Holidays are a known time for seeing friends and family, some of whom you may not be able to see often throughout the rest of the year. A hobby some people love during the holidays is to add decorative lighting to add a warm welcoming appeal to their homes. Whether your lighting is serious and somber to show your religious beliefs or fun and playful to reflect your personality, there are a few things to be aware of with the extra power draw your decorations put on your house.

Tech Specs and Electrical Engineering

When the public electric line reaches your house, it runs to a circuit breaker (or fuse box in older homes) to prevent dangerous levels of overload which could cause a shock, and the breaker is designed to automatically shut off if a dangerous level of electricity is reached with a surge or if too many appliances are run. There are exceptions, but most circuit breakers are designed to handle 15 amps, or a little over 1600 watts of power which is plenty for modern appliances.

The Simple Terms: When You Run Too Much Power

When you overload a circuit breaker, it becomes a nuisance as everything running on that line shuts down. It's not normally a daily occurrence, but usually only happens when something exceptional occurs. Running too many kitchen appliances at once, for example, can overload a circuit breaker, as can running a space heater or power tool on a line already being used. A common cause of circuit failure is when you've never had a problem running a hairdryer and curling iron until a guest in the guest bath turns on a second hairdryer. Holiday lighting usually runs on a low power supply but adds up when layered and can cause problems with a line which is already near its maximum usage levels.

The Layman's and the Professional's Solutions

Are you looking for more security in your home? Look no further than Kolb Electric’s supply of security lighting! Although our lighting is dependable and will increase your security, it may not be best for everyone. Find out if you could see benefits from our security lighting below!

Call Kolb Electric today at 877-287-1179877-287-1179 to install security lighting in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC!

The benefits of security lighting go beyond deterring would-be criminals. If you’re on the fence about outdoor lighting, consider the following benefits:

Low voltage security lighting can be set to turn on automatically when it gets dark and shut off again when the sun comes back up. And while this lighting doesn’t use a lot of energy, if you’re concerned with wasting electricity you can also install motion detecting lights that will automatically light up an area in response to movement.

For all your security lighting needs in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC, contact the electricians at Kolb Electric today— 877-287-1179877-287-1179 or click here!

Considering making some changes regarding the electricity in your home? Before you buy a brand new electric panel for your Bethesda home, there are some important details you should know about sizing.

Ready for a heavy-up or electrical panel installation in your home or business? Trust the certified electricians at Kolb Electric to bring you the best in dependable quality and satisfaction!

First off, there are some terms and important points we should hash out before you start making electrical purchases. Generally speaking, when a homeowner is considering a heavy-up for their electric panel they’re either trying to improve home electrical safety or trying to do electrical updates to modernize a home.

If you’re looking to increase the safe capacity of current in your home, you’re looking for a panel upgrade, or heavy-up, which you’ll need to ask your trusted electricians about to ensure you get the right service for your needs.

And if we’re talking about improving safety, you’re probably looking for breakers to match new wiring, or GFCI outlet/breaker wiring to reduce risks of ground faults associated with sources of water near outlets. Breakers should always match the amperage of the wire they are servicing, by the way, though your electrician should be the one to handle this. But, having said all of this, if you’re looking for an electric panel…

When you’re talking about the “size” of an electrical panel installation, what you’re actually referring to is the amperage capacity of the panel. This is the measurement of electricity the panel can safely accommodate in your home. It is a common misconception that the panel actually determines the amount of electricity that comes into your home. To alter that, you need to seek a heavy up!

To determine the size of the panel you need, a comprehensive list of all appliances in use or planned to be used will need to be created. The capacity of your panel will directly correlate to the amount of power routinely used within your home. In all honesty, to do this accurately, your best bet is to work with a trusted electrician! We have all of the training, knowledge and skill needed to guide you to making the right choice for your home electrical needs.

Ready to beef up the safety and function of the electricity in your home? Contact the certified electricians at Kolb Electric today to get the electrical panel installation services you need!

The times, they are a-changin'. President Obama recently announced the details of his highly anticipated Clean Power Plan, a measure aimed at reducing the country's harmful fossil fuel emissions and limiting our contribution to climate change. The plan, when fully implemented, should reduce carbon emissions by 32 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. Read on to learn more about the Clean Power Plan and what it means for you.

Lower Prices at the Meter

The Clean Power Plan was developed by the Environmental Protection Agency, under the authority granted by the Clean Air Act. It imposes sharp limits on the types of energy production that power the nation's electrical work, but grants flexibility to states in how they act to meet those limits. In general, the plan encourages a shift away from burning coal during energy generation, while states have the option of upping their renewable energy production, using nuclear energy, increasing their efficiency or relying more on natural gas.

The good news for homeowners is that the plan is projected to decrease the bills you pay to power your residential electrical work. An analysis by the Natural Resources Defense Council found that the average home electricity bill could fall by as much as 8 percent, and consumers could save up to $37.4 billion overall in electricity by 2020. The rationale for the savings is that renewable fuel sources cost less to run over time once the initial infrastructure is in place. Also, the plan encourages investments in household energy efficiency, which means that you may come to be less reliant on your home electrical work without substantially changing your behavior.

Clean Air for Breathing

The Clean Power Plan has another ancillary effect that has nothing to do with electrical work: it should cut down on air pollution and create a healthier breathing environment. For example, while we rely on the ozone level high in the sky to block harmful sun rays, ozone at ground level is known by another name – smog. It is created when sunlight interacts with pollutants and can be very harmful to our health. The plan should reduce smog levels and provide us with cleaner air to breathe.

Furthermore, one of the biggest signs of climate change is unusually hot and dry weather in certain parts of the country, which can lead to out-of-control wildfires and harmful particulates that damage your lungs. Strange weather patterns have also been blamed for an increase in allergies this year. By slowing the pace of climate change and keeping harmful pollutants out of the air, the Clean Power Plan can help you breathe easy.

If you have any concerns about the effect the Clean Power Plan will have on your energy prices or electrical work, call a knowledgeable electrician today.

No matter how hard you try, it is a huge task to try and remember to shut off lights whenever they are not in use. If you have a busy household with several family members, your task is next to impossible. It is frustrating to have to constantly remind kids and other adults to turn off the lights. It is a full time job that nobody has the time or patience for. Did you know that lighting accounts from anywhere between 20 and 40 percent of your total electrical bill? An electrician in Pasadena has a viable solution for you that does not require you to be on full time light duty. The team at The Electric Connection can provide you with more information or you can read on.

Lighting timers or wireless lighting systems are the answer to your lighting police needs. A wireless system can be quickly installed on any light that you find to be a problem getting shut off. Hallways, stairways and bathrooms are common areas of installation. If you choose to go with a system that is wired into the home’s electrical system, the installation is best completed by a qualified electrician. Pasadena homeowners will feel better knowing the system has been installed by a professional and the risk of bad wiring is avoided.

A wireless system is the best option because it leaves no holes in the walls or ceilings. It does cost a little more up front, but the savings on your electric bill will certainly make up for it. You can save up to 50 percent on your electric bill with the installation of light timers. You can certainly install the wireless system on your own and you can avoid hiring a Pasadena electrician. The choice is yours. If you would like to learn more about wireless lighting systems or the installation of light timers, give The Electric Connection a call today.