The future has arrived.
Are you ready to respond? See page 5.
EBMAG.COM EB_TBCover_Sept.indd 1
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INSIDE
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Alberta has a new electrical association
CONTENTS FEBRUARY 2017 || VOLUME 53 || ISSUE 2
12
Y
ou may be familiar with the following electrical groups operating in Alberta: Capital Region Electric Club (Edmonton), Calgary Electric Club (CEC) and, of course, Alberta Electrical League (AEL). A big change is coming this year to these groups, as AEL, CREC and CEC join forces under one banner as the Alberta Electrical Association (AEA). “Associations are no different than companies in that we need to change and adapt for the future,” explained AEL’s executive director, Tara Ternes, when I spoke with her. “For years, members have given us feedback and suggestions and, finally, it’s happening.” Quite simply, with greater membership numbers comes strength, which translates into several benefits. For starters, AEA offers discounts on all AEA events, group benefits & discounts (e.g. healthcare, and home & auto), discounts in both educational and social events throughout the province, and so on. AEA will continue to promote regional scholarships, and all monies raised in a particular region will stay in that region, supporting local university, college and member’s scholarships. Of particular interest, an association (not club, not league) will have a stronger voice when lobbying government—be it the provincial or federal governments, or the cities of Calgary and Edmonton—with industry concerns affecting its members. “While we were conducting solar seminars in both Calgary and Edmonton recently, it became so clear that our decision to unite was the right decision.” That said, Tara believes the benefits and simplicity speak for themselves. Popular CEC and CREC events will continue as before. “Why fix what isn’t broken? The events of each group will not change; they will just get stronger.” And all events are now available at a discounted rate to all members. “Bringing these three strong groups together is simply a case of giving everyone more benefits, simplicity and stronger voice,” Tara says. By the time you read this, AEA’s new website should be live (scheduled for end of January 2017), with a new URL and new email addresses. Stay tuned to EBMag so you can update your bookmarks and contacts when the time comes. Meantime, if you have any questions, contact Tara at 800-642-5508 or info@elecleague.ab.ca.
10
10 12
14
Seasons change, so should your lighting
As seasons change, it’s time to optimize lighting to adjust for longer or shorter daylight hours and inclement weather, and to ensure a balance of natural and artificial lighting for comfort, safety, productivity and cost savings.
Time for an LED lighting reality check This “tale
from the trenches” summarizes an electrical contractor’s findings while researching problems with LEDs, including some suggested best practices to help you get the job done onsite while keeping clients happy.
14
A tornadic experience for Graybar Canada’s Windsor location
18
Drilling dynamics: ground conditions affect auger equipment & tool selection
It’s a birthday Glen Miller won’t soon forget. Glen is the branch manager of Graybar Canada’s Windsor location at 2760 Deziel Drive, which was rocked by an F2 tornado back in August. We speak with Glen to learn about that disaster, and the branch’s recovery.
When it comes to production drilling and setting poles, utilities and their contractors frequently make decisions onsite, relying on two important pieces of equipment: digger derricks and auger drills, which are best used in combination due to differing ground conditions.
COLUMNS
DEPARTMENTS
8 Level up Winning work with a little psychology
4 Industry News 6 Calendar 20 Products & Solutions 21 Personalities 21 Code Conundrum
22 Code File Camping happy with the CE Code acapkun@annexweb.com EBMAG.COM
February 2017 · ELECTRICAL BUSINESS
3
INDUSTRY news
B.A. Robinson acquires GTA’s Sescolite Lighting B.A. Robinson Co. Ltd. (Winnipeg, Man.) has acquired of the operating assets of Sescolite Lighting, a retailer and distributor of lighting products in Ontario. “We are proud to announce the expansion of our retail business with the addition of Sescolite showrooms into our existing branch network,” says the distributor (barobinson.com). “We believe Sescolite will support B.A. Robinson’s growth objectives through an established presence in the Greater Toronto market.” B.A. Robinson is a family owned distributor of products for the construction industry and retail home improvement
EXCLUSIVELY AT
February 2017
ELECTRICAL BUSINESS is the #1 Canadian resource for electrical contractors, maintenance & engineering professionals, distributors, manufacturers and their agents, and associated stakeholders.
Editor Anthony Capkun acapkun@annexweb.com Group publisher John MacPherson jmacpherson@annexweb.com
Left to right: Matt Robinson, VP, Sales; Ross Robinson, president & CEO; Shea Robinson, executive VP & GM. Photo courtesy B.A. Robinson (2016).
markets in Western Canada. Established in 1920, Sescolite (www. sescolite.com) operates two showrooms: Toronto and Burlington.
Hammond Power Solutions turns 100 years young
EBMAG.COM Still scrambling to get yourself and your contracting business organized for 2017? Join Andrew Houston to learn strategies for improving your profits & cash flow in an EBMag webinar. You can watch the recording now at ebmag.com/ webinars. To get you started, Andrew is giving away the Contractor’s Role Assessment tool for FREE. Get your copy at bit.do/ebmag-jan-cra-tool. PLUS, stay tuned to EBMag.com for soon-to-be-revealed details about a new four-part webinar series with Andrew, starting in March 2017. And in case you missed it: we’ve started uploading recordings of our growing roster of webinars. Check them out on our YouTube channel at tinyurl.com/hbnw8cg! Among them, you’ll find EBMag Electrical Safety 360 columnist Mike Doherty’s webinar, “Stop focusing on just PPE! Follow Best Practices in the Design Phase”. Learn more about your electrical safety program in this session, with a specific focus on electrical safety by design... not chasing safety afterward! No registration, no hassle. For the latest industry news, events, solutions, stories and more from the industry, go to EBMAG.COM 4
ELECTRICAL BUSINESS · February 2017
|| Volume 53 || Issue 2
Account manager Deborah Taylor dtaylor@annexweb.com Assistant editor Renée Francoeur rfrancoeur@annexweb.com Art director Svetlana Avrutin savrutin@annexweb.com Account Coordinator Kathryn Nyenhuis knyenhuis@annexweb.com Circulation manager Urszula Grzyb ugrzyb@annexbizmedia.com COO Ted Markle tmarkle@annexweb.com President & CEO Mike Fredericks Published by Annex Business Media 222 Edward Street, Aurora, Ontario L4G 1W6 Tel. 905-727-0077 • Fax 905-727-0017
Bill Hammond, Oct. 2012. Photo A. Capkun. Congratulations to Hammond Power Solutions (Guelph, Ont.), which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year... not bad for a company that started as a small, familyowned business in the shortwave radio market and became a global transformer and reactor player. “This is undeniably a milestone to celebrate... that a Canadian, family-managed company has survived and now dominates the North American dry-type transformer industry after 100 years,” said chair and CEO Bill Hammond (photo). HPS’s (www.hammondpowersolutions. com) line of VPI, cast-resin and oil-filled transformers and reactors are manufactured throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Video killed the radio star! If video is king, then we are the power behind the throne. Onsite or in our studio, we provide full-service corporate video filming and production. Cue the red carpet!
Printed in Canada ISSN 0013-4244 Publication Mail Agreement #40065710 Circulation email: blao@annexbizmedia.com Tel: 416 442 5600 ext.3552 Fax: 416 510 5168 Mail: 80 Valleybrook Drive, Toronto, ON M3B 2S9 Subscription rates Canada: Single issue $7.00 12 issues: $35.95 USA: $62.95 (US) International: $76.00 (US) per year Occasionally, Electrical Business will mail information on behalf of industry related groups whose products and services we believe may be of interest to you. If you prefer not to receive this information, please contact our circulation department in any of the four ways listed above. The contents of Electrical Business are copyright ©2016 by Annex Publishing & Printing Inc. and may not be reproduced in whole or part without written consent. Annex Publishing & Printing Inc. disclaims any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or currency of the contents of this publication and disclaims all liability in respect of the results of any action taken or not taken in reliance upon information in this publication. We acknowledge the [financial] support of the Government of Canada.
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INDUSTRY news
CALENDAR
PEAK aims to enhance regulation of Ontario’s engineering profession
Photo courtesy Douglas Lighting Controls.
Douglas Lighting Controls opens new HQ in Burnaby, B.C. Douglas Lighting Controls, a member of the Panasonic family, has opened a new facility in Burnaby, B.C. to serve as its HQ (douglaslightingcontrols.com). Located just east of downtown Vancouver at 3605 Gilmore Way, the 9500-sf office space will allow for anticipated future growth, the company notes, and is designed to imitate the spaces where Douglas products are installed. It also includes a separate test environment for Douglas’ latest products, including wireless controls. “Unrestricted access to this type of testbed facility allows us to become more customer-centric, and develop advanced, high-quality products ahead of market demand,” said Rob Mahaffey, director of product market developments.
Lumisolution joins AD Canada
Lumisolution—a Quebec-based player in the fields of lighting distribution, lighting concept design and energy-saving strategies in Commercial and Industrial—has joined AD Canada. Founded in 1980 as an independent distributor, Lumisolution (www.lumisolution. com) represents many AD manufacturers, says AD Canada, and has a permanent inventory exceeding 10,000 products. Affiliated Distributors (adhq.com) is a North American contractor and industrial products wholesale buying group. 6
ELECTRICAL BUSINESS · February 2017
On March 31, Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO, www.peo.on.ca) will launch a new program to gather information on the practices of each of its 80,000 licence-holders and gauge their professional knowledge activities. Under PEO’s PEAK (Practice Evaluation and Knowledge, www.peopeak.ca) program, practising licence-holders will be asked to complete both an evaluation questionnaire and an online ethics module prior to their licence renewal date. “The PEAK program is designed to provide us with real data about the nature of engineering practice in Ontario that will enable PEO to focus its regulatory efforts on gaps in practice standards and enforcement of rights to practice,” said PEO president George Comrie. “The data would also go a long way towards enhancing public and government confidence in PEO as a regulator.”
Call for Entries: EFC Industry Recognition Award 2016 Industry Recognition Award recipient, Bob Shapiro, president, Franklin Empire. Photo A. Capkun.
Electro-Federation Canada (EFC) has issued its Call for Entries for the 2017 Industry Recognition Award, which is presented annually to an individual who has influenced the Canadian electrical industry—either as a current or retired industry delegate—or as an industry supporter. “IRA award recipients demonstrate strong leadership through their personal and professional industry involvement, and symbolize dedication, balance, and achievement in regional, national and/or community activities,” says EFC (www.electrofed.com). Visit tinyurl.com/z2wofhb to submit your nomination. The deadline to nominate is February 28, 2017, and the award will be presented at EFC’s AGM in April..
AEA Electrical Learning Expo Alberta Electrical Assoc. (form. AEL) March 2, Edmonton, Alta. Visit albertaelectricalleague.com The Work Truck Show March 15-17, Indianapolis, Ind. Visit www.worktruckshow.com LEDucation March 28-29, New York, N.Y. Visit www.leducation.org Electrifest XI Buying Show Nedco Ontario April 24, Mississauga, Ont. Visit electrifest.com MCEE Mécanex, Climatex, Expolectriq, Éclairage April 26-37, Montreal, Que. Visit mcee.ca National Day of Mourning April 28, Across Canada Visit canadianlabour.ca Global Sustainable Electricity Partnership Summit May 1-2, Montreal, Que. Visit www.globalelectricity.org Ontario Technological Skills Competition May 1-3, Toronto, Ont. Visit www.skillsontario.com OEL Annual Conference Ontario Electrical League May 3-6, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. Visit www.oel.org Lightfair May 7-11, Philadelphia, Pa. Visit www.lightfair.com ECAO Annual Industry Conference Electrical Contractors Assoc. Ontario May 21-27, Munich, Germany Visit ecaomunich2017.ca ECAA Technical Training Day & AGM Electrical Contractors Assoc. Alberta May 25-28, Banff, Alta. Visit www.ecaa.ab.ca
Indicates EB will be there. Visit EBMAG.COM for the latest news, stories, products, videos, photo galleries and industry events.
Visit EBMAG.COM for an extensive list of upcoming industry events. EBMAG.COM
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Winning work with a little psychology “I want to thank you for your time today. We’ll let you know our decision as soon as possible. We have two other contractors coming by to price the job. We want to ensure we get the right contractor at the best price. I’m sure you understand.”
S
ound familiar? This scenario happens to contractors daily. Whether the prospect says it out loud or not, it’s likely you have competition waiting just around the corner to snatch the job you just quoted. Fast-forward to next week and you discover you didn’t win the job.What does that mean for you, your team and your company? Time wasted when you could’ve been doing 100 other tasks? Or could this mean your guys don’t get paid for the next month? The question I get asked the most is: “How do you beat the competition, beyond just price? What factors can influence prospects to choose me?” It’s amazing what a few small tweaks made to your quoting process can do. Sometimes you just need to implement a little psychology.
TIP #1
Be the last contractor to quote the job
It’s amazing what a few small tweaks made to your quoting process can do. Sometimes you just need to implement a little psychology.
Think about it: when prospects review three contractors, on average, over the span of a week or two, who are they most likely to remember? When you’re the first or second contractor to show up at their door, they’re not going to hire you on the spot; they’ve already committed to seeing all three to compare price and fit. I’ll bet you they will remember the last one they met, so that’s who you want to be. Being last also gives you leverage as to what the other guys were quoting— some prospects will open up just enough to give you insight and an upper hand to position yourself beyond price.
prospect, it also showcases your confidence, too. It gets the client to rate your competition against you such that you’re the guaranteed winner—especially when you’re the contractor who can answer “Yes” to all of the questions you picked for them. Some example questions:
• • • •
Is the contractor licensed? Is the contractor insured? Are all employees bondable? Does the contractor have references? • Does the contractor have a quality guarantee? • Does the contractor promise cleanliness? • Is he rated well by the Better Business Bureau?
