Tuesday, July 17, 2007

July 2007

It has been quite a while since the last newsletter came out. I won't even go into all the boring details as to what has been happening - or not happening - which caused the last couple of issues not to go out. Instead let's get right into things.

Have a good day.

JZK

NEW AT Megavolt

Those of you who are interested to know how simple electrical calculations are made, are invited to check out "Ohm's Law" (http://www.megavolt.co.il/articles/OhmLaw.html). Ohm's law is the very basis of most all electrical and electronic calculations. You can use it in it's simplest form to figure out how much power a certain appliance is using.

For those who need a little help with their math skills, the "Ohms Law Calculator" ( http://www.megavolt.co.il/Elect_corner/ohmCal.html ) is just what you need. Just stick in any two of the four known values and press calculate. Now you can know if that heater will work on that 10A line or not.


LED Lighting

Like I must have mentioned 100 times before, LED lighting will be the lighting of choice for most applications around your home in the very near future. LED bulbs are already being used in flashlights and in many new cars. Although various LED bulbs can already be bought in many electrical stores for general use in your home, they are still expensive and don't give much light.

But still, many of you are confused, not knowing exactly what LED lights are, and why they are so different. Well, "LED Lighting" (http://www.megavolt.co.il/Tips_and_info/LED.html) will give you an introduction to this relatively new technology. It's short and to the point.


Protect Your Appliances

Electronic Specialists Inc. have put out a multi-part series on protecting your delicate appliances called "Care & Maintenance Ideas for Friendlier Electronic Equipment". They were nice enough to allow me to publish this series on my site. So far I have published 4 out of 10+ parts, and will add more from time to time. Although these articles are slanted toward the American public and the company is obviously trying to sell their goods, much of the information is relevant to us here in Israel. I believe that this is a very important subject and should be taken seriously.
http://www.megavolt.co.il/Tips_and_info/surge1.html


Timely Tips

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Avi Goldstein to the Megavolt team. Avi is the manager of Goldstein & Berger Appliances, and has been servicing American major appliances in Israel for over 20 years. Fortunate for us, Avi has agreed to share some tips with us on a regular basis.

Avi is no stranger to Megavolt, and has contributed articles in the past ( 110V vs. 220V Part 2 ), as well as answered questions about appliances. So without further ado, for those who want to learn how to save some money even when you must order a repairman, Avi's first "Timely Tips" article on Megavolt. Enjoy.

http://www.megavolt.co.il/Tips_and_info/timelytips1.html


HOT OFF THE PRESS

Generated Energy From Balloons

Researchers at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa devised a new way to produce electricity using helium balloons coated with solar cells.

The Technion researchers estimate that each home or apartment would need only two balloons. If they were mass produced, their cost could be reduced below the estimated $700 per square meter of today's solar cells.

Scientists from the Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Architecture and City Construction have already installed two models, one in the city and one in a desert area that lacks power.

For more info: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1182409629380


The Over Voltage Guru

Lets suppose you or someone you know had a serious question or problem concerning lightning protection, energy management or electrical surges in your home or office, who can you trust and turn to for help? To Mike Green of course. Besides doing what most electrical engineers do, Mike is one of the leading "gurus" of energy management and surge protection in the country, and has written technical and academic papers that have been published at national conferences and in trade journals. Mike has not only been kind enough to take time from his busy schedule to contribute an article to Megavolt from time to time, but he has just launched his new site called ...well...Mike Green. Although it's not completely finished, the site has a lot of valuable information that is worth looking at (some of it in Hebrew).

One such interesting article is "Lighting Protection"
(http://www.lightning.co.il/lightningUC.html), which talks about the damage done to appliances and electronic devices in the home, office and factory due to over voltage caused by lightning and switching events. "A Lightning Primer" is another article by Mike Green, which can be found at http://www.megavolt.co.il/Tips_and_info/lightningprimer.html, explains how lightning causes fires in your homes, as well as damage to your electrical devices.


