Why do electricians and electric companies insist on using copper wiring above all else? It turns out that copper wiring is the best material for the job, based on its various properties. For example, copper is extremely malleable and ductile; in addition, it also comes with very excellent electrical and heat conductivity. It can be considered virtually perfect for wiring because it is rustproof and robust. Since it has these properties, copper wiring is able to carry an electric current over a much longer distance than other sorts of wires. While copper has a number of uses—it is used from everything as a constituent of different metal alloys to a construction material—its most popular use is in the electrical industry and for creating wires.

Breaker boxes or commonly called electrical panels are the modern day replacements for fuses boxes.  Breakers are the electrical devices that go into a panel or breaker box.  Breakers can easily be reset by flipping there switch versus having to unscrew and completely replace a fuse.  A circuit breaker can automatically open or trip upon an overload or a short circuit protecting the circuit and the appliances plugged into the circuit from possible damage.  For larger equipment such as those used in commercial or industrial applications switchgear is commonly used to protect and control equipment.

There is a lot of brands of breaker boxes or electrical panels on the market with some better than others.  Most breakers boxes on the market have been proven to be reliable and operate correctly and safely.  Brands such as Seimens, Square D, and Cutler-Hammer offer superior products and can provide the best protection possible with installed correctly.

Most brands that we currently know have safety and fire hazards have been pulled off the market.  However a lot of these brands that have been pulled off the market are in thousands and in some cases hundreds of thousands of homes across the nation.  One of the worst brands of electrical panels we see in the Des Moines market is Federal Pacific brand breaker boxes.  Federal Pacific panels were most commonly uses from 1960’s to the 1980’s.  These panels have circuit breakers that simply do not trip or open the circuit properly to provide the necessary protection.  Federal Pacific panels have been linked to countless fires and have even resulted in death.  If you have a Federal Pacific breaker box in your home we highly recommend it be replaced by a licensed electrician as soon as possible.  Another brand we advise immediate replacement on is Zinsco panels.  Certain types of Zinsco panels have been linked to several fires.  If you own a Zinsco panel we recommend it be replaced by an licensed electrician.

one very recently, with harmful consequences as a result. Power loss is a very real risk when it comes to these strong storms, too. Perhaps you’re thinking “a couple hours won’t make a huge difference, we’ll be fine!” However, the thing about power outages and blackouts is that they are unpredictable, and may last days rather than hours.

A portable backup generator is great for many purposes—a camping trip, to be used in a small studio apartment, or for use in a home that you’re renting and do not have permission to install a whole-house system. Outside of these events though, you simply aren’t going to have an efficient means of power backup without a whole-house generator. Portable systems don’t last as long and are not as effective as their whole-house counterparts.

It is important to remember that in addition to having your whole-house generator professionally installed and repaired, that taking care of it requires a professional as well. This is the only way to ensure that you get the most out of your system and that it’s ready for anything winter may bring. You may think that because your generator is rarely in use, it’s okay to skip maintenance—but this is exactly opposite from the truth.