From cutting accessories to sophisticated test instruments, the NECA 2022 Showstopper winners represent a broad range of products for electrical construction and maintenance.

The Showstopper Showcase at NECA 2022 Austin featured 170 entries. The judges, all experienced industry professionals, selected the winners. Sponsored by ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR magazine, Showstoppers is the longest-running event of its kind in the industry. The winners are listed alphabetically, and the descriptions are based on information provided by the manufacturers.

1. 3M. Dynatel 7420X series locators can locate and mark 3M EMS tape and rope and most properly installed passive markers to determine exact locations of underground assets. The GPS communication system incorporated into this Dynatel locator to provide mapping has Bluetooth communication capabilities. A large, backlit, high-resolution graphic display is easy to read. The lightweight design also facilitates ease of use.

2. ABB. Ty-Rap TyGenic antimicrobial cable ties are the first two-piece cable ties offering both antimicrobial and detectable properties, making them ideal for contamination-sensitive environments such as food processing and healthcare facilities. These innovative ties are molded from an FDA-compliant, silver-free, proprietary nylon resin blend that is more than 99% effective in prohibiting common surface microbes from growing on the cable tie.

3. American Polywater. The Hauff-Technik PZVR wall sleeve has a proprietary cement coating on the outside that bonds with concrete, making a watertight, gas-tight seal to remove any space through which water can travel, thus eliminating the need for a puddle flange. It can be simply installed in wood or steel formwork using its end-caps for mounting. It’s available in diameters of 2–10 inches and can fit all wall thicknesses.

4. Arlington Industries. New FLBC5570 floor box and FLBC5570 series recessed cover kits offer a low-cost, easy way to install a box and cover flush in a new concrete floor. It is made of ultra-thin stamped steel flange, flush-to-floor in-use and blank covers, a low-voltage divider and a four-port keystone device. FLBC5570 recessed cover kits come with two receptacles. 

5. Atkore. MC Glide fire alarm control cable (Type MC/FPLP) has an armor profile that is designed to reduce worker fatigue when pulling cable through metal studs and ceilings. It pulls with less resistance, which means less opportunity for cable hang-ups that may knock down studs. From the first pull, MC Glide installations are faster and easier to work with than conventional alarm cable.

6. Current Tools. The new Current Tools Model 11 high-speed cable puller is portable and lightweight. This labor-saving puller is designed for one person to set up and operate. It has a 1,000-lb. maximum capacity with 600 lbs. of continuous pulling force. It adjusts to accept most 18V cordless drills and has a telescoping boom that extends up to 42 inches. A pivoting monopod receiver allows the use of ¾-inch EMT as a stand that will help reduce fatigue.

7. DeWalt. Lenox Snap-Back quick change arbors offer a tool-free way to change out hole saws. Users no longer need a hex key to change out the pilot drill bit. The quick-change pilot bit is compatible with all Snap-Back and standard arbors. Snap-Back arbors feature a universal fit so no adapters are needed to thread onto the hole saw, and they are designed to prevent the hole saw from locking up in the hole during use.

8. Fluke Corp. The Fluke 1770 Series three-phase power quality analyzer eliminates the complexities of power quality logging, troubleshooting and analysis with automatic measurements, a straightforward user interface and setup, best-in-class specifications and a simplified reporting platform. The 1770 Series captures more than 500 power quality parameters by default, so critical power quality events are never missed. A sample rate of 20 million samples per second (MS/s) allows users to effectively capture damaging issues.

9. FSR. Smart-Way wall raceways provide a cost-effective and easy way to get power, data and AV cables from the ceiling down a wall to the floor raceway. The wall raceway is designed for offices, conference rooms, collaborative work environments, classrooms or anywhere access into walls is restricted. SWTPE-CS raceway edging will be sold in lengths of 12 feet.

10. Greenlee. New Greenlee Pull Connect provides communication between the pulling and feeding locations to create a safety “net.” This assists in protecting operators during a pull and also saves from expensive reworks due to damaged cable. Using mesh-network technology enables a fast and robust connection no matter the scale of the job. The magnetic backing attaches to the pulling equipment. The internal antenna is protected from job-site damage and moisture.

11. Gripple Inc. The Fast Trak is a trapeze system of vertical tracks and horizontal strut-like brackets in precut lengths used to support electrical system components. It is a prefabricated system that eliminates on-site cuffing and threading rods or channels and installs without tools. Brackets can be moved up and down the tracks to accommodate position changes during installation.

12. Hilti. The new CFS-MSL modular fire stop helps to contain the spread of smoke and other health hazards in case of a fire. The sleeve’s modular design helps deliver ultimate versatility, enabling better planning, offering more options for trade-specific opening, and increasing flexibility for future cable needs in walls and floors and retrofitting the design for existing cable openings. CFS-MSL modular fire stop is for use in concrete, masonry and drywall.

13. Ideal Electrical. The Deadeye carbide-tipped hole cutter offers advanced design features that include the integrated arbor, SmoothStart pilot bit, and multidirectional carbide teeth that ensure quick and accurate cutting, even in aggressive materials. High-quality materials and coatings including tungsten carbide teeth and six-flat shank to provide a quick and secure hold. The one-piece design helps reduce vibration, ensuring accurate cuts.

