Hanford, California Electrical and Electrician

In most Hanford homes, there are a wide variety of electical components such as circuits, breakers, service panels and GFCI breakers. Each type serves a very specific purpose. This information highlights each major component and tips on eletrical safety and maintenance.

What is the definition of a Circuit?

A circuit is the course electric current moves, from the place where power comes into your house (the service entrance panel or a sub-panel wired to it) via wires to an electrical device (such as a light fixture) and returning to its starting point. The National Electric Code (NEC) requires that all circuits have a grounding system. Grounding makes sure that, if a short circuit transpires, all metal parts of the wiring system or of electrical appliances or fixtures associated with it will be preserved at zero volts. The grounding wire for every single circuit connects to the distribution center and next is run the hot and neutral wires in the branch circuits.

Service Entrance Panel and Distribution Center

The wires from the master connect to the service entrance panel, the control center for your home's electrical service. Encased in a cabinet or box, the panel is commonly situated outside your house, under the electric meter. It can also be located on an interior wall, precisely behind the meter. In this panel you will normally find the main disconnect - the main fuses or main circuit breakers to which the wires attach. After passing through the main disconnect, the wires come into a distribution center enclosed in the service entrance panel or in a separate sub-panel. Here the current is segmented into branch circuits, each protected by a fuse or circuit breaker. These branch circuits subsequently run to switches, lights, receptacles, and appliances that are permanently wired. The distribution center and service entrance panel in the residence are equipped with either circuit breakers or fuses. These areas are the fragile points of every circuit - the safety mechanisms that keep the branch circuits and anything attached to them from overheating and catching fire. If there's an overload or a short circuit, a circuit breaker will trip or a fuse will blow, ending the flow of current.

Circuit breakers

Circuit breakers are durable switches that serve the same use as fuses. When a circuit carries more current than is safe, the breaker will switch to Reset. For most breakers, the switch has to be pushed to the "Off" position and next to "On" after a circuit is tripped. The distribution center and service entrance panel in your residence are setup with either circuit breakers or fuses.

Tripped breaker (no electricity)

If there's an overload or a short circuit, a fuse will blow or a circuit breaker will trip, turning off the flow of current. Reset the breaker by moving the lever to off position, then move the handle to the 1 position. Note: If it keeps on tripping, do not continue trying to reset the breaker. The breaker has to cool down once tripped. While it is cooling, shut off all lighting and unplug all items connected to the circuit that is tripped, then try resetting the breaker. If the breaker does reset, start turning lights back on and plugging items back in until it trips again. This will identify the electrical item or light that is instigating the problem.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)

The GFCI is a particular kind of circuit breaker which is installed in outdoor, garage, and bathroom areas. If there's an electrical current leakage, or "ground fault," the GFCI exposes the circuit immediately, cutting off the electricity. When a GFCI is tripped, reset it as you would a standard circuit breaker. For a receptacle GFCI, push the Reset button.

The Wiring of Houses

Modern houses in Hanford contain what is known as a "3-wire service." The utility company connects three wires - two "hot," one neutral - through a meter to the house service entrance panel. These wires provide both 120-volt and 240-volt resources. One hot wire and the neutral wire combined supply 120 volts, the amount meant for most household applications, such as lighting and small appliances. Both hot wires and the neutral wire can form a 120/240-volt circuit for such needs as a range and dryer. Wire connections are made inside plastic or metal boxes mounted in the walls or on the ceiling. Ceiling or wall-mounted lighting, switches and receptacles each includes its own boxes. Single wires are wrapped in insulation that is color-coded for easy identification. Though hot wires are as a rule red or black, they may very well be any color but green, gray or white. Neutral wires are white or gray. Grounding wires are bare or green.

Broken Light Bulb

If your light bulb has broken at the holder, shut down the power at the mains making absolutely certain noone can turn it on by error and push a carrot into the brass connector. Use this as a handle to twist out.

Pointers for maintaining efficient lighting

Change other bulbs throughout the house with bulbs of the next lower wattage.

Consider installing solid-state dimmers or high-low switches while replacing light switches. They make it simple to reduce lighting intensity in a room and accordingly save energy.

Utilize compact fluorescent lights whenever your can; they emit more lumens per watt than incandescent lamps. These new lights can fit into many incandescent lamp sockets and supply the same quality of light.

With efficiencies of 50-60 lumens per watt, the compact fluorescent lamps are 3-4 times more economical conventional bulbs and keep going 10 times as long. As an example, an 18-watt compact fluorescent lamp delivers the same amount of light as a 75-watt incandescent lamp. Although the initial cost is greater, the savings in electricity costs may possibly pay for the compact fluorescent bulb in about a year.

How to conclude whether a rewire is essential

If you've just moved in and are speculating whether a rewire is necessary for your home, look for the following points. They show the possibility that you wiring must have an upgrade:

Round pin sockets or round light switches.

Black rubber cables, switches & light holders.

Cotton covered cables or twisted wires from light fittings.

Sockets in skirting boards or switches on wall in bathroom.

General Indoor Electrical Safety Guidelines for Homes in Hanford

People are outstanding conductors of electricity, especially when they are on a wet floor or standing in water. Your body can behave like a lightning rod and carry the current to the ground. Follow these safety precautions to avoid the danger of injury, or even death:

Sometimes, a white wire will be used as a hot wire. For easy identification, it should be painted black or taped where it is close to splices and terminals.

Touching a faulty appliance, plug, or bare wire can make you part of the electric circuit and put you in jeopardy of electric shock.

Frayed wires are hazardous anywhere. They should be fixed at once, or better yet, replaced.

Switch inflexible electric cords and follow Underwriters Laboratories (UL) guidelines.

Repair any appliance that sparks, emits smoke, or shocks you.

Never use any electric appliance while in the tub or shower.

Don't use any appliance while you're touching metal pipes and faucets or anything wet.

Outlets near water sources (outdoors, kitchen sinks, garages, bathrooms) should be "ground fault circuit interrupter" (GFCI) protected as explained above.

By no means should you touch an electric cord or appliance while your hands are damp.

Unplug appliances before cleaning them or removing anything from them (that burnt toast from your toaster, for example).

Don't jerk the cord when unplugging appliances.

Instruct children not to put things into electrical outlets. Plastic outlet guards intended for toddlers are a good idea.

Keep work areas clean. Oily rags, newspapers, and sawdust can initiate a fire from electric sparks.

Never overload a circuit with high-wattage appliances. Check the wattage on your appliance labels and be absolutely certain that the combined wattage of every appliance that you want to plug into the same circuit does not exceed 1440 watts for a 15-amp circuit, and 1920 watts for a 20-amp circuit.