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What Types Of Generators Are There?

March 27, 2024 by conductive

A home generator is of utmost importance for most consumers, especially for those who live in areas where power outages are frustratingly common.

Whenever the power goes out, your household appliances stop working, your food goes bad, and the entire home is basically left in the dark, which is both frightening and dangerous.

If you have decided to invest in a generator for home use, then you should know that there are two main types to consider: portable and standby ones.

A Brief Overview Of The Standby Generators

A Standby Generator

As the name implies, these are stationary units that are usually very heavy, thus being installed in only one place where they can be easily accessed.

These can be easily turned on with the touch of a button, and they are often used not only for residential purposes, but for commercial and industrial purposes as well.

These units also split into two main categories: the select circuit home generators, which are designed to provide electricity solely to the appliances you select (typically the most important ones, such as your refrigerator or your TV) and they are often the most common choice as they allow you to save money, and whole house generators.

The latter are typically more expensive but they are designed to provide electricity to the entire home, and it can power several heavy-duty appliances at a time. It is not uncommon for a high-quality whole house stationary unit to deliver 45 kilowatts of energy or even more.

A Closer Look At The Portable Home Generators

A Portable Gas Generator

These types have become increasingly popular over the past few years, and for a good reason: They are cost-effective, lightweight and portable, and can be easily carried wherever they are needed.

Their only downside is that they can typically power one, or at maximum two appliances at a time. Portable gas units are by far the most sought-after type, given the fact that they affordable to buy and to run in the long haul.

On the other hand, diesel run generators are popular as well given the fact that they are very reliable, they are low-maintenance and they are typically 50% less expensive as opposed to the above-mentioned machines.

Last, but not least, portable propane generators are known to use the cleanest type of fuel of all, they vary in terms of size and design, they are cost-effective and very quiet.

As will all electrical devices and projects, it is important to practice good electrical safety. Never run a portable generator indoors where carbon monoxide can pose a risk to your family and pets.

Conductive Electrical Contracting installs home backup generators. Call today to find out more about your options when it comes to having backup power to your home when the electricity goes out. Call 302-319-4061 or request an estimate here.

Installing Flood Lights with Motion Sensors

February 27, 2024 by conductive

Installing motion sensor outdoor lighting is one of the most effective ways of enhancing the security and safety of your residential home or business.

Unlike traditional lights, motion sensor lights will turn on automatically upon detecting motion, and turn off automatically after a short period of time after no movement is detected.

Benefits

Increases Security

Motion sensor flood lights increase security lighting and safety in and around your home and are a good deterrent against would-be burglars, who may be startled by the abrupt illumination and may believe someone inside the home or property turned on the lights.

Intruders will keep off your property at night because the last thing they want is to be revealed. In essence, this lighting will effectively boost your home security without need for costly alarm systems.

Furthermore, when arriving home after dark, the motion lighting will conveniently turn the darkness into a welcoming area while lighting up your driveway, pathway, or front door.

With this brief illumination, you’ll be able to find your house keys, unlock the door and enter your home faster.

Energy Efficient

Motion lights help save on the energy costs since they don’t run all-night long. They will only turn on upon detecting motion in the sensor range and turn off after a short period of time.

Better yet, the motion sensor automatically deactivates during the daytime hours to prevent the flood lights from turning on even upon detecting movement in sunlight.

Moreover, the frequency of bulbs that burn out in motion lighting is lower than in conventional lighting.

Installation Tips.

When installing motion sensor outdoor lights, be sure to cover all angles of approach to your home or property for ultimate security.

Use these lights in combination with fences around your backyard to effectively deter undesirable activity. Areas around your home that only need light when someone is present are ideal for motion lighting.

Motion sensor lights are energy efficient, offer great value and add protection to both residential homes and businesses. To receive these benefits, replace existing flood lights with motion flood lights.

Contact Conductive Electrical Contracting, click here for more information.

Filed Under: Common Projects Tagged With: flood lights, motion sensor lights

Why Isn’t My Electrical Outlet Working?

January 30, 2024 by conductive

Troubleshooting dead electrical outlets in your home is one of the things that you need to know how to do yourself.

