Archive for the ‘Automotive’ Category
Top 5 Car Battery Brands
April 11, 2015Consumers today are looking for the top car battery to provide them reliable source of power but we all know that the lifespan of a battery today has been much shorter due to increased in energy requirements. Your car battery will depend on your usage. Some can make it for 6 months and others can make it up to 48 months. Quality battery is much essential for your car to start. Sometimes batteries get old and need to be replaced, because of the possibility that you drained the juice.
The top car battery brands are those that have worked and have been reliable for many years. Car battery prices vary depending on their brand. There are also factors to be considered even when you have the top performer type of battery like the type of vehicle, how it is driven, and also the weather conditions.
Best Car Battery
Interstate Batteries (Interstate Battery System of America, Inc.)
It is a privately-owned company that markets automotive batteries manufactured by Johnson Controls through nearly 300 independent distributors. The company is based in Dallas, Texas. The current owner and chairman is Norm Miller.
Since 1990, Interstate has been the top-selling car replacement battery brand in North America and lasts longer than any other automotive battery.
Optima Batteries
Are some of the best AGM batteries available. Optima has 3 main categories of batteries, red top for automotive starting, blue top for RVs and marine purposes and yellow top for deep cycling.
The red top batteries are high performance car batteries that have high cold crank amps and will start your car every time, no matter the conditions.
The yellow top batteries are perfect for vehicles that have plenty of accessories, such as high performance stereo systems, hydraulics and more.
The blue top batteries is perfect if you have a RV. It has more running time and much more recharge than other traditional batteries.
DieHard Batteries
It is a premium brand of automotive battery marketed by Sears Holdings Corporation.
The brand dates to the 1960s. In its earliest years, the brand was guaranteed to last “forever”, that is, as long as the original owner still owned the car in which it was originally installed, far more generous than traditional pro rata battery warranties.
This updated version of the traditionally reliable Diehard is the only battery on the market that contains an immobilizing system. It definitely ranks as a best car battery, for it not only assures your car will have the power it needs even if the lights are left on, but it also helps prevent theft.
Duralast Batteries
It is also manufactured by the same people who make DieHard batteries for Sears.
The patented design features found in it extends battery life, ranking them among the most dependable batteries ever built, no matter what climate you live in.
These batteries also feature large reserve capacities, and are a maintenance-free design.
EverStart Batteries
This shouldnt be any reason to dismiss these batteries, though, as they are made by the same manufacturer that puts out high-end name-brand batteries.
This batteries are high on affordability and performance, with amp ratings that make it suited to be used in extreme climates such as freezing conditions.
It is also maintenance-free, meaning you never have to add water periodically.
Top 12 Automotive Wiring Tips
April 1, 2015The best connection is a properly done solder joint. If you aren’t sure how to solder, crimp the connection then solder it. Cold solder joints not only introduce resistance, but they can come apart.
2) Keep your grounds as short as possible. It is far better to have a few more connections than a long ground that can build heat and introduce ground loops. It is common practice to run a ground wire from a high demand devise such as a fuel pump back to the battery. This not only adds additional loads to the pump or devise but also can lead to device failure. Have you ever seen a production auto with a ground cable longer than the positive cable?
3) If at all possible, use stainless hardware to fasten all primary cables. Some galvanic or plated hardware can cause dissimilar corrosion and can sometimes carry more impedance that its stainless counter parts. On smaller secondary circuits, this is not as important.
4) Battery storage. Keep batteries away from humidity. Keeping it charged will prolong its life. If a battery is dead, cool it before you charge it. Put in the refrigerator or outside if its cold. Cool batteries charge better.
5) Batteries specifications and charge rates are for 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperature variations will change charge rates.
6) Use relays. Anytime you want to switch a device that draws more current than is provided by an output of a switch or component you’ll need to use a relay. The coil of an SPDT relay that we most commonly use draws very little current (less than 200 milliamps) and the amount of current that you can pass through a relay’s common, normally closed, and normally open contacts will handle up to 30 or 40 amps. This allows you to switch devices such as headlights, parking lights, horns, etc., with low amperage outputs such as those found on keyless entry and alarm systems, and other components. In some cases you may need to switch multiple things at the same time using one output. A single output connected to multiple relays will allow you to open continuity and/or close continuity simultaneously on multiple wires.
7) Most electromechanical devises are rated according to the MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures). You improve your odds of a long MTBF by keeping your electrical devices in a low humidity, low heat environment.
8) Do not ever use THHN/THWN wire. This wire (insulation) classification is not rated for automotive use. Cars move and vibrate which chafes the insulating material.
9) A wire that is rated for A/C voltage may have a different rating when used in low voltage D/C applications. Your house uses A/C, your car uses D/C.
10) The best primary power cable is a type TEW or MTW (Machine Tool Wire) as its rated for continuous use with higher amperage loads.
11) OFC (oxygen free copper) is by far the best cable for automotive use. However, it is expensive and requires a quality crimper and should be soldered for security. The most common application for this wire is high-end car stereo applications.
12) If you are like me, you may choose to skip OFC and go with TXL wire. TXL (thermal cross-linked) wire is next best. TXL wire has twice the voltage rating of standard GPT (general purpose) wire. Most high-end harnesses are made with this wire. If you want to keep your ride for the long haul, you may want to pony up for a harness made with this wire.
Kmc Truck Wheels How To Preserve Your Custom Wheels And Tires
April 1, 2015If you want your trip to look its finest you will spend money on a set of rims and tires, however customized wheels are going to set you again anything as much as $1,500 per tire! In case you are laying that form of money out in your wheels it’s good to know tips on how to take care of them and hold the automotive looking its very best. There is no level in pimping your journey just for it to look shoddy and dirty.
You may or might not have realized that selecting new tires is normally not as simple as simply going to a retailer or browsing online and deciding on one. You might be able to choose some wheels by taking a look at ones that match the scale of your present tires however you’ll want to additionally decide what the impacts of these tires shall be on the efficiency and handling of your vehicle.
Looking after your wheels takes the identical effort and routine as taking care of the rest of your car. First, it’s essential wash and clear off the detritus from the street after which polish them to ensure they’re shielded from the grime which goes to assault them in future. Make sure you use an excellent detergent and comply with up with a wheel cleaner; observe this up with a very good quality wheel polish and protectant spray.
But, in the end, the wheel you decide will replicate what sort of statement you want to make. You have gone to the trouble of ditching your previous wheels that you owe it to your self to make the smartest selection doable when wading by the wheels supermarket. One happy side of getting so many decisions and so many sorts to select from is that it is very seemingly you are going to find one that matches you and your automobile to a T.
To modify steel rims, printed designs will be pinned to the automobile’s tire. It can be coated with thicker paint to take care of its design. The heavy weight of the steel materials serves as its main disadvantage.
You are going to wish some tools to be sure you get the most out of your tires and rims. An previous, comfortable toothbrush could be very useful for getting around the rim and into the nooks and crannies. You will also need a sponge and a smooth rag – never use anything which is abrasive, and by no means use abrasive cleaners on your rims or tires (these will scour the finish and result in them becoming dirty quickly and they’re going to also lose their sheen).
Looking after your wheels is important if you need your automotive to look great. The automotive bodywork must gleam, but it’s the wheels which will actually make the vehicle stand out within the crowd. You might be paying top dollar to your wheels so be sure you put money into the precise tools, cleaners, polishes and protectants to ensure they all the time look their greatest when you’re out on the road and cruising.
Maruti Suzuki India Has Launched Its Latest Version Of Swift At A Great Price
March 28, 2015The brand new Maruti Swift is launched available in the market in August 2011. This automotive is alleged to be available in each petrol and diesel and is said to be immensely economical. With the diesel mileage being barely higher than the petrol mileage, both the number is mind blowing, 25.8 km/l and 21.5 km/l respectively. New features unlike any of the ones earlier Maruti have been launched such as button start, back viper, Bluetooth connectivity, USB and aux ports in the stereo, electronic folders back view mirrors, audio controls on the steering wheels for ease of access and less distraction, xenon headlight and non-compulsory sunroof. The brand new Maruti Swift is said to come back in 7 totally different fashions, every with its personal specifications. Its worth range is in between Rs. 4, 30,000 to Rs. 5, 60,000? Fairly reasonably priced for such distinct added features. It’s available in a wide range of colors akin to pink, silver, white, and black and red.
