Electrical advice from our master electricians on our blog
Electrical advice from our master electricians on our blog
Minneapolis 612-385-7864
Saint Paul 651-587-5512
Lic. EA005137

Archive for the ‘Electricial Panels MN’ Category

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Be Smart About Doing It Yourself With Electricity

Monday, May 13th, 2013

Electricity has given us all the phenomenal advantages of modern technology. However, with great power comes great responsibility, and electrical innovation must go hand-in-hand with safety precautions in order to ensure the protection of your family and your home.

When it comes to handling electrical problems in your home, most people don’t even know where to start. Just looking at the jumble of wires involved makes the daunting task of DIY seem impossible. And while we certainly applaud gumption, working with electricity isn’t safe if you don’t know what you’re doing.

If you do-it-yourself, make sure you know Minnesota State and national safety code and protect yourself from complications caused by faulty, low-grade hardware. However, it’s best to plug into safety by calling a professional to take care of your residential electrical needs.

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Posted in Electricial Panels MN, Electrician Minneapolis, Electricians MN, Electricians St Paul MN, Minneapolis Electrical Remodeling and Additions, Minneapolis Electricians, Minneapolis Expert Trouble Shooting, Residential Electricians St Paul MN, Wiring Services Minneapolis MN | No Comments »

Your Electrical Panel Tells a Story

Wednesday, April 17th, 2013

When our electricians make a service visit to your home they may ask to take a look at your electrical panel.  The reason for this is to gain more knowledge of your electrical system and wiring methods.  Obvious things we are initially looking for are tripped circuit breakers, blown fuses, signs of heat, corrosion, loose connections and other safety concerns.  But a knowledgeable residential electrician will take notice of more.

The model and make of your electrical panel (sometimes referred to as a circuit panel) is significant because it can signify if the panel is a Zinsco or Federal Pacific which are hazardous and should be replaced.  If it is a Push-o-matic or a Wadsworth panel our electricians may also recommend a circuit panel replacement, something required frequently in Minnesota homes.

Another reason the model of the electrical panel is important is because the removable circuit breakers installed inside your panel should be the same model and make as your specific electrical panel.  Many times different brands of circuit breakers are jammed into panels to which they don’t belong.  When our electricians see this they know that someone who didn’t know their stuff was performing work on your system.  When we see poor craftsmanship such as this it tells us to expect the unexpected.

If your electrical panel is in an unfinished area of your Minnesota home, our electricians are able to get a feel for the age of visible wiring and take note of obvious alterations to the original electrical system.  These observations combined with years of experience in residential electrical work allow us the information to make the best recommendations to you, our customer.

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Posted in Circuit Panel Repair, Electricial Panels MN, Minneapolis Electricians, Residential Electricians St Paul MN | No Comments »

Emergency Electrical Services | Electricians Serving Woodbury MN

Monday, April 23rd, 2012

Winter weather has brought Minnesota some very unusual snows this year, and with that comes downed power lines, and electrical surges like we rarely see. However, this is not a problem for Minnesotans; we are well equipped to deal with winter weather and with Edison Electric on call, 24 hour emergency electrical service MN juice is only a phone call away.

Many people have decided this year to purchase and install an emergency backup system, so that they will not be left out in the cold, so to speak. These systems can be very affordable, and some are even as practical as the main source of heat. Especially in older homes, where the electric panels are maybe not as effective as they once were, Edison electric will be able to set up a backup system to ensure that your home will always have some sort of electricity no matter what the rest of the city is doing. This can be a very warm welcome in more ways than one.

Upgrading older electric panels is also one of our specialties. Many of today’s electronics require more draw that older panels were originally designed to put out. By upgrading the breakers or adding a sub panel you can improve the efficiency of your home greatly with just one visit.

 Signs of a weakened electric panel include; 

  • Buzzing or crackling noises from anywhere in the house
  • Circuit breakers that keep needing to be reset
  • Any scorched areas around plugs and outlets
  • Or if your lights ever flicker for no apparent reason

These are just a few reasons why you need Edison Electric to stop by for a visit. We will be able to troubleshoot your homes electrical system in record time, and pin point any problems with no overtime. You always get full service with us. Our licensed and insured professionals get right to the matter at hand, and make sure that your home is covered and protected well after we leave; and you can be sure we will leave your home clean, too. Our services offer a full 5 year guarantee on all our labor and you can be sure we are using only the best parts the industry has to offer.

If you have any concerns about your home’s electrical system, or just want to know more about how you can improve it, give us a call and find out a thing or two about us. You will be glad you did. 612-385-7864

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Posted in Electricial Panels MN, Electricians St Paul MN, Emergency Electric Services Minneapolis, Residential Electricians St Paul MN | No Comments »

Performing Electrical Repairs in Minneapolis and St Paul Metro

Monday, April 23rd, 2012

If you are fairly handy, and want to tackle an electric repair in your own home, there are a few things to keep in mind before you start. While the law will not tell you what to do in your own home, you cannot work on anyone else’s home unless you are a licensed electrician.

Second, make sure you turn off the breaker to the circuit that you are working on. Use an electrical voltage tester to make sure there is no current coming to your work area, making sure all power is off. If you do not have an electrical voltage tester, try plugging something into the outlet, or turning on the switch to see if there is any electricity coming to it. Although this is not standard procedure, you need to know if there is any power to what you are working on.

