Working with electricity and water is always a dangerous situation. If you need to install pool lights underwater, it will be safest to call a licensed electrician. An electrician is fully aware of every possible safety precaution that will be best when installing or fixing pool lighting. If you must troubleshoot the issue, be sure to turn off power at the main circuit breaker and leave it off until your work is complete. If your pool lights underwater stopped working,...

If you are going to re-pipe your older home, you will need to call out a plumber as well as an electrician. You will have you ascertain the piping does not interfere with electrical wiring. Also, a licensed electrician can double check the safety standards to keep you and your family as safe as possible. Re-piping galvanized pipe has become popular because of the problems older homes have with the pipe work. Galvanized piping is notorious for costly pipe leaks in homes. Galvanized...

Your first step in changing an electrical fuse is to turn off the main power switch on the fuse board for you safety.  This will turn off the power to your entire house but is necessary until you are done changing the fuse. Next, identify which electrical fuse has blown. Sometimes there will be visible scorch marks around the fuse carriers. This will lead you to the burnt fuse wires. If there are no visible marks, remove the fuse carriers...

During the holidays, beautiful Christmas decor lights up neighborhoods. But how many watts can you put on a 15 amp breaker? As beautiful as Christmas lights are, they can cause a trip in the breaker or an outage if you overload the breaker. On average, a 15 amp breaker can run a one 1K light each without blowing or about 1800 - 2000 watts. The only issue with relying on this formula is that it is advisable to only load...

Word has traveled fast regarding the benefits of LED lighting systems. As Americans strive every year to find more cost efficient ways around their lives, holiday lighting should be one less thing to worry about. LED lights are ideal for the holidays because: They offer a safer approach as opposed to traditional incandescent lights due to its function of transmitting light rather than heat. They don't necessarily burn brighter but are much cooler. They last anywhere from 25%-50% longer than...

The UL listed marking appears n a variety of different products, ranging from cameras to house lighting. When a product is marked with an UL Listed it has been recognized as safe for public use. UL is a global independent safety science company with more than a century of expertise innovating safety solutions from the public adoption of electricity to new breakthroughs in sustainability, renewable energy and nanotechnology. Dedicated to promoting safe living and working environments, UL helps safeguard people,...

To better understand the difference between watts, amps, volts and ohms you need to understand the basics of electricity. Electrical power is measured in watts which is equal to the voltage multiplied by the current. Electricity has three basic units: voltage, current and resistance. The three are each measured differently. Voltage is measured in volts, current is measured in amps, and resistance is measured in ohms.  The following is the equation that demonstrates how they all relate: Current (amps) = voltage (volts) / resistance (ohms) Watts...

GFI and GFCI both stand for "Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter" and are used interchangeably. The GFI outlets are the one's with the test and reset buttons. They are usually found in area's that have the greatest shock hazards, such as the bathrooms and kitchen. How does a GFCI outlet work? The GFI outlet works by sensing leaks in the electrical current and shutting off power to protect people from deadly electrical shocks. When the outlet shuts the power off, this...

A smoke alarm is the only device that can forewarn you and your loved ones about a fire. Almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in properties without working smoke alarms, according to the National Fire Protection Association. It is important to maintain your smoke alarm and check it monthly. If your smoke alarm seems to not be working properly, you should change the battery. Sometimes your smoke alarm will beep to warn you about low battery life. Steps...

A wet circuit breaker can be a very dangerous and serious issue. You should call your trusted licensed Mister Sparky electrician to further investigate safely. The moisture will eventually dissipate. Do not touch any electrical wiring system that is energized that may be wet. Look for signs of smoke as a wet circuit breaker is not only a shock hazard, but a fire hazard as well. Also, it is important to make sure you are not standing in water while...