September 2021 • Safe and Sound Electric

Why GE AFCI Breakers are Ahead of the Curve

September 15, 2021

At Safe and Sound Electric we do a lot of remodels. There are a few conditions in older homes that cause AFCI or arc fault breakers to trip. One of the most common causer of this is circuit collisions not on the phase but on the neutral. We see countless number of homes that would be otherwise incompatible with AFCI or arc fault technology because the previous electrician did not segregate neutrals from different circuits. This is no longer a problem using GE AFCI or arc fault circuit breakers. The nomenclature THQL120AF2 denotes the generational difference of circuit breakers with this technology. If the circuit breaker ends in “AF2” it does not matter if the downstream neutral is shared; in fact the downstream neutral doesn’t even need to be landed on the breaker itself, contrary to all breakers made by any competitor. “AF1” and GE’s competitor’s current breakers used a similar same electronic tripping mechanism as a GFCI or ground fault but instead […]

Why Aren’t My Outlets Working?

September 13, 2021

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If your outlet is not working, there is a chance that you’ll need a pro to fix it, but some troubleshooting would come in handy. You’ve already popped your popcorn for movie night, but when you turn on the TV …. nothing. But don’t panic—it’s not your TV that’s dead; it’s the outlet. Outlet malfunctioning is a common problem homeowners face. In some cases, it’s not a bad idea to take a few troubleshooting steps to see if you can solve the problem yourself before calling Safe and Sound Electric. Here’s a guide to some of the most common reasons for a dead electrical outlet. Safety warning: You have to take safety precautions when dealing with electricity. Unplug all devices and appliances from dead outlets. It’s also a good idea not to come near an electric plug or outlet without switching off the breaker from the main electric panel. Why Does My Electrical Outlet Spark? Some outlet sparks are normal, but […]

National Electrical Code Changes in 2020

September 12, 2021

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The 2020 National Electric Code includes requirement updates in four significant areas: surge protection, GFCI protection, firemen’s disconnect and solar power. Be familiar with the official NEC codes in your state. NEC 2020 includes four major updates to the existing 2017 electrical code: NEC 2020 adoption is underway in: NEC 2020 Is in Effect in: GFCI (DWELLINGS) GFCI protection is required for all 125–250V receptacles within 6 feet of sinks. Notable spaces include: This applies to: GFCI protection is also required in non-dwellings. Notable spaces include: This applies to: Emergency Disconnects EMERGENCY DISCONNECT, SERVICE DISCONNECT EMERGENCY DISCONNECT, METER DISCONNECT, NOT SERVICE EQUIPMENT EMERGENCY DISCONNECT, NOT SERVICE EQUIPMENT Surge Protection Now applies to: Solar (California) *The State of California requires solar photovoltaic systems for newly constructed healthcare facilities starting January 1, 2020. NEC 2020 includes several new articles. Surge protection article 242 is one among four.Article 242 Overvoltage Protection combines articles 280 and 285 and addresses surge protective requirements, devices and […]