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Compact Fluorescent Bulbs–Are They Worth It?

Andrew Twidwell — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 20:01:37 +0000

compact fluorescent

Compact Fluorescent Bulbs–Are They Worth It?

Are Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs really Worth the Hype?

ABT Sheds Light on Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

We at ABT Plumbing, Electric, Heat & Air are committed to helping Nevada County residents make their homes more “Energy Efficient and Environmentally Conscious.” As a part of this commitment, our Office is helping utility ratepayers identify products and services they can use to help combat rising energy costs and the push to make their Grass Valley homes more energy efficient. While there are a number of costly home improvements such as solar roof paneling or replacing all of your home appliances with Energy Star products, there are also less costly energy saving options that are available. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Lighting accounts for close to 20 percent of the average home’s electric bill.” So we at ABT have decided that it’s time to “shed some light on energy efficient light bulbs.”

What are compact fluorescent light bulbs?

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs, or CLFs as they are commonly known, are spiral shaped light bulbs designed to use less energy and reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions.

What is the difference between Traditional Incandescent Bulbs and CLFs?

CLFs supply the same amount of light as incandescent bulbs, but use about 75 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer.

If every home in America replaced one incandescent light bulb with an Energy Star qualified CFL, in one year it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to more than 800,000 cars.

Do CLFs really last for 5-8 years as advertised?

If you look on the package most CLFs will boast a life span of 5 to 8 years, however, if you read the fine print you find out that this calculation is based on 4 hour a day usage.

Modern CFLs typically have a life span of between 6,000 and 15,000 hours, whereas incandescent lamps are usually manufactured to have a life span of 750 hours or 1000 hours.

Is the quality of light given off by CFL’s different from those of Incandescent Bulbs?

Consumers will notice that like incandescent bulbs, CLFs are labeled soft white, cool white, or daylight (which is similar to bright white).

Many people prefer incandescent bulbs because they have a color index that is closest to sunlight, which is 100. Compact fluorescent bulbs, on the other hand, have use a color index from the low to mid- 80’s.

In addition to color index, lighting is also dependent on Kelvin temperatures; the higher the temperature the brighter the light given off by that particular bulb. CLF’s with a Kelvin temperature of 2,700 to 3,000 are good for warm and relaxing atmospheres, while those with 5,000 are ideal for reading and projects that require bright lighting to complete.

I heard CFLs contain mercury is that true?

Yes, compact fluorescents contain a small amount of mercury, which aid them in being efficient lighting sources.

Do I have to take extra precautions when handling or disposing of them?

The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that consumers recycle CFLs either through their local hazardous waste centers, which may be contacted by phone at 866- 666-6850, or on the web at www.lamprecycle.org for additional locations.

If you must dispose of a CFL yourself; use disposable rubber gloves, wipe the area with a damp cloth (never use a vacuum cleaner) and place the bulb in two plastic sealed bags prior to placing them in outside trash receptacles.

DIY Electrical testing for your Auburn CA Home

Andrew Twidwell — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:19:53 +0000

DIY Electrical testing for your Auburn CA Home;

If the thought of working on an electrical circuit in your Nevada County home makes you cringe, then investing in a good quality multi-meter, voltmeter, ticker tracer or a neon-light tester should be your first order of business. These testers can be inexpensive and are well worth the investment to help protect you from an electric shock. They can be purchased at your local Grass Valley, Ca hardware store or Auburn, Ca home center.

1. Testers and How They Work

A basic neon light tester consist of a neon light bulb that is attached to two leads used for checking if a circuit is “hot” (electrified)or “dead”(not electrified). When you press these two leads into an outlet, the bulb will light if the circuit is “hot” or on. If it doesn’t light, then the circuit is “dead” or off.

Always check to see if the tester is working properly by checking a circuit that you know is working properly before moving on. To double-check that an outlet is actually off, remove the outlet cover and test the screws on the sides of the outlet. But be sure to be safe, the outlet may still be hot(electric). A good habit to practice is to always assume the circuit is electrified or hot, in other words just don’t touch any bare wire with your hands. You can also plug a lamp or vacuum into the outlet just to put your mind at ease.

2. Outlets and Testing

To test an electrical outlet in your Grass Valley home do the following. A typical outlet has three holes built into it. The shorter straight slot is the “hot” (electric) lead. The longer straight slot is the “neutral” lead (if it’s wired correctly). The slot that looks like a small circle hole is the ground.

To test the ground, test between the “hot” (electrified) and “ground” slots. If the circuit is working and you have a good “ground” connection, the tester will light up. The tester will also light if you test between the “hot” (electric) and “neutral” slots.

