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

Posts Tagged ‘electrical troubleshooting’

What is St.Paul’s 80-1 ordinance?

Wednesday, April 25th, 2012

City officials in St. Paul have a mandated property maintenance code which applies to contractors and homeowners involved in working on residential property in St.Paul.  When Edison Electric brings your electric service up to code you will also need to adhere to the requirements in Ordinance 80-1. This law adds safety and ensures electrical practicality in the older homes across the great city of St.Paul.

Here are some of the electrical highlights from Ordinance 80-1 property maintenance code.  This is not a complete list or a complete interpretation of 80-1, just some of the basic points are included. Please verify 80-1 with your local St.Paul authorities having jurisdictions before beginning any remodel projects large or small :

  1. The minimum service for a single family unit will be 100 amp; 240 volts.
  2. No circuit extensions or new circuits can be added to an existing 30 amp service.
  3. Every room up to 120 sq ft shall have at least 2 outlets. Any added outlets shall be AFCI protected where so required in the code.
  4.  Kitchens must have at least 3 outlets, with at least 1 being a 20 amp circuit
  5. New outlets added for the kitchen counter must be a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) type
  6. Every hall, water closet compartment, bathroom,laundry room and furnace room must have at least 1 light fixture, including all exterior exits/ entrances
  7. Each bathroom will have at least 1 light, and 1 GFI plug. If the existing plug is not GFI, it needs to be replaced; and
    it needs to be next to the sink.
  8. If a bathroom is added or gutted as part of a remodel, a 20 ampere circuit will be required.
  9. There must a dedicated 20 amp circuit to service the laundry area, and at least one receptacle which may need AFCI or GFCI protection
  10. One lighting outlet is required for each 200 square feet of floor space
  11. At least one of the required basement lighting outlets shall be switched from the head of the stairs
  12. Any new outlet (receptacle) installed in an unfinished basement must be a GFCI-type
  13. All single-family dwellings shall have a hard-wired (120 volt electrical, not battery) battery backup smoke
    detector near the bedrooms.  Call for details.
  14. All metal light fixtures near grounded surfaces must be grounded, call for details.

So if you are a remodeler, or a new homeowner, make sure you are working with an electrician who knows the law. It would be a shame to finish all your work, only to find out that you can’t resell the property, because it is not up to code. This is not just a law, it is a good idea. Edison Electric can show you how to comply without spending a fortune. 612-385-7864

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Posted in Minneapolis Electrical Remodeling and Additions, Residential Electricians St Paul MN | No Comments »

The Best of Everything in Woodbury MN- Maintaining Your Electric Panel

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

Woodbury, MN is an idyllic place to live. With comfortable, seasonal weather, we can enjoy all that nature has to offer, all year around. In addition to this, our living standard is pretty high here, too. Most homes are equipped with the latest and greatest technology that allows us to enjoy the best of everything.

As nice as it is to live such a complete lifestyle, it comes with some responsibility, too. Maintaining our homes and business is part of enjoying them, and electrical maintenance is just another responsibility that everyone  needs to consider once in a while.

Most people don’t realize that electricity has the ability to create heat. When electrical connections are not made correctly or wire is not sized according to code, the normal heat generated by normal use gets compounded by poor installation and can become dangerous.  Combine these conditions with the hot and humid climate of the past weeks and the heat can even take its toll on your circuit breakers in your electrical panel.

Sometimes the components in these panels are temperature sensitive, and will ‘trip’ if they get too hot, making sure they only operate within a certain range of temperature. If your electric panel is routinely throwing breakers, this is a clear indication that something needs attention. In addition your circuit breakers need a periodic inspection to make sure that there are no loose connections which will cause hot spots and arcing.  Preventative maintenance and periodic panel inspections can help uncover these conditions before they become dangerous.

At Edison Electric, we recommend having us come out to take at look at yours once every 2 years to make sure all the elements are in top condition. Waiting until something goes wrong with an electrical system is too dangerous to play with; preventative maintenance is always the best choice in a situation like this. Give us a call at Edison Electric, and let us show you how easy it is to maintain your excellent quality
of life. 612-385-7864

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

Electric and Electronic Circuits for Plymouth Residents

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

Electronic circuits can be broadly divided into two categories; analog and digital.

The above statement is about as in-depth as an electrician will go when talking about appliance repair and diagnosis of electronic circuitry.  See, it is impossible to be an expert at all things.   Most companies focus on one area of expertise.  We are experts in two phases.   We are experts at residential electrical service and last but not least, structured low voltage cabling troubleshooting /install in both residential and commercial settings.  This is what we do and we do it well.

While we sincerely appreciate hearing from all customers, repairing circuit boards, coffee machines etc is not something we are good at.  Sometimes a customer thinks they need appliance repair when in reality, they have an electrical wiring problem in their home.  We will always try and help you determine if you need our services before we come out.

As you are setting up your home, and adding more contemporary electronic devices to it, consider the advice of a professional electrician.  Whole house surge protection should always be considered.   At Edison Electric, we are glad to give electric consultations, electric inspections and of course electrical service in the Twin Cities. If you have any questions about your electrical system just give us a call. We know how to listen andcommunicate, we look forward to helping you. 612-385-7864

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Posted in Electricians St Paul MN, Minneapolis Expert Trouble Shooting | No Comments »

Lino Lakes MN- Hiding TV Wires for Wall Mounted TV’s

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

More and more people are purchasing large screen, wall mounted TV’s; and why not? They really enhance the TV watching experience; especially during football season. It is a natural way of life for those living in Lino Lakes. Purchasing and installing one of these behemoths is really a big event for many people, and they can’t wait to have installed properly so they can start to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

However, one thing many people overlook is hiding all the electrical wires and cables that can be a part of the installation process. If you have auxiliary items attached to the TV, these cables can really add up. Most people assume that it is too expensive, and they don’t even bother talking with an electrician to see what it takes to complete the installation. The truth is dropping lines behind the wall is very easy when you have the right tools.  A professional electrician will be able to cut the appropriate sized holes, and fit them with the right jacks, and fish all the cables behind the wall so that they will come out in one neatly organized location, with stationary, dedicated connections. This is almost a must so that your unsightly wires and plugs will be hidden behind the walls, and away from children and pets.  It makes for a clean, uncluttered look.

Many electricians will also be able to find the studs, and mount the TV itself to the frame of the house, so that you can be sure it is there to stay, no matter who is leaning on it. Wall mounted TV brackets are designed to be very strong, but only if they are mounted properly. Toggle bolts and plastic anchors are not the way to do this. TV mounts really need to be screwed into the studs, in several specific places in order to support and disperse the weight. Anything less will compromise the installation. As long as you are investing in such a fine piece of electronics, go ahead and do it right- contact us at Edison Electric and let us take the worry out of installation. We will finish the job right. 612-385-7864

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Posted in Electricians St Paul 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 »

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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