Home Improvement Electrical

The electrical components of your home or business can require professional intervention much of the time for good reason. Not only is it a complicated setup, especially to DIYers, but it is dangerous as well. Plus there is the potential of installation going wrong on top of all that.

A ballast is a passive electrical component used to limit the amount of current in an electrical circuit. Ballasts are used in industrial fluorescent lighting and typically last upwards of twenty years. However, cold environments and bad light bulbs can reduce their lifespan.

Having a power generator is a wise investment to keep your house powered in the event of a power outage. Many homeowners believe that simply powering their portable generator with a standard home outlet is sufficient, but this can create a dangerous situation for you, your neighbors, and your electrical utility crew.

Electrical work is one of the hardest things to wrap your head around as a homeowner, and that comes right down to outlets. The standard outlet for American homes is the ground fault circuit interrupter or GFCI outlet. They are effective and protect you from electrical shock, but can two GFCI outlets be used on the same circuit?

Adding baseboard heating units to an existing home is one way to increase the heating capabilities quickly and efficiently. Electric baseboard heaters are relatively easy to install and comparatively cost-effective. Providing the electrical power to baseboard heating can be challenging. Many homeowners wonder if they can wire a baseboard heater to an existing electrical outlet.

As the US moves away from incandescent light bulbs in favor of LED lighting, there are some issues to consider. Many people are unfamiliar with the operating characteristics of LED light bulbs and have questions about replacing their incandescent bulbs. One often asked question is about using dimmable LED light bulbs in sockets not equipped with a dimmer switch.

When building or refurbishing an area other than the home on your property, there will be a wide range of specific services that need to be attended to. One of those services is the electrical wiring and sub-panel.

Recessed lights are a visually appealing and modern way to add depth to a room. You can change the aesthetic of a room completely when you install recessed lights, that is when they work. So, what does it mean when my recessed lights are not working?

Many homeowners get confused about their electrical system when talking about neutrals and grounds. This confusion can lead to questions about how the circuit breaker box in your home is wired. Is it permissible to have the neutral wires and the ground wires in your home’s electrical system connected to the same bus bar in the electrical panel?

Are ungrounded outlets safe? No, definitely not. Ungrounded outlets are NOT safe. They’re significantly more dangerous than grounded outlets, and that’s why the National Electrical Code, in 1947,* began requiring certain areas of new constructions to have three-pronged, “grounded” outlets. Ungrounded outlets don’t protect against surges and significantly increase the risk of electrical fires.

Outlets allow us to power the modern necessities in life, running electricity to our lighting, appliances, or phone chargers. Having outlets in convenient locations around the house is ideal and can help make life easier. In most modern homes, there is usually at least one outlet on every wall. To keep homes safe, code dictates how many outlets can go onto a 15 amp circuit, standard for most homes.

It is crucial to ensure that wiring is appropriately sized for the amperage rating of the circuit. Whenever you need to extend a circuit, rewire it, or install a new one, using the correct gauge wire is essential. So, that being said, what gauge of wire would you use for a 50 amp 220v?

It is understandable to be concerned when your power goes out and comes right back on. The power can go out without explanation and come right back on baffling any homeowner. So, what does it mean when the power goes out and comes back on, and should you be concerned?

The electrical system in your home is one of those things that get very little attention until something goes wrong. Unfortunately, when something does go wrong, the results can be rather spectacular. In too many instances, the results are also deadly. It is important to recognize the signs that your electrical panel needs an upgrade.

If you take a look at most suburban homes, vinyl siding is the classic go-to. It’s everywhere! Though vinyl is going to be one of the most common siding types you may see, cedar shake is still fairly popular in upscale neighborhoods. They tend to get a good rep. If you’re ready to upgrade your home’s exterior, then you might be wondering what you should choose. Honestly, it’s a rough debate.

Ensuring that your wall outlets, GFCI included, are functioning properly is essential to the prevention of electrical fires, short circuits, and other possible electrical problems in the home. If your GFCI outlet is buzzing, this could be a result of a number of different issues. Their main purpose is to prevent electrocution, and when you’re experiencing any sort of malfunction with your GFCI, it’s important that you troubleshoot and fix the problem as soon as possible.

Electrical panels stick out like a sore thumb, and while they are practical, they are also visually unappealing. These eyesores are a necessary evil, but you don’t have to necessarily see them for them to be useful. There are several amazing ways to conceal an electrical panel and still access it.

In North America, 240 volts of electricity are supplied to a panel. The 240 volts are split between two 120-volt circuits.

When you first have kids or get a new pet, one of the things that you need to do is consider baby-proofing your home. There are a lot of hazards in and around your home that you may need to watch out for. For example, almost everything electronic can be hazardous to young kids. That’s why people are told to get tamper-resistant receptacles. But, what on earth is a tamper-resistant receptacle supposed to be?

