SELECT ramps up number of EV charging points at its HQ
As the electric vehicle revolution gathers pace, SELECT, the trade body for the electrotechnical industry in Scotland, is leading by example by ramping up the installation of EV charging points at its headquarters. The campaigning organisation has added another four fast charge spaces at the Walled Garden on the Bush Estate, bringing the total number to six. It also plans more in the near future, including rapid points which can charge an electric vehicle in less than an hour. It means that the growing number of electrical contractors and suppliers who visit the SELECT office in their EV or hybrid vehicles will have the opportunity to charge them on site while they conduct their business. Dave Forrester, Head of Technical Services of SELECT, said: “New registrations of plug-in cars in the UK have increased from 3,500 in 2013 to more than 182,000 by the end of October 2018. It is a remarkable growth trajectory in a market which is only going to increase. “As ever, SELECT aims to stay ahead of the curve by enabling electric vehicle users to quickly and efficiently recharge, helping the drive towards zero emission motoring which will be of benefit across society.” SELECT has also completed a number of training courses in Electrical Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation, designed to keep members at the cutting edge of next generation technology. The new City & Guilds course was delivered in partnership with West College Scotland in Paisley and Moray Robertson, who runs Moray Robertson Electrical Services of Stirling, who attended one of the new courses, said: “The course was very informative about the regulations and earthing arrangements that are required for installations to be compliant.” The new course was offered through SELECT’s dedicated Training Department which was launched in September to promote and deliver training across the electrotechnical sector in Scotland. SELECT’s 1250 member companies account for around 90% of all electrical installation work carried out in Scotland. They have a collective turnover of around £1 billion and provide employment for 15,000 people. For more information please contact Alan Wilson, Acting Managing Director at SELECT, the Electrical Contractors’ Association of Scotland, The Walled Garden, Bush Estate, Midlothian, EH26 0SB. T: 0131 445 5577. F: 0131 445 5548. E:admin@select.org.uk. W: www.select.org.uk Twitter: http://twitter.com/updates_select YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWJVjt14CvIig8bIKwidVug
An accurate current meter in every bedroom and hot water tank.
Prefect Controls have introduced a new feature for their PrefectIrus product – the integration of an accurate current meter that monitors energy use in each room throughout multi-occupancy buildings such as student accommodation. Until now, managers have calculated energy use based on power rating multiplied by length of time a device is estimated to be active. However, fluctuating voltage and imprecise predictions of ‘on-times’ can make these estimates wildly inaccurate. The new PU3 from Prefect comes with iACM (Integrated Accurate Current Metering) as standard, logging the current only when a heater is operational. This data is then transmitted via the buildings wiring system to the central controller where it is recalled for estimation of seasonal energy usage. As well as monitoring heaters in bedrooms, the feature also notifies managers if there is a problem with hot water tanks. Usually a problem is only evident when both elements fail and water isn’t being heated. With accurate metering, if one element fails, the drop in current immediately identifies the problem – meaning efficiency can be restored. Glen Golding, Prefect Controls MD, said “This development means accurate usage can be calculated so that better purchasing of energy will lead to greater savings for organisations providing multi-occupancy accommodation.” PrefectIrus is currently in more than 20,000 bedrooms and continuous development makes it an invaluable product to ensure efficient use of energy across Britain’s university accommodation estate. For further information contact Glen Golding on 01787 320 604.
