Electrical Repairs

The ballast regulates the electrical current and amount of voltage received by an electric light. Without the ballast to regulate the current, a light can draw too much power from the electricity...

When you switch on an electric lamp or light, the ballast is responsible for supplying a load of electrical current strong enough to turn the light on. The ballast is also responsible for...

Many light switch problems are caused by having loose wire connections. If turning on a wall switch causes your circuit breaker to trip or a fuse to blow, this could be caused by a loose wire...

Most light fixtures are designed to last for many years before needing to be replaced. When they develop problems, one of the most common failures is that of the socket. Over time, the wire...

Installing a vanity light fixture on the ceiling can be done. While it is not common, it most certainly is possible. The wiring will be the same as with any other fixture. The only complicated...

Installing a light fixture in your mobile home gives you the opportunity to update older fixtures or have that special light fixture that completes the theme in a specific room. You can choose...

You just replaced a light bulb, but to your surprise, you're still in the dark after turning on the light switch! What gives? Is it another busted light bulb or is it a faulty switch?

Most people are familiar with the concept of using an electrical switch to turn an electrical device (such as a light bulb) on and off. However, electrical circuits can also be wired to connect...

Fluorescent lights are very energy-efficient and produce a significant amount of light. They brighten up any room they are installed in. This makes them a great choice for basement lighting, as...

Fluorescent light fixtures have evolved over the last few years. The fixtures no longer require a separate starter to turn the fluorescent light bulbs or tubes on. When the fluorescent light...

If you have a light that will not turn on, your first response will be to change the bulb. After this step, you will probably check the circuit breaker or fuse box to see if the socket is...

When the light bulb in a light fixture burns out, most people simply replace it with whatever sized light bulb they have laying around the house. This is a dangerous habit that can increase the...

A globe light is a standard ceiling light fixture that features a glass or plastic globe that covers the light bulb. There are two different types of globe fixtures: the type that feature screw-on...

Lighting fixtures come in many different styles that can add ambiance or utility to a room. Fixtures can be controlled by a wall switch, a dimmer control or a pull chain and most will accept...

In the course of redecorating, you may have experienced the sudden loss of a light switch, only to find it hidden behind a large piece of furniture. In this case, you can rethink your decorating...

Installing a door jamb light switch adds the functionality of putting a light in a closet and the convenience of not needing to turn the light on and off manually. Additionally, a light switch...

A motion sensor is an excellent way of increasing the safety level of a home. When positioned correctly, a motion sensor will turn an outside light on whenever someone steps within its targeted...

Wire strippers Wire nuts Electrical tape Wire cutters Voltage tester

Wiring a ceiling fixture is one of the easier electrical jobs a homeowner can perform. However, because the work being performed is overhead, there are steps you need to take to ensure the job is...

A house light is wired by connecting the electric wires from the light to the corresponding electric wires at the junction box where the light will be mounted. Power to the location should be...

Having a light switch just where you want it can make any room more accessible and appealing, especially for guests who won't be able to find an inconveniently-placed switch. Not to mention the...

A push-button light switch controls the operation of a light fixture the way a traditional single-pole switch done, except instead of toggling the switch up and down, the user simply pushes a...

If you want to install a new ceiling light fixture, you are going to need to hang a light box first. Some light boxes have expanding rods on either side that are nailed into the adjoining ceiling...

Photocell switches are typically used on outdoor lighting. This allows the power source for the light to remain on at all times. The photocell switch will then turn the light on at a predetermined...

Disconnecting a ceiling fan light is a simple home improvement project. Ceiling fans usually include an optional light fixture or a cover plate for use without the light fixture. Existing fans...

Three-way circuits are commonly used in modern homes because they provide the convenience of controlling a light or outlet from two switches in different locations. They are slightly more complex...

Light-switch wiring connections often go bad because they get loose or because the wire ends were positioned too closely to one another, causing a short-circuit. Fixing this involves pulling out...

Ceiling fans come in all shapes, sizes and designs; they are a convenient and attractive addition to a home. Most of the time when a ceiling fan fails to operate the blame can be placed on a...

Replacing old light fixtures can help to improve the look of a room. In addition, by replacing the old fixture with either a fluorescent fixture or one that easily accommodates compact fluorescent...

Compact fluorescent lights (CFL) are an energy-efficient way to replace normal incandescent light bulbs. These spiral tube bulbs will emit as much light as their incandescent counterparts, but...

One of the easiest things you can do to live a more eco-friendly life is to change your incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs. Not only do compact fluorescent bulbs use...

The principal advantage of fluorescent lights is their efficiency, as they produce more light and less heat than incandescent bulbs. This results in lower energy consumption and lower energy...

Wiring multiple light fixtures on one line is a great idea when it comes to illuminating a large space, like a garage or basement. However, the idea of doing it can leave some homeowners...

Need to remove a broken light bulb? Whether your light bulb blew out or you just broke it, without something to grab a hold of, removing the rest of it can be tough. Not to mention dangerous. Here...

In the world of electrical lighting, you might think that any fixture works as well as any other fixture. After all, its main purpose is to be a repository for a screwed-in light bulb, and then...

Light ballasts are also known as control gears. They are small devices used to limit the current passing through such devices as fluorescent and neon lamps. Light ballasts are a necessity for...

A dimmer switch is a light switch that, in addition to turning a light on or off like an ordinary switch, allows you to vary the brightness of the light bulb. A common type of dimmer switch uses a...

Changing a light bulb that's positioned high above the ground can be a dangerous task and not one recommended for someone who has a fear of heights. Consider three primary ways to accomplish this...

Compact fluorescent (CF or CFL) light bulbs use 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. They also last 10 times longer, but they do contain a small amount of mercury that when...

Replacing a three-way switch with a dimmer switch is possible. Three-way dimmer switches are available on the market.

If a light switch is broken, old or just the wrong color, it's easy to replace it with a new switch. Replacing all the light switches in your home is a low cost way to update the look of the home...

T8 light tubes are effectively replacing T12 light tubes because of their compact size and storage readiness. Because they are smaller tubes, they use less space so they are easier to store and...

Accidents can happen, and sometimes a light bulb breaks while it's still in the socket. Maybe your kids knocked over a lamp, or maybe the base came apart from the bulb when you tried to unscrew...

Sometimes light bulbs burn out in the worst possible places, such as an area that you can't easily reach due to the height of the bulb. The proper tools can help you get to the burned out light...

Indoor lights are usually quite easy to change. You simply swap out the light bulb or get rid of the lamp when it stops working. Outdoor lights, however, may take a little more effort to change...

Wall lights are also called wall sconces. They are installed on a wall to provide lighting around the perimeter of a room, in a hallway or beside built-in furniture, like bookcases or fireplace...

You can replace a wall light, or wall sconce, that does not work or that is no longer the right style for your current decor after you remove the old fixture. It is important to ascertain that the...

Troubleshooting a light fixture is usually a simple matter of testing a few components. The problem is nearly always with the light bulb, a loose wire, the switch or the circuit breaker. Before...

Occupancy-sensing light switches have recently been incorporated into some homes as a convenience device that offers savings on electricity. They are meant to ameliorate the problem of occupants...

LED bulbs have many advantages over other types of bulbs, with one of the biggest being that they have a much longer life span than any other type of light bulb. However, LED bulbs, like every...