August 2019
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Fraser Besant Lighting - Handmade in Bristol
Posted on: 31 Aug 2019. Category:One of our best selling and certainly most talked about brands is Fraser Besant Lighting which are handmade in Bristol. This sister company of ours was started in 2015 with a view to recreating British Quality Workmanship. Crating Light Bulbs, Light fittings and wiring accessories, it has now branched out to undertake a lot of bespoke lighting projects. All of the Fraser Besant Lighting range is handmade in the UK and finished at our Bristol Workshop on the famous Gloucester Road. Here is Fraser's story...
"My father was an electrician by trade and in 1974 he opened up his own electrical wholesalers, Ablectrics, on the famous Gloucester Road in Bristol. I came along in 1985 and grew up either at school, at home or in the shop with my Dad. Aged 14 I started working in the shop as a Saturday assistant. I loved the atmosphere in the shop and was fascinated by the builders and tradesman who came in. I loved seeing new homes being built and helping customers with their enquiries. At 23 I began working full time in the shop and eventually took it over 3 years later. When my Dad retired, we stopped running the electrical contracting side of the business. I wanted to concentrate on building up the wholesale business and I had further ideas to develop a new lighting showroom in the shop. This took several years of careful planning and was a big turning point for our family business. Alongside selling lighting I also began learning the art of lighting design. I travelled to all the major lighting shows and filled my time watching and learning from the industry leaders. I visited countless high-end homes, hotels and venues to see designs in place and work out how the lighting was used. Offering a design and supply service seemed very popular with our customers. The business took off and before long I was working on Grand designs projects, in big named hotels and I even offered a design brief to Marco Pierre when he wanted to bring a restaurant franchise out in 2013.
As the lighting showroom continued to grow and my design skills improved along came the shabby chic vintage look. This originated through the trendy coffee shops and bars. I was being asked more and more to source genuine vintage lights and involve them in my lighting designs. When you are buying 50/100-year-old lighting it often needs rewiring and restoring to make it safe for current UK regulations. This is when my workshop opened. I employed a modest team of skilled people including an ex theatre lighting technician to undertake the specialist work. It was by chance one day I had 23 vintage factory lights being collected by one of my clients and a customer in the showroom asked if he could buy something similar for his home. I was able to find some more and called him back to let him know the good news. I then thought about displaying some of these genuine vintage lights in the showroom. They went like hot cakes. We quickly gained a great reputation for our range and the meticulous workmanship of the restored pieces. I specialized mainly in old theatre stage lights and film set tripod lights. Some examples are shown below. I still restore and sell these through my Bristol showroom and I have some for sale online.
The majority of the vintage lights I had been restoring over the past 2 years were British designed and made, they were 50/100 years old and still working. I too wanted to make lights that would still be working in 50 years’ time. I had the workshop and the team behind me. I had lots of exiting design ideas and lights I wanted to make. So, this is when I started my journey into manufacturing and I created Fraser Besant Lighting Ltd. The British are a proud bunch and somewhere along the way I feel we lost our way making and supplying goods. Competing with cheaper imports and steep rises in the cost of living have only gone to make things harder for us. But being British one does not shy away from a challenge. I was determined to make my lighting not only in the UK but right here in Bristol where I was born and raised. The company has been making lights since 2015 and is growing every year. I sell online and through my showroom. I have many more designs and ideas in the pipeline and I hope you all love what I have created."
Fraser Besant Lighting specialises in metalwork and is known for its industrial and vintage designs including utilizing conduit to make unique light fittings, below our staff have selected some of their favourites, almost all of these are available to view in our Bristol Showroom:
Verdigris Finish - "Of all the fantastic creations my favourite is the Verdigris finish, particularly in the 380mm shade. This finish is fantastic for rustic areas such as barn conversions or farmhouse renovations. To see the process from raw copper to the equivalent aging of 100years in a little under a week is incredible. I love how no two are ever the same with the smallest changes in humidity or temperature creating vastly different colours and consistencies. I think this is the finish that highlights the care and workmanship that goes into Fraser Besant Lighting."
