We electricians hear about this phrase “do all electrical work in a workman like manner” from the NEC, so here’s my thoughts about how it applies to the aesthetics of running Romex (NM cable). There are two schools of thought out there from a lot of electricians, have to think it doesn’t matter what...
This video was sponsored by Connecticut Electric Connecticut Electric’s Website Old School Panels & Their Breakers There are many old-school breakers out there still working today, even though their companies have shut down, and these materials have been outlawed for safety reasons. Many of these terrible breakers…are in my house currently. So today we...
I’ve noticed many electrical apprentices out there have a difficult time understanding why there are so many different wire types, and think that each wire is actually different somehow. They’re only different in insulation, and here’s how. Every wire is essentially the same, for the most part. You’re either working with aluminum, copper, or...
Ever wondered why are there so many colors, types and sizes of wirenuts out there? Well today we’re going to break into it. Wire nuts are what we electricians use out in the field to connect one conductor to another. The problems we often run into are that sometimes we need to connect multiple...
In this video I talk about how to wire for and install 4-way switches. 4-ways are very similar to 3-ways, and in fact you use 2 3-way switches in a 4-way setup. First you have to think about the reason why you need a 4way. 4way setups are needed when you have 3 or...
In this episode I talk about how to install an electrical plug-in receptacle. Plugs are pretty day one helper stuff, but I talk about some methods of twisting joints, using strippers, cutting sheathing, and mounting the devices that maybe some teachers out there don’t use. As an apprentice, getting used to how your tools...
A lot of green apprentice electricians ask about how panels work, and more specifically what the roll of the circuit breaker is. Some guys think that breakers “put out” electricity, or that they “send” a certain amount of amperage to a load from the panel. This is not how it works. To start out,...
This episode is all about breakers, from the outside-in. I cover the differences between single-pole, two-pole, and 3-pole breakers. I talk about how a breaker is a simple spring-held mechanical switch that operates by an internal electromagnet. Finally I take a Square D single-pole breaker apart and show you how a breaker trips, and...
In this episode I take apart a standard receptacle and a decor switch and show what is inside. I show how a plug is really just small pieces of metal that are electrically conductive. I also talk about how you can run separate circuits to a plug by cutting the tab between the terminals....
Let’s face it…the national electric code book is probably the most difficult construction document to read and understand. It’s written like a court document in legalese, using terms none of us use in the field, for the sake of liability and C.Y.A. These are 11 more terms that are used in the NEC that...
