Electrical Repairs

AC (alternating current) relays are used as remote switching devices. Relays typically employ two separate, but mechanically connected, parts for the operation. A solenoid coil magnetically...

Home telephone wiring is your responsibility as a homeowner. The phone company is only required to provide a working telephone signal to your Network Interface Device (NID), which is the box on...

When you switch on an electric lamp or light, the ballast is responsible for supplying a load of electrical current strong enough to turn the light on. The ballast is also responsible for...

Remodeling often brings with it the need to add electrical outlets or lighting. Working with preexisting walls can make the project more challenging, however using the right equipment and...

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...

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...

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 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...

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,...

Having the right amount of access to electrical outlets in the home or garage is a necessity to getting your work done. Installing and wiring them correctly is equally as important. Always make...

Installing a wall outlet in a three-way switch circuit is identical to wiring a light fixture in the circuit. The most difficult part is keeping track of the various wires in the three-way wiring...

Installing a door jamb light switch adds the functionality of putting a light in a closet and the convenience of not needing to turn the light on and off manually. Additionally, a light switch...

There are many scenarios for wiring a ceiling fan and light combo.This wiring scheme is used specifically when the source power originates at the switch. In other words, there in only one switch....

Type NM electrical cable is the most common type of electrical cable used in residential construction. It comes in a number of gauges and conductor counts, with 12-2, 14-2 and 14-3 being the most...

Baseboard heaters are electrical devices used to heat individual areas in a room. These long heaters are placed under exterior windows along the floor and range in size from two feet to four feet...

A double pole double throw (DPDT) switch is a three-selection electrical device in which there is one "off" and two "on" positions. An application for this switch is for reversing a direct current...

Meter bases, or meter sockets, hold the electric meter. The electric meter is what the power utility company uses to determine your monthly bill. The meter base is a standard configuration that is...

Most homes require two types of breakers: 110 volt and 220 volt. It is the larger of the two, the 200-volt breaker, that should be used for your electric dryer. This type of breaker is typically...

A fluorescent lamp is a glass tube coated with phosphor powder, and filled with an inert gas and a small amount of mercury. There are electrodes on each end which, when turned on, cause electrons...

If your ceiling fan fails to operate, the problem can most times be traced back to a bad fan switch. The replacement of a four-wire ceiling fan switch is a very simple process, which any weekend...

Anytime you are working with electrical connectors and wiring, the bottom line is that a proper connection is key. Not only for the device to operate correctly but safely. Knowing how to solder...

Home repairs sometimes require a professional, but hiring a professional is not always practical. Repairing wires in your home can be one of those situations. Fixing the broken electrical wires...

Grounding a hot water heater is the installation of a separate wire attached to the metal frame of the heater tank. This ground wire carries any errant electrical power back to the main electrical...

Noticing a leak inside your refrigerator is enough to cause anyone to worry. A fridge that doesn't work properly could cost you hundreds of dollars in spoiled groceries. The first thing most...

Home remodeling and repairs can seem like a daunting task, but they have lifelong rewards and add value to your home. Updating lighting fixtures or ceiling fans can be part of the process. With...

Creating fully functional plastic desk lamps require a flare for imagination and technical wiring skills. Manipulating the plastic to mold and trying to conceal the wiring to make a lamp that...

A Bayonet Neill-Concelman (BNC) connector is used to connect coaxial cable to various devices. It's most commonly used for connecting thin Ethernet networks and it may also be used for consumer...

Conduit is required for running electrical wire on a brick wall. Usually some of the conduit will have to be bent for it to fit flat against the wall. Bending conduit is a skill that has to be...

Whether you are working on a newly constructed house, addition or simply remodeling a room to maximize use, new projects can bring a lot of excitement and satisfaction. With new construction one...

Electricity is to be respected, but if you understand it, you need not fear it. Replacing an electrical outlet requires patience and attention to detail, since any time electricity is involved,...

Calculating the electrical loads for baseboard heating must be done prior to installation. The main electrical panel that distributes the power must be capable of providing that electricity....

Motor start capacitors help an electric motor overcome heavy loads. The capacitor does this by storing an electric charge much like a battery. Upon starting the motor, the capacitor releases this...

Wiring a thermostat to a vent fan is a matter of convenience for automatic operation of the fan. A typical use for this application would be in the case of an attic fan to remove unwanted hot air...

A dedicated circuit is an electrical outlet that is used for only one purpose and the only outlet on that given line. In your kitchen alone, there should already be three dedicated circuits: the...

Wall lights are also called wall sconces. They are installed on a wall to provide lighting around the perimeter of a room, in a hallway or beside built-in furniture, like bookcases or fireplace...

You can replace a wall light, or wall sconce, that does not work or that is no longer the right style for your current decor after you remove the old fixture. It is important to ascertain that the...

A megger, or a megohmmeter, uses a high voltage to test the insulation value of wires. A megohm is equal to 1,000,000 ohms of resistance. This high value of resistance measurement ensures that the...

Many large home appliances require 220-volt electrical power, so when homeowners move appliances or do remodeling, they often find it necessary to install a 220-volt receptacle. This type of work...

Your garage might be your workshop, but working in it when the temperature is only 20 degrees F is no fun. Adding an electric garage heater might be just what you need to take off the hat and coat...

Whether you are building a new home or remodeling an existing home, an electrical plan is essential. If you are not familiar with the principles of electricity, you will need to learn this skill,...

Heating and air-conditioning can be very complex and have many variables which require a trained professional to install a thermostat properly.

Wire a combination outlet switch for the convenience of having a switch and a receptacle in the same location. Many bathrooms have a light switch for overhead lighting, but no outlet for an...

I bet you used to do just like me: when your vibrator petered out you tossed it into the plastic-recycling bin and ordered a replacement, at about twenty-five bucks a pop. But then came the Crash...

Three-way switches are the perfect solution for flexible light control, but their benefit can be put to use in other applications as well, such as controlling a ceiling fan from two different...

Wire a switch-controlled outlet by connecting a wall switch to a receptacle in the room. Then a lamp can be plugged into the receptacle and turned on and off by flipping the toggle. Building codes...

Digital multimeters have come a long way since their analog counterparts. Needle indication meters, which are analog, typically have only two functions--reading voltage and resistance. Today's...

A garage is a great place to have a workshop. Often, the builder only puts in a single 15 amp circuit for the lights, garage door opener and one receptacle to plug in a hedge trimmer or similar...

This is how to hook a ceiling fan and light to a wall switch. This is assuming that you already have installed the fan and it is just not connected to the switch. This guide just explains how to...

When it comes to connecting electrical wires, it can get confusing. Crimp butt connectors, crimp wire terminals, and wire crimp connectors can all be confusing terms that don't mean anything to...