Electrician in Bellevue WA - How Your Home's Wiring Works

Are you looking for electrician in Bellevue, WA. Electricity is something that you use everyday without thinking about it. But sometimes it needs attention. If your wiring is outdated it may need to be upgraded.

If you are thinking of selling your home it is a good idea to have the electrical system evaluated by a qualified electrician. Then you can know about problems ahead of time and avoid surprises during a home inspection.

Wiring

A home’s wiring consists of an electrical circuitry that distributes energy to different equipment and appliances. This is done through the proper installation and operation of electrical outlets, switches, breaker box and different electrical circuits. It is important to understand how electrical wiring works so you can recognize potential problems and make timely repairs.

When working on any electrical project, be sure to turn off the main circuit breaker before beginning. Also, it is recommended that you use a multimeter to ensure that the power is off before touching any wires or switching on any switches. Also, be sure to wear rubber gloves and use safety goggles to protect yourself from shocks or burns.

Lastly, be sure to clearly label each cable with what room or switch it is leading to. Using masking tape is an effective way of marking this before you thread the cables through the openings in each box. Staple each end to a stud or joist for maximum support and protection. The gauge of a wire determines its current-carrying capacity, with higher gauge wires used for heavier loads like stoves and dryers.

Outlets

We all rely on outlets to plug in appliances, alarm clocks, lights, TVs and more. It’s vital that they work properly to avoid fire hazards and electrical shock. Whether your home is old or new, the outlets in it should meet national electrical code standards and be appropriate for the appliances you use there.

Most residential receptacles are three-slot outlets that look fairly similar: two vertical slots for neutral and ground, and a third slot for a hot wire. This type of outlet is ideal for devices that require a lower amperage, like lamps and alarm clocks.

For larger appliances that draw more power, you can find 20A or 250-volt outlets that have a more distinctive T-shaped slot for the grounding prong. These types of receptacles typically require a double-pole circuit breaker installed in the electrical panel, and this is a job best left to a professional electrician. You can also get outlets with USB ports, which eliminate the need for a separate adaptor. They’re handy for charging smartphones, tablets and more without taking up a lot of space.

Switches

Switches control power to outlets as well as lights. They come in several types, including single pole, three way, and four-way switches. You’ll find them in rooms such as hallways, stairways, and dual entry passages where you want to be able to control your lights from different locations.

Most switches have two brass-colored screw terminals and a back wire hole to accept the circuit’s grounding wire (bare or green). To connect a wire to a switch, you strip away about 1/4 in. of insulation and then wrap it around a screw in a clockwise direction, tightening the screw to clamp the wire.

You can also replace your switch with a smart model that will let you control your lights from a smartphone app, voice commands, or another device. These are best installed by a professional electrician because changing out an existing in-wall switch requires shutting off the electricity to the circuit breaker and unscrewing it. Some new switches have holes in the back into which you’ll push (or “stab") the solid copper wires coming out of the wall, rather than having to strip and twist them around a screw as you would with traditional switches.

Fuse Box

A fuse box or consumer unit is where the electricity in a home is controlled and distributed. It contains a main switch, fuses and/or circuit breakers, and Residual Current Devices (RCD).

A typical fuse box has columns of fuses lying side by side. Each fuse has a coloured glass window that can be used to identify the fuse that needs replacing. To change a fuse you need to remove the old one and replace it with a new one of the same size and type.

Many older homes still have a fuse box instead of the modern circuit breaker panel. It is very important that homeowners who have a fuse box contact a licensed electrician to have the fuse box replaced with a breaker panel and get their house up to code. Faulty wiring is a leading cause of house fires, so getting the old fuse box replaced is crucial for the safety of the occupants. Electricians can easily install a modern breaker panel in place of an old one. They are also more familiar with the local electrical codes and regulations.

Circuit Breakers

When electricity enters your home, it comes into a panel (or fuse box in older homes) where it's divided into several circuits protected by fuses or circuit breakers. Bedrooms, living rooms and family areas are normally served by 15-amp circuits; kitchens, laundry rooms and bathrooms get 20-amp circuits.

If a circuit overloads, the breaker's switches will open and stop current flow to the circuit. This is called a trip, and it's usually the result of too many energy-demanding appliances plugged into one circuit. When they're all drawing too much power, it causes them to heat up and generate large amounts of dangerous arcing current.

When the switch trips, it shuts off the electricity to that part of the circuit, thereby protecting you and your appliances from damage and fire. If a breaker frequently trips, however, you should consider replacing it with a higher-rated model. To do so, remove the panel cover and shut off all power to the breaker by flipping the main switch to the "off" position. Then, remove the old breaker and install the new one.