Electrical Repairs

When it comes to home repairs, undertaking DIY electrical projects constitute one of the most important aspects which have to be carried out with the utmost caution. If you are a home owner you...

Being capable of restoring minor defects and home repairs around the house can be very handy and cost effective for a home owner. Apart from saving up on money, fixing small faults can also avoid...

Electrical relays or contactors are devices that can remotely switch electrical signals and power. The most common application for a relay is to switch an electrical device that uses a large...

Many light switch problems are caused by having loose wire connections. If turning on a wall switch causes your circuit breaker to trip or a fuse to blow, this could be caused by a loose wire...

The energy-saving claims of fluorescent bulbs, such as those sold as large ballasts and compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), have been subject to scrutiny. The arguments against fluorescent lights...

Wire gauge refers to a standard measurement of the diameter of non-ferrous, electrically conducting wire. It is more properly known as American wire gauge (AWG,) although it is sometimes also...

Wire gauge and wire amperage are very different terms. A convenient way to understand the difference between gauge and amperage is to use the metaphor of a garden hose: water is the electric...

Installing a vanity light fixture on the ceiling can be done. While it is not common, it most certainly is possible. The wiring will be the same as with any other fixture. The only complicated...

Repairing electronic devices requires specialized tools. Electronic soldering tools are a necessary component for building, repairing, or reassembling various electronics.

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...

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,...

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?

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...

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...

When the light bulb in a light fixture burns out, most people simply replace it with whatever sized light bulb they have laying around the house. This is a dangerous habit that can increase the...

As a safety precaution and for protection against fire, all electrical panels and junction boxes are required to be fully secure. This means that if a knockout is removed and not used, it needs to...

Use a common potato to safely and easiy remove the bottom part of a lightbulb that's broken off in the light socket after you've tried to unscrew a bulb.

A globe light is a standard ceiling light fixture that features a glass or plastic globe that covers the light bulb. There are two different types of globe fixtures: the type that feature screw-on...

A motion sensor is an excellent way of increasing the safety level of a home. When positioned correctly, a motion sensor will turn an outside light on whenever someone steps within its targeted...

Every year in the United States there are 28,300 residential fires caused by electrical defects that result in damages amounting to $995 million. Every year 360 lives are lost in these fires with...

Desoldering is the process of removing solder from a solder joint for troubleshooting and repair purposes. It can also be used to correct soldering mistakes.

Wire strippers Wire nuts Electrical tape Wire cutters Voltage tester

Portfolio fixtures are one of the more popular brands of in-home lighting. Portfolio, a division of Cooper Lighting, manufactures hundreds of styles of light fixtures. However, even a well-made...

If you want to enhance the exterior of your home, you can install an exterior wall sconce. You can add flair to your décor and improve access to your home with the additional outdoor...

Knowing how to insulate around the electrical outlets in your home can not only help to save energy but can also save you money by minimizing the loss of heat and air conditioning. The process is...

There are a number of different kinds of electrical hand tools, designed for many different industrial and home uses. As the name suggests, these are handheld tools used for small scale testing,...

There are a number of things to check if a Coleman Powermate Generator isn't working. Check the compression of the fuel lines running through the carburetor. The line itself is hidden, but a small...

Wiring a ceiling fixture is one of the easier electrical jobs a homeowner can perform. However, because the work being performed is overhead, there are steps you need to take to ensure the job is...

Understanding the single-pole breaker provides the foundation for all circuit breaker construction. The circuit breaker is designed under a spring actuated load. The circuit breaker connects...

Centrifugal pumps are some of the most common pumps on the market. This type of pump is highly efficient at transferring fluid over a wide range of pressures and flows. The only difference between...

Wire splicing is an essential part of installing lights, switches and receptacles in your home. "Splicing" electrical wire means joining the bare ends of two or more separate pieces of wire by...

Electrical current is measured in units of amperes, or amps for short. Your breaker panel manufacturer determines the maximum ampere rating for your panel, but that may or may not be the same as...

Romex is a trade name for non-metallic sheathed cable or type NMC. This cable is covered by an outer plastic insulation that protects two or three current carrying wires. The individual wires are...

Having the power go out on you from a tripped breaker is not fun at all, especially if you are in the middle of your favorite movie. Many times homeowners may think it's a more serious problem;...

GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. GFCI-protected outlets have been required in American homes since the 1970s. A GFCI-protected outlet compares the electrical current coming from...

There are several different types of circuit breakers. Each circuit breaker box houses several parts necessary to the proper function of the circuit breaker. The basic function of any circuit...

You do not have to get ripped off by an electrician even if you need one right away.

Circuit breakers are designed to prevent the wiring in a house from overheating and catching fire. The breaker is sized according to the anticipated load and the size of the wiring it serves....

Removing a dimmer switch may sound like it's a more difficult job than removing a standard single-pole switch, but the two jobs are in fact identical. Each switch has a hot feed, a traveler wire...

Laminate flooring is an increasingly popular choice of material to finish a room. Its variety of looks and options combined with the ease with which is can be installed by even amateur...

Electricity, when not properly controlled, can be very dangerous. When it is harnessed correctly, however, it becomes extremely useful. Contactors, which are devices used to open and close...

GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interruption) devices are required in bathrooms, kitchens, garages, crawl spaces and unfinished basements. These devices are intended to greatly reduce the risk of fire...

Light-switch wiring connections often go bad because they get loose or because the wire ends were positioned too closely to one another, causing a short-circuit. Fixing this involves pulling out...

Pulling wire can be one of the most challenging do-it-yourself projects. However, learning this skill can be worth its weight in gold. Whether you are wiring a new outlet or running a line to a...

Fixing up a home or any other sort of building takes a lot of time and commitment. Electrical wiring is an important aspect and it is essential that if you aren't sure how it works, then you...

Home electronics and computers can be damaged by voltage that is over or under the nominal 110 volts AC (alternating current) delivered in American households. Likewise, electronics and appliances...

GFCI outlets, or "ground-fault circuit interruptier" receptacles, are required by most municipal building codes for all "wet" areas in homes, such as bathrooms and kitchens, and in garages,...

Refinishing your brass or crystal chandelier can rejuvenate your home, while giving it an antique classical touch. Today, in the case of brass chandeliers, a wide range of nickel and zinc is...

Adding electrical outlets in your home is usually a fairly straightforward project, and determining the proper height at which to mount those new outlets just requires a little knowledge and a...

A GFCI, or ground fault circuit interrupter, is a special outlet designed with a small circuit breaker inside and its own reset mechanism. If an appliance plugged into the outlet overloads or...