Frequently Asked Questions
Here we have many questions which people ask us on a regular basis, click the question to find out the answer !
I require a lighting design to be carried out…. can ELS help with this?
Yes, we are able to instruct certain suppliers to attend site & provide you with a full lighting design. Please contact your nearest branch to arrange a site visit.
Am I able to come into your store and purchase without being trade?
Yes, we are very welcoming to the public and make sure we always try and help you as much as possible. We can even recommend local electricians should you be a little bit unsure of avoiding any rogue traders.
I would like to place an order, but I am not local to you. Can you help?
This is not a problem, we work with Interlink and can provide a next day nationwide courier service. There is the option of timed deliveries at a further additional cost.
What are IP ratings & how do they keep things safe?
IP is an acronym for “Ingress Protection” against objects that intrude into the enclosure of any type of equipment.
The IP ratings are defined in the IEC standard 60529, which was developed by the lnternational Electrotechnical Commission. Specifically, IEC 60529 defines an enclosure as, “a part providing protection of equipment against certain external influences and in any direction protection against direct contact.”
The IP rating is formatted as “IP” followed by two digits. The first digit indicates a protection level against solids such as dust, and the second digit indicates a protection level against liquids.
Is the government really banning traditional GLS bulbs?
In effect, yes. The government, energy suppliers and many major UK retailers have led a voluntary initiative to phase out traditional light bulbs, where there is a suitable low energy replacement.
The UK voluntary phase-out is now being followed up by legal restrictions on bulb sales across Europe.
Do energy saving light bulbs take a long time to light up?
Modern CFLs only take a few seconds to warm up to full brightness. LEDs reach full brightness instantly.
Can I fit energy saving bulbs to a dimmer switch?
In essence yes, you need to make sure you have a suitable dimmer switch that can deal with low energy dimming & also to make sure your lamps are dimmable.