An efficient Australian home electrical wiring is necessary to distribute power among the different areas of a house. Because of it, homeowners could use their appliances and equipment to make tasks easier. Also, proper home wiring enables safe electrical use. Without it, a property may be prone to electricity-related incidents such as fire and electrocution.
If you’re planning to learn some troubleshooting skills along with the basics of a residential electrical wiring system, here’s an article that could help you. Learning the basics provides a clear understanding of the subject matter. Read on the following points to learn more.
How Does Home Electricity WorkÂ
Whether your electrical source is water, gas, wind, or coal, it generally starts from a generation station. Different areas like Victoria and others have them. From there, electricity is passed on to substations. The electricity then goes through several transformers. Through this process, the high-voltage electricity is converted into a type of electricity safe for your home.
Next, the electricity passes through a power meter installed by your local electrical company. After that, the electricity enters a circuit breaker and breaker box. At this point, the different wires and lines distribute the power into the other living spaces of your property.
In other words, your home electrical system is responsible for distributing electricity efficiently and safely. If you’re in Bayside and nearby places, you may talk to an electrician Bayside has to offer. This way, you’ll know more about how electricity works in your locality and home.
Essential Electrical ToolsÂ
Tools are a big part of learning how electrical wiring works. They’re used primarily in connecting lines, switches, and locking screws. Apart from it, they’re necessary for solving electrical issues. With that, here are the basic electrical tools you may need to buy and practice using:
- Flat and Philips screwdrivers;
- Allen wrench set;
- Tongue and groove pliers;
- Voltage tester;
- Wire stripper;
- Linesman and needle-nose pliers;
- Electrical and fish tape; and
- Wire crimper.
Types of Color-Coded Household WiresÂ
Before you get an idea about wire connections, you may want to learn about the different household wires. They’re commonly used in wiring installation and are generally fixed in electrical problems. The following are the most common among their types:
- Black Wires: They’re otherwise known as hot wires—lines carrying heavy electrical loads—from the electrical panels to outlets or lights. They are generally thicker than most types.
- White And Gray Wires: Also called neutral wires, they distribute power throughout the house.
- Red Wires: They’re typically used in a fire alarm system, specifically in smoke detection. In some homes, they’re also identified as hot wires.
- Green Wires: These are used in connecting the ground terminal and a ground bus bar. This way, they provide a way for the current to hit the terminal when a faulty circuit occurs.
- Blue And Yellow Wires: These types are uncommon lines used in switches and lights.
How to Replace a Basic Light Switch
It’s regarded that experience is the best teacher one can have. To have a hands-on activity for you, here are the steps for replacing a light switch. Doing so will help you understand further how home electrical wiring works.
- Shut off the fusebox or circuit breaker connected to the line you’ll work on. It’ll reduce the risk of electrocution.
- Check the switch you’re going to replace if it’s really working or not. If it doesn’t turn off after flipping it, it needs a repair or replacement.
- Remove the two screws that lock the switch plate. Then, detach the plate covering the switch box.
- Take the switch out of the box. Before you continue working, ensure that you remember the original placement of the switch box. Take a picture if necessary.
- In some cases, the switch only has a loose connection caused by natural wear and tear or rust buildup in case the switch has been soaked in water for some reason. In this situation, you may just need to clean the rusty wire, reconnect the wiring, or tighten the screws.
- If the switch still doesn’t work, you may remove the old wires. Then, check the old switch if it’s correctly oriented. If so, strip the old wires using a pair of pliers or a wire cutter.
- Wrap around a half-inch of your interior wire around the screws of the switch box. Then, wrap the black wire around the brass screw. Afterward, connect the neutral wire and the ground wire to their respective screws.
- Gently push the switch back into the box. Lock the box plate by tightening the screws.
- Lastly, turn the main power on and flip the switch on to check the connection.
Wrap Up
The insights you’ve got from this article will equip you with some necessary knowledge about your home’s electrical wiring. It’d help you in learning the different fundamentals involved such as inspecting faulty wiring. Yet, in performing more complex electrical wiring repairs, the skills of a professional and licensed electrician are needed. If the situation calls for it, don’t hesitate to reach out for help from expert locals in your area.
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