WIREDTHE LATEST NEWS AND ADVICE FROM THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY EXPERTS:

ISSUE 5 > JUNE 2014

Accreditations include:

WHAT’S IN STORE:

An obsession with acronyms

" A Fresh approach to Electrical Engineering "

03 08BRIGHT SPARKWhat to do when it all goes wrong?

SNIPPETSWorth a mention

Agony UncleAnswering electrical

questions no matter how silly you think they are.

Training up new apprentices is vital to the future success of the company, which is one of the reasons that Liam Wheeler was taken on at AES in November 2013.

Now more than half way through the first year of his four-year apprenticeship, he has alternated two three-week blocks and two two-week blocks studying at college with on-the-job training under the wings of qualified AES staff.

“I go out on site with senior electricians and help out where I’m needed,” he explains. “ It’s important to have

Lee Johnson, Managing Director of Advanced Electrical Services explains...

Continued on page 02 >

Continued on page 05 >

TEAM MEMBER PROFILE - LIAM WHEELER

0260 SECOND INTERVIEWwith Mark Lee

07 Liam Wheeler

Project News: Corrocoat -

new sub-station05

Lee Johnson

Pushy salesmen, financial news reporters, spotty teenagers and now it seems the entire electrical industry have got one thing in common – an obsession with acronyms.

In the electrical industry it has become an outright epidemic, to such a scale that at times even I don’t understand what is being discussed in meetings. It’s at this point that I hold my head in shame for not knowing the very latest terminology for one thing or another.

This got me thinking, if my colleagues and I struggle at times to understand this jargon, how on earth do our customers feel about the constant use of random letters?

Take our quick test to the right and see how you do.

See what I mean? I could have filled a book the size of the Old Testament with more examples.

Jargon Converting

gobbledygook into plain old English. 06

Bright SparkWhat to do when

it all goes wrong? 03

Advice Corner: Variable

Speed Drives 04

Here's a quick 10-second test NICEIC.....................................................................................TVS.............................................................................................CHAS.....................................................................................IPAF............................................................................................PASMA...............................................................................VO...................................................................................................LED...........................................................................................DNO.............................................................................................REC..........................................................................................ESC...........................................................................................EICR.........................................................................................

WELCOME

Another problem we face in the electrical industry in particular is the constant changes, whether it’s modifications to the British Standard that we work to or simply the arrival of a new accreditation for health and safety. Any changes normally come with another round of abbreviations to remember.

Of course some changes are good, for example, without a doubt the amendments to the Wiring Regulations are there to improve safety (one thing I can’t get my head around is the term ‘harmonisation with Europe’ when we don’t even use the same plugs and sockets, but that, I suppose, is a rant for another day!).

On the other hand, I recently read an article by the CEO of the NICEIC, in which she explained the benefit in the creation of Certsure LLP and then went on to detail her recent meeting with DCLG, with colleagues from ECA, ESC and NAPIT. She kindly finished the article by wishing us all the

best, and I think we’re going to need it to understand what she’s talking about.

Here at AES we are aware of the confusion that can be caused by industry terminology, which is why every edition of Wired has a Jargon Buster article, where we try to explain in good old-fashioned English what industry nonsense actually means.

Not only that, please feel free to contact us should you need any help understanding anything within the industry, because at the end of the day and more often than not, the confusing and random names and use of letters normally translate into something very simple to understand.

Yours faithfully

Lee Johnson Managing Director

02

Continued from page 01..

An obsession with acronymsLee Johnson, Managing Director of Advanced Electrical Services explains...

WHAT’S IN STORE:

01 Lee’s Soapbox An obsession with acronyms

01 Team Member Profile Liam Wheeler

02 60 Second Interview Mark Lee

03 Bright Spark Calling for back up

04 Advice Corner Variable speed drives

05 Project News New sub-station at Corrocoat

06 Jargon Busted NICEIC Approved

Contractor

07 Agony Uncle Answering electrical questions no matter how silly you think they are.

08 Download your FREE guide Download your FREE

Essential Guide to Moving or extending your premises.

