Friday, April 27, 2012

GFCI's and Grounding ~ NFPA

Sords Electric Sells Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters for safety in homes and commercial estashblishments.


The ground-fault circuit-interrutper (GFCI) was developed in the 1960’s based on a concept by Professor Charles Dalziel of the University of California at Berkeley. The GFCI became a success soon after it was developed into a commercial product by a handful of companies, including several circuit breaker manufacturers. The GFCI was first required by the Code in 1968 for underwater swimming pool lighting fixtures. Backyard swimming pools were becoming popular at that time as more and more city dwellers were moving to the more spacious suburbs. In subsequent years the Code was revised to add the required use of GFCIs to other areas of the house, especially locations where people would be standing on earth or cement ground, or near water. By the 1980’s, receptacle type GFCIs were also becoming popular. Just 25 years after the GFCI was first introduced, the number of accidental electrocutions in the U.S. had dropped in half, even though the use of electricity had more than doubled in that same time period.

These are the locations in and around the home when GFCIs were first required:
1968 - Swimming Pool Underwater Lighting 
1971 - Receptacles Near Swimming Pools 
1973 - Outdoor Receptacles 
1975 - Bathroom Receptacles
1978 - Garage Receptacles 
1981 - Whirlpools and Tubs 
1987 - Receptacles Near Kitchen Sinks 
1990 - Receptacles in Unfinished Basements and Crawl Spaces 
1993 - Receptacles Near Wet Bar Sinks 
1996 - All Kitchen Counter-Top Receptacles 
2005 - Receptacles Near Laundry and Utility Sinks


Circuit grounding was one of the more hotly contested topics in the early history of electrification. In the early 1890’s, the New York Board of Fire Underwriters had condemned the practice of grounding the neutral as a dangerous practice, especially in a 3-wire Edison (120/240 Volt) system. The Edison utility companies, on the other hand, found just cause to ground their supply systems, even as others thought the utilities were doing this to just save copper and money at the cost of an increased fire risk. The great debate continued for over a decade, but in 1903 the Code was revised to recommend that these circuits be grounded, and finally in the 1913 Code a mandatory circuit grounding requirement was included for circuits like the popular residential Edison 3-wire system.
The most common way to ground a residential wiring system has always been to use the building’s metal water piping as a grounding electrode. The early Codes permitted water-piping systems of 3-Ohms or less to ground to be used as an electrode, which was usually the case if the metal water pipe extended several feet into the ground. In 1923, the Code first mentioned electrodes of driven rod or pipe. The 1925 Code further referred to these driven electrodes as “artificial” electrodes, and required them to be at least 8 feet long, with minimum diameters of 1⁄2 inch for a rod and 3⁄4 inch for pipe. It also noted that if only one of these artificial electrodes had a resistance of greater than 25 Ohms to ground, then two artificial electrodes had to be provided spaced at least six feet apart.
In 1951 the Code was revised to indicate that if there was 10 feet or less of metal water pipe in contact with the earth, or if there was the likelihood of the metal water piping system being disconnected, then the grounding system needed to be supplemented with an additional electrode. Ten years later, in 1971, the Code further strengthened that requirement by stating that a water pipe electrode must always be supplemented with an additional electrode, which in most cases meant adding a rod or pipe electrode to the house’s grounding system. In 1999 the Code was again revised to require this water pipe supplemental rod or pipe electrode to have a resistance to ground of 25 Ohms or less, or be augmented by an additional electrode. Also in recognition of the increased use of non-metallic water pipe, the 1993 Code was revised to state that interior water pipe more than 5 feet from the entrance to the building shall not be used as part of the grounding electrode system.
Homes built before the 1960’s had most of their original 125 V receptacle outlets of the non-grounding type (2-prong) (see Fig. 14). In 1947, the Code first required grounding type (3-prong) receptacles for the laundry. In 1956 the required use of grounding type receptacles was extended to basements, garages, outdoors and other areas where a person might be standing on ground. Finally, in 1962 the Code was revised to require all branch circuits to include a grounding conductor or ground path to which the grounding contacts of the receptacle must be connected. That effectively discontinued the use of non- grounding type receptacles except for replacement use in existing installations were a grounding means might not exist.
The permission for neutral grounding, the practice of using the neutral conductor as an equipment grounding conductor, was first permitted in the 1947 Code for electric ranges. At around that time many electric utilities were promoting the use of residential 240 V cooking for the post WWII housing boom, and many were even offering to install an upgraded service to older homes at no charge. However, there were no NM cables available at the time with conductors of sufficient ampacity to handle these higher amperage branch circuits. There were, though, service entrance cables of sufficient size, but they had a bare neutral conductor. This special Code permission allowed the frames of these large appliances to be grounded through the uninsulated grounded neutral conductor of the Type SE service entrance cable used to supply the branch circuit. The use of neutral grounding was also extended to electric clothes dryers in 1953. However, almost 50 years later, this special permission for neutral grounding was taken away in the 1996 Code for all but existing branch circuit installations.

