Archive for the 'Electrical' Category

Nov 24 2009

How to Find the Best Portable Generator

Published by ShreveportDesigner under Electrical

The best portable generators are fueled by gasoline or diesel fuel and include 120-volt power outlets like the ones in the walls of your home. What makes portable generators so great is they provide everyone safe, clean, portable power when your are disaster or outdoor situations like camping. Generators are extremely useful machines, particularly after the loss of electricity in the wake of a storm or other unforeseen circumstance. Usually you’ll notice that generators will come in some basic types: portable or standby. Another great reason to get a generator is they run on anything from regular gasoline, propane, diesel and use a small portable engine to generate electricity.

Portable generators are good for your favorite outdoor recreational activities tailgating, picnicking, camping, and hunting. To power a generator it is the same as any other kind of generator they use propane, diesel or sometime natural gas. What makes a generator special aside from standby generators is that if there’s a loss of electricity in the wake of a storm they can be used as power generation. A few things to remember is that a generator can last up to two full days without any more gas to power it. But one thing to remember is that generators are loud and produce anywhere up to 80 db. in sound plus some parks don’t allow these noisy generators in there parks. Some companies like Honda product a small generator that’s around 45 db for power.

What you should know about price is that with a generator the price is usually starting around $130 dollars and works it way up for the high end to $2,500 dollars on some models, there’s always a fit for whatever kind of generator you want but you should know that some can get pricey. Some of the best portable generators and high quality are the Yamaha’s and Honda generators that can fit any of your power needs. It’s important to remember what you want to mainly use it for before purchasing it so size does matter. Our recommendation is to look for portable generators that are sturdy and also priced well.

There are two types of generators are available: portable generators and permanently installed home generator systems. You want to be particular to find a store that offers you the best bang for your dollar but that also offers a good and reliable at the voltage that you need. To do this simply figure out the total wattage of everything that could possibly be hooked up to the generator and add it together. If you get stuck usually your home appliances will have the wattage posted on the back or bottom. Portable generators are very useful tools but require safe handling in order to prevent serious injury or even death. So please use caution if it’s your first time using one.

Want to find out more about Best Portable Generator, then visit the portable generator site on how to choose the best Portable Diesel Generator for your needs.

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Nov 23 2009

Bathroom Electrical Wiring – Issues and Safety Precautions

Published by ShreveportDesigner under Electrical

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, tens of thousands of fires happen all over the United States every year that are caused by electrical issues. Besides the millions of property damage that are incurred, there is also the unfortunate loss of life that happens in hundreds of these kinds of cases. There are also hundreds of consumer products that can cause electrocution and death (especially with bathroom electrical wiring), so it is best that the appropriate safety precautions are done in order to prevent any sort of unfortunate incident to happen.

A Volatile and Dangerous Mix

It is a well known fact that water and electricity just do not mix. It is a very deadly combination. So you can just imagine the kinds of dangers you have with bathroom electrical wiring systems. Of course, no one can eliminate entirely the need for bathroom electrical wiring systems – with outlets for dryers, heaters, lights, and all other electrical appliances you use in the bathroom, all you can really do is to observe the proper safety precautions and steps to make sure that the electrical system in your bathroom is safe for you and all who use the bathroom.

Some Safety Tips

1. Have a GFCI device installed.
The National Safety Code requires the installation of a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter or GFCI to be able to deal with cases of having to install outlets in bathrooms. This is to minimize the incidence of electrocution or any other electrical incident that involves the mix of water and bathroom electrical wiring through sockets and outlets. GFCI units are designed to cut off the supply of electricity to an outlet when there is a loss of current in a circuit.

2. Have some exhaust fans installed.
Imagine coming home from a long and hard day’s work to enjoy a relaxing time in the tub, or maybe just taking a long, warm shower. Your body dissipates heat during these times, so leaving a bathroom unventilated will cause moisture and humidity to accumulate inside. This poses danger to your bathroom electrical wiring, so it is best to install an exhaust fan so that air can circulate inside the bathroom space and no steam or moisture will build up inside.

3. Have moisture-splash proof switches.
There will be times when you need to open a light switch with wet hands, or maybe forget to dry your hands before you touch and turn on the switch. You can also have children who will inevitably splash water on your switches. To avoid the risk for any short circuits and electrocution, it is recommended that you install splash proof switches as part of your bathroom electrical wiring system. This will prevent water from entering the switch and coming into contact with the wiring system.

