Understanding Residential Wiring

Imagine we are living a century ago when Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla were only starting their discoveries on AC and DC.

We would have a hard time adjusting. We would only be using candles and fires for light. We would have to chop woods to cook for food.We would have to spend hours just doing our home chores since appliances since we would not have appliances and electrical machines doing the jobs for us.

We are really lucky today to receive all the benefits of the hardwork of our scientists before.

Now, with only one click on the switch, we have our lights on. With one press on remote control, we have our TV shows displayed in front of us. With one push on electric fans switch, we have automatic fan running to fight the heat and with only few settings for washing machine, we have all our laundries done without any effort.
Our power supply comes very convenient to us nowadays and is one of the everyday necessities we have. In this regard, it is also important to at least be able to recognize the components of our electrical system. Aside from the series of wires on mind, being aware of its other components is also important and can be very helpful during emergencies.

 

• Electric meters - From the pole where our transformers are, the wiring are then connected to a an electric meter located near our homes for the power consumption monitoring. Our Electric Cooperative staff usually has to seal this meter to prevent any illegal connection such as inserting jumper wire so that the meter will be bypassed. In the Philippines, electric meter is located just before Service Entrance. However, in other countries like US, it is usually common to see the Service Entrance first on the top before the meter.

• Service Entrance - This  should also be familiar to a homeowner. This serves as the Connection and Disconnection point of electricity from electric company to the houses. We can see service entrance as joint for two wires from the transformer going to our Electric panel. If we are not able to pay electrical bills, then Electric Cooperative staff will just have to locate it and disconnect power from there.

• Electrical Panel Board - We rarely think about this one until power goes out in the kitchen because we turned on our water heater or until our house has all circuits tripped just after turning on an AC Unit. Once or twice a year, we visit our home's panel board because of emergencies. All of a sudden, it becomes important. Oftentimes it is also either poorly marked or there is no directory at all. If it is the Main breaker that goes off, the electrician or the person in charge has to shut down and reset the breakers one at a time during troubleshooting.

• In some residential designs, we have Isolator Circuit breaker in an Enclosure for convenience. Then the electrician just makes use  of main lugs  in the panel board so that the cable can be connected to the circuit breakers through the busbars. There is also a Ground bus or Ground Screw for the grounding wire. Panel boards have also a deadfront, a GI sheet, to cover wires and protect users from any electrical conductors.

• Outlets - These are where we insert of appliances' plugs. They can come as two-prong or three-prong type latter is also referred to as Ground Circuit Fault Interrupter (GFCI). It can also be indoor or outdoor type. Outdoor type or weatherproof outlets have enclosures. In our electrical standard, a circuit can have up to 10 - 12 circuit depending on the design. Our electrical code states that there should be at least 12 feet distance between outlets. However, in common homes, 6 feet is already an average distance.

 

Motor Control Starter Basics (Direct-On-line)

The term "Motor Control Starter" is actually confusing for some people. Technically, the main purpose ng motor starter is not to start the motor, but to let motor start and run without damage.
The term starter is based only on the overload relay that is used to protect the motor from starting current.

In simplest form, motor control starter can be seen in a Direct-On-Line circuit which is composed of MCCB, Magnetic Contactor and Overload Relay.

1)  Molded Case Circuit Breaker (MCCB) - Ang circuit breaker ay may tatlong functions: (a) Isolator, (b) Proteksyon a circuit sa Overload, Grounding at Short Circuit (c) Switching purposes. Sa Control Panel, nasa itaas ang breaker dahil ito ang unang main protection na kakailanganin sa motor. In case may exposed wires na nagcause ng electrical leak o short circuit, agad agad itong magtritrip.

 Kadalasan din itong ginagamit para mahiwalay ang power supply sa motor sakali may preventive or corrective maintenance na gagawin.

2)  Magnetic Contactor  - Ang magnetic contactor ay isang klase ng relay na ginagamit para sa frequent switching ng isang circuit.  Para lang itong "pinalaki na auxiliary relay" - may electromagnectic coil at nagproprovide ng karagdagang contacts sa circuit para sa ON-OFF mode.

Importante ito sa Motor Control.  As per definition ng mga nauna kong articles, ang relay ay power device na kayang kontrolin ang mas mataas na boltahe. Sa concept ng magnetic contactor, halimbawa, ang may 24VAC coil na contactor ay pwedeng kontrolin ang mas mataas na 220 VAC switched circuit. Dahil sa magnetic contactor,  naging posible din kabitan ng ibang mas maliliit na devices para sa motor.  (For instance, ikonekta lang sa contactor ang ilang auxiliary relays at pwede nang lagyan ng karagdagang pushbuttons, pilot led lights at selector switches)

Ang magnetic contactor ay gamit para sa Manual Control or Automatic Control System.

Paano naman ito gagana? Simple lang. Ang Contactor sa Direct-on-line ay nasa Normally Open (N.O) na position. Pag dadaan ang current sa coil (or maenergize ang coil sa technical term), ang contacts na magkahiwalay ay magdidikit, magcloclose ang circuit at mag-Start ang motor.

3) Overload Relay - Sa baba ng magnetic contactor ang overload relay. Ipinapares  ito sa magnetic contactor pasa sa Overload Protection. Ang OL Relay ay hinahayan ang mga short current overloads na dumadaan sa motor sa unang andar nito ngunit automatic na nagtritrip pag naging tuloy-tuloy ang overload current.

Sa principle ng magnetic induction, ang isang motor ay kailangan ng malakas na current para maset up ang electromagnetic field. Ibig sabihin, isang malakas sa sipa ng kuryente muna, para mapaandar ang motor. Ang disadvantage dito, pag parati itong mangyayari, madaling mag-iinit ang motor na pwede ikasira kaagad nito.

