Importance Of Proper Wiring In A Barn

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Proper electrical wiring is a very important part of keeping your barn safe. Good wiring will ensure not only that the barn is safe from accidental fires but also protect other property that can be affected by poor electrical wiring. Very many people don’t take seriously the importance of having your wiring done with a qualified electrician especially for your barn.

A barn fire can be very devastating hence the ability to reduce any risk of fire is very important for anybody who is constructing or having one. The ability to get the best possible wiring for your barn starts with hiring a qualified electrician to do the job. Having a qualified electrician to do the wiring job comes with very many advantages. Some of the common advantages of using a qualified electrician include:

1. Assurance of safety.

The safety of the burn is very important. Electricity is one of the components of the house that can offer great risk if the installation is not done in a proper way. Using a qualified electrician will assure you of the use of quality material and the necessary skills needed for proper wiring.

2. Cost effective.

Hiring a qualified electrician will assist in saving cost as they are trained to do the wiring in a cost effective manner. With a qualified electrician, there is also the guarantee of less maintenance that can come up due to poor wiring. A qualified electrician will always advise only on the necessary materials needed for the wiring without wastage.

3. Avoid the risk of being sued.

Using a non-qualified electrician can easily land you in court as this endangers the lives of people. It is important to use a qualified electrician to do your barn wiring as this will save you the risk of facing charges from the authority.

4. Reduced electricity bill.

Poor wiring can lead to very high electricity bill as the system is not working at its optimum levels. It is always important to lower your electricity bill as much as possible. With a qualified electrician, you will be comfortable that your barn’s electricity consumption is at its optimum level.

In conclusion, proper electrical wiring in your barn is as important as building the barn itself. The ability to be sure that the wiring is done well starts with hiring a qualified electrician to do the job. Hiring a non-qualified person can easily lead to future dangers which are far more costly than going for a qualified electrician in the first place.

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Vital Necessities For Off The Grid Living

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Living off the grid is the ideal way to save tons of money and not be reliant on the system to provide for you. As fuel costs, home heating costs, and electricity costs continue to rise; you won’t have to be a slave to the system and just go along with whatever these companies feel they want to charge you. By living off the grid, you take control over your own life. You make the rules.

Vital Necessities For Off The Grid Living

A home

Traveling the country sounds fun, but not when nights consist of sleeping in the backseat of a car. Instead, individuals are encouraged to consider something along the lines of a caravan. A used one can be purchased a little bit on the cheaper side, and this will provide plenty of space to sleep at night. A larger motorhome may be more suitable for larger families with children. Individuals should keep in mind that these require money to maintain, much like a house does.

Money

Going off the grid is the new dream, but it does still require a bit of money to acquire stuff like food. Families are encouraged to look into their current finances, eliminate the bills that are currently caused by living in a house, like the trash bill, and then add in the costs of living on the road, like gas and site fees. This should provide a nice estimate on monthly costs.
Start-up costs will include things like purchasing solar panels, battery powered accessories and so on. This can easily cost thousands, but it is well worth it in the long run.

Power

Solar energy remains one of the most popular choices for caravan owners. Installing solar panels will provide families with an endless supply of power, and can make a living off of the grid that much easier. Instead of families being forced to make their remaining battery power last as long as possible, they will be able to wake up and enjoy the simple things in life, like using the microwave and curling their hair when they opt for solar energy.

Downsizing

A caravan provides a small amount of space when compared to a full house. Before moving into one full time, it is best to find a caravan first. Then, families can see how much space they will have, and begin to downsize accordingly. Often, caravans only have enough room for necessities and a few luxuries.

Benefits of Living Off The Grid

Less Dependent

Energy data suggests we’ve run into a major problem. The supply of cheap energy is diminishing, while the demand is continuing to increase. What a mess this is. Even if you are not sold on the data, the reality is governments and corporations are controlling our resources, and it’s clear that their greatest interest is far, far from the needs, let alone wants, of the individual. They will continue to manipulate and gouge, no matter what. For those fed up with playing the never ending game, living off the grid is the only real way to beat it altogether.

Freedom

By harnessing the already free naturally available resources, you are practicing true freedom which benefits both you and the environment. Wouldn’t it feel great not to have to pay any power bills? Wouldn’t it feel great to get your energy needs straight from the sun, or the wind? These are definitely possible, and definitely, the route to take for living a life of true freedom.

Unlimited amounts of natural resources

If you have your own solar or wind power system it will allow you to have an unlimited amount of power based on the availability of sun and the wind in your area. It is so nice to not having to worry about how much power you are using and how much money that is going to cost you at the end of the month.

Cost effective

Off-grid living saves you money every month by not having to pay for your power usage. It’s wonderful not to have that electricity bill show up in the mailbox each month. The alternative power solutions of solar and wind will give you a great return on your investment and your energy costs will soon be zero.

Healthy Environment

Even if you are not heavy into the green lifestyle or don’t completely identify with the different environmental movements, you still can appreciate the idea of leaving your little corner of the earth a viable and livable place for future generations. Others have planted tree’s before you and provided tools and building skills, now by practicing off grid living, you can teach and inspire others to do the same.

With all the nwo news today and big brother quickly encroaching on our privacy, off the gid living is becoming a more and more appealing way of life for some.  At the very least you can live life with a grin on your face knowing that you walked the walk and made your piece of the planet a better, more efficient and sustainable place to live.

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Choosing The Best Outdoor Camping Stoves

Young or old, camping is a timeless excursion back to where the roaring campfire means not just heat, but stories of yesterday, today, tomorrow and cooking. Bad weather, drop your meal into the fire, and overcooking is some disadvantages of an open campfire used for cooking. Using a camping stove is much safer than cooking over an open camp fire. Propane stoves are easier to use than campfires, just tune on the gas, light it, and you are ready to cook. No worries of getting ash in your food. The proper camping stove is essential to you having an enjoyable camping trip. The primary function of the camping stove is to assure that the camper will have a hot meal. When using your camping stove be assured it is on firm even ground.

Stoves vary for fuels used, size, and weight. Propane stoves are the most popular stove used for family camping and car campers. Propane stoves are the easiest to use and are the cleanest. With stoves you can control the heat output and they are less likely to get out of control. If you are a car camper or family camper then the propane stoves give you the best options. They come with single burner, duel burners, and burner with grill. Most come equipped with wind screens, which are crucial in windy conditions. Propane stoves are like a brief case, open the top and you have your burners, close it for easy storage. The good thing about a duel burner is you can simmer on one burner and boil on the other. If you like to grill the burner with grill is the best choice. Grill hamburgers while you cook the fries on the burner.

Century camping stoves are some of the best stoves made. Century’s products are designed to be functional and innovative. Century manufactures a wide variety of quality camping equipment from lanterns to outdoor grills to portable toilets. The Century stove is their biggest item and they offer a large variety of models to meet your individual camping needs. When choosing a Century stove you can rest assured you are getting one of the best camping stoves made.

Brunton is a popular name for outdoor enthusiasts. Brunton products are built around the future of camping. Brunton also manufactures a large range of outdoor camping supplies including cookware, camping instruments, compasses, optics, portable power, and of course camping stoves. Their camping stoves rank right at the top of the list with the Brunton profile Duo which has a 12,000 BTU burner and a 10,000 BTU grill.
Stansport products are designed to make camping fun. Stansports main goal is to bring you the best values in camping equipment. The Diamond Plate Tuff stove is the strongest camping stove ever built. This stove has four 15,000 BTU burners and can easily handle large pots.

Nothing says Expedition better than Primus. Primus is the first and the most trusted with the best omnivorous fuel burning stove on the market. Enjoy cooking and grilling in the outdoors with the entire family or group of friends with Primus Propane stoves /grill. Reliability, functionality and convenience are all part of the Primus Atle group of camping stoves.

Article by Larry West

One of the best parts of camping is cooking and eating outdoors. No matter what type camper you may be, you will always need a good reliable outdoor camping stove. For some reason cooking outdoors just makes food smell and taste better.