Talking about lightning, there seems to be a number of injuries caused by using electronic devices, such as iPods, outside when the weather is foul. To see what I mean take a look at "Injury Caused by MP3 Player in Storm", and don't forget to catch the video clip at the end.
http://www.megavolt.co.il/articles/MP3injury.html


Efficient Heating With Style

Are you looking for a different type of heating system for your home, something efficient and stylish? If so, Thermostyler has some heating alternatives for you. Thermostyler are the exclusive distributors of France's Campa and Noirot "top of the line" products in Israel, offering advanced and stylish heating systems for residential, commercial, and industrial use. All models have optional programming systems, and conform to the Israeli electrical standards.
http://www.thermostyler.kremer.co.il/


Is Mercury Poison Really a Threat?

A couple of months ago we were hearing how various governments were ready to ban the incandescent light bulbs, and bring in the energy saving CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Light bulb). Well now the other side of the coin is surfacing. It seems that CFLs not only bring efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction, but also a much greater risk of mercury poisoning (if you accidentally break the bulb). There seems to be a disagreement as to how much mercury is actually in each bulb, but I suppose if you multiply the bulbs, you multiply the mercury. Why don't you read and decide for yourself?

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/05/070518-cfls-bulbs.html http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/05/ask_treehugger_14.php


Solar Powered Plane

A team of students from the Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa is working on a new solar powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which they hope will soon break a 17 year old world aviation record. Although solar aviation is nothing new, it is still considered to be in its infancy. The work done at the Technion as well as elsewhere around the world is starting to attract the attention of the aviation industry with the hope of creating green aircrafts with a much higher endurance threshold.

Full Story: http://www.tfot.info/content/view/117/71/

TIP OF THE MONTH

During these hot summer months try and use fans to keep air moving. A ceiling fan uses about as much electricity as a light bulb -- far less than an air conditioner.

See more summer energy saving tips HERE.


Wednesday, February 21, 2007

February 2007

"Banning" seems to be the word when it comes to electricity this month. Governments and politicians around the world are all trying to ban something in the name of "energy preservation".

For instance, the government of Rwanda has just announced their plan to ban electric water heating. "The NewTimes Online" writes that the State Minister for Energy and Communication says that the decision will be cross-cutting, applying to households, hotels and factories and among other entities. The government is considering the use of solar power as an alternative.
( read more: http://newtimes.co.rw/index.php?
option=com_content&task=view&id=38&Itemid=1
)

California Assemblyman Lloyd Levine announced he would propose a bill to ban the use of incandescent bulbs in his state. "The light bulb was invented a long time ago and a lot of things have changed since then," said Chatzidakis, a Republican from Burlington. "I obviously respect the memory of Thomas Edison, but what we're looking at here is using less energy."
(read more: http://www.netscape.com/viewstory/2007/02/09/edisons-light
-bulb-could-be-endangered/?url=http%3A%2F%2
Fabcnews.go.com%2FUS%2FwireStory%3Fid%3D2862138%2
6CMP%3DOTC-RSSFeeds0312&frame=true
).

California isn't the only place wanting to ban incandescent bulbs. The Australian government on Tuesday announced plans to phase out incandescent light bulbs too, and replace them with more energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs across the country. "Legislation to gradually restrict the sale of the old-style bulbs could reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions by 4 million tons by 2012 and cut household power bills by up to 66 percent", said Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
(read more: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=
/n/a/2007/02/20/international/i075822S04.DTL
)

Green Business News reports that the EU ban on energy profligate products moves closer. What is THAT all about?

On another topic all together, unfortunately I have been informed that the VoIP provider "Go-Telecom" is closing it's doors. Go-Telecom was the VoIP provider that I used. They provided superior quality, which they accomplished by being the only company with a server operating in Israel. They had no set-up fees and their support was fantastic. I'm waiting to get a press release from them before I take them off the list altogether. Sorry to see them go.

