Author Archives: Chad

Always ask questions! When you learn more about any topic, you’ll make informed decisions. Turn It On Electric of Arizona is available to answer your questions about EV charger installation in Phoenix and surrounding communities. We encourage you to contact us before you buy, so you’ll make the right decisions for your home, lifestyle, and your energy-saving (money-saving) electric vehicle!

Some of the frequently asked questions we receive about an EV charger installation include:

Q: Does my electric car charger have to go in my garage?
A: The garage is the best location for many reasons. But not all Southwest homes have garages. Many have carports or stand-alone driveways. You can charge your car anywhere it’s safe. And the keyword is “safe.”

Ask your local electrician about the laws and regulations regarding outdoor charging stations. If your home will support it, you might be able to charge your vehicle without compromising power, but again; you need a professional electrician evaluation.

1. You’ll need an area outside your premises that allows you to run a cable from the EV to the dedicated outdoor charge point.
2. You\’ll need to take proper safety precautions to make sure no one trips or accidentally moves the charging cable.

Q: I didn’t buy a charger when I bought the car, can you still help?
A: It’s never too late. Most EV car purchases include a Level 1 charger. This plugs into your home’s standard 120-volt outlet. Many electric vehicle owners say it’s not adequate, so they purchase a Level 2 charger.
You’ll likely want a Level 2 EV charger installation. You should partner with a Phoenix professional electrician to get the fastest, most efficient, and safest installation.

Q: How do I know what electric car charger fits my car?
A: Charging an EV car is not exactly like pumping gas. It’s going to take longer. It’s also less about what fits your car and more about what fits your home. The EV charger that came with your car purchase may not be able to fully charge your car overnight. Forbes says to think Level 2: Level 2 = 240 volts.

To determine the right car charger for your home, consider:

• Cable length
• Cost
• Plug-in or hardwired
• Power/amps
• Safety certification(s)
• Smart vs. “dumb”
• Warranty

Q: What’s the best EV charger?
A: There are many chargers available on the internet from $200-$1,000 or more, but often they’re low-quality and cheap. They may not be safe. Your charger should be safety-certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (ETL). The best EV charger installation will include a 3-year warranty for the charger. Your local electrician should guarantee the quality of workmanship for an EV charger installation.

Q: Will I need a new electric panel for an EV charger installation?
A: A lot depends on how fast you need your car to recharge. A retiree that drives 2-3 times a week may be happy with the Level 1 charger that came with the car. If you’re a 5-days-a-week commuter, you need a powerful EV charger installation. You should schedule a home electrical evaluation by your professional electrician.
You need to know:

• Electrical load used by large appliances and probable future usage
• Home’s existing electrical usage
• Home’s square footage
• Make/model of your central HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) system
• The charge rate you need for your level of driving
• Your existing service size (100amp, etc.)

TIO Electric is experienced in Tesla, Qmerit, and hybrid car charger installations for Phoenix- and Tucson-area residential and commercial properties. Ask us about EV charger installation options for your home. Contact Turn It On Electric today.

“I need a home electrician near me,” said a historical homeowner in Tucson. “Phoenix is at least 90 minutes away in good traffic.” If you’re in a bind, you want the best home electrician near you. Quickly.

The Best Phoenix and Tucson Home Electrician Near You

Phoenix is South-Central Arizona. It includes 24 municipalities. The East Valley encompasses:

• Chandler
• Gilbert
• Mesa
• Paradise Valley
• Scottsdale
• Tempe

The West Valley includes:

• Avondale
• Buckeye
• Glendale
• Goodyear
• Litchfield Park
• Peoria
• Surprise

…and more. The best home electrician near you in Phoenix is Turn It On Electric. Our 1725 W. Deer Valley #110, Phoenix, AZ, 85027 office is open 24/7.

