Los Angeles View 2011 (Photo credit: █ Slices of Light █▀ ▀ ▀)

Did you know that Los Angeles is second (only to San Diego) in both the number of solar installations, and solar generation of electricity in California? Also that LA recently signed into law a new program that will soon lead them to number one? This unanimous vote by the city council, makes LA one step closer to clean, sustainable energy.  Also this feed-in tariff program will enable them to add solar generation equipment to roof-top spaces on multifamily residences, schools, warehouses, retail buildings and parking lots…where LA has plenty of sunshine.

On the plus side, Los Angeles had (as of April 2011) 4,000 solar projects producing 36 mega-watts of electrical capacity.  This new incentive program hopes to increase this capacity by another 10 mega-watts by the end of 2012.  It also mandates that the City’s Water and Power Department, must purchase any unused power returned to the grid. In addition, LA’s new city budget contains an increase in the program from the 10MW to 75MW of solar generation of electricity with an increase to 150MW to be installed in their 2016 budget.

It is estimated that  this will create up to 4500 jobs, generate $500 million in economic activity and offset 2.25 million tons of carbon dioxide emission from the existing generation plants by 2016.

This investment by Los Angeles will make it a leading–if not the leading–city in clean energy production. Michelle Kinman, California’s Environmental Clean Energy advocate, feels that “if city leaders continue to embrace visionary solar policies, the sky’s the limit when it comes to LA’s solar potential.”

Ref:  Los Angeles Times

EC&M Magazine

Michelle Kinman

Related articles

• Green Jobs: CLEAN LA Solar Program Creates Feed-In Tariff and 4500 Jobs (green-buildings.com)

How to Start Your Own Electrical Services Business

Starting a profitable business is a very smart thing to do; but what could be smarter than having a business that is based on renewable power source? With the present reliance on electricity of the mobile and global economy, there is great demand for electrical services like Madison Gas and Electric Company in Madison WI, and entrance into this business has great potential. With a decent financial investment for capital, there are credit institutions that are willing to provide money to potentially good businesses and you can easily start a business of your own. You can also find a business partner to handle the financing side of the business while you handle the technical side. Now there are many forms of electrical services; it can manifest as electrical safety testing, repair of home appliances like a refrigerator, motors, oven, shaver and huge industrial construction installations, underground wiring installations, or you can stock and supply electrical parts like Square D products, breaker panels in the manner of EMS Electrical Services. Here are some general requirements for starting your own electrical services company.

1. Get your Master Electrician’s license
Having a Master Electrician’s license will make you an authority figure and will increase your chances of getting jobs. People, especially in today’s information driven economy, will always find experts to provide them with services and that is why this is important. Even when applying for jobs in companies, like Baltimore Electric Service, Barre Electric and Lighting Supply Inc. and Denver Commercial Electrical Services, having a Master Electrician’s license will really give you an edge.

2. Get a business license
Although this is mostly for taxation purposes, getting a business license is still very important in order to get authorities off your tail. You can just imagine how disturbing it is to always be checked by the authorities because you are operating without a business license. Before long, you will only find yourself closing doors because you are no longer allowed to operate.

3. Advertise your business
After the necessary paperwork is done, now is the time to channel your efforts in advertising your business. People will have to know that your business exists before they can avail of your services. The good news is, it’s now easy to advertise especially with the television (TV) and social media around. With a cable modem and a broadband Internet connection or anything with adequate speed from Cablevision, you can easily create your own website to advertise your business. You also need to make a business card with your phone number and business address on it.

4. Solicit jobs from local homeowners
On top of your advertising efforts, you can directly solicit jobs from local homeowners. When you are living in a densely populated residential area, it is not surprising to find a lot of households needing an electrical apparatus like a breaker panel, and services also, which they would be willing to pay for. This is especially true right after a natural disaster like a hurricane wherein a home appliance gets soaked and would need a repair. Before you know it, you will be having a hard time responding to their phone calls. Make sure to have a decent payment system in order to add convenience to your business.

5. Get adequate insurance for the jobs you are taking
This will remove all the possible problems in case of some mishaps in the performance of your duties. Address this issue with your accountant and find ways to get an affordable insurance coverage. Auto or any motor vehicle wiring jobs for example, can be very delicate and any mishap would cost you a lot of dollars in damages. If you have coverage, this problem can be avoided.

6. Hire somebody to help you as your business grows
As your business grows, you will begin to have a hard time responding to business demands and performing managerial duties. Having a second person to help will not hurt the business as long as he/she is equally capable. If they are not equally capable, you can always provide some training to upgrade what he/she knows. Make sure that when you hire somebody, you are fully aware of their capabilities. Depending on the business demand, you can hire them on a temporary or regular basis.

An electrical services business like Atlantic Electrical Services is a potentially lucrative business. Just make sure that the above steps are complied with so that there will be no problems when you begin operations. To impress your customers, it is not a bad idea to provide a warranty for your services. You can find businesses like this mushrooming from the Hawaiian Islands to Sunbury, Portland, Hazleton and Lehigh Valley PA, Oklahoma, Philadelphia to Tampa Florida. Below are some of the biggest and most successful electrical services companies, and although it might sound ambitious to dream of reaching where they are now, you can use their experience as a guide or a vision and draw inspirations from them. Another company that you can draw inspiration from is the Pennsylvania Electric Company, which is serving the Mahanoy City, Bethlehem, Allentown and Birdsboro area. Check their website for more information.

Pacific Gas and Electric Customer Service–The Electrical Services Company with Environmental Commitment

The Pacific Gas and Electric Customer Service is the provider of electricity and gas to about 40% of Californians and as such they are fully aware that there are environmental impacts on what they serve their customers. Because of this, they make it a point that their commitment to the environment far exceeds mere compliance to requirements. Environmental considerations are already taken into consideration even when they create their engineering design and diagrams of initiatives that they will perform in the future.