14. Klein Tools. Klein Tools’ heavy-duty knee pad sleeves have triple-layer protection with interior neoprene foam padding that provides all-day comfort. The second-skin fit of the sleeve keeps knee pads close to the body to enable agility when working in tight spaces. The sleeves— which can be worn under or over pants—are made of a lightweight, breathable mesh and feature an elastic cuff with slip-resistant silicone to keep them in place.

15. Leviton. SmartlockPro GFCI combination Type AC USB in-wall charger provides GFCI protection and powerful USB charging. Leviton USB in-wall chargers deliver as much as two times more power for faster charging. Smart chip technology recognizes and optimizes the requirements of the connected device, ensuring the right amount of power for fast, efficient charging. The SmartlockPro is useful for residential applications requiring GFCI protection.

16. Lutron. Diva Smart Dimmer combines the distinctive look and simple user experience of the Diva design with the Caseta portfolio, the industry’s most connected smart lighting control system. Diva provides precise dimming with a low-glow light bar. The Diva works with a home’s existing wiring and doesn’t require a neutral wire. It is available in three-way models when the lights are controlled from more than one location.

17. Milwaukee Tool. The new M18 Fuel 6-gallon wet/dry vacuum is the perfect solution for virtually any job-site cleanup job. It has a Powerstate brushless motor, Redlithium technology to deliver more power and run cooler, and Redlink user intelligence hardware and software to provide unmatched performance. It is also available in 9- and 12-gallon models. Each is equipped with durable wheels and hoses and accept Air-Tip accessories

18. Milwaukee Tool. The 19 versatile Air-Tip vacuum accessories are available for the Milwaukee M18 Fuel wet/dry portable vacuums and are compatible with other brands. Air-Tip accessories include a conduit line puller, a dust collector, several types of brushes, a number of different shaped utility nozzles and an automotive tool kit. These enable users to quickly reach places that have been impossible to access in the past.

19. nVent Caddy. The BCSP box/conduit securement platform provides a fast, secure method to install a wide range of junction and electrical boxes/conduit in overhead installations with a single threaded rod drop. The nVent Caddy BCSP is designed to simplify electrical box and conduit installation, eliminating the need for additional hardware while offering easy, tool-free installation.

20. Orbit Industries. The FA-TBAR-4R is a ready-to-install solution that provides the best way to mount lighting fixtures, sensors and devices compatible with 4O openings in drop ceilings. This bracket adjusts from 15 to 25 inches to span the T-grid, and it features grid clips on each end. The 4-inch octagon box adjusts from 0–1½ inches to ensure flush finish with tile surface (set at 5/8-inch raise). The 4O box measures 2 1/8 inches deep. The box is powder-coated with red finish and is UL-listed.

21. Robroy Industries. The Robroy Rocket Rack double-mount bracket for use with Robroy posts provides support for electrical and mechanical raceways and products. Custom hardware includes 2-inch hygienic Rocket U-bolts and beveled cap nuts with nylon thread lockers. Rocket Rack hardware provides strong, secure connection while minimizing the risk of exposed threads. Double mount brackets allow installation/support on both sides of a single post.

22. Schneider Electric. The compact I-Line Enable Module fits into the I-Line bus in place of a breaker and enables the I-Line panelboard to be a digital communication or metered electrical distribution solution. It is easy to install on the I-Line panelboard as a retrofit and is completely customizable. The compact unit minimizes the impact of project changes, allowing customers to add components to an I-Line panelboard anytime.

23. Snake Tray. Solar Snake Max XL is an innovative trenchless, open-air cable management solution for utility-grade solar installations. This cable conveyance can manage cables from 350 kcmil to 1,250 kcmil. It maintains NEC 310.15 Code-compliant cable separation that allows for no derating of cables and keeps them cooler to harvest 8% more energy. The aboveground system can be installed on any terrain and allows for easy maintenance and safe installations.

24. SP Products. PVC/rigid transition coupling quickly joins a PVC conduit with a GRC fitting. Simply screw the galvanized rigid coupling into a GRC 90 or rigid conduit and insert into the bell end of PVC conduit and the PVC slip part of fitting by gluing into place. Fittings cover sizes ½–6 inches. The fitting adapter meets UL 651 CSA C22.2 No.18.3-12 2nd edition. This product is made in the United States.

25. Wago Corp. The 221 inline splicing connector comes with intuitive orange levers for a tool-free wiring of solid, stranded and fine-strand conductors from 12–20 AWG and allows universal conductor connection. These connectors provide a visibly secure conductor contact and have Wago’s spring pressure, maintenance-free Cage Clamp connection technology. They also offer the option of using additional adapters where multiple poles are required.

26. Winnie Industries. The T-box eliminates having to bend conduit to be able to access a junction box. The T-box provides 43 cubic inches of inside depth and allows easier wire pulls through the straight conduit. It is equipped with eight ½-inch KO and six TKOs. The ½-inch KOs go into the box and the ¾-inch KO gets pulled out to allow proper grounding. The bottom part of the T-box has three holes and can fasten directly to Unistrut with a strut nut and screw. The top part of the T-box stands above any nearby conduit.