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Upgrading Electrical Panel 

In a previous post, we took you inside and toured the anatomy of your home’s main electrical panel. This nifty devices controls the power distribution and electricity in your home. 

Upgrading electrical panel is not something we would ever recommend doing yourself. It’s risky and technical so hiring an electrician is the best way to go. 

Do You Still Have a Fuse Box?

Homes older than the 1960’s operated on fuse boxes instead of circuit breakers. Fuses burn out and have to be replaced, but circuit breakers just need to be switched back on. For safety and convenience, we would recommend upgrading your fuse box to a circuit breaker. 

How Old is your Home?

Homes that are 20 or 30 years old, typically have lower amperage capacity in their electrical panels. Most homes of this vintage support 60 or 100 amps versus today’s electrical panels which support an average of 200 amps which is more suitable for current lifestyles. 

Does your Panel Feel Warm?

A panel that feels warm to the touch may be overloaded and could use an upgrade. Ask your electrician for an expert opinion. 

Does your Panel Trip Often?

If your panel trips often or you hear a crackling noise, this typically means that you have more appliances or devices plugged into a circuit than it can support. This usually means it’s time for an upgrade. If your appliances are not running at capacity this could also be a sign that panels are outdated or overloaded. 

Are You Looking to Make Upgrades?

If you’re planning to upgrade your appliances, you may want to check if your current electrical panel can support them. If you find yourself using power strips a lot, you may want to add new outlets to your home. In this case, you will also want to consult your electrician if your panel is due for an upgrade. 

Upgrading Electrical Panel Cost

Electrical projects are not usually suitable even for the savviest of DIY-ers. You should hire an electrician to do this kind of work. 

The cost of upgrading electrical panel, like any contracting project, will vary. This typically depends on the current state of the panel, the age of the home and how many panels require upgrading. According to HomeGuide, the average cost typically ranges between $850 to $3,000. Permits for this kind of project is a requirement. At Wire Craft, we can take care of this for you, but it will be a component of the overall cost of the upgrade.

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How does an Electrical Panel Work? 

Most of us refer to our home’s main electrical panel as the breaker box. This is because it breaks the circuit which is required to do electrical work. However, it’s technically referred to as the load center. 

Main Electrical Panel Overview

The main panel functions like a switchboard for the entire home. Essentially, it takes the power coming from the main utility and directs it toward each of the circuits powering appliances, lights and other devices in the home. 

Most homes function with one main electrical panel, but others will have sub-panels that are used to power specific areas like an addition or a detached garage. 

Circuit Breaker Switches

Open the door of the electrical panel and inside you will see a series of switches for each circuit breaker. Each circuit breaker has an on and off position that allows you to manually control the power to the circuit. 

When a circuit in an overloading state, the switch moves to a neutral third position between on and off. This is a good thing and is designed to fail safely to prevent fires. 

Each switch should have a label that is clearly depicting which area or appliance it has a connection with.

Older homes predating the 1960’s may have fuses versus circuit breakers. 

Beneath the Dead Front Cover

Most homeowners never go below the layer of the electrical panel where the circuit breaker location switches are. The cover where the switches are is the dead front cover. This is typically held in place typically by a screw in each corner. 

To upgrade the electrical panel, an electrician first turns off the power to the main circuit breaker, then removes the dead front cover. 

The location of the main circuit breaker is typically at the top of the panel. It takes the power incoming from the utility and feeds the branch circuit breakers controlling individual circuits. The main circuit breaker also determines the total amperage capacity of the panel. The standard for newer panel is 200 amps. 

Bus Bars

A bus bar is a metallic strip or bar, housing inside the panel for local high current power distribution. The service wires from the main circuit breaker feed two hot bus bars in the panel. The circuit breakers snap into place onto the bus bars to provide power to the circuits. 

Once power leaves the circuit breaker, provides power to your appliances, lights, etc. it comes back into the breaker via the neutral wire connecting to a neutral bus bar.

If you need help with your electrical panel, you can request a service from us at Wire Craft electric. We are just one message away.

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Decoding Electrician Estimates 

Electricity is the lifeblood of the home that most of us take for granted. That’s why decoding electrical estimate is important as electrical work has high specialization. Take note that homeowners rely on electricians often.

Always remember that it is important to know what to look for especially when decoding electrical estimates. You have to understand how they are constructed. 

At Wire Craft, we pride ourselves on Straight Forward Pricing. You can approve the cost before we start any project. 

Tips on Decoding Electrician Estimates

Evaluate the Job in Person

The most accurate estimates are done in person. While it may be convenient to obtain an estimate over the phone while describing the problem, electrical work can be very technical and it’s best to have an electrician come to your home to evaluate the problem in person. Then, they can obtain a better understanding of what the job entails. 

Project Summary

The evaluation should start with a project summary detailing the overview of the project. This provides a clear understanding of what the project requires, what the end result should be and what the customer is paying for. A project summary helps avoid miscommunication between the contractor and the client. 

Project Costs

The body of the estimate lists the project cost line items. Budgeting accurately protects the contractor as well as keeps the customer happy. The more detailed the project costs, the more transparency the contract provides the customer. 

Primary project costs include but has no limit to labor, time, materials and permits. 

Labor Costs

Labor costs will depend on the experience level of the individuals working the project. Moreover, many electrical projects require highly skilled labor, so this is typically the most expensive portion of the estimate. 

Materials 

The estimate should include the materials required for the project. If the client has already purchased some of the materials, the estimate should highlight that as well. 

Permits 

Depending on the project, you may require permits to do the work. These often have some associated costs. In a previous post, we discuss the process of obtaining permits and common projects that require permits in Seattle. Lastly, a permit for electrical work will also require inspections that sometimes incur minor costs. 

Well written, clear estimates set great electricians apart from the beginning. It establishes trust with the customer and lays the foundation for a strong working relationship.

If you need more ideas about how estimates works in the field, you can reach out to us at Wire Craft. We are willing to help you understand more of the estimates factors.

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The Basics of Running Solar in Your Home

Going solar is both socially responsible and economically beneficial. Solar home has the potential for long term energy savings and federal tax credits. It’s no wonder so many households in Washington are going solar. Even in our relatively cloudy state, solar panels still harness a considerable amount of energy. 

At Wire Craft, we are not installers but can help our customers navigate, upgrade and maintain electrical work required to support home solar systems.

In this post we will cover the basics of running solar in your home so you can take advantage of one of Earth’s most powerful resources! 

Paying for Solar

Installing solar panels is a big investment. This is usually the first hurdle homeowners need to figure out. There are multiple ways of going about it in Washington state such as loans, leases and power-purchase agreements. 

Find out what option works best for you with Solar Power Rocks payment tool

Another way to help with the cost is the big incentive most people can get is the Federal Solar Tax Credit that earns you 30% of your costs back after just 1 year.

Bid your Solar Home Project

You will want to bid out your solar installation project to multiple companies to ensure you’re getting a competitive rate. When researching installers, be sure to look for companies with quality and insurance. Of course with the proper certification—the solar industry standard certification is from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners.

Make sure company familiar with local permitting and interconnection processes. You will also want to ask if they can refer you to other local customers you can contact for their feedback. 

Solar Installation

There are five major steps for solar panel installations after you sign the contract: 

  1. Engineering site visit
  2. Permits and documentation
  3. Ordering equipment
  4. Solar panel installation
  5. Approval and interconnection

 

During the engineering site visit, the engineer will look at your electrical panel to see if you’ll need to upgrade it. If they determine they need to upgrade the electrical panel, that means that your new solar panels will require more amps and the ampere capacity of your electrical box will need to increase. This is something we can assist with. 

On the site visit, the installer will also help you decide on the right size system for your home. They consider four primary factors: solar resources and available sunlight, system orientation and tilt, system efficiency at converting sunlight to electricity as well as other potential utility sources such as wind energy. 

Enhance your Solar Home System with the Tesla Powerwall

The Tesla Powerwall is a self-power home. It combines solar energy and Powerwall to power your home day and night independent. 

Powerwall makes up for some of the shortcomings of solar panel technology. During the day, solar panels may produce more energy than your home uses. Powerwall stores that excess solar energy and makes it available on demand, even after the sun has set.

You can determine the number of Powerwall units required for your home along with estimated costs using the Powerwall calculator

If you need more idea about any solar home, feel free to reach out to Wire Craft and we are willing to help you out.

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How To Get Your Electrical Work Approved in Seattle

In a previous post we explained how to get your electrical work approved in Shoreline. In this post we’ll dive into getting electrical work approved in Washington’s largest city; Seattle.

Determine if you Need a Permit

First you want to determine if you need a permit for your project. The City of Seattle publishes a list of common projects that require permits.

In the City of Seattle you need an electrical permit any time electrical wiring is installed, altered, extended, or connected to any electrical equipment, including signs. You may not need a permit for some residential or minimally-sized low-voltage systems. Special events, such as street fairs, that have temporary power installations do require an electrical permit.