The company is taking the lead in the area of delivering the cleanest electric power, regulation of greenhouse gases and investing in renewable power source. On the top of their efforts is the ClimateSmart initiative. The Louisville Gas and Electric Company of Louisville, Kentucky and Sparta Electric Inc. are of the same spirit as Pacific Gas and Electric Customer Service.

Service Electric Company–The Premier Supplier of Electrical Services and Electrical Construction Materials with over 50 Years of Experience

Service Electric Co. was a company created for the purpose of constructing power plants, switchyards, substations and industrial-commercial electrical contracting. It was incorporated back in 1945 in the US State of Tennessee and they employ the most qualified and production motivated personnel such as foremen and superintendents who, are likewise kept motivated by a very effective incentive program. This incentive program is supported by a sale of over forty million.

To maintain its status at the top, safety and customer satisfaction is the top priority of its management and crew. Its service area is concentrated in these states; Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. The Service Electric Co. crews are capable of handling wide range of voltages as high as 500kV and they are capable of constructing all of the facets of a substation which includes any of these: conduit and control cable, concrete foundations, control wiring and terminations, grounding setting and assembly of transformers, erection of steel structures, buswork and switches, setting regulators, circuit breakers, reclosers and capacitors. The construction of these things will distinguish the men from the boys because only a few electrical services companies are qualified for these. Among their satisfied customers are Alabama Power Company, Alcorn County EPA and American Superconductor, just to name a few.

Public Service Electric and Gas–The Largest Combined Electrical Services and Gas Company

Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G) is the result of the union of more than 400 electric, gas and transportation companies in New Jersey. This company is the largest subsidiary of PSEG and serves a good majority of the population of New Jersey (NJ). As consumers’ needs change, the company is also apt in its response by opening up new business ventures but it remains primarily an electric and gas company.

The company’s commitment to energy efficiency was proven when it invested $277 million on 11 initiatives on energy efficiency. These initiatives have benefited the homes and institutions in New Jersey who are otherwise unable to put up investments in energy efficiency on their own because of high cost. Not only had the initiatives lowered energy bill but also created jobs for its constituents. Aside from the homes, the benefits of their initiatives are extended to the following areas:

1. Hospitals
A $79 million investment on energy efficiency upgrade including hot water heater, dryer, boilers, chillers and energy management systems has been enjoyed by 19 hospitals that are enrolled to the program. You can just imagine the enormous benefits that the upgrading efforts has given to these hospitals.

2. Government
Local governments on tight budgets have also benefited from these initiatives as they are able to make needed timely upgrades. There are now more than 150 completed projects enjoyed by schools and city halls.

3. Small businesses
There are now more than 360 completed projects enjoyed by small businesses and commercial centers which are the most important economic sectors in any economy.
The enormous response that they receive from these programs has exceeded their expectations, in fact, they are now exceeding their available resources.

Nashville Electric Service–Electrical Services With a Strong Community Commitment

One of the 12 largest public electrical service utilities in the country, Nashville Electric Service Inc. (NES) is serving around 360,000 satisfied customers in the Nashville, Tennesee area.
Reliability and safety is paramount in NES’s operating procedures and this meticulousness has paid well when the company was awarded the American Public Power Association’s Reliable Public Power Providers (RP3®) Diamond status on March 29, 2010. This award was only enjoyed by six other public utilities in the nation. This all results from their deep commitment to the community they are serving. If you are not mindful to safety and reliability, your services will be unsafe to use. On the other hand, customers will love you if you put their safety as the top priority of your operation. If you are going to browse their website, you will find integrated content that generally centers more on customers. You will find a lot of helpful information on saving electricity consumption, safety procedures, etc. Wilkes Electrical Service which serves the Virginia and West Virginia area is a like minded company and thus equally loved by the community they serve.

Wylie Electrical Services–How to Find a Certified Electrician in Texas

Unless you are a highly qualified DIY type of person, finding a certified electrician in Wylie, Texas is one of the most important parts of your home building project. The reason behind this is that unless you really know what to do, you could end up wasting time and money if you dare to take matters into your own hands. For example, upgrading from a 100 Amp service to a 200 Amp, or drawing a wiring diagram that will serve as a manual for home wiring, can be a daunting task for most of us. Here are a few tips in finding a certified electrician in Wylie, Texas:

1. Scour the phone book and online yellow pages
The phone book is still a good tool for finding people even in today’s high tech world. You can still compile a lot of certified electricians from the phone book. Also, don’t neglect the use of online yellow pages and the personal websites of these people.

2. Listen to word of mouth
Ask around your area if there are locally known electricians. By word of mouth is still the best way to advertise services and a lot of these handymen have rock star reputations in your area.

3. Get a quote
After you have gathered a few reputable names, now is the time to ask for a price quote. All things being equal, the affordability of a service is also a determining factor of whether to accept it or not. Call and ask for an estimating cost for the job.

4. Choose based on reputation
After you have determined who is the most affordable electrician, now is the time to contact the most reputable among them. Gather testimonials from previous customers and if possible, try to look for reviews over the Internet.

Ask the electrician that you are interested in if he has many jobs lined up. This is mostly the case for good workmen and if you insist on hiring him, you could end up waiting for a long time before your contract gets done. These things hold true even in Dallas, El Paso or Houston area. Check with TXU Energy and see if they can give you certain recommendations.

Starting your own electrical services business similar to Public Service Electric and Gas might sound too ambitious, but it is doable and you can always be inspired by their display of faithfulness to their customers, which has gained them the reputation that they now enjoy.

