Many homeowners are DIY enthusiasts and will happily fix a broken chair or repaint the living room wall if they feel it’s looking dull and drab. If you are one of those people, you may also be tempted to fix electrical issues when something goes wrong. However, it’s important to keep in view the fact that electrical jobs aren’t for the DIYer. In fact, any electrical job, big or small should be tackled only by a licensed and insured electrician.

When you are working with electricity, safety is something you should never compromise on. It’s a fact that you would be able to handle some simple electrical jobs on your own and they may seem like a breeze, but the truth is that most people aren’t aware of the precautions they should be taking while tackling anything related to electricity.

When it comes to electrical jobs, there is no alternative to hiring an experienced and skilled professional for the job. Take a look at the 6 biggest domestic electrical mistakes novices make:

This is a very common mistake that many inexperienced people make. Every installation needs a different gauge (thickness) of wire. Using the incorrect one in a particular application can result in an overload or overheating in the wire; in turn, this can cause the circuit breaker or fuse to trip. It’s crucial that the wires be rated for the actual amperage they are going to carry.

It’s crucial that you never try to make any electrical connections outside electrical boxes. The sole purpose of these boxes is to ensure that the wires should be protected from external elements. If you do have to make an extension, use a plastic/metal box. Do not shove too many wires into one electrical box- this can lead to a short circuit.

There are times when you may not fix the switches and outlets firmly in the wall. These can be dangerous. When you attempt to fit appliances into an outlet that’s loosely fitted, the wires can come out of their terminals and can get overheated.

All the connections inside a fuse box should be correctly and tightly placed. Loose connections can cause flickering in lights and appliances. At times, it can lead to overheating of circuits too. It’s never a good idea to try to fix these yourself

Circuit breakers and fuses are the safety mechanisms that protect the wire ampacity ratings; they also control the flow of electricity to all the connected appliances. Many people are under the false impression that if a fuse blows or a circuit trips, they can simply replace it; and that the problem will be solved. In actuality, when either of these things happen repeatedly, it’s an indication that there is something wrong in the wiring connected to them. Call in a licensed electrician without delay and get the problem fixed.

This is another common electrical mistake. While many people simply buy adaptors and use them to plug in multiple appliances in at a single point, this only increases the amperage that the circuit can handle. This danger is compounded if you use more than one heavy-duty appliance at a single outlet.

Never take chances when you are dealing with electrical installations or are faced with electrical issues. Always call in a certified electrician to handle the job. For any type domestic electrical installations, call Allround Electrical at 1300 169 263. You can also drop us a line via email.

Thanks for reading,1300 169 263

Programmable logic controllers provide automatic control of processes so that very little human intervention is required. Yet, this results in a well-coordinated, repetitive process.

These systems automatically start and shut down critical equipment in large and complex manufacturing processes. When in operation, programmable logic controllers ensure that all conditions are met before starting up a certain machine or process. In addition, the PLC continues monitoring the entire system using a variety of sensors.

Consequently, this ensures that everything runs as programmed. The PLC will trip if it detects a malfunction or abnormality in any of the monitored parameters.

The operating environment, size of the processes, ease of access by operators and maintenance personnel influence the choice of PLC.

A harsh environment with dust or small particles will require a PLC system with an appropriately IP rated enclosure. This prevents ingress of foreign particles into the system. The available space and layout also influence the choice. Therefore, most users require easy access for reprogramming, maintenance, or troubleshooting.

The simplest form of a PLC, all the basic components of a PLC include the I/O points, CPU, and software program. It is typically housed in a single enclosure. These PLCs are attached directly to the equipment being controlled.

Modular PLCs consists of several components on a common bus within a base unit to allow extending of the input and output. These units work on an expandable base unit. Therefore, it provides all the basic components of a PLC, i.e., a power supply, I/O points, memory and the CPU, and slots for additional cards.  These modules, which may be from the same or different manufacturers, are plugged together into a base unit.

This follows the same modular concept, but each of the modules plugs into a rack. The add-on modules are contained in racks which are then linked together through a network of connections. Since the rack mounting PLC is highly scalable, it allows very large systems to be assembled.

In energy management, the PLC monitors and controls equipment such as boiler systems. It helps the organization increase energy efficiency and safety. PLCs are also used in numerous everyday activities. They are found in factories, homes, commercial buildings, airports, unmanned car parks, and more.

Finally, some practical applications include:

Minor power surges happen in milliseconds and can easily ruin many of today’s delicate electronics. Is your home protected with a whole house surge protector?

Today’s homes and families consume a great deal of power due to the abundance of electronic devices we use to function daily. As a result, damaging power surges are common today even when storms and downed lines are not a factor, with homes near the end of the power line being particularly vulnerable.

Install a whole house surge protector today. Contact Mr. Electric® and schedule the installation of one of these simple, effective devices for the protection of all of your home’s essential electronics.

