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The Right Kitchen Timer Can Make A Big Difference

A kitchen timer is a tool that most people dont give a second thought. However, many professional chefs understand that the wrong timer can ruin a perfectly executed meal. When youre depending on a kitchen timer to let you know when to take out your meal from the oven or off the stove top even a few minutes can be the difference between food that tastes just right or a meal that is rubbery, dried out, and overcooked. Todays kitchen timers are a little more advanced than their old-fashioned counterparts, but its main responsibility remains the same: to make sure that your meal is timed perfectly. Technology has caught up with the manual timers which were popular in the 1950s, and today almost all chefs rely on digital timers. The Antune solar, FMP 4-in-1 digital, and FMP Zap timer are three of the most popular timers on the market today. They each offer an array of benefits and can help take your kitchen meals to the next level.

The AJ Antune solar timer is one of the first solar powered kitchen timers run by light making it the perfect timer for any eco-minded chef. The timer also comes with back-up batteries. The timing mechanism is reliable and features four timing channels so you can be sure it is dependable. You can also choose to program times into it for quick retrieval. Once youre using it you can rely on audio and visual signals to let you know when the timer has gone off, and it can be mounted onto any magnetic surface in your kitchen.

The FMP 4-in-1 timer can run on a 9-volt battery or an AC adaptor. The digital timer, which is made out of ABS plastic, can time a meal up to 10 hours and features four separate counting timers. Each of the timers has memory recall and can be adjusted from hours all the way to seconds. Audio signals let you know when your meal is ready, whatever your next step might be.

The FMP Zap timer is a digital timer that uses an oil resistant cord to power. This timer can time up to 99 hours and feature a large LED display so that you will have no problem seeing the countdown clock. It is made of stainless steel and is able to be mounted on any type of kitchen hardware.

Buying a timer might not seem important until you realize that the cheap timer you bought is not reliable and your cooking has been suffering for it. Once you make the decision to upgrade to a digital timer you will notice that your new clock is much more dependable and easy to use.

Kitchen Improvement | admin | |   ABS AC FMP LED

How To Build Your Own Intermittent Misting System To Propagate Plants

This article will lay out the steps and materials you need to build your own misting system to propagate plants.

How to build your own misting system

Here is a list of materials and quantities needed to build a basic misting system. This system is designed to be used outdoors, but should also work fine inside a greenhouse. Your choice of misting nozzles will determine whether your PVC pipe will be suspended above the cuttings, or lay on the ground. This list assumes you are using a digital timer. WARNING: Use extreme caution if using mechanical timers instead of the digital one. The voltage can cause injury or death. If you are not qualified to perform the required wiring, seek the help of a qualified electrician. If using a digital controller, most convert the incoming voltage to a lower voltage, so there is less of a danger, but seek advice from an electrician if needed.
Misting controller(s) (1) (2, if building the mechanically operated system)
110 volt AC to 24 volt AC transformer (1) (will not be needed if using the digital timer)
24 volt AC solenoid (1)
Wire for solenoid (length determined by system builder)
Wire for timers (only if using the mechanical timers)
3/4 PVC pipe (10′ length)
3/4 socket x 3/4 male IPS adapter (1)
3/4 male IPS x female hose adapter (1)
3/4 PVC glue on cap (1)
misting nozzles (4)
Waterproof wire-nuts (2)
9 volt batteries (for digital timers only)
PVC primer and cement
Teflon tape
Misc. electrical fittings (only if building the mechanical system)Step 1
Install the two 3/4 male adapters into the solenoid. Be sure to wrap Teflon tape around all pipe threads to reduce the likelihood of leaks. The 3/4 x female hose adapter should be installed on the inlet side, the 3/4 male IPS x 3/4 socket on the outlet side. Most solenoids have a direction of flow arrow to help you determine which end is the inlet, and which is the outlet. Be sure to not over tighten the fittings, or the solenoid may crack.
Step 2
If building the digital timer system, wire the controller to the solenoid, using the wiring directions that came with the controller. Be absolutely sure the transformer and solenoid are the same voltage. Use the waterproof wire nuts to connect the solenoid to the wire. If building the mechanical system, the timers need to be wired together, then to a transformer. The transformer then gets wired to the solenoid using the wire nuts. Seek the help of a qualified electrician to be sure your mechanically operated system is wired correctly.
Step 3
Prime and cement the 3/4 PVC cap on the end of the PVC pipe. Prime and cement the other end of the pipe into the fitting in the solenoid. Do not get any cement in the solenoid.
Step 4

Gardening | admin | |   AC IPS PVC

Economic & Energy Saving Kitchen Lighting Ideas

We all want to live in a cleaner, more beautiful world. These kitchen lighting ideas will reduce unnecessary energy consumption and even decrease your monthly spending. Who doesn’t want to save a little on their electric bill each month? Try any of these innovative kitchen lighting ideas in your home today, and enjoy a little extra cash tomorrow.

Kitchen undercabinet lighting is an easy update for your home. Tucked away beneath upper cabinets, kitchen undercabinet lighting sets the work surfaces aglow when switched on. These subtle lights are great at night when the hubbub of the kitchen has died down, and only one person is left to his or her work. Save energy by switching off the main lights and using your kitchen undercabinet lighting to illuminate your countertop. This is also a low-energy light to leave on when one family member will be home late.

While we are on the subject of savings, you may want to consider switching to fluorescent lights. Not only do these produce a cooler, brighter light, but fluorescent lights are also cost-effective on two levels. There are two expenses to a bulb. There is the initial amount that the bulb costs (this includes how many hours it lasts because a bulb that is cheap but only lasts a few hours ends up being more expensive from constant changing) and the energy efficiency (i.e. how much energy it costs to run). The difference between incandescents and fluorescent lights is astounding. A 60-watt incandescent bulb uses the same energy as a 15-watt fluorescent bulb. That is a tremendous energy savings right there. Fluorescent lights also produce a third less heat than standard bulbs, so you are saving on your AC bills in the summer as well. All in all, CFL and fluorescent lights save you a remarkable amount both in the long and short run.

Ceiling fans are also effortless energy savers. The ultimate lifesavers in the kitchen, ceiling fans take the sauna out of a busy day cooking and replace it with a pleasantly cool breeze. Instead of running the AC whenever it gets warm in your kitchen, switch on the ceiling fan for both illumination and exhilaration. In addition, ceiling fans help save energy in the winter. When the weather gets cooler, reverse the direction that your ceiling fans rotate in, and this will effectively warm your rooms instead of costly heaters.

Kitchen track lighting, when used properly, can further your savings. Adjustable light fixtures make kitchen track lighting ideal for homes with multiple work surfaces in a room. Instead of using several light fixtures to illuminate each area properly, fix each head of your kitchen track lighting onto the work surfaces that are being used. Directing the light at the specific locations being used, you are harnessing all of the illumination power, making additional lighting elements unnecessary. Why use two lights when the full power of one light will suffice?

Finally, look towards recessed kitchen lighting for a little time-savings in your life. With our busy schedules, everyone could use a little extra time. Recessed lighting gives you the luxury of ample illumination without the hassle of cleaning several light fixtures. Because your recessed kitchen lighting is stored up in the ceiling, none of the fixture is exposed to become dirty. This saves you time from cleaning all those light heads. Even if it’s only twice a year, this is one chore that you will be grateful to pass up.

Do your part to save energy wherever you can. With all the money you save using these kitchen lighting ideas, you can treat yourself to a vacation or a new piece of furniture. Keep the earth clean and cash in all at once with these effortless lighting solutions.

Energi Efficiency | admin | |   AC CFL

Ifloor Choosing Laminate Flooring Brands

It is time to choose what brand of laminate flooring you will be using. There are numerous brands of laminate flooring available in the market. Although they all have the same attributes, each brand still differs from another in terms of levels of attributes. They all have different levels of qualities. It will be hard to decide if they all seem to look the same. iFloor, the top discount flooring online store, shares with us some tips on how to choose the right laminate flooring brand.

Choosing will be easy if you know each brands difference from another. The idea is to compare each one you see and pick out the best. Here are the factors you need to check and compare:

Material used The material used on a laminate flooring can be differentiated by weight. The average weight of the material ranges from 700 to 880 kilogram per square meter. The heavier the material is the stronger and higher quality is the laminate flooring. In specialty stores, there are laminate flooring brands which uses materials weighing up to 950 kilograms per square meter.

Quality of the surface The quality of the laminate floorings surface is important because it determines the durability. You can check the quality by finding out the surface rating of a laminate flooring brand. It is determined using the rating system called AC. Regular laminate flooring brands rate AC2 or AC3. Just like in material weight, the higher the number, the better surface quality. Some specialty stores have brands with AC4 surface rating.

Texture of the flooring The texture of a laminate flooring brand determines its resemblance to pure and real hardwood. Although laminate flooring is designed to be smooth, the more grain you feel, the better its imitation to real wood. Determine the texture by feeling the surface with your palms. Real wood has rougher grain texture.

Inclusion of a backing Laminate flooring needs underlayment for the subfloor. Some brands already have backing attached to the laminate flooring; some are sold separately with the underlayment. Choose a brand which already has backing ready for installation. This will help you save time, money, and effort.

Quality of locking system You have to find test the locking system of a laminate flooring brand. A poor locking system means lower product quality. You can test this by combining two pieces using its locking system and try to pull them off from each other by your forefinger and thumb. If they come off easily, look for another brand.

Pricing of the product Do not be deceived by very affordable laminate flooring. Too much affordability may mean that the materials used were also cheap. Do not be afraid to spend a little but not too much.
When purchasing laminate flooring, remember these factors to consider. This will help you in picking out the best brand for your home. Visit iFloor for a wide selection of quality laminate flooring.

Flooring | admin | |   AC