Is Your Home Internet Ready? Wiring Your Home for the Internet

Although wireless networking has diminished the need for many devices to have a hard-wired Internet connection, there are still many reasons to have your home hard-wired for the Internet. Depending on your individual needs, the speed of your router, and the number of devices that are in use in your home, there are some speed and consistency benefits to using a wired Ethernet. A wired connection is especially useful for components that remain in one place. Electronics such as home automation systems, home theatre systems, computers and gaming systems can all benefit from a wired Internet connection. This will help ensure that you always have a high-quality connection to these devices, regardless of how well your wireless network is performing.

Do You Need to Wire Your Home for the Internet?

With the number of Internet connected devices growing exponentially, the majority of all homes can benefit from a wired Internet connection. That being said, undertaking this process can be very time consuming, especially if you are doing it yourself. To make sure that everything is done properly, your best bet is to work with a local electrician. In addition to wiring your home for the Internet, they will also be able to install any additional electrical outlets as necessary so that you have power in all the areas that you need it.

Whenever you work with a professional to complete this project, the process is very fast and relatively non-invasive. When finished, you will have a high-quality connection for all of your devices, such as Internet-enabled televisions, computers, gaming systems and more.

What Will You Need?

The first place to start when working on a wiring project is with a basic plan. Make a list of all the areas in your home that have Internet connected devices. This will give you an idea of exactly where, and how many Ethernet jacks that you need. This most commonly includes bedrooms, living areas, theatre rooms, offices and game rooms. You may also consider adding them in other areas to make future connections easier. Don't worry about installing multiple outlets in each location if you don't currently need them. You can always add an external switch later to help accommodate more electronics.

By far the quickest and most efficient method of completing this project is to work with a local electrician or other wiring contractor. By utilizing their expertise in running cable and installing the connection points, you can shave hours off of the job. Furthermore, you can save yourself the hassle of pinpointing and troubleshooting issues that may arise from improperly installed wiring.

Although most homeowners do not think about hardwiring their home for the Internet, it is something that is useful for every home. As you add more Internet-ready electronics to your home, your need for a fast and reliable connection in all areas of your home increases. Furthermore, a wired Ethernet is frequently used with increasingly popular technologies such as home automation. Take a look around you and think about all of the devices that use the Internet everyday. You may quickly see exactly how important an Internet-ready home really is.

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A Ceiling Fan Trick for Saving on the Electric Bill in the Summer

I've saved hundreds of dollars on electricity in the last couple of years. During the summer in Los Angeles, the biggest dollar gobbler on our household electric bill is air conditioning. My wife and I need a cool bedroom at night or we don't sleep well -- 75 degrees or lower. I learned a trick with a bedroom ceiling fan that really saves on electricity.

Ordinarily, a ceiling fan lowers the temperature a couple of degrees. When it's 82 degrees at bedtime, that helps a little, but we still have to run the A/C. In earlier summers, we just turned on the air conditioning and set the thermostat for 75 degrees. All night long, the compressor on the roof turned on and off and was on about half the time. It's a 4-ton air conditioner, so every hour it costs us 50 cents. If it's on for 4 hours, that's $2 a night or $60 a month. That's just for nights, let alone hot summer days.

Some homes have even larger air conditioners. Depending on the size of yours, air conditioning will run you 18-67 cents per hour for electricity. That's $22-$80 a month if it's on four hours a night.

I got wise the last two summers. In L.A., most nights, the temperature drops below 75 degrees. If we're not using the A/C upstairs where the bedroom is, as soon as it's cooler outside than in, I open a few windows. I don't run the A/C at the same time that the windows are open for obvious reasons. I don't want to make it hard on myself, so I open only four upstairs windows that slide easily. One is a tiny window in the bedroom, which helps with air circulation through the bedroom. I also open doors so that air can circulate from the open windows into the bedroom. Then, I turn on the ceiling fan in our bedroom, just enough to get the air moving throughout the upstairs. That draws in cooler air through from outside. I leave the windows open and the ceiling fan on low the rest of the night.

I still set the thermostat on the air conditioning to 75 degrees and sometimes when I first go to bed, it comes on. But usually only briefly. This ensures that the bedroom is down to 75 degrees or lower all night long.

Except during bad heat waves, the temperature is usually down to about 70 degrees in the upstairs by 7 a.m. Then, first thing in the morning, I close all the windows and turn off the A/C. Closing the windows keeps the house cool into late afternoon. So, we're actually saving on electricity during the day, too. (It helps a lot that we have a huge ash tree shading our roof.)

You might wonder how much running a ceiling fan is going to cost for maybe 10 hours each night? One thin dime. It's 1 cent an hour -- probably even less as I run the fan at the lowest speed. Compare that with 18-67 cents for air conditioning.

My strategy will work for you if you live in a part of the country where it cools down at night during the summer. You should have screens on the windows to keep out mosquitoes and other bugs. If worse comes to worse, you can buy screens that you can put in place each night between the window and the sill. Your hardware store should carry something like that.

Of course, you'll also need a ceiling fan in your bedroom. We're lucky -- our house was built in the '70s when ceiling fans were the rage in L.A. But they're not a big ticket item. You should be able to find a high quality ceiling fan at a lighting store or on the Internet for as little as $35. They run more if you want one with light bulbs and, of course, you can spend a few hundred for a special look. They come in all different colors and styles. Hunter and Casablanca are among the better brands. Installation runs about $100 though occasionally more if your ceiling isn't built to easily take a fan and a new electrical junction box is needed.

If you aren't already using this ceiling fan strategy, give it a shot and see if you save money on your electric bill.

What You Need to Know About Electrical Installation

Being a homeowner has its own set of perks that include, paying less to live in a home each month, knowing that each payment you make is going towards something you own, being able to make your own repairs and choose who to hire to make repairs for you. It is not every day that you need to have something fixed or redone, but if the day arises that you need to have the wiring in your home checked out, it is best to avoid doing this task yourself and hire a good contractor for the job.

