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Electrical

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Why Are the Lights in My House Flickering?

Why Are the Lights in My House Flickering?

By | Electrical

An occasional light flicker in your home is normal, bit if you find that it’s starting to happen regularly, it’s a good idea to investigate what might be the cause. Several different factors can cause lights to flicker, so it’s important to gain an understanding of whether it’s a simple fix or if you need to call in professional electrical assistance.

There are several different causes of frequently flickering lights in your home, here are some of the common reasons and how they can be fixed.

 

Bulb coming loose from the socket

If just one of your lights is flickering, first try tightening the bulb. Bulbs can come loose over time and lose connection with the socket, causing flickering. If that doesn’t fix the problem, you may need to replace the bulb.

Problems with the type of bulb

If your lightbulbs are fluorescent, it’s common for them to flicker a little bit, especially as they power up, or in cold temperatures. Unless they’re flickering constantly, then it’s probably nothing to worry about. If you’ve got LED bulbs, the flickering could be happening because of your dimmer switches. Most dimmer switches are made to handle higher loads of electricity and don’t work very well with lower-voltage LEDs. If it’s really bothering you, consider changing to dimmer switches that are compatible with LED bulbs.

Faulty light or fixture switch

Flickering can be caused by a poor connection between the light or fixture switch and the bulb. To test if this is the issue, try gently wobbling the switch to see if it causes a flicker. If so, there’s a good chance that this is your problem. Try and turn the switch on and to try and fix an already flickering light, if this fixes the problem, then you need to replace the switch.

Sensory overload on a circuit

If the flickering began shortly after starting a major electrical appliance, there’s a good chance that the appliance has pulled large amounts of energy on start-up, leading to a sensory overload on the circuit. If the flickering is brief or infrequent, then there’s usually no cause for concern, as many appliances draw more current to start up, leading to a momentary voltage drop. Usually this will fix itself on its own, but if it happens regularly or consistently then it’s very likely there’s a problem that needs to be looked at by an electrician.

Voltage fluctuations

Signs of fluctuating voltage include consistently flickering lights after turning on large appliances, flickering that continues after the appliance has been turned off, lights unexpectedly dimming on their own, and light bulbs burning out frequently. Slight fluctuations are normal, but if your home’s voltage is registering at an average above 125 volts, then this is the reason your lights have been flickering. You can check your home’s voltage using a voltmeter, and contact an electrician to find the best solution for your problem.

Loose or outdated wiring

Loose or outdated wiring can not only cause flickering lights, but they’re also leading causes of house fires. The issue may be systemic or found in only one location, but it is always dangerous. If you haven’t made any changes to your electrical system and are noticing an increase in flickering, there’s a chance loose or outdated wiring could be to blame. If you expect that loose or outdated wiring could be the cause of your flickering lights, and you haven’t found another cause, don’t hesitate to call your electrician as soon as possible. Wiring problems are not to be ignored.

Problems with the meter box or main service cable connection

If the lights are flickering throughout your home, there’s a good chance that this is because of a problem at the meter box connection or main service cable connection. This is a problem for your electrician, as these are high capacity wires and a potential fire hazard.

If you have any questions about flickering lights, or are looking for a quote for electrical installations, repairs, or general maintenance, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with HunterCON today.

With over 9 years of experience under our belt, we pride ourselves on providing air con and electrical services of the highest quality. Get in touch with us today.

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Accent Lighting for Your Home

Accent Lighting for Your Home

By | Electrical

Accent lighting is a unique design element that can highlight certain features of your home, as well as create ambient room lighting during the evenings. It’s an addition that can bring attention to the special attributes of your home while creating a warm homely atmosphere.
Accent Lighting for Your Home

Accent lighting can bring out a room’s best features and can help your home to tell a story. If you’ve been considering accent lighting for your home here’s a guide to get you started.

 

Why Accent Lighting?

