| Wiring a house can be surface, in which case the | | | | private power generating set and public power |
| cables are laid on the surface of the wall and held | | | | source. It can be manual in which you manually |
| by clips; or conduit, where the cables are passed | | | | change over to alternative source in case of |
| through PVC pipes laid inside the wall. There is also | | | | power failure or fault, as the case may be. There |
| surface trunking, where the trunking PVC pipes | | | | is also the automatic type of change over which |
| are laid on the surface of the wall and through | | | | is configured to automatically switch between |
| which the wires are passed. Cables used for | | | | sources of power. |
| surface wiring are usually made up of 2 or 3 | | | | Circuit Breakers: This functions like a fuse, in that |
| insulated wires. Cables for conduit wiring on the | | | | it breaks a circuit path when a predetermined |
| other hand, are single-wire insulators, to facilitate | | | | amount of current is passed. Some breakers are |
| the easy passage through the PVC pipes. Conduit | | | | self resetting while others require manual |
| wiring is recommendation because of the | | | | resetting. The manual type is strongly |
| neatness but care must be taken to ensure that | | | | recommended so that one can watch for any |
| a qualified electrician is hired to handle the project | | | | problems when the circuit path is restored. |
| and that only quality materials are used. This is | | | | Control Switch: This is also known as load control |
| because if a fault results in a conduit case, it is | | | | switch. It is placed on home appliances that |
| usually difficult to trace and may result in fire | | | | consumes large amount of electricity, such as air |
| outbreak. | | | | conditioner and deep freezers. |
| The insulators which are commonly called wires or | | | | Switchgear: In wiring, this refers to the |
| cables are made up of difference sizes measured | | | | combination of electrical disconnects, fuses, and |
| in millimetres and as well, used for different kinds | | | | or circuit breakers used to isolate electrical |
| of connection of electrical fittings. There are also | | | | equipment. In other words, it is used to cut |
| the aluminum and copper variants of wires. | | | | power from a particular section of the building to |
| Because of the former's greater resistivity and | | | | allow work to be done to clear faults. |
| larger requirement of conductors, copper wire is | | | | Junction Box: This is a container for electrical |
| recommended. The following are common sizes | | | | connections, intended to conceal them from sight |
| of wires and examples of appliances they can be | | | | and hence prevent damage from unauthorized |
| used to connect: | | | | hands. This forms an integral part of circuit |
| * 1mm - light switches and sockets for electronics | | | | protection system. |
| * 1.5mm - bulbs and other lighting devices | | | | Switch: This is an electrical component used to |
| * 2.5mm - air conditioners and refrigerators | | | | break an electrical circuit, interrupting the current |
| * 4mm & 6mm - air conditioners, refrigerators | | | | or diverting it from one conductor to another. |
| and other heavy-duty appliances | | | | That is, it is used to control power flow in a |
| * 16mm - used to connect the house to public | | | | circuit, example is a light switch. |
| source of power (PHCN). | | | | Lamp holder: This is used to suspend bulbs and |
| ELECTRICIAN'S DICTIONARY | | | | other lighting devices. This is usually attached to |
| Change Over: This is used to switch between | | | | the wall or ceiling. |
| different sources of power, for instance, between | | | | |