CHICAGO, Feb. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

The Chrysler brand is taking the Windy City by storm at the 2020 Chicago Auto Show, introducing the new-for-2021 Chrysler Pacifica and setting a new standard in the class by delivering available all-wheel-drive (AWD) capability combined with class-exclusive Stow 'n Go seating and more standard safety features than any other vehicle in the industry, all wrapped in a refreshed exterior and interior design.

"Through 37 years and more than 15 million minivans sold, Chrysler hasdefined the minivan segment, and we plan to continue redefining it with the new 2021 Chrysler Pacifica," said Tim Kuniskis, Global Head of Alfa Romeo and Head of Passenger Cars Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, FCA North America. "Not only does this new Pacifica look more capable, it is more capable. It delivers more standard safety features than any vehicle in the industry, offers class-leading AWD capability paired with Stow'n Go, a new customizable Uconnect 5 system that is five times faster, and you can even take Alexa along for the ride and see into rear-facing child seats with the new FamCAM. We also have the new top-of-the-line Pinnacle model, and Pacifica is still the only hybrid in the segment. Whatever the challenge, Pacifica offers solutions."

The new 2021 Chrysler Pacifica offers the most advanced AWD system in its class and is the only vehicle to offer AWD along with Stow 'n Go seating. The seamless, fully automatic AWD system is the only vehicle in the segment capable of transferring all available engine torque to the rear wheels, or whichever wheels have more available traction. The Pacifica AWD system is also able to sense and stop the drive shaft from spinning when AWD is not required, a class-exclusive feature in the segment that improves efficiency and reduces emissions.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica will also offer 97 standard safety features the most standard safety features in the industry. New LED lights and Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking (PAEB) both offered for the first time in the class as standard equipment join Blind-spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Path detection, Rear Park Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control with Full Stop, electronic stability control (ESC), Forward Collision Warning with Full Stop, Lane Departure Warning, eight airbags and more as standard safety features. All told, the Pacifica features 116 standard and available safety and security features.

The Pacifica's new exterior design expression is much more deeply sculpted, athletic and modern in character, with utility-vehicle-inspired design cues. A new top-of-the-line Pinnacle model sets a new standard in the segment with a sophisticated, luxurious interior that incorporates a new integrated Ultra console the most functional center console in its class and elite appointments, such as quilted Nappa Caramel leather seats with new matching lumbar comfort pillows.

The all-new Uconnect 5 system, offered for the first time in a North American vehicle and standard across the Pacifica lineup, includes a largest-in-class 10.1-inch touchscreen, which is nearly 20 percent larger than the screen it replaces. The system is five times faster than Uconnect 4 and includes Alexa. With the Uconnect skill for Alexa, customers with Alexa-enabled devices at home can easily ask Alexa to start the car, lock/unlock doors and more. Uconnect 5 brings Amazon Alexa directly into the vehicle itself, giving occupants the freedom to interact with Alexa just as they do at home or on a personal device. With Alexa built-in, occupants can ask Alexa to play music, podcasts and audiobooks; add items to their to-do list; check news, weather, traffic, sports and other real-time information; and access tens of thousands of Alexa skills.

The new 2021 Chrysler Pacifica also gives parents a bird's-eye view of their most precious cargo thanks to the new FamCAM interior camerathat delivers a best-in-class high-definition image and allows the driver a view of rear-facing child seat occupants in the second row and even allows them to zoom in on passengers. Another first for the segment, new USB Type C ports allow devices to charge up to four times faster than standard USB outlets.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica will be built at the Windsor Assembly Plant in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Orders open in the third quarter of 2020, with the vehicle available in dealerships in the fourth quarter of 2020. AWD also will be available on the 2020 Chrysler Pacifica Launch Edition, which opens for dealer orders in the second quarter of 2020 and begins arriving in dealerships in late second quarter of 2020.

2021 Chrysler Pacifica: The most advanced AWD system in its classThe most awarded minivan over the last four years with more than 125 honors and industry accolades, the Chrysler brand heard the call from its customers for AWD and answered the bell with a new system that helps Pacifica owners haul people and things through all types of weather be it rain or snow.

America's only minivan to offer AWD along with Stow 'n Go seating, the available system for the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica delivers enhanced traction in a wide range of driving and road conditions from dry pavement to snow-covered roads to non-paved surfaces and engages seamlessly at any speed without the need of driver activation.

The Chrysler Pacifica's AWD system the first available in a Chrysler minivan since 2004 uses mechanical and electronic technology proven durable and capable on FCA vehicles. In addition, the system was put through its paces, with more than 1 million customer-driven-equivalent miles of testing prior to introduction on the 2021 Pacifica.

Key mechanical components of the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica AWD system include:

Other mechanical changes resulting in improved driving dynamics include the addition of a rear sway bar and revised tuning for the front and rear suspension. Ride height is increased 0.78 inches (20 millimeters).

Pacifica's seamless, fully automatic AWD system is the only one in the segment capable of transferring all available engine torque to the rear wheels, or whichever wheels have more available traction. The Pacifica AWD system, the most capable AWD in the class, is also able to sense and stop the drive shaft from spinning when AWD is not required, a class-exclusive feature in the segment that improves efficiency and reduces emissions.The AWD system also employs a brake-lock differential system to help enhance traction, with fully automatic torque distribution between each wheel. If one wheel on an axle loses traction, the system applies the brake to the low-traction wheel, redirecting torque through the differential to the wheel with more traction. The 18-inch brake package for AWD features larger vented front and solid rear rotors and calipers with more capacity.

The AWD system engages automatically, based on a variety of sensor inputs that signal when enhanced traction is beneficial. For best traction performance, AWD is engaged when the Chrysler Pacifica begins to accelerate from a standing stop. Other inputs that signal AWD engagement include:

When the Chrysler Pacifica's drivetrain detects that AWD is not needed, it disconnects the power transfer unit and the rear drive module automatically to stop the drive shaft from spinning, reducing driveline drag and improving efficiency.

The Pacifica AWD will feature new, standard self-sealing 235/60-R18 Michelin Premier All-season tires for 18-inch wheel applications, with 20-inch wheels offered with optional Pirelli self-sealing tires (late availability) or non-self-sealing Falken tires.

The AWD system will be available across all four gas-powered Chrysler Pacifica models: Touring, Touring L, Limited and Pinnacle.

Utility-vehicle-inspired exterior gives Chrysler Pacifica athletic characterThe next expression of the Chrysler Pacifica has arrived, with an inspired refresh standard across the model lineup. The Pacifica features a bold, deeply sculpted face and sophisticated styling that does more with less to celebrate the entire width of the rear, resulting in an unmistakable visual jump from the current model.

The utility-vehicle-inspired presence begins to take shape right up front with a more "heroic" 3D diamond-style grille, which is accented with painted Gloss Black upper grille textures and a new Bright Chrome grille surround. The iconic Chrysler wing badge is Liquid Chrome and embellished with a new High Gloss Black insert.

The modern face is sculpted to create a more dominant upper grille. The slimmer lower grille mirrors the 3D diamond-style and Gloss Black appearance of the upper grille. New headlamps are crafted with a more aggressive, linear design. Standard new LED headlamps deliver increased light projection and standout boldly thanks to a daytime running lamp (DRL) appearance.

Larger and more deeply sculpted LED fog lamp bezels add visual energy and complement the sportiness of the overall design. Fog lamp bezels are also touched with the painted black texture of the grille and also outlined with L-shaped chrome details.

A new rear all-LED taillamp runs the entire width of the Pacifica, communicating a more upscale lit appearance and transforming the visual feel. The new lit taillamp is encapsulated in a High Gloss Black housing, with the Chrysler wing badge positioned prominently on top of the housing. The taillamp is cleanly and precisely integrated with the backup camera and aerodynamic functions in the single, simple housing. The rear is further dressed up with exterior trim features, including a lower tail end Bright Chrome valance molding.

When it comes to customizing the rims of the Pacifica, owners will have a full palette of options from which to choose with six new wheel designs offered in a wide menu of different finishes. Available wheels include:

The Pacifica's exterior palette will expand with a new Fathom Blue color available for the 2021 model year. The new hue beautifully travels between light and dark color tones, celebrating the sculptural qualities of the refreshed exterior.

The popular S Appearance package, introduced in 2017 and now chosen by one of every three Pacifica buyers, will continue in 2021 with new exterior Anodized Ink finishes on the grille surrounds and badging, and a new "Foreshadow" finish on the wheels. The Pacifica Red S Edition, introduced in 2019 for the 2020 model year with class-exclusive Rodo Red premium Nappa leather seats, will also continue as an option for owners looking to customize their Pacifica Limited S from the factory.

Posh people mover: Pacifica Pinnaclemodel delivers most luxurious interior in its classThe interior refresh of the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica broadens its appeal with utility-vehicle style cues while setting a new standard in the class through use of premium materials, more striking color combinations and enhanced technology.

Leading the way is a new top-of-the-line model: Pacifica Pinnacle. The Pinnacle model features a luxurious and sophisticated interior, targeting customers who desire a vehicle loaded with premium appointments and features.

The Pinnacle offers the most luxurious interior in its class, with one of Pacifica's two new available integrated consoles designed to seamlessly flow into the instrument panel. The Pinnacle integrated Ultra center console, the most functional in its class, seamlessly blends into the instrument panel with the transition assisted by two soft wings bordered with accent stitch. The larger console area allows for the armrest to be relocated from the seats to the console and provides dual-leveled storage, featuring a storage tray on top and a deeper storage area underneath. A large pass-through underneath the console offers an abundant amount of covered storage, providing ample space for personal bags or other large items, such as a laptop.

The Pinnacle Ultra console offers 13.65 liters of overall storage, an increase of 4.55 liters, one-third more than the current model. Covered storage is 12.1 liters, also a one-third increase over the current model.Pinnacle also includes second-row storage bins in the floor. Total storage on the Pinnacle model is a best-in-class 227.6 liters enough room to haul 60 gallons of milk.

A striking Caramel and Piano Black color theme, exclusive to the Pinnacle model, defines the interior. Caramel Nappa leather seats are embellished with quilted seat side bolsters and perforated seat inserts and seat backs on all three rows, including second row captain's chairs, adding an elite premium touch point. In addition, seats are accented by Light Tungsten piping and stitching, which serves as a nice, subtle contrast with the richness of the Caramel seats. The Caramel color feel extends to the door panel armrest and bolsters with added Caramel accent stitching on the door upper.

A unique set of two fully movable lumbar comfort pillows for the second-row captain's chairs match the quilted style and Caramel color of the leather seats and provide an additional dash of classy comfort and style for passengers. The lumbar pillows feature an embossed Chrysler logo on one side, with a suede pillow backing on the other.

The instrument panel pops thanks to a new mid-century Timber Hydro bezel that delivers distinct wood styling, while a Piano black finish elegantly dresses up the center stack bezel, PRNDL bezel and push-push storage bin door. Satin Chrome plating accents on the seat controls on the first and second row and on the sliding door handles enhance the overall premium aesthetics and also touch and feel for customers.The Pinnacle exudes luxury literally from top to bottom the interior includes a vehicle-length black suede headliner and high-end Berber-construction floor mats.

Unique finishes stretch out to touch the exterior of the Pinnacle, including a Satin Carbon Grille and Platinum Chrome on all exterior surrounds, moldings and badging in place of standard Bright Chrome. A new Pinnacle side door nameplate in the Pacifica font is also Platinum Chrome.

The interior of the Limited model is also transformed with its own new integrated Premium console, a more compact iteration of the Pinnacle console. The Limited's Premium console also flows into the instrument panel and provides dual-level storage with a large pass-through storage area. Center storage is delivered through a tamboured door that is a half-inch wider and 1.25 inches longer than the current model. The Limited Premium console delivers 7.60 liters of overall storage, three liters more than the current model, and allows for inclusion of Stow 'n Go seating.

The Super console from the 2020 Pacifica Limited waterfalls to 2021 Pacifica Touring L models, while the 2021 Pacifica Touring model features a carryover of the Mid console.

Elite interior features become standard equipment more than ever before for the 2021 Pacifica lineup, including a seven-inch digital cluster, a soft-touch instrument panel with accent stitching and second-row sunshades.

2021 Chrysler Pacifica: Most standard safety features in the industryThe 2021 Chrysler Pacifica delivers the most standard safety features in the industry, with 97 standard and 14 new-as-standard safety features, including new LED lights and new PAEB.

As part of the 116 standard and available safety and security features for the Pacifica, LED lights and PAEB are both offered for the first time as standard in the class. New LED headlamps, DRLs, fog lamps and taillamp are standard across all four Pacifica models.

LED headlamps provide exceptional lighting with a balanced beam of light that minimizes glare on oncoming traffic while doubling the light output directly in front of the vehicle to provide additional driver comfort. The LED headlamps help to better view objects with improved down road and spread illumination. Side lighting offers a broader range of light and improves visibility while cornering, and is activated by either steering wheel angle input or turn signal activations when the headlamps are on.

Safety features now standard across Pacifica model lineup include:

Additional advanced safety features are offered through a new, optional Safety Sphere Package, part of a new Premium Group Package available for 2021. Advanced features include:

The Pacifica will continue to offer eight standard airbags, unsurpassed 5 LATCH child seat positions and a KeySense programmable key fob that allows parents to set parameters regarding speed, stereo volume and other limitations. The Pacifica's advanced body structure also uses high-strength steel and other materials to optimize occupant protection.

2021 Pacifica offers first North American application of all-new Uconnect 5 systemThe most technologically equipped vehicle of its kind, the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica is bringing upgrades front and center with an all-new 10.1-inch touchscreen, part of the new Uconnect 5 system that will be offered for the first time in a North American FCA vehicle.

Delivering the largest standard touchscreen in its class, the 10.1-inch touchscreen is nearly 20 percent larger than the screen it replaces and enables processing speeds up to five times faster than the previous generation.

The all-new Uconnect 5 system offers more connected services and features for unmatched ease of use for both novice and expert users alike. The suite of new system highlights includes:

New connected services offerings include:

New Uconnect 5 system features unique to the Pacifica include upgraded Hybrid Electric Pages and Smartphone Control 2.0. The Uconnect 5 system can provide support for up to three customer-defined charging schedules and owners can schedule any combination of dates and times for charging, as well as monitor functions, such as battery performance, driving history and charging schedules. The new FamCAM interior camera is also accessible via the new Uconnect 5 10.1-inch touchscreen.

Additional connectivity features include Firmware Over The Air (FOTA) software updates to periodically update the Uconnect 5 system for performance and quality improvements. Uconnect 5 also offers a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot.

