First dual locking C14 connector added to IEC Lock range

Scolmore’s innovative and award-winning IEC Lock range has been expanded to include a new C14 dual locking connector – the first on the market that features secure locking tabs on both the side and bottom of the connector. IEC Lock is a unique mechanism for locking IEC Connectors and is designed to provide protection against accidental disconnection of computer equipment, servers and most network devices by way of a unique and patented locking mechanism. With patent pending on the design, the new C14 dual locking connector is compatible with most major PDU manufacturers. It is fitted with a slimline C13 IEC Lock+ connector on the other end of the cable to prevent accidental disconnection from either the PDU or the server, thus maintaining uptime and avoiding costly downtime. It also features a globally approved power cord which means this one product meets the requirements for use across multiple countries: Europe (VDE & ENEC), US & Canada (cULus), and Australia (SAA). The C14 dual locking connector is available in six lengths - 0.5m, 1m, 1.5m, 2m, 2.5m, and 3m - and in four colours; black, blue, red, and white. Alternative colours, lengths and connector options are available upon request.

New investment extends calibration services and capabilities

New laboratory facilities, at a specialist calibration service for electronic, optical, and dimensional test equipment, are part of a six-figure investment to improve services and extend customer support. The investment, which includes new branding and a comprehensive marketing strategy, will see Calibrationhouse develop its capabilities across an extensive range of medical device safety testers, defibrillation analysers and patient simulators. The move will allow the company to offer customers one of the fastest, most reliable, and cost effective single-source precision instrumentation calibration services in the UK. Customers, who currently include household name manufacturers and many of the UK’s NHS Trusts, will benefit from more efficient access to services currently available from the company’s County Durham head office. The company will continue to expand its activities as demand for flexible calibration capabilities (which cover a broad range of test, measurement and analysis equipment) increases. This will see light metres, UV metres and torque equipment added to the of range of electrical safety testers, defibrillator analysers, ventilator testers, high voltage test equipment, production line testers, oscilloscopes and other high spec instrumentation already included in the firm’s calibration service. Extended and enhanced laboratory services will continue to be complemented by a growing team of skilled engineers operating from a fleet of liveried technical vehicles, providing specialist UKAS calibration services onsite at customer premises. The first phase of new investment in expanded capabilities is part of a package of measures that will see additional enhancements to Calibrationhouse’s online systems to augment further customer services. The company already has a track record of working with leading test instrumentation brands who include Fluke, Seaward, Rigel, Megger, Kewtech, BC Group, Datrend, Pronk and specialist electromedical equipment suppliers such as Rigel, Bio-Tek, DNI Nevada, Metrohm and others. Steve Winder, one of the project leads for Calibrationhouse, says: “We are continuing to invest in our calibration equipment, facilities and on-site calibration teams to be able to offer a broad range of services. Our customers already recognise the quality and expertise we bring. So, we can now add even more value to current operations through authoritative, trustworthy and rapid services that ensure their own compliance programmes aren’t compromised.”

Tools that bite! Meet the new KNIPEX Cobra range

The Cobra range from pliers’ specialist, KNIPEX, has long proven to be a favourite with tradespeople. The range now includes versions that will get virtually any job done where pipes and nuts are involved. From working in the smallest of spaces to working safely at height, the KNIPEX Cobra range has a set of pliers packed with time and energy saving features as well as its famous bite! All products in the KNIPEX Cobra family are self-locking to pipes and nuts: the result is that there is no slipping from the workpiece and all work is considerably less strenuous. The teeth, which are offset against the direction of rotation, enable this effect for efficient gripping, holding, pressing and bending. There is no need to fiddle around to get the correct opening width; simply place the upper half of the jaw onto the workpiece and slide the lower jaw in position to fix the pliers in place. [gallery columns="2" ids="29923,29924,29925,29926"] The gripping surfaces have specially hardened teeth (approx. 60 HRC) that ensure reliable gripping due to high wear resistance. Instead of a plastic coating, a ribbed, non-slip handle provides grip so that the handles of this small tool are kept slim and easy to use. Other features include a box joint for stability and durability via a double guide, as well as a pinch guard to protect against crush injuries. The Cobra range also gives the user a wide choice of sizes, from the very cool ‘XS’ at 100mm right up to 560mm. The range also features an Extra Slim ‘ES’ version which is ideal for those tight spaces associated with work on pipes and valves and VDE versions for safe working around electricity. Safety is also important when it comes to your pliers. Working at height is associated with increased risk and this is the reason KNIPEX initially developed a flexible fall protection system. The ‘Tethered Tools’ range, which includes Cobra pliers, brings safety and reassurance to users of tools working at height or in locations where falling tools could be a risk. If you work at height, for instance, maintaining heating and ventilation systems in a commercial environment, then Tethered Tools offer more protection from accidents.

David Moore of Medlock Electrical Distributors joins EDA board

David Moore, Director at Medlock Electrical Distributors, has joined the EDA Board of Management, representing the ANEW buying group, as BEMCO’s MD, Simon Barkes, steps down after 20 years’ service. EDA President, CEF’s MD, Chris Ashworth, says “The EDA board and team is delighted that David has agreed to join us, but we are also sorry to see Simon go as his contribution to the association and sector has been tremendous. Elected to the board in 2002, Simon has twice held the role of EDA President, from 2013-2015, coinciding with the EDA’s 2014 centenary year, and again from 2017-2019.” David, who officially took office at the association’s AGM on 3 March 2022, comments “The EDA’s influence and impact has taken a huge step forward in recent years. I am delighted to be able to play an influential role in shaping its work and to representing the interests of ANEW’s membership.” Both Chris Ashworth and Charlie Lacey, MD at Stearn Electrical Co, continue as President and Vice President respectively until March 2023.

Domus Ventilation MVHR systems provide solution for London development

Domus Ventilation’s HRXE-HERA Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems have been specified for the Hayes build-to-rent residential development in West London. The MVHR units are being installed as a retrofit, replacing the previous units that had come to the end of their working lives. Hayes consists of 119 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, all of which have been designed specifically for the private rental market. When the building was designed, Domus Ventilation’s Silavent MVHR ceiling mounted units were installed. These are now being gradually replaced with Domus Ventilation’s latest MVHR model, HRXE-HERA. These new energy efficient units are smaller than their predecessors making them ideal for wall-mounting in the apartments’ storage cupboards. This solution also provides users with easy access to change the filters. As a retrofit solution, HRXE-HERA has proven ideal for Hayes as they readily use the existing Domus ducting. Spigots on the top of the unit are 125mm for direct connection to the ducting, with adaptors available to enable direct connection to other ducting sizes for a quicker and more cost-effective installation. With energy efficiency being a key part of the building’s design, including air permeability and heat loss parameters that go beyond that required by Building Regulations, Domus Ventilation’s HRXE-HERA® MVHR have proved an ideal solution for Hayes. It filters and pre-warms fresh air drawn into the apartment using the heat from waste stale air extracted from the kitchen and bathroom using a heat exchanger. This prevents the build up of condensation and mould, whilst improving indoor air quality by providing continuous balanced ventilation. It’s advanced heat exchange proficiency enables up to 95% of waste heat to be recovered, for energy efficiency. It comes with 100% thermal (summer) bypass which automatically activates when the air temperature reaches a pre-set level, allowing in cooler, fresh, filtered air without warming it through the heat exchanger. The smart design of the HRXE means there is no reduction in airflow when operating in bypass mode. Manual boost buttons have also been installed within the apartments to increase air flow when required.

