This page will answer some common questions we often receive about electrical
services in general and Coral Electric specifically.
Click on your topic
of interest.
Circuit Breaker Tripping Off
Short Circuits
Overloaded Circuit
Broken Circuit Breaker
Refrigerator
Power
Dimmers
GIFs
Smoke Detectors
Garbage
Disposal Power
Fuses
Telephone
Power
Whole
House Surge Protector
Energy
Savings
Resetting
Circuit Breakers
More
Technical Stuff About Circuit Breakers
Power
Problems - Receptacles Controlled By Switches
GFI
Receptacles
More
Technical Stuff About GFI'S
Circuit
Breaker Tripped Off
More
Technical Stuff About Circuit Breakers
Short
Circuits
No
Power At All
Lights
Not Turning On
Lights
Not Turning Off
Lights
Blinking On and Off
Flickering
Fluorescent Lights
Bulbs
Burning Out Too Quickly
Humming
Lights
Lights
Dimming
Circuit Breaker Tripping Off
A circuit breaker is designed to trip off when it detects too much power running
through the wire it's protecting. There are three main reasons circuit breakers
trip off:
1. There is a short circuit.
2. There is an overloaded circuit.
3. The circuit breaker is broken.
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Short Circuits
Short circuits occur when two electrical wires accidentally touch each
other. A short circuit will immediately cause one of your circuit breakers
to trip off or one of your fuses to blow.
To fix a short circuit, ask yourself this question: "What was happening
right before the short circuit?" If you had just plugged something into
a receptacle (outlet) or turned on a light or an appliance, then this gives you
a clue as to what caused the short.
If you just plugged in an iron, for instance, you can simply un-plug the iron
and then re-set
the circuit breaker or replace the fuse. If everything is now OK, then your
electrical system is fine - and it's time to get a new iron!
If, however, you can't find anything plugged in which is causing the problem,
then it's time to call a good electrician to locate and repair your short circuit.
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Overloaded Circuit
Overloaded circuits occur when too much power is running through an electrical
wire. To protect the wire, the circuit breaker does its job by detecting the
overload and tripping off. The solution to this problem is to remove some of
the appliances that are connected to the overloaded wires. You may wish to add
a new set of wires so that you can supply power to all your appliances. For this,
you'll need a good electrician.
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Broken Circuit Breaker
Sometimes circuit breakers just wear out and need to be replaced. A knowledgeable
homeowner with electrical skills can do the job. Otherwise, hire a good electrician.
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Refrigerator Power
If the power goes out to your refrigerator or freezer, you need to fix it fast!
Here are two tips to help you quickly restore power:
1. If your refrigerator is plugged into a GFI receptacle
(a receptacle is an outlet), you can re-set the GFI and see if you now have power.
If this works, that's great! Now that it's working again you should make arrangements
to replace the GFI with a regular receptacle as soon as possible.
Refrigerators should never be plugged into a GFI receptacle because GFIs are
very sensitive, and you don't want to be on vacation and lose power to your refrigerator
just because the GFI accidentally shut off. So if your refrigerator is plugged
into a GFI receptacle, you should replace the GFI with a regular receptacle.
2. If you can't restore power to the receptacle that your refrigerator is
plugged into, you should call an electrician who is good at troubleshooting to
locate and fix the problem. But while you're waiting for the electrician to arrive,
you can plug the refrigerator into a heavy-duty extension cord and plug it in
to a receptacle that has power.
This will keep your food cold and safe until your electrician arrives.
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Dimmers
You might notice that sometimes a dimmer seems warm when you touch it.
The good news is, THIS IS NORMAL. Dimmers naturally get warm when they
are in use, especially if there is more than one dimmer in the same location.
However, if a dimmer is REALLY warm or hot to the touch, this indicates
a safety problem, and you should call an electrician who is knowledgeable
about lighting issues.
1. Never connect a regular dimmer to low-voltage lights, paddle fans,
or any kind or motor. These devices require special dimmers.
2. Never exceed the recommended wattage of the dimmer. Regular dimmers
are rated for a maximum of 600 Watts. This is equal to 10 sixty Watt light
bulbs, or 6 one hundred Watt bulbs.
NOTE: You can also buy higher-wattage dimmers for connecting more
than 600 Watts to one dimmer.
