SXWS

Archive for March, 2010

Know the location of your fuse box (or breaker box), and how to use it. Label the circuits so you can identify their fuses or breakers easily. You never know when you’ll have a power failure, or on which
circuit.
The number of circuit breakers and their capacities depend on your home’s electrical requirements. Newer homes have a large main breaker which must be on for any of the circuits to function. Circuits that require heavy current go through two breakers; their handles are tied together as one switch.
When a circuit overload occurs, the breaker switch for that circuit automatically jumps almost to the off position. To reset it, push it
to off and then back to On. If the breaker kicks off immediately, the circuit has a definite overload. Disconnect one appliance at a time, resetting the breaker. When it stays On, you’ve found the overload. The appliance may be faulty, or just too much for that circuit (try plugging it in elsewhere). If the breaker continues to trip, check for a short in light fixtures or in receptacles. If you can’t find the fault, call an electrician for service.
Some mobile homes utilize fuses for special loads, such as furnace blowers. A faulty fuse has the filament under the fuse-window darkened or melted in two. New fuses must be of the amperage listed on the top of the old fuse. NEVER use any device such as a copper penny as a makeshift bypass for a blown fuse. Do not touch the fuse socket with your fingers or tools. Handle fuses by the top edges only.

I know you are tired when you get home. You want to throw the suitcase in a corner, put your feet up and relax. Don’t. Your pre-planning must include time for unpacking and data entry. It is a part of travel. Immediately unpack. I unpacked my truck after a three month trip within an hour of coming home. If you don’t do it now, you won’t do it. Put your traveling laundry in a separate location from your regular laundry. You’ve already made the decisions about what to take, so don’t mix everything up and make it harder on yourself the next time. Take what needs to go to the dry cleaners the next day. It is another part of your travel schedule.
Refer to your list as you unpack and make notations on what you needed and cross out things you didn’t use. This helps keep the list a working document. Clean and put the “ready to go” items back in the suitcase.
Traveling will never be completely stress-free, but if you follow these guidelines, you will find yourself cluttering less and being more at ease.