Technical guides
Practical selection guides for breakers, cables and industrial electrical materials, written for plant engineers, contractors and maintenance teams in Saudi Arabia.
- How to choose a circuit breaker: MCB, MCCB or ACBMCB, MCCB or ACB? Choose the rating, breaking capacity, trip curve and poles for your switchboard, with the IEC standards behind each choice.›
- NYY vs armoured cable (SWA): which one to use?What NYY, NYBY, NYRY and SWA mean, PVC versus XLPE insulation, when armour is needed, and which glands to order with each cable type.›
- Cable size and voltage drop: a practical guideSize a low-voltage cable in three checks: current-carrying capacity with correction factors, voltage drop limits, and protection, with a worked example.›
- How to buy industrial electrical materials: RFQ checklistHow to prepare an electrical RFQ or BOQ that prices correctly: what to specify per item, genuine vs equivalent, documents, lead times and delivery in KSA.›
- LED high bay lights for warehouses: how many watts?Size LED high bays for a warehouse or factory: lux targets from EN 12464-1, the lumen method, efficacy, beam angle by height, glare, IP rating and heat.›
- IP65, IP66 and IP67 explained: IP ratings guideRead an IP code to IEC 60529: what each digit means for dust and water, IP65 vs IP66 vs IP67, IPX9K, IK impact codes and how to choose for site conditions.›
- Cable lugs and crimping: types and the correct methodCopper, bimetal and aluminium lugs, insulated terminals and ferrules: match the lug to the conductor and stud, choose the right die and crimp it properly.›
- Industrial plugs and sockets (CEE): colours and ampsRead an IEC 60309 industrial plug: colour by voltage, earth pin clock position, 16 to 125 A, 3, 4 or 5 pins, IP44 vs IP67, interlocked and panel sockets.›
- Motor protection: contactor, overload, MPCB or VFD?DOL starters, MPCBs, AC-3 contactors, overload trip classes, star-delta, soft starters and VFDs: choosing motor starting and protection to IEC 60947-4-1.›
- Earthing systems: earth resistance and periodic testingEarth electrodes, soil resistivity in Saudi sandy soil, fall-of-potential and clamp-on testing, design targets, bonding and lightning protection.›
- Hazardous area (Ex) equipment: zones, groups, T-classesZones 0/1/2 and 20/21/22, EPLs, Ex d, Ex e, Ex i and Ex t, gas groups, temperature classes, ATEX vs IECEx, reading an Ex marking and choosing Ex glands.›
- Industrial electrician tool kit: meters and safety gearInsulated tools to IEC 60900, meter CAT ratings, two-pole testers, insulation and earth testers, lockout kits, arc-rated PPE and IEC 60903 glove classes.›