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With modern LED lighting systems, a full outdoor lighting package for all-night security and added ambiance operates at a fraction of traditional outdoors lights 

DENVER, CO – Outdoor lighting on a home, once restricted to porch lights and the occasional backyard or garage spot light, is fast becoming the standard for both the aesthetic illumination of the home and to enhance security.

Here at Allstar Electrical Services we see it all the time in new-home construction and we are called upon to install sometimes elaborate outdoor lighting solutions along with the standard whole-home electrical services we provide. And more and more owners of existing homes are requesting outdoor lighting systems as well as they see the new homes in their neighborhoods beautifully illuminated.

The aesthetic value of outdoor lighting is so important that we often get called in by real estate agents eager for the enhancement to “curb appeal” that it offers in the sales process. And, of course, in addition to adding value to the home’s “showing,” potential buyers are also swayed by the increase in security offered in an illuminated house; intruders are much less likely to attempt a break-in or commit vandalism at a fully lit property. Indeed, many Neighborhood Watch programs encourage people in the neighborhood to at least keep their porch lights on all night, and full-home illumination only enhances this security value.

Modern outdoor lighting solutions take many forms. The most popular are spot or flood lights mounted in ground-level fixtures that point up an illuminate the full exterior of the home.  Also a favorite are garden lights that brightly display the dark corners of the yard or landscape features of particular interest, garage lighting that illuminates the alley or the driveway, walkway lighting that outlines the paths of sidewalks leading to the home in both the back and front, and enhanced lighting for front and back porches as well as patio and outdoor meeting and barbeque areas. We have even designed and installed outdoor lighting under the eaves of homes and garages, and for additional illumination of windows and doors, particularly patio doors.

Popular types of lighting include incandescent flood and spot lights, as well as solar-powered walkway and landscape lighting. But what with the coming changes mandated for incandescent light bulbs in favor of LED lighting, we at Allstar Electrical Services recommend a full LED solution for all outdoor lighting requirements.

LED, or light-emitting diode, solutions represent an emerging technology that actually can be traced back more than 100 years, although real-world applications didn’t actually begin until the early 1960s when early versions of the lighting systems began to be used in electronic devices like electronic test equipment, clocks, televisions, radios, telephones, calculators and watches. Today most consumers are aware of the latest versions as those squiggly light bulbs that are rapidly replacing incandescent light bulbs – in fact, incandescent bulbs for home use will be phased out of use beginning at the end of 2012 and will disappear from store shelves by the end of 2014.

Many people have been unhappy with the color and the quality of the light emitted by LED bulbs over the last few years, but rapid advancements in design and technology are eliminating those concerns. While more costly than standard incandescent light bulbs initially, LED offer many advantages, including much longer life, lower emission of heat, and much lower use of electricity. For instance, the replacement LED bulb for a standard 100-watt light bulb is rated at a mere 26 watts, which drastically slashes electricity use on a per-bulb basis.

The added advantage of LED lighting for outdoor lighting solutions is that the technology allows for a multitude of uses. LED bulbs can be used for flood and spot light purposes and porch lamps, and can be designed to illuminate a single spot, like a mural, or light a whole yard or driveway. Other types, similar to Christmas tree lights, are extremely low users of power and offer lighting solutions in a variety of colors for eave, walkway and patio lighting, adding an often romantic touch to lighting solutions.

As an added advantage, we regularly design LED outdoor lighting systems where the lights can be operated manually by the flip of a switch, made to activate automatically at dusk, or a combination of both. Imagine the security of automatic outdoor lighting in the winter when night falls before work ends or for those periods of time when the home’s occupants are away on a business trip or vacation.

Outdoor lighting systems are quickly becoming the new normal for every home to add to the property’s aesthetic appeal and to enhance the security, and now with modern LED solutions the operational costs of such solutions is a fraction of the standards of just a few years ago.

For all of your outdoor lighting solutions, and for electrical services throughout the home, call on Allstar Electrical Services, serving the Denver metro area for more than 10 years with fully licensed electricians. Call 303-399-7420 for complete information and to schedule an appointment.    

