You can probably pick up a "Greenberg Guide" at a model train store which is a pricing guide to train sets. That would be your best bet. Although I have found on ebay certain desirable sets will go for way more than the book value and sometimes way less. Such guides are subjective at best. The real answer is your train is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

Electrical Training Courses Offer a Great Opportunity

The state of the economy does not impact electricians as they are always in demand. When an electrical problem crops up you have no choice but to hire an electrician. When you wish to build a new building or add on to an existing building you need the services of a n electrician. Being an electrician is a rewarding and secure career.

What does it take to become an electrician?

Becoming an electrician requires years of training in both an academic (classroom) environment and on the job environment. You must be properly trained as an electrician for your own safety as well as the safety of the people who will use your services. Most states require that you become certified or licensed before you are allowed to do electrical work without being under the direct supervision of an electrician. Where do you find electrical training courses? The courses needed to become a fully licensed electrician are offered by trade schools, community colleges, electricians themselves and the military.

Trade Schools Can Get You Certified Quickly

Many trade schools provide electrical training courses. These courses are designed to get you working as an electrician as quickly as possible. Trade schools are the fast track for becoming certified. Many electricians went to school to learn their trade but that is not the only way to learn.

Other Options for Becoming an Electrician

Another option for electrical training is the military. The armed forces offer excellent electrical training courses and practical experience in electrical work. The training that you receive is completely applicable to the civilian certification process. For some people this option is perfect because you not only receive the training and a career that you can pursue for the rest of your life but you get the benefits of being paid to learn the trade. You also get medical benefits and if you wish to pursue further education that option is available to you as well.

Community Colleges are a Great Source

For people not interested in the military there are plenty of options for getting electrical training course. One option is becoming an apprentice. Typically, an apprentice is now referred to as being a journeyman. The process is simple and is one of the best ways to learn all aspects of being an electrician. The first step is to hire on with a licensed electrician. As you work for the electrician you are taught how to be an electrician. Over the course of several years you will learn what you need to know to become a licensed electrician. Many states require that you serve some amount of time in the role of a journeyman before you can become a fully licensed electrician. Being a journeyman is an excellent way to receive electrical training courses as you not only learn the concepts but you learn how to employ those concepts in a manner that actually works. Learning from an experienced electrician will teach you how to be a safe and productive electrician.

About the Author

James Copper is a writer for
http://www.electricianscareer.co.uk
where you can find out about
electrician courses

did you get your phone wet? it thinks there is a handsfree kit plugged in, and this can be caused by a short in the jack, which is usually caused by water damage.

Advanced Bluetooth Car Kits, Functions and features

There are a lot of bluetooth car kits on the market at the moment, and with the exception of a few they are all virtually the same product. Not technically, mechanically or visually but in terms of functionality a lot operate in a similar fashion. This is both and advantage and disadvantage to the end user. The main advantage is that the products that you purchase all perform to a certain standard and operate with minimum effort. However the disadvantage is the kits range in price starting in the cheaper end of the market through to the mid-range and its difficult to tell which product is best for you. Especially when you might purchase a kit that is out performed by a cheaper.

Choosing a kit can be as easy or as difficult as you make it. There are a lot of brands and products to choose from, and this can be a little daunting at first but its important to remember what you want the kit for. What functions you would like it to have, How it looks and what your prepared to pay for it. Bearing in mind which ever product you choose you will be able to use it for the main function you want it in the first place, to use your phone while driving. Everything else is a secondary function that you will either pay more to have or live without.

So what are the more advanced features and are they worth paying more to have?

New and improved technology is being developed all the time, and the chances are as you are reading this now some of the current functions and features are already old news. however everything has a starting point and developing these features to form something totally different is a continual process. Take music for example, first vinyl, then tape cassette, then CD and now MP3 (you can fit mini-disc in there somewhere too). Now think of all of the applications created for these different music types and what's been developed from them into something totally different.

