A panel upgrade or “change out” is usually required to alleviate a problem with the existing panel.
Sometimes a breaker might overheat to the point that the buss bar in a panel gets burned. The conductors between the meter and panel may become loose and
burn out the main lugs, especially common when aluminum conductors were used.
Other common reasons to change out an existing panel are due to obsolescence and outdated technology. Split-buss panels, cheap builder-grade panels, panels
contaminated by water, paint and corrosive environments are often candidates for replacement.
Panels long ago manufactured by Zinsco and FPE have
many issues and are considered a hazard by many in the industry. Click the images to the left to learn more.
Thirty years ago, the average new home
was equipped with a 60 amp electrical service connected to a screw-in fuse panel with two fuse blocks. The common distribution was a fuse block for the
stove and one for the hot water tank. The balance of the homes electrical needs were served by six, 15amp screw-in fuses.
Twenty years ago the average new home was equipped with a 100 amp electrical service and some of them used the latest in technology, circuit breakers.
Now the average home is equipped with a 200 amp electrical service with a distribution panel handling up to 40 circuit breakers serving the electrical
needs of the home.
Old style distribution panels, those with screw-in fuses are generally considered fire hazards. The contact between the base of the fuse and the buss bar
oxidizes or charcoals from poor contact. In order for the current to continue to flow heat is generated. In many areas, insurance companies will not renew
homeowner insurance if the home is equipped with an electrical distribution panel that has screw-in fuses.
RECESSED LIGHTING
INCANDESCENT R-CAN
LED R-CAN
Recessed lighting is a method of installing light fixtures flush with the surrounding surface.
Recessed lighting provides inconspicuous or "spot" lighting and allows an area to be target-lit or backlit; it can also provide overall lighting of a room or space.
Unobtrusive and energy-efficient models are available for recessed lighting. Lighting can be directional.
Recessed lighting can be used in kitchens, bathrooms, work areas, swimming pools and stair wells and as functional lighting in curio cabinets, entertainment centers and bookcases. It can be used above or below cabinetry or even along the perimeter of flooring.
When selecting fixtures, home or business owners should consider the overall aesthetics and size of the room, as well as the application the lighting is used for. The desired brightness of the space and ventilation needs should be considered when selecting bulb wattage.
When installing recessed lighting or changing or replacing lightbulbs, make sure all power sources are switched off. Follow manufacturers' instructions and do not exceed recommended wattage on lightbulbs. Provide adequate ventilation.
When hiring a professional, look for a certified or licensed Commercial Electrician and follow local building-code requirements.
ACCENT LIGHTING
FIXTURE HANG
LIGHT BOX
GARAGE COACH LIGHTS
GARAGE FLUORESCENTS
SMOKE | CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS
•Accent Lighting
Accent lighting can be used to set a mood with lighting controls or some cove lighting to bring out a beautiful crown molding. Under cabinet lighting while considered task lighting can also serve as accent lighting to highlight a nice tile backslash or granite top. Another example of accent lighting is light directed at an object such as a painting or another art object. Some light fixtures used for accent lighting are track lights, recessed cans, low voltage linear systems and mono points. When it comes to lighting an object, low voltage halogens make an excellent choice. They can be very precise using a narrow beam bulb.
It doesn't have to end there. Accent lighting can be in the form of small recessed cans in a dining room to supplement the light from a chandelier. Placing the cans about 30" off the corners will accomplish this nicely. Perhaps there is a serving area in the dining room. Two or three small recessed cans with spot light bulbs can really highlight that area.
Bookshelves in a study can be illuminated with low voltage pucks or linear lights adding a touch of class. This is also the case with glass front cabinets, providing there are glass shelves so the light can shine down through the glass to all levels.
MR-11 or MR 16 narrow spot lights are an excellent choice for directing a narrow intense beam of light on a particular object. Fixtures that use these bulbs come in many for such as track lighting, recessed cans, mono points and more. Monorail track lighting can itself become part of the style and decor, and at the same time provide different accent lighting on the same track.
•Basic Principles of Light and Luminance
It can be daunting trying to figure out what all the different terms of lighting mean and how to use them to devise a lighting plan. Here are some common terms and their meanings.
•Beam Angle or spread - This is the shape of the light emitted from a bulb with reflective properties. The beam expressed in the form of an angle measurement can be wide, normal or narrow.
•Color Rendering Index (CRI) - This is a scale of 1 to 100 to determine how the light will show the color of an object. With 100 being sunlight, that is the reference point. An object will appear as the color it should to the human eye. A lower CRI number will distort the color of an object.