For Pacifica owners on the go, Uconnect Market can help make reservations, find and pay for parking, order pizza for the family and more all from the new 10.1-inch touchscreen. The Uconnect smartphone app makes it easy and convenient to start the vehicle, unlock doors or send an address to the navigation system. Vehicle maintenance information is also delivered through monthly vehicle health reports, in-vehicle messages or the vehicle info tab on the Uconnect smartphone app.

Cabin capability, convenience and comfort enhanced for 2021 Chrysler PacificaThe 2021 Chrysler Pacifica builds upon Pacifica's continued focus of providing owners with a comfortable and capable cabin experience, loaded with exclusive features and technological enhancements that make the ride more enjoyable for driver and passenger alike.

New for the 2021 is the FamCAM interior camera, which projects a best-in-class, high-definition image and allows the driver to keep close tabs on action happening in the back with segment-exclusive features, including a clear view of rear-facing child seat occupants, a split view display and a unique "zoom-to-seat" feature.

The FamCAM is cleanly positioned above the cabin between the front and second-row panoramic sunroof and the third-row fixed glass. FamCAM views are accessible through the 10.1-inch touchscreen and allow drivers to quickly click and zoom in. Memory setting functions keep the camera in the most recent position used to aid in ease of use and limit driver distraction.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica is even more equipped to keep vehicle occupants connected while on the go. Functionality is enhanced with moreUSB ports throughout the vehicle, includingsegment-first USB Type C ports,allowing devices to charge up to four times faster than standard USB outlets. The new Pacifica doubles available USB ports from the current model, with up to a combined total of 12 USB Type A and Type C ports, depending on the model and package chosen.

Keeping powered up will be simple with a new wireless charging system, available for the new integrated Ultra console on the Pinnacle and Premium console for the Limited model. A new LED light feature on the wireless charging system provides information on the charging status: a blue light indicates charging, red a foreign object detected and green signifies charging is complete.

The class-exclusive Uconnect Theater rear-seat entertainment system with two 10.1-inch seatback touchscreens adds additional games, such as Concentration, chess, Simon Clone (late availability) and backgammon (late availability), to keep both adult and child passengers entertained. The new offerings join nine existing games, including Are We There Yet and the License Plate Game, to provide the most built-in games in the industry, without need of Wi-Fi or a subscription.

For audiophiles, the Harman Kardon premium audio group adds a 10-inch rear quarter trim subwoofer to the 19-speaker system, with a 20-speaker system offered on the hybrid powertrain model. The 23-liter sealed enclosure delivers more dynamic bass through the dual-voice-coiled subwoofer and is designed to better integrate with the available Stow 'n Vac system (or storage bin).

The already vault-like cabin of the Pacifica is sealed even tighter to create the quietest minivan ever made by FCA. Wind noise has been reduced with new or upgraded glass, including acoustic front side glass for the Limited, Pinnacle and all PHEV models, acoustic windshield glass on all Pacifica models and thicker sliding door glass for all Pacifica models.

FCA engineers worked to make a quiet ride even quieter with better fitments and door and glass seals for all price classes, further reducing in-cabin noise. Road noise is also reduced with upgraded roof bow stiffness, upgraded glass and improved body sealing. The changes deliver a 6-8 percent increase in speech intelligibility.

First and only segment hybrid, award-winning Pentastar V-6 engine continue as powertrain options for PacificaThe 2021 Chrysler Pacifica will continue to offer a choice of two powerful, efficient and advanced powertrains: the standard award-winning Pentastar V-6 engine and the still class-exclusive hybrid option.

The next generation of the award-winning Pentastar V-6 gasoline engine, which is mated to a segment-exclusive TorqueFlite nine-speed automatic transmission, delivers 287 horsepower and 262 lb.-ft. of torque.

The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid delivers more than 80 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) in electric-only mode, an all-electric range of more than 30 miles and a total range of more than 500 miles. The segment's first hybrid vehicle features an FCA-designed, innovative dual-motor eFlite electrically variable transmission (EVT) paired with a specially modified version of the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 gasoline engine. The Pacifica Hybrid is designed to offer a seamless driving experience, with no need for the driver to select between electric and hybrid modes.

The Pacifica Hybrid, ranked among the top five best-selling PHEVs in the industry, is equipped with a regenerative braking system that redirects the kinetic energy used to stop the brakes into energy that is used to charge the vehicle's battery. The Pacifica Hybrid may be fully recharged via the 6.6-kWh on-board charger in as little as two hours using a 240-volt (Level 2) charger, available from Mopar through dealers.

Model LineupThe 2021 Chrysler Pacifica will offer four models, with content more closely aligned as much as possible to make each model consistent across both gas-powered and hybrid powertrain options. Available models are:

Exterior ColorsTen exterior color options will be available for the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica:

What's New:

2021 Chrysler PacificaThe 2021 Chrysler Pacifica once again reinvents the minivan segment. A new AWD system for the gas-powered Pacifica delivers America's most capable minivan with AWD and provides unprecedented levels of functionality, versatility and technology. A utility-vehicle-inspired refresh of the interior and exterior is combined with 14 new standard safety features that bring to market the vehicle with the most standard safety features in the industry. Re-engineered from the ground up on an all-new platform when first introduced in 2016 for the 2017 model year, the Pacifica delivers class-leading gasoline and hybrid powertrains to the minivan segment. The Pacifica Hybrid takes this revolutionary vehicle a step further with its innovative, advanced hybrid powertrain. It's the first and only electrified vehicle in the minivan segment and achieves more than 80 MPGe, has an all-electric range of more than 30 miles and a total range of more than 500 miles. With 116 available safety and security features, a new 10.1-inch touchscreen with the new Uconnect 5 system, the Uconnect Theater rear-seat entertainment system, available 4G Wi-Fi and a full array of comfort and convenience technologies, the Chrysler Pacifica has earned its spot as the most awarded minivan four years in a row, with the Pacifica serving as a no-compromise minivan ideally suited for today's families.

FCAFiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is a global automaker that designs, engineers, manufactures and sells vehicles in a portfolio of exciting brands, including Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Jeep, Lancia, RamandMaserati. It also sells parts and services under the Mopar name and operates in the components and production systems sectors under the Comau and Teksid brands.FCA employs nearly 200,000 people around the globe. For more details regarding FCA (NYSE: FCAU/ MTA: FCA), please visitwww.fcagroup.com.

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Chrysler Pacifica Reaches New Pinnacle, Offering All-wheel-drive Capability, Utility-vehicle-inspired Updates and the Most Standard Safety Features in...

SPEARFISH Local artist Tony Chytka pitched his idea for a new statue depicting the Queen of the Hills at Mondays Spearfish City Council meeting.

Spearfish was always known as The Queen City of the Hills, Chytka said. The ending piece would be a life-size fountain (that) depicts the Queen of the Hills.

Chytka explained that he wanted the piece to capture some of the imagery from the Passion Play.

She is in her toga wardrobe, kind of carrying back to the Passion Play and what the passion play represented to Spearfish, he said. Shed be dropping water from the palm of her hand in the life-size piece, it would go into a pool in her apron, then a water would fall with the fish coming up out of the water.

Chytka said he would fund the project by selling limited edition, scale-sized models of the statue for $750 as well as a 28-inch functioning model for $5,500. Half the proceeds from the sales would be applied to the creation of the full-sized statue. He said he expected the final life-size bronze to be ready to install sometime in the summer of 2021.

The council unanimously voted to approve the project and said the city would work with Chytka to find a suitable place for the fountain statue.

