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. 

Last month, I discussed one of the most important tools in the fiber tech’s toolbox: the fiber optic power meter. This month, let’s examine the other tool that is equally important: the test source used with the power meter to measure the loss of the cable plant.

I recently realized that our failure to properly train fire alarm system technicians has created a group of workers who simply do not understand the reasons they do what they do. When a technician asks for the rationale behind a procedure, we often respond, “Because the code requires it.”


Simple power quality problems often evolve into tangled webs that take a long time to unravel.

The fire alarm systems industry has changed considerably over the years. Many old-timers can remember a fire alarm system that only detected a fire and sounded an alarm. Nonfire alarm systems did not interface with these fire alarm systems.

More on Systems

 
Show Your Worth
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From talking to electrical contractors lately, I know it’s still tough to get profitable work in the current economy. However, I also find most of the contractors who have prepared well for such a poor economic situation are maintaining a substantial workload.

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It’s the Smart Thing to Do
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Intelligent visual surveillance systems monitor persistent and transient objects within specific environments in real time. The primary intentions for systems are to provide an automatic interpretation of scenes and to understand and predict the actions and interactions of the observed objects.

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September Quiz With Correct Answers and Explanations
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For decades, industry standards have set the maximum loss of a fiber optic connector at 0.75 decibels (dB). Now this value is being reconsidered since it is unacceptable for the latest high-speed multimode links or single-mode connectors. Let’s test your knowledge of fiber optic connector loss.

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This One’s for You
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Last month, I discussed the issues of industry standards for fiber optic and copper cabling. Manufacturers write standards so they can build products that are compatible with products from other manufacturers, since multiple sources are mandatory in today’s marketplace.

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Avoiding the Pitfalls
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I often get calls from professional contractors who have become involved in design/build electrical projects that include the design and installation of fire alarm systems. The reasons for the calls vary, but most are born of surprise and frustration.

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Regional Grid Upgrade Project Gets Lucky
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The Lucky Corridor, approximately 93 miles of planned new electrical transmission, consisting of double-circuit 230-kilovolt (kV) line in New Mexico, cleared a hurdle with a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Western Area Power Administration, a power marketing administration in the U.S.

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August Quiz With Correct Answers and Explanations
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Practically every aspect of fiber optics, especially network design, testing and troubleshooting, depends on understanding optical power. Sometimes, something so basic gets overlooked, so let’s test your understanding of it. Correct answers and explanations are in red. 1.

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