Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok Service Panels & Breakers: Federal Pacific Electric "Stab-Lok" service panels and breakers are a latent hazard and FPE circuit breakers can fail to trip in response to over-current, leading to electrical fires. The breakers may also fail to shut off internally even if the toggle is switched to "off." Some double-pole
Whole House Surge Protector: The need for surge protection has increased dramatically. This is because many electronic devices can be damaged by surges. Electronic devices sensitive to power surges occur in security systems, computers, printers, FAX machines, telephones, small appliances, microwave ovens, refrigerators, stereos, garage door openers, and low voltage lighting systems. Anytime there is
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter's (GFCI): According to the National Electrical Code, all 120-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere branch circuits supplying outlets or devices installed in in all kitchens, family rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, parlors, libraries, dens, bedrooms, sunrooms, recreation rooms, closets, hallways, laundry areas, and garages, or any area in which water may be
Garbage Disposal Power: If your garbage disposal stops working you should: Clear out anything inside the garbage disposal which might be jamming up the motor and stopping it from working. Briefly flip on the switch to the garbage disposal. Do you hear a humming noise? If you do, then there is power going to the
Telephone Power: When power goes out in your home, remember, YOUR CORDLESS PHONE WILL NOT WORK IF THE PHONE'S BASE UNIT HAS NO POWER. However, if this happens you can still use any telephone that is plugged directly into the wall.
Smoke Detectors: Smoke Detectors are great safety devices, but occasionally a smoke detector will start "chirping" or worse, give out a non-stop alarm for no reason. Here's a tip on what to do if this happens to you. If it's a battery-powered smoke detector, take out the battery. If it's a 120 Volt powered smoke
Fuses: When a fuse detects too much power running through a wire, a tiny piece of metal inside the fuse will break, thereby stopping the power from continuing to run through the wire. When the top of the fuse is made of glass, many people think that they can look at the metal piece inside
You might notice that sometimes a dimmer seems warm when you touch it. The good news is, THIS IS NORMAL. Dimmers naturally get warm when they are in use, especially if there is more than one dimmer in the same location. However, if a dimmer is very warm or hot to the touch, this indicates
Refrigerator Power: If the power goes out to your refrigerator or freezer you need to fix it fast! Here are two tips to help you quickly restore power: If your refrigerator is plugged into a GFI receptacle, you can re-set the GFI and see if you now have power. If this works, that's great! Now
A Circuit breaker is designed to trip off when it detects too much power running through the wire it's protecting. There are three main reasons circuit breakers trip off: There are three main reasons circuit breakers trip off: There is a short circuit. There is an overloaded circuit. The circuit breaker is broken. Short Circuits:
