http://www.azobuild.com/news.asp?newsID=6970
As holistic building continues to grow, more electrical contractors are joining the design team to reach key project goals for sustainability.
According to an article by Chuck Ross in the latest issue of ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR magazine, “Design/Building Green,” electrical contractors can offer engineers and architects the added benefits of cutting-edge product knowledge along with critical energy efficiency expertise.
According to Ross, electrical contractors with knowledge in new technologies such as advanced LED lighting and power-over-Ethernet sensors and controls are becoming increasingly important in the effort to boost building performance. Their product knowledge is moving them from a traditional design/bid/build specialty contractor to more of a design/assist consultant.
“In our 2008 survey, about half—46 percent—of electrical contractors worked on projects in 2007 that included green/sustainable building elements,” said ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR Publisher John Maisel. “About 30 percent of the firms surveyed reported working in either LEED projects, solar photovoltaics, wind generation, net metering and cogeneration and their LEED accreditation is increasing,” he said.
An article example includes the restoration of San Francisco’s Federal Reserve building, also known as the Bently Reserve, which featured the first U.S. installation of Lutron Electronics Co.’s advanced Quantum lighting and control system. The systems ties daylighting sensors to lighting controls and the company’s Sivoia QS shades for automated lighting management that is sensitive to both area occupancy and changing natural light, and enables communication with other building equipment.
“In the process of working with such advanced technology, it turned into design/assist,” said Bill Musgrave, president of McMillan Cos., the project’s San Francisco-based electrical contractor. “We found ourselves collaborating with the engineers and Lutron. Because the product was so new, nobody knew what to do with it,” he said.
Musgrave said they recognized that the interconnectedness of high-performance buildings almost forces designers, contractors and even manufacturers to work as a team even when design/bid/build contractors are in place. “We had to make sure the lighting control would talk to the mechanical system,” he said.
Source: http://www.ecmag.com/index.cfm?fa=article&articleID=10585/
Posted 29th September 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Los Angeles Electricians On Alert for Counterfeit Products
September 18, 2009 3:29 PM CDT
Electrical industry warns contractors to watch for counterfeit products
by Brian Johnson Staff Writer
Electrical contractors throughout the country may be shocked to learn that some of the products they’re installing may be bad imitations of the real thing.
Counterfeit electrical products — including circuit breakers used in residential and commercial construction — are increasingly making their way into the U.S., creating safety hazards and putting businesses at risk, according to national experts.
Roughly 90 percent of the knockoff products are coming from China, where enforcement against such activity has been lax at best. The National Electrical Contractors Association, which has been crusading against the influx of bogus products, said it’s a “$20 billion annual crime.”
Importation of counterfeit items — from bogus hand bags to fake designer watches — has long been a concern.
But the problem has reached “epic proportions” in the $130 billion electrical industry, NECA officials said. The organization cites a U.S. Customs report, which shows that seizures of counterfeit electrical products were up 43 percent from 2007 to 2008.
John Maisel, publisher of NECA’s Electrical Contractor magazine, has spearheaded a national Anti-Counterfeit Products Initiative. Participants include NECA, Underwriters Laboratory (UL), the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, and Illinois-based Schneider Electric, among other organizations.
“Electrical products counterfeiting is a huge issue,” Maisel said in a phone interview.
“Probably the most dangerous aspects of this crime are safety of electrical workers and ultimately safety of the consumer. If you have a fake handbag your pride gets hurt. If a major electrical product fails, you could end up seriously injured.”
Not a problem here - yet
It’s a national problem, according to Maisel, who will deliver a speech on counterfeit electrical products at the Sept. 15 NECA Convention & Trade Show in Seattle.
However, at least one expert says it’s not a big concern in Minnesota — at least not yet.
Jeff Ohman, chapter manager of the Minneapolis chapter of NECA, said counterfeit products tend to be more of an issue in areas hit by natural disasters, where buildings and infrastructure need to be rebuilt in a hurry.
“In the Twin Cities, we have yet to see it hit, which is fine with us,” Ohman said. “We are not immune to those issues, but it doesn’t seem to have made any inroads up here yet.”
Still, Ohman says it’s important for contractors to get their supplies from reliable sources.
“I have experienced myself what I call fly-by-night suppliers, making a cold call from another part of the country, wanting to sell you electrical materials, circuit breakers, switch gears, things like that,” Ohman said.
“On the other hand, I don’t think a lot of our contractors make those purchases over the phone. They are used to dealing through reputable supply firms. … If you deal directly, like a lot of our members do, with established supply houses in the area … I think you are going to be better off.”
Maisel warns contractors that they can be on the hook for hefty fines and criminal penalties if they install an unsafe product that causes injury or property damage. Contractors could be held liable for anything from negligence to breach of contract.
Education is key
It’s easy to be fooled, because counterfeiters have become increasingly savvy and sophisticated. Besides copying the product itself, disreputable suppliers are using fake UL labels, designs and packaging, experts say.
Another red flag: inordinately low cost.
“We all look for bargains,” Maisel said. “And that sort of thing [unusually low cost] — I would say that probably could be a significant driver. If it is really, really cheap, it could be for a reason.”
Maisel advises contractors to watch out for things like misspelled words on the packaging or subtle differences in the label or design.
“One thing is to educate the field staff, field electricians, as to what to look for,” he added. “They are the last people to touch these products before they go into the building.”
Schneider Electric, which has its North American headquarters in Palatine, Ill., is among the industry leaders in fighting counterfeit products.
The company speaks from experience. In July, a jury found an Indiana firm guilty of purchasing and selling counterfeit versions of a trademarked Schneider circuit breaker obtained from two unauthorized suppliers.
According to a company press release, the lawsuit and similar efforts have “kept more than 250,000 potentially hazardous counterfeit goods out of the marketplace.”
Schneider officials have seen bogus circuit breakers that have improper materials, erratic tripping mechanisms, lack of thermal adjustment and arc chamber insulation, and inadequate short circuit rating, among other shortcomings.
Tracey Garner, manager of Schneider’s anti-counterfeiting division, said the company has seen “quite a few” counterfeit operations in the past few years.
After getting into the discovery process of its civil litigation, Schneider followed the trail to other companies and ultimately filed 13 different lawsuits, according to Garner.
In an investigation related to one of Schneider’s civil lawsuits, she said, authorities recovered $1 million worth of counterfeit electrical products from a single warehouse.
“That was just lucky we got to the warehouse before they got the opportunity to sell it,” Garner said. “It is definitely a multi-million [problem]. We are just one manufacturer. Across the country, it has to be pretty significant.”
Electrical industry warns contractors to watch for counterfeit products
by Brian Johnson Staff Writer
Electrical contractors throughout the country may be shocked to learn that some of the products they’re installing may be bad imitations of the real thing.
Counterfeit electrical products — including circuit breakers used in residential and commercial construction — are increasingly making their way into the U.S., creating safety hazards and putting businesses at risk, according to national experts.
Roughly 90 percent of the knockoff products are coming from China, where enforcement against such activity has been lax at best. The National Electrical Contractors Association, which has been crusading against the influx of bogus products, said it’s a “$20 billion annual crime.”
Importation of counterfeit items — from bogus hand bags to fake designer watches — has long been a concern.
But the problem has reached “epic proportions” in the $130 billion electrical industry, NECA officials said. The organization cites a U.S. Customs report, which shows that seizures of counterfeit electrical products were up 43 percent from 2007 to 2008.
John Maisel, publisher of NECA’s Electrical Contractor magazine, has spearheaded a national Anti-Counterfeit Products Initiative. Participants include NECA, Underwriters Laboratory (UL), the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, and Illinois-based Schneider Electric, among other organizations.
“Electrical products counterfeiting is a huge issue,” Maisel said in a phone interview.
“Probably the most dangerous aspects of this crime are safety of electrical workers and ultimately safety of the consumer. If you have a fake handbag your pride gets hurt. If a major electrical product fails, you could end up seriously injured.”
Not a problem here - yet
It’s a national problem, according to Maisel, who will deliver a speech on counterfeit electrical products at the Sept. 15 NECA Convention & Trade Show in Seattle.
However, at least one expert says it’s not a big concern in Minnesota — at least not yet.
Jeff Ohman, chapter manager of the Minneapolis chapter of NECA, said counterfeit products tend to be more of an issue in areas hit by natural disasters, where buildings and infrastructure need to be rebuilt in a hurry.
“In the Twin Cities, we have yet to see it hit, which is fine with us,” Ohman said. “We are not immune to those issues, but it doesn’t seem to have made any inroads up here yet.”
Still, Ohman says it’s important for contractors to get their supplies from reliable sources.
“I have experienced myself what I call fly-by-night suppliers, making a cold call from another part of the country, wanting to sell you electrical materials, circuit breakers, switch gears, things like that,” Ohman said.
“On the other hand, I don’t think a lot of our contractors make those purchases over the phone. They are used to dealing through reputable supply firms. … If you deal directly, like a lot of our members do, with established supply houses in the area … I think you are going to be better off.”
Maisel warns contractors that they can be on the hook for hefty fines and criminal penalties if they install an unsafe product that causes injury or property damage. Contractors could be held liable for anything from negligence to breach of contract.
Education is key
It’s easy to be fooled, because counterfeiters have become increasingly savvy and sophisticated. Besides copying the product itself, disreputable suppliers are using fake UL labels, designs and packaging, experts say.
Another red flag: inordinately low cost.
“We all look for bargains,” Maisel said. “And that sort of thing [unusually low cost] — I would say that probably could be a significant driver. If it is really, really cheap, it could be for a reason.”
Maisel advises contractors to watch out for things like misspelled words on the packaging or subtle differences in the label or design.
“One thing is to educate the field staff, field electricians, as to what to look for,” he added. “They are the last people to touch these products before they go into the building.”
Schneider Electric, which has its North American headquarters in Palatine, Ill., is among the industry leaders in fighting counterfeit products.
The company speaks from experience. In July, a jury found an Indiana firm guilty of purchasing and selling counterfeit versions of a trademarked Schneider circuit breaker obtained from two unauthorized suppliers.
According to a company press release, the lawsuit and similar efforts have “kept more than 250,000 potentially hazardous counterfeit goods out of the marketplace.”
Schneider officials have seen bogus circuit breakers that have improper materials, erratic tripping mechanisms, lack of thermal adjustment and arc chamber insulation, and inadequate short circuit rating, among other shortcomings.
Tracey Garner, manager of Schneider’s anti-counterfeiting division, said the company has seen “quite a few” counterfeit operations in the past few years.
After getting into the discovery process of its civil litigation, Schneider followed the trail to other companies and ultimately filed 13 different lawsuits, according to Garner.
In an investigation related to one of Schneider’s civil lawsuits, she said, authorities recovered $1 million worth of counterfeit electrical products from a single warehouse.
“That was just lucky we got to the warehouse before they got the opportunity to sell it,” Garner said. “It is definitely a multi-million [problem]. We are just one manufacturer. Across the country, it has to be pretty significant.”
Monday, September 28, 2009
Los Angeles Electricians Tout Jobs in UK
Romford, Essex
Salary: £25-30k p/a
Company: Management Recruitment Group
Job type: Permanent
Date posted: 24/09/2009 15:39
Description:
Role Summary:
An expanding Mechanical and Electrical Contractor are looking to recruit a Mechanical (HVAC) Estimator to join their growing experienced team based in their offices near Romford in Essex. A specialist building services contractor with a focus on the design and installation of M&E services for new build and refurbishment works they have experience of successful delivery to a wide range of market sectors, typical project values ranging up to £5m (M&E).
The Company:
A specialist M&E Building Services Contractor they are able to offer ‘one stop shop’ solutions, providing turnkey solutions for full range of Mechanical Services & Electrical Services, you will be required to bid on Mechanical services packages, (inc Air Conditioning, Heating, plumbing & ductwork services) for wide range of refurb, fit-out & new build projects.Providing a fully integrated service; from design and implementation to planned maintenance their clients are national and international companies within the following sectors; Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Retail, Leisure, Government & Hospitals.
Key Duties & Responsibilities:
·Initial tender evaluation.
·Sending out supplier and sub-contract enquiries.
·Take-offs & measurements from drawings.
·Return quotation analysis.
·Inputting of data to estimating package (Estimation / Luckins / Excel spreadsheets).
·Organising meetings with suppliers & sub-contractors to ensure clarity on a given tender.
·Final tender appraisal and submission.
The Successful candidate will be able to demonstrate a proven track record in the Mechanical HVAC Building services sector, having successfully tendered on a range of projects, in return you will be paid a competitive salary & gain the opportunity to aid & share in the company’s growth in a difficult market.
All applicants must be eligible to work within the UK without restriction.
Salary: £25-30k p/a
Company: Management Recruitment Group
Job type: Permanent
Date posted: 24/09/2009 15:39
Description:
Role Summary:
An expanding Mechanical and Electrical Contractor are looking to recruit a Mechanical (HVAC) Estimator to join their growing experienced team based in their offices near Romford in Essex. A specialist building services contractor with a focus on the design and installation of M&E services for new build and refurbishment works they have experience of successful delivery to a wide range of market sectors, typical project values ranging up to £5m (M&E).
The Company:
A specialist M&E Building Services Contractor they are able to offer ‘one stop shop’ solutions, providing turnkey solutions for full range of Mechanical Services & Electrical Services, you will be required to bid on Mechanical services packages, (inc Air Conditioning, Heating, plumbing & ductwork services) for wide range of refurb, fit-out & new build projects.Providing a fully integrated service; from design and implementation to planned maintenance their clients are national and international companies within the following sectors; Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Retail, Leisure, Government & Hospitals.
Key Duties & Responsibilities:
·Initial tender evaluation.
·Sending out supplier and sub-contract enquiries.
·Take-offs & measurements from drawings.
·Return quotation analysis.
·Inputting of data to estimating package (Estimation / Luckins / Excel spreadsheets).
·Organising meetings with suppliers & sub-contractors to ensure clarity on a given tender.
·Final tender appraisal and submission.
The Successful candidate will be able to demonstrate a proven track record in the Mechanical HVAC Building services sector, having successfully tendered on a range of projects, in return you will be paid a competitive salary & gain the opportunity to aid & share in the company’s growth in a difficult market.
All applicants must be eligible to work within the UK without restriction.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Los Angeles Electricians Understand Sustainability
As holistic building continues to grow, more electrical contractors are joining the design team to reach key project goals for sustainability. According to an article by Chuck Ross in the latest issue of ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR magazine, “Design/Building Green,” electrical contractors can offer engineers and architects the added benefits of cutting-edge product knowledge along with critical energy efficiency expertise.
According to Ross, electrical contractors with knowledge in new technologies such as advanced LED lighting and power-over-Ethernet sensors and controls are becoming increasingly important in the effort to boost building performance. Their product knowledge is moving them from a traditional design/bid/build specialty contractor to more of a design/assist consultant.
“In our 2008 survey, about half—46 percent—of electrical contractors worked on projects in 2007 that included green/sustainable building elements,” said ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR Publisher John Maisel. “About 30 percent of the firms surveyed reported working in either LEED projects, solar photovoltaics, wind generation, net metering and cogeneration and their LEED accreditation is increasing,” he said.
An article example includes the restoration of San Francisco’s Federal Reserve building, also known as the Bently Reserve, which featured the first U.S. installation of Lutron Electronics Co.’s advanced Quantum lighting and control system. The systems ties daylighting sensors to lighting controls and the company’s Sivoia QS shades for automated lighting management that is sensitive to both area occupancy and changing natural light, and enables communication with other building equipment.
“In the process of working with such advanced technology, it turned into design/assist,” said Bill Musgrave, president of McMillan Cos., the project’s San Francisco-based electrical contractor. “We found ourselves collaborating with the engineers and Lutron. Because the product was so new, nobody knew what to do with it,” he said.
Musgrave said they recognized that the interconnectedness of high-performance buildings almost forces designers, contractors and even manufacturers to work as a team even when design/bid/build contractors are in place. “We had to make sure the lighting control would talk to the mechanical system,” he said.
For the full article, go to: http://www.ecmag.com/index.cfm?fa=article&articleID=10585
Published by the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), Bethesda, Md., ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR delivers 85,300+ electrical contractors and 68,000+ electrical contracting locations, more than any other industry publication. Web site: www.ecmag.com.
According to Ross, electrical contractors with knowledge in new technologies such as advanced LED lighting and power-over-Ethernet sensors and controls are becoming increasingly important in the effort to boost building performance. Their product knowledge is moving them from a traditional design/bid/build specialty contractor to more of a design/assist consultant.
“In our 2008 survey, about half—46 percent—of electrical contractors worked on projects in 2007 that included green/sustainable building elements,” said ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR Publisher John Maisel. “About 30 percent of the firms surveyed reported working in either LEED projects, solar photovoltaics, wind generation, net metering and cogeneration and their LEED accreditation is increasing,” he said.
An article example includes the restoration of San Francisco’s Federal Reserve building, also known as the Bently Reserve, which featured the first U.S. installation of Lutron Electronics Co.’s advanced Quantum lighting and control system. The systems ties daylighting sensors to lighting controls and the company’s Sivoia QS shades for automated lighting management that is sensitive to both area occupancy and changing natural light, and enables communication with other building equipment.
