Home Lighting and Electricity - Safety is an important consideration when you're working with electricity. To make sure that no one accidentally flips the circuit breaker back on while you're making electrical repairs, put a piece of tape and a sign to let people know what you're doing over the handle of the circuit breaker. The same applies to a fuse box.
Wait to tinker with a switched outlet or lighting fixture even though you ve flicked off the switch until you have also deactivated the circuit. In many switching systems, parts of the circuit are still energized when the switch is off. When working with electricity, insulate your pliers by slipping a length of small-diameter rubber hose on each handle. Wrap other metal parts with electrician's tape. Insulate the shank of a screwdriver by slipping a section of rubber or plastic tubing over it. Be sure to cut the tubing so that it extends from the handle down to the blade.
Replace a fuse with one of the same amperage as the one you took out. You risk causing an electrical fire if you use a fuse rated to carry more amps or if you try to bypass the fuse in any way. Save time ahead of time. Determine which circuits activate which outlets in your home, then diagram or print the information on a card attached to your circuit breaker or fuse box. When your electricity fails, you'll be able to solve the problem quickly. For safety's sake, stand on a dry board when working with a fuse box or a circuit-breaker box. Also use a wooden rather than an aluminum step- ladder to minimize the risk or shock when working with electrical wiring.
Everyone in the family should know how to throw the master switch that cuts off all electrical current. Any time there's a chance of contact between water and electricity, avoid wading in water until the master switch has been shut off. When maneuvering a section of electrical cable through a wall, plav it safe and use roughly 20 percent more than a straight-line measurement indicates that you need. Often there are unexpected obstructions and the cable must be moved around. You can cut off any extra cable.
A blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker is a sign of trouble. Locate and eliminate the problem before you replace a blown fuse or reset a tripped circuit breaker. Otherwise the problem will only recur. So that you won't be left in the dark if a bulb burns out in the basement, light the area with a 2-socket fixture. If one bulb burns out, the other will still enable you to see. If you're distracted by shadows that reduce visibility in your kitchen or workshop, replace incandescent fixtures with fluorescent lamps which provide even, shadow-free illumination. If you're planning to replace a lamp socket, consider installing a 3-way socket for greater lighting versatility. Wiring a 3-way socket is as simple as wiring a standard on/off fixture.
Any change in a fluorescent lamp's normal performance, such as flickering or noticeable dimming, is a warning that the bulb should be replaced. Failure to replace the bulb can strain parts of the fixture, for example, repeated flashing wears out the starter and causes the starter's insulation to deteriorate.
If it's difficult to remove a broken light bulb because there's little left to grasp, turn off the switch, jam a sponge-rubber ball against the jagged glass, and twist.
Wait to tinker with a switched outlet or lighting fixture even though you ve flicked off the switch until you have also deactivated the circuit. In many switching systems, parts of the circuit are still energized when the switch is off. When working with electricity, insulate your pliers by slipping a length of small-diameter rubber hose on each handle. Wrap other metal parts with electrician's tape. Insulate the shank of a screwdriver by slipping a section of rubber or plastic tubing over it. Be sure to cut the tubing so that it extends from the handle down to the blade.
Replace a fuse with one of the same amperage as the one you took out. You risk causing an electrical fire if you use a fuse rated to carry more amps or if you try to bypass the fuse in any way. Save time ahead of time. Determine which circuits activate which outlets in your home, then diagram or print the information on a card attached to your circuit breaker or fuse box. When your electricity fails, you'll be able to solve the problem quickly. For safety's sake, stand on a dry board when working with a fuse box or a circuit-breaker box. Also use a wooden rather than an aluminum step- ladder to minimize the risk or shock when working with electrical wiring.
Everyone in the family should know how to throw the master switch that cuts off all electrical current. Any time there's a chance of contact between water and electricity, avoid wading in water until the master switch has been shut off. When maneuvering a section of electrical cable through a wall, plav it safe and use roughly 20 percent more than a straight-line measurement indicates that you need. Often there are unexpected obstructions and the cable must be moved around. You can cut off any extra cable.
Any change in a fluorescent lamp's normal performance, such as flickering or noticeable dimming, is a warning that the bulb should be replaced. Failure to replace the bulb can strain parts of the fixture, for example, repeated flashing wears out the starter and causes the starter's insulation to deteriorate.
If it's difficult to remove a broken light bulb because there's little left to grasp, turn off the switch, jam a sponge-rubber ball against the jagged glass, and twist.
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