Have You Heard of Mobile Gantries?
In South Africa, the word gantry often conjures up unpleasant images of toll-booth frustrations, which is really unfortunate since there is so much more to these pieces of outstanding equipment than foraging money from hapless motorists.
There has been a rise in the popularity of the use of mobile gantries, and for good reason. They are affordable and provide an effective means of revolutionising tasks in a multitude of industries, including mining and quarrying, industry and building, forestry, mechanics, sanitation as well as overall maintenance.
So, if you are involved in any of these industries, then here is how a mobile gantry could be your next favourite piece of equipment.
Moving and lifting heavy loads
Portable gantries are an excellent solution for those industries that need an economic means of handling, lifting and moving heavy loads or hazardous materials. Since they are a type of A-frame gantry crane, they perform admirably when moving heavy weights or cumbersome materials. This makes them ideal for industries that work with warehousing.
In most cases, mobile gantries provide a more economical solution to material handling than forklift trucks since they are cheaper to invest in, and more cost-effective to operate and maintain, while requiring little training in their use.
Repairing and maintaining pumps
Handling the sheer weight and size of a broken pump can be difficult without utilising equipment that allows you to easily manoeuvre it. There are a few solutions for cranes and lifts that can help you with this problem, but few of them come at an effectiveness to price ratio that comes close to mobile gantries.
More importantly, because of their portable nature, mobile gantries can be taken to wherever they are needed most with relative ease, while still being able to lift around 1.5 tonnes. This makes them well suited for work conducted on heavy pumps, no matter where they are located.
Loading trucks and trailers
For those in the logistics and transport industry that are looking for a worthwhile solution to make loading trucks and trailers more convenient and efficient, mobile gantries provide perfect functionality for just such a task. Between their adjustability and versatility, mobile gantries are well suited to the many strenuous tasks of the logistics industry.
Use in a workshop
In workshops, mobile gantries provide an ideal platform for lifting and manoeuvring heavy items so that they can be worked on with more intricacy and detail. They also make moving and transporting these items convenient. Because they are a far more cost-effective solution than some of the heavy machines and trucks used in big industries, they are also well suited to smaller operations with modest budgets.
Call Ernest Electro Engineering today
If you would like more information on the uses, functions, benefits and price of investing in mobile gantries for your business operations, be sure to contact a consultant from Ernest Electro Engineeringfor details surrounding portable gantries and more.
Avoiding downtime for your business requires you to continuously ensure that each piece of equipment is in top condition. Factory machinery is bound to take a certain amount of damage over time, especially if it is used frequently. Besides this, damages and failures are often the result of irregular or poorly conducted maintenance schemes.
This makes finding an electrical repair technician that can keep all of your equipment in operational order, all the more important. So, to help you select the workman that is right for the job, here are a few ways you can evaluate the capabilities of the technician you are interested in.
What state is their workshop and workforce in?
By taking a look at your repair shop’s working space, you can get a general idea of their levels of care and organisation. A shop that is neatly organised, well catalogued and safely laid out is clearly used to doing business in a certain way.
The skills and abilities of their workforce obviously has a large part to play in your decision as well. When looking for someone to see to the health of your expensive and crucial production equipment, you’ll want to make sure that they have the skill and experience to get it back to you in top condition.
How well equipped are they?
You’re likely to get a better and more reliable service from an electrical repair shop that is outfitted with state of the art equipment and tools for repairs and testing. If a bad workman always blames his tools, then a good one always ensures that he has the best ones for the job. This is, of course, an over generalisation. Even the best equipment can be utterly useless in the hands of someone who doesn’t have the skill set to operate it.
Do they stick to their SOP?
More often than not, repairs are a matter of procedure. Service providers should have a certain standard operating procedure that is stuck to when diagnosing and repairing electrical equipment. A single skilled labourer that knows how to approach repairs from any angle is a strong asset, but doesn’t always promise consistency.
What sort of components do they use?
Something you definitely want to check up on in terms of the repair company you use, is whether or not they are sourcing and making use of high grade components and replacement parts that are sourced from transparent channels. This way you can be sure that none of the components they are using are fraudulent, ensuring that you will get the best possible performance and lifespan once repairs are completed.
Contact Ernest Electro Today
For more information on sourcing an electrical and motor repair technician that can get the most out of your equipment, feel free to contact a consultant from Ernest Electro today and speak to us for more details. We are waiting for your call.
