The Basics of Household Wiring. The Electrical System A to Z

All DIYers must have a healthy respect for electricity.  Taking the proper precautions BEFORE starting an electrical project will ensure that you avoid accidents and injury.  

In this section we will discuss the importance of turning off the power to a circuit, and the proper steps to ensure the power is off through the use of testing equipment such as voltage meters or voltage testers.

At the end of this lecture the student should be able to:

• Explain the dangers associated with working around electricity
• Safely turn the power off to a circuit
• Understand how to use a voltage meter or voltage tester to check for power at a circuit

In this lecture we will review the governing bodies of electrical code and the importance of adhering to these codes as they apply to your specific jurisdiction.  At the end of this lecture the student should understand:

• Why you must check with your home insurance policy to see if it permits any DIY electrical work
• DIY electrical work may require a permit, and how/where to check for this and apply as required in your local area.
• The role of the NEC (National Electrical Code) and the CEC (Canadian Electrical Code) and why it is important to adhere to their specific set of rules
• That code rules may vary in different jurisdictions and this must be checked before beginning any electrical work.
• The role of the electrical inspector

What have you learned about working around electricity

In this Lecture we examine the fundamentals of the flow of electricity and review the components of a basic electrical circuit.  At the end of this lecture the student should be able to identify and understand:

• The components of a basic electrical circuit
• The function of the "hot" wire
• The function of the "neutral" wire
• The function of the "ground" wire
• What is a complete circuit

In this lecture we learn how electricity is generated, delivered, and transformed to become usable power in the home.  At the end of this lecture students should have a knowledge of:

• The steps electricity takes to move from power station through to its use in the household

What did we learn in Section 3?

This Section will give the student a good understanding of the main service panel and components.  At the end of this lecture students should have an understanding of:

• Who can perform work in a service panel
• What is the "heart" of a home's electrical system
• The role of the main breaker
• The role of "hot cables"
• The role of the "neutral" cable
• The role of the "hot" buss bars
• Locations where the main service panel may be located within a home

In this lecture we learn about the main components of the distribution panel.  At the end of this lecture students should understand:

• How 120 volt and 240 volt breakers are attached to the buss bar
• How circuit breakers operate within the main panel
• The role of the "neutral" buss
• The role of the 'ground" buss
• Where in the service panel the neutral buss and the grounding buss should be bonded together
• The role of the main ground cable
• The different methods used to connect a main ground cable to your home's electrical system
• Why every circuit in the home must be grounded

Section 4

This lecture describes the function of circuit breakers, what caused them to trip, and how to properly reset a tripped breaker.  At the end of the lecture the student know:

• The role and function of a circuit breaker
• The different amperages of circuit breakers and what that means
• What is a "tripped" breaker and what causes a circuit breaker to trip
• Why it is critical to have the appropriate amount of current for each circuit
• What are the different breaker positions
• What you should do before resetting a tripped breaker
• How to reset a tripped breaker

Circuit Breakers

The student will gain a better understanding of wire color.  At the end of this lecture students will know:

• What material most wires or conductors are composed of and why
• Why there are differences in wire colors
• What the role of a black wire is
• What the role of a white wire is
• What the role of a green or bare copper wire is
• What the role of a red or blue wire is

In this lecture we talk about the different types, conductor size, and jacket color of various cables that may be used in the home's electrical system.  At the end of this lecture students will understand:

• The components of common house wiring cables
• How wires are measured
• The different common household wiring gauges
• How to interpret wire size by the wire jacket color

This lecture discusses the importance of proper sizing of breakers to protect the wire and cable.  At the end of this lecture students will understand:

• That amperage limit of circuit breakers
• The importance of choosing the correct gauge wire for a circuit
• What is a short circuit and why it is dangerous
• What two conditions can lead to or cause a short circuit
• The differences between an overloaded circuit and a short circuit

Section 6

In this section we delve into electrical theory and the relationship between amps, volts and watts.  At the end of this lectures students will understand:

• The relationship between amps, volts and watts
• What amps measure
• What volts measure
• What watts measure
• How electrical power is calculated
• The formula to calculate watts
• The practical application of using volts, amps and watts to calculate power to a circuit in the home
• How to measure total capacity of a breaker
• What power factor correction is

In this section we learn about the rated capacity vs. the safe capacity of a circuit.  At the end of this lecture students will understand:

• The meaning of the term "safe capacity"
• What is the formula to calculate the safe capacity for a circuit
• How the electrical code ensures safe capacity is not exceeded in a household circuit

Volts, Amps, Watts.

This Section describes and demonstrates the process of the practical portion of rough-wiring electrical circuits.  At the end of this section students will understand:

• When in the construction process the rough-in wiring phase takes place
• The steps involved in the rough-in wiring phase
• When electrical boxes should be installed
• The two types of electrical boxes that can be used
• Why all cable splices must take place within an electrical box
• The guidelines and codes for properly mounting electrical boxes
• The guidelines for the minimum number of electrical outlets for an installation

In this section we review proper protocol for pulling cable, stapling cable and drilling holes through studs as part of the rough-in phase of new construction or a remodel.  At the end of this lecture students will have a knowledge of:

• Guidelines for pulling cable
• Proper procedures for drilling holes through wooden studs
• When to use a nail plate on a stud
• The recommended auger bit size for drilling holes through wooden studs
• Recommendations for leaving cable slack into and within an electrical box
• Why you must use caution when pounding staples for securing cable

