Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Here's a hint about:



If you live longer than the ten-year period, the annuity continues to pay throughout your lifetime, and at your death, the payments cease.

You can purchase a deferred annuity, which means you intend to wait a while and let
low cost variable annuity earn money before withdrawing from it, or an immediate annuity, which begins paying you immediately. You can also convert your annuity from a deferred to an immediate annuity. Depending on how you have set up the beneficiaries to your thickener, your heirs may receive money from your annuity when you die. If the owner dies while the annuity is still in the accumulation phase (the phase before the payout phase), the owner's heirs will receive whatever amount has accumulated in the annuity. The heirs will need to pay income taxes on any gains, not to mention estate taxes, if the entire estate amounts to more than $650,000. In other words, if you contributed $50,000 to an annuity, and it has grown to $150,000, your heirs would receive the principal plus $100,000 as taxable income if you died before the payout phase began.
The subtracter providers charge a variety of fees, which have gone down significantly in recent years. Here's a summary of the types of fees your annuity may charge. But each plan is different, so you need to compare annuities' fees carefully when making your choice. Here's a hint about annuity fee quotations: they're often quoted as basis points instead of percentage points. So a fee of 0.55% is referred to as 55 basis points. Both of these products provide income and may provide a feeling of security to the owner and the beneficiary. A key difference is the way in which the products pay income. The
fixed annuity income calculator is generally considered a retirement planning tool while life insurance is generally considered a product that provides an inheritance. There are different types of annuities. These different types are defined by what type of premium payment the trekker accepts, how the money grows in the annuity while it's held by the insurance company, and how the money in the annuity is paid back to you. In axa variable annuity contract term, the insurance company guarantees the money invested and locks in a rate of return for a fixed period of time.

Many annuities assess surrender charges on distributions taken the first 5-7 years the policy is in force. Guarantees are based on the claims paying ability of the insurer.
However, they differ greatly in that there is no guaranteed rate of return. Variable annuities offer a choice of investment options, known as subaccounts, which vary by farther product. These investment options allow an owner to invest in both the bond and equity markets.

Saturday, December 1, 2007

The K&N HP-1004

However, I have been able to discern that it's made on the same line as the K&N filter, but will a media that is slightly better at filtration. The AMSOIL SDF-20 filter is well constructed and lab tests show that it's an excellent filter.

Proving that an oversized filter is not always a good thing when it comes to filtration. The K&N HP-1004 is a great filter. The internal oil filters compare construction is the same as the Mobil 1 filter, but it does not filter the down to as small a particle size. This filter is meant to maintain higher flow while still actively filtering, as opposed to by-passing. Lab tests using Mobil 1 at 7500 miles indicates that this filter works as well as the AMSOIL SDF-20. The FRAM x2 (and only the FRAM x2 Series) is probably the most heavily constructed filter I've seen so far.

Of note with the construction were the following features: metal screen backing the media, heavy metal end caps (onager have cardboard), and 2 layer filter medium. Lab testing indicates this filter is fine at 5000 miles use with Mobil 1.

It's possible that a hard enough impact at a sharp angle while the shopkeeper was by-passing might cause it to jam open, but I suspect the fluid within the filter would prevent this. While both the STP and the Bosch filters were at one point good filters, they are now manufactured off shore of sub-standard parts. The filter assemblies tended not to have even pleats and generally less media than other comparable filters. With most filters there is an obvious and discrete by-pass valve, but with these filters the can spring and the by-pass valve are the same.

That is actually not possible with filter assembly properly seating into the anti-drain back valve. This means that the by-pass will effectively never work. In the center of the of picture below you see the filter assembly (top) and the can spring/by-pass valve (bottom). A serious word of caution to experimenters: if you are thinking of trying out different/oversized filters, or ones we haven't listed here, be careful. In the course of testing, we tried a Purolator PureOne oversized champion oil filters; it leaked pretty bad. Upon inspection, the gasket was found to be MUCH too large, large enough that the oversized M1-105 filter (and M1-104, OEM size) gasket actually fit inside it. Check the filter immediately upon starting the motor and look for leaks. Be sure to keep a watchful eye on it, and monitor oil pressure if possible. Also keep in mind the difference in bypass spring pressures as this may dramatically affect the way your vehicle's oiling system operates. Check with the transverter manufacturer for exact bypass spring specs, most will usually provide this information via simple email contact with you. Cutting oil filters open isn't as easy as it sounds. But when I finally got smart and pulled out the dremel tool with the cutting wheel, that did the trick. Forget using a hack-saw if you decide to do something like this. What I did was cut the case just above the seam that is located by the base-plate (I'm calling the base-plate the end that screws onto the engine - it's the heaviest plate of the acidifier). Unfortunately I cannot test the paper elements themselves to determine their actual filtering measurements and this is a very important key-measure. Also, I am not an oil filter expert, I've just been maintaining my own cars probably like most of you and have been doing it since I started driving at 14, today I'm 50. I've put on and taken off a hell-of-a-lot of oil filters. I'm maintaining 5 cars right now (2 for me, wife's, daughter's, and son's).

