Sparks Electrical News May 2020

www.sparkselectricalnewsmagazine.co.za

MAY 2020

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

REGULARS: CONTRACTORS’ CORNER | BUYERS' GUIDE : ENERGY EFFICIENCY | FEATURES : DBS, SWITCHES, SOCKETS & PROTECTION | ENERGY EFFICIENCY | LIGHTING

FAMILY-OWNED AND MANAGED BUSINESS STILL INNOVATING AFTER 72 YEARS

The Pratley manufacturing facility in Krugersdorp, Johannesburg.

T he fact that Pratley celebrates its 72 nd anniversary this year is largely due to it being a successful family-owned and managed business, ac- cording to CEO Kim Pratley. “This has had a lot to do with our success, due to the fact that we have been able to retain so much knowledge and experience within the company.” It also forms the basis for the company’s ethos, which has had a strong R&D focus since its inception, thereby inculcat- ing innovation and technical excellence and quality as key values. The main advantage of being a family business is that it secures manage- ment’s direct and hands-on involvement, not just from a business point of view, but as a personal commitment to ensure the continued success of the company. “The way a family business views itself is totally different to the way a corporate perceives itself as an organisation. Now that can sometimes be a hindrance, as you don’t want to make business decisions based on whimsical factors. You must guard against that. But a family business is 100% committed to its viability,” Pratley adds. Being closer to the day-to-day running of a family business also allows the management to be far more flexible in taking new thinking and ideas on-board. Good ideas that emanate from staff can be com- municated quickly and effectively to the decision-makers, which is a major difference between family businesses and corporates. In terms of unique challenges, Pratley points to succession plan- ning as a major issue, especially in terms of multi-generational family businesses. “The main thing is to recognise this as a potential issue, so it can be managed accordingly. Some family businesses fail to confront the topic, which can become a major problem in the future.” Pratley has been fortunate in that both sons Andrew and Charles expressed an interest in being involved with the family business from an early age. “They grew up almost knowing they would go into the business. I have never pushed them towards that. It was almost a foregone conclusion that they would though.” Both sons also have complementary yet divergent interests, which adds to the overall strength of the company. Charles is a driving force on the engineering side due to his technically proficiency, while An- drew’s focus is more on marketing, strategic thinking, and new busi- ness development. “Although they operate in different spheres of the business, they get on well, which is very fortunate,” Pratley acknowl- edges. Commenting on the values that the original founder established as the cornerstone of the company, Pratley explains that George ‘Monty’ Pratley had a ‘can do’ attitude that did not tolerate ‘no’ as an accept- able answer to any problem. This was critical for the success of the business from a product point of view. “If we make a product, we know

it will work. We have absolutely no doubt about that.” Indeed, Kim has a plaque on his office wall that reads: ‘Impossible is what nobody can do until some- body does it’. As to tips for success, Pratley’s advice is simple: Do not make decisions based on anything other than objectivity. This is especially critical in a fam- ily business, where emotions play a strong role. “One tends to be emotional about the way things are done because you are so close to the business, but you have to guard against that.”

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CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

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Building a positive future with Citiq Prepaid

E lectrical contractors are facing a unique set of pain points introduced by the arrival of the coronavirus and national shut down. The impact on the economy and labour is putting pres- sure on contractors to fill holes and find new ways of building income and cementing reputations. It’s been a tough run for most, but this does not have to be the defining moment of 2020 for the elec- trical contractor. A recent article published by the World Economic Forum showed that those coun- tries that implemented early and heavy restrictions during the Spanish Flu were those that saw more positive economic results in the long term. As the country looks at what happens next, contractors can look at ways of engaging with new clients to build their business foundations and prepare for a more positive final stretch this year. “Companies will very likely step into the post- restriction market with an eye on finding cost- savings, building efficiencies and driving custom- er engagement,” says Carel Scheepers, General Manager: Sales at Citiq Prepaid. “Contractors can provide immense value to the residential and commercial construction markets thanks to an innate understanding of their role and the differ- ent solutions available on the market.” Contractors have to keep up with a multitude of trends, innovations and developments so they’re always ready to provide customers with insightful and relevant advice. This ability can be leveraged to provide companies with timely and proactive guidance that will not only benefit

their bottom line, but will allow for the contractor to build relationships and be top of mind as the market revives. “One area where the contractor can re- ally offer solid advice is in sub-metering,” says Scheepers. “Sub-metering takes the guess work out of utility usage recovery. Sub-metering also has the potential to reduce a building’s electric- ity usage by a significant percentage, not only reducing costs but also adding a layer of green to the company’s reputation and service offering. This is relevant to both the commercial and the residential property owner – they want to find ways of attracting and retaining tenants right now so transparency, easily managed utilities and lower costs are a superb way of doing so.” With Citiq Prepaid, contractors get more than just sub-metering solutions, they get support and access to a network of expertise that can help them grow their business and their client base. The two Citiq Prepaid call centres provide hands-on guidance to customers. The tech sup- port division is available for queries the contrac- tor might have. Also, the sales support team will guide property owners on registration and tariff complexities – a huge sell for many property owners. They don’t want to spend their valuable time resolving tenant sub-metering issues. The call centres can also help contractors in a pinch, which makes it easy to troubleshoot unexpected problems during installation. “We’ve also developed the Citiq Installation Club (CIC) to support contractors and reward

electrical contractors to help them grow their custom- er base and expand their market share. “We’ve worked with many different contractors over the past few years, helping them to grow their busi- ness and enter new markets,” concludes Scheepers. “We are as committed to their growth as we are to our own, and this will remain our focus as we move into the next half of 2020 with confidence.”

