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Customer Tips Efficiency   Safety Appliances

Appliances

• Lightning is the biggest danger to electrical appliances. When you see a lightning storm, unplug your sensitive appliances such as computers, hi-fi, etc. Turning the outlet switch off is not enough.

• If you can see the flashes but cant hear the thunder, the lightning is generally far away.

• Dust is a major cause of failure in electrical equipment. Your appliances must be cleaned from time to time by a professional technician.

• Never ever use a domestic power supply for electric arc welding purposes. It may be unsafe, could damage your wiring, and will certainly damage sensitive electrical equipment.

• If you have a computer at home, it is essential you also have a power protector. Forget the cheap kind; they're useless. Get one with a telephone connector too, if you regularly use the Internet.

• Buy correctly rated equipment. The domestic supply here is 240 volts, 50 Hz. single phase. Anything else is incorrect.

• If you must buy 110-volt equipment, make sure it is supplied with a three-pin plug for use on earthed systems, and use the correct transformer. Never cut off the earth terminal.

• Christmas mini lights are cheap and not normally repairable. Don't take chances with fires or electric shock. Buy a new set every year.

• Never plug too many appliances into the same outlet. Most plug adapters are unsafe and are not recommended.

• Air conditioners must be professionally sized for the room you want to cool. Too small and you overwork the unit; too large and you waste electricity.

• You should have a professional electrician check the electrical grounding system of your home about once a year. Grounds connected to water pipes are of no use.