Ang overload relay ang solusyon sa isyu ng high starting torque. Dahil dito, naging posibleng gamitin ang motor nang hindi nasisira kaagad. Naiiwasan nating maoverheat ang motor. In short, iwas sunog sa motor windings.

Additional notes:

• Magnetic Contactor + Overload Relay = Motor Starter. Ang simpleng motor starter ay kailangan lang ng dalawang devices.  Kaya lang, walang kakayahan ang magnetic contactor na magcause ng power intteruption sa tuwing may short circuit. Dito pumapasok ang MCCB.

•  Molded Case Circuit Breaker + (Magnetic Contactor + Overload Relay) = Combination Magnetic Starter  

Capacitor Basics

Why is capacitor needed for a motor? Capacitor is needed for a motor for starting and also is used for keeping a motor from running. To help you understand, think of a motor at rest first. The  motor capacitor provides extra winding for the circuit to run. It stores charge, then releases that stored electrical charge to help start an electrical motor (starting capacitor). In short, it gives the motor a "start up". Then it gets disconnected after the motor reaches a certain speed.

However, in case the motor drops below a required speed, another capacitor switches back into electrical circuit and to keep it from spinning (run capacitor).


Now that capacitor is explained, how can we test it if it is a good capacitor or not?
Well, the most common and recommended way is the use of multitester.


As per electrical standards, we can measure if there is electrical resistance. As per sample photo, we can see that there are 3 terminals - for F for, Herm (hermetic compressor) and the third is C for common. First make sure tester is in zero amps when the positive and negative probes are connected. After that, check resistance of the folowing : Common-fan and Common-herm. If there is still a resistance, then it is a good capacitor.

Health and Safety Basics

Accidents may happen anytime. It just happens when all of us are unprepared  and busy doing things. It can be anywhere at anytime.

I, as a person, have witnessed some accidents that should have been prevented. Kakalungkot lang at di naiwasan.

1) Electric Shock ng Isang Pintor Habang nasa Hagdan:

Isang araw sa trabaho, para maabot ang pinipinturahan ng aming isang pintor, hinawakan nya ang threaded bar kung saan nakasabit ang fluroresent lamp. Ang hindi nya alam, grounded ito. Mula sa ilaw ay dumaloy ang kuryente sa threaded bar na kinapitan nya at sya ay nakuryente't nahulog pa sa hagdanan.

Cause of Accident:      Walang suporta o tagahawak ng hagdan kahit mataas ang pinipinturahan nya
                                       Exposed / Uninsulated wiring na nagcause ng grounding
                                       Walang PPE like safety helmet at gloves

     Consequence       :    Dahil sa pagkahulog, naospital sya nang tatlong linggo.


2) Heat Stroke ng Isang Driver - Isa sa mga napasukan kong projects ay supply and installation ng mga runways sa airport. Ang aming masipag na driver noon ay hatid sundo ng mga materyales sa gitna ng init ng araw. Ilang oras na walang hinto sa trabaho kahit sobrang init. Minsan napagod sya, dumiretso sya sa barracks at natulog kaagad, nang hindi manlang umiinom g tubig. Heat stroke ang inabot nya.

     Cause of Accident:  Prolonged exposure sa mataas na sikat ng araw
     Consequence        :  Heat Stroke



1) Common terms used in Health and Safety

•   Hazard - anything that has potential to cause harm
•   Likelihood - chance that a hazardous event may occur
•   Consequence -outcome of the hazardous event
•   Risk level - Likelihood x consequence. This is used to identify if some control measure should be done or not.
•  Risk control - taking suitable measures to eliminate and control risks
• Accident - undesired injury or property damage
• Near-miss  - Any accident avoided or accident that almost happened

2)  Three Key Reasons To Manage Safety

• Moral / humanitarian reason - We all have this moral obligation to everyone not to cause harm to others. 
• Legal - As per law, a person or company can be penalized if found guilty of negligence,  work ethics and offensive assaults to employees directly or indirectly. 
• Financials - All accidents and illnesses costs money.

3) Identifying Hazard -  Hazards are in different form. Some of the conditions / hazards listed below are those we even consider common and not harmful, but actually display risks also.

• Aggression and violence - Verbal and physical abuse, threats, assaults
• Bullying - Power tripping or anything that makes a person feel singled out for unfair treatment by a boss or a colleague. Intimidating others, insults or causing injury to other persons.
• Chemical and harmful substances - Examples are adhesives, cleaning agents, fumes from welding, dusts and bacterias,
• Electrical hazards - Anything that can cause electrical faults and shocks, such as bare wires of old appliances and octopus wiring
• Fire
• Entrance and Exit
• Heights 
• Poor Lighting
• Prolonged work with computers
• Slips and Trips
• Temperature - too much cold or too hot. As we all know our body can only adjust to a certain level of temperature. For instance, in the event of a heat stroke, the body heats up continuously, until it suddenly lose the ability to perspire. A good analogy is that in a car engine. If the car runs for long hours, it overheats until its exhaust system cannot cope up. It could be saved if the car pauses and rests after a long drive. However, if the car becomes too much hot to handle, the engine just suddenly disintegrates and stops.
• Noise
• Stress - Yes, this maybe categorized by many of us as a common and simple issue but for a health and safety practitioner, this is one of the most neglected work hazards
• And the long list goes on and on..

