China tests the first megawatt wind airship.

Renewable energy is entering a new dimension. China has conducted a successful test of the world's first commercial wind turbine that floats in the air like an airship. The innovative S1500 system, developed by Beijing SAWES Energy Technology in collaboration with Tsinghua University and the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, made its first flight in Hami, Xinjiang province. The structure resembles a giant Zeppelin - measuring 60 metres long and 40 metres wide and is the largest flying wind generator yet built. On board the S1500 is an annular wing forming an aerodynamic channel, inside which twelve turbines of 100 kW each are placed. They intercept strong and stable winds occurring at high altitudes and the energy generated is transmitted to the ground via a special cable. Compared to traditional turbines, the system does not require the construction of a tower or foundation, reducing material consumption by 40% and lowering the cost of power generation by up to 30%. What's more, the entire unit can be relocated and up and running in a matter of hours, making it useful in deserts, islands or mines.

The S1500 is the result of several years of work and earlier trials with smaller prototypes. In October 2024, the S500 airship rose to a height of 500 metres, generating more than 50 kW of power. Three months later, the S1000 model reached 1,000 metres and generated 100 kW. These experiments validated the concept and paved the way for a megawatt system. Why are air turbines so promising? Winds blowing between 500 and 10 000 metres above the ground are not only stronger, but also much more stable than those near the surface. As the scientists explain, doubling the wind speed means an eightfold increase in energy, and tripling it means as much as 27 times. This means that flying turbines can deliver significantly more energy than conventional ground-based windmills. The applications of the S1500 system are not limited to energy production, however. SAWES also plans to use it as a rapid response platform during natural disasters. The airship could be immediately activated after earthquakes or floods, providing emergency power for lighting, radio communications or emergency equipment. China's National Development and Reform Commission has already identified the development of air turbines as a priority in its 2030 energy strategy since 2016. Mobile hovering systems can unlock access to new wind resources in hard-to-reach regions, as well as acting as emergency power sources. The successful flight of the S1500 is an important milestone in the global race for clean energy and proof that China is ready to realise the potential of one of the last great untapped sources of renewable energy - high-altitude wind.

How to find out on which wires the power is sent to the IP cameras?

In 10/100 BASE-T Ethernet networks, the power supply to the cameras is usually implemented according to the 802.3af or 802.3at standard. The way in which power will be sent is determined by the PoE switch, which can transmit power in two ways:

A powered device can provide both, or only one, of the power modes while remaining compliant with the standard. The powered device must therefore support both modes, but as it turns out in practice, not all end devices are fully compliant with the standard. This may be the reason for incompatibility with some power devices.
To check which wire pairs are used for power transmission, you can use the Alpsat AS33-IPCX M3214 meter, which has a function to identify (by measuring voltage) the wire pairs used for PoE (PSE application). Connect the equipment as shown in the diagram below:

Example results:

Redundant power supply for SIGNAL PRO multiswitches - reliability of RTV/SAT installations.

In modern satellite and terrestrial TV installations stable power supply for multiswitches is crucial for uninterrupted signal reception. The SIGNAL PRO series of multiswitches has been designed with reliability in mind and is equipped with the so-called redundant power supply system. Let us imagine that our installation consists of a cascade of e.g. 5 SIGNAL PRO multiswitches and one MS-900 R69900 amplifier. In this case, three power supplies can be used. In the case of failure of one of the power supplies, the other two cover the entire power requirements of the multiswitches and the system of two quatro converters. This way the user can be sure that the RTV/SAT signal will be available even if one of the power supplies is damaged or overloaded. The installation's maintenance technician should check the operation of the power supplies during periodic inspections and, if necessary, replace the damaged one.

This solution significantly increases the operational safety of the entire installation, especially in large collective systems, e.g. in hotels, apartment buildings or office blocks, where interruptions to the TV signal are unacceptable. Redundant power supply minimises the risk of service downtime, reduces maintenance costs and extends the life of the equipment. An additional advantage of SIGNAL PRO multiswitches is their high parameter stability and ability to operate in demanding conditions, which makes them PRO-class solutions. Thanks to the built-in power protection system, installers and network administrators can offer users access to satellite and terrestrial signals at the highest level of reliability.

Colours of adapters in fibre optic installations.

A fibre optic adapter is a socket-to-socket connector made of plastic that allows two plugs to be connected. As a rule, the connectors have to be of the same type - e.g. ULTIMODE A-111 L42111 adapter allows to connect two SC connectors, ULTIMODE A-233 L42233 two duplex LC connectors, etc. It is also possible to use adapters allowing to connect different plugs - e.g. ULTIMODE A-115 L42115 connects an SC plug with an FC plug.

In the case of adapters intended for use in single-mode installations, there are two colours: blue, for adapters connecting plugs with a flat ferrule face (so-called "PC" or "UPC" type - e.g. SC/PC, SC/UPC, etc.), and green, for connecting plugs with an angled ferrule face (so-called "APC" type - e.g. SC/APC).

In the case of adapters used in multimode installations, the colour is related to the fibre standard on which the connection is based: beige indicates a network with OM1 or OM2 fibres, turquoise for OM3, violet for OM4, lime green for OM5.

Bira electric strikes with low current consumption.

The HARTTE XS00 series of electric strikes by Bira, characterised by small dimensions and low current consumption, is available from Dipol. The electric strikes can be supplied with DC or AC voltage in the range 12...24 V. With a 12 V AC supply the minimum current consumption is 185 mA, while with a 12 V DC supply the minimum current consumption is 260 mA. Additionally, if the electric door strike is supplied with 12 V DC, it can operate continuously. Thanks to their symmetrical design, the electric strikes of this series are ideal for left and right-hand doors of various types. The strikers can be adjusted in a range of up to 3.5 mm. The radial shape means that they do not extend beyond the contour of the electric strike and require a smaller hole, making installation quicker and easier. Each model is characterised by different functionality. Standard models, with memory, switch or a combination of these functions are available.

Pass-through RJ-45 connectors.

The EZ RJ-45 category 5e J2012_100 and category 6 J2013_100 connectors are available from DIPOL. Their distinguishing feature is a through-hole on individual wires ensuring faster and more efficient crimping of the connector. The connector should be crimped and excess stranded wires cut off with the dedicated crimping tool E7911.

The plug ready for crimping

Hanlong HT-580ER RJ-45 crimping tool (EZ connectors - pass-through) type EZ E7912

The plug has an elastic latch that prevents it from sliding out of the socket. Individual contacts have sharp, slightly spaced prongs, sticking directly into the insulation of individual wires, ensuring a reliable and durable connection.

How to simultaneously power an IP video intercom and other devices using PoE In many installations, the problem arises how to simultaneously power an IP video intercom and another device requiring DC 12 V power (e.g. door opener, additional camera or other devices) from a single UTP cable, via PoE. The solution is to use any PoE switch (802.3af or PASSIVE) and the PoE stabiliser Atte ATTE SDIP-20-AD0S M18952. By connecting it to one port of the PoE switch, you can power both the video intercom and additional devices...>>> more

Example of practical use of the PoE adepter M18952

Triset 302 coaxial cables – class A+, triple shielding