•Color Temperature - This is used to measure the color appearance of light. It is measured in units called Kelvin or K. Light sources below 3200K are considered warm and have reddish overtones. 4000K and above are considered cool and have bluish overtones. For reference a normal home will be in the 2300K area while Offices and retail establishments will be in the 4000K area. 5000k is reserved for such areas as an operating room or jewelry store.
•Compact Fluorescent (CFL) - This is a term used for fluorescent bulbs that are made to take the place of incandescent lamps and are manufactured in shapes and sizes to accomplish this task. They outlast an incandescent about 10 times and use energy much more efficiently.
•Foot candle - This is was originally the unit of measurement based on how much light will reach the surface of an object one foot away from a candle. It is now considered equivalent to a lumen which is the illumination of one square foot.
•Work Plane - The work plane is considered to be an area about 30" off the floor. Lighting this plane should be your goal as this is where the majority of tasks are done.
• The Importance of Smoke Alarms for Your Family
Few of us realize how easily - and how quickly - fire or carbon monoxide can harm our loved ones. Fortunately, there is a simple, affordable way to help prevent this from happening: the smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector.
By providing an early warning in the event of fire or carbon monoxide, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors may allow you and your family sufficient time to reach safety. Many people have neglected to install these detectors despite their life-saving potential and low cost. Even those who do have detectors often take them for granted - forgetting that they need some attention to continue working properly. UL offers the following tips for purchasing and maintaining smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
CEILING FANS
CEILING FANS
BATHROOM FANS
• Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans have different uses and they perform different tasks. They can also be used for different reasons in different seasons. The major task and work of the ceiling fan is to circulate the air in some specific area or room. There are some other basic uses of ceiling fans are available as well.
It has 2 basic seasons of real use of it. One is the use in summer seasons, when ceiling fan is switched on, it circulates the air and evaporates the sweat of human skin and eliminates the perspiration effects on the human body. It is because it throws air on the human body in such a way, when the body is perspiring so as soon as human body receives the air due to sweat on the body, that air becomes so comfortable and leaves the feeling of coolness on the human body. It is the major function of ceiling fan in summer.
Another major use of ceiling fans appears in winter season. It is used in winter to heat up the atmosphere. As air has a natural phenomenon of going upward if it is warm and getting downward on the earth and to sink in it if it is cold. So when the ceiling fan is used in winter it naturally throw the warm air downwards thus it makes the atmosphere warm and in this way the ceiling fan is used in winter
• Bathroom Fans
Ventilation is one of the most important drivers of health and hygiene factors of your bathroom. Using good quality bathroom ventilation fans ensures that you get a bathroom that is free from moisture and stinky smells. There are a number of significant benefits of using bathroom ventilation fans. The primary ones are listed below.
• Removal of moisture: Removing moisture from your bathroom is important. A moist bathroom is bad for the human health and comfort.
• Removal of stinking air: If you bathroom air stinks, then it is definitely not a healthy place to be in. Also if the air inside becomes stale due to infrequent circulation then it may become hazardous for human health. It may eventually turn out to be a breeding ground for bacteria. So removing the unhealthy air from inside the bathroom is essential. This task becomes easy once you have a bathroom ventilation fan installed.
OUTLETS | CIRCUITS
NON-DEDICATED OUTLET
•
Non-Dedicated Outlets
Eliminate those ugly and often dangerous extension cords. You can add a new outlet quickly and easily without tearing
open a wall, if you already have an outlet in the other side of the wall. No extra holes. No messy patching and repainting.
DEDICATED OUTLET
• Dedicated Outlets
For the purpose of home safety, medium and heavy duty appliances must have their
own circuit which is called a dedicated circuit. Within the circuit breaker box or fuse box in your home, there are several divisions. Each section of your
home or business has a separate section with a separate circuit breaker or fuse for protection.
There are three types of circuits, the 15-amp circuits, the 20-amp and the 30 to 50 amp circuits. The heavier circuits require extra protection and have
double pole circuit breakers, because heavy duty appliances like dryers are run on them.
There are some common areas like the kitchen counter top, the heating and air-conditioning units and the bathrooms which need dedicated circuits.
All heavy, medium and light appliances used in the kitchen and bathroom require dedicated circuits. These would include the electric range, oven,
counter-top appliance outlets, refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, disposal, clothes washer, water pump, and whirlpool sauna unit.
OUTDOOR WEATHERPROOF GFCI OUTLETS
• Outdoor Weatherproof Outlets
Placing an outlet outdoors requires more precautions that indoor one, mainly because outdoors there is a higher possibility of receptacle being exposed to
water and humidity. These precautions include:
• All outdoor outlets should have GFCI (Ground Failure Circuit Interrupt) - protection against shock, which detects leaks from the electrical circuit
and breaks it.
