Electrical motors are wonderful devices that are used in a myriad of ways, making things easier in our daily lives as well as a wide range of industrial applications. When these gadgets fail, work often grinds to a halt till they’re back up and running, and the reasons for electrical motor failure can range from the commonplace to the bizarre.

While the list of possible causes can go on forever, we’ll take a look at some of the most common ones here:

Exposure to high heat is a top culprit for all kinds of equipment failure, and ranks as the number one reason for motor malfunctions and deterioration. Optimal running temperatures extend motor life, which is why they should be your first priority.

In fact, most of the other possible reasons for electrical motor malfunctions also lead to the generation of extra heat. A rise of even a few degrees can cause trouble over time, and if motor windings are exposed to an extra 10° C of heat, the life of their insulation drops by half!

A large amount of the calls we go out on are for lighting fixture replacement/changes.  A lot of the customers say “I usually do this myself,” but I don’t have time to take care of this right now.  Another common quote we hear is “We have been working on this all weekend, and can’t get it to work.”  Last but not least, a favorite quote of mine that I hear is “I am so tired of this outdated looking lighting that exists in my home.  Can you please bring it up to date?”  Usually this is where I chuckle and say “Twitter, Google Plus.

If improperly installed, aluminum wiring can raise the risk of a house fires! From 1960’s up to the mid 1970’s aluminum wiring was sometimes used for branch circuit wiring instead of copper wiring.  During this time period copper prices were very high and aluminum wiring became a cost effect alternative to copper wiring.  Was aluminum wiring found to be as good as copper wiring?  Not even close!  Aluminum wiring quickly became a fire risk if not installed properly.  At the time aluminum wiring methods were exactly the same for copper.  Over time it was found that improper installation methods and electrical devices not designed to accept aluminum conductors could lead to fires.

If was quickly found out that aluminum wiring could cause flickering lights, hot electrical connections and even burned or melted insulation on the wiring.  There was a severe problem with overheating which can lead to fires.

1.  A Softer Metal.  Aluminum is a much softer metal when compared to copper.  During the stripping process from aluminum it can be easy to nick.  These nicks can cause hot spots in the conductor causing overheating and the potential risk of fire.  Electricians had to develop different methods of stripping the insulation off of the aluminum wiring to avoid damaging the conductor.

2.  Aluminum Expands.  When an appliance demands electricity on the circuit the conductor heats up.  While this process takes place with copper conductors too aluminum expands at a much greater rate than copper.  This expansion and contraction of the aluminum wiring  caused the the conductor to creep out from under the terminal screws on breakers and electrical devices such as plugs and switches.  This creeping of the wiring resulted in a loose connection which lead to sparking and potential fire.

3.  Corrosion or Rust.   When steel rust it becomes red, on copper rust is green, and on aluminum it is white.  When copper wiring rust it’s not as big as problem when compared to aluminum, copper rust is actually electrically conductive.  This rust on copper still allows the electricity to flow and doesn’t create as much resistance of the electricity or simplify put it doesn’t interfere as much.  However, when aluminum rust it forms a white oxide which is not a good conductor of electricity.  This creates resistance or reduces the flow of electricity.  This resistance interferes with he flow of electricity, and can cause overheating leading to fires.

There are several options for you if you have aluminum wiring in your home.  We can evaluate your homes wiring and come up with several effective methods and affordable price ranges.  It’s important to have your homes wiring thoroughly evaluated so you can know the truth about its condition so you can make the proper decision.

Solution 1.  Rewire the entire house with copper wiring.  This would be the safest long term solution for aluminum wiring.  This method would require reduced maintenance and reduced inspections needed when compared to aluminum wiring.  Rewiring the home is the safest long term solution to aluminum wiring when compared to other methods.  This solution can be expensive when compared to other solutions.  However, we have a variety of financing options and payment plans available for almost every budget.

Solution 2.  Check all connections in home and repair as needed.  Then re device the entire home with aluminum rated devices.  This short this method entails replacing all the homes plugs and switches with ones that are designed to accept aluminum conductors.  It’s important to note aluminum rated devices can be hard to find at the big box stores.  When these devices were first introduced they simply had a larger screw or terminal for the aluminum conductor to fit under.  Unfortunately, these CU/AL devices failed to work good enough and was not an effective solution.  New devices CO/ALR are created out of a similar metal which shares a similar expansion and contraction rate as aluminum which reduces the creeping of the conductor.

