There’s not a lot of opportunity for monitoring or tracking power usage within a home. Sure, you can install outlet receivers to see how much a plugged-in device is consuming. You can set up a series of elaborate timers or motion sensors. But these don’t account for hard-wired electrical components like water heaters, pumps, compressors, or large appliances. And they’re not exactly convenient. The Sense Home Energy Monitor has emerged with a solution that has the potential to make a major impact on every home – new or old. Read More
Electrical
Get a Grip on Your Wires with The Volt Claw
We periodically receive tools from different brands and not all of them make it to the front of the line for a potential review on HomeFixated. A couple years back, The Nonconductive Tool Company (NTC LLC) sent us a couple of their products to check out. For a while, these sat on the back-burner. I simply didn’t see the use for them. “I have fingers, so if I need to bend or push wires, I’ll use those” was my mindset. I also had some concern people might decide using these tools eliminates the need to shut off the power first (it DOES NOT). So, let me preface this review by saying, no matter what tool you may or may not be using, ALWAYS shut off the power, and then verify the power is indeed off with a voltage detector before working on said wiring. This dynamic duo of the Volt Claw 12 and the Volt Claw Multi-Gauge are setting out to bend electrical wires to your will. Read on to find out how the Voltage Claw made it from a neglected shelf into my Veto tool bag geared up for electrical work. Read More