Wiring Up Your Spark Plugs

Your car’s spark plug is one of the indispensable parts of your whole car. However, you are not exactly sure what it is?

A spark plug is actually an electrical device. It is found mounted into the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine. What it does is it actually ignites compressed aerosol gasoline through an electric spark. Thus, spark plugs actually are considered to be the start of a car’s combustion. In simpler terms, your car would be able to start as long as it has spark plugs as part of its system.

Now, the electric spark that starts off from the spark plug actually is transferred to the rest of the other systems in your car with the assistance of spark plug wires. However, through time and wear, these wires could actually get brittle or could get quite rugged and old. And when this happens, your car may not run well or may not even start up even if you try to do so. Remember, automobile experts suggest that your spark plug wires should at least be changed every 30,000 miles. You can have your trusted technician do the job or you can do it yourself.

Changing spark plug wires by yourself can be quite easy. First, you should of course have new spark plug wires available. You can purchase these at auto parts stores. And when you have them ready, you should start locating the old spark plug wires that are still installed. When you have found them, pull off the wires that would be replaced. You can do this by grasping the base of the wire. You can employ a spark plug wire puller to assist you in doing the task or you can do it with just your fingers.

After you have removed the wire, check the length of the old one with the new ones you just purchased. Make sure that the new ones that you would be installing are the same length the ones that you will be replacing. And when you are sure, you can attach the new one to the spark plug. Remember that one end of the wire goes to the end of the spark plug while the other end goes to the distributor cap. You will know that it has been attached well for you will hear some sort of click or pop.

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Remodel With Structured Wiring

If you are planning a major remodel or building a new home you should give a great deal of consideration to implementing structured wiring for your low voltage requirements; television, telephone, audio and security.

Structured wiring provides a central point of termination for all low voltage wire runs. This is a relatively new method of wiring. Previously, all low voltage wiring ran in a loop, running from the first termination point to the second point, from the second to the third and so on. In structured wiring all wires run from a central location to its planned termination (outlet) point.

The advantages to a structured wiring methodology are:

1. If a wire becomes damaged you only loose signal to that point of termination. In the loop method you loose all terminations from the damaged section onward.

2. In a loop configuration you cannot make changes to what signal is fed to a termination point, because it is a loop, the last termination point must have the same signal as the first termination point. In a structured system, you have the flexibility to change the signal content of each and every wire going to each and every termination point.

Many manufacturers are now producing special panels and termination strips for structured wiring systems. These panels include options of amplifiers, switched termination strips, low voltage power and multiplexers. The systems are designed to grow with the occupant and can be easily expanded and reconfigured depending on your needs now and in the future.

Although there is increased initial cost, the amount of wire used and added time in running all wires back to a central point, the expense is well worth it. It may be noted that structured wiring systems have been a strong selling feature in resale homes and are a definitely a differentiator for the buyer.

For additional information on structured wiring for your home or other renovation projects, visit Renovation Headquarters.

Do It Yourself Wiring - What You Need To Know Before You Purchase New Light Fixtures

Lighting is one of those home improvement projects that everyone loves to do. Change that old chandelier to a fancy new one, or that small lighting fixture to a larger one that adds more light in the room. And one of the most popular ones, change that small light to a nice new ceiling fan. These are all great improvements to your home and relativity easy to do yourself, but whether you decide to do it yourself or hire an electrical contractor to do the work there are some things you need to consider before you go out and buy those new lighting fixtures.

The first thing you need to consider is the power requirements of the new fixture. If you are changing an old fixture with only one light bulb to one with two light bulbs, this will most likely not be a problem. But if it is a larger fixture or a chandelier you will need to take this into account.

You can go about this by finding out what is on the existing circuit that you intend to change the fixture on. Go to your main electrical panel and turn off the breakers until you find out which circuit the fixture is on. Next you will need to find out what is on that circuit, so with only that breaker off check and see what other fixtures or devices do not work. Next you will need to add up the current draw on the existing circuit, as per code you are only allowed to draw 80% of the current provided for by the circuit breaker protecting the circuit. For example if it is a 15 amp circuit breaker you are only permitted to draw 1200 watts, which is a total of twenty 60 watt light bulbs. At first glace this may seem like a lot but I have seen people have 20 60 watt light bulbs on a single chandelier. Checking to make sure that you don’t overload the circuit is very important; you will also need to make sure that the switch or dimmer is rated for the proper current draw of the fixture.