The Cube - "The completely customisable cube light creates a stir in any location despite it's minimalist appearance every aspect of it can be changed to reflect your personality. The size, colour, number of lights, type of fable, type of lamp-holder, lamp and ceiling rose can all be customised to create a truly unique fitting. available as standard in three sizes (300mm, 600mm, 1000mm) I believe the 600mm is the perfect size for 6 to 8 varying lamps. Made in Bristol and wired in our Gloucester Road workshop we advise a lead time of 4-6weeks for this fitting."
The Industrial Downlight Range - "I like the industrial downlight range as it offers something you cannot find anywhere else on the market. With available finishes of Bright Copper, Aged Copper, Rust, Verdigris, Smooth Concrete, Raw Concrete and Brushed Aluminium they are a wonderful step away from the usual 'White or Chrome'. These downlights work great when paired with pendant lighting or alternatively stand alone to offer a distinctive finish in any room. Fire rated up to 90 minutes this downlight is perfect suited to almost any application"
If you are inspired to come see us, view more of the range online or wish to discuss making a bespoke fitting for you, please contact us and we shall do all we can to help!
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App Controlled Extractor Fan
Posted on: 30 Aug 2019. Category: App Controlled Extractor FanApp Controlled Extractor Fan
The launch of Vent Axia Svara marks the next generation of unitary fans. Home owners have complete control of their indoor air through an intuitive App designed to give them flexible options on how to run the fan. Giving home owners this control has the added benefit of removing the need for multiple returns to the property post installation should the fan not be set up quite to the householders’ liking. For example the humidity setting being too sensitive. The home owner can simply log on to the App and change the setting themselves.
For electricians, installation is made simple through Svara’s Bluetooth-enabled App allowing you to choose whether to opt for intermittent or continuous ventilation; whether you would like the humidistat to trigger operation or not; and whether the overrun timer is required. No more fiddly switches and jumpers!
Aesthetics and Silence
The name Svara takes its influence from the fan's Swedish heritage - a country well known for iconic and well thought out designs. Consumers will be attracted to Svara’s good looks with its sleek modern design, plus with noise a key issue for consumers, households will also be impressed by Svara’s quiet running, operating at just 17 dB(A) on low trickle. It is also easy to clean as the central module disconnects the motor from the rest of the fan allowing it to be simply wiped with a soft cloth, and at only 4W the energy efficient Svara also boasts low power consumption.
Multi Room Multi Function
Vent-Axia Svara is programmed to cope with the vast majority of installations. Because of this, it can be fitted in either a bathroom or Kitchen and can be set to run either continuously or intermittently.
Light Sensor
When the light sensor is enabled Svara senses when someone is in the room and then activates. Its sophisticated light sensor is triggered by light movement and shadows. It is possible to set a delay-on so the fan is not triggered by the light during quick night time bathroom visits. The light sensor can also distinguish between headlight flashes from cars and room occupancy, so it is not triggered by passing cars, avoiding nuisance running. The sensitivity of the light sensor can be adjusted via the App.
Overrun Timer
The light sensor provides an overrun timer but only requires a live and neutral. In houses where there is only a basic fan installed, the home owner can upgrade to a timer fan without having to rewire.
Humidistat
Svara features a humidistat which reacts to sharp changes in humidity, for instance when someone is taking a shower. When set to continuous running, once the humidity sensor is activated the fan runs at 30l/s until humidity returns to normal levels then the fan powers down to 10l/s. Ambient humidity changes will not trigger the humidistat. It is possible to change the sensitivity of the humidity sensor via the App.
Silent Scheduling and Automatic cycles
The silent hours scheduling function allows you to deactivate the boost function on the Svara via the App, for example, this would prevent nuisance noise over night. Additionally during a vacation you can set Svara to an airing mode which operates a purge function every 12 hours for either 30, 60 or 90 minutes depending on selection. However, Svara’s sophisticated controls, will not purge if the light sensor detects that there is someone in the house.
We have a working display model here in our Bristol Showroom and these fans have been used by our lighting designer, check out our lighting design service.
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What is Light Pollution?
Posted on: 29 Aug 2019. Category: What is Light Pollution?What is Light Pollution?