08 Worth A Mention Safe contractor passed New Employee - Brian Renshaw

08 Word Search Test your brain and are you our word search winner from the last edition.

Job title: Senior Electrician

Joined: I started in 1984, so this year is my 30th with AES.

Your background? I left school and became an apprentice for another electrical company before joining AES as a qualified electrician

Role at AES: Mostly the installation of new systems in factories, shops, new builds, hospitals etc. I’ve even done a job in a power station.

Biggest work achievement: Taking on apprentices and training them up – showing them the right way to do things.

Most rewarding part of the job: Getting my wage at the end of the month! And completing the job to the customer’s satisfaction.

Biggest challenges: Fault finding on machinery is always a tricky job.

What would you be doing if you weren’t in your current job? I haven’t a clue – I’ve worked in this field since I left a school. This is what I set out to do.

Any hobbies? Fell walking in the national parks, from the Lake District and Northumberland to Pembrokeshire.

60 second interview with… Mark Lee

Mark Lee

BRIGHT SPARK

03

Let’s face it, we live in a country that has an enviably reliable power supply – certainly by comparison with many developing countries. However, that doesn’t mean that from time to time an office, factory or other organisation won’t find itself unexpectedly without power.

This might be down to to an act of nature, as we witnessed over the winter with widespread flooding, or due to a break down in the system or disruption from an external source – such as accidental damage being caused by external work carried out in the area.

Whatever the case, it’s vital that companies have a back-up system – and you’ll be pleased to hear that we can help.

Why do you need a back-up system?Imagine the power goes down unexpectedly in your building. Can you guarantee the safety of your staff? Can you afford any break in production if you are a manufacturer or in services if you run an office?

Regular planned maintenance can reduce the likelihood of power outages but they can never be completely stamped out. While our rapid response team are on hand to handle emergency call outs, it’s a good idea to have a plan that comes into play the moment you find yourself without power.

What sort of back-up systems are recommended?Standby generators

These can be set to offer immediate emergency back up for electrical systems and are usually fuelled by diesel. Because they are kept in permanent standby mode, they will operate automatically as soon as there is an outage. They are particularly critical in hospitals and for operating elevators, and useful to prevent downtime in manufacturing.

However, installing a standby generator will not provide complete protection from an outage. This is because the diesel engine needs to reach full speed when called into action, which can sometime take 10 to 15 seconds

Uninterruptable power supplies

Unlike a generator a UPS will provide almost instant protection from a power outage. The on-battery runtime of most uninterruptible power sources is relatively short (only a few minutes) but sufficient to start a generator or properly shut down the protected equipment.

Emergency lighting

This will allow your staff to exit a building in case of emergency – a top priority for any organisation. AES installs emergency lighting systems with a battery back-up device, which will automatically come on if your premises experience a power cut.

Among the products we offer are:

• Illuminatedfireexitsigns

•Emergencybulkheads

•Recessedluminaires

• Integralemergencylightingwithinthemain, functional lighting

Once your back-up system is in placeRemember, there’s no point in putting a back-up system in place and then forgetting about it. It’s important to make sure that staff members are familiar with procedures in the case of a power outage. And back-up generators will also need regular maintenance to check they will work when needed by providing the required electricity generation until your main system is up and running again.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you’d like further advice on planned maintenance, emergency generators or other back-up systems.

What you need in place... if it all goes wrong with Carl Johnson -

Electrical Technician

BRIGHT SPARK

04

ADVICE CORNER

If you’re looking at ways to save energy – and let’s face it, who isn’t? – one of the most effective tools at your disposal is the Variable Speed Drive (VSD).

While some machinery needs to run at a fixed speed, many motor applications have different processes, needing different speeds.

Also known as Adjustable Speed Drives (ASDs), frequency converters, drives or inverters, VSDs are a highly effective way of using energy more efficiently – with associated benefits including helping you to hit environmental targets, cutting costs and increasing profit margins.

What are VSDs?

VSDs have been on the market since the 1980s, providing a versatile alternative to a range of other systems designed to regulate machinery speed, from DC motors and hydraulic couplings to gears and pulleys.

