How to Change Your Car's Oil: Part 2

To complete this How-To you will need:

Your car's owner's manual
A car jack and jack stands
An oil pan
An oil-filter wrench
A new oil filter
A funnel
A rag or a paper towel
A large resealable plastic bag
Motor oil
An approved automotive store that can dispose of your used oil and filter

Warning: Changing your oil can be dangerous, so be careful. If the car is jacked up incorrectly, you can hurt yourself and damage the car.

Step 1: Remove the oil filter

Under the hood or under the car, locate the oil filter, which is usually in the lower half of the engine block. Put the oil pan on the ground underneath the filter. With the oil-filter wrench, turn the filter counterclockwise to loosen it. Slowly and carefully remove it with your hands. The filter is full of oil: Have the oil pan handy. Seal the filter in the plastic bag and set it aside.

Tip: Once you remove the filter, make sure the rubber seal has come off with it and is not still attached to your car.

Step 2: Open the new filter

Open the new filter. With your finger, rub a thin layer of fresh oil around the rubber seal to lubricate it.

Step 3: Install the filter

Install the filter securely by turning it clockwise. You don't need the oil-filter wrench.

Tip: If the filter is screwed in too tightly, it can be damaged.

Step 4: Lower the car

Jack the car up slightly higher. Remove the jack stand; then lower the car back to the ground. Remove the jack.

Step 5: Add fresh oil

Under the hood, insert the funnel into the oil filler you opened earlier. Pour the oil into the funnel. Most cars require 4 to 6 quarts. Don't top it off. Replace the oil cap.

Step 6: Run the car

Start the car, let the engine run for about 30 seconds, and then turn it off.

Step 7: Check the oil level

Under the hood, pull out the oil dipstick, and wipe it with a rag or paper towel. Slide the dipstick all the way back into its slot. Pull the dipstick out again. Notice where the line of oil falls on the stick--it should be somewhere between the "add" and "full" markers. If you need to add more oil, do so. If not, replace the dipstick.

Step 8: Go for a ride

Close the hood and take your car for a spin. First stop: an automotive store, to drop off the used oil and filter for proper disposal.

An uninterruptible power supply (UPS)

An uninterruptible power supply, also uninterruptible power source, UPS or battery/flywheel backup, is an electrical apparatus that provides emergency power to a load when the input power source, typically mains power, fails. A UPS differs from an auxiliary or emergency power system or standby generator in that it will provide instantaneous or near-instantaneous protection from input power interruptions by means of one or more attached batteries and associated electronic circuitry for low power users, and or by means of diesel generators and flywheels for high power users. The on-battery runtime of most uninterruptible power sources is relatively short—5–15 minutes being typical for smaller units—but sufficient to allow time to bring an auxiliary power source on line, or to properly shut down the protected equipment.

While not limited to protecting any particular type of equipment, a UPS is typically used to protect computers, data centers, telecommunication equipment or other electrical equipment where an unexpected power disruption could cause injuries, fatalities, serious business disruption or data loss. UPS units range in size from units designed to protect a single computer without a video monitor (around 200 VA rating) to large units powering entire data centers, buildings, or even cities.

How to Change Your Car's Oil: Part 1

To complete this How-To you will need:

Your car's owner's manual
Motor oil
Bricks or rocks
A car jack and jack stands
An oil pan
A box wrench or adjustable wrench
A towel
A disposable plastic container with a lid
A new drain-plug gasket

Warning: Changing your oil can be dangerous, so be careful. If the car is jacked up incorrectly, you can hurt yourself and damage the car.

Step 1: Prepare the car

Park the car on a level surface, apply the emergency brake, and let it cool off for at least an hour before you start working.

Step 2: Check your oil supply

Your owner's manual will specify the right kind and quantity of oil for your car's specific make and model. Make sure the oil is certified by the American Petroleum Institute.

Step 3: Block the wheels

Place sturdy, heavy objects (like bricks or rocks) behind and in front of the two back wheels to block them.

Step 4: Jack up the car

Check your owner's manual to find the jack point--the correct placement for a jack--under the car's front wheels. Use the jack to raise the car off the ground. Then, slide the jack stands under the car to bear the car's weight.

Warning: Never get under a car supported solely by a jack.

Step 5: Remove the oil-filler cap

Open the hood, and locate the oil-filler cap. Take it off, and put it somewhere safe.

Tip: Most oil caps are marked with an icon that looks like Aladdin's lamp.

Step 6: Loosen the plug

Slide under the car and position the oil pan on the ground directly under the engine. With the box or adjustable wrench, loosen the drain plug by turning it counterclockwise.

Step 7: Drain the oil

Cover your fingers with the towel and remove the plug. Adjust the pan so all the oil drains into it. While the oil is draining, you can switch out the old drain-plug gasket with a new one

Tip: The drain plug is usually closer to the front of the car. On some models, it's labeled. If the fluid coming out is red, you've removed the transmission plug by mistake--screw it back on and locate the drain plug.

Step 8: Replace the drain plug

After 15 to 20 minutes, when the oil has completely drained, screw the drain plug back on with your fingers. Tighten it with the wrench, being careful not to overtighten.

Step 9: Get rid of the old oil

Pour the used oil from the pan into a disposable container with a lid, and set it aside. You're halfway there--see How to Change Your Car's Oil: Part 2 to finish the task.

