The Spanish company ARPA launched a new business line, ARPA CHANGE, proposing the efficient and sustainable solutions that will change the industry. Doing this, ARPA pretends to help the private sector as well as the defence sector, in the transition to sustainability, showing that the change is possible. ARPA, the Spanish company with more than 50 years of experience in the design, manufacture and deployment of field logistic solutions, has a mission which is to lead the change to a world increasingly sustainable. To do so, ARPA has developed solutions based on solar energy, water treatment and waste management, which facilitate the accomplishment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to meet the 2030 Agenda.

We want to give a fair and adequate answer to the challenges of globalisation, designing, manufacturing and implementing turn-key sustainable solutions so all kind of installations, industries, hospitals, farms, hotels, sports centres, schools, residencies, barracks and business in general can adopt these technologies, leading the transition towards sustainability. Says Clara Arpa, CEO of the company.

An example of an innovative solution is the production of energy by hybrid panels installations for power generation and hot water (with the most efficient panels in the market). The installation incorporates photovoltaic panels, which incorporate 60 or 72 photovoltaic cells, depending on the size of the panel, which are placed on a system for absorbing heat forming a single module. In addition to the common wiring for any panel, this system has a zone which is outputted to the heat will be used to heat water.

A hydraulic circuit and a small tank thermally insulated complete the design that can provide this dual-use, without compromising the ability to produce electricity, since the photovoltaic cells of this panel 21 operate with improved performance, achieving improvements to 15% of the performance of photovoltaic panels. Besides the obvious advantage of having the space required to give the captured energy from the sun for both uses, production costs are reduced and installation, making it the most efficient hybrid solar panel in the market today, says Fernando Peitivi, Director of the renewable energy installations.

With this solution, coupled with that also innovative water sanitation systems and waste management developed by the company, ARPA CHANGE aims to contribute to the implementation of Agenda 2030 through the goal number 8, decent economic growth and work. Contributing in improving their production processes so that companies reduce their emissions (if possible, to 0), better management of the water, reduce the generation of waste and having a positive impact on the environment.

our goal is to encourage other companies to do so through a sustainability analysis, make a diagnosis of the sustainability and customise a solution for each installation, explains Clara Arpa. These installations can be made in many infrastructures, whether civil or military. An example would be the installation of such panels in barracks. Usually, in these cases the return on the investment is between 4 and 6 years and can obtain energy savings between 60 and 70%, leaving 530Kg issuing CO2 per panel.

ARPA also features a hybrid monitor that collects and processes all the information from the solar installation (thermal, photovoltaic or hybrid), which can be accessed by the user in real-time as well as a history of thermal energy and/or electricity produced by the facility during the day, during the month or event from the first day you can find data such as cost savings, the amount of CO2 emissions that are no longer issued and the amount of energy produced by the installation site. With this strategic decision, ARPA confirms its indolent with sustainability and positions the private sector as a key element of change.

By launching ARPA CHANGE, extrapolates its extensive experience in the activity of the company, which so far focused on the design, manufacture, installation, maintenance and management of mobile field equipment for military, civilian, health and all kind of emergencies all around the world. We want to show that sustainability can and should go in parallel with profitability and efficiency. We intend to contribute to a fairer world and this is our bit, concludes Clara Arpa.

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ARPA is Leading the Transition Towards Sustainability - Army Technology

NEW YORK, Jan. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Legrand, a global specialist in electrical and network infrastructure solutions, is delighted to announce Leanne Ford, celebrated interior designer and star of HGTV's "Restored by the Fords," as its 2020 brand ambassador to help introduce the latest debuts of designer switches and outlets from Legrand.

Leanne Ford is known for her modern yet lived-in approach to interior design and her easy-going personal style matches the stylish yet approachable spaces she creates and curates. As Legrand's 2020 brand ambassador, Ford will share her expertise on elevating spaces with Legrand's designer switches and outlets, adorne and radiant, throughout the year.

The partnership will encourage homeowners and design professionals to elevate their own spaces with the exceptional style and innovative functionality Legrand's Collections offer. Available in dozens of finishes, Legrand's designer switches and outlets are the perfect finishing touch for any interior, delivering features to enhance everyday life, while complementing dcor.

"Legrand is pioneering the designer switches and outlets category, helping simplify and aesthetically improve a home through innovative solutions and design-forward style," saidAngela Coffman, Vice President of Marketing for Electrical Wiring Systems and General Manager of Collections at Legrand. "Leanne has an incredible eye for selecting beautiful interior details while prioritizing comfort and convenience, and we couldn't be more thrilled to partner with her as our first designer brand ambassador."

The partnership will formally kick-off at the 2020 International Builders' Show (IBS) in Las Vegas, where Ford will participate in a meet-and-greet at Legrand's booth (#SU433).

"Creating welcoming, modern and elevated interiors is a signature part of my design aesthetic, and Legrand's simple, well-designed line of designer switches and outlets help me to achieve that look," said Leanne Ford. "Once I saw the stylish design and high functionality of the products, I had to have them in my own home. I love the unexpected detail they add to a space and look forward to sharing my experience with the products throughout the year as Legrand's brand ambassador."

With advanced functionality and innovative features, the adorne Collection offers solutions to help simplify daily life including wave-controlled switches, app-based dimmers, Pop-Outoutlets, built-in night lights and USB chargers, as well as efficient under-cabinet lighting. The adorne Collection of designer switches and outlets features a unique square form factor and pairs with the new extended range of wall plate materials, colors and finishes even including customizable options to coordinate with any hardware or dcor. All switches and outlets fit flush within the wall plates, eliminating the need for visible screws, and fit into existing electrical boxes for fast and easy installation.

The radiant Collection takes any room a step above ordinary with designer switches and outlets in classic colors and metallic finishes, all enhanced by sleek, screwless wall plates for a truly sophisticated look. The radiant Collection also boasts industry-leading features to enhance the way people live in their homes. From outlets that offer quick-charging USB connections and wireless charging options, to Smart Lighting systems which include switches and dimmers easily controlled by app or voice assistants, the radiant Collection adds comfort and convenience in style.

About Legrand and Legrand, North and Central America

Legrand is the global specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructures. Its comprehensive offering of solutions for use in commercial, industrial, and residential markets makes it a benchmark for customers worldwide. Drawing on an approach that involves all teams and stakeholders, Legrand is pursuing its strategy of profitable and sustainable growth driven by acquisitions and innovation, with a steady flow of new offeringsincluding connected products stemming from Legrand's globalEliot (Electricity and IoT) program.Legrand is one of the most sustainable companies in the world, as ranked by the Corporate Knights, and is committed to achieving carbon, water, and waste reductions in its operations, deepening its community relationships, and continuously improving the environmental profile of its products. Legrand reported sales of around $7.1 billion (USD) in 2018. Legrand has a strong presence in North and Central America, with a portfolio of well-known marketbrands and product lines.Legrand is listed on Euronext Paris and is a component stock of indexes including the CAC40,www.legrand.us.

About Leanne Ford

Ford, who hails from Pittsburgh, gained fame with her signature "white on white" aesthetic. She brings her easygoing nature and personal style to approachable, welcoming spaces. Her work is featured in Architectural Digest, Country Living, Domino, GQ, Lonny, Elle Decor, Martha Stewart, Better Homes and Gardens, Redbook, MyDomaine, Refinery 29, the New York Times, and more. She is currently the star, along with her brother and contractor Steve Ford, of Restored by the Fords on HGTV, which follows the siblings as they turn some of Pittsburgh's most dated buildings into magazine-worthy homes. Follow Leanne's work at http://www.leanneford.com, or via Instagram at @leannefordinteriors.

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Leanne Ford Partners With Legrand As First-Ever Brand Ambassador For The Designer Switches And Outlets Category - Bend Bulletin

How are you going to call yourself a smart-home company, one with a huge focus on video, and not have a video doorbell? That's a question Arlo had no doubt been asking itself for some time, and while it launched its Audio Doorbell with matching wireless Chime back in 2018, that one was largely meant to be used with the company's existing video cameras. It took another year for the follow-up effort to arrive, but in late 2019 we finally got a proper Arlo Video Doorbell.

How will this new entry compare against Arlo's existing lineup of impressive cameras? What about video doorbells from other smart-home manufacturers? And is this going to be an easy upgrade for you, or should you think about calling an electrician? Let's get right into what the Arlo Video Doorbell has to offer:

The design of the Arlo Video Doorbell should be pretty familiar to anyone with even a passing interest in smart doorbells if youve seen a Nest Hello, the Video Doorbell is going to look like its spitting image. That means a wide-angle camera up top, and a big illuminated button below just like with Arlos Audio Doorbell, that button lights up when the unit detects motion to clue users in as to where to press.

The wide-angle camera sees a lot but misses packages directly underneath.

Unlike some other Arlo hardware, the Video Doorbell works all by itself, so theres no hub included here, nor do you need to pick one up on your own.

The Doorbell comes with plenty of mounting hardware, including a bracket you screw into the wall where your old doorbell went, an adapter for mounting at an angle (in case your doorbell isnt directly adjacent to your door), screws, optional anchors, and wire extensions in case they're needed.

The other main piece of kit here is a power adapter that connects to your doorbells chime wiring. In contrast with the Arlo Audio Doorbell, which had a full-wireless option, the Video Doorbell requires connection to a wired doorbell system for power.

The Video Doorbell illuminates its button in response to sensing motion.

While the requirement to attach the Arlo Video Doorbell to a wired system makes setup quite complicated if youre starting from scratch and in which case, this goes from an easy DIY project to one that might benefit from a professional's touch upgrading an existing wired doorbell is easy-peasy.

Assuming your existing doorbell wiring's in good shape, upgrading to the Arlo Video Doorbell is pretty straightforward mount the bracket and wire it up.

After cutting the power and removing your old button you screw the new Arlo bracket to the door frame, attach the exposed wires, and click the Doorbell body in place if and when you need to remove it, an included SIM-tool-like pin sticks in the bottom to disengage. Next you've got to install the tiny power adapter near where your doorbell chimes lives. Exactly how youll attach that depends on your current installation, but Arlos setup guide helps talk you through your options.

Left: Detaching the Doorbell with Arlo's impression of a SIM tool; Right: The optional angle bracket for mounting away from your door.

Now, full disclosure: I hit a pretty big snag, in that while my house clearly had a wired doorbell at some point, and I can see the existing wires teasing me, I wasnt able to trace those anywhere nor find a transformer or chime. Luckily I managed to rig up a new transformer (which cost about $15-20) but elected to not bother with a chime. The Doorbell works just fine even without one, but doing this youll only get alerts on your phone when someone rings, and wont hear any ding-dong in the house. I would love it if you could link this model to Arlo's own Chime, but that will only function alongside the Audio Doorbell a curious if not unexpected limitation.

