As we are coming into winter, some appliances are getting more of a workout than they've had for a while. It is important to check on all your winter electrical items and any summer items that you are putting into storage. Below are a few simple steps you can perform to ensure your appliances are safe to use this winter: 1. Check that all power cords and plugs on electric heaters are in working condition
2. When upgrading your heater, choose one that has an automatic switch off if tipped over or if it overheats 3. Ensure a minimum of 1 metre distance between any object and a heater 4. Never run heater extension cords under carpets or rugs 5. Avoid doubling up any double adapters or power boards 6. Check the condition of all electric blankets including ensuring their cords and plugs are not frayed and the blanket has not been recalled 7. Don't put heavy items such as bags on top of beds when electric blankets are on 8. Ensure there are an adequate number of smoke alarms throughout your home 9. Change the battery in every smoke alarms at least once a year and test them every year to ensure they are working properly 10. Flick your ceiling fans from summer to winter setting 11. Check all outlets throughout your house, ensuring they are not overloaded with multiple cords Stay safe and warm this winter!
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Christmas time is here and while you are enjoying the festivities, it is important to remember electrical safety during the joyful season. Below are some safety guidelines to follow this Christmas: 1. Don't over-crowd your power boards and when they are not in use or you are not home, turn them off - incorrect use of power boards is a common cause of fire in the home.
2. Check the leads on lights for any fraying or tearing in the leads and blown globes - if you find any issues with the lights, it is recommended you discard them as they may be faulty. 3. Remember to test your safety switch and smoke detector to ensure they are both working. 4. Only use weatherproof lights outdoors - outdoor lights meet additional safety standards and must have a rating of at least IP23. 5. Secure outdoor lights to avoid any damage during storms. 6. Don't run leads where they may get damaged such as near water or in driveways, this can cause the lights to become damaged. 7. Check that your Christmas lights comply with Australian Safety Standards with an approval number of Q12345; V12345; N12345. 8. Ensure your Christmas lights have not been recalled - www.recalls.gov.au 9. Use solar, LED or extra-low-voltage lights outdoors - these are the safest options to prevent electric shock. 10. Always turn outdoor lights off during rain or storms to avoid any electrical shorts. 11. Follow all instructions and recommendations from the manufacturer. 12. Regularly check outlets for problems including overheating to prevent any hazards or injuries. 13. Only purchase lights which meet the Australian Safety Standards. 14. Educate children about the danger of damaging electrical equipment and importance of electrical safety. 15. Don't piggyback power boards or double adapters - power boards have a maximum current rate that should not be exceeded. Make electrical safety a high priority this Christmas and have a fantastic holiday season. This year, Cutting Edge Electrical celebrated 21 years of continued service to our customers. We have driven our growth on the needs and wants of our customers and thank you all for your continued support throughout the years. To celebrate Cutting Edge Electricals' 21 years in business and acknowledge the hard work and loyalty of our staff, we enjoyed a night out in Traralgon at Tokyo House Teppanyaki on Friday 27th October.