For requirements on low voltage projects, be sure to review this checklist.

Request a Permit

For low voltage projects, you can apply directly online using this link.

You can also call (206) 684-8464 with any permit questions you may have.

Request an Inspection

You can schedule your inspection to get your permit request approval via this link.

Most electrical permits require three inspections: cover, service, and final.

Cover inspection:

Conduction of this inspection starts after all new circuits have wires (boxes installation, wires run, grounding conduction, nail plates installation). Cover inspections also include underground installations.Don’t cover your work with insulation, receptacles, or wall switches until the inspector has approved it. Don’t cover trenches, ditches, or slabs until the inspector has approved them.

Service and feeder inspection:

Conduction of this inspection starts after the installation of service electrical mast, meter base, service panels, grounding electrode conductors, and branch circuits (if possible).

Final inspections:

This inspection is possible upon electrical work completion. Make sure panel boxes have covers, circuits have labels in the right spaces on the box, and all cover plates are in place. You must have all equipment and appliances installed, grounded, and energized for final inspection.

A permit may not have approval if the inspector could not get on site, if the work is not yet complete or if there are code violations. When the city has to do more than one re-inspection, they may charge an additional fee.

You can access inspection results at the services portal.

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How to get your electrical work approved in Shoreline (Washington)

How to get your electrical work approved?

Any form of electrical work carries some risk because so much responsibilities for the professionals.

Local governments regulate and strictly monitor any electrical work and projects because all electrical works requires comprehensive inspections.

These inspections ensure that a proposal as built conforms to the approved plans and minimum code requirements.

This is a must-know for you and all the electrician out there because at some point you will need electrical repairs.

In this post we will highlight the steps required to get your electrical work approved in Shoreline, WA. 

Fill Out the Application Packet

Installation, alteration, and renovations to electrical systems in Shoreline, needs an approval packet in order to obtain a permit.

Each packet contains different requirements depending on if you are working on a commercial or residential project. Another thing is if you are the owner of the property or a contractor. 

For residential electrical permit submittal packet, a Department of Labor and Industries Permit Application must fill-out. Moreover, submit it along with the appropriate fees per schedule on the application. 

If you are the property owner, you have to complete this permit application form and have project inspection because it is a requirement.

Schedule an Inspection

The city of Shoreline allows you to schedule your inspection online for your convenience. Shoreline offers three methods to schedule inspections (online, by phone or by QR code). 

WA State Dept of Labor & Industries conduct all electrical inspections for the City of Shoreline.

After the inspection, the inspector will notify the permit holder or agent of any corrections necessary for code compliance. Any portions that are not complete must be correct.  Re-inspections may be subject to a minimum hourly charge of $199. 

If you need help with any inspection or other electrical approval concerns, we can help. Reach out to Wire Craft Electric now for more information that you need.

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What Our Seattle Electricians Do

Electricians do make the image as the superheroes of power because they help us keep the lights on! But what is that they specifically do?

Essentially, electricians install and maintain all electrical power systems. Electricians generally focus on installation or maintenance however at Wire Craft Electric, we happen to do both. 

There are four primary types of electricians:

  • Residential wire men
  • Inside wire men
  • Telecommunications electricians
  • Outside linemen. 

 

Our highly experienced and trained electricians cover a broad domain of electrical work. These are just some of the primary jobs they cover.

Troubleshooting 

Our electricians troubleshoot electrical issues and electric heat problems. You can count on Wire Craft to help troubleshoot nearly all home electrical issues.

Troubleshooting is an important service to outsource to the experts because it can present dangers to people who are untrained in electrical work. 

Repairs 

Repairs are one of our most common requests as electricians. Wire Craft’s highly trained electricians are often called to repair electrical systems such as faulty outlets, switches, circuits and circuit breakers.

It’s important to hire the experts instead of attempting to repair faulty or broken electrical systems. 

Installation

Electricians also can install new electrical systems in homes. At Wire Craft, our electricians are often called upon to install new electrical circuits, new lights, outlets and switches. 

Upgrading 

Electrical systems often require upgrading . It is important to upgrade systems for safety reasons and to make sure you are in compliance with current codes. Our electricians upgrade electrical panels, meters and systems. 

The engineer who conducts the site visit may determine if your electrical panel requires updating, for instance when installing solar panels.

This means that your new solar panels will require more amps and the ampere capacity of your electrical box will need to increase. This is something we can help you with. 

