Electrician Santa Monica Gives Tips To Prepare For a Power Outage

Posted on March 8, 2013 | by K Hopkins

No matter why it happens, it is annoying. The power does go out on occasion and while you may want to contact an electrician in Santa Monica like Electric Connection, you will have to spend some time without power. However, if you prepare ahead of time and keep these tips in mind, dealing with a loss of power will be just an annoyance, not a major issue.

Create an emergency kit – This can include items like a flashlight, radio and batteries, bottled water, non-perishable food, blankets and items to pass the time.
Prepare for your needs – If you need certain medication or rely on equipment for life-support, make certain you prepare ahead. You may even be able to contact your utility company and make sure your home is treated as a top priority in case of an outage.
Know a good water source – Think about things like ice that could melt, water hidden in a water heater or pipes in your and other places that you may not immediately think about.
Keep food safe – If the power goes out, try not to open the fridge or freezer if possible and the food will last longer. After the power comes back on, remember—when in doubt, throw it out.
Be cautious if you have a generator and do not run it in wet conditions. This will help you avoid electric shock.
Protect yourself from drastic temperatures. In cold weather avoid getting wet and in hot weather dress as cool as possible and stay out of the sun.
Know when to say when. You may not want to leave your home during a power outage, but if you are dealing with a long term outage, you may be safer and more comfortable in an emergency shelter.

As you can see, there are many ways you can prepare yourself for a power outage. One of the best is to talk with the experts at Electric Connection, the electrician Santa Monica residents rely on to help them during a power outage or for installation and repairs.

Electrician in Glendale – Installing an Intercom System

Posted on March 8, 2013 | by K Hopkins

Have you ever been busy in one part of your house and really needed to get talk to someone at your front door, in the kitchen or out in the garage? If that sounds like something that happens to you often, an intercom system may be the perfect solution. This is a project an electrician in Glendale can easily tackle for you, saving you the time and hassle of doing it yourself. Learn more about what intercom installation entails and give Electric Connection a call today.

First, when installing an intercom system, you must figure out what rooms in your home you may want to connect to the system. Generally, you will have a speaker at the front door and a place in your home you spend a significant amount of time—perhaps the kitchen. However, you may want additional receivers in the bedrooms or basement.

Each receiver you install will require both wiring and construction work to enable it to work correctly and look good. The most difficult part for many is installing it into the wiring of the home. This will involve working with the circuits and tapping into the wiring already in your walls. The construction aspect is tricky too—unless you know how to work with drywall, plaster or whatever substance of which the wall is constructed.

Finally, there are many different types of intercom systems, from basic to systems complex enough for large corporations. If you are unsure which one will work best for you, this is another reason to work with Electric Connection, the electrician Glendale residents trust. Give us a call today and we will be happy to discuss your needs for an intercom system today. Our team of experts can get started and have your home and family more connected than ever before.

Electrical Maintenance Technician and Electrician in Burbank – What is the Difference?

Posted on March 8, 2013 | by K Hopkins

You may hear the terms electrician and electrical maintenance technician and think they are the exact same position. While they do complete many of the same tasks, there is a difference. When you are searching for the best electrician Burbank has to offer, you want to understand this difference so you can make the right decision. Learn more about how an electrician and electrical maintenance technician position varies and you will be ready to make the right hire for your electrical project.

Job Differences

An electrician in Burbank is who you would call to install wiring, make electrical repairs and deal with power systems in residential and commercial properties. These experts understand wiring blueprints and can also help connect circuit breakers and transformers. An electrical maintenance technician also works with electricity, but in less complex forms. For instance one of these technicians may handle preventative maintenance, troubleshooting and repair simple switches.

Education

An electrician must complete an apprenticeship program that offers both classroom courses and extensive on the job training. He or she must also obtain proper licensing from the state or county, ensuring that all proper procedures are followed. In many cases an electrical maintenance technician will learn skills with a certification course or on the job training.

Pay and Growth

Those with electrical skills are lucky to have a bright future. Both positions are expected to grow at a rapid rate, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This same data does show the salary difference between the two positions. An electrical maintenance technician, on average, earns nearly $15,000 less per year than a licensed electrician does.

As you can see, there is a difference between the two positions. If you want a licensed and experienced electrician to tackle your electrical projects, call Electric Connection today and let one of our experts come complete your electrical project today.

Closet Lighting Installation by an Electrician in Beverly Hills

Posted on March 8, 2013 | by K Hopkins

The easiest way to add lighting to a closet is by installing a simple, battery-powered fixture or hanging a corded fixture plugged into a nearby outlet. However, there are permanent solutions. Calling an electrician Beverly Hills, such as one of the skilled members of the Electric Connection team, is always a great choice when you have electrical projects that need completed. Learn more about what Electrical Connection will do when installing closet lighting in your home.

