Why is Copper So Popular in Electronics

The electron theory is a good way to explain why copper wire is widley used with electronic equipment and in electrical power distribution. Every substance whether in earth or in space is made up of tiny particles called atoms. These atoms are so small that a piece of copper the size of the head of a needle would contain millions of atoms. Each one of these copper atoms could be considered an actual piece of copper. An atom is not a solid piece of material. The atom itself contains a nucleus in the center which has a positive electrical charge. Traveling around the nucleus in elliptical rings are electrons which have a negative electrical charge. Every electron has the same mass and the same negative charge. There will notmally be just enough electrons in the atom to balance the positive charge of the nucleus.

In the diagram below, you will notce that each ring can only contain a certain amount of electrons. The first ring can house 2 electrons, the second ring can hold 8 electrons, the third ring can handle 18 electrons and the fourth ring can hold 32 electrons.

The copper atom's nucleus has a positive charge of 29 in the nucleus. There are typically 29 electrons within the copper atom. With that said, the fourth ring will only house one electron.

When the outer ring of electrons in an atom is filled to the maximum amount possible, that atom will be very stable electronically and chemically. It is almost impossible to remove an electron or to force in an electron.  If the outter ring only has one electron in it, than that electron is not held very closely to the atom and can be easily moved out of its position into space or another atom. This will leave the atom short of one electron to neutralize the positive charge of its nucleus. This will leave the atom with a positive charge.

This is the reason copper wire is so widely used in the electronics industry. It is highly conductive due to its makeup.

Hardware Stores Say CO Detection is the LAW

You may have seen your local hardware store trying to push you on Carbon Monoxide detectors stating its the law.  Read below to know for yourself!

The new requirements in the 2012 edition of the International Fire Code (IFC) and the International Building Code (IBC) require the installation of CO detection in new and existing Group-R and Group-I occupancies, such as hotels, dormitories, apartment buildings, hospitals and nursing homes.

Section 908.7 of the 2012 IFC and IBC requires CO detection to be installed in “newly” constructed Group-R and Group-I occupancies if the building contains a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage. Also CO alarms shall be installed and maintained in accordance with NFPA 720, Standard for the Installation of Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detection and
Warning Equipment, and the manufacturer’s instructions.

Section 1103.9 of the IFC covers the requirements for existing Group-R and
Group-I occupancies, these requirements are the same as those in 908.7 for newly
constructed occupancies.

If sleeping units or dwelling units do not contain a fuel-burning appliance or have an attached garage, however are located within a building with a fuel burning appliance or an attached garage, CO detection is not required if any of the following conditions are present:

• The sleeping unit or dwelling unit is located more than one story above or below any
story that contains a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage
• The sleeping unit or dwelling unit is not connected by duct work or ventilation shafts to
an attached garage or any room containing a fuel-burning appliance
• The building is provided with a common area CO alarm system.
Also, Section 908.7.1 of the 2012 IBC and IFC clearly permits system connected
CO detectors to be installed as a primary form of protection if they are
installed and maintained in accordance with NFPA 720 and listed as complying
with ANSI/UL 2075.

NFPA 72 2010 Secrets

Well the title says secrets but to be honest it really is public information.  However not to many readers are aware ot it.  Check this out.  The new 2010 edition of NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code has a few items throughout the text that can help the readers better understand the changes and new layout.

• A vertical bar in the margin indicates that a change other than editiorial has been made.
• A bullet indicates that one or more complete paragraphs have been deleted.
• A reference in parebthesis () follwing a paragraph indicates technical committee reponsibility.
• A reference in brackets [] indicates exacted material from another document.

Why Did NFPA 72 2010 Change Its Name

A lot of people always ask why the new 2010 edition of NFPA 72 changed its name from "The National Fire Code" to "National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code".  The answer is simple.  The new 2010 edition of NFPA 72 now covers a multitude of items in addition to fire alarms.  With the introduction of mass notification systems along with other means of notification and detection, the name had to change.

Some of the additional systems that NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code now covers are as follows:

• Combination Systems
• Video Imaging Detection
• Carbon Monoxide Detection
• Supervisory Service of Sprinkler Control Valves
• Water Level Supervisory
• Water Temperature Supervisory
• Room Temperature Supervisory
• Fire Extinguisher Monitoring

Click here to see some secrets of the new NFPA 72 2010 edition that may help you better understand its new layout.

NUP Connector for Notifier ONYX Panels

If you are faced with the task of creating a NUP connector for your Notifier ONXY panels this follow this simple step process.

Take a standard DB9 cable and cut off the male end (end with the prongs sticking out).  Now strip back the cable and use a mutimeter to vertifiy the following three pins (#2, #3, and #5).  Once you have these verified, mark them down on a paper with the wire color and the pin number.

Now on the NUP connector, pull off the red and black cables as these are used for power.  Simply pull them out of the NUP connector completly and dicard. 

You should be left with three cables on your NUP connector.  White, Green and Brown.  With a soldering iron splice the following pairs togerther.  The brown NUP cable to pin #2 on the DB9, the white NUP cable to the #3 pin on the DB9 and the green NUP cable to the #5 pin on the DB9.

Once you are done, make sure to seperate each splice with tape or shrink wrap and finally shrink wrap the entire connection.

You should now have a functional DB9 to NUP cable for programming the Notifier ONYX panles and NCM Network Control Module boards.