Summer spells the beginning of all sorts of things, one of them: electrical storms. Between lightning, power outages and other electrical hazards in the aftermath of a storm, many people can be injured or even killed. Follow a few safety ti...ps to protect yourself and your family:
1) When storms have brought flood waters, there are ever-present dangers, one of them being electrical. Be careful when stepping in large pools of water. There could be downed lines, submerged outlets or electrical cords lying beneath the waters.

2) If you've experienced flooding in your home or business, remember not to run any appliances that have gotten wet. Water damages some electrical appliance motors in things like washers and dryers, refrigerators and stoves, even the furnace. Electrical parts can become grounded and the user is at risk of electric shock or fire.

3) Downed power lines can move around and cause serious injury. It's not safe to drive a car over downed electrical lines, nor is it safe to step over them. Running current can cause the wire to jump around, causing serious injury or worse.

4) Don't touch anything that has a downed wire laying on it. If, for example, a power line is downed and hanging in a tree, stay completely away from the tree and touch nothing near it. Electricity can travel more than some people might realize. Call to inform the power company of downed wires right away.

5) Do not attempt to move, scoot or drag a person that is in contact with a power line. Some people have been seriously injured while trying to use a stick to move the power line or while trying to drag the person by his pant cuffs or other clothing.

6) Stay away from even small amounts of water if there's a downed power line nearby. There can be a power line across the street and you can be electrocuted while stepping into a small puddle of water, yards away. Never underestimate electricity; it can travel great distances if it has any conductive.

7) If you're in your car and a power line falls on your car, continue driving until you are away from the power line, if possible. If the line falls on the car and you can't travel further (for example, there's a fallen tree in the way), stay in your car. Do not try to get out and get help. Honk the horn until someone sends help or use a cell phone to call police.
If you must get out of the car, for instance it's on fire, jump out of the car, landing on both feet at the same time, but managing to avoid any contact with the car. This will not guarantee that you won't be shocked but will lessen your chances of a major hit of electricity.




Summer spells the beginning of all sorts of things, one of them: electrical storms. Between lightning, power outages and other electrical hazards in the aftermath of a storm, many people can be injured or even killed. Follow a few safety tips to protect yourself and your family:
1) When storms have brought flood waters, there are ever-present dangers, one of them being electrical. Be careful when stepping in large pools of water. There could be downed lines, submerged outlets or electrical cords lying beneath the waters.

2) If you've experienced flooding in your home or business, remember not to run any appliances that have gotten wet. Water damages some electrical appliance motors in things like washers and dryers, refrigerators and stoves, even the furnace. Electrical parts can become grounded and the user is at risk of electric shock or fire.

3) Downed power lines can move around and cause serious injury. It's not safe to drive a car over downed electrical lines, nor is it safe to step over them. Running current can cause the wire to jump around, causing serious injury or worse.

4) Don't touch anything that has a downed wire laying on it. If, for example, a power line is downed and hanging in a tree, stay completely away from the tree and touch nothing near it. Electricity can travel more than some people might realize. Call to inform the power company of downed wires right away.

5) Do not attempt to move, scoot or drag a person that is in contact with a power line. Some people have been seriously injured while trying to use a stick to move the power line or while trying to drag the person by his pant cuffs or other clothing.

6) Stay away from even small amounts of water if there's a downed power line nearby. There can be a power line across the street and you can be electrocuted while stepping into a small puddle of water, yards away. Never underestimate electricity; it can travel great distances if it has any conductive.

7) If you're in your car and a power line falls on your car, continue driving until you are away from the power line, if possible. If the line falls on the car and you can't travel further (for example, there's a fallen tree in the way), stay in your car. Do not try to get out and get help. Honk the horn until someone sends help or use a cell phone to call police.
If you must get out of the car, for instance it's on fire, jump out of the car, landing on both feet at the same time, but managing to avoid any contact with the car. This will not guarantee that you won't be shocked but will lessen your chances of a major hit of electricity.

All Tech Electric & Contracting LLC: Electrical Safety

All Tech Electric & Contracting LLC: Electrical Safety: Electrical Safety                               Is your home up to the standards of the National Electrical Code? Many home-owners are...

All Tech Electric & Contracting LLC: Landscape lighting

All Tech Electric & Contracting LLC: Landscape lighting: Landscape Lighting Has Real Benefits One of the most popular trends in outdoor home improvement is the addition of landscape lighting. Fr...

Outdoor Lighting

We are now in the perfect season to enjoy the evenings and outdoor lighting can make a huge difference,
Ambiance influences mood and outdoor lighting provides so many options. Outdoor lighting also provides the benefit of added security to home. It only makes sense to upgrade or even look into minor changes. Outdoor lighting also increases the value off your home.
These are very important issues to consider!

Bright Outside: Outdoor Lighting. Lighting isn’t just a consideration for indoors — it’s even more challenging outside, because there aren’t many walls and ceilings to reflect light back into the environment. A key strategy is to shine lights on buildings or other exterior surfaces. If the surfaces are lighter in color, lower wattage lamps can be used. Shining lights off low gloss or rough surfaces helps to minimize glare.

Your Home Electrical System

Your Home Electrical System

Did You Know? info regarding your Your Home Electrical System
  1.A circuit breaker can appear to be ON but really be tripped.
2.The voltage at half of all U.S. homes is greater than most light bulbs are designed to run on.
3.A normal receptacle is sometimes ground-fault protected from elsewhere.
4.Home electricity doesn’t flow in one constant direction.
5.A turned-on dimmer switch normally produces some heat.
6.Most of a circuit can go out even... when the breaker is on and is fine.
7.A GFCI receptacle will not trip for an overload.
8.Hair dryers sold today can use the entire capacity of a 15-amp circuit.
9.Replacing a switch or receptacle can open a can of worms.
10.Even if you knew all these, you can learn more by reading this page.