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Most times circuit breakers trip because of a minor problem that is easily addressed, but if tripping persists a homeowner should take steps to insure the home is safe and secure

DENVER, CO – A customer in Denver called us here at Allstar Electrical Services saying he wanted “a few more electrical outlets” installed in a couple of places in his home because some circuits were overloaded and he was experiencing too many circuit breaker trips.

This is a common problem in many homes, particularly older homes like that of the customer who called because the aging electrical system wasn’t designed to handle the burgeoning demand for electrical devices that have become the staples of modern life. Where once the den had a television set and perhaps a VCR plugged into that single outlet in the corner, now there’s a television, a cable box, a DVD/DVR, an Xbox or Wii, perhaps even CD/radio – and, of course, they often share that single outlet. This same thing has happened in the now-popular home office with a myriad of computer-related devices, in the kitchen with its microwave, food processor, blender, toaster waffle iron, et al, and in the bathroom where plug-in appliances of all sorts have modernized personal hygiene.

Circuit breakers tripping have become a norm in modern living, and avoiding them is not only a time- and hassle-saver, but it could be a safety issue as well. Any homeowner experiencing an inordinate amount of circuit breaker trips should have the electrical system inspected – a relatively inexpensive precaution – or at the very least should pay attention to electrical usage in the home.

In the old days home electrical systems were safeguarded by fuse boxes and, as such, “blowing a fuse” has become a part of the American idiom for anyone who is overloaded and is used by people who never saw a fuse box in their life. These fuses boxes are almost all gone now in most homes, replaced over the last several decades by the safer and more convenient breaker boxes where the electrical service enters the home and containing the circuit breakers. Generally, when a breaker trips it is a simple matter of “flipping the switch” back to the “on” position to re-establish electrical service to that circuit.

There are many factors that can potentially lead to a circuit trip, but in most case it is simply that the current demand exceeds the amps that circuit can handle. One of the most common circuit-tripping occurrences we see is when someone is using the microwave oven and then plugs another appliance, like a toaster, into the same circuit; microwave ovens use a ton of power and alone can easily use up the “juice” capacity in a circuit. Hair dryers are another frequent culprit.

Just like fuses, circuits in circuit breakers come in varying capacities based on the demand load anticipated by the electrician when the service was first installed, which in some cases could have been decades ago. But even in systems of 10 to 15 years of age the assumptions made by the installer could easily be invalid at the present time.

Beyond having a home’s electrical system inspected and service updates made by a qualified electrician to meet the demand in the home as it stands today, here are a Few Tips To Avoid Circuit Breaker Trips:

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Allstar Electrical Services knows a thing or two about electricity – and we know how easy it is to save money without any major lifestyle changes

DENVER, CO – Everyone wants to save money, of course, and one of the easiest ways is to trim your monthly electricity bill with very simple steps that won’t disrupt your lifestyle. A little extra care with and awareness about electric use in your home can add up to significant savings, especially important in an era of rising rates.

At Allstar Electrical Services has been serving the Denver metro area for over 10 years with top-notch, licensed electricians performing the full range of electrical repair, maintenance and installation needs. As such, we see electric waste every day and have become experts in recommending ways to cut electric bills. Here’s a few simple steps that most every homeowner can take to cut electricity usage and save money:

All of us almost take electricity for granted what with its ubiquitous and safe use in so many aspects of our lives. What most people don’t realize is how much energy we waste each day that can be avoided with a few simple steps and some planning.

And when you need electrical repairs, upgrades, new plugs, lighting solutions or anything electrical, give the professional at Allstar Electrical Services a call http://www.allstarelectrical.com/

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Any electrician unwilling to patiently undergo a complete interview with a homeowner about the proposed service probably shouldn’t be hired. Here’s a handy starting point for the grilling

DENVER, CO – Hiring any professional service provider for your home can be fraught with peril. Whether it’s a plumber, a roofer, floor covering specialist, remodeler or an electrician, it’s difficult to know if they have the experience to handle the job. They will all, of course, profess to having the chops to do what you require “expertly and cost-effectively,” but the fact is that most homeowners aren’t generally equipped with enough knowledge on complex home improvement and maintenance procedures to go beyond the sales pitch or the Yellow Pages advertisement hyperbole.

