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“Legal steroids” is a catch-all term for muscle-building supplements that don’t fall under the category of “illegal.”

Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are synthetic (manufactured) versions of the male sex hormone testosterone. These are sometimes used illegally.

People who have muscle wasting or testosterone production disorders can take these hormone supplements for their condition if prescribed by a healthcare provider.

However, some athletes and bodybuilders illegally use these steroids to boost muscle mass or performance.

Some legal supplements do have science on their side and aren't entirely unsafe. But others may be completely ineffective or even cause harm.

Creatine

Creatine is one of the most well-known performance support options. It’s a naturally occurring substance found in foods like fish and meat. It’s also sold in many stores as a muscle-building supplement.

Creatine has numerous documented benefits:

• A 1999 studyTrusted Source found that weightlifters who used creatine showed nearly three times as much growth in muscle fibers and doubled overall body mass than those who didn’t use creatine.

• A 2003 studyTrusted Source found that using creatine when you’re weight training can help build strength in your legs and increase your overall muscle mass.

• A 2007 reviewTrusted Source of muscle-building supplements indicated that creatine is the best supplement for increasing muscle mass.

Research has also found no long-term health effects of using creatine.

Look out for any extra ingredients in supplements that may have side effects or cause allergic reactions.

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)

MMP is a blend of creatine, betaine, and dendrobium extract that’s often sold as Craze or various other names.

This supplement is relatively safe to use. However, it doesn’t result in the muscle-building claims this drug’s marketing copy might lead you to believe.

A 2014 studyTrusted Source found that participants who used it for a 6-week training period reported higher energy and better concentration, but no increases in body mass or overall performance.

As with other OTC supplements, look out for additional ingredients that can cause allergic reactions or long-term health effects.

Dimethylamylamine (DMAA)

DMAA has been found in numerous muscle-building and weight loss supplements, but it’s not safe. Any product that contains it and markets itself as a dietary supplement is illegal.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Trusted Source has released numerous warnings to consumers to steer clear of DMAA and its various forms in OTC supplements.

Using DMAA can lead to one or more of the following complications:

• narrowing of blood vessels

• increased blood pressure

• shortness of breath

• feeling of chest tightness

• irregular heartbeat

• heart attack

• seizures

• neurological disorders

• mental health conditions

Instead of just lifting weights, an amateur bodybuilder in the United Kingdom tried to plump up his arm muscles and by injecting them with

Instead of just lifting weights, an amateur bodybuilder in the United Kingdom tried to plump up his arm muscles and by injecting them with coconut oil, according to a new report of the case.

But he wound up developing cysts inside his arm muscles from the oil, and because he also used steroids, he ruptured his triceps and needed surgery, the report said.

The 25-year-old-man first went to the doctor because his arm hurt and he had had trouble moving it for several months. He told the doctor that he had taken up bodybuilding four years earlier, and that he went to the gym three times a week.

An ultrasound revealed a rupture in the tendon that connects the triceps muscle (in the upper arm) to the bone near the elbow. This type of injury is rare in young people, the report said. The ultrasound also showed multiple cysts inside his arm muscle.

From these findings, the man's doctors suspected that he might be injecting substances into his arm. When he was asked about this, the patient admitted that he had injected coconut oil into his arm muscles to increase their size and definition.

Although anabolic steroids are perhaps the most well-known substances that bodybuilders inject to bulk up muscle, they also sometimes inject other substances, including natural oils — like sesame oil, walnut oil and paraffin — to make their muscles appear to be larger, the report said. Natural oils are less expensive than anabolic steroids, which may make them an attractive option, particularly for amateur bodybuilders, the report said.

"Alarmingly, this practice, used for the short-term enhancement of muscular appearance, seems to come at a significant cost," the man's doctors, from London North West Healthcare NHS Trust health system, wrote in the Dec. 1 issue of the journal BMJ Case Reports. In an earlier case, a bodybuilder in Germany who injected sesame seed oil into his muscles for eight years experienced scarring and deformity in his muscle tissue, and had irreversible muscle damage that prevented him from weightlifting normally.

Other side effects of similar injections include skin sores, infection and potentially life-threatening blockages of blood vessels, due to the globbing up of the fat in the oils, the report said.

A review of the U.K. man's medical history also revealed that he had engaged in several other problematic practices in order to bulk up his muscles. For example, he had used insulin without a prescription, which caused him to have seizures. He had also injected himself with vitamin B12, which resulted in a bacterial infection. And he had used anabolic steroids, which caused him to develop swollen breast tissue and benign tumors on his liver — and both conditions required surgery.

It's likely that the man's triceps tendon rupture resulted from his use of anabolic steroids, which led to stiffening of the tendon and rupture after repeated weightlifting, the report said.

The man underwent surgery to repair his tendon, which healed well. But he continued to practice unsafe bodybuilding techniques to maintain his desired body image, despite being counseled about the risks of those practices, the report said.

"[Doctors] need to be aware of these cases," so that they can diagnose patients correctly and recognize potentially life-threatening practices among bodybuilders, the report said.

These natural products may help block estrogen:

• Wild nettle root: Nettle root or nettle leaves are often used to make prostate medication. Nettles contain compounds that act as natural estrogen blockers. Taking supplements can regulate production of the hormone.

• Chrysin: This flavonoid is found in passionflower, honey, and bee propolis. Proponents argue that it blocks estrogen and increases testosterone, and others claim that there’s no evidence.

• Maca: Maca is a cruciferous plant that originates in Peru. Proponents say it has a host of benefits, including enhancing fertility and blocking estrogen in men. Although

  macaTrusted Source

  does contain many vitamins and nutrients, there’s little scientific evidence that it plays a role in regulating hormones.

• Grape seed extract: This extract has been shown to act as an aromatase inhibitor, or estrogen blocker, in postmenopausal women at high risk for breast cancer. Men may experience similar benefits when taking it as a supplement.

Local anesthetics produce anesthesia by inhibiting excitation of nerve endings or by blocking conduction in peripheral nerves. Cocaine, a compound indigenous to the Andes Mountains, West Indies, and Java, was the first anesthetic to be discovered and is the only naturally occurring local anesthetic; all others are synthetically derived. Cocaine was introduced into Europe in the 1800s following its isolation from coca beans. Sigmund Freud, the noted Austrian psychoanalyst, used cocaine on his patients and became addicted through self-experimentation.

In the latter half of the 1800s, interest in the drug became widespread, and many of cocaine's pharmacologic actions and adverse effects were elucidated during this time. In the 1880s, Koller introduced cocaine to the field of ophthalmology, and Hall introduced it to dentistry

APIs are broadly categorised into two types – synthetic and natural. Synthetic APIs are further classified into innovative and generic synthetic APIs, based on the type of synthesis used.

Synthetic chemical APIs, also known as small molecules, constitute a large part of the pharmaceutical market, with many small molecule drugs commercially available in the market.

Natural APIs are used in making biologics, which are increasingly becoming the top-selling drugs in the market. Despite the growing demand, biologics are currently significantly fewer in number compared to small molecule drugs.

Based on the solubility, APIs are categorised into insoluble and soluble drugs.

Pharmaceutical Technology has listed the leading suppliers of active pharmaceutical ingredients and intermediates based on its intel, insights and decades-long experience in the sector. The list includes companies that can develop and supply high-quality pharmaceutical materials, including, but not limited to:

• Fine chemicals and intermediates, such as high-docosahexaenoic acid oil for API production

• APIs for central nervous system therapies

• Natural cannabinoid (CBD) ingredients, CBD isolates and cannabis distillates

• Excipients

• Insulin for cell culture media

• Ammonium compounds

• Mineral salts

The list also includes suppliers of mixing and drying technologies, polymer coatings for drug delivery, extraction technologies for high-purity APIs, and dispersion and wet milling technology. Providers of automatic capsule filling machines, dry powder and liquid-based material handling systems, analytic services for biological assays, pharma tablet manufacturing machines, and custom synthesis services are detailed in the document as well.

Drip Irrigation is a kind of micro irrigation system that saves water but at the same time ensures that water reaches the roots of the plants. It works to drip slowly. Drip Irrigation can work from both above or under the surface of the soil. It works effectively to ensure that all your plants get what they need.

Advantages of Drip Irrigation System

• Due to improper water supply, fertilizers and nutrients cannot reach the roots of every plant. Drip Irrigation system helps it to reach effectively.

• If you want to gain efficiency in water application, then installing the Drip Irrigation system is a must.

• Field leveling is done by installing this type of irrigation system. When your field is evenly leveled you can plant properly.

• Whatever your field capacity is, they need moisture. Roots should be hydrated.

• Soil erosion and weed growth are reduced.

• Water distribution can be controlled. According to the necessity, water is produced to every root.

• You do not any helping hand to water your plants anymore. So Drip Irrigation also confirms zero labor cost.

• It is a low-cost process that can also be done in low water pressure.

Disadvantages of Drip Irrigation System

• The installation process needs time. Sometimes may need court approval in some lands.

• Sun heat affects tubes, sometimes they get broken for excessive heat production.

• Plastic tubes affect soils fertility. Sun degrades plastic sometimes and that affect soil and fertilizers too.

• Tubes get clogged sometimes. Water cannot pass through and roots get dehydrated.

• If Drip Irrigation is not installed properly, then it is a waste of time, water and heat.

India is facing the twin challenge of water scarcity and population explosion. The ongoing water crisis has affected nearly 600 million people and is expected to only worsen: The country's population is touted to increase to 1.6 billion by 2050.

The agriculture sector is the largest consumer of water in India. It accounts for approximately 90 per cent of 761,000 billion litres of annual freshwater withdrawals in the country. Per capita consumption of water in agriculture sector ranges from 4,913 to 5,800 kilolitre per capita per year.