Your Home Electrical System

Electricity flows to your lights and appliances from the power company through your panel, its breakers, out on your circuits and back. Here is a schematic picture of all the major parts of your home electrical system. There are many connections along these paths that can be disrupted or fail, and there are many ways that electricity could go places you don’t want it to.

Electricity from Sunlight
Photovoltaic solar energy systems use sunlight to generate electricity. It lowers your utility bill, and helps reduce fossil-fuel consumption and global warming. A system lasts for many years, and adds to the value... of your home.
How it works •Sunlight hitting silicon cells in a module generates a direct current.
•A switch protects the solar modules from grid power fluctuations.
•The solar direct current goes from the solar modules to an inverter.
•If there is extra solar current, the system feeds it to the utility grid, running the meter backwards.
•If more power is needed, the switch draws power from the utility grid.

Inadequate wiring

Assuming an equipment grounding conductor is present, is the wiring inadequate because you are using too many lights? too many floor lamps? too many radios and TVs? That is seldom the case. The wiring usually is inadequate because you have added many electrical appliances that were not considered or perhaps were not even on the market at the time of the original wiring job. The installation does not provide enough circuits to operate a wide assortment of small kitchen appliances, plus range, water heater, clothes dryer, room air conditioners and other heavy appliances. Some of these operate on 240-volt circuits, which may not be available; others operate at 120 volts but when plugged into existing circuits they overload those circuits. In addition, the service entrance equipment may be just too small for the load.

Chef Baldee Pizza Fri May 24th

 Mark it on your calendar!!!!
Friday, May 24th 11am-1pm or so....
Chef Baldee's Pizza (Mobile Pizza Kitchen) has been invited to All-TECH Electric & Contracting to celebrate entrepreneurship, networking, and to have a PIZZA PARTY. Great News: this event is open to EVERYONE including all Leawood Chamber Members!
The Mobile Pizza Kitchen will be serving pizza by-the-slice. It's an authentic New York-Style Thin Crust with a Spicy/Sweet Sauce patterned after a 50-year old family recipe. Any interested Leawood Chamber of Commerce members are encouraged to come out and meet The Chef first hand during this informal networking opportunity. Slices are $5.00 each (cash preferred / credit & debit cards accepted). Drinks will also be available. Chef Baldee's Pizza is the very first food truck to be licensed in The City of Leawood, and the very first food truck to obtain chamber membership. Don't forget to make The Chef a friend on facebook at www.facebook.com/baldeespizza! Directions: half a block west on 110th from the OP Convention Center. Address: 6400 W. 110th Street Suite 103

Web Site: http://www.facebook.com/baldeespizza

Electrical Upgrades for older homes

Electrical Upgrades for Older Homes

Many people dream of purchasing an old or historic home and fixing it up to meet the demands of modern living. However, there are several updates that will usually need to be made to make the home safe to live in, and to make it compliant with local laws.

One of the most important updates you can make is to the home’s electrical system. An outdated system will...

not be able to meet the demands of modern appliances, and could even cause a house fire. Consulting with an electrician is highly recommended for anyone interested in purchasing an older home. A licensed electrician can help itemize all the details needed to modernize the home, perform the work safely and guide the project through any required inspections.

Here are a few tasks an electrician can do to upgrade your older home:

Upgrade the system. Upgrading from a fuse box to breakers will eliminate the need to replace fuses in the dark during the most inopportune times, and you will be protected against fire more efficiently.

Update wiring. Wire that is worn or undersized may need to be replaced to bring the electrical service up to code. It will also help to prevent a house fire.

Install additional outlets. Many older homes have only a few electrical outlets. An experienced electrician will understand how to run more wiring for additional outlets. An electrician can also install three-prong outlets to accommodate large appliances.

Install ground wiring. Another concern is the lack of ground wiring in older homes. In newer homes, three wires are run to the receptacle: a hot wire, a neutral wire and a ground wire. The ground wire protects against faults.

All Tech Electric & Contracting LLC: kc electrician- finding qualified electrician

All Tech Electric & Contracting LLC: kc electrician- finding qualified electrician: Finding a Qualified Electrician Faulty wiring is a fire waiting to happen. That's reason enough to hire an experienced electrician, bu...

Task lighting:

Often task lighting refers to office lighting, where the task light is used to increase illuminance on the reading area. However, the illuminance level is not the only factor governing visibility. Contrast is also important, and a poorly positioned light source may cause contrast reduction, resulting in loss of visibility. Therefore, it can be argued that the most important purpose... of task lighting in the office is not increasing illuminance, but improving contrast.

Different strategies for office task lighting exist. The three main approaches are:
•Localised average lighting, where a lamp supplies both ambient light and task light
•Freely adjustable task light
•Asymmetric task light, where the lamp is placed at the side of the work area

I purchased a kitty water fountain for our cats....but the location I chose to place it did not have a convenient outlet. Larry Madura, Master Electrician, solved that problem in less than 1/2 hour. How many places in your home could you use another outlet for convenience?

 

• 

  All Tech Electric & Contracting while we are on the topic, I have SERIOUS lighting in my bathroom AND an installed lighted mirror. Minor things can make ALL the difference!!!!!

   

Upgrade Your Home's Electrical Panel

Upgrade Your Home's Electrical Panel

Houses built 15-20 years ago were not designed with the electrical demands placed upon them in todays world. Upgrade your hom's electricial panel to meet current needs, especially if you are doing any kind of remodeling. Older wiring may not meet code, and wire insulation and other materials tend to deteriorate over time. Have a professional electrician inspect the wiring in your electrical panel and throughout your home. Upgrade your home's electrical panel for safety (fire hazard!!) and meet current code requirements. Upgrade your home's electricial panel to increase the value of your home as well as protect the costly investments of appliances etc...

Increase the value of your home- quality wiring

Plan ahead. Use quality wiring and invest in your home's value.

