ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OVERLOADS

Electrical System Overload

There is Increased electrical use during hot summer weather which increases the risk of fires in homes with older or damaged wiring systems. Summertime necessities, such as air conditioning, can strain and overload an electrical system, creating a serious shock and fire hazard.

"Nationwide, an estimated 50 million older homes and buildings with outdated electrical wiring and systems are at greater risk of dangerous deterioration and becoming overloaded," says Safe Electricity Director Molly Hall.

The wiring of many homes is not equipped to properly handle and support today's increased electrical demands. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), more than half of all homes in the U.S. are at least 30 years old. The wiring in many of these older homes was designed to handle only about half of the electrical demands of today's residents.
"Overloaded electrical circuits, and faulty equipment and wiring can cause not only inconvenient power outages, but hazardous conditions that could result in injury, or even death," says Hall.

Watch for these warning signs. If you have any of these present, you should have your home inspected by a professional:

• Lights often flicker, blink or dim momentarily
• Circuit breakers trip or fuses blow often
• Cords or wall plates are warm to the touch or discolored
• Crackling, sizzling or buzzing is heard from outlets

A home electrical inspection to find and correct hidden hazards could prevent many of these tragedies. The time and investment in having a qualified electrician check your residence, and perform a few home repairs and upgrades are small compared with the protection and safety they provide to your family and home.

No matter the season or age of homes, residents should be vigilant and check for electrical hazards such as cracked or fraying electrical cords, overloaded outlets and circuits, and improper wattage light bulbs in lamps and light fixtures. Also, make sure smoke alarms are placed and functioning properly.

Call Sylvia Electrical Contracting at 877-535-6661 for a free estimate and home evaluation.

Understanding Solar Energy

FLASH:

Sylvia Electric installs first solar energy Fronius solar inverter with revenue meter and sun meter. Read the following to understand the importance of renewable energy.

Basics of photovoltaic systems

How does a photovoltaic installation work?

General information:

The solar energy received globally is approx. 1,540,000,000,000,000,000kWh/year (1,540 peta kWh/year). This is 15,000 times more than the world wide energy consumption. Congratulations on your decision to actively use this largest energy pool worldwide. By the way, did you know that solar energy was first discovered in 1839 by the physicist Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel?

The somewhat strange-sounding term "photovoltaics" originates in the driving force behind this technology, the light beam. A light beam consists of nimaginably tiny particles, the photons.

Generating power on the roof:

To simplify matters, let's start by explaining a pure silicon solar cell. If we recall what we learned in our physics lessons, silicon features 4 electrons in the outer electron shell of the atomic nucleus, the so-called valence electrons. The photons, i.e. the sunlight, bombard the solar cells and enrich the valence electrons with energy. The electrons are finally knocked off the silicon atom and leave a positive atom behind. For the free electrons to move into the right direction and to allow current to be generated, the front surface and the back surface of the cell need to be polarized differently. So the silicon atoms at the front surface are doped with a minor quantity of phosphorus atoms featuring an extra valence electron. On the back surface of the cell, however, boron atoms with only three valence electrons are added to the silicon atoms. This establishes a voltage difference between the positive and negative pole and allows electrons to flow, that's how current is generated. A large number of these solar cells put together and encapsulated with glass will then form one of your solar modules.

Converting power under the roof:

DC generated in the solar modules can be used in the household or fed into the utility transmission grid, provided it is first converted into AC. This is the core task of the Fronius inverter. Your Fronius inverter is a solar inverter of the most recent generation. It represents a highly complex link between the solar modules and the utility transmission grid. It is therefore expected to fulfill a series of highly demanding tasks.

Conversion of DC into AC:

The Fronius inverters convert DC, generated in the solar modules, into AC. Synchronized with the supply voltage, this AC is then either fed into the circuit of your home or into the utility transmission grid. The Fronius inverter were developed exclusively for application in utility interactive PV installations. For more information on circuit diagrams, please turn to the installation and service instructions.

Fully automated operation:

Fronius inverters operate in a fully automated manner. After sunrise, as soon as there is sufficient output generated by solar modules, the control unit starts monitoring the utility line voltage and frequency as well as the energy offer. Once enough sunlight is received, the solar inverter starts feeding the utility transmission grid. Depending on the type of installation, a few watts of solar power will be enough do the job!

The Fronius inverter will now continue to work in a way to always draw the maximum of power from the solar modules. This function is called MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) and is carried out with a rate of accuracy of more than 99%. After dark, when the energy offered is no longer enough to feed the utility transmission grid, the Fronius inverter automatically cuts the connection to the grid and stops operating, of course with all settings and data being conserved.

Voltage transformation and galvanic separation:

The Fronius inverters are designed to be used in solar modules with a wide range of input voltage, which allows to use the most varied types of solar modules. Consider that the indicated values for the maximum DC voltage (total voltage of all solar cells connected) must never be exceeded. Thanks to its structure and its way of working, a Fronius inverter provides a maximum of safety, from installation and mounting to operation. The Fronius IG inverter is the first solar inverter to feature a HF transformer (HF =high frequency) that ensures a galvanic separation of the DC side from the utility transmission grid. In addition, the HF conception allows a radical reduction of the transformer's size, it therefore needs a lot less space and weighs much less. Despite the complete galvanic separation, Fronius inverters accomplish a high level of efficiency thanks to innovative circuit conceptions.

Grid monitoring:

Inverters from Fronius also assume the task of monitoring the grid. This term includes all measures required for the protection of people and devices in case of a utility outage. Fronius inverters are programmed to immediately stop operating in case of irregular grid conditions (e.g. utility outage, interruption) and to interrupt feeding the grid. There is a series of possibilities for Fronius inverters to identify a utility outage:

* Voltage monitoring
* Frequency monitoring
* Measuring the line resistance (only with the Fronius IG featuring ENS)
* Intended feeding of a slightly modified frequency or voltage

In this context it is important to know that the Fronius inverters are able to carry out the monitoring procedures applicable in each country by themselves, without additional electronic measuring devices. This considerably reduces installation work and all related costs.

Display and data communication:

The high technical complexity of novel solar inverters requires a perfect display design, which is actually the "interface" with the user. It is uncompromisingly designed for easy operation and permanent availability of the system data. Fronius inverters already feature a fundamental logging function for recording data on minimum and maximum values directly on the display - on a daily, yearly and a total basis.

As an option feature, the display also allows indicating the following weather related data:

* 2 different temperature values (e.g. temperature near the solar
modules, outside temperature in the shade)
* Insolation
* Wind velocity
* Atmospheric pressure
* Relative atmospheric humidity

In addition to the functions implemented in the Fronius inverters, a wide range of elements for data communication offered provides a large number of possibilities for data recording and visualizing. Required system expansions are easy to install. The appealing box provides space for a large number of system expansions, with a focus on easy connection to all current and new media, such as remote inquiry via modem, e-mail, internet, SMS, fax, etc.

Your benefit:

The more of the above tasks the photovoltaic inverter is able to do itself, the easier and cheaper the installation will be as there are no more additional peripherals needed. Thanks to our experience and highly innovative technologies, the Fronius inverters can handle all these tasks simultaneously. It furthermore meets a series of requirements for the protection of people, household appliances and the inverter itself.

Some of these requirements are:

* Grid monitoring
* The type of current fed into the grid
* Response to interferences (e.g. mobile phones)
* Intended feeding of a slightly modified frequency or voltage

Daylight Savings Time is here. Change your Clocks and Check your batteries.

Daylight Savings, check smoke detectors

Posted by: Eli George

BUFFALO, N.Y. (RELEASE) - As the end of Daylight Saving Time approaches, the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) urges residents to replace the batteries in their smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors throughout their homes, and to test those detectors to make sure that they are functioning properly. Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 6 at 2:00 A.M. FASNY also recommends that homeowners dust or vacuum their smoke detectors to keep them free of debris, so they can function properly if needed.

According to a recent survey among 1,004 adults commissioned by the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and conducted by Harris Interactive by telephone in September 2010, Americans continue to have misunderstandings about smoke alarms, including how many they need in their homes, and how often they should be tested and replaced. The NFPA also states that two-thirds of home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

“Smoke alarms are one of the best safety devices you can buy,” said FASNY President David Jacobowitz. “Daylight Saving Time is the perfect time to replace the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. A task that only takes a minute or two can ultimately save so many lives.”

· NFPA tips for keeping smoke alarms/detectors working properly:

· Test smoke alarms/detectors at least once a month by using the alarms “test button”. Do NOT use an open flame.

· Clean the units by vacuuming or dusting in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

· Install new batteries in all smoke alarms/detectors at least once a year on the day you change your clocks in the fall or when the alarm chirps (warning that the battery is dying). Do NOT disable the “chirping” feature by removing batteries.

· Keep batteries in smoke alarms/detectors; do not borrow them for other purposes. Nuisance activations can be addressed by moving a smoke alarm/detector farther away from kitchen smoke or bathroom steam and by more frequent cleaning. If the problem persists, replace the unit.

· Don’t paint over smoke alarms and detectors.

NFPA tips for installing smoke alarms/detectors:

· While smoke alarms/detectors alert people to fires, families still need to develop and practice home fire escape plans so that they can get out quickly.

· Install at least one smoke alarm on every floor of your home (including the basement) and in or near each sleeping area. If you sleep with the door closed, NFPA recommends installing smoke alarms/detectors inside the room. In new homes, smoke alarms/ detectors are required in all sleeping rooms, per the National Fire Alarm Code.

· Because smoke rises, alarms should be mounted high on walls or ceilings.

· Wall-mounted alarms should be positioned 4-12 inches from the ceiling.

· Ceiling-mounted alarms should be positioned 4 inches away from the nearest wall.

· On vaulted (“cathedral”) ceilings, be sure to mount the alarm at the highest point of the ceiling.

· Smoke alarms/detectors should not be installed near a window, door or forced-air register where drafts could interfere with their operation.

· NFPA recommends that people with hearing impairments install smoke alarms/ detectors with louder alarm signals and/or strobe lights to alert them to a fire. For a list of manufacturers that distribute smoke alarms/detectors for the hearing impaired, please call NFPA´s Center for High-Risk Outreach at 617-984-7826.

· Purchase smoke alarms/detectors with the UL label.

· Smoke alarms/detectors that are hard-wired to the home's electrical system should be installed by a qualified electrician.

For more information on smoke detector safety, visit the National Fire Protection Association website at www.nfpa.org .

Copyright WIVB.com

KNOB AND TUBE WIRING

KNOB AND TUBE WIRING, A NO NO NOW------

Knob and tube wiring is now considered outdated and unsafe.

This means that knob and tube wiring is out and Romex (described below) is in.

One of the problems with knob and tube wiring is that over time, wires will deteriorate and fray.

If you would have knob and tube wiring in your home today and your home would be inspected for any home renovation project, it would be necessary to replace the knob and tube wiring.

The knobs are porcelain insulators that suspend the wiring in the air to dissipate the heat. These were used for wiring that ran through the rafters and studs.

Romex is used today and has an insulated coating making it easy to attach to rafters and studs without the need for dissipating the heat.

Knob and tube wiring does not have a ground conductor. The switch for turning off the neutral wire would turn off the circuit but it would not turn off the current.

Knob and tube wiring cannot be placed near insulation. With Romex, you can properly insulate your home according to today’s current standards.

Professional, licensed and insured electricians are trained in every aspect of wiring and will know how to replace the knob and tube wiring correctly.

In an effort to keep your home up to code and to keep your family safe from fire hazards or personal injury, you should always use the services of a professional electrician.

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Free Home Inspection, Read On......

This article is both interesting and informative. It is written by an independent author and hits
the nail right on the head. Call Sylvia Electrical Contracting today for a free estimate and home
inspection. Toll free 877-535-6661

Is Your Electrical Wiring the Fuse for a Bomb in Your Home?

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, "During a typical year, home electrical problems account for 67,800 fires, 485 deaths, and $868 million in property losses. Home electrical wiring causes twice as many fires as electrical appliances." One of the most misunderstood areas of the home and home safety, almost every homeowner has some misconceptions about how their electrical system works. Getting a better understanding of the possible dangers lingering behind your walls and around your electrical sockets may just save your home and your household.

Electrical Fires: Invisible, Odorless, and Deadly
What to know how dangerous an electrical fire can be? "An electrical fire rarely gives off a smell," says Clarence Williams, licensed electrician and founder of W M Electrical Services in the greater Washington D.C. area. "It doesn't smoke so the smoke detectors don't go off right away." Faulty electrical wiring heats up and will begin to smolder, often taking a year or more to finally ignite. There are no warnings that an electrical fire is about to start. Worse yet, they can be some of the trickiest fires to extinguish once they get going. For one home Williams had serviced, the homeowner had hooked up the electrical wiring for two wall sconces backwards. The wall spontaneously burst into flame, nearly taking the house with it.

