Electricity By: Mr. Brock
Electrical Safety 1) Always disconnect the circuit to be worked on before anything else and lock the cover to the SEP when possible. 2) After the circuit has been disconnected test it with a circuit tester at a light switch or receptacle. 3) Keep your work area clean to prevent accidents.
Electrical Safety 4) Use only UL listed materials. 5) Use GFCI if the circuit is not permanently protected at the panel.
Electrical Tools Screwdrivers Flat and Phillips Used to tighten screws
Cable rippers Used to rip the cable from around the wires
Wire strippers Quickly removes insulation without damaging the wire
Lineman’s Pliers Used to bend, grip, pull and twist the wire. Also used to cut the wire.
Needle Nose Pliers Used for bending hooks to put the wire under screws.
Channel lock pliers Used to tighten locknuts and cable connectors
Fish Tape Used to pull or push wire through conduit or some other hard places.
Portable Drills and bits Used to drill holes in studs to run wire through.
Tape measure Used to measure amount of wire needed.
Hammer Used to nail boxes to outlet boxes to the frame
Conduit Bender Used to bend conduit
Circuit Tester A tester used to test circuits to see if they are working
Wire Size and Overcurrent Protection For General Purpose circuits either 14 gauge or 12 gauge with a 15 or 20 amp breaker (or fuse) For a Small Appliance Circuit use 12 gauge wire with at least a 20 amp breaker Individual Equipment requires at least 10 gauge wire with at least a 30 amp breaker
Circuit Protection devices Single Pole circuit breaker (120) Double Pole circuit breaker (240)
Single Pole Breaker
Double Pole Breaker
Fuses Blade Fuse Edison Base Plug Cartridge Fuse Accessory Fuse
Blade Fuse
Edison Base Plug
Cartridge Fuse
Accessory Fuse
Wire sizes AWG-American Wire Gauge The Code permits nothing smaller than AWG #14 for ordinary house wiring. It is better to consider #12 the smallest, this being required in a few places by local ordinances.
Wire sizes 20- very small 18- Used in most flexible cords, used to wire doorbells, chimes and thermostats etc 16- also in flexible cords 14- Nothing smaller than this can be used in wiring houses 12- most commonly used 10- if #10 or smaller it is solid
Wire sizes 8- can be solid or stranded 6- if it is #6 or larger it is stranded 4 2 1/0 2/0 3/0 4/0-almost a half an inch in diameter
Types of Cable 12-2 = two #12 conductors one white, one black 12-2 WG= black and white with a ground wire, ground wire is either green or bare 12-3=Three conductors black, white and red 12-3 WG= black, white and red with a ground wire (green or bare)
Cable
Colors of Wires and their importance Black- indicates hot wire, electricity comes from the source on this wire White- indicates neutral wire, electricity goes back to the source on this wire Green or Bare- Indicates ground wire; purpose of the ground wire is for safety Red- Indicates an extra hot wire, used for wiring 3 way and 4 way switches and clothes dryers and stoves
Characteristics of Cable on Wires 1) Type UF (Underground Feeder)- used for direct burial of underground feeder wires, such as between the house and a separate utility building 2) Type USE- used for direct burial of underground service entrance circuits
Nonmetallic Sheathed Cable Type of cable that surrounds some conductors and grounding wires Called Romex which is the name of one manufacturer
Wire Types Copper- best material for ordinary purposes. Electric current flows more easily through copper. Just about all wire being used now is copper. Aluminum- poor conductor- found in older houses and buildings. Also used for larger wires Iron- poor conductor also- worse than aluminum
Types of electrical boxes Junction Box- outlet box with a blank cover used to contain splices of a circuit Outlet Box-device which is used to bring wires into a location where a switch or receptacle is installed One Gang Box holds one switch or receptacle Two Gang Box holds two switches or receptacles