This will be an interactive area of our site, a place we will try and post up news of interest concerning the electrical field and how it pertains to us as a business and you as a customer. This will also be an area for any questions or comments you may have and we will do our best to address any and all of your concerns. All we ask is that you keep in mind this is a family site and to keep your comments as such.
Thanks!
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 22-year-old Sebastian man was electrocuted and killed Tuesday after performing electrical work under a manufactured home in Village Green, Indian River County Fire Rescue said.
The accident happened shortly before 1 p.m. Tuesday. Matthew F. Cummings, who wasn’t licensed or insured for electrical work, was hired by a homeowner on North 26th Street to do the electrical work, said Fire Marshal Brian Nolan. Cummings, of the 100 block of Keystone Drive, was cutting wiring underneath the trailer when he was electrocuted, Nolan said.
“They thought they had cut off the power to the area he was working,” Nolan said.
Paramedics arrived and performed CPR on Cummings, who was taken to Indian River Medical Center and pronounced dead, Nolan said.
Info obtained: Here
GFCI stands for “ground fault circuit interrupter”. GFCI protection is required in damp or wet locations, areas with unfinished floors, kitchen counter tops, bathrooms, near sinks or wet bar sinks and outdoor outlets. GFCI devices actually monitor the current flow or power being used when a device, appliance, etc. is plugged in. Anytime a current imbalance is detected the GFCI will shut itself off for your safety. In an electrical circuit the power in and power out should be balanced. When an imbalance occurs it’s similar to a leak in plumbing. However in this case the leak is not water but electricity leaking to ground and the ground could be you and instead of getting wet the electricity leak can cause shock, electrocution or fire. Electricity is always looking for the quickest path to ground. In an ideal electrical circuit there will be a safe path to ground for the electricity to return to but occasionally the path is compromised and that’s when the danger occurs.
Occasionally GFCI’s can become defective and not function properly, or not work at all. It is important to check your GFCI for proper operation. To check this there is a test and reset button on all GFCI devices. Some homes may have a GFCI circuit breaker installed instead of a receptacle. These will be located in your electrical panel or breaker box (some people call them different things). In older homes GFCI devices were not required. It is not a requirement to install GFCI protection on older homes unless adding a new circuit in these areas, as I said, not required, but a very good idea to have them installed in the appropriate locations. GFCI protection can be installed on the older two wire wiring installed in the older homes as well. There are stickers sold with each GFCI stating “no grounding conductor present” this is a code requirement for installing GFCI’s on two wire systems. This is a much safer option than the adapters sold at the dollar store if you need a three wire outlet.
It’s a good idea to become familiar with the location and operation of your GFCI devices. If you have any questions please feel free to call or email.
GFCI receptacle
GFCI circuit breaker
These are some pretty disturbing photos of a bear that dug up and chewed an electrical line. As you can see the burns in and around his mouth and where the electricity exited his body at his foot, it even burned the grass under his foot. These are some of the dangers associated with electricity, be careful and always remember to call 811 or check out call811.com before you dig for trees, fences, etc.
This is a recent list of individuals that were in violation of state law as it pertains to the offering of services without proper licensing.
August 4, 2009
For Immediate Release
Contact: Susan Stanford
512-463-3208
AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) entered Agreed Orders against the following electricians for electrical activity violations.
Robert N. McCormick of Carrollton: LICENSE REVOKED
-McCormick was convicted of a felony or misdemeanor that directly relates to the duties and responsibility of an electrician
Perry Coleman of Texas City: $3,000 Administrative Penalty
-Coleman, without the required license, placed a bid and entered into a contract to furnish labor and/or materials to rewire a house
-Coleman provided non-exempt electrical work at the contract address
-Advertised on a business card that did not display Cole’s state license number
Shane T. Lynn, d/b/a Absolute Air Condition & Heating of Azle: $2,250 Administrative Penalty
-Lynn contracted for and performed non-exempt electrical work without holding an electrical contractor license
-Failed to include the sentence “Regulated by The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, P.O. Box 12157, Austin, Texas 78711, 1-800-803-9202, 512-463-6599” on a company invoice
William Taylor, d/b/a Freedom Electrical Services of Houston: $2,000 Administrative Penalty
-Taylor offered to perform electrical services without holding a license issued by TDLR
Gary W. Williamson, d/b/a Milsap Electric of Sulphur Springs: $1,500 Administrative Penalty
-Williamson allowed Milsap Electric to represent to the Commission the he was employed by the company as a Master Electrician when, in fact, he was a full-time employee of Sulphur Springs ISD
Armando Bustamente of Spring: $1,000 Administrative Penalty
-Bustament offered to perform electrical service without holding an electrical contractor license
James L. Smith of Katy: $1,000 Administrative Penalty
-Smith offered to perform electrical service without holding an electrical contractor license
Jerry Cline of Snyder: $1,000 Administrative Penalty
-Offered to perform electrical service without holding an electrical license
Brenton Constantine, d/b/a Mr. Fix-It of Missouri City: $1,000 Administrative Penalty
-Constantine offered to perform electrical service without holding an electrical license
Clarence Beatty, d/b/a Eagle Creek Construction of Tyler: $1,000 Administrative Penalty
-Employed an apprentice electrician with an expired license to perform non-exempt electrical work at a jobsite
Forest Shaw, d/b/a Infinity Electrical Resources, Inc. of Plano: $750 Administrative Penalty
-Employed an unlicensed electrician to perform non-exempt electrical work at a jobsite
Onesimo “Roger” Martinez of Corpus Christi: $750 Administrative Penalty
-Advertised to perform electrical work but did not hold the required electrical license
Texas Occupations Code 1305.151 states an individual may not perform or offer to perform electrical work or residential appliance installation unless they hold an appropriate license issued by TDLR.
