| How to Hide a Circuit Breaker Box Posted: 10 Apr 2018 05:00 PM PDT Circuit breaker boxes are often unpleasant to look at and costly to move. Fortunately, you can decorate over the box to blend it in with the rest of the room. For a quick fix, try hanging a painting or covered frame over it. A circuit breaker can also be hidden inside a cabinet as long as you keep it accessible. If you like painting, try using spray paint to blend the box in with the rest of the room. With a little creativity, you can make any room more appealing by hiding the circuit breaker. EditCovering It with a Frame - Measure the circuit breaker perimeter. Use a tape measure to measure all the way around the outside edge of the box. Write down both the box's length and width so you can get a frame that fits over it.
- If your circuit breaker sticks out from the wall, measure its depth as well.
- Buy a painting or frame that is bigger than the box. If you can find a piece of art you like, it makes for a great cover. Otherwise, you can buy frames from craft or hobby stores. You can also construct your own frame if you can't find one to buy.
- Some frames, like shadow boxes, can be opened. Make sure you have enough space on the wall for the frame to open completely.
- Choose a frame that is slightly bigger than the box so it can fit over it.
- The frame can be much bigger than the box. Bigger frames will take up extra wall space, so make sure this is what you want.
- Staple fabric to fit over the frame if it is exposed. If you need to cover an empty frame, pick up a piece of fabric from a craft supply store. Center the frame in the fabric, then fold the edges over the frame. Approximately every along the frame, staple the fabric to the wood.[1]
- If you have a hard time folding the fabric, try ironing it flat first. You can cut off any excess after you fold it.
- You can repurpose old blankets or other material to use as a frame cover.
- Hammer a nail into the wall to hang the frame. Place the nail above the box, at least above the center of the uppermost edge. Use a nail about long. Make sure the nail sticks out enough to hang the frame over the circuit breaker.
- The circuit breaker is always next to wooden support beams in the wall that can be used to support the frame.
- Screw on the hinge if your frame opens. Find a recessed spot on the right or left side of the frame. If it isn't there, use a chisel to chip out a spot as big as the hinge. Place the hinge, then use a steel screw to fasten it to the door. Secure the hinge's other end to the frame's base.[2]
- Make sure the door is tight against the frame before you screw the hinge in place.
EditCovering the Box with a Cabinet - Measure the circuit breaker box's size. Go around the box with a tape measure. Note the box's length and width and keep these on hand as you look for an appropriate cabinet.
- Also measure the box's depth if your circuit breaker sticks out from the wall.
- Purchase a cabinet bigger than the circuit box. The cabinet has to fit around the box, allowing you easy access in case you need to reach inside. Leave at least between the breaker and the cabinet's outer edge, if possible. This way, you have a little space to work with when screwing the cabinet to the wall.
- Your cabinet also needs to have a cuttable back end so you can create an opening for the box.
- Trace the box's measurements on the cabinet's back. Use the measurements you took earlier to sketch the box's outline on the back of the cabinet. You can do this with a pencil and a ruler. Make sure the lines are straight and accurate so you can remove enough of the backing.[3]
- Cut out the back of the cabinet with a circular saw. Lay the cabinet flat. Cut slowly around the lines you sketched earlier. Once the back is off, hold the cabinet up to the box. If the box is obstructed, cut off more backing as needed before hanging the cabinet.[4]
- To protect yourself, wear form-fitting clothing. Put on safety goggles and headphones. A respirator mask is also useful.
- Use a stud-finder to mark the wall studs. A stud-finder is a small sensor that detects the location of the wood beams in your wall. The circuit box is positioned near a stud, but your cabinet may span across a few of them. Mark the stud locations with a pencil.[5]
- Trace hanging guidelines on the wall. Measure the cabinet with a tape measure, then sketch out its positioning on the wall. Using a straightedge, draw a line where the top edge of the cabinet will hang. Pay attention to the cabinet's width so you know which parts hang over the wall studs.[6]
- The uppermost line is the most important measurement. This is the only one you need to draw unless you want to sketch the cabinet's entire outline.
