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You will quite regularly find a junction box in a central area in a house when you are wiring for electricity. The majority of the time, this is used to make sure the power cables are all routed to where they are supposed to go. It may be a requirement to retrofit one of these boxes in order to re-route cables to a new location when putting in a new light for example.

Tools and Materials:

• Wire nuts
• Straight Screwdriver
• Philips Screwdriver
• Wire Strippers

Step 1 – Installing the New Wire

To start you need to run the wire to its new location where you want to put the light or other outlet. Install the new wiring into the new device complete with the new power cables that are running to a different place. Ensure that the switch or device is set to the off position once it is wired up.

Step 2 – Turn off the Power to the Junction Box

It is very important that you turn off the power that is heading to the junction box. You should always ensure that you avoid working on things that are still live.

Step 3 – Open the Junction Box

Next you should open the junction box up and ensure that all the wires inside remain connected where they should be and in the same way as they were before hand.

Step 4 – Make a Hole in the Junction Box

Once you have checked all the present wiring and everything is as it should be, you need to make a hole in the side of the junction box so wires can be fed through. You should find holes that are nearly pushed through from when you bought from the factory. Use one of these holes and push it right through using a screwdriver.

Step 5 – Feed in the New Wire

Take your new wire and push it through the hole. Ensure that you make the wire tight to hold it in place and so it doesn’t come loose.

Step 6 – Separate the Wire

Trim the ends of the cable so that you can separate it into 3 wires. These strands of wire are black, white, and green. The last one can also be bare copper. You should aim to make at least half an inch of wire visible on each color. This will make it easier to connect.

Step 7 – Attach the Lines in the Junction Box

In the junction box, locate the connection that has all black wires running together. Here is where you should attach the black wire with the use of a wire nut. Make sure you do the exact same thing with the white and green wires.

Step 8 – Fit the Cable Back in the Box

When you have successfully connected the wires up in the junction box you need to secure them all inside the box and put the cover back on tightly with a screwdriver.

Step 9 – Turn on the Power

Once all steps are complete you need to turn the power on again to the junction box. The final step is to test that this works and ensure that the new device functions correctly and doesn’t break. If something doesn’t work then you will need to go back and check the connections.

If you have installed French doors as exterior doors then French door blinds become a necessity. French doors are known for allowing a lot of natural light inside the home. This feature also makes French doors a better window as they lack privacy. To cure this problem, while maintaining the beauty, add French door blinds. The article that follows will share with you tips and tricks on how to properly hang French door blinds.

1. Measure the Right Area

French doors are unique in that the glass panes are narrower than traditional windows which make them hard to fit. When you are shopping for French door blinds you will notice that some brands are specific to certain brands of doors. Measuring the French doors becomes very important when trying to buy blinds. All you need to get the correct French door blinds is a simple measuring tape. Use the measuring tape to measure the width of the glass and the height of the glass ignoring the center molding. To get the correct blinds and inch to each side to make sure the blinds will cover the entire door.

2. Top Center

French doors are often made out of solid wood which is typically oak or cedar. The French doors are then painted or stained. The fact that it is solid wood makes installing French door blinds a little different than other blinds for hollow doors or windows. When installing French door blinds you should always do so in the top center of the door. Measure the space if you want in order to determine this position. The same applies with the sides of the door. This will be the strongest section of the door which will prevent the wood from splintering or being damaged in any way.

3. Two French Door Blinds

French doors are unique because they are two ornate doors instead of just one that you normally find in homes. This also means that you need to have two French door blinds. Each door should be measured for accuracy and blinds bought for each door separately. This is because to make doors fit (French or traditional) the installer may have shaved some of the wood off one of the doors.

4. Pilot Holes

With most doors you can install blinds using normal screws and an electric screwdriver. French doors, as they are solid wood, require a little more work and effort to ensure that the French door blinds are properly installed. Use an electric drill with a drill bit smaller than the screws you will be use. Create the pilot holes so that they are just below surface. Use an anchor and insert in the pilot hole with a mallet. You can now use the screws you selected using the screwdriver. As the screws are inserted the anchors dig in to the sides of the hole.

French doors are a great look but offer little privacy, which is why people often decide to use French door curtains. The beauty of French doors is that they are large and allow a lot of light to enter the home. French door curtains allow the light to be filtered while providing privacy from neighbors. Nearly any fabric can be used to create French door curtains. The article below will show you how to easily install French door curtains.

