You have probably heard it time and again; we need to reduce the demand on our natural resources. We also know we should be saving a little more for our retirement, but it seems like there is no way around the basic monthly bills. No matter what you do, it may seem like you are still breaking even. You shut off lights and walk to work once a week, but the electric bill stays the same and your gas bill is the same. That is likely due to rising rates. Imagine if you didn’t make an effort to reduce your monthly bills? You would be paying more! Your Pasadena electrician is here to encourage you to learn about phantom power and to do your best to fight back against it. You can always call The Electric Connection if you have questions.

Phantom power is a very real thing! You can put a few extra dollars in your pocket every month by fighting back against this electricity sucking phenomena, but it will require your whole house to be on board. According to the Lawrence Berkley National Library, every home has about 40 appliances in the home that remain plugged in around the clock. The appliances may rarely be used, but we keep them plugged in because it is convenient. This is costing us money. In fact, it is estimated phantom power accounts for about 10 percent of an electricity bill. So, assuming your electric bill is $100 every month, $10 of that is all for naught. For the blinking light on the DVD player you haven’t used in a month or the cell phone charger that stays plugged in all day and night whether your phone is attached or not.

If you are not completely sure what phantom power is or have more questions about it, call your electrician. Pasadena residents can count on the team at The Electric Connection to provide the answers to your electric questions.

When you’re purchasing LED strip lights, there are numerous details and specifications upon which to base your decision. Color, length, and intensity are some of the major deciding factors, but there are many unthought-of product aspects that further customize light strips and what they’ll require when it’s time to install them. For example, a decision between 24-volt strip lights could change the products needed for your project.

While it depends on a light strip’s current draw, LED type, and number of LEDs, 24-volt LED strip lights tend to have longer maximum runs than 12-volt strips. This is because higher voltage carries more power. All strips have a maximum run, which is the length of continuous strip that can be powered without experiencing voltage drop. Voltage drop happens when the supplied energy of a power source is reduced as electric current flows through wire (or any other pieces of equipment that do not supply voltage on a circuit). If a run of strip is too long, reduced energy across the strip will lessen its intensity near the end.

Because they can handle more power, many 24-volt LED strip lights tend to have brighter LEDs, dual-row LED configurations, or single-row configurations of more LEDs. In these instances, maximum run might be the same as a 12-volt strip. However, keep in mind that these are more powerful strips with more LEDs or higher LED intensities. An identical 12-volt LED strip light would have a shorter maximum run.

Make sure to check any light strip’s specifications or description for its maximum run.

If you have questions, don’t hesitate to call us toll free at 866-590-3533. Our customer service and technical support teams are available from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. CDT Monday-Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. CDT on Friday.

Electric cars like the Tesla are rapidly growing in popularity—more so than any type of car in the industry. At some point, it’s safe to assume that vehicle powered primarily by electricity will be the standard for the automotive industry, so it’s important for the infrastructure in the U.S. to change in order support electric vehicles. Electric cars save energy, promote health, and are environmentally friendly, so they can offer a number of great benefits, and if you’re considering purchasing an electric vehicle, it’s important that you prepare your home for the change.

When it comes to residential Tesla and other electric vehicle chargers, it’s generally recommended that you install a Level 2 charger. Here some basic information about Level 2 charging devices:

Level 1 and Level 2 chargers are what most homeowners have access to. Level 1 electric vehicle chargers use standard household outlets, and it’s common for electric cars to come with Level 1 charging cords that cna be directly plugged into your home’s outlets. The downside of Level 1 chargers is that they’re limited to about 120 volts, which means that they can take up to 22 hours to charge your car.

Level 1 chargers are probably not a feasible option unless your car is a plug-in hybrid.

Our professional Princeton electricians recommend Level 2 chargers for residential electric vehicle charging. Level 2 chargers supply 240 volts of electricity to your car, so they can significantly reduce charging times. You’ll be able to fully charge your car in as few as three to four hours.

Installing Level 2 chargers will probably require some adjustments to your home’s electrical wiring, but our Princeton electricians will be able to handle the job.