Have a good day.

JZK


NEW AT Megavolt


Those new in Israel, or those arriving soon, may not be familiar with the cell phone companies operating here. "Cellular Communication Networks in Israel" will give you general information about each company as well as a link to their site.


For those who haven't been up to date on the latest news, Israel has a new phone provider competing with Bezeq and Hot. Read all about it in "Third Israeli Phone Provider: Zahav 012".


It seems that General Electric doesn't want to see the incandescent bulb become extinct. Instead they are working hard on a "new & improved" bulb that will match the energy savings of a florescent. "Energy Efficient Incandescent Lamp from General Electric" will tell you about GE's special plans for the future.



HOT OFF THE PRESS

Bring in the Sunlight

Solatube Daylighting System brings daylight into your home where it couldn't reach before. Solatube redirects light down a highly reflective shaft and diffuses it throughout your interior space. Useful for those dim, closed-up rooms without windows or those rooms low on natural light. You can get more info from: http://www.solatube.com/


Let a Robot Do Your Cleaning

Ever wish that you could just have some sort of robot do your cleaning for you?
Well, your wish is their command. iRobot makes a number of small "mini" robots that will move around your home and vacuum the rugs or wash the floors. It is flat enough to go under sofas and beds. When it's done, it'll run right back where it came from and start recharging itself. There are a few models to choose from, each for a different purpose. You can learn more about these amazing devices at: http://www.irobot.com/ and don't forget to see the product video of how they work. So cool.


Warning from The Electric Company

The Electric Company must be having a major problem with people getting hurt lately, for them to put out a seemingly obvious warning as this. IEC is warning people not to open any of IEC's electrical cabinets or climb their electrical poles and/or installations. For me it seems like a "no-brainer", but never the less there are always those who have to do something "special" and without thinking. So please, stay safe and keep an eye on your children too.

TIP OF THE MONTH

Many times when a incandescent light bulb is replaced, the new bulb that is put in doesn't work. The homeowner tries yet another bulb thinking that the new bulb was a "dud" but the second bulb doesn't work either.
Obviously, there are many things that could be happening here, but one of the most common problems is that the bulb is simply not making contact. All that is needed to fix this is to bend the contact piece in the bulb socket back in place.
You can see an illustration of this at http://www.megavolt.co.il/Tips_and_info/socket_trouble.html.
WARNING: Be safe and make sure that the power is turned off before touching anything.

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

January 2007

I apologize. This newsletter should have gone out weeks ago. It started out that I just held off for a while waiting for a few articles that never came about, but then it happened. I made a stupid mistake while making a change in the operating system of my computer. This caused the computer to jam, not letting me reboot or bring my system back to what it was beforehand. After a lot of aggravation and heartache, I had no choice but to reinstall the operating system and ALL my programs anew. So please, be kind if you find this issue a bit of a mess.
Have a good month
JZK

NEW AT Megavolt

Like I promised last month, a whole new section has been added to Megavolt called "Staying Connected in Israel". It includes all sorts of info on telephone systems, VoIP, ISPs in Israel, Internet, cell phones and lots more. Unfortunately at this moment many categories may have limited information, but content is being added constantly, and I will keep you informed of the additions.

Samples of what has already been added include:

PC to PC VoIP (VOB) Services
PC to Phone VoIP (VOB) Services
Phone to Phone VoIP (VOB) Services - Part 1

The above articles include a comment area where everyone can write about their experiences with the various services they have used. Please contribute comments so that we can all learn from each others experiences.

Other articles include:
Types of Internet Connections
How to choose an Internet Service Provider (ISP) in Israel
VoIP - The Basics
Phone Services in Israel...and how they work
... and more.

Due to lack of time, the explanation page for the Bezeq phone bill has not been completed. I hope that it will be completed in the coming weeks.


As everyone probably well knows already, I'm a great supporter of LED lighting. True, the technology still has a bit of "growing" to do, but it's here and it's being improved everyday. Seoul Semiconductor has come out with it's new LED product called the P4. The P4 emits 240 lm at 1 A of light and features the industry’s highest luminous efficacy (100 lm/W at 350 mA - maximum) with only a single die, making it a brighter and more cost-effective light source compared to conventional 70 lm/W fluorescent and 15 lm/W incandescent lighting options. Read more...


I would have thought this to be a given, but Israel’s Electric Company is working toward becoming the world’s first Sabbath-observant national electric company. Read more...


We see the UK taking some initiative her for a change (jolly good show) with Westminster City Council in London introducing two free street recharging points for electric cars — the first on-street points in the UK. Westminster already provides 48 free recharging stations, but these are located in 13 of the city’s parking garages.
Read more...


HOT OFF THE PRESS

Bring the Sun to You

Sunlight Direct is the exclusive provider of Hybrid Solar Lighting systems internationally. The Hybrid Solar Lighting (HSL) technology uses a solar concentrator to collect and distribute sunlight into the interior of a building via plastic optical fibers.
Using a roof-mounted solar collector, the HSL3000 tracks the sun and concentrates direct sunlight into plastic optical fibers. The optical fibers then transports sunlight throughout a building to multiple “hybrid” luminaries.
To read more pop over to:
http://www.sunlight-direct.com/products.html


The light bulb that rolls up

CeeLite 7501 is a flat, flexible light bulb that is quickly revolutionizing the way light is being used. Thin and lightweight CeeLite 7501 enables 99 percent uniform backlighting illumination for previously unimaginable applications in signage, trade show exhibits, architecture and design, point of purchase displays and photography.
Read more at: http://www.ceelite.com


Electric Sport Truck with a Kick

With the price of gas soaring higher everyday, more and more car manufacturers are developing cars that are 100% electrical. Phoenix Motorcars has gone a step further with their new sport utility truck. This truck can cruise on the freeway at up to 95 m.p.h. while carrying five passengers and a full payload - and can do 0 - 60 in 10 seconds to boot.
Read more at: http://www.phoenixmotorcars.com/index.html

TIP OF THE MONTH

Don't forget to have all the connections in your electrical panels examined and tightened at least once a year by an electrician. The heating and cooling that the connections go through during normal everyday use causes the metal to expand and contract, can cause the screws to work loose. Loose connections cause the wires to burn and can cause fires.

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

December 2006

I just knew that the Smith 2k electric car (the one that drives on land, sails in the sea and hovers in the air) which I mentioned in the last newsletter, would bring about a lot of feedback. Like myself, not many took this site seriously, especially when their short video was lacking content and was about as exciting as watching a banana rotting in the sun. I did promise those who contacted me though, that I would look into this company a little more and let everyone know what I found out.

Well, there is not much to tell. The site had no information about the company what-so-ever, which looks very suspicious to me. The site has been up since December 2004, and owned by Smith Engineering. When I did a little research on Smith Engineering, obviously there were a few such organizations, none of which had any connection with this Smith 2k.

So for the meantime I have this organization listed under "crackpots", until I learn otherwise.

If you want to check out the "real thing" in high class electric cars pop over and take a look at the Telsa Roadster. It can do 0 - 60 in 4 seconds.

Although this really isn't directly connected with electricity, I would like to bring up the subject of VoIP service. A few months ago I changed my VoIP provider. Even though my old provider included many features and was one of the very few who advertised that they provide support in Israel, The quality was getting worse and worse, and the support that was promised was useless.

In my opinion, there are two main problems using the major VoIP providers ( Vonage, Packet8, Net2Phone, etc) in Israel.

1. They have no server in Israel - especially if the plan includes local (Israel) phone calls.
2. They have no "real" support in Israel.

Just when I was about to give up on the whole VoIP scene, I stumbled upon a relatively new VoIP provider in Israel that not only gives you REAL support, but also has a server here in Israel (in Bezeq International to be exact). The company is called Go-Telecom.

