If TSHTF, a lot of us will be cludging together rather odd electrical circuits. It would be nice to have some ability to limit current flow.

Can anyone provide any *cheap* hints for limiting current flow? Surge suppressors with circuit-breakers come to mind. Any guidance regarding a cheap amp-meter (real ones are expensive, I believe), or equations which relate wattage, amperage, voltage (as related to using circuit-breakers) would help.

I could find equations for DC electricity, but AC is beyond what I learned in high-school 20 years ago...

-- Anonymous, March 08, 1999

Answers

Anonymous, Go by the library and/or bookstore and grab a couple of books on basic electrical residential wiring, the use of backup generators, and the like. I'm not sure what kind of circuits you have in mind, but most generators have circuit breakers that will trip open on overcurrent. As for an ammeter, you can pick one up for about $10 bucks if you want a cheap one. Now, my real advice is to leave this stuff alone unless you want to take the time to learn what you are working with - no offense, but your questions to tend to back you up on the fact that its been 20 years since you learned about electricity.

One of the things that concerns me most is the fact that this Y2K hype is driving people without knowledge of electricity/residential wiring to buy portable electric generators. People are killed every year when they tie in to their house circuit panels, often not isolating the main breaker back to the utility lines. Sadly, the most deadly aspect in the US of Y2K may be these backup generators....

Regards, FactFinder

-- Anonymous, March 08, 1999