Who knows the types of devices and appliances we’ll be using ten or twenty years from now? If you’re already remodeling or upgrading your home, it’s a good idea to invest in some quality wiring, namely structured wiring, which consists of heavy-duty cables that enable the latest features in all your electrical devices. Structured wiring will also increase your home’s value.

Is it time to upgrade your electric panel?

Not everything gets better with age. Many electrical problems can go undetected until it is too late. Outdated panels may contain weak connection points. Today’s electrical systems are stressed by increased power demands that they were not designed to handle. Potential hazards may develop as wiring deteriorates over time.

GFCI Protection

There is always a risk for electrical shock anywhere in the home where electrical equipment is located in damp or wet locations. Today, GFCI protection is required by code in all wet areas including kitchens, garages and other outdoor areas. However, many older homes are still at risk if they do not meet the current electrical code requirements.

Is it time to upgrade or replace your electrical panel?

Is it time to upgrade or replace your electrical panel?

The average life-span of a building today is around 30 years. Frequently, when a building is updated and renovated, the electrical wiring remains the same. This means that many businesses are operating with insufficient electrical support for their modern electrical appliances. The steady increase of consumer electronic use and energy consumption means that these electrical systems could become easily overloaded.

Replacing fuses with circuit breakers

~Replacing fuses with circuit breakers~
Fuses and circuit breakers both essentially perform the same function: they prevent short circuit or overload by disrupting (or breaking) electrical currents that channel to any connected devices. Fuses, however, are one-time use. When they detect that a current is running at too high of a level, the fuse will melt, interrupting the flow of electricity. Circuit breakers simply have to be reset.
While there’s nothing particularly wrong with fuses, they are outdated; designed for an age when homes didn’t have so many things plugged into the electrical outlets.

All Tech Electric & Contracting shared Chuck Baldee's photo.

12 minutes ago

This just in: 60 DEGREES ON FRIDAY! Come on out and join us at All-Tech Electric for a pizza party! Here's a news story on The Leawood Chamber of Commerce's website that provides the details: http://www.leawoodchamber.org/view_news.cfm?news_id=3384

6400 W 110th ST. Overland Park, KS 66211

 

 

Electrician Leawood Overland Park Remodeling

Remodeling is a skill honed over years of training and experience. Very few electricians are capable of completing a remodel whether it be a commercial building or residence, in the time allowed and cleaning completed.
We respect your time and space, and never leave traces of work for an indiviual or business to clean after us.

Our goal at All Tech Electric & Contracting LLC is to complete the project i.e. wiring home additions, bathroom updating, gaming rooms, garage additions, as well as can lights, under cabinet lighting, interior/exterior security lights, receptacles, completely new circuits, ceiling fans, panel upgrades, hot tubs, dimmer switches and systems, or just doing repair work- all without a trace of our work left for clean up. We take pride in our abilities to make the customer satisfied by project completion.

When Should You Hire An Electrician / Kansas City

When Should You Hire An Electrician

It is easy to know when to hire an electrician. Some of the jobs in many homes are just to much and you must have the proper understanding and knowledge of how to fix and repair them. Electricity can be very dangerous and is not worth taking the risk of being hurt by doing a job that you are not sure how to do in the first place. Whenever you need repairs or installations to the electrical components in your home it is best to hire a professional electrician to do the work for you.

Don’t ever try and do this kind of work yourself or have a friend or family member to do the work for you. Even though they may think that they can do this kind of job, they are not a skilled professional electrician and could still get hurt if not done properly. Some people can manage to do simple work such as installing a light fixture. But they even have to be careful doing this, and make sure that all of the wires are connected properly with the light fixture.
For small jobs like this in your home it is good to have a skilled professional come out and inspect for any mistakes you have made. And make sure everything works well. If you are handy at doing these small jobs you have to watch out because you can still overload a circuit without knowing it, just by adding new light fixtures. This is also true about installing new wall outlets, they can also overload a circuit.

Sometimes when electrical components are first installed during construction, there may have been a faulty problem with the work. And if you add a new light fixture or wall outlet this will just aggravate the problem making it worse then before. This could cause you to damage the new fixture or even an appliance. And in worse cases this could start a fire in your home. A professional electrician is trained to understand and look at the your whole electrical layout. And then will know exactly what you will need and how they can do the job.

http://www.kansas-electrician.com
 

Electrical Work Kansas City

 Electrical Work

If you want to install dimmer switches or replace an old ceiling light with a new ceiling fan, go right ahead. Upgrading existing devices and fixtures is an inexpensive necessity in redecorating or improving task lighting, and energy smart.

However, when it comes to extending existing electrical circuits or adding new ones, call in an experienced, licensed electrician. When homeowners start messing around with electrical circuits and running new cables, there are two likely outcomes and both are potentially lethal: electrical shock and fire.

All aspects of electrical work--from wire nuts to cable connectors--are governed by very strict codes. Violate even a single code and you're asking for trouble.

When in doubt, always hire a professional!!

http://www.kansas-electrician.com

https://www.facebook.com/AllTechElectricAndContracting?ref=hl

Kitchen Lighting Design

Suggested kitchen lighting design: use the "layers" technique:
1.The ambient layer: The general overhead lighting in a room.
2.The task layer: Under-cabinet lighting, for example, or a light over the sink or over an island.
3.The focal layer: Used to highlight objects such as pieces of art, architectural details, etc.
4.The decorative layer: This layer is used purely for fun. It's meant to enhance the overall interior design.

 

http://www.kansas-electrician.com

 

Up Lighting

The most common use of up lighting is in a recessed cove around the top perimeter of a room image #1

 

The most common use of up lighting is in a recessed cove around the top perimeter of a room image #2

Kitchen Lighting

Kitchen Lighting: Brilliance on a Budget
Adding quality lighting to your kitchen doesn't have to involve big, expensive fixtures or exhaustive remodeling, as long as you think carefully about what you want to accomplish and then use a little creativity.

