Electrical demands increase during the summer when people combat the heat by running their home air conditioners. Along with homeowners, businesses are also running their heavy-duty air conditioners to protect their equipment and to provide safe working conditions for their employees. This mean, the power grid is put under a great deal of strain. In fact, blackouts are not all that uncommon during peak hours when air conditioners all over the area are working hard to keep us cool.

You can keep cool, even during a blackout by having a generator installed by an electrician in Los Angeles. The Electric Connection has the staff needed to complete a generator installation in a timely, professional manner.

Generators vary in size. You can discuss what size of generator you will need with your electrician. The size you choose will depend greatly on what appliances in your home you want to keep operational. Larger, more powerful generators can easily power your air conditioning unit along with some other key things like your refrigerator and a few lights.

If you are not willing to have your life interrupted in any way during a blackout, you can buy a generator that is large enough to power your entire home as if nothing had changed. Your Los Angeles electrician will complete the install for you and show you the basics of operating the generator.

Fortunately, there is very little you will need to do in the event of a power outage. If it happens while you are at work, you will still get to come home to a cool house. A device measures the power going into the home. As soon as there is an interruption in the power supply, the generator will automatically kick on. A transfer switch automatically switches your home to backup power. This is a required element.

If you are interested in keeping cool this summer with a generator installation, give The Electric Connection a call.

By Clarissa Allison | August 28th, 2015

If you are a homeowner considering outdoor lighting, then you have probably heard about solar landscape lighting. In addition to being environmentally friendly, light emitting diode which prevents the battery’s current from flowing back through the solar cell during the night. The battery charges during the daytime, and will meet its maximum charge before dusk. A photovoltaic cell then changes the sun’s light into electricity. Although environmental factors affect the performance of solar lights they will work outdoors throughout most of the year.

Many solar lights are self-sustaining, or “stand-alone” systems. These convert sunlight into electricity during the day, store the electricity in batteries, and draw from the batteries to power light fixtures after dusk.

Self-contained solar lights often have panels built right into the light fixtures. Solar lighting systems with panels separate from fixture assemblies, however, allow for only the panels to be placed in the sun, not the lights themselves.

Usually, people hire an electrical contractor without giving it too much thought. You might assume that a professional service will know how to get the job done in quick time and you won’t have to bear any hassle. However, there is more to electrician services than meets the eye. There are a few relevant factors you should consider when selecting an electrical service for hiring. The reasons are simple: you are letting in complete strangers into your home who will be working on the electrical system. You have to be on the safe side than take any risk.

To make things a tad easier for you, here’s a look at the top 5 things to look for in electrician services:

Did you know a certified electrician adheres to the highest standards of quality and services? Don’t you want the electrician you hire to work professionally and deliver you the best possible level of service? This is why it is important to look for electrical services which are certified and have the necessary credentials. Membership of a local professional organization is an added bonus but the key factor is experience. If an electrician has been in the business for a few years, you can be certain that he will be able to get the work done without causing you any inconvenience in the process. So, ask for certifications and qualifications when you interview an electrician service.

Insurance is a must. Regardless of how qualified and experienced an electrician is, electrical systems are volatile and something or the other could go wrong. That would not only cause damage to the wiring and outlets but also connected appliances. In the worst case scenario, the problem could exacerbate to the extent that it causes damage to your property. Now, if the electrician you hire isn’t insured, you will have to pay for repairs and renovation out of pocket. This is why only hire a certified electrician that is ensured as well. In addition, also check licensing to ensure the electrician service is allowed to perform residential electrical work in your area.

There is no dearth of professional electrical services in the market so you can afford to be picky when it comes to the cost of the services. When you get a quote from an electrician, make sure you have him break it down and check how much he is charging for which service. You can also ask around and compare rates to get a better idea of how much you should be paying for the work you need to get done. Rest assured, when you hire a certified, insured and licensed electrician who offers affordable services, the lower price wouldn’t mean a compromise on quality. This is a major reason you should keep these factors in mind when making a decision. This way, you will get great value for money.

It doesn’t take much for you to be able to judge the level of professionalism you can expect from an electrician. When you talk to them on the phone and then meet face to face, get an idea of their behavior and attitude. The best electricians show genuine concern for their clients and are focused on solving your problems rather than charging you as much money as they can get out of you. Be alert and take note of the appearance and attitude of the electrician. If you feel he is friendly, courteous and professional, don’t hesitate to hire. If not, you can always find another professional certified electrician.

Have you ever thought about what you could do to lend a hand to our shrinking natural resources? Maybe you have cut down the amount of gas you need on a weekly basis or even switched to an electric car. You have probably noticed your pocketbook is a little fatter after cutting down on your gas bill and now that you have a little taste of what it is like to rely on other energy sources you want to learn more ways. Solar power for your home is another way you can save a little money every month while doing something good for the environment. A Pasadena electrician, like those at The Electric Connection, can help you make your home a little greener.

Modern technology has afforded us advancement in solar technology. The panels are much more neighborhood friendly and can be mounted directly on the roof of your home. They won’t take up any space in your yard. The panels are aesthetically appealing and will typically not violate any covenants that may be in your neighborhood. Because of the electrical components involved, a solar power system should only be installed by a certified electrician. Pasadena residents will want their solar power to be safe without worry an appliance will get ruined by a lack of power.

You can choose just how much solar power you want to produce by buying or leasing one or several panels. The amount of electricity you need will depend on how big your home is and how much power you need. You don’t have to worry about “running out” of electricity. When your solar power system is installed, you will still be connected to the main power grid. Your electric company will be your back up electric supply. In fact, if your solar power system produces more electricity than you use, you can typically sell it to your power company. Give The Electric Connection a call today to learn more about solar power and how it can work for you.

A solar energy system is designed to take the radiation from the sun, a totally renewable resource and turn it into electricity that can be used to power all of your electrical devices, such as computers, televisions, refrigerators and lights. Each solar cell will take the photons generated by sunlight and convert them into electricity. Regardless of the size and application of the solar panels being used, there are a few basic components that are necessary to turn this energy into a readily available and easily used electricity. Though the solar panels are the core of the system, these components are needed to complete the system.

Solar Panels: A solar panel is the array of photovoltaic cells that are used to convert the sunlight into direct current.

Rooftop Racking: This is the framework that is attached to your roof in order to give your solar panels the stability that they need. This is one of the most important parts of any solar panel installation.

Utility Meter: This component of your solar energy system integrates directly with your existing electrical system. After the solar installers have completed the installation of your solar power system, the utility meter will track the amount of electricity that you generate in excess of what you consume. This electricity is typically fed back into the power grid, helping you to earn credits on your electrical bill.

Batteries: The electricity that is generated from a solar panel is available for immediate use. In order to store this electricity for future use, it must be stored in a battery array.

Power Inverters: Although your solar panels generate and convert your electricity, you must have a power inverter in order to convert the power from DC to AC.

If you are interested in learning more about solar panels, start by browsing our solar power website. You can learn more about how much solar panels cost and the different options you have for purchase, leasing and more.