Barneys Electric

Q & A

At Barney's Electric, we want you to have complete confidence in your electrical system and in the service you are receiving with us. Below you will find some of the most common questions we answer on a daily basis. If we can assist you in any way, please feel free to contact us at 972-771-9464. You may also request services from this site.



Why do my lights dim briefly when a major appliance is being utilized?

The dimming of your lights is a result of the appliance's motor drawing too much power when initially starting. This is perfectly normal unless the lights stay dim.


Is my fuse box safe?

Fuses are very safe when used as they are designed. Fuses become unsafe when they are purposely overloaded or higher than the specified fuse size that is used. If you are concerned about your fuse box or any fuses, Barney’s Electric will be happy to inspect it for you and let you know if any repairs are needed.


I live in the East Dallas area. Do you service my area?

Barney's Electric provides retail, commercial, industrial, and residential electrical services to the southeast Dallas area including the cities of Addison, Allen, Carrollton, Dallas, Farmersville, Forney, Frisco, Garland, Heath, Highland Park, Highland Village, Kaufman, Lake Dallas, Lavon, Mckinney, Mesquite, Murphy, Parker, Plano, Princeton, Richardson, Rockwall, Rowlett, Royse City, Sachse, Sunnyvale, Terrell, University Park, and Wylie.

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What is the NEC?

The NEC or National Electrical Code is the set of rules issued by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) governing safe electrical wiring practices.


Can I replace an existing light fixture with a ceiling fan/light?

The only prerequisite is that an electrical box be installed in the ceiling that is approved to support the added weight of the new fan. Contact Barney's Electric today at 972-771-9464 and we will hook you up.


What are electrical surges?

Surges are momentary spikes in electrical voltage. These surges or transients can enter a home or business through the incoming electrical line, telephone line, and even the cable TV or internet line. A surge can be generated by lightning strikes and the motors in your electrical appliances when they turn on and off during everyday operation. Harmful surges are also produced by electric utility power switching that are designed to meet changing energy demand.

While a lightning strike can cause immediate and severe damage, low level surges will, over time, degrade electronic components and shorten the life of computers, home entertainment systems, telecommunications devices and even kitchen and laundry appliances.
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How can I protect myself from electrical surges?

You can protect the investment of your electronic devices with the installation of surge protectors. While surge strips protect one electronic device, there are many products that can protect all the connections in a home. At Barney's Electric, we strongly recommend the installation of surge protectors to protect your home or business and your possessions. When whole-home devices are used in combination with surge strips, your electrical devices receive maximum protection.


How do I know which surge protector is right for me?

Each type of surge protector focuses on a particular type of wiring. Meaning electrical, telephone and coaxial cables all have different types of surge protectors. There are two AC power surge protectors, allowing you protection regardless of the brand of load center in your home. Our experts at Barney's Electric will suggest the best type of surge protector for your need. You must also know that while surge protectors will protect against surges generated when lightning strikes nearby, no surge protector can protect you against the extreme hit of a direct lightning.


Will my business be without power while you are working?

In most cases your power will not be turned off while we work. If power interruptions are required it is typically limited to a single circuit and only for a short amount of time. Major projects may require total shut-offs while service connections are being completed. In any event that we must interrupt your power we will notify you in advance before your service is interrupted.

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Is all electrical work dangerous?

Any type of electrical work does have a certain level of risk including injury and/or death. Another risk is creating a fire hazard. We do not recommend inexperienced people attempting any electrical wiring or installations. All electrical work should be done by an insured, licensed electrician. You can be rest assured that each of our technicians at Barney's Electric are fully licensed and are in full compliance with regulations as established by the Occupational Safety and Health Health Admistration and the state code enforcement regulations.


I have a breaker that is continually tripping off, can I replace it with a larger breaker?

No! If your breaker is tripping it is doing exactly what it was designed to do. A tripping breaker is telling you that you have overloaded the circuit or that it is worn out and should be replaced with the same size and type as the original. Besides dedicated circuits, your multi-wire branch circuit is designed to power multiple devices, lights and fans. If you turn all of your items on and the breaker trips, you probably overloaded the circuit. Replacing the existing breaker with a higher capacity/size will expose the circuit to a heat/fire hazard. The best solution is to limit the number of electric devices you use on a given circuit to avoid tripping the breaker or have an additional circuit installed. If a breaker is continuously tripping and you do not feel you are overloading the circuit, please contact Barney's Electric at 972-771-9464 so that we can assess the condition of the breaker and circuit.


What causes a loss of power?

There are many reasons why you may become subject to a power loss. For example, a winter storm, an energy shortage, a summer brownout, a tree falling on a power line and any other unforeseen event that may cut off the power to your electrical system. You can prepare yourself for any possible power loss by installing a backup power system that consists of a generator that is connected to a generator panel. Our experts at Barney’s Electric will be happy to install a generator system that is custom-designed to your needs.
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We hope that this Q & A page has been helpful to you. If you have any questions or we can assist you in any way, please feel free to contact us at your nearest convenience. At Barney's Electric, "Your future is looking Brighter!" Our specialists can be contacted at
972-771-9464. You may also request services from this site.

Thank you for your interest in Barney's Electric, we look forward to serving you soon!

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Barney’s Electric has been providing electrical services to the Collin, Dallas, Rockwall and Rowlett area including the cities of Addison, Allen, Carrollton, Dallas, Farmersville,Forney, Frisco Garland, Heath, Highland Park, Highland Village, Kaufman, Lake Dallas, Lavon, Mckinney, Mesquite, Murphy, Parker, Plano, Princeton, Richardson, Rockwall, Rowlett, Royse City, Sachse, Sunnyvale, Terrell, University Park, and Wylie.

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