 

Electricity Safety

If electrical circuits and electrical equipment have gotten wet or are in or near water, turn off the power at the main breaker or fuse on the service panel. Do not enter standing water to access the main power switch. Call an electrician to turn it off.
Never turn power on or off yourself or use an electric tool or appliance while standing in water. Do not turn the power back on until electrical equipment has been inspected by a qualified electrician. All electrical equipment and appliances must be completely dry before returning them to service. Have a certified electrician check these items if there is any question.

Kitchen/ Electrician/ Renovation

Electrical wiring for a kitchen renovation project is one of the most hazardous, and consequential aspects and needs a certain level of expertise to be properly executed.

 

All Tech Electric & Contracting LLC: Design Flaws in Homes

All Tech Electric & Contracting LLC: Design Flaws in Homes: Design Flaws in Homes: Poorly Lit and Underpowered When asking one of the most acclaimed architects of the 20th century, Richard Mei...

Your Home Electrical System

Did You Know?
1.A circuit breaker can appear to be ON but really be tripped.
2.The voltage at half of all U.S. homes is greater than most light bulbs are designed to run on.
3.A normal receptacle is sometimes ground-fault protected from elsewhere.
4.Home electricity doesn’t flow in one constant direction.
5.A turned-on dimmer switch normally produces some heat.
6.Most of a circuit can go out even... when the breaker is on and is fine.
7.A GFCI receptacle will not trip for an overload.
8.Hair dryers sold today can use the entire capacity of a 15-amp circuit.
9.Replacing a switch or receptacle can open a can of worms.
10.Even if you knew all these, you can learn more by reading this page.

Your Home Electrical System

Electricity flows to your lights and appliances from the power company through your panel, its breakers, out on your circuits and back. Here is a schematic picture of all the major parts of your home electrical system. There are many connections along these paths that can be disrupted or fail, and there are many ways that electricity could go places you don’t want it to.

Art by Karena: Renowned Painter Allan Chow-The 2013 Artists Serie...

Art by Karena: Renowned Painter Allan Chow-The 2013 Artists Serie...: Introducing artist Allan Chow whose paintings will light up your world! Enjoy this insightful and poignant interview.  Allan C...

Chef Baldee's Pizza in partnership with All-TECH Electric & Contracting are throwing a PIZZA PARTY!

Tuesday, February 5th: A Day of Celebration 2/5/13 11am-1pm

01/19/2013 – Chef Baldee's Pizza in partnership with All-TECH Electric & Contracting are throwing a PIZZA PARTY!

---

***DUE TO THE IMPENDING COLD SNAP THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO OCCUR ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013***
Chef Baldee's Pizza (Mobile Pizza Kitchen) has been invited to All-TECH Electric & Contracting to celebrate entrepreneurship, networking, and to have a PIZZA PARTY. Great News: this event is open to all Leawood Chamber Members!
The Mobile Pizza Kitchen will be serving pizza by-the-slice. It's an authentic New York-Style Thin Crust with a Spicy/Sweet Sauce patterned after a 50-year old family recipe. Any interested Leawood Chamber of Commerce members are encouraged to come out and meet The Chef first hand during this informal networking opportunity. Slices are $5.00 each (cash preferred / credit & debit cards accepted). Drinks will also be available. Chef Baldee's Pizza is the very first food truck to be licensed in The City of Leawood, and the very first food truck to obtain chamber membership. Don't forget to make The Chef a friend on facebook at www.facebook.com/baldeespizza! Directions: half a block west on 110th from the OP Convention Center. Address: 6400 W. 110th Street Suite 103

Web Site: http://www.facebook.com/baldeespizza

Master Electrician

Master Electrician

Master Electrician/Electrical Contractor servicing Johnson County and surrounding areas.

Specializing in electrical repairs, troubleshooting, installations, and more....

No extra charge for weekend, evening, or holiday work !! Discounts for disabled, seniors, military- we will do whatever we can to help you out.

Never a Job To Small.

Over 30 years experience by a Master Electrician.

As owners of All Tech Electric And Contracting we want to thank you for doing business with us. We look forward in helping you with all of your electrical needs.
Our joy is to bring you 100% satisfaction.

Call Today for your free estimate
(913) 963-1116
http://www.kansas-electrician.com

"like" us on facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/AllTechElectricAndContracting?ref=hl

“Should I upgrade the electrical service?”

“Should I upgrade the electrical service?” is a question homeowners ask frequently. An upgrade of an electrical service typically involves an older residence with service size of 100 amps or less and the homeowner is deciding whether to increase the amperage to 200.
It wasn’t until the 1960’s that circuit breakers became the standard for electrical service panels - before that all electrical panel...s contained screw and cartridge type fuses.

The way an electrical panel is made is the same regardless whether the panel uses fuses or circuit breakers. Fuses have taken a bad rap only because of the ease in which a fuse of one size can be replaced with a larger fuse. For example if a 15 amp fuse blows frequently a 20 amp fuse can be used to eliminate the nuisance of having to change the fuse so often. When a 20 amp fuse is inserted where a 15 amp was the current carrying capacity of the circuit is increased by 33% without any regard to the wire size. Remember that the fuse is rated according to the wire size – that is worth repeating a little louder – THE FUSE IS RATED ACCORDING TO THE WIRE SIZE. Because is it so easy to insert a 20 or even 30 amp fuse in to a 15 amp circuit, fuse panels have become an electrical hazard.

When a house is inspected for resale many insurance companies require a fuse panel to be replaced by a circuit breaker panel before the sale is complete. If the current service contains fuses it is probably worth the investment to upgrade the service from fuses to circuit breakers.

Upgrading the service to circuit breakers does not mean the amperage has to be increased. It is OK to change out a 100 amp fuse panel with a 100 amp circuit breaker panel. Just because the service is changing to circuit breakers does not mean the amperage coming in to the house must be increased to 200 amps.

