Power lines can be brought down in a number of situations, including storms, trees, and motor vehicle accidents. Even if the power line does not come down, if it is in contact with a tree, vehicle, or mobile equipment, the ground will be energized and so will the tree, vehicle, or equipment. Therefore, if electrical contact is made, stay in the vehicle or mobile equipment if it is safe to do so. You are relatively safe inside your vehicle as long as you do not touch or step onto.
If escaping would be the only chance and help is not available, remember this advice in order for you to get out that vehicle safely: First and foremost, stay calm, panicking will make it worst. In any life threatening situations, people get killed by simply neglecting this very simple idea. Second, keep both feet together and hands by your side and make a short jump from your vehicle. As much as possible, do not touch any parts of the vehicles with your bare hand. Third, the goal is to ensure that your entire body clears the vehicle and that you land on your feet without stumbling. And lastly, do not allow any part of your body to touch the vehicle while you are touching the ground. And keep away from the downed line as quickly as you can.
When someone is trapped on their vehicle (in contact with a downed power line) and help is not around, common bystanders may tempt to help. But helping will become a bad idea if the helper/rescuer do not know the basic safety precautions surrounding it. The best thing you can do is to keep the victim stay calm until help arrives. The main role of rescuers near downed power lines or energized equipment is to stop people from getting hurt. I have made a list of some recommended safe work practices followed by safety rescuers while performing a rescue operation:
- Treat downed lines and anything in contact with a power line as energized. Contrary to what we seen on movies, energized wires seldom leap about and give off sparks, so you have no way of knowing whether or not they are energized. Even if the line is not energized, automatic switching equipment may restore power to the line without warning.
- Park well clear. When you arrive at the scene, park your vehicle well away from any downed lines. At night, shine a flashlight through the window to make sure you are not parked anywhere near a downed power line.
- Stop traffic and keep people clear. Workers on foot or in vehicles may not see lines that are lying on the ground. Remember, the ground surrounding a downed line will be energized.
- If a live wire comes in contact with a vehicle, or anything else, that object becomes energized, too.
- Secure the area and keep everyone back at leased 10 meters (33 ft.), more if the voltage is over 60 kV (60,000).
- Don’t let yourself become a victim. Regardless of how badly someone is injured, you cannot help if you are electrocuted.
- Never touch anything that is in contact with a downed power line, including injured or trapped victims, puddles, vehicles, or tress.
- Do not use a dry stick or piece of rope or hose as they will not offer any protection at all to both the rescuer and the victim.
- Do not enter an area that might be energized .Call the owner of the power system (or other local emergency number). A crew with proper training and equipment will arrive as soon as possible.
- Accept confirmation that the system has been de-energized and is safe only from a representative of the power system who is on-site.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Best cars for fuel efficiency
Belt based technology is also becoming more popular to replace the chain type technology used in car engines. An example of this would be the timing belt driven starter generator which reduces the fuel consumption to 5 to 10%. Its purpose is to transmit torque between the combustion engine and a electric motor and allow a smooth and swift engine start-up. Next example of the belt based technology is that next generation car engines would replace timing chains to belt type in the synchronization of the camshaft and crankshaft. As a result, there is a 30% less frictional loss compared to a chain drive. This cuts fuels by as much as 0.2 liters per 100 kilometers. Also, this helps to lower the carbon dioxide emission by as much as 3 grams per kilometer, thus adding to the protection of the environment. Other advantage is that it generates less noise build-up than the chain types. This is because when belts are used, rubber instead of steel comes in contact with metal, which in turn produce less noise.
More and more car drivers have changed their priorities and now want all to save fuel. Start-stop systems have therefore become standard features in modern automobiles. When the vehicle comes to a standstill, the engine is automatically shut down and started up again when the driver depresses the clutch before moving off. It’s an approach that certainly saves fuel, but the technology does its drawbacks. As the starter motor draws off considerable current from the system, the on-board voltage level can fall from its normal level of 12 volts to as low as 6 volts. Which means the radio and ventilation will switch off, and the lights will dim.
To prevent such complications during starting, a DC/DC converter was the solution. It aims to boost up the voltage to a stable 12 volts. Its design is very compact and can be easily integrated into the vehicle. This is one of the innovations between battery and energy management.
At a start-stop system significantly increases the number of times the engine is started, it is essential to protect the starter battery against overload. Therefore, another innovation comes to place which is called the intelligent battery sensor which provides an additional check. The sensor monitors battery status and transmits the information to the cars body controller, which only enables the start-stop functions if the three key battery parameters; capacity, performance and age are in the required range.
DC/DC converter and IBS therefore make the ideal combination for saving fuel. The converter adds comfort and convenience, while the intelligent battery sensor protects the battery and ensures that the vehicle has no problem starting.
More and more car drivers have changed their priorities and now want all to save fuel. Start-stop systems have therefore become standard features in modern automobiles. When the vehicle comes to a standstill, the engine is automatically shut down and started up again when the driver depresses the clutch before moving off. It’s an approach that certainly saves fuel, but the technology does its drawbacks. As the starter motor draws off considerable current from the system, the on-board voltage level can fall from its normal level of 12 volts to as low as 6 volts. Which means the radio and ventilation will switch off, and the lights will dim.
To prevent such complications during starting, a DC/DC converter was the solution. It aims to boost up the voltage to a stable 12 volts. Its design is very compact and can be easily integrated into the vehicle. This is one of the innovations between battery and energy management.
At a start-stop system significantly increases the number of times the engine is started, it is essential to protect the starter battery against overload. Therefore, another innovation comes to place which is called the intelligent battery sensor which provides an additional check. The sensor monitors battery status and transmits the information to the cars body controller, which only enables the start-stop functions if the three key battery parameters; capacity, performance and age are in the required range.
