Archive for the ‘General News’ Category

 
 
Common Household Switches
January 10th, 2013    Posted by George Trimarche |  Posted in General News | No Comments »

 

The electrical switches in a house complete the circuit to light fixtures when they are turned on to ‘switch on’ the light. Likewise, they break the circuit when they are turned off to switch the light off. The team of electrical contractors at Centrim Electric installs a variety of switches for household, commercial and industrial facilities.

Three commonly used switches used in American homes and offices include:

Single-pole switches – These are the most basic switches for homes and offices installed by electrical contractors in NY. Single pole switches just turn a light fixture on and off. These are available in a variety of colors and styles and are rated for 15 and 20 amps. Single-pole switches have two brass terminals for the live or hot wire connections and a green screw for the ground connection. The toggle handle on a single-poled switch may also be labeled for 'on' and 'off'.

Three-way switches – The convenience of a three way switch is that it controls lights from two different locations. A three-way switch proves very useful for lighting in spacious hallways, stairwells, and large rooms such as living rooms. They are also good for rooms that have more than one doorway. A three-way switch has two brass screws – a dark colored screw and a green one. The dark colored screw is for the live wire or the switch leg. The green screw in a three way switch is for the ground connection. Unlike single-pole switches, three-way switches do not have the toggle handle switched. This is because one position does not mean that it is necessarily on or off – it depends on the position of the other switch.

Dimmer switches – Our team of electrical contractors in NY and NJ has also installed a number of dimmer switches. These switches control the brightness or intensity of light. Dimmer switches use rheostats to brighten or dim the lights and are an advanced form of single-pole switches with multiple options. A dimmer switch may work just fine with incandescent lighting, but specialized dimmer switches are needed for ceiling fans and fluorescent lights. A rotary dimmer switch is basically a switch with a rheostat that is used to dim the lights via the switch.

Centrim Electric is a licensed and one of the most reputable residential and commercial electrical contractors in NY and NJ. Contact us for the installation and repair of any kind of electrical switches at most affordable rates for your home, office or industrial premise.

 
 
 
 
Electrical Maintenance to Prevent Blackouts
January 2nd, 2013    Posted by George Trimarche |  Posted in General News | No Comments »

 

There are times when supply of electrical power suddenly stops at your premises leaving all rooms in a state of darkness. Such problems are particularly irksome when you are at home and need to spend an evening relaxing with your favorite TV show or simply want to take a nap. Even while working on computers or any electrical appliance, a sudden power problem can be very frustrating. In offices and at other commercial or industrial premises, sudden power outage can obviously lead to complete stoppage of work operations. However, such glitches can be avoided with appropriate electrical maintenance and timely repair or replacement of faulty equipment and/or wiring. As the leading residential and commercial electricians of the Tri State area, Centrim Electric helps its clients to maintain their electrical equipment for optimum operational efficiency. We are also registered with the electrical contractors association of the states.

Blackouts are typically caused by faults or overloads. In both the cases, protective devices such as circuit breakers and fuses operate to switch off the supply of power to prevent damage to various electrical fittings. Faults are caused by accidents or weather conditions. There is a greater chance of faults in overhead power lines. Overloads occur when the usage of electricity exceeds the capacity of the distribution system that supplies it.

Usually, the switch board is the first thing that the electrician checks in case of a blackout. If the circuit breaker or safety switch has tripped or fuse has been blown, it may be a case of overload, faulty appliance or faulty wiring. The wiring can be repaired and replaced by electrical contractors. Further, they check if the existing wiring is suitable for the electrical appliances being used at the premises. Surge protection devices can also be installed to enhance the safety and durability of the electrical systems.

Regular electrical maintenance not only reduces the chances of faults that cause blackouts, but also helps the property owners to safely add new appliances, lighting fixtures and HVAC (heating, ventilation, air-conditioning) systems at their premises. Homeowners should indeed get the suitability of their electrical fittings checked before adding a new device.

Centrim Electric is a one of the leading electrical contractors in NJ and NY and offers a wide range of service for electrical maintenance and new electrical installations. We work for a variety of residential, commercial and industrial projects and always ensure total quality in all our work.

 
 
 
 
Centrim Electric Tips: Electrical Maintenance
May 18th, 2011    Posted by George Trimarche |  Posted in General News, General Tips, Uncategorized | No Comments »

 

The availability and proper working of electrical systems in a commercial facility is integral to employee productivity and efficiency. Lighting, air conditioning systems, computer networks, the security set up such as CCTV and fire alarms need to be maintained well with timely repair and replacement as and when required.

Loose wiring, damaged circuit breakers and worn out electrical equipment could be a cause of major safety hazard in the premises. The loose wiring might also cause power fluctuations in the devices or cause them to operate erratically.

Electrical maintenance includes not only the installation of new devices but also the complete testing of all existing equipment and machines. The emergency lighting, signage and power indicator displays must also be checked. If any flaws are discovered, they need to be repaired by proficient and licensed commercial electrical contractor.

The electrical maintenance in a commercial facility is more complex than residential electrical maintenance. The total power consumption in a commercial enterprise being huge, provision for earthing, switch board placement, over current protection and electrical motors installation calls for detailed planning and schematic configuration. Electrical maintenance needs to be in compliance with the latest regulations.

To ensure proper electrical maintenance, all equipment must be checked for signs of:

  • Damage to the cable covering: cuts and abrasion on the cover
  • Damage to the plug: cracks on the casing, bent pins
  • Non standard joints including taped joints in the cable
  • Damage to the outer cover of the equipment or loose parts and screws
  • Burn marks or stains due to over heating

Testing is also an important phase of maintenance. Electrical contractors have to ensure that the complete system is fool proof and the devices perform with complete efficiency for at least the next 15-20 years.

For a commercial facility such a hotel or guest house, electrical maintenance is essential to ensure customer satisfaction. Proper functioning of central heating and cooling systems, lighting, communication and entertainment devices is integral to the operations of an organization that works in the very domain of hospitality.

Centrim Electric understands the significance of electrical maintenance for commercial enterprises. We have a skilled team of licensed electricians with a rich experience of dealing with numerous large scale projects. Contact us for any assistance you need with your electrical systems.

 
 
 
 
Commercial Electrical Contractors
April 18th, 2011    Posted by George Trimarche |  Posted in Commercial, General News | No Comments »

 

Commercial electrical contractors offer a comprehensive range of electrical services for the business-to-business market. Business organizations may need multiple electrical services apart from basic lighting and air conditioning in their buildings. Fire alarm installations, CCTV security systems, emergency lighting installations, intercom system, scaffold lighting and tele-data systems may be required for smooth operations of many departments.

The repair and maintenance of all electrical systems is also necessary and this can certainly not be delayed for a business organization. A little problem or damage to any equipment may hinder the operations and daily business activities. The commercial electricians need to take adequate care and install only the finest equipment to prevent any hazard or failure of a system.

At Centrim Electric, we ensure total quality management for all our projects. We know how important business continuity and disaster recovery procedures are for commercial organizations. They need skilled commercial electrical contractors who can take the complete responsibility for proper layout, installation and maintenance of their systems.

Centrim Electric has a keen eye for increasing efficiency in all areas of electrical consulting. Our services have always been recommended by our clients and have set high benchmarks for our competitors.