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Mr-Skill was very interested to learn that the LED Light revolution began as far back as 1962, when they started out as semiconductors that generated light when electrons reacted in electron holes. Essentially, the interaction releases energy – which we call photons – which in turn create basic light through a process referred to as electroluminescence. Now it is never our intention to get too technical in our articles, so we will attempt to keep things as simple as possible from hereon. If you want more technical data, find an electrical specialist right here on Mr-Skill. 
Different LED Colours
The P - N junction of the diode determines which colour the LED light will turn out to be. It could create white, red, green, blue or even amber light. The junction controls the mixing level of positive and negative power. This in turn uses variable energy gaps that we measure in specific wavelengths to identify with the different colours of the spectrum – to the human eye, this translates to visible light.
Do LEDs Save Energy?
Certainly they do, especially when compared to conventional incandescent bulbs, which are renowned for their energy inefficiency. In fact, around 90% of the energy consumed by a traditional bulb converts to heat – hence the scorch marks often visible on a ceiling above an electric light bulb missing its shade! LED lights consume around 75% less power by comparison, and produce 3.4 BTUs per hour as opposed to the 85 BTUs put out by an old-style bulb.
The Proof of the Pudding
The good news is that LED lights draw around 2 to 10 watts of electricity when in use. This equates to around a third to one-thirtieth of the power drawn by a conventional bulb. Add the fact that LED’s last between 35 to 50 times longer than a traditional bulb (and up to 5 times longer than fluorescent tubes) and you should get an electrical quote to change all your lights without further delay. Mr-Skill is a magician rather than a mathematician, but even he can see the enormous power-saving potential across the National Grid in years to come.
Cherry on the Top 
One of our regular London electrical experts tells us that LED lights perform at their optimal brightness the moment you switch them on. Very useful for the vehicle, railway and aircraft industries, and that is for sure!
Tags: bulb, colours, comparison, diode, electrical quote, energy, energy saving, find an electrical specialist, heat, incandescent light bulb, junction, LED, LED light, london electrical expert, negative, photons, positive, power, power saving, variable
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Posted in Electrical Work on Aug 17
According to fire experts, the many fatalities resulting from fires in our homes could reduce to virtually zero, if householders just made themselves more aware of their domestic situation, and what causes fires in the first place. Mr-Skill has a passion for safety both at home and at work, and any accident prevented is good news indeed! We dedicate this article to the matter of safety, with a particular focus on the common causes of fires at home. Creating awareness is the first step towards a better understanding, and averting potential disaster.
Kitchen Fires
Invariably, these result from using faulty appliances, or from unsupervised pots and pans left alone during the cooking process. Open frying takes pole position when it comes to serious kitchen fires. The message is clear:
- Have your appliances checked by an electrician if you suspect any safety issues. You can find an electrician right here on Mr-Skill – we have several members on board and on call to assist you now.
- Never leave a pot or pan unattended on the hob, and keep a careful watch over food cooking in the oven too.
- If you fry frequently, rather buy yourself a modern sealed appliance such as an air fryer. Apart from fire safety, you can dramatically reduce the cooking odours in your home too, not to mention the calories adding to your midrift!
Central Heating Fires
Faulty equipment, malfunctions, and dust make our home heating systems the second most common cause of home fires. During the winter months, our heating systems are running 24/7, so get an electrical quote right here, and have your central heating system serviced regularly. Mr-Skill loves the timeless adage that prevention is far better than cure!
Other Common Causes
Cigarettes, candles and general electrical fires are all potential threats in our homes. Many of our regular London electricians are amazed at the sheer carelessness that all too often results in a devastating home fire. As one of them put it recently “a naked flame in an enclosed space is a recipe for disaster, particularly where children are concerned”. It all boils down to vigilance and common sense, but one last word from Mr-Skill – make sure you know all your emergency contact numbers, and teach your kids what to do if they find themselves in an emergency.