Article Source:
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Are You Prepared To Live Off The Grid

To live off the grid is a lifestyle decision. While it takes planning, commitment, and active engagement from the homeowner, the rewards of off-grid living are significant . First, the cost of the off grid solar power system is the only “electric bill” a homeowner will receive. Essentially, the price of power is paid up front at a price that will show to be better than the on-going and climbing rates of utility companies. Next , the homeowner benefits from the sense of self-sufficiency and independence that off grid living provides. Finally , the owner of a properly designed and maintained off grid solar power system contributes to a better future for everyone: Their impact on the environment will be reduced through the use of renewable solar energy.

Incentives are also available in the form of a 30% federal tax credit, which is applied to the total cost of the solar power system. This is 30% of the total system price, including both components and labor for the installation. If you plan to do the installation yourself, only the system components can be applied to the tax credit. Either way, you can save quit a bit.

Off-grid solar power systems vary widely depending on the load that will be placed on the system and the general surroundings of the building site. Cost is perhaps the largest consideration in choosing the size of an off-grid power system.

The major components used to build the system are the solar modules, the off grid power inverter, battery charge controller, module racking system and deep cycle battery bank. These individual parts will determine how much power is generated, how much power is available in the conversion to household current, and how much power is available for reserve.

Energy efficiency is most important when designing an off grid solar power system. The cost of the system is determined by its size, and the size of the system is determined by the appliances the homeowner intends on using. Refrigeration, heating and air-conditioning are typical necessities, and these appliances and their electrical consumption are measured first when writing up a system proposal. Next are appliances whose use is more driven by choice – if an appliance generates heat such as a toaster, coffee maker, or dishwasher, it needs careful consideration because these items use a significant amount of energy . Off grid solar power systems are capable of providing every comfort and convenience as a standard home. They usually achieve this by considering high levels of efficiency rather than making huge investments in power production.

The smallest systems provide DC (direct current) voltage only. These systems are great for campgrounds and vacation cabins, providing energy for simple living with lighting, and even entertainment systems. These solar power systems range in price from around $3500 to $5000. Adding more solar panel modules increases your charging capacity. Add a power inverter, and now you have AC (alternating current) power available like a typically powered household. Many off grid power inverters also include battery chargers that work with a generator to back up the solar pv module array as your source of charging for your battery bank. The larger the power inverter, the larger the charger built into it. These power inverters have a built in transfer switch allowing your AC circuits to run off the generator while your batteries are charging.

The battery bank size is determined by the amount of reserve power required but also by the amount of charging capacity available. It’s important that deep cycle batteries regularly be recharged completely. Mounting for the solar panel modules is another consideration that impacts the cost of the installed system. Those could be rooftop or ground mount racking systems or a mix of both to handle the number of solar panel modules needed. Larger systems that provide many or all conveniences of a standard, grid tied homes range in price from $13Science Articles,000 and up. There are virtually no limitations as to how large a system can be built. The equation is very plain ……more watts equals more dollars!

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

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Ultimate Beginner’s Guide To Camping

Now I know what you are telling yourself…..I would really like to camp, it looks fun but I have no idea how to camp, what to bring or what to expect. There are a few things that you really have to determine before you can figure out what you need to do to get ready for your camping trip.  Answering the following basic questions will guide you to finding your footing.

1.  What type of camping have you decided to do?  Did you want to RV camp?  Camper/Trailer camp?  Tent camp?  Backpack/Hike camp?  Canoe/kayak camp? 

Determining the type of camping you want to do can aid you in what sort of equipment and expertise is needed.  For example, you would need a vastly different sort of equipment for RV camping versus hiking camping.

Camping descriptions:

RV Camping (or recreational vehicle camping) is most like living at home because you bring a furnished vehicle that you basically live in with you.  You can make your RV just as comfy as you like.  Everything that you need from home can most likely be brought with you in your RV.  All you really need to think about are what foods and personal items you would like to stock it with.  This type of camping is generally for the people who do not like to “rough it” but also might like to be social since many times RV are parked fairly near each other or in similar sections.  Though there are some normal maintenance items with RVs, you basically park them and live in them.