“In the process of working with such advanced technology, it turned into design/assist,” said Bill Musgrave, president of McMillan Cos., the project’s San Francisco-based electrical contractor. “We found ourselves collaborating with the engineers and Lutron. Because the product was so new, nobody knew what to do with it,” he said.
Musgrave said they recognized that the interconnectedness of high-performance buildings almost forces designers, contractors and even manufacturers to work as a team even when design/bid/build contractors are in place. “We had to make sure the lighting control would talk to the mechanical system,” he said.
For the full article, go to: http://www.ecmag.com/index.cfm?fa=article&articleID=10585
Published by the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), Bethesda, Md., ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR delivers 85,300+ electrical contractors and 68,000+ electrical contracting locations, more than any other industry publication. Web site: www.ecmag.com.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Congratulations to John J. Pempek from Los Angeles Electricians
Chicago based industrial electrical service, John J. Pempek Inc., recently received the 'Award of Merit for Excellence in Construction' from the Associated Builders and Contractors of Illinois.
Palos Heights, IL (PRWEB) September 23, 2009 -- Top Chicago electrical contractor, John J. Pempek Inc., was recently honored as a recipient of the 'Award of Merit for Excellence in Construction' by the Associated Builders and Contractors of Illinois. Pempek received the award for the superior quality work carried out at Macy's Distribution Center.
News Image
Pempek was contracted to furnish and install rack lighting, emergency lighting, under conveyor lighting, panel feeders, electrical panels and conveyor panel feeders in an almost complete 800,000 sq. feet building within 90 days. The $800,000 budgeted project was completed on time and under budget by the Chicago electricians. Further work, worth $350,000 was carried out by the company due to customer additions after their personnel moved in.
"This fast paced project required a lot of detailed work. The sheer size of the facility, tight schedule, coordination with other trades and responding quickly to our clients needs as they increased our scope of work without delaying the completion date of the project was a nice challenge for our company and I am proud of our performance in meeting that challenge. The scope of work was impressive for the 90 day schedule. Two hundred forty seven 400W metal halide lights had to be removed to accommodate 792 six lamp linear fluorescent hi-bay fixtures for the rack lighting. We installed 8,340 linear feet of 4" conduit, 1000' of 3" conduit and 2000' of 2 ½" conduit. The project took approximately 5 miles of 750mcm cable, 2 miles of 500 mcm cable and 1 mile of 250 mcm cable. Our longest continuous pull, two parallel runs of four 500 mcm cables and one 250 mcm cable, was exactly 935'. We installed 4 ½" miles of smaller conduit and consumed over 15 miles of wire size #2 or smaller. Our workers carried out a total of 6,851 hours of work on this project and we are delighted our hard work is being acknowledged with this award," says Michael Pempek of John J. Pempek Inc.
Pempek is one of the leading electrical contractors in the Chicago region providing industrial electrical services, commercial contracting, machinery and equipment installation and relocation, electrical maintenance services, infrared thermography and industrial control panels. Pempek is a single source service providing all of its various services under one roof. From layout to installation, programming maintenance to emergency service, John J. Pempek serves as a one stop shop for electrical contracting needs.
Pempek operates as a complete turnkey contracting service. The firm utilizes a dependable network of quality contractors ranging from fitters, millwrights, welders, carpenters, masons and others to aid in completing their work as per their high standards. The coordination of various contractors and the provision of all services under one roof helps to reduce the client's costs and is more time efficient as well.
"We started as a general electrical firm post war in 1947 and after three generations of owners, we are still holding strong and servicing clients both old and new. We have established a reputation as dependable and consistent contractors and the variety of services we now provide in-house has only endeared us to clients even more than before," concludes Michael Pempek.
About John J. Pempek Inc.: Established in 1947, John J. Pempek (http://www.pempek.com/) is a leading Chicago area electrical contracting company. The company provides industrial and commercial contracting, machine service, high voltage service, color infrared thermography and the manufacture of UL-registered custom industrial control panels. All services, starting from layout to installation to maintenance are handled in-house by the firm.
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Palos Heights, IL (PRWEB) September 23, 2009 -- Top Chicago electrical contractor, John J. Pempek Inc., was recently honored as a recipient of the 'Award of Merit for Excellence in Construction' by the Associated Builders and Contractors of Illinois. Pempek received the award for the superior quality work carried out at Macy's Distribution Center.
News Image
Pempek was contracted to furnish and install rack lighting, emergency lighting, under conveyor lighting, panel feeders, electrical panels and conveyor panel feeders in an almost complete 800,000 sq. feet building within 90 days. The $800,000 budgeted project was completed on time and under budget by the Chicago electricians. Further work, worth $350,000 was carried out by the company due to customer additions after their personnel moved in.
"This fast paced project required a lot of detailed work. The sheer size of the facility, tight schedule, coordination with other trades and responding quickly to our clients needs as they increased our scope of work without delaying the completion date of the project was a nice challenge for our company and I am proud of our performance in meeting that challenge. The scope of work was impressive for the 90 day schedule. Two hundred forty seven 400W metal halide lights had to be removed to accommodate 792 six lamp linear fluorescent hi-bay fixtures for the rack lighting. We installed 8,340 linear feet of 4" conduit, 1000' of 3" conduit and 2000' of 2 ½" conduit. The project took approximately 5 miles of 750mcm cable, 2 miles of 500 mcm cable and 1 mile of 250 mcm cable. Our longest continuous pull, two parallel runs of four 500 mcm cables and one 250 mcm cable, was exactly 935'. We installed 4 ½" miles of smaller conduit and consumed over 15 miles of wire size #2 or smaller. Our workers carried out a total of 6,851 hours of work on this project and we are delighted our hard work is being acknowledged with this award," says Michael Pempek of John J. Pempek Inc.
Pempek is one of the leading electrical contractors in the Chicago region providing industrial electrical services, commercial contracting, machinery and equipment installation and relocation, electrical maintenance services, infrared thermography and industrial control panels. Pempek is a single source service providing all of its various services under one roof. From layout to installation, programming maintenance to emergency service, John J. Pempek serves as a one stop shop for electrical contracting needs.
Pempek operates as a complete turnkey contracting service. The firm utilizes a dependable network of quality contractors ranging from fitters, millwrights, welders, carpenters, masons and others to aid in completing their work as per their high standards. The coordination of various contractors and the provision of all services under one roof helps to reduce the client's costs and is more time efficient as well.
"We started as a general electrical firm post war in 1947 and after three generations of owners, we are still holding strong and servicing clients both old and new. We have established a reputation as dependable and consistent contractors and the variety of services we now provide in-house has only endeared us to clients even more than before," concludes Michael Pempek.
About John J. Pempek Inc.: Established in 1947, John J. Pempek (http://www.pempek.com/) is a leading Chicago area electrical contracting company. The company provides industrial and commercial contracting, machine service, high voltage service, color infrared thermography and the manufacture of UL-registered custom industrial control panels. All services, starting from layout to installation to maintenance are handled in-house by the firm.
###
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Trackback URL: http://www.prweb.com/pingpr.php/WmV0YS1DcmFzLUhvcnItWmV0YS1TdW1tLUNvdXAtWmVybw==
Friday, September 25, 2009
Los Angeles Electricians Suggest Ontario Homeowners Hire Licensed Contractors
Last Updated: Thursday, September 24, 2009 | 3:25 PM ET Comments41Recommend13
CBC News
Almost half of all homeowners in Ontario permit unlicensed contractors to do electrical wiring in their homes, a survey suggests.
A survey conducted by Leger Marketing found that:
* 45 per cent of those surveyed do not check whether the contractors who do electrical work for them are licensed.
* 70 per cent report that they would allow a neighbour, friend or handyman to install new light fixtures in their homes.
* 47 per cent would allow them to repair an electrical outlet.
* 43 per cent would let them wire an outdoor light timer.
On Jan. 1, 2007, provincial legislation came into effect requiring all electrical work to be performed by licensed electrical contractors.
Lucy Impera, registrar for licensing and certification of the Electrical Safety Authority, which oversees licensing laws in the province, says awareness of the new legislation — and the dangers of not abiding by it — is low.
Serious hazards
"We know there's an awful lot of work being done by unlicensed contractors," she told CBC News on Thursday. "In some instances, consumers don't understand the seriousness of electrical hazards."
Instead, many hire family members or unlicensed contractors to save money. But it's against the law, says Impera. "We will lay charges against an unlicensed person."
Failing to hire a licensed professional can lead to electrical accidents, such as fire and electrocution, says Impera. "Even though it's working today," she says of an electrical installation, "doesn't mean hazards aren't lurking behind the walls that could lead to fire or electrocution."
According to the Office of the Fire Marshal, in the past decade, 108 Ontarians have died by electrocution. There have been 33,739 electrical fires, a figure Impera says has stayed constant, year after year.
To reduce electrical risks in the home, Impera says consumers should hire a licensed contractor who's listed with www.pluginsafely.ca, a site maintained by the Electrical Safety Authority, a stand-alone not-for-profit corporation under the auspices of the Ontario Ministry of Consumer Services.
She also suggests checking contractors' references, getting quotes and having a detailed electrical wish list of all the electrical projects that need work. And once the projects are completed, she recommends having an inspector coming to check out the quality of work.
The survey was conducted using Leger Marketing's web panel between July 20 and 23. A totla of 1,042 online surveys were completed by adults living in Ontario.
The margin of error is deemed to be three percentage points, plus or minus, 19 times out of 20.
CBC News
Almost half of all homeowners in Ontario permit unlicensed contractors to do electrical wiring in their homes, a survey suggests.
A survey conducted by Leger Marketing found that:
* 45 per cent of those surveyed do not check whether the contractors who do electrical work for them are licensed.
* 70 per cent report that they would allow a neighbour, friend or handyman to install new light fixtures in their homes.
* 47 per cent would allow them to repair an electrical outlet.
* 43 per cent would let them wire an outdoor light timer.
On Jan. 1, 2007, provincial legislation came into effect requiring all electrical work to be performed by licensed electrical contractors.
Lucy Impera, registrar for licensing and certification of the Electrical Safety Authority, which oversees licensing laws in the province, says awareness of the new legislation — and the dangers of not abiding by it — is low.
Serious hazards
"We know there's an awful lot of work being done by unlicensed contractors," she told CBC News on Thursday. "In some instances, consumers don't understand the seriousness of electrical hazards."
Instead, many hire family members or unlicensed contractors to save money. But it's against the law, says Impera. "We will lay charges against an unlicensed person."
Failing to hire a licensed professional can lead to electrical accidents, such as fire and electrocution, says Impera. "Even though it's working today," she says of an electrical installation, "doesn't mean hazards aren't lurking behind the walls that could lead to fire or electrocution."
According to the Office of the Fire Marshal, in the past decade, 108 Ontarians have died by electrocution. There have been 33,739 electrical fires, a figure Impera says has stayed constant, year after year.
To reduce electrical risks in the home, Impera says consumers should hire a licensed contractor who's listed with www.pluginsafely.ca, a site maintained by the Electrical Safety Authority, a stand-alone not-for-profit corporation under the auspices of the Ontario Ministry of Consumer Services.
She also suggests checking contractors' references, getting quotes and having a detailed electrical wish list of all the electrical projects that need work. And once the projects are completed, she recommends having an inspector coming to check out the quality of work.
The survey was conducted using Leger Marketing's web panel between July 20 and 23. A totla of 1,042 online surveys were completed by adults living in Ontario.
The margin of error is deemed to be three percentage points, plus or minus, 19 times out of 20.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Los Angeles Electricians Wish Local 134 Electricians the Best
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-biz-mcpier-electricians-sep23,0,1837746.story
The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority told 100 electricians Wednesday that their services would no longer be needed at the trade shows and meetings held at McCormick Place and Navy Pier.
The reduction in force is part of restructuring that will also boost the number of floor supervisors and foremen who work for the authority, commonly known as McPier, by two-thirds to a pool of 50 workers.
The moves reflect the heightened pressure the global economic downturn has placed on the convention and hospitality industry. Most companies have restricted travel spending, causing shows to decrease in size.
"We're in a much more competitive environment than we have ever been," said David Causton, general manager for McCormick Place.
He said the maneuvers should improve customer service by placing a larger number of McPier's most-skilled electricians in closer proximity to exhibitors.
McPier will assign one foreman per 50,000 square feet of exhibit floor space, down from the previous ratio of one supervisor per 85,000 square feet.
But the reorganization won't provide immediate cost-savings, Causton acknowledged. McPier's electricians, who help exhibitors create their often complex displays on the show floor, are contract workers who are paid an hourly wage.
The journeymen electricians who are no longer employed by McPier will report back to the union hall of Local 134 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers where they will be assigned other work.
McPier will hire electricians from the union hall as needed, gradually building back up its pool of workers, Causton said.
jjohnsson@tribune.com
Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune
The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority told 100 electricians Wednesday that their services would no longer be needed at the trade shows and meetings held at McCormick Place and Navy Pier.
The reduction in force is part of restructuring that will also boost the number of floor supervisors and foremen who work for the authority, commonly known as McPier, by two-thirds to a pool of 50 workers.
The moves reflect the heightened pressure the global economic downturn has placed on the convention and hospitality industry. Most companies have restricted travel spending, causing shows to decrease in size.
"We're in a much more competitive environment than we have ever been," said David Causton, general manager for McCormick Place.
He said the maneuvers should improve customer service by placing a larger number of McPier's most-skilled electricians in closer proximity to exhibitors.
McPier will assign one foreman per 50,000 square feet of exhibit floor space, down from the previous ratio of one supervisor per 85,000 square feet.
But the reorganization won't provide immediate cost-savings, Causton acknowledged. McPier's electricians, who help exhibitors create their often complex displays on the show floor, are contract workers who are paid an hourly wage.
The journeymen electricians who are no longer employed by McPier will report back to the union hall of Local 134 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers where they will be assigned other work.
McPier will hire electricians from the union hall as needed, gradually building back up its pool of workers, Causton said.
jjohnsson@tribune.com
Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Los Angeles Electricians Support Texas Helping Restore Power
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6631112.html
DALLAS — Thousands of homes and businesses were without electricity Tuesday after storms packing heavy rain and winds as strong as 72 mph rolled through parts of northern Texas.
Oncor reported that about 5,000 customers were still without power. The utility said about 16,000 customers lost electricity during the storms that began Monday night in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
No injuries were reported.
The National Weather Service said a cold front moved through the area Tuesday, with more rain likely.
Lightning strikes in Brownwood blew out transformers, including one behind the local newspaper that left it without power through the night and damaged its press.
"The electricians think we took a direct hit on our press," said Bob Brincefield, publisher of the Brownwood Bulletin and a regional vice president for American Consolidated Media. "Even with the power on, it won't start."
The Bulletin and Stephenville Empire-Tribune, which also is printed in Brownwood, were instead printed 150 miles away at their sister paper in Waxahachie. Brownwood also prints other papers in the area and Brincefield was scrambling Tuesday to find presses that could be used until the Bulletin's press is repaired.
DALLAS — Thousands of homes and businesses were without electricity Tuesday after storms packing heavy rain and winds as strong as 72 mph rolled through parts of northern Texas.
Oncor reported that about 5,000 customers were still without power. The utility said about 16,000 customers lost electricity during the storms that began Monday night in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
No injuries were reported.
The National Weather Service said a cold front moved through the area Tuesday, with more rain likely.
Lightning strikes in Brownwood blew out transformers, including one behind the local newspaper that left it without power through the night and damaged its press.
"The electricians think we took a direct hit on our press," said Bob Brincefield, publisher of the Brownwood Bulletin and a regional vice president for American Consolidated Media. "Even with the power on, it won't start."
The Bulletin and Stephenville Empire-Tribune, which also is printed in Brownwood, were instead printed 150 miles away at their sister paper in Waxahachie. Brownwood also prints other papers in the area and Brincefield was scrambling Tuesday to find presses that could be used until the Bulletin's press is repaired.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Los Angeles Electricians Welcome Good Equipment at Great Prices
http://www.newsobserver.com/1573/story/1700022.html
Julie Lynem - San Luis Obispo
Published: Mon, Sep. 21, 2009 04:02PM
On a recent Sunday morning, electricians from as far away as Santa Maria traveled to Templeton in search of a good deal.
Word spread that Hitchin’ Post Auctioneers had hundreds of pieces of equipment on the block.
And for four hours, the bidding continued on items big and small, including a utility truck, conduits and industrial pipe benders.
“We had nearly 100 bidders, and they stayed until the very end,” said Ken Erpenbach Jr., whose father, Ken Sr., owns the business. “People were bidding $75 to $80 on things, and we were selling it a box at a time.”
For San Luis Obispo County auction houses, auctioneers and traders in used goods, business has been brisk as buyers — some of them bidders for the first time — look for value, and sellers seek cash to supplement them in a recession.
Read the complete story at sanluisobispo.com
Julie Lynem - San Luis Obispo
Published: Mon, Sep. 21, 2009 04:02PM
On a recent Sunday morning, electricians from as far away as Santa Maria traveled to Templeton in search of a good deal.
