Tips & Safety

Occupancy Sensors

These devices are ideal for business' and residences alike. Occupancy sensors control lighting usage by detecting if an area is occupied or not. Do not rely on others to turn lights off in unoccupied areas. Using less energy equals lower electric bills.

Surge Protectors

The average home experiences 6 surges a day!

What is a surge?
Surges are momentary spikes in electrical voltage.

Where do they come from?
Surges can enter your home’s electrical system or can be generated within the home. External surges are a result of lightning or utility disturbances and switching. These external surges can enter the home by not only the electrical lines, but by the telephone and cable system as well. Within the home, surges can come from the motors in your electrical appliances when they are turned on and off during everyday operation.

What can surges do?
Stronger surges can cause immediate and severe damage. Low level surges will, over time, degrade electronic components and shorten the life of the appliances.

What are examples of appliances that can be damaged?
Anything connected to electrical, cable, or phone outlets. (i.e., computers, home entertainment systems, stereo systems, telecommunications devices, kitchen and laundry appliances.)

Won't a surge strip protect my appliance?
Point-of-use surge strips provide only partial protection. They provide limited protection for the equipment plugged into them, and no protection at all for appliances and systems that aren't connected to them. Surge strips typically are not capable to protect against larger surges. Most also only protect against surges entering through the electrical system, while leaving the appliances vulnerable to surges entering from cable and telephone lines.

What can you do to protect your home?
Multi-path, whole house protection is the only complete solution to surge protection. The whole house protection is accomplished by installing a device that is connected to your home's load center, cable, and telephone system and stops damaging surges from entering the home. Point-of-use protection can also be provided by plug-in surge protectors. Using both means provides optimum protection for your home.

Cost?
The cost of whole house, multi path surge protection is minimal when compared to the replacement cost of the connected equipment. Often, just one piece of damaged equipment costs more to replace than your entire investment in whole house protection.

Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters

Arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCI's) are now required for installation in residences under the National Electric Code.

The AFCI must protect the “entire” branch circuit. AFCI's are required on all new bedroom circuits. It is important to understand that the AFCI protection is for the entire branch circuit and not just for what is downstream of the receptacle.

What is an arc fault?
An arc fault is an unintentional electrical discharge. They are usually caused by undetected problems (i.e., damaged extension cords, improperly installed wall receptacles, electrical cable pierced by picture hanging nails)

Why is an arc fault dangerous?
An arc fault may ignite combustible materials and cause a fire. Which is a threat to any home and its occupants. Furnaces in attics are a common problem.

The greatest problems are found in homes ten years and older where changes to electrical circuits have been made. But, there have also been problems in houses of all ages. A new house now, will age eventually!

What can I do to prevent arc faults?
You can’t prevent arc faults from occurring, but when they do, there is a device that can stop them - The Arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI). The AFCI electronically detects any arc fault and stops the flow of electricity in a fraction of a second. No Electricity - No Heat - No Fire. By tripping on a specific circuit, the AFCI helps to identify the source of the problem right at the load center. The AFCI is a breaker-like device that plugs in to the load center.

Do fuses and circuit breakers do the same thing as an AFCI?
No. Fuses and circuit breakers cannot detect low-level arcs. Only AFCI's are specifically designed for that purpose.

What is the difference between an AFCI and a GFI?
The function of the GFI is to protect people who may come into contact with energized parts connected to receptacles. The function of the AFCI is to protect against faults or damage to wiring and equipment that could initiate fire-causing arcs anywhere in the circuit.

GFCI’S

If an inexpensive electrical device were installed in every U.S. household, nearly 70 percent of the approximately 330 electrocutions that occur each year in the home could be prevented according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI). This life-saving device is a ground fault circuit interrupter, known as a GFCI.

GFCI's are products designed to prevent serious injury or death from electrical shock by detecting ground faults at very low levels.

A GFCI should be used in any area where water may come in contact with electrical products. GFCI's are now required by code in certain areas of the home, including unfinished basements, kitchens, bathrooms, garages, crawl spaces and around swimming pools.

If a GFCI senses minimal current leakage to ground in an electrical circuit, it assumes a ground fault has occurred. It then interrupts power fast enough to prevent serious injury from electrical shock.

Three types of GFCI's are designed for home use-wall receptacle, circuit breaker and portable plug-in. All three are readily available, inexpensive and fairly simple to install.

Preventative Maintenance

Infrared Survey
Cotton Electric Service has the ability to conduct infrared surveys on your building. The data that is collected is analyzed and potential problems are discovered. This gives you the opportunity to fix the problem before it escalates into a more dramatic and possibly emergency situation.

Helpful Hints:
Most of us don't think much about electricity unless we are forced to go without it. But just like light bulbs and appliances, the electrical system in your home deserves your attention. The Electrical Safety Foundation International urges consumers to take an electrical tour throughout their homes to look for potential hazards. Many potential hazards are easily identified and corrected.

You can check to see that lamps and extension cords aren't cracked, frayed or covered by rugs or furniture.

Check light bulbs to determine that the wattage is appropriate for lighting fixtures. To get more life out of your light bulbs we recommend using 130V bulbs.

Electrical appliances should be kept away from damp and hot surfaces and have appropriate air circulation.

Dim or flickering lights, arcs or sparks, sizzling or buzzing sounds from your electrical systems, odors, hot switch plates, loose plugs and damaged insulation, among other things, are signs of potential hazards and should be looked at by a qualified electrician.