The Electric Connection’s Blog

How to Fix a Tripped Breaker

Posted on | by K Hopkins

When a part of your home or fixture suddenly goes dark, it is usually because of an individual circuit breaker tripping. The best way to find out if this is the case is to check your main electrical panel. The main electrical panel is located in the basement or utility room. A tripped breaker is always represented by a breaker switch facing a different direction from all others. For example, others may seem ON and just this one switch seems OFF or in-between.

Since no one switched off this breaker, you can safely assume it tripped. Now, a breaker tripping is not a strange thing. The circuit breakers are designed to act as safety devices in the home to prevent electrical problems or hazards from occurring. When there is a sudden surge of energy due to lightning or overload the electric breaker will trip. If an outlet suddenly draws too much current, the electric breaker will also trip.

How to reset a tripped breaker

  • The first thing to do has been explained above, and it is finding the tripped breaker.
  • Next, turn off all the lights, outlets, or electric devices controlled by that breaker. To guide you the breaker should be labeled for the area it serves.
  • Reset the breaker by making sure it is in the OFF position. Then, turn the switch back ON. Turn on your appliances or the outlets connected to that circuit.

This simple procedure should fix the problem, but if the breaker trips again it means there is another issue. In this case, it’s time to call an expert electrician at The Electric Connection.

Here are some possible causes of a breaker tripping

Ground fault
A ground fault occurs in the grounded junction box. It is when a hot wire and a bare ground wire both touch the metal box housing them. This sets off a reaction that pushes an unusual and large amount of electricity through the circuit. This will repeatedly trip the breaker and eventually burn an outlet.

Faulty appliance
A faulty appliance can have both short circuits and ground faults that overheat the circuits and cause the breaker to trip.

Short circuit
A short circuit occurs when a neutral wire and hot wire touch. This can happen within the home’s wiring system, an outlet, or a fixture. A short circuit leads to overheating, which trips the breaker.

Most circuit breaker tripping is caused by overloading. Usually, when you can identify what you were doing before the breaker tripped, you can stop or unplug the electrical device to restore order. Resetting the breaker with the steps above will work fine.

However, a short circuit or ground fault are more serious problems that require an electrical technician. Some signs you might observe in either situation are burning smell or scorch marks around an outlet. A faulty appliance will also need to be replaced or repaired to avoid electrical problems. An electrician can confirm the true cause of the tripping breaker and fix it.

Hearing An Electrical Hum? Here’s How To Fix It

Posted on | by K Hopkins

Electrical hums and buzzes are quite common in the home. The annoying thing about these sounds is that they can be hard to locate and most times they indicate more serious electrical problems.
Before diving into the causes of electrical hum and how to fix it, here are some tips to help you identify the source of the hum.

  • Start by shutting off all the circuit breakers in your home. When you do this an electrical hum should stop, but if the sound continues, it means it has nothing to do with your electrical components. To identify the source of the electrical humming sound, turn the circuit breakers back on one at a time. When you hear it, check all the outlets or appliances connected to that particular circuit breaker.

  • You can opt for using a cheap stethoscope from the drugstore. This works better if you suspect that the hum is coming from an outlet or within the walls. Use the stethoscope to listen through surfaces.

  • If you can get your hands on a good ear trumpet, then you can save yourself a lot of stress. Ear trumpets were once a popular tool used by those with hearing impairment. It gives your sharper hearing. Put the smaller end on your ear and guide yourself around suspected areas until you find the culprit. If you can’t get the real thing, improvise with a funnel, or a rolled piece of paper.

Causes, Sources, and Solutions for an Electrical Hum

  • Lights and other fixtures
    Lights on dimmers are common sources of annoying humming or buzzing sounds. This happens because some dimmers do not actually dim the light they just switch the light off and on at a rate too fast for your eyes to see. This constant cycle leads to a humming sound. The solution is to switch to rough service bulbs or LED lights.

    Fluorescent light fixtures may also make a humming sound and replacing them with a different type of fixture can solve the problem.

  • Mains hum
    A mains hum is a term used to describe the audible sound of alternating current. It is common in appliances with motors and occurs when these motors switch on and off. A mains hum is usually harmless but if it gets louder than normal, consider inspecting the appliance.

  • Circuit breakers
    A circuit breaker can trip when overloaded or when there is an unusual surge or demand for electrical power. Sometimes this can lead to a humming sound from the breaker box, which indicates that a circuit is overloaded. This issue can only be addressed by an electrician.

