Daily Archives2017 May 08

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Types of Floor Jacks

A floor jack can mean different things depending on where you use it. The jack used in most car repair shops or garages to lift cars and make repairs conveniently under the car or a tire is called an automotive floor jack. However, another jack is utilized to raise bigger ‘things’ like buildings or houses that needs its beams to be replaced because they are sagging. The last type of jack is used for phone connections. It got its name because it is typically installed on the floor and wall intersection. Notice how all equipment are called floorjacks but have entirely different meanings and purposes.

While there are a lot of different jacks available, this article would only focus on the first type of floorjack mentioned: automotive floor jacks. The other two types of jacks will be reserved for a different article.

Automotive Jacks

It is common for people to always associate the term ‘floor jacks’ with automotive floor jacks as this had always been the first floorjacks produced. This one uses a pump arm, hydraulics or air compression to raise vehicles and access the undercarriage easily. The automotive floorjack makes changing tires or doing a brake job easier to accomplish. These are handy tools that can be found in car hoods, garages, farms and other places where there are vehicles that may need to be repaired. Automotive jacks have made a lot of repairs easier for the common do-it-yourself mechanics and vehicle owners.

On the other hand, this automotive jack should not be confused with hydraulic lifts which are used in most auto repair shops.

A more stable ground is required for automotive floorjacks to eliminate improper balance. The ground should not shift as it could seriously harm the vehicle. A lip can be connected to the automobile and raise it gently by pumping the arm, hydraulic system or air compressor.

Automotive jacks have different ratings depending on the weight that they can lift without sacrificing security. These automotive floorjacks are very powerful that they can up to 20 tons. For your personal use, you can purchase a 2 or 3-ton jack especially if you’re going on long road trips so you can easily change your tire whenever needed. Obviously, the bigger your vehicle, the stronger is the jack required to do the job. Farm equipment, on the other hand, may necessitate a 10-ton automotive jack.

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Source by Brandy A. Sean

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Insulated bucket trucks were created in an effort to help protect workers from electrocution. This applies to linemen who may be working on utility lines such as telephone poles or transformers, etc. These jobs have the added danger of not only being located in high places, but working near extremely high voltage lines. This is why there was a need to create something that could additionally protect these workers and reduce the risk of electric shock.

There are three main aspects of an insulated bucket truck that can provide protection from electric shock. These are the most important components to maintain and keep within the standards as defined by ANSI:

Bucket Liner – This will protect the portion completely inside the liner, such as a person standing. Once the electricity touches the liners, it will become ineffective to anything inside the liner.

Upper Boom Insulating Section – This will prevent the flow of electricity from the boom tip through the boom elbow only.

Lower Boom Insert – This piece will provide a section of insulation between the elbow and the truck chassis.

A common misconception is that the rubber from your utility truck tires will provide shock protection. This is false as they were not built to provide electrical insulation. Dirt and salt that accrue in the tire tread can actually act as a conductor of electricity. Your body is an even better conductor of electricity, so you should never touch a bucket truck that is in contact with electrical lines even if you are operating with controls that are wooden. Here are some effects of an electrical current on the body:

Freezing Current – 5-25ma – can cause an involuntary muscle spasm

Knockout Current – 25-100ma – unconsciousness may occur and breathing could stop

Nerve Block Current – 100-200ma – your heart could stop and you would almost certainly need CPR

Frying Current – over 200ma – this will literally cook the part of the body that the current came in contact with. Death is almost always instantaneous if the path of the current is through the chest.

It’s a good idea to always keep these factors in mind when working near electricity. Additionally, you should consider the humidity of your current surroundings as well as atmospheric electricity such as lightning. You should never be working in a bucket truck, near power lines or not, if there is a lightning storm taking place.

Hopefully this article has helped you to better understand what an insulated bucket truck is and why workers can benefit from them. Keep in mind that you should only operate or use an insulated bucket truck if you have had approved training. It is not intended as a substitute for OSHA or ANSI standards, so, again, please make sure you have the proper training and certifications, where applicable, before use.

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Source by Meredith Nunnally

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Navigation systems for vehicles have been around for decades. Car GPS Navigation Systems were first used by the military and then little by little the technology found its way into the private sector. Finding GPS systems in phones, watches, radios, cars, trucks, suvs and more is common.Over the years the technology has become more and more sophisticated. GPS nav systems are a large part of our lives.

Below are a few areas where GPS systems have really altered the way we go about our day.

1) A GPS car navigation system has provided traffic relief for many drivers. It is not uncommon for even the simplest system to come with the capability to remap our daily routes around serious traffic jams. There are those that talk to you and provide turn by turn directions so you can place your focus on road where it belongs. There are even those that mimic a famous signer or actor’s voice. These are not only comical, but can provide a bit of comedy for your passengers.

2) These GPS systems will help you find the nearest ATM or gas station. If you live in a larger city like I do, there are times when you may find yourself in an area of the city where you are not familiar with. Hit a button and your GPS system helps you find your way to a bank or gas station. Often times a GPS system will not stop there. They are even capable of finding places like restaurants, parks, airports, amusement parks and other places of interest. If you have an actual address, the GPS system will take you there with pinpoint accuracy. It is truly a joy to have one in your vehicle.

3) A built in GPS car tracking system has also started to provide a lot of value. If you have ever been in a situation where you are in trouble or completely lost in the desert or mountains, a tracking system can save your life. It can tell others where you are at, getting aid to you quickly.

Once upon a time I owned an Acura TL with a navigation system in it and it was my favorite feature of the car. Although it has been many years since I had that vehicle, I still miss the comfort of having it around to show me where to go. I travel often and hate to have to use a map to find my way.

Not only are maps outdated, they are hard to read in the dark and are never detailed enough to take right to where you want to go. Google Maps and Map Quest are great alternatives, but once again they are not integrated into the car.

The most recent models of navigation systems will accept voice commands. One of the biggest drawbacks to voice recognition is it does not respond to all voices. You find yourself repeating the words so the system can recognize what you are saying. It is easier just to stop the vehicle for a minute and enter the data into the system than to speak the words. Often times the voice recognition is too hard to use.

If you find that your vehicle is lacking the great functionality of a GPS system, then do not fret. There are a number of very good quality portable units that will not only do all the featured mentioned in this article, but also provide the feature of portability. The money spent will be well worth it. You will find yourself a lot happy on the road, less distracted and a safer driver. A lot of vehicles are now coming equipped with them as part of vehicles original price. Yet there are still those economical vehicles that do not have this option, but they can easily be outfitted with a portable unit.

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Source by Arturo Saborio