A dead electrical outlet can be a common problem in the home, and by troubleshooting you will be able to know whether or not you need to fix it by yourself and save your money, or if you will have to call an electrician to fix it.

Test the outlet with a few things first.

If you troubleshoot and discover that the cause is more complicated than you can handle yourself, contacting Conductive Electrical Contracting will be necessary. Trying to fix a complex electrical problem by yourself may lead to more problems and cost you more money in the long run.

Dead electrical outlets can be caused by various complications, such as tripped circuit breakers, faulty receptacles, or blown fuses.

After you go through the proper troubleshooting steps and you discover that the problem needs the attention of the experts, it is necessary for you to call a trusted electrical contractor who will respond to your call quickly so you can avoid having more problems.

Here are some tips on troubleshooting dead electrical outlets:

1. Check the Functioning of the Circuit Breaker

On a circuit breaker, there are many things that can happen that can lead to a dead electrical outlet. Some of the things you need to check on include checking whether the circuit has tripped or if there is a fuse that has blown.

You may have an older circuit panel or fuse box. If you find that there is a blown fuse, it will be very easy for you to fix the problem. All you will have to do is simply replace the fuse.

It is easy to figure out whether or not the fuse is blown by inspecting it. Most blown fuses will resist passage of current through them, so you can be sure about the integrity of a fuse by measuring the continuity using a voltmeter.

If you have a more modern circuit panel, you will have circuit breakers instead of fuses. If the circuit breaker has tripped, just reset it. Turning it on should solve the problem.

2. Check on How Plugs Fit Into the Sockets

When a device is plugged into an electrical outlet it should fit and stay in place. If you plug something into the outlet and it fails to fit, then the cause of the dead electrical circuit can be the outlet.

If a plugged in appliance or device does not stay in place, then the receptacle may have worn out. The best way to fix this problem is to buy a new outlet and repair it.

Don’t know how to replace an outlet? Here’s how.

There are different types of electrical outlets available on the market, so it is necessary for you to look for reliable outlets in order to avoid repeat problems.

A discolored or scorched outlet means the outlet may be the issue.

3. Plug a Lamp Into Each of the Outlets to See if They Are Functioning

If you suspect several electrical outlets in your home are faulty or dead, then you will need to inspect them for signs of fault. For example, a bad outlet can become discolored or scorched because of the failure.

Sometimes you can suspect the outlets are faulty because they will become too hot when functioning.

In this case, you need to know exactly which socket is having problems. To find out, plug a lamp into each of the outlets and note those that are functioning properly and those that will fail to light the lamp.

If several outlets show signs of wearing out, then replacing all of them at once may be appropriate so you can avoid them all failing one after the other and causing you more hassle in the long run.

4. Check the Outlets With Different Devices

It can be difficult to know exactly whether its the outlet that is broken rather than the device you are using to test the outlet.

The best thing to do is to use a few different devices to check your outlets to avoid false results.

Call Conductive Electrical Contracting of Wilmington

Really the best course of action if you suspect faulty outlets is to call a qualified electrician like Conductive Electrical Contracting of Wilmington. Conductive serves the entire state of Delaware and some surrounding areas in PA and Maryland. Repairing electrical outlets is not a job for just anyone. It takes expertise to avoid electrical shock or other complications.

Conductive Electric provides services to residents and businesses in Wilmington, Newark, Dover and other areas of Delaware.

We provide a full range of electrical repairs from swimming pool wiring to electric panel upgrades.

Call Today: 302-319-4061

Filed Under: General Tips Tagged With: how to troubleshoot an electrical outlet, troubleshooting dead outlets

Coupons

December 26, 2023 by conductive

Save on Professional Electrician Services

Typical savings that we offer at different times of the year include the following:

Ceiling fan specials (fall & winter)
Attic fans specials (fall & winter)
Whole house exhaust fan specials (fall & winter)
Service upgrades when mentioning coupon location (spring and summer)
discounted flat rate pricing (ALL YEAR!)

Right now you can save $25 off of any Electrical Service of $175 or more.

We are also offering a $100 discount on Any Service Panel Upgrade.

See our Specials page to view your instant coupons.