The electrician will work with you to determine the local building codes for clearance around the fixture then mark the desired location. He or she will then go into the attic and cut the hole necessary for installation. This may require some drywall work to properly mount the fixture.

At this point the electrician will cut off power to that part of the home using the home’s service panel. An electrical circuit cable will be run from the source point to the fixture box. Many times there will be a receptacle near the closet, or this may run through the attic to find a suitable spot. It is important the electrician tests to make sure the circuit can accommodate the fixture.

The electrician in Beverly Hills will connect the fixture following the wiring diagram from the manufacturer. The wiring connections will be completed at the source point. Finally he or she will restore power to the circuit and test the light fixture.

As you can see, this is a relatively complex task and not one you want to tackle alone. If you are considering the installation of closet lighting for your home, make sure you work with the best— the expert electrical team from Electric Connection is always here for you and ready to take on any type of lighting installation project you may have.

Electrician Los Angeles – Powering Your RV from Your Home’s Electrical System

Posted on March 8, 2013 | by K Hopkins

If you own an RV, you are probably always looking for ways to make life easier. One of the areas you may struggle with is providing consistent electricity to an RV. When you are staying in an RV park, there is often a power source—however, if you want to use your RV’s power system at home (to utilize it as a guest house, for instance) you may feel at loss as to what you need to do. Follow this advice from an electrician in Los Angeles and see what you need to do to “borrow” electricity from your home for your RV.

First, you must realize it is not as simple as just plugging your RV into your home’s electrical system. This will overload your power system, trip the circuit breaker and leave you scratching your head. If you see this as something you may do very often, you want to get in touch with Electric Connection—the electrician Los Angeles residents turn to—and let these experts set you up with an RV to home connection.

There are adaptors available but they will not provide enough electricity to do much other than operate the lighting in your home. You will need to install a long term solution. This is a project that can be done yourself; however, it is strongly recommended that you turn to a professional. It requires extensive wiring work that is not recommended for those not skilled in working with electricity. Essentially, you need a specific circuit that is dedicated to powering your RV.

If you are interested in powering your RV from the electricity in your home, contact Electric Connection today and let us work with you on this project. You will appreciate the experience, expertise and top-notch customer service you receive every time you call Electric Connection.

Electrician Santa Monica – A Listing of Common Electrical Terms

Posted on February 22, 2013 | by K Hopkins

Whether you are a do-it-yourselfer who feels confident in most household chores, or you are clueless about most household tasks, it makes sense to learn the basics when it comes to electricity. While you will want to contact an electrician in Santa Monica (Click Here), such as one from The Electric Connection, for any direct electrical work, you can at least have a better idea about the basics and be able to have a conversation when the electrician Santa Monica comes out to take care of your electrical repairs or installation. Learning these basic electrican terms is a great way to broaden your understanding of electricity.

Alternating Current – Electric current that changes direction when a change in voltage occurs.
Ampere – A unit of electrical current.
Arcing – Current that passes through the air, using air like a wire.
Circuit Breaker – An automatic switch that safeguards the electrical circuit from damage.
Conductor – Anything that carries an electrical current.
Current – An electrical charge carried by flowing electrons over a conductor.
Direct Current – Electrical charge that flows in a constant direction.
Fuse – A protection devise that interrupts current to a circuit.
Ground – A safe way to run current between a device to the earth.
GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) – A device that detects excess current and stops the flow of electricity.
Insulation – A material that shields wires and cables due to the fact it is not good at conducting.
Junction Box – A plastic or metal container that houses electrical connections.
NEC (National Electric Code) – U.S. standard for installing wires and equipment in a safe manner.
Outlet – A point where an appliance gets its connection to the circuit.
Power – Electricity measured in watts or kilowatts.
Transformer – an electronic device that converts electric voltage to another voltage or current
UL (Underwriters Laboratories) – A non-profit organization that tests electronic devices for safety.
Voltage – A way of measuring how much energy is behind electricity.

Electrican in Pasadena Gives Tips to Save Energy During Computer Use

Posted on February 22, 2013 | by K Hopkins

One of the biggest energy hogs in your home or office is the computer and the peripherals attached to it. Luckily, there are many ways that you can save energy in your daily life by just making a few simple changes. If you are interested in more extreme changes, contacting The Electric Connection, your best resource for an electrician Pasadena knows and trusts, may be the best step. However, for now, next time you are using your computer, consider these simple tips to reduce your electric usage. (Read More)

Turn off your monitor if you will not be using the computer for 20 minutes or more.
Turn off the computer system itself if you will not be using the computer for 2 hours or longer.
Attach the monitor, printer and system itself to a power strip. Then, if you are not using the system for a long period of time, you can shut the entire strip down and prevent them from using power even when shut off.
Remember that turning off your equipment not only save the electricity the equipment uses itself, but it also reduces your home cooling costs because PC’s put off a large amount of heat.
Using the computer’s sleep mode or power management feature can make a big difference. ENERGY STAR estimates that using these features regularly on your computer can save you up to $50 a year on electric bills.
Do not confuse a screen saver with an energy saver. Screen savers may actually use more energy than not using one and power-down features do not always work hen you have a screen saver activated.

As you can see, these are very simple ways that you can save electricity and save money. Talk with an electrician in Pasadena from The Electric Connection and find out if there are other things you can do to save on your bill each month.

Electric Shower Info from an Electrician in Glendale

Posted on February 22, 2013 | by K Hopkins

In most cases, the water for showers or baths are heated using a water heater in the basement or other area of the home. However, there are certain situations where this is not practical. Especially if you travel, you may come across electric showers.

An electric shower has a special shower head where the water is heated directly at the point of use. There are pros and cons when it comes to these devices. Learn more about an electric shower and find out if one may be the solution to your warm shower needs.

Pros

An electric shower works well in homes that have low water pressure because the electric shower also has a built-in pump to increase the pressure. Additionally, if you are trying to conserve energy, an electric shower uses less electricity than a water heater that is constantly heating the water whether it is being used or not. A final benefit to using this type of shower is that in areas where the temperature is cold, a traditional water heater may not be able to get the temperature as high as it needs to be.

Cons

The only main con to using an electric shower is that it requires some additional electrical work, (Click Here). Luckily, if this is something you want done, contacting The Electric Connection, an electrician Glendale, is an easy way to get the job done. Some people worry that having electrical parts near the shower is dangerous. However, there is a grounding wire, and if the system is properly connected there is no more risk using this shower than there is with any other shower.

If an electric shower is something you wanted to add to your home, call an electrician in Glendale from The Electric Connection today, and let us help you with the choice and installation of an electric shower.

Burbank Electrician Explains Top Ways to Save on Your Electric Bill

Posted on February 22, 2013 | by K Hopkins | 1 Comment

In today’s tough economic landscape, the idea of saving money on your electric bill is especially appealing. By following a few simple tips you will find that your monthly bill will shrink—giving you additional money to do the things you want to do. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

Use Fans – Fans use much less electricity than air conditioners. Installing an attic fan or even ceiling fans around your house can help you keep the AC use to a minimum. An electrician in Burbank from The Electric Connection can help with the installation project. (Click Here)

Use Energy Saving Bulbs – An energy saving bulb can produce as much light as a typical bulb but at a significant energy savings. These bulbs cost more up front but cut the electric bill by a significant sum.

Use Power Strips – Most electronic devices use power even when turned off because they remain in a standby mode. If you plug many of your products into power strips and flip the switch off at night you can reduce energy use.

Eliminate Appliances – Do you need all the electric appliances you use? Are there any you could replace with gas-powered appliances? Look over your appliance use and see where you can make changes.

Replace Old Electronics – Older electronics often use more electricity than newer ones. Newer products follow Energy Star standards so they are cheaper in terms of energy consumption. Replacing appliances often saves money in the long run.

Turn Down the Water Heater – If you use an electric water heater, you may not need it as high as it is. See if you can turn it down a few degrees and save money from heating costs.

Saving electricity isn’t just about reducing the impact on your wallet, it is good for the environment too. Contact The Electric Connection, the electrician Burbank residents trust, today and see what other changes may help your bottom line too.

Grounding Precautions from an Electrician in Beverly Hills

Posted on February 22, 2013 | by K Hopkins

We almost all work with electricity on a day to day basis, but do you really think about the precautions that are in place to assure your safety? One of these precautionary measures is electrical grounding. Years ago, grounding was discovered as a way to protect individuals from becoming electrocuted in using normal electrical appliance. For instance, think about your refrigerator. If something went wrong and you happened to touch it, the electricity would flow through you, and you would be electrocuted.

Grounding wires the electrical item to the ground itself. So if something went wrong, the electricity is pulled away from the machine (and you) and into the ground. In the past, this had to be done individually for each item. However, technology has advanced now where grounding precautions are built into electronic devices around the home. When you plug in the device it is already essentially grounded and you are protected.

If you use any older electric products around your home, or you suspect the grounding is not working properly, you may wish to get in touch with an electrician in Beverly Hills from The Electric Connection and let him or her help you make certain the object is properly grounded and not a danger. Taking these safety precautions can make a big difference and protect you and your family from an accident involving electricity.

Spend some time looking over your electric items and make sure you are properly protected. Then call The Electric Connection an electrician Beverly Hills residents trust (Website). Not only can one of these experts help you with grounding and other safety concerns but with installation, repairs and whole-house electrical renovation too. Safety is always important when dealing with electrical implements, so choose a company that is willing to go the extra mile to protect the important people in your life. Not only can one of these experts help you with grounding and other safety concerns but with installation, repairs and whole-house electrical renovation too. Safety is always important when dealing with electrical implements, so choose a company that is willing to go the extra mile to protect the important people in your life.