Archive for the ‘Electrical’ Category

Learning Home Electronics, Building Circuits on Your Own – Part 3

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Water-electronics analogy
Basic terms in electronics can be illustrated with water delivery system:
Water pipe = electric wire
Water flow = current flow
Water pump/tower = power supply
Water Sprinkler/tap = electric load


In order to deliver water in the pipe to the sprinkler, a water pump must push the water from one edge of the pipe to the other edge. As long as the water pipe is thinner, less water can flow in a time unit. This is exactly how the electronic circuit works, as long as the wire is thinner, less current can flow in a time unit. We will learn soon about a component in the electronic circuit called “resistor”, this component resist to part of the current flow through it. The analogy to “resistor” is a valve that adjusts the water flow in the pipe.


Ohm’s law
First and most important law in electronics is ohm’s law. This law is a formula that represents the relation between voltage, current and resistance as followed:


R = V/I


R = resistance
V = voltage
I = current


Playing with the formula can show another two representations:


I = V/R


V = I*R


We can see by ohm’s law that when resistance rises, the current is reduced. If we will measure the resistance of a resistor in the electronic circuit and the voltage between its two terminals we will be able to calculate the current that flow through the resistor with ohm’s law.


Resistor
Resistor is a component with constant and known resistance. The resistor includes two terminals that connect to the electric circuit. Resistors are manufactured on a large range of resistances as requested in each section of the electric circuit. The resistance of the resistor is defined during the manufacture process and usually marked on the resistor package with letters or color stripes code. The main function of the resistor in the electric circuit is to adjust currents and voltage in places where it is connected. Resistor in the electric circuit is marked with the letter R.

Want to learn more of the electronics hobby and build electronics circuits on your own?


visit: http://www.theelectronicsbook.com

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Lower Electric Bills – Tips to Help You Save Money

Monday, January 4th, 2010

Believe it or not, your local electric company actually wants you to save money. They are introducing new ways to lower electric bills with consumer incentives and smart technologies. You can be rewarded for your conservation efforts in tangible ways on your way to living green and protecting the planet, while increasing the money in your pocket.

To learn how the electric company can help you to lower electric bills and how you can help yourself lower electric bills, consider the following:

Utility programs that can lower electric bills:

Smart grids and smart meters.

Around the country, power grids are becoming smarter with technological advances that prevent outages and other issues through the informed participation of consumers. Smart home meters, which are now beginning to replace the traditional, lower-tech models, incorporate sophisticated communication capabilities to help homeowners make an immediate connection between the power they’re using and the price they’re paying. Some utilities offer other helpful real-time communications with customers, such as phone or e-mail messaging in advance of peak use or pricing periods and in-home monitors that help track rate changes and oncoming grid overloads.

Pricing incentives.

Many electrical utilities help homeowners power down throughout the grids busiest times of day with pricing plans that reward use during off-peak hours.

Rebates for energy-saving appliances and home upgrades.

Your local utility likely has an extensive menu of rebates for purchases that help trim your power and green up your home. Offers apply to everything from individual appliances to bigger home improvements like roofing and insulation installations, so consult your utility to find out how you can compound the value of choices you make for your home.

Online calculators and other tools.

Electrical utilities also help you steer toward smarter usage with online resources like energy savings calculators, buyers guides and tip sheets.

Do-it-yourself energy saving tips that can lower electric bills:

Add your own power monitor.

While you wait for your local grid to get smarter and a new meter to be installed at your home base, take steps to monitor your family’s utility use with products made for the task. Energy monitors such as Black & Decker’s Power Monitor are simple to install and work with your current electrical meter to provide real-time information on energy use and costs with an easy-to-program, easy-to-read tabletop display. You can also find monitors that individually test appliances for consumption, efficiency and waste so you know exactly where your energy dollars are going each month and where use can be reduced with more efficient replacements.

Know local rates.

