Maintenance Factor

Illumination Systems are designed to fulfill the required lighting level at the end of an operation term and not at day one of the new installation. The luminous flux of the system is going down over lifetime. This is a normal process, no product is lasting forever but the required illuminance levels should not be depreciated at any time. If a lighting system is setup, the maintenance plan has to be fixed too. So the facility managers know how often to clean the room, the luminaries and how frequently to change lamps. A reasonable time needs to be found between maintenance and operating hours, as maintenance cycles are connected to costs. The longer the operation time without maintenance, the more luminaries need to be installed to guarantee the required illumination level at the end of the term. The more frequent the maintenance cycles, the higher the maintenance factor, but also the related costs for the facility service.

Which Points are influencing the Maintenance Factor? Different factors influence the decrease in lighting level like the soiling of the room surfaces, the soiling of the luminaries, depreciation of luminous flux by the light sources or lamps failure.

Room Surface Maintenance Factor: The room surface maintenance factor is the ratio of the room surfaces reflectance before and after cleaning. It is the reduction of the lighting level according to soiling of the room. Luminaire Maintenance Factor: The luminarie maintenance factor is the ration of the luminaries luminous flux before and after cleaning. It depends on the luminarie construction and design (open housing or closed one) as well as on environmental conditions (dirty or clean). Lamp Lumen Maintenance Factor: The lamp lumen maintenance factor is the ration of luminous flux at a specific time compared to a new lamp. It is describing the aging of the lamp or the reduction of light intensity over time. Manufacturers offer comprehensive tables about their lamps luminous flux behavior. Lamp Survival Factor: The lamp survival factor depends on the service lifetime of a lamp. Some lamp lifetimes are reduced by frequent switching. The lamp manufacturers provide tables indicating the lamp survival factor. If a lamp is not working any more, the decision for immediate replacement or group replacement needs to be taken. If the lamp is replaced immediately (mostly in areas where the luminaire is easily reachable) the LSF can be set 1. On the other hand, the decision could be to replace lamps in special terms or group-wise. This could be the case in huge halls, where machines need to be stopped to reach the luminaires.

A maintenance factor of 0.8 shows, that the new lighting system needs to be over driven by 25% not to undercut the minimum required illumination level after 10 years. LED lighting systems are flexible and easy to connect to control systems. The installed load will provide efficient luminous flux at the end of the operation time but the energy that is “over” in the beginning can be saved. The new installation would illuminate an area with required 300lx by about 450lx. The energy can be saved by lighting management systems that are regulating the power concerning the luminous flux depreciation. HID lamps are not easy to control. The energy load that is “over” in the beginning is wasted. No change to save it.

Conclusion: Think carefully when setting up a lighting installations maintenance plan. This starts already with the choice for the light source. LED Modules are efficient, likely not failing and offer long lifetimes between 50,000h and 100,000h. The control possibilities are comprehensive. The luminaries overload, that needs to be installed to guarantee the end of lifetime illuminance levels, can be saved by light management systems. Regarding all the mentioned points, LED is the competing light source. The features are dominant over traditional light sources. Take the chance and install or renew your lighting system by  energy efficient LED light sources and luminaries. If you have further questions please contact the lighting experts at MyLEDLightingGuide.com and discuss products as well as solutions.

Electricity is something we can’t manage without, but it’s crucial to take due care while using it. When it comes to electrical safety, you can never be too careful, and it’s important to ensure that the electrical systems, wiring, fixtures and fittings in your home have been installed by a licensed and insured electrician.

The same level of care has to be maintained when you are using any electrical appliance and you must ensure that you don’t overload the system while operating any of them. It’s very common for people to use extension cords in their homes and not many property owners feel these electrical accessories should be included in their safety checklist.

If an extension cord is used continuously under the wrong conditions, it can potentially lead to electrical shock or even an electrical fire. We have put together a few extension cord safety tips:

The other important thing you should keep in mind is that you should never join two or more extension cords together. This can be very dangerous because that can cause a drop in the voltage in the cords; this reduces the effectiveness of the circuit breakers and safety switches in your home; in turn, this can result in an overload.

If this occurs, the strength of the actual current that’s flowing in the cords can damage appliances which can create a fire hazard & potentially cause electrocution. While an extension cord can be quite helpful in effectively delivering power to points where you need it; never forget that using an extension cord is just a temporary measure and shouldn’t be used to provide permanent power.

Some would argue and say that they have been using extension cords for years without any trouble; however, that doesn’t really mean it won’t compromise the electrical safety in your home, when you plug it in the next time. If you find you are using too many extension cords around your home, it’s an indication that there aren’t enough power outlets in your home, to cover your needs.

It’s best to call in an electrician, discuss your electrical requirements and get them to assess whether the existing installations meet them. For more information, simply speak with the experts at Allround Electrical and take their advice on various aspects of CBUS installations. The number to call is – 1300 169 263. You can also write to us at this email address.

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By: Maddie Ogletree

Your spring renovation isn’t complete without a functionality update for your electrical outlets. Standard outlets just won’t cut it anymore when it comes to powering your home and electronics. You’ll be surprised at how much a few simple upgrades can make your life more convenient.

USB outlets are becoming a necessity for charging your phone, tablet and other electronic devices. It’s always an inconvenience to lose that little white iPhone adapter. But if your outlets are equipped for USBs, your life is a little bit easier. USB outlets are becoming the standard for homes. You can easily plug in your device while you’re in the kitchen, home office or bedroom with a USB upgrade.

Bulky, inconvenient nightlights aren’t your only option. New outlets like the SnapPower outlet feature a nightlight as part of their design. When you turn the lights out, the nightlight comes on, illuminating the outlet from below. No longer do you need to unplug the light to charge your computer. It’s a simple idea to add to your spring remodel!

If you’re undertaking a bathroom renovation, adding an outlet inside of a drawer or cabinet is a way to conveniently power electric razors, hairdryers and more styling tools. If you add in a USB plug as well, you’ll keep your phone charging while you get ready to take on the day.

This idea can also carry over to creating a charging station in your bedroom or living room. Install a couple of plugs in the back of a drawer and let your devices charge without the unsightly wires sprawling everywhere.

Recessed outlets in the kitchen are becoming increasingly popular, and for good reason! Keep your kitchen surfaces free from wires until you need them by conveniently hiding those not-so-pretty plugs. There are a variety of pop out outlets that let you stylishly hide your outlets when you don’t need them.

If you’re in need of a little help updating your outlets, we’d love to give you a hand with your spring renovations! Call Mr. Electric today to find out more.

Decorative LED path lights are the perfect gift for dads who want to add an upscale look to their yard. Shade styles include mushroom, frosted glass, offset cone, or hammered cone, and offset linear light heads are also available to direct illumination exactly where it’s needed. These LED path lights can be used for numerous applications, such as garden lights, patio lights, driveway lights, walkway lights, or sidewalk lights. The long-lasting fixtures emit up to 155 lumens of warm white illumination. They’re constructed of powder coated bronze or black aluminum and are weatherproof as well as rust resistant. Each path light comes with a screw-on ground stake.

This easy-to-install, low-profile light mounts directly to a junction box or in a can light housing. It’s perfect for low ceilings, basement, garage, hallway, closet, bathroom, workshop, and shed lighting. The long-lasting LED ceiling light consumes eight times less power than incandescent bulbs with equivalent output. It emits up to 1,100 lumens of natural white or warm white illumination and has a high color-rendering index (CRI) to show the true colors of objects and surroundings. A removable E26/E27 Edison screw base is included along with hardware for mounting to a junction box or in a can light housing.

Help him enhance the look of his boat while increasing nighttime visibility! LED underwater boat lights can be used as transom lights for colorful wakes, attracting fish, or for nighttime swimming and diving. Single-, double-, and triple-lens versions are available, and the underwater lights produce powerful red, green, blue, white, or RGB color-changing illumination. RGB underwater lights are capable of nine dynamic color-changing and single-color modes with an RGB controller and RF remote (sold separately). The LED lights are designed to last 42 times longer than underwater lights with incandescent bulbs.

Electricity is an integral part of every home and it would be difficult to find a single room in your house that doesn’t have an appliance or fixture that doesn’t operate on electricity. That’s how reliant we are on it. Despite the fact that we can’t really function without it, electricity can be an extremely dangerous commodity; and if you have children in your home, you would have to take extra measures to ensure they are protected from electricity in the home.

Any parent who has had a toddler in the house will tell you that their little one was at one time or the other, fascinated by electrical wires, electrical outlets and appliances. Most children are very curious at that age and don’t think twice before putting a dangling table lamp wire into their mouth or they may try to insert their little fingers into an open socket etc. In short, your home becomes nothing less than a danger zone for your child.

The good news is that it’s possible to address most of these dangers and protect your children from the hazards that these electrical installations pose. Here are some of the things that can be done:

Electricity is something that poses a distinct danger to children. As a parent or a caregiver, it’s your responsibility to be proactive with protecting children from this potential danger. For installation of child-proof electrical installations, call Allround Electrical at 1300 169 263. You can also drop us a line via email.

Thanks for reading,1300 169 263