Features this month...
Lightning Protection
Dehn & Sohne Lightning Surge Protection - page 2
Pipe Flanges - page 5
Static Electricity
Earth-Rite RTR for Tanker Protection - page 3
The Importance of Bonding - page 5
Hazardous Area
Specialised Stainless Steel Enclosures - page 6
Stahl Switchgear & Instrumentaion Ranges - page 8
Loudspeakers
DNH Loudspeakers for Industrial & Specialised Applications - page 7
E2S - Spectra Visual Signalling Devices - page 11
Also inside this month ...
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s3TAHL-INI#,)8
s#-0'LANDS
s3TAHL)3PAC
s(AZARDOUS!REA3TANDARDS
and much, much, more...
November 2008 - Issue 8.1
Surge protection made easy
Lightning protection is not just “surge”
protection. Every company in the
electrical world seems to be selling
“surge” protection these days but that
will not protect your company from a
direct lightning strike or even a close
indirect strike.
Dehn & Sohne is the leading manufacturer
of Lightning protection in Europe. In fact
they make and brand a significant amount
of equipment for others.
Electropar has represented Dehn & Sohne
for some years now and the differences
between the “others” and Dehn is worth
thinking about.
Lightning protection comes in three main
forms. For high structures the “Air Termination
rods” and conductors connected to a
good ground are necessary but they will
not protect the electrical system in the
building from a close encounter with a
lightning discharge – which typically can
be up to 250,000 Volts.
Lightning Protection
2 surge arrester. These are fitted on the
incoming mains of each distribution
switchboard and provide both arresting
and surge protection. Again they are rail
mounted, are modular and have an ability
to supply remote indication of an event.
Further protection can be provided
with SPD Type 3 devices down to the
individual power point, computer cable
and telephone connection.
In the industrial field, devices are available
for every process cable connection
including Ethernet, RS 232,485 and many
more.
For full comprehensive data and
assistance on protecting your plant/
building from lightning damage talk to
Mike Barker on mikeb@electropar.co.nz
NZ Lightning Facts!
On average, one in every ten lightning
discharges strikes the ground (or sea).
Every year, around 45,000 lightning
strikes, with an average peak current of
26,000 amperes terminate to ground in
New Zealand.
Information c/o NZ Metservice
Dehn & Sohne produce three devices
ideally suited for the protection of your
electrical systems.
The “DehnVentil” or “Dehnbloc Maxi”
These are (SPD Type 1- the highest
international
classification)
lightning
“Arrestor” devices. They connect to the
incoming mains of the building (ideally
before the meters) and deflect the lightning
discharge directly to ground.
An arrestor uses technology such as a gas
discharge tube to redirect the discharge
directly to ground before it enters the
electrical system of the building. They are
rail mounted and connect in parallel with
the incoming mains.
A new feature is the replaceable modules
fitted into the units. These will withstand
a number of events before they need
replacing, and that is indicated on the
front of each module. They also have an
optional remote indicating facility.
The next level of defence is the SPD Type
LMK
LTD
Dissipate static electricity!
Earth-Rite® RTR
The Earth-Rite® RTR (Road Tanker
Recognition) is the most advanced
system designed to dissipate static
electricity from road tankers undergoing
the loading or unloading of flammable
or explosive material.
Building on the success of its predecessor,
the Earth-Rite® PLUS Dual Mode, the RTR
represents how Newson-Gale continues
to lead the way in hazardous area static
control.
The need for earthing road tankers.
When road tankers are loading or
unloading hazardous material, the
material is subjected to levels of friction
by its mechanical interaction with pipes,
fittings, filters and other devices designed
to guide the material to / from the road
tanker.
Friction at the surface contact area of the
material causes the separation of charges
between the material and the mechanical
hardware channelling the material.
If the charges do not have a path to earth
or do not share some form of low resistance
bond, the charges will accumulate. The
earth has an infinite capacity to absorb
static charges.
When charge accumulates, it generates
electrical potential differences with
objects in its immediate vicinity that have
ineffective electrical continuity with the
earth.
If sufficient electrical potential is allowed
to generate between the material and
the road tanker body, nature will redress
the balance by cancelling the potential
difference through an electrical discharge
in the form of a spark.
This can be caused by a spark discharge
between the liquid and the tanker body,
between the pipe and the tanker body or
between the operator and the pipe.
It is the energy of this rapid discharge that
has the capability to ignite the vapours
THE POWER TO PERFORM
Don’t Risk It! Earth It!
or dusts present in or around the body
of the tanker, resulting in a serious fire or
explosion.
The Earth-Rite RTR™ ensures the highest
possible levels of safe, positive earthing
for road tankers during flammable transfer
operations.
Unlike conventional systems, the Earth-Rite
RTR™ provides fail-safe confirmation of
the static earth condition using patented
Intrinsically Safe Electronics.
To find out more about the Earth-Rite
RTR™ systems talk to Mike Barker.
mikeb@electropar.co.nz
Earth-Rite RTR - Tri-Mode Technology
Static Earthing for Road Tankers
Road Tanker Recognition
Only allows product transfer when
system is connected to road tanker
Positive Earth Recognition
Automatically confirms positive static
earth connection
Earth Connection Monitoring
Continuously monitors clamp and earth
connection during transfer
Don’t let it come as a shock!
Recent additions to the Electropar
stable of products have highlighted
the attention needed to bonding on all
sites.
There were two reasons we saw that
convinced us to introduce these products
to NZ.
The first was an accident that occurred at
an Aero club where a light aircraft was
destroyed by fire, and the other was where
customers requested improved bonding
for tankers visiting their sites.
The information from the report on the
Aero club accident highlighted the need
to bond all containers and lines where fuel
is being transferred. It appears that in this
case there was a static discharge during
the re-fuelling process causing the fire.
Our new relationship is with the English
specialist “Anti-Static” company, NewsonGale.
The Importance
of Bonding
made before the transfer of
product begins.
Their range can be easily
understood under the three
headings “Good, Better
and Best”
Good
Certified clamps and cable
assembles, designed to
make a positive connection
to the apparatus to be
protected.
Static Discharge Earthing Reels
Better
For those who need to know the connection
is at 10 ohm or better the “Bond-Rite”
range introduces LED indication to show
when the connection is correct.
Newson Gale Static Discharge Earthing Reels
are used to ground static charges on equipment
during the transfer of combustible fuel and other
flammable liquids. REEL20, 30 and 50 are spring
operated self-retracting cable reels containing a
single core yellow Hytrel sheathed steel cable.
Best
For installations where a secure connection
is paramount for safety, the Earth-Rite
range includes interlocking as the ultimate
security.
Lightning Protection
This company has a considerable range
of high quality ‘certified’ (for use in any
area where flammable gases vapours
or dusts are present) equipment ranging
from the basic clamps and cables through
to interlocked systems, to guarantee that
a solid and safe connection has been
Can you see what’s wrong with this picture?
That’s right, He’s forgotten to use the green funnel!
Somehow I think static discharge could be the last
of their worries! Don’t you?
For more Newson Gale info talk to
Garry Pugh.
email: garryp@electropar.co.nz
With the significant amount of lightning
around New Zealand this winter, it is
appropriate to remind customers of our
comprehensive lightning arresting and
surge suppressing range of products and
systems.
Our German partner
Dehn & Sohne is at the
top of this range. With
Dehn we can protect all
cables, antennas and
conductive items as they
enter premises and stop
a direct strike before it can do damage.
Inside the building we can protect all
computers, control gear, telecommunications
equipment, and industrial plant from the
damage caused by secondary surges.
Help your clients to reduce their insurance
premiums.
For more information on the Dehn &
Sohne range drop Mike Barker an email
at, mikeb@electropar.co.nz
LMK
LTD
Hot work permits? - Not needed!
In some cases the answer is yes, and
there are a number of New Zealand
installations that are benefiting from the
following solution.
Stahl’s MiniCLIX plug connectors isolate
(pull, twist, pull) non-intrinsically safe
signals in hazardous areas up to 16A.
(Lighting, instrumentation, etc.)
This innovative design enables the end
user to install, maintain and exchange
all devices and systems even in Zone 1,
during operation. It is no longer necessary
to isolate the device or obtain a special
permit.
Equipment can now be, as the computer
world like to say, “plug and play”. MiniCLIX
can also be used with FF, Profibus, and
Ethernet field bus.
MiniCLIX
plug
connectors
and
sockets are available
with twelve different
encodings, and can
allow data transfer
of up to 100MBit/s,
and the Y adaptor
supports a maximum
of 1.5MBit/s, which
is acceptable for
fieldbus applications.
Stahl
has
now
extended the range to
incorporate a 7-pole
version (6 poles + PE
for AC Signals). The
new type is certified
to II 2G Ex de IIC
Pipe flanges in hazardous areas ...
The Dehn & Sohne, hazardous area
spark gap “EXFS 100 and the fully
insulated “KU” (waterproof version
with 2m of connecting cable, which
is ideal for underground use) is
perfect for applications where parts
of an installation cannot be directly
connected together or to ground.
The EXFS series has very low spark-over
voltage of 0.5-1.25kV and is suited to
applications such as bridging across
insulated flanges on pipelines where
cathodic protection is in use, and Lightning
equipotential bonding.
Safe for use in both Zone 1 (Gas) and
THE POWER TO PERFORM
Stahl MiniCLIX
T6, and was specially developed for low
voltage applications in ‘Ex’ zone 1. It is
rated for voltages up to 400V AC and
up to 16A.
Available in polyamide, nickel-plated
brass and stainless steel.
Spark Gaps
for gases & dusts
Zone
21(Dust),
they are designed
to protect from a
maximum lightning
impulse of 100kA
which is Class H,
the highest class
of protection for
direct
lightning
strike according to
EN 50164-3.
Accessories
include:
flexible
pigtails for bolted connections, angle
brackets, and extended length tails on the
“KU” version.
Fast operation - Low spark over volts
For all lightning protection information
contact mikeb@electropar.co.nz.
When you need the good stuff
Over the last couple of years Electropar
has been asked to build quite a number
of stainless steel control panels. This
has been something of a change, as
we are well known within the gas &
dust hazardous environments for our
polyester enclosures but less known
for stainless.
Stainless Steel
Enclosures
applications. Our range covers both
Electrical and Instrumentation.
Our relationship with the R Stahl group is
such that our inspectors are Stahl trained
and work to their rules and quality system.
However, as we are an engineering and
manufacturing company, used to working
in all types of material, stainless poses no
additional difficulties.
The range of panels supplied has included
controllers for powder handling, oil &
gas environments and general process
control. These have been for the NZ
and overseas markets as our customers
are both local and export oriented. Our
ability to build to international standards
has been of benefit to them.
Our electrical engineering team can assist
with the design and many interesting
enclosures go through our premises
including panels for “Ex p” or pressurised
600A No problem!
Recently a customer building a test
facility for very large gas compressors
advised us that their requirement for
terminal boxes now required them
to be certified to 600A with multiple
240mm² cables in Zone 1.
This is not your usual day to day enquiry
in New Zealand, in fact it is very rare.
Our team knew that we have access to
the wide range of 316 and 304 Stainless
enclosures, but were they certified for such
a high current?
The real challenge though was finding Ex
e Certified terminals for that cable size
and current.
With a bit of digging we discovered that
the Stahl 8180 series of terminals could
not only handle this size of cable, but were
certified for that current rating and could
Stainless Steel
Enclosures
terminate two cables on one side, perfect
for the linking required. The enclosures
exceeded the current rating requirements
and all was well.
Stahl stainless steel enclosures cover
a wide range of sizes and can be
assembled at Electropar into terminal
enclosures, control enclosures (fitted with
LED’s, push buttons, switches and other
devices) and distribution panels fitted
with circuit breakers and isolators.
A recent significant project in Taranaki
has seen the supply of a large number of
stainless enclosures.
For the most comprehensive hazardous
area enclosure range in New Zealand
contact Simon Andrews.
simona@electropar.co.nz
LMK
LTD
Warming from the base up ...
The DigiHeat base heater is an
accessory to the already very successful
and efficient THERMOSAFE® Induction
Drum Heater.
However, the Digiheat base heater can
be used with, or without our other drum
heaters and accessories, as a stand alone
base heater.
DigiHeat
Base Heater
Please contact Garry Pugh if you require
more information on our range of
LMK drum heaters.
garryp@electropar.co.nz
The control for the base heater is mounted
on the base, where the Top plate
temperature is set, and clearly displayed
on the integral microprocessor temperature
controller.
Where total melting times are
critical, or a rapid reduction in
viscosity is required, performance
can be further enhanced by
adding our LMK Heat jackets or the
THERMOSAFE® Induction Drum Heater.
I can hear clearly now ...
I can hear clearly now ... “that rain that
falls!”. In the North Island this winter
that’s just how it was.
If you need to hear clearly, over the sound
of the rain, think Electropar. Our range of
Speakers is comprehensive.
Safety communication is needed more
than ever. From warning messages about
impending safety issues to requesting that
someone answer the phone.
We are proud to represent DNH. The world’s
foremost Loudspeaker manufacturer for
industrial and adverse condition speakers.
Their range includes a full range of
loudspeakers suitable for Hazardous areas,
for both Gas and Dust environments and
Industrial Speakers for work sites under any
conditions.
We readily supply Sirens, Sounders,
Warning Beacons, Intercom systems and
complete PA systems to general industry,
and the process industry.
Never let it be said that
“I just didn’t hear the warning”
Talk to mikeb@electropar.co.nz
THE POWER TO PERFORM
DNH Loadspeakers
STAHL Switchgear Product Range
0LUGS3OCKETS
4ERMINAL"OXES
)NSTRUMENTATION3YSTEMS
0ANEL-OUNTING
#ONTROL0ANELS
0OSITION3WITCHES
#ABLE'LANDS
#ONTROL5NITS
$ISTRIBUTION0ANELS
LMK
LTD
STAHL Automation Product Range
)3'ALVANIC)SOLATORS
HMI /PERATOR)NTERFACES
3AFETY"ARRIERS
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2EMOTE)/
THE POWER TO PERFORM
&IELDBUS
Isolator range for safe enviroments
For mixed Ex i and non-Ex i signal
circuits, users can now draw upon
the advantages of the proven ISpac
isolator system.
While existing modules have served to
connect intrinsically safe field devices such
as temperature sensors, valves, proximity
switches and transmitters, isolators are
now also available for segments that are
not suitable for intrinsically safe wiring.
Of course, field devices which cannot be
connected to intrinsically safe networks
(e.g. due to high energy demand) can
be connected directly to a PLC or control
system.
In industrial environments, however, data
transmission can be then disrupted by
interference, which distorts analogue
signals. Galvanic three-way isolators
such as ISpac devices counteract these
influences, ensuring a safer and more
precise signal communication.
The ISpac product range for non-Ex i
applications covers a wide functional
range,
including
transmitter
supply
units,
isolating
repeaters for 0/4
20 mA signals,
loop-powered
isolating repeaters
for 0/4 20 mA
signals, temperature
transmitters
for
common
sensors
and limit monitors for
temperature sensors,
0/4 20 mA signals
or frequency signals.