The most advanced technology in use at the moment is being developed by the likes of Parrot and Bury. Both manufacturers are well know for producing well rounded and functional products at the cutting edge of technology and the new kits being produced now are no exception. Parrot and Bury have aimed to develop slightly different areas within the industry.

Parrot main focus has been the integration of external products to work in great harmony with the parrot car kits. The MKI range from parrot is the latest to be produced and hit the shops. The MKI range all have iPod connectivity as standard and the iPod can be controlled via the parrot remote. In the case of the MKI9200 the playlist and artwork appears on the screen making it much easier to control what music you want to play. The MKI range also uses text to voice technology and is capable of reading out text messages to the driver.

Bury have mainly focused on the bluetooth handsfree side of things and produced a product that will help revolutionise the world (in a small way). The development of the Bury voice command protocol is exceptional. The CC9060 can be controlled by voice commands for just about every option in the Bury and phone menu. Once you are in the car you can fully operate the car kit by you voice alone, further more you dont need to train the kit to learn your accent. Just get in and go. I can explain how impressed i was when i first had a play with the technology. Simple easy to use and excellent quality.

At this point in time you have to pay a little extra for newer technology and advanced bluetooth features, but you would expect that in every walk of life. The fact is that alot of effort has been put into the development of these new advanced bluetooth car kits, and that effort has certainly paid off for the end user.Modern bluetooth kits don't just offer bluetooth functionality, these kits are becoming more like multimedia centre's. You can have your favourite music playing through you stereo, video stored on your iPod playing on the screen, messages read out as soon as received and access to your phone contacts at the touch of a button or in some cases by simply requesting it.

The advanced features in the new kits are impressive to use and do make a big difference to the functionally, however its important to remember why we need to use bluetooth car kits rather than engaging in a manual phone conversation while driving. The facts and figures are plain to see, if you use a hand held phone while driving your 4 x more likely to be involved in an accident and your reactions speed is reduced by 50%. In fact a lot of experts now liken the effects of phone-driving to that of drink-driving, and how many of us drink drive???  

Put simply for every second you spend operating the phone while you drive you run the risk of killing somebody. Be sensible and safe on our roads, they are already dangerous enough

About the Author

A Bluetooth Car Kit is a device that provides a safe and convenient way to communicate whilst driving. Your Phone can connect to the Car Bluetooth and ensure you and other road users remain safe.

...so let me get this right when you switch on the ignition the starter spinns automaticlly?...if yes then youve a fault in your wireing...have you done anything lately to it?..firtsl;y follow the wire from your start button on the r/h bar and disconnect it frm where its connected to the loom...so what your doing is systematicly[big word] bypassing stuff to find the fault..now swtich on your ignition and if it doesnt start by its self then its the starter switch thats at fault..simply replace it...but if it does start by its self then youll have to look elsewhere,next thing to check will be the startermotor solinoid...let me know how you get on by editing your question and ill be back later to check...

Mep Design for Building Services Design Including the Hvac, Electrical and Plumbing Design

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We aspire for client pleasure, value adding and customer service. Our working is totally process determined and result slanting. We do your best to continually improve and bring up to date our process and systems to continue in tune with the modern technology. Our client welcoming mechanical engineering services, suppleness and well-organized project managing has contributed significantly in structure long term business relationships.

We have a flexible team of mechanical engineers and draftsmen who concentrate in drawing, drafting services and mechanical design. A large range of skill and depth of knowledge enables our team to absolute even the most complicated HVAC, Electrical and Plumbing projects with effortlessness. We follow ASHRAE, IMC, IPC, NEC, NFPA codes for MEP (Mechanical Electrical Plumbing).

We supply our clients with imaginative and custom modified mechanical design services. We can competently handle theoretical, beginning and detailed design projects in fulfillment with your standards or necessities. We focus in converting hand drawn sketches, fully detailed mechanical drawing or a notion into precise and accurate 3D ducting/modeling. Some of the contribution formats which we allow are PDF files, AutoCAD files, Gif or Jpeg files, pictures, photos, scanned images and electronic files.

