Andy Electrician

Air Conditioning – Know the fact

Every air conditioning system has a different way of getting electricity. Central air systems need different wiring than window units. There are window units that operate on 110, 120 and 220 lines. The central air conditioning systems usually operate on 2... Read >

Additions – Know the fact

When you consider building an addition onto an existing home, you are going to need some electrical work done. Keep in mind that the building codes have come a long way since your home was built and what you have for wiring now, might need to be differen... Read >

3 Phase Wiring – Know the fact

When working with 220 wiring, you must think safety first. For example, if you have a hot tub that operates on 220 wiring, you are going to need the receptacle and the right wiring to run the motor. You are not going to run out and buy all kinds of wiri... Read >

120/240 Amp Lines

The first thing you need to do before doing any wiring project is to turn off the electricity to the breaker box. The 120/240 amp wiring is normally used for clothes dryers and kitchen ranges. The 240 amp line is for the motor of the appliance and the 1... Read >

What Size Generator Should I Get?

Choosing the right size generator for your home is determined by how many total watts you need. The way to figure out watts is amps x volts = watts. For example, you will need a twenty-five hundred watt generator if you run twenty-five 100-watt bulbs beca... Read >

What is the National Electric Code?

The NEC, also known as the National Electric Code safeguards people and property from the hazards that comes from using electricity. Every three years the NEC is updated. The National Electrical Code brings about the foundation of electrical safety. Commu... Read >

Why do you need a Transfer Switch on a Generator?

The reason you need a transfer switch on the generator is to guarantee you do not run the generator and electrical power together. If this would happen, you could damage the wiring in your home. The generator has a switch that is for generator, center off... Read >

How Should Electrical Outlets be Installed in a Kitchen Area?

In the kitchen, you should have electrical outlets up to twenty-four inches apart for counter spaces. If you have an island with an outlet, it needs to be twelve inches from the top of the counter top. You cannot install a face up electrical outlet by any... Read >

What is the Neutral Wire?

When you receive the electrical current from the utility company, you are receiving a single phase 240 volt. In order to use this in your home and receive 120 volts, the voltage is split into two by way of a center tap that is called a neutral wire. Some ... Read >

Where Do You Install Smoke Detectors?

Local housing electrical codes vary from community to community, but smoke detectors must be placed four to twelve inches from the ceiling for a wall mount. A ceiling mounted smoke detector should be four inches from the closest wall. In rooms that have a... Read >

How Many Outlets Should I Have in Each Room?

How many outlets you should have in a room is determined by your housing electrical code. Not all housing codes are the same for all states. Generally, you need to have an outlet every six feet. This is common in living rooms, bedrooms and dining rooms. I... Read >

Should I Attempt Electric Work on My Own?

From an electrician's point of view, no, you should never do the work yourself. From the standpoint of the building inspector, you can do the work yourself on your own premise as long as you follow all the electrical codes. Should you do the work yourself... Read >

What Size Service Should I Install in my Home?

The answer to this question is a minimum of 100 amps. This is the minimum service in homes. However, most of the new homes built today are going with 200 amps. With all the new electronics and electrical devices, homes can easily use a 200-amp service. By... Read >

What Causes Lights to Dim

There are many reasons why lights dim. The first reason could be that the lights are on a circuit with a larger appliance such as a refrigerator or air conditioner. When the appliance kicks in, the lights may dim because the appliance took a lot of power ... Read >

What is an AFCI?

The AFCI is an arc fault circuit interrupter breaker. These have to be installed in bedrooms that have twenty amp, fifteen amp, single phase and 125-volt outlets. This was required starting back in 2002 by the NEC. You may see more rooms in a home needing... Read >