In most offices, hallways, and other lower level and flat ceiling environments you will find some sort of tube lighting in place. The most common technology that is found to be used is currently fluorescent, but after this post that might slowly change for some because this alternatives to fluorescent office lighting and all of those other uses listed above is going to change your mind on which technology is the truly efficient one.

Although it is completely harmless while in the tube itself, accidents always happen. When a fluorescent tube is broken, a LED fluorescent tube alternative, you will skip this issue entirely because LED technology does not require any sort of mercury to work!

While LED technology is pretty much good to go in a greater range of temperatures, fluorescent lamps only works at it’s peak performance when it is in room temperature type environments. So LED technology is much more flexible in which temperatures it can operate properly at, fluorescents are only suitable for inside only applications. But even then, LED still wins for all of these other reasons listed on this post! And a thing to remember is that fluorescent technology isn’t better than LED is indoors, it’s just that it only works optimally at room temperatures. But when you replace fluorescent light with LED, you still get all the benefits that LED brings and they aren’t picky about the temperature at all.

When you hear the words non-directional, what exactly does that mean to you? Well, in the world of lighting it basically means that such fixture emits lights 360 degrees (or in all directions). This causes 30-40% of all the light being emitted by a fluorescent tube to be wasted due to the trait it carries of non-directional emission of light. With LED, it has directional lighting which allows you to direct the light where it needs to go and isn’t going to waste being emitted 360 degrees.

Let alone all of the other benefits that a a return on investment when you start looking at what contact us with any questions you have!

If you’ve spent any amount of time on our services pages, you’ve probably noticed us consistently mention dedicated circuitry. You need it for your outlets, for heavy appliances; gosh, you even need one for your microwave. But what is a circuit, and how many do you really need? Important questions, and luckily for you, our certified electricians have answers.

When it comes to electrical work, Kolb Electric has everything you need to maintain optimal home performance. Our Rockville electricians carry years of top-notch training, and possess all of the know-how and technical knowledge needed to get your circuit wiring done right. Contact Kolb any time you need electrical services!

Put super basically, a circuit is an engineered circular path that electricity takes to do work. Think about the light switches in your home. When you flick them on, electricity flows into the closed circuit that sends power to your fixtures and bulbs, and voila! You’ve got light. All electronics and electrical applications work off of the concept of circuits.

A circuit always starts and stops in the same place, creating a revolving door of sorts for harnessed electricity.

So, What Is a Dedicated Circuit?

Technically speaking, a dedicated circuit is no different from a regular circuit in application. It is simply set aside to power one, specific appliance , tool, or piece of equipment. Dedicated circuits are required by NEC (National Electric Code) for all major appliances (generally those that involve massive, fluctuating voltages). So what about portable tools that eat power? Your electric drills, and hair dryers? This is why outlets are on dedicated circuits, too!

The answer here is a little malleable. It depends on a number of variables including:

Notice that all of these variables can change, or be changed. That means the number of circuits you need equates to basically this: As many as it takes. If it has a switch, uses a motor, or gets plugged in, odds are it needs a circuit (maybe not a dedicated one, but a circuit). But how do you find out exactly how many you need? Well, that’s what electricians are for! One thing you can find out on your own, is if you have too few circuits.

If you experience any of these complications, you probably need more circuits, or an upgrade:

There are more complications than this, but they can get complicated, and often have other causes as well.

Think you might need some electrical work in Rockville? Call on the certified electricians at Kolb Electric! We can have your needs assessed and provided for in no time, and our services are guar

Motion sensor LED stair lights let you safely and effectively navigate your steps while eliminating the need for any action. And because they turn off automatically, they also save power! We’ve recently installed these handy little LED stair lights and wanted to share the process with you.

wire that will be needed. It is best to order more than you need so that there’s slack in the line and enough to extend to where your power supply will be mounted.

It’s important to choose the correct wire gauge for the length of wire you need and amount of current that will be flowing through it. The key is to avoid voltage drop, which happens when the supplied energy of a power source is reduced as electric current flows through wire (or any other pieces of equipment that do not supply voltage on a circuit). The longer the run of wire, the lower the gauge of wire needed.

*If you need help determining the correct wire gauge, don’t hesitate to call us toll free at 866-590-3533. Our customer service and technical support teams are available from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. CDT Monday-Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. CDT on Friday.

3. Using wiring from the

4. Use a run of wire to join the PIR sensor at the top of your steps with the power supply. You can wire both PIR sensors to the power supply using electrical tape or with

5. Connect your main line to the PIR sensor at the bottom of your steps, and begin connecting each step light with

7. Finally, connect to power.

LED stair lights and

4. Connect your main line to the PIR sensor at the bottom of your steps, and begin connecting each step light with

6. Finally, plug the power supply into your wall outlet.

The question of whether or not to repair or replace a furnace can be a challenging one. However, there are some key factors that can help you decide which is best for you and your home. One thing to keep in mind is that heating system replacement is a great opportunity to increase your energy efficiency and comfort. Should you decide to replace your furnace in Brighton, make sure that you hire trained professionals to perform the installation. The experts at FB Electrical Services can install both electric and gas furnaces, so call us today!

Reasons to Consider Replacement

Here are some reasons why it may be better to replace than continue to repair your current furnace:

Constant Repairs

If your furnace needed a lot of repairs last winter, and you are looking at more repairs this winter, it may be time to consider replacement. Nursing an ailing furnace along can add up quickly, sometimes even up to the cost of a new furnace. You may need to determine where your money is better spent.

Rust/Corrosion

Furnaces do not use water in any way, so if your unit has considerable rust and corrosion on it, it may need to be replaced. If rust and/or corrosion is localized, it may be repairable, but if the corrosion is significant, it can’t be repaired. Excess corrosion can be dangerous in gas furnaces because cracks and holes can potentially leak toxic fumes, which are very dangerous to your household.

Age

Age always plays a role in whether or not it’s time for replacement, and for good reasons. Aging systems can be challenged to effectively and reliably heat your home, and often do not have good energy efficiency. The average lifespan of a gas furnace is 15-20 years; for electric furnaces, it’s 20-30 years. If your furnace is at or over the average lifespan, it may be time to consider replacement.

Your furnace should be reliable, energy efficient and provide the Call FB Electrical Services today and schedule an appointment for your furnace with one of our heating specialists.