An electrical circuit works as a loop where electricity flows from a source and then returns to that point again after powering the device connected to it. The power flow interrupts or stops if the path is broken. There are also receptacles, fixtures, or switches joined to the course through different types of electrical wiring.

Every electrical circuit has a specific breaker or fuse that controls it. Inside the main electrical panel of your house, you will find reference numbers to identify which breaker or fuse is assigned to which circuit. Mapping of them is a standard electrical safety procedure.

power company supplies electricity to your home through the transmission and distribution lines. The energy enters the service panel, also known as the fuse or breaker box, after passing through a meter. Then, the box has three wires (hot, neutral, and ground featuring insulation of different colors) that do the jobs of transmitting the power to an external outlet, returning to the source, and providing the ground.

The wires of your home are generally installed in three ways:

It’s a wiring system where a single electrical circuit supplies power for several devices. There are various housing boxes from where both hot and neutral wires emerge and run along the route. They branch off to single receptacle and fixture.

It’s the most common of all the systems seen in residential settings.

Switch Wiring

Installed on hot wires, such a system has switches that either transmit or break the current flow to various devices or lighting fixtures. A switch changes its position to allow or interrupt the flow of electricity to electrical machines and instruments.

The system routes the hot wire through various fixtures before joining to the neutral one, which then carries the power to the source. It’s the least used and most inconvenient of all the types because it connects the devices, i.e., lights in a series. So, the circuit breaks off when just one light is burnt out.

Parallel wiring is the best option for household settings because it does not break even when one of the connected fixtures goes kaput. Nevertheless, remember not to run too many electronics from one source because each circuit can carry only a maximum electrical flow.

If there’s one thing kids seem to love, it’s playing with everything around the house other than their toys—the more dangerous the better! Electrical outlets in particular are an endless source of fascination for young children, and according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, hospitals across the country treat nearly seven children for electric shock and burn injuries related to tampering with wall outlets each day. But buying childproofing devices for your electrical outlets can be a challenge, and if you don’t choose carefully they may not fit in your outlets or may be too easy for your child to pull out. So how do you choose?

There are two types of outlets commonly seen in homes—standard and decorator outlets. You can tell them apart by looking at the number of screws they have:

Different types of outlets have different requirements for childproofing materials, so figuring out which type you have is very important. Note that standard outlets will be able to use most childproofing methods—decorator outlets are a little more complicated, but the packages on the items you buy should list whether they are compatible. Remember that most items approved for decorator outlets will not work in standard outlets, and vice-versa, so choose carefully!

Outlet covers, which usually plug right into the outlet, are a good choice for outlets that have “fixed” items that are plugged in all the time, such as lamps or televisions, as well as areas that use large adapters like at the computer. Outlet covers are effective at keeping both infants and toddlers out of the outlets, which means they’ll last for a number of years. Outlet covers for both standard and decorator outlets can be purchased.

Unlike outlet covers, safety outlet plates replace your existing outlet plates and have a small sliding door that covers the receptacle when not in use. These work best for outlets that you have to repeatedly plug things into and unplug things from, such as a vacuum cleaner. They are also difficult for children to figure out and should be effective for many years.

Ideal for outlets that are kept out of site and rarely used, outlet plugs are usually easier for kids to figure out but are still good at preventing access to the inside of the outlet. The good news is that they can be used interchangeably in standard and decorator outlets.

Keeping your children safe is your number one priority, and childproofing your electrical outlets is a great way to do that. Damaged or malfunctioning outlets can also be a major safety hazard in your home, so if you need outlet repair in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC, call Kolb Electric today!

The choice of a LED product is guided by watching specifications tables. Here is one table accompanied by the explanation of the features. The result should be a good lighting solution that is leaving a green ecological footprint. A good lighting solution is emitting enough light that the tasks in space can be conducted properly. First the lumens of the fixture (responsible for brightness in the room), the CRI (how good is the lighting concept representing colors), color temperature (how is the ambience in the room) and lumen per watt (efficiency of the system) are recommended to be watched. These criteria are responsible for a good lighting quality and energy efficient solution.

The other features are necessary information too. They serve further details about the fixture, the setup and maintenance of the lighting system.

(1) Type: The products name is a detail for purchasing the fixture

(2) Wattage: Defines the energy consumption of the fixture, which is important for the electrician and the ecological footprint of the system (referring to Lumens per Watts)

(3) CRI: Important character in areas where colors should be truly represented. For applications where people are involved, a CRI lower than 70 is not recommended. In shopping areas a CRI of 90 and higher is applicable.

