Hey! Matt and Pat here.

Extra time at home is nice but it means many of us are using streaming services to catch up on programs we’ve missed. Or perhaps online gaming is your thing. If you’re frustrated by your Wi-Fi, read on. Perhaps a hardwired ethernet connection is the way to go.

We’ll also look at the benefits of hardwiring data cables for home office use.

If you’re concerned about us visiting your home, don’t worry. We’re taking extra precautions due to COVID-19.

At Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service, we take your family’s safety seriously. Call us on 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au to arrange your appointment.

 

Cheers,

Matt Cox & Pat Dobbs

 

Hardwiring vs Wi-Fi – could an Ethernet outlet improve streaming and gaming?

Wi-Fi is great and really convenient. But when all members of your household are online at the same time, it can become a little unreliable – especially if you’re streaming your favourite show or enjoying online gaming with your mates.

Wi-Fi stability can be compromised depending on the layout of your home and the number of devices being used at the same time. Things like concrete walls, interference from other electrical equipment or your neighbours’ Wi-Fi networks can all affect your online experience.

Adding a hardwired ethernet port for your important devices can solve this problem.

For your smart TV, a hardwired connection will boost streaming quality. For gaming, hardwiring can increase speed which will give you a faster response time (and perhaps a winning edge). Hardwire access points for all your important devices will also prevent dropout.

To investigate whether hardwiring could make home recreation less frustrating, contact us to arrange a time on 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au

Remember:  Hardwiring data points won’t overcome bottlenecks in your internet service but they can help boost speeds, improve the reliability of your connections and reduce interference by other online devices in your home.

 

Hi-tech home office connections

Wi-Fi drop-outs while you’re working from home really impact your productivity and efficiency.

Drop-outs are often a problem when your wireless access point (which includes your modem) is some distance from your desk or if there are barriers (such as walls) between your computer and your access point.

Wireless Access Points enable all of your Wi-Fi devices to connect without a cable while increasing the size and stability of your wireless network. We can install data access points which will improve the efficiency of your home network.

Get in touch if you would like to install data points exactly where you need them. Call 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au

 

Keeping you safe

As COVID-19 restrictions begin to ease, we are now able to visit your home to provide a quote, as well as provide electrical installation and maintenance services. But we understand the coronavirus still poses a significant health risk for some customers.

To keep you safe, each team member will wash their hands before we enter your home. We won’t shake your hand and we’ll practice social distancing as well.

Please be reassured, your safety is always our number one priority.

For all your home and workplace wiring needs, contact Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service on 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au to arrange your appointment.

Hey! Matt & Pat here.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and in case we haven’t told you recently, we love you! To prove it, we’re giving a Valentine’s Day chocolate hamper to the first 5 customers who book us for work this month.

There are more details below plus some tips to help you stay cool while avoiding those scary air conditioning power bills. Haven’t we had some scorchers this summer?

Remember, Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service is committed to you and your family’s safety and comfort. Call us on 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au to arrange your appointment.

Cheers,

Matt Cox & Pat Dobbs

 

Sharing the love

We seldom have a chance to thank our customers for their ongoing loyalty to the Ku-ring-gai Electrical team. But the trust you place in our skills means the world to us.

With Valentine’s Day rapidly approaching, we’d like to share the love by giving the first 5 customers a deliciously decadent chocolate hamper when they make a February booking with us.

Just be one of the first 5 to mention the chocolate hamper when you make your February booking by calling 0418 442 578 or emailing info@kuring.com.au

Don’t forget, you need to mention the chocolate hamper at the time of making your February booking.

 

Feeling hot under the collar about your summer power bill?

We’ve had some record breaking temperatures this summer. On the hottest days, if you’re lucky enough to have air conditioning, you won’t care how much it costs to run … until you get your summer power bill.

So here are our top 5 tips to help you manage the heat and your power bills.

 

Tip 1:  Understand your thermostat

Don’t set and forget your air conditioning thermostat at the beginning of summer.

Why?

The effectiveness of your air conditioning system is limited by the outside ambient air temperature. As a result, if it’s 40°C outside, you will never achieve an indoor temperature in the low 20s. At best, your air conditioner can only reduce the indoor temperature by 8°C less than the outdoor temperature.