Here at Allstar Electrical Services we have the sales pitch and the Yellow Pages ads, and we profess to having the top professional, licensed electricians, the best pricing and unparalleled customer service, but how would you know? We compiled this handy list of Key Questions to Ask when selecting an electrical services provider to get you started on the right path.

If you are building a new home, remodeling an existing one, adding major appliances like a hot tub, entertainment home theater, or simply need to upgrade your electrical service to stay current with the modern demand for electricity, a qualified professional electrician is essential. Dig deep in your research and you’ll find an electrician that can handle all of your home electrical needs, large and small, for years to come.

Here are the Key Questions to Ask An Electrician:
•    Are you licensed in this state and, where applicable, with the local city and county? Are all members of the team that will perform my work so licensed? You can ask for license numbers and check with the state and local electrician licensing boards to verify that the licenses are up-to-date; in some jurisdictions you can also find out if there have been any complaints filed against the electrician or the electrical company and how they were resolved. Often, members of the team working at your home may be apprentices, but they should be working under the direction of a licensed, journeyman electrician. Also, most localities, but not all, require that licensure adhere to the standards of the National Electrical Code, which is updated regularly and requires continuing education. Verify that you electrician practices within NEC standards and is current.
•    Are you listed and in good standing with the local Better Business Bureau? This information can also be verified, and most BBBs keep great records on complaints and resolution histories.
•    Are you insured? Make sure the electrician is insured, that the policy is current, and check its value and what it covers. Electrical contractors should carry at least $500,000 in liability coverage and workers’ compensation coverage.
•    Have you performed work of this nature before and how often? Do you have references from customers? If you are building a new home, remodeling or making extensive electrical changes, you want to be sure this electrician/company has performed similar work (big house, outdoor wiring, home theater, etc.). Get the references, call those people and be willing to act as a reference once the work is completed to your satisfaction.
•    Will I need a permit? Most localities require a permit and a subsequent inspection on any electrical work beyond minor maintenance, and most electricians will pull and post the required permits for you. Make sure this is done in compliance with local rules, because if it isn’t you may have to start over and could face a fine.
•    Will you provide a detailed estimate or cost quote for the work contracted? In most cases, electricians will provide a hard quote for the services to be provided, however additional issues may be found as the work progresses, particularly in older homes. These additional costs should be discussed with the homeowner before that work commences so there are no hidden “surprise” costs at billing time.
•    How long will this work take and what disruption of electrical service, and when, will I experience? This is an important question: on a new-build or remodel, the work performed by the electrician may have to be done before the builder or another subcontractor moves on to the next step in the construction; make sure you electrician understands the schedule and will promise, in writing, to meet the deadlines (of course, keep in mind that building schedules can be delayed by other vendors, weather, parts suppliers, etc.). Disruption of electrical service for any length of time may require a homeowner to make other shelter arrangements; planning ahead will help.
•    Will I need to have my electrical panel replaced? This is generally the panel containing the circuit breakers. Most codes require the panel to be at least a 100 amp service, however most new homes these days have a 200-amp service. This can be one of the most expensive jobs an electrician performs, but adequate service is essential in modern homes with a high degree of electrical devices and demands.
•    If my service panel is replaced will I need to rewire my home? Except for some very older homes where the electrical service hasn’t been updated in decades, the need to rewire an entire home is usually not an issue. However, if you are adding new electrical devices or more receptacles, additional wiring may be required in certain rooms.
•    Is my home’s electrical system adequately grounded? Proper grounding is important not only to protect against an electrical fault or short-circuit, but also as protection for expensive electronic equipment and appliances. A professional electrician will address this grounding issue as a matter of course, but it’s a good question to ask to insure your vendor fully understands his/her craft.
•    Am I allowed to see the work in progress? It is difficult for the average homeowner to understand or recognize quality work or substandard workmanship, but suffice to say that quality work is generally neat and tidy, with no exposed wires.
•    Do you guarantee your work and for how long? Any reputable electrician will offer a complete guarantee of their work for at least a year and sometimes longer. Check the company’s guarantee policy and when checking on the BBB status make sure to check any issues involving guarantees.