How to Find Electrical Safety Lessons Online–Learning Electrical Safety at Your Own Pace

Electricity is the very basic reason why we are living in a modern world. From a Navy ship to an ordinary home, electrical equipment is the common sign that points to modernity. Although it still remains a dangerous force of nature, safety and proper precaution have enabled us to harness electricity. Our very first lesson on electricity was when we were told to never stick pins into electrical outlets and to be sure to turn off light switches when not in use. But when we get older and wiser, we tend to forget how dangerous electricity can be. Most of the time, we forget the lessons on electrical safety while these can be taught to both kids and adults alike.

There are different websites that provide information which you can easily download. With the help of the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), electrical lessons and safety can be well within your reach. The website (www.esfi.org) highlights electrical safety and fire drill; there is also a kid’s corner that provides a video presentation that teaches kids on how to be careful when using electricity, and comes in the form of a game. This website discusses electrical safety issues in the home, workplace and public. Another is the Electricians’ Toolbox, Etc (http://www.elec-toolbox.com/). This site provides online lessons with graphics, videos and instructions on electrical safety, and ground fault circuit interrupters. They also offer basic tutorial on what to do in case there is an electrical accident. Most importantly, the website has information on electrical standards based on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. One can also teach by discussing the difference between solid and liquid matters and the danger of water and electricity and why these two should not come in contact with each other. It also discusses on how to use space heaters safely in the home or office and the hazard of flammable materials that get too close to the heaters. These are the few things that one may learn about electrical safety. You can still find other sample materials online (ppt presentations or pdf) with different topics on how to approach the lesson. While doing your own research, you should not miss reading the National Electrical Code, 2008 edition as well, because it codifies the standard for the safe installation of electrical wiring and equipment.

Electrical Safety Training for Hybrid Electric Vehicles

What makes our world modern? Perhaps you will say it is the advent of computers or when man first walked on the moon, but let us go back to our history. What really made our world modern? It was when we were able to use one of nature’s most dangerous force — electricity. Our world would not have changed if there was no electricity. What powers the laptop that we use, the light from our study hall, or the heater that keeps us warm during the coldest of days, if electricity is not involved? But just as I have mentioned, electricity is one of the most dangerous forces of nature. Proper safety precaution is advised when working or using electrical devices as these may be dangerous aside from being very useful. There are special trainings available for people who will be working with high electrical power. People like electricians or electrical appliance technicians, undergo an electrical safety training before they are considered certified. Let me mention one special training, it is the training for electrical safety for hybrid electric vehicles. And here is how it is done:

1. Since hybrid vehicles get their power from both gas and electricity, its technician is required to undergo training. Hybrid vehicles contain a battery that has a high voltage capacity and must be disconnected first before being touched. With the batteries are the power cables but they are rarely seen dangling or exposed, they are usually covered with color-coded protective plastic or rubber. These wires are a potential source of harm so they are covered with bright orange color or a label with a warning on it.

2. Always keep in mind that Hybrid batteries possess enough voltage to seriously harm someone, it can even kill a person when not handled properly by disconnecting all cables from the battery source. Refer to your vehicle’s manual on where to find the hybrid power source.

3. Please remember that most hybrid vehicles have an electric starter or an automatic starter that does not need gas to power on. When you turn the engine off, make sure that there are no more lights that are flashing, but if you still see that there are lights and indicators that are still on, make sure that you turn them off completely, the vehicle still possesses a potential electrical shock.

The above mentioned information is just the tip of the iceberg, there is still a lot to learn about electrical safety. The most important information that you should keep in mind is that electricity is a force to reckon with. Always be careful and take the proper precautions and one must understand the dangers that it can bring. Undergoing such trainings are only essential especially when working with electricity, but one can not just take the training and work right away. Trainees have to pass the quiz given and will be able to answer any questions given. Most of all trainees should be able to read signs, symbols and labels that are on the posters for precaution purposes.

Electricity Safety Tips–Things That You Need to Know In Order to Work With Electricity Safely

Safety with electricity has many facets. It is best advised to hire a professional electrician to assist you in dealing with electrical issues. It is also very helpful to know basic safety tips. If you are a homeowner or a landlord, you should know how electricity reaches and is distributed around your home, as well as tips on how to handle wires. Here are a few to consider:

1. Appliances
Consider the type of appliances that you use. While every home uses different kinds of appliances, these have become part of our everyday life. From the television to your laptop, all need electricity for it to function. That is why proper care and safety precautions are needed to prevent accidents from happening. Unplug unused appliances at all times, roll up extension cords when not in use, and keep them out of reach of young children and pets. And always pull the plugs of the appliances and not the cords. Provide enough clearance between appliances because the appliances tend to generate heat especially when they are used for a long periods of time. They can be the cause of fire when there is cloth, paper or plastic bags near these appliances. Always keep in mind to never operate electrical appliances when your hands are wet or when you are standing on water.

2. Light bulbs
Light bulbs are the most common electrical device in our home, and they must be handled properly. Use the recommended wattage for every fixture because they tend to overheat if wrong wattage is used. In the U.S. the recommended wattage is 110 while in European countries they use 220. Make sure when you buy an appliance it is within the recommended wattage. When the light bulb is not in use, switch it off.

3. Cords
Electrical utility cords are used basically to extend the range of the electrical outlet. Always monitor the condition of the extension cord, check for any breaks or frays, use the proper length and size of the cord for specific tasks. When unplugging the cord from the outlet, always pull it from the plug rather than tagging on the cord itself. You can use a tester to test the continuity of the cord.

4. Outlets
When it comes to electrical outlets never overload with multiple adapters, and never put any foreign objects into an outlet. We were always told to not to stick any pins into the outlet. Block unused outlets with covered plates. Don’t forget to install a ground fault circuit interrupter to potentially hazardous areas, like near the bathroom or kitchen or other places where significant shock may happen.

