As you explore different lighting options for your kitchen, you may want to check out LED light strips. You can have the strips installed virtually anywhere. If you have ever seen LED lighting, you know it is very bright. Amazingly, the bulbs are super small and extremely energy efficient. If you are looking for a solution to your lighting troubles under the counters in your kitchen, around the vanity in the bathroom or even an adequate reading light in your bedroom, consider having an electrician in Santa Monica help you with the installation of one of these affordable LED light strips. At The Electric Connection, you will find knowledgeable staff who are willing to help you take care of the little electrical jobs around the house.

The light strips can be bought at your local home improvement store in various sizes. They are sold in strips that allow you to cut the strips into the desired length for placement under your kitchen counters or over your headboard. Because there is some electrical work involved, you will want to have the installation completed by an electrician. Santa Monica homeowners will be amazed to discover how bright just a single light can be. They can transform a dark area, like your closet, into a bright, inviting space with just the flick of a switch.

Now, you are probably thinking LED lights are great for some things, but it can be a little overwhelming at times. There is an answer to that. Your electrician can equip the light strip with a dimmer switch. This allows you to enjoy the best of both worlds. The best part about LEDs is the energy savings. They use just a mere 36 watts. If you are ready to transform your dark closet or under counter space, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Here's a novel idea to ponder: One day, your car could be the power source for your home electrical work. That's right, electric cars are being primed to send electricity from their batteries back into the home and even to the electric grid. They aren't full-time power sources, of course, but cars do have the potential to get you through a power outage and even help you save money on your electric bills. Read on to find out how.

Upending the Human-Car Relationship

The typical relationship between electric cars and our home electrical work is a one-way street – you fill up the car's battery from a home charging station, a process that takes hours. However, new fast-charging technology that is becoming available has a second intriguing function: it also allows the car to discharge electricity into the home. Nissan has already developed a system that would allow the car to hook up to home electrical work and keep it running in an emergency.

The battery in the Nissan Leaf holds enough energy to power a typical home for about 24 hours, longer if you take energy conservation measures. It won't keep the power on forever, but it's enough to keep the lights on and the fridge cold for a while during an outage. Even more impressive, since cars are, after all, mobile, the autos could be driven to areas in need of power in the event of a black-out to help with emergency services.

Smoothing Out Demand

The next step would be to use cars to actually sell electricity back to the grid. In a twist on time-of-day pricing, in which electricity costs more during the day and less at night, manufacturers envision a day when our cars are used as giant storage batteries, soaking up electricity at night when it's cheap and then discharging it back to the grid during the day to help even out demand and reduce bills at the same time.

With the right technology in place, utility companies could control exactly how much electricity comes and goes from plugged-in cars. This could reduce expenses dramatically, because it costs a bundle to bring on incremental power sources to meet extra demand during the day.

A Vision of the Future

This futuristic vision of the electrical grid isn't here yet, but the technology already exists. As more and more electric cars hit the road, we get closer to realizing their potential as mobile power storage devices as well as human transportation vehicles.

To find out if your home is suitable for an electric car charging station, call a local electrician today.

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.