The
Basics of Home Electrical Wiring Systems and Working with Electricity in the
Home
By Mark J. Donovan
Recently we lost our electrical
power to our home for 10 days due to a major ice storm in the New England
area. It was during these 10 days that I had a chance to fully appreciate
the dependency our society has on electrical power and our home’s electrical
wiring system. In my particular situation, our home has its own private well
and leach-field/septic system, uses oil for hot water heating, and requires
electricity for the range/oven to operate. The loss of electrical power
meant the loss of water, sewage, home heating, and the ability to cook since
all required electrical power to operate.
Fortunately, we had a gas heater
to brave the cold days and nights, and after 8 days I was able to purchase a
portable generator. The portable generator enabled us to provide the basic
requirements of survival including heat, water, and food.
It was during the temporary and
then permanent integration of the portable generator into our home
electrical wiring system that I realized that besides the dependency on
electrical power, many homeowners lack a basic, yet significant, knowledge
of their own home’s electrical wiring system.
Photo By Mark Donovan
Consequently I thought it might be
useful to highlight a few key topics associated with home electrical wiring.
However, it is important to keep in mind that the electricity entering and
running throughout your home is extremely dangerous and can electrocute and kill
you if you come in direct contact with it. Consequently it is important to
exercise extreme caution when working with your home’s electrical wiring system.
The Flow of Electricity
throughout your Home’s Electrical Wiring System
Electricity
Entering the Home
To begin with, high voltage
electricity comes in from the telephone poles or underground wires via a
transformer. The transformer (which is typically a large gray cylindrical
canister that sits on the telephone pole) steps down the high voltage line wire
to a 120V AC (Alternating Current) level.
This high voltage, and the current
associated with it, enters your home’s electrical wiring system via a main
circuit panel that sits typically in your basement, garage, or utility room.
Main Circuit Panel
/ Circuit Breaker
The electricity coming into the main
circuit panel is allowed to feed various circuits in the main circuit panel via
a main circuit breaker. The main circuit breaker is typically rated to allow up
to 100 to 200 Amps of electricity through it before automatically shutting down
in the event of a short or over-use condition.
Circuit
Breakers
Once the electricity makes it
through the main circuit breaker in the main circuit panel it flows to
various circuit breakers in the panel that then send electricity to various
electrical wiring circuits throughout the home.
The circuit breakers are rated
for different current and voltage levels, e.g. 15 Amps, 20 Amps, and 30
Amps, at 120V or even 240V AC. Again, these circuit breakers can be
“tripped”, or automatically shut off, if too much current is attempted to
flow through them. If too much current was allowed to flow through them, the
wires that make up the circuit and feed the electrical appliances throughout
the home could heat up and cause a fire.
GFCI Breakers
In addition to the standard
circuit breakers there are also GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)
breakers that are used for circuits in your home that are in close proximity
to water, e.g. your kitchen, bathroom, garage, and basement.
These types of circuit
breakers can sense the ever slightest rapid change in current draw, or
ground fault condition, and trip, thus shutting off power to the
circuit. GFCI breakers are made to protect people from being
electrocuted and possibly killed otherwise.
Photo By Mark Donovan
Hot and Return Wires
After the electricity leaves a
circuit breaker it flows out via “hot” insulated wires, normally black or
red wires that are encased in plastic or metal sheathing. From there these
wires connect to electrical outlets and switches, and eventually to lights
and electrical appliances. The current flows through these appliances and
returns back to the electrical outlets to “Return” insulated wires, normally
white wires. The “Return” wires then feed back to the main circuit panel
and connect to a bus bar that ties all of the “Return” wires and ground
wires together. The bus bar is also tied to “Earth ground” typically via a
large copper wire that is attached to a copper ground wire that is buried in
the ground several feet, next to the home.
Find a Qualified Residential Electrical Contractor in Your Area
Get Free Quotes. Easy, Quick and No
Obligations!
For the home improvement or home remodeling project that is
too big for you, check out our partner
NeedContractor. They are a national
resource for finding pre-screened, insured, and licensed home improvement and remodeling contractors in your local area.
Get Matched in 48 hours with Residential
Electrical
Contractors!
Ground Wire
In addition to the “hot” and
“return” wires that flow from the main circuit panel to the various circuits
in the electrical wiring system throughout the home, there is an additional
bare copper wire referred to as a “Ground” wire. This “Ground” wire attaches
to the various electrical appliances via the electrical outlets. The
“Ground” wire should never have any current flowing on it, however in the
event of a short in the electrical appliance current will flow through it
and immediately cause the associated circuit breaker to trip thus shutting
of power to the circuit and preventing the possibility of fire and potential
electrocution.
Electrical
Sheathing Wire
The home electrical wiring that
is fed between the circuit breakers in the main circuit panel and the
various circuits throughout the home is referred to as Electrical Sheathing
Wire. It is frequently referred to as Romex wire due to a particular
manufacture of this type of wire. Encased in the sheathing are the “Hot”,
“Return” and “Ground” wires.
Use of
Electrical Testers
Again, working with home
electrical wiring systems is dangerous, however with some basic electrical
wiring knowledge and making sure the appropriate circuit breakers are turned
off first, homeowners can tackle smaller home electrical wiring projects,
such as installing dimmer switches and ceiling fans. It is wise, however, to
first use a Neon tester or Digital Multimeter when working with home
electrical wiring systems to make sure electricity is indeed turned off at
the specific electrical outlet or switch prior to actually touching it.
How to Finance your Home Electrical Project -
can help provide funds for your new home improvement project if financing is
required.
Additional Home Electrical Wiring Resources
for Wiring Ceiling Fans
Electrical Circuit Testers from Amazon.com
Electrical
Contractor Price Quotes For FREE,
No Obligation!
Fill out our 3-5 minute quick and easy form, and receive a free price quote
on residential electrical work from one of our prescreened and licensed
electrical contractors. This process is free and there is no obligation to
continue once you receive your electrical contractor price estimate.
