Electrical Repairs

What can be worse to clean up than drywall dust when it comes to home improvements? Absolutely nothing! It gets in every crack, on every wall, and is nearly impossible to entirely clean up. There...

Sizing the correct wire for any electrical device is regulated by the National Electrical Code (NEC). Local regulations may exceed the NEC requirements, but they can never enforce a lesser ruling...

All electric dryers use an array of heating elements to warm the space enclosure of the dryer. These elements are made of special wires that will create heat when electrical current passes through...

Square D is a trade name for a manufacturing company that produces electrical devices and mechanisms. Most, if not all, of the products Square D manufactures have something to do with controlling...

Metal telephone wiring has been used since the invention of the telephone, and continues to be used into the 21st Century. However, the chemical makeup of most metals allows for oxidization, which...

Exterior outlets are very convenient for both outside activities as well as yard work. Electrical codes require all exterior outlets be a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interruption) device. These...

Electrical sockets, or outlets as they are usually called, allow us to hook up or plug in the various devices in and around our home to supply the power needed to operate them. Installing a new...

Connecting a wind generator to a power grid may be as simple as contacting your electric company to request installation of a meter. Advantages include eliminating the need to buy and maintain...

Paper lanterns have been a part of Chinese culture for centuries. In recent decades, Chinese paper lamps have become a popular lighting option in many homes in the U.S. Paper lamps are inexpensive...

When planning an addition to your home, you may also plan an addition to your home's electrical circuitry. To avoid tripping the circuit breakers involved, you'll need to know how to calculate the...

When French chemist Georges Claude first began experimenting with newly discovered inert gasses like neon and argon, he likely had no idea his work would find such an enduring place in Americana....

Many high intensity discharge (HID) fixtures come from the factory with a bulb pre-installed. The bulb in an HID fixture is not like a normal incandescent light bulb and is usually referred to as...

Variable frequency drives are used on electrical alternating current (AC) motors. These drives control the speed of AC motors in a very accurate fashion. In most all applications the frequency...

A battery wired into an electrical circuit will provide current until the battery is drained of its useful charge. However, there are occasions when bypassing the battery is useful--as a safety...

It is convenient to click on a bathroom light and exhaust fan with one switch. Connecting the light to the fan helps ensure that moisture is always vented to the outside when the bathroom is used,...

The National Electric Code (NEC) requires most outdoor outlets be protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter, or GFCI, which is sometimes shortened to GFI. These safety devices help prevent...

You just replaced a light bulb, but to your surprise, you're still in the dark after turning on the light switch! What gives? Is it another busted light bulb or is it a faulty switch?

Whether you are working on a remodeling project or new construction, the electrical work is one of the most important parts of the job. Anytime you are install or replace an outlet, you need to...

Electric motors are used in many applications today. From the small motors used in audiocassette tape decks to the large electric motors used in trains, we see evidence of this fact...

Whatever your reason for replacing your old doorbell, the actual installation is not very difficult. A doorbell kit and few basic tools are all you'll need. It is a very small price for the sake...

The electrical breakers in the main circuit panel control the flow of power to the outlets and other devices in your home. It is important to keep them in good working order to prevent an...

Metal stud construction is gaining popularity in residential building. In metal stud construction, the walls are framed in lightweight steel members instead of wood. Installing wiring in a metal...

Electrical receptacles, or outlets, are components in an electrical system that allows us to connect our home or office devices to so they will operate. Overtime, an electrical receptacle will...

Electrical cords allow us to provide power to our lamps, vacuum cleaners or other home devices to keep them running. They are also perhaps one of the things that take the most abuse as well....

Due to increased energy consumption throughout the earth, traditional sources of energy have become strained. Because oil and natural gas supplies are used so commonly as energy sources, prices...

Basic household extension cords are made with wires that will support a standard 20 amp flow. Heavier extension cords for the shop or garage can be found that will support a 30 to 40 amp flow...

Electrical outlets are the life source of power to our home, and connecting them safely and correctly is very important. The outlet is powered through the wiring from the main circuit panel in...

Electrical safety in the home is of the up-most importance, and installing a GFI/GFCI circuit breaker is the perfect way to protect you and your family. The GFCI, which stands for, ground fault...

When renovating a room without a ceiling light fixture, one of the easiest ways of picking up a feed for installing one is by wiring a switch off of an outlet. While this job can be tricky in some...

There are a lot of times that it would be convenient to have a switch at the other end of a room or hallway. To have a switch at every doorway entering a room just makes sense. Fortunately, there...

There will come a time when a homeowner will have to replace or even add a circuit breaker to the power box (breaker box). Circuits wear out with time and they need to be replaced. This is a...

Most people are familiar with the concept of using an electrical switch to turn an electrical device (such as a light bulb) on and off. However, electrical circuits can also be wired to connect...

Many people think that when a lamp switch breaks, you have to toss the lamp and buy a new one. This couldn't be further from the truth. Lamp switches are easy to repair and replace and make a...

Cord switches are easy to install and allow you to control lighting without resorting to inserting and removing the outlet plug. There are a wide variety of switch models available, so you should...

Some lamps, especially very expensive or sentimental ones, are perfect candidates for cord repair in the event of a broken wire. Considering the alternative is disposing of the lamp, repairing a...

One of the trickier parts of doing your own electrical work is getting the wire from point A to point B. Quite often, there are obstacles in the way and more times than not, a floor or ceiling to...

A three-way dimmer switch allows you to control a light fixture from two or more locations. This type of dimmer can be installed in existing three-way-controlled locations by replacing one of the...

In many older homes in the United States, the outlets are of the two-prong variety. Since two-pronged outlets are not grounded, it is essential to replace these receptacles with three-pronged...

Fluorescent lights are very energy-efficient and produce a significant amount of light. They brighten up any room they are installed in. This makes them a great choice for basement lighting, as...

Garages are routinely used for much more than just as a place to store one's automobile. These buildings are often converted into workshops, craft studios or extra living space. In doing so,...

An extra outdoor electrical outlet adds accessibility to the power you need for your outdoor activities. Whether you are running additional lights or just powering up the lawn equipment, having...

Wall switches sometimes break or wear out over time, necessitating replacements. The most common type of light or wall switch is referred to as a "toggle switch." These switches can be found at...

Even though the term "single pole switch" sounds as if it's meant to control one light fixture, the device can control several fixtures. Wiring a single pole switch is not a difficult task, and...

Fluorescent light fixtures have evolved over the last few years. The fixtures no longer require a separate starter to turn the fluorescent light bulbs or tubes on. When the fluorescent light...

Fluorescent light fixtures provide a number of benefits. They're inexpensive, long-lasting and energy-efficient. But, when the fixture stops working, the solution may not be as simple as just...

When remodeling or upgrading a kitchen or bathroom, you may have to replace a regular receptacle with a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) to come up to code. If you are adding a new switched...

This iron is a very handy tool for use on automobiles, boats, tractors and much more. Once you make this little gem, it can also be portable if you have a jump pack. For those of you who do not...

Having electricity is a necessity, however when a problem occurs with your electrical system it could be potentially harmful. Electrical fires in homes kill approximately 485 Americans each year...

Rope lights are the perfect answer to provide lighting around the house, particularly during the holidays. Rope lights come in large strands that are easily unrolled and can illuminate Christmas...

Double-pole thermostats are used to control line voltage -- electrical power to heating devices. Line voltage is the electricity that comes from the main circuit breaker or fuse panel. When wiring...