Why is it you can replace some lights with more ‘advertised’ lumens with a LED light with less lumens. Here are 4 reasons:

1. Focused Lumens:

LED light is directional, conventional light sources are omnidirectional and require reflectors to gather the light and focus it to where it is needed. Any reflection that is over 1 bounce effectively loses the effect of the lumen. It has been proven that you can lose up to 30% of the effective lumens in this process.

The science of scotopic lumens is associated with a factor that allows us to adjust the photopic value to give a true representation of how useful the lumens are. The factor, developed by scientists, is an attempt to level the playing field. The factor is used to adjust the effective value of the lumen, either up or down from the advertised photopic lumen advertised on the package. Some lights, like HPS, have a factor that reduces the lumen amount. LED, on the other hand, typically has a factor > 1.7, which means the lumens it is producing is far more effective to us. Therefore, less lumens is required to do the job.

We have been very successful replacing 400W Metal Halide bulbs with our 18W LED tube, producing 1900 lumens, compared to a 32W 4 ft fluorescent tube, producing close to 2900 lumens. The main reason is all our lumens are coming straight down, where as only a small portion of the fluorescent tube is coming down and the majority of the light is requiring  a reflector to gather it and shine it downwards. After many projects, our customers tell us that it is brighter and feels better than working underneath fluorescent lighting

As technology moves forward, our knowledge of electricity and our ability to make it safer for us to use has also advanced. One of the latest and greatest things we have at our fingertips is GFI outlets. You have probably seen these in some buildings and maybe even a few new homes. The National Electric Code has made these outlets a standard. Kitchens, bathrooms and other areas that are near water like pools and spas are all required to have GFI outlets in place instead of the standard outlets. If you are not sure if you have one of these, call The Electric Connection and we would be happy to explain. You can also read on and learn a little more about what they are.

Your electrician in Pasadena will explain exactly what GFI outlets are. These outlets look different than the standard ones you have seen for decades. There are 2 buttons in the center of the outlet. 1 red and 1 black. These are to test whether the outlet is working and the other is to reset it.

GFI or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters can prevent against electrocution in the event a person is standing or touching water while using an electrical appliance. The GFI detects the very millisecond the electricity is no longer flowing along its proper second. As soon as it detects the break, it cuts power to the appliance, thus preventing a terrible accident. This is where the reset button comes into play. Simply reset the outlet after the situation has been made safe.

This is a fairly simple precaution you can take today to prevent a serious, life-threatening accident in the future. If you would like to learn more about replacing your existing outlets with GFIs, call an electrician. Pasadena residents can rely on The Electric Connection. We have a knowledgeable staff ready to help make your home a safer place. Give us a call today.

The benefits of having solar panels installed in your home is well known, but few people understand the way that solar panels work. It won’t make much difference to your daily life to understand photovoltaic cells, but inquiring minds will benefit from this brief discussion. Before you invest in a solar installation, take some time to understand them.

At they’re most basic, photovoltaic cells convert the energy of ultraviolet light into electricity. The sunlight hits the atoms of a semiconductor, most often silicon mixed with a very small amount of phosphorus. The phosphorus is included in the pure silicon crystal because it has an “extra” electron. When hit by sunlight, this electron is “knocked” loose. Should it find an atom lacking an electron, it would come to rest there, but the tight, perfect crystal lattice prevents that. The electron, known as a “free carrier,” continues wandering.

All the electrons excited by sunlight in a solar panel would move around aimlessy if we didn’t provide them any direction. Placing a conductor at either end of a panel allows us to dictate the direction of the electrons away from the panel and towards the batteries that are the next step in the solar installation.

Of course, this is a great reduction of the actual process of converting solar energy into electricity. The reality involves a greater understanding of physics and chemistry. Over the years, science and industry has harnessed the power of this simple interaction between a few molecules and sunlight to greater degrees, until today, when we have a finely tuned grasp on the process. Indeed, solar panels are far more efficient today than they ever have been in the past.

And that is just one of the reasons that today is the perfect time to invest in a solar installation for your home. If you’re eager to understand the power of investing in home solar, give us a call today and let us explore the options with you.

In the current economic climate, in which everyone is trying to save money, you might not know that the best Garland electrician can help! Sometimes, saving money is as simple as finding a simple idea that makes your life run more efficiently. When it comes to electricity, one of the best and least utilized ways to save money and energy is by putting your lights on a timer.

As any Garland electrician can tell you, timers are extremely useful! You can use them to turn lights on and off, whether or not you are at home. This makes it easy for you to appear as though you are home when you are on vacation, or control your Christmas lights, but those are not the only instances in which timers are a good idea. For instance, you can set a timer to make your lights turn off after you go to bed, and come back on in the morning. This makes a great backup alarm clock, and also ensures that you don’t accidentally leave lights on all night. You can also set them to turn off lights when you are at work, in case you forget.

There are two types of timers for home systems: mechanical and digital. Digital timers look good and are very useful, with several automated features. Even though they can be installed by someone who is not an electrician, Garland homeowners may feel more secure hiring a professional, because digital timers have sensitive electronics inside that require a neutral wire that switches do not. The best Garland electrician will be able to choose the right digital timer for your needs, competently install it, and even change out the switch plates if necessary.

Mechanical timers are less common than digital, but are very useful. They are often used to control swimming pool equipment and outdoor lighting. In addition to controlling lights, they can be attached to a water heater to keep it from running when you don’t need hot water. This can make a huge difference in your electric bill!

The main difference between mechanical and digital timers is that mechanical timers are typically larger and sturdier, and can handle a larger electrical load. Digital timers are more aesthetically pleasing, and will fit better into your home’s décor. A competent Garland or Rowlett electrician will advise you as to which timer best suits your needs.

Whether you have an electrical problem, or are just looking for ways to save money on your electric bill, ElectricMan, Inc, can help!  Visit our website or the social sites for more information. If you would prefer, you can always call us at (972) 792-7270 to schedule an appointment or consultation today!