Electrical Plumbing Analogy

We now know about basic electrical theory (if you missed our prior blogs read about Basic Electrical Theory and Amps, Volts, Resistance Oh My here) so lets put this all into an analogy we can all understand. We are going to compare electrical theory with plumbing- Yes, we know that electricity and water don’t mix, but we think this will help hit the concept home!

Voltage= the pressure of water
Amperage = the flow rate of the water
Resistance = the size of the pipe the water is flowing through
Wattage = the total number of gallons of water used

There is a basic equation in electrical engineering that states how the three terms relate: A = W/V. Now lets say you have a tank of pressurized water connected to a hose that you’re using to water the garden. If you increase the pressure to the tank, more water will come out of the hose- the same is true for electricity: increasing the voltage will make more current flow.

Now lets say you increase the diameter of the hose and all the fittings in the tank. This will also make more water come out of the hose. This is like decreasing the resistance in an electrical system, which will increase the current flow.

Remember Ohm’s Law? In a linear circuit states that if we increase the voltage, the current goes up and if we increase the resistan

Amps, Volts, and Resistance- Oh My

We learned the basic theory of electricity in our last blog, but here’s a recap- Atoms make up everything in the universe, and those atoms are made of electrons, neutrons, and protons. When the electrons are feeling frisky they flow from atom to atom creating the flow of electricity. But how do we measure this, and how is it applied to our everyday use?

The three most basic units in electricity are voltage (V measured in volts), current (I measured in amps), and resistance (r measured in ohms). Voltage is the electric force that causes the free electrons to move from one atom to another. Think of voltage as the pressure needed to push the electrons through the conductor.

                     

As explained before, current is electricity in motion. It measures the amount of electrons that can flow through a material like a conductor.

                          

Resistance is the opposition of passage of an electric current through a conductor. Every material has an electrical resistance and it is the reason that the conductor gives out heat when the current passes through it. For example, in a standard lightbulb, over 90% of the energy is generated as heat.

                   

Voltage, resistance, and current form the basis of Ohm’s Law (I=V/R), which in a linear circuit states that if we increase the voltage, the current goes up and if we increase the resistance, the current goes down. I know this sounds really complicated, but we have an analogy that will really hit it home coming soon!

                  

Both voltage and the current in the bulb determine how much energy is released in a certain time. The Watt (W) is a measure of power or how much energy is released per second. Imagine we have a light bulb and don’t know the wattage. However, we do have an ammeter sitting around and can tell that the amperage of the light bulb when it is turned on is 0.625.  The formula is W = V *A.   So we multiply 120(US standard voltage) by 0.625 and discover we have a 75 watt light bulb.

This basic understanding of concepts and formulas is what Creative Outdoor Lighting uses to create beautiful and safe lighting for your home. As always, if you have any questions just give us a call!

Here’s a definition recap:

Electricity: a fundamental form of energy observable in positive and negative forms that occurs naturally (as in lightning) or is produced (as in a generator) and that is expressed in terms of the movement and interaction of electrons

Electric Current: the time rate of flow of electric charge, in the direction that a positive moving charge would take and having magnitude equal to the quantity of charge per unit time: measure in amperes.

Voltage: an electromotive force or potential difference expressed in volts.

Amperage: the strength of an electric current in amperes.

Resistance: a material’s opposition to the flow of electric current; measured in ohms.

Wattage: the amount of power required to operate an electrical appliance or device.

Formulas:

Watts= Volt x Amps

Amps= Watts/Volts

Volts= Watts/Amps

Resistance= Volts/Amps

What is Electricity?

We all know how electricity works; you turn on the switch and the light comes on. We often take for granted what is actually happening when we flip that switch. We know that current is flowing through a light bulb and that inside that light bulb is a filament that glows when the current passes through. We also know that if we unscrew that light bulb, we break the circuit and the bulb will cease to light. We are even aware that we can buy many different wattage bulbs and these bulbs use different amounts of energy and produce varying amounts of light. Finally, each of us has had the fun experience of putting too many lights or appliances on a circuit in our home and blown a fuse or tripped a circuit breaker. All of these things prove what is known as Basic Electrical Theory. Over the next several blog posts, we’re going to break this theory down into several small pieces to give you a better understanding of how electricity works. More importantly, you will understand how the safety systems work to keep you and your family safe. So now, the big question… What is electricity?

 

Well, all matter is made up of molecules, all molecules are made of atoms, and all atoms are made of protons, electrons, and neutrons. Are you getting a flashback to middle school science class? Protons have a positive charge and hang out in the atom’s nucleus with the neutral neutrons. Electrons circle around the nucleus in different shells and they have a negative charge. Some electrons on the outer most shell are loosely held and are able to flow to other atoms. These ‘free electrons’ are what creates an electrical current. All materials fall under 3 categories: conductors, semiconductors, and insulators.

Conductors have many free electrons, insulators have very few or none at all, and semiconductors fall between the two. Metals, such as copper, typify conductors while most non-metallic solids are said to be good insulators such as rubber. When free electrons stop moving at random and start moving in a particular direction or speed electric current is made. If we want electrons to flow in a certain direction we must provide a path; a.k.a. a wire. When we connect those wires in a continuous loop we with a power source and outsource (ex. light bulb) we create a circuit. An electric circuit is a pathway in which electrons flow. A closed circuit allows them to flow and an open circuit does not. Think about a light switch- when it’s flipped on it’s closing the circuit and allowing the energy to flow to the bulb.

