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A high-voltage surge on a power line can destroy electronics in a fraction of a second. Although a home or commercial power outlet typically delivers between 110 to 120 V, on rare occasions it briefly rises to thousands of volts -- far beyond the safe operating range for electronic equipment. You can protect your electronics with a variety of devices that prevent high-voltage energy from causing damage.
A stereo system requires several wires to be connected in order to function properly. Depending on the stereo system, you may not have to connect all of the wires, because modern stereos are often designed to accommodate multiple types of input and output. It's a good idea to hook up all of the wires, but not all stereos are going to be wired to every other component in your home entertainment system.
Making curtain rods from electrical conduits is something you can do right at home with the appropriate tools. Get tips on making curtain rods from electrical conduits with help from a Foreman for Lighty Contractors in this free video clip.
Insulation always needs to be installed in a very particular way, especially if you're installing it around electrical wiring. Install insulation around electrical wiring with help from a Foreman for Lighty Contractors in this free video clip.
Packing a maximum of 110 horsepower, the 1.9-liter four-cylinder under the hood of your 1988 Escort can be quite the turd if you happen to develop a spark delivery problem. Chances are you have already been through the basics to find the reason for your lack of spark delivery, and have worked your way back to the ignition coil. At this point if you have checked everything else the only cause for lack of spark should be a faulty ignition coil or bad wiring going to the coil. If you have inspected and chenger your spark plugs, plug wires, distributer…
Replacing the original factory head unit for your 2005 Audi A4, in favor for an aftermarket stereo, may improve the vehicle's audio sound quality, while expanding the system's overall capability for adding additional components. Correctly adapting and wiring a new head unit to the vehicle's existing sound system is an important facet of the installation process that must not be overlooked.
The blower motor resistor on a 2005 Nissan Armada is the component that allows the blower fan to operate at varying speeds dependent upon driver preference. It accomplishes this by electronically regulating the current to the blower motor in conjunction with the fan speed setting switch. A faulty or failing blower motor resister may only allow the fan to operate on one or two setting, or certain settings may not function. The blower motor resistor is located underneath the dashboard, inside the blower motor assembly on the passenger side of the vehicle.
Marine environments lend themselves well to mobile entertainment. Whether going on a fishing excursion or entertaining friends on the deck, adding a Sony Xplod marine stereo helps the time pass in a more enjoyable manner. Sony marine-grade radios are shielded from moisture more than conventional head units. Installing these radios in boats equipped for stereo systems is virtually a plug-and-play affair.
To those who've never wired an entire car, and even to many of those who have, the average modern automobile is a rat's nest of multicolored wires. But what may appear chaotic and confusing at first glance is actually far more organized than it may seem; you just have to take it one part at a time.
You may need to run wiring along the ceiling to service a light or ceiling fan. This is possible even if the ceiling is made of concrete. In this case you need to surface mount the wiring using conduit. Before you begin this project, draw a rough sketch of where you want to place the junction box and how you want to run the electrical wire. This gives you a rough estimate of how much material you will need.
While the basic electrical needs for a small garage may be met by tapping into a circuit in the house, most garages are better served by connecting a subpanel to a main breaker panel. A subpanel gives you the flexibility to run more than one circuit and to add circuits as needed. Once the panel is in place, wiring a garage isn't much different than wiring a house -- in fact, it's less complicated. There are fewer circuits, the wire runs are shorter and there is often no wall covering to get in the way.
There are two sets of color codes for both the 12-volt DC system and the 115-volt AC system, those specified by the American Boat and Yacht Council, which has the ear of the rule-maker, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the usual red and black color one expects to see for power and ground wiring. On a boat though, the two systems -- both color and power -- are intertwined.
Very few wood-burning hobbyists, or pyrographers as they are known, construct their own wood-burning equipment. Many may make adjustments to personalize or customize their equipment. Experience with soldering tools and knowledge of soldering techniques are necessary to construct your own pyrography wood-burning tool. The entire task can be done in a few hours to allow time for the epoxy or urethane to fully dry between steps. The benefit of making your own wood-burner is to customize the tip to your desired width and length.
