Electrical Industry Articles and Stories

In just a little more than a decade, LED lighting systems have moved from a not-quite-yet-there technology to one that essentially owns the market, especially in commercial applications. With efficacy ratings that now surpass those of once-dominant fluorescent fixtures, LEDs also can operate for years before needing replacement, versus months for fluorescent tubes.

When working as an electrician in a processing plant, I was often called in to work on renovations, new area construction, and emergency repair scenarios. Often there wasn’t permanent power available, so temporary power using extension cords was necessary to power up tools and equipment for the job.

Wire and cable pulling can be strenuous work, especially when distances stretch several floors or more. Lubricants are an important part of this process – they help reduce friction between cables and conduit, which, in turn, reduces the risk of damage, wear and tear on cable insulators.

If you’ve been following business headlines (or your 401K’s monthly statements), you’ve likely heard about a lot of layoffs and other cost-cutting measures at some of the biggest tech companies. After flying high during the pandemic, when many of us were living significant parts of our lives online, these firms are finding they might have been overly optimistic that the growth would continue once Covid’s worst days had passed.

If you haven’t tried to block out the peak pandemic years of 2020 and 2021 from your mind, you might remember the ways the work- and learn-from-home trends helped drive home renovation projects during that period.

Like companies in pretty much all the building trades these days, electrical contracting firms are becoming increasingly stretched when it comes to getting the staffing numbers in line with their needs.