Home Improvement Electrical

Whether you’re in the midst of a new construction project or rewiring a house, purchasing electrical wire is a must. The overall price of wires varies based on material and square footage, but there’s more to the story, too.

We don’t realize how much we depend on our electricity until there is a power outage. While electricity at one time was merely a useful convenience, the way our homes currently run, it is more of a necessity. A power outage can cause your food to spoil, leave you without a way to cook food, and it can also affect your heat or air-conditioning system. So when your power goes out, you’ll probably want to know, “How long does it take for the power to come back on?”

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.

Your circuit breaker is a crucial part of your electrical panel that functions as a safety precaution should too much power pass through the wires. Rather than letting the power surge through the wire, it will temporarily shut off to protect the breaker and the electrical panel.

Electrical service is a hallmark of modern civilization. Having electrical service is so common we tend to take it for granted. However, there are times when electricity becomes a problem. An arc or short circuit in an electrical system can quickly start a fire you our home. Many people wonder if an electrical fire can be extinguished with water?

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.

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.

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?

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.

Challenger circuit breakers and service panels were popular during the 1980s and 1990s. Thousands of these Challenger electrical systems were installed in homes built during this period. Unfortunately, experience showed that certain Challenger circuit breakers overheated during normal use. If you have Challenger components in your home, it is critical to replace those breakers. Replacement breakers for Challenger products are available.

Electrical tape is a valuable tool for any home DIYer. This type of tape insulates anything that conducts electricity and is commonly used to wrap bare wires or insulate cables. Electrical tape has properties such as low conductivity and high heat resistance, making it an excellent choice for minor repairs.

We are fortunate in the US to have one of the most stable and dependable electrical systems in the world.  Most of us don’t give a thought to coming into a dark room and flipping an almost silent switch to bring light to the darkness. However, it can become disconcerting when a simple light switch starts to buzz.

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.

Every homeowner understands the importance of electrical safety. Sure, this isn’t something one thinks of daily, as usually there isn’t cause to think about the electrical systems in your home. You turn your lights on, use appliances, and go about your day without considering all that’s required to reliably provide your home with electricity day in and day out.

If you have gas-fired appliances such as a water heater, space heater, or cookstove, these appliances may have one or more thermocouples.  If you begin to experience problems with the pilot lights on these appliances staying lit, you probably have a bad thermocouple.  But, how do you know if you have a bad thermocouple?

Are you planning to install new lights in your home and are unsure which type of wires should be used for lighting – 12-2 wires or 14-2 wires? You’re not alone. This is a question that often stumps many homeowners. Fortunately, we’re here to help answer: “Can I use 12/2 wire for lights?”

Electrical wall outlets are some unobtrusive but important parts of our home. Think of how many items depend on your electrical outlets to provide power consistently. We hardly give them a thought as we pug and unplug various devices expecting them to work. However, it can be frustrating and confusing when one or more electrical outlets in your home quit working.

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? 

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.

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.

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.

If you have recently relocated an outlet in your home, you may be left with an empty or dead outlet on the wall. While the dead outlet is certainly not harming anything, it can be unsightly if the outlet is no longer used. Hiding or covering the outlet can be tempting, especially to make your home look nicer without an ugly outlet on the wall.

Many different companies have manufactured electrical panels over the past 50 years. Some of them are notorious for the poor performance of their products and the problems these products have caused. One of the least known of these companies is Zinsco. Many homeowners wonder if their Zinsco electrical panels are safe?

Each home’s electrical panel has circuit breakers that act as a safety device for your home. They are each is designed in a way so as to cut power off when the current that passes through exceeds the designated rating.

Your new workshop is sitting happily behind your landscaped backyard. The only thing lacking is electricity in the shop. Unfortunately, the pedestal that holds your electric meter is on the other side of your beautifully landscaped backyard. Ditching to run the electrical lines underground would destroy much of your landscape. You wonder if you can run electrical conduit above ground?

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?

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?

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.

That combination light, heater, and fan in your bathroom has finally gotten so noisy that you can’t stand it anymore.  Working with electrical circuits in your home is usually a job for a trained and licensed electrician.  However, if you are replacing an existing unit, this project is well within most homeowner’s abilities.

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.

Every house seems to have that one light switch that controls nothing. I have several in my house. It can be quite frustrating, but fear not! There are a few ways to hunt down what your mystery switch controls.

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.

Grab your wire connector, insulated pliers, a screwdriver, and a voltage tester—it’s time to see what’s wrong with that faulty light switch. And if you replaced your light switch recently, there’s a good chance that this has something to do with your light switch not working now. In this article, the common problems which manifest after a light switch replacement will be explained.

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.

Choosing a new breaker is an important decision. Your home’s electrical system is comprised of several fail-safes meant to keep both you and the breaker safe. Homeline and QO breakers are among the most popular and effective on the market, so how are they different?

House rewiring is one of the heftiest projects a homeowner can expect. Nonetheless, it is a necessary one to keep your house safe and compliant.

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?

There are millions of homes in the United States that have a ticking time-bomb somewhere in the structure. Between 1950 and 1980, Federal Pacific Electric Company (FPE) sold most of the circuit breakers installed in homes in the US. There is still widespread confusion about the safety of FPE circuit breakers and panels.

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.

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?

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.

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.

Mobile homes offer the chance to reduce costs and move in quickly. Land preparation is much easier and cheaper than building a traditional brick-and-mortar home, and that makes mobile homes quite enticing. So, how much does it cost to hook up electricity to a mobile home?

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.

If your light switch is hot to the touch, it could be related to a few different reasons. But the biggest thing to note is a hot light switch is a fire waiting to happen. As soon as you notice the temperature is warmer than warm, call a professional right away.

There are a lot of variables that go into determining whether a 10-gauge wire can handle 40 amps. The higher the amperage rating of the circuit, the larger the wires must be. This helps avoid fire by cutting down on excess heat that melts the wires.

If you have a light switch that you hardly use, it might be more beneficial to convert it into an outlet. But can that even be done? The answer is a resounding yes!

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.

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.

In new homes, if you open up your outlet, you will usually see two wires. One entering and providing power to the outlet, the other exiting and providing power to outlets downstream. There may sometimes be a third wire to ground the outlet, or to provide power to a downstream line in another direction.

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?

If it’s time to update the switches and sockets in your home, you may be considering a range of options. Additionally, you are probably considering what kind of finish you want; nowadays brushed chrome, nickel, and brass are popular options.

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?

Are you wanting to know if it is possible to feed two panels from one meter? If so, then we are going to show you exactly what that looks like, and what your options are.

You have your new shop or utility shed built and ready to go. Part of the plan is to run electrical service to the new structure from your home. However, the question of what size wire is required to get electricity to your new utility shed. What kinds of distance can you get if you use 10-gauge wire?

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.

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?

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?”

If there’s anything I learned to hate, it’s meter readings. No, I don’t want to have to see how badly I’m clobbered with electricity use. I just don’t want to look at it.

Upgrading your home can be done in a variety of ways. Some folks pursue those upgrades by redesigning their home, building new rooms, or perhaps purchasing more appliances. In the long run, one of the best upgrades you can secure for your home is a replacement electrical panel.