| Hiring a professional electrician can be very | | | | an abridged edition, which has only the sections |
| expensive and is often the reason why people try | | | | likely to apply to most houses. |
| doing their own basic electric wiring themselves. | | | | And there's the NEC Handbook, which contains |
| I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly | | | | the ``authorized commentary'' on the code, as well |
| results of these efforts and I have come to the | | | | as the full text. That's the recommended version. |
| conclusion that basic electrical wiring is not | | | | Unfortunately, there's no handbook for the |
| something anyone should do without proper | | | | abridged edition. And the full handbook is |
| guidance, tools and confidence. | | | | expensive -- US$65 plus shipping and handling. |
| It is so important that before attempting any of | | | | Question 3: Can I do my own wiring? Extra |
| these basic electrical wiring projects that people | | | | pointers? |
| are aware of how dangerous electricity is and | | | | In most places, homeowners are allowed to do |
| how important safety is for you and for your | | | | their own wiring. In some, they're not. Check with |
| family and family home. | | | | your local electrical inspector. Most places won't |
| 90 percent of the time I recommend hiring a | | | | permit you to do wiring on other's homes for |
| licensed electrician over doing your basic electrical | | | | money without a license. Nor are you permitted |
| wiring yourself. Not doing this will usually end up | | | | to do wiring in "commercial" buildings. |
| costing even more money than before and | | | | Multiple dwellings (eg: duplexes)are usually |
| increase the risk of bringing your family into | | | | considered "semi-commercial" or "commercial". |
| danger without even knowing your doing it. | | | | However, many jurisdictions will permit you to |
| But doing your own basic electric wiring really isn't | | | | work on semi-commercial wiring if you're |
| that hard to do if you "educate" yourself on the | | | | supervised by a licensed electrician - if you can |
| topic. | | | | find one willing to supervise. |
| Licensed electricians had to learn the stuff | | | | If you do your own wiring, an important point: |
| themselves too. So as a 'do it yourself person' | | | | Do it NEAT and WELL! What you really want to |
| this isn't different. There is no escape possible. | | | | aim for is a better job than an electrician will do. |
| You will see that the more you read about it the | | | | After all, it's your own home, and it's you or your |
| easier it will become and the more confidence you | | | | family that might get killed if you make a mistake. |
| will get. | | | | An electrician has time pressures, has the skills |
| Just to give you an idea, here are 3 questions I | | | | and knows the tricks of the trade to do a fast, |
| recently got from people just like you who tried | | | | safe job. In this FAQ we've consciously given a |
| doing their own electric wiring: | | | | few recommendations that are in excess of |
| Question 1: I installed a grounding probe in your | | | | code, because we feel that it's reasonable, and will |
| aquarium and every time anyone in the house | | | | impress the inspector. |
| turns on or off the lights, the fish jump. What's | | | | The inspector will know that you're an amateur. |
| going on? | | | | You have to earn his trust. The best way of |
| A couple of suggestions: | | | | doing this is to spend your time doing as neat a |
| 1. (easiest) Pull out that grounding probe and | | | | job as possible. Don't cut corners. Exceed |
| return it from whence you purchased it. | | | | specifications. Otherwise, the inspector may get |
| 2. Check the wiring on your outlet. You may | | | | extremely picky and fault you on the slightest |
| actually have 'Neutral' instead of 'Ground'. | | | | transgressions. |
| 3. Check the wiring throughout the rest of the | | | | Don't try to hide anything from the inspector. |
| house. There are some people out there that | | | | Use the proper tools. Ie: don't use a bread knife |
| insist on doing their own home repairs, yet don't | | | | to strip wires, or twist wires with your fingers. |
| understand basic electrical wiring. | | | | The inspector won't like it, and the results won't |
| Outlets are easy to check by getting a $7.95 | | | | be that safe. And it takes longer. And you're |
| outlet tester from the hardware store. Wired-in | | | | more likely to stick a hunk of 12ga wire through |
| appliances, lights, heaters, etc. are tougher. | | | | your hand that way. |
| 4. Check all your electrical fixtures to make sure | | | | Don't handle house wire when it's very cold (eg: |
| they aren't leaking some voltage to Ground. | | | | below -10C or 16F). Thermoplastic house wire, |
| Question 2: What is the NEC? Where can I get a | | | | particularly older types become very brittle. |
| copy? | | | | As you can see, getting the right answers to |
| The NEC is a model electrical code devised and | | | | your questions can make the work a lot easier. |
| published by the National Fire Protection | | | | You save time by doing it "the right way" from |
| Association, an insurance industry group. It's | | | | the first time and you save money because you |
| revised every three years. | | | | won't need to hire an electrician to either do the |
| The 1993 version has been released. You can buy | | | | entire job or to fix your screw-ups. |
| a copy at a decent bookstore, or by calling them | | | | In any case, no matter what you, be very careful |
| directly at 800-344-3555. | | | | when working on electricity! If needed cut down |
| The code exists in several versions. There's the | | | | the entire power of your house just to be sure. |
| full text, which is fairly incomprehensible. There's | | | | |