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Consumer Electronics
Ask questions here about the electronics you use every day: from phones and computers to kitchen appliances and radios.
4,952 Questions
What jobs involve electricity?
In the modern age electricity is a necessity for every type of building and to perform numerous functions like providing light, climate-control, security systems, heat, and many other functions. The work of electricians is to connect, assess, and repair systems that use electronics in both residences and commercial structures. The majority of electricians work in the construction industry or in maintaining and repairing. Electricians put in electrical systems by first reading the specifications for hospitals, residences, schools, and other structures. The specifications or blueprints show where circuit boards, power outlets, and load centers need to be. There are numerous guidelines that electricians need to adhere to. These are set forth by local government, state governments, and the National Electric Code. In commercial buildings they begin by installing pipe or tubes inside walls and install circuit boxes. Next they complete the circuits by dragging the insulated wires through the conduit. For certain types of jobs electricians might use wire that is covered in plastic rather than conduit. Whatever type of wire electricians use, they need to attach the wires to circuit breakers or transformers and connect the wires by using special connectors that are designed for the purpose. Finally they examine their work for any flaws like improper connections, incompatibility with other systems, and safety issues. They do this using tools like ohmmeters, oscilloscopes, or voltmeters. Aside from installing a structure
Can you use a DC 9v 300MA adaptor to power a 9v 400MA device?
The voltage would match but the amount of power would likely not be enough to run the device. Under-power will not likely harm the device, but it won't work correctly.
Always use the correct voltage/power for your devices!
Conductors are insulated to prevent the escape of energy from within them. Without insulators, the conductors will usually release energy into the surrounding substance, unless that substance acts as an insulator. This answer is the result of recollection of a KS3 (high school) science class, and, although quite vague, it is a good outline. It will be useful to search "conductors and insulators" in a search engine, as there will be much more information provided.
How did technology improve in the 1960s?
living in a high-tech age, it's easy to forget that "technology" didn't always mean iPods, DVD and the Internet. For thousands of years, it was the means by which people secured food and shelter, established social order and shaped and sustained their cultures.
W. Bernard Carlson, professor of science, technology and society at the University of Virginia's School of Engineering and Applied Science, believes that students don't learn enough about the vital interaction of technology, culture and history. So, he decided to do something about it. The result is the seven-volume "Technology in World History," just published by Oxford University Press, for which Carlson served as editor in chief.
"Along with language, religion and social structure, technology is part of the culture of a given people and perhaps more than any other element, is used to shape and illustrate a society's values and beliefs," Carlson said. "While all cultures have technology, every culture uses technology differently."
Unlike other histories of technology, this set is organized by different cultures, rather than by different technologies. Instead of one chapter devoted to metalworking through the ages, Carlson and his co-authors looked at metalworking in the context of different societies at different times. Which metal was worked and why? What was it used to make? How did the manufactured items both reflect and shape their society?
The history begins with the Stone Age and ends with the global economy. It defines technology broadly, exploring not only traditional topics - agriculture, industrialization, transportation, navigation and computers - but also medicine and pharmacology, warfare, timekeeping, and domestic and fine arts. The chapters touch on incremental, but significant, advances as well as revolutionary breakthroughs.
Unlike many histories of technology that focus on Europe and the United States, these volumes delve into non-Western societies and their contributions to the world's technological knowledge through the ages. Designed to serve both world history and science curriculums, they explore the history and technology of 18 different cultures, including China, the Islamic Empire, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Pacific, the Maya and the Aztecs.
The books - which include timelines and more than 600 illustrations, including photographs, maps and diagrams - are designed for public and school libraries.
"One of the goals of the cross-cultural approach is to move readers beyond Western assumptions about technology," Carlson said. "Non-Western cultures may view technology in different ways. It's not just the means to pursue material and economic goals - creating wealth, maintaining military power, improving health and providing entertainment. People may also use technology to pursue non-economic goals, such as sustaining the social order and expressing cultural meaning."
An expert on the role of technology and innovation in American history, Carlson received his doctorate in the history and sociology of science from the University of Pennsylvania. His publications include "Innovation as a Social Process: Elihu Thomson and the Rise of General Electric, 1870-1900" (Cambridge University Press, 1991; paper reprint 2002). With support from the Sloan Foundation, he is currently completing a biography of the inventor Nikola Tesla.
