Sunday, November 25, 2012

Avoid Overloading Sockets and Cords

All Tech Electric & Contracting Avoid Overloading Sockets and Cords

Do a walk-through of your home. If you see sockets with too many cords plugged in or even too many extension cords around the house, it may be time to have extra outlets installed by a professional. Always pay attention to the acceptable wattage for cords and lamps. Also look for extension cords that are “tacked up” or run under a rug as these could be a real fire hazard for kids and adults.

Does your home have:
•Electrical outlets not working or ...
•An outage from a circuit breaker tripping or ...
•Several lights that blink strangely or ...
•Receptacles dead because a tripping GFCI won't reset...
•Or three-way switches having trouble?

For diagnosis of home electrical problems, ever wish you had a
reliable electrician available 24/7 ??? No holidays for us, we are always here for you!!

http://www.kansas-electrician.com

Family Safety Tip

Family safety tip:

Look at Your Home From Your Child’s Perspective-
Think about how your child sees potential fire hazards in your home by getting down on your hands and knees with them and taking a look around. See any dangling cords that could cause a problem if pulled? Enticing heaters or other appliances? Make adjustments to your home according to what you find.

Safety tips

Follow these additional safety tips when using extension cords with any electrical appliance:
•Look for the UL Mark on extension cords you purchase. The UL Mark means that representative samples of the cord have been tested for foreseeable safety hazards.
•Store all cords indoors when not in use. Outdoor conditions can deteriorate a cord over time.
•Never keep an extension cord plugged in when ...

not in use. The cord will still conduct electricity until it is unplugged from the outlet.
•Most newer, indoor cords with more than one outlet have covers for the unused openings – use them. Children and pets face serious injury if they chew on unused outlets or stick sharp metal objects into the openings.
•Do not use extension cords that are cut or damaged. Touching even a single exposed strand of wire can give you an electric shock or burn.
•Never file or cut the plug blades or grounding pin of an extension cord or appliance to plug it into an old outlet.
•As a safety feature, extension cords and most appliances have polarized plugs (one blade wider than the other). These special plugs are designed to prevent electric shock by properly aligning circuit conductors. If a plug does not fit, have a qualified electrician install a new outlet.

By using extension cords properly, you and your family can enjoy longer, safer use of your power tools, appliances and holiday decorations.

Extension Cord Safety....

To keep your family safe, UL recommends that you follow these simple steps when using any extension cord:

Step 1: Read the manufacturer’s instructions for the device(s) you will be using. These booklets contain important information about your tools, appliances and decorations and will provide instructions on their use. The booklets will also indicate whether these items are suitable for use out...

doors.

Step 2: Check the information on your cord. Extension cords are labeled with valuable information as to the use, size and wattage rating of the cord. Cords are offered in many lengths and are marked with a size or “gauge.” The gauge is based on the American Wire Gauge (AWG) System, in which the larger the wire, the smaller the AWG number. For example, a 12 gauge wire would be larger and can power larger wattage appliances, than a 14 gauge wire.

Step 3: Decide whether you will be using the appliance indoors or outdoors. Extension cords that can be used outdoors will be clearly marked “Suitable for Use with Outdoor Appliances.” Never use an indoor extension cord outdoors; it could result in an electric shock or fire hazard.

Step 4: Determine how long you need the cord to be. A cord, based on its gauge, can power an appliance of a certain wattage only at specific distances. As the cord gets longer, the current carrying capacity of the cord gets lower. For example, a 16 gauge extension cord less than 50 feet in length can power a 1625 watt (W) appliance. A 16 gauge cord that is longer than 50 feet in length can only power an appliance up to 1250W.

Step 5: Determine the gauge needed. All appliances indicate how much wattage is consumed when operated; that rating can be found on the appliance itself and often within the use and care booklet that accompanies the product. Other appliances will indicate power usage in amps, rather than watts. Quick tip: if your appliance indicates that it uses 5 amps at 125 volts, then its wattage rating is 625W (5×125). If you are going to use the extension cord with two or more appliances, you must add together the wattage rating for all appliances used on the cord. The total of those wattage ratings will help you determine which gauge size you will need.

Step 5: Place the cord correctly. Extension cords should not be placed underneath rugs or other heavy furniture. They should not be tacked in place to a wall or taped down. Extension cords should not be used while coiled or bent. Match the length of the cord to the length of your needs

Extension Cord Safety

Extension Cord Safety:
During the holiday season, families often string together extension cords without a second thought – after all, all cords are created equal, right? Think again.

