The most important additions to the camera outfit are the extra lenses. If you have always used a standard lens on your camera, you may not find it easy to decide which would be the best lens to buy next. Obviously, you want to start with the one that will be the most versatile for your type of photography. As a first buy, most photographers choose a wide angle lens (28mm) or a telephoto lens (135mm). If you like taking scenic landscape pictures or you want to include a wide area without having to step back with the camera too much, then a wide- angle lens is a good choice. Read the rest of this entry »
The biggest attraction of a 35mm single lens reflex camera is its versatility. Not only is it a useful piece of equipment in its own right, but it can be the ‘heart’ of a complete camera outfit. You can add things like extra lenses, filters, a flashgun, a tripod, as and when you feel you need them, to help you get the results you want.
Smaller items—a blower brush for cleaning lenses, or a cable release, for example—also form part of the serious photographer’s equipment as the collection builds up. And, of course, you will need a gadget bag, or a carrying case to keep everything in. Read the rest of this entry »
Most people have a healthy respect for electricity and understand that it can be dangerous — even lethal — if misused. Electricity at all voltages should be respected. Anyone who does not follow the basic rules of electricity is not only a danger to himself but to everyone around him. Electrical accidents are avoidable: most are due to plain carelessness and failing to follow the basic rules.
There are about sixteen million homes in Britain supplied with electricity and each one contains an average of about 25 electrical appliances. Given the sheer number of items, it is perhaps surprising that there are fewer than 80 fatalities from electrical accidents a year. Although this represents only a small percentage of the entire population and represents only one per cent of the 8,000 deaths each year that result from accidents in the home, the figure is still far too high. Read the rest of this entry »
All the mains appliances featured here have some kind of mains cable. Problems with the electronic cables of portable appliances are quite common, especially those that are moved around constantly while in use, such as vacuum cleaners and hedge cutters.
The problems can range from a simple break in one or more of the conductors, which would render the appliance open circuit, to the breakdown of the cable’s insulating properties caused by damage, fatigue or neglect, leading to the risk of electric shock or fire. Electronic cables and extension leads must be checked regularly and thoroughly.
There are several different types of flexible electronic cable in two-core and three-core configurations on the appliances shown here. It is important to remember that two-core electronic cable is used only on double insulated appliances; three-core electronic cable is used on all items requiring an earth connection. Read the rest of this entry »
Store tapes vertically to help prevent their stretching or loops forming and always put them in their cases tape face in. Do not store them near magnetic sources, such as loudspeakers or motors. As the signal is recorded on the tape in a magnetic format by the video, other sources of magnetism can distort or blank it. Do not store tapes in direct sunlight or where temperatures may be too high or too low. When hiring tapes from video clubs, check thatthe tape and cassette are in good condition. Do not touch the tape because grease from fingers will damage both tape and video head, but inspect the entry points for dust or flaking of the oxide (fine brownish powder or flakes). Read the rest of this entry »
Most households have at least one item of video and audio equipment: television, video, sound system, CD player and so on. As a rule, it is not wise for the amateur to attempt to repair such high tech equipment, as this requires expert knowledge, expensive equipment and detailed service manuals. The intricate nature of internal mechanical and electronic components and the high voltages make it inadvisable to remove panels or outer covers. It is more sensible to leave this to the skills of the trained specialist. Read the rest of this entry »
There is what seems to be an ever-increasing range of labour-saving equipment capable of tackling the wide variety of repair and building work now taken on by the D-I-Y home-owner. Tools that were once used in only professional workshops and factories are now quite commonplace around the house. Electric drills, routers, grinders, saws and planes are now produced to meet the demand from the rapidly increasing army of D-I-Y enthusiasts. The diversity and range available is vast. They are all based on an electric motor taking the place of manual effort. Each has a powerful motor for direct drive or reduction via a gearbox or electronic control and can be found in mains or battery powered versions in most instances. Read the rest of this entry »
This is closely related to the previous on D-I-Y power tools which, in some areas of operation, overlap. Some power tools have attachments for garden work. The use of electrically powered machinery requires the most scrupulous safety observance. In this and many other aspects, D-I-Y power tools and garden power tools are alike.
Like D-I-Y power tools, a brush gear motor is used to power garden equipment, whether mower, trimmer or weeder. Both mains and battery (rechargeable) versions are available. A similarity to vacuum cleaner motors has already been noted and this also applies to the garden equipment. This is evident from the illustrations of the hover mower. The motor has more than a passing resemblance to one of the cylinder cleaner motors featured on vacuum cleaners. As there are so many similarities, the operation of the motor is not described again here. However, information about common faults and maintenance is, of course, included. Read the rest of this entry »
Many appliances usually powered by a mains electrical supply can now be obtained in cordless form. This means they are independent of the mains supply and powered by batteries housed within the unit. Greater flexibility of use has been given to a wide variety of equipment ranging from electric shavers to electric drills.
Small items, such as electric razors may be powered by ordinary dry cell batteries because their power consumption is low and operational time is relatively short. However, once dry cell batteries have run down, they need to be replaced. On larger appliances which are used for longer periods and for carrying out much more strenuous work, the need to renew batteries at short intervals would not only be expensive but extremely wasteful in terms of the materials used in their production. Many appliances now overcome this problem by using rechargeable batteries, which come in two versions. Read the rest of this entry »