This is a lot of questions, and that’s a good thing: any electrician unwilling to patiently undergo a complete interview with a homeowner before contracting for the work probably shouldn’t be hired. You are trusting the safety of your home and the lifestyle of your family to the electrical work performed, so it is wise to take the time to go beyond the sales pitch and the advertising hyperbole. Besides, you should also be comfortable with a vendor in your home and such an interview will go a long way in providing peace of mind.

For all of your electrical needs, from minor repairs to major installations, give the licensed professional electricians at Allstar Electrical Services a call at 303-399-7420 or visit us online at www.allstarelectrical.com. We don’t mind being grilled at all.

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Electrical fires in homes kill 310 Americans and injure another 1,100 people each year, causing over $1 billion in property damage in the process. Following safety guidelines can avoid the dangers and keep families safe.

DENVER, CO – Electrical fires in U.S. homes cause 310 deaths and more than 1,100 injuries each year, according to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), a division of the Department of Homeland Security under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). These statistics come from the estimated 28,000 fires each year attributable to home electrical problem, resulting in just over $1.1 billion annually in property damage. More than half of these fires – 53% — involve issues with electrical wiring.

As professional electricians, we here at Allstar Electrical Services are well aware of the dangers posed by faulty wiring, overloading circuits, frayed cords and the improper use of such appliances as space heaters and fans. We often get called in to fix problems after a fire has occurred, sometimes in an emergency, but more often than not what we notice –  a lot – is the potential for a fire in the home caused by a myriad of factors we see in inspections and during service calls to homes. We have prepared a few Electrical Fire Safety Tips to help homeowners avoid the dangers and expense of an electrical fire, and to troubleshoot their use of electricity. 

Electricity is, of course, one of the centerpiece amenities of the modern home, and without it our lifestyles would be interrupted immeasurably. But that is the key to electrical problems: the last 10 years has brought a vast array of electrical devices into our homes and lifestyles, placing an extra load on a home’s electrical system, a load often unanticipated when homes built in the 1990s and before were constructed. Think about all those news kitchen appliances, bathroom conveniences and home entertainment systems that draw electricity and that weren’t the norm in most homes just a few short years ago. Indeed, the major service call we receive from homeowners is to install new receptacles and switches to more safely and conveniently deliver electrical service to all of the new power toys our customers are buying.

Of course, the absolute best way to give your home an electrical examination is to call in Allstar Electrical Services for a professional assessment of all of your circuits, outlets, switches, light fixtures and appliances to ensure the home’s electrical system is operating in the safest possible manner. But here is our Electrical Fire Safety Tips for homeowners to use to evaluate their present electrical condition and to avoid any problems, as they say, down the line.

Electrical Fire Safety Tips:

·     Install smoke detectors in all rooms of your home, in the garage, and in stairwells and hallways, and periodically check to make sure they are working properly and the batteries aren’t dead. (Good smoke detectors have a “test” button on them, and we recommend performing a whole-house check twice a year, on the same day you change all the clocks to “Spring Forward” and “Fall Back” for Daylight Savings Time).

·     Routinely check your electrical appliances and wiring. Frayed wires can cause fires, so replace all worn, old or damaged appliance cords immediately, or simply discard the appliance and get a new one. (When buying a lamp or appliance make sure it carries a certification, like the “UL” seal from Underwriters Laboratories).

·     Replace any electrical tool if it causes even small electrical shocks, overheats, shorts out, or gives off smoke or sparks.

·     Keep electrical appliances away from wet floors and counters; pay special attention to electrical appliances in the bathroom and kitchen.

·     Touch electrical outlets and switches – if they are warm to the touch, there could be a problem in the wiring.

·     Keep clothes, curtains, and other potentially combustible items at least three feet from all heaters.

·     If an appliance has a three-prong plug, use it only in a three-slot outlet. Never force it to fit into a two-slot outlet or extension cord.

·     Don’t allow children to play with or around electrical appliances like space heaters, irons, and hair dryers.