There are many reasons for homeowners to want more accessible wiring. To do this, electrical work is needed, which often brings up the question “can you use a junction box to extend the wiring?”

What do you do when the power goes out? It’s usually from a storm and involves the whole house, right? But what if there is no storm and power is out in just one room? That could be a sign of something completely different.

During Superstorm Sandy, most of my neighborhood was out of power. Having a warm shower felt like a distant memory, unless you had that one “bougie” neighbor with a generator. I was lucky enough to be friends with a millionaire’s daughter at the time. So, I got a shower. Part of getting that warm water involved knowing what size generator they needed to run a water heater.

The shock of a massive electric bill is enough to make any homeowner want to curb their energy consumption. Whether it be in the dead heat of summer or the harsh cold of winter, you can’t simply go without heating or cooling. Luckily, there are some great ways to reduce your electric bill and save energy.

When planning out your expenses for the months ahead, it helps to know how much you regularly pay for certain bills. That knowledge can help you better distribute your finances. It can save you from potential budget shortages near the arrival of your next paycheck.

Have you ever been in a room that was too bright, and you wished that you could tone down the brightness of the room’s light? If so, then you would need a dimmer switch to do that. Dimmer switches are a commodity that doesn’t come as standard procedure on most houses. They’re a specialty item that costs more than normal light switches.

The most common causes of  electrical surges come from internal sources within your home, which can send hundreds of thousands of volts through your system at once. When the voltage goes up throughout your house at this velocity, all sorts of things can happen- including fires from overheated wires to tripped breakers and short-circuiting outlets.

So, you went to your friend’s house the other night for some backyard conversation and wine and fell in love with their yard. It was relaxing and comfortable, and those string lights in their trees were the perfect finishing touch. Now you want to hang string lights in your backyard, but you don’t have any trees.

If your doorbell wires are not labeled, then you need to locate the chime and the low-voltage transformer. The chime could be in your living room, kitchen, or another open area. The transformer may be near your electrical panel, garage, or mechanical room.

Electrical wiring is not a pursuit usually undertaken by homeowner do-it-yourselfers. However, some people undertake minor electrical repairs and additions to the electrical systems in the homes. One of the most perplexing portions of proper electrical wiring installation is understanding when wiring is required to be enclosed in conduit. Many people wonder if THHN wire must be in conduit to be installed properly.

PVC conduit has many uses in both new construction and remodel construction for residential and commercial applications. Typically, PVC electrical conduit is available as schedule 40 or schedule 80. Each has s specific set of uses, and local building codes usually specify these applications.

The grey pipe or the conduit PVC pipe is designed to handle the heat of the sun and the heat of the electrical wires. Two different kinds are used in electrical work, which are Schedule 40 and Schedule 80. Either or can connect to an electrical box.

Before GFCIs and self-grounding electrical outlets, there were a lot more individuals getting electrocuted by rogue currents. But now, it’s very rare for such an event to happen, mainly because of the two devices above.

Doorbells are a simple, albeit important fixture of modern homes that are typically reliable and low maintenance. Things can still go wrong with a doorbell despite the simplicity, so it’s important to know basic electrical information about your doorbell. So, which circuit is the doorbell usually on?

Electrical wiring is not only for the main areas of the house anymore. Modern homes may see electrical wiring throughout the property, running into sheds, garages, and even patios or decks. It only makes sense with the prevalence of flat-screen televisions as they can be placed just about anywhere with a simple electrical connection.

We tend to take our power outlets for granted. They are seemingly just there to accommodate our every need without batting an eyelash. But there are two main types of power outlets to be aware of: 110V and 220V.

Modern homes are filled with all sorts of electronic conveniences. Many homes come with switches that can turn on a light or device from multiple locations. These switches, called 3-way switches, are a very common convenience in many homes today. But What do you do when the switch is only working when both switches are turned on?

It is easy to understand why electrical wiring needs to be protected from damage or exposure to the elements. Your local electrical code will often require that electrical wiring be run through a conduit of some kind. There are a variety of different conduits available. EMT (Electrical Metallic Tubing) and rigid conduit are two of the most common. It is important to understand the difference between these two products.

Dimmer switches can often take people by surprise with the heat they emit, particularly if they aren’t used to using them in the house. It can be shocking, true. However, there is a difference between a warm dimmer switch and one that it hot enough to make you go “OW!” Are you one of the many people curious about the reasons why dimmer switches seem to turn up the heat.

If you want to add more circuits to your home but don’t have room in your pane box, a subpanel makes expansion possible. It’s a common problem, especially in older houses, not to have enough spaces in your breaker box. If you choose to add a subpanel to your home, it’s important to know your limitations.

As outdoor electrical outlets are subjected to different weather patterns, installing them falls under strict building codes. 

The purpose of light switches and dimmers is to open and close electrical circuits, which control the light fixture. Before installing or replacing a light switch, it’s important to ensure that the switch you choose matches the amperage rating and voltage of where it’s going to be mounted. For this reason, you may find yourself asking: What amp light switch do I need?

Most new electrical boxes and configurations will come with the needed electrical screws in the package. If you are simply replacing an electrical box or have lost the original screws, you may need to purchase new screws to attach your electrical box safely. Determining the correct size and type of electrical screw can be difficult, though, especially with so many screw options available on the market.

Have you ever traveled to another country and discovered that you couldn’t charge your phone with your charger? Or maybe you purchased an appliance from another country, and had no way to plug it in?

A modern kitchen needs to be able to do a lot, sometimes without much space. There needs to be a way to store and prepare food, clean and store dishes, and dispose of trash.

Flickering lights can be a scary sight to behold in both horror movies and real life. Your lights can flicker for a variety of reasons, but it’s hard to pinpoint the cause if you are inexperienced with electrical work. Many homeowners ask themselves: why are my lights flickering and how do I fix them?

We often use 240-volt outlets in our homes to power large appliances like air conditioners and clothes dryers. If you’ve recently purchased a new appliance, you may find that you need a new 240-volt outlet to power it. Can you install it yourself, or is it necessary to get a permit and involve a professional?

Circuit breakers are one of, if not the most, essential parts of your home. Without an effective breaker, you would have no power for anything in the house. No appliances would work, you would be without heat or air, and you wouldn’t be able to have internet or entertainment.

Downlights, also referred to as recessed lights, are a very popular and cost-effective way to provide lighting to your living spaces. They are installed in both new constructions and home renovation projects, providing many advantages to homeowners that lack the space for traditional lighting fixtures. Recessed lights can be easily tucked in between ceiling joists to add extra lighting and ambiance, with the need for pendant or freestanding fixtures.

Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) have been around for decades, and these days it’s near impossible to find a modern home which doesn’t utilize these devices; they’re even used in a lot of older homes now because they’re useful here as well.

Deciding whether or not to upgrade your lighting to smart lighting is a big decision. There is, of course, the initial investment. At $30 or $40 a bulb, switching your entire home over to smart bulbs is no small price to pay. But the benefits are numerous.

Installing a new light fixture looks to be a simple operation. Two wires to connect and hang the new light fixture. Then you take down the old light fixture and find a mass of white, black, and red wires. There is an instant flash of panic as you try and figure out how to wire the new light fixture. Which of the black, white, and red wires do you use?

Circuit breakers protect your electrical system and home. If a circuit is overloaded, the breaker is tripped to cut off the flow of electricity. Normally each breaker has only one wire, but double tapped breakers are common. The problem may be identified by an electrician or home inspector.

When dealing with electricity, it is often a question of where you live as to whether you need a permit or not. Just as with this question about installing a subpanel, it will depend on your particular state and city. It can also be dependent on the building codes in your specific community or subdivision.

Light switches are a major feature in the electrical system of a home. They are located in every room and some rooms have multiple switches. The switches in older homes were not grounded but due to new safety regulations, many new construction homes do have grounded light switches.

It isn’t typically something we give much thought to until we plug in that appliance or flip the light switch, only to have everything in the room go black. Then, the question of how many watts can our  amp panel handle becomes one of the first things we start thinking about. Funny, how being left in the dark can inspire us to seek answers. And in this case, those answers will be about the power that literally gives us the light we need to see.

There is no mistaking when the AC comes on in your house.  Not only can you hear the condensing unit start, the lights in the house flicker, dimming for a few moments each time.  What does it mean with the lights dim each time the AC turns on?

You may not know the term ‘recessed lighting,’ but you’re guaranteed to have seen it somewhere. These ceiling fixtures, which create nice ambient lighting, are a worthy addition to any home. But it can be tough to know which kind of recessed lighting to buy, and if a pro should install them for you. Let’s discuss the question, can a handyman install recessed lighting? 

A neutral and ground refer to wires that are part of an electrical system.

How many people does it take to change a light bulb? This old joke comes with a variety of tongue-in-cheek answers. However, when we start talking about changing a light switch, the jokes die down a bit. Changing out your old almond light switch for a more modern look is not as hard as it may seem. However, if you are new to the game, it is better to call an electrician or try it out under the eye of someone experienced in the field.

When you get shocked by an appliance you thought worked correctly it can be startling or downright scary. This shock is reverse polarity, and it can be a very serious potential problem.  It damages electronics and can even cause severe electric shock. This problem is fixable. There are even simple ways to test for it.