Artisan Electric | Midwest Indiana Electrical Consultants

Batteries, batteries, batteries – there is no escaping the vortex these days.  From small portable consumer electronics like cell phones, cameras, and ipods; to portable tools, batteries for back up UPS systems for computers and sump pumps,  to cars, trucks, and heavy equipment – the battery industry is alive and well.

We recently came across an excellent source for battery information and replacement products that we want to share… best part is that company is based LOCALLY right here in Otterbein, IN.

Please take a moment to check out the  Battery TIP Blog for products, disposal information, tips (like how two get more go juice for your cell phone), and those hard to find specialty batteries!!!

The deadline for the $8,000 first time home buyer benefit that the federal government is offering is set to expire on April 30th – 2010. This means you are going to see A LOT of home deals get legs in the next few weeks… and with home deals come home inspections.

Since these deals are going to be time sensitive a lot of people are going to be pushing hard to “make the deal” work.  It is just these types of situations that lead to hurried work, unethical behaviors, and home owners getting taken advantage of by contractors (what, this never happens right).

So, if you or anyone you know is involved with the buying or selling of a property and finds themselves in need of electrical services please have them give us a call. We don’t play favorites, we don’t play price games, and we don’t take bonuses from buyers, sellers, realtors, or home inspection companies to MAKE a deal go the right way or get a job.  If you need a first, second, or third opinion – YOU CAN TRUST US to give it to you straight.  You have my word on it.

Best Regards,
Chris Voglund & the Artisan Electric Team

What is a number #1 cause of electrical fires in residential occupancies?… failed wire terminations on devices  We see this a lot – typically in older homes with outdated / damaged devices, first generation modern construction homes form the 7o’s, and today in the fast paced new construction track home market.

A friend of mine who recently had this exact issue at his home suggested that we show the correct way to wire an outlet, with an example of the wrong way it can be done and what that might look like.

First – the wrong way.  Here is a picture of an outlet I made up here at the shop to demonstrate a  number of deficiencies and bad practices:

In these two pictures you see a number of issues:

• (2) ground wires terminated on one screw – each screw on an outlet or switch is to have ONLY ONE WIRE on it
• Wires that have been stripped back two far that allow exposed conductor to extend from the device
• STAB IN THE BACK connections – this is a big one, this system is simply a failure waiting to happen.  Don’t use the stab in the back holes on a device!  Most reputable electrical contractors will not use the stab in the back system.  We use a method called “pig tailing” which we will talk about in Part II of this topic
• Wires landed on a screw that are not properly tightened or terminated – you should not be able to wiggle a wire loose on a device.  Conductors should be bent and trimmed to fit neatly around the screw heads

So there are some examples of the wrong way / things to look for.  IF you see this kind of wiring on an outlet, or wires at a device location that appear to be loose, burnt, cracking. overheated, or otherwise “messy” it is a good idea to get it looked at now.  Fires are really hard to fix later