The greater the difference between the outdoor temperature and your thermostat setting, the harder your air conditioner will need to work. That will turbo-charge your power bill without providing more relief from the heat. It will also wear out your air conditioning unit faster.

Instead:  Keep an eye on the outside temperatures and set your thermostat to fit within the 8° difference. On any day, just setting your thermostat 1° higher in summer will reduce your energy usage by 5-10%.

 

Tip 2:  Use your solar power – even when no-one’s at home

While it might seem wasteful, if you have solar power, turn your air conditioning on during the day – even if no-one is at home.

Why?

You’ll return to a refreshingly cool home using free, solar power during the heat of the day. Once it’s dark and there’s no more solar power, turn off your air conditioner. Your home should remain cool for several hours.

 

Tip 3 – Look at your options

Don’t automatically turn to your air conditioner for cooling. There are many things you can do before the heat builds up. They include:

• Pulling down blinds and closing curtains to keep the sun and heat out
• Installing awnings or shutters on North or West facing windows
• Overnight or as soon as the cool change comes, open windows to catch the cool breezes – just be mindful of your security by ensuring window locks are in place
• Install ceiling fans in bedrooms and living areas as they provide the cooling breeze you need at a fraction of the price of operating your air conditioning

 

Tip 4 – Cooling apartments

Depending on your apartment complex, you may have restrictions regarding the installation of air conditioners.

Why?

Many buildings are unable to cope with the energy load of multiple air conditioning units. In this situation, the main switchboard would need rewiring. But, providing you obey any by-laws regarding noise etc., you may be able to install a small air conditioning system to cool a single room like a main living area or a bedroom.

 

Tip 5 – Servicing is important

You may not realise it, but it’s important to regularly clean your air conditioner’s filters. The manufacturer’s manual will provide this information. In addition, it’s important to keep your air con unit in tip top operating condition with an annual service by a qualified technician.

At Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service, we use and recommend Nathan from Compair AC. He’s also a first class installer of new air conditioning systems. Contact Nathan on 0412 211 622 and tell him we sent you.

For all your home or office wiring needs, contact Ku-ring-gai Electrical on 0418 442 578 or info@kuring.com.au

Hey, Matt and Pat here.

With all the COVID-19 changes happening at the moment, we want to reassure you that we are considered an essential service. So it’s business as usual (with a few changes) for us. Read on to find out how we have modified the way we work.

Plus, with so many people now working from home, we’ve got a few tips to help you set up an efficient workspace.

Remember, at Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service, your health and safety have always been important to us. For all your home, office and ‘working from home’ wiring needs, call us on 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au.

Cheers,

Matt Cox & Pat Dobbs

 

Is your home office working efficiently?

Many people have an area of their home that’s set up as a ‘home office’. However, if you are now required to spend your days working from home, you may need a better and more efficient workspace. Here’s how we can help you:

 

1. Go hi-tech throughout your home with wireless data access points

Wi-Fi is great but it can suffer from drop-outs that will impact your worktime efficiency. You might even find that with more family members requiring access at the same time, your whole home internet system could be sluggish.

Then there’s the issue of location. If your wireless access point (which includes your modem) is some distance from your desk, your Wi-Fi signal could struggle to get around your walls. This will vary depending on the construction materials of your walls and number of walls between your computer and the access point.

You can get plug-in boosters, but their abilities vary by brand and again by the walls between your computer and the modem.

Wireless Access Points (also known as WAPs or APs) look similar to broadband routers. They enable all of your Wi-Fi devices to connect without a cable and allow you to create your own local area network (LAN) – just like you probably have at work. We can install data access points so you can set up your own LAN system.

Get in touch if you would like to investigate your options or to ask us to install data points exactly where you need them.

 

2. Extra Powerpoints

Laptops are great but their battery life may not be up to a full day’s work. Or perhaps you need to use a printer and you simply don’t have enough powerpoints to plug everything in.

We can install double or 4-gang powerpoints so you can have everything plugged in and recharging wherever you (and any other family members) need to work.

