From your cell phone to your washing machine, you’ll find all kinds electronics in your home.  Entertainment, lighting, comfort, and even cleaning can be electrically powered.  Most people know that it’s a good idea to disconnect electronics during an electrical outage or lightning storm.  This is due to possible electrical surges.  Electrical surges are sudden increases in current that can damage connections and electrical components throughout your home.  Most devices have some protections, but strong surges can overpower these protectors, leaving you with a very expensive paperweight after the surge is through.  Fortunately, surge protectors exist to stop this from happening.

A sudden increase in current occurs when more power is being delivered to the same system.  If a lightning storm strikes a transformer or relay that’s connected to the same grid you’re on, excess power is diverted to your home and creates an increase in current.  This sudden surge is what damages components.  But, it isn’t just limited to sudden electrical discharges either.  When power is applied to a system, it has substantial initial current.  This is known as inrush current and is the reason that you’re advised to disconnect electronics whenever there’s an outage.

Once power is restored to a system, either because you turn on a switch or the power grid is reconnected, initial current surges into the system.  Disconnecting devices helps to decrease that inrush current.  The electrical panel in your home is also designed to handle inrush current, which is why your breaker system doesn’t automatically trip whenever power is restored.  On a smaller scale, any sudden call for extra power pushes a small surge into the system.  When you power up an electric vacuum cleaner or portable space heater, there’s a small surge.  The more powerful the device, the larger the surge.  These are the types of surges that common surge protectors guard against.  For lightning strikes you’ll need something better.

While the majority of surges are protected against by those tiny power strips, because most surges originate inside your home, they aren’t strong enough to protect against the dangerous surges that will irreparably damage your in-home electronics.  Most homewoners prefer the power strip surge protectors because they’re inexpensive.  But, while a whole-home surge protector can cost over $200 to add on to your home, they don’t suffer from many of the drawbacks found in the tiny in-home protectors.

Whole-home surge protectors guard your entire home from outside surges.  They’re installed near and wired to the electrical service panel for your home.  Any power surge that travels to your home is immediately shunted away, preventing disaster from ever reaching your home.  You’ll find that whole-home surge protectors are also not as fragile as standard home surge protectors.  They’ll last for years and are less likely to be burnt out by a single surge.  A quality surge protector is capable of shunting tens of thousands of amps without burning out.

If you want the best in electrical protective devices, a whole-home surge protector is the right choice.  Compared to most safety installations, they’re relatively inexpensive and you only need to install one device to protect your home for years.  It’s still a good idea to use power strips to protect in-home devices from smaller surges, but you need a quality surge device to protect against lightning storms or substation surges.

For the best in quality electrical repair work and installations, contact the professionals at Custom Electric!  Be sure to check back here each week for helpful advice, news, and guides or follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Categories: Business, commercial electrical, Residential« 3 Reasons You Should Hire a Professional Electrician  |  Mood Lighting for Romance »

Hot tub wiring and circuits are a big request this time of year.  Summer specials such as those going on at the Iowa State Fair dramatically increase sales.  With many hot tub brands to choose from such as Hot Springs Spas, Maax Spas, California Cooperage, Jacuzzi, Caldera Spas, and Thermo Spas the choices are numerous.  Hot tub installers typically do not wire your hot tub unless there is a specific and properly wired disconnect in place.  The hot tub circuit with disconnect must be installed by a licensed electrician.  The hot tub or pool disconnect has certain requirements pertaining to the type and distance required from your pool or hot tub.  In addition to this the circuit must be the required ampacity and voltage intended for your hot tub in order to insure the safe and reliable operation for you and your family.  Never trust someone that is not an electrician trained in proper hot tub wiring.  

Installing the proper hot tub wiring is not a project for that handy family member or the guy down the street.  Hot tub wiring must be done properly and to state and local building codes.  In addition the wiring must be done to strict National Electrical Codes.  All of our electricians that are trained in hot tub wiring follow the code to ensure you and your family are as safe as possible.

Just like hot tub wiring, pool wiring must only be done by a trained and trusted professional.  Pool wiring has strict guidelines set in place for your safety.  Bonding, grounding, and GFCI protection are all major concerns when installing wiring for your pool.  Pool wiring is not a do it yourself project and should only be done by a licensed electrician.  We work with several of Des Moines top pool installers to insure your next pool project is done to the highest of standards.  The code is in place and should be followed closely with no exceptions.

