREE OF PROTECTION, HIGH-LEVEL AESTHETICS AND SIMPLE OPERATION.

sers have a choice of a wide range of pushbuttons and U emergency stop buttons, selector and key switches and acoustic reliable device installation. commanding and signalling devices and optical indicators. The diverse Sirius Act is a modular product line suitable for every application. range in metal and plastic versions that enables users to choose from Siemens provides an online for front panel mounting can also be four design ranges in plastic and confi gurator for fast and convenient combined fl exibly with different rear- metal versions to meet their specifi c component combination and mounting contact and LED modules. application requirements. ordering. Single devices, housings An online confi gurator simplifi es The front of the holders features and inscriptions can be combined selection and ordering. The components different actuators and indicators, individually to the customer’s are connected to the controller via AS- while at the rear they provide slots for requirements in the confi gurator by Interface, IO-Link or standard cabling. contact and LED modules. means of drag and drop. Thanks to twist prevention and the There is suffi cient space to An automatically generated CIN innovative snap-on concept, the new accommodate up to three modules number enables customers to reorder commanding and signalling devices can side by side and two contact modules their confi guration at any time without be installed quickly and easily without one behind the other in each case. having to provide any further details. The errors even if holes are not keyed. The modules are available with screw online confi gurator provides download The new commanding and terminals, spring-type terminals or options for documentation, exploded signalling devices were developed solder pin connections views and connection diagrams too. with a particular focus on ease of Thanks to its IP69K degree of Sirius Act is now available in installation. The snap-on concept used protection, Sirius Act is unaffected by Australia through approved partners in their design makes it possible to dust, oils, caustic solutions and extreme Ramelec and Power Parameters, and assemble the front element and rear environmental infl uences to the extent J.A. Russell in New Zealand. For further holder quickly without special tools. that it can safely be cleaned with a information about Sirius Act visit www. Disassembly is equally rapid thanks to high-pressure jet at high-temperatures. siemens.com/sirius-act a release lever. A screwed connection Their long mechanical service with reliable twist prevention means life and certifi cation for potentially > Siemens that keyed holes are not essential for explosive atmospheres makes the new www.siemens.com/sirius-act

62 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 SIRIUS ACT – Performance in Action Fast assembly thanks to new fixing concept

Installation has never been easier. With 100% twist In addition, visible installation markers and indicators prevention integrated into the holders, SIRIUS ACT on components further reduce the risk of incorrect can be installed in groove-free milled holes, saving installation. you significant installation time. SIRIUS ACT push buttons and signaling devices – The innovative snap-on concept makes the task of convincing in design, performance, ruggedness and installing a unit so effortless that it can be done handling. Enabling you to get things going. with one hand. Sirius Act is now available in Australia through approved

partners Ramelec and Power Parameters, and J.A. Russell

in New Zealand.

siemens.com/sirius-act TRAINING

HANDS ON IN THE HILLS

Australian Solar Council vice president and SolarQuip founder Glen Morris runs regular four-day solar hybrid and off- grid training courses.

about hybrid systems and batteries, a mechanical engineer looking to improve his practical knowledge and an IT professional thinking about moving into the renewables sector. Of course, they’re all here for different reasons and all have different levels of skills and knowledge. We walk around to one of the practical training areas where there is a host of semi-permanently installed systems for A PRACTICAL HYBRID/OFF- founder Glen Morris. I find Glen making the students to practice on. The brands GRID TRAINING COURSE BEING his way across a field that separates the represented here include: DELIVERED OVER FOUR DAYS classroom where the theory elements of > SMA Australia (Sunny Island 8.0H, IN THE HILLS OUTSIDE OF the course are taught and the student’s SB3000TL-21, SB5000TL-21, Webbox, MELBOURNE IS ATTRACTING lodge. Sunny Sensor, and Meteorstation) STUDENTS FROM NEAR AND FAR. Glen, himself a long-time resident > Schneider Electric XW+ 8.5kW JACOB HARRIS HEADS OVER TO of Moora Moora, is happy to show me inverter/charger, 600V80A MPPT, CHECK IT OUT. around and tell me about the course RL 3kW solar inverter, combox and which, he stresses, is available to anyone system control panel who’s interested and as such has no > Selectronic SP Pro t the end of a winding dirt prerequisites. That being said, Glenn does > Outback Radian (7KW), Flexmax 80 and road that ascends the densely- suggest that a basic understanding of Mate3 A forested Mt Toolebewong, solar systems and simple mathematical > Studer Innotec XTM4000, VarioTrack, 70km north-east of Melbourne, is the equations will come in handy. RCC, and other monitoring equipment Moora Moora Community Coop. The 245 “I deliberately run the course > AERL CoolMax charge controllers hectare, cooperatively-owned property without any specific prerequisites. > Plasmatronic Dingo charge controllers – comprised of approximately 30 homes It’s not an accreditation unit or a unit > Fronius Galvo string inverter – has existed off-grid for over 40 years of competency from an RTO, it’s just > Canadian Solar PV modules and and is the venue for SolarQuip’s four-day professional development. I have run lots Camel Energy Storage System (full solar hybrid and off-grid training course. of courses for electricians in the past but hybrid unit) The course teaches students how to this time I want to deliver training for > SolaX hybrid inverter with Pylontec size, configure, program and design both people who need extra knowledge in the Lithium storage system on-grid hybrid systems and off-grid stand- area but who might not necessarily be > ET/SolarBridge micro inverters (both alone power systems. I’ve come up for involved in the installation,” says Glen. on-grid and off-grid configurations) plus the day to check out Moora Moora, get a This sentiment is reflected in the varied Power Manager feel for how the course is delivered and to backgrounds of the students > AirBreeze DC wind turbine meet some of the staff and students. who attend the course. Among the > StreamEngine 2kW micro hydro turbine The course is run by Australian Solar students this time around there’s an “We’ve got several training areas Council vice president and SolarQuip electrician who wants to learn more that are essentially work zones for

64 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 the students. Everything’s a bit messy as all the students work together systems linked via a LV network. because they’re constantly building it enthusiastically and learn from each It is a unique, relaxed learning and tearing it down – it’s never finished. other. In this way any disadvantages environment that promises to provide I’ve got loads of systems that are given brought about by disparities in prior students with all the skills needed to to me by various companies, so I just get knowledge are mitigated. Indeed, all the design both on-grid and off-grid hybrid the students to play with them and learn students appear to be taking a great systems to customer requirements. about them. This is what I’ve designed this deal from the experience as they work “Because the market has changed so course to be: it’s for people who want to in small groups to test the IV curve on much with batteries, the training that’s learn about the theory and the practical. new and old solar cells and configure an available through the standard units of “We’ve got extra low voltage systems independent power system (IPS). competency is not applicable any more. for those who are not licensed and In addition to the variety of hybrid I’ve been on the EL committee, who writes we’ve got low voltage systems for those systems students can train on, Moora them. and we haven’t updated them for 15 who are. We have also just received the Moora homes feature diverse off-grid years. They only look at battery systems Redback Smart Hybrid System, which solutions covering the spectrum of for remote off-grid applications, not for is a rather exciting new inverter. They single appliance powered equipment people who are on-grid storing their solar consider it the Powerwall beta because (pumping), single home SPS systems, energy trying to reduce the cost of their it’s actually an inverter and not just a multiple dwellings supplied from a electricity,” says Glen. battery, this is the first one in the world single SPS system and a micro grid and we’re testing it for them,” says Glen. system with multiple homes and > SolarQuip It’s a collaborative atmosphere buildings supplied by multiple SPS www.solarquip.com.au

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ALL POWER TO ‘EM

POWER OVER ETHERNET IS IDEAL To TO FOR COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES. IAN MILLNER OUTLINES A FUTURE ETHERNET DSL POWER TECHNOLOGY THAT IS AVAILABLE To GPO TODAY. INTERNET ETHERNET PHONE POWER he old days are well and truly To GPO on the way out and a new era is dawning fast and furious. T ETHERNET SWITCH POWER You could be walking into a mine field To GPO if you don’t get some of the basics right. As always, a disruptive technology is a threat to many and an opportunity to To GPO those that are well informed and ready to harness the potential. In this article we will look at how To TO communications devices will be powered in the future, the technology, how it works ETHERNET DSL POWER and what you need to do to make sure the To GPO infrastructure is in place to support it.

Today’s communications devices are INTERNET ETHERNET PHONE POWER generally powered via a 240V AC socket To GPO through a power adaptor. Such devices include the: ETHERNET SWITCH POWER > Cordless phone > Modem To GPO > Security system > Computer To GPO > Television > CCTV camera > Wireless access point. You need access to a socket and Figures 1 and 2. connection to the communications network, which can be achieved using twisted-pair Category 5/6 cable or include your broadband modem, network challenges, having multiple UPS units wireless. termination device (NTD), home gateway to start with, and potentially adding a For the plain old telephone system, and any devices that are mission critical battery back-up for the broadband NTD, power comes from the exchange. or essential to life. plus batteries for the alarm system and Medical alert and alarm systems usually To provide a power back-up in a medical alert system. It soon becomes a come with battery back-up so that residential environment you can simply buy management nightmare. communications can be maintained for lots of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) The solution lies in structured cabling. some time in an emergency. units and place them around the house. Yes, you read it correctly, structured As we know the world is changing, and They can support various items, be they cabling – good old star-wired twisted- communications systems in your house network devices or user devices that need pair cable. (including basic telephone services) will to be running if the mains supply fails. Enter tomorrow’s technology that is need to be powered locally. This will Naturally this presents some available today – Power over Ethernet

66 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 BY IAN MILLNER

(PoE). This is power delivered over broadband NTD and/or modem, the to the telecommunications equipment Category 5 cabling or, even better, gateway, the security system and then connect the DSL modem and the Category 6. monitoring systems. PoE switch to the UPS. The Standards continue to evolve, and This means you can install one UPS to All other devices can now be they are getting to a point where they support everything at one central point. connected to the PoE switch, which can deliver up to 70W of power on Cat 5 Figure 1 shows an installation provides networking access and power. or better cable. without PoE, and you can see that You can then program the PoE switch to The first Standard was IEEE 802.3af, every device needs to be connected to a power only certain ports during a mains which supported 15.4W. Then came IEEE 240V AC socket. power failure. 802.3at, which supported up to 30W. Figure 2 shows an installation with a So far we are only seeing the The benefit of the technology is that PoE switch. Now power to the phone, beginning, but one thing you can be sure you can start to power devices such CCTV camera and home gateway can of is that PoE is here to stay and will as IP phones; IP cameras; a range of come from that switch. cause disruption in areas you may not devices for security, fire detection and How does PoE work? It’s simple. The have considered. environmental monitoring; aged and Ethernet port in the gateway/switch You can do one of two things – ignore assisted living; and home health. injects a DC voltage into two or more it or embrace it. Structured cabling brings it all back pairs of the Ethernet port. A final word: several manufacturers to a central location where you locate This means that if you need to provide use PoE technology for lighting systems, the patch panel and all the essential back-up to the DSL modem and the CCTV so think very carefully about the choices communications equipment – the camera only, you could install a UPS next you make.

www.electricalconnection.com.au 67 RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

A SHOW OF SANDS

SAND IS EMERGING AS A KEY INGREDIENT IN THE RACE TO DEVELOP A VIABLE ELECTRICITY STORAGE SYSTEM FOR RENEWABLE ENERGIES.

atent Heat Storage (LHS) has developed a low cost thermal L energy storage system based on the latent heat properties of silicon derived from sand. The device – known as TESS – is being developed in South Australia with the help of an $A400,000 government grant to take it from prototype to commercial reality. The TESS device stores electricity as The TESS device stores electricity as thermal energy by heating and melting containers thermal energy by heating and melting full of silicon derived from sand. containers full of silicon. The high latent heat capacity and melting temperature of silicon makes it ideal for the storage applications and has been designed to generate $800,000 of total project of large amounts of energy. to overcome the intermittent nature funding. LHS chief executive Jonathan Whalley of renewable energies such as wind The device has been developed says storage was the next big challenge and solar by providing a stable energy in partnership with Adelaide-based for energy generation worldwide. output suitable for base load power. engineering consultancy ammjohn, and “Renewable energy sources generally It can be integrated anywhere within fi nal year engineering students at the spill energy due to supply and demand an electricity network and is suitable for University of Adelaide. mismatches, so we’ve designed the TESS commercial and industrial businesses Jonathan says the commercial device to capture this ‘spilt’ energy for where heat and electricity are required introduction of energy storage systems later use or release to the grid,” he says. such as hotels, schools and hospitals. would encourage more renewable “Our system also means that energy “After three years of research and energy generation such as wind farms consumers will be able to purchase development, our key objective now and solar arrays. stored electricity off-peak at low tariffs, is to complete building a commercial “Energy prices are increasing around which ultimately means cheaper energy.” prototype of the TESS device and start the world while storage technology A key benefi t of the TESS device is showcasing its potential to global costs are reducing, so we’re approaching its capability to handle an increasing markets,” Jonathan says. the tipping point where energy workload from 500kW applications A commercial prototype will be ready storage systems are fi nally becoming through to an industrial scale of up to in early 2016 to be used as a selling tool commercially viable,” he says . several hundred megawatt hours – to potential clients and Jonathan says “We are developing an energy storage enough to power about 7,000 homes for devices would initially be built to meet system to meet market demand … a day. the needs of individual sites rather than we anticipate that this will result in The patented device is small enough to mass produced. exponential growth of the energy fi t inside a 20-foot shipping container but The Australian Government grant, storage market worldwide.” is readily scalable as demand requires. through its Entrepreneur’s Program, TESS is suitable for grid and off-grid has been matched by LHS shareholders Andrew Spence

68 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 QUALITY CABLERS, NOT COWBOYS HAVE YOU MADE THE CHANGE?

The 2014 ACMA competency Tell your mates to register with TITAB now! requirements for broadband were You’ll get: designed so that all cablers comply > experienced advice that makes registering easy with the highest industry standards. > direct access to qualified training providers TITAB, which is Australia’s largest > specialist cabling (endorsement) recognition cabling registry, can update you on > newsletter and email updates changes and also advise on any > national website listing as a cabler training you may need to comply. > access to the services of the Registered Cablers website (www.registeredcablers.com.au) > access to key telecommunications bodies You must be registered through our industry affiliations. If you install or maintain telecommunications/ data cabling on customer premises, you must Get connected with the largest registry be registered – severe penalties apply for illegal For only $88.00 (3 years) or $38.50 (1year) work. Working without a registration may also it's heaps cheaper than legal action or a affect your insurance. $20,400 fine. Registration could also open up other broadband opportunities for you, as the NBN takes shape.

TO REGISTER OR FIND OUT MORE

Call 03 9631 0800 email [email protected] or visit www.titab.com.au www.electricalconnection.com.au 69 The largest not-for-profit, ACMA-accredited cabler registry CITT 37341 A word from the CEO

As 2016 is an election year, this will be issue. These clips are also on our website. another busy year at NECA. We are The planning for our industry conference currently reviewing our policies – which you in South Africa continues to go well. We have can fi nd on our website (www.neca.asn.au), now secured all of our main speakers and will and we are gearing up to a new round of be promoting the full program as this issue of discussions with all parties, to be sure our Electrical Connection arrives on your desk. key industry issues are front-of-mind with We have exclusive use of the venue we chose all relevant federal members and senators. for this event in Stellenbosch – one of South We closed 2015 as usual with our National Africa’s most spectacular wine regions, and Excellence Awards - covered in this update, the numbers are looking great. But there are and again congratulate all our winners. We still places available. were also pleased to see that the Federal to develop future policy. Following these We are also excited to be welcoming six Government’s Higher Education Amendment consultations, our Employer Engagement winners from the marketing campaign run (VET FEE-HELP Reform) Bill 2015 passed policy has now been formulated and will soon by our four principal sponsors: Clipsal by through the Senate in December with the be ready for industry-wide distribution. The Schneider Electric, Gerard Lighting, L&H support of the Opposition and minor parties. policy makes a number of recommendations and NHP. Most of our winners are not NECA The new rules, which came into effect on in relation to competency-based progression, members, so I would like to stress that this 1 January 2016 provide greater protections the training, support and supervision of is an industry conference not just a NECA for students and seek to increase the apprentices, blended learning models and members’ conference. So we would really like standards of the VET sector by stamping the development of an industry-led national to see a broad range of electrical contracting out unscrupulous marketing and enrolment apprenticeship recruitment register. businesses at the conference. For further practices. With our Does it Comply? partner, we have information – including the fi nal program and We also concluded the E-Oz EIAMPS pilot developed a series of short video clips that principal speakers, check our website. project. This pilot project was a huge success highlight the dangers of purchasing non- Finally, I’d just like to wish you a very and enabled NECA to engage with apprentice compliant products and the potential liability successful 2016. employers and other key stakeholders to that can follow. These are short clips and very examine the strengths and weaknesses of easy to relate to. I hope you will take a moment Best regards, the present apprenticeship system in order to refresh your knowledge on this continuing Suresh Manickam

Setting the agenda for the next five years... If you are interested in how our industry is changing, you can’t afford to miss this conference. We have two of Australia’s leading industry experts sharing their views on how our industry will be transformed over the next five years. And it’s not just about energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. The convergence of electrical control via the internet and traditional wiring is totally changing the landscape for electrical contractors, and consumers. The program is now finalised. The excursions and entertainment are a wonderful taste of what’s on offer in Africa. Plus, we have secured sole- occupancy of our venue to meet the huge demand from our delegates – NECA members and non-members. But there are still places available – if you book now.

South Africa 2016 *HU`V\HɈVYKUV[[VILWHY[VM[OLKPZJ\ZZPVU& Sunday 17 April to Thursday 21 April *OLJRP[V\[VU^^^ULJHHZUH\

70 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 Changing times ahead, part two combined. In the last issue of Electrical Large investment banks such as Morgan Connection, Glenn Platt – Stanley and UBS (not exactly crazy greenies or renewable energy zealots) are publishing who is one of the keynote papers on how they expect solar and batteries speakers at our conference to be a huge industry over the next few years. For example, Morgan Stanley predicts that in South Africa in April 2016, about 2.4 million Australian homes will install talked about how our world is solar and battery systems, with a payback changing. This is part two of time to the household of less than 10 years. Ultimately, this means more work, more his article. challenges, and more opportunities for our Today, solar isn’t just cheaper for the end industry. consumer than conventional grid electricity, Somehow I think Edison would have been solar systems are also being used to maintain Glenn Platt heads up CSIRO’s Energy fl agship a bit disappointed if he had come back and the reliability of the broader electricity grid. and will be the keynote speaker at the NECA recognised so much of our electricity system Imagine what this will do to the uptake of this conference in South Africa, next April. so many years on from his initial inventions. technology across Australia. However, if he knew about the huge changes Even if our Edison could get his head around communications contractors. just around the corner, I think he'd be excited the localised generation, storage and reactive The new technologies – solar, batteries, for us all. power control on the power system of the energy management systems, and so Edison once said: "Everything comes to him immediate future, things won't stay this way for on – operate on the core electrical and who hustles while he waits ..." long. communications principles we are used to. Exciting times are ahead – hustle on, I say. Already in Australia trials are under way There are additional skills to learn, but it's not of microgrids and 'transactional' systems, an entire change in direction. in which local houses and other buildings These are labour-intensive sectors that can essentially trade energy. This provides help the economy. The solar industry in the To read this article in full, please complete independence from the grid and United States employs more people than the go to "News & views" on the NECA often improves power quality and reliability. coal industry. It even employs more people website www.neca.asn.au In doing so, these systems demonstrate that than Apple, Google, Twitter and Facebook we don’t really need base-load power. What’s needed is generation carefully matched to supply at any instant. To achieve this, microgrids are managed by automated controllers that can accurately predict future load and generation, then actively manage loads and energy storage to keep things in balance with the available generation. They do this while maintaining power quality to the end user. Driven by economics, with the bonus of practical benefi ts, the uptake of distributed solar and battery storage in Australia is akin to the disruption that digital photography caused to fi lm, or the mobile phone caused to telephony. Although the approaching changes will be widespread and profound, they aren't anything to be afraid of. On the contrary, they represent a great opportunity for electrical and

www.electricalconnection.com.au 71 2015 NECA National Excellence Awards

The nation’s best electrical and Winners communications projects have been Category Company State Project Name recognised at the annual electrical and 1 Domestic Residence Argus Technologies VIC Private Residence Berwick communications industry’s Excellence Solutions Awards, hosted by the National 2 Contracting Business Elecorp Group VIC Mitcham Private Hospital – Electrical and Communications Mental Health Unit Victoria Court Association (NECA). 3 Energy Effi ciency and Floyd Industries VIC Supply and Installation of State winners from across Australia Environment Cogeneration Plant for the attended this year’s event at the Hilton Wangaratta Aquatic Centre Brisbane. 4 Lighting Project Kerfoot Electrics NSW Dooleys Lidcombe Catholic Club Three Victorian projects and two 5 Industrial – Small Project Klimate Solutions TAS IMAS Taroona Research Facility, from each of New South Wales, Mechanical Electrical and Control Western Australia, Tasmania and Upgrade Queensland received the top national 6 Industrial – Medium Project RBD Electrical & TAS Ta Ann Smithton Plywood Motive awards in front of 350 industry Instrumentation Installation representatives including contractors, 7 Industrial – Large Project Downer EC&M WA Shiploader Replacement Project educators and government representatives. New South Wales 8 Voice/Data Programmed QLD Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital Electrical and Australian Capital Territory also Technologies received commendations on projects 9 Commercial - Small Project Barnwell Cambridge NSW Chief Entertainment that were narrowly beaten by the overall category winners. 10 Commercial - Medium Fredon Pty Ltd QLD Aldi Distribution Centre – Project Brendale “These projects are the best and most innovative we have seen over 11 Commercial - Large Project Downer EC&M WA Perth City Link Rail Project - Electrical and Communications the past 12 months,” said Suresh Manickam, NECA CEO. “They clearly enrich our industry and reinforce the Commendations strong reputation of our sector.” Category Company State Project Name NECA congratulates all of our 2015 4 Australian War Memorial External Lighting Stowe Australia ACT winners and wishes to acknowledge Lighting Upgrade the ongoing support of the electrical 5 Industrial – Small Project RIC Electrics NSW Cootamundra Oil Seeds and communications contracting 7 Patrick Port Botany sector for making the Awards such a Industrial – Large Project Stowe Australia NSW Redevelopment Project resounding success,” he concluded. 10 Commercial - Medium Canberra Data Centres Fyshwick - Martin Donnelly ACT Project Phase 1 and 2

72 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 NECA awards Trade Teacher of the Year to WA for the 2015 National Apprentice second year running Awards Garry Christiansen – who lectures at the former President and leader of the judging This evening, some of Australia’s brightest Great Southern Institute of Technology, is this panel. “Garry was the clear winner. But we electrical apprentices were recognised by year’s winner of the coveted Electrotechnology were also so impressed by Brett Jotta – National Electrical and Communications Industry Trade Teacher Award. also from WA, that we have awarded him a Association (NECA) at its National Apprentice Garry is a committed, passionate Commendation. Brett teaches at the College Awards event at the Hilton Hotel in Brisbane. professional with a wide range of experience of Electrical Training and we were very taken The Aw ards are held annually to acknowledge gained from his career as an electrical by his vision for the future and desire to see the achievements of each state’s winners. engineer. He has developed innovative young people making a commitment to a Guest speaker Brad Morrin – a former approaches to apprentice and employer Trade at a younger age,” he added. Canterbury Bulldog’s NRL player and support – including the development of an As part of his prize Garry will attend the apprenticeship ambassador, delivered an apprenticeship handbook used by his college, NECA National Excellence Awards in Brisbane entertaining speech for all in attendance. host employers and their apprentices. at the end of November, and thereby joins the Apprentices from across the country He is very client-focused and works industry as we celebrate the best of the best in gathered in Brisbane to hear the winners of with a broad cross-section of regional host our industry. three award categories: Industrial, Commercial/ employers. And he has achieved excellent These annual awards are testament to Domestic and Communications. results with his Capstone assessments the quality of professionals teaching in our This year’s category winners are: process. industry today and we take this opportunity Garry is also a passionate advocate of of thanking all the committed teachers, Industrial Training Package reform for the industry and lecturers and mentors supporting our Placing Name State Employer/ regularly contributes to the national debate from apprentices, and post-qualifi cation students, host a grass-roots delivery standpoint. in their studies. 1st Jeremy QLD i-LEC “We were very impressed by this year’s On behalf of our industry, we applaud Garry Scheurwater Solutions candidates,” said Wes McKnight, NECA’s and Brett, for their great contribution. 2nd Daniel WA SCEE Cocker (Southern Cross Electrical Engineering) 3rd James Huf VIC NECA Education & Careers

Commercial/Domestic Placing Name State Employer/host 1st Bradley SA Bordertown Milligan Pumps & Refrigeration 2nd Cameron ACT Stowe Australia Kerr

Communications Placing Name State Employer/host 1st Jimi SA PEER VEET George Hosted by Expert Data Cabling 2nd Nicholas NSW NECA Group Burnes Training Hosted by Stowe Australia Dave McInness, Garry Christiansen (trade teacher) and Neville Palmer (chair of ElectroComms).

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AUTUMN 2016

Top hats for tradies TOOLS

THE MAD HATTERS OF CONSTRUCTION

As the wearable technology y now, you’ve probably heard For construction site workers, sector takes off, a handful of about the new ‘wearables’ craze. especially those in remote areas, In fact, many of you probably the current interest in IW technology innovators are turning their B wear a FitBit or know someone with an appears to be surrounding ‘smart hats’. attention to designing the Apple Watch – some of you may have According to eHatsystems, which is hardhat of tomorrow. Paul even seen Google’s stupid and pointless getting ready to release its very own Skelton reports. Google Glass. But, what you may not ‘smart hardhat’, the global smart hat know is that wearable technology could market is estimated to be worth $3 play a vital role in the future of health billion by 2020. and safety on a construction site. The eHat System comprises a smart In the US alone, the wearable market is hat with several unique features. It’s a anticipated to be worth some $30 billion safety hat with a light, a high definition by 2018. This has stoked competition in camera, microphone and headset and all sectors of the market, but perhaps the some intelligent software that allows most interesting is industrial. it to communicate wirelessly to an Industrial wearables (IWs) can be approved smart phone, back to your broken into several categories – safety subject matter specialist (who could be devices (e.g. wristbands with inbuilt at home or in the office thousands of GPS trackers), health trackers (e.g. kilometres away), who can see almost eHat can communicate through the heart rate and blood pressure simultaneously what the wearer sees wearer’s smart phone to an expert who monitors), communications devices through their PC or tablet. is sitting at their PC at a remote location. and security solutions. “We believe that with the help of

76 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 IWs, skilled workers will be kept better accelerometer and a data collection informed and safer,” eHatsystems unit. It has been designed to monitor the founder Terry Lancaster explains. temperature and heart rate of the wearer “eHat may be the fi rst working working in harsh environments, plus the example of a communication IW. It external temperature and humidity. is aimed at workers who are located “While the most reliable way to at worksites with limited access to measure a worker’s vital signs would be supervisors and experts. to use a chest strap or undergarment “This means eHat can communicate that is in proximity to your heart, through the wearer’s smart phone to guys on site simply won’t wear them. an expert who is sitting at their PC at a A weekend warrior out riding or remote location. From the eHat camera, running may be happy to do that for the expert can see live streaming of Laing O’Rourke’s smart hardhat a couple of hours of exercise, but video and hear the eHat’s audio. The includes an array of sensors in the making it a requirement for a full day’s expert is also able to send audio back to sweatband as well as a GPS tracker. construction work isn’t feasible,” Laing the eHat’s headphones.” O’Rourke device engineering leader Rod Ultimately this means that when a answers to those who can provide them.” Shepherd says. person in the fi eld requires assistance When a company signs up for the eHat “For that reason, our system has or has a task to be assessed, they put service they will nominate the expert been designed to retrofi t any hardhat, on the eHat and make a call to the contacts that are most relevant to their ensuring the technology can be used appropriate expert who is registered workers; however, down the track the by anyone on site wearing their current with the eHat system. This way the company will launch its ‘assist hub’, which protective gear.” expert can see the problem immediately enables the worker to contact the eHat In addition to the sensors there is also as well as communicate with the Support Centre. Through this service an a vibrating and sound alert system to wearer of the eHat so that the issue can expert will be found that is the best match provide warning to the wearer, based be resolved quickly or in the case of to handle the equipment fault or task on all the data that is collected and training, a trainer can assess if the task required by the person wearing the eHat. transmitted via a lower-power Zigbee radio to a central gateway for storage. The central gateway is equipped with a The global smart hat market is 3G M2M industrial router allowing for remote access to all data collected and estimated to be worth $3 billion can also be used to generate alerts by SMS and email. by 2020. “We’re still in the pilot stage, but we’re gaining a lot of insight into how to turn this into a very robust solution that can is being performed correctly. “Through the assist hub, even small be used in more applications,” Rod says. The eHat itself is specifi cally made to companies with limited staff can use “Initially the system will be used on meet hardhat standards. It can also be the resources of eHat to assist them projects that include high-risk activities rated to withstand water exposure and with situations that they are unfamiliar or extreme conditions with a view to be able to stand high temperatures. The with. This will have a profound effect on rolling out more broadly across the great beauty of eHat is the wearer has how tasks are completed in the future. business in the future. their hands free to work on the task and Workers will need to feel they are not “Laing O’Rourke is committed to the therefore have full mobility. This is a left to their own devices with eHat. Real continual pursuit of safety innovation signifi cant step forward in the effi ciency live help will always be one call away.” to ensure our people go home safely of communications when compared with everyday. This smart hardhat is just one standard smart phone applications. IF THE HAT FITS way we’re working to achieve that.” “It’s important to note that eHat is eHat isn’t the only company currently With projects like these in the works, more than just a hardhat with some exploring smart hat technology and, there is hardly any doubt that IWs will electronic gear on it. It also opens up where eHat is yet to launch, international soon be a staple of any construction the opportunity for a new service,” engineering enterprise Laing O’Rourke worker’s toolkit. If not, I’ll gladly eat Terry says. has been conducting fi eld trials of its my hat. “eHat will also enable the effi cient own hardhat solution. crossing of the knowledge line. It will Developed by the company’s eHat Systems enable, via its support network of Engineering Excellence Group, the smart www.ehatsystems.com experts, the most effi cient transfer of hardhat includes an array of sensors Laing O’Rourke knowledge from the people who need in the sweatband, a GPS tracker, an www.laingorourke.com

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 77 TOOLS

IR SCANNER Bosch Power Tools www.bosch-pt.com.au Capturing, documenting and sending detailed temperature measurements have never been easier thanks to the Bosch GIS 1000 C professional infrared scanner. Never again risk losing your measurement data through manual transfers, as the GIS 1000 C allows users to store all data and photos taken internally and conveniently document results. Quickly identify problem areas with the highest precision thanks to the Infrared Scanner’s high accuracy of ±1.0°C with a wide temperature range of -40°C to +1,000°C. In addition, accurate ambient temperature and relative humidity levels of ±2% can be recorded due to the precise exposed sensor.

TRUCK ACCESSORIES ARB www.arb.com.au Since the release of the MY16 MQ Triton, ARB has been building an extensive accessory range to complement the vehicle. Designed STORAGE SOLUTION with practicality in mind, ARB’s range Festool of gear includes front, rear, side and www.festool.com.au under body protection as well as the Through the SYS-Combi 2 and SYS- classic canopy, air lockers and more. Combi 3 (pictured) Systainers, Festool Using 60.3mm outer frame and cross bar tubing, as well as an extensive use of has combined its traditional Systainer press forming in the construction, the Summit bull bar for the Triton uses a split with a drawer for consumables and pan design for maximum strength and airfl ow as well as under wing protection small parts. These products are the panels to protect the vulnerable lower parts of the Triton. The bar is able to perfect combination of Systainer accommodate a range of low mount electric winches, up to 4,500kg, and includes and Sortainer, providing even better twin hi-lift jack points to assist with diffi cult recovery situations. Provision organisation – even on the move. for ARB Intensity LED and IPF driving lights are integrated into the top pan of the The drawer can be divided fl exibly bar, while a redesigned fog light surround and ARB LED indicator/clearance light for accessories, consumables, small assembly is included as standard. parts and other objects. This ensures excellent organisation, saves time and cuts down on unnecessary PORTABLE PABX movements, trips and effort. Broadband Solutions www.broadbandsolutions.com.au Broadband Solutions has announced the launch of Smartphone BBS, an easy-to-use mobile interface for its cloud-based telecommunications platform, SmartPABX. The app simplifi es the process of eliminating traditional phone handsets from the offi ce environment and ultimately reduces overheads for established businesses and start- ups. Staff simply download the application on their own mobile device and enter their username and password to access their personal extension. The app is powered by the fl exible SmartPABX cloud platform which gives businesses access to all the capabilities of a full-featured enterprise quality phone system for a fraction of the price including, call-waiting, music-on-hold, call queues and CRM integration. Thousands of dollars can be saved on hardware costs with no onsite PABX or handsets required.

78 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 SUMMER WORKWEAR KingGee www.kinggee.com.au KingGee Workwear is set to keep you cooler with the launch of its new WorkCool 2 range. Complete with the latest HyperFreeze and Outlast technologies, the KingGee WorkCool 2 range is designed to support personal safety and wellbeing by easing heat-related impacts during scorching days on the tools. Injected with Outlast technology, the WorkCool Boot keeps hard working tradies cool on their feet throughout the day, without forgoing cutting edge design. The lightweight construction comprises a wide profi le composite toe cap, cosmo lining treated with Agion Anti-Microbial fi bres and a ripstop nylon mesh upper – to provide strong, and breathable support.

CORDLESS TOOLS Panasonic Australia CASUAL WORKWEAR www.panasonic.com.au Hard Yakka Panasonic has announced three www.hardyakka.com.au new cordless power tools using the Inspired by early 20th century company’s latest brushless motor to workwear and its Brunswick roots, deliver optimum performance and the new 3056 summer range durability – the EY74A2 13mm drill and from Hard Yakka combines the driver, the EY79A2 hammer drill and toughness of yesteryear with the driver and the EY75A7 impact driver. form and functionality required The enhanced internal engineering from today’s hard-working tradies, and technology is complemented through a range of jeans, shorts, with a fresh new body design. The shirts, Ts and footwear. cordless tools have a ‘carbon fi bre look’ textured fi nish, and a comfort grip for improved ergonomics. All models are part of Panasonic’s ‘Tough Tool IP’ range of IP56 rated EXCAVATOR-DOZER dust and water resistant power tools, Kobelco designed to perform at their best www.kobelco.com whatever the conditions. Kobelco has laid new ground in the Australian market with the launch of a 16-tonne digger/dozer hybrid; the ED160 Blade Runner. The ED160 Blade Runner combines the digging power of the popular Kobelco SK135SR-3 excavator and a six-way power and tilt dozer blade. The blade is similar in size and volume to the blade on a 90 HP dozer. The ED160 Blade Runner can be used anywhere an excavator or bulldozer would be deployed, for example cutting forest roads and associated drainage work, or stripping vegetation prior to digging trenches and laying pipes. The ED160 Blade Runner offers powerful digging together with fi ne grading capabilities to provide a one-machine solution on job sites.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 79 TIPS

SPREADING THE GLOVE

“Chemical concentration will have a huge influence on the breakthrough time [how long it takes for the chemical to breach the glove] while exposure time must also be carefully managed,” Brad says, adding that other factors influencing glove choice include the temperature of the chemical or material being worked on, along with the frequency of the glove’s use. He suggests that specific advice should not be relied upon unless it comes from the manufacturer of the chemical in question. “Knowing exactly what is in the chemical and the concentration levels plays a big part in the protection required,” he said. “Material safety data sheets are available from the outlet that sold the chemical or you can usually download them from the manufacturer’s website.”

