How to hang curtain rod without drilling safely
How to hang curtain rod without drilling: use a tension rod in a window recess, or adhesive brackets only for light curtains on smooth walls.
Home upgrade
Mounting, wiring basics, anchors, dimmers, LED strips
Will a Dimmer Switch Work Without a Neutral Wire Safely?
Will a dimmer switch work without a neutral wire? It can, but only if the exact model is listed for no-neutral use and supports your exact LED load.
Smart bulb not working with existing wall switch? Don’t flip
Smart bulb not working with existing wall switch? Leave the switch on. Flipping it cuts power, and on some bulbs it triggers a factory reset.
Toggle bolt vs molly bolt which is stronger? Divide by four
Toggle bolt vs molly bolt which is stronger? The toggle, by a wide margin — but the rating on the box is a lab number for the drywall, not for your wall.
Will a dimmer switch work with LED bulbs? Only if both match
Will a dimmer switch work with LED bulbs? Only when the bulb says dimmable and the dimmer is built for LED loads. The wattage on the dimmer doesn’t apply.
Home installation guide for anchors, dimmers and LED strips
A home installation guide index. Anchors and weight, dimmers and LED bulbs, LED strips and leakage, and the line where a job becomes an electrician’s.
LED strip flickering when off? It’s leakage, not a fault
An LED strip flickering when off is almost never a broken strip. A tiny leakage current still reaches the driver. Here’s how to find and stop it.