Electrical Safety Inspection for your Home

What Is a Home Electrical Safety Inspection?

An electrical safety inspection examines the electrical system in your home to make sure its various components meet safety standards. These standards are set forth by the National Electrical Code (NEC), and electricians must follow them when inspecting your home. The inspection will also involve checking your system to verify it is installed and operating correctly.

A home electrical safety inspection will:

Ensure your electrical system is working correctly.

Identify any existing problems before they become a hazardous threat, like an electrical fire or power shortage.

Provide recommended solutions to keep your home safe.

Help you meet the requirements for your insurance risk assessment inspection.

Assess the system before you commit to purchasing the home.

Reduce your energy consumption and costs.

What Does a Home Electrical Safety Inspection Involve?

During our home electrical safety inspections, we look for anything that could pose a safety hazard to the home’s residents. It is not uncommon to find open junction boxes or splices that can create both a shock hazard and a fire hazard. We also find loose connections at receptacles, junction boxes and service panels, which can start arcing and create a great amount of heat that can lead to a fire.

We also look for properly sized light bulbs in the light fixtures. People ask, “what could an improperly sized light bulb do?” When a light bulb exceeds the listed limits on the light fixture, it can create enough heat over time to cause the insulation around the wires of the light fixture to crystalize, become brittle and break away from the wire itself. This damage causes the wire to be exposed and be a potential shock and/or fire hazard. There is a reason why light fixtures say “use a maximum __ wattage bulb.”

Safety Checklist

When your electrician from Wiretech Company inspects your home, they will use our safety checklist as a guide to inspect certain areas and identify potential issues. We will:

Check all switches and receptacles for proper operation and secure connections.

Check all light bulbs to make sure they are the proper wattage per the light fixture specifications.

Check all ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) receptacles or circuit breakers for proper operation and secure connections.

Check all arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) circuit breakers for proper operation and secure connections.

Check all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors for proper operation and replace batteries if they are battery operated.

Check all connections and do an inspection of all service equipment, including the service panel, air conditioner disconnects, etc.

Check that proper grounding is in place for the entire house.

 

Electrical Inspection

The electrician will advise you the items that could be a concern, also while doing this electrical test the electrical technician will provide you with FREE adjustments on required fixtures that may need attention.

What we check

Inspection of lights/switches

Inspection of power points / power outlets

Inspection and testing of smoke alarms / smoke detectors

Visual inspection of the switch board / electrical sub board

Visual inspection of the wiring of your home and switch board

Electrical if you have any concerns on your home or office electrical wiring

Conditions apply. This offer for a free safety inspection is in conjunction with service fee which we charge regardless of whether or not our customers take advantage of the safety inspection. The safety inspection will include a full diagnostic of your home or business which includes but is not limited to safety inspection of smoke alarms, hot water systems, switchboard, power connections to home, inspection of powerpoints and lighting around property, and much more.

 

Home Electrical Inspection

Time for a home electrical inspection…Can you be sure your home is safe from an electrical fire? General home inspectors are not equipped with the necessary skills or qualifications to make an informed and rigorous inspection on the condition of your home electrical system. They simply do not understand electrical systems in sufficient depth. Therefore they omit important details that would have been picked up by a qualified electrician.

electrical safety inspection.

home electrical inspections will provide you with peace of mind. When your home electrical system and its components are up to a safe standard. In fact, our home electrical inspection incorporates checks on safety, hazards, and risks that exceed the industry standards. Our priority is your safety, therefore our inspections are thorough and our electricians are highly trained.

Electrical Inspection

A thorough Gordon’s Powers Home Electrical Inspection will include the removal, analysis of a number of devices, such as outlets, switches Electrical installations. In doing this we will check:

Check the condition of the device and the wire feeding the apparatus

Check for open grounds

Check for correct polarity

Check the integrity of the connections

Whether it is correctly wired using appropriate wiring methods

A typical inspection will involve checking a selected number of devices. If any problems are spotted, then we investigate further to see if problems exist in other areas. This involves inspecting:

Inspecting the switchboard for proper earth grounding, bonding, and integrity of connections.

Check for the presence of a driven ground/earth rod and the integrity of the connection.

Check critical areas for potential corrosion problems that may result from improper connections or the use of dissimilar metals.

Test the operation of all Residual Current Devices or any other protection device.

 

Checklist for an Electrical Home Inspection

Electrical Safety Foundation recommends an electrical home inspection on four conditions: upon purchasing a home, when a home is 40 years or older, if an an appliance has been added, and when a home has had a major renovation. In any situation, a licensed electrician must perform the electrical inspection. While an electrician tests several electrical components, in general, a homeowner, renter or homebuyer has several items he can inspect visually

Safety

The National Fire Protection Agency estimates that electrical failure or malfunction caused more than 144,000 house fires between 2007 and 2011. While an electrical inspection may not be required when buying a new home or making major renovations to an existing home, it can reveal electrical deficiencies, and prevent fire hazards.