This little power adapter easily connects to your doorbell's existing chime.

In any case, once everythings wired up, restore power to your transformer and the Video Doorbell will be good to go. Setup with the app is nice and clean give your Doorbell a name, scan a QR code from your phone, and youre basically there.

The most interesting thing about the Video Doorbells operation is its unusual camera sensor. A widescreen camera doesnt make a ton of sense with doorbell usage, so instead Arlo pairs a wide-angle lens with a square 1:1 sensor in 1538 x 1538 resolution. This offers a nice field of view, and while the resolution doesnt go quite as high as other Arlo devices, it feels pretty sufficient for what the Doorbell does.

One slightly misleading detail is that Arlo advertises this as a 180-degree camera with the caveat that its 180 degrees when measured across the diagonal. This means that the cameras not going to see straight down, potentially missing packages right in front of your door. Testing my setup, I found that the camera's blind spot extends out about two feet from directly underneath.

The Video Doorbell comes with three months of Arlo Smart service, which in addition to recording camera clips to the cloud, identifies people, vehicles, animals, and packages. To my great disappointment, though, the Doorbells functionality is drastically reduced for users who choose not to maintain a subscription since theres no connection to an Arlo hub for USB storage and no local microSD slot, it cant record video at all, so all you get are motion alerts and the opportunity to watch the camera's live feed.

Where Arlo's camera can't see.

Another limitation is that unlike some of those other doorbells, Arlo's seems unwilling to share its feed through Google Home. While you can see the linked Video Doorbell among your Arlo devices in Home, and streaming regular Arlo wireless cams works fine, the Video Doorbell does not appear to share that same support.

Arlo users will see the Video Doorbell appear right alongside their existing cameras in the Arlo app's device listings or if you're starting fresh, all by its lonesome. From there you can view a live feed or adjust the product's settings those include assigning zones for motion activation, configuring HDR and night-vision options, and tweaking the Doorbell's audio (which is a little loud out-of-the-box).

With Arlo Smart, you'll also have access to your full library of cloud recordings, including notes about the video subject as detected by Arlo's AI processing.

Left: A visitor rings; Center: Accepting a call; Right: Delivering a canned response.

When someone comes to your door and rings, you'll see it on your phone just like an incoming call. While this happens quite quickly, it's a little frustrating that you won't get any video (or even a still frame) until after you pick up. At that point you can talk to your guest through the Video Doorbell's speakerphone, deliver a canned response like "just leave the package" or "scram" (but a little nicer), or just ignore them it's your prerogative whether you choose to engage at all. If you decline to answer, visitors can be prompted with the option to record a message for you. And if everything just goes to hell, you can trigger an ear-piercing siren that should send anyone running.

Ding-dong, Android Police calling!

Arlo Video Doorbell

8.5/10

Of course, there are also long-term costs to consider, and you're basically stuck with needing Arlo Smart at a minimum of $3 a month or $36 a year. That's very similar to Ring pricing, and quite a bit cheaper than the $5 minimum tier for Nest. Personally, I would gladly pay an extra $100 premium for an Arlo Video Doorbell with on-device AI (we shouldn't need the cloud to tell the difference between people, cars, and dogs) and local storage, but at some point I have to stop faulting Arlo for shifting its business model.

There's still room for improvement here, and I would kill for proper Assistant integration, but all in all this is a full-featured, competitively priced doorbell that compares favorably against the most popular models out there.

Original post:
Arlo Video Doorbell review: Nest and Ring should be worried about this nicely equipped, solid value - Android Police

LET INGA TELL YOU:

Is it just my imagination, or do I spend an inordinate amount of time getting stuff fixed? Something is always broken, whether its a computer problem, a funny noise the car is making, a cracked sprinkler head, or an ice-maker that isnt making ice. Even our security cameras decided to fog up for no known reason.

Of course, I couldnt help but notice that a lot of the stuff Im getting fixed wouldnt have needed fixing in my youth because it didnt yet exist (like computers). Or didnt exist at my house (like ice-makers, sprinkler heads and security cameras). There was a lot to be said for the era of manual typewriters, hand-washed dishes, ice cube trays, and a climate where it actually rains.

But the true insanity-making problem to fix is the intermittent one. Just as intermittent reinforcement is the quickest way to strengthen a desired behavior, an intermittent technical problem that absolutely refuses to manifest itself in the presence of an entity actually qualified to fix it is the fastest way to make people bats*!#t crazy.

Cars, of course, are notorious for this. Im sure if you are in the auto repair biz, there is nothing you hate more than a person like me bringing in a vehicle that is making a funny noise.

What kind of funny noise? they ask patiently. Is it more like a knocking, or a squeaking, or a clunking?

OK, clunking.

They take the car out for a test drive. Does it clunk? Not a chance. Cars are designed to never clunk on command. They only clunk again on your way home.

Our heating system has developed a whine. It is annoying beyond belief. But the alternative is being cold. The heating guy has been out twice and the system purrs like a happy kitten when he is on the premises.

So that brings us to the problem of the pictures on both of our TVs tiling (also known as pixelating.) The picture will suddenly break up and get totally fuzzy and unwatchable, always, maliciously, at some critically important point in a program or sports event. The fact that it happens on both our TVs, which have two different cable boxes, suggests that its not the TVs or the cable boxes, but something to do with the cable itself. We allowed it could always be transmission issues from the channels themselves. But surely our cable company could troubleshoot this for us?

Our cable provider sent out a gentleman named George, who had the social skills of a sock. Unfortunately, the technical skills of one, too.

