Experts Warn: Crisis Looms For UK Electricians!

coming up on this week's news a leading switch  gear maker has warned the trade over the selection   of RCDs for heat pumps ford offers free charger  installs for UK electric car buyers and IKEA start   selling heat pumps welcome to Electrical News  Weekly whether you're listening in the van on site   or down at the wholesale counter i'm Joe Robinson  and I've been through the best of the electrical   industry news to save you the trouble and if you 

think you've spotted the two words that I've been   challenged to slip into this week's show comment  with them below for the chance to win a prize  

switch gear maker Doepke has added its voice  to the current conversation in the trade over   RCDs and heat pumps in an advisory by technical  manager Chaz Andrews the company says installers   who have not been involved in commercial or  industrial applications before may not have   had experience with this type of equipment or  the application of type B RCDs it's echoed the   warning that type B RCDs may trip unexpectedly  when subjected to leakage currents above 1 kHz  

or worse the detection circuit may be blinded this  will result in the device not detecting residual   currents under fault conditions that's because  under current standards type B RCDs don't provide   protection above that frequency in heat pumps  the inverter can operate at 16 kHz and beyond it   can even exceed 20 kHz if there's incorrect TMC  protection or high supply harmonics Doepke says   this is a recognised issue for larger inverter  applications in industrial installations it's  

created original graphs to illustrate the issue  the brand's type B RCCBs by contrast will operate   up to 150 kHz far beyond even the VDE standard the  company has produced a typeB RCD application guide   and I've put the download link in the show notes  in other news training provider JTL has warned  

that the number of skilled electricians in the UK  could drop by a third in just over a decade unless   urgent action is taken the firm which trains 8,000  apprentices every year says that there's already   a dramatic decline in the electrical workforce it  says it's fallen by 26% since 2018 it dropped from   214,000 to 158,000 and it warns that the shortage  could threaten essential services from house   building to transport despite a recent uptick in 

apprenticeship starts the current level around 7 a   half thousand per year is insufficient to replace  those retiring or those quitting the trade the   organisation says that to stabilise the profession  and reduce the deleterious effects over 10,500 new   starts are needed annually i'll put a link to the  full report in the show notes ford has announced  

that it will provide free charger installs for  UK electric car buyers it's the first auto brand   to offer such a service the package includes  an Ohme home charger and full installation at   the customer's property the deal will also give  EV drivers a home energy bonus of up to 10,000   miles of no cost charging if they sign up to  the intelligent Octopus Go tariff it's expected   that connection work will be subcontracted to  electricians on the Ohme approved installer  

network if the Ford offer is successful other  car makers are expected to follow suit like a   team of frogmen i've put a link to the program in  the show notes while Ford is offering EV chargers  

IKEA has gone one better by announcing that it's  selling heat pumps the Swedish flogger of flat   packs famous for its Billy bookcases is marketing  both air to air and air to water heat pumps the   company says that to ensure that installations  are safe of high quality and comply with all the   regulations the heat pumps are always installed  by certified installers currently the units are on   sale in Germany and Spain other European countries 

including the UK could follow suit in product news  

Connexbox has announced that the grey Wagobox is  not being discontinued company boss and former   electrician Ray Brewer is the original designer  and maker of the popular enclosure instead they   are being rebranded and will now be sold under  the Connexbox name the rebrand marks a strategic   decision by the brand to operate independently  the firm has been making the product 17 years   and Wago handled the distribution Connexbox says  it's now taking control of the product line and  

its future direction it says the boxes will be  the same enclosures made by the same team to   the same high standards as part of this exciting  new chapter Connexbox is proud to introduce its   latest innovation the Connexbox JBX Pro enclosure  featuring versatile cable grippers a convenient   lift up end opening and full BS7671 compliance  the JBX Pro is designed for electricians who   want to work faster safer and with complete  confidence charge-m8 has announced that Clenergy  

EV software now integrates seamlessly with  its innovative Libra load balancing device   instead of allocating a set amount of power to a  building's EV chargers Libra cleverly allows you   to dynamically use any available power when the  building is running below its maximum use libra   also features out-of-the-box integration with  the Clenergy charge point management app as well   as integration with sub-zone load management and  individual phase monitoring to commission it you  

simply use the touchscreen charge-m8 appeared  on last week's episode of eFIXX TV and it was   a brilliant show masterfully hosted by the one  and only Joe 3PO Hammond but don't worry if you   missed it it's still available on catchup you'll  find a link in the show notes it really is worth   a watch now welcome to our electrical news  weekly feature where we focus on a specific  

product area this week we're sounding the alarm  for fire safety and security AJAX has unveiled   a range of five detectors with a different set  of sensors the Fire Protect 2 AC comes in either   heat smoke carbon monoxide or a combination the  mains powered units include a battery backup the   smart bracket mounting panel has been reinvented  to make installation easier the panel consists of   a mounting part and a protective lid in order  to keep the installer safe from direct contact  

with electrical wiring the lever actuated Wago  221 connectors inside the smart bracket can be   easily removed and switch back during the wiring  so there's no need to disassemble the enclosure or   use a screwdriver at all AJAX reckons it takes  just 90 seconds to install the detector now if  

you're looking for smart certified solutions that  keep your installs compliant and professional then   Trench Limited have some serious kit on offer  check out the Pyro Plug Magic Box ideal for   cable trays up to 600 mil with fire ratings  up to EI90 and an easy retrofit design that   saves you hassle on site pair that with the Pyro  plug block and Pyro NG foam for flexible EN1366-3   tested ceiling options across cable and pipe  penetrations and don't miss the brand new Pyroline  

rapid PLM fireproof trunking system available in  white or pregalvanised with an inch lining fast   fix and patented internal connection system these  innovations help maintain fire stopping integrity   when it matters most ticking all the right boxes  for modern safety focused installations Legrand's  

easy path mechanical devices provide compliant  fire stopping for power and data cable management   kit they're easy to fit and don't require a  specialist fire contractor the automatic fire   stop system is suitable for any structure from  concrete walls to lightweight partitions the   good news is that easy path can now be installed  directly onto the brand swift cable tray or cable   steel wire cable tray in conjunction with a fire  rated mineral wool coated bat Legrand has produced  

a colourful and clear installation guide to walk  you through the steps you need to take for fire   safety compliance i've put a download link in the  show notes CED Electrical Group has a huge range  

of smoke heat and carbon monoxide detectors and  alarms all under the Axium brand the battery units   feature a 10-year lithium cell while the mains  powered versions boast a 9 volt battery backup   they pair seamlessly with each other and up to 40  other alarms they feature a sound pattern to ISO   8201 many have ceiling mounted brackets for easy  mounting and finally a wireless remote control   allows you to locate test and silence the units  hispec has announced that pulse retrofit alarms  

have achieved the prestigious BSI kite mark the  company says the certification followed months   of rigorous testing engineering and commitment  to safety the Pulse range seamlessly integrates   with both Hispec and other manufacturer bases  in fact Hispec says it fits around 95% of the   social housing market this means installers can  upgrade their fire safety systems without the   need for full replacements that's our electrical  news weekly roundup of products or people we think  

deserve some attention next week we're feeling the  cool breeze of HVAC and it's finally arrived this  

week's CEF live show is set to be the highlight  of the electrical trades calendar the show   takes place at the National Exhibition Center in  Birmingham on Thursday the 5th of June and Friday   the 6th of June we'll be there of course Gary and  Gordon will be at the LED Group stand on Thursday  

that's the powerhouse behind Robus Fusebox and  ATC hosting a series of live chats interviews and   debates they'll be tackling real world questions  electricians face every day sharing tips on how to   grow a successful contracting business and shining  a spotlight on the next generation of electricians   special guests joining them include Theo Webster  Kimmy the Spark and Griff Thomas while you're   there make sure to check out the new Fusebox F3 

the feature-packed Robus Speed Beam Plus and the   energy efficient ATC Almeria panel heater on  Friday attention turns to darts as Gary and  

Joe head over to the Marshall Tufflex stand you  can meet world champion Phil Taylor and take on   fellow dart star Mark Dudbridge in a beat the  pro challenge top prize is a red letter day   experience if darts isn't your thing there's also  a scaleextric trek you'll also be able to check   out Marshall Tufflex's cable management kit such  as the basor range of cable trays the fast fix   basket and the conduit range with 50% recycled  plastic it'll be me OG Joe who's joining Gary  

that day so if you'd like to come over and say  hello you're more likely to find me at the Scale   Electric Trek as I can't play darts to save  my life JCC is on stand 11.27 and they'll be  

introducing the new Line of Light range this is a  sleek modular linear lighting system for seamless   integration in locations such as hospitality  retail and offices it's got high efficiency   and uniform light distribution and there's a  huge range of luminaires to choose from the   X50 fire rated down light offers selectable  wattage and colour temperatures it's got a   secure plug-and-play connection and easy access  terminals for insulation resistance testing JCC  

will also be giving a sneak peek of its upcoming  ranges it's all happening on stand 11.27 Wera  

