We’ve all heard the old saying “buyer beware” at some point, right? Well, this is not only an old saying but also, in our opinion, an incredibly outdated one. Nowadays it easier than ever to get direct customer feedback and reviews about products and services, of course. We believe, though, that nothing beats actually trying something out for oneself. That is why we make our office available between the hours of 7:30 AM and 3:30 PM, so that interested parties can come and try out some of our sample products. This is a great way in which to get some hands on experience with the products and systems that you are interested in.

There are a whole lot of products and systems that we’ll be happy to share with you should you take up our earnest offer of visiting the office. Some of the most popular items are:

In an effort to recognize the ever-increasing impact television has on people living all over the world, the United Nations General Assembly created World Television Day on November 21 back in 1996.

Ever since the very first televised images were produced in the 1800s, TV has obviously advanced by leaps and bounds, especially in recent years. Mr. Electric invites you to take a moment to appreciate the many services and capabilities having a television provides, particularly in a time of multi-screening, and all the advanced features available from today’s hottest technological offerings.

Education: Public broadcasting and other educational channels serve to educate the young and old alike. Television is an excellent resource for learning how the world works and getting people interested in math, science and other important fields.

Information: Whether you’re hoping to learn more about political candidates, receive updates on wars, learn what’s happening in your local community, or stay on top of breaking news around the world, TV is an excellent source of information. It’s faster than printed news because the latest stories can be broadcasted immediately.

Entertainment: There’s nothing like winding down after a long day in front of the television. Endless categories of entertainment are available, from comedies and dramas to horror and thrillers. Don’t forget the way TV has changed the way we watch sports. Football wouldn’t be what it is today with television.

Relationships: People can bond with one another based on what’s on TV. Whether it’s watching a favorite show together, tuning in to a political debate to spark conversation or watching your team make it to the Super Bowl, TV brings people together.

Inspiration: Just as people can be inspired by what they see walking down the street, television can also spark inspiration. This leads to new fashion designs, inventions and technological advancements.

Cultural influences: TV is a huge contributor to pop culture. Trendy shows become the talk of the town. People become excited about what happens to the characters in a particular TV show and an entire generation is impacted by it.

TVs are becoming more advanced and high-tech than ever before. These advancements help you get more out of your television.

“Smart” functionality: A smart TV has Internet features, making it an example of today’s popular convergence of computers and televisions. This functionality opens up an entirely new way to watch TV, allowing for on-demand video streaming, home networking access and social media interaction, in addition to the basic broadcasting media available on standard TVs.

Multi-screening: An increasing number of people have Smartphones today. This encourages multi-screening, when television viewers weigh in on what’s happening live on social media, particularly Twitter. This connects people who have never met and lets them discuss and debate topics they’re both interested in.

4K resolution: Also known as ultra high definition, 4K resolution is a relatively new technology that has yet to become the standard because compatible content is still quite limited. 4K televisions are equivalent to 2160p, as compared to 1080p for standard high definition. As this technology becomes more ubiquitous, the television-watching experience will become closer to real life than ever before.

Curved TVs: This new innovation attempts to mimic the way you perceive the real world. The result is a more immersive, realistic experience that gives the illusion of watching content in a wider field of view.

Celebrate World Television Day in style with a new media room in your home. If you’re interested in adding one, please contact Mr. Electric® for a professional installation. We’re here to power your home's tomorrow.

By Clarissa Allison | December 2nd, 2016

When it comes to choosing which manufacturers to represent, several things are taken into consideration. Longevity, reputation, variety of selection, and response time are all paramount. This week LouieLighting.com would like to introduce a manufacturing partner we are proud to showcase: RAB Lighting.

RAB Lighting has been a leading manufacturer of sustainable indoor and outdoor lighting fixtures since 1946. Their reputation is grounded in the finest manufacturing, supported by a growing infrastructure complete with sophisticated facilities and engineering capabilities. Known for its cutting edge product design, quality, and customer support, the company operates the 6 acre corporate headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Northvale, New Jersey as well as locations in China, Taiwan and Malaysia, from where RAB is serving a constantly growing lighting market.