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GFI's
According to the National Electrical Code, in all kitchens, bathrooms,
garages, or any area in which water may be present, instead of regular
receptacles (outlets), GFI receptacles should be used. These are for
your
safety.
The idea of a GFI receptacle is that if there is the slightest electrical
problem, the GFI immediately shuts off the power. This is an important
safety feature.
When you lose power to a receptacle in a kitchen, bathroom, garage, or
outdoor area, check to see if it's a GFI receptacle. If it is, press the "TEST" button,
then press the "RESET" button. If the GFI shuts off power repeatedly,
plug in a different appliance to test whether the problem is the first
appliance or the GFI itself. If the GFI is defective, call a good electrician.
Hint: You may have a receptacle that has lost power in a kitchen, bathroom,
garage, or outdoor area but it's not a GFI. It may be "protected" by
a GFI that has tripped off somewhere else. You can check for this situation
by making sure that all the GFIs in your kitchen, bathroom, garage, and
outdoor areas are working properly.
More Technical Data About GFIs
A GFI receptacle (also called a GFCI receptacle) can measure differences
in power as small as 3ma (which is a very small amount). When it detects
more power coming in from the "hot" side than going out from
the neutral side, it will shut off. This is a good thing because that extra
electricity has to go somewhere, and it's important to protect you and
your family from it.
All GFI receptacles should be tested monthly. This is done by pressing
the "TEST" button. If pressing the "TEST" button does
not make the button labeled "RESET" pop out, then call an electrician.
If the "RESET" button does pop out, the outlet is OK. Press the "RESET" button
back in to reset the outlet.
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Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors are great safety devices. But occasionally a smoke detector
will start "chirping" or worse, sound a non-stop alarm for
no reason. Here's what you can do if this happens to you:
If it's a battery-powered smoke detector, take out the battery and replace
it with a new one. If there's still a problem, replace the entire smoke
detector.
If it's a 120 Volt powered smoke detector (hard-wired), turn off your circuit
breakers one by one until the noise stops. Then turn on all the circuit
breakers again except the one controlling the smoke detector. Replace the
faulty smoke detector and turn its circuit breaker back on again.
You will then need to replace the 120 Volt smoke detector or if it is a
battery powered smoke detector, replace the battery.
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Garbage Disposal Power
If your garbage disposal stops working you should:
1. First, make sure the power is turned off to the garbage disposal unit
by ALWAYS making sure the switch to the garbage disposal is turned to the
OFF position.
2. Clear out anything inside the garbage disposal which might be jamming
up the motor and stopping it from working.
3. Briefly flip on the switch to the garbage disposal. Do you hear a humming
noise? If you do, then there is power going to the disposal and the problem
is that the disposal is broken or there is something stuck in it.
4. If you turn on the switch to the garbage disposal and you do not hear
any humming noise, locate the small button that is somewhere on the disposal
and press it to "re-set" the disposal. Then try turning on the
disposal again.
5. Finally, try re-setting all the circuit breakers in your electrical
panel to see if you can get power back.
.
If none of this works, it's time to call a good electrician.
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Fuses
When a fuse detects too much power running through a wire, a tiny piece
of metal inside the fuse will break, thereby stopping the power from continuing
to run through the wire.
When the top of the fuse is made of glass, many people think that they
can look at the metal piece inside and see if it is broken. THIS IS NOT
ALWAYS TRUE.
The best way to handle a suspected blown fuse is to simply replace it.
If the power comes back on, great! If it doesn't, then you should call
an electrician who is good at troubleshooting.
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Telephone Power
When power goes out in your home, remember, YOUR CORDLESS PHONE WILL NOT
WORK IF THE PHONE'S BASE UNIT HAS NO POWER. However, if this happens
you can still use any telephone that is plugged directly into a telephone
outlet.
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Whole House Surge Protector
The need for surge protection has increased dramatically. This is because
many electronic devices can be damaged by surges. Electronic devices sensitive
to power surges occur in: security systems, computers, printers, FAX machines,
telephones, small appliances, microwave ovens, refrigerators, stereos,
garage door openers, and low-voltage lighting systems.
Anytime there is a power outage, there is the possibility of a power surge
upon turning the power back on. Unfortunately, the cost of replacing electronic
components can be monumental.