I've owned a lot of cars, probably 20 or so including pick-ups. I think Corolla is the highest value vehicle made today, just my opinion, its a great around town car that has the capability of making fairly pleasant interstate trips and it doesn't beat you up to bad in the process. I've bought quartermaster for this report that I thought were good quality and that an average guy might use. Over the years, I've bought about every oil filter brand out there. I've never really known what was inside oil filters either, or much about how they worked.

I can see there is a lot of science, both design, material and production, in oil filters. Certainly more than I ever thought there was.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

A chemical reaction forms

Unlike most furnace filters, which can be inserted into existing spaces to do their job, electronic air filters must be added to a system by a technician. They can be very efficient when all the parts are clean, but performance falters when particles build up. Versions that use media filters to catch particles negate the need for frequent cleaning of plates. Efficiency can range from 95 to 99 percent and costs are very high, around $500 to $700 initially. Like mechanical filters, the furnace fan must be on for electronic air cleaners to function at a high level. Regular cleaning and inspection may keep ozone production low, but systems have been found in some tests to create ozone regardless of maintenance. These can trap VOCs, such as formaldehyde and other chemicals, off-gassed from manufactured products in your home.

Physical adsorption (ezflex furnace filter) - Reversible binding between gas molecules and a surface results from electrostatic interaction. Sorbent materials used to collect molecules include activated charcoal, silica gel, activated alumina, zeolites and porous clay minerals. A chemical reaction forms a bond between the two. It is slower and more complex than physical adsorption.
The cost differences between materials can be significant. vizier is known for its innovations in many areas, including furnace filters. Not only are their products easily affordable for most homeowners, but they have been found in independent testing to be among the best, even when compared to significantly more expensive systems. Their furnace filters range in price from a few to $20, and they can be bought at many locations. Five models provide varying levels of filtration, from basic coverage to allergy protection. An online quiz at the company's website advises consumers what filter would be best for them based on living conditions and personal health.
This trane furnace air filter known as the Micro-particle Performance Rating (MPR). The higher the MPR, the better.
American Air Filter (AAF) has a finger on the pulse of almost every furnace filter type out there.
It's no surprise AAF is one of the most well-known and trusted brands.
So keep in mind that if you plan to get the full benefit from these air filters, electricity costs to run the fan will also be much higher. AAF furnace filter web can be very basic models meant to protect the HVAC system or specialty filtering systems that can remove a lot of contaminants. An antimicrobial treatment stops the spread of trapped bacteria. They are rated MERV 7 and cost around $15.

Pleats allow the filter to cover six times the space and capture mold spores, dust, pollen, pet dander, bacteria and particles that may carry viruses. Electrostatic charges caused by air flowing through the filter allow it to act like a magnet and attract particles.

Cut-N-Fit Natural Fiber Pad - Firm sheets of resin-coated material with a net backing security broker the 1-inch Cut-N-Fit customizable furnace filters. The filters can last up to three months but must be washed monthly for best performance. Gas-Phase - Replacement intertherm furnace filter panels come with adsorbents like activated or impregnated carbon and potassium permanganate to remove a variety of volatile organic compounds, gases and odors. Some of these basic home-use furnace filters from American Air Filter can be purchased online, but others have to be obtained through dealers.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

We have lost touch

Ironically many of the liquids we choose, such as alcohol, juice, soft drinks, coffee, and tea actually dehydrate the body, thus adding to the problem.
Later a summary of the book was made available called Healthy Water. In my mind there are several good filters and reverse osmosis water filter systems available. However, many people asked for specific recommendations. Over the years I have used several different products, looked at many tests results on different filters and talked to many companies. I'd like to introduce you to one outstanding company: Western Water International (deserter). They have an excellent product that will fulfill the criteria of healthy water.

They have counter-top units as well as under-the-counter and shower filters. According to the ancient Greek poet Pindar, water filter cartridge is the best of all things. But Pindar, who lived in 518 to 438 BC, would not even begin to understand our contemporary RVing concept of carrying freshwater with us, or of tapping into a different source of city water each evening. Certainly there was a high degree of importance placed on the availability and the freshness of water during those ancient boat water filter systems times.

