The electrical contractors, facility personnel and electrical engineers who evaluated this year's entrants in EC&M magazine's 2003 Product of the Year competition had a pretty simple evaluation criteria: Will this product help me do my job faster, safer, smarter or more profitably?

The 20 finalists they selected are featured on the following pages. Your input is important, too. To cast your vote, go online to www.ecmweb.com. Once you've looked at the following nominees and picked your favorite, e-mail EC&M with your selection. But don't take too long to make that pick — the deadline for voting is April 15, 2003. As an extra incentive to get you to cast your vote, we'll even place your name in a drawing for a $100 American Express gift certificate. Manufacturers are not eligible to vote for their own products. The 2003 Platinum Award winner will be announced on June 10 at the Electric Show in Washington, D.C., co-sponsored by EC&M and Electrical Wholesaling magazines.

PowerStruXure uses a systematic approach to building data centers that simplifies the design, building and management of data center infrastructure with a fully-engineered and tested system. The product comprises a modular, scalable, N+1 redundant uninterruptible power supply; zoned, intelligent power distribution; and a next-generation rack enclosure. American Power Conversion
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The Snap²It Zero to 90° connector is a metallic fitting for AC, MC, and ⅜-inch flex. It ships straight, but users can adjust it to any angle between 0° and 90° by loosening the nut, adjusting the angle, and retightening the nut. No tools are required, and no damage is done to the wire. It installs in about 8 seconds, saving a full minute per connector over two-screw/locknut styles. Arlington Industries Inc.
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The PNA-600 is a NEMA 4 power quality analyzer built into a rugged and sealed enclosure. The unit is powered by a 950-MHz Celeron or Pentium processor with 256MB of RAM and features a 20GB hard drive. The other half of the instrument is a color touch-screen display, which connects to the mainframe via a 10-foot cable. Data can be exported via Ethernet or USB interfaces built into the system. Dewetron
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The DrillSpotter features three functions in one instrument. A transmitter/receiver system lets installers know exactly where the drill will exit. The tool also determines wall thickness and proper drill bit length and serves as a metal detector. The unit works on structures as much as 40 inches thick — through concrete, masonry, wood and plaster. First Edition Products
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The Patriot PAT750-18V battery-activated crimper employs a patented pump, transmission, and piston design to reduce crimping time. With its 360° head rotation design, the tool head can operate in virtually any position. The tool has a 12-ton output force, an audible “pop-off” and visual crimp indicator, and an ergonomically balanced design to lessen fatigue. FCI Burndy
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The EX470 is a CAT III-600V design that combines a true RMS multimeter with a non-contact infrared thermometer with laser pointer. This combination allows the user to quickly and safely locate and troubleshoot hot spots. Other features include high-resolution measurements (0.1mV, 0.1µA, 0.1 ohms, 0.001nF, 0.01 Hz), a large backlit display, 0.1% DCV accuracy, capacitance and frequency functions, and a Type K thermocouple input for contact measurements. Extech Instruments Corp.
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The Multi-DAQ TaskCard provides additional value and versatility to the 3-phase, 8-channel Power Platform PP4300 power analyzer. Now users only need one 4-pound tool for power quality monitoring, inrush measurements, fault recording and data logging. Dranetz-BMI
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The SR F650 provides protection, control, metering, monitoring, analysis and energy management in a single device. The unit can be applied to feeders of any voltage level or used as a component in a complete control system. It features a large display, front RS232 and rear redundant RS485 or fiber-optic ports and an Ethernet port for LAN connections. GE Multilin Circle 237 on Reader Service Card

The Tracetek fiber accessory for the Lantek 6 and 7 allows datacom professionals to convert a cable certification tool into a fiber-optic troubleshooting tool. The module allows users to analyze reflective events along the fiber under test, locate events like bad splices, report distance to events (along with magnitude), and store traces for uploading to a PC. Ideal Industries Inc.
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The LinkMaster PRO Tester allows datacom professionals to map, test and troubleshoot data and voice communications cable and coax runs. The tester identifies split pairs, shorts, opens, miswires, and reversals, and tests for shield continuity. The unit can also measure the length of UTP, ScTP, and coax without remotes. Ideal Industries Inc.
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The LightMaster series of lighting controls allows accurate and reliable adjustment of lighting control based on ambient light levels (0.2 fc to 1,000 fc) and time control. Some models combine light level control with electronic 24/7 time controls with lithium battery backup and automatic daylight savings adjustment. Grasslin Controls Corp., a GE Industrial Systems Co.
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The SARRACS remote-racking system allows operators to rack breakers from 40 feet away, well beyond their flash boundary. It's programmable to different torque profiles and mechanical requirements, and features digital position control for accurate breaker engagements. The unit is portable and self-contained and weighs about 200 pounds. Siemens Energy & Automation
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The PD-300 paralleling switchgear is UL 1558-listed and labeled switchgear. Load control, synchronizing logic, and system-control are housed in a PLC. Typical switches, annunciators and meters have been replaced by a touchscreen interface. All load control and synchronizing logic has been moved from third-party hardware-based controls to a software system. Kohler Power Systems
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The D3206 and D3208 multi-zone controllers/dimmers are self-contained units used to control as many as six zones of lighting in a room or group of rooms via a series of pushbuttons and “wizard” menus. They offer access to either 186 zones for use in home theaters and dining and living rooms or 248 zones for use in partitioning zones in restaurants, ballrooms, time-of-day scene changes and other commercial applications. Leviton Manufacturing Co.
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The Out-of-Sight PowerJack uses a patent-pending design that features a hideaway power supply. All phone cords and wires tuck behind the device for a streamlined look. The telephone jack allows placement of wall-mounted cordless telephones anywhere installation is desired and no longer restricts installations to the nearest existing receptacle. Leviton Manufacturing Co.
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The PhotoTemp MX6 combines infrared thermometer and digital camera capabilities to take noncontact temperature measurements while documenting them with digital photographs. Users can photograph, share, and store measurement results for instant, accurate verification. They can also create permanent inspection records showing temperature behavior before and after repairs. The unit features a True Spot laser sighting system and a close-focus option to measure objects as small as 6 mm at 300 mm. Raytek Corp.
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The Transient Block is a UL-approved stand-alone filtering device that installs in series with the ground line of electronic equipment to protect against harmful ground transients, which can affect DC logic systems in electronic equipment. The proprietary technology provides end-users and manufacturers with increased reliability by attenuating transients on the one line never before protected — the ground line. PVA Enterprises Corp.
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The EZ-Path cable pathway requires no firestopping. Its built-in firestopping system automatically adjusts to cable loads. Cables can be added or changed without removal or reinstallation of firestopping materials. The product consists of an enclosed galvanized steel raceway lined with intumescent material and is UL-listed and classified in accordance with ASTM E814 (UL 1479). Specified Technologies Inc.
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The model 460 voltage monitor protects 3-phase loads from damaging conditions like reverse phase, phase loss, high and low voltages and voltage unbalance. A microcontroller-based voltage and phase sensing circuit constantly monitors the 3-phase voltage to detect harmful conditions. Four adjustment pots are provided to set nominal voltage, trip delay, restart delay and unbalance trip point. SymCom Inc.
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The XJG-TB features an internal bonding jumper and needs no disassembly during installation. The internal bonding jumper passes UL's 400A ground-fault test, eliminating the need for additional bonding jumpers and straps. The unit is available in sizes from 0.75 inches to 5 inches, is UL-listed, and CSA-approved. Thomas & Betts Corp.
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