Washing Machine Milestones
The first British patent under the category of Washing and Wringing Machines was issued in 1691. A drawing of an early washing machine appeared in the January 1752 issue of "The Gentlemen's Magazine," an English publication. In 1782 Henry Sidgier was issued a British patent for a rotating drum washer.
The first United States Patent titled "Clothes Washing" was granted to Nathaniel Briggs of New Hampshire in 1797. Fire destroyed the patent office and no description of the device exists so it is not known what kind of washing device Briggs "invented." The electric washing machine was first mass produced in 1906. It is not known who first invented the electric washer. Alva J. Fisher has been incorrectly credited with the invention of the electric washer. The US patent office shows at least one patent issued before Mr. Fisher's US patent number 966677 (e.g. Woodrow's US patent number 921195). Dryer History
Contrary to Internet rumors, the first tumble dryer was not invented by American George T. Sampson. A hand-cranked version was created in 1799 by a Frenchman named Pochon. Sampson's United States patent (number 476,416), which he received on June 7, 1892, was for an improved rack for holding wet clothes near a heat source. Electric tumble dryers appeared in the 20th century. http://www.answers.com/topic/washing-machine?cat=technology http://www.answers.com/topic/clothes-dryer-1
L = 49 dB SPL (Sound pressure level) is a sound pressure of p = 0.005636766.
The sensed loudness is a psycho acoustical quantity.
What is flat head screwdriver?
Also known as a standard screwdriver. It is flat on the end. Unlike a Phillips screwdriver that rather comes to a four point at the end.
How do you connect a TV to a TV?
Couple of ways to do this, depemds on your video out options on your tv.
Go from the TV out on one TV to the in of the other. You will have to tune in the 2nd TV to channel 3 usually.
You can also go thru a VCR with the 1st TV video out to the VCR video in and the VCR video out to the 2nd TV video in .
On newer LCD tv's this is done similar. Use a video out on your main set that u want to select whats playing from. Then on the second set use the video in. You will have to use the correct mode on the first tv for what u want to play on both sets such as HDMI1 or Component 1, or Video 1, Video 2 etc. Then on your second set it will probably say AV in 1 or 2. see which one u plugged into and then change the mode on the second set to which ever one u plugged into. Now set your main set to what u want to watch and your second set to AV 1 or AV 2 , or Video 1 or Video 2 (which ever u plugged into) and you should be able to control both tv's and watch the same thing from the main set.
Also, some of the newer TV's has a S-video connection. Get a s-video cable and connect it to the s-video plugs on your tv's then you can control either set from either set. such as On the main set your watching cable from your HDMI mode or Cable mode. Go to your second set and change the mode to the S-video mode. Then it will play what your main set is playing, and vise versa if you want to control the main set from the secondary set turn the secondary set to Cable in mode or HDMI 1 mode then turn your main set to S-video mode and it will play what the secondary set is playing.
If your not a TV buff this may sound confusing but it is really simple. All tv's have most if not all of these different modes especially on new sets. To change mode just look on your remote to change mode, or for the AV-mode buttons to change the modes of the set.
How did the telegraph help the invention of the telephone?
Telephones - 1876
The Gallows Telephone - Alexander Bells first attempt to produce a speaking telephone Failed.
The Centennial Transmitter -This instrument was a more refined version of the original Gallows Model. The hinged armature was replaced with an iron disk glued directly to the parchment diaphragm, which improved the instrument's performance.Worked
AT A GLANCE:
Probably no means of communication has revolutionized the daily lives of ordinary people more than the telephone. The actual history of the telephone is a subject of complex dispute. The controversy began with the success of the invention and continues today. Some of the inventors credited with inventing the telephone include Antonio Meucci, Philip Reis, Elisha Gray and Alexander Graham Bell. Bell's experiments with his assistant Thomas Watson finally proved successful on March 10, 1876, when the first complete sentence was transmitted: "Watson, come here; I want you.".
THE STORY
RELATED INFO
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QUOTATIONS
HOW IT WORKS
DID YOU KNOW?
