Sparks Electrical News December 2018

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

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PERSONALITY OF THE MONTH – KRUBEN BENNIE

DELIVERING ON EXPECTATIONS

but a lot of business leaders don’t realise that; fix the basics, the rest of the business in time will take care of itself.

key verticals with our new and potential customers further enhanced by our Digital Enterprise offering.

Sparks: Have you had any mentors in your business career? KB: There have been many mentors in my life, and there are a few people I turn to when I need support or advice. One of them would be Ralf Leinen, Vice President for Digital Factory & Process Industries and Drives for Siemens Southern and & Eastern Africa. Ralf supports the organisation and helps us drive the strategic direction of the business. We understand the company’s expectations and he provides the necessary guidance in order for us to instill a high performance culture to create value for our customers. Sparks: Have you found yourself being a mentor at Siemens? KB: Yes, I have quite a few people who are not my official mentees, but I help them mature, with regards to training them, providing them the opportunity to grow, and giving them confidence. We have found that, in general, people remain stagnant in certain roles and if you don’t support them and provide them with opportunities they will remain there. When I joined the business unit that was the case – there were people who had been in their positions for years. They were skilled, but instead fielded e-mails and telephone calls. We have afforded them the opportunity to grow and they are flourishing. Sparks: How do you motivate your staff? KB: A complicated question which seems simple. We have found at Siemens that when you choose the right people – employees who are motivated and want to be part of something special – that motivation is a given. However, in instances where motivation to exceed the norm and perform well above the desired levels is needed, we find that leading by example is key. At Siemens, being respectful, acting with integrity and treating others the way you would like to be treated is paramount. Effectively one should lead by example. KB: I would say that one of the biggest challenges would be standardisation and safety standards. In general, we know that our South African consumers are fairly well versed with the different technologies on offer; our customers know what they want and know the difference between quality and sub-standard quality equipment, hence on our side we do not sacrifice on quality. There are markets out there for differing standards and levels of quality, but we do not compete in those. Safety first is Siemens stance on technology. Sparks: What would your advice be to an electrical contractor/engineer? KB: Follow the standards, and always put people’s safety first. Never try to substitute safety and health to spare costs. We often hear stories of people getting injured or losing their lives on site, and no amounts of savings can equal loss of life or injury. Sparks: What would you say is one of the biggest challenges currently facing the industry? Sparks: Would you advise a school leaver to consider the electrical industry? KB: If you seek excitement, diversity, challenges and enjoy engineering then the Electrical, Automation and Control sector is definitely one to consider joining. This industry builds our economy and moves the country forward. Sparks: Do you have a favourite quote? KB: “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached,don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.” Sparks: If you could do it all over again, would you? KB: No, I wouldn’t change anything. I believe that everything in life happens for a reason, I’m one of those people who believes in fate. Sparks: What is on the agenda for Siemens in 2019? KB: Siemens is ramping up its organisation to become more flexible, agile and to sharpen its focus to remain competitive, for this reason, Siemens is focusing on our Digitalization offering, including the Internet of Things and cloud computing. MindSphere is our cloud-based, open operating system for the Internet of Things. With it we’ve established the foundation for data-based industrial services With Mind Sphere; our customers can gather data very efficiently and quickly – about a production facility, for example. The idea is to make it the industrial cloud platform of choice. We will continue to drive our

Sparks: What’s on your bucket list? KB: Lots! There’s somuch I want to do. I’d love tomove out to a plot somewhere and just live on a farm. I’d also like to go on a month long tour of a number of countries around the world. I’d love to visit South America, the Middle East and the United States. And maybe sky diving, because I’m scared of jumping out of a plane – it’s something I need to overcome.

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 652 2000

Kruben Bennie

Kruben Bennie, Head of Business Unit – Low Voltage Control Products at Siemens, is passionate about many things, including empowering South Africa’s youth and the possibilities digitalization can offer the industry. Sparks: Where were you educated? KB: I grew up in Durban and studied at the ML Sultan Technikon where I did my diploma in electronic engineering. After that I went on to finish my B.Com Marketing and then a B.Compt Accounting Science degree, and finally my Honours in Marketing. My work history has been mainly in Automation, Instrumentation, Electricity and Control. Sparks: How long have you been with the company? KB: I have been with Siemens for just over five years. Before that I worked in Saudi Arabia for two years as a Process Control Systems Commissioning Engineer on a Distributed Control System at a crude oil refinery. It was a good experience, but family comes first and I came back to South Africa. Sparks: Did that give you a good backgroundwhen entering the electrical field? KB: Yes, definitely. It’s ECI (electrical, control and instrumentation) which is all intertwined, and if you have a good understanding of engineering practices in general, then the electrical industry and IEC standards all make a lot of sense. The foundation of my electrical experience was three and a half years, which I spent at another company in the industry. KB: I would say probably the biggest would be the way we work, i.e., digitalization. The fact that you don’t really need an office, can meet with clients virtually in real time, switch on your lights at home while across the world, makes life very exciting and offers huge opportunities to do business differently. The other change would be the levels of automation. Automation is rife in the manufacturing and mining sectors as it improves productivity and efficiency levels, but our population has to be equally skilled to adapt and fit into an automated manufacturing world. Those who are unskilled are disadvantaged, hence education is key to unlocking South Africa’s manufacturing potential. It is the responsibility of every organisation in South Africa to get involved in training and skilling our youth and workforce. Siemens realised this a long while ago and is the reason the company invests heavily in education, training and offering opportunities to people. By serving society, Siemens creates value for all its stakeholders. We have trainees coming through the system and you’d be amazed at how good these people are. If every company did this, we wouldn’t have the unemployment rate we do. Sparks: What would you class as your greatest achievement so far? KB: One of my biggest achievements would be the amount of work and effort we have put into our low voltage switchgear division. We have managed to gain market share during a challenging business climate and make the business more profitable and sustainable. The trick is to listen to your customers. You need to make sure the product is correctly positioned in the market, ensure that you have the right channels in place and ensure proper stock and pricing levels. These are the basics, Sparks: What are the greatest changes you have seen in the industry over the years?

