eps magazine, june 2011

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PUBLISHERDanny J. Salchert

OFFICE MANAGERAnita Salchert

NATIONAL SALES MANAGERJerry DiChiara

[email protected]

CREATIVE DIRECTORDerek Gaylard

CONTRIBUTING WRITERKen Whiteside

CIRCULATION DIRECTORPam Fulmer

PRESIDENTDanny J. Salchert

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Electrical Products & Solutions™ is publishedtwelve times a year on a monthly basis by ABDCommunications, Inc., 3591 Cahaba Beach Road,Birmingham, Alabama, 35242, USA. ElectricalProducts & Solutions™ is distributed free to qualifiedsubscribers. Non-qualified subscription rates are$57.00 per year in the U.S. and Canada and $84.00per year for foreign subscribers (surface mail). U.S.Postage paid at Birmingham, Alabama and addi-tional mailing offices.

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P R I N T E D I N T H E U S A

FEATURES6 Solar Innovation by the Numbers

By Ken Whiteside

TESTING EQUIPMENT PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT28 Megger

29 Hioki

30 Extech/FLIR

31 AEMC® Instruments

DEPARTMENTS

2 Electrical Products & Solutions • June 2011

CONTENTS

6

22 Industry News

32 Product Focus

40 Ad Index

ONTHECOVERAlternative energy photovoltaic solar panels being installed on a roof.

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FEATURE • Ontility

The solar PV (photovoltaic) industryof the early 21st century has oftenbeen compared to the semi-conduc-

tor and personal computer industry of the1980s. The technologies are certainly re-lated. After all, a PV cell is based on thesame technology which makes semi-con-ductors work. But the comparison most of-ten made has more to do with price andcapacity than core technology. Do you re-member computers from 1980? (Hint,there were no laptops then) If you don’t,that’s ok. You didn’t miss much; theywere large, slow and expensive. When I

provement and innovation will follow asimilar path. Moore’s Law will apply.When this parallel is drawn, techno-

logical innovation typically comes tomind. And that almost always is thoughtof in terms module efficiency, the per-centage of available sunlight which isconverted to electricity, and the cost perWatt. Half way through 2011, those num-bers are about 14% for efficiency and $2per Watt for a PV module. If Moore’sLaw is in effect, we can anticipate powerconversion rates of close to 30% for $1per Watt by 2014.

bought one of the first Macs in 1984, it hada processor speed of 8MHz and cost$3,500. Soon though we began to see veryrapid change and we learned about a newlaw: Moore’s Law. That’s the one abouthow fast technology advances and howcheap it gets at the same time. We’ve cer-tainly seen it in computing - I’ll leave it toyou to do the math, but compare the pro-cessing speed and price of my first Mac tothat of an iPad.What’s all this got to do with solar? So-

lar PV today is like computers of 1980,and the prediction is that the rate of im-


Continued on page 8

Solar Innovationby the Numbers

By Ken Whiteside

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FEATURE • Ontility Continued from page 6

But let’s look at the numbers in a dif-ferent way. Module efficiency and priceis too narrow a measure. Its like measur-ing the cost of transportation solely onmiles per gallon and the cost of gasoline.For PV we need to consider whole systemefficiency and cost per installed Watt.This broader measure takes into accountnot only innovation in the PV cells andmodules, but also considers improvementsin inverters, junction boxes, and most im-portant to many, improvements in instal-lation practices and job managementwhich contribute to lower labor costs.This approach is being championed by theU.S. Department of Energy’s Sun Shotprogram goal of $1 per Watt by the endof the decade. If Moore’s Law is in effect,DOE will see its goal achieved well be-fore 2020.

There is another area, quite apart fromthe massive innovation in PV cells, mod-ules and inverters, where equally importantinnovation is taking place – innovationwhich is having a greater short-term im-pact than any of the technological advancesbeing explored and commercialized: Howsystems are financed. With the slow-downof government backed incentives in manyparts of the country and new programs fewand far between, it is time for the industryto take steps toward sustainability – not justincremental steps, but major Moore’s Law-abiding ones.

During the easy days of massive incen-tives, a property owner, wither residentialor commercial, decided to install PV.They paid thousands of dollars up frontfor a system and then were paid back inthe form of rebates from Continued on page 12

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utility companies or local governments,or tax credits on State and Federal incometaxes: Quite straightforward, but unsus-tainable. For the past two years, the solarmarket has been like mushrooms after arain, sprouting profusely where incentivesare funded and fading just as rapidly assoon as the funding runs out. And in manycases, like mushrooms, that cycle lasted

only a few days or even hours. The marketdemand for solar is so strong that incen-tive funds, especially utility companysponsored rebate programs, were fullycommitted (spent) shortly following theirlaunch. This on-again, off-again approachto building a solar energy industry is alsonot sustainable.