5. Live wire
When you see a live wire dangling never attempt to touch it, just call 911. When a live wire falls across your vehicle, remain inside and proceed to drive away from the wire. Then call 911.
Always know where the circuit breakers are located at your home and how to operate them. Never touch anybody being electrocuted with your bare hands as electricity travel from person to person. These are a few of the tips to always bear in mind when dealing with electricity. You can expand this and make your own checklist as you learn more. You may also hire a professional electrician to conduct an inspection of your home.

What are the OSHA Electrical Safety Requirements?

The Australian Government has their own Electrical Safety Office which was the result of the Electrical Safety Act 2002, which implements compliance and enforcement frameworks to improve electrical safety in the country. It is in-charge of electrical safety inspections of the country month after month. They also have the Occupational Health and Safety (Safety Standard) Regulations of 1994 which was prepared in 1991 that enhances the work of the previous office. The United States of America has their own electrical safety department too; the  Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), is a department of the US Department of Labor that sets the guidelines for what the agency believes as safe on-the-job practices. Standards that are set by OSHA must be followed by companies, managers and employees at all times. OSHA Electrical Safety Codes are specifically intended to protect employees from possible dangers like explosion, electrocution, fire and electric shock while working. The OSHA strongly requires that employees working in installation of electrical wiring to wear protective shoes and boots for additional protection.  OSHA requirements are universal template that applies to all fields but there are exception to others that will address hazards found in specific industries.

1. General training
One of the most important requirements of the OSHA is training. These are required for workers who are exposed to the risk of electrical shock; these include electrical engineers, electronic technicians, electronic equipment assemblers, welders and industrial machine operators. OSHA’s training also covers those employees that face high risks injuries, may it be from electrical hazards or shocks. The OSHA’s training consists of two parts, first is the classroom lecture followed by the on-the-job exposure. Level of training varies depending on the type of hazard involved. One must pass both levels of training before considered certified by the company that one works for.

2. Unqualified persons
Those employees who are considered unqualified are those who have little or no training at all in working on or near installation of optical fiber cables and premises wiring. Examples of premises are yards, parking lots and carnivals. Unqualified persons who work near or on the site of these areas are very much required to take the general training. Since these workers are exposed to the hazard and risk of the job then they must undergo electrical safety training that covers the safety of work practices particularly to their job.

3. Qualified persons
When you are considered qualified for the job, it means to say that you have passed the training and you are now allowed to work on or near energized electrical parts. Their training involved skills and techniques in identifying exposed live electrical parts of the equipment. These workers have learned the nominal voltage with live parts and the proper distance between live parts. Additionally ,persons who use tools and materials to directly interact with these parts also must have proper training.

Working around electricity can be very dangerous when you do not have enough training and knowledge of the job you are working with. That is why the OSHA was created by the Department of Labor too, to provide guidelines for safety in every aspect of every job, especially electricity. Along with OSHA, there is also the The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) which is the federal agency tasked with conducting research and making programs and recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness. A similar organization called ESA, with similar function also exists in Ontario, Canada.

Electrical Safety Tips for Kids and in the Workplace

Everybody knows the dangers of electricity specially when not handled properly, to the extent of claiming lives. It is very proper to teach children how to be careful with electricity. Although the first lesson they received was when they were told to never stick pins into electrical outlets, most of the times that is not enough. Homes should be made safe for the children. Installing a cover on every outlet in the house, teaching older kids to always unplug unused appliances and never use any appliances near water or when hands or feet are wet will come a long way. Always tell your child to never go near any downed power lines, and when playing with kites choose an area which has a clear sky and never to try to retrieve any balloon or kite that got caught in the power lines. While keeping kids safe, the workplace should also be safe. The OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) is one office of the government that is responsible to keep companies and workers up to date on their safety requirements.

What is the National Electric Safety Code

A set of National Safety Standards that is a subset of the National Fire Agency, although it is not mandated by any jurisdictional law, is adapted by a majority of the states in America as one of the standard in electric safety.

1. History of National Electrical Safety Code
First National Electric Code was published in 1897 and has been published every three years since. The said code has become the standard of safety in electrical installation despite the fact that it is not mandated virtually by any jurisdictional law. But the state will not fault a plaintiff for following the the codes correctly.

2. What is the function of this code?
The code acts as a guideline for installation and renovation safety. The National Electric Code outlines every possible electrical consideration, covering indoor and outdoor electrical standards and practices. The National Fire Protection Agency, publishes a 1,000 page handbook detailing the courses together with its rules and regulation and offering illustrations that will serve as a general study guide for electricians. Together with the illustrations are pictures, photos, posters and powerpoint presentations.

3. What are the benefits and features the code can offer?
First of all the National Electric Code is free for all those who seek such information. It can be found at the library or it can also be downloaded for free. The National Electric Safety guidelines provide safety standard that prevents electrical hazards and possible fires in any electrical installation. These codes also provide standards that should be met by anyone who requires an electrical job from a third party. On the other hand, the National Electric Code covers every feature of electrical installation imaginable, the topics include voltages, cables, wirings and conductors. It has nine chapters with eight appendices and indexes. Additional references and further explanation of important information is included. When considering any home improvement either by yourself or by professionals, always refer to the National Electric Safety Code. The purpose of the codes are not for profit but for safety, and it is not biased in its decisions over proper guidelines. Cutting corners in installing electrical hardware puts lives in great danger.