TIP #2
Help the prospect choose you
TIP #3
Set yourself up for success— leverage your credentials and experience to wow the prospect. Give them a checklist for finding the perfect contractor. Not only does this impress the
You want to showcase your knowledge and let prospects know you’re there to help. Ask about their concerns, wants and desired outcome. Be sure to connect on a personal level so they
Be open to questions
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ELECTRICAL BUSINESS · February 2017
see you as someone who wants to do the job, and do it well.
Make a good, lasting impression You’ll notice none of these tips have involved price, yet their impact can be huge. Now, rewind to your last quote: what would you do differently? Would you be more confident in landing the job now that you have some methods for beating the competition, beyond just price? Let’s pretend we can redo the scenario from the beginning. You visit a couple’s home. You’ve ensured you booked the last possible date to come by and quote.You connect with them on a personal level; you’re friendly, courteous and understand their needs.You convince them you care. And, before you go, you hand them your “How to Choose a Contractor” checklist, along with your quote and some information about your company. Once the prospect reviews your documents, they’ll be wowed by your thoughtfulness and ability to go the extra mile. The amount of effort required to win jobs this way is minimal—just print out the checklist, be on time, be friendly, and make a great impression. Some contractors have doubled their conversion rates while increasing profits with a “How to Choose a Contractor” checklist. Download one, created for you by Profit for Contractors, by visiting tinyurl.com/gs7d4jx. Andrew Houston is the owner and founder of Profit for Contractors. He has been consulting to trades business owners for nearly a decade, helping them improve their business skills so they can achieve their personal and business goals. A graduate of George Brown College, Andrew achieved Industrial Controls Licensed Electrician as well as Electronics Engineering Technologist. Visit www.profitforcontractors.com. EBMAG.COM
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SEASONAL LIGHTING
SEASONS CHANGE,
SO SHOULD YOUR LIGHTING
Making seasonal adjustments for comfort, safety, productivity and savings /JONATHAN CARTRETTE
A
s seasons change, it’s time to optimize lighting to adjust for longer or shorter daylight hours and inclement weather, and to ensure a balance of natural and artificial lighting for comfort, safety, productivity and cost savings. Practising good lighting management means adapting to the physical environment of a building. With proper lighting control, users can get the productivity gains, cost savings and high level of comfort and security needed year-round—increasingly for exterior applications as well as interior.
“Make it a habit to do regular visual What difference does it make? During fall and winter, as the sun checks to drops low in the sky, light comes get a good in through windows or falls across reading on landscaping at completely different angles than it does during the height how daylight of summer. Suddenly, workspaces changes are flooded with light, and employees from season are taping pieces of cardboard to the to season.” tops of their cubicle walls to shade themselves from the afternoon sun beaming through the windows. The motivation to adjust doesn’t stop there. There is also less daylight available altogether in the colder months. It’s darker when you leave for work, and Daylight Saving may or may not compensate to brighten 10
ELECTRICAL BUSINESS · February 2017
your morning. The change in natural light is not just less comfortable, it can also make you feel less secure. It’s important to adjust artificial light to accommodate for the shorter days to optimize visibility and security, and making this possible means installing and managing lighting control devices and schedules.
Go for a walk... several, in fact The best way to find out how to adjust lighting for seasonal change is via MBWA (Management by Walking Around). When it’s a commercial space, watch people at work. Do they have lamps from home on their desks? Are they wearing sunglasses? Walk down the aisles in the afternoon. Are you blinded by glare? Go into the parking lot after sunset. Does it take a while for your eyes to adjust to being outside, or is it a smooth transition? Are there dark spots where cars are parked? Are stairways and walkways well lit? Remember, people are going to be in those areas when it’s dark at 4 pm, and the route could be covered in puddles, fallen leaves, snow or frost, or some combination thereof. Outdoor lighting triggered by motion detectors may be a good solution for these low-traffic, yet potentially treacherous, areas. (Granted, with many codes including hold-off, ex-
pect that a photocell likely also has a say in light level.) For residential spaces, much of the same applies. Walk around and see what is and isn’t well lit. Be sure to check at several different times of day. Make it a habit to do regular visual checks to get a good reading on how daylight changes from season to season. Then, throughout the year, plan the lighting, shading and other changes so the home, office or facility is always comfortable, safe, inviting and energy-efficient.
Using everything to your advantage Whether you’re installing lighting from scratch or modifying an existing system, there are plenty of great options today for light sources, dimmers, sensors, controls and lighting management systems.The best of these should be easy to adjust from season to season, and allow you to continuously harvest daylight and maintain lighting at the right level—be it at home or at work. And whether it’s a residential or EBMAG.COM
The best lighting control systems also model when a particular façade is going to be hit hardest, and automatically lower shading to prevent glare.
commercial setting, shading remains the best way to compensate for the lower angle of the sun without giving up the natural light and view that a permanent solution (like glazing) would eliminate. Today’s lighting control systems can be programmed to automatically raise and lower window shades at sunrise and sunset, whatever the season. The best systems also model when a particular façade is going to be hit hardest, and automatically lower shading to prevent glare. Dimmers and daylight harvesting working in concert with shading are the best compensation for seasonal time changes. No matter what type of lighting is in use, you can source dimmers that work with traditional incandescent lighting, as well as CFLs and LEDs. In commercial applications, even more benefits are possible by integrating your lighting systems with other building systems, such as HVAC. EBMAG.COM
After all, it’s not just the light that changes from season to season. Why not integrate all systems and control them from one central system? The technology has been available for decades. You simply have to understand and appreciate the dynamics of your space’s lighting, then discuss it with the HVAC management team. If you’re using software to control any building system, you’re already on the path to controlling them all digitally—just don’t forget the lights!
Becoming an unsung hero The ultimate test of whether your lighting design and control strategy works—whatever the season—is whether anyone notices it. Spoiler alert: they shouldn’t. Truly comfortable lighting should always be inconspicuous and seamless. Illumination and colour should be an even wash across the architectural plane.
“Walk around and see what is and isn’t well lit. Be sure to check at several different times of day.”
In the building in which I work, there’s not a single fixture running any higher than 77% of maximum output... ever... and that’s before any high-end trim is applied, and no one notices. Sure, we sometimes have discussions over relative brightness, but digital lighting control systems are so well tuned that everyone can feel comfortable. Many of us don’t speak the language of lighting design, so it can be a challenge to articulate what we want to a lighting designer. But remember: we all know bad lighting when we see it. Ever have trouble reading a restaurant’s menu because the light is too dim? Annoying, right? Ever walk into a conference room and have your eyeglasses’ transition lenses darken on you or, conversely, walk into someone’s office where they don’t have the overhead lights on because they simply find them too bright? Even when you don’t know the terms, you can describe what’s bothering you or your clients. If you don’t have the time to learn about lighting, or understand all of the control products and systems out there, bring in an expert who can guide you through the process. In fact, many lighting and control manufacturers offer on-demand training courses where you can learn in your own time, at your own pace. You might be surprised at the options available and how easy they are to design and install; how well those technologies integrate with existing systems, and how easy they are to program and use. Jonathan Cartrette is an engineering manager with Legrand, with over 10 years of experience in the design, implementation and deployment of distributed intelligence systems. He joined Legrand in 2010 as part of the Wattstopper services team supporting the roll-out of its digital lighting management (DLM) platform. He was a product line manager for DLM, networking, and software before returning to his engineering roots in 2014 to lead a team of electrical and software engineers focused on commercializing next-gen technologies for use in intelligent electrical infrastructures.
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11
LED PROBLEMS
TIME FOR AN LED LIGHTING REALITY-CHECK Tales from the electrical contractor trenches / RON BERGERON
F
or over 100 years, incandescent, fluorescent, quartz/halogen and HID lighting ruled the roost. Components were standardized, so electricians could solve any problem using generic replacement parts. But the lighting world has changed dramatically, particularly in the past three years, with LEDs. Manufacturers have vastly increased the efficiency, life expectancy and colour rendition of these light sources, all while driving prices down. We, too, have installed our share of LED lighting, which seemed to live up to the promises made by the manufacturers. Then we started having problems. Any of these sound familiar? • Blinking lights • Drivers burning out • LED platforms failing • Lights not turning On/Off Other contractors with whom I’ve spoken have experienced similar problems, each one suffering and solving as best he could in his own backyard. Customers, meantime, were getting quite irate with the lot of us. After all, LEDs last forever, right? There’s no longer any need for you to continue to suffer in silence. Below I present a summary of my findings while researching problems with LEDs, including some suggested best practices to help you get the job done onsite while keeping your clients happy.
Case studies Here are some LED lighting situations encountered, and solved, by electricians.
1
An owner provided a prewired system of some 60 drivers and LED platforms wired at 240V. The contractor’s job was to bring power to the system. All functioned well for about 18 months. Then, over a period of about six months, 25% of the drivers burned out. Upon examining the system closely, it was noted the lighting controller cut only one phase. The drivers have an input rating of 100-240VAC, 50/60Hz. The wires are Brown, Blue, Green/ Yellow (see photo above). The Blue wire is the Neutral. The only indicator is a small “acn”.
We, too, have installed our share of LED lighting, which seemed to live up to the promises made by the manufacturers. Then we started having problems. 12
ELECTRICAL BUSINESS · February 2017
In other parts of the world, there is 240V phase-to-neutral. It appears the installers had been fooled by the voltage rating (the Blue wire), thinking everything would function as it should. (There had also been cost savings by wiring at 240V rather than 120V.) The contractor replaced the burnt drivers.
2
An owner supplied LED outdoor fixtures to replace existing 240V metal halides on photocell control. After the changeover, the LED lights would not shut Off. The electrician determined the photocell was operating and opening the circuit, but the lights remained On, nevertheless. On the line side of the driver he found L1-L2 was reading 120V. The driver was rated 100-277V and was, therefore, staying On. Subsequently, he concluded the internal circuitry of the photocell was at fault. He switched L1 for L2 and L2 for L1
on the line side of the photocell. The lights now shut Off.
3
LED high-bay fixtures were installed in a warehouse. It was a 120/208V, 3-phase 4W system with one row per circuit. This was a standard installation. An occupancy sensor was installed for one of the rows. Some five months later, the fixtures in that row started flickering, and some of the fixtures stopped functioning altogether. It was noted the LED platforms had brown spots on the surface. For the sensor-controlled row, L1 was being opened while the neutral remained as part of the network. With the occupancy lights Off, there was a reading of 25V to 50V between the L1 and the neutral when the rest of the lighting was On, but 0V when all lights were Off. The fixtures, under warranty, were replaced by the manufacturer. The motion sensor was removed. EBMAG.COM
Some manufacturers claim controls are “LED compatible”, but that does not mean they work over the lifetime of the LED fixture.
4
Outdoor HID fixtures were being replaced at intervals with LED lighting. These were all on one circuit. At one point, the LEDs started flickering. The problem was discovered when the bond wire for the system was disconnected. One of the HID fixtures had a ballast leaking to ground. That HID fixture was replaced, and all was well.
5
In a residential kitchen, LED lamps were installed in existing pots with an existing dimmer. The LED lights in the hallway started flickering. The kitchen lighting was changed over to another phase, a compatible LED dimmer was installed and the flickering stopped.
6
Metal halide outdoor lighting controlled by a photocell was replaced by LED fixtures, but the photocell kept burning out. The lighting is now controlled by a photocell operating a contactor.
Research
A
In a standard installation, in a balanced 3-phase 4W system, there should be no current flowing in the neutral.When one phase is shut off, unbalance flows through the neutral. Check out these ampere readings across various LED circuits in various installations: L1 L2 L3 N 7.7 0 0 7.9 7.5 0 0 7.6 12.9 12.2 0 11.8 5.8 5.6 5.6 5.5 52.0 47.0 50.0 25.0
What’s going on here? LED lighting is a switched-mode power supply, which equates to triple the harmonics, particularly the 3rd harmonic. So not only do you have unbalanced loading but also the 3rd harmonic addEBMAG.COM
ing up in the neutral conductor. High-frequency energy is also being generated. There isn’t much written about this issue; however, a research paper from Malaysia states: a large number of LED lamps connected to a single feeder may introduce considerable harmonic current distortion and power quality problems.
That’s a game changer!
B
LED drivers deliver high-frequency energy at 3kHz to 5kHz, with harmonics that go anywhere from 100kHz to 200kHz. There’s even a name for this: supra harmonics. This energy seeks the lowest impedance of conduit, bond wire, building steel, steel decking, etc... any which way will do. LED fixtures, in certain circumstances, can deliver a static electricity type of lift, startling the maintenance electrician. The bond wire in Bx or Teck will not be effective at very high frequencies because the impedance is too high. When blocked there, the energy will even skip out through the Bx armour openings as it seeks the lowest impedance, including T-bar framing.
C
Electronic drivers have high inrush currents. This means significant arc when the relay is switching, a particular problem with outdoor photocontrols. The solution is to use high-current-rated relays. Some manufacturers claim controls are “LED compatible”, but that does not mean they work over the lifetime of the LED fixture.
D
Compatibility is key for LEDs. Fixture manufacturers select driver, dimmer type and configuration to match the characteristics of the LED plat-
form in the fixture. Replacement components should only come from the original manufacturer.