Worcester Bosch launches Environment 2050 competition

Worcester Bosch has re-launched their 2050 Environment Awards with a new sustainability-focused criteria aimed at installers, as well as new build and social housing customers. The Environment 2050 competition encourages installers to work with customers to make environmentally friendly choices for their heating and hot water systems, while keeping longevity and sustainability in mind when opting for new installs. The Environment 2050 competition will be launched from the 1st March, and will run annually. There are 2 strands to the competition. For installers to enter, they need to submit a short written statement on why they chose to install a particular product through a simple form online. Once it’s been submitted, they will then be asked to send over an image of the installation. There will be a total of 16 installer winners, consisting of four winners per season, in four categories: boilers, heat pumps, solar, hybrids. The winners will each receive: 18V cordless Bosch Drill £200 towards a charity of their choice Framed certificate Branded van stickers and marketing material Local PR An overall winner will also be chosen from the seasonal winners and will receive a further Bosch power bundle worth over £500 and a FSC certified British Oak engraved Award. The second strand is the competition for new-builders and social housing providers. These entries will be required to outline why they chose to have a particular product installed, and their reason for choosing a charity if successful. There will be one ‘New Build’ winner selected and one ‘Social Housing’ winner selected in March 2023, each receiving £500 for their chosen charity, a FSC certified oak engraved award and local PR and marketing material. As part of the Environment 2050 competition, Worcester Bosch is working closely with Rewilding Britain, a charity that supports rewilding initiatives in rural and marine areas across the UK and for every entry received, will donate £5 to help towards rewilding across the country. Victoria Billings, Director of Marketing at Worcester Bosch, comments: “At Worcester Bosch we strive to protect our planet for the present and future generations by helping both our customers and installers opt for sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions for their heating and hot water systems. “The Environment 2050 competition is a great way to recognise our professional customers for choosing to install products that are sustainable and built to last in homes across the UK. We look forward to hearing more about the work you are doing to protect our future - good luck!”

Boom continues as EV charging company expands services

Business continues to boom at a Midlands-based car charging company, driven by the growing demand for electric vehicles. As a result, The Car Charging Company has been able to take on new staff and improve its service to offer the whole installation process from groundworks to software solutions. In February, the company had a record month and further growth is on the cards. By partnering with other local businesses and taking advantage of software systems, The Car Charging Company can manage every aspect of an installation quickly and with minimum fuss for the customer. The approach has been particularly valued by commercial clients who are often dealing with multiple charge points and more complex locations than a domestic install. When a job comes in, The Car Charging Company can assess the work needed, apply for the network operator approval, instruct and oversee the groundworks, install the charger and set up the software that manages the charge points. Director, Dominic Longley, says: “We now offer the whole process from start to finish, which has made things much quicker and much easier for the customer. “We’ve teamed up with a local groundworks company who we can instruct to carry out any work needed on site. Historically it’s been a pain trying to find decent, reliable groundworks companies who are available to do the work when we need them. “We help customers decide what type of charger would be best suited for their needs, complete the applications with Western Power and sort the groundworks. We’ve now gone even further by partnering with EVAA, which provides a software solution for the ongoing management of the chargers. “While some customers just want the charger installed, others will want more control over how they manage the chargers, such as remote activation and monitoring, scheduling who can use them and when, and checking statistics for energy consumption and so on. “EVAA can link a network of chargers, even if they are from different manufacturers. “By teaming up with other reputable businesses, we’re able to provide customers with the whole service from trusted providers, which means they don’t have to do hours of research and paperwork if they don’t want to.” The Car Charging Company has also employed technology to streamline other elements of its service, including the Jumptech platform for managing enquiries and quotes, and Salesgun.io for automating its lead generation and marketing processes. This has included, for example, introducing a chat widget on its website, linked directly to members of staff so potential customers can get answers to their questions quickly, even outside office hours. “Business is doing really well at the moment - we had a record month in February, with more work invoiced than any month in the last four years,” Dominic adds. “As well as the introduction of more clean air zones across the country, the various government grants available and the company car tax benefits for green vehicles, we’re also about to see the end of the grant scheme for domestic charger installs, so that’s pushing demand up even higher at the moment. “Grants for commercial installs are continuing though, so businesses can still take advantage of that. “We now have six electricians who are doing installations pretty much constantly. Everything else we’ve implemented in terms of the streamlined processes and the end-to-end service means we can reduce duplication of tasks and speed everything up so we can get even more chargers installed, even more quickly.” The government has confirmed that all new conventional petrol and diesel cars and vans are set to be banned from sale in 2030. New hybrid vehicles will be given until 2035, as long as they can cover a ‘significant distance’ in zero emission mode.

