Electrical Industry Articles and Stories

They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks …

But, I'm an old dog and I just learned of a brand new "trick" that literally made me sit up and beg for more. I thought I'd seen everything, but I was wrong … so very wrong.
My mind's been officially … blown.

When you’re on a project, you don’t want any surprises. For lighting control, that means selecting a solution that saves time and money, installs quickly and simply, is easy to program, available when you need it and, of course, meets code.

Vive by Lutron is a simple, scalable, wireless lighting control that makes meeting code easier than ever. View video

Crimping is an everyday chore for electrical contractors, but some might not understand the importance of the right tool for ensuring long-term durability and safety of electrical connections. There’s a lot more precision required to create a secure crimp than might appear on the surface, and the best results depend on using just the right pressure – not too little or too much – based on the job’s requirements.

Luminaires manufactured with LEDs (light emitting diodes) are quickly becoming the preferred form of lighting in both commercial and industrial lighting. Even residential lighting is moving toward that option.

For example, LED fixtures and bulbs illuminate about 95% of my own home, including outdoor flood lighting.

“Ergonomics” might seem to be a modern term, but the ideas behind this science are likely as old as humanity. We humans have been adapting tools to fit specific tasks since the days of selecting just the right stone to bang a piece of flint into an arrowhead. More formal study of ergonomics has an interesting origin, though, in the ways airplane controls were adapted during the course of World War II.

Anybody who spends regular time on a jobsite knows the value a well-made hardhat provides – sometimes I think I could use one just getting around the furnace pipes in my low-ceilinged basement. But hardhats aren’t a buy once and forget it kind of product. For a number of reasons, hardhats and their impact-absorbing suspensions need replacement on a regular basis. By not updating this equipment, you could be leaving yourself open to serious injury or worse.