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Issue No 50                                                                                           September 2011
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In this issue...
- The certificated engineer: a dying breed?
- SA's renewables industry: a long walk to greendom
- Dismissal for poor work performance during probations
- Who is an independent contractor?
- Installation of thermal insulation around electrical equipment
- ECA (SA) schedule of rates
- Showcasing energy-efficient smart solutions
- SAFA's stars shine at this year's symposium
- New ombudsman and new heat pump division
- SAIEE National Student Project Competition
- Vehicles at cost price for ECA members
- Renewable energy procurement in SA - from transparent to opaque
- Prepaid meters and the Inclined Block Tariff
- A history of fluorescent lamps
- Energy efficient lighting for five Eskom buildings
- Choosing between soft starters and drives
- Drive basics: sustainability by design
- Cost-effective automation of mine pumping systems
- Streamlined control system design with integrated safety
- Highly communicative control technology
- Installation, inspection and maintenance of Ex equipment
- Complete systems protection
- ECA news
- Industry news
- Company, product, project and services news
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EE Publishers

 

P O Box 458
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1747
South Africa

 

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Fax: 0115437025

 

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 Copyright

Copyright 2011

EE Publishers (Pty) Ltd
All rights reserved
  

  
Obed LetsholoThe certificated engineer: a dying breed?   
by Obed Letsholo, ICMEESA president

In the past, when mining was in its heyday, South Africahad many certificated engineers with training among the best in the world. Times have changed, however, and many companies have either cut down or stopped providing training to certificated engineers altogether... (more

SA's Irvan Damonrenewables industry: a long walk to greendom
by Irvan Damon, SESSA
 

Until recently, uncertainty over SA's renewable energy procurement programme made many international players shaky about investing. This situation was resolved when NERSA concurred with the DoE proposal to abandon the renewable energy feed-in tariff (REFIT)... (more)

Dismissal for poor work performance during probations 
by Stephen Khola, ECA (SA)

 

There are three grounds on which an employee's services may be terminated, namely misconduct, incapacity due to ill health or poor work performance and, finally, operational requirements. Each ground for termination has its own procedural and substantive fairness requirements to be fulfilled... (more)

Who is an independent contractor?
by Shantonette Naidoo, ECA (SA)
  
An independent contractor is a person who contracts to do work for another person according to his or her own processes and methods; the contractor is not subject to another's control except for what is specified in a mutually binding agreement for a specific job... (more)

Installation of thermal insulation around electrical equipment

by Chris Koen, ECA (SA)  

   

One of the energy efficiency interventions which will become mandatory is the installation of thermal insulation in buildings. Thermal insulation installers are required to take additional electrical safety measures to protect themselves and home or building owners... (more)

ECA (SA) schedule of rates

Information from ECA (SA)

 

The 2011 edition of the "ECA Schedule of Rates" has been finalised and is now available from regional offices. The document is for use by ECA member companies in good financial standing. While the format and layout of the document have not changed, a number of new features have been introduced... (more)
Showcasing energy-efficient smart solutions
Information from Schneider Electric
   

The upcoming Smart Solutions Conference and Expo is a platform for industry experts to gather data and make informed, energy-efficient decisions on current and future technologies. It will take place on 19 and 20 October 2011 at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Gauteng... (more)

SAFA's stars shine at this year's symposium

Information from SAFA

 

Held over a period of two days in Cape Town , the event boasted an attendance of 80 delegates. The symposium saw some well informed speakers grace the stage and they were well received by the delegates... (more)

New ombudsman and new heat pump division

Information from SESSA

 

The Sustainable Energy Society of Southern Africa (SESSA) has appointed Carel Ballack as permanent ombudsman. to mediate and arbitrate for the successful resolution of customer complaints, and to help members interpret and understand their responsibilities in terms of SESSA's code of conduct... (more)

2011 SAIEE National Student Project Competition
Information from SAIEE

This event will be hosted by the School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, on 24 November 2011 from 10h00 to 17h00.Leading tertiary educational institutions are participating and fielding eligible team(s)... (more)

Vehicles at cost price for ECA members
Information from ECA (SA)
  
CMH Datcentre Durban has announced that ECA (SA) members qualify to buy vehicles virtually at cost price, with only pre-delivery inspection, licencing and registration costs added. Delivery will be made throughout the country... (more)

Renewable energy procurement in SA - from transparent to opaque

by Chris Yelland, EE Publishers

 

On 23 August 2011 EE Publishers hosted an open panel discussion and debate entitled "Renewable Energy in SA - going backwards or forwards?" Key players in the renewable energy (RE) sector covered the background as well as the road ahead... (more)

Prepaid meters and the Inclined Block Tariff

Contributions from various sources


Vector has received letters from readers wanting to know how units purchased in terms of the inclined block tariff are allocated and how the various systems of prepaid sliding scales work in different areas. Residents of sectional title units feel that inclining block tariff sliding scales are applied as though they were single households... (more)

A history of fluorescent lamps 
Information from Philips

 

The fluorescent lamp resulted from the combined efforts of many people, each contributing their own little piece. One reason for this is that not only the lamp, but also associated equipment such as control gear and starters had to be developed... (more)
Energy efficient lighting for five Eskom buildings 
by Sefale Mokoena and Tamolo Qhala, Eskom
  
The utility decided to lead by example by introducing the Billion kWh Saving Programme. This programme focuses on Eskom's Internal Energy Efficiency (IEE) drive to implement energy efficiency internally at its facilities... (more)
Choosing between soft starters and drives 
by Scott Richardson, Yaskawa 
  
Standard EP Act motors started across the line typically require five to six times the locked-rotor or full load amp (FLA) starting current to reach operating speed, and NEMA premium motors can require eight to ten times FLA at start-up... (more)
Drive basics: sustainability by design 
by Thomas Neuberger, Eaton
  
Today, drives' fundamental usage has remained the same, while technology has evolved and improved, yielding drives that are better able than ever to reduce energy consumption and improve reliability while extending equipment life... (more)

Cost-effective automation of mine pumping systems

by W Schoeman, J van Rensburg, G Bolt, North-West University

   

On ultra deep gold mines the de-watering system is used in a cascaded manner to transfer water from one reservoir to another. By automating the process the control can be centralised, enabling load management while considering all constraints of the system... (more)  

Streamlined control system design with integrated safety
Information from Rockwell Automation

Advancing technology and changes in industry standards have resulted in single-system platforms for safety and standard control becoming easier and more cost-effective than ever to design, implement and maintain... (more)
Highly communicative control technology
by Frank Knafla, Phoenix Contact Electronics

A logical way to reduce energy consumption suitably is by enhancing the communication effectiveness of control technology. As a result of continually rising energy prices, many operating companies are looking for energy-efficient production equipment to reduce this cost factor sustainably... (more)  
Installation, inspection and maintenance of Ex equipment
by Koos Coetzee, Hazloc

SANS 10086-1 was approved by the SABS National Committee, Explosion Prevention, in accordance with procedures of the SABS Standards. Division. Titled "The installation, inspection and maintenance of equipment used in explosive atmospheres", the standard consists of three parts... (more)

Complete systems protection

by Andi Haa, Surge Suppression Incorporated

The internal surge protective device community as a whole recognises that lightning events are serious events for which protection is required. What must be considered, however, is the value of realistic risk assessment and consideration of the actual surge environment when designing a protective system... (more)

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