Word spread that Hitchin’ Post Auctioneers had hundreds of pieces of equipment on the block.
And for four hours, the bidding continued on items big and small, including a utility truck, conduits and industrial pipe benders.
“We had nearly 100 bidders, and they stayed until the very end,” said Ken Erpenbach Jr., whose father, Ken Sr., owns the business. “People were bidding $75 to $80 on things, and we were selling it a box at a time.”
For San Luis Obispo County auction houses, auctioneers and traders in used goods, business has been brisk as buyers — some of them bidders for the first time — look for value, and sellers seek cash to supplement them in a recession.
Read the complete story at sanluisobispo.com
Monday, September 21, 2009
Los Angeles Electricians Promote & Support Solar Energy
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Robert Stern
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
HAMILTON "" As the national recession has put the squeeze on the construction industry, electrical contractors like Steve Hendrickson have sought out new revenue streams to counter the economic pinch.
For Hendrickson, owner of Hamilton-based Hendrickson Electric, one such new source of revenue comes from helping customers harness the power of the sun.
That's why Hendrickson recently installed a 10-kilowatt household solar array for a residence in the farmland of northern New Jersey, a $90,000 job.
The allure of growth in the solar-energy sector is what drew Hendrickson and more than 100 other electrical contractors last week to a seminar on the technical, bureaucratic and financial components of the solar-power market that Trenton-based Griffith Electric hosted at The Hamilton Manor here.
Griffith, a Trenton staple selling electrical supplies since 1938, is one of the newest players in the booming solar-energy business.
By getting independent contractors involved in selling and installing solar systems, the electrical-supply company could profit as a distributor. Griffith will sell a range of solar-power systems from 1-kilowatt household units to 100-kilowatt commercial systems, said John Lyle, Griffith's vice president for operations.
"We know we're the first (electrical-supply) distributor in the area involved with solar," Lyle said.
"One of the reasons we're having (the seminar) is New Jersey has mandated that by the year 2020, 30 percent of its electricity is to be produced by renewable energy," he said. That includes solar, wind and bio-power sources of electricity.
The benefits of solar power include reduced pollution, conservation of natural resources and increased self-reliance for energy needs.
For Griffith, reaching out to contractors about its foray into the solar business through the seminar made economic sense.
Robert Stern
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
HAMILTON "" As the national recession has put the squeeze on the construction industry, electrical contractors like Steve Hendrickson have sought out new revenue streams to counter the economic pinch.
For Hendrickson, owner of Hamilton-based Hendrickson Electric, one such new source of revenue comes from helping customers harness the power of the sun.
That's why Hendrickson recently installed a 10-kilowatt household solar array for a residence in the farmland of northern New Jersey, a $90,000 job.
The allure of growth in the solar-energy sector is what drew Hendrickson and more than 100 other electrical contractors last week to a seminar on the technical, bureaucratic and financial components of the solar-power market that Trenton-based Griffith Electric hosted at The Hamilton Manor here.
Griffith, a Trenton staple selling electrical supplies since 1938, is one of the newest players in the booming solar-energy business.
By getting independent contractors involved in selling and installing solar systems, the electrical-supply company could profit as a distributor. Griffith will sell a range of solar-power systems from 1-kilowatt household units to 100-kilowatt commercial systems, said John Lyle, Griffith's vice president for operations.
"We know we're the first (electrical-supply) distributor in the area involved with solar," Lyle said.
"One of the reasons we're having (the seminar) is New Jersey has mandated that by the year 2020, 30 percent of its electricity is to be produced by renewable energy," he said. That includes solar, wind and bio-power sources of electricity.
The benefits of solar power include reduced pollution, conservation of natural resources and increased self-reliance for energy needs.
For Griffith, reaching out to contractors about its foray into the solar business through the seminar made economic sense.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Los Angeles Electricians Working Green
http://www.articlemaniac.com/article/238187/if-you-want-to-be-an-electrician-you-need-to-be-green.html
Everyone has heard of Green and how it relates to the environment. Most people think of being green as turning of the lights when they leave a room or turning down the thermostat a couple of degrees in the winter. While those things help there is a much larger contribution to be made to conserving the energy we have. Protecting the environment is everyone's responsibility and that includes those that want to be an electrician. As a matter of fact, electricians can play a major role in the green movement and that is a good thing for any career. Green jobs are looking very good these days.
I want to be an Electrician, What do I do?
What is an electrician. Electricians install and maintain electrical services in residential and commercial properties. They troubleshoot electrical problems. They do anything and everything associated with electricity including working one huge generators that provide electrical power. Since electricians have their hands on all aspects of electrical service it is no surprise that they are looking in to ways to make homes and businesses more green. Being green means saving energy and using more energy that comes from renewable resources like the wind, solar or hydro generated electricity. Many forms of green energy have been around for many years and only now are becoming mainstream.
Electricians Are Becoming Green
Electricians are installing passive technologies that allow everyone to be more green. Circuits that support lower loads forcing users to use more energy efficient light bulbs and appliances. Installing electrical circuits that support electricity generated by wind turbines is becoming far more common. Many green methods of electrical generation allow for the consumer to use the power created by the alternative method first and commercial power second. This means that if you have a wind driven generator you can use the power generated by the wind generator first and if you require more power you can use the more traditional source of commercial power. If you have a surplus of power from the wind generator you can sell it back to the power company. This is a relatively new concept in terms of the power companies buying power back but it is working well for everyone. The consumer likes it because it lowers their electrical bill as well as lessens their dependence on commercial power making themselves more green, the power companies like it because it make their power plants last longer because they can service more customers. With these positive moves it is no wonder more people wish to be an electrician. Being part of such a green movement will make anyone feel good.
If you want to be an electrician you will not only find that now is a great time to be an electrician but you will earn a very good living. Electricians enjoy a very good wage. They work in environments that are good and enjoy a great level of job security. Now is a good time to be an electrician and the outlook for electricians is very favorable for the near and long term future.
--
James Copper is a writer for http://www.propertycareerskills.co.uk
Everyone has heard of Green and how it relates to the environment. Most people think of being green as turning of the lights when they leave a room or turning down the thermostat a couple of degrees in the winter. While those things help there is a much larger contribution to be made to conserving the energy we have. Protecting the environment is everyone's responsibility and that includes those that want to be an electrician. As a matter of fact, electricians can play a major role in the green movement and that is a good thing for any career. Green jobs are looking very good these days.
I want to be an Electrician, What do I do?
What is an electrician. Electricians install and maintain electrical services in residential and commercial properties. They troubleshoot electrical problems. They do anything and everything associated with electricity including working one huge generators that provide electrical power. Since electricians have their hands on all aspects of electrical service it is no surprise that they are looking in to ways to make homes and businesses more green. Being green means saving energy and using more energy that comes from renewable resources like the wind, solar or hydro generated electricity. Many forms of green energy have been around for many years and only now are becoming mainstream.
Electricians Are Becoming Green
Electricians are installing passive technologies that allow everyone to be more green. Circuits that support lower loads forcing users to use more energy efficient light bulbs and appliances. Installing electrical circuits that support electricity generated by wind turbines is becoming far more common. Many green methods of electrical generation allow for the consumer to use the power created by the alternative method first and commercial power second. This means that if you have a wind driven generator you can use the power generated by the wind generator first and if you require more power you can use the more traditional source of commercial power. If you have a surplus of power from the wind generator you can sell it back to the power company. This is a relatively new concept in terms of the power companies buying power back but it is working well for everyone. The consumer likes it because it lowers their electrical bill as well as lessens their dependence on commercial power making themselves more green, the power companies like it because it make their power plants last longer because they can service more customers. With these positive moves it is no wonder more people wish to be an electrician. Being part of such a green movement will make anyone feel good.
If you want to be an electrician you will not only find that now is a great time to be an electrician but you will earn a very good living. Electricians enjoy a very good wage. They work in environments that are good and enjoy a great level of job security. Now is a good time to be an electrician and the outlook for electricians is very favorable for the near and long term future.
--
James Copper is a writer for http://www.propertycareerskills.co.uk
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Los Angeles Electricians Full On Support for Finnish Electrical Union
Finnish electricians' union to stage walkout in metal industry
18.9.2009 at 16:50
The Finnish Electrical Workers' Union said Friday that about 2,800 electricians working in the metal industry would stage a one-day stoppage on 1 October.
The union added the industrial action's aim was to speed up talks with the Federation of Technology Industries and to force a company to recognise the right to a shop steward.
A pay and conditions agreement between the union and the technology industries expires at the end of the month.
The union has said that talks on a new agreement will not resume until the shop steward issue is resolved.
/STT/
© Copyright STT 2009
18.9.2009 at 16:50
The Finnish Electrical Workers' Union said Friday that about 2,800 electricians working in the metal industry would stage a one-day stoppage on 1 October.
The union added the industrial action's aim was to speed up talks with the Federation of Technology Industries and to force a company to recognise the right to a shop steward.
A pay and conditions agreement between the union and the technology industries expires at the end of the month.
The union has said that talks on a new agreement will not resume until the shop steward issue is resolved.
/STT/
© Copyright STT 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
Los Angeles Electricians Acknowledge College Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRLog (Press Release) – Sep 17, 2009 – NORTH AURORA, Ill. – Everest College now offers an Electrician program at its campus in North Aurora, Ill. Not only is this electrician training program new for the Everest - North Aurora campus, it also represents the first “trade” program to be offered by any Everest campus in the Chicago area.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics*, employment opportunities for electricians should increase approximately 7 percent between 2006 and 2016, about as fast as average for all occupations. In addition to jobs created by increased demand for electrical work, many openings are expected over the next decade as large numbers of professional electricians retire. This will create very good job opportunities, especially for trained individuals with a wide range of skills. Employment opportunities will vary from state to state and even city to city, depending on local economic conditions.
“We identified a need within our region and were the first Everest Campus in the Chicago market to offer this valuable training,” said Robert Van Elsen, president of the Everest - North Aurora campus. “Our electrician training program will help anyone interested in electrician careers be prepared to fill immediate job openings upon graduation.”
Everest’s electrician training program (http://www.everest.edu/programs/category/electrician) provides students with the necessary technical and scientific skills needed for successful employment as an entry-level electrician. Graduates of the Everest Electrician program are prepared to work in the residential, industrial or commercial sectors.
At Everest - North Aurora, Electrician training is broken down into nine modules taught over nine months. Subjects covered include:
* Electrical theory and algebra for trades
* National Electric Code (NEC)/Safety/Hand Tools and conduit bending
* Residential/Commercial and NEC requirements
* Transformer principles and test equipment
* Hazardous locations and power distribution
* Power distribution and emergency systems
* Motor concepts and jobsite management
* Advanced industrial controls
* Solid state controls and industrial automation
Everest’s training is hands-on in a variety of simulated environments, taught by instructors who have real-world experience as professional electricians.
ABOUT EVEREST - NORTH AURORA CAMPUS
The Everest – North Aurora Campus (http://www.everest.edu/campus/north_aurora?) is situated on North Lincoln Highway just north of the East-West Tollway (I-88) in Aurora, Ill., approximately 40 miles west of Chicago. Everest has five other nearby locations, including Skokie, Chicago, Burr Ridge, Merrionette Park, and Merrilville, Ind. In addition to its new Electrician program, the campus also offers career-training programs in Business Accounting, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assisting and Medical Insurance Billing and Coding. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.
Everest, owned by Corinthian Colleges, Inc., one of the largest post-secondary education companies in North America, has more than 100 campuses in the U.S. and Canada. Everest provides career-oriented diploma and degree programs** in healthcare, criminal justice, skilled trades, business, paralegal, and information technology. For more information on electrician training or other Everest programs at this or any campus, visit http://www.everest.edu/.
* Local market data will differ from these statistics.
** Programs vary by campus.
# # #
Everest, owned by Corinthian Colleges, Inc., provides diploma and degree education programs in health care, medical assisting, criminal justice, business, applied management and more. Everest has 100 schools in the U.S. and Canada. Visit www.everest.edu.
PRLog (Press Release) – Sep 17, 2009 – NORTH AURORA, Ill. – Everest College now offers an Electrician program at its campus in North Aurora, Ill. Not only is this electrician training program new for the Everest - North Aurora campus, it also represents the first “trade” program to be offered by any Everest campus in the Chicago area.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics*, employment opportunities for electricians should increase approximately 7 percent between 2006 and 2016, about as fast as average for all occupations. In addition to jobs created by increased demand for electrical work, many openings are expected over the next decade as large numbers of professional electricians retire. This will create very good job opportunities, especially for trained individuals with a wide range of skills. Employment opportunities will vary from state to state and even city to city, depending on local economic conditions.
“We identified a need within our region and were the first Everest Campus in the Chicago market to offer this valuable training,” said Robert Van Elsen, president of the Everest - North Aurora campus. “Our electrician training program will help anyone interested in electrician careers be prepared to fill immediate job openings upon graduation.”
Everest’s electrician training program (http://www.everest.edu/programs/category/electrician) provides students with the necessary technical and scientific skills needed for successful employment as an entry-level electrician. Graduates of the Everest Electrician program are prepared to work in the residential, industrial or commercial sectors.
At Everest - North Aurora, Electrician training is broken down into nine modules taught over nine months. Subjects covered include:
* Electrical theory and algebra for trades
* National Electric Code (NEC)/Safety/Hand Tools and conduit bending
* Residential/Commercial and NEC requirements
* Transformer principles and test equipment
* Hazardous locations and power distribution
* Power distribution and emergency systems
* Motor concepts and jobsite management
* Advanced industrial controls
* Solid state controls and industrial automation
Everest’s training is hands-on in a variety of simulated environments, taught by instructors who have real-world experience as professional electricians.
ABOUT EVEREST - NORTH AURORA CAMPUS
The Everest – North Aurora Campus (http://www.everest.edu/campus/north_aurora?) is situated on North Lincoln Highway just north of the East-West Tollway (I-88) in Aurora, Ill., approximately 40 miles west of Chicago. Everest has five other nearby locations, including Skokie, Chicago, Burr Ridge, Merrionette Park, and Merrilville, Ind. In addition to its new Electrician program, the campus also offers career-training programs in Business Accounting, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assisting and Medical Insurance Billing and Coding. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.
Everest, owned by Corinthian Colleges, Inc., one of the largest post-secondary education companies in North America, has more than 100 campuses in the U.S. and Canada. Everest provides career-oriented diploma and degree programs** in healthcare, criminal justice, skilled trades, business, paralegal, and information technology. For more information on electrician training or other Everest programs at this or any campus, visit http://www.everest.edu/.
* Local market data will differ from these statistics.
** Programs vary by campus.
# # #
Everest, owned by Corinthian Colleges, Inc., provides diploma and degree education programs in health care, medical assisting, criminal justice, business, applied management and more. Everest has 100 schools in the U.S. and Canada. Visit www.everest.edu.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Los Angeles Electricians Applaud Fast Work in Boone County
BOONE COUNTY - A tree and a squirrel caused two power outages Wednesday morning.
More than 1,200 Boone Electric Cooperative customers lost power Wednesday morning when a large tree fell on a power line near Old Plank Road in Columbia.
Customers called to report the outage, and electricians fixed the problem by 8:36 a.m., according to a Boone Electric Cooperative press release.
The second outage occurred at approximately 10:16 a.m., when a squirrel came into contact with a steel structure inside the power substation on Switzer Road northeast of Columbia.
Boone Electric Cooperative shut down the entire substation in order to restore power to the 2,013 affected members. The company restored power by 11:05 a.m.
More than 1,200 Boone Electric Cooperative customers lost power Wednesday morning when a large tree fell on a power line near Old Plank Road in Columbia.
Customers called to report the outage, and electricians fixed the problem by 8:36 a.m., according to a Boone Electric Cooperative press release.
The second outage occurred at approximately 10:16 a.m., when a squirrel came into contact with a steel structure inside the power substation on Switzer Road northeast of Columbia.
Boone Electric Cooperative shut down the entire substation in order to restore power to the 2,013 affected members. The company restored power by 11:05 a.m.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Los Angeles Electricians Support Electric Cars
By MATT MOORE and GEORGE FREY (AP) – 2 hours ago
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hd3eufUp77rb4CgAjND0F9ouya1gD9ANV2UO0
FRANKFURT — The race is on among the world's auto companies to make electric cars go farther on a single charge, bring the price down to compete with gas-powered vehicles, and give drivers more places to recharge them than just the family garage.
Electric is the big buzz at the 63rd Frankfurt Auto Show this week, and nearly every major automaker has at least one on display. Renault introduced no fewer than four electric models, while Tesla, the only company producing and selling purely electric cars, handed over the keys to its 700th all-electric vehicle, a blue Roadster Sport, to a German buyer at the show.
If the models unveiled Tuesday are any indication, the notion of electric cars as small, stunted boxes with little range is about to be junked.
"People have realized that ... electric vehicles don't have to be golf carts," said Diarmuid O'Connell, vice president of business development for Tesla Motors Inc. "They don't have to be anemic little putt-putts."
The company's sleek, two-seat Roadster sells for $101,500 in the U.S. and has a range of 244 miles on one charge. Its planned Model S, which will seat seven and has a 300-mile range, will go for $49,900.
