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Archive for the ‘DIY Lighting’ Category
Change a Light - Change a Life
(CBS/ AP) Has been reporting another real problem on the isle of Haiti, it’s there children and the lack of family to see over them, another report say’s others are selling these kids for $ 20 dollars to what they describe as foreigners? Lacking volunteers as well as resources to stop the mayhem. The smallest survivors of Haiti’s catastrophic earthquake are growing into one of the biggest problems in its aftermath. 
Many of the countless thousands of children scattered among Port-au-Prince’s makeshift camps of homeless have nobody to care for them, aid workers say, leaving them without protection against disease, child predators and other risks.
“They are extremely vulnerable,” said Kate Conradt, a spokeswoman for the aid group Save the Children.
She said U.N. experts estimate there may be 1 million unaccompanied or orphaned children or youngsters who lost at least one parent in the Jan. 12 quake.
Some young Haitians are even being released from hospitals with no one to care for them - there just aren’t enough beds for them.
“Health workers are being advised to monitor and send separated/unaccompanied children to child-friendly spaces,” the U.N. humanitarian office said in its latest situation report.
My story is this: I believe that we all can help to make a difference here, “change a light” is the vessel that can help produce something a little extra in time of need. Your purchases via our e-store affiliates will generate a commission from the sale, and that commission is going to the Haiti relief fund, plain and simple every dime could help change somebody’s dire situation. Thank you in advance for participating.![if your going to do it, anyway's!!! [energy efficient lighting]](http://www.my-diy-blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/645e3e5f1c185e2a.jpg "if your going to do it, anyway's!!! [energy efficient lighting]")
Rebuilding Haiti
It’s been 24 hrs since i have reached out to Mr Scott Kraft, a Los Angeles times media reporter. My message was very clear and to the point, in that i wish to donate 100% of the commission proceeds for 1 month, starting yesterday. I expect for him to publish our story and return my phone call and e-message tonight, we want to put a little pressure on all of our E-store affiliates IE., Sears.com/ Amazon.com and Home Depot.com, when they meet our challenge of charitable contributions and building supplies as well as energy efficient lighting fixtures and plumbing supplies.
The building codes are questionable at best but that will not stop the masses from any further advancements. We will build a better tomorrow for the people of Haiti and their families, that have suffered long enough. Our vision here at My-DIY.net is for a brighter future in all the world, pull soldiers from the middle east and put soldiers to work on an island that right now is far worse off than any war zone Mr Obama, let us help each other in this world and end the chaos today.
Stand tall you masses and understand how critical a place these Haitians are in at this very moment, tell a friend/coworker/family member about this action that requires all of us to rise above and shout ” WE CAN DO THIS”. Climb on board with that donation and help make a difference today.
Gift Cards the perfect gift
As we all well know, tis the season, and trends have been evolving since the beginning of recorded time. Time well spent this holiday season is bringing up the efficacy level of finding the perfect gift. Whether it may be a coworker, friend, family member or that proverbial someone special.
The ever increasing popular gift card trend has been growing stronger, as every holiday comes and goes. In all actuality the gift card is the most practical present given out because the recipient as well as the shopper truly gets want they really do want. An even amount of capital to shop and spend in their very own favorite places to buy want they really do desire or what they really do need. It may also be true that this gift card giving exchange has taken a little bit of that personal touch away from the gift of giving, but it all gets ironed out in the end and sure beats the heck out of standing in lines and mall parking lots. Hard to say sometimes though, because another new tie will always find the right time and place to be wrapped around that someones neck….
DIY Electrical stack switch
In DIY electrical often times in a bathroom, some of the pre 1970’s homes, an exhaust fan needs to be added for ventilation and comfort. While many of these rooms have a light switch in a tiled wall for instance, without creating a bigger job than necessary you won’t have to change the single gang switch box to obtain 2 switches in the one box.
The image here shows how to install 2 switches in 1 electrical box. When the home was constructed a hot wire leg went into a light switch and a switch leg goes up to the light fixture.
