Electrical Section - Electrical Information

Electrical Information:

• When it comes to electrical work, a little fear can be a good thing when dealing with electricity — it could keep you from making a fatal error. But there are electrical projects you can handle. All that is needed is to give yourself an understanding of how the electrical code applies to your project and some instruction on making the proper wire connections.
• Another approach to doing your own electical work is to run the cables, install the boxes, and wire in switches and outlets, then hire an electrician to make the final power hookups and check for any code violations.
• Some municipalities allow you to do your own electrical work, but your are not allowed to wire another persons' home.
• Make sure you get the proper permits from your local municipality before starting. It's the law, and you'll also get the benefit of having your work checked both at the rough-in stage and again when the project is completed.
• Before you get started on your electical project, turn off the power at the main service panel. Plug a lamp or circuit tester into the circuit you're working on to make sure the power is turned off.
• If you have any questions or concerns, always consult with a licensed electrician or building inspector before you going forward. Electrical work isn't difficult, but the consequences for not doing it right can be serious.
• Here are a few basic Code Reminders - Switches and outlets must be properly grounded. Twist-on wire connectors must be used for all standard wire connections. When boring through wood framing for electrical cable, the edge of the hole must be at least 1 1/4 inch from the nearest edge. If not, each hole must be protected by a ½-inch-thick metal plate.

To Upgrade or Not To Upgrade

A common and perplexing question that many homeowners have asked themselves is whether they should upgrade the electrical service in their homes or not. Electrical upgrades can produce their share of anxiety. Changing a service can be very disruptive to your household, it can also be complicated, and can become very costly. Homeowners must recognize that not changing their electrical service can limit what they can do to their home during a renovation or home improvement.

Safety Issues: Your electrical service has been attached to the side of your house propably since it was built. It is subject to deterioration caused by the environment and the weather. It may have become damp and corroded in the moist West Coast climate. Some electrical services are old and still rely on fuses. Because of the age of the electrical service, they become corroded, overstuffed, and overheated. Some have been chronically overloaded through the years and due to overheating and other factors, the joints and connections have become loose. These conditions are dangerous, and good enough reasons to spend the money to change your electrical service. Then you can peace of mind for many years.

Household Convenience: Most older homes still have their original 100 amp service.When it comes time to remodel the kitchen or to add a room, often there is no room in the distribution panel to install the required additional circuits. When you do a home renovation or a home improvement, you will need an updated electrical service to handle the new appliances and electronics. A new electrical service will add value to your home.

Increased Capacity: As mentioned above, the amount of electricity available to use in your home is limited by the ampacity of your main breaker. When major appliances and household gadgets are added that need electrical power, or the size of the home is increased, then the electrical capacity of your service needs to be increased also.

 
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