Electrical Repairs

Battery holders come in many different configurations. Battery holders hold specific size batteries, typically AAA batteries, AA batteries, C batteries or D batteries. Each of these battery...

Transformers, which are often used to step-down voltage, work with AC (alternating current) voltages, not DC (direct current) voltages. To step down a DC voltage we need to use some other method...

The life expectancy of a typical light bulb depends on a few factors, such as what type of bulb it is (incandescent, compact fluorescent, or light emitting diode) as well as the wattage.

Connecting an emergency backup generator to a residential electrical system is a relatively straightforward project that almost anyone can complete successfully. This project does require pulling...

Solar inverters are necessary to convert the DC electricity generated through your solar panel system to AC electricity that's used by the national grid. The distinction between DC and AC...

Electrical wire is measured in sizes called gauges. The smaller the gauge number is, the larger the wire diameter. One of the largest standard wire gauges is 1/0 with a diameter of 0.3249 inches.

Most manufacturers of ceiling fans sell light kits that can be attached to the fan base between the blades. Light assemblies may fit a number of different types of fans. It is easiest, however, to...

Trouble shooting a bad outlet is not that hard. There are a few easy things to look for. These tips should help you get your outlet hot again.

Installing a breaker box in a garage may seem a little daunting, but anyone with the right tools and knowledge complete do this project without paying an electrician. Having a breaker box in a...

Most ceiling light fixtures use 115-volt power, which is the same as most electrical receptacles. If you have the need to mount something to the ceiling and need a place to plug it in, you can...

Baseboard heaters can be installed to add a bit of extra warmth to a cold room and help cut down on heating costs. They run off of your home's electricity, specifically a 220-volt circuit similar...

Testing or trouble shooting electrical circuits will help determine where the problem is and what may be needed to correct the issue. Safety should always come first when working with live...

Knowing how to use a set of battery jumper cables correctly can mean the difference between starting a car with a dead battery and doing irreparable damage to the car's onboard computer. It's not...

The compact fluorescent bulb, known as a CFL, is now a ubiquitous commodity around the home. It uses 1/3 the energy of an incandescent bulb (P.A.T.H.) and lasts an average of 10 times as long. The...

Sub-panels eliminate the need to return each branch circuit to the main service panel. Installed in an area with concentrated heavy loads, such as a workshop, they make resetting a tripped circuit...

Halogen light bulbs are a type of incandescent bulb that has halogen gas suspended inside the glass. The halogen helps to carry tungsten, the active element, back to the filament for reuse,...

Outdoor light fixtures will often at some point need repairs or need to be replaced. Globes can get broken, wiring can come loose and the fixture can become so weathered that there's no hope of...

A ceiling light, like all electrical fixtures and lighting devices, is connected to the home's power source through a switch junction box. A single pole switch allows current to flow to a single...

A fan speed control allows a fan's rotation to be adjusted from a wall-mounted switch. These switches look similar to light dimmer switches, but their functions are different. The switch is...

A light and fan are often wired together in rooms where an exhaust fan is almost always run when the room is in use. Bathrooms or powder rooms are often designed with an exhaust fan wired to the...

Nothing is more frustrating than when you go to change a lightbulb and the old one seems to be stuck in the socket. You twist and turn, even to the point of breaking the bulb, but it still doesn't...

Using tape to repair a frayed or damaged power cord is generally not a safe practice. Even when a cord's damage appears to be superficial and does not cause exposed wiring or unnatural bending,...

In any electrical wiring repair around the house, the first rule of safety is to turn off the power to the outlets or electrical device you're working on at the circuit breaker. But what to do if...

When wiring a ceiling fan without ground wires, the electrical wiring from the service panel to the switch junction box and then to the fixture must be made through ridged or flexible metal...

Halogen light bulbs save energy, deliver a whiter light than regular incandescent bulbs and are long lasting. The lights are used to illuminate a variety of residential and commercial areas...

A ceiling fan with light assembly is generally mounted in the center of a living area to increase circulation of warm or cool air. The light, or lights, on a ceiling fan are a convenient way to...

Portfolio Lighting is a leader in lighting innovation. Portfolio's products include flush-mount fixtures, lanterns, hanging pendants, low-voltage lighting, surface lighting and landscape lighting,...

A digital multimeter (DMM) is one of the most useful test instruments in any automotive electrician's tool kit. Every DMM is slightly different but there are some general guidelines you can follow...

An electric dryer typically runs on a 240-volt circuit. This is because its drying duties require so much energy that a simple 120-volt circuit just does not cut it. But this also means that you...

Dual electrical outlets are the common wall outlets we're used to seeing in our homes. When doing new construction, they're wired before the wall is completed with a layer of drywall. The wiring...

Most people will call an electrician for this type of project, but if you have the right tools and the knowledge, you can do this yourself. Remember to always be careful when working with electricity.

Connecting an A/C outlet to a breaker panel is a relatively simple task. Individual Branch Circuits are covered by NEC (National Electric Code) Article 210.21(B)(1). The hardest part of...

If you have a wall outlet that moves or wiggles when you're plugging in or unplugging a lamp or appliance, it's not something that should be ignored. By moving around, the outlet's wiring may...

Paralleling auto batteries can be the solution to ensuring that a car will start quickly and consistently under the severest of operating conditions. Auto batteries are rated in several ways: by...

When doing home electrical work, the cardinal rule of safety is to "switch off the power to the circuit you're working on at the circuit breaker." But if your circuit breaker box is poorly or...

Wiring a three-way switch circuit is one of the more complex electrical jobs that a homeowner can attempt. And adding a four-way switch to the mix can make an already difficult job even more...

Running electrical conduit under a sidewalk can be a relatively easy project with the right tools and a little knowledge. There are commercial tools available for tunneling under a sidewalk or...

A ceramic light fixture, also called a porcelain light fixture, is either a switch or pull-chain type. Both types of ceramic light fixtures are mounted the same and are common in old houses....

There are a number of things that will help you snake electrical wires more efficiently. Even if you only do electrical work once in a while, you should stop to learn the techniques that will help...

Adding a new electric receptacle to an existing circuit is an easy project, although in some cases you will have to make small cuts in the wall while running the cable. However, if you plan your...

Kitchens, bathrooms and any room with a water source should be equipped and protected with a GFCI outlet. GFCI outlets offer extra protection in those wet areas because are made to protect you...

Inverters change DC electricity to AC electricity and are necessary for any home using an alternative energy source like solar panels or wind turbines. Clean technologies cut carbon dioxide...

Wiring a receptacle to a wall switch greatly increases the utility and convenience of the outlet. Depending on how you wire the circuit, you can have the outlets both controlled by the switch or...

A ceiling electrical junction box is an empty metal or plastic open-ended container. A junction box is connected to an electrical conduit, wiring and a fixture or device like an outlet. A junction...

Light fixtures are powered by electricity that runs through wires from a circuit panel to a junction box and then to the fixture. Electrical current to a light fixture is turned on and off by a...

When the doorbell does not work, several different things could cause the problem. You will need to test the doorbell unit to determine what part is at fault. Doorbells use a transformer to reduce...

A fan exhaust vents air from a bathroom to the outside of your house. This prevents condensation, mold and mildew from moisture. A bathroom fan exhaust is wired to a single pole switch. Before...

Light switches are single pole switches, controlling one outlet or fixture from one location. A single pole switch allows electric to flow to a light fixture by opening and closing the current...

Ground Fault Circuit Interruption (GFCI) protection is a mandatory requirement of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Installing a GFCI CB (circuit breaker) to protect the branch circuit is the...