What are electric bikes? A lot of people may be surprised at the mere fact that electric bikes even exist, but their history goes back even to the late 1890s. Different U.S. patents dating back to the 1890s actually mention the existence of said bikes! Sometimes also referred to as e-bikes, this special bicycle is actually a bicycle that features an electric motor that is normally utilized to power up an ordinary vehicle. These kinds of bicycles actually rely on a rechargeable battery and can even attain speeds as high as 15 miles per hour or 20 miles per hour. Of course, this all depends upon the specific laws of the country in which these kinds of bicycles are sold!

The good thing about these electric bikes is that they can be utilized as an alternative form of transportation to cars and even normal bikes! Believe it or not, these kinds of bicycles are actually quite good for people who are suffering from heart problems, but still are told to get more exercise into their lives. According to an entry on Wikipedia, these types of bicycles require a lot less cardiac exertion, which is good news to people who already have established heart problems.

When it comes to the cost issues of an electric bike versus the costs behind cars, you can bet your bottom dollar that choosing these types of bikes is more cost-effective than buying or maintaining a car. Let’s look at just one aspect of this consideration, which is in regard to the price of gas to operate either kind of vehicle. With electric bikes being limited to just 20 miles per hour according to American law, you do not even need to pay for a special registration, insurance or license, unlike a car! Further, according to the website called Eco Wheelz, it takes just about 10 cents to charge a battery for this bicycle! With gas prices in the U.S. hovering near $4 already, and with most cars getting just 25 miles on the gallon, it is obviously a lot more expensive to buy, own and maintain your car.

On the issue of safety, electric bikes have a little bit farther to go before they can be considered totally safe. Take for instance China, which is the world’s biggest market for these kinds of bicycles. There is road traffic safety concern in general over these kinds of bikes because they oftentimes use the same lanes as slower-moving normal bicycles and even pedestrians.

As you can see, electric bikes are an alternative to cars and regular bicycles. They are allowed in the U.S. and are more cost-effective than cars, although there may well be some safety concerns attached to this type of bicycle.

For the average homeowner, electrical panels are not very well understood. Since the job of an electrical panel is to deliver electricity, the common assumption is that if you need more electricity to support your household, you should just be able to add more circuits. This is incorrect, though.

This is only part of your electrical panel’s job. It also acts as a safety device, channeling the electrical flow into circuits so your home gets the amount of electricity that’s allowed by the panel. If your home doesn’t have enough electricity, then it’s time to upgrade your electrical panel, but how do you know when this time has come?

Have you noticed any lights in your home that flicker, dim, or brown out when you turn on major appliances such as your dishwasher or microwave? This is a sign that the draw on your system is too strong, and that you would benefit from adding more amps to your electrical box.

If you have multiple circuit breakers that trip on a regular basis, this is probably a sign that you don’t have enough power coming into your home. If you’re constantly flipping circuit breakers back on in your electrical panel, you could very well need an upgrade.

This is actually an outdated method of managing the electricity in your home. In fact, it can be downright dangerous. Many homeowner’s insurance companies won’t even insure homes that still have fuse boxes instead of an electrical panel. Fuses simply can’t provide the amount of power that the average home needs. The best thing you can do is upgrade your fuse box to a standard electrical panel as soon as possible.

A Look Back At 2011

Texas residents suffered damaging and costly electrical problems in 2011. Three major blackout incidents, two of which happened in the winter months of February and December respectively, left residents without heat and without power for hours and, in some cases, days at a time. Equally distressing was the 71-day drought that had Texans begging their local Dallas electrician for relief, as 100-plus degree heat waves weakened the power grid once again and left residents without air conditioning or electricity.

2012: Not Much Better

Unfortunately, 2012 does not seem to be the year for relief. Experts warn that several factors point to an even more severe blackout and power grid problem in the state of Texas for 2012.

 These factors translate into miserable, costly blackouts and power grid failures throughout North Texas.

Dallas Electrician Company Provides Solutions

There are some solutions for customers looking stay ahead of the game when it comes to protecting their home and appliances from the inconvenient and sometimes dangerous conditions that stem from power grid failures. With the help of a knowledgeable electrician, Dallas residents can acquire an indoor generator, which can serve as an effective emergency power source for your home or business in the event of a blackout.

One of the most convenient features of these indoor generators is that there is no need to use electricity to recharge the battery bank that runs the generator. Without the mess of a fuel-powered engine generator, customers can count on reliable and steady power output and a quiet supply of power for your appliances. Furthermore, the convenience of a solar-power or wind-power battery charge ensures that customers need not worry about using electricity to recharge generator batteries.