Knowledge Base

Switch off the affected circuit at the breaker, or the main breaker if you're unsure which circuit. Don't touch scorched outlets. Unplug nearby appliances only if it's safe to do so. Call a qualified electrician immediately. Burning smells indicate overheating that can lead to fire.

This usually means the appliance has a fault and the outlet isn't properly earthed. It's dangerous. Stop using the appliance and have the earthing and outlet tested. A GFCI/RCD would trip in this situation and protect you.

A ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), also called a residual current device (RCD), detects tiny leakage currents and cuts power in milliseconds, before a shock becomes fatal. They're recommended for bathrooms, kitchens, laundry areas, outdoor outlets, pools and anywhere near water.

Three common reasons: overload (too many appliances on one circuit, often AC + microwave + kettle), short circuit (a damaged wire or appliance), or ground fault (current leaking to earth, often from moisture). Resetting repeatedly is risky. Have the circuit tested.

Warning signs include wiring older than 25–30 years, an old fuse box, two-prong outlets, frequent flickering, warm outlets, cloth-covered or brittle cables, and lots of extension cords. Try our home electrical health check.

Many Jamaican homes are supplied with split-phase power: 110/120V for regular outlets and lighting, and 220/240V for heavy appliances like AC units, water heaters and stoves. Plugging equipment into the wrong voltage can damage it, so check the label.

Yes, especially if you own an inverter AC, solar inverter or expensive electronics. Surges from lightning and power restoration after outages are common. A panel-mounted surge protective device (SPD) plus good earthing protects every circuit.

When you run large motors, compressors, chillers, commercial kitchens or total loads above roughly 25 kW. Three-phase delivers more power with smaller cables and runs motors more efficiently. See our Electrical Work page for a comparison and load calculator.

A non-contact scan of live panels with an infrared camera to find hot spots from loose connections, overloaded breakers or failing components, often before they cause a shutdown or fire. Recommended quarterly or annually for commercial sites.

Power factor measures how efficiently equipment uses current. Motors typically run at 0.8–0.9. Low power factor means more current for the same work, which needs larger cables and generators and may affect commercial electricity charges.

It depends on camera count, resolution, compression and whether you record continuously or on motion. As a guide, a 4MP camera on H.265 uses roughly 25–30 GB per day continuous. Use our CCTV planner to estimate.

Yes. Most cameras have infrared (IR) LEDs for black-and-white night vision up to 20–40 metres. "Full-colour" night cameras use sensitive sensors or soft white light to record in colour at night.

Change default passwords, keep firmware updated, use the manufacturer's official app, and avoid exposing the recorder directly to the internet. We configure all of this during installation.

A transfer switch safely disconnects your home from the JPS grid before connecting the generator. Without one, power can flow back onto the lines (back-feeding), endangering utility workers and damaging your generator when grid power returns. An automatic transfer switch (ATS) does this by itself within seconds.

kVA is apparent power; kW is real usable power. For most generators, kW = kVA × 0.8. So a 10 kVA generator delivers about 8 kW of usable power.

The most common causes are a weak or dead starter battery, low fuel, stale fuel, a tripped controller fault, or a blocked air/fuel filter. Regular exercise runs and servicing prevent most no-starts.

Savings depend on system size, your usage and tariff, but many customers offset a large share of their daytime consumption. Each 1 kW of panels produces roughly 120–150 kWh per month in Jamaican conditions. Try our solar savings estimator.

Grid-tie reduces your bill but switches off during outages. Hybrid adds batteries so you keep power during outages. Off-grid runs completely independent of JPS, with larger batteries and often a generator.

Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) batteries last much longer, can be discharged more deeply, need no maintenance and are lighter. Lead-acid costs less upfront but wears out faster. For most systems, lithium offers better long-term value.

BTU (British Thermal Unit) per hour measures cooling capacity. Common residential sizes are 9,000, 12,000, 18,000 and 24,000 BTU. Use our BTU calculator to size your room.

For rooms cooled for several hours a day, usually yes. Inverter units adjust speed instead of cycling on and off, typically using significantly less electricity, running quieter and working better with solar and generators.

Clean or rinse filters monthly. Book a full professional service every 3–6 months in Jamaica's climate, more often for coastal properties or units running around the clock.

Before June: service and fuel your generator, test the transfer switch, check surge protection, secure solar panels and outdoor equipment, charge batteries, and make sure you know where your main breaker is. Keep our number handy.

Stay away from downed lines and report them to JPS. If water entered your home, don't switch on power until a qualified electrician has inspected wiring, outlets and the panel. Check solar panels and the generator for damage before running them.