How Understanding Your Electrical Accessories Better Can Cater to Energy Saving

House owners, shop owners, and real estate developers are always looking for measures that help conserve energy expenditure on their properties. Charges levied by power distribution companies in India tend to be higher than most nations in South Asia.

Therefore, it is both socially and financially responsible to learn more about the many electrical accessories that fall within the purview of commercial and residential use. Here are 2 types of electrical accessories to understand better, which will help save energy and money.

1. Power Strips, Spike Guards, & Extension Boards

There are two ways these electrical accessories can serve:

i. Preventing Phantom Loading:

These electrical accessories can solve a phenomenon known as “phantom loading” (also called “standby power”), wherein certain electrical appliances siphon off electricity despite being switched off. These appliances are usually but not limited to televisions, computers, microwaves, and electric heaters.

The correct way of understanding this is to not consider them switched off in the conventional sense, but as in their standby mode in which they use small amounts of electricity which builds up over time.

The best way to stop phantom loading is to turn off the appliance from the switchboard directly or to disconnect its cable. But you can also prevent phantom loading by connecting your high-power appliances to power strips, spike guards, and extension boards which cut off the connection once the device is in standby mode.   

ii. Point-of-Use Surge Protection:

Often, spikes and surges in electrical current can damage sensitive and expensive electronic appliances, such as computers, refrigerators, and smartphones. At these different points of use, power strips can act to redirect the dangerous excess of current elsewhere.

Power strips which are surge protectors use metal oxide varistors or gas discharge arrestors, which divert the excess current to the grounding line, while reverting to its original state after the surge passes. They can also use series circuit suppressors which suppress the current. They can reduce damages and preserve one’s appliances for a longer time. Undamaged appliances are more energy-efficient, and, in the long run, will save on energy and energy costs. No one wants a faulty appliance that overheats and poses a danger to its end-users.

Make sure to use ones with light indicators that show whether their surge protection components are still working.   

2. Miniature Circuit Breakers & Distribution Boards

There is always the potential for failure within electricity distribution. Transformer switching, lightning strikes, and several other occurrences can disrupt the steady voltage flow. This poses a great danger to appliances that are directly connected to the supply, as well as to inhabitants.

The distribution board is where the electrical supply is subdivided into miniature circuits for different parts of the house or unit. Each miniature circuit will have a miniature circuit breaker to control electricity to and from that circuit and to protect against overcurrent. This simplifies management.

How so? There are two ways:

i. Whole-House Surge Protection:

Like power strips and spike guards, miniature circuit breakers are electrical accessories that belong to the group of surge protectors. But they are larger in scope and are meant to protect a whole house or commercial unit against instances of overcurrent.

On the distribution board, there is the main switch to turn off all electrical supply to a house, as well as a series of other miniature breakers to turn off their respective sections of the house or unit.

Should overcurrent from the building supply enter the unit’s circuits or should any appliance or circuitry malfunction in any section of the house, causing an overload, the circuit breaker will “trip,” thus, cutting off supply. This prevents injury to the inhabitants as well as the loss of energy from faulty appliances.

ii. Preventing Defective Wires:

Frayed or damaged wires impact electricity bills by heating up and using up more electricity. Damaged wires can also adversely affect appliances, causing further loss of electrical energy. Your circuit breakers prevent wires from overheating due to overcurrent that supersedes their current ratings.

There are, of course, more straightforward methods of preventing the overuse of electricity. Many unit owners already follow these methods: to switch off unused appliances, disconnect electric heaters and geysers when away on holiday, and to conserve the use of high-power appliances such as air conditioners, dryers, washing machines, and ovens.  

The sensible idea is to take the time to understand how each electrical accessory and appliance works within the system. When end-users understand the ideal manner to utilize their amenities, the energy efficiency of their living spaces is rewarded. For an educated understanding of electrical accessories that can improve living conditions, you can consult with our team at Precision Electricals.