Watch your wattage- buy an RCBO

Reducing the energy used by your house or office can save you money. Introducing dimmer switches or timing devices on lighting can save you a packet. The latest way to save money is the installation of an electric shower.  This is an economical way of washing, because the amount of water used is about a third of that used by having a bath. The shower only heats the correct amount of water so there will be no unused hot water. To ensure you are not electrocuted whilst showering, the electric shower is fitted with a form of circuit breaker called an RCBO. 

Circuit breakers are installed into our homes to give us protection from any electrical faults. 90 per cent of householders never bother to check if the circuit breakers within their appliances are correctly installed.

An RCBO is a residual circuit breaker with overload protection. It combines the functions of a main circuit breaker, with those of a residual-current device. This means your electrical circuit will be protected from damage by overload or short circuit, as well as protection from when the electrical current is not balanced between the energised conductor, and the return neutral conductor. The RCBO is to be installed into your breaker box, where a standard circuit breaker would be.

RCBO’s are designed to quickly cut-off the connection within the span of 40 milliseconds, but what causes a circuit breaker to trip. A circuit breaker if it is working properly, detects leakages through the earthing of the equipment. It is especially important for leakages to be detected within household equipment encased with a metal body. This means that within the appliance, an earth wire should be attached to the body of the equipment. 

Many DIY enthusiasts forgo this practice because they do not understand the dangers or consequences of such a mistake. If the earth wire is left disconnected, the equipment will work without any problems. If there is a leakage, the appliance will keep running and the exterior metal body will become electrified. Anyone who touches the appliance in this state will be electrocuted. If the earth wire is properly attached, the RCBO will detect there is a current present at the earth source which will trip the circuit, preventing any mishaps. 

Circuit overload can occur through lightening strikes, or more commonly loose connections within electrical appliances. Over many years of use, electrical connections can become loose. Once these terminals are loosened the contact points will heat up due to improper contact with one another. The appliance can get so hot that it will start to melt and a small fire will start. If this happens the RCBO will automatically cut off the supply. 

Make sure you purchase an RCBO when thinking about upgrading to an electric shower. Once the shower is installed, check that the RCBO has no voltage reading. Cut off the power before wiring it up and testing. Be sure to consult you instruction manual when testing.

The new practical Christmas stocking filler – the RCBO

Many may see an RCBO more for the use of an electrician or professional with the idea of it being a Christmas present as a joke. Think again. Firstly for all that do not know an RCB (or residual circuit breaker) and is a device that may very well save your life. Firstly, in case you get confused, this device is known also as a GFCI in the US and is RCBO in Europe (Residual Circuit Breaker Overload). 

The device can also be combined with over current protection to ensure increased safety. This can be in the same device and installed into the service panel as normal. 

RCBO’s monitor the electric current between a conductor that is energized and one that is neutral. This means that when there is an imbalance of power the RCBO will disconnect the link to ensure that serious harm is not caused. 

A current leakage could be the source of this imbalance and this can be done by an accidental touch of the energized part of the circuit by an unbeknown person who is grounded to the floor. 

It’s important to note however that an RCBO’s does not provide protection from an overload of power or a short circuit. This is a very specific but effective tool for protecting you from a potentially lethal shock.

An RCBO can be used to protect you in various situations. Hand held power tools, kitchen utensils such as kettles, frying pans, blenders etc. and even every day products like hair dryers can all be made safer using an RCBO meaning the risk can be greatly minimised should any of these have a power imbalance. 

This is a great device for safety and can be even more important when using electrical tools. If you for example are using a cutting tool and you accidentally cut through the wire you could cause serious and potentially fatal injuries to yourself. With an RCBO these potential injuries can be reduced and could very well save your life. 

It is very important to note before purchasing an RCBO that you should have a good prior knowledge with electrical wiring and be used to using this kind of equipment. For anyone who does not have this prior knowledge you should hire a professional to complete the installation as there are significant risks.

It also important that you maintain and test your RCBO’s regularly to ensure that it is running smoothly. This is very simple, all you need to do is press the test button (it should be marked with a “T”). This will cause the RCBO to disconnect, as it would in a real emergency situation. This should be done every three months to ensure that your device is working properly. 

Staying safe is very important to everyone in your household and an RCBO can be exactly what your home needs to maintain this. If you would like to know more about RCBO’s there are many site’s on the web where you can purchase them as well as get first hand expert advice if you have any doubts or concerns.

