Spruce Up Your Inbox!
Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home.
Electrical Wiring, Circuitry, and Safety
Wires and circuits are the base of your electrical system. Learn about different types of wiring, cords, switches, and outlets and more circuitry basics.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/running-electrical-wire-in-open-walls-4056387-hero-108a0bf4132d4514b916f4b8e76ad2e0.jpg)
How to Run Electrical Wire Through Finished Walls
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/3-and-4-wire-dryer-receptacles-1152226-a0a078eadb6c48f3a472a13a26a8f60c.jpg)
Learn the Difference Between 3- and 4-Slot Dryer Outlets
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/test-ground-fault-interrupter-outlets-1152422-hero-73e25b65b32f4b05bab9830da3a1839a.jpg)
Learn How to Test Your GFCI Outlets to Prevent Shocks
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Girl-using-light-switch-GettyImages-173233167-58b25bc33df78cdcd8c53d65.jpg)
How High Should My Electrical Wall Switches Be?
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/convert-4-prong-dryer-cord-to-3-prong-outlet-1821521-d8aca2e2b6014db994b873529936f10f.jpg)
Converting a 4-Prong Dryer Cord to Fit a 3-Slot Outlet
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/electrical-wiring-1152909_hero_3222-55af500248d646a9adc653a0dba5f14c.jpg)
All About Electrical Wiring Types, Sizes & Installation
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/number-of-electrical-wires-for-conduit-1152860_hero-39f793eb1a64424192912e7dc5620b50.jpg)
Fill Capacity for EMT and PVC Electrical Conduits
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/how-to-cap-dangling-electrical-wires-1821573_05_push_wires_1444-e1a835b6ed1a4264a35def36b92a85de.jpg)
How to Terminate Electrical Wire With Wire Caps
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/calculate-electrical-circuit-load-capacity-1152739-02-7d28b940c0ff4959b0157946475bc6ec.jpg)
How Much Electricity Do I Need for My Home?
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/wiring-electrical-receptacle-circuits-through-a-receptacle-1152787-hero-8d90cda18cdd485db90dc3122edd4725.jpg)
Two Ways to Wire an Outlet in the Middle of a Circuit Run
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/pull-wire-through-conduit-3969936-hero-cea39ec1798140c59beec45e6003cbbd.jpg)
This Is How to Easily Pull Wire Through Conduit
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/fishing-electrical-wires-through-walls-1152339-hero-71ef94b8e46145b49f96c1ce6ff82d63.jpg)
How to Run Cable in an Existing Wall
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/replace-an-old-electrical-outlet-1821526-hero-8c44ca9a03114bd7b8a0acc1869e013a.jpg)
Replacing an Outlet Receptacle
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/threeway-5c1c0f7746e0fb00015051d8.jpg)
How Three-Way Wall Switches Work
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/matching-wire-size-to-circuit-amperage-1152865-01-347bab5f23c54ee99d9f5fe766816bdc.jpg)
How to Choose the Right-Sized Electrical Wire
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/singledouble34-5c1c0e2a46e0fb0001787ab1.jpg)
How to Choose a Type of Wall Switch
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/install-gfci-receptable-vs-breaker-1152797-recirc-785fc6f5c9af49bab1654afc17270f2c.jpg)
GFCI Receptacle vs GFCI Circuit Breaker
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/what-causes-short-circuits-4118973-hero-1fc5507ebe6c48498f56bf6369bddb35.jpg)
What Is a Short Circuit, and What Causes One?
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/kitchen-wiring-circuits-1152911-hero-bf47b2b8644d4277a27e01397ee0789f.jpg)
Learn the Electrical Code Requirements for Kitchen Circuits
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/what-is-a-main-breaker-1152730-03-67c4009be20b434295ce00be8714278a.jpg)
What Is a Main Circuit Breaker and How Does It Work?
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/electrician-working-on-electrical-service-panel-157482452-57ffc3be3df78cbc2874568d.jpg)
Understanding Electrical Grounding and How It Works
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/bathroom-electrical-109727538-resized-56a27fb73df78cf77276bc7a.jpg)
What Are the National Electrical Codes for Bathrooms?
