There are certain jobs you’ll do in your home over the years that require nothing but some basic knowledge and a YouTube video. Electrical work, however, is not one of these jobs. Electrical jobs can not only be dangerous, but can also lead to property damage if not done correctly.

But how do you go about finding a true professional? Certainly, you want a service provider you can trust to do the job correctly and safely, and you want a job you can rely on. Keep reading to learn more about what separates a professional electrician from the rest.

Electrical work is very complex, and learning how to do it correctly requires many hours of education and training. Check to ensure that any electrician you choose to work with has the training and the proper certification required for your job, and for your zoning area.

In addition to being adequately licensed, any handyman you invite into your home to perform work should also be insured. If not, you’d be liable for any injuries or damages that occur when they work on your property.

NEC stands for the National Electrical Code, and is a code that outlines the standards for the safe installation of electrical wiring and equipment in the United States. Any type of building code can be updated at any time, so it’s vital that your electrician is aware of changes and is able to communicate them clearly to you.

Don’t hire an amateur electrician with whom you are unsure of or try to attempt a DIY electric job. Instead, rely on the professionalism and expertise we have on our team.

The term “light box” can mean a few different things, but from a lighting perspective it typically refers to a backlit display panel. Light boxes are most commonly used for advertisements or other commercial displays. You’ve probably seen them in trade show booths, restaurants, airports, nightclubs, offices, hotels, museum exhibits, and retail shops. That’s right, light boxes are everywhere.

One of the most common uses for light boxes is the commercial advertisement. You see these in large spaces like terminals or outdoors at bus stops. They capture the attention of passers-by and create lasting impressions. The light box pictured below is one of the biggest I’ve ever seen.

One of the most obvious places you’ll see light boxes are along the walls inside and outside of movie theaters. Sometimes lines of light boxes stretch incredible distances, advertising all the movies being shown in large theaters.

In fact, light boxes can be a fun addition to any home and can be used for as many purposes as you can imagine. Sure, you could illuminate a movie poster of your daughter’s favorite movie. But you could also make a custom sign saying whatever you want. I really like the light box below, created at home for home.

Electrical safety is of utmost importance to keep your family and loved ones safe at home. You can be assured of electrical safety through GFCI outlets. GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets have three holes: two of the holes are for neutral and hot wire and the third hole in the middle of the outlet serves as a ground wire. If it experiences any change in the electrical flow in the circuit, it will immediately cut off the flow of electricity.

GFCI outlets are important, especially when the electrical outlets are positioned close to water. Installing GFCI outlets in your kitchen, bathrooms, laundry rooms, etc., is a good idea. Apart from being an essential preventive measure, the law also requires you to have GFCI outlets installed throughout your home. According to National Electric Code (NEC), all homes must be equipped with GFCI protection. Initially, it was only required for you to install GFCI outlets near water only but this requirement has been extended to cover all single phase outlets of 125 volts in recent years.

Let us now understand why GFCI outlets are essential in every household.

3 Reasons to Install GFCI Outlets

Electrical shocks and electrocution are the major risks that you can be exposed to through electrical devices at your home. This becomes a bigger concern if you have kids who can unknowingly touch the appliances and get a shock. A GFCI outlet helps in preventing shocks and electrocutions as it has a built-in sensor that monitors the inflow and outflow of the electricity from any appliance. If a live wire inside the appliance comes in contact with the metallic surface of the appliance, you will get a shock when you touch it.

Programmable logic controllers provide automatic control of processes so that very little human intervention is required. Yet, this results in a well-coordinated, repetitive process.

These systems automatically start and shut down critical equipment in large and complex manufacturing processes. When in operation, programmable logic controllers ensure that all conditions are met before starting up a certain machine or process. In addition, the PLC continues monitoring the entire system using a variety of sensors.

Consequently, this ensures that everything runs as programmed. The PLC will trip if it detects a malfunction or abnormality in any of the monitored parameters.

The operating environment, size of the processes, ease of access by operators and maintenance personnel influence the choice of PLC.

A harsh environment with dust or small particles will require a PLC system with an appropriately IP rated enclosure. This prevents ingress of foreign particles into the system. The available space and layout also influence the choice. Therefore, most users require easy access for reprogramming, maintenance, or troubleshooting.

The simplest form of a PLC, all the basic components of a PLC include the I/O points, CPU, and software program. It is typically housed in a single enclosure. These PLCs are attached directly to the equipment being controlled.

Modular PLCs consists of several components on a common bus within a base unit to allow extending of the input and output. These units work on an expandable base unit. Therefore, it provides all the basic components of a PLC, i.e., a power supply, I/O points, memory and the CPU, and slots for additional cards.  These modules, which may be from the same or different manufacturers, are plugged together into a base unit.

This follows the same modular concept, but each of the modules plugs into a rack. The add-on modules are contained in racks which are then linked together through a network of connections. Since the rack mounting PLC is highly scalable, it allows very large systems to be assembled.

In energy management, the PLC monitors and controls equipment such as boiler systems. It helps the organization increase energy efficiency and safety. PLCs are also used in numerous everyday activities. They are found in factories, homes, commercial buildings, airports, unmanned car parks, and more.

Finally, some practical applications include: