TAKING CARE OF THE POWER PROBLEM-INVERTER SOLUTION

I REMEMBER A GUY I MET SEVEN YEARS AGO, WHO MADE UP HIS MIND TO RUN ALL HIS HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES ON DC (DIRECT-CURRENT). HIS GROUSE THEN WAS A STRONG DESIRE TO DO AWAY WITH THE GRID-CONNECTED PUBLIC UTILITY SERVICE.
BUT NOW 7 YEARS AFTER, I BELIEVE THAT MOST PEOPLE NOW PREFER TO HAVE ALTERNATIVES TO PUBLIC SUPPLY THOUGH MAYBE NOT SOLELY ON DC. ONE ALTERNATIVE THAT GETS TO EXCITE PEOPLE IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD IS THE INVERTER CIRCUIT SOLUTION.
AN INVERTER SIMPLY CHANGES DIRECT CURRENT DC (FROM STORAGE BATTERIES) TO ALTERNATING CURRENT THAT CAN BE USED BY MOST ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES.
THE INVERTER CIRCUIT CONSISTS MAINLY OF ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS SUCH AS TRANSISTORS, RESISTORS, CAPACITORS,ETC. THERE ARE MANY MANUFACTURER OF SUCH INVERTERS ACROSS THE GLOBE AND QUITE A NUMBER. HERE IN NIGERIA YOU COULD GET AN ELECTRICAL CRAFTMAN BUILD ONE LOCALLY WHICH IS EVEN LESSER IN COST THAN IMPORTED ONES.
ONE OF THE ARGUMENT AGAINST FOREIGN IMPORT IS THE INABILITY OF FOREIGN DESIGNS TO TACKLE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES PREVALENT IN THIRD-WORLD COUNTRIES. ASIDE FROM THIS I HAVE HEARD OTHERS COMPLAIN OF INAVAILABITY OF CERTAIN COMPONENTS ESPECIALLY DURING REPAIRS.
THE GREATEST FACTOR IN THE DESIGN OF THE INVERTER IS THE LOAD IT IS EXPECTED TO SERVE AS THIS DETERMINES THE COMPONENT SIZES AND OTHER THINGS.
ONE GREATEST CHALLENGE HOWEVER IS THAT OF MAKING SURE THE BATTERIES REMAIN CONTINUALLY CHARGED AND SO EXTRA COST NEEDS TO BE MADE FOR THE BATTTERY CHARGER, AND A CLOSED SYSTEM COULD BE MADE FROM THE ARRANGEMENT, SO THAT CONTINOUS POWER FLOWS ALWAYS.

STILL ON GENERATORS

Sizing a Generator - How to Determine What Size You Need-www.dieselserviceandsupply.com

Getting a generator that can handle all your power generation needs is one of the most critical aspects of the purchasing decision. Whether you are interested in prime or standby power, if your new generator can't meet your specific requirements then it simply won't be doing anyone any good because it can put undue stress on the unit and even damage some of the devices connected to it. Unfortunately, determining exactly what size of generator to get is often very difficult and involves a number of factors and considerations.

Making a choice amongst single phase, three phase, kW, KVA, welder, standby or motor starting generators can be mind-boggling. To prevent such confusion, this article was developed to help you get a better idea of how the sizing process works and some key things to keep in mind. This is not a substitute for a certified electrician, which we always suggest talking to before buying, but it should provide you with enough information to get a solid understanding of some of the key things that are involved.

Generator Size Variations: With the latest advancements in the field of electrical engineering, generators are now available in a wide range of sizes. Generators with power supply capacities of 5kW to 50kW are readily available in the personal and home use markets, while industrial generators are anywhere from 50kW to over 3 Megawatts. Handy and portable gensets are available for homes, RV's and small offices, but larger businesses, data centers, buildings, plants, and industrial applications need to use the much larger sized industrial generators to meet their higher power requirements.
Generator Sizing - How Much Power?: Many people believe smaller generators can be used for standby electric power because they are not running all the time. This is not only a myth but can actually be very detrimental. Unfortunately, generator under sizing is one of the most common mistakes committed by buyers. Not only does it involve the risks of damaging your new asset (the generator), but it can also damage other assets connected to it, create hazardous situations, and even limit overall productivity of the unit and/or the business relying on it. If nothing else, the key thing to remember here is that more is always better than less.
How to Determine the Right Size Engine or Generator: While there is no substitute for having a certified electrician perform an inspection and calculate everything for you, the guidelines below do offer some great starting points and should at least get you started in the right direction:
Know Your Requirements: Going to a dealer and buying the best or cheapest generator available without any other consideration is clearly not the best approach. It is always better to delve deep into your power generation requirements before making a choice. You can do this in the following ways:

