Understanding AC vs. DC

Almost everything nowadays operates on electricity. The modern conveniences that drive our world depend on electricity. Without a constant supply, our world grinds to a halt, as massive blackouts have proven in the past. Electricity has two forms in modern electronics: AC and DC.

AC [alternating current], is most frequently used in devices that require high amounts of power to operate.
DC [direct current], is more commonly found in devices requiring smaller amounts of power to operate.

Understanding AC vs. DC
Direct Current
DC was the original electricity that was created by Thomas Edison. This style of electricity sends a current in only a single direction, from a power source and to the power source again in a loop. Today, DC is used to power electronics that require batteries. Any device in your home that uses batteries uses DC current. Interesting to note, if your battery is plugged in to the power supply to recharge, it transforms AC current into DC.

Direct current is also used in manufacturing situations where electricity is generated on site for personal use. Factories and mills that require vast amounts of energy often create their own DC current to power their machinery. Most commonly, DC is found in steel mills, aluminum production, and is used to power mass transportation in large urban centers in the form of electric streetcars.

Alternating Current
AC power is easier to generate, which is why we use it as our standard electricity nowadays. The alternating current design allows energy to flow in both dir

ections, making electricity easier to create and use in society. Regardless of where the current is moving, it is always moving in both directions at once. This results in current being present at every point in the power grid at every time as long as the connection to the generation unit is intact. The power that comes from the power plants, down the lines to our homes, is always AC in nature, thanks to the way our modern power grid is set up.

The power grid operates by creating AC current and sending it down the power lines. This current can be at whatever intensity the power company chooses.

Frequently, the electricity coming from these lines is far too powerful to be used in our homes. The transformers that we see on power poles transform the electricity from its high-powered state into something that our homes can use. Without the transformers, we wouldn’t be able to use the power that our society depends on.

Regardless of the style that we use in our devices and our homes, electricity plays an important role in society. Without both AC and DC electricity, we wouldn’t have those things that make modern life as comfortable as it is.
Contact Marbec Enterprises for any of your electrical needs!

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When in Doubt, Call Marbec Enterprises & Take the Worry Out!

It is the rare person who does not deal with electrical appliances today. Most people watch television, turn the oven on to cook food, or simply pop frozen foods into the microwave. With electricity pouring through virtually every home, everyone should be aware of the following electrical safety precautions:
1. Never use electrical devices that have damaged or frayed wires.
The thick wires that connect an electrical device to the wall for energy are designed to safely transfer electricity from the socket to the device. When those wires tear apart, fray, or otherwise become damaged, they can allow the flow of electricity to escape the wire. This can lead to a shock of you grab the wire in that area, but it can also lead to an electrical fire. Safety precautions require you to throw these appliances out if you cannot replace the wire.

2. Play it safe with water in close vicinity to electrical devices.
When water comes in contact with an electrical outlet or electrical device plugged into the wall, it can become live with electricity and present a danger to humans. If you have a flood in your home, do not step into the water if it is covering electrical outlets. Do not place electrical devices where they can fall into a sink or bathtub full of water.

3. Watch the placement of cords leading to electrical devices.
All electrical devices have cords, and it is common to run longer cords along the wall in order to place them where you want them. The problem is you can create a tripping hazard if you run cords along doorways or across floors in heavy traffic areas of your home. Carefully place cords where they are safe for everyone in your home.

4. If you are going to change parts on or repair an electrical device, you have to disconnect it from the outlet or otherwise shut off electrical flow to the device.
Never do work on or repair an electrical device while it is live with electricity. In most cases this just means unplugging the device before you open it up to make repairs, but when doing home improvement projects it could mean shutting off electricity from the breaker box. If you don’t know how to do this, then do not attempt the repairs on your own.

All of these electrical safety precautions should be remembered by adults working with electrical appliances. If you know someone who isn’t aware of any precaution on this list, send them here to learn. It could save a life!

When in doubt, call an electrician from Marbec Enterprises and have them take the worry out!

Longwood, FL | (386) 956-1594 | marbecelectric.com | twitter.com/MarbecElectric | marbecelectric.tumblr.com | plus.google.com/102338195995648896384/posts?hl=en

LED Lighting

Short for “light emitting diode” and introduced commercially in the early 1960’s, the first LEDs produced low levels of red light, and were first used as indicator lights on electronic equipment. As their name suggests, LEDs are diodes, and will operate on both AC and DC electric current. In the mid-seventies, the first digital watches featured LED displays, and in the following decades, LED technology expanded into many applications as LEDs producing most of the light spectrum were developed, from infrared to short wave ultraviolet.

Most notable has been the development of LEDs producing extremely bright “white” light. Although these “white LEDs” first produced very cold bluish white light, their output has become more sophisticated, and LEDs are now available which produce “neutral white” as well as “warm white” light. The latter light color is very pleasing, and quite similar in color temperature to light produced by halogen lamps. Another term for LED lighting is “solid state lighting,” as opposed to “hollow state lighting” which describes nearly every other type of lamp or light bulb. LEDs have seven distinct advantages over halogen lamps, and ten advantages over fluorescent lamps. Smaller in size, quicker in response time, and cooler in operation, LEDs last 100,000 hours or more – longer than both halogen and fluorescent lamps. They are more efficient in their consumption of electrical energy than either halogen or fluorescent lighting, and they are safer than other lighting because LEDs can operate on much lower voltages. Also, because they have no delicate glass envelope or fine wire filaments, they are much more resistant to shock and vibration than halogen and fluorescent lamps. Because of their low voltage operation and resistance to impact and vibration, solid state lighting is rapidly replacing all other forms of RV, truck, marine, aerospace, and automotive lighting.

Very recently, solid state lighting is also appearing in homes and offices. And this is where its additional advantages over fluorescent lamps really shine. First, when operated from a DC power supply, solid state lighting doesn’t flicker like fluorescent lighting, which lends to a much more comfortable environment for individuals sensitive to flickering light. LEDs designed for visible spectrum illumination produce no harmful UV emissions, making them safer for our eyes and for artwork which can fade from exposure to ultraviolet light. Most importantly, LEDs contain none of the hazardous mercury vapor present in all fluorescent lamps, including CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps). Because of the mercury vapor they all contain, fluorescent lamps of all kinds represent a serious and potentially dangerous hazard in our homes, schools, hospitals, public spaces, and offices. They also represent a serious ongoing disaster as we dump literally tons of mercury from discarded fluorescent lamps into our environment every year. So, as prices for LEDs continue to drop, we should all hope to see solid state lighting replace all forms of environmentally hazardous fluorescent lighting. If you are interested in a mercury free home or workspace, please contact Marbec Enterprises.

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Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter

As its name implies, an Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter is designed to detect electrical arcing, and turn off the current to wiring or appliances where arcing is occurring. An electrical arc occurs anytime an electric current jumps through a gap or airspace between two conductors. This typically produces a visible spark, or sparks. We’re all familiar with small sparks which can be seen inside electric tools and motors, and tiny sparks which may occur when we plug an electrical device into a wall outlet. Small levels of arcing are normal and benign in these places, but dangerous arcing is a different matter. Dangerous levels of arcing can involve damaged insulation, worn or broken conductors, many other electrical problems. This type of arcing is the single greatest cause for electrical fires across our continent, and has resulted in hundreds of human fatalities, hundreds of thousands of fires, and billions of dollars in property damages. AFCI’s are designed to detect dangerous levels of arcing while ignoring benign occurrences. When dangerous arcing occurs, an AFCI will immediately detect this and turn off the electrical current for the affected circuit. If someone tries to reset the AFCI, and it trips again rapidly, this is typically an indicator of a larger problem.

While a GFCI is designed to detect electricity which has become shorted to ground, an AFCI is designed to detect arcing within wiring or electrical devices or appliances. AFCI units look a lot like circuit breakers, and are typically located inside breaker boxes, rather than outlets. However, they are able to detect dangerous arcing conditions a breaker cannot detect. In addition, AFCIs are manufactured for circuits carrying up to 100 amps, so they can protect buildings from arcing in large equipment like stoves and central air units.

AFCIs have been developed and mandated by law to protect lives and property from electrical fires caused by arcing. However, many older homes and buildings have not been retrofitted with these devices and remain unprotected. To make matters worse, older buildings are more likely to have outdated wiring and appliances, and insulation problems and other conditions which cause arcing problems. If you are concerned about your wiring and would like to schedule a safety inspection, call Marbec Enterprises. Our electricians are licensed and equipped to inspect electrical systems, and can determine if your home or building is sufficiently protected by AFCI protective devices.

Longwood, FL
(386) 956-1594
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GFIs in the Household are for Safety!