Just because the extension cord has the length to reac...

h the outlet across the room, it doesn’t mean it’s the right one for the task at hand. If the tool, appliance or holiday display is drawing more current than an extension cord can carry, it may cause the cord (and whatever is connected to it) to overheat and start a fire. Fortunately, all cords are labeled with wattage restrictions to help you make smart connection decisions.

Photo: Extension Cord Safety:
During the holiday season, families often string together extension cords without a second thought – after all, all cords are created equal, right? Think again.

Just because the extension cord has the length to reach the outlet across the room, it doesn’t mean it’s the right one for the task at hand. If the tool, appliance or holiday display is drawing more current than an extension cord can carry, it may cause the cord (and whatever is connected to it) to overheat and start a fire. Fortunately, all cords are labeled with wattage restrictions to help you make smart connection decisions.

Electricity is one of the things we take for granted more than anything else inside our home. Just for a minute, imagine your home without it. No TV, computer, hot water, cooking, lights...and the list goes on and on. As important as electricity is in our daily life, we rarely give it a thought until an electrical problem rears its ugly head.

Photo: Electricity is one of the things we take for granted more than anything else inside our home. Just for a minute, imagine your home without it. No TV, computer, hot water, cooking, lights...and the list goes on and on. As important as electricity is in our daily life, we rarely give it a thought until an electrical problem rears its ugly head.

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Your Reliable Kansas Electrician

Your Reliable Kansas Electrician

All Tech Electric and Contracting

All-Tech Electric & Contracting LLC is a family owned and operated business. With over 30 years of experience we have built a reputation for quality work with each satisfied customer. Our goal is always to exceed your expectation and never compromise our commitment to quality. Our sense of pride is apparent in every project we complete. We are fully licensed and insured, serving Leawood, Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas and the overall Kansas City Area.

Electrical Upgrades for Older Homes

Electrical Upgrades for Older Homes

Many people dream of purchasing an old or historic home and fixing it up to meet the demands of modern living. However, there are several updates that will usually need to be made to make the home safe to live in, and to make it compliant with local laws.

One of the most important updates you can make is to the home’s electrical system. An outdated system will...

not be able to meet the demands of modern appliances, and could even cause a house fire. Consulting with an electrician is highly recommended for anyone interested in purchasing an older home. A licensed electrician can help itemize all the details needed to modernize the home, perform the work safely and guide the project through any required inspections.

Here are a few tasks an electrician can do to upgrade your older home:

Upgrade the system. Upgrading from a fuse box to breakers will eliminate the need to replace fuses in the dark during the most inopportune times, and you will be protected against fire more efficiently.

Update wiring. Wire that is worn or undersized may need to be replaced to bring the electrical service up to code. It will also help to prevent a house fire.

Install additional outlets. Many older homes have only a few electrical outlets. An experienced electrician will understand how to run more wiring for additional outlets. An electrician can also install three-prong outlets to accommodate large appliances.

Install ground wiring. Another concern is the lack of ground wiring in older homes. In newer homes, three wires are run to the receptacle: a hot wire, a neutral wire and a ground wire. The ground wire protects against faults.

Electrical Service Residential

The main electrical service for your residence is one of the most important utilities within your home. A properly sized and maintained service will last within the home for a good 15 to 25 years pending the type of installation, additions and changes to the home, etc. Eventually most homeowners will experience the necessity to contract with a licensed electrical contractor to change out the exi...

sting electrical service and install new equipment. Think of it as similar to having a new roof installed or a changing out the furnace. The good news is that the cost of doing so is not nearly as high as that of the latter.

The following are some of the reasons to consider an upgrade in your exisiting electrical service. 1. you are presently increasing the square footage of the home and the will require more power to feed the additional space within the home. 2. the feeder cables attached to the meter pan from the roof are rotted and showing thru to the cables themselves. 3. the panel itself or the cables have water dripping from them after a rain storm. If you are experiencing any of these then I highly recommend you contact a licensed electrician in your area for consultation.

Do you need an electrical serviice upgrade?

Not having enough power isn’t just an inconvenience — voltage drop-offs may actually damage sensitive electronics, so having plenty power is important to electrical home safety. Even with enough power, you may need additional outlets to avo...

id relying on a tangle of power strips and extension cords — a potential safety hazard.

