September 14, 2017 — Milwaukee Tool has expanded their storage solutions with the Ultimate Jobsite Backpack and Low-Profile Backpack.

September 14, 2017 — Amerlux has launched a new line of LED track and surface mount fixtures called SPEQ. Each fixture features an integral driver, no visible heat sink or venting, and a snoot that provides glare control.

September 7, 2017 - WAC Lighting introduces the DUO AC 120V LED light bar with colour option, which features a “nearly 100% efficient reflector,” the company says, which diffuses the light from the LED sources inside the mixing chamber to create evenly distributed illumination.

September 7, 2017 - Bosch has launched two cordless worklights that “can go virtually anywhere,” the company says. The GLI18V can provide up to 10 hours of illumination (using a 2.0 Ah Bosch SlimPack battery) and features articulating action, which allows the user to angle the light in several positions.

September 5, 2017 - Bosch has launched a multi-grip reciprocating saw that combines an “advanced” handle design with an 18V Bosch EC brushless motor and orbital/non-orbital action.

September 5, 2017 - Briggs & Stratton has released its service entrance-rated transfer switch in Canada. The product automatically moves a home’s power from utility to backup power when there is an outage.

September 5, 2017 - Burndy has added compression pulling heads to its Hydent family of compression connectors.

September 5, 2017 - Contech Lighting has added three new sizes to its Adjustable series: the 4-in. Round, the 4-in. Square and 6-in. Round, which deliver up to 3400 lumens.

September 5, 2017 - Dymo’s XTL labellers are now integrated with Fluke Networks to “simplify labeling tasks.” Project data is imported from Fluke’s Linkware Live cloud, which eliminates manual entry, saves time and increases productivity, Dymo says.

September 5, 2017 - Empire Level has launched the UltraView LED Torpedo Level, which integrates dual ultraviolet LEDS, optical brightener, and high-contrast e-Band vials to “deliver high definition viewing in all conditions.”

August 30, 2017 - According to the provincial utility, Nova Scotians will soon be able to drive their electric vehicles from Sydney to Yarmouth without having to worry about where to stop and recharge.

September 6, 2017 - “Smart Electrician” receptacle-type ground fault circuit interrupters Model GLX-15ATR by Huizhou Faith Electric Manufacture bear unauthorized Intertek Certification Marks for Canada and the States.

September 6, 2017 – Entegrus Powerlines Inc., a Chatham, Ont., electrical utility contractor, has been fined $70,000 after two workers received electrical burns, reports Ontario’s Ministry of Labour.

August 30, 2017 - CSA Group is warning the public of the unauthorized use of CSA Group Certification Marks on wiring that has been noted as a component on various products, mainly arriving from China.

August 30,2017 - Intertek issued a warning over a James Industry Group LLC direct replacement LED tube, which bears an unauthorized Intertek Recognized Component Certification Mark for Canada and the United States.

August 30, 2017 - With more volts than ever in electric vehicles (EVs) and solar-panelled rooftops, first responder and electrical worker safety is a growing concern. Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL in the U.S.) are addressing this challenge with the development of a probe to accurately detect direct current (DC) energy.

August 11, 2017 - Last month, a contractor was sentenced in a Burlington, Ont., court to five days in jail and ordered to pay $40,000 in fines (plus a 25% victim fine surcharge) for doing electrical work illegally.

June 29, 2017* - At the National Academy of Construction’s annual meeting this fall, a collaborative workshop will be held between NAC and the IEEE IAS Electrical Safety Committee (Construction Subcommittee) with the aim of reducing electrical injuries and fatalities in the construction industry.

July 18, 2017 - Believe it or not, there hasn’t been a lost-time injury at Nova Scotia Power’s Milton Heavy Maintenance Shop since June 27, 1977. Congratulations!

June 29, 2017 - Both Health Canada and the U.S. CPSC are reporting a recall involving Home Decorators Collection 3-light and 4-light Comotti vanity fixtures due to burn and laceration hazards.

June 29, 2017 - In consultation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Milwaukee Tool is voluntarily expanding warnings and instructions for its M18 high-demand 9.0 battery pack (No. 48-11-1890) to address situations that could lead to pack failure and/or other safety hazards.

June 28, 2017 - I am regularly asked by professionals from a variety of electrical sectors to help them nail down comprehensive methods for executing safe electrical work practices in real-world scenarios. This is where the rubber hits the road, involving some of the most important interactions between crews and their management teams.

