Pasco county is advising electrical contractors to review the NEMA water damaged electrical equipment list for what needs replacing after being flooded. It lists any equipment that was flooded with water to be replaced such as boxes, switches and outlets and wiring. Metal boxes should be changed to plastic. Electrical panels may be refurbished if the breakers are replaced. Salt water residue is very corrosive and conductive and can cause fires and electrocution.

After you have used your generator to power your house, and you  loose half the power to your house, it could be that you out your generator panel breakers in the “off” position of line. And of course, when you are using the generator, they should be switched to the “gen” position.

Dodd Electric has been in business since 2002. We are trying to help as many of the storm victims as possible.

Dodd Electric is a licensed and bonded electrician providing service  in Spring Hill, Tampa and the surrounding area.

For more information, visit our website at https://doddelectric.net/

or call (813) 382-0787.

As you know, hundreds of homes have been flooded, particularly in the coastal area. If you have had water in the interior of your home, you will need to remove the drywall as part of the drying out process. You are probably going to need electrical work also. You may have trouble locating an available electrician. We have time. If you have a friend or relative affected, give them our phone number.

According to the Clearwater city inspector, with 18 inches of floor water, all outlets need to be replaced. If you have 4 feet of water, you will need a permit, and will have to replace the wiring.

We have been working in Hudson Westshore, Palm Harbor and St Pete beaches. We have reasonable rated.

Dodd Electric is a licensed and bonded electrician providing service  in Spring Hill, Tampa and the surrounding area.

For more information, visit our website at https://doddelectric.net/

or call (813) 382-0787.

The circuit breaker panel is the heart of your home’s electrical system. It ensures that electricity flows safely through your home, protecting it from potential hazards like overloaded circuits and electrical fires. Yet, many homeowners rarely give their breaker panel a second thought—until something goes wrong. Understanding how your circuit breaker panel works and knowing when it might need an upgrade can help you keep your home safe and your electrical system functioning properly.

What Is a Circuit Breaker Panel?

The circuit breaker panel, also known as a breaker box, fuse box, or electrical panel, distributes electricity from the main power line to the various circuits throughout your home. Each circuit in the panel is designed to provide power to a specific area or appliance, such as your kitchen, lighting, or air conditioning.

Inside the panel, you’ll find switches or “breakers” that control the flow of electricity to each circuit. These breakers are safety devices that will automatically trip and shut off electricity if too much current flows through the circuit. This helps prevent overloading, overheating, and the risk of fire.

How Does a Circuit Breaker Panel Work?

The basic process is relatively simple:

1. Power Supply: Electricity flows from the utility company into your home through a large main cable. This cable connects to the circuit breaker panel.
2. Distribution: Inside the panel, the main breaker controls the entire power supply for your home. Beneath it, individual breakers control smaller circuits, which route electricity to various rooms or devices in your home.
3. Protection: If a circuit becomes overloaded—meaning it’s drawing more electricity than it can safely handle—the corresponding breaker will trip. This cuts off the electricity to that circuit, protecting your home from potential electrical fires or damage.

Each breaker can be manually reset after it trips, but consistent tripping is often a sign of an underlying issue, such as faulty wiring or an overloaded system.

When Should You Upgrade Your Circuit Breaker Panel?

While circuit breaker panels are designed to last for years, there are situations where an upgrade becomes necessary. Here are a few signs it might be time to call an electrician to evaluate your panel:

1. Your Home Still Uses a Fuse Box

Older homes (built before the 1960s) may still have a fuse box instead of a modern circuit breaker panel. Fuses work similarly to breakers but are less convenient and not as safe. When a fuse blows, you must replace it, which can be both inconvenient and costly. Upgrading to a breaker panel offers better safety and modern functionality.

2. Frequent Breaker Trips

If you notice that your breakers are constantly tripping, this could be a sign that your electrical panel is struggling to handle your home’s energy demands. This is especially common if you’ve recently added new appliances or high-power devices like air conditioners or electric heaters.

3. Your Panel is Over 20-30 Years Old

Most circuit breaker panels are designed to last 20-30 years. After that, they may not be able to handle the electrical demands of modern appliances. If your home is older and the panel hasn’t been replaced, it might be time for an upgrade to ensure it can handle current electricity needs.

4. Your Home Has Undergone Major Renovations

If you’ve added a new room, upgraded your kitchen, or installed new high-energy appliances, your current electrical panel might not be sufficient to handle the extra load. An upgrade will ensure your home’s electrical system runs smoothly without the risk of overloading.