Agriculture may have to face the brunt: Water would be diverted to other sectors and agriculture would have to make its peace with lesser and poorer quality of water.

Climate change too has aggravated water scarcity concerns: It can, through its impact on weather patterns, affect livelihoods and well-being of our farming community.

The impact of climate change is much more evident in Indian agriculture, where around 85 per cent farmers are small and marginal and 60 per cent agriculture is dependent upon the vagaries of monsoon. The role of irrigation, therefore, takes the front seat.

The continued irrigation through traditional practices since the introduction of Green revolution in the 1960's, however, has begun to show its multitudinous ill effects on groundwater quality and height, water logging, soil salinity, soil health, crop productivity, partial factor productivity and cost economics of farm practices.

This is where micro-irrigation assumes significance.

Micro-irrigation gained prevalence when the Parliament was rocked with issue of farmer suicides. Sensing the significance and probable benefits of the process to double the farmers' income along with agricultural sustainability and environmental quality, the Union government launched a comprehensive flagship programme called Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana or “more crop per drop”.

Under the programme, financial assistance of up to 55 per cent is available for small and marginal farmers and 45 per cent for other farmers for adoption of micro-irrigation systems. The funding pattern between the Union governments and the state government's share since November 2015 has been 60:40 for all states except the North East and the Himalayan states, for which the funding pattern is 90:10.

Micro-irrigation can increase yields and decrease water, fertiliser and labour requirements. By applying water directly to the root zone, the practice reduces loss of water through conveyance, run-off, deep percolation and evaporation.

These losses are unavoidable in traditional irrigation practices; micro-irrigation, through its water-saving approach, has paved the way for higher water use efficiency of around 75-95 per cent.

Another resource saving practice possible through micro-irrigation is fertigation, which comprises combining water and fertiliser application through irrigation. Fertigation results in balanced nutrient application, reduced fertiliser requirement of around 7 to 42 per cent (thus, saving expenditure cost incurred by farmer), higher nutrient uptake and nutrient use efficiency.

It is quite apparent that in the present scenario, vertical expansion of agricultural lands is not possible. Therefore, in order to increase the yield and productivity, we have to focus on degraded and waste lands.

Micro-irrigation provides this opportunity. A national-level survey undertaken for the Union government showed that farmers were able to bring 519.43 hectares of degraded land under cultivation through the technique. It also helped use saline water for irrigation without causing salinity or osmotic stress to plants.

Proper irrigation is essential for maintaining lawn and garden health. But many homeowners are confused about irrigation options. If you're comparing in-ground watering systems, the following tips may help.
First, choosing between drip watering and spray irrigation is a basic decision you will have to make. The choice should depend on factors such as the size of your lawn, the plants you wish to grow, and your budget. While spray irrigation systems are more commonly seen, you should consider the advantages of drip irrigation before making a final decision.
In general, spray irrigation systems are better for covering larger areas. Typically these areas are home to plants that do not have very precise water requirements. Drip irrigation, on the other hand, tends to be more precise in administering particular quantities of water over a given period of time. It can also work better when you need to irrigate a plot of land that is not flat. While drip irrigation systems deliver water directly onto the ground, spray systems disperse water into the air over an expanse of land so that it falls down in the same manner as rainwater.
Spray irrigation systems can be easier to move around and relocate, and their installation does not typically require as much work as a drip irrigation system. Permanent spray irrigation systems can be installed with buried water lines, and they can regularly deliver large quantities of water to your plants.
One disadvantage of spray irrigation is an increased risk of overwatering plants and bringing about problems caused by excessive moisture, such as the growth of fungi.
One major advantage of drip irrigation systems is their increased efficiency in terms of water usage. Drip irrigation systems lose less water to evaporation and runoff than spray systems. This can be important in very dry areas where drought is a constant possibility. Drip irrigation delivers water slowly and directly, and most drip irrigation systems put you in precise control over how much water your plants are getting.
On the downside, installation of a drip line irrigation system can be cumbersome, time-consuming, and costly. Drip lines often require a water pump, and they need to be maintained at a certain pressure to ensure the water continues to flow through the system. Drip lines can present hazards due to the fact that they require a line to rest about the ground, creating the potential to trip people walking in a yard or obstruct equipment such as mowers and trimmers.
In order to choose the best possible irrigation system for your yard, do your research before making a decision. Contact our team of expert landscape designers and irrigation professionals. We're happy to answer any questions you have.

Background: In arid and semi-arid countries there are often large areas where groundwater is brackish and where people have to obtain water from irrigation canals for all uses, including domestic ones. An alternative to drawing drinking water directly from irrigation canals or village water reservoirs is to use the water that has seeped from the irrigation canals and irrigated fields and that has formed a small layer of fresh water on top of the brackish groundwater. The objective of this study was to assess whether use of irrigation seepage water for drinking results in less diarrhoea than direct use of irrigation water and how irrigation water management would impact on health.

Methods: The study was undertaken in an irrigated area in the southern Punjab, Pakistan. Over a one-year period, drinking water sources used and diarrhoea episodes were recorded each day for all individuals of 200 households in 10 villages. Separate surveys were undertaken to collect information on hygiene behaviour, sanitary facilities, and socio-economic status.

Results: Seepage water was of much better quality than surface water, but this did not translate into less diarrhoea. This could only be partially explained by the generally poor quality of water in the in-house storage vessels, reflecting considerable in-house contamination of drinking water. Risk factors for diarrhoea were absence of a water connection and water storage facility, lack of a toilet, low standard of hygiene, and low socio-economic status. The association between water quality and diarrhoea varied by the level of water availability and the presence or absence of a toilet. Among people having a high quantity of water available and a toilet, the incidence rate of diarrhoea was higher when surface water was used for drinking than when seepage water was used (relative risk 1.68; 95% CI 1.31-2.15). For people with less water available the direction of the association between water quality and diarrhoea was different (relative risk 0.80; 95% CI 0.69-0.93). This indicates that good quality drinking water provides additional health benefits only when sufficient quantities of water and a toilet are available. In a multivariate analysis no association was found between water quality and diarrhoea but there was a significant effect of water quantity on diarrhoea which was to a large extent mediated through sanitation and hygiene behaviour.

Conclusions: Increasing the availability of water in the house by having a household connection and a storage facility is the most important factor associated with reduced diarrhoea in this area. Safe use of canal irrigation water seems possible if households can pump seepage water to a large storage tank in their house and have a continuous water supply for sanitation and hygiene. Irrigation water management clearly has an impact on health and bridging the gap between the irrigation and drinking water supply sectors could provide important health benefits by taking into account the domestic water availability when managing irrigation water.

Hydroponics is the art of gardening without soil. Hydroponics is a Latin word meaning “working water.” In the absence of soil, water goes to work providing nutrients, hydration, and oxygen to plant life. From watermelons to jalapeños to orchids, plants flourish under the careful regimen of hydroponics. Using minimal space, 90% less water than traditional agriculture, and ingenious design, hydroponic gardens grow beautiful fruits and flowers in half the time.

Though the technology sounds cutting-edge, the history of hydroponics dates back to the famed Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Euphrates River was diverted into channels that cascaded down the lavish garden walls. In the 13th century, Marco Polo wrote of witnessing floating gardens in China. However, hydroponics is far from merely an innovation of the ancient ages. In the 1990s, NASA grew aeroponic bean seedlings in zero gravity aboard a space station, opening up the possibility of sustainable agriculture in space. Hydroponics continues to be a timeless and dynamic method of water conservation and crop production.

What is hydroponics?

Hydroponics is the cultivation of plants without using soil. Hydroponic flowers, herbs, and vegetables are planted in inert growing media and supplied with nutrient-rich solutions, oxygen, and water. This system fosters rapid growth, stronger yields, and superior quality. When a plant is grown in soil, its roots are perpetually searching for the necessary nutrition to support the plant. If a plant’s root system is exposed directly to water and nutrition, the plant does not have to exert any energy in sustaining itself. The energy the roots would have expended acquiring food and water can be redirected into the plant’s maturation. As a result, leaf growth flourishes as does the blooming of fruits and flowers.

Plants sustain themselves by a process called photosynthesis. Plants capture sunlight with chlorophyll (a green pigment present in their leaves). They use the light’s energy to split water molecules they’ve absorbed via their root system. The hydrogen molecules combine with carbon dioxide to produce carbohydrates, which plants use to nourish themselves. Oxygen is then released into the atmosphere, a crucial factor in preserving our planet's habitability. Plants do not need soil to photosynthesize. They need the soil to supply them with water and nutrients. When nutrients are dissolved in water they can be applied directly to the plant’s root system by flooding, misting, or immersion. Hydroponic innovations have proven direct exposure to nutrient-filled water can be a more effective and versatile method of growth than traditional irrigation.

How does hydroponics work?

Hydroponic systems work by allowing minute control over environmental conditions like temperature and pH balance and maximized exposure to nutrients and water. Hydroponics operates under a very simple principle: provide plants exactly what they need when they need it. Hydroponics administer nutrient solutions tailored to the needs of the particular plant being grown. They allow you to control exactly how much light the plants receive and for how long. pH levels can be monitored and adjusted. In a highly customized and controlled environment, plant growth accelerates.

By controlling the environment of the plant, many risk factors are reduced. Plants grown in gardens and fields are introduced to a host of variables that negatively impact their health and growth. Fungus in the soil can spread diseases to plants. Wildlife like rabbits can plunder ripening vegetables from your garden. Pests like locusts can descend on crops and obliterate them in an afternoon. Hydroponic systems end the unpredictability of growing plants outdoors and in the earth. Without the mechanical resistance of the soil, seedlings can mature much faster. By eliminating pesticides, hydroponics produce much healthier and high-quality fruits and vegetables. Without obstacles, plants are free to grow vigorously and rapidly.

How Does a Diesel Engine Work?

