Driving For the Handicapped

By Janet Nicol

Driving a handicap vehicle instead of being the passenger is the difference between being dependent on others for transportation and being independent. Having a handicap vehicle means choosing where and when you want to go to the store, to work or just out for the fun of it. There is nothing a person in a wheelchair wants more than to be self-sufficient and treated like everyone else, not reliant on another person for help.

Handicap vehicles can be used by paraplegics, people with spinal chord injuries, severe arthritics and anyone with limited use of their legs.

Cars with an automatic transmission can be modified into handicap vehicles by having either permanently installed hand controls or portable hand controls. Both kinds of hand controls have advantages. A car or van with permanent controls can be driven by anyone. The driver simply chooses whether or not to use the hand controls. The pedals function as they normally would.

Portable Hand Controls are easy to add and remove from a car or van and fit most vehicles with an automatic transmission. This means that you are stuck in one car. Almost any car can be a handicap vehicle. What if you need to borrow a car, or better yet, rent one while on vacation? You have the portable equipment you need. There is no waiting for installation. A few minutes and you are ready to go.

A handicap vehicle often has other special controls . Handicap accessible vans and/or minivans are available from Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Honda, Toyota and others. These specially outfitted handicap vehicles can be customized to include lowered floors, raised roofs, wheelchair lifts or ramps, tie-downs, and transfer seats . Wheelchair entry can be made on either the side or the back of the van. They can be custom made to your specifications, according to your ability. Choose more power features and remote control items if needed. Some of these features of handicap vehicles include parking brakes that are controlled by a switch and electric wheelchair locking systems. Different steering systems according to need are hand control, foot controls and joystick steering.

There is a new development from Hungary, a small electric handicap vehicle. It is called the Kenguru. This unique design holds only one person in a manual wheelchair. There are no seats. The driver simply rolls in through the large rear hatch, his wheelchair locks in place, and off he goes driving with a joystick steering system. The Kenguru can reach speeds up to 40 miles per hour and costs about $13,000. This is great uplifting news for people looking for a handicap vehicle!

Daily life can be tough at times. Having a handicap vehicle brings freedom and life becomes much more enjoyable.

Janet Nicol writes about everyday obstacles and solutions for people who are in a wheelchair. For more information go to http://www.upandrolling.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janet_Nicol

Stair Lifts and Residential Elevators

By Jai Gaitonde

Stair lifts and residential elevators ensure safe and reliable floor-to-floor transportation in a residential environment. Though considered luxury items earlier, these accessibility devices have now become essential items with the increasing number of multistory buildings.

Make Your Entire Home Accessible through Stair Lifts

Stair lifts allow easy access to all parts of your residence, and are especially useful for physically challenged and aged individuals. Stair lifts move smoothly along the rails of the staircases. They can be conveniently folded when not in use, which allows the stairs to be used by other family members. Both AC and DC operated stair lifts can be bought. Lifts that function with batteries can operate even during power outages. The obstruction sensors in stair lifts are safety features that stop the equipment on sensing any impediment on its path. At present, stair lifts are available in different models fitting any kind of stairway -- curved or straight.

Residential Elevators - An Ideal Option in Multistoried Buildings

Residential elevators are designed focusing on the safety and comfort of the users, and most of these devices are provided with advanced features. Most of them are available with in-car phones and safety interlocks. Residential elevators can be installed in your homes causing minimum disturbance to your living space. Available in different models and types, residential elevators have good weight carrying capacity too. Elevators meant for residential use can be utilized for long term purposes and are budget-friendly.

Choose the Right Provider

Bruno, ThyssenKrupp, Savaria Concord and Federal are the popular manufacturers supplying some of the well known models such as Electra-Ride Elite, Stair Glide, Citia stair lifts and Volant Gearless, Prolift SCL, Renaissance elevators. Whether you have a straight staircase or a curved one with steep angles, you can choose an appropriate one from the variety of stairlifts that are available in the industry. Decide on a product that is ensured warranty as well as excellent installation and maintenance services.

DAY Elevator and Lift is a leading supplier of stairlifts and residential elevators in the Tri State area. We also provide wheelchair lifts in addition to these residential accessibility products.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jai_Gaitonde

Do You Have A Serpentine Belt? What's That?

By Tommy Sessions

Do you have a serpentine belt that drives everything on the front of your engine?

A serpentine belt is the long belt with all the little *notches* on the underside.

It goes around the crankshaft pulley, the power steering pulley, the alternator pulley, the air conditioner pulley, and the water pump pulley.

Whew!

It will probably have an idler and most definitely has a tensioner.

The tensioner does just what it says.

It is what keeps tension on the belt, to keep it tight.

You don't have to loosen any bolts and pry anything to tighten this belt!

It is a good idea to check this belt often.

It is also a good idea to change it after about two or three years.

After all, if it brakes, or slips and eats all the teeth off, you will be running on the battery.

• The alternator will not work.

• You won't have power steering.

• The air conditioner will stop cooling (if it’s winter time, who cares?).

But, worst of all, your water pump will stop working!

The engine will heat up so fast you won't know what's happening!

Check the belt often.

While you are checking the belt, how about taking a look at the pulleys?

Especially the idler and the tensioner pulley.

• The best way to check these pulleys is to remove the belt and rotate them with your finger.

• If you hear a *roaring* noise, replace it.

• If the pulley has a *roughness* about it as you turn it, replace it.

Ok, so you want to take the belt off and inspect it.

How do you get the thing off?

On the tensioner there is a hole, well, not really a hole, but a square hole.

It will either be a 3/8" or 1/2" slot.

Some have a bolt head from 1/2" to 3/4".

And then, there are exceptions: as you look at the tensioner you will be able to tell what YOU have.

Put the appropriate tool on the bolt head, or inside the slot, and pull up on the tool.

If that isn't the proper way, push down. :-)

Either way, you have to get the tensioner to move off the belt so you can take the belt off one of the pulleys.

I usually have better luck removing it from the alternator.

Either way, once you have it off one of the pulleys, you can release the tensioner and then the belt can be removed.

Pay VERY close attention, before you remove the belt, as to the way it is laced around all the pulleys.

It takes less than 5 minutes to remove this belt...but it can take 5 hours to get it back on correctly...make a drawing or study the diagram.

Some, and most, vehicles have a diagram of the belt directions placed somewhere under the hood.

May be on the bottom of the hood, or on one side of the vehicle inner fenders.

Usually it is in a place that makes it almost impossible for you to look at it as you are trying to replace the belt. :-)

If either of the pulleys have to be replaced it's no big deal.

Just remove the bolt, or bolts, holding them onto the engine.

Replace them the same way.

Now, on the tensioner, there is a little peg on the back side.

Align it with the hole in the block...it's there so you can get the tensioner back on right.

Replace the belt, and that's it...nothin' to it!

Oh, was your diagram lable stuck on up-side-down? :-(

You did a good job, though; and I knew you could. :-)

Tommy Sessions has been in auto repair since 1970. He publishes Auto Repair Answers Newsletter so you can learn how to keep your vehicle looking new, running safely and efficiently, while you save money and time...also, learn how to avoid shop rip offs. Don't be at the mercy of the dealerships and auto repair shops...they will have more respect for you.
http://www.auto-repair-answers.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tommy_Sessions

Dual Voltage Ionic Flat Iron - Discussion

By Oliver Turner

Today many hair straighteners are available with dual voltage, which has the most advanced and the latest technology. All top brands like, Sedu, Chi, T3, GHD, Babyliss, Solano and Solia manufacture dual voltage ionic flat iron. Some of the dual voltage ionic flat irons are:

Metropolis Tourmaline Dual Voltage Travel Flat Iron

This Metropolis Tourmaline Dual Voltage Travel Flat Iron has the maximum portability. Hence is the most preferred one, for those who are always on the move. As this flat iron is made of tourmaline which is one of the precious stones, is supposed to be the major source of ionic energy, which is required to keep your hair healthier. It gives more negative ions which is like diet and exercise for your hair. It has retractable plates. It has superior quality and has a warranty for 10 years.

Solia Universal Dual Voltage Ceramic Flat Iron

The Solia Universal Dual Voltage Ceramic Flat Iron is the only flat iron which is designed in such a way that it can be used in the car also. All you need is a twelve voltage car adapter. It has a variable temperature control. It has a dynamic alignment system which makes the heat distribution even and helps to give a perfect contact between the plates and the hair. The Solia universal dual voltage ceramic flat iron has a ceramic heater with auto sense technology, which can provide instant and even heat. It also generates the infra-red and negative ions which is required to keep the hair healthy.

