Orlando

Electrical Safety Tips Anyone Can Follow

Every electrical appliance has a cord, and many homes use extension cords to increase the range of electrical outlets. These safety tips can help keep cords in good condition for safe operation.

•Check cords regularly for frays, cracks or kinks, including power tool cords, holiday lights and extension cords.
•Cords are not be jump ropes, clothes lines or leashes, and should never be used for anything other than their intended purpose.
•Cords should be firmly plugged into outlets – if the cord is loose and can pull out easily, choose a different, more snug outlet.
•Do not staple or nail cords in position at any time; if the cord does not remain where desired, use tape or twist ties to secure it.
•Cords should not be placed beneath rugs where they can become a trip hazard or where frays will not be noticeable. Furthermore, covering a cord will prevent it from keeping as cool as possible.
•Do not make modifications to a cord’s plug at any time – do not clip off the third prong or attempt to file down a wider prong to fit in a different outlet.
•Extension cords are a temporary solution only and their use should be minimized whenever possible.
•Use the proper weight and length of extension cord for the appropriate task, and be sure the cord is rated for indoor or outdoor use, whichever is required.
•When unplugging a cord, pull on the cord at the outlet rather than tug on the cord itself.

Orlando

Electrical Safety Tips Anyone Can Follow

Appliances
Appliances are an integral part of every household, from a simple electric clock to the microwave oven to decorative holiday lights. These safety tips can help keep all appliances operating safely:

•Unplug unused appliances and stow cords safely out of reach of pets, young children or hazardous situations.
•Appliances that generate heat, such as clocks, televisions and computer monitors, should be given several inches of clearance all around for good air circulation and cooling. Do not drape clothes, toys or other items over warm appliances.
•Always follow appliance instructions carefully, and do not attempt amateur repairs or upgrades.
•Keep all electrical appliances away from water such as sinks, bathtubs, pools or overhead vents that may drip.
•Do not operate any electrical appliance with wet hands or while standing in water.
•Keep clothes, curtains, toys and other potentially combustible materials at least three feet away from radiators, space heaters, heating vents and other heat sources.

Orlando

Should I Replace My Federal Pacific Panel?

Federal Pacific Electric “Stab-Lok” service panels and breakers are a latent hazard and can fail to trip in response to over-current, leading to electrical fires. These breakers may also fail to shut off internally even if the toggle is switched to “off.” Some double-pole (240-Volt) FPE circuit breakers and single-pole FPE Stab-Lok circuit breakers simply do not work safely. There are other panel-defects independent of the breaker problems, panel and panel-bus fires and arcing failures in some equipment. The failure rates for these circuit breakers were and still are significant. In some cases failure to trip occurs 60% of the time – a serious fire and electrical shock hazard. Failures are documented in the CPSC study and by independent research. Additional independent testing and research are on-going. FPE Stab-Lok electrical panels should be replaced. Do not simply swap in some replacement breakers.

Federal Pacific Electric panels known problems:

Breakers do not always trip when circuit
is overloaded
Breakers arc to the buss bar and damage it
Breakers are damaged by arcing and heat
Replacement breakers are expensive
Breaker failure can cause electrical fire

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