A circuit must be a closed loop of wiring. Electricity flows from a power source, through the circuit to the different outlets and switches, then back to the source. Circuits are designed to handle a certain amount of electricity. There are safety measures in place like fuses and circuit breakers that are designed to stop the flow if there is too much electricity on the circuit.

Switches are like manual circuit breakers—the either complete or break an electrical circuit. In the “off” position the electrical contacts inside the switch can’t meet. When you flip the switch to the “on” position, the contacts connect and allow electricity to flow through.

A lot of time we are asked what is the equivalent LED product to convert from Metal Halide, High Pressure Sodium or Mercury Vapor. And a lot of time, we have a product in mind that works based on past experience. But how did we come up with that product, and how did we make the original decision on what was the proper replacement?

There’s a lot of science that goes into light, color, quality, and each light had it’s own characteristics. For example, it takes less LED to replace High Pressure Sodium than it takes to replace Metal Halide. And we are talking a lot more than just lumens. We are talking about color temperature, quality of light and something called photopic / scotopic lumens.

In the world of lighting, we measure foot candles with a light meter, this is called a photopic measurement. The light meter picks up everything, including spectrum’s that are invisible to us. Now, we humans see things to, and this is called scotopic lumens. Our rods and cones read and interpret light. And it does so differently than what a light meter does. So it is not uncommon when we demo a LED Light against a HPS light or Metal Halide, we first ask “Which is brighter” before we show the light meter reading. It leaves a few people scratching their heads. Well, that’s the science of of it all, and fortunately there is some handy tables called SP ratios that allow us to take the lumens of a particular light (photopic lumens) and multiply it by the S/P ratio to get the scotopic lumens equivalent.

For example, the S/P ratio for High Pressure Sodium is 0.40. The S/P ratio for LED at 5000K is 1.8. So if you take 40,000 lumens of HPS and multiply it 0.4, the effective scotopic lumens is 16,000. To get the same amount of lumens from LED, take the 16,000 and divide it by the S/P ratio and you get 8888 lumens. So the 8888 lumens of LED is the photopic measurement, the 16,000 LED lumens is the scotopic lumens measurement. So in an nutshell, you need 8,888 lumens of LED to replace 40,000 lumens of HPS from a scotopic point of view.

Here is a handy chart of common lights and ratios for you to use.

The weather is starting to get cooler, and as summer rolls into fall, we thought we’d remind everyone of ways they can keep their homes safe from fires!

Check your smoke detectors—you should test your smoke detectors twice a year—once in the spring, once in the fall. In addition, remember that smoke detectors are designed to last 10 years. If yours is older than that, it’s highly recommended that you install a new one. New smoke detector laws that went into effect earlier this year require all new smoke detectors to have 10-year batteries, so you don’t have to worry about replacing the batteries along the way.

Check carbon monoxide (CO) detectors—having a smoke detector isn’t enough anymore; if you want to keep your family totally safe, you need to also install a carbon monoxide detector. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, and highly toxic gas that can be deadly even in small amounts and can be released by any faulty gas appliance, including furnaces and fireplaces. Your best bet? Install a combination smoke alarm/carbon monoxide alarm for maximum protection.

Inspect your extension cords—with the holidays coming up, you’re going to want to make sure your extension cords are in good shape and not damaged or frayed. Any extension cords you’re planning on using outdoors should be weather-rated. Inside, make sure you use surge protectors and power strips with internal overload protection, and make sure you minimize the amount of adapters plugged into a single outlet.

Be careful with space heaters—space heaters are convenient, but can be a major fire hazard if you’re not careful with them. Make sure there is nothing flammable within three feet of the space heater, and never plug it into an extension cord.

Protect your outdoor electrical systems—any outdoor electrical outlets should be GFCI outlets and covered by a “bubble cover” to keep the elements out. If your electrical service cable is exposed, make sure it’s not damaged. During the holidays, don’t hang any decorations on or near the cable.

Install arc fault circuit interrupters—these are not required by building codes, but they offer a higher level of protection for your electrical system and are generally highly recommended. Arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCI) are designed to detect an unintended electrical arc and disconnect the power before an electrical fire can start.  They are the safest way to protect a home from the risk of electrical fire.

If you’re at all concerned with your home’s electrical safety this year, don’t take chances—call Kolb Electric! We can upgrade your home’s electrical service in any way you need, from installing smoke detectors and adding outlets to a full-on heavy up. Don’t gamble on fire safety—call Kolb Electric today!