Others automakers, including BMW, General Motors and Daimler, are also developing electric-powered vehicles, including hybrid cars that boast a small gas or diesel engine backed up with an electrical motor, and say the prices will drop as bulky batteries become smaller, faster to charge and easier to replace.
Daimler said it will put its first electricity generating fuel-cell car on the road by the end of this year, the B-Class F-Cell. It will also develop a high-performance electric sports car, its Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.
Volkswagen AG will put its new E-Up! electric compact into production in 2013. VW did not disclose how much it will cost or when it might be available in the U.S. It said the battery will give drivers a range of around 80 miles, or about 130 kilometers.
Analysts expect global production of purely electric cars to expand rapidly in the coming years. IHS Global Insight forecast that it will grow from nearly 9,500 this year to more than 58,000 in 2011.
Electric cars generally run between 40 and 120 miles (60 to 200 kilometers) on a single charge, while taking anywhere from two to seven hours to fully recharge.
Analysts have long contended that a roadblock to the deployment of electric cars has been the lack infrastructure to ensure they can be charged, whether at home, at the office or at stations in the city or along a highway. Building that infrastructure could cost billions and billions of dollars.
Europe is likely to get charging networks faster than the U.S. because of its higher gasoline prices, greater population density and compact size compared with the United States.
In the U.S., Japan's Nissan Motor Co. has taken the lead, forming partnerships to bring electric vehicles and charging stations to Seattle, Tennessee, Oregon and elsewhere. For example, Arizona's Electric Transportation Engineering Corp. recently struck a $100 million deal to build charging stations for Nissan's planned Leaf electric car.
Elsewhere around the world, Renault Nissan has teamed up with Palo Alto, Calif.-based Better Place, which is building a network of charging stations and stands in Israel and Denmark and plans to do the same in Australia. Drivers will be able to plug their cars in or swap out their depleted batteries for freshly charged ones.
Better Place said the networks could operate like cell phone service, with customers buying a certain number of miles in advance or getting an unlimited amount for a set fee with a contract.
To help bring Germany up to speed, its government plans to spend some euro500 million ($730 million) on a plan that aims to put 1 million electric cars on the road by 2020. The figure includes euro170 million for battery research.
Analysts say it will take at least a decade to see if electric cars can keep pace with, or surpass, gas-powered automobiles. The massive, sensitive, costly and fast-depleting batteries that take the place of internal combustion engines are expensive to produce, as well.
"The industry needs to continue to overcome the obstacles of extended range, price and impact on the grid if we're going to be able to deliver a better experience than what consumers currently get," said Shai Agassi, founder and CEO of Better Place.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hd3eufUp77rb4CgAjND0F9ouya1gD9ANV2UO0
FRANKFURT — The race is on among the world's auto companies to make electric cars go farther on a single charge, bring the price down to compete with gas-powered vehicles, and give drivers more places to recharge them than just the family garage.
Electric is the big buzz at the 63rd Frankfurt Auto Show this week, and nearly every major automaker has at least one on display. Renault introduced no fewer than four electric models, while Tesla, the only company producing and selling purely electric cars, handed over the keys to its 700th all-electric vehicle, a blue Roadster Sport, to a German buyer at the show.
If the models unveiled Tuesday are any indication, the notion of electric cars as small, stunted boxes with little range is about to be junked.
"People have realized that ... electric vehicles don't have to be golf carts," said Diarmuid O'Connell, vice president of business development for Tesla Motors Inc. "They don't have to be anemic little putt-putts."
The company's sleek, two-seat Roadster sells for $101,500 in the U.S. and has a range of 244 miles on one charge. Its planned Model S, which will seat seven and has a 300-mile range, will go for $49,900.
Others automakers, including BMW, General Motors and Daimler, are also developing electric-powered vehicles, including hybrid cars that boast a small gas or diesel engine backed up with an electrical motor, and say the prices will drop as bulky batteries become smaller, faster to charge and easier to replace.
Daimler said it will put its first electricity generating fuel-cell car on the road by the end of this year, the B-Class F-Cell. It will also develop a high-performance electric sports car, its Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.
Volkswagen AG will put its new E-Up! electric compact into production in 2013. VW did not disclose how much it will cost or when it might be available in the U.S. It said the battery will give drivers a range of around 80 miles, or about 130 kilometers.
Analysts expect global production of purely electric cars to expand rapidly in the coming years. IHS Global Insight forecast that it will grow from nearly 9,500 this year to more than 58,000 in 2011.
Electric cars generally run between 40 and 120 miles (60 to 200 kilometers) on a single charge, while taking anywhere from two to seven hours to fully recharge.
Analysts have long contended that a roadblock to the deployment of electric cars has been the lack infrastructure to ensure they can be charged, whether at home, at the office or at stations in the city or along a highway. Building that infrastructure could cost billions and billions of dollars.
Europe is likely to get charging networks faster than the U.S. because of its higher gasoline prices, greater population density and compact size compared with the United States.
In the U.S., Japan's Nissan Motor Co. has taken the lead, forming partnerships to bring electric vehicles and charging stations to Seattle, Tennessee, Oregon and elsewhere. For example, Arizona's Electric Transportation Engineering Corp. recently struck a $100 million deal to build charging stations for Nissan's planned Leaf electric car.
Elsewhere around the world, Renault Nissan has teamed up with Palo Alto, Calif.-based Better Place, which is building a network of charging stations and stands in Israel and Denmark and plans to do the same in Australia. Drivers will be able to plug their cars in or swap out their depleted batteries for freshly charged ones.
Better Place said the networks could operate like cell phone service, with customers buying a certain number of miles in advance or getting an unlimited amount for a set fee with a contract.
To help bring Germany up to speed, its government plans to spend some euro500 million ($730 million) on a plan that aims to put 1 million electric cars on the road by 2020. The figure includes euro170 million for battery research.
Analysts say it will take at least a decade to see if electric cars can keep pace with, or surpass, gas-powered automobiles. The massive, sensitive, costly and fast-depleting batteries that take the place of internal combustion engines are expensive to produce, as well.
"The industry needs to continue to overcome the obstacles of extended range, price and impact on the grid if we're going to be able to deliver a better experience than what consumers currently get," said Shai Agassi, founder and CEO of Better Place.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Los Angeles Electricians Testing New Fluke Tools
EVERETT, WA -- (Marketwire) -- 09/14/09 -- Fluke Corporation, the global leader in handheld electronic test and measurement technology, has combined three key test tools in an ultra-handy kit for professionals in the electrical and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) fields.
The Electrical/HVAC Combo Kit includes the Fluke 62 Mini Infrared Thermometer, the Fluke T+PRO Voltage and Continuity Tester and the Fluke 1AC-II VoltAlert(TM) Non-Contact Voltage Detector, all in a soft carrying case. All three tools are compliant with the 2009 edition of NFPA 70E, and are designed to enable HVAC and electrical professionals to make measurements on live circuits more safely than traditional solenoid testers and contact thermometers.
Together these three tools deliver must-have capabilities for professionals who install, troubleshoot, and maintain electrical and HVAC systems. They can quickly find hot spots and other temperature anomalies, perform multiple tests on electrical circuits, and determine whether circuits are carrying live voltage.
-- The Fluke 62 Mini Infrared Thermometer offers quick and reliable surface temperature readings so technicians can diagnose heating and ventilation problems and monitor the temperature of electrical motors and electrical panels without contact. Rugged enough for industrial environments with its protective rubber "boot," the Fluke 62 Mini has the best accuracy in its class and measures from -30 degrees to 500 C (-20 to 932 F).
-- The Fluke T+PRO Electrical Tester has three signals when it detects ac/dc voltage: light, sound, and vibration. It offers the added functionality of a GFCI trip and continuity beeper, plus the convenience of a built-in flashlight. The T+PRO has a rotary field indicator for troubleshooting three-phase systems, measures resistance to 9.99 KOhms, and has a backlit LCD display for easier viewing. Safer than traditional solenoid testers, it is rated for CAT IV 600 V, CAT III 1000 V circuits and fully complies with NFPA 70E.
-- The pocket sized Fluke 1AC-II VoltAlert Non-Contact Voltage Detector enables electricians, maintenance and service workers, safety personnel and homeowners to quickly test for energized circuits. Just touch the tip to a terminal strip, outlet, or supply cord. If the tip glows red and the unit beeps, there's voltage present. It's rated CAT IV 1000 V and is appropriate for use in most commercial and industrial settings.
The Electrical/HVAC Combo Kit is available from Fluke distributors at a suggested retail price of $189.00, a savings of more than $25 off the cost of the products purchased separately.
Fluke Corporation
For more information on the Fluke Electrical/HVAC Combo Kit, or to find the location of the nearest distributor, contact Fluke Corporation, P.O. Box 9090, Everett, WA USA 98206, call (800) 44-FLUKE (800-443-5853), fax (425) 446-5116, e-mail fluke-info@fluke.com or visit the Fluke Web site at http://www.fluke.com.
About Fluke
Fluke Corporation is the leader in compact, professional electronic test tools. Fluke customers are technicians, engineers, electricians, metrologists and building diagnostic professionals who install, troubleshoot, and manage industrial electrical and electronic equipment and calibration processes for quality control as well as conducting building restoration and remediation services. Fluke is a registered trademark of Fluke Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
For more information:
Larry Wilson
Public Relations Manager
(425) 446-5671
Email Contact
The Electrical/HVAC Combo Kit includes the Fluke 62 Mini Infrared Thermometer, the Fluke T+PRO Voltage and Continuity Tester and the Fluke 1AC-II VoltAlert(TM) Non-Contact Voltage Detector, all in a soft carrying case. All three tools are compliant with the 2009 edition of NFPA 70E, and are designed to enable HVAC and electrical professionals to make measurements on live circuits more safely than traditional solenoid testers and contact thermometers.
Together these three tools deliver must-have capabilities for professionals who install, troubleshoot, and maintain electrical and HVAC systems. They can quickly find hot spots and other temperature anomalies, perform multiple tests on electrical circuits, and determine whether circuits are carrying live voltage.
-- The Fluke 62 Mini Infrared Thermometer offers quick and reliable surface temperature readings so technicians can diagnose heating and ventilation problems and monitor the temperature of electrical motors and electrical panels without contact. Rugged enough for industrial environments with its protective rubber "boot," the Fluke 62 Mini has the best accuracy in its class and measures from -30 degrees to 500 C (-20 to 932 F).
-- The Fluke T+PRO Electrical Tester has three signals when it detects ac/dc voltage: light, sound, and vibration. It offers the added functionality of a GFCI trip and continuity beeper, plus the convenience of a built-in flashlight. The T+PRO has a rotary field indicator for troubleshooting three-phase systems, measures resistance to 9.99 KOhms, and has a backlit LCD display for easier viewing. Safer than traditional solenoid testers, it is rated for CAT IV 600 V, CAT III 1000 V circuits and fully complies with NFPA 70E.
-- The pocket sized Fluke 1AC-II VoltAlert Non-Contact Voltage Detector enables electricians, maintenance and service workers, safety personnel and homeowners to quickly test for energized circuits. Just touch the tip to a terminal strip, outlet, or supply cord. If the tip glows red and the unit beeps, there's voltage present. It's rated CAT IV 1000 V and is appropriate for use in most commercial and industrial settings.
The Electrical/HVAC Combo Kit is available from Fluke distributors at a suggested retail price of $189.00, a savings of more than $25 off the cost of the products purchased separately.
Fluke Corporation
For more information on the Fluke Electrical/HVAC Combo Kit, or to find the location of the nearest distributor, contact Fluke Corporation, P.O. Box 9090, Everett, WA USA 98206, call (800) 44-FLUKE (800-443-5853), fax (425) 446-5116, e-mail fluke-info@fluke.com or visit the Fluke Web site at http://www.fluke.com.
About Fluke
Fluke Corporation is the leader in compact, professional electronic test tools. Fluke customers are technicians, engineers, electricians, metrologists and building diagnostic professionals who install, troubleshoot, and manage industrial electrical and electronic equipment and calibration processes for quality control as well as conducting building restoration and remediation services. Fluke is a registered trademark of Fluke Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
For more information:
Larry Wilson
Public Relations Manager
(425) 446-5671
Email Contact
Monday, September 14, 2009
Los Angeles Electricians Do Day of Service on 9.11
http://www.reflector.com/news/answering-call-to-service-827440.html
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Local groups are answering the president's call for a day of service to remember the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001.
The Greenville-Pitt County chapter of Rebuilding Together is working today to upgrade the electrical service of a disabled Greenville woman by painting and installing baseboard heating.
Electricians with Chocowinity Electric began work Thursday to rewire the house on West Fourth Street, and about 20 volunteers will work today to do sheetrock and painting work.
Michaele Dodrow, who lives in the house with her son, has been heating the house with a space heater. The new system will be much more energy efficient, said Jamie Jacobson, a board member with Rebuilding Together.
“The headquarters of Rebuilding Together has asked us to do a project related to energy efficiency to mark this first National Day of Service and Remembrance,” Rebecca Sweet, local group president, said.
Rebuilding Together assists in the rehabilitation of homes for low-income homeowners, particularly the elderly and those with disabilities, without charge. The aim is to preserve affordable home ownership and to revitalize communities.
The new Greenville-Pitt County group completed its first projects in the spring, and will begin accepting applications today for the April 2010 Work Day. Applications will be available at the Lucille Gorham Intergenerational Community Center.
In other efforts, the East Carolina University Wellness Corps held a monthlong drive to collect materials to help children contact their deployed parents with letters or recorded tapes.
Project Heart, a partnership between Pitt County Schools, Martin County Schools, Nash-Rocky Mount Schools, West Craven High School, Lenoir County Schools and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Pitt County, also ha been collecting items like paper, stamps, disposable cameras and audio tapes to assist children of deployed National Guard members.
The groups will deliver the items to the National Guard armories in the various counties today.
Today's events also are intended to encourage others to join AmeriCorps or volunteer in their communities.
Local AmeriCorps members and the North Carolina National Guard have been working together for a service project to honor military families for the United We Serve's National Day of Service and Remembrance today.
Gov. Bev Perdue signed a Sept. 11 proclamation this week to thank military men and women and applaud the state's community service efforts during the campaign.
“Through this United We Serve project, North Carolina's AmeriCorps members and National Guard have shown that it only takes a small effort to give something back to their communities,” Perdue said.
“By serving — we honor those who lost their lives on 9/11, and we build strong families and strong communities all over North Carolina.”
The National Day of Service and Remembrance, sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service, is an effort to honor the victims of 9/11 and their families and to rekindle the spirit of service.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Local groups are answering the president's call for a day of service to remember the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001.
The Greenville-Pitt County chapter of Rebuilding Together is working today to upgrade the electrical service of a disabled Greenville woman by painting and installing baseboard heating.
Electricians with Chocowinity Electric began work Thursday to rewire the house on West Fourth Street, and about 20 volunteers will work today to do sheetrock and painting work.
Michaele Dodrow, who lives in the house with her son, has been heating the house with a space heater. The new system will be much more energy efficient, said Jamie Jacobson, a board member with Rebuilding Together.
“The headquarters of Rebuilding Together has asked us to do a project related to energy efficiency to mark this first National Day of Service and Remembrance,” Rebecca Sweet, local group president, said.
Rebuilding Together assists in the rehabilitation of homes for low-income homeowners, particularly the elderly and those with disabilities, without charge. The aim is to preserve affordable home ownership and to revitalize communities.
The new Greenville-Pitt County group completed its first projects in the spring, and will begin accepting applications today for the April 2010 Work Day. Applications will be available at the Lucille Gorham Intergenerational Community Center.
In other efforts, the East Carolina University Wellness Corps held a monthlong drive to collect materials to help children contact their deployed parents with letters or recorded tapes.
Project Heart, a partnership between Pitt County Schools, Martin County Schools, Nash-Rocky Mount Schools, West Craven High School, Lenoir County Schools and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Pitt County, also ha been collecting items like paper, stamps, disposable cameras and audio tapes to assist children of deployed National Guard members.
The groups will deliver the items to the National Guard armories in the various counties today.
Today's events also are intended to encourage others to join AmeriCorps or volunteer in their communities.
Local AmeriCorps members and the North Carolina National Guard have been working together for a service project to honor military families for the United We Serve's National Day of Service and Remembrance today.
Gov. Bev Perdue signed a Sept. 11 proclamation this week to thank military men and women and applaud the state's community service efforts during the campaign.
“Through this United We Serve project, North Carolina's AmeriCorps members and National Guard have shown that it only takes a small effort to give something back to their communities,” Perdue said.
“By serving — we honor those who lost their lives on 9/11, and we build strong families and strong communities all over North Carolina.”
The National Day of Service and Remembrance, sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service, is an effort to honor the victims of 9/11 and their families and to rekindle the spirit of service.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Las Angeles Electricians Offer Free Advice
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2009/sep/12/0912-dream-house-in-the-works/?entertainmentlifeentertainment
By: Karen Nazor Hill
Bo and Tami Chamberlain have made a big home-buying decision that will dominate their financial lives for the next decade.
They purchased a 100-year-old fixer-upper house in Walden on Signal Mountain. They say the house is their dream come true.