Even in the bathroom, we need to have bathroom electrical wiring installed. It’s an inescapable fact that we have incorporated the use of electricity even in environments where we use water. Fortunately though, there are steps we can follow and safety precautions we can observe to minimize – if not entirely eliminate – the risk for any electricity related incidents and injuries. And you can’t go wrong with hiring a professional electrician to look over your bathroom electrical wiring.

Avner Electric, Inc. has over 25 years of experience. We bring you the services of quality trained professionals at the best possible prices to ensure your wiring projects go through to completion smoothly. We offer a Free Electrical Home Inspection and Tips on electrical wiring. You have full permission to reprint this article provided this box is kept unchanged.

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Nov 22 2009

Installing a Generator For Your Home Or Business

Published by ShreveportDesigner under Electrical

Location
Operating a diesel generator set will result in a certain amount of noise (although steps can be taken to reduce this significantly) and diesel exhaust fumes. If possible, a location downwind of your home/business should be selected so diesel fumes are carried away from people and buildings by the prevailing winds. A reasonable distance between your home/business and the site of the generator enclosure, will (in combination with soundproofing measures)reduce any noise pollution.

Placement
Diesel generators are heavy and should sit on a solid, level surface. The ideal solution is to pour a reinforced concrete slab approx 4″ thick. The slab should be large enough for the generator and fuel tank to sit on. There should be sufficient room to walk around the generator (in order to service and maintain the machine) and for a block wall enclosure to be built around the generator (the fuel tank should not be placed inside this enclosure).

Prior to pouring the slab, a trench (18″ deep is ideal) should be dug between the generator slab and an access point adjacent to the mains electricity supply/distribution board in your building, close to where your transfer switch will be located. Pipe work should be laid of a sufficient size to accommodate the cables and generator control wires (minimum of 25mm cable per 100amps of supply). The pipe work should begin with a vertical feed through the slab and care should be taken to ensure that there are no 90 degree bends. Any bends should be gentle so cables will not jam or snag as they are pulled through. Whilst laying the pipe, you should run a length of strong rope through the pipe work, this will be used later to pull the generator cables through.

After pouring the concrete slab, a few inches of concrete should be poured along the trench on top of the pipe work prior to the trench being back filled. This will help prevent future cable damage.

Generator Enclosure
Diesel generator sets are sensitive to extreme heat and moisture and need to be protected from excesses of both. The best way to achieve this is to build a custom enclosure around the generator set.

The design of the enclosure should allow for maximum airflow, whilst reducing the chance of moisture penetration. Moisture penetration into the alternator is one of the main causes of generator burn outs and can be avoided for the most part by enclosure design.

Simple block walls supporting a metal framed, tiled roof, is a good basic structure. The roof should be lined with heat reflective material to prevent excessive radiant heat penetration (painting the roof and walls white will also reflect some radiant heat). The eaves of the roof should descend as low as is practicable to prevent rainwater being blown into the enclosure in high winds. A wide door (30″ or 32″) should be fitted for operator access and maintenance.

Air is drawn in through the rear of a generator and expelled through the radiator at the front of a generator. To allow a sufficient volume of air to be drawn in through the generator enclosure, the final course of block work at the top of the block wall to the rear of the generator, should be of a decorative type with holes in the block. The generator will draw air through this course of block. The hot air expelled through the radiator should be channeled through a simple duct work arrangement between the face of the radiator and further decorative block work on the wall directly to the front of the generator. All decorative block work should be lined on the inside of the generator enclosure with fine plastic or metal mesh material to prevent insect penetration into the generator enclosure.

The walls, door and ceiling should be lined with sound absorbent material, this will significantly reduce the noise signature of the generator set. If noise continues to be a problem other solutions include; building a cavity wall as opposed to a single block wall, and/or fitting baffles around the decorative block (airflow in) and radiator (airflow out). These measures will reduce the noise signature further still. If noise reduction is an absolute priority, purchasing a generator in a silent canopy, then installing it within a block built and soundproof lined generator enclosure is the way to go.

Sufficient lighting and an additional mains power outlet should be fitted within the enclosure for the purpose of generator maintenance and service. If possible a water supply should be run to the outside of the enclosure and hosepipe fitted (for radiator top up).

John Walker designs, manufactures, installs and commissions diesel generators and transfer switch panels in Thailand. Visit our website at http://www.generatorsolutions.org to learn more about diesel generators.

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Aug 09 2009

Tips on Good Surge Protectors

All of us need electricity in our daily lives. We use it in almost everything. We need it to make our computer run, to cook our food, we use the electricity to give us light, and to power several of our other entertainment and communication devices. The basic household stuff use electricity in order for them to run.

