Coming up on this week's news, the author of the  wiring regs, the IET, steps in as cross pavement   EV charging rolls out across the UK. We meet the  electricians who have single-handedly reinvented the lightning conductor process, and what's  the worst day you've ever had on the tools?   Installers share their war stories. Welcome to  Electrical News Weekly in association with Shelly, helping electricians offer smarter buildings and  better energy management. Shelly's range of smart   relays, sensors, and control devices makes it easy  to add automation without the cost and disruption of rewiring. Whether you're listening in the van,  on site, or down at the wholesale counter, I'm Joe   Robinson, and I've been through the best of the  electrical industry news to save you the trouble. And if you think you've spotted the two words  that I've been challenged to slip into this week's   show, comment with them below for the chance to  win this exclusive cap branded with friends of the show, Quick Wire and Chump Tools. And while  you're there, click the links in the show notes   to check out what our sponsors offer. On the show  notes webpage, you'll also find our bonus story section covering a wide range of subjects. It's  definitely worth a read, and stay tuned to the end   of the show to catch up on our regular features,  including the weather from Fox ESS, learner of the week with Access Training, and the lighter side of  the news from Quickwire. The author of the wiring   regs, the IET, has stepped in as cross pavement EV  charging begins to roll out across the UK. As more councils approve pavement cable gullies for EV  charging, electricians are being warned that these   installs are about much more than avoiding a trip  hazard. A new IET advisory says the biggest danger could be electric shock. It says your first job is  to check the situation with your local authority.   Most installs need highway approval, and you'll  need to know who owns the pavement before you reach for the disc cutter and start hacking into  it like a meringue. Then comes the electrical   design. One of the biggest issues is simultaneous  contact. That's where someone can touch an EV or charger connected to one earthing system  while also touching a nearby lighting column,   telecoms cabinet, or other metal street furniture  connected to a different earthing arrangement. The IET says you should keep different earthing  systems at least two and a half meters apart   wherever possible. It also says don't assume  an open pen detection device solves everything. It doesn't. The paper is clear. An OPDD  protects against certain pen faults,   but it cannot replace a simultaneous contact  assessment. Heat is another concern. EV charging leads sitting in shallow metal cable channels  can get much hotter than cables in free air.   On a sunny day, tarmac can hit 40 to 50° C, which  dramatically reduces a cable's current carrying capacity. For example, a 6 mil single-phase  charging lead rated at 44 amps in free air could be limited to around 25 amps at 50° C once  correction factors are applied. And don't forget voltage drop, either. The charging lead counts,  too, especially on longer runs. Finally, remind   customers that these cables live in a hostile  environment. There's water, for a start, mud, road grit, foxes, rodents. They should remove  the lead after charging whenever possible   and inspect it before every use. The IET says  to remember that cable galley isn't just a bit of civil engineering. Treat it like any  other EV installation. Check the permissions,   assess the earthing, size the cable properly, and  don't rely on an OPDD to solve problems it wasn't designed to fix. I've popped a link to the full  advisory in the show notes. For kit you can rely   on to solve problems it was designed to fix, take  a look at the latest range of power tools from DeWalt. With tools created specifically for the  electrical industry, they're tested on site and   in the hardest possible ways. Dropped, covered in  dust, abused, and driven to the absolute limit, so they'll keep working exactly when you need  them to. Two Welsh electricians have patented   a new process for lightning protection systems  after some industry experts told them it couldn't be done. David James and Ross Miller developed the  technique after hundreds of hours of testing, much   of it in a shed. Joining the copper or aluminum  parts of those systems has traditionally involved high heat chemical reactions or old school blow  torches, but both methods carry safety risks. They   can also fail and produce high carbon emissions.  Their answer is an induction-based process. They use electromagnetic heating rather than an open  flame. The duo says that this makes the bonding   safer, more consistent, and less dependent on  operator skill. The idea came to them when they were working on an install in Port Talbot. David  James says it became clear to them that there had   to be a better way. So, as is traditional for  British engineers, the guys headed to the shed. After hours of testing and refining, they  took their prototype to Cardiff University.   The uni's lab showed the system could handle  electrical loads around three times stronger than a typical lightning strike, and tests at  Swansea University found it could withstand almost   10,000 lb of physical force without failing. Now,  the pair hope to commercialize their invention. We'll let you know as it hits the market. And  speaking of innovative electrical installation,   check out the seriously flexible and smoothly  illuminated neon LED lighting from UltraLED. Perfect for extremely tight spaces with a  dot-free seamless glow in a huge range of   colors and effects. Perfect for both outdoor and  indoor applications. All this and it's incredibly quick to install with their quick connect system.  