Electrical installation and wiring is one thing you don't want to mess with, if you are not trained or very knowledgeable about it. Not only is it very dangerous, you can also can a very dangerous situation to occur if you mess with the wrong wires. Electrical fires are nothing to play with and can destroy everything you love in a matter of minutes. When you notice something fishy going on with your electricity, the first place you may want to point a figure at is your utility provider. Sometimes things happen where you may have forgotten to pay the bill. If you know your bill is current and up to date, then you should point that finger at the electrical wiring in your home.

The first thing you need to do is to get on the phone and call an electrician to come and take a look at your electrical installation. If there is a deficiency somewhere, that electrician will be able to pinpoint it. Sometimes the electrical installation can become worn, thin or eroded away and cause a series of unfortunate events to occur on the inside of your walls, while you are not even aware there is a problem until it is too late. Rather than assume that everything is okay, you need to make sure that all of the electrical installation in your home is good. This will help keep you and your family safe, while enabling you to sleep better at night.

When the electrician comes out to inspect your circuits, they will inform you about what is going on and suggest ways to prevent the situation from occurring again. They may also make some adjustments for you while they are redoing your electrical wiring and insulation. Don't brush off any of the information or advice they are giving you. Remember, that information will save your home and keep it from going up in smoke when you least suspect it.

Take the time now to invest in renovating your home and have the wiring redid so that it is up to code, especially if your home is an older model. There is nothing worse in knowing what's wrong with your home and doing nothing to fix it and prevent a disaster from happening. As a homeowner, it is your obligation and privilege to take a proactive stance about any repairs your home may need.

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Generators: Invaluable for Power Emergencies

Companies that rely on constant power to avoid disaster can't afford to be without generators. However, a homeowner can benefit just as much from their use. If you live in an area where a lengthy power outage is a significant possibility, you may want to strongly consider getting one. They are available in both permanent and portable varieties, with the portable ones being much more affordable and the installed types being much more powerful. If you already own one or two, here are some things you can do that will improve your ownership.

Testing

There's nothing worse than owning generators and then seeing that they don't work when you need them. This is why you should test them every six months or so just to make sure everything is still working well. If you own an installed kind, you should allow it to run everything you would depend on it to run in an emergency. If a portable kind, just turning it on every six months can ensure you won't run into a problem if a power outage occurs. If there are issues, you can address them in leisure. Power outages often occur during or after major storms, during which it may be difficult to find a store open that can address your repair concerns.

An Organized Emergency

You don't want to have to search high and low for everything you need in an emergency. Part of being prepared is not only having generators and the things you need to run it on hand, but having them all in one convenient location. Keep your switches, fuel cans, and extension cords right beside the device so you can be ready to go when the power goes out. It's hard enough to find things in odd places at a normal time. Try doing it with the lights out. It's not a situation anyone wants to be in. Be prepared and keep everything in the same location.

Do Your Maintenance

Generators are just like any other machines; they require maintenance every once in a while. If you just let your machines sit and rust in the corner of the garage, they may not last as long as you had hoped they would. Go out there every so often and clean the machine. Wipe it down, tighten any of the bolts that need it, and oil if necessary. Make sure you have gas in the tank and more waiting on hand. Just letting dirt and dust collect on the device could lead to unnecessary problems.

Electric Panels: Hiding Them From Sight

Let's face it: electric panels aren't the most attractive things in your house. While completely necessary, some homeowners grow dissatisfied with the way that cold gray box detracts from their home decor. Of course, you could always throw a bookshelf in front of the box, but you're not going to be pleased when you have to examine your circuit breakers. For best results, you'll need to find a balance between keeping the box accessible while blending it seamlessly with your decorative scheme. There are several ways to do this without creating an enormous amount of work in the process.

Posters

Posters, calendars, and other wall hangings of this type can make wonderful ways to hide electric panels from sight. You can attach these hangings with just a couple of thumb tacks or even a strip of tape in many cases, leaving the bottom to hang free. That way your box will be completely obscured from view, while still allowing you quick access in case you need to switch off a breaker or check for a blown fuse. If you use a wall calendar for this purpose, it can also serve as a place to keep reminders for appointments and other scheduled events.

Refrigerator Magnets

Since most electric panels are made from metal, magnets will cling to the surface of the box with no trouble at all. If you've never really taken a look, you might be surprised at how booming the magnet business is. You can find pictures and messages of just about every stripe. There are even websites where you can make your own magnet designs. This gives you a chance to be creative and express yourself in a way that a plain metal box is probably not going to do. It will still be obvious that a circuit breaker box is there, but it will be much more interesting to look at.

Dry Erase Board

Do your kids long to draw pictures or color on the walls of your home. Most parents discourage this kind of creativity, as it isn't exactly in an adult's typical frame of reference for wall decor. However, a dry erase board can give your kids a chance to get that creativity out of their system while still preserving your paint job. If you can hang it in such a way that it obscures your electric panels, you can kill two birds with the same stone.

While hiding electric panels is a priority for decorative minded homeowners, remember that you should never hide the box behind something that can't be moved.

Why You Should Use Electrical Installations For Home Theater Installation

Installing electrical devices at home isn't everyone's cup of tea as they either aren't comfortable with dealing with electrical equipment or they don't know where to play it or in some cases both of these issues are present. Sometimes it can be a good idea to try and install the equipment yourself as it allows you to get to know how your devices work and how the systems have to be set up, but its during this process that people usually realize that it isn't for them and they'd rather someone who was experienced in the field of electrical installations take over. Let's face it we're dealing with systems such as home theaters here which don't cost a few dimes, they cost a substantial amount of cash and they shouldn't be played and messed around with. We don't all have a lot of money these days but when we do save up and get those entertainment systems that we want, we don't want to ruin them by breaking them upon installation this is why we must take installing the units seriously.

