Frequently Asked Questions / Resources / Support
Predictive maintenance (PdM) is a type of condition-based maintenance that tracks the condition of assets through sensor devices in real-time. That data is then used to predict when an asset will require maintenance and prevents equipment failure. With PdM, maintenance is scheduled only when specific conditions are met and before the asset breaks down.
Predictive maintenance techniques are designed to help determine the condition of electrical equipment in order to estimate when maintenance should be performed. Predictive maintenance is aimed at reducing risk and reducing costly, unexpected breakdowns. The idea is to instead manage maintenance around the production schedule.
The Top Choice Electric fleet is equipped with a 45 foot aerial bucket truck. This truck an essential piece of equipment in construction projects, commercial lighting maintenance, sign repairs, and LED retrofit projects as needed.
A retrofit is updating your old lighting or electrical system with new components. A commercial retrofit involves examining your old systems, identifying new components, and installing the new components or fixtures. Top Choice Electric handles this entire process for you. A retrofit is an excellent way to improve your commercial space while also saving money.
For most homes, when it’s time to put in a new panel, the rest of the wiring will be in good shape and not need any replacements. Replacing the electrical panel is almost always part of rewiring a house since it’s necessary to meet the new requirements. Rewiring a house is a much bigger, more labor-intensive job than a panel upgrade as they are separate tasks. If you’re concerned about your home’s wiring in addition to the panel, contact us to perform an electrical inspection.
We recommend having Top Choice Electric inspect your electrical panel if it’s more than 15 years old to see if it may need to be replaced. Here are some signs that your current panel may need to be replaced: frequently tripped circuit breakers, signs of scorching on the breakers, humming or buzzing sounds coming from the panel, and unpleasant burning smells. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you notice these signs. It’s certainly possible your home needs an electrical panel upgrade ASAP.
Most electric vehicles (EVs) will charge at one of three charging levels.
- Level 1 – Basic, slow, “trickle” charging – Residential – 120 volts AC (alternating current). Typically will take 3-7 Hours for PHEVs and 9-20 hours for EVs. Vehicles plug directly into a typical 120‐volt outlet. Top Choice Electric will evaluate the circuit to determine if upgrades or modifications to the property’s main electrical panel or circuits are required, and it should be a dedicated circuit, meaning no other appliances should use the same circuit.
- Level 2 – Fast, or “quick” charging – Residential and Commercial – 240 volts AC. Typically will take 1-3 Hours for PHEVs and 4-8 Hours for EVs. Requires a charging station. Top Choice Electric will determine if upgrades or modifications to the property’s main electric panel or circuits are required.
- Level 3 DC – Very fast charging – Commercial – 480 volts DC (Converts 3-phase AC to DC) or higher. Typically will take 10-20 minutes (80% charge) for PHEVs and 15-30 minutes (80% charge) for EVs. Requires more complex installation and potential electrical infrastructure upgrades.
Contact us to get any additional questions answered regarding an EV charger installation for your home or office.
An established uniform “connector” standard is J1772 for Level 1 and Level 2 charging. Most electric vehicles on the market or launching within the next two years comply with this standard. DC fast charging connectors are available in several standards and will vary depending on the make and model.
EVSE stands for Electric Vehicle Service Equipment, also known as a charging station. They use a 240-volt outlet. All come with the same “J connector” that allow almost all plug-in vehicles to connect to any charging station.
Top Choice Electric installs chargers for any make and model of electric vehicle. Contact us to get any additional questions answered.
The two types of electric vehicles are:
- Electric Vehicles (EV) are fully electric-powered.
- Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) use batteries to power an electric motor and another fuel, such as gasoline, to power an internal combustion engine.
Top Choice Electric installs chargers for both types of electric vehicles, for any make and model. Contact us to get any additional questions answered.