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 ‘Emergency Electrical Services’ Category

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Sump Pump GFCI

Monday, May 20th, 2013

Sometimes the National Electrical Code provides some unusual challenges for us electricians. Many times the electrical code can be difficult to explain to our customers, especially when they have been misinformed prior to our arrival and their expectations about the ease with which a project can be completed are all but untrue.

This brings us to sump pump wiring. If the new wiring for your sump pump receptacle outlet is to be installed in a crawl space or in an unfinished area of your basement the receptacle must be ground fault protected. You may ask, “What’s the big deal?” GFCI’s save lives but there is an inconvenience with ground fault protecting your sump pump. If your GFCI outlet trips, it will not allow power to your pump motor when it is called into duty and your basement could flood. It is the same reason we don’t protect your kitchen refrigerator with a GFCI; if it trips while you are on vacation your food will go rotten.

Answers to common questions:

  • No, we cannot just put a standard outlet there. If the pump needs a 120 volt receptacle outlet in a GFCI required location, we must follow the code.
  • No, we cannot cut the plug off of the cord to bypass the need for a receptacle by hardwiring it. This violates the code and also violates the manufacturers warranty on the pump.

If the ground fault outlet for your sump pump is tripping it is probably a problem with your motor and could be saving you from a shock. If you are thinking of having a sump pump installed in your home please consider the wiring, there are alternatives if you wish to not have your pump GFCI protected. Ask your supplier for a pump which can be hardwired for either 120 or 240 volts. Give us a call if you wish to discuss sump pump wiring at 651-587-5512.

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Posted in Electric Surge Protection MN, Electrician Minneapolis, Electricians MN, Electricians St Paul MN, Emergency Electrical Services, Minneapolis Electricians, Minneapolis Expert Trouble Shooting, Residential Electricians St Paul MN, Wiring Services Minneapolis MN | No Comments »

Arc Fault protection In Mahtomedi, MN | Electricians

Wednesday, April 25th, 2012

Many of the homes in the more rural parts of Mahtomedi have questionable wiring.  Arc Fault protection is an option to help establish a practical level of safety

Arc fault protection is a circuit monitoring device which basically watches over your electrical circuits in search of abnormalities which could result in fire.  Let me say that again. Arc fault protection is a circuit monitoring device which basically watches over your electrical circuits in search of abnormalities which could result in fire.   When you have an older home that has wiring that is questionable and re-wiring your entire home is not practical, arc fault protection may be an effective alternative to gain some peace of mind.  Sometimes rewire is the only repair option, and is necessary to maintain safety.

Arc-fault protection has been successful in reducing the amount of deaths from home fires.  They are required in all new homes, but the homes that are most in need are the older homes with wiring that has been in service for 20 years or more.  Many older homes have wiring with crumbling  insulation and worn out receptacles or switches.  Arc fault protection can help alert you when these conditions cause an arc.

If you are a person with an older home and you feel that you can gain peace of mind with arc fault protection, give us a call.  Arc fault protection isn’t always an option in every circuit, it may not be compatible on certain wiring configurations.  For all your electrical problems  call 612-385-7864.  Thanks

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Posted in Emergency Electrical Services, Minneapolis Expert Trouble Shooting | No Comments »

Faulty Lighting and Wiring | Edison Electric Serving Stillwater MN

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

Faulty electrical systems are something that few people know how to recognize, but once these systems make their faults known, it is hard for people to ignore. Faulty systems are almost certain to cause a fire eventually, and can even shock people for no apparent reason if they get too close. This is why you should have your Stillwater electrical system checked as soon as you notice something out of the ordinary. These items can be such things as;

  • If you smell an electrical burning odor
  • If your circuit breakers continue to blow
  • If you hear a crackling noise in switches
  • If you see any scorched areas around electrical switches, outlets or wiring
  • If your lights flicker for no reason

These are all sure signs that something is not right and this may not be a time for a do it yourself project, it takes a knowledgeable person with all the right tools to effectively troubleshoot, and correctly fix the problems so that they will not resurface in the future.

With Edison Electric in our electrical contractors are available 24 hours a day to make sure that your home or business is safe and sound, no matter what it going on with the electricity. Our licensed, insured electricians are experts at troubleshooting so we can find the problem fast, and correct it before it develops into a much more serious issue. It is always better to find problems of this nature early on, before they bring you to the place where you have to have emergency service. Emergency work always seems to show up when you least want it to, and costs more than it has to.

With Edison Electric, you will get a full warranty on all our labor, and limited warranty on all of our parts. You will not have to wonder if your property was fixed right, you can be sure with Edison Electrical Contractors, we have many happy customers in Minneapolis and look forward to serving you.  612-385-7864

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Posted in Electric Surge Protection MN, Emergency Electric Services Minneapolis, Emergency Electrical Services | No Comments »

Installing An Electrical Generator Serving North Oaks MN

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

Having a backup plan for electricity is something that more and more people are considering a necessary item to have during the winter months when blackouts are more likely to occur. Backup generators today are designed to be self sufficient, and extremely effective, and if you have ever been without heat on a cold winter day, they are a requirement.

