electrical: Why Home Depot is not your best choice for quality products
- 12/17/14 08:03 PM
Home Depot offers cheap prices and convenient hours. Sometimes you have to finish a project and need a can of paint at 5 PM on a Sunday. In that situation you have no choice but to head to Home Depot. The problem I have with Home Depot is that the quality is not the same as products from other stores. Some vendors whose products are carried by Home Depot have told me that the store does not like raising its prices. So, a company initially offers a quality product and gives the store a huge discount because of the large … (20 comments)
electrical: Can I switch a two prong to a three prong GFCI outlet in the bathroom?
- 01/24/14 02:40 AM
This is another great article about the importance of GFCI (ground fault circuit interupter) or GFI outlets. It is important to test them to be sure that they trip when they need to. Manufacturers require that they be tested monthly to ensure proper functioning.
Can I switch my two prong outlet to a three prong GFCI outlet in the bathroom?
I don’t know if you have ever been in a home that did not have a three prong outlet, but it can be frustrating. So many devices that we use today come with three prongs and an adjustment will … (8 comments)
electrical: 3 Electrical Tools that Homeowners Should Have in Cos Cob, CT 06807
- 01/22/14 05:38 AM
As an electrician in Cos Cob, CT, I depend on my electrical tools for my livelihood. Having good quality tools and having the right one for the task at hand is of the most important parts of what I do. I carry a large number of tools and materials with me, but there are a few that every homeowner should have in their toolbox.
One of my favorite tools is a non-contact voltage detector. Basically, it can detect live current through the insulation on a wire. The one I use is made by Klein Tools, which has been making … (7 comments)
USB outlets are a new type of electrical receptacle becoming more and more prevalent in Greenwich, CT. In this continually connected society that we live in, we are constantly using our smart phones. We use our phones as GPS devices, Internet hotspots, video cameras, remote controls and hundreds of other uses. The problem is that all those features and apps draw more power and leave us constantly trying to charge our devices. Whenever I go to an airport, I see passengers getting off a plane and immediately trying to … (9 comments)
electrical: 100 Amp Electrical Service May not be Enough in Cos Cob, CT 06807
- 01/11/14 09:02 AM
In Cos Cob, CT and other parts of Fairfield County, CT, a 100 amp electrical service is not enough to keep up with the demand of the average house. Over the last several decades, the power requirements of homes in the area have significantly increased. It is said that the average kitchen draws more electricity than the whole house if it was build over 30 years ago.
One of the causes of this surge in the demand for electricity is the proliferation of central air conditioning in houses. Air conditioning, by its very nature, is an inefficient process, so … (2 comments)
There are many types of specialty electrical outlets, but tamper resistant receptacles are becoming more and more popular. Now you’ve all seen these things before:It’s a little piece of plastic that goes into a receptacle so children cannot put anything in there. We are all very familiar with these things. They are so effective at making sure nobody can put anything in there that we’ve all broken fingers trying to remove these things.
So, yes, they work but they’re so effective they are a real pain to use. So there is another receptacle which is … (18 comments)
electrical: GFI or GFCI: What are Those Test Buttons on my Outlets in Darien, CT
- 01/07/14 11:00 AM
What are Those Test and Reset Buttons on my Outlet? I would like to explain what exactly is a GFI. A GFI, or GFCI, as it is known, stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. It looks like a regular outlet, but it has two little buttons in the middle. There’s a test button and a reset button, and they are designed to turn off when they detect moisture. They are required in various places in the home, including bathrooms, on the kitchen counter, garages, basements, as well as your swimming pools and any outdoor outlets. There are a few locations in … (6 comments)
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