As nightfall starts earlier and earlier, we again notice how much we depend on light to live our normal lives. Light changes what we can do and how easily we do it.
Simply having brighter bulbs can make a life brighter. Light fixtures have ratings for the maximum wattage bulbs they can handle. The issue is heat. A 60 watt bulb creates 60 watts of heat. Too much heat can 'cook' the electrical insulation to where it gets brittle and causes a short circuit.
However, CFL (Compact FLuorescent or my description: Curly Fluorescent) bulbs give you more light with less wattage. A "60-watt-equivalent" CFL bulb may only use 13 watts of electricity and therefore generate only 13 watts of heat. You could put in a 75-watt equivalent CFL bulb, save energy, not overheat the fixture and still have more light.
Showing posts with label lights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lights. Show all posts
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Why do lights flicker?
It's a common question we hear: "My lights sometimes dim or flicker, is that dangerous?"
Usually not, but it can be a sign of a problem.
Basically, light brightness is a function of your house voltage -120 volts. If the voltage drops, the lights will dim a little. That's not a problem if it's due to a big appliance starting (refrigerator, a/c, iron, hair dryer, etc.) Think of it as it taking extra work to get the refrigerator going so the voltage strains a little.
However if the lights get brighter than normal, that's a sign of a bad connection in the wiring. It's causing the voltage to drop and jump, also called a surge. A higher voltage can damage the electronics in your house: TV, DVR, etc. That's not good. And since these things do not fix themselves and will only get worse, you should call us sooner rather than later.
Flickering lights are also an indication of a bad connection that has gotten worse. One cause is tiny sparks in a connection, causing heat in the connection, and the heating and cooling of the connection makes things get worse.
I hope this explanation helps 'enlighten' everyone.
(More info about surges and surge protection, click here.)
Usually not, but it can be a sign of a problem.
Basically, light brightness is a function of your house voltage -120 volts. If the voltage drops, the lights will dim a little. That's not a problem if it's due to a big appliance starting (refrigerator, a/c, iron, hair dryer, etc.) Think of it as it taking extra work to get the refrigerator going so the voltage strains a little.
However if the lights get brighter than normal, that's a sign of a bad connection in the wiring. It's causing the voltage to drop and jump, also called a surge. A higher voltage can damage the electronics in your house: TV, DVR, etc. That's not good. And since these things do not fix themselves and will only get worse, you should call us sooner rather than later.
Flickering lights are also an indication of a bad connection that has gotten worse. One cause is tiny sparks in a connection, causing heat in the connection, and the heating and cooling of the connection makes things get worse.
I hope this explanation helps 'enlighten' everyone.
(More info about surges and surge protection, click here.)
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