Electrical Service Panel

Every home has an electrical service panel. It may be located on the exterior of the home, in the garage or basement. The panel contains fuses or circuit breakers. The panel and its components must be reviewed for age, dark or smoky residue, and wear and tear. If the panel contains out-dated round fuses, these should be replaced by a licensed electrician with circuit breakers switches. If the service panel is rusty or worn, it should be replaced as well.

Wiring

In general, a home that contains round fuses at the service panel may give clues to the general age of the home’s wiring. Older homes built before 1950 may contain knob-and-tube wiring. Homes built between 1965 and 1973 may contain aluminum wiring. Both types of wiring have unique safety and performance characteristics and could be more challenging to insure. Homebuyers should be aware of this issue and homeowners should consider replacing the home’s wiring for improved safety and marketability.

Wet Area Outlets

Wet areas, including bathrooms and kitchens, must have ground fault circuit interrupters installed. Additionally, light switches must be several inches away from water. Outside outlets also must GFCIs installed. In general, GFCIs must be installed in any area where water could be present. Homeowners are advised to test GFCIs periodically; homebuyers should check them during the home walk-through before closing.

Interior Outlets and Lighting

Whether a home is up for sale or currently occupied, interior outlets, light switches, appliance cords and GFCIs must be routinely tested and visually inspected. Loose outlets must be tightened or replaced and cords must fit snugly. Outlets should be visually inspected for black smoke and cool to the touch. A licensed electrician must inspect any humming noises or switching sounds around outlets or lighting.

 

Electrical Safety For Your Home

The most frequently asked questions regarding wiring in old houses are:

Q: What are the signs of potential electrical hazards in the home?

A: Room lights dim when the refrigerator or air-conditioner kicks on; the TV screen shrinks; circuit breakers frequently trip or fuses frequently blow; and outlets or dimmer switches are hot to the touch.

Q: Is an old-fashioned fuse box a hazard?

A: No. Fuses offer the same protection against overloaded wiring as circuit breakers. However, when fuse boxes were common, houses had only 30- to 60-amperes service. Today’s homes need at least 150- to 200-amperes service, so if you have a fuse box and you’ve added any large appliances over the years, get a professional electrical inspection.

Q: How can I tell when an outlet isn’t safe?

A: If it no longer holds a plug snugly, if any parts of the outlet are broken, or if the outlet is hot to the touch, replace the outlet.

Q: Can I add more outlets in the kitchen?

A: Probably. Remember to install ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), and check your homeowner’s insurance policy and local laws to see if a licensed electrician, rather than a handyman, must perform this work.

Q: How long does electrical wiring last?

A: That depends on the type of use and abuse levied against the system over the years. If in doubt, get a complete inspection.

Construction and Maintenance of electrical infrastructure

A now large but family, value-based business, focus is to:

Exceed our customers’ expectations by delivering exceptional electrical projects and maintenance solutions, through superior trade craftsmanship, technical compliance, and timely delivery”

This ethos has been embedded in the employees recruited, training procedures and systems implemented, suppliers we use, and, customers we work with.

Commercial Services

Installing and maintaining your electrical infrastructure requires an electrical contractor that you and your business can rely on.

To keep your business at max power we offer the following services

Electrical Maintenance Services

Log any electrical maintenance request and have it resolved in no time at all! Our maintenance team are dedicated to professionalism, consistency, and communication. No surprises, not even after your electrical maintenance issue is resolved and the paperwork is in your inbox. We also provide a full range of routine maintenance and building compliance services.

Programmed Rollout and Upgrades

We’ll take your vision and turn your programmed rollout, into a reality. In order to maintain consistent standards of appearance and equipment across all sites our customers frequently implement a programmed rollout and upgrades across each of their sites. We have experience in electrical programmed rollouts and upgrades based on changes in: Technology Roll-out (i.e. new POS installs, CBUS lighting) Functional Roll-out (i.e. staff amenities

Fit Outs and Projects

When you need a team of commercial electricians to assist you with a commercial project – such as the construction of shops, warehouses, flats, or any other building, our team will get it done.

team has grown and now includes commercial electricians, apprentices, project managers, account managers and a dedicated service and support team, all with the expertise to get your job done efficiently the first time. Our reactive maintenance division is at your disposal. No electrical job is too small or complex. We are always on-time, if not you save a minimum of $148 – that’s our guarantee.

 

The Essential Guide to Commercial Electrical Maintenance Inspections

Staying up to date with your lighting and electrical service maintenance tasks ensures your systems are operating at peak performance every day. Whether your business requires monthly, quarterly, or annual inspections, it helps to be proactive and schedule maintenance with an electrical contractor into your budget and calendar. Here’s a closer look at the basics of commercial electrical maintenance inspections.

What Does an Electrical Maintenance Inspection Entail?

