I have returned.

After a long, long absence I have returned. Risen like a Phoenix form the ashes. Its taken me this long to blog again because I have been concentrating on publishing my website.

If I had to tell you what I have been up to since my last blog, your eyes would glaze over and you would eventually lapse into unconsciousness and death would ensue thereafter. Anyway, as I now have precious few followers and cant afford to loose anymore because they were reading this I will basically start again.

As with all my previous blogs, I will write about what I have been up to, my views and offer some simple tips and advice, I may even attach a pretty picture o two. 

Anyway, over the last few days I have been busy with a rewire of a house which has been dragging on since before the dawn of time, hopefully should be finished sometime in March, that’s assuming the plastered finishes, the kitchen is installed and there is a ceiling for me to install the lights…actually I don’t think there is a snowballs chance in hell of it being completed in the next few weeks, progress is slow. One of these jobs I wish I had never got involved in.

Also I was working in a field yesterday (strange thing for an electrician to be doing I hear you cry!).  Well the storey of my trek into a muddy, frozen and very, very wet field in sub zero temperatures is this. Last summer I installed pump to pump water along a relatively long pipe to service a water tank in a house. On Monday evening I received a call form the homeowners informing me that the pump wasn’t working and they had no water….”no problem I will pop along in the morning” was my reply. When I got there and did a bit of investigation I found a family of rats and nested in the well and eaten the flex which serviced the pump. It’s a good job that the water passes over a UV filter before its used or else the homeowner may have caught some form of disease.

If you would like to discuss, any aspects of home, or business electrics, please call me on my contact numbers. Tel 01772 879295,  Mob 07704 213224, e-mail jeservices@live.co.uk. 

Until next time, thanks for taking the time to read this and don’t forget to let me know what you think, I will be glad to receive comments, good or bad.

Why don’t you follow me, nothing bad will happen! http://johnstoneelctricalservices.blogspot.com

Web Address www.johnstoneselectricalservices.co.uk

Thanks again. Ian

4-Hour Emergency Call Out Service.

Please see website for details.  www.johnstoneselectricalservices.co.uk.

For your electrical needs, please call us, we can advise on.

Additional Sockets and lights	Replacement consumers units / fuse boxes.
Low energy lighting.	Intruder alarm systems.
Heating system wiring	Re-Wire and new extension wiring specialists
New Builds & Extension wiring	Inspection And Testing
Landlords Certificates	Kitchen wiring

Do you know your Smoke Alarms.

Do you know that you are more twice as likely to die from a fire in your home if you haven’t got a working smoke alarm? A smoke alarm is the easiest way to alert you to the danger of fire, giving you time to escape.

How many smoke alarms do you need?

The more alarms you have, the safer you'll be - as long as they are working - so make sure you test them weekly. You should have a minimum of one alarm on each floor. However, if you have only one alarm and two floors, put it somewhere you’ll be able to hear it when you're asleep.

Types of smoke alarms;

Ionisation alarms - are the cheapest and most readily available smoke alarms. They are also very sensitive to 'flaming fires' - fires that burn fiercely, like chip-pan fires and will detect fires before the smoke gets too thick.

Optical alarms - are more expensive. However, they are more effective at detecting slow-burning fires, like smouldering foam-filled furniture or overheated wiring and are less likely to go off accidentally and so are best for ground-floor hallways and for homes on one level.

For the best protection, you should install one of each. However, if you can’t have both, it’s still safer to have either one, rather than none at all.

Smoke alarms for the deaf- these have a smoke alarm with a “strobe light” fitted to the ceiling and a vibrating which is placed beneath your pillow.

For more information on smoke alarms have a look at this site.  http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/InYourHome/FireSafety/DG_071751

If you would like to discuss, smoke alarms with me, please call me on my contact numbers. Tel 01772 879295,  Mob 07704 213224, e-mail jeservices@live.co.uk. 

Until next time, thanks for taking the time to read this and don’t forget to let me know what you think, I will be glad to receive comments, good or bad.

Why don’t you follow me, nothing bad will happen! http://johnstoneelctricalservices.blogspot.com

Web Address www.johnstoneselectricalservices.co.uk

Thanks again. Ian

24-Hour Emergency Call Out Service.

Please see website for details.  www.johnstoneselectricalservices.co.uk.

For your electrical needs, please call us, we can advise on.

Additional Sockets and lights	Replacement consumers units / fuse boxes.
Low energy lighting.	Intruder alarm systems.
Heating system wiring	Re-Wire and new extension wiring specialists
New Builds & Extension wiring	Inspection And Testing
Landlords Certificates	Kitchen wiring

Fuseboxes Explained

Fuseboxes explained

Your Fusebox – the fusebox or consumer unit should be easy to find and you should  know where it is in case you ever need to turn the electricity off in an emergency. It usually contains three things and is used to control and distribute electricity around your home. These are: 

A) Main Switch – this allows you to turn off the electricity supply to your home. You may have more than one mains switch, for example if your home has electric storage heaters, in this case you will have a separate fusebox.

B) Residual Current Devices (RCD) these are switches that instantly disconnects the circuit when it becomes dangerous. If your fusebox one or more RCD, test them regularly by pressing the “TEST” button. This is important because some of the mechanical parts may seize up and not trip when the circuit becomes dangerious.

 

C) Circuit Breakers – these are automatic protection devices in the fusebox that switch off a circuit if they detect a fault. They are similar in size to fuses, but give more precise protection. When they ‘trip’, you can simply reset the switch. But make sure you correct the fault first.

Fuses  (not on the image, may be found in place of circuit breakers) – rewirable fuses have a piece of special wire running between two screws. When a fault or overloaded current flows through the fuse wire, it will become hot and melt, this disconnects the faulty circuit from the electricity and keeping you safe.

If your fusebox has a wooden back, cast iron switches, or a mixture of fuses it is likely that it dates back to before the 1960s and may need to be replaced.

If you would like to discuss, your consumers unit or fusebox with me, please call me on my contact numbers. Tel 01772 879295,  Mob 07704 213224, e-mail jeservices@live.co.uk. 

Until next time, thanks for taking the time to read this and don’t forget to let me know what you think, I will be glad to receive comments, good or bad.

Why don’t you follow me, nothing bad will happen! http://johnstoneelctricalservices.blogspot.com

Web Address www.johnstoneselectricalservices.co.uk

Thanks again. Ian

24-Hour Emergency Call Out Service.

Please see website for details.  www.johnstoneselectricalservices.co.uk.

For your electrical needs, please call us, we can advise on.

Additional Sockets and lights	Replacement consumers units / fuse boxes.
Low energy lighting.	Intruder alarm systems.
Heating system wiring	Re-Wire and new extension wiring specialists
New Builds & Extension wiring	Inspection And Testing
Landlords Certificates	Kitchen wiring

Do It Yourself Electrical Jobs.

In today’s declining economy more and more people are turning towards completing home improvements themselves. Most people think that hiring an electrician can be expensive, and are attempting to complete many electrical jobs themselves.

However you need to realise that it takes careful planning and preparation to make sure the electrical jobs goes smoothly. Most of the time home improvement projects tend to save you money, but this is only the case if you have enough knowledge to complete the job competently and safely. Even minor electrical works can (and often do) go badly wrong when completed by DIY’ers. This can resulting electric shock to you or your family and fire, which your insurance company wont pay out on. 

Most electricians don’t charge to provide an estimate, so why don’t you call one and ask them to pop round and see how much it will cost to complete your small electrical job. The chances are that it wont cost as much as you think and then you can rest assured that it’s done properly.

If you would like to discuss, your small electrical job, please call me on my contact numbers. Tel 01772 879295, Mob 07704 213224, e-mail jeservices@live.co.uk. 

Until next time, thanks for taking the time to read this and don’t forget to let me know what you think, I will be glad to receive comments, good or bad.

Why don’t you follow me, nothing bad will happen! http://johnstoneelctricalservices.blogspot.com

Web Address www.johnstoneselectricalservices.co.uk

Thanks again. Ian

24-Hour Emergency Call Out Service.

Please see website for details.  www.johnstoneselectricalservices.co.uk.

For your electrical needs, please call us, we can advise on.

Additional Sockets and lights	Replacement consumers units / fuse boxes.
Low energy lighting.	Intruder alarm systems.
Heating system wiring	Re-Wire and new extension wiring specialists
New Builds & Extension wiring	Inspection And Testing
Landlords Certificates	Kitchen wiring

 

Protect you and your family from electric shock - fit a RCD.

A residual current device (RCD) is a safety device that switches off electricity automatically if there is a fault and are far more sensitive and give a greater degree of protection than normal fuses and circuit-breakers.

This means that that RCD’s can be a lifesaver, they constantly monitor electric current flowing along a circuit, and if it detects it flowing down an unintended path, such as through a person who has touched a live part, it will switch the circuit off very quickly, thereby significantly reducing the risk of death or serious injury.

Using electricity whilst wet significantly increases the risk of electric shock.  If you are wet it makes it easier for the electricity to flow through you into the ground. This is when an RCD can help protect you from a shock in areas, such as in bathrooms and gardens, where you may be wet. It is very important to have RCD protection when using electrical equipment outdoors, without one a simple job like mowing the lawn could turn into a deadly disaster if you cut through a lead.

There are 3 main type of RCD.

Fixed RCDs – are installed in the consumer unit (fusebox) and can provide protection to individual or groups of circuits, this provides the highest level of protection as it constantly protects all circuit and any connected appliances.

Fixed RCD in consumers units,

Socket-outlet RCDs – are built into a special socket-outlet that replaces a standard socket. This provides protection only to the person in contact with the equipment, including the leads, plugged into it.

RCD Socket-Outlet

Portable RCDs – plug into any standard socket outlet. An appliance can then be plugged into the RCD.  These are useful when neither fixed nor socket-outlet RCDs are available, but again they provide protection only to the person in contact with the equipment

Portable RCD

The UK standard for the safety of electrical installations

In July 2008 a new edition of the UK standard for the safety of electrical installations, BS 7671: 2008, came into effect. These standards calls for virtually all circuits in new or rewired homes, or homes that have circuits added to be provided with additional protection by means of an RCD.

 Testing RCDs

It is strongly recommended that you test all fixed and socket-outlet RCDs regularly (about every three months) by using the ‘test’ button built into them. Manufacturers recommend that portable RCDs are tested every time you use them. 

Do not hold the test button in for a long time if the RCD does not trip. If the RCD does not switch off the supply when you use the test button, get advice from an electrician

A good tip is to always test your fixed RCDs when changing to and from daylight saving, as many electric clocks and timers have to be reset anyway.

Although RCD protection reduces the risk of death or injury from electric shock, it does not reduce the need to protect yourself, family and property by having your electrical wiring checked at least every 10 years.  If you think there is a fault with your wiring or an appliance, stop using it immediately and contact an electrician.

If you would like to discuss, how RCD's  can help protect you, pleas call me on my contact numbers. Tel 01772 879295, Mob 07704 213224, e-mail jeservices@live.co.uk. 

Until next time, thanks for taking the time to read this and don’t forget to let me know what you think, I will be glad to receive comments, good or bad.

Why don’t you follow me, nothing bad will happen! http://johnstoneelctricalservices.blogspot.com

Web Address www.johnstoneselectricalservices.co.uk

Thanks again. Ian

24-Hour Emergency Call Out Service.

Please see website for details.  www.johnstoneselectricalservices.co.uk.

For your electrical needs, please call us, we can advise on.

Additional Sockets and lights	Replacement consumers units / fuse boxes.
Low energy lighting.	Intruder alarm systems.
Heating system wiring	Re-Wire and new extension wiring specialists
New Builds & Extension wiring	Inspection And Testing
Landlords Certificates	Kitchen wiring

V phase - cut your electricity bills

 Everyone’s electricity bills are going up, people’s salaries are staying static and household budgets are stretched beyond belief. Help is at hand; a new piece of technology is now available. 

The VPhase VX1 unit manages the voltage coming into your home. Typically, the energy suply for home use is at about 245v, but many appliances work as efficiently, or even more efficiently, at a lower voltage and therefore function equally well on less electricity. The VPhase unit reduces the voltage to 220v or below, and this reduces your electricity usage, and your bill. This type of technology has been used in industry for years, and is now available to the home market.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8172850.stm

http://www.vphase.co.uk/reviews/case-studies

If you would like to find out if the V phase could help you, please call me on my contact numbers. Tel 01772 879295, Mob 07704 213224,

e-mail jeservices@live.co.uk.

Until next time, thanks for taking the time to read this and don’t forget to let me know what you think, I will be glad to receive comments, good or bad.

Why don’t you follow me, nothing bad will happen! http://johnstoneelctricalservices.blogspot.com

Web Address www.johnstoneselectricalservices.co.uk

Thanks again. Ian

24-Hour Emergency Call Out Service.

Please see website for details.  www.johnstoneselectricalservices.co.uk.

For your electrical needs, please call us, we can advise on.

Additional Sockets and lights	Replacement consumers units / fuse boxes.
Low energy lighting.	Intruder alarm systems.
Heating system wiring	Re-Wire and new extension wiring specialists
New Builds & Extension wiring	Inspection And Testing
Landlords Certificates	Kitchen wiring