E
Flickering is caused by many sources: line noise, control noise, component tolerance and poor design. A good LED driver—delivering constant DC electrical current—in a well-matched system should address all of those factors and deliver flicker-free lighting. Problems appear to occur in retrofits where people replace incandescent and halogen lamps, which are typically controlled by dimmers and magnetic/ electronic transformers. TRIAC dimmers do not start nor turn Off properly, creating flicker. (TRIAC gets its name from triode for alternating current: a 3-terminal electronic device for conducting current in either direction.) Electronic transformers need resistive loads, but LEDs are not resistive. In fact, with these transformers, most LED bulbs will not operate.
F
Various manufacturers produce “Certified Retrofit Kits”, which should not only include certified parts and components, but information about compatibility with existing electrical equipment. Provided the installer is using a certified retrofit kit, and the installation conforms to ESA requirements, the equipment is deemed to be approved.
Best practices
1
Verify the driver is approved for use in Canada and that it has the correct voltage rating, and
determine whether it is phaseto-neutral or phase-to-phase.
2
Disconnect both phase and neutral when shutting off parts of a multi-phase system.
3 4
Use high inrush contactors.
Ensure all components are from the same manufacturer or declared compatible by the manufacturer.
5
Bond with a separate insulated wire that is the same size as the phase wiring. This isn’t a comprehensive list, nor do I claim it will solve all of your problems, but it presents the reality of the electrical contractors’ world. If you have any LED lighting situations or solutions to share, please forward them to me or the editor, Anthony Capkun, so we can relay them to the industry at large. Our objective is to come home safely while meeting customer needs in a cost-effective manner.
Ron Bergeron is a professional engineer in good standing since 1969 and an electrical contractor since 1971. He purchased his family business, Bergeron Electric, in 1980, and has held his Master Electrician’s licence since 2006. His firm received the Minister’s Award for Apprenticeship Training in 2012. Ron served as a generator consultant for Cornwall and area during Ontario’s Ice Storm of 1998, and served as both chair and vice-chair of the utility Cornwall Electric. He was also involved with Ontario’s Electrical Safety Authority as a member of the Industry Advisory Council, Fee Restructuring Committee and Contractor Advisory Council. Email Ron at ronb@bergeronelectric.com. A version of this article appears in the June 2016 edition of Dialogue.
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13
disaster recovery
A TORNADIC EXPERIENCE
FOR GRAYBAR CANADA’S WINDSOR LOCATION The birthday that branch manager Glen Miller will never forget / ANTHONY CAPKUN
I
t’s a birthday Glen Miller won’t soon forget. Probably never. Glen is the branch manager of Graybar Canada’s Windsor location at 2760 Deziel Drive and, on the evening of Wednesday, August 24—while he was out with his wife, son and daughter-in-law celebrating his 51st birthday—he got a call from one of his neighbours, Rose City Electric, who plainly told him:
There’s a hole in the side of your building.
14
ELECTRICAL BUSINESS · February 2017
At 7:24 pm, August 24, an F2 tornado (wind speeds approx. 113-157 mph) strikes Graybar Canada’s Windsor branch at 2760 Deziel Drive. Luckily, the last employee had left work about an hour earlier.
And while this was unfolding, Glen didn’t take it seriously. He admits with a chuckle, “I thought it was a big joke. I thought people were making this stuff up because it was my birthday!”
113-157 MPH Approximate wind speeds of the F2 tornado that struck Graybar Canada’s Windsor branch
Not in Kansas any more But it was no joke.While dining with his family, Glen’s branch was rocked by an F2 tornado (wind speeds approx. 113157 mph). It suffered severe structural damage, including a collapsed block wall to which a gas main was attached. Luckily, the last employee had left work about an hour earlier. After chatting with John Hodges, his manager of customer service, Glen was off to Deziel to assess the damage. “We moved into that branch in January 2001,” explains Glen. Home to 15 employees, the branch comprises 16,000 sf, about 12,000 of which are warehouse, with the remainder split among counter and offices. “As I got closer to the building, I didn’t see any damage anywhere,” Glen says. He noticed the traffic lights were out here and there, but it wasn’t
2 1/2 WEEKS The time it took to get the Deziel Drive branch relocated to, and up and running at, 3505 Rhodes Dr.
until he got right into the immediate vicinity—where he saw people being evacuated from the area—that he began to understand the gravity of the situation. Glen arrived onsite around 8:30 pm, preceded by John, but neither were allowed near the building that evening. (John arrived onsite about 10 minutes prior to Glen, and emailed him some pictures. He was also among the people being evacuated.) “Between John and myself, we called all the staff and told them not to bother coming into work Thursday because we didn’t have anywhere for them to work,” says Glen, who admits, at that point, he had no idea what was going to happen. It wasn’t until Friday, August 26, that Glen and his staff received official word from the city and its inspectors and engineers that the building was deemed unfit. The roof would have to be removed and replaced, while other parts would have to be reconstructed. However, the building would be made temporarily safe so Glen and his team could empty its contents. EBMAG.COM
Photo courtesy Graybar Canada.
“While we were having dinner in the restaurant, the TV was showing a tornado warning in Detroit, across the river,” Glen recalls. “We had just finished eating, and were thinking about ordering a bottle of wine, when my phone started ringing.” Glen didn’t recognize the number from the first call; based on the area code, he thought it was probably just a telemarketer, so he ignored it. The second call came from one of his suppliers, Troy Life & Fire Safety, whose building is just a few doors down from Glen’s, but he ignored that call, too, because it was after hours and, hey, they were still eating. When the supplier phoned again, Glen figured it must be important. He took the call, and learned some of Troy Life & Fire Safety’s windows were broken. They asked Glen whether he had also heard from his security company. Glen didn’t think so, but then he remembered the call he had discounted as a telemarketer. What was going on here? Was there a rash of break-ins? After checking his voice mail, Glen confirmed the security company had, indeed, phoned to alert him to an alarm at the Deziel premises. Then came the call from Rose City’s owner about the hole in Glen’s building.
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disaster recovery
Graybar Canada employees working hard on clean-up and disaster recovery at Deziel Drive.
Disaster recovery 101 At that moment, when Glen learned the premises would have to be evacuated, the company shifted into crisis mode. “Our customs broker, Russell A. Farrow, volunteered two trucks to load up all our stuff and stage it in a warehouse for us until we could find a suitable location to work out of,” says Glen. They went through the entire Deziel building, and inventoried everything as it was loaded onto trucks. About 20-30% of the product was damaged, but the rest could be saved. With that settled, Glen started looking for property. “I knew about this building we’re in now—the old FedEx building, just around the corner—and I knew it has been sitting empty, so I suggested we look at it,” says Glen, so the company’s senior management came to Windsor and arranged a short-term
“I thought it was a big joke. I thought people were making this stuff up because it was my birthday!”
lease for 3505 Rhodes Drive. “Then Russell A. Farrow started bringing all the material back to us at this location.” “We did the whole move with our own staff,” Glen says proudly. “We didn’t hire any outside help, for the most part. The project team worked from home, but the balance of the staff was with me.” Glen’s staff worked pretty much every day, including weekends (save one) from 7 am to 7 pm to empty the Deziel location and, eventually, move everything into the temporary Rhodes branch. Meantime, Graybar Canada branches from Kitchener and Niagara Falls to Hamilton and Markham pitched in to take orders, follow through on deliveries, and so on. “Basically, two and-a-half weeks after the tornado hit us, we were up and running in this building, complete with phones, internet, everything.”
