Home lighting serves two major purposes: functionality and aesthetics. When walking into a dark room, the last thing you want is to have to navigate to the other side to turn on the lights. This can be unsafe and highly impractical. When it comes to aesthetics, the right lighting can change an entire room and its atmosphere. With dimmer and three way switches, you can bring functionality and aesthetics to any room in your home.

Standard switches control a light fixture or set of lights from one location. For larger sized rooms or long hallways it isn’t practical to have one light switch placed at only one end or in the middle of the room. This is where three way switches come in handy. With a three way switch, you can have two separate switches to a single fixture or set of lights. In this way you can strategically place light switches around your home to ensure there is always easy access to light.

Three way switches can be complex and difficult to install. When replacing standard switch it can be easy to mix up the wiring and your light switch will no longer work. This is where a professional electrician helps you out the most. Plan out where you feel more light switches are needed and contact one of our electricians to install the switch correctly the first time and help you avoid a headache and potential safety risk.

When it comes to dimmer switches, not only can they help you accomplish beautiful lighting in your room, but it can also be a practical decision. With a dimmer switch you can adjust the voltage going to your light rather than simply having an “on” or “off” setting. With either a slider or a knob you can adjust your light so it is perfect for reading, movies, or a romantic evening.

Dimmer switches can also help you save money by lowering your electrical bill. By having the ability to lower the voltage to your lights, you can use only the electricity you need and lower the lights to the perfect level. Remember, if you are planning to use LED lights on a dimmer switch, make sure you purchase LED bulbs that support dimming. If you choose the wrong type of bulbs, your dimmer switch will not leave you with the desired effect.

This is not the time of year to be dealing with electrical problems in the home. It can be a huge issue to have an outlet fail or a breaker constantly trip when you are trying to deck your halls. The problem can be a number of different things, but you won’t know for sure until you have an electrician in Santa Monica come out to take a look. It is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to any kind of electrical concerns. The team at The Electric Connection is ready to help you discover what the problem is and get it taken care of before it becomes a serious safety hazard.

If you are not a trained electrician, you are going to have to guess what the problem is. That is a risk you don’t want to take. What if that outlet that only works on occasion is actually not just a fluke and is the sign of a much bigger problem. It is a good idea to have a Santa Monica electrician inspect your home. During the inspection, the outlet will be tested and the cover removed to check for any loose wires. While it may be an easy fix, ignoring those loose wires could create a tiny spark that ignites the insulation packed around the outlet.

You are not expected to know all of the hazards or to know why your breaker is tripping. That is a job for an electrician. Santa Monica residents will feel better knowing their house has been given an electrical checkup. Problems will be identified and you will be given the option to take care of right away or wait until it is a little more convenient. Your electrician will let you know just how serious the problem is or whether it is something relatively minor. If you are concerned about an electrical problem in your home, give The Electric Connection a call and let one of their experienced electricians diagnose the problem for you.

Pay as you go electricity plans allow consumers to pay for their electricity in advance. The plan, which uses prepayment meters, helps consumers to monitor and control the way they use electricity. This saves on energy costs.

Keypad based prepaid meters: This meter has a keypad to input the electricity token number. Consumers purchase the credit using a variety of methods. These include visiting the agent, paying through banks or mobile payments in some countries.

Key meter: Consumer uses an electronic key loaded with the tariff information and credit.

One way card system: Uses a disposable card. The user purchases power with a reloadable debit card. The loaded card is then passed near the meter, which has an in-built card reader.

Two-way card systems: Uses a smart card and the meters have a real-time, two-way communication capability. It is one of the most secure, but more complex and expensive methods to implement.

These allow consumers to interact with their meters and query balances using their mobile phones by sending an SMS to a monitoring system. In addition, the user is able to track electricity use by the hour, day, month or annually using the phone or online access.

These smart prepaid meters offer easier top up options. They include online payments or by text, as well as scheduled and auto top-ups.

When using a prepaid meter, the customer must keep track of the remaining credits and replenish to avoid disconnection.

Ensure there is enough credit when going away for long periods. The meter will continue collecting the standing charges even when on no load. Consumers should ensure they have enough credit to last until they return.

Some crooks will take advantage of the consumer’s lack of knowledge and offer them cheaper credits than those bought directly from the utility company. For example, they will sell their credits at half price. This is more common with Key Prepaid Meters and the crooks will usually have master Keys, which they use to top off the consumer’s meter.

If the energy company finds out, the consumer ends up paying twice for their electricity; first to the crook, and then to the energy company.

To avoid falling victim:

As safe as we may feel in our own homes, it doesn’t hurt to add an extra layer of safety and security. Security lights can go a long way to making your home a little safer. Well-lit homes are deterrents against crime. Perpetrators are less likely to lurk in landscapes that are bright with no dark corners. Walking through your yard or from your car to the front door can also be dangerous if you can’t see well. An electrician in Glendale, like those at The Electric Connection, can help you make your home a little safer by adding security lighting.

You can opt to have the bright flood light variety or the kind that is a little dimmer, but just as effective. Security lights mounted above your driveway, your front door or your back door are all great places to place the lights. Motion detectors or timers are ideal and ensure you will never have to worry about stepping out of your car or your house into the darkness. An electrician will help you set the timer to meet your needs.

A Glendale electrician will need to wire the lights directly into your home’s main power. This is called hard-wiring and ensures the lights are always on. However, you can choose to have your security lights installed with a switch. This gives you the freedom to turn the light off and on whenever you need it. Part of your upgraded security lighting system can also include landscaping lighting. Lighting up darkened areas under bushes and in dark corners can help you keep other unwanted pests out of your yard. Nocturnal creatures will be less inclined to hide in an area bathed in light. If you would like to brighten up your outdoors, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Kenneth Crawford is a South Florida based interior designer and owner of Kenneth Crawford Interiors.  As the August Designer of the Month, he offers some professional lighting and decorative ideas.

Each element in a well-decorated room from paint color to the detail of each doorknob is important, and the right lighting is key to unlocking the true potential in your design. The space must be orchestrated perfectly, creating a cohesive flow through out.

I have over 20 years of experience with commercial and residential design, and whether you are building a new restaurant or renovating a 500 sq. foot dining room, the lighting fixtures themselves and the angle of illumination make a world of difference. That’s why I shop Capitol Lighting’s extensive database to find everything I need from unique ceiling pendants and elegant crystal chandeliers to simple bath vanity fixtures and top quality light bulbs.

The examples featured below show how the right lighting will create a custom finish and bring out the best in your decorative scheme:

Dining Room

When designing an interior space, you must look at the room as a whole. Light fixtures should blend harmoniously with the decor, adding color, texture and style to complete the design. The Philippe Stark fixture, purchased from Capitol Lighting, is more like a sculpture, making a stunning design statement and blending with the architecture without obstructing the view or overpowering the space.

Guest Bedroom

These nightstand lamps purchased from Capitol Lighting add the perfect finishing touch to this room. I wanted a metallic element to pull the silver embedded in the artwork and create a sparkling effect reminiscent of the Intercoastal on a clear day. 

Powder Bathroom

The Italian glass sconces were selected for their linear design, which adds to the architectural composition of the room.

Bedroom