Knowledge is indeed power, and you can’t brighten your energy conservation picture if you’re in the dark regarding local rates and schedules. As mentioned above, most utilities guard the grid and offer savings to customers with incentivized pricing throughout the seasons, so even the most general knowledge of the ups, downs and opportunities they offer can lower electric bills.

Track your power usage.

When your monthly electric bill arrives, look beyond the immediate balance to your usage history. Many utility bills include a chart or graph that illustrates the customer’s consumption month-to-month and year-to-year. Use these simple tools to project use for upcoming seasons and to assess how and why you might be using more (or, hopefully, less) electricity than at the same time last year.

Power up for a change of residence.

If you’re shopping for a home of a different size or in a different area, it doesn’t hurt to review the current owner’s utility bills from the past few years. Your personal use and costs will likely vary for the same property, but you’ll at least have a basic picture of dollars spent and the number of kilowatt-hours of energy consumed there on a monthly basis. To lower electric bills even further, consider possible improvements and appliances to bring with you for the move.

For more helpful energy saving tips, check out these energy savers from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Tom Kraeutler is the Host, Founder and Chief Home Improvement Evangelist of The Money Pit. He is a hands-on home improvement broadcast journalist and the kind of guy homeowners want to call at midnight when their basement floods. He first earned his home improvement stripes as a professional home inspector, amassing over 20 years experience learning how houses are put together, and how they fall apart!

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Planning For Electrical Repairs and Maintenance

Sunday, January 3rd, 2010

It is highly recommended that any electrical repairs, maintenance or additions be done by a qualified electrician. Your electrical installation is one of the most important, and most dangerous, components of your house. It, and your gas system, are essentially the only two areas where an improper installation or modification can lead to serious injury or death. While small repairs, like the replacement of receptacles and switches, can usually be done by a knowledgeable home owner repairs of system malfunctions should only be done by a qualified electrician.

The piece of mind in knowing the repair was done in a safe, proper manner is well worth the cost. Moreover, trying to do it yourself can lead to more costly repair bills. I’ve lost track of the amount of times I’ve had to spend an hour or more on what should have been a fifteen minute job.

A good example being the homeowner deciding to replace a light fixture on their own. They remove the old light and, in the process, undo ALL of the splices. This is not only unnecessary… it makes it that much harder for an electrician to come in after to install it for the homeowner. The electrician now has to trace out all the wires to get the original splices back into place. This involves the removal of switches and receptacles and their replacement which is a lengthy process.

Homeowners trying to troubleshoot problems on their own create even more problems and result in much higher repair bills. This is because an electrician coming in after a homeowner has dismantled parts of the system has no way of knowing how it was originally…making troubleshooting a lot more difficult. Often times, just from sheer experience, an electrician can see what the problem is just by observing the current conditions. Something he can’t do if things have been taken apart.

One thing a homeowner can do to lower any possible repair bills is to map out the circuitry. I don’t mean just label the panel but the entire electrical installation. This is done by drawing out a plan of the house with all of the electrical devices shown in each room or area of the house. You can have a separate page for each room and/or area. One page for the whole house or a combination.

After drawing out your plans, turn off one breaker. Then go around the entire house checking what devices don’t work. As you find these devices label them on your drawing with the breaker number. Repeat this for every breaker in the panel. You don’t need any fancy testing tools for this. Just use a small electrical device like a drill and check each receptacle using the chosen device.

Doing this serves two purposes. Should you ever have to call in an electrician due to the electrical system malfunctioning he will have a ready made map that could cut hours off of any troubleshooting that may be necessary. It will also help the homeowner to quickly identify the breaker controlling a receptacle or switch that they may elect to replace themselves. Helping to ensure a safe job without cycling through all the breakers or turning off the main breaker and leaving the house in darkness.

Rod Macbeth has worked in the electrical trade for over 35 years and has extensive knowledge in most every area. From residential to heavy industrial. He is in the process of building a website for homeowners and welcomes all electrical related questions.