Diesel Engine Powering a Generator Set

In today's world, where fuel prices are increasing as a consequence of spiraling demand and diminishing supply, you need to choose a cost-effective fuel to meet your needs. Thanks to the invention of Rudolph Diesel, the diesel engine has proved to be extremely efficient and cost effective.

Diesel fuel is priced moderately higher than gasoline, but diesel has a higher energy density, i.e. more energy can be extracted from diesel as compared with the same volume of gasoline. Therefore, diesel engines in automobiles provide higher mileage, making it an obvious choice for heavy-duty transportation and equipment. Diesel is heavier and oilier compared with gasoline and has a boiling point higher than that of water. And diesel engines are attracting greater attention due to higher efficiency and cost effectiveness.

The distinction lies in the type of ignition. While gasoline engines operate on spark ignition, diesel engines employ compression - ignition for igniting the fuel. In the latter, air is drawn into the engine and subjected to high compression that heats it up.

This results in a very high temperature in the engine, much higher than the temperature attained in a gasoline engine. At peak temperature and pressure, diesel that is let into the engine ignites on account of the extreme temperature.

In a diesel engine, air and the fuel are infused into the engine at different stages, as opposed to a gas engine where a mixture of air and gas are introduced. Fuel is injected into the diesel engine using an injector whereas in a gasoline engine, a carburetor is used for this purpose. In a gasoline engine, fuel and air are sent into the engine together, and then compressed. The air and fuel mixture limits fuel compression, and hence the overall efficiency.

A diesel engine compresses only air, and the ratio can be much higher. A diesel engine compresses at the ratio of 14:1 up to 25:1, whereas in a gasoline engine the compression ratio is between 8:1 and 12:1. After combustion, the combustion by-products are removed from the engine through the exhaust.

For starting during cold months extra heat is provided through 'glow plugs'. Diesel engines can either be two cycle or four cycle and are chosen depending on mode of operation. Air-cooled and liquid-cooled engines are the variants to be chosen appropriately. It is preferable to use a liquid-cooled generator as it is quiet in operation and has evenly controlled temperature.

The diesel engine is much more efficient and preferable as compared with gasoline engine due to the following reasons:

Modern diesel engines have overcome disadvantages of earlier models of higher noise and maintenance costs. They are now quiet and require less maintenance as compared with gas engines of similar size

They are more rugged and reliable

There is no sparking as the fuel auto-ignites. The absence of spark-plugs or spark wires lowers maintenance costs

Fuel cost per Kilowatt produced is thirty to fifty percent lower than that of gas engines

An 1800 rpm water cooled diesel unit operates for 12,000 to 30,000 hours before any major maintenance is necessary. An 1800 rpm water cooled gas unit usually operates for 6000-10,000 hours before it needs servicing

Gas units burn hotter than diesel units, and hence they have a significantly shorter life compared with diesel units

An air compressor problem could stem from one of many issues, such as an air leak, an oil leak or a broken part. In some cases, you might have insufficient pressurization or air flow. In other cases, the compressor might fail to start up or stop running as prompted. Whatever the cause of the problem, the symptoms can be frustrating, costly and time-consuming.

Thankfully, most such problems can be corrected with proper air compressor troubleshooting. The Titus Company has developed this troubleshooting guide for reference when your air compressor won't work. Whether you're hearing excessive noise from your portable air compressor or your system won't build pressure, you'll find the cause here — and, hopefully, a solution. If not, call us. We'll be there quickly with our 24/7 emergency services.

1. Compressor Is Constantly Leaking

If you shut off the air compressor on full charge, yet the gauge drops while the compressor is deactivated, you definitely have an air leak. The compressor might even automatically restart just to counter the situation. What you need to do in this situation is pinpoint the source of the leak.

• Apply soap to the connections: With the compressor unplugged, cover the connections with liquid soap, including all the couplers and the pressure switch. If bubbles form at any point, that is where the leak is located. Tighten up the coupler, if possible, where the bubbling occurs.

• Inspect the tank check valve: Air leaks are sometimes caused by tank check valves that fail to close completely. If the pressure gauge continues to drop when the tank is off, access the tank valve and inspect its condition. The valve might need to be cleaned or replaced.

If the air leaks occur only when a hose is plugged into the compressor, disconnect the hose. If the pressure gauge stops dropping, the hose is the source of your leak.

2. Air Leaks From the Oil Fill Tube

If your compressor is losing pressure through the oil fill tube, check the piston seals. In most such cases, the piston seals will be badly worn and in need of immediate replacement. This is a problem that you should remedy immediately, as worn pistons can cause metal-on-metal friction that could swiftly lead to internal corrosion.

3. Air Leaks From the Hood

Air leaks from under the hood are sometimes encountered on smaller air compressors. To diagnose the problem, remove the hood, run the compressor for a few minutes, then shut it off and unplug the compressor. Feel around the motor parts for any sort of air draft. Chances are, the leak will originate from the tank valve, in which case you will need to remove and clean or possibly replace the valve.

Are you curious about the bits and pieces that make your car do its thing?

Sure you are, and today is a good day for you. That's because we've got a video here that will take you on a deep dive of your fuel pump. We're talking abyss levels of deep here. The fuel pump gets removed for your viewing pleasure but then it gets hacked apart so you can see all of its innards.

The basic way your modern electrical fuel pump works is by utilizing a DC motor in the pump assembly which draws in the fuel sitting in your gas tank. From there, it sends it up the fuel line and into the fuel rail where it can be injected into a cylinder. It then mixes with air and a spark to create combustion.

There's a filter on the end of your pump that keeps any impurities in your tank from entering the fuel line. Additionally, there's a fuel float which literally floats on top of your fuel. This float has an arm attached to it that sends a signal through an electrical board. This resistance is read by your fuel gauge and tells you how much fuel is left in your tank. There's also another electrical resistor that is submerged, but when it's exposed to the air it knows you're very low on gas and tells your Low Fuel Warning light to illuminate.

For those of you with older vehicles and mechanical fuel pumps, the process is a bit different. Your fuel pump in that situation has a pump lever that moves up and down as the camshaft spins. This creates a literal pump that pulls fuel through the line by way of suction. It's a simple system that works directly with the engine rather than with an integrated DC motor.

To be honest, the flywheel, should not really be all that ‘oily’ in its role of providing a smooth transfer of power from the car’s engine to its drive-train. However, it is still likely to be quite grubby and, as such, is not a component with which most of us will ever have any direct contact. That is why we take our cars to the garage, to discover the ‘bad news’.

It is recommended that, when a clutch needs to be replaced, as a result of normal wear and tear, the flywheel should be inspected carefully. The mechanic will be looking for visible wear grooves (usually as a result of the worn clutch-plates’ rivets being exposed), perhaps even glazing of its surface, or ‘cracks’ that can appear anywhere on its surface. Should problem areas be revealed, the suggestion will always be to replace, or repair, the flywheel.

However, not wishing to complicate issues, there are two types of flywheel. One is solid, the other is dual-mass. While a solid flywheel can be removed and resurfaced at Mr Clutch Autocentres by undergoing a skimming process, which can save the car owner a lot of money, wear characteristics on a dual-mass type, which tends to be fitted to more modern vehicles, lend themselves more ideally to the good practice of replacement.

There are clues as to how worn a flywheel might be. Irregular noises emanating from somewhere close to the front footwell of the car are an indicator that not all is well. However, you might be experiencing difficulty in making smooth manual gear changes. Some slight and variable clutch-slippage might occur, as might some unwarranted vibrations, felt through both the foot-pedals and the steering wheel, none of which are particularly desirable and will need attention.

With an ever-present eye towards saving the customer money, a Mr Clutch mechanic, as a skilled exponent of the clutch installation business, will be able to provide proper guidance, once the gearbox has been removed from the engine and a thorough inspection has been carried out. If you are fortunate and the flywheel has not been damaged by a worn clutch-plate, its replacement will simply not be deemed necessary.

However, increasingly, owners of cars fitted with dual-mass flywheels must foot the bill for replacement, in addition to the cost of a new clutch-plate and its ancillary parts. On the other hand, should it be a solid flywheel, the Mr Clutch expert might advise a skim. Mr Clutch Autocentres are equipped with the necessary high-tech machinery to effect such repairs, which can be completed speedily and cost-effectively.

The bottom-line is that a clutch replacement is a first-line task for Mr Clutch. That the company can address the charges most effectively (see the website for more details) and ensure that you are inconvenienced as little as possible, is a measure of the value of a visit to a Mr Clutch Autocentre.

They must be durable, long lasting and resistant to a wide range of temperatures, moisture and chemicals.

There are five main materials that conveyor belts are made out of: thermoplastics, metal, rubber, fabric and leather. Plastics include polyester, polyvinyl chloride, silicone and polyethylene. The metals are stainless and carbon steel, and the fabric materials are canvas or cotton. The most popular material is a rubber composite because it is flexible, resistant, smooth and seamless.

It also doesn’t have any holes or openings. To increase strength, many belt materials contain additives, including fabric, steel, polyester or fiberglass. Many flat belts are actually composed of a core material and a covering. These belts are parts of many different types of conveyors, including troughed, inclined, horizontal, food grade and overhead conveyors, but they are not used in chain, pneumatic or screw conveyors.

Choosing the right belting material is the most important specification involved with conveyor systems because the wrong material could compromise productivity or worker safety.

Conveyor systems, especially those in manufacturing facilities, travel through many different environments. For example, assembly line conveyors may travel through an oven, underwater parts washer or some sort of secondary operation like painting. Therefore, they must be resistant, durable and able to handle these harsh conditions on a continuous and regular basis.

Belts that carry ingredients, raw materials and finished, unpackaged goods in food or beverage processing plants are made of either stainless steel or a heat resistant, non contaminating plastic resin. They must be FDA or USDA approved and easy to clean and sanitize. Materials like some hard plastics or metal lack the flexibility needed to convey, which requires the belt to bend, as they are on a continuous loop around two sets of rollers.

In these situations, small parts are interlocked together or woven in order to bend and twist. However, these tend to have holes or cracks and are not smooth or water tight. They are not made for carrying small or irregularly shaped objects as well as products in bags, which could sag or fall through the cracks.

If your business regularly moves bulk, lose products and has limited space, you might want to consider adding cleated belt conveyors. These conveyors allow you to keep your product separated as it is conveyed up and down inclines and declines.

At Allstate Conveyor, we have the experts that you need to design and build the perfect cleated belt conveyor system for your company.

A cleated belt conveyor is a conveyor that has a belt that contains carriers or cleats on its surface. The cleats allow products to be separated as they move up inclines and down declines.

There are many different cleat designs that are available, including food-grade cleats for the separation of food products during transportation.

Adding cleated belt conveyors to your product line can help to improve efficiency. They also allow for faster conveying and can be helpful if you have limited space. Cleated belt conveyors can easily handle inclines and declines while keeping your products separated.

durability over other belt materials

load capacity

resistance to wear

resilience in harsh environments

affordable alternative to stainless steel or fiberglass

Cleated belt conveyors are used in industries that transport loose bulk products. They are helpful in keeping the products separated as they are conveyed. They are commonly used in the food industry. They are also used to convey products in recycling plants, for solid waste removal, and others.

Industries that commonly use Cleated belt driven conveyors:

Warehousing & Distribution

Manufacturing

Order Fulfillment

Aerospace

Government Military & Agency

Automotive

Parcel Handling

Allstate Conveyor is made up of professionals who are experts in conveyor systems. We serve a broad range of industries and are familiar with the different needs that each has. When you choose us, we will work closely with you to help you to accomplish your goals. We can design your cleated belt conveyor systems and other conveyors that you need. We can then build them to your specifications and install them for you.

We also offer ongoing maintenance plans and are able to assist you with repairing your existing conveyors. To obtain your free quote or to learn more about the solutions that we can provide to you, contact us by filling out our online contact form. You can also call us to get answers to your questions.

There are many types of conveyor belts out there, but what are they?

According to Carol Francois with WiseGeek:

“There are three different types of conveyor belts: the basic belt, snake sandwich belt and long belt. A basic belt conveyor consists of two or more pulleys that hold one continuous length of material. These types of belts can be motorized or require manual effort. As the belt moves forward, all the items on the belt are carried forward.

“A common installation sites for conveyor belts include packaging or parcel delivery services. This industry often requires a method of relocating materials from one place to another, quickly and with minimal human intervention. The belt is typically installed at waist height to improve the ergonomics for the staff that are interacting with the materials.

“The conveyor structure consists of a metal frame with rollers installed at various intervals along the length of the conveyor belt. The belt is typically a smooth, rubberized material that covers the rollers. As the belt moves over the rollers, the items placed on the belt are transferred with a reduced amount of friction, due to the use of multiple rollers. Basic belt conveyors also have curved sections to allow the belt to move product around corners.

“The snake sandwich conveyor consists of two separate conveyor belts that are set up parallel to each other and hold the product in place while moving along the belt. This type of belt is used to move items up steep inclines, up to 90 degrees. Created in 1979, the snake sandwich conveyor was designed as a simple, efficient method of moving rocks and other material out of a mine.

“The system was designed to make use of widely available hardware and used simple principles to ensure that it was easy to repair. Any type of mechanical system intended for deployment to mining operations must recognize the limited access to parts in remote areas. This system offers the ability to move a high volume of material at a consistent rate. Smooth surfaced belts allow the conveyor belts to be cleaned automatically with the use of belt scrapers and plows. The design is flexible enough to allow the materials redirected off the conveyor belt at any point through simple redirection.

“The long belt conveyor is a system of three drive units used to move materials over a long distance. The most important feature of this system is the ability of the rollers to handle both horizontal and vertical curves. The long belt conveyor system can reach up to 13.8 km (8.57 miles) in length. This type of conveyor belt is often used in mining operations to transport materials to remote construction or building site locations, such as the bottom of a mining pit.”

A pulley roller is a round or cylindrically shaped roller used as the axle of a pulley system. Most often, these types of pulleys are seen on devices such as conveyor belts, treadmill machines, and many other machines in the manufacturing and industrial fields. When used in a machine, this component must be strong, have high wear resistance, and have low friction coefficients. Pulley rollers are built to withstand extreme temperatures and provide a reduction in noise levels, which is a benefit in industrial fields where workers’ hearing must be protected. Rollers are used in household appliances as well.

One type of machine that uses the pulley roller mechanism is the exercise machine known as a treadmill. This exercise machine is used for walking, jogging, or running in place. Treadmills can be plugged into an electrical outlet and use an electrical motor to operate. This motor has a pulley system that connects to a particular fan belt, which in turn connects to a second pulley and concentrically mounts to the pulley roller component. A second pulley roller mounts at the treadmill’s foot end and allows the belt to rotate freely, creating a continuous loop that is powered by the programmable electrical motor.

An industrial use for the pulley roller is also seen in a device called a cutting assembly. This machine uses a blade to cut through thin materials like paper and is mounted on the device, which is connected to a pulley system that uses tension and pulley rollers. Through a series of gears, the device is pulled along a track, with its pulley wheels mounted to the track. The device mounts to the track with a belt and the belt is held together by a series of pulley rollers. As the entire assembly operates, paper is cut by the device’s blade in a continuous, looping fashion.

In household appliances, it is often necessary to have to replace a belt or to refasten a replacement pulley roller. This can potentially happen in treadmills as well. To replace the pulley roller, the power to the treadmill must be turned off and the machine unplugged from the electrical outlet. Once this is completed, the roller that is damaged must be removed from the machine. The replacement pulley roller, which should have the same dimensions as the previous roller, should have the belt wrapped around it and placed back on to the machine.

Belt Drives are a type of frictional drives used for transmitting powers from one shaft to another by means of pulleys which rotate at the same speed or at the different speed.

A belt drive is shown in the figure. It consists of two pulleys over which an endless belt it passed over them. The mechanical power or rotary motion is transmitted from the driving pulley to the driven pulley because of the frictional grip that exists between the belt and the pulley surface.

The portion of the belt which is having less tension is called slack side and the one which has higher tension is called tight side. The effective pulling power of the belt that causes the rotation of the driven pulley is the difference in tension on the slack and tight side.

The tensions in the tight and slack sides of the belt depend on the angle of contact, the belt drives have to be arranged such that the slack side comes above and the tight side comes below the pulleys.

This arrangement increases the angled contact of the belt on the driven side. Sometimes in a belt-drive, there is always a possibility of some slipping taking place between the belt and the pulleys which cause the driven pulley to rotate at a lesser speed, consequently reduces the power transmission. Hence belt drives are said to be not a Positive type of power transmission system

Since ancient times, plants have been used as herbal medicines. Ayurveda has a 5000 years old rich heritage of the use of plants in the treatment of various human ailments as alternative medicines. Herbal extracts are primarily added to the cosmetic formulations due to several associated properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antimicrobial properties. Even today, people in rural and urban areas depend upon herbs for traditional cosmetics.

Ancient alchemists like Philippus Aureolus Paracelsus knew the power, plants have for improving our lives. They understood how the nutrients could be concentrated with the five elements of nature - water, earth, air, fire, and ether. Since that time, many have attempted to recreate their processes and unlock the full healing potential of herbs.

A Herbal Extract is a substance made by extracting a part of a herbal raw material, often by using a solvent such as methanol or water. The process of Herbal Extraction is usually designed to maximise a certain portion of the original chemical compounds found in the plant, many of which have a therapeutic action. Extracts may be sold as tinctures, absolutes or in powder form. Herbal Extracts are now used as a major part of alternative medicine in both Ayurveda and homeopathy.

Although herbal extracts come in many forms, they have one common feature. Extracts represent naturally occurring phytochemicals (plant produced compounds) that have been removed from the inert structural material of the plant that produced them. The main advantage of using extracts over raw herb is that once extracted from the plant matrix, the phytochemicals bypass the need for digestion and are far more readily absorbable. Liquid extracts also offer greater convenience than consuming an herb in its raw form.

Extracts are typically categorized by the solvent used to make them and/or by their form. Some of the more common solvents that are used include water, alcohol, glycerin, and vinegar. The inherent qualities of each of these solvents will attract different phytochemicals in an herb. Watery extracts made by infusion or decoction are used as teas, rinses and the base for syrups and other products.

Tinctures are liquid extracts made with alcohol and may include other food-grade solvents. Alcohol extracts a wide range of phytochemicals and is an excellent preservative. It may also be diluted with water to adjust alcohol content and glycerin may be added to curb excessive precipitation of the finished extract.

Food-grade glycerin is a low glycemic index sweetener often used as a solvent to make alcohol-free liquid extracts. While most glycerites lack appreciable alcohol, intermediate extraction may be carried out with alcohol on occasion. In this case alcohol is used to form the initial extract, and is then removed from the finished product with glycerin added in its place.

Vinegars are not common, but are experiencing a bit of resurgence in popularity. These are made by extracting herbs directly in vinegar. Apple cider or other plant based vinegars are most desirable in this case.

Oils are fatty oils that have been infused with herbs for topical use and may be called herbal oils or infused oils. The fatty oil used as a base is commonly from olive, sesame or coconut, although many other sources may be used.

Essential oils are the volatile components that have been separated from an aromatic herb. Quality essential oils are either steam distilled or, in the case of herbs like citrus peel, pressed directly from the fresh herb. Essential oils are very strong preparations and are well diluted for internal use.

Powdered extracts are formed by drying liquid extracts including tinctures and water extracts, often under vacuum.

