What makes up a good electrical system?

Are you confused by electricity and wonder what type of system will accommodate most of today's electric appliances?

A good electrical system is usually characterized by:

1. A single, 125 amp or larger electrical panel with circuit breakers. A label inside the panel will indicate the amperage capacity.
2. Electrical receptacles for three-pronged plugs.
3. Receptacles placed every six feet along wall surfaces.
4. Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFI) protecting receptacles in the bathroom and, in the newest homes, in the kitchen and outdoors. Don’t know how to identify a GFI? It is indicated by the presence of two small test/reset buttons on the three-pronged receptacles.
5. Wiring neatly done. All connections inside a plastic or metal electrical box. All electrical boxes have a proper cover.

Troubleshooting doorbells and chimes

Running down a problem in your doorbell or chime system is mainly a process of elimination.

If the bell works sporadically, check out the button first. Unscrew it from the wall and hold a screwdriver across the two contact points. If the bell doesn’t ring, clean the contact points. If the bell doesn’t ring, clean the contact points with emery cloth and make sure the contacts touch when the button is pushed.

Assuming the button works, check the bell and transformer for loose connections. If they’re tight, hold a screwdriver across the transformer’s bell-wire connections. If you don’t get a weak spark, replace the transformer. If you do see even the faintest spark, the transformer is fine and your search narrows down to the bell itself or to the wiring. The easiest way to check the bell is to disconnect it, clean it thoroughly, rub the contacts with emery cloth, then hooks it up directly to the bell-wire connections at the transformer. IF you don’t get a ring, the bell is shot; if you do you’ll need to replace the wire – a tedious, last resort.

Replacing switches

Whether you’re replacing a switch because it’s bad or just because you want a different style the job shouldn’t take longer than 15 minutes. And that includes a couple minutes to go to the service panel and cut the power to the circuit.

The common household switch is a single-pole variety that has two brass-colored terminals and (in some cases) a grounding terminal. Some brands come with grip holes instead of screws. A switch is wired only into the hot line, with the source feed usually connected to the top terminal.

The neutral wires in some circuits are independent of the switch and continue all the way back to the service panel.

You won’t always find the terminals on your new switch positioned the same as on the old one. Sometimes they face the side.

Replacing receptacles

If a receptacle goes bad and you’re elected to replace it, all you need to do is wire the new outlet exactly as the old one. Note: In newer homes and some older ones, there’s often a third ground wire that connects to the receptacle. This is an equipment ground wire.

Before you start, remember to turn off the power at the main disconnect or circuit breaker. Then remove the faceplate.

Remove the screws fastening the receptacle to the box at top and bottom, and pull the receptacle from the box.

Before you disconnect anything, make a quick sketch to help you remember where each wire goes. Then remove the wires.

Hook up the new receptacle using your sketch if needed. Test your handiwork by restoring power to the receptacle.

Working on a side-by-side installation is just as easy as a single receptacle. Just remember to sketch the wiring layout.

If you have small children, considering using child-proof safety receptacles. You have to twist a cover to expose the slots.