Electrical Wiring 101

Electrical wires and cable have markings stamped or printed on their insulation or outer sheathing.

Electrical wiring 101.

For example 14 2 gauge electrical wire is rated to a maximum of 15 amps and should not be used with any circuit breaker larger than 15 amps 12 2 gauge wiring is rated to a maximum of 20 amps. An electrical box is a plastic or metal box used to connect wires and install devices such as switches receptacles outlets and fixtures. In this article we ll show you some house wiring basics how to position outlet and switch boxes and run the electrical cable between them. If you try to strip wires using a knife instead of a stripper you probably will nick the copper and weaken the wire.

Watch this super informative and detailed full video to learn about electrical in your home and discover how to tackle the most common electrical projects yo. Alternate 3 way switch wiring diagrams. The wire and cable aisle at your home center can be a pretty confusing place. However there is an alternate wiring configuration that could cause confusion.

The lower the gauge the larger the wire and the more current it can handle. In this article you ll learn how to identify different electrical cable types and their use and how to determine the size of individual wires and their purpose. Wires running inside nm cable bx cable or conduit are sized according to each circuit s amperage. These markings provide important information about the wiring and insulation including the wire size and material the type of insulation the number of wires contained inside a cable and any special ratings or characteristics of the wire.

Understanding electrical wiring labeling. An electrical box is almost always required for mounting devices and for housing wiring splices. For help with circuit design and making connections to your main electrical panel we recommend you consult a licensed electrician. Conventional 3 way wiring is not very complex.

Electrical 101 electrical information for the home and office including switches outlets plugs ballasts troubleshooting light bulbs basic electricity. For example wiring for 20 amp circuits is 12 gauge which is heavier than the 14 gauge wiring used for 15 amp circuits. Ground neutral and hot wires explained. Before beginning electrical work gather a basic set of tools designed for wiring.

In this video we look at the difference and purpose of the ground wire the hot wire and the neutral wire in a north. Wire size is given in its gauge number. Boxes come in many different sizes and several different shapes.