Electrical Connection

Klein Tools has introduced its Multi-Scan Stud Finder, designed to help DIY users and professionals locate wood and metal studs, as well as live AC wires, behind walls. The electronic stud finder uses LED indicators to display the full width and edges of studs, helping users identify their location accurately. Automatic calibration removes the need for manual adjustments, while automatic detection of wood, metal and live AC wires eliminates the need to switch between scanning modes.

TP-Link has brought its first WiFi 8 router to Australia, with the Archer 8 Ultra designed to keep home networks performing consistently as more devices, interference and demanding applications put pressure on connectivity. Rather than focusing solely on peak speeds, WiFi 8 is designed around maintaining reliable performance in real-world conditions. TP-Link’s WiFi 8 StabilityEngine combines several technologies aimed at improving coverage, reducing congestion and managing interference.

After a nearly year-long hiatus, Toyota has re-opened the order books for its 76 Series GXL wagon and removed a major blocker for further imports of the rest of its range of 70 Series LandCruiser workhorses: The lack of an emissions-compliant engine.

Queensland electricians will have access to dedicated electrical waste recycling bins at 19 CNW Electrical branches under a new trial from Clipsal and recycling company TerraCycle. The pilot is designed to provide electricians with a more accessible disposal option for common electrical products removed from residential and commercial sites, allowing eligible waste to be dropped off during regular visits to participating wholesalers.

More than 400 serious workers’ compensation claims are made in Australia each year following workplace electric shocks, while electrical contact consistently ranks among the top ten causes of occupational fatalities, according to new research from Monash University.

Victorian solar installers are being urged to encourage customers to have their rooftop solar systems regularly serviced, as part of a new public safety campaign by Energy Safe Victoria and Solar Victoria, highlighting the increased fire risk associated with older systems. Energy Safe Victoria and Solar Victoria’s campaign, Be solar safe, targets home owners and encourages them to have their rooftop solar systems serviced by a licensed A Grade electrician.

UNSW Sydney researchers will field-test up to 160 commercial-sized perovskite and perovskite-silicon tandem solar modules as part of an $18 million, five-year project examining how the technology performs in outdoor conditions. The modules will be installed at UNSW’s Water Research Laboratory in Manly Vale and exposed to changing temperatures, humidity, ultraviolet radiation, rain, salt air and storms.

Milwaukee Tool has updated its M18 platform alongside a couple of other new solutions. Sean Carroll got his hands on the gear to see how it stacks up. A good tradesperson never blames their tools… until it really is the tools this time. When it’s time for an upgrade, the number of options out there for tradies is vast and sometimes confusing. Milwaukee Tool has released a huge upgrade to its M18 platform of power tools with the introduction of the REDLITHIUM HIGH OUTPUT XC5 battery.

It’s no secret that Australia has a significant housing supply and building productivity problem. Nayan Das explores the role Standards Australia plays in addressing this. Only around 172,000 new homes were built in 2025, well below the 240,000 that need to be built annually to meet the National Housing Accord target of 1.2 million new homes by June 2029. The time taken to build a home has also increased substantially. Over the past decade, average construction times have increased by more than 50%.

The rapid expansion of Australia’s data centre sector is increasing competition for skilled electricians, communications technicians and construction trades, with the Housing Industry Association (HIA) and National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) calling for urgent action to grow the workforce.