ELECTRICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

What is Net Metering?   Net metering is a service to an electric consumer under which electric energy generated by that electric consumer from an eligible on-site generating facility and delivered to the local distribution facilities may be used to offset electric energy provided by the electric utility to the electric consumer during the applicable billing period.  continue.. How does Net Metering Works?   When your home is equipped with a renewable energy source (such as wind or solar power), it sends the excess energy that's generated back into the grid to power other homes. An electrical converter called an inverter turns the DC (direct current) power coming from your renewable energy source into AC (alternating current) power, which matches the voltage of the electricity flowing through the power line.  continue.. FAQ for Net Metering   Net metering allows customers of certain electric distribution companies (note:  check whether yo...

Did you know that pioneers of both AC and DC technologies once work together in the same laboratory? Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla started the "Electricity War" just because Edison turned down the idea of Tesla. This war was not purely because of clash of minds but more likely from economic and business point of view. The History Channel presentation of the series "The Men Who Built America" narrates the start of the war between the Direct Current of Edison and Alternating Current of Tesla. Edison was supported by JP Morgan while Nikola Tesla was supported by Westinghaus. Watch the video below to understand more the root cause of the conflict and who prevailed in the end. Men Who Built America Part3 Changing The Game

How to build a Tesla Coil?   Picture of DANGER Unlike some other high voltage experiments, a Tesla coil's streamers can be very harmful. If you are shocked by the streamers, you will not feel pain, but your circulatory and nervous system can sustain severe damage. DO NOT TOUCH IT WHILE ON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.  continue.. How to Make a Tesla Coil?   Developed in 1891 by Nikola Tesla, the Tesla coil was created to perform experiments in creating high-voltage electrical discharges. It consists of a power supply, a capacitor and coil transformer set so that voltage peaks alternate between the two, and electrodes set so that sparks jump between them through the air. Used in applications from particle accelerators to televisions and toys, a Tesla coil can be made from electronics store equipment or from surplus materials.  continue.. Tesla Coil Schematic   Tesla coils, in their simplest terms, are made from only five components: a power transforme...

What is a Tesla Coil?   A Tesla coil is an electrical resonant transformer circuit invented by Nikola Tesla around 1891. It is used to produce high-voltage, low-current, high frequency alternating-current electricity. Tesla experimented with a number of different configurations consisting of two, or sometimes three, coupled resonant electric circuits.  continue.. Who Invented the Tesla Coil?   The Tesla coil is one of Nikola Tesla's most famous inventions. It is essentially a high-frequency air-core transformer. It takes the output from a 120vAC to several kilovolt transformer & driver circuit and steps it up to an extremely high voltage. Voltages can get to be well above 1,000,000 volts and are discharged in the form of electrical arcs. Tesla himself got arcs up to 100,000,000 volts, but I don't think that has been duplicated by anybody else. Tesla coils are unique in the fact that they create extremely powerful electrical fields. Large coils have been ...

What is Inverter Technology?   What is inverter technology? Is inverter technology for me? If you are a consumer that wants to save energy, money on your electricity bills and make the environment a better place then inverter technology is the right choice for you. Most people tend to turn off their air conditioner units at the wrong time just to save on their electricity bill. The previous, is completely understandable considering the economic events we are going through in today’s world.  continue.. How Inverter Works in Airconditioner?   An inverter in an air conditioner is used to control the speed of the compressor motor to allow continuously regulated temperature. By contrast, traditional air conditioners regulate temperature by using a compressor that is periodically either working at maximum capacity or switched off entirely. Inverter-equipped air conditioners have a variable-frequency drive that incorporates an adjustable electrical invert...

What is Induction Cooking?   Induction cooking uses induction heating to directly heat a cooking vessel, as opposed to using heat transfer from electrical coils or burning gas as with a traditional cooking stove. To be used on an induction cooktop, a cooking vessel must be made of a ferromagnetic metal, or placed on an interface disk which enables non-induction cookware to be used on induction surface. In an induction cooker, a coil of copper wire is placed underneath the cooking pot. An alternating electric current flows through the coil, which produces an oscillating magnetic field. This field induces an electric current in the pot. Current flowing in the metal pot produces resistive heating which heats the food. While the current is large, it is produced by a low voltage. continue.. Advantage and Disadvantages of Induction Cooker   To serious cooks, the most important favorable point about induction cookers--given that they are as or more "powerful" at heating...

AC Power Plugs Definition   AC power plugs and sockets are devices for removably connecting electrically operated devices to the power supply. Electrical plugs and sockets differ by country in voltage and current rating, shape, size and type of connectors. The types used in each country are set by national standards. Generally the plug is the movable connector attached to an electrically operated device's power cord, and the socket is a fixture on equipment or a building structure. Plugs have male circuit contacts, while sockets have female contacts. The plug has protruding prongs, blades, or pins that fit into matching slots or holes in the socket. A wall-mounted socket is also called a receptacle, outlet, or power point. It is enclosed by a cover variously called a wall plate, face plate, outlet cover,socket cover, or wall cover.  continue.. Basic Types of Electrical Plugs   When using a grounding adapter, always attach the U-shaped piece of metal on the adapte...

What is Nanorobotics?   Nanorobotics is the emerging technology field creating machines or robots whose components are at or close to the scale of a nanometer (10−9 meters). More specifically, nanorobotics refers to the nanotechnology engineering discipline of designing and building nanorobots, with devices ranging in size from 0.1-10 micrometers and constructed of nanoscale or molecular components. The names nanobots, nanoids, nanites, nanomachines or nanomites have also been used to describe these devices currently under research and development. continue.. How Nanobots will work?   In this article, we'll learn about the potential applications of nanorobots, the various ways nanorobots will navigate and move through our bodies, the tools they will use to heal patients, the progress teams around the world have made so far and what theorists see in the future. In the next section, we'll learn about the conditions and diseases nanorobots will treat in the future. conti...

Electric Fruits Project   The purpose of this project was to find out which fruit would generate enough electricity to light a light bulb and to discover which fruit would light the bulb the longest. To conduct my experiments I used a Multimeter, copper and zinc wires & electrodes, alligator clips with leads, various light bulbs and five types of fruits. continue.. Why Do Citrus Fruits Produce Electricity?   In order to generate electricity, there must be a power source and a complete circuit. When using a citrus fruit to create electricity, these rules still apply. In a simple experiment using a citrus fruit, the components of the circuit include: a lemon or other fruit, wire, two different metal elements and a small light bulb. The lemon in this circuit serves as the battery and power source. continue.. Fruit Power Project   Purpose To demonstrate how an electrical current can be generated using citrus fruits (such as lemons or li...

What is Electricity?   Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire. In addition, electricity encompasses less familiar concepts such as the electromagnetic field and electromagnetic induction. continue.. Who First Discovered Electricity?   The history of electricity goes back more than two thousand years, to the time the Ancient Greeks discovered that rubbing fur on amber caused an attraction between the two. By the 17th century, many electricity-related discoveries had been made, such as the invention of an early electrostatic generator, the differentiation between positive and negative currents, and the classification of materials as conductors or insulators. In the year 1600, English physician William Gilbert conned the term electric, from the Greek...

Who is Heinrich Rudolf Hertz?   Heinrich Rudolf Hertz (February 22, 1857 – January 1, 1894) was a German physicist who clarified and expanded the electromagnetic theory of light that had been put forth by Maxwell. He was the first to conclusively prove[1] the existence of electromagnetic waves by engineering instruments to transmit and receive radio pulses using experimental procedures that ruled out all other known wireless phenomena. continue.. Heinrich Rudolf Hertz as an Inventor   His name also became the term used for radio and electrical frequencies: hertz (Hz), as in kilohertz (kHz) or megahertz (MHz). The hertz designation has been an official part of the international metric system since 1933. Before Hertz gained professorships in Karlsruhe and Bonn, he had studied under the famous scientist Hermann von Helmholtz in Bonn, and it was Helmholtz who encouraged Hertz to attempt to win the science prize that led to some of Hertz's most important discoveries. From 1885 ...

What is a Compact Fluorescent Lamp?   A compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), also called compact fluorescent light, energy-saving light, and compact fluorescent tube, is a fluorescent lamp designed to replace an incandescent lamp; some types fit into light fixtures formerly used for incandescent lamps. The lamps use a tube which is curved or folded to fit into the space of an incandescent bulb, and a compact electronic ballast in the base of the lamp. continue.. Basic Facts of a Compact Fluorescent Lamp   A compact fluorescent lamp will initially cost more than an incandescent bulb, but because it lasts longer and costs so much less to run, it will prove to be a better bargain over time.  Just keep in mind that light bulbs cost much more to run than to buy in the first place. continue.. History of Compact Fluorescent Lamp   Edmund Germer, Friedrich Meyer, and Hans Spanner then patented a high pressure vapor lamp in 1927. George Inman later teamed with Gen...

What is an Optical Fiber?   An optical fiber (or optical fibre) is a flexible, transparent fiber made of a pure glass (silica) not much wider than a human hair. It functions as a waveguide, or "light pipe", to transmit light between the two ends of the fiber.[1] The field of applied science and engineering concerned with the design and application of optical fibers is known as fiber optics. Optical fibers are widely used in fiber-optic communications, which permits transmission over longer distances and at higher bandwidths (data rates) than other forms of communication. Fibers are used instead of metal wires because signals travel along them with less loss and are also immune to electromagnetic interference. continue.. History of Fiber Optics?   Optical communication systems date back two centuries, to the "optical telegraph" that French engineer Claude Chappe invented in the 1790s. His system was a series of semaphores mounted on towers, where human operators ...