DECEMBER 2018 SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

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WORKING KNOWLEDGE BY TERRY MACKENZIE HOY

STARTING MOTORS – KEEP IT SIMPLE S quirrel cage induction motors draw a starting current that is much higher than the full load running current. In general, they will draw be-

as they were all robust solutions which worked well. I included a description of these working methods since you could come across one of these starters, and will thus not be totally mystified. To complete the picture, let’s discuss the motor contactor. This is in series with the motor and it clos- es to start the motor. It is energised by a pulse from the ‘start’ button and, when it closes, an auxiliary con- tact of the contactor bridges out the start button so that the contactor holds itself in electrically. This is very important; if there is a power dip the contactor drops out and the motor stops. If this did not hap- pen the motor would slow down in the power dip and then have to start with full load at low voltage, which could damage the motor. The contactor is also fitted with an overload which causes the contac- tor to drop out if the line current exceeds a given threshold. It must be noted that a circuit breaker cannot be used for this function since it will not trip quickly for overloads of 20% or less, so starting a motor with a circuit breaker instead of a contactor is a very bad idea. Motor control circuits have been around for decades, much without change. Having said this, there are various people in the industry who will insist on ‘fiddling’ with established circuit design. They fit the motor control circuit with smart elec- tronics that count the number of times the motor starts and send the value of the motor current via a telemetry link to a control room which has pretty diagrams showing how the motors in the plant are operating… all of which is unnecessary. Simple is better. Simple is reliable. Simple circuits work well. C able theft costs the South African econ- omy billions of rands each year in lost productivity and replacement of expen- sive power cables, and endangers lives in many instances. The issue came under the media spot- light in November 2017 when the City of Johan- nesburg offered a R100 000 reward for informa- tion that would lead to the arrest of the suspects who stole R2 million worth of cables from its data centre in Braamfontein. Banding & ID Solutions Africa Sales Repre- sentative Matthew Campbell points out that the Ultra-Lok® clamping system can play an integral role in combating this scourge, as it is designed for quick installation, with the highest clamping force, and a gap-free inside diameter. In addition, it can be used as frequently as every 150 mm of cable for added security. Ultra-Lok® clamps are made from double- wrapped one-quarter hard 201 stainless steel for superior strength. The lock formed under full tension maximises buckle tightness. The buckles have two to three times the strength of preformed clamps. The smooth inside diameter is designed to eliminate leak paths, while the buckle hood pro- tects the lock from snagging. Another feature is the Ultra-Lok® installation tool has a built-in tension setting. This means that, depending on the type of material being strapped – whether it has a soft casing or is hard-armoured cable – the tension can be set accordingly. The same tension setting is applied throughout, which is a critical security factor in many installations. This is in contrast to manual installation tools that are completely user-dependent, and which can re- sult in over- or under-tensioning. “Ultra-Lok®” says Campbell, “takes the guesswork CLAMPING DOWN ON CABLE THEFT

an electronic device which, when connected to the main supply and the motor terminals, supplies a low voltage, low frequency output which spins the mo- tor and whatever shaft load (pump set, compressor, etc.) up to speed. In the past, this was done with (a) a Star Delta starter which connected the motor first in star and then, as it ran up to speed, in delta, (b) a Reactor starter where the motor was started with a reactor in series and, when up to speed, the reactor was shorted out, and (c) a Korndorfer starter where the motor was supplied from a tap on an auto trans- former and connected to 100% tap when the motor was up to speed. Not one of these is used much now, which is a pity

speed. Alternatively, the high current trips the supply circuit breaker. It is therefore desirable to reduce the inrush cur- rent. In times gone by, it was more desirable than to- day – the power supplies of today are much ‘stiffer’ than in the past. The simplest is to start the motor Direct on Line (known as DOL) by using a contactor to close the supply onto the motor terminals and let it run up. These days, in general, almost all motors rated at 75 kW or less are started DOL. To reduce the inrush current for motors bigger than 75 kW there are a number of strategies. The newest (and most common) strategy is to use a ‘soft starter’. This is

tween five and six times the full load current when they start. This current will be drawn for the time it takes for the motor to run up to speed, about 20 sec- onds for a motor rated at about 5000 kW and about two seconds for a motor rated at 2.2 kW. This time is known as the ‘run up time’. The high starting cur- rent, known as the ‘inrush current’ can result in two effects: the power supply, while capable of supplying the running current, cannot supply the starting cur- rent without the supply voltage falling to a low value, which means the motor will not accelerate to full

out of the entire process, while en- hancing the quality and effectiveness of the final instal- lation”.

