Electricians have been using copper for electrical wiring since the 1820s. It may surprise you to know that since then, we’ve never found, or needed, a replacement! Copper has numerous properties that make it ideal for electrical wiring. In fact, we can likely expect copper to continue to be used far into the future.

Ductile and Malleable—ductility and malleability are two very useful properties of metals. Something that is ductile can be hammered into a thin wire easily, and something malleable can be manipulated and bent into shapes easily. These properties make copper wires inexpensive to produce and easy to install.

Excellent conductivity—copper’s electrical conductivity is far superior to other types of non-precious metals, which allows it to carry greater amounts of current with a smaller diameter wire.

Non-corrosive—one of the biggest benefits of copper wiring is that it is non-corrosive, able to survive in harsh environments with almost no risk of wear and tear. It’s not uncommon to see copper wires last for 40 years or more!

All of these properties make copper the gold (or should we say copper!) standard in the electrical industry. For both commercial and domestic purposes, copper is considered the go-to material for wiring. In fact, most modern buildings being constructed today are designed to accept copper wiring. The prevalence of copper wiring makes rewiring a lot easier as well.

During the 1960s and 70s, aluminum wiring was used in many homes as a cheaper alternative to copper. Unfortunately, problems were discovered with aluminum wiring. The biggest danger associated with aluminum wiring is that it can react to materials used in outlets, light fixtures, and splices, where it can oxidize, deteriorate, overheat, and catch fire. The CPSC estimates that about 2 million homes were built with aluminum wiring between 1965 and 1973—and many of these homes are located in the MD, VA, and DC area.

The other problem with aluminum wiring is its high electrical resistance, which makes it more difficult for current to flow. As a result, you experience greater losses with aluminum wiring than you would with copper.

More than any other material, copper has stood the test of time for use in residential and commercial applications. If you’ve been thinking about rewiring your home and want to use the best materials possible, call Kolb Electric today!

Outdoor lighting can be one of the easiest improvements that you can make to the exterior of your home, and it can make a huge impact. Not only will outdoor lights improve the way your home looks at night, but it can also increase the value of your home. If you wish to sell your home in the future, you will be able to add your exterior lights to the list of amenities that your home can offer potential buyers.

Some of the most popular places to add landscape lighting are along paths or walkways, and around patios or decks. Los Angeles homeowners often place outdoor lighting at different points throughout their flower gardens, too, which creates a beautiful setting for any summer evening. By placing small outdoor lights throughout the yard, it gives the impression of twinkling stars right in your own back yard. Landscape lights can be installed in many unexpected places, such as your own vegetable garden!

The Electric Connection, a licensed, bonded and insured local electrician in Los Angeles, can be a big help when it comes to deciding what type and style of outdoor lighting to use. They can also recommend where to place your lighting, and how far apart the lights should be. It’s always best to have this type of electrical lighting done by a licensed electrician.

Strategically placed outdoor lighting can be just the thing to help you make better use of your deck or patio, whether you’re spending time outdoors at night simply enjoying a quiet evening at home, or if you’re hosting a big party or a neighborhood get-together.

When it comes to the types and styles of landscape lighting choices that are available, there’s no need to worry because you’ll discover that there are plenty of options to choose from. For help and suggestions, you can find us on our website at TheElectricConnection.com. You can also give us a call to chat with us about your outdoor lighting options during our regular office hours of 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. We’ll be happy to set up a free landscape lighting estimate for you whenever you’re ready to get started.

 

I grew up in the 90’s, back when thrift store shopping was considered alternative and grunge.  While I tooled around Goodwill listening to Nine Inch Nails on my Walkman, my more sophisticated friends were at the mall, looking adorable & stylish in the latest trend from The Limited.

But that was the 90’s.

Thrift-store shopping, dumpster-diving, and hand-me downs deliver a new parlance that has clever DIY’ers quaking with excitement for Saturday yard sales and obsessively scouring Craigslist for the Next Big Find.  This elegant new term for taking used items and making them new = REPURPOSING.

Also commonly referred to as recycling, upcycling, reinventing, revitalizing and/or reusing, entire boards are dedicated to this subject on Pinterest. Everything – and I mean everything – can be repurposed.  So why not the light bulb?

With a few basic tools and a steady hand, a light bulb can be hollowed out and transformed into a unique gift or decorative project.  Prepping the bulb, however, is not a task that we recommend for the kids.  Before you undertake any of these projects, take a moment to read a tutorial on how to safely hollow out a light bulb.

1. Witches Brew