4 Crucial Precautions for Installing Electrical Wiring
Posted on: 3 March 2019
If you are planning on repairing or upgrading your electrical wiring, you should consult a licenced electrician. There are numerous hazards involved in conducting electrical work, including electrical shock, burns and even fires. If you are careless when handling the wires, there is a high risk that you could cause yourself harm. In addition, there are some precautions that you must uphold to ensure that your wiring is safe for long-term use. Here are essential guidelines on avoiding serious mistakes during the wiring work.
1. Choose the Right Wires
You should purchase the correct electrical wires for repairing or upgrading your circuits. There is significant risk of overloading and overheating if you choose inappropriate wires for your building. In general, electrical wires are made in different gauges and sizes. As you might expect, thicker wires can handle more power than the alternatives. If the wire is too small to handle the power flowing through, an accident might occur. Therefore, you should into account the amperage of the specific circuit and then purchase the most compatible wire gauge.
2. Avoid Overfilling the Boxes
If you are planning on rewiring your building entirely or conducting significant upgrades, consider the possibility of replacing your electrical junction box. This replacement is necessary if the old one can no longer accommodate all the wires and connection points. You must never fill your box beyond its recommended capacity. Overfilling will increase the risk of wire damage, accidental disconnections and even electrical accidents. Also, managing and maintaining the junction box will be difficult. Therefore, choose and install an appropriately sized electrical box.
3. Check Before Cutting
You must never cut your wires carelessly when dealing with your electrical connections. It is important to always double check the wiring before making your cut. This practice is essential because there is significant risk of cutting wires too short around the electrical boxes and other connections. In general, if you do not leave enough slack for these points, it will be difficult to create a secure connection. If you accidentally cut your wires too short, do not fret. You can increase the slack by splicing another wire for a more reliable connection.
4. Fix Your Outlets
You must never leave dangling outlets or switches on your walls. This practice is dangerous and might cause you harm and loss in the future. In general, the dangling elements will work well enough during the initial days after installation. However, the constant movement will result in loosening of the connections. Therefore, you must secure your outlets to prevent arcing and overheating.
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