In any workplace, change is a common occurrence. Things like new equipment, movement of said equipment and any change in wiring is not visible to staff unless it’s properly documented. If it is properly labelled, a cable managing system can help in solving and detecting exactly where any problems occur.

Since practically every process in a company relies on electrical system, any disruptions can affect a wide range of processes, ranging from IT to basic infrastructure, leading to a possible halt in daily business activities and production.

Here are the main benefits of clearly labeling infrastructure components:

Without proper labels, a company can lose valuable time and assets trying to discover where and what the problem is, before they can work on fixing it, and without warranty protection and long-term maintenance of electrical, telecom, A/V and security networking systems, the loss can be immense.

Even though they won’t be able to provide full power to your home in the event of an extended power outage, there are many practical uses for a portable generator. Depending on what you do in your free time, you may be surprised at how many parts of the country do not have electricity that is easily accessed. A portable generator can help ensure that you have access to electricity, even when you want to spend time outdoors. If you need to take electricity to an area that has no electrical outlets, then a portable generator is one of the best routes to go. Here are a few ways to use your portable generator:

Tailgating – Many tailgating locations do not have electrical outlets that are easy to access. To solve this problem, just bring your own generator along. You can place your generator in the back of your truck so that you have all the power that you need to keep your television, satellite dish and any other electrical devices going for the entire game.

Camping – Even if you like to rough it for most of your trip, having access to electricity while camping can be very handy. This way, you can charge your phone and use any electrical devices that you may not have brought if you did not have access to electricity.

Emergency Backup Power – Though portable generators are not designed to provide long-term emergency power, they can be great to have around when power is lost. You will need to keep your portable generator outside of your home so that you do not vent combustible gases into your home. You can still, however, bring lines of power into your home to keep essentials such as lighting and refrigeration going for a short period of time.

Portable generators are good to have, because you can take them with you to provide power wherever you need it. They are not stationary, and do not require the assistance of an electrician in Santa Monica such as The Electric Connection to set up and start using. Give us a call if you have any questions about standalone or portable generators.

Sometimes, life is funny and throws you a little curve ball now and again. One of the things we have come to rely on in life is electricity. When it doesn’t work as expected or it doesn’t work at all, it can be extremely frustrating. You want electricity when you want it and not after you have had to flip breakers, unplug things and wiggle wires. It is actually very dangerous to mess with switches, outlets and appliances that are not working as they should. It is best to leave it up to a professional electrician in Pasadena to handle any kind of electrical problems. The crew at The Electric Connection can get your home’s electrical fixed and working properly again.

It is important you recognize the signs of an electrical problem that can lead to something as dangerous as an electrical fire that threatens the safety of the home’s residents. Your Pasadena electrician wants you to watch out for the following;

*A popping or snapping sound coming from an outlet or light switch *The switchplate, outlet or wall around the area feels warm or hot to the touch

These are all signs you have a problem that needs some attention from an electrician. Pasadena homeowners should call at the first sign of any of these problems and avoid using the outlet or switch until it can be looked at. If you can shut off the breaker that feeds the problematic switches and outlets, it would be safer. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your electrical repair.

Create a summer resort in the privacy of your own backyard or “add-on” living space by turning the deck or patio into an outdoor room. A few creative outdoor lighting ideas can transform an outdoor area into a relaxing retreat that restores serenity, encourages quality-time with the family and brings friends together. It’s all about setting the mood with lighting.

Outdoor rooms are an extension of the home. But it requires special planning to create a space that is inviting, relaxing and meets the needs of individual family members.

Here are a few outdoor lighting ideas to create the perfect setting.

Safety First

It’s essential to make outdoor spaces accessible and safe. Post mounted outdoor lamps brighten doorways, steps and walkways to help visitors navigate unfamiliar territory at night. Older people and those with reduced vision will especially appreciate having their paths well-illuminated. Use motion-activated flood lights, timers and photo-cells to make sure lights are on when they’re needed the most. Outdoor lamps not only add warmth and radiance to a home, they help to mitigate the risk of injury due to falls and improve personal security at night.

Outdoor Rooms

Outdoor rooms like indoor spaces are an extension of the homeowner’s individual taste and design capability. Today’s outdoor lighting is durable, affordable and available in a wide range of finishes and styles, giving homeowners tremendous freedom to conceptualize outdoor rooms in ways never before possible. A great selection of hanging outdoor lights, post mounted lights and task lighting provides an abundance of options.

– Small patios and balconies may serve several functions. Create a private oasis for reading the morning paper with hanging outdoor lights, such as outdoor mini pendant lights. For romantic evening hours, turn on wall mounted lanterns to spread a warm glow with subtle ambient illumination.

– Backyard decks or porches are often the entertainment hub where friends and family gather. Outdoor furniture, outdoor accessories and outdoor lights should work in unison for an atmosphere conducive to task-oriented activities such as food preparation and dining, as well as leisure-oriented activities such as socializing and lounging.

– Wall-mounted deck sconces, under bench deck lights and deck step lights are the perfect lighting for evening entertaining, as well as midnight stargazing. Their low wattage and stylish design provide the glow and charm that make the deck a favorite place to relax and enjoy warm summer breezes.

– Other outdoor rooms. Outdoor rooms aren’t always gazebos, decks or patios; they can be as simple as a bench in a garden, a trellis or arbor gate, or a grouping of plants around a fountain or birdbath. Low voltage landscape lighting tucked into the foliage adds drama and enchantment to outdoor rooms or secret gardens. Decorative path lights accent special landscape features and spread soft illumination along walkways, and they are available in styles from whimsical to classic traditional.

Dark Sky and Light Pollution

One additional consideration when working in your outdoor lighting ideas is the impact the lighting will have on your neighbors and the degree of “light pollution” created. The amount of light that is considered “excessive” may be a personal point of view, but take care to preserve the natural environment for nocturnal creatures and stargazers alike and select outdoor lamps designed to minimize glare and light pollution.

If you are planning on renovating or sprucing-up your kitchen, it’s probably a good idea to map out a detailed lighting plan as well. Most people find this a little strange as they feel that lighting in a kitchen isn’t something that needs too much of consideration or planning. It’s just a place where you cook and probably where you have an informal meal after all.

However, the fact is that it’s important to plan kitchen illumination well if you want to make optimal use of your kitchen spaces. Here, we would like to share some basic lighting ideas to create the right balance of functionality and aesthetics.

If you want to get a better idea about what type of lighting would work best for your kitchen, it’s vital to understand how your kitchen spaces relate to the different type of lighting. Let’s start off with understanding what type of bulbs you can use for the best effects:

These bulbs emit a yellowish light and you will now find many artistic versions of these on the market today.

These bulbs throw off a flat, cold light that has a bluish tinge, which lends a very harsh effect to the room.

These have a warm light that makes the place look very inviting and comfortable

These are the latest in light bulb technology and are available in a range of effects including white, cool daylight, warm light, yellow and a range of other colours and hues. Aside from this, LED bulbs are also 80% more energy-efficient than standard bulbs; and most property owners are now opting for these fixtures.

In addition to the types of bulbs used, the style of lighting or the lighting effects are what impact the ambience and appearance of a room. With this in view, here we discuss the different lighting effects that can be used in your kitchen:

This is one of the simplest ways to create the right lighting effect in your kitchen. This type of lighting is designed to help you move comfortably around the room. In most instances this type of lighting comes from grid-style can lighting, widely-spaced, wall and ceiling lamps, semi-translucent skylights or even the natural light that streams in through glass windows and doors. This is the base layer of any lighting plan.

In your kitchen, task lighting would be required to illuminate kitchen counters and food preparation spaces. Since you will be cooking in your kitchen every day, it’s important that the task lighting be planned and installed well. If you have only recessed lighting fixtures in your kitchen, you will feel the lack of focused light when you are cleaning, cooking or prepping in that space.

If you install one-dimensional lighting in the kitchen, it creates unsightly shadows in different areas of the room, while ceiling lighting is ineffective in illuminating spaces like sinks, under counter or cabinet areas etc. On the other hand, if you add special pendant lamps over the counters or even your kitchen island it can prove to be a more practical solution. Under-cabinet lighting can also help in illuminating the cabinets that are positioned there.

This effect doesn’t seem as necessary as ambient or task lighting does in a kitchen space, as the illumination it provides isn’t as functional as the first two. However, it can have a significant impact on the way your kitchen spaces look. If you want to enhance the appeal of your kitchen (regardless of whether you are getting it entirely renovated or are opting for a lighting upgrade), it’s important that you plan your accent lighting well.