Who are Required to Take the OSHA Electrical Safety Training

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 5% of the work-related fatalities were caused by electrocution in the year 1990. That is why the Occupational Safety and Health Agency under the Department of Labor requires safety training for all workers exposed to electrical hazards. Several OSHA policy publications including 29CFR, Part1910 provide guidelines for electrical safety training. Persons working at power generation, transmission or distribution facilities are required to take first aid and CPR training. In case the facility has only two or more workers, at least two of the workers are required to be trained and no worker must work alone and a fully trained personnel, with a medical authority certificate, has to be 4 minutes away from the possible victim. If the facility has two workers, both of them must be trained. It is one of the requirements of the OSHA for the worker to purchase Personal Protective Equipment, these are items worn or utilized in order to prevent or minimize electrical injuries. These include rubber insulated gloves and tools, a non-conductive matting as well. When it comes to training employees on how to don, adjust and wear the PPEs as well as how to properly maintain these devices should be conducted by qualified instructors under the OSHA publication 3077. Employees will be asked to take and pass tests and lastly they have to render a demonstration after the training before they are allowed to work near electrically hazardous area.

Where to Buy Electrical Safety Equipment

Familiarizing yourself with a list of suppliers for an electrical safety equipment product can help you get started on purchasing it. An equipment that meets the standard is as good as the trained person using it. Safety electrical equipment contributed to the prevention of accidents and claiming lives. Here are a few suppliers to visit when planning to purchase these equipment:

1. Wichard, Inc. located at Fairfox, Vermont. Their products include testers, wind indicators, blocks, shackles, bolts, eyes pads, snaps, galvanized steel hooks, forging, ladders, carabiners, swivels, D links, eye bolts, eye nuts, rings, adjusters, analyzer and protective clothing.

2. Ver Sales, Inc. can be found at Burbank, CA. They manufacture and distribute electrical safety equipment as well as hardware and tools. Included in their products are rescue kits and the latest portable analyzers.

3. New Pig Corp., based in Tipton Pennsylvania. They also distribute first aid kits as well as traffic vests and flame resistant vest.

4. Stewart R. Browne Mfg. is also a very good supplier of poster signs, blanket and glove and other safety equipment.

5. Safety and Boot Center, Inc. also supply electrical safety testers, blankets, boots and safety belts. You can also find clips, grounding rods, safety fence and other electricity related things like Fluke products from this store. They also provide performance testing of all their equipment.

These are some of the best suppliers where you can buy electrical safety equipment. All these stores have an online presence which adds to the convenience of shopping because you no longer need to go to their physical store in order to buy some items.

What is High Voltage Electrical Safety Program

High voltage electricity is very dangerous when mishandled, it can burn the skin, cause internal injuries and worst of it all it can claim lives. That is why it is very important to be aware of the risks that are involved when working with high voltage electrical systems. By following proper safety procedures and standards, the risks of accidents can be avoided.

The High Voltage Electrical Safety Program was developed by the University of California in Irvine, to establish minimum standards to ensure that safety and health are protected when working on a high voltage electrical work at the university. California OSHA (Cal/OSHA), as well as other regulatory agencies, require each worker to be equipped not only with protective suits and equipment but also to undergo training, know the guidelines, procedures and other protective measures, especially first aid training to employees exposed to potentially high voltage environment. The scope of the program applies not only to all UC Irvine employees but to everyone as well; like vendors, visitors and temporary employees who are performing electrical work over 600 volts. The work includes maintenance, troubleshooting, installation, and diagnostic procedure.

Electrical safety lessons, training tips and the OSHA electrical safety requirements are all in place to make the usage of this power safe and beneficial to all of us. We would do well to learn them by heart.

What is an electrical circuit?

The simple definition of an electrical circuit is that it is the path wherein electric current flows. Electric current which is basically flowing electrons, flows from a voltage “source” (which can be AC or DC) which is either a battery or mains and toward the exit point called the “return”. Electrical circuits are called “closed circuits” because voltage which flows from the source will always “return” or end up to it. The distance between the source of the voltage and the return point is called the load. The load is where most of us find the practical use of electrical circuits because it can be composed of a few resistors, some light bulbs and anything that is useful to us. In order to appreciate the intricacies of electricity, try to look at an old circuit board.

Electricity will only flow if the circuit is complete or closed, that is, if there is no opening between the source and the return path. With this in mind, solutions like switches are used to control the flow of electricity in a more favorable and useful way. The usefulness of electricity is seen in the way that we are using it today. It is used everywhere from home to circus and it would seem anomalous to find anyone not using some sort of electricity driven gadget.

Basic Electrical Circuits–Know the Inner Workings of Electrical Circuit in Simple Terms

Any electrical equipment like a calculator, cellphone charger, heater, electric motor and electric fence, is just an application of the principles of physics and electrical circuits. When you turn on your gadget, remember that you are unleashing electrons in order to do its desired task. The reason why this is possible is that the negatively charged electrons would want to travel to the positively charged portion of the power source, in most cases a battery. In its simplest terms, three things basically remain the same regardless of what kind of gadget you are using:

1. The source of electricity will always have two terminals; the negative and the positive terminal.
2. The battery will push a certain amount of voltage from its negative terminal. For example, an AA battery will usually push 1.5 volts of electron out of its negative terminal.
3. The voltage will have to flow from the negative terminal down to the positive terminal through a conductor which is usually a copper wire. This path which connects the negative to the positive terminal is called a circuit. Remember also that water is a good conductor of electricity and that is why it is not safe to mess around testing electrical circuits with wet hands.

In order for a circuit to be useful, you have to attach a load. This could be a bulb in the case of a flashlight or some complex electronics like in the case of a cellphone or a computer. Due to the energy contained in a moving electron, they are capable of producing work, hence, the existing usability of electricity. For more information on electric circuits, check the following books: Richard C. Dorf and James A. Svoboda “Introduction to Electric Circuits” 8th and 9th edition, “Electric Circuit Fundamentals 4th and 7th Edition” (Floyd Electronic Fundamental Series), James W. Nilsson and Susan Riedel “Electric Circuits” (7th edition) and Charles Alexander and Matthew Sadiku “Fundamentals of Electric Circuits” 3rd edition. You can find all of these books at Amazon. These books do not only present a good introduction and a detailed analysis of electric circuits and symbols, but also its relationship to electronic circuit design and engineering. There are a lot of drawing plans provided in these books that explain in diagram form the concepts presented. You can also find an ebook version in PDF for these books that you can download online.

Electrical Circuit Breakers–How to Use Electricity and Control its Potentially Devastating Effects

Electricity, albeit useful, can be extremely hazardous when not harnessed in the proper way. A lot of accidents had been experienced due to faulty wiring, short circuit and electrical overload. To avoid these incidents from happening, circuit breakers are employed as a solution to detect faulty conditions and stop the flow of electricity thereby, preventing bad things from happening. It also makes troubleshooting of faulty wiring safe and easier. Without the circuit breaker, using electricity at home would be very dangerous due to the potential problems that equipment failure brings.

The simplest form of protection from electrical problem is the fuse. Its just a thin wire that is enclosed in a casing that you plug into the circuit. When you close the circuit, all the current goes through the fuse before it gets to all the appliances in the household. When the wire in the fuse gets too hot, it disintegrates and opens the circuit before it can make any damage to the household.

The problem with the fuse is that, you need to replace it every time it blows up. The circuit  breaker functions the same way as a fuse except, that you don’t need to replace it every time it performs its work. It is designed to be used multiple times.

The conventional circuit breaker consists of a switch that is connected to an electromagnet or a bimetallic strip. The wire from the grid, also known as the live or hot wire, is connected to the two ends of the circuit breaker. When the breaker is placed in an “on” position, the electricity travels from one end of the terminal, to the electromagnet, to the moving contact and out to the other terminal. The electricity which passes through the electromagnet “magnetizes” it, thus, increasing the current strengthens the magnet, while decreasing the current weakens it. When the electricity reaches dangerous levels, the electromagnet becomes strong enough to pull down the metal that connects the switch, thus opening the circuit.

The more “high tech” version of circuit breakers are semi-conductors and software components instead of magnets to monitor the electricity level. This allows for a more precise monitoring and the ability to shutdown the circuit more quickly. This is also the reason why these types of circuit breakers are more expensive. The newer models are called GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) which are designed to protect humans from electrocution rather than to protect buildings wiring from getting damaged. When there is a slight problem with the flow of electricity, the GFCI breaks the circuit. This sensitivity allows more protection from electrocution. For samples of decent circuit breakers, check out Heinemann Electric Canada Ltd., Alexander Electric and Johnson Electric.

General Electric Circuit Breakers–The Kind of Circuit Breakers that Professional Electricians Would Recommend

In most cases, a $50 circuit breaker will work equally fine compared to a $100 one. Most garden variety electricians will tell you to choose the cheaper boxes especially if they sense that you are on tight budget. The professionals on the other hand, know the difference between a $50 from a $100 dollar circuit breaker and they know that they are not created equal. They also know that a cheaper breaker from a not-so-known company will not have the same shelf life compared to the more expensive ones that are made by General Electric. GE has been around since the first incandescent bulb was made and they know everything there is to know about electricity and electrical equipment.

All over the world, GE is a respected brand of circuit breaker and their line of products comply with Federal regulations. That being the case, there are three things that you need to look at when choosing a circuit breaker:

1. Read the fine manual
Your breaker panel will come with a manual that contains all the compatible breaker brands. Make sure that you buy what they recommend otherwise it won’t fit.

2. Determine your needs
When buying a circuit breaker, you have to determine what you need it for. This will help you determine what gauge the wire should be. For example, if you just need to put lights and some garden variety outlets, the ideal would be a gauge 14 wire. For larger appliances like ovens, you would need either a 10 or 8 gauge wire.

3. Choose the breaker that has the amperage based on the gauge of your wire
After determining the gauge of wire that you need, you can then proceed to buy a breaker based on this. For instance, a gauge 14 wire can be used for 15 amp circuit. You can use a heavier gauge wire than what is necessary but not the other way around. For instance, you can use a 12 gauge wire on a 15 amp circuit but you should never use a 14 gauge wire on a 20 amp circuit.
If the calculation is too confusing, consult a professional electrician. For all your electrical needs, not only with circuit breakers, it is best to buy the brand that has proven to be reliable and respected through the years and General Electric has been that brand. You can find a lot of GE circuit breakers at Pacific Power, Franco and Sons Auto Electric and Tracer Electric Inc.

Electric Circuits for Kids–Teaching Electricity in Simple Terms

You might be thinking that electricity is too complex for kids to learn and so you would not bother to teach it to them. This kind of thinking can’t be any further from the truth because, while electricity is indeed complex, there are ways to approach it wherein even kids can understand. There are also a lot of advantages when you teach your kids about electricity. Considering that modern homes are surrounded by electricity driven gadgets, it’s just right that kids should know about electricity so that they can avoid its possible hazards when using their gadgets. Here are some things that you can do in order to teach kids the fundamentals of electricity:

1. Use a lot of analogies
When you use analogies, you make the complex easier to understand. For example, you can use a train in a track to explain why an electric circuit needs to be a complete circuit. That electric current needs to go back to its source, is easier to explain this way because trains would always go back to where it started in its travel.

