Eric's Electric Service Pros

11/05/2024

09/23/2018

LED light bulb technology update from Eric's Electric:

The LED is the latest innovation in light bulbs and offers many options for your lighting needs. However, new technologies often bring complications like compatibility or integration of the new technology with older technologies.

***Here is an example I recently experienced firsthand***
On a recent job, I purchased Some LED 4 packs of Home Depot’s “store brand” named Ecosmart and is exclusive to Home Depot. Thes bulbs are inexpensive, dimmable and supposed to last up to 22 years. Which is interesting because these bulbs have not been in use long enough to test that claim. I also purchased a Lutron “Diva” LED CL dimmer, which is supposed to work with most bulb types light LED, Incandescent, and dimmable compact fluorescent bulbs. The main problem is that the 2 are not compatible with each other.

Both companies have compatibility lists for bulbs that work with specific dimmers and vice versa. I should have known better. The bulbs ended up burning out the dimmer in a very short time(2 days). For your own peace of mind and sanity, please check these lists before You buy and install these products.

LED bulbs offer the most options for your lighting needs.
• LEDs are at least 75% more efficient.
• Last up to 25 times longer than traditional
incandescent lights, (10-20+years).
• The LED bulb comes in most of the styles that our old
incandescent bulbs were offered in.
• Traditional styles include standard edison base bulbs,
candle base, globe type etc.
• Special types that replace most of the incandescent
and CFL bulbs previously made.

Here’s what you need to consider when purchasing LED bulbs. New terminology.

The bulbs are now rated in Kelvins, which is color temperature and CRI or color rendering index

2700K is the most common Kelvin rating and gives off light similar in appearance to that of incandescent bulbs. This tends to be more amber in color. * The next rating is 3500-4000K and is called bright white - very white in color. * The highest ratings available are 5000K to 6000K and are blue hued.

Color Rendering Index (CRI) is a scale from 0 to 100 percent representing how accurately the light source appears to render color. The higher the CRI, the better the color rendering ability. * 80 CRI bulbs are common and don't show true colors well. Typical uses include hallways, closets, common areas, and utility rooms. * 90 CRI or higher is considered to render colors more naturally, so they are useful for art display, kitchens, and dressing areas.

If you want to use a dimmer, you will need a dimmable LED bulb as well as a dimmer rated for LEDs. Remember to check the manufacturers compatibility lists.

Eric's Electric Service Pros 240-366-PROS(7767)
To see reviews of my service go to: http://www.houzz.com/pro/ericselectricservicepros/__public

bulbs

07/24/2018

Hello everybody, Eric from Eric’s Electric Service Pros here with some info on Maryland's
10 year battery requirement for household Smoke and Carbon monoxide detectors.

The Maryland Smoke Alarm Law — passed in 2013 — requires homes with battery-powered smoke detectors and those with no detectors to have newer tamper-resistant alarms by Jan. 1, 2018.

A new state law aimed at reducing home fire deaths went into effect on July 1, 2013. It requires replacement of any battery-only operated smoke alarm that is more than 10 years old with a unit powered by a 10-year sealed-in battery having a “Hush” button feature – ultimately affecting more than 800,000 Maryland homes with battery- only operated smoke alarms. The effective date for this requirement to be completed by is January 1, 2018.

According to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, two-thirds of all home fire deaths nationally occur in homes with either no smoke alarm or no working smoke alarm, mainly because of missing or disconnected batteries.

In newer homes (2013-2018) building code requires that hardwired Smoke & Carbon Monoxide detectors, must also have 10 year sealed batteries. When replacing or adding new detectors, it is important to install the required
hardwired/10 yr battery backup models

A 110 volt electrically powered smoke alarm may only be replaced with a new 110 volt unit with 10 yr battery backup. (It is not acceptable to remove required wired in smoke alarms and replace them with any type of battery-only operated device).

The units also have a “hush” button to temporarily silence alarms going off during non emergency situations — such as when smoke from cooking sets off the alarm in error. In those instances, the fire alarm resets after a few minutes. In a sustained fire, the hush feature is overridden.

Maryland's Smoke Alarm Law requires the replacement of all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old. This applies to both hardwired and battery-operated smoke alarms.

If you need service for your smoke detectors, call now to set an appointment.

Please have a safe summer, and don’t forget to call Eric for your next electrical project!
To view project photos and read customer reviews, visit our webpage @

https://houzz.com/pro/ericselectricservicepros/__public

06/29/2018

Hello Everyone! here are some photos of recent projects we've completed.

05/10/2018

Hello,

Thanks for checking out
Eric's Electric Service Pros

03/01/2018

Did you know that we do multiple types of electrical services for your home? Did you know that we provide 24/7 emergency service?

Call anytime you have an electrical issue you feel is dangerous.

