As you walk around your house trying to find ways to save a few dollars here and there on your electric bill, you may be overlooking the obvious. Your current light bulbs. You have probably seen the more expensive light bulbs in the spiral shape in the stores but may have passed over them in favor of the less expensive bulbs. Your electrician in Glendale is here to tell you, you may be costing yourself more money by choosing those cheaper bulbs.

The experienced professionals at The Electric Connection can answer any questions you have about energy savings. One of the easiest things you can do is to start changing out your current halogen bulbs for the more energy efficient Compact Florescent Bulbs or what are simply referred to as CFLs. A CFL uses 75 percent less energy than the old standard bulbs.

Your light usage in your home probably accounts for maybe $20 on an average $100 monthly electric bill. So, if you replace each of your current energy hogging bulbs with CFLs, you could potentially safe about $15 on your electric bill. While that is not a massive amount of savings, it will certainly add up. Don’t be fooled by the word florescent. There is no eerie yellow or green glow. They are available in a variety of colors depending on your preference. If you have more questions, you can ask your electrician. Glendale residents may also want to consider replacing outdated lighting fixtures with more modern energy efficient fixtures.

This is a job for a certified electrician. While there, the electrician can install dimmer switches on lights that do not need to be at full power all of the time. These dimmers give you the freedom to have just a little light or a lot, depending on what your needs are. Call The Electric Connection today to learn more about dimmer switches and how they can help you.

Using a warm white or RGB COB (chips-on-board) LED, these flood lights emit up to 1,000 lumens of illumination in a wide 120-degree beam pattern. The weatherproof LED fixtures have a low-profile die cast aluminum housing with an integral heat sink and a tempered glass lens. An adjustable mounting bracket is also included to direct illumination where it’s needed.

A Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) receives information from one or more inputs. This semiconductor control device processes the information based on a software program. Finally, it sends an output control signal. The microprocessor based control system performs functions such as timing, logic, sequencing and others. The PLC follows instructions from an operator-defined program.

These intelligent systems provide reliable, high-speed monitoring and control of processes in automated applications. In addition, they are easy to program and configure.

Once the program updates the output, the CPU starts over and the cycle repeats again. The cycle depends on the number of inputs, outputs, and size of the program, while the action will depend on the inputs coming from a variety of sensors.

The input sensors include components such as switches, proximity sensors, photoelectric sensors, pressure switches, level switches, encoders and temperature sensors, while the output devices include actuators, relays, switches, and many more.

PLCs rely on software programs that help them in making the necessary decisions. The PLCs are programmed through a variety of tools, which may differ in ease of use, appearance, and complexity. The most commonly used PLC programming language is Ladder Logic, a graphical software that uses common electrical symbols. Other languages include Function Block Diagram (FBD), Sequential Function Chart (SFC) and Structured Text (ST).

The programming is done on the device such as a computer or handheld device after which it is transferred to the PLC memory using a communication interface.

Selecting a suitable PLC that will address your current and future needs can be a challenge, especially with the large number of different PLCs on the market today. The available PLCs have varying capabilities, physical sizes, complexity, cost, power requirements, scalability and other parameters. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the correct programmable logic controller for your specific application. Special systems can be designed for use in harsh environments.

The Programmable Logic Controller has revolutionized and simplified controls in automation and industrial applications. PLCs are easy to install, wire, program and modify to suit changing application requirements. These control systems are usually available in a wide range of sizes that ensure finding exactly what you need for any application.

Inspection is performed after job completion, and a certificate issued to confirm that the wiring meets all the regulatory and operational requirements. Building wiring will only pass when properly done. This includes items like adequate grounding, no short circuits, overloaded circuits, or ground faults.

If parts of the wiring do not function during the tests, these issues must be rectified before the utility company will connect their supply.

Once operational, it is necessary to carry out regular inspections to identify and repair potential or existing problems. Residential home wiring requires a comprehensive inspection every 10 years.