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Addressing electrical safety: The role of the electrical inspector BVI News Share     Professionals and consumers need to be aware of potential hazards resulting from the abuse or misuse of electrical systems. Failing to observe common sense safety practices can be just as harmful to the professional as for non-professionals. A homeowner using an electrically operated lawn tool outdoors supplied by a non-GFCI protected outlet is taking a serious chance. The sad part is that the homeowner may not know better. An electrician who does the same thing is also flirting with fate, but that individual should be aware of the danger. Whether professional or average citizen, it is important for safety procedures to become a standard part of our behavior. More
Fine-tuning the code Electrical Contractor Magazine Share
A recent addition to the 2008 National Electrical Code (NEC) has prompted a possible change for the 2011 NEC and a number of questions from electricians, electrical contractors, electrical inspectors and electrical engineers. Section 690.31(F) in the 2008 NEC now requires flexible, fine-stranded cables be terminated only with terminal lugs, termination devices or connectors identified and listed for use with fine-stranded conductors. Questions have been raised about the acceptability of very flexible, fine-stranded conductors in general electrical installations and the expanded use of these cables for photovoltaic systems, wind turbines, cranes, welders, elevators, battery banks, uninterruptible power supplies, computers and similar installations. A further study of these issues may help provide the answers to the questions and help clarify the use of both the conductors and the termination devices. More When it's best to go with a pro The Wall Street Journal Share
Homeowners are more willing to get their hands dirty with home-improvement projects these days in order to save money. But the DIY route may not always be the safest or cheapest. "Especially with money being so tight, it's totally understandable that people want to take on projects themselves that in other periods they would have hired someone to do," says Meri-K Appy, president of the Home Safety Council, a Washington nonprofit dedicated to preventing home-related injuries. More
Incorrectly selected or installed downlighters can the cause of fires in homes Electrical Portal Share
The Electrical Safety Council (ESC) have been working with the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service to investigate concerns that incorrectly selected, installed and/or maintained downlighters may have been the cause of a significant number of fires in homes. As part of the investigation, they commissioned an independent laboratory to carry out a limited safety assessment of, and thermal performance testing on, a selection of commercially-available downlighters. More F is for fake accessories Electrical Times Share
Counterfeiting electrical products is a serious, insidious and fast growing problem around the world. Every year, it is estimated that £30m worth or more of counterfeit electrical products reach the U.K. – and they can be very dangerous. Counterfeiting costs electrical equipment manufacturers worldwide an estimated £10 billion per year. Among those losing out are UK wiring accessory manufacturers. Fakes are being sold through dodgy outlets; even occasionally, from reputable electrical wholesalers. Increasing numbers of counterfeits are also being bought online. More
U.S. backs loans to build world's largest solar power complex USA Today Share
The Obama administration gave preliminary approval last week for $1.4 billion in federal loan guarantees to help build what it says will be the world's largest solar power complex -- in California's Mojave Desert. The Department of Energy is offering to back the loans of California-based BrightSource Energy so it can build three solar-energy plants capable of powering 140,000 homes. It says the project could nearly double the amount of solar power generated in the United States. More Companies work to harness the power of waves The New York Times Share
Harnessing the ocean waves for emission-free power seems like a tidy concept, but the ocean is anything but tidy. Waves crash from multiple directions on a seemingly random basis, and converting the kinetic energy into electricity is a frontier of alternative energy research that requires grappling with large unknowns. But with several utility companies and states, and in one case, the U.S. Navy, investing in wave power, or hydrokinetic energy, may not be too far off in the utility mix. At least two companies hope to reach commercial deployments within the next three to five years. More
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