Solution 3.  Pigtailing.  Pigtailing simply means taking the aluminum wire connections that go to the device and splice on or pigtail on a copper conductor to go to the device such as a plug or a switch.  It is important to note that it does take a specially designed wire nut or twist-on wire connectors to to perform this method.  While this method is the cheapest it is important to make sure that routine safety checks and inspections are performed on your homes wiring to reduce the chances of future problems.

Even with all the disadvantages, aluminum wiring still has its advantages under certain applications.  It’s important to note even with these advantages you should not use aluminum wiring in your home for standard 15 or 20 amp branch circuits.

1.  It’s Light Weight.  Aluminum is lightweight in nature.  Being lightweight is an advantage when conductors are used over long distances.  This lightweight property is most beneficial for aerial applications were the aluminum wiring is suspended between poles.  This wiring method is most commonly seen in utility company applications and telecommunication lines.  Being light weight also makes the aluminum wiring easier for the installer to work with.  This makes the cable less physically demanding to install.

2.  Aluminum Wiring is Cheaper.  Aluminum wiring can be half the cost of copper wiring.  When a large amount of wiring is needed saving half the cost can be a huge benefit over copper wiring.  This method is mainly seen in feeder circuit applications in commercial buildings as well as sub panels and 220 circuits in residential applications.  It’s important to note this practice of using aluminum wiring for sub panels, services, and 220 circuits in residential applications has been deemed acceptable when properly installed and connected.

This Valentine’s day, show your partner how deep your love runs for him or her by cleaning all the neglected kitchen appliances! Chocolates, flowers, and jewelry are nice too, don’t get us wrong. It’s just that serious cleaning says a lot about how much a person cares. By tackling these uncharted territories, not only will the love your partner has for you grow, you may even rekindle the love you once had for your home. That’s a whole lot of love going around.

Can you remember the last time you cleaned the inside of your refrigerator or behind it? It isn’t the easy appliance to maneuver around, so it’s likely that you haven’t cleaned behind it since you moved in. To clean your refrigerator, first pull it out so that you can mop up the dirt, debris, and gunk that’s been left behind. Then, vacuum the coils, which are located either behind or beneath your refrigerator.

All refrigerators are equipped with door gaskets to prevent cold air from escaping. If you have loose gaskets, read through your owner’s manual to find out the replacement part numbers. Your local hardware store should have gaskets in stock.

Make the outside of your fridge sparkle with a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar. If you have a stainless steel fridge, rub in the direction using either a paper towel or a soft wash cloth.

Now that the outside of your fridge looks brand new, it’s time to tackle the other not-so fun part, which is the inside. Clean all shelves and crispers. Perhaps you can use this time to throw away all your expired foods and beverages that you forgot existed.

Even if you have the luxury of owning a self-cleaning oven, some work is still required on your part. Using a solution of equal parts water and vinegar, wipe down the door hinges and frames. You can tackle the particularly rough spots with a some baking soda and a sponge.

How to Clean Your Stovetop:

Soak your burners with hot, soapy water for a few hours, and then scrub. The drop plate may be the dirtiest component of your stove. Before your scrub this area, use a vacuum to get out all the accumulated gunk.

To loosen up all the baked-on foods in your microwave, fill a microwave-safe container with water and heat it until it boils. Wait a few minutes before opening the door so that the steam can do its job; then wipe.

We know how counter-intuitive this sounds, but trust us – it’s a task that needs to be done! Your dishwasher works day in and day out to clean your dishes; it’s only a matter of time before all the gunk accumulates.

If your planning to cook dinner for your partner this Valentine’s Day, he or she will notice how sparkling-clean the plates are!

The term “arc flash” is used to describe low impedance connections in an electrical system, which allows movement of unwanted electric discharge through the air from one voltage phase to another, or to ground. This leads to a rapid rise in temperature and pressure in the air between electrical conductors, causing an explosion known as an arc blast.

Arc blasts and the resulting heat can lead to fires, pressure waves and flying shrapnel that result in serious damage to life and property. These explosions typically occur without any warning, destroy electrical equipment completely and lead to severe injury or death of personnel present within the boundary of the arc flash.

What Are the Main Causes of Arc Flash?

Arc flash occurs when several electrical conductors are placed close to each other, with significant fault currents flowing through them. In this situation, ionization of the air can take place as a result of various factors – such as differences in potential – which leads to a low resistance path and allows current to flow through the air gap between conductors.

Many people assume that low voltage equipment is safe from arc flash, but arc flash hazard levels may be higher at low voltages, due to the high fault currents. Most incidents that occur in low voltage systems are caused by human error, e.g. a tool slipping while a technician works on electrical equipment.

Arc flash can also be caused due to: