Surge Protection
Electrical Overload and Surge Protection in Olympia, WA
Overloaded circuits happen for many reasons. If you’ve ever plugged in too many lights during the holidays, turned on your vacuum, or cranked up an appliance only to have the lights go out, you’ve experienced an overloaded circuit. These overloads can be dangerous, even deadly, causing millions of dollars in damages and injuries every year. A+ Services in Olympia, WA, can help you and your family stay safe and secure with overload and surge protection solutions that work. Our local company has the expertise to examine your unique home service panel and appliances, diagnose any issues with precise wattage measurements to give you insight, and properly manage your electricity to prevent dangerous circuit overloads. We take strange performance from electrical systems very seriously and can be there for you, day or night, before things get out of hand. Contact A+ Services for your personalized estimate and let us provide optimal electrical function for as long as you own your home.
What Are the Signs of an Electrical Circuit Overload?
Different circuits have different load ratings. Each circuit is unique in as much as it provides a specific amount of limited electricity to any appliance once it is running. That is why overloads are so dangerous to homeowners. When wires melt, electrical fires can break out, putting your family and property in jeopardy. Learning the signs of electrical overload not only saves you more time and money on repairs to your circuits and electrical systems, but it could also be the only thing standing between you and tragedy. A+ Services is here to help. Based on our experience, the most common signs of electrical circuit overload include:
- Tripped Breakers
- Power Outages
- Dimming Lights
- Buzzing Outlets & Switches
- Unusually Warm Devices
- Burning Odors from Outlets or Switches
- Scorched or Melted Plugs/Outlets
- Lack of Sufficient Power to Run Appliances or Tools
- Mild Shock from Appliances
What Is An Electrical Circuit Overload?
Residential electrical systems are designed to support typical household usage and only handle a certain limited amount of electricity at once. These circuits within your home’s main electrical panel are made up of wiring, circuit breakers, and devices (the appropriate number of appliances and fixtures plugged into outlets). When you plug in too many appliances or devices using power strips and other multi-outlet equipment on the same circuit, you add to the total load on that circuit. An overload happens when too much electrical current passes through the connected wires on the circuit. This overload will trip the breaker and shut off the power to the entire circuit and everything connected to it. If there were no breakers on the circuit, the overload would cause the wiring to overheat, melt the insulation, and start a fire.
Identify Safe Circuit Load Ratings
For starters, remember that the maximum load isn’t the ideal target for any circuit. For safety’s sake, it is best not to exceed 80% of the maximum rated load. If you discover that you are drawing more wattage from a circuit than the safe load number, you risk overloading the circuit.
Replace Your Lighting
Traditional incandescent lighting draws up to 90% more electricity than its modern LED counterpart. Consider replacing all the lighting in your home with LED or fluorescent (CFL) lighting for improved energy efficiency.
Install New Circuits
Installing new circuits is an excellent solution to prevent overload – especially for high-demand, frequently-used appliances such as power tools, home theatres, sound systems, and more. You will need the trained, certified electricians from A+ Services, as this process can be dangerous to the inexperienced and is not a DIY job. Our company can rewire your home setup, increase your wattage, and even out the usage on the main breaker to give you safe, reliable electrical function for years to come. Contact us to learn more about our services or to schedule your personalized estimate.
How Do I Prevent Electrical Circuit Overloads?
Fixing an overloaded circuit can be simple enough with the help of a keen eye, quick draw calculations, and a professional electrician from A+ Services to complete repairs. But there are also steps you can take to help you skip the repair costs and stress and prevent a circuit from overloading in the first place. Working with A+ Services, you can get the guidance you need for the most effective forms of overload prevention, including:
- Plugging Appliances Directly Into Outlets: Don’t use multi-outlet converters or extension cords or for appliances. Plug your appliances directly into your wall outlets when possible. Also, only plug one heat-producing receptacle into an outlet at once. It is important to remember that power strips only add to the number of outlets, not the amount of power received.
- Rearranging Your Appliances: When you stack multiple appliances in one outlet – espresso machines, toasters, and coffee pots, for example – they draw an enormous amount of electricity. You can minimize this draw by rearranging where they are plugged in or unplugging these high-demand appliances when not in use.
- Checking the Wires: Check to see that all the wires and cords are intact and insulated for whatever appliance is plugged in. Ensure that no copper wire is exposed, as it can heat up and cause a fire or electrical short if damaged.
- Identify Appliances with Motor Starting Surges: Overloaded circuits can be short-term or long-term. Many devices and appliances connected to your circuits have momentary or short-term overcurrents when they startup. These normal inrushes only last for a fraction of a second as their internal power supply and filter circuits start. Some appliances have motors that draw several times their current upon ignition and maintain that draw as part of their regular operation. This draw may be 50% more than the normal current and last for several minutes. Our company will be happy to help you identify these appliances in your home and how to operate them with minimized danger and draw.
- Having An Electrician In Your Home: When you have questions concerning your electrical work, need more outlets installed, or want to have your system upgrades, count on the professionals from A+ Services. We have the knowledge and hands-on experience necessary to solve your issues and give you invaluable preventative insight to optimize your electrical flow and function.
Replace Your Lighting
Traditional incandescent lighting draws up to 90% more electricity than its modern LED counterpart. Consider replacing all the lighting in your home with LED or fluorescent (CFL) lighting for improved energy efficiency.
Professional Circuit Overload Solutions
Planning solutions to fix circuit overloads and prevent them in the future requires a combination of careful observation, precise experimentation and measurement, and a reliable electrical service provider, at the ready, to step in and help. As a homeowner, there are many things you can do first to test your circuits, diagnose issues, and balance the draw of electrical current to optimize your system:
Contact A+ Services to Protect Your Electrical Circuits
Surges and overloaded circuits can damage your electrical system, cause fires, and put your home at risk. With knowledge, prevention, and assistance from A+ Services, you can safeguard your family and property from harm and ensure you have the electricity you need when it matters most. Contact our company today for more information concerning overload and surge protection or to schedule your personalized estimate.