For more information about the statue, visit http://www.trchytkabronze.com.

To read all of today's stories, Click here or call 642-2761 to subscribe to our e-edition or home delivery.

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'Queen of the Hills' coming to Spearfish | Local News - Black Hills Pioneer

The flick of a switch or a slow transition, how do you like your light? Dimmers versus traditional light switches create ambiance and can reduce the number of times you get up from the sofa to turn the lights on and off.

Whats the real difference between traditional and dimmer switches?

A traditional light switch simply supplies or cuts the power to the lamp or bulb. A dimmer switch used to work by means of a variable resistor, the more resistance, less energy to the bulb and more heat at the dimmer switch therefore dimmer light. Modern dimmers work differently by rapidly shutting off the light bulb circuit every time the AC current reverses direction 120 times per second. Depending on where the dimmer is set changes how long the circuit is off in milliseconds. The higher the switch is set, the faster the circuit turns back on. This changes the amount of energy supplied to the bulb, and thus the brightness of the light.

If you are considering changing to a dimmer switch, the first thing to ask is whether it will be compatible with your current lighting system.

There are three primary styles of dimmer switches.

Rotating Switch: This lets the user turn the dial to gradually change the brightness of the bulb.

A dual switch plate: traditional on/off switch with a light dimmer switch.

Touch Dimmer: The user simply touches a plate on top to turn the light up or the bottom to decrease brightness until the preferred setting is reached.

Wireless: This allows for controlling two or more different sets of lights by remote control. If you are lounging on the sofa or your favorite chair, you probably don't want to get up multiple times to change the lighting as the sun comes up or goes down, so this is an ideal option. They can be installed anywhere and sometimes without the need for wiring. Some feature wireless controls via computer or cell phone. Oftentimes they can integrate with other smart home systems, such as heating/cooling and security. Voice control is even automated.

Control the brightness of the rooms lights remotely from your phone.

Many dimmer switches are not compatible with energy-saving light bulbs. An energy-saving bulb contains glass tubes coated in phosphor. When electricity passes through the bulb, the gas emits ultraviolet rays which light up the phosphor. When used with a dimmer switch, these bulbs simply flicker on and off. We recommend switches that let you choose from two or three fixed levels of brightness.

Additionally, incompatible bulbs will limit the dimming range and cause humming, buzzing and flickering. Unless the manufacturer indicates the bulb is dimmable, do not install any LED or compact fluorescent bulb in a socket controlled by a dimmer.

There are also tabletop dimmers equipped with a cord, plug and socket. Though the bulbs in the fixture must be compatible with the dimmer.

Ever notice interference to nearby televisions and radios when you turn the lights on? That happens because the rapid changes in the voltage supplied to the bulb can cause excessive vibrations in its filament, which is magnetic. Higher quality dimmer switches will include inductor chokes or interference capacitors that can smooth the effects of the changing voltage.

Look for LED bulbs that state they are dimmable. There are several types and color quality available. Manufacturers publish lists of bulbs that are compatible with dimmer products.

Each dimmer switch comes with a wattage rating that tells you the maximum watts of bulbs you can control with it. Follow the instructions, otherwise serious damage or injury can occur. Also, if you will be controlling multiple bulbs from one switch, you need to add up the wattage of each bulb concerned.

When installing a dimmer, it is highly recommended that you hire a licensed, bonded, and insured electrician. Electricity is a safety issue, and should really not be left as a DIY project or to a handyman.

A professional electrician will:

Inspect the wall box in which the dimmer will be installed and take measurements to be sure the dimmer will physically fit.

Confirm that the dimmer intended can be used with the type of bulb in your application.

Check if the dimmer requires a "neutral" connection (a wall box with a ground connection and at least two other wires).

Help you choose a dimmer with sufficient power capacity by calculating the total wattage of the bulbs to be controlled and choose a dimmer rated for at least a 20 to 30 percent higher power capacity.

Check the dimming range with a visual test to ensure it is suitable for a given application.

Check labels or markings on the dimmer, packaging or installation instructions for an electrical safety rating such as UL-1472.

Now that we shinned a light on dimmers, go ahead and set the mood in your favorite room.

For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert since 1988, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8 to 11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and from 7 to 10 a.m. on KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.

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Rosie on the House: Setting the mood with lighting dimmers - Green Valley News

FLEMINGTON Flemington Borough Council will consider enacting an ordinance involving property maintenance as well as the 2015 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) at their Feb. 13 meeting at 7 p.m.

Council is considering enacting the IPMC to better establish and enforce rules regarding property maintenance within the borough.

IPMC regulates and governs the conditions and maintenance of structures within a borough and provides penalties for violators and the condemnation of buildings and structures unfit for human occupancy and use.

The regulations would include eight chapters ranging from the roles and authority the borough will have involving enforcement of the IPMC to establishment of criteria for installing and maintaining heating and air conditioning, ventilation and fireplaces.

According to a notice of intent from the borough office, chapter one will involve the establishment of necessary legal basis for enforcement of the code by the borough.

This includes all the police powers inherent in enforcing the IPMCs minimum standards for the use and maintenance of buildings that must follow the line of authority from the United States Constitution to the state and borough, the notice said.

The chapter defines roles and responsibilities of the borough.

Sections 201 and 202 from Chapter two will address practical concerns that may be encountered while interpreting the code in relation to the use of gender, tense and singular versus plural. It also provides an alphabetical listing of terms that are commonly used through the code.

Chapter three lists a variety of requirements for exterior property areas as well as interior and exterior elements of the structure.

The chapter specifies criteria for installation and maintenance regulations for building components. It also includes requirements for regulating safety, sanitation and the appearance of interior and exterior structure.

Chapter four established the minimum criteria for light and ventilation and identifies occupancy limitations.

Chapter five consists of the minimum criteria required for the installation, maintenance and location of plumbing systems and facilities including water supply systems, water heating appliance, sewage disposal systems and related plumbing fixtures.

Chapter six establishes minimum criteria for the installation and maintenance of heating and air conditioning equipment appliances and systems, water-heating equipment and appliances, ventilation and exhaust equipment, gas and liquid fuel distributing piping and components, fireplaces and solid fuel-burning appliance, chimneys and vents, electrical services, lighting fixtures, electrical receptacle outlets, electrical distribution system equipment, devices and wiring, and elevators escalators and dumbwaiters.

Chapter seven establishes minimum requirements for fire safety facilities and fire protection systems.

The final chapter included, chapter eight, contains a comprehensive list of all standards that are referenced within the IPMC code.

The full ordinance can be viewed at the borough office during regular business hours.

By PAT CROSSLEYpcrossley@sungazette.comJERSEY SHORE - With few additions or changes to classes being offered, ...

From PennLiveWILLIAMSPORT A Centre County man is headed to prison for 18 months for underreporting $807,578 ...

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Flemington to consider IPMC ordinance | News, Sports, Jobs - Lock Haven Express

February 7 2020 @ 15:23 by Richard Dawson

Apex Wiring Solutions has recruited a team of industry specialists and invested over 500,000 in a creating a manufacturing facility for the Apex Core a central hub for a households heating, ventilation, electrical, communication and metering services.

The North East-based company, which claimed to revolutionise UK electrical installation is hoping to once again disrupt the construction industry with this new venture.

Key to this drive are prefabricated utility cupboards (PUCs), which are favoured in the construction sector because they arrive fully assembled and ready to install on site.

