A Brief History Of Electricity And The Electrician | Florence, SC

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We often take our electrical systems for granted. Many people are unaware of just how much work went into discovering and inventing electricity and electrical systems. Electricity as we know it has been around since the 1920s, but its history goes back as far as the 16th century. The number of inventors who have been involved in creating electricity, electrical devices, and electric light goes into the hundreds.

If you live in Florence, SC, and are looking for an electrician, you may like to contact Mister Sparky. The company is available for all types of electrical work, whether you want to rewire your whole home or need to have a new power outlet installed. They can also provide an emergency electrical service.

If you’re interested in learning more about how electricity was invented and the start of electricians as a profession, read on. This article will tell you more about the history of electrics and how lighting was first produced.

How Electricity Was Created

In the 16th century William Gilbert, an English physician, and scientist, created theories about electricity and magnetism. He discovered that a lodestone possessed magnetic properties. After rubbing amber and jet with magnetism, he found that they would attract bits of material, which would stick to the stones.

Many European inventors were inspired by the work of Gilbert and expanded on his knowledge. A scientist called Otto von Guericke was able to prove that a vacuum could be created. This discovery was to be crucial for many different studies into electronics.

In 1660 a machine was invented by von Guericke. It was able to create static electricity and was a basic type of electric generator.

It wasn’t until 1729 that electricity conduction was discovered. Just a few years later, Charles Francois du Fay found that there are two types of electricity known as resinous (-) and vitreous (+). These are now called negative and positive electrons.

The Leyden Jar

The Leyden jar was an important invention and is known as the original capacitor. It’s a device that is able to store and release electricity. The Layden jar was invented in 1745 when electricity was still considered by most people to be a mysterious force.

It was developed in Holland by an academic and scientific inventor called Pieter van Musschenbroek and by a German scientist, Ewald Kleist. The device apparently gave Kleist an electric shock that was powerful enough to knock him over.

Creating Lighting

Ben Franklin is known as the US founding father of electricity. He made a significant discovery that was to help contribute to the development of electricity. He found out that electricity and lightning were the same thing and created a lightning rod.

Around the same time in Britain, philosopher Henry Cavendish started to measure the conductivity of different materials. He was looking for something that would be able to carry electrical currents so that humans could control its use.

The Light Bulb

The electric light is one of the most used electrical devices. We often take our ability to flick a switch for granted. A lot of research went into creating the first electric light bulb. Many people believe that Edison was the first person who created a light bulb, but in fact, a lot of people had made basic light before Edison’s research. Edison used the research of over twenty inventors to create a light bulb.

Edison actually created a light bulb that was practical and commercial. It was an incandescent bulb. Edison has been credited with creating the light bulb because his version was better than earlier versions as it was more functional. Edison’s light bulb contained an effective incandescent material, as well as a vacuum. It was able to achieve a high resistance that allowed it to distribute power from a centralized source.

Electrical Systems

The invention of the lightbulb made the distribution of electricity more economically viable. By the 1920s, electricity was becoming more common in public places. It was also being used in street lights and transport and was starting to appear in the homes of the wealthy. It wasn’t long until electricity spread and most homes had an electric system.

The Emergence of Electricians

Many inventors who used electricity, such as Edison and Westinghouse, started to build electrical equipment and show off the wonders of their inventions at shows and festivals across the world. In the late 1880s, electrical demonstrations were organized in London and across the globe.

The first electricians were then hired to build devices and appliances and operate the installations. This was the start of the profession. Electrical inventions included cranes and water fountains as well as moving sidewalks. Visitors to the fairs were able to test out these inventions for themselves.

Mister Sparky Electricians

If you live in Florence, SC, or the surrounding area and are searching for an electrician, don’t hesitate to contact Mister Sparky. The company is available for all types of electrical work, whether you want to rewire your whole home or need to have a new power outlet installed.

Mister Sparky is top rated by Home Advisor and is also a BBB accredited business. They employ the very best electricians, who are vigorously tested before being hired. They are also kept up to date with new technologies, ways of working, and safety standards.

The team aims to give you a quote that’s straightforward and easy to understand. All electrical work is guaranteed for a year, and if your electrical repair fails, an electrician will carry out free repairs for no extra cost.

Call an electrician today at 843-375-6999. Mister Sparky of Florence provides highly skilled professionals and can offer an emergency call-out service 24/7.