We have grown exponentially and have always maintained commitment to provide the best craftsmanship and level of expertise to meet our client's requirements.

We encompass the whole range of building services design including the HVAC, Electrical and Plumbing design. Our Mechanical and Electrical engineers are well versed in international codes like ASHRAE, IMC, IPC, NEC, NFPA etc.

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Design for air conditioning system of a building. We are experts in providing high quality, cost effective and accurate HVAC services.

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About the Author

This has been provided courtesy of eEngineers – http://www.eengineers.biz/, providing Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) engineering services.

Good question. All the answers here are correct. But I have a feeling what you heard was the "condensation bleeder", or water bleeder. The hiss only lasts a second usually. Locomotives store compressed air - for brakes primarily, and other functions. The air compressor runs directly off the diesel engine. It pulls in a lot of air in a days time, which means a lot of humidity is pulled in as well. The air compresses and the humidity becomes water. Water leads to internal rusting in the air tanks and the pipes. And in the winter it turns to ice and stops everything - not good. The hissing you spoke of are automatic water bleed-off valves that take the moisture out of the compressed air. They cycle about once every couple of minutes.

Railway Industry of Daqo Group

Product Introduction
OCS is the core power supply equipment in power supply system of electrical railway traction. Its function is to supply power to the running electric locomotive incessantly. Different from the ordinary power transmission line, it must be fixed on the right top of the rail, and then locomotive can get power incessantly through the slip friction between top pantograph and contact wire. So everywhere that electric locomotive running through should span catenary. All catenary installation is hypaethral and it is always affected by kinds of bad weather, as well as its working state is changed with the running of electrical locomotive and has no standby, so working environment for catenary is complex and the request for it is higher. OCS components manufactured by SAITONG introduces and adopts international advanced technology, and optimize the design of key components products according to the technology feature of domestic rail transportation and feature of parallel products. The whole series of products have been homebred, and this caters to the construction and operation of Chinese rail transportation better. Aluminum alloy and copper alloy are adopted much in our product forging, now we have two forging line, and the manufacturing capability hits 2000kms/year. SAITONG is making the core components of Siemens Re250km/h and Re350km/h in China and can produce all catenary components refer to Chinese railway standard; we have passed the test of P.R.C catenary components inspection station. we have the sales ability.

Functional Features
A. Cantilever steady components
Application and Scope
Cantilever steady equipment is used to locate contact wire in electrical railway canetary system. The material of cantilever can be charry-steel and aluminum alloy. Flat Cantilever composes the angle top of hinged cantilever structure, one end of flat cantilever support canetary through the messenger wires supporting clamp, and the other end is joint with strut insulator. Inclined cantilever supports the flat cantilever with binaural sleeve and the other end is joint with strut insulator. Typical installation structure as follow.
1. Cantilever
When the cantilever is made of carbon steel, seamless steel pipes which refer to the standard of GB/T8162 can be used, while the cantilever is made of aluminum alloy, alma Ilium pipes AlMgSilF31 that refer to the standard of DIN 9107 can be used.
Its min. horizontal breaking load is not less than 24.17kN, and min. vertical breaking load is not less than 15.0kN.
2. Inclined Cantilever binaural sleeve
Inclined Cantilever binaural sleeve is stable at the end of inclined Cantilever to join inclined cantilever and flat cantilever. It is made of the material of cast aluminum alloy EN AC-AlSi7Mg0.6 that refer to the standard of DIN EN 1706 and made by metal mould forging technology. Its working load is not less than 4.0 kN, the min. breaking load is not less than12.0kN, and tightening torques of clamp bolt is not less than 50Nm.
3. Canetary supporting clamp
Canetary supporting clamp is stable at flat cantilever to support and fasten copper alloy canetary that the cross-section is about 70-120 mm2.The top of it is used to support stable line and siding canetary,it can rotate around the horizontal axis free. Canetary supporting clamp is made of the material of cast aluminum alloy EN AC-AlSi7Mg0.6 that refer to the standard of DIN EN 1706,and made by metal mould forging technology. The working load is 6.0kN; the min. breaking load is less than 18kN; Tightening torques: 56Nm for bolt M12, and 70Nm for bolt M16U.
4. Cantilever support
Cantilever support fixes and supports flat and inclined cantilever, it joins with flat and inclined cantilever through Cantilever support binaural sleeve. Cantilever support can be made of carbon steel and aluminum alloy. When the cantilever support is made of carbon steel, seamless steel pipes GB/T8162 can be used, but when the cantilever support is made of aluminum alloy, alma Ilium pipes AlMgSilF31 that refer to the standard of DIN 9107 can be used. Its working load is not less than 9.4 kN; the min. breaking load is not less than28 kN.
5. Steady ring
Steady ring is fixed on the cantilever, it provide installation support to binaural sleeve components, such as cantilever support binaural sleeve and inclined cantilever. Steady ring is made of the material of cast aluminum alloy EN AC-AlSi7Mg0.6 that refers to the standard of DIN EN 1706, and is made by metal mould forging technology. The working load is 5.0 kN; the min. breaking load is not less than15 kN; Tightening torques: 70Nm for bolt M16U.
6. Steady Tube, Hook end fitting
Registration arm provides location support to positioner; one end is joint with registration arm while on the other end pipe cap is installed.
Hook end fitting is fixed in the bottom of registration arm to make it join with inclined cantilever.
Registration arm can be made of carbon steel and aluminum alloy. When the Registration arm is made of carbon steel, seamless steel pipes that refer to the standard of GB/T8162 can be used, but when the Registration arm is made of aluminum alloy, alma Ilium pipes AlMgSilF31 that refers to the standard of DIN 9107 can be used.
Hook end fitting is made of the material of cast aluminum alloy EN AC-AlSi7Mg0.6 that refers to the standard of DIN EN 1706, and is made by metal mould forging technology.
The working load is 2.5kN; the min. breaking load is not less than 7.5kN; Tightening torques: 70Nm for bolt M16U.
7. Steady Arm
Steady Arm has below three kinds, straight, angle and curved steady arm. It is used for clamping the contact wire and ensuring the wire is fixed towards the direction of the line under the request of design. In overlap and curve section of the line, angle and curved steady arm and corresponding bracket will be used.
Steady ear, hook end fitting, grooved stud and rectangular pipe are main components of Steady Arm.
Positioner uses CuNi2Si material that refers to the standard of EN 12165.
Hook end fitting uses EN AW-6082 material that refers to the standard of EN 755-2.
Rectangular pipe uses EN AW-6082 material that refers to the standard of EN 755-2.
Hook end fitting, grooved stud cover and Steady ear are produced with precision casting process for metal mold.
Its working load is 3.5kN and the minimum anti-destroy load is not less than 10.5 kN.
8. Drop bracket
Drop bracket is installed on the registration arm with U style bolt, and the hook at the bottom of it is used for the link of hook end fitting. The position of the steady arm can be adjusted by changing the location of U style bolt on registration arm.
Positioner bracket uses EN AW-6082 materials that refer to the standard of EN 755-2 and are made by metal mould forging technology.
Its working load is 3.5kN and the minimum anti-destroy load is not less than 10.5 kN.

B. Electrical Connection Component
Application and Scope
Electrical connection joins catenary and contact wire and conveys power in power line to contact wire. It includes the electrical clamp for messenger wire and for contact wire and parallel connecting clamp
1. Electric connecting clamp for Messenger wire
Electric connecting clamp for messenger wire is used for the joint of electrically connector and catenary, it uses E-Cu material that refers to the standard of EN 1787 and is made by forging technology.
The gripping load shall not be less than 4.0 kN. The continuous carrying capacity shall not be less than 540A, with the 5min overload carrying capacity not less than 760A.The tightening torque for the bolt is 25Nm.
2. Electric connecting clamp for contact wire
Electric connecting clamp for contact wire is used for the joint of electrically connector and messenger wire, it uses E-Cu material that refers to the standard of EN 1787 and is made by forging technology. The gripping load shall not be less than 2.0kN. The continuous carrying capacity shall not be less than 500A, with the 5min overload carrying capacity not less than 700A.The tightening torque for the bolt is 44Nm.

