Month: August 2019

You’ll never be stuck in the dark or without water again because of emergency electrician Brisbane. Circuit Breakers are electrical components designed to protect us against the risks of electric shock and our homes against fire and other types of damage that can be caused by electrical faults. Each circuit breaker in your electrical switchboard usually protects one or more related circuits against overload, short circuit and earth leakage.

In order to understand what causes a circuit breaker to burst (or more commonly known as trip), we first need to understand what a circuit is and what the terms overload, short circuit and earth leakage mean.

What Are Circuits?

The electrical installations in our homes are divided into electrically separated segments known as circuits. Each circuit provides electricity to equipment in a very well defined and specific group. All the light fittings and light switches are found on one circuit known as the lighting circuit. Air-conditioners, heating and ventilation equipment are grouped on another circuit known as the HVAC circuit. And last but not least, socket outlets are grouped on a circuit known as the power circuit.

Each circuit is made up of cables, switches, connections and other electrical equipment designed to carry only the maximum electrical current specified by the manufacturer. When exposed to current exceeding this maximum, the electrical component may break down, melt or catch on fire. Circuit breakers were introduced to ensure this does not happen by disconnecting the electricity supply when the electrical current that flows exceeds the maximum capacity that the circuit components can handle.

Overloaded Circuits – The Main Reason a Circuit Breaker Trips

Have a look around your house at all the socket outlets. How many appliances are plugged into each socket outlet? Chances are you’ve got more than the circuit is designed for. Our increasing use of electrical and electronic devices puts more pressure on our electrical installations every day – sometimes to the point where the amount of electricity we use exceeds the amount that the circuit can safely give us without overheating or getting damaged. When this occurs, the circuit breaker in your switchboard will disconnect the circuit from the electrical supply.

Short Circuits – When Things Go Really Wrong

Whether you’re digging in the garden for the great new flower box, or drilling a hole in the wall to put up that lovely family picture, each time you make changes to the house you run the risk of damaging electrical cables concealed behind walls or in the soil. When you drill a hole through a cable or cut it with a spade, direct contact occurs between the individual wires in the cable. This is known as a short circuit. Electrical cables aren’t designed to withstand the current flowing in such a short circuit situation. In cases such as this, the short-circuit protection mechanism in the circuit breaker disconnects the electricity supply to ensure that the cable does not melt or catch fire.

Earth Leakage Currents

Sometimes known as ground fault current or residual current, this is electricity that flows from the electrical installation to the ground or other conductive materials of the house. Electrical systems are designed to pass current between the live conductors of the installation. When appliances like kettles, refrigerators and washing machines become faulty, they can allow current to flow through their metal parts into your body and down to the ground. This is a dangerous situation known as an earth leakage. Certain types of circuit breakers known as Residual Current Devices or Ground Fault Current Interrupters trip when they detect this current flowing to the ground to protect you from electric shock.

In summary, there are only 3 very simple reasons why circuit breakers trip:

1.) A circuit is overloaded, i.e. there are more devices connected to it than the circuit can actually accommodate.

2.) A short-circuit is present. Although less likely than an overload, a cable or other part of the fixed wiring may be damaged. You’ll need a qualified electrician to repair this fault and make your home safe again.

3.) An appliance is causing an earth leakage current to flow. Of all the scenarios, this is by far the most likely cause. Appliances become faulty all the time, and the result is a circuit breaker that keeps tripping.

What should you do if your circuit breaker keeps tripping?

Contact your local electrician to help you find out what the cause is. If you’re from Perth, Western Australia, contact a Perth electrician or one of the Perth electrical contractors.

Jaun Terblanche is the owner of Franklin Bell Electrical and Data Contractors in Perth, Western Australia. He draws on more than a decade of experience in the electrical and telecommunications industry to provide customers with fantastic customer service and guaranteed workmanship. If you need assistance with a tripping circuit breaker, visit their website at http://www.franklin-bell.com.au to request a free quote online.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jaun_Terblanche/1260744

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E-waste includes discarded electronics products that contain parts that may be regulated because they are harmful to the environment but luckily it is always collected by office rubbish removal Sydney. Every year, cars in Britain must pass a test to declare them ‘roadworthy’ and safe for the year ahead. This test is called an MOT and owners can be punished by law if their vehicle does not have a valid MOT certificate. Lead by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), MOT’s are often dreaded by car owners as they can be extremely costly and there is a perception that garages are out to fleece unsuspecting motorists. In some cases, this has been proved to be true with watchdogs flushing out the rogue mechanics. Local councils now often offer MOT test centres that do not offer repairs so mechanics have no incentive to pretend there are issues with your vehicle which should be some comfort to motorists who are currently feeling the pinch thanks to Britain’s prolonged economic troubles.

Do you know what issues will cause your car to fail its MOT? Sometimes, an MOT failure is easier than you might think. For example, a broken indicator bulb, low tyre tread or a worn out windscreen wiper is enough to fail your MOT. However, if there are several minor faults with your vehicle then the blame lies solely with the car’s owner. The key to passing an MOT is good maintenance.

In January 2009, figures were released under the Freedom of Information Act that showed a shocking first time MOT failure rate of cars registered in 2004 and MOT tested for the first time in 2007. What is interesting is that some of the recurring faults that caused cars to fail their MOT in 2007 are due to genuine manufacturer faults, but so many are due to poor maintenance. For example, the Citroen Berlingo saw a 21.5% first time failure rate. However, this is a commercial vehicle that is very likely to be abused by its driver. The same goes for the Ford Mondeo as it is a popular choice for fleet drivers so the higher than average mileage means wear and tear is substantial but unlikely to be the fault of manufacturers. Brakes, tyres and suspension are all easy victims when a car does high mileage, particularly over the three years that a new car does not require and MOT.

What was most surprising was that family cars did not fare as well as one would hope. The Renault Scenic has a 23% first time failure rate with nearly half of MOT failures due to tyres. 16% of Renault Scenics failed because of ‘the driver’s view of the road’ which could be down to chipped windscreens, worn out wipers or damaged washer jets.

The model of car that performed worst in the vital first MOT was the Renault Megane with 28% of 3 year old cars embarking on their first MOT failing. Renault explained this by stating that it was the second-best selling car in its segment with a majority of its sale to company fleets. So again, probably due to high mileage and no-one is accepting responsibility for maintenance.

How did the nation’s favourite car, the Vauxhall Corsa fare? 24.7% of Corsas failed their first MOT. Again, this was down to wear and tear from town driving. Stopping and starting in traffic wears the clutch and gearbox down quicker than regular motorway driving. Speed bumps are lethal for a car’s suspension and as Corsas dominate towns, they will see far more speed bumps than many other models. As this is a popular model of car, it is easy to find Vauxhall Corsa part at a breaker’s yard to minimise costs.

How can drivers avoid first time MOT failures?

– Check lights regularly. You can do this by reversing up to your garage door and seeing the lights in the reflection.
– If you get a chip on your windscreen then get it sorted ASAP. Chips can very quickly become cracks and could compromise your safety in a collision. It is much cheaper to fix a chip in your windscreen than replace the whole windscreen!
– When you check your oil and water, check your tyre tread and how well tyres are pumped up. Petrol stations often offer free air to blow up your tyres. Correct tyre pressure should be listed in your manual. Bear in mind that front and back tyres require different pressures.
– Approach speed bumps very slowly (5mph-10mph max) and avoid potholes wherever possible.
– Use the correct oil in your car. When you take your car for the MOT then you should ask the mechanic for some advice on which oil to buy.
– Don’t take your car to the dealer’s garage unless it is under warranty and you HAVE to take it there. The unscrupulous will charge over the odds for ‘authentic’ car parts etc. £200 for an oil and filter is ridiculous so make sure for that money they have replaced all necessary fluids e.g. brake fluid and checked the spark plugs, brakes, lights and battery and tracking.

This is not a comprehensive list but if you follow these basics then your vehicle should be well prepared for its first MOT.

Megavaux is a leading authority in the East Midlands on genuine Vauxhall car parts. If you wish to maintain the value of your vehicle, then careful maintenance is the key.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Paul_Lanham/231042

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