One studied alternating current (AC), and the other, direct current (DC). And yet, the world would not be where it is today without their contributions to science and electricity. In light of Nikola Tesla’s birthday on July 10, Mr. Electric is taking a look at the electric Tesla vs. Edison feud.

The main focus for Tesla was alternating current: an electric charge that periodically reverses its direction and is delivered to customers through a transformer. It travels at a much higher voltage than direct current and is more effective because of its ability to travel greater distances while maintaining a constant voltage.

Edison focused his research of electricity on direct current. A key difference between alternating current and direct current is that direct current only flows one way. The voltage of direct current is also constant but it is better when the electricity produced has to travel in short distances.

Edison was working on a system to generate direct current. When he could not get it to perform correctly he hired Tesla, an engineer and graduate of The Polytechnic Institute, who studied electromagnetism, promising him $100,000 if he could correct the problems Edison was having with his research and invention. Tesla corrected the problems but was not given the money. Tesla resigned and Edison spent the rest of his career trying to discredit Tesla’s research and work with electricity.

Today, nearly every home and business in the world is powered using Tesla’s alternating current. The ability of alternating current to travel over long distances and efficiently power everyday home and business electrical equipment eventually overtook Edison’s research on direct current. Edison did not lose out completely, as most battery-powered devices, fuel cells and light emitting diodes use direct current. As the push for alternative energy sources is on the rise, many manufacturers are looking at how batteries and electricity can change the way we look at fuel and the way goods are produced. Whether the electricity being used is AC or DC, Tesla helped us get where we are today.

As a homeowner, you face loads of trials and tribulations. Home maintenance, jobs, relationships, and plenty more! Life is rough enough without adding the uninvited members of the animal kingdom into your home, and when you find a chewed wire, you’ve unfortunately got just that! But, hey, don’t stress. The experts at Kolb Electric are here to help!

Why do rodents chew on the wiring in my home?

Rodent teeth are very capable of doing serious harm to your wiring. Why do they even chew on wires? Well, interesting fact, that. A rodent’s front teeth never finish growing, so they chew on anything around to control the length of their incisors. Cool fact, but bad news for your wiring!

Rodents chewing on electrical wires can bring you a world of frustration at the minimum, but can be a source of serious harm at worst! An infestation left unchecked can cause:

Well, traps are always an option, of course. But that remedy tends to be a little unreliable. The unfortunate fact is there’s no magical remedy here. There’s no magical rodent-proof wire coating, or specially crafted mouse vacuum. It really comes down to prevention, and failing that, quick action. To prevent a rodent incursion:

What do I do if I already have a rodent problem?

Call a pest-control specialists right away. It’s frustrating, and costs money you didn’t want to spend, but with each passing week you run the risk of paying more than a few lost cracker crumbs. Rodents chewing on electrical wires is no joke, and left unaddressed will leave you in a bad way, electrically speaking.

Once the nests have been handled, call on an electric professional (like us!) to inspect wiring as soon as possible. Damaged wiring can be caught and fixed before you end up with a real costly problem on your hands.

If things don’t go your way and you end up with some damaged wiring, don’t stress! The experts at Kolb would love nothing more than to assist, bringing you the expertise and service you need to set your wiring right again. Contact us today to learn more about our repair and installation services, or to set an appointment!

Prefabs provide on-site, off-site and other hidden advantages. For instance, faster installation at the job site reduces the project duration. Prefabs have the potential of cutting the installation time by almost a half. In addition, the project will require fewer workers in the field resulting in a big reduction in labor costs and improved profitability.

There’s also a significant savings on labor, which can be very expensive and in short supply. The prefabrication process is considered more of a manufacturing function so the contractor is able to achieve success with fewer workers. The workshop can make use of semi-skilled workers and apprentices, unlike a construction site where an electrician is required to perform the installation.

Fewer materials and less activity at a job site mean that the project is completed faster with a reduced opportunity for accidents and delays. In addition, by delivering all the individual components to the workshop for assembly, the level of material handling is narrowed. This equates to an easy-to-manage supply chain. Fewer materials reduce clutter, waste disposal, and the need for extra storage space.

The workshop provides the best environment for producing the assembly fast without the interruptions that might be found at a construction job site. Further, the production of prefabs is not affected as much by delays from other trades, bad weather, and other construction project hold-ups.

Electricians spend less time working at dangerous heights and precarious positions, hence reducing safety risks. Prefabs allow contractors to reduce the need for as many licensed electricians on the job site. This can result in greater productivity and profitability.

Increased competition and high labor costs have caused declining profits for many electrical contractors. However, with the use of prefabs, profitability can be improved by reducing the labor and time spent at the construction site. Additionally, fabricating electrical assemblies in a workshop makes it easier to stay on budget and hit your project timelines.

As we near the end of summer, we’re still contending with temperatures in the 90 degree region. As a result, we are using our air conditioners for the majority of the day, every day. This puts a lot of strain on your electricity, which is probably reflected on your summertime utility bills. The good news is, there are a number of ways in which you can save energy, and thus reduce your electric bills. We’ve cited a few examples below.

This is a task that should be done at least on a yearly basis—bi-annually if you have a heat pump. You’ll hear some companies tell you that you can or should only have AC maintenance done before the cooling season begins. The truth is however, that AC maintenance can be done at any time of the year (though it is true that HVAC technicians are busier and harder to schedule at peak temperatures).

Preventive maintenance allows our technicians to fully inspect and clean your AC system, and make recommendations for any repairs that might be needed. When your system is effectively cleaned and repaired, it performs more efficiently, and therefor doesn’t use up as much energy as it normally would.

The Department of Energy estimates that 75% of the electrical use by your electronics occurs when those electronics are actually not in use. While there may only be a small amount of electricity used by each component, it adds up. We recommend that you plug each of your electronics into a power strip, and then when they aren’t in use, turn the power strip off.

This is a maintenance task that you can do on your own, at least every 3 months while your system is in use. If you have significant contaminants in your home, such as pet dander or cigarette smoke, then you should up this to once a month. If your air filters are clean, then your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard or run as long to do its job, which means it won’t be using up as much energy as usual.

Compact Fluorescent Lights: Think of a normal florescent light tube, but curled up to fit the shape of a standard light bulb. The best CFLs last 10 times as long and use a quarter of the energy of old incandescent bulbs, according to the federal Department of Energy. The drawbacks of CFLs are that they can be damaged if they are turned on and off too frequently, and they don't work well in the cold so their outdoor utility is limited.

Light Emitting Diodes: Traditionally, LEDs were for power lights on appliances and other limited uses, but advances in technology have greatly expanded their utility, and there are now numerous options for LED light bulbs available to consumers. LEDs are a fantastic value: they use only about 25 percent of the energy of standard light bulbs and can last up to 25 times as long.

Halogen Incandescents: Halogen bulbs are a twist on the old-fashioned incandescent bulbs. They function in essentially the same manner, except the glass globe is filled with halogen gas, which amplifies the light and therefore decreases the amount of electricity needed, hiking its efficiency rating. They aren't as stingy with energy as CFL or LED lights, but work well for outdoor spotlighting.

While modern bulbs cost more to buy than the incandescents you were accustomed to, their increased longevity and efficiency actually lead to big savings in the long run.