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Home improvement and renovation tips

Understanding electricity

If you've done any electrical work around the house, you probably know a bit about standard electrical wiring. The better you understand it, the more safely -- and smartly -- you'll work. Let's look a little more closely. You know you have a black and a white wire connected to ordinary outlets which power most ...

Five steps to deal confidently with electrical jobs

Electricity can seem scary. After all, 120 volts can knock you into the next world. But it doesn't need to be scary as long as you're careful. The best way to build up your confidence and arm yourself against the electrical jitters is to simply practice safe habits. Follow these five rules, and you'll be ...

Ceiling fans — in winter?

Did you know your ceiling fan can actually warm you up in the winter? By reversing the direction the fan rotates (or on some fans, reversing the angle of the blades), you recirculate the warm air that would normally rise up to the top of the room and stay there. So, while the fan should ...

Solar powered lights for outdoor lighting revisited

Outdoor lighting can be complex or simple. Regular voltage lighting provides more control, the potential for brighter lightâ€¦ and requires proper electrical wiring techniques. Low-voltage lights give you some control (in that you can set them up to turn on and off from the house), lower light levels, and pretty easy installation. Solar garden lights ...

Why the heck? Answers on tools and techniques

It's the accepted way to do it. But why? Why do you wrap wires clockwise around a terminal screw on an outlet or switch? The outlet or switch will work just fine if you wrap the wire counter-clockwise; as long as there's contact, the current will still be carried, right? That's true. But here's why ...

How to wire in the great outdoors

If you need to run power outside your house -- for lighting, to supply power to a toolshed or garage, or to power a pump in that pond you're installing, you'll need to run your wiring underground. Here are some general guidelines, but make sure you check with the electrical inspector first.Remember, if you just ...

Understanding the three-way switch (part II)

Last time we explained that in a 3-way switch setup (in which two switches control a single fixture), the switch redirects the current to one of two "hot" wires, both of which proceed to the second switch.These red and black wires connect to the two corresponding terminals on the second switch. The switch allows the ...

Understanding the three-way switch (part I)

If you've done any electrical work, you probably have no trouble figuring out how to wire a fixture to a single switch (called a two-way switch), whether the source comes through the switch or the fixture. Basically, the switch interrupts the current.But what if you want to have one light fixture operated by two different ...

Tools you need for electrical work

If you're going to do any electrical work around the house, use this checklist to get ready.Insulated needle-nose pliers. These are handy for getting into tight places and pulling wires through.Electrician's pliers. Even handier than the needle nose. If you've ever stripped insulation off wires with a utility knife, you'll really appreciate the wire stripping ...

Electrical basics IV – how to make pigtails

Finally, we can finish hooking up our outlet.Cut a short length of the correct-color wire and strip a bit off each end. A pair of electrician's pliers make it easy to cut, strip and bend wires. By experimenting you'll figure the right amount to strip, so that you don't leave exposed wires inside the box.Bend ...