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If you have small children or pets, then it's important to make sure that your home is electrically safe. Exposed outlets and wires are one of the leading causes for serious injury or death among infants, small children and even pets. According to Alliant Energy Kids, here are the top 10 rules for electric safety for safer and more child- or pet-proof homes. These are also good electric safety rules to teach your children so that they can be smart about safety too:
Never plug a bunch of different wires and cords into one single outlet or extension cord. It could damage the electrical system in your house and is a major fire hazard. It is also a waste of energy and not very environmentally friendly.
Keep electrical cords out of reach of curious babies and toddlers and teething pets. Make sure that all electrical cords are tucked away and kept neat and tidy. Otherwise, teething babies and pets can chew on them, not knowing any better, and people might even trip on them and fall.
Make sure that children and pets are kept away from any electrical fences and, in the case of children, they know never to touch or climb them. Call the electric company if a ball or pet gets inside the fence, or tell your children to call the nearest grown-up to do so. The electric company will come and help them. They should know they don’t have to try to get it themselves as it is extremely dangerous.
Pulling on a cord too hard can damage the appliance, whether the plug or the outlet, so don’t yank cords out of the outlet.
Looking out for power lines is an important outdoor electric safety tip. If your child is out flying kites, make sure there aren’t any power lines or substations nearby, as kites can conduct electricity and send it down to your child on the ground. Also tell your child to look out for power lines if they are out climbing trees.
Thunderstorm safety is another important outdoor electric safety tip. If your child is outside swimming and you see a bolt of lightning, or even if you hear a clap of thunder, get them out of the water and as far away from the water as possible. Also, if you and your child are caught outside in a thunderstorm, don’t wait it out under a tree. Get away from any trees and to the nearest shelter.
Make sure that all electrical cords, wires, or equipment are kept away from any water. Most indoor electrical incidents happen because people use electricity near water.
Make sure that your child is not putting anything metal inside of outlets, such as forks.
To expand on the last point, always put safety caps on all unused electrical outlets. Covering outlets will not only keep your children and pets safer, it will help save you energy by stopping cold drafts from getting in your home.
Tell your child that if you are not nearby and they have a question or problem related to electricity, or if they need to use something that's electrical but don't know how, that they should always ask the nearest grown-up for assistance. If they can't find a nearby grownup, then they shouldn't try it on their own.
Based in Albany along Auckland's North Shore, Lloyd Electrical provides innovative electrical services to commercial and residential clients. They have a large team of experienced and highly-qualified Auckland electrician specialists who can provide wide range of both residential and commercial electrical services and assist with any electric problems, including installations, wiring and rewiring, lighting, security, switchboard upgrades, and installation of LED lightbulbs. For more information on what they do and how they can help you, please visit them online or contact them today!
When it comes to electrical issues in the household, it's always best to seek advice from the experts. It comes as no surprise that electricity is complicated, dangerous, and should not be messed with – unless of course, you're qualified and know what you’re doing!
Amateur electrical repair work can cause more damage than repair, and you could end up forking out more in the long run! More importantly, inexperienced fiddling with the electrics in your home can cause poor wire connections, overloaded circuits and faulty grounding, which could be hazardous to the safety of your home and your loved ones.
Here are 4 Electrical Projects you will definitely need an electrician for:
Whether it's aesthetic or for security, installing outdoor lighting requires an electrician. A licensed electrical contractor can help you check the feasibility of installing outdoor lights, check the safety, and thread wiring to the outside if there was none before. An electrician can also advise on the best exterior lights to use.
An electrical outlet or receptacle is a socket that connects an electrical device to an electricity supply. In buildings, electrical outlets are usually installed in the wall, although they can also be installed in the floor. This is something that you would typically need an electrician to install for you, and likewise an electrician can convert any outlets you already have to GFCIs (ground fault circuit interrupter). GFCI's are designed to shut off power if water is detected, or an imbalance is detected. This is done to ensure safety and prevent shock.
Call an electrician if this work is required. Improper grounding can result in fire or loss of power. Additionally, contact a professional if extra outlets are required as this work requires cutting into the wall and replacing parts of the wiring. This shouldn't be attempted alone without full expertise.
Typically, a homeowner can replace a light fixture. However there are a few things worth checking:
If the amperage of the new light bulb isn't high enough to cover the wattage of your new light, you will need an additional wire run from your circuit breaker. If that’s the case, then it’s best to contact an electrician.
When you upgrade your appliances, you sometimes need to also upgrade the electrical service panels. Electric panels provide electricity to the whole home and as they get older, they can deteriorate causing flickering lights, blown fuses, etc.
If your circuit breaker panel requires an upgrade, it's always best to seek help from an electrician. This sort of work is extremely complicated and requires a professional’s expertise.
