A Long-Gone Company name on an old piece of service equipment in the basement of a building built in the early 1900’s had a manufacturers tag: Arrow-Hart & Hegeman. A name I didn’t recognize and wondered if it still existed. It turns out that Charles G. Perkins founded the Arrow Electric Manufacturing Co. in 1905 […]Read More about Arrow-Hart & Hegeman Lives & Glows
Modern “In”convince!
A 1950’s house, with all the modern convinces of the time. The party room with spotlights and bar, built in intercom and music in all the rooms. The wiring was amazing, lights everywhere, recessed, at the top of the window treatments, with ceiling fans, just mind boggling! But more mind boggling was trying to figure […]Read More about Modern “In”convince!
Updated Wiring Issues Never Corrected
When the house was remodeled and the electric service upgraded the electrical inspector failed the inspection and notated three items that required correction. Somehow this was overlooked and the house was sold to a new owner who had it inspected before move in. The issues noted on the back of the inspection tag should have […]Read More about Updated Wiring Issues Never Corrected
You Need a New Electric Service
Looking at buying a new house? Or possibly you already own one. If it’s an older home from the first half of the 1900’s look at the electric meter base. That’s the metal part that the glass attaches to, if it’s anything other than round you are good! If it’s round it’s only rated for […]Read More about You Need a New Electric Service
Is Your Garbage Disposal a Club Member
When it comes to garbage disposals there one common issue that seems to repeat itself house after house. The problem is that plumbers are not electricians and electricians are not plumbers. Most garbage disposals do not come with a power cord attached which means that the plumber has to do his/her best to wire it […]Read More about Is Your Garbage Disposal a Club Member
Clothes Dryer Cord Confusion
For many a clothes dryer plug is something they never think about, that’s possibly until you move to a new home. The US standard for years was a three prong 220 volt plug on a gray colored cord. In 1996 there was a change and all new construction from then on had to have a […]Read More about Clothes Dryer Cord Confusion
RV Electric Plugs Explained
Covid increased the sales of RV’s and there is hardly a street in Dayton that does not have an RV parked in the driveway or down the side of the house. If your rig is parked for a while the coach batteries will tend to go flat, deep cycle batteries that are allowed to discharge […]Read More about RV Electric Plugs Explained
The AFCI Breaker You May Grow to Hate
New homes come with new breakers in the electric panel box, some of them will look like the ones you may have had in your previous house and others will have a small colored button and the word ARC printed on the front of it. Engineers wanted to make bedrooms a safer place, electric blanket […]Read More about The AFCI Breaker You May Grow to Hate
Incorrect Dryer Receptacle for Wire Type
There are two types of clothes dryer plugs and receptacles. The older one with three prongs and typically a gray cord (still in use and perfectly acceptable). Then there are the new four prong plugs, these all have a black cord and plug. The additional pin on the plug is for a ground wire adding […]Read More about Incorrect Dryer Receptacle for Wire Type
Generator Hook Up Must Be Legal
With global weather patterns changing power outages are becoming widespread, outages that were localized are now becoming citywide as hurricanes, flooding and wildfires threaten communities. The answer is a standby generator. There are the permanent types that are installed on a pad outside and the portable type that is generally stored in the garage then […]Read More about Generator Hook Up Must Be Legal
Recessed Lights Pose a Fire Hazard
As a homeowner you probably don’t typically give much thought about the lights in your home, as long as they are doing what lights are supposed to do. You flip the switch, instantaneous illumination, you can see and life is good! However, it is what we can’t see that can be a cause for concern. […]Read More about Recessed Lights Pose a Fire Hazard
Magnificent Bathroom, Dangerous Light Fixtures
Inspecting a beautiful home in Centerville, the buyer was impressed with all the updates. The house while not being old had been recently remodeled and a deep soaking bathtub installed. The scene was like something in a magazine, the bath, the view, the chandelier lights….. Chandelier lights? This is fine and looks great in the […]Read More about Magnificent Bathroom, Dangerous Light Fixtures
Loose Wire Connections Cause Fires
Electricity is strange, when we look at it there is nothing there, but it can do so much. We just know that it can make things work, why and how is beyond us. Electricity is an energy form, energy just like friction creates heat that is generally minimal and controlled by the circuit breakers in […]Read More about Loose Wire Connections Cause Fires
Garage Receptacle for a Refrigerator or Freezer?
Have you ever wondered why there is sometimes a single receptacle in your garage? You know that the regular looking one with the buttons is a GFCI protected receptacle (and it often supply’s power to your exterior receptacles). The GFCI is a safety type receptacle that turns off the power to the circuit in the […]Read More about Garage Receptacle for a Refrigerator or Freezer?
