Archive for the ‘Electricity’ Category

 
 
Electrical Circuits For Remodeling Kitchen
January 24th, 2012    Posted by George Trimarche |  Posted in Electricity | No Comments »

 

Ready to remodel your kitchen? Today’s kitchens are the most used rooms in the house. Everyone seems to always congregate around the kitchen for good reason. It’s really the heart of the home.

Remodeling your kitchen will not only improve the look of your cooking corner, but will also make your kitchen a more convenient place to work by upgrading the electrical circuits.

In some of the older homes around New York and New Jersey as well as other Tri-State homes, wiring was not setup for all of the modern gadgets that are installed and used frequently in kitches these days. This is why it is important to upgrade electrical circuits during kitchen remodeling. While looking for electrical engineering services for kitchen remodeling in NJ and NY, you should make sure that the concerned electrical contractor is registered with a respected electrical contractors association.

When remodeling your kitchen, it’s important to keep some things in mind when it comes to the electical portion of your remodel:

Basic Lighting – A 15-amp, 120-volt circuit can power the ceiling fixtures, recessed can lights, and task lighting in the kitchen. Lighting circuits can be run with 14-2 and 14-3 electrical wire.

Refrigerator Circuit – With changing food habits and need to store convenient food, large sized refrigerators are used in most NJ and NY homes. Also, as against older models, modern refrigerators have built-in ice makers and water/ice dispensers. As these massive glorified ice boxes use a lot of power, the circuit should be a dedicated 20-amp, 120 volt circuit.

Cooking Range Circuit – Many home owners prefer to install an electric cooking range in their remodeled kitchen. A 50-amp, 240-volt dedicated circuit can effectively supply power to a cooking range through a 6-3 electrical wire.

Microwave Circuit – Big microwaves demand more and more power due to the amount of wattage use. It is quite common to have 1,200-watt draws from such appliances. They call for a dedicated 20-amp, 120-volt circuit, wired with 12-2 cable. Electrical engineering services registered with electrical contractors association in NJ and NY should be contacted for such jobs.

Dishwasher Circuit – New dishwashers may be a prime requirement in a remodeled kitchen. The required circuit for an electric dishwasher should have ratings of 15-amp, 120-volt and is wired with 14-2 cable.

If you are looking for trusted electricians to help during your kitchen remodel, you can always rely on the certified electrical services from Centrim Electric. We provide electrical installation and electrical maintenance services at affordable rates across NJ and NY. Best of all, we are reliable electrical contractors with a great track-record of successful residential and commercial projects across the area. Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for your kitchen remodel.

 
 
 
 
Importance of Conduits for Electrical Wiring
December 4th, 2011    Posted by Centrim Electric |  Posted in Electricity | No Comments »

 

Electrical conduit is metal or plastic pipe through which electrical wires are passed. The conduit protects electrical wires and is generally used in exposed locations. Hence if wires need to run along an outer surface of wall, they can be safely covered by a conduit. In NJ electricians registered with electrical contractors association are trained to install conduits and work around wires that are enclosed by them. 

Conduits are used in basements, garages, barns, laundry areas, and other exposed areas in homes and commercial premises. Stranded or solid wire is usually pulled through conduit and this is either THHN or THWN type wire. The size of the wire may vary, as per the amount of amperage required to supply the point being fed, and this ultimately determines the size of the conduit that the electrician will need to install.

An electrical conduit installed outdoors should be specifically rated for ‘exterior use’. A skilled NJ electrician typically uses PVC conduit in underground and wet location applications. Such conduits have their own PVC fittings, connectors, couplings, and elbows. They can be easily attached to one another with a cleaner and PVC glue. As PVC conduit is not conductive, electricians always run a green ground wire in the conduit for proper grounding methods at connection points. Commercial electrical contractors also use PVC conduits for wiring in industrial facilities.

Besides PVC conduits, NJ electricians also use flexible metal conduits. These typically come in 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch sizes and are used in spaces where rigid, non-flexible conduit is hard to install. Flexible metal conduit is great for places that call for tight bends and close quarters would make it difficult to bend regular conduit. Water heaters, can lights, and attic vents are few good examples of typical flexible conduit installation.
 
Electrical metallic tubing (EMT) conduit is also used for protection and routing of electrical wiring. These are lightweight, easy to bend, and are used within the walls. However, these may be damaged easily and are considered inferior to IMC conduits.

Intermediate Metal Conduit (IMC) is a thicker conduit that also is galvanized, and this makes it a great choice for outdoor installations. Experienced NJ electricians are trained to install such conduits. IMC is suitable for exposed walls in basements, garages, outbuildings, and areas where conduit where can be hit or damaged.

Those looking for NJ electrician services for installation of conduits in homes and offices can contact Centrim Electric. We are the most reputed residential and commercial electrical contractors in NJ and NY and offer the widest range of quality services to our esteemed customers.

 

 
 
 
 
Reasons Why Circuit Breakers Trip
November 25th, 2011    Posted by George Trimarche |  Posted in Electricity | No Comments »

 

If a circuit breaker trips at your home, it can be reset; similarly, a blown fuse can be replaced. But if such problems occur frequently, it is important to analyze and understand the root cause and take appropriate action to rectify the same. Skilled electricians in NJ and NY registered with electrical contractors associations mention three basic reasons for tripping of circuit breakers and blowing of fuses. These include: overloaded circuit, short circuit, and ground fault.

An overloaded circuit is the most typical reason for a breaker tripping and occurs when a circuit has a heavier electrical load than it is supposed to have. If more current flows through the circuit than what was intended for it, the circuit breaker will "break the circuit.”

According to electricians registered with electrical contractors association, circuit breakers trip when there are too many appliances and other electrical fittings plugged into one outlet or multiple outlets connected to one circuit. To prevent this, lamps, heaters, irons, hair dryers and other heavy power consuming devices should be moved to a different circuit that is not being heavily used. The circuit should also be checked for loose connections and they should be tightened by a proficient electrical contractor.

Short Circuit is a more serious reason for tripping of circuit breaker. This happens when the hot wire (black) touches another hot wire or touches a neutral wire (white). It may also be caused if a wire is broken within the circuit. Shorts are difficult to diagnose as they are caused by defective wiring at your home or because of something that you might have plugged into an outlet. This is why only licensed and experienced electricians registered with electrical contractors association must be contacted for diagnosing and rectifying the problem. They can effectively replace the wires and switches damaged due to short circuit.

Ground Fault conditions exist when the hot wire (black) touches the earth wire (bare copper) or the side of a metal outlet box (since the metal box is connected to the earth wire). The ground fault is also a type of short circuit and can therefore be repaired suitably only by licensed and experienced electricians.

The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) provides valuable information, education, government representation and business assistance to electricians in NJ and NY. An electrical contractor registered with the association uses the most effective techniques to diagnose and rectify electrical issues.

Centrim Electric is a reputed residential and industrial electric contractor registered with National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). Contact us for any new electrical installation, repair and maintenance of electrical systems at your residential or commercial premises.

 

 
 
 
 
Protection Against Electrical Hazards
May 31st, 2011    Posted by George Trimarche |  Posted in Electricity, General Tips | No Comments »

 

Most electrical accidents at commercial and industrial facilities are due to following three factors:

  • Unsafe equipment or installation
  • Unsafe environment
  • Unsafe work practices

The use of insulation, guarding, earthing and protective electrical devices can be an effective way to prevent electrical hazards. Electrical installation work must be entrusted only to licensed and experienced commercial electrical contractors.

The insulation on all current carrying wires must be suitable for the voltage used and conditions such as temperature and other environmental factors like moisture, oil, gasoline or corrosive fumes that could cause the insulator to fail. This is important for factories and manufacturing industrial units where the operations may be amidst moisture and hazardous chemicals. Glass, mica, rubber and plastic can be used to coat metals and other conductors to regulate the flow of current. Shocks, electrical fires and short circuits can be prevented with proper insulation.

Guarding involves locating and enclosing electric equipment to ensure that people do not accidentally come in contact with the live parts. Efficacious guarding requires that equipment with exposed parts operating at 50 volts or more should be placed where it is accessible only to the authorized people qualified to work with it. Conspicuous signs must be posted at entrances to electrical rooms and guarded locations for proper alerts and to forbid entry by unauthorized people.

Earthing or grounding involves a tool or electrical system intentionally creating a low-resistance path that connects to the earth. This prevents the buildup of voltages that can cause an electrical accident. Earthing provides a second path for the current to pass through from a tool or device to the ground. It substantially reduces the risk of an electrical shock.

The protective electrical devices limit or stop the flow of current automatically in the event of a ground fault, overload, or short circuit in the wiring system. Some of these devices include fuses, circuit breakers, ground-fault circuit interrupters and arc-fault circuit interrupters.

Centrim Electric offers quality services for the installation of safe electrical systems in commercial, industrial as also residential premises across NJ and NY. To ensure the finest electrical installation, maintenance and repair works, contact Centrim Electric and see the difference we make for your projects.

 
 
 
 
General Safety Tips for Working Near Electrical Fittings
April 25th, 2011    Posted by George Trimarche |  Posted in Electricity, General Tips | No Comments »

 

The requirement of power in commercial establishments is huge, and high-voltage appliances such as central heating/cooling systems, lighting systems, fire alarms, CCTV and security systems need to be installed throughout the premises.

To avoid safety hazards, some general rules must be followed by the employees working around electrical equipment:

  • The tools, power cords and electrical fittings must be inspected for damage prior to each use. Any damaged equipment must be repaired or replaced immediately.
  • The cords must be taped securely to the walls or floors when necessary. Staples and nails can damage cords causing fire and shock hazards.
  • The cords and equipment used in a commercial establishment must be rated for the level of amperage or wattage.
  • The size of the fuse must always be correct. If a fuse is replaced with one of larger size, it may carry excessive currents in the wiring and possibly start a fire.
  • Halogen lamps must be placed away from combustible materials such as curtains as these can become very hot and may cause a fire hazard.
  • The circuit breakers and fuse boxes must be labeled properly. There should be visible identification marks for the outlet or appliance they are connected with.

At Centrim Electric, we like to keep all of our customers updated about the right ways to work with electrical equipment. Being leading industrial electrical contractors of NJ and NY, we always offer quality services in all projects undertaken by us. Call us today to learn how we can power up your next project.

 
 
 
 
About Electrical Wiring
April 18th, 2011    Posted by George Trimarche |  Posted in Electricity | No Comments »

 

Electrical wiring refers to the layout and system of conductors and other devices which are used to carry electricity. The kind of electric wiring system to be used for a building depends on the amount of power required, the purpose for which it will be used and the location. For instance a home would have a lesser power consumption than an office or any other commercial establishment. Hence the electric wiring system must try to maximize energy efficiency in a safe manner.

The wire is the electrical conductor, usually made of copper or other materials good at transmitting current. Electric wires are insulated for safety reasons and to prevent any damage to the conductor itself. This insulation is in the form of plastic or fiber coverings. 

There is an international standard to categorize the types of wires and cables used in the electrical wiring system. These help electricians to identify the right wire for installation and repair purposes. Color coating is a common way to recognize the kind of wire – live, neutral, earth. The color codes, however differ in various countries. In USA, a black brass color is used for live wires whereas a brown color is used for same in Australia and New Zealand.

Some cables used by electrical engineering services consist of a number of small-gauge, solid wires wrapped around a central wire. These can increase the amount of electrical power that is carried in the wire. Being flexible and easy to shape, they are ideal for fitting electrical wiring behind the walls of house.

At Centrim Electric we constantly deliver excellence in all the projects that we undertake while also keeping our clients informed about safe use of electricity driven devices. Our services have always been appreciated and have set high benchmarks for many of our rivals.
 

 
 
 
 
Home Owners: A Few Electrical Tips
April 4th, 2011    Posted by George Trimarche |  Posted in Electricity, Residential | No Comments »

 

Electrical appliances that we use at home are not just a comfort factor but have become a basic necessity. A sudden power failure can interrupt a dozen activities at home. For cooking, cleaning, washing, laundering and even for few peaceful hours of rest or sleep in our rooms, we do need our electrical appliances.

The installation of these electric appliances and the laying down of wires, cables, and fuses calls for skill and expertise. A slight mistake may become a major safety hazard for the occupants of the house. Residential contractors for electrical fittings need to take real care to avoid any error.

The "earthing" is also important with electrical wiring because the ground does not carry a current. With this, any electric current will flow to the earth if it escapes an electric flex or cable. For this the neutral wire is purposely connected to the earth to prevent a person from getting electric shock. It also ensures that in case of an insulation fault or short circuit, a very high current flows to trigger an over-current protection device – fuse or circuit breaker – and disconnect the power supply.

At Centrim Electric Inc, we install only quality electrical equipment in your homes. Voltage stabilization along with over-voltage protection is ensured with a good grounding or earthing system. The wires, sockets, switches and cables installed by our electricians are fully tested and meet the highest standards of quality. Our professionals also help you with tips for lower power consumption. This is necessary not just to reduce your personal electricity bills, but also goes a long way to protect our environment. We also cater to commercial projects and abide by all safety regulations under major electrical contractors associations.

 
 
 
 
Commercial Electrical Contractors: “Empowering” Your Business!
March 12th, 2011    Posted by George Trimarche |  Posted in Electricity, General Tips | No Comments »

 

Having a seamless supply of electricity is critical for industrial or commercial work environments. From lights, computers and printers to generators, coffee vending machines and freezers, almost everything in a commercial establishment is dependent on electricity. Industrial or commercial spaces depend heavily on seamless supply of power, enhanced quality and timely completion of electrical installations for their smooth functioning. Hence it is imperative to seek the services of a professional industrial electrical contractor, ideally a member of the electrical contractors association.

A skilled commercial electrical contractor helps to avoid interruptions in work flow caused due to the non-supply of power so that the workers feel comfortable working in a non-disruptive environment even when an electrical work is being done. Thus, a commercial industrial contractor minimizes revenue and time loss for the company.  

Industrial electrical installations have high security standards that must be fool-proof in order to provide highly safe and secure work environment for workers and clients. This can only be ensured by a professional industrial contractor. Moreover, a competent commercial contractor is trained to work in a variety of locations – from office spaces and retails stores to restaurants and water parks.

Your search for a skilled and experienced commercial electrical contractor ends at Centrim Electric, Inc. With over five decades of work experience and high position in the electrical consulting and contracting sector, Centrim comprises a pool of extremely proficient industrial electrical contractors who possess a thorough knowledge of design, strategy and execution.

With their expert skills, the commercial electrical contractors at Centrim are renowned for providing a finished project of optimum quality at a competitive cost and within expected deadlines. You may expect a Centrim commercial electrical contractor to have a keen eye for increasing efficiency in all areas of electrical contracting for you specific business. Additionally, these commercial electrical contractors also provide electrical engineering services such as design-build expertise, highly efficient installation standards and ‘green’ sensitivity for businesses of all size and scope.  

Get a knowledgeable and experienced commercial electrical contractor for your business today and watch your business grow uninterrupted. For more information on the scope and services provided by Centrim’s commercial electrical contractors, contact us today for an evaluation of your project.

 
 
 
 
Some Valuable Guidelines for Choosing the Right Commercial Electrical Contractor:
February 22nd, 2011    Posted by George Trimarche |  Posted in Electricity, General Tips | No Comments »

 

1.
Hire a company that is reputable.

2.
Make sure that the commercial electrical contractors are properly licensed. For example, make sure that they are a licensed electrical contractor in New York or licensed electrical contractor in New Jersey, etc…

3.
Research to see that the electrical consulting firm has an extensive and impresive portoflio.

4.
Learn more about their staff, and if their electritians are well trained with the proper safety requirements.

5.
When retaining a Commercial Electrician ensure that they are versatile to work on new construction, building renovations, or to support your currently installed systems.

6.
Be sure to discuss timelines of job completition. It is important to establish an estimated finish date.

7.
One way to be sure about the future results of an electrical contracting firm is to request and check refrences of past completed work.

If there any way we can help, please do not hesitate to contact us directly. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

 
 
 
 
Green Building Blog: $100 Million Grants for Training Announced by Department of Energy
April 8th, 2010    Posted by George Trimarche |  Posted in Electricity, Energy-Savings | 2 Comments »

 

If you've ever considered going for "skilled" technician training, now's the time. Almost $100 million worth of grants have been awarded by the US Department of Energy to various college, universities, and companies who can create programs to train electricians, technicians, and others. The grants will be used to create the program materials as well as for training people in  intelligent grid systems such as sensors, smart meters, and communication networks.

The largest winners of the grants were the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), the Utility Florida Power and Light and the Pennsylvania State University who each got approximately $5 million. General Electric also got over $600K to help develop a smart grid center where each year hundreds of engineers and software developers can receive training.

The most optimistic news of all?

Independent surveys that were conducted showed that abotu 47% of power engineers will either leave or be eligible for retirement within the next five years. That means that the demand is going to be high for people in those service areas. So this is a perfect opportunity for all of us who want to upgrade our skills or get advanced training to get paid more.

Look to the Department of Energy website to see who else won the grants and get ready to spruce up your skills. It's a win-win opportunity for all.