Hi!  Franky back this month to answer a question that was posed to me the past couple of weeks.  Here it is:  "Franky, do I need to have a 200 amp service panel?"

The short answer to this question is a definite YES!

The picture in the upper, left-hand corner illustrates what a typical 200 amp service panel will look like.  The top toggle switches on a residential electrical panel (called the main breaker) will have two, 100 amp switches.  If you have two, one-hundred amp switches then you have a 200 amp panel.  Now, there are some homes that need more than a 200 amp panel.  However, most of us can live on 200 amps.  

What if you have only a 100 amp service?  Well, by now you probably have dealt with a lot of flickering and dimming lights when the a/c kicks on.  Also, over the years you have probably added appliances such as dryers, microwaves and personal computers.  All of this combine to overwork your electrical system and an overworked system risks a fire.

So, give me a call if you need your old panel looked at to see if you are O.K.  Remember, I answer many electrical questions over the phone personally.  So, give me a call. 

Hi!  Frank Colburn here to talk to you about flickering lights.  Have you noticed that since you are running your air conditioner more that your lights are flickering?  It could be that you are overloading some circuits.  Instead of telling you about it, I'm going to let my friends over at SafeWay Electric Company out in California show you in this brief video what a panel looks like that has suffered from overloaded circuits.

If your panel shows damage like the one in the video, give me a call right away as you could have a fire hazard on your hands.  I can also help you with advice on how to work with your insurance company on the costs.

Until next time,
Frank Colburn

Recently I helped a customer organize his wiring.  He told me that over the years he kept adding electrical lights and other appliances until he realized that he had a mess on his hands.

When he called me he told me he just wanted some outlets added and the mess cleaned up.  He told me that he read my blog where a vacationing couple came back from vacation after a circuit overloaded and nearly started a fire (See picture in upper-lefthand corner).  However, after asking him a few questions, I realized that he had future plans that involved more changes.  I told him that it would cost less to plan for any future changes and do the complete re-wire now instead of coming back over and over again.

Today, the installation looks great and he will not have a problem with overworking a breaker that could lead to a fire hazard.

If you want more information, I found a great article about "Home Electrical Wiring Upgrades"  If you are looking to reorganize and cleanup your house wiring and electrical outlets, give me a call or contact me by clicking the button below.

Until next time,
Franky

Hello everyone!  Franky here to update you on some cool products that are available for residential electrical applications.  This month, I'd like to talk about a product that you think you may not need, but you really do.  And, of course, Franky's Electric can help you install it.

Pictured to the left is Legrand's Multi-Outlet.  It includes four USB outlets along with three electrical outlets.  Another benefit, it includes wire management to help de-clutter that rat's nest that is building underneath your computer desk at home.

Now, you might be tempted to go with a third-rate product that you can pick up at the big box home improvement stores.  However, my experience with these products is that the USB receptacles lose their grip and the plugs fall out.  Invest in quality products and you will get a quality return.

Call Franky's Electric to add this and other time savers to your home.  Click the button below to fill out my contact page.

Until next time,

Franky

Hi!  This is Frank Colburn again.  If you live around the Orlando Florida area, you've probably noticed that the temperatures (and humidity) is gradually rising over the Springtime.  So, instead of paying those high electrical bills, why not prepare now for the hot Summer later on.

Here are some tips:

1.  Is your electrical panel ready?  By now, you are probably using your air conditioner as temperatures climb into the mid to upper 80s.  When the A/C kicks on...Do your lights dim excessively?  If so, you could be overloading your circuit which puts a big drain on your A/C unit.  Give me a call to see if your panel is capable of handling the added surge of the A/C kicking on.

2.  Insulation:  Have you been up in your attic lately?  Insulation collapses and is depressed over time and may lose its ability to insulate properly.  Other factors include invasion of raccoons, squirrels, and other rodents that tear up and displace insulation so that you don't get the full protection.  Also, these rodents can chew through electrical wiring and into your ducting system.  Although I do not repair A/C systems, I am the one to call when your wiring has been chewed through.  In fact, just a few weeks ago I had a call where a rat was chewing through the wires in the wall!

3.  Weatherstripping:  Adding door thresholds or replacing old ones can help as well as adding quality weatherstripping around the edges of your doors and windows.  Another helpful tool is a caulking gun.  Pick up some silicone clear caulk to use on small cracks near your window casing to prevent hot air from getting inside.

4.  Digital Thermostats:  These relatively new devices are worth their weight in gold!  You can program them to a variety of temperatures and times so that you are not over cooling your home while you are away at work.

5.  Use Ceiling Fans:  Have you ever noticed that the temperature on your thermostat is where you want it however you "feel" hot?  Why not add a ceiling fan?  I have a lot of experience in installing ceiling fans so click the button below to install your next ceiling fan.

So, there are a few tips.  If you are looking for more tips, click the button below to visit the Department of Energy's tips for your home.

Call me the next time you have an electrical issue

Until next time,
Franky Colburn

Hello Again.  This is Franky back with some stunning statistics about your home appliances.  Do you see that picture to the left?  That's not a plug.  Increasingly, this is more like a dinner fork that is grabbing your power bill and running it up sky-high.

Did you know that since 1993 that small appliances such as computers, lighting and other electronic gadgets are now eating up 30 percent of a typical household's energy use?   That is a 19 percent increase! According to a Wall Street Journal article titled "The Phantom Strikes Your Wallet" says that as we have added more electronic gaming devices, computers, recharging stations for iPads, tablets, etc.  our energy consumption has gone up and up and up!

So, how do we tame the dinner fork...I mean the plug?  Here are some suggestions that this article suggested:

1.  Run dishwashers and other appliances that pull a heavy load of electricity during off-peak hours which are before 1PM and after 6PM.

2.  Heating and Air Conditioning still soak up a lot energy.  So, insulate, caulk, and seal up those places where your home air or heat is escaping or coming in.

3. Use timers.  Timers exist for water heaters, pools and lighting.  Also, timers are a great crime prevention tool as you can use them while you are away on vacation to make your home look lived-in even while you are away.  Also, make use of infrared and daylight sensors for security lighting and your porch lighting.  This way you won't have to remember to flick on a switch.

4.  Finally, make use of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting where possible.  I've noticed that prices are coming down on these fixtures.  The good thing about LED lighting is that they produce a nice warm light and they last a long time while sipping energy.

Until Next Time,
Give Me a Call, I answer the phone personally

Franky Colburn

Hello everyone, I am excited to bring you some good news about Franky's Electric.  We were just notified that Angie's List selected us for a Super Service Award for 2012.  

You may have seen advertisements for Angie's List on television.  It is a paid subscription service where people request qualified and reputable companies for service.  One of the goals I had when I started this company is to always be within reach of my customers and do the best job possible.  I am proud to have my company selected for this prestigious award.

I do want to say a quick word about electrical panel change outs.  Last week, I did a service call where a customer kept having a breaker trip.  Upon inspection, I saw where the wiring inside the panel was scorched and had actually burned through the wire insulation.

Folks THIS IS A FIRE!  Sorry for the shouting.  However, I must warn you that a faulty electrical panel can be a fire waiting to happen.  But, here is the good part:  Your insurance company will cover the replacement of this panel with a small deductible.  Don't put your family's life at stake, call me to inspect your panels if they are old.  

Call me, and I'll answer the phone personally.

Until next time,
Franky

Happy New Year!  I hope your 2013 is going well.  Today, I'd like to talk about surge protectors.  I cannot tell you how many times I have performed service calls and found someone disturbed over the fact that they had their computer or other expensive appliance plugged into a surge protector and it did not do its job.  The computer is fried, there are scorch marks on the wall, and then I show up.  It's tough to witness.

I have never figured out why anyone would spent over $2,000 on a computer and other equipment then purchase a $9.99 surge protector at a discount store and expect effective protection.  So how do you select the best surge protection?  I found a great guide for purchasing surge protectors at the Tripp Lite website. 
(Click the button below to visit the specific page for surge advice)
From my experience, you do get what you pay for.  One of the most important measurements to look for when selecting a protector is the "Joule rating."  A Joule is a measurement of the amount of energy (surge) the device can take before it fails.

So, surge ahead in 2013 by preventing surges to your expensive equipment.

Until next time,
Franky 

Happy New Year from Franky's Electric.  Hello  there, Franky Colburn here once again to talk about...Well, I won't call them "resolutions."  I'll call them priorities for the upcoming year.  Franky's Electric can help you with installation of these "suggestions" for 2013.

1.  Too stuffy in one room?  Add a ceiling fan.  A ceiling fan can help make a room feel cooler without adding too much to your power bill.  You can also use them year round since heat rises, you can reverse the blades to force the warmer air back down to where you live.

2.  Consider adding a portable room air conditioner to cool places where you live.  Units like the Mitsubishi room air conditioner help cool specific areas.  Instead of cooling rooms that you rarely use, you can cool high traffic areas and save costs on your power bill.

3.  Do you need a new electrical service panel?  Panels are not meant to last forever.  If you are experiencing multiple trips of your circuit breakers or see scorch marks on any of the parts of the panel, it is time for a change out.  Call me and I can help coach you through how you may be able to replace this all important part of your electrical system for little $ out of pocket.

4.  Add GFI wall outlets.  GFI stands for "Ground Fault Interruption."  You need to add these outlets to all 'wet' areas of your home like the kitchen, bathrooms, swimming pool and garage areas.  These outlets can help protect you if you are using an electrical device around areas where standing water may accumulate.  It is an inexpensive safety device that can save your life.

5.    Add outdoor lighting.  Are there dark areas around the outside of your home at night?  Consider adding an infrared and/or motion sensor outdoor lighting.  This is a safety feature to help you eliminate dark areas, especially behind the home where burglars like to prowl.

Well, that is it.   A short list to get you started for 2013.  Please give me a call if you have any questions about installation or maintenance of your electrical system.  

I pray for a healthy and prosperous 2013 for you all.

Until next time,

Franky Colburn
Franky's Electric

Hello again.  Franky from Franky's Electric back to talk turkey (sorry for the pun), about space heaters.  The weather is turning cooler here in Florida and when I am out on service calls, I have noticed more and more electrical space heaters sitting around in homes.  Electrical space heaters are a wise purchase if used smartly.  According to the Legal Examiner in Oklahoma City, OK, 21,800 house fires are started each year due to space heaters and 300 people on average die each year because of faulty or improper use of space heaters.


Here are some of the advantages of using space heaters:

1) Energy saving:  You only heat the area (room) that you are in at the time whereas a central heat system blows forced warmer air to rooms you are not using.
2) Radiant heat:  The heat just feels better coming from a nearby heat source.  Most space heaters are for floor use (some mount on poles), so you can warm up your tootsies.
3)  Inexpensive:  Walmart sells space heaters for as low as $15.

Here are tips for safe operation of a space heater:


1)  Keep the heater at least 3 feet away from any household combustibles. 
2) Only purchase space heaters with the "UL" (Underwriter Laboratories) label.  Also, if you have an old space heater, discard it.  Many safety features have been added to the newer heaters.
3).  Take precaution with small children and pets when you operate space heaters as they can burn themselves.
4) NEVER use space heaters in a wet area like a bathroom!  
5)  Place the space heater on a sturdy, non-combustable surface.

For a complete list of safety tips on space heaters, go to the Underwriter Laboratories (UL) website:  UL Space Heater Safety Tips