Supercritical extracts are made by extracting herbs with a gas, usually carbon dioxide, at low temperature and high pressure to bring it into the supercritical state. These are semi-solid extracts representing the fat-soluble components of an herb.

There are more than 45,000 plant species that are present in the Indian sub-continent. The dependence of people on plants for various health benefits has significantly evolved the herbal extracts market of the country over the past. Being the largest supplier of ayurvedic medicines and herbs in the world, the herbal extract manufacturers in the country cater to the requirements of the companies, which majorly operate in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food and beverages industries across the world.

Companies in the pharmaceutical, F&B and cosmetics industry realized the importance of using natural herbs as ingredients in various products. This was not only done to drive the growing demand, but it also benefitted the companies in procuring raw materials from extensive species of plants in India.

Various technological processes including Supercritical Fluid Extraction, Thin Film Distillation, Spinning Cone Column, Supercritical CO2 and other Conventional extraction processing techniques were used to meet the current demand. Market players also launched new products to assist the production and sales of companies in pharmaceutical, cosmetics and food and beverages sectors. New herbal extracts will boost the overall revenues of the market due to the introduction of varied products manufactured using such natural extracts.

Most people do not need to take vitamin supplements and can get all the vitamins and minerals they need by eating a healthy, balanced diet.

Vitamins and minerals, such as iron, calcium and vitamin C, are essential nutrients that your body needs in small amounts to work properly.

Many people choose to take supplements but taking too much or taking them for too long could be harmful. The Department of Health and Social Care recommends certain supplements for some groups of people who are at risk of deficiency.

Folic acid supplement in pregnancy

If you're pregnant, trying for a baby or could get pregnant, it's recommended that you take a 400 microgram folic acid supplement every day until you're 12 weeks pregnant. Folic acid supplements need to be taken before you get pregnant, so start taking them before you stop using contraception or if there's a chance you might get pregnant.

Folic acid can help to prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida.

Find out more about vitamins, supplements and nutrition in pregnancy.

From around late March or early April until the end of September, most people can get all the vitamin D they need through sunlight on their skin and from eating a balanced diet.

However, during the autumn and winter, you need to get vitamin D from your diet because the sun is not strong enough for your body to make vitamin D.

Because it's difficult for people to get enough vitamin D from food alone, everyone (including pregnant and breastfeeding women) should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D during the autumn and winter.

Some groups of the population are at greater risk of not getting enough vitamin D and are advised to take a supplement every day of the year.

It is recommended that:

• breastfed babies should be given a daily supplement containing 8.5 to 10 micrograms of vitamin D from birth, even if the mother is taking a supplement containing vitamin D herself

• babies having 500mls (about a pint) or more of formula a day should not be given a vitamin D supplement, because infant formula is fortified with vitamin D and other nutrients

• all children aged 1 to 4 years old should be given a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D

• people who are not often exposed to the sun – such as people who are frail or housebound, are in an institution such as a care home, or usually wear clothes that cover most of their skin when outdoors should take a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D

Find out more information about vitamin D.

Supplements containing vitamins A, C and D

Children aged 6 months to 5 years should take vitamin supplements containing vitamins A, C and D every day.

Find out more about vitamins for children or ask your health visitor for advice.

You can get Healthy Start vitamins for free if you qualify for Healthy Start.

A GP may also recommend supplements if you need them for a medical condition. For example, you may be prescribed iron supplements to treat iron deficiency anaemia.

Artificial food additives can be controversial, but they aren't as scary as they may sound.

As their name suggests, artificial food additives are synthetic ingredients added to food to enhance its color or flavor, extend its shelf life, or improve it in some way.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ensures that all food additives on the market are safe for use. Still, you may wonder whether you're better off limiting your intake of these ingredients.

This article explains all you need to know about artificial food additives, including their safety, uses, and potential health risks, as well as helpful tips to reduce your intake if that's important to you.

Types of food additives

The FDA uses the following two categories of food additives (1Trusted Source):

Direct. These are added for a specific purpose, such as texture, leavening, binding, or color. For example, aspartame is a popular artificial sweetener used to improve the taste of sodas and low calorie or sugar-free foods.

Indirect. These may become part of food in trace amounts due to packaging, storage, or other handling practices. In this case, manufacturers must ensure all packaging materials are safe for use.

For the most part, direct food additives are the focus of concern for consumers. These can be further categorized into the following two categories:

Natural. Natural additives are derived from a natural food source. For example, red beets are used to produce natural red food coloring, while soybeans and corn are used to make lecithin — a type of emulsifier — to bind ingredients.

Artificial. Artificial additives are not derived from nature. For example, most vanilla extracts are made from vanillin, which is produced in a lab.

Both natural and artificial food additives must meet strict regulatory and safety guidelines to be approved for use in food.

Types of food they're commonly found in

Artificial food additives are found in many popular foods, such as yogurts, breads, salad dressings, sodas, baked goods, chips, protein bars, and other processed foods.

In fact, many foods on grocery store shelves contain either natural or artificial food additives in some form. Some foods may contain emulsifiers, while others may contain sweeteners or food colorings.

Unless a food is completely unprocessed, such as an apple, be sure to read the label if you're concerned about any food additives.

This chapter explains the principal raw materials used in cosmetics. The principal raw materials used for manufacturing cosmetics are oily materials such as oils, fats, wax esters, and ester oils, and surface-active agents are used as emulsifiers, solubilizing agents, etc. Humectants, thickening agents, film formers as well as polymers are used as powders, ultraviolet absorbents, antioxidants, sequestering agents, coloring agents such as dyes and pigments, along with vitamins, pharmaceutical agents such as plant extracts and perfume. Oil has the ability to dissolve fats and is widely used as a component of cosmetics. Oily materials control the evaporation of moisture from the skin and are used mainly to improve the feeling on use. The solute in a solution can be adsorbed to a gas–liquid, liquid–liquid, or liquid–solid surface. These remarkable changes in the properties of surfaces are called surface activity and the so-called surface-active agents are materials demonstrating unusual surface activity. This surface activity is exploited in emulsification, solubilization, permeation, wetting, dispersion, cleansing, etc. In addition, this chapter also stresses on other raw materials used in cosmetics.

Tradition dictates that the man gets down on one knee and, in a grand and romantic fashion, asks the woman he loves to marry him and presents her with a diamond ring. He gets a wedding band at the exchange of vows, but what about the time in between? Do men wear engagement rings, too?

The answer might actually be a bit more complicated than you would think. Examining the history of the engagement ring will show you that it was originally more about the woman than the man. Regardless, things have changed quite a bit in modern times. Taking a look back and examining how things are now can give you a clearer picture of the relationship between men and engagement rings.

An engagement ring is a ring that shows that the wearer is engaged to be married. It is a popular engagement gift in Western Cultures as can be found in the United States. Today, 80% of betrothed women are given engagement rings to mark the occasion. But where did that tradition come from? It actually has its roots in the distant past.

Historically, the use of wedding rings began with the Egyptians. The circular bands represented eternity. Wearing a round band on one's finger symbolized their commitment to being together forever.

There was also the tradition of paying a dowry in exchange for a woman's hand in marriage. By the 2nd century B.C., the ancient Romans began giving “betrothal rings” instead of high-priced gifts and dowries. This was a physical representation that a woman was “taken” and was meant to show ownership. The engagement ring was born.

Fast-forward to the 1880s when diamonds were discovered in South Africa. Purely a commercial campaign, diamonds began to be marketed as an engagement ring necessity. That is how we get to the engagement rings we are familiar with today. Many engagement rings are quite expensive and very ornate, making it easier for some couples to afford them than others.

In the United States, there was a decline in the popularity of diamond engagement rings after World War 1. It is also good to note that the jewelry industry began to make men's engagement rings in the early 21st century.

Do Men Wear Engagement Rings?

The original engagement rings were meant to convey the “ownership” of a woman. They no longer mean this. What they now represent is that a woman has made a free choice to marry her husband-to-be. The engagement ring now symbolizes love and commitment. Whether men wear engagement rings or not is an entirely personal preference. While the vast majority of men don't wear engagement rings in our society, some choose to do so based on what they believe it represents. It is an outward symbol of an emotional commitment they've already made.

Additionally, today traditional gender roles are more fluid. Women may ask men to marry them, or same-sex couples choose to become engaged with the same long-standing traditions of heterosexual couples. In these circumstances, the engagement ring still stands front and center in the act of proposing marriage, and men may be presented with one to wear during the engagement period.

Clip on earrings are in fact gaining in popularity. There are a number of reasons for this, some are related to advantages recognized for over a century and some that are relevant to fashion as it stands today and as we know, fashion dictates popularity.

We live in a society that thrives on convenience and adaptability. This is no more evident than in the area of technology which includes the internet and the ever growing use of smart phones in our daily lives. This has made the delivery and obtaining of information so much easier such that people in general are better informed and more aware. Of course shopping has become so much easier – we can all shop online anywhere, any time – whilst on the bus or train on the way to work or whilst simply chilling out.

As it is with many products, demand has grown as a result of the convenience factor. So in the case of clip on earrings the awareness and availability factors have grown in recent years. Whilst less than 20% of the female population do not have their ears pierced and hence need to use clip style earrings if they want to adorn their ears, the greater percentage of earring wearers are becoming more aware of clip on earrings which have in the past been somewhat our of the mainstream.

Many online stores selling earrings for pierced ears, whether they be traditional styles like hook or stud or both, are now offering a selection of clip on earrings albeit a reduced range. The sparse availability of clip on earrings has for a long time been disconcerting for those who require them. These women (and indeed some men) have usually had to look hard for stores that stock this style of earring and then have had to settle for the meagre range that has been traditionally available. There are also more specific clip on earrings sites that offer fairly extensive selections.