Invention:
telephone on March 10, 1876
Definition:
noun / tel·e·phone
Function:
An instrument which converts sound, specifically the human voice, to electrical impulses of various frequencies and then back to a tone that sounds like the original voice.
Patent(s):
174,465 (US) issued March 7, 1876 filed February 14, 1876
161,739 (US) issued April 6, 1875 filed March 6, 1875
Inventor:
Alexander Graham Bell
Criteria;
First practical. Modern prototype. Entrepreneur.
Birth:
March 3, 1847, in Edinburgh, Scotland
Death:
August 2, 1922, at Baddeck, Nova Scotia, Canada
Nationality:
American
Milestones:
1831 Michael Faraday proved that vibrations of metal could be converted to electrical impulses
1861 Johann Philip Reis built a apparatus that changed sound to electricity and back again to sound
1871 Antonio Meucci filed his patent caveat (notice of intention to take out a patent)
1874 A. G. Bell while working on a multiple telegraph, developed the basic ideas for the telephon
1875 Bell files first patent for improved telegraphy
1876 Bell and Watson transmit the first complete sentence
1876 Bell files patent application on February 14,. patent issues March 7
1876 Elisha Gray filed his patent caveat (notice of intention to take out a patent) on February 14,
1877 formed Bell Telephone Company to operate local telephone exchange operation
1877 first city exchange installed in Hartford, Connecticut
1879 irst exchange outside the United States was built in London, England
1880 invented the photophone, which transmits speech by light rays
1882 acquired a controlling interest in the Western Electric Company, Elisha Gray's company
1883 irst exchange linking two major cities was established between New York and Boston
1885 formed American Telephone and Telegraph Company to operate the long distance network.
1888 coin operated pay telephone was patented by William Gray of Hartford, Connecticut
1891 first automatic telephone exchange was patented by Almon Strowger of Kansas City
1921 The Detroit Police Department, began experimentation with one-way vehicular mobile service.
1928 Detroit Police commenced regular one-way radio communication with all its patrol cars.
1933 Bayonne, NJ Police Department initiated regular two-way communications with its patrol cars
1936 Alton Dickieson, H.I. Romnes and D. Mitchell begin design of AT&T's mobile phone system
1940 Connecticut State Police began statewide two-way, on the frequency modulated (FM)
1941 FM mobile radio became standard throughout the country following the success in Connecticut
1946 A driver in St. Louis, Mo., placed a phone call,it was the first AT&T mobile telephone call.
1948 wireless telephone service was available in almost 100 cities and highway corridors.
1947 cellular telephone service conceived by D.H. Ring at Bell Labs, but the technology didn't exist
1962 The first commercial touch-tone phones were a big hit in their preview at Seattle World's Fair.
1970 commercial Picture phone service debuted in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
1971 Richard Frenkiel and Joel Engel of AT&T applied computers and electronics to make it work.
1973 Martin Cooper of Motorola made the first cellphone call to his rival Joe Engel of AT&T Bell Labs
1978 AT&T conducted FCC-authorized field trials in Chicago and Newark, N.J.
1979 the first cellular network was launched in Japan.
1982 FCC granted commercial licenses to an AT&T subsidiary, Advanced Mobile Phone Service
1983 AMPS was then divided among the local companies as part of the planning for divestiture
1983 Illinois Bell opened the first commercial cellular system in October
phone, telephone, bell, Alexander graham bell, alex bell, bell telephone company, at&t, bell labs, western electric, Antonio Meucci, Philip Reis, Elisha Gray, invention, history, inventor of, history of, who invented, invention of, fascinating facts.
The Story:
Probably no means of communication has revolutionized the daily lives of ordinary people more than the telephone. Simply described, it is a system which converts sound, specifically the human voice, to electrical impulses of various frequencies and then back to a tone that sounds like the original voice. In 1831, Englishman Michael Faraday (1791-1867) proved that vibrations of metal could be converted to electrical impulses. This was the technological basis of the telephone, but no one actually used this system to transmit sound until 1861. In that year, Johann Philip Reis (1834-1874) in Germany is said to have built a simple apparatus that changed sound to electricity and back again to sound. A crude device, it was incapable of transmitting most frequencies, and it was never fully developed.
