Enjoying your back deck after dark is something that many homeowners may appreciate. However, many lighting options, such as floodlights, attract bugs and really do nothing to improve the overall ambiance and atmosphere of your property. A better option is to consider the options in accent lighting including low-voltage or solar lighting. An electrician in Glendale, such as one of the team from Electric Connection, can help you choose the right garden lighting and begin the installation process.

On a warm summer night, what is more relaxing than sitting out on the deck?  There are a variety of options available to create the perfect effect for your deck. There are lighted post caps that provide just the right amount of lighting or there are under-step and riser lights that add needed light without taking up space.

Safety and security is another major concern. With the right lighting, you can add an element of security to the rear of your home making it less attractive to thieves or miscreants. Additionally, with plenty of lighting, you are less likely to have falls and other accidents outdoors.

All of these benefits come together to mean that deck lighting is something you cannot live without adding to your home. Consider all these benefits paired with the relatively low cost of installing this lighting and you will find this is a simple way to add value to your home too.

While it may be possible to handle some of these installation tasks yourself, calling the experts in electrician Glendale—Electric Connection will give you the best possible results. If you have any questions or concerns about deck lighting, give us a call or contact us online today and let us work with you. We want to make your deck a comfortable place for you to enjoy with your family and friends.

Advanced lighting control systems (ALCS) utilize electronic circuits with a programmable logic controller to automatically adjust lighting levels.  Program a number of variables and light requirements to get the lighting just perfect. This helps in providing the right amount of light where and when it is needed, hence improving energy efficiency and savings.

Advanced lighting control systems provide benefits like automatic scheduling and dimming. Turn lights off based on room occupancy and level of daylight. In so doing, the ALCS adjusts the light levels to match the requirements at any particular time. For example, when a room is empty, lights dim or go off completely. This saves on utility costs.

The sensors communicate with the lighting control system through wired or wireless connections. In some applications, sensors are integrated into the lighting control. While the wired network requires hand wiring of all the devices, the wireless communications use radio frequencies. Therefore several benefits exist over the wired network.

Wireless technology eliminates the need for wiring and is, therefore, cheaper, easy to implement and modify. It provides more flexibility while reducing the planning time for the electrical system. Wireless lighting controls are ideal for hard-to-reach lights. These include places where there are non-accessible or hard ceilings, basements, and other expensive or hard-to-wire areas.

The controller automatically adjusts the level of illumination based on one or a combination of the following variables.

The controls utilize room occupancy or proximity sensors to check for activity in the room or target area. If there is no activity, the controls automatically switch off or dim the lights. The system will then turn the lights to full brightness when room occupancy sensors detect someone within a defined space.

Different lighting levels are required based on the activity. In some applications such as warehouses, there is no need to keep all the lights on when areas are not in use. The lighting control systems will either turn off or dim most of the lights. Some advanced systems provide just enough light in the open spaces. Yet, more light becomes available near shelves where a worker might be picking up or replacing items.

Additional light is required during office hours when people are working. However, this isn’t necessary during the lunch break, or when offices are being cleaned. A combination of controls may be used here. Take advantage of daylight, dim or completely turning off the lights when more natural light filters into the room.

The programmable controls can be used to switch individual or groups of lights depending on time of day. These programs run 7 days a week. Consequently, there’s a separate schedule for weekdays, weekends, and holidays. In an office setup, a timer ensures that all lights, apart from security lights, are turned off at night, during the weekends and on holidays.

Instead of using the lamp at its maximum rating when new, the controls dim the light in certain cases. This reduces the normal wear and tear. As the lamp ages, its level of illumination will decrease. However, instead of the light level going down, the control will decrease the dimming level and maintain the required level of light.

So instead of powering the light at 100% and wasting energy with excess light that is not required, the controller ensures light is powered at a lower percentage. This ensures that required light is provided, but at a lower power consumption.

Factors considered when implementing a lighting system include the need for flexibility, facility size, floor plans, facility use, daylight hours, and building codes. Other considerations include the cost-effectiveness of the system, the ease of use, visual performance and comfort.

In addition to controlling the lights, the advanced lighting control systems help in determining the occupancy patterns. Moreover, the operating status of part or whole sections and the entire system’s performance is monitored. This provides business owners with an opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of the installation and make adjustments.

Decorating your home for the holidays is a time-honored tradition that many in the DMV area take part in each year. However, it’s important to be as safe as possible when putting up lights both inside and outside your home! When you string up lights in and around your home, you’re increasing your chances of an electrical malfunction. Make sure you follow these tips before and during your lighting setup!

If you have any questions, contact the electrical experts at Kolb Electric today!

Your lights—both interior and exterior—require some careful inspection prior to hooking them up. One of the most common causes of fires around the holidays are faulty string lightings. In order to avoid any potential electrical fires, it’s important to:

Need an electrician fast? Contact Kolb Electric today! We offer 24-hour service for your DMV home.

The Backup generator installation cost is a concern for many who are thinking about getting an emergency power source installed. Many people, especially those that live in areas prone to natural disasters, would like to get a backup generator. However, they hesitate to pull the trigger when they think about the amount of money involved. The benefits of installing a backup generator are many and varied and often justify the backup generator installation cost for those at high risk of suffering a power outage. These advantages are more extensive than you might realize; so, we have laid them out for you in this article.

Some people think of backup generators as luxury items, but they can be lifesaving necessities. For example, a house in a frigid climate may lose electricity due to a severe snowstorm. If this happens, the homeowners will lose electric heating without a backup generator. A backup generator can prevent a life-threatening situation making the backup generator installation cost money well spent.

Other essential mechanisms need to keep running, like sump pumps and septic systems. Some homes even have a water system that is dependent on electricity. In addition, some people have medical devices powered by electricity. Obviously, a backup generator would be essential in this situation.

A backup generator could support other critical systems. For example, a home’s security system usually has a battery backup, but the batteries may run out in the event of an extended outage. This lack of power could be a real problem, as looting sometimes occurs in such situations. Though the worst probably won’t happen, if peace of mind is important to you, you should consider getting a generator to ensure safety.

In times of hardship, such as during a natural disaster, it is important to keep spirits up. A backup generator can provide a means to do this. It can power a TV or computer to allow entertainment and communication. The morale boost from having a link to the outside world can be vital, especially in an extended power outage. Of course, you shouldn’t use a backup generator primarily for such luxuries, but doing do sparingly can have a positive effect.