Basic House Wiring

1
Basic House Wiring
2
Electrical Measurement Terms

• Amp - measures the rate of flow of electrical
  current
• Volt - measure of pressure or force pushing
  electricity
• Ohm - measure of electrical resistance
• Watt - basic measure of electricity (amps x volts
  watts)

3
Other Basic Terms

• Ground - connector that runs between a device or
  circuit to safely conduct current to earth
• Conductor - device intended to carry electrical
  current
• Insulator - material that is a poor conductor of
  electricity used to prevent electrical flow
• Short circuit - accidental connection between two
  conductors
• Overload - to run equipment in excess of its
  normal full load

4
Where does electricity come from?

• 1) Generation
• Nuclear fission - split atoms
• Hydro power - moving water
• Burning fossil fuels - power plants
• 2) Step-up transformer
• Voltage stepped up in transformer to between 69
  and 345 thousand volts (sometimes even higher)
• 3) Transmission lines
• Electricity travels through wires over long
  distances

5
Where does electricity come from? (continued)

• 4) Step-down transformer
• Voltage stepped down in transformer at substation
  to between 2000 and 13000 volts
• 5) Distribution Lines
• Electricity travels around community (sometimes
  above ground and sometimes below ground
• 6) Distribution transformer
• Steps down voltage to between 120 and 240 volts
  for use in business or home
• 7) Customer line
• Electricity enters homes or business

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Circuit

• Path for electricity
• Closed - electricity is allowed to flow
• Open - electricity is stopped
• Many circuits within a home

7
Fuse/Circuit Breaker Boxes

• Each branch circuit is protected by fuses or
  circuit breakers
• If too much current is used, fuses or breakers
  will open the circuit
• Fuse - if blown needs to be replaced
• Circuit breaker - trips to open circuit may be
  reset

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Voltage

• Two wires carry 120 volts each
• 120 used for lights and small appliances
  (outlets)
• Two wires combined for 240 volts
• 240 volts used for large appliances (oven, dryer,
  hot water heaters, air conditioners)

9
Basic Electrical Tool Kit

• Screwdriver
• Long-nose pliers (similar to needle nose but has
  curved ends)
• Linemans Pliers
• Side Cutters - Diagonal-cutting pliers
• Tin Snips
• Wire Stripper/Cutter (Multipurpose tool)
• Cable Ripper
• Fuse Puller
• Fish Tape
• Conduit Bender

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Testers

• Receptacle analyzer
• Voltage tester
• Continuity tester
• Multimeter (has specific settings to test all -
  voltage, amperage, and resistance)

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Basic Electrical Relationship

• Ohms Law
• I amperage (the flow of electrons)
• R resistance (resistance to the flow)
• E (or V) voltage (force behind electrons)
• E I x R

12
Basic Skills for Replacing an Extension Cord End

• Use a wire ripper to slice cable sheathing
• Remove cable sheathing
• Use a wire stripper to remove insulation around
  each wire
• Make necessary connections
• Hook wire clockwise over screws
• Twist wire clockwise for wire nuts

13
Wire Identification

• Black wire - hot...electricity is brought to
  devices through this wire
• White wire - neutral...electricity goes back
  through this wire
• Bare Copper or Green wire - ground...safety for
  all stray electricity

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Back
Long Nose Pliers
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Back
Linemans Pliers
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Back
Side Cutters
17
Back
Tin Snips
18
Back
Wire Stripper/Cutter
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Back
Cable Ripper
20
Back
Fuse Puller
21
Back
Fish Tape
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Back
Conduit Bender
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Back
Receptacle Analyzer
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Back
Voltage Tester
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Back
Continuity Tester
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Back
Multimeter