September 15, 2017 — In addition to a number of changes in 2012, CE Code Section 62 “Fixed electric heating systems” underwent a fairly substantial rewrite in 2015. So what’s changed?

August 17, 2017 - Will you get stumped by T-slot (5-20R) receptacles? Tackle this month’s Code Conundrum... if you dare!

August 17, 2017 - The new CE Code (24th ed.) is almost here, and Section 64 contains several important changes (already approved by the CE Code-Part I Committee), two of which I will discuss here.

August 2, 2017 - To facilitate the practice of installing service conduits within building walls to improve a home’s exterior appearance, BC Hydro harmonized its requirements for concrete encasement of utility supply service raceways (120/240V up to 600A) installed within building walls, along with the BC Electrical Code requirement for consumer’s service raceways for residential supply services.

July 19, 2017 - CSA Z463 “Maintenance of electrical systems” has been adopted across Canada—even globally—since being first published in November 2013.

June 28, 2017 - What do circuit loading and demand factors mean, and how are they different? A circuit load is a component or portion of the circuit that consumes power. A demand factor is a time-dependent fractional quantity that will always be less than, or equal to, one. Huh?

June 26, 2017 - Tackle June’s Code Conundrum... if you dare!

May 26, 2017 - Required by the National Building Code (NBC), smoke alarms must be permanently connected to a lighting circuit, or one that supplies both lighting and receptacles, so as to quickly detect when there’s a problem with the circuit.

May 26, 2017 - The May Code Conundrum will help you brush up on your code knowledge!

May 12, 2017 - The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) in the U.S. has published NEMA ICS 5-2017 Industrial Control and Systems: Control Circuit and Pilot Devices. This standard applies to general purpose mechanical, electromechanical and solid-state devices that are used in industrial applications for control circuit switching and the control of solenoids rated not more than 600V.

May 2, 2017 - The draft edition of the next CSA Z462 “Workplace electrical safety” is available for public review.

August 30, 2017 - Nova Scotia Power is investing nearly $4 million to upgrade the Lequille hydroelectric system to ensure the facility’s “reliability, safety and efficiency”.

August 30, 2017 - North Bay Hydro has partnered with S&C Electric Canada Ltd. to deploy a microgrid at North Bay Community Energy Park.

August 30, 2017 - ENMAX and the Town of Cardston have completed two Net Zero solar projects, installing 500+ solar modules on the rooftops of Cardston’s Charlie Cheeseman Memorial Ice Arena and Civic Centre.

August 30, 2017 - Last week, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and Taykwa Tagamou Nation (TTN) celebrated the official opening of the $300-million Peter Sutherland Sr. Generating Station.

August 30, 2017 - Global cable-producer Nexans has commenced with the construction of a new cable-laying vessel for submarine high-voltage cable systems installations.

August 15, 2017 - The Montreal Port Authority’s (MPA) shore power project has been completed, which means vessels docking at the Port of Montreal’s new cruise terminal can be powered by electricity rather than their diesel engines.

August 10, 2017 - Constructed and developed during World War I by the Calabogie Light & Power Co., OPG’s Calabogie Generating Station is celebrating its 100th anniversary this November. Congratulations!

July 19, 2017 - A pole-mounted energy storage system that was put into service in August 2016 in a North York (Toronto) neighbourhood is “showing positive results” in the early stages of a pilot program, reports Toronto Hydro.

July 18, 2017 - BC Hydro reports continued wildfires through the Central and Southern Interior regions are creating challenging conditions for both the province’s firefighters and BC Hydro crews.

July 18, 2017 - Siemens AG and The AES Corp. are forming a new global energy storage technology and services company named Fluence, which will combine the capabilities of Siemens’ battery-based energy storage solutions group under the Energy Management division with AES’ subsidiary, AES Energy Storage.

July 13, 2017 - SaskPower reports the competitive process for the next 200MW MW of utility-scale wind capacity is has moved to the RFP (request for proposal) phase.

August 17, 2017 - CSA Group’s annual Committee Week is a great venue for networking with CE Code-Part I Technical Committee (TC) members. That they have an excellent understanding of electrical practices is a given, but they also bring their own regional perspectives to the discussions that, eventually, lead to a new CE Code.