So, with the looming end of all sorts of

incentive programs and the prospect thatthe government sponsored ones have littlechance of being renewed or extended (theone exception being the 30% Federal in-come tax credit), the solar market is ripefor innovative financing. First were pro-duction based incentives – utility compa-nies willing to pay a fair price forelectricity produced by



Continued on page 14



distributed solar PV systems. Thesearrangements have been very effective inplaces like San Antonio where even smallresidential systems can qualify so ownersof those systems get paid a reasonable rateper kWh for power fed back to the grid.The effect on the local market has beenvery positive; San Antonio is a thrivingsolar market in a state with no statewide

incentives or government sponsored pro-grams. Well planned and executed powerproduction agreements go a long way to-ward building sustainability, but they stillrequire that the system owner, the cus-tomer, have the capital to make the initialinvestment. This typically requires about$10,000 for a modest residential systemand can amount to as much as $30,000.

One innovation which reduces and caneliminate that initial cash outlay is the En-ergy Efficiency Mortgage. These low costhome improvement loans are tied to en-ergy savings, and can include the instal-lation of solar PV systems They arestructured such that the monthly paymentis less than or equal to the projectedmonthly electricity savings. For commer-cial projects, there are other loan programswhich tie loan payments to the monthlypower purchase payments. The bottomline with these instruments is that theproperty owner’s monthly cash flow is notimpacted negatively by the loan: Loanpayments are offset by the energy pro-duced from the PV system.Another way to avoid up-front costs is

to lease the system rather than buy it. Justlike leasing a car, you get the benefits ofownership without the capital outlay.And also like other leases, there are re-strictions. In most traditional solar leas-ing programs, the customer doesn’t havemany options when it comes the equip-ment installed and who installs it – notnecessarily a bad thing. With equipmentchoices limited to a small number ofpackaged systems, decisions about sys-tem size and the equipment to be usedare highly streamlined. The same is truefor installer selection. Reducing the num-ber of choices reduces the time betweendeciding to go solar and having a systeminstalled. It also simplifies the wholeprocess – removing great complexitiesfrom the decision making process. Some-times simple is good.And sometimes it isn’t. Some cus-

tomers want more flexibility in how thesystem in configured. Some locations arenot suitable for a packaged system. Untilrecently there wasn’t a leasing option forthese folks, but now an innovative newlease program has been devised. Nationalsolar distributor ONTILITY has partneredwith SunCap Financial, an NRG com-pany, to launch a Solar Residential LeaseProgram. Like most residential lease pro-grams it is a 20 year lease with no upfrontcost to the customer, it comes with apower production guarantee and webbased power production monitoring, it isfully transferable, assures fixed lowmonthly payments and includes an instal-lation warranty and system insurance; Butthis program differs from others in somesignificant ways.



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There is a pre-pay option which enablescustomers to make all the lease paymentsup-front, essentially buying out the lease.They then are eligible for immediate sav-ings through Federal income tax creditsand other incentives, some of whichwould take a customer who buys a systemoutright months to recoup. In fact, byleveraging depreciation and Federal in-

come tax credits this lease program is fi-nancially viable even without additionalrebates or other incentives.

In less than 10 minutes the contractorcan put together an accurate quote. Sincecustomers have a number of choices re-garding their payment plan, they need tosee the numbers and compare. And thecontractor needs to be able to present

those options quickly and accurately. Theweb based quoting software lets the con-tractor quickly model and demonstrate themonthly payment, prepaid amount, guar-anteed power production, and overall sys-tem performance.

Contractors can set their own pricerather than being forced by a lease pro-gram to accept low profit margins to makethe numbers work.

Contractors can choose from a widerange of products. Systems can be de-signed around almost any product thatONTILITY distributes. If made in Amer-ican is required, that option is available.If low price is the key deciding point, thenthat can be accommodated too. This levelof flexibility also means that leased sys-tems can work in a large variety of situa-tions, even those requiring specializedequipment or unusual configurations.

Overall this lease program is verystraightforward and contractor friendlyand represents a welcome level of finan-cial innovation in the industry.

A healthy, sustainable solar energy in-dustry depends on many factors ofcourse. Looking around midyear 2011shows that a number of those factors aretrending upward and looking strong. Mar-ket demand is solid – a recent nationalsurvey revealed that more than 80% ofAmericans are interested in installing so-lar on their homes. Reliable product at acompetitive price is readily available –solar equipment has never been better, thetechnology is advancing rapidly, andmanufacturing capacity continues to ex-pand at a very aggressive pace. A quali-fied workforce is ready – solar trainingprograms are doing an excellent job ofpreparing solar professionals for successand industry standards of excellence aregaining recognition and acceptance. Thenumbers must make sense – when all issaid and done, if the financials don’twork, the system very likely won’t be in-stalled. Financial innovation and thewidespread adoption of new financialtools will help put in place this last pieceof the solar puzzle and ensure thatMoore’s Law is fully invoked. �

Ken Whiteside, Director of Educationfor ONTILITY, writes from Austin,

Texas. His blog can be found on theweb at www.ontility.com and his

Tweets @ontility.





