If you need someone to help you with wiring, installing a light fixture, or updating your fuse box or electrical panel, you know that you need an electrician. Such jobs require special training and skill and are generally too dangerous to be done as DIY projects. However, you probably don’t know what type of electrician you need or even that there are different types of electricians out there with different levels of qualifications.

Licensed electricians fall into two main categories—journeymen electricians and master electricians. A journeyman electrician has:

This training qualifies him or her to work alone on most electrical installations and repairs and on both homes and businesses.

A master electrician has built upon his or her knowledge as a journeyman electrician to reach the most prestigious level of the electrical profession. In order to become a master electrician, a person must first become a journeyman electrician and work in that capacity for a number of years (the time varies by state). After that time, an electrician can become a master electrician by taking additional training and passing a master electrician licensing exam. To keep this designation, a master electrician is required to complete a set number of hours of continuing education courses each year on topics such as new code requirements, products, and procedures.

In addition to the work of a journeyman electrician, a master electrician can supervise a crew of journeymen and work as a building inspector. As a DC-area homeowner, you’d want to hire a master electrician if you were having your entire house rewired or undergoing another extensive project. If your job requires more than one electrician to complete the project, you will likely be set up with a master electrician along with journeymen electricians.

At Kolb Electric, we employ both journeymen and master electricians, with only the top skills and credentials. We understand that you probably aren’t familiar with the different types of electricians, so we’re careful to send out only the best person for your particular job.

To learn more about our team of electricians and their qualifications, call us at 877 287-1179 or contact us online to schedule your appointment. We’ve been helping Mid-Atlantic homeowners with their electrical needs since 1925 and have both journeymen electricians and master electricians on staff to provide you with the best technical expertise for your project at the best cost.

There is something for everyone with Lighting Designs from Lite Source Inc. newly available at  1800lighting.com!

Get the lighting that grows with you!  Lite Source Inc. is the source for classic styling and fashion forward lighting designs for the entire family.  Maybe you are looking for sleek LED adjustable bedside reading lamps, or novelty theme-based lamps for your child’s bedroom—Lite Source Inc. has got you covered!

Perhaps you are searching for the perfect Mother’s Day or Father’s Day gift? Check out new magnifying/reading lamps from Lite Source Inc.’s outstanding desk/task lamp collections.  If you are thinking about updating your den or family room, you will find unique table lamps that are affordable and superbly crafted.

New lighting concepts from Lite Source include classic chandeliers for your dining area, fabulous accent lamps for your night tables, and whimsical bedroom lighting to deliver that personalized touch to your child’s bedroom.

Browse a remarkable selection of lighting, including Classic, Elite and Kids styled lighting categories.  Portable lamps, ceiling light fixtures, wall lamps, clip-on lights, adjustable table and floor lamps—fulfill all your lighting needs with marvelous finds from Lite Source at 1800lighting.com.

Styles include traditional, contemporary and transitional, as well as, accent and office/task lighting compositions.  The finest materials-ceramic, crystal, glass, metal and wood-are combined in artfully captivating lighting designs from Lite Source.

Lite Source maintains a large headquarters in California and has showrooms in major US cities, including Dallas, Texas and Las Vegas, Nevada.  The Lite Source team works hard to bring you the best in novel lighting designs and the ultimate in easy and affordable task and accent lamps.

Dynamic designs, outstanding functional lighting compositions, the latest in lighting technology—you get it all from Lite Source Inc. On board with state-of-the art lighting styles, lamps from Lite Source include LED (light emitting diode), CFL (compact fluorescent) and energy-efficient halogen.  With a myriad of illuminating choices combined with advanced performance, you will find exactly what you are looking for to complete your lighting design.

Lite Source remains true to its commitment to provide you the largest selection of fashion forward lighting that is timeless, top quality and always in style.  See for yourself—visit 1800lighting.com and enjoy the fabulous Lite Source line of lighting products designed with something for everyone from the very young to the fashion conscious mature adult!

Update your den or living room with the contemporary geometric LS-22078 “Nizanna” table lamp featuring a Polished Steel/ Dark Walnut finish and White Fabric Shade.

Illuminate your room with the attractive two-tone LS-5750 “Relaxar” flushmount fixture.

See these lighting designs and browse the entire collection of Lite Source Inc. at 1800lighting.com.

Skip all the site hopping and countless hours in department stores; finding the perfect gift doesn’t have to be a hassle. We’ve put together a list of the best LED Christmas gifts for mom, dad, brother, sister, and any friend or family member. From custom-printed LED panel lights to rechargeable LED flashlights—we’ve got a great mix of LED lighting products that are sure to be a hit.

This LED strip light kit is great for cabinet lighting, under-cabinet lighting, cove lighting, bookshelf lighting, and any other hard-to-light space. The weatherproof kit comes with everything needed for installation: a 16 1/2″ plug-and-play LED light strip, push-button dimmer, remote, UL-Listed 12V power supply, and connection accessories. Designed to last 30,000 hours, the LED light strip is available in cool white, natural white, or warm white colors.

Perfect for students or late-night workaholics, this long-lasting LED desk lamp offers a lot in the way of customization. Four dimming levels (up to 170 lumens) are available at the tap of its touch-activated button, and the sleek LED lamp is fully adjustable for the perfect amount of light right where it’s needed.

This REDLINE® RC™ Rechargeable LED Flashlight is a gift that keeps on giving. Powered by a lithium-ion battery, the compact flashlight emits up to nine hours of powerful illumination, and its MagDock magnetic docking station provides a full charge in just two hours. Four different light intensities are available along with a strobe mode and 4x adjustable zoom. This durable little light is water and impact resistant with a non-slip grip, magnetic base, and an attached lanyard.

If you have questions, don’t hesitate to call us toll free at 866-590-3533. Our customer service and technical support teams are available from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. CDT Monday-Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. CDT on Friday.

Security lighting is a great way to protect your home from intruders at night—but only when it’s working properly! Malfunctioning security lights may stay on longer than they’re supposed to, not turn on when they should turn on, or face a number of other problems that prevent them from working effectively. The following is a guide to troubleshooting security lights for some of the most common issues people face. Here’s what to do if you have the same problems!

Motion sensor lights are designed to come on when they detect movement and shut off after a few minutes when everything stops. But sometimes, motion stops and the lights stay on—usually as a result of a spike in current.

The first step in troubleshooting security lights with motion sensors that won’t shut off is to check if the time interval has been changed. Most motion sensors allow you to set a length of time for the light to stay on, usually anywhere between 30 seconds to 10 minutes. If the interval has been changed and the lights are staying on for too long, change it back to the time you want.

If that doesn’t work, go outside during the day and see if there’s anything in range of the motion detector that might be constantly moving, like a flag or even an animal nest (you might even look outside at night and see if you can see anything). If you don’t see anything, try shutting the lights off at the breaker, then restarting them.

Lights that won’t shut off are bad enough, but what about lights that won’t turn on? One common reason this happens is that artificial light is coming in from another source and is mimicking daylight, preventing the sensor from activating properly. Try to find where the light is coming from, and cover or change the direction of the sensor to avoid the light.

The underlying issue behind constantly flickering lights may vary depending on a number of factors, including whether the problem is only occurring with a single bulb or more than one at a time. If it’s only a single bulb, carefully check it to see if it’s secure in its fitting. If it is, try replacing it with a new bulb. If that doesn’t work, call an electrician for a security light repair.

This one isn’t as common as the others on our list, but in the past we’ve had customers whose security lights have been faulty when the weather was damp, rainy, or snowy. This is usually the result of low quality motion sensors, which can be temperamental in very hot or very cold weather. The certified, DC-area electricians at Kolb Electric recommend spending a little more upfront to get a quality product that you’ll be able to rely on for years with little need for security light repair.