Electrical Industry Articles and Stories

Okay, I'm going to date myself here. But I can remember when the "Clapper" first showed up on television commercials. And my heart still skips a beat when I sing the theme song: Clap on (clap clap), Clap off (clap clap) clap on clap off… the Clapper.

Hard hats are a critical piece of safety equipment for those who work in construction. This is especially true for electrical pros, who use the helmets to protect themselves from both accidental impacts and contact with live wires. It’s important to remember, though, that a hard hat isn’t just a hat, it’s a system.

When electrical contractors think of personal protective equipment (PPE), it’s usually in terms of clothing, hard hats and other items meant to buffer a physical impact or the severe burns that could occur in the wake of an arc flash or other catastrophic event.

Smart homes might be getting a lot of attention these days, but much less is being written about how equally smart technologies can be applied to small commercial businesses. Larger businesses have long had building automation systems to help monitor and control heating, cooling, lighting and other equipment, but that approach can be overkill for neighborhood restaurants, hair salons and other small-scale operations.

I've walked into many a dark room to work… on purpose. As a facility electrician, the darkness was usually why I was there in the first place. Something had gone wrong, and the power to the lighting was out.

For small business owners, all the details matter. Whether it’s a neighborhood restaurant, a family-owned convenience store or a local art gallery, tight margins can leave little room for error when it comes to refrigeration temperatures, HVAC equipment operation – and even lights left on when they shouldn’t be.