Apex directors, Mike and Dave Lewis, are creating the UKs largest PUC manufacturing facility at their base in Littleburn Industrial Estate, near Durham city centre.

Contracts and production managers James Moore and Paul Cooper, alongside production supervisor Kaspars Netlis, will oversee design, development and production of the new product.

The team have been recruited by Apex Wiring Solutions for their reputation for PUC innovation.

Company director, Dave Lewis, said: There are moments in industry when there are huge leaps forward in innovation. We saw that with modular wiring in the early 2000s and were seeing it now with these PUC units.

Modular solutions save developers time, reduce waste, cost less and are safe all things that are vital if the Government is to truly address the housing crisis and build more homes, particularly starter homes.

James, Paul and Kaspars have developed the technology. They have spent the last six years refining and perfecting PUC design and development, so when they became available it was a no-brainer for us to recruit them to lead this exciting project.

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Apex Wiring Solutions invests in construction industry disruptor - Apex Core - North East Times

This is Part 3 of a 5-part series on the trucking tech shortage and the strategies to combat it. Read Part 1 on the overall issue here. Read Part 2 on youth outreach here.

At Heavy Duty Aftermarket Dialogue in January, John Blodgett, vice president of sales and marketing of MacKay & Company, revealed a survey done by the consulting firm found fleets' top concern going into 2020 was the technician shortage.

He noted the issue "was not new, but is higher in the ranking from where it has been in the past."

Until recently, the industrial trade, like so many others, has only actively recruited men, which comprises a tad less than half the population. Anytime your choices are slashed in half, your quantity and quality are bound to suffer. So while engine complexity, wages, retirements and messaging are critical factors, the most logical area to address the truck tech shortage is where it has been most glaringly deficient: viewing women as viable workers on the shop floor.

By the industry not looking to hire more women, I think theyre missing out, quite honestly, said Tyson Sontag, a former TMC SuperTech winner and current high school diesel technology teacher..

In his classroom, which is at most 3 girls to 12 boys (usually less), he noticed some of the advantages women bring to the trade. He observed they were more detail-oriented, kept tidier work stations with parts sequenced, and while not as fast as the boys, their work is right the first time.

These are stereotypes traditionally associated with women, and even if not always true show how they could balance a shop floor. But its the negative tropes, such as women not being strong enough to do the job, that seem to keep most shops male-dominated.

Not every man, especially those whose bodies have seen decades of wear and tear, is strong enough to do every task by himself. This is where teamwork comes into play.

Theres always some young dumb lug trying to prove his strengthlet him pull the cylinder head, and let this girl take apart the dash and figure out why somethings not working, Sontag mused.

Its not the most politically correct response, but rings true. A woman, whatever her size, might not always be able to lift as much, but can carry just as much of the workload.

About an hour north, TLG Peterbilt-Joplin learned this, thanks to a tech named Aymee Cunningham, a petite woman who often heard customers question her value to the shop since 2011. She recalled how this all changed in 2014 via a YouTube video posted by the business. It started when a concrete pump truck had a check engine light pop on and interrupt pouring operations. No one from the OEM or Cummins could figure it out.

I decided I was going to make my own circuit for it, she explained, believing the wiring was too small to consistently handle the current.

I fixed it, she said, still visibly affected by the small victory for the shop and giant leap for her self-esteem. They havent had a lick of problems since.

That one moment was a game-changer for at least that one shop.

It was an eye-opener for everybody when she solved that, recalled general manager Roger Bartlett. It was a big deal and she gained a lot of respect.

Few women can command respect upon first walking through the garage door. Bonnie Greenwood is one.

While attending WyoTech in Laramie, Wyo., Greenwood became the first female champion of TMC FutureTech, the student version of SuperTech, in 2017.

Greenwood had a college degree (in wildlife biology) but decided shed rather be a grease monkey. She was hired almost immediately by FedEx Freight in Salt Lake City.

And the term grease monkey is somewhat of an anachronism, said Ellen Voie, founder and CEO of Women in Trucking, an advocacy group promoting female representation in the industry.

People have a misconception when you say diesel tech; theyre thinking that youre all greasy, Voie said. Sometimes that is still absolutely true, but you dont need to be six-foot-five and built like a gorilla.

These days theres no reason why women cant do the job, she said. Its not as physically demanding as it once was.

Maintaining trucks isn't always a dirty job, but sometimes it is, which is fine for Ryder Technical scholarship recipient Sabrina Depue, who fell in love with the diesel trade when she was young. "I didn't have the confidence I could do it even though I loved it, but I dove in head first and I have never looked back," she said.

But Voie questions if the industry is doing enough to let women know the trade has become more accessible. She also mentioned womens smaller hands are something of an advantage when working with wiring, and they can get to places many men cant without removing a ton of other components. Its not hard to imagine a giant master mechanic sheepishly asking the new female tech to unscrew a sensor deep within the labyrinth of pipes and hoses so he doesnt have to spend half a day disassembling it.

Perception is still the biggest challenge. Voie alluded to the infamous Snap-On Tool calendars of yesteryear featuring bikini models as a symbolic no girls allowed sign.

Its always been such a good ol boys network, she said. It takes time to realize they need to make changes.

Since 2016, Ryder has supplied 20 women with technical scholarships, up to $2,000 each, to aid in their education. Diesel mechanic school tuition costs around $4,000, according to alltrucking.com.

Ryder is taking the lead in drawing more women to the transportation industry, at a time when the industry needs to grow the pool of qualified diesel technicians and professional drivers, said Patrick Pendergast, vice president of recruiting services at Ryder.

Together with the Women In Trucking Foundation, we are able to make technical education more affordable for women who are striving to make a career in trucking a reality, he continued.

A best practice Roehl Transportation uses is showing trainers the movie North Country, where Charlize Therons character must assimilate into a coal mine, and discussing the movie afterwards.

It sensitizes them to what women are feeling and thinking when they enter a male environment, Voie said.

Any company wanting to address the issue must go all in, though, and be prepared for the challenges, she said.

To get to that point, Voie believed the way trucking markets these jobs must reverse course. [Some companies] just have this mindset that they think that a NASCAR car in their ad or a Dallas cheerleader is what people are looking for, she said. You just eliminated half the population because that doesnt attract women.

And if this is truly as critical a problem as everyone says, and its been going on for decades (as we spelled out in Part 1), its crazy not to at least try.

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How recruiting women can help defeat the tech shortage - Fleet Owner

The first draft of new electrical safety standards for the private rented sector (the Regulations) have now been laid before Parliament. The Regulations will impose new duties on landlords in relation to electrical installations with stringent penalties for non-compliance. The Regulations are due to apply to new tenancies from 1 July 2020 so those operating in the private rented sector should start planning ahead now.

When will the new law apply?

The Regulations are intended to apply to all new tenancies from 1 July 2020 and to all existing tenancies from 1 April 2021.

However, the Regulations will only apply to specified tenancies, meaning a tenancy where the tenant is permitted to occupy the property as their only or main residence in return for the payment of rent (which need not be market rent). This is a broad definition which catches more than just ASTs. Holiday lettings will not be covered by the definition and there are also some specific statutory exclusions. For example, the Regulations will not apply to social housing, where the landlord shares the accommodation, long leases, student halls of residence, hostels, care homes and tenancies relating to healthcare provision. These types of property will remain subject to the current regulatory requirements.

What is changing?

Landlords are already subject to regulatory requirements in relation to electrical safety. The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 requires landlords to keep electrical installations in the property in good repair and proper working order. Local authorities have powers, through the Housing Act 2004, to take action where there are electrical hazards in a property posing a safety risk. All circuits in new or rewired homes would normally need to comply with the relevant parts of the Building Regulations. Five yearly electrical installation checks are mandatory but only for licensable Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

Under the new Regulations, landlords will have to ensure that:

The Regulations define electrical safety standards as being those set out in the 18th edition of the Wiring Regulations (published as BS 7671:2018) which came into force on 1 January 2019. Landlords should note that existing electrical installations installed before 1 January 2019 are very unlikely to comply with the 18th edition in every respect.

The electrical inspection must be carried out by a qualified person and the landlord must obtain a report. The Regulations simply define this as being someone who is competent but the government has previously indicated that it will produce new guidance setting out how landlords could determine competence.

Landlords must provide a copy of the inspection report to any new tenant before they occupy the property. Landlords must also provide a copy to any prospective tenant who requests it within 28 days of a written request from the prospective tenant. Landlords should therefore consider obtaining a report at an early stage (e.g. when preparing to market the property). The Regulations specifically state that landlords must keep a copy of the report until the date of the next inspection so landlords must ensure that their paperwork is in order.

What are the penalties for non-compliance?

The local housing authority will be responsible for enforcing the regulations. Local authorities can request a copy of the electrical inspection report and landlords must supply it within 7 days of the request.

A local housing authority has a duty to serve a remedial notice (requiring the landlord to carry out works within 28 days) if it has reasonable grounds to believe that a private landlord is in breach of its duties under the Regulations. However, the Regulations do set out a procedure for landlords to make written representations against the notice. If the landlord fails to comply with a notice then the local authority can do the work itself and recover its costs. Landlords have a right to appeal to the First-Tier Tribunal against the costs recovery.

In dangerous situations requiring urgent remedial action, the local housing authority can arrange for an authorised person to take immediate action (subject to providing the tenant with at least 48 hours notice). Again, the local housing authority can apply to recover its costs in this situation.

In addition, local authorities can impose a financial penalty of up to 30,000. The local authority can issue more than one penalty in the event of a continuing failure.

Landlords will already be aware of the requirements relating to gas safety certificates. Landlords are prevented from evicting a tenant using a Section 21 notice if the landlord failed to provide a copy of the gas safety certificate to the tenant prior to occupation. It is worth noting that that the penalties for failure to comply with the new electrical safety regulations are as set above and the ability to serve a Section 21 notice is not affected.

How much is this going to cost?

In the original consultation on this topic (2018), the government stated that they estimated that the average cost of an electrical safety check would be around 160 per property every five years. However, there is likely to be significant variation across the sector depending on portfolio size and geographic location. There will also be hidden costs such as those associated with researching and liaising with electrical testers, preparing the property and overseeing the checks, and one off familiarisation costs.

Action points

The Regulations are still in draft form so landlords should continue to monitor this topic. However, given the cross-party support for this initiative, the details are unlikely to change significantly. The changes also bring England into line with the mandatory requirements for electrical inspections that already apply in Scotland. Landlords may wish to start researching suitable electrical testers now so that they are ready to comply with the new Regulations in relation to new tenancies later this year. Landlords may consider reviewing their existing properties now in order to assess whether they comply with the electrical safety standards as defined in Regulations.

Landlords will no doubt want their electrical installations to be safe in order to ensure tenant safety and help prevent fires. For further clarification of how the new regime will operate in practice landlords should also review the governments guidance on the Regulations (when this is released).

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Landlords - something to spark your interest - Lexology

If your latest renovation project includes a new ceiling, don't panic at the thought of overhead drywall work. In the right situation, a suspended ceiling offers some real advantages over the permanent variety. First, ducts, pipes and cables hidden above a dropped ceiling remain accessible for repair or modification. And second, suspended ceilings are better sound barriers than drywall ceilings.

For the do-it-yourselfer, though, the real bonus is easy installation that requires only simple household tools. Comprised of a metal grid that supports lightweight panels, a suspended ceiling is well within the capabilities of most homeowners. If you're worried about the institutional look, drop-in ceiling panels have become more attractive in recent years, with a wide range of designs to choose from.

While suspended ceilings are not for everyone, or for every situation, they make a lot of sense in basements and in first-floor rooms with bathrooms overhead. If a leak appears in the overhead plumbing, a suspended ceiling can mean the difference between a costly, time-consuming repair job and a minor inconvenience.

All you need for a suspended ceiling is sufficient head clearance. Requirements vary, but most codes stipulate a minimum 7 1/2-ft. ceiling height in new construction. Some codes, however, will accommodate a lower ceiling height if it's part of a renovation project, so it pays to ask. You'll need roughly 4 in. of space between the old and new ceilings to tilt the panels in place, and an additional 2 in. if you intend to install drop-in, full-panel fluorescent ceiling lights.

We installed our suspended ceiling in a wood-frame drywalled room, though concrete or concrete-block basement walls wouldn't have changed the installation much. In this case, simply use masonry screws instead of nails to secure the perimeter molding that supports the ceiling at its edges.

Choosing a system

The installation steps vary from one manufacturer to the next, but not significantly. We chose an Armstrong Tegular Ceiling (Armstrong World Industries Inc., P.O. Box 173058, Denver, CO 90217). Tegular ceiling panels have a recessed flange that allows them to protrude below the grid roughly 1/4 in. While these panels are more attractive, they do require careful trimming when a smaller panel is needed.

Once you've chosen a ceiling package, give some thought to the grid layout. While home centers and retailers will be happy to work up a parts list, based on a scaled drawing of your space, you should have a general sense of how the components go together before getting started.

Typical systems have an L-shaped perimeter bracket, or molding, to support the suspended ceiling at the walls. From this molding, long stringers, called main runners, are installed every 4 ft. and run the length of the room. The ends of the main runners rest on the perimeter moldings and everything in between is suspended with wires secured to the joists above. Cross tees are installed across these runners at intervals of 24 in. This grid is all that's needed to support 2 x 4-ft. ceiling panels. With 2 x 2-ft. panels, an additional set of connectors divides each 2 x 4-ft. area.

The first step is to determine the maximum height of the new suspended ceiling. If you don't plan to install a drop-in fluorescent fixture, measure down about 4 in. from the existing ceiling joists and mark the wall. The 4-in. space is just enough to angle the tiles into place. (If you do plan to install a drop-in fixture, place the mark 6 in. from the joists.) At this mark, draw a line around three sides of the room using a 4-ft. level.

Measure down from the joists at several locations around the room to ensure that you'll have enough space above the panel grid at all points across the existing ceiling. If your ceiling joists don't lie on a level plane, make sure to measure down 4 in. from the lowest point on the lowest joist. When the three perimeter lines are level and at the correct height, connect them with a chalkline on the remaining wall.

With the perimeter established, locate the wall studs and nail the perimeter molding in place so that the top of the molding aligns with the perimeter lines. Use 6d nails and avoid scuffing the painted surface of the molding. Cut the molding to fit with tin snips. For long walls, butt the ends of two pieces of molding.

When you come to an inside corner, install the first length of molding tight against the corner and butt the second length against the first.

For outside corners, a mitered joint is more attractive. Using your tin snips, cut both moldings at a 45 degree angle and secure them in place with 6d nails.