Camper or Trailer camping is just a step more rugged than RV camping.  Many times campers or trailers do not have showers or toilets, unlike most RVs.  Depending on the camper or trailer, a refrigerator may not be included either.  Generally, camper or trailer camping is more for people who do not like to sleep on the ground or worry about severe weather but still want to get out there.

Tent camping is generally more for people who would like to “rough it.”  Tent camping requires you to think about all of your basic needs ahead of time (food, hygiene, restroom requirements, shelter, seeing at night, warmth).  There are actually varying levels of tent camping as well.  Some people like to bring a tent and shop for all of their needs while others like to camp in more remote areas away from people.  Packing for a tent camping trip can be time consuming because you have to think of everything you might need.

Backpacking or Hiking camping is a bit more for the experienced campers.  Think about it…everything you think you are going to need you have to be able to strap to your back and carry it for quite a distance.  You have to be able to pack well and pack light!

Canoe/kayak camping is much like hiking camping in regards to packing but you have to add another element.  You have to make sure that everything is waterproof.  Canoe/kayak camping would be for the more experienced camper and of course, for people who know how to canoe and/or kayak.

Recommendations for camping situations:

RV Camping – Shop around and do research before you decide on an RV for purchase.  Talk to people who already own them and ask them what they like and don’t like about their particular model.  Go to RV dealerships and walk through a bunch of them.  Maybe, go as far as renting an RV on a small trip to see what you do or don’t like about RV camping.

Camper/Trailer Camping – Because there might not be amenities like a refrigerator, more setup and forethought is required.  You most likely will have to purchase a cooler or two to keep your food and beverages chilled.  Also, you may have to think about generators if you would like to run electrical items.  Though you might have beds in the camper you may have to put bedding in.

Tent Camping – Think about the type of tent camping you’d like to do.  Does my tent have to be lightweight?  Waterproof?  Wind sturdy?  What size tent do I need (family size or just for me)?  What terrain will I be camping on?  A good camping tent can make all the difference on your trip.

Backpacking/Hiking Camping – Look for lightweight supplies, as you have to carry them all.  Equipment research into lighter weight sturdy hiking backpacks is a good idea.  Always check ahead of time if the area you wish to hike and camp allows people to do so.  Pay attention to “no trespassing” signs and heed them.  Check your weather!  You need to know what equipment to pack for the weather.  It is also recommended that you camp with a buddy.  In case something should happen, there should be someone who can go get help.

Canoe/kayak Camping – It might be advisable to take some canoe or kayak lessons (and swimming lessons) before attempting a camping trip in this way.  Perhaps you may wish to rent a canoe or kayak to make sure you like the activity before diving in.

2.  Where have you decided to go camping?  Are you going to be camping in the Desert?  Beach?  Forest/woods? 

This is a very important question to answer in order to figure out your main needs.  You’d prepare very differently for desert camping than you would for camping in the forest.

In Desert camping temperatures can have extreme ranges from the heat of the day to the cold of the night.  The biggest threats (most of the year) in the desert are the sun and dehydration.  It is very important to protect yourself with sunscreen and drink plenty of water.  Due to the dry air you are not aware of how much you are perspiring because it evaporates so quickly off your skin.

Beach camping is very nice but you should prepare for it.  Due to the nature of sand it is difficult to weigh things down with normal tent stakes.  There are tent stakes that are much longer for this specific purpose.  You also must be prepared for the possibility that sand could get into everything.  Depending on how deep in the sand you’d like to go you should think about the vehicle you are using to get there.  Again, with the nature of sand it may be difficult to dig yourself back out.  You may wish to bring a shovel or random piece of wood.

Forest/woods are usually great for shelter from rainstorms and sun.  They are also great for hammocks but you have to be aware of biting insects and certain itchy plants.  Bug spray would be a huge recommendation for camping in the woods.

3.  When or what time of the year are you going camping?

Figuring out what type of weather you are going to have to deal with while camping is key.  Personally, I think this is the most important information required to plan a proper camping trip.  Of course if you have an RV, this information probably doesn’t help you because you aren’t exposed to the elements.

