R E V I E WIssue 1, Vol 2 APRIL 1997

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The change in March 1996 from apublic listed company to a privatecompany, fully owned by the Nilsenfamily, was uneventful, with littleimpact on the operations of theGroup. The main effect was felt byHead Office, which was dismantled asa result of the privatisation.

Sales reached $61 million in the 8months to February and employmenttotalled 750.

Our Contracting and Engineeringbusinesses in Melbourne, Adelaide,Perth and Thailand have shown the

greatest growth. The problems ofrecent years in Perth and Victoria, arenow well behind us, and eachbusiness is profitable. SouthAustralia has opened offices inDarwin and Mt Gambier, and weexpect to increase our business inThailand.

There have been a number of changesat Nilsen Technologies, directed atconcentrating the company’s effortson a limited number of important andsignificant agencies. Over the years,we have bought the Instrumentsbusiness of a number of othercompanies, and this has led toconflicting agencies and agenciesoutside our chosen fields. These havebeen discontinued and the business isnow based on approximately 30 verygood agencies, with high potential forfuture growth.

Nilsen Industrial Electronics ourElectronic Metering company, hasalso experienced significant growth,and has introduced some innovativeproducts such as MeterNet. We seeexciting opportunities in thecontinuing deregulation of the

electricity industry throughoutAustralia.

Nilsen Porcelains is operating veryefficiently, but is suffering from overcapacity, and a major effort isunderway to add new products.

The Group’s joint venture with UnitedEnergy, Nilsen Power Services (NPS)was launched last June, and isalready providing a high standard ofservice to United Energy and othercustomers. The aim of this businessis to service all companies in theelectricity industry and to build up astrong maintenance business withprivate industry. Progress to date hasbeen excellent.

Overall, the Group has achieved a lotin the last 12 months. I thank allemployees for their contribution andI am sure we will continue to expandin the coming year.

OJ NilsenChairman

Nilsen Electric (Vic) Pty Ltd has recently won a $4 millioncontract with Fletcher Construction for the supply andinstallation of the electrical services to the Men’sMetropolitan Prison project in Dohertys Road, Laverton.The completed works are to be on installation “Fit forPurpose”, given that the works have to be installed in andform part of, a Medium and High Security Male Prisonwhich is required to operate economically 24 hours a dayfor 20 years for 600 inmates.NEV commenced the electrical works in August 1996 andthe total project has to be completed by the 28th August1997. At present we are employing 30 Electricians andare in close working proximity to other contractors withour installation.The total project power supply consists of 2 x 2000 KVAsubstations. Both substations are supplied viaunderground HV Cables originating from independent HVaerial feeders located on the opposite sides of DohertysRoad.

Two Main Switchboards24 Distribution Boards, - Consisting of non-essential loadtesting/monitoring shed contactors and controls.

GeneratorSupply and installation of fully automatic diesel generatorset to supply the essential electricity demand to each mainswitchboard.

MATVSupply and installation of a centralised total site MATVaerial system.

Fire AlarmsSupply and installation of total automatic fire alarmsystem.

Supply and installation of total Light and Powerinstallation to 21 Buildings including external Luminairesand Poles. All works are currently proceeding to program.

NILSEN ELECTRIC (VIC) PTY LTD

FRONT PAGE: Nilsen Electric (WA)’s Electrical Upgrade at the P & O Conaust Terminal, Freemantle.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

We are currently nearing completionof the Western Link -Casting Yardproject for Baulderstone HornibrookEngineering who are in turnrepresenting the Transfield-ObayashiJoint Venture in the construction ofthe Melbourne City and Western Linkroadways.

The Western Link - Casting Yard,when complete will produce theconcrete segments which will in turnmake up the elevated roads andbridge sections of the new WesternLink which is to connect theTullamarine Freeway to the WestgateFreeway.

Our component of the project wasdesigned by consultants Scott,Wilson, Irwin, Johnston andincorporates the complete electricalscope from construction of a new 500KVA Powercor substation through tofinal fit off of lighting, general powerrequirements.Ably assisted by Allied SchravenGroup for civil works, A- LineSwitchboards and Schneider for Mainand Sub-switchboards respectivelyand Doylson as our light fittingsupplier, we were able to completethe staging of the programmed worksto the clients requirements. Aninitial labour requirement of 2,900man-hours has seen 4- 5 Nilsenemployees busy from mid November

‘96 through to the end of March ‘97.

Our labour force performed extremelywell within the short program asabout half of our work was aroundthe 15 metre high roof line inhydraulic booms with other tradesworking frantically below. Togetherwith his capable crew of tradesmenand apprentices Stan Christie wasable to carry our the tasks involvedto complete the various aspects of theproject to the requirements of theteam of engineers based on site forBaulderstone Hornibrook Engineering.

As we near completion of this projectthe facility is already producingconcrete bridge and elevated roadssegments in preparation forconstruction of the Western Linkroadway.

We are confident that ourperformance on this project will holdus in good stead for further worksassociated with the Western Linkproject which will continue foranother couple of years.

Project supervisor Mark Wiesner iswell assisted by the site foreman StanChristie. On site the tradesmen areTim Hubeek, David Vella and NumerAtienza. The value of this totalproject is approximately $380K.

Nilsen Groupcelebrates its80th BirthdayIn 1996 the NILSEN GROUP ofcompanies celebrated it’s 80thBirthday of providing a widerange of services and products tothe Australian and Internationalindustry it serves. NILSENcontinues to offer a high qualityof commitment to its customersand staff throughout itsbusinesses and is looking forwardto the next 80 Years.

The company currently employs750 people and has a very lowlevel of staff turnover. This can beseen in the following table.

YEARS SERVICE NUMBER

5-10 110

10-15 44

15-20 27

20 – 25 10

25 + 23

TOTAL 214

As can be seen from this table30% of our workforce has beenwith NILSEN for more than 5years and one individual has beenwith us for more than 40 years.

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COMMERCIAL CONTRACTINGWESTERN LINK - CASTING YARD PROJECT

(LAVERTON NORTH)

Nilsen on the INTERNET (www.nilsen.com.au)The NILSEN GROUP of companies, like most companies in this day and age, are looking to the future and wherebusiness will be sourced and how to remain competitive in this ever changing environment.

There has been a lot of talk about the Internet as the next billion dollar industry over the next few years. Althoughthis may be some time off there is a view in the NILSEN GROUP that the Internet offers a whole new way of thinkingand opens up a new area of communication and opportunity to serve both the company and its customers better.

With this in mind NILSEN are on the Internet at www.nilsen.com.au. This site is currently under development so willbe expanding and changing a lot over the next six months. We are constantly reviewing how this site can best serveboth the internal and external needs of NILSEN our customers and suppliers. So log on, have a look and tell us whatyou would like to see on here. We are looking forward to this project as we head rapidly toward 2000 and an ever-changing way of doing business.

Congratulations to Nilsen ElectricWestern Australia for winning the1996 NECA National Award inSydney recently for the P & OConaust terminal upgrade (see frontcover). In presenting the Award toNilsen Electric WA, the judgecommented ‘Nilsen are distinguishedfor the comprehensive H.V. Upgradeand Light Installation on a fullyoperational port that allowedoperations to continue unhinderedwith flexible programming andmanagement of the project - we wereimpressed’.

As the win for Nilsen Electric inWestern Australia follows on from

Nilsen Electric South Australia’swinning of the NECA ExcellenceAward in 1995 for the AdelaideMedical Centre for Women andChildren, this now makes two yearsin a row that Nilsen has taken outthis prestigious award!

Not to be left out of it altogetherNilsen Electric SA again took outtheir State award for the second yearin a row, for the Westpac Data Centreat Lockleys and also received a “HighCommendation” (the runner upAward) at the National Awards.There is now an impressive history ofwinning of Excellence Awards byNilsen over the last few years:

1996 - Nilsen WA wins the NECANational Award for projects under$500,000.1996 - Nilsen WA wins ECA of WAState Certificate of Excellence overallwinner for projects under $500,000(Commercial Sector).1996 - Nilsen SA wins NECANational High Commendation forprojects over $500,0001996 - Nilsen SA wins NECA StateAward for overall excellence1996 - Nilsen SA wins NECA StateAward for projects over $500,000.

1995 - Nilsen SA wins NECANational Award for projects over$500,000.1995 - Nilsen SA wins NECA StateAward for overall excellence1995 - Nilsen SA wins NECA StateAward for projects over $500,000.1995 - Nilsen WA wins ECA of WAState High Commendation forprojects under $500,000. (CommercialSector).

1994 - Nilsen WA wins NECANational High Commendation forprojects over $500,0001994 - Nilsen WA wins ECA of WAState Certificate of Excellence overallwinner for projects over $500,000(Commercial Sector)1994 - Nilsen Vic wins NECA StateExcellence Award for projects under$500,000

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MORE NATIONAL AND STATEEXCELLENCE AWARDS FOR NILSEN!

NILSEN, COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE!

SHOPPING CENTRESNilsen W.A. are currentlycarrying out the electricalinstallation for theSouthland ShoppingCentre (new eight cinemacomplex, food hall, carparks, Action store, 38speciality shops,restaurant, Time Zone,mall extensions and H.V.and L.V. extensions) forthe Reed Group, withcompletion scheduled forSeptember 1997.

EGG SHAPEDSEWAGEPROCESSORSNilsen W.A. are nearing completionof the electrical and instrumentationinstallation for the Woodman PointWaste Water Treatment Plant (Egg-Shaped Digester- Stage 1) for ThiessContractors and their consultantBassett Consulting Engineers withcompletion scheduled for March1997. The ‘eggs’ were the main partof the Water Corporation’s $30million waste water project atWoodman Point. Thiess Contractorsin February 1997 were awarded thenext stage of this project and haveengaged Nilsen WA as part of theirteam once again to complete the finalstage of this first of project inAustralia, with completion scheduledfor December 1997.

ACCREDITATIONNilsen W.A. received QA Accreditationto ISO 9001 in February 1997(Accredited by “Bureau VeritasQuality International” - BVQI).Nilsen continue to set high standardsin the industry.

CITYLINK ANDWESTERNLINKPROJECTSIn Melbourne, people wishing to travelon freeways from either south eastern,western or northerly routes find theyend several kilometres short of eachother resulting in the sort of trafficcongestion that large cities are oftenrenowned for. Melbourne’s largestcurrent infrastructure developmentproject is the connection andwidening of these freeways to allowuninterrupted travel through the City.

This privately funded project is beingexecuted by the Transfield ObayashiJoint Venture (TOJV) and requires theconstruction of new roads andtunnels. The size of the project hasmeant TOJV had to subcontract someof the works. The Westernlink portionhas been awarded to BaulderstoneHornibrook Engineering (BHE). As aresult of the modifications to the roadnetwork, both companies needed torelocate existing electricalinfrastructure such as overhead lines,66 kV underground power cables andmulticore supervisory cable used bythe supply authorities to control andprotect the electricity system.The nature of the work is veryspecialised with very few contractorsbeing able to provide experiencedhigh voltage cable installation,termination and testing along with overhead line expertise and lowvoltage multicore termination skills.Within its first few months ofoperation, Nilsen Power Services wasawarded contracts by TOJV and BHEin excess of $2.3M to relocate and

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Nilsen does both equally well!

Nilsen has been highly successful inthe Health Care and HospitalityIndustry. In Western Australia,Nilsen Electric WA are currentlycarrying out the electrical installationfor the Joondalup Health Campus inthe suburb of Joondalup and MountHospital in the City of Perth for John

Holland Construction and EngineeringPty Ltd and Health Care of Australia,(Consultants - Wright Mackay &Associates) and in South Australia,Nilsen Electric SA is currentlyinvolved with two large regionalhospitals at Mount Gambier and PortAugusta for Hansen Yuncken andBaulderstone respectively.The SA Company has also recently

won the designand building ofa new hotel atNorth terracein Adelaide,which will bethe third hotelthe Companyhas helpeddevelop alongthis primeAdelaideboulevard, andit is only a fewhundred metresalong fromanother Nilsenproject, thenew campusfor the

University of South Australia nowbeing handed over for the 1997academic year.At the same time, Nilsen Electric Vic.Is working on a large ‘hospitality’project of another type, the Lavertonprison, so it can truly be said thatNilsen can offer the best electricalservice in any ‘home away from home’!

HOSPITALS AND HOSPITALITY

augment these assets which are ownedby Citipower.NPS’ project manager, Brian Grace, ismanaging all the work associated withthe contracts which includesdirectional boring under the MooneePonds Creek and several ofMelbourne’s major roads.

Co-ordination with the principal’senvironmental consultants ensured thestrict environmental controls wereproperly implemented resulting in thesix crossings not having any impacton the Creek. Brian also liaised withCitipower to ensure they were satisfiedwith the quality and standard of the

work on their assets and coordinatedoutages with them to allowcompletion of the work. To date the projects have goneextremely well with NPS’ extensivecable jointing capacity being key inensuring completion deadlines couldbe met.

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Nilsen Power Services was formed inMay last year when Nilsen Electric(Vic) and United Energy decided toform a joint venture to takeadvantage of the serviceopportunities arising from thederegulation of Victoria’s electricityindustry. In the short time sincethen, we have been awardedsignificant maintenance and highvoltage construction contracts byUnited Energy, Citipower, EasternEnergy, Powercor, Solaris, VPX andPowernet. This has not beenrestricted to the electrical supplyindustry as NPS has performed workfor major industrial and commercialcustomers such as Hoechst, BHPSteel, ICI, Melbourne MetropolitanFire Brigade and the Victorian ArtsCentre. Expertise with undergroundpower and control cables has beenused in several subcontracts forMelbourne’s City Link project as wellas numerous Urban ResidentialDevelopments (URD).

NPS tremendous success in this shortperiod of operation, especiallyconsidering its’ low profile approachto the market, is due to a number ofunique contributing factors. Otherorganisations provide low cost labourbut fail to deliver additional value tocustomers. Traditionally, most workrequests are raised when an item ofequipment breaks down . Theresponse to this is generally reactive;a verbal request for fast action withlittle more to show for everyone’sefforts than an invoice at the end ofthe day. The true or root cause andcontributing factors to the fault arerarely identified, and if they are, theyare generally not reported,documented or used to changemaintenance strategies in the future.So what happens? Maintenancecrews keep repairing the same faults,time after time again. And why?We’re often told “nobody has any

time to do this because we are toobusy fixing what has just brokendown.”

International surveys show about 50to 60% of most organisationsmaintenance is reactive, 35% ispreventative and less than 5% ispredictive or proactive. This meansthat most maintenance crews willcome to work each day, not knowingwhat they will be doing for at leasthalf of it. World’s Best Practicesuggests a maintenance mix of 50%predictive, 20% proactive and 25%percent preventative will result inaround only 5% reactivemaintenance delivering up to 40%savings in maintenance costs. Thisrequires a move away from timebased maintenance and fault repair.

If these savings are so substantialwhy aren’t organisations achievingthem?

We believe it is because few peoplestart at the beginning when lookingat the maintenance requirements oftheir assets. They should formulatemaintenance policies and strategiesthat will produce the requiredbusiness outcomes, not a bland 10%increase or decrease on last yearsbudget. The policies are best basedon an audit of the condition, dutyand maintenance history of each itemof equipment with an assessment ofthe risk and consequence of itsfailure. The validity of the selectedstrategy should be confirmed bycomparing its potential impact withthat of past practices. It is then thework can be planned. Implementingthe work requires an effective worksmanagement system and a highlyskilled work force able to identify thecause of problems and trained toreport recommendations of how theycan be overcome in the future. Thisknowledge may then be used to

update maintenance strategiesresulting in a continuousimprovement process.

It is this approach to maintenance,coupled with NPS’ unique wide rangeof specialist services, that hasattracted many major clients torequest either a completemaintenance package or just selectedservices specific to their currentneeds. To back this, NPS hasspecialist service vehicles, over sixtyspecialist technicians and tradespeople, a fully equipped work shopand spares store backed by 24 hourfault service.

Diagnostic techniques, such asthermography, vibration analysis,transformer oil testing and plantauditing form the basis of NPS’conditioning monitoring capability.We service protection, control andcommunication systems as well aselectrical assets from 66 kV down to240V. Our paint and workshops allowus to refurbish HV circuit breakersand load break switches, performtransformer overhauls and fabricatespecialised components.Underground power and supervisorycable installation, repair and faultlocation, substation construction compliment this range of services.

NPS unique ability to analyse anorganisation’s current work methodsand recommend validatedimprovements, manage the workpolicies and strategies with practicalsolutions, provide changemanagement training to helporganisations work in a moreeffective manner and provide inhouseexpert labour set us apart from therest of the industry whereconsultants, software vendors orlabour hire companies offer only partsolutions without any effectiveimplementation.

INTRODUCING NILSEN POWER SERVICES

A three man team from Nilsen PowerServices manned a trade stand at therecent Mainstream 97 maintenanceconference in Sydney. Rob BellshamGeneral Manager said that this wasan exercise in declaring our presenceto the industry. Mick Drew held aone hour demonstration of the NPSmaintenance aids which generated alot of interest from organisations whowere looking for help in moving fromreactive maintenance to proactivemaintenance. Many organisationsattending the conference also saidthey didn’t have time to use theirworks management systems or their

company’s IT package did notallow them to effectively plan theirmaintenance and were commentedthat NPS was uniquely placed tohelp them overcome theseproblems. John Szmalko said thenumber and quality of newbusiness leads far exceeded hisexpectations.

NPS’ asset reliability andmaintenance specialist approachwas summed in their slogan:

...Delivering PerformanceImprovement...

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TWO NEW 25 YEAR MEMBERS IN S.A.!The Group welcomes two new 25 YearMembers in South Australia.

At a function held in Adelaide recently,two more 25 Year Members werewelcomed by Mr. Allan Trimble onbehalf of Mr. John Nilsen. Welcomedwere Phil Geytenbeek and Phil Mellow,both of whom have now been with theContracting Division of Nilsen Electric(S.A.) for more than 25 years.

As Mr. Trimble outlined in his speech,this was another indication of thestrength of Nilsen, the Nilsen Groupand the Nilsen companies. It isbecause Nilsen is a company ofdedicated people all working to acommon goal.

The function was attended by manypast and present 25 year members andprovided a great opportunity not onlyfor all to reminisce, but also for thosethat “have gone before” to pass on theNilsen values that have made thecompany in South Australia, and theGroup overall, the strength in theindustry that it is today

Above:Allan Trimble (right) congratulating Phil Geytenbeek

Left: Allan Trimble (right) congratulating Phil Mellow

SYDNEY MAINTENANCECONFERENCE

From Left to Right: John Szmalko, Mick Drew andRob Bellsham

When Sedco Forex looked to import anew technology, transportable, landbased drilling rig to do exploratorywork for Santos at the Moomba gasand oil field in the far north of SAand it needed urgent conversion toAustralian Standards it called onlocal SA company “Air Ride” to dothe upgrading and called on Nilsen todo the upgrading of the electrical andinstrumentation.

The project involved muchflameproof equipment and highlyspecialised gas detection and pressuresensing equipment, operating atunusual voltages and frequencies.The project was completed inside ofsome 10 weeks, under considerabledifficulty as much of the originaldocumentation was difficult toobtain.

For those interested in some of themore technical aspects, the rig(Named “Smart 1”) uses “small hole”technology, boring a hole only fiveinches in diameter down to a depthof some 12,000 to 14,000 feet!(Sorry, the exploration industry stilltalks in feet and inches but that is a125mm hole some 4 kilometres deep!)The rig is totally self contained andprovides its own pressurised mud atsome 6000 pounds per square inch tokeep the drill bit cool!When you remember that atraditional drilling rig bores ahole about three times thediameter of the Smart 1 rig, youcan see why this technology cansave 40% of the cost of drillingeach hole, and that could be asaving of $1M or $ 2M per hole!No wonder they call it the“Smart one”!

All Nilsen work had to be certified bysurvey and, needless to say, it allpassed with flying colours. Goodluck to Sedco Forex and Santos onthis exciting new venture.

HMAS “RANKIN”DELIVERED ON TIME ANDON BUDGET.Nilsen Electric SA will say farewell towhat has become a familiar sight, thepropulsion switchgear for the last ofthe current series of “Collins Class”submarines, the HMAS “Rankin”, thelargest non nuclear submarines in theworld.

For the past seven years the companyhas been building the propulsionswitchgear, delivering one setapproximately every twelve monthsand it has been a major contract forthe Adelaide based company.Because of this project, the companyhas gained very substantial skillsfrom the technology transferassociated with it and many havelearned highly specialised skills andto work to the requirements ofdefence level Quality Assurancesystems. A credit to the Nilsen team!

Not only was the project delivered ontime and on budget, but the qualityachieved by Nilsen wasacknowledged by all involved to beequal to the best in the world, whichin the defence industry really meansthe company has become of age!

Nilsen now hope that they will beable to use these skills on othersimilar projects.

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SMART 1, A “HOLE” NEW VENTURE FOR NILSEN!

Submarine Switchboard

SPEED AND CLASSESData communication by cable is justone aspect of a ‘transmission line’.While the process takes place overcopper wires, there are limitations onthe ‘signalling speed’ which arechiefly the inductance andcapacitance per unit length. In theoptical fibre world the limits are setby the existence of ‘modes’ (the pathsalong which light can travel) and theattenuation of the light energy by thefibre.In general, fibre is much faster thancopper and for this reason it is usedas ‘backbone’ cabling (in a high riseoffice or other commercial building,it will connect the individual officefloors to one another). Copper is usedto interconnect the equipment on aparticular floor, each floorconnecting to the fibre backbonethrough ‘optical to electrical’converters or network interface cards(NICs).

CLASS 5This cable can operate at 100 MHzand represents the most frequentlyasked for type, even though actualcommunication speed to be used oncethe network has been commissioned

and tested at 100 MHz may be lower.It is generally supplied as eithertwisted four pair, or twenty-five pairand either unshielded (UTP) orscreened (STP). Another popularcategory is class 3., which is mainlyused for telephony.The tighter the twist of theconductors, the more likely that theimmunity to electromagneticinterference, will be increased.Screening also improves this but cancause interference problems if notproperly grounded.

INSTALLATION ANDPERFORMANCEYou may not have a say in the exactstyle of cable to be used, it havingbeen specified. The story here is,however, no different to other real-life situations; ‘you get what you payfor’! Premium category 5 cable withprecise conductor-to-conductorspacing and fluorinated ethylenepropylene (FEP) insulation isavailable, providing very stableperformance. The user may have topay more but ends up with a morereliable network!Performance can be degraded byinstallation details such as cablebending, stretching, proximity tofluorescent lighting and heat.Moisture can also degradeperformance. Installation precautionsgiven by cable manufacturers includesuspension above the metal ceilingsupports. Hangers can be used as analternative to cable trays, andspecially designed types are available.Sharp edges and tight bends shouldgenerally be avoided, although thereare special (but pricey) cables whichpermit this. Correct termination isimportant as ‘cross talk’ betweencable pairs can be introduced throughuntwisting and by kinking andcrimping.