ADVERTORIAL

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ADVERTORIAL

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Industry NEWS

The Hertz Corporation’s solar energy pro-gram continues to expand with the installa-tion of solar electric systems at various Hertzlocations.The most recent installation was completed

at a Hertz Equipment Rental Corporation(HERC) facility in Commerce City, Colorado.Hertz is the first equipment rental corporationin the nation to announce the completion of asolar power facility.Installation of solar panels will continue at

the following HERC locations in the upcom-

ing months: Tucson, AZ, Augusta, GA, Bog-art, GA, Norcross, GA, Boston, MA, Baltimore,MD, Newark, NJ, and Harrisburg, PA.The project is a part of Hertz’s initiative to

install solar electric systems across the UnitedStates. Earlier this year, Hertz announced thatit will be completing the installation of solarelectric systems at 16 Hertz facilities through-out the United States. Other locations includeHertz facilities in Arizona, California, Colorado,Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jer-sey, New York, and Pennsylvania. �

The Hertz Corporation’sSolar Energy Program

IDEAL AppointsJeff Kellermann asVice President/General Managerof Tool Group

IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC. recently an-nounced the appointment of Jeff Keller-mann to the position of Vice President/General Manager of its Tool Group.In this role, Mr. Kellermann will be re-

sponsible for all aspects of the operationof the company’s retail and industrialsales groups, as well as its SK Hand Tooland Western Forge business units. Hewill report directly to IDEAL President andCEO Jim James.Mr. Kellermann comes to IDEAL from

ITW Metals Group Fleetwood-Signodewhere he served as President for the past18 years, both prior to and after ITW ac-quired the organization, then known asFleetwood Packaging Company.Before his tenure with Fleetwood, Mr.

Kellermann worked for fine paper distrib-utor LaSalle Whitaker in roles of increas-ing responsibilities, eventually rising toVice President of Marketing and Opera-tions. Mr. Kellermann began his careerwith the accounting firm of Price Water-house.Mr. Kellermann earned a Bachelor’s of

Science degree from the University ofRhode Island.For more information, please visit

www.idealindustries.com.

Bridgeport Fittings Names S-Squire Inc.NewRepresentative for NewMexico and

El Paso, Texas, Sales RegionsSouthwestern manufacturers’ rep has been serving customers since 1985

Bridgeport Fittings, a leading supplier of quality fittings to the industrial, commercial andresidential channels of the electrical industry, has named S-Squire Inc. its new representativefor the manufacturer’s New Mexico and El Paso, Texas, sales regions.S-Squire will assume the representation effective June 1, 2011. The Albuquerque firm

has been providing outstanding customer service and sales support to both the New Mexicoand El Paso, Texas, markets since 1985.“With our ‘Mighty-Focus’ commitment to provide the best products and service possible to

our distribution partners in every market, we are very proud to have the opportunity to alignourselves with this group of unparalleled industry professionals,” said David Turk, Bridgeportvice president, sales and marketing. “We look forward to our newly formed partnership withS-Squire Inc.”Bridgeport’s new distribution partner is located at 8512-A Calle Alameda NE, Albuquerque,

NM 87113. For more information, visit www.s-squire.com or www.bptfittings.com.


Industry NEWS



Delmar, part of Cengage Learning and aleading provider of learning solutions for ongo-ing career development and education, todayannounced the release of three new electricalreference guides updated for the 2011 NEC®:DEWALT® Electrical Professional Reference –2011 Edition, DEWALT® Electrical Code Ref-erence: Based on the 2011 National ElectricalCode and DEWALT® Electrical Licensing ExamGuide: Based on the NEC® 2011.

“It’s crucial for all tradesmen, electriciansand apprentices alike, to be knowledgeable ofall current codes”, said Greg Clayton, vice pres-ident, Delmar. “Based on the requirements ofthe individual, the three DEWALT® referenceguides updated with NEC® 2011 revisions,provide different levels of functionality to en-sure optimal readability and ease-of-use, al-lowing professionals to access criticalinformation at a moment’s notice.“

The DEWALT® Electrical Professional Ref-erence – 2011 Edition, a comprehensive refer-ence guide covering all aspects of electricalwiring, delves into areas critical for success inan electrical professional’s career, from mo-tors, transformers and grounding, to voltagedrops, fastener charts and tools. Recently re-vised to include critical NEC® 2011 require-ments, this guide covers both residential andcommercial electrical wiring, in addition to avast compilation of formulas, tables, calcula-tions and best practices.

Designed to provide electrical professionalsquick access to residential elements, DEWALT®Electrical Code Reference: Based on the 2011National Electrical Code, examines all aspectsof residential wiring codes. It explores eachroom of the house in detail, including receptacleplacement, smoke detector installation, stair-wells and crawl spaces, ensuring that readers

perform safe and accurate residential wiring in-stallations. This updated guide includes work-sheets to simplify advanced load calculations,diagrams for wiring devices and code referencesthat highlight NEC® 2011 requirements.

Regarded as one of the most trustworthylicense prep resources in the industry,DEWALT® Electrical Licensing Exam Guide,Based on the NEC® 2011 provides electriciansand apprentices with the tools necessary to ef-fectively study and prepare for electrical li-censing exams. This comprehensive resourceprovides need-to-know knowledge, valuabletest-taking strategies and thorough guides tosuccessfully master various state and localelectrical licensing exams.

For more information or to purchase thesetitles or any other book in the DEWALTProfessional Reference Series, please visitwww.dewalt.cengage.com. �

Delmar and DEWALT®Keep Electrical Professionals up to Codewith the Release of Three Updated Guides

New editions revised to include National Electrical Code® 2011 requirements



Industry NEWS


The National Electrical Manufacturers As-sociation (NEMA) has published NEMA 410-2011 Performance Testing for Lighting

Controls and Switching Devices withElectronic Drivers and Discharge Ballasts.This standard, last published in 2004, is

maintained by the association’s Lamp,Ballast, Lighting Controls, and WiringDevice sections.NEMA 410 provides guidance for the de-

sign and testing of lighting controls andswitching devices to be used with electronicdrivers, discharge ballasts, and self-bal-lasted lamps to assist in establishing andverifying compatibility between products.This standard has been expanded to en-compass additional types of lighting tech-nology, and numerous figures and testcircuit diagrams and designs have beenadded.Ed Thomas of GE Lighting, chair of the

Ballast Section Technical Committee, said,“NEMA 410 is the industry standard forelectronic ballast inrush current. This revi-sion extends its applicability to include self-ballasted compact fluorescent lamps andintegrated LED lamps, and NEMA encour-ages the standard’s use by those evaluat-ing and designing electronic ballasts anddevice drivers.”To find other NEMA lighting standards, go

to www.nema.org/stds/lighting.cfm.NEMA 410 may be downloaded at no

charge, or a hardcopy purchased for $78, byvisiting www.nema.org/stds/410.cfm, or bycontacting IHS at 800-854-7179 (within theU.S.), 303-397-7956 (international), 303-397-2740 (fax), or global.ihs.com.NEMA is the association of electrical and

medical imaging equipment manufacturers.Founded in 1926 and headquartered nearWashington, D.C., its approximately 450member companies manufacture productsused in the generation, transmission anddistribution, control, and end use of electric-ity. These products are used in utility, in-dustrial, commercial, institutional, andresidential applications. The association’sMedical Imaging & Technology Alliance(MITA) Division represents manufacturers ofcutting-edge medical diagnostic imagingequipment including MRI, CT, x-ray, and ul-trasound products. Worldwide sales ofNEMA-scope products exceed $120 billion.In addition to its headquarters in Rosslyn,Virginia, NEMA also has offices in Beijing andMexico City. �

NEMA. Setting Standards for Excellence

NEMA Publishes NEMA 410-2011 Performance Testingfor Lighting Controls and Switching Devices with

Electronic Drivers and Discharge Ballasts


June 2011 • epsmag.net 27


TESTING EQUIPMENT PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Confusion persists over digitaland analog representations of testresults. Both have their adherents.

Common multimeter functions like volt-age and current are quite agreeable to dig-ital rendering because they tend to befairly constant. The operator is concernedwith finding out what the value is undertest, and digitals have the advantage of aprecise rendering, without the parallaxthat plagues analog interpretation.Where exactly has the pointerstopped on the arc? This can beopen to interpretation by the oper-ator, but is eliminated by a digital.It may also be noted that analogs,being electro-mechanical, are in-creasingly more expensive than digi-tal counterparts. Veteran operatorswere often trained on analogs beforedigitals existed, appreciate the familiar-ity, and can function quite well. Whileeconomic and practical arguments maybe difficult to overcome, there are someareas where analog and digital are at agenuine standoff. Primary among these isthe difficult area of insulation testing.

Understanding theAspect of Time

Insulation testing has the additional dy-namic of a pronounced time element.While much of electrical testing amountsto getting the reading and you’re done, in-sulation testing is different. The metermust determine how much “leakage” cur-rent the insulation of the item passesthrough the insulation under the appliedvoltage. But initially, leakage is maskedby two charging currents, capacitance andabsorption. These can be greater thanleakage, and as they go to completion (testitem becoming fully charged) the readingsbeing posted by the meter become pro-gressively higher. An operator used toworking with a multimeter and not trainedin insulation testing can be mightily con-fused by these changing readings. Whichis correct? They all are…for the time atwhich they were taken.

smooth travel. If leakage predominates,the effect may be visible as erratic travel.Arcing causes pointers to drop and riseagain, moisture vaporizes off and rein-vades, and so on. Sharp operators spotthese deviations. Numbers by themselvesaren’t always easy to interpret, consider-ing that readings can range frommegohms to tera-ohms.