- Make a list of the items that need to be powered by the generator- Make a note of the starting and running wattage of the respective items- Calculate the total power requirements in KVA or KWHow to Find the Starting and Running Wattage: Getting the right starting and running wattage of the devices you intend to power is crucial for calculating the accurate power requirements. Normally, you will find these in the identification plate or the owner's manual in the buyer's kit of each respective device, tool, appliance, or other electrical equipment.
Ampere - Watt Conversion: You may often find power requirements of tools stated in amperes. In order to convert the power requirement of a tool from ampere to watts, follow these calculations, or you can also use our handy conversion tool on our power calculator web page.
For resistive load: Wattage = amperes x volts
For reactive load: Wattage = (amperes x volts) x load factor
Power Requirement Charting: It often happens that you lose the owner's manual or for some reason can't find the power requirement specification of the tools and/or other electrical devices you're running. Here is a sample power consumption chart that demonstrates some of the typical wattages used for common appliances and tools. The chart is simply provided as an example to demonstrate how starting and running wattages differ, and how each device has specific consumption needs. If you have questions over any particular items you can contact the manufacturer, consult an electrician, or contact us for a free consultation.
Different ways of Calculating: Depending upon the type and number of devices, and the way the generator is scheduled to be used, there are a few different ways of calculating power requirements:
- Single motor running - Multiple motors running simultaneously- No electric motors.
Advantages of choosing the right size generator: Now that you have an idea on how to choose the appropriate size of generator to suit your needs, here's just a few of the benefits obtained by going through that process:
- No unexpected system failures- No shutdowns due to capacity overload- Increased longevity of the generator- Guaranteed performance- Smoother hassle-free maintenance- Increased system life span- Assured personal safety- Much smaller chance of asset damage
Where to Buy & Role of Dealers and/or Service Providers: Since you are not only purchasing a substantial company asset, but most likely an item you will need to rely on for prime or emergency electrical power at some point, probably in a crisis, deciding where to buy is also a key consideration not to be overlooked. The seller's years of experience, whether they are a full service dealer or small commissioned broker, the guarantee offered, and so forth, all play a role. http://www.dieselserviceandsupply.com

ELECTRIC GENERATOR OWNERSHIP

TOP OF THE DAY TO YOU.

LIKE I SAID LAST TIME, I WANT TO FEATURE TOPICS ON ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEMS AND I SAW THIS ARTICLE ON EZINE THAT I WANT TO SHARE. LATER WE WILL BE LOOKING AT OTHER ALTERNATIVES TO POWER SUPPLY COS THE THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES DEFINITELY NEED THIS TECHNOLOGY AND AT A LOWER COST TOO. ENJOY THE EXCERPTS.


Our perception of electric generators, and indeed their use, has been undergoing great change at rapid speed over the past few years. It wasn't all that long ago that if you were asked what they were, then you would have most probably been able to say that the local builder carried one around in the back of his truck to take power to his job site. Or maybe you were familiar with the emergency back-up electric generators that the essential services such as hospitals and nursing homes had installed. Those that spent time in the great outdoors would be very familiar with the noisy little engines that provided power to the owner and drove everyone else crazy with the clatter they made.
Electric generators have been transformed into a state-of-the-art piece of equipment that has become as essential in some homes as the washing machine or dryer. Sure the noisy little monsters are still around, but those buying an electric generator for the first time are finding that they are able to purchase almost silent running units, of varying sizes which can power the whole home or selected circuits. Those who are building homes are having installed permanent electric-generator units which automatically take over when the power goes out. It is possible to have either minimal or virtually no disruption to the power in your home, all depending on the amount of dollars you wish to invest.
But why has there been this almost phenomenal surge in home ownership of electric generators? Rolling black-outs have been trying the patience of residents for some time now, but as inconvenient as they are, they are usually of short duration. They are still responsible though for many people to seek an alternative power supply for these times, particularly when there are children or babies in the family. It is however, the increasing number and severity of storms that seem to be lashing our country over the past few years that are responsible for a great number of these purchases. In the heartland alone, where tornadoes are a fact of life, it is not unusual for people to be without power for days. Ice storms in the eastern United States and Canada have also played havoc with electric power utilities, causing power outages that have lasted up to a week at a time. Even the unannounced Spring storm can leave a trail of fallen power lines in its wake which can take several days to repair.
Faced with the situation of no power for these extended periods of time brings enormous hardship and discomfort to families. If they are fortunate enough to own a RV or spend time camping, then they will probably have basic cooking facilities, but unless they own an electric generator of some kind, then they will be relying on candlelight or kerosene lamps to provide the basic necessity of light to their home. It is not until you are caught up in this type of situation that you realise just how vulnerable you are in your own home, and how you are unable to provide for your family, and how dependent we have all become on the national power grid.
In one way, it is good that people are putting contingency plans in place and are taking the necessary steps to ensure that they have power if not to run their whole home, then at least to provide power to the basic necessities such as lights, refrigerators, and selected appliances. In these times that we are all experiencing, and no state in the US is immune from these furies of nature, it is a great insurance policy to know that at any given time you are able to bring light and warmth and safety back into the family home.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sam_Butler



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POWER SUPPLY HASSLES

Electricity supply continues to be a very hot topic across the globe, from the developed to the developing nations of the world. Experts, analysts and other stake-holders meet from time to time to deliberate and take positions on.
While most of the countries from the developing world have enough power to supply and more than enough reserves to spare, the same cannot be said of the other developing nations. The former discuss on power quality and security while the latter discourse is always on improving Power generation to meet local demands.
The table below shows Power generating and consumption per capita in some countries

COUNTRY POPULATION POWER GEN. CAPACITY (WATTS /PERSON)

USA----293.6 million----848,300MW (year 2002)----2,889.30

GERMANY -----82.6 million----115,000 MW (year 2002)----1,392.25

UK (England& Wales)-59.7 million----76,300MW(year 2001)----1,265.90

SOUTH AFRICA---42.7 million-------44,650MW (year 2001)-----1,046.70

BRAZIL-----179.1 million----86,020MW------480.30

CHINA------1,300.1 million-----338,300 MW (year 2001)-----260.00

INDIA-----1,086 million------115,520 MW------106.321

GHANA-----20.7 million-------1,762MW-------85.12

NIGERIA------137.3 million-----4,000 MW ( year 2001 expected)--29.133

sources-www.cslforum.org

From the table above , it becomes clearer why a country like Nigeria has had to contend with frequent Power Outages/ insufficient supply. The value of 29.133 W per person s not enough to light a bulb, that is even when the generation of 4,000 MW has been achieved. Recent moves to improve on the country’s Power generating capacity is a welcome development as well as the Privatisation of the State-owned Electric Utility whose Monopoly over the years has not helped the nation thus far.
Aside impeding Industrialization ,insufficient/ erratic Power Supply takes it greater tolls on the living standard of a country’s citizenry. Job losses, high unemployment rates and poverty couple with heavy taxes and faulty billing systems which people are made to put up with.
HOW DO WE THEN TACKLE THE PROBLEM OF POWER SUPPLY IN DEVELOPING NATIONS?
This is the question all must rise to give answers to, especially if Africa is to really cease being the "dark continent" indeed when it comes to Power Supply. Thank God there are improvements in the North and South of the continent, but the other parts still has a lot be done, because people need a solution.
In Nigeria today, everybody is jokingly said to be an independent power producer (IPP) ostensibly because everyone is now believed to own an electric generating set.
Does owning a generator set solve the problems? People have argued that generator importers are ripping people of their money while supplying substandard sets.
Other have called for the use of Inverters popularly called silent Generators as they eliminate most of the undesirably features of the generating sets in residential quarters. Another group is working on the use of solar panels especially for light loads.
These and other alternatives to conventional power supply as well as other technical updates will be the focus of this blog. Contributions are welcomed online. Be free to drop a line. I‘ll be publishing very useful ones.
Watch-out for the next post- Dave