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7 important questions to ask before hiring an electrician
One of the most important decisions you’ll ever make is choosing an electrician to install, repair or maintain your electrical wiring, lighting or data system, as getting it right the first time means less stress and financial cost down the track. Here are 7 questions you should ask an electrician before hiring them for the job. (more…)
The 6 types of fire extinguisher & when to use them
All Australian workplaces must comply with the fire safety standards set out in the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, with many states having their own additional regulations around fire safety and emergency training. Yet, according to research, only 13% of people know what class of extinguisher to use on what kind of fire.
In the following we set out the 6 basic types of extinguisher installed in industrial and commercial premises in Australia and the class of fire they can be used on. It is important to understand that using the wrong type of extinguisher on a fire can be highly dangerous.
Class A extinguishers are used on fires that involve paper, fabrics and textiles, wood-based products, plastics and rubber-based products.
Class B extinguishers are used on fires that started as a result of flammable or combustible liquids, such as chemical-based cleaning products, electrical contact cleaner and lubricants.
Class C extinguishers are used on fires started by flammable gases and can potentially extinguish the fire before pressure builds.
Class D extinguishers are used for fires started by combustible metals, such as sodium, potassium, uranium, lithium, plutonium and calcium, and are often used in laboratories. The most common Class D fires involve magnesium and titanium.
Class E extinguishers are used to stop fires in electrically energised equipment, including fires in equipment that requires electricity or a circuit to operate.
Class F extinguishers (fire blankets) help to control fires caused by cooking oils and fat-based products, such as could occur in a commercial kitchen.
To meet Australian Standards and workplace OH&S regulations, you must have the correct portable extinguishers installed in your workplace and personnel who are trained in their use. This training must be refreshed every two years.
One way to protect your business and employees against the risk of electrical fire is to ensure you adhere to a regular test-tagging schedule, where the safety of any electrical equipment is assessed by qualified electricians. If you work in a ‘high-risk operating environment’, such as a kitchen, warehouse or factory, you need to have your equipment test-tagged every 12 months.
To book your electrical equipment safety test, call the experts at Caslec on 1300 659 273 today.
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.
Main causes of power outages
No matter where you are, power outages can happen anytime. That’s why in today’s blog, commercial electricians from Caslec would like to point out some major causes of electricity failures and who you should contact when such event occurs.
Nothing brings the household together quite like an unexpected electricity outage. While playing games or eating dinner under candlelights can be fun for children, power faults are no joke.
Electricity power outages usually occur without any warning and can be stressful if you don’t know the proper steps to getting out of the dark. To make things easier for you, we prepared this article, so you will know what to do when the power is out.
Common causes of power outages
Weather
Sydney’s weather can be a real problem when high winds or flying debris damage power lines. Torrential rains and flooding can also damage electrical infrastructure.
Spikes
A temporary increase in the power supply voltage can result in an electricity outage. These are usually caused by lightning strikes, tripped circuit breakers or short circuits.
Vehicle
Motoring accidents resulting in broken poles or causing power lines to touch can lead to an outage.
Bushfires
For the safety reasons, electricity supplies are often disconnected in bushfire emergency.
What you should do if there is a power outage
When the power goes out, calling your retailer might be your first thought. While your retailers sell electricity to homes and businesses across the country, they are purchasing it from the commercial power distributing companies. These companies own and operate the poles, wires, etc, so they are responsible for their maintenance.
Your retailer will usually help you to get in touch with the right people to get your electricity back; they actually can’t do as much as distributors.
Alternatively, during an outage, they can provide you with information about when the power should be switched back on.
If the outage is widespread, the phone lines could be busy with many people calling for information. In this case, electricity distributing companies often prepare pre-recorded messages offering updates on the situation.
However, if you still have any concerns regarding power outages, commercial electricians from Caslec are located in Sydney and happy to put you through with the right people!
Call us on (02) 9604 4488 for a free consultation.
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