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What to Know About Portable Electric Generators

Saturday, January 2nd, 2010

Energy power shortage in some places are predictable, that is why portable electric generators are very useful providing instant power to appliances you use in your home or in business. Lack of power supply in some companies, will exactly mean reduced of transactions or possible loss of prospective costumers and profit.

The good thing is that there is equipment that immediately supplies alternative electricity every time there is a power outage. One of the helpful machine is with the use of a flexible electric generator. This machine is widely used by many and available in the market with different types to satisfy every costumer needs.

A handy electric power source is an easy to use type of standby electrical source. This device supplies energy by converting its power into an electrical source which can be used by your appliances. Normally, the mechanical power may come from: condensed air, inner combustion engine, and a hand crank.

However, aside from being safe to use, you must be sure that the equipment is placed in a safer place before operation. Because this machine generates electrical power source, it is important to take this safety advice into consideration to avoid possible disaster wherever the gadgets is used.

Handy support power sources are always linked with these hazardous factors such as carbon monoxide, electrical and fire.

The risk of Carbon Monoxide

Instant power sources release carbon monoxide when it is in operation. Since it uses gasoline, its is hard to detect and smell because it is odorless. Therefore, if you feel sick, get out of place and go somewhere when there is fresh air. In fact, too much exposure from this chemical can affect your health and may also result in death.

When installing your unit select the best place to set up your generator. Do not locate your unit indoors or enclosed space like underground room or garage because it is important that the carbon monoxide will be discharge freely. It is recommended to set your unit outdoors so that the gaseous emission will not suffocate your place.

Danger of Electric Shock

* Do not touch the machine while your hands are wet because water will bring on electric shock. Also, put your unit outside covering it with durable plastic or waterproof cover to prevent damage from rain and other liquid substances.

Danger of Fire

* When you buy fuels, store it outdoors to prevent accidental fire inside your house because this is flammable.

I hope this information gives you an idea on portable electric generators. Always look for a reliable supplier to assess your needs and to assure that you will receive a long-lasting power source machine.

Want more source of knowledge? Visit http://www.solarpondpumpshop.com/ which showcases pond waterfall pumps, information, and purchasing guides.

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Electrical Fuses 101

Sunday, October 11th, 2009

Most people who are not familiar with electricity don’t know that electrical fuses protect electrical circuits from over amperage, not over voltage.

Amps or amperage is the flow, or amount of electricity. Voltage has to do with the force the electricity current flows. A example of this would be a fire hose with a nozzle delivers high pressure (voltage), but also low volume (amperage). The fire hydrant may have huge volume (amperage), but will only push the water a few feet due to it’s low pressure (voltage). So when you multiply amps x volts you get the wattage.

Every electrical circuit whether rated to handle a large shop machine or motor, is setup to handle specific amperage. Your wiring is also only rated to handle a specified amount of amperage, if you try running too many amps through the wires, they’ll overheat and melt. The purpose of a electrical fuse or circuit breaker is to trip or blow before damage is done to the machine, electrical product, or wiring.

Standard Home Fuses:
New homes have circuit breakers but many older homes have a fuse box that which fuses screw into sockets similar to light bulb sockets. There are two types of bases for sockets, the Edison Base which are Type T Fuses and the Rejection Base which are Type S Fuses. The Edison Type T base fuse screws directly into the socket in the fuse box. The Rejection Base Type S fuse actually screws into a adapter base, which locks the fuse into the fuse box. Each of the Type S fuses has a different size adapter base for each different amperage rating fuse. With the different types of fuse bases you are unable to put a larger amp rated fuse into a smaller amp circuit.

Many older homes also use a Edison Type W fuse which are becoming obsolete. These Type W fuses are fast-acting, and have no time delay element. The Type W is designed for general lighting and power circuits that do not run electrical motors. A electric motor draws more current when it starts up and will  blow the Type W fuse.

The medium duty time delay fuses are now a commonly used plug fuses for homes, these are called the “TL” and “SL” fuses. The “TL” fuse is a Edison fuse and the “SL” fuses use the rejection base. These fuses are used where power surges can occur, such as a garbage disposal.

