Your kitchen serves as the centerpiece for your home. It’s a place where family members, friends and new acquaintances come together to not only break bread, but to engage in meaningful – and sometimes contentious – conversations (Does anyone follow the “no political talk at the table” rule anymore?). It’s where kids come to conduct science experiments and to complete their homework. It’s where friends come to play games. All in all, it’s the heart of your home,  a space wherein all should feel welcomed.

Because much of the magic happens in the kitchen, it’s important to have the right lighting scheme. Make sure to follow these useful tips on achieving the right kitchen lighting balance!

Unfortunately, one type of light won’t quite suffice, so to achieve the results you want, you’re going to have to layer.  We recommend implementing three layers of light: task, accent and ambient. You’ll notice that the names speak for themselves.

As you lay in bed at night, with the doors locked, the alarm set and your security lights on, you probably feel relatively safe. You should. These are all things we do to give us a little extra protection when we are at home. Even with all of these safeguards, there are other dangers lurking. These dangers are not so obvious and are very well hidden behind the walls of the home. These electrical hazards sneak up with little warning. The team at The Electric Connection wants you to be safe at home and can help you identify the hazards before they become serious problems. All it takes is about an hour long electrical safety inspection and your due diligence.

An electrical outlet is used and abused pretty often. Every time you plug something in, you are applying pressure to the outlet and the box behind it. When you unplug something, you often have to wiggle it. Although you should never yank a plug out, it does happen. Each of these actions can cause the wires that are bringing electricity to the outlet to loosen. Your California electrician explains that over time, the loose wires can arc and cause sparks. The insulation surrounding the electrical boxes can ignite, causing a home fire.

Fortunately, there are often some signs to look for to let you know that something isn’t quite right with your outlets. Pay attention and at the first sign of trouble, call your electrician in southern California. A quick inspection and a tightening of wires or a replacement of the outlet can fix the problem. An electrical inspection can help you identify other potential hazards and give you the chance to fix them before they become a serious issue. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your inspection so you can sleep even better at night knowing your family is that much safer.

The changing seasons, like the changing characteristics of matter, present dichotomies and the challenge in life is learning to find a successful balance.  Cultivating the right lighting design is all about a successful balance. Our outdoor lighting how-to guide will help you to establish and maintain a splendid outdoor oasis to be enjoyed year-round.

Capitol Lighting Respects the Night with Champion Illumination

The trend toward outdoor living continues with expanding decks and patios and customizing outdoor kitchens for outdoor entertainment.  Also, fireplaces, fire pits, and space heaters are being added to extend outdoor living well beyond the spring and summer months.  To make these areas as comfortable, safe, and maintenance-free as possible, great lighting is key.

Capitol Lighting’s Expert Advice for Lighting Up Outdoors

The conditions are perfect for outdoor lighting installations. Learn how-to customize the perfect outdoor lighting design and : Follow along with our

1.  Consider the areas to be illuminated:

•General lighting for decks, porches and patios.

•Accent lighting for gardens, fountains, statues and unique architectural elements.

•Security lighting for walkways and driveways.

•Decorative lighting for home entry zones.

2.  Choose your power supply and be sure that all outdoor and landscape lighting fixtures are compatible with the system.

3.  Choose landscape lighting fixtures more for their lighting effects rather than their aesthetic appeal.  The decorative features of landscape lights should be secondary to the objects they illuminate. With a good lighting design, landscape fixtures will provide understated elegance to the outdoor environment during the day, as well as at night.

4.  Decide which system works best for you:  Low voltage lighting provides softer more luxurious illumination, while LED is extremely energy-efficient, low-maintenance and most durable.  Incandescent bulbs typically last 1,000-2,000 hours; fluorescent bulbs may last 10,000-15,000 hours; and, LED bulbs may last 35,000-50,000 hours.

5.  Make sure to power your lighting with the appropriate transformers and wiring. If you are thinking about adding to your outside lighting system, choose power sources that will accommodate the additional fixtures.

6.  Automated timers and motion- or heat-sensitive controls make your home appear occupied during the night and save on energy costs. Locate timers and controls in areas where they are easily accessible.

7.  All outside lighting fixtures and accessories must be selected to withstand the elements, including sun, humidity, rain, ice and snow.  Check that all items are waterproof and UL-approved for outdoor use. Copper, brass and composite fixtures are excellent for homes near the seashore where salty air may be a factor.

8.  Think about landscape lighting as part of your planning and construction in a new home environment.  Outdoor lighting designers should coordinate with landscape architects and electricians.

9.  Traditional wall lights such as wall lanterns bracketing main entryway doors help you to identify visitors and ensure their safety.  They are also appropriate for rear and side entrances and over garage doors. Be sure to select post lanterns and wall brackets that are proportional to your home.  When in doubt, size up.  Fixtures appear smaller from curbside viewing than most people would imagine. * *

10.  Take care to avoid glare and pointing fixtures into your neighbor’s property. Curb “light pollution” with shielded fixtures that focus illumination downward.  Most outdoor fixtures may be easily focused to light the environment for safety, security and aesthetics while protecting other areas from unwanted glare and profuse light. * * *

**Rule of thumb for sizing outdoor wall lanterns:  The height of the lantern should be based on the height of the door.  If brackets are to be installed on either side of the door, they should measure about one-fourth the height of the door.  If using only one lantern, size up to about one-third the height of the door.

***“Dark Sky” Compliancy and light pollution:  A man-made culprit, due mainly to poor lighting design, is a phenomenon called “light pollution.”  Light pollution is any adverse effect of artificial light, including sky glow, glare, light trespass, light clutter, decreased visibility at night, and energy waste.  Many of Capitol Lighting’s trusted manufacturers offer “Dark Sky” versions of their outdoor lighting products, which “collar” the light bulb around its base to block superfluous upward emissions of light.

Capitol Lighting’s professional lighting consultants will help you in selecting everything from timers and outdoor hanging pendants to path lights and post lanterns.  Work with the experts to devise fabulous landscape lighting designs and prepare your outdoor environment with quality security lighting customized to enhance the beauty of your home.

We all know how important electricity is. Our lives wouldn’t function as well, or if at all, without it. Whether it is watching the news on television and surfing the internet, or playing games on consoles and ironing clothes, even tasks as simple as cooking would be a problem should electricity go out. It is important to have a clear understanding of everything that could go wrong and to have emergency kits near electricity sockets. Because as they say, with great power comes great responsibility. Pun intended.

But just because there are so many things that could go wrong when electricity is in question, doesn’t mean you should panic. Statistics show 80% to 90% people panic and are unable to stay calm when there is an electrical emergency.

The people who refuse to panic and keep their cool will assess the situation in a calm sensible manner which will enable them to think clearly and pick a correct action plan. We all have seen disaster movies and know that the first guy to be killed is the one who panics the most, whereas the one who stays calm and takes control makes it through to the end.

Now, do not make the error of thinking that those who stay calm are not afraid: they are. Fear and panic are two different things. It depends on your ability to stay calm and not let the situation overwhelm you into not thinking sensibly and in turn making rash decisions that have consequences. Here are some examples of electrical emergencies that could occur:

We shouldn’t take electricity for granted and should be aware of the dangers it brings. We all know that electrical shocks are not to be taken lightly as everything depends on its severity. A light shock can cause slight discomfort and a severe shock can cause severe burns to the heart causing heart failure.

Modern electrical circuits are well fitted with circuit breaker fuse systems. Should a fault develop, the switch automatically trips itself. Most homes have trip switches, and they are located either on or near fuse boxes and fuse boxes are near electricity meters. Should a switch trip itself, it is in your

best interest not to panic. The first thing that you need to do is to find the trip switch and switch is back ON. That should do the trick. And if the problem still persists, you should call a certified electrician. In fact, calling in an electrician is better than taking a risk yourself.

In case of a power cut, check the trip switch, as well as wiring and appliances. If you think everything is OK with these things, it is clear that this is a problem beyond your control and calling in a certified electrician is the best course of action. It is important to keep in mind that you shouldn’t try to fix this problem and wait for the electrician to come in and deal with the problem, so that you and your family stay safe.

These are a few basic electrical emergencies which can occur unannounced. Being mentally prepared for them is important so that you don’t panic. Most importantly, keep the number of a certified electrician on hand to ensure you can place the call the moment the emergency occurs