Practical presents – treat your other half to a new lighting system for the home

When trying to give your house a new and unique style one of the simplest and most effective methods of this is merely changing the lighting you use. It is a great way to surprise your partner with a new design that can help your home become more eco-friendly and more stylish in the process. 

New lighting is a great product for reducing the bills and maximising your energy consumption. You can always feel safe that you are saving as much as you can through your electricity bills. While doing this, modern day lighting can be very eco-friendly while providing a high quality of light. 20% of all electrical bills are from your use of lighting and so it’s very important that you get the most out of your lighting, with maximum efficiency. 

Being environmentally friendly is very important in modern day products such as lighting in ensuring that they are doing as much for the environment as possible. One product that is very beneficial in terms of new lighting is LED’s. LED’s are growing in their popularity and are a very practical and easy to afford present.

LED’s allow much high energy efficiency in your lighting as well as keeping the costs down on your lighting. Some LED’s can potentially last for up to 30 years with a clear sign as to how this can get your maintenance costs down. 

An alternative type of lighting to this is new technology lamps. Some companies offer a variety of lamps that can convey different colour shades and styles meaning you get all the benefits but with the style that you desire. These can be tailored for the use that you so desire with a wide variety of styles and types for various situations. 

The great thing is about lighting in modern day times is that despite the demand for products that are long lasting and eco-friendly there is also a vast array of styles and types that can fit anyone and everyone’s needs. 

Safety is very important for your new lighting too and replacing your lighting is the ideal method to improve you lighting safety. If you decide to get new lighting you can ensure that you are getting a product that has been tested vigorously through the new standards that companies have imposed. This in turn has ensured that the product life cycle of new lighting has now improved dramatically and in turn, buying new thorn lighting could be a great investment for the future. 

With all the various types of lighting that are available today it is clear that there is a lot of choice that offers a lot in terms of style, cost reduction and environmentally friendly. It can be a great gift this summer for you to surprise your partner with, couple new lighting with some stylish new decoration to get that look you have always dreamed of. 

With this in mind, it is a great time to buy some quality new lighting to spruce up the look of your home.

Christmas lighting- ten steps to stay safe

For many streets across Britain, Christmas lighting is a grand affair. If a street holds an annual Christmas lighting competition, it often leads to houses covered from porch to chimney pot in electrical lights of all colours. Here are a few things to remember to stay safe with all your electrical lighting this Christmas.

1. When purchasing any electrical lights, read and follow the manufacturer's instructions, and retain instructions for future reference.

2. Check that all Christmas lights are undamaged and do not have any loose wires exposed.

3. When replacing a bulb, always use the same bulb type and rating as those originally supplied with the lights. Any outdoor lighting should be connected through a 30mA RCD protected socket. An RCBO could also be fitted to provide added protection against an electric shock.

4. Replace any failed lamps immediately to prevent overheating. If the lamps are not replaceable, the whole lighting product may need to be replaced.

5. Any flammable decorations or other materials that burn easily should be kept away from all electrical lighting.

6. Switch off all lighting before you go to bed each night.

7. Keep the packaging for safe storage use. Avoid storage in damp or excessively hot conditions.

8. Never use electric lights outdoors, unless they are specially designed for such use.

9. Never overload sockets and try to avoid the use of extension leads or adaptors.

10. Never remove or insert lamps whilst the chain is connected to the supply.

If somebody does suffer an electric shock - always switch off the electricity supply before removing the casualty away from the danger if it is safe to do so. Contact the emergency services immediately. Check the location of your fuse box, so it can be reached quickly in case of an emergency. 

Christmas lights operate at either mains voltage (230 volts) or an extra low voltage. This information should be stated on the packaging. The safest Christmas lights operate at extra low voltage through a transformer, which will reduce the risk of electric shock if there is a leakage or a bulb breaks. 

The most common types of electric lights used for Christmas lights are traditional filament (incandescent) light bulbs, these use either mains voltage or extra low voltage.

 LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights are the safest form of Christmas lights. LEDs only operate at extra low voltage. They use much less power than traditional lights and produce less heat. A special plastic is used to make an LED light, which means there is no glass to break or flake.

 In 2009, a commission report was published revealing 30% of randomly tested Christmas lights failed basic safety checks. The main risks highlighted were from electric shocks and fire outbreaks. When purchasing any electrical lights, always go to a reputable dealer where basic standards should be assured.

Every year electric lighting helps transform a dull fir tree into a magical Christmas tree. If you take note of the tips and information, this should ensure the safety of you and your loved ones this Christmas.