- Hang the cabinets with screws. Line up the top part of the cabinet with the line you sketched. Level the cabinet, using the line as a guide. Then, screw deck screws through the cabinet and its top and bottom mounting rails. These screws need to pass into the wall studs.[7]
- Leave about between the screws and the cabinet's edges.
- You can check for levelness by holding a carpenter's level over the cabinet. If the level is flat from side to side, the cabinet is level on the wall.
- Attach the cabinet's hinges and door. Follow the instructions included with your cabinet to finish assembling it. Screw the hinges to the door along either the cabinet's right or left edge, depending on how you want it to open. Then, hang the door to complete the installation.
EditPainting the Circuit Breaker Box - Sand the circuit breaker box door with 120-grit sandpaper. Pick up a piece of fine-grit sandpaper from a home improvement store. Very lightly, rub the sandpaper all over the door. This should make the surface look dull and scratched, preparing it to hold paint.[8]
- To remove stubborn debris, scrub the door with a damp rag.
- Wipe the door with a clean cloth when you're finished to remove any moisture and debris.
- Tape around the circuit breaker box. Spread a layer of painter's tape over the wall. Press it down to ensure that it sticks in place. You may also want to move any furniture out of the area to avoid a painting mishap.[9]
- Ventilate the area by opening nearby doors and windows. Wear gloves, a respirator, and protective goggles.
- You probably will not need to protect the floor, but if you want to be safe, spread a drop cloth or newspaper underneath the box.
- Spray primer over the door. Get a can of primer at a paint supply store. Shake the can for a few seconds, then spray over the door. Work from side to side, moving the can slowly in order to coat the door in an even layer of primer.[10]
- Before you buy primer, read the label and make sure it is compatible with metal surfaces.
- Wait 24 hours for the primer to dry. Most primer begins drying after about 30 minutes. To stay safe, wait a whole day for it to dry and settle. This ensures the paint sticks without cracking.[11]
- Paint over the door. First, choose a spray paint that is labeled for use on metal surfaces. Use a color of spray paint that matches with the rest of your wall. Shake the can for a minute, then spray the paint over the primed surface. Work slowly, spraying from side to side across the box.[12]
- To get an even coat of paint, avoid rushing.
- Add another coat of paint to cover the box. After about 5 minutes, the first layer of spray paint will have settled. Go over the circuit breaker box again. Spray on a second light coating of paint using the same technique as before.
- You may need to repeat this step a couple of times before the paint looks nice and even.
- Wait 24 hours for the paint to dry. Once your circuit breaker box looks good, set the spray paint aside. The paint will soon begin drying, but to be safe, leave it alone for a whole day.[13]
- Decorate the box with magnets or other supplies. After the paint dries, your circuit breaker box should blend in pretty well with the rest of the wall. For additional decoration, try making and arranging your own magnets.
- Always consult the building code in your area. The code has information on how to handle circuit breaker boxes.
EditThings You'll Need EditCovering It with a Frame - Measuring tape
- Frame or frame boards
- Nail
- Fabric for uncovered frames
- Staple gun
EditCovering the Box with a Cabinet - Measuring tape
- Pencil
- Cabinet
- Saw
- Stud-finder
- Screws
- Safety goggles
- Hearing protection
EditPainting the Box - 120-grit sandpaper
- Water
- Clean rags
- Painter's tape
- Spray paint primer
- Spray paint
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Save Energy at School Posted: 10 Apr 2018 09:00 AM PDT Schools consume a large amount of energy, which has a negative impact on the environment. Whether you are a teacher or a student, there are lots of ways that you can help your school save energy. The most common sources of energy use in schools include lighting, heating and cooling, and electronics. Look for simple changes your school can make and band together with others to make an even bigger impact. EditCutting Back on Energy Use from Lighting - Turn off the lights when rooms are not in use. Even something as simple as shutting off the lights when you leave a room can help to save energy. Turn off the lights in classrooms that are not being used and in other areas, such as empty bathrooms and unoccupied multi-purpose rooms.[1]
- Remind your friends to turn off lights by saying, "We can save a lot of energy for our school just by turning off the lights when we don't need them."