Colder weather camping obviously requires warmer clothes but you may wish to consider a warmer camping sleeping bag regardless of what method of shelter you are using.

Wetter weather camping means that your terrain may be more difficult to deal with.  If you are tent camping, it would be recommended to lay a tarp under your tent, look for slightly higher ground to pitch your tent and always use your rain flys.

In hotter weather always make sure to keep yourself hydrated.  If you bring your water with you, bring lots.  If you are hiking camping, you may wish to consider a water treatment or a camping water filter.

Congratulations on taking your first step toward camping by answering these preliminary questions.  You are now on your way to planning for a camping trip tailored more to your specific needs and desires.

Below is a list of general items to take camping.  Please take from it what works best for you and your situation.  Note: Personal items should be included at your discretion.

Things to take camping:

FIRST AID/SURVIVAL KIT

  • Prescribed medications
  • Snake bite kit
  • Calamine lotion
  • Insect repellent
  • Distilled water
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Cotton balls or cotton swabs
  • Bandages
  • Moleskin (for sore feet)
  • Tweezers
  • Needles
  • Feminine products
  • Scissors
  • Thermometer
  • Individually wrapped gauze pads
  • Adhesive tape
  • Antiseptic
  • Clean old towel or part of bed sheet folded up
  • Steristrips (to hold cuts together)
  • Aspirin
  • Motion sickness medicine
  • Pepto Bismol
  • Aromatic ammonia
  • Glucose packs (for diabetics)
  • Water purifying tablets or filtration kit
  • Razor blades
  • Waterproof matches & container
  • Whistle
  • Solid knife
  • Hydrogen peroxide

BASICS

  • Tent (tarp, stakes, rain fly)
  • Sleeping bag (sleeping pad for under or air mattress)
  • Pillow
  • Small hatchet
  • Flash lights (& good extra batteries)
  • Camping lanterns (with fuel or good extra batteries)
  • Disposable butane lighter
  • Compass
  • Maps
  • Hammock
  • Cooler (& ice)
  • Water (and/or water filter or water purification tablets)
  • Clothing (weather appropriate)
  • Hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Good walking shoes
  • Personal toiletries
  • Pocket knife
  • Canteen (or hydration pack)
  • Firewood (bring or buy at campsite)
  • Backpack (and/or day pack)
  • Camping
  • Games (cards, frisbee, small portable games)
  • Camera (& good batteries)
  • S’mores fixings (large marshmallows, graham crackers & Hershey’s® chocolate)

COOKING?

  • Obviously food (canned & packaged usually do well)
  • Stove (& fuel or charcoal) or a grill or dutch oven
  • Pot & pan (and cooking utensils if planning to cook)
  • Cups & plates & eating utensils
  • Re-sealable plastic bags
  • Plastic containers
  • Paper towel or napkins
  • Note:  If there are bear boxes where you camp…..use them!

THINGS OFTEN FORGOTTEN

  • Can opener
  • Wine bottle opener
  • Utensils
  • Towels
  • Soap (dish soap & bar soap)

IN CASE…

  • Flares
  • Folding shovel
  • Tea bags
  • Broth cubes
  • Poncho
  • Candles
  • Rope or cord (12′ to 24′)
  • Signal mirror
  • MREs (military term for “meals ready to eat”)
  • Suturing kit (for extreme cases)
  • Fish kit (& 15′ of 10 lbs. line & sinkers & 35mm film container & fish hooks)
  • Water filter or water purification tablets
  • Lifejackets (camping near water)
  • Baking soda (for toothpaste, insect bites, antacid, odors, etc.)

