Now that it is time to take down the holiday lights, you probably have realized how dark your yard really is without the benefit of the twinkling lights and various yard decorations. With the days very short and the nights long, you will likely want to have some outdoor lighting installed. This is something a Santa Monica electrician, like those at The Electric Connection, can help you with. Outdoor lighting isn’t just for summer. It is a useful tool year round and can provide an element of safety and security to your home as well as aesthetically appealing.

During these short winter days, it is a good idea to consider electric outdoor lighting over the solar variety. Because of the limited amount of sun available during the winter, the solar lights do not always get a full charge and are either very dim or fade out in the early hours when it is still dark outside leaving your landscaping under a cloak of darkness. The electric lights are much more reliable and give you a little more freedom in placing the lights in your landscaping.

It is best if you have the electric lights installed by an electrician. Santa Monica residents will appreciate a professional handling the wiring of the lights. This will give you peace of mind the job is done right and you won’t have to worry about electrical shorts or hazards being created when the lights are hooked into your home’s main power. One popular option many homeowners choose is the installation of a timer that will automatically turn the lights off and on at a designated time. You won’t have to worry about remembering to turn them off or on. If you are ready to dress up your landscaping this winter, give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your landscape lighting installation.

As part of our series on pop culture from 15 years ago – a continuing celebration of our 15th anniversary as Pegasus Lighting – here are 15 moments from March 1999 you may remember. Monica Lewinsky’s book on her affair with Bill Clinton goes on sale; the Dow Jones average beats 1000 for the first time; and The Matrix is released. Ah, the sweet 90s. Where were you?

1. Jar Jar Annoys Basically Everyone

At the Golden Raspberry Awards, better known as the Razzies, the award for Worst Supporting Actor went to Ahmed Best, who voiced the character Jar Jar Binks in STAR WARS: EPISODE 1, THE PHANTOM MENACE. Poor Jar Jar, you-sa not much appreciated by STAR WARS fans.

2. The Worst Picture of the Year

The Roth 401(k) combined elements of the Roth IRA and the traditional 401(k). In a traditional 401(k), you contribute income without paying taxes on it. You then pay taxes on the funds when you withdraw them during retirement. With the Roth 401(k), however, you pay the taxes upfront so that you can withdrawal funds tax-free during retirement.

 5. The Melissa Worm Attacks the Internet

At the end of March 1999, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above the 10,000 mark at 10,006.78. This was unprecedented! People made “DOW 10,000” hats and celebrated. In hindsight, people wonder whether that day represented the peak of our economy’s health up to that point or the peak of market excess that was responsible for the economic instability of the 2000s.

7. You Are the One, Neo

Legendary film director Steven Spielberg was once again named Best Director at the Academy Awards for SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. In fact, the director of early 80s movies like E.T. was on a real tear, just coming off of the JURASSIC PARK series and SCHINDLER’S LIST. He continues to direct great movies today.

9. Roberto Begnigni Is Exuberant 

Roberto Benigni won Best Actor for his role in LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL at the 1999 Academy Awards. His reaction immediately became more popular that the movie itself. I’ll have a glass of whatever he’s drinking!

10. Gwyneth Wins Best Actress

SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE was the most awarded film of the night of the Academy Awards. Perhaps the most touching award acceptance, though, was Gwyneth Paltrow’s. Try to watch her acceptance speech without getting teary. I dare you.

11. Lewinsky Tells All

In March, 1999, The Supreme Court of the United States upheld the murder convictions of Timothy McVeigh for the Oklahoma City bombing, which left too many dead and wounded to even go into detail here. It was a tragic and totally unnecessary crime, and the Supreme Court decision echoed the feelings of many Americans.

14. Stanley Leaves Us

On the day after we lost Stanley Kubrick, we lost another beloved American hero, the legendary baseball player Joe DiMaggio. His death was caused by lung cancer. He was 84 and sure saw America from an interesting point of view. The loss of this former star was felt all over the nation.

It’s fun to think back to these moments in the popular culture of 1999, even though not everything that happened was happy. Most of us lived through all these events and remember them well. Come back next month to see what we resurrect next.

Hot tub wiring and circuits are a big request this time of year.  Summer specials such as those going on at the Iowa State Fair dramatically increase sales.  With many hot tub brands to choose from such as Hot Springs Spas, Maax Spas, California Cooperage, Jacuzzi, Caldera Spas, and Thermo Spas the choices are numerous.  Hot tub installers typically do not wire your hot tub unless there is a specific and properly wired disconnect in place.  The hot tub circuit with disconnect must be installed by a licensed electrician.  The hot tub or pool disconnect has certain requirements pertaining to the type and distance required from your pool or hot tub.  In addition to this the circuit must be the required ampacity and voltage intended for your hot tub in order to insure the safe and reliable operation for you and your family.  Never trust someone that is not an electrician trained in proper hot tub wiring.  

Installing the proper hot tub wiring is not a project for that handy family member or the guy down the street.  Hot tub wiring must be done properly and to state and local building codes.  In addition the wiring must be done to strict National Electrical Codes.  All of our electricians that are trained in hot tub wiring follow the code to ensure you and your family are as safe as possible.

Just like hot tub wiring, pool wiring must only be done by a trained and trusted professional.  Pool wiring has strict guidelines set in place for your safety.  Bonding, grounding, and GFCI protection are all major concerns when installing wiring for your pool.  Pool wiring is not a do it yourself project and should only be done by a licensed electrician.  We work with several of Des Moines top pool installers to insure your next pool project is done to the highest of standards.  The code is in place and should be followed closely with no exceptions.

Many homeowners carry out electrical upgrades in their home and they get the fixtures and fittings replaced. At times, switchboards etc. may be replaced or circuit breakers too. However there is one component of electrical installations that is typically out of sight, out of mind – wiring!

We at Allround Electrical always recommend to our clients that if their home and the wiring in it, is over two decades old, they should consider getting wiring upgrades done on their property. In fact, when you choose to upgrade the wiring in your home, it gives you the assurance that the system will be able to bear the load of all the electrical appliances that you add to the different circuits on your property.

It’s a good idea to plan wiring upgrades at the same time that you plan remodeling projects; this is when you might open up walls and ceilings anyways; and this reduces the hassle, expense and time spent on getting this work done. This is because most of the electrical wiring is fitted within your walls; and it often involves opening up various wall sections, that will later have to be patched & repainted.

This is why it’s important that you plan for current and future requirements; this will ensure that you don’t have to worry about the wiring upgrades for at least a few more years. So, what is it that makes wiring such an important aspect of the electrical installation on your premises? Wiring supports a range of critical functions including:

When you are getting any of these jobs done, it’s crucial that you hire the services of an expert and experienced electrical company for the job. They will ensure that high grade, appropriate materials are used in the work and that the workmanship is of the highest grade too. While you are getting this job done, there are certain things you should be doing, such as:

These are just some of the basic aspects that have to be attended to when electrical upgrades are being done in your home. When you hire the services of a vetted and credible electrical contractor, you have peace of mind that the job will be handled in the best possible way.

For more information, simply speak with the experts at Allround Electrical and take our advice on various aspects of electrical and wiring installations. The number to call is – 1300 169 263. You can also write to us at this email address.

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