The new flexible fire rated cable that stays cool under fire.

When a fire strikes, its effects are devastating. In places where the safe evacuation of people is paramount, maintaining power to critical safety systems
such as emergency lighting, pumps and fans is vital. The new Pyroflex™ single core flexible fire rated cable from Olex is specifically designed to meet these demands. Constructed with a flexible conductor to enable easy handling, and therefore, installation, Pyroflex™ cables are also manufactured using materials which do no emit smoke or dangerous chemicals (LSOH).

Designed and manufactured in Australia, Pyroflex™ cables are fully compliant to Australian and International standards.

Benefits

• Easy to handle and install in tight applications
• Greater flexibility
• Halogen free, low smoke, low toxic & corrosive emissions and flame retardant
• 110°C continuous operating temperature enables high current ratings and reduced cable size
• Independently tested and certified to AS/NZS 3013:2005 – (WS52W rated), IEC 60331 and BS 6387

For more information contact your local EIW branch today!

Check out the Fantech Range Today!

Toyota Deputy Managing Director, Tony Walker, commented:

“Using solar power to supply electricity to the plant underlines our commitment to the UK’s low-carbon economy and our own ambitions to further reduce our carbon footprint.”

And now it looks as though Honda and BMW are following suit. Honda has been installing solar power generation systems at its operations in locations around Japan, reaching a total capacity of 3.3 megawatts. Not only that but Honda says it will install 2.6-megawatt Soltec system at its new Yorii Plant, which Honda says will be the largest solar power generation system installed at an auto-mobile facility in Japan.

BMW has also taken the solar path, having recently completed installing 400 solar modules, each with a 240 watt capacity, at BMW’s Manufacturing’s heritage museum and visitor’s center. The $500,000 solar power system provides all the electricity required to run the Museum and will also be powering three new electric vehicle charging stations throughout the main facility.

The new 30USM has a whopping 20A capacity and can switch fluorescent loads up to 16AX as well as increased performance in high short circuit conditions, which makes it a truly universal switch mechanism and ideal for any application.

The team has also introduced a deep contact action and 3mm air gap within the mechanism. This eliminates visible arcing and crackling, preventing carbon deposits on the dolly (switch) and aperture. Not to mention an independent snap action of the dolly bridge that stops the switch from being partially turned on or off.

Cathryn Blair, Clipsal Marketing Operations Manager says that the combination of new features and modular 30 Mechanism design gives electrical contractors a flexible switch solution.

“The huge switching capacity and modular design of the 30USM provides contractors with a convenient and flexible switch solution, which can be used across many applications. The great advantage of this is that contractors only need to carry one switch mechanism, preventing the need to carry several switch mechanisms for different applications.”

Ceiling fans can be the perfect energy saving option; depending on the type of fan being used they can consume about 15 to 30 watts on low speed, 30 to 50 watts on medium speed, and 50 to 80 watts on high speed. Ceiling fans should be an option to consider when looking for an energy solution for both the summer and winter months.

How will a ceiling fan keep you cool?
Ceiling fans make us feel cooler rather than lowering the temperature of a room. Moving air increases the amount of heat leaving our body which as a result makes us feel cooler up to 8 degrees cooler.

Can a ceiling fan really help keep you warmer in winter?
Not many people know this, but a ceiling fan can actually be switched over to reverse in winter. Usually underneath the fan or towards the back there will be a switch, once that’s turned on a different effect takes place. Once the blades are running in reverse the hot air in the room starts to rise and once hitting the fan its circulated throughout the room.

Remember there are many different fans out there to choose from depending on the size of your room. To find the best fan for your home, simply contact one of our friendly staff or shop online today!

Darwin based Powercorp employs around 30 people and offers automation and intelligent control solutions to manage renewable energy generation in isolated grids, ensuring utility grade power quality and grid stability. This enables very high levels of wind and solar power penetration into isolated diesel powered grids, thus reducing emissions and dependency on fossil fuel.

“Powercorp brings expertise for the integration of renewable energy generation into conventional micro and remote island grids,” said Peter Leupp, head of ABB’s Power Systems division. “This bolt-on acquisition will add specialist know-how and solutions to our control systems offering and further strengthen our position in the renewable space.”

