December 2009 - VoltiBULLETIN round-up

Dear User,

One of the most far-reaching changes for 2009 was starting to phase out incandescent lamps, which have been with us for over 100 years. Now, driven by new technologies and climate change legislation, only low energy types - such as CFLs and LED lamps - can be used. Other energy saving related VoltiBULLETIN topics that affect electrical designers, specifiers and contractors include Part L Building Regulation changes, the Code for Sustainable Homes, heat recovery units, and 'smart homes'. Please click on the links below.

Also, bearing in mind the importance of July 2008's full implementation of the 17th Edition, we devoted the July 2009 VoltiBULLETIN to a resume.

There were other important topics in 2009 - you can see them all again below by clicking on the links. The most preferred VoltiBULLETINs of 2009, as judged by your responses, are highlighted. Finally, this VoltiBULLETIN shows the most popular Q&A of the year - please look at it too.

Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year from all at Voltimum UK!

Everywhere, it seems that we only calculate the voltage drop on the supply live cable to ensure that it does not exceed the laid down limits. Why is the voltage drop on the return/neutral cable ignored?

Technically, the total voltage drop at the load would be the sum of the voltage drop in the supply cable and the voltage drop in the return cable. Am I missing something?

Cable strands should not be cut out in order to engage the conductor in a terminal.

It is poor practice to cut strands as shown when connecting a stranded cable to a terminal, as this can lead to an intermittent connection with a risk of fire.