Gas Detector Placement in a Garage
Mount high near a natural gas water heater or low near stored propane, on a garage side wall away from the overhead door, gas cans and vehicle exhaust.
Read Article→Learning Center
Plain-language explanations of the measurements, sensors and numbers behind environmental monitoring.
Gas Detector Placement in a Basement
Mount a basement gas alarm near the appliances: high in the joist area for natural gas, low on a wall for propane, clear of the stairwell, dryer vent and sump.
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Open-Circuit Voltage vs Operating Voltage in Solar Panels
Voc is the voltage with nothing connected; Vmp is the voltage where the panel delivers its power. Both matter, for different reasons.
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Do You Need a Gas Detector in the Bedroom?
Not for combustible gas, unless the bedroom itself has a gas appliance. A CO alarm outside every sleeping area is the device the bedroom actually needs.
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Why Solar Panel Output Changes During the Day
Sun angle, air mass, clouds and heat draw the familiar bell curve, and a few things bend it.
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Gas Detector vs Multi-Gas Detector: Home Alarm or Confined-Space Monitor?
A gas detector is a fixed home alarm for one fuel. A multi-gas detector is a wearable confined-space monitor that reads LEL, oxygen, CO and H2S together.
Read Article→Solar Irradiance vs Solar Panel Output
Output follows irradiance almost linearly, then temperature, soiling and wiring take their cut.
Read Article→What Is Solar Irradiance?
The power of sunlight arriving on a surface, in watts per square meter. The input side of every solar calculation.
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Plug-In Energy Monitor vs Whole-Home Monitor
One device at a time, or the whole house by circuit. Different questions, and most homes benefit from both.
Read Article→Standby Power Explained: Why Devices Use Energy While Off
Off is rarely off. Remote receivers, clocks, network links and chargers keep drawing watts around the clock.
Read Article→How Much Electricity Does a 100-Watt Device Use?
0.1 kWh per hour, 2.4 kWh per day if it never stops. At a typical tariff, a few cents an hour.
Read Article→How to Test a Gas Leak Detector
Test button: power and horn on a fixed alarm. Unlit-lighter butane puff: sensor response on a handheld sniffer. Bump test: accuracy on meters that show a number.
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