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/why-outlets-are-upside-down-1821535-hero-c4ff302ba31a480e8891ae595fe6b0c5.jpg)
How to Fix an Upside-Down Outlet
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/tips-for-wiring-outlets-and-switches-1824668-hero-5c1c9847042c4caa9397bf5caa3d9661.jpg)
Pro Tips for Wiring Electrical Outlets and Switches
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/how-to-splice-electrical-wire-1821560_hero-74a845b362624e748dd13705bec3b91d.jpg)
How to Splice Electrical Wires
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/common-types-of-electrical-wiring-1152855_hero_3219-7509629b3ade416091cd83d3e3938afb.jpg)
Different Types of Household Electrical Wire
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/remove-a-circuit-breaker-safely-1821567-hero-b0decfe4f1d1496da1096988e232408a.jpg)
How to Remove a Circuit Breaker Safely, No Electrician Required
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/how-to-replace-a-light-switch-1824670-hero-38fac2b32a1b4604af456107dd9da21f.jpg)
How to Replace a Light Switch
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/why-install-subpanel-in-your-home-1152747-hero-bc300a88ab594e3ab19dca4fbedf5165.jpg)
Why You Need A Subpanel In Your Home
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/modern-fitted-kitchen-856787574-7823519ca4314f36812cb005a1ef29f8.jpg)
Learn How to Wire a Receptacle for an Electric Range
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/how-to-wire-a-telephone-jack-1152704-hero-128d117ff1e14e739656d0ed724b5ede.jpg)
How to Wire a Telephone Jack
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/why-circuit-breakers-trip-1824676-01-9789f7765de841db88b19d12df4c903a.jpg)
Why Circuit Breakers Trip and Fuses Blow
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/upgrade-2-prong-outlet-new-gfci-1824671-hero-1d983107700e430f90903c32016067d2.jpg)
How to Upgrade a 2 Prong Outlet With a New GFCI
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/replacing-rocker-style-light-switch-1824660_06_0226-19b0a9ece92d4ca198200cb99fb4912b.jpg)
Replacing a Toggle Light Switch With a Rocker Switch
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/installing-a-240-volt-circuit-breaker-1824649-hero-11c6b7fe534043a381b30d93bdd882a2.jpg)
Installing a 240-Volt Circuit Breaker
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/wire-size-underground-circuit-cable-length-1152899-hero-8891a2858b064323a23ac7b861efc805.jpg)
Proper Wire Size for Underground Circuit Cable
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/testing-single-pole-switches-1152811-hero-01b1079857714087a2095777ac5a70dd.jpg)
How to Test a Light Switch When Replacing It
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/electrical-wire-color-coding-1152863_hero-572ac6b6d4924c92942c55e31595fa3c.jpg)
Learn the Electrical Wiring Color Coding System
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/view-of-fairy-lights-on-ground-indoors-702610859-594ad42d3df78cae8198a6cd.jpg)
Series vs Parallel Circuits: What's the Difference?
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/how-to-wire-an-outlet-1152325-hero-f184ed9c5eca4db490656bf5f32e438f.jpg)
How to Install an Electrical Outlet Receptacle
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/86524922-56a49bc75f9b58b7d0d7cb95.jpg)
Electrical Code Requirements for Outlets in the Home
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/short-circuit-159142093-resized-56a27fb43df78cf77276bc35.jpg)
Ground Fault vs Short Circuit: What's the Difference?
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/how-to-wire-and-install-single-pole-switches-1152330-hero-c1f0d5c3e39649f58e83f74a85e959eb.jpg)
Replacing a Standard Single-Pole Wall Switch
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-146822083-d9134a485ae54995aa8fc13a51b93e68.jpg)
NEC Requirements for Outdoor Wiring
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/reset-a-tripped-breaker-4134193-hero-c5f5257dd0474f2dbb6745beef15acd5.jpg)
How to Reset a Tripped Breaker
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/make-pigtail-wire-connections-1152879-hero-3a11916036da4e9f9e6132c5ecf0571e.jpg)
How to Make Pigtail Electrical Wire Connections
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/how-to-wire-an-electrical-panel-1152762-hero-bf8ef4c2d4dd42ed879cbbff2a3ce161.jpg)
How an Electrical Circuit Breaker Panel Is Wired
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/safely-install-a-circuit-breaker-1152745-hero-412238e225a44536970a138ba2c57de6.jpg)
How to Safely Remove and Install a Circuit Breaker
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Choosing-the-Right-Wire-Nuts-for-Electrical-Connections-3h-b5a9640179dd41c7a0d3dd48dd637474.jpg)
Choosing the Right Wire Nuts for Electrical Connections
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/using-a-circuit-breaker-finder-1824652-hero-4513bb772e83403da95cb44e47c41cea.jpg)
Sort Out Your Home's Circuits With a Circuit Breaker Finder
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/modern-kitchen-with-canopy-828479822-d31210b95ba74250ace566f2e6d14097.jpg)
Diagnosing and Replacing a Bad Ballast on a Fluorescent Light Fixture
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-155903363-5b2819f6119fa800366f917f.jpg)
How to Test for a Complete Circuit in a Light Bulb Holder
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/electrical-switch-testing-173929149-5a6767d2b60eb600360dc659.jpg)
Why You Should Know the Electrical Codes for Boxes and Cables
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/BXElectricalWire-135630750-56dd98183df78c5ba0542c53.jpg)
BX Cable and Wire: What to Know Before You Buy
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/playing-488251861-59fd0bb24e4f7d001a80be6e.jpg)
Understanding the Basics of Balancing Electrical Loads
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Electrical-disconnects-GettyImages-183771738-5914c7693df78c7a8c2e43ac.jpg)
Learn How to Wire Electrical Disconnect Switches
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/DSC_6516-5c1a46dc46e0fb00017dc0f3.jpg)
Get to Know Non-Metallic Sheathed Cable
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Electricalwireconduit-GettyImages-122780919-49a7593406224abca93d98e19dd431dc.jpg)
Electrical Conduit 101: Basics, Boxes, and Grounding
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/install-a-dimmer-switch-single-pole-1821559-hero-21791e70c3a8404684f83d3faed2825d.jpg)
How to Install a Single-Pole Dimmer Light Switch
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Looseelectricalwires-GettyImages-73667152-5a375b8abeba330037bf30c5.jpg)
Check for Incorrect Electrical Wiring