Most of us are familiar with air, water, and land pollution, but did you know that light can also be a pollutant? The inappropriate or excessive use of artificial light – known as light pollution – can have serious environmental consequences for humans, wildlife, and our climate.
Components of light pollution include:
-Glare – excessive brightness that causes visual discomfort.
-Skyglow – brightening of the night sky over inhabited areas, also known as upward light ratio (ULR).
-Light trespass – light falling where it is not intended.
Clutter – bright, confusing and excessive light sources.
Light pollution is a side effect of industrial civilization. Its sources include building exterior and interior lighting, advertising, commercial properties, offices, factories, street lights, and illuminated sporting venues. The fact is that much of the outdoor lighting used at night is inefficient, overly bright, poorly targeted, improperly shielded, and, in many cases, completely unnecessary. This light, and the electricity used to create it, is being wasted by spilling it into the sky, rather than focusing it on to the actual objects.
Modern society requires outdoor lighting for a variety of needs, including safety and commerce. The Institute of Lighting Engineers recognises this but advocates that any required lighting be used wisely. To minimise the harmful effects of light pollution, lighting should: Only be on when needed / Only light the area that needs it/Be no brighter than necessary/ Minimise blue light emissions Be fully shielded (pointing downward) The transition from sodium to LED exterior lighting over recent years appears to have made global light pollution worse not better, scientists have reported.The findings are certain to increase the pressure on the lighting industry to take light pollution seriously and improve the optics and upward light control.
BELL LED Asymmetric Floodlights minimise light pollution. Skyline Pro Asymmetric floodlights have been designed and developed to meet the strict requirements for a range of sports and area lighting applications. Specifically designed to control obtrusive light, a precision lensing system ensures a tight beam pattern, reducing overspill upwards light and directing light only where it is needed. BELL lighting is constantly striving towards reducing light skyglow (ULR), and the Skyline Pro Floodlight is at the forefront of this pollution reducing technology
http://www.belllighting.co.uk/fittings/SkylineEliteLEDFloodlights
Shine powerful light exactly where you need it with the Precision Pro Industrial Floodlight from Integral LED. These super-tough, super-efficient floodlights utilise up to sixteen banks of LEDs, with skilfully engineered lenses that individually focus each LED, allowing some models to project asymmetrical beam angles that evenly illuminate a specific area. Ideal for professional applications such as community sporting facilities, tennis courts, football pitches, car parks, walkways, retail and industrial estates.
https://integral-led.com/range/luminaires/industrial-floodlights/precision-pro
You can view and buy a few of these products on the link to our website below, please ask us for more details or for any questions you may have
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Surge protection Devices, what are they and why do we need them
Posted on: 28 Aug 2019. Category: Surge protection DevicesThe whole nature of how electrical equipment is used in homes and at work has evolved; with everyday activities relying on electronic equipment. Products such as computers, printers, flat screen televisions, industrial control equipment such as PLC’s, alarms, microwaves and washing machines are common place. These can all be vulnerable to transient overvoltages, which can significantly reduce the equipment’s lifespan through degradation and damage.
Surge protection devices(SPD) assist in the protection of valuable electrical and electronic equipment against transients, originating from lightning and also from switching sources. These transients can cause damage ranging from the premature ageing of equipment, logic failures and down time, to the complete destruction of equipment within the entire electrical installation. Products such as LCD screens, data servers and industrial equipment such PLC’s are critical to business activity. Protecting this equipment may now be a necessity.
Surge protection devices are classified according to their standard into different types
• Type 1 - SPD which can discharge partial lightning current with a typical waveform 10/350 μs. Usually employs spark gap technology.
• Type 2 - SPD which can prevent the spread of overvoltages in the electrical installations and protects equipment connected to it. It usually employs metal oxide varistor (MOV) technology and is characterized by an 8/20 μs current wave.
• Type 3 – These SPDs have a low discharge capacity. They must therefore only be installed as a supplement to Type 2 SPD and in the vicinity of sensitive loads. Type 3 SPD’s are characterised by a combination of voltage waves (1.2/50 μs) and current waves (8/20 μs).You can view our(increasing) range of SPD's on our website at the link below:
https://www.electricsandlighting.co.uk/products?search_api_views_fulltex...
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Best selling lights for a house
Posted on: 23 Aug 2019. Category: best selling lights for your houseBest sellers
We have a new section online showcasing the best selling lights for a house. After many years selling online and with the success of our lighting showroom and design service we felt it would be a useful tool to have online to help people choose their perfect new light. So we liased directly with our lighting designer and made the best sellers section. It is broken down into several catergories depending on what type of light you are looking for so we have created the following following links. Each one is filled with branded, quality exiting designs that look and feel great.
Best selling bathroom lighting
So each section containes stylish lighting that we have used on countless lighting designs and have always got great feedback on. Wherever possible we have even used in situ pictures of the lights. This is ideal when buying a new light as trying to picture it in use and get a handle on the way it will look and feel can be a challenge. So showcasing them in use is a big help, we plan on getting more live photos soon and will continue to update the website weekely. Most of the featured best selling lights are also on display in our Bristol lighting showroom as to be honest one cannot beat seeing the product before buying it. While we appreciate the benefits of a website we recognise the value of a showroom and always keep our showroom up to date with the latest lighting trends, designs and new LED lamps. If you are working on a big project or design we would always recommend a visit here to see us and even arrange a meeting with our lighting designer. Lighting design is something many people struggle with on a large scale, so we have an in house designer with over 12 years experience.
For now have a look through our best sellers and the lighting we supply. If you need any help we are only a phone call away and we are always happy to help.
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Kitchen Lighting Ideas
Posted on: 19 Aug 2019. Category: kitchen lightingKitchen lighting ideas
A common question we get asked in the showroom is 'What light fittings should I use in a kitchen or open plan kitchen/diner space?' Below are a few of our favourite products and ideas from our in house lighting designer. Dont forget if you want to discuss anything further you can always call or email us, we are always happy to help.
EVOFIRE Downlights/spotlights
These are without doubt our best selling downlights. We get great feedback from the electricians who fit them and they are very well pricd. Using a series of Downlights in a kitchen can be a great way to provide plently of light in the areas of your choice in a smart discreet fashion. The Evofire spotlights gives you the choice of 3 colours , satin chrome , polish chrome and white with the choice of a recessed or baffled fitting. Some of the key features to the evofire fittings are: 90minute fire rated, IP65, 1mm bezel allowing 'invisable' look, 'canless' back to allow heat dispersion and increase life of the lamp.
Standard Evo fire downlights
This downlight is a stylish solution and the unit sits almost completely flat to the ceiling. For the best results we would recommend this downlight is fitted to flat, fresh plastered ceiling. If you have an older or uneven plastered ceiling this unit will not sit perfectly flat.Baffled downlights
Baffeled downlights are ideal when you want to create a tighter beam of light as the LED sits further back in the unit like a reccesed fittng but creates a sword of light rather than a wider spread. Ideal for bringing light onto the kitchen table. This also gives a designer look with lower glare. The 1mm 'blend-in' bezel fits almost flush with the ceiling, making this one of the most subtle looking fire rated downlight solutions available. We partcularly like using this fitting is areas with lower ceilings.
https://www.electricsandlighting.co.uk/products?search_api_views_fulltext=evofireLED Tape / Profile
LED tape is a perfect way to shred light onto any kitchen profile , shelfing unit and worktop, and can be measured to any length of your choosing and are always available in ready to go packs which include controller and remote driver, available in warm white , cool white and multi colour.
We also offer a bespoke service where we can make the tape to your exact specification. Our own tape is made on our design with true colour warm and cool white (2700k & 4000k) and has a CRI of 93+.
We provide a complete selection of profile to make sure you can have the exact install required, be it surface mounted, recessed, plastered in or even angled. We have a complete display in store to showcase many of the options available and also to demonstrate the different effect the profiles allow.
https://www.electricsandlighting.co.uk/products?search_api_views_fulltext=led+tapeLow Level Lighting
We often get asked to provide low level lighting in kitchens. This can be to either provide extra ambient lighting, highlight special features such as flagstone flooring etc. or to allow low level light to be used at nightime. There are two main options we often consider. LED tape as shown above or 'marker lights'. The LED tape allows a constant band of light where as the marker lights allow points of light as shown in the image.
We stock a lot of options for the marker lights as well as the tape detailed above, you can see some of the options we have available through the link below, alternatively we have a good selection on display in our Bristol showroom.
https://www.electricsandlighting.co.uk/products?search_api_views_fulltext=decking+lightsWe also have a brand new section online full of our best selling kitchen lighting.
Rako Controls
RAKOs wireless home automation system gives the user full control of their lighting with a small easy to fit RF wall control and can also be controlled using your smart phone. It makes easy work of controlling multiple lighting circuits and allows you to set scenes such as dining / living / TV also with the option of dimming your lights from several places in your home.
The RAKO system is particularly suitable for open plan areas with multiple lighting circuits. Not only does it make control and adjustemnt easy and convenient. It also allows you to have a small cntrol wall unit (if desired) rather than a large grid square of multiple switches and dimmers.
https://www.electricsandlighting.co.uk/rako-home-automation-specialistPop up sockets
Pop up sockets are an excellent way of providing additional power points without compromising stly and workspace. They are available with a combination of functions (USB, Fast charge etc) and add a nice hidden touch to Kitchen Islands. We can also supply over/under shelf sockets which can be base or back feed to allow multiple installation methods. please contact us for more information.
https://www.electricsandlighting.co.uk/products?search_api_views_fulltext=pop+up+socketsStatement Lighting for a kitchen
Kitchens are a great area to have a large statement lighting piece, especially over a kitchen Island. Be aware though: when the light is off do you want a large hanging object obstructing your view from one area to the the next? The way we often overcome this is by having glass pendant such as the NEMO 400mm(also on display in our Bristol Showroom) pictured above, this fitting provides a lovely light when on, atmospheric and striking whilst allowing itself to blend into the background when off. The perfect combination for any Kitchen light.
https://www.electricsandlighting.co.uk/products?search_api_views_fulltext=statement+lights -
Kontsmide Lighting stockists Bristol
Posted on: 19 Aug 2019. Category: Kontsmide Lighting - Oudoor Lighting SpecialistAblectrics has recently become a supplier/stockists of Kontsmide Lighting and below you will find out more about them and what they do.
The year was 1942. One day, a family man Gunnar Johansson found the courage to resign from his employment(a bus company) and give free rein to the contractor inside him. His idea was to forge flower stands and decorations, focusing on quality and design. Soon customers came in crowds to Gunnar, who called his company Gnosjö Konstsmide. Today, more than 75 years later, the company is still run by the Johansson family in Gnosjö. The product range currently consists of Christmas and outdoor lighting, but with the same self-evident requirements for high quality and safety, as well as for stylish and functional design.
Innovation and quality are the foundation stones Konstsmide has relied, relies and will rely on. Being innovative is a prerequisite for creating the sustainable and environmentally friendly products our customers want. That we in the mid 1990s were the first in the world to use LED technology in our Christmas lighting still keeps us one jump ahead. It is simply in our DNA to dare try new things, dare be at the forefront. In order to always offer safe and durable products, their entire business needs to be shaped by distinct quality-oriented thinking. They guarantee production thanks to their own factories in Sweden and Hungary, as well as the close cooperation with our partners in China. Our products also undergo extensive third-party testing in order to be the safest on the market. The Group has around 200 employees, of which about 45 are employed at Gnosjö headquarters. The rest work in subsidiaries in Germany, England, Finland, Hungary, Poland, the Netherlands, Hong Kong and Norway, Their desire is to always be the customer's first choice for Christmas and outdoor lighting. They aim to achieve this by offering a complete and highly competitive product range of the best possible quality, service and delivery reliability. We here at Ablectrics will soon be adding their products to our website so keep an eye out on all things outdoor and Christmas lighting for more details
You can view some of their new products below
https://www.electricsandlighting.co.uk/products?search_api_views_fulltex...