Powercorp has installed several systems to integrate renewable power into remote grids and keep generation in balance with consumption. The company also supplies systems that dynamically store and release energy in response to frequency and voltage deviations, to stabilize small or remote grids.

“Joining forces with ABB is a logical next step for the growth of our business,” said Alan Langworthy CEO of Powercorp. “It will expand our global reach and help create optimal solutions for higher and better use of renewable energy generation.”

The transaction is expected to close before year end.

The government conducted a report that predicted that in the event that Loy Yang Power was to close, wholesale electricity prices would nearly double which would directly affect household power costs. The report found that the estimated power prices would increase up to 80 per cent in the east coast.

Other energy industry sources told the WA Today that  Loy Yang Power was emerging as the first big test of the government’s policies aimed at ensuring the electricity market coped with the introduction of the $23-a-tonne carbon price in July without major disruption.

Loy Yang Power lobbied fiercely for amendments to the carbon tax laws that would have allowed deferred payments when producers bought forward-dated pollution permits under the scheme, a provision that was included under the Rudd government’s emissions trading scheme that would have reduced the sudden increase in their working capital requirements.

Loy Yang Power’s chief executive Mr Nethercote said it was ”more than likely” Loy Yang would have had to get a no action letter from ASIC even without a carbon price, which will cost it about $450 million a year.

(Source: http://www.watoday.com.au/)

Yesterday it was revealed 6000 households had panels but were losing money while they waited months for Energex to install “smart meters” that measure the value of the surplus power. This latest problem relates to customers unknowingly being sold poor-quality inverters with components from countries such as China. Inverters are the most important component in solar power systems, converting energy generated from roof panels into power suitable for households and the grid.

They are also expensive, so the use of cheaper ones can save $1000 even on a standard 1.5kW system. However, the imports have a high failure rate and also don’t extract the optimum energy from panels. Businessman Brian Springer, who operates Springers Solar, said there had been a rise in “suspect business models” in the industry. Mr Springer said his main concern was that reputable companies were being tarnished by those chasing a fast buck. “Cheap systems have become a major problem and it’s getting worse,” he said. “Customers are missing out on energy efficiency and reliability”.

Master Electricians Australia’s chief executive Malcolm Richards said he was aware of issues with cheaper products being used in solar systems. Mr Richards said a key issue was many systems were not operating efficiently because the size of the inverter was not ideally matched to the panels. “There has been a shortage of 1.5kW inverters because of demand, so 3kW inverters were sold as an up-sell to customers. They still work but with less efficiency and require more electricity to run so this detracts from the performance of the system,”

(Source: http://www.couriermail.com.au/)

Following a detailed audit the lab was granted official accreditation from COFRAC, the French arm of the European co-operation for Accreditation (EA).

This recognition certifies that the tests made in the laboratory are of the same value and standards as those performed by a national testing body.
The testing center ensures Bizline that its products are fully compliant with all local regulations in its different markets throughout the world, but also accelerates the normalization process, in comparison to tests made in an external laboratory.

Bizline’s lab employs four people and currently tests almost 400 products a year. Bizline products are currently distributed in Australia, Belgium, Finland, France, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, New Zealand, Portugal Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA.

The chart shows the different components that contribute to the percentage increase:

(Source: http://www.aemc.gov.au Australian Energy Market Commission)

Looking at it State by state, here are some of the results:

Western Australia as retail prices in Western Australia are subsidised by the Government, the report estimates the expected movements in the price required to supply electricity to residential customers rather than movements in retail electricity prices. The price required to supply electricity to residential customers is forecast to increase by 30 per cent in nominal terms between the base year and 2013-2014.

Tasmanian residential electricity prices are forecast to increase by 25 per cent in nominal terms between the base year and 2013-2014.

South Australia residential electricity prices are forecast to increase by 36 per cent in nominal terms.

Northern Territory As retail prices in the Northern Territory are subsidised by the Government, the report estimates the expected movements in the price required to supply electricity to residential customers rather than movements in retail electricity prices.  Northern Territory residential electricity prices are forecast to increase by 16 per cent in nominal terms between the base year and 2013-2014.

To see a copy of the full report please click here.