An integrated error
alert function enables users to quickly
isolate malfunctions that occur. Moreover,
the flexible, innovative pac-Bus power
supply concept allows for quick and easy
installation in switching cabinets, where
the units, which are only 17.6 mm wide
(two-channel versions), save valuable
space.
Users with appropriate training may open
the devices for maintenance purposes
or to replace individual parts. To date,
panel PCs in hazardous areas have had
to be replaced completely (in the case of
explosion protection type Ex m) or could
only be repaired and reassembled under
controlled conditions (e.g. in the case of
Ex q).
In the case of the Open HMI series, each
module has its individual type of explosion
protection. Some brief training suffices
for users to carry out many service and
maintenance tasks on their own.
This is a marked improvement on the
without explosion-protection features. Like
all ISpac isolators, they were tested by an
independent laboratory and have been
approved for zone 2 installation.
For more information on the ISpac range
talk to Mike Barker.
mikeb@electropar.co.nz
However, even the modules for nonintrinsically safe field devices cannot do
Service friendly HMI panel series
Unlike comparable products, panel
PCs of R. STAHL HMI System, open
HMI series consist of modules with
individual explosion-protection.
Stahl ISpac
Ex - Non-Ex
Stahl HMI Panels
User-replaceable
cumbersome
handling
of
explosion-protected
devices
that used to be necessary.
Some modules are of protection
type Ex m (moulding protection),
others, such as the CPU and
the power supply unit, are
of protection type Ex d, and
the connection PCB’s are of
protection type Ex e or I.S.
A terminal box with increased
safety Ex e provides connections
for hard disks (available with a
capacity of up to 120 GB) or USB 2.0
Flash Drives (available in sizes up to 16
GB), making the replacement of these
bulk memories particularly easy.
The HMIs’ casing remains light and
requires no particular certification. In
mechanical terms, the HMIs (certified by
many international certification authorities)
can withstand even extreme ambient
conditions, such as can be found in the
oil and gas industries.
LMK
LTD
Spectra signals safety for industry
E2S, Europe’s leading manufacturer of
sounders and beacons, has developed
Spectra to extend its industrial range
of visual signalling devices.
The B350 and B450 traffic lights are
designed to provide status and safety
warning in industrial applications such
as factories, warehouses and process
control systems.
The units are available with either filament
lamps or a long life LED light source,
which is ideal for applications where
access or maintenance is difficult; it offers
significantly lower life costs than traditional
filament lamps.
Lenses are available in Red, Amber, Blue,
Clear, Green and Yellow and can be linked
together to form vertical or horizontal sets
New Stahl portable lighting
Rugged Handlamp, ideal for confined
spaces. The toughest “Ex” certified
portable handlamp around with the
brightest light output – that’s the claim
we are happy to support for the Stahl
“Toughlite” Handlamp.
Very rugged is the term we use and the
new “cold cathode lamps” provide a very
bright light that will surprise you. It is light
weight and has a small diameter for use
in confined spaces.
Ideal for use in pits, around aircraft (in
wing tanks), in tanks, pipes, drums and
of lights with any combination of colours.
The lens cover can be positioned to suit
either orientation and all units have a
choice of three cable entries - two around
the side and one on the base – giving
maximum installation flexibility.
Manufactured
from
UV
stabilised
polycarbonate, Spectra beacons will not
fade when exposed to direct sunlight
and are protected to IP65 making them
suitable for outdoor applications.
The full Spectra range includes a
comprehensive range of beacons and
is a major addition to the existing E2S
range of high output weatherproof and
explosion proof sounders, beacons and
loudspeakers.
Stahl
Portable Lighting
for general maintenance work. Toughlite
is also a good economic investment
when compared with other forms of
handlamps.
the batteries is assured and the first set of
batteries is included free with the Torch.
The 6140 uses Alkaline Manganese “C”
(known as “ LR14” in Europe) cells.