A practical telephone was actually invented independently by two men working in the United States, Elisha Gray and Scottish-born Alexander Graham Bell. Incredibly, both men filed for a patent on their designs at the New York patent office on February 14, 1876, with Bell beating Gray by only two hours! Although Gray had built the first steel diaphragm / electromagnet receiver in 1874, he wasn't able to master the design of a workable transmitter until after Bell had. Bell had worked tirelessly, experimenting with various types of mechanisms, while Gray had become discouraged
According to the famous story, the first fully intelligible telephone call occurred on March 6, 1876, when Bell, in one room, called to his assistant in another room. "Come here, Watson, I want you."
Watson heard the request through a receiver connected to the transmitter that Bell had designed, and what followed after that is a history of the founding of the Bell Telephone Company (later AT&T), which grew to be the largest telephone company in the world.
The first telephone system, known as an exchange, which is a practical means of communicating between many people who have telephones, was installed in Hartford, Connecticut in 1877, and the first exchange linking two major cities was established between New York and Boston in 1883. The first exchange outside the United States was built in London in 1879. The exchange involved a group of operators working at a large switchboard. The operators would answer an incoming telephone call and connect it manually to the party being called. The first automatic telephone exchange was patented by Almon Strowger of Kansas City in 1891 and installed in 1892, but manual switchboards remained in common use until the middle of the twentieth century
How a telephone works.
The very simplest working telephone would look like this inside:
It consists of 3 parts:
A switch to connect and disconnect the phone from the network. This switch is generally called the hook switch. It connects when you lift the handset.
A speaker, which is generally a little 50 cent 8-ohm speaker of some sort.
A microphone. In the past, telephone microphones have been as simple as carbon granules compressed between two thin metal plates. Sound waves from your voice compress and decompress the granules, changing the resistance of the granules and modulating the current flowing through the microphone
DID YOU KNOW?
- Patent No. 174,465 US issued March 7, 1876 to A. Graham Bell for the Telegraphy
- In the first month of the Bell Telephone Company's existence in 1877, only six telephones were sold!
- When Bell's patent was sixteen months old, there were 778 telephones in use.
- Fifteen years after its invention in 1876, there were five million phones in America. Fifteen years after the invention of cellular phones, more than 33 million wireless phones were in the U.S.
- During the depths of the Depression, telephones in use fell from 16 to 13 per 100 populations and by the late 1970's the number had surpassed 75 per 100 population.
- It took the telephone 75 years and television 13 years to acquire 50 million users. It has taken the Internet five years. Today, more than 500 million people around the world are connected to the Internet.
- In 1878, Rutherford B. Hayes was the first US president to have a telephone installed in the White House. And to whom did the commander-in-chief place his first call? Alexander Graham Bell, of course, who was waiting for the call some 13 miles away from the White House. The president's first words were said to have been, "Please speak more slowly."
- When Alexander Graham Bell died on August 4, 1922, millions of phones went dead. In Bell's honor, all phones served by the Bell System in the USA and Canada went silent for one minute.
What is the history of the development of electronics for guitar amplifiers?
Also in the early 50's les paul's invention was marketed by Gibson guitar corp. and hence named the 'les paul' the amp is also known to come from here.
What is the world's most powerful hand held laser pointer?
Mega Laser UK is an excellent website and easy to navigate from the beginer, intermediate to the advanced computer user. The website has an inviting layout and its ease of navigation steers the user in the right direction. The website sells red, green and blue lasers varying in price and wattage.
Should kids under 16 have a cell phone?
yes. yes because there could be certain emergencies that they could use their cell phones for.
____
Alternatively, I think it would be reasonable to allow the cell phones, but require them to have the ringer turned off, so that they don't disrupt classes. It might even be okay to require them to be turned off, because the school does have a phone number and a way for parents to contact students in an emergency, and most cell phone use in school is not a legitimate emergency. Students could turn the phones on if there were a legitimate emergency.
No, because it will distract them from their work. Besides, if they get in an accident and are badly hurt, they wouldn't be able to call you.
Why is it important to use electricity wisely?