The primary benefit of a Level 2 charger is the significant reduction in charging time. You’ll be able to charge your car much more quickly, which gives you more flexibility when it comes to using your automobile. Your car can easily be fully charged over night, or while you enjoy a meal and complete some household duties.

Level 2 chargers can also help you save money on your electrical expenses. They’ll allow you to charge your vehicle at strategic times when electrical demand is lower. You can take advantage of lower electrical costs during the night, which help maximize energy savings on an already efficient vehicle.

With the long days of summer fast approaching, many homeowners are contemplating a home solar panel installation. If you’re one of them, start making plans now!

Homeowners stand to get the most energy out of solar panels during the summer months, since greater sunlight will hit them. That translates to more savings and a greater immediate return on your investment.

But people tend to pursue these solar installations when there is more sun, increasing the demand and the workload for solar installers. We’re not complaining, but it does mean that sometimes orders aren’t completed with the lightning speed we prefer. The sooner you set up an installation, the sooner we can have it complete. There are sometimes more steps than just putting panels and a system on your home. Improvements to the roof or the yard to accommodate a system of your specifications can be necessary, which lengthens the process.

The advantages of getting a jump on the competition are significant. As soon as your system is active, you’ll see immediate reduction of your power bill, leading to greater and greater savings over the years, as municipal power costs rise.

Additionally, nobody knows how long the incredible financial incentives for solar panels will last. Longstanding federal tax incentives are currently bolstered by powerful rebates and incentives offered by local authorities but they won’t last forever. If you want to take advantage of them and get a solar installation switched on before summer arrives, give us a call to schedule a consultation. We can start the planning process right away and give you quotes the same day so you know exactly what a solar panel installation will look like at your home. We’re gearing up for a busy summer and we hope to see you out there!

Daylight saving time has ended and winter is on its way. That means you're using your household lighting much more often, and if you're still using incandescent light bulbs, it could also mean a noticeable jump in your electrical bills.

But it doesn't have to be that way -- if you're willing to make an investment now, you can actually lower your energy consumption this winter and lock in those savings for years. And it's as simple as changing a light bulb.

LEDs are the most energy efficient light bulbs on the market, and thanks to increased demand and expanded manufacturing, their prices have dropped considerably in recent years. Most LED bulbs now cost less than $10, and smart shoppers can usually find them for less than $5 each.

That price may still seem steep to someone accustomed to buying incandescent bulbs for $1 each, but LEDs are built to last for more than 20 years!

You've Come a Long Way

The affordability of LEDs isn't the only thing that has changed. The array of colors, styles and features has expanded substantially, giving homeowners more choices than ever in the lighting effects they can achieve in their homes.

Colors like "soft white" and "warm white" are popular because they replicate that warm feeling of an incandescent bulb, which is what many consumers missed most when they switched to CFL bulbs. Some bulbs are even capable of displaying multiple colors and can be controlled with a remote.

The most sophisticated LEDs are equipped with smart technology so that they can be controlled from anywhere with a smartphone or tablet. The apps used to control these lights are also some of the most user-friendly interfaces for setting up detailed lighting schedules.

A Few Differences

Picking out LEDs isn't too different from choosing among incandescent bulbs, but there are some other key differences.

An important one is that while LEDs are labeled in watts to offer an idea of their energy consumption, that rating doesn't correlate directly with brightness as with incandescents. LED brightness is measured in lumens, which will range from about 400 to about 2500 in most bulbs. A 100 watt incandescent is equivalent to about 1600 lumens.

It's also important to make careful decisions when choosing LEDs for use with dimmers. If your dimmer is more than a few years old, it's likely to be incompatible with most LEDs, and you'll need to pick out special dimmer-friendly bulbs. You could also replace your dimmers with modern, LED-friendly versions, which allow you to dim any LEDs.

Long sunny days won't be back for a while, so consider replacing those old bulbs with new, long-lasting, energy efficient bulbs this winter. And if you need help redesigning your lighting scheme, reach out to your trusted local electrician.