The next thing you need to look at is the weight of the new fixture, the box you are attaching it to has to be rated for the weight of the new fixture. Different electrical boxes have different ratings as far as the weight that can hang from them. This will only come into play with larger fixtures or ceiling fans. A ceiling fan must be hung from a box that is rated for a ceiling fan. If you are installing a heavy fixture or a ceiling fan you will most likely need to change the box also.

The National Electrical Code allows you to hang up to 50 lbs. from any electrical box that is threaded to accept No. 8-32 machine screws. Make sure your electrical box is securely fastened before you hang a new light fixture from it. If your light fixture weighs more than 50 lbs or is a ceiling fan, you will need to install a fan brace box. Check the label to make sure the box is designed to support the weight of your fixture.

Considering these aspects in advance will help you be better prepared for the project before you purchase the fixture. It will also keep you safe and compliant with the National Electrical Code.

John has been in the electrical industry for over 20 years and is currently running wireityourself.com an online do it yourself home wiring site.

Get Your Home Wired For Voice, Data And Video With A Structured Wiring System

Being a communication cable contractor for both business and residential I get calls from people all the time about installing cable to support a telephone, computer or a plasma screen TV. The location of anyone of this devises May well be in a room that is inaccessible without a tremendous expense for the home or business owner. Some times it's impossible to install cables in some buildings after the walls are completed. It’s so much cheaper to cable a building when the walls are open and the studs are showing.

The time to have your cable installed is not when walls are painted and pictures are hung. Take this tip from me if you are in the process of building that dream home don’t forget to have your building contractor include a structured wiring system.

A Structured Wiring System is the cable and connecting hardware (wall jacks, patch panels etc.) in a building that connects telephones, computers, and video/sound devices. Structured cabling system meets standards that make allowance for equipment to be added or change without having to modify the cabling that is in the walls. Structured cabling system by design takes in to account your future needs so cable is ran to every room location that data voice video may be needed. As technology advance and new equipment for faster Internet, better surround sound system, or TV Screens are developed you can be sure your structured cable system will be able to handle it for years to come.

Mike Stephens is president of Net Services Inc a structured cabling company in St. Louis Mo. To find out more about cabling for voice data and video see netservices1.com

Lighting Your Dolls House Using The Copper Tape Wiring Method

Lighting your dolls house can be one of the most rewarding aspects of building and owning a dolls house. The use of working lights, fires and even televisions can really add life to your house and make it a centre piece of the room in which it is housed.

The use of copper tape to light your dolls house is just one of the methods that can be used (others will be discussed in future articles).This method uses thin strips of self adhesive copper tape to conduct electricity around your house.

The first stage is to decide on the location of your dolls house lights. The socket should be removed from the end of each light and a small hole drilled to allow the wire to pass through (in this case to the back of the house). For ceiling light the hole should be drilled through the ceiling into the room upstairs and then out of the back of this room. This way wires can be covered over with carpeting etc. For wall lights that are not on the back wall these too can be trailed up the wall and then out to the back from the room above (small groves can be made in the walls to hide the wire and keep a smooth surface for decorating).

Next we need to decide on the position of the copper tape. For a front opening dolls house this would be the back of the house. The copper tape is laid down in two strips that run parallel to each other (they must not touch or they will short circuit). Where the copper tape overlaps use masking tape between the two tapes to insulate. Tape should be positioned so that the lighting wires can be easily connected and so that the wire creates a circuit.

Once the light has been installed the wire on the outside should be cut to the appropriate length to allow connection to the copper tape without lots of excess wire. To connect the wire to the copper tape separate the wire into two strands, strip the plastic coating off and solder one to either side of the copper tape circuit taking care that the copper cores do not touch.

Plug in the transformer and check that each light is working as you go – don’t wait till the end to try a figure out which light isn’t working!

While creating lighting circuit for your dolls house is relatively straight forward it should be remembered that we are working with an electrical circuit and must follow safe practices. Remember to always use the correct transformer for the job and NEVER connect straight to the mains.

Information provided by Scaledtofit for guideline purposes only. Scaledtofit supplies quality dolls house furniture, accessories and lighting to suit many periods, styles and budgets. http://www.scaledotfit.co.uk

The Top 5 Home Theater Wiring Installation Tips

So now you have your brand new home theater system components sitting in their boxes in front of you and it's go time. You have to somehow connect all of these foreign objects together and make it all work. For many people this is a really intimidating scenario, but actually if you follow a few simple guidelines it doesn't have to be all that difficult. So here are the top 5 tips for home theater wiring installation.

