Posted on

What do you want from your exterior lights? To increase security? To create a romantic mood? To highlight aspects of your garden or landscaping?

Today, lights do all these and more. They can act as deterrents to burglars (see our post Home Security Systems – Choosing the best option), they can provide privacy, and they can even help you with household chores.

Many of us do not see our homes in daylight for much of the year – except at weekends. We leave for work before daybreak and arrive home after dark so chores like hanging out washing or putting out rubbish are done in the dark. Exterior lighting that guides you to the clothesline or the front gate reduces the likelihood of accidents, and makes it possible to get these chores done quickly and easily.

Safety when entering and exiting garages or carports is important to us all. It can be nerve-wracking to get into or out of your car in complete darkness. Lights on either side of your garage doors, which come on when a sensor is tripped, increase security while also helping you reach your front door without tripping over obstacles.

Instead of a sensor, you might prefer your exterior lights to be on a timer so they turn on and off at set times. This is particularly useful in commercial situations where staff need to access car parks after dark.

Garage door openers are never more useful than when connected to specific lights. This means that whenever you hit the “open door” button on your remote, it automatically triggers the lights. By the time you pull up at your house, the garage door is open and the lights are on.

Sometimes, functionality is less important than effect. For example, if you have a specimen tree that looks fabulous when lit-up, you could consider installing exterior lighting for this purpose. Or, if you have paths winding through your garden, they would look delightful with tiny lights all along them. Garden lighting can give depth to a property and help bring the outside in. Fortunately, garden lighting is low voltage, so beds do not need to be dug up for cables to be laid. Instead, they can sit just under the surface.

Water features such as fountains look stunning at night when lit from below and functional areas like spa and swimming pools can be infused with mystique when discreetly lit.

So, think about the effect as well as the function when choosing exterior lights for your property.

Posted on

Electrician for Interior Light Repairs: Downlights, Ceiling Lights, Wall Lights, Spot Lights, Hall Lights, Stair Lights, Bathroom Lights, Kitchen Lights, Halogen Lights, LED Lights

When your lights are not working correctly (or at all), and it’s not the bulb, you’ll need an electrician to test the electrical circuit and repair the fault. Common faults with interior lights include faulty light fittings and components. These can often be resolved by simply replacing part or all of the light fitting. Other issues may require more extensive repair and replacement.

The age of the components within the electrical circuit may also be a factor in identifying the fault. Within both residential properties and commercial buildings the age of the electrical wiring, switchboard, light fittings and fixtures all have an impact on the performance of lighting. It could be more cost effective and safer to replace a number of the components to ensure faultless operation of interior lights. Common interior light repairs include;

Downlight Repairs
Downlight repairs have become a rather common need in many homes and businesses. Often the fault occurs simply because of a downlight fitting failure. When building or renovation work is originally undertaken, average quality downlights are sometimes installed to keep the cost of the entire project down. Replacing with new fittings can quickly resolve and repair the issue. In fact, new downlight regulations came into effect in May 2012 which help improve the standard of downlight installations.

Spot Light Repairs
Kitchens are a common location for spot lights. Both wall and ceiling mounted spot lights come as single, double, triple and quad fittings. When the fitting has multiple spot lights, it is often easilier to see if it is the fitting or power supply causing the issue. If replacement is the best solution, there is the option to replace with newer style halogen spot lights.

Ceiling & Wall Light Repairs
Ceiling & wall lights depend on both the age of the fitting and the purpose of the light. Regardless of the light fitting (claw, fluorescent, surface or hanging) the process starts with testing the electrical circuit.

Our Auckland wide team of registered master electricians are experienced with interior lighting repairs and installations for residential property and commercial buildings.

Need an Electrician for your Interior Light Repair?

Hall Electrical can assist you with your electrical fault, repair and installation. Call us on 09 379 9198

Posted on

RightLight is a programme championed by the NZ Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA). The initiative is designed to help people learn about efficient lighting.

The website www.rightlight.co.nz provides lighting efficiency tips for the home and business. The site contains information on the following areas:

Home Environments: How to Save Money, Why Change, Choosing the Right Light

Choosing the right energy efficient light will become an easier task with knowledge the website provides in these areas;

    • Replacing existing bulbs; how to choose, bulbs & fittings, what watt?, which white?, where to buy, case study
    • Types of bulbs; compact fluorescent lamps, halogen spotlights, new generation halogen globe, linear fluorescent tubes, light emitting diodes, specialist halogen bulbs
    • Building or Renovating; design tips, virtual designer, room by room, lighting control systems, style gallery

Business Environments: Office, Industrial, Retail, Education

Each business environment has specific considerations in the following areas;

  • The right light level
  • Types of light
  • Lighting controls
  • Things you can do
  • Next steps

The Rightlight website has so much information so people might find it a little overwhelming. If less is more, then go straight for the quick tips page if you’re interested in business environments. If your focused on the home then head to the resources section tips page. Here are a few selected tips from the website you might find useful;

Quick Efficient Lighting Tips for Business

  • Install occupancy sensors in office and car parks
  • Use table lamps or task lighting for desks/work areas vs entire room lighting
  • Install day light sensors to dim lights when not required in full

Quick Efficient Lighting Tips for the Home

  • Turn lights off (the simplest way)
  • Use CFLs (compact fluorescent lamp)
  • Light-coloured walls
  • Task specific lights (one solution doesn’t work in all areas)
  • Low watt lamps in bedroom
  • Additional conveniently located light switches
  • Outdoor security lights on sensors

Need an Electrician for your Efficient Lighting Requirements?

Hall Electrical can assist you with your electrical repair, faults, design, installation and maintenance. Call us on 09 379 9198