4) Risk Assessment Form

Anyone can make a simple risk assessment checklist. It does not have to be complicated and overtechnical. I have a sample risk assessment form below:

          

Work Activity / Hazard          People Affected      Likelihood x Consequence       Risk Level

1)  Supply of chemical to               AC technician               2        x      2                            4

     chillers / chemical hazard

2)  Changing of lights from a        Electrician                     2        x      3                            6

     20-feet ceiling / heights

3) Rooftop works / prolonged         AC technicians            3        x      3                            9

     exposure to the sun

The risk level results will be evaluated with the Risk Matrix (can be in 3x3 matrix or 5x5 matrix). Sa example sa taas, ang ginamit ay 1 - 3 scale kung saan 1 ang minimum at 3 ang maximum. Mas mataas na risk level, mas dapat gawan ng control measures. Di na kailangan pang magkaroon ng mga near-miss incidents or accidents.

Be your own health and safety practitioner. 

6 Golden Rules For a Healthy Heart

Let's do some Math!


I researched before and found out that an average heart is only about 5 inches in length and 3.5 inches in width. That is only a 1 handful equivalent. However, I am truly amazed of how it strongly functions.


At rest, a heart beats 50-99 times a minute and even faster than that when a person is at work. There is 1,440 minutes per day so that means a heartbeat is around 100,500 plus per day and going around 1 million heartbeats in 1 week.


By personal experience, I have come to hear the first heartbeat 💓 of a baby 👶 at 6 weeks old. So just thinking how many times our heart beats from the day we existed until now is a Huge Blessing.


Ever since it is started pumping blood for oxygen circulation in our body, it works non-stop 24/7 - such a big responsibility for a small but powerful heart.


Thus, we should take care of it as much as we can. I have some of the golden rules I take personally to keep a healthy heart.


1)  Be a morning person!

     This statement is something I myself is still on the maintaining process since I am used to sleeping late at nights during the past 10 years. However, come to think of it. Getting up in the morning early, getting the bed neatly fixed early, and getting all other activities started early makes it sound more refreshing especially, when you have a great - tasting and a balanced diet Breakfast.  After all, energy and nutrients we need during the day can be found in a nutritious morning meal.

Take it from our grandparents as an example. It is good to wake up early and get a full breakfast. It's even more delicious while sipping hot coffee drinking milk, and oftentimes done while reading newspaper. A good way of feeding the tummy early as well as feeding the mind.



2) Keep Monitoring

    Part of a healthy lifestyle is keeping the blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol in check. We may not have time and money to go the the hospital or Private clinic, but hey, there are public medical centers (barangay health centers in the Philippines) to go to. With regular check ups, we can learn if you have to adjust something with respect to gender and age group and take advice from health practitioners on what steps to take to reach or maintain those numbers.


3)  Putting Vices Out

     Smoking is one of the leading causes of heart diseases and even increases stress level. Quitting is the best thing you can do for a healthier heart. Our risk of a heart attack is reduced by half, just a year after giving up. This is just one of the many vices to be mentioned. We know what the others are.

4)  Sleep, More Time to Dream

Sleep is an essential part of keeping the heart healthy also. not having enough sleep can increase risk on cardiovascular disease regardless of age or health habits.

5) Do Warm Ups, Sit Ups and Regular Walks.

In short, Exercise. Research shows that excess fats, especially belly fats are linked to higher blood pressure ad unhealthy blood lipid level. A healthy balance diet is much better is partnered with regular body exercises.  As for me, I only do what fits me, no need to overdo these type of things.  Just making sure our calories are reduces and our body weight our trimmed down if required.

It's actually easy to get the heart rate up during common days - taking stairs instead of escalators in the malls, walking through colleague's desks at work instead of just texting or calling him up. doing physical things adds up to a healthier heart. ad it can also be fun too!

6) Be happy

Laughing can lower stress homones, and even decrease inflammation of the arteries. It even raise level of "good cholestherol" in our body. Sharing a hug and a smile whenever we can has always a good effect to our body. Also, good jokes in stressful days are also effective. After all, laughter is the best medicine, as they say.

Usapang Aircon - AHU's

Kadalasan, kapag centralized system ang gamit sa AC, may makikita tayong naglalakihang mga ducting sa rooftop. Sa dulo nito, malapit sa mga motor control na panel, ay ang mga AHU kung saan makikita ang mga blower, filter, heat recovery wheel, etc.

Ang mga AHU's ay isang malaking air handler na 100% gumagamit ng outside air para maging malamig.

Karaniwang maihahalintulad ito sa malaking box na puno ng electrical at mechanical components para sa kailangang airflow sa isang lugar.

Heto naman lang iba't ibang bahagi ng AHU.

1) Supply duct
2) Fan compartment
3) Isolator para sa vibration
4) Heating or cooling coil
5) Compartment para sa mga filter
6) Mixed air duct

My Personal Book Review on Mr. Chinkee Tan's "Diary ng Pulubi"

It's been awhile since I read a book. However, one Sunday evening, after my work, I found myself meeting a Kabayan here in Dubai to buy "Diary ng Pulubi". It was an urge for me since I have watched some of sir Chinkee Tan's inspiring videos.

The red book is small, only around 4 x 7 inches (estimate lang, wala akong ruler) and has 122 pages. This can be categorized as a pocket book. Even though it is small, it is full of words of wisdom and practical tips from our favorite wealth and life coach.

Diary of Pulubi has 22 Categories explained thoroughly:

1. Shopping now, pulubi later
2. Magarbong Wedding now, pulubi later
3. Yabang now, pulubi later
4. Upgrade now, pulubi later
5. Ayaw Magbaon now, pulubi later
6. Party now, pulubi later
7. Sobrang Matulungin now, pulubi later
8. Asiong Aksaya, pulubi later
9. Travel now, pulubi later
10. Kape-kape now, pulubi later
11. Pasalubong now, pulubi later
12. Bonggang Date now, pulubi later
13. Utang now, pulubi later
14. Pa-beauty now, pulubi later
15. Credit Card now, pulubi later
16. Pagpapautang now, pulubi later
17. Gadgets now, pulubi later
18. Celebrate now, pulubi later
19. Walang Bank Account now, pulubi later
20. Kain sa Labas now, pulubi later
21. Takaw-tingin now, pulubi later
22. Tambay now, pulubi later

As you can see, halos lahat ng financial issues natin ay nabanggit nya. Hindi man applicable ang iba, karamihan dito ay relatable. 

