Advice
Welcome to the Sparks Blog - the Advice section.
There are many products on our website, and the manufacturers of these great products offer advice on installing, fitting, and developing them, so we also inform the customers of this advice.
Select from the topics available by choosing advice related to the consumer units, electrical items, energy saving tips, heating, lighting design, smart home system, switches and sockets, ventilation, installation guides, rules and regulations, and many others.
If you are looking for more technical or specific advice on some of the products or ranges of products we sell, do not hesitate to contact us.
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ESP AlertCam: Where do People Use this PIR Detector with Integral CCTV Camera?
We are pretty sure that by now you have already heard of the amazing ESP AlertCam, a stand alone...
Why are the Grid Modules and Face Plates Becoming So Popular Nowadays?
Last year we were introducing and explaining how the grid modules work - with face plates and...
What is the Relationship Between the Wattage of a Lightbulb and its Brightness?
As incandescent bulbs are phased out of the domestic market, it's the right time to take a look at...
What to Look For when Buying a Bathroom / Toilet Ventilation Fan
In our > 20 years of experience in selling electrical products for both domestic and commercial...
5 Most Frequently Asked Questions about Consumer Units and Fuseboxes
On our website we have a wide range of Consumer Units both for domestic and for commercial /...
A Neat Idea: Stash Your Extension Socket in Your Bedside Drawer and Reduce Clutter!
In why-didn't-I-think-of-that news, Reddit user "Imnotableimjustcain" suggests keeping a power...
-600x280.jpg "More About the Latest and Most Affordable LED Technology (COB, Chips on Board)")
More About the Latest and Most Affordable LED Technology (COB, Chips on Board)
The LEDs are a fast evolving technology, from small lamps to higher wattage lamps. They will...
How Powerful a Heater Do We Need to Make The Office a Little Bit Warmer?
In the long process of updating our store to a snazzy new system, we've been wondering about some...
The Best Value-for-Money Bathroom Ventilation Fan: Silent yet Stylish
We did some research recently into what is the best bathroom fan, especially when it comes to...
Do the Flicker-Free FIPEL Lamps Mean the End of Fluorescent Lights?
A while ago the BBC reported on a new plastic lightbulb that apparently gives a better quality of...
Five Beautiful Sconce Lights for the Contemporary Home
The word "sconce" comes from the Latin absconsus via the French esconce, which means a covering or...
-600x280.jpg "Airflow Loovent Eco Fans Exceed the Building Regulations (Part F)")
Airflow Loovent Eco Fans Exceed the Building Regulations (Part F)
Domestic ventilation is a big deal. Roughly speaking, ventilation is required for: bringing in...
Better Lighting in 4 Common Problem Areas: Closets, Kitchens, Hallways, and Bathrooms
The ever-helpful Apartment Therapy recently published a short, slightly intimate treatise on...
Where, When and Why Should You Use Low-Smoke Zero Halogen Cabling?
While researching the PopPack twin batten fluorescent light fitting to present an accurate...
Methods of Vandal Proofing: Tough Construction, Extreme Protection
The Vandals were, originally, an ancient Germanic tribe responsible for the sack of Rome in 455....
How Do We Teach Young Children to Save Energy and be Eco-Conscious?
Young children can be the blight of the domestic eco-warrior. They forget to turn off the lights...
Our Top 5 Beautiful Desk Lamps: Essential and Functional Fittings
Here at Sparks Direct we like a great desk lamp: this range of fittings is essential, but that...
Westminster and Sheffield Switch to LED Smart Streetlights
Already in 2013, we have seen two thematically similar news stories: sodium street lights in the...
The Wood Beaver Nail-Proof Drill Bit: An Essential Tool for Electricians
Recently we introduced the nail-proof Wood Beaver 20mm and 25mm drill bits to our store and we...
The Effect of Office Lighting on Eye Strain, and How to Reduce the Symptoms
Asthenopia, known colloquially as "eye strain," is a major problem for the modern workforce that...
Tips on Lighting Your Home Library or Reading Room for Sufficient Illumination
Perhaps you made a resolution to read more books in 2013, or you just got a copy of Infinite Jest...
Staying Healthy by Maintaining Good Indoor Air Quality
Recently, Beijing citizens have been advised to stay indoors as the air pollution breaks all known...
Good Lighting Design in Schools May Improve Student Performance and Grades
Recently, Wired UK published the results of an interesting report on how the design of a classroom...
Designing a Home Bar is Difficult, but Lighting it Doesn't Have to Be!
In this economy, setting up a home bar might sound like an impossible extravagance, but if you're...
ESP GuardCam LED: a Simple, Cost-Effective All-in-One Security System
The latest ESP device, the GuardCam LED, is a remarkable all-in-one security device that is both...
Sustainable Design in Eco-Friendly Hand Dryers: Important for Public Spaces
A couple of years ago, a study found that paper towels are the least green way to dry your hands....
Sustainable Design in Eco-Friendly Hand Dryers: Important for Public Spaces
A couple of years ago, a study found that paper towels are the least green way to dry your hands....
Lighting a Desk, Pantry, or Bookshelves with LED Strip Lights
Once again we're indebted to Lifehacker for directing us to this tutorial on how to construct an...
Prepare for Unpredictable Weather in 2013 with a Dimplex CXL Combination Heater
As we move out from winter and the warm excess of the New Year period, we should be wary of the...
Recycle Your Old Energy-Saving Light Bulbs - Don't Just Throw Them Away!
Maybe your lightbulbs burned out over the winter, or maybe you just made a new year's resolution...