One type of electrical installment that many people from all over deal with in their residential properties is Home Theater Installation. Home theaters have become very popular in recent years as they have become so much more accessible. They used to cost huge amounts of money and some of them still do but the fact is there are a lot more available on the market, whether you buy them first or second hand it doesn't matter as most home theater units are going to provide a decent picture and sound for your movie and TV watching wants and needs. Since bigger screens and surround sound was invented for home use people have always wanted more from their home entertainment systems. No longer are people happy with the standard TV and speakers, they want a fully fledged home theater in their homes so that they can enjoy the latest and greatest films and TV coverage in style.

Home theater installation isn't always easy and a lot of home owners carry the common misconception that they are easy to install. While some people may be able to get their systems up and running they may not get them running effectively or optimized for the most professional sound and visual experience. In order to get the best sound and visual experience you must know where to place items and speakers so that everything is in its correct position. Without knowing these facts you won't be able to set your home theater up for its best performance, and when you've saved up for months and months to buy it you wouldn't want to waste your time and money by not setting it up correctly would you? The best answer to this issue is to have a professional, experienced home theater installation firm take over for you and install every little detail for you so that your home theater system is optimized and set up for its best possible performance.

Wire Loom As Cable Organizer

Wire loom is a tool for cable management and widely used in all type of industries as well as household needs as they are good cable organizers and used as both wire covers and protectors. This is a corrugated tube which is flexible and commonly used to bundle wires and cable very neatly and works as wire cover as well as protector. It is in shape of tube with a ridged outer surface for providing it extra strength as well as making easier for bending, if required. It can be taken as flexible conduit pipe also, when additional protection is required.

General wire looms are available with a slit through which cables to be managed, are inserted from one side and taken through the other side. They are available in different sizes or can be cut to fit any desired size. For inserting cables, through the slits and cutting these looms, specific tools are also available. Inserting cables through slits can be done easily with hands also but it is recommended to use tool for inserting it efficiently. Removal of cables and wires from wire loom is also very easy that's why it is preferred in situations where frequent changes in wiring are anticipated. Though slit types are commonly used but there are non slit wire looms also available which can be used just as a conduit pipe for safety of cables.

Wire looms have unlimited applications everywhere whether at home protecting cables from kids and pets and up to that complicated wirings in automotive machines like bike and cars. Available in different colors and different material used for fabrication they are able to be used in almost every environment. At our home, as an example of the most common application, we can cover the wire coming out from any low height power socket where the cable has to run through ground creating a chance of being damaged by pets around.

These are the wires which can not be concealed permanently and wiring pattern may need to be changed for some reasons so we cannot think of any other way of covering as well as protecting them except wire looms. Colorful wire looms are available for such use where these cable covers will not disturb the natural beauty of the area used rather they may add some beauty to it. In our bathrooms also we can find it as a common accessories where galvanized type of looms are used to protect the water carrying flexible pipes adding beauty as well as perfect protection also. This can be seen commonly used with our shower used in bath tubs or wall mount showers.

One more complex type of wire application we can see used in cable harness or cable assembly in our car engine or in motorbikes. In car engines the wires are bundled in such a way that they are bound together through cable ties, electrical tapes and wire looms. These wires have to be protected from heat produced by engine, moisture, abrasion and vibrations. Space optimization is an equally important issue in such management and it should be easy to add, replace or remove any wire in case of troubleshooting or repairing.

If we can find the wire management of our car so complicated then just imagine what will be the cable management required for a passenger aircraft. If we can take one such wire assembly and open it, the length may be hundreds of meters. Preparing such assemblies with all the features of safety, protection and troubleshooting / repairing friendly are very tough as well as time taking and wire looms are very useful tool for achieving such complicated wiring assembly even. All such wire harnesses are first created as a complete assembly then it is fitted at its original place with all the fire protection covers to minimize the risks from short circuit type of accidents. All the wires are first cut to desired lengths, stripped on the terminating end for making connection then they are routed through sleeves according to wiring diagram and finally different sleeves to be bundled together and routed through sleeves or wire looms for giving the final shape to such assembly.

Wire looms, also known as convoluted tubing, are used in variety of applications as cable protector and cable organizer at the same time and they can be used anywhere like home used computers and other equipments, Industrial cabling and automotive wiring assemblies. There are different types of wire looms available which suits to specific requirements. Colored wire looms can be used for adding beauty to existing open wires and at large scale it can be used for color coding. Nylon wire looms, especially manufactured to withstand temperature are used in automotive applications.

Galvanized steel looms are manufactured with its special features like crush proof and corrosion resistance property and are used in bathroom fitting and fro covering home used gas pipes besides all the industrial application where mechanical protection to cables is required. Flame retardant wire looms are used where the cables have the face danger of fire and flames and they can work safely up to a good temperature range.

Aluminized slit wire looms with chrome finish, automotive fluid resistant, are used where thermal protection of cables are required, they can afford a temperature up to 1000 degree F.

General Considerations Of Motor Control System

The purpose of a motor control system is to control one or more of the motor output parameters, that is, shaft speed, angular position, acceleration, shaft torque, and mechanical output power. The control of temperature at various points in the motor is also a frequent objective of motor control systems. Since it is the mechanical parameters of the motor that are being controlled by the input electrical parameters, the peculiar characteristic of the individual machine - that is, the characteristics that relate input electrical quantities to output mechanical quantities - are vitally important in the design and analysis of electronic control. It is therefore customary to treat the control of dc commentator motors separately from that of synchronous and induction motors. The nature of the load and power supply will also influence the nature of the control. The load box represents a very general concept of load and may be a pure inertia load. The power source box is also generalized and is meant to cover all power or excitation sources required by the motor, such as the field and armature power supply in a dc commentator motor.

The materials and structural features of power semiconductors used in motor control are much different from those of electromechanical devices, which, as would be expected, result in differing operating and environmental characteristics. It is essential to recognize those differences in the design and use of electronic motor control in which the two different types of components are used in a common environment and are subjected to the same voltage and current values. The principal differences may be summarized as follows:

Motors have large thermal capacities and can sustain thermal overloads for time period measured in minutes. Semiconductors have very short thermal time constants; lasting often less than 1 s. they also have poor natural thermal conduction paths and require heat sinks in more applications.

The current overload characteristics of the two types of devices are quite different, partly as a result of the thermal differences just noted. Semiconductor devices have relatively little over current capability.

Many semiconductors are limited by the rate of change of current, as will be explained for thyristors. There is no equivalent limitation in a motor.

Thyristors are also limited by a rate of change of voltage characteristics, which is not a factor in motor operation.

Semiconductor circuits are very susceptible to electromagnetic interference, both conductive and inductive, whereas motors are in no way similarly affected.

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Maintaining Electrical Panels Safely and Effectively

Electrical panels are an important component in maintaining your home or business's function. In most cases, you never really think about them and just turn your lights on and off at the switch. However, this panel is one of the most important components to the home. It directs the flow of electricity from outside the home into the various appropriate wiring systems to deliver power to the things you do turn on. When a problem occurs, you may then immediately wonder if it is this panel that is at fault. However, most people do not realize that this system does require some maintenance.

What You Need to Do

When it comes to getting electric panels fixed, turn to an expert for help instead of trying to do the work on your own. It goes without saying that this is the type of job you need to have a professional do because of the risks involved. For those who have a faulty system that is not working properly, it may require a small fix or it may require the replacement of the system. In either case, you should call a professional out to do the work for you.

On the other hand, you may not have any problems actually occurring right now. Some mistakenly believe that this means there is no reason to even open that box, but there can be.

- When was the last time the electrical components of the home were inspected? This should be a part of your home's annual maintenance program. Ensuring no corrosion is occurring or any fraying of the wires is happening is a step in the right direction.

- Have you added a significant amount of computers or other high-powered items to your home? This can easily tax an older system. Have a professional find out if you are draining too much electricity in one spot and help them to put protection in place to avoid surges or other problems.

- Have you had any type of damage to the surrounding area or done any remodeling? If so, then it is a good idea to have a professional come out and do any type of repairs you may need.

Do not avoid having a technician come to your home to handle the necessary repairs or maintenance on the electric panels you have. By doing this it will ensure you have the best possible outcome and you can rely on the system on an ongoing basis without any risks of complications. Take the time to find out what condition your current electric panels are in and if there is any reason to worry.

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How Diodes Work

Diodes: the simplest sort of semiconductor devices. Since diodes are semiconductors, before we discuss about diodes, let's learn what semiconductors are. In broad terms, a semiconductor is classified between being a conductor and a non-conductor of electricity as it carries out electricity better than non-conductors but not better than conductors of electricity. Most semiconductors are composed by having impurities; which are atoms of another material added to them. This process is referred to as doping.

Additional atoms in doped materials change the balance by either adding free electrons or creating holes where the electrons can go. These alterations can make the material more conductive. Semiconductors that are altered to have extra electrons are called N-type material. In this instance, free electrons are able to move from a negatively charged area to a positively charged area. Semiconductors that have extra holes where the electrons can go are referred to as P-type material as it has extra positively charged particles. Electrons in these materials can jump from hole to hole, moving from a negatively charged area to a positively charged area.

A diode is composed of both, an N-type material which is bonded to a section of P-type material and has electrodes which are known as anode and cathode at each end. This arrangement conducts electricity only in one direction and would not allow any flow in the opposite direction. If no voltage is being applied to the diode, the electrons from the N-type material would move over and fill the holes in the P-type material. Thus forming a depletion zone in which the semiconductor is returned to a state where it acts as an insulator as all the holes are filled with no free electrons which prevents charge from flowing.

Now since the diode is acting as an insulator, how do you get it to conduct electricity? This can be achieved if you can get electrons to move from the N-type area to the P-type area and the holes in the opposite direction. To do this, you connect the N-type area of a diode to the negative terminal of a battery and the P-type area to the positive end. The negative end would repel the free electrons whereas the positive end of the battery would attract them. The same would happen for the holes in the P-type area. If the voltage difference between the electrodes is high enough, it would push the electrons and the holes out of their area and get them to move freely. This would eliminate the depletion zone and with the electrons moving freely and being able to conduct charge. If you were to try and connect the P-type area to the negative terminal of a battery and the N-type area to the positive terminal of the battery, it would increase the depletion zone as the holes and electrons would be attracted to the opposites. No current would be able to flow and now the diode would act as an insulator instead of a conductor.

The use of diodes is to prevent any unwanted charge flowing in the wrong direction due to improper connection. They can protect your electronics from getting damaged.

Everything You Need to Know About Electromagnetic Fields

Whenever electricity flows through an object, it creates an electromagnetic field. As the object becomes electrically charged, an invisible, but very real field forms around the item. This can have varying effects on nearby people and items. Because we use electrical items constantly in our daily lives, we are nearly always exposed to electromagnetic fields. According to any electrician, these invisible fields are totally normal, and should not be anything to worry about. Because we are exposed to them so frequently, however, having a good understanding of them can help give us a better idea of how they work.

Man-Made Fields

There are a nearly infinite number of sources of EMFs. Whenever an electrician installs a new electrical component in your home, a new electromagnetic field is generated. One of the most well known uses of an EMF is the X-Ray. This technology utilizes electromagnetic fields in order to create an image of our skeletal system and other areas below our skin. It is important to keep in mind that the typical exposure to electromagnetic fields is nothing to be worried about.

Worries About Health

There are many individuals and groups out there that are very worried about the effect that electromagnetic fields may have on our health. In contrast to their concerns, however, no studies have shown that there is any negative health consequence to coming into contact with electromagnetic fields. While we may not experience fields as strong as those typically experienced by an electrician, our daily exposure has increased steadily over the last few decades. As our reliance on technology, such as tablet computers, cell phones, WiFi and television increases, so does our overall exposure to EMFs. Until any conclusive evidence comes forward regarding negative effects of EMF exposure, however, don't buy into the hype. That being said, you should try to maintain clean and safe electricity at all times, to protect both yourself and your devices.

Start by having a local electrician conduct an electrical safety assessment on your home. While the EMFs may not be a great danger to you, an unsafe electrical system will be. They will be able to tell you if you have any outdated components, an underpowered electrical panel or any other dangerous aspects of your electrical system. To further ensure that your electricity remains at safe levels, you should also consider installing power protection such as a whole house surge protector. This can greatly increase the consistency of your electricity, which can increase the lifespan of your electrical devices.

Maintaining a healthy level of respect for electricity is important to staying safe and healthy in its presence. By understanding electromagnetic fields, we can gain a more thorough insight into the total power of the electricity that we use every day. Despite the fact that low-level exposure to EMFs is completely safe and normal, they can be dangerous and possibly unstable if experienced at higher than normal levels. With the help of our local electricians, and a little bit of understanding, we can rest assured that our electricity is kept clean, safe and within normal levels.

Things to Consider When Hiring an Electrician or Electrical Contractor

Working as an electrical contractor for the last 20 years I have gained a great many insights and experiences in the electrical field. When you're selecting your next electrical contractor or electrician for your project I would like to share some of these insights with you to help you make your decision. So let's get started. one of the first things I touched on above was online reviews. As I hire electricians on a regular basis I have learned a few things about how to find a person that has the qualifications I am looking for. Over the years it was frustrating as electricians would come into my office and tell me everything that I wanted to hear, and only later would I find out that they were completely misleading me. I thought about it and I realized quickly that the best way to find out about a person's character is to ask someone else. If you are a person with bad character it will probably be pretty difficult to find someone who has nice things to say about you. The same holds true for electricians and businesses such as electrical contracting companies. Online reviews are a great way to hear what your neighbors are saying about the electricians that they're doing business with. I myself have had customers who were not necessarily happy because we showed up late or the electrician made a mistake. However these customers rarely go online and post a bad review. What that tells me is that if someone has a bad review online it is usually because they did something that really irritated their customer. These are the types of individuals you want to steer clear of.

Presence on the phone or via e-mail. How does the electrician or electrical contractor you are considering hiring sound over the phone? do they sound professional? Are they knowledgeable about your job and the items that you are requesting? Do they sound like they've done this 100 times and had this conversation thousand times? Do they demand that they come out a look at the job first before giving you any idea of how much it will cost? If the answer is no to the first question and yes to the second then they are probably someone that you would rather pass over. People who are irritated by normal questions and rude to their customers are probably going to be people that you really don't want to work with. First impressions mean a lot. If somebody answers the phone hello instead of hello do it right electric how man help you. You know this may be a person who is working out of the back of a pickup truck. Even worse if somebody answers the phone saying what. Just hang up. There is no reason to do business with somebody who cannot even answer the phone professionally. If they can't answer the phone professionally it is highly unlikely that they can do your electrical job professionally. I have called electricians back who have posted resumes to my site and they answer the phone what or have some crazy music playing when the phone rings. While I don't necessarily rule them out because of this it is intriguing to me that after they find out it is the person they already called and left a message with about a job, their entire demeanor changes. This basically tells me that they are written to people unless they think that they want something from the person.

Do they have a large advertising budget? My skin crawls when I asked this question. I have seen many customers of mine get quotes of $3000.00 to $4000.00 for a job. They come to me and tell me the company became adding quoted without telling me the dollar amount that they quoted. I already know the large franchise companies with huge advertising budgets that operate in my town. So when they give me the name I already know a ballpark figure of what they've been quoted. We usually do the jobs the franchise companies quote for 50% of what they quoted as a general rule of thumb. The reason for this is advertising is extremely expensive. Running advertisements on the television or radio stations can cost you tens of thousand dollars a month. Literally. No kidding. And yes it is that much. Marketers and advertisers know in my opinion that what they are offering is many times not worth what they charge. They have little or no interest in you staying in business, although they may say the contrary. The truth is if you sign a one-year contract to run television or radio station advertising or even a one-month contract and it does not work out for you they will not refund you one thin dime. If you sign up for the Yellow Pages and decide to pay $6000.00 per month for a full-page ad and your phone does not ring adequately to pay for this they again do not care and will not refund one dime of your money. They will furthermore seek litigation and sue you for the contract amount. If you go out of business there are thousands of businesses that go under every week in the United States. As well there are thousands of people who are starting new businesses. The marketers and advertisers simply move on to the next person and the cycle continues. The truth about advertising is that the effectiveness is entirely dependent on your business and the marketplace and form of advertising that you are using. If you're a large soda pop bottling company and you are selling glorified sugar water your profit margin is extremely high. You can afford a plaster your name all over town. Small brick-and-mortar businesses have a very small profit margin. If they are sinking thousands of dollars into advertising you better believe that their customers are footing the bill.

Are they licensed to do business in the state and city that they're working in. This may sound like a silly question. After all who would go around doing business in the city where they're not licensed? Or worse yet doing work statewide with no license. The truth is that we live in a time of economic crisis. That crisis leads people to do things that they would not normally do. Many people can justify the fact that they're working without a license as a means by which to feed their family. And I can in fact sympathize with this. However you as the consumer do not want a desperate person who is just looking to make a fast buck with no license and no insurance working on your home doing electrical work. This is a recipe for disaster. Electrical fatalities are much higher when it comes to small children. Their small bodies cannot handle the force of electric shock and many times it causes death. Think first and act later when it comes to selecting electrical contractor for your home or business. The liability and the heart ache maybe yours in the long run if you try to save a quick buck.

That topic leads me into the fifth topic. General liability insurance and workers compensation insurance. The way it works when a business hires me as electrical contractor to subcontractors were them is this. They call me up and let me know that they need a certificate of general liability insurance and workers compensation insurance. I then called my insurance agent and he issues the certificate with their name on it. It names them as the insured. With this certificate if anything goes wrong on the job or if one of my workers is injured the customer has proof that they are not liable. You can request the same certificate as a private homeowner or individual.