Following weeks of guessing where we were going, the team hopped on a bus in Warragul and the bus finally pulled up at the teppanyaki restaurant with a delicious 8 course Japanese styled meal, cooked in front of us by traditional teppanyaki chefs. After we finished the meal, the chefs kicked off some more entertainment with the group, including catching pieces of egg in your mouth and stacking rice bowls which were being thrown at you by the chefs. Those who could catch the egg the first time progressed into a final egg throw, however the numbers soon diminished with eggs being coated with wasabi, causing some forfeits. Topping off the rice bowl stacking, the last bowl was filled with rice, making it even more challenging not to make a mess. The game was then taken outside for the chefs to throw the bowls at an even greater distance. From starting out as a few electricians in an old hay shed to now working out of our substantial workshop in Warragul with a dedicated motor repair workshop and sales team alongside over 20 staff members, we have continued to offer the highest level of service possible. Again, we would like to thank everyone who has helped build and shape Cutting Edge Electrical to be the unique company that we are today, offering paramount service when it counts. This year Cutting Edge Electrical celebrates 20 years in business. While much has changed since 1996, one thing remains the same - we built this business on the promise of exceptional service and we wouldn’t be here today delivering on that promise if it wasn’t for the commitment of our staff. We’ve cultivated a dedicated crew, held to high standards and willing to sacrifice their after-hours, weekends and public holidays to ensure we’re available to our customers when it counts. That’s why it’s so important to us to invest in our team and culture, to recognise loyalty and most importantly, to look after the people who are looking after our customers. So to celebrate 20 years of hard work and dedication, this September we whisked the team away for a weekend of adventure and a little indulgence… We kicked things off on the Friday, where after weeks of guessing what activity was in store, our team pulled up to the Mitta Mitta River for a day of adrenalin-fuelled white water rafting. There were thrills and spills - literally - as we plummeted between rock formations for over 18km through the majestic Alpine National Park. Huge thanks to the crew at Rafting Australia for an experience we won’t soon forget. In a change of pace that night, we swapped white water for white wine and enjoyed a 20 Year Celebration Dinner at Wyanga Park Winery in Lakes Entrance. Great food, wine and company was topped off with a photo slideshow capturing the best of the last 20 years and a heartfelt speech from business owner Greg Cole. And naturally, no Grand Final weekend away would be complete without donning our team colours and cheering on as the Doggies defeated the Swans on Saturday. Now thoroughly refreshed and back at work, we want to extend our sincere thanks to our many customers who have helped us build this business over the last 20 years. It is always with a view to your challenges and needs that we steer and grow our business offering, so without your custom it would all be for nought. We thank you for your continued support and promise to continue delivering the high level of service you've come to expect from the team at Cutting Edge Electrical. Here's to the next 20! This August we received a call from Midas Electricians regarding an issue with the Omron PLC that controls the Pugmill Plant at Boral’s Montrose Plant. After our investigation found that the PLC had failed, we were faced with a timely challenge; the outdated PLC had been discontinued and spare parts were no longer available, eliminating repair as an option. Instead, the entire system had to be upgraded and the busy plant would remain out of action until this was completed. PLC upgrades are not a straightforward task; they are usually done by thoroughly investigating the way the old system works, designing the new system to match, decommissioning the old system and installing and commissioning the new system during a period of scheduled downtime. This case highlights why it is so important to keep your industrial control systems up to date using modern, supported components; not only did Boral’s unplanned upgrade mean critical mid-week downtime, but being a breakdown we did not have the opportunity to view the previous system in action, adding further difficulty to designing its replacement. With no time to waste, Cutting Edge and Midas worked together to quickly assess the previous system and determine the requirements for the new one. We then organised the correct parts to be flown down from Omron in Sydney, which were delivered to the site early the following day. Over the next day and a half, Cutting Edge and Midas physically installed the new PLC and wired in the parts, translated and converted the old PLC’s program to suit the new model and reprogrammed Citect SCADA to allow communication to the new PLC. Then came testing. The new PLC was powered up, Citect communications were tested and all Analog I/O functionality was tested, as the PLC program changes related to how the analog signals worked compared to the old system. Once all this was proven, the system was commissioned with an operator from Boral and the product created was certified in the Boral lab to ensure the system was working correctly. In total, it took 2.5 days to have the system back up and operational. While the quick turnaround and effective outcome made this job a success, the breakdown and subsequent unplanned system upgrade still cost Boral critical production time, serving as an important reminder to keep your plant control systems up to date. Scheduling upgrades during system downtimes minimises interruption to production and ensures that any future issues can be solved quickly with readily-available replacement parts and repair. Is your system compatible with modern replacement parts? If you’re unsure or you’d like to learn more about what’s involved in an upgrade, contact the team at Cutting Electrical on 03 5622 3516. |