MATERIAL AND FIT Brad states that matching the material of gloves – whether nitrile, PVC, latex or neoprene (see overleaf) – with the above factors is an essential part of the PPE identification process, with thicker gloves not necessarily offering better protection. “Different glove materials react in different ways to chemicals, so thickness won’t play a big part; however, if it’s a combination of risks – for example chemical and abrasion, then glove With WHS playing such an rotecting workers’ hands from thickness could play an important role.” important role on jobsites chemical hazards can be a That said, he cautions, if materials P complex challenge due to the handling is also involved a thicker around the country, it is variety of chemicals and gloves with glove can reduce the feeling and grip, important to get your head different protective properties. potentially increasing risk. around understanding chemical ProChoice Safety Gear product Brad emphasises the need for a resistant properties. development manager Brad Rodgers detailed risk assessment and states says that hand protection from that fit and comfort of a safety glove chemicals requires a detailed is critical. risk assessment of the chemical “It not only increases the likelihood of concentration and exposure time along the glove being worn, but also provides with knowing the age of the gloves, their better dexterity and feel. In the case of history, testing them before use and chemicals, it can reduce the likelihood ensuring they are tested to Australian/ of the glove slipping or the hand pulling European Standards (see below), as out of the glove and exposing the user to well as being a good fit. hazards,” he says.

80 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 volkswagen-commercial.com.au

Includes 92kW TSI with DSG and a corporate escapee.

New Caddy. A lot goes into a Volkswagen van.

People who start their own small businesses put a lot into their van. Not just their supplies, but also their hard work, time and the career they left behind to follow their passion. At Volkswagen, we’ve loaded our new Caddy with innovative features like a 92kW turbo charged petrol engine, DSG transmission, BlueMotion Technology, touch screen audio, with City Emergency Braking* and Adaptive Cruise Control* as optional extras. We put in so much, because you put in so much.

*Safety technologies are not a substitute for the driver’s responsibility of the vehicle. Brad adds that matching the length of the gloves to the application is COMMON HAZARDOUS also essential. SUBSTANCES IN THE “Some chemical resistant gloves WORKPLACE INCLUDE: can be wrist length but most are above ǩ Acids the wrist and some extend right up ǩ &DXVWLFVXEVWDQFHV to the shoulder,” he says, adding that submerging the hand into a chemical ǩ 'LVLQIHFWDQWV requires a longer glove to afford the ǩ *OXHV appropriate protection. ǩ +HDY\PHWDOVLQFOXGLQJPHUFXU\ OHDGFDGPLXPDQGDOXPLQLXP GLOVE STORAGE AND TESTING ǩ 3DLQW Depending on how they are stored, ǩ 3HVWLFLGHV the chemical resistance of gloves may degrade over time, according to ǩ 3HWUROHXPSURGXFWV Brad who adds that latex, being a ǩ 6ROYHQWV natural material, is most susceptible to breakdown. He says gloves should always be stored in a cool dry location and out auto assembly, petrochemicals, food Applications: Janitorial, food of direct sunlight to maximise the processing. processing, general maintenance. lifespan and suggested that before use, Suitable For: Oils, greases, Suitable For: Ketones and mild gloves – whether new or used – should petroleum products and some acids acids. be tested before working with or on and caustics. ǩ PVC Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is an ideal alternative for those with latex Hand protection from allergies, PVC chemical-resistant gloves offer good abrasion resistance, but may be susceptible to punctures, chemicals requiresq a detailed cuts, and snags. PVC is effective against water rriskisk assessassessment.ment. and most aqueous solutions, detergents, and diluted bases and the hazard in question to determine if ǩ LATEX acids, but has limited chemical there has been any degradation and Natural rubber (latex) has a very resistance to organic solvents. PVC to understand the gloves limits and high elasticity compared to other is one of the more common coatings breakthrough time. glove materials, good cut, puncture for coated work gloves. “Ensure the gloves are watertight fi rst and tear resistance, and outstanding Applications: General maintenance, and foremost. Don’t expect every pair grip and temperature resistance. fi sheries, construction, janitorial will be.” he says. It withstands water, alcohols and and gardening. “While manufacturing process are some ketones, but has poor chemical Suitable For: Most acids, fats and very good, once the glove has been resistance against most hydrocarbon petroleum hydrocarbons. shipped and handled by multiple and organic solvents. It can cause people you can’t be sure that it wasn’t allergic reactions in some people. NEOPRENE damaged. Even if there is no visible Neoprene is exceptionally fl exible damage, it may contain a pin hole.” and has good abrasion and cut STANDARDS FOR resistance, while resisting the effects CHEMICAL RESISTANT GLOVE CHEMICAL GLOVES: of aging, sunlight, ozone, oxidation MATERIALS: and weather. ǩ NITRILE 7KHVWDQGDUGWKDWUHODWHVWRFKHPLFDO Applications: Automotive, degreasing, JORYHVLV(1&KHPLFDO Nitrile rubber offers excellent 5LVN6WDQGDUG7KH$XVWUDOLDQ mechanical and janitorial physical-hazard resistance to HTXLYDOHQW ZKLFKLVLGHQWLFDO  Suitable For: Some acids and punctures, cuts, snags and abrasion. LV$61=63DUW caustics. Nitrile rubber has considerable 3URWHFWLYHJORYHVDJDLQVW resistance to oils, fuels and certain FKHPLFDOVDQGPLFURRUJDQLVPVǟ 'HWHUPLQDWLRQRIUHVLVWDQFHWR organic solvents. SHUPHDWLRQE\FKHPLFDOV ProChoice Safety Gear Applications: Chemical handling, www.prochoice.com.au

82 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 Control Your Power. Control Your Life

MARKET LEADER IN HOME STANDBY GENERATORS

Stand up to unpredictable weather & unforeseen power outages with an automatic standby generator from the most trusted name in standby power, offering you comfort, security & convenience. Generac Standby Power Generators are powered by Natural or LP Gas & are fully self contained.

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Quiet Operation Generac Standby Power Generators are lined with sound reducing foam panels for even further reduction in noise levels.

Utility Grade Power TruePower™ Technology provides clean, smooth power for the safe operation of sensitive electronics & appliances.

Smart, User Friendly Controls The controller tracks generator functions so you don’t have to. 8, 10 & 13kVA Security & Convenience units available. If the power goes out, your generator switches on - automatically. TRADE ENQUIRIES WELCOME Great value-add oppportunity for new home builders, renovators & developers.

Please note: This is a Type B Gas Appliance. Installation of this appliance requires a submission to Energy Safe Victorian by an appropriately licenced Type B Gas Fitter. The installation must be accepted by Energy Safe Victoria prior to operation. For installations outside Victoria please refer to the relevant state Gas Technical Regulator. Transfer Switch sold separately. Additional fittings may be required upon installation. Images for illustrative purposes only.

For more information phone 1800 333 428 or visit www.allpower.com.au TOOLS

A BOLT FROM THE BLUE

Dewalt has introduce a new Once paired via the Tool CONNECT notify the owner following expiry of the battery that features the app, batteries (and the associated power agreed period of time. This can be a latest in communications tool) can be easily located and identifi ed. useful means of tracking for tools used by technologies. Rapid inventory checks can therefore a team on large commercial construction be carried out at the start and end of a sites, and also an effective way of mart phone technology is being job to ensure that all batteries are fully managing vibration exposure time. used increasingly by professional S tradies to drive productivity and a more effi cient way of working. To address this opportunity, Dewalt has Any power tool fi tted with a expanded the XR lithium-ion system with Tool CONNECT, a power tool battery with Dewalt XR 18V Tool CONNECT Bluetooth connectivity that provides the modern construction professional with battery pack may be paired to a an easier and faster way to manage their power tool arsenal. mobile device up to 30m away. Any power tool fi tted with a Dewalt XR 18V Tool CONNECT battery pack (either 2.0 or 5.0Ah), may be paired charged, and are within the immediate In the event of theft, or if the tool leaves to a mobile device up to 30m away vicinity. Forgotten or misplaced items a defi ned working perimeter, construction via the Tool CONNECT app. The can also be quickly identifi ed without time professionals can automatically disable customisable interface is designed to consuming searches. the Tool CONNECT battery to prevent provide the user with one-touch access The ‘Lend’ function of the Tool further use. to a wealth of information, such as CONNECT app allows owners to keep Tool CONNECT app users are able proximity of location, state of charge track of tools loaned to an individual to tailor alerts to monitor the status and temperature, as well as access to or a team. The app will automatically and health of batteries. These include practical reference material. deactivate the power tool battery and notifi cation of a low state of charge and a remaining run time indicator. The user can also choose to disable a battery when out of range, and be warned of a high operating temperature to prevent damage. “Time is precious at the end of a working day and high quality power tools can be expensive to replace,” a spokesperson for Dewalt says. “The XR Tool CONNECT system allows construction professionals to quickly check if they have all of their tools accounted for and also verify which, if any, of their batteries need to be charged overnight, ready for the next challenge.” The Dewalt Tool CONNECT app is available to download free of charge from the App Store for smart phones (iPhone 4, 5, 6 models and above) and tablets (iPad Mini and Air models, and above) featuring an iOS operating system, and from the Android App Store (on approved android devices).

Tool CONNECT app users are able to tailor alerts to monitor the status and Dewalt health of batteries, including notifi cation of a low state of charge. www.dewalt.com.au

84 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 SNAPSHOT

According to fi gures from Labourforce, franchises are on the rise, with many tradies looking for the support of a larger brand while still working autonomously.

Handyman franchises had a total estimated revenue of $882 3.2% million in 2014. 20.7%

TRADESMAN AND HANDYMAN IN 2014-2015, TRADIE FRANCHISES GREW 3.2% ANNUALLY JOB ADVERTISEMENT RATES FROM 2009-2014. WERE UP 20.7%.

Demand for temporary and contract staff is up 6.9%

Demand for permanent staff is up 3.4%

6.2%

VICTORIA HAS SHOWN THE BIGGEST GROWTH IN EMPLOYMENT, WITH 6.2% INCREASE. .6% OF ALL JOB ADVERTISEMENTS IN OCTOBER CAME FROM Conversely, NSW was the 25 THE MINING, UTILITIES AND CONSTRUCTION SECTOR. weakest performer.

*Sources Labourforce Impex Transport, Logistics & Supply Chain Job Index, and Tradesman and Handyman Franchises in Australia: Market Research Report.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 85 TIPS

INCENTIVISE AND THRIVE

Through the introduction of a simple incentive scheme, your business can see a growth in productivity of up to 200%, writes Tony Gattari.

nce, a client of ours was so upset in the 200% productivity gain O that he turned red in the face and shouted obscenities around the office He wasn’t upset with us or the gain, he was upset because he felt that his employees had been taking unfair advantage of him for many years and this was the proof. In reality, it wasn’t the employees that The stages of change were: ǩ Increase in loyalty. were the problem; it was the business ǩ The owner calculated how many items ǩ The highest paid production workers in model that they had to work to that a person produced each week over a the industry. was the problem. Our client had simply period of one month. ǩ The most profitable business in the done what every other business in their ǩ Every person in the factory was put industry. industry had done – pay award wage or onto a base wage (they already had ǩ A gain of clients due to improved just above, similar working conditions this) plus they were paid a piece rate delivery times and quality of goods. and similar reporting standards. over a certain level of production. Each Well, if you treat employees like every person was told that this was a test ABILITY TO INCREASE INCOME other business they have been employed and some adjustments to the rate were Employees need to be able to increase in then they will treat you the same way possible. Bonus points were taken their income if they put in more effort. If as they have treated their last boss... away for items below quality. you do not allow this to happen in your or worse! ǩ The items produced and wages paid business then you have a communist The challenge is that most business were calculated each week and the regime where every person gets paid owners do not find a more productive way owner discovered that some people the same no matter how hard they work of rewarding their employees, other than (different items being produced) in the – so let’s all work the same – as little as paying industry standard. They also treat factory received substantially more so possible to get paid. their employees in the same manner as the rate was adjusted to be more even If you are fortunate you have employed all the other employers. Your ability to act across the board. people that are self inspired and feel the same way as all the others gives you ǩ Monitoring went on for another two rewarded by the effort they put in. dramatically the same result as all the months and small adjustments were Reward for effort is a powerful tool not to other businesses, and let’s face it, that’s made to the rates for the different sub be ignored. not being competitive. items being made. ǩ The business adopted the new system - LIKELY STEPS THE 200% INCREASE crazy not to, given the results. The process below is not an exhaustive Originally, the employees of this list of steps to follow just a simple company were paid a standard wage for THE RESULTS process to give you points of reference: the week and the result was standard – The results truly spoke for themselves: 1. Define each departments desired employees took sick leave as it became ǩ 200% increase in productivity. productive output. For example, available, wouldn’t work back when ǩ Comparative decrease in wages marketing has number of qualified needed, loyalty was non-existent and the against items being produced. leads; sales is fairly easy with work being done was just satisfactory. ǩ Decrease in absenteeism across the number, value and profitability of sale; The business was a manufacturing board. production is what the client/customer business, but the lessons can be used in ǩ Willingness to work after hours and on receives and/or the subcomponents any business if you put some thought into Saturdays. that need to come together to it (a little more on that subject later). ǩ Higher quality of goods produced. make the end product; finance and

86 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 administration could be against current situation is 100 units produced become unmotivated and your business percentage of invoices sent out within a each week then you need to test will suffer. A bonus system needs to set period, bonus for collections under the bonus on what happens if they be well structured prior to it being 14 days, etc. produce 300 units or 500 units. How implemented. 2. Pick the department that is going to does this affect your costs – do you Make sure you cost the bonus system give you the highest result for your have to employ more people to keep in terms of extra wages compared to effort; for example, if you manufacture up with the work? Do you have to move profi t and productivity and you have pick production, if you are a re-seller premises, etc? the cash fl ow to pay it. If you are paid then sales is your area and if cash 5. Build in quality if you are working on an on 30-45 day accounts by your clients/ fl ow is a challenge then it could be a increase of units. customers and you pay wages every combination of the sales and fi nance 6. Once you are happy with the bonus week then a good bonus system could departments for collecting the money structure and have tested it on paper send you profi t rich and cash poor. on time. and on your computer then you will Pay a bonus only after you receive the 3. Develop a bonus system on paper fi rst need to meet with your employees, cash, e.g. if you are paid by your clients ensuring you have factored in your discuss the bonus system, discuss how every 45 days then the bonus would be costs. Most bonus systems fall down it will work and that it will be tested and paid quarterly. because the employees over perform some adjustments may be necessary. and the business can’t afford to pay 7. Test it, cost it so you know you are the bonus. making a profi t. Tony Gattari is founder and chief 4. Model the bonus system on a spread energy offi cer of Achievers Group. He sheet using the wages, bonus and DANGER POINT also acts as general manager of sales costs as the key fi gures to check. Do not put in a bonus system and and marketing for Laser Plumbing and If you are working on units and the then take it out as employees will Electrical membership group.

Custom designed bodies to suit commercial vehicles Custom Service Body Specialists

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SAFETY DEVICE Ladderlimb www.ladderlimb.net Ladderlimb was recently launched on the market to enable all ladder users to perform more safely and effi ciently when carrying out all ladder tasks. Ladderlimb makes working up ladders safer by securely holding tool bags, buckets of water or paint cans securely in place leaving your hands free to work. It fi ts into the hollow rung of most modern aluminium ladders and the handle of your bucket, tool bag or paint tin is then clipped onto the sprung clasp at the end of the hand grip. The tapered, rubberised ‘limb’ of the LadderLimb fi ts snugly into the ladder, holding whatever is attached to it securely in place. And, when you wish to work at another height, the LadderLimb can be easily and effortlessly withdrawn and placed into another rung. Ladderlimb is available in Bunnings.

LADDER LEVELLER Branach SHOULDER PADS www.branach.com.au Branach The patented LeveLok LL- www.branach.com.au STB-1 leveller/stabiliser If you’re tired of the shoulder pain has only two controls and you experience when carrying an operating it is so easy, it can industrial-strength, fi breglass ladder, be done with the touch of a toe. the solution could be the Permanent- To set into position, hold the Mount shoulder pad, which makes ladder with both hands and hauling a ladder more like carrying a simply push the foot pedal kitten on your shoulder (assuming you down. The leg will extend in increments of 5mm up to 245mm. You’ll hear the can fi nd a 45kg kitten). stainless steel ratchet’s reassuring ‘click’ with each increment. When the leg has Made entirely of polyethylene foam, been extended to the point where it has fi rm footing, you’re done. Additionally, the the PASR-3 is not only extremely automatic backup safety lock is instantly activated, thereby preventing accidental strong and durable, it also provides slipping or tripping of the locking mechanism. This is another patented feature excellent vibration and shock found only on Levelok Ladder Levelling Systems. absorbency. And being able to tote your Tough as nails, the LeveLok LL-STB-1 leveller/stabiliser enables most ladder without the accompanying pain fi breglass, aluminium or wood ladders to adapt to nearly any indoor or outdoor means you can more readily carry the situation – from stairwells to uneven terrain. ladder in the proper way. The PASR-3 even helps prevent shoulder and back injuries. It accommodates any shoulder size and LOCKING JAW shape. Its bevelled edges minimise interference with clothing and objects, Lock Jaw Ladder Grip and help reduce wear and tear to a www.lockjawladdergrip.com.au minimum. It’s also waterproof. Lock Jaw Ladder Grip is a new Australian product that assists in securing ladders to gutters. It is designed to increase the safety of persons who use ladders and assist in meeting increasingly strict legal requirements associated with ladder use. Lock Jaw Ladder Grip contains an adjustable locking jaw allowing it to be secured to a range of different gutter types. In addition there are adjustment mechanisms that allow the device to be used on a wide variety of single and extension ladders. Once a ladder has been climbed the Lock Jaw Ladder Grip can be clamped onto or removed from guttering in approximately fi ve seconds.

88 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 Renault TRAFIC

The van you need. Guaranteed.

If you’re in the plumbing, building or electrical trade, the Renault Trafic is the van you need, guaranteed. It combines great value for money with plenty of grunt and up to 6.0m3 load space, 1.2T payload and load-through length of 4.1m. It’s got the safety features you want including bulkhead, Stability Control and Reverse Sensors and Camera*. It also has the generous 12 month/30,000km service intervals you need to keep you on the road. Get the van you want and need, visit your Renault dealer today.

*Standard on Trafic Twin Turbo models only. †Three (3) year/200,000 km warranty offer and 3 years/200,00 km Roadside Assistance both apply to all new or demonstrator TRAFIC models. Warranty & Roadside Assistance valid for 3 years or 200,000km (whichever comes first) from new. Demonstrator vehicles receive balance of new vehicle warranty and Roadside Assistance. Roadside Assistance terms and conditions apply. Call our Customer Service Team on 1800 009 008 or view the Terms and Conditions statement at www.renault.com.au/drivingpeaceofmind for details. ^First 3 scheduled maintenance services capped at $349 per service on new and demonstrator TRAFIC models, based on standard scheduled servicing from new and on normal operating conditions. Scheduled maintenance services required every twelve (12) months or up to 30,000km (whichever occurs first). However, TRAFIC is subject to adaptive servicing requirements, as determined by the Oil Condition Sensor, and may require servicing prior to the standard twelve (12) months or 30,000km service interval. If vehicle is not presented within three (3) months of when the scheduled service is required, right to that capped-price service under the program is forfeited. renault.com.au This just won’t cut it

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See the Metal Pecker in action at www.metalpecker.com TRANSPORT with Terry Martin ISUZU UTE D-MAX 4X2 VARIANTS, HOLDEN COLORADO LS-X

suzu Ute Australia has added two new 4x2 models to its D-Max that are designed to help attract more trade I customers to the one-tonne ute range, which has now expanded to 25 variants. Priced from $34,300 plus on-road costs, the Space Cab Ute is now available in SX trim with a 4x2 driveline, while a two- wheel-drive SX Crew Cab Chassis is also now available, priced from $36,100 plus on-roads. Previously, the Space Cab and Crew Cab Chassis body styles were offered only with a 4x4 drivetrain. Both are available only with a five-speed automatic transmission and combine with the familiar 3.0-litre four- cylinder ‘4JJ1-TC Hi-Power’ turbo-diesel engine in service Holden says customers save more than $1,000 by opting across the range, producing 130kW of power at 3,600rpm and for the special edition rather than purchasing the extras 380Nm of torque from 1,800-2,800rpm. individually. Holden’s related Colorado has also come in for some The LS uses a 2.8-litre ‘Duramax 2’ diesel engine that attention with a limited edition LS-X model based on the LS 4x4 develops 147kW at 3,600rpm and either 440Nm (six-speed Crew Cab Pick Up reaching showrooms late in 2015. manual) or 500Nm (six-speed auto), both at 2,000rpm Priced from $46,490 plus on-road costs for the manual (or $48,690 for the auto) – $1,000 upstream from the donor LS 4x4 – the X-rated edition adds a host of accessories Isuzu Ute Australia including 16" alloy wheels, front fog lamps, an alloy sports bar, www.isuzuute.com.au Colorado-branded smoked bonnet protector, carpet flooring Holden Australia and LS-X decals. www.holden.com.au

92 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 HOLDEN VFII UTE

iving us every reason to celebrate and also start the suspension tuning to improve both ride comfort and handling, grieving process, Holden has turned out the quickest and and a Brembo braking package with four-piston callipers that G most powerful Commodore-based ute ever with the VFII now extends to the rear wheels. series upgrade that marks its fi nal Australian-built model range A new optional Performance Brake package, developed for before closing the shutters on local manufacturing in 2017. heavy-duty police application and comprising a larger master Talk about a fi nal fl ing, and saving the best ’til last, the cylinder, uprated brake pads and larger front rotors, is headline act of the VFII series is a new, more powerful all- available for an extra $350, while Redline customers can also alloy 6.2L LS3 V8 that delivers 304kW of power at 6,000rpm order 20" forged alloy wheels for $1,500. (up 34kW over the previous 6.0L Gen 4), 570Nm of torque at All sports utes (including SV6) have a new front fascia with 4,400rpm (up 40Nm) and a stirring soundtrack courtesy of larger grille and fascia ducts that are designed to improve a bi-modal exhaust and locally designed mechanical sound aerodynamic performance, while the V8s have bonnet vents enhancer that pumps up the exhaust volume in the cabin and that release hot air out of the engine bay and, perhaps just outside the vehicle by up to 10%. as importantly, add to the general tone of aggression at the Previously the domain of HSV’s Maloo, the LS3 V8 in front end. Holden’s SS, SSV and the SSV Redline utes can reach 100km/h There are no modifi cations to the 210kW/350Nm 3.6L V6 and from standstill in less than fi ve seconds with the standard the auto-only Evoke (priced from $33,490) continues largely six-speed manual, and the optional six-speed automatic is unchanged. The SV6, which starts at $33,990 as a manual and just a tenth of a second behind. $36,190 with auto, scores keyless entry, push-button start, Fuel economy takes a hit, with the 6.2 V8 consuming about new 18" alloy wheels and the new front fascia detailed above. a litre more per 100km than the 6.0L V8 in the VF range, at As well as the big donk and design tweak, the SS likewise 12.8L/100km for the SS manual and 12.9L/100km for the auto. adds keyless entry/start and new 18" rims, while SSV now has The pick of the bunch is clearly the SSV Redline, priced from new 19" alloys and a colour head-up display. $50,490 in manual guise – $6,000 upstream from the SSV and 10-grand up from the SS (auto adds $2,200) – which as Holden well as a host of extra equipment and features brings revised www.holden.com.au