There are many more dual voltage ionic flat irons which are manufactured by different companies, and are widely used. These dual voltage hair straighteners or irons can be used with AC 110 volts in North America, and 220-240 volts in Asia, Australia and Europe.

Find more about Dual voltage ionic flat irons from experts on http://www.LeanderNet.com/Flat_irons/Flat_irons.php

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Oliver_Turner

Secret Cleaning Techniques from a Retired Detailer; Lipstick, Ink and Shoe Polish Stain Removal

By Lance Winslow

So you have found this page searching on the Internet and wish to figure out a way to remove Lipstick Stains from car seats. I bet a certain former president wishes he could go back in time and remove all traces of any lipstick stains from anywhere? Why are lipstick stains so hard to get off. Not that you are trying to get rid of candy cane strips on anything that personal. But when it comes to fabric, it can be a real challenge as you well know. What does lipstick contain? Well the basics are simple enough;

"Dyes and oil-like substances"

is the easy answer. The more involved answer can be better said by the experts in the Cosmetic Industry. Here is what they told us, don't quote me on it and you may want to think twice next time you are kissing someone or something that is wearing Tangerine Lipstick or lipgloss: Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Octydodecanol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Tocopheryl Acetate, Quaternium-18 Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Silica, Isopropylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben. May Contain: Mica Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Blue 1 Lake, Red 6 Lake, Red 7 Lake, Red 27 Lake, Yellow 5. Yuk !!!! And you can see why the chemists in the auto detailing, on-site detailing industry have tough time with it. Any dermatologist will tell you this is bad news;

http://www.med.nagoya-u.ac.jp/Environderm/...vol8/81-601.htm

Now then you have this on the car seat of a customers car. Why? Well they did not kiss the seat, their purse fell over and spilled out and the cap popped off and it was a hot day and the lipstick melted onto and into the fabric on the seat. Now it is your problem as a member of the Car Washing and Professional Detailing Industry. So what do you do?

First we recommend using a plastic razor blade and scrapping as much as you can first. Then you need a quick dry solvent, we choose lighter fluid, it evaporates fast and dissolves quickly with little odor. If you have no plastic razor blades use a business card to scrape it. If you fold the business card in half it works best. This way you get a double edge close shave and can scrape most of the lipstick off first. Many high-end car manufacturers like Audi, Porsche, BMW, Cadillac, Volvo, Mercedes recommend their own brands of cleaners for interiors, which are generally made up of Powder to Suds cleaners. Well let us warn you that your wonderful intentions will not work on Lipstick. So you can kiss that idea good bye. If you find a fabric is somewhat faded you may wish to dab the solvent or put it on the corner of a towel first, not paper towel, use terry cloth. Then pat the stain gently and see if it is removing the stain without taking away the coloring.

By the way this will also work on Afghanistan Shoe Polish Sandwich stains on the seats of their cars. Shoe polish sandwich is a way that the locals can get an alcoholic buzz, by putting BLACK (only) shoe polish on a piece of bread letting it soak through filtering out the alcohol to get high. The bread is then discarded into a local Humvee owned by the US Forces. The black shoe polish when it gets hot melts into the vehicle, Great!!! But remember back shoe polish can leak when taken to altitude on a salesman's road trip on the back seats or in the trunk. We once cleaned it from a golf bag when the operator of the car forgot to take it to his locker at the Local Country Club, it leaked all over his favorite golf bad, Loud golfing shirt, wild socks and interior truck area. We were able to get it out of the trunk and off the golf bag for a handsome tip.

Felt markers also can leave stains and these procedures will work well on them too. Best of luck, you are starting to become a great Professional Detailer.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

Solar Power - Renewable Energy - Make it at Home!

By Mickey Brundege

I know, you are going to say something like:

What? Solar Power is something that only people (or companies) with a lot of money and resources can do, I'm not one of those!

Let us take a look at Home Solar Power.

Valuable resources (electricity, Gas, Oil, etc.) are being used at an increasing rate, day by day. Your energy bills are going up at least every year. Depending on your utility company, it might be going up more frequently than that!

Our technology-based lifestyles require a certain amount of energy - I know you have been trying to cut back (I know I have) on your needs, however, there is still a basic level you need to maintain.

And, yes, a lot of companies and, indeed, entire industries are converting to a more Renewable, Green Solar Power systems every year for their basic needs.

What does that tell us?

1. Solar Power works!

2. Solar Power MUST be cost effective for these 'bottom-Line' executives to make the effort.

3. Solar Power must be efficient to use!

4. Solar Power must be fairly maintenance-free. (after installation)

5. Solar Power IS emission-Free.

6. Solar Power IS silent so it respects the communities they work in.

Isn't all of that something you would want to get in on?

You can; fairly Simply, relatively inexpensively (less than $200 US) AND, as we will get into, you can Do It Yourself!

So, how does a Solar Power system work?

Solar Panels convert sunlight (TOTALLY Renewable for the foreseeable future) into electrical energy. The term photovoltaic is applied to these long-life panels to describe what happens to them when they do all the converting of sunlight into something that you can use.

These Solar Panels are connected, together, in a 'Solar Array' to capture as much energy as possible. This, of course is affected by position, direction (which should be South, by the way), presence of shade, etc., etc.

This system is then sent to an Inverter. This converts the 12 volt direct current that you have produced to the 120 AC current that you need to run your home.

Within this system, there is the ability to store unused energy and/or do something else with it that is VERY interesting and I'll go into that in just a few more paragraphs

"Mickey, this all sounds real complicated!"

When you drive your car, do you HAVE to know how everything works to get you down the road?

If something goes wrong with your car and you have a very good step-by-step manual you can fix it, can't you?

A home Solar Power system is less complicated than a car.

And think about the benefits of being able to provide your own Solar Power to your family:

• Independence from the Utility company!

• Your Environmental Foot Print is reduced.

• Selling your excess energy to the Electric company!

• And, by building this Home Solar Power system yourself, you get the benefit of doing it yourself based on a very well researched, and applied, detailed Step-By-Step instruction guide with videos!

You can pride yourself on this accomplishment.

I don't want to gloss over item #3.

Without going into the possible tax credits and rebates, that are addressed, most municipalities require the utility companies to purchase all excess energy produced by their customers! You could be living Green AND get a check!

You need to strongly consider looking at a program that will have you producing your own Clean, Green, Renewable energy within the week for less than what you would think.

Thank You for your time.

Mickey Brundege lives in the Beautiful Pacific Northwest with his bride of 25 years. He has run a Recycling Business, worked in sales/bookeeping for a Typewriter & Calculator co. He is very interested in the environment as he believes everyone should be.

For additional information addressed by this article go to http://solarpowerformyhome.info

You will have access to Step-By-Step instructions as well as videos to help you every step of the way.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mickey_Brundege

Moving Song Ideas

By Al Keser

You have a cross-country moving trip planned. You will spend perhaps around 2 weeks of your month-long trip around the USA in your car. You need an express solution to pass the time: good music. Or you might go crazy. Before your trip across the USA, first of all, make sure you have all the necessary items to an enjoyable music listening experience:

An MP3 player with long battery life.

A device to car stereo hook-up.

The below songs.

In need of energy. There will be those times when you just got on the road at 5 in the morning and you need that song that you may have heard way too many times, but will get you going. When you are moving across the USA and you stay at that little motel across the express way, you will most likely come to depend on these songs to keep you on the road. And at the end of a long drive, you will most likely need the same songs.

Moby, Lift Me Up

Bon Jovi, It's my life

AC/DC, you shook me all night long

Lenny Kravitz, Fly Away

Tom Cochrane, Life is a Highway

New Order, Blue Monday

General Elektriks, Tu m'intrigues

Rihanna, Drive

Feel-good songs. These songs are those you put on when you just get started on your moving trip across the USA and want to have music going in the background that is motivating for such a long trip. You are about to travel a long distance and need some songs that will give you some positive energy and keep your heart pumping blood to your head in case you fall asleep at the wheel after waking up so early.

Bill Withers, Use Me

MGMT, Electric Feel

Coldplay, Viva la Vida

Paul Anka, Smells Like Teen Spirit

Joe Cocker, Woman to Woman

Herbie Hancock, Cantaloupe Island

Nelly Furtado, Say It Right

Nikka Costa, Like a Feather

The Kinks, All Day and All of the Night

Miss Fairchild, Vanilla Place

Sing-along songs. Imagine you are halfway across the USA already and your moving trip has taken a toll on your conversation topics. You have little to talk about, but are in good spirits. It's time for some good songs that you can sing to and perhaps express how you felt about the music and remember times in the past when that song came on etc.

