Electrical Industry Articles and Stories

Long, long ago … in a galaxy far, far away …

Well, it was really about 40 years ago and around 700 miles from where I'm sitting right now. Anyway, I was employed by a water softener company in northern Indiana. I roamed the highways and byways of the Indiana and northeastern Illinois countryside, installing and repairing softeners in farmhouses, spec homes, and rural domiciles.

When dimming technology first came to the mass market in the early 1960s, ambience-setting was a major motivator. With a simple turn of a dial, a brightly lit restaurant or home dining room could take on the appearance of a candlelit retreat. Then in the 1970s and 1980s, energy savings became a big sales driver, as lower light levels helped to drive down rising utility costs.

Across the street from my front porch sits a utility pole. The fuse for the transformer that feeds our part of the neighbor hood sits high atop it.

And at least once a month … our power would go out.

I’m beginning to think about a couple major renovation projects for my 55-year-old house later this year, and lighting is definitely part of the equation. I’m hoping to replace both my front and back doors, and new light fixtures will be included with those upgrades.

I was helping a friend troubleshoot a wiring problem in his hunting "cabin." It was actually an old house on about 200 acres of land.

Out in the boonies. Away from civilization. And any electrical supplier or home improvement store. For miles …

The first generation of outdoor LED lighting products sold themselves on their energy and maintenance savings. The economic advantages they offered versus traditional lamps and fixtures were, indeed, significant. But now manufacturers are taking advantage of digital technology to create products offering entirely new capabilities. Advanced lighting-effect options are among the features giving both homeowners and facility managers more creative flexibility in their exterior lighting plans.