Local Domestic Electricians

If you think about it, it"s probably a yes.

Here are a few telling tales that your outlet has served its time.

Sockets are often used continuously for years without maintenance, they are usually very robust, but are all susceptible to damage that can be overlooked. If damage or other signs are not addressed, the outlet is not at its best; it can lead to a power failure and possibly be dangerous.

Maintenance Service Company Electrical ,  Electrician Milton Keynes ,  Electrician Leighton Buzzard Milton Keynes ,  Electrical Solutions Ltd Milton Keynes ,  Electrical Maintenance Service Company Milton Keynes

Cracks in Front of Socket

An obvious but often overlooked. Cracks may appear, despite years of wear or damage from an external source. Excessive heat caused by a malfunction at the back of a power outlet can also cause the front of the outlet to burst. Cracks not only expose live wires, but can also pose a serious fire risk due to the dust that accumulates there. If you notice a crack, stop using that outlet until it is replaced.

Heat Scorching Marks

The accumulation of dust, overload and poor wiring can all cause electrical outlets to generate excessive heat that causes heat burns.

These types of markings are usually dark brown in color and are located on the outlet or plug, so both must be checked regularly. If you notice scorching spots or plugs feel warm, disconnect the plug from the socket before disconnecting devices. The socket may only be used again after it has been correctly inspected. I have seen cases where so much heat has been generated that the shape of the socket and plug are distorted and even fused.

Electricity Switches Off Temporarily

If a device connected to your electrical outlet is switched off and then on again, you must first check that the device itself is not defective by connecting it to another electrical outlet. If the device is working properly, this is a sign that there is a problem with your outlet. This can be caused by a number of problems, including loose connections at the back of the socket. Always ask a competent person to check the connection.

Blow fuses

Fuses that constantly blow can be very frustrating and can have various causes. If you have a fuse that continues to blow, try plugging the device into a different outlet. If the fuse does not blow into the new connection, there is probably a problem with the other one and this should be checked as soon as possible. 

Green "goo"

If you have very old wiring from the 60s and early 70s, you can have green goo appear around the socket. This sticky goo is broken down into a "di-isotyl" chemical reaction between copper and insulation in old cables and can still be found in some properties. If you notice this goo, you should contact a qualified electrician as soon as possible. Depending on the extent of the problem, this may mean that a new thread is needed.

Arcing Sounds

A crackling, buzzing or popping sound coming from your outlet indicates that something is wrong. This is called sparking. This is a small spark that jumps over the back of your outlet and is usually caused by damaged or loose wires. If you hear these noises, have the plug checked as soon as possible. Failure to repair the device may cause a small explosion or electrical fire at the back of an electrical outlet.

How do I prevent damage to my sockets?

It is advisable to visually check a power outlet every time you use it. Those that are always in use, such as the TV or the plug and socket of the kettle, must be checked regularly.

Top tips to prevent damage to your sockets:

• Avoid overloading sockets with extension cables. Never connect one extension cable to the other, as this can cause overheating. Try the socket overload calculator.
• Do not purchase generic or inexpensive devices and only use recommended accessories for electrical equipment. For example, it is known that inexpensive replacement telephone chargers damage electrical outlets and cause electrical fires.
• Only use plugs with the British standard safety mark.
• Always carefully remove the plugs, do not pull on the cable.
• Make sure there is enough space around the socket to allow airflow.

Milton Keynes Electrical Goodship ,  Electrical Service Company Milton Keynes ,  Expert Electrical Solutions Milton Keynes ,  Commercial Electrician Milton Keynes ,  Domestic Electricians Milton Keynes

Do not leave furniture behind a plug that can bump into the socket or be pressed against it, which will put pressure on the socket.

Source Url: https://electricianmiltonkeynes.hatenablog.com/entry/2020/02/24/195404

Do I have to switch to LED lamps?

First, electricians call them lamps, but we know that most people call them light bulbs, so that"s what we"ll call them in this article.

Some of you may have a small supply of traditional lamps, but do you have to dump them for LEDs? We don"t waste here, so although they are very inefficient (80% of the energy that is converted into a traditional incandescent lamp is converted into heat, not light), you shouldn"t dump them yet. If you have purchased bulbs to keep track of the number of bulbs that continue to blow, consider why they continue to blow and do something about it.