Bob Marley, Buffalo soldier

Alanis Morrisette, Ironic

Eric Clapton, Layla

Beatles, Day Tripper

Rod Stewart, Maggie May

Daniel Bedingfield, Gotta Get Through This (Acoustic)

Lynyrd Skynyrd, Sweet Home Alabama

Stealers Wheel, Stuck in the Middle With You

Road-rage songs. These are the songs you'll need as you enter major thoroughfares of USA express moving routes. Big cities mean wild drivers. If you are in a moving van or truck, you will need some of these songs that will keep you motivated and tough against any aggressive drivers who may be playing rough.

Nine Inch Nails, Only

Grits, Ooh Ahh

The Smashing Pumpkins, Bullet With Butterfly Wings

Johnny Cash, Personal Jesus

Make-you-think songs. These songs are for the calm after the storm. You are cruising in the plains of Kansas or over-looking a Rocky Mountain valley and want some food for thought. Here you go:

Tracy Chapman, Fast car

Beirut, Nantes

Sting, Fields of Gold

Frou, Let Go

Red Hot Chili Peppers, Road Trippin'

Incubus, Drive

Pete Yorn, Every Fallen in Love

The Postal Service, Brand New Colony

Jarabe de Palo, Bonito

Al Keser is an international traveler who has gone from home to home, moving and ending up in the USA. He feels that most people in the USA express moving anxiety because they are too sedentary.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Al_Keser

Dynamometer History - A Timeline of Innovation

By Lauren Peters

Dynamometers have been a part of performance measurement since the days when the presence of horsepower was usually accompanied by four hooves and a tail. This versatile tool is applied around the world, as companies like Taylor Dynamometer build on past innovations with new breakthroughs in data gathering and system control technology.

• 1828 Gaspard de Prony invented the de Prony Brake, one of the earliest dynamometers
• 1838 Charles Babbage, known to historians as the Father of the Computer, introduces a dynamometer car to measure the pulling power of English railroad locomotives
• 1877 William Froude of Great Britain invents the first hydraulic dynamometer, with the first commercial models produced in 1881
• 1921 Professor E.V. Collins of Iowa State College develops a draft horse dynamometer, used to measure a horse's capability to pull the era's heavy metal farm implements
• 1930 Using designs pioneered through a collaboration with Rudolph Diesel, John Taylor forms the Taylor Dynamometer and Machine Company to produce engine dynamometers
• 1931 Martin and Anthony Winther introduce the first eddy current dynamometer

Throughout the past seven decades of continued dynamometer development, Taylor has maintained its status as a leader in advancing power measurement technology. Contact us to learn about the latest developments in dynamometers and engine diagnostics, or to inquire about a specific dyno product or application.

How Dynamometers Work

All dynamometers perform the same essential function, measuring the torque, rotational speed and power output of a combustion engine, electric motor or other power source. While the outcome is the same, many technologies are used to achieve the desired result.

Two Main Types

Most dynamometers can be placed within two distinct categories. Engine dynamometers are designed for coupling directly to the driveshaft of an engine under test, and chassis dynamometers measure the power output of a drive train by using rollers turned by the tires of a vehicle under test. In addition to the two traditional types, Taylor offers a line of portable dynamometers that attach directly to the flywheel of an engine. This allows accurate measurement of engine output without removal of an engine from its drive train.

A Variety of Designs

The work of handling and measuring input power is performed by instruments with a variety of different designs:

• Eddy current dynamometers present a measurable resistant force to engines under test by harnessing the magnetic flux between fixed and rotating electromagnets spun by the engine under test.

• A variant of the eddy current design, powder dynamometers create flux through the application of a fine magnetic powder between the rotor and coil

• Electric motor/generator types are a variation on the adjustable speed drive, using solid state components rather than the physical relationship between electromagnets to create measurable power transfer

• Fan, hydraulic and water brakes use air, water or hydraulic fluid to deliver physical resistance to the power applied by an engine or motor under test. The amount of resulting force absorbed by the fluid is measured to provide an indication of the power applied to the system

The best resource for details on dynamometer function and application is a Taylor Dynamometer application specialist. Contact us for full details on putting the latest in dynamometer technology to work in your application.

Eddy Current Dynamometer History

The story of the eddy current dynamometer is a tale of two Danish boys from Wisconsin, growing up in a time when innovations required an inquiring mind and a machine shop rather than a supercomputer and a doctoral degree. Martin Phillip Winther arrived at Ellis Island, New York in 1892 from his native Denmark. The family ultimately settled in Kenosha Wisconsin, where Martin and his American-born brother Anthony began their working lives as laborers at the Jeffry Company, makers of the Rambler automobile. At Jeffry, the brothers were involved in the engineering of a four-wheel-drive truck, which led them to break away and found the Winther Motor and Truck Company in 1917. While Winther Motor and Truck made several types of motor vehicles (including light trucks, fire engines and a sporty automobile) the firm's chief product was innovation. Beginning around 1920, Martin and Anthony Winther were granted patents for almost 300 mechanical devices. These included the first successful air conditioning system for Pullman railroad cars, a four-wheel-drive post hole digger for AT&T, the first induction coupling, a magnetic clutch, a cycle-car, variable-speed transmission gears, as well as a giant press drive, brakes and couplings for the oil field industry.

Although prolific, only one of the Winther brothers' inventions proved to have lasting impact. They are chiefly known for the invention of the eddy current dynamometer, a type of high speed, high power dynamometer capable of far surpassing the products then available in terms of power handling capability. The eddy current dyno was able to turn fast enough to test the turbine engines used in aircraft, wind tunnels and high speed automobiles of the day. The eddy current dynamometer was the chief product of the Dynamatic Corporation, founded by the Winthers in 1932. The firm was successful for many years both before and after the brothers sold their interest to Eaton Corporation in 1946. Variations on the eddy current design still serve as the basis for dynamometers today. The designs continued use is a testament to the ingenuity of two men who never rose above the eighth grade in formal education, yet parlayed their considerable on-the-job insight into a lasting legacy of technical achievement.

Engine Dynamometer Systems, Accessories, Controls and Software
Comprehensive Services including: Water brake, AC, Eddy Current, Towing dynamometer systems
Use this interactive questionnaire to assist you in choosing the dynamometer that is right for your unique situation!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lauren_Peters

Breast Pumps - Brand Comparison

By Bruce D Hunter

Given below are some of the popular brands of breast pumps and their features, along with approximate price comparison. These brands are not listed according to any particular order or ranking. Users can select from among them, according to their needs and budget.

All the listed devices are electrically operated and come with AC adaptors. They also come accompanied by tote bags with insulation and freezing gel pouches. They are both single and double pumps, are portable and contain detachable accessories which can be washed in a dishwasher. However, most manufacturers recommend hand washing to improve longevity of the parts.

Avent breast pumps come in various models such as the IQ Isis Uno and IQ Isis Duo twin electronic. The latter also converts to a trigger type manual pump to work in situations when you cannot access power. It provides an adjustable cycle and vacuum to closely mimic your baby's suckling, and enables you to choose a combination most comfortable for you. It has a single button control and works with Avent VIA containers. Although, it comes in one breast shield size (24mm), the massaging petals can be removed to accommodate up to 27mm. It weighs 11lbs, has 8 washable parts and costs about $350.

Playtex Embrace has an additional car adapter to use when you are travelling. This also has 5 vacuum settings and a cycle settings, with a closed system pump. The breast shields are soft and tunnels extra large. It is compatible with all Playtex nursers and storage kits. Weighing 9lbs, it has 8 washable parts and is available at about $220.

Ameda Purely Yours is a convenient lightweight pump weighing only about 1 lb (pump only). It is operated by 6AA batteries. Its vacuum settings can be adjusted to 8 levels, and cycling speeds have 4 options. Ameda breast shields in various sizes and car adaptor must be bought separately. With 8 washable parts, only the pump costs about $149. The entire set with car adaptor and backpack comes at $220.

Visit CORE online to get free access to more information and resources on comparing Avent Breast Pumps.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bruce_D_Hunter

The Future of Submarine Games

By Neal Stevens

In the last six months, the demise of sims has been pronounced in abundance. Print mags and sim webzines have been telling you sims are being cancelled left and right Jane's A-10: Cancelled. Wolfpack II: Cancelled. Silent Steel II: MIA. M1Tank Platoon 3: Cancelled. Fighting Steel Deluxe: Cancelled. Jane's Attack Squadron: MIA. Thunder Over Europe: MIA. The list goes on.

