National Electrical Manufacturer’s Association – NEMA

nemaYou may be looking for a plug wondering, what is NEMA? What does it mean? Is it the name of Nemo’s long lost sister? Quail Electronics is here to explain all the ins and outs of NEMA, what it means, why it’s significant, and why it matters in the world of power cords.

NEMA stands for the National Electrical Manufacturer’s Association.  As an association of electrical equipment and medical imaging manufacturers, NEMA’s goal is to create and promote safe electrical products and standards. NEMA’s work includes standards for motors and generators, magnet wire, and, of course, plugs. Continue reading National Electrical Manufacturer’s Association – NEMA

MD&M Chicago Wrap-Up

Oh boy! The Quail crew just got back from MDM Chicago, and boy was it fun! Not only did we get to meet tons of great people, we loved showing off our new products!

MDM Blog Pic

Our new International Auto-Lock got some great responses, as well as our Hospital Grade Power Cords. We hit the Windy City for three days, and it could not have gone better! Our booth featured lots of giveaways, as well as exciting products, including our colored cords, USB power chargers, and rotating power strips!

fish people

The trade show was located at the McCormik Place and was packed full of presenters and interested customers. While some people went straight to the big ticket items, others learned about our great power cords. Although seemingly small, these cords are vital in ensuring that power is streaming to all devices, especially in hospitals.  

It was a great show, and hopefully, everyone who attended enjoyed it as well!

By Clark Cable

Instead of boasting about himself, Clark would like to thank all of the great people who came by our booth. He would also like to make a special shout out to the wonderful Quail representatives that did such a great job in Chicago.

Amps in Relation to Wire Gauge

SJT wire blueAs my philosophy professor once told me, logic is a fickle thing.  What we often think makes perfect sense never actually does. Those who’ve toiled with justice, love, and the American Wire Gauge system know exactly what I’m talking about.  But no worries; Quail Electronics will explain it all, from wire gauge to the right amperage.  In a previous post, I addressed how the larger the AWG number, the smaller the wire actually is.  This also influences how much amperage is allowed through a wire. Continue reading Amps in Relation to Wire Gauge

Difference Between Jacket Types – Brrrrrr!

wiresWell, we all know you have your parkas, pea coats, or even your 80’s stylish windbreakers but do you know the difference between the jackets on your wire? Choosing a cable jacket for your wire can be just as important as choosing a jacket for the snow, the rain, or even one to protect you from a fall on your motorcycle. There are many different types of jackets used for the outside of the wire, all helping it stay protected from different elements. It could be oil, fire or even the nasty weather.

Materials

Let’s start with the material used for wire jackets. They can go mainly into two categories:  the Thermoplastics and the Thermosets. Thermoplastics are more popular as they are lower in cost to produce and lighter in weight.  Thermosets are more flexible and offer heat resistance.  The most commonly used is PVC which is part of the Thermoplastic category. It offers great flexibility for your cord and are typically used for general purpose wire.  Next we have silicone rubber which offers great flexibility and heat resistance up to 2500°. Silicone rubber belongs to the Thermoset category. Continue reading Difference Between Jacket Types – Brrrrrr!

Hospital Grade Lighted Cords

emergencyHospitals are great. Sure, they get a bad rap sometimes, but think about it. Everyone who works in the hospital, from the doctors to the janitors, each works together in unison, to try and save people’s lives. Yes, even the janitor. They are responsible for cleanliness, which is the cornerstone of fighting disease. But with so many people relying on so many different electronic devices, it’s important to guarantee power at all times, from operating room machines to power cleaners.  That’s where Hospital Grade Lighted power cords come into play! Continue reading Hospital Grade Lighted Cords

MD&M Chicago Preview

MDM_ChicagoBig news!  In just a few days, my friends over at Quail Electronics are headed to Chicago for the 2013 Medical Design Manufacturers Trade Show!  MDM is hosted by MedTechWorld, and will feature hundreds of manufacturers excited to show you their new products!

Quail will be there as an official Qualified Qmed Supplier. Why is that important?  Well Qmed.com is a directory for pre-qualified suppliers to the medical device industry.  Qmed is a resource utilized by many in the medical field to ensure that they are finding suppliers (like Quail Electronics) that adhere to the strict standards and requirements that are needed for the medical industry. Continue reading MD&M Chicago Preview

Auto-Lock® Travels the Globe

Cover PhotoGrab your passport and prepare to set sail! The Auto-Lock® is traveling the globe! Quail Electronics is proud to introduce the International Auto-Lock®. That’s right; our favorite product is now certified to work overseas! The Auto-Lock® will include configurations for Argentina, Europe, Brazil, Switzerland, United Kingdom, China, Japan, Taiwan, South Africa, and Italy! Phew, what a mouthful!

Argentina Postcard
The Auto-Lock™ exploring Argentina!

Continue reading Auto-Lock® Travels the Globe

Tri-Approval Trifecta!

ApprovalsThere’s a lot that goes into electronics. It’s not as simple as that potato powered clock you made in third grade. One of the most common questions I get about understanding electronics is about standards. Often times, you see stamps on various electrical components, such as VDE, UL, and C-UL. What do these standards mean? And what can they tell us about these electronics? And what is tri-approval?

approval and plugsWe’ll start with an explanation for each. UL stands for Underwriters Laboratories, which issues safety standards for different products. It is commonly viewed as the North American standard. Founded in 1884, the UL strives to promote safe work and home environments and to support the implementation of products that have guaranteed safety.  C-UL denotes the Canadian listing program implemented by UL. C-UL is most commonly understood as the certification mark for Canada. VDE is also known as the Association for Electrical, Electronic, and Information Technologies, and is based in Germany.  However, VDE is seen as the international standard. The DKE is the standards division of the VDE, whose aim is to foster standards to ensure global safety and the promotion of technological usage. Continue reading Tri-Approval Trifecta!

The Magical and Mystical Rotating Plug

rotating2Wouldn’t it be nice if all of your power cords knew exactly what you were thinking, and knew exactly how to rearrange themselves? Imagine the possibilities! Power cord, I need you to fit in the small space between my desk and the outlet! Power cord, I need you to rotate about 45 degrees! Power cord, bake me a cake! Unfortunately, technology is not all the way there yet. But while power cords may not be able to produce baked goods, we do have a jump start on the rotating plug! Continue reading The Magical and Mystical Rotating Plug

Japanese and Taiwanese Plugs: Together At Last

Not clearTwo is better than one.  Think about it.  Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are so much better than jelly sandwiches.  And where would Mario be without Luigi?  Chips and salsa truly belong together.  As much as he may hate to admit it, the Coyote would have no idea what to do if it wasn’t for the roadrunner.  And after all, how could Kirk captain the Enterprise without Spock?

That’s why Quail Electronics has brought you Dual Approved Power Cords for Taiwan and Japan.  For several years, Japan and Taiwan have been using very similar electrical standards and identical plugs and connectors.  However, different approval bodies caused these cords to be offered as separate power cords.  Therefore, if you had products in the Japan and Taiwan market, you needed to have two power cords. Continue reading Japanese and Taiwanese Plugs: Together At Last