What do VSDs do?

Essentially, they control the electrical supply to an AC induction motor, adjusting the motor speed and torque to match the process requirements of the machine by converting an electrical supply into a variable frequency and voltage. Most are controlled automatically.

What different types of VSDs are on the market?

A basic design of VSD would be used for applications such as controlling a fan or a pump. The smaller ones (under 15kW) can be built on to a motor, although in most cases VSDs are standalone

devices, which are installed between the electrical mains supply and the motor unit.

The advanced versions, which can operate with several MW of power, are used for more precise speed and torque control. They can also be connected to a number of control functions as well as being linked to a computer network to provide useful up-to-the-minute operating data.

How do VSDs work?

The most commonly used VSDs are those applied to AC induction motors. These comprise: a rectifier to change AC current to DC current; an intermediate circuit to condition the rectified DC supply; an inverter to convert the DC back to an AC supply of variable frequency and voltage; and finally a control unit to monitor the system and respond to external signals to ensure that the correct output is delivered.

How efficient are VSDs?

Around 2-8% of energy may be lost through additional heat dissipation, making a VSD around 92-98% efficient. However, the benefits in energy savings from having variable speed and torque far outweigh any losses.

Any other benefits to VSDs?

Although most companies will be looking at installing VSDs for their energy and money saving attributes, there are a range of other benefits, including:

Improved power factor

• More precise control of speed, pressure, flow and temperature

• Prolonged equipment life from soft starting and programmed acceleration or deceleration

• More control at high speed – and in some cases higher achievable speeds

• The possibility of linking with other process control systems

• Recovering electrical energy from braking for reuse

Anything else worth knowing?

As with any electrical equipment, VSDs should be kept dust free and in a dry, ventilated area to avoid damage from humidity or overheating.

The purchase and installation of VSDs are best carried out by a professional to ensure that your business reaps the maximum energy saving benefits. Choosing the wrong VSD or applying it incorrectly can reduce the potential savings.

It’s also a good idea to have your machinery checked first, before installing a VSD, to check that it is the correct size and is otherwise working efficiently, with no leaks or faulty parts. Also, some old motor models may not be suitable for VSDs.

Finally, your own staff should also be trained to operate the VSD, all operating paperwork should be kept safely for future reference and a programme of regular maintenance should be established so that energy savings can be maximised.

For more information, visit www.carbontrust.co.uk or contact our sales staff to chat through the benefits of VSDs.

Variable Speed Drives

PROJECT NEWS

05

Corrocoat has been providing cost-effective anti-corrosion methods, materials and engineering rehabilitation expertise for over 30 years and enjoys a proven track record in solving corrosion-related problems throughout industry.

The company operates across five continents from more than 30 locations worldwide. Manufacturing glassflake coatings tailored to meet the demands of specific environments and problems, it offers comprehensive repair, protection, prevention, and maintenance solutions, with the flexibility to respond swiftly and positively to individual requirements.

Due to expansion Corrocoat needed to increase the size of the electrical supply into its premises. The old installation consisted of multiple 400amp LV supplies; AES installed a

new 1000kva sub station and 1600amp switchgear complete with a generator incomer for future use.

New 400amp sub-mains were installed from the new switchgear to allow for the old incoming supplies to be removed.

300kvar detuned, Power Factor Correction equipment was installed to ensure that the new equipment was used as effectively as possible.

New sub-station1600amp switchgear and associated sub-mains installation

Corrocoat

listening and communication skills as it’s all about watching and learning.”

Having taken four sets of exams since November and passed all of

them first time around, he has made good inroads into achieving his NVQ3 at the end of the apprenticeship.

“It’s challenging when I have to do something I haven’t done before but it’s important to pick up new skills,” Liam says. “And when I get things right, it’s rewarding to get feedback from the other electricians. Customers are usually friendly; they will come up and ask about my studies.”

The benefit of studying at college while getting hands-on experience out on jobs has not been lost on Liam. “If I’m working with senior electricians and there is something I haven’t fully understood, I can also ask the tutors at

college if I want to find out more.”

As Liam began his apprenticeship at the start of winter, it’s no surprise that he lists good weather as something that would make the job easier. But overall he’s very happy with what he’s doing and pleased that he made the decision to take up a career in electrical engineering, rather than his second choice of going into the army.

Meanwhile, in his spare time, he enjoys playing football for a local Wakefield team and going to the gym.

Continued from page 01..

TEAM MEMBER PROFILE - LIAM WHEELER

Liam Wheeler

06

JARGON BUSTER

Jargon

NICEIC Approved Contractor

The electrical world can be confusing and we’ve all come across some terms that don’t make much sense. That’s why in each issue of Wired we unravel a piece of industry gobbledygook and tell you what it means – In plain old English.

Call us today if you’re still itching to understand the techie aspects a little bit more, we’d love to talk to you! Telephone: 01924 283 737

AES is proud to be an NICEIC

approved contractor and has

recently passed the external

inspection, guaranteeing high

standards in all of the work it

carries out.

Here at AES, we like to ensure that everything we do is to the highest standards. Even though there is no obligation for an electrical company to become NICEIC approved, we choose to go through the detailed assessment process as we believe this is the best approach for us and for our customers.

SO WHAT DOES NICEIC STAND FOR?

NICEIC is short for the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting – a bit of a mouthful, which is probably why it gets shortened to NICEIC.

A LITTLE HISTORY

Established in 1956 to tackle concerns about electrical safety in the home, it was registered as a charity in 1971 and renamed the Electrical Safety Council in 2006, with the NICEIC Group as its trading subsidiary.

Without bamboozling you with the details of its various incarnations since then, all you need to know is that last year the Electrical Safety Council and the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) launched a joint venture called Certsure LLP. This operates a variety of brands, including NICEIC and the Electrical Safety Register. Meanwhile the Electrical Safety Council this year rebranded as a charity to Electrical Safety First.

WHAT DOES NICEIC DO?

As the UK’s leading voluntary regulatory body for the electrical contracting industry, NICEIC assesses competence among electricians. In other words, it’s a shortcut for those hiring an electrician to feel confident their work will be up to scratch.

Having built up the assessment process over more than 50 years, the NICEIC is well placed to evaluate the 26,000-plus electricians on its register.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS FOR THE CUSTOMER?

Shoddy electrical work is not just a waste of money – it can put lives at risk. You might not be able to see the danger, but it can range from the risk of electric shocks to major incidents such as fire breaking out.

In fact, figures collated by the government suggest that around 19 fatal and 880 non-fatal shock accidents occur in the workplace every year.

Any company has a duty of care both to its staff and to visitors to the building to make sure that any electrical work is carried out to the required safety levels. NICEIC-registered electricians go through regular assessments to safeguard others and ensure high standards of work. And because the certification comes from an independent organisation, customers can be confident about its impartiality.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BEING AN NIC APPROVED CONTRACTOR?

An NICEIC-registered electrician or electrical engineering company will have a competitive advantage in the marketplace, whether working

in the domestic market or for larger organisations. In many cases, local authorities will only tender electrical work to a company that is NICEIC-approved.

The other benefits include a range of support services, such as technical advice, access to training and contractor insurance.

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE ASSESSMENT?

To start with, the company will go through a rigorous assessment process. This will cover a representative sample of their work and monitor the activities and competence of their key supervisors, as well as checking their premises, documentation and equipment.

Once this has been completed, there’s no resting on their laurels as they will have to undergo regular reassessment to ensure they remain compliant.

ANY OTHER POINTS TO CONSIDER?

Because the NICEIC operates an independent complaints procedure, an approved electrical contractor will be required to correct any work that falls beneath the accepted technical standards. Its Platinum Promise means that if there’s a problem within six years of the work being completed and the contractor is unable to carry out the remedial work, an alternative contractor will be paid for, up to the value of £25,000 per installation – bringing additional peace of mind for the customer.

ADVICE CORNER

07

Dear Richard How can we reduce the risk of electrical fires at our premises?

Resourceful from Rastrick

Electrical fires can have many causes, from old equipment and outdated wiring to poor installation or misuse of equipment. If you’ve got 10 plugs hanging out of one socket and some of your machinery came in on the ark, alarm bells should be ringing in your head before they start ringing in your premises.

Your best bet is to arrange a full site survey to establish any areas of risk – most electrical companies will offer this for free. Follow this with a planned preventative maintenance programme for peace of mind; it will also help you spread the costs.

Dear Richard I heard we may be heading for energy shortages in the UK. Is this true and what should we be doing about it? Anxious from Armley

You know that saying, ‘the lights are on but no one’s home’? Well, if we’re not careful, we’ll be looking at the opposite – ‘the lights are off and everyone’s sitting around in the dark’.

You’re right to be concerned: Ofgem, the government’s electricity and gas regulator, recently said that the UK’s generating margins, currently around 14%, could fall to below 4% by 2016. Some of their experts met earlier this year to discuss the issue with other organisations, including

representatives of The National Grid and the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA).

There are two courses of action worth considering. One is to get a reputable company to survey your premises and processes to identify energy savings. Not only will it save you money but if every company took this approach we wouldn’t be facing an energy shortage of the same magnitude. Second, make sure you have contingency plans in case the worse should occur – a good electrical contractor will be able to advise you on the options.

Of course if your boss is intentionally keeping you in the dark, then you’ve got a different problem altogether.

Dear Richard One of my younger employees keeps saying they’re wired. Can you throw any light on this?

Bewildered from Beeston

Someone once said that youth is wasted on the young and I’m inclined to agree. And a wasted youngster is even worse than a wasted youth.

If your staff member is running round like a headless chicken, achieving nothing, then you might want to suggest they cut down their consumption of energy drinks.

However, if being wired means they are enthusiastic and full of energy, then you’ve nothing to worry about. Unless they start talking about giving it 110%, in which case, send ’em on a basic maths course.

Dear Richard Is it safe to work on live electrical equipment?

Concerned from Cudworth

Is it safe to cross the road blindfold? Is it safe to trust an estate agent? Is it safe to cover yourself in jam and roll about on a wasps’ nest?

I think that probably answers your question.

Suffice to say, there are only two good reasons for working on live electrical equipment. One is that a system requires testing that can only be carried out on live equipment. The other is when shutting down an electrical system would cause a worse hazard, for example when the electrical connection is keeping an essential life safety system going.

In either case, you should call in a fully qualified and experienced electrical engineer to carry out the work. They will be familiar with all the relevant precautions, including ensuring that the area is not left unattended and there is no risk of water ingress.

Here at AES HQ, we know how easy it is for people to get their wires crossed. Us Yorkshire folk are known for handing out down-to-earth advice – whether you ask for it or not. So send us your questions, queries and quandaries and our resident expert, Richard Dent - Estimating & Design Engineer, will do his best to answer them. Even the daft ones.

Agony Uncle

If you want to ask Richard a question relevant

to electrical matters no matter how big, small

or silly it may seem, contact him by email:

info@advancedelectrical.org.uk

Subject title: Dear RichardYour question could be featured in the

next issue of WIRED.

Unplugged

Telephone: 01924 283 737 Email: info@advancedelectrical.org.uk

www.advancedelectrical.org.uk1 Water Works Cottage, Pildacre Lane, Ossett, West Yorkshire, WF5 8HN

To find out more about Advanced Electrical Visit www.advancedelectrical.org.uk

SAFE CONTRACTOR PASSED! – We are proud to annouce that we have passed our Safe Contractor assessment. Just like we did with our Chas assessment we got the accreditation first time without recommendations or faults!

NEW EMPLOYEE – We would like to welcome on board Brian Renshaw. who has joined the company as an electrician’s mate. He joins us after being made redundant from his previous company, where he worked for 42 years!

Congratulations to: Well no one this month as we had no entries. Come on folks you can do better than that, surely!

WORD SEARCH WINNERWere you king of the word search?

Are you Moving or extending your premises? Download your FREE Essential GuideAll you need to know about moving or extending your premises in one handy download. All for FREE, it’s too good to be true and we must be mad I hear you say.