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What is an actuator?

motor actuator

An actuator is a type of motor for moving or controlling a mechanism or system. It is operated by a source of energy, usually in the form of an electric current, hydraulic fluid pressure or pneumatic pressure, and converts that energy into some kind of motion. An actuator is the mechanism by which an agent acts upon an environment. The agent can be either an artificial intelligence agent or any other autonomous being (human, other animal, etc).

source: wikipedia

An actuator is something that converts energy into motion. It also can be used to apply a force. An actuator typically is a mechanical device that takes energy — usually energy that is created by air, electricity or liquid — and converts it into some kind of motion. That motion can be in virtually any form, such as blocking, clamping or ejecting. Actuators typically are used in manufacturing or industrial applications and might be used in devices such as motors, pumps, switches and valves.

source: wisegeek.com

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Cold kills 33 more in Europe, dam breaks in Bulgaria

SOFIA (Reuters) - Europe's bitterly cold weather killed another 33 people on Monday and melting snow caused a dam wall to break and flood an entire village in Bulgaria.

Gas supplies to the European Union from Russia improved at the weekend but have not fully recovered, the European Commission said, as Italy convened a crisis committee to handle what it called critical shortages of Russian gas.

The dam wall broke and flooded the village in southern Bulgaria following heavy rain and snow melting. Four people drowned and more than 50 were evacuated, the Interior Ministry said. Four more people died when their cars were swept away by high waters.

"There are demolished houses and people in distress," the ministry said in a statement.

Bulgaria warned neighbouring Greece and Turkey that two other dams were expected to overflow later on Monday.

The cold snap has killed hundreds of people in Europe.

Nine died over the past 24 hours in Poland, bringing the total to 62 since the end of January. Temperatures fell to minus 24 Celsius at night in northeastern parts of the country.

In Croatia's Dalmatia region, more than 100 villages were cut off by snow in the hinterland of the Adriatic coast, the emergency service centre said, and more snow was forecast.

Rescuers reached some of the Dalmatian villages on Sunday.

In one village, a woman gave birth in her house with the help of a neighbour, while a midwife from a nearby town gave them instructions by telephone.

"The baby girl is fine and beautiful and I'll probably name her Snow White, given the circumstances," the mother, Marta Glavota, told 24sata news website.

Ten people have died in Serbia so far, Montenegro reported its second death and Croatia said four people had died.

In Serbia, where 11,000 people remain cut off and a state of emergency has been declared, temperatures were forecast to stay below zero until mid-February.

Bosnia was paralysed for the fourth day with snow blocking cities. Helicopters were delivering baby food and aid packages to isolated villages in eastern parts.

Farmers were having problems feeding cattle and the president of Bosnia's farmers association, Vladimir Usorac, said milk production has dropped by 15 to 30 percent in the country.

"People are trying to get through and feed the cattle. It's very difficult because of 2-metre snow and even 5-metre snow drifts so there is no access to cattle feed," he said.

Bosnia recorded on Monday its eighth victim, after an 87-year- old woman died of hypothermia.

DUTCH SKATE

But in The Netherlands, suffering its coldest spell in 15 years, the snow was good news for some.

Ice skaters swarmed onto frozen ponds and canals and National television broadcaster NOS on Monday launched the daily "Ice News" to report about skating conditions.

Skaters were hoping for the right conditions to hold the Elfstedentocht - the famous Dutch "Eleven Cities Tour" which is a 200-km race on natural ice - for the first time since 1997.

In the Czech Republic, temperatures of minus 39.4C were recorded in the southwest along the German border. Meteorologists expect temperatures to fall more overnight.

At least 20 people have died in the Czech Republic, after two homeless people were reported dead overnight.

A burst pipe temporarily shut down an important western rail corridor between Prague and the German border town of Cheb.

The cold weather has increased demand for gas, and the European Commission said on Monday Bulgaria, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Poland and Greece were now receiving normal import levels, while supplies to Romania, Germany and Italy were increasing, but were not yet fully restored.

"It has become better over the weekend. We are in close contact with the member states," EU energy spokeswoman Marlene Holzner told a regular briefing.

The Commission says the situation does not constitute a crisis, with countries being able to meet their needs using storage facilities and other market measures.

In Italy, where demand reached all-time highs following a sixth straight day of curtailed supply from Russia, Italian Industry Minister Corrado Passera described the situation as "critical.

Russia's Gazprom said on Saturday it had brought supplies to European countries back to normal after lowering them "for a few days," but was unable to meet increased demand.

Unlike previous politically sensitive cutoffs of Russian gas, the six-day long reduction in supply to Europe stems from cold weather in Russia that has increased its domestic demand.

(Reporting by European Bureaux; Writing by Diana Abdallah)

Copyright © 2012 Reuters

Humidity Gauge - Hygrometer

A Hygrometer (UK: /haɪˈɡrɒmɪtə/) is an instrument used for measuring the moisture content in the environmental air, or humidity. Humidity is difficult to measure accurately. Most measurement devices usually rely on measurements of some other quantity such as temperature, pressure, mass or a mechanical or electrical change in a substance as moisture is absorbed.

From calculations based on physical principles, or especially by calibration with a reference standard, these measured quantities can lead to a measurement of humidity. Modern electronic devices use temperature of condensation, changes in electrical resistance, and changes in electrical capacitance to measure humidity changes.