Measure Twice, Cut Once!

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Measure twice, cut once! 

What a statement! Nothing worse than cutting a board, a piece of wire or anything, and coming up short. This can become very expensive when it comes to cutting wire! 

Imagine having to pull three 500MCM cables 150’ up and a cross the ceiling and you are 3 feet short. If you are the one who came up with the lengths, it’s not gonna be a good day. 

The way this used to be done was by counting the conduit and guessing!! This would get you close but could create a lot of wasted wire and that is wasted money. (And a good chewing out by the Boss.) 

Greenlee has a simple solution for this: the 435 conduit measuring tape. 

  • Greenlee’s power fishing tool allows you to fish and measure conduit runs in one operation 
  • Permanently printed measurements every foot from zero to 3000′ IN (914 m) 
  • Made of strong, waterproof polyester 
  • Easy to use, pull it in the conduit, read the measurement, and cut the wire 

~Woody

 

Duct, Duct, Goose: An Exhaust Fan With EZDuct Connector

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Now, we’re a fan of many things at Gordon, but there are some special products that just light up our world in a different way. Often, we learn about these products at or after the AHR Expo happens, but this year we were ahead of the game with what our friends at Broan-Nutone presented.

This year they had a really cool solution to all those exhausting fan problems. From their Flex Series, Broan-Nutone brought their A-game with this Humidity Sensing Ventilation Fan & Light.

You don’t need AHR access to see this product, or attic access to install it. It has new technology that reduces backdrafts of warm and cold air and has a sensor that will automatically turn it on and off when the set humidity point is reached. It just makes sense to us!

And you can find it at Gordon!

Product Features:

  • 110 CFM, Effective ventilation to remove moisture and reduce the risk of mold or mildew in most full baths
  • Sones for Ultra quiet performance
  • Bright 3000K energy efficient LED lighting to help illuminate your room
  • Humidity sensing technology
  • Retrofit installations can be done entirely from the room-side, no attic access required.
  • EzDuct™ connector can be installed from the room side, with no attic access required
  • TrueSeal™ Damper technology reduces air leakage up to 50%
  • Foldable mounting ears allow for easy installation in both new construction and room-side replacement applications
  • ENERGY STAR® certified product
  • UL Listed for use over bathtubs and showers when connected to a GFCI protected branch circuit (ceiling mount only).
  • Powerful enough for rooms up to 100 sq. ft.
  • Permanently lubricated AC motor engineered for continuous operation

We never get exhausted talking about this exhaust fan, so ask a Gordon rep for more information.

~Samantha

Showing Off The Show Rooms

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If you’ve stopped by a Gordon location, you’ve probably seen the variety of displays in the show room. From tools to breakers to tape, each location highlights some of the products you need for the job.

Recently, we added some new displays and moved a couple favorite displays around at each location. We can’t wait for you to see what we’ve been up to!

We’ve updated the display table with some Keystone lighting and Legrand favorites just in time for St. Patrick’s Day.

The display table at our Mokena branch greets you at the door with some great information on Legrand applications.

 

The Schneider Electric/Square D breaker display is getting a little sun in its new spot at our Kankakee branch.

Pontiac Electric Supply is feeling the luck of Legrand with a variety of wall plates and receptacles.

Company News: Cat Buckley Promotion

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Catherine “Cat” Buckley has been promoted to Supervisor of e-Commerce Customer Service and Returns for Gordon Electric Supply, a distributor of electrical and lighting supplies. She began working at Gordon in the summer of 2021 as an eCommerce Customer Service Representative, bringing years of previous customer service and management experience.

In her new role, Cat will be overseeing the quality and timeliness of answering customer inquiries to provide them with the most up-to-date information for their orders. Her previous management experience will be an asset to guide the customer service team.

“I’m excited to utilize our new system to its full potential, showing how we are able to work better as a team and communicate with the customer faster than ever,” said Buckley, adding that she is interested in “new techniques in which we can better serve our customers with monitoring their order and working together with the sales team to provide the best customer service possible.”

Her promotion announcement can be viewed in tED Magazine.

Staying in and staying warm with TPI this winter!

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It’s winter in the USA, and let’s be real, we’re cold. Our toes are cold. Our ears are cold. Our fingers? Cold. And all this cold is stuffing up our noses. And our noses being stuffy? Reminds us of spring allergies.

Looking for a heater that will keep you warm, but also aren’t forced air blowing around dust, allergens, and dander? We think you’re looking for tried and true baseboard heating, and our friends from TPI have the perfect solution for you.

A product that they presented at AHR this year was a baseboard heater! With no need to run any additional HVAC Systems, this is a great way to control the temperature within those extra cold rooms where the central heating just doesn’t reach or rooms like your basement!

Product Features:

  • Available in white or ivory with stainless steel heating element and aluminum fins
  • Painted 22 gauge steel front with 20 gauge junction boxes located on each end of the heater – junction boxes contain quick connect cable clamps and 6” ground lead wires
  • Over-temperature thermal limit extends the entire length of heated area
  • A full-length wireway provided along the back of the heater – enclosed conduit available
  • Heater can be mounted to the wall by using the key hole knockouts every 4” at the back of the heater
  • Optional in-built thermostats field installed in the junction box

~Samantha

Partner Spotlight: ABB in the Green with Innovation

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First, we saw ABB cable ties as integral parts of NASA’s space program, even going as far as Mars. Now ABB is back with a new innovation—albeit on Earth, this time.

Recently, ABB partnered with the United Kingdom Power Networks to reduce their use of Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6).  For those who don’t know (we definitely didn’t know at first) SF6 is the world’s most potent greenhouse gas.

In their 2030 Sustainability Strategy ABB showcased its commitment to assisting its customers and suppliers reduce emissions. This partnership will use a Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) that features AirPlus gas, which acts as an insulator between the electrical contacts with almost zero impact on the earth’s atmosphere.  The GIS will enable UK Power Networks to reduce the SF6 for 8.3 million homes and businesses in their network. ABB was one of the first companies to offer SF6 free switchgear solutions and it is a major player in the company’s sustainability efforts where they are attempting to transition to a completely SF6 Free portfolio.

Between their new GIS in the UK and cable ties on Mars, keep an eye out for what comes next from ABB!

ABB and UK Power Networks switch to a sustainable future with the world's first 36 kV double busbar AirPlus™ switchgear

Photo Courtesy of: ABB

Company News: Samantha Moore Joins Gordon!

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Gordon Electric Supply is excited to announce the addition of Samantha Moore to the Kankakee branch as the new Marketing Coordinator. She completed a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Digital Marketing at Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, IL and brings a wealth of graphic design experience to her new role. Previously, she worked as a freelance marketing coordinator in the food and beverage processing industry.

“Samantha’s design and marketing skills are a wonderful asset to our marketing team, and her enthusiasm for the coordinator position is valuable to everyone working with her,” said Kristine Weller, Marketing Associate.

Outside of the office, Samantha is a devoted hockey fan, who enjoys spending time with her family.

You  can read about this exciting news in the recent post from tED magazine.

Bring on the Cold!!

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Winter in the Midwest can be brutal!! Temps can plug below zero which can make working outside a very big challenge.

Keeping your body warm is not hard, a coat, insulated pants and gloves can usually do the trick.

Keeping your face warm is the challenge! As always, our friends from Klein Tools have a very cool solution!

The Heat Exchanger Balaclava. Well, when I first saw the name, I had to ask myself “Self, (I knew it was me because I recognized the voice) what is a Balaclava?

A balaclava, also known as a balaclava helmet or Bally (UK slang) or ski mask, is a form of cloth headgear designed to expose only part of the face, usually the eyes and mouth.

Klein has incorporated technology of a heat exchanger that captures heat from each exhaled breath and brings the heat back to the body’s core, helping to prevent loss of body heat. Plus, if you’re a comic book geek, when you where it, you look BANE FROM Batman!!!

  •  Balaclava is made with high-performance 320g fleece for cold weather
  •  The technology of the heat exchanger captures heat from each exhaled breath and brings the heat back to the body’s core, helping to prevent loss of body heat
  •  Heat exchanger is removable for versatility and adjusts with hook and loop attachment for a form-fit
  •  Designed to be worn with safety goggles
  •  Built-in aluminum nose piece allows for snug fit every time
  •  Controls moisture to keep skin dry
  •  One size fits most
  •  Machine washable

~Woody

Sitting At The 2021 Popular Table

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We know there is still one more month of 2021, but we are hoping our top 5 blog posts of 2021 will help move the end of the year closer. We are ready for 2022!

Without further ado, here are the top 5 Gordon blog posts of 2021. These were the posts most read by you this year.

If you haven’t checked out any of the top 5 posts of 2021, the links above will take you to each post.

Lastly, we want to wish everyone a happy New Year and thank you for tolerating our puns this year! Bye Bye Bye to 2021

The Ideal Wire Pulling Solution

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One summer my family took a day trip to a certain amusement park in northern Illinois, and I brought a friend along with my siblings. During a long, hot wait in line for a roller coaster with my friend and middle sister, I saved a kid’s life–well, his leg.

A little boy across from us in the winding line somehow pushed his leg very far between two of the fence posts. The line started moving and his family is tugging the little boy’s leg to move him along, but that was not working and the boy was in pain. To this day, I don’t know what went through my head when I pulled my Chapstick out of my pocket, handed it to the family, and said, “here, use this to lubricate each side of his leg before removing it.”

The family looked at me oddly, but they did as I suggested and the little boy’s leg was freed from the fence. Then the family gave me back my Chapstick like I would still use it after it was on a kid’s knee.

Like that curious little boy, sometimes you need a little extra help to pull wire, which is where the 31-388 ClearGuide Lubricant from IDEAL comes in handy. It may not be a teenager with chapstick, but this quart bottle gets the job done!

  • Perfect for all electrical and datacom pulls
  • Also safe with all cable jackets
  • Easy to apply by hand, brush, or pump
  • Its exceptional lubricity creates a super fast pull
  • Plus it is an easy clean-up!
  • The clear and colorless lubricant has a polymer-based formula
  • controlled evaporation rate is great for shorter runs
  • Remains stable over wide temperature ranges–usable from 32°F to 180°F (-1°C to 82°C)
  • Dries to a semi-fluid film that won’t clog conduit
  • Non-toxic, non-flammable, and non-corrosive

With the 31-388 ClearGuide Lubricant you can also save the day!

~Kristine