A licensed electrician can work alone or alongside other professionals for small or major projects. It is typical for electricians to work in the construction industry where they perform electrical installations for new buildings and structures. On the other hand, licensed electrician also offers its services to residential and commercial projects to undertake the planning and design of electrical systems up to its actual installation.
How to ensure the safety of electrical installations
Every year, electrical fires damage properties and cause serious injuries and fatalities. Faults in electrical wiring are considered as one of the common causes of electrical fires but it can be easily avoided if electrical work is carried by a competent licensed electrician. Installation, inspection, testing and maintenance of electrical systems are the responsibility of licensed electricians. Installations are carried out according to code and building regulations.
The two most common faults in an electrical system include insulation failure and overheating. Electrical insulation covers and protects the copper conductors of cables but they tend to become brittle with age particularly insulations made from rubber. Modern insulation systems use the more durable PVC; however, many residential homes still have to upgrade their electrical systems. Breakdown in insulation may be due to vermin that eat on the insulation. Heat is generated in this faulty condition causing sparks.
Overheating is usually the result of overloaded installations. If too many appliances are connected to an electrical circuit, excessive heat can be generated in the copper conductors which can result into a breakdown of the electrical insulations. Fuses and circuit breakers are safety devices that protect electrical wiring from overheating due an overload or short circuit. Overloading occurs when the circuit carries more load than it handle. For example, on a 15amp circuit, all the appliances and lights on said circuit should not go beyond 15 amps. A 15amp circuit means a maximum of 1600 watts while a 20amp circuit can carry maximum load of 2,200 watts. A blown fuse means there is an overload or short circuit. Should this happen, it is important to call the licensed electrician to locate the source of trouble and fix the problem.
In most cases, the licensed electrician will suggest a circuit breaker as an alternative to the fuse box. Circuit breakers contain sensing devices that opens the circuit when it overheats due to excessive current. Resetting is easy because all that you need to do is flip the switch back on again. In homes that use fuses, there is always the risk of replacing a fuse with higher amperage that will allow more current to flow than what can be handled by the wiring system. This can result into overheating. Using a circuit breaker reduces the risks of overheating because even if it is reset, the capacity remains the same.
To ensure electrical safety in homes and commercial structures, it is important for the job to be carried by a licensed electrician like in Toronto who understands how to avoid an overload or short circuit.