By Clint C. Thomas, Esq. Photography by Zoe Thomas How To Wire A House Electrical work, like everything else in life, can run the gamut from very basic to extremely complex. It is helpful for every DIY-minded homeowner to have at least a basic understanding of electrical work. This article will attempt to reveal some of the mystery surrounding the […]
Decks, Decks, Electrical, Landscaping, Lighting, Outdoor Living, Porches and Gazebos, Swimming Pool
By Monte Burch Brighten your life with Low-Voltage and Solar powered outdoor lighting. The fun doesn’t have to stop when the sun goes down if you spice up your yard, garden and home with low-voltage and sun-powered solar lighting products. According to the American Lighting Association more and more people are using outdoor lighting to enhance the looks of […]
Construction How-To, Decorating, Electrical, Lighting, Remodeling
Lighting is the finishing touch to a room’s design. It is the element that changes the mood of the room and gives life to the space. There are many options for home lighting, and it can be intimidating to think about making the right decisions for each room. The American Lighting Association (ALA) can help with a listing of local […]
Construction How-To, Electrical, Energy Efficiency
Do Your Part (the Lazy Way)
Construction How-To, Electrical, Lighting
Upgrade your lighting options with energy-efficient LED technology. By Larry Walton Photos by Mark Walton
Construction How-To, Electrical
How to Install a Ceiling Fan By Matt Weber A ceiling fan can be a stylish and effective way to enhance airflow throughout a room. Unlike swapping one light fixture for another light fixture, however, a ceiling fan requires special mounting accommodations to support its weight and movement. A ceiling fan requires a metal ETL-listed mounting box, and if there […]
Construction How-To, Electrical, Painting, Remodeling
By Rob Robillard Paint your electrical plates to match your wall color.
Electrical, Insulation and Energy Conservation
Rick Tempchin Executive Director, Retail Energy Services Edison Electric Institute Electric utilities are replacing analog meters with digital “smart” meters across the country, creating improvements in monitoring usage and enabling a two-way communication link between utilities and consumer homes. The old familiar meter, requiring a meter reader to measure a home’s electricity use every month, is being phased out. A […]
DIY Questions and Answer, Electrical
Q: What is Cat 6 wiring? A: Whereas you’re probably familiar with Cat-5 wiring, which is used for cable television among many other things, augmented Category 6 copper wiring, commonly referred to as Cat-6a, is its big brother. Cat-6a wiring was once preferred for commercial office environments but is now being implemented more and more for residential use. Cat-6a […]
A split-circuit receptacle, as the name suggests, has a different power source for each plug-in outlet. You can identify a split-circuit receptacle because the connecting tab will be broken on the hot side and different hot wires connect to each hot terminal. Stop! Always turn off power to the circuits you are working on—and remember that there are two circuits […]