No matter the time of year, and regardless of a global pandemic or national lockdown, electrical emergencies at home can, and do, still occur. The good news is that electricians are still working here in the UK, and many are able to safely conduct business. 

If you have an emergency electrical situation, please don’t hesitate to contact First Strike Electrical today by calling 0203 633 4536 – we cover a wide range of areas throughout London, including North London, West London, Camden, Islington, Notting Hill & Marylebone.

4 steps on hiring an electrician safely during lockdown

Here are some tips on how to reduce the risk of coronavirus during emergency electrical domestic work. 

1. Communication

Electrical contractors and homeowners or residents should communicate with each other, ensuring that they are able to plan for work to be carried out safely. When both parties are on the same page, it adds further confidence for the customer as they know the work will be carried out safely within their home as the electrician is following the current government guidelines. 

2. Are you showing symptoms of COVID-19?

It is better to be safe than sorry. This means that homeowners/ residents must inform the electrical contractor if they have symptoms of the coronavirus, or if they are in self-isolation before they enter the domestic property. It may seem like an awkward conversation to have on the phone, but it is necessary to ensure safety and reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. It is equally important that these questions are asked in reverse as homeowners/ residents want to be reassured that the electrician is also symptom-free.

3. Keep socially distanced at all times

Both the homeowners/ residents and electrical contractors should make a conscious effort to remain at a safe distance from each other (2 metres/ 6ft). This also means that you must avoid shaking hands, offering refreshments or staying in the same room while work is being carried out, where possible of course.

4. Maintain good hygiene such as washing your hands regularly

Homeowners/ residents can ensure that the work area is clean and well ventilated (by opening a window). Electricians, on the other hand, must wash their hand regularly before, during and after they conduct their work – as well as making sure they dry their hands with their own hand towel. In conjunction with this, it is important they wear suitable protective clothing (PPE) such as a face covering, and take the time to wipe down tools and equipment used thoroughly. After which, disposing of these wipes, gloves and face covering.

Payment should be made electronically, alongside gaining electronic signatures instead of using papers and pens.

Contact

These are just a few tips that you should consider when hiring an electrician safely during lockdown. If you have an electrical emergency or need maintenance and repair work carried out in your home, please contact our team. We can help during the current coronavirus pandemic and have made changes to ensure safe working practices while carrying out essential domestic work. 

Call us today on 0203 633 4536 or fill out our online contact form and we’ll be in touch.

The post Hiring an Electrician Safely During Lockdown appeared first on First Strike Electrical.

Since mid-March, the UK has been on lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. This has meant the people across the country have only been able to leave their home for a limited number of reasons including essential work, and for food, medicine or daily exercise. 

If you cannot work from home then the government has advised that you can work during the lockdown, if it is safe to do so and social distancing rules are followed.

No matter what time of year it is, there are times when we all have faulty electrics in our home or workplace and need repair work. The guidance with regards to letting tradespeople in your home such as electricians is that they are allowed to carry out repairs or maintenance as long as you stay 2m away from each other and maintain social distancing guidelines.

If you can maintain social distancing then tradespeople can work safely in domestic or commercial premises. This means that electricians can carry out inspections, maintenance tasks and repair work.

The majority of the UK population are on lockdown, staying and working from home where they can, and strict measures have been put in place to reduce people’s movement and social contact with others. But what if you need a tradesperson or engineer to enter your home because you have an issue?

The government guidelines during lockdown are as follows:

• Remain 2 metres (6ft) apart from each other
• Avoid public transport where possible

“Tradespeople undertaking work that needs to go ahead in a household which is self-isolating or where an individual is being shielded should take additional steps to ensure the safety of the customers and themselves: you should ask the householders to stay in a separate room while the work is carried out”

Work safely during coronavirus (COVID-19) – gov.uk

How is First Strike Electrical adhering to the social distancing rules to keep our employees and you safe?