A comprehensive inspection will assess internal and external electrical assets. These include security features, exterior lights, equipment, and components to ensure a facility and its machinery are all up to code. An electrician will also inspect breaker panels, control panels, individual circuits, ARC fault and GFI breakers, software backups, wires, and fuses.

What Are the Benefits?

A major benefit of an electrical maintenance inspection is extending the life cycle of electrical assets. Poorly maintained assets require more energy to work properly, and excessive duty cycling can accelerate equipment deterioration.

Because they limit disruptions and extra expenses from production shutdowns and equipment replacement, regular maintenance inspections save your business money. Additionally, regular inspections allow business owners to avoid unplanned downtime.

Preventive maintenance conducted by a qualified electrical contractor can delay system failures and reduce the risk of an unscheduled system outage. If you work in a particularly time-sensitive industry, this kind of assurance is key for meeting slim profit margins.

 

Experienced Electrical Contractors

provide the entire package and work along with you from beginning to end to ensure the best results achievable. We are highly skilled at a large range of services; from commercial to industrial, education and special events. Not only that, our team of industry experts are fully trained in PAT testing, energy saving solutions, data and network cabling; there’s no electrical solution we cannot provide to the home or workplace.

COMMERCIAL

No matter whether your requirements are a large retail property, office or maybe a shop fitting assignment, our commercial team provide a no-compromise approach making use of the latest technology to meet all of your commercial requirements. Our approach:

Meet all latest compliance requirements

Have the most effective electrical, security and networking systems to suit your property and budgets

Minimise energy usage

We are fully compliant with Health And Safety Executive being safe contractor approved

These ideas are implemented by a team of time served contractors and a staff of competent technical engineers who are well known in the profession for their extensive technical understanding and huge experience in working with the most complicated and challenging of site conditions.

INDUSTRIAL

CMS electrical should be your first choice for all industrial electrical works. We are able to design, install, maintain and repair jobs of all sizes and issues. We have a long and productive relationship with our industrial customers because of our enthusiastic and flexible method.

RETAIL

Our modern strategy has ensured our large list of retail customers are left with a fantastic electrical installation, accomplished typically within a limited timescale. Our ability to effectively communicate and work well along with other trades is the reason why we a regarded as one of the best retail electrical installers

 

Electricians Assistant Residential/Commercial

Description:

This career major will introduce students to the safety practices, use of hand and power tools/equipment and electrical theory related to the electrical industry.

Required Courses:

OSHA 10 – Construction Industry

OSHA 10 – General Industry

Electrical Safety in Construction

Electrical Theory in Construction

Electrical Schematic and Blueprint Reading in Construction

Electrical Power and Hand Tools and Equipment in Construction – Level I

Direct Current Circuits in Construction

Alternating Current Circuits in Construction

National Electrical Code

Residential Wiring Methods

Commercial Wiring Methods

Motor Theory and Operation in Construction

Motor Control Wiring in Construction

Programmable Logic Controllers in Construction

Workforce Staging

Career Opportunities:

Apprentice Electrician

Controls Technician

Electrical Maintenance Technician

Average Salary:

$16,640-$37,440

 

Maintenance Time: Common Electrical Issues and Violations of Commercial Buildings

It’s hard to imagine what the world will be like without electricity. It is one of the most useful commodities we have today. However, electricity can also be dangerous to us if mishandled.

The significant number of electricity-related deaths and injuries in the workspace is one reason why it is important for businesses to conduct regular maintenance check-ups of their electrical systems. Another reason is to ensure their compliance with national and state regulations. Violating these rules can incur heavy fines or legal action against the company.

Faulty wiring

Dimming or flickering lights and fuses frequently breaking are signs of faulty wiring. A burning smell from turning lights on indicates serious wiring issues that need to be addressed immediately. Installing new light fixtures with old wiring can also be a problem. New lighting operates at hotter temperatures that old wiring might not be able to handle. Experts advise rewiring electrical systems in buildings built before 1987 to prevent fire hazards.

Grounding issues

Ground loops are a common grounding problem in commercial buildings. The interconnection of electrical equipment results in multiple paths to the ground. Professional electricians ensure that there is only one ground used as a grounding system in a building. This grounding helps excess energy escape into the ground and reduce the risk of damaging appliances, fire and electrocution.

Messy electrical panels

An organized electrical panel will help you identify which fuse is which. This is helpful when turning off the power supply in different areas of the building in case there is a fire. Have your electrician organize your electric panel for your convenience and to avoid violations.

Factors To consider when selecting a Commercial Electrical Contractor

Whether you are looking to retrofit an area of your office, or you need to redo the whole building, hiring a commercial electrical contractor can be a very cumbersome task. You may be overwhelmed by the options available to you, but bear in mind that not all contractors offer the same standards of service. It means that you need to ascertain that your chosen contractor can fulfill your requirements aptly. Let’s take a look at some of the factors you can consider when looking for commercial

Are They Qualified?