So when you are looking for a good
general purpose handlamp – Think
“Toughlite” (Model 6149) and
contact Simon Andrews
simona@electropar.co.nz
The torch comes complete with a security
strap to prevent it being lost in use and a
belt mounted carrying holster is available
as an accessory. Replacement parts are
available.
Let there be light - even in Zone 0 or
Zone 20. Stahl’s comprehensive range
of Torches and Portable lighting now
includes the “6140” Torch suitable for
use in hazardous areas including Zone
0 (Gas) / 20 (Dust).
For further information on the R Stahl
6140, contact Simon Andrews
simona@electropar.co.nz
This extremely high luminance Torch
features a high performance 3 watt LED
Lamp controlled by a unique contact
free switch. The light weight, anti static,
weatherproof and ergonomic case makes
it an ideal tool for plant inspections in all
areas with potential dust or gas explosion
hazards.
More than 48 hours of continuous use from
THE POWER TO PERFORM
E2S
Cable glands for every situation
Electropar is please to announce that
an agreement has been reached
allowing Electropar to supply and
distribute CMP Product’s range of
Cable Glands, Cable Connectors
and associated accessories in New
Zealand.
Based in the UK, CMP Products is the
world’s leading specialist in the design
and manufacture of cable glands & cable
connectors.
CMP has the widest portfolio of Cable
Gland products to meet every kind of
situation imaginable, offering a variety of
solutions for use in Marine, Hazardous
and Non Hazardous (Industrial) Areas, for
a large selection of cable types.
Electropar & CMP
Electropar look forward to growing the
market with CMP with their quality range of
products.
For further information, or a catalogue
and price list please contact Electropar’s
Garry Pugh on garryp@electropar.co.nz
CMP Products is able to provide standard
and customised solutions to suit a variety
of applications and situations including, not
only Cable Glands, but also Adaptors and
Reducers, Stopper Plugs, Breather Drains,
Unions, and a host of related accessories.
Sealants & Greases for every application
Dow Corning
Electropar represents Dow Corning for a wide range of silicone SILASTIC RTV sealants, Molykote lubricants
and silicone compounds.
These compounds are a silicone version of petroleum based “Vaseline like” grease.
Dow Corning Compounds have excellent dielectric properties, are highly water repellent, resistant to oxidation, essentially non
toxic and non melting and show little tendency to dry out in service. They can function as a lubricant and a sealant. They can be
used at temperatures ranging from -40 to + 200 deg C, are odourless and resistant to a wide range of chemicals.
They are available from Electropar in 3 basic consistencies:
Light
Medium
Heavy
DOW CORNING 7
Release Compound
DOW CORNING 4
Electrical Insulating Compound
DOW CORNING 111
Valve Lubricant and Sealant.
Applications for 7 : release agent in
foundry shell and core moulds, plastics
plants, rubber lubricant and preservative,
FDA approved for food contact.
Applications for 4: moisture proofing
electrical
connections,
electrical
assemblies, lubricant for cable connectors,
switches, assembly lubricant, damping
grease.
Applications for 111: lubricate o’rings,
non hardening sealant for outdoor
equipment, rubber & plastic lubricant, anti
wash out applications, chemical barrier
coating, seal for electrical meters.
Electropar also offers a wide Dow Corning RTV sealants and adhesives for all industrial and electrical applications.
For more information please contact simonp@electropar.co.nz
LMK
LTD
The manual TRASP system
Grafoplast
Grafoplast
®
The world’s fastest cable marking kit
Grafoplast offers a wide range of
products for identification of cable
and components inside and outside
of switchboards and electrical
equipment.
The manual TRASP system allows
marking to be carried out prior to or post
termination. Characters remain constant
throughout the process. The only thing that
changes is the carrier that is used which
depends on the core, cable or component
marking requirement.
