Many older homes have old wiring systems and obsolete switchboards and fuse boxes. These have very poor functioning and are unable to provide proper supply to the type of devices that are used in the home today. Over the last few decades there has been significant advancement in circuit breaker technology and many people are now proactively getting these old ceramic fuse boxes replaced with current-day circuit breakers.

However, as mentioned earlier, there are some older homes that still have these re-wireable fuses. This is largely because people aren’t aware of the dangers these fuse installations pose. Those who have heard it’s important to upgrade to circuit breakers feel that it’s just something people do because their electrical contractors tell them they should.

The rationalisation they have for it is that when they haven’t faced any issues with it for so many decades, there must be nothing wrong with it. They feel it’s just a way in which electrical companies make some money by telling their clients this and getting them to upgrade to newer systems. They couldn’t be further from the truth. Here is a list of all the dangers associated with re-wireable fuses:

Most people, electricians or otherwise, tend to use regular copper wires to replace the melted fuse wire. They aren’t really aware that a fuse wire is different from a common copper wire and that the latter isn’t designed to take the load of the circuit. In many ways, this inappropriate replacement in itself is a problem. And when the fuse blows again, they simply take another wire and replace the older one.

What they fail to realise is that fuse wires generally have very low melting points. Contrastingly, normal copper wires have a very high melting point. In addition, it’s not possible to standardise the current carrying capacity of these wires as that depends on how they have been positioned inside the base and the fuse carrier.

As you can see, re-wireable fuses are a distinct danger and this is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. It’s best not to wait till a catastrophe occurs. Simply call Allround Electrical for an evaluation of the electrical installations and the old fuse box in your home. We will provide objective advice and a reasonable quote for replacing the re-wireable fuses in your home. The number to call is 1300 169 263. You can also drop us a line via email or use this online contact form.

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Question:  How many psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb?

Answer:  Only one…but the light bulb has to really WANT to change.

Maybe you’ve heard this joke before.  And, maybe you are tired of hearing light bulb jokes in general.  But, like it or not—Change is inevitable and the LED light bulb is leading the way.

Nearly a day goes by that we do not hear about light emitting diodes (LEDs) and the changes taking place in the lighting industry.

And, for good reason.  LED is changing the way we see the light.  The latest ceiling pendants, mini chandeliers, task lamps and outdoor light fixtures are accepting these new bulbs with tremendous gusto.  The lighting effects are becoming more versatile and redefining our vision of elegance.  The price of LED lamps is even coming down.

As LED light fixtures become more affordable and user-friendly, the choice of which bulb to use in your next lighting design will be clear…or frosted or soft white or blue…but it will be LED!

1.  LEDs lasts up to 50 times longer and use 80% less energy than old standard incandescent light bulbs.

2.  LEDs burn out slowly over time, so the dreaded pop and bulb blow out will be a blast from the past–something to tell your grandchildren about!

3.  LEDs radiate little to no heat and they hold up extremely well in harsh winter weather conditions.

4.  LEDs are eco-friendly; they do not contain toxic gas or emit harmful IR/UV radiation.

5.  LEDs are also referred to as “solid-state” lighting  (SSL) because they use semiconductors and are solid light sources; they are shatter-resistant and durable.

Embrace change. Learn the facts and put LED to work in your home or office environment.

√ Buy from a reputable dealer.  All LED bulbs are not created equal.  Through a process of “binning,” LED chips are sorted according to the quality and degree of luminescence.  Cheaper LED bulbs may be equipped with a lower quality chip that will not provide the brightest light and may burn out prematurely.

√ Look for Energy Star®-ratings to find LEDs of the highest quality.

Some of the latest LED innovations include designer mini pendants and ceiling fixtures from ELK Lighting.

As lighting technology has advanced, one of the clear front-runners in long lasting, energy efficient lighting is the LED light. With uses ranging from interior lighting to landscape lighting, there are many reasons why you should switch your home lighting over to LED. Because LEDs are being manufactured in many of the same form factors that you are familiar with, you have the option of calling a Burbank electrician such as The Electric Connection to help you switch out the majority of them if you feel it’s too overwhelming of a job, or you could take it on by yourself. If your lighting project is more extensive than changing out a few light bulbs, and you plan on installing recessed lighting or new fixtures, you should definitely look into having the work done by a professional electrician in Burbank.

Benefits of LED Lights

The most publicized benefit of using LED lights for most lighting applications is the extremely low energy usage and long lifespan. This benefit is seen best when compared by an electrician in Burbank CA with other light bulb technologies. A standard incandescent bulb has a lifespan of around 1,000 hours, a compact fluorescent has a lifespan of around 8,000 hours and an LED has a lifespan of nearly 30,000 hours. This is a huge increase, meaning that you will have to change your bulbs much less frequently than before. Furthermore, LED light bulbs are mercury free, unlike compact fluorescents.

In regards to energy efficiency, LEDs are also way ahead of the pack. As a result of the low energy required to run an LED bulb, there is also much less heat required. This leads to lights that are cool to the touch, making them much safer for many applications. When asked about power consumption, an electrician in Burbank will tell you that LED bulbs use much less than any other currently on the market. For example, a 40-watt incandescent bulb burns just as bright as an 8-12 watt compact fluorescent or a 4-5 watt LED. By switching from incandescent to LED, you’re only using about 10% of your previous energy. This can make a huge difference, considering that lighting can make up almost 25% of any home energy budget!

Choosing an LED

When choosing an LED, there are many factors to be taken into consideration. If your home lighting project is extensive, think about doing a quick Internet search for electrician Burbank and then find one that you can trust such as The Electric Connection. Working with an electrical contractor on this type of project is very much like having ceiling fans installed, outlets replaced, bath fans installed or having new switches or lighting dimmers installed. A licensed Burbank Electrician such as The Electric Connection will be able to explain everything that needs to be done in order for your custom lighting job to be done well. If you are just looking to replace some of the bulbs in fixtures around your home, there are just be a few things that you should know.

To make things simple, most packages rate their light bulbs with both actual watts, and watts relative to an incandescent. This means that if you are using a 45-watt incandescent, you should be able to find a 3W LED with packaging that lets you know that they are equivalent. If these comparisons are not listed on the box, there should also be a lumen rating. If necessary, you can compare the lumens between types of light bulbs. When choosing light bulbs for your fixtures, you will most likely be shopping for diffused bulbs. These bulbs look very similar to a standard fluorescent bulb, and help to diffuse the light. This gives the light a more natural feel. Other types of lights include outdoor landscape lights, such as floods and interior spotlights for more focused light concentration. Regardless of what type of lighting you choose, your licensed electrician Burbank CA can always help you with any questions that you might have. Enjoy your new lighting!

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Sometimes the smallest residential electrical issue can be a  big headache. When outlets trip, for example, there are generally several electrical devices or appliances being used in one electrical zone. Then POP! No more power.

GFCIs May Be to Blame

Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) are outlets that trip themselves when they detect certain problems. They are designed to prevent electrical shock and other potential dangerous accidents, which is why they are required in bathrooms, kitchens, garages, outdoor areas, and unfinished areas .

Many homes have GFCIs in the required areas but not all over the house. So it’s common that electrical circuits will start at the GFCI and flow “downstream” to other outlets that are required to be GFCI’s. While this provides a level of protection for the entire circuit, a GFCI trip in the bathroom, for example, may take down an outlet in  another bathroom.  You would need  to identify the GFCI outlet where the trip happened and reset it. .  This can be a frustrating and time consuming process.

Faulty Outlet Solutions

With all the bad weather we have been hammered with this winter, our electric power stations have been maxed out trying to keep up with the demand for electricity.  With the cold, another problem has been water pipes freezing at the electric generating stations causing them to have to shut down for repairs.  Long story short, over 55 million people in America this year have dealt with power shortages.  Either being rolling blackouts, or simply no power for days.  I have received multiple inquiries from customers wanting to know if there is an alternative means to keeping the electricity on in their home without using a gas-powered generator.  Their reasons for not being able to use a gas powered generator ranged from “I live in a HOA where generators are not allowed on the outside of our home and I can’t put it on the inside due to noise and fumes,” to “I don’t have any place outside to put the generator that guarantees it won’t be tampered with or stolen.”  Some of my customers that live in condos or town homes only have a balcony which really “limits them on space.”