Mike’s Electric
Mike's Electric provides both commercial and residential electric support throughout the Portland Metro area; serving Portland since 1959. We believe that professional workmanship and effective communication combined with fair and honest treatment of customers and employees, are the keys to success. Each member of our Team is an efficient, courteous, and appropriately licensed professional; ready to take care of our customer’s electrical needs, no matter how big or small the project. From a single outlet installation to a complete house rewiring, we ensure all work is done safely, in a timely manner, and complies with all the applicable electrical codes.
Services
Electrical service upgrades
Adding more breakers to your panel or replacing it all together is an important step in maintaining the safety of your electrical system.
Recessed lighting
Recessed lights greatly improve the elegance of the lighting in your home. One of the benefits of recessed lighting is that it quickly increases how modern your home looks.
Outlet installation
An outlet or receptacle is involved in approximately 8% of home electrical fires, many of which are caused by overloading outlets and extension cords.
Combination smoke alarms
Smoke alarms are an essential part of a home fire escape plan. Smoke spreads fast, working smoke alarms give you an early warning so you can get outside quickly.
Garden lighting
By installing outdoor lights, you can extend your use of exterior areas well after the sun sets.
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Location & hours
11070 SW Allen Blvd, Beaverton, OR 97005, USA
FAQs
What areas do you serve?
We're based in Beaverton, Oregon and serve homeowners across the Portland metro area, including Hillsboro, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Portland, Sherwood, Tigard, Tualatin, Wilsonville, King City, Aloha, Milwaukie, and Oregon City, spanning Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties.
What electrical services do you offer?
We handle a wide range of residential work, including panel installation and repairs, electrical service upgrades, dedicated circuits, GFCI and whole home surge protection, recessed and smart lighting, ceiling and exhaust fans, EV charging stations, generators and transfer switches, hot tub wiring, and whole home electrical inspections.
Are you licensed?
Yes. We hold Oregon CCB# 191094 and Oregon Electrical Contractors license C643, so your electrical work is performed by a properly licensed professional and completed to code.
What does pricing look like?
There is generally no charge for most requests for bids or estimates. We'll review your needs and provide a transparent quote before any work begins, so you know what to expect.
Do you install EV charging stations?
Yes. We install most electric vehicle charging stations and are a Tesla Approved Electrician, so you can conveniently charge your vehicle at home by simply parking next to your charger and plugging in.
What are your business hours?
We're open Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM, and closed on Saturday and Sunday.
How can I get in touch?
You can reach us by phone at (503) 649-6991 or through the contact form on our website. Let us know about your project and we'll be glad to help.
How do I know if I have an electrical problem or not?
Here are some common warning signs of potential electrical problems that we recommend be checked by a licensed electrician soon after being first observed.
A shock from any electrical fixture, appliance, plug, or switch.
Arcing or sparking anywhere in your electrical system.
Frequent tripping of breakers in your electrical system.
Unusual sounds - such as sizzling or buzzing coming from your electrical system.
Discolored switch plates or receptacle covers or those that are hot to the touch.
Damaged, cut, missing, or broken wiring insulation.
Wiring which may be spliced rather than properly combined using wire nuts and a junction box.
Wires that may give off an odor of hot insulation, which may be an indication of overheating.
Non GFCI receptacles that are within 6 feet of a water source.
Extension cords being used as a semi-permanent method of providing power.
Do you have a minimum labor charge?
Yes. We charge a one hour minimum at our first hour labor rate.
How are electrical permits handled by your company?
Many types of electrical work require that a permit be obtained from the local municipality. Larger, more involved electrical work may also require an inspection. The municipality charge for a permit is included on your bill. In most cases inspection is included in this charge.
What are your billing policies regarding the use of Licensed Apprentice Electricians ?
Frequently (but not always) the Licensed Apprentice Electrician will be on your property to assist our journeyman. This is part of a rigorous education/training program required for their license. They are under the supervision of the journeyman electrician during all work. Even though in training, they provide a benefit in that they are able to help complete a job more quickly and efficiently - actually reducing the total labor cost below what would occur if only the journeyman was present. Note: if an apprentice electrician is assisting in the completion of work, their time will be added to the invoice. No charge will be made if they are not assisting.
I need a circuit breaker. Are they all the same?
No, it’s best if you bring in the old breaker and match it up.
I have a circuit breaker that tripped. Is this dangerous
Usually the problem is simply an overload and you only need to run fewer appliances on the circuit. However, if it is not overloaded and it keeps tripping, you should suspect a short. Also, look for a defective cord, socket or plug.
Is it alright to replace a fuse or circuit breaker with a larger one to prevent them from blowing or tripping?
In most cases the answer is no. They are designed to trip at certain levels to protect equipment and for fire safety.
Why does my circuit breaker keep tripping? Why do my fuses keep burning out?
This is usually caused by three things. The first reason could be there are too many electrical items plugged into the circuit. Circuits are designed to only handle so much electric demand. The second reason is there could be a short in the wiring, or the third reason is the breaker or fuse could be faulty. It is recommended that an electrician evaluate the problem to ensure there are no safety issues. Your electrician can also talk with you about adding more circuits to your home so that your electrical system can support all your needs.
My dusk to dawn light doesn't go off and remains on all day. Do I need to replace it?
First find the sensor and see if it is being obscured by something. If not, you can probably just replace the sensor.
What is the advantage of a halogen bulb?
It provides brighter, cleaner light. However, it consumes lots of electricity and gets very hot. You should ensure that it stays away from draperies, bedding, clothing and hanging plants.
Do I need to buy a special bulb for my garage door opener?
It’s best to use a rough service bulb.
Voltage, Wattage, Amperage & Lumens: A Refresher for Lighting Design
If you’ve ever studied how electricity works, you know there are enough scientific terms and definitions to drive anyone up a wall. Whether you were sleeping through Physics 101 or just need some help figuring it out here’s a basic refresher on four electrical terms that you can use to wow friends with your knowledge: voltage, amperage, wattage and Lumens. In an electrical circuit, the electrons that carry electricity are like the water in the hose. Voltage is the force pushing the electrons through the circuit. Amperage is the amount of electricity going through the circuit. Wattage multiplies the force and amount to calculate how much total energy is being consumed and lumens is how much light is produced.
Voltage is like water pressure. Without water pressure, the water will just sit in the hose. Similarly, voltage is the power that pushes electricity through a circuit. The higher the voltage, the more rapidly electricity is being pushed through the wires. Voltage is determined by the power supplier, and in residential homes in the United States, it’s delivered as 240V, then split in a transformer. Most outlets are connected to one 120V line, but some appliances, like the dryer or stove, may use 220V.
Amperage (Amp) is a measure of how much electricity is flowing past a given point. Each circuit in your electrical panel measures the electricity being requested for power to each plug or light attached to that circuit by wires. If the requested power exceeds the size of the breaker (20Amp), then the circuit will trip. In the water analogy, an amp would measure the amount of water coming out of the hose each second, for example. If your hose is small, less water will come out than if it’s a fire hose with a larger diameter. The pressure is the same, but you get a different amperage depending on the diameter of the hose. Motors (like vacuums, blenders, etc.) are rated in amperage, but for purposes of lighting, you probably won’t run into amps very often. Just know that it’s the quantity of electricity flowing in a given time frame.
Wattage (a watt) in the water analogy, is the rate at which your bucket is filled. If the bucket represents your lightbulb, a watt measures how much electrical power it is using at any given moment. Since watts measure the total amount of power being used, a 60w lightbulb uses much more energy than a 12w bulb. The type of bulb (incandescent, LED, fluorescent, etc.) will impact how many watts it needs. As a general rule, it’s fine to use a lower wattage bulb in a lighting fixture, but not a higher wattage bulb, as it may damage the fixture.
Lumens measure the amount of light a bulb produces, but that is not necessarily related to how many watts the bulb consumes. A 60w incandescent bulb may produce as many lumens as a 12w LED bulb, but the higher wattage means it needs much more power to produce it.
What is a ground fault interrupter?
It’s a safety device that shuts off the power if a wire in an outlet develops a leak that could electrocute someone. This hazard is so serious that the National Electrical Code requires all new homes be equipped with them in the bathroom, kitchen, workroom, outdoor, basement, garage and swimming pool circuits.
What is a GFCI outlet?
GFCI outlets are commonly known as the outlets “with a button”. GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. The outlet monitors itself for an electrical current imbalance. (Those imbalances are what can give you a nasty shock!) If it recognizes an imbalance, it will “trip” or shut itself off. The national electric code requires that GFCI outlets are installed anywhere near water including bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and outdoors. If you have a GFCI outlet that is constantly tripping, you should have it looked at as that may be an indicator of a more dangerous problem.
How do I know my GFCI outlet is working?
There is a test button on all GFCI outlets. The outlets should be tested from time at time - at least yearly. Press the “test” button to trip the outlet. Press the “reset” button to fix it. If nothing happens when you press the test button or if the outlet will not reset, that could indicate a dangerous situation. The outlet needs to be inspected by an electrician to ensure it safely operating and there is no underlying electrical issue.
Do all of the outlets in my kitchen need to have ground-fault circuit interrupters?
No, if the first in the series is GFCI, then all are protected.
Many of the electrical items I buy have 3-prongs on the plug but my home’s outlets are 2-prong. Can I just cut that third prong off?
No! The third prong is designed to prevent deadly electrical shock from the electrical item you are using. The third prong acts as a “ground” so that, if a wire inside the item were to come loose, the plug can help divert the electricity back into your home’s electrical system rather than shocking the next person to touch that item. If the third prong is disabled, there is nothing protecting you or a family member from receiving a nasty shock from the equipment.
Will a three-pronged plug adapter protect me against electrical shock when I use it in a two-prong receptacle?
Only if the wall plate screw is grounded.
The dryer plug will not fit the receptacle in our new house. How can I remedy this?
In most newer homes, there should be four-prong dryer and range receptacles. If you have a three-prong power cord, you will need to have a licensed electrician change it.
What is a transformer?
It’s a device that changes the voltage. In most home usage, it reduces the voltage for use on low-voltage equipment, such as thermostats, doorbells and low-voltage outdoor lighting.
My doorbell doesn't work, do you know what's wrong with it?
There are three components to the doorbell; the button, the transformer and the bell itself. First, look for any loose wires throughout the system. If all the wires are connected, test the doorbell button by removing it and touching the two wires together. If this makes the doorbell work, you have a bad button that is easily replaced.