Electrical Archives - Page 6 of 11

ceilings, Electrical, energy conservation, Home & Auto Maintenance, lamp, light fixture, new light fixture, Rewiring lamp, Tutorial

How to Install a Ceiling Fan

I’ve installed probably a dozen ceiling fans in my life. Pretty Handsome Guy was remarking to me last night, “Wait, you mean you’ve never written a tutorial on how to install a ceiling fan on the blog?” It’s true, most of the installs were pre-blogging days. For this reason, I was truly excited when Casablanca contacted me and asked if I wanted one of their new ceiling fans. I knew it was a great opportunity to put together a tutorial for you so you could see that installing a ceiling fan is not a difficult DIY project! Plus, we had Casablanca fans in our previous house and they are well made and will last a long time. Therefore, I have no hesitation recommending Casablanca to you!

Okay, and I also wanted to change your mind about ceiling fans and design aesthetics. I know that some designers break out in hives when a client wants a ceiling fan. And who can blame them when the stereotypical ceiling fan looks like this:

Oh yes, she’s a beauty. And she’s all mine, complete with moldy canopy and boobilicious globe. In all seriousness, that fan was U-G-L-Y. Plus, it was a bit too small for our porch. (You can figure out what size ceiling fan you need for your space in the FAQ section on the Casablanca site.) You can now understand why I was actually delighted to hang out on top of an 8 foot ladder in 95 degree heat to install a new ceiling fan. Yes, I was excited, especially because Casablanca has so many beautiful options for stylish fans. And I know, they have ceiling fans that will surely have the designers changing their tune.

Safety, Prep, and Hints Before You Install a Ceiling Fan:

Before I give you the full tutorial for installing a ceiling fan, we need to talk about prep work and safety. First, do not attempt any electrical projects until you have turned off the power to the fixture you are working on. I like to turn on the fan and light (they are often on two different power lines) and then shut off the power. This gives me the visual assurance that the power is indeed off.

Next, if you are replacing a light fixture with a ceiling fan, you MUST make sure that the junction box is attached to a support. This means the box is screwed into a ceiling joist, brace, or the junction box is attached to a Ceiling Fan Brace. Do not attach a ceiling fan to a box that is not able to hold the weight of the fan (and all the vibration it will produce over the years.) If you don’t have proper bracing for your fan—have no fear—look into purchasing a Ceiling Fan Brace that can be installed from inside the room (no need to crawl into the attic.)

Finally, you need to have a Sturdy A-Frame Step Ladder tall enough to reach 1-2 feet below the fan during installation. And having an assistant who can hand you the motor when it’s time to hang the fan is definitely a bonus.

One handy tip: You will most likely drop a screw during the installation. If you are working on a porch with slats, lay down a blanket under the ladder to catch them. This also helps aid in a quick clean up from dust and dropped dry wall debris.

Ready to get your cool on by installing a beautiful new ceiling fan? Let’s take a spin shall we: Read more

September 12, 2014/19 Comments/by Brittany Bailey

adding switch to lamp cord, Contributor, decor, desk, Electrical, Home & Auto Maintenance, Home Decor, lamp, light fixture, new light fixture, old outlet, Rewiring lamp, Tutorial, Upcycling

DIY Industrial USB Charging Station

Have you ever been in need of an electrical outlet only to find that they’re hidden by furniture or in a hard to reach place? How about that elusive time of day when you’re cell phone’s down to 1% and you have a handful of charging cables, but nothing to plug it into? This seems to be a regular occurrence at The DIY Village, so we’ve finally solved these problems! We created a DIY industrial USB charging station that has an accessible outlet; 2 usb ports capable of charging all of your devices; and even has a built-in accent light! We think it would be the perfect addition to an office, your teenagers room, or even a college dorm room!

DIY Industrial USB Charging Station Materials List:

(Contains some affiliate links)

DIY Industrial USB Charging Station Tool List

DIY Industrial USB Charging Station Instructions:

In order to make room for connectors and fittings that you’ll be using to build your Industrial Charging Station, you’ll need to remove (2) 1/2-inch and (1) 3/4-inch knockouts from the handy box. (Set the handy box aside)

The hardwired emergency light has screw-out plugs that give you installation options.

