Losing power during a storm is always frustrating, particularly during storm season. But if you ask the best Frisco electrician how to prevent power outages, his answer is likely to be the same every time—during severe storm season, power outages are inevitable. However, you don’t have to go without power. Without an alternative power source, you’re likely to stay in the dark, but your best Frisco electrician can assure you that, with a generator, you never have to go completely without electricity.

Gas-Powered Generators — Are They the Answer?

While gas-powered generators have been the norm for some time, and they have proved to be a reliable means of keeping electricity on in the midst of a power outage, homeowners have found that owning one may not be without its problems. For instance, homeowners who live under a Homeowner’s Association (HOA) may find that there are restrictions prohibiting them from owning a gas-powered generator simply because the HOA may not allow generators to be placed outside of a home. This renders a gas-powered generator obsolete, since it can’t be placed inside your home due to the fumes. Those who live in apartments or condos face a similar challenge, as they may lack the outdoor space necessary for a gas-powered generator.

If you think this limits your options for power during an outage, however, don’t fret. Indoor generators may be just the ticket for you and your family to keep power on while the rest of the neighborhood’s electricity stays off.

Indoor Generators — An Eco-Friendly Solution

Indoor generators bring with them a myriad of benefits that go beyond keeping your lights on. Built specifically for indoor use, an indoor generator is a safe alternative power source that you can feel good about using.

Rechargeable. Indoor generators use batteries for power, so all you have to do is plug them into an existing power supply to charge. In the event of a power outage, power will stay on seamlessly as the unit picks up where the outage left off. In addition, some generators can be charged with wind and/or solar power, so you can charge your unit without being plugged into the grid. Fully charged, an indoor generator can keep you powered anywhere between 2 hours to seven days.

Gas-free. Because the generator is battery-powered, there are no fumes to worry about and no gas to burn off.

Custom-made and easy to store. Depending on the indoor generator you choose, they can be customized to fit the décor of your home, keeping your home looking neat while also making it simple for you to store your unit.

Simple to install and affordable. Indoor generators are more affordable than you might think, and they are easy to install, so you can have peace of mind right when you need it.

You don’t need to be the best Frisco electrician to recognize the benefits of an indoor generator.

Everyone probably knows light layering is the #1 rule in residential lighting design, but we can often neglect it in professional settings. Light layers can transform that standard gloomy, fluorescent malaise into something calm and energizing.

2. Take the layers outside too! The center’s entryway functions like a beacon in the night with those stylish ceiling lights, along with Image via CONTEMPORIST.com

If your business has a storefront or entryway, don’t neglect eye-catching light layers there either. You want to draw customers in, not scare them away.

3. Use standard fixtures in unexpected ways. A regular fixture in an unexpected place will be avant-garde, without the price tag of an avant-garde light fixture. Image via CONTEMPORIST.com

I’d also like to note those crazy recessed ceiling lights – totally echoing a standard recessed fixture only stylized and amplified. It makes you rethink the whole concept of a regular old recessed light!

Although any light will help alleviate the strain on your eyes while looking at a screen, there is a right and wrong type and location for the light to have the best effect. As mentioned earlier, bias lighting is placed behind your screen to establish a brighter field of view so that your eyes aren’t constantly trying to find a balance between light and dark. Bias lighting illuminates a room without creating glare or reflections on your screen, shining directly in your eyes, or affecting how you see contrast and colors. Other sources of light, such as ceiling lights or lamps, can do all of the above.

If light is shining onto your screen, there’s going to be a noticeable difference in how the picture appears. Colors won’t be as vivid, and the screen might be hazy. In an attempt to remedy the situation, you could adjust the brightness and contrast. However, these adjustments will decrease the life span of the bulb or LEDs in your screen. The adjustments will also result in increased energy consumption along with a higher electric bill.

Adding light behind your screen instead of in front of it will eliminate any color or contrast issues. Dark scenes or colors will look richer against a white illuminated background. The picture below demonstrates how dark colors are lost against a dark background.

howtogeek.com, “. . .  you want a bulb temperature that is as close as possible (if not identical) to the reference point used in the industry that both manufactures the screens you’re looking at as well as creates content for said screens and that’s 6500K.” He goes on to say that, “The bulbs (be they CFL or LED) inside your HDTV or monitor are calibrated to 6500K, the film and digital video shot is color corrected to have a 6500K white reference point, and the editing suites where content is edited and worked on have 6500K bias light.”

So what exactly does 6500K mean? Correlated color temperature (CRI). CRI refers to how accurately a light source reveals the true colors of objects, people, and surroundings and involves a distinct testing method with comparisons to incandescent light or daylight. A light source with a CRI close to 100 shows colors very similarly to how daylight or incandescent light shows those same colors. To get the best picture, you’ll want bias lighting with a CRI as close as possible to 100.

We carry LED strip lights that are great TV backlighting options and will help you achieve the best picture on your screen.

Our variable color temperature controller and remote. The strip also has a CRI of 91, which will show screen colors accurately. This strip can be purchased in 3.28- or 16.4-foot lengths that can be cut and connected where needed with strip light connectors.

Another great option is our 6500K LED strip with LC2 connector. It has a CRI of 79 and is available in 1.64-, 3.28-, and 16.4-foot lengths. The peel-and-stick strip can be cut and connected where needed with compatible strip light connectors.

A kit in cool white is also available and is a convenient bias lighting solution. It has a 6500K color temperature, 79 CRI, and includes everything needed for installation—power supply, dimmer, remote, connectors, etc.

The strip lights listed above have peel-and-stick adhesive backings and can be cut or ordered in lengths to fit every screen size; strips are marked with designated cut lines. If you don’t order a kit, you will need a power supply and can purchase a controller with remote for dimming.

An easy installation method is to use a continuous length of strip around the back of your screen. For a cleaner look, you can cut the strips at all four corners of your screen. If you plan on cutting your LED strip lights, you will need 4 connectors (already included with the kit). All compatible installation supplies will be listed under the accessories tab on each product page. The following instructions explain how to install LED strip lights by cutting them into sections. Note that installation methods will differ depending on the strip you choose.

1. Cut your LED strip lights into lengths that fit the back of your screen. Because we offer different lengths, you might be able to order separate strips that will fit all four sides of your screen.