  • Wiring and outlets
    If you notice the sound is coming from the electrical wiring or an outlet, it could mean improperly grounded wiring or the wiring is producing more volts than it can carry. Both situations are dangerous and must be fixed by a professional electrician.

How to Test a 240V Circuit

Posted on | by K Hopkins

test 240v240V circuits often serve heavy-duty appliances in the home like the dryer, AC, ovens, and water heater. When there is a problem with the circuit or electrical outlet, it becomes dangerous to use them. As a homeowner, a few basic tricks can help you assess your electrical components in the home and make informed decisions about them.

Read on to know how to test a 240V circuit.
A typical 240V outlet carries three slots or openings. There are two vertical or horizontal slots placed side by side with a middle third slot below the first two. The two slots that lie side by side carry 120V each. The third slot connects the outlet to the ground.

You will need a multimeter to complete the next steps. A multimeter measures the amount of volts running through a circuit. To use the multimeter, turn the dial up to 240V and attach the probes appropriately. Ensure that the red and black probes are completely plugged into the correct slots in the multimeter and are not damaged. Avoid touching the metal tips of the probes to avoid an electric shock.

With the multimeter inserted, check the reading displayed on it. Both slots should read 120V each and a total of 240V. If this isn’t the case, then one or both circuits may be faulty.

Reset the multimeter to 120V and switch the probes. Insert the red probe in any of the two vertical slots and the black probe in the ground slot. The multimeter should read 120V; otherwise, that circuit is defective. Repeat this procedure for the second vertical slot.
After testing the circuit and confirming any defect, the best action is to call an electrician to replace, repair, or provide other valid solutions. Practice basic precautions to avoid damage to your circuits or electrical hazards. These include switching off outlets when not in use and keeping them away from water.

How to Rewire a House without Wrecking the Walls

Posted on | by K Hopkins

wrecking walls during house rewireTaking out the drywall might make a rewiring project less complicated. The only problem is the stress it places on a homeowner.

Hence, it would be every homeowner’s dream to be able to rewire a house without wrecking the walls. But just to be clear, while this is possible, it still creates a minimal mess. A lot of factors play a role in this process.

  • First, is the house an old home? If so, you should get an electrician who has the experience and interest in working on old houses. This is important because such electricians have the skill and patience to understand older buildings and upgrade outdated wiring without insisting on tearing the walls down.
  • Next is the house infrastructure. Is it brick or frame? Are there plaster walls? Has the panel been updated recently? Is it a one-story or two? Is there a basement?

Some house wiring is easier to replace than others because of the construction. The wall outlets can be rewired from the attic in the case of a second floor or from the basement for the first floor. One-story houses are easier to rewire this way while two or three-story houses can be more complicated.

Steps Involved

  1. Plan and Prepare
    A house rewire without tearing down the walls requires a professional electrician. This electrician will begin by having a detailed plan of the circuitry to be replaced. Preserving the drywall means running a lot of wires through an attic or available crawl space. The electrician will remove insulation from the walls and mark the points to remove any existing wires.
  2. Remove the old wiring.
    This can be a tricky situation because you can’t just pull the old cable from the walls. Your electrician will take precautions by switching off the breakers and disconnecting wires from them. Then the new wires can be taped to the old before pulling them out one at a time. This way, the new wiring can fall easily into place.
  3. The new wiring
    Cut an opening in the wall for each appliance on the circuit. Next, drill a ¾ inch hole under or over this opening. If the electrician has an assistant, it will be easy to feed the wires through these holes as work goes on.

It is important to secure the wires with staples or an appropriate clamp. Rewiring is a tough but necessary project for any home with outdated or unreliable wiring. Ensure you hire a professional electrician or contact us right here to make this project as simple as possible.

How to Install An Electrical Subpanel

Posted on | by K Hopkins

electrical toolsWhen it comes to electrical components, installing them yourself may seem complex. But with the right tips and clear directions, you can get something done.

Every home or building is serviced by a main electrical panel. These main panels can sometimes need a subpanel to share the work. A subpanel is a smaller service panel with dedicated functions. It helps to improve the convenience and efficiency of your electrical system.

The subpanel can be connected to the main panel with a thick three-wire cable. Before you can install it, you must confirm that it won’t overload your entire system.
Tools and materials you will need:

Long-nose and Lineman’s pliers, flashlight, strippers, screwdriver, hammers, voltage tester, mounting screws, breakers for the new circuits, approved feeder cables, staples or cable clamps, and the subpanel itself.

Note to reader
This installation involves electrical skills like stripping wires, screwing, and more. It takes a while to complete starting from a few hours. It is also fairly difficult, so don’t expect it to be a walk in the park. It is best to call a professional to install the subpanel for you.

Step 1:
Mount the subpanel a foot away from the main service panel. Pull and clamp the wires from the subpanel. Strip the wires and clamp the cables accordingly in the main panel. Ensure that the neutral and ground wires are carefully connected to their bus bars.

Step 2:
Route the red and black wires. Strip and cut them before connecting to the feeder breaker and snapping the breaker in place. Do the same for the feeder wires and connect them to the terminals. Next, connect the red and black wires to the hot bars and the white to the neutral terminal. Don’t forget the ground wire, which should be connected to the ground bus bar.

Step 3:
There’s still much work to do on the subpanels. Run the wiring for all the new circuits into the subpanel and clamp them. Connect the wires as before with the white wire to the neutral bus bar, hot wires to the circuit breaker, and ground wire to the ground bus bar.
Power is fed from the hot bus bars to individual circuit breakers and to the branch circuits running out of the subpanel.

Check everything and close up the subpanel.

How To Install A Dryer Outlet

Posted on | by K Hopkins

dryersWe all know the sweet feeling of pulling out a clean, fresh, and dry clothing item from the electric dryer. At that moment when all that freshness and dryness touches your skin, you enjoy this often unrecognized pleasure of life.

The only thing that can stand in the way of experiencing this each day is a faulty dryer outlet.

An electric dryer is a tough machine, and it often demands much power. Hence, the ideal outlet to provide enough power for this equipment must be a 240V and 110V outlet. The 240V supplies enough electrical power to heat the dryer and get it working at full capacity. Then the 110V supplies electricity to control the timers in the dryer. So, you see a good 240V and 110V dryer outlet ensures your safety while providing power to the dryer.

Can a dryer outlet be fixed?
Sure! But a replacement is much cheaper and safer than trying to fix a faulty outlet. Here is how you can install a dryer outlet.

  • Take precautions
    Before beginning any electrical work (no matter how small you think it is) you should turn off the power. Electrical hazards and accidents can be avoided by doing this. If you don’t know which circuit services that area or outlet, you can switch off power to the entire house instead.
  • Unscrew the receptacle
    The receptacle is largely represented by the white faceplate. Remove the faulty receptacle from the wall by unscrewing any screw you find on the faceplate. There are usually two on opposite sides of the faceplate. When the screws are taken out, you can easily pull the receptacle from the wall but you should do this with care and little force because the receptacle will remain connected to the wires in the wall. Set the screws aside for later use.

    Next, unscrew the terminals with a right-sized screwdriver. A small screwdriver should work best for this. When the terminals have been unscrewed the entire outlet can be pulled from the wall easily.

  • Replacing the outlet
    It is advisable to purchase an outlet in a similar size and shape to the one you need to remove. This makes it easier to install the new dryer outlet without having to change the size of the hole.

    Feed the cable through the cable grip in the wall, then tighten the gripping screws to hold it in place. Don’t clamp the bare metal of the cable. Ensure you clamp only the insulated part.

  • Wiring
    Strip the wire using a razor knife or a cutting tool. Connect the grounding wire to the green screw and the neutral white wire to the terminal. Connect the red and black wires to the other terminals. Now that this is done. Look at the setup to ensure that the wires are tucked nicely and neatly. Push the wires into the box and screw the receptacle back in with the faceplate.

Test the new dryer outlet. If you encounter any problems or cannot do this yourself, don’t hesitate to call an electrician.

How to Save Money On Electric Bills In an Apartment

Posted on | by K Hopkins

save money apartment billsOwning a home comes with several benefits including the flexibility to make changes as you please. But it’s a different thing altogether when you are one of the millions of people who rented an apartment and have limited control over the building. High monthly electricity bills can threaten that sweet feeling of having your own space and freedom.

The good news is, there’s no need to panic or subject yourself to the hassle of high bills. In a few seconds, we will share some practical and effective tips to help you save money on the electric bill in an apartment.

  1. Find perks that work to your advantage.
    Living in an apartment means you must go with the electricity provider your landlord chose. While it may not be your first choice, it’s possible to make this existing plan work to your advantage. Take a look at the bill you have received and call the electricity provider with the number on the bill. Ask the following questions:

    • Is there a specific time during the day or night when electricity is cheaper?
    • Are there perks or extra plans available?
    • Is there time for free electricity?
    • Do they offer free audits?

    2. If you are lucky and most of your questions come with positive replies, you can work your schedule around using electricity more during the cheap or free hours. For example, if electricity is free at night, do the laundry or use the dishwasher during that time. A free audit can help you learn ways to save on electricity and use less power.

  2. Change your habits
    Perhaps you have never had to pay the electricity bills so you never practiced restraint. Well, you get to learn how to change your habits if you want to save on the bill.

    • Don’t leave idle appliances on
      If you are not using a certain appliance, unplug it. Leaving these appliances plugged to the outlets still draws electricity which is accounted for in your bills.
    • Establish electricity-free days
      It won’t hurt you to go without the Television or other power demanding electronic appliances once or more times in a week. They consume more electric power and limiting your use can save a lot on the bill.
    • Use cold water and sun dry
      Wash your clothes or dishes in cold water and save on the electric power needed for hot water. You can also opt for sun drying clothes if possible.
    • Maintain your appliance
      When electrical appliances work slower they consume more power. Keep all your electronics efficient with regular maintenance to avoid the demand for more power.
  3. Get tooled up
    The changes you can make to the apartment to save on the electric bill include:

    • Switch to the power saving LED bulbs
    • Use a low-flow shower head
    • Insulate your water heater
    • Purchase a smart thermostat
    • Use fans
    • Use a low-flush toilet

If you are unsure about making these changes, then don’t hesitate to ask your landlord before proceeding.

Getting to Know Your Main Electrical Panel

Posted on | by K Hopkins

electrical panelYou are probably vaguely familiar with that scary big gray and black box in your basement or utility room. Most homeowners look to this box when they have a tripping breaker or sudden loss of power.

The main electrical panel in the home is also known as a breaker box. It receives and distributes electrical power from the utility company into all areas of your home.

When the electrician needs to fix any electrical component in the home, they turn off the power to that component at the breaker box. It is good to know the main functions of the electrical panel but as a homeowner, you should be better informed.

Read on as we explore more about your home’s main electrical panel.

At a glance

When you open the panel door, you would see the circuit breakers that serve your home. These should appear like several switches each connected to an electric component.

You can turn these circuit breakers on and off to control the area or appliance they give power. The appliances can be identified by a symbol, handwritten word or a detailed sheet on the side of the door.

If you find that you have fuses and not circuit breakers, it means the electrical panel hasn’t been upgraded in a long time and an upgrade should be considered now.
The electrical panel also consists of empty slots.

These slots allow homeowners to include additional circuit breakers for new appliances or areas of the home. When the need arises to install or replace a circuit breaker, the electrician does this by first removing the protective cover inside the electrical panel. This cover is known as the dead front cover and can be unscrewed out of place. During such service, the entire panel will be shut off.

Circuit breakers

The circuit breakers are designed to protect the appliances they serve by tripping off if there is an unusual occurrence with electric power. When there is a high demand for power than the circuit can provide, the wiring becomes affected and electrical hazards like a fire can occur.

Components of circuit breakers

Double-pole breakers literally have double poles. They provide 240V with 15 amps to 50 amps ratings. They serve dedicated outlets for home appliances that demand much power; for example, electric dryers, air conditioners, and stove.

Single-pole breakers have single poles. These poles provide 120V with 15 amps to 20 amps. They serve most of the circuits and outlets in the home.

Bus bars – Hot, Neutral, and Ground

The hot bus bars are two thick black service wires connected to the main circuit breakers. They provide 120V of power.

The Ground bus bar is a separate bus bar installed for ground wire connections. It is usually connected to the neutral bus in the main service panel

Electrical power leaves the panel through the hot bus bar and reaches outlets, appliances, or switches. When this electrical power returns it goes through the neutral bus bar which comprises of a white circuit wire.

Together the components of the main electrical panel keep your home up and running with safe electricity.

Learning more about this panel doesn’t mean you should fumble around with it. To avoid electrical hazards always call an electrician to attend to any issues. However, now you can better understand what they say when they arrive.

Are Online Reviews Important for Local Search?

Posted on | by K Hopkins

contractor asking for reviewsYour business reputation is invaluable to its success. And in recent times, consumers no longer want to hear how good your business is from you, they want a third party confirmation from users like themselves. This brings us to the ever growing importance of reviews for businesses.

Let’s check out some stats.

