Electric Line Safety
Overhead Electric Lines
Electrical energy constantly seeks a path to the ground. If you touch an uninsulated line with an object or your body, you become this path. The result can be severe injury or death. When you are working around electric overhead lines, follow these rules:
Watch where you are going.
Stay clear.
Don’t touch.
Keep all machinery, equipment, materials, scaffolding tools, boat masts, fruit-picking poles, antennas, satellite dishes, pool skimmers handles, metal ladders and people, etc. at least 10 feet away from the lines. If it looks like they’ll be in your way, call us at 1-800-411-SDGE (7343). Depending on the nature of your job, we may be able to turn off the electricity, cover the lines, or even move them while you complete your work.
Do not remove anything caught in electric lines -- not even an animal. Instead, call SDG&E immediately at 1-800-411 – SDGE (7343).
Underground Electric Lines
Hazards you don’t see, like underground electric lines, are easy to ignore or forget. Yet the danger is just as great. Digging, drilling or blasting can damage these underground lines and cause electrocution or fire.To avoid accident, simply call our Underground Alert Service at 1-800-227-2600. We’ll send someone to your site to show you exactly where our lines are buried. Best of all, this service is free.
Fallen Electric Lines
Fallen electric lines are extremely dangerous. Report any downed lines to SDG&E immediately by calling 1-800-411- SDGE (7343). Never touch a downed line or anyone in contact with the line. Always assume a downed line is live.
Beware of a downed electric line touching a vehicle. Stay clear of the vehicle and the electric line. If an electric line touches your vehicle while you are inside, remain calm and follow these directions:
If you can do so safely, stay inside the vehicle until emergency help arrives.
Warn others to stay away from the vehicle and direct them to call SDG&E.
If you must get out of the vehicle for safety reasons, jump clear. Do not touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time.
Kite and Balloon Safety
Don’t fly kites or metallic or mylar balloons near electric lines. They can cause power outages and can injure you and others including SDG&E employees working on equipment. Follow the guidelines below to make kite and balloon flying safe for you and your family:
Never fly kites near electric lines. If your kite gets caught in an electric line, call SDG&E immediately at 1-800-411-SDGE (7343) to report the problem. NEVER try to remove anything caught in electric lines.
Never fly kites near TV and radio antennas.
Never cross a street or road while flying a kite.
Never fly kites in the rain or during an electric storm.
Make sure that kite string, wood, paper or other kite materials are completely dry.
Never use a kite made with wire or metallic materials, including mylar.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Zinsco Electrical Panel Advice
ADVICE FOR OWNERS - Zinsco Electrical Panel Advice for Homeowners and Home Buyers
These circuit breakers do not offer the level of overcurrent and fire protection provided by most other electrical panels and circuit breakers. This means homes with this equipment are at greater risk of fire or other electrical hazard. Where Zinsco and Zinsco-Sylvania electrical panels are discovered in buildings they should be replaced to reduce some very real fire and shock hazards. Building owners or electricians encountering problems with this equipment are asked to contact us to add that information to our electrical failure data base in an effort to develop accurate safety information which is then shared with appropriate federal and state agencies. Thanks to Mr. James Simmons, a licensed electrician with extensive field experience and the contributor of most of the photos and case reports at this web page.
Where Zinsco electrical panels and Zinsco circuit breakers are in use, arcing, contact-point burn, and even circuit breaker case blow-out have been observed in the field. A principal Zinsco circuit breaker (or Sylvania circuit breaker for those Sylvania panels using the Zinsco product) point of failure appears to be at the point of contact where the circuit breaker contacts clip onto the electrical panel bus, combined with the use of an aluminum electrical panel bus. In addition to advice on identifying Zinsco panels, inspecting Zinsco electrical panels, and repair/replacement advice, we provide field photographs of circuit breaker failures: overheating, burnups, failures to trip, overcurrent protection failure. This document includes field reports of failures and additional anecdotal evidence. As a not-for-profit activity, we have been collecting information and field failure reports for Zinsco/Sylvania electrical components since 1996 in an effort to develop credible failure-rate information which is then shared with the U.S. CPSC and with other electrical failure researchers and educators.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS - Zinsco Electrical Panel Safety Precautions for Homeowners and Home Buyers
The following comments are incomplete - other safety concerns and advice may apply, pending additional technical review by industry experts.
If you are having an emergency right now such as seeing smoke or fire you should get occupants out of the building and call the fire department. This is a general suggestion for any suspected building fire, and is not unique to Zinsco, Sylvania, or any electrical product manufacturer.
Do not touch the electrical panel if you are standing on a wet floor.
Warning of possible fatal electrical shock: If you have noticed any of the trouble signs listed in the next section below, or if you already know that you have problem electrical equipment such as the Zinsco components discussed here, have a qualified electrician inspect the electrical system. Where problems have been observed (such as flickering lights), the electrician can determine the cause of the problem and recommend the appropriate repair.
Do not disassemble electrical equipment nor try to make electrical repairs yourself: You could be electrocuted or you could make the electrical equipment more unsafe by disturbing it.
Although this website includes photographs of the interior of electrical panels, you should not try to see inside the electrical panel by removing screws to take off the cover yourself as this can be quite dangerous.
Determine whether or not you have Zinsco or Sylvania-Zinsco electrical equipment installed by simple visual inspection of the electrical panel exterior, any exposed labels or markings, and by observing the characteristic red and blue-colored circuit breaker toggle switches.
Pending replacement of unsafe electrical panels and circuit breakers of any brand, turn off any suspect circuits such as ones displaying flickering lights.
Be sure that you have working smoke detectors in your home.
Turn off unsafe or suspect electrical equipment. If there is evidence of or suspicion of overheating electrical devices turn off the offending electrical circuit or turn off all electrical power.
To inspect the panel, to confirm that you have unsafe electrical equipment, and to replace unsafe electrical equipment in a home, you should hire a licensed electrician who is familiar with Zinsco/Sylvania equipment and the hazards it poses.
These circuit breakers do not offer the level of overcurrent and fire protection provided by most other electrical panels and circuit breakers. This means homes with this equipment are at greater risk of fire or other electrical hazard. Where Zinsco and Zinsco-Sylvania electrical panels are discovered in buildings they should be replaced to reduce some very real fire and shock hazards. Building owners or electricians encountering problems with this equipment are asked to contact us to add that information to our electrical failure data base in an effort to develop accurate safety information which is then shared with appropriate federal and state agencies. Thanks to Mr. James Simmons, a licensed electrician with extensive field experience and the contributor of most of the photos and case reports at this web page.
Where Zinsco electrical panels and Zinsco circuit breakers are in use, arcing, contact-point burn, and even circuit breaker case blow-out have been observed in the field. A principal Zinsco circuit breaker (or Sylvania circuit breaker for those Sylvania panels using the Zinsco product) point of failure appears to be at the point of contact where the circuit breaker contacts clip onto the electrical panel bus, combined with the use of an aluminum electrical panel bus. In addition to advice on identifying Zinsco panels, inspecting Zinsco electrical panels, and repair/replacement advice, we provide field photographs of circuit breaker failures: overheating, burnups, failures to trip, overcurrent protection failure. This document includes field reports of failures and additional anecdotal evidence. As a not-for-profit activity, we have been collecting information and field failure reports for Zinsco/Sylvania electrical components since 1996 in an effort to develop credible failure-rate information which is then shared with the U.S. CPSC and with other electrical failure researchers and educators.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS - Zinsco Electrical Panel Safety Precautions for Homeowners and Home Buyers
The following comments are incomplete - other safety concerns and advice may apply, pending additional technical review by industry experts.
If you are having an emergency right now such as seeing smoke or fire you should get occupants out of the building and call the fire department. This is a general suggestion for any suspected building fire, and is not unique to Zinsco, Sylvania, or any electrical product manufacturer.
Do not touch the electrical panel if you are standing on a wet floor.
Warning of possible fatal electrical shock: If you have noticed any of the trouble signs listed in the next section below, or if you already know that you have problem electrical equipment such as the Zinsco components discussed here, have a qualified electrician inspect the electrical system. Where problems have been observed (such as flickering lights), the electrician can determine the cause of the problem and recommend the appropriate repair.
Do not disassemble electrical equipment nor try to make electrical repairs yourself: You could be electrocuted or you could make the electrical equipment more unsafe by disturbing it.
Although this website includes photographs of the interior of electrical panels, you should not try to see inside the electrical panel by removing screws to take off the cover yourself as this can be quite dangerous.
Determine whether or not you have Zinsco or Sylvania-Zinsco electrical equipment installed by simple visual inspection of the electrical panel exterior, any exposed labels or markings, and by observing the characteristic red and blue-colored circuit breaker toggle switches.
Pending replacement of unsafe electrical panels and circuit breakers of any brand, turn off any suspect circuits such as ones displaying flickering lights.
Be sure that you have working smoke detectors in your home.
Turn off unsafe or suspect electrical equipment. If there is evidence of or suspicion of overheating electrical devices turn off the offending electrical circuit or turn off all electrical power.
To inspect the panel, to confirm that you have unsafe electrical equipment, and to replace unsafe electrical equipment in a home, you should hire a licensed electrician who is familiar with Zinsco/Sylvania equipment and the hazards it poses.
Better Business Bureau Report
http://sandiego.bbb.org/WWWRoot/Report.aspx?site=26&bbb=1186&firm=171984111
We are proud members of the BBB and are electricians in good standing. We are courteous and prompt. Whether you need electrical repair, advice, or have a question-feel free to contact us. You will get either an immediate response or an answer within 24 hours. Our office is located in Oceanside, North San Diego County. We do electrical work in the entire county. And we will come to you on your schedule to look at your job. It's always free to get an estimate. Ask an electrician during the planning phase to save money on your remodel. We are knowledgable on all the electrical codes and Title 24 requirements.
We are proud members of the BBB and are electricians in good standing. We are courteous and prompt. Whether you need electrical repair, advice, or have a question-feel free to contact us. You will get either an immediate response or an answer within 24 hours. Our office is located in Oceanside, North San Diego County. We do electrical work in the entire county. And we will come to you on your schedule to look at your job. It's always free to get an estimate. Ask an electrician during the planning phase to save money on your remodel. We are knowledgable on all the electrical codes and Title 24 requirements.
Why are we here?
We are a licensed C-10 electrical contractor in North San Diego County, CA. But don't let our name fool you. We service ALL of San Diego county and surrounding communities. Including Oceanside, Carlsbad, Rancho Bernardo, Poway, Jamul, La Jolla, etc. We service residential and commercial clients. We started this blog to open up questions, help with troubleshooting problems and just so you would have a professional to ask a question to.
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