Pendant lights are popular among many home designs. These versatile ceiling pendants unequivocally fit the bill in a variety of zones where points of light and design converge. Adding ceiling pendants over the kitchen island has been a design element we’ve seen and loved for a while, but interior designers and trendsetters are taking it a step further. We are starting to see designs incorporating unique, stylish pendants over dining tables, above the bath vanity, over the dressing table, by your favorite reading chair and over chic desks.

Whether your lighting design taste sways toward sparkling crystal or rustic farmhouse, selecting the correct size and number of pendants is key to creating a space that is both functional and beautiful.

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.

When taking on a new remodeling project, you’ll have the job of selecting a Pasadena electrician that can take care of the electrical bidding aspect of your project. Of course you’ll want to get the best possible results for the most reasonable amount of money; however, besides the bid estimate for the work to be done, there’s so much more involved when selecting the right electrician.

To make sure that you are making the best choice for your home or business remodeling project, here are some helpful ideas:

1) Decide on exactly what your remodel project will involve, and what type of electrical repairs or installations you’ll need from your electrician in Pasadena. Next, schedule an electrical estimate with a licensed Pasadena electrician.

2) Explain and discuss what you think needs to be done with your electrician and let him know if have any special wiring concerns, and/or if you’d like to provide any of the lighting fixtures yourself. Remember, you can save money by purchasing your electrical fixtures on your own, and this will ensure that you’ll have exactly what you want.

3) Once you receive your bid, make a list of any additional questions you might have about your bid, and ask your electrician to explain the bid to you in detail so that you can have a better understanding of how they arrived at their bid price.

4) Consider the reputation and the range of electrical services of your electrician. Pasadena professional electricians will insist on performing an electrical safety assessment; too, before the job is begun. The Electric Connection can competently take care of this type of electrical assessment for you.

You can visit TheElectricConnection.com website and give us a call to speak with us about getting a free electrical estimate for your remodeling project or new electrical installation. We will be able to assist you by connecting you with an electrician who can answer all of your questions, and we would look forward to serving you!

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This issue almost exclusively applies to instructions on how to safely repair it.

The average rated life of a light bulb represents how long it took for half of the bulbs to fail during testing (given perfect conditions). If your bulb lasted 12,315 hours (you counted!) but the label touted an average rated of life of 20,000 hours, you’re actually still within range of an acceptable life span.

We measure LED bulbs a bit differently since they never technically burn out, but rather fade over time. Instead, the Lighting FactsTM label indicates LED lumen maintenance (LM), which is an estimate of the bulb’s lumen depreciation over a given time.

Solution: Understand that the expected lifespan of your light bulb is simply an estimate based on testing that was performed in a controlled environment. When a bulb burns out earlier than that estimate, it doesn’t always mean something is wrong with it.