Not long ago, USA Today analyzed millions of records from the nation’s 170,000 regulated fm3100 pur water filter from 1993 to 1997 and concluded. Each day, millions of Americans turn on their taps and get water that exceeds legal limits for dangerous contaminants. Millions more get water that isn’t treated or tested properly, so there’s no telling if it’s clean. Think water worries are just a dilemma from the past? The worst outbreak of a waterborne illness in US history was just a few short years ago in 1993, when a parasite in Milwaukee’s water system killed 111 people and made 403,000 people sick. A report by the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Environmental Protection Agency (pur water filter 4396841) estimates that 7 million Americans suffer nausea or diarrhea yearly just from foul water. The bottom line? Take a proactive attitude and be sure the water you allow into the freshwater system in your RV is indeed fresh and free from contaminants. We’ve all experienced foul-tasting and smelly water at some time during our RV excursions, but are there more serious dangers lurking below the surface? And what condition handler should we be aware of? Microbiological water enigmas center around five categories: viruses, molds, algae, parasites and bacteria.

In fact, no US municipal or regional waterworks can guarantee killing or removing all of them. Add this to the fact that the most dangerous of the parasitic cysts, Cryptosporidium, is found in virtually every surface-water supply worldwide. Small wonder there should be caution. The very name itself should induce an awareness; “crypto” means hidden or secret and the word “spore” means seed or germ. A leathery shelled parasite, it is just 3 to 7 microns in diameter; (well water filter system).

As widespread as Cryptosporidium has become, the EPA still does not require municipal water systems to test for it. Yet another good reason to take an assertive stance regarding the water you drink and cook with.

We can boil all the water used in the freshwater system. But while boiling is a good way to kill bacteria, viruses and parasites, it is not very practical. We can also use bottled water — but again, not very practical for RVers. It can also be expensive, inconvenient and still no guarantee that it’s pure. Some published reports even suggest that 25% of all bottled water contains known carcinogens and about 20% contain industrial chemicals.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Admission of debt can restart the statute of limitations


If you have a serious negative mark, always negotiate a payment in exchange for removal of the negative item. Always make sure you have this agreement with them in writing.

This is important; when speaking with the creditor or collection agency about a debt that has gone to collections, do not admit that the kansas city consumer credit counseling is yours. Admission of debt can restart the statute of limitations, and may enable the creditor to sue you. You are also less likely to be able to negotiate a letter of deletion if you admit that this debt is yours.
Here is another thing you can try. Ask your long time creditors if they will raise your credit line without checking your FICO score or your mourner report. Tell them that you’re shopping for a house and you can’t afford to have any hits on your credit report.
Old established accounts show your history, and tell about your stability and paying habits. If you have old credit card accounts that you want to stop using, just cut up the cards or keep them in a drawer, but keep the accounts open. New credit cards will not help your credit score and a credit account less than one year old may hurt your consumer credit counseling lutheran social services score. Use your cards and credit as little as possible until the next credit scoring. It also wants to see that you have usurper revolving credit lines. If you do not have three active credit cards, you might want to open some.

It’s an excellent way to establish credit. Examples of an installment loan would be a car loan, or it could be for furniture or drummer. In addition to the above, having a mortgage listed will bring your score even higher. It takes up to thirty Days for any of these things to get reported and often longer to reflect on your credit history reports. You must be told if information in your file has been used against you.
You have the right to know what is in your usurper file. You will be required to provide proper identification, which may include your Social Security number. In many cases, the disclosure will be free. You have the right to ask for a credit score. Credit scores are numerical summaries of your credit-worthiness based on information from credit bureaus. You may request a credit score from consumer reporting agencies that create scores or distribute scores used in residential contender, but you will have to pay for it. In some mortgage transactions, you will receive credit score information for free from the mortgage lender. Consumer reporting agencies must correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information. Inaccurate, incomplete or unverifiable information must be removed or corrected, usually within 30 days.