March 21, 2017* - “All of our members can supply every electrical need that is required by Habitat for Humanity,” notes Techspan’s Frank Dunnigan, as we chatted about Canada’s electrical industry having the “Power to Build” ... that’s the new campaign Electro-Federation Canada is rolling out with Habitat for Humanity Canada.

June 21, 2017 - In a few paragraphs, my column will, in fact, line up with the title I’ve written above. Bear with me.

June 16, 2017 - “A job is not just a job; a job is a way to give back,” explained Cherith Sinasac, as I chatted with her and Jarrod Stewart to learn more about the Young Professional Network’s 2017 GIVE initiative.

May 29, 2017 - Over the last few issues, we’ve teased the coming of an expanded awards program, which we’re officially re-launching as the Canadian Electrical Awards, starting May 1, 2017.

April 7, 2017 - These days, you would be hard-pressed to find a marketing “guru” who didn’t demand you establish a presence on social media. Some will suggest you find a few social outlets to which you will actually commit (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.), while others will recommend you have to be everywhere!

March 20, 2017 - Everyone in the Province of Ontario knows electricity costs have gone through the roof. Electricity customers of all sizes have been complaining bitterly about costs and their impact on their livelihood and way of life. Significant numbers of people who have been worried about paying their electricity bill are now angry.

March 17, 2017 - We were asked to trial the Brother P-touch PT-E550W industrial hand-held labelling tool at a local jobsite. As a former teacher, I have always believed we must start putting technology into the hands of our future electricians... this tool does just that.

March 9, 2017 - I can’t say I’m very familiar with Jim Carr, Canada’s minister of Natural Resources, but I stumbled upon—and have to applaud—the speech he gave at the Energy Council of Canada’s “Canadian Energy Industry: Updates and Insights” event in Ottawa back in February.

February 4, 2017 - When the Ontario government shelved the concept of Bill 69 (a.k.a. Prompt Payment Act) and, instead, decided to launch a review of the entire Construction Lien Act [CLA], Eryl Roberts—then executive director of ECA of Ontario—argued:

February 1, 2017 - You may be familiar with the following electrical groups operating in Alberta: Capital Region Electric Club (Edmonton), Calgary Electric Club (CEC) and, of course, Alberta Electrical League (AEL).

June 21, 2017* - While at MCEE 2017, I met François Côté, president of Drumco Énergie Inc., who was showing off the new Kohler KD industrial generator series, which ranges from 800 kVA to 4200 kVA, and is intended for applications ranging from emergency and prime in healthcare and data centre to water treatment and mining.

June 22, 2017 - In celebration of National Aboriginal Day, Hydro One announced 14 students selected for the Leonard S. (Tony) Mandamin Scholarship, which is granted annually to First Nations, Métis and Inuit post-secondary students.

June 19, 2017 - BC Safety Authority’s “Great Start Live” is a free orientation course for individuals in the electrical industry who are either new to the industry or just looking for a refresher.

May 24, 2017 - Lighting professionals can now focus their expertise on specific market segments—including retail, industrial, office and educational—through NAILD’s redesigned Lighting Specialist (LS II) program.

May 15, 2017 - Hot on the heels of the 2017 Skills Ontario competition, several thousand students are expected to descend on Ottawa for Future Building 2017, a free event being held May 16-18 at the EY Centre.

May 3, 2017 - Seventy-two members of Alberta’s trades community, including four electrical apprentices, have been honoured for their “outstanding achievements” in the workplace and in the classroom at the 2017 Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board Awards.

May 1, 2017 - You don’t have to be constantly troubleshooting the same motor and drive problem, according to Fluke, who released its new Motor and Drive Troubleshooting Course recently to help “maintenance professionals can gain the practical diagnostic skills needed to better understand motor/drive system health and significantly improve equipment reliability”.

March 29, 2017 - BICSI has released the latest update to its ICT Cabling Installation Program.

March 9, 2017 - Against the backdrop of International Women’s Day, Hydro One announced its “continued support for women in engineering”, committing $1.4 million dollars toward the Women in Engineering University Partnership with Ryerson, Ontario Institute of Technology, Waterloo and Western.

March 6, 2017 - The Government of Alberta says it is helping an additional 1000 apprentices continue their technical training through the Apprentice Training Award.

March 1, 2017 - Schneider Electric has launched the 7th iteration of its “Go Green in the City” annual global challenge for business and engineering students aimed at promoting “innovative energy management ideas for smart cities”.