Visit Sords Electric for our full list of Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters

216-765-4230

www.sordselectric.com


TRC Drag Strip Connector Protector

The TRC ( Coleman Cable ) Drag Strip allows connection of extension cords in a water proof method as well as keeping the cords from separating.

Fits most 15 and 20 Amp molded plugs and connectors.  It installs in just minutes without the use of any tools.  Ideal for use with power tools, lawn and garden equipment or any extension cord application.  Protection from rain, mud, dust, surface water and ultra violet rays.



  • Eliminates frustrating power supply interruptions
  • Prevents cords from separating at plug and receptacle
  • Weather-tight seal protects against harsh conditions
  • Installs easily in less than a minute




216-765-4230




Sunday, April 22, 2012

Meltric DSN 20 Accessories


Sords Electric and Meltric DSN 20 series DeContactors

Accessories for the DSN 20 amp series Meltric plugs and receptacles.


Using Decontactor plugs and receptacles to connect motors instead of hard-wiring can help to reduce equipment change-out downtime by as much as 50%. When replacement motors are pre-wired with Decontactor inlets or plugs, a mechanic can safely perform the electrical connections simply by unplugging the old motor and plugging in the new one.


Handles with NPT Threads


Poly Handle with 1/2" NPT 61-1A013-12

Poly Handle with 3/4" NPT 61-1A013-34

Poly Handle with 1" NPT 61-1A013-1


Compression Style Handles


Extended Handle .20 - .83 Cable 61-1A413

Nylon Handle .31 - .59 Cable 61-1A013

Angled Handle .32 - .67 Cable 61-1A313



Mounting Angles


Nylon 30 Angle 61-1A027

Nylon 30 Angle for Mounting on MB3 Box 61-1A027-601 31.10

Metal 30 Angle MA1

Metal Straight Adapter - Inlet MSPN

Metal Straight Adapter - Receptacle MS1


Junction Boxes


Metal Box with 1/2" NPT MB312

Metal Box with 3/4" NPT MB334

Metal Box with 1" NPT MB31

Metal Box with 1 1/4" NPT MB3114 54.00

Poly Conduit Entry 1/2" NPT 61-1A023-12 23.90

Poly Conduit Entry 3/4" NPT 61-1A023-34 23.90

Poly 70 Wall Box 51-AA058 66.10


Metal Boxes with Mounting Angles


Metal Box with 1/2" NPT and Nylon 30 Angle 61-1A053-080-12

Metal Box with 3/4" NPT and Nylon 30 Angle 61-1A053-080-34

Metal Box with 1" NPT and Nylon 30 Angle 61-1A053-080-1

Metal Box with 1 1/4" NPT and Nylon 30 Angle 61-1A053-080-114 80.10


Miscellaneous Accessories


Finger Drawplates - Set of 2 61-1A346

Protective Inlet Cap 61-1A126

Padlockable Poly Plug Cap 61-1A826



The popular DSN Series plugs and receptacles are ideal for connecting motors, welders and other equipment in most environments including wash down.