Voltacon Solar Exports Solar Panels Across Europe
An experienced Midlands energy renewable company is exporting its solar panels to homes and businesses across Europe. Voltacon Solar, which is based at the Burnsall Road Industrial Estate in Coventry, was established in 2002 and assembles and tests off grid and energy storage systems from its purpose-built premises which has 20kW Solar Array installed and multiple test facilities for solar panels. Voltacon Solar managing director Stefanos Kandilidis designs the panels which are manufactured in China while the batteries are manufactured in Germany as the company supplies customers with the entire package needed to install solar systems. Stefanos said they have successfully installed more than 20MW of grid-tied systems throughout Europe over the last 16 years. “We have residential and business customers in the UK and Europe and until we started selling solar panels, we never realised so many British people had holiday homes abroad,” he said. “We have now sold solar panels to people living in Spain, Portugal, France, Greece and Gran Canaria as well as every corner of the UK. “African rural communities that live completely off the grid have trusted our business to supply complete photovoltaic systems including solar panels, batteries, inverters and accessories. “Some of our customers live completely off the grid in farms in Wales and Scotland and rely on the solar panels for their heat and lighting since they have no means of connecting to electricity. “Since we started selling solar panels in 2002, the cost of the equipment has markedly reduced which means it is only taking customers four to five years to start receiving the financial benefits. “The technology is viable and affordable to the public because it isn’t as expensive as it was when we started trading in 2002 and with the cost of electricity rising on average by eight per cent each year, more and more of our customers whether they live in the UK or abroad are taking full advantage to switch from fossil fuel to renewable energy. “From chatting to people, it is often thought it is complicated to switch to solar panels but that is not the case and some of our customers have installed the system themselves after buying everything from www.voltaconsolar.com and we provide an after-care service as well.” Stefanos said Voltacon is also practicing what it preaches since its business unit and his family home are 100 per cent environmentally friendly. Its UK warehouse and showroom are independent from the national grid so their carbon footprint is one of the greenest in the country. He said: “Our business on the industrial estate is completely self-sufficient energy-wise after we installed solar panels when we moved here four years ago. “From our own experiences at home, it is a big comfort to know that we can switch on the lighting and use appliances such as the washing machine without it being expensive because our energy supply is self-sufficient.”
Popular presents for van drivers this Christmas
From a pair of leather driving gloves to a portable seat heater, researchers have revealed the top seven festive gifts for British van drivers. Experts from van leasing giant LeaseVan.co.uk asked customers which gifts they craved most this Christmas. Their answers revealed a mix of the best Christmas gifts Britain’s army of van drivers are hoping for this year. A spokesperson from Leasevan.co.uk said: “Finding the perfect gift for a driver can be tricky but we found anything that makes life on the road more comfortable is sure to be a hit. “So if you are searching for that special something for the van driver in your life choose an item which makes their life easier – be it a portable kettle so they can make a brew in their van or a new air freshener to make their vehicle smell good.” Here are seven of LeaseVan.co.uk perfect presents for van drivers this Christmas. Leather driving gloves Drivers will be able to get a grip of their van and keep their hands warm this winter with a pair of gloves. Made from thin, soft leather they can increase a driver’s control of their vehicle due to improved grip of the steering wheel and gear stick. Depending on quality leather gloves can cost anywhere from £20 to £200. Travel kettle With this gift van drivers won’t have to wait until they reach a service station for a hot brew or a cup of coffee. Having a travel kettle in their van means drivers can pull over and make a quick drink while on the go. The device can be plugged directly into the 12-volt socket and within a couple of minutes van drivers will have boiling hot water for their brew. These can be purchased for around £10 to £20 making them a great stocking filler for workers regularly on the road. Ice scraper mitt This cheap and handy gift could become a life-changing essential for van drivers during the cold winter months. Scraping a frozen windscreen will never be the same as this fleece lined scraper mitt will protect a driver’s hand on those cold winter mornings. Costing as little as £5 this gift offers great value for money. Dashboard pads Van drivers shouldn’t lose their mobile phone or a set of keys ever again if they have one of these tacky pads stuck on their van’s dashboard. The pads are a useful way to store small items and can be bought for around £5. Portable seat heater This would be an ideal gift for the cold winter months as it will help to keep drivers warm in their vans. While many modern vehicles may already have heated seating, some older models may not which could leave drivers feeling the cold. Costing around £20, the device can be plugged directly into the 12-volt socket and will keep bums warm this winter. Van vault Vans can often be a target for theft due to the high value of tools stored in the back which is why gift buyers who are willing to spend more money should consider getting a van vault this Christmas. These secure boxes provide a safer way to store tools due to their sturdy design and reinforced locks. While these boxes can cost up to £150, they do mean van drivers can sleep soundly at night knowing their expensive tools are well protected. Air freshener A classic Christmas gift for a van driver would be a pack of air fresheners. Vehicle cabins can often become quite a stench due to stinky work clothes and boots. A pack of these can eliminate any lingering smells for less than £5.