The Panasonic WV-BL204 is a CCTV camera used for surveillance in businesses or homes. This camera is not longer manufactured. It can be purchased used, but often it comes with no cables, manual or power attachments. Without the proper cables, the camera will not operate properly. Understanding what cables are needed will help you set up the best possible surveillance for the system that you need.
Conduit is a software package that allows for synchronization of various programs and files on your computer. Conduit is more than just a synchronization tool though, because it translates one computer language into another as it is necessary for the integration of various types of software. Installing conduit is a fairly straightforward process, but getting it to properly synchronize all of your data and software programs can be somewhat of a chore.
Winches and cranes rely upon properly wired hoist contactors to pull or lift heavy loads. Hoist contactors are electrical control devices that ensure winches receive the proper amount of power needed to get a hoisting job done. Although winches come in a variety of shapes and sizes and with different types of features, the wiring for these hoists is generally the same in most types of vehicles. Some variance does exist, though, and may alter the wiring process somewhat.
Field-wire connectors are used in various electronics and electrical applications. In some electrical configurations, the wires and the connectors are placed in environments where a spark or discharge could cause the ignition of hazardous, flammable materials. Field wire connectors are used to establish connections between wires. Approval for field-wire connectors are the standards set by the National Electrical Code or NEC.
The 200EP inductive amplifier is a tool manufactured by professional tool company Tempo. The primary application of the 2000EP amplifier is for the electrics industries. The unique quality of this amplifier, and other amplifiers within the same category, is that the 200EP does not require actual physical contact with an electrical object, such as a wire under voltage.
The Lifebreath 155 Max Heat Recovery Ventilator allows you to circulate and filter the air in your home without subjecting yourself to drafts and cold. You can wire the 155 Max independently or in conjunction with your heating and cooling units. If you wire it independently, it will run off of the included panel, based on either manual or programmed commands. If you connect the Lifebreath to your HVAC system, it will come on when the rest of the system is running.
Outdoor sheds store your yard and garden equipment, but you may also find that you need electrical power for such things as lights and power tools. Although it's possible to do this by using above-ground wiring, running underground cable is more efficient and less unsightly. A good plan is to establish a dedicated line at your circuit breaker specifically for bringing power to the shed. Although a key part of this installation should be left to an electrician, much of it can be done by a handy homeowner.
The BeachTek DXA-2s XLR adapter allows you to connect two XLR microphones to a camcorder for better audio recording. Many camcorders come with a built-in microphone and one mini-jack microphone input, limiting your options for recording sound with your video. The DXA-2s gives you the option to record with two higher-end microphones, and the ability to control the audio levels on those microphones when recording.
When you set up a new video or audio system, the options for the types of cables can be confusing. If you look at the back of your television, stereo or cable box, you will see several different ports, meaning you have different options for the cables you can use to connect your components. However, the choice for which cables to use may come down to the type of system you have and the quality with which you want the product delivered.
A flyback transformer coils around the neck of the cathode ray tube (CRT) in a TV set. Its function is to disperse the signal carrying electrons onto the phosphorus mask on the inside of the TV screen, thus reproducing the video portion of the program. Flybacks can be either AC or DC. In the case of most TV sets produced by Sanyo Electric of Japan, the transformers are 30,000 volts of direct current. Although the amperage is relatively low, the transformer can deliver a rather stunning charge to a careless technician. Replacing the flyback on a Sanyo TV should be…
The Immortal series of subwoofers from Audiobahn car audio is designed for the car-audio competition environment. In addition to high-power capacity – 2,250 watts of continuous power -- the Immortal series has a specialized appearance as well. The subs are set in a 3-D die-cast aluminum case depicting flames – ideal for an American car-audio competition scene known for aftermarket systems that have as much visual appeal as sound quality. The installation process for Audiobahn Immortal subs doesn't differ from other subwoofers. A two-channel amp pushing 2,400 watts at 1 ohm provides sufficient power to take advantage of the Immortal…
The PC925 battery from Odyssey is designed for heavy-duty, all-terrain applications. It features a rugged, dry-cell, military-grade design, an eight- to 12-year lifespan and a reserve power source if it goes into deep discharge -- ideal for the equally rugged Polaris Ranger RZR. The electrical connections of the PC925 are standard for most heavy-duty batteries, but securing to the chassis requires Odyssey’s supplied high-performance hardware.
Roof ventilation fans are more often called attic fans; they are in fact located in the attic not on the roof. Strictly speaking, they do not ventilate the roof, but the roof void, usually called the attic. Unvented roof voids reach extremely high temperatures when the summer sun is beating on the roof -- 150 degrees Fahrenheit is not unusual -- which exaggerates cooling costs and can reduce the working life of some roofing materials. Happily, wiring an attic ventilation fan is a relatively simple project.
The Provo Craft Gypsy lets Cricut Imagine owners store the contents of their image and font cartridges on a unified, portable design studio. The handheld Gypsy features a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and an AC power cord. The Provo Craft Gypsy's 4GB of memory can hold graphics and fonts from up to 7,000 cartridges. Linking cartridges to the Gypsy copies their contents and their serial numbers so you can use them without plugging in the cartridges. After completing the linking procedure, you can create designs on your Gypsy that incorporate elements from as many cartridges as you link.
The impeller on a Fasco furnace blower helps power air through the heating unit. These fixtures are usually made out of high durability plastic mounted inside a plastic casing. Removing an impeller from a Fasco furnace blower involves removing the motor from the heater so the unit can be disassembled.
Romex is a cable that's widely used for residential wiring. Originally manufactured by the Rome Cable Co., it is produced today by the Southwire Co. of Carrollton, Ga. Romex is appropriate for most home electrical applications and comes in a variety of sizes, each identified by a gauge number printed on the sheathing. A typical electric furnace runs on 240-volt power and draws 50 to 60 amps of power. To wire one, you will need 8-gauge, 3-conductor Romex. It should bear the imprint "8/3" on the sheathing.
The Motorola HDPVR receiver issued to you by Shaw includes one internal hard drive. Once the internal drive becomes full, you must delete some content to continue pausing and recording live television. However, you can increase the capacity of your Motorola HDPVR by adding a Shaw PVR extender. These are external hard drives that connect directly to the Motorola receiver. After purchasing an expansion drive from Shaw, you will need to set it up and format it for use with your Motorola receiver.
An aluminum johnboat that's less than 23 feet long and powered by oars or a sail doesn't require hard-wired lights, according to the Coast Guard's Navigation Rules. However, you must carry a flashlight close at hand to alert other vessels to your presence. If your johnboat has a motor, is less than 23 feet in length and can't exceed a speed of 7 knots, you only need wire to it for a single white stern light visible from any direction. If the vessel can exceed 7 knots, it must display a combined red and green bow light along with the…
The actual task of laying out stair stringers can go fairly quickly once you or your engineer has done the hard work -- which involves calculating the run, or tread depth, and the rise, or the distance from the top of one tread to the next -- needed to meet code requirements for the height your deck rises off the ground. With any luck, you’ll have a comfortable set of stairs close to the optimum 10-inch run, which allows for two standard 5.5-inch deck boards with a 1-inch overhang, and an optimum 7-inch rise. This results in steps neither too…
A garage may be more than just a place to store cars and old Christmas ornaments. It is also often used as a workshop. Some people repair and maintain their cars in the garage. Others use it as a place for do-it-yourself projects. If you plan to use your garage as a workspace, then you will need to run power from your house to your garage, if the garage is not already powered.
A properly grounded house keeps you from receiving an electrical shock in the event of a short circuit. Electrical cables in new homes include a ground wire to ensure your house is properly grounded, but homes built before 1940 weren’t grounded. To bring your ungrounded house up to code, you can completely re-wire your house, but less expensive solutions are available.
Streaming VLC (VideoLAN) to your TV is a great way to conserve DVDs, save time by avoiding the burning process and play any media you have on your computer nearly instantly. The VLC player is a freely available media player that is compatible with a wide variety of video formats. Your TV needs to have a VGA, DVI or HDMI port on it in order for you to connect it to your computer and you need the corresponding cord. Check the back of your TV or reference the manual if you're unsure of what ports you have. Make sure to…
TomTom in-car GPS navigation systems can sometimes develop problems when you download new maps or a software application update. According to TomTom, a frozen device indicates that the TomTom application may not be installed correctly. Troubleshoot and fix the problem by downloading the latest software updates or resetting the device.