At nighttime, human eyes adjust and adapt to low levels. Human vision is very perceptive and dynamic and can shift with the overall brightness of the space. For this reason, it’s not necessary to try to attempt to replicate daytime lighting in the evening, your eyes are built to adapt.

Human eyes have evolved to be attracted to bright objects, it’s an adaptation that’s intended to help people find objects of interest and potential reward. Highlighting something substantially above the ambient light level can draw attention to key spaces within a room such as an artwork or sculpture, or something more practical like a strategically placed reading lamp. Selecting a few lights in the right space can be all a room needs, which will save you money over ceiling lights, and meanwhile, you’ve created a unique ambience in your home.

Where Should I Install Accent Lights

When it comes to accent lighting, you can get as creative as you please. It’s important to think about your favourite parts of the house or places that could do with a little bit of extra attention. Start by having a walk through each room of your home, carefully thinking about the best features in each. Here are some ideas to get you thinking creatively:

• Ornament lights are great for highlighting your favourite object. It could be a sculpture, water feature or a nice healthy plant, but adding a bit of extra light will help it get the recognition it deserves.

• Picture lights come in many different forms, however, they all share the purpose of drawing attention to a painting and can give your room the feeling of an art gallery.

• Feature wall lights can add a lot of illumination to a space. Whether your wall sports a special design feature or a vintage tapestry, casting some light on the surface can create a mood-setting glow.

• Furniture lights can help to highlight a specific piece of furniture. It’s great for drawing attention to a vintage piece.

• Reading lamps can be placed on desks for specific purposes such as study, or on side tables near a couch, where they’ll come in handy when you’re getting immersed in a book.

• Stairway or walkway lights are a great way to light up an area of your home that might otherwise be hard to see or even hazardous.

Types of Accent Lighting

There are many different types of Accent Lighting and each is suitable for highlighting different situations and different amounts of light. Here are some common types:

• Sconces are lights that use only the wall for support. Most often they point light upwards and traditionally have held torches, candles or gas lights, however, modern sconces sport electric lights.

• Floodlights are high-intensity lights usually used outdoors in low light conditions.

• Recessed Lights are installed into hollow openings in a ceiling and concentrate light downwards in a broad spotlight fashion.

• Torchères are lights that sit upon a tall stand. They are often ornate and traditionally held candles.

• Lamps sit on a stand and come in many shapes and sizes and have the benefit of portability.

• Track Lighting is a series of lights that are attached to a continuous track containing electrical conductors.

• Spotlights shine a concentrated beam and are good for illuminating small but specific areas.

If you have any questions about accent lighting, or are looking for a quote for electrical installations, repairs, or general maintenance, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with HunterCON today.

With over 9 years of experience under our belt, we pride ourselves on providing air con and electrical services of the highest quality. Get in touch with us today.

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How to Save Energy When Gaming

How to Save Energy When Gaming

By | Electrical

Gaming consoles have become a standard fixture in most households and can provide hours of fun and entertainment, but they can use up more energy than you’d expect. The cost of gaming is roughly four times what it was in the ‘90s. As gaming and technology has improved, the amount of energy necessary to power gaming consoles has increased. Making some small changes to your gaming habits can help you cut your electricity bill and make your household more energy-efficient.
How to Save Energy When Gaming

Many of the fundamental features of modern gaming consoles can use a lot of electricity, but there are some small changes you can make to actively reduce your energy consumption when gaming.

 

Turn Off the Console When You’re Not Using it

The majority of gaming consoles will usually go into ‘standby’ or ‘sleep mode’ when you’re not using them. This reduces power usage but it doesn’t stop it entirely, as the console is still drawing power to remain in sleep mode. To stop drawing power completely, you should turn off the power at the console or at the wall switch when you’re no longer using it.

Activate Power Saving Settings

Many gaming consoles now have power saving settings to help reduce how much energy they use even while you’re still gaming. For example, Xbox One comes set-up to listen for the “Xbox on” command to turn it on, but you can disable this feature by configuring the ‘energy saving’ power mode, this can drop the standby power use by 98 per cent. Check out your console’s instruction manual to see what energy saving options you could be using.

