Panel Upgrades

Lately, we’ve been experiencing more and more power outages, and many of my clients have been asking about getting a generator. So, here are a few things to keep in mind before making a purchase:

Take a moment to figure out what you want to power and check the wattage for each device so you know what size generator you’ll need. For a typical home to operate the essentials and mid-size appliances, a generator between 4000 to 6000 watts should be sufficient. This size will generally cover things like lights 💡, a refrigerator 🧊, and a few small appliances 🍳, depending on your needs.

Gasoline generators give the most power ⚡, but propane runs about 10% lower. However, propane has some great advantages—it can be stored for extended periods without degrading (unlike gasoline, which can go bad over time) and burns cleaner, producing fewer emissions 🌱. Plus, propane generators tend to require less maintenance over time compared to gasoline-powered ones. In my personal opinion, propane is the way to go!

For safety, a transfer switch is the way to go—it’s a bit more expensive 💸 but worth it for peace of mind. Having a proper generator hook-up adds the convenience of quickly and safely switching to generator power when an outage happens, making it much easier to manage during an emergency ⚠️.

And don’t forget—always call a licensed electrician to make sure everything’s done right! Safety first 🛠️😊.

I’m always happy to help and answer any questions you may have—feel free to reach out!
805-222-7390

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IS IT DANGEROUS IF A CIRCUIT BREAKER KEEPS TRIPPING?

When your circuit breaker trips you might find yourself suddenly in the dark as your electrical panel cuts the power to the room you’re standing in. In most cases, you’ll know why your circuit breaker tripped, as the culprit will be whatever plug or appliance you just connected to your electrical system!

But, what if you find yourself constantly resetting the same circuit breaker on your electrical panel? If this is the case, or if you don’t know why the circuit tripped, then something isn’t right. The cause could be as innocuous as an old electrical panel in need of replacement or as serious as a short circuit within your walls!

WHAT IS HAPPENING WHEN A CIRCUIT BREAKER TRIPS?
Your home’s electrical system is protected by breakers which automatically interrupt the flow of electricity when they detect a problem. There are different types of circuit breakers, each of which is designed to detect a different type of electrical fault. It is common for homes to use combination breakers which respond to one or more of the following fault conditions:

OVERLOADED CIRCUIT
This is probably the most common reason for tripping a circuit breaker, and one that anyone who has connected one too many strings of Christmas lights has experienced. Every electrical circuit in your home has a maximum rated electrical current. Above this rating, the electrical wiring of the circuit begins overheating, leading to a risk of fire.

For typical wall outlets this rating is usually 15 amps – or about the power draw of a toaster or hair dryer. If you were to try to power two toaster ovens off of a standard outlet without a circuit breaker, the wiring in your walls or outlet would rapidly become dangerously hot.

CIRCUIT BREAKER BOX
If you accidentally trip your circuit breaker in this way there is nothing to be worried about. Simply unplug the excess devices from the outlet, reset your circuit breaker, and spread out your electrical load to another circuit. You may need to use an electrical outlet in a different room as a single breaker may protect all of the outlets in the same area.

Note: Do not try to forcibly keep a circuit breaker from tripping from circuit overload. This can lead to electrical fires!

HOW DO YOU RESET A TRIPPED CIRCUIT BREAKER?
Resetting a tripped circuit breaker is very easy – so easy in fact that it barely counts as a DIY project.

Find your electrical panel, locate the circuit which has tripped. Generally the switches will all point to the center of your breaker box when they are on, so look for one which isn’t lined up with the rest.
Switch the breaker fully to the off position
Return the breaker to the on position
If multiple circuits have tripped, this may indicate a more serious electrical issue in your home’s wiring and should contact an electrician.

MAKING FREQUENT TRIPS TO THE BREAKER BECAUSE OF A TRIPPING CIRCUIT?
If you are regularly visiting your electrical panel to switch a popped breaker back on then something is probably wrong. The most common problem is simply that the breaker has become overly sensitive and needs replacement.

Older breaker boxes will eventually need to be replaced, and this is not a recommended DIY project. When you are having major electrical work done, like replacing an electrical panel, be sure to work with a licensed electrician.

https://home.panel-upgrades.com/need-to-upgrade

Panel Upgrades – Preeminence In Home Safety