The cost of upgrading electrical service

The standard for household power used to be 60 amps. But modern homes may need as many as 200 amps to run air conditioners, computer equipment, high-definition televisions, and high-tech home automation devices.

The cost of upgrading your existing electrical service panel to a 100- or 200-amp panel is $800 to $3,000.

Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/electrical/do-you-need-electrical-service-upgrade/#ixzz284mgLQ8j

Do You Need an Electrical Service Upgrade?

www.houselogic.com

An electrical service upgrade can be messy and expensive, but there are times when it’s necessary to protect the safety, convenience, and value of your home.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Maximum Value Mechanical Projects: Electrical

By FrontDoor.com |

A home can not properly function without electricity. Look at usefulness rather than decoration when considering electric projects.

Electrical projects cover a vast array of residential systems. From ceiling fans to chandeliers, garage doors to doorbells, electricity is one of the most obvious necessities in the home. Electrical projects can range from a simple light fixture swap to the more tedious and specific whole-house electric remodel. In any case, it's important to note that electrical projects are more about safety than luxury or convenience, so whether you plan on adding a ceiling fan to the bonus room or an outdoor living area complete with surround sound and a kitchen, make sure you understand the importance of working with the pros so that nothing goes "hay-wire!" CURRENT TRENDS

Function trumps decoration. The housing market has begun to see functional fixtures replacing the large and elaborate trends of the recent past. Sleek and practical is the new grand and decorative -- which is good news to the lower and mid-range housing markets -- where keeping up with the Joneses of yesteryear now means energy efficiency and aesthetics can come at almost any price point.

BIGGEST MISTAKE Changing a light switch might be an easy task, but according to appraisal expert Leslie Sellers, president of the Appraisal Institute, overestimating your handyman capabilities could turn into a hard-learned lesson in humility. Electrical systems -- behind the scenes -- are very complicated, so it's important to have an electrician tackle the bigger stuff -- like a full-on electrical remodeling project. By working with a pro to consider the location, amperage, ease of access and fixtures before starting a remodel, you can spare yourself a lot of grief.EXPERT TIPS

On a Budget/ Mid-Range: If you are looking to make some electrical upgrades in order to keep up with the competitive housing market and further the livability of your home, it's smart to replace old fixtures and appliances with newer, more efficient models. By getting rid of old fuse boxes, plugs, switches and lighting fixtures, a vast improvement in aesthetics and function can bring big returns.
High-End: Trending in the high-end housing market is the need for larger electrical services. Because these homes are now seeing a rise in features like media rooms, outdoor living areas and other spots that generally demand more electricity, the units are seeing a big boost in service.

Know Your Home's Electrical System

If you're building or remodeling, our experts share advice for planning your home's electrical system.

http://kansas-electrician.com

homeowners should know the electrical system

The electrical system consists of the electrical service (the actual electricity supplied to your home), lighting outlets and various hardwired appliances. The electrical service must be sized to accommodate the lifestyle of the occupants, and is usually between 100 amps and 200 amps, though 400 amps for a very large home is common. An electrician installs the service, and may also install telephone and cable TV wires and, less frequently, security systems.
The electrical lines are run from the street to the meter box outside the home (the unit where your electricity is read to determine your electric utility bill), then through an exterior wall and directly into the electric panel board, which has switches (also known as breakers) to control the electricity in each room of your home. Here, the amps are divided up across circuits to provide various areas of the home with electricity. For example, of the 200 amps available in a home, the circuit for the living room may have 20 amps, the circuit for the bedroom may have 10 amps, and so on.
An electrical system is required by building code to protect you and your family. Some of the safety measures include:

Circuit breakers prevent fires by cutting off the electricity supply to a certain area if the wires short out.
Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) in high-moisture areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, garages and pool areas protect occupants from electric shock by cutting off power to the circuit.
Smoke alarms in each bedroom and in common spaces on each floor, like hallways, are hardwired to the electrical system and interconnected to each other to alert occupants of a fire. Most have battery backup as well.

Electrical systems also are regulated by an international and local building code. For example, electrical codes in some regions require wiring to be in flexible metal casing as an additional fire prevention measure. An electrical inspector must check the installation when the system is first being wired and again when the home is finished -- right before closing -- to ensure all codes are followed and the electrical system is safe for you and your family.