We all know that this is a down cycle for sims and we believe there is hope that in a couple of years, things will turn around and sims will be hot stuff again. Hey, I remember in 1973 when the EPA and OPEC throttled the life out of the muscle car scene. I had a 1970 Cobra Torino that had 450 hp and ran the quarter in the high 13s. In less than three years every car out of Detroit was a smog controlled, gas economizing slug. They even started making them as ugly as they were slow! It was heartbreaking.

But over time, things change. Now you can get a high performance machine that handles and has luxuries like front/rear AC. My '99 Riviera has a supercharged V-6 that would make my old Torino proud.

So, keep the faith. Things will improve, even if no one knows when. Silent Hunter II and Destroyer Command are showing signs of life. Harpoon 4 is still under development. There are stirrings from the Sonalysts camp.

When a new subsim does hit the shore, try to remember, the developers and game producers are our friends. They make the kind of games we like because they like them too. Why would they labor over armor thickness tables, ship model physics, and torpedo trajectories for a niche market? I know a few developers and they all love the genre.

Try to keep your criticism balanced. Should you blast a sim you had trouble with or didn't enjoy with all the invective and animosity you would normally reserve for someone who stole your car or used your toothbrush? I was told by one producer that high-level executives frequently ask him about hard-core negative postings on newsgroups and forums. The industry sees us as demanding, unappreciative, and impossible to satisfy. It's much easier and more lucrative to crank out Deer Hunter and Barbie games and their users rarely flame the game company to a crisp.

I work with a CPA accountant who likes computer games and is pretty good at them. He can play a mean Age of Empires warrior. I tried to interest him in learning Jane's 688(I) for some multiplay. He took one look at the hefty manual and waved it off. He assumed he would need to learn all the material to play competitive. The blessing and the curse of a good sim is its complexity. You want to command a battle fleet or do TMA on a Los Angeles class submarine? You need to learn skills and study. And this restricts the popularity of the sim. Mass market games generally do not carry the steep learning curve a sim does. So while we hard core sim players are delighting in the minutia of seven different stations and all their controls, casual gamers are passing up the sim at a 20 to 1 ratio. Sims truly are a niche market.

Niche market games have limited budgets. This mean a small number of programmers and artists must concentrate on the basics. Don't expect to see everything you want and imagine in a sim. Oh yeah, I'm with you--I wish a subsim could have full motion crews and other fun stuff. But as one producer told me, "We don't have the money to design and integrate these features into the product. I wish we could, too."

We should be finding out the status of Silent Hunter II soon. Either Mattel Interactive is going to sign someone to complete it or it will be canned. I went through the "we are planning to do this" stage with the fabled Jane's Ice Pack add-on for 688(I), Crusader Studios' Akula: Red Hunter, Silent Steel 2, and the interoperability between Jane's Fleet Command and 688(I). I'm not passing judgment here, just stating that when the momentum dies, so does the objective. For whatever reasons, the product champions behind those sims were unable to secure the financing to start work. To get a better feel for the whole process, read my friend John Sponauer's analysis of the life and death of a sim, M1 Tank Platoon 2, from its early development as an upgrade all the way through its last couple of weeks.

Despite my previous experiences with other sim companies, I am optimistic that Carl Norman and Rick Martinez mean what they say and SSI will continue to raise the banner of the Digital Combat Series while the Jane's, NovaLogics, and Microproses around them fall like unfortunate tin soldiers. This is not to say SH2 is a done deal--that moment will come when you hold the box in your hand. We look to the next rumored subsim as our best hope for advanced underwater warfare. All we can do is stay positive, supportive, and if it's decent, buy four copies when it comes out.

About The Author

Neal Stevens is the editor of Subsim.com and contributing author of the coffee table book United States Submarines.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Neal_Stevens

Air Conditioning Throughout History

By Kristin Kronstain

It's hard to imagine a modern world without air conditioning. There would be no refrigerators to store food, so grocery shopping almost every day would become necessary. An icebox would only keep food good for 2-3 days, so there would always be a higher risk of food poisoning. Skyscrapers would certainly not be very comfortable places in which to work. Many people living in hotter climates like Phoenix, Arizona would not be able to stand the 100-degree heat and probably would have to move up north, at least during the summer months. People with asthma and migraines would have a hard time living in Washington DC, where they need clean indoor air quality to escape the airborne impurities.

There hasn't always been air conditioning available, especially not to those who were less than wealthy. How was air conditioning ever invented? Was there any way to cool a home before electric air conditioning? There is a rich history behind the evolution of air conditioning and it spans more than just the last century, making the modern comforts we enjoy today possible.

Cooling as Done By the Ancients

Using machinery to cool the air has been a recent technology, but cooling homes has been done throughout history. During the time when the Roman Empire dominated Western culture, wealthier Romans enjoyed cooled homes in the summer months. They used aqueducts, or channels, that moved water from one part of the house to another. Full-scale aqueducts would send drinking water to all parts of the city, but used within a home, these aqueducts evaporated air as it moved and could cool the rooms.

The Romans weren't the only ones in the world working on the development of cooling technology. The Chinese were inventing rotary fans powered by water to provide air movement within a building. The Persians would dig large cisterns, or pools, in their courtyards. When this water evaporated, it cooled the surrounding area. These may seem like rudimentary methods now, but they were effective means for providing relief during seasons of intense heat.

The Beginning of Air Conditioning as We Know It

Michael Faraday, a British chemist and physicist, discovered how to use machinery to provide air conditioning in 1820. By compressing and liquefying ammonia, the air that evaporated from the liquid would be cooler than the normal air temperature. These principles were used early on to produce ice in large quantities. In the 1830s, a physician named John Gorrie adapted this principle and used a fan to blow over a bucket of ice, producing cooler air for those confined to the hospital.

In order to cool printing plants, which were made extremely hot by the intense machinery and equipment, the first electric air conditioner was made in 1902 by Willis Haviland Carrier. By lowering the temperature in the factory, this cooling system saved paper from being warped as it was being printed on. He called it, "The Apparatus for Treating Air." Stuart Cramer patented the term "air conditioning" in 1906 when he used Carrier's cooling system to condition yarn as it was being used in the textile plants.

From the beginning, electric air conditioners could be quite dangerous because of the chemicals they utilized. The initial designs for electric air conditioners used ammonia and propane. In 1928, scientists began using Freon as a refrigerant because the chemical was found to be much less dangerous to people. With these modifications, people were using air conditioning systems in their cars by the 1940s.

Continuing Advances in Air Conditioning Technology

As time went on, it became more and more apparent that Freon, though not as dangerous to people as ammonia, was quite harmful to the environment. In 1987, the United Nations issued the Montreal Protocol to make known the harmful qualities of chlorofluorocarbons. The US abandoned the use of CFCs entirely in 1995 after finding alternative chemicals that did not emit CFCs. New technologies are being developed all the time to save the environment, improve the efficiency of the equipment, and improve air quality all at the same time.

Today, technicians can go to school to develop their education around HVAC technologies and take courses to see how the designs have changed throughout history. Air conditioning diplomas are useful tools for a career in the thriving HVAC industry.

Don't forget, the space suits that Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin wore as they walked on the moon utilized principles of air conditioning in order to cool them. Many great achievements in the last century have been made possible with the advancement of air conditioning and refrigeration technologies. Imagine where we will be in another hundred years.

The Refrigeration School, Inc trains heating, ventilation, and air conditioning technicians in the repair and maintenance of the varied HVAC technologies. They offer flexible class schedules and hands-on training to allow you to learn just what you need to advance in the field. Enroll today to begin the secure career you've always wanted. The Refrigeration School, Inc. is located in the heart of Phoenix, AZ with surrounding areas including Tempe, Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, and Scottsdale, Arizona.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristin_Kronstain

James Bond Cars - The Coachman Recreational Vehicle

By Jeff Glasser

As seen on the silver screen, every man loves the James Bond cars. Fully loaded with gadgets and features any guy would wish he could have with his car, though he might get arrested for it. But what car could any fan not see the legendary British agent in? By far an RV, though with the special features a Coachman recreational vehicle has, it might not be such a far stretch.

