Some power quality (PQ) potential problems have very few outwardly detectable signs. Voltage sags are called blinks in some trouble reports as the lights have a noticeable change in intensity, as does voltage fluctuations...
Too many people look at NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, as a design manual and feel using the book is all that is necessary when designing a fire alarm system. Others assume that if they know how to put...
The heart of any fire alarm system, the component that brings it all together, is the fire alarm control unit (FACU). The first step is to choose whether a conventional or addressable unit is needed based on the size and...
In my magazine column back in July, I mentioned I had been trying to learn more about the new fiber optic cables with very large fiber counts. Today you can buy cables with 1,728, 3,456 and 6,912 fibers. What I wanted to know...
It’s been a bumpy ride in the implementation of biometrics, specifically facial recognition. While the technology has matured in reliability from advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), deep learning algorithms and...
As I mentioned in an earlier column, for all that is talked about 5G, it is far from being a ubiquitous service across the country. Along with all the hype and fanfare about 5G networks, there have also been some negative...
During your work, you may have done some jobs at prefabricated—or prefab—houses. Prefab homes are certainly not new, but some companies that manufacture them have increasingly come to depend on advanced robotics to put the...
Gunshot detection technology designed to prevent and minimize the growing crisis of active shooter events in the United States is becoming more reliable, sophisticated and integrated with other security technologies in a...
We have discussed the need for qualified workers for today’s technology-driven industries, but few companies actually take real action in creating the right local environment to foster and support a pool of potential local...
Professionals in the field of electrical engineering are starting to see the impact of the modern, digital world. Thanks to a variety of new technologies and solutions, the industry has witnessed some incredible breakthroughs...
Depending on where you live, you may either have only one or two historical or cultural properties, or you may have a much larger group that will need your services. Regardless of the number of historical or cultural...
My last two web exclusive articles ( part 1 and part 2 ) have covered how optical time domain reflectometers (OTDR) work and make measurements. Now let’s get into several ways they try to confuse you. Have you heard of...
A new suite of security product emerging from the trenches is not specific to commercial or residential only. Instead, multimarket products applicable to both are evolving as the internet of things (IoT), connectivity, and...
2020 was supposed to be an important year for those involved in network infrastructure and broadband connectivity. 2020 was supposed to be the year when we all would be using 5G networks for our various communications devices...
In my previous article about OTDRs , I covered the basics of how the instrument works and how it is used to make basic measurements of attenuation, splice or connector loss and reflectance. If you need to, go back and review...
If you thought electrical contractors were immune to the ongoing proliferation of data and information privacy laws, think again. In several different ways, ECs may be on the hook for personal information obtained during...
It's common in our business that almost every new fire alarm system we install is the final system to come online. However, a building does not get an occupancy permit unless its fire alarm system passes the acceptance test....
The most powerful—and complicated—instrument used for fiber optic testing is an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR). In the hands of an educated tech, the OTDR is a powerful testing and troubleshooting tool, but it can...
An electronic failure of an electrical component within a power room caused an outage at the Dane County Regional Airport in a snap of cold weather on Jan. 21, 2019 in Madison, Wis. Although it did not create the national...
The next time you head to the airport, there is a good chance you will verify your identity with the latest biometrics. Major airlines have been rolling out new programs and test beds, and they have been increasingly adopting...
