If you're looking to set a mood with your significant other or are trying to find a way to limit how much light you have, dimmer switches are the way to go. They're easy to use and are perfect for anybody who likes to have different lighting options available to them. This video will show you how to install a three way dimmer switch from scratch. When installing be aware that you need to turn off the electricity before doing so, otherwise you may be electrocuted. Be careful and good luck!
This video shows several tips that will help you cut down the electricity usage of your refrigerator. Think about what you want from the fridge before opening the door, instead of standing there with the door open while deciding what you want. Set the temperature of your fridge only as cold as necessary, and allow 24 hours for any temperature changes to take effect. Keep exterior condensation switches off unless you need them. Make sure the door gasket is clean and in good condition. Clean it...
Nothing sets off your garden beds like a nice, crisp edge. Here are four common tools for edging a garden bed. This video gives you a few options on how to edge your garden.
Youtipis4u has come up with a few tips to reduce your menstrual pain in a natural way. Many of us ladies opt for painkillers or other medicines to reduce menstrual discomfort. Here is a way that is natural and has no side-effects. One of them is raspberry tea leaves. During the menstrual days, we can opt for a raspberry leaf tea instead of a normal one. Raspberry leaves relax uterine muscles. That way, uterine contractions reduce and hence the pain decreases. This tea is perfectly harmless, h...
Is your computer's LCD screen getting so dirty you can barely make out what you're typing. Use a few household ingredients to keep a clear, sharp image on your LCD screen without clouding or scratching it.
This short video tutorial series on washing clothes without power. In an extended emergency, it might be difficult to wash clothes without electricity or out in nature. All you'll need is a little bit of soap, water, and some buckets. Watch this survival training video and learn how to wash clothes in an emergency or disaster situation.
Iron Man. What could be a more fitting song for 1,000,000 volts of electricity? It's the perfect Vegas act, so it's shocking to hear that ArcAttack is yet unsigned. With their high-tech, custom-made music equipment, homemade chain mail suits and... LIGHTNING!... they put on one electrifying performance!
We have seen it before (previous post: Human Powered Ferris Wheel), but it never gets any less amazing. Talk about resourcefulness. No need for electricity. Use humans to power your ferris wheel (if you had one sitting around... I wish I had one). Via Make,
In the perpetual search for a renewable and convenient energy source, our bacterial friends have once again stolen the limelight.
Your car is a well-oiled machine...when you first get it. Once the new car smell wears off and the excitement of driving the latest and greatest model lessens, car maintenance becomes a chore and some of us even forget to do it regularly.
Most of us are familiar with the names Pikachu, Jiggly Puff, and Maril. If you grew up during the late nineties, then it was virtually impossible to get away from Pokemon fevor, and these were the chubby and cute crowd pleasers that everyone loved. But, if you were (or are) a true Pokemon fan, then you know that Pokemon lore extends far beyond a yellow electricity-conducting rodent.
Using only vinegar and a few simple materials, it is possible to construct a working battery. This science video tutorial explains how to construct and use a battery like this to power a calculator. A good science project as part of an introductory electricity course. This project can be used as a science fair project or merely for fun. If you've ever wanted to make your own battery, know is the time, this science experiment will show you how.
This science video demonstrates how to construct a model windmill and then calculate its power output. This tutorial also includes a discussion of Energy, Work, Power, Joules and Watts. If you know anything about electricity, you'll be fine with this science experiment. If you know how to be constructive, you'll be fine too. This science lab is not only fun and educational, but you'll have your very own windmill at the end.
Staying cool in the summer heat sometimes feels like it takes all the energy in the world. But what about a fan using no-cost electrical energy? If you're looking to keep cool during a power outage, or if you don't want to break the bank by running your DIY air conditioner all day long, you can use candlelight to power a fan!
This video teaches the basics of Ohm's law, which is an important equation in electrical engineering. The three variables which are used in this equation are V, which stands for voltage, I for current, and R for resistance. The equation for the law itself is I=V/R. This law defines the relationship between these three very important electrical properties. The host of the video further explains what voltage, current, and resistance are and how they work in relation to an electrical current. Gi...
Whether it is damaged in a storm or you're just replace an old one with a new model, replacing an exterior light fixture can help the overall look of your home. It's an easy job that can be done in less than an hour, but it's very dangerous.
Ultimate Handyman demonstrates how to check a washing machine pump for blockages. First, disconnect the washing machine from the electricity source and remove the pump. The water sucks through the inlet and is pumped out of the outlet. Check to make sure that the pump doesn't have any open circuits by attaching the leads to the multimeter. Remove the screws to look inside the pump. Remove any debris that may be clogging the propellor. Make sure the O-ring around the edge creates the seal and ...
Fix the 2 packs of Ramen noodles as instructed on the package. You can buy 12 individual packs as they are a few cents cheaper. Some people like to coordinate my noodle flavors with the type of meat they're using. For chicken flavoring, use turkey or chicken. For beef flavoring, use beef or pork. For hrimp flavoring, use any type of seafood.
Ron Hazelton brings you this video on wainscoting. Wainscoting is paneling that runs about a third of the way up a wall. Ron shows you how to use a chair to figure exactly where to place the chair rail. When installing around electrical outlets be sure to turn off the electricity. Next cut all the panel sections to length. When you attach them to the wall be sure to attach at top and bottom. Next attach the paneling, you can use a scarf joint to hide the seams. When installing the chair rail,...
Don't just drink your milk... have fun with it! Check out this science experiment video to see how to curdle milk with a battery and salt. This experiment can be done by anyone with a few simple materials... milk, a 9-volt battery, a small glass or plastic cup, salt and a stirring rod.
Snails and slugs are a big problem for gardeners across the country, whether it be a hosta patch or your lettuce, they love to eat a wide variety of plants. If you have containers, raised beds, even if you have benches slugs will climb up and over and into your plants. To get rid of these pests you could use baits, traps or a preventative barrier. Copper tape is a protective barrier that works. Copper conducts enough electricity so that when that slimy slug touches the copper strip it gets a ...
If you're ever in a survival situation where you have no electricity and you're fresh out of flashlight batteries, fear not. By using commonplace items such as glass containers, old T-shirts, and cheap vegetable oil, you can very easily put together your own DIY oil lamp that will brighten up that darkness for hours. And no matter how fancy those store-bought scented candles can smell, none of them will smell as good as a DIY lard candle made with your leftover bacon grease.
Piezoelectric Energy In this article, I'll show you how to make a small, wallet-sized device that generates electricity from kinetic energy. The concept is simple: Piezoelectricity is the charge that is produced when certain solid materials (commonly ceramic and crystal) in response to mechanical stress. Piezoelectrics have many applications; in speakers, actuators, sensors, even fuses. For more information, click here.
No kidding, watch below as 500,000 volts of electricity literally course over a man's body. Of course, he has a little protection: the faraday suit. The video was shot in Austin, Texas, for a German television documentary. Producer Johannes Wiebus is quoted as saying:
If you want to save money on your electric bill, try building some of these solar panels using solar cells wired in a series. You can save money by using extra glass you or a friend may already own if it isn't being used. Soon you can harness the power of the sun by creating your own solar electricity.
In this video, we learn how to change a circuit breaker. First, turn the main breaker off so there is no running electricity. Then, go to the meter area around your circuit breaker system. With these, there will be wires running all around the entire system. With most breakers, you can pull them right out from where they clip in. There will be a wire connected to this which you can remove. Do this, and then connect the wire to the new breaker. Snap this back into place and make sure it's secu...
In this video we learn how to replace an electrical light switch. First, turn the power off in your home. Then, remove the screws around the switch exposing the wires. Confirm that they are dead with a tester, then you can get started removing. Wrap electrical tape around the wires and then label them with what they were connected to. Tear this out of the terminals, then replace the new one with the wires hanging out. Make sure you place the wires back into the same terminals as before, using...
Are your electricity and water bills comparable with that of Raging Waters? Then it's probably the right time to consider how to save on your energy and water bill by taking small steps like assessing where you're at in your home, having an energy audit, and eliminate leaky faucets.
