Electrical Warning Signs

Life is full of warning signs, but we don’t always pick up on them. A circuit that constantly burns out its fuse does not need a larger-amperage fuse. Instead, reduce some of the loads and their demand for current. Remember, electrical systems are very logical and safe when used intelligently. If you push them beyond their limits, all bets are off as to how well they’ll behave.
An orderly electrical system doesn’t overheat, start fires, or inordinately dim your lights. These are all signs that you have problems. (A fire means you’re too late.) If you have an older system that still uses fuses and does not have a grounding conductor, you need to be more observant of your usage and how your system reacts. Electrical problems sometimes require detective work. When an appliance doesn’t work at one receptacle, try it in another before you start tearing it apart. It might just be a bad receptacle or a loose terminal screw.
Remember that older, fuse-based systems weren’t designed for all the electrical loads we surround ourselves with today. These systems are safe when used judiciously.

Electrical Safety Rules

These are the basic safety rules you must remember:

• Never work on a live circuit, fixture, or device.
• Shut off power to a circuit before repairing a device or load on the circuit. Keep one arm behind your back (or otherwise away from the panel) when shutting off or turning on a circuit.
• Use a fuse puller to remove and replace fuses. Consider shutting off the power to the fuse box at the main disconnect.
• Tape over or otherwise mark a main switch, fuse socket, or circuit breaker that’s been shut off if you’re working anywhere on your electrical system. This tells others not to turn the power on. (Post a large note on the fuse box or service panel as well.)
• Always test to make sure the circuit has been shut off before doing any repairs.
• Always unplug a cord-and-plug appliance, lamp, or other similarly connected load before repairing it.
• Never stand in a puddle or on a wet surface when doing electrical repairs. Place a piece of wood on a damp floor and wear thick rubber boots to insulate your feet.

Trouble, Troubleshooting, and Safety

Residential electrical systems, especially newer installations or upgrades, usually just keep humming along. Cartoonists could depict billions of smiling, happy electrons zipping around our wires, one little electron holding hands with the next, doing our electrical bidding. But things can go bad. Bare wires can cross each other, appliances can short out, and lamp cords can become frayed. Your electrical system, unlike the institution of democracy, might not require constant vigilance, but you have to keep an eye on it. Circuit breakers that trip regularly and fuses that burn out too often are signs of a problem circuit. Dimming lights are a romantic touch when you control them with a dimmer switch but not when they dim on their own. Likewise, if your electric can opener shoots sparks like a Roman candle, it means you have a problem.
Safety should be emphasized as always, and you should pass this emphasis on to your children and anyone else living in your house. Thousands of people are electrocuted every year, many of them children, and they often require hospital care. A safe, monitored electrical system will prevent many needless injuries and possibly even deaths. Without any further lecturing, we’ll move on to scrutinize your wiring, devices, and appliances.