You know where to find the link. An electrician   has sparked an outpouring of woe after starting  a social media post about the worst day he's ever had on the tools. The poster confessed to Reddit  that he once blew up a lighting control panel   and tripped a 4,000 amp main, thereby taking  out power for no fewer than five businesses. A Canadian installer revealed that he once shut  down BlackBerry's mobile phone and data service   across Canada for half an hour. He was in a  crowded server room on top of the racks when his foot accidentally kicked out a plug, and  that plug controlled crucial network switches.   One spark recalled how a substation exploded  sending hot oil onto everyone in the vicinity, and another confessed to working live on metal  clad cable after failing to find the relevant   breaker. He had the metal clad cable in one  hand and a snap-on connector in the other. In the act of pushing the connector in, one of the  prongs pierced the conductor and the full voltage   for a commercial lighting circuit appeared across  his chest. He says he gained a new understanding of the meaning of pain. His instinct was to  throw himself backwards and howl like a baboon,   but he realized he was on a ladder 12 ft above a  concrete floor. In the end, after several seconds, he eventually managed to unclench one hand.  Many of the posts are a salutary reminder of the   dangers of not ensuring isolation. For that reason  alone, they're worth reading. I've popped the link in the show notes. What's the worst day you've  ever had? Share your story in the comments below.   In business news, one of the biggest deals  for years has just been signed. Cable giant Prysmian has bought conduit and trunking  specialist Atkore for 2.8 billion pounds.   The sale will create a one-stop shop for American  electrical contractors. The combined company will also be really well placed for the boom in  data centers. In promotion news, Sync Energy   has unveiled a competition that set the trade a  buzz. That's because the top prize, wait for it, is a complete home energy management system. It  includes the complete Sync Energy Flow all-in-one system. There's a hybrid inverter, three  stackable 5.12 kWh battery modules, an EV charger, AC solar power diverter, and circuit protection.  It all works together as one intelligent system. The prize is worth a total of over 7,000 pounds.  Entering is super easy. Simply fill in the entry form on Sync Energy's website. It's open until  the end of August, and you'll need to be MCS   registered. I've popped the link in the show  notes. Metrel is promoting its new MI 3136 fast multifunction tester. It supports testing of TT  and TN systems, EV charger installs, and earthing   systems. You can also carry out the required fire  safety and maintenance checks. It boasts a 4.3-in high-res color touchscreen and automated test  routines, as well as an RCD auto function.   The MI 3136 has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so  you can connect wirelessly with the Metrel Cloud. It's also compatible with the popular Metrel ES  Manager software for reporting, data storage, and   managing your tests. But, how fast is fast? That  was the question that my colleague Rick set out to answer in a dedicated video. I've put a link to  that in the show notes. EnviroVent has introduced   a new MVHR kit. If you're not familiar with the  concept, MVHR stands for mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. It's a whole-house system  that continuously extracts stale atmosphere from   kitchens and bathrooms, replacing it with fresh,  filtered air. It does this while extracting up to 95% of the warm from the outgoing air. EnviroVent  system is designed for properties with up to three   bedrooms and a floor area of up to 130 square  meters. That's more than enough for most family houses in the country. The kit includes all the  components you'll need and more than you'll get   with comparable systems. It includes a central  heat recovery unit, specialized ducting, filters, and all necessary installation fixings. Every  component has been selected to support compliance   from the sealant to the 90 mil fast track ducting.  EnviroVent also offers a specialist ventilation design service and technical advice to keep you  on track. Xpelair by Dimplex is giving installers   plenty of choice with its Simply Silent C4 range  of 100 mil extractor fans. The range includes standard, timer, pull cord, and humidistat  controlled options, so there's a version to   suit everything from straightforward bathroom  ventilation to more automatic moisture control. They're designed to tackle humidity, condensation,  and odors in bathrooms, shower rooms, cloakrooms,   and toilets, while Xpelair's Ghost Air  Movement Technology keeps noise to a minimum. Installation flexibility is another big plus  with the fan suitable for wall, ceiling, panel,   and window fitting. And to make life easier  on site, every model comes with both round and square covers in the box, giving installers  more choice without needing extra accessories.   There are also continuous running DMEV versions  in the range, including a Selv option giving installers a quieter, more flexible solution for  applications where continuous ventilation or extra   low voltage operation is required. Manrose has  added a more design-led option to its ventilation range with a new black tiled fan aimed at modern  bathrooms and WCs where a traditional white grill   might look a little out of place. Behind the black  tiled fascia, it delivers an extraction rate of 75 cubic meters per hour while keeping noise levels  low and power consumption to a maximum of just   16 watts. It's designed for wall and panel  mounting with different versions available, including a timer option giving installers  a bit of flexibility depending on the job.   Manrose has also built in a few installer-friendly  touches, including an integral backdraft shutter, durable thermoplastic construction, and  a long-life motor warranted for at least   30,000 hours. So, if black is the new white in the  bathroom, Manrose has clearly got the memo. Now, how about this for a bright idea? It's the Paul  Russell's lamp of the week. This week, we've got   a candle-shaped LED with a small Edison screw  base. It's got a helter-skelter helix filament and tinted glass. It has a super warm color  temperature of 1,800 Kelvin and it's dimmable.   