 

So now you know the basics of electricity; instead of just flipping a switch and watching the light appear, we know what’s happening at a microscopic level! Stayed tuned for the next few weeks when we explain volts, amps, resistance, safety, AC vs DC power and more! As always, if you have any questions feel free to contact us.

What is Color Temperature?

Light, in it’s most basic form, has many characteristics that are each described in their own way.  Features such as intensity, hardness or softness, angle, and even movement play a huge role in how our eyes interpret what we see. These different qualities of light can even affect our mood and emotional response to the world around us. Another important quality of the light we see every day is color. Of course, bold lighting colors are often used in the entertainment industry to create mood, excitement, or spectacle. However, all of us encounter more subtle, but equally important color variations in our everyday lives. These variations, from the warmth of firelight, to the bright white of noonday sun, to the the cool tint of moonlight filtering through the trees are known as Color Temperature.

                      

When referred to in the lighting industry, color temperature is measured in degrees Kelvin (°K) with warm light on the low end of the scale (incandescent light bulbs at 2700-3000K) and cool light on the higher end (daylight  at 5500K).  Color temperature is very important in the lighting industry where color affects the mood and emotional impact of a space. Here’s a list of the most popular shades and their environments: 

Warmer White Lighting: Preferred in dining and living areas inside the home to give a relaxing environment. Warmer earth tones such as stone and wood work often look best when bathed in warm white light.  

Natural White Lighting: Ideal in areas where detailed lighting is required like kitchens and bathrooms. 

Daylight White Lighting: This is great lighting for stores and office space because it tends to keep occupants alert. 

Cool White Lighting: Often used in hospitals, garages, and industrial locations because it is seen as cooler, clean lighting. 

In the lighting industry, many techniques are used to create just the right color temperature for the space. Fluorescent lighting naturally produces a cool white light. This is why most offices, hospitals, and large retail locations tend to rely heavily on fluorescent fixtures for a majority of their lighting. However, that same office building that uses florescent fixtures in their cubicle farm will often employ warmer, incandescent lighting in their lobby and reception areas. Warm lighting tends to put people at ease and may make that hour wait seem to go by just a little faster. 

When thinking of outdoor lighting, professional lighting designers take great care to select just the right color temperature for the area or surface being lit.  As mentioned earlier, when lighting natural surfaces such as stone, wood, or even brick, warmer light is often the best choice. However, when our goal is to recreate the ambiance and romance that a full moon brings (see Moonlighting) we will utilize light with a much bluer color temperature. This is because at very low light levels the human eye can no longer perceive the color red but can still perceive blues and greens. This phenomenon is known as the Purkinje Effect, named after19th century physiologist Johannes Purkinje. 

                      

New LED light fixtures give the professional designer a myriad of options when selecting just the right color temperature no matter what the desired outcome. From welcoming, cheerful warm lighting to bright while cool lights that are mysterious and dim, the choices are endless. Couple these with all of the other qualities of light and almost any mood or effect imaginable can be created. As always, if you have any questions about color temperatures and lighting design just call Creative Outdoor Lighting- we are happy to help with any of your outdoor lighting needs!

Lighting Techniques Part 2

The first step to creating a beautiful outdoor lighting system is the design. There are  many techniques to use to make a beautiful outdoor paradise- see Lighting Techniques Part 1 for more examples that we like to use.

Grazing

To highlight an interesting texture, place up-lights at the base of the wall with beams directed upward. The texture of the wall will create shadows that will really make it pop. This technique is terrific to show off stonework or pilasters.

Moonlighting

Create the moonlighting technique by placing a large fixture high up in a tree, and angle it downwards. This effect looks like moonlight shining down through the branches. Leaves will cast interesting shadows on pathways and patios to mimic the effect of a full moon lit sky.

Down-Lighting

The down-lighting technique is similar to moonlighting, although it is brighter and less subtle. Place a fixture high up, inside a feature like a trellis, tree, or eave, and cast downwards over a large area. Use down lighting to show off flowerbeds, or to add safety by illuminating doorways, paths, and patios.

Accent/Spotlighting

Does your garden have a centerpiece; maybe a flag, statue, or fountain that you want to be the focal point of your lawn? You can really make the feature pop by using accent lighting- Specifically angled up lighting or down lighting to point out an architectural design, plant, or other feature. Try using a narrow beam spotlight from a hidden fixture to add a flair of mystery to your accent lighting.

Path-Lighting

At most basic, path and step lighting is used to keep the walker safe. It can also add a sense of romance and adventure to your garden- it should make the viewer want to go wherever you want to lead them. Path lighting is created by placing small fixtures along the borders of walkways, driveways, and patios, although you must be careful that they aren’t in the way of being tripped over.  Don’t feel you have to completely cover the path with light.  Occasional pools of light will provide guidance and make the pathway interesting.

Underwater Lighting

Add some extra magic to your water feature by adding light. Every glint, ripple, and fish swimming by will fascinate your visitors.  One cool techniques is to bounce light off the surface of the water and onto nearby features for a neat shimmer effect.  You also can’t go wrong lighting a waterfall from underneath.  Plus, water features are a great place to utilize color changing lighting for a magical effect!

We hope this post inspired you to make an outdoor nighttime wonderland! As always, if you have questions just contact Creative Outdoor Lighting. We are experts at designing beautiful lighting systems and installing them!