The Electric Connection’s Blog

Tools Necessary for an Electrician Beverly Hills Do-it-Yourself Project

Posted on | by K Hopkins

It gives you a good feeling to take on do it yourself projects. You are saving money, and it is nice to know that you have a direct part in helping your home look its best and stay in good repair. While you may not want to take on large electrical projects—for those you would call your electrician Beverly Hills, Electric Connection—you can learn to handle the smaller, simpler electricity-related jobs yourself. If you plan to take on these jobs, it is important that you have a good understanding of the process and that you have the right tools to get the job done right. Consider adding these tools to your toolbox, if you plan to take on any electrical jobs.

Basic Hand Tools

  • Selection of screwdrivers
  • Nut driver
  • Hex key set
  • Assorted Pliers
  • Adjustable and crescent wrench
  • Hacksaw
  • Wire strippers
  • Electrician’s Knife
  • Tin snips
  • Measuring Devices
  • Flashlight
  • Level

Power Tools

  • Cordless reciprocating saw
  • Power drill
  • Electric screwdriver

Testing Equipment

  • Power tester
  • Volt amp meter

Safety Equipment

  • Safety goggles
  • Rubber insulating gloves
  • First aid kit

As you can see, there are a lot of tools that are necessary for completing an electrical job. In many cases, it is actually more affordable, and certainly more convenient, to call an electrician in Beverly Hills. If you are unsure who to call, consider utilizing the services of the skilled electricians at Electric Connection. Our technicians are all properly certified and understand what it takes to get the job done right. There is no need to risk your safety or the electrical items in your home by taking on a job that you are not comfortable with completing. If you have any questions or concerns, give us a call and we will be happy to help you in any way we possibly can.

An Electrician in Los Angeles Can Test Your Circuit Breaker for Damage

Posted on | by K Hopkins | 2 Comments on An Electrician in Los Angeles Can Test Your Circuit Breaker for Damage

Under normal circumstances, a circuit breaker lasts for years without ever needing repair or replacement. However, from time to time a circuit breaker will actually “break.” Diagnosing a circuit breaker problem is not a project that an amateur should attempt on his or her own. Only the most skilled do-it-yourselfers can handle this project. Unless you are skilled in electrical safety practices and the proper use of electrical test equipment, contacting an electrician in Los Angeles just makes sense.

If you have a breaker that is tripping regularly, more than likely the breaker is doing its job—the circuit is just overloaded. A skilled electrician Los Angeles can test this by using an ammeter—a tool that is used for testing the amount of electricity going through the circuit. Another problem that occurs regularly is that the breaker will not reset after tripping. In this case, the problem is more likely in the line of electricity rather than the breaker. In most cases the line has a fault and the breaker will (purposely) not reset until the fault is cleared.

When an electrician comes to test your breaker, he will likely first test the voltage at the breaker terminal. Generally, the reading should show 120 VAC. If this appears correctly, he will load the circuit and test again. If voltage drops at this point, there is a good chance the breaker is bad.

Since this is a job that is so in-depth and difficult, calling an electrician from The Electric Connection is highly recommended. These experts have years of experience and training, so they are able to review your problem and determine the best way to proceed. There is no use in taking risks when it comes to your safety and the safety of your home; an experienced electrician is just a phone call away.

Santa Monica Electrician – Dangers of DIY

Posted on | by K Hopkins | 2 Comments on Santa Monica Electrician – Dangers of DIY

“I can fix that!” This is something you may be tempted to say when you find small problems with the electrical system in your house. You may like to do work on your own home and if you have the right skill set, a do it yourself project is rewarding because you save money and have the satisfaction of a job well done. However, when you are dealing with electrical work, this is a completely different issue. Think twice before you begin working on electoral-related projects. The potential hazards can be very dramatic.  Consider these risks and then call an electrician in Santa Monica, such as one from Electric Connection, to help with your next project.

  • Each year, hundreds of fires are caused from unstable wiring and insecure connections. Using a licensed Santa Monica electrician assures that code is followed and that the wiring will be done properly.
  • You can hurt yourself if you mishandle a wire or do not perform the job just right. Experienced electricians have spent hundreds of hours learning safety skills that prevent this.
  • If you install an electrical implement wrong, you can easily fry or melt the item or even harm the wiring in the walls. If you cause this through your own lack of skills, your insurance company may not pick up the bill.

It may seem like you can save money by choosing to “do it yourself” on your electrical project. However, even a relatively simple project can become complicated and expensive if you do not understand exactly what you are doing. Instead of suffering alone, call Electric Connection and let one of our many experts come out and help you complete your project safely and with the necessary skill. In most cases, you will save money since you have less to worry about when you use an expert.