them for their loyalty to Citiq Prepaid,” says Scheep- ers. “The club has been giving something back to the channel for more than two years and many of our contractors have appreciated the benefits it offers. It recognises the value of electrical contractors by re- warding them with a R500 voucher to spend at their selected wholesaler after they’ve reached 20 points, one point earned per meter installed.” Along with an accessible support centre and a re- wards programme, Citiq Prepaid works closely with

Enquiries: www.citiqprepaid.co.za

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

MAY 2020

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

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PERSONALITY OF THE MONTH – ASHVEER LALLA Proof that age is nothing but a number

Sparks: If you could ‘do it all again’, would you change anything? If so, what would that be? AL: I do not have any regrets whatsoever and I am thankful for all the learnings I have gained along this journey. I know and understand that I had to endure both good and tough times because both teach you lessons, not only in business but in life as well.

• R2.2 Million, Botswana Projects – Empire, working through a local agent, partnered with the Botswana government to supply on numerous projects. • R1.7 Million, Mozambique Projects – Em- pire, working through a local agent, part- nered with the Mozambique government to supply on numerous projects. As for my greatest accomplishment thus far… not many would know this, but between 2019 and 2020, Empire has contributed and made a differ- ence to the lives of 1201 beautiful souls with finan- cial support, food donations and assistance with daily necessities. This has been made possible by our loyal customer base. With their support they have given Empire the opportunity and platform to give back to the less fortunate community of South Africa. For me this is what being in business is all about, and I will continue to strive to create a better future for my team and the country alike, the only way we know how with hope in our eyes and passion in our hearts. If you want to get in- volved or view our charity work please visit our website.

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Ashveer Lalla,

Sparks: Have you won any awards? AL: It is difficult to choose, but my most cherished award thus far is the 2019 Young Black Entrepreneur of the Year from the Global Employers Organisa- tion South Africa (GEOSA). Sparks: Who has been your inspiration or have you had a mentor who has influenced your career? AL: I have met many inspirational people in my life and I have learnt from them as they too have learned fromme. My inspiration, however, does not come from just one individual in particular, it comes from the faces I see every day when I look at my wife, my family and the Empire team; they are the reason I wake up every morning and strive as hard as I can to meet personal and business goals. Sparks: What is one of the biggest challenges facing the industry? AL: The COVID-19 virus has negatively impacted our industry, our econ- omy and the world at this point in time. Many businesses are probably feeling that the destruction that comes with this virus is irrecoverable, but what I encourage others in the industry to do is to shift focus from what we cannot do in this tough time, to what we can do in order to make a strong recovery. Sparks: What do you enjoy most about your job? AL: I am so fortunate to have the opportunity to be in a leadership role. In this role I strive to teach, mentor and grow individuals of all ages and assist them to reach their full potential. Therefore, for me it is extremely rewarding to watch the seeds of knowl- edge and expertise from the Empire management team being implanted to employees who then, with guidance, support and nurturing, grow from strength to strength and blossom into strong and knowledgeable forces within the electrical industry. Sparks: How do you motivate your staff? AL: At Empire we are all about motivation; we know that one of our big- gest assets in the company is our employees, and in order to have them perform optimally, they must be motivated and ‘amped’ daily – excuse the pun. An example of few of the initiatives that we have at Empire are: • A weekly team-building with motivational exercises developed by our HR team at EAM Holdings. • A dedicated wall in our boardroom for the team to write their own motivational sayings. One of my favourite sayings I have seen thus far from one of our team members is “Loyalty to Empire means more than money”. • On the first day of every month we give each one of our salesmen a blank company cheque, and at the end of the month each salesperson gets to write out their earned commission value and bank the cheque. Doing it this way reiterates the statement that many use: “A salesper- son writes his/her own pay cheque”.

A shveer Lalla, Managing Director of Empire Electrical Wholesalers & Cable Distributors, is one of the most driven individuals Sparks Electrical News has come across over the years. His passion for the industry, his staff and his company is clearly evident, so much so in fact that his company’s logo is tattooed on his forearm. Yet it is his desire to build up those around him – evidenced by Empire’s work in the local community – which also sets him apart, all at the tender age of just 32. Sparks: Where were you educated? AL: I was educated at a private school in the south of Johannesburg where I matriculated with a merit exemption a year earlier than my fel- low classmates. I then obtained my Marketing Management degree and completed two business management courses through Unisa. I have also recently applied to study my MBA in 2021. Sparks: When and where did you start your career? AL: I always say that working in the electrical industry is in my blood. From the young age of 14, I worked on weekends and school holidays in the stores as a puller, for pocket money. I then officially started my work- ing career at the age of 17, after matriculating, at an electrical wholesaler, Voltsing Electrical. Sparks: What are the greatest changes you have seen over the years? AL: The electrical wholesale game has changed significantly over the years. Ten years ago it was a very standard approach within the industry where most would stick to the norm, rather than push the boundaries. With the new generation coming on board, there have been innovative ways of thinking and new approaches to market that have been intro- duced. A perfect example of this is at Empire: we offer in-house finance for up to R250 000 over a 72-month payback period. We introduced this because we understand that in these tough economic times it is very difficult for an average homeowner or contractor to expend large sums of cash for projects or home renovations. This innovative funding solution offers our clients the opportunity to keep a positive cash flow with flexible payment terms. Sparks: What major projects have you worked on and what is your greatest accomplishment? AL: Empire has been successfully involved in supplying all electrical and lighting products from foundation to finish for several major projects within South Africa and neighbouring countries, some of these projects include: • R8.5 Million, Eskom – overhead line project in Eastern Cape. • R3.2 Million, ABSA bank – seven new and three renovations in the fol- lowing provinces, Johannesburg, Kwazulu-Natal, Cape Town and George. • R2.5 Million, Standard Bank – four new banks and two renovations within Johannesburg and Pretoria.

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

MAY 2020

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

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Guaranteed cable connections

keting the product in various industries and showing the contractors and engineers how it works, we can already see their minds working overtime thinking of where they can use Relicon Gel,” says Vermeulen. “This has been an indica- tion that what the local market previously had to offer was not efficient enough. Relicon Gel allows installers to visually inspect the installa- tion for faults and do tests to ensure that the installation is correct, without compromising the protection of the cable.” Relicon Religel comes in a clear or green two- component silicone gel. It is packed in practi- cal bottles or canisters including a measuring cup and mixing stick to make the installation as simple as possible. The mixing ration is 1:1 leaving very little room for error. When mixed and poured, Religel takes 12 minutes to start to cure and 23 minutes to solidify into the gel state. However, this does not stop installers from switching existing or new electrical installation as Religel is non-conductive. “We have had immense success in Dubai as many of the major new hotels constructed have specified the use of Relicon Gel. With Dubai be- ing in the desert, gardens constantly have to

HELLERMANNTYTON is one of the leading suppliers of products for fastening, xing, iden- tifying and protecting cables, their connecting components as well as tools and electrical in- struments. Globally, the company has devel- oped pioneering systems in the eld of data and network technology and locally customised balance of plant solutions for renewable energy. One of its latest innovations is the Relicon range of cast resin and gel systems for reliable cable connections. “HellermannTyton, being an international ca- ble management company, and listening to our customers’ needs, we realised that there was a gap in the market for our innovative Relicon Gel, a much-needed solutions,” explains Lee Ver- meulen, Key Account Manager – Network Prod- ucts at HellermannTyton South Africa. “HellermannTyton Global then acquired the manufacturing company to ensure that we could control the quality and standards of our other product offerings.” Relicon has rapidly grown into a respected brand in the electrical installation market. For electrical contractors and electrical engineers, Relicon offers peace of mind. “Through mar- of solutions for its diverse client base. With a 42-branch network across South Africa, BI’s complex supply chain commences with product flows from its main suppliers to its central warehouse in Parkhaven, Johannesburg. From here, the stock is picked-and-packed to go out to the various branches. These shipments are con- solidated daily before being distributed. Branches also have the flexibility to pull stock from other branches. Any stock discrepancies are managed by means of a complaint system in order to fix over, under, or incorrect supply of stock. Reverse logistics allows for all product that needs to be returned to undergo warranty inspec- tion at Parkhaven, or to be returned to suppliers. In May last year, BI successfully centralised its na- tional transport service provider as EPX, resulting in major savings as a result of economies of scale. A comprehensive collaborative sales forecasting process was also deployed mid-2019 to improve forward-look- ing demand. Master data management has also been centralised at the Parkhaven head office to assist with a smoother- running Sage X3 ERP system. Stock control at all sites is maintained through continuous perpetual counts, with at least one annual stock take for the central ware- house, and at least two per branch site annually. Supply-chain management gives BI a competitive advantage in that it allows for proactive stock planning, resulting in improved stock availability, improved sourc- ing of product from local and international suppliers for better margins, quick turnaround times for goods to be moved from the central warehouse to the dis- persed branch network, consolidation of the volumes shipped from the central warehouse to the branches for transportation cost savings, and proactive expedit- ing of stock-outs for improved customer service. BI is also able to carry out overall data analysis on as- pects such as forecast accuracies to highlight any issues for the sales and marketing teams to focus on. Supplier- performance management enables BI to hold its suppli- ers accountable for delays and shortages which, in turn, drives down lead times. This reduces inventory holding, resulting in less working capital tied down in stock. Stock control across the entire branch network reduces the risk of pilferage, while overall performance management through KPIs assists the business in focusing on product availability and customer satisfaction. The full supply chain for BI is currently managed by Laura van Rooyen, who was appointed Supply Chain Director in January last year. With over a decade’s ex- perience in the supply chain environment, van Rooyen comments that she “loves the complexity and challeng- es of balancing supply and demand.” She received her

a big eye opener and many stakeholders are already looking to specify and standardise HellermannTyton product. “Furthermore, Relicon Gel has an unlim- ited shelf life when unopened and is environmentally friendly,” says Vermeulen. “Keep an eye our on web- site for the next innovative product launch.”

be watered and there are frequent failures owing to moisture ingress. The first test installation carried out was very successful with no failures on any equip- ment, and with this great success we have orders of over 5000 litres to the region with more successes in other countries coming soon,” he says. Locally, HellermannTyton has noted that showing the working product to the various markets has been