Remove one of the side plugs from the light base and re-route the wiring through the opening. Read more

September 10, 2014/11 Comments/by Matt Knowlton

DIY Button Pendant Light | Pretty Handy Girl

While I was house touring on Tybee Island and having fun antique and salvage shopping in Savannah, I spied some bare lamp shade frame hanging lights. They immediately inspired me to design a DIY Button Pendant Light for over my bedside table in our master bedroom. Part of the desire was born out of the necessity to have more space on my bedside because the table actually doubles as my makeup vanity.

Making a Button Pendant Light is an easy DIY project, but you’ll need some patience while threading the buttons. I’ll also show you how to wire a lamp socket and lamp plug! Ready to get started?

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

Materials:

Lamp shade with an interesting shape
Scissors
Lamp socket
Lamp rod nipple
Threaded cap with loop top (as shown in this kit)
Lamp cord
Two prong plug
Wire strippers
Nylon Clear Fishing line
Buttons (bought lots from eBay)
Chandelier pendant drops
Chandelier crystal swags
Sisal Rope
Copper Wire

Optional:

Instructions: Read more

June 30, 2014/24 Comments/by Brittany Bailey

DIY, DIY tools, Do It Yourself, Electrical, renovation

DIY Cable Installation

It would seem that every time I’ve considered moving my TV to a new spot in the house, that there’s never a cable outlet where I need one. I recently remedied this issue and wanted to share with you how to tackle your own DIY Cable Installation!

This tutorial is specific to installing “through the wall” cable lines in houses with a crawl space. Since many cable customers have HD receivers, I think it’s important to install a home run aka an uninterrupted run of cable. Doing so will result in a higher signal and better quality picture. With that being said, let’s take a look at what you’ll need.

Materials List

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

Low Voltage Electrical Box
Keyhole Saw
RG6 Cable
3/8″ x 54″ Auger Drill Bit
3/8″ x 12″ Drill Bit
Drill
Cable Clips
Hammer
Coax Cable Receptacle Wall Plate
Coax Cable Stripper
Compression Tool w/ F-Connectors
Pencil
String
Fish Pole or Straightened Coat Hanger

Instructions for Installing Your Own Cable Outlet:

When you’ve decided where to install the new cable outlet, measure up 15″ and mark an area 1-1/2″ x 3-3/4″ .

Using a keyhole saw, cut through the drywall to create the opening for the installation of a low voltage electrical box.

Before you complete the next step, make sure that the area you plan on drilling into, doesn’t contain any hazards (i.e. electrical cable, duct work, gas lines, etc.) With open access into the wall, place the tip of the auger bit into the cutout and drill into the bottom of the stud wall to gain access into the crawlspace below. Read more

September 11, 2013/8 Comments/by Matt Knowlton

adfree, Do It Yourself, Electrical, Giveaway, light fixture, Rewiring outlet, Tutorial

How to Install a Lutron Maestro Occupancy Sensor on a 3-way Switch

Teaching kids to turn off the lights in a room they are no longer in is a tough job. No matter how many times I try to explain that leaving the lights on wastes electricity, it just doesn’t seem to sink in. In their defense, they are like little wind up tops flitting from room to room playing with trains in one; reading in another and barely stopping to use the toilet in the bathroom (putting the lid down is a whole other issue! Ugh.)

When Lutron approached me about giving my kids a helping hand with the lights, I was immediately intrigued. It turns out that Lutron has just introduced the Maestro occupancy sensor dimmer that can be easily installed in place of an existing light switch. (Single pole switches are easiest. Dual or Multi-location switches may require a little more wiring and programming to work properly.) After some thought, I decided to try the Maestro in our art & craft studio. This is the room that we least notice when the bulbs are burning (it is over the garage and is separated by our guest room from the rest of the house.)

Follow along to see how to install your own. Your attentive nature may be rewarded at the end. 😉 Read more

August 19, 2013/53 Comments/by Brittany Bailey