| As any veteran do-it-yourselfer knows, there are | | | | Make sure you know what materials you are |
| lot of mistakes made before you can call yourself | | | | working with. In general, you have to be careful |
| an expert on anything. We all have experiences of | | | | of metal, but rubber is safe. Since metal conducts |
| home improvement projects that proved to be | | | | electricity, do not touch metal at the same time |
| anything but an improvement. Usually these kind | | | | you are touching a live wire, because you will |
| of mistakes just make us laugh and learn. But | | | | become the conductant. |
| there are some home projects that cannot be | | | | Since rubber is a nonconductive material, it will |
| done wrong because they are too dangerous to | | | | insulate you. So you should use tools with rubber |
| have a mistake with. Electrical repairs fall within | | | | or plastic handles, and wear rubber soled shoes or |
| this category. But if you follow these steps, you | | | | sneakers. While we are on the subject of what to |
| can make sure you keep yourself and your family | | | | wear, you should also wear safety goggles and |
| safe when you do an electrical repair. Before you | | | | gloves. |
| even take any of these steps, however, find out | | | | Now that you have completed the repair, flip the |
| if your local community requires you to have a | | | | circuit breaker back on to turn on the power. Use |
| permit in order to do any electrical work. But | | | | you voltage meter once again to see if there is |
| these laws are different in each state, and even | | | | power, and there is the right amount of voltage. |
| in each municipality, so check first. | | | | Smaller items such as lights, a receptacle or a |
| The first thing you should do before you work on | | | | small appliance will need 120 volts. Big appliances |
| electricity is to turn the electric power off at the | | | | (air conditioners, ovens, etc.) will require 240 volts. |
| source. This must be done at the circuit breaker, | | | | There are some appliances that need such small |
| since just turning off a wall switch will still leave | | | | voltage, such as doorbells or telephones that they |
| you with hot wires. | | | | will have a transformer to convert the power to |
| Make sure the electric is off by using a voltage | | | | a smaller voltage. |
| meter. After you have turned the electricity off | | | | If you want to make sure you know what you |
| at the circuit breaker, test the wire in the room | | | | are doing before you start an electrical repair job, |
| you are working in and make sure nothing | | | | you may consider taking advantage of the clinics |
| registers. Keep the power off until you have | | | | or workshops that many do-it-yourself centers |
| completed the job. You should not touch any of | | | | offer. You will learn a lot and feel more confident |
| the electrical wires that bring electricity into the | | | | when you tackle the next job. If you don't feel |
| house. If you think there is something wrong With | | | | that you know what you are doing, don't take a |
| this service, make sure you contact your power | | | | chance: call an expert electrician to do this kind of |
| company. | | | | work. There are plenty of other jobs you can do, |
| When you are working on electricity, never stand | | | | such as painting, hanging shelves, or trimming |
| in water or even on a damp floor. Water | | | | branches. Just ask your wife. She probably has a |
| conducts electricity, and it will go through you if it | | | | "honey do" list as well as cnc routers and used |
| has to. If the floor is damp, put down a rubber | | | | cnc electronics all ready and waiting for you. |
| mat. | | | | |