A solar energy system is designed to take the radiation from the sun, a totally renewable resource and turn it into electricity that can be used to power all of your electrical devices, such as computers, televisions, refrigerators and lights. Each solar cell will take the photons generated by sunlight and convert them into electricity. Regardless of the size and application of the solar panels being used, there are a few basic components that are necessary to turn this energy into a readily available and easily used electricity. Though the solar panels are the core of the system, these components are needed to complete the system.

Solar Panels: A solar panel is the array of photovoltaic cells that are used to convert the sunlight into direct current.

Rooftop Racking: This is the framework that is attached to your roof in order to give your solar panels the stability that they need. This is one of the most important parts of any solar panel installation.

Utility Meter: This component of your solar energy system integrates directly with your existing electrical system. After the solar installers have completed the installation of your solar power system, the utility meter will track the amount of electricity that you generate in excess of what you consume. This electricity is typically fed back into the power grid, helping you to earn credits on your electrical bill.

Batteries: The electricity that is generated from a solar panel is available for immediate use. In order to store this electricity for future use, it must be stored in a battery array.

Power Inverters: Although your solar panels generate and convert your electricity, you must have a power inverter in order to convert the power from DC to AC.

If you are interested in learning more about solar panels, start by browsing our solar power website. You can learn more about how much solar panels cost and the different options you have for purchase, leasing and more.

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.

Why do breakers trip? Have you ever turned on the vacuum or started the microwave while the toaster was in operation and experienced a tripped breaker? If you have ever dealt with a breaker that trips, you are probably wondering why it happened and want to know what that means for the safety of your home. An electrician in Pasadena is here to explain. You can learn more by calling The Electric Connection.

First of all, it is important to explain what a tripped breaker really is. Your breaker panel is probably located outside or in a hallway or basement area. When a breaker trips, it cuts off all flow of electricity to the outlets and light fixtures that the particular breaker supplies electricity to. When looking at the breaker panel, the tripped breaker will be slightly in the middle instead of all the way left or right. An orange bar is usually used to indicate which breaker has tripped.

As far as why the breaker trips, there are 3 main reasons • Short Circuit

An overloaded circuit is probably one of the most common reasons. If your breaker isn’t powerful enough to run several appliances at once, like the microwave, vacuum and toaster, it becomes overloaded and shuts down. You can address this by distributing your electrical draw to different outlets that are run by different breakers or by having your Pasadena electrical system investigated. You may be in need of additional breakers. A ground fault or short circuit are much more dangerous than an overloaded circuit. Breakers that have bare wires or a bad connection can cause fires. If you don’t see anything out of the ordinary, but are still having trouble with a tripping breaker, give the folks at The Electric Connection a call.

The relationship between weather and energy usage is a never-ending cycle. Spikes and drops in temperature and humidity lead to spikes and drops in energy use (and costs), which in turn correspond with spikes and drops in greenhouse gas emissions, further affecting climate. What does this relationship mean when it comes to your energy usage?

Temperatures above 100 and below 40 stress your heating and cooling system, pushing it to capacity, reducing efficiency, and draining energy supplies, along with your wallet. Quite simply, this amounts to less bang for your buck in terms of comfort. Add to temperature issues, wind, cloud cover, and precipitation and the snowball effect continues, further impacting comfort levels, not to mention your ability to illuminate interior spaces. Compound the issues – and the population affected – and you’ve got grid strain to boot.

That depends on the source of energy. In the US, 83 percent of energy usage comes from fossil fuels, which release gases such as CO2 into the environment during the creation of energy. Unfortunately, these gases trap heat in the atmosphere. Atmospheric greenhouse gases have increased 30 percent since the pre-Industrial Revolution era alone, and the level continues to rise with energy demand. As levels increase, so does the effect on the environment. Thousands of scientists agree the trapped gases are currently affecting the climate, and will increasingly weigh on it as time goes on. This has resulted in an increase in interest in cleaner forms of energy, including nuclear, solar, wind, and geothermal.

Here in Massachusetts, our electricians are used to handling all type of electrical systems and services. We also have our share of older homes, and with older homes come aging electrical systems. An expert upgrade provided by a trustworthy electrical contractor can offer your home various benefits.

If you’ve experienced issues with your electrical system recently, or even if your electrical system is functioning fine but depends on older technology, it could be time to seriously consider an electrical panel upgrade/ replacement. But what are the benefits of such an upgrade? We’ve shared a few advantages below.

You may not know it, but upgrading your electrical system might actually be legally necessary. This is because many older models no longer adhere to modern statutes and codes. Typically, if your panel still uses fuses and other outdated equipment, it probably isn’t up to code and will require a replacement.

Even more important than upgrading to legal building codes is protecting the safety of your home and your family. Old or worn electrical panels can cause an overload. This can short out your electricity and potentially even cause a fire. A newer electrical panel can provide increased safety for your home.

Today’s homes have an increasing amount of appliances and electronic devices in them. From plasma screen TVs to high-end computers and similar devices, our electrical systems play a larger role in our lives than ever before. As such, an improper electrical panel, you won’t be able to support the kinds of appliances you need to stay connected.

What you need is an up-to-date electrical panel that meets all of your electrical needs while keeping your home up to code and your family safe. Remember, electrical work can be dangerous, so don’t leave such an important project in the hands of amateurs. Also, do not be tempted to take this on as a “DIY” project, as this can do more harm than good.