Monday, January 28, 2008

Ceiling Fan Wiring

Ceiling fan wiring is meant to provide power connection to the fan. If done with proper care it's safe and easy. The ceiling fan wiring is divided into two parts:

1. Wiring from fan terminal box (if provided) to internal motor or circuitry and 2. Wiring from switch box or switch unit up to the ceiling fan. The first part of ceiling fan wiring falls under the fan maker's scope and the rest is taken care of by the user. This part may be put inside a concealed unit called concealed wiring. The wire from the switch box comes through this concealed unit up to the fan terminal box. There are usually three types of ceiling Fan wires: 1. Power wire, or phase wire, or hot wire. 2. Neutral and 3. The ground or earth.

Color Code: At the time of ceiling fan wiring, a defined Color code helps to identify the types of wires. For the hot wire or the power wire, different color combination such as black or red are used depending upon the industry standard, whereas generally white color is used for ground wires.

Gauge: For the purpose of ceiling fan wiring, proper gauge of wire is to be used. Though gauge usually varies with the current rating of the equipment, no. 12 or no. 14 is to be used for such wiring. No. 14 is the smallest permitted ceiling fan wiring under most codes.

Proper copper multistranded wires are used for ceiling fan wiring. The ends of the wire must be dressed properly and crimped with a crimping tool. These steps are followed in order to rule out connectivity problems. However, Ceiling fan wiring varies with the instructions of the manual provided by different brands.

Safety: *Before giving final connection, power in the loop should be switched off either tripping the MCB or circuit breaker. A neon tester can be used to check if the power is off. In case of any doubt, remove the main fuse or trip the main breaker. However, removing the main fuse or tripping the main breaker will shut off the power to the entire house. *Wherever two wires are joined externally, proper insulation with insulation tape is to be put for safety. *Continuity of ceiling fan wiring is to be checked with a proper continuity tester device before giving power. Proper connectivity of these wires with terminal box and switches also to be checked.

Randy Heslip is a regular contributor to http://www.ceiling-fans-info-source.com where you can find more information to help you choose a ceiling fan to match your home d?cor and how to install a ceiling fan for optimal performance. This article may be reproduced as long as it is kept intact including the resource box.

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Wednesday, December 12, 2007

When Do You Need an Electrician?

Just what do you need an electrician for? Well, most people think that you only need an electrician when you are constructing a new home, but this is simply not the case. In fact, if you have anything in your home that has to do with electricity and it needs repairs, it is far better to call in an electrician and to get them to fix it for you. If you make a mistake while trying to fix your own wiring and the like, such an error can be quite costly to you. Thus, when it comes time to repair or upgrade the wiring in your home, it is time to call an electrician.

Electricians go to school and learn everything they need to so that your wiring is correctly installed in your home. Newer homes must undergo inspection, as do those that have had recent additions. If the wiring is not correctly placed, you can run into increased financial costs to fix errors. This is where relying on a professional to do the work for you comes in handy. If you have a professional that knows all the ins and outs of installing electrical wire and breaker boxes, you are far better off then if you attempt such things on your own.

You can find a professional by using your local yellow pages. Or, if you prefer, you can find a professional that can handle your electrical wiring issues on the Internet. Conversely, you can even find a professional that can help you via word of mouth. Just as long as you realize the importance of hiring a professional in the first place. Don't play fix it yourself if you have no clue as to what you are doing. It can be quite dangerous to install electrical wiring incorrectly.

So just what does an electrician handle? Well, that depends on the type of electrician you have called on! An electrician can work on homes or cars, on electrical wiring or the wiring of security systems. It all depends on what their focus is. An electrician can usually read a blueprint and is often found working on construction sites, the sites of new homes, the sites in which people are making additions to their home and the like.

There are a variety of electrician associations that can help you locate and identify a quality electrician. An electrician is specially licensed to handle whatever area of electrical work they perform. At least, most of them are. Not every electrician requires a license. Nevertheless, when you do hire an electrician you should ask if they have a license and who issued it to them. There is nothing wrong with you checking the credentials of any electrician you are planning on hiring. What the license proves is that they have met the state mandated study hours and curriculum so that they can do the job right for you. You can never be too careful and checking the credentials of anyone you hire is always a prudent move.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Electricians

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