Electric service panels (AKA breaker boxes) are the primary distributor of electricity into your home or business.  The electric service panel is connected to the local electrical company’s utility service lines, which allows it to transmit power throughout your property.

Electrical service panels transmit electricity and are potentially dangerous.  Never try to do anything electrical if you are not qualified. In doing so, you are at risk of serious injury and/or death. Also, in many areas, an electrician is needed to set up branch circuits for your electric service panel.

Electric Service Panel Safety

Here are several important things you should know about your electric service panel safety:

• You should never interact with your service panel unless absolutely necessary. Most people are familiar with circuit breaking, but anything more than this is often far too hazardous for anyone but a trained professional to attempt.
• Know the approximate age of your home, so Penna Electric experts can identify the potential amps of the service panel.
• Make sure that your electric service panel is never installed in a bathroom or other area where it can be exposed to large amounts of water, over stairs, or clothing closets. If any of these apply to you, call an electrician immediately!
• Many older homes have overburdened electrical systems and require electrical upgrades.
• Regular inspections (every few years) of your electric service panel will help keep you and your family safe.
• Never attempt any electric service panel repair on your own, especially if you are unfamiliar with them!

Why You Might Want an Upgrade 

As your home ages, components wear out, this is especially true of electric service panels and wiring. Especially in the South Bay, where there are many older homes, the wiring and electric service panels have not been replaced.  Not replacing your electric service panel can impede enjoyment of many modern luxuries. Air conditioners, computers, smart phones and tablets, high definition televisions, video game consoles, and other high tech gadgets can put considerable strain on an old electric supply.

If you have experienced any issues with your electricity or find yourself regularly resetting circuits or replacing fuses, it may be time to consider updating your breaker box. If and when you make this decision, call the friendly and reliable electricians at Penna Electric. They can get you a fair, honest estimate, and help you figure out if your home needs any additional electrical work.

So, whether you have a small job or need to do a large upgrade or to rewire your entire business, why don’t you give Penna Electric a call today to discuss your needs!

Twenty years ago, the internet was just starting up, most homes only had one computer (if any computer at all), maybe a couple of televisions, a single room ac, and some kitchen appliances. Now imagine fifty years ago! Houses back then had maybe one television, a couple radios, a handful of appliances, and lights.

Because some homes have not had their electric service upgraded regularly, their electrical service panel and electrical systems are not able to properly handle the load of all the fantastic gadgets and conveniences that are available to the average home owner today. As a result, the electric wiring can get overloaded and even pose a safety hazard! The licensed, highly trained electricians at Penna Electric specialize in updating electrical services, and electric service panel installation. We want to help you ensure the safety of your home and family today.

Why You Should Get an Electric Service Upgrade and Rewiring:

• Inadequate or older electrical wiring can short out and damage sensitive electronics such as computers, smartphones, and high- definition televisions.
• Structured wiring systems and upgrades to the electric service panels can improve the value of your home and help keep up with modern conveniences.
• As electrical systems deteriorate, chances of electrical accidents such as electrical fires increase dramatically, which can seriously injure or even be fatal. Rewiring your home can help protect your property and your family!
• Electrical and municipal codes change, so updating your electrical system can help avoid embarrassing situations later, especially if you want to sell or renovate your home.
• Dimming lights, crackles, pops, and getting shocked when you plug or unplug an electrical appliance may indicate your system is overloaded and needs to be rewired.

The good news is, oftentimes, homes do not need a complete rewiring. Sometimes only certain parts of the electrical system or just the electrical service panel need to be repaired or upgraded. This can be far less intrusive and expensive than a whole house rewiring. Code updates and repairs are very affordable and can help keep your home humming.

If you have an older house, are planning to make renovations or upgrades, or are planning to sell or sublet your home; wiring replacements and updates can help protect your assets, increase safety, and allow you to enjoy the awesome modern necessities and luxuries with absolute piece of mind.

Whether you have specific concerns about your electric system, or simply want to make sure that everything is okay, Penna Electric can help you today!

Penna Electric has grown exponentially as a company in the last year by being committed to being on time, on demand and on budget, and by providing superior service and products. It is in this spirit that the Manhattan Beach electric service has added solar power to the list of electrical services they provide.

With the economy and the environment in fragile states, Penna Electric sees a strong need for viable energy solutions. Not all homes and structures can properly sustain a solar power system, but Penna Electric has identified 9,400 households in Southern California as prime candidates for getting the maximum benefit out of solar power.

Why Solar Power, You Ask?

• Beyond initial installation and maintenance, solar energy is one hundred percent free.
• It can eliminate your electric bill.
• Solar power doesn’t emit any green house gases, protecting our resources and climate.
• It increases independence from fossil resources, and makes a contribution to avoiding political and military conflicts.
• Solar power allows us to build a reliable, environmentally friendly and safe energy supply worldwide.

Upon adding solar power services, Penna Electric teamed up with the best American based companies in the business. Solar panels are being sourced from Solar World, a company that has been helping homeowners and businesses put the sun to work for over 35 years. They have invested over $500 million to expand U.S. manufacturing of solar systems.

The Silicon Valley Toxicicity Coalition rated SolarWorld number one for their sustainable manufacturing and business practices, and SolarWorld has pioneered a solar panel recycling program. The company can recycle spent solar panels while recycling materials at all stages of the manufacturing process. SolarWorld is also the first solar company to offer a 25-year linear performance guarantee.

Inverters and power optimizers are being sourced from SolarEdge, winner of the prestigious Intersolar 2012 Innovation Award, and a company that is setting new standards for solar PV performance, safety and reliability. SolarEdge products enable up to 25% more energy, maximum design flexibility, cost effective module-level maintenance and supreme safety. The utilization of SolarEdge inverters and power optimizers decreases installation time and design costs because less inverters have to be used, resulting in less cabling costs, higher roof utilization, higher peak power and less cost per watt. There is also an ease of maintenance due to technology that allows SolarEdge inverters to work with any manufacturer, mismatched panels, and strings of different lengths.

Watch this video to see how it works: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnfH5EMqr38

If you want to know whether or not your home is properly equipped for solar panles, you can call Penna Electric for a free 30 minute assessment of your home. No obligation.

Tired of large electric bills emptying your pockets? They can reach ridiculous heights if you’re not paying attention, especially in the summertime, but there are simple steps you can take to get rid of unnecessary costs without having to hire an electrician.

 
1. Convert to using LED light bulbs. It will lower your electrical demand charges, and LED lights use about 80 percent less energy.

2. By calling your electric company and changing your payment tier you can save significantly. Many people’s bills are based on electrical demand. Changing your bill to be a higher flat rate can save you quite a bit of money in the long run.

3. Partition out your lights with timers to turn on in increments greater than 15 minutes from each other, this way you’re not draining a lot of power at the same time.

4. Change the air filter in your air conditioner so it runs more efficiently.

5. Make sure air is flowing where the thermostat is located so it’s getting an accurate read and not prompting your air conditioner to run more than it needs to.

6. Utilize efficient ceiling fans. We recommend Monte Carlo Energy Star. Having an energy efficient ceiling fan on is a lot better than constantly having your air conditioner go on and off.

7. Unplug gadgets such as cellphone chargers and microwaves. As long as they’re attached to a power source, they’ll still suck up energy.

Have any of these tips helped you save money on your electric bill, or are there any tips you think we’re missing? We’d love to hear from you. Please comment below.

Advertisements on the web and other places can sometimes be tempting because of low prices, but it is possible that you could end up paying more in the long run if you choose an electrical contractor that is not qualified or licensed. By choosing a contractor without the right experience, you could be risking your family’s safety and your home. It is important to do your research before choosing any contractor, but specifically when looking for an electrical contractor.

When looking for Los Angeles electrical contractors, the estimated price of the job is the first thing you should figure out. You will also want to know when they can do the job and when it will be completed.

Always make sure that your Los Angeles electrical contractors are licensed. Not all contractors have current licenses and they cannot proceed with the job or get an inspection without it. Don’t hesitate to ask for paperwork. Most professional electrical contractors carry that information around with them at all times.

Also make sure that the Los Angeles electrical contractors that you talk to are knowledgeable regarding local guidelines for submitting plans, permits and inspection, if that is something that will be required for your job.

The first step when looking for Los Angeles electrical contractors is to understand exactly what your job requires. Sometimes, Los Angeles electrical contractors are needed for construction or renovation. Or, you may have a smaller project that just requires electrical work. It is important that you can explain what needs to be done so that your electrical contractor knows what they need to complete the job.

Look for Los Angeles electrical contractors that have a great deal of experience doing whatever you need done. Think twice about taking a chance on someone who is just starting out or who has a completely different type of experience.

For a free estimate call Penna Electric at 1-800-259-9070!

Many residents, businesses and commercial building owners in Manhattan Beach and the Los Angeles area know that switching to LED lighting or solar power will result in exponential long-term savings and a reduced carbon footprint, and that doing both can snuff out that pesky electric bill altogether, but most local consumers don’t realize that the order in which you do this can make a huge difference in how much cash you dole out.

Benefits of Installing LED Lighting

*LED lights last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

*They are four times more efficient and use about 80 percent less energy, resulting in a significantly reduced carbon footprint.

*Installation of LED lights can lower electric bills by about 50%-80%.

*Once installed, the savings on the electric bill can go into net operating income. If you’re a commercial building owner this makes the valuation of the property higher. The higher the valuation, the more financing opportunities available. Home owners can benefit from a large return on investment, often yielding better returns than 401ks.

This is just the beginning of savings……

Benefits of Installing LED Lighting Before Solar Power

Without undergoing an LED conversion, a solar power system for a two-story, 14,000 square foot, multi-tenant office building would cost about $250,000, but by doing a conversion that roughly costs $20,000 first, the solar demand is lowered, reducing the cost of a solar system by more than $100,000

Doing an LED conversion first will allow you to conserve cash up front. Once the solar system is installed, it will essentially eliminate the electrical bill altogether, which will drive the net operating income and the resulting valuation up even higher. And because the LED conversion was done first, it will be at a drastically reduced cost. After the solar installation, the value of the property will significantly increase.

 Added Bonus for Commercial Building Owners in Manhattan Beach and the Los Angeles Area

With the economy the way it is, commercial buildings are taking a big hit, particularly when it comes to vacancies. A lot of people have started working at home. If you’re a building owner who is looking for help from the bank, you should consider converting to LED lights and then installing solar power. It has the potential to change your numbers by 30% to the black.

Expanding Solar Power Services for Manhattan Beach and the Los Angeles Area

It is because of this potential for free money that Penna Electric is substantially expanding their solar power installation services to residents, businesses and building owners by teaming up with two of the best companies in the country.

Solar World, a company that has been helping homeowners and businesses put the sun to work for over 35 years, is investing over $500 million to expand U.S. manufacturing of solar systems. SolarEdge Technologies, a leading global provider of end-to-end solar power optimization systems and monitoring solutions, won the prestigious 2012 Intersolar Award for Innovation in the Photovoltaic category.

Questions about solar power or LED lighting? Please comment below or give us a call at 1-800-259-9070. We’re happy to help!