Lighting by room: Dining area

Pull up a chair, have a second helping and stay a while. A dining room with great lighting and an inviting ambiance help friends and family feel welcome.
Although there seem to be several industry ”rules” and guidelines for illuminating your dining area, it is perfectly acceptable to adjust those guidelines to best fit your space.
Choosing your fixtures:

1. For a longer table, use individual pendants to spread light out equally across the dining surface.
2. Pairing a crystal chandelier with patterned wallpaper adds a touch of glamour to a traditional dining area.
3. Neutral paint schemes and simple window treatments call for a fun, textured and patterned chandelier.

Design Tip: Mirrors help eliminate shadows from corners and crystal bounces light around a ceiling.
In the dining room, light changes from one meal to the next. At large holiday gatherings, bright light is essential to match the energy of the room, but for more intimate gatherings, less light works best.

• A matching pair of sconces, hung about head height, cast flattering light onto faces.
• If you choose to just have one light source, make sure the fixture is large enough to supply shadow-banishing illumination.
• For small gatherings, dimmed light from the chandelier and the buffet can provide all the illumination needed.

Lighting by room: Bathroom

Thanks to the beauty and functionality of bathroom illumination, you have the ability to see yourself in a whole new light. We can all agree well-lit spaces help you groom, dress and bathe a little better.
When choosing the right amount of light for your bathroom, focus on the bulb’s color temperature.

You want something that is going to flatter your skin tone and help you wake up and attend to grooming tasks. Bulbs providing bright white light that’s at least 3,500 degrees Kelvin are recommended.

Design Tip: Not a morning person? Try accent lights that shine from behind a mirror for soft illumination that’s less startling in the morning.
Bath lighting tends to create a more intimate feeling when paired with dark color schemes, while bright white creates a more open and airy atmosphere.
Light Layers

• Sconces offer the perfect amount of task lighting when placed at face height, flanking mirrors above the sink. Installed on separate switches, sconces can also supply accent lighting for overhead fixtures.
• Taller sconces are ideal for dressing tables. The bigger and brighter fixtures provide illumination helpful for accomplishing specific grooming tasks.
• Small recessed fixtures are used to complete the room’s overall light. For more flexibility, install different groupings of recessed cans on different switches with dimming capabilities.

Lighting by room: Bathroom

Bedrooms have the ability to be both practical-minded and beautiful retreats. Properly illuminating your bedroom can help create a relaxing, comfortable and romantic atmosphere.
Lighting magazine advises resisting the urge to choose dark lampshades, which can make the bedroom feel gloomy, or direct overhead lighting, which can be jarring and disruptive. Instead, use shades that diffuse the light, as well as lower lumen light bulbs. If bright light is occasionally needed, add additional fixtures throughout the room to compensate.
Bedroom spaces are perfect for taking advantage of natural sunlight during daytime hours, but for other times of the day light layers should be considered.

• Chandeliers can serve as a great source of overall light. The use of multiple bulbs and lightly toned shades help diffuse illumination across the room.
• If your bedroom has an entry to the outdoors, task lighting by the doorway is essential. Task lighting will not only add to the style of your space, but will also provide illumination for safe entry.
• Sconces that push light up and down should be considered to provide both task and accent light.

The Basics of Lighting Replacement

Are you looking to brighten up your home with an new elegant chandelier over the dining room table? Or perhaps you need a few pendant lights to hang over your kitchen island? While you can fully expect to change light bulbs without too much hassle, replacing a lighting fixture is of a different degree of difficulty and safety. A professional electrician is usually required when it comes to replacing the light fixtures in your home.

Depending on the product and location, lighting replacement can be relatively straightforward. By way of example, let’s say you’re looking not only to replace the old light above your kitchen island, but also looking to move it over a foot or so, where it can be centered. After all, the point of a task light is to be able to see what you’re doing as you cook for your family and guests.

First, as always when working with electrical equipment, the breaker for the circuit serving the light must be switched off at the electrical panel. Next, the old light will have to be detached from the ceiling joist.

Depending on the light, there might be a cover that has to be removed before the electrician can reach the screws holding the fixture up. Your electrician will then remove the wire nuts connecting the fixtures wires from the house wires. If you are moving the light, the wire may not be long enough to reach the new location. Your electrician will then have to run a new wire to power or splice wire in the existing electrical box to reach your new light.

