Author: Ronald Stewart
This Blog was posted for you By Your Electrician in San Antonio – Good Electric
Circuit Load – Circuit Resistance
Suppose you have read the information on the Electrical Terminology page. In that case, you will understand that a reduction in circuit resistance will cause an increase in current flow in that circuit and the upstream feeder and main service. We can consider a practical situation to understand what goes on when a breaker trips or a fuse blows. We will use a normal 15 Amp circuit at 120 Volts as an example. If this circuit has a load that would normally draw 12 Amps (like a kettle), we could conclude that the effective circuit resistance is 10 Ohms. We divided Voltage by Current to find this Resistance. Of these 10 Ohms, about 9.9 Ohms is in the kettle, while the cable for the circuit has about 0.1 ohms. Therefore, if the cord connecting the kettle to the receptacle were to develop a fault that allowed current to pass from one wire to the other without passing through the kettle element (commonly known as a short circuit), this would cause the current to reach a value that could be 1200 Amps. This time we divided the Voltage by the cable resistance to find the current. As the cable size increases (gets thicker) to carry more current, the cable resistance decreases, and the available fault current increases.
If the fault occurs on the main cables, you may see a 10,000 Amp fault on a 100 Amp circuit breaker. If 1200 Amps appear on a 15 Amp circuit breaker, the circuit breaker should trip instantly. However, we must remember that the 1200 Amps is also present on the main circuit breaker for the panel. This may be a 100 Amp circuit breaker. In such cases, you may find that the main circuit breaker trips more quickly than the 15 Amp circuit breaker. The same can be said for fuses. Sometimes, the main fuse operates near its maximum value for a long and becomes “tired” or “stressed.” In such cases, the “tired” fuse may blow before the 15 Amp fuse. So, how do you find the cause of tripping breakers or blowing fuses? You should start by paying attention to which circuit breaker tripped. If only the 15 Amp breaker tripped, you would have already isolated the problem to that circuit. If the main circuit breaker tripped, you need to find out which circuit caused the problem. Ideally, you will have a megohm meter to test each circuit. If you rely on resetting the breaker to find the problem, this could create more damage, so this should be avoided. You should begin by switching off all of the individual circuit breakers and ensuring that the main circuit breaker is completely OFF. Test the main bus of the panel for a fault to the ground and a fault between the two “live legs” (red to black). With all breakers off, the megohm meter should show infinity. With this done, you know that the main breaker can be turned on. So switch it on to ensure it doesn’t trip with all individual breakers off. More on this website
Assuming that the main circuit breaker stayed on, you now know that the problem is in an individual circuit….but which one? You now test each circuit, looking for meager resistance. Some of the circuits may have a low resistance due to the nature of the load. For example, lamps may have a meager resistance when cold. So begin by finding those circuits that have relatively high resistance. By switching on these circuits, you may get some light to work since you will likely be working by flashlight. Eventually, you will get to the offending circuit through the process of elimination. Once you have isolated the problem to an individual circuit, you need to look at how many receptacles, lights, etc., are on that circuit. In the case of the kettle example, you would unplug the appliance to see if this clears the fault. If the fault clears, this means that the kettle has a problem. In the case of a circuit with several lights, you should switch off individual room lights. Again, through the process of elimination, you will get to the source of the problem. If there are receptacles in the circuit and portable items plugged in, you should unplug all of these and inspect each of them. If you follow these steps, you should get to the root of the problem. As with most things, you will work more quickly as you gain experience. If you need to replace a circuit breaker, a light fixture, a switch, etc., to solve the problem, remember to avoid used equipment. With used electrical products, you have no way of knowing how reliable these will be, which could present safety concerns.
The process above deals with a short circuit. However, sometimes, a circuit breaker will trip, or a fuse will blow due to overload. With an overload, there will be a period between each breaker-tripping or fuse-blowing episode. Usually, the overload will be on an individual circuit, but it can also happen on the main circuit breaker or the main fuse. You can use a clip-on ammeter to test the current being drawn on the main circuit breaker. This can often take some time, especially if heating loads are present. For example, it may happen only at meal times on cold days, so you need to pay attention to the circumstances present when the problem occurs. You solve the overload by re-distributing the load on individual breakers and upgrading the service if the main breaker is overloaded. You can help solve problems by taking the time to label your electrical panel to identify each circuit. When you have some spare time, use it to write down in a notebook which breaker controls each light, receptacle, etc. By doing this, you can avoid overloads by not using an already loaded circuit to plug the steam iron (air conditioner, etc.) into.
May 22, 2023 Ronald Stewart 0 Comments
This Blog was posted for you By Your Electrician San Antonio – Good Electric
You Are In Good Hands With Good Electric
Power outages and blackouts are widespread in everyone’s life. These blackouts can be rather shocking and frustrating for those of us who are used to the comforts that everyday life offers. We owe all the comforts of our life to electricity, which plays a major role in our life, right from cooking and cleaning to television and computers. All this depends on electricity.
The good news is that you can count on our Electricians whenever you have any electricity-related issues, whether it’s repairing a broken outlet or installing completely new wiring. Our Electricians can efficiently handle installing, upgrading, and repairing wiring in residential and commercial properties. The electrician will add wiring if you’re buying some new appliances, and he can also add a new circuit breaker panel if you need one. Apart from working in houses and business properties, our Electricians also look after the maintenance of electrical wiring in factory and manufacturing industries. We can also be called into work on ships, subways, airplanes, and trolley cars. Where ever you have electricity, you will find our Electricians ensuring that everything is in working condition.
There are many different categories under which our Electricians might work. These categories describe the complexity and location of the wiring work they do. The job of an Electrician calls for in-depth knowledge of electricity. However, he may choose to specialize. Industrial, commercial, residential, and light industries are the main areas in which our Electricians carry out wiring work. Service electricians are specialists in dealing with problems like troubleshooting and repairing old wiring. On the other hand, our Electricians in the construction field might know more about installing the wiring than he or she does about troubleshooting it. Our Electricians are probably aware of other electricians in the area specializing in research, marine wiring, and stage lighting. Each category represents a different focus and a slightly different skill set, but you can be sure our Electricians can help you get the power you need.
Our Electricians have to undergo extensive training to get their licenses. All electricians must be licensed, registered, or certified due to the hazardous nature of their work. Any kind of carelessness could result in fires, accidents, or explosions. Therefore, whenever some work needs to be done make certain you hire a licensed professional Electrician. To become adept at his job, your Electrician has spent several years learning about electrical theory and building codes.
Along with this, he also has to undertake an apprenticeship for several years with a master electrician. He is familiar with many aspects of electrical construction, such as the different phases involved, the difference in wiring for each building, and the maintenance of all electrical equipment once all the work is done. In fact, our Electricians are experienced, well-educated, and well-rounded Journeymen who are able to see any work through confidently and intelligently.
Electrical problems can usually be noticed quite easily. These are the signs that indicate the presence of a hazardous electrical problem sparking, an acrid smell, smoking, and warping of materials that are around the outlets or light switches. Because electrical fires can be deadly, you should call in an Electrician to examine your home if you notice any of these issues. Even if you don’t, you should have your home inspected by an Electrician if you suspect there may be a problem. If your home frequently floods, is around or beneath high power lines, is over a decade old, or currently houses many electronics, our Electricians can make sure your risk of electrical mishaps is reduced. You can imagine how deadly basement flooding can be if there are any breaks in the wiring or if the fuse box is below the water level. Call our Electricians if your basement is flooded and there is no power in your house. Do not attempt to fix the problem yourself. It is difficult to ascertain whether the water is electrified or not, and stepping into it could be extremely dangerous.
Several people confuse technicians from the power company with an Electrician. While the power company does employ electricians, the two are very different people. Power company technicians only step in if the problem concerns the power company directly. Some of these problems are turning the power on or off at the source or re-instating power after there has been an outage or shutoff. While these people have a lot of training, they are not equipped to deal with the electrical problems of your house. They will not be able to check and correct the faults in your home’s wiring. Neither will they be able to install major appliances for you. If you want these problems fixed correctly, you need to call an experienced Electrician.
Almost any home improvement or renovation project will involve electricity. For example, if you’re looking to install a new lighting fixture, you will have to ensure the light switch is connected to your home’s power supply. Instead of doing it yourself, you should call our Electricians to ensure the job is done properly and safely. If you see directions that claim you can do the job yourself, it’s best not to rely on them. As mentioned before, electrical fires can be deadly and they can be sparked by the tiniest error in wiring. Before you start on a home improvement project, get assistance from our Electricians. It could mean the safety of you and your family’s lives. Advice from an experienced Electrician can save your life. For the safe and secure wiring of your home, call us right away.
September 29, 2022 Ronald Stewart 0 Comments
When you will be visiting the internet to find the best water filter, you will surely be bombarded with loads of options. As the water sources are getting more and more contaminated, the need to purify them is getting more emphatic. However, the encouraging fact is that there are some of the wonderful options that can be used by anyone with full confidence. If you are also one of those quality-conscious people who don’t like to compromise over it, then the Steripen water filter is the perfect solution for you.
Advantages of using filters manufactured by Steripen: There are lots of products that can be found for water disinfection, but, there are quite a few qualities that separate Steripen from others. A brief note about those qualities will surely help you to make a better decision about getting a Steripen water filter to use in your own house. Are you looking for Plumbers in Portland, OR
– Usage of UV light: Purification speed is something that is quite important to consider before buying a water filter system. As the Steripen water filter uses UV light, so, it offers a great purification speed. Apart from this, you can also enjoy an amazing quality as filtration is done by short-wave ultraviolet which actually destroys the DNA within the bacteria. Also, UV light works with a lamp to create ozone that helps to kill all the bacteria which may be there in the water. Surely, it helps you to get the purified water without getting into too many hassles.
– Perfect size: Size is something that makes the filter more attractive to use. The size of the filter is not more than a flashlight. It is just about perfect for people to take it wherever they want. – The simplicity of use: Another amazing thing that separates a new filter from its competitor is the simplicity of use. It means that after filling your bottle with half-liter water, you will just have to put the glass end in the water until the light turns green. That’s it; your water is now purified to drink with confidence. You will also be able to purify your water without adding any taste to it. That’s the marvel of UV technology.
– Simple batteries: The usage of simple batteries is another amazing thing about this water filter. Also, it is because of the batteries and the portability that you can you use them while away from your home. It is perfect for bottling plants or military use as it is simple, effective, and fast as well.
So, these are the terrific benefits that come along with a new filter. It surely is wonderful that has taken water filter technology to a whole new level. However, there is a couple of things that are not quite amazing about this filter. One is about the heaviness of the filter which is because of batteries and the other thing is about the inability to purify water more than one liter at one time. However, the benefits are far greater than the concerns which means that it is a great thing to have, especially if you are looking to go hiking.
April 29, 2021 Ronald Stewart 0 Comments