Although LED T8s have not been around long enough to produce a thick memoir, there are some interesting things to note about why they exist.  A few years ago, there was concern that the rare earth metals used in fluorescent tube lamps might start getting significantly more expensive for the U.S. to purchase from China. Light bulb manufacturers began an arms race to develop an affordable and effective LED T8 replacement tube.

A sustained sharp increase in the price of phosphors never really happened. And so LED T8s have gained momentum in their evolution, organically evolving to better perform well in certain applications. Their price point has decreased, and their performance has gone up. And now, LED T8 linear lamps are certified by the DesignLights Consortium to be high quality, high efficiency lighting products.

However, LED T8s continue to be very controversial – even divisive – in the lighting world. Many people think they’re great; but some people think their existence is entirely unnecessary. Both sides of this argument tend to contextualize their visions of the merits and pitfalls of the LED T8 in a comparison with the merits and pitfalls of the traditional fluorescent T8 tube light.

LED T8 Linear Light Bulbs vs. Fluorescent T8 Linear Light Bulbs

First of all, the merits of fluorescent T8s cannot be overstated. Fluorescent tube lamp technology has been developed over decades and is now basically mastered. Fluorescent T8s are extremely inexpensive and have ridiculously long rated lives. In fact, in some cases, fluorescent T8s can last as long as LED T8s!

And it doesn’t stop there. The production of light with fluorescent tube lamp technology works really, really well. It is probably at its peak in terms of performance and cost. Fluorescent T8 light bulbs can last 50,000 hours. And despite their not-always-positive reputation for rendering color, fluorescent T8s can achieve high color rendering indexes (CRIs). But, it must be clearly noted, fluorescent T8s get more expensive as you seek a higher CRI.

And in terms of cost, let’s just say it straight: In many applications, the LED T8 tube light’s initial cost doesn’t make sense when compared to the relatively low cost of fluorescent T8s.  For example, at this stage of the game (June 2014), lighting large spaces like classrooms or large offices is job better performed by fluorescent T8s than LED. First, there’s the cost. Fluorescent tube lamps last long, cost little, and give off crisp light. Furthermore, fluorescent tubes give off light omnidirectionally, casting light upwards toward the ceiling as well as downward. This makes a space look more fully lighted. LEDs, in contrast, are generally more unidirectional and cast light downward only. This is something that will change, but, currently, this is just affirmation of the fact that fluorescent T8s reign supreme for some applications.

Fluorescent T8s often take a while to come on; they’re adversely affected by temperature (and somewhat sensitive about it); they can flicker often; and if the lights are turned on and off frequently, as in laundry room or bathroom applications, for example, they can fail quite prematurely, to the dismay and annoyance of everyone involved. And then there’s that toxic mercury vapor which poses danger to humans and the soil on which we live.

Oh yeah, fluorescent tube lamps require a ballast, too: A component that will also, eventually, fail.

Now, let’s give some attention to LED T8 tube lamps. It should first be noted that LED T8s have a higher initial cost than fluorescent T8s, which can be purchased for only a few dollars in some cases.

Despite their higher cost, LED tube lights have some nice advantages. First of all, LEDs love the cold, so they are great in cold weather applications, unlike fluorescent T8s, which become seemingly infirm in the cold, slow to turn on and flickerish. Basements, sheds, garages, porticos, covered pathways, bathrooms, etc, are great places to utilize the LED T8 linear lamp.

You also have to consider that if an LED T8 tube breaks, it will not release harmful mercury vapor into the air. Mercury from fluorescent tubes can get into the air but also the water supply, which is why you have to recycle them. For some people, the whole mercury thing is enough to open their minds to alternatives to the long-reigning fluorescent T8.

Plus, you can get better color rendering with LEDs than with fluorescent lights. Fluorescent lights work by transforming ultraviolet radiation into visible light. If you have a vague idea about what UV light is, you know that it’s the part of the light spectrum that’s just past the blue and violet area. Even with a rudimentary understanding of light, then, it’s easy to see how the result of transforming UV light into visible light would leave you with a bluish result. As a result, in general, fluorescent lights do not render reds well.

LEDs exude very little to no UV or infrared radiation, both of which fade the color of displayed objects including wall art, furniture, and even rugs. Fluorescent tubes – did you know this? – do indeed fade sensitive belongings over time.

Finally, LED tubes do not generally require a separate power supply. They run on line voltage and require no separate drivers, ballasts, or transformers. That’s one less thing that can break. In conclusion, LED T8s are more expensive than fluorescent T8s, but LEDs are safer, render color better, require no ballasts, operate better in the cold, and do not decline significantly in lifespan due to frequently switching on and off. This means that there are some applications, like cold places, bathrooms, basements, laundry rooms, kitchens, closets, storage rooms, walk in refrigerators or freezers, or places where there’s a risk of broken light bulbs like gyms, warehouses, etc, for which LED T8s might be the better choice. And since LED T8s don’t weaken with frequent switching on and off, they are great for use with occupancy sensors.

The importance of properly functioning electrical panels can’t be understated; if you haven’t recently, then the time to get your home’s electrical panels checked out is now. With fall just around the corner, energy usage in Des Moines’ homes will begin to rise exponentially as homeowners spend more time indoors and rely more heavily upon heating systems. The last thing you want in the middle of fall or winter is an electrical panel acting up, failing you, or even possibly endangering your family.

These days, our homes are only a small step away from being a large computer. Like any computer, the motherboard and power supply serve a vital purpose in powering and joining all systems; our homes aren’t much different, but the electrical panel represents both of these vital components. This means that if your electrical panel is broken or old, the various electrical systems you enjoy throughout your home will fail to work or become unsafe. By keeping your electrical panel in properly working order, you secure your home’s ability to grow with your family.

Your home cannot unendingly add electrical applications, as nice as that would be; instead, your home’s maximum output is determined and limited by your electrical panel. This means, if you’re planning on extending your home or adding large electrical appliances, you should absolutely consult with a licensed electrician to find out how eligible your panel is for accommodating the new output. Even if your system is under its maximum potential output, it may be advisable to upgrade your panel to enjoy uninterrupted service; always be sure to contact an electrician for any output questions or concerns.

While having an older electrical panel isn’t necessarily bad, there are a few things to watch for; older panels can carry innate risks that can be easily avoided by upgrading your electrical panel. If your home’s panel still uses fuses (not flippable circuit breakers), then you should definitely get it upgraded right away. Likewise, if your panel is from a proven-to-be unreliable brand such as Federal Pacific of FPE, be sure to give us a call at 515-446-7040 right away for assistance. Even semi-modern panels feature flippable circuit breakers, which reliably protect your home and appliances from dangerous surges. Keeping your home safe is our electrician’s primary concern, and ensuring your electrical panel is within a safe parameter is certainly part of that.

If you’re looking to grow your home’s living space, add electrical improvements inside or out, or are worried about the safety and security of your current electrical panel, then be sure to contact our licensed, bonded, and insured Des Moines electricians today. We have the skills and expertise necessary to safely and effectively upgrade your home’s electrical panel or advise against it if an upgrade is unnecessary. Electrical Gurus is proud to provide local service you can trust, get in touch with us today for details!

A safety switch is essentially a device that very quickly switches-off the electricity in case any electrical fault is detected. In effect, it reduces the risk of injury & death caused by contact with electricity. Current day safety switches are very different from the ones used even up until a decade ago. Today, it’s mandatory to have these installed in buildings where any kind of electrical addition or upgrade has taken place.

Apart from this, safety switches are also needed for power outlets that that supply electricity to mobile homes like caravans etc. It’s not mandatory to have these safety switches in older homes; however, the recommendation is that you should consider getting them installed. It is one of the most effective ways to protect your family & yourself from electric shock.

ELCBs or Earth-leakage circuit breakers are safety devices used to prevent shock in electrical fixtures which have high Earth impedance. The current installations use the circuit breakers that directly detect leakage in current. Here are some features of an ELCB:

RCDs or RCCBs are essentially modern electrical wiring devices which quickly disconnect a circuit if they detect that there is an imbalance in the current between the energized conductor/s & the return conductor. They are designed to immediately switch-off the electricity supply when the electricity leaking to earth is detected to be at harmful levels. These devices offer very high levels of protection from electric shock.

Voltage Earth-leakage circuit breakers were first introduced around 60 years ago, while the current ELCBs were launched only around 40 years ago. For a very long time, voltage-operated ELCBs & differential current-operated ELCBs were both called ELCBs; this was because it was a far easier term to remember. However, as expected, this common name caused a significant amount of confusion within the electrical industry.

If someone accidently used the wrong one in a particular application, the installations may not get the kind of protection it needed. It was to eliminate this confusion that the International Electrotechnical Commission decided that the differential current-operated ELCBs will be termed as RCD (residual current devices). Any current that’s over & above the load current is referred to as the residual current.

ELCBs have a number of disadvantages such as:

Today the RCD is preferred means of providing effective shock protection. The term is also most widely used across the globe.

For more information about RCDs and the best electrical solutions, call Allround Electrical at 1300 169 263. You can also write to us at this email address. You may also reach us through this online contact form.

