Posts Tagged ‘home’
Oxford Student Convicted of Child Pornography Offenses
An Oxford student has been convicted of downloading child pornography and has been placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years. However, the student continued to study in Oxford for several weeks after his conviction and did not inform his college or the University.
The student, whom The Oxford Student has decided not to name, was convicted on 5th May on eight counts of possessing child pornography and sentenced to a three year Community Rehabilitation Order as well as being placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register. Neither Oxford University nor the student’s college were aware of the conviction before being contacted by The Oxford Student.
A Senior Member of the college’s staff told this newspaper: “We were not aware of this and we have to respect whatever process he was put through.” A spokeswoman for the University admitted it could not necessarily prevent convicted students from returning to Oxford: “The way the criminal justice system works means that there is no obligation for a student to inform the University of any conviction.
“We do co-operate closely with local police but if a student is convicted outside of Oxford there is little the University can do.” When this newspaper spoke to the student, he confirmed he had been convicted and given the rehabilitation order. He added he had first been arrested 13 months before the hearing.
However he maintained: “The sentence was excessive, I am considering appealing” Before The Oxford Student spoke to him, he had not been contacted by the University or his college over the matter. The student had been charged under the Criminal Justice Act 1988, Chapter 33 Section 160: Possession of an indecent photograph of a child.
At the hearing, where the student pleaded guilty, his lawyer, Mr Smith [name has been changed], said that his client had been downloading images from websites like ‘Gay Teen’ for three or four years but stressed that he had not been seeking child pornography and would often have been looking at males who were only two years younger than himself. However the presiding District Judge rejected claims that the defendant had stumbled across the images by accident.
He said: “Those files are there because he selected them and there’s what looks like an eight-year-old boy among them. “There’s no doubt into what waters your client was fishing, Mr Smith.” The Oxford Student understands that at a preliminary hearing, the student did not enter a plea. Sentencing the student, the Judge said: “These photos are not large in number. Some are grotesque, all are revolting, and now, at the 11th hour, you have admitted that you sought them out and downloaded them.” The student was told by the Judge: “If you re-offend during this period [the three year Community Rehabilitation Order] with a matter of this kind you will be going to jail.” The order placed on the student allows for his case to be transferred between Oxford Probation Services and his local Probation Services as he moves between Oxford and his home.
Smith confirmed that his client’s Community Rehabilitation Order had been transferred to Oxford Probation Services whilst his client was in the city. For the initial period of the order, he has to report to a supervisor every week although it is subject to review after three months. The University Proctors’ Office could not confirm or deny that they were dealing with the case, but Statute XI of the university regulations states: ‘43. (1) If a student member has been convicted of a criminal offence of such seriousness that an immediate term of imprisonment might have been imposed (and whether or not such a sentence was in fact imposed on the student member) the Proctors shall refer the matter to the Disciplinary Court which may … expel the student member from his or her membership of the University or impose such lesser penalty as it thinks fit.’ The offences of which the student was convicted are of such seriousness.
The student told this newspaper he intends to stay in Oxford and complete his degree, however a senior source within the University have told The Oxford Student it is likely he will be sent down. The University would not comment specifically on the case, but a spokeswoman said: “If a student was perceived to be a danger to other students, it would be something the University Marshall would have to take a decision on.”
Gianfranco Fracassi is the webmaster of two popular free stuff web sites. You can find many subjects that will interest you. Check out his web sites at: http://www.isjustfree.com or http://www.freestuff4net.com
Poster, Print or Painting – Where Are You Going To Put It?
If you are redesigning or decorating a room, or house, care has to be taken where your piece of art is to be displayed. Even if you have bought a picture on impulse there are a few tips that will not only enhance the picture but its surroundings.
As a good rule of thumb it is good to hang a picture so that its centre is roughly at eye level. If you have a grouping of pictures then also the centre of the group should be at approximate eye level.
Wall size.
- For a narrow wall go for a smaller picture, or group of small pictures.
- For large walls go for the larger pictures.
- For walls that link to a low ceiling go for pictures that are vertically longer as this will help give the illusion that the ceiling is higher and open the room up.
Picture framing.
- As a guide neutral coloured, plain or soft /delicate paintings will suit a more basic plain frame.
- Dramatic pictures may deserve a much bolder frame.
- Will the frames go together if pictures are hung in a group?
Picture grouping.
- If you intend to hang more than one picture in a group then layout the pictures first, maybe on the floor to get a good idea as how they will interact. Bear in mind the layout and furniture in the proposed area as this may influence how you want the pictures laid out.
- Measure the total height and width of the layout, and as a tip tape some lengths of string to the wall to mimic the outside of the layout to make sure you are happy with positioning, and to act as guide for hanging.
- Consider the layout of the rest of the room. Do you want just one group of pictures in one area, or will one or two pictures elsewhere help balance the room?
Help, advice and ideas.
- Look through magazines and notice peoples houses for styles and layouts you like. But an important point to remember is to look for what would be good for, and suit your home. Adapting what you want to fit your surroundings will give your home the stylish look you want. There is nothing worse than a picture that doesn’t suit a room hanging in a position that doesn’t look right.
- If you know someone who has the layout of their home you love, get their opinion on your choice and layout. They will be flattered.
As a final tip – try to keep pictures away from bright sunshine, as they will fade over a period of time.
Positioning your pictures is not a science, but a bit of planning and attention will no doubt give you years of joy.
About The Author
Michael Edwards is the founder of http://www.newsletterjournal.com which offers specialist galleries devoted to black and white, vintage, sepia and art posters or prints. The site also offers access to original and reproduction art.
A Beginner?s Guide to Buying House Plans
Learn How to Select a House Plan That Will Result in The Home of Your Dreams
Building a home for most people is one of the most adventurous and time consuming projects a family can invest in during a lifetime. Because of that, it is important that care be taken when buying, selecting and implementing a house plan.
Before buying a house plan, you should first ensure you know what you are getting into.
Home Plans: A Beginner’s Guide
So what are house plans? House plans easily defined are the blueprints for a home that hasn’t been constructed yet.
Some home plans are very detailed and concise, whereas others meet only the bare minimum requirements for a house plan. One of the more common forms of house plans are stock home plans, which are very detailed blueprints that contain everything a person would need to build a home from scratch.
Stock home plans are the same as custom blueprints, but less expensive. One of the benefits of buying house plans online in fact is the relative costs savings realized with such a purchase. Most home plans offered online are fashioned after homes that have been built before, yet are also unique house plans because you have the ability to customize them in any way you see fit.
How does buying house plans online save you money? If you had to hire a licensed architect or home designer to come out to your plot, examine it and create a custom blueprint from scratch, you’ll be charged up to thousands of dollars more than if you search for stock home plans such as those offered online.
Searching for house plans has never been easier thanks to the advent of the internet. Even better, because the world wide web allows so many different designers to contribute their blueprints, you can rest assured you will find unique house plans ever where you turn. Your house will be different from your neighbors, unless the two of you get together and purposefully plan on building the same house.
Benefits of Buying House Plans Online
What are some of the other benefits of buying house plans online?
- Style — You get to choose the style of your home from a selection of thousands of different unique designs
- Size — You can modify the size and select a plan that meets your unique requirements
- Amenities — When buying online, you can pick and choose amenities from literally thousands of different choices. You never have to ’settle’ for something when shopping online.
- Specificity — You even have the ability to specify your requirements online!
- Selection — From the comfort of your home, you can sort through our database of house plans until you find the one that perfectly matches your unique needs. No need to meet with hundreds of different architects or designers to negotiate price, and no need to tear your hair out trying to find the house plans that best suit your needs.
You also have the ability to change a home plan that almost, but does not quite meet your needs. If you need to make a few changes, no problem.
Finding the Perfect House Plan
How do you find the perfect house plan for the home of your dreams? Finding the right house plan requires a little planning. There are several things you should take into consideration when looking at unique house plans such as:
Family Size — You want to ensure you select a plan that will result in a home large enough to accommodate your needs. Consider how big your family is presently, whether or not you plan on expanding and how your life might change 3, 5, 10 and 20 years down the line. The whole point of building a custom home is to be comfortable in it for a long time.
Lifestyle — Consider what demands your lifestyle will place on your new home. For example, do you plan on entertaining? This will require additional space. Do you prefer a separate living and family area? What about the dining area. Do you plan on entertaining for large family gatherings (such as during Thanksgiving) or by and large will you be eating most of your meals in the kitchen? If you love to cook, you’ll want to plan for adequate space in the kitchen. Remember that style considerations are also a factor.
Some people prefer a country style kitchen whereas others are looking for something more modern. Also take into consideration personal hobbies and interests. For example, will you need a library or exercise area? Write down all of your ideas and intentions before you begin looking at online house plans, and your more likely to find what you are looking for quickly.
A Word on Size
The size of a home is often one of the most critical considerations. Keep in mind that no matter what type of house plan you purchase, you may decide to add on at some point in the future. One of the benefits of buying house plans online is you can see several different versions of a home in many different sizes.
You should make every effort to take into consideration the actual size you will need. The square footage of the home you are planning on building will impact the amount of money you’ll need to invest.
Style Perhaps the best benefit of buying house plans online is having the ability to look at multiple different style homes. You can check out both exterior and interior designs when shopping, without having to leave your home. Some of the more popular exterior styles include the following:
- Country — characterized by a large front porch, gabled roofline, may be two story
- Traditional — styles in this category are often labeled ranch, Federal and Cape Cod. Most traditional homes are simply constructed with little extraneous décor
- Victorian — Victorian house plans are a variation of the traditional style. Rooflines are often more intricate in this type of home, and may include towers and bay windows. Victorian homes are often more ornamentally decorated than traditional homes, and usually this type of home is a two story design.
- Mediterranean — This style is popular along the East and West Coastlines. Usually the exterior on this style home is stucco. Roofs may be tiled and open air verandas are not uncommon. Many Mediterranean style homes are one story, but it isn’t uncommon to see two story as well.
Building your own home from a unique house plan is an exciting adventure. Be sure to enjoy every moment of it, and take care when selecting the house plan t hat will result in the home of your dreams.
About The Author:
Antigone Arthur is a successful freelance writer with 10 years of professional experience providing consumers with informative articles on such topics as home floor plans, and house designs.
Benefits of Online Fitness Programs
There are many benefits of choosing an online fitness program over a live personal trainer. In this article, I will focus on the most important ones. I will also mention and recommend Global Health and Fitness’ online fitness program ( http://www.popularfitness.com/global-fitness.html ) because in my opinion they are the leaders in this field on the web. Not only have they been online since 1997, more importantly they have helped hundreds of people over the years achieve their fitness goals. They are associated with many well-known fitness-related professionals and have also been featured in numerous fitness articles.
Convenience.
The best thing about the Internet is that information is available when and where you want it – it is interactive and dynamic. These are the reasons why the Internet is ideal for a fitness program and trainers. A true personal trainer that has come of age and that is accessible from your home or office almost any time of the day. Most people cannot afford to have a trainer to offer them guidance and support whenever they need it. With online fitness programs you can receive advice almost any time of the day. Got a question that pops in your head while your at work? You can email the fitness program and receive a prompt reply. Something live personal trainers just cannot do.
Inexpensive and extensive area of expertise.
Most live trainers specialize in general fitness only whereas Global’s fitness program includes 30 highly qualified professionals from every fitness-related field. Not only do you receive help with your workouts, but you will receive nutrition advice, injury and rehabilitation training help for a specific sporting event or competition, your medical questions answered, motivational help and more. This is all available at a fraction of the cost that a personal trainer would charge who is limited in knowledge to only his or her field of expertise.
Fitness must be enjoyable.
For any fitness program to be a success, we all know that it needs to be enjoyable. If you are new to fitness or want to start on an exercise program, it is difficult to know where to begin and very time consuming to read and figure out your own fitness program. In the end, it could be very frustrating and boring for you resulting in you giving up. Global’s online personal trainer program cuts through all the confusion and teaches you exactly how to achieve the results you want. By eliminating the guesswork, your very own online personal trainer will help you avoid the common mistakes that can waste your time and effort. Their mission is to have you seeing great results as soon as possible. You will soon discover that you can truly enjoy healthy eating and physical activity for the rest of your life.
If you have been exercising for a while and are trying to reach new plateaus, Global can help you by creating an exercise and nutrition program that produces the best results that you are aiming for. By teaching you techniques for making your routine much more effective and personally guiding you step-by-step to achieving new results again and again!
Up-to-date
A fitness program that is frequently updated, thus offering you all the latest reliable research and discoveries in the fitness industry.
Customized and personalized for you.
Global’s online personal trainers will customize your very own program based on your fitness level, goals, personal preferences, time and equipment availability, and special limitations and requests.