Features to Tickle Fancy

A Coachman recreational vehicle has many specialties, including a utility panel that helps drivers winterize their vehicle to a specially angled dashboard for increased driving vision. Even an air conditioning unit that is made for maximum cooling is installed in every Coachman recreational vehicle. Is that not enough to peak interest? There's plenty more to discuss. They certainly weren't trying to turn away any business they might receive.

Having a very large storage space, even with shelves is another feature is called Stow-N-Go. There is the children first feature that includes two spaces for child seats that have 3 point anchoring. For a growing family this definitely comes in handy. For their Coachman recreational vehicle a buyer can even order color coded electrical wiring. This would make it a lot easier to get out of an electrical fix in the middle of that great vacation site with no one around.

Coachman also utilizes an aluminum frame for each of its vehicles. The bargain here is that a Coachman recreational vehicle is very safe because of its strong skeleton. The special tubing used for anti corrosion is one of the more comical features. This may sound funny, but it is also comes in handy, after all, who likes to clean up that kind of mess? The no-lip storage units under a Coachman recreational vehicle is the last great feature. For the real adventurous drivers they allow for easy storage of heavier objects and gear.

So maybe these features aren't quite what James Bond looks for in a car, but with that much quality, it might at least make it on the list. The nice thing about a Coachman recreational vehicle is that it comes with so many features and yet is still affordable. Basically, all these pluses are just part of the package, so customers can feel confident in their purchase. When looking for a top notch RV, Coachman makes customers shaken, not stirred.

Looking to buy an RV. Check out this excellent piece of writing, the Coachman Recreational Vehicle You just may have found your RV! To view more articles on recreational vehicles visit, http://rv.jsgenterprises.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Glasser

Avoiding Costly Auto Air Conditioning Repairs - Some Small Tips That Can Save You Cash!

By Steve Knowles

Auto air conditioning repair seems to be getting more and more difficult. There are a handful of individuals with the skill and know-how to take on this task but they seem to be a dying breed. Auto air conditioning is built in and around the engine of the car, so upkeep should be handled by a professional. For instance, do you know how much refrigerant does your car take? Auto air conditioning service and repair cannot be undertaken by just anyone, you need the right equipment and the knowledge to undertake such a repair. In some countries it is illegal to repair an air conditioning system even an auto A/C system has to be repaired by a licensed mechanic.

Automobile gas leak and the consequent resealing of the system. It has been observed, that a large percentage of older (4 years or older) cars, seem to have continual slow refrigerant leaking problems. Even when the leaks are identified and repaired, many are low on charge by the following summer. Leaks can be difficult to detect. Specialist equipment is necessary to find the leak and further equipment is needed to correctly recharge the system after repairs have been carried out.

Auto air conditioning repair is also one of the largest overcharged repairs on automobiles today. It is very common for repair bills to reach well over $1000. As you can see, there are some businesses that are taking advantage of consumers due to the specialist nature of the repair and the qualifications needed to do it properly. But do not despair there are honest repair technicians / businesses out there that will charge a fair price for the work carried out. Try to obtain quotes for the repair and do not make the mistake of settling for the first quote you receive.

Tip: During winter many motorists forget about their auto air conditioning because it isn't necessary to use it during those cold months. But did you know that using the air conditioning on the windscreen will clear any internal fogging very efficiently, and having the heater on at the same time stops you getting cold as well.

Tip: Using the auto air conditioner as noted above will also help to alleviate any need to re-gas the system. Why? Because an auto air conditioner compressor uses a seal on the drive shaft to keep the refrigerant from escaping. This seal works with the help of a thin film of oil, during winter the non use of the air conditioner allows the oil to dry up thus letting the refrigerant escape. The unknowing driver does not find out their system isn't functioning till summer arrives. Run your car air conditioner once every 2 weeks for a few minutes and you will have no problems or use it to defrost and defog your windscreen during winter.

Before you go and give your hard earned cash to some auto mechanic why not arm yourself with auto air conditioning tips to try and avoid such costly repairs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Knowles

Subaru Cars - 5 Must Know Performance Tips

By Ben O Connor

So you own a Subaru and want to know how to take care of it, or maybe you would like to own a Subaru. Well in this article you will find 5 tips on prolonging the life of your Subaru and improve its overall performance.

A Subaru is like any other car, (although true Subaru enthusiasts will say the opposite), and certain maintenance routines must be availed of to keep that baby ticking over. When you find that your Subaru is running sluggish or isn't performing as it should keep the following in mind as a checklist:

Fuel Lines: Insulate Them

Subaru cars, like any other cars, reach higher levels of engine power when the temperature of the fuel entering the combustion chamber is cool. By insulating the fuel line you are permitting more fuel and air to enter the combustion chamber. The easiest method of doing this is by using air conditioning or refrigerator insulation available from the hardware store.

Less Weight Means More Power

It may sound obvious but many people underestimate the value of loosing weight from Subaru cars. Before you go stripping down your Subaru of vital engine parts I suggest you start in the trunk where lots of useless items get dumped in over time. By doing so you are reducing the load your Subaru is carrying around and making a small saving on fuel over a longer period of time.

Oil Change

No rocket science here, just common sense. Many Subaru owners fail to change the engine oil when it's due and cause unnecessary engine wear. Ideally the oil should be changed in Subaru cars every 4,000 to 7,500 miles depending on how heavy your foot is on that pedal.

Air Filter Spotless

Okay maybe not spotless but reasonably clean. Take the air filter out whenever you look under the bonnet and clean out any dust or other foreign bodies that may have accumulated in the air filter. Ideally an air hose should be used when cleaning the air filter in Subaru cars.

Get That Gap Right

What am I talking about here? Spark plugs. Make sure the gap in the spark plugs is the correct spacing. This might seem like a small worry but could make a difference to the power you receive from your car. For the correct spacing just check the Subaru cars owners' manual.

I hope these 5 tips helped you out a little. For a more comprehensive guide on Subaru cars and how to get the most from them I suggest you read the Subaru Performance Handbook.

It includes a comprehensive range of subjects including; intake & exhaust systems, suspension, essential checks and more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ben_O_Connor

Why an Air Conditioned Car is Essential

By Michael J Lee

The wonderful climate of sunny Spain lends to people wanting and in some cases needing an air conditioned car hire. In some parts of Spain the climate is not always so good and air conditioning is not essential but just maybe preferred. In southern Spain temperatures in August can reach over 100 degrees and an air conditioned car hire is an absolute must.

Most of the cars in Spain have air conditioning as standard unlike British cars where it is sometimes an optional extra. If in doubt when ordering your car put in a specific request for air conditioning but as it's almost a standard item you should not encounter any problems.

Lots of cars may have a sun roof and / or sun blinds but these are no substitute for the luxury of having air conditioned car hire at your disposal and only serve to send hot air around the vehicle and not actually cool the inside of the car down.

A standard air conditioned saloon hire car is far more popular in Spain and hotter countries generally than a soft top car. If you have a soft top car it is more comfortable to keep the roof on with the air conditioning on than have the roof down and the hot sun beating down. Roof down and air conditioning on would not be effective.

When you are on a long journey in the hot weather and especially with children or babies on board we all know the importance of keeping them happy and comfortable. Without an air conditioned car a family outing could be very difficult and unpopular with everyone on board spoiling the day out all together.

Most air conditioning systems within the car have clearly marked controls on the dash board and can be operated with ease. Many can be set to automatic mode so that as soon as the engine is turned on the air conditioning system begins to work cooling the car down within minutes of you starting to drive and making your journey as comfortable as possible in the hot weather.

Fuel consumption is not affected to any great extent by the current air conditioning systems installed in modern cars. The effectiveness and cooling level of each system is dependent on the model of the car and the manufacturers design specifications but all do a good job in very hot weather. Once the temperature inside the car is sufficiently cool the temperature can be regulated manually. Again in some car you can set the air conditioning controls to automatic and they will go on and off as required.

So do not be surprised when you are driving through Spain to see all of your fellow drivers with all their windows closed enjoying the comfort of their air conditioned hire car.Wherever you decide to travel throughout Spain and how ever long your journey you can be assured that your journey will be comfortable with an air conditioned vehicle.

Air Conditioned Car Hire. One search to compare the best car hire companies online. With so many interesting places to discover a Car Hire Spain is the recommended and most cost effective transport option.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_J_Lee

New Police Siren Rumbles Drivers to Attention

By Shad Connelly

While jamming out to AC/DC or 50 Cent with the volume cranked, a driver may cruise for miles before taking a glimpse in the rearview mirror and seeing a police car with its sirens blaring. Fed up with the increase in driver delays, police departments are hoping to shake drivers to more immediate attention with a new invention called the Rumbler™.