 The first thing the electrician needs to do is check your electric panel, and add a sub-panel that contains the transfer switch. This transfer switch will route all the circuits from the house to the generator automatically when the power shuts off. It is a seamless transition, and you will not even know that it has happened, unless you go to the generator and take a look.  

Today’s generators are about the size of an AC unit, and are totally self sufficient. They can be run from solar energy, and gas or oil reserves. Most of them will typically use these energy sources to charge batteries that will keep your house on line when the power company can’t.

If you run a business, these generators are vital. Since people are without power in their homes, they will typically go out to find other places that missed the power failure. If your store is the only one with its lights on, you suddenly become ‘the place to be’ until the power comes back on.

These backup systems are extremely important when needed. For most people, their power may go off once, possibly twice a year, but when it does- life comes to a standstill. Not only is energy important to provide heat, but when refrigerators stop working, food spoils; people can’t get online, the Internet often shuts down, and life as we know it stops. Don’t let yourself become a victim; take the extra step to find out more about installing a backup generator in Minneapolis. Maybe not now, but eventually, you will be so glad you did. 612-385-7864

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Posted in Emergency Electric Services Minneapolis, Emergency Electrical Services, Minneapolis Expert Trouble Shooting | No Comments »

Electricial Services and Repair | Fuses, Breakers, Panels, Wiring Minneapolis St Paul Metro

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

When an individual or a company needs an electrician, they typically Google for one in their home city, such as Electricians MN, but how can someone be sure that this professional has all the right experience? While electricians and plumbers need to be licensed to hold themselves out to the public, this doesn’t always mean that they know what they are doing.

There are so many nuances that contractors need to understand, little things that are only learned through trial and error, and on the job training. So remember that just because a company has a business or trade license, doesn’t mean you are well protected.

It is rare that a licensed professional will make such a serious error that would jeopardize someone’s life, but what about all those little errors that add up to thousands of dollars? Like choosing cheaper materials, or purchasing materials that don’t come with any type of warranty?

It is very important that you have a clear understanding with and a good feeling about your contractor before you sign up for any of his services. Getting a few references before you let someone into your home is also a very wise thing to do. Unless someone has 5 years of experience or more, it would be wise to keep looking for someone more experienced.

One of the biggest errors seen in the electrical fieled is around the installation of fiber optics. This can be a very sensitive material that needs to be protected from crushing, bending or improper cuts. It needs to be treated with respect before being installed, or it may need to come out again and be completely done over. Finding the right electrician in Minneapolis to install fiber optics is a decision that one should take their time in making. The wrong contractor could cost you a lot more than the contractors estimate.

Before you commit to any one contractor, give us a call at Edison Electric.  We will be able to guarantee that we use the best parts and labor, and warranty our work so that you won’t have to wonder if something is going to be done correctly. Just give us a call if you have any concerns and we will make sure that you are taken care of just as soon as possible. We are here for you; 27/7.    612-385-7864

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Posted in Emergency Electrical Services, Minneapolis Commercial Electrical Services | No Comments »

Tornado Rocks Fridley’s Electricity

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

After the Fridley, MN tornado of May 25th, many people  had electrical power restored to their homes, although the tornado   left many homes crippled with downed power lines in their back yards, and other assorted residential electrical problems they could not fully understand. These issues require expert electrical troubleshooting that only an experienced and well established electrician can provide.

A tornado is one of the most awesome forces of nature we  know. The wind, energy and electrical power that is spinning around within the funnel is more than mankind can ever record or begin to measure.   Many of the severe weather of late has brought incredible bursts of lightning.  When severe weather comes close to your home and you find your home targeted by a lightning strike, it may be a good idea to have an electrician come out and service your electrical panel after the storm has blown over.

Many people are busy cleaning up the debris left behind by that tornado, but having your electrical services completely checked out is just as important, if not more so. You can see tree limbs, but you can’t see electricity. If there is a breach in electrical service somewhere, it could come back to hurt you without any warning.

Good troubleshooting is something that is learned through trial and error, this is why you should go with a company that has been in business for a while. Years of experience will ensure that your electrical troubleshooting issues are thoroughly tested, and not just patched over until something else flairs up later on. Edison Electric has been in business for many years, and our master electricians have seen it all. If there is a problem with your electrical service, we will find it; and fast. If you are encountering unusual issues from that event or anything that you might like to have addressed -please feel free to call on us for our electrical expertise with any of your pressing questions 612-385-7864 .

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