Tools and Live Chat.
Various tools are also available that outside of a live personal trainer would end up costing you a lot such as video demonstrations, exercise instructions, Protrack software, healthy recipes and shopping lists, online books of the 5 components of optimal health, live chats with online personal trainers and much more. All of which will enhance your learning and assure your success.
About the author:
Peter Kudlacz is the owner of http://www.popularfitness.com where you can find online fitness and golf programs, exercise instruction guides, articles, resources, tips and newsletters.
Russian Kettlebell Workout
Russian Kettlebells are amazing! These kettlebell workouts may be the answer to maintaining a home gym or having an expensive club membership.
With Russian kettlebells you can develop superior gains over traditional workout methods and save lots of space in your home.
The man who teaches Russian Kettlebell training is Pavel Tsatsouline. He is a former Spetznaz trainer. For those who may not know, Spetznaz is the Russian equivalent of the CIA or special forces.
As every high-risk agent would wish for, after studying some of Pavel’s books you can definitely find out how to have explosive instant power ready at all times.
But, not everyone is a spy; in fact very few of us are. So what benefits does kettlebell training have for the average woman or man?
Kettlebell training can be a great way to lose weight, tone up the body, and stay in shape once you get it there with the added benefits mentioned above.
And not only that, kettlebell workouts may be better for you than weights. In one of his books, Pavel mentions some of the fitness tests that were used to compare kettlebell training to traditional workouts.
The kettlebell trainers seemed to be in much better shape according to Pavel. And Pavel would know – You can see a picture of Pavel on his web site. The guy is well muscled and toned for someone that avoids weight training like the plague.
Speaking of muscle and tone, check out the incredible Ab muscles that Pavel can show you how to develope. Pavel, being an expert in physical training combined with his unique experience and insight is fully qualified to show you all about physical fitness.
Whether you are female or male, Pavel can show you the way to fitness. He has also collected for our benefit, what he believes to be excellent advice in nutrition.
Another thing I think that is interesting about Pavel and his work is that he brings his colorful and interesting Russian personality into play. For example, just think of the title of one of his books, Power to the People.
Me? I find that title humorous, but if I had to explain why I think it’s funny, I’m not sure that I could. It might be the underlying but subtle notion that liberation is in order for someone. Come to think of it, I guess liberation is in order.
Pavel wants to show us a better way to fitness and free us from our need to spend an inordinate amount of time in the gym and spend it more wisely and effectively, so that we can have great physical fitness and time to enjoy it as well.
As you can see by glancing at his pictures, Pavel not only knows how to develop an amazing physique but he also knows how to keep himself flexible at the same time.
Maybe now you can understand why I think this man has some answers to fitness that we might not be able to find anywhere else, nor all in one convenient location either.
As always, consult a primary care physician before embarking on any fitness regimen. This article is for information purposes only and is not to treat, prevent or diagnose any physical condition
Dave Snape is a health, fitness and wellness enthusiast. His website is http://tobeinformed.com
Buying the Perfect Boat
Why is it, that when you are looking to buy a boat, you can never find one that suits your needs? This is what happens to many people every year and in particular to ourselves. It’s just like buying a house. When you are selling, it is a buyer’s market and when you are buying it is a seller’s market! This year my husband and I decided that it was time to buy our first boat.
Now we have been boating with our friends on their Bayliner for many years. They pay for the boat expenses and we bring the food and drink in exchange. Not a bad deal we figured, until we got the boat bug ourselves. Now we want to own our own boat. After six years of boating and as many seasons of boat shows, we decided to take a boating course. So a couple of winters ago, we signed up for a rather lengthy boating course of 16 weeks. We decided that firstly we wanted to be safe boaters and secondly we wanted to protect our very expensive boat investment when the time came.
Week after week of classes, lesson after lesson of plotting and tying knots came and went and finally it was time to graduate and try our luck at boating with all this new found knowledge. We decided first to try out our expertise on our friends’ boat, but discovered that was like having two cooks in the same kitchen. Things don’t really run as smoothly as one would like. Tie a knot. Have someone retie it for you! Hang the fenders over the side. Have someone reposition them! So after several weekends of unsuccessful attempts, the decision was made to buy our own boat sooner rather than later where we could tie our own brand of knot and observe the channel markers the way we had been taught!
So we started to look. What happened to all the “For Sale” signs that we had seen only weeks before in every marina that we cruised past? Where were all those perfect boats that we had seen in every cove and tied up to every dock? They were no where to be found. Finally after perusing the yachting magazines and journals, talking to several boat brokers and searching many internet boats for sale sites, we found what we thought to be the perfect yacht for us – right in our own backyard. Only five minutes from our home there is located a marina with lots of power boats. Last year there were many for sale. But as luck would have it, we were not looking then. This year, there were fewer boats for sale. But on this one particular morning as we drove through the marina parking lot, we spied the perfect boat. We hopped out of the car and walked over to take a closer look. The boat had been pulled out of the water, so we were able to look it over from all sides including the bottom.
The information that was posted beside the boat looked very promising. Just the right length. Just the right age. We had already agreed that this boat make was good quality. An inflatable dinghy with motor and seawise electric lifting system was also included. The boat also had a GPS and all the trimmings. But the price, could it be correct? It seemed a bit low for this particular yacht. You guessed it! The twin engine system was gas, not diesel. This was the reason for the excellent price.
We thought that we had found the perfect boat! In fact we had except for one very expensive item. For those of you who own your own boat, you can related to the expense of a gas engine yacht. Gas engines are fast and great for skiing and lake touring in small boats, but on the ocean and in a large yacht, the cost can be prohibitive. (Note: Recently diesel prices and gas prices have moved closer together.)
So once again, our search begins in earnest. And once again, there are no boats for sale. Or is that just our take on the situation? Surely the boat for us is just out there waiting to be discovered!
Valerie Giles owns and operates Boats, Anchors and More http://www.boats-anchors-and-more.com a boating resource site featuring boat accessories, boat chartering, new & used boats, fishing lure manufacturers, inflatable boats, outerwear, thermal underwear & sunglasses. Everything you need for the boating season.
The Debt Free Lifestyle
Many people have been taught that you cannot get ahead without debt. We are also inundated with advertising telling us we can have anything we want. All we need to do is put it on our credit card.
We have become an impatient society, we want it right now. We have lost the ethic of working for what we want.
It is not how much money you make; it is what you do with it. By living without debt you can actually have a higher income since you are not paying out interest, you are actually getting paid interest on invested money.
All debt is not created equal. We will classify them as good debt and bad debt.
To simplify the classification we will say that good debt is a loan for something that you could sell at any time and repay the debt. This narrows down good debt to a home loan and possibly a home equity loan.
A bad debt, of course, is a loan on anything that will lose value.
Let’s take a look at some debts that we would consider bad debt.
Home equity loans are in the gray area. They could be considered good debt if they are used to repair or improve your home, but you would be a lot better off to just save up the money for the project. Home equity loans become bad debt when used for purposes other than home improvement or maintenance. In other words a bad home equity loan is for anything that does not add to the value of your house. Do not jeopardize your home by taking out a home equity loan on unnecessary items.
One possible good use for a home equity loan is when the interest rates are low. You can use a home equity loan to refinance your mortgage. Home equity loans generally have lower costs than conventional home loans.
We consider school loans bad debt. If you finish school, get a good high paying job and then attack the loan like mad, a school loan may work out. The problem is that there are too many things that can go wrong. At best, even if you do graduate and get a good job there are always a lot of other expenses at this time in ones life. You are really behind financially when you start your working life in debt.
Auto loans are bad loans that have become common practice to us. We pay interest on a vehicle that will only be worth one half of its original purchase price in five years. Lately it has also been common for us to borrow more than a vehicle is worth. We can trade a car in that we still owe on, and roll that owed amount over into another vehicle. This gives us a loan amount that is higher than the value of the car that we drive away. We have lost our capacity to say NO.
Co-signing is a bad debt that usually and unfortunately involves family. If someone cannot qualify for a loan at a regular lending institution, they should not get a loan. The fact that they can’t qualify for a loan elsewhere should tell you that they are a huge risk. Use this opportunity to teach them how they can get what they want by working harder for it and delaying the purchase.
If you want to get off of the debt treadmill, you must run as far away from debt as you can. You cannot use debt to get out of debt. Even if you do, you have not changed your habits; you must change your lifestyle.
John Cook is family oriented and likes to help people get off and stay off the debt treadmill and secure the financial future of their family. You can read more about securing your families finances at his website http://www.financeforfamilies.com.
