Electrical Repairs

Anytime you are adding outlets within a covered wall or new construction, the task of running the wiring can present some problems. Bulky electrical wire can easily get wedged or stuck in the...

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...

The process of running wire through conduit is referred to as "snaking" or "fishing" the wire through the conduit. The best tool for this process is called a "fish tape." If the length of the...

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...

Your electrical has to be installed in concrete walls before they are poured. Otherwise you will be bolting boxes and conduit to the surface and then explaining to the architect why the wall...

Running electrical wires through an existing piece of conduit can help save time when you're running new wires. If the conduit is in place and has room for more wires, it is a simple process. You...

Electrical conduit safely routes wiring from a power source to an outlet or device. Not only does it provide safety during a construction or remodeling project, but it is also a requirement for...

If you want to add an outlet to a room, you need to know how the electric runs in the walls. Punching holes in your drywall until you locate the conduit will work, but it will leave you with a...

Pulling wire through conduit can be an agitating task--especially if the wire you are pulling is large and/or coiled, and your method is to simply feed the wire down the conduit. But using a...

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...

Electric house meters can only be installed by power companies. Homeowners, however, can install the meter base. The electrical meter is part of a meter loop, which also contains a weatherhead and...

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...

A Greenlee knockout punch is a tool used to punch a precisely sized hole through metal. Usually, that hole is going into an electrical panel, but sometimes it's through sheet metal or steel studs....

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...

The breaker panel is where the electrical current delivered to your home by the power company is divided into individual circuits. Electricity flows through the circuits into various rooms of the...

Electrical metal conduit is used to mechanically protect wires. In many cases the metal conduit is also used as the back up to the ground circuit as well. The fittings that make up the conduit...

Approximately 90 percent of the homes in the United States are wired using nonmetallic (NM), sheathed cable, known and referred to by the trade name Romex. Sheathed cable is convenient and easy to...

Electrical conduit is a metal tubing system (much like your water lines) that is used to protect your wires from being damaged. They also serve as a continuous grounding that helps to protect...

Electrical conduit pipe made of PVC plastic has achieved a general-use popularity. One of these uses is in the construction of beautiful PVC pipe furniture and storage shed frames. Those making...

Bending conduit in a cast-iron bender can give you repeatable results. EMT or electrical metallic tubing is a thin-walled pipe used primarily for electrical installations. This type of conduit can...

Electrical metallic tubing, or EMT, is more commonly known as conduit. This material is specially designed to provide safety as well as easy installation of both the conduit and the wiring...

Bringing power from a breaker panel into a new (or old) house can be a pain. It's risky, it's confusing, and it can be complicated unless you know what you're doing. This article describes the...

Bending electrical conduit is an essential skill when considering any electrical home improvement that requires conduit-shielded electrical wiring. With just a measurement of the degrees needed to...

Used for cosmetic and safety purposes, a PVC electrical conduit shields wires as they run down or behind walls and from room to room. The conduit is made from material similar to that of PVC pipe....

Pipe bending a saddle or making a three-bend saddle is used when electrical conduit that is placed along a surface, exposed wall or ceiling, runs into an obstruction. This obstruction is generally...

Fishing electrical wires or cables is typically done by using a fish tape. The slender coils of metal are contained in a round plastic housing and generally come in lengths that are multiples of...

Electrical work is grueling enough without having to create perfect sculptures. Ironically, bending conduit to jump over architectural obstacles is one of the most challenging aspects of...

Thin-walled metal conduit benders are designed to save you money by allowing you to bend your own 30-degree, 45-degree, 60-degree and 90-degree elbow joints. Conduit benders take the guesswork out...

A fish tape is flat flexible steel coiled inside a case. It is approximately 1/8-inch wide and has an eye in one end. The tape in these photos has a release mechanism inside its black handle. If...

Installing a light switch for your outlet will allow you to control a light or appliance by turning it on and off and will allow for easy convenience when leaving a room. Installation is fairly...

Use UF cable when running cable outside the home. UF stands for "underground feeder", and the "UF" is clearly marked on the cable sheathing. Bury the cable at least 2 feet underground. If the...

Installing a single pole light switch is fast and easy. You can do this project safely yourself and save money by not having to hire an electrician to attach your switch. You can buy...

Running electrical wire is a simple task and can be done in a variety of ways. You can run wire in the wall, in the attic or under the home depending on your situation. When following the correct...

Install a kitchen island receptacle to add even more convenience to your kitchen. Kitchen islands serve as work preparation areas and stages for other appliances. Add a power supply to these handy...

Fishing electrical wires through a conduit with a cotton ball and string is often the easiest way install the wires if a fish tape is not flexible enough to make all the sharp angles. Most...

Springtime is the perfect time to do all of the jobs you have been coming up with all winter long. Adding an electrical outlet on the outside of your home is an excellent way to make your outdoor...

When electrical wires short out or can no longer carry an electrical load to safely operate equipment or appliances, replace them by fishing new wires through the conduit or pipe. It's a safe...

Electrical conduit insulates and protects conductors from water, impact and chemical vapors that could cause damage. Electrical conduit also makes it easier for you to change a wiring system. With...

You need to have some knowledge not only of electricity but plumbing as well, when you install an electric hot water heater. If you are adept in these two areas, then you can install an electric...

Adding connectors for each joint or turn in conduit is not very economical and is time consuming. Using a conduit bender is an easier solution. This device takes a little practice, but once...