- Electrical Cables
There are either 2, 3, or 4 cables connecting the utility pole
outside of your building to the electrical system within. All
trees and hedges running over these wires should be pruned and
maintained, to keep them from falling onto the wires and starting
fires. The tree branches can also wear away the protective outer
shielding on any wires, which is particularly dangerous when they
are within reach of an upstairs porch.
- Two Wire Electrical Systems
If your building is connected to its utility pole with two wires, you
should update. Two wire
systems are both outdated and inefficient, and can only provide you
with 110 volt power, instead of the 110/220 provided by 3 wire
systems. The two wire system is considered inadequate for any
modern home, let alone a business structure.
- Three Wire Electrical Systems
When there are three wires connecting your building to its power
source, you have both 110 and 220 volt power supplies. This is the
standard residential/commercial electrical connection.
- Four Wire Electrical Systems
Four wire electrical systems provide both 110 and 220 volt power and are usually used in
industrial areas or for buildings with heavier than average
electrical needs, such as power-heavy businesses.
- Electrical Capacity
Many older structures have 30 to 60 amperes of power at 110/220
volts. While some may say that they find this acceptable, any
electrical system powered by less than 60 amps at 110/220 volts is
insufficient to run major electrical appliances, and as such would
need to be replaced or renovated before installing and running any
major appliances. Modern appliances also use up many watts of power.
For example, a central air conditioner uses up approximately 6000
watts of power alone. Below is a chart of acceptable amperage and
wattages :
|
amps |
volts |
watts |
evaluation |
| 30 |
110
v |
3300 |
inadequate |
| 30 |
110/220 v |
6600 |
inadequate |
| 60 |
110
v |
6600 |
inadequate |
| 60 |
110/220 v |
13,200 |
marginal (adequate for small houses without any
major appliances) |
| 100 |
110/220 v |
22,000 |
minimum |
| 150 |
110/220 v |
33,000 |
good |
| 200 |
110/220 v |
44,000 |
very good |
- Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Your Panel Box contains either fuses or circuit breakers to protect
each individual power branch in your building from overloading. Once a
circuit breaker has been tripped, it needs to be reset by hand,
whereas a blown fuse must be completely replaced. Circuit breakers,
however, are not as reliable as fuses, and can get stuck in the ON
position. As such, they must be periodically tripped to ensure
correct function. Fuses, which are generally cheap, merely need to
be replaced whenever blown.
- Grounding
Electrical systems must always be grounded as a safety precaution.
An inspector can make sure that the system is correctly grounded,
because all too many structures have insecure grounding, which is both a
fire and electrical hazard. The inlet pipe upon which the system is
grounded must also extend at least 8 feet into the ground to provide
correct grounding.
- Electrical Outlets
Every electrical outlet in your building should be periodically
inspected for correct function and grounding. Outlets should not be
overloaded, and extension cords should always carry at least the
amperage (usually 20 and up) of the outlet into which they are
plugged.
- Knob and Tube Wiring
Knob and tube wiring is an obsolete method of carrying power still
in use in many older buildings. This form of wiring should be checked
for wear, as well as proper insulation throughout the house. Many
older structures still have live non-insulated knob-and tube wiring
in attics and basements, which is both a fire hazard and unsafe. All modifications made to a knob and tube
system should be done by a licensed electrician. This form of wiring
should only be used with those appliances that do not need
grounding.
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