Air conditioning systems are complex electro-magnetic appliances that can very easily have an electrical issue develop at one time or another. If there is any time that safety trumps convenience, it’s when you have an electrical problem. So, be sure to contact the professionals on our team if you suspect you have an AC electrical problem, as our staff is highly trained and licensed to do this type of work. First though, you should understand what some of the most common AC electrical problems are.

Your AC system houses 3 different motors: 2 fan motors—the condenser and indoor blower—and the compressor motor. Since your AC system functions on an alternating current, these motors require 2 capacitors—a start capacitor and a run capacitor—that helps your AC start up and maintain its electrical flow. When you run into an issue with either capacitor on any of the motors, then you’ll probably observe stuttering at start-up, intermittent operational problems, or even a total breakdown of the motor itself.

There are many wires running throughout your AC system. With natural wear and tear over the years, these wires can begin to fray, corrode or disconnect. This can cause issues with electrical flow and overall operation. Locating faulty wiring can be tricky and should only be left to trained professionals.

Your AC draws enough power that it requires its own breaker in your home’s electrical panel. Because of the intense demands on this system, problems can develop. Common issues are related to a breaker that is faulty, undersized, or loose. While loose breakers may be tightened, an undersized or faulty breaker has to be replaced by an electrician who has the knowledge of how to do so safely and accurately.

There are many “laws” or rules when it comes to electricity. While most people will still need to call an electrician Pasadena for major electrical problems, it is still nice to understand the basics so you know what is happening with your electrical devices when you plug them in or flip the switch to the on position. One of these so-called laws is “Ohm’s Law.” Learn more about how it works with your appliances.

First, you must understand that for electricity to work, it must complete a circuit (loop). Generally, these circuits are controlled by copper wire because it has a very low resistance and carries the current with ease. The amount of current flow is decided by the amount of resistance in the circuit. If the resistance is high, then the current will be low. For the current to be high, the resistance must be low (such as it is with copper wire.) This is the basis for Ohm’s Law.

While it may seem like having a higher current would be better, this is not always true. Too much current can be dangerous. For household circuits, it is normally best to keep the current under 20 amperes. More than that will pop the circuit breaker. When your circuit breaker pops, that is keeping you and your family safe from having too much current flow through the devices in your home.

Ohm’s Law may not be something that you need to understand in depth, but having this basic knowledge will make it easier to know what is going on behind the scenes of your electronics. If you have questions about the electricity in your home, or you need help figuring out your circuits and circuit breakers, call Electric Connect, your number one choice for an electrician in Pasadena. The experts at Electric Connection are here to help you every step of the way.

Do you ever lie awake at night thinking about new ways to cut back on your energy consumption? You'll soon be able to rest soundly, because there's a new piece of technology that can make all your dreams come true. One of the trendiest ways to save energy with your home electrical work is by disaggregation, or breaking down consumption appliance by appliance so you can easily identify where you need to cut back. Now there's a way to hack into your circuit box and make disaggregation easy. Read on to learn more.

Reading the Data from the Circuit Box

There are a few different ways to acquire the data you need on the energy consumption of your various appliances and electronics in order to make informed decisions about conservation. One is to purchase all new smart devices, linked up to the Internet of Things, that let you monitor their performance individually. If you don't want to replace all your appliances and equipment just yet, you can purchase smart plugs that monitor the electricity usage of whatever you connect them to. There are also utility companies that are piloting disaggregation programs in homes that are hooked up to smart meters.

There's at least one device available, however, that allows you to look at all your appliances at once, without having to buy new equipment or rely on your utility company. The Neurio is a gadget that connects to your main circuit panel and monitors all the electricity that goes out through the various circuits in your home. Next, it sends the data to the Neurio server, where it is broken down even further to identify which devices are using how much energy. Then the data comes back to you, where you can read it using your smart phone or computer.

Informed Decisions About Your Electrical Work

From there, you can use that data and make decisions about when to cut back on using certain devices or appliances, or to run them at different times of the day. The Neurio will let you know just how much you're spending on powering things like dryers, and also tell you how much power you're wasting due to phantom loads or always-on technology. If you keep an eye on the data, you'll get an early warning when an appliance is lagging in efficiency, and know where you can make the most impact when it comes time to replace some of your older equipment with modern, energy-efficient devices.

Installing the Neurio is a somewhat complicated affair, involving connecting it to your main panel, so your best bet is to get an experienced electrician to handle the task. If you need help disaggregating your energy consumption, or any other modifications to your electrical work, contact a qualified residential electrician today.