A solar array, in the simplest of terms, is a group of connected photovoltaic solar panels. These panels, or groups of cells are strategically linked and arranged so that they function as if they were a single panel. In some cases, the term solar array is also used to denote a similarly arranged group of mirrors that are used to reflect and focus sunlight onto an array of photovoltaic panels. There is no set size for a solar array, and sizes range from a small array designed for home use to a solar panel array that is several acres large and consists of hundreds or thousands of panels.

On a more base level, each solar panel array is made up of an array of photovoltaic cells. These cells are responsible for taking the sunlight and converting it into electrical current. Because of an increased interest in renewable energy and environmentally friendly electricity sources, solar panel installation is on the rise.

Solar installers install most arrays in a fixed position. Depending on your particular location, most arrays are installed facing due south. In some cases, however, a solar panel array could be attached to a group of highly efficient motors that are designed to turn the panels to face the sun throughout the day. The motors do use a small amount of energy, but not nearly enough to offset the amount that has been generated. Although this can increase the amount that solar panels cost, it can greatly increase the amount of electricity that is generated in an average day.  The

If you are interested in adding a renewable energy source to your home or business, solar installation is the way to go. To learn more about your options for installation, financing and purchasing your solar panels, visit the Solar Panel Info website.

With the summer months fast approaching, you are likely more than ready to get outside to enjoy the warm summer nights. After a long winter of being cooped up inside, outdoor picnics and get-togethers are just what you need to celebrate the gorgeous weather. To truly enjoy your outdoor space, you need adequate lighting. This is where landscape lighting comes in to play.

There are literally hundreds of options when it comes to lighting up your lawn, garden and patio. If you are keen on a specific theme, you will certainly be able to find a lighting scheme that suits your needs perfectly. If you have toiled long and hard in the flower bed or created a magnificent focal point in your landscaping, you will want to show it off. A strategically placed spotlight or lights that emit soft light are ideal for highlighting those areas you have worked so hard on. This is when you will need an electrician. Los Angeles residents can rely on The Electric Connection to help make their boring nighttime landscape into something absolutely stunning.

Properly placed lights can be used to accent the areas of your yard you want everybody to see and enjoy as well as provide adequate lighting for outdoor parties. However, lighting is not all about appearances. Safety is dramatically enhanced when proper lighting is placed along pathways and in dark corners where things that go bump in the night may be lurking. You want to feel safe in your backyard, and having a well-lit space certainly helps.

Los Angeles electrical needs will require an experienced and qualified electrician to install the lights. In many cases, homeowners prefer to have their landscape lights on a dedicated circuit. This is a job that an electrician will need to complete. Call The Electric Connection today to schedule your landscaping project.

Cleaning a crystal chandelier isn’t as daunting as it may appear. These precious fixtures require a little more love and care than a desk lamp, but you can restore and maintain your crystal’s shine with common household products and a little know-how.

Everyday Care

If your chandelier is still sparkling clean, simply dust the fixture with a lambswool or feather duster every few weeks. Keep your strokes light, since leaded crystal is softer than glass—even dust can scratch it. Be sure to walk around the fixture as you dust, rather than spinning it towards you. Twisting the fixture can strain the wiring or loosen its support.

Spring Cleaning

Eventually, the fixture will need a more thorough cleaning, especially if it’s in a high-traffic area or kitchen. Mid-size chandeliers are still manageable at this stage, provided you have some clean, lint-free rags, isopropyl alcohol, and a little elbow grease.

Before touching the chandelier, follow rule number one: turn off the power to the room when dealing with a ceiling fixture. At least flip the light switch off and tape it so no one will accidentally turn the light on while you’re working. Set up an alternative light source to aid the cleaning. Once the chandelier bulbs have cooled, cover them with plastic snack bags and secure with a rubber band.

Fill a spray bottle with one part isopropyl alcohol and three parts distilled water. Spray on one section of the chandelier at a time, then wipe off with a white cotton glove or lint-free cloth, making sure you dry the frame as well as the crystal. This solution will clarify the crystal and help remove the haze, but is gentler than ammonia on crystal with a design or edge finish. Even so, gently wipe away after spraying and don’t allow the fixture to drip dry. This will help preserve the frame.

Try cleaning your chandelier every two to six months with the alcohol solution, depending on whether the fixture is in a high-traffic area or not.