The Best of Both TechnologiesActual readings, however, are indispen-

sible. Digitals provide the most accuratereadings and are user-friendly. Drop themand you can generally pick them up andcontinue. Don’t try that with a mechanicalanalog! Both types, then, have their ad-vantages and disadvantages. Fortunately,it’s no longer a choice between one or theother. Megger® has introduced the com-bination digital/analog display. Thesetesters have Liquid Crystal Displays thatincorporate an electronic pointer travelingas does a mechanical pointer. When themeasurement stabilizes, a digital readingappears. The combination is the best ofboth worlds, offering the advantages ofboth technologies without the disadvan-tages. Some testers simulate analog move-ment by substituting a curved bar graph.While this may offer an advantage overa purely digital model, it does notproperly simulate a mechanical ana-log. Adding segments is not thesame to the eye as watching a dis-crete pointer move, and experiencedanalog operators will not enjoy the

same ease of interpretation they getfrom a mechanical or a genuine digi-

tal/analog model. More important, acurved bar graph lacks logarithmic expan-sion on the low end of the scale that en-ables the operator to form a clear idea ofconditions on the most critical part of therange…the lower values where the testitem may be approaching breakdown.Megger’s MIT400 Series provide an LCDwith a genuine logarithmic scale and allthe advantages of both time-tested andmodern innovative technologies. �

Digital/Analog MovementsAnalog Arc vs. Digital Reading


mind to grasp. As charging currents di-minish, digital meters post readings when-ever they hold for the sampling interval.Eventually, numbers begin to “freeze”,but by then, most of the scale has beentraversed. An analog pointer, by contrast,sweeps the scale in a coherent pattern.Smooth travel is what the operator wantsto see. If “good”, the item has large charg-ing current compared to leakage, and

Analog StrengthsProcedures exist for interpreting the

time factor, and are worth familiarization.Once understood, the “travel” of an ana-log pointer tells a lot about the condition ofthe item. Experienced operators may relyon it more than on the reading. Rapidlychanging digits are difficult for the human


Model PW3198 has just been re-leased and is now available as thenewest member of the HIOKI

power quality family. The PW3198 leadsthe way as the New World Standard forpower quality analysis. The number ofpower supply problems is increasing aspower systems are becoming more andmore complicated due to the rising use ofpower electronic devices plus a growingbase of large systems and distributedpower supplies. The most efficient way toapproach and resolve these problems is tounderstand the situation quickly and accu-rately. The PW3198 Power Quality Ana-lyzer is ready to effectively determineyour power supply problems.The PW3198 is ideal for troubleshoot-

ing. Understand the actual power situationat the site where the problem is occurring.Enables the user to troubleshoot solar andwind power generation systems, electricvehicle charge stations, smart grids, tool-ing machines, OA equipment (e.g. com-puters, printers and UPS),medical equipment, serverfarms, and electrical equip-ment (e.g. transformers andphase-advancing capaci-tors). The PW3198 allowsthe user to manage the pa-rameters with a control setpoint, such as a voltagefluctuation, transients,flicker, power factor, unbal-anced loads and harmonics.Perform load surveys tostudy the power consump-tion and confirm system ca-pacity before adding anyadditional load.

(through an external device), measure ata power line frequency of 50/60Hz aswell as 400Hz, incorporates both USBand LAN capability, includes a 2GB SDCard for recording up to 55 weeks and55,000 events (also supports SDHC cardsup to 32GB), measure high order har-monics, inrush current and watt-hours,conduct off-site remote control using awireless LAN router, analyze recordeddata with optional software 9624-50REV.2 PQA-HiVIEW PRO, and meetsInternational Standard IEC61000-4-30Edition 2 Class A.The PW3198 can measure all wave-

forms of power, harmonics and errorevents simultaneously. When a problemoccurs with the equipment or system onyour site, the PW3198 will help you de-tect the cause of the problem quicklyand easily. You can depend on thePW3198 to monitor all aspects of yourpower supplies. �

HIOKI Power Quality Analyzer PW3198Record and Analyze Power Supply Problems

Simultaneously with a Single UnitThe features and benefits of the

PW3198 are plentiful including: Easysetup function with presets, ability to ver-ify settings and connections before test-ing, CAT IV 600V, detect voltagetransients up to 6kV with 2MHz sam-pling, operates up to 3 hours on batteryduring power loss and restarts measure-ment upon power restoration, passwordsecurity, GPS time synchronization

The most efficient way toapproach and resolve theseproblems is to understandthe situation quickly andaccurately. The PW3198Power Quality Analyzeris ready to effectivelydetermine your power

supply problems.



TESTING EQUIPMENT PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Wiring problems or errors canlead to a range of issues: falseor insufficient grounding can

put users at risk for electrical shock; ahigh resistance ground in a circuit cancause electrical fires; and performance ofcomponents connected to the circuit canalso be adversely affected.Poor power quality (sometimes referred

to as “dirty power”) is a major source ofdamage and failure of components andequipment that controlled by or based onelectronic or solid state circuits. When thesetypes of problems are investigated, oftentimes, the cause is improper wiring or a lackof sufficient grounding. Using a circuit loadtester permits a user to quickly evaluate thecondition of a branch circuit’s wiring andgrounds, to help isolate and repair suchproblems to avoid future down time.The Extech CT70 can help electrical

contractors verify that circuits are com-

ticular, power conditioning and surge pro-tection systems that are in place to protectequipment aren’t as effective in the ab-sence of low ground impedance.Extech’s CT70 quickly inspects and de-

tects circuit and wiring problems such aspoor ground impedance, false grounds,missing ground fault protection, low volt-age availability under load, and highground-to-neutral voltage. In addition, theCT70 tests GFCI and EPD circuits. Thecolor-coded display changes from blue tored, providing a visual alert when a prob-lem is detected.As an AC load tester, the CT70 pro-

vides selectable loads of 12, 15 and 20amps. Both loaded and unloaded AC linevoltages are measured. Excessive voltagedrop under a load is measured as an easyto understand percentage. This metrichelps illustrate the severity of possibleproblems that are fire hazards, includ-ing bad or loose connections, as wellas wires that are not sized properly orare damaged. line impedance, peakline voltage and frequency. Out-let tester functions include: GFCItrip time and current measure-ments; neutral-to-ground voltagetesting; hot, neutral and groundimpedance testing; and open orreversed wiring detection.The CT70 is a must have tool

for electrical contractors; electri-cal, home, and safety inspectors;builders and developers; multi-family and public housing main-tenance; HVACR/mechanicalcontractors; and others. Electri-cal contractors can use the CT70as a valuable tool for increasingbusiness by offering a quick,thorough inspection of all circuitswhile at a job site to identify addi-

tional repairs.The new CT70 is CAT II-rated and in-

cludes an AC test cord with standard, NorthAmerican, 3-prong plug for use on allNEMA 5-15 and 5-20 outlets. To learnmore about the CT70, or to find a distribu-tor, please visit www.extech.com/ct70. �

Finding Problems, Outlet by OutletExtech CT70 AC Circuit Load Tester


pliant to code. By findingproblem areas, hazardousconditions related to de-fective wiring can be elim-inated, not to mentionlegal liabilities. By usingthe new circuit loadtesters, an electrician canget an accurate sense ofthe power quality of abranch circuit and verify ifit is a good match electricor electronic loads intendedfor that circuit. If there isvoltage between a neutraland ground conductor, the Ex-tech can identify this before the perfor-mance of components degrades or failsaltogether.Equipment is at risk when without a

sufficient path for fault current is ham-pered by high ground impedance. In par-


recording of min, max and average val-ues over the time of the measurementsurvey. Each value is date and timestamped and recorded.The 3280 series display provides a

wide range of information at a glance in-cluding text, graphic and bar graph mea-surement indications battery status andmore.The power supply system is equally in-

novative, offering all the benefits of amodern instrument, with rechargeable bat-teries for on-site use and an AC poweradapter doubling as a battery charger forlab use. This prevents the instrument fromshutting down due to low power duringmeasurements over long periods.The new smart wall plug power pack

reduces the average charging time of thebatteries. The MTX Mobile Multimeteralso gives a precise indication of thebatteries’ remaining capacity. Two 1.5VAAA rechargeable batteries areincluded.This multimeter comes equipped with

PC-compatible analysis software. Mea-surement results may be exported in real-time or downloaded from memory viaBluetooth or using a USB cable enablingthe ability to store, analyze, document andtransfer data to a standard Excel spread-sheet. Up to 6500 measurements with dateand time and up to 4 simultaneous para-meters can be stored in the instrument’smemory.The display provides complete analy-

sis capability of the recorded data as wellas shown here.

