Why DIY Store Foams Fail to Seal Conduits

One-part aerosol foams are cheap and easy to use, but learn why their use as a duct sealant can be problematic.

One-part, “gap and crack” foams used in the building trades are sometimes used to seal electrical and telecommunications conduits. These “canned foam” products are cheap and common. They appear to comply with industry codes mandating that conduits be sealed. Unfortunately, these seemingly ideal sealants too often fall short of expectations, failing to seal. This failure far outweighs any perceived convenience or cost savings over high-performance, engineered sealing solutions. This article reviews one-part aerosol foams and analyzes specifically why their use as a duct sealant can be problematic.

One-Part vs. Two-Part Aerosol Foam

”One-part” aerosols require moisture from the air to fully react. When dispensed from the can it reacts with moisture in the air to harden. This is effective when such foams are applied to wood materials. Wood is an excellent source of moisture for curing. “Two-part” aerosols contain two chambers, one with resin, and one with a curing agent. The two materials are mixed when dispensed, triggering the curing process—the presence of moist air is not required. Everything needed to make the functioning foam is contained in the two parts. Because nothing is required from the environment, these foams tend to be much more consistent and less affected by changes in that environment. They are also more appropriate for use with a wide range of materials.

NEW ConduRod from SAE Inc.

What is a ConduRod? A better performing, corrosion proof ground rod

ConduRod is a conductively molded, increased surface area ground rod that dramatically enhances grounding performance while reducing installation costs and hazards associated with traditional methods. 

By using the corrosion proof ConduRod grounding system compared to the traditional ground rod, you will benefit from:

1. Improved performance with 5x the surface area of an 8’ ground rod
2. Better asset protection and reliability by ensuring protection devices function as designed due to a reduction in resistance to ground
3. Lowest lifecycle cost due to the elimination of corrosion
4. Improved safety by eliminating the need to drive ground rods

The ConduRod is ideally suited for use in situations where traditional ground rods are failing to meet resistance targets, are corroding over time, and where hazards exist with buried infrastructure. The ConduRod can be installed in the pole hole or adjacent to, depending on the soil conditions and site restrictions.

The ConduRod will save you time and money … in labor and materials, now and for years to come!

Insulation Resistance Tester (P81002)

Product Features

• A high precision tester that is reliable and easy to operate
• Anti-vibration rubber sleeve protects against dirt and moisture for use in outdoor applications
• Low-power CMOS dual-integration A/D conversion IC, auto-zero, auto-polarity display, and over range indication
• Short circuit output current 1mA
• AC voltage test function
• Magnets for hands-free use

Phasor Measurement Unit

SATEC is now offering a transmission PMU device:

• PMU stands for Phasor Measurement Unit.
• PMU’s are specialized devices used mainly by utility transmission grids to gather high resolution information for their grid.
• SATEC now has PMU capability as a part of their PM180 Power Quality meter platform.

Synchronized Phasor Measurements - Key Benefit Areas

• Real-time measurement of power system state
• Real-time monitoring of power system dynamics
• Post event analysis
• System Reliability: Outage/Vulnerability Reduction
• System Operations & Planning

HIGHLIGHTS

• Full IEEE C37.118.1 compliance, for both:
  • M- Class
  • P- Class
• Full interoperability, featuring:
  • IEEE C37.188.2 protocol
  • IEC 61850-9-2 protocol
  • 5 streaming slots (UDP and TCP protocol)
• Optional split-core CT for easy installation- no outage needed!
• Versatile micro-sec resolution time sync:
  • PTP
  • IRIG-B

If you are interested in participating in a pilot program leveraging SATEC's PMU platform, contact us at info@powertech-upc.com

Taming the Wild Tail:

Utility Solutions, Inc. Introduces All-New Clamping Solution

Utility Solutions, Inc., a leading manufacturer of Hotline Tools, has announced today the launch of their newest product, the Rex Clamp™. This clamp is specifically designed to solve a common problem when working with a come along or strap hoist: controlling a loose conductor tail.

The Rex Clamp™ is the latest in the company's innovative offering of products. The Rex Clamp™ features a locking arm that positively captures the strap and conductor, allowing the clamp to travel along the strap while keeping a conductor tail in place. 

"Conductor wire can keep its shape from the spool," said Zach Greer, Design Engineer at Utility Solutions, Inc. "It can spring back and strike line workers while they are working, and it can pose an even bigger risk if the line is energized, which it often is. We have met with a few linemen to understand their needs and have developed a product that addresses this problem in a unique and innovative way.”

The Rex Clamp™ is the first of its kind on the market. “We filed a patent,” continued Greer, “since this is the first commercially available clamp designed for this purpose. We hope the Rex Clamp™ will become a valuable addition to any lineman's toolkit and we look forward to seeing it in action."

The Rex Clamp™ is now available for purchase.  

Click here to view a video on the Rex Clamp

 For more information or a quote on any of the products featured in this newsletter, please reach out to Ryan Campbell at rcampbell@powertech-upsc.com or
(860) 678-8772.

Powertech Associates and Utility Power Supply offer the latest products and solutions available in the Utility Industry.  We are committed to meet the needs of our customers through quality product solutions and proven customer service.