Sparks Electrical News January 2022

JANUARY 2022

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

REGULARS: CONTRACTORS’ CORNER | BUYERS' GUIDE: STANDBY AND EMERGENCY POWER |

FEATURES: CABLES AND CABLE ACCESSORIES | STANDBY AND EMERGENCY POWER | LIGHTING

A SIGNIFICANT HEALTH AND SAFETY ASPECT NEGLECTED IN SOUTH AFRICA

E mergency lighting and, in particular, escape route lighting and markings are perhaps the most neglected aspect in adherence to regulatory requirements in buildings. Research over the past two years on a national basis, however, clear- ly illustrates the majority of installations falling short of complying with compulsory National Building Regulations. More worrying is the lack or misunderstanding of the requirements of the Regulations, this being the case in both the private and public sectors. This research and actual experiences revealed that Emergency Lighting is probably the most neglected safety aspect of all practices to be controlled and led to the founding of the Emergency Lighting As- sociation of South Africa (ELASA). The founding members decided to combine their experience and dedicate their efforts to the betterment of practices and adherence to regulations In September, the Mmabatho Palms Hotel in Mahikeng burnt down. Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Zoleka Capa, who was a guest at the hotel at the time of the blaze, bemoaned a lack of emergency evacua- tion processes, saying “It was the worst moment of my life. At around half-past-one I felt the heat and could see some light smoke. I ran out of the room and started shouting ‘fire’. There was no security in place. No one giving us directions, we did not know where the assembly point was. It was just a mess.” Drew Donald, Chairman of ELASA says “Many building owners seem to be under the impression that they are compliant, which is mostly not the case. Neither are Regulatory Authorities executing their duties to do inspections and insist on corrective action to improve the status quo. The respective insurance entities that we have thus far engaged seem to be more property and asset focussed and less concerned about the safe evacuation of people from a building experiencing an emergency.” Donald continues: “After intensive engagement with the City of Jo- hannesburg EMS Services, we are in agreement as to the specifications of both product and installation practices in respect of Emergency Es-

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CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

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3 Key principles to build a strong culture of safety

M ost companies don’t have a strong culture of safety, according to a Fluke survey. To build a strong culture of safety, you first need to cre- ate a climate of safety. A climate of safety allows for changing and adapting more quickly. It influences the culture of safety, which is harder to change because it is engrained into the overarching company culture. If you want to change a company’s culture of safety, you need to start with the climate of safety. Over the years, that strong climate will create a stronger culture. Chuck Pettinger Ph.D., a safety culture expert at in- dustrial scientific company Predictive Solutions, has seen three key changes help in creating a success-

make it specific. Make it achievable. Make it relevant to the people around you, and not just important to you. And visualise it, get people to appreciate it.” It’s also important to be aware of how you talk about certain processes. This can also impact how the cli- mate is perceived throughout the company. Dr. Pet- tinger gave an example of how the climate can influ- ence employees negatively: “If you hear “we have to get this machine up and running”, you know there’s time sensitivity. There’s a little bit of pressure, and no one’s actually telling you, to take shortcuts but you’re feeling that pressure from the climate, versus other cultures that say, “I don’t care how long it takes. Take your time. Do it safely. Don’t get hurt.” 2. Make it personal Creating a plan that makes safety about the individ- ual helps keep it top of mind throughout the workday. Dr. Pettinger has seen success in changing how shift startup meetings are conducted and tailor the train- ing more. Getting employees more involved in shift startup meetings has had a positive effect for many com- panies. Instead of just focusing on what needs to get done and where the previous shift left things, Dr. Pettinger suggests taking the time during each meeting to discuss potential risks and how to miti- gate them. “Elicit those responses from the peo- ple in your group. As a good manager, trying to get them to come up with the solution is key,” Dr. Pet- tinger said. There are multiple different ways to approach training and teaching. A Fluke customer, Michael Brooks, has seen success with one-on-one training at his company, Great Southwestern Fire and Safety. Taking the time to walk through the safety steps and ensuring that the knowledge and experience one employee has is translated to the next. Brooks said, “What they’ve learned, they’ve been able to translate to somebody else. It’s not the same people teach- ing and learning and growing all the time. We’ve worked really hard to try to keep this positive attitude amongst our workforce.” This has not only helped to keep the employees safe but has helped the com- pany grow over the years. 3. Keep building Many companies fall into what is called the ‘ven- omous cycle’. In this cycle, new initiatives start out strong, but eventually lose momentum and, after a while, will be ignored completely. Then another new initiative is started and the cycle repeats. However, no real change is seen from these initiatives and both the climate and culture of safety remain the same. Instead, companies need to find a way to get into the ‘virtuous cycle.’ This is all about patience and per- severance. “Culture is something that’s very hard to impact. It’s something that takes three to five to ten years to change sometimes,” Dr. Pettinger said. Once a new initiative is started, set short-term goals so it feels more like progress is being made. Not only will individual employees feel able to make more of an impact, but management can also track what changes have started to happen. Once people see the value of the new process, it will become self- sustaining, ingrained, and will help your organisation create a culture of safety. Contact Comtest on +27 (0)10 595 1821, sales@comtest.co.za or www.comtest.co.za, for more information on Fluke’s Safety Campaign.

ful climate of safety that will grow into a successful culture of safety:

accidents and injuries “drives a lot of safety reporting under the ground. And it may unintentionally hurt the culture.” Instead, try focusing on tracking the quality of the safety inspections, or how many employees participate in a safety initiative. In general, people are more motivated when they are trying to improve something, rather than trying to avoid or reduce something (e.g. injuries). Instead, focus on setting S.M.A.R.T. goals, which are more useful and create a positive effect on the com- pany’s climate of safety. Dr. Pettinger says, “[The goal] should be an actionable, observable behavior that you’re reinforcing, versus, you know, ‘do your best.’ So,

• Communication. • Make it personal. • Keep building.

