What’s That Green Wire For?

One of the most common problems we find with electrical installations, whether it be a do it yourself renovation, or even new construction, is finding that the ground connection is not properly terminated to light fixtures, switches and outlets.  They will work without making that connection, but for devices that include a ground connection, it is very dangerous to leave it disconnected.

Replace electrical outlet in Atlanta

Replace electrical outlet in Atlanta

What does the ground connection look like?  It’s the green screw on light switches and receptacles, and it is usually a green or bare wire on light fixtures and ceiling fans.

Why is it important?  The ground wire is used to make sure that the metal surfaces a person could come in contact with in an electrical system do not become energized, creating a shock hazard.  When properly connected, the ground wire creates a “short circuit” pathway for electrical current to flow in a large enough volume to trip the circuit breaker off in the event that the “hot” wire comes in contact with any metal it is not suppose to.  Without this ground pathway, current can’t flow, and the breaker can’t trip.   The metal would then become energized, waiting for someone to touch it.  When a person touches the energized metal they become the pathway for current to flow, leading to injury and sometimes death.

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Three Prong Outlet Vs Four Prong Cord

dryerIf you own a home that was built prior to the mid 90’s and have had to replace your electric clothes dryer or range, you have most likely run into the dilemma of how to plug a 4-prong cord into an existing 3-prong outlet.  Can the cord on the appliance be changed or do you have to replace the outlet in the wall, or worse yet….do you need to add an entirely new circuit from the breaker panel?  Let not your heart be troubled!  It’s really a very simple fix. Read more

When To Upgrade Your Electrical System to Current Code

The following is an excerpt from a recent complaint posted on a consumer reporting website by a homeowner regarding an electrician in Atlanta:

He told me (the electrician)  he couldn’t connect the pool pump unless he did all this work and  that the house wasn’t up to code (turns out he meant up to current code, but I later found out from a builder that houses are just suppose to be up to the code at the time they were built so he deliberately misled me). He said he had to rewire the main panel in the house and totally redo the way the pool was set up or we could get electrocuted in the pool or the house could catch on fire from the wiring. He said it would take two days and cost around $3,100. He worked about six hours and then told. me it would cost more money than he thought he said I and I had to pay him the $3,100.

The National Electrical Code is a United States construction standard and is part of the National Fire Codes series published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Read more

Is my electrical panel safe? | 14 Point Electrical Panel Inspection

Most insurance companies recommend that your home electrical panel be inspected and maintained once every three years, yet the majority of homes are never inspected or maintained until a problem develops. Flickering lights, buzzing and sizzling noises coming from the panel, or a burning smell are sure indicators that it is time to get your panel inspected. However, there are many more “silent” signs that are much less obvious and can be detected with an electrical panel inspection before they have a chance to do any damage. Read more