Simply, all you need to do is visit our website www.advancedelectrical.org.uk and it’s right there on the first page, fill in your details and download your FREE guide.

If you need any more info on moving or extending your premises please give us a call on 01924 283 737.

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MOVING

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SUB STATION

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ACRONYMS

EMERGENCY

BACK UP

STANDBY

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POWER

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CONTRACTOR

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P T R A R T G A C R O N Y M S A

WORTH A MENTION

A place to mention things we couldn’t quite fit in this issue of WIRED. your supply authority to use 400 amp!

In this situation you would need to

contact your local supply authority

for the additional usage. Over the

years, this is one thing that often trips

businesses up, if they don’t use a

specialist electrical installer. That’s

because they may not realise that it

can take your supply authority up to 12

weeks to respond to your request and

then a further 12 weeks to carry out the

work, plus you have to pay for any work

in advance! Having to wait 24 weeks

can seriously disrupt the completion

date of the whole project.

Tip: Contact your supply authority as

early as possible as it can take up to

24 weeks (6 months) to increase your

electrical capacity!

Tip: If you’re a business that moves

machinery around, which can occur,

for example, if you have seasonal

sales, you may want to consider power

busbar trunking. This allows you to

connect a machine anywhere along

the length of the trunking, usually

irrespective of size, and can be more

cost effective and adaptable to your

business needs than traditional

hard wiring.

Step 4

At this stage we always recommend

that you set up a meeting with your

other factory service suppliers such

as compressed air and oil. They can

then work together to create detailed

drawings of where the services will

run, which will avoid unnecessary

crossovers or retrofitting areas before

the project is even completed!

Tip: Making sure that your service

contractors meet can save you money.

For instance, making water pipe

supports larger could mean that the

compressed air for your factory is

routed along the same path, therefore

reducing overall labour costs.

It is in your interest to get all

your service contractors

talking as it can save you

money, make installation

quicker and mean less

hassle on site.

Step 5

Always try and invest in the latest

technology and best practice at

the design stage because a small

investment now can have massive

savings long term. And, don’t forget to

consider energy efficient lighting and

lighting controls – another great way of

saving money.

Taking these kinds of steps will mean

that they pay for themselves many

times over during the lifespan of the

installation.

Moving Premises?5 Critical things you should know

See how we can help… Telephone: 01924 283 737

Extending Premises

5 things you should consider when1. What is going in the

extension? It sounds like an obvious question,

doesn’t it? But it’s surprising how

many people don’t plan ahead. First

make a simple list of all the equipment

that will be going into the new

extension. Next to each item, add the

recommended supply size and load of

the equipment – the manufacturer will

be able to provide this for you.

If you are moving existing machinery

you may need to check the rating

plate on the machine. Alternatively

the machine can be checked for

consumption using a simple clamp

meter or by logging the consumption

for a week or so to obtain accurate

results.Once you know what’s going into the

extension, the total load requirement

can be worked out. Don’t forget to

include lighting and small power,

and consider allowing for adding in

machinery in the future – an extra 25%

capacity is a good ballpark figure.

2. Do you have the

spare capacity?Once you know the requirements of

the additional equipment, you need

to check that your existing incoming

electrical supply is large enough to

accommodate the extra load. Contact

your electricity supplier and ask for

your ‘agreed capacity’ – this is the

maximum amount of electricity your

supplier has agreed to provide you

with.You will also need your ‘maximum

demand’ figure from your supplier –

this is the peak amount of electricity

you have used at any one time. Your

spare capacity is the difference

between the agreed capacity

and your existing maximum demand.

If you only need a small increase

in your agreed capacity to

accommodate the additional

equipment, the work should be

relatively quick and painless. However,

if you require a substantial increase in

supply you may be looking at a heftier

cost and several months’ wait.

Tip: don’t presume that the rating

of your main switch is your agreed

capacity – having a 400amp main

switch doesn’t necessarily mean you

have a 400amp supply.

See how we can help… Telephone: 01924 283 737

Essential guide toExtending or Moving Premises?