Here at First Strike Electrical, we are taking the government guidance surrounding social distancing very seriously. We want to make sure that our employees and our customers are safe.

If you have an electrical emergency or need maintenance and repair work carried out in your home, please contact our team. We can help. We’re still open for business and can help fix your electrical problem or emergency in a safe way.

The post Electrical Work and Social Distancing appeared first on First Strike Electrical.

Some of the best electricians think outside of the box (or the wire) when carrying out their daily projects and work.

No matter what industry you’re in, it’s great when you can learn some new, or in this case, old tips and tricks to make your job a little easier. Even if you’re not looking for electrician tips and tricks, but perhaps want to create some variation in your workday by learning or trying something new, here are some innovation suggestions.

First Strike Electrical have collated a handful of innovative electrician tips and tricks to make future wiring projects easier and a little fun.

5 Innovative Wiring Tips & Tricks For Electricians

1. Carry a strong magnet

When carrying out house wiring work behind walls and ceilings, with a magnet you can detect metal components easily through any lightweight building materials. If you use a strong magnet you can detect key things such as looking for studs, use it as a fishing guide or as a retrieval method.

2. Use paper to hold a screw on a screwdriver

If you have a screwdriver or nut-driver, you can try using a piece of paper to wrap around the head of the device. Then slip the head into the slot on the screw, you may have to bend the paper in order to tighten the slot. This paper trick works best with deep slots, so give it a try next time you’re using a screwdriver or nut driver.

3. Use a tennis ball to pull the cable

When pulling communications to the wire, you can tie a jet-line to a tennis ball and then throw the ball to the wire’s desired destination. This will hook the wire to the string and pull.

4. Use the end of a hanger

You can use the end of a hanger to find a drilling location. If you’re still measuring from the foundations to find a location to drill up a wall then try this instead. Take a coat hanger and cut the end at a 45-degree angle. When you’ve done this you can insert it into your drill and make a small hole at a 45-degree angle on the floor next to the moulding. The hole created is so small that homeowners will never notice.

5. Use a new light bulb to replace an old one

Before replacing anything check and test to see if the circuit is dead. After this, you can clean the broken particles that remain in the socket with a screwdriver or pliers. Then you can insert the new light bulb into the socket by twisting it in reverse. This will help remove the broken end of the old light bulb, typically this is the most difficult to take out. You should clean out all the damaged parts, leaving the socket ready for the new light bulb.

Contact

If you’re interested in domestic or commercial electrical services, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with First Strike Electrical. We’re based in London and can help with an electrical fault or need, call us today on 0203 633 4536, alternatively, you can fill out our online enquiry form.

The post Innovative Electrician Tips and Tricks appeared first on First Strike Electrical.

We’ve all, at some point in our lives, experienced a power cut. They can be infrequent, or a regular occurrence, depending on where you live. That moment when a power cut hits our home we instantly recognise it. Suddenly everything goes dark, perhaps a house alarm is triggered, and we must light a candle or find a torch to switch it off, but more importantly, see. 

The TV also switches off. At this, we audibly groan as we suddenly realise we won’t find out the ending of our favourite weekly programme – will Janet catch her husband cheating? We’ll never know, unless this is a short power cut. We hope it is; we want justice for Janet, she deserves to know the truth. 

Our Wifi also goes down. This moment of realisation is filled with sinking dread – how will we fill our evening now without scrolling endlessly through social media? Our connectivity to the online world temporarily cut off. Our online presence temporarily vanished. We are present in the real world, yet in the dark in both, and it feels odd. Thoughts flicker through our head. We panic – how long will this power cut last?

We’ve all experienced this. We know the feelings well. But, have you ever wondered why and how a power cut is caused? They are caused by a significant surge in power.

What is a power surge?

A power surge occurs when there is a fast, extreme pulse, boost, or increase in electrical voltage. This has a knock-on effect and causes an increase in electrical energy, increasing the current flowing to our plugged in devices, appliances and wall outlets. 

