Electrical Safety

My Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping: 9 Reasons why. A circuit breaker is a small device in your electrical panel, fuse box, consumer unit or trip switch box that protects your electrical installation from overload, electrical faults and serious damage. The circuit breaker should have been carefully selected by the electrician that installed the wiring to adequately protect your electrical installation. When a circuit breaker trips, it does so to protect your wiring, appliances, and your home. The tripping circuit breaker is usually the result of an electrical fault or faulty appliance and only occasionally as a result of a faulty circuit breaker.

Your Electrical Wiring: Hazards and Signs of Danger. Electrical Systems will work in a seemingly normal manner right up until the point of complete failure! Only a qualified electrician can inspect an electrical installation to determine whether it is safe and suitable for continued use. There are some signs of dangers, hazards and electrical problems that you can keep an eye out for. In this article I will go through the most common issues and danger signs that you should be on the lookout for along with advising WHEN to call a professional to assist.

15 Things You Should Not Plug Into an Extension Strip. Power Strips, Extension Leads and Extension Reels are common in every home but did you know these have a maximum safe rating? There are a number of items that should not be plugged into one of these devices in order to avoid electrical hazards and safety risks. This is a list of the 15 most common things that should not be plugged into an extension cord. You can find a list of household appliances, their ratings and use this to determine what can and cannot be plugged in to an extension lead in our article.

We all know that electricity and water do not mix. Electric shocks can occur when water is introduced to electrical equipment but what about outdoor sockets? Are they safe? The answer is generally YES. As long as outdoor outlets are installed correctly, designed for outdoor use and tested by an electrician before being put into service, then they are safe to use.

Open Circuit vs Closed Circuit: What's The Difference - An electrical circuit effectively has just two states; open and closed. An open circuit will not allow electrical current to flow, no lights will turn on, no socket outlets will work, no equipment will function. A closed circuit will enable electrical current to flow around the circuit meaning that equipment, lamps, appliances and other electrical equipment will work. What is a Closed Circuit? A closed circuit provides a complete circuit with a continuous path for electrical current to flow from the power source back to itself. In this normal condition, electrons can move freely through conductors, creating a continuous current flow that powers electrical devices.

As a qualified electrician with decades of experience in the electrical industry and as an electrical tutor, I've seen my fair share of electrical hazards that could have been prevented. The question "Are my electrics safe?" isn't always as straightforward as it seems. While some electrical problems are glaringly obvious, many electrical hazards lurk behind walls, in breaker panels, and within seemingly normal electrical devices, waiting to cause electrical fires, electric shock, or worse.

Extension cord or Power Strip: Are They Safe to Use? Extension leads, also known as power strips or electrical extension cords, are pretty much the unsung heroes of modern life. Whether you’re plugging in your laptop, your phone, or your third coffee machine (no judgment), they give you extra outlets where and when you need them. But—and this is a big one—misuse of these handy devices can lead to some serious consequences, including electrical fire risks and electrical shock dangers. As a qualified electrician and electrical industry instructor, I’ve seen what can go wrong when extension cords are used improperly. We’re talking everything from minor singes to major house fires. So, in this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know to use extension cords safely—whether you’re at home, at work, or somewhere in between.

Bonding Earthing Grounding - Do my pipes need earthing? It is a common misconception that all pipework should be earthed. In many cases, metallic pipework WILL require a connection to earth in order to avoid a dangerous voltage appearing during an electrical fault but in some cases, pipework will NOT need to be connected to the earthing. Let me explain...

Sparking Outlet: Is it Dangerous? Why are there sparks? A sparking outlet can be dangerous under many circumstances. If the spark only occurs when you plug in a piece of equipment that begins to run immediately then the spark is likely to be caused by the electricity jumping the gap as the pins connect into the socket. If the sparking occurs under normal operation with or without equipment connected then there is definitely something to be worried about.

11 Signs you need to call an electrician immediately. Electrical Emergency? Here's what to do...