Filed Under: Specialties Tagged With: electrical coupons, electrician coupons

Electrical Safety Tips for the Holidays

November 28, 2023 by conductive

The holiday season is upon us once again, this is a time when many people decorate their home for the holidays. Some families start decorating at Halloween and change their decorations for every holiday through New Year’s Eve. The key is to be safety conscious when decorating your home because no one wants the holidays to end in a disastrous accident.

The following 10 holiday electrical safety tips will help you keep your family safe through the holiday season.

Inspect Everything
Before using any holiday decoration, ensure that you inspect it closely. You will be looking for missing or broken bulbs, plugs, or sockets that are cracked or damaged, wires that are loose or bare, and any other type of damage. You will also want to inspect any extension cords that you use to connect holiday decorations. Remember, your holiday decorations have been in storage for the last year, holiday decorations can deteriorate or become damaged while they are in storage.
Do not Overload Electrical Outlets
One of the biggest and most dangerous mistakes that people make when decorating their homes for the holidays is to overload electrical outlets. Be sure not to overload your outlets, this is one of the number one causes of fires during the holidays. Ensure that you only plug one high wattage appliance into each outlet. It is also a good idea to use extension cords or power strips with circuit breakers installed as another level of safety.
Incandescent Lights
Incandescent lights are not commonly used for holiday decorations nowadays, but some people still love the look of the larger, brighter bulbs. If you use incandescent lights when decorating your home for the holidays do not connect more than 3 strings of these lights together. The reason for this is that incandescent bulbs require more wattage than modern LED lights, so when you connect more than 3 strings of incandescent lights in sequence you could blow a fuse or trip a breaker. This could lead to a fire.
The Christmas Tree
If you still have a live Christmas tree because of the look and smell do not let the tree dry out. Once a Christmas tree is cut, it can dry out quickly, water your tree every day to keep it as fresh as possible, and do not have it in the house for an extended period. Dried our Christmas trees are another of the top fire causing hazards in homes during the holiday season.
Candles
Most people love the look and scent of candles burning in their home during the holidays, but it is much safer to use battery-operated candles when possible. Unattended candles cause more than half of all holiday fires. If you must burn candles for your holiday celebrations, do so with caution. Never allow them to burn unattended and ensure that all candles are out when you go to bed.
Keep Clearance Around Heat Sources
If you are burning a fireplace, operating an electric or kerosene space heater, or using some other source of heat ensure that all combustible materials are at least 3 feet from the heat source. Combustibles include furniture, curtains, gifts with wrapping paper, the Christmas tree, and anything else that can catch fire easily and burn quickly. Again, many holiday fires are caused when combustible objects are left too close to a heat source.
Protect Cords from Damage
When you are installing your holiday decorations think about where the cords will be when you are done. Ensure electrical and extension cords are protected from being damaged. Make sure that they are not pinched by furniture, make sure that will not be hit by the vacuum, if used outdoors do not leave cords lying across driveways or walkways, and make sure all connections are watertight. Another thing to watch for is to make sure that closing doors or windows will not damage electrical cords, and keep them at least 3 feet from any heat sources.
Check all Decorations for Certification
Before you install your decorations look for a label that states the decoration has been inspected by an independent testing laboratory. Some of the most common labels you should be looking for are the UL tag for Underwriters Laboratories, the CSA tag that means the device was tested by the Canadian Standards Association, or the ETL tag which is from Intertek. If you cannot find any of these tags on the decorations you are using then do not use them. If the decorations are not tagged then they have not been inspected for safety and could be hazardous.
Stay in the Kitchen while Cooking
This safety rule applies all year around. When you are cooking holiday meals and snacks stay in the kitchen. Pans can boil over quickly, unattended cooking equipment can malfunction, and many other things can happen in a short amount of time leading to a fire. Make sure that someone is in the kitchen any time meals are being cooked, especially holiday meals which are normally bigger and require more equipment operating at the same time.
Bedtime
The last person that goes to bed at night should make sure that all decorations are turned off, unplugged, and extinguished. Unattended holiday decorations result in many home fires during the holiday season.

Bonus Safety Tip
The last tip is that if you have any questions or concerns about safely installing holiday decorations requiring electricity you should seek the advice of a local electrician like Conductive Electrical Contracting with a thorough knowledge of regulations set forth by the National Electric Safety board.