Home wiring has three different kinds of wires. The black wire is the live wire, which is considered “hot”. If you hold it and touch anything that is grounded, you will get shocked. The white wire is the neutral wire and while there should be no current, it is possible that bad wiring in other places in your home might accidently lead to this wire having a charge. It is always a good idea to treat this wire as if it were hot. There is also a ground wire, which is usually uninsulated copper. The fixture wiring is much the same, except the ground wire is usually green. When connecting a new light, your electrician will simply connect like to like.

Depending on the model, a hole may need to be drilled in the ceiling sheetrock (or plaster) to make room for the electrical box. The body of the light will then need to be properly secured to the electrical box.

Finding the right light for your home is only the first step. Making sure it is in the perfect location and installed correctly is just as important. Replacing the lights in your home will make it brighter and more beautiful, and a professional installation will make sure is shines for years to come.

Lightbulb FAQs

Q: I’ve heard that 100-watt bulbs are now banned, and 75-watt and 60-watt bulbs aren’t far behind. What’s the reason?
A: The bulbs themselves are not banned, but the federal government has instituted a staggered set of regulations that requires lightbulbs to meet certain efficiency standards. Traditional incandescent technology – which wastes 90% of the energy it emits as heat – cannot meet those regulations, so manufacturers are developing replacements for those bulbs.
Q: What’s the best replacement for a 100-watt bulb?
A: There are plenty of options that closely match the color and output of incandescents, while trimming utility bills. The traditional 100-watt incandescent bulbs delivers 1,700 lumens of warm-colored light. 72-watt halogen incandescent or 23- or 27-watt CFL bulbs are similar in appearance but last longer and are more efficient.
Q: What are good replacements for other wattages of bulbs?
A: For a 75-watt bulb, look for a 53-watt halogen incandescent. Use a 43-watt halogen incandescent to replace a 60-watt incandescent. For a 40-watt traditional incandescent, use a 29-watt halogen incandescent.
Q: I don’t like the light color of CFL bulbs. What are my options?
A: CFLs have come a long way, and you should be able to find both warm- and cool-colored light now available.
Q: Can I use LEDs in traditional light fixtures that once accepted incandescents?
A: There are LEDs to replace traditional incandescents, but many are still expensive. They pay off with energy savings and can last 25 years. Watch for the cost to continue to decrease as this advanced technology becomes more widely available.

Lighting Fixtures 101: Chandeliers

Chandeliers are dramatic lighting fixtures that add personality and functional illumination to a room. There are five types of chandeliers to choose:

• Compact/mini styles are great for smaller spaces, such as a laundry room or closet. Newer version come as a small as 9 inches tall.
• Downlight chandeliers are best suited for rooms with lower ceilings. A shade or other element on the fixture directs light down.
• Uplight, on the other hand, directs light towards the ceiling. This fixture is ideal for eliminating shadows in large or soaring areas, including two-story height entryways.
• Candelabra styles holds candle-like lights (and sometimes lampshades) in multiple tiers. These are great for traditionally-designed spaces.
• Drum chandeliers are a good match for rooms with clean lines. A circular cover shields the light.

Lighting Fixtures 101: Ceiling Lighting

Ceiling fixtures are one of the most popular options for providing general illumination in a room or corridor. There are seven options:

• Flush mount fixtures closely hug the ceiling, and are a good choice when an understated or slim silhouette is needed.
• Dropped fixtures include a shade and light source suspended from the ceiling from a short stem. This design becomes a visible element in the room.
• Chandeliers are suspended from a longer stem or center point, with large central elements and tiers. These fixtures work in virtually any type of space and come in a range of sizes.
• Recessed cans are installed up in the ceiling. When used in multiples, they are good for generating a lot of light throughout a room.
• Pendants hang from a longer stem with a single light source, often covered by a shade. A pair or trio of pendants work well over a work space, such as a kitchen island.
• Ceiling fans offer both air movement and optional overhead light, for use in hot or cold weather. They are perfect in a variety of rooms; newer, smaller fans even work in closets.
• Track lighting features adjustable mini lights that run along a straight or curved track – great for accenting artwork or hall ways.

