We usually expect to find wiring troubles in old homes where the wires are made from out-of-date material that is no longer up to code. But electrical repair needs can crop up in the most modern homes: all it takes is a bit of shoddy installation or damage to a few connections and you can end up with wiring that malfunctions, leading to power loss or—in the worst case scenario—an electrical fire.

Do not attempt any repairs to your wiring yourself unless you are a trained electrician with access to pro-level tools. High-voltage shocks are something to take seriously. Pick up your phone instead and put in a call to your local electrician and arrange for repairs.

We all like using lights that we have collected over the years, but along with this also comes a great deal of responsibility. Please check any Christmas lights or decorations, such as wreaths, that light up for before they are used. The plastic or glass that surrounds the light should be intact, and should not contain any cracks or breaks. Please inspect the wires for tears fraying or damage.

If lights are being plugged in outside on the trees, roof top, doors, or driveway make sure you have enough electrical outlets. Do not overload your outlets and use only ground fault outlets as this will help to keep your lights and yourself safe, as they will most likely be exposed to wetness and moisture. Also make sure your extension cords do not become a tripping hazard.

When choosing a real tree, make sure it’s not too dry and not close to any candles. Christmas lights can be used to decorate real and synthetic Christmas trees. Lights should be in their best condition before being placed on the tree. Turn all Christmas lights and decorations off when you leave the house or go to bed to avoid electrical fire. Don’t use electrically powered ornaments or lights on metal decorative trees or decorations as the sharp edges may cut the cord and cause a shock and fire hazard. Due to heat danger keep your tree 3-4 feet away from fireplaces, electric heaters and floor registers.

4. Christmas “bubble” lights were popular in the 1950’s and contain coloured liquid. These should be kept away from children, as the covering of the lights can be broken, and children may attempt to drink the liquid inside. Strings of lights should be kept tucked away or taped to walls so that children cannot easily pull the cords and injure themselves or damage furniture.

5. LED’s are much more energy efficient and give off almost no heat. LED lights help protect from overloading outlets they are much safer and you can use more of them with the same available power source so your home will look like a Christmas wonderland!

Last night, thousands of walkers and hundreds of runners in Edinburgh kicked off the Courtesy of NVA.org.uk

A bunch of research went in to creating this light up gear to meet the NVA’s head designer James Johnson’s following standards:

For the runners, the design team wanted something dramatic, so they ended up going with concentrated point source LEDs, which looked great both close and at a distance. The LEDs allowed them to mix color and adjust intensity of the lights remotely. The runners themselves had to be in tip-top shape, able to run 10 miles at a 9-10 minute pace in all kinds of weather. Therefore, as to not hinder them in their physical feat, the design team fashioned a webbing suit out of the LEDs, complete with a radio and battery pack. Check them out:

The only shortcoming of these suits was that they couldn’t be powered by the runner’s motion. After attempting to harvest energy via knee braces, they determined any impediment to the runner’s motion dramatically affects his or her performance.

For the walkers, Johnson and his team wanted to build something subtler, to provide adequate safety lighting, but not to distract from the viewing experience. They decided to go with staffs/walking sticks illuminated by a combination of electroluminescent tape, fiber optic fabric, and diffused and non-diffused LEDs. Each staff housed a micro-computer that would synch up the flashing patterns with the Orchestra’s score, with changes triggered by movement and altitude. And here they are:

The research team was able to use motion to generate power in this instance, since walking is a more leisurely, steadier movement. To harness the power of movement, two LEDs, two high power Neodymium magnets, and a copper coil go in the top of the staff, then as the walker strides along, striking the stick against the ground, one of the magnets oscillates through the coil, creating a small electrical current. One LED lights up when the magnet travels down, and the other when the magnet travels up, producing a twinkly effect.

The runners also received a smaller version of this staff in the form of a baton.

In the last few years, hybrid and electric vehicle technologies have grown by leaps and bounds. Rather than being a clunky, partially formed technology, it is now possible for many people to own an electric vehicle that is both energy efficient and good looking. One thing that is often overlooked when purchasing an electric vehicle, however, is whether or not your home needs special wiring for your new, highly efficient vehicle. In many cases, you will need to have an electrician Los Angeles come out to perform some relatively simple wiring upgrades to ensure that your vehicle charges safely and quickly.

Home Charging Stations

Depending on your commute, there may be a variety of charging stations between your home and your destination. That being said, every EV owner should have a home charging station so that they can plug their vehicles in at night and when they are not in use. These charging stations are available in two sizes, Level I and Level II. In most cases, both require a certain level of new wiring.

A level I charger is a standard 110 volt outlet that is placed on a dedicated circuit. If you already have an outlet on a dedicated circuit in your garage or carport, that’s great. If not, then you will need to have one installed. While a level I charger will get the job done, it can take much longer than a Level II charger. A level II charger is a specially installed 220-240 volt outlet that is placed on a dedicated circuit. This type of charger helps you make the best use of your cost and time. As opposed to the 8-12 hours required for a level I charger, a level II charger can fully charge your battery in 4-6 hours. This can be make a huge difference when it comes to how you use your electrical vehicle.

Whatever size the EV charger in your home, make sure that you have it installed by a professional electrician in Los Angeles.