In many parts of the country, like Los Angeles where I do electrical work, electric vehicles (EVs) are being delivered to anxiously waiting customers. Deliveries are also starting in other West Coast cities as well as cities along the Eastern Seaboard. In the center of the country, not so much. In many cases, these areas will start receiving deliveries towards the end of 2011.

Let’s say electric car deliveries have already started in your area and you own of these new-fangled vehicles — a Nissan Leaf or Chevy Volt. How do you recharge the battery? In my last post, I talked about the simple and inexpensive option, Level 1 charging. This is using a charging cord that comes as standard equipment with your electric vehicle, similar to the one your cell phone comes with. You’ll need an electrician to make sure that you’ve got the right kind of outlet in your garage or carport (GFI outlet on a dedicated circuit). Your electrician will also need to check whether your electrical panel needs upgrading for sufficient capacity. Once it’s a go, plug your charging cord into the outlet and wait … a long time. For the Chevy Volt, 10 hours, and the Nissan Leaf, 20 hours — empty to full.

Even though Level 1 charging is slow, drivers who have short commutes may be satisfied with it because, if they work it right, they won’t start at empty. They’ll have charge left in their batteries and will simply top off at night.

Here’s how it can work. The range of the Nissan Leaf is about 100 miles. Americans drive an average of 33 miles a day. Drivers who drive the average 33 miles will use only one-third of the battery in a day. If they religiously plug in when arriving home, they will be able to top off at night in about seven hours and leave with a full charge in the morning.

In addition, the pressure to be fully charged when leaving home will ease as chargers are increasingly installed in public places. Chargers are already available in Los Angeles train stations, the main airport (L.A.X.), the L.A. Convention Center, and other public places. One can easily find the network of existing public chargers on-line. In addition, malls will begin installing chargers as an inducement for shoppers and workplaces as an employment benefit. In time, you’ll be able to recharge your battery while you shop or work. But we’re not there yet.

For hybrids, like the Chevy Volt, the issue of leaving home fully charged is less pressing. The Chevy Volt can drive for about 35 miles on a fully-charged battery. Once the battery hits empty, it, like other hybrids, the Volt turns to burning gas in a conventional internal combustion engine. This isn’t good for gas usage, but on the other hand, the driver may suffer less from “range anxiety.”

While you may be able to make Level 1 charging work, you also have the option of faster charging by installing a special Level 2 charger in your garage or carport. More on Level 2 Charging in later posts or find out more by clicking here.

For more about my company, The Electric Connection — all the stuff you wanted to know but were afraid to ask — . If you’re interested coupons for electrical work, for example, $50 off installation of a Whole House Surge Protector in the L.A. area, click on our coupon page.

Get him two Battery operated LED Picture Light.

source) Make sure your BBQ Master has enough light to control the flow of wickedness with the Black Mo Tools Axe by Brook & Hunter and a Power Box 360 stereo by Bosch is a dust and moisture resistant powerhouse with a rubber cage exterior. Rock the night away with a LED Headlamp for smaller, intricate ones that need direct light.

You know the kind — he has the biggest TV you’ve ever seen and has an entire room devoted to it. Upgrade the man cave with his favorite LED Fiber Optic Star Ceiling Kit.

This is the second blog post in this year’s 15 smart gift ideas for students of any age. Visit our Holiday Specials!

For many homeowners, the presence of a smoke alarm within the home equates to pretty much background noise. You might ask about it upon purchase, or make sure there is one within your home that may or may not work. This shouldn’t be the case! A smoke alarm just might be the single factor between heading off a dangerous situation and major property loss. At Hoffman Electrical, your safety always comes first, and we would like to take a moment to let you know why adequate smoke alarms within your home are of the utmost importance to your safety.

For professional  Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), there are nearly a million home fires in the United States each year. That’s nearly one in every three hundred United States homes! That is a concerning statistic, and damages include property damage and loss, and possible injury or loss of life. Ensuring you have the best chance possible of detecting, preparing for, escaping or mitigating a home fire is absolutely crucial.

If you’re in need of fire alarm installation, don’t hesitate to call Hoffman Electrical! The longer you wait, the greater the chance of extensive property damage and injuries! When you choose Hoffman Electrical, you receive: