Search using 
Waterheatertimer on Twitter
Answer: No
Resource: Safe electric wiring
|
Search using
Waterheatertimer on Twitter |
Can
I use Ground wire for Neutral? Answer: No Resource: Safe electric wiring |
| Use only 600 volt wire. Lamp cord, extension cords are not rated 600 volt. Use copper wire only. Aluminum wire is fire risk and should be avoided or installed by professional. 30 amp breaker use 10 gauge / 120-240 volt 30 amp outlet can be installed on 30 amp breaker only/ use 10 gauge wire ... cannot be connected to 15-20-40 amp breaker.  Orange/ #10 gauge wire, with ground ... 30 amp capacity. Safe maximum: 30 x 80% = 24 amps. Buy: 10-2 gauge/ 30 amp 10-3/ 30 amp Southwire electric tools |
Yellow
12 gauge 20 amp 120 volt 20 amp outlet can be installed on 20 amp breaker, but not 15 amp breaker/ use 12 ga wire. ... cannot be connected to 30-40 amp breaker. 1  Yellow/ #12 gauge wire, with ground ... 20 amp capacity. Safe maximum 16 amps. Buy: 12-2 gauge/ 20 amp 12-3/ 20 amp NMB is house wiring UF is underground Rolls of stranded wire HOOK UP Wires |
White
14 gauge 15 amp 120 volt 15 amp outlet, AFCI, GFCI, timer, switch etc can be installed on 15 or 20 amp breaker. Never connect 15 gauge wire to 20-30-40 amp breaker.  White/ #14 gauge wire, with ground ... 15 amp capacity. Safe maximum 12 amps. Buy: 14-2 gauge/ 15 amp 14-3/ 15 amp NMB is house wiring UF is underground |
| 50-60
amp breaker use 6 gauge / 240 volt 50 outlet can be installed on 50 amp breaker only  Buy: 6-2 wire Southwire electric tools NMB is house wiring UF is underground |
40-50
amp breaker use 8 gauge / 240 volt 40 amp outlet can be installed on 40 or 50 amp breaker only  Buy: 8-2 wire Southwire electric tools NMB is house wiring UF is underground |
  Copper ground wire. Every device, load, metal enclosure etc must be grounded. Ground wire must be continuous throughout installation, never switched on-off, never used as a Neutral wire. Generally ... use same size as other wire in circuit Buy: 12 gauge copper ground wire Ground wire Green ground wire Ground pigtails Ground rods/ ground clamps at Amazon |
 Non metallic flexible cables must carry ground wire, but do not have hazard of short circuit causing injury from shock. Armored steel cable can be used as a grounded connection, and will protect wires from damage. Metal can be energized from an insulation failure. All conduit ...metal, plastic ... flexible and rigid ... must be attached to structure, and attached to enclosures, boxes. Movement, damage and deterioration are major cause of electrical failure. Buy: Non-metallic flexible conduit Power whip Armored cable Southwire armored cable cutter Pull boxes |
 Electrical tools must be insulated. Always best to disconnect power, but insulation failure, lack of proper grounding, grounded neutral, lack of GFCI, out-of-code wiring, generator operating without transfer switch, and other problems still pose a risk to anyone working on electric power ... even when breaker is off. Buy: Electrician tools kits KLEIN TOOLS Tools kits IRWIN tools KNIPEX Telephone cable knife Low Voltage Mounting Bracket for Telephone |
 600 volt 12 ga Stranded wire ot THHN wire is good for conduit with multiple wires ... but stranded cannot be installed under screw terminals on outlets, switches, timers etc without risk ... of heat causing splayed strands ....that come loose ... and begin to arc. Connect stranded to short piece of solid copper wire, and attach solid to screw terminal. Do not solder residential or commercial wiring. Project wire, extension cords, thermostat, bell and automotive wire are not rated for residential or commercial wiring. Only wire maked 600 volt can be used for permanent household wiring. Buy: Southwire 600 volt stranded wire Rolls of stranded wire HOOK UP Wires |
 Protect wiring from damage Use nipper instead of pliers or screwdriver for removing staples (and nails). Do not damage cable or wires inside cable. -Code says: Cable SHALL BE secured without damage to the outer covering. NEC sec. 336-15 Buy End cutting nippers at Amazon |
  Electrically insulated tools When removing insulation from wire, do NOT score or put cuts on surface of copper wire. Doing so increases resistance and heat on wire and creates possible weak point. Buy tools: KLEIN TOOLS Wire strippers at Amazon Electric Wire Stripping Machine Linesman pliers Utility knife at Amazon |
 Multimeters Voltage is tested across two separate wires. Ohms or resistance is tested across both ends of same wire. Amperage is tested along one or two points on same wire. Buy: Analog multimeter Multimeters at Amazon Klein multimeter Electric testers at Amazon Clampmeter for testing amp flow on line |