Learning the methods of installing the cables into the outlet boxes, a process known as "cutting in" the cables.  At the end of this lectures students will have an understanding of:

• Guidelines for installing cable into an electrical box
• The proper method for stripping wires

Section 8

This section teaches some actual wiring methods for connecting receptacles, explains Ground Fault circuits, both GFCI receptacles and breakers.  In this lecture we will examine the workings of a standard receptacle and recommended wiring procedures.  At the end of this lecture students will understand:

• The components of a standard receptacle
• How receptacles function
• The two placements where receptacles are typically placed within a circuit
• How an end-of-the-run receptacle is wired
• What the strip gauge is on the back of a receptacle
• The drawbacks of using a push in connection on a receptacle and proper techniques for connecting

In this lecture we review the proper methods for stripping wire and preparing the wire for termination.  At the end of this lecture students will understand:

• The proper techniques for using a wire stripper
• The difference types of wire stripper and how to use them
• The importance of ensuring that wires are not damaged when preparing them for termination
• The method of using a wire stripper to make the bend in your wire

More emphasis on safety and the repair and replacement of outlet devices.  This lecture reviews the process of using testers to check for voltage and power to a circuit when replacing a receptacle.  At the end of this lectures students will understand:

• Steps for replacing a receptacle
• How to ensure power is off to a circuit through the use of a circuit tester
• How to use a receptacle tester
• Receptacle installation preferences

In this lecture we examine the proper methods to wiring a middle of run receptacle and introduce the concept of the use of a pigtail connection.  At the end of this lecture students will understand:

• The two methods for wiring a middle-of-run receptacle
• What a pigtail connection is and when it is used
• What is a wire connector and how to properly use them
• Why metal boxes must be grounded and when plastic boxes must be grounded
• The use of a lineman plier vs needlenose plier for twisting wire
• The proper order of wire connections

In this lecture we examine in detail the important role of the Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) and the proper wiring of a GFCI receptacle.  At the end of this lecture students will understand:

• The code requirements for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI)
• What two types of Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters are commonly used
• What protection a GFCI provides
• What is a ground fault
• What causes a ground fault
• What GFCIs detect
• How sensitive GFCIs are
• Where GFCIs are required to be installed in the home
• Different methods for installing GFCIs
• How GFCIs differ from standard receptacles
• How to wire a middle of the run GFCI for single location protection
• How to wire a middle of the run GFCI for multiple location protection
• How to wire an end of the run location GFCI for single location protection
• In what wiring configuration are GFCIs most effective
• What is phantom tripping or nuisance tripping
• How to replace a standard receptacle with a GFCI receptacle
• How and why to test your GFCI
• How to use a plug in GFCI tester

Section 9

Arc-fault protection is explained in detail.  At the end of this section students will understand:

• What Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCI) protect you from
• What is an arc fault and what causes it
• What does a combination AFCI monitor
• What does a combination AFCI protect you from
• Where in the home does code require the installation of AFCI protection
• What is the difference between an AFCI and GFCI

Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters 

This section gives an overview of the basic function of a single pole switch, the more complicated 3-way switch, and how a 4-way switch works.

In this lecture students will learn how switches function and how they are designed.  At the end of this lecture students will understand:

• The primary function of a switch
• The other name used for single pole switches
• Procedures for replacing a switch
• What a continuity tester is used for 

In this lecture we examine the 3-way switch.  At the end of of this lecture students will understand:

• Why 3-way switches are used in the home
• Where 3-way switches are typically used in the home
• The differences between a single pole switch and a -way switch
• The different wiring configurations for a 3-way switch

In this lecture we review the 4-way switch.  At the end of this lecture students will understand:

• What a 4-way switch is used for in the home
• How a 4-way switch differs from a double pole switch
• Different wiring scenarios for 4-way switches
• How the flow of electricity occurs in a 4-way switch
• Proper wiring procedures for a 4-way switch

Switch Quiz

A detailed description of how to wire a switched receptacle, and the various wiring methods to accomplish this.  At the end of this lecture students will understand:

• The purpose of a switched receptacle
• When a switched receptacle is used in the home
• Proper procedures for wiring a switched receptacle
• What method some electricians use to distinguish between a regular receptacle and a switched receptacle
• What a switch loop is and how it is wired
• The wiring scenario that permits the use of the white wire as a hot wire and regulations for identifying this wiring configuration
• The wiring configuration that allows half of a receptacle to be controlled by a switch
• Proper procedures for wiring a switch loop controlling half of a receptacle
• New code rules for switched receptacles

Switched Receptacles

We learn how to connect a basic light fixture to a circuit.  At the end of this lecture students will understand:

• The proper procedure for replacing a light fixture
• The proper method to ensure power is off the circuit that powers the light fixture 

Light Fixtures

In this section we take a look at the electrician's friend - electrical tape!  At the end of this lecture students will understand:

• How electrical tape is used 
• The common color used for electrical tape
• The importance of using premium electrical tape

Included in the resources section is an article that provides a comprehensive list of tools and equipment used when performing home electrical projects.  This article is a helpful resource for DIYers looking to start or add to their tool box.

Congratulations on finishing the course.  Just a wrap up on the skills and information covered in the course and sources for additional skill building or clarification of covered material.