A hefty amount of our readers here on the MyLEDLightingGuide’s official blog consists of facility managers (along with contractors, government employees, and other decision makers). This post is made specifically for the facility managers and building owners out there to help keep you up to date and fresh on the latest news and opportunities for you and your buildings.

This list of 14 blogs will consist of some popular and most likely already heard of publications, along with a few lesser known places that you still may find extremely interesting. Picking a few from this list is definitely the first step to keeping up to date and staying ahead with your work.

There will be a brief description along with a URL for each blog / magazine listed, and it should give you a good idea or not if that facility management resource will benefit you more-so or not than others listed here. Now, let’s get started with this list…

2. Buildings.com

Another very popular publication which covers a lot of useful topics and products that any building decision maker should be aware of to create a more efficient and overall better workplace. They also have many courses and webinar on topics like life cycle costs, energy management, lighting, security, and more.

4. Maintenance World

As the name suggests, this blog leans on the side of maintenance based topics. Although, they often talk about topics that are important to any facility manager, such as cooling an industrial sized area. That is just a glimpse of the type of stuff this blog publishes, so reading more on what they offer may be important to seeing if this blog is worth your time or not!

6. FM World

FM World seems to put a lot of their attention on news, but all are topics that are probably very relevant to you and your tasks as a FM. They also (like many other of these blogs on this list) offer many different white papers which carry tons of valuable information in them. Along with professional interviews, webinars, and other pieces of content they are very well rounded in the variety of things that they offer.

8. The Built Environment

They don’t only talk about the environment and green buildings, but surprisingly they publish a lot about facility managers and how to become a better one in general. You can thank Michel Theriault for this great resource, as he is the brains behind it all. He also offers services such as consulting and training for FM staff, so if a budget allows and you want to become a better FM; that’s always an option!

10. Building Automation Monthly

Phil Zito is the creator and sole person behind Building Automation Monthly. He writes about and educates on the topics solely regarding building automation systems. No time for reading? Phil offers a Podcast which covers many different great topics as well. So, next time you are driving or taking a flight you might want to listen in to his podcast!

12. The fmguru blog

Although this blog doesn’t seem to be updated as often as many others on this list; their past and current posts are a good read. They are definitely insightful and thought provoking on the tasks and purposes of a facility manager.

14. i-FM.net

Like their headline says, “if you’re in FM, you need to be on i-FM.” They offer tons of content through news, interviews, top 50 list of great and relevant companies, and overall great resources.

Missed any that you think is worthy of being added? Be sure to comment them down below, this list is always being updated!

Final Words

There you have it, 14 (and growing) facility manager blogs, magazines, and resources that will hopefully make you an informed, up to date, and more educated facility manager overall. Our #1 tip for you is to pick two or three from this list that really peak your interest, and make it a ritual to check in on them often for the latest content that they offer.

Again, if we missed one that you think should be added; feel free to comment it down below for consideration!

Want more of our topics for facility managers? Here are some:

Every year, we see dozens of do-it-yourself jobs go horribly wrong. While our trained and certified electricians can fix the issue, the property owner who tried (and failed) to do the job in the first place probably made it worse. Even if that supposedly simple job sounds easy and you find yourself reasonably handy, you should never attempt to do it yourself. Here are three reasons why you should always hire a professional.

The first and perhaps most serious risk associated with DIY work is injury. Electricity is no joking matter—it’s a powerful force with the ability to change your life in a sheer instant. The current that’s flowing through your walls has the ability to seriously injure you in a split second, and could even kill you in serious situations. You should never take working with electricity lightly, and you shouldn’t even attempt to work with it unless you’ve had extensive training and know how to do so properly.

We hear of too many people who are injured while trying to work with electricity and they fail to notice a hazard or are unaware of a potential problem. Our technicians have all been trained through years of education, practical application, and apprenticeship in order to become a certified electrician. We know how to properly handle electricity and can do so with minimal injury risk.

Are you trying to install a new appliance you just purchased? What about something larger, such as installing a ceiling fan or changing over to recessed lighting? These are all things you should trust to a professional. Not only can a professional do so quickly and cleanly to avoid the mess often caused by a lack of experience, but you can avoid potentially damaging your new purchase as well.

Lack of experience frequently can melt the wires or overload circuits through improper installation, which can ruin your brand new device, and may even void the warranty on it in some situations. If you want your new home appliance installed correctly, trust a professional to do it right the first time.

Hundreds of fires are started by faults in electrical systems every year, such as shoddy connections, low-gauge wire choice, or even loose wires left dangling. These are not only against code, but extremely dangerous and could spark at any moment. Sparks cause fire, which will damage your home considerably. A professional Marietta electrician is well-versed in the ever-changing electrical code rulebook and can do the job you need while adhering to these rules and minimizing your fire risk.