Referred to as an "intersection clearing system", the Rumbler produces low-frequency tones that duplicate the sounds of a siren. But rather than just make a loud noise, these tones actually shake solid material - making drivers feel the sound waves from a police car's siren. The effects of the Rumbler can be felt up to 200 feet ahead of a police car, and inattentive drivers suddenly may notice their vehicles quaking or see their rearview mirrors quivering. Even if a driver can't hear a siren due to loud music, hearing impairment or general distraction, he or she will be quickly alerted to its presence. The Rumbler also gives drivers and pedestrians a better sense of where a siren is coming from, which they don't always get from their ears.

The company behind the Rumbler is Federal Signal, a leading supplier of audible and visual warning devices for police, fire, ambulance and other emergency vehicles. Compatible with most 100/200-watt emergency siren amplifiers, a complete Rumbler system consists of an amplifier, a timer, two subwoofers and vehicle-specific mounting hardware. When connected to a police car, the Rumbler senses the tone signal of the car's siren, produces a tone that is 75-percent lower in frequency and amplifies that tone through the pair of high-output woofers.

Federal Signal is quick to note that the system is meant to be an effective emergency backup and not simply used for routine traffic stops (unless necessary, of course). The device is ideal for use in urban areas that are crowded with traffic and/or pedestrian activity - like busy intersections (which is why they call it an "intersection clearing system"). It is also not meant to be used for long periods of time. The Rumbler automatically shuts off after 10 seconds, which Federal Signal claims should be more than enough time for a police car to clear out a congested area.

Currently, the Rumbler is being adopted by agencies on the East coast, particularly in larger cities with dense urban areas. Washington, D.C., now has 49 cars equipped with Rumblers, and expects all of their cars to incorporate the technology in the next four years. But smaller areas like Lower Allen Township in Pennsylvania (just outside of Harrisburg) are also trying out the new technology. With reasonable costs (around $350 to equip each police car), it's possible drivers could feel the rumble of a lot more sirens in the near future.

Shad Connelly, Executive Editor - Invention & Technology News (http://news.inventhelp.com) Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shad_Connelly

Three Things to Know About Using a Power Inverter

By Dan Hahn

The first thing you will need to know is what you are planning on running in this time of emergency. The fewer the items or the smaller the amperage, the smaller or least costly inverter will be needed. I will give a table of items and their average power uses below followed by a simple formula that will give you an idea of the size of inverter you will need.
Stackable Washer/Dryer: 2500 Watts

Electric Chain Saw: 1700 Watts

Electric Circular Saw: 1600 Watts

Full Sized Microwave Oven: 1400 Watts

Chest Freezer: 1200 Watts

Mini Microwaves: 1000 Watts

1/3 inch HP Submersible Pump: 920 Watts

Reciprocating Saw: 720 Watts

1/2 inch Reversible Drill: 620 Watts

Coffee Maker: 600 Watts

Portable Vacuum: 525 Watts

Electric Garden Tools: 475 Watts

10 Speed Blender: 450 Watts

Orbital Sander: 400 Watts

Home Stereo: 350 Watts

3/8 inch Variable Speed Drill: 320 Watts

20 inch TV/VCR Combo: 300 Watts

12 inch Three Speed Fan:200 Watts

Computer/Printer/Fax: 150 Watts

Quartz Halogen Spotlight: 100 Watts

Mini Stereo/CD Player: 50 Watts

Laptop Computer/8 inch TV: 38-45 Watts

Cell Phone/Camcorder Charger: 10 Watts

14 Volt Cordless Drill Charger: 8 Watts

If the appliance you are planning on using is listed in watts, just go ahead and use that number. If it is listed in amps you just need to use this simple formula: volts (120) X amps (listed on device) = watts. This will give you the amount of watts the appliance will be using. So if you had a 3 amp appliance, and you wanted to find the watts, the formula would be: 120 (volts) X 3 (amps) = 360 watts.

You would then total all of the watts that you will be using and come up with a number. Lets say your total watts usage is 500 watts. If that's the case it would be a good idea to get a 750 watt inverter. Always get a larger size than what you think you will need, it may come in handy.

Your next step will be to determine where your power supply is going to come from. If it is for emergency purposes there is a very good chance that it will be coming from a battery hooked up to your vehicle, or you may be a little better prepared and have a bank of batteries hooked up in a parallel fashion. Since most people reading this are probably unfamiliar with creating a battery bank I will just cover running the inverter from the vehicle. The main thing to know is what type of battery you will be using. It is suggested that you have a deep cycle battery or those that are used for trolling motors or golf carts and that you get as many amp hours as your budget allows. A few years back I was able to go 11 days using a 750w inverter and a 120amp hour deep cycle battery attached to my car. I had to run the car for 10 minutes every 2 hours to run everything that I had hooked up which was a laptop, 13" color tv, direct tv receiver, modem for the laptop, 40w light, and a small box fan. That doesn't sound like much, but I thought I was staying at the Ritz Carlton compared to most of my neighbors.

The last thing you need to know is how long will your power supply (battery) last before it needs recharging. First you will need to know the wattage of all the appliances. Lets say we have 480 total watts of power being used, and we are running our inverter off of a 12 volt battery attached to the car. Next we have to convert this number so that we know how many amps are being used. We do this by taking the watts (480) and dividing it by 12 (volts of the battery) and come up with 40 amps. The formula is: watts / volts = amps. If we have a 120 amp hour battery we would divide 120 (amp hours) by 40 (amps) and get 3 hours before the battery is dead. It is recommended not to drain a battery below 50% of its capacity so you may want to divide the 3 hour in half giving you 1 1/2 hour before starting the car up to recharge the battery.

I hope this helped you determine what you will need in case of an emergency where you will lose power for an extended period. for more information go to http://inverterssavegas.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Hahn

Using a Digital Multimeter

By Jason Miller

A digital multimeter is one the most versatile and useful instruments in your auto shop. It is important to own a good model and understand how to use it properly. A digital multimeter is actually three devices in one. It is a voltmeter that measure electrical potential across a device in volts. It is an ammeter that measures the amount of electric current through a device. This is measured in amps. Finally, a digital multimeter is an ohmmeter that measures electrical resistance of a device. Electrical resistance is measured in ohms.

Today, modern digital multimeters are designed to be rugged and easy to operate. A good multimeter will have a rugged plastic case and large, easy to use selector knobs. The top part contains the digital read out screen. This is something you should thoroughly check out before you purchase one. Make sure the screen is large enough to read it and make sure you see the readout in sunlight. Chances are you will be using this instrument outside in direct sunlight.

Below the digital readout is a large knob called the function switch. The function switch allows you to change the modes the digital multimeter operates in. For example, you can easily change from voltmeter to ammeter to ohmmeter with the turn of the dial. Again make sure the function switch is large and easy to operate. Most function switches have approximately eight positions. Most have three V markings that measure voltage. They measure AC, DC and low voltage currents in the millivolt range. Next there will be two positions marked with A~ and A=. The A~ measures AC current in amps and the A= measures DC current in amps. The upside down horseshoe Ω measures resistance in ohms.

In order to measure voltage, first turn on the digital multimeter and let it go through its startup procedure. Generally the digital readout lights up and the unit goes through its self diagnostic checkout. Once that is completed you are ready to measure volts. Now turn the function switch to V= to measure DC volts. Now you will need to connect the red and black leads to the digital multimeter. Connect the red lead to the red input terminal labeled VΩ and connect the black lead to the terminal labeled COM for common terminal. Now you can measure volts by putting the red lead on the terminal with the higher potential and the black lead on the lower one.

To measure amps, the leads must be connected in a different fashion. First set the function switch to A= position. Connect the black lead to the COM terminal. Now you must connect the red lead to the terminal labeled 300mA. Now you are ready to connect the meter in series the device being measured by opening up the circuit and inserting the meter between the open points. The results will be in milliamps because you are using the 300mA terminal.

The third feature of a digital multimeter is its ability to measure to Ohms. Ohms is a measurement of resistance in an electrical circuit. First disconnect all wiring and power sources from the device being measured. Now turn the function switch to the Ω position and connect your leads. The red lead is connected to the terminal labeled VΩ and the black terminal connects to the COM terminal. The display will indicate OL. This is normal and means there is an overload. Now connect the leads across the device to measure the Ohms.

These are the basic functions of a digital multimeter. Remember to shut off your multimeter before storing it back in the your toolbox. You do not want a drained battery the next time you will need it. There are several good brands on the market today. Fluke digital multimeters are probably the most popular and you won’t go wrong with one.

Jason is the webmaster for Red Hill Supply - digital multimeter

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Miller

BMW Body Kits

By Kalin Staikov

One of the most popular things about BMW today is their body kits. BMW have the biggest range of variety when comes to these cool aftermarket solutions. Of course every manufacturing process is all about the market and its needs. And today the market is growing allowing body kits to take larger place in it. This is mainly because of the nature of the drivers who drive BMW cars. They are driving enthusiasts who will most likely modify their car to fit every need they feel. For these men driving is a passion, an act of freedom where they could be themselves and live the way they want to.

When the high speed on the highway turn someone on he will soon need more than that and this is the normal process for every enthusiastic driver. But what could come next after buying the car of his dreams? Well - he could tune it up to cover his needs, to meet himself.

Is that enthusiastic driver you? If you feel the need of speed in the autobahn and the adrenaline is rushing into you when you just think about it - this article is for you. It will show you what is cool on the road and what could let you put your car into your own style.

Usually the design of a BMW car is not good enough. It is cool and everyone likes it but it is not good enough for everyone who feels the need to be different. And what could be more natural than this? We are different after all.

That's why BMW M cars came with pretty innovative look and design. They made easy for many aftermarket manufacturers to adapt to this new look and provide even better solutions. BMW M3 body kit became the most popular one for every BMW 3 series owners.

Now it is time to dive in the different BMW series and what is available for them. BMW 3 series is the first I will cover and there we will see many solutions starting with the fender and ending with the wing. When picking up a body kit you should first choose if you want to pick every element by yourself or you want to pick a whole body kit that is already made. For BMW 3 series you could pick for example the 4DR E46 M3 which comes with these elements: M3 Style Front Bumper (102057) R-1 Rear Bumper (102062) and R-1 Side Skirts (102451). I know that they may not mean anything to you only with these names but you could check them out on every catalog and see if you like every one of them. Keep in mind that you could change something and there is no need to pick a whole body kit if you don't really like everything in it.

For BMW 5 series or any other things are pretty much the same. There are many solutions and it's up to you to make the idea of what you want and pick it up. One cool solution here is E60 AC-S which looks really stylish in silver.

When you finally choose the body kit you want there are few things you should know. The first thing is that you could install it yourself. Yes, this could be done pretty easy but it may not be such a great idea. Due to some different tolerances of BMW 3 Series you may face a few difficulties which could be easily overcome by a professional. That's why I suggest that you take you car to a service where the body kit could be replaced and prepared for use. There is some tweaking to be made there too. It should fit perfectly in order for you to be fine with it.

You should know that the body kit comes unpainted. This is right for front bumper, rear bumper, side skirt, and fenders - they all will come to you unpainted. This is done in order for a perfect color to be kept after you install the body kit and paint the whole body of your car. Of course this is where the professional comes into play. Finally when you get the perfect color matching you could proceed further.

You should know that Carbon Fiber Hoods could be a good solution. They fit perfectly on BMW 3 series and they are very lightweight which reduce the overall weight of you vehicle.

Now let me give you a tip. It is about shipping. If you buy your body kit from the net or any other catalog that requires the body kit to be shipped to you keep in mind that there should be an insurance provided. This will guarantee that the body kit comes to you intact. If it is damaged the insurance will need to pay for it.

Since you are in the car when you drive there are many important things that should be taken care of too and they are inside the vehicle. Many people make the mistake to think about only the look from the outside and when they come into the car they don't feel the comfort they paid for. The interior is very important. It should not only make you happy when you watch it. It should keep you safe. That's why some quick release hubs could help you disconnect your steering wheel in seconds as a security measure.

Every component you touch should feel solid and ready for race. Everything you need should be within reach and easily manageable. I know that all this sounds a little unimportant but I am sure you will evaluate it with time.

The seat you are using should support you during the ride. It should be tested by you before you buy it. It should not only feel comfortable but it should also manage to keep your body at ease and after a long day on the road you should feel less fatigue.

Shift knobs are also important. They are not only adding some visual appearance to you interior. By adding some weigh on shifter you could feel it better and the response will be good.

More information on BMW Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kalin_Staikov

Why Do Alternators Fail?

By Khalid Mustaffa

Every car charging system consists of at least a battery and an alternator. The alternator generates the electricity needed for the electrical components in the car to run. This is by charging the battery. When it comes to the alternators, they have a reputation of being strong and rugged. But they still break you may wonder. Well, yes they do, and if you are interested to know the reasons then you are reading the perfect article.

The primary reasons for alternator breakdowns are excessive heat, overwork, and overload. This is why you should be very careful when jump starting a car. Simply, you may accidentally cross the jumper cables, which is not tolerable by the alternator. Furthermore, if the battery cables are disconnected while the engine is running, the alternator won’t like it either, and may collapse.
Before deciding to dislocate the alternator, and taking it to a service shop to test it, you may consider buying a voltmeter for fewer than five dollars, drive the car for a day or two while constantly monitoring the voltage reading. So long the meter reads above 12 volts then the alternator is doing what it is supposed to do. Now it may drop during idle, buts that normal, just make sure that it is reading well above 12 when driving.

On a concluding point, alternators can also partially fail, where the converter of AC (alternating current) to DC (direct current) fails. Now the reason I said partially is because each alternator has more than one converter or diode, and in case one fails the rest would still work, however the overall result may not be sufficient to keep the voltage efficient at idle and low speeds. For more information about selling your car, check out the Why Do Alternators Fail

© Copyright - 2007 Khalid R. Mustaffa The owner of cars in Houston A website dedicated to serve the needs of Houston Used Cars

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AC Cars - Pre WW2 - History

By Andy Webbed

Two brothers, the Wellers, produced a 20HP touring car for the 1903 Crystal Palace motor show, with further ideas to produce more advanced versions of the 20hp. Deterred from the plan and guided by their funder, Portwine, to produce a more economical three wheeled vehicle, named the Auto Carrier. A year after producing their original 20HP car, the new Auto Carrier went into production and became a big success. The company also changed named during these times, now named Autocars And Accessories, and three years later embarked on a new passenger version of the Auto Carrier. The successful business renamed again in 1911, now become Auto Carriers Ltd, using the AC logo on production cars.

Now with the company located in Surrey, the company produced a two seater car with four wheels. Like most car producers, the company had to cease production due to the onset of World War One, switching production to military means. Shells and fuses were produced at the factory for use in the war, and Auto Carriers were also responsible for the designing of a vehicle for the British government war office.

Expanding its premises post World War One into the Thames Ditton High Street factory, AC began a run of very successful cars. A testament to the Weller brothers design skills, the six cylinder engine which was designed by John when on production and ran for a total of 44 years. A turbulent era began at Auto Carriers, when Selwyn Edge bough a share in the company, instantly taking a dislike to both Weller and the person who has funded the company from its birth, Portwine. After Portwine left the company it had changed names again to AC Cars Ltd, with Selwyn Edge purchasing all of the company shares for one hundred and thirty five thousand pounds. Changing the company name once more to AC Ltd, Selwyn Edge had appeared to have purchased a company which sales where declining at an alarming rate, and was about to get caught up in the economic storm which rained down in late twenties, resulting in the company going into liquidation.

After the company had been put into liquidation after the 29 market crash, the company was bought by the Hurlock family. Although the premises were now used as a warehouse due to the family being in the haulage trade, a car produced for William Hurlock saw him give the thumbs up for the production of a limited number of automobiles with the stock left over at the premises. With a new transmission and chassis supplied for car production, a new range was produced in limited supply, until the production had to cease in 1940 due to the onset of World War Two.

Classic Cars For Sale has AC cars for sale, and more AC Car information. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andy_Webbed

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Emergence of Rahul Gandhi in Indian Politics

By Dr Suvrokamal Dutta

Lately Indian Politics is seeing the emergence of many young political leaders into the National Scene with Rahul Gandhi the son of Former Prime Minister Rajeev Gandhi taking the lead in it. Such a trend is not doubt a welcome development in Indian politics at least now India can hope to have some dynamism in its political scene based on some vision for social and economic development.

