CONTRACTORS’ CORNER | EDITOR’S COLUMN
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Start small, dream big
Range, a collection of wiring accessories designed for residential and commercial applications. And if you’ve ever wondered about the difference between lux and lumen, Aurora Lighting Africa breaks it down on page 14. Our special feature on Cables and Cable Accessories offers valuable insights too. CCG shares key design features, functions, and testing of cable glands on page 10, and on page 12, you’ll find Aberdare Cables’ new copper anti-theft cable solution. All this and more, curated just for you to help you kick 2026 off on the right foot. May this be the year you start small but dream big.
skill. Maybe you want to see one extra client per week. It could be as simple as checking LinkedIn daily to engage with your peers. Big changes rarely happen overnight. They come from consistent effort that accumulates until momentum takes over. If you slip, get back up. If something isn’t working, try a different approach. If you fail, congratulations: you’re human. What are you going to do differently this year? Looking for inspiration? See what others in the industry are doing. That’s what Sparks is here for. You’d struggle to find a more relevant source of up-to-date information on the local electrical and lighting industries. From our cover story on Signify’s involvement with supplying floodlights to FIFA to our back page story on how the South African lighting industry helped make Formula 1 history, we have a lot to be proud of, and a lot you can learn from. On page 5, CBi-electric: low voltage introduces its new Switch Ultra
building new habits. You’re on holiday, recovering from the night before, or holding the fort while everyone else is away. The good news? You can change at any time. By the time you read this, the new year will already be in full swing. Whether you’re sticking to your goals or have already stumbled, your potential for change is exactly what it was on 1 January. Start small. Pick one thing you can control. A few Duolingo sessions every other day. One extra glass of water. Less scrolling, more walking. Whatever fits your life. The important thing is that you don’t have to be perfect. Consistency matters, but every choice you make differently is a choice that will affect the outcome of your life differently. The key is to be kind to yourself and forgive your slip-ups. This approach works just as well professionally. What are your business or career goals for this year? What small steps could help you level up? Perhaps you want to start listening to a podcast on your commute to sharpen a particular
Happy reading.
Ilana Koegelenberg sparks@crown.co.za
Ilana Koegelenberg
I gave up on New Year’s resolutions years ago. The detailed lists of new habits, the unrealistic goals, the inevitable slide back into old patterns by mid-January. You know the cycle. It took longer than it should have, but I eventually recognised the trap: treating 1 January as the only acceptable starting line for change. Now, I prefer smaller goals, ones I can adopt at any time. Because let’s face it, 1 January is hardly ideal for
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Revolutionise fault location, maximise solar production Comtest is offering the Fluke GFL-1500 solar ground fault locator, a frontline troubleshooting tool that helps technicians pinpoint active ground faults in solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. It works by producing a traceable signal in the array, allowing for fast, intuitive, non-contact tracing directly to the fault location. This innovative approach eliminates the frustration of time-consuming, brute-force troubleshooting and reduces unnecessary exposure to electrical hazards. In addition to improving safety and reducing downtime, this innovative solution redefines how technicians locate active ground faults in solar PV systems. By replacing complex, manual diagnostics with an easy- to-follow trace signal, the GFL-1500 streamlines fault isolation, helping teams restore system operation quickly and effectively. Key features: • Identify and locate active ground faults in PV systems • Reduce troubleshooting time with easy-to-follow
traceable signal • Decrease exposure to hazards with non-contact tracing • Analyse, fault tracing, open circuit, and mapping functions • CAT III 1,500 V DC/CAT IV 600 V rated transmitter and receiver The Fluke GFL-1500 system includes: • Transmitter: CAT III 1,500 V DC, CAT IV 600 V, meets the rigorous safety standards outlined in IEC 61010-1 and 61010-2-030 • Receiver: CAT III 1,500 V DC, CAT IV 600 V, meets IEC standard 61010-1 • Signal tracing clamp: Rated for use on insulated conductors up to 1,500 V Whether the site of the work is at the inverter, combiner, or module level, the GFL-1500 ground fault locator has been rigorously tested for safety and durability to provide a rugged, safe, fast, and reliable solution for identifying ground faults in high-voltage environments – empowering technicians to work confidently and efficiently in the field.
Enquiries: www.comtest.co.za
SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS
JANUARY 2026
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