I popped over to peek at their website (which needs a lot of work) and called them up. Within a day I was set up and running, and the best part was that it didn't cost me a cent. Go-Telecom charges NO setup fee like most the other providers do, and the adapter is FREE to use as long as you are using their services. In other words, it basically cost me nothing to try out the system. So I ask you, how could anyone go wrong? I am now as happy as I can be with my VoIP service.

If anyone is interested in checking them out, you can pop over to: http://www.gotelnetworks.com/ratesandplans/

I was very happy to hear that so many people found "Understanding Your Electrical Bill" very helpful. I've received a lot of positive feedback. Many have asked me to do the same with other utility bills, but unfortunately the other bills have no connection with electricity and don't really belong on the site. Having said that...take a look below and see what's coming soon to Megavolt.



COMING SOON...

I am happy to announce that there will soon be a whole new section in Megavolt that will deal with tele-communication. We are planning to include in this new section articles on the various internet providers in Israel, as well as comparisons on the VoIP providers. We will try to let you know about the different services that Bezeq provides, and yes...we hope to have an explanation of their telephone bill. Lots more is on the agenda so drop by from time to time.

If anyone has any suggestions or requests, please contact me.

JZK

NEW AT Megavolt

A few interesting articles were added this month.

"Give your rooms a welcoming, soft glow now that the long nights are with us", says GABRIELLE FAGAN. "Get Switched on to New Lighting" gives you new ideas for lighting up your home .


The people of a small village in eastern Bulgaria woke up to a home full of burnt-out appliances. I suppose no one told them about surge protectors. Read about the incident in "Village's Appliances All Blow Up".


With all the different types of fluorescent tubes around, ever wonder how to identify them by the markings found on the end of the tube? "How Fluorescent Lamps are Labeled" will explain how to interpret these codes.

http://www.megavolt.co.il/Tips_and_info/lableF.html


"Ode to the Missing Surge Protector" is one of the new additions to the humor section. Check it out for a laugh.

http://www.megavolt.co.il/humor.html




HOT OFF THE PRESS

This Fruit Powered Digital Clock

Ever hear of a digital clock and calendar powered by fruit? This fruit powered digital clock and calendar combines micro-electronic technology with the natural electrical potential of a fresh fruit or vegetable. The Fruit Clock uses the original scientific principles on which all modern electrical storage batteries are based. To learn more, pop over to: http://www.physlink.com/estore/cart/FruitPoweredClock.cfm


Clean Power from Waves

Innovative Technology Inventory (ITI) S.D.E. Energy Ltd. has developed the technology to build a power station producing clean, renewable electrical energy from sea waves. It can withstand virtually any weather condition, and requires only minimal maintenance and supervision. This system already has a U.S. Patent with others pending world- wide. Read the whole story:
http://www.epa.gov/ne/assistance/ceit_iti/tech_cos/sde_edl.html


Electrical Candles to Blow Out

I'm sure everyone has used electric candles at one point or other, so what makes these electric candles worthy of gadget status? Apart from looking cool, you can light them with a match and blow them out! Sound strange? Take a look:
http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20060530/electric-candles-that-you-can-blow-out

TIP OF THE MONTH

When moving into a new apartment (rented or purchased), it’s a good idea to chart out your electrical panel as soon as possible. It is very important to do an accurate job, otherwise the list will be close to useless. If done correctly, this chart will benefit you, in more ways than one, in the future.

Monday, November 20, 2006

November 2006

The first rains have arrived as you can see by all the cars that have skidded off the road into a pole or ditch. Be careful, the first rains make the roads more slippery than usual.

For some people, the first rains cause a lot of other unpleasant surprises too. At home, they discover leaks in the roof and water seeping through walls. Many times these leaks find their way into the electrical system causing all sorts of problems. There is usually very little an electrician can do during a rain storm if your electrical system gets soaked and you are left in the dark. The time to take care of these leaks is NOW.

