Selecting an electrical distribution voltage for a multi-tenant commercial building is often based on prior lease agreements, previous projects, incomplete information, or intuition. Our research provides guidelines with economic justifications. Each type of service has its advantages. 208V requires less electrical equipment in the Tenant lease space and is therefore less expensive for the Tenant. […]
Requesting an electrical service for a project is a process that can be completed by anyone involved with the project, including architects, engineers, tenants, or property owners. There are several ways to apply to start an electrical service, including an online form on the energy company’s website, a phone call to an energy company representative, […]
Sometimes, things go wrong. But, as electrical engineers, it’s our job to prevent errors, injuries, or worse – catastrophes. One of the problems that can occur when a piece of equipment is being worked on is arc flash – which is a dangerous release of energy. What Causes Arc Flashes? Arc flashes are caused by […]
Daylighting is the controlled admission of natural light into a building to reduce electric lighting and save energy. Daylight can enter a space through several architectural elements, including windows, skylights, roof monitors, and clerestories. Each of these elements creates a daylighting zone, which must be controlled with a daylighting responsive lighting control system in order […]
“Dirty power” is an abnormality in the power quality that is being delivered to a system. These abnormalities can include low power factor, voltage variations, frequency variations, and surges. All electrical systems are based on a supply of power at a certain voltage and frequency. Equipment and electronic devices are chosen based on this expected […]