Reviewing Your New Home with a Pasadena Electrician

Posted on | by K Hopkins

When you buy a new house, you spend a lot of time looking at things like space, decorating options and the yard. However, there is something else you need to give a bit more attention to—the electrical system. No matter if you are buying a brand new house, or one that is one hundred years old, there are issues that can occur with the electrical system. If you pay attention to these potential problems, and contact an electrician in Pasadena to help fix them, you can reduce the chance that you will be impacted by them in the future. Consider these common issues that you need to keep an eye open for in your new, or new to you, home.

  • Make certain the circuit breakers and breaker boxes are powerful enough to handle the level of electricity you plan to use. Installing another box may be important.
  • Do the bathrooms and kitchen have safety devices on the outlets? This is one of the easiest ways to protect your family.
  • Are there adequate outlets in the places you need them? Nothing is more annoying than moving in and getting ready to watch your TV and finding out there is not a nearby outlet.
  • If you have young children, or young children will visit, have you secured the outlets near the floor?
  • Is the wiring up to date and up to code? Calling a Pasadena electrician to do a walk through and check this out can be very important.
  • If you have a pool, spa or other outdoor equipment, are the outdoor outlets safe and up to date? This is another issue where having an electrician come out to the home can be very beneficial.

It is easier to stay safe if you are willing to work with an electrician. Call The Electric Connection today and schedule a technician to come to your home and help you stay safe!

Advice from an Electrician in Glendale – Lowering Electric Bills

Posted on | by K Hopkins

Spring has sprung. This means more days where it gets a little warm and you may need some air conditioning—but not so warm that you can count on turning off the heater for the year though. While your utility bills may be a bit lower in springtime than in other times of the year, it is still a concern. One of the best ways you can keep those utility bills even lower is by sealing your home against temperature loss. This does not cost much and is something you can do yourself—though a Glendale electrician may be able to provide advice if you find yourself with questions.

Sealing your home is one of the most effective means of keeping down energy consumption—this not only lowers your utility bills, it can reduce your reliance on fossil fuels too. Consider these tips as a great place to get started:

  • Weatherstrip all exterior doors. This helps reduce air leaks. Air leak is a problem even if the door looks like it fits tight. Did you realize that a 1/8 of an inch crack around all four sides of an average door allows as much air in as a 5 x 6 hole in the middle of the door?
  • Weatherstrip the garage door as well. These often leak even worse.
  • Plastic sheeting on your single pane windows will keep the temperature more consistent inside your home.
  • Check your basement and attic for holes you may not know about. Sometimes these are caused by wildlife. These are prime areas for leaks and the change in temperature that occurs in the basement or attic can affect the temperature of your whole house.
  • Talk to an electrician in Glendale, such as The Electric Connection, about other steps you can take to reduce leaks and lower your electric bill. The amount you save can be significant!

Understanding the NEC Before Calling an Electrician in Beverly Hills

Posted on | by K Hopkins

If you ever spend any time studying your electrical equipment, something that you probably come across time and time again is reference to the NEC or National Electrical Code. Whether or not you consider yourself a home improvement expert, or you call an electrician in Beverly Hills with every problem you encounter, it is important to know more about what the NEC is and how it affects you as a home or business owner.

Essentially, the National Electrical Code is a standard for safe installation of wiring and equipment in the United States. It is not a legally binding regulation in and of itself. However, it is regionally adoptable meaning that many states, municipalities and counties have standardized their enforcement of electrical practices by choosing to use the NEC as their code of standards.

The NEC is actually part of the National Fire Codes series of regulations that is published by the NFPA. Since it may or may not be in force in your locale, it is important that you find out before you install an electrical device or change the wiring in your home or office. Because of this, many people find that even if they do have the knowledge that it is easier to call a Beverly Hills electrician—such as one from The Electric Connection.

Electricity is a complex matter and regulations such as the NEC are developed to protect you and help make certain people not injured when working with the wiring around you. The details of the NEC may be a bit complex for some do it yourselfers, but it is worth reading over it and at least trying to understand the basics. This can help keep you safe and make certain that you are in compliance with the regulations in force in your particular community.

Electrician Santa Monica Gives Tips To Prepare For a Power Outage

Posted on | by K Hopkins

No matter why it happens, it is annoying. The power does go out on occasion and while you may want to contact an electrician in Santa Monica like Electric Connection, you will have to spend some time without power. However, if you prepare ahead of time and keep these tips in mind, dealing with a loss of power will be just an annoyance, not a major issue.

