Here at Dunlow Mechanical, we want to help you do what’s best for your business, and we offer the top-notch electrical services you need to keep it in good working order. When hiring an electrician to work on your business location, it’s important to choose someone with experience in commercial electrical services specifically, as opposed to the residential variety. Our team offers both commercial and residential services, and in this article, we’ll go over some of the key differences between them, so you can understand why the distinction matters.
- Type of Wiring- One key difference between commercial and residential electrical services is in the type of wiring each has to work with. The wiring in a private home is typically thin and sheathed in plastic, and it is typically installed in open spaces like the attic or basement. In contrast, the wiring in a commercial property is generally housed in tube-like conduits or in the rafters of the ceiling, and you need an electrician who is used to working with that arrangement.
- Size- Another important distinction that providers of commercial electrical services need to be aware of is the relative size of the project. With rare exceptions, commercial properties are larger than private homes, so they are equipped with more appliances and therefore more electrical wiring. A commercial electrician will be prepared to take on projects of this scale and know how to make the necessary arrangements, while a residential one is likely to struggle.
- Electrical Load- A third thing that sets commercial electrical services apart from residential ones is that each type of property requires a different load of electricity. Specifically, residential wiring uses single-phase power, or power delivered in 120 volts. Commercial properties, on the other hand, use a three-phase system, with two smaller legs operating at 120 volts and a larger one running at 208. Clearly, you need an electrician familiar with this three-phase system if you want the best results.