That leads us into the seven topic are they the lowest bidder? If they are you may want to ask yourself... How did they come up with such a low price? The answer may be that they decided not to buy workers compensation insurance or general liability insurance. It also may be that they're using substandard work practices, not pulling electrical permits, or using inferior material. I look at this the same way a look at purchasing plane tickets. Many people avoid paying any extra costs associated with traveling on a plane. They don't want to pay to check the extra bag. They refuse to buy any of the snacks or drinks on the plane, and they search online for the absolute cheapest price possible. This applies pressure to the airlines to turn a profit. When you're under pressure to turn a profit you start cutting back on business expenses. One of the main expenses for airline is airplane maintenance. I for one do not want to fly on a plane where the airline is under financial pressure and stress. If you do any research into plane crashes you will find that many times the culprit is faulty maintenance, using the wrong screw, and using non-factory parts. The same holds true when you're hiring an electrician or electrical contractor. When they are the lowest bidder the money you saved has to come from somewhere. Food for thought.

In summary the eighth item is, do your homework and take your time. Unless you have a small service call the job that you're doing is usually not an immediate need. Take your time and do a little bit of homework on the person that you're thinking about spending a week or two of your life with. Make sure that you don't end up in small claims court ruing the day that you did not do your due diligence in selecting your electrical contractor. Thank you!

Electrical Supply: Finding a Good Source

Whether you're an electrician just getting started in his or her new career, a building handyman who needs access to affordable, bulk supplies, or a master electrician with a thriving contracting company, finding a good electrical supply source is essential. While you can get much of what you need from local hardware stores, this is only going to take you so far. Hardware stores must cater first to the layman, which is going to leave only a portion of their available inventory allotted for dedicated professionals. Some stores are leery about carrying certain products for liability reasons as well. Because you never want to have to call every store in town when you need a part, you need to find a one-stop-shop that works.

- Comparison Shopping

If you're in the profession to make money (and who isn't?), you'll need to find an electrical supply source that can provide you with wholesale prices that you can then mark up for your customers. A professional contractor should never have to take a loss on his equipment. At the same time, however, you can't afford to drive up your bill to cover overpriced product. You'll drive yourself out of business just to keep your bank account stable. A better choice is to find an outlet that is accustomed to working with professionals and can provide you with a fair price point.

- Consider Buying Online

If you're from the old school, you may have a deep attachment to the process of walking into a brick and mortar store, conversing with the manager or clerk, and making a measured decision about what you're going to buy. Maybe you even like to haggle a bit over the price. There's nothing wrong with that, but you could be missing out on some deep savings by ignoring the online possibilities. There are several large online electrical supply shops, and their inventory almost certainly dwarfs anything you can find in among physical stores. The next time you can't find something locally, you might consider taking a shot on the Internet.

- Used Product

When it comes to some parts and products, buying new is essential. You can't put used parts into a customer's home, after all. When it comes to other tasks, however, used materials might work out fine. You can certainly save a lot of money buying this way. At the same time, though, you must be careful to purchase only from electrical supply merchants and individuals with a good reputation. You don't want something broken coming in the mail, or worse, something that could be unsafe to work with.

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Professional Electric Motor Repair Services

An electric motor is one of the most important components of a machine. Any problem with this component could render a piece of machinery unusable. It is therefore, best to keep it in good working condition through regular maintenance. Nevertheless, you can never be too careful. Sometimes things just go wrong. When they do, you need to seek out the services of an electric motor repair provider. They can troubleshoot the motor and figure out where the problem lies and whether it is rectifiable. In some instances, it may not be necessary to seek out the services of a professional. If you have a knack for things mechanical, then you could easily fix some of the issues.

The most common problem is when the motor will not start. Usually, this is as a result of faulty power supply. To solve this, you should check whether the fuse has tripped or the power supply is in good working condition. If everything is in order, then the motor might need to be cleaned. To do this, let the motor cool down if it was on then clean it using an air compressor. If this does not work then, you should consider having it replaced.

If you detect noise coming from the electric motor, it could be a sign of a defect. This is usually the result of a vibration problem which if left unchecked could lead to further damage. If not addressed immediately, it could lead to the damage of the bearings and windings. This condition is more often than, not as a result of a misaligned motor shaft or a problem with the mechanical system.

When the motor is under-ventilated it can at times heat up. Overheating can cause it to malfunction. To overcome this problem, ensure that the motor's fan is working. Remove any dirt and debris that may be preventing it from rotating. You might need to replace the fan if it is damaged.

While it is sometimes prudent to solve the above problems yourself, it is not ideal in all situations. You may save some money, but the time lost cannot be recovered. Moreover, you risk aggravating the damage further. Below are some of the reasons why you should consider seeking the services of a professional.

A professional has the requite experience to identify and solve most mechanical problems. It will take them a shorter time and they will handle the job more efficiently. They may also detect other non obvious issues that could bring problems later. Since most of these professionals are certified, They give their very best on every job.

Convenience is another factor to put into consideration. You can get your motor up and running within no time. Instead of waiting days to find the problem and fix it you can call a provider with 24 hour emergency service to bail you out. Having a machine down for long could cost you more in down time than it would cost to hire a professional.

One thing is for sure the fastest and most efficient way of solving any glitches with your motor is to hire the services of a professional electric motor repair professional.

The Advantages Of Having An Electrician

Living without electricity has become an imaginable part of everyday life. Life without it pretty much seems unbearable to every one of us, starting from the lack of lights all the way to being able to use washing machines and dryers. So when we experience as much as a five minute outage we become restless. If the source of the outage is not internal, but it is connected to the electricity supplier, then we can only wait for the professionals to do their job and if it is internal, that is the problem arises only in our house then we have to call forth the reinforcement, in the shape of a well skilled electrician.