TESTING CATEGORY 5INSTALLATIONSTo test an installation, a tester suchas the LANcat Vx is needed. Thesedays, your local electrical wholesaler

is likely to supply you one, or youcan contact specialist companies. Thetests which need be made are:Wire MapThis checks twisted pair links for pin-to-pin continuity.LengthVerifies that the link does not exceedthe maximum permissible length (90metres, typically).AttenuationMeasures the reduction in signalstrength over the length of the link. Near End Cross-Talk (NEXT)Measures the amount of signalcoupling from one wire pair to otherwire pairs in the link.The above tests are the minimumrequired to prove the copper datacommunication cable part (the socalled ‘horizontal’ portion because itis usually the wiring on a floor). Asalready mentioned, the ‘backbone’connecting the floors together in atypical ‘smart’ building is likely to beoptical fibre). Although fibre-opticcabling and termination is a different‘kettle of fish’, the ability to test thatside, basically expands a contractor’scapacity to take on more of anoverall responsibility. The problemslikely to be encountered are badconnections, splices and excessivebending.

The LANcat Vx can be used with theFIBERcat (illustrated on the right). Thisprecision optical power meter permitsrapid detection of optical fibre installationerrors including bad connections, splicesand fibre mismatch.

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CATEGORY 5 COMMUNICATION CABLES POSE NO PROBLEMTO INSTALLERS IF THE BASICS ARE UNDERSTOOD

A complete Datacom Technologies AN test system, supplied by NilsenTechnologies.The LANcat Vx Category 5 Cable Testerand Talk Set provides automatic Two-WayNEXT (Near End Cross Talk) from bothends of the link; Wiremaps includingvisual display of crossed and failed pairs;Attenuation, noise, cable length;Propagation Delay and Impulse Noise.

Highly significant recent additions toour instrumentation scope are therange of Baur HV and cable testingproducts and the measurementbridges and ancillary devices fromVettiner. Both companies arerecognised as international leaders intheir particular fields.

IMPROVING POWER QUALITY, ANOPPORTUNITY FOR BOTHELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTOR ANDCONSUMERPower quality is a collective termdescribing electrical powerparameters such as sags, swells,impulses, momentary interruptions,frequency variations and harmonics.Described in purely technical terms,some mind-numbing explanationsand analyses can be offered whichfrom a consumer’s aspect, would behard to correlate to his everydayexperience of power quality. The subject of power quality,particularly when seen from theconsumer’s point of view, is apotential source of ‘added value’business for electrical energydistributors and those electricalcontractors who are prepared tospecialise in power quality issues. Toargue, for example, that a problem inthe electrical reticulation within aclient’s premises is not the provinceof the distribution company, is tolose sight of the new competitiveclimate. Distribution companies arebecoming increasingly cast in therole of ‘common carrier’, leaving thefield of energy trading open to thirdparties. Solving a customer’s powerquality problems is one of the ‘add-on’ services that can create goodwilland make that consumer less likely toend up doing business for his

kilowatt-hours, with another ‘energytrader’.Gregory Rauch, Senior ApplicationEngineer with Basic MeasuringInstruments, explained that, at theindividual consumer level, one cansolve power quality problems suchthose caused by loose wiring andgrounding connections, overheatingof neutrals, transients and harmonics.The subject of harmonics is one thatis becoming increasingly importantthrough the prevalence of computers,communication equipment and powerelectronics such as switching powersupplies and variable speed drives.These customer loads frequently actas significant harmonic generatorsand can consequently cause problemsincluding excessive voltageregulation, high neutral currents andnegative sequence components whichoften affect the torque output as wellas smooth running of electric motors.Instruments such as those availablefrom Basic Measuring Instrumentswhich are capable of highly detailedharmonic analyses including powerflow direction are an essential toolfor the investigation of powerquality.

NILSEN TECHNOLOGIES APPOINTEDAS AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTOR FORBAUR CABLE TESTING AND HVTESTING INSTRUMENTATIONBob Harris, National MarketingManager, was pleased to advise theappointment of Nilsen Technologiesas national distributor for theelectrical test and measurementinstrumentation of Baur (Austria).Baur is a leader in world markets. Therange of Baur instrumentationincludes advanced Echometers withapplication to LV, communicationand HV power cables. The Baur IRG90 Echometer is capable of basicfault-distance resolution to less than1 metre (in the 100 MHz samplingmode) and has a measuring range inexcess of 100 km. Testing of highimpedance fault conditions isfacilitated through Baur’s SecondaryImpulse Method (SIM). Other Baurequipment distributed by Nilsen

Technologies, includes burn downtransformers, surge generators (whichcan be used in SIM testingarrangements) and acoustic faultlocation apparatus.