5. You Notice Dimming Lights or Power Outages

Dimming lights, flickering, or intermittent power outages can indicate that your circuit breaker panel is overburdened. This can be especially dangerous if left unchecked, as it may signal a problem with your electrical wiring.

6. Burning Smell or Scorch Marks

A burning smell near your circuit breaker panel or scorch marks around breakers are red flags. These indicate overheating, which can lead to electrical fires. Immediate attention from a professional electrician is critical in these cases.

Benefits of Upgrading Your Circuit Breaker Panel

Upgrading your circuit breaker panel can improve your home’s safety and efficiency. Here are some advantages:

• Increased Electrical Capacity: A new panel can handle more circuits, allowing you to run multiple appliances and devices without worrying about overloading the system.
• Enhanced Safety Features: Modern breaker panels include advanced safety features like arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) and ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), which provide better protection against electrical hazards.
• Higher Home Value: An upgraded electrical system can increase your home’s value, making it a desirable feature for potential buyers.
• Better Energy Efficiency: New panels can improve your home’s energy efficiency, leading to lower utility bills and a smaller environmental footprint.

Conclusion

Understanding your circuit breaker panel is essential for maintaining the safety and functionality of your home’s electrical system. If you’re experiencing frequent trips, noticing signs of wear, or living in an older home, it may be time to consider an upgrade. Hiring a professional electrician to inspect your panel ensures that your home is up to code and equipped to meet your energy needs safely.

By keeping your electrical system up to date, you can protect your home, improve energy efficiency, and enjoy peace of mind knowing that your home’s power is in good hands.

Dodd Electric is a licensed and bonded electrician providing service  in Spring Hill, Tampa and the surrounding area.

For more information, visit our website at https://doddelectric.net/

or call (813) 382-0787.

It’s hurricane season. Ever thought about how nice it would be to have a backup generator to power some of the circuits in your house? To do this, you are going to need a portable generator breaker.

Below is a  photo of a  generator panel we installed with an 80A breaker as supplied by a portable generator.

We gave instructions to the homeowner how to start and stop the generator.

1. Turn off the main breaker supplied by the utility company.
2. Plug in the cord from the generator to the connection outlet on the wall.
3. Turn the generator panel switch containing A/C, water heater, fridge and master suite breakers, from the utility position to the generator position.
4. Start the generator and turn the power switch on the generator to on.
5. You should now have power to the circuits that are in the generator panel.
6. When utility power comes back on, turn the generator off, disconnect its cord at both ends, turn the generator panel switch from generator to utility, and turn the main breaker from the utility back on.
7. You will then be back on utility power.

The customer was very happy with the results and also that we did this installation for a third the price that the generator company installer had quoted him.

Dodd Electric is a licensed and bonded electrician providing service  in Spring Hill, Tampa and the surrounding area.

For more information, visit our website at https://doddelectric.net/

or call (813) 382-0787.

Dodd Electric can and has done a hundred times or more – checked a home or business’s power usage.

To do this we look at your highest electric bill from the previous twelve months and look at the peak power usage kwh (kilowatt hours) and divide by 240v to see how close you are using to your 200 Amp main breaker. Whether you have 100A or 125A or 150A or 200A you should never use anywhere near the required maximum of 80%. We also can check the ampacity used using a meter when your using your large power users such as your air conditioning, oven, dryer, and hot water heater, such as  at Thanksgiving when your cooking a turkey and have a house full of relatives. This is not the time to have a power overload shutting off your oven or whole house.

For a piece of mind call Dodd Electric  for a power survey.

Dodd Electric is a licensed and bonded electrician providing service  in Spring Hill, Tampa and the surrounding area.

For more information, visit our website at https://doddelectric.net/

or call (813) 382-0787.

Arcfault/GFI combination breakers are now required in most counties and Arcfault breakers have been required by code since 2002. These breakers have a trip button on them and are much quicker acting than non Arcfault breakers. They add safety to your home to you your kids and your pets by reducing the chance of an electrical shock.
Dodd Electric can change out your old breakers and install Arcfault combination breakers with little electrical downtime.  If your house is at least 20 years old you probably have breakers that won’t even trip anymore so there not functioning as required for your safety.

Call us today for a safety analysis and estimate.

Other blog material maybe I did a panel change out on a mobile home and it had been rewired by someone else so the county required an engineering Report for the rewiring. Dodd Electric can do engineering reports for you. Which I’m going to add as a review cause Tom, the customer. said I was amazing help but he didn’t do a review yet probably cause he couldn’t find anything that said leave a review to click on.

Here’s a photo of Tom’s exterior panel meter and service we changed out.

Dodd Electric is a licensed and bonded electrician providing service  in Spring Hill, Tampa and the surrounding area.

For more information, visit our website at https://doddelectric.net/

or call (813) 382-0787.

We recently installed a charging station for an electric BMW. The station was 240 volts 60 Amps.

As the world shifts towards greener transportation solutions, the infrastructure to support electric vehicles (EVs) becomes increasingly vital. At Dodd Electric, we are proud to offer a comprehensive service for installing electric car charging stations, helping to drive the transition to sustainable energy. Here’s a look at how we’re making this possible and why you should choose us for your EV charging needs.

Why Choose Our EV Charging Station Installation Service?

1. Expertise and Experience

With years of experience in the electrical and EV infrastructure industries, we bring unparalleled expertise to every project. We understand the complexities of EV charging technology and are committed to delivering reliable, efficient, and safe installations.

2. Comprehensive Solutions

We offer end-to-end solutions for EV charging station installations. From initial consultation and site assessment to installation and maintenance, we handle every aspect of the process. Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for you to provide EV charging options.

3. Customized Installations

Every location has unique requirements, and we tailor our services to meet your specific needs. We design and implement a solution that maximizes convenience and efficiency for you.

4. Quality and Safety Assurance

Safety and quality are our top priorities. We use only high-quality equipment from reputable manufacturers and ensure that all installations meet local codes and standards. Our rigorous testing and inspection process guarantees that your charging stations will operate safely and effectively.

Our Installation Process

1. Consultation and Planning

We start with a comprehensive consultation to understand your needs and goals. Our experts conduct a thorough site assessment, evaluating factors such as electrical capacity, location logistics, and user accessibility to develop a tailored installation plan.

2. Design and Equipment Selection

Based on the site assessment, we design a charging station setup that optimizes space and functionality. We help you choose the best equipment to meet your needs, whether it’s fast chargers for high-traffic areas or standard chargers for residential use.

3. Professional Installation

We handle the entire installation process, ensuring that every component is installed correctly and safely. We coordinate with local utilities and obtain all necessary permits to streamline the process and avoid delays.

4. Testing and Commissioning

Before we consider the job done, we perform rigorous testing to ensure that everything is working perfectly. We provide a full commissioning report and demonstrate the operation of the charging stations, so you’re confident in their use.

5. Ongoing Support and Maintenance

Our commitment doesn’t end with installation. We offer comprehensive maintenance and support services to keep your charging stations in optimal condition. Regular inspections, software updates, and quick-response repair services ensure long-term reliability.

Dodd Electric is a licensed and bonded electrician providing service  in Spring Hill, Tampa and the surrounding area.

For more information, visit our website at https://doddelectric.net/

or call (813) 382-0787.

The main breaker of an electrical panel, per 2023 NEC, is supposed to be not more than 6 feet 7 inches above the ground. The photo below shows a customer’s house where someone put the main breakers over 7 feet above the finished floor.

If you are in this situation, we can fix it. Always use a licensed electrician, like Dodd Electric, or you could be faced with a problem like this.

Dodd Electric is a licensed and bonded electrician providing service  in Spring Hill, Tampa and the surrounding area.

For more information, visit our website at https://doddelectric.net/

or call (814) 382-0787.

Troubleshooting if you have no power to half the house.

1  First check the voltage at the electrical panel to make sure you have 120v on each phase and 120v out of each breaker by having the breaker on and testing voltage from the breaker lock down screw to the neutral bar. If you find a whole phase is dead there’s probably a loose connection on your transformer outside. Call the power utility company.

Dodd Electric does commercial work too. This is our client.

2  Next check the voltage at the circuit that is not working by checking voltage at a receptacle in the dead half of the house. If you measure a partial voltage like 50 or 90v then you probably have a loose neutral wire on a device such as a receptacle or a switch or in a wirenuted joint.

3  Next open a receptacle w or switch where you have full 120v power closest to where you don’t have power or have reduced voltage and check for loose wires on the device or in a wirenut.

4  You can also disconnect multiple hot wires under a wirenut usually in a switch box and touch the incoming hot wire to each of the other hot wires one by one to find the problem line hot wire .

Dodd Electric is a licensed and bonded electrician providing service  in Spring Hill, Tampa and the surrounding area.

For more information, visit our website at https://doddelectric.net/

or call (814) 382-0787.