http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/home-improvement/electricity-saving-tips.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/home-improvement/electricity-saving-tips.html Mon, 17 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0500
At the time of writing this article, I sit and think back of my childhood days when I grew up on a farm without electricity. I still remember the days when my mom cooked on the big black coal stove in the kitchen that also served as a heater during the cold winters. As kids we used to get dressed in the kitchen as we warmed up our clothes on the doors of the coal stove trying to fight the 0 and sometimes sub zero temperatures outside.

We also used an anthracite stove in the living room, which worked overtime in winter. Flipping a switch for lights did not exist. We used paraffin and gas lamps alternated with candles in the bedrooms. Television did not exist and we listened to stories on the radio after dinner as a family with quality conversations and lots of laughs before it was bedtime. Our fridge/freezer also used gas.

Having grown up in the Bushveld, a place of extremes, we did not only face minus 0 temperatures in winter, but had to deal with extreme heat in summer. I clearly remember the days when we, as kids took an afternoon nap on the cement floors in our house, as it was the only cool place (Bushveld summers easily reach temperatures of 40+ degrees in summer). No air conditioners, or fans even as we did not have electricity.

A couple of years later my dad upgraded to gas. I remember some winters where the gas froze in the pipes outside and we had to warm up the pipes so that my mom could cook breakfast on the gas stove.

It was only around 1980 that we first got electricity. All of a sudden we had the luxury of lights, deep freezer and Television.

I think the energy crises in Cape Town and other cities in South Africa came as a big shock to many people as they never experienced having to cope without electricity. Whether we are hot or cold, we just flip a switch and do not suffer any discomfort. One thing that remained from my childhood days is a saving awareness, which I think many modern children and even Adults lack, and this brings me to the following points in this article.

There are some basic things, which we all could do to save electricity:

1. Switch off lights when you leave the room.
2. Use energy saving light bulbs where possible (this will also cut your electricity bill)
3. Turn off the TV and Hi-fi when you are not using it. Leaving it on stand-by uses energy.
4. Rather use the microwave than your stove. Did you know that microwave cooking saves up to 15-20% energy?
5. When cooking on the stove ensure that vegetables are covered in water and cover saucepans with lids to reduce the cooking time.
6. Use a jug kettle with a water level indicator to boil only the amount of water that you need for that cup of coffee / tea. It is a waste of energy to boil a full kettle when you are going to use only part of it.
7. In South Africa we still enjoy fairly warm winters (compared to Europe and America). Hang clothes on the line outside to dry rather than drying everything in the tumble dryer.
8. Switch the Dishwasher off when it comes to the drying cycle and allow dishes to air dry.
9. Wait until you have a full load before using the Dishwasher and or washing machine.
10. Ensure that your fridge/freezer door seals work properly.
11. Cool food down before storing it in the fridge.
12. Defrost your freezer regularly – every time around 0.5 cm ice has been formed inside the freezer. Place your fridge in the coolest part of the kitchen if space allows– not right next to the stove or in direct sunlight.
13. Turn off your geyser when going away for week ends or extended periods of time.
14. Use hand tools rather than power tools in your workshop if and when you could. Nothing wrong with a bit of elbow grease at times especially when there is an energy crises.
15. Appliances – ask the sales person whether or not an appliance utilizes energy-saving. Avoid the use of appliances that use over 1000 Watt energy. It is also a good idea to keep all appliances clean and in good working order as it will ensure that no energy is wasted.
16. Depending on the area where you live and minimum/maximum temperatures, it might be a good idea to insulate your roof.
17. If you have both a shower and bath, rather take a shower as you do not only save water but save the geyser from having to heat up large amounts of water all the time.

These are a few simple points where each of us could make a contribution towards reducing the use of electricity in our daily environment.

In conclusion we should view the availability of electricity as a luxury and not a right. That way when we are all of a sudden left in the dark during power black-outs we could enjoy the silence and close family relationships with quality conversations that dinner at candle light or gas/paraffin lamps bring versus the rushed 2006 lifestyle with dinner in front of television with no conversation.


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Justin Kitson in Manager at Goscor generator distributor of Robin Subaru generators in Southern Africa.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/home-improvement/which-generator-to-buy.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/home-improvement/which-generator-to-buy.html Wed, 17 May 2006 00:00:00 -0500
Please take the following factors into consideration when looking at a Generator:

Domestic Use
1. Ensure that you purchase a good quality generator – stick to well known brand names as these companies tend to offer better quality products.
2. Make sure that the generator includes AVR (automatic voltage regulator) as this will assist the owners when using sensitive electronic equipment, for example a Computer or medical equipment .
3. Ensure that after sales service is included in the purchase and that the company you buy the generator from carries sufficient spare parts.

