Basic Electrical Wiring For all DIY Projects. From Solar panels, household, commercial, and more
Steps: 0:18 How to measure electricity 1:04 How to determine electrical wire size 1:23 Copper electrical cable 1:39 Electrical wire gauge 1:54 Electrical wire type 2:13 Electrical circuit amperage
Much of what you need to know for electrical repairs and remodeling involves wiring—how to identify it, how to buy it, and how to install it with proper connections.
If you're planning any electrical project, learning the basics of wiring materials and installation is the best place to start.
To learn everything you need to know, refer to the article links referenced here:
#1 - Understanding Wire Size.
The proper wire size is critical to any electrical wire installation.
Wire sizing indicates the diameter of the metal conductor of the wire.
The gauge of a wire relates to the wire's current-carrying capacity, or how much amperage the wire can safely handle.
When choosing the right size of wire, you must consider the gauge of the wire, the wire capacity, and what the wire will be used for.
Wires that are not properly matched to the amperage of the circuits they serve can create a notable risk of short circuit and fire.
Color-coding is used both on the outer sheathing of bundled electrical cables, and also on the individual conduction wires within cables or inside conduit.
Understanding this color coding can help you identify what the wiring is used for and helps maintain consistency within an electrical system.
Cable coloring relates to the size of the wires inside the cable and the cable's amperage rating. For example, white-sheathed NM cable is used for 15-amp circuits, while yellow NM cable is rated for 20-amp circuits.
The coloring on individual conducting wires usually does not indicate a size or rating but rather the standard or preferred use of the wire.
For example, black and red wires typically are used for current-carrying, or "hot" connections, and white wires usually are grounded "neutral" conductors.
Green-insulated wires, and bare copper wires, are used for grounding wires.
When running individual electrical wires inside conduit, there is a limit to how many wires are allowed. The maximum allowable number is known as the fill capacity.
The electrical panel, or service panel, is the power distribution point of a home electrical system.
Wiring an electrical panel is a job for a licensed electrician, but DIYers should have a basic understanding of how a panel works and the critical role that breakers play in any system.
An electrical disconnect provides a means to shut off the power to a home's electrical system from an outdoor location. It is typically mounted below the electric meter, either on the side of a home or on the utility company's power pole.