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 93 LDV G10

hinese brand LDV has launched its all-new G10 van set-up on the turbo-petrol auto. in Australia, pitching the Toyota HiAce rival directly at Both use a MacPherson strut arrangement up front, have C tradies with a value-oriented package that starts at power-assisted hydraulic steering and disc brakes at each $25,990 drive-away for ABN holders. corner, the latter supported by an anti-lock system, electronic A product of China’s biggest motor company, SAIC Motor brake-force distribution and emergency brake assist. Corporation, the rear-wheel-drive G10 one-box van is a smaller Electronic stability control is also fi tted standard, along sibling to the V80 and part of the specialist LDV light-commercial with a ‘roll movement intervention’ system, rear camera brand distributed by Ateco Automotive through a growing national with park assist feature, parking sensors with alarm, a tyre dealer network – 37 outlets at last count, with more on the way. pressure monitoring system and an airbag for the driver and Ateco describes the G10 as a game-changing vehicle for the front passenger. brand that is the best-value one-tonne van on the Australian External features run to 16" alloy wheels (running on 215/70 market. tyres) including a full-size spare, power side mirrors with Whereas the V80 was a carryover from the now-defunct integrated turn signal, rear fog lamps, dual sliding doors Leyland DAF Vans, which was bought by SAIC in 2009, the and a lift tailgate – entry points that provide access to the G10 was designed and engineered in China from the ground cargo area which offers a maximum volume of 5.2m3 and can up using some up-to-date technology including a perky accommodate two standard pallets. turbocharged petrol engine and a ZF-supplied six-speed The cargo area measures 2,365mm long, 1,590mm wide automatic transmission. (wheel arch width: 1,278mm) and 1,270mm high. Maximum The engine and transmission in question – fi tted to the payload is 1,093kg, and gross vehicle mass 3,000kg, with higher-series model priced from $29,990 drive-away for ABN braked towing capacity 1,500kg. Tare weight is 1,907kg. holders – is a 2.0L twin-cam turbo-petrol four-cylinder with Convenience items include remote central locking, cruise direct injection and variable valve timing, offering maximum control, air-conditioning, power front windows and two- power of 165kW and peak torque of 330Nm. Offi cial fuel speaker radio/MP3/DVD with a 7" in-dash LCD touch screen consumption on the combined cycle is 11.7L per 100km. and Bluetooth phone and audio. At the entry level, a less advanced 105kW/201Nm 2.4L The vehicle is backed by a 3-year/100,000km warranty and naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine paired with emergency roadside assistance. a fi ve-speed manual gearbox – a combination that returns 11.5L/100km – was recently added. It also has a leaf spring LDV Vans Australia rear suspension compared with the fi ve-link coil-spring www.ldvautomotive.com.au

94 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 RAM 2500, 3500

he third biggest-selling pick-up in America, where around a 50mm ball. Payload is 913kg for the 2500 and 1,713kg for the 40,000 examples are sold every month, the full-size 3500. T Ram truck is now available in Australia through a new The pick-up is built on a steel ladder frame chassis using eight right-hand-drive (RHD) conversion operation set up by Ateco separate cross members, while the front suspension is a three- Automotive and the Walkinshaw Automotive Group. link coil spring arrangement and the rear a solid axle set-up – a Joining other local conversion and retail outfi ts such as fi ve-link coil-sprung confi guration on the 2500, while the 3500 Performax International, the newly formed American Special uses a heavier-duty Hotchkiss leaf spring format. Vehicles has launched the Ram 2500 and 3500 series trucks The large cargo box has a 1,939mm fl oor length, 1,687mm through a 20-strong national dealer network and with the width (1,295mm between the wheel arches housing 18" alloys) and blessings of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) in Detroit, which is 511mm depth. providing support in areas such as vehicle supply, homologation The overall body stretches 6,027mm from end to end, and is and parts and service. 2,009mm wide and 1,974mm high in Ram 2500 form or 2,027mm Backed by a 3-year/100,000km warranty and full volume import for the 3500, which also has extra ground clearance (218mm approval (meaning no restriction on numbers), the Ram pick-ups versus 188mm). Kerb weight is 3,577kg for the 2500 or 3,596kg for do not come cheap given the costs involved in importation from the 3500, with a GVM of 4,490/5,309kg respectively. The turning Mexico and substantial re-engineering at Walkinshaw’s factory in circle is 13.38m. Clayton, Melbourne, to convert them to RHD and measure up to Safety equipment includes multi-stage front airbags, front and RAM’s own standards of safety, comfort and build quality. rear curtain airbags, electronic stability control, four-wheel disc Prices start at $139,500 for the Ram 2500 and $146,500 for brakes (360mm rotors up front and 350mm at the rear), ABS, a the 3500, plus on-road costs. Both are offered in fi ve-seat crew rear view camera, eye-level brake light with cargo camera and a cab confi guration in high-end Laramie specifi cation, with the tyre pressuring monitoring system. A security alarm is also fi tted. same powertrain: a Cummins-sourced 6.7L six-cylinder turbo- Comfort and convenience items run to leather upholstery, diesel engine that pumps out 276kW of power at 2,800rpm and a heated and ventilated front seats (with 10-way power adjustment stonking 1,084Nm of torque at just 1,600rpm. for the driver, six-way for the front passenger), heated/leather The engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission multi-function steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, 8.4" and BorgWarner part-time 4x4 driveline, with high and low range. touch screen display, 7.0" multi-view cluster, nine-speaker sound The fuel tank holds 117L. system (with subwoofer), satellite navigation, a media hub (SD, For tradies carrying big loads, the Ram offers up to 6,989kg USB, aux), a 240V auxiliary power outlet, and plenty more. braked towing capacity using a pintle or 4,500kg with a 70mm tow ball; a 50mm ball enables 3,500kg. Gross Combination Mass with Ram Trucks the pintle is 11,479kg, 8,990kg with the 70mm ball or 7,990kg with www.ramtrucks.com

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 95 HOLDEN SPECIAL VEHICLES GEN-F2 MALOO

ot to be outdone by Holden and the 304kW LS3 V8 it has form and was priced from $87,990, but the Gen-F GTS is no transplanted into the swansong VFII ute, the Aussie lion longer available, leaving this detuned but still hard-punching N brand’s high-performance division HSV has produced and more affordable LSA as the next best thing. a fitting farewell for the Maloo R8, dropping the incredible Priced from $76,990, the Gen-F2 Maloo R8 combines with supercharged 6.2L LSA V8 into the Commodore-based two-door. a TR6060 (MG9-spec) six-speed manual transmission as The new range is dubbed Gen-F2 and, like VFII, marks the standard, while a 6L90E six-speed heavy-duty automatic with final fling for the Australian-built ute as Holden prepares to ‘Active Select’ and paddle shifters adds $2,500. close its manufacturing facilities towards the end of 2017. The new series is also more than a mere engine upgrade, Gone is the 340kW/570Nm LS3 of the regular Maloo and in with exterior design revisions and modifications to the its place is the force-fed Chevrolet-sourced LSA that in this suspension set-up. case churns out 400kW of power at 6,150rpm and 671Nm of HSV says spring and damper rates have been stiffened to torque at 4,200rpm. reduce bodyroll and improve corner-entry response, while This is slightly down on the previous limited-edition GTS the unique rear suspension module with 9.9” differential Maloo that offered the LSA engine in full-blown 430kW/740Nm and upgraded drive and prop shafts delivers improved rear stiffness and rear braking efficiency. New five-spoke 20” alloy wheels are a striking addition, while the front fascia has been tweaked and now incorporates a subtle air splitter. The bonnet vents seen on the Holden VFII V8 utes are found on the new Maloo (finished in satin black paint rather than gloss), with the mirror caps and fender vents using the same colour. A new vibrant blue dubbed Slipstream has also joined the exterior bodywork palette. The LS3 is expected to become available in Gen-F2 guise in the first half of 2016, although pricing and specifications were still to be confirmed prior to publication.

Holden www.holden.com.au

96 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 CITROEN BERLINGO

itroen Australia has introduced its upgraded Berlingo, with a fuel-saving automatic engine idle-stop system that bringing a segment-first standard reversing camera lowers consumption further to 4.7L/100km. to the light-sized commercial vehicle class and other Load capacity increases to 3.7m3 to the rear seats C 3 advanced features. (4.1m with the passenger seat down), while load length is Standard safety features on the MY 2016 series now run to 2,050mm/3,250mm. hill-start assist and electronic stability and traction control, Both body styles rest on a 2,728mm wheelbase, have cargo while high-level infotainment technology arrives in the form of width of 1,230mm between the wheel arches and an 1,100mm a locally developed 7.0" touch screen with Apple CarPlay and interior height. Rear barn doors opening to 180º are also fitted. MirrorLink for Android connectivity systems, as well as Siri Payload is 850kg on the short body and 750kg on the long Eyes Free, Bluetooth and USB and auxiliary jacks. body variants, while braked towing capacity ranges from 800kg Dual side sliding doors are also now standard across the to 1,000kg, depending on the variant. series that continues to offer three variants spanning short and A third seat can be added for $500, or $1,000 with a front long bodies and turbocharged four-cylinder petrol and diesel passenger airbag and storage box included. Otherwise, only powertrains. the driver’s seat has an airbag. Four-wheel disc brakes with The short body manual is priced from $21,990 plus on-road ABS are included, as are front seatbelt pre-tensioners with costs and is powered by a 1.6L turbo-petrol engine that offers force limiters for the outboard positions. 80kW of power at 5,800rpm and 147Nm of torque at 4,000rpm, The upgrade brings an optional ($500) ‘look pack’ for long driving through a five-speed manual gearbox and offering fuel body variants, which includes LED daytime running lamps, fog economy of 8.2L per 100km on the official combined cycle. lights with cornering function and cosmetic enhancements The short body has a cargo volume of 3.3m3 to the back of such as colour-coded bumpers, exterior mirrors, doorhandles the front seats, or 3.7m3 with the passenger seat folded. Total and side strips, and new 15" ‘Airflow’ wheel covers. load length is 1,800mm to the seatbacks, or 3,000mm to the Regular models gain a revised bumper while cargo areas passenger’s footwell. benefit from a standard moulded floor protector. A metallic Priced from $26,990, the long body is offered only with a 1.6L grey exterior colour is also added to the Berlingo palette. turbo-diesel good for 66kW at 4,000rpm at 215Nm at 1,500rpm, combining with a five-speed manual – capable of 5.7L/100km Citroen Australia – or optional ($4,000) six-speed semi-automatic transmission www.citroen.com.au

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 97 TOYOTA LANDCRUISER 70 SERIES

oyota Australia is preparing to introduce a significant model, but expect it to continue to have a strong diesel engine upgrade to its LandCruiser 70 Series range, with a high as the backbone of the series. T level of safety equipment added to bring all variants – The current 70 Series uses a 4.5L 32-valve ‘1VD-FTV’ including the single and double cab utes – up to a top-rating V8 turbo-diesel – with common-rail direct injection and an five-star standard. intercooler – that delivers 151kW of power at 3,400rpm and While the current model manages only three stars under 430Nm of torque from 1,200-3,200rpm, the latter said to be the the Australasian New Car Assessment Program’s (ANCAP’s) flattest torque curve among all of Toyota’s engines. It drives ratings system, the series upgrade due in the second half of through a five-speed manual gearbox and part-time four- 2016 will improve on this with the introduction of electronic wheel-drive system. stability control, brake assist and five airbags – two curtain- Braked towing capacity is 3,500kg and gross vehicle mass shield airbags and a driver’s knee airbag adding to the current 3,300kg on the single and double cab utes, with kerb weight frontal airbags for the driver and front passenger. ranging from 2,065kg on the entry level single cab chassis Cruise control will also become standard across the 70 Workmate to 2,215kg for the top-end double cab chassis GXL. Series, which has long been valued by tradesfolk for its The current model has four-wheel disc brakes, electronic tough character and hard-working nature, particularly its traction control and a few cabin mod-cons such as MP3- mechanical reliability and serious towing, load carrying and compatible stereo and Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity. off-road performance. That said, air conditioning is still optional and the 70 Series Toyota Australia says the company has worked closely with remains a hard-edged vehicle at its core, with rigid axle employers in the construction industry and other sectors, suspension at both the front and rear, recirculating ball and nut including mining and agriculture, in order to develop the steering system, manual 4WD hub engagement, front and rear improvements for the “unapologetically rugged vehicle that is diff locks, and so on. renowned for its heavy-duty capabilities” – and to secure its future after 30 years on the market. Toyota Australia Further details are still to be released for the upgraded www.toyota.com.au

98 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 TRAINING DIARY

NECA EDUCATION & CAREERS NECA EDUCATION & CAREERS WWW.NECAEDUCATION.COM.AU WWW.NECAEDUCATION.COM.AU CONSTRUCTION WIRING LICENSED ELECTRICAL INSPECTORS SAFE APPROACH (LEISA) Construction wiring is a specialised area Start date End date Location Increase your skills set an your service Start date End date Location providing regulatory, industrial relations offerings by becoming an electrical 28/04/2016 29/04/2016 Carlton North and cost challenges for contractors. 24/02/2016 26/02/2016 Carlton North inspector. NECA Education and Careers is Successfully managing these challenges the only RTO to offer tutorials to prepare 20/04/2016 22/04/2016 Carlton North requires comprehensive skills and you for the licensing assessment. This knowledge of the relevant Australian and component prepares you for the safe industry standards to ensure compliance approach component. and eliminate risks. LICENSED ELECTRICAL INSPECTORS THEORY (LEIT) CONSTRUCTION WIRING REFRESHER Increase your skills set an your service Start date End date Location This two day refresher course willl update Start date End date Location offerings by becoming an electrical 7/03/2016 10/03/2016 Carlton North your knowledge and understanding of inspector. NECA Education and Careers is changes to standards and legislation 10/03/2016 11/03/2016 Carlton North the only RTO to offer tutorials to prepare impacting on installation practices. you for the licensing assessment. This Acknowledged by Worksafe Victoria and component prepares you for the theory endorsed by Energy Safe Victoria. component.

ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION TESTING LICENSED ELECTRICAN THEORY (LET) Electricians and RECs have a legal obligation Start date End date Location Brush up on your knowledge before you go Start date End date Location to test and certify that their electrical work for your electrical licence. This component 29/02/2016 3/03/2016 Carlton North complies with relevant standards. It is 26/02/2016 26/02/2016 Carlton North prepares you for the LET component plus essential thay you or your employess have you can book your assessment at the same 22/04/2016 22/04/2016 Carlton North 11/04/2016 14/04/2016 Carlton North the essential testing skills so that you can time. test and sign of on COES with confidence. 2/05/2016 5/05/2016 Carlton North

ESTIMATING ELECTROTECHNOLOGY PROJECTS - ADVANCED STAGE 2 LICENSED ELECTRICIAN PRACTICE (LEP) Building on skills acquired in Stage 1, this Start date End date Location Brush up on your knowledge before Start date End date Location course will provide you with accurate you go for your electrical licence. This 23/02/2016 1/03/2016 Carlton North and profitable estimating skills as well as component prepares you for the LEP 23/02/2016 25/02/2016 Carlton North undertaking practical construction of an component plus you can book your 5/04/2016 12/04/2016 Carlton North 21/03/2016 23/03/2016 Carlton North estimate from the receipt of the render assessment at the same time. documents, through the practical take 5/04/2016 7/04/2016 Carlton North off and pricing to final submission of the tender. 20/04/2016 22/04/2016 Carlton North ESTIMATING ELECTROTECHNOLOGY PROJECTS - FUNDAMENTALS STAGE 1 11/05/2016 13/05/2016 Carlton North Estimating is a key component in Start date End date Location REGISTERED ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR (BUSINESS) establishing a successful contracting 8/03/2016 8/03/2016 Carlton North If you want to start your own electrical Start date End date Location business. Knowing what to charge is only contractor business then this course is for part of the equation. Knowing how long you. The course sets out the knowledge 5/03/2016 13/03/2016 Carlton North a job will take and what is involved in and skills required to ensure regulatory, 18/04/2016 21/04/2016 Carlton North developing a quotation for a job is critical. technical, occupational and workplace This course reviews the methods and relation requirements are met in procedures commonly used in estimating conducting a contracting business. plus more. SAFE WORK PRACTICE (SWP) GRID CONNECT Brush up on your knowledge before Start date End date Location This course provides licensed electricans Start date End date Location you go for your electrical licence. This with the skills to design, install, set-up, component prepares you for the SWP 22/02/2016 22/02/2016 Carlton North test, fault find, repair and maintain grid 29/02/2016 4/03/2016 Carlton North component plus you can book your conencted photovoltaic systems and the 18/03/2016 18/03/2016 Carlton North 4/04/2016 8/04/2016 Carlton North assessment at the same time. associated equipment 24/03/2016 24/03/2016 Carlton North LICENSED ELECTRICAL INSPECTORS PRACTICAL (LEIP) 4/04/2016 4/04/2016 Carlton North Increase your skills set an your service Start date End date Location offerings by becoming an electrical 18/04/2016 18/04/2016 Carlton North inspector. NECA Education and Careers is the 16/05/2016 18/05/2016 Carlton North only RTO to offer tutorials to prepare you for 26/04/2016 26/04/2016 Carlton North the licensing assessment. This component prepares you for the practical component. 10/05/2016 10/05/2016 Carlton North

www.electricalconnection.com.au 99 TRAINING DIARY

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C-BUS BASIC CONEXT XW+ AND SW/SW+ INVERTER/CHARGERS FOR OFF-GRID The C-Bus Basic training course is an Start date End date Location APPLICATIONS entry level training course designed for 22/02/2016 24/02/2016 Adelaide The Conext XW Inverter/Chargers Start date End date Location consultants, electrical contractors, system course is aimed at product managers, 25/02/2016 26/02/2016 Adelaide integrators and partners who wish to 22/02/2016 24/02/2016 Sydney technical staff and existing installers of learn how to install and program C-Bus. 8/03/2016 10/03/2016 Eagle Farm off -grid, battery backed energy storage 17/03/2016 18/03/2016 Melbourne The C-Bus Basic course will equip trainees systems, small scale and commercial 14/03/2016 16/03/2016 Sydney 5/04/2016 6/04/2016 Seven Hills with the skills to work with C-Bus products solar systems. The Conext XW Inverter/ and become involved with the concept of 11/04/2016 13/04/2016 Rocklea Charger course will equip the attendee 10/05/2016 11/05/2016 Brisbane commercial and residential automation. It with the skills to design off -grid 11/04/2016 13/04/2016 Townsville is also the fi rst step towards becoming an systems, program the inverter charger, Approved Installer. 18/04/2016 20/04/2016 Sydney fault fi nd and maintain off -grid and 18/04/2016 20/04/2016 Carlton North battery backed energy storage systems used in conjunction with external 2/05/2016 4/05/2016 Perth generators and solar charge controllers. 10/05/2016 12/05/2016 Eagle Farm DALICONTROL SIMPLE WIZARD C-BUS DALI GATEWAY The DALIcontrol Simple Wizard training Start date End date Location The C-Bus DALI Gateway training course Start date End date Location course is designed for electrical 26/02/2016 26/02/2016 Adelaide is designed for consultants, electrical contractors and system integrators 25/02/2016 25/02/2016 Adelaide contractors and system integrators who wish to learn the installation and 18/03/2016 18/03/2016 Melbourne who wish to learn the installation and 17/03/2016 17/03/2016 Melbourne commissioning of a DALI system using user friendly Simple Wizard software. 21/04/2016 21/04/2016 Sydney commissioning of a DALI system with the 20/04/2016 20/04/2016 Sydney integration of C-BUS DALI Gateway. ECOXPERT - PRACTICAL ENERGY AUDIT C-BUS LEARNING PATHWAY A (C-BUS BASIC + TOUCH SCREEN) This training course will ensure that an Start date End date Location EcoXpert The Learning Pathway A is a training Start date End date Location 31/03/2016 1/04/2016 Adelaide course that will provide an entry level for - Understands the diff erent types of Energy 14/03/2016 18/03/2016 Sydney consultants, electrical contractors, system Audits. 19/04/2016 20/04/2016 Sydney integrators and partners who wish to learn 11/04/2016 15/04/2016 Rocklea - Can undertake an energy audit step by 10/05/2016 11/05/2016 Brisbane how to design, install and program a C-Bus step. system including C-Bus Touch Screen. 11/04/2016 15/04/2016 Townsville - Can utilise data to identify opportunities 18/04/2016 22/04/2016 Sydney to save energy. - Is capable of generating an energy audit 18/04/2016 22/04/2016 Carlton North report. 2/05/2016 6/05/2016 Perth NETWORK CONNECTIVITY - ADVANCED FIBRE C-BUS LOGIC The Advanced Fibre Optical Testing Start date End date Location training course provides the necessary 18/03/2016 18/03/2016 Sydney The C-Bus Logic training course is designed Start date End date Location understanding of the requirements for for consultants, electrical contractors and infi eld testing for LAN and DATA central 24/03/2016 24/03/2016 Brisbane system integrators who wish to learn how 10/03/2016 11/03/2016 Sydney optical fi bre cabling systems to meet 14/04/2016 14/04/2016 Melbourne to program the C-Bus Logic Engine located 6/04/2016 7/04/2016 Brisbane standards and certifi cation requirements. in C-Bus Touch Screen or C-Bus Pascal The course addresses the higher testing 12/05/2016 12/05/2016 Perth Automation Controller (PAC). 19/04/2016 20/04/2016 Adelaide standard based requirements of high 5/05/2016 5/05/2016 Hobart performance optical fi bre systems in 11/05/2016 12/05/2016 Melbourne customer premises. The course is also C-BUS TOUCH SCREEN suitable for carrier trained personnel as a mechanism to transision their optical The C-Bus Touch Screen training course Start date End date Location fi bre skills into LAN cabling systems. is designed for consultants, electrical contractors and system integrators who 18/02/2016 19/02/2016 Perth NETWORK CONNECTIVITY - FIBRE TESTING UPDATE wish to learn how to program C-Bus Touch 7/03/2016 8/03/2016 Sydney This course addresses the changes in fi bre Start date End date Location Screens. optic standards and associated testing in 17/03/2016 18/03/2016 Sydney the past two years. 17/03/2016 17/03/2016 Sydney 14/04/2016 15/04/2016 Rocklea 23/03/2016 23/03/2016 Brisbane

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www.electricalconnection.com.au 101 TRAINING DIARY