DEZIEL BRANCH TORNADO IMPACT TIMELINE Wednesday, August 24
At 7:24 pm, an F2 tornado (wind speeds approx. 113-157 mph) strikes Graybar Canada’s Windsor branch at 2760 Deziel Drive. Luckily, the last employee had left work about an hour earlier. Branch suffers severe structural damage, including a collapsed block wall to which a gas main was attached. Staff are prevented from accessing the building until engineers deem it safe to enter.
Thursday, August 25
Graybar Canada communicates the situation to its employees, customers and vendors. A few staff are able to access the site and gather a few things.
Friday, August 26
Staff are allowed back onsite. They take inventory and load skids of product. They are to vacate immediately should the wind pick up.
Monday, September 12
16
Windsor branch opens temporary location at 3505 Rhodes Drive. Anticipated re-opening of 2760 Deziel Drive no earlier than the end of 2016.
ELECTRICAL BUSINESS · February 2017
While Graybar Canada—along with its partners—seemed to have its disaster response and recovery well in hand, the branch nonetheless received offers of support from its competitors. “People that are supposed to be competitors—trying to fight for the same business we are—reached out and offered help,” Glen says, recounting some of those calls: “Do you need storage? Come and use it. Do you need a table in our boardroom? Come and use it. Do you need computer access? Come and use it. So I had a number of competitors reaching out, which was great.” And with so many people in the company who helped, Glen says he is hard-pressed to single out all of them. He tips his hat to Graybar Canada’s IT department, who refused to accept Bell Canada’s three-week timeline to hook up the new location on Rhodes. “And my executive VP and general manager, senior VP Sales, marketing VP, and VP Central Region, too, for coming in and negotiating a lease for this temporary building... they, along with the senior management, were all just fantastic.” The keys to such an amazing disaster response, then, are having a strong company behind you, and the right people by your side. “The whole process [of disaster recovery] wowed me,” Glen admits. “Our staff worked tirelessly to get those trucks loaded and unloaded, and put the product on the shelves and get us up and running... they cared about the branch like it was their home. My entire staff has to be commended for their efforts.” Since our initial discussion, the building on Deziel has made great progress. As of mid-December, Glen reported the roof is complete, and the rooftop units are installed and connected. The main service is built, with the mast going up shortly. The office and counter rebuild are coming along nicely, and the building should be weathertight before Christmas. “If we hadn’t had such a caring company behind us—with all the right people in place to make important things happen for us—there’s no way we could have been up and running again in two and-a-half weeks,” says Glen. EBMAG.COM
Photo courtesy Graybar Canada.
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drilling dynamics
DRILLING DYNAMICS: GROUND CONDITIONS AFFECT AUGER EQUIPMENT AND TOOL SELECTION DALE PUTMAN
to 6 feet in diameter and 95-ft deep. While digger derricks are used for drilling, they may be limited to softer ground conditions and holes with smaller diameter and depth requirements. Typically, they can drill to 10ft deep at diameters up to 42 in. With better pole-handling capabilities, digger derricks ideally follow behind auger drills, setting poles in the holes prepared by the auger drills. For example, a job requiring a 20-ft deep hole with 36 in. diameter is best suited to the auger drill because of the depth required. Were the same hole required to be only 10-ft deep, then a digger derrick may be suitable for the job.
Choosing the right auger tool for the job
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for any and all site conditions. Do your research to ensure you pick the right tool(s) for the job. Photo from CUEE 2010 by A. Capkun.
W
hen it comes to production drilling and setting poles, electric utilities and their contractors frequently make decisions onsite regarding the best equipment and tool for the job. Boring reports provide some insight into the geological make-up of the ground, but the reality is conditions can vary dramatically between locations... even those that are just a few feet apart. For this reason, utility crews often rely on two important pieces of equip18
ELECTRICAL BUSINESS · February 2017
ment: digger derricks and auger drills. While the equipment performs similar tasks, they are best used in combination due to differing ground conditions. Auger drills deliver more than double the torque over digger derricks, making it possible for them to achieve more downward force on auger tools. Generally speaking, they are capable of 30,000 to 80,000 ft-lb of torque, while digger derricks deliver 12,000 to 14,000 ft-lb of torque. That makes auger drills more suitable for drilling through harder material and creating larger and deeper holes—up
FLIGHT LENGTH The auger’s total spiral length
Equally important to selecting the right machine for the job is selecting the right auger tool. Tools with a hex coupler attachment are used by digger derricks, while those with a square box coupler are used by auger drills. Tools are not specific to the OEM, but that doesn’t mean all tools are created equal. When choosing the right tool for the job, selection criteria include auger-style or barrel tools, types of teeth, and multiple sizes. Remember, you can cut dirt with a rock auger or barrel tool, but you can’t cut rock efficiently with a dirt auger. While that maxim is an over-simplification of the selection process, it’s a good rule of thumb. Augers have flights to lift the soil that is loosened by the teeth, as well as a pilot bit that stabilizes the drilling process for a straight hole. Core barrels cut a single track, applying more pressure per tooth, removing rock materials by lifting out the material as individual plugs. In most ground conditions, it’s best to start with an auger tool until you reach a point where it is not efficient or it refuses to advance because the strata is too hard. At that point, it may be necessary to switch to a core barrel tool for better production. If you must start with a core barrel tool (on a digger derrick), you may need to use a pilot bit to hold the tool straight while starting the hole. Be sure to match the tool with ground conditions. Most tool specifications include a description of the type of applications for which the EBMAG.COM
auger tool or barrel is designed. For example, some digger derrick augers are designed for compacted soil, stiff clay and soft shale conditions, while digger derrick carbide rock augers tackle medium limestone, sandstone and frozen materials. Core barrels are used when material cannot be effectively drilled with conventional flighted rock auger tools, including conditions such as fractural and non-fractural rock, and non-reinforced and reinforced concrete. The teeth on the tool’s pilot bit are directly related to the application in which they are designed to work. The pilot bit and flighting teeth should be compatible, with the same strength and cutting characteristics. Other specs that are important in selecting the tool are auger length, and flight length, thickness and pitch. Various auger lengths are available to allow operators to fit the tool to the available tool clearance on your specific auger drill device or digger derrick configuration.
