| Handyman Tips-A guide to home electrical DIY | | | | ceiling or in your table lamplight fittings carry the |
| Electricity is by far the most dangerous and | | | | least load 5amps the general rule is that the rate |
| feared area of DIY in most peoples homes and | | | | at which current flows through wires is |
| yet is doesn’t deter amateurs from taking | | | | determined by the voltage and the size of the |
| a risk leading to serious fatalities every year.Here | | | | wire in which it passes. In essence the thicker the |
| are a few straightforward points, tips and tricks | | | | wire the less resistance it has ,which in turn |
| to know when attempting to deal with electrical | | | | means the greater the flow of electricity, that is |
| work yourself. | | | | the reason why the larger the load carrying the |
| Plan the work at hand, get the right tools foe the | | | | electricity the larger the wire, so for |
| job, observe the safety rule and switch off all the | | | | lights:5-6amps,for sockets:15-20amps,for electric |
| electrical supply, and most importantly take your | | | | showers:30-40amps.The wire sizes are also |
| time and do not attempt anything that is beyond | | | | different i.e.: for lights:1-1.5mm2,for |
| your capabilities. The fear conception about | | | | sockets:2.5mm2 etc.The inner core or strands |
| carrying out electrical work is that it is illegal, true | | | | of the wires are made of copper which is a good |
| to a point .If you follow the part P building | | | | conductor of electricity ,these compliment the |
| regulations section regarding electrical connections | | | | materials used to make the bulb filaments and |
| you will know what you can legally do and what | | | | other lighting materials, the electric current has to |
| you cannot do. Bear in mind also that if you were | | | | be sufficient to heat up the filaments in the bulb. |
| to carry out any electrical wiring work yourself | | | | Fuses are used to protect the circuit from being |
| and there was a fire ,then there could be a small | | | | overloaded and to serve as a safety mechanism |
| possibility that this could compromise your | | | | to protect a circuit say the lights or sockets from |
| buildings insurance cover if the work were carried | | | | overheating and causing a fire, that is why when |
| out as a building regulations notifiable work and | | | | you overload a circuit the fuse automatically trips |
| you did not inform building control or did not get a | | | | to warn you that something is wrong therefore |
| certificate to cover the work. | | | | cutting any excess supply, the system is much |
| Electricity works in a way that: electrical current | | | | more simple nowadays because when this |
| passes through the service providers cables into | | | | happens all you do is press a button to restore |
| the house wiring circuit. The current in the house | | | | the flow of current. The wires carrying the load |
| then flows through the live wires of the | | | | to the electrical circuits were at one time easily |
| house-just like water rushing through the pumps | | | | labelled red/brown-live, blue/black –negative |
| into your home to provide a powerful spray of | | | | and the yellow and green –neutral, you will |
| water when the tap is turned on. | | | | need to check this because there has since been |
| The current in the live wires is then distributed to | | | | a new colour change so make sure you are up to |
| sockets, light switches, and so on. The surge of | | | | date on this and remember: |
| current then flows through the live wires to | | | | 1.switch off all electrical supply 2. |
| generate enough heat to light up the bulb in your | | | | |