Safety Guidelines for Electricity

Electricity is one of the greatest inventions, which has dramatically changed our life style. It is our best friend and always at our command. But at the same time it has to be handled carefully. It can also be dangerous to life and can cause injuries or property damage or both. Hence it is essential to take all precautions in proper use of electrical equipment. You are requested to : Treat all circuits as LIVE until they are confirmed to be DEAD, after testing. Use fuse wire of the correct size and capacity without a joint. Place a main switch that is easily accessible for turning off the supply in case of an emergency. Ensure that fuses are installed only on the phase wires. Use E.L.C.B. (Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker) with the main switch for added personal safety. Allow only qualified persons / licensed electricians to carry out electrical repairs. Preferably use ISI marked / certified electrical appliances / equipment / materials. Use electrical cables and equipment of adequate capacity and proper insulation. Ensure that all appliances / equipment are provided with a 3-pin plug and socket. Ensure outer metal parts of the appliances / equipment are effectively earthed. Always use only an insulated wire for Neutral. Always use a separate wire for Earthing. Pull out the supply end first while removing a fuse and put in the supply end in the last while inserting it. Before replacing a lamp ensure that the supply is turned off. Ensure that earthing to electrical installations be done with a copper wire / plate / rod and make sure there are no paint or insulating materials on the earthing terminal. Use an adequate capacity extension box for plugging in more than one equipment. Use only one plug in a socket. Turn off the supply immediately in case of a short circuit / fire in or near electrical appliances. Use only CO2 or Dry Chemical Powder extinguishers for dousing electrical fire. Always wear dry rubber footwear / gloves while handling electrical appliances. Also stand on a rubber mat / dry wooden plank. Turn off the supply immediately in case of an electrical accident. Insulate yourself on a dry board / insulating material before removing the person in contact with the live part. Immediately call for a doctor and continue to give artificial respiration till medical assistance arrives. Educate children on the dangers of mishandling electrical connections, equipment and appliances. Cover the holes of sockets which are not in use, easily reachable by children.

Electricity is one of the greatest inventions, which has dramatically changed our life style. It is our best friend and always at our command. But at the same time it has to be handled carefully. It can also be dangerous to life and can cause injuries or property damage or both. Hence it is essential to take all precautions in proper use of electrical equipment. You are requested not to: Make any temporary joints in the wiring, especially without proper insulation. Insert wires directly into the plug socket without a matching plug pin, even if only on a temporary basis. Use any appliances without proper earthing. Install a fuse on the neutral circuit. Overload the wires by using multiple appliances from a single plug socket. Replace a fuse unless the fault is detected and rectified. Provide a higher size fuse wire than the prescribed size. Touch a bare wire, i.e. without insulation. It may be LIVE. Allow water to enter your electrical appliances while cleaning them. Pull on the wire to remove a plug from the socket. Use wet hands to turn ON or turn OFF a switch. Plug in any appliances when the switch is ON. Touch a person who is in contact with a live circuit. Turn ON a switch unless the plug is completely inserted. Use water for extinguishing fires caused due to electricity or in the vicinity of electrical equipment. Allow children to play with sockets, plugs, wires and other electrical appliances.

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Optimize Energy Consumption and Maintenance of Air Conditioner

Optimize Energy Consumption of Air Conditioner

Air conditioner has become a common appliance for homes as well as offices as a means of comfort. But it can contribute to as high as 50% of your total Energy Consumption. If the Air Conditioner is old, inefficient or poorly maintained, it becomes an Energy Guzzler.

With summer round the corner, this volume of “Save Power” brings you the tips ranging from installation of the Air Conditioner to its proper operation and maintenance. It also gives you insight on how to choose an Air Conditioner while you are making a purchase.

Care to be taken during Air Conditioner Installation

• Allow adequate space for the installation, maintenance, and repairs of AC system.

• Place the condensing unit in a shady spot, which can reduce your air conditioning costs by 1% to 2%.

• Get the installation done by authorised professional personnel observing manufacturer’s instructions Right Sizing is the key As rule of thumb a room requires about 10,000 BTU/hour for every 500 sq. feet of floor space.

However, the requirement of air conditioning capacity varies as per:

• Size and orientation of the space.

• The shade on windows, walls, and roof i.e. the heating of the space.

• INsulation of the rooms.

• Number of occupants and appliances in the roomIt is very important to buy a right sized unit as.

• If the unit is oversized

o it costs more to buy a larger air conditione.

o the larger-than-necessary air conditioner cycles on and off more frequently, reducing its efficiency and life.

o a larger unit consumes more electricity.

• If the unit is undersized

o It may not cool to desired temperature on hotter days.

oThe unit will keep on running continuously to achieve the preset temperature,affecting it’s life .

Operating Tips

• Use fan in stead of Air Conditioners whenever possible. They use much less energy.

• Make use of fans to supplement Air Conditioning. It allows you to raise the thermostat temperature resulting in lower energy consumption.

• Do not set temperature setting too low. 24oC to 25oC is comfortable for human body.

• Lowering the temperature by every single degree costs you additional power. You can save 3% to 5% energy for each degree set above 22 oC.

• Keep the room doors, windows and vents tightly shut when Air Conditioner is running, to prevent leakage of cooled air.

• Check the Air Conditioner settings. Make sure the ‘fresh air’ vent is closed. So that the cooled air does not escape the room. Open this vent once everyday for fresh air intake.

• Draw the curtains and drapes of the room during summer months to prevent solar heat gain

Maintenance of Air Conditioner

• Clean the Air Conditioner Filter every month. Unclean, cloggy filters block the normal air flow resulting in lower efficiency.

• Air Conditioner Condenser should be cleaned periodically. Use of professional help through Annual Performance Contract can be effective.

• Recycle or recharge the air conditioner refrigerant every few years by seeking professional help. This increases the air conditioner performance.

• If your Air Conditioner is not giving desired output, consider replacing it with a new Energy Efficient Air Conditioner.

Intend to buy or replace your Air Conditioner?

• Choose the right size air conditioner as per your needs• Look for the energy efficient BEE Star Labeled Air conditioner. More the stars in Red, more the EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) and lesser the energy consumption.

• By paying a bit more initially you can enjoy lower operating costs. Ahigher star Air Conditioner will pay for itself in few years compared toa non-star Air Conditioner.

• To find more about Energy Efficient air conditioner fitting your requirements please visit the website of Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) at http://www.bee-india.nic.in/