Tools and Materials Needed:

• Level
• Tape measure
• Curtains
• Curtain rod
• Electric drill
• Drill bits
• Electric screwdriver

Step 1 – Select French Door Curtains

There are two types of curtains you can buy your French door. Each style look great, are installed in the same manner but offer differences in style and use of the French doors. The first style is fitted to the glass of the French doors. They are installed around the inner trim of the doors to just cover the glass. These are readily one sheet of fabric on a curtain rod and do not open. The second kind of French door curtains are attached to the wall above the French doors and span the distance between the two. These curtains can be opened to allow light to come in or to provide privacy whenever you like.

Step 2 – Measuring

Use the measuring tape to take important measurements to determine the size of the curtains you need. If you are hanging the French door curtains above the doors, measure the width of the French doors plus 2 inches on both sides for a total of 4 inches. If hanging the curtains to cover the panes of the doors, measure the width of the pane of the glass and add 1 inch to each side for a total of 2 inches.

Step 3 – Curtain Rods

With measurements in hand you can now purchase the right curtains and curtain rods for the French doors. If your curtains will be hanging down from the wall, you will only need one curtain rod. If you chose to hang curtains over each pane, you will need to buy four curtain rods. Two sets (top and bottom) for each French door. This type of curtain rod is often narrow and more functional than decorative unlike the latter where you will have many choices.

Step 4 – Pilot Holes

Use the measurements from before and mark where the curtains are to be hung. Use the level to make sure they will be straight and level. Keep in mind that curtains hung over the panes in the French doors should be taught and not loose. Choose a drill bit that is smaller in diameter than the screws for the curtain rod brackets. Create shallow pilot holes for each screw hole you marked.

Step 5 – Install the French Door Curtain Rods

You can now install the French door curtains. Mount the brackets to the French doors with the screws. Center the brackets and test fit the rods. Remove the rods and thread the curtains on them, then place the curtain rods back on the brackets.

A French door screen allows you to enjoy the beauty of your French doors while along with the fresh air they can bring into your house without inviting insects into your home. The following tips will help you choosing the best screen doors to pair with your French doors.

Size

Measurements are crucial whenever you are choosing a French door screen. Make sure that you measure not only the height of your door but the length as well. The more accurate the measurements, the better a fit you will have. It is a good idea for you to measure more than once to make sure that you will get the right size.

Tracks

Not all French doors have tracks built in. You will find however that tracks can be added to both the bottom and the top so that installation is something that can be allowed. You will need to make sure that you install these tracks properly.

Door Handles

Whenever you are installing a screen door, make sure that the door handles are not going to interfere with it. If they do, you may want to rethink the screen door or your handles.

An electronic component that offers a new way to squeeze more data into computers and portable gadgets is set to go into production in just a couple of years. Hewlett-Packard announced today that it has entered an agreement with the Korean electronics manufacturer Hynix Semiconductor to make the components, called “memristors,” starting in 2013. Storage devices made of memristors will allow PCs, cellphones, and servers to store more and switch on instantly.

Memristors are nanoscale electronic switches that have a variable resistance, and can retain their resistance even when the power is switched off. This makes them similar to the transistors used to store data in flash memory. But memristors are considerably smaller–as small as three nanometers. In contrast, manufacturers are experimenting with flash memory components that are 20 nanometers in size.

“The goal is to be at least double whatever flash memory is in three years–we know we’ll beat flash in speed, power, and endurance, and we want to beat it in density, too,” says Stanley Williams, a senior fellow at HP who has been developing memristors in his lab for about five years.

HP makes memristors by laying down parallel metal nanowires onto a substrate, coating them with a layer of titanium dioxide, and placing a second layer of nanowires perpendicular to the first layer. Where the wires cross, a memristor is formed. HP expects the first devices containing memristors to offer about 20 gigabytes of storage per square centimeter, twice the projected capacity of flash at this time. The company has dubbed memristor-based data storage “ReRAM”, which stands for Resistive Random Access Memory.

Like other silicon technologies, flash memory is approaching the physical limits of what’s possible in miniaturization. Flash memory also wears out after about 100,000 read-write cycles (longer than the lifetime of most gadgets), while lab tests have shown that memristors can withstand up to about a million read-write cycles.