There are 4 patterns that Sir Chinkee used in this book:

1) A situation or circumstance is presented first kung saan tayo mapapagastos. (2 or more situations per chapter)

2) Then he objectively states the common Kabayan mindsets

3) After that, Sir Chinkee gives us the possible consequences on different choices

4) Then he ends the chapter with his generous advice

Ang mga topics na nadiscuss may not applicable to all but there are always some that would be good catch. Others may also think na ang librong ito ay predictable na at alam na natin lahat ng pwedeng isulat dito. Pero, subukan nyong basahin at marami ka pa ding marerealize na maling paniniwala. 

Sample quote on his first financial issue: Shopping

"Sale! Buy 1 Take 1 Promo! 50% on all items! Limited offer!   ...Wala naman masama sa pamimili, lalo na kung may nakalaan kang pera para dito"

The first category refers to biglaang shopping from titingin-lang-ako-status to bilhin-ko-na-kasi-nakasale-kahit-di-naman-kailangan. Sa mga unang pages palang, marami nang paalala ang binigay ni Sir Chinkee Tan sa kanyang mambabasa.

• Aside from financial literacy, our wealth and life coach has a natural sense of humor that readers will not be bored even if he / she sits for hours quietly reading the book. Positive vibes lang, nakakatuwa.
• The book is also easy to understand. Kahit nasa elementary palang basta marunong nang magbasa, maiintindihan ang libro. This is not the usual financial literacy book na punong puno ng technical terms at economics principles. Ang librong ito ay pang masa: para sa bata, matanda, ate, kuya, para sa lahat..
• Another good thing is that the book gives its readers the time to pause and analyze their choices. Sa bawat end ng chapter, mayroong section na "Think, Reflect, Apply" kung saan pwede isulat ang mga sagot sa guideline questions sa space na binigay sa page.

This is a good gift for your loved ones at para na din sa sarili mo dahil applicable sa pang-araw araw nating pamumuhay.  Habang nag-iipon tayo, maari itong maging guide - something that a person should read over and over again. 

It's all about Savings.

This is a certified 100% book to keep.

(Sir Chinkee. sabi mo dun sa likod ng libro mo, "I'll hope you'll enjoy reading this book, MATUTO at MALIWANAGAN".  Tama kaw Sir Chinkee, marami nga kami matututunan dito. Kudos to you!!)

In case, nandito kayo sa UAE at gusto nyo makakuha ng copy, pwede kayong mag-inquire sakin about sa libro. ;) Just comment down below.

The Female Icon Behind "We Can Do It Poster"

In our society, people usually seek inspirations and something to look forward to in achieving their dreams and holding on to their own ideals. One iconic poster we have from way back 1940's shows a young lady in a red bandana with white polka dots flexing her arm as a sign of strength.

Nowadays, many images and photos are based on this poster as shown below: 

Even Beyonce tried to recreate the iconic post. 

 A lot of recreations and parodies also can be found in social media. Please see sample photo below. 

It's funny and amazing at the same time as to how famous and powerful it has been. The "We Can Do It" poster became an icon of feminism and Women's Empowerment. It is something that remind us, women, of what we can do, what we can be and what we can achieve in circumstances that many were previously denied of. 

I was just going through some articles when I happened to see these. They became more interesting to me when I learned that the woman behind the original photo herself fought for her own identity for that inspired poster for years.

After the Pearl Harbor Attack, women took charge of males' jobs since the men have to go for military missions. Naomi Parker Fraley, an Oklahoma native, fresh from her 20's, was one of the young ladies who worked in a factory for manufacturing airplane wings. A photo of hers was taken in 1942 operating the machines as a riveter.  This was found and used by Westinghouse, a large electric company in US as an inspiration for the poster. 

It was only in the 1980's, that Naomi learned about her photo. However, it was already credited to the famous model "Geraldine". For years, Naomi fought for her identity since it was her picture that was used for the poster, and not any other lady. She would willingly tell her stories over and over again of how she, her sister and her other female colleagues took part in helping their society during the second world war. It was only last 2015 when she was already 94 when the Court confirmed and gave the title to her as the iconic woman behind the poster. She was very happy at that time. More than 2 years later, at 96 years, Naomi died with pride and honor. She was indeed a True Icon.

(How iconic is she?!? She has her own international bronze statue in London, UK as Rosie the Riveter.)

Mga Hugot!

Disclaimer: All this articles were written some years ago already (2013, 2014 and 2015)

Life is What You Make It

During high school days, students are really anxious on what they are going to be in the future - lawyer, beloved wife and mother, respectable teacher, etc. High school days are those times when we were highly spirited, full of dreams and aspirations, goals and gusto-ko-maging-ganito-balang-araw mode.

It is always amazing when those aspirations stay strong and firm after college. However, life has many challenges. It can sometimes be unfair. One thing I know, what happens after a decade is the most critical point. Checklist:  good career, good lovelife and having your own family, financial stability, good relationship with friends and other loved ones, and the list goes on. ( at good relationship pa din pala kay God. Kung di pa pasado, pwede ba magpanic mode pag may time? haay.) Priorities, sacrifices, decisions, long term goals? Keeps getting harder and harder to think about. If only it's that simple to follow your heart, or should we lead our hearts to what's best for our lives? After all, life's what we make it. If only opportunities are floating bubbles in the air  and can be found easily. Nah..just dreaming. So, for you worries and fears, please go away, and let us seize every single day. Carpe diem!

Holding Back, Keeping Up, Joggling Thoughts

Thinking about how we were as kids brings smile to our faces.  It's always the days when life is simplest - when honesty means not cheating in classes, when responsibility means maintaining good grades, when socializing means playing with other kids, when financial management only deals with what to buy with what our parents gave us, and more importantly, it is the time when every one of us is in the worry-free-status and a MUCH MORE P-O-S-I-T-I-V-E person.

However, as we grow older and as we tend to experience life with crossroads, twists, turns and roadblocks, it became more and more difficult to decide. Even Not-Doing-Anything-Mode is something we also choose. Can we just request Him a NO-CHOICE-ZONE and everything is there for us to accept?!? Ooh well, we can't !  However it's our privilege actually to be able to make our own life stories. We may not always have good judgement but we can always try and learn.

Out of the Blue

The more you talk to a person, the more you miss that person. Do you have a feeling na kapag nakakausap mo siya, bigla mo lang narerealize, mas namimiss mo pala sya? Yun bang pakiramdam na hay-naku-why-on-earth-na-ganito-nararamdaman-ko! 

I'm not a psychologist pero here is my own perspective: Memories is part of our daily lives and it has always its sweet-little-comfort-zones - familiarity of a place, habitual things being done, or those unique moments na magaganda at naitatabi na ating "brain modules" (sa dicitionary ko). Meron at meron bagong memories na papasok araw araw consciously or unconsiously and if there are changes na nangyayari, it might not be sinking in kaagad. But then, all of a sudden, out of a blue, may mga instances na makikita kang familiar sa 'yo at biglang may bagong pop up sa brain cells mo "missing! missing! missing!".

How's Your Day

When asked by others "how's your day?", we often say "ok lang."  However, "ok lang" can mean everything. A shrug can sometimes mean "hay naku, hindi maganda. ayoko lang magkuwento".. or "it's just a usual day, seems like nothing happened" or it's being in the let-everything-pass-I-don't-care- mode. "How's-your-day" is a question that means, ano mood mo? Ano ginawa mo? Okay ba araw mo? Muzta ka? And how should we answer it? With a smile? With a sad face? With a long story? With "the shrug"? or a simple blank face?  The list of ways goes on..

Oftentimes, at the end of every day, we are either unconsciously or consciously aware of what we have done within that day. Ano nga b ang pwede maging tema natin sa isang araw? Perhaps it's about regrets? or maybe, it's about dreams? Or goals? People are different but there's one naked truth about how we live our lives in every day: we all react.  React to what?  To different life's circumstances! Challenges? Cases? to necessities? It's the "nature-of-people-and life-as-we-blow-it-fact". And everything boils down to our level of satisfaction..are we glad enough? ..Can't tell..

Human nature as being unpredictable, can have different point of views of how to answer the question "how's your day", but for sure, it can always be something that's asking on how happy we are. Appears skin deep? Nah..other's think it's just something we can ask as a greeting. But for those whom we care, we ask this to open up a deeper conversation. So, how's your day?

KAIC, The Unpopular

KILOAMPERE CAPACITY RATING  o KAIC, sino ba ang nakakaalam nun? Kahit ang mga estudyante ng engineering ay kalimitan ding di alam kung bakit kailangan ito. 

Kung mapapansin mo, ang protective devices na karamihang makikita sa mga electrical plans ay mayroong continuous current rating (ang karaniwang consumption ng load habang ginagamit ang kuryente. Pero ang KAIC, kadalasang di nababanggit.

Ang KAIC ngayon ang most taken for granted na component sa system design.

Ang circuit breaker ay mayroong tatlong mahahalagang components - ang continuous current rating, ang voltage rating at ang pangatlo, ang interrupting capacity rating. Ang KAIC ang maximum tolerable amount ng current sa tuwing magtritrip ang circuit breaker nang hindi ito nasisira. Mas mababang KAIC kapag sa mga residential lang dahil mas magagaan ang mga load. Mas mataas naman sa mga industrial kung saan nandoon karamihan ang mga malalaking motor.

Example:
    30 AT, 2P, 10 KAIC @220 V  MCB  (para sa main breaker ng isang lighting panel)
  250AT, 3P, 25 KAIC @220 V MCCB (para sa isolator ng VFD o inverter)  

Sa mga bahay, dahil lightings at power circuit lang, karaniwang 7-10 KAIC.  15 KAIC pataas naman pag mga mabibigat ng load. 

Pwedeng ding masabi na ang KAIC ay aftershock component. Kapag hindi nakayanan ng breaker ang fault current, pwede itong madisintegrate.  Kung ang circuit breaker ay nandoon para protektahan ang ating mga linya ng kuryente, kailangan din nitong protektahan ang mismong sarili nya.

Ang nasa babang larawang ay Medium Voltage Circuit Breaker na undersized sa KAIC. Nagkaroon lang ng fault ay sumabog na ang breaker at nasunog.

Malay sa relay na yan. =( A BIG NO NO. (part 2)

Anong mangyayari pag naconnect ang isang AC relay 

sa DC?

Ang isang AC relay coil has both inductance and resistance limiting the current.
Generally, ang AC relay ay nakadesign nang may mas mataas ng current kesa sa DC
(kasi mas less efficient ang AC). Pag naikabit ito sa DC at hindi sa AC, magkakaroon ng mas
mataas na current pa rin. The relay would operate properly (for a while) but would eventually
fail due to the coil overheating. Depending on ambient temperature and the specific relay,
failure could occur in minutes, or might take years.