DC/DC converter and IBS therefore make the ideal combination for saving fuel. The converter adds comfort and convenience, while the intelligent battery sensor protects the battery and ensures that the vehicle has no problem starting.
Fuel Conservation and Efficiency Measures
It is happy to know that in my own little way, I had help conserve fuel and make efficiency measures to help humanity fight against global warming due to pollutions brought by vehicle emission. I have listed some of my local government’s programs which aim to promote and encourages vehicle owners like me to conserve fuel. These programs are indeed very effective, easy to comply with and are helpful to both the environment and human beings.
1.Park and Wait (Anti-Idling) Program. This program encourages motorist to commit to turn off their engines while waiting for more than 30 seconds and limit engine warming for 30 seconds.
“Idling is a bad habit! Breath easier, turn-off your engine”
2.Park and Fly Program. For domestic flight passengers with vehicles on a day or overnight trip, facilities are available at the airport where they can park and fly to and from their destination, and drive back home with their cars.
“Aim high for fuel conservation”
3.Carpooling Program. A carpool consists of three or more people that commute to work or other destinations in a private vehicle in which members work out their own arrangements on who and how often, schedules and payments for gas and maintenance.
“The Cash-cut rate”
4.Park and Ride Program. Offers transport options that encourage the use of public transport such as buses and trains to help lessen traffic congestion at the same time provide seamless journey for the travelling public. Accessible or strategic sites was provided near the stations of the public transport for the vehicle owners to park their units and ride to and from their destinations using the identified transportation means.
“Drive less, arrive fresh!!!”
5.Park and Pick Program. This encourages vehicles, particularly taxis, to park only at designated places or sites. They will not be allowed to just roam around commercial complexes and mall areas to pick-up passengers. Passengers, on the other hand, should proceed only to designated places for their taxi ride.
“We will QUEUE you up”
6.CarLess Day Program. Don’t be Careless, Go Carless. When are we Careless? It is when we are not conscious of the environmental impact we create while using our cars. However, we leave a smaller ecological footprint if we share our cars with others on our way to work and vice versa. This fuel conservation measure aims to encourages commuters to burn calories instead of fossil fuel, reduce traffic congestions and air pollution, and leave the car at home one day a week. The motorist will avail instead of the public transport or may rideshare during their carless day.
“my carless day is Friday”
7.Park and Walk Program. Walking instead of riding is another option to save on fuel and let the vehicle owner realize that walking a distance is more healthful option that will result to less vehicle emission; promotion of healthy disposition of the body; and for a healthy Mother earth. A short distant walk is a better alternative than a heavy consumption of fuel for a short trip. This program are implemented in shopping complexes were vehicle owners are encourage to park their vehicles in a available parking spaces. While roaming around the commercial complex, owners are encourage to walk extra distance through bridgeways and walkpaths. Riding a certain distance within the vicinity of the commercial complex is a big NO! Not only does it create traffic congestion – it even consumes extra fuel and emits smoke.
“I walk an extra distance for conservation”
If every cities and country would implement this program, we can reduce the fuel consumption and definitely help not only ourselves by “Mother Earth”.
1.Park and Wait (Anti-Idling) Program. This program encourages motorist to commit to turn off their engines while waiting for more than 30 seconds and limit engine warming for 30 seconds.
“Idling is a bad habit! Breath easier, turn-off your engine”
2.Park and Fly Program. For domestic flight passengers with vehicles on a day or overnight trip, facilities are available at the airport where they can park and fly to and from their destination, and drive back home with their cars.
“Aim high for fuel conservation”
3.Carpooling Program. A carpool consists of three or more people that commute to work or other destinations in a private vehicle in which members work out their own arrangements on who and how often, schedules and payments for gas and maintenance.
“The Cash-cut rate”
4.Park and Ride Program. Offers transport options that encourage the use of public transport such as buses and trains to help lessen traffic congestion at the same time provide seamless journey for the travelling public. Accessible or strategic sites was provided near the stations of the public transport for the vehicle owners to park their units and ride to and from their destinations using the identified transportation means.
“Drive less, arrive fresh!!!”
5.Park and Pick Program. This encourages vehicles, particularly taxis, to park only at designated places or sites. They will not be allowed to just roam around commercial complexes and mall areas to pick-up passengers. Passengers, on the other hand, should proceed only to designated places for their taxi ride.
“We will QUEUE you up”
6.CarLess Day Program. Don’t be Careless, Go Carless. When are we Careless? It is when we are not conscious of the environmental impact we create while using our cars. However, we leave a smaller ecological footprint if we share our cars with others on our way to work and vice versa. This fuel conservation measure aims to encourages commuters to burn calories instead of fossil fuel, reduce traffic congestions and air pollution, and leave the car at home one day a week. The motorist will avail instead of the public transport or may rideshare during their carless day.
“my carless day is Friday”
7.Park and Walk Program. Walking instead of riding is another option to save on fuel and let the vehicle owner realize that walking a distance is more healthful option that will result to less vehicle emission; promotion of healthy disposition of the body; and for a healthy Mother earth. A short distant walk is a better alternative than a heavy consumption of fuel for a short trip. This program are implemented in shopping complexes were vehicle owners are encourage to park their vehicles in a available parking spaces. While roaming around the commercial complex, owners are encourage to walk extra distance through bridgeways and walkpaths. Riding a certain distance within the vicinity of the commercial complex is a big NO! Not only does it create traffic congestion – it even consumes extra fuel and emits smoke.
“I walk an extra distance for conservation”
If every cities and country would implement this program, we can reduce the fuel consumption and definitely help not only ourselves by “Mother Earth”.
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