Tags: accident, awareness, Central Heating, children, cooking, cooking utensils, dust, electrical fault, electrical quote, emergency, emergency contacts, fatalities, faulty appliances, find an electrician, fire, frying, home fire, house fire, london electricians, malfunction, pans, pots
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Last month, Mr-Skill posted a couple of articles on the subject of safety. The first specifically related to electrical safety, while the other talked about general safety awareness. In an on-going effort to get this vital message across, we are going to discuss safety in broad terms here. We’ll cover protective clothing, footwear, headgear, tools and a basic understanding of why we all need to be safety conscious and alert. Before we start, a quick word from our many sponsors – we have several skilled experts right here on Mr-Skill – you can find your qualified electrician right now!
Why We Need Safety
Ever since the early days of the Industrial Revolution, the well-being and protection of workers has been evolving rapidly. To begin with life was cheap, labour inexpensive and in plentiful supply, and observing basic safety was not a priority for factory owners and industrialists. These days, we have comprehensive labour laws to protect everybody in the working environment.
Historically speaking, many horrendous work-place disasters have occurred. Investigations into the causes were always enlightening, but if one good thing did emerge, it was the refinement and enforcement of strict new rules, and the introduction of accountability. Unfortunately, quite a number of workers continue to pay the ultimate price while trying to complete their work at all costs.
Safety Apparel
Clothing
Over the centuries, workplace clothing has evolved with safety in mind. Clothing not only protects the body it is covering, but also prevents burns and lacerations, as well as harmful chemical spills on the skin. Appropriate protective clothing is an important safety consideration across all trades, particularly those with moving machinery.
Head Gear
This includes hardhats, goggles and headphones to protect the head, eyes and ears respectively. Face masks too, are important in many occupations. Mr-Skill would like to remind you of the many signed-up members – for example, you can get your plumbing, heating and gas quotes right here in confidence.
Footwear and Hand Protection
Inadequate foot protection continues to result in grotesque accidents in the work place. Proper safety shoes and boots are an absolute must in many of our trades. Likewise, our hands are the tools of our bodies and need protection under harsh working conditions.
Tools 
Over the years tools have become more sophisticated, often with the user’s safety in mind. Tools include not only equipment we use with our hands, but items that we stand on – ladders and scaffolding for example – and machines that we operate too.
Developing an Understanding
A last word from one of our London general building experts: “These days, training and skills development play a vital role in promoting safety in the workplace. The word ‘workplace’ extends to every place of work, and covers hospitals and care homes, transport, shops, factories, business premises and, yes, including our homes! You can never forget ‘safety’ for a single moment, because if you do, the consequences could prove fatal. Please don’t cut corners or take chances.”
Tags: disasters, ear protection, eye protection, find an electrician, foot protection, gloves, head protection, home, labour laws, london general building expert, plumbing-heating-and-gas quote, protective clothing, safety, safety rules, skills development, training, work, work aparrel, work environment, workplace safety
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Posted in Electrical Work on May 02
Sometimes, the electricity supply to our homes is irregular, and this could cause a dip or a surge in the supply to an appliance. Fortunately, the design of our domestic plugs includes built-in protection in the form of a fuse-breaker. This clever gadget protects the appliance while it’s operating – a heavy power surge will result in a blown fuse, thus preventing damage and possibly even fire. 
Replacing the fuse is not a difficult task provided you have a basic knowledge of, and a healthy respect for electricity! To do this job yourself, you will need the correct-sized screw driver, pliers and of course, the replacement fuse. Check that the new fuse is suitably matched – amperage rating – to the old fuse. If this is all sounding a bit intimidating, why not find an electrician right here on Mr-Skill.
Start with safety first – isolate the circuit breaker on the mains board for the wall plugs that you plan to work on. Now you can safely remove the plug from the socket and take off its cover using your screw driver. Some plug covers are a clip-tight fit, and will need to be carefully prised open.
Look for the small glass tube inside the plug and remove the blown fuse from its cradle using the pliers. Blown ones will have a burnt or smudged appearance. Insert the new fuse into the cradle, checking to see that it is of the correct rating.
Recommendation: if your plugs are very old, you should consider getting an electrical quote to upgrade them all.
Clip or screw the plug cover firmly back in position. You are now ready to test the new fuse, so place the plug in the socket and switch on the circuit breaker on the mains board. Now switch on the appliance to check that everything is working as it should.