Electricity is an Impersonal Existence

Electricity is an "impersonal existence".

Impersonal means one that does not belong to any side. Nobody is his friend and nobody is his enemy. It can cook your food, heat your stove and can give also life through medical technology. However, it can also destroy anything. Di basta nginingitian ang kuryente. Sabi nga nila, kahit gaano katagal nagawa ang isang building, sa ilang oras lang na may nanggaring electrical fault na hindi naagapan, pwede mawalan ng mga ari arian, and worse, pwede bumawi ng buhay.

What is a Motor Control?

Ano ba ang motor control? A question that has no simple answer?? well, it is not.. however, mysterious, complicated subject that some people believe it to be.

As what the word control means, it governs or regulates. Pag sinasabing motor control, ang pinag-uusapan ay paano magmanage ng machines o motor, like starting and stopping, selecting forward or reverse rotation ng motor, limiting of the speed and motor


protection. kasi ang klase ng MOTOR CONTROL: 1) manual para sa mga simpleng motor at (2) automatic para sa mas efficient at di masyado kailangan ng manpower na operation.

Sa basic na manual controller, ang pwede nating makita ay dalawang pushbuttons, isang START PUSHBUTTON at isang STOP PUSHBUTTON. Meron ding overload protection para maiwasang masira at magkaroon ng aksidente. I think ang pinakamagandang example dito ay ang welding machines. ;)

Ang automatic motor controller naman ay ginagamit para sa mabilisang produksyon, more accurate at more efficient na operations. Well kung mas mura magpakabit ng manual controllers, ang automatic system naman ay di hamak na nagiging mura pagdating sa flexibility, maintenance at operational costs.

Earth Leakage Circuit Breakers

Ang earth leakage circuit breaker ay ginagamit bilang 
proteksyon ng motor o ng tao sa residual current. 

Pag nagkakaroon ng unbalance current sa hot wire at 
sa neutral wire (balance fault), magtritrip ang ELCB para madeenergize agad ang electrical circuit. 

Maaari kasing tumalon o nagleak ang kuryente sa 
ground o sa ibang eletrical circuit na pwedeng makasanhi ng eletricution o sunog.

Take note na ang kuryente ay nasa isang loop lang. 
Ang hot wire ay naghahatid ng kuryente sa load 
samantalang ang neutral ay nagdadala ng return current na sya ring parehong pumapasok
 sa load. INPUT CURRENT = OUTPUT CURRENT principle. Ang ELCB ngayon ang
 magbabantay sa balanse ng line side at neutral.

An insulation deterioration due to aging of regular insulation of equipments or wiring can 
cause low value regular leakage current (of the range of milliamps to few amps) which
 cannot be detected by over current relay or earth fault relay. But these currents can 
cause fatal accidents resulting to burning to loss of life to people working around and 
also results in regular energy loss. Pwede ding faulty wiring o maling paggamit ng device
 kaya nagkakaroon ng EARTH LEAKAGE o RESIDUAL CURRENT.

Ang ELCB ay tinatawag ding risidual current circuit protetion. =)

The Famous Unknown Neutral Wire

NEUTRAL WIRE??? ANO YUN?

Ano ba ang neutral wire? Well, madali pong masagot yun ng isang electrical student. Neutral wire is a wire used for grounding na pwede ding magdala ng current and is coded with a "WHITE COLOR"

Ngunit paano ba maeexplain ng isang electrical student or grad ang neutral wire sa ibang tao. Well, simple lang. =) Ang neutral wire ay nakakonekta sa SAFETY GROUND sa SERVICE ENTRANCE o abang kaya pag kinukuhan ng boltahe ang neutral at ground ay ala talagang makukuha kasi magkadugtong silang dalawa.

Ngunit bakit ba tayo gumagamit ng neutral wire??? =) sa grounding lang ba to?

Ginagamit ang nuetral wire to ALLOW the three-phase system to use a higher voltage while still supporting lower-voltage single-phase appliances.

Halimbawa, yung main supply natin na three-phase ay 400 V, at meron tayong load na kailangan sa 240 V lang ( square root of 3 para sa line-to-neutral na voltage). Magagamit natin ang neutral wire dito. Ang kuryente kasi ay parang tubig. It needs a complete circuit to flow


Ganito kasi yun, kung 3-phase load ang ikakabit, tallong wire ang meron tayo. Hindi na natin masyadong kailangan ng neutral wire, kasi ang tatlong wire ay ikokonekta sa tatlong linya, LINE A, LINE B at LINE C. Ang magiging voltage ay phase-to-phase. Kaya kung 440 V ang boltahe mo sa MAIN SUPPLY, 440 V din ang voltage sa three-phase na load. Ngunit para sa single phase na load, dalawang wire lang ang ikakabit sa supply. Isa pwedeng ikabit sa A, B o C (hot wire) at ang isa naman ay ikakabit sa neutral.


Ang nuetral wire ang maghahatid ng return current sa electrical company o sa source ng kuryente para makompleto ang circuit. =) At tandaan, mas mababa na ang voltage nito.


Pero what if lahat ng load ay three-phase din. Bat kakailanganin natin ng neutral wire?????????
Well, nangyayari to sa four-wire at five-wire system. Mas nakakaintriga sa five-wire system. May tatlong hot wire na, may grounding wire din, may NEUTRAL WIRE PA. Nakakalito? Hmmnn.

As long as the 3 loads (for each of the 3 phases) are perfectly balanced, there is no need for a neutral. Kayang kaya dalhin yun ng tatlong linya. Pero, almost all the time, lalo na sa mga residential, ang balanced load na design ng mga engineer, di din nangyayari. Hindi kasi lahat ng appliances at nagaganit. Right??

And worse, what if isang linya lang ang gumana. Let's say, yung line A lang na loads ang magagamit, samantalang ala sa line B at line C. Ang unbalanced current na yun, ay best suited na dalhin ng fourth wire, at yun ANG NUETRAL WIRE. ;)

The Heroes..

Mga Tao sa Likod ng ating Electrical Convenience Ngayon

• Ang pinakaunang electrical engineer na nabuhay noong 17 th century ay si WILLIAM GILBERT, isang scientist at natural philosoper. Sabi nga , siya ang father ng electricity at magnetism. 

• William concluded that the Earth was itself magnetic and that this was the reason compasses point north (previously, some believed that it was the pole star (Polaris) or a large magnetic island on the north pole that attracted the compass). He was the first to argue, correctly, that the centre of the Earth was iron, and he considered an important and related property of magnets was that they can be cut, each forming a new magnet with north and south poles.

• In his book, he also studied static electricity using amber; amber is called elektron in Greek, so Gilbert decided to call its effect the electric force. Sya ang gumawa ng unang electroscope, gamit ang isang karayom.

• Ang pinakaunang tao naman na gumamit ng word na ELECTRICITY naman ay si Sir Thomas Browne, isang manunulat, Ang salita ay galing sa LATIN word na electricus, meaning "like amber". 

• Sinundan si William Gilbert ni Alesandro Volta, isang physicist, na syang nakagawa ng BATTERY o ng unang electric cell. Sya ang nakadiskubre sa electric capaitance (C), sa charge (Q) at sa electric potential (V). ( Q = CV)

• Di rin pwedeng mawala sa listahan si ginawa ni Benjamin Franklin sa kanyang researches. Sya lang ang bukod tanging nagpalipad ng saranggola habang umuuln ng malakas at nagpatunay na ang kidlat ay isang klase ng kuryente. Dun din pumasok sa kanyang mga pagsasaliksik ang teorya sa grounding at marami pang iba. 

• Pagkatapos sa kanya ay si George Ohm, isang German physicist at guro, na sya namang nagexplain ng pagkakaiba ng electric current at potential difference sa isang conductor na nagsimula ng electrical circuit analysis. Sikat ang kanyang OHMS LAW V = IR, at mula sa kanyang mga nagawang principle, ay ang applications na ng electric current.
• Andyan din si Michael Faraday, ang nag-imbento ng electric motor. Sa kanya nagsimula ang electromagnetic induction. Isang chemist at physicist, pinaghalong nya ang dalawang science at nabuo ang electrochermistry. 
• Si Nikola Tesla naman kung saan pinangalan ang unit ng electromagnetic flux, ang "tesla", hehe. Sya naman ay nagconcentrate sa electromechanical engineering. Sa AC machines at sa polyphase, panalong panalo tayo sa kanyang mga ibinahaging kaalaman. Si Tesla ang itinuturing na isa sa may pinakamalaking naibahagi sa electrical technology ngayon. Ang Alternating Current (AC) circuits na syang ginagamit natin ngayon sa power generation and transmission. Ang kuryente na nanggagaling sa ating utility companies ay AC at lahat ng mga machines ngayon ay dito nakabase ang design.

• Si Thomas Edison naman ang pinakapaborito ko. Sa kanya nakadiskobre ang Direct Current (DC) circuits kung saan nakabase ang design ng batteries. Siya din ang nakaimbento ng motion-picture camera, at ang nagdala ng liwanag sa ating kabahayan sa kanyang naimbentong "electric bulb". At an early age, Thomas Edison developed a hearing impairment, pero di ito naging hadlang para di sya magtagumpay. Napunta sila sa Michigan ng kanyang pamilya at dun ay nagtinda sya ng mga candy, newspaper at mga gulay. At dahil sa likas na madiskarte, ang maliit na businessman ay swerteng napasok sa General Electric (GE), isang malaking company. Quotable quote: We will make electricity so cheap that only the rich will burn candles." =)

Turbine generator? Parang nakita ba kita (o sun dial lang!?)

September 2, 2009


I'm not a UP graduate, pero kung minsan pumapasyal pasyal na din ako dun dahil sa friends ko..

Nitong huli lang ay napagtripan naming maglibot libot sa UP diliman kasi holiday, alang pasok, national heroes day (August 21, 2009). Nag-enjoy naman din ako nang my nakita ako na malaking sculpture sa college of engineering na pinagawa ng mga UP ALUMNI. Isang malaking "U" na may malaking bar sa gitna.

Parang may arrow sa gitna ng arc, na di mawari kung ano. Well, sa picture sa kaliwa, putol ang semi circle na yun, kaya di mo masyado makikita. Una pumasok bar-shaped na nakikita nyong nakasandal sa circle pointing sa U-shaped at parang "I" is an electromagnetic shaft. At ano ba yun? hmmnnn...

Depicting the basic principle ng electricity, ang dalawang bagay na yun ay bumubuo ng isang generator turbine.
The diagram below shows how electricity is produced through ELECTRONAGNETISM.


Pero, dapat din pala, ang shaft ay napapalibutan ng COIL ng wire.


Ang magnet na merong DALAWANG POLES ay merong opposing magnetic force. Ang magnetic force na to ay nagpepenetrate sa coils making the shaft rotate. Ito ang dahilan bakit umiikot ang shaft. At sa tuwing umiikot ito, ang coil ang nagiging CONDUCTOR ng kuryente. Each section ng wire becomes a small, separate eletric conductor na unti unting nagkakaroon ng malaking CURRENT. Ito na ngayong ang nagiging ELECTRIC POWER na maaring magamit ng tao. ;)

Ngunit, datapwat, subalit, at pero, hehe, hindi naman din pala turbine generator yun, isa palang SUN DIAL na ginawa ng mga UP ALUMNI..