For reputable electrical contractors, Perth Western Australia regulations are highly important. This means that the company not only adheres to any regulations but ensures that their technicians are continually trained to remain compliant. Often contractors will showcase their qualifications on any promotional material, but if you are in any doubt don’t be afraid to ask.

Are They Local?

While there are some great companies around the country, it is important to choose a company who are geographically convenient. Choosing a local company not only means that you are supporting your own local economy, but removes many of the inconveniences of transportation. Local companies will be aware of the best local suppliers and will not be delayed reaching your project by a long commute. Additionally, since many contractors factor in the cost of travel to the jobsite, you are likely to find that a local company offers the most competitive price.

Look for recommendations

Reach out to your network in order to get recommendations from friends, colleagues and other business acquaintances. Ask them about the nature of their projects and if they were pleased with the finished project or not. You can also reach out to your local electrical and hardware supply stores; they usually have a list of contacts of professionals in the area.

Remember that you aren’t just going to be working with the business owner when working on your project. To ensure that you don’t end up being a robbery victim, go with the company that conducts thorough background checks.

 

Verify their credentials

Going with the lowest bid for your project may sound enticing, but you need to ensure that your contractor has the appropriate licenses. A licensed contractor is required by law to carry their worker’s compensation along with liability insurances against any accidents and injuries that may occur on your premises. Hiring someone without these is opening yourself and your business to risk, so don’t hesitate in asking the company for a copy of these things. It’s very common and every contractor should have all this information readily available. Doing so will allow you to see if their license is active and valid.

Reviews

Having shortlisted a handful of contractors by this point, start pulling up their reviews. You can use social networks to your benefit and check up on the contractors. Through social media, you should find out as much as you can about the contractor and hire them once you are satisfied.

 

Insurance

Above all, the most important thing is to make sure your electrical contractor is insured. This means that if your home was somehow ruined, due to the electrical work, you’d be fully compensated for it. This is known as “public liability insurance”. Also ensure that your electrician has professional indemnity insurance, and trust mark warranty.

Good Quality Equipment

They tool reflects the worker. If an electricians uses good quality and well tested equipment, you know that they have experience in the field and seriously care about maintaining a good standard for the jobs they take on. Additionally, a good contractor will also use equipment that offers good value for money, meaning they can offer a reasonable price to their customers without sacrificing quality.

Properly Trained Staff

Quality equipment is important, but without properly trained electricians to handle it, it’s pointless. It takes years of training to be a properly trained and qualified electrician. Ensure that they have all the proper evidence of training.

 

Attitude

Make sure that your electrician has the correct attitude. They should be proactive, asking you questions and trying to help you, passionate, showing a clear interest in electrics. They should be helping you to help them provide the best service possible. If they are clearly motivated and making an effort in order to provide the best service, you know that you will want to hire them.

Service

Do they provide all the services that you’re looking for? Make sure beforehand that they can handle your entire job. Design, installation, after-care, etc. The design is one of the most important parts of any electrical job, as it forms what is possible in your home. Houses often have wiring that dates back to the 1940s, so frequently more houses are having their entire homes rewired in order to fit their needs.

 

Do They Offer a Full Range of Services?

While you may only be looking to have a small job completed, it is a good idea to find a contractor who offers a full range of services. While some companies offer indoor work or only outdoor work, there are contractors who offer to provide both. This allows you to build up a relationship with a company you can trust. This means that when you need another project completed at a later date, you don’t need to repeat the research process and can simply call up the company for a quote. While many contractors offer a wide range of domestic services, if you are looking for an industrial electrical contractors, Perth residents may need to look for a more specialised company.

Enough Manpower

Make sure that your electrician has a large enough team to get the job done. Most people want their jobs done yesterday, and without a large team, they will not be able to complete a big job quickly, meaning it will take them longer to get your job done.

Calculating Electrical Load Capacity for a Home

The term “electrical load capacity” refers to the total amount of power provided by the main service for use by your home’s branch circuits and the lights, outlets, and appliances connected to them. Understanding capacity and load becomes necessary if you are planning the electrical service for a new home, or if you are considering an electrical service upgrade to an older home. Understanding the load needs will let you choose an electrical service with an appropriate capacity. In older homes, it’s extremely common for the existing service to be badly undersized for the needs of all the modern appliances and features now in use.

Total electrical capacity of an electrical service is measured in amperage (amps). In very old homes with knob-and-tube wiring and screw-in fuses, you may find the original electrical service delivers 30 amps. Slightly newer homes (built before 1960) may have 60-amp service. In many homes built after 1960 (or upgraded older homes), 100 amps is the standard service size. But in large, newer homes, 200-amp service is now as a minimum, and at the very top end, you may see 400-amp electrical service installed.

Understanding Electrical Capacity

Calculating how much power your home needs is a matter of calculating the amperage load of all the various appliances and fixtures, then building in a margin of safety. Generally, it’s recommended that the load never exceeds 80 percent of the electrical service’s capacity.