Milton Keynes Electrical Goodship ,  Electrical Service Company Milton Keynes ,  Expert Electrical Solutions Milton Keynes ,  Commercial Electrician Milton Keynes ,  Domestic Electricians Milton Keynes

When a lamp blows, why does it blow the wick?

When a lamp blows, chances are that your fuse or circuit breaker will also burn out or trip, making the problem seem a lot worse than it is. The reason that a blowing lamp can cause a breaker to stumble is because just before the lamp fails, the element overheats and melts, the resulting resistance causes a current surgeon who shuts off the breaker or blows the wick, which is not necessarily a problem , it"s the Wick or the circuit breaker is doing its thing.

So why do my bulbs keep blowing?

There can be many reasons why your lamps keep blowing - here are some of the most common ones.

Cheap Bulbs

Unbranded lamps of lesser quality, which are often transported halfway around the world, burn out faster with normal use. These cheaper lamps are made of thinner materials, making them more susceptible to malfunctions and often have little or no quality control.

Cheap Lighting Fixtures

Unbranded luminaries of poor quality are also often transported over large distances, which increases the risk of transport damage. These luminaries may be poorly designed, with poor airflow around the lamp fitting which then overheats the lamp causing it to malfunction more quickly.

Electricity Sparks

When a light bulb does not fit properly in a fixture, it can lead to a current (a very small spark) between the fitting and the light bulb. This arc can generate excess heat, causing the blub to blow prematurely.

This problem is more common with old or cheap fixtures, but can also occur with expensive new fixtures. When replacing a burned-out lamp, always check the old lamp and fitting for dark or discolored and / or pitted areas that indicate sparks. If you notice discoloration or pits, ask for advice, as this may be the beginning of something that gets worse. 

High Voltage

Only a small amount of excessive voltage is needed to drastically reduce the life of an ordinary light bulb. Just like electric sparks, high voltages can cause excessive heat.

Vibrations

Light bulbs are often very delicate, especially if they are cheaply made. Vibrations can come from a variety of sources, eg nearby devices, sound waves, slamming doors, footsteps from the floor above, ceiling fans, etc. If vibrations are the cause of the light bulbs blowing, switching to an LED light will remedy it.

Will the use of LED lamps reduce the risk of blowing lamps?

We recommend the use of LED luminaries and lamps that last at least 10 times as long as traditional light bulbs and are highly efficient in creating light, so no heat, so save money and reduce the risk of significantly blowing lamps. The reason for this is that LED lamps are generally not made of vulnerable components and they operate at a much lower wattage.

Did this help?

If this article is relevant to you, you can call us. We can do a little research to see if there are any signs of underlying issues, and we recommend all the steps you need to take to prevent minor inconvenience from becoming a much more expensive issue.

Maintenance Service Company Electrical, Electrician Milton Keynes, Electrician Leighton Buzzard Milton Keynes, Electrical Solutions Ltd Milton Keynes, Electrical Maintenance Service Company Milton Keynes

Contact us for more information.

Source Url: https://electricianmiltonkeynes.hatenablog.com/entry/2020/02/24/195845

Protection of Your Electrical Equipment

From 1 January 2019 The IET wiring regulations BS 7671: 2018 - Requires adequate protection for both people and equipment against temporary atmospheric voltages originating through the power distribution system and against switching over voltages.

Maintenance Service Company Electrical ,  Electrician Milton Keynes ,  Electrician Leighton Buzzard Milton Keynes ,  Electrical Solutions Ltd Milton Keynes ,  Electrical Maintenance Service Company Milton Keynes

What does this mean?

Simply put, this means we now have to protect our electrical systems against the effects of lightning and electrical peaks or power peaks from the electricity supplier. This is done through the use of a surgeon protector (SPD).

Why now?

In the last 20 years, the risk of death or injury has increased significantly, as have the financial costs of replacing goods, equipment and data that have been destroyed after a light attack or a power surgeon.

Why has the risk increased?

The use of computers and electronics has increased exponentially over the last two decades. There are more systems and these systems have become smaller, which means less energy is needed to damage components and cause fire or explosion.

What effect does this have on you?

The regulations prescribe mandatory use of SPDs for most new installations. An exception to this is some houses - your house. Goodship Electrical Services offers you the option to mount an SPD as another layer for electrical safety.

What is an SPD?

An SPD is a small device that fits into your new consumer unit and protects your entire electrical system from damage caused by lightning and power surges from the electrical supply.

Milton Keynes Electrical Goodship ,  Electrical Service Company Milton Keynes ,  Expert Electrical Solutions Milton Keynes ,  Commercial Electrician Milton Keynes ,  Domestic Electricians Milton Keynes

Why should I choose to have one SPD?

Our homes are full of electronic equipment, from TVs, washing machines and computers to Sky boxes, kettles and telephone chargers, our daily activities apply to this. Almost everything you plug into a power outlet would be destroyed by a lightning strike or a surgeon without an SPD. If you work from home, you can lose valuable and irreparable data from computers and backup disks.

Your electrician will determine if an SPD is needed during system design.

Source Url: https://electricianmiltonkeynes.hatenablog.com/entry/2020/02/24/200048

Why do you need money to make changes to electrical regulations?

Since January 1, 2019, qualified and regulated electricians working at your home have been working on the 18th edition of the IET wiring codes BS 7671: 2018. Most electricians have updated their qualifications in recent months to reflect this change.

Milton Keynes Electrical Goodship ,  Electrical Service Company Milton Keynes ,  Expert Electrical Solutions Milton Keynes ,  Commercial Electrician Milton Keynes ,  Domestic Electricians Milton Keynes

So how does this affect you?

The main reasons for the updated rules are to improve safety and take into account the latest technological developments. The changes have been extensive and there are some fundamental changes in BS 7671: 2018 that, as a result, have to pay the customer for additional equipment for even the most basic electrical installations.

The most important changes that affect the cost of a new electrical installation.

1) Requirements for Metal Cable Supports:

When new wiring is installed, it must be supported in some way to prevent premature fire collapse. This is to ensure that entering a property in the event of a fire, escaping people or fire service personnel does not get entangled in the dark with loose cables. The days of applying trunking with a sticky back or some plastic cable clips are over. The cables must now be supported by metal clips and holders. Plastic trunking can still be used, but a sufficient amount of additional metal restrictions must be used.

Pros:

This will save lives.

Cons:

Small extra material costs.

2) Requirements for RCD Protection:

In fact, these changes mean that all circuits in a home require RCD protection, while previous requirements omitted some circuits, eg lighting.

Pros:

This prevents electrical shock.

Cons: 

Extra material costs.

3) Requirement to Prevent Unwanted Circuit Breakers:

RCDs are very fast-running devices that disconnect the current in the event of a fault, resulting in large amounts of "RCD," thus avoiding the risk of an electric shock. During normal operation, modern electrical equipment can also generate a very small amount of the same "earth leakage current". In some cases, if there are multiple items of electrical equipment on the same circuit, the cumulative amount of "earth leakage current" may also activate an earth leakage circuit breaker. The new regulation provides a number of solutions to prevent these unwanted journeys, the most practical being to use a single RCD (RCBO) on each individual circuit. This is likely to double the cost of equipment for a new fuse board.

Pros:

This prevents electrical shocks and avoidable unwanted trips

Cons:

The costs of the equipment have increased enormously

4) Requirement for Adequate Protection against Temporary Spans of Atmospheric Origin:

To meet this in certain circumstances, your electrician must install an "Overvoltage protection (SPD)". An SPD is a small device that fits into your new consumer unit and protects your entire electrical system from damage caused by lightning and power surges from the electrical supply.

Our houses are full of electronic equipment on which we rely on our daily activities. Almost everything you connect to a power outlet is destroyed by a lightning strike or a surgeon without SPD and this can cause a fire. If you work from home, you can lose valuable and irreparable data from computers and backup disks.

Maintenance Service Company Electrical ,  Electrician Milton Keynes ,  Electrician Leighton Buzzard Milton Keynes ,  Electrical Solutions Ltd Milton Keynes ,  Electrical Maintenance Service Company Milton Keynes

For most buildings with the exception of your individual home or SPD you must mount on a new job. In most individual homes, the risk is considered to be low enough that you do not need to have SPD installed, though you may choose to do so. If an SPD is mounted on a new fuse board, this can add £ 100 - £ 200 to the costs.