1. This may sound corny but read the manual. I know that there are lots of you folks that prefer to just pick up a screwdriver and dive in, but you cannot believe how much you can mess up by not taking the time here to read the installation instructions through and get a good feel for what you need to do in advance. In fact, you may somehow get the system to work without doing that, but odds are that it will never perform as well as it should simply because a few steps were left out while it was being installed. So save your self the extra grief and just read the wiring installation instruction manual before you get started.

2. Use the correct gauge wire for your installation. Remember that when you have to run wire for longer distances it requires a heavier gauge to be able to successfully transmit the signal. Here is a simple general guideline that you can use: for lengths under 100 feet 16 gauge wire should be adequate, up to 200 feet 14 gauge wire will work and over that you will probably need 12 gauge wire to make sure things work properly.

3. Whenever you are making any kind of home theater wiring installation whether it be from one component to another or from a component to the speakers, make sure that both components are powered off when you connect them. Many is the heartache caused by someone turning on components before making the connections and experiencing high sudden power loads that damage their brand new equipment. Avoid that by always keeping the components powered off as you make wiring connections.

4. Gather your cables and wires together in advance and make sure that they will stretch far enough from each installed component before you begin installation. It's really frustrating to find out that one of your wires or cables isn't long enough after you already have everything else set up.

5. A common mistake that many people make when installing their own home theater setup is stacking the components like the receiver, dvd player, cable box and so on, so closely together that they have no room to breathe. Often they will even put them inside a closed cabinet too, which only compounds the problem. So before laying out your system try to think of a way to provide plenty of air flow between each component which will allow it to run more efficiently, last longer, and perform better.

If you plan ahead to set aside plenty of time for your home theater wiring installation, you should be able to get it done with little problem and frustration if you use the tips provided above.

Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related topics including audio and video. You can find out more about surround sound setup and surround sound installation by visiting our Home Theater website.

Car Stereo Wiring 101 - A Must Read!

I have come across a lot of car stereo systems over the past 10 years or so. There are so many "techniques" to installing head units. Everyone has their own opinion of what is right and wrong when wiring up a system, but just because it works doesn't make it right.

I asked Majestic Modifications what their opinion was on the subject. How do they install so many units and always get it right?

First, if applicable, always use the harnesses. The aftermarket wiring harness will usually take the guesswork out of the installation. These harnesses attach to the vehicle's factory wiring harness and gives you a color coded installation. You just attach red to red, yellow to yellow, etc. But is that all an installer should know?

Starting with your digital multimeter, find the power sources in the harness. One source will be continuous 12 volts, the other will be the ACC (ignition) 12 volts. These two will go with the yellow and red wires from the aftermarket head unit's harness. They are labeled accordingly. It is usually a good idea to attach the ground wire to the frame of the dash. A lot of head units come with a connector for this already attached to the ground wire. Secure these in place with some solder and shrink tubing. Slip the shrink tubing over one of the wires to be connected and move it out of the way. Connect the wires and dab a little solder on the wires. Let cool and then slide the heat shrink tubing over the connection. Heat with a heat gun/hair dryer to shrink the tubing to fit.

You can try to look on the internet for the wiring colors, but good luck. They will tell you the "typical" wire colors, but chances are it will be different. You can try two techniques to find the right wires. Clip the rest of the wires from the factory harness. You can test the speakers with a good 9 volt battery to see which speakers are which. Two wires connected to the same speaker will make it pop. Note which speaker makes the pop and attach it to that speakers wiring from the head unit. I like to turn the unit on and make sure the wires are the right polarity. A reverse wired speaker will not have as good a sound as a properly wired one. Continue the technique until all the speakers are connected.

The other way you can trace the speakers down is to turn on the head unit, but be VERY careful to not cross any wires. Start with a pair of wires, and attach them one at a time until you get sound. Note which speaker it is and attach it to that speaker's wires from the wiring harness, taking not of polarity. Continue until all the wires are in place. Zip tie the wire together and neatly tuck them behind the head unit.

Be sure you have a good ground wire connection. Be sure that RCAs or signal wires are running away from any power wires or sources, and are not run parallel to them.

If you want a neat trick, you can attach the 12 volt acc to the illumination wire, and you will be able to turn the unit on with your parking light switch. Take note, that anytime the unit is on, the dash panel lights will be on too, but you won't notice them in the daytime. The illumination wire is used to turn the factory radio lights on at night.

Not having the wiring harness for your vehicle is not a do or die situation. If you can get the harnesses, save the hassle and time and use it. If you find yourself in a bind, then follow the steps above and get it installed correctly.

Majestic Modifications is the complete car customization concept, specializing in car accessories, cold air intakes and performance upgrades, body kits and exterior accessories, glow gauges and interior accessories, wheels and tires, mobile video, car audio and electronics.