Industrial use
1. Consult the experts when an industrial generator has to be purchased. A detailed survey of the electrical draw off is required for 15KVA and higher generators. This could only be determined by an on-site visit to determine the company’s power requirements.
2. Discuss your requirements with the experts in order to ensure that the generator meets your power requirements. The last thing anybody wants is loss of income due to failure to meet demands from a newly purchased generator.

Installation

Domestic
Installation of a household generator is just as important as the quality or type of generator that you need to purchase. Make a list of items that you need to use in your house. Determine the power requirement or consult with a generator supplier to help you determine the power requirements. Ensure that the company you deal with does a safe installation, which will not put you or your family at risk.

Industrial or Business usage.
The following factors should be taken into consideration during the installation of an industrial generator:

1) Automatic Start up
2) Connecting directly to your DB Board
3) Power supply to sensitive equipment for example computers, medical
equipment and printers.
4) Certificate of compliance and safety once installation has been completed.

After sales service, spare parts and maintenance:
Speak to the generator supplier and obtain as much possible information regarding their maintenance offerings for bigger units, spare parts and service workshops. Purchasing a generator is considered to be an investment where one expects long-term service and support in order to make the most of the product you purchased.



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Justin Kitson is a manager at the Goscor Industrial generator division, Generator distributors in South Africa. The Generators team's expertise and years of experience brings not just power generators to the customers but also provide them with a long term generator power solution.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/automotive/maintenance/cleaner-fuels-for-robin-subaru-engines.html http://www.articletrader.com/automotive/maintenance/cleaner-fuels-for-robin-subaru-engines.html Mon, 13 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0600
Lead has been used in fuel since the 1920's. During normal operation of petrol engines, "pinging" or "knocking" takes place. Engine knock takes place when the last part of the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber detonates uncontrollably - this may damage the engine. In order to prevent "knocking", petrol requires a certain octane level. The octane rating of fuel is a measure of its resistance to cause knocking. The higher the octane rating, the tendency of knocking will occur. So lead has been added to fuel since 1920, as it was a cost-effective way to boost fuel´s octane rating.

With technological advancement, emerged a greater awareness of environmentally friendly vehicles. Nowadays the design of vehicles using catalytic converters is standard practice. Leaded petrol cannot be used in vehicles using catalytic converters so unleaded petrol has been introduced in South Africa in 1996. The added bonus of using unleaded fuel, is that it does not emit harmful lead into the atmosphere which could adversely affect human health and the environment. Another advantage to vehicle or engine owners is that unleaded petrol does not result in formation of corrosive elements, which cause damage to spark plugs and exhaust systems. This will reduce maintenance costs.

So, which types of fuel will be available?
Government determined that 3 type of unleaded fuel (ULP) will be manufactured:

91 Research octane number
92 Research octane number
93 Research octane number
The use of different octane levels will differ based on location - for example:

If you live below 1,200m above sea level 91, 93 and 95 graded ULP will be available. At this altitude 95 LRP will also be available for use.
Living at an altitude higher than 1,200m above sea level will allow for 91,93 and 95 graded ULP with 93 LRP.
Therefore the altitude determines the type of ULP or LRP that will be available.

Unleaded petrol is generally suitable for lawnmower, motorbike and outboard engines. It is however advisable to contact your manufacturer to confirm the best type of petrol to use in your particular engine.

What about Robin Subaru engines?
Goscor Engines divisions announced that the phasing out of leaded petrol would not be a problem for Robin Subaru engines.

They recommend that engine owners decide on the most appropriate unleaded petrol (ULP) or lead replacement (LRP) petrol using only that petrol grade for their engines. It would not be a good idea to keep on switching between the different grades available.

If for some reason the grade of fuel used needs to be changed, users will have to take their engines in to the nearest service center for the engine to be de-coked. It is a simple procedure where the mechanic removes the cylinder head in order to remove all the carbon from the cylinder head to back lap the valves.

It is not advisable that engine owners do it themselves especially when service warranties are still valid. Existing Robin Subaru engine warranties will stay in tact during the phasing out of leaded fuel on the condition that engine owners submit engines at service centers for the de-coking of engines.


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Justin Kitson is Manager at Goscor engines division. Goscor engine distriubtes Robin Subaru engines, generators and pumps in Southern Africa. The company's latest accomplishment includes the launch of the Goshawk lawn mower engine, specially designed and manufactured to cope with extreme dry and dusty conditions often experienced in Africa.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>