Have you ever opened a breaker panel and thought it looked about as neat as a bowl of colorful spaghetti? Mixed-up strands in a bowl of spaghetti are just what you want, but when it comes to a breaker panel, you want neat and safe. This will mean occasionally splicing and pigtailing wires in a … Read more
“Just run the cable along the joists.” I’ve heard this said many times. Everyone from DIYers to professional electricians looks for the quickest and easiest ways to finish a job safely, so when it comes to running wires in a ceiling, the joists are often the quickest and most natural places to do so. But … Read more
Being a grounded person is necessary for a happy life. Having a grounded house is necessary for a happy Building Inspector! And without so many words, your house will thank you too. You may have come across copper grounding rods that look elegant buried in the ground beside a house and then come across other … Read more
Maybe in your electrical DIY projects, you have come across a situation where you find a bunch of wires have been twisted together and connected to one wire. If you have, this is a pigtail. Don’t worry, they won’t start squealing, and nor will the smell of sizzling bacon start coming from your outlet, but … Read more
You may have heard the term ‘backstabbed’ used when referring to an electrical outlet, but please don’t think someone is trying to be funny or that the wires had a fight and went behind each other’s back to betray the other, it’s not that kind of back-stabbing. Backstabbing wires in an electrical outlet is serious … Read more
When it comes down to home wiring, copper and aluminum wires are both popular choices. Traditionally, aluminum wires were used for home wiring. Today, however, copper wiring is becoming more commonly used in home wiring. However, can you splice these different wires together? The National Electrical Code allows for the splicing of copper and aluminum … Read more
Where the wiring of your home is concerned, you want to ensure that everything is done properly and is done according to the codes set out in the National Electric Code. If you’re wondering about whether or not you can use wire nuts in your breaker panel, you’re in the right place! It is possible … Read more
Sometimes you open an outlet and it has more wires connected on the inside than you thought it would. In many cases you will find two black wires and two white wires, but sometimes you will find four or five or even more than six! So, why are there two black and two white wires … Read more
Are you trying to lay cable or wiring in a location with concrete? If so, you need to make sure you do so safely. There are numerous types of cables available, and all of them have their benefits and drawbacks. You need to make sure the cable is going to work well for whatever function … Read more
If you are thinking about digging your own trenches for utilities, there’s a lot you need to think about. Even though this is a great way to save money while you get your project off the ground, it is important for you to do so safely. Therefore, you need to have the right tools, the … Read more