Electric Shock Hazards
For an electric shock to occur, a person must become a part of an electrical circuit in such a way that electric current passes over their skin or through their body. Under certain conditions, even momentary contact with an energized metal object can result in serious injury and even death. According to an article in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine:
“Contact with live electrical wiring, equipment, and light fixtures was the main cause of electrical deaths and injuries among electrical workers, followed by contact with overhead power lines. Among non-electrical workers, contact with overhead power lines was the major cause of death. Other causes included contact with energized metal objects, machinery, power tools, and portable lights.”
From an engineering viewpoint, the body’s electrical resistance is an important variable. Electrical resistance of an object is a measure of how freely electrical current can flow across the object when a voltage is applied across it. Resistance is measured in units called “Ohms.” Resistance of a person’s body can depend on skin dryness, perspiration level, thickness of the skin, the distance that the electrical current travels through the skin, and other factors. The typical human body has a hand-to-hand electrical resistance somewhere between 1,000 and 2,000 Ohms, but resistance across other parts of the body can be much higher. There is a wide variation in body resistance between individuals, so the same voltage level may result in different effects.
Most electrical injuries occur from alternating current (AC) at levels above 50 Volts at the low frequencies typically maintained by electric utilities. The North American utilities normally generate power at a frequency of 60 cycles per second. The “cycles per second” unit of frequency is also referred to as “Hertz,” usually abbreviated as “Hz.” At 60Hz frequency, the threshold for perception occurs with electrical currents as low as 0.0001 Amps. The “can’t let go” electrical current for adults is approximately 0.010 to 0.015 Amps. This is the current that causes involuntary muscle contractions severe enough to prevent the person from letting go of the source of the electrical shock.
Electric currents as low as 0.050 Amps at 120V, 60Hz, have been known to cause death. Just to give you an idea of how small that current is… a table lamp with one 40 Watt incandescent bulb draws 0.333 Amps from a 120 Volt, 60 Hz household electrical outlet! In the interest of electrical safety, the National Electrical Code (NEC) considers 0.005 Amps at 120V, 60Hz to be the safe upper limit for children and adults.
Electrical Upgrades For Your Home
Many homeowners would be surprised by how much difference to their everyday life a few simple electrical upgrades to their home can make. In fact, even the newest of homes can often benefit from a little electrical attention. Here are some upgrades and additions well worth considering.
Appliances
With so many electrical kitchen gadgets on the market today most kitchens would benefit from the addition of an electrical outlet or two. If yours is an older kitchen a good electrician will also be able to check and make sure that your home’s current wiring system can handle the extra activity and easily make any necessary adjustments.
Central Lighting Stations
These days an electrician can install a handy central lighting station that lets homeowners control a number of different lights at the same time. Many of them can also be programmed so that with the touch of a button or two you can get a candle-like atmosphere in the dining room; soft, tranquil lighting in the living room; and brighter activity lighting in the kitchen, perfect for entertaining.
Outdoor Upgrades
Ever thought how convenient it would be to have an extra outlet or two outside? Or how nice it would be to have an automatic sprinkler system to save you hours with the hose – not to mention money on your water bill?
Home Audio Systems
Make better use of that fancy new home theater system you waited to get for so long by having an electrician install built in speakers throughout the house and even perhaps outdoors as well.
These are just a few of the electrical upgrades that can improve the day to day existence of everyone in your home. There are many more. Talk to a licensed electrician in your area about how your home’s electrics can be best upgraded.
Wall Mounted Solar Lighting
Solar lighting has joined heating and electrical production as popular solar platforms. Wall mounted solar lighting is a particular niche product that people are turning to in droves.
Wall Mounted Solar Lighting
Solar lighting is the new way to light up your home and property. While you have many choices to illuminate your house, the most economical and ecologically sound way is to use solar power. Even if you don’t want to use solar power to run your entire home, you can still help lower your energy costs and use less non-renewable resources by using wall mounted solar lighting.
When choosing solar lighting for your home, you have a few options. Electric lights may seem like the logical choice, but they can require other modifications to the outside of your house. You may need to run wires or extension cords so that you can power these lights and your electric bill will increase. Battery powered lighting doesn’t need cords, but they can be more expensive and time consuming to maintain. Wall mounted solar lighting is an excellent choice for the homeowner who doesn’t want to have to hassle with wires or expense, or go through the trouble of having to constantly take care of the equipment.
The solar cells built into solar lighting products are strong enough to obtain a charge even on cloudy days, though that charge may be less than what you would get on a sunny day. The solar cell can obtain enough solar energy on a sunny day to run the wall mounted lighting for eight hours at night. Many models also turn on automatically when the sun goes down, making them even better for safety and convenience. The LED bulbs contained within can last for many years without replacement, and using solar energy insures that your energy bill will not increase. Weather resistant materials, which are used in most wall mounted products, also ensure that the lamps will have a long life.
If you are choosing wall mounted solar lighting to beautify your home, or even if you just need them for safety, this is the perfect choice. You can save money while adding value to your home by keeping it lit at night, and you can also feel good about your contribution to helping the environment. Even a small use of solar power cuts down on our dependence on fossil fuels and other resources, so choosing this type of lighting should make you feel good. If nothing else, it will also cut your electric bill and every little bit helps these days.