Below are answers to some of your most commonly asked questions.
Is a Federal Pacific Electric panel (FPE) a hazard?
They can be. A FPE panel with stab-lok circuit breakers has a substantial chance of a breaker malfunction and fire. Dr. Jesse Aronstein, a New York engineer, conducted a study on approximately 1500 FPE circuit breakers and found that about 1 in 4 circuit breakers failed to trip. When a circuit breaker fails to trip, it can cause immense heat and melt the wires which in turn could start a fire.
Where do I need GFCI protection?
GFCI protection is needed for all outlets serving kitchen countertops, laundry rooms, bathrooms, garages, outside, within 6 feet of a sink, and any unfinished area in the house (ie., mechanical room, storage room, etc.).
How do I install a three-way switch?
In most applications, on a three-way switch, there are 3 screws (2 of the same color and 1 with a different color). The odd colored one is the common. Either the switch leg or power wire have to be on the common screw. The other 2 wires can hook up to either of the remaining 2 screws.