Myths about Electrical Wiring and Safety

1. Fuses and Circuit Breakers: Fuses and circuit breakers protect the wiring and electrical circuit, not the circuit itself or the appliances and loads they're connected to. This one is huge. Williams says he's even talked to some electricians who were mistaken about the role of fuses and breakers. This means that if a current is high enough to damage the wiring, the fuse or breaker will detect this and open the circuit. However, unacceptably high currents can cause insulation damage and overheating that threaten to either damage electrical appliances connected to the circuit or cause combustible materials near the wiring to ignite. Rather than simply relying on fuses and circuit breakers, you need to ensure that wiring is properly sized and appropriate appliances are put on separate circuits.

2. Old Homes Need Electrical Upgrades: When homes are built, strict building codes and a professional, licensed electrician all but guarantee a safe electrical system in the home. "Even a home built in 1900," Williams says, "should be perfectly safe today, if nobody has tampered with the wiring." Of course, since most people can't live without a microwave and other modern appliances, almost no home goes too long with its original wiring. Most problems with electrical wiring occur when these upgrades aren't done right. Microwaves, computers, space heaters, and air conditioners are the biggest culprits, but any appliance, even toasters, may require alterations to your electrical wiring.

One common problem was the unfortunate habit—somewhat common during the 70s—of using aluminum wiring. Aluminum wiring will expand and contract when heated and cooled, causing loose connections that are extremely dangerous. To maintain the safety of your home, aluminum wiring must be retrofitted with copper "pigtails" that prevent these loose connections.

3. Extension Cords are Safe: Many homeowners know that different extension cords have different electrical ratings and capacities. Few actually heed the requirement that their extension cord be rated to match the appliance it's plugged into. Extension cords running to computers, air conditioning units, and space heaters, and any major appliances must be able to handle the load. Otherwise the extension cord will heat up, causing the entire circuit to become unsafe and potentially able to create an electrical fire. Particularly, dangerous is the habit of running an extension cord under rugs, furniture, or anything else that will capture this heat, instead of allowing it to dissipate.

The Golden Rule
These myths are important to debunk for homeowners, but they don't compare to this single piece of advice: Don't, don't, don't do it yourself. Asked what the most common cause of faulty electrical wiring, Williams says without hesitation, "People trying to do it themselves, and people passing themselves off as licensed electricians." Plumbers and handymen are the most common posers, but as a homeowner, you absolutely must check to make sure the person you hire has the necessary licensing.

The DIY culture is a natural extension of American know-how, pluck, and the shortage of qualified contractors in the home improvement industry. Many homeowners turn to the Internet for information about their projects. This won't cut it for electrical work. In fact, many electricians refuse to dole out advice about projects online not to protect their profit margins, but to avoid getting sued by a homeowner who misinterpreted the information. When it comes to electrical work in your home, perhaps the best wisdom comes from Socrates. If you know nothing else for sure about your electrical wiring, know the fact of your own ignorance and hire a licensed electrician.

Marcus Pickett is a professional freelance writer for the home remodeling industry. He has published more than 600 articles on both regional and national topics within the home improvement industry.

Contact a Boston Electrician or choose a local electrician in by calling 877-535-6661: Peabody or Fitchburg

Greater Boston: Burlington MA, Melrose MA, Wellesley MA, Arlington MA, Belmont MA, Boston MA, Brookline MA, Cambridge MA, Charlestown MA, Malden MA, Medford MA, Newton MA, Everett MA, Chelsea MA, Revere MA, Lexington MA, Somerville MA, Waltham MA, Watertown MA, Winthrop MA, Boston MA Boston Electrician, electrician Boston, Electricians Boston, Boston electricians

North Shore MA: Middleton MA, North Andover MA, Wenham MA, Rockport MA, Rowley MA, Salisbury MA, Topsfield MA, W. Newbury MA, Boxford MA, Newburyport MA, Haverhill MA, Lawrence MA, Lowell MA, Lynn MA, Beverly MA, Danvers MA, Peabody MA, Salem MA, Marblehead MA, Nahant MA, Saugus MA, Lynnfield MA, Wakefield MA, Melrose MA, Stoneham MA, Woburn MA, Billerica MA, Wilmington MA, Hamilton MA, Andover MA, Amesbury MA, Bradford MA, Essex MA, Georgetown MA, Gloucester MA, Groveland MA, Ipswich MA, Merrimac MA, Methuen MA, Newbury MA
Boston Electrician, electricians, Electricians Boston, Boston Electricians
South Shore MA: Braintree MA, Brockton MA, Canton MA, Cohasset MA, Duxbury MA, Hanover MA, Hingham MA, Hull MA, Boston MA, Tewksbury MA, Milton MA, Norwell MA, Pembroke MA, Plymouth MA, Randolph MA, Quincy MA, Rockland MA, Scituate MA, Weymouth MA
Boston Electrician, electricians, Electricians Boston, Boston Electricians
Metro West MA: Acton MA, Hudson MA, Marlborough MA, Boston MA, Maynard MA, Shrewsbury MA, Stow MA, Concord MA, Littleton MA, Carlisle MA, Dover MA, Natick MA, Boston MA, Framingham MA, Dedham MA, Weston MA, Lincoln MA, Winchester MA, Wellesley MA, Sudbury MA, Fitchburg MA, Leominster MA, Needham MA, Southborough MA, Westborough MA

Think Spring!

Believe it or not spring is only 5 weeks ago. It will be here before you know it.

Take a moment to think about all the home improvements you have been thinking about all winter. Our electricians are eager to make your wish list come true.

• Perhaps you will be purchasing a new HD flat screen TV and need it mounted and outlets installed.

• Are you may be planning a new patio or deck, perhaps a pool or hot tub and will need GFI outlets and lighting installed?
  
  That's where Sylvia Electrical will come to the rescue.
  

• Add recessed lighting to your kitchen for a modern up date.

• Ceiling fans are not only aesthetically pleasing but will help you save money by cooling your rooms.

• Think safety, think security. We can install a variety of security lighting and motion sensors to keep you and your family safe.
  

• If your breakers are tripping and your lights are flickering it may be time to think about a new service panel, 60 amp panels are a thing of the past.
  
  Call 877-535-6661 today for a free estimate.

Don't Be Left Out in the Cold

A device that can supply electricity to your home or business during power outages is casually referred to as a generator. During an emergency, it allows you to continue using essential appliances such as air conditioners, heaters, refrigerators, as well as lights. Technically speaking, an electric generator is a device that converts mechanical energy into electric energy. Let one of our qualified electrical contractors discuss your generator options.

Below is more information, additional guides and reviews of residential and commercial generators, safety recommendations and other resources you need to make an informed decision about the best emergency back up generator for home or commercial use. Always remember a standby unit should always be installed by a licensed and insured electrician. Call us today at 877-535-6661 for a free estimate.

HOW TO CHOOSE A GENERATOR

Home generators can be portable or stationary (standby). They run on a variety of fuels, such as gasoline, diesel, natural gas (NG), and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Portable gas models are generally cheap. For a long term emergency consider standby units. They can provide continuous power because they are hooked up to an external fuel source, such as natural gas line. Some portable devices can also be fueled from an external source and can therefore provide extended run time too. Commercial/Industrial generators are stand by units.

SELECTING THE FUEL

Your choice of fuel should be determined primarily by the fuels available in your area. Most residential generators are bi-fuel and can run on both natural gas and LPG (casually called propane). You will normally need a simple field adjustment to convert from one fuel to the other. If like most homes your house is already supplied with gas, or if LPG is readily available in your area, a bi-fuel NG/propane generator is your logical choice. Boston electrician installs residential commercial generators.

GENERATOR INSTALLATION

Normally, a stationary generator is mounted outdoors on a cement pad, preferably near the fuel source. Many models already come with a mounting pad, but you still need to prepare a location that is flat and has provisions for water drainage. To prevent exhaust gases from entering a home or business, locate the unit in a well-ventilated area away from doors or windows. Call Sylvia Electrical for a free estimate and to discuss your generator needs. Electrician Boston, Peabody, Fitchburg.

HOW TO WIRE YOUR SYSTEM

A standby power backup device connects to the home or business wiring via a transfer switch. The transfer switch prevents "back-feeding" into utility lines (which is dangerous and illegal). Many standby generators come with a pre-wired transfer switch. It is strongly recommended that all electrical connections be done by a licensed electrician. in Boston, Peabody, Fitchburg or electrical contractor

We would be happy to discuss all your generations options with you. Call us today! Don't be left in the cold.