Back in the 1950's and into the first half of the 1960's clip-on earrings were well and truly in fashion, dictated to a certain degree by hairstyles of the era, lending themselves to showing off the larger heavier earrings that were in fashion at the time, which were unfortunately problematic when it came to the sometimes damage to the earlobe. The hook of these heavy earrings when worn regularly as was often the case could cause the skin of the inner of the pierced hole in the lobe to become irritated causing discomfort. This irritation of the skin could sometimes end up becoming infected which was painful. They even often resulted in an elongation or stretching of the hole or even of the lobe in some cases. This was also the case during the heyday of clip on earrings during the so called roaring twenties during the decade of the 1920's.

So the solution was to wear clip on earrings in these situations. Hence women who had their ears pierced would often wear clip-on earrings as well and typically have a selection of this style in their jewellery box in addition to standard earrings.

The wearing of large and often heavy earrings has somewhat remained a constant through the years when it comes to weddings so it is often that the bride and her bridal party will wear clip on earrings – another reason of course for this is that in a group of bridesmaids there often can be someone who has not had their ears pierced so the solution is for everyone to wear clipons, from the same source, to ensure they all look good.

Large earrings have come into fashion and gone out of fashion at various periods – not unlike many fashion accessories. Over recent years there has been a revival in long dangle earrings, some even far longer than they were in the iconic 1920's – and there is a big trend in tassel style earrings. Both of these fashions are now readily available in clip earrings and as such many women now have the choices that they did not have previously.

Silver stands out as a precious metal, marking its place alongside gold. It also has a lot of uses and applications, especially in jewelry. The earliest uses of silver during the 4th millennium BC were in the form of rings that acted as currency.

Since then, the use of silver passed from one civilization to the next. Starting from Mesopotamia, it soon came to Egypt and then to other civilizations in later eras. Today, wearing silver necklaces and other forms of jewelry became part of fashion as stylish accessories with various forms and styles.

Today, we will look more at the benefits of wearing one. Keep reading to learn why you should buy a necklace today.

Wearing silver necklaces adds a touch to your personality. Jewelry has ways of leaving an impression about you despite its small form. A glimpse at your necklace can tell people much about your fashion sense and style.

For instance, bright and bold colors evoke a colorful personality. Meanwhile, having smaller jewelry pieces denote more of the minimalist mindset and disposition. It even applies to your choice of wearing a silver chain and a matching pendant.

Do you want something that works out as a subtle nod to your personality and style? A silver necklace covers that for you. Pair this with your outfits for parties and you would have a way to accentuate your look.

Your choice of jewelry also helps in highlighting your best features. As for the case with wearing silver necklaces, you bring attention to your neck and face. You highlight your face more with a pair of large earrings while going for a smaller necklace.

During formal events, this becomes an advantage when your dress brings emphasis to certain features due to its cut and fit. Pairing a dress with a silver necklace can add a dash of class to it.

Bracelets became popular as far back as 5000 BCE, in Egypt. There have been bracelets found in Russia that are thought to be over 40,000 years old. Bangles are an important part of some marriage ceremonies throughout the world. While ancient Egyptians wore bracelets on their wrists, it is not thought there was much significance for this other than fashion. Greek soldiers wore leather bracelets to protect their wrists and it became a traditional part of their military uniform. Bracelets were popular for both men and women until The Middle Ages when they became an accessory worn mainly by women. Bracelets re-emerged as an extremely fashionable accessory for women in the 17th century. During the 20th century, men often began wearing bracelets again, although they were typically more simple and singular, whereas many women wore multiple bracelets of all different styles.

RELIGIOUS AND HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE

Bracelets have, throughout history, held a great significance in both secular and religious circles. Bracelets have been worn to guard against evil spirits or the harsh sun, outwardly represent marital status, and in hopes of encouraging winter to turn to spring sooner rather than later. Bracelets have evolved to be a fashion accessory, and even these often hold special meaning for the wearer. Charm bracelets are popular since they can be added to, with each charm representing a special time or person in life. There are bracelets thought to help with healing and prosperity, and a darker part of the history of bracelets concerns those that were worn by slaves to indicate ownership. Bracelets have historically been a way for the upper class to display their wealth and place in society. Today, many wear bracelets that are symbolic of group identity or to represent a cause for which they are passionate. This is a common reason for rubber bands, imprinted with words or symbols, to be worn on the wrist. Jade bracelets are a common accessory in China and are often given as a gift from parents to children to remind them of their protection and love. Around the world, friendship bracelets are a common way for friends to bond. Two friends may exchange matching or similar bracelets made of string and tie these bracelets to each other's wrists symbolizing their bond.

The earliest bracelets were often made of grass, tree limbs, and shells, with some even being made from animal bones or stones. After this, bracelets were commonly made of copper or bronze, and this evolved, after the Bronze Age, into gold and silver. Silver is the most common bracelet material today, but many materials are often inlaid in these, such as gold, bronze, and semi-precious stones. Some bracelets allow the wearer to showcase their birthstone on their wrist, which is a tradition that has lasted since ancient times.

Propane regulators and natural gas regulators are not interchangeable, though they both operate in the same fashion. A natural gas regulator is comprised of five components: set screw, spring, rod, diaphragm and valve.

Are all pressure regulators the same?

Are All Gas Grill Regulators the Same? Every propane gas grill uses an LP regulator, but not all regulators are created equal. Though the purpose is the same, different types of setups require different types of regulators. The type of regulator a grill needs is based on the specific propane application requirements.

Are propane and LPG regulators the same?

Please note that Propane gas cylinders contain considerably greater pressure than Butane cylinders and as a result, regulators are designed for use with either Propane or Butane and are not interchangeable because of their different design pressures and the different connections on the cylinder itself.

Can I use any gas regulator?

Each regulator is designed to fit a specific type of cylinder valve and a regulator that fits one type of valve will not fit any of the others. The valve on Propane cylinders has a screw thread and only accommodates Propane regulators.

How many PSI is a gas grill regulator?

How many PSI is a BBQ regulator? Generally, propane pressure should be between 100 and 200 psi ensures that the liquid propane gas remains in a liquid state.

Are Calor Gas and flogas propane regulators the same?

A. Both Calor and FLOGAS clip-on regulators are low-pressure 21mm. and fully interchangeable.

What regulator do I need for propane?

For your propane tank with fill valve, you most likely need the Camco Horizontal 2-Stage Propane Regulator w/ P.O.L – 160,000 Btu/Hr # CAM59333. This will have the 1/4 inch NPt inlet and the 3/8 NPT outlet and will maintain a constant 11 inch water column propane pressure for your vent-less heater.

Can you use butane instead of propane?

Can I switch from Butane to Propane? … Propane operates at a higher pressure than Butane so it is not possible to use a butane regulator on a propane cylinder and vice versa.

A pressure regulator is a device which controls the pressure of liquids or gases (medium) by reducing a high input pressure to a controlled lower output pressure. They also work to maintain a constant output pressure even when there are fluctuations in the inlet pressure.

Pressure regulators, in various forms, are used in many domestic and industrial applications, like regulating propane used in gas grills, to regulate oxygen in healthcare equipment, to supply compressed air in industrial applications, to regulate fuel in automotive engines and aerospace applications. The main aspect that is common across all these applications is pressure control – from a higher source pressure to a lower output pressure.

Pistons are normally used for high pressures, rugged applications and applications where wider tolerances on the outlet pressure are acceptable. They tend to be sluggish due to friction between the pinion sealing and regulator body.

For higher accuracy, a diaphragm type of sensing element is suitable. They are made of elastomer or a thin disc type of material which is sensitive to changes in pressure. Diaphragms tend to have lower friction than piston type designs. They also provide a higher sensing area, for a given regulator size.

The two LPGes, Butane and Propane, are very similar, and consequently many domestic appliances (e.g. most domestic cookers) are designed to run on either gas, but the standard supply pressure is somewhat different for each gas to accommodate the differences in the characteristics of the two gases. In the case of Butane, the standard supply pressure is 28 mbar (11" water gauge) and for Propane it is 37 mbar (14" water gauge) - regulators that supply either of these pressures are called "low pressure regulators". The appliance itself will have a badge on it identifying what gas and what pressure it is designed for. There are some appliances (not many) designed to work on considerably higher pressures and these use "high pressure regulators", and again these are clearly marked with what gas and what pressure they are designed for.

Each regulator is designed to fit a specific type of cylinder valve and a regulator that fits one type of valve will not fit any of the others. The valve on Propane cylinders has a screw thread and only accommodates Propane regulators.

Butane is supplied by Flogas under two brands, Flogas and Ergas. The Flogas Butane cylinders are yellow and always use a "Jumbo" valve. There are two types of Ergas Butane cylinders: the orange ones have the same "Jumbo" valve as the Flogas cylinders, but the blue/green cylinders have a much narrower "Compact" valve.

High-pressure regulators have a much narrower nozzle than that fitted to low-pressure regulators and use a much narrower hose (see picture below).

A gas pressure regulator is a mechanical device which attaches to the delivery valve on the cylinder. The regulator is designed to work at the maximum pressure for a given cylinder and regulate the output- delivery- to a lower pressure for use. They are equipped with safety devices to limit the release rate of gas if a fault occurs. There are two pressure gauges – one on the cylinder side to indicate the contents pressure and the other on the delivery side. There is an adjustment control to set the delivery pressure to the desired level.

Regulators must be subject to regular inspection and replaced every 5 year for non-corrosive gases. The body of the regulator is stamped for date of manufacture. More frequent replacement cycles are required for corrosive gases.

Where a regulator performs the function of 'flow control' and is not regarded as the primary Protective Device, then it will not be regarded as Primary Regualtor and hence will not subject to the 5 year replacement requirement.

Regulators are designed for a specific type of gas – the correct regulator delivering the correct pressure range must be used on the cylinder.

US Nitrogen Standards

Since May of 2011, our instruments have been designed and engineered to connect directly to a 207 bar/ 3000 psi cylinder. If you bought your instrument prior to this date, the instrument was designed for a US Standard Nitrogen Cylinder. This cylinder is normally delivered with 2500 PSI / 173 Bar pressure or less. You should never need a regulator when operating with either system inside the USA using standard 173 bar service.

Nitrogen Cylinders Outside USA

Since May of 2011 our instruments have been designed and engineered to connect directly to a 207 bar / 3000 psi cylinder. This change was made largely to eliminate the need for a Pressure Regulator. For instruments purchased prior to May of 2011 being used outside of the United States, you should consult your local gas supply (nitrogen) store. Check the local requirements for the use and standards of high pressure gas. A regulator will be needed if the tank pressure is greater than 173 Bar/ 2500 PSI.

Our instruments come with a 6-Foot Filling Hose fitted with a CGA-580 Nitrogen connection (standard for USA) at the end of the hose. Every country has different requirements and possibly different fittings. You may need to buy an adaptor or change the nitrogen fitting for service in your area. We might carry your local fitting in stock. Please contact us directly to check if we carry your nitrogen fitting.

If you need a regulator, there are two types. The first is a High Pressure Regulator with a Supply Pressure of 200 Bar and Delivery Pressure of 0-100 Bar. This type of regulator is designed to be connected directly to your local gas tank (pressure no higher than 207 Bar) and then connected directly to the instrument. The regulator allows you to adjust the pressure to the operating pressure of the Pressure Chamber. We can help modify your 6-Foot Hose to connect to the instrument directly.

The second type of High Pressure Regulator has a Supply Pressure of 200 Bar and Delivery Pressure of 0-173 Bar. This type of regulator is designed to connect to your local tank and trans-fill into one of our Portable Tanks or the internal tank of the Model 610 or Model 615. This regulator is only used during the trans-filling of the tank.

1. WATER-BASED INKS

Although plastisol inks have come a long way in the sense that the vast majority are phthalate-free nowadays, they are still not the most eco-friendly option. Plastisol ink is made by mixing PVC resin and plasticizer together. We won't go too much into the chemistry here, but as you're probably aware, anything plastic-based isn't great for the environment. Water-based inks are much more eco-friendly because they are completely PVC free and, hence the name, water-based; i.e., they have a solvent base consisting of water. They're about as environmentally-responsible as you can get in this business.

If you want to up the environmentally-conscious-ante even more, check out our Eco-Friendly Shirts page for info. There, you'll discover options for finding the right eco-friendly shirt for your project.

2. SOFT HAND

This is just industry jargon for the feel of the print. It means that the print feels soft against your hand. In fact, once a shirt printed with our water-based ink is washed, you can't feel the print on the shirt. The next time you order shirts and want a soft print, use this term instead of feeling like you're at the mechanic trying to replicate the noise your car is making.

3. SHARPER DETAILS

Due to the fact that water-based inks dye the fabric instead of sitting on top of the fabric, as is the case with plastisol, we can hold much finer details. In addition to finer detail, the edges of prints are much sharper as well. If you're like us and salivate over small details in a t-shirt print, water-based inks are definitely up your alley. If you're in the camp of ‘Nah, that's weird,' you can at least rest assured that we really care about the details of the printed shirts that we put out.

4. LONGER-LASTING PRINT

Water-based prints are insurmountably more durable than plastisol prints. Chances are, you have an old shirt laying around that looks cracked and faded from washing it so many times. That, unfortunately, is somewhat just the nature of the beast when it comes to plastisol inks. Of course, proper printing, curing, etc. from any professional printer and proper washing care on your end can help combat that. But, the longevity of plastisol inks will never compare to that of water-based inks. Because these inks dye the fabric, the print actually becomes part of the shirt. That means as long as the shirt holds up, so will the print.

5. IT'S A FREE UPGRADE

You read that right. We offer a FREE upgrade to water-based ink on any order you place. Keep in mind, these inks can be finicky on certain fabrics. We'll let you know if the garment you want doesn't play well with water-based inks.

Along with getting a free upgrade, printing with water-based inks can sometimes save you from paying for another color. If you've ordered shirts in the past, you may know that an underbase is required when printing plastisol on dark garments. If you're unsure about what an underbase is and why it's necessary, you can read up on it here. In short, if you want dark shirts and you go with water-based inks, you'll be able to save on the extra screen required for a plastisol underbase.

All About Printer Ink: Everything You Need To Know

Ink. We need it, we love it. But you've got questions about printer ink. We've got answers all about ink. Here's everything you need to know about printer ink, (but were afraid to ask)!

Ink was created so man could leave a record of his thoughts and ideas. Ink has come a long way from the sooty drawings found on cave walls. Indians were known to use ink in 4th century BC made from burnt bones, pitch, and tar. There is also evidence of ink being used by ancient Chinese civilizations dating back to 256 BC. These early Chinese inks were made from fish glue.

Today, carbon black is still used in the production of many black inks. But the process is far from simple, and it's getting more complicated all the time. Ink and toner cartridges are designed for each specific printer model. HP claims it spends $1 billion every year on researching and developing ink and toner.

The Difference Between Water And Oil Based Polyurethane

How Many Types of Finish Are Out There?

Today, we can roughly divide the floor finishing products into three major groups. First, there are the surface finishes which form a protective film on top of the wood– shellac, varnish, lacquer. The second group consists of penetrating oils and sealers represented by the likes of linseed and tung oils. Third are the wax finishes which are popular among those who prefer more natural solutions with low toxicity.

Now at some point, you may have heard the term 'polyurethane finish' … Wait, what? I thought there were only three types?

Polyurethane isn't really a type of finish but rather an ingredient which, after sufficient drying, forms a plastic resin on the surface of the wood. Thanks to their superior qualities, polyurethane based lacquers and varnishes have become the most popular type of finish today. Shellac, for example, being a natural product, is completely overshadowed and is now used mostly in conjunction with wax by those who prefer natural alternatives.

There are two major types of polyurethane finish. Oil and water based. What are cons and pros of each and in what scenario you should choose one over the other?

Oil-Based Polyurethane

Looks

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder they say. It's all subjective. Oil based poly offers more colour depth and shine. However, over time, oil poly tends to darken, thus becoming yellow. Some people like that and others don't. This particular feature can make oil based polyurethane unsuitable for certain stain types. If for example, you want a grey stained surface, an oil polyurethane finish will turn yellow with age and ruin the colour.

Durability

Oil-based polyurethane is more durable than his water-based alternative since it contains a significant amount of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Those chemicals make the finish tougher and allow it to last longer. It will need fewer re-applications over the years compared to the water-based version and also offer slightly better resistance to scratches, heat and moisture.

Price

Oil-based polyurethane is cheaper than water-based by a good margin. It will also provide a longer lasting protection which will cut the costs even more.

Here is another detail. It takes more coats of water based poly to reach the same level of toughness compared to the solvent based. If for example, you apply 3 solvent coats, you'll need 4 or 5 water based to get the same level of protection. Since you will need more waterborne finish to cover the same surface this will be naturally reflected in the costs.

Health

Most floor finishing products contain a certain amount of Volatile Organic Compounds. Water-based poly has low VOC content, while oil, also known as solvent based poly has particularly high concentration of those. The quote below is taken from solvent based poly data sheet:

Repeated and prolonged exposure to solvents may lead to permanent brain and nervous system damage. Eye watering, headaches, nausea, dizziness and loss of coordination are signs that solvent levels are too high. Intentional misuse by deliberately concentrating and inhaling the contents may be harmful or fatal.

It sounds scary, right? Yes, those chemicals could be dangerous but the good news is the majority of them are released as fumes during installation and a few weeks after. Oil based polyurethane has a very long curing time. After 48 hours you can walk upon the floor normally with shoes, after 4 days you can move furniture but in order to be safe from the fumes you need around a month.

Now here is the bad part. VOC off-gassing can continue long after the finish has dried. How long depends on the type and concentration of the finish but there are registered cases of it lasting for months or even years. Mind, those off-gasses are supposed to be extremely weak and not having any health impact. However, what will be the effect if you are exposed to this for months and even years? It's really hard to say and we're no doctors to give an opinion on this. Whatever the truth, it is undeniable fact that polyurethane products are allowed by the authorities if they follow certain regulations.

Significance

In contrast to ice, in which each water makes strong hydrogen bonds (SHBs) to four neighbors, we show that upon melting the number of SHBs drops quickly to two in liquid water. These two SHBs couple into chains containing ∼150 waters resembling a branched polymer. The lifetime of each SHB at 298 K is 90.3 fs (11 OH vibrational periods), so the polymer branches evolve dynamically. This dynamics-branched polymer paradigm may explain long-standing puzzles of water, such as the critical point at 227 K in supercooled water (which may correspond to a glass transition caused by an increase in the SHB lifetime). It may explain the observed angular correlations in water that persist for 20 nm.

Abstract

We developed the RexPoN force field for water based entirely on quantum mechanics. It predicts the properties of water extremely accurately, with Tmelt = 273.3 K (273.15 K) and properties at 298 K: ΔHvap = 10.36 kcal/mol (10.52), density = 0.9965 g/cm3 (0.9965), entropy = 68.4 J/mol/K (69.9), and dielectric constant = 76.1 (78.4), where experimental values are in parentheses. Upon heating from 0.0 K (ice) to 273.0 K (still ice), the average number of strong hydrogen bonds (SHBs, rOO ≤ 2.93 Å) decreases from 4.0 to 3.3, but upon melting at 273.5 K, the number of SHBs drops suddenly to 2.3, decreasing slowly to 2.1 at 298 K and 1.6 at 400 K. The lifetime of the SHBs is 90.3 fs at 298 K, increasing monotonically for lower temperature. These SHBs connect to form multibranched polymer chains (151 H2O per chain at 298 K), where branch points have 3 SHBs and termination points have 1 SHB. This dynamic fluctuating branched polymer view of water provides a dramatically modified paradigm for understanding the properties of water. It may explain the 20-nm angular correlation lengths at 298 K and the critical point at 227 K in supercooled water. Indeed, the 15% jump in the SHB lifetime at 227 K suggests that the supercooled critical point may correspond to a phase transition temperature of the dynamic polymer structure. This paradigm for water could have a significant impact on the properties for protein, DNA, and other materials in aqueous media.

As we all become more eco-conscious, selecting paper that's made with the earth in mind is a more important consideration than ever. Mohawk Renewal's line made with hemp, straw and recycled cotton fibers is a logical choice when it comes to paper. But did you know that you can do more with your materials to tell your story and be a steward to our planet? Say hello to eco-friendly inks.

Worldwide, 9 billion pounds of printing inks are used every year. While there are alternatives to the approximately 1.8 billion pounds of petroleum-based pigment contained in all that ink, each comes with its own challenges — especially when it comes to satisfying customers' print needs on press. Here's what you need to know about alternative eco-inks.

Vegetable-based inks, which forego petroleum oil in favor of more sustainable sources like soy, linseed, tung, cottonseed, and china wood oils, have been around for decades. In fact, they were invented in response to an oil crisis in the early 1970's—suddenly, petroleum was in short supply, and ink manufacturers had to get creative.

While vegetable inks, including the most popular variety, soy ink, avoid the environmental pitfalls of using the earth's limited supply of petroleum as an ingredient, they require special knowledge and treatment on press. For example, they often take longer to dry than traditional inks, and they can translate into slightly different shades than their conventional counterparts.

However, the benefits are enormous. Like, when the Los Angeles Times switched to soy ink from the petroleum variety they were using, they won an air quality award for reducing their VOC emissions by 200 tons per year.

It's important to note that while vegetable inks are a step in the right direction, some do still contain petroleum, depending on their formulation. Some may also contain heavy metals. You can ask your printer to help source vegetable-only inks and inks without heavy metals, if that's what you prefer.

Here's the most exciting guide you've been looking for. How to make your dream LED RGB room come to life!

Here, you will find tips on the best place to put your LED strip lights, a step-by-step guide to doing so, and alternate setups.

You can install LED strip lights around your ceiling by measuring ceiling perimeter length, using a high-quality strip with built-in adhesive, and opting to install the strip behind a recession or coving for a beautiful, dramatic yet luxurious lighting effect.

The starting point of your strips really matters because the power outlet will be around that area.

And in case you’re an avid YouTuber or TikToker, then you definitely don’t want unsavory wires showing in your videos.

Otherwise, the wire going up from your power outlet to your LED power supply should be discreet, like behind some furniture or door or near a wall corner.

Alternatively, you can use the cable concealer cover like this one on Amazon.

Once your strip lights are plugged in, you need to decide where they need to be placed on the ceiling.

If you want more of your ceiling lit up, place the strips around 3-5 inches from the ceiling.

If you want more of your wall lit up, place the strips around a foot below the ceiling to allow enough space to glow upwards.

The most ideal way to install LEDs is where their LED individual diodes are not jarringly visible and are hidden while preventing the harsh glare given off the lights from your eyes.

Some ceilings have a built-in recession and are called drop-down ceilings, false ceilings, or suspended ceilings.

There is a small area to insert lights if needed, and in our case, the perfect place to hide exposed LED strips.

How To Install LED Strips On Ceiling: Step By Step Guide

Here’s the step-by-step guide on how to install LED strip lights. However, before you start your process, plug in the LEDs, and check that they are working, then continue the project.

Step #1: Measure your room ceiling’s perimeter, including all the corners and turns along the way. Ensure you also measure the distance from your power outlet if the power supply has a short wire.

Since LED strips come in specific lengths, you can now decide whether you want one or more LED strip reels.

You can easily cut the strips to length if the designated copper cutting points are provided on the reel.

Step #2: For optimal visual appeal and minimum wastage of extra reel or extra wiring, ensure that the power outlet is as close as possible to the source supply that comes with your LED strip reel.

Step #3: Now, to make sure your LED strips last as long as they are designed to, your setup should be well-ventilated with airflow in the room and not stuffed behind bulky furniture or thick curtains.

Also, be sure to use coving that allows good heat dissipation (like aluminum, do not use wood), and is wide and deep enough for ventilation.

Step #4: Here comes the fun part. Sticking it all up! Some high-quality strips come with built-in adhesive on the back of the strips that you peel and stick.

This is a better option as some manufacturers ensure the built-in tape is also designed to carry away excess heat.

Other strips need an external double-sided tape that you need to stick yourself, first to the strip and then to the wall, coving, or ceiling.

This can be a tedious process and may come loose earlier than expected.

However, suppose your ceiling has a porous or textured design. In that case, you need to consider adding external double-tape or wall adhesive to hold it up better.

So how far will it light up? The light spreads. The best way to show that is with the following graphic which shows a 30 Watt and 50 Watt floodlight mounted at 5 meters with a recommended downward tilt angle of 45 degrees.

A floodlight is sometimes used to highlight landscaping or a feature on a home or structure, and it can also be used as a safety feature. Many of today's floodlights operate on a motion sensor, a timing sensor or both. If a floodlight isn't working properly, there are a number of possible reasons. You could have a problem with the settings, the fixture or the bulb.

Step 1

Check that the power is on to the circuit operating the floodlight. Make sure that there is not a light switch controlling the floodlight that is in the wrong position.

Step 2

Change the floodlight bulb. Make sure that you have a bulb of the correct wattage installed.

Step 3

Verify that the controls on the floodlight are set correctly. If you have a motion sensor on your floodlight, it may be set at the wrong level. The sensor control determines how sensitive the floodlight is to motion. The dusk or timer switches, if included, determine at what time the floodlight will turn on and what time it will turn off. Correct the settings and test the light again.

Step 4

Examine the area around the floodlight. Most motion sensor floodlights will not work correctly if they face directly into a reflective surface, if the lens is hit by direct sunlight or if the light is positioned over a heat or air conditioning vent.

Step 5

Turn off the power to the floodlight at the circuit box. Open the head of the floodlight with a screwdriver. Unscrew the wire caps covering the live and neutral wire connections. Verify that there is no loose or disconnected wire. Reassemble the light casing and test the light again. If these steps haven't solved the problem, contact a professional electrician for help.

Using LED lights have many benefits, from being durable to being energy-efficient, LED lights have satisfied each and every requirement. Previously, most of us have used fluorescent lights, but after knowing that it can be really harmful, many of us have switched to LEDs, but still, there are some people who have not switched to LEDs and are using fluorescent tube lights. So, to make you all aware, in this article, we will be telling you some advantages of LED batten lights over fluorescent tube lights, but before starting the comparison between these two, let’s consider some general advantages of switching to

Using LED lights have many benefits, from being durable to being energy-efficient, LED lights have satisfied each and every requirement. Previously, most of us have used fluorescent lights, but after knowing that it can be really harmful, many of us have switched to LEDs, but still, there are some people who have not switched to LEDs and are using fluorescent tube lights. So, to make you all aware, in this article, we will be telling you some advantages of LED batten lights over fluorescent tube lights, but before starting the comparison between these two, let’s consider some general advantages of switching to LED lights. Have a look!

Advantages of switching over to LED lights

• LED lights consume less electricity. It can save up to 80% of your light electricity bill and thus, are energy-efficient

• LEDs maintain a cold temperature. Unlike those old fluorescent lights, LEDs do not heat up. The excessive heat and ultraviolet radiation present can be a hazard to people and materials. Whereas, LED lights emit no ultraviolet radiations

• LED bulbs do not produce blue waves and lets our brain feel relaxed and increases the productivity

• LED lights are durable and can last up to 15 years with the constant amount of light. Unlike other lights, LED never dims with time

• LED lights are environment-friendly as they do not release any harmful gases

Advantages of LED Batten Lights over Fluorescent Tube Lights

LED Batten lights : LED Batten lights are energy-efficient, environment-friendly, produce less heat, maintenance-free and durable as compared to fluorescent tube lights. Also, LED batten lights provide uniform lighting and offer significant savings on account of voltage and less power consumption. The LED technology is more sophisticated than fluorescent, incandescent or halogen lights. They are the future of lighting because of its durability and performance. Given below are some of the advantages of LED batten lights:

1. Requires less current.

2. Higher light output compared to other sources.

3. You can choose the colour.

4. 90% longer lifespan than fluorescent tube lights. And even at the end of their lifespan, you can easily dispose of and there will be no toxic waste left or no special treatment will be required in the procedure.

5. The light remains constant, but you can dim LEDs manually as per your convenience.

6. Energy efficient.

7. No mercury is used.

8. Produce less heat.

9. Environment-friendly, as it does not contain toxic chemicals, which represents virtually no hazard to the surroundings.

10. Best to use in schools, hospitals, factories and residential areas.

11. Flicker-free operation.

12. Virtually zero maintenance costs.

13. Lightweight and sleek design.

The answer to the above question is a definite NO! LED panels consist of many components, and it is the quality of these components that directly affects the performance, lifespan, and of course the price of the LED light panel.

Many LED suppliers make baseless and sometimes false claims about their LED panels. Most suppliers don’t even know what brand of LED chip is being used within the panels they are supplying!

We have decided that you, the customer, should be given a full explanation about how LED light panels are constructed and what effect that construction has on the performance and reliability of these products. This will also help you understand why you will see so many different price variations.

So if you’re looking for commercial LED lighting and think LED panels might be right for you, we have decided to explain each component that is used in the construction of an LED panel light to help you know what to look out for.