- If you are a teacher, try reminding your students by saying, "Did you know that 90% of the energy that lightbulbs use is expended as heat? If we turn off lights when we don't need them, we can save energy and keep rooms cooler."[2]
- Use natural light when the sun is bright. It may not always be necessary for you to have the lights on in your classroom. There may be times of day when the sun is especially bright and sufficient for what you are doing in your classroom. Other times of day you might only need half of the lights.[3]
- If you are a student, ask your teacher if it is okay to work with fewer lights on. For example, you could approach your teacher and say something like, "The sun is so bright today. Would it be okay if we opened the blinds and turned off some or all of the lights to save energy?"
- If you are a teacher, try asking your students, "Can everyone see okay?"
- Eliminate incandescent bulbs and replace them with CFLs. Replacing all of the incandescent bulbs in your school with CFLs can translate to big savings for your school.[4] CFLs consume a little more energy than incandescent bulbs when you first turn them on, but after the bulb is on it uses 70% less energy than an incandescent bulb.[5]
- Make sure that you do not switch CFL bulbs off and on too much. It is best to leave them on for 15 minutes or longer to save more energy.
- If you are a student, talk to your teacher about the possibility of getting CFLs in your classroom.
EditSaving Energy from Heating and Cooling - Check the thermostats for potential energy saving adjustments. Setting the heat for degrees in the colder months and degrees for cooling in the warmer months can significantly reduce energy costs. Check the thermostat in your classroom to see if these settings have already been applied.[6]
- If you are a student, try saying to your teacher, "I read that we could save energy by making some minor adjustments to the thermostat in our classroom. Would it be okay if we tried that?"
- If you are a teacher, try saying to your students, "I am adjusting the thermostat to help us save some energy, but let me know if you start to feel too hot/cold."
- Suggest using fans instead of cranking the air conditioning. If your classroom or other areas of your school have fans, then using these instead of turning up the air conditioning is a great way to save energy for your school. If it starts to feel a bit stuffy in a classroom then switch on the fan and see if that takes care of it.[7]
- If you are a student, then try saying, "Before we turn up the air conditioning, could we try using the fans? They can cool the room while using less energy than air conditioning."
- If you are a teacher, check with your students to see if they are cool enough with just the fans.
- Check for obstructions to vents. If there are any shelves, rugs, or other things blocking the vents in your classroom at school, then moving these obstructions can help to save energy. Ask for help moving the obstruction if needed.[8]
- If you are a student, then be sure to check with your teacher first. Try saying something like, "I noticed that the area rug is covering a heating vent, and we could save energy if we moved it slightly. Would it be okay if we did that?"
- Close the door when you leave or enter a room. Leaving doors wide open will result in a loss of heat or cool air, which can increase the need for energy to heat and cool that room. By closing the door to your classroom and other rooms, you can keep the heat and cold inside the room and save energy in the process.[9]
- If you are a student, check with your teacher before you close any doors. Your teacher might be leaving the door open for a good reason. Try saying something like, "I have read that closing doors can help us to save energy. Would it be okay if I close our classroom door?"
- Check for drafts in your classroom. Drafts indicate that windows, doors, and other areas may not be sealed well, and this can result in wasted energy. If you notice a draft, tell the maintenance staff at your school.[10]
- If you are a student, then you might want to let your teacher know first. However, you could offer to tell the maintenance staff for them. Try saying something like, "I noticed that there is a draft near the windows in our classroom. Is it okay if I tell the maintenance staff, or would you rather let them know yourself?"
EditReducing Energy Use from Electronics - Save energy in the computer lab by using the "sleep" setting and shutting down computers. Your school's computer lab can be a huge source of wasted energy. However, you can make a big difference by checking the settings on the computers and doing a few simple things when the computers are not in use. Some things you can do include:[11]
- Check to see if computers are set to "sleep" when not in use."
- Turn off any monitors that are still on when the computer is not in use.
- Make sure that computers shut down completely at the end of the day.
- Request that new equipment meet Energy Star standards. Your school can save up to 50% on its energy costs by using Energy Star electronics and appliances.[12] If your school has plans to purchase new electronics or other appliances, then request that they purchase Energy Star items.
- If you are a student, then you might ask your teacher if this is something the school already does.
- If you are a teacher, then you could talk with your school's principal about it.
