General News
Emergency & Exit Lighting requirements explained
It is crucial that property owners and facility managers understand their legal obligations in relation to the provision and maintenance of emergency and exit lighting, as a failure to do so can result in liability in the event of an accident or evacuation. (more…)
How to become a licensed commercial or industrial electrician
With skilled electricians very much in demand across all industries, pursuing a career in the trade offers scope for variety and progression, good remuneration and the opportunity to specialise in a range of areas. Below we set out the most straightforward pathway to becoming a commercial or industrial electrician, specifically referring to gaining your license in NSW.
Working as an electrician requires a high level of technical and mathematical skills alongside physical fitness and good eyesight (e.g. you cannot be colour blind as you need to be able to distinguish between colour coded wires). It is a job that demands a keen attention to detail and safety procedures and the ability to manage risk. You also need to be able to read and interpret complex electrical diagrams.
While there are a number of pathways to becoming a licensed electrician, according to the NSW Department of Fair Trading the most direct route is as follows:
- Completion of Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician AND all of the following:
- A Certificate of Proficiency as an Electrician or an Electrical Mechanic from the Department of Education and Communities (DEC) or the Vocational Training Tribunal (VTT).
- At least 12 months relevant electrical wiring work experience* utilising knowledge and understanding of the AS/NZS 3000:2007 in the residential, commercial and/or industrial areas required by NSW Fair Trading ‘Referee’s Statement Electrical Work’ form current at the date of the application.
*‘Experience’ means experience that is lawfully gained by the applicant (whether during or after completion of an apprenticeship) as a bona fide employee who has been paid during the relevant period of employment in accordance with an award or enterprise agreement.
Once you have been attained your electrician’s license, going on to specialise in commercial or industrial electrotechnology often means a combination of on-site training and further study.
Firstly, look for a role with a Level 2 Accredited Service Provider (ASP) that specialises in commercial and industrial services, giving you the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the field. Working alongside electricians who are highly skilled in the industrial and/or commercial sector is the best way to learn what’s required in the role and to discover where your strengths and interests lie.
You may also want to consider further study while you’re working, in order to enhance your skills in a particular area, such as photovoltaic systems, electrical machine repair or data & communications, to name just a few of the specialisations on offer.
Although becoming an electrician takes some time and commitment, it is one of the most secure trades on offer and is only going to become more crucial as electrical systems evolve. If you’re interested in applying for an apprenticeship or a role at Caslec, visit our Careers page.
Cat 5e, Cat 6 & Cat 6A Cable: which is best for your network?
One of the most common questions asked when it comes to industrial and commercial network design and data cable installation is, which category of cable is best suited to my needs? In the following we describe the differences between Cat 5e, 6 and 6a cable, and why you might choose one over the other.
All three categories of cable look the same from the outside and they all have the same RJ-45 end, which can plug into the Ethernet jacks on your computers, routers and switches. This, however, is where the similarity ends, as each has distinct differences that can impact on which one you decide to install.
Firstly, there is a noticeable difference in price, with each category costing more per metre than the previous category. However, just because later categories are more advanced in terms of performance, doesn’t necessarily mean you have to install the more expensive cable; this very much depends on the current and future demands placed on your network.
Category 5e
About 15 years ago, when it was first released, Cat 5e cable (the ‘e’ stands for ‘enhanced’) was the first glimpse of the potential of a 1 Gigabit network, although at that time, the hardware required to support it was prohibitively expensive for the average user. Over time, as the cost of the hardware decreases, 5e has become the minimum standard in data cable, eventually rendering Cat 5 obsolete.
Made up of 24 gauge twisted pair wires, the 5e delivers 1 Gigabit network speed at distances up to 328 feet. While Cat 5 was potentially capable of 1 Gigabit speeds (dependent on the network connections), 5e incorporated improvements in isolation between the wires, reducing the level of ‘crosstalk’ — the interference between the wires — and increased the frequency of the cable up to 100MHz.
Category 6
Although Cat 6 cables have been around for just for a few years less than Cat 5, historically the 10 Gigabit cable has been used for the backbone of networks, with 5e being run to individual workstations. This is not only due to cost but also because the bandwidth of the Cat 6 can only run to 164 feet. Beyond this distance, the bandwidth can rapidly decrease to 1 Gigabit, the same as the 5e.
Physically, the Cat 6 is made up of either 23 or 24 gauge twisted pair wires, with 2 plus twists per centimetre (as compared to 1.5–2 in the 5e). The frequency in the Cat 6 has increased to 200MHz, which can also potentially increase crosstalk. For this reason, the Cat 6 cable has an internal nylon spline and is contained within a thick exterior sheath. In some cases, this can eliminate crosstalk completely.
Category 6a
The Cat 6a (‘a’ stands for ‘augmented’) is the most advanced version of data cable, anticipating a future where the 10G network is the standard. It not only has a bandwidth distance of the full 328 feet of Ethernet cable, but its frequency has doubled to 500MHz, which further improves its range. That said, Cat 6a is also the most expensive of the cable options.
Which cable should you choose?
Generally, the consensus seems to be that Cat 5e 1GB cable is currently adequate for a network where most servers are based in the Cloud, but may not support network demands in the future. Again, this is very much dependent on your business or industry’s needs in terms of network design and use.
Cats 6 and 6a clearly future-proof your network in terms of faster data speeds, greater range and reduced crosstalk, but gaining these benefits relies on your router being gigabit-compatible and your computers being gigabit-capable. It’s also important to point out that data speed is not the same as Internet speed. Upgrading your data cable to 6a is not going to have an impact on the speed of your internet; rather it will improve data transfer, upload and download times. Therefore, the choice of cable really boils down to what you’re using your network for, and how you think you’re going to use it in the future.
Before making any decisions about data cable installation or upgrade, talk to an expert Caslec electrician and we’ll help you find the right solution for your business or industry’s network needs. Call us on 1300 659 273 today.
How to reduce your business’ energy use & save money
Keeping costs down is a concern for any business. Effective management of costs means increased cash flow, and that can only mean good things for the company. As it turns out, one of the most effective ways to cut costs for your business is to keep your energy use down.
Who’s Your Supplier?
If you are looking to reduce your energy costs, you might want to consider changing suppliers. Check out some of the deals being offered by suppliers in your area, most of which will have negotiable tariff rates. Do a bit of research and talk to a consultant or two about your particular business’ energy use, so you can work out a plan that not only meets your needs but reduces your costs.
Office Practices
Most of what you can do to reduce your energy usage relies on making a number of simple changes within the workplace. There are probably many habits you and your colleagues have, which are increasing business energy costs. For instance, if you routinely keep computers and other electronics on at night, make it a rule that everything is switched off at the socket when the office is empty. Or engage your commercial electrician to install motion sensors to switch the lighting on and off when staff enter or leave a room. These simple steps will dramatically reduce energy consumption and save on your power bills..
Electrical Installation
A particularly effective means of reducing the power usage in your business is having an energy efficient electrical installation. If you use a professional team of electricians who really know what they’re doing, you’ll find yourself with an installation that is set up from the start, to be much more efficient in its use of energy. This means that most of the hard work is done for you. Along with concerted efforts to reduce your energy usage, you can
save your business a great deal of money in the long-term.
What do you know about electrical transformers?
You may think that the way of delivering electricity to homes and businesses is pretty standard all over the world, but its voltage and frequency varies between countries or every region within a single country.
Essentially, electrical transformers are used to change the voltage of electricity so that it is suitable for different appliances and locations.
Where are transformers used?
Electrical transformers are commonly installed at the top of power poles or in electrical appliances. Sometimes they can be as small as a fingernail and used in items like radios, or they can be large and heavy devices that are used in power grids. Power grids have very high voltage so that the electricity can be transported long distances, but it must be reduced to become suitable for our homes. The voltage is lowered down through the transformer and then put into local wires at a substation where it may be stepped down again and again so we can use it.
For example, the power from the grid may have a voltage as high as 765,000 volts, which can be lowered down to 7,200 volts through a substation. Then a local power pole transformer may drop the voltage further down to 220-240 volts before it is sent to your home. Larger appliances like water heaters may use this 220-240 volt electricity, but others like TVs and microwaves may need it even lower at 110-120 volts.
How do the electrical transformers work?
Transformers usually have two coils of wire in them, and some have more coils than the other.
When electricity in one of the windings transfers to a coil with fewer windings, the power steps down. And if the electricity in the coil with fewer turns in the wire is transferred to a coil with more turns, the voltage goes up. One coil is connected to an input circuit and the other is attached to the output circuit.
At the end of this article, we would like to mention also another type of transformers known as an autotransformer which is equipped with only one coil. Both circuits are connected to it at different points so that one circuit has more of the coil and more turns in the wire than the other. These transformers are often preferred because they are lighter, smaller and have better overload tolerance and voltage stability.
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