NILSEN TECHNOLOGIESANNOUNCES THE INTRODUCTIONOF THE VETTINER SPC1ASCHERING BRIDGE FOR LOSSANGLE DETERMINATIONSNilsen Technologies has beenappointed as national distributor forVettiner test and measurementinstruments. The Vettiner range ofequipment includes a wide range ofAC bridges, transformer testingequipment as well as Epsteinlamination testers. The VettinerSPC1a Schering Bridge is typical ofthe measurement bridge series and issuitable for the highly accuratedetermination of dielectriccapacitance and loss angle ofinsulators. The capacitancemeasurement range is given by thevalue of the standard capacitoremployed and a set of compressed gasstandard capacitors from 50 to 400 pFare available, yielding a measurementrange with the SPC1a of 0.8 pF to0.32 µF. Loss angle (tan d ) can bemeasured from 0.001 % to 100 %.Null indication is provided by meansof a Lissajou curve display on thebridge’s cathode ray tube. In additionto the standard capacitors, otherauxiliary equipment includes a rangeof power supplies with testingvoltages from 1 kV to 40 kV. Testcells for liquid insulation testing aswell as solid materials add to theapplication field.

HIOKI FAST WAVEFORMRECORDERS ARE CE-APPROVEDKen Muraoka, who has been handlingthe export of Hioki Test andMeasurement instruments toAustralia since the late sixtiesrecently visited Hioki’s NationalDistributor, Nilsen Technologies. Hevisited Nilsen Technologies offices inWest Australia, South Australia,Victoria, New South Wales andQueensland to discuss the latest

NILSEN TECHNOLOGIES STRENGTHENS ITS THRUST INELECTRICAL TEST AND MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENTATION

From Left to Right: Bob Harris, Marketing Manager Nilsen Technologies; Ashok Sundaram, PowerElectronics Manager, EPRI; Gregory Rauch, Senior Application Engineer, Basic Measuring InstrumentsInc.; Keith Allen, Marketing Product Manager, Electrical T&M Nilsen Technologies

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developments in instrumentsincluding Hioki’s large range ofwaveform recorders such as the Hioki

model 8845 and 8852 waveformrecorders which have gained CE-approval. These multi-channel analog

and digital recorders are ideally suitedto solving difficult to diagnoseproblems in equipment such as PLCs,CNC machines, fast acting circuitbreakers and power electronics. BobHarris, National Marketing Managerof Nilsen Technologies stated that theclose cooperation with Hioki, built upover close to four decades, meant thatthe two partners were able to achievea product well-suited to localrequirements.

The photo shows from left to right,Ken Muraoka (Hioki); Kevin Gardiner,National Sales Manager; Bob Harris,National Marketing Manager; TarasMaciburko, General Manager; Keith Allen,Product Marketing Manager, ElectricalT&M and David Orchard, ProductMarketing Manager, Electronic T&M

Smart electricity meters from Nilsen IndustrialElectronics installed in

commercial and apartment buildingsThe experience of the MelbourneExhibition Centre with CALMU staticthree-phase metering, indicates theopportunities for their application ina commercial installation where thebulk supply comprises of a ‘large’user and a number of smaller users(exhibitors in this case). The CALMUmeters will also become moreimportant with deregulation of theelectrical energy industry.

In Victoria, consumers using morethan 750 MWhr per annum arecontestable customers, meaning thatthey are free to approach licensedenergy traders for the ‘best deal’. InNew South Wales, that will be thesituation in July, 1997. In both States,the barrier will be lowered toconsumers with an energy usage of atleast 160 MWhr in July, 1998. OtherStates can be expected to follow suit,though at a slower pace.

The ‘contestable’ market is operatedon load profile information asmeasured at 15 minute or 30 minute,precisely timed, contiguous time-slots. ‘Smart’ meters are used for thispurpose. Energy in these timed blocks

is offered for sale by generators andpurchased by energy traders who on-sell to consumers or large users (whocould trade directly with thegenerator).The concept is simpleenough when metering installed forthe consumer measures energy usagein synchronously-timed thirty minutetime slots, identical to those beingused by the generator (and at allother measuring points).

The Melbourne Exhibition Centre hasCALMU 3-phase meters installed forrevenue and internal cost allocation(eg: to exhibition organisingcompanies). All of the meters can beinterrogated via a PACTLANcommunication network. The mainsupply revenue meters are owned byCitipower who distribute power to theMelbourneExhibition Centre. The internalmeters are ownedand operated bythe Centre. Citipower accessesthe main supplymeters with itsown software.

