The home electrical system consists of various components that enable the safe delivery of energy to different sections and appliances in the household. Even though the system may appear complex, it is important for the homeowner to understand a few basics.

This would help you when things do not work or there is an emergency that requires turning off circuits or the entire installation. In addition, an understanding of the home electrical system will help the owner respond to questions from prospective buyers.

All the electrical circuits in the house originate from the main breaker panel. The panel is usually inside the house and near to the power entry point. However, the panel can also be far, and especially when in a multi-family structure.

The rating of the panel determines the number of circuits and power that the home electrical system can support. Some older homes have been using the 100 Amp service, smaller installations use a 60 Amp service while newer and larger houses are built with 200 amps to accommodate the increased number of electrical and electronic equipment commonly used in a modern household.

Different loads require the correct size of cables and breakers that can handle the current without heating up. For example, an air conditioner requires a 30 amp circuit while a kitchen may use two 20 amp circuits.

If there is a fault, such as a short circuit or overload, the breaker trips and cuts off the power to the affected circuit, hence preventing further damage that could lead to fire. Before resetting the breaker, you should first ask an electrician to check and rectify the problem.

A home electrical system consists of different individual circuits originating from the main breaker panel. The wires from the panel run to the rooms to supply the outlets, lights, and hand wired appliances. In most cases, several rooms may share the same circuits such that all the lights in the house are on one breaker, outlets on another breaker, etc.

Some dedicated circuits from the main breaker may go directly to the hard-wired appliances and nowhere else. Equipment such as the electric water heaters, furnaces, and air conditioners are usually installed on their own. Other hard-wired devices include the smoke alarms, which may also have battery backups so they will work even when there is a power outage or a fire interrupts the home electrical system.

Grounding is an essential protective feature that must be installed in all home electrical systems. It provides a path for the electrical current arising from faults that make the exposed metallic parts to become live and dangerous.

The ground connects all the exposed metallic parts to the earth mass through a third wire in the power cord to the equipment. This provides a low electrical resistance path for the current, hence, making the parts safe to the touch even in the event of a malfunction.

maintenance and repairs.

Several debates continue to surround the idea of how video games affect childhood development. On one side, they have a reputation for causing violence and obesity in children, and on another, they prove to be very educational and encourage exercise. Because video games are so prominent in children’s lives, it is difficult to prevent them from playing video games entirely. However, when you truly analyze them, is it really necessary to rid children of video games completely? Research proves that while video games have their disadvantages, they also have advantages that can stimulate brain activity and help power tomorrow by assisting kids in setting and achieving their goals to reach their full potential.

Video games can be a powerful tool to help children develop certain life skills. They can help children’s brain development in several ways, including enhancing problem solving skills and creativity. They also induce quick thinking by having players solve problems to continue to a higher level, and create strategies to potentially win the game.

The most popular child development video games vary with a child’s age. For younger children, popular video games include: Wii Barbie Dreamhouse Party, Nintendo Super Mario 3D World, XBOX 360 The Lego Movie and Lego Marvel Super Heroes. For teenagers, popular video games include: XBOX 360 Transformers Fall of Cybertron, XBOX 360 Grand Theft Auto, XBOX 360 Guitar Hero II, Rock Band 2, Just Dance 2014 and FIFA 14.

Like so many other things in life, moderation is key, so monitoring a child’s video game intake is definitely important. Video games are a great form of entertainment that provide bonding time with friends and relaxation time during any afternoon. Although the negative effects of video games are very real, by allowing children to partake in developmental video games, the door is also opened for children to have a fun learning experience.

If the lights in your business are on their way out, making a change to your ballasts or bulbs may offer you tremendous opportunity. There’s a lot to consider when selecting the right ballast and bulb combination, however, and the decision you make today will affect your business for years to come.

The right lighting can result in substantial savings on your monthly energy costs, of which lighting accounts for nearly 35 percent. The right lighting can also reduce maintenance needs, improve productivity, and reduce your carbon footprint.

Watts measure the amount of energy required to light a bulb. Today, however, bulbs are measured in lumens, or the amount of visible light produced. Why? It all boils down to efficiency. Opting for ballast and bulb combinations that are more efficient than yesterday’s incandescents offer a superior return on investment.

There’s more to upgrading your lighting than simple bulb and ballast replacement, however. According to the SBA (Small Business Association), technology plus effective design equals performance and energy savings. Screwing in more efficient bulbs are a great start, but not enough if you want the whole package. Ballast selection and lighting design are essential to getting the most bang for your lighting buck. For this, you’ll need the help of a Mr. Electric® lighting professional to coordinate:

Finding the most efficient technology to meet your application needs and/or style.

Including taking into consideration ceiling height, spacing, glare, light distribution, and task plane height.

Including taking into account room finishes - paint colors and types that will improve lighting quality.

From safety considerations to integration with other building systems

No matter what type of lighting your business utilizes, from LED indoor lighting solutions to landscaping and security lights, Mr. Electric has your covered. Contact Mr. Electric and discover the many ways new lighting can brighten up your business today.