For some, flickering lights are an annoyance and can be a distraction. Others don’t notice the inconsistency in the lights. But, that fluctuation in light can signal problems in the circuitry or light fixtures in one’s home. Depending on the source of the problem, it could lead to serious safety issues in a home.

All lights flicker to some extent, based on the amount of power that is coming into the lines in your home.  If your lights flash or flicker regularly, it’s often a sign that there’s a problem – either in connection or power use. Situational flickering – like when an air conditioner starts – is a sign that there’s an issue with power supply. Simply put, the dip of the lights when the AC unit starts up occurs because the AC pulls the available electricity supply from the light. It’s usually temporary. It may also be a sign that the outdoor AC unit isn’t wired for maximum amperage. If the flickering lights aren’t related to a large appliance powering up and running, it’s a sign that there are issues – home may be brighter and more comfortable.

Not everyone knows that different types of lights have different colors and temperatures, which in turn can impact a person’s mental and physical well-being.

The different light temperatures are:

According to experts, the best kind of light for productivity is the cool light color. When natural light isn’t an option, try to incorporate “blue-enriched” lights that measure at 17,000K. Not only do these lights support mental vitality, but they also hinder melatonin production, a hormone that makes you feel tired.

Not everyone appreciates the stark harshness of cool lighting, though. Adding some warm lighting here and there in your workplace can help improve the feeling of comfort and relaxation for employees. This can also be beneficial in places like meeting rooms where you want your employees to feel comfortable and free to open up.

If you have ever went to the store to buy new light bulbs for the home or garage, you have probably been a little surprised to see an entire aisle filled with a variety of bulbs. It can be a little overwhelming. What kind do you need? Are your current light bulbs adequate or should you be using something else? When you start to read packages and look at various price points, it can all become a little confusing. The cheaper the better seems like a good plan, right? Wrong. You need to understand the differences in light bulbs and what they mean to you and your home. An electrician in Los Angeles, like those at The Electric Connection, will explain.

Incandescent Bulbs

These are the old bulbs we all became used to. You could by a pack of 4 bulbs for around a dollar. Unfortunately, they were simply not energy efficient explains an electrician. Los Angeles residents may be surprised to learn those bulbs would only last about 2 years if you used the bulbs only 3 hours a day. Most of the energy the bulbs used produced heat, which ends up being a fire hazard. These are the bulbs that have been phased out. Yes, you can still buy the smaller incandescent bulbs for your fridge and certain lamps, but they are no longer mass produced.

Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs)

These are the bulbs that have replaced the incandescents. They have that swirl shape that makes them difficult to put into some light fixtures and they do take a few seconds to heat up to their full power. The lights are extremely energy efficient and use 75 percent less electricity than the incandescent bulbs. You can save a great deal of money on your electric bill by switching to these bulbs. They also last about 5 times longer. If you have a light fixture that will not accommodate, consider having it upgraded by a Los Angeles electrician. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your lighting upgrade.

One studied alternating current (AC), and the other, direct current (DC). And yet, the world would not be where it is today without their contributions to science and electricity. In light of Nikola Tesla’s birthday on July 10, Mr. Electric is taking a look at the electric Tesla vs. Edison feud.

The main focus for Tesla was alternating current: an electric charge that periodically reverses its direction and is delivered to customers through a transformer. It travels at a much higher voltage than direct current and is more effective because of its ability to travel greater distances while maintaining a constant voltage.

Edison focused his research of electricity on direct current. A key difference between alternating current and direct current is that direct current only flows one way. The voltage of direct current is also constant but it is better when the electricity produced has to travel in short distances.

Edison was working on a system to generate direct current. When he could not get it to perform correctly he hired Tesla, an engineer and graduate of The Polytechnic Institute, who studied electromagnetism, promising him $100,000 if he could correct the problems Edison was having with his research and invention. Tesla corrected the problems but was not given the money. Tesla resigned and Edison spent the rest of his career trying to discredit Tesla’s research and work with electricity.

Today, nearly every home and business in the world is powered using Tesla’s alternating current. The ability of alternating current to travel over long distances and efficiently power everyday home and business electrical equipment eventually overtook Edison’s research on direct current. Edison did not lose out completely, as most battery-powered devices, fuel cells and light emitting diodes use direct current. As the push for alternative energy sources is on the rise, many manufacturers are looking at how batteries and electricity can change the way we look at fuel and the way goods are produced. Whether the electricity being used is AC or DC, Tesla helped us get where we are today.