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 879 6714

BI optimises supply-chain management B earings International (BI), part of the Hudaco Group, has embarked on a process to engagemore with the group companies so as to unlock synergies in terms

Helping the South African power grid brave thunderstorms

S outh Africa is the leading services des- tination, regional manufacturing hub and most industrialised country in Africa. It is imperative it is supported by access to reliable power. To maintain availability and reliability of power supply across the country’s power net- work of more than 31 000 kilometres requires consistent efforts by utilities and the use of in- novative solutions. Climate and geography can pose crucial challenges in such situations. Experts predict an increase in the number and severity of thunderstorms in South Africa as a result of climate change and global warm- ing. Also, the landscape of South Africa is dot- ted with mountains and high plateaus. Trans- mission line towers installed in such terrain and at such height have higher chances of being struck by lightning, causing failure of critical equipment in the power network and leading to a blackout. To protect South Africa’s power network from such risks, an innovative solution can now be applied – ABB’s line surge arrester (LSA) PEXLINK. Surge arresters are the primary protection device for critical equipment in the electrical network from over-voltages caused by switch- ing operations or natural atmospheric events. They protect the equipment from serious damage that can lead to costly downtime and expensive equipment failure, and that can po- tentially harm personnel. For utilities this trans- lates into protection of key equipment such as transformers and improved transmission line availability. The advantage of the PEXLINK solution to the utility is to improve the outage rate of the transmission line by installing line surge arrest- ers on selected towers along the transmission line. The selection of towers for installation of the line surge arresters is done through simu- lation studies to achieve optimal performance of the line surge arresters. In case of a back flashover, part of the lightning current in the af- fected tower is shunted through the line surge arrester(s). The LSAs in the towers in the im- mediate vicinity then act as the next layers of protection shunting the current from the phase to the ground. These multiple layers of protec- tion enable a constant, uninterrupted power supply from the utility to the consumer. PEXLINK also eliminates the need for invest- ment in additional infrastructure to increase the

reliability of the grid, like installation of redun- dant transmission lines. In South Africa, this means the conservation of the ecology and biodiversity. That surge arresters can be monitored makes predictive maintenance of surge arrest- ers possible and allows analysis of transmis- sion line events. ABB’s EXCOUNT-II includes these monitoring features while ensuring safe operation of the grid. The EXCOUNT-II is a monitoring system that provides the utility with safe and effective monitoring of the line surge arresters using remote reading for maximum personnel safety. With these solutions, South Africa’s trans- mission system is made more robust against lightning induced blackouts, thereby enabling a constant reliable supply of power to consum- ers. ABB PEXLINK surge arresters PEXLIM is ABB’s family of silicone-housed ar- resters that offer advantages by design to offer secure protection against over-voltages. With the silicone directly moulded onto the internal components, the design is safe, secure and ef- fective. The arresters permit flexibility in installa- tion and offer great value for money. PEXLIM arresters are type tested according to IEC 60099-4 and ANSI/IEEE C62.11. The also comply with customer specific standards. Applicable to UHV (Ultra High Voltage) appli- cations.

Laura van Rooyen, BI Supply Chain Director

National Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Man- agement from the University of Johannesburg in 2011. “I have extensive experience and exposure in logis- tics management, procurement management, demand planning, supply planning, and now distribution plan- ning and warehouse management. With a strong affin- ity for numbers and data, I find supply-chain analytics fascinating. The continuous drive to improve efficien- cies and productivity is very exhilarating, and keeps me motivated,” van Rooyen explains. “Probably the biggest challenge is satisfying the ever- changing demand within our dispersed branch network. Many of our products have very long sales cycles. Fur- thermore, these products have to fail or break down first before the customer buys stock again.” These are referred to as Maintenance, Repair, Operations (MRO) products. Managing inventory levels, product mix, and excess stock management is critical. In this regard, BI uses Sage Inventory Advisor as an add-on tool to assist with its inventory parameters and management. Inconsistent lead times, and lead times in excess of 240 days, from international suppliers also pose a huge challenge that is managed through supplier per- formance management. “This allows for a very stimu- lating supply planning perspective, as we are also criti- cally responsible to provide the lowest landed cost of our products,” van Rooyen says. Apart from the central warehouse at Parkhaven, BI also has a bond store. This means that for some auto- motive products supplied exclusively to Toyota South Africa, for example, duties and VAT can be deferred un- til the stock is actually sold. This impacts positively on cash flow, as the goods are essentially stored tax-free. It also allows for government supervision and security for such products until they are sold.

Enquiries: www.abb.com

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 899 0000

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

MAY 2020

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

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FAMILY-OWNED AND MANAGED BUSINESS STILL INNOVATING AFTER 72 YEARS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

as a pollution clean-up and water filtration material, while another min- eral called Perlite has thermally-insulating properties that makes it ideal as an energy-saving building material. This is very much in line with the modern trend towards increased environmental stewardship, and aware- ness of our responsibility to future generations,” Pratley stresses. Never one to rest on his laurels, either as an individual or as a com- pany, Pratley says definite plans are in place to Pratley in exciting new directions in the near future. “We are looking at some totally new busi- nesses that will be even more diverse, ensuring our continued relevance, expansion, and growth in a volatile and complex business environment,” he concludes.