There are plug-in circuit testers are available that will test your circuit for you via three neon lights. They test for an open neutral, lack of a ground, wires on the wrong terminals, and no power. This is a great inexpensive tool to have in your tool box.

3. Switches and Testing

To test a switch in your Auburn home, remove the cover plate and check from the “hot” (electric) screw on the side of the switch to the bare copper wire (ground) or the metal box. Keep in mind that the box may not be grounded, especially if it’s a plastic box.

4. Testing Light Fixtures

When checking the light fixture wiring in your Grass Valley home, take down the light and using a “tick-tracer”, test the circuit to see if it working. This tester lights when you place it close to a wire that has current flowing through it. Again always double check your testers by testing a known working outlet.

To double-check the circuit, first turn off the electricity to that circuit by turning off the light switch. Now, remove the wire nuts from both the black “hot” wires and the white “neutral” wires. Now with the wires exposed you can use your neon light tester. Separate these sets of wires so that they are not touching one another. If the wires touch and they’re hot, look out sparks will fly.

Turn the circuit back on and check between the black and white wires with the voltmeter or neon tester. Be careful not to touch the exposed wires with your fingers. The voltmeter should show a reading of around 120 volts. Likewise, the neon tester should light if the circuit is working properly.

That’s it. But I can’t stress enough the fact that you need to be careful and always assume you’re working with electrified lines. And another thing if you don’t feel comfortable, don’t mess with it. With electricity it’s always better to be safe than sorry or dead. There are times in everyone’s life where its just better to hire a professional. Only you can decide when to hire someone.

If you get in over your head or just don’t want to mess with it, give ABT Plumbing, Electric, Heat & Air a call and we’ll be there to help. 530-272-9120

ABT Plumbing, Electric, Heat & Air serves: Nevada and Placer County, Grass Valley, Ca. Alta Sierra, Ca. Nevada City, Ca. Penn Valley, Ca. Rough and Ready, Ca. Lake Wildwood, Ca. Smartsville, Ca. Colfax, Auburn, Ca. Lake of the Pines, Ca. Meadow Vista, Ca. Newcastle, Ca. and all places in-between.

Auburn Electrical Services

Andrew Twidwell — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 06:18:49 +0000

Highly Experienced And Capable Electricians

We are a highly experienced electrical company, capable of taking care of all your electrical needs. Our professional electricians are experts at repairing or replacing all types of lights, fans, service panels, outlets, spas, GFCI’s and many other electrical items. From re-wiring an existing home, trouble shooting a flickering light, to replacing a broken light switch, ABT can take care of all your residential and commercial electrical needs. ABT takes pride in nurturing home-grown electricians through our in-house training program.

We Don’t Hire Knuckle Heads

On an average, we only hire 1 out of every 10 electricians who apply to join our team. We don’t hire knuckle head electricians from Auburn. Our intensive training program, makes each electrician proficient in carrying out electrical services to the utmost satisfaction of our clients. Criminal background checks are performed on all our field staff, and all ABT employees are drug free.

So who does the other 90% go to work for? SOMEONE ELSE.

Welcome to ABT Plumbing, Electric, Heating & Air Conditioning

Andrew Twidwell — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:25:28 +0000

Welcome to ABT Plumbing, Electric, Heat & Air

When you need a plumber, electrician, or heating & air person in Nevada County or Placer County, call 530-272-9120 and we’ll be there, usually the same day. We are insured and bonded, and we offer upfront pricing.

Before any work begins, our trained technician will provide a price. Unlike most plumbing companies, we do not charge you to visit your home or business. No fee is charged until work begins.

ABT Plumbing, Electric, Heat & Air serves both Nevada & Placer counties including: Grass Valley, Alta Sierra,Nevada City, Penn Valley, Rough and Ready, Lake Wildwood, Smartsville, Colfax, Auburn, Lake of the Pines, Meadow Vista, Newcastle, and all places in-between.

Clients’ Bill of Rights

Our clients’ satisfaction is very important to us. In fact our clients are so important that we have developed a Client’s Bill of Rights.

As a client of ABT Plumbing, Electric, Heat & Air, you have:

The Right to Feel Safe…All our technicians are screened for criminal backgrounds and tested for drugs.
The Right to a Fair Price… We will meet or beat any written bid from a bonded, insured and licensed company.
The Right to Convenient Service… No extra charge for Saturday service.
The Right to a Completely Clean Work Area after the job is completed.
The Right to a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.