Electrical Industry Articles and Stories

Copper wire can seem like a commodity – after all, it’s fabricated from one of the world’s most heavily traded commodities and is sold in bulk quantities all over the globe. And, like a lot of commodities, it can be difficult to know how the copper products you’re buying is actually produced.

Like many of you, I’ve started a small collection of battery-powered outdoor yard tools that now includes a chain saw, hedge trimmer, leaf blower, grass clippers and lawn mow

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.

Think of cable distribution for either power or data, and you might first picture overhead racks, either solid or ladder-style, loaded with wiring, with dropdown channels for access to the equipment being served below

During the Industrial Revolution, which started in the 18th century, the origins of automation emerged, leading to significant technological change. This era introduced the use of mechanized equipment, such as the steam engine and the spinning jenny, revolutionizing the manufacturing process by reducing the reliance on manual labor. These advancements laid the foundation for what we now know as automation.

As you know intimately, conduits are tubing systems that safeguard and guide wiring within a building or structure. Three types you've likely used —Intermediate Metal Conduit (IMC), Rigid Metal Conduit (RMC), and Electrical Metallic Tubing (EMT)— are steel-based conduits, each with its unique attributes.