Current Issue - April 2012
Featured Story
New Kid in Town
As an estimated 5-million-piece market valued at nearly $1 billion in U.S. sales, recessed lighting has been a familiar go-to configuration within millions of professional and residential lighting applications for decades. Once dominated by incandescent lighting, however, the recessed market has changed; LEDs now deliver a new level of energy efficiency, long life, low maintenance costs, and light and color quality to the recessed lighting market, proving this once-standard setup is anything but. More
INTEGRATED SYSTEMS CONTRACTOR magazine serves the unique and specific informational needs of 67,000 electrical/low voltage contractors documented to work in all areas of integrated systems.
On The Job
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A Day in the Life of an Estimator
The challenges associated with electrical contracting are great and varied. Of course, estimating is one of the most crucial aspects of the process. Read Now
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Keep Your Eye on Your Assets
In the first two parts of this series, I reviewed mutual funds, stocks and arbitrage. This month, I conclude with an overview of hedge funds, diversification and portfolio balancing. Read Now
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What’s Your CO IQ?
Carbon monoxide gas is an ever-present fact of life these days. Because of the danger, it’s important to know some basics about CO. Read Now
Codes and Standards
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The Shady Side of PVs
A friend of mine called with questions about overcurrent protection for DC output of PV modules, the DC output of combiner boxes, the location of disconnects for both DC side and the AC side of an inverter, and sizing conductors on both sides. Read Now
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Here’s Your Sign
While teaching codes and standards across the United States, the question often arises why the NEC incorporates so many requirements for signage. Read Now
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Loop Length, Underground Feeders and More
If you have a problem related to the NEC, are experiencing difficulty in understanding a Code requirement, or are wondering why or if such a requirement exists, ask Charlie, and he will let the Code decide. Read Now
Features
The Year of Living Socially
Many companies will remember 2011 for its ups and downs, but history might also label it as the year electrical contractors embraced social media. Cupertino Electric Inc., San Jose, Calif., got into the game in a big way last year. Read Now
The Great Outdoors
Outdoor Commercial lighting has changed significantly since electricity began to power it in the early 1900s. However, the advent and emergence of LED technology with its efficiency and potential for new construction and retrofit projects would have astounded even Edison. Read Now
Integrated Systems
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Roller Coaster Blues
One of the biggest challenges transmission-network operators face in integrating large-scale solar and wind farms into their operations is the variability of these natural resources. Read Now
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Assessing Use and Sustainability
The second step in the energy services project delivery process is normally thought to be an energy audit; it is the cornerstone of energy service. Read Now
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Can’t Cut the Cord
Last month, I discussed the current status of broadband networks and the emergence of wireless as the preferred connection, since most users want mobility for their broadband-connected devices. Often, I find people think wireless means no more fiber optics (or any cabling at all), but that’s hardly the case. Read Now
Industry News
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Providers Jockey for Unused Spectrum as Wireless Traffic Increases
Wireless has rapidly emerged as the predominant communication technology in the digital age. It has redefined the way we connect to the Internet, our devices and each other, giving an entirely new meaning to the concept of independence. Read Now
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Grid Modernization: Benefits and Challenges Abound
As we transform into a high-tech, renewable-powered society, so must the grid we rely on. Concurrent with those changes, the smart grid has emerged as the power delivery system for a new age. Read Now
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Molten Batteries Could Charge up Renewables
Renewable power has the potential to transform our energy consumption, but like most innovations, it has a downside. Read Now
Featured Products
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Cool Tools: Cable Pullers
Pulling electrical cable through conduit by hand used to be a physically difficult, often frustrating task, but the advent of power pulling equipment has changed the game entirely. Read Now
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Testers and Meters
This month, we feature testers and meters from Hioki, Milwaukee, Megger, Ideal Industries Networks, and more. Read Now
Web Exclusives
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Installing Technology Today
The integrated systems (low-voltage) electrical contractor provides installation and maintenance of optimized and integrated low-voltage building control systems and has now expandedservices to encompass a broader range, including commissioning and service of electronic security, fire-life safety, communications and other low-voltage systems. Read Now
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April Quiz With Correct Answers and Explanations
Communications cabling installations follow rules—some mandatory, some advisory—covered by what we call standards and codes. In my experience, these two sets of rules are often confused, so let’s see how well you understand them. Read Now
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March Quiz With Correct Answers and Explanations
Big buildings, convention centers, airports, hotels, casinos and other large public spaces require special cabling considerations because of the size of the space and the number of users. How well do you understand designing and installing cabling for big spaces? Read Now
Archived: Lighting Webinar Investigates Causes for Compatibility Issues
With government legislative weight behind energy-efficient lighting and changing consumer-purchasing behavior, a problem has arisen in the lighting industry. On Wednesday, April 11, 2012, at 2 p.m. EDT, Electrical Contractor magazine hosted a webinar, in partnership with Leviton, on the three main causes for compatibility issues when pairing energy-efficient lamps with dimmers designed for incandescent technology. On hand to speak about the issue was Bill Grande, director, Safety Products at Leviton; Michael Neary, product line manager for Leviton’s Residential Lighting Controls business; and Craig DiLouie, lighting industry journalist, analyst and marketing consultant, and principal of ZING Communications. Click here to view the archive.
Electrical Contractor Re-envisions Bimonthly S+LSS Supplement
What's this? Electrical Contractor magazine is pleased to announce Integrated Systems Contractor, a supplement serving a hot growth opportunity for the electrical construction industry. As the market evolved, so did we. Finding our bi-montly supplement, Security + Life Safety Systems, just wasn't adequately capturing the changes in the market, we've re-envisioned the supplement to be more all-inclusive and better reflect the work contractors are doing.
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