The young family of five, which includes two daughters and a son under age 7, had outgrown their small, ranch-style "starter" house in Red Bank, which sold soon after they put it on the market. They hoped to find a bigger home within their budget on Signal Mountain, but most homes they found exceeded their price range, until they found the fixer-upper.
It was love at first sight, said Mr. Chamberlain, 37, a schoolteacher.
"I knew it had problems -- it was evident from the exterior -- but it also had a lot of charm. I knew right away it was a place where my children could grow up and be happy," he said.
The nearly four acres of land surrounding the house is what sold Mrs. Chamberlain, 35, training and quality assurance manager for Hamilton County Emergency Communications District. She said she envisioned the children running around, playing with horses and enjoying being home.
Living there, however, is going to take a commitment from each family member, Mr. Chamberlain said.
"It's going to be a long time before this house is completely remodeled," he said. "And we're going to be living in it when it takes place. I grew up in a cool old house on Lookout, and I want my kids to experience the same thing. I really think our new house is awesome. It has a lot of character."
First steps
The Chamberlains first got a thumbs-up on the house from a home inspector. They were told the house is solid, despite its obvious renovation needs, beginning with electrical work.
They began scheduling electricians, from six companies, to evaluate the house's electrical issues.
"It was the first piece of advice I got from people," Mr. Chamberlain said, noting that the estimated costs of doing the electrical work can vary by hundreds -- sometimes thousands -- of dollars. "I want it done right, but I want to be able to afford it."
Another priority of renovating, he said, was making sure the two stone chimneys are safe. He learned they passed inspection in 2008.
Also needing attention are a vine growing through a second-story window into a bathroom and wasps in one of the bedrooms, a particular concern for 6-year-old Emma, who calls the home "the house of many wasps."
Still to come
Later projects will include sanding and staining the hardwood floors on the second floor, Mrs. Chamberlain said. Most of the walls will require patching and painting.
And there's the mystery of the second-floor door that opens to the outside sans porch or stairwell.
"We call it the 'door to nowhere' because there's nothing on the other side except the outside," Mrs. Chamberlain said. "And it really doesn't look like there was ever anything there."
Chances are they'll build a multilevel deck that leads to the door, or they'll simply close it off, Mr. Chamberlain said.
The house has undergone several renovations, good or bad, during the last century. A window, for example, in the master bedroom opens onto the back of the bathroom wall. "The people who lived here probably added on the master bedroom without bothering to take out the window," Mr. Chamberlain said.
"The kitchen and master bath look pretty funny. It is a confusing hodge-podge of traditional and modern decor," he said. "Any interior decorator would have a fit."
Meanwhile, the owners are consulting with a number of people regarding the home, he said.
"A slough of people are checking out the home: six electricians, two contractors, one home inspector, one termite inspector, one home insurance salesman (though we got six estimates), one plumber, two attorneys, one interior decorator, one reporter, one camera man, one Real Estate agent, one mortgage broker, (and) many family and friends are doing drive-bys and our Facebook friends," Mr. Chamberlain said.
Expert opinion
The home offers features rarely found in homes built today, said Tony Cordell of Cordell Electric, one of the electricians offering bids.
"I love this house," he said. "It's an awesome place. I work for as many as 40 contractors, and I'm in old and new houses all the time. It's rare that I see a home as well-built as this one."
Mr. Cordell did see some problems, though, such as an air-return vent in a door that was completely useless.
"I'm sure it's things that have been done as people tried to remodel it through the years," he said. "It makes no sense."
Updating the electrical work in the house is a major project but not an insurmountable one, Mr. Cordell said.
"With a house like this, it's worth it. It's already stood longer than many houses built in recent years. We're seeing a lot of 'junk' houses today."
Why it's worth it
Not only does the house need attention, but a huge, aged barn on the property is leaning so badly that no one is allowed near it. But, according to an inspector, it's fixable.
"We were told that all you have to do is get a tractor and push it straight, then brace it," Mrs. Chamberlain said.
The children are eager for the barn to be fixed.
"The barn is my favorite," said Emma, 5. "I'm going to have horses, and it will make me really happy."
Mr. Chamberlain offered advice to those thinking of purchasing a fixer-upper home, a project he predicted will take a decade or longer, "Say a prayer and follow your heart. This isn't for everyone. We are hoping that if we are patient, hardworking and continue to have faith, things will get done."
House-buying tips from a Realtor
* Get a home inspection from a reputable source. "A home inspector will check out the electrical, plumbing, heat/air, everything. They usually turn in a 20- to 30-page report with photos. They go through the house with a fine-tooth comb, and most of the time, they'll tell you more than you really need to know."
* Get a termite inspection. "Most older homes, especially in the South where it's humid, need a termite inspection. If there is evidence of termites, the seller has to pay for the treatment, and it can be costly."
* Get estimates from specialists. "If you have concerns after the house has been inspected, get specialists to evaluate the situation and give you quotes of costs so you know what you're getting into before buying the house. I recommend getting at least three quotes for each issue such as electrical, plumbing, etc."
* Get a contingency period when making an offer on the house. "The Chamberlains had a 10-day contingency period after making the offer, meaning they could back out of the purchase if they wanted to. If you back out of the offer without a contingency, you would lose the earnest money you put down on the house."
Source: Emily Eiselstein Glover, Realtor, Keller Williams
By: Karen Nazor Hill
Bo and Tami Chamberlain have made a big home-buying decision that will dominate their financial lives for the next decade.
They purchased a 100-year-old fixer-upper house in Walden on Signal Mountain. They say the house is their dream come true.
The young family of five, which includes two daughters and a son under age 7, had outgrown their small, ranch-style "starter" house in Red Bank, which sold soon after they put it on the market. They hoped to find a bigger home within their budget on Signal Mountain, but most homes they found exceeded their price range, until they found the fixer-upper.
It was love at first sight, said Mr. Chamberlain, 37, a schoolteacher.
"I knew it had problems -- it was evident from the exterior -- but it also had a lot of charm. I knew right away it was a place where my children could grow up and be happy," he said.
The nearly four acres of land surrounding the house is what sold Mrs. Chamberlain, 35, training and quality assurance manager for Hamilton County Emergency Communications District. She said she envisioned the children running around, playing with horses and enjoying being home.
Living there, however, is going to take a commitment from each family member, Mr. Chamberlain said.
"It's going to be a long time before this house is completely remodeled," he said. "And we're going to be living in it when it takes place. I grew up in a cool old house on Lookout, and I want my kids to experience the same thing. I really think our new house is awesome. It has a lot of character."
First steps
The Chamberlains first got a thumbs-up on the house from a home inspector. They were told the house is solid, despite its obvious renovation needs, beginning with electrical work.
They began scheduling electricians, from six companies, to evaluate the house's electrical issues.
"It was the first piece of advice I got from people," Mr. Chamberlain said, noting that the estimated costs of doing the electrical work can vary by hundreds -- sometimes thousands -- of dollars. "I want it done right, but I want to be able to afford it."
Another priority of renovating, he said, was making sure the two stone chimneys are safe. He learned they passed inspection in 2008.
Also needing attention are a vine growing through a second-story window into a bathroom and wasps in one of the bedrooms, a particular concern for 6-year-old Emma, who calls the home "the house of many wasps."
Still to come
Later projects will include sanding and staining the hardwood floors on the second floor, Mrs. Chamberlain said. Most of the walls will require patching and painting.
And there's the mystery of the second-floor door that opens to the outside sans porch or stairwell.
"We call it the 'door to nowhere' because there's nothing on the other side except the outside," Mrs. Chamberlain said. "And it really doesn't look like there was ever anything there."
Chances are they'll build a multilevel deck that leads to the door, or they'll simply close it off, Mr. Chamberlain said.
The house has undergone several renovations, good or bad, during the last century. A window, for example, in the master bedroom opens onto the back of the bathroom wall. "The people who lived here probably added on the master bedroom without bothering to take out the window," Mr. Chamberlain said.
"The kitchen and master bath look pretty funny. It is a confusing hodge-podge of traditional and modern decor," he said. "Any interior decorator would have a fit."
Meanwhile, the owners are consulting with a number of people regarding the home, he said.
"A slough of people are checking out the home: six electricians, two contractors, one home inspector, one termite inspector, one home insurance salesman (though we got six estimates), one plumber, two attorneys, one interior decorator, one reporter, one camera man, one Real Estate agent, one mortgage broker, (and) many family and friends are doing drive-bys and our Facebook friends," Mr. Chamberlain said.
Expert opinion
The home offers features rarely found in homes built today, said Tony Cordell of Cordell Electric, one of the electricians offering bids.
"I love this house," he said. "It's an awesome place. I work for as many as 40 contractors, and I'm in old and new houses all the time. It's rare that I see a home as well-built as this one."
Mr. Cordell did see some problems, though, such as an air-return vent in a door that was completely useless.
"I'm sure it's things that have been done as people tried to remodel it through the years," he said. "It makes no sense."
Updating the electrical work in the house is a major project but not an insurmountable one, Mr. Cordell said.
"With a house like this, it's worth it. It's already stood longer than many houses built in recent years. We're seeing a lot of 'junk' houses today."
Why it's worth it
Not only does the house need attention, but a huge, aged barn on the property is leaning so badly that no one is allowed near it. But, according to an inspector, it's fixable.
"We were told that all you have to do is get a tractor and push it straight, then brace it," Mrs. Chamberlain said.
The children are eager for the barn to be fixed.
"The barn is my favorite," said Emma, 5. "I'm going to have horses, and it will make me really happy."
Mr. Chamberlain offered advice to those thinking of purchasing a fixer-upper home, a project he predicted will take a decade or longer, "Say a prayer and follow your heart. This isn't for everyone. We are hoping that if we are patient, hardworking and continue to have faith, things will get done."
House-buying tips from a Realtor
* Get a home inspection from a reputable source. "A home inspector will check out the electrical, plumbing, heat/air, everything. They usually turn in a 20- to 30-page report with photos. They go through the house with a fine-tooth comb, and most of the time, they'll tell you more than you really need to know."
* Get a termite inspection. "Most older homes, especially in the South where it's humid, need a termite inspection. If there is evidence of termites, the seller has to pay for the treatment, and it can be costly."
* Get estimates from specialists. "If you have concerns after the house has been inspected, get specialists to evaluate the situation and give you quotes of costs so you know what you're getting into before buying the house. I recommend getting at least three quotes for each issue such as electrical, plumbing, etc."
* Get a contingency period when making an offer on the house. "The Chamberlains had a 10-day contingency period after making the offer, meaning they could back out of the purchase if they wanted to. If you back out of the offer without a contingency, you would lose the earnest money you put down on the house."
Source: Emily Eiselstein Glover, Realtor, Keller Williams
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Los Angeles Electricians Read Fluke Newsletter
http://in.sys-con.com/node/1101069
EVERETT, WA -- (Marketwire) -- 09/10/09 -- The latest industry newsletters from Fluke Corporation, the global leader in portable electronic test and measurement technology, are now available through the Fluke web site and by subscription.
The three publications are designed to give industry professionals information they can use on the job, and show how to put Fluke instruments to work. Newsletters are written for plant engineering and maintenance professionals, electricians and electrical contractors, and heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration (HVAC) and indoor air quality contractors and maintenance personnel.
Fluke Electrical News leads with the story of how Prime Electric, a commercial market contractor in Bellevue, Wash., is tackling the economic slowdown with a focus on service work and an emphasis on saving energy. Other stories in the latest issue cover how an investigator tracks down tough-to-find electrical outages, how to optimize electric motor efficiency, and how to solve problems left over after an energy retrofit.
The new issue of Fluke Plant News features a cover story on what it takes to keep the famed Whistler/Blackcomb ski resort up and running. Also in this issue: better ways to troubleshoot controls, how a three-day energy audit turned up a half million dollar energy savings for Tektronix, and how to solve industrial bus issues.
Fluke HVAC/IAQ News tells how Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, a century-old Chicago hospital, worked its way to Energy Star recognition for efficiency. Other stories cover retro-commissioning to increase performance in older installations, power issues between generators and furnaces, and troubleshooting building controls.
All Fluke newsletters are available on the Fluke newsletter home page. To subscribe to the print edition, click on "subscribe to the next print editions" at the bottom of the page.
Fluke Corporation
For more information on Fluke tools and applications, or to find the location of your nearest distributor, contact Fluke Corporation, P.O. Box 9090, Everett, WA USA 98206, call (800) 44-FLUKE (800-443-5853), fax (425) 446-5116, e-mail fluke-info@fluke.com or visit the Fluke Web site at http://www.fluke.com.
About Fluke
Fluke Corporation is the leader in compact, professional electronic test tools. Fluke customers are technicians, engineers, electricians, metrologists and building diagnostic professionals who install, troubleshoot, and manage industrial electrical and electronic equipment and calibration processes for quality control as well as conducting building restoration and remediation services. Fluke is a registered trademark of Fluke Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
For more information:
Larry Wilson
Public Relations Manager
(425) 446-5671
Email Contact
EVERETT, WA -- (Marketwire) -- 09/10/09 -- The latest industry newsletters from Fluke Corporation, the global leader in portable electronic test and measurement technology, are now available through the Fluke web site and by subscription.
The three publications are designed to give industry professionals information they can use on the job, and show how to put Fluke instruments to work. Newsletters are written for plant engineering and maintenance professionals, electricians and electrical contractors, and heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration (HVAC) and indoor air quality contractors and maintenance personnel.
Fluke Electrical News leads with the story of how Prime Electric, a commercial market contractor in Bellevue, Wash., is tackling the economic slowdown with a focus on service work and an emphasis on saving energy. Other stories in the latest issue cover how an investigator tracks down tough-to-find electrical outages, how to optimize electric motor efficiency, and how to solve problems left over after an energy retrofit.
The new issue of Fluke Plant News features a cover story on what it takes to keep the famed Whistler/Blackcomb ski resort up and running. Also in this issue: better ways to troubleshoot controls, how a three-day energy audit turned up a half million dollar energy savings for Tektronix, and how to solve industrial bus issues.
Fluke HVAC/IAQ News tells how Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, a century-old Chicago hospital, worked its way to Energy Star recognition for efficiency. Other stories cover retro-commissioning to increase performance in older installations, power issues between generators and furnaces, and troubleshooting building controls.
All Fluke newsletters are available on the Fluke newsletter home page. To subscribe to the print edition, click on "subscribe to the next print editions" at the bottom of the page.
Fluke Corporation
For more information on Fluke tools and applications, or to find the location of your nearest distributor, contact Fluke Corporation, P.O. Box 9090, Everett, WA USA 98206, call (800) 44-FLUKE (800-443-5853), fax (425) 446-5116, e-mail fluke-info@fluke.com or visit the Fluke Web site at http://www.fluke.com.
About Fluke
Fluke Corporation is the leader in compact, professional electronic test tools. Fluke customers are technicians, engineers, electricians, metrologists and building diagnostic professionals who install, troubleshoot, and manage industrial electrical and electronic equipment and calibration processes for quality control as well as conducting building restoration and remediation services. Fluke is a registered trademark of Fluke Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
For more information:
Larry Wilson
Public Relations Manager
(425) 446-5671
Email Contact
Los Angeles Electricians Promote Job in India
Location: India
Salary: Excellent Salary + Benefits
Company: Maxwell Bruce
Sector: Oil / Gas / Power
Job role: Electrical engineer
Job type: Permanent
Date posted: 09/09/2009 16:14
This well known Drilling contractor with offices throughout South East and Central Asia are looking to recruit several Rig Electricians to work on their offshore modular workover rigs.
The role will be based in India on a 28x28 rotation.
As Rig Electrician, you will be responsible ensuring that all Electrical equipment involved in carrying out workover operations offshore is maintained to a safe standard, and is also able to carry out work effectively and efficiently.
You will also be responsible for carrying out general planned maintenance tasks as required by the Maintenance Supervisor.
Candidates must have experience (minimum 2 years) working as a Rig Electrician on an offshore drilling or workover rig.
Experience with workover rigs would be preferable.
Candidates who have only worked with land rigs will not be considered.
To be selected for the position, you must have current offshore survival certificates.
Maxwell Bruce operates as an Employment Agency in providing permanent or contract job-seeking services and as an Employment Business in providing temporary job-seeking services.
Reference: CareerStructure/16099
Salary: Excellent Salary + Benefits
Company: Maxwell Bruce
Sector: Oil / Gas / Power
Job role: Electrical engineer
Job type: Permanent
Date posted: 09/09/2009 16:14
This well known Drilling contractor with offices throughout South East and Central Asia are looking to recruit several Rig Electricians to work on their offshore modular workover rigs.
The role will be based in India on a 28x28 rotation.
As Rig Electrician, you will be responsible ensuring that all Electrical equipment involved in carrying out workover operations offshore is maintained to a safe standard, and is also able to carry out work effectively and efficiently.
You will also be responsible for carrying out general planned maintenance tasks as required by the Maintenance Supervisor.
Candidates must have experience (minimum 2 years) working as a Rig Electrician on an offshore drilling or workover rig.
Experience with workover rigs would be preferable.
Candidates who have only worked with land rigs will not be considered.
To be selected for the position, you must have current offshore survival certificates.