Finally there is a solution to the problem: "whole house" surge
protection. Whole house surge protection is now available to the general
public at a reasonable cost. Call our In-House Technician and he'll be
glad to discuss whether installing a whole house surge protector would
be a good option for you.
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Energy Savings
Wasted energy translates into carbon dioxide production, air pollution,
acid rain, and lots of money down the drain. The average American household,
which spends more than $1,100 per year on energy bills, can expect to shave
25% off these bills by choosing appliances wisely.
For example, replacing a 20-year-old refrigerator with a new energy-efficient
model will save you about $85 per year in electric bills. The new model
will also reduce your home's contribution to carbon dioxide emissions,
a greenhouse gas, by about a ton per year.
While energy-efficient appliances may be slightly more expensive, the extra
cost will be paid back through reduced energy bills.
The American Council For An Energy Efficient Economy is a non-profit organization
dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting economic
development and environmental protection. Every year this organization
publishes The Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings, a valuable
guide for home owners.
The following websites provide additional information on energy efficient
living:
Energy Star
Alliance To Save Energy
The Earth Day
Network
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Resetting Circuit Breakers
The first thing to understand is that a circuit breaker can have tripped
off even when it looks like it's in the "ON" position. This
is because a circuit breaker will sometimes trip off internally, without
the "ON/OFF" handle flipping to the "OFF" position.
This is what to do when you have a loss of power that you suspect may be
caused by a tripped circuit breaker.
1. Shut down any computer equipment that may be affected by a loss of power.
2. Go to your circuit breaker panel and firmly flip the first breaker OFF
and then back ON again.
3. Do the same thing with each circuit breaker until you have flipped all
of the circuit breakers OFF and then back ON again.
4. Now check and see whether the device that didn't have power is now back
on again.
5. If your power has been restored... you're done! If your power is still
out, it's time to call an electrician.
Note: About 25% of all electrical power problems can be solved using the
above technique. Good Luck!
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to Top
More Technical Stuff About Circuit Breakers
Inside most circuit breakers there are two types of protection: One is
thermal. The other is magnetic. The thermal strip measures heat build-up
caused by overloading. When it reaches a certain temperature, it will shut
off the breaker. The magnetic coil measures sudden increases in current
(such as a short). At a predetermined limit it will shut the breaker off.
Older breakers sometimes have only one of these features. For maximum protection,
a breaker with both types of protection is recommended.
There are usually three spots on the outside of a breaker that show wear.
If the "ON/OFF" switch (located at the top) has broken off or
is loose, we recommend the breaker be replaced. Next is the load lug. If
it is burnt or abnormally loose, we recommend the breaker be replaced.
Last, and most common, is the stab. The breaker stab is what makes contact
with the bussing in the panel (the bussing carries the power throughout
the panel). The stab connects to the bussing through friction and spring
tension. The spring tension, over time, may break down. If so, arcing or
burning may result. If the stab has become burnt, discolored, or is abnormally
loose, we recommend that the breaker be replaced and that the bussing in
the panel be checked.
NOTE: It is possible for a breaker to appear OK in regard to it's outward
appearance and its capacity to carry continuity, but still be questionable,
bad, or intermittent. The opposite may be true as well. A breaker with
a poor outward appearance may be perfectly safe and structurally sound.
Therefore a decision to replace a breaker should not be based solely on
appearance, continuity, age, etc. A good electrician can recommend the
proper course of action based on taking into account all the relevant factors.
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to Top
Power Problems
Receptacles Controlled By Switches
In some homes and offices, a receptacle (outlet) on the wall is controlled
by a light switch near the entrance to the room. This allows you to plug
a lamp into the receptacle and turn it on and off with the switch.
If an appliance that is plugged into a receptacle has no power, first turn
on all the light switches in the room. Sometimes the device will come on,
which means that it's controlled by a switch.
Hint: A receptacle usually has spaces for two plugs. Sometimes one is permanently
energized and the other is controlled by a switch. This is known as a "half-hot" receptacle.
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GFI Receptacles
In any location where there may be moisture (like kitchens, bathrooms,
garages, and outdoors) special receptacles (outlets) are used for safety.
These are called GFIs. The idea of a GFI receptacle is that with the slightest
electrical problem, the GFI immediately shuts off the power. This is an
important safety feature.