Friday, November 2, 2012

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Safety tips

Electrical Safety Tips

Your safety is our top priority. These safety tips are to help and inform our customers. You can help us protect you from electrical accidents by taking a few minutes to explore this section and by checking for unsafe conditions around your home, business or place of work.

Appliances

Unplug appliances after using them and stow cords safely out of reach of pets, young children or hazardous situations.
Keep all electrical appliances away from water such as sinks, bathtubs, pools or overhead vents that may drip.
Keep clothes, curtains, toys and other potentially combustible materials at least three feet away from radiators, space heaters, heating vents and other heat sources.

Electrical Outlets

Block unused outlets by changing to a solid cover plate or using childproof caps.
Do not overload outlets with multiple adaptors or power strips. Relocate cords instead.
Keep all outlets properly covered with secure plates that cover all wiring.
The electrical outlet in the bathroom is required by the NEC (National Electrical Code) to be protected by a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter, GFCI outlet and must be located within 3' of your sink basin. It protects you from electrical shock when water and electricity come together.

Light Bulbs

Use extreme caution while halogen lamps are on. Place them away from curtains or other flammable materials as they can become extremely hot.
Avoid the risk of fire by using the manufacturer’s suggested wattage for light bulbs in lamps, lighting fixtures and all other appliances.
When replacing bulbs look inside the light fixture for a label that indicates the recommended wattage and bulb type. Using higher wattage bulbs can overheat the socket and cause damage to the wiring. Consider switching to more efficient compact fluorescent bulbs that provide the same level of light at a lower wattage level.

Electrical Fire Safety

If you continually replace fuses, reset circuit breakers, hear unusual buzzing sounds, see sparks or flickering lights, you may have a problem with theelectrical wiring in your home. Contact All-Tech Electric to perform an inspection to make any necessary repairs.
Never attempt electrical repairs or rewiring without proper certification and experience.
Never touch anyone who is being shocked; the shock can spread through body contact.
Know where fuse boxes and circuit breakers are located as well as how to properly operate them.
Do not put water on an electrical fire, use a dry fire extinguisher or baking soda instead.
Make sure smoke alarms are installed on every floor outside sleeping areas and in every bedroom, and are in good working order. Change batteries yearly.
Don’t use a hair dryer when your hands are wet or when you are standing on a damp floor or in a wet tub or shower.

Extension Cords

Limit the use of extension cords, particularly cords used to power room air conditioners. Don't use extension cords to compensate for inadequate home wiring. You may need to have additional outlets installed.
Use extension cords only when necessary and only on a temporary basis. Replace cracked or worn cords. If a cord feels hot to the touch, stop using it and throw it away.
Never cover any part of an extension cord with rugs or other objects while it is in use. If the cord is covered, heat cannot escape, which can potentially result in fire.
Use electrical cords, power strips and surge protectors that have polarized plugs with one blade slightly wider the other, or grounded three-pronged plugs. These features reduce the risk of electric shock.
Use the proper weight and length of extension cord for the appropriate task, and be sure the cord is rated for indoor or outdoor use, whichever is required.

Commercial Electrician

COMPANIES WHO TRUST ALL-TECH Companies who we have worked with

All-Tech Electric & Contacting provides expert repairs and installations for all our commercial clients. As a licensed electrical contractor in the State of Kansas and Missouri, All-Tech Electric displays a current electrical contractor's license in our offices, and every one of our electricians holds a current electrician's license. In addition, as professionals in this industry, we are fully insured and equipped for every type of service we perform.

Electrical services for your business

DESIGN AND INSTALLATION

Panel Installations
Single & 3-Phase Wiring
Retail & Warehouse Lighting
Video Security Systems
Coaxial and Video Systems
Emergency Backup Generators

SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE

New Electrical Service
Service Panel Upgrades
Building Wiring & Rewiring
Electrical System Maintenance
Diagnose Electrical Problems
Emergency Electrical Service

Experts you can trust

Our electricians are experienced and skilled at installing wiring in commercial grade conduit, and wiring and panel installations for light manufacturing, restaurants and commercial kitchens, sports and fitness centers, recreation facilities, and for various branches of state and federal government. Besides working directly with building owners, we maintain good working relationships with a many very reputable building contractors in the Kansas City area.