Lighting 101: Lampshades

Lampshades are a decorative option ideal for adding personality and softening illumination to many light fixtures. There are five popular options:

• Hard lampshades feature a plastic liner covered with a glued-on material, and can be used on any lamp in any decorating style.
• Soft lampshades are similar to hard shades, but feature a solid-color liner with a more decorative outer shell attached with either thread or tape.
• Drum, cylinder or oval shades are available in sizes ranging from miniature to oversized. They work well with contemporary or transitional decorating.
• Floor, empire, bell or coolie shades are typically narrower at the top with varying shapes, and a very flexible in decorating use.
• Geometric lampshades feature a square, rectangular or another shape, with sides matching. They have a regular width, sometimes with a slight slant from top to bottom, and are a good match for contemporary accents.

Lighting Fixtures 101: Recessed Lighting

Recessed lighting is ideal for providing general, quality illumination while maintaining a clean visual appearance in the ceiling. We have identified seven key terms to know before selected recessed lighting sources for your home:
Round or square refers to the shape of the baffle. Performance is the same, but personal preference will determine shape.

• New construction or remodel is determined by the type of project. New construction fixtures are attached to ceiling joists by arms. Remodel versions attach to drywall in the ceiling with clips.
• IC-rated or non-IC housings also depend on the project type. Recessed fixtures that will come in contact with insulation must be IC-rated (insulation contact).
• Low voltage or line voltage refers to the type of system. Recessed cans with reduced voltage/low voltage systems require a transformer and special dimmer. They are typically smaller in size and use miniature bulbs.
• Flush, standard or shallow fixtures depend on the depth of the ceiling and your design preferences. Flush fixtures are level with the ceiling, while narrow are shallow.
• Damp location listed fixtures are specially created for use in rooms that have moisture, such as bathrooms.
• Fixed or movable fixtures are determined by whether the bulb inside the recessed lighting fixture is stationary or flexible. The ideal type depends on whether you want the flexibility to redirect the light as needed.

Hera Lighting now offers a solderless, Quick-Connect System for the TapeVE-LED

TapeVE-LED is the latest in flexible LED technology and now features a solderless quick connect system. The TapeVE-LED is at a cost effective price for larger applications used in accent lighting for retail displays, furniture, cabinets or boats. Illuminates with low heat and no UV, which makes it ideal for delicate products and artwork. The flexible mounting allows for installation in and around most angles.

TapeVE-LED uses 4.32W per ft. and has a long lamp life, rated 30,000 hours. The new quick connect system makes it simple to provide for various lengths. Installation is quick and easy with the self-adhering backing and it is also dimmable with optional accessories. TapeVE-LED is sold in 196" rolls with 18LEDs/ft. & 300 LEDs per roll.

Hera Lighting Introduces the Big6/2-LED

Recessed Swivel LED Spotlight with High Power LEDs

The new Big6/2-LED is a new and improved version of our popular Big6-LED. It was especially designed for applications where high light levels of light are necessary or desired. The integrated high-power LEDs provide an extremely high light output using only 7.2W. The Big6/2-LED is perfect for larger display cases and even for installation in soffits.

The new Big6/2-LED has an improved 360 degree swivel, reduced glare factor and is dimmable. Finishes available are stainless steel or white, LEDs available in cool white or warm white, and it has an attached 79” connecting cable with plug in connector.

Replace traditional wallpacks with LED. Same footprint. Better performance

Upgrading to LED is clean and simple. Wallpacks often leave an unsightly wall stain behind during replacement.Replace the old wallpack with the SLIM and you'll never know there was anything else there.

Medium and large SLIM wallpacks were designed to replace RAB HID wallpacks, both in size and footprint template, so upgrading to LED is easy and seamless. With up to 320W MH equivalency and 78 LPW, SLIM delivers the efficiency you want in LED. Get further savings with energy rebates.

High wattage SLIM wallpacks with glare-reducing microprismatic diffusion lens are available in standard or full cutoff versions which meets dark-sky requirements.

Hinged wiring access, bubble level for mounting and conduit entry from the back, sides and top make installation a snap. The IP65 rated SLIM's external gasket and wall standoffs have been designed to create an airtight seal, keeping water out of the fixture.