Concrete Cutting: The Unknown Niche
What is Concrete Cutting?
Concrete cutting is a process of controlled sawing, drilling and removal of concrete performed by skilled operators using special saws that use diamond impregnated blades. Unlike the old- fashioned dusty “jack hammer” method, modern concrete cutting leaves a smooth attractive finish and utilizes water so as not to create any dust or mess. There are many different kinds of concrete cutting but the most common are wall sawing, core drilling and slab or flat sawing.
Wall Sawing is the process of cutting openings such as doors or windows in concrete walls, usually no more than 12″ thick but in some cases up to 24″ thick. This is accomplished by using a saw that attaches to a track on the wall to be cut. This process utilizes an enormous 30″ or even larger diameter diamond blade that can cut 12″ or more of concrete all of the way through from one side. This aspect of our business requires the most skill and cannot easily be done by your average “do it yourselfer.” As stated, wall sawing may entail cutting openings in concrete foundations but may also include lowering a foundation elevation, entire foundation removal and also the cutting of concrete retaining walls in part or in whole. This type of concrete cutting requires skill and experience to cut perfectly smooth plumb and level openings with virtually no dust or mess, so it is a rather expensive service. Most concrete cutting companies charge a minimum of $425 just to take their equipment to a site and cut.
Homeowners that build additions on to their home that have basements or cellars commonly find they need to cut into their existing concrete foundation to add an entry or passage between the new and existing basements. It is much easier and in most cases less expensive to have this service performed during the construction process and not after.
Core Drilling is the process of drilling perfectly round holes through concrete walls and floors. The diameters of the holes range from 1″ to 12″ round but average 5″ for most homeowner applications. In commercial applications core holes can range anywhere up to 60″ round and more. Core holes are used for “utility penetrations” such as electrical, plumbing and heating but are also commonly used for venting furnaces or clothes dryers. Although not recommended, core drilling can be performed by an advanced “do it yourselfer” and the equipment necessary to perform core drilling is readily available at your local tool rental and supply store. Most companies have a minimum charge of $250 to core a hole for you and it can take a professional as little as 10 minutes to unload his equipment, core the hole, and reload his equipment. Yet, I have seen homeowners rent the equipment and spend an entire weekend trying to core a single hole and then call a professional to complete the project. Just like with any trade a professional concrete cutter will make his job look easy.
Slab sawing, also known as flat sawing, is used to cut horizontal flat concrete surfaces such as floors, bridge decks and pavement. Slab saws feature a diamond blade that is mounted on a walk-behind machine that requires only one operator. They can cut up to 33 inches in depth but generally only 6″ or less is necessary in most homeowner applications. Slab sawing is the perfect solution for making penetrations or openings in concrete floors to access and repair a broken water pipe or sewer line. When a basement or cellar is being remodeled to add a bathroom the concrete is removed to add new plumbing for the fixtures. A slab saw is also useful in demolition work to break up and remove a cracked or unwanted patio, driveway or walkway. Sometimes a homeowner might want just part of a patio or other concrete slab cut in order to alter their landscaping. Attempting a slab saw project can be very time consuming for your average “do it yourselfer” however it can be accomplished. I always recommend spending a few extra bucks and saving yourself some very serious danger and aggravation by contracting a concrete cutting professional.
No matter what your project is, don’t let a little concrete stand in your way. Concrete can be a homeowner’s worst obstacle if he or she doesn’t know that there are companies out there that specialize in removing it very quickly and neatly. To find a reputable concrete cutter I recommend that you start with the yellow pages and always check them out with your local Better Business Bureau or your local Department of Consumer Protection. To get more acquainted with the industry just do a search for “concrete cutting” and check out a few websites dedicated to the subject. Of course, be sure to visit our web site at www.affordableconcretecutting.com.
Copyright 2005 Affordable Concrete Cutting Inc. All Rights Reserved
Affordable Concrete Cutting services the contractor and homeowner in and around Boston and Eastern Massachusetts. We specialize in cutting doorways in concrete foundations. Check out our website at http://www.newsletterjournal.com
Power Protection in the Home Theater – Use of Surge Suppressors to Guard Expensive Electronic Gear
Surge Suppressors ? A First Line of Defense
All home theater equipment should be equipped with at least some form of surge protection. Surge suppressors represent the most basic form of power protection ? a first line of defense for all sensitive electronic gear.
