Perhaps you've always wondered what's in the mysterious metal box on the basement wall. It's a circuit breaker box, and without it your whole home electric system would be unsafe, leaving you in danger.

Circuit box repairs or upgrades require an expert, but you don't need to be a master electrician to understand the basics of how it functions. The most common problem is a tripped circuit, and you can usually reset it yourself.

What's in the Box?

The circuit box is frequently found in the basement, although it could also be in a garage, closet, utility room or even outside. All the electricity coming into your house flows through the box.

If you open the metal door, you see a bank of switches. Each one corresponds roughly to a room in the house, while certain outlets for major appliances like the washer or furnace probably have their own switch. They should be labeled.

There also may be a main disconnect breaker, usually at the top of the box, which allows you to cut off power to the entire house. In many newer homes the main disconnect may be outside near the electric meter. Some homes do not even have one. This is useful if you are doing electrical work in your house, or in the circuit box itself. The switch should be labeled “main” or something similar.

How It Works

Why do you need a circuit box? When an electrical device malfunctions, such as the motor in your freezer overheating, wires can get crossed, creating a huge spike in electric charge. That puts you at risk of overloading your electrical system, and unchecked overloads can cause lead excess heat stress on wires, or worse.

Fortunately, your circuit breakers are on the job. There is an electromagnet or bimetallic strip inside each breaker. If the current moving through the circuit gets too high the device flips a switch, disconnecting the circuit. No more electricity can flow to the part of your home where the problem is, so the danger is averted.

So if the power goes off in one part of your house but still works in the rest, a tripped circuit breaker is the most likely culprit. The switches in your electrical panel should be labeled; if not you can still tell which one got tripped, because it will be flipped part way toward the off position. Some switches also show red when they've been tripped.

How Do I Fix It?

All you have to do to restore power is flip the switch all the way to the off position, then back to on. If flipping the circuit back on doesn't solve the problem, it might be something more serious. In that case, it's time to call a licensed electrician.

Some newer circuit breakers have advanced features, such as the ability to detect when a person makes contact with a live wire and automatically cut off the current, potentially preventing injury or death by electrocution.

If you live in an older home you may still have a fuse box. It operates on the same principle as a circuit box, with one major difference -- the wire inside the fuse actually burns up if too much current passes through it, so if the fuse blows, you need to replace it. Most fuse-style panel are maxed out, so if you have one it would be a good idea to consult your electrician and see if it’s time to consider a replacement.

Need Some Professional Guidance?

Your local Mister Sparky® electricians are always here to help. If you're having problems with your circuit breakers or fuse box, give us a call.

Adding Security Lighting to Your Home There is a great selection of security lighting systems for homes that can be customized and designed to fit the needs of your home. Home security lighting systems can help deter thieves while lighting the area around your house so you can see to walk after dark.

Advantages to Residential Security Lighting Walking outside your home after dark can be dangerous because you cannot see any obstacles that may be in your way. With security lighting, you have your path well-lit so you can make sure you can see where you are going and avoid the risk of tripping or falling.

As previously mentioned, security lights have been proven effective in deterring criminals. When they approach your home or storage buildings and the lights come on, they will be startled. They don’t want to be seen by the neighbors or police, so they will most likely leave and head to a home that doesn’t have such good lighting and protection.

Your home’s exterior lighting plays a significant role in your home’s appearance as well as safety. Another feature you may want to consider is adding floodlights. Adding floodlights to your landscaping and having them aimed toward your home can help accent the area and add an extra layer of protection by keeping your home in clear view.

You never know when a winter storm is going to rear its ugly head and cause all kinds of problems, including power outages. While it is pretty rare in southern California, power failures are not. It doesn’t hurt to be prepared to deal with a power outage if and when it happens, no matter what the reason may be. You can do a few things today that will make your life a little easier when that surprise power outage hits. An electrician in Los Angeles has a few tips for you. If you would like more information, give The Electric Connection a call.

First and foremost, you need to be prepared. You will need to have at least one flashlight, but preferably several along with extra batteries. Storing these items is a designated drawer or in a rubber tote that is easy to get to is ideal. You don’t want to be fumbling in the dark or trying to traverse the stairway to get to your only source of light. However, just a little tip that can be very handy, your cell phone is probably never far from you. Take the time to download a free flashlight app that can be used to safely guide you to your flashlights. Be warned, these apps can suck the battery of your phone so use it sparingly.

Safety candles, the number for your power company and matches are also good to have on hand in case of a power outage. Most of the time the outage is very short-lived, but you still need to be ready if you live in Los Angeles. Electrical equipment like your televisions, computers, and kitchen appliances should be unplugged immediately following a power outage. This ensures a surge doesn’t happen when the power is restored and ultimately destroy anything that is plugged in. If you have any more questions about what to do in a power outage, give The Electric Connection a call today.