Easy Household Electrical Tests
Electrical things not working? You can test hundreds of electrical things in your home from appliances to batteries. It’s really quite easy.
Electrical devices convert electricity into another form of energy. Included are large and small appliances, computers, telephones, lighting, and lots more. Electrical things convert electrical energy into movement, heat, cold, light, sound, images, and many other useful services.
All you need to test electrical household things is a low-cost continuity tester or a multimeter available at hardware stores. You can buy a continuity tester for less than $5.00. A multimeter (under $20) measures the amount of power (voltage) being applied, electricity (current) being used, and how much resistance it needs to overcome to do the job. Power is measured in volts (V), current is counted in amperes or amps (A), and resistance is calculated in ohms (O).
There’s one more electrical term you’ve probably heard. Defining it will come in handy as you fix electrical devices. A watt is the amount of power consumed by an electrical device when it is running. A 750-watt toaster, for example, uses 750W (watts) of power when toasting your wheat, rye, sourdough, or other bread in the morning.
Continuity Tester
Electricity needs a continuous path or circuit in order to flow. It’s like a two-lane road from point A to point B and back. If one or both lanes are blocked, traffic–in this case, electricity–stops. A continuity tester is useful for checking cords and wires to make sure they can conduct electricity.
To use a continuity tester, follow these steps:
1. Disconnect the cord from the power source (electrical receptacle).
2. Make sure any switches on the device are on.
3. Place the continuity tester’s clip on one prong of the cord.
4. Touch the tip of the continuity tester to the other prong. If there is continuity, the tester will light up. If not, it won’t.
Here’s what happens: The continuity tester sends electricity from an internal battery through one cord prong and down the wires. If the light gets electrical current from the other prong it lights up, meaning that the path is good. Otherwise, something is stopping it. Remove the cord from the appliance and test each of the two wires separately to see which one doesn’t work. If both work, the short is in the appliance itself.
Multimeter
A multimeter (also called a volt-ohmmeter or VOM) is another way of testing continuity. Use it to measure the amount of alternating current (AC or household current) or direct current (DC or battery current) in a plugged-in or live circuit. It can check voltage, too. For example, a multimeter can verify that there are about 120 volts in an AC circuit or that a 9-volt battery is fully charged. In addition, a multimeter can check resistance. A continuity tester checks resistance, but answers yes or no. A multimeter checks resistance and reports how many ohms (the measurement of resistance) a circuit carries.
You can use a multimeter to test motors, switches, controllers, and many other electrical gadgets. Refer to the multimeter’s instruction sheet for specifics.
Here’s how to use a multimeter to test an electric appliance:
1. Disconnect the cord from the power source, except when testing a live circuit.
2. Plug the test leads in to the multimeter.
3. Select the function (ACV, DVC, resistance) and the range (maximum reading expected).
4. Connect the probes to the cord or appliance component.
5. Interpret the reading. Refer to the product manual for tips on what may be wrong and what you can do about it. In addition, there are numerous resources online.
Don’t let a simple electrical problem keep you from using the power of electricity. A couple of simple electrical tests can help you in fixing household things that break — instead of tossing them.
Finding Local Home Improvement Contractors
Finding local home improvement contractors is very easy. Our homes are the best asset of our lives. After a hectic day of work, everyone thinks to be at their home. So, it should be cozy and comfortable enough. So, to make it more to reflect your ideas and personality, you can hire home contractors. It is so simple that even you can do it by yourself. But the problem is it is a time consuming job. You cannot spend so much time on it. So it is better to submit in good hands.
Home improvement contractors are workmen who are qualified to work small jobs at houses. Smaller jobs include landscaping, remodeling of floors, roofs, cabinets and windows. Sometimes it becomes a tiring job to interview contractors after contractors. May be sometimes you might have hired a contractor and they did not show up. So it becomes necessary to find a proper local home improvement contractor. You will get top notch remodelers, local contractors, plumbers and electricians.
These people will be top class professionals. They are also well approved. They are well screened as well. How can you find approved home improvement contractors? Or how can you hire local home improvement contractors? So, to find local contractors, you can search online. Type in the proper keyword in your favorite search engine and get loads of good results. You can seek help from your friends. They are very close and you can say that you are looking for contractors in a limited budget. They may know a few.
Hire local home improvement with the help of your family members. You can also take help from your neighbors. They might have numbers of a few. You can see that there are many local home improvement stores nearby your house. You can have a talk with them and find local contractors through them. You can also check out with the decorating and remodeling systems. Like paints, tiles, windows and many more. Once you get hold of a contractor, check with their websites. Read the reviews and ratings at their site.
The best thing is to have well round communication at first. Make a list of your priorities. Submit the list in their hands. Then give them a description of your imagination. Then communicate with them on a regular basis. Ask them if they need anything else? How is the work going in your absence? Always confirm with the references.
Do not be embarrassed and feel free to call them. Local home improvement becomes better with these help. These contractors are available nationwide and also in your locality. Thus, these are the ways in which you can find local home improvement contractors.
Container Gardening For the Condo Homesteader
If you’ve always dreamed of ditching your big-city life in favor of growing your own food in the back woods, get started now with container gardening! You would be surprised at how many plants can live happily on a balcony and in the house. Many varieties of fruit and vegetable can be grown in a small space.
Evaluate your space before you purchase gardening supplies and plants. Some plants can do well in smaller containers, but need more sunlight. Some need larger containers, but can be grown with little sunlight. Herbs, for example, can be grown in small containers, but need at least 5, preferably more, hours of sunlight. Leafy greens, like lettuce, need less sunlight.
You can put plants in just about any container; however the container should allow for adequate drainage with either a pot-in-a-pot setup, or a pot with gravel at the bottom that allows water to run through the soil instead of staying. Different container materials have different properties – plastic and terra cotta can weaken after long exposure to the sun, for instance. Extend the life of planters and avoid unsightly floor stains by lifting your containers off the ground with plant stands or wire shelves. It might be a good idea to place something – even a decorative mat – underneath this set-up to catch any drips. A rolling platform that allows you to move your plants easily around the room is another option.
Planter size is very important. Your container plants need adequate room for their roots to expand. Consider having a few plants share a big pot, which will enable their roots to grow and save you space. Roses and garlic are a good example of two plants who get on very well with each other. Plus, it gives your planter a more interesting appearance. Mixing vegetables, fruit and ornamental plants can change a ho-hum grown-for-food planter into something really stellar. Ask the advice of staff at a nursery for more information on compatible plants.
Think creatively when choosing plants. Many practical plants can be hung in planters and allowed to trail tantalizingly over the side, giving an ordinary vegetable an exotic look. One example is a Time Magazine “best invention”, an upside down planter that can be used to grow many vegetables and herbs in an unusual, attractive way. You can find it at hangingtomato.com. You may want to buy or make some cages or trellises for some plants to climb on. Shelves can also allow you to place more plants in less room.
Your soil should be light and sandy, giving the roots plenty of air. You can purchase suitable pre-mixed soil or make your own out of 1 part peat moss, 1 part loam, 1 part (clean) sand and the appropriate amount of fertilizer (check the bag).
Make sure you water! The climate inside and just outside your covered balcony is not the same as the climate in a conventional garden! Learn how much water your plants need and water accordingly. Many plants suffer from under watering. Try the finger test; stick your finger in your plant’s soil – if it’s moist, you’re probably good.
Talk to the staff of your local nursery for advice on starting out with container plants. With a little investment of time and money, you can have a lush garden in your apartment/condo/townhouse that contributes to a restful atmosphere and provides you with fresh fruit, herbs and vegetables.