In the November issue of Sparks Electrical News, we look at how electrical adaptors are posing a danger to the South African consumer. The increased use of devices and appliances has resulted in the increased use of adaptors as well as adaptors-on-adaptors in South Africa. This creates a risk of fires, short circuiting and damage or malfunction of appliances. South African National Standard (SANS) 164-0 covers the specific requirements for plugs, sockets and adaptors and will lead to a new range of plugs and sockets in this country. The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) demonstrated the new range of plugs and sockets in a virtual media briefing held recently. “With the array of appliances and devices that have become commonplace in today’s world, it is critical to ensure that the plugs and sockets are also changing to accommodate the more compact designs of plugs. New homes and offices should be fitted with the sockets according to the latest revision of SANS 164-0 and the different parts. We need to be aware of the improved switching arrangements of switched socket-outlets, the inclusion of the SANS 164-2 compact design for 16 A plugs and, most importantly, the warnings that advise consumers not to use multiple adaptors, plugged into one another,” says Jodi Scholtz, Lead Administrator of SABS.
Elsewhere in the issue we look Standby and Emergency Power, Cables and Cable Accessories as well as Lighting.
Latest edition (3) of The Wiring Code (SANS 10142-1) published
The latest edition of SANS 10142-1 The wiring of premises – Part 1: Low-voltage installations (Edition 3: 2020) has recently been published. This vital standard is used in South Africa for all types of low voltage electrical installations. The Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993) (OHS Act), which is administered by the Chief Inspector of Occupational Health and Safety of the Department of Labour, requires that electrical installations comply with the requirements of SANS 10142-1. It also requires that a registered person, as defined (master installation electrician, installation electrician or electrical tester for single phase), will issue a Certificate of Compliance for an electrical installation in line with the requirements set out in SANS 10142-1.
Personality of the Month
Annie Storar, Regional Manager at Atlas Group, part of Voltex, has spent over three decades in the electrical industry. Starting as a secretary – when positions for women were limited – she has worked hard and gained first-hand knowledge of the industry, working up to a senior management position. She finds motivation in working as part of a dynamic team towards a collective goal.
Working from home needs reliable power supply
There are many issues with power supply these days and it never seems to get better. We are reminded of one of the main contenders as we work from home relying on grid tied inverters while City Power deals with yet another failure of its aging infrastructure. Next week it could be Eskom having a problem, who knows?
Omnistar family now complete
BEKA Schréder has launched the Omnistar Micro and Mini, and with the Midi and Maxi, the Omnistar family is now complete. The LED floodlight range is available in both the standard stirrup mount version and an optional pole mount version. This versatility makes it suitable for use in various environments, which include outdoor general area and perimeter floodlighting, mining areas, food and beverage, manufacturing and processing plants.
Buyers Guide
The November 2020 Buyers’ Guide lists manufacturers and distributors of products and services in the Standby and Emergency Power sector. Download the November Buyers' Guide.
Click here to download and read this issue in PDF format.