At Lloyd Electricals, our electricians undergo extensive training to ensure that they are licensed to the highest industry standards and always following the best practises. The safety of yourself and your family at home is not to be taken lightly! So rather than risk it, call us today if you're experiencing issues or are curious about upgrading your home’s electrical capacity.
It doesn't take a genius to figure out that electricity is dangerous, and should not be messed with. In most scenarios, it's best to call and electrician to help out. But here are 21 general safety rules that you can follow to keep yourself and your family safe at all times.
Avoid wearing loose clothing near electrical equipment.
De-energise open experimental circuits and equipment to be left unattended.
Know your switchboard: Interlocks on equipment disconnect the high voltage source when a cabinet door is open but power for control circuits may remain on! Be careful as this could mean live electricity is still going through the equipment.
Do not store highly flammable liquids near electrical equipment.
If it’s necessary for you to touch electrical equipment (eg. when checking for overheated motors), use the back of your hand. This is so that if accidental shock causes any muscle contraction, your muscle doesn't contract to the conductor.
No liquids! Water is an excellent conductor. Do not touch electrical equipment if you have wet hands, feet, body, or are perspiring. It's always best to wear gloves and shoes.
Keep all electric contacts and conductors enclosed so that no one can accidentally come into contact with them.
Never touch someone else’s equipment or electrical control devices, unless you are specifically asked to. Take precautionary measures if this is the case.
Drain capacitors before working near them and keep the short circuit on the terminals during the work to prevent electric shock.
Don’t rely on grounding alone to mask a defective circuit, also don't attempt to correct a fault by inserting another fuse or breaker. If you need to correct a fault – call an electrician.
If equipment is producing a "tingle", it should be immediately disconnected and reported for repair.
If an individual comes into contact with a live electrical conductor, do not touch the equipment – or the person! Pull the plug using a leather belt, or disconnect the power source from the circuit breaker. Remember: stay calm! The worst thing that can be done in this situation is to panic.
The best thing to do in the event of water spillage is to shut off the power at the main switch or circuit breaker. Make sure all devices are also unplugged.
Avoid having electrical equipment in cold rooms, or other areas where condensation is likely. If equipment must be used in such areas, it should ideally be mounted on a wall or vertical panel.
If it is safe to do, try working with only one hand. This is to keep the second hand at your side or in your pocket, away from any conductive material. Doing this reduces the risk of current going through your chest cavity, in the event of an accident.
Make sure you use non-conductive gloves and protective clothing, especially when it's necessary to handle equipment that is plugged in.
Ensure that you use non-metallic rulers or pencils when touching electrical equipment that is plugged in.
Make sure that the equipment and tools you use have non-conducting handles.
Make sure you always disconnect the power source before servicing or repairing electrical equipment. Don't take any chances!
Avoid contact with energised electrical circuits. May seem obvious, but a lack of care is often the most common route to electrocution.
Treat all electrical devices as though they are live or energised. You can never be too sure!
Flip the switch and the lights come on. Until they don't. The power of electricity is often taken for granted until problems arise. And, unfortunately, the power which offers so much benefit to our homes becomes a danger when not working properly. When your power is on the fritz, you have no time to delay in fixing it, for your convenience and your safety. But, how do you know when to call a local Auckland electrician? Check out these four common electric problems that require prompt attention.
Protecting your home from damage, breakers trip to warn of problems in a circuit and protect wiring by shutting off electrical flow. With continual tripping, the danger to your electrical system and home rises. Overheating and even electrical fires result.
Circuit overload, short circuit or a ground fault may lie at the root of this electric problem. An electrician in Auckland offering professional electrical services safely diagnoses and repairs the problem.
If you lose power to an area of your home without tripping breakers, a circuit is broken or damaged somewhere. Left unrepaired this electric problem not only causes the inconvenient loss of lighting but could lead to electrical fire.
Due to the difficulty and risk in locating the underlying issue, contacting an electrical services company to make a quick diagnosis and repair to your wiring is the safest bet. While you may be tempted to save a few bucks, this repair is not a DIY fix.
Running well, your electrical panel remains quiet. On the contrary, noises such as sizzling, crackling or popping send an urgent warning to you as a homeowner. Arising from arcing electricity in the wiring, these sounds indicate imminent danger to your home and family.
Whether caused by faulty breakers, loose connections or worn insulation, noise coming from your panel prompts an immediate call to a qualified Auckland electrician. Indeed, this electrical wiring hazard is one which does not wait for you to tinker your way to a solution.
Lighting which runs brighter than usual or dims in comparison to its usual intensity gets your attention. And, while you may shrug it off as an annoying electrical problem, the truth is, this is serious.
Power fluctuations which cause changes in lighting intensity cause major damage to your electrical system and the fixtures plugged into it. Unplug sensitive electronics and pick up the phone. Leaving this electric problem to the pros offering qualified electrical services is the right call.
For help with electric problems, contact us for proper diagnosis and repair. At Lloyd Electrical, we offer the expertise to keep your home functioning and safe. Contact us today!
Unless your skills in fixing electrical problems are beyond the level of a do-it-yourself amateur, you are well advised to call a professional electrician in Auckland like Lloyd Electrical. If you discover any of the following symptoms, call an electrician before you injure yourself or your home is damaged by fire, smoke and water.
If circuit breakers are constantly tripping or fuses seem to be blowing all the time, chances are your circuits are overloading, that or there is a fault in one of them.
Is your home over 40 years old? If so it could be a safety concern, especially if the electrical system has never been upgraded. Call an electrician and schedule an inspection right away.
Are small appliances causing lamps to flicker on and off? When the air conditioner kicks in, do the ceiling lights suddenly grow dim? This indicates a problem with wiring or circuits and needs immediate attention.
Any sign of this under or on the main service panel is an indication deterioration is taking place. This suggests danger to the main wiring connections and, possibly, throughout the entire electrical system.
Are your outlets loaded with add-on power strips? Don't over do it or you could be asking for trouble. Maybe it's time for an electrician to add additional outlets.
Any place in your home which may get wet, such as bathrooms and the kitchen, need to have outlets protected by Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters, or GFCI, in accordance with Auckland electrical code.
Do you have extension and/or power cords running beneath rugs or carpet? If, so you need to have more outlets installed as this could create a dangerous situation in your home.
Lloyd Electrical are your go-to, local, experienced Auckland electricians. We provide innovative electrical services to commercial and residential clients. Based in Albany on Auckland's North Shore, we service the all the Auckland area. We have a large specialist team who are highly qualified and have years of experience. We are incredibly proud of the work we have done over the years and have built and excellent reputation which is testament to the quality of our delivery. Get in touch with us today!
The growth of Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) and Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) is making incandescent bulbs a thing of the past here on Auckland's North Shore. This transformation almost always involves little more than replacing one type of bulb for another. However, there are instances where the services of an Auckland electrician is required — especially when installation of CFL or LED compatible outdoor lighting is called for.
Now that you know the benefits of converting to CFL or LED bulbs there may arise situations where you need the services of an electrician in Auckland for wiring or installation concerns. Located in Albany on Auckland’s North Shore, Lloyd Electrical have a proven reputation for LED light bulb supply and installation.
With Auckland real estate prices at all time highs, it is more important than ever, whether you are a buyer or a seller, to have your home's electrical system inspected by a professional Auckland electrical services company like Lloyd Electrical.
Amongst all of the many facets involved in buying or selling your home, one that is often neglected or even ignored is the condition of the home's electrical system. If you are considering selling your home you would be well advised to have the electrical system inspected from top to bottom to eliminate the possibility that something potentially serious and expensive is detected during the home inspection process.
Same goes if you are a buyer and especially if it is an older home. In that case you may wish to go beyond the home inspection process and hire a electrical services company yourself to inspect the electrical system as a condition to your contract to buy for both safety aspects and compliance issues with the New Zealand Electrical Codes of Practice.
Though a thorough electrical inspection might cover many different particulars, here are some of the most obvious and critical areas to have checked out.
There should be no breakers that are loosely connected to wiring coming into the panel. It is important to make sure there are no fuses or breakers that are over or under sized.
There is wiring running through every room in a home, including those on another level. Inspect the wiring throughout the entire home to make sure there is no loose connections or frayed wires anywhere.
To avoid the potential of wires buried underground being accidentally damaged or cut due to digging, make sure that all wires buried underground are included and clearly identified in the home's site plans, and that the wires are protected in conduits and that they meet all applicable electrical codes.
It is imperative to make sure there are no loose wiring leading in to outlets. Overload of electrical outlets is a potential fire hazard and if there are not enough in the home at the time of purchase the buyer should plan on having their Auckland electrician install additional outlets where needed.
Located in Albany on Auckland's North Shore, Lloyd Electric is your best bet in providing this critical inspection whether you are the seller or the buyer. Don't hesitate to contact them today.
When it comes to troubleshooting electrical problems associated with sophisticated networking systems it is not always a question of failures or malfunctions in the hardware. More often than you might imagine Auckland electricians have discovered that the problems may be attributed to the wiring and/or connections that enable the network to perform properly over a multi-platform system. Sometimes, it may even be something as simple as wiring and connection issues in the electrical system itself. Usually, though, these types of problems manifest in one or more of the following five categories.
There are situations that arise during troubleshooting wiring and connection problems where mistakes in identification and labeling lead to a faulty diagnosis. This can be easily corrected with software that serves to keep track of complex wiring schemes, and by properly labeling both the wires and the terminal blocks based upon their destination.
It is not uncommon for both digital and analog signals to suffer from diminished integrity due to interference from powerful electromagnetic fields generated by industrial applications. This can easily be corrected by rerouting affected cables away from areas of interference and to encase them in a conduit that is both grounded and shielded.
Any time there are situations where there is repetitive movement, wires may be subject to fatigue and possibly even breakage. Try to avoid this type of movement and make sure to use wires that are highly stranded.
These can occur from both natural and man-made causes. Anything from airborne chemicals from cleaning products to salt spray may hasten corrosion in terminal blocks. Be sure to fully enclose any contact parts made of metal in fully enclosed blocks.
Often, problems are as simple as wires — subject to too much vibration from industrial applications — loosen and disrupt the connection. There are a variety of connections to alleviate these types of problems. Everything from terminal blocks equipped with spring clamps to screw-down connections.
Amongst electricians on the North Shore, Lloyd Electrical has many years of proven experience working with their commercial clients both large and small. As a function of their data management services, they are equipped to design, maintain and service all aspects of networks and LAN systems. Contact them for all questions related to your data management.
We at Lloyd Electrical feel that all of our Auckland customers should have a basic understanding of how your home electrical systems work. After reading this, you will hopefully have a basic understanding of the flow of electricity from the power network and into your home.
The power feed into your home can come from either underground conduit or via a power line. These lines lead to a meter box which measures the electrical usage in your home. The flow of electricity continues from the main and travels to the main breaker box (fuse box) where it is connected to all of the homes wiring circuits. These circuits run from the circuit breaker to each of the home's outlets and light fixtures as well as any appliances.
Your meter is typically installed on an existing exterior wall of the home in a location where they can be easily read by the power company, so they should not be too difficult to locate.
Standard meters measure the flow of power into your home but, with solar energy on the rise, newer "smart meters" are able to record the flow of energy in both directions.
Most all main fuses (also known as 'breakers') are installed in your home or garage, main breakers in some rare cases can be on the home's exterior in a waterproof box. The main breaker will determine the total power that a home can use. The reason for your breaker box is that in the case of an electrical overload, the breaker switch will flip to off to reduce the risk of a fire in your home.
Inside your box, and under the main breaker, are the smaller circuit breakers. These smaller circuit breakers govern how much electricity is sent to each circuit. Each of these circuits will often represent entire rooms or high powered appliances such as washers & dryers. All of these circuits will be labeled and easy to read on the inside of the main breaker panel door.
These are the wires the travel from the circuit breaker and through your home to each of the room's outlets and fixtures in your home. Each of these wires will have at least three wires in a bundle. The bundle will contain a hot a ground and neutral wire. The hot wires will be black or red, neutral wires will be white and the ground will be bare.
Electrical fires and other electrical problems can be scary experiences. Luckily, you can often prevent serious electrical issues by recognising the early signs of a problem.
If you experience an electric shock or jolt when you touch an appliance, it could be a sign of a bigger problem. The problem could be something such as faulty wiring or a ground fault in the appliance. At first, the shock might be minor, but if the issue is not resolved, the problem could get worse.
When a circuit is overloaded, it will trip to prevent the wiring from overheating and possibly starting a fire. If your circuit breaker trips occasionally, there may not be a major problem. This may simply mean that you need to unplug one or two items and plug them into another circuit. If your circuit breaker is often tripping, you might be experiencing a more serious issue. Your breaker might be getting old and need to be replaced. This is especially true if it is the same circuit breaker that is always tripping or if the circuit breaker trips even when it should not be overloaded.
Flickering lights may simply mean you to replace or tighten a lightbulb. If that does not resolve the problem, there might be something wrong with your light fixture. Your flickering light problem will need to be diagnosed and resolved by an experienced electrician.
If it takes several tries to turn on a light, or if a light switch randomly stops working and then works fine another time, you may have loose wiring or there might another electrical problem. The same is true of outlets that only work sporadically.
Sparks and burning odors coming from an electrical outlet could be indicators of a serious issue. While an occasional small spark when you plug a device in should not be cause for serious concern, larger sparks or frequent sparks from a specific outlet could be an indicator of an electrical problem. If you smell a burning odor or experience large or frequent sparks from an outlet, unplug your devices right away. Do not use the outlet again until it has been checked by an experienced electrician.
If you have experienced any of these issues or any other potential electrical problems, contact an experienced Auckland electrician, such as our team at Lloyd Electrical, right away. We can help you resolve an assortment of electrical problems and prevent a minor electrical issue from becoming something more serious.