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There's electricity in the air...
I hear you thinking: your brother-in-law redid his basement, so he can install a new outlet in the office! No, no and no! He doesn't offer any warranty, any safety. If your house burns down because of an electrical problem, you have no recourse. A master electrician is the only person qualified to do electrical work. So don't take needless risks! It's expensive! Yes, but a lot less than rebuilding a house!
If you find that you need a new source of lighting or a new outlet, call a master electrician to install it - for your own safety and the safety of your loved ones. Take if from an electrician - electricity is a trade, not a hobby. Vincent Watt 2006-08-10 1:22 PM |
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It's spring and nature is returning to life. It isn't alone. So is Homo sapiens, along with his desire to renovate. I have a client, Mr. Yves, who owns a cottage in the country. He's retired and... run for it - he's renovating! Don't worry. I'm just kidding. In fact, he's engaged my services to guarantee the safety of the electrical work he's planning. Yes, I'm a master electrician. This leads me to think of the various hazardous situations I've seen in my career. So I've decided to tell you about them. If this helps some of you avoid these errors, so much the better. Here are a few tips. 
You must properly maintain the electrical appliances in your home or business. I don't mean tampering with them. It's enough for everybody to keep their electrical installations clean and free of humidity. You must also avoid storing combustible materials near the electrical panel. Remove any dust, spider webs, lint and other dirt that accumulates on switches, outlets and the electrical panel. Understand that the slightest spark can set fire to all of these materials. A little dusting won't change the world, except... 
Tsk! Tsk! Don't play around in the electrical panel either. No new fuses, no new circuit breakers, no extra power cables on the breakers. This is dangerous. If you need new circuits, call a master electrician.
Another very simple thing to do: watch out for the least breakage. A power cable is covered with a protective sheath. If this sheath dries out and breaks, an electric arc can form. Do you know what temperature an electric arc can reach? 50 0C? 100 0C? Maybe 500 0C? An electric arc can reach 1,650 0C (3,000 0F). It can burn up a spider web in less time than it takes to say the words. So pay special attention to extension cords like the one that runs under the carpet to avoid tripping on it, or the one that's hidden with the other behind the furniture. You can't see them and if they get damaged, you won't know. Leave your extension cords in plain sight to let air circulate and avoid overheating. Are they in good condition? Old, dried-out extension cords are dangerous. Throw them in the garbage! 
Light bulbs also generate a lot of heat: 2040C on the bulb and 3430C at the base. Paper catches fire on its own at 2040C. So don't let bowl of the ceiling light fixture fill with dust. Avoid installing a bulb with more wattage than is indicated on household lamps. Some lampshades can catch fire easily.