Service Upgrade

Two reasons to upgrade a service:
- Changing from fuses to a circuit breaker panel.
-Increasing the electrical load.
Changing from fuses to circuit breakers will increase the value of the home and eliminate the hazard of installing oversize fuses.
Increasing the electrical load required by adding on or installing higher amperage appliances MAY require a service upgrade

Portable electric generators

Portable electric generators can be a huge money saver and even a life saver during a power outage. But it is extremely important to follow these safety guidelines when using one:


First and foremost, NEVER run the generator indoors, or in an inclosed space where the Carbon Monoxide will build up to dangerous levels. Run the generator on a dry surface, under an open structure.
Never connec...t a generator directly to your home's wiring unless your home has been wired for generator use. This can cause backfeeding power down the power lines and can electrocute anyone coming in contact with them, includeing the line workers making repairs. Have a licensed electrician install the equipment necessary to safely connect a generator to your home.
If your generator and home aren't wired to allow direct connection, then always plug appliances directly to the generator.
Use heavy duty, outdoor rated extension cords. Make sure the extension cords are free from cuts, tears and the plug has 3 prongs. Remember, an overloaded cord can cause a fire or damage to your appliance.
Ensure your generator is properly grounded.
Never overload the generator. Only power essential equipment or appliances, and only for the length of time it is needed.
Turn off all the equipment powered by the generator before shutting it down.
Always keep a fully charged fire extinguisher nearby.
Never refuel the generator while it is running.
Read and adhere to the manufacturers instructions for safe operation. Never cut corners when it comes to your safety.
Test your generator regularly. Monthly to Biannually will ensure it will be ready when you need it.

Electrical - Overland Park

The main electrical service for your residence is one of the most important utilities within your home. A properly sized and maintained service will last within the home for a good 15 to 25 years pending the type of installation, additions and changes to the home, etc. Eventually most homeowners will experience the necessity to contract with a licensed electrical contractor to change out the existing electrical service and install new equipment. Think of it as similar to having a new roof installed or a changing out the furnace.

Task Lighting

Do you find yourself looking for your glasses on a regular basis?? Is it the glasses or just a matter of better lighting- task lighting for reading, hobbies, work, etc....
Task lighting DOES make a difference, obvious by the fact it is easier to read in the natural daylight compared to harsh or lack of lighting in the evening after the sun has gone down....

Better lighting increases productivity not only at work but home as well. Done correctly it adds to the warmth of a room invoking a welcoming feeling. Does the family gather in the kitchen? Is that the greatest source of light? Does the family gather in the family room where there is television, yes, but lighting set up for reading as well? Do your children have sufficient lighting to study- effectively??
What about the garage, where most homes house the tools? Can you find what you are looking for or do you need to search, becoming at times a mission impossible although you could swear the pliers, screwdriver, etc. were just right there last week?

I am fortunate. I live with an electrician. Outlets are placed at the greatest convenience of use, lighting a-plenty. Minor changes can add so much to a home. We only get so many hours ya know?? lets enjoy them to their fullest, and brightest!

task lighting and magnification

Task lighting and magnification.
Do we need a task light if we have magnification? The answer is yes, because magnification is only half the solution for achieving good vision. Proper lighting is of equal importance. Take an extreme example. How much good would magnification do in the dark? The benefits derived from visual aids such as magnifiers and prescription glasses are entirely dependent up...on the lighting conditions in which they are used.

Proper task lighting allows us to get the maximum benefit from a visual aid, and may even allow for reduced magnification. Increasing the amount of light (brightness) directed onto a task will help compensate for small print size or poor contrast. Examples of poor contrast include faded print on white paper, dark print on a dark background, or dim characters on a computer screen.

lowering utiliy bills/task lighting

Bottom-line benefits for business.
The use of a lighting system which integrates task and overhead lighting can have a direct impact on the bottom line by lowering utility dollars.

Instead of trying to maintain proper lighting levels on desktops from overhead fixtures, task lights can do a better job in providing adequate foot-candles. A task light using an 18-watt compact fluorescent will consu...me far less energy than a typical overhead lighting fixture.

A work environment can maintain lower levels of overhead light by illuminating desktops with energy-efficient task lights. For examples consider an office with 16 workstations illuminated by 16 overhead fixtures each with four T8 32-watt fluorescents. The total wattage when all fixtures are operating is 2,048. If each fixture used two T8 instead of four, and each workstation was equipped with an 18-watt task light, energy consumption would be reduced by 36 percent!

A recent example demonstrates the energy waste that occurs all too frequently. An office manager remarked that, "we don't need those (task lights) to control glare on our computer screens. We installed these filters on the screens to block out glare." This makes no sense in terms of cost reduction and energy conservation. First flood the room with light and then block it out with filters. It is like turning the heat up to 90 degrees in the winter and then opening the window to maintain the right temperature.

Other ways in which the use of task lighting can help control costs are by reducing maintenance costs. Task lights are easy to install, keep clean, and change bulbs. When offices made from wall partition furniture systems are rearranged, task lights are easily moved. Proper lighting is achieved without much worry about the location of overhead fixtures.

Some of the major impacts of rediscovering task lighting for our work environment are discussed below.

Benefits for individuals.
Task lighting and productivity. Much research has been conducted on the relationship between lighting conditions and worker productivity. Surveys continue to find that poor lighting and eyestrain are frequent worker complaints. Although it may be difficult to demonstra...te a direct cause-and-effect relationship between lighting and performance in real world settings, we can make some common sense observations.

First, we must be comfortable to maintain productivity over the course of a day. There are enough demands and distractions that compete for our energy and concentration. Straining to see should not be one of them.

Seeing should be effortless and automatic. We spend a great deal of time and money trying to make ourselves comfortable so that we can be more efficient and productive. Yet frequently, proper lighting is neglected. If lighting is so poor as to make workers uncomfortable, then efficiency is going to decrease over the long term.

However, once lighting reaches a "critical comfort level," better lighting above and beyond that level will probably not increase productivity. Once lighting surpasses the critical comfort level, many other environmental factors interact to influence productivity.