·     Use safety closures to "child-proof" electrical outlets.

·     Use electrical extension cords wisely; extension cords should not be used in tandem (two cords or more to extend reach), and they should never run under carpets, rugs, bedding or baseboards.

·     Never overload extension cords or wall sockets using extension plugs.

·     Be very careful with nails or staples used to attach electrical cords to the walls or baseboards because it is easy to damage the cords and cause fire or shock hazards. An alternative is to tape cords to walls or floors, or carefully use “U” fastneners.

·     Immediately shut off, then professionally replace, light switches that are hot to the touch and lights that flicker.

·     Plan two escape routes from each floor of your home and practice using them.  Be sure you can open doors and windows from the inside without a key.

·     Don’t place anything that will burn near a furnace, water heater, space heater, or the stove top.

·     Don’t use flammable chemicals near appliances with pilot lights.

·     Check labels on lamps and use the right size bulb(s). 

·     Check the label on your fuse box and be sure you use the right size fuses. For fuse boxes and circuit breakers, make sure the box is labeled for which fuse/circuit breaker controls what outlets, switches, lights and appliances.

·     Fix electrical problems right away.  If fuses blow often, circuit breakers trip often, switches get hot or people are shocked, something is wrong.

·     A ground fault circuit interrupter, or GFCI, is a special type of outlet that prevents shocks and these outlets are recommended – and often required by code — for areas where water is used, like in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry areas, garages, basements, outdoor outlets, and around pools, saunas, and hot tubs.  Test these outlets monthly (there is a “test” and “reset” button on GFICs).

Like anything else, electrical wiring and appliances wear out over time and require regular inspection and maintenance to ensure proper operation. Keeping these Electrical Fire Safety Tips in mind can keep your home safe.

For all of your electrical needs, including electrical system inspections, visitwww.allstarelectrical.com or call 303-399-7420. Allstar Electrical Services serves the entire Denver metro area with complete residential and commercial electrical services.

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The DIYer has many tools at his/her disposal to test electrical outlets and switches and to aid in replacement, but the wise choice is always to call in a professional electrician

DENVER, CO – Electricity is nothing to mess with as anyone who has ever received a shock can attest. Still, homeowners and handymen far and wide believe they can go to the internet or the big-box home improvement store and stock up a weekend’s worth of journeyman electrician and save a few bucks on a professional service call. That’s okay. There are a few electrical things the layman can perform, and we professional electricians know all too well that we’ll get called out on a good percentage of those DIY electrical situations in any case.

But that doesn’t mean we want you to hurt yourself. Quite the contrary; we like an informed client base, just not one in bandages.

One of the main things the DIYer electrician needs is the ability to know if a circuit is hot – is that electrical outlet working?; is it wired properly?; is there “juice” running through that switch?

Of course, if you’re planning on replacing a plug or a switch, it is important to know if there is electricity running through there if for no other reason than you want to make sure the juice is cut before you start taking it apart. The easiest first step is always to plug a lamp you know is working into the plug to see if it the plug works. You can also do this to an outlet that is connected to a switch – plug in a lamp and flip the switch. You’ll want to have this lamp on when you go to the circuit breaker to make sure you’ve cut power to the right circuit before you attempt to rewire a switch or plug.

There are also handy tools you can find at pretty much any hardware store or big-box home remodeling center that can test not only if electricity is running to a circuit, but what amount of electricity and whether the plug or switch is wired properly. Switches and plugs that are wired backwards – called “reversed polarity” – will still work, but they are not safe. Keep in mind that these testing devices are not fool-proof; when in doubt, better to leave it alone.

There are a few basic, and relatively inexpensive, electrical testing tools out there that can help in the detection of bad outlets and switches. The simplest is a pocket voltage tester, which looks a little like a fat ballpoint pen. Some have on/off switches on them, but you simply touch a wire, a wall outlet or anything electrical and a light comes on in the voltage tester and it chirps or buzzes in the presence of electricity. Some of these testers are “non-contact,” meaning that they only have to be close to electricity to sound off. In some cases these voltage testers determine the strength of the voltage as well, and in that case you want one that tests up to 500 volts.

