Electrical Industry Articles and Stories

It’s not unusual that solar photovoltaic (PV) systems would require fuses – after all, these installations can carry substantial electrical loads, so overcurrent protection is critical to their safe operation. What is remarkable, though, are the conditions under which PV panels, their conductors, and their wiring can operate.

Recently, my wife and I spent about two months down in Little Rock, Arkansas for medical reasons. We rented an Airbnb property, a four bedroom house with two baths. It’s more than we need, but considering our daughter and son-in-law were going to bring our granddaughters down for visits during school breaks… it was really just right.

Exterior residential wall construction is receiving more attention these days, especially in areas now prone to dangerous weather conditions. Traditional wood-frame approaches can have difficulty withstanding extreme winds, flooding, and wildfires, and both building departments and home insurers are taking notice.

In the constantly changing world of lighting technology, wireless fixture control marks a significant leap forward. These systems, defined by their ability to manipulate lighting conditions, without the need for hard-wiring, are swiftly becoming a vital tool for electrical contractors and lighting designers.

The concept of 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, initially surfaced in the 1980s, thanks largely to the innovative work of engineer Chuck Hull. Hull invented a process called 'stereolithography', or SLA, a method that allowed for the creation of 3D models layer by layer, literally bringing ideas to life. It was a revolutionary breakthrough that sparked the beginning of the 3D printing era.

Up until three years ago, I lived with a couple small boxes of spare fuses that sat on top of the water heater in the basement, ready to be drawn from should the rare combination of, say, the toaster and microwave operating at the same time happen to shut down power to the kitchen.