Branch Circuit & Motor Circuit Disconnect Switching


UL 1682 & UL Subject 2682

C22.2 No 182.1


NEMA 4X, IP66+IP67

480V 3Ø 5 hp

240V 3Ø 2 hp

208V 3Ø 2 hp

240V 1Ø 1 hp

120V 1Ø 1/2 hp


Please fill out our Meltric parts form or call 800-929-2845




Sunday, April 8, 2012

Gavazzi Solid State Relays - Din Rail Mount

Sords Electric stocks Carlo Gavazzi Integrated Heatsink Solid State Relays. Carlo Gavazzi offers a comprehensive range of solid state relays (SSRs) featuring direct copper bonding technology for increased life and reliability. SSRs are used extensively in the plastics, packaging, food processing, and HVAC industries - primarily for temperature control. They are the logical replacement for mercury contactors.

Carlo Gavazzi's range includes single phase relays up to 125 amps and 3 phase relays up to 75 amps. They are available with both digital and analogue inputs (4-20 mA or 0-10 V).

20 amp Solid State Relay with DIN rail heat sink, DC input, <600 volts output ~ RJ1A60D20E

20 amp Solid State Relay with DIN rail heat sink, DC input, <600 volts output ~ RJ1A60D20U

20 amp Solid State Relay with DIN rail heat sink, AC or DC input, <600 volts output ~ RJ1A60A20E

20 amp Solid State Relay with DIN rail heat sink, AC or DC input, <600 volts output ~ RJ1A60A20U

30 amp Solid State Relay with DIN rail heat sink, DC input, <480 volts output ~ RN1A48D30

30 amp Solid State Relay with DIN rail heat sink, AC input, <480 volts output ~ RN1A48A30

30 amp Solid State Relay with DIN rail heat sink, DC input, <600 volts output ~ RJ1A60D20E

30 amp Solid State Relay with DIN rail heat sink, DC input, <600 volts output ~ RJ1A60D20U

30 amp Solid State Relay with DIN rail heat sink, AC or DC input, <600 volts output ~ RJ1A60A20E

30 amp Solid State Relay with DIN rail heat sink, AC or DC input, <600 volts output ~ RJ1A60A20U

50 amp Solid State Relay with DIN rail heat sink, DC input, <480 volts output ~ RN1A48D50

50 amp Solid State Relay with DIN rail heat sink, AC input, <480 volts output ~ RN1A48A50

63 amp Solid State Relay with DIN rail heat sink, DC input, <480 volts output ~ RN1A48D63

63 amp Solid State Relay with DIN rail heat sink, AC input, <480 volts output ~ RN1A48A63

Two Pole30 amp Solid State Relay with DIN rail heat sink, DC input, <480 volts output ~ RN2A48D30

Two Pole 30 amp Solid State Relay with DIN rail heat sink, AC input, <480 volts output ~ RN2A48A30

Two Pole 50 amp Solid State Relay with DIN rail heat sink, DC input, <480 volts output ~ RN2A48D50

Two Pole 50 amp Solid State Relay with DIN rail heat sink, AC or DC input, <480 volts output ~ RN2A48A50

Three Phase 15 amp Solid State Relay with DIN rail heat sink, 5-32 DC input, <400 volts output ~ RN3A40A15

Three Phase 15 amp Solid State Relay with DIN rail heat sink, 5-32 DC input, <480 volts output ~ RN3A48A15

Three Phase 30 amp Solid State Relay with DIN rail heat sink, DC input, <400 volts output ~ RN3A40A30

Three Phase 30 amp Solid State Relay with DIN rail heat sink, DC input, <480 volts output ~ RN3A48A30

Call Sords Electric for your solid state relay needs and electric heater requirements.

800-929-2845