Sparks Electrical News August 2018

AUGUST 2018

E L E C T R I C A L N E W S

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REGULARS: CONTRACTORS’ CORNER | BUYERS' GUIDE : LIGHTING (LAMPS AND CONTROL GEAR) | FEATURES : MCCs AND MOTOR PROTECTION | ENERGY EFFICIENCY | LIGHTING

POOR INSTALLATIONS PUT SOLAR PROJECTS AT RISK

I mproper installation of commercial solar photovoltaic (PV) systems can drive up maintenance costs in later years and severely diminish any po- tential cost saving benefits for South African businesses. This is according to Manie de Waal, CEO of Energy Partners Solar, who warns that although PV systems have become an attractive option for busi- nesses, experienced installation services are critical to maximising their cost efficiency. “In a country like South Africa, installing a PV system is one of the best ways to reduce a company’s energy costs. The international price of PV systems has contracted so much in recent years that the payback period on the average commercial solar installation is currently as short as four to six years.” He points out, however, that both scheduled and unscheduled main- tenance during the years that the system is in operation will have a sig- nificant impact on how much value a business can extract from solar power generation. “Every business has unique requirements but, in general, a PV sys- tem is expected to reduce an operation’s electricity costs by between 15% and 30%. In order to achieve this, annual maintenance of the system can only be between 0.9% and 1.5% of its initial capital value. The system’s inverters will also need to be entirely replaced during the 25-year life cycle of the system. However, if this replacement is required before the tenth year of operation, the business may start to incur additional major costs before the planned decommissioning of the PV installation.” According to De Waal, businesses therefore need to ensure that they make use of experienced service providers during the initial installation. “Most of the maintenance problems that affect a PV system start at the installation phase. At the most basic level, an inexperienced service provider can damage solar panels or inverters during installation, or cut corners by making use of low quality fasteners and mounting brackets that cannot withstand regular wear and tear, and damage equipment.” The market in installation, operation and maintenance of rooftop PV is estimated at R2 billion over the period 2016 to 2019, with the potential to create 3 000 medium- and low-skilled jobs over the period, accord- ing to GreenCape, a non-pro t organisation which drives the widespread adoption of economically viable green economy solutions. The rooftop solar PV market has been a signi cant driver of growth in the energy services market. Last year there were an estimated 100 000 systems installed throughout South Africa, with part of this growth being as a result of service providers offering customers end-to-end energy management solutions. According to a local, voluntary database of solar

PV installations hosted, the commercial and industrial sector presents the largest opportunity for installations, a sector which far outstrips the rest of the market in terms of installations. “Solar energy is becoming more advanced and exponentially cheaper every year, and companies are therefore considering their options for de- ploying renewables. However, when purchasing the technology, and install- ing the systems, cutting costs and taking short-cuts with poor service pro- viders could cost a company dearly in the long run,” De Waal concludes.

Enquiries: www.energypartners.co.za.

Major Tech is giving away 100 watches. To enter see advert on page 17

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

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PERSONALITY OF THE MONTH – HOWARD EARLEY

BRINGING A TASTE OF THE CORPORATE WORLD TO THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY

of view, we decided to split the business into two business units namely Major Tech and Veti. In the process we have recruited staff to give us more substance in the market. These changes were formalised from June 1, 2018, and I am responsi- ble for the overall running of the Major Tech operation. I’ve added value by coming in with a different way of looking at things. I want to ’corporatise’ the company in a sense, but without losing what a family-company brings to the mix. We have put the guys who are very good at selling back on the road and out of the office, and the company is already starting to benefit from these changes. All of the team members are fully committed and getting out there to claim our rightful space in the market. Sparks: What are your thoughts on the current market? HE: The market is tough at the moment, there’s no question about it. We’ve talked to some of our main customers and they are feeling it too. Fortunately Major Tech has been profitable throughout. We have managed to increase our turnover in the past year, and are still increasing it, albeit maybe not at the rate we would have liked. We have set ourselves the target that we want to be number one in our all our chosen market segments. In the plugs and sockets market we are up against the big players, both local and international, but we believe we can achieve our goals. Although the market is a tough one, we have the teams, we have the product, we have the pricing and we know we can succeed. Our prod- ucts are South African designed and developed, and while many of our competitors have great products, they are designed for overseas markets. Sparks: What are Major Tech’s strengths? HE: We have a nimbleness – we can make decisions very quickly – so there is never a drawn out process. I’m happy to make the hard calls when I have to, but I also want the team to take ownership and responsibility. Sparks: How do you motivate the staff? HE: If I ever had a problem, I’d go to my boss and say, “This is the problem, this is what’s happened, and this is how I am going to rectify it.” And that’s what I am looking for from my team. I’ve made it very clear, people will make mistakes – we all do – the critical thing is to learn from that mistake and move forward. Sparks: What are your plans for the near future? HE: We have quite a bit on the go at the moment, but one of the things we are doing is relooking at our marketing, realising we need to move a bit more into the online space. Building the brand is also a focus – the team is very proud of Major Tech and Veti, and rightfully so. We also have aspirations to work more in sub-Saharan Africa, but are first consolidating the South African base. HE: Like anything, I believe the industry is going to change. What we are seeing unfortunately is a lot of the smaller independents closing shop, so I think we will see some consolidation continuing in those ranks. I see the wholesaler business changing and I think the wholesalers, like everybody else, are going to be have to become more aggressive by selling online. I think the ECA is doing a pretty good job. It’s good to see the training of a lot more women into the industry. We brought someone up through a learnership; he has his wireman’s licence, is an excellent guy and he’s staying with the company. Now we are investing in another student, so we are playing our own small part. There are issues around regulation in the industry in terms of time to approve products by the relevant bodies and the general access to them. In South Africa, and Africa, there’s still a tremendous need to get power and proper housing into a lot of areas, and with that you will need instrumentation, tools and security product and, as people develop, they will need plugs and sockets and lights and lamps, and that’s where we see Sparks: Having come from a telecommunications background, what are your thoughts on the electrical industry?

ourselves playing a significant role in the market. We will undoubtedly see changes in the industry. LED has been the ‘Uber of lighting’ because it was such a disruptor. I don’t think there will be such a disruptor in the switches and sockets market, but there will be constant development. Sparks: What is the best advice you have received? HE: Andile Ngcaba, Chairman of Convergence Partners and ex Director General of the Department of Telecommunications, always said to me, “You have to, in this kind of role, take a step back and look at the bigger picture.” Yes, you have to make the decisions in the shorter term, but I have always believed that the best decision is a decision and that the worst decision is no decision. Sparks: What’s on your ‘bucket list’ of things to do? HE: Despite my wife and I both being tennis players, we haven’t been to a major tennis tournament yet. Our daughter has just moved to London so the ATP finals in London in November may be on the radar.

Howard Earley

HOWARDEARLEY, the newCEOof Major Tech, is a proactive professional executive with in excess of 20 years’ experience in all aspects of financial, general and operational management in multiple sectors. He is now using his vast experience in the corporate world to continue to shape Major Tech into a major player in the segments in which it operates. Sparks Electrical News spoke to him to find out more about his role at Major Tech, and his thoughts on the electrical industry. Sparks: Where were you educated? HE: I was born in Germiston and went to Dawnview High School. After 18 months in the army, I studied a BCom and then a BAcc at WITS University, where I qualified as Chartered Accountant in 1984 before doing my articles at Deloitte. Sparks: And your working life? HE: After Deloitte and a stint at Metallurg as Financial Director, I joined Plessey in 1996, originally as Group Financial Manager for the Telecomms Busines Unit. I then became Group Financial Officer for the whole Plessey group, before taking over as CEO. One of my biggest accomplishments was taking that very small team at Plessey – there were only three or four of us – and growing the busi- ness from R300 million a year based in South Africa, to R2 billion a year operating in 14 countries throughout Africa. After Plessey I was the CEO of Inala Technologies, a company with many parallels to Major Tech, before becoming part of the acquisition by Jabil, a very large American company, ranked in the top 160 in the world in terms of turnover, who wanted to enter the African market. I spent the next 14 months commuting between South Africa and Mauritius – which wasn’t as glamourous as it sounds! Sparks: How did the Major Tech opportunity come about? HE: Pat Shaw (the founder of Major Tech) and I have known each other for years. We share the same general ethics and business principles despite coming from different business backgrounds; myself more corporate, and Pat an entrepreneur. He phoned me because his financial director of many years was close to retiring, and he wanted some advice. Over our chat I jokingly offered my thoughts; “Your options are a newly graduated CA, a middle aged per- son with some experience, or an old fart like me who would add value to your business.” He said, “So when can you start?” We started talking about it and I joined the company initially as a Director in July 2017 to assist on the financial side and improve the processes. Three months later I received a phone call from Pat one Saturday morning asking me to meet him for a chat, and he told me that he wanted me to take over the business. Fundamentally there was nothing wrong with it, it had been well run to a fixed set of parameters and had done very, very well. It may have lost a bit of focus, hence, from a sales point

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 872 5500

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

AUGUST 2018

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

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SMART TECHNOLOGIES WILL DRIVE AFRICA’S ELECTRICAL EXPANSION

T he use of advanced metering technologies is steadily on the rise in Africa but, to evolve the business models of electrical utilities operat- ing on the continent, utilities still need to harness the full digital potential of technologies such as smart metering. This is according to Abraham Ortega, Senior Executive Consultant at state-of-the-art electrical equipment and solutions provider, Hexing, who says that smart meters have already improved the operation of many utilities, contributing to increased grid stability. “Smart metering, however, is just the tip of the iceberg. When incorporated into an advanced, fully integrated system, utilities will be able to

VERT ENERGY EXPANDS OPERATIONS Ortega notes there are still challenges the utilities need to overcome. “Among our clients, we have seen a greater need for standardising the software systems that service their smart metering systems. Utilities often uses smart meters supplied by a range of different manufacturers. The reasons for this vary from availability to simply changing contracts to new service providers. The point remains that the meters have to be able to integrate with one central system if they are to make the utility more efficient.” Thembekile Zwakala, Acting Chief Information Officer at City Power notes that this is a particular challenge in South Africa. “We make use of multiple technology providers and, for us, it is really important not to become dependent on a singlemanufacturer for all our technology. The problem is that each of the manufacturers has its own back-end system, and reconciling the data we receive from the field is often time-consuming and prone to generating errors.” The solution,according toOrtega,is an intelligent operation and maintenance management system (IOMMS) capable of overcoming infrastructural challenges, interpreting information from the field and immediately taking the right course of action with minimal human involvement. “Governments and utilities have no choice but to partner with the private sector if real growth is to be achieved. The good news is that Hexing is capable of supplying, constructing and maintaining integrated smart systems. While companies such as ours can provide the means for technological advancement, governments and regulators can help to make the systems realistic by rewriting or re-interpreting the relevant laws to enable operators to better collect revenues.” VERT ENERGY has strengthened its position in the local electro-mechanical power transmission sector, with the consolidation of new distributor agreements and the relocation of its head of- fice to larger premises in Linbro Park, Sandton. The company’s gear assembly centre, previously situated in Cape Town, has also transferred to the new facility. “Vert Energy, which was established in 2011, has expanded its operation significantly and now requires larger premises to continue to provide high levels of operating efficiencies and delivery service throughout the African continent, in line with continued growth of the business,” says managing director, Grant Robertson. “An important milestone is the consolidation of a long standing partnership with Leroy Somer, which goes back over 30 years. Vert Energy, which was originally appointed as the exclusive distributor of LS alternators in Southern Africa, is now the sole supplier in the region for the entire LS range. “Through the new distribution agreement with Leroy Somer – one of Europe’s largest electric motormanufacturers and one of theworld’s leading electro-mechanical engineering companies – Vert Energy now supplies and supports the extensive LS range of standard and adapted ac and dc motors, geared/brake motors, as well as Leroy Somer variable speed drives and alternators. The range of Leroy Somer gear products extends from 30 Nm to 23 000 Nm and includes helical units with axial output (Compabloc 3000), helical with right-angle output (Orthobloc 3000), helical with parallel output (Manubloc and Poulibloc), worm and wheel with right- angle output (Multibloc 3000), servo gearboxes (Dynabloc) and electric jacks (Verelec and Actibloc). Enquiries: www.hexingsa.co.za

being rolled out in many African countries, utilities and their private sector partners have been able to improve the accuracy of their billing and tracking of electricity consumption. Mafise Ledwaba, Database Developer at Centlec, one of Hexing’s clients, explains that the solution has been able to effectively reduce losses related to maintenance issues and theft, while making client billing exceedingly accurate. “This has enabled us to increase revenue collection from R30 million to between R70 million and R90 million per month, in the span of four years. It has helped our company to further drive expansion into the Free State where Centlec currently operates,” he says.

significantly change the way they operate. The continuing challenges faced by utilities can only be overcome by introducing more robust technologies that bring in more revenue for utilities, while offering competitive pricing for consumers on the continent,” says Ortega. Hexing, a multi-national company founded in 1992, offers a state-of-the-art range of electrical equipment and solutions to electric utilities across the globe. Ortega says that utilising smart metering networks at their most basic level has already enabled many utilities to better fund their own expansion projects. With meter to cash solutions (smart meters)

Enquiries: www.vertgroup.co.za

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

AUGUST 2018

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

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WORKING KNOWLEDGE BY TERRY MACKENZIE HOY

STAY OUT OF HIDDEN TRAPS F or years, while I was still married, my wife and I would be invited, once a year, to the house of any one of a number of couples for ‘Christmas drinks’. On arrival we would be offered some warm wine out of a box and we’d stand around and chew horrible snacks and I would wonder why we had been invited. All would become clear when the host, theatrically striking his forehead, would say: “Wait! You’re an electrical engineer, aren’t you?” “Yes,” I would say, “I am.” “Oh! Great!” he’d say, “Our Christmas lights don’t work! Can you fix them?” For a year or two I fell for this story and then a partner at the consulting practice where I worked forbade me to do it. Yes, forbade. In fact, what he said was, I could do whatever electrical work I wanted for myself or my family, but nobody else. I thought this a bit much but he insisted. He explained that, no matter how kind my actions seemed, no matter what my intentions, if, after whatever work I did, somebody was injured or killed, I (and he) would be sued by the family. I thought it ridiculous at the time, but not anymore. I have now met quite a number of attorneys and my experience has been that they will ignore what

After a while they tell you, “There was so much wrong, the electrician had to rewire the whole house,” implying this is your fault. You want to tell them they’ve been ripped off but, after that, things are not the same. How should this have been handled? Get your friend who is an electrician to investigate and report. And give advice to the electrician. Explain to your friend/neighbour what the problem is and why it has occurred. Does this sound like a lot of work? It is. You shouldn’t have got involved in the first place. You should have said, “I work on a diametric calibration of hopper drives. I know nothing about household wiring ...” Further, and more commonly: You are at the house of your friend or neighbour. You smell an ‘electrical burn smell’. You find that the socket outlet of the fridge is misconnected. You fix it. You can’t not fix it since it’s dangerous, so you do. All good? No. From then on, every time you go to their house, they will (normally the lady of the house) say, “Isn’t It funny? Ever since you fixed the plug of the fridge, the TV doesn’t work properly.” You can see that you can’t win. Don’t even try.

could be regarded as a simple explanation, and go straight for the money. In the case of the Christmas tree lights, if they subsequently shorted out and gave someone a shock through no fault of mine, I would soon face a letter demanding vast sums for pain and suffering, with the only compensation being that I would now be denied a glass of warm wine by my new best ex-friend and his wife at Christmas. I am wiser now. I’d take it further: never do any work that does not come through your employer or your business. If you are a registered electrician, there are insurances which will cover you. If not, you are on your own. There are other, less serious reasons, for not doing electrical work for which you are not paid. Does this scenario sound familiar? You are at the house of your friend or neighbour. They tell you that, funny, the earth leakage protection keeps tripping whenever the wife makes pancakes on a Sunday night. So you have a look and you can see that the socket outlet she uses for the electric frying pan is wired to the lighting circuit. So you say, “Hey, there’s your problem,” and you tell them to get an electrician to sort it out. A few weeks later you meet them again and they look a bit unhappy.

WHAT HOMEOWNERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ELECTRICITY

H omeowners are at risk of having their in- surance claims rejected if it is found that they are not in possession of a valid Elec- trical Certificate of Compliance (CoC) for their property. This is according to Marike van Niekerk, Legal and Compliance Manager at MUA Insur- ance Acceptances, who says that insurers expect their policyholders to prove that they have taken reasonable measures to manage the risks associ- ated with their insured assets. “Legislation requires a homeowner to be in possession of an ECOC as proof that the home’s electrical installation is safe. Insurers expect the same.” In the event of an electrical fire in one’s home,

help a claim. It is also good maintenance practice to have one’s property re-inspected by a qualified professional at least every two years.” To prevent any possible claims rejections, Van Niekerk advises homeowners to get registered installers to perform maintenance on all installed electrical appliances, such as ovens, as well. “There are major implications to not adhering to all the regulations pertaining to a home’s electrical connections, and homeowners place themselves in peril –financially and physically – if they do not take this responsibility seriously,” concludes Van Niekerk.

need to make sure the CoC is valid when they buy their home. “An insurer may decide not pay a fire claim (for example) due to faulty electrical installations if the current homeowner did not conduct due diligence and ensure that his or her ECOC was valid. It has happened that sellers provide certificates that are invalid due to electrical upgrades or, in worst cases, certificates that are fraudulent.” Van Niekerk adds that homeowners should ensure their electrical risks are proactivelymanaged. “Being able to prove that the owner of a property did everything reasonable to manage the risks that regular wear and tear pose to a home’s wiring, can

insurers may request proof that the home’s electrical connections had been inspected and certified by a qualified electrician. “The most important thing to remember,” says van Niekerk, “is that a CoC does not last indefinitely. In terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) anyone selling a home is required to present a CoC (that is no older than two years) before the property can be transferred to a new buyer. If any changes have been made to the home’s electrical connections since the last CoC was issued, the seller will have to apply for a new certificate before the transfer”. Van Niekerk warns that new homeowners also

Enquiries: www.mua.co.za

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

AUGUST 2018

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

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ELECTRA MINING AFRICA: MORE THAN JUST A SHOW

ABB COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF GE INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS M ore a tradition than a show, for 46 years, Electra Mining Africa has been delivering an effective platform to showcase the lat- est innovations, technologies and trends in mining and related industries. Taking place from 10-14 September at the Expo Centre in Nasrec, Johannesburg, leading players in the mining, manufacturing, electrical and power industries are looking forward to engaging with visitors and sharing information on their latest products, services and solutions. “There will be an exciting line-up of new products and services, live demonstrations and free-to-attend seminars at this year’s ElectraMining Africa,and visitors will benefit from the insight and information they will gain,” saysGaryCorin,ManagingDirector of Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery, organisers of the show. “New technologies and innovations are influencing the way we do business and it’s imperative that those in the industry keep up-to-date with these trends.” New at this year’s show, each day will focus on a different theme. Day one will centre on the future of skills development. One of the highlights at Electra Mining Africa will be the Artisans Training Centre, developed in partnership with The SAJ Competency Training Institute and the South African Equipment Export Council (SACEEC). This will be a fully functional ABB completed its acquisition of GE Industrial So- lutions (GEIS), GE’s global electrification solutions business on June 30, 2018. The transaction was an- nounced on September 25, 2017, and is expected to be accretive to operational EPS in the first year. The $2.6 billion transaction offers substantial value creation potential within ABB, including growth opportunities to be leveraged from coupling ABB’s digital offering, ABB Ability™, with the extensive GEIS installed base. ABB expects to realise approximately $200 million of annual cost synergies in year five, whichwillbekey inbringingGEIStopeerperformance. From a local perspective, GrahamAbrahams, Vice President for Electrification Products in Southern Africa said, “The product portfolios of GE Industrial Solutions and ABB are highly complementary. Together we will have a comprehensive combined portfolio, as well as an expanded African footprint, sales force and distribution network. We are committed to servicing the GEIS installed base and will now be able to provide a more technologically advanced and digitally connected offering to our customers across the continent.” “We are very pleased to welcome GE Industrial Solutions to ABB,” said ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer. “The combination reinforces ABB’s position as a worldwide leader in electrification and accelerates our growth and competitiveness in key markets, particularly North America. As one of Thomas Edison’s original businesses, GEIS is the cradle of electrification – a legacy that we will preserve and build on, now that GEIS is part of ABB.” GEIS will be integrated into ABB’s Electrification Products (EP) division, led by EP President Tarak Mehta, as a new business unit called Electrification Products Industrial Solutions (EPIS). Stephanie Mains, previously the President and CEO of the GE Industrial Solutions business, will lead the new business unit as Managing Director. As part of the transaction, ABB has established a long-term strategic supply relationship with GE to supply them with products and solutions from across the ABB portfolio. Included in the acquisition is a long-term right to use the GE brand. ABB is a pioneering technology leader in electrification products, robotics and motion, industrial automation and power grids, serving customers globally.

workshop where learners will be demonstrating the skills they learn at SAJ, including boilermaking, welding, electrical, fitting, millwright, turning and CNC programming tool,JIG and diemaking. Artisans visiting Electra Mining Africa can test their skills against the highest standards of industry – and could win a prize. Top new products will be the focus on day two whereas on day three, visitors will be part of the ‘Local is Lekker’ South Africa day – a day to celebrate our local heritage. Safety takes the spotlight on the fourth day. Diversity takes centre stage on the final day of the show, celebrating the diverse reach of Electra Mining Africa,which has been showcasing the future of mining, manufacturing, electrical and power since 1972. Top industry speakerswill present at the conferences

to the SAIMechE hosted daily free-to-attend seminars.

taking place alongside ElectraMiningAfrica and hosted by leading industry associations SAIMM, LEEASA and WIMSA. Further knowledge and learning will be central

Enquiries: www.electramining.co.za

Enquiries: +27 (0)10 202 6995

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

AUGUST 2018

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

8

LOCKOUT CIRCUIT BREAKERS FOR SAFER MACHINE INTERVENTIONS

C ircuit breakers are easily switched on and off which can cause problems for professionals carrying out an intervention. Shocks and extreme injury can be the results of prematurely reactivating a circuit. To avoid these accidents, and to enable safer machine interventions, Brady Corporation offers a circuit breaker lockout solution that is easy to apply. The new Universal Mini Circuit Breaker Lockout from Brady is easy to apply to a wide range of circuit breakers from various manufacturers. The small device is applied on a circuit breaker’s switch and fastened using an attached screw which is easy to handle. Fastening the screw pushes out a hole for a Lockout/Tagout padlock shackle. Locking the padlock will lock the circuit breaker’s switch in place to enable safer interventions.

By locking out circuit breakers with a padlock, accidents can be avoided that are related to prematurely and inadvertently reactivated machinery and other electrical devices. Once the padlock is locked in place, only the professional who locked it, and who is carrying out the intervention, controls when the circuit breaker will be reactivated. As a backup, Brady can include master keys for supervisors selected in a Lockout/Tagout padlock key plan. With a solution to lockout circuit breakers, companies can increase compliance with the European Norm 1037 on equipment safety, and with the EU Guideline 89/655 that specifies minimum safety and health requirements at work.

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 704 3295

ZEST WEG GROUP PACKAGES DIVERSE PORTFOLIO INTO MINING SOLUTIONS

F or two consecutive years, global power management company, Eaton, has sponsored the coveted African Utility Week Awards. Committed to ‘doing business right’, Eaton is proud to announce the 2018 Outstand- ing Contribution Award for Power winner as Mateus Magala, President of the Board of Directors (CEO) of Electricidade De Mocambique . The announce- ment took place at the 18 th annual African Utility Week in Cape Town. The award celebrates the accomplishments of an individual in a senior position at a utility, public or private company who has displayed passion and commitment to the power industry, while also demonstrating leadership, vision and success. “These awards are a badge of excellence which recognises and rewards best practice in all aspects of the business of power. Sponsoring the Outstanding Contribution Award category is a demonstration of our commitment to the industry. It’s also to honour those individuals pushing the boundaries of innovation within the industry to improve quality of life and the environment through the use of power management technologies and services,” says Sumaya Abdool, Marketing Director for Africa, Eaton. OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AWARD FOR POWER A delegation from South Africa’s Earthing and Lightning Protection Association (ELPA) recently attended the annual conference of the Lightning Protection Institute (LPI)/United Lightning Protection As- sociation (ULPA) 2018 in Florida in the United States. The attending team included ELPA national director Richard Evert and former national director Trevor Manas. The conference encompassed two general assembly meetings (AGMs) for the two associations and an LPI-IP update meeting. LPI-IP is the Inspection Programme of LPI facilitating inspections of all lightning protection installations in the USA. Commenting on ELPA’s decision to send a delegation to the US, Evert said that ELPA was a fledgling organisation focused on managing aspects of the lightning threat present within South Africa, and that it had been formally in existence only since June 2017. “The relationships among service providers as well as between service providers and end-users are critical to the success of the lightning protection industry in South Africa,” he said. Since inception, ELPA’s leadership has applied available local knowledge of association practices and business models. As the organisation has grown, however, it has become apparent that acquiring intelligence around other potential business models and standard operating procedures could be helpful. ELPA’s ability to meet the needs of its members will rely entirely on available knowledge, business acumen and the will to deliver what is needed. Evert continued, “Here at ELPA, we look forward to emulating our American peers as we play our own role in the South African lightning protection industry and press on with our goal of becoming the recognised national professional body for the earthing and lightning protection industry. Evert concluded, “Through this public medium, we want to thank the US Lightning Protection industry for its generosity and undertake that we will use the knowledge gained with the same passion and commitment as they shared with us”. ELPA DELEGATES ATTEND US INDUSTRY CONFERENCE Enquiries: www.eaton.co.za

A t Electra Mining Africa this year, Zest WEG Group’s large outdoor stand will display its growing range of products as well as its integrated approach, which offers customers significant added value in the execution of large projects. One of the new products expected to draw the attention of visitors and customers is the WEG Motor Scan solution. This innovative device facilitates the monitoring of electric motor performance from a mobile phone and will help mines to avoid unplanned downtime. According to Alastair Gerrard, integrated solutions executive at Zest WEG Group, the group’s entrepreneurial approach to aligning with customer requirements has led to the cost effective packaging of its offerings. “In today’s mining sector, it is no longer enough to come to the market with a good product,” says Gerrard. “It is increasingly important to partner with customers in the design and delivery of integrated solutions that will enhance their bottom lines and achieve lower cost of ownership.” The growth of Zest WEG Group’s product portfolio – as well as the increased size of many aspects of its equipment range – will see the company consolidate its exhibition on one large outdoor stand near the show’s main entrance. “Moving with the trend of tailor-made solutions that leverage off our extensive portfolio, our integrated solutions approach will provide significant benefits to customers. It also strengthens our ability to supply and manage large projects,” he says. He emphasises the value of early engagement with customers, which facilitates an in-depth understanding of the specific demands of projects. This enables Zest WEG Group to identify where it can contribute added-value offerings, drawing on its diverse product range that includes electric motors, vibrator motors, variable speed drives, switchgear, motor control centres, mini-substations, generator sets, transformers, containerised or/and mobile substations and E-houses. Also of interest will be WEG’s recent acquisition of steam turbine manufacturing specialist TGM, which has a well-established reference base in the Brazilian market. Together with this, Zest WEG Group is growing its energy generation offering to include solutions in the renewable energy space. Gerrard highlights the company’s Level 2 B-BBEE status and its extensive local manufacturing capabilities with four standalone facilities, enhancing its procurement value to customers in the mining sector.

WEG Motor Scan is a performance monitoring solution for electric motor installations. This innovative solution is designed to optimise access to information about the motor’s performance and allows data to be extracted and sent to the cloud. The access to real-time information allows preventive actions to be taken, avoiding unscheduled downtime. Information is collected by the App using a smart phone or tablet device, in either Android or iOS versions, and is sent to the cloud via Bluetooth or gateway. The stored data can be analysed on the device screen in a dynamic way or in greater depth on the WEG IoT Platform. WEG Motor Scan will allow the connection of all sensors in the plant, enable naming and monitoring of as many electric motors as required, analyse data sent to the cloud and synchronise the data through the WEG IoT Platform. Most importantly, this solution will allow end-users to find their motor from anywhere in the world.

Enquiries: www.zestweg.com

Enquiries: www.elpasa.org.za

Mark Morgan, board member of LPI, ULPA, LPHP, Richard Evert, ELPA national director, and Harold van Sickle the Third, LPI executive director.

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

AUGUST 2018

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

9

THE COMPONENTS OF THE SIRIUS MODULAR SYSTEM

FLUSH-MOUNTING DISTRIBUTION CABINETS Applications at a glance Increased operational reliability and system availability: • Maintenance: extremely durable, low W ith its wide range of components, the SIRIUS modular system from Siemens features the most diverse functions for use in the control cabinet, and offers a host of benefits in assembly and handling, in application monitoring, and also in controller interfacing, or when planning and configuring. Assembly and handling: Error prevention and reduced wiring effort – with maximum flexibility: • Load feeders: easy to implement up to 250 kW/400 V from standard devices. • Modular design: everything fits together and can be combined. • Variants and sizes: economical and flexible thanks to seven compact sizes. • Accessories: low variance with uniform accessories. • Configuration: fast commissioning, short setting-up times, and simple wiring. • Mounting: permanently secure mounting, with screw terminals or simply by plugging in. • Spring-loaded connection system: quick and secure connection, vibration-proof, and maintenance-free. • Reduced wiring: significant reductions in cable connections thanks to plug-in design and IO-Link or AS-Interface.

Planning and configuration Simplified system planning and documentation: • Configuration: easy and fast thanks to extensive CAx data provision. • Service: short delivery times even for spare parts thanks to global logistics network. • Environment: environmentally friendly production and materials, recyclable. • Design: clear, ergonomic design (winner of the iF Product Design Award). • Configurator: for the simplest possible selection of products including accessories. • Global use: thanks to comprehensive approvals.

maintenance, and reliable. • Application monitoring: integrated extremely flexibly into the feeder – thanks to monitoring relays for current monitoring. • IE3/IE4-ready: With the SIRIUS modular system, we also offer you our familiar reliability when converting to IE3 and IE4 motors. Connection to the automation level Optimal integration into the automation environment: • Communication: standardised connection to AS-Interface, IO-Link and PROFIBUS DP possible.

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 652 7762

LEGRAND’S comprehensive range of modular elec- trical equipment and wiring accessories encompass- es flush-mounting distribution cabinets, which ensure optimum efficiency, enhanced aesthetics and abso- lute safety in living areas and in workplaces. These stylish Practibox flush-mounting distribution cabinets have a modern white finish and clear windows. The cabinets conform with IEC 439-3 standards and are IK 07 and Class II rated. The units have an IP 40 index protection rating, with the door fitted as a guard against solid bodies larger than 1 mm. The Practibox range includes terminal shield boxes with one row of six, eight or 12 modules and units with two or three rows of 12 modules. Flush-mounting masonry boxes, with integrated slots, have been designed for easy wiring and safe installation. For convenience, terminal blocks can be installed at the top, bottom, on the sides, or between the rails and directly on the box. Recessed grooves facilitate easy attachment of the cabinet faceplate to the flush-mounting box. A reversible faceplate enables the door to be opened from the left or right, offering maximum flexibility. For added security, this unit can be fitted with a key lock. Legrand offers a technical advisory and back-up support service throughout the country.

Enquiries + 27 (0)11 444 7971

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

AUGUST 2018

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

10

FOR THE INDUSTRIAL CONNECTION SYSTEM T he IEC 309 High Performance range from GEWISS is a high- end range of industrial connections that delivers outstanding performance, functionality and technical features. The range

completes the range of possible applications, with specific versions for more rigid and complex installations. The range is quick and simple to assemble and wire, and has been restyled as a single modern, functional line. Besides the High Performance, the range includes 63 and 125 A plugs and socket-outs, with polarity, voltages and nominal frequencies suitable for all systems up to 500 V, in IP44 protected and IP67 watertight versions, multipliers and adapters, very low voltage versions, plus 90°, straight flush-mounting and 10° surface-mounting versions.

boasts a fully comprehensive assortment of products to create any kind of service or industrial system and make installation simpler and easier. This range expands GEWISS’s assortment of 16 A and 32 A mobile plugs, mobile and flush-mounting socket-outlets – with IP44 and IP66/67/68/69 degree of protection – in quick and screw wiring versions. The introduction of all time references of the earthing contact

Raised earth terminal: The range has an earth terminal that is raised compared to other terminals. If a connection cable is accidentally pulled out, the earth cable will be the last to be released, preventing the user from getting an electric shock and avoiding electrical discharge on devices. Cable clamping system: The external cable clamp, used on all versions, secures the cable and maintains the IP rating in absolute safety. It can easily be bundle closed by hand, without using any tools. The anti-loosening device prevents the accidental unscrewing or loosening of screws, even when subject to considerable vibration or mechanical stress. The ring nut is unlosable, even if completely loose, to make wiring easier for the installer. The cable gland can accommodate a range of cables above regulatory requirements, both at the bottom and top. Nickel-plated pins and contacts: All IEC 309 HP range products feature nickel-plated pins and contacts for a more efficient contact on elements subject to a higher degree of oxidisation: the nickel-plating guarantees maximum product life and allows for use in environments with critical climatic conditions or aggressive substances. Single pack: Each IEC 309 HP range item is individually blister-packed. Thismeans the product is clean in all storage conditions. Each blister pack has the bar code of the product, for easy identification by wholesalers, and an instructions leaflet. Halogen-free: All products are in halogen-free technopolymer conforming to EN50267-2-2, guaranteeing the utmost safety for people and equipment in the case of fire: the ideal and most common solution throughout Europe for all public places and areas with large numbers of people.