Tucson is in Southern Arizona. TIO Electric serves homes and businesses in:

• Casa Grande
• Casas Adobes
• Catalina Foothills
• Coolidge
• Drexel Heights
• Florence
• Flowing Wells
• Floy
• Green Valley
• Marana
• Nogales
• Oro Valley
• Safford
• Sierra Vista

…and more. The best home electrician near you in Tucson is TIO Electric. Our 1 S. Church Avenue, Ste. 1200, Tucson 85701 office is open 24/7.

Time is valuable for today’s homeowners. You should have a local, certified electrician in your contacts under “E.” It’s the same way with HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) and plumbing. The key is finding the right electrical contractor for you and your property.

8 Tips For Finding Your Electrician

You will never have a long wait time with Turn It On Electric because we send our professionals to sites with all the parts and tools to fix your issues on the spot. –Tim, Field Superintendent

“What should I do to find a home electrician near me?” Thanks to technology, you can enter locations in Google Maps. But proximity doesn’t matter if a home electrician near you has a slow response time. Or the electrical repair person shows up quickly (without the right tools).

Use these tips for finding your home electrician near you.

1. Continuing education – Ask your electrical contractor how often technicians receive continuing education. We are experienced with home electric vehicle charging stations, security systems’ technologies, smart thermostats, and more. Before we got that experience, we attended classes.
2. Experienced/here to stay – The test of a well-run business is how long it’s been in business. TIO Electric pros have served Phoenix and Tucson more than 20 years. We’ll be here for you when you need us.
3. Interview 2-3 electrical contracting companies – Ask about average pricings for various services. This gives you an idea of what’s typical in your community.
4. LEED-certified – Saving energy (and money) matters to homeowners today. Be sure your electrician is LEED-certified by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).
5. Licensed, insured, bonded – Company workers should be insured against injury as well as your property. You want general liability insurance to protect your home and its contents. A surety bond is a promise that our deliverables will meet your standards.
6. Neighborhood connections – Subdivisions have Facebook pages and there’s always NextDoor. Ask about electricians near you and their quality of work.
7. Online testimonials – References and testimonials have changed customer service forever! Reviews are the best way to find home electrician near you. Look for 4-5-star reviews from trusted home services websites.
8. Proud – Our service professionals are just that. Professionals. They take pride in their work and their company.

TIO Electric: Invested in Your Home and Family

Perhaps you don’t have an electric car, security lights, or a home smart thermostat. (Yet.) When it’s time for your home’s electrical upgrades and renovations, your TIO Electric team of electricians will be there for you. We care about your safety and quality of life. We want to be the best home electrician for you. When you\’re ready, contact Turn It On Electric.

You’ve purchased your electric or hybrid vehicle! It’s exciting and you’re eager for this investment to do its magic. It will reduce your carbon footprint and save money. Now it’s time for your home electric car charger installation.

Electric Car Charger Installation Questions To Ask Your Electrician

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution…consumers and different electric vehicles have different charging needs. –Forbes

The “slow-speed charger cable” that came with your EV purchase charges between 2-5kW. You’ll quickly learn that’s not what you need. Forbes issued its “best home EV chargers” for 2021 and prices range from $369.00 to $1,099.99. Before you buy an EV home charger, you may want to consult with your local electrician.

Here are questions to ask:

1. Do you think I need an electrician? An honest electrician will tell you if a DIY (do-it-yourself) home electric car charger installation is safe. You may not need professional installation if:

• You have an existing 240-volt outlet
• You plan to use a portable Level 2 charger

2. Does it matter where my electric car charger installation is located? Location matters because you want the charger near or in your garage or driveway. An outdoor charger needs a different installation process to better protect it from the weather. If your circuits and plugs are insufficient, you may need more wiring/rewiring.

• If the installation is outside, it may be postponed during extreme weather events.
• Your charging station must be located at a point in which the car cannot hit it.
• Your electrician won’t install the charging station in an unsafe area (crawlspace or roof, for example).

3. Does my electric car charger installation need permits? Do I need a city, county, or both? Local codes vary. A professional Phoenix electrician will know what your community requires.

4. How much electricity do I need? This depends on the type of EV and how it will be used. The amount of electricity you need also depends on how quickly you want to home-charge your EV.

5. Is a professional inspection required after a home electric car charger installation? In some Phoenix communities, you’ll require a professional inspection following DIY charger installation.

6. Is my electrical panel okay or do I need an upgrade? This is determined by your existing electrical load. You may need to upgrade to 200- or 400-amp electrical service. Also, a dedicated circuit is needed. You may require a sub-panel.

EV Charger Installation Process

Your electrical professional must first inspect and determine your electrical requirements. The actual electric car charger installation by your family electrician should take about 2 hours. If you need more than a standard installation, you may be charged more.

Before the installation date:

• Clean the installation area and the area(s) the cable will run. Remove any clutter, dust, or debris.
• Write your Wi-Fi password correctly (upper/lower case letters, etc.) on a piece of paper. Your electric car charger use will likely require internet access.

Your electrician will confirm the installation date and time. During installation, your electrician will:

1. Drill access holes for the cable and clip the cable to a wall
2. Briefly turn on the electrical power supply to install the RCBO (residual current breaker with over-current)
3. Connect the RCBO to the main power supply
4. Complete installation with Wi-Fi internet access
5. Test the electric car charger installation for safety and ease of use
6. Demonstrate the charger and review what lights/switches mean
7. Provide contact information for questions/concerns you may have later

Learn more about your EV at-home charging options before you invest in a charging station. Contact Turn It On Electric today.

Arizona licensing requirements for electricians are categorized as residential and commercial. Residential electricians work in homes. Commercial electricians provide electrical repair, maintenance, and safety inspections for commercial properties, including offices and non-industrial workplaces.

License requirements are about the same; you must pass a trades exam and a statute/rules test. A licensed commercial electrician needs to have at least 4 years’ experience working on commercial properties.

Most commercial electricians are qualified to do residential work. But not all residential electricians are licensed to perform commercial work.

Signs You Need Commercial Electricians

If you own a commercial property, you may have several floors. You may also have several tenants. Let’s say half the third floor was office space. Now it’s empty and your potential tenant is a medical practice with an onsite laboratory. There will be different types of equipment that have higher electrical demands.

You’ll probably need rewiring; maybe a panel upgrade. You need a company with commercial electricians to assess the increased electrical requirements.

If you own or manage a Phoenix business, you know that electricity is critical to operations. Downtime costs money. Some of the indications you need a commercial electrician include:

• “Dead” outlets/switches – Several things could cause one or an entire area’s outlets and/or switches to malfunction. A commercial electrician is required.
• Circuit breaker(s) trip – When a circuit breaker trips, it’s a red flag. Usually, you’ve overloaded your circuit. Once in a while is okay. But if it happens a lot, you need commercial electrical inspection and repair.
• Hot spots – If a break room appliance is warm to the touch, unplug it. If an outlet, light switch, or any wall space is warm, it’s dangerous. Contact your company’s commercial electrician.
• Lights flickering – Lights flickering should be investigated. If other area businesses have flickering lights too, it’s weather- or electric company-related. Unplug what you can and carry on. If more than one light unit or station is flickering frequently, it’s a problem. You need a commercial electrician.
• Odor – Commercial electrical problems can begin behind walls. You can’t see them, but you can smell them. A wire or electrical burning smell is unique and dangerous. You need to contact your company’s commercial electrician right away.

Questions your Phoenix commercial electrician should be able to easily answer include:

• Are you licensed, bonded, insured?
• Can you provide a detailed estimate?
• Do you work directly with insurance companies?
• How many years of commercial electrical experience do you have?
• Who is going to be in charge of my work?

Your commercial property needs its own commercial electrician. Your commercial electrician will put a plan in place to:

• Make recommendations for lighting options that enhance productivity and save money
• Provide maintenance and safety inspections that keep your property, tenants, employees, and customers safe
• Strive to keep you up and running as soon as possible if you have electrical issues

How To Find Local Commercial Electricians

If your city is:

• Anthem
• Carefree
• Cave Creek
• Chandler
• East Valley
• Gilbert
• Glendale
• Glendale
• Mesa
• Paradise Valley
• Peoria
• Phoenix
• Scottsdale
• Tempe
• Tucson

…and adjacent neighborhoods, you’ve already found the top-rated commercial electrical contractor near you. Turn It On Electric is a 4.5-5-star company with great testimonials on independent websites. We are licensed, bonded, insured, and have positive B2B (business-to-business) relationships in several communities. We guarantee our work.

Put “TIO Electric” and our phone number in your cellphone Contacts list under “E” for efficient, eager, earnest, excellent electricians.

If you have questions about qualified commercial electricians or need a second opinion, contact TIO Electric. We’ll work hard to earn your business.

The electricity went off a couple of weeks ago…We’re thinking the fire had something to do with electrical.

–Fire investigator / AZ fire in which 9-year-old died

Your breaker trips and your electricity is on-and-off too frequently. When you check the breaker box, you see a brown, burnt-looking discoloration. Those are 2 critical signs you need a panel upgrade.

No Electrical Problems: Is a Panel Upgrade Necessary?

Your panel is your home’s electrical “distribution point.” It distributes electricity to appliances, outlets, and switches throughout the house. Usually located in the garage or attic, its breakers “trip” (shut off) to alert you there’s a problem.

The median year for houses built in Phoenix, AZ is 1982. This means half of our homes were built after 1982. But half of our homes were built earlier. If there are no problems, a panel box should provide service between 20-30 years. Many homes in Maricopa County and The Valley are due – or overdue – for a panel upgrade.

11 Reasons for an Arizona Panel Upgrade

Today we use more electricity than ever, and our usage is rising. The cost of a 400-amp panel upgrade averages $2,000-$4,000. If you have a 100-amp panel and add a charging station, you may want a panel upgrade to 200 amps. But if you have any of these electrical warning signs, you need a panel upgrade:

1. Age – If your home was built in the 1980s-1990s using any brand circuit breaker, you should schedule a panel upgrade inspection. In the 1980s, many homes installed Federal Electric Stab-loc circuit breakers. Many of them did not meet UL (Underwriters Laboratories) standards.
2. Appliance overheating – If an appliance is warm to the touch or emits smoke, it’s overheating. Frayed cords or discoloration at the outlet in which it’s plugged are other signs. Don’t ignore them.
3. Appliances – Technology has been a game-changer for home appliances. And some appliances are more power-hungry than others. If you’re running the washer/dryer, charging devices, and your hairdryer trips the circuit breaker, you need a panel upgrade.
4. Discolorations – Brown or blackened spots on your electrical panel signals an electrical emergency.
5. Flickering lights – A wind storm in which you and your neighbors have flickering lights is one thing. But in fair weather, one room or every room: Flickering lights are a red flag.
6. Frequent trips – Don’t pack your bags yet. A one-time tripped breaker is inconvenient. Frequent trips are dangerous.
7. Fuses – If your home’s electrical panel is a fuse box, it’s long overdue for replacement.
8. Shocks – About 1,000 people die from electrocution every year. Getting little shocks when you touch a light switch or plug-in to an outlet is not okay.
9. Smell – The electrical burning smell is unique. If you notice it anywhere in your home, contact your electrician. A panel upgrade may be necessary.
10. Sound – Sizzling, hissing, crackling, popping. If you hear any of these or other sounds from your circuit breaker box, don’t delay. Contact your electrician.
11. Sparks – You don’t want fireworks in the house, especially coming out of your wall. If you plug an appliance into an outlet and see sparks, don’t use it. Contact your electrical professionals quickly.

Contact TIO Electric For More Information

Turn It On Electric is your Phoenix- and Tucson-area resource for electrical panel upgrades. We adhere to industry best practices for home and family safety. Our team of professionals is trained to repair, maintain, and install the top technological residential and commercial devices and appliances. (And we’re eager to share what we know with you.)

If you suspect you need an electrical panel upgrade, you may be right. If you don’t, we’ll tell you. Your safety is our main priority. Your business is a plus. If you have questions, let’s talk.