• Waterproof in-use cover to prevent water entering into the outlet.
• 3 prong outlet and plug. Many electrical devices intended for outdoor use have three-prong plugs, which offer enhanced protection against electrical
shock.
Before using any electrical product outdoors make sure it is intended for this and does not have mention in instruction manual or label "Not for Outdoor
Use" or "Indoor Use Only". Double check all cords and plugs when mounting outlet outdoors.
SWITCH | TIMER | SENSOR
SWITCHES
TIMERS
SENSORS
• Switches are the most fundamental of all electrical devices is
the electrical switch. What makes them important in our day-to-day lives is their safe, efficient, and reliable operation. Utmost care must be taken to
select an electrical switch, whether it is for industrial or home application. Be careful to select a switch that is appropriate as well as safe.
The number of options that you get while searching for a correct switch can leave even an engineer confused. Switches are generally categorized on the
basis of the arrangement of their contacts. Switches are described as one-way, two-way, three-way and four-way switches by Commercial Electricians and electrical
suppliers.
• How it Works
The core function of a switch is to control the flow of power in an electrical circuit. The electricity flows through the circuit when the switch is on and
powers the circuit. The switch can then be used for whatever purpose it was intended. Be sure to get a switch that meets national tests and accreditation
standards. An appropriately rated switch comes with assured performance. The most commonly found switches are those that come in the toggle or snap form.
If you have anticipated 2,000 annual operation cycles, be sure to look out for a switch that is tested for 50,000 cycles. Since switches are universal
electronic components, you will find no difficulty in getting them.
• Timers
Timers automatically turn lights, appliances and irrigation systems on and off, saving you money, water and energy. In addition, they can help make your
home more comfortable and secure. When considering timers, think about the problem you need to solve in your home. Timers can address the following situations
and more:
• Motion detector lights can provide security to dark areas outside your home.
• A programmable timer allows you to turn a space heater on in your bathroom before you get out of bed in the morning.
• Sprinkler timers can be programmed to water your lawn in early morning hours, while you're out of town or to meet drought restriction schedules.
• Light Sensors
Light sensors are widely used devices; there are countless applications for these devices. Light sensors work because they employ light sensor chip technology.
Light sensors are employed in many devices including motion sensors. Phototransistors and photodiodes are two types of light sensor chips. According to Global
Spec, phototransistor light sensor chips amplify light variations and produce a voltage. Currents from incident photons are amplified by transistor gains,
which result in current gains.
DISCONNECTS | CIRCUITS
220V AIR CONDITIONER DISCONNECT
• A.C. Disconnect
Air Conditioners require a means of disconnect at the electrical panel and a disconnect outside.
From the electrical panel to the disconnect a
feeder wire is needed.
The specifications will probably require copper wire for the unit itself. THHN copper from the disconnect to the unit ran through electrical nonmetallic
tubing to protect the wires from damage.
220V HOT TUB DISCONNECT
• Hot Tub Disconnect
Hot tubs require a means of disconnect at the electrical panel and a disconnect outside (no more than 10 feet from the hot tub). Hot tubs require a 50 amp
feed which will require a 50 amp two pole breaker at the electric panel and a 50 amp two pole GFCI disconnect outside.
From the electrical panel to the disconnect a 50 amp feeder wire is needed. #6-4 aluminum is suitable.
The hot tub specifications will probably require copper wire for the tub itself. #8 THHN copper from the disconnect to the tub ran through electrical
nonmetallic tubing to protect the wires from damage.
HOME WIRING
REWIRE
GROUNDING
• Modernizing Old Wiring
Wiring that was installed in a house many years ago, or even as recently as a decade ago, may not be adequate for the job it is called upon to do today.
A complete rewiring job is in order-or is it? Do not jump to the conclusion that every outlet must be torn out and every receptacle replaced. Many times a
less expensive job will serve the purpose.
If the wiring does not include an equipment grounding conductor, either in the form of a separate grounding conductor or a metallic raceway or cable armor,
as is often the case for wiring over forty years old, consider completely rewiring all circuits.
Assuming an equipment grounding conductor is present, is the wiring inadequate because you are using too many lights? too many floor lamps? too many radios
and TVs? That is seldom the case. The wiring usually is inadequate because you have added many electrical appliances that were not considered or perhaps were
not even on the market at the time of the original wiring job. The installation does not provide enough circuits to operate a wide assortment of small kitchen
appliances, plus range, water heater, clothes dryer, room air conditioners and other heavy appliances. Some of these operate on 240-volt circuits, which may
not be available; others operate at 120 volts but when plugged into existing circuits they overload those circuits. In addition, the service entrance
equipment may be just too small for the load.
To analyze the problem of your particular house, ask yourself this: If you disconnected all the appliances, would you have all the lighting circuits you need?
The answer is probably yes, which means that your rewiring job is simplified. You will still have to rewire the house, but probably not as completely as
first appeared necessary. Proceed as if you were starting with a house that had never been wired, but leave the existing lighting circuits intact.
RE-DEVICE
• Replacing Electrical Devices
Since replacing outlets and switches correctly relies on making new connections, these may be done poorly or wrongly. More than one electrical item may fail to
work as a result of a single mistake. Other problems for replacing outlets and switches come from forgetting to reattach a wire or attaching it in the wrong
place. The number, color, and function of the wires at an outlet or switch can be confusing if the original connections are lost track of.
Even the replacing of light fixtures is not foolproof. Sometimes the wiring at a light box is passing the circuit through to various outlets or switches in
the area, so that care must be taken to connect everything back as it was. Also, an old light fixture may also be hiding a surprise. Upon taking it down, you
may find the ceiling and wires crisp from years of heat generated by bulbs of too high wattage. An Commercial Electrician is often needed to make a good repair in such
cases.
RE-TIE
• Re-Tie
Re-Tie connections at all junction points is highly recommended in homes 20 years and older and some cases even newer homes. Dangerous obsolete and now
deemed illegal code methods of connections used to be employed by way of using what is know as the crimp sleeve and electrical tape connection. Also, use
in more recent structures are stab connectors. Both methods are known for problems such as loose connections. A loose connection is not only a fire hazard
but can damage your appliances. SEC will correct these issues by implementing a mechanical twist connection method and properly securing the connection with
a rated wire nut.
BAD CONNECTION
GENERAL SERVICES
SERVICE CALL
• Service Call
SafeSide Electrical Contractor offers service calls which include a free basic electrical inspection. Take advantage of our time and have us check your nagging
electrical issues and inspect your current wiring system and electrical panel.
TROUBLESHOOTING
• Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a
problem so that it can be solved, and so the product or process can be made operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to develop and maintain complex systems
where the symptoms of a problem can have many possible causes.
Troubleshooting requires identification of the malfunction(s) or symptoms within a
system. Then, experience is commonly used to generate possible causes of the symptoms. SafeSide Electrical Contractor has experienced Commercial Electricians and expert
troubleshooters.
INSPECTION
• Electrical Inspection
Inspection of the entire electrical and lighting system to include the electrical panel and sub-panels. Physical and visual inspections of all junction
points inspecting for proper connections, , wire and amp ratings to determine and verify proper amperage not exceeding wire ratings, and finally wear and
tear and corrosion. This inspection will include a report of findings and corrective actions for optimal performance.
AUDIO | VISUAL
PHONE
CABLE-TV
SURROUND SOUND
TV MOUNTING
SPEAKER MOUNTING
• Phone | Data | Cabling
SEC provides data network cabling services, including fiber optic and hybrid wiring, home and business phone systems installations and computer networks design.
We have the tools, expertise and resources to help you build your telecommunications infrastructure in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
Services offered include, but are not limited to:
Data Network Cabling Installation (Ethernet Cabling)
Voice / Telephone Wiring & Cabling Installation
Structured Cabling Design & Implementation
Fiber Optic installation
Business phone systems
VoIP Phone Systems
Data Wiring & Network Installation
Security Camera Installation
Alarm System Cabling & Installation
Audio / Video Cabling & Wiring
• Audio & Visual
SafeSide Electrical Contractor has the right mix of professional experience and technical craftsmanship to accommodate and design an affordable audio video design
solution for any situation. Our knowledgeable staff provides both the technical expertise and friendly customer service to all of our clients, large or small.
We appreciate a challenge and approach each audio visual design with both creative and functional methods. Everything from phone lines and speaker lines to TV
mounting and speaker mounting, SafeSide Electrical Contractor can accommodate any project, large or small.
• TV Mounting
Plasma TV Mounting, LCD TV Mounting and LED TV Mounting.
Install & Secure your TV mounting bracket on wall Studs,Concrete or Brick Wall
Safely Mount your Flat Screen TV on wall bracket.
Conceal all wires in-wall or decorative wire track molding.
Connect and Setup your new and existing Audio and Video devices to the TV.
Adjust TV settings for optimal picture.
• Surround Sound | Speaker Mounting
Surround sound cabling and speaker installation
Install & Secure your speaker mounting bracket on wall Studs,Concrete or Brick Wall
Safely Mount speakers in-wall or surface mount.
Conceal all wires in-wall or decorative wire track molding.
Connect and Setup your new and existing Audio and Video devices to the speakers.
Adjust settings for optimal sound.
You're on the safe side with SafeSide Electrical Contractor
