Grounding Versus Bonding - Free Webinar

Grounding Versus Bonding of electrical systems, sensitive electronic, and communications equipment is the most important and least understood activity in the electrical, data process, and communications industry.

Webinar is at: Thursday, May 24, 2012 at 2:30PM US Eastern Time (UCT -5 hours)

In this 60-minute FREE webinar, Mike Holt of Mike Holt Enterprises, Inc. will explain the purpose of grounding and bonding as related to the most current requirements set forth in the 2011 NEC (NFPA 70). Full color graphics and practical examples of typical electrical installations will help attendees learn the concepts necessary to safely design, install, and inspect electrical systems rated 600V or less.

This workshop is brought to you by EC&M magazine (http://ecmweb.com) and Fluke test equipment (www.fluke.com).

Registration for this event is at:
https://event.on24.com/eventRegistration/EventLobbyServlet?target=registration.jsp&eventid=458297

Outlets, inlets, receptacles, plugs, jacks, whatever you call them, they oughta be correctly mounted

Alex, I'll go for $1,000 for "Places you shouldn't stick your finger.  Ever."

Note the missing cover plate and the uninsulated wiring sticking out.

Should not have an ungrounded outlet in a commercial building - or any building for that matter.

Note the extension box pulled off the wall.

Note the box and ground conductor completely missing.

2010 LDI Show Schedule Available - Sign-up NOW!

The LDI International trade show has grown over the years to include much more than just stage lighting. You will also find sound, rigging, staging, video, projection, special effects, and thousands of tools to do your job more efficiently and safely. This year's show in Las Vegas (aka: Lo$t Wage$) runs Monday, October 18 thru Sunday, October 24 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Of particular interest is the growth of show production safety workshops being presented by ETCP trainers:

• Stage Rigging Fundamentals - two days (L27)
• Ohm's Law and Order: Essential Electrical Training - two days (L28)
• Left Brain Rigging: An A-Z on Math and how it applies to rigging - two days (L29)
• Left Brain Rigging Calculator - build your own spreadsheets for critical repetitive calculations (L30)
• Tomcat USA: Safely Building the Beast - truss system design, fall arrest systems, ground supported systems - two days (L31)
• Keep your Stage Rigging Happy & Healthy AR01)
• Math for Riggers (Made Simple) (AR02)
• System Integration Trends in Automation (AR03)
• Is your GO Button Putting You at Risk? - Motor Control Technology & Risk Mitigation (ES01)
• SIL Explained: Understanding European and Control System Safety Standards (ES02)
• Fire Safety Curtain Systems - Closing the Door on Smoke (ES09)
• Hook Up and Go! - Is Climbing on a Portable Structure Really That Easy? (ES10)
• All About the ETCP (FS01)
• ETCP paper & Pencil Exams at LDI - actually take the test(s)!

And of course, there will be lots of blinky lights and glittery things both inside and outside the convention center. Be There. See a Show. Have Fun. Learn Something.

More info at: www.ldishow.com/

Zzzzzaaap! Is that burning wire I smell?

When you connect two electrical items together you should follow a few simple rules:

• The National Electric Code
• Use one piece of wire, not three between two devices (this really cuts-down on work, too!)

As you can see in this strip of porcelain sockets, there are multiple splices of three different kinds if wire, each which is wrapped with a different type of tape, not all of which are really good insulators. The Edison plug (NEMA 1-15P) is wrapped in masking tape, too!

If you are not a licensed electrician, don't be wiring 120 Volt (or higher) power circuits that will be used anywhere, particularly on stage where you will be exposing others to your deathtrap.