It gives out 135 lumens and has a rated lifetime  of 15,000 hours. You can see the full range of lamps at paulrussells.com. Now, it's that great  moment where we get to celebrate the sterling work   being done by the next generation. Our learner  of the week slot is brought to you by XS Training with their online electrical courses for beginners  and experienced sparks covering inspection and   testing, solar, battery storage, EV charging,  and their specialism NVQs and AM2 online prep. Our learner of the week this time is Darcy Camsell  of Macclesfield College. Darcy has just completed   his level three and secured an apprenticeship  with Barlows UK. What really stands out is Darcy's approach to making himself as employable  as possible. He has showcased on LinkedIn the   additional certifications and achievements he's  worked hard to gain, including health and safety, first aid, fire safety training, his ECS  card, and passing his driving test. These   extra qualifications demonstrate his commitment to  the industry and his willingness to go above and beyond what's required. I'm sure this dedication  played a part in getting him such a sought-after   apprenticeship with Barlows. We think Darcy is  an excellent example of how investing in your own development, both inside and outside the  classroom, can open doors to fantastic career   opportunities. Congratulations, Darcy, on being  the eFix learner of the week in association with XS Training. We wish you well in your career. And  now to the light side of the electrical news. Yes,   it's time for a tea break with Quickwire and its  range of incredibly rapid electrical connectors. An electrician in America has been falsely accused  of being a spy. His van featured in a viral TikTok video which falsely described it as a secret  FBI vehicle. Ryan Lela of Cloud City Electric   in Portland, Oregon, says the post resulted in  a deluge of unwelcome attention and harassment for his contracting business. He's got phone calls  from strangers and one TikToker even drove to his   home. Lela has now filed a complaint with TikTok.  He insists the only intelligence gathering he does is asking, "Where's the consumer unit?" That's  the light side of the news in our tea break with   Quick Wire and their range of incredibly rapid  electrical connectors. Click the link in the description to check them out for yourself.  Now, just before we get to your favorite bit   of the show where I reveal last week's challenge  words and winners, we want to thank our premium partner We couldn't make the news without you.  The best thing to come out of Yorkshire since   stainless steel, the home of EV Ultra and  other groundbreaking and quality products, it's Doncaster Cables. Click the links in the show  notes to find out more about this great brand.   If you think you know the words I've smuggled  into this week's show, pop your guess into the comments. We'll take all the correct guesses  and select one at random to be the winner of   an Efixx goody bag prize. Answers submitted after  midnight on the Wednesday after release will not be entered into the draw. Now, let's reveal the  winners of last week's challenge word competition.   Last week's words were jalfrezi and sparrowhawk.  And the first person to come out of our electronic hat was Sam Cooper 386. So, well done to you, Sam.  Make sure you click the get involved link in the   show notes to claim your prize. And now, it's  time for this week's weather from Joe Threepio and Foxy SS. Well, we've had one of the hottest  and driest spells of the year. And if you were   anywhere near your phone on Saturday afternoon,  chances are it nearly jumped out of your hand. That government emergency alert about the wildfire  risk certainly caught me off guard. It just shows how dry things have become. The government was  asking people to avoid barbecues, open fires, and anything that could spark a wildfire. So, is there  some relief on the way? Well, the good news is, yes. Next week finally brings a welcome change.  But before we get into the forecast, this week's featured Fox ESS installer is Wave Renewables in  Norfolk. Wave Renewables specialize in solar PV, battery storage, and EV charging installations,  helping homeowners and business make the most   of renewable energy. And for this week's solar  barometer, we're heading to Walton Road in Walnut Tree. It's a road full of modern detached homes  with generously pitched roofs, many of which   are perfectly suited for solar. There's still  plenty of opportunities for installers in this area. Okay, so onto the forecast, and Tuesday sees  the weather beginning to change as temperatures ease back and cloud increases across much  of the country. There will be sunny spells, but scattered showers will also develop. Wednesday  continues with a mixture of sunshine and showers, and it will feel noticeably fresher. If you're  working in a loft next week, you'll probably   be breathing a sigh of relief. Thursday and  Friday bring fairly typical August weather, so expect a mix of cloud, sunshine, and the  odd showers with temperatures generally sitting between 18° and 22°. Looking ahead to the weekend,  the outlook becomes a little more encouraging. Current forecast suggests longer sunny  spells returning for many areas with just   the chance of an isolated shower. So, after  weeks of relentless heat, next week finally delivers what many of us have been hoping for.  Cooler temperatures, some much-needed rain,   and still enough sunshine for a respectable week  of solar generation, hopefully without any more emergency alerts going off while I'm trying to buy  a packet of AA batteries. Thanks for that update,   Joe. Thanks for listening to this episode of  Electrical News Weekly in association with Shelly helping electricians offer smarter  buildings and better energy management.   Shelly's range of smart relays, sensors, and  control devices makes it easy to add automation without the cost and disruption of rewiring.  Thanks for listening, and until next time, have   a great week. Stay safe out there, and remember,  there's no such thing as a torque calibrated arm.