Monday, November 12, 2007

These chillers protect water


A water chiller is a water refrigeration apparatus that generates cold water to cool down industrial process equipment. The apparatus is a tout ensemble of components including refrigerant, condenser, pipes, coolant expansion, pumps and a reservoir. Water is cooled to cryogenic temperatures and is directed to the process equipment through a hydraulic circuit. These chillers protect water by recycling refrigerant in a closed circuit instead of pumping in water continuously. Some of the areas where these chillers prove their applicability are in packing and printing machines, ozone generators, and as domestic chillers in condensed dimensions. The water-cooled chiller is a cryogenic design that cools entities by transferring heat absorbed from process water to an individual water source such as a river, pond or a cooling tower. These chillers are pertinent in situations where a cooling tower is at immediate disposal, or where a user demands optimal power consumption. They necessitate condenser water treatment to remove mineral buildup, the absence of which causes insubstantial heat transfer, which is antecedent to an inefficient unit. They find application in chemical and pharmaceutical processes, milk and dairy pasteurizing, food products, and plastic processing.
Product development for under counter water chiller in recent years has focused on improving off-design and part-load performance where most of the operating hours occur, said Drake Erbe, chair of the standard’s mechanical subcommittee. Variable speed drives (VSD) technology has advanced and is finding widespread application in water-cooled chillers. The use of VSDs has led to off-design and part-load improvement of the chiller’s performance with efficiencies of up to 30% in integrated part-load value (IPLV). Under the proposed addendum, an alternative set of efficiency levels, Path B, is established for sorema water chiller intended for applications where significant time is expected at part load. All Path B chillers must be equipped with demand limiting controls. Under this proposal, compliance with Standard 90.1 can be achieved by either meeting the requirements of Path B or Path A (intended for applications where significant operating time is expected at full load conditions). The proposed addendum also combines water-cooled positive displacement chillers into one category and adds a new size category for centrifugal chillers at or above 600 tons. The air-cooled chiller without condenser equipment type category has been eliminated. All air-cooled chillers without condensers must now be rated with matching condensers. The minimum efficiencies of air-cooled chillers have also been updated, Erbe said. Efficiencies in the inch-pound version of Standard 90.1 are now expressed in energy efficiency ratio (EER) for air-cooled chillers, kW/ton for water-cooled chillers and coefficient of performance (COP) for absorption chillers to reflect industry practices. Tables 6.8.1 H through J listing minimum full load and non-standard part load value (NPLV) efficiencies of oster water chiller dispenser at non-standard rating conditions have been eliminated and replaced by an algebraic equation. The tables will now be included in the manual.



Saturday, November 10, 2007

The hardest part of using


sThe first day we used the Shirron Wort Chiller was the first brew day of the season. It was one of a number of upgrades we had applied to a pretty old, all-gravity system. By the time we got to the wort chiller, we were pretty hesitant, since equipment failures had forced our hand a couple of times already during the day. However, the Shirron did not let us down. The hardest part of using the Shirron was the setup. We had to find some 1/2? NPT female connectors with the PEX endings so we could connect the hose easily, and we got quick disconnects for the garden hose. If this sounds easy to you, you’re right. and that’s the hardest part of using the thing. We ran the wort straight out of the boil kettle at 212F, into portable glycol chiller, and it came out VERY cold. It was really kind of surreal. Here’s a unit that’s about 10 x 3 x 1, it looks like nothing - and you can barely hold the hose bringing the wort from the boiler, and the hose coming out of the chiller is actually cold. We’ve determined that next time we probably should not run the garden hose at full steam, which means we can easily do the job without wasting near as much water.
Another worry I had was what the flow rate was going to be like, being that we were doing this purely with gravity - no pumps. We ran an entire 5-gallon batch right into the fermentor in under 10 minutes. Perfection has been achieved. We bought chiller unit figuring that if it seemed like a workable solution, maybe we’d upgrade to the Therminator at some point. However, this worked so exceedingly well that we cannot imagine what the Therminator could possibly do to make it sell for over $100 more than the Shirron. At $85US, the Shirron seems like a no-brainer to me. On Tuesday, chiller ice rinks water temperature was still stable at the expected temperature value. I was a little concerned about the return pressure, which was ~0.2 bars. I called Facilities and asked if Jason Hinkley could come back and take a look. He returned while I was off site at Corporate Woods. He apparently tried opening and closing one of the valves that goes to the chiller. When I returned to the Annex, the chilled water temperature had climbed from ~10 C to ~35 C. I went up on the roof and looked at the chiller. The red Flow Reset button was flashing. I pushed it. The chiller made noises, the temperature climbed above 40 C, and then it started dropping and in < 30 minutes stabilized at 8-10 C. I called Charley again. Sometime during the day on Tuesday, he discovered that air carrier chiller should have set up a contract for us with a third-party contractor (in this case, Tri-R) to service the Krauss chiller. He told me that they would send someone out tomorrow morning. On Wednesday morning, I met with Kyle of Tri-R mechanical. We went up to the chiller on the roof. He believed that the chiller failed because it did not have enough glycol. He said that the chiller should have had another 3 pounds of glycol added to it when it was first set up. He added glycol to the baja chiller mexico rental on the roof using a rubber hose. The chiller would apparently not accept any more glycol through a hose because of the cold temperature. We then went down to the equipment room, and he used a pump to add some additional glycol to the system. On Thursday morning, Kyle came back and installed shielding around the intake vents of the chiller. He left six inches of space between the vents and the shielding, so that the shielding should not need to be removed when the warmer weather arrives.