Partner Spotlight: EC&M Product of the Year 2021 Nominations

Posted on by

Every year, Electrical Construction & Maintenance magazine hosts a competition for the top product of the year where readers can vote for the winner; voting ends on June 28th. This year there are 32 nominations with some familiar companies and products that make it difficult to choose only one Product of the Year.

We want to share congratulations to all of our partners who were nominated. Thank you for your innovation and hard work!

~Kristine

Un-Tangled: The Newest Workout Trend

Posted on by

One of the biggest pains for electricians is hauling and pulling wire without it getting tangled up. If you are using a lot of colors, and the spools are just sitting on the floor there is gonna be a mess!!

The wire usually ends up in a knot that even Houdini on a good day could not untangle.

And hauling multiple spools at one time can be back breaking. It usually means a lot of trips back and forth juggling heavy reels. (Yes, it’s a great work out, but there are better ways.)

Madison Electric Products by Southwire has a very cool rack that takes all the work out of pulling wire and lets you keep work and working out separate!

Their MH8210 Wire Cart is designed to carry up to 12 spools of wire where you need them most. Constructed of square-tube steel tubing with a premium powder coat finish, our Wire Cart holds up to everyday wear and tear. A 3/8 ” hitch pin clip allows easy loading and changing of spools.

  • Designed to carry up to 12 spools of wire!
  • Made of square-tube steel with a premium powder coat finish.
  • Holds up to everyday wear and tear
  • 3/8” hitch pin clip allows easy loading and changing of spools
  • Shipped knocked down & takes up less shelf space
  • Saves time and energy carrying spools back and forth

So make it easy on yourself and get the MH8210 Wire Cart.

~Woody

Company News: Rob Midvale Joins the Gordon Team

Posted on by

Rob MidvaleWe are excited to announce the hiring of Rob Midvale as the new Returns & Procurement Coordinator at Gordon Electric Supply, where he will work with our purchasing and warehouse teams on updating inventory management accuracy, purchasing, and coordinating order returns.

Rob brings years of experience to his new role that will be a benefit to the  company. He previously worked as a Production Scheduler and ISO Quality Coordinator. These positions enabled Rob to assist in the development of manufacturing processes to improve quality, materials procurement, and production repeatability.

Kim Boswell, Materials & Purchasing Manager, adds that “we are very excited to have Rob join us in the purchasing department. He’s enthusiastic with a positive attitude.”

Recently, The Daily Journal published a news brief about Rob’s hiring that can be read here.

EDIT: He is noted as the Returns & Purchasing Coordinator in the article while his actual title is Returns & Procurement Coordinator.

Sparking Awareness: Resources for Electrical Safety

Posted on by

The month of May has Memorial Day, Mother’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, Star Wars Day, and Victoria Day in Canada. But did you know that the entire month of May is National Electrical Safety Month?

Safety is probably already at the top of your list like it is for us. So to kick off National Electrical Safety Month, we are sharing some resources from the experts. Stay safe and spark awareness, not injuries!

~Kristine

 

Partner Spotlight: Square D Is A Winner!

Posted on by

We already knew that Square D by Schneider Electric was a brand with a history of innovation and trust, but we are excited to report that their energy center was recently recognized with the 2020 Global Innovation Award from the National Association of Home Builders. The Square D Energy Center specifically won the Product of the Year award for its proficiency in home energy control and monitoring. It will be available in spring 2021.

The energy center includes “whole-home surge protection, EV connectivity, the Qwik-Connect solar inverter, a backup interface module, [and] a backup-ready panel” in the redesign of the residential electrical panel, powered by Schneider Electric’s Wiser Energy intelligence. While a Tesla and solar panels do not come with the energy center, the emphasis on adaptability and sustainability in home energy use is an asset to its innovation. Making whole-home surge protection a standard part of the energy center offers maximum protection, and we could see this technology becoming more popular, especially as the spring storm season rolls in.

Our congratulations go out to Square D for this wonderful accomplishment!

You can learn more about the Square D energy center here and read more about the Product of the Year award here.

April Showers Bring…Lightning, Thunder, and Power Outages

Posted on by

Finally, spring is here! The earth is coming back to life. Flowers are blooming and the wild life is coming out of hiding.

Along with this comes thunder, lightning, and an occasional twister. Most people take cover during these storms but we here in the Midwest like to go outside, flip open our phones, say hold my drink, and film the whole event even if a house fly by.

Since most of us have been stuck working from home, a power outage or (even worse) a power surge can really mess things up. Our friends at APC by Schneider Electric have a broad range of products to take care this situation. Below is a brief survey of what you can find in APC’s surge protection products.

Battery Backup & Surge outlets keep CPU’s, monitors, and other critical devices running when the power goes out or fluctuates outside safe levels. Surge Only outlets protect printers, faxes or other equipment without reducing battery capacity (including three power-saving Controlled outlets on the BE750G).

Similarly, PowerChute Software lets you use your computer to access additional power protection and management features:
• Preserves your work, shuts down system during outages
• Restarts your system, minimizing work disruptions
• Enables customization of your UPS settings
• Monitors and displays power and battery status

Data Line Surge Protection guards against surges and spikes traveling over data lines. The Combination Power Button/LED Indicator provides visual and audible status of unit. Along with its ultra efficient electrical design, it is RoHS compliance and contains all recyclable packaging materials minimize environmental impact and maximize efficiency. A Building Wiring Fault Indicator lets you know if there are problems in your building’s wiring. Push Button Circuit Breaker enables quick recovery from overload. Automatic Diagnostic Testing ensures your unit is ready when you need it.