Even so, there are times when things go out of hand. An unprotected electricity outlet can lead to accidents. It could be life threatening and may even destroy our valuable properties. Still, it is a hard life to live without having electricity available. So, what can we do to avoid such mishaps while enjoying the benefits of this wonderful invention?

You may have heard of a surge protector before. These devices are made and specially designed in order to protect our electrical appliances from voltage spikes. Their task is to regulate high voltage supplies used every day in our daily routines. It works by channeling some excess voltage toward the grounding wire of the outlet, resulting to a prevention of too much flow of electricity to our appliances and devices, and at the same time, it does not affect the performance of our devices.

Accidents and mishaps are present when the electrical surges become overloaded and the wires burn or gradually wear out over time. It may result to a broken or defective device. A surge protector protects the appliances from the TV to the small lines such as that of telephones.

So, just how important is it to provide ourselves with surge protectors? Most of the time, big fire accidents occur because of defective wiring that could instigate short circuiting. Surge protectors are available almost everywhere. All we have to do is to look for the right surge protector and make sure that what we choose to purchase is from a credible company.

Take a home theater surge protector as an example. We can say that it is a good device if it gives you more than the protection you need. For instance, a good quality surge protector meant for home theater use will also give you the advantage of regulating the electricity bill. It regulates the flow of power to your home theater and also puts away different kinds of line signals that become mixed to your own. From then, you can see how much your entertainment equipment improved with a clearer and better image. The sound system is distinctly better. There are many testimonials from current users to support these claims.

Usually in the market, the higher the price of a surge protector, the more quality you can get. Having the home theater surge protector as an example, they do not only give you lesser bill and safety, they also provide you with the solutions for your home theater problems. This is because they invest more on developing the surge protector to give you the best results. Generally, purchasing a good surge protector gives you the benefit of having lower electricity costs and better quality of your appliances.

A good surge protector for your home theater should have a warranty in order to be sure of what you have bought or will be buying. In case the device malfunctions, they will replace it and they will be liable for the damages. Never compromise safety for the cost of only a few bucks.

For more information on The Best Surge Protector and How Do Surge Protectors Work. Please visit our website.

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Jul 31 2009

The Pros and Cons of Solar Lighting

Anyone who reads the headlines or watches the news will already be well aware of the fact that the environment is in trouble. This is due to many factors, but among the biggest contributors to the world’s problems is energy consumption. One of the most significant ways in which energy is consumed is through electricity. Human beings need a constant supply of electrical energy, and the means of making it and delivering it into the billions of homes around the world has taken a huge toll on the planet.

Luckily there are clever people who have designed all kinds of alternative energy products, and one of the most popular of these products is solar lighting. Solar lighting fixtures come in an amazing array of styles and designs. They can be put to use within the interior of a home or garage as well as all around a property.
There are a few “pros and cons” where they are concerned, and generally the “pros” far outweigh the “cons”. Let’s consider the downside of solar lighting first. Currently, the majority of solar lighting fixtures rely on LED bulbs. These are supremely durable bulbs that offer an average life span of roughly sixty to one hundred thousand hours each. They are also impervious to freezing conditions, water and even impact or strong blows.

This means they are the ideal solution for an outdoor fixture, but where they don’t always satisfy the user is in their brightness. LED bulbs must be clustered together to obtain a brightness similar to a standard fluorescent bulb. There are currently many companies who are able to manufacture such fixtures as spot and flood lights using LED bulbs, so this means that the only real “con” to solar lighting is going to be eliminated within the next few years.

The many pros of solar lighting include its wide applicability, efficiency and ease of installation. There are gorgeous exterior fixtures for gardens and porches, there are utilitarian fixtures that provide excellent interior lighting in a shed or garage, there are even security lights with motion sensors or those with built in detectors for dusk and dawn.

Additionally, solar outdoor lighting saves tons of money and energy because it requires absolutely no hardwiring to an electrical supply of any kind. While reducing her carbon footprint, the owner is also saving hundreds of dollars on electrical services each year as well. Finally, solar lighting fixtures are remarkably easy to install and require very basic tools and skills to put almost anywhere in a home or business.

Jonathan Gal is a solar lighting expert and owner of YCA Solar Lights, an organization dedicated to promoting clean, energy efficient solar lighting technology. To find out more about how solar technology is changing the way we live, especially with respect to lighting, you are invited to visit: http://www.ycasolarlightstore.com

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