On May 9th, 2012, approximately 2,500 kids/teens from central Indiana attended the Choices for Champions Event at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse.  The emcee and guest speaker for the event was 15 year old teen author, Olivia Rusk.  Each of the kids at the event had a hot dog, chips and a drink, watched the Fever game at 12, and on their way out received a free copy of Olivia’s book with a chance to have her sign it.

Olivia is totally bald due to the medical condition, alopecia.  When she was only 8 yrs old, she shed her custom wig and bravely marched into her 3rd grade classroom without hair. That day changed her life forever.  What began as Olivia’s desire to be “herself”, quickly evolved into Olivia’s message that “It’s Okay to be Different”, anti-bullying and teen suicide prevention. In 2007, Olivia co-founded Olivia’s Cause with her mom.

With the help of corporate sponsors, Olivia launched her new book in February of this year.  “Just Your Average Teenager, Who Happens To Be Bald” is Olivia’s story in her own words, telling what it was like to lose and regrow her hair twice since she was 2 years old, why she decided not to wear hats or wigs and why she feels that it is okay to be different. It includes Olivia’s story from her mom’s perspective and an educational section on bullying:  what is bullying, what to do if someone is being bullied, a quiz about bullying and even information for parents about bullying.  When writing the book, Olivia kept the content light and included lots of photos. This makes the book good for pre-teens and teens, but parents will also enjoy it.  So far it has been very well received.

Olivia is really making a difference.  She has been praised by school administrators, principals and teachers for her ability to share her story.  Olivia is directly credited with stopping an incident in Franklin, Indiana, where a boy had planned to ‘beat up’ another boy after school that day but changed his mind after hearing Olivia speak. In another  audience in Indianapolis, one girl admitted that she had been considering suicide but felt that Olivia influenced her thoughts.

Olivia wrote her book to share her story with more kids than she might be able to meet in person.  Her goal is to donate 20,000 books to kids who need to hear her message.  SuperFrye Guy proudly helped sponsor this event, and we hope she will meet her goal within the year.

If you or your child attended the event, what did you think?

The lead story in Indianapolis Star on Wed, May 2, was about a mother who wanted to protect her son from bullying.  Although bullying has been going on for a long time, and it is widely spread, every parent wants to protect their children, and at Frye Electric, we want to help them. 

We have our own hero who fights for children – SuperFrye Guy.  Recently, he’s been helping Olivia Rusk at Olivia’s Cause as she provides inspiration and awareness about teen-bullying and teen suicide prevention.   In the coming months, SuperFrye Guy will be fighting for other causes that benefit or protect children, and we’ll talk about them here and on our Facebook page.  Please join in the conversation as we look for areas around Indianapolis where children are in need.  We look forward to hearing from you.

If you have ever had a problem in your home with a tripped breaker or a blown fuse, this post should help you figure out what’s going on.   The answer may be as simple as an overloaded circuit or a faulty electrical appliance.  You might think that resetting the breaker is a pain, but the breaker device is really protecting you and your family by alerting you to a problem you may not have noticed any other way. 

Think of it as a safety alarm, not a nuisance.   If we didn’t have these protective items in our homes, the electrical wiring could overload and heat up, leading to a fire.   If you have a tripped breaker, something caused a problem in that circuit.  Here are some simple steps to find it safely.  If you are not comfortable doing this, call an electrician and let them investigate the cause.  We also have a video available if you’d prefer to watch that instead of reading the rest of this post.

When the lights go out, the first step to head to your electrical panel (with a flashlight) so you can check the breakers.  Open the door and look at the position of the breakers.  They should be all in the same direction (ON) down each side of the box.  You can run your hand down the column of breakers to see if they are all aligned or if one is out of alignment.   When you find one that is not fully ON, you have probably found the circuit that has the problem.  

Now you should look at the legend (panel schedule) which is pasted on the inside of the door.  Hopefully, it will give you the circuit number and some text that explains what each circuit does (furnace, dishwasher, master bathroom, etc.)  Now you can reset the breaker to see if it trips again or if it stays on. 