 GFCI circuit breaker A GFCI circuit breaker will protect all boxes on circuit. Circuit must be grounded. Ground wire must be continuous and connected to each piece of equipment. White wire on circuit breaker must be connected to Neutral busbar inside the breaker panel. Buy GFCI circuit breakers |
Push down 1" wide Push down breaker Plug-in breaker Buy single-pole: Choose from 15 to 60 amp Eaton CL series Siemens 15-60 amp Single-pole tandem breaker Tandem breakers |
Push down 2" wide Push down breaker Plug-in breakers Buy double-pole: Choose from 15 to 125 amp Choose from 15 amp to 200 amp Eaton CL series circuit breaker Siemens circuit breaker Double pole GFCI |
 Question:Can I use Ground wire for Neutral? Answer: NO The ground wire cannot be used as Neutral. The Neutral and Ground are bonded (connected) together inside the main breaker box, so using a Ground wire as a Neutral works ... it will complete the circuit ... but it creates resistance (or impedance) that can interfere with correct and safe function of ground wire. In event of short circuit, surge or nearby lightning strike, the overvoltage can push into any device that is improperly using the ground wire, creating a fire hazard. The purpose of the ground wire is to create a continuous and resistance-free pathway for short circuits etc. Adding the extra resistance caused by a Neutral load can impact the function of the circuit breaker, interfere with GFCI protection, increase human hazard, and add risk of fire. The Neutral wire is bonded (connected) to the ground wire at service panel (breaker box). This mean the ground will work as a Neutral wire, but it is against Code and safe electric practice to do so. If the Neutral wire at service panel becomes disconnected for some reason, then the 120 volt circuits, and any circuit that uses the Neutral wire to complete circuit, will feed power back through the ground wire and out to the ground rod. This means the electricity will reach all the metal enclosures and conduit in the home or building because the neutral and ground are bonded at the main panel (breaker box). The result is electrocution hazard. Resource: Why you need ground wire How to find ground fault How to find Neutral wire What causes electrocution |
| Test
for a grounded neutral The best way to test for a grounded neutral is to use an ohm/continuity tester by turning the breaker to the off position and remove the load neutral from the breaker. Next, take one lead of your tester to the load neutral and the other lead to the neutral/ground bar in the panel. You should read no continuity. If you are getting continuity, go through entire circuit looking for the location where the bare ground is making contact to the neutral conductor. If you are using shared neutral homeruns, you must use a two pole arc fault breaker. You can not use single pole arc faults breakers with shared neutrals. |
 Combination GFCI Switch & plug Buy: Leviton Combination GFCI Combination GFCI Amazon Resources: How to wire GFCI combo |
 Leviton GFCI receptacle Buy: GFCI receptacle Slim design for ez install 1.03 inch depth GFCI receptacles Amazon Decora wall-plates Resources: How to wire GFCI receptacle |
 Leviton GFCI nite lite Buy: Leviton GFCI w nite lite GFCI nite lights Amazon Resources: How to wire GFCI nite lite |
 Leviton GFCI with LED lite Buy: Leviton GFCI w nite light Slim design for ez install Resources: How to wire GFCI w/ LED |
 Leviton GFCI pilot light Buy: Leviton GFCI pilot light GFCI pilot lights Amazon Pilot indicates power status Resources: How to wire GFCI pilot |
 Larger image Question: Are both sides of 240 volt breaker 30 amp or 15 amp ? Answer: both side of 240 volt breaker are 30 amp. You can make a 240 breaker by combining 2 single-pole breakers, but that code requires you to install a 'common bar' between the breaker so if one trips, then the other breaker also trips. |
120Volt and 240Volt
breakers -Image shows 120Volt line and 240volt line. -Both circuits have ground wire. -Each 120 and 240 require two wires to complete circuit. -120V requires 1 hot and 1 neutral -240V requires 2 hots -Ground wires are for safety. Resources: Read more about 240 volt -Neutral not necessary to complete 240Volt circuit. However some 240Volt lines have additional neutral wire. However, -240Volt lines can be white and black or red and black -Modern breaker boxes have separate Neutral and Ground busbars that are bonded together electrically. Older boxes often have one busbar for both Neutral and Ground. -Illustration shows Neutral and Ground busbars on same side of box so it is easier to illustrate wires. In actual box, the Neutral and Ground busbars are on opposite sides. Resources: Color code and wire sizes Basic 120 volt and 240 volt water heater circuits How to wire 240 volt outlets How to wire 3-phase outlets and timers How to convert 240Volt water heater to 120volts |