The key benefits of the Trasp System:
s/NESYSTEMMARKSALL
s1UICKEFFECTIVEANDUSERFRIENDLY
s2EDUCEDSTOCKHOLDING
SI2K is the next generation of cable
marking printers. The SI2K is a high
speed thermal transfer printer which
coupled with Grafoplast’s extensive
range of core, cable and panel
marking offers a versatile marking
solution.
Products include tags for cables and
cores, tags for all common terminal blocks,
rigid and self adhesive labels for contact
blocks, push buttons, cabinet labels and
name plates.
Printing Service:
Electropar can offer a printing service
using both the SI2K and SI2000 plotters,
for fast accurate production at competitive
rates please contact us.
For further info please contact
Simon Pratt. simonp@electropar.co.nz
THE POWER TO PERFORM
Cogetherm ... for insulating boards
Suitable for
Asbestos Boards
Electropar can offer a Mica laminate
designed for electromechanical and
thermomechanical applications.
The material is a direct replacement for
asbestos and other insulating boards in a Electropar can
wide variety of applications requiring any supply Cogetherm
in
sheet,
tube
of the following properties.
or
as
machined
components. Recent
s%XCELLENTHEATRESISTANCEUPTO
applications
include
1000 deg C
element
manufacture,
s%XCELLENTELECTRICALINSULATION
supports
s)MPERVIOUSTOMOSTCHEMICALSINCLUDING furnace
and
ceramic
insulator
oils and grease.
replacements.
s,OWTHERMALCONDUCTIVITY
s-ECHANICALLYSTRONGANDHIGH
For further information please
resistance to pressure
contact Simon Pratt.
sASBESTOS FREE
simonp@electropar.co.nz
NEW EPATAG cable markers
Cable Markers
These are the most cost effective
markers around!
The markers are 5mm wide x 10mm high;
the characters are Black on a Yellow
background made from self extinguishing
VO-UL94 ABS plastic.
The sleeves are manufactured from UV
stabilised PTE and are available in 2
standard sizes, 70 x 10mm and 100 x
10mm with pre-cut holes for cable ties.
Other sizes are available on request.
The markers are manually snapped off
into the specially designed sleeves and
cable tied to the cable or hose through
pre-cut holes.
For a sample please contact Simon Pratt.
simonp@electropar.co.nz
Introducing the new range of EPATAG
cable markers, these cost effective
cable markers compliment our extensive
range of Grafoplast core marking.
EPATAG comprises alphanumeric
markers which fit inside a sleeve which
is cable tied onto cable / hoses etc.
LMK
LTD
Te Papa Museum - Case study
Electropar Wellington recently supplied
a large number of Stahl Zone 2
hazardous rated lights to the Tepapa
Museum Annex in Wellington where
sea fossils will be stored in a controlled
environment.
The lights were selected after a careful
selection process because of their quality,
and timely delivery programme.
The museum annex contains many fish
tanks in which sea specimens, both live
and preserved, will
be stored for future
prosperity.
The most notable
specimen is the
largest squid ever
found
in
New
Zealand waters.
Keeping the buses rolling ...
Trucks for refrigerated food transport
or air-conditioned buses require more
and more electrical power, which
in turn means that larger and larger
alternators must be driven by the trucks
Diesel engine.
Unfortunately, as the alternator increases
in size, its inertia increases exponentially.
This results in conflict between the high
inertia generator trying to run smoothly
at a fixed speed and the fidgety Diesel
engine delivering nothing but torque
peaks.
The victim of this incompatibility is usually
the drive belt between the alternator and
the Diesel crankshaft pulley. It stretches,
swings and vibrates until drive to the
alternator fails either by the belt jumping
off both pulleys, or with the belt being
shredded as it passes over the pulley
flanges.
In any event, without alternator drive the
bus or truck must soon stop until the drive
is repaired. ‘Mr Angry’ soon appears
either as one of the passengers stuck on a
bus which is rapidly warming, or from the
suppliers (or customers) of rapidly melting
food on the truck.
