Strategic Electrical Solutions Inc.

05/05/2026

One of the easiest things that anyone can do to protect their electrical system is to not exceed its design. A very simple thing to help in this is knowing how to know how much power is being used.
There are 3 parts of a basic math formula that will give you a good indication of how much power is being used by a circuit.

Ohm's Law tells us that Amperage (rate of flow of electricity) is proportional to the voltage (force of electricity) divided by wattage (the amount of power being used) in a circuit. In simple terms, Amperage=Volts/Watts (I=V/R). While there is a lot more that goes into actual uses, this gives you enough information to know if a circuit is close to capacity.

Amperage is the key factor to pay attention to. In most homes, the majority of receptacles are connected to a 15amp circuit (kitchen and baths connect to a 20) which is why it is important to know what is connected to a circuit. We may not think about the power consumption because we have grown accustomed to our electrical system working but over time damage may occur. A thing we come across commonly are space heaters. Generally they consume 1500 watts of power and with knowing that using Ohm's Law gives us the amperage we need to look at. By using the formula it tells us that 120v/1500w=12.5amps. That alone is 83% of the capacity of a common 15a circuit. This also does not account for what else may be on the same circuit. Operating at that capacity for an extended amount of time causes damage to devices and wiring which can lead to breakers tripping, devices and wiring failing, even fires.

Understanding basic electrical principles can help keep you and your home and place of work safe from hazards associated with electricity.

05/03/2026

Electrical failures are becoming a leading cause of house fires. Some is due to the average age of dwellings along with routine maintenance not being formed. What should be considered when thinking about is it time for a check up?

-What is the age of the electrical system? Over time use and conditions can deteriorate wiring and devices. Loose connections can cause arcing and lead to heat and stress that components are not designed to handle.
-Do plugs feel loose when things are plugged in? Plugging in appliances that use a lot of power can loosen terminals over time. Not only can this be a fire hazard, but also a safety if you come in contact with energized parts.
-Do outlets look discolored? This is a sign of major issues of connections.
-Lights Flickering?, breakers tripping, some things just stopped working? All common issues of problems with your electrical system.

Finding a trusted electrician that understands and can implement a maintenance plan can help extend the life of your electrical system.

05/02/2026

Let's kick things off of where it all begins.

The National Electric Code (NEC) is a document published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The first edition was published in 1897 as a 39 page document as a collaborative effort by insurance, electrical, and construction stakeholders. Today it has evolved to being revised every 3 years and over 1,000 pages. "The Code" serves as a standard for minimum install practices and covers all aspects of electrical installations.

The document NOT a how to guide not an instruction manual of how to install, it tells us what is required. As with everything today, information is a quick search away and the NFPA has made is so anyone can reference codes and standards. NFPA.org has free access.

In many states in order to become a licensed professional electrician, testing on the contents found in the code ensures that knowledge of requirements are known. From installing a light fixture, required working spaces, all the way to requirements for critical care facilities, the NEC describes requirements for installations.

05/01/2026

May is NATIONAL ELECTRICAL SAFETY MONTH and Strategic Electrical Solutions Inc. is kicking off a month long campaign to help keep you and your family safe when it comes to the hazards associated with it.

We all use electricity everyday. From the morning cup of coffee to charging our phones at night we take for granted the advancements in all of the components used in an electrical system to keep us safe.

Over this month we will cover topics from the home and workplace, topics that we as electricians use to meet code and provide a safe condition for those who use it, what to look for if you suspect an issue, and many more.
Comment below if you have a topic that you might like it cover and we will try and fit it in. HAPPY SAFETY!!

04/25/2026

02/12/2026

Humor me and read for a minute. With the news on Nancy Gunthrie and the door camera footage being discussed brings about a couple of things to think about.
We know there was a Nest brand doorbell camera that caught someone of interest and that is great news to a point. The good news is there is an image that gives authorities a lead to go on, the not so great news that is discussed is how they got that information.

Here is where all of us should think about product selections and how much privacy we are willing to give up. So the issue comes with these products that have subcributions, (There are a lot of options out there). Yes, they give us access to footage of our property in real time, allow for reviewing of what may have been missed when away, even allow for direct communication without being close to a possible threat. Here is the darker side we are finding out in this sad event, there was not an active subscription for retrieval on a device. How were these images found? You guessed it, on some server that is used by these companies.

Now, I am not saying there is not a practical use for these brands, devices, etc. but it does raise concerns of our true privacy you have. Our thoughts on premise security hold a lot of the same functions the other brands have but gives the user the control of what is shared.

A takeaway that this post is intended for is for no sales tactic, defending/booting on brand or another, or any scare tactic to remove what you may have in place now. This post is to help inform.
We all know there is always someone watching whenever we are in public, but do you want your property to have the possibility of being accessed without your knowledge or even worst, the information gets hacked and accessed by someone would would not want to see it.

Our recommendations if some of these issues give concerns are to look at options available. Look into options that may include:
-On site NVR (Recorder) that has enough space to capture at least a week of footage. This gives you control of who has access and what you want to share. Also, this can help if a network connection is lost.
-Consider placements of cameras. One location at a door may miss details that could be helpful in investigations or just knowing what led up to an event.
-Camera resolution. Details matter. Low resolutions lead to "grainy" images that could make all the differences.
-Hard connections. Yes, WiFi is simple to install and provides a lot of flexibility in locations. This has limitations, if network drops then communications can be disrupted. Look at POE (network connected) over a cabling system (Cat 5,6,7) to give piece of mind that even if there is a network disruption recording is in place.
-Placement of equipment. Beyond cameras, secure the NVR and data equipment. You wouldn't leave your car keys in the car, you don't want to leave the main parts of the system in the open.
-Remote viewing/Sharing. If you are in the backyard, or on vacation, a capability of viewing and/or getting alerts should be considered. Give others you trust access so they can review also if the need arises.

Be mindful of choosing what your needs may be. Consult with professionals on thoughts, needs, brands, etc. Keep in mind there is not one brand that is better than another just options, features, and security that decisions should be based one. Yes, we do have some brand preferences we suggest but we also know there are many options. Our preferences are based on security and privacy piece of mind along with meeting the needs of our customers concerns.

We are happy to help with any questions you may have and give some insights to keep you, your family, and your property monitored. Take another minute to read the article for where this post is coming from and the importance of making informed decisions of products you use in your daily life.

Recovered footage from Guthrie's doorbell camera sparks questions that Google and Amazon are storing customer video data even when they claim it has been deleted.