Have you ever plugged something into an outlet and sparks fly—literally? Little sparks or a lot of sparks accompanied by a popping sound can be scary and it shouldn’t be taken lightly. There are minor sparks and major sparks. An electrician in Santa Monica will explain why outlets spark and what it means for you and your safety. If you have any more questions, you can call The Electric Connection.

A blue arc that occurs when you first plug in an appliance, is not generally cause for concern. You are seeing that blue arc because the appliance is immediately drawing electricity from the outlet. The electricity that is flowing through the wires behind your walls and to the outlet is moving pretty quick. When you make that connection between appliance or lamp and outlet, it is kind of like static electricity explains a Santa Monica electrician.

Now, a spark that happens while an appliance is plugged in is a serious concern. This means there is a break in the connection somewhere along the line. It may be the cord to the appliance or it could be the wires to the outlet. Bare wires that come into contact with each other or touch anything else can spark, causing a fire. This is an issue that should be repaired immediately by an electrician. Santa Monica homeowners should shut off the breaker to the outlet that is sparking and call for service.

Another cause for sparking could be water. If an appliance comes into contact with water, the water interrupts the flow of electricity and creates a spark. This is obviously very dangerous. Water and electricity do not mix—ever. Consider having GFCI outlets installed in areas where water and electricity are in close vicinity to each other, like the bathroom or kitchen. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your outlet repair.

We all want the best for our children, and one of the most important ways we can help the next generation is by ensuring that they are receiving the highest quality education they can. But what if I told you there is an element to education that most people overlook when discussing ways to change education, even though it has been proven to improve behavior and focus, reduce disruptions and increase reading speed and learning capacity?

Though often overlooked, Research has shown that full-spectrum, cool white light is best for encouraging concentration in a classroom, so swapping out outdated fixtures for newer technology could be a great start to better classroom lighting.

Although fluorescent fixtures are popular in schools, the way they flicker (often imperceptibly) especially if a child has a visual impairment that necessitates a brighter environment. Try to position the lights (or the students) so that the task lighting is on the opposite side of their dominant (writing) side. This ensures that their writing arm won’t block the light, and distracting shadows won’t affect their work.

Teachers should try to avoid standing in front of lights or windows when talking, because these can easily distract or bother students. Though it can be difficult, students will focus and learn better when the teacher eliminates as many distractions as possible. And who among us hasn’t caught themselves drifting in a daydream out a window, whether interested in the topic at hand or not?

There are many programs and initiatives for better classroom lighting in place, though many are local to specific regions. Have you heard of any neat programs geared towards smart classroom lighting? Let us know in the comments!

Switching from a traditional fuel-powered vehicle to an electric car or hybrid can save you money and reduce harmful emissions, reducing not only your carbon footprint, but also the amount of money you spend on gas. Electric and hybrid-electric cars can travel an average of 100 miles on just 25-40 kWh before requiring a recharge.

One of the misconceptions associated with electric cars is that it can be difficult or inconvenient to find a charging station. With an electric car home charging station, you don’t have to search for a place to recharge your car. Bryant Electric Service can install your home charging station and show you how to use it; we also install office and commercial charging systems.

Electric car charging stations aren’t one-size-fits-all; our Austin electric service professionals will help you choose the best volt level for your needs. Options include:

The biggest benefit of having an electric-car home charging station is the convenience. You will not need to travel anywhere to charge your car and you will beat the lines for electric vehicle charging stations. As electric cars become more popular electric vehicle charging stations are becoming more crowded with cars.

Bryant Electric Service is your residential electrical services expert in Austin, Texas. If you’re interested in smart home technology for your house, contact us today! We can help you learn more about your home electric vehicle charging options!