A 50-amp range is a stove or range that has a maximum amp input of 50 amps of electrical power. This means that the stove can handle that much electricity and nothing more. To ensure that you're providing the right amount of power to your range you need to use 6-3G wires in the junction box, which are three 6-gauge wires and a ground wire. Using the proper kind of cord is also essential.
Ground rods serve an important function when connected to electrical systems. These metal poles protect you, your family and your neighbors from electrocution by directing electricity into the soil as it leaves the home. Three primary types of grounding rods exist: galvanized steel, stainless steel and copper bonded. Understanding when to use a copper-bonded ground rod requires an understanding of ground rods themselves and the material advantages of copper.
The IBM ET1720l is an LCD monitor with touchscreen capability, allowing users to interact with their computer without using a mouse or keyboard. If your ET1720l monitor will not come on, you can try a few simple things to diagnose and fix the problem. These troubleshooting tasks often fix simple problems, but you must have more serious issues taken care of by IBM or a certified repair shop to keep any warranty on the monitor.
A signal conditioner is a device that converts a continuously variable, or analog, electrical signal into another type of signal. In so doing, it manipulates the signal so that it can be read and processed by conventional instrumentation, such as control devices and systems. The signals produced by applications such as temperature and vibration sensors often require signal conditioning before they can be measured accurately.
A car's clutch system is complex, so when something goes wrong, such as your clutch not being able to be pushed in, a variety of complications could be occurring. Understanding how the clutch system works is effective for troubleshooting clutch problems. When you notice that your clutch is sticking it's important to diagnose the problem right away so that you can safely drive your vehicle.
Firefly lighting is an illumination technique in which a lantern is made to look like it has fireflies inside of it. The fireflies are simulated by miniature battery-operated lights that are positioned at different heights in the lantern and glow from the inside. You can complete this craft project to add a decorative touch to your backyard or an outdoor patio area; your firefly light can serve as the main illumination source or simply as accent lighting.
If you have an old electrical box in your ceiling that you no longer use, you probably want to patch the area to hide the box. This is a simple project for any homeowner and does not require any knowledge about how to drywall. A mesh patch kit works well for this project. Purchase one of these kits from your local hardware store.
Multi-fuel stoves are versatile heating devices that can burn a variety of solid and liquid fuels. Some may only burn certain items, such as wood pellets, corn, sugar beets, coffee husks and oil. Others may additionally be compatible with wood and coal. Local building code requirements may not recognize the specifics of multi-fuel stoves, so you should always review manufacturer requirements as a primary resource for vent pipe installation. Refer to local codes as a secondary guide.
If you live in an older house and your electrical circuitry doesn't conform to contemporary code requirements, you may have been content to leave things as they have been as long as everything worked. If the time has come for a major remodel, however, or if your outdated circuitry can no longer handle your electrical demand, an update may be necessary. If so, start at the heart of your electrical system, the main panel. Even if your old one isn't out of date, replacing it with a larger one will allow you to add enough circuits to meet all your…
Modern GE dryers use a four-prong power cord to comply with national electric code standards. When you purchase a new GE dryer, for safety reasons the power cord does not come connected. You have to install the four-prong cord yourself by connecting it to the terminal box.
Kitchen vent fans suck the air up from your kitchen and move it either outside or recirculate it around your kitchen. Over time, the vent fan can get old and squeaky, not working at clearing the air in your kitchen as well. In order to fix this problem you can replace the kitchen vent fan with a new one that doesn’t squeak. The new fan will also work better at clearing the air in your kitchen, in most cases.
The battery cables are the first and last components in every electrical circuit in a vehicle, with power leaving the battery along one cable and returning along the other. Bad connections cause a loss of voltage, increased current and poor performance. Really bad connections completely prevent the flow of electricity causing all the electrical systems to cease working. Fixing bad connections on a battery cable is a straightforward task.
Egress windows are meant to bring light into converted attics or into basements. The size and location of the egress windows are dictated by code to ensure that the window can be reached and exited from in the event of an emergency. You do not always need an egress window in every building or room. Part of understanding the code includes knowing when you must install an egress window and when it can be avoided.
Sealing the electrical connections in your garage can keep them from getting damaged by insects or small animals, protect you and others from receiving electrical shocks, and eliminate drafts. Sealing the electrical connections in your garage is a fairly straightforward job that you can do yourself using basic tools and material.