When larger motors are used in circuits or motors that cycle on and off many times use “S” and “T” fuses. These fuses are heavy duty time delay fuses, the differences are the “S” fuse uses rejection socket bases, and the “T” fuse has a Edison base.

The last type of home fuse is a retrofit circuit breaker fuse are known as Minibreakers. These fuses convert a socket fuse into a push button circuit breaker, that pops out when overloaded. To reset these breakers all you do is press the circuit breaker button back into position and your up and running.

Get more electrical fuse and circuit breakers info today from a leading fuse supplier and keep your home safe.

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5 Ways to Make Electricity

Saturday, October 10th, 2009

One of the biggest inventions of all times made by man is electrical energy. This has enabled modernization to evolve so fast. The largest quantity of electricity ever created by man comes from fossil fuels, nuclear fission, water and even wind. This article will take briefly about the various ways to produce electricity.

It is churned out by massive rotary engines. These rotary engines need guidance in order to be in constant motion. Below are some of the methods used to rotate these rotary engines which in turn produce electricity.

By combustion of fossil fuels: electric is generated as the turbines of these rotary engines are propelled using huge quantity of vapor. The vapor is produced by heating up a large quantity of water in a large heater. The water is made hot by blazing fossil fuels such as petroleum, coal and natural gas. This technique discharges a large carbon into the atmosphere, thereby contaminating our environment. It is essential to seek other greener forms of electricity for a long process advantage.

By water: you may have seen the way dams are built to generate electricity either on tv or newspaper. It is a famous way to generate electricity. Dams do 2 purposes – cutting back at water bodies and creating electricity. Water dams utilize the river water to power the turbines, aiding them to create electricity. This method of electricity generation aids in managing air pollution. Nevertheless, this kind of electricity generation has a harmful effect to water organisms living inside the water.

By wind: current is created as window energy is transformed to electricity energy. Wind mills are employed to build up huge quantity of wind energy which is transformed to electrical energy. The current developments in wind energy have it that it can be used to generate handy cell phone chargers.

By nuclear fission: it’s not used for atomic bombs only, but it can be utilized to generate electricity. Nuclear fission brings about a series of reaction. During this process uranium is bombarded with neutron making it to divide. Anytime uranium nucleus is divided, excess neutrons are discharged resulting to more division in previously divided uranium nuclei. The product of this chain reaction creates lots of heat that is utilized to warm up water vapor which in turn rotates turbines to generate electricity.

Bio-waste: modernization of electricity has made electricity easy to be generated from bio-waste. It is a common way of creating electricity in local regions.

Do you know that you can make your own electricity from home using either solar energy or wind energy? Want to find out how? See below.

Earth 4 Energy is a DIY manual which consists of videos and guides which you can easily use to build your own solar panel from home for under $200. If you want to live off the grid, now is your opportunity to build yours to less than the price of one.
Check it out at http://modospot.com/review/earth4energy.html

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Benefits of a Kitchen Exhaust Fan

Friday, October 9th, 2009

The kitchen is one of the most common places of get together in many homes. It is a place to loosen up and bond with family and friends. Therefore, the kitchen should be cozy and convenient. But from all the warm images that the kitchen may present, there is something hidden that lingers, its pollution!

Kitchen can be the main source of pollutants in a home. Think all the grease, smoke, unwanted odors and moisture produced during cooking. Pollutants that stick to the walls, ceilings, carpets, furniture, and upholstery may require frequent cleaning and all the effort and expense it entails. But having an exhaust fan system will get rid all of these problems.

A good, reliable kitchen exhaust fan system is what you need especially if you are fond of cooking frying and broiling foods. Cooking methods often produce evident particles as well as an unseen mist of greases that can cover the surfaces of your kitchen if they are not vacuumed and exhausted to the exterior of your home. And, without an effective kitchen exhaust fan, air inside will be packed with dangerous contaminants and disease-causing agents released into indoor air.

