Battery technology has already made our lives more portable and convenient. From the disposable alkalines you used to use to power your Walkman to the modern rechargeable batteries in your cell phone and laptop, they allow us to take our work, entertainment and communication systems on the go. But batteries might have an even grander destiny: they could revolutionize the way we generate and use energy all throughout the home. Read on for a glimpse into our battery-powered future.

From Electric Cars to Your Living Room

Leading the charge into the brave new world of batteries is Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors. Musk recently launched Tesla Energy, a suite of batteries designed to facilitate flexibility for consumers and ultimately pave the way to an energy grid that doesn't rely on fossil fuels.

"Our goal," Musk said at a press conference, "is to fundamentally change the way the world uses energy."

Tesla used its expertise in designing batteries for electric cars to make batteries bigger and more powerful. The company’s new lithium-ion batteries are optimized to enable “homes, business, and utilities to store sustainable and renewable energy to manage power demand, provide backup power and increase grid resilience,” the company promises.

Energy at Any Time of Day

Because Tesla’s new battery technology allows residential and business users to store electricity until it’s needed, it creates the opportunity to purchase electricity during off-peak time, easing the stress on our electrical grid. It also helps users get more out of sustainable but intermittent fuel sources like wind and solar.

If the technology catches on, consumers can take better advantage of utility time-of-day pricing. Some utilities in North America sell electricity at cheaper rates during nights and weekends, when there is less demand. A homeowner could therefore charge a battery at night and use it during the day, which saves money for them and reduces the generation cost for the utility company by smoothing out the demand.

Furthermore, as solar and wind technologies become cheaper and more viable, the ability to store their output means that they can further cut into the market share of fossil fuels like coal and natural gas, reducing human impact on climate change.

Keep the Lights On and the TV Running

Another advantage of the enhanced storage potential is that homeowners will still have power in the event of a blackout or other disruption to the power grid. And people who want to go off the grid entirely with solar energy can do it without worrying about running out of power during the night.

The batteries are expensive, starting at $3,000 for residential models. If the program takes off, the price should fall and ever-better technologies will be developed to improve storage, capacity, transmission and other specifications.

For now, the Tesla batteries look like a useful, if expensive, addition to the energy-conscious homeowner's arsenal. If prices do continue to fall, however, the batteries could transform into something truly revolutionary.

With fall on the horizon and all of your outdoor duties winding down, it is time to take a look around the inside of your house. Fall and winter means there will be plenty of opportunities for indoor entertaining. Your kitchen is the center of that entertainment and you will want to have it in excellent condition as you prepare for holiday feasts and celebrations. A kitchen upgrade, update or remodel is an excellent way to get you ready while improving the value of your home. You will of course need an electrician in Los Angeles to help you with your kitchen update. The team at The Electric Connection is familiar with all aspects of remodels and upgrades and ready to help.

There are plenty of little things you can do that will give your kitchen a more modern look while making it more functional. You don’t always have to go with a huge remodel that includes putting in new cabinets and countertops.

*Lighting is a huge factor in the overall look and feel of a room. A Los Angeles electrician can replace old lights and add new ones that brighten up the space while making it look brand new. *Hardware on the cabinets is another quick and easy trick to making a kitchen look a little different. This is a quick job you can do yourself in just a few hours.

*Adding LED lighting under the cabinets is an excellent way to brighten up your countertops and give your kitchen a whole new look.

Kitchen upgrades are always appreciated by the cook in the house. Anything to make meal prep a little easier and enjoyable will be accepted with gratitude. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your kitchen upgrades.

Two atoms were walking down the street one day, when one of them exclaimed, “Oh no – I’ve lost an electron!” “Are you sure?” the other one asked. “Yes,” replied the first one, “I’m positive.”

I have heard that joke at least ten times and it is still over my head. Maybe it all boils down to the way I view things, usually on a more metaphysical level, or as my sister would say, “out there and far fetched.” I totally understand the idea behind quantum physics; the idea that a researcher’s views and expectations influence the outcome of their experiments makes total sense. It gives those scientists power over what they do. On the other hand, when it comes to comprehending electricity, I just get lost. The subject is so hard to grasp; the only thing I know for sure is that I am very dependent on it. It seems to have all the power, no pun intended. I challenge you to gain better knowledge than I have in the journey that takes you around in a circle between the words electric, electric charge and electricity, each one’s definition leading back to the others.

Thank goodness for those who understand what I don’t. Another subject that seems to be connected to electricity, but don’t ask me to explain, is the internet. All I had to do to find an electrician in Beverly Hills, was search for “electrician Beverly Hills CA” and some sort of “feelers” out there in a hidden territory gave me The Electric Connection. To me it does not seem so far fetched that in a few years I may only have to think “electrician Beverly Hills” and one will show up at my door. Shoot – that was almost what happened, now that I think about it. The only difference was the inclusion of a phone call.

When the Beverly Hills electrician from The Electric Connection finished his work at my home the next day, I knew that he understood this complex subject. He probably gets the internet too. I did not end up with funny shoes or new exercise equipment, but I do have new electrical outlets, two ceiling fans installed and some landscape lighting that I have wanted for ages. This electrician in Beverly Hills even did his best to explain electricity to me, which included what he knew about electric eels. I am sure he noticed the glazed look on my face, but at least he tried.

There is just so much to learn here in one short life, or even in several for that matter. I have learned that we cannot be experts at everything, but we can sure appreciate those who are. I may not know fully understand electricity or cyberspace, but I do know great customer service when I see it, which is exactly what everyone should expect from their local Beverly Hills electrician.

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If you are working with electricity, it is important to know how to safely install an organized electric wiring layout.  Fires and accidents can be caused by faulty electric wiring layouts, so it’s important to be able to recognize potential hazards and avoid them whenever possible.

Although this job may be The electric wiring layout for your home will vary according to what room you are doing the wiring for. In any case, it’s a good idea to draw a diagram of the layout first. The diagram will help you determine what lighting or appliances are needed, where they will be located and what sort of outlets will be necessary for each item.

Next you should determine which tools and Because it is so important to have your electric wiring layout installed safely, here are a few tips you should be aware of during the installation process:

If you cannot answer this question with confidence please ask yourself…  WHO DID I JUST LET INTO MY FAMILIES HOME?  Many people have made this mistake and some paid the ultimate sacrifice.  Some just fell victim to theft, such as the scam where a handyman would offer services to gain access into someone’s home and then steal from them.  You can read more about this crime here.  Unfortunately, there have been more victims experiencing much worse crime.  We do not need to get into the details for the purpose of this blog but we have all heard about them on the news, social media and the stories are very easy to find and numerous.

An electrician on drugs is a recipe for disaster.  Yes an electrician on drugs may not intentionally try to harm you, but how many traffic deaths happen every single hour in the US from people under the influence of drugs or alcohol?  You wouldn’t let a person under the influence of drugs or alcohol drive your children to school, so why would you let them perform electrical work in your home?  Our service electrician’s undergo a drug screen and are also subject to random checks throughout the year.

Our service professionals undergo a thorough background check before being hired.  We won’t just send anyone into your home.  We are going to send a true professional that meets our stringent guidelines.  He is not going to steal from you.  He is not going to harm you.  He is there to help you.  Our electricians truly care about you and the work they are performing for you.

We are here to serve YOU, our customer!  We want a customer for life.  We are not here to steal from you or take advantage of anyone!  We are here to provide a VALUABLE service to you.  We will stand behind our work and make sure you are 100% satisfied.  We guarantee it with the way we act in our organizations culture, and also in writing.  If for some reason you are not 100% satisfied please let us know.  We will not leave until we get it right.  It’s our guarantee to you, our valued customer.

Many contractors say that.  You win some you lose some.  Not with us!  No we do not get every job we bid on, but we realize there may be other factors at play.  What we care about is you truly understand the price presented to you.  You know what options and solutions you have.  You know what will be done, how it will be done, and that we will stand behind our work.  You know the value you are getting when you choose Custom Electrical Services.

It’s common to be nervous when a service person shows up to your home.  Your thinking how much is this going to cost me?  Am I getting the best bang for my buck?  Do I have other options?  At Custom Electrical Services, our technicians are trained for this.  We will work to put you at ease and make sure you fully understand everything presented to you.  We will take the time to fully evaluate your situation and present it to you in a professional manner that you can understand.  Price is not everything.  We will not change the price of the work performed.  The straightforward price you receive will not change if it takes our electrician longer than expected.  You won’t be left thinking, “I hope he can work faster so my bill will be less”.  Lets think about this common statement for just a second.  Would you really want a mechanic hurrying up to put new brakes on your families car?  Of course you wouldn’t!  You would want the mechanic to perform the job as best as possible.  And that is our promise to you.  Give you the best possible job and the most reasonable rate possible.  We are professionals.  We are Custom Electrical Services.

But wait!  A Custom Electrical Services technician is not just there to give you an estimate or fix that minor problem you called about.  We are here to truly help you.  When is the last time someone checked the connections in your electrical panel?  1 year, 10, or never?  Electrical connections can loosen over time.  Electricians are trained to look for this.  As part of our service fee we will inspect your breaker box or electrical panel.  Identify any problems such as loose connections, non code compliant breakers, under sized wire, corrosion, heat, and more!  What if you have an old Federal Pacific Panel and you didn’t even release the dangers they present.  Our technician will identify and let you know of any potential safety problems.

Are all of your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms functioning properly?  For no additional charge we will test all your smoke alarm units and identify any that are not functioning properly.  We will also replace all your batteries at the same time.  It is all part of the service designed to keep you, your family, and your home safe.  Our commitment to you!