Tools will be showing its new safe torque speed  VDE screwdrivers on stand 11.6 the safe element   is provided by a slipover mechanism which ensures  that the selected torque cannot be exceeded you   can set five torque values and also have a fixed  position for conventional screwdriving it boasts   a fast rotating sleeve for easy use the company is  also launching the 410i RA ratcheting T- handles   these work with the brand's 3/8 inch VDE sockets 

and accessories power tool accessory specialist  

Armeg is on stand 9.33 where it will have four  demo areas for its drilling and driving kit best   of all it's offering some special lightning deals  at the show three of these will be products in its   popular carabiner belt loop bit holder sets the  final deal is the Armeg versus Velocity Progear   Drill Pod Pro this is an organiser for all your  drill accessories and includes the newly released   Impact Masonry Plus bits these stubby bits have  fast spoil clearance and a stop feature for  

specific depths there'll also be surprise freebie  deals and bonus giveaways so get yourself to stand   9.33 specialist wiring accessories part of the  Shoal Group is on stand 11.3 where you can get  

special show pricing including for its acclaimed  Storm Glands there'll be a full range of SWA kit   on display from tools glands fixings to live demos  the company will be giving away free EasyLock   cable market kits to a limited number of early  visitors each day each kit is worth over 65 quid   so if you want one you'll need to be fast SWA is  also hunting the fastest crimper at the exhibition   all you have to do is prep and crimp a solar  MC4 connector onto a solar cable in the fastest  

time to in a BCT10300C handheld battery powered  crimping tool it's worth taking part because that   tool will set you back over 1,500 quid runners up  will bag a solar tool starter kit Linian is at the  

show on stand 9.61B as well as its standard range  of twin and earth clips and earth rods it'll be   showing its latest innovation the cable tray clip  Linian says This saves over 90% time on cable tray   installs it replaces stainless steel ties and you  can use it with any brand or size of tray there'll   be live demos a selection of Scottish treats to  celebrate the firm's 10th anniversary and they'll   be giving away Earth Rod Pro kits to the first 

five visitors to the stand each day i genuinely   and this is the honest truth hope that they  have some haggis and that they save some for me.   Delicious stuff EV charger maker Rolec is on stand  10.7 where you'll see its shiny range in both AC  

and DC variants the company is also inviting  installers to take on its bean bag throwing   challenge where there's three EVO chargers up  for grabs every day there'll also be live demos   of its Rolec Connect app which gives plug-in  point installers site survey tools an augmented   reality visualiser and a lead manager there's  also Barista Coffee Rolec merch and you can   learn about becoming a Rolec approved installation  partner Scame UK will unveil no fewer than three  

new ranges at CEF Live these include the Iconer  series of industrial consumer units the bespoke   ATX Zenith range and the EMC isolator series the  company is also promoting the assembly of its   compact EXGD series which is now in the UK best  of all Scame says it will give a 250 CEF voucher   to a randomly selected visitor to its stand ABB  Electrification will be showcasing the latest in  

its commercial building tech at the show you'll be  able to discuss its smart energy distribution and   critical electrical infrastructure safety systems  as well as home automation and emergency lighting   and of course get answers to your queries from  ABB experts on the stand you can also jump in the   latest ABB Formula E race simulator and those who  do the fastest laps will win tickets to the London   EP pre in July Enphase is on stand 46 in Hall 9 

and will be showcasing its IQ range which includes  

EV chargers batteries and system controllers it'll  also be displaying its IQ8 micro inverters which   are designed for fast flexible installations with  high-powered solar modules their plug-and-play   design reduces setup time and built-in rapid  shutdown ensures code compliance the IQ Battery   5P delivers 5 kW hours of usable capacity with  six embedded micro inverters for high output   and reliability its modular AC coupled design  makes it easy to scale and install and you can  

commission it fast through the Enphase app in the  works is the IQ system controller which is set to   streamline solar battery and grid integration with  a pre-wired all-in-one enclosure it's designed to   support whole or partial home backup and simplify  interconnection and load control on stand 11.24  

Wiska UK will be showing off its new TriShot  cable gland this features a built-in seal IP68   protection and a wide clamping range of between 6  and 14 mil it's a super sustainable product which   achieves a 55% reduction in carbon footprint  compared to standard polyomide glands the Wiska   experts will be demonstrating it on the stand  along with the brand's Combi Junction boxes   Sprint Cable glands and more and keep a lookout  for Wiska goodie bags Aurora Lighting stand number  

