Author Archives: Chad

When you are working on a DIY project or other hobbies, including arts and crafts with your kids, you\’ll need to have plenty of light to see what you are doing. Without enough light, you run the risk of making errors in your work or even injuring yourself in the process. To get the illumination you need to work safely and accurately, you have many lighting options available to you. Two of the most common choices are can lights and lamps. Each has benefits and drawbacks, so keep reading to learn how to decide which is best for you.

All About Can Lights

Can lights, also called recessed lights, are fitted directly into your ceiling. This gives them an overall appearance that is sleek and elegant. The simple styling of these types of lights makes it easy to fit them into just about any decorative style. You\’ll also have a number of options to choose from in terms of finish, allowing you to complement your home\’s paint colors.

This type of lighting can provide ample overhead lighting throughout the room. Depending on the fixtures you choose, you may also get dimming capabilities to allow you to adjust the lighting for other purposes besides work. However, because the light comes from above, you may find that you end up with shadows on your work area. You\’ll need to install several lights in strategic places throughout the room to minimize shadows as much as possible.

One of the key benefits of recessed lights is that you won\’t have to worry about your kids messing with them, as they are fully out of reach. However, you won\’t be able to change the angle of the lights as you would with specialized task lighting. You\’ll also likely need to call in a professional for the installation unless your home is already wired for overhead lighting.

All About Lamps

Lamps give you greater flexibility in terms of where to place your lights. You\’ll also be able to choose from many different styles, including table lamps, floor lamps, and desk lamps. You\’ll have a plethora of options in terms of aesthetics, with many different colors, finishes and shade styles available. This way, your lamps can serve as decorative pieces as well as functional ones.

With the exception of task lamps, many other lamps may not necessarily provide the brightness you need to work. Because of this, you may need to have more lamps than you initially might think in order to get the illumination you need. You will, on the other hand, have a bit more control over where you direct the light. This will enable you to get the light exactly where you need it while working.

Finally, you\’ll be free to move your lamps around as your needs change, which you can\’t do with can lights. This does expose them to a bit more risk from rambunctious children, but you\’ll get the benefits of greater affordability as well. You also won\’t need to do any construction to install them. Simply plug your lamp into a standard wall outlet, and you\’re good to go!

Get Help Installing Your Can Lights

If you are interested in learning more about installing can lights or other lighting styles in your home, the Turn It On Electric team is here for you. We\’ll evaluate the current wiring in your home to let you know what needs to be done to accommodate can lights. We\’ll provide you with a free quote before we get started, so call today to schedule a consultation appointment.

In many areas of your Phoenix home, the lighting you choose is all about creating a mood. However, in creating a lighting design, many people overlook the kitchen. Just because the room needs to be functional doesn\’t mean that it can\’t also be beautiful. Adding over- or under-cabinet lights can make a huge difference in the overall appearance of your kitchen. Here\’s what you need to know to make the most of these unique lighting styles.

Benefits of Under-Cabinet Lights

Under-cabinet lights are the more common of the two varieties, so you have likely seen them in home design magazines or when visiting a friend\’s house. This type of lighting fits underneath the bottom of your kitchen cabinets, shining downwards onto the countertops. In most cases, you won\’t be able to see the fixtures unless you look up underneath the cabinets. This creates a sleek look and eliminates the need to match the lights to the rest of your decor.

Many Phoenix homeowners choose under-cabinet lights to provide additional task lighting when preparing and cooking food. While many kitchens have built-in overhead lighting, this type of lighting often creates harsh shadows. Not only that, but overhead lights can also be much brighter than you might want if you were entertaining guests. In this scenario, you\’d likely want lighting that is a bit more unobtrusive to create a relaxed, festive vibe.

With under-cabinet lighting, you\’ll get light exactly where you need it without overpowering the rest of the room. This way, you and your guests can relax and enjoy yourselves with minimal glare and shadows. You can even find varieties with dimmer switches, allowing you to customize the lighting design even further to suit your mood.

Benefits of Over-Cabinet Lights

While not as common as under-cabinet lighting, over-cabinet lights are growing in popularity. This type of lighting is strictly for decorative purposes, as it won\’t shed light on your kitchen counters. Of course, you\’ll need to have enough space above your cabinets to accommodate the lights and give them plenty of room to shine. In general, you\’ll want to have about a foot of space to get the greatest effect.