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 974 0424

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

DECEMBER 2018

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

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DRY ICE INTERNATIONAL ACQUIRES RIGHTS FOR IBL RANGE OF DRY ICE BLAST CLEANING MACHINES

SIEMENS launched a one of a kind, end-to-end Dis- tributed Energy System (DES) as a solution to tackle Africa’s energy transition, at its headquarters in Mid- rand, Johannesburg. The launch took place after an interactive discussion between Sabine Dall’Omo, Siemens CEO for Southern and Eastern Africa, and media partner CNBC Africa as well key industry players, about the role Distributed Energy Systems play in Africa’s energy transition. The system is built around a 1 MW PV-solar plant strategically positioned throughout the Siemens Park campus that takes full advantage of the Afri- can sun. Captured solar power is integrated into the SICAM Microgrid controller, while excess energy is stored in a 140 kWh SIESTORAGE installation with the entire system monitored, visualised and con- trolled via the IoT energy platform, MONET. Combining efforts from local and global Siemens experts, this is the first Siemens DES solution of its kind in Africa and is in line with the company’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 through en- ergy efficiency, decentralised energy systems, and the purchase of clean electricity. The project provides a showcase to current and prospective customers on a proven Siemens solu- tion that will help them save energy, cut costs, lower carbon emissions and ensure uninterrupted power. “Microgrids and DESs are the ideal solution for Afri- ca because they are designed for a specific purpose, be it communities or industries,” Dall’Omo says. “But it also means you can have diverse power supplies, such as solar or wind during the day, then switch over to other forms of generation like biomass when the conditions for renewables are poor.” The SICAM 8000 Microgrid Controller is the intelligence behind the system that stabilises the Siemens campus grid in case of an outage and al- lows for cost-optimised energy consumption. It took home the ‘Digital Solution of the Year’ award at the Africa Utility Week (AUW) Industry Gala Awards. Solutions in Africa for Africa The challenges currently facing Africa’s energy sec- tor are encouraging private businesses, communi- ties and educational institutions to curtail their de- pendence on the traditional, centralised model of linear power generation and delivery, and to identify efficient power generation solutions. “The DES is designed to provide uninterrupted power and ensure a steady and reliable electricity supply for the continent’s growing demand. Indus- try, hospitals, corporate parks and small commu- nities, for example, can also improve their energy costs and operations by adapting similar strategies and implementing DESs,” says Sabine Dall’Omo. Dall’Omo continues, “The system will drive down our organisation’s energy costs and cut carbon emis- sions. We have already reduced the energy demand from the national grid by approximately 40% com- pared to previous years and more savings are ex- pected with further optimisation”. In a next step, the system will be connected with the Siemens Desigo CC Building Management Sys- tem and Smart Metering network in the buildings. DISTRIBUTED ENERGY SYSTEM FOR AFRICA SIEMENS LAUNCHES A ONE OF A KIND

DRY ICE INTERNATIONAL recently acquired the distribution rights for the IBL range of dry ice blast clean- ing machines from Nitro Life. The new IBL Mini, launched by Intelblast, will be available in the first quar- ter of 2019. Dry Ice International strives to provide the best technical information and solutions for dry ice blast cleaning in South Africa, and throughout the African continent.

Enquiries: www.dryiceblasting.co.za

Enquiries: www.siemens.com

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

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PROPOSED LIGHTING REGULATIONS RAISE CONCERNS M embers of the lighting industry re- cently gathered for an information session in Pretoria held jointly by

including stakeholder engagements, risk assess- ments and the time consuming approval pro- cess. Jele believes that a date of November 2019 for final publication of the regulations is feasible. Michael Scholand, an industry expert from the United States presenting his experiences in other countries, noted that the decision to regu- late lighting was in line with what was happening globally. “The best approach is to define general lighting, define the parameters around the cat- egories the products fall into in the regulations and then, in the regulations, set the requirements for, for instance, efficacy levels, which will have an impact on which technologies can be utilised.” Heated session A heated question and answer session followed where concerns were raised about the prolifera- tion of illegal exports, the cost implications of newer technologies for the poor, and the impact the regulations would have on manufacturers. “I think it is high time the NRCS regulated LED lamps. This is within their primary mandate to protect the consumer, environment and to en- sure fair trade,” said Joel Ndaba, Quality Director at TACS Laboratories, a SANAS accredited test laboratory which offers conformance testing on electrical products and materials. “As much as LEDs are considered to be efficient, not every LED is of good quality.” He continued, “According to photo-biological safety requirements (IEC/TR 62471-2), UV rays generated by a non-laser light source, such as an LED, have negative effects on human eyes and skin. The electromagnetic inter- ference of such LED globes is also a health risk. “With the shift from traditional (HID, fluores- cents and incandescent lamps) to solid state lighting, if SSL is not regulated, South Africa could become a dumping ground for poor qual- ity LED lamps. It is important for South Africa to build capacity to ensure the regulation of such products is effective, because we seem to be behind schedule compared to other countries, which have phased out old lighting technologies such as incandescent lamps,” Ndaba said. SAFEhouse’s concerns When approached for comment, Connie Jonker of SAFEhouse said he had been involved for the

the National Regulator for Compulsory Speci- fications (NRCS), the Department of Energy (DoE) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Information shared was around the planned regulation of general service and directional lamps for general illumination using incandescent, halogen, fluorescent, high intensity discharge, LED, and other light sources. The significance of the topic was clearly evident from the overwhelming attendance, and the room quickly filled beyond capacity with major players from the lighting industry. Theo Covary, Project Manager at the UNDP explained that while the country’s Standards and Labelling Programme in the past has focused primarily on white goods, lighting has long been on the radar, and will, within the next few years, become the first electrical product to be regulat- ed in the SADAC region. He noted that the NRCS was fully behind the process of including new technologies in its regulations. “As we speak though,” he said, “there are still a lot of non-compliant lighting products enter- ing the country and the UNDP has assisted in destroying the millions of CFLs that have been seized.” He believes that the industry needs to be regulated to level the playing fields, with the mandate of providing quality, affordable, energy efficient lighting to the public. Education will be imperative, and social media campaigns – seen as the best way to connect with the general public – will focus on the rea- sons to move away from CFLs. A labelling sys- tem will also be developed educating consum- ers on, for instance, how to buy a lamp, lifecycle costing and the difference between watts and lumens. Langa Jele, Technical Specialist at the NRCS, explained that while there were already regula- tions in place for incandescent and CFLs, the new regulations would be based on a minimum energy performance standard, effectively ban- ning older technologies. Although much of the groundwork has been done, including feasibility studies, there is still a lot to do before the regulations are approved,

test takes approximately 11 months, while LED lamp manufacturers claim life expectancy of over 15 000 hours. With the capacity limitations of local accredited test labs, the non-recogni- tion of manufacturer’s self-declaration of com- pliance, and the non-recognition of SABS Cer- tification, the introduction of such a compulsory specification only benefits the NRCS through income from levies and LoA approvals. SAFE- house believes that in the end, the consumer pays dearly for NRCS intervention, without get- ting a better product.” Barry O’Leary, Jonker’s colleague at SAFE- house concurred, “As I mentioned in the ses- sion, SAFEhouse has a major concern with the market surveillance of these products. Langa Jele and Stephinia Teffo from the NRCS both mentioned that the NRCS would like to work with industry and individuals to reduce/eradicate the number of non-compliant products that en- ter the country and those products that require LoAs. Unfortunately, ‘working together’ does not work at the moment.” There is no doubt that regulation of the light- ing industry is sorely needed, and Sparks Electri- cal News will be following this topic closely over the coming months.

past year or so in discussions with representa- tives of the UNDP with regard to legislation and had, in all the discussions, raised his concerns about the incapacity of the NRCS to regulate products effectively. “It is generally accepted that any electrical product, and this applies even more to electric lamps, can only be regulated through extensive market surveillance and testing of available products. Without extensive test programmes, the proliferation of substandard products will increase. Although energy efficiency labelling is put forward as a success story, and similarly that of the control of CFL lamps, the real facts and the impact on the industry are not reflected.” He said that from the NRCS Annual Report 2015/16, it was evident that only R3.3 million was budg- eted for testing on behalf of all departments in NRCS. “The LoA (Letter of Authority) process, which has been enforced since the formation of NRCS in 2008, has been a complete failure. Only about 16 000 LoAs are processed per year for a range of regulated products that could be in excess of 250 000,” he said. Jonker continued, “Life expectancy and lu- men maintenance testing takes time and re- quires extensive test facilities. A 6000 hour

SAIEE 2018 ANNUAL AWARD WINNERS T he South African Institute of Electri- cal Engineers (SAIEE) hosted its 107 th Annual Banquet in the form of a Mas- cil meetings from far and his contribution to bringing the North West University and SAIEE closer together makes him the ideal candi- date for this award.

