Luxury Central air conditioning is considered a luxury rather than an essential in most parts of North America. Air conditioning systems are more common in the southern areas and are more common in humid areas than in dry areas. There are probably more air conditioners per capita in Florida than in California, for example. You probably have a good sense already as to how common central air conditioning (more…)

It might surprise you to know that buying a bigger room air-conditioning unit won’t necessarily make you feel more comfortable during the hot summer months. In fact, a room air conditioner that’s too big for the area it is supposed to cool will perform less efficiently and less effectively than a smaller, properly sized unit. This is because room units work better if they run for relatively long periods (more…)

Introduction Geographically located in a humid subtropical region, over 80% of households In Hong Kong rely on air conditioners to maintain thermal comfort. During the hot seasons, air conditioners can constitute more than 50% of a household’s electricity bill. The purpose of this pamphlet is to provide basic information on procurement, operation and maintenance of residential air conditioning (more…)

There are several heat transfer loops in a refrigeration system as shown in Figure 2. Thermal energy moves from left to right as it is extracted from the space and expelled into the outdoors through five loops of heat transfer: Indoor air loop. In the left loop, indoor air is driven by the supply air fan through a cooling coil, where it transfers its heat to chilled water. The cool air then cools the building (more…)

Plasma TVs are flat, super high-contrast TV sets that are offered in very large sizes, which at the extreme end exceeds 60-inches to provide the one of the most immersive theater-like viewing experiences you can get in the comfort of your own home. In addition, plasma TVs are also extremely thin to offer flexible placement options that include the wall of your living room. Plasma TV Features (more…)

Advanced LCD technology has resulted in larger screens, wider viewing angles, and higher-quality video images. However, as LCD TV screens grow bigger, and brighter, they require more power to operate, increasing the need for more robust and reliable circuit protection techniques. A variety of circuit protection devices can be used to help protect the LCD screen from damage caused by excessive (more…)

The FLI8531 as an entry level product offers an integrated video decoder with a 3D comb filter and proven DCDi Cinema technology. The Faroudja DCDi Cinema video format converter and Advanced Color Management (ACM-3D) provide exceptional video quality. The video quality level that was exclusive to Faroudja Home Theater Systems is now available in a single-chip solution. The FLI8531 also comprises (more…)

For TV ambient light detection OPIC light detector with visible characteristics GA1A1S100WP • Peak sensitivity characteristics close to human visibility • Linear output relative to light level • Optical output temperature characteristics: ±15% (-20 to +60°C) • Compact package (2.0 (W) x 1.6 (D) x 0.6 (H) mm) • Surface mount compatible For energy-saving in equipment employing human body detection (more…)

Today’s couch potatoes are finding their brains a bit mashed when the subject turns to upgrading their favorite news/entertainment delivery device. In fact, buying a new TV has quickly become one of the most confusing and challenging purchase decisions that consumers now face. Between the transition to digital TV and HDTV programming, and the overabundance of TV types, technologies, and (more…)

Overview Plasma TVs are considered the natural successors to the CRT by many. Like CRTs, they provide an emissive, phosphor-based solution that is well suited to showing full-color, fast moving video images to a room full of viewers at all angles. While large plasma TVs were initially priced at out of reach of all but the wealthiest consumers resulting in a limited market, plasma TV prices are now available (more…)