To view photos of recent projects and read customer reviews, please visit our webpage at:
http://www.houzz.com/pro/ericselectricservicepros/__public

02/28/2018

Hello everyone! Eric’s Electric Service Pros here with some info on home security cameras and lighting.

Security cameras are becoming more popular among both homeowners and renters these days, as they allow you to keep an eye on your home, children, and/or pets while you’re away and provide a degree of protection from burglary and other dangers. While we do not install alarm-type home security systems per se, we do take care of the most critical elements of the comprehensive home security system: security cameras and security lighting.

When considering security cameras, consider the area that you want to monitor. Is it indoors, outdoors, or both? Is the area large enough that multiple cameras would be needed to cover the whole area? Is it a relatively low-traffic area of the property such that short video clips would be sufficient for effective monitoring, or is it an area with a lot of activity which would better be covered by continuous live video streaming? Whatever your security camera installation needs, Eric’s Electric Service Pros can provide.

The right lighting is also essential to a secure home. Outdoor flood lights illuminate your home and yard, lighting your way when you come home and deterring would-be theft. As well as provide security, exterior security lighting can also enhance landscaping and other exterior architectural elements of your house. There are many options for outdoor and security lighting.

To illuminate large areas, flood lights are a good choice. They are very bright and offer a variety of security features, such as automatic dusk-to-dawn operation and motion detection. Some can also be programmed with a timer or controlled remotely. Many use LEDs, which provide a lot of light for very low cost proportionally. If you have a large yard or a long driveway, you may want to consider post lights to light up areas of your property farther away from the house. They enhance the appearance of your yard or driveway and provide bright and attractive lighting in a permanent fixture.

Be safe and don’t forget to call Eric’s Electric Service Pros for all of your home electrical needs!

Eric's Electric Service Pros
"Bringing light to your home"
24/7 EMERGENCY SERVICE! CALL 240-366-7767(Pros)
Maryland state licensed and insured. Lic # 3841

HOUZZ:
To view photos of recent projects and read customer reviews, please visit our webpage at http://www.houzz.com/pro/ericselectricservicepros/__public

Website: www.ericselectricservicepros.com

02/03/2018

LED light bulb technology update!

The LED is the latest innovation in light bulbs and offers the most options for your lighting needs. This type of innovation tends to come with a higher price tag - expect to pay anywhere between $2 to $20 or more for a single bulb - but LEDs are at least 75% more efficient and last up to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent lights, making them a good choice for saving energy and money.

When it comes to technology, LED bulbs have a lot to offer. The LED bulb comes in most of the styles that our old incandescent bulbs were offered in, but with some substantial differences in the specifications of these bulbs that you need to consider when purchasing. LED bulbs are now rated in Kelvins (K), which is color temperature (TMI, I know!) and CRI, or color rendering index.

* 2700K is the most common rating and gives off light similar in appearance to that of incandescent bulbs. This rating is called warm or soft white and tends to be more amber in color.
* The next rating is 3500-4000K and is called bright white - very white in color.
* The highest rating is 5000K and is blue hued.

Color Rendering Index (CRI) is a scale from 0 to 100 percent representing how accurately the light source appears to render color. The higher the CRI, the better the color rendering ability.

* 80 CRI bulbs are more common and may not represent true colors well. Typical uses include hallways, closets, common areas, and utility rooms.
* 90 CRI or higher is considered to render colors more naturally, so they are useful for art display, kitchens, and dressing areas.

There are dimmable and non-dimmable LED bulb types available. If you want to use a dimmer, you will need a dimmable LED bulb as well as a dimmer rated for use with LED bulbs. The main manufacturer of dimmers is a company called Lutron; another is Leviton. They make several types of C-L dimmers, which are designed to control a broad range of dimmable incandescent, LED, and dimmable CFL bulbs. This is the type of dimmer that you will need for most LEDs.

There are a lot of new LED bulbs coming out and even the manufacturers are having a hard time keeping up with the changes. In an effort to keep up with the changes, LED bulb manufacturers have a compatibility list of dimmers that work with their bulbs. And if this isn't confusing enough, Lutron and the other dimmer manufacturers also have their own compatibility lists.

Choose your bulbs wisely and be sure to check for compatibility if you want to use a dimmer. Check Phillips.com, Cree.com, Lutron.com, and Leviton.com for compatibility lists. One website I found helpful for finding bulbs is Eartled.com.

Thanks for reading!

Eric's Electric Service Pros
240-366-PROS(7767)

To see reviews of our service, please visit our houzz.com page:

http://www.houzz.com/pro/ericselectricservicepros/__public

Houzz.com is a platform for home remodeling and design, bringing homeowners and home professionals together in a uniquely visual community.

01/29/2018

Columbia kitchen remodel