Getting a handle on electrical safety

An exclusive interview with a technical leader.

Lawrence D. Maloney, Contributing Editor -- Test & Measurement World, 5/1/2011 12:00:00 AM

Rod Taylor Managing Director Seaward Group Peterlee, County Durham, UK Rod Taylor is co-founder and managing director of the Seaward Group of companies, which include Seaward Electronic, Clare Instruments, and Rigel Medical. Established in 1982, Seaward specializes in test-and-measurement products for health and safety applications. Prior to starting Seaward, Taylor held marketing positions with the Sperry Rand Group. He received his electrical engineering degree from Nottingham University and is a fellow of the UK’s Institute of Electrical Engineers. Taylor also is past chairman of the North East Confederation of British Industry. Contributing editor Larry Maloney conducted a phone interview with Rod Taylor on new test solutions for meeting safety and compliance standards. Rod Taylor discusses more safety test issues and appliance failure research in the continuation of this interview. Read past Viewpoint columns.

Q: What is the Seaward Group’s niche in test and measurement?
A: The short answer is that, wherever electricity is used, one of our products has an application. All across our companies, the major focus is on the safety of electrical products and systems. We provide test-and-measurement tools to engineers and technicians from the point of power generation through its distribution and finally into the use of that power in a very broad range of products, from portable appliances to medical devices.

We provide high-voltage test equipment, such as resistance-measurement devices, for utility companies, as well as test devices for electrical contractors and installers. Our safety and compliance analyzers also are used in the design and manufacture of electrical products. For example, Airbus uses our instruments to ensure that airframes have the required electrical protection.

Q: What are the key features that your customers want to see in electrical safety and compliance devices?
A: Our customers want instruments that are easy to use and that will allow them to do safety and compliance tests as quickly as possible for maximum productivity. At the same time, there is an overriding concern today for documentation and traceability. There’s no point in doing safety and compliance testing unless you can demonstrate that you actually performed such tests, if an accident were to arise. Most of our instruments feature added memory to store test records, as well as wireless capability to transfer test data to computers for storage.

Q: Can you cite an important Seaward product that embodies such requirements?
A: A good example is the ClareHAL 104 safety analyzer. This single multifunction device addresses the safety and compliance issues associated with the majority of international product standards. The analyzer combines the performance of a production-line safety tester with load and power-factor measurement for product energy consumption and ratings assessment. It incorporates AC/DC hipot and insulation testing, ground- and earth-bond testing, load switching, and leakage testing.

Applications range from avionics and appliances to lighting and defense. You can use it as a manually operated, stand-alone tester, or you can network it in automated manufacturing systems and control it remotely by PC or PLC. Finally, its powerful internal memory allows storage of up to 6000 test results and 20 configurable test routines. Those are the kinds of value-added features that customers want, beyond just taking an accurate measurement.

Q: Which of your application areas is growing the fastest?
A: Medical is a very big area all over the world, and it falls under a whole range of safety and compliance regulations issued through such organizations as the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission). Medical manufacturers, as well as hospitals and equipment rental firms, must take great care to ensure that any electrical device that comes into contact with a patient is safe and is maintained according to prescribed standards.

Another key growth area is alternative and renewable energy, particularly the manufacture and installation of photovoltaic systems. Solar is such a new industry that international standards and regulations are still trying to catch up. A recent report from the French government indicated that perhaps as much as 60% of the photovoltaic installations in France could be potential hazards from fire or electrical shock. T&MW

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Rod Taylor discusses more safety test issues and appliance failure research in the continuation of this interview..