To use the math, you need to understand the relationship between watts, volts, and amps. These three common electrical terms have a mathematical relationship that can be expressed in a couple of different ways:

Volts x Amps = Watts

Amps = Watts/ volts

Calculating Load

After you know the capacity of individual circuits and of the home’s full electrical service, you can then compare this with the load, which you can calculate simply by adding up the wattage ratings of all the various fixtures and appliances that will be drawing power at the same time.

 

Breaker Box Safety: How to Connect a New Circuit

We believe in safe DIY. That’s why we’ve always been reluctant to show readers how to open a breaker box and connect a new circuit. Even with the power shut off, there’s a chance you could touch the wrong parts and kill yourself. But then we figured if we didn’t show you, you’d just go search the internet. And that scared us even more. So we’re going to walk you through the process, showing you the safest way to open the breaker box, wire a new breaker and test your work.

Opening the main circuit breaker panel box and adding a circuit is actually pretty easy. You only have to connect three wires to add a circuit, and each circuit wire is color-coded. But there are some safety precautions, and if you ignore them, you could kill yourself. Really. If you follow our safety steps in order and to the letter, you’ll be fine. But if at any point you’re unsure how to proceed or feel uncomfortable with the project, call an electrician.

Get the right parts and tools

Before you go shopping, open the door of your breaker box and copy the manufacturer’s name, the box model number, and the style numbers of the breakers that are approved for your box. Then buy one of those breakers. If your home center doesn’t sell the right model or brand, you’ll have to go to an electrical supplier. You cannot install a circuit breaker style that isn’t specifically approved for use in your box—even if it fits inside the box. While at the store, pick up a few 1/2-in. plastic snap-in cable clamps to secure the new cable. They’re safer than metal clamps because you don’t put your hand in the panel to install them

Power down, then remove the cover

Turn off all computers in the house before you switch off the power. Then switch off the main breaker (the service disconnect) and follow the panel box cover removal procedure shown in the photo

Test to make sure it’s dead

It’s dangerous to assume the power is really off just because you’ve flipped the service disconnect to the off position. There’s a slim chance that the service disconnect didn’t work properly, keeping power to some breakers. So test each and every breaker to make sure it’s really dead. If the test light lights up, stop and call an electrician.

 

Preventing Electrical Overloads

Understanding Electrical Overloads

Every December, the neighbor across the street lights up the block with an elaborate holiday light display. Four-foot plastic angels stand in ranks, 3-ft. candles dot the landscape, elves pop out from behind plastic snow figures, and Santa in his loaded sleigh skims across the roof with a cluster of reindeer

But every year dozens of outdoor light displays like this unexpectedly go out. You might have plugged in a small electric heater and turned it on to warm your feet. Or switched on a hair dryer. Or dropped a snack into the toaster. It’s not only the outdoor display that goes out, but perhaps most of the main floor lights too. The TV in the family room quits. The clock in the kitchen stops. And later an electrician tells you that the refrigerator stopped running too.

The problem? An overloaded circuit. The power needed by the outdoor lights added to the load from the refrigerator, the heater and any other devices connected to the same circuit, and all of them running at once exceeded the capacity of the electrical wiring

Figure A: Circuit With an Overload

An electrical circuit with too many electrical devices turned on can exceed the circuit limit. Circuit breakers or fuses will automatically shut off the circuit at the main panel.

Circuit logic

The nerve center of your electrical system is the main panel, usually a gray metal box about the size of a cookie sheet, that typically sits in some obscure spot in a utility room, the garage or the basement. Three large wires from the utility company feed the main panel. Although you might spot the wires outside if they’re overhead, they’ll be encased in conduit inside for safety, because they contain virtually unlimited electrical power.

 

Electric circuit

Electric circuit, path for transmitting electric current. An electric circuit includes a device that gives energy to the charged particles constituting the current, such as a battery or a generator; devices that use current, such as lamps, electric motors, or computers; and the connecting wires or transmission lines. Two of the basic laws that mathematically describe the performance of electric circuits are Ohm’s law and Kirchhoff’s rules.

Electric circuits are classified in several ways. A direct-current circuit carries current that flows only in one direction. An alternating-current circuit carries current that pulsates back and forth many times each second, as in most household circuits. (For a more-detailed discussion of direct- and alternating-current circuits,

The network of transistors, transformers, capacitors, connecting wires, and other electronic components within a single device such as a radio is also an electric circuit. Such complex circuits may be made up of one or more branches in combinations of series and series-parallel arrangements.

 

Electric circuits

Student everyday experiences

Students have plenty of experience using everyday household appliances that rely on electric circuits for their operation ( torches, mobile phones, iPods). They very likely have developed a sense that you need a battery or power switch to be turned on to make things ‘work’, and that batteries can go ‘flat’. They tend to think of electric circuits as involving something they call ‘current’ or ‘energy’ or ‘electricity’ or ‘voltage’, all labels which they often use interchangeably. This is unsurprising given that all these labels are frequently used in everyday language with unclear meaning. Whichever label students use, they are likely to see electric circuits as involving ‘flow’ and something being ‘stored’, ‘used up’, or both. Some everyday language, for example about ‘charging batteries,’ may also be a source of conceptual confusion for students.