92% of buyers or consumers depend on business reviews to help them decide which companies to trust.

This means that if your business reviews contain more negatives than positives, potential clients will be skeptical and probably look elsewhere.

Now, not only do reviews affect purchases, but they also influence your local SEO or visibility. When you own a local shop, you want to be seen on online local searches to boost sales.

Studies have shown that 86% of consumers read reviews for local businesses before making any decisions.

Here’s why online reviews are important for local searches.

  • They show your business is genuine and offers good products- that is if there are positive reviews to speak for you.

  • The consistency and quality of online reviews make you seem relevant to search engines and increases your chances of showing up in top results. Not only do you need to have more positive reviews, but you must also have them consistently.

  • Studies show that over 40% of consumers only read reviews which are up to 2 weeks old. The implication of this is you would lose some prospects if your last review was a month ago.

  • Some online reviews are keyword rich. Trying to rank higher in searches all by yourself can be daunting but with rich and consistent reviews, it can become much easier. Some customers tend to speak about the service when they leave reviews. This applies to both positive and negative feedback. These service keywords go a long way in local searches and can improve rankings greatly.

How to get reviews

The reason most businesses avoid the subject of reviews or suck at it is that asking for reviews can be tough. It is not an easy feat to convince most people to feel interested in leaving feedback about your business.

This gets worse for positive reviews because customers who feel they had a bad experience waste no time in letting the world know about it. So, how do you get your clients to leave reviews especially good ones? The team at The Review Generator has compiled a few tips to guide you.

  • Delegate a team to this task.
  • Remember not to sound too formal, pushy, or needy when asking for reviews.
  • Create a template text to send as emails or messages to customers. Try to include links to the review page in these messages.
  • Set up a review page customers can visit to drop reviews and see other customers’ feedback too.
  • Claim your listings and business profiles on review sites to help you monitor your online reputation.
  • Respond professionally and interactively to reviews online.

Good practices to help maintain your online reputation with reviews

  • Never buy or write fake reviews.
  • Respond appropriately to negative reviews. They are a necessary evil that proves your authenticity and tests your professionalism.
  • Try to get keyword rich reviews by encouraging clients to talk about the service they receive.

The Electric Connection proudly utilizes services by The Review Generator. This reputation management service allows The Electric Connection to collect a variety of feedback from all our clients. We strive on customer satisfaction so when a problem arises, we want to know. The Review Generator allows us to reach out to our customers for feedback, get more positive reviews, and take care of any complaints from our customers privately.

What Size Wire For Tesla Charger

Posted on | by K Hopkins

tesla wiringWhen you are obsessed with pretty cars and tired of driving fuel powered vehicles, then an electric vehicle like Tesla is your best bet. A lot of drivers want to get behind a Tesla vehicle just to enjoy the thrill of riding such a car.

With Tesla, you never have much to worry about, except, of course, charging. Charging electric vehicles can be smooth and easy depending on your choices. Tesla makes things even better with its superfast chargers and convenient charging options.

Now, you know you can charge your EV at home using either the 120V outlet or the 240V outlet. 120V gives you a slow trickle charge and might limit your full experience with your sweet vehicle. The 240V outlet, on the other hand, is every driver’s delight. You can get a full charge in a few hours and maximize your Tesla experience.

Installing the Tesla wall charger at home

The first thing to note is you need an experienced electrician to install your Tesla wall charger. While it is important to have some basic knowledge to help you make informed decisions, it is not advisable to take on the full installation yourself.

The wall charger will comprise a connection between the breaker and the outlet or wall connector. This will involve a run of wire and for Tesla chargers, you do not need just about any wire. Generally, EV charging should be installed using copper wires because most aluminum wires are not rated for EV use. Aluminum wires are also known to overheat frequently which can be dangerous for your car and home.

Tesla wall connectors are rated for only copper wires.

Ensure the wire you choose has current handling abilities and resistance. Depending on your needs and connection made by the electrician, your wire size needs may vary. They can be any size between 3AWG and 8AWG. Ensure you discuss what is needed with the electrician and allow them to purchase the materials themselves.

At The Electric Connection, we provide free estimates on your installation and a complete EV charger installation service. We know what you need and will discuss your options with you. Contact us for a dependable charging system that lets you enjoy your Tesla.

See what others are saying:

Tesla Motors Club Forum: Wire gauge (AWG) for HPWC (Telsa Wall Connector)

StackExchange: Why does Tesla recommend such a small gauge wire for their chargers compared to this chart I found online?