SAIEE Centre of the Year Award The winner of the 2018 SAIEE Centre of the Year is The Western Cape Centre. Established in 1953, this centre hosted four CPD training courses, hosted ten lectures and organised one site visit. They graciously hosted SAIEE Corporate Partner, Fluke, in one of its road- show training seminars. The SAIEE congratulates all this year’s win- ners and is immensely proud of these indi- vidual achievements.

querade Ball, at the Midrand Conference Cen- tre on the 26 October 2018. The 2018 award winners were: Engineer of the Year Award – sponsored by Actom The 2018 SAIEE Engineer of the Year is Pas- cal Motsoasela. This senior member, who joined the SAIEE in 1999, serves on the SAIEE Council and various committees. He has more than 15 years’ post qualification experience in technology research, testing, development and demonstration in the electric utility indus- try. In the past two years, he has specialised in the automation asset management area in the water utility industry. Engineering Excellence Award – spon- sored by Fluke The 2018 winner of the SAIEE Engineering Excellence Award is Professor Jan de Kock. This Professional Engineer, who became a member of the SAIEE in 1986, has served as an elected Council Member for the past four years. His dedication to attending coun-

SAIEE President’s Award This prestigious Award recognises signifi- cant contributions in any sector of electri- cal, electronic, telecommunications and computer engineering in South Africa. The 2018 SAIEE Presidential Award winner is Chris Yelland, who is recognised for his excellence in electrical and electronic engi- neering reporting. The 2018 winner is Tshego Cornelius. Cor- nelius joined the SAIEE in 2004 and started her career in 2009 at the Eskom Transmis- sion Western Grid. She presently serves as a Design Engineering Manager in the Electrical & Control and Instrumentation Department of Eskom. Her passion for the development of other young people has seen her take up vari- ous leadership roles in ploughing back, paying it forward and championing women’s voices, particularly in the STEM arena. Keith Plowden Young Achiever’s Award – Sponsored by SGB-Smit Power Matla

Enquiries: www.saiee.org.za

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

DECEMBER 2018

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

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A COMPLETE GREEN ENERGY SOLUTION FOR ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS T he Voltex Group strives to be at the forefront of technology de- velopments and to harness its breadth of expertise to deliver the latest affordable, accessible and sustainable electrical innova- during the day. At night, the battery will supply power to the fridge, TV and lights for up to eight hours, thereby reducing demand from the current utility provider. In the event of a power failure, the system will continue to provide power from the battery as if there were a power supply from the current utility provider.

and transfer switch • WM4 male and female connectors • Solar cable • 4000 W LiFePO4 battery

tions to its customers. An area of energy efficiency that has advanced significantly in terms of cost of technology and ease of application, is solar power. By means of large scale consolidation in the production of solar panels, which are made from silicon, solar energy has become far more mainstream than 10 years ago. Solar power is without doubt the most sustainable, clean and reli- able form of renewable energy that can be used in several forms to help power your home or business. An increase in demand for sustain- able energy solutions has been driven by a consciousness of the envi- ronment and a need for greener, more sustainable energy alternatives. South Africa also has one of the highest solar irradiation levels in the

The PV Modules, with power ratings ranging from at 265 Wp, come with a 10-year product guarantee and a 25-year performance guaran- tee. The high-performance Poly-Crystalline Modules are designed for on-grid and off-grid applications, with a positive power tolerance and highly reliable anti-reflective coated glass. The VHS Kits are also available in standard 3 kW and 4 kW systems and can be custommade to suit individual requirements. Regardless of the solar requirements, Voltex has a variety of products to meet your project needs.

The VHS Kits come complete with everything required to provide a complete installation. Voltex supplies the backboard that is prewired with an inverter, ac breakers, transfer switch, dc fuses and a PV isolator. The prewired backboard greatly reduces installation time and allows for easy connection to the rest of the system. The 5 kW VHS kit comprises: • 260 W tier 1 solar panels • Highest grade aluminium mounting structure • Pre-wired combiner box • 5 kW inverter pre-wired to battery fuses, PV isolator, ac breakers

Enquiries: www.voltex.co.za

world, so it goes without saying that the wise choice is to go green. With no moving parts, solar panels generate electricity directly from the sun’s rays and can last for up to 25 years. The cost of solar power is far more accessible with costs dropping significantly to approximately R1 per kWh compared to Eskom’s average domestic tariff, which has risen to R1.92 per kWh. Recognising this increased demand for complete solar systems, the Voltex Group has launched the Voltex Home Solar (VHS) Kit. This kit offers a com- plete solution for electrical contractors wishing to provide an efficient domestic installation and an af- fordable option for the homeowner. Typically, a domestic installation requires an as- sessment to be done by the installer, who then de- signs the solar power solution. The challenge comes with sourcing the various pieces of equipment which are not always readily available at competitive prices. Ultimately, the client incurs the added costs of this time-consuming process. The VHS Kits have been specifically designed to overcome many of these challenges, making Green Energy a reality for home owners. The kits provide an efficient method for electrical contractors to deliver accurate quotations by eliminating the variable costs of the components. The 5 kW VHS Kit comes complete with 15 x 265 W solar panels. This is enough to charge the battery and supply power to some of the equipment ACTOM ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS’ extension of its 'complete product packages for projects' business in 2016 to include catering to projects in the public sector has contributed strongly towards its continu- ing success. “We took a further step towards improv- ing our strength in the public sector more recently, in 2017, by adding a comprehensive array of overhead line products to the rest of the range of products we offer and supply,” said Mike Ullyett, Sales & Market- ing Executive for ACTOM Electrical Products, which is the ACTOM group’s distribution arm. “Overhead lines, whether for electrical distribu- tion, streetlights or others, form an important part of the majority of public sector projects. With these now included in our projects equipment line-up we offer all the key products required for most public sector projects.” The additional products, produced and procured by local companies pre-approved by ACTOM Electrical Products as suppliers, include surge arrestors, fused cut-outs, aerial bundle cable fittings, insulators and steelwork. ACTOM Electrical Products initially launched its project-orientated drive in 2010 with the main fo- cus on private sector projects. “However, due to the difficult economic environment, fewer private sector projects are being undertaken than in more normal circumstances, so public sector projects offer bet- ter opportunities at present,” Ullyett remarked. The public sector portion of ACTOM Electrical Products’ project supply business has grown steadily since its launch in 2016. PROJECT SUPPLY BUSINESS GETS WELCOME BOOST

