10/21/2017
The Holidays are approaching so very quickly and that means decorations inside and out, plus the colder weather brings out those temp. plug in wall heaters which in my opinion cause more damage and risk of life. To so many of you that think 120 volts means things are safe are dangerously misinformed. 120 volts stands for the amount of voltage that operates you electrical needs. Volts has nothing to do with how many strings of lights you can put up or heaters that you plug in to a normal receptacle. A easy tool for you to remember this is as follows. Your living room and bedroom circuits are usually wired in 14-2 size wire that is capable of carrying 1400 watts while kitchen circuits are wired in 12-2 which is capable of carrying 1700 watts. So now you check what is being used on this circuit by looking on the back of the equipment. Your TV will probably draw a 1000 watts, a vacuum 1300 watts, a computer 400 watts and lets say one of those heaters you buy at a big box store will most likely draw 1400 watts. Now you do the math, if you totaled all these items and they were a plugged and operating on the same circuit we are up to over 4000 watts that potentially could all operate at the same time and remember the 14-2 wire is rated for 1400 watts and you are trying to run 4100 watts through this wire and something we forgot that this circuit is also carrying lights and other things. Now we are in the Danger Zone and you are relying on a 15 amp breaker to trip to save you from a fire. Here is the problem, many of you have breakers that are 20 -30 years old and they become tired and can malfunction and when that happens, you guessed it, a FIRE can happen There are many things you can do as a homeowner, periodically walk around your house and touch the wall plates and see if any of them are warm and the same with the electrical panel, it will become warm or making a buzzing noise, those are warning signs, so try and learn from what I have just written to you Roger