Don’t Use Game Consoles to Stream

If you’re about to binge-watch your favourite Netflix shows through your gaming console, it may be a better idea to use a digital media player such as Apple TV or Google Chrome, these can use up to 15 times less energy.

Use a Monitor with a High Energy Rating

If you’re shopping for a new TV or specialised gaming monitor, try and opt for one with a five-star energy rating. LED screens or OLED TV’s are considered to be the most energy efficient. Smaller, energy-efficient monitors also use up far less electricity than larger screens.

Track your energy usage

You can identify which areas of your home or appliances are using up the most electricity by conducting a home energy audit. This will thoroughly assess your home and show you where you should make changes or upgrades to faulty or high-energy draining appliances to make your home more energy-efficient.

If you have any questions about your energy usage or powering your home, don’t hesitate to give us a call.

With over 9 years experience under our belt, we pride ourselves on providing fast and efficient service of the highest quality. If you have any questions regarding electronics in your old home or are looking for a quote for electrical installations, repairs, or general maintenance, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with HunterCON today.

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How Does Electricity Actually Get To Your Home

How Does Electricity Actually Get To Your Home

By | Electrical

From pushing buttons to flicking a switch, electricity is always on tap. But have you ever considered how far electricity has to travel to get to your home? Often the power we use every day is created in generators hundreds of kilometres from our homes. Our energy system, often called the electrical grid, is a complex network of poles and wires that helps to keep our country powered.
How Does Electricity Actually Get To Your Home

From the power plant to your lights at home, let’s take a look at how electricity actually gets from the power station to your home.

 

Power Stations

All of the electricity that ends up in your home starts life in a power station, which is usually located next to or near an energy source such as a coal plant, hydroelectricity dam, natural gas station or solar and wind farms. In almost all cases the source of energy is used to spin an electrical generator, creating storable, transmittable energy. The power is then carried away through large overhead lines to substations, however, at this stage voltage is usually extremely high and can be over 25,000 volts.

Substation Transformer

The first stop for the newly generated power is the substation. Substations use transformers to alter the voltage of an electrical current, in this case, the voltage is raised to somewhere between 155,000 to 756,000 volts, which minimises power losses throughout the long journey. Australia’s lines are very efficient on a world standard, with an average loss of around 5%.

Transmission Networks

Transmission lines send the high voltage power over long distances, often hundreds of kilometres. Transmission networks can be either above or below ground. Above ground lines are easy to spot as they are made from heavy-duty steel pylons. Underground lines are buried beneath the earth and are heavily insulated to prevent currents from leaking into the ground where they can become a hazard.

Second Substation Transformer

After the energy has travelled hundreds of kilometres from a power station, it reaches a second substation transformer. However, unlike the first stop, this substation lowers the voltage to somewhere between 11,000 and 33,000 volts so that the electricity can be channelled into smaller power lines for domestic distribution purposes.

Distribution Power Lines

Distribution power lines take the lowered voltage energy and distribute it to each home. For most residential and commercial uses, there will be another transformer which decreases voltage to as low as 230 volts to make the power safe for home use.

Your Home

In the final stage the electricity will pass from the final transformer to your home through a meter, which measures your energy usage. It then travels through the wires in your house to switches and sockets, ready to be used as you please!

If you have any questions about the electrical grid or powering your home, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.

With over 9 years of experience under our belt, we pride ourselves on providing fast and efficient service of the highest quality. If you have any questions regarding electricity in your house or are looking for a quote for electrical installations, repairs, or general maintenance, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with HunterCON today.

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How is Electricity Created?

How is Electricity Created?

By | Electrical

Electricity is all around us, it lights our rooms, runs our technology and generally makes modern living a breeze. We’re so used to it that it almost feels as natural as the air we breathe, but it wasn’t always this way. Scientists only figured out how to harvest electrical energy in the 19th century, using natural metals such as copper, silver and gold to conduct currents. Over the last few hundred years the process of creating electricity has developed significantly, and each year energy sources are refined more and more.
How is Electricity Created?

Electricity is all around us, and we use it constantly throughout our days, yet it’s easy to take for granted. Let’s take a closer look at this precious resource and how it’s created.

So What is Electricity?

Before we delve too far into the source of electricity, it’s first important to be aware of what it actually is. Electricity is the stimulation of negatively charged electrons that surround an atom. When electrons are stimulated they move from atom to atom, creating electromagnetic energy. Metal materials have a loose hold on their outlying electrons, meaning the electron charge is easier to transfer, therefore they have better conductibility. On the other hand materials such as wood and glass have a strong hold on there electrons so they are less conductible.

How is Electricity Created?

The creation of electricity must be generated through other energy sources, such as coal, gas, hydropower, solar power and wind and the same principle of generation applies to all sources of energy. Power pushes a turbine which rotates a series of magnets within copper wire coils. This movement excites the electrons, creating charge and thereby generating electricity.

Types of Generation

Let’s take a bit of a closer look at some of the forms of energy that are used to generate electricity.

• Gas, coal and nuclear plants both work in a similar ways. Fuel is used to create heat, which boils water and creates steam which in turn pushes the turbine.
• Windmills operate differently, using the natural force of wind to push a turbine.
• Hydropower uses the power of waves to move turbines.
• Solar energy is different as it generates electrical power by converting solar radiation into electricity via semiconductors.

What Happens Next?

After energy is generated it needs to be transferred to the electrical grid. The newly generated electricity leaves generators and flows along large transmission lines. Substations increase volts for long distance travel, and on the other end secondary substations decrease voltage for different domestic, commercial and industrial purposes. By the time that you switch on a light bulb, the charge created in a generator has likely travelled hundreds of kilometres.

If you have any questions about how electricity is created or would like to know more about installation or maintenance of electrical items please don’t hesitate to give us a call.

With over 9 years of experience under our belt, we pride ourselves on providing air con and electrical services of the highest quality. Get in touch with us today.

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What to Know Before Installing an Electrical Fireplace

What to Know Before Installing an Electrical Fireplace

By | Electrical

There’s nothing more comforting than a fireplace in winter. But wood and gas fireplaces can be a lot of work, expensive and sometimes a lot of mess. Is it really worth it? Lucky there’s an alternative.
What to Know Before Installing an Electrical Fireplace

Electric fireplaces give you all the cozy feeling you could ever want from a fireplace, with none of the hassle or costs associated with the installation or maintenance of other alternatives. And the best part you won’t have to worry about chopping wood any longer.

 
Electric fireplaces are a trendy new alternative that a lot of people are coming to love. They provide the warm flickering glow that everybody loves but are a lot more convenient. An added bonus is that they are a lot safer in terms of fire risks. These units sometimes come ‘plug and play’ and can warm an area of up to 80 square metres, depending on the make and model.

Research

Different Types of Electrical Fireplace

It’s easy to see why many people are switching to electric fireplaces for their source of heating.
They come in a range of different styles to suit all different situations, whether it’s a new fitting, or you’re looking to replace a hole in the wall where your old fireplace use to be. Here are some of the choices available:

• Freestanding – these fireplaces are the most common type and are made to look like a built-in fireplace. They can substitute a mantle in a living room and display a crackling flame.

• Fireplace inserts – if you have an existing fireplace that you would like to modernise, these are a great option. These fireplaces are fully enclosed and can look legitimately like a pile of glowing logs. If you choose to install one, make sure that your chimney has been blocked

• Wall mounted – these units are similar to freestanding fireplaces. They attach to your wall and can heat anywhere in your home, however they can require a bit more setup, just like any wall mounted appliance.

What Are The Running Costs?

Most plug-in electric fireplaces are rated at 1500 watts, regardless if the display flame is infrared, incandescent or LED. This power usage is identical to a standard 1500 watt electric baseboard heater. You can expect power expense to range from about 10 to 20 cents an hour depending on the setting you use and the specs of the make and model. By comparison, gas fireplaces can regularly cost towards 30 cents an hour.