Maxwell Bruce operates as an Employment Agency in providing permanent or contract job-seeking services and as an Employment Business in providing temporary job-seeking services.
Reference: CareerStructure/16099
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Los Angeles Electricians Encourage Mister Sparky®
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Greater Houston's Mister Sparky Tells the Truth Regarding Electrical Work
HOUSTON, TEXAS September 08, 2009 New Public Offerings News Printer Friendly Print this News Release Subscribe via RSS RSS
(PRLEAP.COM) Master electrician provider, Mister Sparky, exercises sincerity as a marketing tool. The company grants free services if they do not keep to their word. Company representative, Richard Lodge, celebrates the genuine philosophy ingrained in Mister Sparky service providers.
Granting service across the greater Houston area, Mister Sparky provides electricians based on a customer’s geographic location. Through direct calls and Web site access, customers request services for electrical repair, specialty lighting, home surge protection, as well as others. The company then dispatches master electricians to address the specific, customer needs.
The concept of sincerity seems obvious in maintaining and recruiting customers. "Being genuine is celebrated by customers," informs Lodge. "Unfortunately, many service providers know this, and orchestrate marketing and advertising materials that mirror such sentiments. I think customers have gotten to the point where they are blind and deaf to the whole pitch. Every provider is "the best" because it is just that simple to state. Walking the talk is an entirely different business. That is where we make our distinction."
The company refers to themselves as, "the on-time electrician". "For years, it has been an on-going joke how customers must wait for service providers," smiles company representative, Albert Bustos. "I remember watching a dated, Seinfeld episode where Kramer and a cable repairman have a bout throughout the show. Obviously, embellishment is used for a laugh, but the real truth behind such service commitments is not amusing. Too many service providers simply are not who they say they are; that is not the philosophy of Mister Sparky."
Currently, Mister Sparky’s services are free if they are not who they originally state. "Log on to our site at www.mistersparky-houston.com," educates, Jeremy Nolan. "Our slogan says it all – if we’re not on time, our services are free. Having an immediate need can be very stressful for the customer. Depending on the urgency, a customer can have a lot of anxiety. They have a need. They don’t want another problem coming from the proposed solution! We’re there to solve problems, not create them for our customers."
Mister Sparky®, America’s On-Time Electrician, is a national network of conscientious, courteous, highly competent electrical contractors. And while you’ll be seeing our trucks and hearing our radio ads coast-to-coast, all Mister Sparky® businesses are locally owned and operated by people who live in your community.
Submit a Press Release | About | Blog | Help | Pricing & Sign Up
Over 30,000 companies use PR LEAP Learn More
Greater Houston's Mister Sparky Tells the Truth Regarding Electrical Work
HOUSTON, TEXAS September 08, 2009 New Public Offerings News Printer Friendly Print this News Release Subscribe via RSS RSS
(PRLEAP.COM) Master electrician provider, Mister Sparky, exercises sincerity as a marketing tool. The company grants free services if they do not keep to their word. Company representative, Richard Lodge, celebrates the genuine philosophy ingrained in Mister Sparky service providers.
Granting service across the greater Houston area, Mister Sparky provides electricians based on a customer’s geographic location. Through direct calls and Web site access, customers request services for electrical repair, specialty lighting, home surge protection, as well as others. The company then dispatches master electricians to address the specific, customer needs.
The concept of sincerity seems obvious in maintaining and recruiting customers. "Being genuine is celebrated by customers," informs Lodge. "Unfortunately, many service providers know this, and orchestrate marketing and advertising materials that mirror such sentiments. I think customers have gotten to the point where they are blind and deaf to the whole pitch. Every provider is "the best" because it is just that simple to state. Walking the talk is an entirely different business. That is where we make our distinction."
The company refers to themselves as, "the on-time electrician". "For years, it has been an on-going joke how customers must wait for service providers," smiles company representative, Albert Bustos. "I remember watching a dated, Seinfeld episode where Kramer and a cable repairman have a bout throughout the show. Obviously, embellishment is used for a laugh, but the real truth behind such service commitments is not amusing. Too many service providers simply are not who they say they are; that is not the philosophy of Mister Sparky."
Currently, Mister Sparky’s services are free if they are not who they originally state. "Log on to our site at www.mistersparky-houston.com," educates, Jeremy Nolan. "Our slogan says it all – if we’re not on time, our services are free. Having an immediate need can be very stressful for the customer. Depending on the urgency, a customer can have a lot of anxiety. They have a need. They don’t want another problem coming from the proposed solution! We’re there to solve problems, not create them for our customers."
Mister Sparky®, America’s On-Time Electrician, is a national network of conscientious, courteous, highly competent electrical contractors. And while you’ll be seeing our trucks and hearing our radio ads coast-to-coast, all Mister Sparky® businesses are locally owned and operated by people who live in your community.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Los Angeles Electricians Send Support Moral Support to School Electricians
Elementary school blackout costs system $50,000
http://www.times-georgian.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Elementary+school+blackout+costs+system+-50-000%20&id=3525199-Elementary+school+blackout+costs+system+-50-000&instance=home_news_top
by Laura Camper/Times-Georgian4 days ago | 601 views | 0 | 6 | |
Carrollton Elemen-tary School students got an unexpected three-day weekend last week after the school experienced electrical problems that will end up costing the system in excess of $50,000.
The circuit breaker for the school first tripped about two weeks ago, but maintenance was able to get the system up and working again with no problem. They called in a company to test the breaker anyway. The company came to the school to test it on Thursday and the breaker tripped again. This time the staff and the electricians were not able to get it running again. By early morning they installed a refurbished circuit breaker, which also tripped.
The system had no choice but to cancel school Friday, while the electricians tried to fix the problem. The system was able to notify nearly all the students before they left for school.
“SchoolCast worked great,” Superintendent Tom Wilson said. “We only had 24 students show up that were on buses. The bus drivers were informed don’t leave a child at a bus stop. If the parents are there, tell them school was called. Most students were not there.”
The system rented a generator at a cost of $15,000 for a week and the work continued all weekend. Monday morning school resumed using generator power and only running what was necessary for school.
“We just put the school on what was necessary to have school,” Steve Spofford, chief operating officer for the school system, told board of education members at their work session on Thursday. “We had the lights on, turned off all the low-voltage, air conditioners and it ran fine.”
The electricians found and installed a new circuit breaker, which cost about $20,000, and the power has stayed on without incident.
“As of today, it’s been running for almost 48 hours, and we’re confident we fixed it,” Spofford said. “But we have this generator until Sunday and I want to keep it until Sunday, just in case.”
It’s been a very expensive problem. Aside from the cost of the new circuit breaker and rent for the generator, the generator burned through $50 of diesel fuel an hour. The system doesn’t know yet how much the labor costs will be for the work.
During the course of the work, the electricians also found a broken water line on one of the drinking fountains which was flooding one of the hallways. The maintenance staff was able to turn off the water, saving the school some water damage.
“If we hadn’t found that, over a weekend you can imagine the damage,” Spofford said. “That probably saved us as much money as it cost us.”
Because of the problem, the system is now asking teachers to remove all decorative lighting, refrigerators and microwaves from their classrooms to decrease the strain on the circuit breakers in all the schools. Over the weekend, the system was able to save all the food in the school cafeteria, but some teachers had small refrigerators in their classrooms that contained food which did spoil.
“They have lounges, that have refrigerators and microwaves,” Wilson said. “It’s time that we move away from that. Sure it’s a convenience for a lot of our teachers, but we feel like it saves us money and it certainly doesn’t help the strain that’s put on these electrical systems.”
• Enrollment at the city schools is up by 109 students this year over last year, Wilson told board members. There were 4,238 students enrolled as of Aug. 20, 1,457 elementary students, 609 middle school students, 945 junior high school students and 1,227 high school students. After Labor Day, when the official count is taken, he expects enrollment to be up about 125.
• The board members also unanimously approved a letter of intent that would make them eligible to apply for interest-free loans of federal stimulus money for capital projects.
http://www.times-georgian.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Elementary+school+blackout+costs+system+-50-000%20&id=3525199-Elementary+school+blackout+costs+system+-50-000&instance=home_news_top
by Laura Camper/Times-Georgian4 days ago | 601 views | 0 | 6 | |
Carrollton Elemen-tary School students got an unexpected three-day weekend last week after the school experienced electrical problems that will end up costing the system in excess of $50,000.
The circuit breaker for the school first tripped about two weeks ago, but maintenance was able to get the system up and working again with no problem. They called in a company to test the breaker anyway. The company came to the school to test it on Thursday and the breaker tripped again. This time the staff and the electricians were not able to get it running again. By early morning they installed a refurbished circuit breaker, which also tripped.
The system had no choice but to cancel school Friday, while the electricians tried to fix the problem. The system was able to notify nearly all the students before they left for school.
“SchoolCast worked great,” Superintendent Tom Wilson said. “We only had 24 students show up that were on buses. The bus drivers were informed don’t leave a child at a bus stop. If the parents are there, tell them school was called. Most students were not there.”
The system rented a generator at a cost of $15,000 for a week and the work continued all weekend. Monday morning school resumed using generator power and only running what was necessary for school.
“We just put the school on what was necessary to have school,” Steve Spofford, chief operating officer for the school system, told board of education members at their work session on Thursday. “We had the lights on, turned off all the low-voltage, air conditioners and it ran fine.”
The electricians found and installed a new circuit breaker, which cost about $20,000, and the power has stayed on without incident.
“As of today, it’s been running for almost 48 hours, and we’re confident we fixed it,” Spofford said. “But we have this generator until Sunday and I want to keep it until Sunday, just in case.”
It’s been a very expensive problem. Aside from the cost of the new circuit breaker and rent for the generator, the generator burned through $50 of diesel fuel an hour. The system doesn’t know yet how much the labor costs will be for the work.
During the course of the work, the electricians also found a broken water line on one of the drinking fountains which was flooding one of the hallways. The maintenance staff was able to turn off the water, saving the school some water damage.
“If we hadn’t found that, over a weekend you can imagine the damage,” Spofford said. “That probably saved us as much money as it cost us.”
Because of the problem, the system is now asking teachers to remove all decorative lighting, refrigerators and microwaves from their classrooms to decrease the strain on the circuit breakers in all the schools. Over the weekend, the system was able to save all the food in the school cafeteria, but some teachers had small refrigerators in their classrooms that contained food which did spoil.
“They have lounges, that have refrigerators and microwaves,” Wilson said. “It’s time that we move away from that. Sure it’s a convenience for a lot of our teachers, but we feel like it saves us money and it certainly doesn’t help the strain that’s put on these electrical systems.”
• Enrollment at the city schools is up by 109 students this year over last year, Wilson told board members. There were 4,238 students enrolled as of Aug. 20, 1,457 elementary students, 609 middle school students, 945 junior high school students and 1,227 high school students. After Labor Day, when the official count is taken, he expects enrollment to be up about 125.
• The board members also unanimously approved a letter of intent that would make them eligible to apply for interest-free loans of federal stimulus money for capital projects.
Los Angeles Electricians Promote Full Service with No Short Cuts
http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2009/09/07/4358121.htm
Sep 07, 2009 (The Cullman Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A residential Smith Lake boat dock with a faulty lighting system nearly killed three people and injured two others with electric shocks last week.
When electrician Brian Harbison heard about the incident, he was not surprised.
"We do a lot of dock service work ... and there are docks potentially like that all over the county," said Harbison, who owns B & V Electric in Cullman. "Get a real electrician to wire a dock." Over the 12 years he has worked in Cullman County, Harbison said he has seen many boat docks with improperly installed lighting systems."There are just wrong practices, like using the tubing of a dock as a conduit and running cables down the tubing of a walkway," Harbison said. "And any frame member of a dock is not an approved, listed conduit. That is a code violation. You should use PVC conduit." An electrical conduit is a protective cover for cables.
Another bad practice Harbison has routinely seen is dock electrical systems composed of common housewire.
Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at the INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference and EXPO West, September 1-3, 2009. Los Angeles, CA.
Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at the INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference and EXPO West, September 1-3, 2009. Los Angeles, CA.
Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at the INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference and EXPO West, September 1-3, 2009. Los Angeles, CA.
Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at the INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference and EXPO West, September 1-3, 2009. Los Angeles, CA.
Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at the INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference and EXPO West, September 1-3, 2009. Los Angeles, CA.
Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at the INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference and EXPO West, September 1-3, 2009. Los Angeles, CA.
"It's not made for outdoor use," Harbison said. "It wears out from the back and forth motion of docks. It's not made for any kind of motion." And how could some electricians be able to cut corners on dock work, at the cost of proper safety standards? There is no home rule in Cullman County.
"There's no governing board in the county as far as electricity goes," said Kyle Baggett, vice president of engineering operations for the Cullman Electric Cooperative. "There are no requirements for licensed electricians, nothing in the county." Unlike the county, the city of Cullman has regulations and a building inspector to ensure the electrical system of any structure is up to code.
"We don't have any kinds of rules in regards to building and zoning regulations," said Cullman County Commission Chairman James Graves. "You can do anything you want out there." Graves said the subject has come up several times in the past, but the public was always steadfastly against it. Graves said the last time the commission tried instituting regulations was in 2000, when he was the county administrator.
"The chairman tried to push some limited zoning and the public was just all in opposition to it," Graves said.
The Alabama Power Company, which owns Smith Lake, also has no regulations for lighting systems on boat docks.
"Our guidelines are just general guidelines on shoreline management plans," said Michael Sznajderman, spokesman for Alabama Power. "We certainly encourage people to use a licensed and bonded professional that will build it (dock) to code, and for those who already have docks to have an electrician look at it. But ultimately, it's up to the homeowners." Larry Creel, owner of the dock that electrically shocked five people Sept. 5, said the power lines for the dock had been in the ground for around 30 years.
"The first thing I did was I called my neighbors and alerted them to the fact that it happened," Creel said. "A lot of people have boat docks down there just don't know the danger." Harbison said it is important for residents to hire professional, experienced electricians not just to install lighting systems on docks, but to service older docks like Creel's.
"The main thing is experience more than a license," Harbison said. "It's actually pretty easy to get an electrician's license." When citizens are looking for electricians to wire a dock, they should always ask for references, Harbison said.
"If anybody's not willing to do that, I wouldn't let them wire anything," he said. "And get people to give a written quote of what they do." Harbison noted, however, that an experienced electrician does not come cheap, which is part of the reason why many docks in the county are not wired correctly.
"The cheap way is not always the safe way out," Harbison said.
Even when docks are wired correctly, they can still generate stray voltage, which while not harmful, can cause uncomfortable tingling sensations in the body.
"The problem is people are all using aluminum docks now," Baggett said. "Aluminum is a great conductor. That was never an issue when people used wooden docks." To solve the problem, residents can purchase stray voltage blockers, which are sold by the Cullman Co-op.
"They isolate the customer's electrical grounding from our systems ... you eliminate the return current so the same electricity is not trying to get back through the ground system," Baggett said.
He added, however, that a stray voltage blocker would have done nothing to prevent last week's accident.
Harbison could not agree more.
"It takes pure line voltage to knock someone out," Harbison said. "That was not lead off. I guarantee they had 110 volts on that dock. That's the only thing that would knock a person out like that." Why Creel does not know exactly why his dock became electrified, he knows it will never happen again.
"There is no more electricity down there," Creel said. "We ripped it all out." -- Patrick McCreless can be reached by e-mail at patrickm@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 270.
To see more of The Cullman Times or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.cullmantimes.com/. Copyright (c) 2009, The Cullman Times, Ala.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Sep 07, 2009 (The Cullman Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A residential Smith Lake boat dock with a faulty lighting system nearly killed three people and injured two others with electric shocks last week.
When electrician Brian Harbison heard about the incident, he was not surprised.
"We do a lot of dock service work ... and there are docks potentially like that all over the county," said Harbison, who owns B & V Electric in Cullman. "Get a real electrician to wire a dock." Over the 12 years he has worked in Cullman County, Harbison said he has seen many boat docks with improperly installed lighting systems."There are just wrong practices, like using the tubing of a dock as a conduit and running cables down the tubing of a walkway," Harbison said. "And any frame member of a dock is not an approved, listed conduit. That is a code violation. You should use PVC conduit." An electrical conduit is a protective cover for cables.
Another bad practice Harbison has routinely seen is dock electrical systems composed of common housewire.
Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at the INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference and EXPO West, September 1-3, 2009. Los Angeles, CA.
Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at the INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference and EXPO West, September 1-3, 2009. Los Angeles, CA.
Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at the INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference and EXPO West, September 1-3, 2009. Los Angeles, CA.
Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at the INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference and EXPO West, September 1-3, 2009. Los Angeles, CA.
Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at the INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference and EXPO West, September 1-3, 2009. Los Angeles, CA.
Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at the INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference and EXPO West, September 1-3, 2009. Los Angeles, CA.
"It's not made for outdoor use," Harbison said. "It wears out from the back and forth motion of docks. It's not made for any kind of motion." And how could some electricians be able to cut corners on dock work, at the cost of proper safety standards? There is no home rule in Cullman County.
