Advertisement Feature Cover Story It’s all under control


Organisations are relying more and more heavily on digital technology and as such, the choice of power distribution product employed to aid continuity of operation is crucial. In response, the electrical market has invested heavily in developing highly intelligent solutions to simplify this complex task. Here, Tom France, from Schneider Electric, discusses the options available


time and, in turn, cost savings for the busy contractor.


It’s more important than ever to get on and off the job as quickly as possible, although ever-changing codes and regulations make this a tricky prob- lem to overcome. Therefore, the need to work more efficiently is greater than ever before.


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In addition to this the advent of dig- ital technology must be factored into the equation also. It is estimated that the world’s data doubles every 18 months and in 2016 the number of devices connected to the internet will be three times the global population, thus spiralling our national power consumption and dependency on it. This means there is an onus on the contractor to supply the measures and means to ensure optimum power per- formance and continuity at all times.


New devices


The response from the electrical market is a wealth of highly advanced devices designed to ensure optimum performance and efficiency, putting the contractor in full control. One such product is the new Acti 9 from Schneider Electric - the new ref- erence in low voltage modular sys- tems, offering efficiency and total controllability.


The first factor is control. Unlike tra- ditional options, this new, highly intelligent system easily connects to any facility management system, even in the most challenging of industrial and tertiary electrical environments enabling simple, error-free installa- tion, performance and maintenance. With flexible and robust Modbus com- munications, and pre-fabricated wiring for instant, error-proof connec- tivity, it saves 40% of time spent with control wiring. The result is major


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emanding project schedules and shrinking margins has made the role of the modern contractor very challenging.


Flexibility is also a factor. Amid a modern age of perpetual change, this clever system adapts and evolves with the demanding requirements of industrial and tertiary electrical installations and provides zero main- tenance installations that are cost effective over time.


Efficient operation However, more than this, there is truly efficient operating. Constituting the only offering on the market with a real fault detector, the system’s VisiTrip feature enables users to identify a fault in one glance, so they can quickly diagnose, resolve and reclose circuits for easier building management and reduced down- time. In this way, the contractor can save valuable time and money elimi- nating a call-out for maintenance people - thereby ensuring a fast, effi- cient and cost effective service. Added to this, super immunisation of RCDs guarantees the highest conti- nuity of service and electrical immu- nity in even the toughest environments which may be subject to dust, chemical pollution and humid- ity. The result is a maximum continu- ity of service and minimal number of service interruptions.


More so, through the use of an auto- matic reclosing auxiliary, the Acti 9 can be fully adapted to a remote infra- structure site, making it 100% opera- tional anywhere in the world. This is particularly pertinent in arduous industries such as offshore and oil and gas where it can be near impossible to get to a problem point. It also enables contractors to resolve issues without having to go on-site - a major plus in industries such as banking or airports where the cost implications of even a few minutes of down-time are huge. Another major advantage is unmatched safety. This new genera- tion of final distribution product fea- tures the VisiSafe feature which provides reinforced insulation on the iC60 miniature circuit breaker and ilD residual current breaker ranges. This guarantees the downstream circuit is always safe, regardless of overvoltage


conditions, wear, or contractor experi- ence, even in the most demanding environments. Combined with its Class 2 front face, where clearances between its surfaces and internal parts are more than twice the industry stan- dard, it exceeds even the most demanding safety requirements. The result is an unprecedented level of safety, meaning that contractors are able to work in absolute protection should an issue occur.


For a more digitalised approach, it can even be integrated with a build- ing management system (BMS) in order to gain full insight into energy usage. In this way, the incumbent


Above: Tom France, Schneider Electric


Left: as more


organisations come to rely heavily on digital technology, increased emphasis is being placed on the choice of power distribution product


building operator can benefit from real time data coming from panels and circuits in order fine tune their electrical loads to reduce costs, allo- cate costs and effectively manage their energy. Working in this way, the building’s energy can be reduced as much as 30% while maintaining optimum performance.


Summary


In this time of keen competition cou- pled with complex requirements, the winners will be those who go beyond the traditional remit by taking advan- tage of the most intelligent products to ensure a truly first class service in terms of service, safety and efficiency. For the shrewd contractor then, surely it is time to take it under control.


Schneider Electric www.schneider-electric.com T: 0870 608 8 608


Above: the


electrical market has introduced a wealth of highly advanced devices designed to ensure optimum performance and efficiency, putting the contractor in full control


Enter 200 MAY 2013 Electrical Engineering


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