About.com Electrical

Rewiring A Kitchen With Eight Simple Circuits

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:44:41 +0000

Remodeling a kitchen is fairly simple if you know which circuits are required and what they are used for. There are specific circuits for different areas of your kitchen and each has its role in completing the kitchen wiring plan. I've included the top eight kitchen circuits that are sure to make your new kitchen more convenient and up to code. Do you know what these kitchen circuits are used for?

Rewiring A Kitchen With Eight Simple Circuits originally appeared on About.com Electrical on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 10:44:41.

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Wordless Wednesday 11-18-09

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:59:25 +0000

Too Many Christmas Lights Can Be a Bad Thing!

Photo: Max Oppenheim - Getty Images

Wordless Wednesday 11-18-09 originally appeared on About.com Electrical on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 13:59:25.

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What Size Service Do I Have?

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:57:45 +0000

If you've ever wondered what size your electrical service is but just don't no where to begin to look, then you've stumbled on the right article. Maybe your home is an older one that still has a 60-amp fuse panel feeding it. If so, it is time to do like Tim "The Tool Man" says and update it to "More Power"!

Circuit breaker panels are the choice of people these days and you'll need at least a 100-amp service if not a 200-amp service to provide enough power for your home. Locating the information needed to determine how much power your service can draw now is easy enough if you know what to look for.

Photo: Timothy Thiele

What Size Service Do I Have? originally appeared on About.com Electrical on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 13:57:45.

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Small Appliance Load

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:24:49 +0000

Your home has many electric small appliances in it that you use every day. You use them to cook, clean and even iron your clothes, sometimes on a daily basis. Although they may be plugged into almost any outlet in your home, the National Electrical Code requires you to have certain specialized circuitry to run these small appliances. The reason is very clear, electrical load.

You see, things like irons and toaster ovens draw a large amount of elelctrical current and require their own circuits. By implementing basic electrical codes for safety, these appliances will work properly without tripping circuit breakers or overloading your home's circuits. Do you know what small appliance circuits are and where they are required?

Small Appliance Load originally appeared on About.com Electrical on Sunday, November 15th, 2009 at 15:24:49.

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Choosing Electrical Wire Based On Gauge, Amperage, and Wattage Load

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:04:27 +0000

We've all done it. Walk into a building supply store and head for the electrical department to buy some electrical wire for a project we have at home. Maybe it's just to extend a circuit for an additional outlet or two, or maybe it's an underground feed to a swimming pool you just added? In any case, the point is that now you're at the store looking at the wire, which one is the right wire for you? What size wire do I need? Is color important?

To help you understand the correct choice, manufacturers have labeled the outer coating of the wire with types and gauges of wire. You see, the insulation covering the wire tells the story about the wire itself. Along with different sizes of wire, there are many types of wire used around the home. Knowing which type of wire to use is just as important as determining the proper gauge, amperage limit, and the maximum wattage load limit of the electrical wire you choose.

Photo: Timothy Thiele

Choosing Electrical Wire Based On Gauge, Amperage, and Wattage Load originally appeared on About.com Electrical on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 06:04:27.

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Wordless Wednesday 11-11-09

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:00:02 +0000

Guaranteed Protection For Your Electronic Devices!

Photo: Timothy Thiele

Wordless Wednesday 11-11-09 originally appeared on About.com Electrical on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 11:00:02.

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Electrical Safety Around the Farm at Harvest Season

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:10:25 +0000

Finally! The combines are out in full force and the crops have begun to come out of the fields. Along with slow-moving tractors, combines, and wagons on the road delivering corn and beans to the elevators, there are many dangers around the farm. Some of the most dangerous are electrical. Before you jump into the fall harvest, take time to look around the farm and see the hidden dangers. Some are more obvious that others so I've added a harvest checklist to assist you detect the harvest dangers.

Electrical Safety Around the Farm at Harvest Season originally appeared on About.com Electrical on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 11:10:25.

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Gas Space Heater Tips

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:07:40 +0000

Gas space heaters add heat to a room and can be a great addition if the power suddenly goes out. Some gas space heaters have standing pilot lights and while furnaces have electronic pilots that require the power to be on. To help heat a room or two in your home or to have heat when the power goes off, a poratble gas space heater may be the answer!

Gas Space Heater Tips originally appeared on About.com Electrical on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 12:07:40.

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Heat It With Space Heaters

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:42:40 +0000

If you've ever had a room that is just a little chilly, but didn't want to turn the thermostat up for the whole house, a space heater may be just the answer for you. They are compact and, depending on the type you choose, can heat you and/or the room up to a comfortable temperature.

There are three choices to heat your home: convection, radiant, and combination heaters. Each has it's own special way of heating and they vary in size and heat output. Do you know which one is the best space heater for you?

Photo: Timothy Thiele

Heat It With Space Heaters originally appeared on About.com Electrical on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 10:42:40.

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Single-pole Switch Swap

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:51:36 +0000

Single-pole switches help us light our homes and make it convenient to turn on these lights. Sometimes, however, there are obvious and not so obvous reasons that they need to be replaced. Although changing a single-pole switch isn't all that difficult, in fact it is the easiest of switches to wire, safety precautions should be followed.

If you have single pole switch problems or just want to give your switches a new look, try the single-pole switch swap.

Here are some more great switch articles:

Anatomy Of A Three-way Switch
Common Household Switches
How to Wire a Time Switch
What Is A Furnace Switch?
What is a Rotary Dimmer Switch?
What is a Four-way Switch?

Photo: Timothy Thiele

Single-pole Switch Swap originally appeared on About.com Electrical on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 11:51:36.
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