Residential ConstructionUnit 5- Energy Efficiencies and

MechanicalsMr. Todzia

Generation facilities- Most electricity is made by turbine blades rotating at speeds high enough to produce electricity in a generator. The blades can be turned by water, steam or wind.

High-voltage switchyard- The electricity flows through metal conduction to a switchyard, where a transformer steps up voltage for transmission.

Transmission lines -Transmission lines can efficiently carry high-voltage electricity over long distance to substations.

Substations -At substations, electricity is stepped down so it can travel over smaller distribution lines to homes and businesses.

Distribution lines -Distribution lines carry electricity to neighborhoods.

Transformer -an electric-pole transformer reduces the voltage to a level that can be used in homes

The line that connect from the overhead street power lines to your house is called the Service Drop.

The utility company owns and is responsible for the Service drop and any wires before they enter the Weatherhead.

The weatherhead prevents any water, snow or moisture to enter the system and travel down the wires to the panel.

After the wires enter the weatherhead they travel down the large conduit to the Service panel.

From the panel, the power is distributed to the different circuits throughout the house.

A circuit breaker is an automatically operated electrical switch designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by overload or short circuit.

Its basic function is to detect a fault condition and, by interrupting continuity, to immediately discontinue electrical flow.

Unlike a fuse, which operates once and then has to be replaced, a circuit breaker can be reset (either manually or automatically) to resume normal operation.

Lights and Switches Receptacles/outlets Hardwired appliances

Lights are typically run with 14 gauge wire.

In a single pole application when one switch is operating the light, 14-2 wire is used.

In a 3-way situation when a two switches are used to operate one light, then 14-3 wire must be used.

An electrical outlet, also called a receptacle, is the flush mounted plate we plug our electrical appliances into.

15 amp outlet

20 amp outlet

15 amp outlets are run with 14 gauge wire. 20 amp outlets are run with 12 gauge wire. 20 amp outlets are recognizable by the T-shaped

slot on the neutral side of the outlet.

20 amp 15 amp

There is usually more than one outlet on a circuit, so the above diagram explains how to wire an outlet in the middle of circuit and also how the outlet on the end is wired.

GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter.

GFCI outlets are required by code in bathrooms and kitchens because both areas have the chance of getting wet.

Some appliances in your home will require a 220 volt outlet. Kitchen Stove Cloths Dryer

Some appliances or fixtures are hard wired to the power supply. This means they don’t plug in, but they have the wires from the wall tied directly to them.

Some examples might include Dish waser Well pump Furnace/boiler Hot water heater Smoke detectors

Always flip a breaker off before you do any work on a circuit!

Smoke detectors are required by code in any residence.

Lighting circuits should be wired separately from other circuits so if a breaker is tripped, you still have lights.

By code switches have to be installed 48 inches from the floor.

By code outlets have to installed 18 from the floor.

Install outlets with the ground hole facing up so you will never drop something across the hot and neutral lines.

When drilling studs for running wire in walls, always drill in the center of the stud to minimize the risk of hitting a wire with a nail.

Remember that only 50 milliamps of electricity across your chest, stop your heart.

Use insulated tools. Never cut across a hot and neutral with any

tool. (lineman's pliers, sawzall) It will trip the breaker and ruin the tool.

If a wire has to be run too close to the edge of a stud, then use a metal protective plate in case someone drives a nail in that area.

When wiring switches and outlets, use needle nose pliers to bend C-Shaped hooks on the bare end of the wire.

Wrap the end of the wire clockwise onto the screw so that when you tighten the screw the hook tightens around the screw instead of loosening up.

Remember that to become an electrician you must complete a 4 year apprenticeship program, thousands of hours of on-the-job experience and hundreds of hours in the classroom.

So don’t assume that because you have seen this presentation you can wire a house!

For larger and more sensitive appliances, it is a good idea to run a dedicated circuit which means, only that appliance is on that circuit, nothing else. This minimizes the chance of the breaker being tripped.

Some examples of appliances are: Refrigerator Air Conditioners Furnace/boiler Electric stove High-end Electronics (as seen in hospitals) Well pump Hot water heater Anything with a large electrical draw