- Check to see if electronics and appliances are plugged into surge strips. Using surge strips for electronics and other appliances can also help your school to save money. Check to see if these are already in use. If not, ask if you can get some for your classroom.[13]
- If you are a student, try saying something like, "Surge strips can save energy because they make it easy to switch the power off and on for multiple electronic items. Would it be possible to get some for our classroom?"
- Ask about vending machine controllers to cut the compressor run time. Vending machines have a compressor that runs constantly to keep beverages cold all of the time. However, your vending company may have controllers that will allow you to shut off the compressor when the machines are not needed, such as when school is out for the weekend or during breaks.[14]
- If you are a student, you could talk to your teacher or school principal about this idea. Try saying something like, "Can we get a compressor remote to turn off the vending machines and save energy when school is not in session?"
EditGetting Others Involved - Organize a student energy patrol. You can enlist the help of students to help your school save energy. Try organizing a group that is open to all students who want to help the school save energy. Members can join together to help the school save energy.[15]
- If you are a student, then you could start by inviting other students to join your group. You could also ask your teacher if they would spread the word and maybe even let you use the classroom for meetings.
- If you are a teacher, then you could recruit students and help them by giving them ideas for how to save energy at school.
- Post signs about conserving energy. Either as an individual or as a team, you can create and post signs around your school. Try posting signs that remind people of things they can do to save energy and also some signs that raise awareness about saving energy.[16]
- If you are a student, then you could create some signs on your own or with a few friends who are also interested in helping your school save energy. Make sure to get permission to hang the signs first.
- If you are a teacher, then you could have your students create signs for a class project or homework assignment, and then go around posting the signs together.
- Set up a recycling station at your school. Recycling is a great way to save energy because it reduces the need to produce new materials. If your school does not already have a recycling station, then ask your school principal if you can set one up.[17]
- Your school's garbage company may offer recycling services. Check with them first to see if they can provide receptacles and then ask them to place these in designated areas throughout the school.
- If you are a student, try asking your teacher for help by saying, "We can save energy and help the environment by recycling at school. Will you help me to get a recycling station set up?"
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Speed Songs Up on PC or Mac Posted: 10 Apr 2018 01:00 AM PDT This wikiHow teaches you how to play an audio file at a faster playback rate on your computer. You can use VLC media player on Windows and Quicktime Player on Mac. EditUsing Windows - Download and install VLC media player on your computer. VLC is a free and open-source media player app for a variety of audio and video file formats.
- You can download VLC media player for Windows here .
- Find and right-click the audio file you want to speed up. This will open your file options on the right-click menu.
- Hover over the option on the right-click menu. A list of recommended apps will pop up on a sub-menu.
- Select on the list. This will open the selected audio file in VLC.
- If you don't see VLC on the Open with menu, click Choose another app at the bottom, and select VLC here.
- Click the tab at the top. This button is located between Media and Audio tabs in the upper-left corner of the VLC window. It will open a drop-down menu.
- Hover over on the Playback menu. Your speed options will pop up on a new sub-menu. You can select any speed option to speed up or slow down your audio file.
- Select on the Speed menu. This will speed up your playback rate, and play your audio file faster.
- Alternatively, you can also slow down your song by selecting Slower here.
EditUsing Mac - Open a Finder window. Double-click on any folder on your computer to open a new Finder window, and navigate your files.
- Alternatively, you can click the blue smiley face icon on the Dock to open Finder.
- Find the audio file you want to speed up. Browse your files in Finder, and locate the song you want to play.
- Right-click the audio file. This will open all the file options on your right-click menu.
- Alternatively, you can hold and click the file or click on it with two fingers on trackpad.
- Hover over on the right-click menu. This will show you a list of recommended apps to open the selected file.
- Select on the Open With menu. This will open the selected song in QuickTime Player.
- Hold or on your keyboard. This button is located in the lower-left corner of your keyboard.
- Click the Fast Forward button. While holding down or , click the Fast Forward icon. This will speed up and play the song at a higher playback speed.
- The Fast Forward icon looks like two rightward arrows next to the button. Your current speed will be displayed next to it.
- If you click Fast Forward again while pressing , your playback speed will keep increasing by small increments.
- Alternatively, you can hold and click the Fast Forward button. This will speed up the song by larger increments.
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