• If the circuit trips again, go into the home and unplug everything that is plugged into it.   For instance, if it’s a living room circuit, unplug all the lamps, the TV, and other items.   Then reset the breaker to see if it stays on this time.  If it does not reset and stay on, you may have a wiring problem and should call an electrician for assistance.
• If it stays on, try plugging in one device at a time to test each one, like each lamp.  If the breaker does not trip, that device is probably OK, and you can repeat the process to test the next device.  When the circuit does trip, you have found the problem.  Maybe it has a short inside the device or the cord is faulty, but you should stop using that device until it is repaired.

A good rule of thumb is not to be scared of electricity, but to respect it.  However, if you are not comfortable doing this, call an electrician.  A simple short circuit today can lead to costly repairs later.   Don’t put off either finding the problem yourself or calling a professional.   

We’ve been in business over 35 years in central Indiana, so we’ve seen it all.  Give us a call at 317-271-1099 and we’ll come out and find a solution for whatever electrical problem you have. 

Wire Color Guidelines

Electrical wires are marked or stamped on the outside casing with markings that tell the type and size of the wires inside.   When you take the sheath off you can see different colored wires.  Electricians know that each color should be used for a specific purpose.  Image how difficult it would be to wire a house if all wires were the same color.   Here are the most commonly seen colors and the way those wires are used.

Black – Black is always used for hot wires, and never used for neutral or ground.  These wires bring power to feed a switch or an outlet.  

Red – Red is also used for hot wires and for the second hot wire in 220-volt installations.  They can also be used to interconnect two smoke detectors.

White (or Grey) – White or grey is used for neutral wires, which are used to carry the unbalanced load on the circuit.   

Green or Bare Copper – Green wires and bare copper wires are used only for grounding purposes.  When you see a green screw on a mounting plate or a metal junction box, this is an indication that the green ground wire should be connected to that screw.

Wire Color Exceptions

In certain instances, wire colors may be used for connections that don’t follow these general rules.  For instance, sometimes a short piece of white wire is used as a hot wire (called a jumper), in a three-way switch application.  This white wire should be properly marked to show that it is being used for something other than a neutral by marking the end of it with black or red electrical tape.  That way, no one will be confused and accidentally use it for something else.

For some small jobs around the house, like replacing a light fixture, knowing these color guidelines will be helpful.   If you feel unsure about doing it by yourself, or want to have more extensive electrical work done, give us a call at 317-271-1099.   We’ll be glad to give you some advice or assistance.

Electrical codes have been written and put in place to protect homeowners and their families.  This following list covers generally-accepted codes that apply to new installations, and it explains fundamentals that electrical inspectors want to see.  These also apply when major updates or projects are completed on an existing home.  For homes built 50 years ago or more, always start by ensuring the wire in the home is safe.   We’ll discuss this room by room for ease of understanding.  Remember that these are commonly found requirements, so you should verify the codes in your local area before doing any work.

Bathrooms – Bathroom appliances normally need more than one circuit because users may a variety of things running at the same time, such as the mirror lights, a curling iron or hairdryer, and the combo unit over the shower.  The combination fan, light, and heater should have its own 20-amp circuit, and the outlet for the hair dryer should have its own 20-amp circuit. All of them should contain GFCI’s (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) due to the nearness of water.   All light fixtures near the shower/tub should be the covered type and be moisture resistant.

Kitchen – Kitchens should have separate circuits for each major appliance, such as the microwave, refrigerator, garbage disposal, and dishwasher; and an electric range, cook top, or oven must be wired to a dedicated 240-volt circuit.  You should also have at least two circuits with outlets above the counter top.    

Living Room, Dining Room, and Bed Rooms – A wall switch should be available beside the entry door of each room so that you can turn on the light.   It doesn’t matter whether it switches on a ceiling light, a wall light, or an outlet for a lamp. The ceiling fixture must be controlled by a wall switch and not a pull chain which could break.  Wall receptacles should be placed with 12 feet of each other.  There may also be a requirement for a separate 20-amp circuit to power a microwave, entertainment center, or window air conditioner.

