What should I do when I lose power to my building or home?
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Please contact your local power company. Chances are they will be able to restore power or advise you to call an electrician. List of Power Company Numbers |
When you are going to attempt to perform your own electrical repair, there a few important precautions you should take: |
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Shut off circuit breaker to the device.
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Use a meter or tester to be sure the electricity is off and no other circuits are live in the device.
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Use insulated tools to help avoid electrical shocks.
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Be very certain you can perform the repair safely and confidently.
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Test your work thoroughly.
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Next time call Elite Electric.
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When trimming trees, hanging holiday lights or repairing roofs and gutters make sure you are aware of the power lines in the area and avoid them. Aluminum ladders conduct electricity. |
Q. Do I need an electrical permit to install under counter lighting in my kitchen?
A. In most area's, as long as the fixtures can be plugged in you do not need a permit. Any new wiring for these fixtures should have an electrical permit.
Q. We notice that when a certain device or collection of devices is on, the overhead lights blink. Do you know what causes this?
A. We have found many instances where the wall outlets and overhead lights are on the same circuit. To correct this problem you may want to install a dedicated circuit for the device(s).
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Ground Fault Interrupter Receptacle |
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The GFI receptacle trips when anything is plugged in! |
It could mean many things. GFI receptacles become easier to trip over time, which means they no longer stay closed even without a fault. |
However, the GFI receptacle may not have failed. It may be tripping because it was not wired properly, the wires have come loose or a failing breaker. |
Since the GFI receptacle will remain closed until something is plugged in, reset the GFI receptacle(s) and check each for power using a voltmeter. If each has power, plug the smallest light you have into each one. A 10W night light works well. If there is a fault, even the small 10W light will cause the GFI receptacle to trip. If the small light works in each outlet but any larger load is causing it to trip, it is probably the breaker. Breakers when they fail, trip at lower and lower current loads. A small load may not be enough to trip it. However the GFI receptacle is so sensitive it will trip on the smallest fault. |
Always treat electricity with respect! If you are planning to check the outlet wiring yourself, turn off the breaker for the circuit and check the outlet for power using a voltmeter to ensure the circuit is off. |
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The circuit has tripped and when I press the reset button in, it wont stay down and reset! |
| Reset the GFI's breaker, (or any breaker that has tripped) by turning the breaker off, then back on. |
| If there is nothing plugged into any of the GFI protected outlets, the GFI breaker probably has to be replaced. Unlike ordinary breakers, the GFI type do not last forever. Each time it trips, it often trips easier and easier, until the GFI will no longer reset. |