Cooking releases excess moisture in the air and make indoor air very humid. If not ventilated properly and adequately, it can decrease the quality of indoor air and may lead to a number of problems like asthma, allergies, skin rashes, headaches and nausea and other breathing disorders.

It can possibly cause formation of fungus, mold spores, and mildew that may cause severe health problems. Home furniture may be warped due to excess humidity. Wall paints may crack and peel.

There are wide selections of products in the market that will keep your kitchen well ventilated. It may cover a choice of kitchen range hoods, kitchen exhausters and kitchen fans. All these products are well designed to keep the air inside your home fresh and the atmosphere comfortable.

Kitchen range hoods can furnish an attractive look and be functional additions in your kitchen. It can drive out heat, smoke, moisture and odors fast and directly. These kitchen range hoods are available in different designs and colors. This type can also provide cook top lighting and some models even offer a selection of light levels like a subtle nightlight.

Kitchen range hood are installed directly over the range to trap the heated air, smoke, moisture and gas fumes while a fan exhaust it through duct work to the exterior of the house. It has a filter that traps grease that can be easily removed and cleaned. This type of kitchen ventilator must be with the same width as the cooking surface. It serves and sets up directly over it at a height of at least 18 to 30 inches from your burners.

You can have it installed. Most of it comes with free service installation when bought. Otherwise, you can do it yourself by following the instructions in the manual.

Whatever type of exhaust fan you decide to install in your kitchen, it will definitely improve the air inside, as well as the overall environment inside your house.

For more information on Selecting a kitchen exhaust fan and Attic Exhaust Fans please visit our website.

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Green Energy Consumption Tips From Master Electricians

Monday, September 21st, 2009

Many people are concerned about the state of the earth and how they can help the “green” efforts. There are many things a single person can do to contribute, but to start one does not have to go too far. Any person from teachers to master electricians can provide insight regarding the green effort. This article addresses energy consumption tips a person can apply within their homes.

Become aware

Most may not realize how quickly the “little things” can add up in regards to energy consumption. For instance, how much power was used due to a room left lit throughout the entire workday? Are appliances left plugged in or on standby using more energy than previously thought? To start, one of the best tips to be provided is to become aware of the little things that can make a big impact:

- Turn off lights whenever possible. Take advantage of sources of natural sunlight within the home.

- Unplug appliances when not in use. Not only does it save energy, but is also extra precautionary in regards to electrical fires.

- Take advantage of the weather. Many of us get in the habit of keeping the home air and heat units on regardless of outside weather temperatures. Open windows and doors whenever possible to reduce energy consumption.

Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFLs)

On average compact fluorescent bulbs use about 75% less energy, produce 75% less heat, and last about 10 times longer in comparison to standard bulbs.

CFLs can be used indoors or outdoors. They can dramatically improve conservation outdoors because most leave outdoor lighting on overnight or most of the night via a timer. CFLs can be used in conjunction with protective fixtures to shield extreme temperatures and inclement weather.

CFLs are used in conjunction with timers, dimmers, motion detectors, and automatic daylight shutoff devices to conserve energy. Make sure to check particular products are compatible with using CFL bulbs.

Home Appliances

Home appliances can count for a good percentage of household’s energy bill. Refrigerators, clothes washers and dryers, and dishwashers are big factors.

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy lists the energy performance of top-rated energy- saving appliances on its web site: http://www.aceee.org.
Be mindful of refrigerator temperatures. Recommended temperatures for refrigerators ranges from 35 to 40 degrees F; and, freezer temperatures can be set around 0 to 5 degrees F.

Everyone at Mister Sparky® — from schedulers to Service Electricians — respects the value of your time and home. That’s why if a Mister Sparky® Service Electrician doesn’t show up as promised … your service call is FREE. If you aren’t fully satisfied for any reason, we’ll make it right. Guaranteed. We mean it when we say your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Visit http://www.mistersparky-houston.com.

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