Diverse and impressive changes have been taking place in the lighting world this month. Read on to discover the fun and innovation!

In Lighting News…

Across the web, there was a consensus that LED holiday lights were the thing to have for the holidays. Not only are they energy-efficient, long lasting, and durable, they can also be interactive. We’ve seen families across the country creating Image via USA.Lighting.Philips.com

Other Cool Stuff…

In the last days of November, New York City residents were surprised by a light show atop the Empire State Building, synchronized to Alicia Keys’ “Empire State Of Mind.” The building’s new LED lighting system has over 16.7 million color possibilities, compared to the old system, which had only 10.

You probably know the iconic Pixar lamp – we usually see it hopping around before our movies start. Well, three students from Victoria University of Wellington have created a real-life replica of Luxo Jr., called Pinokio. With six servo motors, a webcam, some Arduino, and a bit of processing, the lamp came to life. Check out this video:

How about you? Any big lighting changes in your life this month? Please share!

Electrical motors are devices that convert electrical energy into mechanical force. They operate on the principles of electromagnetism, using the interaction between winding currents and magnetic fields to generate force. Some motors, like those used in the transportation industry can reverse the effect and generate electricity too, converting force into electricity.

Many industrial plants attribute over 70% of their power consumption to motors, so even a slight increase in efficiency can dramatically cut energy spending and improve profits too.

It isn’t hard to install new electrical outlets, but it’s important to prep your home accordingly. To avoid any strange scenarios, check out the three tips below:

Before adding a new outlet, you’ll need to make sure your breaker panel is turned off. Double-check that your breaker is turned off with a voltage tester. If you don’t have a voltage tester, plug in a lap to the nearest-available socket. Additionally, it’s a good idea to test the new socket directly by plugging the excess length into an electrical application.

Understandably, you may find it difficult to jab through drywall when making room for an outlet. Instead of cutting with a saw, consider using a flat head screwdriver. It’s cheaper, more adaptable and can easily carve through drywall. If you do settle for a saw, make sure you’re not sawing too aggressively. Aggressive sawing can tear a drywall surface’s paper backside—which will reduce the wall’s structural integrity. If your screwdriver-made hole is too small, you can make it bigger with a utility knife.

If you’re working with fabric-insulated wiring, it’ll be a good idea to contact your electrician. Your electrician can recommend various safe connections, making sure you’re not engaging unsafe projects without a grounding wire. Without a grounding wire, it can be difficult to tell which wires are neutral and hot.

Although winter is still hanging around, it is time to dream about spring and the warmer temperatures that are just around the corner. After a season of closed windows, things tend to get a bit stuffy in the house. You are itching for a nice, refreshing breeze to roll through and make your home feel a little more comfortable and inviting. While opening your windows is always nice, sometimes it just isn’t possible. You can still stir up the air and get that feeling of fresh with the installation of a ceiling fan by an electrician. Beverly Hills homeowners who are looking forward to summer can get a jump on it by giving The Electric Connection a call.

Your ceiling fan will come in handy all year round, especially on those days when it isn’t quite warm enough to run the AC, but warm enough you need a little cool air. Open a window and turn on your new ceiling fan installed by an electrician in Beverly Hills. You will love the way the fan moves the fresh air around the room and prevents you from needing to turn on the air conditioner. This will save you some money on your electric bill as well. During the summer months, close the windows and let the fan move the cold air around generated by the AC. Again, it can help save you money on your electric bill by keeping the room cooler and lessening the amount of time your AC unit has to run.

Ceiling fans can be installed in any room, even if there isn’t currently a light fixture in the area. Your Beverly Hills electrician will install a new wiring setup and make the hole in the ceiling to accommodate the fan. It is a fairly straightforward process and you will be enjoying your new ceiling fan in no time. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your ceiling fan installation.