Articles
The importance of ‘buying local’ and boosting your credibility during times of crisis
As a series of storms, floods and fires recently swept across the country, Master Electricians Australia (MEA) has called on insurance companies to buy local when they are sourcing contractors for repair work. [ + ]
Testing in the enterprise: how hard can it be?
You get a patch or an upgrade for your firewall from the vendor. They say it fixes that one problem that’s been bugging you for the last few months. But you can’t just install the update, right? You have to test it first. [ + ]
Major changes to cabling regulation
In 2012, the telecommunications regulator - the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) - introduced major changes to the Cabling Provider Rules (CPR) that will affect most cablers across the country. [ + ]
Get sporty
Lapp cable products are in demand in large sporting facilities. From energy chains to solar cabling, Lapp products can be found in the homes of champions worldwide. [ + ]
Connecting France’s largest solar plant
France’s largest solar plant, with a total installed capacity of 105 MWp, is the Toul-Rosières Solar Park project located on a former military base near the city of Nancy in the Lorraine region. Developed by the French renewable energy provider EDF Energies Nouvelles, the photovoltaic power plant covers an area of more than 400 hectares and will generate 105 MWp, which is enough to provide for the electric power needs of a town with 62,000 inhabitants. [ + ]
What goes down when the lights go out
One in four power outages and four of the five most significant blackouts occurring in Australia and New Zealand during 2012 were the result of severe weather. The causes included once-in-a-decade storm winds in Perth that left 161,000 people without power, severe winds that damaged poles and brought down lines in Taranaki, North Island, and damaging winds and torrential rainstorms in Sydney. [ + ]
NECA plays major role in apprenticeship pilot
NECA is playing a major role in a new electrical apprenticeship pilot being trialled throughout Australia by the industry skills council E-Oz Energy Skills Australia, focused on improving electrical apprentice completion rates across the country. [ + ]
A touch of virtual reality
The operator of the South Australian electricity distribution network, SA Power Networks, is the latest organisation to benefit from the expertise of local company Jumbo Vision, which specialises in the development and integration of control rooms that deftly balance the human factor with the latest audiovisual technology. [ + ]
Are you a contractor customers would recommend to others?
In our role as electrical industry peak body, Master Electricians Australia (MEA) is often asked by media what people should look for when they are engaging an electrician. Of course, our first answer is always to ensure you are dealing with someone who holds the appropriate licence and insurance for whichever state they’re working in. [ + ]
Important information for contractors in the building and construction industry
From 1 July 2012, if you are a contractor in the building and construction industry, businesses in this industry will have to report to the ATO the total amount they have paid you each year for building and construction services. [ + ]
Network security the key to enterprise protection
Steve Lawlor, Business Manager, Customer Support & Maintenance, Rockwell Automation, discusses the challenges of security management in today’s complex and interconnected environments. [ + ]
Grasping green buildings
In yet another sector of the industry riddled with acronyms and abbreviations, green buildings can be a minefield of confusing terminology. NABERS, Green Star, GBCA, BEECs, EUAs ... if you’ve wondered what it all means and why you need to know, then read on. [ + ]
Amplified lifestyle, reduced energy
In times of rising energy costs, government incentives and a desire to reduce household bills, solar installations are becoming increasingly common in residential applications. Coupled with a desire for the comfort and lifestyle benefits afforded by a control and management system, today’s homeowner demands a sophisticated integration of the two. The question for today’s contractor is how to effectively deliver all the advantages and maximise client investment. [ + ]
Driving clean energy innovation
The city of Fort Collins, Colorado, USA, has partnered with Schneider Electric and Fort Collins-based Spirae Inc to roll out the area’s first electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. As part of their innovative FortZED (Zero Energy District) project, the city is phasing in EVlink charging stations for installation at the city’s fleet lot, select public parking facilities and private business parking lots. [ + ]
Understanding the most common power quality problems
With the growing need for more base- and critical-load supply, many countries and industries struggle to manage their energy usage efficiently, despite the continuous availability of electrical power. This article provides detailed insights on the most common power quality problems, their likely effects and potential solutions. [ + ]