Legrand has been operating in the U.S. since 1984 and continues to bring its unique products to the American market. In addition to a luxury look, the brand offers many useful features and benefits to your home. From innovative gesture recognition to cross-compatibility with different bulb types,

Traditional lighting offers few options for adjusting light levels from room to room or regulating how much energy your lights use. Legrand addresses this problem with its innovative designs and technology, providing switches and dimmers with unprecedented options for control. Instead of flipping a switch, you might tap a console, press a rocker or toggle or simply wave your hand in front of a panel to turn lights on and off. Each fixture is designed to be as flush with the wall as possible, creating a clean look in any room.

Legrand dimmers come in six designs, each with its own combination of switch and dimmer controls:

We get a lot of calls for fluorescent light repair here at Expert Electric. But before calling, always remember that if your fluorescent light fixture is burnt out or flickering, first change the bulbs (fluorescent tubes) to see if this corrects the problem and also save yourself some money. If you are not comfortable changing the bulbs due to location or any other safety concern, we would be very happy to help you. If your fluorescent fixture still does not light up after changing the bulbs then the problem is most likely faulty ballast, or less commonly a possible wiring issue.

Fluorescent light is the product of two components: the lamp and the ballast. The role of the ballast is to boost voltage for short duration; the ballast will then maintain a constant applied limited current to properly operate the lamp. You must use the proper ballast for each type of fluorescent bulb. Bulb types are T12, T8, and HO. While it is tempting to install higher efficiency fluorescent lamps (like T12s or T8s), we must pay special attention to the type of ballast installed in the light fixture or those bulbs will not operate properly.

The ballast technology has improved a lot in the last 15 years.  If you are not upgrading your ballast you won’t see the potential energy savings that efficient fluorescent lighting can provide. The new electronic ballasts operate differently from older electro-magnetic ballasts. They don’t just save you money but out-perform magnetic technology in several ways.

Higher Efficiency: New electronic ballasts provide you with more light and cost less to operate, saving you money and helping the environment. Dimming is also easier with electronic ballasts.

More Control: Electronic ballasts can be manufactured to under drive or overdrive the lamps they support, producing more or less light. This allows you to adjust which areas need more light and which need less light. The lighting pattern can now be changed due to work patterns and specific lighting requirements.

Dimmer Switches: Dimming is also easier with electronic ballasts. Preset your dimmer and it can cut your light by 50% and this will save you money as well.

Less Heat Emission: Electronic solid-state ballasts produce less heat than electromagnetic type ballast. What this means is if you are operating cooling equipment, such as food coolers or air conditioning during summer the electronic ballasts will help you save on cooling costs.

The best part is that with the higher frequency electronic ballasts, there is no flicker or buzz. There are many benefits to high efficient ballasts and we recommend you take advantage of them.

One of the most frequent questions we hear is, “What’s the most energy-efficient light bulb I can use?” At Kolb Electric, we’re here to help you choose the best type of lighting for your Maryland, DC or Virginia home, and we want you to be well-informed about the energy efficient options that are out there. If you’re wanting to save even more, here’s everything you need to know about energy efficient lighting.

The two main choices for energy-efficient lighting in your home are light emitting diode (LED) and compact fluorescent lights (CFL). Both are a good choice, and both have unique benefits and drawbacks. Making the decision between the two requires a proper understanding of these benefits and drawbacks.

These two lighting options are so much more efficient and beneficial to the environment that incandescent bulbs have been gradually phased out in the United States. By 2020, all general-purpose bulbs must be able to produce at least 45 lumens per watt, which is a similar efficiency as that of CFL bulbs. It is becoming increasingly difficult to purchase traditional general-purpose incandescent bulbs in light of this phase out, though specialty bulbs are still available.

LED bulbs create light using a semiconductor to generate light energy. LED bulbs use about 1/30th of the energy used in incandescent bulbs and 1/3rd the energy in CFLs. They also last a long time—as much as 35 times the lifespan of an incandescent bulb—so you don’t have to worry about replacement regularly. With the energy savings and longer lifespan, estimates indicate you can lower your carbon footprint by as much as 85 percent simply by switching from incandescent technology to LED technology.

With an LED bulb, you can light your room with bright light and minimal energy use. Also, these bulbs generate very little heat energy, which means they are safe to touch. They are also quite durable and do not break easily, which means they are the preferred option for hard-to-reach places where a delicate glass bulb is in danger of shattering.

If that makes LED lights sound perfect, you need to know the one main drawback. LED lights are one of the most expensive options for lighting your home. While they lower your energy bills and have the longest lifespan of the available options, if your upfront budget is low, then this option may not work for you.

CFL bulbs bend a traditional fluorescent tube into a light bulb-shaped configuration. These are more affordable than LED bulbs and significantly more efficient than incandescent bulbs, but they don’t quite last as long or save as much energy as LED bulbs.

With CFLs, you are able to lower your energy use by 60 percent as compared to incandescent bulbs that provide the same amount of light. They last about 10 times as long as incandescent bulbs, so you have less frequent need of replacement. While not as cheap as incandescent bulbs, CFLs are priced around $4 to $15 a piece. This is a more moderate price point than LEDs.

So why would you overlook the CLF in favor of LEDs? CFLs are more efficient than incandescent lighting, but they are not as efficient as LEDs. If you’re looking to have the most efficient option on the market, CLFs are not that option.

The answer to which lighting option you should choose depends largely on your goals. Is your goal to have the most efficient lighting available? Then you want LED bulbs. Are you adding a light bulb to a place that is hard to reach or not accessed regularly? The longevity and durability of LEDs makes them the best choice for this. Is your goal to go efficient while on a tight budget? Then CFLS will work best.

Regardless of the choice you make, both CLFs and LED lighting help you save money, lower your carbon footprint and do your part to make the world a better place with less environmentally damaging waste. If you’re curious about which lighting option will best meet your family’s needs or have further questions about the differences between LEDs and CFLS, Kolb Electric is here to help. Contact us today to have all of your questions answered!

If you are in the mood for a little spring cleaning or home improvement, you are likely looking around your home and thinking you could use some new lights. Lighting can make or break a room. Dark, dingy lighting can make a room look small or even outdated despite new furniture or a nice coat of paint on the walls. An electrician in Los Angeles can help give your room a facelift. You can count on The Electric Connection to provide you with a knowledgeable electrician who has the experience needed to make it happen.

Your dining room, kitchen or even your bathroom will be transformed with the installation of a new light fixture. It is amazing to see how different a room can look with just the right lighting. Your kitchen should be bright and inviting. Bright areas are ideal when you are working with sharp knives and need to see ingredients as well as read labels. There are plenty of options when it comes to enhancing your kitchen workspace. Track lighting is an ideal option.

Because electricity is involved, it is best to leave the Los Angeles electrical work to a professional. It isn’t a good idea to try and wire in a new light fixture if you are not trained for it. Not only do you risk your life, but you risk the safety of your home. A fixture that isn’t wired correctly may work initially, but overtime, it can be a serious fire hazard.

While you are thinking about upgrading your lighting, take a look at your living room as well. You can use track lighting or the more popular recessed lighting. This is an ideal option for the newest trend of mounting flat screen televisions to the wall. This insures your view will not be obstructed by a hanging lamp. If you would like to get started on your spring improvement plan, give The Electric Connection a call today.