2. Make sure to explain that there must be a complete circuit
Using the above analogy, you can then explain how a flashlight works in order to explain a complete circuit. Explain how the electron from the battery must flow from its negative terminal, to the bulb and back to its positive terminal. You can make the child create simulation projects like a simple flashlight just to make it exciting. The light bulb will serve as a  tester for a complete circuit but you can also use tracers to check like GB Testers.

3. Use games to make the tutorial enjoyable
As already mentioned, the concept of electricity is hard to explain but with the use of an interactive game, you can make it enjoyable and easy for kids to understand. Try to check the Woodland website (http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/) for more interactive games that you can employ. Using games as experiments will nail down the concepts in a less stressful way.

4. Don’t proceed to more complex lessons until the basics are totally nailed down
It is important that you proceed with the pace of the child. The problem most adults face when teaching kids is that they forget who they are dealing with and they would bombard the child with volume of instructions to the point of exasperation. A child will appreciate fundamental scientific theory and concepts better if they fully understand it before you proceed with a more complex lesson.

Explain the hazards of electricity and how to avoid it before starting the lessons. The child should have a good understanding of the possible harm that can occur when dealing with electricity and the safety measures that must be employed in order to harness it. It is best to prepare a worksheet when teaching kids so that they don’t have to waste their time writing anything. Worksheets are easy to find online.

Blobz Guide to Electric Circuits–The Ultimate Interactive Guide for Kids
When it comes to interactive instructions in electricity, nothing beats Blobz Guide to Electric Circuits (you can find it online at http://www.andythelwell.com/blobz/). This website provides interactive diagrams to make it easy for kids to understand the basic concepts like parallel and series circuits. Your kids can try the activities alone or up to four group members. The designer of the website provided simple instructions on the screen to allow kids to work and understand the concepts at their own pace. The best part of the instructions is that they are animated which adds to the excitement of the learning process.

There are five sections in the guide. All you need to do is to click the “next” button in order to proceed to the next section. When you have mastered the concepts of each section, you can press the green arrow symbol to try the test activity. This will serve as testers of whether you have understood the concepts or not. For more information, log in to their website or you can also check Phet Interactive Simulations (http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/electric-hockey) for more interactive learning approaches to electricity. As a third resource, http://mark.madscientist.ws/cgi-bin/circuits.cgi website provides an interactive circuit simulator that kids can also play around with.

The basics of electrical circuits and circuit breakers, although complex, can be approached in a non-complicated way that even kids can understand.

Impianto fotovoltaico, Photovoltaic system (Photo credit: pizzodisevo (therapy - terapia - Therapie))

Solar, just like all renewable power-technologies, has the constant challenge of price competiveness with fossil fuel electrical production.  These traditional sources of electricity (by far and away) lead the market place, with emerging technologies struggling in their attempts to drive their costs down, and output efficiency up.

Solar power production is the only emerging technology that is showing strides in making their Photovoltaic (PV) Systems more efficient.  Costs are coming down in the manufacturing of components, while at the same time, making installation and maintenance easier.  This is mainly due to quality increases at the factory making the equipment easier to maintain.  All emerging electrical-production concepts depend on government and power company subsidies to make the end-users purchase cost-effective.  But at least Photovoltaic Systems are slowly creating an environment which hopefully leads to their installation as a good investment–without kickbacks from any source.

In addition, add this to reports from the Framingham, Massachusetts-based IDC Energy Insights’ findings in their “Business Strategy: Trends to Watch” publications, which shows nearly a 100% increase in the rate of solar installations in the US between 2010 and 2011, with 2012 being estimated to depict the same headway, and the future is certainly brightening for the Solar PV Industry.

Roof top photovoltaic in Nevada (Photo credit: USFWS Pacific Southwest Region)

Ref:  IDC Energy Insights

ICC Renewable Energy Strategies

Laezman, Rick:  “Huge Growth on the Horizon for Solar Installation”, www.ECMag.com, Feb. 2011

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A coal mine in Wyoming, United States. The United States has the world's largest coal reserves. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This may come as a surprise to you, but electricity produced from coal-fired generation plants, is the most affordable source of mass-produced power.  Coal is a third of the cost of petroleum or natural gas, which are both less expensive than solar, wind or for that matter, any other renewable power source.  In addition, coal remains slightly lower in cost than nuclear.

This of course, leads to the fact that coal is the single largest source of power for generating electricity in the United States.  By comparison, renewable sources only represent between 2.5%  and 4% of produced electricity here at home.  The rub for coal is of course its pollution.  Whenever you hear phrases like global warming, C02 emissions, greenhouse gases, etc., chances are they are talking about coal.

A chart of the carbon capture and sequestration process from the IPCC (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The good news is, new technology is being developed to hopefully cut down dramatically these emissions.  Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) allows coal-fired plants to capture and bury harmful C02 gases underground.  This technology has the promise of creating what is called clean coal (coal-burning without carbon being emitted into the atmosphere).  This hope of the future is needed, because environmental advocacy groups have placed such vocal opposition to the coal industry that in 2010 no new plants were started, 38 proposals for new plants were abandoned, and 48 existing plants were set for retirement.  These 48 plants represent 12,000 megawatts of electricity, which must be replaced in the grid by an alternate fuel source.   Clean coal could possibly be the solution.

Ref:  National Mining Association

U.S. Energy Department

Electrical Contractor – www.ECMag.com

Laezman, Rick.  Article, Love Affair with Coal has Cooled

The control room at a U.S. nuclear power plant. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There are many factors to be studied in-depth before the re-licensing process of a nuclear power plant’s live span is complete.  The US Department of Energy will look into potential vulnerabilities and need-improvements in a number of areas:

• Safety History and Reporting
• Maintenance History and Reporting
• Modernization of Technology and Equipment
• Instrumentation Upgrades
• Control System Upgrades
• Concrete Integrity
• Piping Integrity
• Cooling Tower Efficiencies
• Internal Reactor Components

These investments in existing plants will pay huge dividends now to the owners, but to the general public the savings will come with keeping electrical bills as low as possible.  The reason is simple.  Nuclear power plants produce electricity at a lower cost than natural gas plants, and as a matter of fact, it’s very close to the same cost as coal-fired plants.  However, if the plants were forced to close after 40 years and then completely rebuilt,  or worse, abandoned and relocated, the cost would be astronomical.