"There's no governing board in the county as far as electricity goes," said Kyle Baggett, vice president of engineering operations for the Cullman Electric Cooperative. "There are no requirements for licensed electricians, nothing in the county." Unlike the county, the city of Cullman has regulations and a building inspector to ensure the electrical system of any structure is up to code.
"We don't have any kinds of rules in regards to building and zoning regulations," said Cullman County Commission Chairman James Graves. "You can do anything you want out there." Graves said the subject has come up several times in the past, but the public was always steadfastly against it. Graves said the last time the commission tried instituting regulations was in 2000, when he was the county administrator.
"The chairman tried to push some limited zoning and the public was just all in opposition to it," Graves said.
The Alabama Power Company, which owns Smith Lake, also has no regulations for lighting systems on boat docks.
"Our guidelines are just general guidelines on shoreline management plans," said Michael Sznajderman, spokesman for Alabama Power. "We certainly encourage people to use a licensed and bonded professional that will build it (dock) to code, and for those who already have docks to have an electrician look at it. But ultimately, it's up to the homeowners." Larry Creel, owner of the dock that electrically shocked five people Sept. 5, said the power lines for the dock had been in the ground for around 30 years.
"The first thing I did was I called my neighbors and alerted them to the fact that it happened," Creel said. "A lot of people have boat docks down there just don't know the danger." Harbison said it is important for residents to hire professional, experienced electricians not just to install lighting systems on docks, but to service older docks like Creel's.
"The main thing is experience more than a license," Harbison said. "It's actually pretty easy to get an electrician's license." When citizens are looking for electricians to wire a dock, they should always ask for references, Harbison said.
"If anybody's not willing to do that, I wouldn't let them wire anything," he said. "And get people to give a written quote of what they do." Harbison noted, however, that an experienced electrician does not come cheap, which is part of the reason why many docks in the county are not wired correctly.
"The cheap way is not always the safe way out," Harbison said.
Even when docks are wired correctly, they can still generate stray voltage, which while not harmful, can cause uncomfortable tingling sensations in the body.
"The problem is people are all using aluminum docks now," Baggett said. "Aluminum is a great conductor. That was never an issue when people used wooden docks." To solve the problem, residents can purchase stray voltage blockers, which are sold by the Cullman Co-op.
"They isolate the customer's electrical grounding from our systems ... you eliminate the return current so the same electricity is not trying to get back through the ground system," Baggett said.
He added, however, that a stray voltage blocker would have done nothing to prevent last week's accident.
Harbison could not agree more.
"It takes pure line voltage to knock someone out," Harbison said. "That was not lead off. I guarantee they had 110 volts on that dock. That's the only thing that would knock a person out like that." Why Creel does not know exactly why his dock became electrified, he knows it will never happen again.
"There is no more electricity down there," Creel said. "We ripped it all out." -- Patrick McCreless can be reached by e-mail at patrickm@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 270.
To see more of The Cullman Times or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.cullmantimes.com/. Copyright (c) 2009, The Cullman Times, Ala.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Los Angeles Electricians Applauds Hagerstown, Maryland
http://www.examiner.com/a-2204377~Apprenticing_leads_Md__electrician_to_D_C__work.html
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (Map, News) -
Things might be tough in the economy, but it's been good for Wade Joy.
Joy said he wanted to be an electrician because it's a job that always requires thought and could never be replaced by a machine.
The Emmitsburg, Md., man has landed a full-time job with Architect of the Capitol, which performs electrical contracting work for U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate office buildings in Washington.
As part of the employment deal, Architect of the Capitol paid for Joy's electrical contracting training at the Barr Construction Institute in Hagerstown.
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (Map, News) -
Things might be tough in the economy, but it's been good for Wade Joy.
Joy said he wanted to be an electrician because it's a job that always requires thought and could never be replaced by a machine.
The Emmitsburg, Md., man has landed a full-time job with Architect of the Capitol, which performs electrical contracting work for U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate office buildings in Washington.
As part of the employment deal, Architect of the Capitol paid for Joy's electrical contracting training at the Barr Construction Institute in Hagerstown.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Los Angeles Electricians Supportive of Automotive Electricians
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/labor-day-marks-rough-time-for-ohios-struggling-economy-284036.html
By William Hershey and Jim DeBrosse, Staff Writers
Kim Clay earned about $60,000 a year as an electrician at General Motors’ Moraine assembly plant before the plant closed in December.
His nine-month search for a new job has turned up nothing, and he and his wife Vanessa now get by on food stamps.
“I’m at the end of my rope,” Clay, 48, of Dayton said last week.
On the eve of Labor Day 2009, the annual “State of Working Ohio” report from Policy Matters Ohio finds more workers at the end of their ropes.
Wages are falling and unemployment is at 11.2 percent, a 26-year high. Ohio’s 2008 inflation-adjusted median wage — now $15.04 an hour — trails the federal median by 70 cents, the largest gap the state has seen.
In 1979, Ohio’s inflation-adjusted median stood at $15.83, $1.28 an hour above the national median .
High-paying jobs like Clay’s continue to disappear, said Amy Hanauer, author of the report. “I think the loss of manufacturing jobs has played a big part in the median income drop,” Hanauer said, adding that pay freezes and wage cuts have also played roles.
Ohio workers now earn less than workers in most neighboring states, the study found. Wages in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Indiana exceed Ohio’s, while West Virginia and Kentucky still have lower averages.
Meanwhile, Clay sends out five or six resumes a day but is not optimistic.
“The situation in Dayton with the jobs? There aren’t any jobs,” he said.
Contact this reporter at (614) 224-1608 or whershey@DaytonDailyNews.com.
By William Hershey and Jim DeBrosse, Staff Writers
Kim Clay earned about $60,000 a year as an electrician at General Motors’ Moraine assembly plant before the plant closed in December.
His nine-month search for a new job has turned up nothing, and he and his wife Vanessa now get by on food stamps.
“I’m at the end of my rope,” Clay, 48, of Dayton said last week.
On the eve of Labor Day 2009, the annual “State of Working Ohio” report from Policy Matters Ohio finds more workers at the end of their ropes.
Wages are falling and unemployment is at 11.2 percent, a 26-year high. Ohio’s 2008 inflation-adjusted median wage — now $15.04 an hour — trails the federal median by 70 cents, the largest gap the state has seen.
In 1979, Ohio’s inflation-adjusted median stood at $15.83, $1.28 an hour above the national median .
High-paying jobs like Clay’s continue to disappear, said Amy Hanauer, author of the report. “I think the loss of manufacturing jobs has played a big part in the median income drop,” Hanauer said, adding that pay freezes and wage cuts have also played roles.
Ohio workers now earn less than workers in most neighboring states, the study found. Wages in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Indiana exceed Ohio’s, while West Virginia and Kentucky still have lower averages.
Meanwhile, Clay sends out five or six resumes a day but is not optimistic.
“The situation in Dayton with the jobs? There aren’t any jobs,” he said.
Contact this reporter at (614) 224-1608 or whershey@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Los Angeles Electricians Understand Circuit Breakers Break
http://www.times-georgian.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Elementary+school+blackout+costs+system+-50-000%20&id=3525199-Elementary+school+blackout+costs+system+-50-000&instance=home_news_top
Carrollton Elemen-tary School students got an unexpected three-day weekend last week after the school experienced electrical problems that will end up costing the system in excess of $50,000.
The circuit breaker for the school first tripped about two weeks ago, but maintenance was able to get the system up and working again with no problem. They called in a company to test the breaker anyway. The company came to the school to test it on Thursday and the breaker tripped again. This time the staff and the electricians were not able to get it running again. By early morning they installed a refurbished circuit breaker, which also tripped.
The system had no choice but to cancel school Friday, while the electricians tried to fix the problem. The system was able to notify nearly all the students before they left for school.
“SchoolCast worked great,” Superintendent Tom Wilson said. “We only had 24 students show up that were on buses. The bus drivers were informed don’t leave a child at a bus stop. If the parents are there, tell them school was called. Most students were not there.”
The system rented a generator at a cost of $15,000 for a week and the work continued all weekend. Monday morning school resumed using generator power and only running what was necessary for school.
“We just put the school on what was necessary to have school,” Steve Spofford, chief operating officer for the school system, told board of education members at their work session on Thursday. “We had the lights on, turned off all the low-voltage, air conditioners and it ran fine.”
The electricians found and installed a new circuit breaker, which cost about $20,000, and the power has stayed on without incident.
“As of today, it’s been running for almost 48 hours, and we’re confident we fixed it,” Spofford said. “But we have this generator until Sunday and I want to keep it until Sunday, just in case.”
It’s been a very expensive problem. Aside from the cost of the new circuit breaker and rent for the generator, the generator burned through $50 of diesel fuel an hour. The system doesn’t know yet how much the labor costs will be for the work.
During the course of the work, the electricians also found a broken water line on one of the drinking fountains which was flooding one of the hallways. The maintenance staff was able to turn off the water, saving the school some water damage.
“If we hadn’t found that, over a weekend you can imagine the damage,” Spofford said. “That probably saved us as much money as it cost us.”
Because of the problem, the system is now asking teachers to remove all decorative lighting, refrigerators and microwaves from their classrooms to decrease the strain on the circuit breakers in all the schools. Over the weekend, the system was able to save all the food in the school cafeteria, but some teachers had small refrigerators in their classrooms that contained food which did spoil.
“They have lounges, that have refrigerators and microwaves,” Wilson said. “It’s time that we move away from that. Sure it’s a convenience for a lot of our teachers, but we feel like it saves us money and it certainly doesn’t help the strain that’s put on these electrical systems.”
• Enrollment at the city schools is up by 109 students this year over last year, Wilson told board members. There were 4,238 students enrolled as of Aug. 20, 1,457 elementary students, 609 middle school students, 945 junior high school students and 1,227 high school students. After Labor Day, when the official count is taken, he expects enrollment to be up about 125.
• The board members also unanimously approved a letter of intent that would make them eligible to apply for interest-free loans of federal stimulus money for capital projects.
Carrollton Elemen-tary School students got an unexpected three-day weekend last week after the school experienced electrical problems that will end up costing the system in excess of $50,000.
The circuit breaker for the school first tripped about two weeks ago, but maintenance was able to get the system up and working again with no problem. They called in a company to test the breaker anyway. The company came to the school to test it on Thursday and the breaker tripped again. This time the staff and the electricians were not able to get it running again. By early morning they installed a refurbished circuit breaker, which also tripped.
The system had no choice but to cancel school Friday, while the electricians tried to fix the problem. The system was able to notify nearly all the students before they left for school.
“SchoolCast worked great,” Superintendent Tom Wilson said. “We only had 24 students show up that were on buses. The bus drivers were informed don’t leave a child at a bus stop. If the parents are there, tell them school was called. Most students were not there.”
The system rented a generator at a cost of $15,000 for a week and the work continued all weekend. Monday morning school resumed using generator power and only running what was necessary for school.
“We just put the school on what was necessary to have school,” Steve Spofford, chief operating officer for the school system, told board of education members at their work session on Thursday. “We had the lights on, turned off all the low-voltage, air conditioners and it ran fine.”
The electricians found and installed a new circuit breaker, which cost about $20,000, and the power has stayed on without incident.
“As of today, it’s been running for almost 48 hours, and we’re confident we fixed it,” Spofford said. “But we have this generator until Sunday and I want to keep it until Sunday, just in case.”
It’s been a very expensive problem. Aside from the cost of the new circuit breaker and rent for the generator, the generator burned through $50 of diesel fuel an hour. The system doesn’t know yet how much the labor costs will be for the work.
During the course of the work, the electricians also found a broken water line on one of the drinking fountains which was flooding one of the hallways. The maintenance staff was able to turn off the water, saving the school some water damage.
“If we hadn’t found that, over a weekend you can imagine the damage,” Spofford said. “That probably saved us as much money as it cost us.”
Because of the problem, the system is now asking teachers to remove all decorative lighting, refrigerators and microwaves from their classrooms to decrease the strain on the circuit breakers in all the schools. Over the weekend, the system was able to save all the food in the school cafeteria, but some teachers had small refrigerators in their classrooms that contained food which did spoil.
“They have lounges, that have refrigerators and microwaves,” Wilson said. “It’s time that we move away from that. Sure it’s a convenience for a lot of our teachers, but we feel like it saves us money and it certainly doesn’t help the strain that’s put on these electrical systems.”
• Enrollment at the city schools is up by 109 students this year over last year, Wilson told board members. There were 4,238 students enrolled as of Aug. 20, 1,457 elementary students, 609 middle school students, 945 junior high school students and 1,227 high school students. After Labor Day, when the official count is taken, he expects enrollment to be up about 125.
• The board members also unanimously approved a letter of intent that would make them eligible to apply for interest-free loans of federal stimulus money for capital projects.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Los Angeles Electricians Support the TEE Union
Published Date: 02 September 2009
By Paul O'Meara
AN industrial dispute at a food manufacturing business in Naas is set to escalate if striking workers succeed in a bid for an all-out picket today.
Thirty five fitters and electricians, members of the Technical Electrical and Engineering Union (TEEU), have been on strike since Monday at Green Isle Foods.
The company has in the region of 650 employees manufacturing frozen pizza products Road and maintains that production will continue as normal while efforts are made to "reach a reasonable and sensible conclusion".
TEEU official Eamon Devoy said an application would be made to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions on Thursday for an all-out picket that, if successful, could cause major disruption.
He told the Leader on Tuesday afternoon that the row arose over an email sent by the company to an employee which related to a proposal to make six members of staff redundant as part of a restructuring process.
This information was distributed and Mr Devoy said those allegedly involved were only sharing information about themselves.
This precipitated an investigation by the company which lasted some three months.
"This was a prolonged and stressful process and our members did not co-operate. Our employees do not have access to the internet; only to email," Mr Devoy told the Leader.
A statement issued by the company indicated that the strike came about as a result of "the company's decision to dismiss three of its employees following an investigation into improper use of the company's IT system".
Specifically, the company referred to "concerns that serious adult and other inappropriate material was contained on the company's IT network".
The company claimed that a result of the intensive investigation a number of individuals were found to have possibly breached internal email and internet policy.
"As a result of the intensive investigation, a number of individuals were found to have possibly breached the company's email and internet policy. In each of these cases, investigation and disciplinary meetings were held by Green Isle. Following this, a decision was taken to dismiss three employees from the business. Each of the dismissed
employees availed of the company's appeals process and after consideration of the facts in each of the three cases, the dismissal decisions were upheld," the statement added.
Green Isle Foods maintained that during the investigation and disciplinary process all employees were treated equally and without prejudice.
Mr Devoy further criticised the company for ignoring initial attempts by the Labour Relations Commission to seek a resolution and claimed that the company had brought staff in from the UK to do the work of those on strike.
"The company takes IDA grants but is not willing to use the institutions of the State," commented Mr Devoy.
He also claimed that many people did not turn up for shifts on Monday and yesterday - although this was disputed by a company spokesman.
Mr Devoy said: "We have looked for meetings and they have refused to meet us. I don't know how this will be resolved in the short term."
The company spokesman said Green Isle is happy with the investigation and "this is where we stand on this".
He also said the majority of employees were continuing to work and while Green Isle would talk to elected worker representatives it did not wish to negotiate with the TEEU.
By Paul O'Meara
AN industrial dispute at a food manufacturing business in Naas is set to escalate if striking workers succeed in a bid for an all-out picket today.
Thirty five fitters and electricians, members of the Technical Electrical and Engineering Union (TEEU), have been on strike since Monday at Green Isle Foods.
The company has in the region of 650 employees manufacturing frozen pizza products Road and maintains that production will continue as normal while efforts are made to "reach a reasonable and sensible conclusion".
TEEU official Eamon Devoy said an application would be made to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions on Thursday for an all-out picket that, if successful, could cause major disruption.
He told the Leader on Tuesday afternoon that the row arose over an email sent by the company to an employee which related to a proposal to make six members of staff redundant as part of a restructuring process.
This information was distributed and Mr Devoy said those allegedly involved were only sharing information about themselves.
This precipitated an investigation by the company which lasted some three months.
"This was a prolonged and stressful process and our members did not co-operate. Our employees do not have access to the internet; only to email," Mr Devoy told the Leader.
A statement issued by the company indicated that the strike came about as a result of "the company's decision to dismiss three of its employees following an investigation into improper use of the company's IT system".
Specifically, the company referred to "concerns that serious adult and other inappropriate material was contained on the company's IT network".
The company claimed that a result of the intensive investigation a number of individuals were found to have possibly breached internal email and internet policy.
"As a result of the intensive investigation, a number of individuals were found to have possibly breached the company's email and internet policy. In each of these cases, investigation and disciplinary meetings were held by Green Isle. Following this, a decision was taken to dismiss three employees from the business. Each of the dismissed
employees availed of the company's appeals process and after consideration of the facts in each of the three cases, the dismissal decisions were upheld," the statement added.
Green Isle Foods maintained that during the investigation and disciplinary process all employees were treated equally and without prejudice.
Mr Devoy further criticised the company for ignoring initial attempts by the Labour Relations Commission to seek a resolution and claimed that the company had brought staff in from the UK to do the work of those on strike.