Rewiring 

Rewiring a house or rewiring faulty circuits is an important and potentially dangerous task. It’s important to rely on expert opinions.

Likewise, for any home over 50 years old, you will want an electrician to inspect the electrical systems. This is because you need to see if it requires rewiring.

This is something our electricians can assist with in addition to the initial service. 

Wire Craft Electricians Do Efficient Tasks for Best Results

In conclusion, if you need further help, you can Call Wire Craft today.

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How to install an electric tankless hot water heater

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How To Make Your Switches and Sockets More Stylish

Who says electrical components such as sockets and switches can’t be chic and stylish? In this article, get to know some tips on how to beautify your home electrical system while still maintaining its efficiency and safety.

Tips For Fashionable Switches-Sockets

Most people fail to notice how light switches-sockets look, since they’re merely tools to activate electricity into fixtures and appliances connected to them. However, it won’t hurt to try making them attractive or in tune with your home design.

Here are some style tips related to these electrical accessories:

Kind of materials

Are you aware that light switches don’t just come in plastic? Some switches and electrical sockets are made of glass, aluminum, steel, brass, and marble. Aside from their function, these electrical components may be built from a unique material that already brings a welcome aesthetic.

Functionality

Apart from rocket switches that come with only two settings (on and off), you may opt for dimmers. This kind of switch customizes the amount of light that the lamp emits, based on the setting of the rotating knob.

Another ingenious and modern way to upgrade lighting fixtures is through the use of motion sensors. In some facilities, the light will automatically turn on when the sensors detect movement. This is perfect for convenience (wherein you don’t want to touch a switch anymore) or security (in which an outdoor spotlight is active or turns on when someone sneaks into your compound).

In addition, due to the rise in popularity of mobile devices, why not install a USB charging port inside your home? Wall-mounted USB ports are extremely helpful, especially when you can’t find the charger adapter.

Patterns

You may also choose to add some patterns and colors onto your existing sockets and switches. Some electrical stores sell patterned casings for light switches. You may also make your own pattern by painting near the electrical socket.

Combination

Some manufacturers have already produced panels that combine switches-sockets. If you find this kind of orientation useful, visit your local store and ask about this kind of product.

Final Word

As with any action or process, function is always more important than form. While fashioning your electrical switches to make them look good, don’t miss out on checking for safety. Make sure that the electrical fashion pieces have been have approve seal

If you need help in assessing the safety of your home electrical system, give us a call at Wire Craft Electric. Our skilled electrical professionals will evaluate your home and give you expert advice on what to do.

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Water and Electricity: Is it a Dangerous Combination?

Time and again, we at Wire Craft Electric have been consistent in warning our clients – and you, our beloved followers – against exposing electrical components to moisture. This is especially critical in moisture-prone areas such as the kitchen, bathroom, and the outdoors. But have you stopped to think why water and electricity don’t go well together?

The Science of Water

In its purest form, water is an electrical insulator. Meaning, it shouldn’t be able to conduct electricity or allow current to flow through it.

The danger lies with the components dissolved in water, specifically the ions in it. Although pure water doesn’t conduct electricity, this form of water doesn’t come naturally. In fact, most of the water that we come into contact with – tap water, bottled drinking water, or rain water – contain ions from varying sources.

Ions are particles that are electrically charged in their natural state and are good conductors of electricity. These particles turn the inert water into a natural electrolyte that allows current to pass through in the presence of an electric voltage.

Pure or distilled water does not contain ions, and so it won’t conduct electricity.

Avoid Combining Water and Electricity

You can be sure that you’re using distilled. Sweat from your skin, suspended particulates from the air, or dirt from the container’s surface can contaminate it. The best safety tip is to keep water and electrical components away from each other.

Safety Tips to Avoid Water-Electricity Contact

Make sure to implement these safety precautions to prevent any potential contact between moisture and your home electrical system:

  • Keep hands dry when handling electrical wires and plugs. You don’t want to become a human electrical conductor, do you?
  • Unplug electrical appliances when not in use. This is especially critical in moisture-prone areas – say, a hair dryer inside your bathroom or an induction cooker beside the kitchen sink.
  • Keep electrical devices and extension cords away from water puddles or running water sources.
  • Hire a professional electrical contractor to install electrical connections in swimming pools or bathrooms.
  • Use battery-operated appliances instead of electricity-driven devices for areas near water sources.

Final Word

If you want to be absolutely sure about the electrical safety in your home, give us a call at Wire Craft Electric. Our professional electrical personnel can perform a comprehensive electrical safety audit to identify risks and address them before they become worse.

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