Function of Circuit Breaker Panels

As a homeowner, you should be familiar with the location of your circuit breaker panel. In most homes, the circuit breaker box is located in the laundry area or basement. Sometimes the circuit breaker box is located on the outside of the home. In larger homes, there may be multiple circuit breaker panels, including the main panel and additional sub-panels. The circuit breaker panel box is usually gray in color and is mounted on a wall. If you open the panel doors, you will see several different circuit breakers. Each of these breakers controls the power input and output of each appliance in your home. The main breaker controls power to the entire home, and will shut off power to the entire home.

A circuit breaker box houses the main and individual circuits for appliances in your home. Circuits serve to protect the home in the case of current overload. If an overload of power occurs, because of faulty electrical wiring or a multitude of other reasons, the breaker will trip causing power to be shut off, either to individual appliances or to the entire house.

Most homeowners have experienced a tripped circuit breaker at one time or another. If you are unable to get power to a particular appliance, chances are the breaker was tripped. Because this is common, especially in older homes, it is important to label each circuit in the circuit breaker panel. To label the circuits, you can check by switching off each circuit to determine what power source each is linked to. Labeling each circuit in the circuit breaker box can make it much easier and less frustrating in the future.

Function of Fuse Boxes

Fuse boxes serve the same purpose as circuit breaker boxes. The fuse controls the electrical current from appliances within a home. Fuse boxes are outdated by modern standards. The advantage to having circuit breakers in a home is that instead of replacing a fuse each time it is used, circuit breakers can be easily reset. It can be frustrating, expensive and time consuming to have to replace a fuse every time it is used.

According to government estimate, faulty electrical wiring each year causes approximately forty thousand house fires. Like circuit breakers, fuses are used to prevent fires and electrocutions by interrupting electrical currents in the case of a power overload. When a fuse blows or a circuit breaker trips, it is important for you to locate the source of the problem.

One of the most common causes of blown fuses is power overload. For instance, if you have lights that seem to stop working frequently, you may have too many items connected to a single power source. In other cases, blown fuses may represent more serious problems. Sometimes an appliance may have a short circuit; it could even mean a short circuit in the home’s internal wiring. In either case, it is best to have a professional electrician evaluate the fuse box and wiring to prevent serious house fires.

As you would in a circuit breaker panel, you should also label each fuse in the fuse box. Labeling each fuse can make it easier to replace the one in need by accurately locating the blown fuse and which appliance it serves. You can identify a blown fuse by first turning off everything on the circuit. Identify fuses that are melted, cracked or have frayed wires. When replacing a fuse, keep everything turned off to prevent electrocution.

Secrets of Home Made Energy Exposed!

Have you heard of home made energy? Many scientists believe that it is going to be the new wave of technology in the future. Despite the existence of home made energy solutions, many people still do not believe in them and continue to get strangled by utility companies. In order to preserve our planet, it is becoming clear that we need to take steps of conserve the Earth and not use up all our natural resources.

1. What Is The State Of Home Made Energy Today?

Electricity companies have long been making a lot of money by providing electric power to households. The government is not doing enough to communicate the importance of energy, oil and natural gas conservation to its people. Of course, they may also have reasons not to do so. If every household were to convert to using home made energy, utility companies would go out of business and this would greatly affect the economy.

Inventors and scientists have already made discoveries of wind turbines, solar power generators and electric cars etc., but these inventions have been very minimally exposed to the public.

2. What Has The Home Made Energy Guide Taught Me?

The ideas written in this guide have made me understand the importance of homemade energy and changed my lifestyle totally. Today, I am able to generate my own power at home using the wind turbines and solar power generators that I have built on my own with the plans inside this guide. My electricity bill has also gone down more than 80%, and today I can live comfortably without having to worry about expensive electrical bills.

3. Why Use Home Made Energy?

Studies have shown that natural resources on our planet are diminishing much faster than we can find new ways to make them. If this situation carries on, our land will soon run out of natural resources and this would be a disaster for everyone.

How to Estimate Home Appliance Energy Use

There's a very simple way to figure out how much energy your home appliances are using. I'm not a math genius, and I can

accurately determine how much energy each appliance in my home is using.