Let me just say we have actually had some very good people come out over the years to deal with the various cable problems at our house. We have also had a fair share of the ones who wish to get out of your home with the greatest possible expedience and least possible service. I really wish you could give Yelp ratings to cable guys. Theres a bunch Id like to see re-employed in trash pickup.

George showed up during our early afternoon appointment window and turned on the TV sets. No pixelating or tiling was occurring. He tested the signal on our cable box and pronounced it fine. But, of course, as we noted, the problem was intermittent. Olof mentioned that our cable installation had been done some years ago so we wondered aloud if the wiring was getting a little corroded at this point, especially being so close to the ocean.

George, however, insisted that he cant send a maintenance technician out to look at a problem that he cant see on the TV. He suggests and we were a tad incredulous that we reschedule for a service call for an evening time when this problem was occurring.

Olof, who is a far nicer person than I, reiterated that we notice this problem in the evenings because that is the only time that either of us ever watches TV. Could very well be happening at other times, too.

I, a far less nice person than Olof, queried if the technician would be joining us on the couch for the evening hoping the screen would break up. (I offered to make popcorn.)

But George just shrugged. He left. And our TVs continue to sporadically pixelate.

I couldnt help but reflect that in my youth, TV picture problems were solved by adjusting the rabbit ears on top of the set. It helped, or it didnt help. But it was vastly less aggravating.

So now Ill take the route I should have taken in the first place: crowdsourcing. Anybody out there having this problem, too? Were you able to fix it? Olof is hoping to find out before our TV screen disintegrates during the last five minutes of the Super Bowl.

Ingas lighthearted looks at life appear regularly in La Jolla Light. Reach her at inga47@san.rr.com

Go here to read the rest:
Let Inga Tell You: Curse of the intermittent technical problem - La Jolla Light

By the time this article is published, AS/NZS 3000 (known as the Wiring Rules) may have been amended. If it hasnt been, the people in the know say to expect it shortly. This means that the existing reference in section 7.3 (which calls out the standard to follow when installing batteries) will change to AS/NZS 5139, the new battery standard.

Most regulators are waiting for the amendment to the Wiring Rules before mandating AS/NZS 5139 but some regulators, such as those in Tasmania and Victoria, have already called it up. Either way, it is time to get on board and familiarise yourself with the standard.

The standard AS/NZS 5139 is like three standards in one, with the section that you follow depending on the battery you are installing. Sections 1, 2, 3 and 7 in the standard must be followed for all battery installations, and:

There are many rules that are unique to the specific battery you are installing. However, there are some blanket rules that need to be followed regardless of the type of battery. One of these blanket rules is the requirement to complete a risk assessment.

Most good businesses are accustomed to completing a safe work method statement or job safety analysis before they start work. This typically involves assessing the high-risk activities on the job site and planning a safer way to complete them.

For example, on many battery installations you will need to park your vehicle on a road to unload the battery. Working on or near roads can be a high-risk activity because there is the potential for workers to be struck by vehicles traveling at speed. Therefore, before starting work you need to consider the inherent risks of this part of the job by describing the hazard, which is the first step of the risk assessment process.

I know it may seem a bit macabre, but it is necessary to assess the inherent risks by making a judgement on the consequence of what would happen if you got hit by a car and the likelihood of this actually happening at the site you are working at. The multiplication of likelihood and consequence give you an inherent risk rating, which is the second step of the risk assessment process.

The third step is assessing the way to minimise this risk. In many instances, you cannot reduce the consequence level, but you can reduce the likelihood. In the example where a car could hit a worker, several controls could be implemented to minimise the likelihood of this happening, including wearing high visibility clothing, implementing traffic management and using spotters.

Once you implement these controls, you can carry out the fourth step by re-assessing the original inherent risk to get a residual risk, which is lower and thus makes it safe to do your job. You then complete this process for every high-risk activity.

This is just one stage of the risk assessment required by AS/NZS 5139. The other stage requires you to consider the risks associated with the battery system itself. The CEC is calling this stage of the risk assessment the site-specific battery system component, and this is the part that relates to AS/NZS 5139.

When reading AS/NZS 5139, it helps to have a solid understanding of the risk assessment process, so it might be worth paying a bit more attention to the mechanics of the process next time you are completing a safe work method statement or job safety analysis. There is also an explainer of this in appendix G of AS/NZS 5139, and the CEC has produced a diagram to help you understand how the risk assessment process is integrated into the standard.

The process of completing the risk assessment is the same as for a safe work method statement or job safety analysis, but the subject matter is slightly different to what most tradesmen will be used to. The first step of describing the hazard is systematically presented in AS/NZS 5139 Section 3. Table 3.1 lists the common hazards in batteries that can be seen in the diagram included on this page.

The second step of assessing the inherent risk is to be completed by the installer. You need to ask yourself, what is the consequence of the hazard? This depends on the battery chemistry and product characteristics being installed, so getting this from your battery manufacturer is essential. You also need to exercise a bit of judgement to determine the likelihood of something going wrong with the battery in the location you have chosen to install it.

The third step in the risk assessment process is nominating the controls for each hazard. I mentioned earlier that AS/NZS 5139 is like three standards in one, depending on the battery you are installing. Each one of these standards gives you the controls to follow for that battery type and they are written to correspond to the hazards in Section 3.

The fourth step is to assess the residual risk. Like step two, the installer needs to re-assess the risk based on the installation with the control measures in place.

The CEC has released a sample risk assessment template for installers to use when installing CEC approved batteries. Please go to the installer section of our website for a copy.

For a list of CEC approved batteries, jump onto the products section of the CEC website. If you want more clarification on this, I would encourage you to log into the installer section of the CEC website and watch the Toolbox Talk called AS/NZS 5139: An overview.

More here:
Risk assessments and the new battery standard - EcoGeneration

Most everyone has had an experience with deja vu, the feeling that whats happening at that moment has happened before, in the very same fashion.

If you find that sort of thing enjoyable, consider a career in troubleshooting irrigation systems. Youll see the same issues coming up again and again but without any quasi-mystical underpinnings.

We asked some pros with decades of troubleshooting under their belts about their deja vu experiences. Here are their top five.

1. Faulty wiring or connectors

Of all the things that can go wrong with an irrigation system, electrical problems rank first. Wiring connections cause roughly 70% of all the failures we have in the field, says Craig S. Borland, CIC, CID, CIT, CLIA, CLWM, senior customer resource specialist at The Toro Companys irrigation and lighting division in Riverside, California.

Borland says its common to see connections made using standard wire nuts not intended for irrigation use. These nuts are made of two different metals. When wet, these metals react with each other and corrosion results. This happens frequently, even though every manufacturer specifies that only waterproof PBY wire connectors should be used.

Faulty wiring is one of the most common causes of problems with irrigation systems. Wiring equipment not intended for irrigation is used and ends up corroding, or a poor splice can lead to a bad connection. Photo: Shady Tree Landscaping

Theres a big difference between connectors that are merely water-resistant and connectors that are truly waterproof, and the two types shouldnt be confused, says Brent Mecham, CAIS, CIC, CID, CLIA, CLWM, industry development director for the Irrigation Association, Fairfax, Virginia. Water-resistant connectors are fine in places like California, where valve boxes are above ground, but not when valve boxes will be submerged in water, he says. Theyll corrode and cause an intermittent connection, so that the system will sometimes work and sometimes not work, making a diagnosis even more difficult.

The wires themselves can also be the source of a problem. Say a wire wasnt long enough to go from valve box to valve box, so the installer made a splice connection in the middle, says Peter Roberto, irrigation division and human resources manager at Shady Tree Landscaping, Norwood, Massachusetts, and president of the Irrigation Association of New England. Then that bad connection is often buried and can only be found with a ground fault detector.

When moisture penetrates that connection, you can get an open circuit, says Santos. The water and moisture will start to wick between the conductor and the insulation of the wire, which leads to corrosion and can even impact the solenoids.

Electrical problems get even hairier in the two-wire world, according to Santos. Conventional irrigation systems are very forgiving to poor installation and can work fine for many years, but issues with a poorly installed two-wire system show up right away, he says. Whenever anyone takes over the maintenance of a two-wire system, I recommend inspecting it with a fine-toothed comb.

Every two-wire manufacturer has different specifications as to the type of connectors, wire and grounding rods or plates youre supposed to use. A brand-new two-wire system can work perfectly fine one day, but if the grounding specs werent followed, one day youll find that 30 decoders are no longer working due to an electrical surge, Santos says.

2. Inadequate water pressure

Service calls about sprinkler heads that arent working properly are often caused by low water pressure. Bryan Wynen, CIC, CLIA, CLWM, owner and president of both Wissco Irrigation and Springwise Irrigation, South Bend, Indiana, says he sees this a lot. When a sprinkler or well system is first installed, it will usually have plenty of pressure. But a lot of our city water mains are metal, from the 50s and 60s and earlier. Mineral deposits build up inside, and the pressure starts to drop.

Reduced pressure can also be caused by worn-out pumps or additional development in the area since the irrigation system was installed. Sometimes low pressure can be compensated for by changing the heads or nozzle sizes or switching to high-efficiency nozzles. If that doesnt work, a pump may need to be added.

3. Poor workmanship

Sometimes a system is rife with problems because it wasnt installed correctly in the first place. Todd Magatagan, CAIS, CGIA, CIC, CID, CLIA, CLWM, owner of Around the Grounds, Longview, Texas, and his techs have run into everything from poor basic pipefitting and wire splicing to what Magatagan calls horrific hydraulic piping done with incorrect knowledge of proper irrigation design or the hydraulics involved.

We regularly have to fix basic plumbing issues because someone didnt put pipe into a fitting squarely, he says, and offers an example. For instance, well have a 90-degree elbow, but the pipe coming into it is at 60 degrees so hardly any of the pipe is glued in. That pipe will have constant outward pressure on it to pull out the entire time its left like that.

4. Hardscape barriers

Wynen says he and his crews are often called out to both residential and commercial sites where an addition has just been built, and suddenly the sprinklers dont work. Too often, new construction creates hard barriers because whoever built the addition completely disregarded the sprinkler system, often cutting pipes or blocking them.

Weve seen hundreds of buildings that had really nice, well-installed irrigation systems that are no longer functional or are only partially functional due to expansion of the property, says Wynen.

A poorly executed electrical connection, showing both the wrong type of wire being used along with too much electrical tape. Photo: The Toro Company

If that broken pipe still has water flow, a sinkhole will be created, Wynen says. Typically, the pipe will be leaking, and that necessitates going back to the last point of water pressure and capping it. Doing that risks turning off the irrigation to the islands that are still there, placing them at risk of not getting watered.

We have many retail clients whove added onto their properties, but the irrigation wasnt properly extended, Wynen says. Sometimes the system becomes impossible to operate again and has to be replaced. Replacement is the cheaper option versus spending thousands to snake pipes under walkways or around new buildings.