With the perimeter molding in place, install the main runners perpendicular to the joists and 4 ft. apart. The trick here is to lay out the panel grid so that the ceiling appears balanced from side to side. Most rooms will accommodate a number of full-size panels plus an edge gap that will require partial panels.

Measure across the room parallel to the joists and divide by the panel length to get the number of full panels that will fit in the space. To determine the perimeter gap at each wall, subtract the sum of the panel lengths from the room dimension. If the gap is only 1 or 2 in. short of a full panel, you may be able to start against one side wall and continue across to the opposite wall with full-size panels. If the gap is anything less, it's best to divide it in two, placing half on each side. If the gap is 18 in. wide, for example, it will look better if both sides of the room have a 9-in.-wide row of partial panels. In this case, start your first main runner 9 in. from the wall, continue across the room with full panels, and end with a main runner 9 in. from the opposing wall.

A similar calculation should be made in the opposite direction. Here, intersecting members, called cross tees, are positioned in slots on each main runner. If you need to trim a few inches from the lead ends of the main runners to accommodate a row of partial panels, be sure to trim the same amount from each runner so that the cross tees will be parallel to the wall and the panel openings are square.

To install the main runners, measure out from the starting wall the determined gap distance and snap a chalkline across joists. Then, measure 4 ft. from this line and snap a second line. Repeat this procedure in 4-ft. increments until you reach the far wall.

To support the main runners, screw small eyebolts into every third joist along the chalklines. Then, fasten lengths of 16-gauge wire to each eyebolt. Twist the wire at least three times around itself at the top. Then, stretch string tightly across the room between perimeter moldings, about every 8 ft., so that the string is aligned with the bottoms of the molding. Use this string to level each main runner as you hang it from its wires.

Set the lead end of the runner on the perimeter molding and lower it until it touches the first string. Sight across the runner to determine where to bend the first wire support. Bend the wire, feed it through the nearest hole in the runner, bend it up and twist it at least three times.

Continue hanging the runners in this fashion until each is supported every 4 ft. If your room is longer than the runners, join them end to end, using the slots and tabs built into the ends of each.

Place an additional wire support near each of these joints. Trim the excess from the last length of runner with tin snips.

With the runners in place, tie them together with the cross tees spaced 2 ft. apart. The cross tees have a hook on each end that fits into a slot in the runners.

If the system you've chosen has 2 x 4-ft. panels, install the panels in the center of the grid now to help square the assembly. If your system has 2 x 2-ft. panels, install the 2-ft. connectors before moving on. These connectors parallel the runners and fit slots in the cross tees. With the 2-ft. connectors in place, install enough of the center panels to square the grid.

With the grid more or less square, cut and install pieces to connect the grid with the perimeter molding. Again, the factory ends hook into the runner and cross-tee slots while the cut ends rest on top of the perimeter molding.

If you plan to install a full-panel, drop-in fluorescent light fixture, you'll need to provide some protection for the wiring that extends between the the electrical box connected to a ceiling joist and the fixture. Codes will require that these wires be encased in flexible metal conduit.

Starting with the fixture, mount a 90degree conduit/box connector in one of the channel knockouts in the fixture. Then, feed three 14-gauge insulated wires (black, white and green) through a length of flexible conduit and into the channel box. Fasten the conduit in place by tightening the connector's set screw. Join these lead wires to the fixture's leads as you would normally, connecting like-colored wires.

Set the fixture in the grid in place of one of the panels, and connect the remaining end of the conduit to a blank, junction-box cover plate. Break the knockout from the plate and join it to the conduit with a standard box connector. Finish by making the wiring connections and fastening the plate to the box.

Heating ducts will also require special attention. In most cases, the job requires bringing the ductwork down to a level just above the top of the panel, cutting an opening in the panel and inserting a diffuser.

If your duct ends in a rectangular boot, make sure the boot has side tabs that will allow you to screw through the diffuser and panel and into tabs in the duct boot. This may require a bit of custom sheetmetal work on your part, but it won't need to be fancy.

If your ductwork ends in a downward facing elbow, or if you've had to bring your own duct to the room, you might opt for a round diffuser with adjustable output. These plastic or metal diffusers are sold at most home centers. Again, the trick is in bringing the duct to the panel.

To determine the best position, lay a level or a straightedge across the grid. Then, extend the duct down to a point just above the panel. You'll also need to frame a structural support across the joist space containing the duct so that it doesn't settle under its own weight.

With the duct ready, measure carefully from two sides of the grid and position the diffuser on the panel accordingly. Trace around the diffuser with a pencil and cut along this line to make the opening.

Finally, install the panel, push the diffuser into the duct and screw it to the duct by working through an adjacent opening in the grid.

When it comes to cutting panels to fill the smaller perimeter openings, always cut with the finished side of the panel facing up and always use a sharp utility knife. Avoid using power equipment--you'll create far too much cellulose dust and the job won't get done any faster.

Begin by measuring the grid opening and adding about 3/8 in. for the new flange. Slice through the panel completely, using several passes if needed.

To create a new tegular flange, lay the flange of a complete panel over the cut piece and scribe the new flange line.

Cut along this line, but only to half the panel's depth.

Then, lay the knife on its side and slice into the panel from its edge, at the same height as the factory flange. This will remove just enough material to produce a custom flange. Install the cut panel so the new, unpainted flange faces the wall.

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How To Install Suspended Ceiling Tiles Easily

The MAS-A100 Delivers Hands-free and Hassle-free Lectures and Presentations with Acoustic Feedback Prevention

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Sony Electronics Inc. today announced the U.S. launch of its new beamforming1 microphone, MAS-A100, providing enterprises an advanced audio solution to enable flexible and creative "hands-free" lectures and presentations.

Designed for a range of meeting, lecture and presentation environments, the ceiling-mount microphone offers advanced clear audio for both speech reinforcement and recording with a unique combination of beamforming technology and Intelligent Feedback Reducer function. The microphone has a dual-channel output for simultaneous recording that captures the speaker and student's/participants' voices.Together with the support for Dante2 and Power Over Ethernet (PoE) for easy installation, the MAS-A100will significantly improve the audio experience in education and corporate organizations.

Hands-free presentation with speech reinforcement The MAS-A100 achieves hands-free speech reinforcement without requiring hand-held or body-worn microphones and subsequent batteries or device management. This is enabled by a unique combination of beamforming technology and an original feature called Intelligent Feedback Reducer, which canextract speech soundwhile suppressing unwanted feedback with Sony high-performance digital signal processing. After capturing voice, the microphone's Automatic Gain Control function automatically adjusts the output volume to be consistent regardless of the presenter's location, making lectures and presentations easier to hear.

Wide-area recording with clear low-noise sound qualityThe beamforming microphone has dual-channel output that enables simultaneous speech reinforcement and recording. It covers a wide range and can record not only the speaker's voice, but also the students and participants. The microphone also has auto-noise reduction capabilities to minimize background sound from air conditioners and projectors, which makes it ideal for lecture capture and meeting recording.

Simple installation and management The microphone can be easily integrated into existing A/V setups and used with a wide range of products thanks to support of Dante, the digital audio-over-IP networking standard. The model also supports PoE, enabling installation and power management with a single network cable. The MAS-A100's unique Automatic Calibration function automatically optimizes the parameters of the audio processing for speech reinforcement by generating and capturing the test signal during the installation process. Sony's free-of-charge Microphone Array System Manager software (MASM-1) can help centralize configuration and management of multiple microphones in various rooms via an IP connection.