Pros:

SPDs save lives and property.

Cons:

The costs of the equipment have increased enormously. 

While electricians and the electrical industry are getting used to the new regulations and how they are interpreted, it is important that the customer makes sure that their electrician is aware of the latest IET wiring regulations BS 7671: 2018 when requesting quotes for household electrical work.

Do not worry….

The regulatory change does not mean that your current electrical system is now unsafe or that an electrical test conducted after January 1, 2019 will not pass, but these must be applied to new installations. If in doubt, consult a registered electrician.

Source Url: https://electricianmiltonkeynes.hatenablog.com/entry/2020/02/24/200352

Do you understand your wick board?

What"s in your fuse board (or fuse box, electrical box, consumer unit, lecy thing)?

When it all gets dark, you may know that you need to blow the cobwebs off the fuse box and turn a switch back, but why so many different bits and bobs? Hopefully this article will help you understand a little more.

Milton Keynes Electrical Goodship ,  Electrical Service Company Milton Keynes ,  Expert Electrical Solutions Milton Keynes ,  Commercial Electrician Milton Keynes ,  Domestic Electricians Milton Keynes

But first a brief history of the modern wick board.

The houses were electrified in the early 1900s, but only after World War II was the standardized voltage supply and fuse boards introduced. Due to a shortage of skilled labor, it was not until the late 1950s that the production of wick plates really began and we began to see them more often in our homes.

The first domestic fuse plates had fuses that you could replace or rewire, these types of cards still work in some homes throughout the country. But the modem fuse ("consumer unit") has technology that makes them so much safer and designed to stop electrical shocks and fire.

The modern consumer unit (fuse board)

The main switch

The main switch is exactly that, the main switch. It controls the power supply from your electrical meter to the consumer.

This switch is the only one that can be turned on and off manually, unlike the rest of the switches in your consumer unit.

RCD

RCDs (RCDs) are used to protect lives by preventing electric shocks and malfunctions that could cause a fire. It does this by immediately tripping when it detects an imbalance in the force, suggesting that the force flows through something that it should not. You must test your earth leakage circuit breaker at least every 6 months by pressing the button.

MCB

MCBs (miniature circuit breakers) to which your electrical circuits are connected. MCBs switch off when they detect an overload, such as when you connect too many things to an extension cord, or an over current (short circuit) that can occur when you hammer a nail through a cable.

RCBO

An RCBO (earth leakage circuit breaker with over current protection) is a device that does the same work as both RCD and MCB in one, preventing electric shocks, earth faults, overload and over current. RCBOs are used on important circuits and where overload shutdown can affect an RCD. You must test your RCBO at least every 6 months by pressing the button.

SPD

From January 2019, electricians must perform a risk assessment when installing a new consumer unit to determine if you need an SPD (surge protector) in your electrical system.

An SPD protects your entire electrical system and all electronic equipment against damage caused by lightning or other electric shocks coming from outside your home.

The future of the consumer unit

The technology used in modern consumer units continues to evolve at a pace, and the next generation of consumer units is already available. These new generations of consumer units have SPD protection as mentioned above, but also have AFDDs.

AFDD / RCBO

The AFDD / RCBO includes either an AFDD and an RCBO. The RCBO protects against electrical shock, earth faults, overload and over current and the AFDD (Arc Fault Detection Device) prevents unintended electrical sparks in a cable or connection. This type of spark is often caused by damage to cables or poor electrical connections, which can lead to fire.

Maintenance Service Company Electrical ,  Electrician Milton Keynes ,  Electrician Leighton Buzzard Milton Keynes ,  Electrical Solutions Ltd Milton Keynes ,  Electrical Maintenance Service Company Milton Keynes

The costs and size of AFDD / RCBO devices currently limit their ability to be installed every day. The 18th edition of the electrical regulations, which came out in January 2019, only recommends its use instead of having it as a mandatory requirement, which means that unless a customer specifically requests it, it is unlikely that an electrician will install it.

Source Url: https://electricianmiltonkeynes.hatenablog.com/entry/2020/02/24/195017