Lori Denil

Serious Sporting Goods Camping

Your Camping & Hiking Equipment Source

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2501447

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The Features Of Prefabricated Barns

Prefabricated barns or prefab barns are often not the look outs of those who wish to do away with their farm buildings or sheds, rather these are mostly craved by the people preferring to comfortably and luxuriously accommodate their livestock or even suitably making arrangements for their farm machinery and storage items. Agricultural buildings are usually referred to sheds and barns mostly used for keeping livestock or storing grain and hay. For instance, small horse barns may be cited as an example. A prefab barn is defined to be constructed before or simply built beforehand. A prefabricated barn, apart from serving the above mentioned purposes, reveals a lot about the traits and persona of a its owner.

Features Of Prefabricated Barns

The features of a prefab barn are often lofty and compartmental in nature. These eye-catching prefab barns can consist of a:

  • Tack room: A room that makes place for items such as bridles and saddles.
  • Feed room: Designed to store the animal feed. However, the modern barns do not have one. Here feed bales are arranged in a stack yard.
  • Drive bay: It is a large corridor built for the animals and machinery.
  • Ensilage: Used for storing fermented grains.
  • Milk house: Where milk is stored before shipping. A milk house is a specialty of the diary barn.
  • Grain bin: Composed of wood, a grain bin is a structure found near the mow to feed the cows.
  • Indoor corral: Found in more modern types of barns, this is a room aimed to treat and cure the sick animals.

Types Of Barns

A wide variety of prefab barns and metal barn kits are available in the global market. In fact, small horse barns are in vogue, giving a tough competition to the pole barns and its builders. Choosing a prefabricated barn can reduce most of the hassles and headaches of setting up a new barn. Usually the prefab barns are classified in the way shown below:

  • Type of purposes served: horse barns, diary barns, poultry, livestock, threshing, tobacco, storage barns.
  • Type of materials used: pole barns, steel, metal, stone, wooden.
  • Type of roof: gambrel barns, monitor, hip, gable.

Prefab Metal Buildings To Build Your Own Barn

Prefab metal buildings and metal barn kits are most often suggested to folks who do not generally like taking on the burden of fully constructing a barn on their shoulders, but at the same time dream of a perfect and well-groomed barn that best suits their needs. The metal barn kits used in today’s industry comply with USA building codes and before they are sold they are fully tested by engineers to make sure that they have the necessary strength to withstand their purpose and can also endure the harshest weather conditions. Metal barn kits are found in both the residential and commercial buildings market and have many practical and functional purposes. Some of the benefits of prefab metal buildings are:

  • Durability and strength: prefab metal buildings are built with red iron steel which gives firm support to the building and casts away the problems of warping, cracking, bending, twisting or even the deformity. Steel will stand up to extreme weather conditions like hurricanes and even earthquakes.
  • Easy to assemble and fast installation: these buildings are often available as metal barn kits giving you the opportunity to choose from many types of barns. The latest technology has ensured precision fitting with all parts of the assembly process.
  • Steel buildings can be quite attractive with the many colors and accessories that are available. Some kits come already painted with the particular color that has been chosen.
  • Insulation can be added to make the building more weather resistant in extreme conditions and reduce the cost of heating and cooling.
  • It is chiefly designed to resist the attacks of pests and termites, thus making it the safest and the most popular option for all.
  • A steel prefab barn further guarantees a non-flammable, danger free and secured abode for your animals and their feed.
  • Less costly to insure because of the very low fire risk associated with them.
  • There is very little waste material involved. Thus reducing energy consumption, reducing costs and creates less of an environmental impact.
  • Offered by many suppliers and prices range according to the size required and quality of the materials.

Due to the unique engineering of a clear span structure, all the inside space is useable. There are no internal columns or supports to interfere with your interior plans. Steel buildings have the strength to create 200ft wide areas without any crossbeams, offering superior height and clearance to give you the most useable space possible.

Typical prefab metal buildings takes less time to build and reduces financing costs when compared to traditional wood buildings. They can be modified easily and in many ways without any major structural change, thus giving you the opportunity to expand your building in the future. You can construct steel buildings which are not only durable and cost-effective, but are also environmentally friendly. Prefab barns are an exceptional value that will last for many years and may well become the barn of the future.

Xavian Noir is a freelance content writer, copywriter & blogger that writes for a variety of clients in the steel buildings industry.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Xavian_Noir/1261565

 

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