C. Integral Dropper Components
It is suitable to hung copper alloy or copper contact wire on copper alloy catenary in overhead contact system for electrified rail, to adjust the tension of contact wire. Dropper structure shall adopt thimble type. Body of dropper is U type structure; press-jointed connection will be used for connecting contact wire and dropper. Press-jointed shall be done in site and actual length will be defined according to construction requirement .dropper length can be adjusted. To avoid to be hurt by current, reliable electrical connection and prevention measure between dropper and messenger wire and contact wire shall have reliable electrification connection and protective measures. Max vertical work load of integrated dropper is 1.3kN. Tensile failure load of integrated dropper assembly shall not less than 4.0kN. Slide load between integrated dropper and contact wire and messenger wire shall not less than 1.0kN.
1. Dropper clamp for messenger wire
It is covered and clamped on canetary to connect dropper wire of hanger contact wire, the material is CuNi2Si that refers to the standard of EN12165 and is made by stamping technology. Tightening torque of bolt is 32 Nm; tensile failure load is not less than 3.9kN.
2. Dropper clamp for contact wire
Clamp the contact wire and join with dropper clamp for messenger wire with dropper wire, the material is CuNi2Si that refers to the standard of EN12165 and is made by stamping technology. Tightening torque of bolt is 32 Nm; tensile failure load is not less than 3.9kN. It is well-matched with pantograph and not hurt pantograph under the -30 offset condition.

D. Anchor Components
Application and Scope
The clamp is applied in mid-point of one tension length with both sides of compensation in overhead catenary system (OCS) of the electrified railway to stable and connect canetary, mid-anchor junction and connecting wire, and this can prevent the leap between connecting wire and canetary caused by heat or cool and other factor.
1. Anchor clamp device for messenger wire
Connection Clamp is installed on the catenary of the mid-anchor section and the material is CuSn, made by metal mold forging process. The slide load is not less than42.35kN. The break load is not less than 54kN. Tightening torque is 56Nm.
2. Anchor clamp device for contact wire
The Mid-point anchor clamp for contact wire is installed on the contact wire of mid-anchor section and includes a clamping body for attachment to the contact wire grooves and two flaps for connection to one Mid-point anchor rope, one thimble and one compression connector to terminate the Mid-point anchor rope to the flaps. The body is made by metal mold forging process. The slide load is not less than54kN. Tightening torque is 46Nm.

E. Tensioning Device Components
Application and scope
Scope of application: The tensioning device is applied in both end of one tension length with both sides of compensation in overhead catenary system (OCS) of electrified railway to tighten catenary and contact wire.
Performance
The nominal transmission ratio: 1:3. The transmission efficiency is 97%. The working load of turnbuckle is 61.7kN. The min. failing load is 185kN. Calculated breaking load of wire is 74kN. The min. breaking load of connection fittings is not less than96kN.
Tension wheel
Tension wheel body is made of CtAl that refers to the standard of EN 1706, the maximum of its working tension is 40 kN, and drive ratio is 1:3. Connection fittings that join the body of tensioning wheel, wire and anchor Insulator are made by metal mould forging technology.

F. Anchorage Components
Application and Scope
Scope of application: The clamp is applied terminal anchoring point for copper alloy messenger wire and contact wire in overhead catenary system (OCS) of electrified railway.
1. Terminal Anchor Clamp for Messenger Wire
It is used to anchorage catenary at the end, adapting wedge type, and it is made of duralumin alloy material that refers to the standard of ISO 1637-87. It is made by metal mould forging technology. The Tightening torques is 80Nm; Sliding load is not less than 60.81kN; The min. breaking load is not less than67kN.
2. Terminal Anchor Clamp for Contact Wire
It is used to anchorage contact wire at the end, adapting wedge type, and it is made of duralumin alloy material that refers to the standard of ISO 1637-87. It is made by metal mould forging technology. The Tightening torques is 80Nm; Sliding load is not less than 60.81kN; The min. breaking load is not less than67kN.