Coming of Rahul Gandhi into the center stage of Indian politics should also be viewed in such a context. Leaving aside the hype created by the Congress party of making Rahul Gandhi as the projected 2009 Prime Ministerial candidate one can at least hope a better and wider vision from the high profile technosavy western returned Mr. Gandhi for the Congress party as well as for India

Rahul Gandhi's projection by the Congress Party as its 2009 Prime Ministerial Candidate is somewhat far fetched as Mr. Gandhi in relation to Indian Politics is still a toddler he has to learn a lot about the complexities of the Indian political system and this can come only through some hard earned grass root level experience and by a long innings in Indian politics. However it is a welcome sign that Mr. Gandhi has finally taken the hard plunge

But then a lot depends on how Mr. Gandhi carries himself in the coming years in the Indian political scene. Now that Mr. Gandhi is gradually taking the center stage of the Congress party's politics a lot of responsibility depends on his shoulder .Whether the Congress party can deliver in the 2009 parliamentary election under his leadership is a big question which only the results of 2009 will tell. Taking a look into the recent Uttar Pradesh state assembly election in which Mr. Gandhi had taken a lead role such an expectations seems to be a Herculean task for Mr. Gandhi and Mr. Gandhi should be aware of it.

The Congress party is in a very weak wicket in the main states of the Hindi heartland of India. Its position is pathetic in the states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan which gives more then 150 seats in the Indian parliament. Mr. Gandhi has to toil a lot in all these states if the congress has to gain a respectable position in all these states. In the states of Jharkhand, Himchal, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir the party faces a lot of dissidence and Mr. Gandhi has to overcome this if the Congress party needs to do well in all these states. In the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala the party needs to work a lot to attain a respectable position In the state of Maharashtra the party has to finish once for all its problems with its alliance partner NCP if the party wants to perform well there. Now that Mr. Gandhi has come into the center stage of the party he needs to keep the above factors in mind.

In the state of West Bengal the party should tie up with the TMC of Mamta Banerjee if it wants to do well .Only then it can take the Communist head on in that state. In the North East India too the party should choose its alliance wherever it is weak. Mr. Gandhi also should keep in mind that India is in a era of collation politics as such the Congress under his guidance should be broad minded enough to give seats to its alliance partners looking into the ground realities well.

It would be advisable for Mr. Gandhi to be realist and judge the ground realities well and not get carried away by the hype of the party members. Mr. Gandhi should himself judge the ground realities well for which he should travel to the nook and corner of the country. Mix and interact with the poor and illiterate masses of the far flung areas and get the pulse of the people. Its time for him to know the ground realties well if he has to mature as a hard baked rough and tough politician of future India. Its time for him to come out of his marble palace and his AC car and discard the lap top and speak the language of the masses.

Rahul Gandhi should also keep in mind that 2009 is the real test for him and he has to deliver handsomely for his party if he has to sustain himself in Indian politics. He should keep in mind that 2009 is the semi final round for him and not the final round He should not dream about the post of Prime Minister Ship in 2009 .If he delivers in 2009 then there is no stopping of him becoming the Prime Minster of India in 2014 if the Congress party wins the election then. It is this reality which Mr. Gandhi should keep in mind.

Dr. Suvrokamal Dutta

The writer is renowned Foreign Affairs and Economic Expert and a Political Critic, Chairman Global Council for Peace and Convenor Debating India.

Contact: Email: sk_dutta70@yahoo.co.in, dutta007@hotmail.com

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Services For Moving Pets - The In And Out Of The Best Service Offered

By Abhishek Agarwal

Finally, after everything, the efforts taken for transporting your pet would be worth the life you would live after settling in your new home with it.

When you have to organize things calmly, preparation of a pet moving service is the most difficult thing to be done as indoor pets have not ventured anywhere outside except your backyards and will be the most difficult things to be moved. They have lived inside almost all the time and when packing, they will get stressed when they look at their couch or pillow being removed and so are their scratching post and placed inside a packing box. While packing, make sure they remain calm so that they do not get over stressed. Also remember the following tips when you have to move your pets using services.

Give proper license tags and proper identification for the area of relocation so that the animal does not become lost. All this is stored in a microchip and the chip's id is present on all the certificates. An implantation of the chips ISO 11785 or 11784 is to be done by the family veterinarian and if it's not available, the overnight express of animals will supply it to them at a price of 95$ USD to the veterinarian along with the shipping and handling costs. After the implantation, about two weeks blood test is taken so that the blood can be tested for antibodies that cause rabies in the pet.

Before leaving, visit the family veterinarian before a minimum of 6 months before you leave and obtain the animal's medical history's copy for the vet in the new country and also ensure that all data is proper right from rabies vaccinations to the usual worming details. The rabies shot process should be made on the day in which the chip is implanted and signed by your veterinarian in any color but black. A certificate of health signed by the veterinarian along with a certificate for rabies vaccination is two compulsory requirements while moving animals from one country to another. The certificate of health should say that your pet is in perfect health, wherein the rabies certificate should say where and when rabies shot was administered and if the shot is current. Most countries may even ask for pet travel certificate.

If the behavior of the animals change, it is indeed normal as they will sense something is not usual and that they are not in the least bit comfortable. Stress will set inside them when they sense that you are stressed. So stay calm in their presence while boarding or travelling. Most of the pet moving services forbid the use of sedatives, keeping in mind the after effects of sedatives on the animals. They prefer pre-moving and pre-flight conditioning of the pet. If it is a hyper active animal that you are travelling with, approach the vet and ask for the best way in which they can be moved, especially if they haven't travelled a lot before. Keeping them in a box in an ac car which has a throw over may help it while travelling and also if a family member sits and talks gently to it, it will be very helpful.

Any person will not need services for his pets until he has to move with it or they work for a pet moving service or if someone mentions it to him. When they know about it, they look for more information and type out "pet moving services" on their search tab and find millions of results, which shows that there are pet moving services, moving pets, pet transportation, cheap pet movers, professional pet transportation, moving with dogs, and so on. However, highest priority must be given to the safety of the animals and when it comes to moving; there are just two kinds of animals - first time traveler and experienced traveler.

Abhishek is a Relocation expert and he has got some great Relocation Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 70 Page Ebook, "Relocation Made Easy!" from his website http://www.Relocation-Guru.com/761/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.

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Learn How to Save on Rental Cars

By Tom Tessin

If you are deciding to go on a vacation, and do not want to get lost in the new city, which is usually possible, when you travel by train or bus, then consider traveling by rental autos.

At present, several firms offer cheap rental autos. These autos give you the flexibility of driving an automobile, while traveling outside the home. Moreover, by hiring the autos, you can easily cut down pricey taxi fares.

However, the task of fixing a deal with the auto rental firm can be confusing as well as expensive, particularly if you do not have a first hand knowledge about the same. Therefore, here are few tips to help you get the cheapest auto rental deal.

How to Save Money on Auto Rental?

Decide what type of automobile you need:

You need to decide whether you want to hire a bigger or smaller car. For that, consider as how many people are traveling with you. If there are many individuals, you need to consider big car and vice a versa. If there are more than ten members, then you may also hire a mini van. Moreover, if your place of visit is close to the lodge or hotel, you can opt for a non-ac car. While finalizing the auto, give priority to comfort as well as safety.

Make the booking in advance:

Always make the booking of rental autos in advance, probably two or three weeks before the commencement of your journey. If you are thinking to travel during vacation season, then booking well in advance will help you to save some dollars. The reason is most cheap rental auto firms increase their fees during peak seasons. In addition, always negotiate with the dealer before finalizing the deal.

You can reserve online:

Online auto rental firms offer best services. So, log onto the Internet and check out few credible car rental websites. Check their fees, services and offers and then make the reservation. Few websites may also give you more discount if you book air tickets and hire the car from the same website.

Some companies will give you discount, if you opt to make full payment in advance. However, while considering the latter option, check the credibility of the auto rental website. In addition, some firms will include fuel charges in the total fee, while some companies may ask you to pay for fuel separately.

Other tips:

Rental Insurance:

Some auto rental firms ask individuals to pay for insurance. If you already have car insurance, then avoid taking any new coverage. However, in case you do not have any insurance, you can consider paying for the coverage. Check the policy of these firms before signing the deal, because rental firms may use your insurance coverage to repair their autos in case of damage.

Inspect the rental autos:

Before driving the vehicle, inspect it thoroughly for any dents, scratches and damage. You need to make sure that odometer, directional signals, gas gauge and headlights are working properly.

Thus, hire rental autos and make the most of your trip without worrying to change transportation mediums frequently.

Tom Tessin is an author for FINDgascards.com that is geared toward people looking to save on gas with gas credit cards

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