In today's culture, electricity is a vital part of functioning as a society. Simple tasks, such as waking up at a designated time or enjoying a piece of music, are accomplished currently via electronic means. One only needs to consider the consequences of a relatively short power outage – factories close down, phones and computers go dead, traffic slows to a crawl, food spoils in refrigerators – to accurately observe how power-dependent our society has become. However, electricity is a constantly developing technology, and the aspects one currently associates with electricity and electricity generation are nowhere close to the original features. In the past century and a half, electricity has steadily evolved from a scientific curiosity, to a luxury of the affluent, to a modern need. Along the way, it has been shaped by a variety of non-technological factors: economic, political, social, and environmental, to name a few.
What inventions came about because of radio?
the telegraph and the telephone, came from the radio all three technologies are closely related, because they use "wireless telegraphy" There are probably many more just look up all the inventions of Nikola Tesla. He has over 50 Patton's in the US and Canada alone
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And the Television and Radar! Both are particular types, or rather applications, of radio.
Any Bluetooth headset is compatible with the PS3. <<< NO!!! THIS IS WRONG!!!>>
u actually need a special headset that clearly says ps3 capible, some headsets will play havok with ur wireless controllers!!!!
try Wikipedia I'm pretty sure ps3 is compatible with most headsets.
Electromagnets are created using what?
An electric current flowing in a wire creates a magnetic field around the wire. To concentrate the magnetic field of a wire, in an electromagnet the wire is wound into a coil, with many turns of wire lying side by side. The magnetic field of all the turns of wire passes through the center of the coil, creating a strong magnetic field there. A coil forming the shape of a straight tube (a helix) is called a solenoid; a solenoid that is bent into a donut shape so that the ends meet is called a toroid. Much stronger magnetic fields can be produced if a "core" of ferromagnetic material, such as soft iron, is placed inside the coil. The ferromagnetic core magnifies the magnetic field to thousands of times the strength of the field of the coil alone. This is called a iron-core electromagnet.
Remote code for 27in Pentus TV Plasma Screen Remote code for 27in Pentus TV Plasma Screen
you can measure the unit of a current in amps (A)
we measure the current using a ammeter
What is the newest xbox 360 game out?
Sony Playstation has not had a new release for a long time even the PS2 has only PS2 versions of games being released for other systems. PS3 titles change weekly or so for the newest title to be released and investigation on May 28 2012 reflected that Dragon's Dogma by Capcom and Sorcery by Sony Computer Entertainment were released May 22, 2012. Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland by Tecmo Koei will be released on May 29, 2012. Inversion by Namco will be released on June 5, 2012.
A ceiling fan is a type of propeller and also a mixer. The fan is usually composed of flat blades which are attached to an electric motor. The motor,most commonly, has several speeds and can often be operated in a clockwise direction or counter clockwise direction. The fan blades are normally positoned at an angle to the verticle axis of the motor. The result of the angled blades turning is that air will be gathered by the leading edge of the blade and forced to the trailing edge and a breeze is felt coming off of the trailing edge. Withinan enclosed environment such as a room in a home or business,the ceiling fan can be used to accelerate the distribution ofwarm or cooled air within the defined space, reducing energy bills and improving comfort.In the winter, when a warmer interior is required, it is generally considered the most effective operation of the ceiling fan is to"push" the airup toward the ceiling, the loweredge of the blades will be leading as the blades circle. The fan will compress the warmer air in the ceiling forcing it to desend down the walls and pull the cooler floor air up, thus mixing the air within the room and balancing temperature floor to ceiling, creating a more comfortable climate and reducing energy cost bymoving the naturally convected warm air in the ceiling into the living space. The fan operating in the "up" mode also reduces drafts. Because the temperature within the room is the same due to mixing, the controling thermostat will be reading the actual room temperature, not just the stratified temperature at its mounted height.For cooling the opposite applies, the fan should turn with the upper leading edges leading as the blades rotate, causing the air to be blown down, this will pull the hotter air in the ceiling into the cold dense air on the floor and mix it, again balancing floor and ceiling temp, the fan is "pushing" the air down and causing drafts, moving air has a cooling effect on the body, by promoting evaporation. A ceiling fan operating by itself blowing air down will provide some relief on a hot day. A ceiling fan operaing in conjunction with an air condintioner will reduce the run time of the AC unit and allow higher temperatures to be set because moving air is "cooler" than still air.