Multimeter Test for breaks in wire/ Test for voltage Most appliance require 80% rated voltage to function correctly Buy Analog multimeter Multimeters at Amazon Klein multimeter Electric testers at Amazon Clampmeter for testing amp flow on line Resource: How to test and replace element How to test thermocouple Element tests for 120 volts How to test wire |
 Safety when testing wires: Never touch wet or previously flooded appliance. Never stand on wet surface when working on electric. Never stand on bare soil, put down dry boards. Tape tester leads to wood sticks to keep hands away from power. Use non-contact voltage tester before touching wires. Never touch or lean into any made of metal. Remove metal objects from pockets. Do not use oxygen or fuel accelerants in same room as electrical repairs Resource: Basic house wiring |
 Non-contact voltage tester Test for power without touching connectors NEVER assume power is OFF Buy: Non-contact voltage tester Amazon Electric testers at Amazon Resource: How to test electric power is off |
 120 volt 15 amp devices
including GFCI, timers, switches, plugs, wifi controls etc can be
installed on 15 or 20
amp
breaker.120 volt GFCI, outlet, receptacle that is rated 20 amp can be installed on 20 amp breaker only, but NOT on 15 amp breaker. Buy 15 amp GFCI 20 amp GFCI  |
Buy Basic electric book Home plumbing/ electrical codes  Or learn about basic household electricity... use and search my site/ Resource Safe electric wiring Basic house wiring |
 Use outlet tester to check for correct wiring on any 120 volt straight-blade outlet. Buy: Klein testers Outlet tester Circuit breaker finder Electric usage monitor |
Non metallic flexible cables must carry ground wire, but do not have hazard of short circuit causing injury from shock. Armored steel cable can be used as a grounded connection, and will protect wires from damage. Metal can be energized from an insulation failure. All conduit ...metal, plastic ... flexible and rigid ... must be attached to structure, and attached to enclosures, boxes. Movement, damage and deterioration are major cause of electrical failure. Buy: Non-metallic flexible conduit Power whip Armored cable Southwire armored cable cutter Pull boxes |
Electrical tools must be insulated. Always best to disconnect power, but insulation failure, lack of proper grounding, grounded neutral, lack of GFCI, out-of-code wiring, generator operating without transfer switch, and other problems still pose a risk to anyone working on electric power ... even when breaker is off. Buy: Electrician tools kits KLEIN TOOLS Tools kits IRWIN tools KNIPEX |
Connect wire to screw terminal Use only 600 volt solid copper wire. Do not use stranded wire or extension cord. Do not use solder anywhere on residential 120-240 volt wiring. Attach electric installation to structure. Tighten screws very tight against wire.  Buy: NEC books Dewalt plumbing/ electrical codes Basic electric book National electric code guide/ illustrated Resources: How to twist wire How to select and install twist-on wire connectors |
 Weatherproof
lever switch on outdoor lightsSafely operate outdoor toggle switch Replaces outdoor cover Install over top of ordinary switch Works with single-pole, double-pole, 3PST, 3-way, 4-way switches etc Use weatherproof box for outdoor Can be used indoor or outdoor Buy: Best choice: Cantex lever switch Outdoor lever switches at Amazon Lever switches Resource Cantex-toggle-switch-covers.pdf Cantex-PVC-junction-boxes.pdf |
Buy: |
Push-on wire connectors in place of twist-on connectorsBuy:Push on wire connectors Amazon Red 3P connector for 10-14 gauge wire Lever connectors for stranded wire at Amazon |
Use nipper instead of pliers or screwdriver for removing staples (and nails). Do not damage cable or wires inside cable. Code -Cable SHALL BE secured without damage to the outer covering. NEC sec. 336-15 Buy End cutting nippers at Amazon |
 When removing insulation from wire, do NOT score or put cuts on surface of copper wire. Doing so increases resistances on wire and creates weak point. Buy tools: Wire strippers at Amazon Linesman pliers Pro linesman plier Needle nose pliers End cutting nippers at Amazon |
 6" Pull box Junction boxes for conduit and wiring Buy: Bud industries 6x6x4 best value/ no KO Raco 6x6x4 metal pull box Wiegman 6x6x4 pull box Hoffman 6x6x4 pull box Adamax raintight enclosure Raintight 6x6x4 box Pull boxes Buy: Pull boxes Polycarbonite boxes Resource: Enclosures and boxes |
 Contactors/ relays |
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