The concept of fuel cells as an energy source is credited to a chemist, William Grove. He demonstrated in 1839 that electric current could be produced by an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen over a platinum catalyst. Thereafter, many alternate forms of the technology emerged for producing electricity from various materials and catalysts.

The main reason why fuel cell companies have not been profitable is due to startup and operational costs. Although fuel cells provide clean, inexpensive energy, it is much simpler to use coal or natural gas. These industries have been around for a long time, so their processes are now streamlined.  Unless legislative action requires the use of clean energy, the adoption of fuel cells will remain slow.

Fuel cells are attractive for energy production because they provide clean energy, with no harmful byproducts. Although commercial adoption of fuel cells remains slow, it is possible that the technology could become disruptive and make a significant impact on the energy industry. That could happen if environmental pollution due to the burning of fossil fuels becomes a global concern. So far, large countries that account for a great deal of pollution, such and China, have been indifferent about the pollution they cause.

Among the more obvious pieces of electrical safety advice you may have encountered is to never saw the third prong off of an electrical plug in order to fit it into a two-prong outlet. But just because we can recognize that as a self-evidently bad idea doesn’t mean everyone knows why it’s dangerous.

Two-prong outlets have only two wires: a hot wire and a neutral wire. But a three-prong outlet also has a ground wire, which is a safe place for unexpected bursts of current to go when they occur. Without that connection between the ground wire and the plug, wild current can go anywhere: into your electrical device, where sensitive components can be destroyed, or worse, into your body. Shock and electrocution are more likely to occur when no ground wire is present.

Moving On Up

Three-prong outlets didn’t become standard in North American homes until the late 1960s, so while modern homes should be in good shape, there are plenty of homes out there with old two-prong outlets.

As a quick fix, you might be tempted to use adapters that convert two-prong outlets to fit three-prong plugs. You should resist the urge to use these so-called “cheater plugs”, however -- the ground wire is there for safety, and simply bypassing it creates a potentially serious hazard.

Instead, you should seriously consider upgrading the outlet if you need to regularly use three-prong plugs in that area. If you live in an older home where most of the outlets are two-prong, this is an upgrade you’ll need to do sooner or later.

When it comes to upgrading two-prong outlets, there are two basic options. The best choice is to have ground wires installed so that the outlets are fully up to the current standard. Unfortunately, this can involve several hours of electrical service and may require some cutting into walls, depending on how many outlets are being upgraded and how the home is configured. It may be a big undertaking, but it’s a quality investment in your home and safety.

A cheaper alternative is to upgrade to a ground fault circuit interrupter outlet, or GFCI. These outlets are capable of shutting themselves off if an electrical shock risk is present, but they won’t protect sensitive electronics from surge damage. The trade-off is that there’s no need to run a ground wire.

Out With the Old, In With the Old?

If you don’t like either of these options but you’re having trouble with a two-prong outlet, it’s technically not a violation of code to replace the outlet with another two-prong version. Just keep in mind that this arrangement leaves both people and electronics vulnerable, so use these outlets with care and consider making a plan to upgrade later.

Ready to upgrade those old outlets? Start the process today by scheduling a no-obligation consultation with your licensed, local electricians.

The traditional lighting style–while tasteful and low-key–provides just the right touch when you want to draw the eye to a design focal point without overpowering it. Few lighting styles work as unobtrusively as transitional chandeliers while managing to showcase an advanced stylishness for discerning design aficionados. You can choose from Capitol’s vast selection of lighting features that include:

• Multiple glass shade shapes

• Brass, crystal and metal finishes to complement existing or planned furnishings

• Finishes that include bronze tones, gold accents, brushed nickel, polished nickel, clear and crystal

• Fixture styles that include pendant lights, chandeliers, mini chandeliers, island lights, flush-mounted lights, recessed lighting and track and rail lighting

• Bulb types that include incandescent, fluorescent, halogen and LED technologies

• Energy Star lighting efficiency

• Title 24 compliant

• Dimmable fixtures

When you’re talking about electricity, safety is always one of the most important points to be made. Protecting yourself, your home, and your electrical appliances is a big part of having a functional home here in Tampa. And in our area, one of the biggest risks that can come up is a lighting storm. Lightning arresters are a great, effective way of taming these storms, and today we’d like to talk about what they are, how they work, and what they can do for you and your home!

Most problems with the electrical wiring in a house take a professional to handle. A certified Electrician (electrical contractor) needs to be consulted, so the problem is repaired correctly and to local codes. The city, county, and/or state where you live set the codes to make sure your house is safe to live in without electrical fires or other serious issues happening. Below are five simple tips to how to pick the right professional for the job.

If you’d like to speak more with a team member at Bryant Electric Service about having electrical work done, call our offices at: 512-402-8587.