Electrical Industry Articles and Stories

Got a call the other night about 1:00 o'clock in the morning. I had to go into the plant to troubleshoot an electrical problem. When I finally made it back home, I crashed on the couch, worn out, too tired to even take off my boots.

I lay there for a little bit, and finally fell asleep. Needing to get up at 6 the next day, I put my phone on the arm of the couch with the alarm clock set.

U.S. companies have spent the last decade or so following the lead of tech firms in opening up office space and bringing workers closer together. Now, the COVID-19 pandemic is forcing that approach into question. When employees start coming back to offices in large numbers, those workplaces may need to be rethought, to both improve safety and boost worker confidence. These changes could underscore the importance of taking a flexible approach to electrical and data cable management.

I've designed and built control boxes on several occasions. The resulting component did the job, and I did my best to make it look professional. After all, that's kind of a trademark of mine. You don't just stuff things in a box and call it good. You need to take pride in your work!

Most of the time, it was just a box of electric and electronic controls. Cube relays, VFDs, and sometimes a PLC, placed in a stainless steel enclosure, often with the front window panel.

Despite hurdles posed by the ongoing pandemic, solar projects have continued to come online over the course of this year, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. Utility-scale installations totaled 2.5 gigawatts (GW) in 2020’s second quarter, a Q2 record, and an additional 62.5 GW worth of projects is now under contract, with 13.5 GW of that currently under construction.

In these days of COVID-19, a lot of us are spending more time outdoors. It’s the safest place for small gatherings, these days, even as the days start to get cooler. It’s nice to be able to plug in a speaker or TV – maybe even a small table lamp, for the evening – to make those outdoor spaces feel a little more like a living room or den that just happens to be located under the stars. Of course, exterior receptacles require some added protection to ensure their exposed location doesn’t raise electrical hazards.

I'd not thought of this before until I came across some interesting lighting products. Using wireless lighting control indoors is almost second nature to me. I love the technology, to be honest. I can't remember the last time I touched a switch at home to turn lights on or off.

Okay … I haven't fully integrated the kitchen yet … but that's coming soon to a Maurer home near me. The lights I have in there aren't "smart" enough. And they cost me a good chunk of change, so I don't want to trash them.