Other common problems the winter brings are power spikes and surges. The 2 main sources are lightning and the electric company (from switching events). Spikes can also come from switching large appliances on and off in your home, such as air conditioning units.

I think that most of us are well aware of the importance of using surge protection in our homes. If you are still in the dark about surge protection, you can pop over to the Surge Protection Guide to learn more.

Computers, on the other hand, need more than just surge protection. Hard drives and other peripherals are very sensitive to even small "flickers" in the electrical service. A UPS is recommended to give continuous power to your computer and to keep things working smoothly. You can check out " Do You Need A UPS?" to learn more.

Before I sign off, I'd like to remind everyone that I am open to suggestions as to what you would like to see on the site. Is there something missing that you think should be included? Is there a question that you could not find an answer to? Is there an answer that you don't quite understand? Feel free to contact me through the site and I will try and help in any way that I can.

In the meantime, have a good and safe month.

JZK

NEW ATMegavolt

There have been many olim (both new and not so new) who have been having a hard time understanding their electric bill. They basically pay the bill without going over it or checking for errors. Some actually came up to me thinking that they were getting "ripped off", when in actuality they didn't understand what they were looking at. " Understanding Your Electrical Bill", helps those with difficulty understanding the Hebrew and technical jargon, as well as how the IEC (Israel Electric Company) calculates the bill.

http://www.megavolt.co.il/Tips_and_info/ElecBill.html


This next item is more for the electricians and the technical minded folks among us. Mike Green, a specialist in lightning and over-voltage protection, was so kind as to let me publish a paper he wrote called " Application of Surge Protection Devices for Very Low Voltage Devices" . This paper (in PDF format) explains what exactly we are protecting our appliances from, as well as how much over-voltage we must clamp in order to protect our device, and much more.

http://www.megavolt.co.il/articles/surgeprotect.pdf


A company called AlbEO Technologies Inc. has come out with new advancements in LED lighting. The new RP1060, makes a good replacement for florescent fixtures in utility rooms and factories. They are low in energy consumption, dimmable, low in maintenance and last a long time. As technology advances and prices drop, LED lighting is quickly becoming the lighting of choice.

http://www.megavolt.co.il/articles/white_led.html


According to the Illuminating Engineering Association of Thailand (TIEA), bad lighting in the office poses a sight risk. Read about their findings in "Poor Office Lighting Poses Sight Risk".

http://www.megavolt.co.il/articles/poor_lighting.html


Whether you are renovating your whole bathroom or simply thinking of improving the lighting "Multitude of Bathroom Lighting Options will Dazzle You" will surely give you some helpful tips on choosing the right type of lighting.

http://www.megavolt.co.il/articles/bathroom_lighting.html


OK - here's another one for the electricians among us. "Carpenter Patent Reveals New LED Control Technology" . The title says it all.

http://www.megavolt.co.il/articles/led_control.html


In our Electrical Halacha section we have a new article, "Electrical Appliances and Heating Systems". Nissan Dovid Dubov talks about the use of electricity in cooking and heating.

http://www.megavolt.co.il/articles_H/ElecSha.html


HOT OFF THE PRESS

Electric Cinderella - a new self-defense solution for women

Violence towards women is an age-old problem that, unfortunately, is not likely to disappear so soon. A concept developed by a fashion researcher, Simona Brusa Pasque, the "Electric Cinderella" can deliver 100,000 volts, which the wearer can use in order to stun their aggressors.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Electric-Anti-Rape-Shoes-23419.shtml


Smith 2k All-Purpose Vehicle

Hey guys listen up. This car is unbelievable - a car that James Bond would be jealous of. You may have heard of multi-purpose vehicles, but this one takes the idea to a whole new dimension.The Smith 2k is an electric powered car that generates it's own electricity. It can travel by land, by sea and by air. Hard to believe? Go to the site and see for yourself.

http://www.smithengine.com/smith2k2.html


TIP OF THE MONTH

Never use extension cords or 3 way adapters (called a “mishulash” in Israel) with any appliance that uses a lot of power (i.e. ovens and heaters). With time, this will cause the outlet, adapter and plug to burn up. Many times when this happens, and the problem is not caught early enough, the wires in the wall burn up as well, requiring much more work replacing.