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 878-3050

DECEMBER 2018 SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

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TALKING ELECTRICITY WITH ANDREW LUKE DAPSHIS

UNDERSTANDING THE LOAD OF GENERATORS SETS

I have had a spurt of issues surrounding power consumption and understanding the load of a prime rated power gen-set. On numerous occa- sions I have encountered customers who are run- ning either under or over load without the foggiest clues as to why their generator isn’t functioning cor- rectly, giving small issues or overload trips, etc. So Johnny Appleseed is starting a cactus juice factory in the middle of the Karoo. Local power isn’t possible so he must buy a gen-set to run his fac- tory. He calls in an electrician to calculate his power requirements and orders an industrial generator to suit his factory’s needs. Jenny Pear has the same idea but she has built her factory in an industrial zone where municipal power is available but, owing to constant black-outs and power dips, Jenny real- ises she is losing money by not producing during the power outages so she too calls in an electrician to calculate her power requirements. Even if both parties have identical factories with identical machinery and requirements, the generator Johnny needs is not the same as Jenny. Johnny buys a power house which is built to constantly and safely supply 70 % (differs from supplier to supplier) of the maximum generator load to keep his factory pro-

summer hits and every office is running its air-con, bar fridge and kettle. Now, the gen-set that was more than sufficient starts to trip and give overload alarms. Jimmy calls in a specialist to identify what’s wrong with the almost brand new gen-set. The spe- cialist explains that the required load the offices are now drawing far exceeds the 75% prime rated power the generator has been set on, so a bigger generator is required for the increase in load. When determining what generator is required to supply the load needed, every factor should be taken into account. Jimmy exchanges his gen-set for a higher rated generator set but, as seasons change and the load starts to drop again, he will also have to install a dummy load to ensure his gen-set always runs at the rated percentage and that the life of its engine and all parts included are extended. When deciding on what generator is required for your back-up options, or even full spectrum require- ments, always take into account the fact that the engine draws as close to the prime rated power as possible to maintain all systems involved and ex- tend the life of your set. Also consider the option of a dummy load.

to maintain its full power. Not many businesses have the connections or in- formation to predict a power outage, so how do they combat the differences in load between Monday morning full steam ahead requirements and Satur- day’s admin work requirements to ensure that the generator is still running at 70-80 %? The answer comes in the form of an installed dummy load or load bank. All generators/power houses are at one stage or another load banked/ tested at service centres or during a service – if self- load testing is available – to ensure the engine is still capable of reaching its rated amperages, and all systems (water, air, fuel and oil) correspond safely to ensure a smooth transition of power. Jenny, after realising that her expensive generator is taking damage, decides to install a dummy load to ensure that when the load isn’t at the average re- quired, the dummy load draws the excess needed to keep the engine running efficiently. Just down the road, Jimmy Peach Construction has been building a new production plant, and its satellite offices and workshop are being run off a gen-set calculated and set to supply what the re- quirements were during mild days of spring. Now

ducing. Say, by way of example, Jenny buys a similar power house. On a Saturday when only a handful of staff are working at Jenny’s factory there is a power outage and the generator takes over the supply. After a while Jenny sees her engine is spitting oil out of the exhaust and creating smoke she hasn’t seen before. Not understanding what the problem could be, she calls in a specialist and he explains it is running under load, and she needs a dummy load in play to ensure the maximum lifetime of her engine and generator. A factory running at full steam might require a couple hundred amps to maintain production, but a handful of office staff using the same system won’t use more than 30-40 amps at the most. The generator Jenny bought supplies 200-300 amps constantly, so it is being run at 15-20% of its prime rate power. In normal operation, the overall efficiency of the generator decreases with a drop in load; the lower the efficiency the higher the amount of carbon dioxide produced by the generator. Most manufacturers set their generators to be utilised at between 70-80 % of their full load capa- bilities. This way, the exhaust temperatures are high enough to keep the turbo blowing and the cylinders clean, which in turn means the engine isn’t struggling