When you lose power to a receptacle in a kitchen, bathroom, garage, or
outdoor area, check to see if it's a GFI receptacle. There's one pictured
on this page. Click
here for more information about GFI's. If it's a GFI, you can restore
power by pressing the "TEST" button and then pressing the "RESET" button.
If the GFI shuts off power repeatedly, plug in a different appliance to
test whether the problem is the first appliance or the GFI itself. If the
GFI is defective, call a good electrician.
Hint: Sometimes, you may have a receptacle that has lost power in a kitchen,
bathroom, garage, or outdoor area but it's not a GFI. It may be "protected" by
a GFI that has tripped off somewhere else. You can check for this situation
by making sure that all the GFIs in your kitchen, bathroom, garage, and
outdoor areas are working properly.
Return
to Top
More Technical Stuff About GFIs
A GFI receptacle (also called a GFCI receptacle) can measure differences
in power as small as 3ma (a very small amount). When the GFI detects more
power coming in from the "hot" side than going out from the neutral
side, it will shut off. This is a good thing because that extra electricity
has to go somewhere, and it's important to protect you and your family
from it.
All GFI receptacles should be tested monthly. This is done by pressing
the "TEST" button. If pressing the "TEST" button does
not make the button labeled "RESET" pop out, then call an electrician.
If the "RESET" button does pop out, the GFI is OK. Press in the "RESET" button
to reset the GFI.
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to Top
Circuit Breaker Tripped Off
The first thing to understand is that a circuit breaker can have tripped
off even when it looks like it's in the "ON" position. This is
because a circuit breaker will sometimes trip off internally, without the "ON/OFF" handle
flipping to the "OFF" position.
This is what to do when you have a loss of power that you suspect may be
caused by a tripped circuit breaker.
1. Shut down any computer equipment that may be affected by a loss of power.
2. Go to your circuit breaker panel and firmly flip the first breaker OFF
and then back ON again.
3. Do the same thing with each circuit breaker until you have flipped all
of the circuit breakers OFF and then back ON again.
4. Now check and see whether the device that didn't have power is now back
on.
5. If your power has been restored... you're done! If your power is still
out, it's time to call an electrician.
Note: About 25% of all electrical power problems can be solved using the
above technique. Good Luck!
Return
to Top
More Technical Stuff About Circuit Breakers
Inside most circuit breakers there are two types of protection: One is
thermal. The other is magnetic. The thermal strip measures heat build-up
caused by overloading. When it reaches a certain temperature, it will shut
off the breaker. The magnetic coil measures sudden increases in current
(such as a short). At a predetermined limit it will shut the breaker off.
Older breakers sometimes have only one of these features. For maximum protection,
a breaker with both types of protection is recommended.
There are usually three spots on the outside of a breaker that show wear.
If the "ON/OFF" switch (located at the top) has broken off or
is loose, we recommend the breaker be replaced. Next is the load lug. If
it is burnt or abnormally loose, we recommend the breaker be replaced.
Last, and most common, is the stab. The breaker stab is what makes contact
with the bussing in the panel (the bussing carries the power throughout
the panel). The stab connects to the bussing through friction and spring
tension. The spring tension, over time, may break down. If so, arcing or
burning may result. If the stab has become burnt, discolored, or is abnormally
loose, we recommend that the breaker be replaced and that the bussing in
the panel be checked.
NOTE: It is possible for a breaker to appear OK in regard to it's outward
appearance and its capacity to carry continuity, but still be questionable,
bad, or intermittent. The opposite may be true as well. A breaker with
a poor outward appearance may be perfectly safe and structurally sound.
Therefore a decision to replace a breaker should not be based solely on
appearance, continuity, age, etc. A good electrician can recommend the
proper course of action based on taking into account all the relevant factors.
Return
to Top
Short Circuits
Short Circuits occur when two electrical wires accidentally touch each
other. A short circuit will immediately cause one of your circuit breakers
to trip off or one of your fuses to blow.
To fix a short circuit, ask yourself this question: "What was happening
right before the short circuit?" If you had just plugged something
into a receptacle (outlet) or turned on a light or an appliance, then this
gives you a clue.
If you just plugged in an iron, for instance, you can simply un-plug the
iron and then re-set the circuit breaker or replace the fuse. If everything
is now OK, then your electrical system is fine and it's time to get a
new
iron!
