| | | | | | NECA 2025 has begun in Chicago! The editorial team of EC&M has checked out all of the latest product innovations being showcased on the exhibit hall floor. As always, this year’s event has a great selection of products designed to help electrical contractors work more efficiently, safely, and quickly. |
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| | Sponsored | For over a century, Schneider Electric has been committed to delivering reliable solutions and valuable industry insights to electrical contractors to help them adapt and grow their businesses. Our connected circuit breakers and switchgear deliver real-time insights to help you make confident decisions — and keep your projects on schedule and on budget. See how our solutions can help you meet and exceed your business needs for today and prepare for what's next. |
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| | | Our very own Everyday Electrician™, Trevor Otttmann, is back at NECA again this year! Day 1 was a blast. Check out some of the exciting things Trevor and the entire EC&M team saw and did throughout the first day of NECA. |
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| | Sponsored | You don’t need to be at NECA to find the smarter way to suspend cable trays. Griplock’s systems replace traditional hardware with adjustable, tool-free solutions that save time and cut costs on every project. |
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| | | Looking for the best freebies at this year’s NECA show in Chicago? Look no further. The editors at EC&M have assembled a guide to some of the opportunities for free giveaways, raffles, and contests. |
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| | Sponsored | Champion Fiberglass® is the leading supplier of fiberglass conduit and according to NECA, offers the lowest labor rates across conduit types for contractors in the electrical industry. While being the only fiberglass conduit manufacturer that is ISO 9001: 2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018 certified, Champion Fiberglass focuses on quality, state-of-the-art manufacturing. |
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| | | On Day 1 of the NECA Show in Chicago, members of the EC&M editorial staff stopped by the I-Gard booth to recognize its i-AVT absence of voltage tester for winning the overall platinum award in this year's Product of the Year competition in the Protective Devices category. The i-AVT Plus combines an absence of voltage tester (i-AVT-R) with a voltage test portal (VTi) in the same product. |
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| | Sponsored | GlenGuard’s insanely lightweight, seriously soft AR/FR fabric is engineered to handle whatever the workday throws your way. American-made and moisture wicking, it delivers next-level comfort and durability that stands up to the grind. When the job demands more, GlenGuard gets it done without compromising compliance or comfort. |
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| | | Watch this video to take a virtual tour of the EC&M booth, see what freebies we're offering to NECA attendees, and learn more about Trevor Ottmann, the Everyday Electrician. |
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| | Sponsored | ABB’s new Carlon® polycarbonate two-piece ENT fittings are engineered for strength and ease. With an eight-tab snap design, they reduce insertion force while delivering over 200 lbs. of pull-out resistance. No taping or cement needed—just a concrete-tight, kink-free solution ideal for long runs and poured-in-place applications. |
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| | | NECA 2025 in Chicago has begun! The editors of EC&M hit the show floor to scope out the latest products on display. For this gallery, Editor Michael Morris brings you some of the most interesting lighting products that were showcased on the first day of NECA. |
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| | Sponsored | The HammerTap offers an irreversible ground rod connection that can be installed without special tooling. The durable design is UL 467 listed for wire to ground rod, and the connection can be made by simply swinging a hammer. |
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| | | Losing good employees can be a surprisingly costly problem for many electrical contractors. In his seminar, “Leadership with Impact: Retaining this Generation’s Best Talent,” Dr. Andy Netzel, senior program manager for Altec Security, said many employees leave a company because they feel disengaged and don’t feel part of the team; don’t see a career path; or don’t feel the work they do for the company has any impact. |
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| | Sponsored | TayMac ParkPost accessory heads add unique style and function to your outdoor power enclosure! Electrical contacts on the covers provide power to the cover, while the low-profile design keeps cords hidden and power accessible. Style, function, and flexibility, all in one smart solution. Learn more in booth #2031 at NECA 2025. |
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| | | Wesco International announced that more than 100 apprentices will graduate next month through the NECA/ELECTRI Project Management Apprenticeship, supported by the Wesco Cares scholarship program. Wesco executives will be onsite at the annual NECA Convention held in Chicago, IL, Sept.12-15, to discuss its strong partnership with ELECTRI International and the success of the scholarship program to date. |
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| | Sponsored | Let the Construction Project Scheduling Experts streamline your operations with comprehensive, optimized scheduling. Gain a clear three-week look ahead to anticipate needs, allocate resources effectively, and avoid costly delays. Our 30 years of proven process and scheduling experience will give you the tools to stay on track from start to finish. |
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| | | NEC Sec. 110.12 “Mechanical Execution of Work” requires electrical work be done in a “professional and skillful manner.” Unfortunately, the Code does not give us any definition for the term. However, an Informational Note in Sec. 110.12 does point us in the right direction. A NECA National Electrical Installation Standard (NEIS) becomes our guideline. |
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| | | From homes to prison cells, the modular and panelized construction market is booming. Here’s how it differs in building design, job-site workflow, and codes. Modular also can be a way for developers to meet sustainability goals, including ones that help qualify a project for government incentives. |
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| | | These examples show electrical apprentices how to apply AFCI protection per Sec. 210.12 of the NEC in certain situations. Apprentices who learn these requirements backward and forward will not only install AFCIs correctly and prevent electrical hazards but also stay up to date with evolving NEC standards in this area. |
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| | | Wearables, AI, and new PPE designs are providing electrical contractors with more options to protect employees — including those who work on low-voltage systems. |
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| | | While the most-cited categories tend to stay the same each year, the order did shift some between 2023 and 2024 and saw fewer total citations across the 10 categories. |
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| | | Stop by Booth #3726 to meet Trevor and the rest of the EC&M team at this year's NECA show in Chicago. |
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