Residential Construction Unit 5- Energy Efficiencies and Mechanicals Mr. Todzia

Generation facilities- Most electricity is made by turbine blades rotating at speeds high enough to produce electricity in a generator. The blades can be turned by water, steam or wind.

 High-voltage switchyard- The electricity flows through metal conduction to a switchyard, where a transformer steps up voltage for transmission.

 Transmission lines -Transmission lines can efficiently carry high-voltage electricity over long distance to substations.

 Substations -At substations, electricity is stepped down so it can travel over smaller distribution lines to homes and businesses.

 Distribution lines -Distribution lines carry electricity to neighborhoods.

 Transformer -an electric-pole transformer reduces the voltage to a level that can be used in homes

 The line that connect from the overhead street power lines to your house is called the Service Drop.  The utility company owns and is responsible for the Service drop and any wires before they enter the Weatherhead.

 The weatherhead prevents any water, snow or moisture to enter the system and travel down the wires to the panel.

 After the wires enter the weatherhead they travel down the large conduit to the Service panel.  From the panel, the power is distributed to the different circuits throughout the house.

 A circuit breaker is an automatically operated electrical switch designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by overload or short circuit.  Its basic function is to detect a fault condition and, by interrupting continuity, to immediately discontinue electrical flow.  Unlike a fuse, which operates once and then has to be replaced, a circuit breaker can be reset (either manually or automatically) to resume normal operation.

 Lights and Switches  Receptacles/outlets  Hardwired appliances

 Lights are typically run with 14 gauge wire.  In a single pole application when one switch is operating the light, 14-2 wire is used.  In a 3-way situation when a two switches are used to operate one light, then 14-3 wire must be used.

 An electrical outlet, also called a receptacle, is the flush mounted plate we plug our electrical appliances into. 15 amp outlet 20 amp outlet

 15 amp outlets are run with 14 gauge wire.  20 amp outlets are run with 12 gauge wire.  20 amp outlets are recognizable by the T- shaped slot on the neutral side of the outlet. 20 amp 15 amp

 There is usually more than one outlet on a circuit, so the above diagram explains how to wire an outlet in the middle of circuit and also how the outlet on the end is wired.

 GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter.  GFCI outlets are required by code in bathrooms and kitchens because both areas have the chance of getting wet.

 Some appliances in your home will require a 220 volt outlet.  Kitchen Stove  Cloths Dryer

 Some appliances or fixtures are hard wired to the power supply. This means they don’t plug in, but they have the wires from the wall tied directly to them.  Some examples might include  Dish waser  Well pump  Furnace/boiler  Hot water heater  Smoke detectors

 Always flip a breaker off before you do any work on a circuit!  Smoke detectors are required by code in any residence.  Lighting circuits should be wired separately from other circuits so if a breaker is tripped, you still have lights.  By code switches have to be installed 48 inches from the floor.  By code outlets have to installed 18 from the floor.

 Install outlets with the ground hole facing up so you will never drop something across the hot and neutral lines.  When drilling studs for running wire in walls, always drill in the center of the stud to minimize the risk of hitting a wire with a nail.  Remember that only 50 milliamps of electricity across your chest, stop your heart.  Use insulated tools.  Never cut across a hot and neutral with any tool. (lineman's pliers, sawzall) It will trip the breaker and ruin the tool.

 If a wire has to be run too close to the edge of a stud, then use a metal protective plate in case someone drives a nail in that area.  When wiring switches and outlets, use needle nose pliers to bend C-Shaped hooks on the bare end of the wire.  Wrap the end of the wire clockwise onto the screw so that when you tighten the screw the hook tightens around the screw instead of loosening up.

 Remember that to become an electrician you must complete a 4 year apprenticeship program, thousands of hours of on-the-job experience and hundreds of hours in the classroom.  So don’t assume that because you have seen this presentation you can wire a house!

 For larger and more sensitive appliances, it is a good idea to run a dedicated circuit which means, only that appliance is on that circuit, nothing else. This minimizes the chance of the breaker being tripped.  Some examples of appliances are:  Refrigerator  Air Conditioners  Furnace/boiler  Electric stove  High-end Electronics (as seen in hospitals)  Well pump  Hot water heater  Anything with a large electrical draw