Generators make an important line of defense against natural disasters and power outages. With a generator, you don’t have to worry about keeping the food in your refrigerator cold, or powering your heating system when the temperatures drop. When installing a new generator, it’s important to select one that is the right size for your home. By size, we mean the power it’s capable of creating, not the physical size (though that can enter into the equation depending on where you plan to put it). In Lynnwood WA, electrical repair services can often advise you on how to size the right generator for your home, but it pays to know the basic before you give them a call.

The first step is to perform an energy audit for your home, determining how much power each appliance or electrical device uses, and then prioritizing them for use during an emergency. Medical devices usually come first on the list, followed by refrigerators and freezers which store your food. Next is your home HVAC system, followed by the lights in your home. Computers, radios and entertainment systems are usually on the bottom of the list: useful for keeping connected with the outside world, but otherwise non-essential in an emergency.

Once you have that list, you can determine two things: how much power is required to run your whole house and how much power is required to run the bare essentials during an emergency. The former number is preferable and if you can afford a generator of that size, then you should probably purchase it. The latter is less ideal but can do in a pinch if you’re on a budget and still want to keep your household running when the power goes out. In that case you need to carefully monitor which appliances are hooked up to the generator so you don’t overload it when the time comes.

Wall outlets are the primary point of interaction most homeowners have with their electrical systems. Those of us who aren't electricians or contractors may never open our circuit boxes or run a wire through the wall, but we plug and unplug things from our outlets every day. Those outlets don't last forever, however, and they need to be upgraded and replaced at some point to help protect the safety and security of your home and family. Read on to learn when it's time to make the switch.

Don't Take Your Outlets for Granted

Given their steady, reliable performance delivering electricity to our appliances and devices, it's tempting to take our outlets for granted, but they do actually have a lifespan and can become obsolete over time. Especially if you live in an older house, your outlets, and the wires they are attached to, may be deteriorating. What's more, older electrical outlets might not be up to the current standards of your local building code.

So why should you care? Because old outlets can turn into a major safety hazard, most notably as the source of a house fire. Sometimes, the wires connected to the outlets become loose or frayed, creating an immediate fire danger – but this can be prevented by installing new, modern models. When you upgrade to the latest, up-to-code outlets, you can also add safety features like a ground fault circuit interrupter, which decreases the possibility of electrocution. You can also have an electrician install convenient features like combo outlets that charge your USB devices, or kid-safe outlets in areas accessible to young children.

When to Bring in an Electrician

The easiest way to know when you need to update your outlets is to have an electrician inspect your home. There are also other warning signs that can clue you in when it's time to make a change:

Obviously, if you detect smoke or a burning odor coming from your outlet, you should call an electrician immediately – or better yet, the fire department. Fires can spread quickly within your walls before you even realize you have a problem.

If you need a hand upgrading your outlets or other parts of your electrical system, get in touch with an expert electrician today.

photo courtesy of moviewritemyu.wordpress.com

“The first rooftop celebration atop One Times Square, complete with fireworks display, took place in 1904.*

Don’t let this New Year’s Eve slip away without a proper celebration.  Whether you are quietly reminiscing with a loved one over dinner or out on the town in the midst of noisemakers and confetti–see yourself in the best of light and make 2015 your brightest year yet.  New chandeliers, table lamps and wall lights are a marvel with outstanding and energy-wise light sources and intriguing configurations.

“CHIMERA” WALL SCONCE FROM CORBETT

“URBAN NIGHTS” FROM MAXIM

“RING O” FROM VAN TEAL

“GATHERING” FROM VAN TEAL

“RAVENNA” FOYER PENDANT FROM HINKLEY LIGHTING

See the the latest portable lamps, chandeliers and decorative accessories at 1800lighting.com. Stay tuned for the latest introductions from the Dallas Market January 2015.  Visit a Capitol Lighting showroom or 1800lighting.com for expert advice and a complimentary lighting plan for a new year of inspiring illumination.

*wikipedia.com

With the right lights and accessories, LED landscape lighting is a breeze to install. Our plug-and-play different brand of lights in a G-LUX system. There are installation options and accessories for LED pond lights/fountain lights, spotlights, path lights, hardscape lights, well lights, and more. Check out the photos below for some landscape lighting ideas and layout options. With easy-to-use G-LUX accessories, such as extension cables, splitters, power supplies, dusk-to-dawn sensors, and waterproof junction boxes, any setup is possible.

Installation Accessories:

Waterproof Junction Box

You can use extension cables to lengthen the reach of or increase the number of lights in your LED landscape lighting system. Splitters are available in 3-way and 5-way options, and extension cables come in 6.56-foot, 16.4-foot, and 32.81-foot lengths. Use any combination of these plug-and-play accessories to add LED landscape lights where you need them. Make sure that the power supply you choose can handle the combined wattage of all your LED lights.

For this type of installation, you’ll need a G-LUX LED landscape light. Connect the female end of the pigtail power cable to your LED light, and connect the pigtail wires to the main line that runs to your other lights and existing power supply. You can also wire your G-LUX LED landscape light directly to your power supply.

You can create a G-LUX landscape lighting system using G-LUX LED lights and G-LUX dusk-to-dawn sensor will turn your landscape lights on at dusk and off at dawn. A sensor with an automatic timer is also available to keep landscape lights on for two, four, or six hours after dusk. The sensor must be plugged into your G-LUX power supply, and anything that you want it to control must be plugged into it. If you want the sensor to control multiple lights, plug your splitter or extension cable that is plugged into the splitter into it.

If you’re using waterproof G-LUX LED well lights or spotlights in ponds or fountains, there are a couple waterproof accessories that you might need. Use a G-LUX waterproof wire connector to do so.

For technical questions, don’t hesitate to call us toll free at 866-590-3533. Our customer service and technical support teams are available from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. CDT Monday-Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. CDT on Friday.