Electrical Contracting News (ECN) June 2016 | Page 44

SPECIAL FEATURE RENEWABLES & SUSTAINABILITY Identifying how voltage optimisation can help specific sites VO provides savings on a variety of loads but not all equipment will consume less energy. The greatest savings come from inductive loads such as lighting and motors, especially if motors are not always loaded at 100 per cent of their capacity. A building, which has fixed speed devices such as air-handling units, multi stage compressors (i.e. chillers), pumps and standard switchstart fluorescent fittings, will achieve high savings. Some loads such as VSDs will also see savings but at reduced levels and some loads will yield zero savings but will benefit in other ways. It is important to understand the electrical loading characteristics of your site and to remember that no two sites are the same.
 in a way in which ensures that all sites receive between 216V and 253V. The average voltage delivered in the UK is actually 242V. This excess energy is still factored into a building’s energy bills despite the fact that it offers no benefit to the business and can actually be detrimental to equipment. VO technology ensures that companies only pay for the energy that they need. In addition, it filters out harmonics, transients and phase voltages to give a smoother power supply and extends the life of equipment. With no moving parts, VO systems require no maintenance or monitoring and operate effectively for many years without replacement. They also have a payback for the planet, by cutting energy consumption; greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, enabling companies to make a positive environmental contribution. Conclusion VO systems work to address the issue of wasted energy that exists as a result of an imbalance between a building’s incoming supply and its usage. Voltage is generally supplied to a site at a considerably higher level than the optimal amount of 220V required by modern electrical equipment. This is because utility companies cannot precisely target voltage over varying distances and simply transmit power VO is a transformer based system. Dr Alex Mardapittas is managing director of Powerstar and has held this position for over 15 years. A professional engineer with experience in both software and hardware systems, Alex has designed a number of energy saving systems, including Powerstar, HotelStar, AirStar, AutoStar, MotorStar and LightStar. ADVERTISEMENT GLAND PACK EVOLUTION The Metway Addressable Lighting Control System The simple, flexible and cost effective solution for your lighting installation • • • • Fully addressable Fully configurable DSI / DALI Programmable via bluetooth • Can be controlled by optional head end PC • Can be integrated into an AV system • Side latching G type connectors Remember the last time you terminated an SWA cable? Struggling with two spanners or grips, tightening the thin locknut? With plastic enclosures, tightening the banjo earth tag between two locknuts and bending it to get a good earth using a nut and bolt in a confined space? Professional electricians have for years had to overcome the problems of terminating SWA cables to metal and plastic enclosures with no quick or easy solutions – until now! Specialised Wiring Accessories Ltd have launched what they claim is a revolutionary new cable gland pack called Tauras with everything to make the job easier in one complete kit. The Tauras gland range incorporates everything in one kit including the awardwinning EarthingNut™ which vastly simplifies fitting, giving 60% quicker durable terminations compliant with BS7671 to both plastic and metal enclosures every time. The process is literally painless! Once you've tried Tauras it will hit you just how much you really hate the old gland packs! No more hunting for nuts and bolts or crimps, extra hole drilling, pinched fingers, skinned knuckles, or getting your spanner or grips into an impossible space – we've all been there! Don't take their word for it – scan the QR code with a Smartphone and see Tauras for yourself. Not just time saving, but a gland providing a better job every time, offering high integrity earthing connections and easy EMC shielding. Don't leave cable earthing to chance – join the termination revolution! Contact us for more information: [email protected] | 01273 431600 | metway.co.uk 42-44 R&S – Powerstar.indd 44 13/05/2016 14:59