New Elucian protective devices added to consumer unit range

Scolmore continues to expand its Elucian consumer unit range to provide electricians with the broadest possible range of units and protectives devices to cater for all installation requirements. New to the range are Time Delay RCDs, higher rated RCBOs and a retro-fit locking device. Time Delay RCDs - a new range of Type S 2 Pole 100mA Time Delay RCDs available in 63A, 80A and 100A options have now been added to the range. Time delay RCDs provide residual circuit protection against short circuits but also provide the correct level of co-ordination when two RCD devices are used in series on the same circuit. RCBOs - the RCBO protective devices range has been expanded to offer new, two-module (36mm wide) Type A Double Pole True 6kA B Curve and C Curve 30mA Trip RCBOs which are available in higher ratings of 45A, 50A and 63A. The range of B Curve and C Curve Residual Current Breakers with overcurrent protect against two types of fault and, in essence, combine the functionality of an MCB and RCD. A RCBO protects against a residual current or earth leakage when there is a break in a circuit through poor electrical wiring or an incident such as drilling through a cable. An RCBO also protects against an overcurrent in the form of an overload when too many devices are in use in the circuit, drawing an amount of power which exceeds the capacity of the breaker, or a short circuit which occurs when there is a short between the line and neutral conductors. The new range of Double Pole RCBO’s now switch line and neutral as opposed to just line only. However, they do require two spaces on the din rail, and they are not supplied with neutral tails as standard. Locking device – a new retro-fit locking device has been added to the Elucian range, providing the means to secure the consumer unit against unwanted interference. It comes in two parts and requires the L-shaped bracket to be secured to the consumer unit board using the screw and washer supplied. The second part slots in, and with the holes aligned the padlock can be locked in place.

CityFibre partners with STL to support rapid nationwide network rollout

CityFibre has signed a strategic multi-year, multi-million-pound deal with STL. The partnership will see STL supply CityFibre with high fibre count Celesta Intelligently Bonded Ribbon (IBR) Cables with Stellar bend-insensitive fibre and ribbon optimised joint enclosures. CityFibre is currently engaged in a £4bn investment programme to rollout dense Full Fibre infrastructure to up to 8m homes by 2025. Its rollout continues to accelerate with deployments underway across more than 60 major metro areas, spanning 285 cities, towns and villages. STL’s sustainably produced and high-capacity IBR ribbon cable solution will deliver significantly faster installations as CityFibre’s build programme continues to scale. James Thomas, Director of Supply Chain at CityFibre, comments: “In such a competitive market for high class partners, we are delighted to have formed this partnership with STL. Working together we will secure the technology and supplies CityFibre needs to achieve its ambitious targets. STL’s IBR cabling technology and other supplies will play a key role in accelerating our build in more locations this year and beyond.” Paul Atkinson, CEO at Optical Networking Business, STL says: “Our integrated optical connectivity solution with optical fibre, cable and interconnect products, will help CityFibre achieve accelerated network rollout with high scalability and agility, while keeping the overall costs low. We are confident that a combination of optical technologies and interconnect can change the game for FTTx at an industry level with superfast deployment, provisioning and enhanced network performance.”

Heat loss calculations based on building regulations

Prefect Controls has been providing a traditional heat loss calculation service for many years to accurately determine heating output required for projects they were involved with. Their calculations, prepared by professional surveyors, combine the thermal transmittance co-efficient or U-values of all the elements of the external fabric, the volume of spaces and the ventilation rate. They also consider the construction methods and materials, window and door aperture positioning, type of glazing, the dimensions of the room and the position of each room in the building. For large projects such as student accommodation these calculations are critical in optimising energy requirements across a university’s estate and only those prepared by qualified surveyors should be used. To help in the initial stages of planning a project Prefect has developed its own online calculator. The innovation in using building regulations information, of the period when properties were constructed or renovated, improves the accuracy of the calculations and negates the need to search for hard-to-find detail such as glazing or insulation thicknesses. The calculator asks for basic site and room information then does the maths and advises the size of heater required. This online calculator is more accurate than many seen on HVAC company websites, but it should be stressed that it is not intended as a replacement for professionally prepared calculations by a qualified surveyor.