One of our London electricians recommends that you don’t take unnecessary risks with potentially faulty plugs. If after changing the fuse, the plug still does not work seek professional assistance instead.
Tags: circuit breaker, electrical fire, electrical quote, electricity, find an electrician, fuse, london electrician, mains board, pliers, plug, power, power surge, safety, screw driver, socket
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Posted in Electrical Work on Apr 02
Children and teenagers are tomorrow’s people. It is with their safety in mind that we present some straightforward safety tips in your bathroom and kitchen.
Caution: If you have any faulty electrical equipment or appliances, rather find an electrician to check for problems. Fiddling with gadgets ourselves is all fine and dandy, but just think about the consequences of getting it wrong. Electricians take several years to qualify, and there’s a good reason for this – they have to learn a lot, and then put their knowledge into practice throughout their working lives.
Child Safety
Be sure to dry your children thoroughly after bathing or showering, and before they approach anything electrical in the house. Water and electricity are a lethal combination. Teach your kids to keep drinks far away from any electrical appliances. It’s also a good habit to teach your youngsters to switch off appliances at the wall socket, whenever they are not in use.
Keep electrical appliance cords out of the reach of your children too, particularly for hot gadgets such as kettles, irons and hair dryers. And, never keep a charger plugged in without connecting to the actual appliance – kids love to explore and may regard a dangling cable as a tasty item to put in their mouths!
Kitchen Safety 
One recipe never to be followed is water and electricity…this combination will prove stunning, and may even turn out fatal. When you plan your new kitchen, ensure that sockets and switches are located a safe distance from water sources such as the sink. If you are thinking of a quote for electrical work, make sure the drawings include safe distances between water outlets and plugs or switches.
One of our London Electricians suggests you make sure your heavy-duty appliances such as washing machines or dishwashers connect through a fusible-link switch. This should be above the worktop surface, so that you can switch on or off quickly in emergencies.
Some Definite No-Goes
- Never use any electrical equipment or switch with wet hands.
- Don’t wrap power cables around an iron or a kettle while still warm or hot
- Always unplug an appliance from the wall socket when cleaning it.
- Unplug irons and kettles when filling them with water.
- If bread sticks in your toaster, don’t stick metal objects inside the toasting compartment to dislodge the bread. Switch off all kitchen appliances when not in use.
Tags: appliance, bathroom, children, cord, dishwahers, electrical safety, electricity, equipment, find an electrician, hot, kettle, kitchen, lethal, london electricians, power cable, quote for electrical work, safety, sink, switch, washing machines, water, wet
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Posted in Electrical Work on Mar 06
Thankfully as winter starts to move on, now is a good time to check that your outside lights are in good working order. Some of the work is easy and safe enough to do yourself. Changing a bulb is a good example, as is cleaning the glass in the light fitting. If the light is not working though, you would be better off using a qualified electrician to solve the problem. Wiring and switching is too dangerous for an unqualified person to work on. Rather check with Mr Skill, find a qualified electrician, and ask them for an electrical quote.
- Make sure that the light switch is in the “off” position. Better still; isolate the light circuit on your electrical board.
- Have a stepladder handy should you need to reach up to the light fitting.
- You may have to remove a piece of glass to access the bulb.
- Wipe the interior of the light fitting with a clean rag.
- Now, remove the old bulb. Be careful, it might be hot.
- Replace the bulb with a correctly-rated new one.
- London electricians always recommend using energy-efficient bulbs. They may cost more, but they will last much longer and therefore require less maintenance.
- Refit the glass panel, having cleaned the surface first.
- Test the new bulb once you have installed it, by flicking the light switch to “on” after you re-set the distribution board.
- Never replace a bulb with a wattage-rating higher than the fitting manufacturers recommended maximum.
If, after having been through the above steps the bulb still does not light up when you switch it on, find an electrician by clicking on Mr Skill.
It’s all about horses for courses and being smart. You wouldn’t consider using a plumber to fix your own car, so be wary of trying to fix your own electrical problems!