The 3280 series of DMMs pro-vide unparalleled measurementand analysis capability in ahandheld package withfeatures and functionsnot found in other me-ters and it is UU/CSAapproved and avail-able with Bluetoothcommunications.Visit us at

www.aemc.com to seeall our products! �

AEMC Introduces its NEW MTX 3280 Seriesof 100,000-Count Digital Multimeters

function selection. The MTX 3280 seriesof multimeters provides the ability to mea-sure a wide variety of parameters that in-clude AC and DC Volts, AC and DCAmps, Frequency, Resistance, Continuity,Diode testing, Capacitance, Temperaturewith programmable selection of RTD orThermocouple probe types and user selec-table °C. °F or K scales. Several uniquemeasurement s include Power Decibels(dBm) with adjustable reference from 1 to10,000 ohms, Resistive Power (V2/R or I2x R), dB. Built in math functions providefor customized measurement results suchas power (VxA) or process variables suchas pressure or flow by applying built informulas to the measured variable and pre-senting the results on the display in the de-sired measurement units such as PSI orGPM with proper numeric scaling.Several direct function keys provide

valuable analysis tools such as a relativefunction that allows the user to take ameasured value as the reference pointand then display future measurementsas a deviation from that point. ASpec function that displays themeasurement tolerance from themeasured value quickly showsthe margin of measurement er-

ror in both exact value andpercentage. A Surveyfunction provides

tracking and


AEMC® stands apart from thecompetition with its’ new high end,hand-held graphic MTX Mobile

Multimeters, offering several significantfeatures not found in traditional DMMs.To start with a resolution of 100,000counts, 0.02% basic accuracy and band-width up to 200kHz provides very high ac-curacies and response time on allmeasurement ranges. The unique designfeatures a multi-position display making itideally suited for both benchtop, hand-heldand hands free use. Electronic direct ac-cess push button function selection pro-vides for easy one hand operation evenwith gloves on and eliminates the reliabil-ity issues associated with rotary switch


Product FOCUS

AEMC® Introduces the NEW Multi-FunctionInstallation Tester Model C.A 6116

AEMC's NEW Multi-Function Installation Tester is an all-in-one tool for electricalinstallation complying with international standards (IEC 60364-6, NF C 15-100, VDE100, XP C 16-600, etc.)The Model C.A 6116 combines smart design, ergonomics, simplicity, rapid measurement and

accuracy. Suitable for all types of neutral systems (TT, TN, IT), it can be used in all industrial, commercial andresidential markets. The C.A 6116 is specifically designed to be quick and easy to learn. The user can view all the essentialresults at a glance on the large backlit graphic display.The rotary switch on the instrument’s front panel gives direct access to all the functions. A wide range of audible alarms

and visual symbols are available for quick interpretation of the results in accordance with the standards.The contextual help for each function guides users step-by-step or when needed. The high-performance C.A 6116 offers

excellent measurement stability, including operating in electrical noisy industrial environments. With the C.A 6116, userscan prepare their measurement setup in the instrument or via the PC using the supplied DataView® software. This functionallows hierarchical storage on the basis of the site, the location and the equipment tested.The unit comes complete in a carrying bag and all required accessories; the standard version also includes wrist-strap and

harness for hands-free use.Applications:• Initial electrical testing of a new installation• Electrical testing after renovation• Periodic testing of an installation• Maintenance and troubleshooting on an installation

For more information, visitwww.aemc.com


FOR FREE INFO, CIRCLE 35 ON READER SERVICE CARD FOR FREE INFO, CIRCLE 43 ON READER SERVICE CARD


Product FOCUS

Multi-Wire Connectors from AutomationDirect

AutomationDirect has expanded its ZIPport™ product line to include thestandard series multi-wire connectors. The heavy duty connectors are de-signed to maintain reliable electrical connections while providing protectionagainst dirt, moisture and mechanical stress common in industrial environ-ments.Available in five frame sizes (3A, 6B, 10B, 16B and 24B), heavy-duty metal

housings are constructed of polyester powder coated die-cast aluminum al-loy. Self-extinguishing thermoplastic housings are also available in the 3Aframe size. Connector hoods are available with top entry and side entry ca-ble passages. All housings are available in a standard profile; several areoffered with a high construction profile to allow more room for wiring higherdensity inserts. All housings feature Pg threaded cable passages; optional Pgthread to NPT adapters are available. A single or double lever locking systemassures coupling stability and protection against accidental opening.ZIPport multi-wire connectors require one male and one female insert.

The inserts, suitable for use with alternating (AC) or direct current (DC), areavailable in multiple pole configurations from 3 poles plus ground up to 108 poles plus ground and with termination sizesranging from 14 to 5 AWG; units are rated for 10 to 80 amps. ZIPport inserts are made of UL 94 V-0 rated self-extinguishingthermoplastic resin rated at a maximum temperature of 125°C (257°F). The inserts are available in screw terminal and crimpstyle contact block connections. The contacts are copper alloy with hard silver plating. The plastic insulators are numberedon both sides by laser printing or molding in accordance with EN 60068-2-70.