Under the terms of the new agreement, HP will maintain the intellectual property related to memristors. Hynix will make and sell memristor memory to HP and other customers. Williams says the company’s goal is to encourage the industry to adopt memristor memory. “The economic benefit to HP will be as the first mover,” says Jim McGregor, chief technology strategist at industry analyst firm InStat.

Displacing flash could still take years and billions of dollars, and the industry has other experimental kinds of memory to consider, notes McGregor. Researchers are working on phase-change and ferroelectric materials that can make new forms of memory. McGregor believes that, given the likelihood of speed bumps in manufacturing, it’s unlikely a commercial memristor product will be available in 2013, as HP and Hynix predict.

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But Williams does not foresee any major manufacturing hurdles. He says HP has been working for the past year on prototype devices with an undisclosed semiconductor manufacturer. Williams adds that memristors can be made with materials and machinery already present in semiconductor factories.

Dan Olds, a consultant with Gabriel Consulting Group in Beaverton, Oregon, is optimistic about the technology. “The sky’s the limit if they can deliver on the promise of memristors–the question is at what price, and how fast prices will come down,” he says. “Any new technology is a crapshoot, but if it’s a matter of engineering and not basic research, then you feel more confident betting on it.”

Harmful bacteria can build up in a hot tub if it isn’t cleaned regularly and properly. You’ll also find stains on the hot tub, which make it ugly. For your own safety you need to keep bacteria out of the hot tub.

Tools and Materials 

• Pool vacuum
• Skimmer
• Bleach
• Water
• Sponge
• Bucket
• Toothbrush
• Bio-cleaner 

Step 1 – Skimmer

Begin by using the pool skimmer to remove leaves and debris that might be on the surface of the hot tub. After that, take the pool vac and use it to remove leaves and whatever else might have sunk to the bottom of the hot tub.

Step 2 – Draining

To remove the bacteria it’s necessary to drain the hot tub. After that’s complete, take out the filter bucket and take time to wash the filter thoroughly.

Step 3 – Cleaning

With a solution made from 1 cup of water and 1 cup of bleach, clean out the inside of the hot tub. Use a sponge to wipe the surfaces down. This will eliminate the bacteria. To finish off, scrub the hot tub with a bio-cleaner. This can also remove any stains that might have built up in the hot tub. Rinse the hot tub with clean water then drain and refill the hot tub properly, heating it before using.

Bathroom lighting fixtures come in all shapes, sizes, styles and materials. Old bathroom lighting fixtures are often brass, chrome or stainless steel. Eventually these fixtures can become caked on with grime, water spots and rust. You can bring bathroom lighting fixtures back to life by refinishing them. This can be done using products that are inexpensive and environmentally safe. The article below will share with you some ways you can accomplish this.

Remember the Details

One of the reasons people love antique bathroom fixtures is because of their lines. They are delicate in nature with smooth, flowing curves and they tell a story of grace and distinction. Cleaning bathroom lighting fixtures that have a lot of details can take a lot of time and, as a result, are sometimes neglected. One of the easy ways you can get in to these small details is by using a soft natural bristle toothbrush. These toothbrushes are very inexpensive and will not damage the lighting fixtures regardless of how hard you scrub.

Baking Soda Paste

Baking soda is a great natural tool that is found in nearly every home in the world. Baking soda is often used to absorb bad smells and help to keep food fresh. What many people do not realize is that baking soda can remove grime, oil and tarnish off of metal. The only way it works is by making a paste from it by mixing white vinegar with the baking soda. Add a few drops of the vinegar to the baking soda until it forms a stiff paste that is spreadable. Once the paste is made just spread it on the bathroom lighting fixtures to be refinished and remove it after an hour or so with water.

White Vinegar

For a few cents you can purchase one of the best household cleaners on the market: distilled white vinegar. The qualities found in vinegar eat away at most organic residue like oil from fingers and tarnish caused by exposure to air. You will need to remove the bathroom lighting fixtures before making use of the vinegar because you need to soak the fixture in the vinegar for about an hour and then deactivate the vinegar with cool water.

Ionized Water Bath

In conjunction with vinegar you can also use ionized water. White vinegar will help to remove lime build up, oil, grime and other organic materials. Rust can also appear on bathroom lighting fixtures and this is a byproduct from organic materials not being cleaned from the metal often enough. Rust can be loosened with a sanding block to remove the peaks but the rest of the rust is more difficult to remove. This can be helped along by using ionized water. This is a fancy way of saying salt water. For every cup of water you would add one tablespoon of table salt. Remove the fixture and soak it in the white vinegar first and then in the salted water. The reaction will cause the rust to soften so it can be wiped away or sanded.