Tags: bulb, check, circuit, cloth, cost, efficient, electrical board, electrical quote, energy, find an electrician, fitting, glass, ladder, light, london electricians, maintenance, off, on, rag, rate, screw, switch, test, wipe, wiring
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Posted in Electrical Work on Jan 23
The last thing you need in any circuit is a dry joint, by which I mean two wires twisted round each other or even worse. In a home, this can cause the power to keep on tripping, while in the low voltage world the result is a random electronic fault.
 From time-to-time it’s necessary to get a soldering-iron out. Before you rush around looking for an Electrician Quote it might just be possible to do the job yourself.
• Preparation Clean both parts that you are planning to solder into a joint. Hardened, damaged wire is a recipe for disaster so make sure everything is shiny new by stripping off a fresh end. While at it, remove any vestiges of solder if you’re repairing an existing joint. That’s because solder does not stick to itself at all well when not fresh.
• Tinning Heat each surface in turn until it just melts a bead of solder. Work this back and forth until you see a little amber liquid appear. That’s the tinning that’s the meat in a good joint. It will be HOT. Allow the material  to cool down naturally before you touch it with your hands.
• Soldering Mount the larger of the pieces to be joined securely in a vice. Heat up its surface until solder melts instantly on it. Place the other tinned piece in the pool of solder, remove the soldering iron, and wait until the surface of the melted solder goes slightly dull. Allow the joint, which will be HOT to cool naturally.
If you have a soldering iron that’s in good order and you have the time, you don’t really need to Find an Electrician, do you? But beware one thing, and that’s a bad joint. A London Electrician I know tests his apprentices’ work by seeing whether he can pull it apart.
Tags: bead, circuit, clean, cool, dry, electric, electrician quote, electronic, find an electrician, flux, fresh, heat, hot, joint, london electrician, melt, preparation, remove, solder, solder iron, strip, tin, tinned, vice, wire
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Posted in Electrical Work on Oct 25
Although they may appear complex, electric stoves are actually very basic apparatuses concealed in fancy metal cabinetry. Suppliers build them to last a lifetime safely – if they give problems, the cause is almost inevitably a switch or element that has failed. A householder may legally replace components like these, provided the stove is wired via a safety breaker to the switchboard.
 If your stove does not have a breaker switch on the kitchen wall do not follow these instructions. Find an Electrician instead.
• Obtain the correct replacement switch from an authorised dealer. Do not be tempted to buy a pirate part.
• Turn off the breaker switch and make sure that the stove is isolated. Tape over the switch so that it cannot be inadvertently turned on again.
• Electric switches on modern stoves are mounted on a panel below the cooking surface. Lever off the control knob and remove this panel which is held in place with screws.
• Remove the screws attaching the offending switch to the panel on the inside, and draw it away. Make a drawing of how the different coloured wires are connected.
•  Transfer these wires one by one from the old switch to the new one. Electricians in London like to call this monkey see – monkey do. When done, compare the result with the drawing to make double sure.
• Attach the new switch inside the control panel. Replace the panel after making sure that everything behind it is perfectly connected, and that no wire is in contact with the metal casing. Refit the control knob.
• Make sure all the stove switches are turned off. Turn on the breaker switch on the kitchen wall. Test all the other stove circuits first, and then the switch that you replaced. Everything should be perfect. If not, then there is another problem. You urgently need to get a Professional Electrical Quote.
If at any time you notice anything untoward inside your stove, stop immediately and Find an Electrician on Mr-Skill. Do not take chances with electricity! Electricity has the power to kill.
Tags: attach, breaker, check, colour, cooker, drawing, electric, electrical quote, element, find an electrician, isolate, kitchen, knob, london electricians, panel, pirate, problem, remove, replacement, safe, screw, stove, switch, test, wall, wire
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Posted in Electrical Work on Sep 26
The United Kingdom government added Part P to the Electrical Regulations in 2005, with the intention of eliminating cowboy installers and discouraging dangerous work by homeowners who lacked essential skills. The intention was to give local Councils improved oversight over what was happening, and to eliminate potentially lethal situations. This was one of the drivers behind the establishment of Mr-Skill. We want to help people Find an Electrician who is properly registered, and whose work should be readily approved by the local Council too.
 Failure to comply with Part P can have the following serious implications for United Kingdom householders:
• Accidental death through electric shock …
• Permanent disability through electric shock …
• An electrical fire not covered by home insurance …
• Impediments to the sale of a property …
• A fine not exceeding £50,000 …
We encourage our readers to consider carefully whether these are not sufficient reasons in themselves to get Electrician Quotes instead.
While we do not discourage all DIY Electrical Work by competent and capable people, we decided to list the Do’s and Dont’s that apply to this. This is because we would like to see less than the 10 deaths, 750 serious injuries and 12,500 fires caused by faulty amateur electrical work in the United Kingdom every year. In considering the lists of permitted and outlawed amateur Electrical Work that follow, please bear in mind that the scope applies to dwellings, outbuildings of any kind including garden sheds, and common areas of communal space too.
 Work falling Within the Scope of Part P
New or rewired installations, circuits, fuse boards, sockets, lighting points, and power showers. Supply to outbuildings and installations therein. Under floor heating, pool pumps, garden lighting, and generators.
Work falling Outside the Scope of Part P
Connecting an appliance to an existing circuit. Replacing damaged single-circuit wiring, single outlets and single light fittings. Fitting a storage heater to an existing adjacent connection point, and replacing an immersion heater.
We encourage all our customers to comply with these regulations for their health and safety’s sake, and not to take on electrical work with which they are unfamiliar. We list rated London Electricians and their counterparts in virtually every United Kingdom town, whose quality services are also up to 30% less than prevailing rates. It’s just not worth taking chances with electricity and lives.
Tags: accident, amateur, appliance, approve, capable, circuit, competent, comply, dangerous, death, disability, discourage, dwelling, electrical, electrician quotes, electricity, find an electrician, fine, fire, immersion, implication, injuries, install, insurance, legal, lethal, light, london electricians, outbuilding, outlet, part p, register, regulalations, shed, shock, skill, wire
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Posted in Electrical Work on Aug 04
A dimmer switch has the effect of turning down the electricity in much the same way as turning down a tap reduces the flow of water (although that is just an analogy). It is a simple, cheap improvement that adds ambiance to any room. Just be aware that dimmers do not work on fluorescent tubes and some low energy bulbs, at least as yet.
o  Obtain a suitable dimmer switch that matches your current installation and is suitable for use in the UK. Turn off the power at the mains and double check that the power at the switch is dead by turning on the light switch. I learned this trick from a wizened old Electrician in London who liked to say if it’s wired to bypass the mains switch then it won’t be the first one that I have seen.
o Remove the cover plate over the existing light switch and withdraw the switch itself. Before removing any wires from it make a simple diagram noting how each colour wire is connected. This is to avoid needing an Electrician Quote in case you end up having to reinstall it and forgot which wire went where.
o Remove the wires from the existing switch and set it to one side. You might like to keep it in your bottom drawer because you never know when you might need it. Gently draw any slack wire out from the wall and check it carefully for any damage. If the wire ends are getting frayed give them the necessary attention.
o  Connect the wires to the replacement dimmer switch according to the instructions, making sure that it is correctly orientated so it will slide neatly into the recess, remembering to tighten the screws up nicely. Now take a five minute break for reasons I will disclose. Have a cuppa tea, exercise your dog, show your wife how much you love her – in fact do anything you like that takes five minutes or even more.
o Re-tighten the screws that hold the dimmer wires in place noting how the wires under them have settled. This is the single most likely reason why wires sometimes still come loose, and is a secret you might well like to pass on to a friend. Press the dimmer switch gently into position, screw it down and refit the cover plate to complete the job.
Now you can turn the main switch on again and test your job. Not working? Check the bulb. Still not working? You may not need to Find an Electrician yet. Remove the dimmer switch and have it tested. Now aren’t you glad you made a diagram of how the old switch was connected.
Tags: ambiance, bypass, cheap, check, colour, connect, correct, cover, diagram, dimmer, electrician in london, electrician quote, energy, find an electrician, fluorescent, inspect, installation, light, loose, main switch, mains, off, plate, power, recess, save, screw, settle, slack, slide, suit, switch, test, tight, uk, wire
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