Your home’s electrical systems can be complex. Electricians spend many years attending trade schools or studying to get their license to master them. Instead of asking you to go to school, we are here to help you understand the basics of your home’s electricity. Learning the basics will go a long way toward diagnosing minor problems, performing basic DIY repairs, and planning renovations.

DIY: Fixing Your Home’s Electrical

As you know, tampering with your home’s electrical systems can be dangerous. There are ways you can protect yourself from these dangers, and there are also jobs you should leave for the professionals. We are here to help you to decide the difference between these two options.

⚠️Make sure you kill the power before tampering with any electrical systems in your home.

Projects you can do

• Changing plugs and switches
• Changing lights and fixtures
• Adding additional plugs or circuits
• Switching plates and covers on switches

Leave it to the professionals

• Changing major components (distribution board or electrical panel)
• Adding circuits to new additions or outdoor living spaces
• Installing electrical components for hot tubs and swimming pools

The Basics of Electricity

Where does the power come from? 

In a typical home electrical wiring system, power from the service head enters your home’s service panel through two 120-volt wires and a neutral wire. Although 120 volts is enough to power most of your home’s appliances, stoves, water heaters, and washing machines require 240 volts to operate. This is achieved by utilizing both 120-volt wires. You should not tamper with these wires, due to the high amount of electrical amps inside them.

What is an electrical circuit?

In a typical home electrical wiring system, power from the service head enters your home’s service panel through two 120-volt wires and a neutral wire. Although 120 volts is enough to power most of your home’s appliances, stoves, water heaters, and washing machines require 240 volts to operate. This is achieved by utilizing both 120-volt wires. You should not tamper with these wires, due to the high amount of electrical amps inside them.

Fun fact: Since the 1940s, electrical systems have been grounded. This involves the use of a third wire, which is known as a “grounding” wire. The grounding wire attaches directly to the ground through a water pipe or grounding rod. In a short circuit or an overload, the grounding wire protects you and the system by diverting extra electricity to the ground.

Types of electricity

There are two main electrical types: Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC). AC is what’s delivered to houses, office buildings, and other large establishments. This type of electricity is able to travel long distances with a high voltage. These electric currents can alternate and change in voltage. DC provides constant voltage. Almost all electronics run by battery or plugged into the wall are using DC (flashlights, TVs, cell phones, etc).

Types of electrical wire

Non-metallic Cable

Non-metallic cable, or NM cable, is one of the most common types of home electrical wire. NM cables consists of a hot wire, a neutral wire, and a ground wire wrapped in a sheathing.

NM cables are only used indoors and cannot be used:

• In residential buildings higher than three stories
• For commercial construction
• Without being properly supported
• For temporary applications

While NM cable is perfectly suitable on a national level, you should keep in mind that local ordinances in your community may prohibit its use. Therefore, you should make sure your community allows NM cable before you install it. In what situations could it be prohibited?

• If you live in areas with a lot of rain
• If the area is underground
• If it’s near pool areas

These wires will need to be protected and not in open scenarios like open walls with exposed wires.

Armored Cable

Communities that don’t allow NM cable use armored cable, or MC, which is another one of the most typical electrical wiring types. MC is the same as NM, but the individual wires are housed in a flexible metal sheathing, which provides more protection.

Underground-feeder Cable

When you need wiring outdoors, you’ll have to use an underground-feeder cable or UF cable. UF cable is another one of the most typical electrical wiring types and essentially the same as NM cable and AC. The only difference is that the sheathing is made of solid, inflexible plastic that can be buried underground and can get wet without any problems.

Remember this: The larger the wire, the more current/amps it can carry.

The Takeaway

Understanding the basics of your home’s electricity can help keep your home up to code, identify potential problems, and keep your family safe. However, electricity can be hazardous and should be taken very seriously. Do your research, ask questions, and never do more than you can handle.

If you’re dealing with an electrical problem and feel like you’re over your head, please get in touch with a Lee Company professional. We are here to help. Lee Company has been serving Middle Tennessee and the surrounding areas since 1944. Schedule an appointment or call 615-567-1000.