Please be careful when performing any electrical repairs or installation. Electricity is powerful and can be very dangerous. This material is only for informational purposes and is not instructional. Please consult a professional as appropriate.
These are quick answers to common safety and emergency questions.
I have surge protection on my home. Am I totally
safe from lightning strikes?
No. Surge and Lightning protection do offer additional
levels of protection but nothing can guarantee completely against
forces of nature and where they strike.
Why does the fuse (or circuit breaker) keep going off?
You probably have too many appliances on that circuit. Too many
appliances, especially heat-producing ones, can cause a circuit
overload. Breakers and fuses typically don’t go bad with
age. If you have to reset it more than once, it should be checked
by an electrician.
Are the receptacles in your kitchen, bathroom or outside your home not working?
Chances are your GFCI receptacle (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) or breaker needs to be reset. The breaker should be in your panel box with typically a yellow push test button on it. To reset, flip handle to the Off position, then back On. If the breaker trips again, call your electrician. The GFCI receptacles could be located in your bathroom, garage, basement, or outside. Press the reset button located on the front of the receptacle. If it doesn’t click in position it is probably bad and should be replaced.
My smoke detector keeps chirping. What does this mean?
This could mean one of two things:
1) An intermittent chirp is probably an indication of a defective smoke detector.
2) A consistent chirp is probably an indication of a low battery condition and the smoke detector requires a new battery. For safety's sake, fix this as soon as possible.
What is a GFCI device or breaker?
GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. In layman's
terms this device protects you from electrical shock. When it senses
the slightest increase in resistance resulting from ground fault,
(i.e., the use of electrical devices in or near water) it trips
off to protect you.
What are the red and black buttons on my GFCI outlet?
The black button is a test button. When pressed, it should deactivate
the outlet, and any other outlet fed from it, indicating a properly
functioning device. The red button is the re-set button. In the
event of deactivation resulting from a fault, you press it to reactivate
the outlet or outlets.
What is the difference between a breaker panel and an
old fuse panel?
Both circuit breakers and fuses are designed to "trip" (turn
off) in case of an electrical overload; in other words, 20 Amps
of electrical load on a 15 Amp circuit will cause a trip.
The only difference is that a breaker is mechanical and may be
reset, while a fuse is one time only and must be replaced. Modern
breakers are much more efficient and offer greater levels of protection.
ATTENTION! Please be careful when performing any electrical repairs or installation. As you know, electricity is powerful and can be very dangerous.
This material is only for informational purposes and is not instructional. Please consult a professional as appropriate.
Emergency Steps
What do I
do when the power goes off in my home?
First, check with neighbors in your immediate area. If
they are experiencing the same problem, call your local
power company to make a report. Check outside to see if
any trees or branches have damaged your cable. Do not touch
any wires that may have fallen!
Contact BG&E at 1-800-685-0123
in or around Anne Arundel County.
How do I reset my breaker when it has tripped off?
First, disconnect any additional devices that may have caused
the breaker to overload and trip. Breakers are mechanical
devices and must be turned all the way off before turning
back on.
Remember this is a mechanical device, so this may
require several attempts. If this fails to reset the breaker,
there may be a more serious problem. Contact a licensed
electrician in your area.