This problem is similar to the heating appliance issue we started with.  Overloaded outlets are more than just a circuit-tripping annoyance, they can also become a danger quickly!  If you’re electrical panel is doing its job properly, the circuit breaker will trip before there’s a problem, but relying on a safety measure is not a safe practice.

Overloaded outlets are simply circuits that have too many things plugged into them.  This can happen by:

All of these practices can overload your outlets by putting too much demand on the circuit.  In a best case scenario, the circuit breaker trips.  The worst case leads to excess heat at the outlet, melting plugs and sockets or excess heat on the circuit which melts insulation from wiring in the walls, leading to a house fire.

Of course, even if you follow all of these protections, things can happen that are outside of your control.  That’s when your best defense is a strong safety net.  Early detection and warning for house fires is the best way to survive in an emergency.  The sooner you’re aware that there is a fire, the higher your likelihood of survival.  For the best defense:

Highlights from Hong Kong International Light Fair (HKILF) include exciting new products for boosting energy-efficiency to new heights in home and office illumination.   As the largest autumn light fair in Asia, the HKILF introduces new items from home appliances to maintenance-free landscape lighting and novel LED products.

image from HKILF*

The Hong Kong International Light Fair continues to grow and gain recognition as the world’s most important platform for introducing novel lighting designs and new energy-enriched products.

The 16th edition of the HKILF (Autumn Edition) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre attracted 180,000 global buyers.* and was the most well-attended, as well as the biggest on record.

“Last year, the four-day event attracted 2,360 exhibitors from 38 countries and regions and produced strong visitor turn-out, with more than 38,000 buyers from 144 countries and regions in attendance.”–www.enlightenmentmag.com october 2014

Show highlights include:

• Energy-efficient, eco-friendly “LED and Green Lighting Zones” looking to meet international sustainability requirements.

• New Product Platforms

• Information Exchange Platforms

• New Trends and Styles

–LED and “green” lighting products are expected to see the highest sales growth in 2015.*

–Retail prices of LED lamps are expected to drop by 8 percent by the end of 2015.*

Electric cars offer an energy efficient, less-polluting alternative to conventional gasoline engines, so why aren’t more people buying them? One of the major reasons for the slow acceptance of electric vehicles is that many people still believe a lot of outdated myths or have misconceptions about how these cars work. Here’s a look at some of the most common electric car myths.

With electricity becoming a prime suspect in the drain on your bank account, you are probably looking for ways to reduce your energy bill. It isn’t feasible or safe, to sit in a home that is hot and stuffy. Running the air conditioning unit constantly is extremely expensive and hard on the unit itself, which may result in costly repair bills. There are some things you can do to help keep your home cool, without running the expensive AC.

An attic fan is one way you could save money on your electric bill. An electrician in Glendale will be necessary to help you install a new fan or several fans depending on the size of your attic. The Electric Connection team is available for you and would love to help you cool your home and ultimately save money.

Attic fans work to pull out the hot, stagnant air that accumulates in finished attics. Most fans are controlled by a thermostat. This prevents the fan from running constantly and keeps you from having to remember to turn on the fan when the temperatures begin rising. There are some requirements that need to be met before you decide to have an attic fan installed. The attic must have soffit or gable vents. This allows the fan to bring in the cooler air to the attic space. The attic should also be sealed from the rest of your house. If these requirements are not met, you will end up wasting money by drawing your cool air from below, into the attic.

If you are not sure about your attic, you will need to contact an electrician. Glendale residents can rely on the experienced professionals at The Electric Connection. The staff will make notes about your attic and what kind of fan would work best.

With the explosion of home renovation shows such as House Detective, Holmes On Homes and Income Property, you would be hard pressed to find the person who isn’t aware that any renovation of an older home would require the specialized services of a licensed, qualified electrician. Often conjuring up images of the older, ‘quaint’, 40+ year-old home, the word “renovation” has almost become synonymous with a neglected home in disrepair, complete with bundles of wiring that could pass for extension cords. Obvious stuff that would appear glaringly unsafe to the average person.

What doesn’t come to mind is your typical, one or two-story home built anywhere from the 1980’s to early 2000’s.  But in today’s housing market, doing a kitchen and bath remodel could mean the difference between a sale and seeing no movement at all. Whether it’s to compete with newly built homes in a weak housing market or to increase the value and enjoyment of one’s home, a homeowner would be prudent to consult a licensed electrician when making any updates to their home. There can be unforeseen dangers when combining newer, modern appliances and lighting with existing wiring and a licensed electrician can inspect and update your home’s electrical framework, ensuring its safety and increasing energy efficiency.

In a case of one trend bringing about another, the increasing popularity of in-home offices and theater rooms has  sparked the inclusion of structured wiring, or heavy-duty electrical and data cables designed to manage the latest (and yet-to-be-invented) electrical devices. Take into account that almost 50% of new homes built in 2008 included structured wiring and you can see that this trend could very well become the norm in the near future.

For questions or a free consultation and estimate on updating your home’s electrical infrastructure, call Bryant Electric Service at 512-402-8587.