Many appliances use electricity even when they aren’t powered on. This property is known as standby power, which is used to perform functions that must operate continuously. Energy saving measures often include unplugging electrical devices to eliminate the cost of keeping them in standby mode. This strategy requires you to estimate the cost of standby…
The fuse box is a metal box installed somewhere on the inside or outside of the home. It is installed by an electrician and has a hinged cover to keep the fuses protected. Most homes built before 1960 will have a fuse box, those built after have a circuit breaker box. This box controls the electrical…
The smart grid can be thought of as national and personal all at once. On a personal level, the smart grid connects all of the electronics in your house, letting them communicate on an internet for electronics. This electronic internet also communicates with you via your smart phone or computer in real time, letting you…
When discussing green energy solutions for the wind, a lot of people get nervous. People say wind turbines are unsightly or dangerous to wildlife. These people don’t realize that civilizations have been using wind power for a very long time. As an alternative energy source, wind turbines produce a lot of energy and produce very…
Thunderstorms pose a safety hazard in several ways. Lightning is the most dangerous part of a thunderstorm, and it kills more people than hurricanes and tornadoes combined. Thunderstorms produce heavy rain, which can cause flash flooding. The strong winds from a thunderstorm can also cause widespread damage. Each of these components requires specific precautions to…
A backup generator supplies electricity during a power outage, typically for brief periods. The electrical capacity of a backup generator is directly related to the cost, so buyers must carefully calculate their electric requirements when making their purchase decision. The operation of power generators involves significant safety considerations. Overview The fuel supply for a backup…
With studies today showing how harmful internal combustion engines can be to the environment, it’s little wonder that the electric car is becoming a more popular option among consumers. Not only do gasoline powered cars contribute to pollution, but extracting and processing the oil needed by these cars causes pollution and contamination as well. The…
If you own a computer, then keeping it protected is one of your foremost concerns. There are a number of ways that you can achieve this, though electric can be rather vindictive when it puts its mind to it. As with anything, safety should be a priority, and a surge protector is a good first…
Whether you’re doing industrial wiring or residential wiring for electricity, you’ve got a complex task ahead of you. Needless to say, industrial wiring is essentially a much more complex form of residential wiring. This article will assume that you have some elemental electrical wiring knowledge or aptitude, and it will simply provide you with a…
The terms Journeyman Electrician and Master Electrician are essentially progressions on the level of license to be qualified to carry out electrical work in the United States. The distinction is somewhat akin to that between someone with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accountancy, and a Master’s Degree in Accountancy. Both are qualified to be accountants, but…