In 2002, RAB Lighting provided the Vaporproof fixtures which formed the Olympic Rings – this project resulted in the largest sign in history. What a feat! Accomplishments such as these demonstrate the pride and craftsmanship central to the brand.

Regardless of bends, twists, or turns, Example of a cut line on LED strip lights

2. You will now have two LED strip lights. Carefully peel back the end portion of the paper strip covering the strip’s adhesive backing, and then remove the 3M VHB adhesive from the solder pads on the bottom side of one of the strips. The strip with its adhesive peeled back will be the top strip when soldered.

5. Align the non-tinned strip segment (strip with adhesive removed) directly over the newly tinned pads, and apply heat. Hold the soldering iron in place until the solder remelts and begins to flow. To strengthen the bond and improve visual appeal, a small portion of solder can be added to the top pad.

The LED strip lights are now connected, and power should flow through the entire length of the strip.

The following steps demonstrate how to split and solder a run of non-weatherproof two-conductor or connecting wires. Peel away the blue wire so that only the positive (red), negative (black), and control (green) wires are left.

*No wires should be peeled away if you’re joining single-color or standard RGB light strips.

3. Properly heat your soldering iron. For best results, clean and tin the tip of the iron immediately before soldering. To tin the iron, touch solder to both sides of the iron’s tip.

4. Next you will need to tin the solder pads on both ends of the split strip light. When soldering, always apply heat to the target area on the strip and not directly to the solder. Once sufficient heat has been applied to the area, start introducing solder.

The LED strip lights are now connected, and power should flow through the entire length of the strip.

The following steps demonstrate how to split, solder, and reseal a

3. Follow steps two through five located at the top of this post for soldering a standard RGB strip light.

4. To reseal the strip light, apply

The LED strip lights are now connected, and power should flow through the entire length of the weatherproof strip.

LED foyer fixture from Artcraft

Saving on energy costs and outfitting your home or office environment with new lamps and light fixtures should be at the top of your home improvement project list.  Not only do new light sources deliver a superb quality of light, they are the key components in decorative and energy-efficient lighting design.

It is an exciting time in the lighting industry.  New products are being developed every day, and LED (light emitting diode) and SSL (solid-state lighting)*  lamps and light fixtures are at the core of future illumination.

What’s more, the integration of LEDs into building and electronic communication systems is bringing everything together and enabling total control with the ease of a smart phone!

Here are some guidelines to help you answer those questions and invest wisely toward one of the greatest home improvement projects of the decade:

WHAT YOUR LIGHTING DESIGN CAN AND SHOULD DO FOR YOU…

In addition to providing optimum levels of brightness, good lighting design must also…

•Eliminate glare

•Increase comfort

•Provide continuity

•Deliver good color rendering

•Allow for adjustability

•Instantaneously make you ”feel good” with an inviting luminous appeal

Because LED lamps require so little energy to provide a great deal of illumination, the energy consumed by the bulb will not be your main concern; your main concern will be getting the desired level of brightness and light appearance.

*NOTE:  LEDs, also referred to as SSL, provide the most energy-efficient and durable illumination because they are composed of “solid state” semiconductor light emitting diodes.

1.    Familiarize yourself with labels on new bulb cartons.

Brightness (in lumens)

Estimated Yearly Cost (depends on rates and use, $)

Lamp Life (based on 3 hrs/day use, rated in years)

Light Appearance (CCT)  (warm-cool, rated in degrees Kelvin (K))

Energy Used (in watts)

Color Rendering (CRI) (measured on a scale of 0-100)

BRIGHTNESS

Brightness levels are measured in lumens to give the amount of total light created by the light source.  Beyond the lumen count, “useable” light and brightness levels are also affected by fixture housings, lenses, filters and shades.  There are clear standards set to measure the lumen output of each LED chip.  ↓

LIGHT APPEARANCE  

Light appearance or correlated color temperature (CCT) helps determine the quality of illumination.  Designated on the Kelvin (K) scale, CCT for decorative interior spaces should be in the warm white (2700-3000K) range.  Sometimes lighting in the neutral white (3500-4000K) is preferred for certain areas, such as bathrooms and kitchens.

LAMP LIFE AND THE LED

Lamp life refers to how long a light source will last once it is installed and used on a daily basis in a typical application. Lamp life ratings, based on estimates from testing,  convey the time that half the bulbs in a sampling have burnt out or dimmed below fifty percent.

COLOR RENDERING AND THE LED

The color rendering index (CRI) measures the ability of a light source to bring out the true colors in décor, objects and surfaces.  Based on a scale of zero (no color rendering) to 100 (perfect color rendering),  a minimum of 80 CRI is acceptable for interior lighting applications.  A CRI of 90+ is even better.

However, because the standard CRI measurement does not always yield true results for some LED light sources, a new standard measure of color quality is in the works:  The Color Quality Scale (CQS) may soon replace CRI for a truer account of color rendering provided by the LED light source.-www.ledlightingexplained.com, Philips Solid-State Lighting, 2010

2.    Match light fixture to light source to ensure peak performance.

LEDs small size, low-temperature emissions, and focused uni-directional beam patterns make them perfect light sources for undercabinet lighting, track lighting and pendant fixtures.

LED general and flood lighting replacement bulbs are composed of clusters of diodes to provide broader beams of light.  General service LED bulbs that are multi-directional with 360-degree angle capacity are doing an excellent job of replicating the desired illumination of old incandescent bulbs. These LED  lamps include A19, PAR, BR and candelabra light sources that are providing more light with the added benefit of tremendous energy-saving, maintenance-free illumination.

Due to their long life and durability, LEDs are excellent in hard to reach places like foyer, attic and cathedral ceiling fixtures.

*Check for compatibility with all new light sources to make sure lamps, light fixtures, dimmers and automated controls are a suitable match.

3.    Compare “apples to apples”; diodes to diodes to ensure top quality.

 Many factors contribute to the quality of the LED light bulb.   Advancements in diode technology and mass production of LED light sources are bringing costs down to make these bulbs more affordable.  However, be wary of “cheaper” LED light sources.

•COB (chip on board), the diode itself is composed of a chip that largely determines  the quality of the bulb.

Prior to being marketed in appliances, fixtures or light bulbs, LEDs are sorted into bins according to their light output (lumen output) and color temperature.  Due to the process of “binning,” LED chips vary in their quality—especially in relation to their lumen output and color, so it is important to purchase LED light bulbs and LED light fixtures from a reputable dealer.

LEDs chosen from bins with higher lumen output are of better quality.  Color temperature is determined by matching up each LED according to a chromatic line grid for a specific color temperature.   LEDs chosen from larger bins contain more color variation , so they deliver an inferior quality of light.

•LPW (lumen per watt), this measurement helps to determine energy-efficiency and efficacy

•IC (integrated circuit) drivers, the quality of the LED lamp is also dependent on the type of driver installed.  LED bulbs contain “drivers” that can fail just like the ballast of a CFL (compact fluorescent). Better driver components make for a higher quality LED light source.

ENERGY STAR-ratings ensure that the LED has met stringent testing procedures.  ENERGY STAR-rated lamps clearly identify characteristics on LED light sources to guarantee that they consistently and reliably meet the desired brightness (lumens), energy-efficiency (lumens per watt), color temperature (CCT), color rendering (CRI), and dimmability requirements.

New ENERGY STAR Regulations include:

•Consistency Control:  More standardized testing methods to improve consistency.

•Dimmability Ratings:  A lamp is either dimmable or not dimmable.  If a lamp claims to be dimmable, testing is required and it must dim down to at least 20 percent.  If it is not dimmable, it must say so on the package.

•Greater Energy Conservation:  Efficiency requirements have increased for specific lamp wattages and types.

NOTE:  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with ENERGY STAR offers rebate programs as an added incentive to help you spring into action and upgrade with LED.  Check out rebate programs in your area or contact an American Lighting Association (ALA)-affiliated showroom for more details.

LED chandelier “Niagara” from Lladro

1800lighting’s Top LED Bulb Pics:

Bulbrite’s  LED  MR16 lamp

Philips medium base LED

Philips dimmable LED

Satco’s PAR38 indoor-outdoor LED lamp

Satco’s Kolour One A19 omni-directional LED lamp delivers 820 lumens and excellent color consistency.

Satco’s Ditto PAR LED lamps are available in 25- and 40-degree beam angles and either 3000K or 4000K.