In this video, we learn how to reset your wireless router. You can use this if you are getting the "server can't be found" error, and it will work most of the time. First, grab your router and unplug the electricity and DSL plugs that are in the router. They will be round and look like post, and shouldn't be hard to find. After you unplug it, plug it back in after about 30-45 seconds. This will reboot your router, so it will most likely fix the problem you are experiencing. You should be able...
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to conserve at home. One way to conserve at home is to have a recycling bin. Before throwing away a recyclable item, rinse it off first to avoid unpleasant odors. Change all the incandescent light bulbs in your home to fluorescent light bulbs to conserve the electricity. Fluorescent light bulbs consume 4 times less energy and lasts 8 times longer. Use home appliances that have the "Energy Star" label on them. Wash your clothing with cold water. Eat or...
Brian Padilla from Hilo Guitars demonstrates how to tune a ukulele without a tuner. To tune a ukulele without a tuner, first pluck the G string and compare it to the seventh fret of the C string and match the pitch. On the same C string drop down to the fourth fret and match the E string to it. Go to the fifth fret on the E string and match the A string to it. Make adjustments as necessary. If your tuner runs out of batteries or you're stranded in an area without electricity, use the fret mat...
Gary Bunzer the RV Doctor shows how to avoid potential RV problems by cleaning your electrical hookup cord. Before you connect your RV to an electricity supply, make sure to clean and brighten the metal contacts on your shoreline cord. Use fine-grade steel wool to clean all surface corrosion off your cord's prongs. You can also use sandpaper, emery cloth or any other gentle abrasive. After you get the metal prongs clean and shiny, use a dauber or brush to coat the surface of the prongs with a...
Richpin demonstrates how to test an alternator with a standard multimeter. First make sure that the vehicle's battery is fully charged. Take the negative lead of the multimeter and put it on the negative post of the battery. Place the positive lead of the meter on the positive lead of the battery. Set the meter to DC voltage using the 20 scale and read the display to ensure the battery is fully charged. Next start up the vehicle and see what the alternator is producing. The display should now...
Although not made of electricity, the electric lemonade brings a lot of cool colors, carbonation and alcohol to the table. A bit o' rum, some blue curacao and a little sweet sour and you're rocking.
Electric garage doors are a great convenience -- until, of course, they break. The bad news: a dozen things could be to blame. The good news: many are easy to fix yourself. Watch this video to learn how to repair your garage door opener.
This is a video tutorial on how to make a USB aquarium powered by a under-gravel LED bulb that is powered by a USB port. With a bit of simple engineering, build a circuit to provide elegant lighting to your aquarium. Connect the wiring to the air pump for a cool lighted bubble effect. Plus, it's powered by your computer! Don't use expensive fish, or those which are sensitive to DC Currents. Don't do this project in a saline water tank, because salt conducts more electricity.
The best physics lecturer, Walter Lewin, makes another wonderful physics demonstration after having read a lecture on batteries.
Solar panels are an amazing invention. Catching energy from the Sun before it even enters Earth's food chain, photovoltaics are like an all-natural nuclear power plant. Unfortunately, the constituted parts of a solar panel are rare, valuable, and subject to the coercive forces of market competition.
In this video, we learn how to make lightning with a spoon and a balloon. First, you will need to gather a spoon and a balloon. Once you have these, blow up the balloon then tie it on the end so it's sealed. After this, rub the balloon on your hair and then slowly move the spoon towards the balloon. Turn the lights out and watch what happens. You will see sparks of electricity start to appear between the balloon and the spoon! This is great to do with children or as a quick experiment to show...
I'm sure most everyone has some kind of fluorescent light source in their home; those long white tubes that emit a bright white light when turned on, or maybe a few of the CFL power-saver bulbs. These bulbs actually require very little "power" (i.e. a high voltage:almost no current ratio) to emit light. In fact, static electricity is enough to make them flicker. Inside these tubes is a gas, and when electricity flows through that gas, it gets "excited" and produces light.