There is also a device called a two-wire voltage tester, often called a “neon tester” because it has a neon bulb that lights up when electricity passes through it. It features two wires, or probes; push them into the hot and neutral slots (the wide slot is neutral) and if the light come on, the outlet is live. You can also check any 110 volt connection by touching one probe to a ground (the white wire, a ground screw or the neutral connection), and the other probe to the hot wire, usually black or red. Best to try this device in a circuit you know is live first, just to make sure it’s working.

In most homes these days to be fully up to snuff on testing the electrical, you have to have the ability to test those three-prong outlets and also the Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets. GFCI outlets are now required by code in most jurisdictions for use in kitchens and bathrooms or for any outlet that is within 15 feet of a water source. They are the plugs that contain an internal breaker which trips instantly when it senses a short.

A receptacle tester and a GFCI or ground fault circuit interrupter tester (they look like a plug with lights on them) can show if an outlet is wired properly, and also if it is live just by plugging it in. A GFCI outlet may be wired in a branch circuit, meaning that other receptacles or devices might be wired on the same line. Those downstream from the GFIC, if it is wired properly, will lose power if the GFIC trips, so if you have lost power in a circuit it may be because a nearby GFIC has tripped. All outlets upstream, toward the power source, are not affected by the GFIC. (GFIC’s should be tested regularly, about once a year, by pressing the “Test” and “Reset” buttons on them. If you press the “test button and nothing happens, the GFIC needs to be replaced. If the outlet pops in a test, it is miswired and should be fixed immediately.)

For the three-prong outlets, you can use any variety of multimeter for testing grounding and polarity. In the regular plug portion of the outlet, the short slot should be the “hot” slot, the long slot the neutral, and the U-shpated slot the ground. Set your meter in the 200 volt range, place one probe in the U-shaped slot and the other in the long slot. The meter will read less than 1 volt if it is installed properly. When you move the long-slot probe to the short “hot” slot the meter should read 120 volts. If the readings are opposite, the outlet is wired in reverse and should be rewired.

Electricity can be very dangerous, even in small voltages, and none of the equipment mentioned here is foolproof in ensuring there is power or, more importantly, no power before work is done.

Of course, the wise choice always is to call on your professional electrician like Allstar Electrical Services to perform these tests and do any of the necessary fixes. It saves the DIYer from the anxiety of electrocution, and professionals can also quickly spot other potential hazards in your electrical system.

For all of your home electrical needs, visit www.allstarelectrical.com or call 303-399-7420.

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DENVER, CO – The housing bubble that led to the worst U.S. recession in decades and shows only the slightest signs of recovery after more than two years of stagnation has a bright side for those people able to take advantage: housing costs are down considerably, mortgage and construction-loan rates are the lowest they have been in decades, and a whole host of general contractors and subcontractors are hungry for work and pricing their services accordingly.

While the conventional wisdom is that buying a home in this environment may offer the best combination of pricing and lending rates ever seen, it may be even a better time to consider building a dream home or to extensively remake an existing home into a new castle.

For new-build homes, the same positive economics that apply to the real estate market in general come into play: low acquisition costs of an older, smaller tear-down home or a building lot, and 30-year mortgage rates well below 5%. The added advantage is that builders, jam-packed with business at inflated fees just a few years ago, are in a mood to deal just to keep the business operating. Same for remodeling projects and the many subcontractors who work on both new-build and add-on projects: they take business wherever they can find it, and the market is so competitive the fees charged are some of the lowest seen in more than 20 years.

However, as always, caveat emptor: let the buyer beware. While contractors are keeping fees low in a hyper-competitive marketplace, there is also the potential of the cutting corners to maximize returns. Anyone contracting to build a new home or to substantially remake an existing one would be well advised to insist that subcontractors hire by general contractors or developers to perform critical elements of the building project be fully licensed and capable of the task at hand.

One of the key aspects of any home construction project, whether new or remodel, is the electrical contractor charged with wiring the new home or addition. Modern lifestyles call for the addition of a myriad of appliances, home theater systems, home-wide entertainment systems, security systems, extensive cabling for entertainment and work spaces, outdoor decorative and security lighting, HVAC units, and more – in other words, the modern home is a marvel for wiring and cabling, with electrical demand far exceeding what was the norm only a few years ago. Not every electrician has the experience and expertise to handle a high-demand electrical job, even though most of them will say they do. Best to check the level of experience and all references to insure a new home or extensive remodeling project is done correctly the first time. The best contractors and developers will supply all the necessary background on subcontractors before work commences and are open to make a switch to one the client prefers.

Building a new home or making a new home out of an existing one is a daunting undertaking, but the stars are all aligned and indicate this may be the best time ever to build the dream. Make sure, however, that each and every contractor and subcontractor has the expertise to fulfill that dream, or it could become a nightmare.

Allstar Electrical Services of Denver is a premier electrical contractor, serving the residential, commercial and industrial with cutting-edge, professional and fully licensed electricians with vast experience in new build and remodeling projects.

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DENVER, CO – The days of the incandescent light bulb are numbered, due to federal legislation that will begin phasing out the long-familiar but energy inefficient lighting source beginning in 2012. Most people are well aware of the LED fluorescent alternative showing up on store shelves and EnergyStar reports, but for many commercial applications, and several whole-room lighting solutions in the home, “green” proponents are turning to a technology pioneered more than 100 years ago: induction lightening.

Induction lighting looks very familiar, as it uses light bulbs that look much like the fluorescent tubes in use for decades. Both systems are lighted by the electrical excitement of gasses within the tube that react with phosphor that coats the tube to produce white light. However, fluorescent tubes use electrodes, those metal pins on the ends of the tube, and these degrade over time and lessen the lifespan of the light source. Induction lights, on the other hand, are powered by the transmission of energy via a magnetic field, an electrode-less system that is rated for as much as 100,000 hours – nearly 12 years on continuous use with limited lumen (light output) degradation over time.

Induction lighting has been in limited use for about 20 years, but has become more popular of late with the growing need to conserve energy. The basic principle for the technology, induction, goes back to the early 1890s when noted genius inventor Nicola Tesla described and demonstrated wired and wireless power transfer to electrodeless fluorescent and incandescent lamps. Tesla was said to have lit 200 lamps without wires from a distance 25 miles using a magnetic field, and he subsequently filed and was awarded a US Patent on the principle.

“LED, or Light Emitting Diode, bulbs will remain the choice for home lamps and other uses where the need is for a bulb of 25 watts or less,” says Gary Stone, owner of Denver’s Allstar Electrical Services, which performs commercial, industrial and residential electrical services with fully licensed master electricians. “But for bigger power users and those who need reliable light sources for often large areas, many architects and designers are beginning to spec induction lighting as the more efficient and economical option. We are installing induction systems in many properties with excellent results.”

Stone adds that induction lighting is preferred for office buildings where a great deal of overhead lighting is the norm, and he says the systems are also preferred for commercial applications subject to extremely cold temperatures, like outdoor security fixtures, parking garages, warehouse, public spaces, industrial buildings, company signage, and even freezer and cold storage lighting. Some homeowners and home designers are also incorporating induction lighting for high-ceiling applications.

The advantages of induction lighting, on top of the extended life, are numerous and include:

• Highest wattage outputs (up to 400 watts). Very high energy conversion efficiency of between 62 and 90 Lumens/Watt – higher wattage bulbs are more energy efficient.
• Minimal Lumen depreciation (declining light output over time) compared to other lamp types as filament evaporation and depletion is absent.
• “Instant-on” and hot re-strike, unlike most conventional lamps used in commercial/industrial lighting applications, such as mercury-vapor lamp, sodium-vapor lamp and metal halide lamp.
• Environmentally friendly as induction lamps use less energy, and use less mercury per hour of operation than conventional lighting due to their long lifespan. The mercury is in a solid form and can be easily recovered if the lamp is broken, or for recycling at end-of-life.
• Proprietary heat dissipation designs.
• Dimmable electronic ballasts.

These benefits mean that induction lighting systems offer a considerable cost savings of between 35% and 55% in energy and maintenance costs compared to other types of commercial and industrial lamps which they replace, says Stone.

Allstar Electrical Services electricians serve as electrical contractors on commercial and industrial projects, including new-build and retrofit, of all sizes, and handle household electrical needs too, throughout Metro Denver and Colorado’s Front Range. For more information on induction lighting and all green lighting solutions, as well as the broad range of electrical services provided, visit http://www.allstarelectrical.com/ and call 303-399-7420.

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Commercial developers, homebuilders and even homeowners with remodeling projects are finding the many benefits of induction lighting save money and offer preferred lighting to work and living spaces

DENVER, CO-LED lighting move over. The new favorite son in green lighting is induction lighting, according to Allstar Electrical Services in Denver, CO. Gary Stone, president and founder of the 10-year-old Allstar Electrical contractors, says his Denver electricians have seen a significant interest in induction lighting compared to the former favorite, LED, and for good reasons.

LED lighting is both perceived as too costly and has reliability issues, he says.

Induction lighting, on the other hand, is a fluorescent-type bulb that can save up to 40%-50% more than traditional fluorescent lighting. Plus, Induction lighting is more stable: The lifetime expectancy of Induction lighting can be as high as 10 years, says Stone.  The electrician, whose company performs maintenance services for commercial buildings as well as electrical repairs and installation, adds that stability is a feature that property manager clients demand, making LED lighting a less preferred option to adopt on a large scale.

The difference between LED lighting and Induction comes down to the difference in the need for low-level “mood” lighting or functional work-space lighting, explains Stone.

“LED works well under 25 watts and can last at that level, but at higher wattages, the system efficiency deteriorates, heats goes wild, and the life expectancy of the bulb is cut short,” he notes. “It’s common for Chinese-made LED lights and fixtures to fail after only 1,000 hours.”

Induction lighting comes in cheaper and more effective above 40W and the lifetime expectance is realistically 100,000 hours (10 years), says Stone.

“Combining the two forms of lighting-Induction and low-wattage LED-results in better use of lighting and increased savings,” says Stone. “Both are long lasting and energy efficient. The architects and designers we support are calling for this combination in bid specifications. Even individual homeowners are beginning to introduce Induction lighting into their home remodeling, achieving high-level design style with full-on effective lighting.”

Induction lamps are ideally suited for high-ceiling applications where the lamps are difficult, costly or hazardous to access. They are also preferred when in extremely cold temperatures-warehouses, industrial buildings, signage, outdoor security fixtures, parking garages, public spaces, and even freezer and cold storage lighting.

Induction lighting is similar to fluorescent lighting in that mercury in a gas fill inside the bulb is excited, emits UV radiation that in turn is converted into visible white light by the phosphor coating on the bulb. The phosphor coating determines the color qualities of the light. Fluorescent lamps use electrodes to strike the arc and initiate the flow of current through the lamp; each time voltage is supplied by the ballast and the arc is struck, the electrodes degrade a little, eventually causing the lamp to fail. Induction lamps do not use electrodes. Instead of a ballast, Induction lamps use a high-frequency generator with a power coupler. The generator produces a radio frequency magnetic field to excite gas fill. With no electrodes, the lamp lasts longer.

The advantages of switching to Induction lighting, says electrician Stone, include:

• savings from a ridiculously extended service life
• highest wattage outputs (up to 400 watts) amongst induction lighting systems
• proprietary heat dissipation designs
• dimmable electronic ballasts.

Another  advantage of induction lighting are improved color, and Stone notes that customers long averse to the white glow of traditional fluorescent lights or the sharp glare of LED lighting prefer the warm light tones possible with induction lighting.

Stone has been a master electrician in Denver for more than 35 years, and formed Allstar Electrical more than a decade ago so he could hands-on manage multi-million dollar commercial projects and even house calls for switch repairs with an attention to his own sense of quality, economy and ecology. Allstar Electrical has received numerous awards from the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Independent Electrical Contractors, and the firm is called upon time and again by commercial and residential developers and individual homeowners who appreciate the work.

Contact Allstar Electrical at 303-399-7420 or visit www.allstarelectrical.com for online coupon savings.