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Wall Mounted Toothbrush Charger
Posted on: 16 Aug 2019. Category: Wall Mounted Toothbrush ChargerThis innovative toothbrush charging station is compatible with all Oral B and Braun Electric Toothbrushes, this stylish wall mounted toothbrush charger is designed to address the problem of untidy cables from conventional charging units.
Simple to install and convenient solution for homeowners looking to create a sleek bathroom design. Not only is the charger a great addition to any new bathroom design, but it can also be fitted in existing bathrooms to replace unused shaver sockets. The unit fits flush into the wall and a charging base protrudes for charging and storage of the toothbrush, the In-Wall Charger maximises space and provides a unique addition to a bathroom space. This reduces the frustration customers have at the clumsiness and inconvenience of charger cables around their bathroom. This provides a perfect solution which is safe, smart and adds a unique feature to any bathroom.
Proofvision are a leading supplier of waterproof electronics who specify in high quality competitively priced products, all products are designed and made in the UK and also supply outdoor and bathroom TV's. You can buy the Wall mounted toothbrush charger from our website at the link below:
https://www.electricsandlighting.co.uk/products/second-fix-junction-boxs...
We also offer a design service for all you lighting, please contact us for more details
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Consumer Units - Chint Shield
Posted on: 15 Aug 2019. Category: Consumer Units - Chint ShieldChint was formed in 1984 and products include many types of top quality domestic and industrial control equipment, energy distribution equipment, measurement equipment, wiring accessories and many types of industrial control. We here at Ablectrics have recently started stocking their range of Single Phase Amendment 3 Consumer units.
The Chint NX3 range of Metal Consumer is available from 2 Ways up to 36 Ways and the NX3s are designed to comply to the new 3rd Amendment BS7671:2008 and BS EN 61439-3.The entire range is tested and approved to those standards by independent third parties. There is an interconnecting cable available for ease of cabling between the mains incomer and individual RCDs. The large enclosure size is often asked for by customers who might want to add specialised equipment such as Meters, Contactors and Transformers and where space is not limited.
Some of the features are:
Various knock outs for easy cabling
Designed to easily accommodate RCBOs, can be changed without touching the busbar
High Integrity ready
Can be flush mounted(by purchasing a different lid)You can view some products on our website below:
https://www.electricsandlighting.co.uk/products?search_api_views_fulltex...Keep in touch for more details on the 18th amendment as we get them
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Garden Party Lighting
Posted on: 13 Aug 2019. Category: garden lightingGarden party lighting. At this time of year with the nights getting darker earlier but the temperatures holding we often get asked about the best way to light a garden for parties and entertaining.
Whilst there are a number of options here are some of our favourites that work well:
RGB colour changing garden lighting
Using RGB (Red, Green, Blue) colour changing lighting can add beautiful highlights to accentuate areas of your garden whilst also giving you flexibility and the option to easily control and change the lighting to keep the effect 'new'.
We especially like these RGB spike lights from GAP lighting https://www.electricsandlighting.co.uk/products/light-fittings/blade-rgb-cct-spike-light, they have a range of 30m and can be controlled independantly or grouped by a 4 channel remote control (supplied seperately). We have one of these fantastic lights as a working display in our Bristol Showroom.
To add to these we often use a digital RGB tape (IP65) for low level colour changing lighting such as https://www.electricsandlighting.co.uk/products/light-bulbs/ip65-12v-led-digital-rgb-pixel-strip-5m-x-10mm-144wm. We often use this to light under seating areas or below any lip on the top of a retaining wall, it can also create a spectacular scene highlighting steps.
Static Colour outdoor rated Rope Light
Another more cost friendly option for a colourful outdoor lighting solution would be to use static colour rope light, this can be used to great effect either wrapped around trees, hidden in the edge of a flowerbed or path to wash light horizontally or altenatively hanging from a trellis or gazebo. We stock rope light in all the main colours (available by the metre or 45m drum) as well as keeping good stock of the accessories. At only £2.00 per metre this is a great way to highlight your garden for a function or party. Follow the below link to find out more.
https://www.electricsandlighting.co.uk/products/second-fix-junction-boxs/45-metre-drum-rope-light-various-colours