Specifically, students often see current as being the same as voltage, and think current can be stored in a battery, and that current may be used up or transformed into a form of energy, like light or heat.

‘the unipolar model’ – the view that only one wire is actually needed between the battery and the light bulb for there to be a current in the circuit.

‘the clashing currents model’ – the view that current ‘flows’ from both terminals of the battery and ‘clashes’ in the light bulb.

‘the current consumed model’ – the view that current is ‘used up’ as it ‘goes around’ the circuit so the current ‘flowing towards’ the light bulb is greater than the current ‘flowing away’ from it back to the battery.

CIRCUIT SCIENCE PROJECTS

Build a Circuit

How to make a circuit? A circuit is a path that electricity flows along. It starts at a power source, like a battery, and flows through a wire to a light bulb or other object and back to other side of the power source. You can build your own circuit and see how it works with this project

Insulator or Conductor?

Materials that electricity can flow through are call conductors. Materials that stop electricity from flowing are called insulators.

Before you test each object, guess whether it will make the light bulb light up or not. If it does, the object you’re touching the wires to is a conductor.

The light bulb lights up because the conductor completes, or closes, the circuit and electricity can flow from the battery to the light bulb and back to the battery! If it doesn’t light up, the object is an insulator and it stops the flow of electricity, just like an open circuit does.

 

How to Make a Simple Electrical Circuit

Gather the necessary materials.

To build a simple circuit, you will need a power source, 2 insulated wires, a light bulb, and a light bulb holder. A power source can be any type of battery or battery pack. The rest of the materials can be found at your local hardware store.

Strip the ends of the insulated wires.

In order for your circuit to work properly, the wires need to be totally exposed so you must strip the ends. Using wire strippers, remove about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of the insulation from the ends of each wire.

Install batteries into the battery pack

Depending on the type of batteries you are using, you may be able to skip this step. If you are using multiple batteries, you will need a power pack to hold the batteries. Push each battery in by the side taking care to put the positive and negative ends in the correct orientation.

Attach your wires to the battery pack.

The wires will be conducting your electric current from the batteries to the light bulb. The easiest way to attach the wires is to use electrical tape. Attach the end of one wire to one side of the battery, making sure that the wire maintains contact with the metal of the battery. Repeat with the other wire on the other side of the battery.

Fasten the other end of the wire to the metal screw of the bulb holder.

Take the exposed metal end of each wire and bend it into a U-shape. Loosen each screw on the light bulb holder just enough to slip the U-shape of the wire around the screw. Each wire will be attached to its own screw. Tighten the screw, ensuring that the metal of the wires remains in contact with the screw.

 

Ohms Law and Power

Ohms Law Relationship

By knowing any two values of the Voltage, Current or Resistance quantities we can use Ohms Law to find the third missing value. Ohms Law is used extensively in electronics formulas and calculations so it is “very important to understand and accurately remember these formulas”.

Ohms Law Triangle

Then by using Ohms Law we can see that a voltage of 1V applied to a resistor of 1Ω will cause a current of 1A to flow and the greater the resistance value, the less current that will flow for a given applied voltage. Any Electrical device or component that obeys “Ohms Law” that is, the current flowing through it is proportional to the voltage across it ( I α V ), such as resistors or cables, are said to be “Ohmic” in nature, and devices that do not, such as transistors or diodes, are said to be “Non-ohmic” devices.

Electrical Power in Circuits

Electrical Power, ( P ) in a circuit is the rate at which energy is absorbed or produced within a circuit. A source of energy such as a voltage will produce or deliver power while the connected load absorbs it. Light bulbs and heaters for example, absorb electrical power and convert it into either heat, or light, or both. The higher their value or rating in watts the more electrical power they are likely to consume.

The Power Triangle

So we can see that there are three possible formulas for calculating electrical power in a circuit. If the calculated power is positive, (+P) in value for any formula the component absorbs the power, that is it is consuming or using power. But if the calculated power is negative, (–P) in value the component produces or generates power, in other words it is a source of electrical power such as batteries and generators.

Electrical Power Rating

Electrical components are given a “power rating” in watts that indicates the maximum rate at which the component converts the electrical power into other forms of energy such as heat, light or motion. For example, a 1/4W resistor, a 100W light bulb etc.

 

Physics Classroom – Home

If the two requirements of an electric circuit are met, then charge will flow through the external circuit. It is said that there is a current – a flow of charge. Using the word current in this context is to simply use it to say that something is happening in the wires – charge is moving. Yet current is a physical quantity that can be measured and expressed numerically. As a physical quantity, current is the rate at which charge flows past a point on a circuit. As depicted in the diagram below, the current in a circuit can be determined if the quantity of charge Q passing through a cross section of a wire in a time t can be measured. The current is simply the ratio of the quantity of charge and time.