The formula is:

(Wattage × Hours Used Per Day ÷ 1000 = Daily Kilowatt-hour (kWh) consumption(1 kilowatt (kW) = 1,000 Watts)

Determine the annual energy consumption by estimating how many days per year you use the appliance. Then, you can figure the annual cost by multiplying the kWh by using your local utility's kWh rate.

Here's an example of something you may use frequently - a personal computer and monitor.

(120 + 150 Watts × 4 hours/day × 365 days/year) ÷ 1000 = 394 kWh × 8.5 cents/kWh = $33.51/year

Adjust the numbers to what you use. If you don't know the exact figures, make an estimate.

Many appliances have the wattage stamped somewhere on the unit itself. It may be on a metal plate along with the
manufacturer's serial number. If you can't find the wattage, you may find the amount of amps the unit consumes. If you find the amp consumption, multiply it by the voltage used by the appliance. For most household items, it's 120 volts.

However, your electric stove and dryer are usually rated at 240 volts.

Beware of a condition known as "phantom load." This is when appliances continue to use electricity even when they're turned
off. Some common examples are your VCR, TV, stereo, computer, and many kitchen appliances.

You can prevent phantom load by either unplugging the appliance from the wall socket, or you can plug it into a power strip.

Turn off the power strip when you're done using the appliance. This will save some money on your energy bill every year.

Here's some typical wattage ratings for common household appliances:

Coffee maker = 900–1200

Clothes washer = 350–500

Clothes dryer = 1800–5000

Dishwasher = 1200–2400 (using the drying feature greatly increases energy consumption)

Clothes iron = 1000–1800

Microwave oven = 750–1100

Radio (stereo) = 70–400

Refrigerator (frost-free, 16 cubic feet) = 725

Televisions (color)

o 19" = 65–110

o 27" = 113

o 36" = 133

o 53"-61" Projection = 170

o Flat screen = 120

VCR/DVD = 17–21 / 20–25

Vacuum cleaner = 1000–1440

Water heater (40 gallon) = 4500–5500

Now that you know how to calculate energy consumption of common appliances in your home, it's easier to figure out which ones you want to keep turned off as much as possible to save energy.

Understand how the circuit works

This consists of understanding the operation of all the components that are used in the circuit. This could include such components as: push buttons, contactors, various types of switches, relays, sensors, motors, etc. Electrical circuits typically control or operate mechanical systems and components. You also need to understand how these mechanical aspects of the equipment operate to carry out the work. You need to be able to determine how the circuit works under normal conditions and what effect changing one of the circuit inputs has on the circuit operation. For example, what happens to the overall circuit operation when a push button is pressed; which relays energize, which lights illuminate, does the pump start or stop, etc. You also need to be able to determine what effect a faulty component may have on the circuit operation.

What makes an expert Troubleshooter?

One trait of expert troubleshooters is that they are able to find virtually any fault in a reasonable amount of time. Easy faults, complicated faults, they find them all. Another trait is that they typically replace only the components that are defective. They seem to have a knack for finding out exactly what is wrong. No trial and error here. So what is their secret?

You might think that a person who has a very good understanding of how the equipment works, should be able to troubleshoot it effectively. Being a good at troubleshooting requires more than this.

Expert troubleshooters have a good understanding of the operation of electrical components that are used in circuits they are familiar with, and even ones they are not. They use a system or approach that allows them to logically and systematically analyze a circuit and determine exactly what is wrong. They also understand and effectively use tools such as prints, diagrams and test instruments to identify defective components. Finally, they have had the opportunity to develop and refine their troubleshooting skills.

So What is troubleshooting?

It is the process of analyzing the behavior or operation of a faulty circuit to determine what is wrong with the circuit. It then involves identifying the defective component(s) and repairing the circuit. Depending on the type of equipment, troubleshooting can be a very challenging task. Sometimes problems are easily diagnosed and the problem component easily visible. Other times the symptoms as well as the faulty component can be difficult to diagnose. A defective relay with visual signs of burning should be easy to spot, whereas an intermittent problem caused by a high resistance connection can be much more difficult to find.

Paying Too Much For Electricity?

Paying too much for electricity or energy in general is very common. It really comes down to if your provider or supplier is the absolute cheapest in your area. Now remember that energy bills in Seattle will differ from those in Sausalito. Also, company availability is different throughout the country.

If you don't think you have the absolute cheapest, look around for more options. There are bound to be cheaper. Try asking your local technician. They probably have dealt with a wide variety of different providers and have experience with those different providers.