Thursday, October 12, 2006

October 2006

Welcome to the new Megavolt format. Hope you like it.

It's has been quite a while since the last time I put out a mailing. Things were hectic for a while, and then all the holiday preparations came upon us. This is actually the first time in a long time that I was able to sit at my computer for more than a few minutes at a time. Unfortunately, I also had some trouble with my mailing list, which is in the process of an overhaul. Some of the newer subscribers got (or will be getting) a confirmation email in the near future. Either way, everyone can change their preferences by clicking on the link at the end of this newsletter.

I hope everyone had a nice summer, and is enjoying the holidays. I suppose the winter will soon be on it's way, bringing heavy rains, lightning, thunderstorms, strong winds, and other fun stuff that cause havoc with our electrical systems. Now is a good time to get things in order and be prepared for the inevitable. We have some new articles this month that can help you save both money and injury.

In the meantime, enjoy the rest of the chag.

Moadim Le'Simcha

NEW AT Megavolt

Recently there has been quite a number of electricians who are either thinking of moving to Israel or are already here and are trying to work in their profession. Unfortunately, the bureaucracy here is very confusing. " North American Electricians in Israel", which was put together by the AACI, has some valuable information to share.

http://www.megavolt.co.il/articles/electricians.html


Everyone needs an electrician at one time or other. "6 Ways to Save on Electrical Repairs" gives some tips on ways to save when you need professional electrical help.

http://www.megavolt.co.il/Tips_and_info/save.html


With winter on it's way, many of us will find ourselves in the dark for an extended period of time. "Preparing for Power Outages" will help you make the best of such a situation.

http://www.megavolt.co.il/Tips_and_info/blackout2.html


Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Halperin helps the Israel Electrical Company generate electricity on the Sabbath without violating the laws of the Jewish day of rest and prayer.

Read more - http://www.megavolt.co.il/articles/answers.html


Cree delivers a new 160 lumen LED lamp that is as efficient as fluorescent sources
Read more about this amazing light source - http://www.megavolt.co.il/articles/LED160.html


Summer is not quite over yet and most of us are still using the air conditioning units. Here are 7 tips that will help you save money when using air conditioning.

http://www.megavolt.co.il/Tips_and_info/7ACTips.html


OK - this next article doesn't really have a direct connection with anything electrical, but the good advice that is given in " The 7 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Picking a Contractor and How to Avoid Them" can be applied to many craftsmen and technicians including electricians. I think it's worth reading.

http://www.megavolt.co.il/Tips_and_info/pickContrac.html


For those of you who like to see the light side of everything, the "Electrical Humor" section of the site has been updated with some new jokes. Feel free to pop on by for a laugh.

http://www.megavolt.co.il/humor.html




HOT OFF THE PRESS

SPLASHPOWER - Wireless power for your gadgets

Ever been on an important cell call when your battery annoyingly drops dead mid sentence while you’re frantically searching for your re-charger? Now thanks to Splashpower, an innovative little device which emits ‘wireless power,’ allowing you to recharge all sorts of mobile gadgets without plugging them in.

http://www.splashpower.com


Glow in the Dark Fabric

A new technology, called Lumalive, integrates micro-sized diodes into the fabric. The diodes then change shape, color and size, allowing wearers to carry moving text messages, vivid patterns and multi-colored surfaces.
The LEDs don't affect the softness or comfort of the garment. The textile is both washable and durable, allowing it to be used for drapes, cushions and sofa coverings.


TIP OF THE DAY

To save time and trouble, when replacing a fluorescent bulb change the starter at the same time. Usually when a bulb dies out, the starter is not far behind.