Guides
Understand the job before you hire for it.
Short guides on the work I do most. Each one explains what is going on, what you can safely check yourself and when it is time to stop and call an electrician.
- EV charger installation at home: what affects the costThe price of a home EV charger depends on your house more than on the charger. These are the things I look at before I give an estimate.4 min read
- Level 1 vs Level 2 charging at homeLevel 1 uses a regular outlet and Level 2 uses a 240-volt circuit. Here is how they differ, how to choose and what each one asks of your wiring.4 min read
- Recessed lighting layout and spacingHow many recessed lights a room needs, how far apart to put them and what hides above the ceiling. Rules of thumb I use when I plan a layout.4 min read
- Why a breaker keeps trippingA breaker that trips is doing its job. Here are the usual causes, what you can safely try yourself and the signs that mean you should stop and call.4 min read
- GFCI and AFCI: what they do and where they goGFCI protection guards people against shock and AFCI protection guards the house against fire. How each one works, where you find them and how to test them.4 min read
- Smoke and CO alarms in Massachusetts homesHow smoke and carbon monoxide alarms work, where they usually go, how long they last and who decides what your Massachusetts home needs.4 min read
- Can my ceiling box hold a fan?A ceiling fan is heavier than a light and it moves. How to tell whether the box in your ceiling was made for a fan, and what the options are if it was not.4 min read
- Hot tub electrical requirementsWhat a hot tub needs from your electrical system: the circuit, GFCI protection, a disconnect, bonding and a safe location. Read this before you buy.4 min read
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