Current is a rate quantity. There are several rate quantities in physics. For instance, velocity is a rate quantity – the rate at which an object changes its position. Mathematically, velocity is the position change per time ratio. Acceleration is a rate quantity – the rate at which an object changes its velocity. Mathematically, acceleration is the velocity change per time ratio. And power is a rate quantity – the rate at which work is done on an object. Mathematically, power is the work per time ratio. In every case of a rate quantity, the mathematical equation involves some quantity over time. Thus, current as a rate quantity would be expressed mathematically as

As is the usual case, when a quantity is introduced in The Physics Classroom, the standard metric unit used to express that quantity is introduced as well. The standard metric unit for current is the ampere. Ampere is often shortened to Amp and is abbreviated by the unit symbol A. A current of 1 ampere means that there is 1 coulomb of charge passing through a cross section of a wire every 1 second.

Conventional Current Direction

The particles that carry charge through wires in a circuit are mobile electrons. The electric field direction within a circuit is by definition the direction that positive test charges are pushed. Thus, these negatively charged electrons move in the direction opposite the electric field. But while electrons are the charge carriers in metal wires, the charge carriers in other circuits can be positive charges, negative charges or both. In fact, the charge carriers in semiconductors, street lamps and fluorescent lamps are simultaneously both positive and negative charges traveling in opposite directions.

Current versus Drift Speed

Current has to do with the number of coulombs of charge that pass a point in the circuit per unit of time. Because of its definition, it is often confused with the quantity drift speed. Drift speed refers to the average distance traveled by a charge carrier per unit of time. Like the speed of any object, the drift speed of an electron moving through a wire is the distance to time ratio.

 

Residential Electrical Circuits Explained

What Are Electrical Circuits?

Before you put “electrical repair near me” in your favorite search engine, let’s make sure you understand what you’re looking for.

Power Circuits

If you need to transfer electricity as well as control it, you need a power circuit. When you install electrical wiring, this transfer is what you’re trying to accomplish. These are like the wiring systems in your residential home, but they can be as big as the power lines outside. If a large amount of electricity needs to be transferred and controlled, you’ll need power circuits to do it.

Electronic Circuits

Whereas power circuits are great for transferring and controlling electricity, they can’t do the same for information. That’s where electronic circuits come in. They come in many shapes and sizes. In fact, you probably have electrical circuits in your pocket right now. Cell phones are a perfect example of electronic circuits because of the amount of information flowing through that cell phone every day.

What Is a Circuit?

Now that we’ve made the distinction between a power circuit and an electronic circuit, what is a circuit anyway? In short, an electrical circuit is simply a pathway through which an electrical signal can travel. If electrons are allowed to travel from their source to their destination, your lights will light, your oven will heat, and your toaster will toast.

What Does It Mean When a Circuit Is Broken?

Just for the purpose of answering this question, picture a circuit as a circular train track. For the train to travel around that track, the track has to be continuous. Any break in the track and the train cannot continue.

ELECTRIC PANEL UPGRADE GUIDE

WHAT IS AN ELECTRIC PANEL?

According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI), you should make regular checks to your electric panel, even if you haven’t needed to undertake any electrical fixes. In particular, you should check for signs of rust or scorching, both of which indicate underlying damage to the system.

WHY DO I NEED TO UPGRADE MY ELECTRIC PANEL?

As a rule of thumb, electric panels need replacing every 25-40 years, so if your home is that age, there’s a likelihood that you will need to upgrade. However, there are other key signs to look out for that will tell you when your existing system is becoming outdated.

FAULTY WIRING

When it comes to electricity and wiring within a home, safety is paramount. Faulty wiring is one of the leading causes of fires in American homes. Generally, the older wiring is, the more likely it is to be faulty, but having your electric panel inspected regularly by a professional electrician will identify any issues.

INSTALLING NEW APPLIANCES

One of the primary reasons for upgrading an electric panel is because it simply does not have the capacity to deal with modern appliances. If you are intending to install a major new appliance to your home (such as an air conditioner or hot tub), your existing electric panel may not suffice.

USE OF POWER STRIPS

As with fuse boxes, many electrical panels simply are not designed for modern electrical usage. With constant phone and laptop charging, televisions in every room, and other gadgets filling our homes, there’s simply more demand for electricity than was the case twenty years ago. A key piece of evidence for this is the limited number of wall sockets throughout homes.

 

Breaker Panel Upgrades

NB Electric is your go-to for when it’s time to upgrade your service. Whether you are adding more or newer appliances or it’s just time to replace your old electrical panel, NB Electric can evaluate your current situation, assess your needs and help determine the best option for your upgrade.

Old electrical panels can be bothersome, and in some instances, dangerous.

