It can be annoying, frustrating and disappointing to decorate for a holiday season, party or event and after everything is set up you discover your outside electrical outlets do not work. The kids are ready to see all the lights or the party planner is near to crying. This was an important time for them and you want to know why the outlets are dead.

What you can do on your own

Is this an unusual occurrence?

Some advertisements for goods on television tell you it has a lifetime guarantee. Very few things are built for lifetime use. Even an electrical outlet can suffer from wear and tear and even environmental circumstances.

While you may have outlets that have protective covers that are supposed to shield them from rain, snow and humidity, dampness can get in and damage your outlet. It could also be that some of the wiring has burned and will not function properly. There is also the possibility that the outlet was not installed by a professional and that it is not up to code.

Before you call your electrician, unplug the cords from the outlets. Do not allow anyone near them or try to do a DIY project. It goes without saying that when you are dealing with electrical problems there could be a danger to you and your family. You want your house to be festive but not burned down.

What will the electrician do?

You repair person will listen to the information you have gathered. He will ensure that the power is shut off to the affected areas prior to opening the outlet to begin work. He will check the actual outlet and the wiring. He will determine whether the problem is limited to the exterior only or if it can or will cause an interruption on the interior of the house.

You’ve heard of bugs in computers? Some types of insects can set up housekeeping behind your electrical outlet and wreak havoc. The repairman will open the outlet after the power it cut and may even have to go into the wall to make a final determination.

He may be able to repair the wiring to the outlet. He will recommend a course of action. It may be that the outlet is damaged beyond repair. Your service person will tell you about the outlets that are available that are identical and also show you others that may be more enhanced or updated. It will be your choice.

The use of solar and wind power is something that is growing by leaps and bounds. However, one of the biggest limitations of its use is not lack of adoption, but lack of storing the electricity produced by the technology. This is important because the sun is not always shining and the wind is not always blowing. Luckily scientists are working on new ways to do just this—which will enable more of us to use this type of power for our homes and businesses. Learn more about the options for storing this type of power and then talk to your Burbank electrician about whether solar or wind power is something that may benefit you.

The storage option that has been considered most by experts is using the generated electricity to pump water into storage. Then, later when power is needed and the wind isn’t blowing or sun not shining, the stored water would flow through a generator to produce energy. The main problem with this option is that it is not efficient. At least 30 or 40% of the generated power is lost.

Another option is mechanics. However, it is still inefficient. The fact that energy storage is so inefficient is the reason that more people and businesses have not turned to these natural forms of energy. Over time, it is possible that more solutions will work out—in the meantime, these clean energy options are used as a supplement to other “traditional” energy forms.

If you think that installing solar panels or utilizing other forms of clean energy is the right solution for your home or business, call The Electric Connection, the electrician in Burbank you trust for all your electrical  installation and repair needs. You can talk to one of our experts about the possibilities for expanding your clean energy use.

1. LED Channel Rays

light boxes. They come in multiple colors and can be used indoors or outdoors. Of course the rated life is generally very high and energy consumption very low. A great new product you should definitely know about!

2. Solar Reading Lights

You’ve heard of LED tape, and you’ve heard of LED rope, but have you heard of their well-balanced offspring, the LED tape/rope hybrid? This product is really neat because it combines the versatility of LED rope with the flat shape of LED tape to create a product that can do all kinds of things in all kinds of conditions. You can use LED tape rope in the kitchen for energy-efficient under or over cabinet lighting; you can wrap your deck with it; you can slide into coves or under kick boards for indirect lighting, or you can use it in the yard for eye-catching landscape lighting. Efficient and inexpensive, this is a product you should know about.

4. Battery Operated LED Spotlight

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.

A summer in Florida brings about a ton of exciting activities. From the pool to the playground, there’s a lot of adventure to be had! But don’t break out the barbecue just yet! The certified electricians at Hoffman Electrical would like to take a moment to identify some common electrical hazards that can come as a result of all of this summer fun.

Our experts have been bringing our patrons the best in electrical services for years. And in that time nothing has ever been as important to us as your safety! To avoid risks of shock and fire, read along for some safety tips you should put into practice.

Don’t worry, we’re not going to spoil the fun. These tips are quick, easy, and are mostly about taking precautions:

If it’s time to bolster the electrical defenses of your home, look to the certified electricians at Hoffman Electrical! We can ensure your home is safe and shock free this summer, leaving you to have fun in safety! Hoffman Electrical is a family owned and operated business serving the Tampa and Brandon, Florida communities since 1989. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff of electricians install, repair, and perform regular maintenance check-ups in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.