Systems

 

 

Integrated electrical and low-voltage systems of all types—inside and outside a building—encompass the range of work that electrical contractors do. The articles in this section highlight different types of work, from security, fire and life safety, to traditional electrical power and distribution, to lighting, cabling and more. 

The last two columns covered fiber optic power meters, test sources and the reference cables you need to test the loss of installed fiber optic cable plants. This month, I discuss using these instruments properly and how to determine if a tested cable plant passes or fails the test.


George Carlin summed up the hazards of working with electricity quite well when he said, “Electricity is really just organized lightning.” Few people, except for some extreme golfers and Benjamin Franklin, would normally take extraordinary risks with lightning.

I wasn’t the best student when I entered school, but once my first-grade teacher spoke to my mother, I really started to pay attention. Today, I thank that teacher—and my mom—for setting me straight.


With today’s increasingly complex security systems, it is surprising that many organizations still use technology from multiple manufacturers that cannot communicate with each other. Physical security information management (PSIM) software can offer a solution.

More on Systems

 
Category 6 Cabling—Standard or Not?
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I guess the honest answer to the above is, “We’re working on it.” Most manufacturers have products (cable, jacks, patch cords, and test equipment) out in the marketplace promoted in one fashion or another as Category 6 compliant.

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High-tech Robots Deploy Fiber Optic Cables in Sewer Systems
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CityNet Telecommunications Inc. has launched the first commercial deployment of a fiber optic network through a sewer system. The first-of-a-kind deployment was conducted in the city of Albuquerque, N.M.

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Lighting Controls: Profiting from Mood Lighting and Dimming
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True story: A few weeks ago I went to a major retail store to buy a new television. The model I liked was on sale and had all the features I wanted. Or so I thought.

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E-Lighting—Too Much of a Good Thing?
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The Internet is a wonderful creation. But, is it too much? It permits you to find all sorts of interesting information at no cost.

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Integrating Audio with Other Systems
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Several times each week, someone calls, saying, “HELP!

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Futureproof Your Installations
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“The world is going digital.” Recently, a customer service representative of my favorite long-distance provider made this statement. (I’m not being sarcastic when I use the word “favorite.”)

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Is Copper Cheaper than Fiber?
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Fiber optics is always expected to cost much more than copper cabling. Whatever you look at—cable, terminations, or networking electronics—fiber costs more. So isn’t it obvious that fiber networks are more expensive than copper? Maybe not! There is more to consider before deciding this.

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