Knowing Your Home Electrical System Is Essential For Anyone Wanting To Do-It-Yourself
Knowing Your home electrical system is essential for anyone wanting to do-it-yourself upgrades , repair, and installation in and around your home.
Many home improvement projects require some sort of electrical work. Knowing and having a basic understanding of your home electrical system and how it operates will help make the job safer and easier for you.
These examples are for services of 60 Hertz 600 volts or less supplying the home. Most common service at the home is between 100 to 200 amps.
A Typical electric service to the home consists of one of three types of supply to deliver power to your home.
The overhead service or service drop, mast-type service, and the underground service.
Overhead service or service drop will be defined as wires (aka conductors) through which your electric company distributes power to the point of connection at your residence or other support.
These will be three wires, two of which carry 120volts, and one grounded wire called a neutral.
The connection point is usually considered the weather head which anchors the wires coming overhead to the house or mast support.
A mast-type service is used for homes with low roofs providing the adequate height clearance of the conductors above the ground.
The mast-type service will use conduit, a type of electrical raceway that protects the wires from damage, through
the roof with a protective cap flashing to protect from water entering the home.
Size and type of the conduit is determined by system voltage, amps of your service, and roof pitch.
The underground service is delivering your power underground in conduit to the connection point at the home.
These type of service conductors are known as service lateral conductors and come from a pad mounted transformer located near the residence.
CAUTION: Wires to the weather head, the mast, and underground service will always be hot. If you suspect that their is a problem with these wires contact your power company.
After the connection point the wires are then connected to a meter socket in which the electric meter is housed.
Your electric meter keeps track of all power consumed at the home.
From the meter the wires then travel to the main service panel, or the breaker box. This breaker box then branches out with several circuits delivering power to lights, receptacles, and your appliances.
Depending on the amperage of the service, type of electric breaker panel, will determine the number of breakers one will have.
This whole home electrical system is then grounded with a ground wire through a metal water pipe and ground rods buried outside the house.
This is a very important part of your system.
In case of a short circuit this ground system will remove excess current to the earth or ground thus protecting your home electrical system and you.
|
|
New To This Site
*click here*
For Site Introduction
Electrical Wiring
Site Information
Return from Home Electrical System to Home
Get A Home Electrical Inspection From A Electrician
Finding A Good Reliable Electrician | The Importance Of Hiring A Electrician
How You Can Become An Electrician | Important Questions To Ask A Electrician
The Training And Qualifications Of A Electrician | Electricians Guide For Staying Healthy On The Job
Electrician Job Description And Responsibilities | Job Outlook For Electricians | What Electricians Can Do
What An Electricians Job Is Like | Interesting Facts About Electricians | Information About Electrician Jobs
Finding An Electrician In Your Community | Mastered Licensed Electrician | What Electricians Should Wear
Related Occupations Of An Electrician | Why We Need Electricians | Electrician Education Requirements
Electricians Helper | Health Issues For Electricians | Tools Most Used By Electricians
When Should We Hire A Electrician | Ask Questions Before Hiring An Electrician
Finding A Good Reliable Electrician | The Importance Of Hiring A Electrician
How You Can Become An Electrician | Important Questions To Ask A Electrician
The Training And Qualifications Of A Electrician | Electricians Guide For Staying Healthy On The Job
Electrician Job Description And Responsibilities | Job Outlook For Electricians | What Electricians Can Do
What An Electricians Job Is Like | Interesting Facts About Electricians | Information About Electrician Jobs
Finding An Electrician In Your Community | Mastered Licensed Electrician | What Electricians Should Wear
Related Occupations Of An Electrician | Why We Need Electricians | Electrician Education Requirements
Electricians Helper | Health Issues For Electricians | Tools Most Used By Electricians
When Should We Hire A Electrician | Ask Questions Before Hiring An Electrician
Copyright© How To Electrical Wiring.com 2011