Electrical Repairs

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...

GFI (ground fault interrupt) breakers are installed in bathrooms, kitchens and near water faucets. GFI breakers are designed to prevent electrocution by sensing current leaks to ground. However,...

In our everyday lives we use electricity often, but depending on where you are in the world, the power output is not exactly the same. Differences between the power grids in North America (110...

The "DC" in DC generator is short for direct current. For a generator to be classified as a direct current generator, it must meet two criteria. Firstly, the current provided by the generator has...

Which is better, alternating current or direct current? Back in the 1880s, that question generated an all-out current war between two geniuses. On the one side, Thomas Edison pushed that direct...

Calculating current can be very useful when adding circuits to an existing circuit so you do not overload the circuit breaker.

The terms AC and DC refer to the type of electric current used by a device. Batteries and many power supplies produce DC, while the electricity in your wall outlets is AC.

While not commonly required, it's sometimes necessary to know how much voltage or power is being pulled through a device when working with electronics. This specialized knowledge is usually...

Circuit breakers are switches that can remove electrical power from a circuit. They are designed to open automatically if the electrical current passing through them exceeds their ratings. For...

A GFCI is a valuable safeguard to your own personal safety as well as to your property. The National Electrical Code has required the use of GFCI in most outdoor receptacles since 1973, bathroom...

Electricity can be a powerful thing, but too much of it can overload systems and cause trouble. It's the job of a wattmeter to observe and report on electrical power. This is a very important job...

It is standard that every house in the US has a wall output of 110 to 120 volts, alternating current. It is also true that just about every device and electronic setup out there will require a...

A volt meter is a device used by those working with electricity to determine how much of an electrical current is flowing in a particular outlet. Knowing how to successfully measure electrical...

Since most batteries don't come with built-in meters to tell you when they are out of power, it can be hard to tell when household batteries can be used or should be replaced without testing them...

Clamp multimeters allow users to measure electrical voltage and current without the need to cut wires or open electrical access panels. Clamp multimeters can simply be clamped onto the power cord...

A transformer is an electrical component that converts one alternating current (AC) voltage to another. A step-up transformer converts the input voltage to a higher voltage. A step-down...

Testing electrical alternating current (AC) circuits with a clamp on ammeter is an efficient way for troubleshooting load problems. You will need to know the current draw of the device you are...

110 Volt AC (Alternating Current) is the standard wiring system in all U.S. homes. This current runs our applances, gives us light and in many cases, heats and cools our homes. Even though we...

Multimeters are tools used to troubleshoot electrical and electronic circuits. They are also used to check voltages to ensure correct operating levels. The most common models measure voltage,...

Fuses are simple devices that are placed on a circuit to prevent the circuit from being overloaded by either a power surge or by pulling too much power through the circuit with appliances. Fuses...

Alternating current is an electric current that flows in a circuit first one way then the opposite way over and over again. The alternating is almost impossible to comprehend at 60 times per...

Electricity comes in two forms: alternating current and direct current. Alternating current is by far the more common system of the two, but direct current does exist in a few limited places such...

Learn how to measure current in a circuit - free video.

Learn how current is determined by an electronic circuit - free video.