G. Section Insulator
Application and Scope
It is used in overhead contact system for electrified railway to divide the contact system into some unattached electrical departments, and this is convenient for installation, test and maintenance.
Specification and Allocation
Section insulator is composed with insulator body and iron components, includes messenger wire, termination fitting for catenary, catenary insulator, junction components and section insulator suspension equipments. Section insulator is made of copper, stainless steel, copper nickel, and silicon alloy, Insulator on catenary is made of GFRP, conical termination fitting is made of albronze.
Performance
The contact between insulating body of section insulator and pantograph is directly sliding. The insulating body has sufficient ability for anti-arcing and self-cleaning, and has the function to guide the arcing. During the sliding passage of pantograph, no electric breaks appear. The material of section insulator has higher ability of anti-arcing in order to avoid any damage due to burning of all the parts of section insulators. The body of section insulator is made of light alloy material with high mechanical performance and polymerized material with high strength and anti-corrosion material. The assembly is light in weight. The metal connection parts and all the accessories, fastening pieces are made of anti-corrosion material. They can bear the working load reliably with efficient safety factor. The insulating parts of section insulator and MW (including insulating slider) are self-cleaning and water repelling. Service life of the whole set of the section insulator is not less than 15 years.

Technical Parameter
Power frequency dry withstand voltage is 163kV.
Power frequency wet withstand voltage is 132kV.
Full wave impulse withstand voltage is 40 kV. (Standard lightning impulse withstand voltage)
Power frequency pollution withstand voltage is 40kV. (Surface density of salt covering is 0.35mg/ cm2)
Creepage distance is ?1200mm.
Min. failing load is ? 90Kn.
the working load is ? 30Kn.
Performance of anti-vibration ? 2*106 times.
Performance of anti-wear (times of pantograph) is ? 5*105 times.
Minimum of air distance is ? 220 times.
Unit weight is 15.5kg.

About the Author

by Daqo Group

can they play CDs ?

Mobile Car Kits: Talk Safely

Mobile phones today have become an inseparable part of our lives now. For a device that didn't even existed couple of decades back, mobile phones has already shown the potential to be the 'only' thing one has to carry in near future. Everything that one needs are included in the mobile phones today – your phone, camera, music system, GPS navigator and your personal computer.

However, like any other inventions, a mobile phone has its downsides too. Safety concerns while using a mobile phone might perplex your mind. Especially at times when you're doing something that needs your undivided attention, an incoming call might shift your focus. Supposedly you receive an important call while driving your car in a freeway. Whether to pull over and receive the call or ignore it altogether could be a major confusion. In case you opt to multi-task – answering the call and driving at the same – neither you'll be able to concentrate on your conversation, nor on your driving. This has proved fatal many a times.

But modern day mobile technology have a way of saving ourselves this dilemma. With the introduction of Mobile car kits, one can receive calls without having to move his hands from the wheel, forget putting the mobile phone in your ears. Thereby, a mobile car kit is a major aid for a driver's safety and security. All major mobile phone manufacturers have their own line up of mobile car kits that are compatible with the devices manufactured by them.

Apart from it, there are many other players in the market that produces car kits for all popular mobile phone brands like Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, Samsung, LG and others. With the advancement of mobile technology, the entangled wires of your headset of your car kit is now replaced with the wireless Bluetooth ones that is more safe and chic at the same time. If one could be safe and stylish at the same time, there is little reason why shouldn't he go for it – much like todays' mobile car kits.

About the Author

Raina Kelsey is an expert author, and writes about latest gadgets. For more information about
mobile phone car kits and other sim free mobiles please visit www.mobilespectrum.co.uk.