Thanks for reading,1300 169 263

Add the perfect custom finish to the front of your home with outdoor hanging lanterns and wall lanterns.

When using two outdoor lanterns, they should measure about 1/4 the height of the front door(s). When you are using only one lanterns, 1/3 of your door height is appropriate.

Outdoor hanging lanterns should be centered over your front door(s), high enough so that the doors may open and close freely. If you have a picture window or archway above the front door, center the fixture so that it may be seen from inside your home.

Wall lanterns surrounding the front doors should be proportional to your home, when in doubt, size up! Remember, fixtures appear smaller from curbside viewing than most people would imagine.

Wall lanterns are also appropriate for rear and side entrances and by garage doors – same rule of thumb for sizing applies for these areas.

Path Lighting should be placed 6′ apart to ensure adequate beam spread.

Be sure to make your space functional! Task lighting is an important piece of the design; it will provide guidance and illumination in the necessary areas to ensure safety.

Focused illumination on key holes and security pads allows for easy access when you are entering and leaving your home at night. Outdoor LED wall lights or recessed spotlights work well in these areas.

Add path lighting to walkways every 6’ to provide adequate beam spread. This will create curb appeal ambiance and visibility when walking at night. Don’t forget to add light near the house numbers – this can help in emergency situations and for deliveries!

After the sun goes down be sure your home has the same curb appeal as it does during the daytime by adding outdoor and uplighting to the landscape.

Illuminating trees or other elements from below will create soft focal points in the landscaping after the sun goes down. Use a flashlight to test where you’d like the light to hit, then mount the fixtures accordingly. Be sure to mount fixtures out of grass for ease of mowing and other landscaping tasks.

Be sure to view your outdoor lighting after dark before signing off on a project; it’s easy to make necessary adjustments to refine your outdoor lighting design.

To avoid being “that neighbor”, be sure to eliminate glare and make sure your outdoor light fixtures do not create “light trespass” into your neighbor’s property.

Infuse outdoor entertaining with a festive air by garlanding your gazebo, patio awning or deck railings with popular Bulbrite string lighting. It brightens up your outdoor vistas after sunset with the warm glow of vintage elan. Try connecting several strings together to create a border that keeps the dark at bay, or use a single string as a decorative accent in a seating area or your barbecue station. Because it’s so portable and versatile, it’s a great do-it-yourself hack that works in all sorts of settings.

Rope lighting really jazzes up outdoor living space with a minimum of fuss. This kind of string lighting works great in unobtrusive places like below a handrail cap to or around the edge of your deck to frame your spaces with a warm, welcoming glow. If you wish to create a more celebratory vibe, place rope lighting in plain sight like you would holiday lights, encircling structural posts with festive glimmer.

LED strip lighting is another option that saves energy while instilling your outdoor atmosphere with a distinctive verve. LED strips from WAC Lighting and Koncept are rated for use in damp places, as long as they are not exposed to the weather. Get creative with your deck lighting by incorporating strips of various lengths in covered areas like your deck or patio. Use led step lighting from some of our most popular manufacturers, including Kichler and Sea Gull Lighting, to improve visibility as well as aesthetics.

Use light as a medium to paint your landscape and make your carefully manicured plantings and special features pop at night. When you are planning your backyard lighting scheme, be sure to bring some of the following areas into focus:

• Gates and entryways

• Footpaths

• Stairs

• Fountains, waterfalls, ponds

• Statuary

• Seating areas

Solar landscape lights from Kenroy Home cast soft haloes along pathways or beside garden benches, creating an aura of enchantment. You can position solar lights as far from an electric power source as you wish, so they are ideal for the far reaches of your backyard.

Strategically placed spotlights show off your most distinctive flower beds, trees or shrubs to their best advantage while providing attractive pockets of brightness that banish shadowy corners, making your backyard more welcoming. You can also hide spotlights behind shrubbery but aim the light toward the sky, backlighting plantings while illuminating the perimeter of your home or patio. Keep in mind, though, that too much light can be as ineffective as too little. Think Cinderella’s castle rather than Times Square.

When the party is over and it’s time to retire, you can rest easy knowing that your motion sensor lighting is keeping vigil, ready to reveal any interlopers in your personal space. Wall sconces from Designers Fountain do more than just decorate your porch, deck and patio beautifully. They serve double duty as security features while your family sleeps. For locations where utility takes precedence over decorative appeal, select from our Craftmade security lights, and get the coverage you need to feel secure all night long.

PRO TIP: Ensure your outdoor light array works perfectly by using timers. You will have one less task to remember, and your landscape will always appear in its best light.