Drainage Problems
Water is essential to our lives, for both living creatures and plants, however, it can also be extremely invasive when it flows. When residential properties experience drainage issues, water is usually a nuisance and can cause a great deal of damage. Different types of drainage issues include pooling, saturated soil, puddling and undirected downspout water, these issues can destroy your landscaping and turn your yard into a swamp. It creates mould and moisture problems and can damage your home foundations, drainage is a very big concern when not working correctly. Your drainage systems must be installed or improved by professional drainage companies such as Ernest Electro. If not dealt with correctly you may end up dealing with worsening problems.
Different solutions to drainage problems
Not every drainage solution is going to work for every situation. There are many different successful ways that water can be diverted away from your property. With the help from Ernest Electro your drainage problems can be a thing of the past.
The different drainage methods
• French drain – This is a very popular drainage method that consists of trenches that hold perforated pipes that are filled with gravel and buried. The water will seep into the ground and into these pipes, which divert it elsewhere, normally to the public sewers.
• Dry well – It is similar to your French drain, the difference being that instead of the water being diverted to a sewer, it gets diverted to an underground well where it is dispersed back to the soil.
• Corrugated tubes – These buried or above-ground tubes are used to direct downspout water away from buildings. When using this method, the diversion is normally to a landscape area which requires frequent watering or another place where excess water will not be harmful.
• Grassy Swale – This is another neutral means of diverting water away from buildings. It involves building a slight grade or hill that will divert water away from one side to roll down the other side and disperse in more absorbent soil or to have a bog area for collection.
• Planned bog – This method can be used in conjunction with some of the above mentioned methods to divert water away from buildings, allowing it to pool in one dedicated area that is planted with species that love water.
At Ernest Electro we believe that the right approach should be taken into consideration when it comes to drainage, as each situation will have different circumstances. Visit our website on www.ernestee.co.za or give us a call for more information.
The typical water-softening system removes magnesium and calcium ions from the hard water and replaces them with sodium ions. Magnesium and calsium ions interfere with the action of your household soaps and detergents, but the sodium does not. The water softening process helps detergents to remove dirt and oils from dishes and clothing. It can also helps soaps to give a ‘slippery’ feel to your skin after you wash yourself with it. Usually the manufacturers of water softeners will recommend that you reduce the amount of detergents and soap you use after installing a water softener. The water softener unit is usually located in your household plumbing, where water enters the house so that it softens the water you are using for washing and drinking but not for irrigation. The unit will contain several cubic feet of porous plastic resin which is covered with molecules that attract and bind to positive ions that are dissolved in the water.
Usually, sodium positive ions coat the resin, however, as the water flows over the resin on its way to your washer or sink, the naturally occurring magnesium and calcium positive ions that exist in hard water stick to the resin. This then releases sodium ions into the water to maintain a balance of electrical charge on the resin. Gradually, most of the sodium ions get released into your household water, and the resin then becomes saturated with magnesium and calcium ions. More or less once a week, your water softening unit will need to renew the resin by rinsing it with a concentrated solution of sodium chloride (salt water), this usually occurs in the middle of the night. The high concentration of sodium ions in this salty water displaces the magnesium and calcium ions, the resin then becomes once again covered with sodium ions. The salty rinse water, magnesium and calcium ions are flushed down the drain, and the system resumes its normal operation. Each cubic foot of resin can effectively remove magnesium and calcium from about 12113 litres of hard water. This process usually adds more or less 750 milligrams of sodium to every 3 litres of water, which the U.S Food and Drug Administration considers to be in the ‘low sodium’ range for commercially sold beverages. For those who are concerned about their overall intake of sodium, resins that instead release potassium into water do exist, however, the potassium chloride salt used to renew the resin every few days is much more expensive than the ordinary sodium chloride salt.
If you are interested in water softeners or would like to learn more about the process, contact Ernest Electro or visit our website on www.ernestee.co.za
Swimming pool possession means you will be making a lot of choices throughout the course of the process. One of those choices – which is usually a no-brainer – is whether you ought to have a single speed pool pump or a variable speed pool pump. Here at Ernest Electro we understand that the outlay in a variable speed pool pump is larger than a single speed, but the return on your investment is more than worth it.