Keep in mind that a surge in the ac voltage or a lightning strike, could lead to disaster – turning expensive gear into a smoking heap of plastic and metal. Investing in a suitably rated surge protector is surely a lot cheaper than having to replace expensive home entertainment electronics.
The large selection of suppressors available on the market at an even wider range of price levels can make the process of selecting an appropriate protection device far from simple. Many of these surge suppressors would look the same to a non-technical person – with almost nothing that distinguish the cheapest from the best.
In their simplest form, surge suppressors often come as an inexpensive surge protected multiple-outlet power-strip. More expensive units would normally incorporate additional surge protected connections for the phone line and the coax TV input; some units include surge protected LAN connections as well. In this manner, anything that interconnects with your equipment would have to go first through the surge protection circuitry within the power-strip.
How Surge Suppressors Work
The basic operational principle behind surge suppressors is to clamp high transient voltages while absorbing this potentially destructive energy. This energy is then dissipated in the form of heat – thus protecting vulnerable circuit components and preventing system damage.
In the event that the surge lasts for several milliseconds, the process may also cause enough current to trip the house circuit breaker, or blow the equipment fuse, thus protecting your gear.
Surge suppressors usually make use of a mix of components to suppress voltage spikes on the line. However, the mostly used component in surge protection circuitry is the Metal Oxide Varistor (or MOV).
The MOV is not the only surge protection component ? gas-tube surge arrestors, avalanche diodes (similar to power zener diodes), and reactive type passive circuitry using inductors and capacitors, all possess the desired electrical properties required to dampen a transient behavior.
None of these devices does represent the perfect surge suppressor. Some lack speed, while others ? like avalanche diodes ? though extremely fast acting, do have a limited energy absorption capacity. For this reason, commercial surge protection devices combine several of these technologies arranged in multiple stages, to prolong surge suppressor life and improve response times.
Surge Suppressor Ratings
This discussion will not be complete without highlighting a few of the most basic parameters that define the capabilities of a surge suppressor; these are the UL listing, voltage rating, peak surge current, and power handling.
IEEE 1449 Underwriters Laboratories Listing: Referred to as ‘UL 1449′ or simply ‘UL listing’, represent a set of specifications that determine if a surge suppressor is safe during use.
Ensure that the selected surge suppressor is labeled as ‘UL-listed transient voltage surge suppressor (TVSS) 2nd edition’. A UL-listing as ‘power tap’ is not sufficient.
A UL-listed TVSS does not imply that it will protect your equipment from surges, but rather that the surge protector is not likely to pose any personal hazard to you during use e.g. through electrocution, fire, etc.
Operating Voltage: The lower the voltage rating of a surge suppressor, the more effective protection the surge suppressor will provide, however the voltage rating has to be in line with the respective application. In particular, the chosen suppressor voltage rating should allow the normal peak AC voltage to exist across the line ? this is 1.414 times higher than the specified RMS value.
Peak Surge Current: This represents the maximum transient current that the suppressor can handle during a surge.
Joule Rating: Also referred to as ‘Energy rating’, this is a measurement of the energy absorption capability of the surge protection device. Typical values may vary from 500 to 3000 and over. The higher the joule rating, the better is the surge suppressor capability to absorb energy spikes on the line.
A Word of Caution
Designed properly, surge suppression devices can work over-and-over again, but…
Do not take surge suppression devices for granted. Beware of cheaply made power line conditioners and other protection gear. Some surge suppressor components used in these devices are typically a one-time use only. This means that your system may end up completely unprotected after a surge.
Quality: The quality of a surge suppressor is reflected in the price of the protection device, but not only. Check the joule rating of the surge protector to get an indication of how much damaging energy the suppressor can handle. The bigger the joule rating is, the better. Keep in mind however that unlike the UL-1449 Listing, there is no standardized testing methodology to determine the energy rating of a surge suppressor. Hence, do not rely on the joule rating alone ? look also at the built-up quality and in particular, at the product warranty on offer.
Warranty: In addition to the standard product warranty, some manufactures also offer a ‘Connected Equipment Product Warrant’. This is normally in the region of several tens of thousands of dollars.
A longer product warranty period and a higher connected equipment warranty value reflect a higher level of confidence on part of the manufacturer that the surge suppressor can protect your expensive home theater gear. Try to go for surge suppressor devices that come with at least a 5-year product warranty period, and a minimum of $10,000 (preferably $25,000), connected equipment warranty.
Performance: The performance of surge suppressors degrades with each surge absorbed. The problem here is that the rate of degradation is totally unforeseen due to the unpredictable nature of the surge. Surge rise time, peak voltage, energy level, and duration, all have a varying effect on surge protection circuitry.
A surge may have a higher energy level than the suppressor can handle, leading to the destruction of the suppressor and zero protection against possible future surges. To minimize this risk, top-quality power protection gear would normally make use of over-rated components in protection circuitry – thus allowing multiple surges to take place without any damage to the equipment.
Surge Suppressors are not lightning protection devices: Surge suppressors can provide adequate protection from ‘normal’ surges on AC power lines. Protection against lightning strikes it is a completely different story. No surge suppressor device can offer you the required level of protection in this respect.
Personal safety: Ensure that your surge suppressor is clearly specified as UL listed Transient Voltage Suppressor (2nd edition). This will reduce the risk of personal harm from fire or electrocution especially during a surge. At the same time, keep in mind that a UL-listed device does not guarantee that it will protect your equipment.
Conclusion:
In reality, surge suppressors are just a first line of defense ? they do not provide protection from damaging voltage fluctuations and noise on the line that can seriously degrade the performance of your AV gear.
Surge suppressors should form part of an overall power protection solution ? the use of line conditioners and ac-regenerators coupled with an appropriately rated surge suppressor would surely provide a more comprehensive approach to protecting expensive electronic gear.
Obviously, there is a price to pay for power protection, but it is literally – an ounce of prevention that can save you a big headache down the road!
Andrew Ghigo ? A Telecoms/Electronics engineer by profession, with specialization in digital switching and telecoms fraud management systems.
Editor and publisher of http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com – a site dedicated to all home theater enthusiasts with the scope of serving as a comprehensive home theater guide to home theater systems, product reviews and home theater design.
This article is an excerpt from a series of articles appearing under the Power Protection section of the site.
Topics covered include benefits of power protection in the home theater, power line conditioners, ac regenerators, and surge protection. There is also a ‘before-you-buy’ power protection checklist, and a short discussion on the possible use of inexpensive computer-grade uninterruptible power supplies, as part of a home theater power-protection solution.
Good Domain Names Make Your Dreams Memorable
“What was the name of that website? It was good. It has something to do with…”
Is your web site like many others?
Domain names always on the tip of a visitor’s tongue, but not quite memorable enough?
Your choice of domain name needs to be easy to remember, as well as focused enough that your visitor will know right away what your site is about.
A Few Rules
Some rules do apply when deciding on a domain name:
Choosing A Domain Name
Choosing good domain names is almost as important as choosing your actual business (see our Startup Ideas page).
There are many different schools of thought when it comes to picking good domain names.
Some say to choose a short, concise name.
Some like numbers in the name, some don’t.
Hyphens and underscores — as opposed to words all running together — are another debated topic. It’s mostly a matter of easier reading for your human visitors. Which do you find easier to read?
myhomebasedbusinessadvisor
my_home_based_business_advisor
my-home-based-business-advisor
Generally, the hyphens between words make domain names easier to read for most people.
While search engines don’t rank domain names, a keyword-rich name will let your visitors know what your web site is about before they get there. This makes them more comfortable because they know what they’re getting in advance.
Also, when you get other sites to link to yours, that link is usually based on your domain name. This means that your main keyphrase (which you used as your domain name) will be the actual anchor text and search engines do give additional ranking for that.
Domain names play a major role in making your dream memorable to the world.
Take the time to do it right and your dream of a home-based business will be seen all over the world!
For a more detailed explanation of domain names and domain registration, and more great advice for your home-based business, please visit My Home-Based Business Advisor.
Terry Nicholls
My Home-Based Business Advisor
my-home-based-business-advisor.com
Copyright © by Terry Nicholls. All Rights Reserved.
Terry Nicholls writes from his own experience as someone who wanted to start his own home-based business. Now that he has, visit My Home-Based Business Advisor – Helping YOUR Home Business Start and Succeed for free help for YOUR home business, including ideas, startup, and expansion advice.