What can you use in a microwave oven?
1. popcorn-follow the instructions on the bag
2. chef Boyardee- Put in microwave safe bowl and cover with paper towel. Microwave for three and a half minutes.
3. Macaroni and cheese-Buy microwaveable mac and cheese and follow the instructions on the package.
4. Bacon- Put on microwave safe plate, and cover with paper towel, then microwave until bacon is slightly brown and crunchy.
5. ham and cheese scrambeled eggs- take a small microwaveable bowl, and crack your eggs into it. Add a splash of milk to the eggs and beat them with a fork until the eggs and milk are roughly a light shade of yellow. Then add your cheese and ham into the mixture, and beat with the fork to mix the ham and cheese into the egg. Microwave for about 3 to 4 minutes.
Can a TV purchased in Australia be used in the UK?
Yes it will. Sweden uses the same voltage/frequency as the UK (230v/50Hz). However - in order to view TV channels in the UK - you will need a digital set-top box for digital television. All the old analogue transmitters are now switched off.
When and why were speakers invented?
First the headphone was developed. Than a headphone capsule was put upsode down on a saucer with a little distance. That was the first loudspeaker.
Scroll down to related links and look at "History of loudspeakers".
What is the advantage of having a refrigerator?
A refrigerator lets a person preserve perishable food, such a meat, vegetables and milk
for much longer periods than are otherwise possible. Refrigerators also have a freezing
compartment that will keep frozen foods frozen and make ice to use in beverages. The advantages of having a refrigerator also include
* not having to make daily trips to the market for perishables * longer storage of infrequently used items * leftovers can be saved for future use * protection against pests
Simply put, 1.6 Amps, or for that matter any number of Amps (which is current), has nothing in and of itself, to do with Watts (which is power).
In any circuit, there are three fundamental units of electrical properties - voltage (E), current (A), and resistance (R). In addition, there's the related unit of power (which are Watts[W]). In any circuit, knowing any two of the four will allow determining the third and forth. The fundamental rule used is called "Ohm's law" which states that the voltage across any circuit is proportional to it's resistance, and the current through it and is usually written as:
E = I x R or simply E = IR
One important detail is that V is commonly used instead of E. So E = I x R is the same as V = I x R. But using "E" is more proper (and stands for the formal name for voltage, "electromotive force" also sometimes abbreviated as "EMF").
One other essential equation is W = I x E.
Using these two equations will answer your question but you must have at least one more unit in addition to Amps, either power, resistance, or voltage.
Without knowing another unit in addition to your current of 1.6A, the question cannot be answered.
As an example, let's take a 100W light bulb which runs on 120V.
Using the relationships shown above, we can calculate that for this bulb, it's current is I = W / E = 100W / 120V = 0.833A.
It's resistance then, is E / I = 120V / 0.833A = 144 Ohms.
So given it's power (W) and voltage (E) we have all four quantities:
E = 120 Volts, R = 144 Ohms, I = 0.8 Amps, W = 100 Watts
Note that combining and rearranging the two equations for E & W (this requires pretty basic algebra and won't be detailed here. Just the equivalent equations will be shown), it can be shown that any two values can be used to derive all four. All the combinations are thus:
Given I and W:
E = W / I = 100W / 0.833 Amps = 120V and,
R = W / I^2 = 100W / 0.833^2 = 144 Ohms
Given R and W:
E = SQRT(W x R) = SQRT(100 x 144) = 120V and,
I = SQRT(W / R) = SQRT(100 / 144) = 0.8333A
Given E and R:
W = E^2 / R = 14400 / 144 = 100W and,
I = E / R = 120 / 144 = 0.8333A
Given E and I:
W = E x I = 120 x 0.8333 = 100 Watts and,
R = E / I = 120 / 0.8333 = 144 Ohms
Given I and R:
E = I x R = 0.8333 x 144 = 120V and,
W = I^2 x R = 0.6944 x 144 = 100 Watts