SECURING THE SMART ENERGY REVOLUTION IN AFRICA

T he potential of the Internet of Things (IOT) to make consum- ers’ lives more convenient is well-documented. One area in which it can deliver immediate benefits and significantly change how a household or company in Africa manages and keeps track of its energy use, is smart metering. Rather than rely on estimated energy use to calculate bills, or physically visit customers’ homes to take meter readings, a smart meter gives energy suppliers a real-time view of a household’s or business’ energy consumption – resulting in more accurate billing. Smart metering systems also open up opportunities for better man- agement of the demand and supply of energy. Utilities can track energy that is stored and available for purchase for other players. Today’s systems no longer rely solely on fossil fuels, but also on renewable energy, which more and more parties produce and sell, when not using it for their own consumption. Africa and the Middle East are seen as the next frontier for the implementation of this technology. Africa, in particular, is experienc- ing massive population growth combined with growing economies in many countries. Electrification is a key driver in this kind of devel- opment and, as with other technological implementations, Africa is in a position to adopt new technologies immediately because it has few legacies. Figures from ABI Research support the view that Africa is begin- ning to leap onto the smart metering bandwagon. Figures show that smart meter shipments to the Africa/Middle East region are pre-

dicted to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 36.6 percent between 2011 and 2022. Revenues of companies involved in smart metering are set to grow by an equivalent 35.4 percent over the same period. The installed base of smart meters with cellular connections will grow by 29.1 percent (GSM/GPRS) and 71.2 percent (WCDKA), but off a very low base. As with any connected device, there are secu- rity considerations with smart metering. And since energy grids are critical national infrastructure, robust protection is paramount. A highly-motivated cyber target National energy infrastructure is a prime target for cyberattacks, and the consequences can be devastating. Blackouts across entire countries, access to personal data and even to nuclear power plants make the smart energy ecosystem attractive to cyber actors. Smart meters and smart grids present many potential routes of attack for criminals, which must be protected. This is why governments around the world are responding with initiatives that mandate specific protection protocols for smart grid deployments. Non-compliance could prevent access to the marketplace or lead to costly fines. Smart meters have a long product lifecycle Smart meters are not just installed for a couple of years and then updated – the intention is for them to last as long as 10-15 years. This means that advanced security processes need to be in place to

ELECTRIFYING THE DESERTS OF AFRICA D uring November’s Unlocking Solar Capital Africa conference, Solarplaza unveiled ‘The Solar Future: Deserts of Africa’, a new platform aimed at exploring the opportunities that accompany solar PV development in Africa’s deserts. This new two-day event will be hosted in Dakar, Senegal on 13-14 March 2019. “At Solarplaza, we want to facilitate the solar energy sector by expanding into new markets early on, markets that capture opportunities and challeng- es. We believe that by launching our African desert platform, we keep true to our mission of positively impacting the world by accelerating the sustainable energy transition,” said Lydia van Os, Africa Lead and Project Manager at Solarplaza. With a dispersed, but rapidly growing population, desert countries will need to tap into a combination of solar solutions, such as util- ity-scale power plants, mini-grids and off-grid applications, to cre- ate impact in regions that are disproportionately affected by climate change. Fully realising the true solar potential of the deserts of Africa will require a vast effort, one that will need to align visionary gov- ernments, courageous development finance institutions, pioneering investors and experienced developers. Solarplaza seeks to support these efforts by creating the right platforms, like The Solar Future: Deserts of Africa, for these parties to meet, share ideas and form ef- fective partnerships. replace ageing keys and to enable remote credential management, along with strong encryption and authentication tools to ensure that only authorised parties can access the energy assets and their data. A dynamic market Lastly, the energy market changes quickly. New entrants join the market frequently, while others disappear. The smart meter ecosystem therefore has to be configured so that only authorised organisations and applications have access to metering data, and so that changes to access can be applied instantaneously, whenever needed. As smart meter manufacturers might not be IoT security experts, partnering with digital security specialist firms can avoid putting AMIs (Advanced Metering Infrastructures) at risk. It’s clear that the smart meter market is set to grow significantly across Africa. There are several market drivers behind this, such as theft and revenue protection, rising urbanisation rates, improved operations, among others. With this rise, comes the need for governments to understand end-to-end security of the smart energy ecosystem and the dedicated solutions available that provide encrypted keys and hardened key storage into smart meters – from the manufacturing steps, as well as throughout the lifecycle of the smart meters. By Sherry Zameer, Senior Vice President Internet of Things (IOT) for CISMEA region at Gemalto Enquiries: www.gemalto.com

Enquiries: +31 (0)10 302 7907

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

DECEMBER 2018

DISTRIBUTION BOARDS, SWITCHES, SOCKETS AND PROTECTION

9

STYLISH DESIGN AND LEADING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY

L egrand combines stylish design, leading- edge technology and over 500 control functions, to deliver complete electrical and device-charging solutions for bedrooms. The Arteor range – which encompasses eve- rything from simple switches to the most ad- vanced home automation systems – enables users to create their own scenarios, which can be altered at any time to suit changing require- ments. Arteor mechanisms are available in white and magnesium, with a selection of 17 cover plate design options, in various colours, with plastic, metal and wood finishes. For added security and greater comfort, the Legrand team recommends including a min- iature Arteor emergency lighting device in the

bedside combination. This light illuminates im- mediately in the event of a power outage and although the lighting unit is small, its illumina- tion is powerful. The light fitting is easily unclipped from the mechanism and used like a conventional torch – a handy facility when a room is sud- denly plunged into darkness. 2 400 mA intel- ligent USB technology allows for fast charging of two USB connected devices with balanced load sharing. To add functionality, convenience and en- hanced aesthetics to any installation, the modular Arteor wiring devices are combined seamlessly with wireless chargers for mobile devices. For convenient mobile phone charging, all a

bedside table, or it can be discreetly built into furniture, or flush mounted on a wall, to en- hance the décor of the room.