There are now low energy alternatives available for bathroom lighting. If you are installing fixtures and bulbs into your bathroom you might want to consider one of the following options.

Fluorescent Lighting

Fluorescent lighting has now been developed to use less energy than you are used to and you can now purchase bulbs that can be fitted into a normal bayonet style socket. These use less energy than standard filament bulbs. The disadvantage of fluorescent bathroom lighting is that the quality of the light can seem harsh and glaring. Fluorescent bathroom lighting is generally available up to 150W. 

LED Lighting

There have been many new types of LED that have come onto the market recently that are suitable for bathrooms, including halogen lighting. The downside being however that they are often expensive. LED lighting is available giving an output of around 40W which is far more energy efficient than 100W bulbs. LED lighting has a less-harsh glare than most fluorescent lighting and can usually be fitted flush into the ceiling. 

Energy Saving Bulbs

Ordinary energy saving bulbs often last up to 5 years without needing changing. They are more expensive than standard bulbs at around $5 each, but the cost makes sense over a period of time as they are more durable than regular bulbs.

Bathroom lighting requires less brightness compared to that for a study room or an office. It used to be that all areas of a home would have the same kind of lighting no matter what the room was used for. This actually happens even today.

Some bathrooms are very poorly lit. It can either be too gloomy that it makes you just hate it to shower there or it can be too bright and you get to see all your terrible wrinkles and impurities illuminated garishly.

Aside from figuring out the best bathroom lighting which will make this room more comfortable for you, there are other reasons to reconsider the way your bathroom is lit. Nowadays everybody is concerned with energy efficiency and it is time that you jump in on the bandwagon too.

Low Watt Bulbs for Bathroom Lighting

You can change the bulbs in your bathroom to those that have a lower wattage. Low watt bulbs today are actually descendants of those that used to be put up in photo studios. These give a soft lighting because of the way the light spectrum works. You can opt to use them in different fixtures, depending on what you prefer. Some use them as sconces or as Hollywood-style lighting. Make sure that, in choosing a fixture for your bathroom lights, you get ones with translucent lenses. The clear lenses will give a glaring effect while opaque ones will not do a good job of illuminating the room and your face. Also see to it that the fixture is not tinted with any color as this can distort what you see in the mirror and how your face is lighted.

Advantages of Low Watt Bulbs

Low watt bulbs can be used for much longer and the energy costs are lower as well. These light bulbs can be used around 8 to 15 times longer than the regular ones. And they only use around 30 percent of the energy that brighter bulbs do. Low watt bulbs do, however, cost more than the regular powered light bulbs but the savings can be found within your power bill.

Aside from all the energy efficiency benefits that you get from the low watt light bulbs, you also get to enjoy a milder and more delicate light for your face. You need light that does not place shadows on your face.

You can also choose from a variety of light textures. You can opt for a cool or warm color temperature. Certain skin tones benefit more from a warmer light color while others look best in cool tones.

Remember that the lights in your bathroom should accurately illuminate and flatter your features. They should also make the room a comfortable one to be in. Having bathroom lights that are too garish will make the place feel cold and uninviting.

Switching to low watt bulbs for your bathroom will make your shower area an inviting one but will also help make our planet the wonderful, inhabitable place it was meant to be.

Recycling bathroom fixtures is a great way to help the environment by keeping used fixtures out of landfills. It is also good to buy used fixtures, since new fixtures can be very expensive. It can be difficult to find fixtures that are still usable, but here is a collection of approved destinations, where finding a bathroom fixture can be a breeze. 

Goodwill

The Goodwill store is a great destination to purchase any type of used items for a low price. Goodwill is an organization that accepts donations from locals, and resells almost any household item for a low price. This helps the community greatly. Bathroom fixtures can be found here if you look hard enough, and return frequently, since Goodwill is always accepting new donations daily. 

Flea Market

Flea markets are popular for having a lot of stuff that most conventional stores do not have. They are adored by people who enjoy looking at everything, as you never know what you are going to find. There are many different stands, or tents, that varry from food, to construction tools. Bathroom fixtures are sold often at flea markets, and can be bought cheap. Flea markets are famous for bartering or trading, so if you have anything to trade in, here would be a good place to trade it in.