Main features of the IEC 309 High Per- formance range: Safe-lock closure: The ¼ turn screw guar- antees practical, simple use, quick assem- bly and safe closing thanks to the identifi- able reference system; plus the same blade screwdriver used for conventional wiring can be adopted. The reinforced technopolymer of the SAFE-LOCK system ensures maximum resistance to abrasion and a long life, elimi- nating the problem of metal closing system corrosion, even in more aggressive environ- ments. The body/grip coupling is solid and effective. Practical and ergonomic: All the mobile socket-outlet covers have a special shape making them safe and simple to open. The covers can be opened using one hand, which makes plug/socket-outlet insertion practical and simple. Functional coupling system: The nibbed screw, which is a product requirement for secure socket-outlet covers, is also on the socket-outlets. With its innovative shape, the new product can be coupled to fencing and scaffolding during use in trailing systems. T he MT2005 from Major Tech is a professional true RMS In- dustrial Digital Multimeter with built-in Thermal Imager and TFT col- our LCD display, providing fast A/D converting sampling time and high ac- curacy. It is a fast and easy solution to find and solve problems with produc- tion equipment, providing Bluetooth technology BLE. It is a safe instrument with double molded plastic housing and an IP65 waterproof rating.

Enquiries: +27 (0)10 202 3400

SAFE MEASUREMENTS WITH TRUE RMS THERMAL MULTIMETER

An easy-to-use Rotary Switch allows users to select a primary measure- ment function by positioning the rotary switch to one of the icons around its perimeter. The meter presents a standard display for each function (range, measurement units, and modifiers). Features: • 6000 count 2.8 inch TFT colour LCD display • Built-in Thermal Imager with min/max and centre crosshair targeting • 50 Hz fast Thermal image frame rate • dc voltage • ac, ac + dc TRMS Voltage • dc current

• ac, ac + dc TRMS current • Resistance and Continuity test • Temperature with K-type probe • Flexible coils current • CAT IV 600V / CAT III 1000V

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 872 5500

NEW CURRENT CLAMP UNIVERSAL TECHNIC of Paris, France, now offers a new current clamp for on-off control. The image shows the model M4.TOR, which provides an open contact up to the threshold of 1 A and will close from 1 A to 300 A. Other detection ranges are available.

The clamp accommodates conductor sizes up to 15 mm diameter or a bar of 15 x 17 mm. Universal Technic also offers ac and dc current probes over the range 1 mA – 8000 A.

Enquiries: www.denver-tech.co.za

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

AUGUST 2018

MCCs AND MOTOR PROTECTION

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HOW TO SELECT A MOTOR

By Bryan Sisler, AutomationDirect. Adapted from an article in Control Engineering

T here are many things to consider when se- lecting a motor, including application, op- erational, mechanical, and environmental is- sues. Generally speaking, the choice is either an ac motor, a dc motor, or a servo/stepper motor. Know- ing which one to use depends on the application and if there are any special needs required. A constant or variable torque and horsepower will be required for the motor depending on the type of load the motor is driving. The size of the load, the required speed, and acceleration/deceleration – particularly if it is fast and/or frequent – will define the torque and horsepower that is required. Requirements for controlling motor speed and position also need to be considered. • Variable horsepower and constant torque • Variable torque and constant horsepower • Variable horsepower and variable torque • Positional control or torque control. Variable horsepower and constant torque appli- cations include conveyors, cranes, and gear-type pumps. In these applications, the torque is constant because the load doesn’t change. The required horsepower may vary depending on the application, O ffice and administration buildings are generally equipped with PCs, servers, networks and telecommunication systems. Should these systems experience failure, work processes and operations can be brought to a standstill. Lightning and surge protection specialist DEHN Africa, the local arm of global company DEHN + SÖHNE, offers comprehensive surge protection solutions. Protection of power supply systems The table shows examples of the types of surge protective devices that can be used inside an administrative building to protect it from surges. Combined arresters such as DEHNvenCI (1) and DEHNguard® (4) surge arresters can be used to protect power supply systems. DEHNrail (5), SFL Protector (9) or DEHNsafe (11) protect terminal devices from surges and reduce induced voltages and switching overvoltages to safe values. Protection of information and telecommunication systems To ensure safe operation, both data and voice transmission require adequate protection elements. Networks are typically designed in the form of universal cabling systems. Even if fibre optic cables between building and floor distributors are standard today, copper cables are typically installed between the floor distributor and the terminal device. Therefore, the HUBs, bridges or switches must be protected by NET Protector LSA 4TP (8). DEHNpatch (6) cables are used to protect terminal devices. The DEHN equipotential bonding enclosure (2), which can be fitted with LSA disconnection blocks and lightning current carrying DEHNrapid® LSA plug-in SPD blocks, can be provided for information technology lines extending beyond the building. To protect the telecommunication system, NET Protector (10) can be installed in the floor distributor to protect the outgoing lines to the system telephones. A Motor load types There are four types of motor loads:

