The very first thing that Canadians and Americans learn when they come here to live is: We’ve been spoiled. Most Mexicans have been getting by (some quite well) on far less than what we’re used to. So, it should come as no surprise that your average Mexican electrical system is smaller than what we have come to expect at home.

Mexican residential services have 120/240 volt and 60 Hz– just like the rest of North America. However, where 100 amp service is considered a minimum at home, most homes in PV will have a far smaller service, often just 30 amps, which some buyers find alarming. However this is an convenience issue, not one of safety. Smaller services mean that less electricity is available to the house at any given time. If you have a 30 amp service, and the combination of electrical appliances running at a given time exceeds 30 amps, the main breaker should trip. It doesn’t necessarily mean you did something dangerous (though you might have), it just means you tried to overdo it. When that happens, you should turn off the appliances you were using, and reset the breaker. If it trips again immediately, call an electrician.

Most receptacles you’re likely to see in an older property will only accept a two pronged plug, though three pronged receptacles are becoming more common, and are the norm in mew construction. If you are moving into an older home, you should bring a few grounded adapters with you, or better yet, have an electrician install grounded receptacles for you wherever you need them.

Blackouts, brownouts, and power surges are a little more common here as well. To be safe, you should protect your valuable electronic equipment. For most basic appliances, a typical surge protector is enough. Your computer equipment should be plugged into a good quality uninterruptable power supply, which acts as a surge supressor as well.

Most residents find that the summertime humidity will damage their most sensitve home and portable electronics, so they leave the plasma TV at home, and keep it more basic here in Vallarta. Don’t say we didn’t warn you…

Most older Mexican homes will have fewer electrical receptacles than what you're used to as well. There's nothing wrong with this, though the resulting daisy chain of extension cords can be dangerous. If you need an extension cord more than just occasionally, you should call an electrician and have additional electrical receptacles installed.

In most US and Canadian homes, wiring has several layers of protection. The copper wires that carry current are individually insulated. They are then encased in plastic sheathing, often they are also run through metal or PVC conduit and buried in a wall or ceiling, effectively placing four distinct barriers between you and the current - very safe. The wiring in many Mexican properties may only have one or two of those barriers.

It's important to know that while the residential wiring system in a Mexican house will be very different than the ones you might be used to, it isn't necessarily dangerous. The best thing to do if you have any concerns is to call a professional to check it out and make any necessary repairs.

Casas del Mar PV is your Vallarta real estate resource. They perform home inspections and manage vacation properties for people who are serious about their vacation home investments. You can send your questions to: info@casasdelmarpv.com.