Filed Under: General Tips Tagged With: electrical safety tips

Static Electricity in the Home

October 24, 2023 by conductive

Reducing Static Electricity in the Home

While not directly related to the wires, light sources, or power outlets in your home, static electricity is often a topic of great debate – especially during the fall and winter months.

Believe it or not, advances in the way homes are built have actually caused static electricity to become a more widespread problem. While your electrician really can’t do much to prevent static electricity from building up in your home, most will be able to give you some guidance on how to minimize its effects.

What Causes Static Electricity?

Several different factors can contribute to the development of static electricity. Some of the most common include the materials on the soles of your shoes, the way you walk, the type of fiber used to make your carpet, and even the materials laid beneath your carpeted floors.

Whether your carpet is clean or dirty makes a difference, as does the level of moisture found in the atmosphere of your home.

It is the degree of moisture (aka humidity) in the air that is most likely to impact static buildup. A humid environment will cause moisture to build up in the carpet fibers, lessening the likelihood of a static shock. The drier your environment, the easier it is to create a static buildup.

Avoiding Static Shock

Unfortunately, humidity is something your electrician cannot control. Back in the day, people would place pans of water near their heaters or on their stove in the hopes that the water would dissipate and add moisture to the environment.

More traditional methods for controlling static shock include spraying your carpets with a special anti-static formula or simply purchasing carpets with higher-quality fibers.

No matter what you do, static electricity is one problem you’ll simply have to deal with as the weather gets colder and the atmosphere dries out.

While your electrician can’t really help you to avoid static shock, he can help you to avoid other types of electrical hazards in the home. Make sure you call Conductive Electrical Contracting at 302-319-4061 if you need help with any other electrical problem you encounter! Or request a free electrical repair estimate here.

Services we Offer: General Electrical Repairs, Service Panel Upgrades, Backup Generator Installation, Electrical Wiring & Bonding for Pools, Lighting Installation, Whole House Surge Protection, Outlets and Switches, Convert Aluminum to Copper Wiring, Ceiling Fan Installation and more.

Areas we Serve: Wilmington, Newark, Pike Creek, Dover, Hockessin, Greenville, Smyrna and more.

Filed Under: General Tips

Electric Heater Installation

September 26, 2023 by conductive

Electric heating systems have become very popular over the past few years. There’s a good reason for that. Cost-effective and very efficient at the same time, electric heating systems are specifically designed to emit radiant energy, and their entire mechanism of function is based on Joule energy.

Basically, electric heaters convert electrical energy into heat through the resistor, which is the main part of the entire system.

The electrical resistor breaks down over time, wears off or simply gets burned, especially after prolonged use. When that happens, the entire electric heating system simply stops working and you will have to find a replacement for it.

Why Opt For A Professional That Specializes In Electric Heat Installation?

If you have just purchased a new electrical heating unit, then you certainly want to make the best of it and get a fast return on your investment. After purchasing it, you can either choose to install it yourself (which is not recommended if you are not familiar with basic safety principles that apply to electrical equipment), or you can choose to hire a professional electrician like Conductive Electric to install it for you.

Installing an electrical heating unit is very time-consuming, and you can end up doing more harm than good if you haven’t done it before.

While it is true that there are countless online articles, step by step guides and practical tutorials to help you, real-life installation can be radically different, and you could use the expertise of a truly skilled and experienced specialist to get it done right.

There are several reasons why you should use the services of a professional. First, a reliable company will save you a lot of time, money and trouble, as they have likely installed tens, if not hundreds of similar devices in the past.

A professional electrical heating installation contractor knows exactly which safety precautions must be taken during the process, and he will also offer you a warranty on the service.

Moreover, you will also get the chance to develop a mutually beneficial professional relationship with that particular contractor, and you can call them whenever your heating unit breaks down.

Last, but not least, these experienced contractors are fully registered and licensed – make sure to ask for all the documentation, if you want peace of mind.

These specialists are also fully insured. In other words, if anything happens to your electrical heating system during installation and the device becomes damaged, you can rest assured knowing that all the damage is covered by the contractor, at no expense on your behalf.

Make sure to ask every professional for at least a couple of references before hiring them because in the end, you trust them with your home and your new investment, and you want both to be in good hands!