With public safety first and foremost in the evaluation process (no amount of savings is worth compromising safety) and with strict modernization of all systems regulated and overseen by government officials, there is no reason nuclear power plants cannot operate 60 to 80 years.

Ref:  Anderson, Ken. President of CKA Associates

Gaertner, John.  Executive with the Electric Poser Research Institute

The US Nuclear Power Regulatory Agency

Ross, Mr. Chuck.  Author of  To Infinity and Beyond

Original Image: :Image:Nuclear Power Plant.jpg Obtained free of copyright from Anna Gomez, Nuclear Energy Institute, Media@nei.org 9/227/2005 - Typical two-unit nuclear power plant with cooling tower, turbine building and reactor containment buildings shown. (Sunflowers are facing the sun.) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Consider this:  Almost all of our nation’s 104  nuclear power plants were built between 1969 and 1996, and all were online by the year 2000.  Which is pretty astounding considering that each plant is required to be licensed for 40 years of operation.  The reason being, they represent 20% of the United States’ power generation.  Therefore, with the average nuclear power plant having been built in 1984, its license to produce energy is set to expire in 2024.  Tie this in with the fact that it takes 15 to 20 years of lead time to plan, investigate, permit and construct the average plant, it figures then that existing plants will require an increase in their licensed operational life.  In fact, this is exactly what is happening.  To date, 85 of the 104 nuclear plants have either had their licenses extended 20 years or are in the process of doing so.  And why not?  Nuclear power generation plants are built to a much higher standard (as they should be) than fossil fuel plants.  They are also maintained and Federally inspected at a much high standard, because comparably,  failure is a much higher safety concern.

This brings up the question of nuclear power plant upgrades.  Upgrades to existing plants cannot be solely financial decisions, but decisions based on safely.  Consequently, the plants are continually being improved upon and modified, as technology demands.  This has led most all leading engineering professionals (who are experts in their nuclear field) to now say that there is no reason the best of these plants can’t produce beyond 80 years, with no added safety issue or concerns to the public.

Ref:   Anderson, Ken.  Pres. of DKA Associates

Gaertner, John.  Executive with the Electric Power Research Institute

US Nuclear Power Regulatory Agency

Ross, Mr. Church.  Author of “To Infinity and Beyond”

Image via Wikipedia

Conversion of a company’s lighting systems (or their means of receiving power) can have large up-front costs.  Going Green  with solar, wind turbine, biomass generation, etc., may save you money in the long run, and it certainly offers more environmental conscience to your company, but the initial investments may still be financially consuming.

As an electrical contractor we should know the different existing programs that may be out there, to help our customers obtain these funds.  Some of the programs below may apply to your situation:

• Government Rebates and/or Incentives
• Power Company Rebates and/or Incentives
• Energy Project Leasing (where a solar manufacturing company will sell you the equipment on monthly, pay-back schedules)
• Performance Contracting (where an energy company will install a system, retain its ownership on the company land and through an agreement, sell the power to the company)
• Property Tax Financing (where a municipality floats a bond, gives the proceeds to the company and the company pays it back through its’ property taxes)
• Green Financing Initiatives (where distributors may loan or lease the cost of the product to the end-user, requiring them to repay through savings, back to them)

Thomas Glavinich’s article in Electrical Contractor Magazine, June 2011, goes into detail on some of these Going Green Funding Strategies.

Ref:  Falcon Leasing, LLC. (www.falconleasing.com)

Glavinich, Thomas, “Pay Back Time” June 2011 (www.ecm.com)

Image via Wikipedia

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Save Money Vacation (Photo credit: o5com)

As an electrical contractor, I am often asked by (commercial and industrial) customers, to suggest energy-cost savings. When considering lighting, we will first analyze what they are currently using and then evaluate alternatives such as LED, flourescent, or induction conversion.  The same could be done with power generation systems such as solar, wind turbines, etc.

A proposal is then generated showing the energy-savings over a period of time, and of course, the cost of the conversion.  This large initial investment may be where the owner or manager starts to waiver.  Even though he is relatively sure the numbers are right, and that there is a low risk that the investment will be worth it over the pay-back period, he still has to find a way to cut the check.

He can borrow the money, remove it from day-to-day operations (general funds), or try a Green Financing Initiative Company.

These finance companies differ from traditional outside source borrowing agencies (banks) in that they will produce with our help, an energy conversion plan showing the per-month energy savings, and they will guarantee those savings in writing.

Example:

• To convert 100 metal halide 400-watt High Bay fixtures to 110-watt LED fixtures, with 50,000 hours of life expectancy, will cost:

Job Cost:                                                           $ 60,000.00

Energy Savings Per Month:                               $   2,000.00

Lamp and Ballast Maintenance cost

reduction (2 per month) savings per month:      $      400.00

Total Savings Per Month:                              $    2,400.00

• The Green Financing Company will loan

their customers:                                                   $ 60,000.00

At a repayment plan of the $2,400 or less.

The owner is guaranteed his savings will offset, or more than offset, his up-front costs, without touching his capital.

The deal becomes even more appealing if there are any incentive programs available through power companies or local, State, or Federal Government agencies.

Light-emitting diode (LED) #3 (Photo credit: explainthatstuff)

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