inverter duty ac motor with an encoder is often used for tight torque control in steel or paper lines as well as similar applications. Different motor types While there are two main motor classifications – ac and dc – there are over three dozen types of motors used in industrial applications. While there are many motor types, there is a great deal of overlap in industrial applications and the market has pushed to simplify motor selection. This has narrowed practical choices for motors in most applications. The six most common motor types, which fit the vast majority of applications, are brushless and brush dc motors, ac squirrel cage and wound rotor motors, and servo and stepper motors. These motor types fit most applications with the other types used only in specialty applications. Three main application types The three main applications for motors are constant speed, variable speed, and position (or torque) con- trol. Different industrial automation situations require different applications and their own sets of ques- tions. For example, a gearbox may be required if the

which makes constant speed ac and dc motors a good choice. An example of a variable torque and constant horsepower application is a machine rewinding paper. The material speed remains constant, which means the horsepower doesn’t change. The load does change, however, as the roll diameter increases. In small systems, this is a good application for dc motors or a servo motor. Regenerative power also is a concern and should be considered when sizing the motor or choosing the energy control method. AC motors with encoders, closed-loop control, and full quadrant drives may be beneficial for larger systems. Fans, centrifugal pumps, and agitators require variable horsepower and torque. As the motor speed increases, the load output also increases along with the required horsepower and torque. These types of loads are where much of the motor efficiency discussion begins with inverter duty ac motors using variable speed drives (VSDs). Applications such as linear actuators, which need to move to multiple positions accurately, require tight positional or torque control and often require feedback to verify correct motor position. Servo or stepper motors are the best option for these applications, but a dc motor with feedback or an

top speed is less than the motor’s base speed. This may also allow a smaller motor running at a more efficient speed. While there is a great deal of information online on how to size a motor, users must account for many factors because there are many details to consider. Calculating load inertia, torque, and speed requires the user to know about parameters such as total mass and size (radius) of the load as well as friction, gearbox losses, and the machine cycle. Changes in load, speed of acceleration or deceleration, and the application’s duty cycle also must be considered or the motor may overheat. After the motor type is selected and sized, users also need to consider environmental factors and motor enclosure types such as open frame and stainless housing for wash down applications. Application, motor knowledge Manufacturers offer a wide selection of motors for industrial applications. Stepper, servo, ac, and dc mo- tors can meet most industrial automation require- ments, but the ideal motor depends on the applica- tion. Whether it’s a constant speed, variable speed, or position control application – users should work closely with the motor and drive supplier to select the right motor for the application.

SURGE PROTECTION SOLUTIONS FOR OFFICES

THE ROLE OF MOTOR PROTECTION E lectric motors are exposed to many kinds of disturbances and stress. Part of the disturbance is due to imposed external conditions such as overvoltage and un- dervoltage, over frequency and under frequency, harmonics, unbalanced system voltages and supply interruptions, for example, auto reclosing that occurs in the supply- ing network. Other possible causes of external disturbances are dirt in the motor, cooling system and bearing failures, or increase of ambient temperature and humidity. Stress factors due to abnormal use of the motor drive itself are frequent successive start-ups, stall and overload situations, including mechanical stress. The above stress and disturbances deteriorate the winding insulation of the motor mechanically and by increased thermal ageing rate, which may eventually lead to an insulation failure. The purpose of the motor protection is to limit the effects of the disturbances and stress factors to a safe level, for example, by limiting overvoltages or by preventing too many start up attempts. If, however, a motor failure takes place, the purpose of the protection is to disconnect the motor from the supplying network in due time. Thermal behaviour and thermal protection Motor overload condition is mainly a result of abnormal use of the motor, harmonics or unbalanced supply voltages. They all increase the motor losses and cause additional heating. As the temperature exceeds the rated limits specified for the insulation class in question, the winding insulation deterioration accelerates. This will shorten the expected lifetime of the motor and may lead at some point to an electrical fault in the winding. Thus, the thermal overload protection, in addition to the short circuit protection of the motor, can be considered as being the most important protection function. Usually, authorities require that motors are equipped with thermal overload protection. Thermal model The thermal behaviour of the stator and the rotor during start-ups and during constant overload situations differ significantly from each other. Because of this, the dynamics of the motor heating and cooling are typically modelled separately for the stator and for the rotor. Implementing the thermal overload protection in this way, it can be set to follow the thermal state of the motor optimally, and good and accurate protection against both short and long-time overload conditions can be accomplished, which allows full use of the available capacity.

data protection module (12), for example, can be used for the system telephones. Protection of building automation systems Failure of building automation systems can have serious consequences. If the air-conditioning system fails as a result of surges, a data centre may have to be disconnected or a server may have to be shut down. As shown in the table, bus systems such as KNX / EIB or LON can be protected by BUStector (13), DEHNconnect (14) or BLITZDUCTOR® XT (15). Availability is increased if surge protective devices are installed according to the particular system and concept.

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 704 1487

Surge protective device

Part No.

• DEHNven CI DVCI 255 FM

961 205

1

• DEHN equipotential bonding enclosure • LSA disconnection block • DEHNrapid LSA

2

906 101

907 996 907 401

• Equipotential bonding bar • DEHNguard modular TNS

563 200

3

4

952 405

• DEHNrail modular

5

953 205

• DEHNpatch

6

929 100

• DEHNlink ISDN 1

7

929 024

• Net Protector LSA 4 TP for 8 ports • 19”enclosure for 3X NET Pro

8

929 036 929 034

• SFL Protector 19”

909 251

9

• NET Protector TC 2 LSA • 19”enclosure for 3X NET Pro

10

929 072 929 034

• DEHNsafe

924 370

11

• Data protection module DSM TC 1 SK

12

924 271

• BUSector

13

925 001

• DEHNconnect SD2 MD 48 • BLITZDUCTOR XT ML4 BD 48 • BLITZDUCTOR XT base part

14

917 942

15

920 345 920 300

• DEHNrail modular

953 405

16

Source: www.electrical-engineering-portal.com

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

AUGUST 2018

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