Task lighting and vision differences.
Our ability to see differs from person to person, and within ourselves, on different occasions. When we are tired or sick, we may see less well than when we are healthy and fresh.

The visual capabilities of individuals of the same age can vary greatly. Older people need substantially more light to see than younger people. Research indicates that the visual performance of those in their 20s is about eight times better than those in their 60s, and almost four times better than those in their 50s.

This increased need for light is due to a number of biological facts in the aging process. For example, the muscle in our eye called the iris, expands and contracts to control the amount of light entering our eye. As with all our muscles, the iris loses some of its flexibility in the aging process, and doesn't open as wide. More light is needed to compensate for the reduced ability of the iris to open wide.

Not only are there obvious vision differences between people, but different tasks have unique lighting requirements. Lighting demands for a video display terminal (VDT) operator are different from a proof reader, which are different from a graphic artist working at a large table where accurate color perception is critical.

Task lighting gives user control.
The major advantage of an adjustable-arm task lighting is that the user controls the lighting of his or her immediate work environment.

The key is "adjustable-arm" task lighting to give the user maximum control of the light level for optimal comfort. Our posture changes during the day. Our tasks vary to some degree. If we have windows, light in the room changes from morning to evening.

In response to these changing conditions, we need to adjust the lighting levels directed on our work in order to reduce eyestrain and fatigue. By raising, lowering, and tilting an adjustable-arm task light, the user determines how much light is needed and the best angle required to avoid direct glare and reflections.

A task light permits an individual to compensate for fluctuations within one's visual acuity from time to time, as well as for variations in ambient lighting.

Further control is provided by task lights that use a parabolic louver to direct light onto the work surface. The louver light control system is ideal for use around computers where you want to eliminate light "spill" onto the screen. The parabolic louver directs light output onto the source document and prevents "wash-out" on the computer screen.

A major advantage of a louver light control system versus the asymmetric method (directing light from the reflector at one angle) is the elimination of direct glare. With the louver system, you cannot see the bright bulb when the lamp head reaches eye level.

Task lighting mounting systems.
There are a variety of options for mounting task lighting in the work setting. Popular methods include a clamp base that attaches to the edge of a desk/table, and the weighted base that sits on top of a desk. Task lights can be mounted on stationary pedestal floor stands or movable caster floor stands.

The newest mounting systems attach task lights to the vertically slotted channels in workstation wall partition panels. Wall partition mounting frees-up valuable desktop space and eliminates the problem of "lack of edges" encountered by clamp-on versions. One option is a single-mount holder which the user places in the channel closest to the work area to be illuminated.

Another mounting option is a track-mount which provides greater illumination coverage for the work surface. The track spans the width of a wall panel and mounts in the slotted channels on both sides. A movable pivot holder for the task light slides along the track length to the desired position. The key factors in selecting a wall partition mounting system are ability to fit the many styles of standards and deep partitions; ease of installation; firm and sturdy mount; versatility to mount more than one specific task light model; a cord management system; and compatibility with standard track accessory items such as hanging paper trays and file folders.

Task lighting and magnification.
Do we need a task light if we have magnification? The answer is yes, because magnification is only half the solution for achieving good vision. Proper lighting is of equal importance. Take an extreme example. How much good would magnification do in the dark? The benefits derived from visual aids such as magnifiers and prescription glasses are entirely dependent upon the lighting conditions in which they are used.

Proper task lighting allows us to get the maximum benefit from a visual aid, and may even allow for reduced magnification. Increasing the amount of light (brightness) directed onto a task will help compensate for small print size or poor contrast. Examples of poor contrast include faded print on white paper, dark print on a dark background, or dim characters on a computer screen.

Bottom-line benefits for business.
The use of a lighting system which integrates task and overhead lighting can have a direct impact on the bottom line by lowering utility dollars.

Instead of trying to maintain proper lighting levels on desktops from overhead fixtures, task lights can do a better job in providing adequate foot-candles. A task light using an 18-watt compact fluorescent will consume far less energy than a typical overhead lighting fixture.

A work environment can maintain lower levels of overhead light by illuminating desktops with energy-efficient task lights. For examples consider an office with 16 workstations illuminated by 16 overhead fixtures each with four T8 32-watt fluorescents. The total wattage when all fixtures are operating is 2,048. If each fixture used two T8 instead of four, and each workstation was equipped with an 18-watt task light, energy consumption would be reduced by 36 percent!

A recent example demonstrates the energy waste that occurs all too frequently. An office manager remarked that, "we don't need those (task lights) to control glare on our computer screens. We installed these filters on the screens to block out glare." This makes no sense in terms of cost reduction and energy conservation. First flood the room with light and then block it out with filters. It is like turning the heat up to 90 degrees in the winter and then opening the window to maintain the right temperature.

Other ways in which the use of task lighting can help control costs are by reducing maintenance costs. Task lights are easy to install, keep clean, and change bulbs. When offices made from wall partition furniture systems are rearranged, task lights are easily moved. Proper lighting is achieved without much worry about the location of overhead fixtures.

Environmental benefits.
Finally, task lighting can have a significant environmental impact by reducing energy consumption of a building's lighting system.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) "Green Lights" program has brought the need for energy-efficient lighting into public awareness. The EPA estimates that lighting accounts for 20 to 25 percent of the electricity used annually in the United States . Lighting for industry, offices, stores, and warehouses represents from 80 to 90 percent of the total lighting electricity use. If energy-efficient lighting were used everywhere it was profitable, the electricity required for lighting would be cut by 50 percent, and aggregate national electricity demand would be reduced by 10 percent. This reduction in demand would significantly reduce power plant emissions, pollutants, and wastes.Many past issues of NAILD NEWS have devoted articles to the environmental impact of lighting and specifically, how to calculate savings in environmental pollutants (NAILD NEWS, December 1990).

In summary, a system that integrates overhead and adjustable-arm task lighting makes good dollar sense for business and the environment.