Some things that can happen when your panel is nearing the end of its life:

• Lights flickering
• Breakers that trip constantly or fuses blowing frequently
• Not being able to use appliances at the same time
• Melted electrical wires
• Defective circuit breakers that fail to trip – this can result in overheating, shocks, and possibly fire

Old panels can be a hazard to your family and your home because of the potential for fires and electrical shocks.

In addition to faulty and outdated panels, there are a few other reasons to upgrade your service.

• Renovation of your kitchen where a majority of your appliances are located
• Adding on to your home
• Adding a new major appliance; you have to make sure your panel can handle the load
• Adding more outlets
• Needing to upgrade/change your electrical service to meet homeowners insurance requirements
• Adding a subpanel

NB Electric does all the work for you – from evaluating and planning to working with your city and utility company throughout the process. They use all of the latest and safest electrical panels and breakers.

 

Your Guide To An Electrical Panel Upgrade For Your Home

What Is an Electrical Panel Upgrade?

Understanding what the electric upgrade process entails is essential, even though a lot of people simply don’t know. If you haven’t had noticeable problems with your electrical system, you haven’t had much incentive to learn about upgrades.

Actually, though, you should know about electrical upgrades and why they are often necessary. Circuits that are faulty or overloaded could be dangerous, and possibly start a fire in your home.

Signs You Need an Electrical Panel Upgrade

Many common electrical issues are linked to a faulty electrical panel since the panel is linked to the entire electrical system. If the panel is malfunctioning, the damage is likely spread throughout the house.

As one electrical contractor put it: “Your electrical panel is like your heart—it’s vital to the overall health of your system.”

The following sections explain some reasons why you might want to consider an electrical panel upgrade for your home in the near future:

Your Home Still Has a Fuse Box or Your Electrical Panel is Unsafe for Other Reasons

Fuse boxes were the norm for homes through the 1960s, and quite a few homes still have them today. If yours is one of them, the fuse box should be replaced.

It’s not that the fuse box is dangerous in and of itself, though it can be pretty inconvenient to have to keep replacing fuses. Rather, it’s the various stopgap measures people may have taken over the years to keep the boxes functional.

 

How to Locate and Label Your Electrical Panel

Electrical Panel Safety

If you notice anything suspect about your electrical panel, such as rust, corrosion, melting plastic, or any other damage, call your electrician right away.

Make sure your home is outfitted with ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) and arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs). These “circuit interrupters” will cut off power in dangerous situations to protect you from electrocutions and building fires. Keep in mind that if you have AFCIs and GFCIs installed at the breaker box, you may need to reset your breakers more frequently. Learn more about protecting your home from electrical hazards with our safety checklist.

Things to Consider

Once you choose to index your switches, you will need to decide how you want to label them. Do you want to take a casual tone and label the switch “Molly’s Room” or “TV Room” or will you use a less-personal tone and instead of “Molly’s Room” say “north wall of west bedroom”? There are pros and cons for both labeling styles.

How to Label Your Electrical Panel

Luckily, you found your electrical panel, opened it up, and found all the circuits clearly labeled. Still, it’s a good idea to double-check its accuracy.

Each switch controls something different. You can recruit someone to help you and together you can figure out which switch goes to what by simply flipping them and finding out.

When Do I Need to Access My Panel?

The main reason you need to locate your panel is to turn power back on to a circuit. If a fuse has blown due to an overloaded outlet in your home, you’ll need to locate the panel in order to replace the fuse and restore power. If the breaker trips, you need to find the tripped breaker and turn it all the way off before you flip it back on again.

 

Electrical Panel Upgrades

Your electrical panel regulates the electricity coursing through your home. If too much electricity is demanded on a circuit, a circuit breaker is tripped in the electrical panel to stop the electricity from overloading the wiring. An overload can cause a fire, so it’s the job of the electrical panel to break the circuit and regulate the electricity in the system to keep your home and family safe.

Unfortunately, as your home gets older, the electrical panel could have a hard time keeping up with the increased electrical demands on the system. Your appliances, televisions, computers, HVAC systems, lights and other electrical gadgets are increasingly energy efficient, but the average modern household uses more gadgets than ever before. If your home is more than 10 years old, your electrical system may not be able to keep up with your electrical demand. How do you know for sure?

How an Electrical Panel Works

The main power line from your electric company connects directly to a power meter on the outside of your home. Then the line goes directly to the electrical panel. You can usually find your home’s electrical panel in a garage, utility room, closet or basement. It’s usually painted gray.

When you look inside the electrical panel, you will see rows of switches. These are the circuit breakers that distribute the main power line into smaller branch lines. Some of the switches are doubled or tripled together because they power appliances that require large electricity loads, such as air conditioners and electric dryers. Inside the electrical panel door there should be a label that maps out the locations of the outlets and appliances according to the numbers on the switches. The switches also have numbers on them that tell you how many amps the branch line can carry before the breaker switch is tripped. The electrical panel also has a main power breaker that can turn off power to the whole system.