In any workplace, change is a common occurrence. Things like new equipment, movement of said equipment and any change in wiring is not visible to staff unless it’s properly documented. If it is properly labelled, a cable managing system can help in solving and detecting exactly where any problems occur.

Since practically every process in a company relies on electrical system, any disruptions can affect a wide range of processes, ranging from IT to basic infrastructure, leading to a possible halt in daily business activities and production.

Here are the main benefits of clearly labeling infrastructure components:

Without proper labels, a company can lose valuable time and assets trying to discover where and what the problem is, before they can work on fixing it, and without warranty protection and long-term maintenance of electrical, telecom, A/V and security networking systems, the loss can be immense.

Through the work week between the hours of 9 to 5, many mega watts of electricity is fed into offices and commercial buildings all over the world. These are places where productivity is vital and electricity is critical for the productivity to exist. Whether renting, leasing, or own an office building, here is a checklist of items for consideration that will improve the efficiency of electricity running throughout the office

Some office buildings can have hundreds of workstations on each floor. Each workstation can include monitors, computers, printers and other electronic devices. A bad situation develops when there are insufficient numbers of power outlets, and the only solution is to add and chain extension cables. Often this can lead to overloading the electrical circuits, damage electronics and create a risk of electrocution. If you find that there are not enough power outlets for your workspaces, have a licenced electrician inspect the office space and install new ones. A professional will be able to determine how much load can go on each circuit without causing strain on the circuit breaker.

If the workspace lighting is inadequate, workers may find it straining on their eyes and can ultimately create an unwelcoming work environment. Through proper lighting design the office space can become more efficient and pleasant to work in. Upgrading your light fixtures with more efficient bulbs can lead to better lighting and lower electrical costs each month.

An office building should also be equipped with the appropriate outdoor lighting. This will improve building safety by providing lighting at building entry points, but also keep employees feeling safe while exiting the building during the night. Read more about office lighting.

The worst thing that can happen for productivity is an electrical outage. Without the use of computers and printers, an electrical outage can bring a business to its knees. Equipping an office building with a backup generator adds a layer of protection against these types of situations. As soon as power stops flowing to the building, the generator will activate and continue providing power to workstations. This is helpful to prevent loss of work and provide some extra hours of productivity. While your office still may remain without internet services, the extra time can be used well to finish up tasks and plan for any additional power outages. Read more about standby generators.

Whether you are in charge of a building, or your own office’s workspace, make sure that your building is running safely and efficiently. Investing in the right lighting and generator can be a wise investment to keep productivity up in the long dark hours of the winter. For more information on office electrical or to schedule an inspection from one of our licensed electricians, contact your local Expert Electric.

Tripped circuit breaker: many of us have experienced them at some point in our homes, yet instead of asking ourselves, “Why Do Breakers Trip?”, we reset the breaker without much thought. Before flipping the switch back over to the “ON” position, however, it’s important to understand why the breaker tripped in the first place, and what can be done to keep it from happening again.

As a Top Dallas Electrician, ElectricMan Inc. understands the danger of ignoring the warning signs of a tripped circuit breaker. But first, you need to know what a breaker does and how it works.

The Job of the Circuit Breaker

Simply put, a home or business circuit breaker is a safety device that monitors the amount of electrical current going through the electrical wires in your home and shuts off the circuit if too much electricity is being pulled through it, or if there is any disturbance in the current that could result in a fire.

Whereas a fuse performs the same task but can only be used once, a circuit breaker can perform over and over with the use of a switch that trips to indicate when it has effectively cut off current to a particular area.

What Makes a Breaker Trip?

So, Why Do Breakers Trip and what kind of things could cause a circuit breaker to trip? Some of the most common causes of a tripped breaker include:

For example, in some homes, running a microwave, a toaster oven and a refrigerator all on the same circuit may cause your wires to overheat, tripping the breaker. In this instance, making the load a little lighter, or splitting the circuit, may do the trick in keeping it from tripping the breaker.

Ignoring a Tripped Breaker is Not a Good Idea

Because of the many reasons why your circuit breaker could be tripping, and because of the purpose of the circuit breaker, you should never take a tripped breaker lightly. It’s important to understand that the circuit breaker is a safety device; simply switching the circuit back on without investigating the culprit can become costly in the long run and, in many cases, extremely dangerous.

If your breaker trips consistently, chances are there is a potentially dangerous electrical issue that needs to be looked at. ElectricMan Inc. is a Top Dallas Electrician with over 27 years of residential and commercial experience in the electrical field. Call ElectricMan Inc. at 972-792-7270 to make sure that your home is safe and free from the risk of a short or a fire.

The changing seasons, like the changing characteristics of matter, present dichotomies and the challenge in life is learning to find a successful balance.  Cultivating the right lighting design is all about a successful balance. Our outdoor lighting how-to guide will help you to establish and maintain a splendid outdoor oasis to be enjoyed year-round.

Capitol Lighting Respects the Night with Champion Illumination

The trend toward outdoor living continues with expanding decks and patios and customizing outdoor kitchens for outdoor entertainment.  Also, fireplaces, fire pits, and space heaters are being added to extend outdoor living well beyond the spring and summer months.  To make these areas as comfortable, safe, and maintenance-free as possible, great lighting is key.

Capitol Lighting’s Expert Advice for Lighting Up Outdoors

The conditions are perfect for outdoor lighting installations. Learn how-to customize the perfect outdoor lighting design and : Follow along with our

1.  Consider the areas to be illuminated:

•General lighting for decks, porches and patios.

•Accent lighting for gardens, fountains, statues and unique architectural elements.

•Security lighting for walkways and driveways.

•Decorative lighting for home entry zones.

2.  Choose your power supply and be sure that all outdoor and landscape lighting fixtures are compatible with the system.

3.  Choose landscape lighting fixtures more for their lighting effects rather than their aesthetic appeal.  The decorative features of landscape lights should be secondary to the objects they illuminate. With a good lighting design, landscape fixtures will provide understated elegance to the outdoor environment during the day, as well as at night.

4.  Decide which system works best for you:  Low voltage lighting provides softer more luxurious illumination, while LED is extremely energy-efficient, low-maintenance and most durable.  Incandescent bulbs typically last 1,000-2,000 hours; fluorescent bulbs may last 10,000-15,000 hours; and, LED bulbs may last 35,000-50,000 hours.

5.  Make sure to power your lighting with the appropriate transformers and wiring. If you are thinking about adding to your outside lighting system, choose power sources that will accommodate the additional fixtures.

6.  Automated timers and motion- or heat-sensitive controls make your home appear occupied during the night and save on energy costs. Locate timers and controls in areas where they are easily accessible.

7.  All outside lighting fixtures and accessories must be selected to withstand the elements, including sun, humidity, rain, ice and snow.  Check that all items are waterproof and UL-approved for outdoor use. Copper, brass and composite fixtures are excellent for homes near the seashore where salty air may be a factor.

8.  Think about landscape lighting as part of your planning and construction in a new home environment.  Outdoor lighting designers should coordinate with landscape architects and electricians.

9.  Traditional wall lights such as wall lanterns bracketing main entryway doors help you to identify visitors and ensure their safety.  They are also appropriate for rear and side entrances and over garage doors. Be sure to select post lanterns and wall brackets that are proportional to your home.  When in doubt, size up.  Fixtures appear smaller from curbside viewing than most people would imagine. * *

10.  Take care to avoid glare and pointing fixtures into your neighbor’s property. Curb “light pollution” with shielded fixtures that focus illumination downward.  Most outdoor fixtures may be easily focused to light the environment for safety, security and aesthetics while protecting other areas from unwanted glare and profuse light. * * *

**Rule of thumb for sizing outdoor wall lanterns:  The height of the lantern should be based on the height of the door.  If brackets are to be installed on either side of the door, they should measure about one-fourth the height of the door.  If using only one lantern, size up to about one-third the height of the door.

***“Dark Sky” Compliancy and light pollution:  A man-made culprit, due mainly to poor lighting design, is a phenomenon called “light pollution.”  Light pollution is any adverse effect of artificial light, including sky glow, glare, light trespass, light clutter, decreased visibility at night, and energy waste.  Many of Capitol Lighting’s trusted manufacturers offer “Dark Sky” versions of their outdoor lighting products, which “collar” the light bulb around its base to block superfluous upward emissions of light.

Capitol Lighting’s professional lighting consultants will help you in selecting everything from timers and outdoor hanging pendants to path lights and post lanterns.  Work with the experts to devise fabulous landscape lighting designs and prepare your outdoor environment with quality security lighting customized to enhance the beauty of your home.