Task lighting makes good psychological sense by giving individuals control over their own workspace lighting.https://www.facebook.com/AllTechElectricAndContracting?ref=hl

Companies who trust All Tech

COMPANIES WHO TRUST ALL-TECH

All-Tech Electric & Contacting provides expert repairs and installations for all our commercial clients. As a licensed electrical contractor in the State of Kansas and Missouri, All-Tech Electric displays a current electrical contractor's license in our offices, and every one of our electricians holds a current electrician's license. In addition, as professionals in this industry, we are fully insured and equipped for every type of service we perform.

Electrical services for your business

DESIGN AND INSTALLATION

• Panel Installations
• Single & 3-Phase Wiring
• Retail & Warehouse Lighting
• Video Security Systems
• Coaxial and Video Systems
• Emergency Backup Generators

SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE

• New Electrical Service
• Service Panel Upgrades
• Building Wiring & Rewiring
• Electrical System Maintenance
• Diagnose Electrical Problems
• Emergency Electrical Service

Experts you can trust

Our electricians are experienced and skilled at installing wiring in commercial grade conduit, and wiring and panel installations for light manufacturing, restaurants and commercial kitchens, sports and fitness centers, recreation facilities, and for various branches of state and federal government. Besides working directly with building owners, we maintain good working relationships with a many very reputable building contractors in the Kansas City area.

All Tech Electric & Contracting LLC: services / we accept all major credit cards

All Tech Electric & Contracting LLC: services / we accept all major credit cards: RELIABLE AND DEPENDABLE SERVICE OUR SERVICES Switches & Outlets Safety & Protection Electrical Service Panel Electrical Wiring Up...

How to Troubleshoot like an Expert

A Systematic Approach

By Warren Rhude

To expertly troubleshoot electrical equipment, problems must be solved by replacing only defective equipment or components in the least amount of time. One of the most important factors in doing this, is the approach used. An expert troubleshooter uses a system or approach that allows them to logically and systematically analyze a circuit and determine exactly what is wrong.
The approach described here is a logical, systematic approach called the 5 Step Troubleshooting Approach. It is a proven process that is highly effective and reliable in helping to solve electrical problems.

This approach differs from troubleshooting procedures in that it does not tell you step by step how to troubleshoot a particular kind of circuit. It is more of a thinking process that is used to analyze a circuit’s behavior and determine what component or components are responsible for the faulty operation. This approach is general in nature allowing it to be used on any type of electrical circuit.
In fact, the principles covered in this approach can be applied to many other types of problem solving scenarios, not just electrical circuits.

The 5 Step Troubleshooting Approach consists of the following:

Preparation
Step 1 Observation
Step 2 Define Problem Area
Step 3 Identify Possible Causes
Step 4 Determine Most Probable Cause
Step 5 Test and Repair
Follow-up

Let’s take a look at these in more detail.

Preparation

Before you begin to troubleshoot any piece of equipment, you must be familiar with your organization’s safety rules and procedures for working on electrical equipment. These rules and procedures govern the methods you can use to troubleshoot electrical equipment (including your lockout/tagout procedures, testing procedures etc.) and must be followed while troubleshooting.
Next, you need to gather information regarding the equipment and the problem. Be sure you understand how the equipment is designed to operate. It is much easier to analyze faulty operation when you know how it should operate. Operation or equipment manuals and drawings are great sources of information and are helpful to have available. If there are equipment history records, you should review them to see if there are any recurring problems. You should also have on-hand any documentation describing the problem. (i.e., a work order, trouble report, or even your notes taken from a discussion with a customer.)

Step 1 – Observe

Most faults provide obvious clues as to their cause. Through careful observation and a little bit of reasoning, most faults can be identified as to the actual component with very little testing. When observing malfunctioning equipment, look for visual signs of mechanical damage such as indications of impact, chafed wires, loose components or parts laying in the bottom of the cabinet. Look for signs of overheating, especially on wiring, relay coils, and printed circuit boards.
Don't forget to use your other senses when inspecting equipment. The smell of burnt insulation is something you won't miss. Listening to the sound of the equipment operating may give you a clue to where the problem is located. Checking the temperature of components can also help find problems but be careful while doing this, some components may be alive or hot enough to burn you.

Pay particular attention to areas that were identified either by past history or by the person that reported the problem. A note of caution here! Do not let these mislead you, past problems are just that – past problems, they are not necessarily the problem you are looking for now. Also, do not take reported problems as fact, always check for yourself if possible. The person reporting the problem may not have described it properly or may have made their own incorrect assumptions.

When faced with equipment which is not functioning properly you should:

• Be sure you understand how the equipment is designed to operate. It makes it much easier to analyze faulty operation when you know how it should operate;
• Note the condition of the equipment as found. You should look at the state of the relays (energized or not), which lamps are lit, which auxiliary equipment is energized or running etc. This is the best time to give the equipment a thorough inspection (using all your senses). Look for signs of mechanical damage, overheating, unusual sounds, smells etc.;
• Test the operation of the equipment including all of its features. Make note of any feature that is not operating properly. Make sure you observe these operations very carefully. This can give you a lot of valuable information regarding all parts of the equipment.

Step 2 – Define Problem Area

It is at this stage that you apply logic and reasoning to your observations to determine the problem area of the malfunctioning equipment. Often times when equipment malfunctions, certain parts of the equipment will work properly while others not.
The key is to use your observations (from step 1) to rule out parts of the equipment or circuitry that are operating properly and not contributing to the cause of the malfunction. You should continue to do this until you are left with only the part(s) that if faulty, could cause the symptoms that the equipment is experiencing.

To help you define the problem area you should have a schematic diagram of the circuit in addition to your noted observations.
Starting with the whole circuit as the problem area, take each noted observation and ask yourself "what does this tell me about the circuit operation?" If an observation indicates that a section of the circuit appears to be operating properly, you can then eliminate it from the problem area. As you eliminate each part of the circuit from the problem area, make sure to identify them on your schematic. This will help you keep track of all your information.

Step 3 – Identify Possible Causes

Once the problem area(s) have been defined, it is necessary to identify all the possible causes of the malfunction. This typically involves every component in the problem area(s).

It is necessary to list (actually write down) every fault which could cause the problem no matter how remote the possibility of it occurring. Use your initial observations to help you do this. During the next step you will eliminate those which are not likely to happen.

Step 4 – Determine Most Probable Cause

Once the list of possible causes has been made, it is then necessary to prioritize each item as to the probability of it being the cause of the malfunction. The following are some rules of thumb when prioritizing possible causes.
Although it could be possible for two components to fail at the same time, it is not very likely. Start by looking for one faulty component as the culprit.

The following list shows the order in which you should check components based on the probability of them being defective:

• First look for components which burn out or have a tendency to wear out, i.e. mechanical switches, fuses , relay contacts, or light bulbs. (Remember, that in the case of fuses, they burn out for a reason. You should find out why before replacing them.)
• The next most likely cause of failure are coils, motors, transformers and other devices with windings. These usually generate heat and, with time, can malfunction.
• Connections should be your third choice, especially screw type or bolted type. Over time these can loosen and cause a high resistance. In some cases this resistance will cause overheating and eventually will burn open. Connections on equipment that is subject to vibration are especially prone to coming loose.
• Finally, you should look for is defective wiring. Pay particular attention to areas where the wire insulation could be damaged causing short circuits. Don't rule out incorrect wiring, especially on a new piece of equipment.

Step 5 – Test and Repair

Testing electrical equipment can be hazardous. The electrical energy contained in many circuits can be enough to injure or kill. Make sure you follow all your companies safety precautions, rules and procedures while troubleshooting.
Once you have determined the most probable cause, you must either prove it to be the problem or rule it out. This can sometimes be done by careful inspection however, in many cases the fault will be such that you cannot identify the problem component by observation and analysis alone. In these circumstances, test instruments can be used to help narrow the problem area and identify the problem component.

There are many types of test instruments used for troubleshooting. Some are specialized instruments designed to measure various behaviors of specific equipment, while others like the multimeters are more general in nature and can be used on most electrical equipment. A typical multimeter can measure AC and DC Voltages, Resistance, and Current.

A very important rule when taking meter readings is to predict what the meter will read before taking the reading. Use the circuit schematic to determine what the meter will read if the circuit is operating normally. If the reading is anything other than your predicted value, you know that this part of the circuit is being affected by the fault.

Depending on the circuit and type of fault, the problem area as defined by your observations, can include a large area of the circuit creating a very large list of possible and probable causes. Under such circumstances, you could use a“divide and eliminate” testing approach to eliminate parts of the circuit from the problem area. The results of each test provides information to help you reduce the size of the problem area until the defective component is identified.

Once you have determined the cause of the faulty operation of the circuit you can proceed to replace the defective component. Be sure the circuit is locked out and you follow all safety procedures before disconnecting the component or any wires.

After replacing the component, you must test operate all features of the circuit to be sure you have replaced the proper component and that there are no other faults in the circuit. It can be very embarrassing to tell the customer that you have repaired the problem only to have him find another problem with the equipment just after you leave.

Please note, Testing is a large topic and this article has only touched on the highlights.

Follow up

Although this is not an official step of the troubleshooting process it nevertheless should be done once the equipment has been repaired and put back in service. You should try to determine the reason for the malfunction.

• Did the component fail due to age?
• Did the environment the equipment operates in cause excessive corrosion?
• Are there wear points that caused the wiring to short out?
• Did it fail due to improper use?
• Is there a design flaw that causes the same component to fail repeatedly?

Through this process further failures can be minimized. Many organizations have their own follow-up documentation and processes. Make sure you check your organization’s procedures.

Adopting a logical and systematic approach such as the 5 Step Troubleshooting Approach can help you to troubleshoot like an expert!

electrical fyi

Did You Know?

1. A circuit breaker can appear to be ON but really be tripped.
2. The voltage at half of all U.S. homes is greater than most light bulbs are designed to run on.
3. A normal receptacle is sometimes ground-fault protected from elsewhere.
4. Home electricity doesn’t flow in one constant direction.
5. A turned-on dimmer switch normally produces some heat.
6. Most of a circuit can go out even when the breaker is on and is fine.
7. A GFCI receptacle will not trip for an overload.
8. Hair dryers sold today can use the entire capacity of a 15-amp circuit.
9. Replacing a switch or receptacle can open a can of worms.
10. Even if you knew all these, you can learn more by reading this page.

Your Home Electrical System

Electricity flows to your lights and appliances from the power company through your panel, its breakers, out on your circuits and back. Here is a schematic picture of all the major parts of your home electrical system. There are many connections along these paths that can be disrupted or fail, and there are many ways that electricity could go places you don’t want it to.

When in doubt, be safe & always hire a professional!!!
We are here for you 24/7
http://www.kansas-electrician.com

Electrician Service Outlets

Electricians

Electrical outlets are used everyday in the home, whether for lamps, TVs, or toasters, so they are often in need of repair and upkeep. Except before fixing, installing, or replacing any electrical outlet or switch it is crucial that you turn off any power current flowing to that receptacle. Then, lock the panel box, or find some way to indicate it’s in use, so nobody mistakenly turns the power back on during maintenance. Safety is the number one thing to keep in mind when dealing with any kind of electrical outlet or wiring.

Popular Electrical Outlets, Panels, Switches & Wiring Projects

Electrical Switches, Outlets & Fixtures - Install or Repair
Switches, lights, outlets, etc.  

Electrical for Home Addition or Remodel - Install
Wiring for new structures and remodels

Electrical Wiring or Panel Upgrade
Includes adding more circuits to panel or bringing wiring to code.

Solar Panels For Electric System - Install
Solar panels for electrical systems.

Solar Panels For Electric System - Repair
Solar panel for electrical systems.