Filed Under: Common Projects Tagged With: electric heater, electrical heating installation, electrical heating unit

Designing Your Home’s Outdoor Lighting

August 28, 2023 by conductive

When it comes to home design, many homeowners put a lot of emphasis on their indoor lighting. This is because the lighting affects everything from the look of the home design to the function. However, it’s important that you don’t neglect your outdoor lighting in the process.

Your outdoor lighting is just as important as your indoor lighting. It helps improve the curb appeal of your home, improves the safety of your outdoor area and helps make your home more secure.

The following are a number of tips and ideas to help you design your home’s outdoor lighting.

Patio or Deck Lighting

If you have a patio or deck outside of your home to enjoy, then you’ll want to make sure it’s lit properly so that you can use it at night. There’s a certain balance that you have to strike when lighting your patio or deck space.

If you’re like many homeowners, then you may use your patio or deck to entertain guests from time to time. This means that the lighting has to provide everyone with enough light to see their way around safely.

It also needs to provide a certain ambiance, which can be difficult if you over light the area, which in turn can cause distracting glares. You can use strip lighting on the steps of your patio or deck as well as around the edges.

Cap lights, which are placed on the posts of your deck, are also excellent choices. To create a really inviting atmosphere, consider stringing small LED lights above the patio space.

Another great way to add ambiance is to strap light fixtures onto nearby trees.

Walkway Lighting

Walkway lights provide safety for anyone that walks up to your home during the nighttime. The last thing you want to happen is for you, family, friends or guests to trip and fall because they can’t see where they are going.

It also provides a pleasant aesthetic value to your outdoor area as well as making your yard easier to see – thereby making your home more secure. There are a number of choices that you can make when it comes to deciding on the fixtures that you want to use.

If you want something relatively subtle and unobstructed, then path lights, which are short and low to the ground, are perfect for your needs. If you want to make a little more of a statement leading up to your home, try using lanterns that hang off of posts. These are, of course, just a couple of options to choose from.

When installing your light fixtures along your path, make sure that they do not face one another on opposite sides. What will happen is that one part of your walkway will be covered completely in darkness while another part will be over lit.

Instead, stagger your fixtures. The fixtures on each side should be roughly 8 to 10 feet apart from one another. You should also avoid using high-wattage bulbs. You don’t want a distracting glare emitting from your walkway.

Additionally, when you lay out the cable for your light fixtures, make sure you run them through gravel or flowerbeds instead of grass, which will lead to issues with trimming and mowing.

Landscape Lighting

If you take great care to make your landscape look beautiful, then you should make sure that you are showing it off during the nighttime as well as during the day.

The one thing that you’ll want to be careful of is creating too much light pollution. You should use just enough light to highlight some of your landscape’s beauty and to make your outdoor area safe from potential prowlers.

The last thing you want to do is over light the area to the point where your neighbors are distracted as they attempt to sleep.

There are a number of different ways that you can go about lighting your landscape. If you have any walls or steps around your landscape, you can use strip lighting or recessed lights to highlight the architecture.

Using small fixtures to up-light certain features in your yard is a also an excellent idea. You can create a stunning atmosphere by up-lighting choice trees, bushes or flowerbeds.

Security Lighting

The way you light your home’s outdoor space is integral to improving your home security. You want to provide your outdoor space with enough light to scare away potential thieves without contributing to light pollution. There are several ways that you can accomplish this:

Motion sensors – Installing lights around the exterior of your home that run on motion sensors is a great way to light up an entire area – but only if the fixture detects motion in that area. It will turn automatically off after a short time. This helps prevent the outside area of your home from being lit up 24-7, but will also alert anyone in the neighborhood of potential burglars immediately as well as scaring off any intruders.
Timers – You can place a few smaller lights around your home that are on throughout the night, but that will turn off automatically depending on how you set the timer. This way you aren’t wasting energy if you sometimes forget to turn your lights off manually.

Keep these tips and ideas in mind when you design your home’s outdoor lighting in order to improve your home’s curb appeal, safety and security. See more about our lighting installation services.

Filed Under: Common Projects

What Is Electrical Grounding

July 25, 2023 by conductive

Modern homes are filled with various types of electrical appliances. These appliances go a long way in making life easier and more comfortable.