(4) Lumens: responsible for the brightness in a room. The more lumens, the brighter the fixture is illuminating the space.

(5) Lumen per Watt: Efficiency of the lighting system. The higher the lm/W the better the ecological footprint of the product.

(6) Lumen Maintenance: how fast LEDs lose their brightness compared to new products (most manufacturers refer to the time when most of the LEDs reach 70% and less of the initial lumen output)

(7) Color Temperature: defines the mood or ambience in a room. Low quality lighting fixtures mostly have a very cool color temperature as these LEDs are more efficient than warm white LED products. A color temperature higher than 6000K is not recommended for a lot of areas.

(8) Beam Angle: the light is radiated into the indicated beam angle. LEDs are direct light sources with typical beam angles of 120° till 180°.

(9) Life Hours: defines the lifetime of a LED product. LEDs last 50,000h up to 100,000h.

(10) Replaces: a helpful information for replacing conventional light sources

(11) Working Voltage: high quality LED products have an integrated driver, Retrofit Solutions are delivered with the suitable ballast already.

(12) Frequency: detail about the admitted voltage frequency

(13) Power Factor: Efficiency of the ballast

(14) THD: Total harmonic distortion is describing the distortion caused by ballasts and other inductive loads of the input current on alternating current (AC) power systems

(15) Operating Temperature: The light source is operating under the mentioned conditions according to the manufacturer datasheet, other temperatures will cause the light source to fail or work not properly (e.g. light loss, different color temperature)

(16) IP Rating: the protection of the light source, ballast and wiring against liquids and solid objects

(17) Dimmable: dimming is the change in light source brightness, mostly undertaken by smart controls

(18) Dimensions: the fixture’s size, important for the definition of the mounting position and space

(19) Net Weight: the fixture’s weight, important for the mounting construction, e.g.ceiling strongness needs to be considered

(20) Housing: the housing is the surrounding of the light source and ballast, the higher the IP rating, the better the protection against liquids and solid objects which is important in car washes for example, the coating is important in swimming halls where the luminaires are exposed to chloride and humid conditions

(21) Mounting: possible mounting ways like pendant, surface or hock mount

(22) Warranty: how long after purchasing, the products are ensured working properly

Winter is slowly taking over here in Maryland. And after the summer we had, no one’s complaining (just yet)! But while the holidays offer up lots of fun, and the cool of winter is currently quite welcome, the season has its fair share of electrical worries unique to itself. Want to be prepared for anything winter might toss your way? We can arm you with some common winter electrical problems in Baltimore. Read on with the electricians at Kolb Electric!

Need the services of a dependable Baltimore electrician? Contact Kolb today for any electrical repair, installation, or service you need!

Keep wary of these concerns, and you’ll find yourself comfortably enjoying the finer points of the season this year:

Is your home prepared and equipped for all of your burgeoning winter electrical needs? If not, contact a Baltimore electrician from Kolb Electric today to get the dependable services you need!

Every year, dozens of people are injured as a result of unsafe conditions created by faulty electrical panels. With winter fast approaching and more people plugging in space heaters and turning on heating systems, this is a perfect time to go over a few ways to make sure your electrical panel is working properly. Be on the lookout for the following signs that your panel is overloaded:

By this, we mean both full-on outages and things like tripped breakers and flickering lights. Your electrical panel is designed to handle only so much, and if your breakers trip frequently, this could be a sign that you’re overloaded. Storms with heavy rains, wind, and lightning can also cause panels to temporarily overload.

Sparks when you go to plug something in or coming directly from the panel are a sure sign that something is seriously wrong with your panel. As soon as you see one, turn on the power and examine your panel for burning smells or indications of smoke. Even if you don’t see any, call an electrician just to be on the safe side.

It’s natural for things like switch plates, wall outlet covers, cords, even plugs to get a little warm when current is flowing through them. If they get too hot to touch, however, this is a definite sign that something is wrong. Cut the power and contact an electrician as soon as possible.

If you can hear buzzing sounds coming from your electrical panel, there may be an overload or you may have worn parts in need of replacement. The buzzing can be a sign of mechanical vibration or electrical contacts arcing. It could also be coming from the bimetallic strip that trips the breaker.

If the insulation material on any of your wiring is cut, damaged, or cracked, this can be an indication of an electrical current overload. As soon as you notice this, replace the wiring—it can be a major fire hazard.

Electrical fires increase significantly during the winter, so now is a perfect time to take a look at your electrical panel and make sure it’s operating safely. And if you need electrical maintenance in Maryland, DC, or Virginia, call Kolb Electric today!