Electricians Bethesda: Electrical Service Panels
If you live in an older home - one that was built around 1965 or earlier - you may be dealing with issues related to an inadequate or inappropriate electrical panel that needs to be upgraded or "heavied-up."
There's reason to believe a latent hazard exists where FPE Stab-Lok circuit breakers are in use. Some household appliances, such as clothes dryers and ranges, are powered by a two-pole 240V circuit protected by this type of breaker but use two or more independent 120V sub-circuits inside the appliance. If, for example, the low-heat (110V) heater in a dryer were to short to the dryer case, a serious overcurrent would occur on one "leg" of the circuit.
Using a single two-pole breaker to power a split circuit that uses a shared neutral, such as those installed in some kitchen areas, is also nearly certain to load each leg of the circuit independently, causing single-leg overloading and subsequent breaker jamming. A breaker that jams and fails to trip under this condition is a fire hazard.
An FPE circuit breaker will appear to function until there is an overcurrent, short circuit, or similar condition. When this occurs, the equipment fails to protect the circuit and the building from overheating and fires, in some cases about 60% of the time, compared to a normal industry failure rate of less than .01%.
It is because dangerous conditions can and do occur without adequate recognition and action by a consumer that circuit breakers and fuses are installed to provide overcurrent protection in the first place.
In the absence of a statement from the manufacturer and/or the US CPSC that newer stock equipment is defect-free, and considering that defects occur in both breakers and the panels themselves, and finally, that testing showed failures in both in-use equipment and new off-the-shelf devices, consumers should replace these panels with newer equipment. This is especially true of those using 240-volt double-pole breakers. If a fire or other hazard occurs, neither the manufacturer nor the Commission will accept responsibility for losses that may ensue.
If you suspect this is the case in your home, consider getting guidance and assistance on an upgrade from local electricians. Bethesda area's Meyer Electrical Services can provide you with an assessment and cost estimate for your home heavy-up.
Most homes built after 1965 are equipped with electrical service panels. However, older homes may still be equipped with a "fuse panel" or "fuse box." These panels serve a similar function as the electrical service panel, but are generally lower amperage fuses that are not split into individual circuits.
Many owners of older homes choose to repair fuse boxes when issues arise, while others replace the entire panel with more powerful, upgradable electrical service panels. Either way, it is recommended that homeowners hire out theses potentially dangerous projects to licensed electricians. Silver Spring residents can turn to Meyer Electrical Services for high quality Siemens electrical panels, installed safely and on time by licensed electrical contractors.
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Meyer: Electricians Silver Spring Residents Trust
At Meyer Electrical Services, we don't believe in providing cookie-cutter service to our customers. Unlike many other electricians Silver Spring area-based Meyer Electrical personalizes its services to the unique needs of each customer.
Since 1991, Meyer has been providing residential and commercial customers in Washington, D.C., and Montgomery County with a range of electrical services from lighting installation to electrical wiring for new construction, renovation and structural expansions. To hire the service of our electricians Bethesda residents ask us for a free estimate.
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