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We hope you enjoyed the first part of the Illustrated Guide to Avoiding Electrical Hazards and Energy Saving at Home.
Below is the "second half of the house" where the kind people at the Electrical Safety First go through the remaining rooms in the house and identify the most probable causes for high energy consumption, electrical hazards, etc.
To enlarge the picture, simply click on it; below the picture you will find the explanations regarding this diagram.
Home, Safe Home! Illustrated Tips for Avoiding Electrical Hazards and Energy Saving at Home(part two)
- Lawnmowers have sharp blades and rapidly rotating parts, capable of cutting through electrical cables as easily as grass. Never cut grass in wet conditions, always wear sensible footwear and check the cable and plug before use. Always use an RCD.
- Keep trailing cables out of the way. Flexible cables trailed under carpets, rugs or across walkways are not only a major trip hazard, but also a potential fire risk. Repeated stretching and treading on the cable may damage the cable insulation.
- GREEN - Energy Saving Tip - Try turning your washing machine down from a 60º to 40º wash. It’ll save you 30% of your electricity bill with every wash.
- Think you’ve found the perfect spot for your new picture? Can’t wait to fix it to your wall? Think again. Never drill holes or fix nails in walls or partitions without knowing what is hidden behind them. Walls and partitions conceal electrical cables and gas and water pipes. A cable and metal detector will help identify the presence of concealed cables and metal pipes.
- GREEN - Energy Saving Tip - Try turning your thermostat down by 1º and the only thing that will notice will be your purse. You could save 10% of your annual bill.
- Water and electricity are a lethal combination. That is why the bathroom, of all the rooms in the home, needs to be treated with extra care. Sockets are not permitted in the bathroom (with the exception of carefully positioned shaving points) and lightswitches should be of the pull cord type. Never bring mains-powered appliances into a bathroom.
Further Tips on Energy Saving + Avoiding Electrical Hazards at Home
- What is a Residual Current Device (RCD)? It’s a lifesaver! An RCD is a safety device that switches off electricity automatically if it detects an electric current flowing to earth. All power tools, when used outdoors, should be plugged into a socket protected by an RCD.
- Wired up: Brown to live (L) Blue to neutral (N) Green and yellow to earth (E)
- Choose the right fuse: It’s important to match the right appliance to the right rated fuse. Here is a quick guide, but you should refer to the manufacturers instructions if possible. 3A fuse: Most lamps, televisions, videos, computers, mixers, power drills etc will use 700W or less.
- 13A fuse: Larger appliances such as washing machines, toasters, irons and heaters will use over 700W.