What is AMR?   Automatic meter reading, or AMR, is the technology of automatically collecting consumption, diagnostic, and status data from water meter or energy metering devices (gas, electric) and transferring that data to a central database for billing, troubleshooting, and analyzing. This technology mainly saves utility providers the expense of periodic trips to each physical location to read a meter. Another advantage is that billing can be based on near real-time consumption rather than on estimates based on past or predicted consumption. This timely information coupled with analysis can help both utility providers and customers better control the use and production of electric energy, gas usage, or water consumption.  continue.. About AMR Technology   The Automated Meter Reading (AMR) system consists of small, low-power radio transmitters connected to individual water meters that send daily readings to a network of rooftop receivers throughout the city.  I...

What is Lighting a.k.a Illumination?   Lighting or illumination is the deliberate application of light to achieve some practical or aesthetic effect. Lighting includes the use of both artificial light sources such as lamps and light fixtures, as well as natural illumination by capturing daylight. Daylighting (using windows, skylights, or light shelves) is often used as the main source of light during daytime in buildings. This can save energy compared with artificial lighting, which represents a major component of energy consumption in buildings. Without proper design, energy can be wasted by using too much light, or using out-dated technology. Proper lighting can enhance task performance, improve the appearance of an area, and have positive psychological effects on occupants. One of the core tenets of proper lighting is uniform illumination, which is required in many applications such as projection displays, LCD backlights, medical lighting, microscopy, solid-state lighting, and ...

What is an Arc Flash?   Arc flash temperatures can reach or exceed 35,000 F at the arc terminals. The massive energy released in the fault rapidly vaporizes the metal conductors involved, blasting molten metal and expanding plasma outward with extreme force. A typical arc flash incident can be inconsequential but could conceivably easily produce a more severe explosion (see calculation below). The result of the violent event can cause destruction of equipment involved, fire, and injury not only to the worker but also to nearby people. continue.. Where does Arc Flash come from?   Arc Flash is the result of a rapid release of energy due to an arcing fault between a phase bus bar and another phase bus bar, neutral or a ground. During an arc fault the air is the conductor. Arc faults are generally limited to systems where the bus voltage is in excess of 120 volts. Lower voltage levels normally will not sustain an arc. An arc fault is similar to the arc obtained during electri...

What is the basic definition of a Surge?   A surge is a sudden gust of something or a very sudden and dramatic increase. (noun). To surge is to quickly and suddenly move as part of a crowd, to increase rapidly and suddenly, or to cause someone to feel sudden and powerful emotions. (verb) continue.. What is a Surge Protector?   A surge protector (or surge suppressor) is an appliance designed to protect electrical devices from voltage spikes. A surge protector attempts to limit the voltage supplied to an electric device by either blocking or by shorting to ground any unwanted voltages above a safe threshold. This article primarily discusses specifications and components relevant to the type of protector that diverts (shorts) a voltage spike to ground; however, there is some coverage of other methods. continue.. How does a Surge Protector Works?   When you put together a computer system, one piece of standard equipment you'll probably buy is a surge protector. Most desi...

How is a Plane Protected from Lightning?   Most aircraft do not fly into lightning storms, or fly through storms or areas where lightning is likely to be present. What we see as lightning is really a massive flood of electrons seeking equilibrium, either from cloud-cloud or from cloud-ground. In both cases, huge amounts of electric charge build up at the edges of the cloud. The electricity finds it's way from one place to the other via what's called a "step leader". continue.. Lightning Strike Protection for Carbon Fiber Aircraft   Lightning strikes on transport aircraft happen periodically depending on many parameters including atmospheric conditions and operational characteristics of the airplane. Most recent nacelle fleet history, circa 2002-2005, has shown that lightning strike damage has occurred more frequently on shorter mission commercial aircraft equipped with composite panels than prior configurations of nacelle panels. It should be...

What is a Ground (electricity)?   Electrical circuits may be connected to ground (earth) for several reasons. In mains powered equipment, exposed metal parts are connected to ground to prevent contact with a dangerous voltage if electrical insulation fails. Connections to ground limit the build-up of static electricity when handling flammable products or when repairing electronic devices. In some telegraph and power transmission circuits, the earth itself can be used as one conductor of the circuit, saving the cost of installing a separate return conductor. continue.. How Electrical Grounding Works   Grounding, Electrical, the connecting of electrical equipment and wiring systems to the earth by a wire or other conductor The primary purpose of grounding is to reduce the risk of serious electric shock from current leaking into uninsulated metal parts of an appliance, power tool, or other electrical device. In a properly grounded system, such leaking current (called fault cu...