Memphis Electrician Announces Winner of Ugly Electrical Panel Contest

Aug. 2, 2011 - PRLog -- (Bartlett, TN) — Circuit breaker panels work overtime to keep your home safe and your electricity smoothly running. After all, they are the brains of your home’s electrical system. But a Memphis man’s old and inefficient panel went way beyond what anyone would expect, which is why it was recently named the Ugliest Electrical Panel in Memphis.

"I knew the panel was ugly, but I didn't know it was that ugly,” said Raymond Kennedy with a laugh.  "The contest was a real eye-opener," added Nathan Harmeier, president of Bartlett-based Above and Beyond Electric. "We received 32 entries and were surprised how many homeowners still rely on old, inefficient and, in many cases, dangerous electrical panels."

As the winner of the contest, Kennedy’s ugly panel will be replaced with a new Eaton CH Cutler Hammer panel with surge protection. It offers best-in-class surge protection, which helps prevent damage to sensitive electronics, such as computers and televisions. But that’s hardly the most important safety feature. All of the loadcenters are equipped to use Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters to save circuits from the dangerous arcing faults responsible for so many residential fires, and Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters to protect people from deadly shock hazards while protecting appliances, too.

"Newer electrical panels are built to not only handle the higher electrical needs of today’s homes, but also to do it safely and offer more protection," said Harmeier. "Just because things seem fine on the surface doesn’t mean that there are not potentially dangerous issues deeper inside the heart of your home’s electrical system.”  

Harmeier said any panel more than 20 years old is a prime candidate for replacement, especially if is a Zinsco or a Federal Pacific panel. He said both panels fail to provide proper safety and protection.

"This contest was a good way to draw attention to the potentially dangerous electrical system failures that happen every year,” said Harmeier. "We are excited to provide the Kennedy family with a much-needed new panel, and to see that their home is now a safer place." See the Kennedy’s get their new panel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpboWhmGKn0.



During a typical year, home electrical problems account for 28,600 fires and $1.1 billion in property losses according to the UFSA.  Safety tips from the Electrical Safety Foundation International include having your home electrical system thoroughly inspected by a qualified electrician to ensure that it meets safety provisions and installing smoke detectors on every level of the home as well as inside each bedroom.  For more tips, visit http://esfi.org.

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ABOUT ABOVE AND BEYOND ELECTRIC
An accredited member of the Mid-South Better Business Bureau, Above and Beyond Electric has been serving Memphis area homeowners and businesses for eight years, providing licensed and accredited technicians to perform all electrical services from repairs to upgrades. Above and Beyond Electric is committed to delivering the highest level of customer service and was recently honored with the Nexstar Network Select Service Award. For more information, contact Nathan Harmeier at 901-266-4630 or visit http://www.aboveandbeyondelectric.com.