"The company takes IDA grants but is not willing to use the institutions of the State," commented Mr Devoy.
He also claimed that many people did not turn up for shifts on Monday and yesterday - although this was disputed by a company spokesman.
Mr Devoy said: "We have looked for meetings and they have refused to meet us. I don't know how this will be resolved in the short term."
The company spokesman said Green Isle is happy with the investigation and "this is where we stand on this".
He also said the majority of employees were continuing to work and while Green Isle would talk to elected worker representatives it did not wish to negotiate with the TEEU.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Los Angeles Electricians Consult for Builder
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/03/garden/03recycle.html
AMONG the traditional brick and clapboard structures that line the streets of this sleepy East Texas town, 70 miles north of Houston, a few houses stand out: their roofs are made of license plates, and their windows of crystal platters.
They are the creations of Dan Phillips, 64, who has had an astonishingly varied life, working as an intelligence officer in the Army, a college dance instructor, an antiques dealer and a syndicated cryptogram puzzle maker. About 12 years ago, Mr. Phillips began his latest career: building low-income housing out of trash.
In 1997 Mr. Phillips mortgaged his house to start his construction company, Phoenix Commotion. “Look at kids playing with blocks,” he said. “I think it’s in everyone’s DNA to want to be a builder.” Moreover, he said, he was disturbed by the irony of landfills choked with building materials and yet a lack of affordable housing.
To him, almost anything discarded and durable is potential building material. Standing in one of his houses and pointing to a colorful, zigzag-patterned ceiling he made out of thousands of picture frame corners, Mr. Phillips said, “A frame shop was getting rid of old samples, and I was there waiting.”
So far, he has built 14 homes in Huntsville, which is his hometown, on lots either purchased or received as a donation. A self-taught carpenter, electrician and plumber, Mr. Phillips said 80 percent of the materials are salvaged from other construction projects, hauled out of trash heaps or just picked up from the side of the road. “You can’t defy the laws of physics or building codes,” he said, “but beyond that, the possibilities are endless.”
While the homes are intended for low-income individuals, some of the original buyers could not hold on to them. To Mr. Phillips’s disappointment, half of the homes he has built have been lost to foreclosure — the payments ranged from $99 to $300 a month.
Some of those people simply disappeared, leaving the properties distressingly dirty and in disrepair. “You can put someone in a new home but you can’t give them a new mindset,” Mr. Phillips said.
Although the homes have resold quickly to more-affluent buyers, Mr. Phillips remains fervently committed to his vision of building for low-income people. “I think mobile homes are a blight on the planet,” he said. “Attractive, affordable housing is possible and I’m out to prove it.”
Freed by necessity from what he calls the “tyranny of the two-by-four and four-by-eight,” common sizes for studs and sheets of plywood, respectively, Mr. Phillips makes use of end cuts discarded by other builders — he nails them together into sturdy and visually interesting grids. He also makes use of mismatched bricks, shards of ceramic tiles, shattered mirrors, bottle butts, wine corks, old DVDs and even bones from nearby cattle yards.
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a complete set of anything because repetition creates pattern, repetition creates pattern, repetition creates pattern,” said Mr. Phillips, who is slight and sinewy with a long gray ponytail and bushy mustache. He grips the armrests of his chair when he talks as if his latent energy might otherwise catapult him out of his seat.
Phoenix Commotion homes meet local building codes and Mr. Phillips frequently consults with professional engineers, electricians and plumbers to make sure his designs, layouts and workmanship are sound. Marsha Phillips, his wife of 40 years and a former high school art teacher, vets his plans for aesthetics.
“He doesn’t have to redo things often,” said Robert McCaffety, a local master electrician who occasionally inspects Mr. Phillips’s wiring. “He does everything in a very neat and well thought-out manner.” Describing Huntsville as a “fairly conservative town,” Mr. McCaffety said, “There are people who think his houses are pretty whacked out but, by and large, people support what he does and think it’s beneficial to the community.”
AMONG the traditional brick and clapboard structures that line the streets of this sleepy East Texas town, 70 miles north of Houston, a few houses stand out: their roofs are made of license plates, and their windows of crystal platters.
They are the creations of Dan Phillips, 64, who has had an astonishingly varied life, working as an intelligence officer in the Army, a college dance instructor, an antiques dealer and a syndicated cryptogram puzzle maker. About 12 years ago, Mr. Phillips began his latest career: building low-income housing out of trash.
In 1997 Mr. Phillips mortgaged his house to start his construction company, Phoenix Commotion. “Look at kids playing with blocks,” he said. “I think it’s in everyone’s DNA to want to be a builder.” Moreover, he said, he was disturbed by the irony of landfills choked with building materials and yet a lack of affordable housing.
To him, almost anything discarded and durable is potential building material. Standing in one of his houses and pointing to a colorful, zigzag-patterned ceiling he made out of thousands of picture frame corners, Mr. Phillips said, “A frame shop was getting rid of old samples, and I was there waiting.”
So far, he has built 14 homes in Huntsville, which is his hometown, on lots either purchased or received as a donation. A self-taught carpenter, electrician and plumber, Mr. Phillips said 80 percent of the materials are salvaged from other construction projects, hauled out of trash heaps or just picked up from the side of the road. “You can’t defy the laws of physics or building codes,” he said, “but beyond that, the possibilities are endless.”
While the homes are intended for low-income individuals, some of the original buyers could not hold on to them. To Mr. Phillips’s disappointment, half of the homes he has built have been lost to foreclosure — the payments ranged from $99 to $300 a month.
Some of those people simply disappeared, leaving the properties distressingly dirty and in disrepair. “You can put someone in a new home but you can’t give them a new mindset,” Mr. Phillips said.
Although the homes have resold quickly to more-affluent buyers, Mr. Phillips remains fervently committed to his vision of building for low-income people. “I think mobile homes are a blight on the planet,” he said. “Attractive, affordable housing is possible and I’m out to prove it.”
Freed by necessity from what he calls the “tyranny of the two-by-four and four-by-eight,” common sizes for studs and sheets of plywood, respectively, Mr. Phillips makes use of end cuts discarded by other builders — he nails them together into sturdy and visually interesting grids. He also makes use of mismatched bricks, shards of ceramic tiles, shattered mirrors, bottle butts, wine corks, old DVDs and even bones from nearby cattle yards.
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a complete set of anything because repetition creates pattern, repetition creates pattern, repetition creates pattern,” said Mr. Phillips, who is slight and sinewy with a long gray ponytail and bushy mustache. He grips the armrests of his chair when he talks as if his latent energy might otherwise catapult him out of his seat.
Phoenix Commotion homes meet local building codes and Mr. Phillips frequently consults with professional engineers, electricians and plumbers to make sure his designs, layouts and workmanship are sound. Marsha Phillips, his wife of 40 years and a former high school art teacher, vets his plans for aesthetics.
“He doesn’t have to redo things often,” said Robert McCaffety, a local master electrician who occasionally inspects Mr. Phillips’s wiring. “He does everything in a very neat and well thought-out manner.” Describing Huntsville as a “fairly conservative town,” Mr. McCaffety said, “There are people who think his houses are pretty whacked out but, by and large, people support what he does and think it’s beneficial to the community.”
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Los Angeles Electricians Drive Fords
http://www.freep.com/article/20090901/BUSINESS01/90901038/1322/Ford-August-sales-rise-17-
Buoyed by the government’s cash-for-clunkers program and an improving national image, Ford Motor Co. said today that sales of its new cars and trucks in August rose 17% compared to the same month a year ago.
The positive auto sales performance came on the heels of news that the U.S. manufacturing sector grew in August for the first time in 19 months, a report that gives credence to the notion that the recession is ending.
The better-than-expected reading today by the Institute for Supply Management showed the highest number for its manufacturing index since June 2007. New customer orders jumped to a level not seen since late 2004.
U.S. auto sales for the industry, which are slated to be reported by individual automakers throughout the day today, are also expected to top 1 million cars and trucks.
While Ford’s sales increased 2.4% in July, compared to the same month a year ago, Ford’s August sales performance is a huge boost for the Dearborn automaker that has been struggling through a global recession, along with the rest of the industry.
Last month, two Ford vehicles, the Focus compact car and Escape crossover, ranked in the top 10 most popular models purchased through the clunkers stimulus program. No other Detroit automaker models ranked in the listing.
Because of that success, sales increased 56% for the Focus and 49% for the Escape in August, compared to the same month a year ago. Sales also skyrocketed 132% for the Ford Fusion midsized car — bolstering Ford’s strategic move to strengthen its passenger cars lineup.
“Customers tell us they love our new products, and their favorable opinion of the Ford brand is continuing to gain strength,” Ken Czubay, Ford vice president of U.S. marketing, sales and service, said in a statement.
Another positive sign for Ford, and perhaps the economy, was the 12.2% increase in truck and van sales during the month. Ford’s F-Series pickups and E-Series vans are popular work vehicles for electricians, plumbers, home builders and the like.
Buoyed by the government’s cash-for-clunkers program and an improving national image, Ford Motor Co. said today that sales of its new cars and trucks in August rose 17% compared to the same month a year ago.
The positive auto sales performance came on the heels of news that the U.S. manufacturing sector grew in August for the first time in 19 months, a report that gives credence to the notion that the recession is ending.
The better-than-expected reading today by the Institute for Supply Management showed the highest number for its manufacturing index since June 2007. New customer orders jumped to a level not seen since late 2004.
U.S. auto sales for the industry, which are slated to be reported by individual automakers throughout the day today, are also expected to top 1 million cars and trucks.
While Ford’s sales increased 2.4% in July, compared to the same month a year ago, Ford’s August sales performance is a huge boost for the Dearborn automaker that has been struggling through a global recession, along with the rest of the industry.
Last month, two Ford vehicles, the Focus compact car and Escape crossover, ranked in the top 10 most popular models purchased through the clunkers stimulus program. No other Detroit automaker models ranked in the listing.
Because of that success, sales increased 56% for the Focus and 49% for the Escape in August, compared to the same month a year ago. Sales also skyrocketed 132% for the Ford Fusion midsized car — bolstering Ford’s strategic move to strengthen its passenger cars lineup.
“Customers tell us they love our new products, and their favorable opinion of the Ford brand is continuing to gain strength,” Ken Czubay, Ford vice president of U.S. marketing, sales and service, said in a statement.
Another positive sign for Ford, and perhaps the economy, was the 12.2% increase in truck and van sales during the month. Ford’s F-Series pickups and E-Series vans are popular work vehicles for electricians, plumbers, home builders and the like.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Los Angeles Electricians Using Fluke Tools Today
EVERETT, WA. -- (Marketwire) -- 08/31/09 -- Fluke Corporation, known for its durable handheld electronic test and measurement tools, has introduced its toughest tools yet: the Fluke 27 II and 28 II digital multimeters, designed to survive water, dust and rough handling that would kill other tools.
The new Fluke 27 II and 28 II digital multimeters (DMMs) define a new standard for operating in harsh conditions, while delivering the features and accuracy to troubleshoot most electrical problems.
Both meters are IP 67 rated for water and dust resistance and offer an extended operating temperature range of -15 °C to +55 °C (5 °F to 131 °F). They will function in -40 °C temperatures for up to 20 minutes. They will operate in 95 percent humidity, and are designed and tested to withstand a 3 m (10 ft) drop.
The new Fluke 20 Series II Multimeters are built for industrial electricians, plant engineers and technicians who work in the toughest environments -- and anyone who wants the most durable DMM available. They are ideal for such job environments as:
-- Manufacturing plants, foundries
-- Food processing and bottling plants
-- Water and wastewater facilities
-- Marine service and repair
-- Mining, drilling and materials extraction
-- Outside testing in any weather
Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) approval is pending. When enclosed in their protective yellow holsters, both meters will float in fresh or salt water. Holsters are reversible to provide added protection for the display and controls when the meter is not in use. Both meters feature backlit keypad buttons, large display digits and two-level bright white display backlighting for easy visibility in low-lit areas.
Both meters will measure up to 1000 V ac and dc and up to 10 A (20 A for 30 seconds). They feature a 10,000 µF capacitance range and measure frequencies to 200 kHz. Both provide min/max and average readings to capture variations automatically and both provide both auto and manual ranging for maximum flexibility. They are powered by three AA batteries and provide an average battery life of 800 hours.
For safety, the Fluke 27 II and 28 II withstand hazardous 8,000 volt spikes caused by load switching and faults on industrial circuits and comply with second edition IEC and ANSI electrical safety standards. They are safety rated for use in CAT IV 600 V/CAT III 1000 V working environments.
The Fluke 28 II provides additional functionality. It is a True-rms meter that features a high-resolution 20,000-count display mode and includes a built-in thermometer that enables users to take temperature readings easily without carrying a separate instrument. It captures peak min/max and features a high-pass filter to ensure accurate voltage and frequency measurements on adjustable speed drives and other electrically noisy equipment.
The Fluke 27 II is an average responding meter with extended ac voltage bandwidth to 30 kHz.
Pricing and Availability
The Fluke 27 II and Fluke 28 II Rugged IP 67 Industrial Multimeters are available immediately. The Fluke 27 II has a suggested retail price of $419.95; the Fluke 28 II has a suggested retail price of $429.95. A brochure on the Fluke 27 II and 28 II is available at www.fluke.com/rugged-meter. For more information on Fluke tools and applications, or to find the location of your nearest distributor, contact Fluke Corporation, P.O. Box 9090, Everett, WA USA 98206, call (800) 44-FLUKE (800-443-5853), fax (425) 446-5116, e-mail fluke-info@fluke.com or visit the Fluke Web site at http://www.fluke.com.
About Fluke
Fluke Corporation is the leader in compact, professional electronic test tools. Fluke customers are technicians, engineers, electricians, metrologists and building diagnostic professionals who install, troubleshoot, and manage industrial electrical and electronic equipment and calibration processes for quality control as well as conducting building restoration and remediation services. Fluke is a registered trademark of Fluke Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
For more information:
Larry Wilson
Public Relations Manager
(425) 446-5671
Email Contact
The new Fluke 27 II and 28 II digital multimeters (DMMs) define a new standard for operating in harsh conditions, while delivering the features and accuracy to troubleshoot most electrical problems.
Both meters are IP 67 rated for water and dust resistance and offer an extended operating temperature range of -15 °C to +55 °C (5 °F to 131 °F). They will function in -40 °C temperatures for up to 20 minutes. They will operate in 95 percent humidity, and are designed and tested to withstand a 3 m (10 ft) drop.
The new Fluke 20 Series II Multimeters are built for industrial electricians, plant engineers and technicians who work in the toughest environments -- and anyone who wants the most durable DMM available. They are ideal for such job environments as:
-- Manufacturing plants, foundries
-- Food processing and bottling plants
-- Water and wastewater facilities
-- Marine service and repair
-- Mining, drilling and materials extraction
-- Outside testing in any weather
Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) approval is pending. When enclosed in their protective yellow holsters, both meters will float in fresh or salt water. Holsters are reversible to provide added protection for the display and controls when the meter is not in use. Both meters feature backlit keypad buttons, large display digits and two-level bright white display backlighting for easy visibility in low-lit areas.
Both meters will measure up to 1000 V ac and dc and up to 10 A (20 A for 30 seconds). They feature a 10,000 µF capacitance range and measure frequencies to 200 kHz. Both provide min/max and average readings to capture variations automatically and both provide both auto and manual ranging for maximum flexibility. They are powered by three AA batteries and provide an average battery life of 800 hours.
For safety, the Fluke 27 II and 28 II withstand hazardous 8,000 volt spikes caused by load switching and faults on industrial circuits and comply with second edition IEC and ANSI electrical safety standards. They are safety rated for use in CAT IV 600 V/CAT III 1000 V working environments.
The Fluke 28 II provides additional functionality. It is a True-rms meter that features a high-resolution 20,000-count display mode and includes a built-in thermometer that enables users to take temperature readings easily without carrying a separate instrument. It captures peak min/max and features a high-pass filter to ensure accurate voltage and frequency measurements on adjustable speed drives and other electrically noisy equipment.
The Fluke 27 II is an average responding meter with extended ac voltage bandwidth to 30 kHz.
Pricing and Availability
The Fluke 27 II and Fluke 28 II Rugged IP 67 Industrial Multimeters are available immediately. The Fluke 27 II has a suggested retail price of $419.95; the Fluke 28 II has a suggested retail price of $429.95. A brochure on the Fluke 27 II and 28 II is available at www.fluke.com/rugged-meter. For more information on Fluke tools and applications, or to find the location of your nearest distributor, contact Fluke Corporation, P.O. Box 9090, Everett, WA USA 98206, call (800) 44-FLUKE (800-443-5853), fax (425) 446-5116, e-mail fluke-info@fluke.com or visit the Fluke Web site at http://www.fluke.com.
About Fluke
Fluke Corporation is the leader in compact, professional electronic test tools. Fluke customers are technicians, engineers, electricians, metrologists and building diagnostic professionals who install, troubleshoot, and manage industrial electrical and electronic equipment and calibration processes for quality control as well as conducting building restoration and remediation services. Fluke is a registered trademark of Fluke Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
For more information:
Larry Wilson
Public Relations Manager
(425) 446-5671
Email Contact
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