Lights Out Lighting Information Guides

DIY Lighting Information

Choosing and installing the right lighting fixtures and accessories for your home or office can be a daunting task.

Not only do you have to decide what kind of lighting would work best in the space to be illuminated, you then have to choose the best fixtures and accesories to provide that illumination (all while staying within your budget). Not an easy task.

Then there’s the matter of installing your new hardware. Most homeowners aren't electricians by trade, and are naturally cautious when installing or repairing electrical fixtures in their home. And while there are a variety of low-voltage lighting options on the market today, most times a new installation requires working with line voltages, which can cause damage to your home’s wiring, major electrical shock, and even death if not connected properly.

If you’re not comfortable performing this type of work, or you’re not skilled in electrical matters, don’t hesistate to hire a properly qualified electrician to do the job for you.

You might want to also consider installing a residual current device (RCD) if your home doesn’t already have one. An RCD installs at your consumer unit, and it provides protection against earth faults in your wiring insallation. This provides valuable production, but be sure to operate the test button on the device to keep it in optimum condition.

Another precaution that is commonly overlooked is to never put a larger wattage lamp into a fixture than the fixture was rated for. Most lighting fixtures will have a stamp or label with the correct size and type of lamp to be used. Never guess on this - if you’re not sure, and the fixture isn’t marked with this information, call an electrician or someone who sells lighting hardware before installing a new lamp.

If you're someone who learns better by watching something being done, you might want to visit our lighting videos page as well.

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