Siemens Elf & Safety Advice: where there’s smoke, there isn’t always fire!
As the countdown to Christmas gets well and truly underway with offices and places of work getting into the festive spirit, Siemens Building Technologies is warning UK businesses about the potential consequences of false fire alarms during the busiest period of the year. False alarms from remotely-monitored fire detection and alarm systems cost the UK economy an estimated £1 billion in business disruption* with 95% of automatically-generated alarms being proved to be false** placing Fire and Rescue Services (F&RS) and the public at unnecessary risk. “The vast majority of automatic alarm calls are proven to be false and are often caused by either false fire triggers or the inadequate maintenance of alarm systems,” commented Don Scott, fire engineering consultant Siemens Building Technologies. “Christmas is already a time of heightened risk of fire for many businesses with the F&RS stretched to capacity across the country. False alarms create further pressures when emergency services have to challenge whether alarms are genuine before attending incidents – the time lost could end up costing thousands of pounds in repairs or at worst, put lives at risk.” Ionisation or single-sensor optical smoke detectors are a common cause of false alarm activations as they have difficulty in accurately distinguishing between airborne pollutants, such as steam, aerosols, dust, cooking fumes, insects, sparks, embers and a real fire. The incorrect siting of detectors can also be triggered if there is excessive air movement from mechanical heating or ventilation. Multi-sensor detectors are responsive to more than one fire phenomena, i.e. smoke, heat and carbon-monoxide and are proven to be more immune to false alarm phenomena thereby giving fewer false activations. For more stringent applications; beam detectors, heat detectors and aspirating detectors are available. A regular maintenance programme ensures the correct functioning of a fire alarm system – inadequate servicing and testing compromise safety. If an alarm system is aging or becoming unreliable replacement is advised when offset against the cost of disruption to a business. Generally, detectors should be replaced every 10-15 years, depending upon the environment in which they are installed and the manufacturers recommendations. Dave Green, national officer, Fire Brigades Union added: “False alarms use up resources which could be better served elsewhere, and increase response times to actual emergencies. But it is better to be safe than sorry, and fire services should always be called when any alarm is raised.” “Fire services are under more pressure than ever before, dealing with more incidents and more fires, with increasingly fewer firefighters. Since 2009, there has been a 23% decrease in the number of firefighters across the UK. This huge decrease in the number of firefighters has meant that preventative work, which would help to reduce the number of false alarms, has worryingly fallen by the wayside.” * https://www.bre.co.uk/page.jsp?id=3527 **https://www.abi.org.uk/globalassets/files/publications/public/property/2018/07/abi-fpa-detection-demonstration-report-2018.pdf
Electric car revolution set to create over 1 million new jobs
New EV jobs set to more than double losses incurred in traditional car industry Over one million new jobs are set to be created in the European electric car market by 2050, according to a new report from the European Association of Electrical Contractors (AIE). The AIE study found that full electrification of the passenger car market across the current 28 members of the EU would generate 1.2 million jobs. These would largely be associated with the manufacturing, installation, operation and maintenance of charging points and batteries, and electricity generation. Significantly, if only 35 per cent of new cars registered in the EU28 in 2030 are electric, nearly 200,000 jobs would be created in the sector. This figure could more than double the number that could be lost in the traditional car market as a result of the electric car revolution. Giorgia Concas, Secretary General of AIE, commented: “The shift to electric cars is expected to create 200,000 new jobs by 2030, the majority for electrical contractors across Europe. Electromobility is a massive business opportunity for local companies to generate local, green, highly skilled jobs.” Luke Osborne, Energy & Emerging Technologies Solutions Advisor at ECA, commented: “Electric vehicles are a fast-evolving area. The benefits to both the economy and the environment are potentially huge. With regard to business opportunities, employment opportunities and the economic gains for society, the future looks bright.” “If the government wants to ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2040 and adhere to its Road to Zero plan, a robust public electric vehicle charging infrastructure will be a vital priority, especially for the 43 per cent of households without access to off-street parking.” ECA provides guidance and professional advice to help its near 3,000 member businesses navigate the process of registering with the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) in order to access and facilitate grants for EV installations. ECA has also produced comprehensive information and guidance relating to the 18th Edition Wiring Regulations (BS7671) and EV charging.
