A backup generator supplies electricity during a power outage, typically for brief periods. The electrical capacity of a backup generator is directly related to the cost, so buyers must carefully calculate their electric requirements when making their purchase decision. The operation of power generators involves significant safety considerations.

The fuel supply for a backup generator is usually gasoline, propane or natural gas. A backup generator connects directly to the house’s main power supply. A transfer switch on the generator detects a power loss and automatically turns the generator on. This allows the house to have electricity during the power outage with minimal interruption. The transfer switch also turns the generator off when it detects power from the house’s main power supply. Backup generators typically run regular self-tests automatically to ensure these power transfers occur smoothly.

The power of a deck of generator must be greater than its maximum total load when the generator starts up. This generally requires you to add the running our of all the electrical appliances you wish to operate at the same time. You must also add the startup power of your largest appliance to this total, typically an air conditioner or furnace. The startup wattage should be listed on the appliance and is typically three to five times the running wattage of the appliance. You can also calculate an appliance’s power requirement by multiplying its amperage by its voltage.

Backup generators do not typically supply power for the entire house; rather, they usually just supply power for essential needs. A 20,000-watt generator will typically be needed to run an entire home and usually costs about $7,000. A 10,000-watt generator is adequate for a small home or job site, and typically costs about $5,500. Backup generators for emergency purposes only can be substantially smaller.

The biggest risk of operating a backup generator is that it produces carbon monoxide as an exhaust gas. Backup generators were responsible for 85 deaths by carbon monoxide in 2005, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. It is essential that the backup generator is outside when it is running, preferably at a distance of at least 10 feet. Gasoline engines produce much more carbon monoxide than those that run on propane or natural gas.

Electricity and fire hazards are also important safety considerations when operating a backup generator. You generally need to plug the electrical clients is directly into the generator using heavy-duty extension cords rated for exterior use. A single extension cord should also connect the generator to the transfer switch.

Home rewiring is a topic that many people are not familiar with. Besides the value of correcting any electrical safety issues, a new electrical rewire has many other advantages to offer. For example, having upgraded wiring can determine when and how you can use your electrical outlets, if you can accommodate air conditioning, and/or if your home or business can handle the load of today’s heavy duty appliances, multiple computers and more.

Here are some good indicators that a home rewire is in order from a Glendale electrician:

Instead of worrying over the state of your home or business electrical system, why not have an electrician Glendale residents recommend take a look at your home? After all, your home is much more likely to maintain its value over time if it meets both legal and common use electrical standards. Since most homes or businesses today create a high electrical demand, it is a good idea to make sure you have the best and most upgraded electrical system possible.

Finding an electrical contractor with experience in complete rewiring projects is essential. The Electric Connectionhas the expertise you’ll need, and we’re standing by to help you with your rewire or any other type of electrical projects that you might have. Why take chances with your home when professional help is just a few clicks away? Visit TheElectricConnection.com to learn more about our company and our mission to provide fast, friendly service at an affordable price.

It is estimated that each year around 3,500 Americans die in home fires and 20,000 are injured. A leading type of home fires is the electrical fire. This is especially true in regards to manufactured homes. When it comes to breaker panel fires, there are currently two different brands of panels that have known manufacturing flaws that puts anyone with one of these panels at risk for an electrical fire. Zinsco panels and Federal Pacific Electric panels are known for the dangers that they pose. In addition to these two brands, there are also many people who have panels older than 40 years old that may not provide the protection that is needed to protect their homes properly from electrical dangers. If your home has one of these panels, you should get in touch with an electrician in Pasadena right away to ensure that the proper steps are taken to safeguard you and your family.

Federal Pacific Electric Company (FPE) Panels

The FPE was one of the largest circuit breaker panel manufacturers in North American from the 1950s to the 1980s. As time went on, many electricians discovered the dangers that these panels posed to the families that they were supposed to protect. It is now known that FPE panels may appear to work for many years, but can overheat and become a fire hazard after only one short circuit or overcurrent.

If you have a breaker that fails to trip whenever it is supposed, it can allow an incredible amount of electricity to enter your home from your electrical utility company. Whenever this happens, it can lead to severe overheating and electrical fires. As a result, many panels such as these older FPE panels can eventually catch on fire, leading to a very serious issue for any homeowner.

Zinsco Panels

Zinsco panels were also very common at one point in time. Although there are not many of them remaining, they can be very dangerous in the modern setting. These panels are simply not designed to handle the amount of electricity that we use every day.

For more information on electrical panels, (Click Here), or to schedule an electrical panel upgrade, call our team at The Electric Connection today.

Medical News Today published an article on the effect of room lighting on decision making. Invoking crime dramas in which suspects are interrogated under bright lights, the report suggests that people tend to feel emotions more intensely in brighter light. This finding is significant not just for retailers but for anyone who consciously uses light in their spaces for a desired effect.

Medical News Today’s story is based on research conducted by academics from the University of Toronto Scarborough and Northwestern University and published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology. As you can guess, based on the journal that published the research, findings about how people act under different lighting conditions has important implications for how people act as CONSUMERS.

Here’s how the study went: A bunch of test subjects were asked to rate an eclectic mix of things, from the spiciness of chicken wings to the aggressiveness of a fictional character. Subjects were also asked to assess the flavor of two kinds of juice, the emotional tenor of certain words, and the attractiveness of a person. The scientists changed lighting levels as they observed their participants’ reactions to these stimuli. As the scientists suspected, lighting levels had an impact on how the participants felt about the things they were rating.

According to Medical News Today, previous studies have established that “people are more optimistic about the stock market, report higher well-being and are more helpful during sunny days, whereas being exposed to gloomy days for long periods of time can result in depressive feelings.”

But, then, the researchers ask, why do suicide rates peak during late spring and early summer months? This new study complicates the common belief that more light equals more happiness.

The researchers have concluded that brighter light levels do not necessarily make people happier. Instead, brighter light levels intensify both positive AND negative emotions. In the brighter room, during the experiment, participants felt more positive emotions in related to positive words and more negative emotions about negative words. They found people more attractive in the brighter room AND felt the fictional character to be more aggressive.

Cold winter months bring opportunities for cozy moments indoors  — but also some potential hidden dangers. More than 45,000 electrical fires occur in homes each year, according to thea licensed electrician update any damaged or two-prong outlets.

Sometimes it’s hard to tell if you have old and unsafe wiring because electrical work is mostly hidden behind the walls of your home. Remember, however, that wiring problems are a major fire threat. Pay attention to these signs of hidden electrical issues and then get safe by

Lamps and other light fixtures provide necessary illumination but can also pose a risk. Placing a bulb with a higher wattage than a fixture can handle poses a risk for igniting a fire. Heed the maximum wattage allowed for all fixtures and decrease the wattage or replace ones that seem to get excessively hot when lit.

Never decorate a lamp with paper or cloth that could ignite, and keep fixtures away from textiles, like bedding or curtains. Replace cords that are frayed or damaged.