Stairways – Stairways must be fully lighted for safety.  Three-way switches must be located at the top and bottom of the stairs for operation from either end.  If the stairs contain a landing or a turn, additional lighting might be needed to illuminate that area.

Hallways - Three-way switches are required at both two ends of the hallway just like the stairway.  A ten foot or longer hallway should contain a general purpose wall outlet.

Closets – Each closet should have a covered light fixture operated by a wall switch.  Older exposed-bulb fixtures, such as the pull-chain type, can get hot and might come in contact with items stored in closets, thus causing a fire.  

Laundry Room – A separate 20 amp circuit should be installed for the washer and dryer.  An electric dryer requires a separate 240-volt circuit.

Attached Garage – The garage should have one or more wall switches to control a ceiling light, and this light is separate from the garage-door-opener light.   There should also be a separate circuit with at least one GFCI wall outlet.   Any outside outlets must be GFCI protected.

Although you may believe that some codes are too restrictive, following them will save lives.  Follow the codes and be sure to have your local electrical inspector verify the work.  If you have questions, give us a call at 317-271-1099 or use our handy on-line contact form.   We’ll be glad to advise you or to assist you.

Lightning detection systems in the United States sense an average of 25 million lightning strikes per year.  According to the National Weather Service, during the 30 year period of 1979-2008, lightning killed an average of 58 people each year.  Documented injuries average about 300 per year, although undocumented injuries are likely to be much higher.  The odds of being struck in your lifetime (estimated at 80 years) are 1 in 3000.

 Lightning is extremely powerful, and can have from 100 million to 1 billion volts, and billions of watts.  You don’t have to be directly struck to be hurt.  The current may travel through power or telephone lines to a person who is in contact with electric appliances, tools, electronics, or a corded telephone. Lightning can also travel through plumbing pipes and water to a person in contact either with a plumbing fixture or a person in water, including bathtubs, pools, and the running water of a shower.  Lightning affects the many electrochemical systems in the body, so people struck by lightning can suffer from nerve damage, memory loss, personality change, and emotional problems.  Since it does not always kill the person, there is a national support group for lightning and electric shock survivors.

 The best defense is to plan ahead and avoid exposure to lightning when a thunderstorm occurs. Know where safe shelter is located and leave enough time to reach safe shelter before your danger level is high.  Get lower than other objects near you, and don’t be connected to anything that may be an isolated tall object.  Do not seek shelter under a tree.

 While it is difficult to quantify lightning losses, it is estimated that $4-5 billion in damage occurs each year. Likewise, the cost of lightning protection to safeguard critical equipment and facilities from lightning strikes during severe weather is enormous.

If your building suffers a direct or indirect strike from lightning, you should have an electrician inspect your entire system.   Here are some general guidelines for that inspection.

•  Check breakers to insure they function properly and open the circuit in an over-current situation.
•  Check the building’s wiring with a resistance tester. This will tell if the high voltage induced by the lightning has damaged the insulation to the point of failure.
•  Visually inspect all devices (outlets and light fixtures) for any signs of arcing.  Be sure to include all telephone, coaxial and other low voltage systems because they can sustain damage which may result in performance problems with them.

 If you have questions about surge protectors or lightning protection, give us a call at 317-271-1099.   We’ll be glad to advise you or to assist you.

 For more specific facts about lightning, you can visit the website of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration http://www.nssl.noaa.gov.  A number of the facts in this article came from that source.

Energy monitors are designed to measure and report the amount of energy that is being used.  Since we don’t get a breakdown on our electrical bill, we have no way to know how much it costs to operate each appliance.  If your bill has been getting too high, and you want more detailed information, these monitors can be a handy way to discover waste and reduce your monthly electric bill.

 The devices are marketed under many different names and come in different levels of sophistication, but they perform the same function.  They can either monitor the total usage at the electrical panel (or electric meter), or they can measure a single appliance at the wall plug outlet.    Since energy cost is a large factor in each family’s budget, it is worth considering a purchase. 

 There is also a wide range of choices and prices for these monitors, from about $20 for a single, handheld plug-in model up to hundreds of dollars for a pc-based model.  Here is an image of a sample handheld model to give you an idea of what they look like.    

If you do some research on these devices but still have questions, you can call (317) 271-1099 to ask the experts at Frye Electric.  We are always available to give advice or suggestions about your electrical concerns. 

How Long does a Smoke Alarm Last?

Most alarms installed today have a life span of about 8-10 years. After this time, the entire unit should be replaced. It is a good idea to write the date of purchase with a marker on the inside of your alarm so you will know when to replace it. 

Regardless of how old your alarms are, you should test them periodically.  This can be done by either pressing the “test” button, or by placing something that smokes, such as a candle or incense, near the alarm.

Are Smoke Alarms Hard to Install?

If your smoke alarms are hard wired, that is wired into the electrical system, you will need to have a qualified electrician do the initial installation or install replacements.   For battery powered smoke alarms, all you will need for installation is a screw driver.  Some brands are self adhesive and will easily stick to the wall or ceiling where they are placed.

For all smoke alarm installations, be sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions because there are differences between the various brands.  If you are uncomfortable standing on a ladder, ask a relative or friend for help.  Also, some fire departments will install a smoke alarm in your home for you.  

If you have questions about smoke alarms or their installation, give us a call at 317-271-1099.   We’ll be glad to advise you.  If you want more detailed information about smoke alarms, you can get it at this web page provided by the US Fire Administration.

Lots of homeowners (and even professional contractors) accidentally damage underground cable.  While digging out something that seems harmless, like broken concrete or a unattractive plant, they inadvertently cut through, or into, an underground cable.  If that cable is energized, it has the potential to kill you; but even if it’s not, it has the potential to cost you a lot of time and money when it’s cut or even slightly damaged.

The best advice is to contact a “locator” service before you dig, and advise them of the general area involved.  They can find and mark potential hazards for you before you dig, and many of them offer this as a free service.

However, if you forget to do that, and you accidentally damage an underground cable, Frye Electric is available to help.   Call us at 317-271-1099 and we’ll come to repair it for you.  Don’t take a chance on getting shocked and badly injured.  Let our professional electricians handle it so you don’t have to worry.

We’ve all seen them, signs saying “Help Find My Dog” put up by a kid with a sad look on their face and sometimes with tears in their eyes.    Many people don’t want to put up a fence either because of the time and cost of one, or because they want that open look around their house instead of an enclosure.   Now you can have both the protection and safety for your family pet and the open look at your house with an invisible pet fence.

Some people believe that a wireless fence of this type is a punishment, or is harmful to the pet.   However, many of the more popular systems are endorsed by national humane societies and animal organizations such as the Humane Society of the US, the ASPCA, vets, vet publications, animal behaviorists, and major university veterinary schools.   The approximate cost of materials can be about 25% or less than the materials for a wooden or chain link fence of the same length, and the time involved to install it is much less also.

The components include a transmitter, a collar for the pet, and the wire.   The transmitter will typically be place in the garage and plugged into a power outlet.  The receiver/collar(s) are powered by a replaceable battery and are put around the neck of the pet(s).   The wire is buried a few inches under the soil, and if desired, can also be buried around a garden or swimming pool to keep the pet out of that area as well.

The system does not hurt the pet, but it provides a recognizable “correction” that he will recognize based on training that you will have provided.  If you do not train your pet to recognize it, the fence will not work.  It typically takes 2 weeks of training to be effective.   When Rover gets within a set distance of the wire the collar will beep a warning sound.  If the pet does not stop, it will receive a correction.  The correction is usually either a small static shock (like you get from your carpet), or a spray of citronella smell.  In either case, the pet will know from training that he should turn back, but he will not be hurt.

If you’d like to know more about this protection for your beloved pet, give us a call at 317-271-1099, or send us a note through our on-line contact form.   We’d be glad to talk to you about installing a system for you.