It is of crucial importance to have an electrician on board when something major happens, as you would not have to look for the one in panic. A good handy man is hard to find in the normal circumstances let alone when you are running heedlessly around trying everything possible to fix the electrical problem. Thus, you should check with your friends and family if they have someone they can recommend or search on the Internet for someone who has a lot of good reviews and a proper license. This entire search should be done peacefully and not under the pressure to fix some electrical problem so you can turn on that microwave of do the laundry.

Moreover, another good reason why you should have an electrician prior to any electrical problem is that a good electrician will do a thorough checkup of your house. This will result in preventing the problem to happen. All those lights flickering, and tripped circuit breakers, that you consider insignificant, are actually a major problem that is awaiting to happen. Having an electrician on your side that is going to explain and pinpoint all of this is the best thing that you can have. He will make sure that no bigger problems, such as fire, happen to you and your property in the future.

Good electricians are highly trained tradesmen with a lot of experience and schooling to back them up. They have spent on average 4 years as an apprentices, so that they can provide you the best service possible and charge as they may, they are still less expensive in a long run then someone who is inexperienced or an amateur. If you are considering lowering the expenses and making your budget bigger by leaving out the electrician, well you have a bad thing coming. You might reconsider the idea and start saving somewhere else.

Electricians are essentials part of every day life, as much as electricity is essential to you. These two go together since they are inseparable. And word of advice for all those who are misguided in believing that they can do what electricians can, you can't. You don't have the proper training or the experience and you can only harm yourself and someone who lives in the house. So leave the work to professionals.

Avoiding Problems With Power Generators

There are many reasons why a home might have a power generator installed. One very common use is as an emergency backup system that can provide electricity to a home during a blackout of after a storm. Generators are regularly installed in commercial buildings, industrial factories and locations like hospitals that cannot afford to lose power. Most power generation systems are designed to be reliable and durable. There are instances, however, where usage, age, defects or physical damage can cause a unit to malfunction. Maintaining an active service contract can make it easier to identify and solve problems that could prevent a generator from working when it is needed.

Engine Problems

The engine is the core system in most power generators and is responsible for producing the electricity supply. It is also one of the most heavily used parts. There are many different problems that can cause an engine to stop working or to break. A lack of coolant, a lack of fluids, leaks in vital lines and debris from a storm can all cause the engine to seize. A service contract can include general generator maintenance once a year or more frequently as needed. These checkups by a professional can prevent some of the more common problems that can degrade an engine over time.

Electrical Wiring

The wiring that is inside of a power generator and the wiring that connects the machine to the supply of a home are both susceptible to damage and wear over time. The cables and wires can be easily damaged by pests or they can become dislodged because of other work being done in the area. A service contract can cover generator repairs that can ensure that there are no problems with the electrical wiring that could trigger a fire or cause the equipment to stop working during an emergency. Connections inside of the home can also be maintained so that circuit breakers and other devices are in working order and capable of switching power supplies in the event of a blackout.

Regular Maintenance

The engine, electrical wiring and all other components in a power generator are operated by the automatic transfer switch. The device itself can sometimes stop functioning because of internal damage to the delicate circuitry. It is also common for some settings to change over time from power surges or unintentional physical contact with the unit. Regular generator maintenance through a service contractor can catch and repair incorrect settings so that the generator will activate without any problems when necessary.

3 Very Different Wires and Their Uses

Have you ever been overwhelmed by the plethora of wires available to you? As nice as it is to have options, it can be get a little confusing trying to figure out what does what and its specific use. For the most part, magnet, copper and aluminum wire are some of the most popular wires on the market. They all however serve different purposes.

Magnet Wire

Magnet wire is specially designed for use in the construction of motors, speakers, coils and numerous other things. It is unique in that it is specifically designed to be wound as tight as possible to create a strong magnetic field and is also enveloped in a thin layer of insulation. Various parts of an automobile including the motor and coil contain magnet wire. Electric motors contain numerous magnet wires that wound around the rotor and the coil uses magnet wire to burn the gasoline in the engine.

Copper Wire

Copper wire, like magnet wire, has a unique characteristic as well. It is often referred to as the "Red Metal". It is unique in that it is malleable and can be wound into form much easier than other types of wires. Copper is also highly conductive and is well known for its ability to conduct heat and electricity. Since copper is easily bended and does not corrode as easily as other wires, it is most often used in the manufacturing of jewelry. It is also used for appliances and electrical wiring due to its high conductivity.

Aluminum Wire

The only other higher in conductivity when compared to copper is aluminum wire. Aluminum wire is most commonly used in power grids, houses and airplanes. It's malleability and high conductivity make it ideal for electrical wiring use. Aluminum is also often used in broadcasting equipment along with copper wire. Both put together tend to create a stronger electrical surge as compared to each individual wire. Aluminum can also be found in various types of medical diagnostic machines. Doctors employ these electrical machines when seeking internal damage to joints or organs.

Whether you're shopping for specialty for your automobile, home or electrical appliances, make sure to take the time to research which one is best suited for your needs. For malleability and high conductivity, aluminum and copper should be your go to wires. If you are looking for a tightly wound for your car motor, you will not go wrong magnet wire.

Protecting Yourself From Electrical Injury

Electrical injuries can be very dangerous, as well as easily prevented. Whenever you are dealing with electricity, you run the risk of electrical shock. This can cause both internal and external burning and damage. It can also lead to cardiac arrest. In order to protect yourself from this type of injury, you should follow a few simple rules whenever working with or around electricity. Safety should be your first priority, regardless of whether you are an experienced electrician, a handyman or a do-it-yourselfer. By using common sense and following the advice below, you can greatly reduce your chances of being injured by electricity.

Never Put Water on an Electrical Fire

This one should be common sense for everyone. It bears repeating, however. Whenever you find yourself confronted with an electrical fire, it can be hard to fight the urge to throw some water at it. Water is a strong conductor of electricity, and adding water to the blaze could be very dangerous. Use a chemical fire extinguisher to put out the fire. Next, turn off the power source as soon as possible. If necessary, call a local electrician to fix whatever caused the fire in the first place.

Always Turn Off The Power Before Working

If you are replacing a light bulb, working on an outlet or switch, or anything else that involves your electrical system, always double check to make sure the power is turned off. Resist the urge to tempt your luck. Electrical shocks can be lethal.

Never Touch Power Lines

This is another that goes without saying. If you are outdoors and come across power lines that are on the ground, stay at least 10 feet away. Electrical current can flow through the ground from these high-voltage lines. Your best bet is to call your local utility company, as well as 911 to alert them of the downed power lines.

Don't Use Extension Cords As a Permanent Fix

Extension cords can be one of the most hazardous electrical items out there. This is because you generally do not see them as a potential danger. You should never, however, use an extension cord to permanently fix a power problem. Your cords can deteriorate or fray, especially if covered by a rug or other item. This can, in turn, lead to electrical shock or fire. Rather than using an extension cord, have an electrician install a more conveniently located outlet.

Stay Alert and Aware

No matter what you are working on, always be alert and aware if you are anywhere near electricity. This means not operating electrical items in water, stepping on extension cords or leaving breakers on during a job. If you have small kids, protect your home with child-safe outlet covers. You can never be too careful when it comes to electrical safety.

With a little bit of knowledge and a lot of common sense, almost all electrical injuries can be easily avoided. The majority of all mishaps are a result of someone not understanding, not respecting or ignoring the electrical power that they are near. Do yourself a favor. Educate yourself on the dangers of electricity, respect its power, and be safe.

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Ways to Maintain Electrical Safety At Home

A little mistake can already cost you your home or even lives of the people that you love. This is pertaining to mistakes that you might have when you are installing and maintaining electrical appliances and electrical parts in your home. You need to keep in mind how important electrical safety is.

For your outdoor electrical equipment, your efforts might need to be doubled. Choose appliances that are water proof. As much as possible, do not expose them to too much rain or snow. Even these water proof products can fail at times. You are safer if you are sure that the items are kept dry. Furthermore, your electric sockets need to be protected as well. Be sure to unplug outdoor electrical equipment when you are not currently using them.

For appliances inside of your house, you need to think of these things:

Never place electrical products inside of your bathroom. Even if you have a wide bathroom and the water source is a bit far from the electric socket, it is never safe to mix electricity and the bathroom. Blow drying and shaving with your electric shaver can be done outside of your bathroom. Electrical sockets that were previously installed need to be well covered.

In your kitchen, you should also be mindful of where your electrical appliances are in relation to your kitchen sink. Place them as far as possible from each other. Remember to never handle appliances when your hands are still wet. It might not be enough to just wipe your hands with a towel. Wait for some moments for your hands to be air dried until you can say that it is safe for you to handle an electrical appliance.

Teach your kids not to play with appliances inside your home. You need to be firm and consistent with your stand. As much as possible, keep your kids away from appliances which are complicated to operate. And be sure to always have your young kids supervised by an adult if they are going to use any electrical appliance in your home.

Very young kids can play with your electrical items or your electric outlets. Keep your appliances out of their reach. Your outlets need to be securely covered as well. Make it a point to always remind your kids not to poke electrical outlets.

Never overload outlets. When using an appliance that uses up a lot of energy, you should avoid plugging them near outlets that are used by other major appliances. Position your home appliances strategically so that the major ones can have their own electrical outlets. Smaller appliances can be plugged in anywhere. Just make sure that you avoid octopus connections even for small equipments.

Clean your electrical appliances regularly. Before cleaning them, make sure that they are unplugged. Then, you might need to disassemble some parts. Just be careful not to disturb the electrical circuit that your appliance has. If you do not have any experience with this or if you are doubtful, it might be better if you are just going to hire the services of a professional.

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Residential Whole House Surge Protection

A power surge may last for only a few millionths of a second, but during that brief time, thousands of volts circulate your houses electrical system, frying circuit boards in your refrigerator or microwave, crashing computer hard drives, and damaging home-theater systems.

Lightning induced surges are the most powerful and the most damaging, but the fact is most surge-related damage is not caused by lightning. Far more frequent are surges caused by power company generated surges, downed power lines, air conditioners, motors and other high current electrical devices within the home. The damage inflicted minor power fluctuations may not show up for sometime, but each time an appliance takes one of these small hits it is shortening the life of the unit. One day the unit just stops working! Power surges can also enter the home via telephone, DSL and cable lines.

To guard against surges, protection should follow a two-pronged approach, a whole-house surge suppressor to tame the large power spikes and a power strip style surge suppressor to catch the smaller AC spikes that get through the whole house unit, for sensitive electronic devices and computers. During normal use a surge suppressor allows electricity to flow through them, but when the line voltage exceeds the surge suppressors rated clamping voltage the excess voltage is diverted to ground, usually within fractions of a millisecond.

A whole-house suppressor is hard-wired to the electrical service panel, a process that takes a licensed electrician a couple of hours. Look for Whole-house surge suppressors that are rated for 45,000 Amps peak maximum surge current, at a minimum. Other features include thermal protection, and lights or alarms that indicate when a device has taken a hit. Some whole-house units provide protection for phone and cable lines as well. Whole-house suppressors can not stop surges completely, excess voltage may still get through, this is where "plug-in" surge protectors come in to play offering an additional line of protection for more sensitive electronic hardware.

When purchasing any surge protection device look to be sure the unit meets or exceeds these specifications.

• Look for any power strip style unit to meet UL1449 2.5 edition and any whole house model to meet UL1449 3rd edition.
• Has a clamping voltage of 400 volts or less, the lower the clamping voltage the better the protection.
• Protects all three incoming lines: hot, neutral, and ground. Look for "L-N, L-G, N-G" (line to neutral, line to ground, neutral to ground).
• Has joule rating of 750 joules or more.
• Whole house units and surge strips can get damaged by surges without you knowing it has done its job and saved your equipment. Make sure any unit you purchase has indicator lights or better yet stops functioning when its circuits are damaged by a surge.

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