1. Communicate Part of any successful business is how we commu- nicate with one another. When looking at a climate of safety, communication can include things like goal setting and incentive programmes. Dr. Pettinger sug- gests focusing on the positive instead of tracking metrics based on accidents and injuries. Focusing on

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

JANUARY 2022

SPARKS DIGITAL

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How electrical contractors can become more profitable with IoT and the cloud

contractor, customer and optimisation and services perspective. If you look at connected energy in general, there is a clear move towards energy efficiency and con- sumption across all kinds of buildings, not just the larger commercial ones. It also occurs in small and medium enterprises, just as it even does in residential homes. In June 2017 IoT investment forecasts, IDC puts smart grids (electricity) and smart buildings among the top IoT use cases in smart industry. It’s a well- known fact that smart buildings de facto mainly re- volves around energy management. and connected power for energy efficiency.

it will), the easier, smarter and user-friendly the solutions become and the more mainstream IoT technology is, the more interrupted all players in traditional markets become. For electrical contractors, the challenges are clear. However, of- ten the benefits aren’t understood well enough. Just consider this though: on average, connected power solutions result in a benefit of 15 percent savings on energy consumption. Demonstrating the ROI (Return On Investment) to end customers of these solutions is one of the things contractors can learn in the EcoXpert Connected Power certification. The choices for electrical contractors are relatively straightfor- ward: do they want to remain in a very competitive and commod- itised market with high cost pressure, low margins and no-repeat business while the uptake of smart panels and smart energy ef- ficiency solutions goes on and in the end makes them less relevant or do they want to become leaders instead of laggards, tapping into new revenue sources with high margins (services, consulting …) and up-sell and cross-sell opportunities as they stay longer and close to customers, up the value chain? The solutions, benefits, programs and certification paths are there, now it’s just a matter of acting.

This isn’t any different in Small and Medium Busi- ness. By definition, this means that the traditional electricity partners of SMBs, the electrical contrac- tors, are poised to face disruption as the demand for energy consumption reduction, maintenance and monitoring goes up due to a variety of reasons. Small and medium business owners want to leverage IoT for energy efficiency On top of regulatory demands these reasons include the common business sense of owners of restaurants, small fast-food chains, re- tail stores and branch offices, which are some types of the small and medium end customers that are served by Connected Power EcoXpert partners as Enrique states. It’s a known fact that approximately 40 percent of energy consump- tion is due to buildings. Yet, not all buildings are the same: while we often look at large energy consumers such as manufacturing plants, to cite one, family homes and certainly the mentioned end customers of EcoXpert certified electrical contractors, which are massively present across the globe, add to it in a significant way as well. One could call it the ‘long tail of energy consumption’. Look at all the electricity and energy consumption going on in restaurants and fast food chains: fridges, freezers, ovens, lighting, potentially climate control, loads of kitchen equipment, the list goes on. However, it isn’t just about saving costs and getting a better grip on energy consumption and energy efficiency through intelligent solu- tions. It’s also about cost avoidance, including indirect costs. As an example: think about restaurants and fast-food chains again. The consequences of a power outage at night, without anyone knowing about it as there is no connected power solution to give an alert, can be quite dramatic for business owners. It’s clear that the last thing you want as a restaurant owner is that all the food in your fridges needs to be thrown away. This doesn’t just cause immediate costs but also business disruption as the next day(s) you might need to spend quite some time cleaning and buying new food again – and maybe even have to close your doors to your customers, missing potential revenues. In other words: it’s also about business continuity and, not to be underestimated, peace of mind with regards to uptime and maintenance. Whether we like it or not: ‘smart electricity’ and intelligent energy ef- ficiency, leveraging data and connected components, is the future, also for smaller organisations. The more connected everything gets (and

E lectrical contractors come in all sizes and shapes, depending on the type of companies they serve and a potential focus on specific sectors. Yet, regardless of their core markets, electrical contractors share quite some similar challenges and opportunities. The Internet of Things (IoT), smart sensors, and connected energy solutions have cer- tainly added to these opportunities as you can read in this article. Smaller contractors who work with small to medium businesses such as restaurants, offices, industries, smaller retail chains and branch offices, to name a few, typically operate in a highly competitive and price-sensitive market with electrical solutions in an increasingly com- moditised low voltage (LV) environment. It’s a rather traditional busi- ness of “design, install and go” as Enrique Birlanga, who is responsible for the Connected Power certification badge of the Schneider Electric EcoXpert partner program, puts it. While there is certainly work enough for electrical contractors and energy experts overall, the business model of the contractor is in- creasingly challenged. Moreover, with the Internet of Things they have opportunities to deliver new, value-added services to customers with higher margins, competitive benefits and a closer relationship to their typical SMB customers than in an ‘install and go’ scenario. These ad- ditional services are also in higher demand, not in the least due to cost saving, energy efficiency and monitoring/maintenance demands. However, this requires electrical contractors to take some steps in areas they are less used to: on top of skill sets with regards to electric- ity, they need skill sets with regards to essential IT and IoT know-how. And that does require seeing the benefits, a culture of growth and innovation and an openness towards digitisation and digital transfor- mation and, most certainly, changing customer needs. That is exactly what Schneider Electric does with the ‘Connected Power’ badge within the EcoXpert partner program: help electrical contractors tap into the clear benefits by training them in acquiring these skillsets and, at least as important, understand the existing connected power solutions such as smart panels, smart metering and the energy management and ef- ficiency systems in the cloud, which make all the difference from the The challenges and opportunities for electrical contractors in an IoT ‘connected power’ reality

Luminous intensity by a light source

Learn what luminous intensity is in this video by BEKA Schréder. Luminous Intensity is the quan- tity of visible light, the amount of light that emits in a unit time per unit solid angle. The unit for the quantity of light emitting from any source for a moment of time (which is the luminous power or flux) is the lumen.

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Importance of CAT III Ratings The Fluke 393 FC is the latest addition to the Fluke portfolio of test tools designed for the solar energy industry. Fluke tools operate relia- bly in the extreme environments – dusty, wet, cold and hot – that solar professionals work in, and are tested to survive drops that can occur

in field work. Fluke tools are designed to keep workers safe in potentially dangerous electrical environments, meeting or exceeding all recom- mended safety standards.