 

3. Light up your desk

Good lighting helps to prevent eyestrain and improve efficiency at work so if your home office has been lacking a bit of light, we can help.

Your options include downlights above your desk. Or, if you have overhead cupboards, we can install strip lighting beneath the overhead cupboards so the light will shine directly onto your work area.

For advice, simply email a photo of your desk situation with your best contact details (phone or email). Our email address is info@kuring.com.au

 

4. Want a landline phone point near your desk?

You don’t need to contact the phone companies. Contact us instead.

 

Working from home might be your new normal

For the foreseeable future, working from home could be your new normal. That’s why we’re suggesting you investigate your options and look for ways to create an efficient workplace at home.

We have a new process for quoting due to the new COID-19 restrictions, so please read on to see how we are helping to protect the health of you and your family.

 

Keeping you safe is our priority

The comfort and safety of all our wonderful customers has always been our priority so we need to make a few minor changes to ensure we are adhering to the new Government guidelines.

 

1. Powering homes and keeping them electrically safe is still an essential service. However, quoting isn’t. But we have that sorted. Simply email us on info@kuring.com.au and include:
   • Your name and best contact details
   • A description of what you would like us to do
   • Photos of either the problem or the installation site (e.g. for powerpoints, strip lighting or data access points)We’ll then give you a ballpark figure so you know what to expect. If you would like to proceed, we’ll arrange your installation appointment.

2. Cleanliness helps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 so each team member will wash their hands before they enter your home. We won’t shake your hand and we’ll practice social distancing as well.
3. None of the team have been overseas for a while. That means our holidays have been a bit dull, but now we think staying at home was a good idea. 😊
4. If you need us to do anything else because you are in the “at risk” category, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your requests.

 

For help with any of your electrical requirements, call us on 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au to arrange your appointment.

Hey! Matt and Pat here.

Automation is more than cool. It can prevent problems and save you heaps of money. In this month’s newsletter, we talk about easy to retrofit automation solutions for work and home. Read on to learn more.

At Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service, we’re committed to your safety and comfort. Call us on 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au to arrange your appointment.

Cheers,

Matt Cox & Pat Dobbs

 

Business automation for essential operations

For some businesses, equipment breakdown or a power outage can cause significant financial and operational problems. Examples include:

• Cool rooms filled with stock
• Data centres that must keep their systems operational
• Medical centres – especially those delivering life support, dialysis and other essential health services
• Electric fences to keep animals secure

In these situations, organisations need to be proactive about the condition of their strategic assets. Now, there’s an easy to retrofit solution that monitors energy and power in real time.

PowerTag^® from Schneider Electric is a compact and easy-to-install energy sensor. While it’s suitable for residential use, we currently believe it’s most effective for commercial applications. (For home automation solutions, read the next article.)

 

How it works

PowerTag^® is compact and plugs into your circuit breaker or other protection device. It’s completely wireless so there’s no need for additional communications cabling to make it work.

Once installed, PowerTag^® will send real time alarms direct to your smartphone or by email if it senses:

• Voltage loss
• Switchboard trips
• Electrical overloads
• Electrical anomalies or equipment failure

It also assists in monitoring energy usage.

To discover if PowerTag^® will be right for your business, contact the team at Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service on 0418 442 578 or info@kuring.com.au

 

Home automation made simple and cost effective

At this stage, a fully automated home is still a luxury for many, but locally designed Powermesh is providing cost effective solutions that you can scale to your own requirements. Best of all, it works off your smart phone.

The Powermesh system allows you to determine which powerpoints and/or light fittings you’d like to automate – just one, several or your entire home.

It could be your fridge and freezer powerpoints if you travel a lot or have a holiday home. Afterall, for food safety reasons, it’s important to know if there’s been a power outage while you’ve been away.

Some families have curious toddlers they want to keep safe. The Powermesh system can ‘lock’ easy to access powerpoints to prevent nasty shocks. Then, when you wish to use the powerpoint, you simply ‘unlock’ it and plug in your appliance.

Powermesh also allows you to monitor each powerpoint so you can identify your biggest energy guzzlers.

The Powermesh range currently includes a double powerpoint and a single light switch. Additional products are in the pipeline.