"Lectures, speeches, and corporate meetings can contain priceless wisdom. Yet, recording them has too often been mired by unintuitive, ineffective recording technology," said Theresa Alesso, Pro division president, Sony Electronics. "At Sony, we work in close cooperation with our customers and partners to address the real-life challenges they face every day. With the MAS-A100, we're offering our customers a powerful yet cost-effective solution that completely transforms the style of lecture and presentation. With its advanced speech reinforcement and clear audio recording features, we're setting a new benchmark for what organizations can expect from microphones."

Story continues

Derek Rabuck, IT Consultant and Project Manager at Rice University, is eager to test the new technology: "I heard the impressive Sony Beamforming Microphone prototype at InfoComm 2019, and I'm looking forward to hearing the final product. The hands-free, location-free features make it very appealing."

The beamforming microphone is expected to be available in spring 2020.

Recap of key features:

About Sony Electronics' Imaging Products and Solutions - AmericasSony Electronics' Imaging Productions and Solutions - Americas group develops and manufactures video and audio technologies and solutions for a range of professional applications. These include broadcast television and motion picture production, live event production, corporate presentations, meeting rooms, ENG/EFP, digital cinematography, and more. Sony professional technologies are used in market segments including media solutions, imaging solutions, education, corporate A/V, visual simulation and entertainment, theater, healthcare, and sports. Visitpro.sonyfor more information.

About Sony Electronics Inc.Sony Electronics is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America and an affiliate of Sony Corporation (Japan), one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world, with a portfolio that encompasses electronics, music, motion pictures, mobile, gaming, robotics and financial services. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Sony Electronics is a leader in electronics for the consumer and professional markets. Operations include research and development, engineering, sales, marketing, distribution and customer service. Sony Electronics creates products that innovate and inspire generations, such as the award-winning Alpha Interchangeable Lens Cameras and revolutionary high-resolution audio products. Sony is also a leading manufacturer of end-to-end solutions from 4K professional broadcast and A/V equipment to industry leading 4K and 8K Ultra HD TVs. Visit http://www.sony.com/news for more information.

1: Beamforming is a signal processing technique used in sensor arrays for directional signal transmission or reception.2: Dante is trademark of Audinate Pty Ltd.

Sony logo (PRNewsFoto/Sony Electronics)

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Sony Launches IP-based Ceiling Beamforming Microphone with Speech Reinforcement and Clear Audio Recording - Yahoo Finance

Gray Area is a politically-minded nonprofit arts venue focused on dissolving boundaries between art and technology, performance and life. The End Of You, open through March 1, is an exemplar of their mission.

The immersive art exhibition, designed to take around an hour and experienced with a staggered stream of other people, is the product of 12 artists work in Gray Areas incubator, the Experiential Space Research Lab, a collaboration between Gray Area and Gaian Systems, a planetary cognition lab. Artists took leading roles on different installations. The result is a collection that functions as a chaotic, yet cohesive, whole exploring humanitys abusive and inextricable relationship with the environment.

When you first enter, there is no clear path to follow, no indication of what you can and cant touch. Theres information availablea fold-out pamphlet distributed at the door, a seated exhibition guide to answer questionsbut the power of The End of You comes from the process and uncertainty of slowly discovering the space and unraveling your relationship and responsibility to nature through it.

Your first or last stop in the exhibition is likely the RegisTree, by lead artist Romie Littrell, a mutated bio-abstraction of a tree set off from the other two rooms. The RegisTree provides a photo of yourself blended with your choice of microscopic matter, a fun visual kickoff or cap-off that makes the overarching theme of the journey explicit. Past the tree, you find The Room of Revelations, by lead artist Kelly Skye, which is small and sterile, featuring a bizarre but entrancing mix of animal portraits, floating video panels with flowing images of wilderness, and printed legal news of efforts and successes to win protections and personhood for nature.

The main room begins with The Luxuriant Prolific Undying, by lead artist Yulia Pinkusevich, a slice of white-rock shore beneath red, fruit-like orbs hanging from the ceiling. Its an otherworldly surface with two hunks of tree and roots suspended in the air. Grab a headset and sit down on a shaved stump, run the salt rocks through your fingers, and gaze out on the twisted colors and hallucinatory imagery of The Uncanny Forest, by lead artist Stephen Standridge. Experience large panels of abstract, psychedelic color like flowing lava. Youre led on a quasi-meditation by a strange ethereal voice, Thoughts do not exist without bacteria. The voice is omniscient and judgmental but nurturing. Were reminded of our stardust beginnings, invited to re-examine the wasteful reality we participate in, and then are offered the freeing solace of considering our ultimate insignificance in the history of the universe.

The Luxuriant Prolific Undying. Photo by Naveed Ahmad for Gray Area.

On the other side of the room The Archive of Human Nature, by lead artists Celeste Martore and Jonathon Keats, is a collection of tagged inventory from the whole spectrum of human usagefrom moisturizers to mopeds to presidential campaign buttons, there are a playground-sized childrens slide and an aluminum duct hanging from the ceiling, everything open for touch and examination. There is a messy but eerily stark quality to their arrangement, the products we live by separated from their context and power.

After considering our cosmic origins and viewing the refuse of our daily life, we turn to absorb the horrors of active, specific environmental injustices. This Hammer by lead artists Kevin Bernard Moultrie Daye, is a smaller and more personal installation, but no less abstract. It explores the botched cleanup of the Hunters Point Shipyard Superfund site. Dangling from the ceiling are flickering tubes of large rolled-up newspaper headlines from the San Francisco Bayview, unheeded warnings and coverage of the fraudulent cleanup. The installation conveys a murder-scene feel, flashing emergency lights, the ghosts of marginalized human lives and poisoned nature.

Terminal Blurring by lead artist Orestis Herodotou is experienced by lying under a patchwork tent of connected triangles displaying organic textures, from recognizable foliage to spores of inverted colors all running and cycling at different speeds. Once the novelty of lying on the floor watching trippy images fades, the videos begin to hypnotize and disorient as you lose yourself in their seemingly endless loop.

Termina lBlurring. Photo by Beth LaBerge for Gray Area

At the end of the main room, the final installation An Immersive Game of Life, by lead artist Stephanie Andrews, is modeled after Conways Game of Life, a game from the seventies created by Mathematician John Horton Conway in which a player selects a formation of cells and watches without further input as they grow and evolveillustrating how complex systems can develop from simple rules.

In the modern interpretation of the game, one stands in an empty U-shaped space, surrounded and grounded in a projected world. Youre small, looking up at fungi of varying heights, scattered patches of digital plant growth. The landscape reacts to people and configurationsmore people and movement and the growth emerges, existing life twitches to new heights, weather changes, colors grow more vibrant. When theres too many people, the ecosystem is overwhelmed, it darkens, life recedes. The balance of this system is not readily apparent and its tellingly difficult to understand your role and impact. For the installation and for our planet, a little patience and self-reflection is essential.

Artists Featured: Brenda (Bz) Zhang, Celeste Martore, Jonathon Keats, Kelly Skye, Kevin Bernard Moultrie Daye, Orestis Herodotou, Rena Tom, Romie Littrell, Stephanie Andrews, Stephen Standridge, Yulia Pinkusevich

Dates: Now March 1, 2020Location: Gray Area at 2665 Mission StreetSocial Media Tags: @grayareaorg @endofyou.io #endofyou

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12 artists collaborate at Gray Area to immerse you in the environment - Mission Local