COMPETENCY TRAINING MATCHMASTER COMMUNICATIONS WWW.COMPETENCYTRAINING.COM.AU WWW.MATCHMASTER.COM.AU ELECTRICAL SUPERVISOR CERTIFICATE III IN DIGITAL RECEPTION TECHNOLOGY This electrical supervisors course has Start date End date Location (TRAIN-CERT3DRT) been designed for the mining industry 11/03/2016 11/03/2016 Perth This program is designed to provide Start date End date Location to cover all aspects of duties and participants with the necessary 23/02/2016 26/02/2016 Brisbane responsibilities of an electrical supervisor, competencies to install digital reception and will include detailed explanation of equipment for homes and businesses. It 15/03/2016 18/03/2016 Sydney the requirements of the Mines Safety provides participants with fault finding and Inspection Act and Regulations and skills on a range of digital reception 19/04/2016 22/04/2016 Melbourne the requirements of the electrical safety equipment for subscription TV and free- 17/05/2016 20/05/2016 Adelaide management systems audit. to-air TV reception. HAZARDOUS AREAS CLASSIFICATION AND DESIGN DIGITAL TERRESTRIAL RECEPTION SYSTEMS (TRAIN-DTRI) This is an advanced course, intended for Start date End date Location Embark on your learning path in Start date End date Location electrical workers, technicians, engineers 22/02/2016 26/02/2016 Adelaide television reception systems with our and senior engineers involved only in area two day course. The program offers 23/02/2016 24/02/2016 Brisbane classification for electrical equipment in 7/03/2016 11/03/2016 Brisbane competencies of the Certificate II and 15/03/2016 16/03/2016 Sydney hazardous areas. It covers hazardous area 14/03/2016 18/03/2016 Perth III, including selection and installation classification procedures and techniques of terrestrial antennas, managing and 19/04/2016 20/04/2016 Melbourne for both gas/vapour installations and installing coaxial cable and designing 17/05/2016 18/05/2016 Adelaide for combustible dusts, including the simple domestic distribution systems. proper methods for documenting the The module covers installation of digital classification. Participants complete television receiving equipment such several classification tasks using real as decoders and PVR s, and involves a world input data during the training. combination of practical exercises to HIGH VOLTAGE SWITCHING OPERATIONS ensure you learn the skills required to progress through the Antenna Installers This course is intended for electrical Start date End date Location Endorsement Scheme assessment. workers and engineers working with HV 22/02/2016 26/02/2016 Perth switchgear in industrial facilities and SATELLITE DIGITAL RECEPTION SYSTEMS (TRAIN-SDRS) networks. Emphasis is placed on practical 29/02/2016 4/03/2016 Perth Offering competencies of the Start date End date Location switching exercises, performed either at 29/02/2016 4/03/2016 Gladstone Certificate II and III, this one day our facilities or on the customer’s own HV program will arm you with detailed 25/02/2016 25/02/2016 Brisbane equipment. Participants are also taught 7/03/2016 11/03/2016 Adelaide knowledge of the design, installation switching theory and the responsibilities 17/03/2016 17/03/2016 Sydney 14/03/2016 18/03/2016 Brisbane and commissioning of new systems; of permit users and recipients. 14/03/2016 18/03/2016 Perth ranging from domestic premises 21/04/2016 21/04/2016 Melbourne to 5 wire trunk SMATV systems. A HIGH VOLTAGE SWITCHING OPERATIONS - REFRESHER combination of practical and theory This course is intended for electrical Start date End date Location exercises will ensure you grasp an workers and engineers working with HV understanding of radio frequencies, 18/02/2016 19/02/2016 Melbourne switchgear in industrial facilities and locating satellites, setting up mounts networks. This course highlights relevant 25/02/2016 26/02/2016 Brisbane and measuring signals using the latest changes in standards and legislation, test equipment. Walking away with 7/03/2016 8/03/2016 Gladstone and revisits the site’s specific HVIA the knowledge of how to meet the Pay procedures, including switching officer 10/03/2016 11/03/2016 Brisbane TV installation standards, you will be responsibilities, access, test and work in the box seat to profit from market 10/03/2016 11/03/2016 Perth permit issuing and recipient duties. It is demand. for personnel who are already authorised 10/03/2016 11/03/2016 Adelaide COMPLEX DIGITAL ( TRAIN-CDRS ) switching officers and is recommended 15/03/2016 16/03/2016 Melbourne every two years. This one day course dives into complex Start date End date Location 31/03/2016 1/04/2016 Perth digital systems, encompassing competencies of the Certificate II and 26/02/2016 26/02/2016 Brisbane INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT IN III in television reception systems. You HAZARDOUS AREAS 18/03/2016 18/03/2016 Sydney learn not only how to select antennas This course is intended for electrical Start date End date Location for large systems, but you will also gain 22/04/2016 22/04/2016 Melbourne workers, technicians and engineers 22/02/2016 26/02/2016 Sydney an understanding of how to locate and involved with installing and maintaining rectify digital reception faults. To keep electrical equipment in hazardous areas. 22/02/2016 26/02/2016 Gladstone pace with the demands of consumers It covers the principles of hazardous 29/02/2016 4/03/2016 Perth and business today, emphasis in the area classification, explosion-protection new digital era is on the convergence of techniques, equipment installation 29/02/2016 4/03/2016 Adelaide the Internet, Pay TV, Terrestrial TV and requirements, inspections, and procedures 7/03/2016 11/03/2016 Brisbane inhouse video systems, especially for for breakdowns and maintenance, with applications in hotels, apartments and theory and practical components. 14/03/2016 18/03/2016 Sydney commercial premises.

102 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 COLLEGE OF ELECTRICAL TRAINING (RTO 2394) COLLEGE OF ELECTRICAL TRAINING (RTO 2394) WWW.CET.ASN.AU WWW.CET.ASN.AU UEE20111 CERTIFICATE II IN SPLIT AIR-CONDITIONING AND HEAT UEENEEF104A INSTALL AND MODIFY PERFORMANCE DATA PUMP SYSTEMS COMMUNICATION COPPER CABLING (CATEGORY 5/6/7 STRUCTURED This nationally endorsed qualification Start date End date Location AND COAXIAL CABLING) provides participants with the training and 20/02/2016 28/02/2016 Jandakot This nationally endorsed course is an Start date End date Location knowledge to install, commission and de- 29/02/2016 4/03/2016 Jandakot extension of the ACMA Open Cabler 18/03/2016 19/03/2016 Jandakot commission single head split air conditioning Registration Training Requirements 16/04/2016 24/04/2016 Jandakot 6/05/2016 7/05/2016 Joondalup and heat pump systems to a prescribed Course, and provides open cablers with the routine, where the maximum plant capacity 23/05/2016 27/05/2016 Jandakot training, skills and knowledge required to 6/05/2016 7/05/2016 Jandakot for each system does not exceed 18kWr. correctly install terminate category 5/6/7 17/06/2016 18/06/2016 Joondalup It includes wall hung, floor, and ceiling structured and coaxial cabling. suspended, cassette and ducted fan coil split UEENEEF102A INSTALL AND MAINTAIN CABLING FOR MULTIPLE and water heating heat pump systems. ACCESS TO TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES (OPEN CABLER UEENEEI150A UEENEEI151A PROGRAMMABLE REGISTRATION) LOGIC CONTROLLERS This nationally endorsed course provides Start date End date Location The course provides training in development, Start date End date Location applicants with the training, skills and 12/03/2016 17/03/2016 Jandakot installation and testing of programs for 15/03/2016 14/04/2016 Jandakot knowledge required to meet the Australian 30/04/2016 5/05/2016 Joondalup programmable logic controllers and industrial Communications Media Authority (ACMA) 3/05/2016 2/06/2016 Jandakot 30/04/2016 5/05/2016 Jandakot systems requiring advanced control functions. Open Cabler Registration. UEE11 SUSTAINABLE—DESIGNER, INSTALLER OF GRID CONNECTED PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS SKILL SET Over 1,000 courses This skill set provides licensed electricians Start date End date Location online now. with the training to design, install, set 14/03/2016 18/03/2016 Jandakot up, test, fault find, repair and maintain 9/05/2016 13/05/2005 Jandakot WWW.TRADESDIARY.COM.AU grid connected photovoltaic systems and associated equipment.

www.electricalconnection.com.au 103 TRAINING DIARY

COLLEGE OF ELECTRICAL TRAINING (RTO 2394) FUTURE SKILLS WWW.CET.ASN.AU WWW.FUTURESKILLS.ASN.AU

CHECKING AND TESTING AN ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION CERT IV HAZARDOUS AREAS (HA - PART 2) - ELECTRICAL (UEE42611) - GAP TRAINING PROGRAM This non-endorsed course provides licensed Start date End date Location electricians and final year apprentice This is a nationally recognised post-trade Start date End date Location 24/02/2016 24/02/2016 Jandakot qualification. Skills and knowledge to electrical mechanics and electrical fitters 29/02/2016 1/03/2016 Salisbury with the training, skills and knowledge supervise installation, breakdowns, 2/03/2016 2/03/2016 Joondalup maintenance, testing, detailed inspections to visually inspect and test a low voltage 11/03/2016 12/03/2016 Salisbury electrical installation in compliance with the 16/03/2016 16/03/2016 Jandakot of hazardous areas and installations requirements of AS/NZS 3000. relating to gas, dust atmospheres and 21/03/2016 22/03/2016 Salisbury 23/03/2016 23/03/2016 Joondalup pressurisation. This two day course delivers five units for those who have completed the 8/04/2016 9/04/2016 Salisbury 23/03/2016 23/03/2016 Jandakot Electrical Equipment in Hazardous Areas (EEHA) training. 13/05/2016 14/05/2016 Salisbury 13/04/2016 13/04/2016 Jandakot CERTIFICATE IV WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY (CERT IV WHS - BSB41415) 15/04/2016 15/04/2016 Joondalup A nationally recognised qualification in Start date End date Location 20/04/2016 20/04/2016 Jandakot Work Health and Safety. Five days face-to- 22/02/2016 26/02/2016 Salisbury 26/04/2016 26/04/2016 Joondalup face training.

2/05/2016 2/05/2016 Joondalup 29/02/2016 4/03/2016 Alice Springs

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR TRAINING PROGRAM (ECTP) 7/03/2016 11/03/2016 Darwin

This EnergySafety WA approved course Start date End date Location 14/03/2016 18/03/2016 Salisbury satisfies the Electrical Contractor Training 18/04/2016 22/04/2016 Salisbury Program (ECTP) and provides licensed 4/04/2016 8/04/2016 Jandakot electricians with the training, skills and 9/04/2016 21/04/2016 Jandakot 18/04/2016 22/04/2016 Darwin knowledge rquired to identify, investigate and apply statutory and legislative 11/04/2016 15/04/2016 Joodalup 16/05/2016 20/05/2016 Salisbury rquirements, manager jobs and operate a business and inspect and test electrical 16/04/2016 28/04/2016 Joodalup ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT IN HAZARDOUS AREAS (EEHA - PART 1) installation work according to regulatory 9/05/2016 13/05/2016 Jandakot Skills and knowledge to select, install, Start date End date Location requirements. This course can be delivered commission, maintain and test explosion- fulltime on campus or through distance 14/05/2016 26/05/2016 Jandakot protected equipment and systems for 22/02/2016 25/02/2016 Salisbury learning (correspondence). control and monitoring of plant and 16/05/2016 20/05/2016 Joodalup 7/03/2016 10/03/2016 Darwin processes. Four days face-to-face training HIGH VOLTAGE SWITCHING SYSTEMS OPERATIONS COURSE covering 17 units of the nationally 7/03/2016 10/03/2016 Salisbury recognised Cert IV in Hazardous Areas - This industry endorsed course, derived from Start date End date Location Electrical (UEE42611). 14/03/2016 17/03/2016 Salisbury the UEP12 Electricity Supply Industry- 4/04/2016 7/04/2016 Salisbury Generator Sector Training Package and the 22/02/2016 26/02/2016 Jandakot UET12 Transmission, Distribution and Rail 29/02/2016 4/03/2016 Jandakot 11/04/2015 14/04/2015 Darwin Sector Training Package, is intended for electrical workers and electrical engineers 14/03/2016 18/03/2016 Jandakot 9/05/2016 12/05/2016 Salisbury working with HV switchgear in industrial HAZARDOUS AREAS REFRESHER TRAINING facilities and networks. 4/04/2016 8/04/2016 Jandakot 11/04/2016 15/04/2016 Jandakot This course if for those who have previously Start date End date Location completed the Electrical Equipment in 2/05/2016 6/05/2016 Jandakot Hazardous Areas (EEHA) training. Required 30/03/2016 31/03/2016 Salisbury by industry practice every two to three 9/05/2016 13/05/2016 Jandakot years. Two day face-to-face training. 16/05/2016 20/05/2016 Jandakot HIGH VOLTAGE SWITCHING (HV)

10146NAT COURSE IN ELECTRICIAN- MINIMUM AUSTRALIAN This training program is designed to provide Start date End date Location CONTEXT GAP TRAINING you with the practical skills and knowledge to be able to develop switching programs, 21/03/2016 24/03/2016 Salisbury This course provides the Minimum Start date End date Location perform switching operations, operate HV 4/04/2016 7/04/2016 Salisbury Australian Context Gap training to holders circuit breaking devices, and LV secondary 22/02/2016 4/03/2016 Joondalup of an Offshore Technical Skills Record circuit devices. The course is intended (OTSR) for the UEE308011 Certificate III in 4/04/2016 15/04/2016 Jandakot for electrical workers, technicians and Electrotechnology Electrician qualification. engineers involved with maintaining high 2/05/2016 13/05/2016 Joondalup voltage electrical equipment. It covers the legislation, theory and practical aspect to 16/05/2016 20/05/2016 Jandakot high voltage installations and maintenance.

104 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016 GAIL BRIGSY

AS/NZS 3000:2007 The Wiring Rules Electrical Principles for the (includes Amendment 1:2009 Electrical Trades and Amendment 2:2012) Volume 1 & 2 AS / NZS 3000

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7 Year Industrial Installed Warranty for Floodlights and Highbays Register your project details online now

How to get your 7 Year Industrial Installed Warranty With your new Lumex installation comes the quality assurance by the 7 Year Industrial Installed Warranty. Simply purchase eligible Lumex Industrial products, have them installed by a licensed electrician and register the site through the website.

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