The most common cause is due to an oversupply of electricity and voltage from our power company. This can last a few microseconds, but the voltage can reach 6,000 volts or 3,000 amps when it arrives at our home, and to our equipment.

Power surges are considered the most dangerous of all power disturbances. They can damage and fry our electrical equipment, particularly those not guarded by a surge protector. As the surge in electrical power outpaces the maximum voltage, it can cause lasting damage.

What can cause a power surge?

Power surges can be caused by a number of different things:

• Lightning
• Operating high power electrical devices
• Faulty wiring
• Problems with power lines, generators and at your power supplier

From our list, a strike of lightning is the least common cause of electrical power surges, but it is the most intense and damaging. The best protection against a lightning power strike is to unplug any electrical devices and appliances you have during a storm.

For buildings that have larger, high powered electrical devices, such as refrigerators, air conditioners or elevators, their operation can cause surges in power, particularly when switched on and off. As they require a lot of energy, this simple action can cause sudden, brief demands for power and result in severe damage.

Problems at your electrical power supplier or distribution company can range and there are many potential points for failure that could cause an uneven power flow. Unfortunately, within electrical distribution power surges are an unavoidable occurrence.

How do you know if you have a power surge?

If you suspect your home has had a power surge whilst you were away, then you can troubleshoot by checking for these 3 key indicators:

1. Flashing electrical devices – if your devices are flashing and they don’t typically do this, there’s a high chance you’ve experienced a power surge.
2. Plugged in equipment not working – if equipment is plugged in and does not work, there might be a chance that it’s stopped working due to a power surge.
3. Burnt electrical smell – does the area around your devices, equipment or appliance smell burnt? This could be because of the high voltage spike caused by a power surge.

How to stop a power surge?

Whilst electrical power surges are often out of our control if they are caused by lightning, or our power company, there are a few steps we can take during a power cut. This can include reporting the issue, calling an emergency electrician, or even checking a live power cut map in your local area for London, East Anglia and South East England.

Some steps you can take to prevent a power surge include: inspecting your wiring, unplugging electronics during a storm, and using surge protectors.

Contact Us

If you need an emergency electrician and live in the London area, you can call our team on 0203 633 4536 or contact us by filling out our online enquiry form and we’ll be in touch.

The post What is a Power Surge? appeared first on First Strike Electrical.

There’s nothing worse than when you’re sitting on your sofa at home, trying to watch TV, and you can see a flickering light in your direct or peripheral vision. Flickering lights are annoying; sometimes they are harmless, but other times they can be a cause for concern. So what causes light flickering, and how can you tell the difference between a harmless flicker and something to pay attention to? 

To help homeowners, we have collated a list of 5 common causes of flickering lights, issues and fixes. For anything serious, we advise contacting a professional electrician. Here at First Strike Electrical, we are on hand 24/7, serving areas across London including Camden, Islington and Notting Hill.

Why are my lights flickering or blinking?

Occasional light flickering is completely normal, but if you’re noticing it occur frequently and it didn’t happen before then it might be time to investigate it. Lights can flicker for a number of reasons, some of which are harmless and others more serious. As electrical specialists, we have provided some troubleshooting tips below that you can try out. For any serious electrical issues, we advise calling an electrician. If in any doubt, don’t attempt to fix the issue yourself, seek professional advice.

What are the common causes of light flickering?

Loose bulb

Over time bulbs can become loose as they lose their connection with the socket; this can cause light flickering. This is an easy fix and just requires you to tighten the loose bulb. Light flickering may also be related to the type of bulb, for example fluorescent or LED bulbs. These types of bulbs can cause light dimming and flicker when they are set on low.

Loose plug

Similar to a bulb coming loose over time, plugs can also lose their connection when they are not firmly placed in the wall socket. Make sure this is in the wall socket correctly.

Faulty light or light switch

Another reason why your light is flickering could be due to a poor connection between the light switch fixture and the bulb. You can try to give this a very gentle wiggle which may fix the problem. 

Too many plugs in one socket

It is worth checking how many plugs you have connected to one socket, and on an extension cable. If you have multiple appliances piled onto one this requires more current on startup and can cause a voltage drop. Too many plugs can cause bigger electrical issues such as sensory overload on the circuit, and voltage fluctuations. There is a simple fix for this: cut the amount of appliances using one socket and avoid overloading.

Loose or faulty wiring

It is also worth checking whether your appliances have loose or outdated wiring. If so, perhaps an upgrade is worth investing in. 

Other issues

You can also check to see if its a problem with your electric utility service, the meter box or the main service cable connection. If you suspect it is one of these, it is advisable to consult an electrician as there may be a bigger issue at hand.

Fix the flicker yourself or call an expert?

Some DIY troubleshooting of light flickering in your home can be effective, particularly if it’s just a case of a loose bulb or changing a light bulb. However, if the problem requires more than a simple fix, it is always advisable to consult a professional electrician before attempting to carry out any comprehensive electrical work.

Contact

If you’re in the London area, our team of electricians here at First Strike Electrical can help with flickering lights and any other electrical services you require. Give us a call today on 0203 633 4536, or fill out our online contact form and one of our friendly and expert team will be in touch.

The post Light Flickering: 5 Common Issues and Fixes appeared first on First Strike Electrical.

Electrical Safety at Home This Christmas

Are you taking dangerous risks with your safety during the festive period? Be sure to follow our tips while fitting your Christmas lights!

Christmas is a magical, bright and fun time of the year. Each year, many of us are eager to get into the Christmas spirit and adorn our home in pretty flashing lights, copious amounts of tinsel, decorative snowflakes, shining stars, happy snowmen, colourful and snowy christmas trees, and even festive signage asking Santa to: “please stop here!”.

The true Christmas fanatics among us take this one step further, and decorate the exterior of their homes with Christmas lighting – I mean, it won’t be Christmas without some light-hearted, fun, neighbourly, competitive lighting and decor. Here at First Strike Electrical, we have collated some simple electrical safety tips to make sure you’re safe while putting up Christmas lights, decorations and lighting fittings inside and outside of your home this year.

Too many Christmas lights are dangerous

It is easy to get carried away decorating when you’re feeling the Christmas spirit. But, putting up too many lights and decorations is not a great idea. That doesn’t mean you can’t have Christmas lights, you can, just don’t go overboard.

Limit the amount of plugs per socket

When putting up your Christmas lights, it is important to remember to limit the amount of plugs per socket. Overloading is dangerous and can lead to the wall socket overheating and possibly cause a fire.

Switch lights off when they aren’t needed

Much like regular lighting in your home, when they are not needed, turn them off. It is always advisable to also make sure they are switched off at the wall too. Leaving your Christmas lights on overnight could create a fire hazard, as it could potentially endanger other households and overheat.

Make sure old lighting is safe to use

Re-using Christmas lights is something we all do, particularly if we’re on a budget. But, as lighting decorations may have been stored away for the past year, and as they haven’t been used in awhile, they will need to be checked thoroughly before use. If you are in any doubt about the quality, it is always best to throw them away and purchase new ones.

Choose low voltage and/ or LED lights

If you’re looking to buy new Christmas lights this year, look out for ones that have extra low voltage options with LEDs. LED lights reduce the risk of electric shock, use less power and generate less heat, meaning they are less expensive and safer to use compared to other bulbs. As they save energy, they are a great way to be more environmentally friendly as well as helping you save on energy bills.

‘Real’ Christmas trees

Deciding to have a ‘real’ Christmas tree is a popular choice, particularly when you want to turn your home into a winter wonderland. However, did you know that these are more likely to catch fire a lot quicker than an artificial one? If you do have a real Christmas tree this year, make sure you keep it watered (don’t let it dry out!); don’t spray hairspray on the pine needles to stop them dropping (it’s very flammable!); keep it away from heat sources such as radiators and portable heaters; and, lastly, make sure you Christmas lights are safe!

Getting ready for Christmas parties

With numerous Christmas parties and celebrations happening this time of year, it is easier to get carried away in the excitement when we’re getting ready to leave – this can mean leaving electrical devices turned on, such as hair straighteners. Before you leave, switch them off and put them away.

Contact Us

If you are based in London and worried about faulty electrics, or you encounter an electrical problem at your home, please contact our expert team on 0203 633 4536 or fill out our online contact form and one of our team will be in touch.

The post Electrical Safety at Christmas appeared first on First Strike Electrical.

To brighten your day, and in no particular order, here are nine famous people who, you may be surprised to learn, have previously worked as an electrician before making a career change and enjoying fame and fortune. The first famous electrician on our ‘wiring with the stars’ list, and arguably most current, is:

1. Liam Cunningham

Irish actor Liam Cunningham, widely known for his portrayal of the charismatic Ser Davos in the hugely popular Game of Thrones series, previously worked as an electrician in the mid 80’s. Interestingly, he spent three and a half years living Zimbabwe, Africa where he worked in a safari park, maintaining their electrical equipment and training local electricians. When he later returned to Ireland, and feeling the need of a distraction, he initially sought out acting as a hobby before catching the acting bug and becoming a household name.

2. Rowan Atkinson

You would never suspect that everyone’s favourite comedic actor, most famous for playing the clumsy yet endearing Mr Bean character, was an Oxford MSc Electrical Engineering graduate. Rowan had plans and ambitions to become an electrical engineer and attended Newcastle University and Oxford University where he earned degrees in electrical engineering.

He met writer Richard Curtis at Oxford, with whom he co-wrote the Blackadder series, before abandoning his previous career ambitions in favour of comedy acting and writing. Definitely a ‘sliding doors’ moment with the change of career direction for Mr Atkinson as he never took his electrical career any further!

3. Albert Einstein

Before developing the theory of relativity and winning a Nobel Prize in Physics, Einstein was an electrical apprentice for his family’s business: Elektronische Fabrik J. Einstein & Cie. During this time, the young Einstein worked alongside his brother as an electrician at Oktoberfest, as well as briefly providing electrical light for the Schwabing district of Munich. 

4. Stuart Pearce

Stuart Pearce, at the very start of his career when playing for his local non-league team (Wealdstone), worked as an electrician and as a plumber. Roughly five years later, he was then recruited as a professional footballer by Coventry City which catapulted his subsequently long and successful football career.

5. Sir Bobby Charlton

Before beginning his professional footballing career, Sir Bobby Charlton (at his mother’s request) briefly worked as an apprentice electrical engineer. As one of the true greats and legends of football, we’re so glad he turned his back on the trade!

6. George Harrison

He is one quarter of one of the most famous bands of all time: The Beatles. The lead guitarist was part of a huge cultural impact that changed the world, and the sound of pop. In an interview he is quoted as saying: “I had a short go at being an electrician’s apprentice, but I kept blowing things up, so I got dumped”. By the sounds of it, he’s very lucky to be alive!

7. Alfred Hitchcock

He is one of the most famous English film directors, a real pioneer and influential force in cinematic and filmmaking history. He is known as the “master of suspense” who had a long career spanning six decades. His most famous movies include: The Lady Vanishes (1938), Strangers On A Train (1951), Rear Window (1954), Psycho (1960) and Vertigo (1958).

Hitchcock’s first job when he left school at 16 was as an apprentice electrician at Henley’s – a manufacturer of electronic appliances. He was quickly promoted to sales, and honed his design and craftsmanship skills. This job cultivated a habit of diligent planning. Often, he would make multiple notes, drafts and revisions. Whilst there, he also learned various means of publicity and promotion. All of which provided an excellent basis for a career in film as it educated him technically, artistically and commercially.

8. Benjamin Franklin

He is known as a founding father and an image of his face is present on the $100 bill. He is possibly one of the first, or at the very least, most famous electricians in history. He was also an inventor and scientist often pondering over the wonders and capabilities of electricity. He contributed to helping the world grasp a deeper understanding of what electricity is and how it functions.

The most famous experiment conducted by Benjamin Franklin was flying kites into lightning storms – the result led to the innovation of lightning rods and grounding.

9. Elvis Presley

Before being crowned the King of Rock and Roll and achieving international stardom, Elvis trained to be an electrician. He famously remarked: “I suppose I got rewired the wrong way round somewhere along the line”.

At the beginning of 1954, Elvis began working at Crown Electric with hopes of becoming an electrician. However, after only six months of employment with Crown Electric, he recorded his first record at Sun Studio and became a self-employed entertainer.

That concludes our list of famous electricians and people who dabbled or worked within the electrical industry. If their wires hadn’t been destined for fame and fortune, then they would still be, or could have been, electricians.

Contact First Strike Electrical

If you would like to enquire about any of the electrical services First Strike Electrical Ltd provide, please contact us by calling 020 3633 4536 or through filling out our online contact form.

The post 9 Shock-ingly Surprising Celebrities Who Were Electricians appeared first on First Strike Electrical.

Save electricity today with our list of top tips

We’re living in a world where being more self-aware of your own human and environmental impact on the planet and carbon footprint is becoming increasingly more important and relevant. We can take many steps towards being more environmentally friendly in our day-to-day lives, and making more of a conscious effort to save electricity is just one of them. Alongside the environmental benefits, saving electricity in our homes can also save us money – plus, there’s no catch and it’s absolutely free to do.

That’s why First Strike Electrical have compiled a list of tips you can implement in your household and begin to save electricity, energy consumption and money today. If you’re interested, we have also collated a list of electricity saving tips for the workplace too.

Start saving electricity in your home with these 7 tips:

1. Check your lights

Have you switched off any unnecessary lights? Or, why not use natural or task lighting instead? One thing to also check is the type of bulb you are using. There are lots of energy-saving light bulb alternatives (LED) on the market and switching your bulbs could make for a good long-term investment.

2. Heating your home

What type of heater are you using? Perhaps it’s time to switch to infrared electricity heaters as they are more energy efficient. But, you could also consider an oil heater which is one of the safest types of heater.

3. Embrace cold and quick showers

It may not be a fun suggestion or change to make, but it is a great, easy switch to implement. Plus, cold water is better for your hair, improves your circulation and health, as well as stimulating weight loss!

4. Refrigeration efficiency

Keep your fridge and/ or freezer at an ideal temperature; this will make it more efficient. For fridges, the ideal temperature is between 2 °C and 3 °C, whereas freezers need to be kept at -18 °C.

5. Turn off your electronics

If you’re not using an electrical appliance, put it on standby, turn it off, or unplug if it is not being used.

6. Reduce heat in your kitchen

Try to avoid using your oven in the summer months, and opt instead for cold food alternatives such as salads. You could also rely on barbecues for hot food and try to use your microwave more. Microwaves have the same function as an oven, they just heat up food faster which is great news for saving electricity!

7. Wash your laundry cold

Select a cold setting when washing your laundry and always make sure you run full loads of washing. For extra bonus points, hang your wet, clean washing outside and let it dry naturally instead of using a tumble dryer. Bonus, bonus tip: did you know that if you throw a towel into the dryer with your wet clothes, you can reduce the drying time significantly? So if you can’t live without using your tumble dryer then fear not, tossing the towel in for 15 minutes will still help save electricity and dry your clothes faster.

Contact us

To learn more about how you can save electricity in your home, or enquire about any of the services First Strike Electrical Ltd provides. Please contact us by filling out our online enquiry form, or give call us on 020 3633 4536 today.

The post Top 7 Tips to Save Electricity in Your Home at No Cost appeared first on First Strike Electrical.

A Guide on Your Home Electrics

What would we do without electricity? We live in a world where we are dependent on our home electrics, when it comes to cooking, keeping warm or keeping ourselves entertained, electricity is the heart of our homes and keeps things running smoothly. Regular testing on certain electrics should be checked upon, whether you own your home, or live in a rented property, it’s important that you are clued up on your home electrics and they are regularly checked-on to help avoid hazards, and ultimately have a safer home environment. We have put together a guide for key components in your home that should be regularly tested in order to comply with the house safety requirements.

Fire Alarms

Fire-alarms are one of the most important safety features you will have installed in your home. It’s really important to regularly check these devices around your home to ensure you have working batteries. You should be checking your fire-alarms at least once a month.

Light Bulbs

Your light bulbs are another essential component of your home electrics. These also need to be regularly tested. Sockets should be kept in a clean and functional condition. You can check the safety of your light bulbs by making sure they have the right wattage for the socket and they are securely fitted. When these checks aren’t placed, bulbs can become loose and the wattage can be incorrect, causing a risk of overheating and possible fire.

Plugs and Sockets

Because we use electricity for many things in our day-to-day lives, we are using plugs and sockets for most things we do. It can be easy to overload sockets, especially when we have extension leads in a room full of home electrics.  Make sure you use a reputable brand that you can trust. Cheap sockets can often be unreliable and unsafe. It is also very important not to overload sockets, as overcharging has a greater risk of a fire starting. (Using fewer electricals at once, requires less energy and will also reduce your electric bill.)

Extra Safety Measures

Installing an RCD (Residual Current Device) in your home is a great way to reduce the risk of accidents occurring and having a safer environment to live in. The device is inserted into the fuse box and designed to protect you from electrical shocks if you were to come into contact with a live wire.

Contact

For more information on how to comply with safe home electrics regulations or you have any other questions regarding the services we provide, please do not hesitate to get in contact with First Strike Electrical by filling out an online enquiry form, or give us a call on 0203 633 4536

The post A Guide On How to Check Your Home Electrics appeared first on First Strike Electrical.

In a field that is so wide, it is easy enough to have misconceptions on electrical safety in what is true and false. Here are some useful examples to help eliminate the electrical myths and help you have a clearer understanding of electricity.

Electricity Travels at the Speed of Light

This is a common electrical myth and misconception we tend to have with electricity, that may have come from the association of electricity and lightning. Although electricity and light are both forms of electromagnetic radiation, the electrons in electricity move a lot slower. ( No more than a few centimetres per second.) In comparison to light that travels 186,000 per mi/sec.

Power Lines are Insulated

With the majority of our electrical devices’ wires and cables being securely insulated with rubber or plastic. It is easy to presume that power lines are safely insulated too- If birds can safely perch on them this must be right? False.

The only reason why birds do not get harmed is that they do not touch the ground whilst on the cable, as a result, there is no charge imbalance and no flow of electrons and with insulation is very expensive, meaning most overhead power lines are live. They can have currents running through them anything from 1,000 volts to 700,000.

Static Electricity is Different From Outlet Electricity

Static electricity can be fun to mess around with. Whether it’s rubbing a balloon on your head and making your hair stick out or walking on carpet and touching something which produces a small shock. We think that this static electricity is different from the current that powers our daily devices. However, the only difference between flowing and static electricity is that one is a constant flow, and the other is an instantaneous equalisation.

Contact

If you are interested in finding out more information on electrical myths, or you have any questions about the services we offer here at First Strike Electrical, please get in touch by filling out an online enquiry form, or give us a call today on 020 3633 4535.

The post Shocking Electrical Myths appeared first on First Strike Electrical.