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
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Archive for the ‘Electricial Panels MN’ Category

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Columbia Heights MN Electric Panels Services and Repairs

Monday, April 23rd, 2012

Keeping your home up to date is very important for many people, and it should be even more a priority when your Home’s electricity is concerned. Columbia Heights, MN is a great place to live and is always changing,  but one thing that remains the same is how people like to stay close to home. Many folks prefer to remodel their homes, rather than go out and buy a new one. They will add additions to the back of the house, remodel the bathes and kitchens, and get new appliances that will make any home look new again. However, one thing many homeowners overlook is their electric panel. Many homes over 30 years old have electrical panels that were original to the home and are  not large enough to handle today’s many high end electronics  . Electrical circuits are designed to carry only a certain amount of current and if that current is exceeded it should  trip the breaker protecting you family and home from the dangers of overheated wiring in your walls.

By inspecting your electric panel, and having a licensed and qualified electrician come in to take a closer look, you will be able to make sure that your home has a properly installed grounding system and that your electrical panel is safe  so that you are not placing yourself and those in your home in harm’s way.  If you do have frequent problems with tripping circuit breakers, it may indicate a need to install a few more circuits.  This is a common installation, it’s one more way to make your home safer and it is easy for our professional electricians.

Edison Electric has been in business for 10+ years and knows what you look for in older homes. Many times there is nothing that really needs correcting, but if there is, now is the time to find out about it. Electrical inspections are well worth the time and money, so if this sounds like you, give us a call today. 612-385-7864

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

Emergency Electrical Services in Richfield Minnesota

Monday, April 23rd, 2012

We don’t always need an emergency electrical service call when we have electrical problems, but there are a few issues that are a dead giveaway. If your power went out, the first thing you want to find out is did a portion of your power go out? Did your neighbors lights go out, too? If your neighbor’s lights are out, then you can normally sit tight and wait for the power company to restore  your service. However, if only a portion of your electricity went out, and you still have some in another part of your house, there is a good chance you will need a licensed Minnesota electrician to diagnose and repair your electrical problem.

If you discover that one of your circuit breakers is tripped, turning it back on  may seem like the answer,  but finding out what blew the breaker in the first place should have been your first move.  For this, you may need a licensed electrician.    Was it an overload? Short circuit? A tripped circuit breaker may seem like an inconvenience, but the circuit breaker is just doing its job in protecting your family and property.

Some of the things which may require an immediate emergency electrical visit would include flickering lights or  if you hear crackling noises behind the wall. These things can trigger an electrical fire without any notice. If you ever see burn marks around switches and plugs, or if they are ever hot to the touch, these are also signs that you will need an emergency electrical service call.  Flickering lights, and of course breakers that keep blowing are also signs that you will need to have an electrician come out right away.

These types of things are all potentially dangerous, and can cause a fire at any time. There is no need to wait for a problem to develop to the point that it is hazardous, by having our trained technicians come by for a routine inspection, many of these issues can be avoided.  We welcome all of your questions… 612-385-7864

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Posted in Electricial Panels MN, Emergency Electric Services Minneapolis | No Comments »

Residential Electrical Services in Hugo, MN

Monday, April 23rd, 2012

Ceiling fans are a great addition in the summer time. Because Minnesotans have naturally cool air moving through the State all the time, getting this air circulating through your home is a great way to keep it cool, and reduce electric bills all summer long. Even if you opt to keep the AC on, ceiling fans will move the hot air off the ceiling, and bring the cool air up from the floor, making your overall house temperature more even so the AC won’t have to work as hard. This is true both in the summer, and the winter. By reversing the direction that the ceiling fan blades are spinning, you can target the hot air at the ceiling, or the cooler air on the floor, and move it in whatever direction you like.

Ceiling fans are also considered by many a piece of practical furniture; providing beauty and function, at the same time. They come in countless styles and even more functions. Various levels of lighting, dimmers, reversing blades, sensors that will detect what your room needs, with all these features installation can be a little tricky if you are not an electrician. However, once installed, they make such a difference in not just the room they were installed in, but the overall house. Ceiling fans can lower the air temperature as much as 10 degrees and if you get a good one, they can even take the temperature and figure out how to best do their job accordingly.

A good ceiling fan can draw a fair amount of current, so it is a good idea to have an electrician come and install it for you. He will test the circuit to be sure that this fan is not the straw that broke the camel’s back, so to speak. One too many items on a circuit will trip the breaker so often; you will not even bother to use the fan once it has been put in. A simple upgrade to the circuit panel can take care of all of that, but you won’t know unless you get a professional out to test the load. We are glad to provide this service, and install the fan. There is no job too large or too small for us; we  serve Minneapolis , St. Paul and all the surrounding communities . 612-385-7864

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

Fire hazards found in Federal Pacific Electric Stab-lok circuit breakers and service panels, in Bloomington MN

Monday, April 23rd, 2012

The recent repairs that took place at Girard Park West were to protect residents from fire and shock hazards coming from the Federal Pacific Stab-lok circuit breakers and the surrounding panels. These were a good idea when they first came out, allowing manufacturers to keep costs down, but time has shown that the panels are not a good design, and definitely not safe. There is a reason products become ‘old-school’, it is because they don’t work, and fade out of the market.