The unique design of the tight-lock gasket ensures no water or environmental elements will ever get inside the SLIM.

Meet ENTRA. The affordable, high-performance LED doorway light.

ENTRA is ideal for doorways, building exteriors, stairways, parking garages and storage areas.
Features and Benefits

• Save over $700 over the life of each fixture (based on $0.10 per kWhr and 10 hours average use per day, vs 70W HPS.)
• With up to 70W HPS equivalency, ENTRA saves 84% in energy consumption.
• At a whopping 89 lpw, the ENTRA delivers the efficiency you want in an LED fixture.
• Vandal-resistant polycarbonate housing makes ENTRA durable enough to stand up to tough environments.
• Low profile and ADA compliant at under 4" off the wall.
• Photocell option is available formore efficient operation and furtherenergy savings.
• At 10 hours average daily use, RAB LEDs are rated to last 27 years, dramatically reducing maintenance and re-lamping costs.

Leviton Introduces Super Duty Line of Power Packs

Leviton today announced the introduction of its new line of OPP20 Power Packs featuring the industry’s first true “fail safe” design, assuring circuit activation in power failure and emergency conditions. The four new super duty Power Pack models surpass NEMA 410 16 Amp ballast overload testing and have exceeded 1.5 million switching cycles at full load. They are ideal for a wide range of applications, including daylight harvesting, CA Title 24/ASHRAE 90.1 plug load control requirements, occupancy sensing control, and bi-level and manual switching applications.
The four new super duty Power Pack models offer a variety of application solutions including:

• The OPP20-OD1 is ideal for use in basic auto-ON/auto-OFF applications. It features an Auto-ON occupancy sensor input.
• The OPP20-OD2 is ideal for use in manual-ON/auto-OFF and auto-ON/auto-OFF applications with local switches. It features an exclusive self-detect local momentary or maintained switch input. Configurable for Auto-ON and Manual-ON occupancy sensor inputs, it is CA Title 24 Compliant and meets ASHRAE 90.1 Plug Load Control requirements.
• The OPP20-RD3 is ideal for use in auto-ON/auto-OFF and photocell only room control applications. It features an Auto-ON occupancy sensor input and is photocell-ready (switching only).
• The OPP20-RD4 is ideal for use in all the applications listed above, including the use of a photocell with a local switch and occupancy sensor. It features an exclusive self-detect local momentary or maintained switch input, is configurable for Auto-ON and Manual-ON occupancy sensor inputs and is photocell-ready (switching only). It is CA Title 24 Compliant and meets ASHRAE 90.1 Plug Load Control requirements.

Easy to install, the new Power Pack models feature versatile options for mounting and can be installed either inside or outside the fluorescent ballast cavity or junction box. The Power Packs comply with NEMA 410 requirements for electronic ballast current overload and UL/cUL 916 requirements for energy management. They feature output short protection and are factory-calibrated to the zero crossing point on the AC power curve to ensure maximum contactor life and compatibility with LED ballasts. RoHS Compliant, they are plenum-rated, meet UL 2043 standards and are backed by Leviton’s Limited Five-Year Warranty.

Leviton Rolls Out New SmartlockPro® Outlet Branch Circuit AFCI Receptacle

Leviton today rolled out its new SmartlockPro® Outlet Branch Circuit (OBC) Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) Receptacle offering protection from arc- faults that may lead to electrical fires resulting from damage in branch circuit wiring as well as extensions to branches such as appliances and cord sets.

The SmartlockPro OBC AFCI Receptacle is designed to detect a wide range of arcing electrical faults to help reduce the likelihood of the electrical system being an ignition source of a fire. It functions by de-energizing the circuit downstream of the device upon which an arc-fault is detected to help prevent ignition and a resultant fire. AFCIs are now required by the National Electrical Code® (NEC) in many areas throughout the home; and in 2014 the NEC® will require that AFCI protection be added when replacing receptacles in locations where AFCI protection is required in new home construction. The OBC AFCI also provides an ideal solution for adding AFCI protection to older homes which are statistically more likely to experience electrical fires.

