Posts Tagged ‘fuses’
Whenever you buy an electrical appliance in the UK, it should automatically come with a plug already fitted to the device – either directly connected to the appliance or as a power lead which simply just needs plugging in. However, when you need to change a plug on an appliance around the house you need to know what you are doing to avoid any danger. Electrocuting yourself is a common form of danger in any household and I have listed some key points to help keep you safe when you’re doing these kinds of jobs in the house.
So, before trying to fit a plug it is completely worth understanding a little about how it works and the design of it. You should also know that the official voltage for mains electricity in the UK is 230V, although it is often referred to as 240V. However, there is a tolerance range which power companies may operate within, so many have chosen to supply a standard 240V worth of electricity. So, we know about the voltage yet it is also important to understand all the bits that make the plug work such as the fuses and the ‘Flex’. A length of flex will usually comprise of three insulated conductors, encased in an insulating sheath. Each of the electric conductors will have different colour insulation, according to the terminal it should be connected to:
• Brown – Live
• Blue – Neutral
• Yellow and Green – Earth
If you have any appliances around the house which are older you might find this guide will apply to you:
• Red – Live
• Black – Neutral
• Green – Earth
The reason for this tiny change is because red and green are two common colours which are subject to colour blindness. The wire colours were later changed to avoid any serious consequences of getting those cables completely confused with each other which could end up in disaster.
Originally, it started as an engineering concept at the start of the 21st century. Gas-Electric “hybrid” cars were the dream of the modern society and they were displayed at auto shows to gauge public reaction and market potential. Yet within a few years alone, hybrids have evolved into one of today’s most important automotive trends. Electronic components have really developed over the last ten years and are now more geared than ever to accommodate for the ‘greener solutions of our time. Every bit of a car from basic fuses to solenoids have been updated and modified to be friendlier for the environment. Numerous other components have come into play in the advancement of this technology, but one element in particular, copper, has been indispensable in helping to propel the growth of hybrid vehicles.
According to GM (General Motors) Chief Engineer, Time Grew, “Copper has two important roles in hybrids: It runs the electricity, so you have large amounts of copper in the motor and battery, and, more importantly, the copper technology is making hybrids viable commercially”. Fortunately enough, hybrids have come into the market in a big way. People are more than keen to get their first hybrid car and contribute to saving energy resources.
These days there are not many cars that are not hybrids. Car companies have a responsibility to now be far more conscious about polluting the planet. It is interesting to try and comprehend where technology will be this time in a decade or so. Will our cars be designed to be even more energy efficient? Only time will tell but I am sure that automotive technology will have a lot of surprises for us. It simply depends on what is going to be viable from a marketing point of view.