  • Create an emergency kit – This can include items like a flashlight, radio and batteries, bottled water, non-perishable food, blankets and items to pass the time.
  • Prepare for your needs – If you need certain medication or rely on equipment for life-support, make certain you prepare ahead. You may even be able to contact your utility company and make sure your home is treated as a top priority in case of an outage.
  • Know a good water source – Think about things like ice that could melt, water hidden in a water heater or pipes in your and other places that you may not immediately think about.
  • Keep food safe – If the power goes out, try not to open the fridge or freezer if possible and the food will last longer. After the power comes back on, remember—when in doubt, throw it out.
  • Be cautious if you have a generator and do not run it in wet conditions. This will help you avoid electric shock.
  • Protect yourself from drastic temperatures. In cold weather avoid getting wet and in hot weather dress as cool as possible and stay out of the sun.
  • Know when to say when. You may not want to leave your home during a power outage, but if you are dealing with a long term outage, you may be safer and more comfortable in an emergency shelter.

As you can see, there are many ways you can prepare yourself for a power outage. One of the best is to talk with the experts at Electric Connection, the electrician Santa Monica residents rely on to help them during a power outage or for installation and repairs.

Electrician in Glendale – Installing an Intercom System

Posted on | by K Hopkins

Have you ever been busy in one part of your house and really needed to get talk to someone at your front door, in the kitchen or out in the garage? If that sounds like something that happens to you often, an intercom system may be the perfect solution. This is a project an electrician in Glendale can easily tackle for you, saving you the time and hassle of doing it yourself. Learn more about what intercom installation entails and give Electric Connection a call today.

First, when installing an intercom system, you must figure out what rooms in your home you may want to connect to the system. Generally, you will have a speaker at the front door and a place in your home you spend a significant amount of time—perhaps the kitchen. However, you may want additional receivers in the bedrooms or basement.

Each receiver you install will require both wiring and construction work to enable it to work correctly and look good. The most difficult part for many is installing it into the wiring of the home. This will involve working with the circuits and tapping into the wiring already in your walls. The construction aspect is tricky too—unless you know how to work with drywall, plaster or whatever substance of which the wall is constructed.

Finally, there are many different types of intercom systems, from basic to systems complex enough for large corporations. If you are unsure which one will work best for you, this is another reason to work with Electric Connection, the electrician Glendale residents trust. Give us a call today and we will be happy to discuss your needs for an intercom system today. Our team of experts can get started and have your home and family more connected than ever before.

Electrical Maintenance Technician and Electrician in Burbank – What is the Difference?

Posted on | by K Hopkins

You may hear the terms electrician and electrical maintenance technician and think they are the exact same position. While they do complete many of the same tasks, there is a difference. When you are searching for the best electrician Burbank has to offer, you want to understand this difference so you can make the right decision. Learn more about how an electrician and electrical maintenance technician position varies and you will be ready to make the right hire for your electrical project.

Job Differences

An electrician in Burbank is who you would call to install wiring, make electrical repairs and deal with power systems in residential and commercial properties. These experts understand wiring blueprints and can also help connect circuit breakers and transformers. An electrical maintenance technician also works with electricity, but in less complex forms. For instance one of these technicians may handle preventative maintenance, troubleshooting and repair simple switches.

Education

An electrician must complete an apprenticeship program that offers both classroom courses and extensive on the job training. He or she must also obtain proper licensing from the state or county, ensuring that all proper procedures are followed. In many cases an electrical maintenance technician will learn skills with a certification course or on the job training.

Pay and Growth

Those with electrical skills are lucky to have a bright future. Both positions are expected to grow at a rapid rate, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This same data does show the salary difference between the two positions. An electrical maintenance technician, on average, earns nearly $15,000 less per year than a licensed electrician does.

As you can see, there is a difference between the two positions. If you want a licensed and experienced electrician to tackle your electrical projects, call Electric Connection today and let one of our experts come complete your electrical project today.

Closet Lighting Installation by an Electrician in Beverly Hills

Posted on | by K Hopkins

The easiest way to add lighting to a closet is by installing a simple, battery-powered fixture or hanging a corded fixture plugged into a nearby outlet. However, there are permanent solutions. Calling an electrician Beverly Hills, such as one of the skilled members of the Electric Connection team, is always a great choice when you have electrical projects that need completed. Learn more about what Electrical Connection will do when installing closet lighting in your home.

The electrician will work with you to determine the local building codes for clearance around the fixture then mark the desired location. He or she will then go into the attic and cut the hole necessary for installation. This may require some drywall work to properly mount the fixture.

At this point the electrician will cut off power to that part of the home using the home’s service panel. An electrical circuit cable will be run from the source point to the fixture box. Many times there will be a receptacle near the closet, or this may run through the attic to find a suitable spot. It is important the electrician tests to make sure the circuit can accommodate the fixture.

The electrician in Beverly Hills will connect the fixture following the wiring diagram from the manufacturer. The wiring connections will be completed at the source point. Finally he or she will restore power to the circuit and test the light fixture.

As you can see, this is a relatively complex task and not one you want to tackle alone. If you are considering the installation of closet lighting for your home, make sure you work with the best— the expert electrical team from Electric Connection is always here for you and ready to take on any type of lighting installation project you may have.