So when customers ask us how many ‘Watts” do I need to replace an existing light source, we always convert them to lumens.

•  Pay special attention to the lumens per watt of a fixture. IT DOES MATTER. A LED product at 135 lumens/watt will consume far less energy than a LED product producing 97 lumens/watt. Not all LED solutions are the same. (remember, always buy on the lumens you need, never on the watts you think you need.).

•  To calculate lumens per watt, take the total number of lumens a product produces and divide it by the watts it consumes.

For indoor fixtures, figure on:

utility company. You can check if a product is DLC Qualified on the DesignLights Consortium website. DLC has rebates for Commercial LED Lighting and Industrial LED Lighting

•  Rebates with DLC Premium should be higher than rebates with DLC Standard. Your utility company is typically who provides the rebates and sets the rebate amounts.  Check their website.

•  All UL Listed or ETL Listed.

•  Replacing the light parts of an existing fixture with the a Retrofit unit will not void the UL/ETL Listing of the fixture. However, the exception to this rule are explosion proof rated fixtures (ie. Class I Div 2). Never retrofit a certified explosion proof fixture. UL1598C does not cover these types of retrofits.

•  ETL Listing is the same as UL Listing. They perform the same test, and the certification is the same. The only difference is that the company who performs the test.

A well planned electrical system should be a top priority in every home. There is no denying that electricity is a vital energy that enables everyday tasks to be completed with ease. Not having lights in the kitchen during a party due to a faulty wiring is truly a nightmare. The last thing that you would consider is to tinker with this electrical problem in your best suit, right? This is the time when you wish that a reliable electric repair service Downingtown, PA is in your personal phone book.

Electric repairs for the most part should be left to certified electricians. These are professionals that are trained to troubleshoot any electrical breakdown as safely as possible and to find the best solution that would get you back on track with your daily activities in no time.

Take note though that not all electric repair service companies are created equal. These are suggestions on how to choose the most appropriate electric repair service Downingtown, PA based on your desired quality of service:

a) Inquire how long the company is already in the business. Do they have any referrals that you can contact?

b) Make sure that the company is staffed with licensed electrician who is familiar with your home’s electrical system and well versed with the electrical repairs.

c) Factor in to your evaluation the location of the company. Is the office near your neighborhood? Since your service call would likely to be an emergency, it is nice if the issue can be addressed right away by the Electrician.

d) Check if the electric service repair company can provide a guarantee on completed jobs/ projects and for how long would this guarantee cover you. This provides security and peace of mind just in case the electrical repair done was not successful.

If in case you are really on a tight budget, then consider purchasing your own electrical parts. You can consult the electric repair service Downingtown, PA on what to buy and then just pay the company for labor in the end. Remember though that if you do not have the right information with you like the model and size of the electrical part, it might cost you more in the end. Speak to an experienced and reliable Downingtown Electrician by calling (610) 269-4136 or click here.

Summer is in full swing which means you’re likely spending more time in a hot tub. If you don’t currently own a hot tub but are considering getting one in the near future, there are some important things to consider before purchasing. It’s a no brainer that water and electricity don’t mix; therefore, adhering to proper safety and electrical protocol with hot tub installation and maintenance is imperative. Listed below are Expert Electric’s 5 tips for hot tub safety:

You might consider yourself to be quite the handyman; however, setting up a brand new hot tub is an entirely different animal. Wiring a hot tub is no easy task and it’s far more complex than setting up your average home appliance. Consulting a licensed electrician for a hot tub installation will often save you time, money, and a trip to the hospital. A licensed electrician will minimize any costly mistakes you would make that could result in permanent damage to the hot tub and a void in the hot tub manufacturer’s warranty. Additionally, they will ensure you’re getting the best value in all of the necessary accessories that need to be purchased for installation.

Although this usually isn’t a problem if your home was built within the past 30-40 years, it’s always a good thing to look into before adding an additional appliance to your home. This is another area that a licensed electrician can help with. It’s also crucial to understand what type of voltage your hot tub is running with. Smaller hot tubs usually require 120 volts whereas larger hot tubs will often run on 240 volts. Understanding the different requirements associated with your specific hot tub’s voltage and how it relays to its power source is key.

When it comes to hot tub installation, it’s all in the wiring. Using the proper wiring is critical to the functioning and safety of your hot tub. It’s important to use wiring that is able to handle the heat. A licensed electrician will be able to answer any questions you have about wiring and determine which type of wiring is necessary for your hot tub.

Did you know that Canada has a set of electrical codes that must be followed when installing and maintaining any type of electrical equipment in Canada? These codes must be followed accordingly during the installation. The Canadian Electric Code is a handbook that can be purchased online; however, it’s a long read and fairly expensive. Hiring a licensed electrician will save you the chore of reading it and void its additional cost.

Before installing a hot tub, it’s imperative to consider its location. You’ll need room for the hot tub as well as extra room to get in and out. The hot tub should be at least 10 feet away from any overhead power lines and 5 feet away from the removed spa panel. It’s also important to consider how the tub will connect to its power source.

For further information on hot tub installation and the necessary electrical requirements, please visit our contact page for a local number near you or to fill out one of our online forms. Our team of licensed electricians are here to help ensure your hot tub gets installed safely and efficiently.

For decades, ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) have saved thousands of lives and have helped significantly reduce the number of home electrocutions by about fifty percent. Many homes and business on Kauai do not have proper electrical protection in outdoor or wet locations. With our wind and heavy rain, you need to make sure that you are guarded from the hazard of a shock.

GFCIs are electrical safety devices that trip electrical circuits when they detect ground faults or leakage currents. A person who becomes part of a path for leakage current will be severely shocked or electrocuted. These outlets prevent deadly shock by quickly shutting off power to the circuit if the electricity flowing into the circuit differs by even a slight amount from that returning.

A GFCI should be used in any indoor or outdoor area where water may come into contact with electrical products. The 2008 edition of the National Electrical Code currently requires that GFCIs be used in all kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and outdoors. GFCIs should be tested once a month to confirm that they are working properly.

How to Test Your GFCI:

GFCIs should be tested often to make sure they are working properly. To test your GFCI:

If the light does not turn off when the test button is pushed, then the GFCI may have been incorrectly wired or damaged and it no longer offers shock the protection it was designed for.

Contact us at Blue Sky Electric to check the GFCI and correct the problem:

Call 808-647-0599