GFCIs or ground fault circuit interrupters are safety devices that have been extremely effective in reducing the total number of home electrocutions by almost 50%, in Australia. Most new homes and businesses now have these devices installed in locations where water is present in and around the premises. It’s important that electrical installations in outdoor locations be protected from wind and rain; that’s the one way to prevent shock hazards.

Before we understand what a GFCI is, let’s understand what a ground fault is. It is the unintentional flow of electrical current between the source and any grounded surface. If the electrical installation isn’t properly protected, an individual that comes into contact with an energised part can suffer an electrical shock.

For instance, if the person is holding any deteriorated electrical cord attached to the hair dryer, and it happens to touch a plumbing fixture they are using, they can get electrocuted and will suffer a painful shock.

This small receptacle has “test” & “retest” buttons on it. It may sometimes be built into circuit breakers that are installed in the main electrical panels. When electricians are conducting an electrical audit, they also test whether the GFCIs are functioning properly. They might also recommend that you get GFCIs installed in the vicinity of plumbing fixtures.

These are extremely useful electrical safety devices which trip the electrical circuits in case they detect any leakage current or ground fault. An individual that’s become the pathway for a leaked current can get a severe shock or will get electrocuted. It is important to get GFCIs installed in any outdoor or indoor areas where you feel that water might come in contact with the electrical installations or fixtures you have on your property.

Ideally, the areas where GFCIs should be installed include:

It is important that these devices be checked with regularity. If you have opted for an electrical maintenance contract, the electricians will ensure that the GFCIs are checked along with all the other installations; this will help confirm they are working as they should and that they provide the necessary safety to those living or working on your premises. You can also test the GFCIs on your property, by following these basic steps:

If you aren’t too sure about whether you have GFCIs installed at the right points on your property, call in your local electrician. They will inspect all the fixtures and inform you if GFCIs have to be installed in any specific rooms or outdoor spaces. Aside from this, they will also audit the rest of the installations and tell you if any upgrades are required.

With the unseasonably cool temperatures gripping the entire country right now, you are probably considering the purchase of a space heater to help ward off the chill. There are several different kinds of heaters on the market today. As you can imagine, some are better than others. An electrician in Los Angeles is here to explain the most common types of space heaters available. You can call The Electric Connection for more information.

Oil-filled radiators are one of the safer types of space heaters. Oil is heated and rotated through the radiator releasing heat into the room. They are silent due to the lack of a fan. They can heat a small room. Fortunately, they do not get overly hot and will not cause scalding burns if you happen to touch them. However, they produce enough heat that you will want to follow the standard guidelines of keeping the heater at least 3 feet away from walls or furniture.

Ceramic-element heaters are rather small, but produce a great deal of heat. They are typically safer than their counterpart, the coil-based convection heaters. Different fan settings will help control the amount of heat produced. One of these heaters could heat a small room or used at a desk.

Infrared space heaters are new to the market and do cost more, but they are much more energy efficient. They can heat a large room and in some cases an entire home if it is relatively small and well-insulated.

As far as the cost to your Los Angeles electrical bill, space heaters are not as bad as many assume. It will depend on the type of heater you use and how many kilowatts the heater uses. If you are looking to make a long-term investment, the infrared heaters are a good option and will ultimately save you money in the long run with a lower heating bill. If you have more questions about space heaters, give The Electric Connection a call today.

When storm activity increases, there is always a chance that your electrical system in your home is in danger. In fact, a storm can be the cause of your electrical system if your system isn’t up to par. The following are three potential electrical hazards that a storm can turn into a nightmare.

No one understands the how lightning has so much power. And, no one knows where lightning will strike when it hits. During a storm, it is possible for lightning to strike your home, causing a surge of electricity to go through your home. If this happens, then it is possible to short your electrical components and cause damage to your home’s electrical system.

Almost everything nowadays operates on electricity. The modern conveniences that drive our world depend on electricity. Without a constant supply, our world grinds to a halt, as massive blackouts have proven in the past. Electricity has two forms in modern electronics: AC and DC.

AC (alternating current), is most frequently used in devices that require high amounts of power to operate.

DC (direct current), is more commonly found in devices requiring smaller amounts of power to operate.

DC was the original electricity that was created by Thomas Edison. This style of electricity sends a current in only a single direction, from a power source and to the power source again in a loop. Today, DC is used to power electronics that require batteries. Any device in your home that uses batteries uses DC current. Interesting to note, if your battery is plugged into the power supply to recharge, it transforms AC current into DC.

Direct current is also used in manufacturing situations where electricity is generated on site for personal use. Factories and mills that require vast amounts of energy often create their own DC current to power their machinery. Most commonly, DC is found in steel mills, aluminum production, and is used to power mass transportation in large urban centers in the form of electric streetcars.

AC power is easier to generate, which is why we use it as our standard electricity nowadays. The alternating current design allows energy to flow in both directions, making electricity easier to create and use in society. Regardless of where the current is moving, it is always moving in both directions at once. This results in current being present at every point in the power grid at every time as long as the connection to the generation unit is intact. The power that comes from the power plants, down the lines to our homes, is always AC in nature, thanks to the way our modern power grid is set up.

The power grid operates by creating AC current and sending it down the power lines. This current can be at whatever intensity the power company chooses.

Frequently, the electricity coming from these lines is far too powerful to be used in our homes. The transformers that we see on power poles transform the electricity from its high-powered state into something that our homes can use. Without the transformers, we wouldn’t be able to use the power that our society depends on.

Regardless of the style that we use in our devices and our homes, electricity plays an important role in society. Without both AC and DC electricity, we wouldn’t have those things that make modern life as comfortable as it is.