Perhaps you've always wondered what's in the mysterious metal box on the basement wall. It's a circuit breaker box, and without it your whole home electric system would be unsafe, leaving you in danger.

Circuit box repairs or upgrades require an expert, but you don't need to be a master electrician to understand the basics of how it functions. The most common problem is a tripped circuit, and you can usually reset it yourself.

What's in the Box?

The circuit box is frequently found in the basement, although it could also be in a garage, closet, utility room or even outside. All the electricity coming into your house flows through the box.

If you open the metal door, you see a bank of switches. Each one corresponds roughly to a room in the house, while certain outlets for major appliances like the washer or furnace probably have their own switch. They should be labeled.

There also may be a main disconnect breaker, usually at the top of the box, which allows you to cut off power to the entire house. In many newer homes the main disconnect may be outside near the electric meter. Some homes do not even have one. This is useful if you are doing electrical work in your house, or in the circuit box itself. The switch should be labeled “main” or something similar.

How It Works

Why do you need a circuit box? When an electrical device malfunctions, such as the motor in your freezer overheating, wires can get crossed, creating a huge spike in electric charge. That puts you at risk of overloading your electrical system, and unchecked overloads can cause lead excess heat stress on wires, or worse.

Fortunately, your circuit breakers are on the job. There is an electromagnet or bimetallic strip inside each breaker. If the current moving through the circuit gets too high the device flips a switch, disconnecting the circuit. No more electricity can flow to the part of your home where the problem is, so the danger is averted.

So if the power goes off in one part of your house but still works in the rest, a tripped circuit breaker is the most likely culprit. The switches in your electrical panel should be labeled; if not you can still tell which one got tripped, because it will be flipped part way toward the off position. Some switches also show red when they've been tripped.

How Do I Fix It?

All you have to do to restore power is flip the switch all the way to the off position, then back to on. If flipping the circuit back on doesn't solve the problem, it might be something more serious. In that case, it's time to call a licensed electrician.

Some newer circuit breakers have advanced features, such as the ability to detect when a person makes contact with a live wire and automatically cut off the current, potentially preventing injury or death by electrocution.

If you live in an older home you may still have a fuse box. It operates on the same principle as a circuit box, with one major difference -- the wire inside the fuse actually burns up if too much current passes through it, so if the fuse blows, you need to replace it. Most fuse-style panel are maxed out, so if you have one it would be a good idea to consult your electrician and see if it’s time to consider a replacement.

Need Some Professional Guidance?

Your local Mister Sparky® electricians are always here to help. If you're having problems with your circuit breakers or fuse box, give us a call.

The winter season is full of wind, rain, snow, and power outages. Whether it is a fallen tree or a vehicle accident, a downed power line or electrical storm can cause havoc to your nice warm winter evening at home. Here are some things to keep in mind for this winter season to stay safe and warm.

In the winter we want to stay warm in the home. We put on extra layers, turn up the furnace, and the most popular option, bring out the space heaters. Space heaters are great for bringing warmth to a small room or area of your home. But they can also be a hazard because of their exposed heat output. So when setting up your space heater, ensure that it is not in direct contact with anything and that it is out of reach from little ones. Read our Winter Electrical Tips for more tips on space heater safety and other winter safety tips.

When it comes to the harshness of the elements and storms that can happen during the winter season, there a few ways you can defend your home against bad situations:

In the event that there is a power outage you should be prepared for the long haul if the worst-case scenario occurs. Sometimes power can be out for hours. If an outage occurs at night, you cannot rely on your space heaters to keep you warm. Have a flashlight and blanket ready so you can stay warm and navigate your home safely.

Our most important recommendation is to have your home’s electrical system inspected so that you can be sure you are as prepared as can be. An expert electrician can identify potential issues and problems that could occur during the winter season.

Question:  How many psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb?

Answer:  Only one…but the light bulb has to really WANT to change.

Maybe you’ve heard this joke before.  And, maybe you are tired of hearing light bulb jokes in general.  But, like it or not—Change is inevitable and the LED light bulb is leading the way.

Nearly a day goes by that we do not hear about light emitting diodes (LEDs) and the changes taking place in the lighting industry.

And, for good reason.  LED is changing the way we see the light.  The latest ceiling pendants, mini chandeliers, task lamps and outdoor light fixtures are accepting these new bulbs with tremendous gusto.  The lighting effects are becoming more versatile and redefining our vision of elegance.  The price of LED lamps is even coming down.

As LED light fixtures become more affordable and user-friendly, the choice of which bulb to use in your next lighting design will be clear…or frosted or soft white or blue…but it will be LED!

1.  LEDs lasts up to 50 times longer and use 80% less energy than old standard incandescent light bulbs.

2.  LEDs burn out slowly over time, so the dreaded pop and bulb blow out will be a blast from the past–something to tell your grandchildren about!

3.  LEDs radiate little to no heat and they hold up extremely well in harsh winter weather conditions.

4.  LEDs are eco-friendly; they do not contain toxic gas or emit harmful IR/UV radiation.

5.  LEDs are also referred to as “solid-state” lighting  (SSL) because they use semiconductors and are solid light sources; they are shatter-resistant and durable.

Embrace change. Learn the facts and put LED to work in your home or office environment.

√ Buy from a reputable dealer.  All LED bulbs are not created equal.  Through a process of “binning,” LED chips are sorted according to the quality and degree of luminescence.  Cheaper LED bulbs may be equipped with a lower quality chip that will not provide the brightest light and may burn out prematurely.

√ Look for Energy Star®-ratings to find LEDs of the highest quality.

Some of the latest LED innovations include designer mini pendants and ceiling fixtures from ELK Lighting.

The first thing to consider when thinking about rewiring your home is the age of your house. In many incidents of house fires, the cause of the fire is traced back to the insulation surrounding wires in a home. If your house is more than 50 years old, you should give some serious thought to having it rewired, as homes older than this are those most likely to encounter such fires. At the very least, you should have the system inspected to verify its condition.

Are the outlets and switches in your home discolored? If so, this too is a sign that professional rewiring may be necessary. There may be shorts behind those outlets and switches that are causing arcing and sparks, which in turn can lead to small fires and this discoloration.

You are going to have to reset the circuits in your breaker from time to time. It should not, however, be an extremely frequent occurrence. If you notice that your circuit breaker is tripped very frequently, you may need to have the wires in your home replaced. Contact us to have the situation evaluated.