Many of the fireplaces on the market have adjustable settings which can offer a lot of flexibility and cost savings. Running your unit on 750 watts with the flame for ambience can cut your bill in half!

Make Sure to have a Dedicated Outlet

A major consideration for the installation of an electric fireplace is its draw on your home’s circuitry. A 1500 watt fireplace engages the maximum amount of electricity that can be run through the circuit, so if you run anything else, the circuit will trip. It’s important that you have a dedicated circuit for your fireplace to avoid any problems.

What is the Installation Like?

Installing electrical fireplaces is generally quite easy. Given you have a free circuit most are simply a plug and play setup. Some will require a little bit of installation such as mounting brackets. If you intend to install an electric fireplace where your traditional fireplace was, you may need some basic carpentry knowledge.

Despite this, the main issue of installation is making sure that you have a dedicated circuit for your new fireplace. If you need any electric work done, be sure to hire a licensed electrician to help you install a new power outlet.

If you have any questions about electrical fireplaces, or would like to know more about installation or maintenance of electrical items please don’t hesitate to give us a call.

With over 9 years of experience under our belt, we pride ourselves on providing air con and electrical services of the highest quality. Get in touch with us today.

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5 Signs It's Time to Upgrade Your Electrical Switchboard

5 Signs It’s Time to Upgrade Your Electrical Switchboard

By | Electrical

Electrical switchboards are one of the most important parts of your home, after all, what would you do without electricity? These devices route electricity right to where you need it, delivering the conveniences and comforts we are accustomed to.

Despite this, electrical switchboards can become outdated and even overwhelmed with the requirements of technology, such as lighting and appliances. If you suspect that your electrical switchboard might not be able to keep up with modern energy needs, it might be time for an upgrade.

Although many of our appliances claim to be energy efficient, households are consuming more and more energy each day, so it’s no surprise that old electrical switchboards can’t keep up. 5 Signs It's Time to Upgrade Your Electrical Switchboard

It’s important to be aware of the signs that might point towards a need to upgrade your electrical switchboard. Here’s what to look out for.

 

You Live in an Old House

If you live in an older house your power board may not be up to the task of supporting the variety of appliances that are required in our modern lives. In times past, a single 60-amp electrical switchboard did the job, however, now homes generally require single phase 80amp or three phase 80amp. Your panel should display it’s specifications, however, if you are unsure it might be a good idea to get an electrician to take a look.

Your Appliances Aren’t Performing Properly

If you notice that your appliances aren’t working to the best of their ability, it might be a sign that your electrical switchboard panel isn’t keeping up. Some signs of an overworked panel include appliances cutting out, lights flickering and corrosion or signs of melting around the unit itself. If you regularly find that using multiple appliances trips breakers, this could also be a good indication that your electrical switchboard may need an upgrade.

Your electrical switchboard Uses a Fuse Rather Than Residual Circuit Breakers (RCBO)

Prior to the 1970s, most homes were built with fuses, which essentially operate in the same way as a circuit breaker, and protect from surges, however, they are prone to melting, blowing, short-circuiting, and in the worst cases, fires. Fuse based systems were adequate for the power needs of a home 50 years ago, however, in the modern age, they can easily become overloaded. If you have a fuse based system, the best bet is to have an electrician install a Residual Circuit Breaker.

Your Breakers Are Frequently Tripping

Circuit breakers are designed to trip when they detect an irregularity in a flow in electricity and protect the system from the dangers of an influx of current, which can in the worst case can cause fires. Tripping is an important feature to protect your system, however, if you find that your system is tripping regularly it’s a good indication that there’s something wrong with your electrical switchboard, or your electrical switchboard panel can’t cope with the electrical draw in your home.

You’re Renovating or Have Purchased New Appliances

If you have recently renovated your home, it’s a good idea to make sure that your electrical switchboard can handle any new changes to the circuit. Similarly, any new appliances may burden your system and cause it to overload.

When it comes to upgrading your electrical switchboard it’s not just a matter of convenience, it’s also a matter of safety.

If you have any questions about electrical switchboards, or if you believe it may be time for an upgrade the best bet is to talk to a professional.

With over 9 years experience under our belt, we pride ourselves on providing fast and efficient service of the highest quality. If you have any questions regarding electronics in your old home or are looking for a quote for electrical installations, repairs, or general maintenance, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with HunterCON about Power Boards today.

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Does your Antique Home Need Rewiring

Does your Antique Home Need Rewiring?

By | Electrical

How old is your home? If your answer is over 30 years, you might need to consider rewiring. Like most things in life, a home’s wires deteriorate with time, so if you have a home of antiquity, you might need to consider a bit of restoration. Despite this, just because they’re old, doesn’t mean that they’re going to break, still, the safety hazards of leaving damaged wiring unchecked mean that getting your home inspected should be a regular priority.
Does your Antique Home Need Rewiring

Antique homes have a grace and charm like no other, but like any other classic item, they require a bit more maintenance to keep them working their best. Just like you’d refurbish an old car, old homes require the same treatment. Here are some reasons why it might be time to rewire your home.

 

Electrical Wiring Doesn’t Last Forever

Electrical wiring unfortunately doesn’t last forever, and as it reaches its last legs, wiring can become faulty, resulting in occurrences like lights flickering, fuzes tripping and even short circuits. Wires can lose their grounding over time, making electric shock a real risk, so it’s recommended that your wiring is checked every 10 years.

Your Outlets Could be Faulty

When electrical outlets aren’t in their best working order, they may not be properly grounded, which means there may be a chance of electric shock when plugging into the outlet.
Physical defects such as cracks, chips, missing parts, and loose screws could also mean that there isn’t enough tension to hold the cord into the outlet.

Your Power Box Might Be Dated

Your homes power box/service panel is the heart of your entire electrical system. Any fault to the power box can mean that your whole system goes down, and it’s a costly repair. Regularly checks can make sure that your power box is in working order. It’s also important to consider your power box when thinking about any new appliances or renovations. Old electric panels may not be up to the challenge of modern power needs, so you may be due for an upgrade.

Your Home is Old

A property over 30 years old with the original wiring is likely due for an upgrade. Old properties need to meet modern safety standards and be equip to deal with the energy needs of our technology-heavy times. Old wiring made the use of dated rubber, fabric or lead-insulated cabling, where modern wiring is PVCu coated and coloured grey-white. Old wiring can become ungrounded and faulty causing your system to trip or blow fuses or, at worst, spark a potentially lethal house fire or electrical shock. Modern wiring is twin earthed, which goes a long way to for safety purposes.

You Have Any of The Following Signs

If you have any of the following signs, it could be a good indication that your home’s wiring isn’t up to scratch. The best bet is to contact an electrician if you have or experience any of the following:
• An old fuse box with a wooden back and cast iron switches and ceramic fuse.
• Cables mounted on the surface that run along skirting boards or up walls.
• Lead, fabric or black rubber insulated cables.
• A mix of different sockets, indicating a partial rewire.
• You frequently experience tripped breakers or blown fuses.
• Dimming or flickering of lights.
• Hot or discoloured switch plates.
• Light bulbs burn out in their socket.
• Buzzing or burning smells.
• Loose outlets, cracks, cuts or broken insulation.
• Arcs, sparks or electrical shocks when you touch chords.

It’s Time To Get An Inspection

If you have a home older than 30 years, it’s recommended that you get a periodic inspection every 10 years. All the areas mentioned should be checked thoroughly to make sure that old circuits can handle the power needs of modern lifestyles.

Often a full rewire can be avoided if some of your circuitry is up to scratch. It’s sometimes possible to upgrade by adding a modern electrical panel and proper earthing arrangements.

With over 9 years experience under our belt, we pride ourselves on providing fast and efficient service of the highest quality. If you have any questions regarding electronics in your old home or are looking for a quote for electrical installations, repairs, or general maintenance, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with HunterCON about Power Boards today.

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How Much Power Should You Use

How Much Power Should You Use?

By | Electrical

In the 21st century, there are more and more reasons to reduce your power usage. It’s better for the environment and it saves you money, what’s not to like about that? Despite this, our modern lifestyles require many energy-hungry appliances that can cause energy usage to steadily rise. But how high should your power use really be? And how can you monitor and cut down on your usage?
How Much Power Should You Use

There’s no question that modern lifestyles require a lot of energy, and Australians are using more and more energy every year. But how much power should you really be using and how can you keep your bill down?

 

How Much Energy Do Australian’s Use?

When it comes to calculating how much energy your household should be using, there are a lot of factors. There are many types of households across the country, and each requires different energy needs. Some factors that may affect your energy usage include:

• The size of the house
• The type of house
• The appliances and heating/cooling systems you use
• Your or your families lifestyles

According to the Australian energy update 2018, Australian households used 127222-GWh in the 2016-2017 period. This breaks down to an average of 6666.67kWh per household per year, and roughly 18kWh per day.

To put these measurements into perspective, let’s take a look at the rough usage of common household appliances.

• A 100 watt light bulb uses 1kWh in 10 hours.
• An electric oven set to 180 degrees Celsius for an hour uses 2kwh.
• Set at 95 degrees c for 7 hours a crockpot uses 0.7 kWh.
• A toaster set at 180 degrees c uses 0.33 kWh.
• A microwave set on high for 15 minutes uses 0.36 kWh.
• An electric convection oven set at 165 degrees for 45 minutes uses 1.39 kWh.
• A washing machine uses 0.3 kWh per load on cold, but 4.5 hours on warm.
• A laptop computer uses between 15-45 kWh per hour, while a desktop uses 60 to 250 watts per hour. Even on sleep computers can use between 1 and 6 kWh.
• An inefficient refrigerator can use 1000kWh per year, while a new energy rated fridge can uses as little as 400kWh per year.
• A 200 Watt television used for 6 hours uses 1.2kWh.
• A 2400 watt fan used eight hours is equal to 19.2kWh.

When you look at how much energy your appliances use, it’s easier to get a picture of how much power you should be using. Total household energy consumption accounts for all of the different ways that a home uses energy. According to government statistics:

• Heating and cooling account for 40% of household energy use.
• Hot water heating accounts for 21% of household energy use.
• Lighting accounts for 6% of household energy use.
• Appliances and equipment account for 33% of average energy use.

How to Check Your Energy Usage

So how does your energy bill stack up? And how can you get a little more conscious of your electricity consumption? Here are some tips:

• Take a look at your bill. There’s usually a summary of electricity used, and the price per unit in kWh.
• Smart appliances can come built in with energy monitoring technology to help you stay on top of your energy usage.
• Check your electricity meter each month to see how your usage changes week to week.
• The government’s ‘Energy Made Easy’ website is a great tool for estimating and comparing energy use.

What Are The Best Ways to Save Energy?

There are many great ways to save on your energy bill, and a lot of them come down to making better choices when it comes to appliances and smarter practices when it comes to lighting, heating and cooling. Here’s some things to consider:

• Make use of your home’s design to minimise the amount of heating and cooling your home needs. For example, insulation can go a long way to reduce the amount of air conditioning required in your home.
• Research appliances to make sure that they are smart choices when it comes to energy consumption, use the star rated system.
• Consider solar and wind to supplement your energy consumption.
• Turn light bulbs off when not in use and switch appliances to ‘off’ rather than ‘standby’.
• Wash your clothes in cold water.
• Set your laptop or desktop computer to switch to ‘sleep’ when not in use.
• Monitor your use of air-conditioning and consider installing a smart thermometer.
• Use energy-saving bulbs, like LEDs.
• Dry clothes on the line rather than in the dryer, and consider washing on cold.

If you have any questions about energy usage, or if you’d like ideas to help you save energy please don’t hesitate to give us a call.

With over 9 years experience under our belt, we pride ourselves on providing fast and efficient service of the highest quality. If you have any questions regarding electricity in your house or are looking for a quote for electrical installations, repairs, or general maintenance, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with HunterCON about Power Boards today.

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Edison Light Bulbs Are They Worth it

Edison Light Bulbs: Are They Worth it?

By | Electrical

Edison Light Bulbs are a blast from the past. They have recently made a resurgence, and are designed to emulate the early tungsten filament light bulbs produced by the Edison Electric Light Company in the early 20th century. These bulbs are something of a modern trend and usually have elaborate wiring of their internal filaments.

However, like all incandescent bulbs, they are not as efficient as modern alternatives, such as LEDs, so if you are considering looking at Edison Light Bulbs, it’s important to weigh up the pros and cons.
Edison Light Bulbs Are They Worth it

Edison Light Bulbs offer a vintage aesthetic and a nice warm glow, but there are many modern alternatives, so are they really worth it? Here are some pros and cons to help you decide if they are the brightest option for you

 

Pros:

They Are Warm

One of the main appeals of Edison light bulbs is that they emanate warm light far more than a modern incandescent, CFL or standard LED light. Warm light makes a room feel cosier, and according to a study performed by Harvard Medical School, blue light, which is more prevalent in CFLs and some LEDs can be disruptive to sleep patterns.

They Are Stylish

If you’ve been to a trendy cafe or cocktail bar lately, you’ll probably notice a row of Edison bulbs hanging above the counter. There’s no denying they have a cool aesthetic. Their exposed look, screams vintage, as does the amber glass and warm glow that they produce.

They Are Cheap

Incandescent bulbs are an old design and are among the cheapest you can get, however, particularly styled Edison bulbs may set you back a little more. Still, they are often a lot cheaper to modern lighting alternatives such as CFLs and LEDs.

Cons:

They Are Fragile

Despite the detailed look of Edison bulb’s filaments, they are extremely intricate and fragile. They are probably not a good idea if they are in reach of children or pets.

They Aren’t That Bright

Excuse the pun, but it’s true! Edison bulbs aren’t that bright compared to just about every other modern alternative. There is a difference between wattage and luminosity. Even though Edison bulbs may have the same wattage as a normal incandescent bulb, their design causes them to produce roughly half the lumens. This means that although they might be nice for mood lighting, they are not ideal for spotlighting.

They are Less Energy Efficient

Edison bulbs are not nearly as efficient as modern alternatives, they can turn up to 90% of their energy use into heat, which is not ideal for the modern power conscious family. LED lights, by comparison, are much more efficient, losing only 20% of their energy to heat. Also, they require less energy overall to operate – between 50% and 90%.

The Best of Both Worlds

There is no question that tungsten light bulbs are old technology. They use more energy and produce more heat and less light, meaning they are incredibly inefficient. After all, they are over 100 years old!

Despite this, the vintage look is in, if only you could get the efficiency of an LED light with the cool spiral and warm glow of an olden-day filament.

Well, you can! Many companies have noticed the trend of Edison bulbs, however, they have tried to adapt the design to the modern, eco-conscious world. You can now buy decorative spirals and coils of LEDs, that look just like tungsten coils of times gone by. These new LEDs are adjusted to a warm colour temperature and have glass treated with an amber glow, so you can have all of the charms of an old bulb, with modern efficiency.

LED lights solve all the problems of incandescent bulbs. They are more durable, more efficient and even last longer. Edison bulbs have approximately 1000 lumen-hours, LED filament bulbs, on the other hand, have approximately up to 40,000 hours.

If you’re unsure about Edison Light Bulbs, or would like to know more about LED filament lights please don’t hesitate to give us a call. With over 9 years experience under our belt, we pride ourselves on providing electrical and air con services of the highest quality. Get in touch with us today.