ELECTRICITY for kitchens & baths

Electricity Amber The Greeks used “Electric Force” to describe mysterious forces of attraction and repulsion when amber was rubbed on a piece of cloth. They didn’t understand it nor could they explain it. We know little more about it today. Neg charged electrons, pos charged protons and neutrons are neutral.

Electricity We know that electricity behaves in a consistent predictable manner, in given situations, but electricity has never clearly been defined. Atoms –neutrons, protons and electrons Atoms are neutrally charged Most of the weight of an atom is found in the protons and neutrons. Protons are more or less attached to the nucleus Electrons revolve around the nucleus like planets revolve around the sun

Electricity Atom

Electricity Some electrons, particularly in metals are loosely bound and can detach and become “free electrons” Free electrons as the name implies can move freely from atom to atom When a force or pressure is applied free electrons begin to move

Electricity The materials that allow this movement are called CONDUCTORS The three metals that make the best conductors: Silver Copper Aluminum

Electricity Copper Atom Valence electron

Electricity Silver atom Valence electrons

Electricity Insulators or Non Conductors: Semi-Conductors: Dry Wood Glass Rubber Mica Asbestos Semi-Conductors: Silicon Semi-Conductors act a conductors in some circumstances and as insulators in others

Electricity Electrical energy is transferred through conductors by means of movement of free electrons A material’s ability to conduct current flow determines whether it is a good or bad conductor Actually current flow moves quite slowly, more slowly than the minute hands on a clock

Electricity Terms Voltage Amperage (current) Resistance (Ohms) Wattage (power)

Electricity voltage Current that flows through electrical conductors is directly proportional to the difference in potential Current is directly proportional to the amount of voltage Voltage increases – current increases Voltage decreases-current decreases A hunk of metal is like a tank full of water only full of charge. Charge in the case of silver, copper and aluminum is actually the outer electrons or “valence electrons”.

Electricity voltage Six Methods of Producing Voltage Friction – Static electricity Pressure – Compression of crystals Heating – In copper, electrons move away from the heat. In iron they move to the heat. Light – Photoelectric cells Chemical Action - Batteries Magnetism Pressure – crystals are squeezed to produce voltage Heating – Voltage can be produced by heating the joint where two unlike metals come in contact Light – Voltage is produced when light strike photosensitive substances Magnetism – voltage is produced in a conductor when it is moved through a magnetic field

Electricity charge What is Charge? The stuff inside conductors It’s the free electrons How do we measure charge? 1 Coulomb = 6.28 x 1018 electrons 6,280,000,000,000,000,000 Ampere = 1 coulomb of charge flow per second

Electricity charge The copper wire is full of “charged stuff” but there is no movement Here is a way to visualize charge flow 1. Bend a copper wire to form a ring and solder together Remember the wire is full of liquid charge 2.

Electricity charge The battery pumps the conductors charge stuff in a circle. The battery draws charge into on end and forces it out the other.

Electricity charge The battery drives the ring of charge into motion, the charge moves along like a drive belt, and the light bulb filament “rubs” against the moving charge which makes it glow white hot. Next cut the other end of the copper wire loop and install a light bulb. The friction of the narrow light bulb filament against the flowing charge-stuff creates high temperatures and the filament inside the bulb glows white hot.

Electricity charge The higher the amperage the faster charge stuff moves The more charge stuff that flows (though a larger wire) the higher the amperage A fast flow through a narrow wire can have the same amps as a slow flow of charge through a larger wire. If you keep the speed constant and increase the size of the wire you also increase the amperage Watch out, since amperes are not just the speed of charge movement but also the quantity of coulombs. So, for example when you move more charge stuff through a bigger wire the amperage will also be higher.

Electricity watts Watts is the name given to electrical flow – but what flows? Energy Energy is measures in joules A joule of electrical energy can move from place to place along the wires. The amount of energy that flows in one second is one watt

Electricity btu’s BTU short for British thermal unit, a British standard unit of energy. One Btu is equal to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of liquid water by 1 degree Fahrenheit at its maximum density, which occurs at a temperature of 39.1 degrees Fahrenheit. One Btu is equal to approximately 251.9 calories or 1055 joules. As a rough guide, 1 joule is the absolute minimum amount of energy required (on the surface of Earth) to lift a one kilogram object up by a height of 10 centimeters.

Electricity closed circuits A closed loop of wire is not necessarily a circuit unless voltage is present. In any electric circuit where electrons move around, three things are present: Voltage Current Resistance

Electricity closed circuits The physical pathway for current flow is the circuit The circuits resistance controls the amount of current flow around the circuit. By knowing any two of the three quantities, the third can be calculated.

Electricity watts Watts is the name given to electrical flow – but what flows? Energy Energy is measures in joules A joule of electrical energy can move from place to place along the wires. The amount of energy that flows in one second is one watt

Electricity watts Power pertains to the rate at which work is being done. Work is done whenever a force causes motion i.e. when voltage causes electrons to move in a circuit work is done The rate at which this work is done is called the electric power rate and is measured in WATTS

Electricity watts power Watts = the amount of voltage across a circuit x the current through the circuit or Watts = Volts x Amperes P= EI

Resistance Another helpful formula V = Voltage A = Amperage O = Ohms (resistance) V = A x O or A = V/O Calculator

Electricity watts power 15amp circuit *120volts =1800watts 100watt bulb*10 =1000watts

Electricity What you need to remember Voltage – The force that moves electrons in a conductor. Electrical pressure Amperage – The rate of flow of electrical current. Watts – The measure of the amount of electrical power. Watts = Volts X Amps

Electricity enters the home from a transformer on the nearest power pole. The transformer reduces the voltage To 240V for household use. A supply cable connects the transformer with the electric meter in the home via an overhead or sometimes a buried service cable. This cable then continues into the home to the service panel. At the entry point to the panel the service cable contains three wires or conductors. Two are “live” or hot insulated in black and red plastic. The third is a neutral or grounded bare copper or aluminum wire. The two hot wires carry a potential of 240 volts between the two conductors. The potential voltage for a device wired with one hot wire and a neutral is 120 volts

You never actually consume electricity – you just borrow it (although you transform much of its energy, which is what you pay for.

Kitchen Electricity Circuits Four types of circuits for the Kitchen General Lighting Small Appliance Individual Appliance Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter

Electricity Circuits General Lighting Circuits – rules of thumb One 15 amp circuit per 600 square feet 12 receptacles for a 15-amp circuit One 20 amp circuit per 800 square feet 16 receptacles for a 20-amp circuit Note: Lights in kitchens and baths must be permanently wired.

Kitchen Electricity Circuits Receptacle Circuits – Rule of thumb 12 receptacles for a 15-amp circuit 16 receptacle for a 20-amp circuit Small appliance circuits Two 20-amp circuits One or more 20-amp circuits in the dining room or family room These circuits may not be used for lighting

Electricity circuits Individual Appliance Circuits are dedicated to devices that draw enough current to warrant their own circuit.

Electricity circuits Breaker Capacity Amps 20 Appliance Voltage Garbage Disposer 120 Electric Range/Cooktop 240 Gas Range/Cooktop 120 Dishwasher 120 Electric Tankless Hot Water 240 Refrigerator 120 Microwave Oven 120 Exhaust Fan 120 Breaker Capacity Amps 20 50 20 30

Electricity circuits Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters are required for receptacles within 6 feet of a water source, such as a faucet or showerhead. Most receptacles mounted above a kitchen countertop or bath lavatory fall into that category. Receptacles that serve countertops must be spaced 4’ apart For Universal Design place receptacles serving countertop spaces lower than 44” AFF.

Electricity Wiring Island receptacles no more than 12” below the countertop surface. Smoke detectors at least 12’ from kitchen

Electricity Kitchen Wiring Dedicated circuit for the dishwasher Dedicated circuit for the disposer Dedicated circuit for built-in microwaves At least two 20 amp dedicated small appliance circuits for the outlets serving the countertops All outlets serving the countertop surface to be GFCI protected Dedicated range/cooktop/oven circuits Lighting Circuit General receptacles for the room 6’ from the doorway and then every 12’

Electricity Bath Wiring All Receptacles on dedicated circuit (GFCI) One Receptacle installed within 36” of the sink (GFCI) No receptacles placed within the tub or shower space. No switches can be located within reach of a person standing in the tub or shower, unless part of a listed tub or shower assembly

Electricity Bath Wiring Special Needs Hard wire electric towel warmers or lighted or lighted magnifying mirrors Individual circuits for electrical resistance heaters and electric floor heat Wiring for ceiling heaters and ventilation systems Individual circuit for spas, whirlpools, steam showers, some toilets and bidets Hard wire anti-fog mirrors behind glass Cloths washer/dryer

Electricity Outdated Wiring The house is over 30 years old A fuse box 100 Amp breaker panel Ungrounded Aluminum wire Look for aluminum wiring

Electricity Outdated Wiring GFCI’s are not present Lights flicker when appliances cycle Fuses blow Too few switches and receptacles or lights present Extension cords must be used

Electricity wire types

Electricity Wiring Size 15 Amp Circuit – 14 gauge 20 Amp Circuit – 12 gauge 30 Amp Circuit – 10 gauge 40 Amp Circuit – 8 gauge 50 Amp Circuit – 6 gauge

Electricity wire

Consult your electrician Electricity circuits Adding Circuits to the Breaker Panel Consult your electrician What if there are no spare circuits? Replace breakers with wafer or mini breakers Add a branch panel piggybacked to main panel If it’s an old fuse panel replace it

Electrical Codes

Codes for Kitchens Countertop receptacles every 4’-0”

Codes for Kitchens Sinks, stoves, & cooktops act divide countertops

Plug Strips

Codes for Kitchens Receptacles no higher than 20” above countertop Receptacles no more than 12” below countertop

Codes for Kitchens Islands must be served by at least one receptacle

Codes for Kitchens Peninsulas are measured from the connecting edge

Power Grommet

Codes for Kitchens Receptacles serving countertops must be on 2 dedicated 20amp circuits and must be GFCI protected. They must also serve the dining room and pantry if applicable. Lighting may not be included in these circuits

Codes for Baths At least one receptacle within 3’-0” of the outside edge of each basin Vertical location same as kitchen This receptacle cannot be inside a medicine cabinet Receptacle must be powered by a 20 amp circuit with no other outlets. May serve two bathrooms and may power an exhaust fan and lighting provided it does not exceed the load max. Must be GFCI protected

Codes for Baths No receptacles over a bathtub or inside a shower stall.

Electrical Symbols

Electricity outlet symbols

Electricity outlet symbols

Electricity symbols R

Electricity outlet symbols

Electricity outlet symbols

Electricity outlet symbols

Electricity lighting symbols

Electricity lighting symbols

Electricity lighting symbols

Electricity lighting symbols

Electricity lighting symbols

Electricity lighting symbols

Electricity lighting symbols

Electricity lighting symbols

Electricity special purpose symbols

Electricity special purpose symbols

Electricity special purpose symbols

Electricity special purpose symbols

Electricity switch symbols Single pole switch Double pole switch Three way switch Four way switch Single pole switch w/ dimmer Three way switch w/dimmer