When you have located the new place for the exhaust fan and or the energy efficient light fixture. You will now bring another electrical wire into the switch box from the new fixtures electrical housing. The existing hot wire gives power to both switches on the new electrical stack switch. Powering one switch to your existing light fixture and also powering the second switch for the new exhaust fan or combo fan and energy efficient light fixture.
Ceiling fan (diy) installation
Most of us understand the concept of heat and air, rather when it’s hot you can turn on the fan and cool off by aerating the area. But it is also true that when it is hot from the house heater you can turn on the ceiling fan and reverse the direction from clockwise to counterclockwise and start pushing the high warmer air downward and pulling it around the room below the fan for heat distribution.
This simple act of reverse circulation provides an inexpensive outlet for homeowners to lower heating bills this winter and crank up the efficacy level of comfort.
Note: always incorporate a form of stabilizing hardware for your ceiling fans. The support brackets give an extra needed insurance of this constant gyrating live load motion. This is one type of diy ceiling fan installation hardware, designed more for a new install application.
Ambiant Stair diy lighting
During a diy home improvment project, our challenge was to give enough candle wattage for the stairwell area without seeming as if it was a doctors office. We installed sconce lighting as an ascending viewpoint that when needed could be dimmed down a bit for a ambiance that truly gave a pleasing appearance with 3 sconce lights the high back wall of the staircase.
By using the existing 3 way switch leg and relocating 2 more electrical lighting rough in boxes, and a few drywall patches later, a dimmer switch was placed at the top and bottom of the staircase for a beautiful line of path lighting and after dimming down, it could set the mood in the foyer for those comfortable quite evenings at home with your loved ones.
garbage disposer
How varieties can differ in garbage disposer’s we can stand pat if any house hold appliance is abused, it will not last to long. But the main brand garbage disposers all are about the same. When needed flip the switch and chop away at will. Outside of the commercial lines the commonality of standard kitchen garbage disposers, all have the same install specification and will essentially hook up under just about any kitchen sink. A 110v extension whip hard wired into the outlet under the sink and a option for a dishwasher connect, all are very similar. 
That being said though, are experience has the InSinkerator stands behind there lines better than most others. They have local plumbers that service the next day and up to one year after purchase. What is also true is that many garbage disposers have a reset button on the body that acts like a circuit breaker when getting jammed or over loaded. Hang onto those receipts folks!
Plain Jane
Common tile would be considered any of the regular sized pieces that you’ll be using on any given project, but when this project is complete you may have several others involved. Such as the quarter round edge pieces as well as any full bull nose 90 degree pieces. We will be incorporating some spots in and around (no pattern particular look) the field on the shower/tub walls. This enables us to break up the monotony a little without any budget breaking. Dal tile gives us this option from the beginning so we had this design in mind. Same exact dimensions as the common only with a different accentuating texture, color or finish.
These will be glass tile spots in this bathroom, the varying colors allow flexibility with our other components like light fixtures going into this remodel. And brings a little more personality to the area.
Electric Test
To be efficient in this type of work is basically to have the right tools. Yea sounds like a crock but seriously we can make 5 or so trips back to the electric service panel or 1 trip. So with this job being fairly simple we still have to check our work, always check your work. Having the power off to run some new legs, 1 to the new fan and the other is for the GFI outlet.
More importantly this sweet little gadget keeps us from getting hurt and the size is unbelievably small, tiny little electrical pen tester just touch a point and instant results, operates on a battery and has our vote for high efficiency. Any electrical work that needs doing we bring this wonderful helper with us.
Rough Electric
Okay with the fan testing good , lets tap into the same power at the switch and put a GFI outlet in the wall behind the sink, in the back splash area.
The outlet box should be fastened to allow the finish wall to be flush with the face of the box. Approx. 1″ of float and 1/2″ for tile less an 1/8″ for adjusting purposes. Often when feasible we can put the outlet box in the middle of a tile surface, for that special look. Here is a finished example of a ground fault interrupter circuit at the wet area behind the sink. Same 2/14 romex will suffice here as well. Follow your local codes and get those all important inspections. Post hook up you can test your new GFI by pushing the test button on the face. If it clicks and the reset button raises, then it’s good so lets move on to the next phase.