One of the things that makes electrical troubleshooting so difficult is the fact that your electrical system is largely behind the scenes. Located behind your walls and in your ceiling, many issues will not manifest until they become very serious. As a result, it can be very easy to ignore electrical problems until they come to a point where they can no longer be ignored. To combat this, especially if you live in a n older home, you should have an electrician in Santa Monica inspect your electrical system regularly. By doing so, you can avoid many issues that result from an aging home and electrical system.

In addition to having a regular inspection, you should also educate yourself on the early signs of electrical issues. If you notice any of the below, make sure that you get in touch with a Santa Monica electrician right away. It can save you significant time and money if you take care of the issue early on, rather than when it becomes a real problem.

Lights Dim Unexpectedly

Do you have lights that dim whenever large appliances, such as your air conditioner cycles on? If these high-demand appliances are not on dedicated circuits, then they could be causing electrical issues within your home.

No GFCI Outlets

According to most local building codes, a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet is required in all areas that are frequently wet. This includes kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms and garages. If you do not have these, call The Electric Connection or click here.

Ungrounded Outlets

Older homes were often equipped with outlets that do not accept three-pronged, grounded plugs. This is a very strong indication that your electrical system is not grounded. If you have an ungrounded electrical system, then you could be exposing yourself to unnecessary dangers every time you use your electrical system. Have someone inspect your system and provide the proper grounding if necessary.

1) Totally Tubular

We’ve seen words written on walls in LED rope, but never with this kind of frame. How clever! As the evolution of LED rope continues, I would expect to see even more eye-catching wire frames. It’s all about making something that looks good even when rope is not illuminated. This DIYer is definitely on the right track.

3) LED Rope with a Side of More Rope

It seems to be true. She wore garments with integrated LEDs at the Grammy’s and loves to have LED lighting on stage with her. Here, we can see how cool LED rope can be on the stage. There are innumerable shapes and symbols that could be constructed or outlined with LED rope to make a musical performance more visually appealing. Rock on!

5) Wrap Your Porch like a Present

Using rope to play with LED rope has become wildly popular during the past year or so. I love the way this piece displays what I think of as a controlled tangle. This lighting application is artistic in the way it arrest attention and invites questions. Like, “What is the point of this?” And you’re led to answer yourself: It’s a source of light that serves a function while it conveys a unique look. Good stuff.

7)  LED Rope for Starting Seedlings

This is another application that is not new but should be restated. LED rope is a great, relatively inexpensive way to install cove lighting. This is great in residential and commercial settings and needs to be restated because cove lighting creates such a dramatic transformation for any space, and LED rope is just an excellent way to achieve it.

LED pole lights provide an opportunity for businesses, industrial buildings, and other larger outdoor venues to have access to a high-quality source of light that’s energy efficient. Pole lights are the most common option for outdoor lighting of parking lots, walkways, neighborhoods, and building grounds. That is because this type of fixture creates a large amount of illumination through a beam, which the user can direct in a specific area. Before buying LED pole lights, buyers need to consider a few key factors.

Commercial, residential, or industrial uses are acceptable options for LED pole lights, depending on the specific model selected.

Key considerations when making this purchase include the following:

Comparing all of your options is important. Finding the right balance isn’t just about costs but quality of the product and long-term options.

Early in the month, American Airlines Flight 1420 crashed near Little Rock, AK. This crash, along with a few others that took place soon before and after, inspired research into the deleterious effects of sleep deprivation on pilot safety.

3) A Whole, Whole Lot of Drug Money

In June 1999, George Bush announced his candidacy for the office of President of the United States of America. So much was about to change in our culture during the next 8 years.

5) Lord Stanley’s Cup

via www.moviesonline.ca6

In June 1999, Stephen King got hit by a car and was flung 14 feet while walking on the shoulder of a road in Maine. What’s the name of that Stephen King book about the car? Oh yeah, Christine. Any connection? You never know. But I’m sure King was thankful Kathy Bates didn’t find him after the accident.

7) The Weird Looking Predecessor of the MacBook Is Born

That mildly annoying yet overall charming goofball Austin Powers (Mike Myers’s colorful character) graced the cover of Rolling Stone in June 1999, exuberantly celebrating the sequel to the original Austin Powers blockbuster smash hit. Smashing, baby!

9) Adam Sandler Tones It Down a Little

The universe’s hippest couple, who, of course played in a rock band together, hit the popular scene with their debut album in June 1999. Then, they became insanely famous. And then, thirteen thousand two-piece rock bands, featuring only guitar and drums, were born. I think now, 15 years later, we are finally beginning to see the decline in that questionable trend. Bass matters, people.

11) That Kid from Walking Dead Was Born

Venus and Serena Williams, two twin females from a socioeconomically disadvantaged place, won the Grand Slam female doubles event for the first time. They were the second sister team to win a Grand Slam event since 1890. This is the kind of thing that just makes you smile. These are some of the best ever to play the sport.

13) MORE TENNIS!

Christmas is upon us again and more than any other time of year, it’s the time of year where people put strain on their electrical system.  The lights on your house and the beautiful decorations you’ve been storing in your attic finally are brought out and plugged in for your friends and neighbors to view and appreciate.  And, of course, the vast majority of homes you visit have at least one Christmas tree.  Since most of these things are electrical, it’s probably not a surprise to you that, as a top Dallas electrician, I start getting a lot of calls this time of year.  Though it’s always nice to have the business with Christmas so close, I thought it’d be great to share with ways to avoid wiring problems with your Christmas decorations this year:

 In general, there are a few important tips that can help you avoid wiring problems.  If your lights look frayed or dangerous, they should always be replaced or repaired before using them, frayed wiring are hazardous.  You should take care that your electrical source is safe before you even begin the installation process.  To avoid the potential for overloads, you should have dedicated circuits installed for your holiday decorations.

Most importantly, you should never try to supply power for your lights without contacting a top Dallas electrician to help you install the necessary equipment and make the necessary safety precautions.  Short cuts are potentially dangerous. I can remember one example where a customer had supplied power to their lights by splicing an extension cord directly into their circuit breaker box!  Even worse, they’d shut the breaker box door, pinching the cabling!  Left unchecked, even if this hadn’t started a fire, damage from a power surge or overload could have easily destroyed their whole breaker, meaning they’d have to spend thousands to repair the damage at the absolute worst time of year!