“I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live.  I rejoice in life for its own sake.  Life is no brief candle to me.  It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.”-George Bernard Shaw  This quote is one by which Hy Goldman lives.

Whether by association to the torch and the carrying of light, these words are powerful and reminiscent of a work ethic that elevates life to divine heights.

Hy Goldman celebrates his birthday at Benvenuti Ristorante in East Hanover. Pictured here with treasured friend, Gloria Schwartz, grand-daughter of the late Ethel Lebersfeld.  Ethel Lebersfeld hired Hy on June 1, 1941.  He has worked for Capitol Lighting ever since.

In this day and age of the perpetual search for an easier life, more leisure time and the latest frivolity, we hold dear to the depth of character and bright quality of a life that continues to sustain a great worker and humble man who lights up our lives.

Hy Goldman celebrates family and an outstanding career.  He said he will retire on his 100th birthday this Saturday August 17, 2013, but time will tell!  We intend to keep him shining brighter than a Capitol chandelier.

Hy with Donna Costello, a recently “retired” Capitol Lighting star.   Donna Costello remains close in spirit to all who have been blessed to work with her.

Hy Goldman celebrates with friends and family.  Pictured with Adele Lebersfeld (standing), Max Lebersfeld (standing), Moya Goldman and  Stanley Goldman.

His family, son Stanley and daughter-in-law Moya, say that “Hy” is stubborn.  He stubbornly holds unto the values that keep him strong, and this may be the key to his longevity.  He wastes nothing and appreciates everything. “Every day is a gift,” he says with a smile and a quiet graciousness that uplifts the spirits of all who come to greet him.

Hy with Carol Saggiammo.  Carol recently celebrated her outstanding career with Capitol Lighting, and she is still going strong.

Governor Chris Christie officially acknowledges Herman “Hy” Goldman’s 100th birthday…

Hy Goldman at work:

He may be moving a bit slower than when he was 20, but he is at the top of his game in creativity and spirit!

Check out the latest “Hy Original Re-creations”…

A stunning crystal lamp brilliantly designed and reworked and wired into a magnificent one-of-a-kind piece.

The Tree of Light and Glass.  He has customers, as well as co-workers competing for his original works of art.

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 upgrading your home’s electrical work for a renovation or remodel, then there are some truly simple ways you can elevate your new lighting to “wow” status, and now is the time to do so!

If your home is a bit on the older side, the best way to modernize is with new LED recessed lighting cans. The reason for this is simply due to the smaller nature of modern cans, which allow for a much higher ceiling than you may have. Areas like kitchens, for instance, very often have lowered ceilings to account for the room that antiquated fluorescent or recessed lighting needs to have. Today’s recessed lighting cans can fit in the space between the floor joists and the future drywall, allowing for the absolute maximum ceiling height, which immediately improves the feel of most rooms.

Do you have a dedicated entry to your home, such as a mudroom or enclosed patio? Nothing modernizes and simplifies these areas as easily as a motion-activated switch. In fact, these upgrades can be done after-market if your switch is positioned correctly using inexpensive switch replacements found at your local hardware store. The key here is that your switch has to be positioned correctly, often on the adjacent wall, which is often not the case. Otherwise, you will need to enter the room before the switch can sense your movement, which defeats the purpose in most applications. Planning for motion switches during the remodel can open up this possibility with ease.

Here is where we really get to go wild; a pressure switch may seem like a frivolity, but actually adds a great amount of value when used correctly. For instance, if there will be space between your upper kitchen cabinets and the ceiling, then adding in over-cabinet lighting creates an incredible effect; better still, piggybacking off of the circuit used for under- or over- cabinet lighting to create an interior cabinet lighting system is really not difficult to do at all. From there, simply add a pressure switch to your cabinet doors and voila, you’ve achieved a million-dollar home look for almost no extra cost if done when your other cabinet lighting circuitry is being installed. Similarly, if you’re able to reimagine your pantry with a closing door, simply put a pressure switch in the door frame that compresses when closed, turning off the light immediately, and depresses when opened to instantly turn on the light. It may not sound like much, but anyone visiting your home will be amazed by your ingenuity; plus, it takes almost no extra work to install, only requiring the switch box to be located on the corresponding portion of the wall and a small wire to snake through a drilled hole in the door frame.

The best way to achieve these and other inexpensive tricks for added value and usability is to partner with inspired electricians that are willing to make these types of suggestions. At Electrical Gurus, you’ll find the most skilled and dedicated electricians in Des Moines.