Most people have experienced a circuit breaker trip at some time or the other; and the first couple of times it happens, it can be quite alarming. However, this is a very important safety component in any electrical circuit. A circuit breaker is essentially an automatic device used to stop the flow of current within a circuit, as a safety measure. It is specifically designed to protect your property, equipment in your home/commercial space and you from overloading the electrical circuit.

The sole reason a circuit breaker trips is to prevent the overheating and overloading of an electrical circuit, beyond the capacity of that circuit. If there is no breaker in place, the electrical units in that circuit can get damaged and potentially lead to a fire.

In case a circuit breaker trips, the very first thing to do is to locate it in your panel box. The switch you are looking for is the one that isn’t completely in an On/Off position. Once you turn the switch into the ‘on’ position, the power will be restored. In case the power doesn’t come on, simply switch it off and then on again.

If the circuit breaker trips even after you have reset it, don’t just try resetting it again. It’s doing what it’s designed to do and telling you that there is something wrong that has to be investigated. There are three different things that can cause a circuit breaker to trip:

This is the commonest cause of a circuit breaker trip. It occurs when the electrical energy that’s flowing through the circuit is much more than what it can handle. The simplest way to solve this problem is to redistribute the power to some other circuits. Very simply put, in case too many heavy appliances are connected to a single circuit, move a couple of them to one that isn’t as loaded.

It’s important that you check whether the circuits aren’t loose. First, switch off the power and look for any loose wires; you can do this by closely inspecting the hot wires and outlets that lead from the service panel to the circuit breaker, and then tighten the connection that’s loose.

If after checking the circuit overload, you find there aren’t any issues in that areas, the problem could be a short circuit. This is caused when any live wire touches another neutral/live wire. At times a short circuit may be caused by a broken wire within the breaker. It’s far more difficult to identify this as it could be just about any part of the wiring system which is connected to that circuit. At times, the culprit could be an appliance that’s plugged into an outlet.

This issue is quite a dangerous and severe one and it’s important that it be diagnosed quickly. It can be quite tedious to look for a short circuit and the outlets, plugs and wiring that are connected to that circuit, but these checks are important. Look for cracks or signs of burning in the insulation and call an electrician without delay.

If it’s neither a short circuit nor a circuit overload that’s caused the circuit breaker to trip, it could be a ground fault issue. This happens when any hot wire touches the metal outlet box or the ground wire.

If a circuit breaker trips in your home or commercial property, keep in mind that it’s a very serious issue and not something that should be ignored. For the best electrical solutions, call Allround Electrical at 1300 169 263. You can also drop us a line via email or contact us through this online form.

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Mr. Electric® wants to make sure everyone is ready for the fall and winter months in case any weather-related disasters occur.  The importance of having alternate reliable energy when the need arises cannot be stressed enough. Electricity is the lifeline of many local businesses, hospitals and city buildings, and the amount of electricity usage in households is often taken for granted.

Generators propose a great solution when temporary power is needed, but they also require special care and attention to detail for safe operation and maintenance. Follow these tips to stay safe while operating permanently placed and portable generators.

Always operate generators outside in well-ventilated areas and away from windows, doors and vents. Enclosed or partially enclosed areas, even with ventilation, can result in CO poisoning.

“One generator produces as much CO as hundreds of cars. CO from a generator is deadly and can incapacitate and kill you within minutes.”

- Consumer Product Safety Commission

Plugging the generator into a wall outlet, also known as backfeeding, can pose an electrocution risk to utility workers as well as other homeowners and businesses served by the same utility transformer.

Mr. Electric licensed service professionals will be able to install a transfer switch, which will prevent a back feed in electrical current.

Before refueling, always turn off the generator and allow time for it to cool off before refueling. Continuous operation heats up the generator and any fuel spilled on hot engine parts could ignite.

Store fuel away from any fuel-burning appliance and outside of living areas in properly labeled, non-glass containers.

Always make sure the generator is kept dry during use, and dry your hands before touching it. Operate the generator under an open, canopy-like structure.

Never use the generator in wet or rainy weather or manipulate the electrical components if you are in standing water. Correctly storing and maintaining generators will prolong the life of the unit.

Being aware of the inherent hazards of electric generators will help prevent harmful situations. These tips from Mr. Electric will keep homeowners safe while operating permanently placed and portable generators.

If, like many Des Moines homeowners, you’re considering sprucing up or renovating your kitchen, you should absolutely consider a carefully mapped out lighting strategy. This sounds strange to many people, as light is considered to be a foregone conclusion when designing a space; this couldn’t be further from the truth, as properly utilized light is necessary to get the most out of any kitchen. Today, our electricians will share some basic strategies for improving your kitchen’s lighting.

To get a grasp on what it takes to best lay out your kitchen’s lighting, it is important to understand how a kitchen relates to the three main types of lighting available through natural and house wiring: Ambient lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting.

The easiest to understand and utilize is ambient lighting, which is essentially just lighting designed to help us see and navigate inside of a room. Ambient lighting often comes from other rooms, widely dispersed lamps, grid-style can lighting, or natural light streaming in from windows or semi-translucent skylights. This lighting should used to create a generally visible room without any other sources of light on; think of ambient lighting as your basecoat layer of lighting, ideal for illuminating the room, but not great for a highly specific task.

Just as it implies, task lighting is ideal for illuminating a given task; for a kitchen, task lighting is perhaps the most important to properly plan out and execute. If your kitchen features nothing but recessed can lighting, then you will sorely miss the absent task lighting whenever prepping, cooking, or cleaning your kitchen. Lighting a single direction alone, such as the ceiling, will do a very poor job at illuminating spaces under cabinets, in sinks, or on the floor; additionally, one-dimensional lighting creates unsightly shadows and can cheapen the effect of your space. Having specifically utilized pendant lighting over an island or under-cabinet lighting for your countertops can make all the difference in the way your kitchen is used and displayed.

While accent lighting may seem to be the least necessary of all lighting types, as it provides little functional lighting in terms of ambient or task lighting, it can make the largest difference in the display of your kitchen. If you’re hoping to improve the look of your kitchen with an electrician alone or from an entire renovation, then you should put plenty of thought into your accent lighting. For instance: Task lighting under your cabinets can provide vital under-counter illumination, highlight your beautiful green glass tile backsplash, or both, depending on the electrician doing the installation.

Whether you’re concerned about your cavelike kitchen or planning an upcoming renovation, be sure to contact Des Moines’ trusted local electricians at Electrical Gurus today; we have the skills and experience necessary to transform your house’s wiring into the best possible lighting for your home’s kitchen.

Get in touch with our Des Moines electricians today!