When Pegasus Lighting’s President Chris Johnson heard that his neighbor Greg had installed such a unique solution to his dark pantry problem, he knew it was perfect for our Weekend Warrior blog post series. The Weekend Warrior series is part of our quest to bring our customers unique products and offer creative ideas for DIY lighting projects around the house.  

Parts you needPower supply & duration

Note: If you don’t feel comfortable with a soldering iron you can use “wire nuts” to connect the wires. It’s slightly less elegant but perfectly functional.

Now that you understand how the proximity switch works we can wire it up:

NAHB), 9 out of 10 people who are looking for a new home are more likely to choose an energy-efficient home. And, they are often willing to pay a little more for it.

cheat sheet to help you choose the right one.

Exterior lighting made the top 5 on the list of most wanted new home features. Make that lighting energy-efficient, and you’ve got a winning combination for attracting buyers. Contrary to popular belief, a low voltage outdoor lighting system doesn’t necessarily save you in energy costs. However, when you add LEDs into the mix, it’s a whole different story. Energy star rated LEDs use about 75% less energy than incandescent lights and last 25 times longer. Installing an walk into an empty room that still has every light on? Lighting controls like occupancy sensors save energy by detecting body heat and dim your lights, it reduces energy use and extends the life of your bulb. According to Lutron’s bathroom, bedroom or Earth Day Energy Center.

When it comes to your home electrical system, safety should be your number one priority. Electricity can be dangerous when your wiring isn't connected properly, and a house fire can rip through your home and possessions with alarming speed, putting you and your family's very lives at risk. One common cause of fires is an electrical arc in the circuits behind your walls, when current jumps on an unplanned path from one conductor to another, potentially igniting wood or insulation along the way. Fortunately, you can protect your home against electrical arcs with arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs). Read on to learn more.

Your Electrician Can Keep You Safe

According to the National Fire Protection Association, there were 47,700 residential fires caused by electrical failures in 2011, causing 418 deaths and $1.4 billion in damage. Any steps you can take to prevent becoming a victim to one of these disastrous events is money well spent. And while conventional circuit breakers will automatically shut down if a circuit shorts or gets overloaded, they are unable to detect most electrical arcs. That's where the AFCI comes in.

The AFCI works by monitoring the current passing through the circuit, searching for unusual activity that could indicate an arc. When a problem is detected, the device immediately shuts down the circuit, lowering any opportunity the arc could have to start a fire. Keep in mind that some of your appliances or equipment may intentionally create arcs, but in a safe manner – the AFCI should recognize them and only trip during dangerous arcing conditions.

Find Out if Your Family is Protected

Your local code almost definitely requires your home to include ACFIs for circuits that lead to bedrooms, and if your municipality has updated its code in the past year, it may require interrupters for every circuit in the home. However, if your home was built before 2000, it may not have AFCIs installed at all, and it may be worthwhile to make an upgrade.

If you aren't sure if you have arc fault circuit interrupters, open the door of your main panel and look inside. Circuits that have AFCI capabilities are usually indicated by a yellow or green label. If you can't tell, ask an electrician to inspect your wiring and verify whatever safety features are included. The electrician can also make recommendations about whether you should consider upgrading your circuits and give an estimate on how much it would cost.

Don't Let Your Circuits Create a Disaster

If you need help installing arc fault circuit interrupters in your home, or otherwise bringing your wiring up to code, contact an expert electrician today.

Fun Fact: “Americans might not have a Columbus Day if Christopher Columbus had not been born in Italy. Out of pride for their native son, the Italian population of New York City organized the first celebration of the discovery of America on October 12, 1866.” *

Although declared a federal holiday in 1937 by President Franklin Roosevelt, Columbus Day is not celebrated in California, Nevada or Hawaii. Controversy over the “discovery” of America exists because native people inhabited the land prior to the arrival of the Europeans. **

While the “discovery” of America may be in question, there is no doubt that the European influence and influx of cultural diversity is worth illuminating. And, some of the most outstanding home lighting concepts incorporate Old World artistry with New World technology.

DISCOVER THE UNDENIABLE BRILLIANCE OF EUROFASE LIGHTING:

Established in 1989, Eurofase enters its third decade of excellence with cutting edge contemporary lighting and classic, traditionally-inspired designs.

From Gothic wrought iron chandeliers and grand crystal foyer fixtures to modern “green” lighting and energy-efficient outdoor lighting, Eurofase demonstrates a close attention to detail, embracing technology and a fusion of creative energy.

EUROFASE: WHERE OLD WORLD ELEGANCE MEETS THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF MODERN QUALITY CONTROL…

Headquartered in Toronto, a city rich in inspiration and cultural diversity, Eurofase’s inventory of over 2,600 unique products is controlled by state-of-the-art technology with world-class accuracy.

A Quality Control team overseas the mechanical and electrical integrity of every Eurofase product.

A stringent control process ensures that all crucial elements-such as safety approvals, longevity testing, packaging and instructions-meet the highest standards.

With an in-house UL (Underwriter Laboratories) Standards Testing Lab, Eurofase independently monitors the safety approval process.

Eurofase Lighting is credited with introducing several new designer and technological trends to the North American marketplace….

Visit a Capitol Lighting showroom or shop 1800lighting.com to view these sensational collections and enjoy promotional pricing on profound illuminations from Eurofase.

Also, this week enjoy Columbus Day savings on award-winning Hinkley Lighting. Winner of the “Lighting for Tomorrow” 2012 award, Hinkley Lighting offers outstanding energy-efficient outdoor lighting, as well as, superb chandeliers, ceiling fixtures, wall sconces and bath lighting for the distinguished home.

Discover great discounts at Capitol Lighting…take 30% off ALL new bath and outdoor fixtures now through November 1st!  From pendant lights and chandeliers by   Eurofase to gorgeous outdoor fixtures by Hinkley Lighting, Capitol Lighting carries the best brands and products to light your home with distinction and style.

*www.usafederalholidays.com/Columbus_day.html

Dimmer switches block varying amounts of electrical current from flowing into your lights. Not only does this save energy, it can also help extend the life of your lights! The amount of energy saved is, of course, not guaranteed, and savings may vary  depending on factors such as how much you dim the lights, how long they are dimmed, and which types of bulbs you choose. Ultimately, this means that you get to save money on your energy bills.

If you can’t install dimmer switches in every room, try to install them where you can get the most bang for your buck – typically in master bedrooms, kitchens, dining rooms, hallways, and living rooms.

Call us or contact us online to learn more about the savings opportunity offered by dimmer switches.

Whether you want to watch a movie in the family room or host a dinner in the dining room, dimmer switches can enhance the atmosphere and set the mood. By dimming the lights, you can create a romantic or cozy setting. Also, if you have young children or guests over who aren’t familiar with your home, dimming the lights at night allows them to find their way around.

A dimmer will make light bulbs last longer—the softer the light, the longer the bulb lasts. You can add between three and four years to a bulb’s life with proper dimming.

If you want to install dimmer switches in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC, call Kolb Electric! We’ve been serving the MD, VA, and DC area since 1925. You can count on our experienced electricians to get the job done right the first time.