5. Poor coverage and incorrect scheduling

Service calls often happen because of dead, wet or brown spots in a lawn or landscape, the result of poor coverage. A lawnmower may have broken a sprinkler head or lateral, or even main lines could be leaking. Things like broken, clogged or out-of-adjustment sprinkler heads and nozzles should be detected and corrected as a part of routine sprinkler maintenance.

A property owner may think theres a broken sprinkler head or a wiring problem when there is none. John Newlin, CIC, CIT, CLIA, owner of Quality Services, North Ridgeville, Ohio, says the real reason for poor coverage is landscape plantings that have matured. The system was fine when it was first installed but the funny thing about plants is, they tend to grow, and if sprinkler heads havent been moved or added in a long time, vegetation can block them or shade once-sunny areas. Or, a property owner may have added new plants but failed to have the irrigation system adjusted accordingly.

Bad coverage can also result from a poor initial system design, such as mixing sprays and rotors. Water pressure may also be too high or too low; this can be compensated for by using pressure-regulated valves or heads.

An audit may be called for, says Newlin. It will reveal that some heads should be moved, raised or straightened. Entire zones may need redesigning.

Many service calls happen when a property owner notices runoff. This is usually the result of incorrect, inefficient scheduling or the lack of a rain sensor, which Newlin says is a must. The soil type may respond better to a cycle-and-soak schedule, watering for shorter periods of time more frequently so water can seep into the ground.

Underwatering is usually due to a controller needing adjustment for the warmer season. When the problem is either under- or overwatering, Newlin says that gives you a good opening to talk to the client about adding a smart controller, which would provide a solution to both problems and prevent others.

The author is senior editor of Irrigation & Green Industry and can be reached at maryvillano@igin.com.

See the article here:
The irrigation troubleshooter's top 5 - Irrigation & Green Industry magazine

The solar industry will evolve from component brands to system brands and service, according to Barry Cinnamon in this industry perspective.

The future of solar-plus-storage?

Tony & Wayne

Willis Carrier developed the first mechanical refrigeration system in 1903. It took another 50 years before window air conditioners became popular in homes and businesses. Hot and humid climates, such as those in the southeast, were by necessity the first to widely adopt air conditioning. By the 1970s, air conditioning was standard and the industry matured to one in which system maintenance and upgrades were the bread and butter for industry professionals.

The PV industry has followed a similar path. Bell Labs developed the modern solar cell in 1954. 50 years later rooftop PV was becoming popular in certain U.S. markets. Because of high electric rates, California and Hawaii were at the forefront of PV adoption.

By 2019, California hit a million rooftop PV systems in 2019, and solar is now standard on new California homes. Those intrepid early adopters of rooftop solar are now upgrading their 10- and 20-year old systems with new inverters, as well as adding battery storage. Solar-plus-storage systems are going into millions more buildings around the U.S.

How do these HVAC industry experiences foreshadow developments in the PV industry? Here are a few likely outcomes:

Willis Carrier probably never imagined the ubiquitous growth of refrigeration and air conditioning, just as the inventors of solar cells never imagined the ubiquity of PV systems. The solar-plus-storage industry is destined to be a key part of virtually every building in the U.S. From a growth perspective, we havent seen anything yet.

***

Barry Cinnamon is the founder of Cinnamon Energy Systems, a Silicon Valley solar (and energy storage) installer with a 20-year track record.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are the authors own, and do not necessarily reflect those held by pv magazine.

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The future of the solar-plus-storage industry will look like the air conditioning business - pv magazine USA

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This ready to use report offers you detailed insight into the global cable conduit systems industry with market size, in value terms, estimated at USD million/billion for the period. It also provides the projected growth rate for the next 5 to 6 years along with forecast market value. The study includes estimation of market size, detailed profile of products/services, SWOT of manufacturers/providers, their strategies, and recent developments in the industry. In brief the Global Cable Conduit Systems Market 2019 research report by Report Ocean offers industry data, trends, qualitative information, and competitive landscape, not easily accessible, and culled from multiple sources so that it acts as a ready recknor for you. The report is in-depth, authentic, exhaustive and very exclusive.

Takeaways from the Report:

You will learn about the market drivers for the projected period

You will get to know about the headwinds hampering the market growth

You will be exposed to the segment-region-wise analysis of major geographical areas

You will know the market size at the country level

You will get detailed insight into the strategic and actual happenings of the key players in the global cable conduit systems industry, including research and developments, collaboration, working partnership, and other acts, product launches, etc.

You will be provided details of various segments

You will also be enlightened about the value and supply chain analysis of the market

Parameters for the Study:

The exhaustive study has been prepared painstakingly by considering all possible parameters. Some of these were

Consumers options and preferences

Consumer spending dynamics and trends

Market driving trends

Projected opportunities

Perceived challenges and constraints

Technological environment and facilitators

Government regulations

Other developments

Research Methodology:

While preparing the study of global cable conduit systems market for the reference year, we took recourse to collect qualitative and quantitative information based on primary sources (nearly 80% weightage) through personal interactions, and secondary research, along with consultation with industry level professionals and experts. Historical trends and current market estimates were arrived at and analyzed to predict the likely direction in which the market will move in the next 5 to 6 years.

The report also studies the varying trends of diverse segments and subcategories, presented geographically, based on primary and secondary research. These are cross-checked by interviewing the key level decision-makers, such as CEOs, VPs, Directors, etc. of the relevant companies at the top and mid-size segments; this leads to gaining of more profound insights into the market and industry performance, which in turn authenticates and substantiates the findings.

Secondary research mainly focused on identifying, collecting, collating, and analyzing information needed for an extensive, market-oriented, commercial, and client-friendly study of the global cable conduit systems market. This result also led to generating information about the major players, market classification, and segmentation according to the industry trends, geographic locations, and technological developments related to the market. Our team of field force and deck-based researchers gathered information from various credible sources such as annual reports of the companies, filings with regulatory agencies, journals, white paper, corporate presentations, company websites, paid database, and many more. In addition to sources like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Report Linker, we used our in-house database to generate a very very trustworthy report.

We followed, concurrently, both the Bottom-Up approach and Top-Down approach. Under the former, we assessed the market size of individual markets by performing primaries and secondaries of major countries which hold around 75-80% of the regional market share. Then we extrapolated the same to derive the projected size of any specific region such as Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, etc. Under the latter approach, first, we estimated the size of the global market and then broke it down at specific country level. After performing both the processes, we invoke gap analysis, where we identify the deviation/differences in market size at the country, regional, and global level. Then through having a relook at data sources, data, and analytics we rework on the report so that no gap remained. Ultimately both the approaches should yield the same output

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Summary

A conduit system is a set of tubes which enables the protection and routing of electrical wires in buildings, thereby providing a safe pathway for power and low-voltage communication. The structure of a cable conduit is mostly tubular, made of metals (stainless steel, galvanized steel, or aluminum) or non-metals such as plastic, and it can be either rigid or flexible. An electrical conduit is advantageous as it results in simpler wiring. It is safer to install and permits easy and frequent alterations in the wiring system, providing protection even in damp and hazardous locations. Moreover, it is an effective way to protect the wiring system from environmental and other conditions such as chemical vapors, electromagnetic interference, moisture, and others. Prominent players operating in the cable conduits market adopt strategies such as acquisition, partnership, expansion, and product launch for increasing their geographical presence and market share.

The use of submersible electric conduits, liquid tight conduits and conduits providing protection against fire is gradually increasing in the market. Cable-in-conduit, which consists of cable embedded in the conduit, provides ease of installation, thereby driving the world cable conduits market. The cable conduit market shows a phenomenal growth owing to the booming construction industry and the rise of frequently alterable wiring systems in buildings. However, the rising prices of raw materials acts as a restraint for this market.

The market segmentation of cable conduit systems is done on the basis of type, end use, and geography. The types of conduit systems include rigid and flexible conduit systems, which are sub-divided into metallic and non-metallic systems. Rigid cable conduits have a hig..continue..

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Cable Conduit Systems Market with Key Drivers, Industry Research, Regional Forecast, Top Players, Key Companies and Segment - Testifyandrecap

Now that we have celebrated Christmas many people have taken down their Christmas trees and decorations. A lot of people leave the outdoor lights up a while longer. Some even leave them up all year long which the fire department says is dangerous which also means they must be taken down.

Thatsthe chore that most of us perform year after year. Those Christmas lights wont hang themselves up on your gutters or the roof line. I know in my own situation my physical condition combined with acrophobia (fear of heights) make it a serious chore for me to put even minimal lights up and then take them down again. Over the years I came very close many times to tumbling off of a ladder more than twenty feet in the air. I have stopped using a ladder more than five feet tall.

Weve all seen Chevy Chase falling off the roof in National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. Every year you hear stories of people breaking legs, arms, collar bones, etc. or simply suffering bruises, cuts and abrasions which were the result of falling while putting up or taking down Christmas lights.

Over all of my years in broadcasting I have read warnings on the air from the fire department that you should never leave those strings of Christmas lights up all year long due to the extremes of temperatures and drying in the summer. The wiring can be damaged enough to short out and cause a fire by being exposed to the excessive heat followed by getting wet from rain and then subjected to the cold temperatures of our Oregon winters. I dosee homes in the Eugene-Springfield area with the lights still on the roof under the blazing hot summer sun and some people even have the lights turned on at night365 days a year.

Why doesnt somebody develop holiday lights that are safe to leave up all year long? You know like the old saying Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door. Well you wont have to wait any longer, because two entrepreneurs have done it. Yes they have developed outdoor Christmas lights that can permanently attach to your house without having to be taken down and put back up each year. I have called them Christmas lights, but because of their unique design they can be used for any holiday or celebration. I wrote about this back in 2015.

The revolution in decorative lighting is called Everlights and is the brainchild of two Oregonians Ross Harke and Darren Taylor. This really is a story of living the American Dream. We have to turn the clock back to when Ross and Daren first got together. It sounds like a made-up story, but they have been best friends since Kindergarten and grew up living next door to each other. I had a long telephone interview with Ross and he explained that they were the best man at each others weddings too. Exactly how the idea came to them is a story in itself. Daren apparently hadnt taken down the Christmas lights from his house yet when they were watching Superbowl at his house a few years ago. Ross berated him for leaving them up so long. Thats when Darren said What if we could keep them up all the time? Thats when they started kicking around the idea of developing these special lights themselves. Quite a feat for two guys only hovering around the 30-year-old mark. They both have a passion for building. Ross says he is more into the business-side as his profession is in Revenue Cycle Consultation business in Oregon while Daren is more into the product-side of their venture since his background is in the construction business, but now he is working full-time for their Everlights business in Utah.

They tossed around the idea and decided that the system had to be waterproof and the lights had to be special and not set up serially like the old style lights that when one bulb dies the whole string goes out. They also wanted more colors than what standard bulbs can provide so they decided on LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) because each bulb could change through the whole spectrum of colors.

These up-and-coming business partners contacted a company in Shen-Zen, China to make the prototype for them and with the aid of a Vancouver engineering firm helped solve any design problems. They received their first delivery of the prototype in October of this year and have installed it on a few homes of their in-laws and friends in Oregon and a few in Utah. The lights held up well under the various weather conditions both here and in Utah. Now what they needed was the financial backing to develop the wi-fi controller that allows the user to program the colors and designs through their own smart phone.

In order to facilitate that effort they made a video promoting their product and put it on Kickstarter. If you have never heard of Kickstarter here is a quick explanation. According to their website kickstarter.com Our mission is to help bring creative projects to life. They go on to say Kickstarter helps artists, musicians, filmmakers, designers, and othercreators find the resources and support they need to make their ideas a reality. To date, tens of thousands of creative projects big and small have come to life with the support of the Kickstarter community.

Now that you know what Kickstarter is it is time to see the video that Ross and Darrenproduced asking for backing for the production of Everlights.

As you saw in the video, the installation is quite simple. At this time the wiring has to be crimped and then heat-shrinked, but the production models should have waterproof snap-on connectorswhich will make the do-it-yourself installation process much easier and quicker.

Since the lights are LEDs and not colored bulbs they are virtually invisible to the naked eye when the lights are turned off. That means no unsightly bulbs of various colors hanging limply off your roof during the day. Im sure you have a thought in the back of your mind about now just like I did after I gathered all of the information about Everlights and that is: How much does it cost? That will depend on the size of the building you want to decorate and just how elaborate of a design you want to create. Ross explained that for a bungalow-sized home of about 1,000 square feet they estimate the cost would be from $500-$600. The 2,000 square foot home or larger could range to $1,000 or more again depending on how it is set up. That does sound expensive, but when you take into account the LED bulbs last for 50,000 hours Ross estimates they should last for some 30 years. If a bulb does need to be replaced it would be just one not an entire set like with traditional lights. You can spend an average of $60 per year to replace your old light sets when they fail. I added that up and for a period of 30 years that wouldamount to $1,800. So, for the one-time outlay of money your lights could last the same length of time that it takes you to pay off your mortgage. I still go back to what I said at the beginning of this article about not having to put the lights up and take them down in our typical Winter weather every year. To many of us that would be worth its weight in gold.

It would seem that all that was left is to take delivery of the lights when production began and then market them. That is exactly what they have done. To me the lesson in all of this is to follow your dream. If you come up with a product or service idea Ross and Darren are your examples to show you the way to follow through on your idea. It could change your life as it has theirs. For more information about Everlights or to contact them to make an order just go to https://myeverlights.com/store/.

Let me know what you would like me to talk about or explain. You can comment below or email me at:[emailprotected].

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A Followup To A Story Of An Incredible Invention. - Eugene Daily News

A year from now, residents will likely look back on 2020 as the year things really started to change on and around Poway Road.

The City Council two years ago approved a significant overhaul of the Poway Road Specific Plan, which governs how the roadway running through the citys center will be developed over the next two decades.

The first post-approval project to move forward was The Outpost, a mixed-use residential/retail development with two stories of underground parking. That development is more than a year behind schedule, largely the result of the contractor dealing with costly water intrusion issues.

However, anyone driving down Poway later this year will notice new action on the south side of the road in the vicinity of Tarascan and Civic Center drives. Thats where contractors for Meridian Development will begin knocking down 10 vacant buildings to make way for 83 market-rate condos and prepare three lots for later development as retail/commercial use. Meridian will also begin work on a 44-unit, three-story affordable senior citizens apartment complex across the street, followed by 14 market-rate condos directly behind. The entire project is known as the Poway Commons.

Poway Community Park, to the south of where the 83 condos will be built, will undergo an upgrade with the anticipated spring start of construction of the Mickey Cafagna Community Center. The existing auditorium and senior center, along with a small city office building, will be torn down within a couple of months to make way for the $9.9 million construction project. When finished in May 2021, the center will have two large meeting rooms, six classrooms and offices.

Further west, on Pomerado Road at Oak Knoll Road, work is expected to be completed by fall on Villa de Vida, a two-story, 54-unit affordable housing development serving adults with disabilities who can live independently.

City Manager Chris Hazeltine said his priorities for the new year include keeping all of this work on track, along with the Espola Road undergrounding project.

The contractor for the Espola Road utility line undergrounding project has completed the trenching and conducting installation on the first half of the project. The next step will be for San Diego Gas & Electric crews to begin cabling activities sometime this month. City spokeswoman Renee Carmichael said that work is expected to take about six months to complete and will be followed by similar cabling work by Cox Communications and AT&E crews. Utility pole removal will take place once all overhead wiring has been removed, she said. That will be followed by a city project to construct a pedestrian pathway down one side of the roadway.

This is also an election year in Poway, with two district council seats up on the November ballot. Councilman Barry Leonard is running for re-election in District 2. Councilwoman Caylin Frank, elected to a two-year citywide term in 2018, will be seeking a full four-year term representing District 4.

A likely addition to the ballot will be a measure regarding The Farm in Poway, a 160-home development on the site of the closed StoneRidge County Club. A full environmental impact report is due out for public review and comment later this month. The City Council is expected to review the development sometime during the spring.

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Look for changes along Poway Road this year - The San Diego Union-Tribune