FLIGHT
THICKNESS impacts the strength of the tool
FLIGHT PITCH The distance between each spiral of the flighting
Tips for safe and productive drilling
Flight length is the auger’s total spiral length. The longer the flight length, the more material you can lift out of the ground. Long flight length is good for loose or sandy soil. Flight thickness impacts the strength of the tool. The thicker the tool, the heavier, so it’s beneficial to choose only what you need to maximize payload on the truck and material lifting capacity of the boom. I recommend a thicker flight at the bottom of an auger for heavy-duty applications. Flight pitch is the distance between each spiral of the flighting. In loose soil, too steep of a flight pitch will allow the material to slide right back into the hole. In that situation, a flatter pitch would be more effective. But a steeper pitch will get the job done more quickly when the material is denser. I recommend a steep-pitch auger tool for wet, muddy or sticky clay conditions, as it’s easier to remove the material from the auger once lifted out of the hole. When the auger tool meets refusal, it’s a good time to switch to a core barrel-style. By design, a core barrel single track cuts through hard surfaces better than multiple tracks EBMAG.COM
produced by a flighted tool. When drilling through hard rock, such as granite or basalt, slow and easy is the best approach. You’ve got to be patient and let the tool do the work. In the most extreme conditions, use a core barrel on an auger drill. However, a digger derrick with the right tool can also get the job done in some hard rock conditions when a smaller-diameter hole is required. Some conditions, such as ground water, warrant specialized tools like drill buckets (a.k.a. mud buckets). These tools remove fluid/semi-fluid material from the drilled shaft when material does not adhere to auger flighting. At least two styles are available—spin bottom or dump bottom. Both are efficient methods for removing wet soil. Another oft-overlooked condition is frozen ground and permafrost, which is very abrasive. In this situation, a spiral rock auger is able to work efficiently.
You’ve got to be patient and let the tool do the work.
So you’ve selected the machine and tool for the job but, before you begin, always know what’s below and above the dig location. Most (if not all) jurisdictions in Canada and the States have some kind of “Call before you dig” protocol to help protect you and others from unintentional contact with existing underground utilities. Also, always inspect the work area for overhead lines to prevent powerline contact and electrocution. The jobsite inspection should also include inspection of the digger derrick, auger drill and tools you plan to use. Follow manufacturer instructions for daily pre-shift equipment and tool inspections. It’s important to check teeth to ensure they are in good condition. For example, if rock teeth don’t turn freely, they may wear flat on one side, decreasing life and efficiency. Also look for wear in the teeth pockets. If the carbide on a bullet tooth has worn away, it’s time to replace the tooth. Not changing worn teeth can severely damage the tooth pocket, which can be costly to repair. Also check the hardface edges of auger flighting and barrel tools for wear; otherwise, the diameter of the hole may be affected. Re-hard facing the edges prevents a reduction in the hole diameter, and can often be done in the field.
Always follow manufacturer instructions for any auger tool repairs. Follow correct tooth installation and removal procedures, using the proper tools. Many tools are designed to make tooth replacement easy, but it can be a dangerous task if not done right. For example, never strike the carbide face with a hammer. Any time you strike a hardened surface there is risk of metal shattering off, which can cause bodily injury. Finally, remember to grease teeth upon installation. This is very important for maintaining free movement during operation and it makes it easier to remove the teeth when replacing them. Digger derricks and auger drills use a variety of stabilizers (e.g. A-frame, out-and-down, straight down) but, regardless of type, always use outrigger pads underneath the stabilizer footing. This prevents one side of the machine from sinking into the ground. When the machine is out of level, it can cause your hole to not be plumb. For auger drills, rely on the level indicator to maintain the correct drill angle. For digger derricks, operators must continuously monitor the boom position to ensure the auger remains vertical by extending or retracting and rotating as needed. Finally, tailgate safety meetings should include reminders for personnel to stand at least 15 feet away from drilling operations, to be aware of moving parts and open holes, and to wear proper PPE, including gloves, goggles, hard hats, hearing protection and hi-vis clothing. When work continues around open holes, either cover the holes or wear fall protection and tie off to an approved permanent structure. Utility crews must make many decisions about the ground conditions when performing drilling operations. Understanding the ground conditions, the condition of the equipment, capabilities of digger derricks, auger drills, the many tool attachments available and following the manufacturer’s instructions makes the job more efficient and can help prevent incidents. Dale Putman serves as auger tooling product support manager with Terex Utilities. He has 43 years of experience working for manufacturers of drilling equipment and auger tools, during which time he has worked with utilities performing drilling operations all over the world. Visit www.terex.com/utilities. February 2017 · ELECTRICAL BUSINESS
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products and solutions
Mersen overcurrent protection for EVs
Mersen says both systems have been engineered to provide protection for e-mobility, electrical energy storage, EV/HEV, SmartGrid and PV installations. www.mersen.com
RECALL: Honda EU2000iT1 generators owner’s manual
Arlington DropIn floor box kits
Cree IG parking luminaire series
Mersen has new DC overcurrent protection solutions for electric vehicles and battery-related applications: the Xp and Xs series hybrid devices, and an expanded line of DC fuses. The Xp Series’ heart is composed of a pyro-element with self-triggered and/or external ignition capacity. The Xs Series is a resettable 750 VDC arc-less hybrid power relay with the capability of switching both high-voltage and high-current.
Cree is extending its IG series LED parking structure luminaires to include a warmer colour temperature and standard 0-10V dimming. Featuring Cree WaveMax technology, the IG series delivers “low-glare comfort and defeats shadows for safety and visibility”, according to Cree. lighting.cree.com
Honda Canada is recalling the owner’s manual provided with certain Honda EU2000iT1 inverter-type 1600W generators because of missing pages in the French-language section (pages 33 to 48). There are important safety warnings and instructions within these pages. The recall involves about 4000 units sold in Canada from January 2014 to November 2016. Contact Honda Canada Customer Relations at 888-946-6329. powerequipment.honda.ca
Place Bonaventure, Montréal
Arlington says its UL-listed “DropIn” floor box kits (FLB4360) are a fast way to install a box nearly flush in an existing floor, as it installs with a “single hole saw cut”. DropIn boxes accommodate most 3.5-in. standard covers and Arlington’s round low profile covers—which sit just 1/8-in. off the floor—and seat into a non-metallic ring to reduce trip hazard. www.aifittings.com
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www.mcee.ca Produced by :
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ELECTRICAL BUSINESS · February 2017 EB_MCEE_Feb.indd 1
In cooperation with :
EBMAG.COM 2017-01-24 9:54 AM
CODE conundrum
PERSONALITIES
TACKLE THE CODE CONUNDRUM IF YOU DARE! Answers to this month’s questions in March’s Electrical Business.