If, however, you can't find an appliance which is causing the problem,
then it's time to call a good electrician to locate and repair your short
circuit.
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to Top
No Power At All
When nothing works in the entire building this means:
A. The electrical power from the utility company is not getting to your
electrical panel. Call the utility company.
B. The electrical power from the utility company is not getting to ANYBODY'S
electrical panel. Wait for the utility company to restore power.
C. Your main circuit breaker is broken or turned off. Try to re-set the
circuit breaker.
D. All your circuit breakers are flipped off. Re-set all breakers.
E. Something else. Time to call an electrician.
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to Top
Lighting Problems
Lights don't turn on for six basic reasons:
1. The bulb is bad. This is more common than one might think. Try replacing
a questionable light bulb with a new one. If that doesn't work, before
giving up, try using a bulb from another light fixture that you KNOW
is working.
2. The switch to the light is bad. The switch will need to be replaced.
3. The light fixture is broken. Usually it is easiest and least expensive
to simply replace the fixture. However, many light fixtures can be repaired
if it is desired.
4. No power. Please go to the Power
Problems section.
5. The time clock for the light is not set for the correct time or is broken.
Re-set the time or replace the broken time clock.
6. If the light fixture is activated by a photo-cell, the photo-cell is
out of adjustment or broken. Adjust or replace the photo-cell.
7. Fluorescent, Mercury-Vapor, or High-Pressure-Sodium Lights. These kinds
of light fixtures all use an electrical ballast to energize their special
light bulbs. If the light is humming loudly or has an "electrical
odor," or if the light just doesn't turn on, the ballast may need
to be replaced.
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1. The switch to the light fixture is broken. Replace the switch.
2. The time clock for the light is broken or out of adjustment. Set the
time clock to the right time. If it won't stay adjusted, replace the
time clock.
3. If the light fixture is activated by a photo-cell, the photo-cell is
either out of adjustment or broken. Adjust or replace the photo-cell.
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There are two main reasons for lights blinking on and off:
1. A photo-cell is out of adjustment. Adjust the photo-cell.
2. Some light fixtures that are recessed into the ceiling have a built-in
thermal protector that automatically shuts off the light when the fixture
gets too hot. Use a lower wattage bulb for a lower temperature.
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There are three reasons fluorescent lights flicker:
1. For a few moments when they first turn on, the bulbs will flicker until
they warm up. You will notice this more on colder days. Just wait a few
moments for the bulbs to warm up.
2. The fluorescent bulbs are old. Replace them.
3. The fluorescent ballast is old. Replace it.
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Here are the three reasons bulbs can burn out quickly:
1. The wattage of the bulb is too high. This is very common. Most light
fixtures with glass covers have a maximum rating of 60 watts per bulb.
It is very common for people to put in 75 watt or even 100 watt bulbs.
The result is bulbs burning out much too quickly. Use the correct wattage
bulbs in all your light fixtures.
2. Poor-quality lights bulbs. Use only major-brand light bulbs.
3. Mysterious light fixture problems. It's mysterious because the light
fixture LOOKS perfectly fine, and even electricians can't find anything
wrong with it. Nevertheless, after checking #1 and #2 above, if the bulbs
keep burning out...replace the light fixture.
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Humming lights can be caused by:
1. A bad ballast or bad transformer. Replace the ballast or transformer.
2. A conflict between a low-voltage dimmer and the low-voltage light fixture
it controls. This is a tough one, but sometimes experimenting with different
dimmers will lead you to one that doesn't make the low-voltage light transformer
hum.
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Lights Dimming
Lights will sometimes dim for a few seconds and then come back to complete
brightness again. This can happen when a light is connected to the same
wires that provide power to an appliance that takes a lot of power, like
a refrigerator, a microwave oven, or an air conditioner. The reason the
light dims for a few seconds is that the appliance is using a lot of power
when it first starts up. After the appliance is running for a few seconds,
it will use less power, and the light will return to normal again. If you
have central air-conditioning, the lights may dim each time the air conditioning
comes on.
You will usually notice this dimming more at night (for obvious reasons!),
but you might also notice it in the daytime. If this dimming bothers you,
you can handle the problem by having an electrician add another circuit
specifically for the appliance that is causing the dimming problem.
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