For more information, visitwww.automationdirect.com




General Cable Enhances Uniblend® Medium-Voltage Cable for Pulling Longer, Faster

General Cable (NYSE: BGC) is proud to announce Uniblend® LF MV-105, the trusted brand of medium-volt-age cable that now features a Low-Friction PVC jacket for ease of installation. With up to a 45% reduction incoefficient of friction, Uniblend LF can be pulled longer and faster, delivering efficient, cost-effective perfor-mance for even the most difficult installations.Uniblend LF is available with both copper compact Class B stranded conductors that provide excellent elec-

trical stability and aluminum compact Class B STRANDFILL® blocked conductors for longitudinal water pen-etration resistance. Its ultra-clean EPR insulation provides excellent heat and moisture resistance, flexibility foreasy handling, high dielectric strength, low dielectric loss and electrical stability under stress, while its triple-layer extrusion of strand shield, insulation and insulation shield combine to form a virtually perfect cable core.Uniblend LF’s 5 mil copper tape shield with 25% overlap stands up to the rigors of installation and provides su-perior short-circuit performance.“Uniblend is the same brand of medium-voltage cable from General Cable that the industry has known and

trusted for nearly 50 years,” said Steve Crowley, Vice President, General Cable Industrial Sales. “In keeping withour commitment to maintain the most comprehensive line of industrial power cables for every application,Uniblend LF is our medium-voltage cable offering with an enhanced low-friction, lead-free PVC jacket that pro-vides easier installation in the most demanding environments, while continuing to provide the excellent heat,moisture, chemical and flame resistance that the Uniblend brand is known for.”Ideally suited for a broad range of performance-demanding medium-voltage applications, Uniblend LF MV-

105 is compatible with all standard splice and termination kits and can be installed in conduit, open tray andunderground duct applications. It is available in voltages ranging from 5 kV to 35 kV and meets or exceeds allelectrical and physical requirements of UL 1072 MV-105.

For more information, visitwww.GeneralCable.com

Product FOCUS




Product FOCUS

Joslyn Surge Protection Products from Thomas & Betts Ensure Reliable Operations

The Joslyn line of AC surge protection products from Thomas & Betts includes more than 1,300 standard configurations that areavailable through Thomas & Betts’ network of authorized distributors. Joslyn surge protection devices (SPDs) protect operationsfrom the damaging effects of electrical power surges, transients and noise, from the service entrance to the equipment level.Suitable for protecting single, split and three-phase applications ranging from 120 V to 600 V Delta, Joslyn surge protec-

tion products are capable of handling high-surge energy to 400 kA per phase and are suitedto meet the many requirements of industrial, commercial, institutional and residential ap-plications.

“Per 2008 NEC Article 708, a cascading approach is recommended when protecting afacility, which includes surge protection at the service entrance, the branch panel

and point of use,” said Lina Salah, Thomas & Betts SPD product manager. “Thisapproach minimizes overall lifecycle costs and optimizes facility uptime, forwhich Thomas & Betts has the complete solution for any facility.”

The Joslyn line of AC surge protection products features a surge counter,LED display, audible alarm status indicator and remote monitoring. In addition,

the line features individually fused metal oxide varistors (MOVs) toprovide protection from extended surge events. The products arelisted to Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 1449 Third Edition and areRestriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) compli-

ant. Joslyn AC surge products also are available in multiplevoltage configurations and feature proprietary designs thatmaximize system performance.

For more information, visitwww.tnb.com





Company PG# RS# Company PG# RS#

AEE SOLAR 13 12

AEMC INSTRUMENTS IBC 2

ALCAN CABLE 23 17

AMERICAN TECHNICAL PUBLISHERS 26 34

ARPI OF USA 36 38

BURNDY PRODUCTS 14 31

BYTE BROTHERS 16 32

CONDUIT REPAIR SYSTEMS 4 6

CONTINENTAL CONTROL SYSTEMS, LLC 32 43

COPPER DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION 25 18

DH SOLAR 34 37

EXTECH INSTRUMENTS/FLIR SYSTEMS 3, 9 5, 9

E-Z METER 36 39

GENERATOR INTERLOCK TECHNOLOGIES 7 8

GENSCO 24 33

HIOKI USA 15 13

ICC 17, 19 14, 16

KRENZ & COMPANY 38 40

LAPP USA 33 19

MEGGER 1 4

MINUTEMAN UPS 37 21

PG LIFELINK IFC 1

PHASE-A-MATIC 38 41

SCHNEIDER RENEWABLES 11 11

SESSION SOLAR 10 10

SOKKIA 5 7

SOLAR UNIVERSE 39 22

SOUTHWIRE COMPANY 35 20

SPECTRUM INDUSTRIES 32 35

STEELMAN INDUSTRIES 34 36

STRIP-TEC 12 30

THE HOME DEPOT BC 3

UNDERGROUND DEVICES 40 42

UTILITY METALS 18 15

This advertisers index is compiled as a courtesy to our readers. While every effort is made to provide a complete and accurate listing of companies, page numbers andreader service numbers, the publisher is not responsible for errors.

Advertiser INDEX



eps magazine, june 2011

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