Mar 31, 2021
When properly installed, fuel gas is a safe energy source for cooking, heating, clothes drying, and exterior lighting. It is available to serve residential and commercial buildings in the form of natural and liquified petroleum gas. Although these two fuel gases have different characteristics and work under slightly different manifold pressures, appliances can be converted to use either type. Adequately sizing the gas delivery piping is mandatory for safe operation. The piping cannot leak and must provide enough fuel for combustion to each appliance burner.
Mar 31, 2021
One solution to our industry’s dilemma is Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Installations performed by licensed electricians.
Mar 30, 2021
In February 2021, a large winter storm impacted Texas and surrounding states. These areas suffered greatly from the loss of essentials that included food, utilities, and drinking water. Involved states suffered losses in the billions of dollars along with at least 57 storm-related deaths just in Texas. Loss of electricity was central to most suffering and loss of other dependent utilities. In the extreme cold, loss of heat sources for homes and businesses either provided directly by electricity or natural gas left people in danger of succumbing to the cold. Some families died from using their vehicles to warm themselves in closed garages or using their gas stoves to warm their houses.
Mar 25, 2021
Metal-Clad (MC) Cable is used every day in the electrical industry. The true conduit benders hate it. The value engineering people love it. MC Cable is really a great product, has a wide variety of uses, and can be installed to look good. Let’s take a closer look at this industry workhorse: Metal-Clad Cable. MC Cable Definition MC Cable, by most common definition, is a factory assembly of one or more insulated circuit conductors enclosed in an armor of interlocking metal tape or a smooth or corrugated metal sheath. The smaller cables should be unsheathed by using an armored cutter like the famous “Roto-Split”. The fittings must be listed and identified for use. If the manufacturer provides anti-short bushings, they can be used. The bushings are not an NEC requirement since the listed MC connectors provide the conductor protection from sharp edges.
Mar 25, 2021
Have you ever compared your NFPA 70 book with a colleague and found that there were differences, though both books were the same edition of the NEC? We know that we receive a new edition of the NEC every three years, but how does the Code change between cycles?
Mar 23, 2021
In the security industry, video surveillance is by far the most eye-catching deployment. Intrusion systems alert when tripped and access control prevents unauthorized access, but no one has ever said “come look at my wall of access control panels”. The Security Operations Center (SOC) and the multitude of cameras on a video wall are always part of the tour. Video surveillance is only a tool, but it is an extremely useful tool. Video can now offer traditional security functions and with analytics, it can perform intrusion detection functions as well. This can include alerting on break-ins while giving a picture of the suspect and reducing false alarms. Cameras are being used for Identity and Access Management (IAM) functions in conjunction with access control to use facial recognition among other analytics to control access.
Mar 02, 2021
A vent is defined as a pipe or conduit that contains a passageway for conveying combustion products and air to the atmosphere. Products of combustion contain carbon dioxide, water, and sometimes carbon monoxide. Therefore, it is important to safely vent a gas furnace. Modern gas furnaces are available with efficiencies that range from 80% to 98% Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratio. Furnaces that are 90 to 98% AFUE are considered very efficient and utilize a category 4 vent system. This means that the flue gases operate under a positive vent stack pressure with a low vent gas temperature, causing the gases to condense before discharging from the vent. Venting materials used for category 4 furnaces are those recognized by the furnace’s installation instructions such as stainless steel, PVC, and ABS. Furnaces one tier lower in efficiency use more traditional venting methods than the 90+% units. Even though these systems are associated with conventional chimneys and vents, special attention must be given to their installation.
Mar 02, 2021
If you turn to Section 250.122 in your NEC, you find information that has assisted electricians sizing equipment grounding conductors (EGC) for longer than most electricians have even been twisting wire. If you were on the job in 1968, you would have turned to Table 250.95 in your NEC for this information instead of Table 250.122, but the information was essentially the same. In 1968 you also would have found that an ungrounded (hot) branch circuit conductor protected by a 6000-amp overcurrent device required no less than a 1200 kcmil aluminum equipment grounding conductor... assuming you were using an aluminum equipment grounding conductor. That information remained unchanged for 50 years. But as the saying goes, “All good things must come to an end.”