The SmartlockPro OBC AFCI Receptacle is Tamper-Resistant in compliance with the latest NEC requirements. The receptacle’s shutter mechanism is designed to block access to the contacts from most foreign objects for improved safety.

Engineered to detect and provide protection from both parallel and series arc-faults downstream and series arc-faults upstream from its location, the Leviton SmartlockPro OBC AFCI Receptacle features Leviton’s patented reset/lockout technology which automatically tests the AFCI every time the RESET button is pushed in. The AFCI will not reset if the AFCI circuit is not functioning properly. By blocking the AFCI from resetting if protection has been compromised, the SmartlockPro OBC AFCI Receptacle reduces the possibility of end-users incorrectly assuming that a reset AFCI is providing protection when it is not.

The device meets Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Standard 1699A (Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupters, Outlet Branch Circuit Type), the definitive standard for AFCIs and comes with a two-year limited product warranty. Available in White, Ivory, Light Almond, Gray, Black and Brown, the SmartlockPro OBC AFCI Receptacle is compatible with Leviton’s complete line of signature Decora® wiring devices and wallplates.

Leviton and Honda Increase Customer Satisfaction of EV Owners

Beginning June 1, 2013 all Honda Fit EV leases will include the Leviton 32 amp, 240 volt (Level 2) electric vehicle charging station. Leviton’s enhanced Level 2 charging station offers customers significantly reduced charging times, and provides unmatched convenience and performance right from the dealership.

The Leviton 32 amp charging station utilizes Leviton’s patent pending “plugged-in” design and has been tested to exceed National Electric Code and Underwriters Laboratory (UL) standards. Also, it provides safety devices not found in other charging stations in the marketplace, including a watertight enclosure with NEMA 4 rating and proprietary GFCI technology. It is backed by an industry leading product warranty, and lifetime telephone support.

To obtain the new Leviton charging station, new Honda Fit EV customers need only contact their local dealership to arrange delivery. The charging station has been rigorously tested and verified by Honda – in both the USA and Japan – for use with the Fit EV.

In addition to the 32 amp charger, customers will also receive a proprietary installation kit that, once installed, enables them to remove and re-install the electric vehicle charging station without any special tools. This modularity enables customers to easily take their charging station with them in case they move – an important consideration for customers.
Installation services are optionally available through Leviton at the customer’s expense – only the charging station hardware is provided as part of the lease agreement.

Leviton Wins NAED’s “Best of the Best” Award

Leviton has received tED Magazine’s “Best of the Best Award,” winning Best Product Launch by a Major Manufacturer for its 2012 launch of the Zipline Lighting Retrofit Solution. The prestigious award was presented to Leviton at the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) annual AdVenture Conference in Chicago.

The Zipline system was strategically delivered to the industry via an integrated marketing campaign that included all traditional print and electronic marketing elements, plus live, in-person and online video demonstrations. According to the Best of the Best Judges, "This comprehensive presentation worked as a solution to a problem. It made sense all the way through the channel-from distributor to contractor to end-user."
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ED Magazine’s Best of the Best awards program honors marketing excellence and recognizes creativity within the electrical industry in companies of all sizes in a number of marketing/ communication categories. Entries are judged on their overall effectiveness and creative impact by an independent panel of marketing and industry professionals secured by the magazine. Judges are from both within and outside the electrical industry. Each judge scores the entries based on the same criteria, and not directly against other entries through a cumulative point system.
Leviton has been a longtime supporter of the NAED with many decades of mutual collaboration and success. Earlier this year, Leviton hosted both NAED’s 100 Women in Industry Conference and the NAED Branch Manager Bootcamp at Leviton’s global headquarters in Melville, New York.

Whole House Surge Protection from Leviton

To some, whole house surge protection is achieved simply by installing a surge protective breaker or panel at the home's main breaker load center(s). However, true whole house surge protection requires surge protective devices at various levels within the home to provide the most reliable protection - a surge protection network if you will.

UL - a global independent safety company that tests for and certifies product safety - has categorized surge protective devices into various Types to indicate their specific performance characteristics and areas of usage. A true whole house surge protection network requires three Types of surge protective devices to effectively protect sensitive electrical and electronic equipment from the damaging effects of voltage surges.