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SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

JANUARY 2022

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

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2021 Presidential Awards celebrate the triumph of the human spirit

Deon Blom, Construction Manager, accepted Besamandla’s Best Con- tributor to Renewable Energy award for the project Aggeneys 40 MW PV Solar Facility.

Stanley Neyt, General Manager: Operations, Reliant Electrical, accepted the award for Installation of the Year – Office Blocks – for the North- West University (Vaal) New Administrative Building.

Ben Potgieter, HSE Manager and Nicola Goosen, Contracts Administrator from B&W Instrumentation and Electrical with the award for Installation of the Year – Industrial (Sappi Saiccor Project).

Francois Marshall, Senior Projects Manager, Besamandla, with the Reticulation Contractor of the Year award for the Wesley Wind Farm Facility, Year 2 project.

Elrid Pillay, SHEQ Manager, with Besamandla’s National Safety Award for the Konkoonsies Solar Project.

Morne Joubert, Vyfster Elektries – winner Installation of the Year (Resi- dential) for House Diedericks in Pretoria.

Nathaniel Molibeli (Site Manager); Werner Coetzer (Site Manager); Brett Harrison (Managing Director); and Bert Vicente (Project Manager) with Reliant Electric’s Special Innovative Projects Award for the Ngodwana Energy 25 MW Biomass Power Plant.

Martin Jacobs (Contracts Manager) and Prea Singh (Quantity Surveyor)) with Edison Power Gauteng’s award for Installation of the Year – Retail and Shopping Centres for the Tlhabane Square contract.

Chris Koen, ECA Regional Director, Highveld.

Andrew Edwards, Head of Electrical Sales at HellermannTyton and Tiisetso Nthite Male and Overall Apprentice of the Year

Sagon Crowie, director, Presto Electrical, accepted the Apprentice Host Employer of the year award.

ECA First Vice-President, Frans Swanepoel, hands over the trophy for Fe- male Apprentice of the Year to Angel Mkhomazi (Training Manager, ECA Training Centre) and Stephen Khola (HR and Labour Relations Director, ECA) who accepted it on behalf of Nokwanda Danisa, who was unable to attend the event.

A ll the finalists in the ECA’s Presidential Excel- lence Awards showed that the coronavirus pandemic could not stop great companies from achieving great things, proving that when the go- ing gets tough, the tough get going. The winners are all indeed winners for coming out on top and once again, raising the bar for excellence in the electrical contract- ing industry. The event, which was a grand affair with Mpho as Master of Ceremonies, was live streamed to an audience across South Africa from the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg. The winners and finalists are:

Winner: Vyfster Elektries (House Diedericks) First Runner-up: Vyfster Elektries (House Geldenhuys) Second Runner-up: Vyfster Elektries (House Viljoen) Installation of the Year – Residential (Complexes) Sponsored by Major Tech Winner: ISE Group (The August Apartment) Installation of the Year – Office Blocks Sponsored by ECASAWired Newsletter Winner: Reliant Electric (North-West University – Vaal

New Administrative Building) First Runner-up: Edison Power Gauteng (Deloitte South Africa HQ at River Creek, Waterfall, Midrand) Second Runner-up: Edison Power KZN (SANBS) Installation of the Year – Hotels/Hospitals Sponsored by Major Tech Winner: Besamandla (Khotsong TB Hospital) First Runner-up: Edison Power Gauteng (Chris Hani Baragwanath 500-Bed Hospital) Second Runner-up: ISE Group (Shamwari Private Game Reserve)

Installation of the Year – Industrial Sponsored by DEHN Africa Winner: B&W Instrumentation and Electrical (Sappi Saiccor Vulindlela Project) First Runner-up: Besamandla (Cape Town Data Centre Phase 2) Second Runner-up: Edison Power KZN (D Fence K297 Manufacturing)

Installation of the Year – Residential (Housing) Sponsored by Shuttle Lighting

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

JANUARY 2022

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

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Installation of the Year – Retail and Shopping Centres Sponsored by Major Tech Winner: Edison Power Gauteng (Tlhabane Square) First Runner-up: LN Force Electrical and Air Conditioning (Shell Moses Mabida & Spar Ex- press Pietermaritzburg) Second Runner-up: Turner Electrical (Superspar and Tops Rivonia) Best Contributor to Renewable Energy Sponsored by ECASA Wired Newsletter Winner: Besamandla (Aggeneys Solar Facility) First Runner-up: Vyfster Elektries (Solar Installation for Wilcom Office, Centurion) Second Runner-up: Vyfster Elektries (Blignaut Blue Star) Reticulation Contractor of the Year Sponsored by SA Electrical Contractor magazine Winner: Besamandla (Wesley Wind Farm Facility Year 2) First Runner-up: Besamandla (Cape Town Data Centre Phase 2 Year 1) Second Runner-up: Turner Electrical (Quagga Shopping Centre) Apprentice of the Year – Male Sponsored by HellermannTyton Winner: Tiisetso Nthite (Datalec) First Runner-up: Linda Lubisi (Datalec) Second Runner-up: Otshepeng Motsoai (Datalec) Winner: Nokwanda Danisa (Edison Power KZN) First Runner-up: Asavela Tsitywa (Edison Power KZN) Second Runner-up: Busisiwe Lamula (Masedi Electrical) Overall Apprentice of the Year Sponsored by HellermannTyton Winner: Tiisetso Nthite (Datalec) Women-Owned Business of the Year Sponsored by HellermannTyton Winner: André Els Engineering First Runner-up: LN Force Electrical and Air Conditioning Second Runner-up: Siyaya Power Solutions Winner: Besamandla (Konkoonsies Solar Project) First Runner-up: Reliant Electrical (Ngodwana Energy 25 MW Biomass Power Plant) Second Runner-up: Edison Power Gauteng (Deloitte South Africa HQ at River Creek, Water- fall and Steve Tshwete District Hospital, Middel- burg) Third Runner-up: Elex Khanyisa Electrical & Maintenance Services (Africa Sun Solar Project) Special Innovative Projects Award Sponsored by ECA Presidential Awards Winner: Reliant Electric (Ngodwana Energy 25 MW Biomass Power Plant) First Runner-up: Edison Power KZN (SANBS) Second Runner-up: Designer Lighting (Festive Lighting for BCM 2020/2021) Apprentice Host Employer of the Year Sponsored by ECA Presidential Awards Winner: Presto Electrical National Safety Award Sponsored by Shuttle Lighting Apprentice of the Year – Female Sponsored by Brother

Lyndsey Bielich, Andre Els Engineering, won the Woman-Owned Business of the Year award.

Tiisetso Nthite, Overall Apprentice of the Year 2021

First Runner-up: Masedi Electrical Second Runner-up: 24 Solutions

Regional Excellence Award Winner: Highveld Region (Regional Director, Chris Koen)

Enquiries: www.ecasa.co.za

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

JANUARY 2022

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

6

VETI 3 leads the way with Switched on Style

T he VETI range from Major Tech has always set the standard for style, elegance and reliability when it comes to electrical fittings, from switches and sockets through to lights, dimmers and control- lers, as well as strict adherence to local and international standards. One of the reasons for the long-term success of the VETI range is the company’s focus on listening to and adapting to the needs of cus- tomers. Another is the confidence customers have that VETI products are designed and manufactured to the highest standards and will per- form as required, whether it is a switch or a complex multi-coloured lighting automation installation. Major Tech has therefore launched its third range of VETI products, the VETI 3 series, offering elegant enhancements, stylish and sophis- ticated finishes, while ensuring the products are affordable and more adaptable than ever. The series is both IEC certified as well as SANS compliant. VETI 3 offers a wide range of matt colour finishes, including White, Titanium, Graphite and Bronze, and it has simplified the installation process allowing for easy customisation that can be accomplished quickly and safely. Covers and switches can be swapped out and changed to meet the style and ambiance of any room rapidly, with only a screwdriver in hand. Gone are the days when once the switch or socket was installed, you could not change the colour without replacing the whole unit.

Moreover, VETI’s popular patented socket with the two V-Slim 16A sockets (SANS164-2), the new SA 3-pin standard, and two standard 16A round pin sockets (SANS164-1) have also been made available in VETI 3, offering more versatile functionality. Major Tech has also catered for communications sockets (satel- lite and data sockets) in dual socket combination at the same price as a single socket. There is also a switched dual 2.1 A USB socket outlet which complies with all relevant local and international stand- ards, combined with V-Slim sockets (SANS 164-2) and SA round pin sockets (SANS164-1). Electricians will also appreciate the simplified bridging options in certain multi-switch products. Instead of having to manually bridge switches, VETI 3 includes an internal bridge which automatically bridges the switches after the electrician has attached a single electri- cal cable to the input terminal. Not only does this enhance the safety of the installation, but it also makes it simpler and faster for electri- cians to get the job done. The new VETI 3 range of switches, socket outlets and communica- tion points incudes the best features of the VETI 2 product range in an expanded, versatile and affordable solution. Electricians and contrac- tors will benefit from being able to offer a broader range of elegant solutions to customers, while customers will benefit from easily cus- tomisable wall accessories that contribute to the overall elegance of their homes and offices at a surprisingly affordable price point.

default part of any building or room, they are used every day and there- fore VETI 3 ensures that these mostly ignored components also en- hance the ambiance and elegance of a room. The ultra slim design of the VETI 3 has a modern and stylish look, sporting large switch covers for easy switching. The switches have a toggle action with the unique feature of being flat in the Off position, and slightly ajar when in the On position. The VETI 3 cover plates and switch covers have an array of inter- changeable matt colour finishes to suit any interior. Major Tech sup- plies five colour combinations to simplify the selection process. These combinations are a bronze cover with titanium switch, a titanium cover with graphite switch, a graphite cover with titanium switch, a graphite cover with graphite switch and a white cover with white switch. Due to the safe customisation process unique to the VETI 3 range, custom- ers can decide on any colour combination to ensure a stylish finish to match their décor. In addition, a combination of two-way and Bell Press switches are available as a standard selection. Each switch includes a luminous fluorescent strip which glows when charged by sunlight or the lighting in the room. These strips do not consume electricity, and the glow will therefore only be visible in areas where they are exposed to sufficient light that is able to charge the fluorescent strip. The same winning combinations The VETI 3 series is a new monoblock design with a range of socket outlets available in both 100 x 100 mm and 100 x 50 mm versions.

Change your style in two simple steps While switches, covers and electrical sockets are generally seen as a

Enquiries: 086 162 5678

I n September, Pepperl+Fuchs strengthened its Mobile Computing and Communication business unit by acquiring Aava Mobile Oy. The Finland-based company is a specialist for the design and manufacturing of latest technology, ruggedised industrial smartphones and tablet computers, and has been sold to Mannheim/Germany-based Pepperl+Fuchs Group. “We are delighted to bring our strength in designing next generation industrial smartphones and tablet computers into Pepperl+Fuchs Group and we expect numerous synergies out of this new setup,” says Markus Appel, CEO of Aava Mobile Oy. “Aava's competence in designing enterprise mobile devices complements our ecom brand, the Mobile Computing and Communication business unit, and gives us access to leading- edge design competence,” states Dr. Gunther Kegel, CEO of Pepperl+Fuchs SE. Founded in 1945, Pepperl+Fuchs today is a “700 Mio. € +” (R11 bil.) company employing approximately 6000 people and holding market-leading positions in industrial sensors and explosion protection equipment. Their business unit Mobile Computing and Communication was established in 2017 with the takeover of the German company ecom instruments GmbH. The business unit provides explosion-protected industrial smartphones and tablet computers to the global process industry. Strong partnership: Aava Mobile Oy joins Pepperl+Fuchs

BMG World goes green

the CPI rate. “Deteriorating infrastructure in central Johannesburg has led to increasing and lengthy power outages and thus increased running costs. “Added to this is the inconvenience of regular load- shedding - due to Eskom’s challenges to meet demand - which results in increased costs through running gen- erators to ensure reliability of our supply-chain. “BMG’s conversion to green energy is being imple- mented in a phased approach. Phase 1, now completed, will allow BMG to run the main distribution facility and reception building on solar.” Phase 1 comprises a system encompassing 1 000 Longi (PV) cells, six Huawei inverters, that convert the DC generated into useable AC, and an Eaton integration system, which controls the solar and inbound council power supply and the diesel generators. In Phase 2, more solar panels will be installed on the BMG World structure and on the adjacent Fluid Technol- ogy and Mechanical Drives buildings. This project, which is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2022, will mean that the entire BMG World campus will be running off solar during normal working hours. Phase 3 will see further panels being erected on the new warehouse building, with the possibility of feed- ing this power back into the grid. This phase can only be implemented once legislation and local council by- laws permit. This agreement is currently under review and would potentially allow power generated by BMG World’s solar system to be fed to other BMG branches in the greater Johannesburg area.

BMG has commissioned a 450 kW solar plant at BMG World, the company’s central distribution and manufactur- ing site and head office, in Johannesburg. “The first phase of BMG’s new solar plant - which was installed by Emergent Energy, a specialist pro- vider of green energy solutions - forms part of the company’s three phase solar project,” explains Darryn Wright, Group Marketing Executive, Engineering Solu- tions Group (ESG). “This renewable energy initiative will contribute to BMG’s commitment to enhancing an eco- friendly environment by reducing the carbon footprint of its largest site. This installation will also significantly lower electricity costs at BMG World. “Emergent Energy has entered into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with BMG, effectively becoming a sup- plier of electricity to BMG. The cost of each unit of elec- tricity supplied, is substantially lower than local council tariffs, thus giving BMG a substantial saving. These sav- ings are likely to increase in time, as the council tariffs increase. “Photovoltaic (PV) modules – which use daylight, not direct sunlight to generate electricity - are gaining popularity globally as a form of renewable energy that is clean, emission-free, sustainable, safe, and cost efficient. Planning for a solar system formed part of the major extension to BMG World in 2015. The new warehouse was designed to not only accommodate solar panels, but it was also aligned to ensure maximum solar panel efficiency. “Our major reasons for transitioning to solar are four- fold – reducing the carbon footprint of our distribution site and head office and lowering costs, especially as the Eskom tariffs have been consistently increasing above

Enquiries: www.pepperl-fuchs.com

Enquiries: www.bmgworld.net

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

JANUARY 2022

CABLES AND CABLE ACCESSORIES

7

Ratchet P-Clamp will streamline your cable management

CCG gets powered by nature

tribution lines. Generally a steel core is used with the aluminium to give the conductor me- chanical strength. This arrangement is termed Aluminium Conductor Steel Reinforced or ACSR. Conductors comprised entirely of alu- minium are known as All Aluminium Conduc- tors or AAC.These conductors are extensively used for busbars in outdoor substations where spans are short. All Aluminium Alloy Conduc- tors or AAAC consist of an alloying of alumin- ium to give a tensile strength in excess of that of AAC, allowing longer spans. These conduc- tors are recommended for coastal areas where severe corrosion is a problem. Aerial Bundle Conductors (ABC) Self-supporting system consists of four cores of hard-drawn stranded and compact- ed aluminum conductors of equal cross-sec- tion and insulated with carbon-loaded XLPE to ensure UV protection. All cores strained equally. Supporting core system consists of three phase cores of hard-drawn stranded compacted aluminium conductors insulated with carbon- loaded XLPE laid up around an aluminium-alloy supporting core insulated with carbon loaded XLPE to ensure UV pro- tection. Additional sub-conductors optional in both self-supporting and supporting-core systems. Airdac SNE and CNE Cable Circular stranded hard-drawn copper phase conductor, XLPE insulated with concentrically arranged identified neutral and bare earth con- ductors. Polyethylene sheathed 600/1000 V service connection cable. Nylon ripcord laid under sheath. Manufactured to SANS 1507 -6. Single Core XLPE PVC High conductivity annealed stranded circular copper conductors to SANS 1411-1. Insulated with XLPE to SANS 1411-4, and sheathed with general purpose PVC to SANS 1411-2. Bells and Mains Cable Plain copper conductors to SANS 1411-Part 1, Class 2. Two, three or four cores insulated with PVC, PVC bedded, steel wire armoured and sheathed with general purpose fire retardant PVC. O ver the last decade, CCG has been supplying the ever-growing global renewable energy market with cable glands and junction boxes. Some of the sig- nificant renewable projects supplied recently include: • 120 MW Shell Energy’s Gangarri Solar Farm, Australia. • 43 MW Ratch Australia’s Collinsville Solar Farm, Australia. • 143 MW Sun Metal Solar farm, Australia. • 116 MW Ross River Solar Farm, Australia. • 100 MW Chinchilla Solar Farm, Australia. • 100 MW KaXu Solar one CSP Project, Northern Cape. • 96 MW Jasper Solar Project, Northern Cape. CCG also recently supplied one of the larg- est offshore windfarm projects currently under construction. Situated 27 km off the coast of Scotland in the North Sea, the £3 billion Sea- green project, which is a joint venture between SSE and TOTAL Energy, will have 114 wind tur- bines with a combined rating of at 1075 MW and will supply enough renewable energy for the equivalent of a million Scottish homes. With the increasing worldwide move to re-

newable energy together and load shedding being experi- enced in South Africa, CCG took the decision to not only be a supplier to the renew- able energy sector but also to become a customer, user and producer. In August of 2021 CCG en- gaged the services of Wade Walker Solar to do a full as- sessment of its manufactur- ing plant in Kempton Park as to the suitability of installing a solar PV generation system.

HellermannTyton thrives on taking established design con- ventions for fixing parts and improving on them. So when the company received a request for a more versatile way to mount and clamp cables and hoses on construction ma- chinery, it rose to the challenge. The result is the Ratchet P-Clamp. It is the most user-friendly, versatile and robust P-Clamp for fastening and fixing cables, wires, pipes and hoses on the market. Especially for maintenance work, the Ratchet P-Clamp is the ideal solution: cables and wires can be replaced with ease, and without having to unscrew the product. All you need is a screwdriver to open the closure again. This means that the Ratchet P-clamp can be reused hundreds of times. Design makes the difference: how you benefit from our Ratchet P-Clamp HellermannTyton matched the Ratchet P-Clamp features to the following usability requirements: • Freedom of choice: separate pre- and final assembly stages. • Easy installation: close with one-hand. • Eliminate pinching: rifling centres the bundle automati- cally. • Re-open, re-use: easy release with a flathead screw- driver. • Reduce part inventory: four flexible sizes (6.2 mm-51 mm diameter). • Configure flexibly: multiple mounting plate dimensions available. • Maximise durability: toughened, UV-resistant PA66 and corrosion-free steel. • Optional extras: soft inserts and tension tab for repeti- tive quality. Advantages Advantage 1: You can pre-install the p-clamp before you close it With the Ratchet P-Clamp you can now determine the de- sired route for your cables, hoses or pipes before the cables, pipes or hoses have even been delivered!This two-stage operation also gives you the freedom to split the fastening and the fixing task in the time sense, or between different installers or contractors. You can even attach the clamps to the harness before it is installed. The Ratchet P-Clamp can easily by closed with one hand to the optimal diameter. The audible clicking as the ratchet assures the user that the clamp has closed securely. Advantage 2: You can re-open the clamp any time for maintenance In contrast to plastic omega snappers, push-in clips or two- piece fixing clamps, we designed the Ratchet P-Clamp so that it can be reopened simply without having to dismantle the bundle from the fixing points. This is a huge benefit for maintenance engineers, espe- cially when cable harnesses need to be adapted or modi- fied to fit new connection points. Simply insert a flathead screwdriver in the slot and lever out the ratchet closure. The plastic material is especially toughened so that you can re- open and re-use the clamp time and again. Advantage 3: Reduce the number of clamps and clips in your inventory The Ratchet P-Clamp is available in four sizes that are all adjustable. Part inventories can be significantly reduced and install- ers no longer need to carry a wide range of clips in different fixed diameters. With just four Ratchet P-Clamps and op- tional soft inserts you can do without dozens of aluminium clamps and metal or plastic p-clips. Where are Ratchet P-Clamps being used? Renewable energy sources, digital information systems and the electronics behind them continue to evolve in every as- pect of our lives. The complexity of the wiring schemes is increasing as a consequence. The Ratchet P-Clamp is being used by customers on photovoltaic installations and wind turbine towers, in trains, on ships and on all kinds of heavy duty vehicles like mobile cranes or agricultural machinery.

presses to run off grid for about six hours a day. Since commissioning the PV installation in mid-November, CCG has seen an immediate significant reduction in grid supplied electric- ity and it has been calculated that the cost of the installation will pay for itself within two and a half years. The other benefits are increased energy security of the manufacturing plant and an enhanced ISO 14001 Environmental Certi- fication rating by significantly reducing CCG’s carbon footprint.

By using figures for the existing energy load profile, historical electricity consumption data, measuring the area available for installing PV panels and using historical averages on the amount of available sun for the area, Wade Walker Solar proposed an installation of 1274 PV panels which would produce 574 KW dc converted to 500 KW ac. This would be enough for the whole factory consisting of 60 CNC machines, three plating plants, a reverse os- mosis water treatment plant and 30 moulding

Enquiries: www.ccgcablegland.co.za

Overhead aluminium conductors A luminium conductors have achieved wide acceptance all over the world for use in overhead transmission and dis-

Aberdare Cables is a 75-year-old South African leading cable manufacturer. Aberdare Cables has 3 manufacturing sites in South Africa, with Customer Service Centers in each province and in Maputo. The company employs 1500 people and currently holds a Level 1 BBBEE status, with a make-up of 55% Black ownership and 30% Black Women Owned.

Enquiries: www.aberdare.co.za

Enquiries: www.hellermanntyton.co.za

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

JANUARY 2022

STANDBY AND EMERGENCY POWER BUYERS GUIDE

8

MANUFACTURERS

CONTACTS

CONTACTS

EMERGENCY LIGHTING

ACDC Dynamics Sales department ACTOM Protection and Control Faisal Hoosen Altron Arrow Mattheus van Emmenis ARB Electrical Wholesalers Sales Arrow Altech Distribution Sales Atlas Group Annie Storar or Imran Gaffoor Aurora Lighting Olivia Tait BEKA Schréder Grant Combrink Bellco Shiraj Wentzel Bosch Diesel Service Sales Caco Trading Christopher Hinckley Citilec Jeff Forman CCG Cable Terminations Arthur Cameron Clearline Protection Systems Tanya/Rakesh Comtest Distribution Sales Crabtree South Africa Brendan Cummins SA Sales Denver Technical Products Mervyn Stocks Electrahertz Frank Proude (Pta) Peet Lourens (Jhb) Electromechanica Debbie Venter Eurolux Andrew Wex ExSolar Solar Solutions Sales Fusecomp Charmaine Genlux Lighting Glen Hill HellermannTyton Johan Bosch Magnitech Amar Singh Major Tech Sales Mantech Electronics Manny Moutinho Matelec Lindsay Bam MCE Electric Sales Megger Sales NewElec Luc Dutrieux Nordland Lighting Johann Lamprecht Opple Lighting SA Willem Venter Phoenix Contact Carl Coetzer Powermode Tracey Power Panels and Electrical Freddie Power Process Systems Michael du Toit Radiant Lighting Alfred Weldon Shuttle Lighting Control Systems Tracey Steyn Silicon Engineering Chris Hanson Sinetech Chris Rodgers Ingrid Nicolaus LEDVANCE James Clifford Legrand SA

