This Section covers many important electrical home repair topics. Get information and how-to guidance on wiring, outlets, switches, lighting and tips to increase the safety in your home.
This tutorial describes how to turn off a circuit breaker or fuse controlling all power to the home or to just a branch circuit. This knowledge is essential for any electrical home repair project.
This tutorial graphically describes how to easily install a dimmer in a single pole switch location for incandescent or halogen lighting. To use a CFL with a dimmer the use a dimmable CFL is required.
This tutorial gives you some great tips for successful connecting and wiring of electrical switches and outlets in your home including 3-way switches and GFCI outlets.
Great tip on how to easily and neatly secure 3 or more wires when using wire nuts.
Description of the 3 way switch and how it is wired differently from other switches.
The 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act contains controversial provisions such as new lighting efficiency standards. This tutorial covers what the new law means for the incandescent light bulb and why CFL lighting is not the long term answer.
CFL's (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) cannot be thrown away by law in some states. They contain mercury which pollutes our landfills and watersheds. Spent CFL's must be carefully packaged and transported to a recycling center for recycling. This tutorial explains the little known fact that CFL's cannot be simply thrown away and describes how to safely send them down the waste stream.
CFL's (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) contain mercury, a dangerous neurotoxin that can cause a range of adverse health effects including kidney and brain damage. This article outlines the cleanup procedures recommended by the EPA for a broken CFL.
Tutorial describes the different types of switches found in the home including single-pole, double-pole, three-way and four-way switches.
This detailed tutorial will show you how to easily install a 240 volt circuit breaker. Complete with detailed photos.
Describes metal switch boxes used in old work or renovation construction.
Describes common metal switch box types used in new construction including gangable, welded or tabbed, and cold drawn steel.
Tutorial describes the many types of wall and ceiling electrical boxes used for lighting, ceiling fan and junction box applications.
Product for providing electrical power in the middle of a floor
This tutorial describes various types of fuses used in the home
Ever wondered what lurked under the cover of that electrical service panel? Now you can find out what makes up the electrical "nerve center" in your house. It's not as mysterious as you think and you need to know how circuit breakers, ground wires, hot wires and neutral wires all fit together to add any circuits to your home.
Resetting a tripped circuit breaker is a common home repair that is easy when done right.
It is important to understand the possible reasons for a circuit breaker tripping and fuses popping. Fixing the cause of the electrical problem is essential before resetting the breaker or replacing a fuse a third time.
Electrical circuit overheating causing a tripped breaker or blown fuse can be caused by a loose connection, check out this helpful reader tip.
Learn how to replace a common electrical item in your home, the switch. Switches control power to light fixtures and power outlets or receptacles. This tutorial covers replacement of a single-pole switch.
This helpful Step-By-Step tutorial will guide you through a simple way to upgrade the safety of any 2 prong outlet.