This electrical job in Girard Park West took approximately 1 month to complete, and we replaced all the defective panels and their breakers within 60 condo units outside Bloomington, MN. The main reason they needed to be replaced is that these breakers will fail to trip when overloaded. They would continue to allow current to flow causing heat to build up and eventually start a fire. Even with the circuit breaker handle  in the off position, the internal breaker may still actually be on. These are unbelievably dangerous conditions, and as any electrician will tell you, hard to believe.

As if this wasn’t bad enough, the Federal Pacific electric panel is also known to cause panel-bus fires and arcing failures in several instances. The failure to trip rate among this brand is up to 60%, posing a significant threat to those in the building. Unfortunately, there is no real legal recourse, other than a very limited class action lawsuit in the State of New Jersey. This company is no longer in business, but the real issue is safety. These panels and breakers were very popular in their day and found everywhere, it is vital to make sure yours is not one of these. Contact your local Bloomington, MN electrical contractor and make sure your electric panel is not a Federal Pacific, because the risk is just not worth it. 612-385-7864

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Posted in Electricial Panels MN, Emergency Electric Services Minneapolis | No Comments »

Arc Fault Protection in New Brighton, MN

Monday, April 23rd, 2012

Even if you don’t understand electricity and how it works, you can understand the words “arc” and “fire’, and deduce quickly that this is not good. When we get those MN high winds and storm damage like we did last month it is fairly common for a large tree limb to rip down  electrical lines, leaving some in the dark without power.

Many times we end up replacing your electrical meter and even your electrical panel.  Sometimes it takes the fall of a massive tree limb to call attention to a homeowners outdated electrical panel.  In most cases, it makes sense to have it upgraded at the same time the meter socket and service mast are being replaced.  Replacing your electrical panel is a big investment into your electrical system, and most homeowners are happy when we tell them about the benefits of arc fault protection which can also be added to increase safety to your home.

Arc-fault protection is often referred to as fire guard.  It is basically a watchdog watching over your wiring to make sure there is not any abnormal sparks or arcing going on behind your walls and in your attic.  Arc-fault protection has only come about in the last 10 years and may be new to you if you’ve lived in an older house your entire life.  The implementation of more strict requirements for arc-fault protection has helped reduce deaths in the home caused by electrical fires.  New homes built today are required to have AFCI protection on almost every circuit.

So rest assured that when we make repairs to your home we are always willing to make suggestions to make your home a safer place.  Contact Edison Electric for a complete electrical panel inspection and make sure your home is ready for anything. There are several simple adjustments that will render your panel safe and sound for the next several years. All you have to do is ask someone who understands. 612-385-7864

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Posted in Electric Surge Protection MN, Electricial Panels MN | No Comments »

Minneapolis Electrician – Time to Upgrade Your Service Panel

Monday, April 23rd, 2012

If your home is older than 25 years, it is very possible that the electric panel that came with your home is much too old and cannot handle the stress of your everyday electric needs. Twenty to thirty years ago, energy demands were much less than they are today. Before, an average home could get by with a 60 amp service , but now the average new home comes with a 200 amp service.

If your panel comes with screw-in fuses, it is probably time to consider budgeting toward an upgrade.  When our electricians look inside fuse panels it is very commonplace for them to see panels with over sized fuses, missing knockouts and missing panel covers.  Almost every panel has a missing or incorrectly labeled panel directory.   All of these are concerns, but the big one, and the most common is the over sized fuses.   Installing a 30 amp fuse to protect a wire only rated to carry 15 amps is a major fire hazard.  The truth is many homeowners just don’t know the danger.  That is why an electrical panel inspection is even more important if you have an outdated panel whether fuses or breakers.  Many  Out-of-date electric panels are electrical disasters waiting to happen. Do not hesitate to contact a qualified electrician right away.

Even if your home is not that old, it is still best to look into getting an upgrade especially if you are used to living with many electric appliances and devices. Washers, dryers, heaters, ovens, refrigerators, dishwashers, computers, media centers, and more are common place in today’s homes, and they consume a lot of electricity. Making sure you have the correct amperage is a simple check, and easy to increase if you desire to do so.

Air conditioners are a main culprit in draining away your electric power during warmer weather in the summer months. If your panel doesn’t come supplied with the capacity to handle this with a dedicated circuit, this can be a real problem. No matter how old your panel is, it is a good idea to have it checked out once every few years. If it is not up to speed, the corrections are easy to make, and very cost effective. If it has been at least 5 years since your last panel check, call us at Edison Electric outside Minneapolis; we can make short work of your electric panel, and repair any imperfections that you may have. 612-385-7864

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Posted in Electricial Panels MN, Minneapolis Expert Trouble Shooting | No Comments »

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