As background, single speed pumps were the customarily fitted types of pool pumps. Technological progressions in the swimming pool industry have led to the conception of variable speed pumps and these have transformed the way you run your pool pump. With a variable speed pump, the device works at the level that is required for the task. What that means is if you’re simply circulating the water, it will run at a lower speed than if you’re vacuuming the pool which needs a higher speed.
Single speed pumps function at the same speed irrespective of the task that is being performed. This means that even when you don’t need a high level of pump speed, such as when you’re merely circulating the water, it will still run at its top speed which means you are wasting energy.
Variable speed pumps are considered “greener” options because they are much more energy efficient. In fact, it is estimated that using a variable speed pump means you will use between 50 and 75% less energy than if you’re working a single speed.
What does a swimming pool pump do?
• It circulates the water all through the pool.
• It guarantees your water features, such as a fountain, remain in motion.
• It powers the pool vacuum.
These last two actions require more energy than it does pushing the water through the filter. Again, a single speed pump will run at the same level irrespective of the task which eventually adds to your family’s utility bills.
Ernest Electro
If you are looking to save money and time while maintaining your swimming pool contact us today at Ernest Electro and let our industry specialists assist you with all your swimming pool pump needs.
The submersible pump, also known as an electric submersible pump, is a pump that can be completely submerged in water. The motor is sealed and close-coupled to the body of this pump.
The submersible pump pushes water to the surface, it converts kinetic energy from rotary energy into pressure energy. This happens when the water is being pulled into the pump.
An advantage to a submersible pump is that it doesn’t need to be primed, it is already submerged in the fluid. Submersible pumps are extremely efficient because they do not have to spend much energy moving water into the pump. The water pressure pushes water into the submersible pump, which is where you save a lot of the pumps energy. While the submersible pumps aren’t versatile, the selection certainly is. Some of our pumps at Ernest Electro can easily handle solids while others are better for liquids only. Submersible pumps are more often than not very quiet because they are under water and cavitation is not a problem.
There are also some disadvantages with submersible water pumps and two of them have to do with its seal. These seals can become corroded in time, and when this happens, the water seeps into the motor, making it useless until its repaired. This seal is also difficult to get into when you have to repair it.
Another big disadvantage is that one pump does not fill all uses. A single stage pump is used for most home and light industrial pumping which includes sewage pumping, aquarium filters or sump pumps for drainage. Multiple sage pumps can be used for anything underground, for example, oil wells or water wells. These pumps were made to work with thin liquids like water or thick liquid like sewage.
You have to be cautious with submersible pumps, they have to be fully submerged when in use. The water that is around the pump helps to cool the motor down, if it is used out of water it can overheat.
At Ernest Electro we offer a range of submersible pumps, visit our website on www.ernestee.co.za for more information.
If you’re reading this article, then it should come as no surprise to learn that South Africa has experienced a few serious water crises over the years. But it’s not only the lack of rain that is to blame – our municipal water infrastructure has left a lot to be sought after. South Africa has finally reached a “tipping point” in terms of incompetent water treatment facilities and dirty drinking water. Although the April 2016 problem is mostly quality rather than quantity, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has warned that continued growth in the population combined with climate change could result in serious water scarcities in many parts of the country by 2025.
As South Africans battle to deal with what many are calling the worst water crisis ever logged in South African history, many homes, businesses, schools, hospitals, clinics, and farms have started to install personal boreholes. Consisting of a narrow drilled hole filled with a casing with inlet holes at the level from which the water is to be pulled, a pump is used to supply pull to draw the water from the ground. But since boreholes are fairly narrow, there aren’t many types of pumps that can effortlessly fit inside, which is why the top types of borehole pumps are either line shaft turbine pumps or submersible electric pumps.
Borehole Pumps Can Extract up to 20 000 Litres of Water Per A Day
Amassed from rainfall and underground springs, there are currently billions of cubic meters of additional ground water right under our feet. A resource more appreciated than gold, a borehole pump can extract up to 20 000 litres of that water a day for you, for FREE! When using your own underground water from your own personal supply, apart from the drilling costs, as well as the little bit of electricity used to power your borehole pump, you will notice huge savings each month. Yes, borehole pumps not only use a smaller amount energy to extract water than it does to obtain drinking water from your tap, but they are also a lot healthier.
Easing water shortages and bringing greater quality water to homes and businesses throughout South Africa – borehole pumps are simply the top economic and environmental choice that can offer homes, businesses, schools, hospitals, clinics and farms limitless access to thousands of litres of clean water a day.
For all your borehole pump installation and repairs visit us today at Ernest Electro.
The submersible pump, also known as an electric submersible pump, is a pump that can be completely submerged in water. The motor is sealed and close-coupled to the body of this pump.
The submersible pump pushes water to the surface, it converts kinetic energy from rotary energy into pressure energy. This happens when the water is being pulled into the pump.
An advantage to a submersible pump is that it doesn’t need to be primed, it is already submerged in the fluid. Submersible pumps are extremely efficient because they do not have to spend much energy moving water into the pump. The water pressure pushes water into the submersible pump, which is where you save a lot of the pumps energy. While the submersible pumps aren’t versatile, the selection certainly is. Some of our pumps at Ernest Electro can easily handle solids while others are better for liquids only. Submersible pumps are more often than not very quiet because they are under water and cavitation is not a problem.
There are also some disadvantages with submersible water pumps and two of them have to do with its seal. These seals can become corroded in time, and when this happens, the water seeps into the motor, making it useless until its repaired. This seal is also difficult to get into when you have to repair it.
Another big disadvantage is that one pump does not fill all uses. A single stage pump is used for most home and light industrial pumping which includes sewage pumping, aquarium filters or sump pumps for drainage. Multiple sage pumps can be used for anything underground, for example, oil wells or water wells. These pumps were made to work with thin liquids like water or thick liquid like sewage.
You have to be cautious with submersible pumps, they have to be fully submerged when in use. The water that is around the pump helps to cool the motor down, if it is used out of water it can overheat.
At Ernest Electro we offer a range of submersible pumps, visit our website on www.ernestee.co.za for more information.
The advantages of pressure sewer systems
The pressure increases to develop and to expand cities and communities. This brings the need to build on areas that were previously deemed as unsuitable grows accordingly. The demand on the sewage handling systems which we all rely on, and over time this has led to the development of the innovative technologies. Pressure sewer systems offer a far more reliable and controllable transfer of the sewage from the household to the treatment plant than a conventional alternative.
What is a pressure sewer system?
A pressure sewer system makes use of the small and low-powered grinder pumps in each property. They are each connected to the central discharge network. For each of these units, they will have a high-density storage tank with a capacity of around 900-litres which is approximately 197 gallons. A progressing capacity pump, plus a cutter which breaks down the solids in the sewage to create a movable slurry. The automatic electric controller will be included to regulate the flow of the monitor fluid levels and to protect the pump.
The grinder ensures that the sewage is reduced to manageable consistency before the pumps at each property transfer through a central community network to a pump station and on to a treatment plant. The network that serves the community is constructed from a small diameter pipe which can be installed in the narrow or shallow trenches via the use of directional drilling techniques. This normally increases the speed and the safety of the installation process compared to the conventional alternative, as well as reducing overall construction costs. This also provides greater control over the network`s design and the layout so that it genuinely bespoke the solutions that can easily be created.
Ernest Electro engineering
Ernest Electro engineering specializes in pressure sewer systems that are effective as well as reliable.
What is De-watering?
Construction dewatering is a term that is used to describe the action of removing the groundwater or the surface water from a construction site. The dewatering process is done by pumping and evaporating and it is done before excavation for footings or to lower the water table that can cause a problem during the excavations. Construction dewatering is used on construction sites due to accumulated water in the trenches as well as in the excavations or in places with an inadequate slope or high water table.
In most construction projects the water should be removed to keep the production as a schedule or to provide a safe workplace. In most cases, the builders tend to use water pumps to dewater these areas and if they are not paying attention to the place where the water is discharged, the erosion and other problems may occur and it can affect the progress of the project. It is important to follow the correct management practices which will ensure that when the water is being pumped to the lakes it goes directly to the storm sewer inlets.
Dewatering Precautions
- Dewatering procedures need to be done properly to avoid eroding the soil on the construction site. Research needs to be done and it is important to choose the best location for discharge even if you might be far from the water bodies or catch basin.
- When choosing a discharge area from a dewatering process you need to consider the following methods:
- The water should not be pumped directly into the slopes
- The dewatering activities should be directed to a wooded buffer.
- You need to pay attention and discontinue dewatering if the area shows signs of instability or erosion.
Ernest Electro Engineering
Ernest Electro Engineeringspecialize in a variety of water pump systems and dewatering is one of the methods that they use in construction sites and they have the relevant experience and equipment to get the job done.