While you may not know them by name, you’d probably recognize a GFCI outlet if you saw one. These are the outlets that not only have the outlets themselves on their face plates, but also 2 small buttons. One says test, and the other says reset. These outlets are commonly located in areas of the home where water is often present, such as in bathrooms, outlets around the kitchen sink, and any outdoor outlets on your property. Essentially, they serve as an added safety feature in your home, protecting residents therein from the threat of electric shocks.

GFCI outlets measure the voltage level as electricity passes from the “hot” to the “neutral” side during use. Should the voltage not match up, the outlet registers that electricity is escaping and traveling through something to ground itself—potentially a human user of whatever device is plugged into the outlet. When this imbalance registers, the GFCI outlet basically acts as a circuit breaker. It nearly-instantaneously stems the flow of electricity through the circuit, protecting the user from danger. The outlet will then have to be reset before being used once again.

If there are two things you should never mix, its water and electricity. Water actually reduces the body’s electrical resistance. This is why you probably know to never get electrical devices wet; such as bring a radio into the shower with you. It is important to keep yourself safe in the room that has the most water in it. Here are some tips when it comes to running electricity through the bathroom.

Sometimes it can be difficult to light the bathroom properly. With minimal windows or frosted windows, the light just doesn’t come in the same. Lighting is even more important in this situation so you have proper sight to avoid any hazards. You may require ample lighting to keep everything in your bathroom visible at all times. Plus, proper lighting can make your bathroom more peaceful and relaxing.

When installing lights in a bathroom it is important to ensure that they are watertight and water proof. When you have a hot bath or a hot shower there can be a significant amount of steam. If this steam gets into the light fixture or electrical connection it can corrode the wires and increase the chance of electrical surges and fires. If you are installing new lights in your bathroom have an expert check the product and connections to ensure that you are safe.

Blow dryers, shavers, curlers – there are many electrical devices that are commonly used in the bathroom so there needs to be an electrical outlet. This can be a huge risk for electrocution if not properly placed. Electrical outlets should be on their own dedicated circuit. In the event that there is a surge or water contact, only that circuit will shut off. The outlet should also have a GFCI (grounded fault circuit interrupter). Without a grounder, electricity can escape from the device and if you are wet, this is the last thing you want. Lastly, the outlet should be near the sink for functionality, but not close enough that any wires can hang into the water.

Our bathrooms can be a place of peace and escape, but you must respect the danger of putting electricity near water. If you are looking to remodel your bathroom call in an Expert Electrician.

If you’re thinking of installing solar panels for your home, you’re probably doing a lot of research to see what the costs and your options are. There is a lot to get up to speed on, so let’s start with what solar panels cost.

Solar panels have been steadily dropping in price, due to more efficient manufacturing and increased popularity. Currently, they are at an all time low, and the cost of a solar panel is around $5 per watt of output. A quick look at your monthly electric bill should help you figure out what you need, in terms of power.

That’s just part of the equation though. The main reason for installing solar panels is to save money on electricity. Depending on where you live, you may be able to make some money by selling excess electricity back to the grid. Rates vary for this, so be sure to investigate the options fully.

Buying solar panels appears to be a big investment, but most people find that they are able to pay them off in under ten years, and sometimes faster. There is a complex mix of factors that determines that timeline, including your power consumption.

There are federal tax credits available for people purchasing solar panels, and usually work out to the tune of 30 percent of the purchase price of the system, including converters and batteries. That’s a significant incentive. Between the tax credit, selling energy, and the long-term promise of energy independence, there has never been a better time to get solar panels.

Of course, it’s all a little overwhelming. What you need is someone who is familiar with the territory to walk you through all the steps. The Electric Connection has the experience and the connections to get you started on the path to energy independence. Give us a call today to get the process started.

Under-Cabinet LED Lighting Kit is available for purchase that contains a plug-and-play LED light strip, push-button dimmer, remote, 12V power supply, and connection accessories. If you want to build a custom kit, follow the steps below the diagram to ensure that you get everything you need.

3. Select a dimmer or controller

For single-color LED strip light setup

Select the power supply large enough to operate the amount of LED strip light you need to use. If you want to control the brightness of your light strips, you will need a Single-color dimmer shown installed with a non-dimmable power supply

For color-changing LED strip light setup

Follow the instructions above for the single-color light strip setup. However, instead of a dimmer, use a RGB color-changing light strip installation

4. Use an LED amplifier for long runs of strip

Depending on the strip chosen and its maximum run (the number of strips that can be installed consecutively before needing amplifiers), you will need to install an light strip interconnect cables. It is best to purchase a length of strip that is more than your application requires. For example, if your project requires 8 1/2 feet of strip, we recommend purchasing 9 feet of strip to ensure that you have everything covered.