The Melbourne Exhibition Centre usesits own meters and the software(PACS) to bill its own customers.Other CALMU features includeautomatic meter reading schedules,tariff change programmability,different levels of password accessand the ability to interrogate themeters for instantaneous data such aspresent load, voltage, current,frequency, etc for energy monitoringand management. The CALMU metersare manufactured by PolymetersResponse International PRI UK andare distributed by Nilsen IndustrialElectronics Pty. Ltd.

CALMU three-phase meters provideenergy consumption profiles and can be remotely monitored .

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CALMU meters are economicallypriced so that, on an installed andamortised basis, they are capable ofpaying for themselves in terms ofpotential energy cost savings, withina few months.

APARTMENT BUILDINGS INMELBOURNE ANDBRISBANESmart meters are ideally suited forelectrical energy revenue metering inapartment complexes. Melbourne-based electricity distributor, Citipowerplaced Nilsen EMS2600 meters in theapartment complex built on the oldLeggetts Ballroom site in PorterStreet, Prahran. The complex provides four separateelectricity meter panels respectivelyaccommodating 15, 20, 30 and 31EMS2600 single-phase meters. These,together with a CALMU three-phasemeter required for metering energyconsumption in common areas, areconnected to Citipower’s centraloffice via the public switched-telephone network (PSTN). The datacollected from 96 apartment meters isrouted to the PSTN via amodem/multiplexer connected to aNilsen MeterNet NC4000 server andthe CALMU three-phase meter.

The Admiralty Towers ResidentialComplex, overlooking the BrisbaneRiver, in Brisbane’s Central BusinessDistrict was the first Nilsen MeterNetsite in Australia and utilises 375Nilsen EMS 2600’s. MeterNet, which was developed byNilsen Industrial Electronics Pty Ltdis a remote meter reading and controlsystem for the ‘smart’ NilsenEMS2600 single-phase electricalenergy meters and Nilsen’s range ofCALMU 3-phase meters. The

MeterNet system can be used forbroadcasting or individual addressingof meters. Energy accumulation andother registers of the EMS2600 can beread and data files created usingNilsen-developed MeterSoft. Thesefiles can also be compiled for transferto the electricity distributor’s billingcomputer. The MeterNet server can beconnected to up to 144 meters andwhen expansion is necessary, serverscan be cascaded with each additionalserver connecting up to 144 meters.

The Nilsen PC-based MeterSoftsoftware interrogates meters forbilling purposes as well as providingload control of night-rate hot waterheating. In addition, administrativefunctions including connect anddisconnect services can beimplemented when required. Errorflag detection on individual metersprovides tamper alert.Communication with meters isprotected by a password thuspreventing unauthorisedreprogramming or resetting of tariffinformation. Other features includeconnect/disconnect, set time,selection of active tariff, configuringof meter parameters, checking metertime and date, etc. MeterSoft is auser-friendly Windows-basedsoftware package and with just asingle PC, it is possible to accessmeter networks across largegeographical areas.

The NC4000 Server (left) and EMS 2600Meter as used at the Porter Street complexin Prahran, Victoria.

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Incoming power revenue metering at thePorter Street Apartment Complex

Nilsen Electric (SA)100 Regency Road,Ferryden Park, SA 5010,Phone: (08) 8268 2300Fax: (08) 8347 0347Email: nilsensa@nilsen.com.au

Nilsen Electric (VIC)41 Kylta RoadHeidelberg, VIC 3081 Phone: (03) 9450 1300Fax: (03) 9457 5261Email: nilsenvc@nilsen.com.au

Nilsen Electric (WA)4 Park Place,Bibra Lake, WA 6163Phone: (09) 434 2311Fax: (09) 434 2322Email: nilsenwa@nilsen.com.au

Nilsen Power Services188 Cheltenham RoadKeysborough VIC 3173 Phone: (03) 9238 3888Fax: (03) 9238 3810Email: npsserv@nilsen.com.au

Nilsen Porcelain Australia162 Dougharty Road,Heidelberg West, VIC 3081Phone: (03) 9450 1200Fax: (03) 9450 1472Email: nilsen@nilsen.com.au

Nilsen Industrial Electronics162 Dougharty Road,Heidelberg West, VIC 3081Phone: (03) 9450 1200Fax: (03) 9457 6327Email: nilsenie@nilsen.com.au

Nilsen Technologies150 Oxford StreetCollingwood, VIC 3066Phone: (03) 9419 9999Fax: (03) 9416 1312Free call: 1-800-623-350Fax Stream : 1-800-067-263Email: niltechn@nilsen.com.au

Nilsen Technologies N.Z.Unit 4, Ambury Court1 Porters StreetEden TerraceAuckland, New ZealandPhone: +64 9 309 2464Fax: +64 9 309 2968Email: sales@nilsentech.co.nz

Editor: Mark NilsenPhone: (03) 9450 1200Fax: (03) 9450 1472Email: nilsen@nilsen.com.au.