Electrical jobs should never be turned into a DIY project, unless you have formal training and experience in the field. While electricity is extremely useful and necessary, if it isn’t handled correctly, it can be pretty dangerous too. If you get a novice to handle the job for you that can result in overloaded circuits, poor wiring connections or even faulty grounding, which can be extremely dangerous to you and your family and result in a fire outbreak as well. Here are some common services for which you would need to call in an electrician:

The main electrical panels provide electricity to your entire house. If you have older panels with fuses and older wiring, those may not be able to bear the load of any new appliances you decide to install on your property. The latest electrical appliances tend to add heavy loads on the system and your older wiring installations won’t be able to support those loads. If you are getting new appliances, call in a licensed electrician to test and inspect the wiring and circuit breakers on your property.

If you need any new outlets installed or need existing ones converted to USB ports, you would have to call in an electrician for the job. Oftentimes, electrical codes necessitate that a minimum of 1 outlet in your kitchen and bathroom be a GFCI outlet. These are specifically designed to shut off the power in case there is an imbalance in electricity or if water comes in contact with any of the electrical equipment or fittings; this helps in preventing shock in these areas.

It’s important that there be proper grounding as lack of it can result in power loss or a fire. Aside from this, if you require any additional outlets, your electrician will be able to install those for you as well. Installing additional outlets requires replacing a segment of the wiring and cutting into the walls, and this is something you should never do on your own. Many new electrical gadgets come with USB charging systems and you can get the local electrician to replace some of the standard ones with the USB ports, if required.

There are times when homeowners feel that the outdoor spaces on their property can do with better illumination. If you want new security or ambient lighting installations, you should just call in the electrician. He will extend the wiring to the outdoor spaces and ensure that it has the proper grounding as well. They will provide advice on which electrical fixtures would work best in an outdoor setting.

This may seem like an easy job, but it’s best to get a professional electrician to handle this for you as well. The electrician will check whether the amperage is sufficiently high to support the wattage of the new light fitting. If it is lower than that, the electrician will have to extend an additional wire from the main circuit breaker.

Aside from this, even things like fitting powerpoint covers and replacing light switches is something that only a certified and licensed electrician should handle. They will take all the necessary precautions while doing any kind of electrical work on your property.

We at Allround Electrical can provide excellent electrical upgrade and maintenance solutions. For more information, contact our friendly team at this number – 1300 169 263. Alternatively, you can also write to us at this email address.

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Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are good substitute to the now being banned incandescent lamps. It is more energy efficient and lasts longer than its counterpart. CFLs are more expensive because the price includes the disposal fee. It was introduced in North America in mid 1990s. Although it is more energy efficient than the incandescent lamps, its composition makes its disposal complicated. CFLs are known to contain mercury which is a very serious threat to the environment once disposed improperly. Mercury functions as the vapor inside the glass tubing of CFLs. Usually CFLs contains around 3-5 mg of Mercury; some have it as low as 1 mg. In essence, Mercury is utilized as vapor in a phosphor tube, which when electricity pass through, it produces short-wave UV (ultraviolet light) which causes the phosphor to fluoresce, therefore making visible light.

Mercury or Hydrargyrum or quicksilver is a liquid metal with a symbol Hg. Mercury is a poisonous chemical that can be derived from major deposits as cinnabar or mercuric sulfide, the reason for vermilion, the red pigment responsible for the reddening of the soil. The poisonous substance can be ingested or inhaled mercury vapor or by eating mercury contaminated fish. Mercury poisoning which is also known as mercurialism or hydrargyria is the disease that can be derived from exposure to mercury or its components. Acrodynia, Hunter Russell syndrome and Minamata disease are among the list of those mercury related diseases. It affects body senses such as impaired vision, hearing and speech. Disturbed sensation and lack of body coordination are also among the symptoms.

Imagine the world full of mercury-filled CFLs, time will come that the number one cause of human fatality is mercury poisoning. Steps are being taken into account for the eradication of CFLs. By the year 2015, the government of the United States of America will implement the banning of use of CFLs to stop the possible exposure to mercury. Although it is expected that many users of CFL will stop this banning procedure, a lot of informative measures are being given to the public to further understand why the government is pursuing this act.

When this thing comes into action and given that the incandescent bulbs will as well be phased-out, what can substitute CFLs as lighting solution? Majority are thinking that LED lamps are the next thing to be on the spot light to cater all the lighting requirement of the world.

LED lamps can be considered a viable means as alternative to the prevailing lighting system which are expected to be obsolete in the years to come. LED lamps are a lot more beneficial to employ than those two. Imagine the comfort one can have if for a long time, around 10 – 13 years, he will not be thinking of replacing bulbs and maintaining it. Additionally, LED lamps are comparatively using very low energy and still can give-out the equivalent brightness and luminance compared to its counterpart. Considering the price of purchasing LEDs, one just have to consider LED lighting as an investment that will definitely pay-off in the years to come.

Ample information should have to be distributed to further inform the public regarding the practical benefits of choosing LED bulbs over the other lighting options available today.

If you’ve never visited the DIY, home renovation blog Young House Love, you’re in for a treat. John and Sherry, bloggers extraordinaire, are renovating their home step-by-step, giving their readers a detailed look into the process. Every day they have some new clever project to write about. (And the way they tell stories gets addictive, quick).

The blog has a ton of posts on home lighting, some technical, some crazy and fun. Today, I thought I’d share with you my 3 favorite DIY lighting projects from Young House Love: