With the spring weather upon us, it is time to get outside and really enjoy the outdoors. Although it stays lighter longer, the evenings are still warm and beckoning, even though it is a bit dark. For early birds, getting up with the sun is exciting and invigorating. This is the time they like to go out and get the paper, water the blooming flowers or just sit outside and enjoy the sounds of nature when they are not masked by the hustle and bustle of life. If you have been out and about in the early mornings or late at night, you have probably noticed your outdoor lighting. Is it looking a little boring or maybe just a little too dark? An electrician in Burbank, like those at The Electric Connection, can help you revamp the outdoor lighting and make your yard much more inviting and safe.

When you step out your front door, you want to be able to see around the yard and if your car is in the driveway, being able to get a good clear view. This can be achieved with new lighting installed by your electrician. Burbank homeowners will appreciate the safety that comes with adequate and attractive lighting around these areas.

In the backyard or on your porch or patio, you will want enough light to read the morning paper, do a crossword or to talk with someone while looking at their face. It also allows you to see where you are going and whether or not the chairs are wet with dew. A little lighting installed by a Burbank electrician can completely change the way a space looks and feels. You will be inclined to spend more time outdoors when you know you can see clearly. Give The Electric Connection a call today and see what changes and upgrades you can make to your outdoor lighting.

There are a lot of interesting facts and tidbits about solar power and its usage. If solar panel installation is something you are considering, here are four points you may find helpful in making your decision:

It does not cost as much as you think.

Solar panel costs are not as high as most people assume. There are even financing plans that you can look into. Also, they end up saving you a bunch on your electricity bill.

You are going green.

Having a solar panel installation done on your home greatly reduces your carbon footprint. Powering your home via solar energy requires no pollutants being expelled into our water or air. While your home is basically ran on solar energy, you still have the back up of electricity when its clouded over or rainy for several days.

There are different types of solar panels.

You should educate yourself on the different types of solar panels if you are looking into solar installation for your home. There are photovoltaic panels and solar thermal panels. The photovoltaic panels convert sunlight into usable energy. Solar thermal panels absorb heat and then distributes that heat for warming purposes.

The idea of using solar energy is not a new innovation.

Back in the Fifteenth Century, Leonardo Da Vinci had sketched several ideas on how to harness the power radiating from the sun. Although much was not done with it, it still proves that great minds thought early on that using solar energy was wise.

If you are interested in having solar panels installed, look no further than The Electric Connection. If you need solar installers based in the Los Angeles area, we can help you out. You can also visit our website or give us a call today for more information on solar panel installation and benefits.

An important component in your main electrical service panel is commonly known as the breaker. If you’re a homeowner, surely you have visited yours a few times over the years. But what exactly is it? And what does it do? Let’s go over the importance of the breaker and what its doing for your home.

If you read our article on the home electrical system a few months back, you will know which step the service panel comes in receiving electricity for your home. The service panel is the gateway for all electricity in your home. After electricity comes through underground or overhead power lines, it goes to your electrical meter and then to the service panel. Electricity branches off from here and travels to the rest of your home. Within the panel are circuits for different areas for electricity to travel. Shutting down a circuit can cause power loss to a part of the home, maybe a room or two. But because the home is on many different circuits, power can remain active in the rest of the house.

After electricity arrives at the service panel, it travels to a circuit. The circuit is a loop in which electricity travels from one end to the other. The breaker splits up to 100 amps or more into the circuits to distribute the power. Usually each circuit in a common residential home operates at 15 amps. The breaker is designed to “trip” if it receives an excess of electricity. If a power surge occurs on the outside of the home, for example a lightning strike, the service panel will stop the flow and turn off. If a surge happens on a circuit within your home, the breaker will also shut down that loop to protect the rest of the house.

Over time if work on a service panel is not completed correctly, the circuits could blow more frequently due to overloading. Parts in the panel can become outdated, loosen, or get burned out. If a service panel is not maintained and up to code, it also poses specific risks, making your home more susceptible to fires and electrical surges.

The temperature outside is starting to rise, and it appears this summer with have some great weather. That means if you have a pool, you will be using it quite often. Consider having your pool inspected if this is the first season it will be used, or you own a pool with an electrical system. This is a recommend inspection to ensure that your family and guests are safe when they are swimming.

To regulate the temperature of your pool, you likely have a heating/cooling system connected. This could be connected to your home’s electrical system or a solar powered generator with wires above or below ground. Over the last couple of seasons your pool and its wires could have taken damage from the elements or animals, this could result in exposed wires. All wires that are connected to the pool should be inspected. If there is any contact between the water and electrical wires it could result in a serious electrical shock to swimmers. So before you begin filling up your pool and turning on your temperature regulation system, make sure there is no risk for electrical contact.

For those of you with below ground pools you may have had an automatic cover installed on your pool. The cover allows you to retract and expand your pool cover with the touch of a button without the hassle or doing it manually. While this is a very handy feature, it’s electrical features sit very close to the water. As with your heating system wires, make sure that your retractable cover is inspected carefully to check for cracked, broken, or exposed electrical wires. Contact with water could cause shock and also short out the automatic cover system.

If you are looking to have an inground pool installed, or have purchased an above ground pool and are looking to place it, take note of any electrical wires in the area. This can include any outside meters attached to your home, electrical outlets, and power lines running from or around your home. When the splashing begins and water is spread, it can create an opportunity for the electricity to travel through the water and toward the pool. Review the area you have available and create safe distances between the pool and electrical wires.

It is important that you consider each of these items before you start enjoying your pool. Save yourself from damaged electrical wire systems, and possible harm and injury to swimmers; have an Expert Electrician review your pool setup. For a proper inspection by a professional, licensed electrician, contact your local Expert Electric.