One of the most important safety devices used in modern wiring is the GFCI, also known as an RCD (residual current device), but perhaps most commonly known as a GFI (ground fault interrupter). Typically, these are built into electrical outlets, and are most commonly located in bed-rooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and bathrooms where most electrical shocks occur. It’s also a good idea to locate these in outdoor porch and patio outlets, and in workshops and garages. The safest possible use of GFCIs involves installing one for every circuit in a building. Then, a GFCI will provide protection for ground shorts occurring anywhere in that building. GFCIs are also built into the cords of hairdryers, and other electrical appliances and tools which are used near water. Before GFCI installation became law for new homes and new hairdryers, scores of deaths occurred in the U.S. after hairdryers were dropped into sinks or tubs full of water, and people reached in to retrieve them. These deaths still occur, because many older homes have not been updated with GFCIs, and many older model hairdryers are still in use. However, newer hair-dryers have been saving lives, and GFCIs located in outlets are saving lives when accidents occur with older hairdryers.

Although most of us are familiar with GFCIs and their identifying buttons, it’s a good idea to understand how these work. Let’s use the hairdryer accident as an example. First of all, without a GFCI, when an older style hairdryer is dropped into a sink full of water, the electrical current becomes shorted to ground from the live wires inside the dryer. When this happens, high voltage electricity is flowing out of the hair dryer and through the water to ground, typically through a metal drain. Next, imagine that someone with wet feet standing on a wet floor, or in a bathtub full of water reaches down and grabs the hairdryer. The electricity now begins flowing through that person’s body to the floor, which acts as a ground. Technically, the electricity flows from ground to the hot electrical contacts in the hairdryer, but it’s helpful to think of the hairdryer as the source. An electrical shock from household current can cause death when a victim’s heart is stopped by this shock. Although it may seem foolish to grab a wet hairdryer from a sink, this usually happens as a quick reflexive action, before anyone can imagine the consequences.

Now, let’s see what happens with the same hairdryer accident when a GFCI exists in the hair-dryer’s cord, or in the electrical outlet. As soon as water enters the hairdryer and the electricity is shorted to ground, the GFCI detects the short, and turns off (interrupts) the electrical current. This happens extremely fast, usually in about 25 thousandths of a second (25 ms). So, long be-fore anyone’s hand can touch the water, the flow of electricity has been stopped.

Of course, a wet hairdryer is only one of many possible ways in which dangerous electrical shorts can occur. Frayed or cut electrical cords, old and cracked insulation, worn out switches and outlets, and a host of other conditions can cause shorts resulting in electrical fires and accidental electrocutions. In fact, over 40,000 electrical fires occur in the United States every year. In addition, many unnecessary deaths occur from these fires and electrical shocks. This is why in-stalling GFIs in every circuit is so important. If you are unsure if the wiring in your home or business has sufficient GFI protection, call a qualified electrician at Marbec Enterprises and schedule an appointment as soon as possible.

Longwood, FL
(386) 956-1594
http://marbecelectric.com | Google+

Electrical Emergencies Can't Wait

Sometimes, an electrical emergency can’t wait; sometimes, you need a 24-hour electrician to stop in as soon as possible. Here’s a look at some electrical emergencies that require immediate attention.
Air Conditioning/Heating Stops Working
On sweltering Florida summer afternoons or chilly winter nights, you just can’t wait for regular service hours to have your malfunctioning HVAC system examined. If the air conditioning or heating stops working, it could be an electrical problem, not an A/C or furnace problem.
Before you call a certified electrician, check to see if the breaker is tripped. If the breaker is tripped, go to the thermostat and turn off the heating and cooling unit. After you have turned off the thermostat, go back to the breaker and turn the breaker all the way off before resetting it to the ‘on’ position. If the breaker trips again, call a 24-hour electrician. If it doesn’t trip, turn the thermostat back on. If the breaker trips once the AC is on, you will need to contact an AC repairman.
Power Outage
If the power goes out in your home, the problem could be on your side or with the power provider. A good 24-hour electrician can discuss with you which one is the case. If your entire block loses power, it’s undoubtedly a problem with the provider. If power goes out only in your home, there’s a greater possibility that the problem is on your end. This is where a certified electrician can discuss which specific parts of your home are out and determine if you need an electrician or if you need to call your power provider.
Sparks and Flames
No matter the fire’s cause, your first call should be to the fire department. If an electrical malfunction caused the fire, your second call should be to a 24-hour electrician.
Marbec to the Rescue
You know you can count on Marbec as your certified electrician of choice. We

’re always on call 24/7 to help solve electrical problems.

At Marbec Electric, our word is our bond.

Longwood, FL
(386) 956-1594 | marbecelectric.com