We are very proud of our LED Retrofit Kits – DesignLights Consortium came out with a new standard, Version 4, that allowed the most efficient LED Retrofit Kits a higher efficiency category. So be careful, there is no need to purchase DLC Standard LED Retrofit Kits when there are DLC Premium Qualified LED Retrofit Kits available. And this is important, because the more efficient the product is, the more you save. And the savings don’t end there. The whole reason for the more efficient standard was to offer larger utility rebates at time of purchase.

So you save 2 ways: potentially at time of purchase and over the life of the product. Let’s do the math, because the numbers don’t lie.

It seams that as the year progresses each season comes with its own positives and negatives. We have been fortunate to have a very beautiful spring so far, and looks like we will be in for a very hot summer. This means that we should all be getting out our sunscreen and turning up our air conditioning units. But if you want to save money on your energy bill this spring and summer, check out some of these tips that can help you cool down on a budget. 

When it is hot outdoors and the warm air is trying to come in, you don’t want to start creating your own warm air inside. Turning on the oven or stove in your kitchen will start to give off additional heat that you then attempt to reduce through the thermostat control. You can avoid this battle of temperatures through proper meal planning and using the BBQ. This will help you to keep the thermostat where it is without using additional electricity to fight energy use!

At night it tends to cool down, but a hot bedroom can lead to a restless sleep. These dark hours are an opportunity for you to save money by eliminating those additional cooling devices. To keep yourself as cool as possible at night without out electrical devices, use cotton sheets. Cotton provides breathability and allows the heat to escape. Seasonal bedding like this is an energy smart decision. Use flannel/fleece for winter, and cotton for summer.

Instead of powering up your AC unit to cool your entire home, try using small, oscillating fans in strategic places to keep you cool. If you are sitting on your couch in the living room then this is the only room that needs to be cooled. Turn a fan toward you and enjoy. It is much cheaper to power one or two small fans than an entire AC unit.

This is a simple fix that can certainly help those with large windows in your home. While your summer view may be beautiful, the sunrays will beam in an heat up your living space. Close your blinds to keep it out and you will notice a significant decrease in temperature. At night when the sunsets you can open them back up and even open the windows to let the cooler breeze through. This way you can still enjoy a nice evening and take advantage of your views.

While we love electricity as it has allowed us to live comfortable lives, we should use it wisely as it can increase our monthly bills. If you are interested in installing energy efficient light bulbs, AC units, or improving your home electrical bills, contact Expert Electric at 604-681-8338. Our licenced electricians can identify where you can save your money the most.

There are several different types of medium voltage earthing systems. These systems can be differentiated by using the neutral point connection method. They are different in the way that they operate and each of them has its own pros and cons. These earthing systems in medium voltage include the likes of:

The functioning of each differs from the other. They also have various applications. Let’s have a look at each system at a time:

In this one, there is no electrical connection between the earth and the neutral point except for the devices that are used for measurement or protection. There is high impedance inserted between the earth and the neutral point. There is no switching on occurrence of the first insulation fault. It is therefore important to carry out permanent insulation monitoring, show the first insulation fault and locate and clear the first insulation fault.

Pros and cons: The advantage of using this one is that it provides services by tripping only when the second fault occurs which is subject to the capacity of the network not leading to a high earth fault current which would be dangerous for people when the first fault occurs. It has its demerits. There is the risk of high internal over-voltages. Insulation monitoring is also compulsory as well as the presence of maintenance personnel who will be monitoring and locating the first fault during use.

It is also known as direct earthing. It has a connection between the earth and the neutral point. Upon first insulation fault occurrence compulsory switching must be done. It is significantly different from the above mentioned unearthed neutral.

Pros and cons: This system reduces risk of over-voltage occurring and also authorizes the use of equipment with a normal phase to earth insulating level. On the other hand, there is mandatory tripping upon occurrence of the first fault. The touch voltages developed are very high and this poses a high risk for the personnel while the fault lasts. Differential protection devices must be used so that the clearance time of the fault is as short as possible.

This system requires a resistor to be inserted between the neutral point and the earth. It is also known as limiting resistance earthing. Their operating technique is quite straightforward. Switching must be done upon the occurrence of the first fault.

There’s something exciting about making a large purchase: the rush of buying, the nagging fear that you can’t afford it, the anticipation of it making your life better or easier.  This feeling is especially true when it comes to a new appliance; it’s an investment in saving you time and effort. What if the investment you just made turns out to be a dud because of overlooking the impact it would have on your electrical system?

A lot of the work of an appliance happens within the machine, we tend to not think about the fact that an appliance is really a very complicated electrical machine. In addition, we ignore that they require a lot of electricity to operate. They can really strain your electrical system. This is especially true of modern appliances; it seems like they’ve found a way to computerize everything, and that only makes the power needs of an appliance grow even when they are “Energy Star” rated. Installation of these complex modern appliances seem as easy; some almost seem like they only need to be plugged in and forgotten. This approach neglects the fact that there are important things to keep in mind with regards to appliance installations that can cause serious problems for you down the line.

Obviously, you don’t always need to call an electrician whenever you install an appliance. With that being said, there’s nothing wrong with doing so if you’re not sure what you’re doing. The Best Dallas Electrician you can hire can help you avoid a lot of potential hazards and costs down the line. If you’re still planning on installing your new appliance yourself, keep in mind the following electrical safety do’s and don’ts: