Electrical Safety

Electrical Safety is a big topic, and an important one at that. At some point of our day, every day of our lives we come in contact with electricity. So familiar are we with it nowadays, we sometimes forget what a huge parts of our work and operations depend on electricity. No doubt it is one of the biggest needs in this generation. However, although it is extremely useful it is also extremely powerful which makes it extremely dangerous when not control and handled correctly.

When you take a minute to see have much we have progressed with technology in the last decade or two, when you think about how much more dependent we are on electricity today and how many appliances are running at any given time around you, you just might be amazed.

Now if you were to compare that to how much we use 20 years ago, that too is a huge difference. If you’ve got wiring from 20 or 15 years ago, no matter how good it was then, chances are you’re gonna experience an overload sooner than later, which could end up in an electrical disaster.

If you feel this might be you, read the article below by Joseph Turninito get more tips on how to go about ensuring the safety of your home or work place. http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,20953175,00.html 

How to Upgrade Outlets to GFCI

Is your wiring more than 20 years old? Consider this safety upgrade

Ground-fault circuit interrupter outlets prevent accidental electrocution, and code requires them in baths, kitchens, laundry rooms, garages and outdoor locations. A GFCI has a built-in circuit breaker that interrupts the flow of electricity the instant it senses a ground fault or current leak. But a GFCI won’t work unless it’s properly connected. If your electrical system has not been upgraded for 20 years or more, you probably need to install GFCIs.

Here’s how:

First, turn off the power to the circuit you’ll be working on. Take off the cover plate and unscrew the outlet from the box. Disconnect the wires and remove the old outlet.

At the back of the GFCI are screw terminals marked “load” and “line.” The single screw at the bottom is the grounding screw. Attach both the black and white wires to the screw terminals on the line side. Fasten the black wire to the dark-colored screw and the white wire to the light-colored screw. Again, make sure that both wires are on the “line” side.

Wrap the bare copper wire around the grounding screw and tighten it. Neatly tuck the wires into the box, screw the outlet in place and replace the cover plate. Finally, check the GFCI by pressing the “test” (power off) and “reset” (power on) buttons.

After turning off the electricity to the kitchen at the main service panel, remove the cover plate and unscrew the duplex outlet from the existing cable inside the box.

Install the new ground-fault circuit interrupter outlet by attaching both the black and white wires to the “line” side of the outlet. Connect the bare wire to the grounding screw. Replace the cover plate, then check to make sure the GFCI is operating properly. Press the test button; the outlet should go dead. Reset to resume current flow.

Code Reminders

• All countertop receptacle outlets must be protected by a GFCI device installed at the outlet or by GFCI circuit breakers.

• A kitchen must have two 20-amp circuits for countertop appliances.

• There should be countertop receptacles installed so that no point along the counter is more than 2 ft. from an outlet.

That was just one of the many ways that you can make sure you are not living under hazardous conditions. However it is always best to call in the professionals, then can guide you and give you the best advice with timely and safe services. Professional electricians can also identify other faulty wiring and assess your electrical safe, and can tell you any preventative measures you can take specifically for your home or place of work. Don’t cut corners, keep your electrical wiring and outlets up to date!

For any work in Miami Florida, call the Electrician Squad!