Monday, July 25, 2016

Resetting Your Homes Electrical Circuit During A Power Outage

When you own a home you are familiar the possibilities of sudden losses of electrical power.  This phenomenon is an especially common throughout the hot summer months as home owners are blasting air conditioners for hours on end.  As air conditioners run at max levels electrical circuits reach their limits and short out to prevent the current to overheat, catching fire.  At this point it is time to get your power up and the circuit restored.
Once in a great while there will be a power outage that over takes a whole neighborhood, city or region.  If this occurs then there is not a whole lot you can do about it but get out the flashlights and candles.  When the power outage is isolated to your home then you are in a bit more luck.  It is more likely than not to be an electrical short.
When a circuit breaker or fuse box shorts not only will the electricity go out but you often a loud pop can be heard when it occurs.  This is the most common solution if the electrical power within one area of your home stops working.  This occurs when a circuit has more electricity running through it then it allows safely.  A fuse or breaker will automatically “blow” or “trip” when this occurs to prevent the circuit from overheating and possibly causing a fire.
In order to prevent outages like this from occurring it is important not to overload the electrical circuits within your home.  When you need a lot of electricity in one area it is important to run separate circuits of electricity to the area.   If however, the amount of electricity changes to the circuit frequently and two circuits is overdoing it then make sure not use too much electricity at one time.
This happens in bathrooms regularly.  Homeowners want to be able to have the hair dryer running the curling irons warming up and iron on standby.  This isn’t normality for the circuit but occasionally occurs, right?  If you see this happening it make more sense to move some of jobs to another circuit to prevent it from tripping.
If a circuit is tripped then homeowners will want to reinstate the circuit and allow the electrical current to flow again freely.  This is done by locating your homes circuit box.  This is a metal box that contains a series of breaker switches or fuses.  When you open the metal door of the box there will be one fuse or switch that is tripped.  If it is a fuse you will replace that one fuse, after turning off the main current, with one of the same voltage.  A circuit switch on the other hand will need to be flipped back to its original state once the main current has been turned off.   After the individual circuit is allowing electrical current to pass through it again then it is time to flip the main switch on the breaker box back on.
If for some odd reason this doesn’t restore the power to the area then it may be time to call in an electrical professional.  They can make sure that the electrical standards in your home are up to par to prevent any dangerous situations from occurring in the future.
J&P Electrical is a full service electrical equipment company.  At J&P, we supply contractors, end users and supply houses with new surplus, quality reconditioned and obsolete electrical equipment. Contact us today at https://jpelectricalcompany.com for all of your bus plug, circuit breaker, switchboard, fuses, disconnects and more.

The Differences Between Breaker Boxes and Fuse Boxes

Circuit breaker boxes and fuse boxes aren’t something that most of us have to access on a regular basis.  It is important however to know where they are located and how they function before you find yourself in the middle of a power outage.  These boxes can be located anywhere but most often can be found in the garage, basement or utility closet.  Once you have located the box it is important to know the difference between a circuit breaker boxes and fuse boxes and how to restore power if it goes out.
Your breaker box will be a metal box that is flush against the wall that is enclosed by a metal door to keep the breakers or fuses protected.  The garage, basement, storage room or utility spaces are the places where you will most likely find them located.  If you can’t find the box located inside somewhere check outside or next the meter box.
Next, determine if the house has a circuit breaker or fuse box.  Open the door and take a look inside.  Do you see rows of switches?  If you do you have a circuit breaker.  If you see sockets like a light bulb then you have a fuse box.  Most commonly newer homes will have circuit breakers where as older homes that have yet to update their electricity will have a fuse box or maybe even several fuse boxes.
When replacing a blown fuse it is crucial that you unplug the appliances that are connected to the circuit that has lost electricity.  If the kitchen looses power then unplug all of the appliances and other electrical products that are plugged into the circuit.  If this is not done the risk that is faced is another blown fuse.
When you are replacing the fuse from the box be sure to turn off the main power switch.  This is a toggle switch located within the fuse box.  This main switch allows electricity to flow on a main current to the other circuits throughout the fuse board.  As you are shutting the main power off protect yourself by wearing rubber soled shoes and thick gloves when shutting the power down.
Find the fuse that connects the electricity to the point within the home that is no longer functioning.  Once the fuses are located and unscrew the fuse from the socket and replace it with a new one of the same power rating.  After the fuse has been replaced it is time to switch the main breaker back on.
For a circuit breaker that has been tripped the process is a bit simpler. You will still need to go through and unplug the appliances and shut the main breaker off in both fuses and circuit breakers.  After this is done you should be able to see which breaker is blown because it will be switch facing the opposite way.  Reset the switch back to its original state and that will restore the circuit.  After this is done the main power can be reinstated.
When replacing either of these types of electrical circuits if you notice that the circuit keeps blowing it is time to call in an electrician.  An electrician will come in and evaluate the state of the electrical wiring throughout your home and consult on electrical upgrades to your home.
J&P Electrical is a full service electrical equipment company.  At J&P, we supply contractors, end users and supply houses with new surplus, quality reconditioned and obsolete electrical equipment. Contact us today at https://jpelectricalcompany.com for all of your bus plug, circuit breaker, switchboard, fuses, disconnects and more.