THE POWER TO PERFORM
Stahl Annex Lighting
Nearly 200 Ecolux Fluorescent fittings
were supplied and 17 C-lux Exit fittings
The project was the combination of a close
relationship between, Electropar, Egley
Electrical Wholesalers and Advanced
Building Services.
Warner - Stieber
One Way Clutches
STIEBER have designed an alternator pulley
with an integrated overrunning clutch
which helps to eliminate belt failure.
From the outside, it looks like an ordinary
pulley, but inside the boss there is a
bearing supported roller-ramp type
overrunning clutch. Just like the freewheel
on a bicycle the overrunning clutch
transmits torque when the driven part tries
to run slower than the driver. If the driven
part tries to run faster than the driver it is
free to do so.
Greased for life, the unit is maintenance
free with centrifugal force keeping the
lubricant where it is required - between
the rollers and the outer race.
Typically, the overrunning clutch pulley
is mounted on the alternator shaft and
allows the alternator to overrun between
the engine firing cycles. The torque
measured on an alternator shaft fitted
with a standard pulley looks like an earth
quake magnitude 7 on the Richter scale.
With the overrunning clutch pulley fitted
the torque curve is almost a flat line.
Technically, this is a demanding
application. If for example the Diesel runs
at 2000 rpm, the
clutch must cope
with 3 firings per
engine rotation,
or 6000 per
minute.
During its lifetime the clutch will have to withstand
billions of torque cycles, and this will be
while rotating at around 6000rpm due
to the drive ratio between the crank and
alternator.
Two sizes of STIEBER clutch pulley are
now in regular production. Other sizes
are currently on test.
Changes in the wind ...
For some years now industry has
been using the AS/NZS2381.1
standard (General Requirements for
Electrical Equipment for explosive gas
atmospheres – Selection, Installation
& Maintenance) as the benchmark
when choosing equipment to fit
into hazardous gas zones and AS/
NZS61241.14 for the same purpose
in Dust environments.
‘Selection, Installation and Maintenance
Standard’ will follow suit.
This is about to change.
There are some differences from the existing
standards and these are mostly around the types
of equipment that can be used depending on
the hazard present and the way in which the
premises or plant has been classified.
It is, of course up to the regulators (In the
NZ case “Energy Safety”, a section of
the Ministry of Economic Development) to
determine the timing of the acceptance of
Joint NZ and Australian Standards
committees have been working to
implement the set of IEC based standards
to their respective countries for some time.
The equipment standards are all part of
the AS/NZS60079 series and shortly the
At this point a new document which
incorporates both the Gas & Dust
requirements is in the final stages of
compilation. It is hoped that this document,
if found acceptable, could be approved
and be published in the first part of next
year. If this is the case the new document
will be called AS/NZS60079.14
2008 Product guide released!
2006 saw Electropar take on a new
challenge by producing its own inhouse
product catalogue. The ‘Quick Reference
Product Guide’ lived up to it’s title, as
customer demand made these disappear
from the shelves with amazing speed. July
2008 sees a new, improved and updated
‘Version 2’ ready for release.
The 2008 ‘QRPG’ second instalment has
been completely rewritten, to cover even
more of the ever expanding Electropar
product range. Get your own copy today
by dropping us a line at mail@electropar.
co.nz
New Zealand:
Australia:
Freephone: 0800 733 735
Freephone: 1800 141 502
www.electropar.co.nz
Hazardous Standards
the document along with the Government,
but it is hoped that this would happen next
year.
It appears the existing standard will not
instantly disappear as there is to be a
transition period between the old and
the new and this may be more than a
year where both standards could operate
jointly.
Get Yours Now!
Did You Know?
The ‘PAR’ in Electropar was
in deference to
William J Parlor?
William J was the man who lent Electropar’s
founder, Murray Wallace, £10,000.00
to start the business in 1950!
Freefax: 0800 733 736
Freefax: 1800 141 503
email: mail@electropar.co.nz