One of the largest and most renowned providers for energy is PG&E. While they might not provide the absolute cheapest prices, they are close to the top for a reason. I would recommend going for PG&E's supply because of their reliability and countless "success" stories.

If you can't get those cheaper providers, you might want to look towards building systems that retrieve renewable energy. Solar grids and windmills can generate solar and wind energy. Those two combined can almost guarantee an independence from expensive companies and suppliers. Don't know how to build those two? A solution is closer than you think...

Earth4Energy gives a step-by-step instruction to guide you to lower energy bills and solve that scary question of "Am I paying too much?". It'll show you what materials you'll need for the solar grid and for the windmill. The best part about the guide is that it's structured so in any case you'll have a source of energy.

Copper

Copper is perhaps one of the most important materials in the world because it is used for electricity and computers. It is also one of the main businesses of the world’s largest economies, including the United States and Canada. Countries such as Chile, Zaire, Zambia, and Poland also produce significant amounts of copper.

Characteristics of copper

Copper is used in a lot of industries, because it is very ductile. It is the perfect metal for making wires, because not only can it be cold-rolled down to one one-thousandth inch in thickness – its can be lengthened as much as 5,000 times through a process called cold drawing.

Copper’s unmatched utility is due to its ability to form alloys readily with almost all metals. But aside from being functional, copper is also rather ‘attractive’ – it has a nice color and luster and takes a high polish.

Important Uses of Copper

Copper is mostly used in electrical equipment. Nearly all electrical devices run on copper wiring because copper is cheap and highly conductive, with a lot of free electrons that can transmit the current efficiently.

Copper is also very important in fashioning metal products like pipes, tubings, plumbing fixtures, hardware and machine tools. It is literally a part of everyday life. It is even used for cooking utensils, though it is usually coated with tin, so that it does not form harmful compounds with food properties. Copper also finds its way into the transportation industry, refrigeration equipment, and other miscellaneous uses. Of course you know that the penny in your pocket is made of copper too.

Copper and computers

Computers depend on copper used to build integrated circuits and chips, among many other parts. It is quickly replacing aluminum as the main chip material. Studies have found that copper will not only make computers more affordable, but also help them make faster calculations.

Learn To Be An Electrician

If you live in the state of Texas or nearby and you would like to learn about residential wiring, either to work on your own home or to advance your electrical career, there is an electrician course for you. The cost is 280.

This electrician course provides an in-depth look at the U.S. National Electrical Code to which all working electricians must comply. Students study methods of wiring, protection from over currents, branch circuitry, electrical raceways, ampacities, and voltage drops. They study topics that relate to residential installations that help these student electricians prepare for their examination.

Those participating in this electrician course must bring a copy of the NEC code book of 2005 and a scientific calculator with them to the class. The course is held from 6-9pm every Monday for seven weeks in Austin. The course is bilingual but as the NEC testing is and code book is only in English, the classroom setting will emphasize the English electrical terminology.

Another electrician course held in Austin prepares apprentices and other electrical students for their journey level certification. The eight week course is held in the evenings so those already employed during the day can still take an electrician training course after work

The course is a study of the National Electrical Code in great detail, in preparation for the examination and certification. The ICC State of Texas license exam requires this or a similar electrician course before applying for the examination.

The content of this electrician course is expansive. Students learn first about the theory behind general electrical processes and procedures and take part in a basic math review that includes algebra and square root determination. They next learn about the various methods of electrical wiring, and the materials for the procedure as well as the installation itself. Branch circuitry is next on the course agenda, followed then by the study of generators and other electrical motors. Students in this electrician exam-preparatory course also learn about air conditioning and refrigeration loads as well as transformers, electrical services and feeders. They learn the basic principles and installation of bonding and grounding, as well as the principles behind special occupancy. The electrician course also gives the students some valuable tips in how to take the ICC state license exam and information that will help them pass it with flying colours.

Students must come to the first day of this electrician course with their own copy of the NEC code book of 2005, and their own scientific calculator. Upon completion of the electrician course they will be given a copy of the manual working with the Code, a copy of a study guide for the electrical exam and a number of course handouts. While the cost of this electrician course is 395, the value of the manuals, guides and book given as part of the classroom instruction is nearly 100. Students will take away from this electrician course everything they need to earn their ICC state of Texas license to work as a certified electrician.