You can find over-cabinet lighting in a variety of styles, and you can choose various colors for the bulbs as well. This way, you can complement your existing decor while also creating a festive atmosphere for entertaining. As with under-cabinet lights, you shouldn\’t be able to see the light fixtures above your cabinets when they are installed properly. Dimmer switches are available in this category as well.

To truly get the most out of over-cabinet lighting, it is also a good idea to add some decorative pieces above your cabinets. Real or artificial plants work well, as do large, colored vases, plates and similar items that are at home in kitchens. Because the lights will be showcasing these pieces, be sure to dust and clean them regularly. The last thing you want is for your over-cabinet lighting to draw attention to cobwebs or a layer of dust.

Let the Professionals Handle the Install

To avoid having wires running down to your countertops and taking up valuable kitchen outlets, you\’ll likely want to have your over- or under-cabinet lighting hardwired into your home. Electrical work can be dangerous, so it is best to let a professional handle this for you. Here at Turn It On Electric, we are experts in installing over- and under-cabinet lighting, as well as a variety of other lighting styles. Reach out to us today to request a free quote.

Urban dwellers are aware of the risks associated with their living locations. Suburbanites are vigilant too. Hopefully, you feel safe in your home and neighborhood. So do you really need security lights and/or motion sensors?

Security Lights Enhance Quality of Life

Wanting to be able to see what’s going on in your yard isn’t necessarily “fear.” It’s just good sense. If you have aging family members or friends, security lights and motion detectors can illuminate their paths from car-to-door. It’s a great safety feature.

Wandering wildlife can be a pleasure to view but also destructive. Security lights and motion sensors can keep them at a safe distance. You can also reduce energy usage with motion sensors. Your all-night front porch light can be “off” until activated.

Types of Security Lights and Sensors

Lights with cameras are becoming more popular, especially during the holiday gifting season. More front-porch-package hijackers and their license plates were filmed this year than ever before.

The top outdoor security cameras for 2020 are:

• Amcrest Ultra HD 4K Dome
• Arlo Ultra
• Logitech Circle 2
• Nest Cam IQ Outdoor
• Reolink Argus 2
• Ring Floodlight
• Vivint Outdoor

All offer some degree of night vision. Fields-of-view range from 69°-180°. The Amcrest and Arlo Ultra cameras offer the best resolution (3840 x 2160). They are also among the priciest.

Motion Sensor Activated Lighting

Motion detectors with lights are another good choice for your property. If you live on a low-traffic street, a security light motion sensor can be a welcome addition to your home. But in a high-traffic area, it’s like having a strobe light on your front porch.

Motion detectors are usually wired into your home security system and connected to a monitoring center. Your concerns might include:

• Doorbell-triggering upon approach
• Restricted areas for kids, pets, visitors – basements, medicine cabinets, pools, workout rooms
• Saving energy – Abandon all-night front porch/garage lights for energy-saving motion-detectors/lights
• Teens breaking curfew; sneaking out

Choose a motion sensor that provides what you need:

• Area-Reflective – Reflections from infrared LED rays are measured. Alarms are triggered if an object is within a specific range.
• Dual-Technology – These motion detectors can combine PIR and MW sensors. Because one is passive (PIR) and the other active (MW), they reduce the number of false alarms.
• MW – Microwave sensors measure the reflection of moving objects and can cover a larger area than infrared. They are pricey and can be vulnerable to electrical interference.
• PIR – Passive infrared sensors are the most popular. They detect heat and movement. If a moving person or animal trips the infrared energy levels, the sensor sounds an alarm.
• Ultrasonic – This unit measures moving objects’ reflections in pulses of ultrasonic waves.
• Vibration – These can be homemade. The sensor detects vibrations then activates a switch to an alarm. They are often unreliable.

Turn It On Electric Protects Your Investment

Simple home security systems without lights (bells or buzzer systems) can be DIY (do-it-yourself)-mounted. They are usually battery-operated and you simply need to monitor the batteries. Most don\’t consider them very effective.

The circuitry for even a “small” home security system can be complicated. “It’s more than drilling holes and running wires,” says Reviews.org.

If you want security lights and motion sensors, consider it an investment that will increase the value of your property. Get a good system. Then contact your local electrician for installation.

In the Phoenix-area, Turn It On Electric is your affordable, trusted source for home security system installation. Contact us to learn more.