A burnout, in electrical terms, is a drop in voltage across an electricity supply system. It can be spontaneous (unintentional) caused by disturbances in the grid, or intentionally caused during emergencies when the load needs to be reduced in order to prevent blackouts. The lower voltage causes lights to dim, leading to the name “burn out”.

Spontaneous burnouts usually cause voltage to drop for only a short period, while the intentional ones can have effects lasting anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.

A burnout can prevent some electrical devices from getting harmed by power loads, but others can actually get damaged severely. Here are some facts that you should be aware of:

Have you ever looked around your home and really taken a look at the outlets? Probably not. It isn’t something we spend a lot of time thinking about or focusing on. We need something and we plug it in and it is forgotten. Unfortunately, all that stuff that is plugged in is costing us money whether we are using it or not. It is a little difficult to tell just what it is that is draining the electricity and running up the electric bill. An electrician in Beverly Hills is ready to explain it to you so you can better manage your energy consumption. It is important to realize that everything that is plugged in is pulling electricity, whether it is on or not.

Let’s look at some of the most common appliances in a home and see just what they are costing you. You will be surprised by some explains your Beverly Hills electrician.

*Your television uses about 5 watts plugged in, but not on. That adds up to about .37 a month.

*Your DVD player is using about 4 watts, which costs about .29 per month.

*The microwave when not in use, uses about 3 watts for a total of .22 per month.

*The XBOX, Playstation or Wii is actually only pulling about 1 watt while it is plugged in costing you a grand total of .07 per month.

*A cable TV converter or box is a big one, it is costing you .80 per month by pulling in 11 watts.

These are just a handful of the most common devices in a household. Now, most households have more than one TV, cable box and DVD player says an electrician. Beverly Hills residents that want to save even a couple of dollars on the electric bill can unplug these items when not in use and save a little money. For more information, call The Electric Connection today.

Science fiction aficionados may appreciate today’s blog post on one of the fundamental ingredients needed to create an other-worldly retreat where you can … well, space-out. From childhood bedrooms to multi-million dollar estates, science fiction has been the motivation for some of the most amazing spaces ever. Call it your Star Wars Sanctuary, Asimov Alcove, or Halo Haven, sci-fi rooms all have similar characteristics that give it their “universal” appeal. LIGHT.

One of the most popular settings for a fictional future is in outer-space. A black landscape, interrupted only by the flickering of shining planets & stars is the perfect backdrop for sci-fi design. LED fiber optic ceiling lights will make you look like you’re in space.

Patience and attention to detail will go a long way when installing these kits. You’ll find detailed instructions Make a home-made star constellation projector with star printables and a flashlight to mark real constellations!

Did you know that today is National Science Fiction Day, as well as Isaac Asimov’s birthday? 

Do you know why your home in Manassas would benefit from whole home surge protection?

You might think it has something to do with lightening. However, the reasons for whole home surge protection are more complicated than you may realize.

In addition to not experiencing a significant number of them in Manassas, did you know that whole home surge protectors can’t stop lightening strikes from damaging your electronics?

At this point, your probably starting to seriously doubt the importance, use or need for whole home surge protection. However, nothing besides a lightening rod and hope can keep your home safe from a lightening strike.

Another point to keep in mind is that whole home surge protection’s primarily function isn’t to protect your electronics and appliances from outside surges. It’s actually intended to protect your electronics and appliances from each other.

When we think of power surges we typically envision lightning strikes and electricity bursts from outside power lines. In reality the majority of surges are short intense shocks created by large appliances such as generators and HVAC motors. These smaller surges typically go undetected and usually don’t blow out the entire circuit.

However, over time, they add up. If you banged your knee in the same spot every day for a year, you might not have any significant damage on the first day, but on day 365 you’d probably have quite the bruise. The same logic applies to your electronics. Those little zaps might not degrade their performance immediately, but the problems are cumulative. Why shorten their expected usefulness and replace your appliances sooner than you have to?