In This Issue

 

Long Electric Newsletter - October 2009 - Sensors for Savings & Sockets for Safety

 

Is Your Family Protected by Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs)?

 

It’s shocking.

Two children, ages five and six, were electrocuted in Texas when a plugged-in hair dryer fell into the tub in which they were bathing.

A three-year-old Kansas girl was electrocuted when she touched a faulty countertop.

 

Had a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) been installed, these the children would most likely not have died. The GFCI would have sensed the current flowing to ground and would have switched off the power before the electrocution occurred.

 

These are sad stories—but not isolated incidents.

 

It’s Serious

Household electrocutions most often occur because the electrical current escaping from an appliance travels through the victim to ground.  Recent data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission shows that on average, there are more than 180 electrocutions directly related to consumer products. Before the installation of (GFCIs), the number was nearly 800.

 

But many U.S. consumers still don't understand the purpose of their GFCIs, and they don’t know that GFCIs can help prevent electrocution.  Installing Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) in every home and workplace could greatly reduce the number of electrocutions that occur each year.

 

So How Does a GFCI Prevent Electrical Shocks?

 Suppose a bare wire inside an appliance touches the metal case. The case is then charged with electricity. If you touch the appliance with one hand while the other hand is touching a grounded metal object, like a water faucet, you will receive a shock.

  

A GFCI constantly monitors electricity flowing through your house. If it senses any loss of current, the GFCI interrupts power almost instantly to protect you from a potentially lethal dose of electricity. The shock will still hurt, but you probably won’t be seriously injured or killed.

 

GFCIs are especially useful for cord-connected appliances and equipment used outdoors or near water.

 

 

No GFCI. No Protection.

 Protect the ones you love, prevent accidents from occurring by having GFCI’s in dangerous areas.  Also remember to test your GFCI’s once a month.

 

 

 

Residential Vacancy & Occupancy Sensors

 

Who left the lights on?

 

We all know better. A light left on is money down the drain. And because lighting accounts for as much as 28% of a typical household’s annual electric bill, a little help with the lights would be greatly appreciated. Vacancy and Occupancy Sensors can do that for you.

 

What is a vacancy sensor?

 

A Vacancy Sensor replaces your standard wall switch with a “smart” switch that knows when a space becomes empty, and turns the lights off automatically after a preset time. Vacancy sensors are ideal for children’s bathrooms, walk-in closets or laundry rooms.  And the applications don’t stop there.  With 10 different options to choose from, vacancy sensors are suitable for every application.

 

What is an occupancy sensor?

 An occupancy sensors functions just like a vacancy sensor, but the other way around: it turns the lights on automatically when you enter the room. That’s even more helpful when your hands are full.

 

If you’re a homeowner: You can reduce your electrical bill by installing a couple of vacancy sensors in key areas, and you won’t have to be constantly reminding yourself—or others—to turn off the light! Please!

 

If you’re an Interior Designer: You can actually improve the appearance of any space (and help your clients save money or comply with codes) with an elegantly designed sensor switch.

 

If you’re a Builder: You can add another “green” environmental selling point to your homes by meeting the requirements of California Title 24.

 

If you’re a Building Owner:  You can use a variety of sensors—ceiling-mounts, wall-mounts, or switch replacement—to save money, to comply with codes, to improve safety, and to make responsible building operation more convenient.

 

Long Electric can help you choose the type of sensor that best fits your application. Installing Vacancy Sensors and Occupancy Sensors for you is just one more way we can provide Service, Savings, and Safety.