HERE ARE THE MOST COMMON DANGERS OF NON-LICENSED INDIVIDUALS ATTEMPTINT ELECTRICAL WORK. ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS ARE THE MOST REGULATED PART OF ANY AND ALL PROCESSES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, FOR GOOD REASON. IF NOT DONE CORRECTLY YOU CAN HAVE SHOCKS, ELECTROCUTION HAZARDS, FIRE, AND PROPERTY HAZARDS THAT CAN ULTIMATELY RESULT IN THE LOSS OF LIFE. THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION PRODUCES THE “CODE” OR NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE, ABOUT EVERY THREE YEARS. THE CONSTANT UPDATING OF THIS CODE IS NECESSARY BECAUSE OF THE EVER CHANGING TECHNOLOGIES, AND NEW EQUIPMENT THAT IS CONSTANTLY BEING MANUFACTURED. HAVING A NON-LICENSED PERSON DO ELECTRICAL WORK IS NOT ONLY ILLEGAL, IT IS INCREDIBLEY DANGEROUS. THINK ABOUT IT FOR A MOMENT, WOULD YOU: HAVE A LEGAL ASSITANT PUT BRAKES ON THE FAMILY CAR? ASK A DENTIST TO PERFORM A FACE LIFT ON YOU? ASK A BUTCHER TO FLY A JUMBO JET WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ON IT, TO SAVE A FEW BUCKS ON YOUR VACATION? NO, OF COURSE NOT. THE SAFETY OF YOUR FAMILY AND HOME IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN SAVING A FEW DOLLARS. WHY WOULD YOU LET ANYONE OTHER THAN A LICENSED ELECTRICIAN, DO ANY ELECTRICAL WORK ON YOUR HOME OR OFFICE? ITS YOUR PROPERTY, ITS YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES LIVES, GET A PROFESSIONAL.

 

THE PURPOSE OF OVER CURRENT PROTECTION DEVICES IS TO SIMULTAINOUSLY OPEN (DISCONNECT OR TURN OFF) ALL CURRENT CARRYING CONDUCTORS, UPON AN OVERCURRENT CONDITION. SIMPLY STATED: WHEN THE FUSE BLOWS OR CIRCUIT BREAKER TRIPS, IT OPENS THE FLOW OF ELECTRICITY TO PREVENT OR LIMIT DAMAGE TO THE CONDUCTORS IN A CIRCUIT. OVER CURRENT PROTECTION DEVICES PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE INSULATION OF THE CONDUCTOR, AND AID IN THE PREVENTION OF FIRES. IT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA TO CHANGE AN OVERCURRENT DEVICE YOURSELF. THERE IS USUALLY A GOOD REASON THE FUSE BLEW OR THE BREAKER TRIPPED, IN OTHER WORDS THE DEVICE IS PROBABLY DOING ITS JOB.

 

HERE ARE SOME OF THE MAJOR HAZARDS THAT OCCUR WITH OVERLOADED CIRCUITS. OVERLOADED CIRCUITS OFTEN CAUSE ELECTRICAL FIRES. BECAUSE THEY ARE CONSTANTLY OVERLOADED, THE INSULATION ON THE WIRE IS DEGRADED. THIS ALLOWS THE HOT CONDUCTOR TO COME IN CONTACT WITH COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL SUCH AS WOOD, FRAMING MEMBERS, OR PAPER BACKING ON SHEETROCK AND INSULATION BATTS. IF YOU HAVE A CIRCUIT THAT BLOWS FUSES OR TRIPS CIRCUIT BREAKERS REGULARLY, CALL NOW. IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT.

 

PROPERLY SIZED WIRING AND FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS LANDING GEAR ON A PLANE. WITHOUT THE RIGHT SIZE, YOU’RE OUT OF LUCK. THE FUSE OR BREAKER SIZE IS DETERMINED BY MULTIPLE FACTORS:

• CONDUCTOR OR WIRE SIZE.
• INSULATION TYPE ON THE CONDUCTOR
• NUMBER OF CONDUCTORS IN A CABLE OR CONDUIT
• AMBIENT TEMPRATURE SURROUNDING THE CONDUCTOR. THE “LOAD” OR THE AMOUNT OF EQUIPMENT THE CIRCUIT WILL OPERATE DETERMINES CONDUCTOR SIZE.

SO, IF YOU HAVE A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER WHO JUST WANTS TO “PUT IN A BIGGER BREAKER”, PLEASE RECONSIDER. CALL A PRO.