However, it is important to take some preventive steps while using these electrical appliances so that they can be safely used. Electrical grounding plays a big role in helping prevent unwanted electric shocks.

The biggest advantage of proper grounding is that it helps leakage of excess electricity to pass down harmlessly to the earth.

This is done with the help of specific wiring and other sophisticated devices which form the backbone of any electrical grounding solution.

How Electrical Grounding Works

To put it simply, electrical grounding is nothing more than a connection of the electrical equipment and its wiring systems to the earth. This is done with the help of a wire or some other form of electrical conductor.

The point of doing this is to prevent the risk of life threatening electrical shocks. This happens when electricity leaks into the areas of appliances that have not been insulated.

When there is a proper electrical grounding present, the leaked current gets passed harmlessly through the wiring systems and into the earth.

Circuit Breakers And Their Functions

Most modern-day brands of electrical appliances have circuit breakers. The main job of these circuit breakers is to prevent any short circuit or some other major problem with the current flow.

However, in spite of these protections being built into appliances today, even a small amount of electrical leakage could cause severe injuries to the human body.

It has been found that electrical leakage of even one amp is enough to cause fatal injuries.

Learn more about grounding and how it works here.

In order to ensure the safety of everyone, it is very important to have a well thought out electrical grounding in place.

While there is no doubt that it plays a big role in protection against such shocks, there are some important points that should be kept in mind.

How To Have A Totally Fool Proof Electrical Grounding Device

Any electrical grounding device can be considered fool proof only when it has all the parts that are required.

For example, it should be completed with boxes, service panel grounds, and other such devices. If you are unsure how exactly to perform the task of grounding your electrical system, don’t hesitate to call a professional electrician to consult with or do the job for you.

The main objective should be to make sure that the electricity gets an easy path to the ground, causing no damage to human life or property.

At times, merely installing ground rods or ground wires may not provide the right solution. When a plan is being drawn for total electrical grounding, the copper water lines that pass through some homes should be considered and taken care of accordingly.

A short circuit passing through the water pipes while somebody is in the shower is the last thing anyone would want. So, it’s important that any electrical grounding device should be absolutely complete and well thought-out.

Filed Under: General Tips Tagged With: electrical grounding

3 Reasons Your Circuit Breaker May Have Tripped

June 20, 2023 by conductive

Your circuit breaker has tripped. You’ve located your electrical service panel and flipped the switch for the room you were in but it keeps tripping – either right away or after you try to turn on the appliance you were using. You’ll need the help of Conductive Electrical Contracting in order to identify the root cause of your problem but there are generally three main causes.

Overloaded Circuits

Circuit breaker trips are most commonly caused by overloaded circuits. This usually happens when the household is attempting to pull a higher voltage of electricity through the breaker than it was intended to be able to handle.

When this happens, the circuit breaker’s automatic safety settings cause it to shut itself down, or break. Running too many high-energy appliances at the same time, like a portable heater and a hair dryer, may cause overheating.

While you’ll need to have your electrician confirm that this is the case, simply unplugging or shutting off some of the appliances connected to the circuit in question will usually correct the issue.

Short Circuits

Short circuits are the second most common reason for breaker tripping and are a more serious concern. Short circuits occur when the black hot wires inside your electrical service panel come in contact with either other hot wires or neutral wires.

Your electrician will help you to inspect your power cords and outlets for damage and will ensure the wires within your electrical service panel and near your outlets are all properly insulated.

Improper or Faulty Grounding

A ground fault is the least common reason for a circuit breaker to trip but is the most serious. This situation occurs when the hot wires within your electrical service panel come into contact with the metal panel box.

Your electrical service panel box is connected directly to the ground wire and the two coming into contact will cause short circuiting. You’ll need a electrician to come out to either check for damage to the wires or to correct the wire placement.

Never try to correct a problem with your electrical service panel or circuit breakers without the aid of a licensed electrician in Delaware. They have the training to identify and correct common problems while limiting your exposure to electrical hazards.

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Swimming Pool Wiring, Circuit Panel Upgrades, General Electrical Repairs, All Electrical Services

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Wilmington, Newark, Dover, Greenville, Hockessin, Pike Creek, All Locations