National electrical code requirements explained To you in everyday language .
This site is intended to help you understand some of the basic requirements for your home according to the national electrical code . The national electrical code is written in legal language and is very difficult for the average consumer homeowner or layperson to understand . I am an electrical contractor with over 20 years experience in the trade both interpreting the national electrical code and implementing the requirements that are found in it . This website is going to cover basic areas of your home and typical problems that people run into . The problems that were going to discuss are usually present because the home was built in previous years . The national electrical code comes out every three years . This been the case the last 50 years . Because it comes out every three years if there is a problem that people are encountering with the current regulations it takes a minimum of three years to rectify the problem . As you can imagine by rectifying problems every three years after 30 years has gone by there have been a great many improvements to the standards for wiring a new home . If you own a brand-new home then the chances for you running into a an electrical problem are less than if you own an older home obviously . But there are problems that can present themselves in newer homes as well . Please check the various pages for more information and possible reasons and solutions for the electrical problems that you may be encountering .
Arc fault circuit breakers
An arc fault circuit breaker is something that is required in bedrooms and some other living areas in new homes built today. and arc fault circuit breaker senses the power that is going out on the hot wire and senses the power coming back on the neutral wire . If there is an appropriate amount cutting back on the neutral proportionate to what is going on on the hot the arc fault circuit breaker remains closed and supplying power . If it senses a disparity it opens the circuit and disconnect the power from the circuit . It also has technology that senses intermittent fluctuations in current on both legs . If there is flickering or arcing or burning on the circuit the circuit breaker opens that circuit and thus disconnect the power .
When arc fault circuit breakers were first incorporated in the marketplace they did had issues with certain types of ceiling fans . This problem has been widely rectified and I have not seen personal evidence of it still being an issue . One of the main problems that we still have with arc fault circuit breakers is simply faulty breakers . We get many calls every year from people who have arc fault circuit breakers installed and the breaker has simply stopped supplying power to the circuit . There are other instances where arc fault circuit breakers seem to cause issues with a certain device on the circuit usually something that is plug and cord connected . The first steps in troubleshooting and arc fault circuit breaker problem are the same steps that are involved in any troubleshooting . Illinois the most obvious and simple problems that could be causing the issue . You do this by simply going to the circuit that is out of power and shutting off all the light switches and unplugging all devices from every single receptacle on the circuit . What you do this you can go back to the electrical panel box and see if the circuit breaker resets . If it does you can then plug things back in and floodlight switches back on until you find the culprit . If the arc fault circuit breaker is bad itself you need a qualified electrician to come in and replace it in your main electrical panel . Arc fault circuit breakers are great at preventing fires and are required by the national electrical code in all homes built today . Matthews electricians nc
When arc fault circuit breakers were first incorporated in the marketplace they did had issues with certain types of ceiling fans . This problem has been widely rectified and I have not seen personal evidence of it still being an issue . One of the main problems that we still have with arc fault circuit breakers is simply faulty breakers . We get many calls every year from people who have arc fault circuit breakers installed and the breaker has simply stopped supplying power to the circuit . There are other instances where arc fault circuit breakers seem to cause issues with a certain device on the circuit usually something that is plug and cord connected . The first steps in troubleshooting and arc fault circuit breaker problem are the same steps that are involved in any troubleshooting . Illinois the most obvious and simple problems that could be causing the issue . You do this by simply going to the circuit that is out of power and shutting off all the light switches and unplugging all devices from every single receptacle on the circuit . What you do this you can go back to the electrical panel box and see if the circuit breaker resets . If it does you can then plug things back in and floodlight switches back on until you find the culprit . If the arc fault circuit breaker is bad itself you need a qualified electrician to come in and replace it in your main electrical panel . Arc fault circuit breakers are great at preventing fires and are required by the national electrical code in all homes built today . Matthews electricians nc