Heavy Restoration

If your fixture hasn’t been cleaned in a long time (or just needs extra attention), you can go an extra step before calling a professional. This is where a digital camera comes in handy, as you’ll need to remove individual pendants for a more thorough washing. Take pictures of the connections for reference later, then carefully remove the pendants. You may need a pair of needle-nose pliers to help disengage the pendants from the fixture.

Fill a sink with warm water and some gentle dish soap. Carefully wash each crystal piece and rinse in warm water to avoid any drastic temperature shifts. Set the pendants on a clean cloth to dry. Then simply rehang the pendants and enjoy your sparkling fixture!

A bad circuit breaker is a major inconvenience, but there can be other issues at play when your power supply isn’t working the way it should. Breakers protect you and your home from current overloads and other electrical issues. If the circuit gets overloaded, the breaker will trip, cutting power to eliminate the risk of fire. Sometimes a breaker will trip even when there is no overload, but it can be tricky to figure out which situation applies.

If you think you have a bad circuit breaker, look out for the following signs so you can get the problem taken care of quickly.

If your breaker is tripping, it could mean there is a device on the circuit causing an overload. Identifying what circuit the breaker is protecting can help you figure out if the problem is with a device or with the breaker itself. There might be a label on the breaker panel that gives you this information, but if not, you can figure it out by testing your lights and devices. If you disconnect the devices connected to the circuit and try to reset the breaker again, the outcome will confirm whether you have a faulty breaker. If it still trips even without the devices connected to it, it is defective and needs replacement.

Finding a reliable electrician that you feel as though you can trust is hard enough, without having to go through the process again and again. Different types of electrical work take different skill sets. Those specializing in new construction have different skills than those that handle existing electrical systems or specialize in electrical troubleshooting. Far better to find a electrician Santa Monica CA contractor that has the experience and skill to handle a broad range of electrical projects, one that is able to handle your present needs as well as those that you’ll have in the future.

The Electric Connection is a full service electrical contracting company that has been doing a broad range of electrical projects throughout the area for three decades. They’ve built up quite a reputation for the high quality of their work. The Electric Connection handles electrical systems for new construction, maintains and repairs existing systems, does commercial electrical work, residential electrical projects, and is trusted with property management related electrical work. Through years of deliberate effort, they’ve built a solid Santa Monica electrician team, well rounded, with plenty of complementary skill sets. This strategy allows them to take on the wide variety of work that they do successfully.

Electrical services include whole house rewiring, electrical upgrades, and a wide assortment of other maintenance and repair tasks for existing electrical systems. The Electric Connection also does home and business remodeling and renovation electrical work, as well as electrical work for new additions and new construction. This Santa Monica electrician company also installs back up generators, surge protection, smoke detectors, and security lighting, as well as other types of exterior lighting, like landscape lighting. They do all sorts of indoor lighting installation and handle a wide variety of custom lighting and electrical system upgrades. The Electric Connection also have experienced electrical troubleshooting experts on staff.

They’ve built up an excellent reputation for customer care and satisfaction through the years, something they’ve been able to do because of the quality of people that they hire. An electrician in Santa Monica CA that is in the employ of the Electric Connection is expected to be highly skilled, with a professional demeanor, and to the minute prompt. In fact, if you arrange for an electrical service call with the Electric Connection, if your Santa Monica electrician is even just a single, short minute late, that electrical service call is free. That is is a fine example of the high standards they expect their electricians to meet.

They care about their customers, and demonstrate that in a wide variety of ways. On their web site, they feature a wealth of information relating to trouble shooting electrical problems and the proper care and maintenance of an electrical system. They offer free over the phone help to their customers, and are readily accessible and easy to contact. The Electric Connection web site features a variety of discount coupons for electrical services and they run regular specials. With every job that a Santa Monica electrician from the Electric Connection does come a free electrical safety assessment, that check such things as the main electric panel, the grounding, and other important safety related features.

The Electric Connection offers a lifetime guarantee on all of their work, and that’s a guarantee that holds some weight, because they’ve been working successfully in the area for 30 years. They have no plans to go anywhere, and no time to think about it. They are far too busy doing electrical work throughout the region, and making sure that each electrician in Santa Monica CA working for them provides the sort of high quality service the company is known for.

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