When your lights are controlled by a dimmer switch, they utilize less electricity when you have dimmed the lights. In the long term, this will reduce your consumption of electricity which in turn lowers your electric bill.
Changing out your old light switch is a quick and easy task that most anyone can do. If you follow all of the steps below (especially step 1) we can guarantee you a clean and painless installation. A variety of light dimmers can be purchased at your local hardware store. They range in price from $9 - $90 or more. Be sure to read the instructions below before you buy one so that you make the right choice.
STEP 1: Locate and turn off the Fuse or Circuit Breaker that controls electricity to the light switch you are changing out.
If the fuse or breaker is not labeled, you can locate the proper fuse/breaker by turning the light switch on and flipping each fuse/breaker off and then on again, one at a time. When the light controlled by the switch you are replacing goes off, you have found the right one. Leave that fuse/breaker turned off and make sure the rest are turned on. *tip, if you tripped a few breakers before locating the appropriate one, be sure to check if your alarm clock needs to be reprogrammed.
STEP 2: Remove the wall plate and pull the switch from wall.
Unscrew the two small screws holding the cover plate to the wall and remove the plate. Next, remove the screws that hold the switch to the electrical box in the wall. Gently pull the switch out of the box so that you have access to the terminals on the switch and the wires in the wall.
In an effort to save space in an electrical box and therefore make it easier for a do-it-yourselfer to navigate, the Slim Series SmartlockPro GFCI outlet from Leviton has reduced the depth of the GFCI outlet by roughly 25% which allows for more room to maneuver wires and therefore easier to install.
Other features include
* Reduced depth makes it easier to install in any electrical box, even shallow ones
* Saves time on the job
* Only 1.026" protrusion into wallbox
* Terminals allow for easy wiring options - back and side wire capable
* External back wire clamps provide visual indication of proper clamping
* Standard brass self-grounding clips
When working with electricity, caution is imperative. It's ideal to turn off the power source at the breaker box, if applicable, so you can ensure that no lingering electricity can harm you during a project.
Two factors to consider with electricity are voltage, the rate at which energy is drawn from a source that produces a flow of electricity in a circuit; expressed in volts; and amperage, the strength of an electrical current measured in amperes.
Which is the most dangerous component of the two?
CES has expanded their Connected Home area and it seems that Kenmore and GE are leading the way with introducing their latest in home technologies.
For a consumer brand as large as GE its surprising that this is their first appearance at CES. They have taken this opportunity to introduce three major advancements in Smart Home technology. The Nucleus energy manager with Brillion technology, the GE WattStation electric vehicle charging station, and an advanced small wind turbine. All of these advancements are keyed on helping consumers reduce health- and energy-related costs and redefine the benchmark for household performance.
"GE's innovative technology addresses the needs of our rapidly changing lives and does so at a lower cost for consumers," said David McCalpin, general manager, Home Energy Management, GE Appliances & Lighting. "Consumers expect near real-time information to inform household decisions. We provide this at GE. From Nucleus™ energy manager with Brillion™ technology, to the WattStation electric vehicle charger, digital-energy technology is enabling an energy transformation that will make peoples' lives easier."