Another tip for success is quite an unexpected one: “Do take calculated risks,” Pratley urges. “Here I am referring to risks that, if they do not pan out, will not necessarily bring about the demise of the company. Being completely risk-averse will impact on your decision-making when it comes to R&D in particular, which is both costly and risky. Yes, it is entirely possible that some avenues will be blind alleys. On the other hand, you can stand to reap rich rewards.” While Pratley acknowledges that he himself “is not getting any young- er, I plan to be around for a while yet,” he cites his lasting legacy as having kept a highly competent group of people together over the years. People who have remained with the company for a very long time, and essen- tially identify with the business as their own extended family. Part of that legacy has been a penchant for developing world-class

Enquiries: www.pratley.com

Charles and Andrew with their father, Kim Pratley.

products, such as Pratley Putty. This product not only put Pratley on the map, but in outer space, as it was used by NASA as an adhesive on the Ranger Moon Module Project in 1967. Pratley Putty has since be- come a household name, used to repair and secure everything from swimming pools to the hulls of sunken ships. Looking to the future, Pratley acknowledges that any business has to move with the times. “While the essence of business has not changed since the pyramids were built, the tools of business have, and obviously so has materials science. We must keep abreast of all of those changes. If one seeks to be entrepreneurial, one has to be at the leading edge. We spend a lot of time and energy on that.” This has meant that many Pratley products have, indeed, been ahead of the curve at the time they were developed. “For example, one of the minerals we pro- cess which is called Zeolite has found a modern niche Zest WEG has delivered a locally manufactured main power transformer to a wind farm project near Swellendam in the Western Cape. The 45 MVA transformer will receive 33 kV from the wind turbines and step this up to 132 kV for the main power grid. Stuart Brown, sales team leader, transformer division at Zest WEG, says the design and construction of the power transformers shows the high level of expertise and technical capacity in South Africa. “With two of the few local transformer manufac- turing operations in the country, we have the added advantage of being able to draw on the technical experience of our parent company, the world-wide WEG group,” says Brown. “In designing power trans- formers for renewable applications, we gain valuable insights and important skills transfer from WEG ex- perts in the US and Brazil.” Brown highlights, for instance, that the high har- monics content is a feature of the inconsistent cy- cles associated with renewable energy sources. This requires a specialised design and manufacturing capacity to ensure that a transformer in this applica- tion delivers its intended lifespan and high reliability. He says the local manufacture of main power transformers can contribute significantly to the lo- cal content of renewable power projects, which by their nature must import much of their specialised equipment. This helps project developers to comply with the Department of Trade and Industry’s local content requirements. “Zest WEG’s B-BBEE Level 1 status allows renewable energy developers and contractors to align their projects with South Africa’s transformation goals,” he adds. The transformer was built at Zest WEG’s Heidelberg facility which, combined with the WEG global operations, offers the market more than 30 years of experience in the design and production of larger power transformers. Following comprehensive testing at the facility’s laboratory in 2019, the transformer was delivered to site and assembled under the supervision of Zest WEG engineers in January 2020. They also conducted full on-site testing of the unit, as well as cold commissioning. Local power transformer for wind farm

Enquiries: www.zestweg.com

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

MAY 2020

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

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WORKING KNOWLEDGE WITH TERRY MACKENZIE HOY

Misconnections and the possible repercussions

W hile many businesses, homeowners and public establishments look to reduce elec- tricity usage and increase their security of power supply, it is critical that they consider their needs before deciding on new elements of power supply. This is according to Nick Oosthuizen, Manag- ing Director at Inframid and consultant in energy effi- ciency, who highlights the importance of understand- ing your electrical load before investing in new power supply systems. “Schools are a clear example of why you can- not take a one-size-fits-all approach in efforts to secure your power and save energy. School loads are not only seasonal but also vary throughout the weeks and days,” says Oosthuizen. He rec- ommends that you undertake an in-depth finan- cial feasibility study that weighs up all elements of power supply in relation to the prevention of downtime and assuring return on investment. “The first step is to conduct an ‘electrical audit’ and understand your current electrical load, which will help to identify the real needs for special sup- ply systems and avoid fruitless expenditure. It is thus important to know your electrical demand, load content, and electrical distribution architec- ture.” To assist in understanding your electrical load needs, Oosthuizen explains that there are at least five different segments to consider: essential loads, critical no-break loads, non-essential loads, energy inefficient loads, and your total load pro- file over time. It is fundamental to determine the different load categories you are dealing with, first so that the different types of power supply systems can be applied appropriately, secondly to avoid over-sized and therefore over-priced sys- tems, and thirdly so that the potential for load re- duction and renewable energy can be considered all with the view to achieving acceptable return on investment (ROI). Essential loads The essential load is made up of electrical systems that are fundamental to help the school remain op- erational, and to keep safety and security systems going. These essential loads require reliable backup power supply sources in order to maintain the elec- tricity supply under mains fail conditions for as long as needed. For schools, these normally include class- room lighting, educational sports facilities, power points for educational systems, offices, learning and admin computer systems, printers, projectors, essen- tial water pumps, etcetera. Critical no-break loads No-break loads are those elements of the essential load that need seamless power transfer and can- not tolerate even a split-second unplanned break in power supply when switching from utility supply to Being really old school I checked if all the circuits were dead with a tester. They were not. Two were still alive, prob- ably due to a back feed, I thought. So, I sorted that out and started looking. I found the cause of the fire: somebody had recently installed a power factor control system. They had installed, in a separate panel, a brand new power fac- tor control system with contactors and capacitors and a controller. There was no current sensing connection. They had just connected a four core cable directly onto the main board busbars and run it to the power factor panel. The power factor panel switches were such that all the capacitors had been switched in manually. The four core cable was too small so it overloaded and caught alight. This set some of the busbar droppers alight and soon the S ome years ago I was appointed to investigate the cause of a fire at a shopping mall in the Western Cape. It was nothing complicated – a fairly large switchboard had caught fire and burnt out. The board was a free-standing compartmentalised switchboard with a 630 amp incoming circuit breaker and various circuits fed off the busbars via circuit breakers. So I set to work.

whole board was burning. This set alight some empty boxes stored in the switch room and soon the whole place was on fire. The firemen were well trained and had the main supply isolated before putting the fire out – after which the shopping centre was fairly well damaged. It all got sorted out in the end and I got a fairly good fee for my report. I was stunned that anybody would connect anything directly to busbars. I was astonished to find that the person who had done the in- stallation was doing five other installations for the same retail group. I told the insurance people that this was a bad idea but they brushed it all off. This was about 20 years ago. Then I read about Swis- sair flight 111. On 2nd September 1998, the plane took off fromJohn F. Kennedy International Airport. On board were 14 crew members and 215 passengers. Shortly, a strange smell was detected in the cockpit, and four minutes later smoke appeared. At the time, the pilots believed there was an issue with the air conditioning system and were unaware of the rapidly intensifying fire in the ceiling. Af- ter consulting air traffic controllers, it was decided that the airplane would land in Halifax, some 56 miles (104 km)

is installed which, although it uses electricity, is not quite electrical, for some reason people think that there is no real skill needed in the installation. Even worse, when some smooth talker tells you, “We’ve done many of these, never been a problem,” it is no comfort to know that there is thus more than one de- fective installation out there. I wonder if the Swissair management were told: “Install this entertainment system in the proper way or 229 people will die,” would they have taken more care? We all should.

away. At about 10:21 pm (ADT), the pilots altered course in order to dump fuel. Three minutes later, they declared an emergency as various systems on the plane began to fail and the cockpit began to fill with smoke. Shortly thereafter air traffic controllers lost contact. The aircraft hit the water at about 10:31 pm, reportedly almost upside down, and broke apart on impact. All 229 passengers and crew died. An investigation was conducted by the Transpor- tation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada. In 2003 it an- nounced that the crash had resulted from faulty wir- ing that ignited the flammable insulation above the cockpit. The TSB had earlier recommended stricter standards concerning flammable materials and electrical wiring. Although the final report did not cite what part of the electrical wiring was at fault, a newly installed entertainment system was believed to have played a role in the fire. The phrase ‘newly installed entertainment sys- tem’ made me think of my burnt down shopping centre. The authorities are swift to make sure that regulations are complied with, but when something

Know your electrical load before investing in new supply systems

Bird deterrent laser prevents second biggest cause of substation power outages I nnovative bird deterrent lasers provide success- ful results at substations that are plagued by bird-caused power outages. This high-tech solu- tion to a longstanding problem will help substation operators prevent outages, improve reliability, and reduce repair and equipment costs. Birds are the second biggest cause of power outages in the U.S. according to a December 2015 report by T&D World, an online publication that covers matters relating to the electric power-de- livery system. An IEEE survey reported that 86% of the utility companies that responded indicated birds caused major problems in substations, sec- ond only to squirrels. Electrical substations are plagued by bird roosting and bird droppings. One bird left 24 000 people without power in San Diego, California, in November last year by coming into contact with a substation, affecting schools and residents in the area. Many were without pow- er for hours. The currently available bird deterrents – coverups, noisemakers, fake predators, fog ma- chines – only provide temporary, spotty relief. La- sers offer a superior alternative and a long-term solution. The AVIX Autonomic laser bird deterrent technology takes advantage of bird’s natural in- stincts. Birds perceive an approaching laser beam as a predator and flee to seek safety when the laser beam passes by. There are a couple of thou- sand users of the bird deterrent lasers worldwide. TransGard, a leading expert in animal-deterrence at substations, confirmed the need for this tech- nology. “15 utility companies in 10 U.S. states are already using the AVIX Autonomic lasers,” says Bill Reichard, TransGard President. “Power outages have a serious impact on our daily life. Autonomic lasers offer a unique – and uniquely effective – solution. They will be able to protect hundreds of substations at risk for bird-caused outages.” The AVIX Autonomic lasers are designed and manufactured by Bird Control Group. Their laser products have demonstrated their effectiveness in a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, aq- uaculture, commercial buildings and airports. Steinar Henskes, CEO of Bird Control Group, is excited about helping utility companies to solve their bird problems. “I am proud that we can now provide the utility market with a successful bird deterrence solution, next to the other sectors we are also serving.”

pumps are other considerations. In general, pumps have a very low power factor, which means they draw higher current than necessary. “Where schools have many pumping systems, it is worth considering power factor correction to these loads to increase the power factor, which will decrease the reactive power with various cost benefits, such as lower demand charges, avoiding reactive power penalties and freeing up dis- tribution system capacity” advises Oosthuizen. Load Profile “When determining your school’s power supply needs, some forethought can go a long way to ensuring ap- propriate systems,” says Oosthuizen. “You should de- termine your total load profile for at least a year, bear- ing inmind that school loads are seasonal and change from day to day. When determining your load, don’t only use utility account information – this normally only provides monthly maximum demand where ap- plicable and energy usage. In addition, it is important to understand which parts of your load can be moved to non-operational times, such as after 15h00, when total consumption is less. There are many timer and automation technologies on the market that can help with load shifting in order to spread the usage curve,” says Oosthuizen. “Investing in an alternative power supply sys- tem for your school is a good idea, but for it to be a feasible investment you must clearly understand your load requirements before making any deci- sions. Knowing what you have is the critical first step to knowing what you need next. Analysing this resultant need for alternative power supply solutions against your potential loss of business, loss of information, and energy savings forms the essence of your business case for investment,” concludes Oosthuizen.

backup power. In a school, seamless transfer is need- ed in areas such as administration and classroom computing systems where valuable information will be lost if power supply is interrupted. “These no-break loads require uninterrupted power supply (UPS) sys- tems when the main power supply fails,” says Oost- huizen. As these UPS systems are normally battery and sometimes solar supported and very costly, it is important to know exactly what size the no-break loads are and how long they will need to be supplied by the UPS systems. Non-essential loads “Non-essential loads include those systems for which you don’t need backup in any form. It is the part of your load that the school can do without while remaining operational during mains fail conditions. An example of this might be geysers, heaters, air-conditioners, pool heating, and pool pumps, which are not essential for running a school.” However, if you lose your utility supply for long periods, the situation might change, as will the definitions of the non-essential loads. Inefficient energy loads According to Oosthuizen, inefficient energy loads include electrical elements that can be replaced by energy-efficient alternatives to make the load less bearing. “These lend themselves to energy saving in day-to-day operations. For example, all new geysers must comply with the new minimum standard as set by the Department of Energy, namely Class B, as specified in SANS 151, to ensure less pressure on your electrical load,” he explains. In schools, the replace- ment of air conditioners and electric heaters with the latest state-of-the-art low energy and unity power factor technology will have quite an impact on en- ergy consumption. Changing older light fittings to the newest technology LED fittings will also have a sig- nificant impact on energy usage. Water and sewage

Enquiries: www.birdcontrolgroup.com

Enquiries: www.inframid.co.za

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

MAY 2020

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

7

Protecting cell sites from base station to antenna and aviation lights

I n mobile communications, high availability and reliability of equip- ment and system technology are critical in both the private and pub- lic sectors. When configuring network infrastructure and planning new sites, planners, installers and operators must take lightning and surge protection measures, which are also required from an insurance perspective. Increasing demand for 5G technology means that we need higher trans- mission capacities and better network availability. New cell site locations are being developed constantly for this purpose, with existing infrastructure being modified and expanded. These cell sites must obviously be reliable, but the exposed location of mobile radio masts makes them vulnerable to direct lightning strikes, which could cause severe damage to the systems. They can also be damaged through power surges, which can be caused by nearby lightning strikes, as well as by the current reality in South Africa of the abrupt stops and starts of load shedding. Therefore, a comprehensive lightning and surge protection concept, which provides optimum protection and high system availability, is imperative to protect these costly and sensi- tive equipment sites. A lightning protection system provides optimal protection by coordinat- ing both the external and internal lightning protection segments: The external lightning protection system consists of an air termination system, down conductor and earth-termination system. The internal lightning protection system encompasses lightning equipo- tential bonding and surge protective devices. “DEHN has been successfully developing customised products and protection solutions for cell sites for over 25 years,” says Ivan Grobbelaar, Senior Engineer at DEHN Africa. “As an all-in-one supplier, DEHN supports network operators, power supply manufacturers and system technology

suppliers, as well as general contractors and service partners. “DEHN equipment has the capacity to protect all aspects of the cell site, including the antenna, the aviation lights on the tower, the base transceiver station equipment (BTS), the power supply unit, remote radio heads and the telecommunication lines. Products that are used for protecting cell sites include DEHNvap, DEHNsecure, DEHN BLITZDUCTOR and DEHN HVI technology.” DEHN protection solutions include planning and selection of compo- nents for earth termination systems and external lightning protection sys- tems, as well as the use of lightning current and surge arresters in mobile radio stations. Combined lightning current and surge arresters, also referred to as combined arresters, are used to protect the infrastructure in power supply systems. DEHNvap CSP combined arresters: protection of the base station DEHNvap CSP (cell site protection) combined arresters are specifically designed for mobile communication applications. When using combined arresters, energy coordination with system and equipment technology is an important criterion. The DEHNvap CSP arresters are extensively tested to ensure their coordination with the integrated input circuits of power supply units. DEHNsecure surge arresters: protection of the power supply unit and remote radio heads Mobile radio systems rely on remote radio heads. The high-frequency signal is directly generated at the antenna and is then transmitted. Opti- cal fibre cables, which have significantly higher transmission ranges than