If you find that the problem is beyond your expertise, it might now be a wise move to put it back together and forget about it, electrical problems are serious business, and should be corrected by a  professional licensed electrician. Many older homes were never properly grounded, so taking that extra step to protect your self and your property is always a wise thing to do.

Keeping appliances away from running or standing water is simple procedure that is often overlooked. Making sure you are using the right wattage with your light fixtures is another way to avoid damage to your electrical system. Of course, whenever you are using an electrical cord, make sure it is properly insulated, with no scars, nicks, or cuts.

Check to see when the last electrical inspection was performed on your home. You will find this date on the inside of the electric panel door. If it has been more than 5 years, it is a good idea to call Edison Electric, and have us perform one of our routine inspections. We will be able to make sure that the electrical load on each circuit is appropriate, and that your circuits are all in good working order. It is a small price to pay should we find anything wrong.

Performing electrical work yourself can be tricky business, so if you have any doubts, give us a call and let Minneapolis’ premier electricians give you a professional job, and guarantee to boot. Call us anytime with your electrical repairs, 24-hours a day. 612-385-7864

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Posted in Electricial Panels MN, Electricians St Paul MN, Emergency Electric Services Minneapolis, Minneapolis Electrical Remodeling and Additions | No Comments »

Older Homes Need Newer Electric Panels | Edison Electric Serving Brooklyn Center

Monday, April 23rd, 2012

Before you start any upgrades to your older home make sure you have had a skilled electrician check your electric panel first, to see if it can handle it. Many older homes had only 60-amp service, with the screw in type fuses. In some cases there were 2 to 6 fuses per box, and this was all that was needed to run the home. As primitive as that sounds, that was the way life way 40+ years ago.

At that time, most homes did not automatically come with washers and dryers, large TV’s all over the hosue, or even air conditioning. There was one simple light per room, 1 TV for the whole house, and maybe a few plugs for a radio- and that was a modern home.

Computers, hair dryers, multiple lighting in each room, microwaves, washers and dryers, high-energy refrigerators and freezers have brought with them a huge demand for electricity that older homes simply cannot provide without some upgrades.

The typical home today is equipped with  a 200 amp electrical service with a distribution panel handling up to a total of 20 or 30 15 & 20 amp general lightning and receptacle circuits serving the electrical requirements of one home.

Many of today’s air conditioning units will use as much electricity as an entire home did 30 years ago.

If your home is still using fuses instead of breakers, you may want to consider contacting Edison Electric to have an upgrade. Those fuses are generally considered outdated these days, as many of those fuse panels have been in service for forty plus years. Fuses panels are just not designed to handle the amounts of current that they typical American uses these days. Like all things in a home, they eventually need repair. Upgrading your electric panel is something that you will never regret, and many times homeowners insurance policies will not be valid unless the home is equipped with UL listed electric panel.

If your current electrical service to your home is less than 100 amps, and/or if it has a distribution panel that uses screw in style fuses, you should consider replacing it as a top priority in any major renovation project. Give Edison Electric Minneapolis Contractors a call to learn more about how we can help correct this situation, and help finance the operations at the same time. You will be glad you did. 612-385-7864

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Posted in Electricial Panels MN, Emergency Electrical Services, Minneapolis Electrical Remodeling and Additions | No Comments »

Is Your Older, Minnesota Home In Need Of Electrical Repairs?

Monday, April 23rd, 2012

A good way to find out if your home is in need of electrical repairs is to have a licensed MN electrician open the door of the electrical panel and look for cloth or fabric wiring; and fuses instead of breakers. If you are not sure of the difference, then you should really contact a professional electrician to help you understand. This type of wiring is no longer permitted, and can be a real threat to the safety of one’s home.

No matter how old a home is, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and Utility Companies recommend a panel inspection every three years. It is not expensive, and can make a big difference should they find something wrong. It involves taking the cover off the panel and taking a close look at each breaker while testing its load. Even though you may not have any concerns about a newer home, if you have too much electrical draw on one circuit, and this could pose a problem.

While the cover is off, a good inspector will also re-torque any connections, and discuss the replacement and/or upgrades of any breakers where necessary. This is the best way to get the most out of your energy use, and keep your home electrically as safe as possible.

One possible alternative for the older home is to replace old fuses and breakers with an A.F.C.I. (arc fault circuit interrupter) style breaker. Known as a “breaker with a brain” it was designed for fire protection and works just like a regular electrical circuit breaker but also electronically picks up any type of arcing situation. For new electrical construction and major remodeling, the (A.F.C.I.) is now mandatory for the majority of circuits in the home.

There have been many changes to our national electrical use and distribution over the years, keeping up with it is something that we should all consider. It doesn’t have to be difficult, a simple home inspection by Edison Electric of Minneapolis will help sort out any issues or potential issues that may come up. We serve the residential and commercial electrical contracting community in Minneapolis, and are ready to serve you 24 hours a day. Give us a call to find out more. 612-385-7864

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Posted in Electricial Panels MN, Emergency Electric Services Minneapolis, Residential Electricians St Paul MN | No Comments »

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