The term “arc flash” is used to describe low impedance connections in an electrical system, which allows movement of unwanted electric discharge through the air from one voltage phase to another, or to ground. This leads to a rapid rise in temperature and pressure in the air between electrical conductors, causing an explosion known as an arc blast.

Arc blasts and the resulting heat can lead to fires, pressure waves and flying shrapnel that result in serious damage to life and property. These explosions typically occur without any warning, destroy electrical equipment completely and lead to severe injury or death of personnel present within the boundary of the arc flash.

What Are the Main Causes of Arc Flash?

Arc flash occurs when several electrical conductors are placed close to each other, with significant fault currents flowing through them. In this situation, ionization of the air can take place as a result of various factors – such as differences in potential – which leads to a low resistance path and allows current to flow through the air gap between conductors.

Many people assume that low voltage equipment is safe from arc flash, but arc flash hazard levels may be higher at low voltages, due to the high fault currents. Most incidents that occur in low voltage systems are caused by human error, e.g. a tool slipping while a technician works on electrical equipment.

Arc flash can also be caused due to:

TRENDING NOW: RETROFITTING OLD FIXTURES

By Clarissa Allison | December 24th, 2014

Watching lighting trends in 2014 has been an interesting ride. “LED” and energy efficiency, once phrases thought to be bandied about by tree-huggers and industry insiders alone, is now quite common. The cost of LEDs and solid state lighting in general has come down faster than it would in a normal competitive environment. That has helped global adoption creep up over 10%. Environmentally friendly technology is an absolute must as the traditional lighting options we’ve all grown up with are slowly being replaced.  In one example, we’ve noticed customers wanting to retrofit old incandescent flush-mounted fixtures with LED downlights.

When’s the last time you gave much thought to your home’s electrical system? Chances are that unless you’ve experienced a power outage or you’ve had circuit breakers tripping on a regular basis, it was not very recently. It’s important to realize that frayed wires, loose connections, and similar electrical problems are not unique to any one type of household—anyone can experience these problems.

Without appropriate repairs, these problems can short out important appliances or even start a fire. When it comes to repairing electrical problems though, you should only trust a trained and licensed electrician, such as the members of our staff. But the only way to know it’s time to give us a call for repairs is if you know the signs that a repair is needed in the first place. Keep reading to learn about these indicators.

If any electrical outlet in your home is warmer than the wall that surrounds it, even when nothing is plugged in, your wiring is probably experiencing some trouble. While warmth while something is plugged in is normal, an outlet should never be too hot.

Intermittent electricity will cause this to happen. This is another sign that something is wrong with the electrical wiring in your home and needs immediate inspection and repairs.

Malfunctioning electrical systems or components will often cause a low buzzing noise, which usually ceases when you cut power to the circuit.

If you notice that the breakers keep tripping on one particular circuit, then you’ve probably overloaded that particular circuit. It could also be a problem with one or more appliances hooked up to it.

You should never see sparks coming from any electrical outlet. If you do, be sure to shut the power off to the affected area immediately, and then call for professional repairs.

When it comes to fixing the electrical work in your Florida home, most homeowners who jump into the DIY pool do so for two main reasons. One, of course, is for the thrill of victory, so to speak. The other, and more obvious reason, is for the cost savings. The majority falls into the second category, but the results are often just the opposite.

Well-meaning homeowners often end up spending nearly double of what they budgeted due to poor planning, lack of knowledge, and costly mistakes.

1.  Invest in a Few Strategically Placed Garden Lights–Do not over light your landscape. Be sure to check the “dark sky”* ordinances in your town so that your landscape lighting design will be within legal limits of illumination.  Try a few garden spread lights to softly highlight flowerbeds, rock gardens and sculpted shrubbery.

2.  Work It Wisely—Put the ultimate control in the palm of your hand. Whether hand-held or on automated timers, outdoor lighting controls are the utmost in energy-saving and convenience to promote safety and security effortlessly and instantly.

3.  Prepare Your Patio for the King of the Grill—Task lighting is often neglected when planning your landscape and outdoor lighting design. While aiming for subtle illumination in most backyard areas, you need shielded, but plentiful focused task light over outdoor cooking stations.  An adjustable spot light installed in a rooftop corner or an attached grill light will help you to see that your chicken is thoroughly cooked and your burgers are not too well-done.

4. Watch Your Step and Provide Shielded Path Lighting —LED path lights and strip lights are available in a variety of colors and sizes to uniquely define and expand the boundaries of your outdoor living space while providing nighttime illumination for safe navigation.

5.  Go for the Life Time Guarantee—Superb new vendors are featuring landscape lighting products guaranteed to withstand the elements and weather naturally overtime without peeling or rusting.  Check out new post lamps from Northeast Lantern–all parts, with the exception of glass, are guaranteed for life!

 Say “Happy Father’s Day!” and bring it on home. Great landscape lighting will truly make his home feel like his castle. 

 Best Landscape Lighting Finds For Summer 

Path Lighting: “Nexus,” new from Hinkley Lighting featuring LED and a Bronze finish; “Dwell”  1547 from Hinkley in a Buckeye Bronze or Hematite finish.

Garden Lights: “Intaglio” Brass Crook Neck 1543 landscape light in Olde Bronze from Kichler Lighting; Tiffany path light in Antique Bronze with Green Faux Tiffany shade (P5271) from Progress Lighting.

Grill and Wall Lights: Barn Lantern from Northeast Lantern available in a choice of unique finishes including: Antique Brass, Dark Antique Brass, Dark Brass and Verdi Gris.

Step and Deck Lighting:  LED-TO24-5 Tape Lights from WAC Lighting, available in Amber, Blue, Green, Red, and White.

 Be sure that your new outdoor lighting purchases are in keeping with the dark-sky outdoor-lighting codes in your community.

*The latest landscape light fixtures are energy efficient and in keeping with new “Dark Sky” regulations.  “Dark Sky” ordinances continue to spread across the country in an effort to reduce light pollution.  Check the latest nighttime light restrictions in your town, to make sure your outdoor and landscape lighting is in keeping with new code laws.  Call your local government’s community planning and zoning office.  Fines for violating dark-sky ordinances may cost up to $100–Consumer Digest Communications, LLC.

The emergence of shielded dark-sky-compliant fixtures makes it easy to update your landscape lighting in keeping with the new laws. In addition to being environmentally friendly, these fixtures reduce glare, and they are affordable and energy saving.