Ang Booster at Transfer Pumps

Kapag ang isang building ay medyo mataas na, dalawang water tanks ang nilalagay: isa sa ibaba at isa sa itaas.  Ang main tank na nilalagay sa baba ang unang lugar kung saan natitipon ang lahat ng tubig.  Galing sa main tank, iaakyat ang tubig papunta sa overhead tank (karaniwang nakalagay sa rooftop).  ipon sa overhead tank ang mga tubig, ikakalat ito pababa at palabas sa mga gripo natin at sa ibang water outlets. Para magawa ang lahat ng ito, pantulong natin ang ating mga motor pumps.

Pero ano nga ba ang mga ito?

1) Transfer Pump - Ang pump na ito ang ginagamit para mailipat ang tubig. 

For vertical displacement: Ito ang motor pump na nilalagay sa basement o ground floor ng mga building para maiakyat ang tubig papunta sa taas. Ang transfer pump ang nakaconnect sa water level sensors (karaniwang float switches) sa mga tangke. Ito'y kusang aandar sa trigger ng water level sensor kapag hindi na sapat ang tubig na meron na kabilang tangke o sa tangkeng paglilipatan nya ng tubig. Usually, transfer pump lang sa baba, sapat na para maihatid ang tubig sa taas. 

Horizontal displacement: Ginagamit din ito sa paglilipat ng tubig sa parehong palapag. Halimbawa, may dalawang overhead tanks sa rooftop para sa main building at extension area. Para maitransfer ang tubig galing sa main building, gagamit ng transfer pump sa tabi ng main tank para mailipat ang tubig sa isa pang tangke sa extension building.

2) Booster Pump  - Ang pump na ito ay ginagamit para mapanatiling sapat ang daloy ng tubig. As per the term "booster", ito ay naglalayong mag-increase ng water pressure (pressure booster) kadalasan sa mga upper floors ng high rise building. Umaandar ito kapag may pressure drop sa ating water flow, at iwas water backflow na din.   Malalaman mong booster pump ito kasi may makikita kang pressure gauge katabi nito. Kadalasan ding may maliit na pressure tank (hugis oblong)

Sa mga karaniwang bahay naman, ginagamit ang booster pump sa irrigation (sa may mga hardin, gulayan, o iba pang taniman). Kung malayo ang lawn or mga taniman sa isang lugar, karaniwang mahina ang daloy ng tubig kaya ginagamit ang booster pump.   

Ito din ay ginagamit sa mga bahay ( 1 or 2-storey houses) na medyo matataas ang lugar. Pwedeng ilagay ang booster pump sa labas ng bahay pantulong para mas malakas ang tubig na maihahatid sa loob nito.

The Road Not Taken (Tagalog Translation)

Due to spare time, nakapagtranslate ako ng isang tula. (hehe)

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, 

Dalawang daang naghiwalay sa may kakahuyan

And sorry I could not travel both

Ako’y nanghihinayang dahil dapat pamilian

And be one traveler, long I stood

Sa paglalakbay, matagal akong nakatayo’t nakatanaw

And looked down one as far as I could

Napatingin sa pinakamalayo ng unang daan

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Di ko maaninag nang husto ang sa dulo’y nakaliko

Then took the other, as just as fair,

Kagyat kong pinili ngayon itong pangalawa

And having perhaps the better claim,

Dahil siguro mas makabubuting landasin kesa sa isa

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Ito’y madamo at wari ko’y sobrang napaglumaan na

Though as for that the passing there

Subalit sa pagpili sa daang magkasanga 

Had worn them really about the same,

Mapagtatantong sila’y magkahawig din pala

And both that morning equally lay

O, sa umagang yun sila ay parehong 

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Walang bakas ni isang pares ng paa! 

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Sabi ko, “bukas ko na lang tingnan yung una”

Yet knowing how way leads on to way

Kahit alam kong sa paglalakbay na ito

I doubted if I should ever come back.

Mahirap nang bumalik pa sa umpisa 

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Balang araw mapagtatanto ko rin nang may buntong hininga

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Minsan nakaraan na ang ilang taon

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-

May dalawang kalsada akong pinamilian

I took the one less traveled by,

Aking tinahak ang di masyadong napupuntahan

And that has made all the difference.

At malaking pagbabago na mula doon. ;)

Mainit na Linya o Hot Wire

Pano kapag ang isang linya ay mas mainit kaysa sa iba?

1) Una tingnan muna kung unbalanced ang circuit. Isa isang tingnan ang amperaha at kung mas mataas ito kaysa sa iba.

2) Tingnan kung maluwag ang terminal. Kapag maluwag kasi ang dinadaluyan ng kuryente, chances are, exposed ang kable, may tendency magleak ang current, kakalat ito, hindi masyadong nakokontrol ang circuit at mas iinit ang kable.

3) Idouble check baka may sunog na part. Sakaling naputulan na ang kable dati pa, nung nasunog ito, siguraduhing lahat ng sunog ay wala na dun. Kahit gaano kaunti ang sunog pag naroon pa rin sa circuit, maaaring magdulot pa rin ito ng problema.

Note: pag may sunog na area sa kable, di nakakadaloy nang maayos ang kuryente, nagtatambak (natratrapik) sa isang lugar kaya umiinit. Katagalan, ang kaunting sunog ay lalaki nang lalaki hanggang sa bumigay ang kable. Lalo pa kung ito ay nasa dulo, masusunog ang terminal sa breaker.