What is a dedicated line?

This is an extract from a white paper circulated by APC!

A dedicated line is a power line, which runs from the circuit breaker panel to the critical load and has no other loads connected to it. Normally a circuit breaker feeds multiple receptacles; with a dedicated line, a single circuit breaker feeds only the one receptacle that the protected load is connected to. The advantages of a dedicated line are threefold:

First, the protected load is not subjected to input voltage variations that could be caused by other loads sharing the same circuit. Such variations could result from the voltage drops in the building wiring, which are caused by the currents drawn by the adjacent loads. These variations are prevented by the dedicated line since the adjacent loads no longer share the same building wiring. Second, the protected load is not subjected to variations in the voltage of the grounding wire, which might result from ground noise injection from adjacent loads. This reduces intersystem ground noise.

Third, the protected load is not subject to the potential hazard of having its source circuit breaker tripped by the malfunction of another load, since with a dedicated line no other load shares the same circuit breaker.

A dedicated line may be installed at any time. An electrician simply installs a new circuit breaker in the circuit breaker panel and runs a new wire to either a new or existing AC receptacle.

BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency)

Energy Efficiency may be the most discussed words while shopping for electrical appliances. But since the terms are purely technical and there are several variations like capacity, speed and efficiency common man stand puzzled before the shop keeper. So some indications are required to easily identify the power efficiency of an electrical appliance. Here comes a BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency) label star rating. The BEE Star Energy Efficiency Labels have been created to standardize the energy efficiency ratings of different electrical appliances and indicate energy consumption under standard test conditions. BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency) label indicates the efficiency of the equipment with 1-5 stars. The more star the label bears the more efficient it will be. For example a 5 star rated AC or refrigerator is more energy efficient that an appliance bearing 4 stars. So go for maximum stars while you purchase an electrical appliance. The more stars means more energy efficiency and the more money it will save over the life. Energy saving is for your pocket and for the self reliance of our country.

The Seven Types of Power Problems

There are several types of power problems. The standards define power problems under seven categories depending on their wave forms. They are as follows:

1. Transients
2. Interruptions
3. Sag / Under voltage
4. Swell / Overvoltage
5. Waveform distortion
6. Voltage fluctuations
7. Frequency variations

Learn more about these power problems at

The Seven Types of Power Problems

by APC

LT SWITCHBOARD–Low Tension Power Control Centre

LT SWITCHBOARD–Low Tension Power Control Centre is used to control power flow at low voltage level (415 Volt) three phase 3/4 wire systems. There are power distribution boards, Power Generation Control Boards, Feeder Control Boards and Motor Control Panels come under this category. I short these are system/panels which are used for 415 V (phase to phase) , for electrical distribution and motor control, in any type of industries. The boards are fabricated and comply with IEC 60439-1 as well as with derived national standards NF EN 60 439-1, VDE 0660 Part 5, DIN 41-488, BS 5486, NBN C63 439 and CEI Italy 542 concerning the construction of type-tested assemblies (TTA). Types of LT SWITCH BOARD – Low Tension Power Control Centre are:

PCC-Power Control Centre
PDB-Power Distribution
MPDB-Main Power Distribution Board

MCC-Motor Control
ACDB-Alternating Current Distribution Board

DCDB-Direct Current Distribution Board

Electrical Power Engineering Reference & Applications Handbook by K.C. Agrawal a book review.

Electrical Power Engineering Reference & Applications Handbook by K.C. Agrawal a book review. Electrical Power Engineering is a vast subject and people practicing as consultants in this field have to respond to a lot of issues. Nobody can remember all the technical details and reproduce them as and when required. So it is essential to have some books for reference purpose. Electrical Power Engineering Reference & Applications Handbook (ISBN 81- 901642- 5- 2) an upgraded edition of 'Industrial Power Engineering And Applications Handbook' (ISBN 0- 7506 -7351- 6) is worth mentioning in this regard. This Reference & Applications Handbook is a single source of all information needs in the subject area of power engineering. The book is divided in 5 parts: Electric Motors, Drives and Energy Saving, Switchgear Assemblies and Captive (Emergency) Power Generation, Voltage Surges, Over-voltages, Circuit Interrupters and Grounding Practices, Power Capacitors and Reactive Power Controls, Busbar Systems. The latest edition contain about 30% more than the previous edition.Electrical Power Engineering Reference & Applications handbook (ISBN 81-901642-5-2) is a 5-part comprehensive guide to all aspects of Electric Products, Electrical Machines Theory, performance and applications, testing and maintenance using latest IEC, IEEE, NEMA and ANSI Codes

You can buy this book online or from your nearest book seller. Those who want to review their book on this blog may please contact me at goldenweblinks@gmail.com

Electric Current from Plants

Stanford scientists have invented a new source of electric energy production from a process that is very similar to photosynthesis, a plant's method of converting sunlight to chemical energy. It may be a first step toward generating "high efficiency" bioelectricity that doesn't give off carbon dioxide as a by-product. The scientists developed an unique, ultra-sharp nanoelectrode made of gold, and gently pushed it through the algal cell membranes. From the photosynthesizing cells, the electrode collected electrons that had been energized by light and the researchers generated a tiny electric current. This can developed to a considerable quantity of electric power and in future can be used to generate electric power for the portable electric equipments and later will be a solution for the energy crisis we face.

Stanford engineers have generated electrical current by tapping into the electron activity in individual algae cells. This may be the first step toward carbon-free electricity directly from plants. There are more news coming up from various corners about more experiments and achievements. Read this press release for more information.