ACDC Dynamics ACTOM Protection and Control Aurora Lighting BEKA Schréder Bosch Diesel Service Caco Trading CCG Cable Terminations Clearline Protection Systems Crabtree South Africa Eurolux HellermannTyton

Sollatek Electronics Nick Allen Spazio Lighting Sales Stone-Stamcor

Bellco Distributors of emergency exit and other signs; emergency control gear for fluorescent lights Citilec

Full range of emergency lighting Clearline Protection Systems Range of emergency lighting Denver Technical Products

Mark Talbot Superlume Willie Garbers Swan Electric

High power mains fail safety lighting; trailer mounted floodlighting, up to 4 x 1 000 W; high pressure sodium lamps powered by onboard diesel generator; handheld explosion-proof intrinsically safe torches Electrahertz Full range of emergency lighting Eurolux LED emergency light; rechargeable portable emergency lights Genlux Lighting Full range of emergency lighting Legrand SA Full range of self-contained emergency lighting Magnitech Emergency lighting; battery backup and battery cycling units; bulkheads Major Tech Range of solar floodlights that can be used as emergency lighting MCE Electric O-Lite rechargeable portable LED floodlights Nordland Lighting Full range of emergency lighting Radiant Lighting Floodlight LED aluminium 12 W battery back-up; rechargeable camping emergency lanterns LED battery 1.6 and 2.4; motion sensor LED plus flashlight emergency lights 40/35 and 35/18 lumen; exit light 230 V LED with backup; LED lamps A60 5 W E27 and B22 4 000 K with backup Sinetech Solar street lighting with five year warranty Spazio Lighting Full range of emergency lighting Superlume A variety of emergency lighting Voltex Distributors of emergency exit and other signs; emergency control gear for fluorescent lights Voltex Lighting Distributors of emergency exit and other signs; emergency control gear for fluorescent lights Vossloh-Schwabe Full range of emergency lighting Waco Industries ACDC Dynamics Full range of batteries and backup solutions such as UPS systems, invertors, etc Altron Arrow Full range of batteries for emergency applications ARB Electrical Wholesalers Full range of batteries for emergency applications Arrow Altech Distribution Lithium iron phosphate battery management solution Atlas Group Distributors of Solid State Power inverters in various sizes Aurora Lighting Extensive range of battery backups for LED light fittings Bellco Distributors of inverters in various sizes Caco Trading Full range of batteries for emergency applications Citilec Full range of batteries for emergency applications Electrahertz Full range of batteries for emergency applications Electromechanica Full range of batteries for emergency applications Fusecomp Lead acid batteries12 V 100 Ah Mantech Electronics Full range of sealed lead acid (SLA) batteries in regular, deep cycle and gel types Radiant Lighting LED panel emergency backup: metal case, 3 m cable, 6 A plug; spare emergency backup for LED; backup 12 V 50 W remote/maintained; remote backup for fluorescent 6 – 65 W magnetic 1H00 five cell Regal Distributors Batteries for emergency applications Silicon Engineering BAE: Belin stationary, solar, UPS lead acid batteries; Everexceed: stationary, valve regulated and re-combination nickel cadmium cells Sinetech AGM gel/lead acid hybrid solar batteries; nano carbon batteries; lithium Ion batteries Rechargeable desk lamps; Rechargeable 24 LED Spot Lite BATTERIES FOR EMERGENCY APPLICATIONS

Franza van den Heever Switchman Products Josh Berman Three-D Agencies

Mark Jenkins Vert Energy Grant Robertson Voltex Hugh Ward Voltex Lighting Wendy Higgins Vossloh-Schwabe Barry Harrison Waco Industries Vanessa Venter Zest WEG Generator Sets Sales GENSETS AND ACCESSORIES

LEDVANCE Legrand SA Magnitech

Matelec Megger NewElec

Nordland Lighting Opple Lighting SA Phoenix Contact Power Panels and Electrical Power Process Systems Shuttle Lighting Control Systems

Silicon Engineering Sollatek Electronics Spazio Lighting Superlume Three-D Agencies DISTRIBUTORS

ARB Electrical Wholesalers Full range of gensets and accessories Atlas Group Gensets and accessories available according to customer specifications Bellco Gensets and accessories available according to customer specifications Bosch Diesel Service Gensets and accessories Caco Trading Full range of gensets and accessories Citilec Gensets and accessories Cummins SA Full range of gensets and accessories Electrahertz Full range of gensets and accessories Electromechanica Full range of gensets and accessories Fusecomp Fuses and fuse accessories/solar equipment HellermannTyton Cable management accessories including UV and Weather resistant cable ties and Ratch P-clamps MCE Electric MCE petrol generator sets Powermode Full range of gensets and accessories Power Panels and Electrical Change over panels to IEC61439 Silicon Engineering External battery chargers Sinetech Inverters – single-phase, three-phase, grid tie, off grid and hybrid Swan Electric Gensets and accessories Switchman Products Changeover panels, controllers and enclosures Vert Energy Full range of gensets and accessories Voltex Gensets and accessories available according to customer specifications Zest WEG Full range of diesel generators and accessories, 10k VA-3350k VA. Standard or custom built- prime or standby, single sets or synchronised power plants EMERGENCY LIGHTING ACDC Dynamics Extensive range of emergency lighting in various brands and options including Gewiss; emergency lighting for buildings, mining and automotive applications ARB Electrical Wholesalers Full range of emergency lighting Atlas Group Distributors of Voltex Lighting emergency exit and other signs; emergency control gear for fluorescent lights Aurora Lighting Extensive range of emergency lighting BEKA Schréder Full range of emergency lighting

ACDC Dynamics Altron Arrow

ARB Electrical Wholesalers Arrow Altech Distribution Atlas Group Aurora Lighting Bellco Bosch Diesel Service Citilec Clearline Protection Systems Comtest Distribution Cummins SA Denver Technical Products Electrahertz Electromechanica Eurolux ExSolar Solar Solutions Fusecomp Genlux Lighting HellermannTyton Magnet Electrical Supplies

Magnitech Major Tech Mantech Electronics Matelec

MCE Electric Powermode Power Panels and Electrical Power Process Systems

Radiant Lighting Regal Distributors Silicon Engineering Sinetech Superlume Swan Electric Three-D Agencies Vert Energy Voltex Voltex Lighting Vossloh-Schwabe Waco Industries Zest WEG

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

JANUARY 2022

STANDBY AND EMERGENCY POWER BUYERS GUIDE

9

BATTERIES FOR EMERGENCY APPLICATIONS

LIGHTING FOR HAZARDOUS AREAS

Stone-Stamcor Yuasa sealed lead acid batteries Swan Electric Full range of batteries for emergency applications Voltex Distributors of inverters in various sizes Waco Industries Battery backup for light fittings PUMPS FOR EMERGENCY APPLICATIONS

Radiant Lighting Full range of lighting for hazardous areas Sinetech Solar street lighting with five year warranty Spazio Lighting Full range of lighting for hazardous areas Superlume Zone rated lighting fixtures Voltex Distributors of luminaires for hazardous areas Voltex Lighting Distributors of luminaires for hazardous areas OTHER

+27 (0)11 874 7600

ACDC Dynamics Variety of pumps for most applications including solar pumping systems

Bosch Diesel Service Diesel injection system Matelec Float switches UPS

ACDC Dynamics Solar, Smart, IoT, etc ACTOM Protection and Control General protection relays ARB Electrical Wholesalers Electrical cables and wiring accessories; electrical contractors’ materials Arrow Altech Distribution Protection modules; SPDs Atlas Group Full range of cables and wires as well as a range of overhead line equipment, mini subs and transformers Bellco All electrical industrial and commercial products as well as the associated accessories; Elespec power quality PFC and monitoring; MV and LV panels CCG Cable Terminations Cable glands and junction boxes for hazardous and non-hazardous areas Citilec LED energy efficient lighting Comtest Distribution Battery testers to ensure your batteries are fully operational Crabtree South Africa Electrical wiring accessories such as switches and sockets (domestic, commercial and industrial) Denver Technical Products Hannay reels for cable management Eurolux Inverters ExSolar Solar Solutions Backup solar UPS solutions, solar DIY kits, solar camping kits, solar batteries, solar panels and solar Fusecomp Electrical components HellermannTyton Various test instruments and tools for testing and installation LEDVANCE OSRAM LED lamps, luminaires Major Tech Solar LED floodlights Mantech Electronics Large range of solar panels, solar regulators, power supplies, instruments, meters, cabling and accessories Matelec Cable glands Megger Protection: cable fault, transformer, circuit breaker, battery and low voltage NewElec Three-phase motor protection and control relays for low voltage motors Nordland Lighting Full range of LED luminaires Opple Lighting SA Full range of LED luminaires Power Panels and Electrical Busbar Trunking systems for reliable power distribution and ease of installation Power Process Systems Electrical enclosures and change-over systems with control Shuttle Lighting Control Systems Dimmers for LED, Halogen and Incandescent lights Silicon Engineering Silicon battery chargers for battery tripping systems Sinetech PV solar panels: monocrystalline, polycrystalline, CIGS thin film; power inverters; backup power systems; battery chargers; solar cable; solar mounting structures; solar connectors; battery management systems; solar charge controllers/charge regulators Sollatek Voltage protection (swtches and stabilisers/regulators) 2 Amp to 2 MVA Superlume Recently launched Smart Home Wifi switches Three-D Agencies Cable accessories

ACDC Dynamics Comprehensive range of UPSs ARB Electrical Wholesalers Full range of UPSs Atlas Group Distributors of Solid State Power UPSs in various kVA ratings Bellco Distributors of UPSs in various kVA ratings Citilec Full range of UPSs Electrahertz Full range of UPSs Eurolux Industrial UPSs Powermode Q-On range Power Panels and Electrical Bypass and distribution panels to IEC61439 Regal Distributors Stockists of UPSs Silicon Engineering BAE – Berlin industrial stationary lead acid batteries Sinetech UPS for all applications: 650 VA to 800 kVA Sollatek Electronics Full range of UPSs Swan Electric Full range of UPSs Voltex Distributors of UPSs in various kVA ratings LIGHTING FOR HAZARDOUS AREAS UPS inverters Legrand SA Full range of conventional and modular single-phase and three-phase UPSs Mantech Electronics Vast stocks of inverters and UPSs Phoenix Contact ACDC Dynamics Distributor of Halo Lighting Solutions including LED strip lighting systems; wide range of flameproof and explosion-proof lighting ARB Electrical Wholesalers Full range of lighting for hazardous areas Atlas Group Distributors of luminaires for hazardous areas Aurora Lighting Extensive range of lighting for hazardous areas BEKA Schréder Full range of luminaries for hazardous areas Bellco Distributors of luminaires for hazardous areas Citilec Full range of lighting for hazardous areas Clearline Protection Systems Range of lighting for hazardous areas Denver Technical Products Wolf safety lamps and Smith Light LED lighting for industrial work areas Electrahertz Full range of lighting for hazardous areas Eurolux Vapour-proof fluorescent fittings; CFL enclosed ‘bullet’ Genlux Lighting Full range of lighting for hazardous areas Legrand SA Full range of weatherproof bulkhead lights MCE Electric O-Lite LED floodlights from 10 W to 200 W Nordland Lighting Full range of lighting for hazardous areas

+27 (0)11 879 2000

+27 (0)11 314 0202

+27 (0)11 386 0000

+27 (0)11 879 6600

+27 (0)11 238 0000

+27 (0)11 392 3810

+27 (0)11 872 5500

+27 (0)11 394 2020

+27 (0)11 207 5600

+27 (0)11 234 4878

+27 (0)11 677 2500

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

JANUARY 2022