ElectricSmarts Network

My usual wiring "natural habitat" has been industrial/commercial settings. In fact, for over 25 years, I've been an IME.

But, I occasionally hack my way through the residential jungle. Obviously, I'm the chief (and only) electrician in my own home. In fact, a few years back I was able to put my skills to work when we renovated our flat roof carport, morphing it into a laundry room, sewing room, and my personal office.

After writing an article about residential wiring devices, I'm finally back to more familiar turf... commercial and industrial environments. But even though I've been around this stuff for a long time, the improvements and innovations continue to keep me interested.

Some device considerations
When choosing the right wiring device for a particular operation or use, you must consider various factors.

Lutron Electronics, long known for indoor lighting controls (its founder invented the first dimmer switch, after all) has now entered the exterior lighting space, with a software offering called “Limelight by Lutron” aimed at parking lots, shopping mall parking ramps, factories, stadiums and fields with exterior lighting requirements.

Arlington Industries is offering a new series of floor box kits, covers and accessories aimed at making floor box installation easier and faster for contractors. Among the new features are kit pieces interchangeable with a variety of other manufacturers’ floor boxes.

The company’s kit for new concrete pours, for instance, includes a heavy-duty plastic FL BC 40502 floor box with six conduit hubs and four plugs, more than it and most other manufacturers previously offered.

Suncrest bank branches are welcoming places, founded to serve the local community. They specialize in small business banking, and their customers can often grab a cup of coffee while they take care of business. The atmosphere and the aesthetics at each branch are important aspects of how they serve the community.

The other night — somewhere between midnight and 1 AM — I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. Figured I might as well burn a little midnight oil and make productive use of my insomnia.

Our hallways are lit with tiny LEDs embedded in the power outlets to cut down on stubbed toes. In the kitchen, soft lighting over the stove and sink allow even sleep-encrusted eyes to find the ON switch to my coffee pot.