63 in Hall 9 is set to be busy for a start it's  showcasing three distinct brands for all budgets   there's Enlight your essentials lighting range  Aurora the quality and service orientated lighting   brand and Europole which is tailored architectural  lighting and which is making its debut at the show   the products cover key applications including  residential retail office education industrial   and outdoor you can also see the new Chromaflex 

LED strip range the latest clear view lamp which   is switchable colour temperature and the Sarin  EV charger a visit wouldn't be complete without   taking part in Aurora's racing challenge this  features a top prize of a 250 pound red letter   day experience and finally you can meet Aurora  ambassador Ryan Davis from R Davis Electrical who   will be on the stand on Friday to demonstrate his  favourite Aurora kit told you it was a busy stand  

Hive also looks set to be busy on stand 24 in  Hall 9 it's showing all their smart kit including   EV chargers solar panels heat pumps and battery  packs the company is also promising big discounts   on its thermostats you can also speak to the team  about Hives Installer Club by joining you'll enjoy   exclusive rewards free online training and  accreditation and tech support so if you're   one of those electricians who has installed kit  in one of the 2 million homes in the UK running  

Hive then this is the club for you as an extra  incentive electricians who sign up will be in with   a chance to win tickets to see Oasis the focus on  the MK stand will of course be the iconic Rapid  

Fix the UK's first 13 amp double sockets with  screwless terminations if you're not familiar   with the Logic Plus Rapid Fix and quite frankly  how could you not be check out the video that   Gary and Gordon made about it the company will  also be running its popular time trial sideshow   again this time MK has two boards so you can now  go head to head with a mate all participants will   get a tea break treat and the fastest time of the  day wins an MK bundle packed with both RF and USB  

sockets and lots of merch whoever you decide to  visit on the day registration for free show entry   is required on the CEF website you'll find the  link to that in the show notes and we hope to   see you there and our usual reminder that we're  in the market for your stories your projects and   your recommendations as we'd like to share them  with the wider eFIXX community over the next few   weeks we'll be featuring HVAC lighting controls  and wiring accessories so send us pictures of  

your installs or let us know if you've come across  any new kit or companies that are making your job   easier or any products that you think deserve a  shout out and just before we get to your favourite  

bit of the show where I reveal last week's  challenge words and winners we want to thank our   premium partners we couldn't make the news without  you first up they're the people who've created the   Swiss Army knife of solar inverters along with  all weather batteries very much the boy scouts   of the solar industry it's Sunsynk doubling down  on terminal screws and their top quality circuit   protection product and building innovative  isolating units with built-in surge protection  

it's WhiteCliffe Electrical Distribution next with  deep commitments to the economy the environment   and the electrical community they're so much more  than an electrical distributor the self-styled   experts in shifting boxes is Niglon and empowering  their customers to harness power through light   with their intelligent energy solutions solar  technology and advanced lighting systems it's   Ledvance in an age of energy uncertainty if you're  looking for your next EV charge point to install  

then helping you charge into the future with  confidence powering the future together it's   Rolec and now suspend your disbelief like you  suspend a cable tray if you need to get any piece   of building services equipment into the air and  keep it there then check out Zip Clip with their   new award-winning Lumo consumer unit and offering  complete product support from their highly trained   team it's CPN Cudis and with over 5,000 product  lines from heating lighting ventilation to wiring  

accessories if you need it they've got it it's  electrical distributor CED Group don't forget   to use the code EIX30 to claim your 30% discount  on top quality light fittings from Philips and   Ecolink download the Lumxpert app today and  make your life easier and less expensive it's   the light of our lives signify and the best thing  to come out of Yorkshire since stainless steel the   home of EV Ultra and other groundbreaking and  quality products is Doncaster Cables click the  

links in the show notes to find out more about  these great brands if you think you know the   words I've smuggled into this week's show pop your  guess into the comments we'll take all the correct   guesses and select one at random to be the winner  of an EIX goodie bag prize answers submitted after   about lunchtime on the Thursday after release  will not be entered into the draw just for this   week only we're delaying the announcement of  last week's winner until the next show because  

I've just enjoyed a week's holiday and recorded  this ahead of time so tune in next week to find   the winners from this episode and the previous  one thanks for listening to this episode of   Electrical News Weekly make sure you subscribe  to receive the next update and until next time   have a great week stay safe out there and remember  there's no such thing as a torque calibrated arm