Benjamin Franklin, in his time, invented many things that he never quite understood but the one that changed our lives forever was electricity. Electricity pretty much rules our lives to this day. It is impossible to imagine our lives without the little technological advances we use in our everyday lives. From a toaster, to a smart television to Wi-Fi, without these, life would, as some say, cease to move forward.

While electricity is extremely beneficial and useful, it is equally as dangerous. If you are facing an electrical issue at home, you might be tempted to manage it yourself to save the money you would otherwise have to spend on calling in an electrician. You should know that the professional electricians are there for a reason.

They know and understand the dangers that come with the job. They are licensed and have proper training, which you do not. Working with the wiring of a house is much like brain surgery: one wrong move and the entire body can get paralyzed.

Now that paints quite a picture, doesn’t it? It is quite hectic to find an electrician when there are countless people out there that claim to be a master in the trade but actually do not even have a license. They do it just for the money. This has made electricians underdogs. Essential as they may be, they are underrated.

Before discussing how much you should pay an electrician, it is first important to understand what an electrician does in the first place and also why you need to hire one whenever there is an electrical problem. Now, let’s suppose that you walk into a room and flick the switch on. You expect the room to be instantly lit. But what would you do if the lights don’t come on? It is common behavior that many would immediately assume the power went out and check if that is the case.

If it is not, they call an electrician. It is important to keep in mind that a qualified electrician is the only one you should call for any kind of electrical job, which can range from installing small light fixtures to total rewiring of the house.

If you hire an unlicensed electrician for the job, you would be compromising on the quality of the work done and there would be safety hazards as well. One should know that electrical work, much like any other job, requires training. In most cases, an electrician is required to complete 5 years’ worth of education as well as roughly 10,000 hours of on-the-job training to get a license.

Surprised now, aren’t you? These electricians are taught vigorously how to work safely with electrical systems as well as how to abide by codes and laws, which is something an uncertified electrician would never know.

This job brings many hazards with it and so electricians are superheroes that put their lives at stake to bring your life to ease. In Oregon, an electrician on average makes $42,000 a year, which is fair considering the risks. Not to mention, they have spent the best part of a decade honing their craft to obtain their license and they have to make up for the time and cost involved in that. So, as you can see, the price they charge is worth paying because you get the best possible service.

So, before you think about how much you should or shouldn’t pay an electrician, think of the dangers that come with the job and what you would have to go through if you didn’t have an electrician to fix your problem, be it a high-voltage one or a low-voltage one. Hence, it won’t be wrong to say that they are competent professionals who possess certain skills which the average homeowner in Oregon doesn’t.

This is why it is important that you call an electrician every time you face an electrical issue at home. If you try to repair the problem yourself, you put your wellbeing at risk. Not to mention, any mishap with the electrical system can lead to a fire breaking out. In fact, your inexperience can actually cause more harm than good, resulting in you spending more on getting the work done than you would have to in the first place.

LED streetlights are great for the environment. They consume much less energy than standard high-intensity discharge (LED streetlights. What some cities have failed to consider, however, is that while LED streetlights are capable of emitting different colors of light, not every color should be used in public outdoor spaces. Bright blue-rich white light can cause some issues for residents, local wildlife, and night sky visibility. When it comes to streetlights, the warmer the color/correlated color temperature (

studies showing that it can even aid in IBS as well as migraine and cancer prevention.

Throughout the day, light changes from a warm white color at dawn to natural white then to a cool white in the afternoon, back to natural white, and eventually to an ultra warm white color at sunset. Our bodies are used to this cycle of light. Artificial lights that deviate from the natural lighting cycle can throw off our circadian rhythms. The National Institute of General Medical Sciences states that, “Circadian rhythms are physical, mental and behavioral changes that follow a roughly 24-hour cycle, responding primarily to light and darkness in an organism’s environment.”

According to healthybuildingscience.com “. . . different types of light trigger different physiological effects. Blue/white light, akin to a bright midday light, suppresses melatonin and increases serotonin, this light is great for activity. Conversely red/orange light triggers melatonin in preparation for going to sleep. If everything is in balance, the body will generate dopamine, serotonin, cortisol and melatonin in the right quantities at the right time of day.”

On their website, the IDA cites important information from a report, this happens “. . . because blue light scatters more within the human eye.”  While it’s not directly causing harm to someone’s health, glare decreases driver safety and can lead to traffic accidents.               

At night, blue light used outdoors can also wreak havoc on ecology. Introducing light with a CCT that’s close to daylight essentially changes the daily cycle that plants and animals are used to. They depend on this cycle of light and dark for hunting, reproduction, sleeping, migrating, and protection. Nocturnal animals have suffered greatly from cool white light at night; the IDA

Because blue light has a larger reach, cool white LED lights used outdoors at night can contribute to light pollution, or brightening of the sky. This decreases the visibility of stars and can have a negative effect on astronomical research. If cool white LED lights are used, they should be shielded or aimed directly downward to prevent light pollution.

Warm white LED street lights and parking lot lights—with a CCT of 3000K or less—are a much better option for public outdoor areas. They emit a much smaller portion of blue light—which is unnoticeable to the eye—and are currently the best options available for street lighting.

Click the photo below to see our line of warm white LED streetlights.

Summer months are beautiful in Los Angeles. The weather is never too hot and tends to be mild, but there are days when things do heat up and things get a little uncomfortable. Your first reaction may be to go for that air conditioner thermostat and crank it down a few notches as you attempt to cool down your home. But, here is a scenario for you; everybody else has the same idea. That means the electrical grid is getting a real workout and it may even lead to sporadic outages. There is a better option, per your electrician. Los Angeles residents don’t have to run to the thermostat, instead look into a ceiling fan installation. The Electric Connection has been helping southern California residents for years and you can rely on them to help you as well.

Ceiling fans are energy efficient and effective. You don’t have to spike your electric bill because there is a heat wave. Fans installed in your living room, dining room and even in your bedroom can go a long way to keeping you comfortable when the temps are soaring outside. Installation is fairly easy, but should always be handled by an electrician.

Fans stir the air, creating a nice breeze. Combined with an air conditioner, you can easily maintain your comfort without touching the thermostat. The fan blades pull the warm air up and away from where you are sitting or laying. What’s even better, the fans are also beneficial in the cooler months as well. They push the warm air down to where you are.

Because there is some electrical work involved, a Los Angeles electrical professional should do the install. In many cases, electrical wires will need to be brought to the place in the ceiling you have decided you want the fan placed. To make sure your ceiling fan installation is completely safely, give The Electric Connection a call today.