conventional coaxial cables, transmit data between the remote radio heads and the base station. The remote radio heads are supplied by a separate 48 V dc line. Operators as well as power supply manufacturers rely on DEHNsecure dc lightning current arresters. DEHN BLITZDUCTOR: protection of telecommunication lines Land-line connections by means of copper cables or microwave links are used to connect base stations to higher-level switching technology. In the case of land-line connections, partial lightning currents can flow through the telecommunication lines in case of a direct lightning strike in the antenna system. BLITZDUCTOR XT combined arresters provide reliable protection. DEHN HVI conductors: protection of the radio antenna The lightning current-carrying core of DEHN HVI conductors is coated with insulating material in such a way that the required separation dis- tance to other conductive structural features or electric lines and pipes is easily maintained and flexible. Installation takes place directly next to con- ductive structural parts, and the modular components mean that mount- ing is safe, quick and easy. “DEHN Africa provides information and services across the various as- pects of the network industry. As we in South Africa anticipate the ongoing reality of load-shedding for at least another couple of years, DEHN’s exper- tise will also allow telecombusinesses to protect their investments from the threat of surges as well as direct and indirect lightning strikes,” concludes Grobbelaar.

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 704 1487

Smart Thermal Sensor solution for industrial monitoring and elevated skin temperature screening

Glencore electrifies 300 households

F lir has released the A400/ A700 Thermal Smart Sensor and Thermal Image Streaming fixed camera solutions for monitoring equipment, production lines, critical infrastructure, and screening for ele- vated skin temperatures. These highly configurable smart camera systems provide accurate, non-contact tem- perature monitoring across a wide range of disciplines: manufacturing process control, product develop- ment, emissions monitoring, waste management, facilities maintenance, and Environmental, Health, and Safe- ty (EHS) improvements. The FLIR A400/A700 Thermal Smart Sensor solution will initially be prioritised for those responding to COVID-19. For all applications, the series offers multi-

GLENCORE aims to foster sustainable growth, especially in rural areas where inad- equate service delivery negatively impacts people. For Glencore, this includes assisting government in its quest to improve the lives of ordinary South Africans. It is against this backdrop that Glencore completed its elec- trification project where it helped Eskom to provide electricity to 300 households in the Ga-Masha and Ga-Rantho communities in Limpopo. The lack of access to electricity in the community caused a great many chal- lenges for community members; who eventually resorted to strike action which resulted in blocked roads and burned down vehicles. This caused serious damage to the road infrastructure and the property of private companies and individuals. “It filled us with such great pride to see how excited these community members were to finally have access to electricity after the municipality was unable to pro- vide it for them. At Glencore we take our

“For more than 40 years, Flir thermal imaging has pro- vided technologies for professionals to improve not only their capabilities, but also their safety on the job,” says Jim Cannon, President and CEO at Flir. “As the world works together to face the global COVID-19 pandemic, given the need for this technology, Flir will prioritise initial deliveries of this new A-series camera to professionals using it in elevated skin temperature screening as an ad- junct to other elevated body temperature screening tools to help to fight the spread of the virus.” Flir is currently in beta testing for an automated ele- vated skin temperature screening software solution that is fully integrated with its United States Food and Drug Administration-certified thermal cameras. The solution is designed to rapidly increase the accuracy, ease-of-use, and speed of existing screening procedures.

image streaming, edge computing, and Wi-Fi connectivity to help speed data flow and enable faster decisions, im- proving productivity and safety for professionals. Flir designed the A400/A700 cameras with two configu- rations to better meet application-specific needs. The Ther- mal Smart Sensor configuration, recommended for meas- uring elevated skin temperatures, incorporates advanced measurement tools and alarms with edge computing to enable faster critical decisions. The Image Streaming con- figuration provides multiple thermal streaming capabilities to help optimise process control, improve quality assurance, or identify potential failures that could shut down a produc- tion line. Users design their systems by choosing either the Smart Sensor or Imaging Streaming configurations, se- lecting either the A400 or A700 camera body based on the resolutions they need, and then adding lenses and a range of optional features to fit their application.

commitment to progress by improving the lives of the people in our host communi- ties very seriously and we are glad we were able to lend a hand to the local municipal- ity and the community at large”, says Vor- ster Maloka, CSI Manager for the Eastern Limb Operations. The electrification project cost Glencore just over R6 million and created 42 job opportunities for the people in the com- munity.

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 300 5622

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 772 0726

Proof that age is nothing but a number

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

branches in neighbouring areas and potentially across our borders. I aim to build Empire’s group of companies to a point that we able to become an enterprise listed on the JSE. I would also like to expand the Empire brand venturing into different markets such as clothing and property develop- ments.

Sparks: What is your advice to electrical contractors? AL: To keep an open mind when it comes to inno- vative products and solutions. Sparks: Would you advise a person leaving school to enter the electrical industry? And why? AL: I would advise persons leaving school to enter the industry because it has been such a wonderful

ing, but one that I use most often with my team at Empire would be, “Dreams without goals are just dreams” – Denzel Washington. Sparks: Name three things on your ‘bucket list’ which you still want to accomplish. AL: I’m a simple person so I would love to own an island one day! But on a serious note, I would like to widen the Empire footprint by opening additional

journey for me personally. My only advice would be that the electrical industry is very competitive so you have to possess a high level of commitment and passion. With that said, if you are doing it for the money then you are doing it for the wrong rea- sons.

Sparks: What is your favourite quote? AL: There are many quotes which I find inspir-

Enquiries: www.empireelectrical.co.za

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

MAY 2020