To chat about how the Powermesh system could assist you to automate your home and make your life easier, call the team at Ku-ring-gai Electrical on 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au

For all your home and office wiring needs, contact Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service on 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au.

 

Service Promise

We have 4 key service promises. Here’s one of them – We value your time.

Life’s busy and we understand how difficult it can be to wait around for a tradie, so this is what we promise you:

• We’ll give you a 2 hour window so you know when to expect us.
• When we come to give you a quote, we’ll stay to do the work if you’d like to proceed. There’s no obligation so if you need some thinking time, we’ll be happy to come back another day.

For all your home or office wiring needs, contact Ku-ring-gai Electrical on 0418 442 578 or info@kuring.com.au

 

Hey! Happy new year.

We’re back at work and happy to help you with any of your electrical requirements. But in case you’re still in holiday mode, we’d like to entertain you with a few fun electricity facts, how to charge your electric car at home (if you have one) and a simple explanation on the difference between AC and DC power.

Enjoy.

Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service is committed to you and your family’s safety and comfort. Call us on 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au to arrange your appointment.

Cheers,

Matt Cox & Pat Dobbs

 

 

Thinking of buying an electric car?

We can help you charge it at home.

Electric cars aren’t a common sight around Sydney yet, but their popularity is growing. Two of the challenges of owning an electric vehicle is the lack of public charging stations and the time they take to recharge.

We are solving these problems for our clients with electric cars by installing car chargers in their homes. To reduce the costs of recharging your electric car, pre-set the charger for off-peak rates if your electricity provider offers time-of-use tariffs.

If you have solar panels, we suggest you install a battery back-up so you are always charging your electric car for free.

Just one thing to note with solar panels – they generate DC (or direct current) power so you need to ensure you install a DC to AC inverter. But don’t worry. We can take care of everything for you.

 

What’s the difference between DC and AC power?

Electricity is the movement of electrons across a wire or other conductor.

DC = Direct Current. It means the electrons move in one direction only. Batteries all use DC power (including your mobile phone battery) but your power supply is AC. In the case of your phone recharger, it converts the AC power coming out of your powerpoint into DC power.

AC = Alternating Current. It means the electrons move backwards and forwards. In Australia, they change direction every 50 seconds. AC power is better for long-range transmission than DC power because it can be sent through wires at enormous voltages with a minimal loss of power. That’s why it’s used in our cities.

So now you know the difference between AC and DC power and why you need more than a simple powerpoint to charge your electric car.

For all your home or office wiring needs – including electric car chargers - contact Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service on 0418 442 578 or info@kuring.com.au

 

 

Return to work with 5 electrifying facts to spark workplace conversations

While we’re explaining the nuts and bolts of electricity, here are 5 more electric facts to spark conversation at work.

Fun Electricity Fact 1 – Electricity wasn’t invented. It was discovered. Ugh? An invention is something humans produce that doesn’t exist in nature. Electricity is a naturally occurring form of energy. That makes it a discovery.

Fun Electricity Fact 2 – The Ancient Greeks discovered static electricity by observing what happened when they rubbed amber and fur together. In case you’re wondering what happens, they attract each other.

Fun Electricity Fact 3 – The Ancient Romans and Persians both developed primitive batteries by wrapping pots with copper sheets. Scientists believe these early batteries were used for electroplating. Electroplated artefacts from antient times can be found in museums across the world.

Fun Electricity Fact 4 – In 1800 an Italian scientist named Alessandro Volta built the first electric battery that could produce a steady stream of electrical charge (or voltage).

Fun Electricity Fact 5 – In 1831, Michael Faraday worked out how to generate electrical current steadily and practically by using a copper wire coil and a magnet.

We found these fun facts at Facts Legend

 

Service Promise

We have 4 key service promises. Here’s one of them - We’re problem solvers.

We will happily do the electrical work for new builds and renovations. But when it comes to adding or changing light fittings, powerpoints or switches to existing homes, it can get a little tricky. But we love the challenge of finding innovative ways to achieve what you want and make it look great.

So next time a friend or family member is talking about getting some electrical work done, please tell them about us.

For all your home or office wiring needs, contact Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service on 0418 442 578 or info@kuring.com.au