The Maruti Swift falls in the B-Segment of vehicles? Since its worth vary isn’t too low or too high. It redefines type and power. Type in the sense that it’s designed to convey a very sporty look and therefore its phase its principally the younger people. And power in the sense that it supplies an astonishing excessive mileage in each petrol and diesel. Maruti Swift can absolutely flip heads with its aggressive but sporty seems and style. Moreover, the added features which can be up to date with know-how, makes it one of the demanding cars in India. Options akin to Bluetooth connectivity, electronic steering and folding mirrors, audio controls on the steering wheel and USB and aux services gives it sturdy market leader qualities and explains the rationale behind its current excessive demand even after reaching the maturity stage of its product life cycle.
The exterior as nicely the interior of Maruti Swift gives it world class recognition. Its modern and curvy design gives it an aggressive yet sporty look. The daring headlights supply it fashion and elegance which is surely to make a mark on everyone. The colored handles of the doorways present further beauty to the exterior of the car. The interior of the car has been specifically designed to present it a really stylized but elegant look. The within of the car may be very spacious and has nice performance too. The dashboard which is quite roomy allows its consumer to store the fundamental touring requirements inside the car. Moreover, the way in which that the dashboard has been positioned additionally offers the passenger a lot of leg space. The Maruti swift is good for lengthy distance journeys because the automobile is sort of spacious and has ease of drive features comparable to energy steering wheel, energy home windows, electronic break and air baggage for added safety. Moreover, the silver garnish on the doors allows the automotive to provide the car a very elegant look. There may be ample luggage area within the trunk of the automobile as nicely which allows one to retailer quite a few traveling luggage, making it not only a car most well-liked by the children but additionally the family men as well. Hence Maruti Swift has been in a position to cater to the whole market.
Lean Manufacturing Implementation – From The Automotive To The Pharmaceutical Industry
March 17, 2015Toyota is generally credited with developing the basic principles of lean manufacturing and formulating the strategies for this implementation. But these production techniques actually go back even further-to Henry Ford and beyond. In developing his assembly-line flow, Ford pursued continuous quality improvement and the elimination of waste. Lean manufacturing is, therefore, associated in many minds mainly with the automotive industry.
That entrenched association has sometimes been at the root of the pharmaceutical industry’s slow adoption and halting, incomplete application of lean manufacturing solutions. The overall lack of success in this implementation in this industry can also be attributed to the fact that in automotive manufacturing all the pieces of the production process are contiguous and proceed in an obvious end-to-end flow. There is an integrated system in which activities flow. But that’s manifestly not the case in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Our industry tends to be divided up into discrete silos of operation. For example, R&D has its peculiar function, engineering has its own purview, and so does QA-with each generally doing a good job within the given area of operation, but usually not overly concerned with how it affects other departments. This runs counter to the idea of product flow and fails to consider customer needs.
Also, when lean manufacturing consultants come in using alien Japanese words and lean jargon, framing everything in terms of a different industry, there’s often a reluctance to fully embrace the new system. So, an unaltered application of an automotive version of lean manufacturing seldom has the desired results.
Further, the failure, primarily on the part of consultants, to fully understand and adjust for industry-specific issues has also been an impediment to a thoroughgoing and successful implementation. The pharmaceutical industry is vastly different from the auto industry, especially with respect to the many unit operations and the complicated requirements of regulatory compliance. FDA regulations have typically-until fairly recent developments like PAT initiatives intended to support innovation and efficiency-contravened the goals of lean manufacturing.
Lean manufacturing implementation is built on action-reducing waste, improving efficiency, and delivering value to the customer. But in the drug industry, any change slows down the process much more than in other industries. Regulatory compliance burdens and mandates imposed by the FDA require extensive validation and proof that the system changes won’t compromise quality. This means that when a pharmaceutical company determines exactly how to effect lean improvements, it may actually take months for a full implementation.
In a 2006 interview, Phil Emard, President of OpEx, Inc., had this to say about the situation: “Basically, they [pharmaceutical companies] have to stay focused a lot longer than companies in other industries.” He also outlined several important points for a successful implementation in the pharmaceutical industry:
– Keep an eye on what is of value to the customer.
– Begin with a value stream/product flow analysis, and strive for product flow.
– Work toward eliminating errors and reducing lead time.
– Get rid of non-value-added activities.
– Create a sense of urgency.
– Involve everyone.
According to Emard, “Lean principles are very easy to understand, but they’re very hard to implement.” But lean manufacturing consultants with the requisite knowledge and industry experience can ease the transition from an automotive to a pharmaceutical implementation.