Rolec EV Expansion Increases Production By Over 200%
Lincolnshire based Rolec EV, manufacturer of Europe’s largest range of EV charging points, has announced the opening of a new factory complex to increase production output by over 200%, with the creation of a further 50 full-time jobs. The new factory will complement Rolec’s existing Head Office, stores, factory and showroom in Boston, which already employs over 100 people – taking Rolec’s total staff levels to over 150. Kieron Alsop, Managing Director of Rolec, commented: “We are delighted to be in a position to further expand our operations with the introduction of a purpose designed factory complex dedicated to the manufacture of EV charging points. “We will continue to manufacture our existing range of products for the caravan, marina and outdoor power solution industries at our Head Office location, a site we are also planning to expand in the near future.” Kieron continued: “The new location will enable us to substantially increase production output, as well as further develop our range of smart charging solutions – including the new DC rapid and Ultrafast products, and recently released EV charging streetlight range.” For more information about Rolec EV’s charging points call 01205 724754, email rolec@rolecserv.co.ukor go to www.rolecserv.com
Albert Valdes to support Hamilton grow its international business
Hamilton Litestat is partnering with Albert Valdes to support the brand’s next stage of business development and growth as it looks to increase its customer base throughout the EMEA territory. Valdes, who is based in Barcelona, Spain, will provide business development consultancy and support services for the electrical wiring accessories provider throughout the region. With strong international business relations experience, Valdes has successfully established profitable long-term partnerships and negotiated distribution agreements for businesses in the electrical, chemical, alimentary and communication sectors, including supporting a high-end Spanish wiring accessories business export to the Middle East and Africa. “This is a truly motivating challenge for me,” says Valdes. “With experience in the electricals industry, I have always admired and respected the Hamilton brand. To start a collaboration with the company is an opportunity I’m grateful for. The main goal is to establish long-term partnerships with trustworthy companies in key markets, initially focusing to consolidate growth in crucial markets and then expanding our reach to grow Hamilton’s presence throughout the EMEA territory.” www.hamilton-litestat.com
Inspiring wiring
Almost 100 delegates attended an important seminar organised by Wessex Electricals during Electrical Fire Safety Month. The event at AFC Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium heard from Tim Bollard of NICIEC and ELECSA, the market leading certification body for electricians. He spoke about the new wiring regulations, which come into effect from January 1 2019 and are an important subject in the industry. With Christmas and winter approaching the number of fires is likely to increase and the seminar heard that these changes are designed to enhance safety. Stuart Fisher, managing director of the long-standing Dorset business that is based in Shaftesbury and is part of the family-owned Wessex Group, opened proceedings. He welcomed delegates from a number of businesses, local authorities and health services. Stuart said afterwards: “Though we are based in Shaftesbury where we were founded more than 50 years ago we work right across the south. “Bournemouth’s Vitality stadium was a great venue and geographically convenient for our delegates of whom we had a great number, which reflects the general interest in the subject. “While the wiring regulations is perhaps of little interest to most people it is hugely important in keeping them safe. “The seminar was designed to alert interested parties to the changes and explain what they mean in practical terms. “It is one of those subjects that effects everyone although most are not aware of it. “Safety in our industry is obviously of the utmost importance and it was reassuring to see so many professionals attend the seminar. “While these regulations are of course important to Wessex Electricals, our group’s other companies will also be affected by them. “Being part of a group of companies really helps when new regulations and laws are introduced because we are able to share knowledge and good practice.” Wessex Electricals is part of the Wessex Group, which consists of a number of companies that operate in fire and security, electrical, HVAC and plumbing, renewable energy and property maintenance areas. www.wessexgroup.co.uk