user has to do is place a compatible mobile phone on the wireless stand and it will auto- matically start charging. This practical system is of slim design for installation on a horizontal furniture surface, such as a dressing table or

Enquiries: www.legrand.co.za

SAVE SPACE USING NEW RANGE OF CONTACTORS

A COMPLETE RANGE OF MOULDED CASE CIRCUIT BREAKERS UP TO 3200 A

E ngineered to provide the most compact contactor solution, the WEG CWB range of devices offers a width space saving of up to 18%. Add to this that the range was de- veloped according to IEC 60947 and UL 508 international standards and you will understand why this new generation contactor is finding such favour with electrical contractors. Developed in two frame sizes, the new WEG CWB line of contactors meets a range of industrial and domestic application require- ments. The first contactor in the range, cover- ing up to 38 A, has a width of only 45 mm while the second contactor, ranging from 40 to 80 A, has a width of 54 mm. Two mounting options, standard DIN rail or oblong mounting holes, make interchangeability easy. Significantly, the space saving offered by the WEG CWB contactors, especially when compared to similar product ranges, will allow contractors to use six contactors where previ- ously only five could be used. Another innovative engineering feature is the use of WEG’s Zero-Width mechanical in- terlocking system. Traditionally, contactors use

CWB contactors and because the coil con- sumes such low current it is possible to allow direct switching from PLCs without the need for interface relays. This facilitates space and cost savings for the end-user.

a mechanical interlock device that is external to the contactor. The Zero-Width system fa- cilitates quick and easy mechanical interlock- ing between contactors, without the need for tools. In addition, this feature allows the user to build a reversing starter up to 38 A with a total width of only 90 mm. Built-in front 1NO+1NC auxiliary contacts not only further enhance the space saving benefit of the WEG CWB contactors, but also eliminate the need for contractors to purchase additional auxiliary contacts. This feature also offers greater flexibility as it facilitates optimi- sation of the internal space in electrical pan- els. In another innovation, the contactors have been engineered with integral surge suppres- sor blocks without increasing the physical size of the devices. This limits undesired interfer- ence which could be caused during the open- ing of the contactor coils and allows for the front mount surge suppressor to be easily re- moved without the use of special tools. Energy saving is achieved through the low consumption of the coils used in the WEG

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 723 6000

A ll the circuit breakers in the SACE Tmax T-range from ABB, both three-pole and four-pole, are available in fixed version; sizes T4 and T5 in the plug-in version, and T4, T5, T6, and T7 also in the withdrawable version. High values of short circuit breaking ca- pacity are guaranteed at different voltage levels, without compromising overall dimen- sions, while thermomagnetic and electronic trip units are available for use in ac/dc or in ac only. It is possible to interchange trip units keeping the same breaking part, so that in- stallation can be upgraded with fewer costs. A complete range of electronic trip units is suitable for different level of protection, enhancing selectivity values with Early Fault Detection and Prevention algorithm.

A SOUTH AFRICAN LEGACY UPGRADED T he PSO-1 socket outlet box, made by Allbro, has been a familiar sight in homes and public spaces around South Africa for more than 40 years. The tried and tested little enclosure has proven itself in some of the harshest environments and has remained the industry standard in the face of numerous foreign products being offered. While the trusty and familiar favourite PSO-1 will still be available, there has been an increasing number of requests for the com- pany to provide the option of an up market version. Allbro has called its newest arrival the ‘PSO-1 Stealth’. At first glance it is apparent that its appearance is dra- matically different. Looking more closely, it becomes evident that the new product also introduces some noteworthy features. The PSO-1 Stealth has an IP level of 66, which means that it keeps the electrical socket dry even when faced with a powerful water jet.

Enquiries: www.abb.co.za

The Stealth is also equipped with cams and a padlock point for applications that need to be secured. The company believes that the most important feature to have been added is the in-wall mounting capability. By cutting the base on a cut line provided, the base can be mounted precisely in the space of two standard bricks. The use of GRP (Glass Reinforced Polyester) is very important because of the characteristics associated with the material: • Mechanical strength of GRP does not deteriorate like plastic materials that be- come brittle when their molecular structure is compromised by UV exposure. • There is also no deflection with high temperatures so the sealing of lid to base on these products remains predictable over long periods of time. • The material does not ignite when it comes into contact with electrical circuits so it is not a fuel source for an electrical fire (glow wire: 960 ° C) • The impact resistance of the enclosure is IK10 so it does not break easily when bumped. Allbro has invested heavily in local design and toolmaking capabilities over the past six years. The result has been that the bulk of the company’s business is now generated from new products. Local designs, local toolmaking, local materials, and local manufacture make this product thoroughly South African.

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 894 8341

DECEMBER 2018 SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS