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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...
Installing outdoor outlets will allow you to have extra lighting for evening barbecues or to run garage tools for a yard project. The two keys to remember when installing an outdoor outlet is to...
Many older homes were built when there were not as many electrical devices as there are today, resulting in too few outlets in the bathroom. Additional outlets can be added fairly easily if the...
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...
Installing a light fixture in your mobile home gives you the opportunity to update older fixtures or have that special light fixture that completes the theme in a specific room. You can choose...
A GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interruption) device offers you and your family advanced protection against electrical fires and electrical shocks. These devices are required by code to be placed in...
A junction box is the place where electrical wires meet and are spliced together. Electrical junction boxes come in an assortment of shapes and sizes according to need. Large junction boxes can...
So, you opted for the electric leaf blower instead of the gas model. It's quieter, and you feel good about not burning up that extra gasoline during your outdoor chores. You're excited when you...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Lighting fixtures come in many different styles that can add ambiance or utility to a room. Fixtures can be controlled by a wall switch, a dimmer control or a pull chain and most will accept...
In the course of redecorating, you may have experienced the sudden loss of a light switch, only to find it hidden behind a large piece of furniture. In this case, you can rethink your decorating...
Fluorescent lighting uses less energy and creates less heat than incandescent lighting and is used in many commercial and residential applications. Workshops, garages and factories commonly rely...
Hanging a new light fixture in a child's room can add to the decor or theme of the room. There are lots of fun lights to choose from, and if you get the child involved in picking it out it he...
Wiring your own electricity is a challenging, yet do-able, project that can save you thousands of dollars. An older home may have a combination of wiring, some of which may have been improperly...
Ceiling fans may be mounted to an existing ceiling box if the box is properly secured and can support a fan. Unfortunately, plastic electrical boxes, the type most commonly used in household...
Adding an outlet from an electrical switch can be very simple or nearly impossible, depending on how the switch was configured in the original wiring of the house. If today's wiring allows it,...
Maybe you've been using a gas range and want to convert to an electric one, or possibly you've moved into a new home that doesn't have a compatible outlet for your range. Regardless of the reason,...
With the numerous appliances and electronic devices in our modern world, it is quite common for older houses to run a bit short on outlets. Or maybe you're just thinking of how handy it would be...
A double gang light switch is designed to fit in a single-gang switch box, yet it offers the capability of controlling two separate circuits. The switches are situated one on top of the other, and...
The National Electric Code requires a GFCI outlet to be installed in any wet location around the home, and any outlet within 6 inches of a sink must also be protected. Wiring a GFCI outlet is a...
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....
If you want to install a new ceiling light fixture, you are going to need to hang a light box first. Some light boxes have expanding rods on either side that are nailed into the adjoining ceiling...
GFI or GFCI switches, known as ground fault interrupt and ground fault circuit interrupt respectively, are circuit breakers which are indicated in electrical circuits that are installed in damp or...
Ungrounded electrical outlets can be a potentially dangerous fire hazard. However, with a little hard work and some know-how, an efficient do-it-yourselfer can change ungrounded outlets in an...
An electrical outlet is known in the electrical trade as a receptacle. The most commonly used receptacle is a duplex receptacle, which gets its name from having two outlets. Receptacles are not...
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...
Electricians refer to electrical plugs as receptacles. Moving a receptacle up a finished wall is not difficult. The big question is what to do with the hole in the wall left from the original...
Installing electrical outlets in new construction is much easier than working with existing walls, as you're not dealing with sheetrock. Planning out the location of each outlet is important to...
Ungrounded electrical outlets can be dangerous and may arch. However, with some time and motivation, an industrious homeowner can change ungrounded outlets to grounded outlets in no time.
Looking to hook up that new appliance you just purchased? Make sure you have the proper electrical wiring for safety and so you don't damage the appliance or cause a fire. Most of today's...
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,...
Dual dimmer switches can control two separate lights or a fan and light combination. A dimmer switch for a fan must conform to power load rating specified by the manufacturer. Lutron Electronics...
A switch is simply a relay. If it is off, it interrupts the flow of electricity. If it is on, it relays the electricity to the electrical device. With this knowledge, you can tap into the flow of...
Ceiling fans can be a wonderful addition to most rooms, but some design experts believe that they can take away from a room's overall look. Due to this change in trends, more and more people are...
Wondering how to install a junction electrical box correctly? Junction boxes are an easy way to connect multiple wires. Here is an easy step by step guide on how to install junction boxes.
Outside lights are essential for keeping your home a safe and welcoming environment. Remembering to turn the outside lights on can be tough to do when you have a million other things on your mind....
Remodeling or updating your homes electrical components can be challenging, yet rewarding. Knowing how to add a receptacle from a junction box is important in completing your project right, and...
A 50-amp wall outlet is typically used for large home appliances, such as refrigerators, range ovens, electric washers and dryers. These outlets are typically recessed into a wall-outlet junction...
Single-pole switches are used whenever a light or outlet is controlled by only one switch. It is the simplest form of switch to wire, and changing out or even installing a new single-pole switch...
Replacing an older fuse box with a more modern and safer breaker panel is a smart move. Breaker panels are far more efficient and have resulted in fuse panels becoming outdated and obsolete. If...
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...
Coax cables bring television signals from your TV antenna to your television, plugging into the coax connector placed on the back of your television. You've probably seen installations in which a...
A thermostat-controlled attic fan is an excellent way to help lower home cooling costs in the summer. When installed properly, this powerful fan can eliminate the hot, humid and stale air that...
When wiring your home it is important to have a carefully conceived plan. Proper wiring is critical to your lifestyle as well as your safety. Develop a plan to guide you through the wiring process...