Electrical tips from intelligent people for home renovation and repair - hiring, working, managing - for women, children and pets

Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs. A 75 watt incandescent bulb can be replaced by an 18 watt compact fluorescent bulb and they last seven times longer. Only about 10% of the electricity consumed by an incandescent is turned into visible light as most of the rest is turned into heat.

New digital lamp timers have random patterns and multiple programs settings that vary slightly each day. To fool burglars, timers turn-on lights on and off from room to room, and you can connect a TV or radio to the timers.

Install ground fault circuit interrupters in the kitchen and bathroom. A GFCI stops the flow of electricity if it senses any leakage of current, like a short circuit.

Install lighting over the bathtub, shower, and the mirror. Adequate lighting prevents accidents and cuts from shaving.

There are battery-powered lights that mount on the wall or ceiling for areas with no wiring.

For a doorbell that barely sounds at all, we know the transformer is sending current to the unit because the clapper is working. Lightly sand the contact points with very fine sandpaper. Check the arm with the clapper if it is bent or it doesn't travel and release. Strike the bell with something metal to see if it rings okay. Also, be sure it is tightening by turning it clockwise. If you have to replace the entire unit, it's a fairly easy do-it-yourself project.

Fluorescents start to lose their effectiveness under cold conditions. Use a low-temperature bulb or ballast for replacement.

You can eject a stuck computer CD with a paperclip. Insert the clip in the tiny hole under the disc slot to release the spring holding the door closed.

Hook up the computer, printer and peripherals to the same surge-protected power strip to eliminate electrical differences in the ground circuit.

Frequently turning fluorescent lights on and off wastes power and shortens their life. When leaving the room for less than half an hour, leave them on.

Dust the lamps, lighting fixtures, and bulbs frequently. Dirt and grime may impede 50% of the illumination coming from a bulb.

A ring-shaped fluorescent bulb allows more light to pass through a lampshade. The lampshade can absorb 80% of the light generated by a conventional bulb.

Remember to pull six inches of wire into an electrical box. This will allow for easier aligning of the wires to the devices you will be installing.

Whenever you encounter an S-type fuse be aware they have different threads so one can't put a larger (or smaller) fuse in that location.

Before you fill between the driveway and the house, walk around and check for holes around faucets, electrical service cables, and the like. After you foam the cracks in the driveway, use up the excess on other holes in the house.