So your home office or maybe home theater stays safe in spring storms!

~Woody

Company News: Brad Robbins joins the Gordon team!

Posted on by

Gordon Electric Supply recently hired Brad Robbins as an e-commerce customer service representative.

Brad brings both customer service and sales experience from years working in the retail industry. Previously, he was a business owner and worked in the music industry where he enjoyed traveling to multiple countries. In his free-time, he enjoys cooking and listening to music.

In his current position as an e-commerce representative, Brad’s responsibilities will include building relationships with online customers, processing orders, and handling customer service calls. We are excited to have Brad as part of the Gordon team and utilize his experience. “Everyone has been great and very welcoming from day one,” Brad said and added that it is a “great feeling to be a part of something bigger than one’s self–that you actually have an impact on the outcome.”

Gordon Electric Supply is located at 1290 N. Hobbie Avenue in Kankakee. You can read the Daily Journal’s news brief about Brad’s hiring.

Charge Your Device In a Safe Way!

Posted on by

 

 

UPDATE: NOW AVAILABLE at Gordon online.

COMING SOON! Everyone has a chargeable device now. From a phone to a tablet. And it never fails that when you need it, the battery is dead or on its way!

The problem with the chargers, is the adapter that you plug the cord in is huge. If you have other things plugged in this can be a problem. USB type outlets have been out for awhile now, but, what about the kitchen, bathroom or garage?? These require GFCI outlets, and to fit the charging adapter in the outlet, you have to unplug everything else.

Legrand has the answer: Radiant® 15A Tamper-Resistant Self-Test GFCI USB Type-AC Outlet. Coming Soon to Gordon Electric Supply!

Enjoy superior safety and the convenience of built-in USB charging, in a first-of-its-kind outlet! Perfect for adding modern connectivity anywhere, including areas of the home where ground fault protection is required (kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, etc.). This outlet makes it easy to see and reset electrical trips right where they happen, while also providing two USB connections for keeping phones or tablets charged, no bulky adapter required.

The Quick Facts:

  • Ultra-reliable ground fault protection: Self-tests at an industry-leading rate of every 3 seconds, ensuring its always ready to protect.
  • Easy, accessible troubleshooting: Includes indicator light and test/reset buttons for resolving trips right where they happen.
  • Convenient, in-demand charging: Features two USB connections (USB Type-A and Type-C available) to keep devices charged and ready.
  • Quick installation: Replaces an existing outlet in 10 minutes or less.
  • Discreet tamper-resistance: Protects children from inserting foreign options with patented low-profile black “invisi-shutter” system.

See current USB receptacles from Pass & Seymour by Legrand here.

~Woody

Always Be Prepared: Not Just for Scouts

Posted on by

One of the classic Monty Python’s Flying Circus quotes that comes to mind whenever the power goes out or a really bad storm blows through is “Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!” This may seem like an odd choice of humor when power outages are no laughing matter, but in the Monty Python skits, the “inquisitors” jump out at random times, even on contemporary characters, exclaiming this, and similarly power outages and bad weather often catch me off-guard like the characters in this skit.

When the blizzard rolls through my town, I start out thinking I am prepared. But no matter what the Scout motto of “Always Be Prepared” says, sometimes you can’t anticipate the affects of weather or nature. I always end up shaking my head thinking that “Nobody expects the power outage!” We can only be as prepared as possible, which is why I was happy to stumble upon some tips and useful products to help when you least expect a power situation.

  1. Make a power outage plan to outline what to do when an unexpected storm hits.  Our friends at Generac have a few extra tips that include a designated contact person to check on the entire family among others.
  2. Protect electronics and electrical devices or appliances for short or long outages. Back in July 2020, Woody shared one of his favorite surge protective devices. And in May 2015 he let us know about protecting outdoor installations & service panels.
  3. Sign up for local weather alerts and familiarize yourself with weather terms like watch and warning.

Most of us (especially me!) are not experts, which means I rely on resources from the professionals to help education my emergency preparation.

Stay warm and check on your neighbors, everyone!

~Kristine

A Trip You Don’t Want To Take!

Posted on by

Whether you are working from home, or just browsing the internet, computers are an essential part of our lives. Depending on where in your house you are working, cords can be a hassle.

I hate having cords running across the floor; I always get tangled, trip and smash my face on the floor. Or, the cords come out of the device, sometimes ruining it.

Fun to explain to your IT guy that all you did was stand up, take one step and pulled the back of the computer apart.

So, a solution is installing a floor box next to you easy chair or work station.

Arlington’s FLBR5420 series RECESSED FLOOR BOX KITS offer great new features, like two low voltage openings, an ultra-thin stamped steel flange, and flush-to-the-floor in-use and blank covers. Here’s the solution for cost-savings and easy installation of a receptacle and low voltage connections in an existing, hard surface floor.

Because the flange is ultra-thin and the wiring device is recessed these floor boxes reduce the trip hazard caused by plugs protruding from the box.

You can also have power and now TWO low voltage openings, without the need for a divider, in the same box. That’s convenience!

Installation is quick and easy with a 5″ hole saw. Four mounting wing screws attach the 24.5 cubic inch box securely to the floor. Also included in the kit:

  • cULus Listed 20A tamper-resistant decorator-style receptacle.
  • Covers: SIX finishes/colors Metal in brass-plated, nickel-plated and antique bronze-plated zinc.
  • The powder-coated diecast zinc is available in black, brown and light almond.

With the Arlington FLBR5420 recessed floor box kits, you can now focus on planning that trip to Aruba instead of a trip to your floor!

~Woody