A surge suppressor, commonly referred to as a surge protector, is a tool designed to protect electrical equipment from sudden increases in voltage. The suppressor works by limiting the voltage allotted to an electrical device, by grounding any voltage beyond the appropriate threshold.

Suppressors are often used in industrial settings with devices installed in communication systems, power distribution panels and process control systems. Smaller versions of suppressors are used in homes to protect household appliances from voltage hazards.  These types of suppressors are different from protecting plug strips that are commonly used for plugging multiple electronics into the same area.

Is there a better way to kick off a lighting design awards show than to distribute glowsticks to the finalists for “experimentation”?

Well, we can’t think of one.

The photos below have been floating around on Twitter in anticipation of the 2014 Lighting Design Awards, a worldwide architectural lighting competition to be held in London on March 20. Leave it to the creative lighting professionals to craft a rainbow motif, an “alien landing” scene, and a dog collar – all from a box of glowsticks.

By: Emilie Sims

Electrical outlets are found in nearly every room of the home, which represents a constant risk if you have small children. According to the National Fire Protection Agency, approximately 2,400 children each year suffer severe shocks and burns from inserting objects into the slots of electrical outlets. Additionally, there are an estimated six to 12 child fatalities each year related to this. Prevent this from happening to your family by childproofing the electrical outlets in each room of your home.

Also known as safe plates, these are additional covers that sit on top of your existing outlet and are held in place by a screw. There is a spring-loaded plastic cover that prevents your child from poking anything inside of the outlet.

Installing tamper resistant receptacles (TRRs) around the home provides a permanent solution to help reduce the risk of childhood shock and injury. TRRs, which look like ordinary outlets, are designed with small, spring-loaded receptacle plates that close off the slots, but open when equal pressure is applied to both sides. This design prevents children from inserting fingers or other foreign objects into the slots, and reduces risk of electrical shock or injury.

There are also several types of childproof electrical outlets that you can choose to install that will provide a permanent way to reduce risk of child injury.

This tamper-resistant outlet contains both a switch and an outlet to plug in devices. The dual mechanical shutter system blocks the insertion of objects into the outlet, increasing your child’s safety.

A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet can be identified by the “test” and “reset” buttons located on the receptacle. A GFCI outlet helps protect you from electrical hazards by shutting off the electricity circuit when it detects an imbalance. The National Electrical Code requires these outlets to be installed in water susceptible areas, such as the kitchen and bathroom. Test these outlets once a month to ensure they are working properly.

These receptacles look similar to standard ones, but the two outlets have the ability to spin 360 degrees. These outlets also allow you to use two large plugs at once.

Visit the Electrical Safety Foundation International and the National Fire Protection Association for more information on keeping your family safe around electrical outlets.

Electricity is an important part of our life. However, when it comes to electricity distribution, it needs to be done in a safe and secure manner. It entails several handling hazards, which, when not done safely, can easily turn into a deadly trap. There are times when accidents and mishaps happen due to the lack of safety at different power distribution units.

Therefore, to maintain the security levels at all distribution units and sub stations, it is critical to install safety devices and mechanisms. While there are many mechanisms that help in safeguarding electrical connections at residential and industrial areas, switchgear is one of the most popular ones due to its various functions and features.

Analyzing switchgears from the perspective of commercial, industrial, and institutional MV (medium voltage) distribution system, its functions are as follows:

Types of Switchgears

There are two main types of switchgears which are necessary for various commercial, residential, and industrial electrical connections. They are: