DASH ELECTRIC 11219 Yucca Dr, Riverside, CA 92505, United States (951) 421-0300
Electrical outlets are probably something you take for granted. You plug a few things into them and they work just fine, right? Well, it's a lot more complicated than that.
The truth is that electrical outlets can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. If your outlet is faulty or installed improperly, then it could cause a fire or electrocution. That's why it's important to hire professionals like us at Dash Electric—we've been in the business for years now and we've always provided affordable electrical services to our clients. We are proud to say that not only do we premium quality service but we also guide our clients when it comes to this type of service.
We’re not just your standard electricians, we’re the professionals that all of Riverside can trust. We are licensed, insured, and we do whatever it takes to keep your lights running smoothly or help you with urgent repairs—because we know how important that is for you.
There are plenty of misconceptions about how an electrical outlet works and why you need a professional to have one installed for you. Today, we'll discuss these topics to provide you with insights into how electrical outlets work.
An electrical outlet is a receptacle where you plug in an electrical device to power up that said device. These outlets can come with one, two, or three receptacles or slots to power up one, two, or three devices/appliances. Now there are many different outlets that are used in the United States of America such as:
There are more types of outlets you can choose from but the real question is, can you install one by yourself?
Wiring an electrical outlet by yourself may seem easy to do but it is not. There are lots of questions that you need to answer first before doing any wiring. Do you know the circuit layout of your home? Do you have some basic tools to make the job easier for you? Do you have existing hardware and circuits at your home? Do you have knowledge of wiring electrical outlets? If you answered yes, then you're good to go! But if not, then contact an electrician for their advice or have them do it for you. Wiring can be a tricky job and one wrong move can cause a lot of problems that nobody wants to deal with.
Now when you've already installed an electrical outlet or had an electrical outlet installation service by an electrician, you probably want to know how many watts can an outlet handle.
You can determine this by using Ohm's Law to calculate the capacity of those circuits. By multiplying the amperage by the voltage to calculate the wattage capacity, you'll know how much your outlets can handle. For example, a 15- or 20-amp circuit running on 120 volts of electricity equals 1,800 watts or a 20-amp circuit running on 120 volts equals 2,400 watts.
Now you can do this by yourself or ask an electrician to determine this for you as plugging too many devices in one circuit or outlet can cause an electrical circuit overload. What is an electrical circuit overload?
If you have too many devices plugged into one outlet, they will all compete with each other for electrical power. This means that they could use more current than what the circuit or outlet is capable of safely supplying, which may cause them not only to overheat but also trip breakers and shut off the power.
Now when it comes to breakers tripping and shutting off the power, another question arises which is "Can one bad outlet affect others?" and yes, they do. This is especially true for older homes where electricity was not much needed and have the electrical outlets in a single location connected to a single circuit breaker.
If one outlet is going bad in an old home, it can cause the other outlets in that room to stop working as it will definitely trip the breaker. Having an electrician rewire the old home and opt for an electrical outlet installation service to replace old ones is recommended.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, over 46,700 home fires are caused by electrical failures each year from 2015 to 2019. Causing 390 civilian deaths, 1,330 injuries, and $1.5 billion in direct property damage a year. Overloaded electrical circuits are a big factor and a major cause of these residential fires. How do you know if an electrical circuit is overloading?
If you've noticed these signs, it's best to call upon an electrician to inspect and fix the problem. Usually, they will provide you with a detailed solution and also provide an electrical outlet installation service to replace your outlets with better ones. Now, there are also other solutions you can take to prevent this from ever happening again and these are:
Increase Outlets - Increasing outlets within a room can be a complicated process and should not be done by yourself. If you opt to have an electrician provide an electrical outlet installation service, they can tell you how many outlets are required in any given room and exactly how to install them correctly.
Reduce Lighting Load - You can reduce lighting load by replacing incandescent or halogen lights with energy-efficient LED lights or fluorescent bulbs. These bulbs can reduce electric bills and help you save money. Energy-efficient LED lights or fluorescent bulbs can be a great way to reduce your electric bill, as well as help prevent overloading the circuits.
Know Your Outlet Capacity - Determine the correct amperage of fuses and circuit breakers in your house. If you don't want to take on this responsibility, hire an electrician to determine which outlets are best for small appliances—like coffee makers or hair dryers—and heavy-duty ones like air conditioners or space heaters.
Electrical problems can be frightening and dangerous. When you overload an electrical outlet, the risk of fires and other safety hazards goes up. If you’re worried about this issue, call Dash Electric right away to inspect your outlets and prevent future issues. We’re happy to help!
Now that you know all there is to know about electrical outlets, it’s time to get started on your projects! Remember, if you’re ever feeling overwhelmed or unsafe, stop what you’re doing and call a professional. If you live in Riverside CA, then Dash Electric is the company for you! Here at Dash Electric, we would be more than happy to help with any and all of your electrical needs - big or small.
Dash Electric is always available 24/7 for emergencies, so don’t hesitate to give us a call. And when it comes to electrical outlet installations specifically, we promise to leave the job neat and tidy so that you can focus on enjoying your new outlets worry-free.
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