Compiled by Ontario’s Electrical Safety Authority www.esasafe.com Len Skoreyko
Rob Ruys
Jonathan Clark
Ron Brak
After 40 years of service to Thomas & Betts/ABB, Len Skoreyko— regional manager for the Alberta region—is retiring at the end of February (www.tnb-canada.com). To ensure a seamless transition leading up to Len’s retirement, Rob Ruys has been appointed regional manager for the Western region. Meantime, the company’s Western sales region will be restructured to combine the B.C./Midwest and Alberta regions. As part of that restructuring (Western Canada as one region with reporting districts), Thomas & Betts has appointed Jonathan Clarke and Ron Brako as district managers, Alberta and Midwest, respectively.
QUESTION 1 The maximum ampacity for #6AWG T90 nylon run in a conduit containing 6 #6AWG T90 nylon, 12 #14AWG TWU75 and 7 #12AWG TW75 is: a) 65A c) 39A b) 55A d) 33A
QUESTION 2 Electrical equipment suitable for non-hazardous locations may be installed in a ventilated Zone 2 area when it is continuously monitored by a combustible gas detection system that automatically de-energizes the equipment when gas concentration reaches of the lower explosive limit. a) 10% c) 30% b) 20% d) 40%
QUESTION 3 Pendant lampholders in Category 1 locations must be weatherproof, unlike Category 2, where corrosive liquids exist. a) True b) False
ANSWERS Electrical Business, January 2017 Photo courtesy Schneider Electric Canada.
For the sixth consecutive year, employees of Schneider Electric Canada (www.schneider-electric.ca) participated in 24h Tremblant in Quebec. From December 9-11, employees took turns walking, running, skiing and snowboarding for 24 consecutive hours, raising $58,585 to support Fondation Centre de cancérologie CharlesBruneau, Ottawa Senators Foundation and La Fondation Tremblant. Hammond Manufacturing (hammondmfg.com) has appointed Jebco Agencies Inc. (jebcoagencies.com) as sales rep for its Electrical Enclosures Group in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Ontario Lakehead region. Support for Hammond Datacom and Electronics products continues to be handled through the existing factory sales team. Torbram Electric Supply (torbramelectric.com) says it undertook to raise between $10K and $15K for Make-AWish Canada, but surpassed its fundraising goal, donating $25K, instead. The cheque presentation was followed by a luncheon for staff at the TES head office in Caledon, Ont. Reps from Make-A-Wish Canada were on-hand to share their experiences and Wish Stories.
Question 2 The minimum headroom around an elevator’s controller and disconnecting means shall be: b) 2 m. Rule 38-005. Question 3 Class 1 circuit conductors of #16AWG copper do not extend beyond the equipment enclosure and do not require overcurrent protection. a) True. Rule 16-104(1). How did YOU do?
3 • Master Electrician 2 • Journeyman 1 • Apprentice 0 • Bricklayer ?!?
ADVERTISER INDEX Left to right, Andrew Dawes, TES general manager; Newton Vanriel, senior manager, Make-A-Wish Canada; Lewis and Roy Choi, the Wish Family; Wayne Davies, Ontario regional manager, TES. Photo courtesy Torbram Electric Supply.
Visit EBMAG.COM for the latest news, stories, products, videos, photo galleries and industry events. EBMAG.COM
Question 1 Where non-metallic sheathed cable is exposed, switch, outlet and tap devices of insulating material can be used without boxes. a) True. Rule 12-522(1).
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TO ADVERTISE John MacPherson • jmacpherson@annexweb.com Deborah Taylor • dtaylor@annexweb.com February 2017 · ELECTRICAL BUSINESS
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CODE file DAVID PILON
Camping happy with the CE Code
B
elieve it or not, it’s that time of year when firms start looking ahead to the camping season and campground upgrades. Nothing much has changed in recreational vehicle parks over the past CE Code cycle, but a number of changes took place over the past 15 years to make this part of the code clearer. One such example is the branch circuit for each receptacle at a recreational site, which shall be preceded by an individual overcurrent device not exceeding the rating of the receptacle involved. This means individual lots should not be looked upon as feeders tapping off of a loop fed from a single breaker, unless each pedestal has an individual breaker protecting it. Otherwise, this would violate Rule 72-106(1). As 20A receptacles became popular, they became “acceptable” for installation in recreational vehicle lots. This was followed by the requirement for 15A and 20A receptacles to provide Class A GFI protection, which increased flexibility for installations and provided added protection for facility users. Recently, the TT-30A was added to the list of approved receptacles, making it easier to use in other locations.
Another change As Section (or other source of they would get shocks from the over the years involves 10 changes supply) then con- steps and handles while trying to service and feeder nected to a grounding enter their campers. The feeders come calculations, wherein conductor at each in- eventually had to be replaced, into force all branch circuits for dividual service, with and the problem disappeared. the receptacles shall the connection made This particular installation was in some be considered con- jurisdictions, on the supply side, a utility distribution with the tinuous loads as per no connection grounding taking place at each you should having Rule 8-104. Demand between the ground- individual service. note that factors are provided ed circuit conductor Remember to check with your for the calculations re-grounding and the grounding local AHJ prior to starting your based on the ampacity the neutral electrode on the load installations, and send in your of the largest recepside. This means that plans early to beat the rush. here is tacle at each site. Were the ground conduct- There may be snow outside, but violating a site to have both 50A or should be run with it’s not too early to start prepand 20A receptacles, it Rule 10-204. the service conduct- ping. Happy camping! would be calculated as ors to each feeder David Pilon has been an electrical a 50A load. service. inspector with SaskPower since 2000, However, when using multiBy re-grounding the neutral, and is currently the vice-chair of the wire branch circuits to feed a we create a situation where fault Canadian Certified Electrical Inspector (CCEI) committee of the International duplex receptacle (split plugs), currents are possible through Association of Electrical Inspectors remember that it must be count- the soil when it is wet enough. (IAEI), Canadian Section. David can be ed as two in your calculation, as I investigated such a fault in a reached at dpilon@saskpower.com. per Rule 72-102(3), and would recreational vehicle park where still require Class A GFI protec- every time the renters returned Always consult your AHJ for tion (which may involve a 2-pole to their campers from swimming more specific interpretations. Class A GFI breaker). (and everyone was dripping wet), In the past, some jurisdictions would allow you to run feeder Gutenberg would be proud! conductors using USEI or Electrical Business Magazine is published by Canada’s largest USEB cable to park distribuB2B publisher, Annex Business Media... and we have our own tion centres (where you would presses! Talk to us about your custom publishing needs. re-ground the neutral). As Visit EBMAG.com/advertise Section 10 changes come into force in some jurisdictions, you should note that re-grounding Special digital delivery! Looking for that special something the neutral here is a violation of to reach new customers? Reach our 100% CASL-compliant Rule 10-204. subscriber list with one of our custom eBlasts and go directly to your In fact, the system shall be prospective customer’s Inbox. Visit EBMAG.com/advertise grounded at the transformer
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ELECTRICAL BUSINESS · February 2017 EB_CSA_Feb.indd 1
EBMAG.COM 2017-01-24 10:17 AM
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