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Code and advisories for boxes and enclosures
Resources:
Safe electric wiring
Enclosures and boxes
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
6-2 wire
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
6-2 wire
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
armored cable
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
Southwire armored cable cutter
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
stranded wire
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
multimeter
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
single-pole breaker
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
double-pole breaker
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
Code and advisories, safe electric practice for boxes/ enclosures
For household 120-240 volt power:
-Use only approved 600 volt cables, wires, enclosures, boxes, conduit etc for household 120-240 volt.
-Extension cords are not rated 600 volt, and cannot be used for permanent in-wall wiring.
Resources Extension cord code
-Do not use makeshift, homemade boxes that are not rated for household voltage.
-Correct box must be used for application ... a light fixture or fan requires round or octagon box ... cannot use switch box, or square junction box for light fixture ... cannot use round, octagon, or square junction box for switch and outlet.
-All enclosures and boxes require a cover that is made to fit box, and must sit flat and tight against box.
-Missing knockout holes must be filled.
-Keep enclosure door or cover in place and closed to contain spark and potential fire hazard.
-Box cannot have vent holes or heat fan installed where air supply can feed a potential fire. 
-Never solder household wiring connections. High heat from resistance, caused when amperage gets pushed through the wire by voltage, will melt solder and cause potential hazard.
-Use only approved 600 volt wire connectors. Never reuse old wire connectors.
-All enclosures, wiring, conduit etc must be attached firmly to structure, and located so cannot be damaged by lawn equipment etc. and best if located away from high heat, exposure to sun. Heat will cause deterioration of electrical installations.
-Enclosures require ground wire to be present and connected to all devices, equipment etc. Metal boxes and enclosures require connection to ground wire. Plastic boxes do not require grounding.
Resources: Safe electric wiring/ for boxes and enclosures     Color code for wire

Low-voltage structural wiring (doorbell, communication, TV etc):
-Never include low-voltage 'structural wiring' inside same enclosure, conduit, raceway or box as household voltage.
-Low voltage structural wiring and household wiring must be electrically separated to prevent insulation failure from energizing low voltage wires, cause fire and safety hazard.
-Structural wiring can be run inside walls, does not require enclosure, box conduit etc except for installation convenience, weatherproofing, reliability, organization, access to splices and connections etc.
-Household 120-240 volt wiring cannot be soldered ... but low-volt structural wires can be soldered when needed.
Resource: troubleshoot low voltage doorbell
Buy electric wiring Book
Black and Decker Complete guide to wiring
NEC books
Dewalt plumbing/ electrical codes
Basic electric book
National electric code guide/ illustrated
Lineman's and Cableman's Handbook

Resources;
Basic house wiring
Safe electric wiring

Larger image
9-3 ⁄8" x 5-1 ⁄2" x 3-5 ⁄8"
Enclosures can be used for timers or for other electrical for electrical control center...
Shown are several devices mounted to din rail. The din rail must be firmly attached to enclosure.
Delay timers will fit if mounted directly to metal box, and not din rail.
Note that the LY2-LY3 15 amp relays are rated 10 amps for 2 and 3-pole relays. And 5 amps for LY4 4-pole relay.
Buy:
2T511GA Nema3R enclosure at Amazon
10 amp Relays
10 amp LY2 relays
LY3 relay
120 volt LY2
15 amp Din rail timer
Din rail Fuseholder
Resources:
Din rail timers
Off Delay timers
On delay timers
Build 3-phase astronomic timer
Build 2-speed timer for pump, motor etc
Intermatic enclosure with relay and contactor
Larger image
Another image
Contactor, open-frame relay, and small relay with base will fit into Intermatic metal and plastic enclosures, but not the smaller Grasslin enclosures.
Note that a 30 amp power relay, or switch, or contactor has safe maximum 80% rated value, or 24 amps. For 30 amp circuit, must use 600 volt, 10 gauge solid copper wire. Never undersize wire or use extension cord for permanent wiring.

Buy:
2T511GA Nema3R enclosure at Amazon
Siemens 30 amp power relay
30-40 amp Contactors

Resources:
Contactors and relays
How to wire open frame relay
Build a 2-speed motor control
main breaker box
Larger image
Review basic breaker box
Resource;
See inside main breaker box
Basic house wiring

Code
"-Metal boxes SHALL BE grounded with a separate machine threaded ground screw. NEC sec. 370-4 and 250-114a
-All openings in boxes (enclosures) SHALL BE adequately closed. NEC sec. 370-17a
-All cable jackets SHALL extend at least 1/4 inch into the box. NEC sec. 370-17c
-All cable SHALL BE secured to the box, except for single gang non-metallic boxes, if stapled within 8 inches of the box. NEC sec. 370-17c
-Unused openings in boxes SHALL BE effectively closed. NEC sec. 370-18"
Buy
Electronic parts

Industrial supplies

Tools and home improvement

Home and garden

Hayward pool
Pentair pool

Southwire electric
Buy
Tools

DEWALT
Black and Decker
Stanley
SKIL
Makita
Porter-Cable
Bosch

Irwin Hand tools
Klein hand tools
Fluke electrical testing
Dremel hobby tools

Campbell Hausfeld air powered
Tekton automotive

Powerbuilt automotive
Saws and saw blades
box timers Resource:
Compare box timers
DPDT timers
Intermatic
Control water heater w/ Z-wave
Intermatic control centers Resource:
Intermatic control centers: and parts
Digital control centers and parts
Tork control centers and parts
Subpanels
All control centers and parts
Enclosures
programmable timer Resource:
Programmable timers
Countdown timers
Off delay timers
On delay timers
Timer modules
Din rail
Twin & one-shot
Woods
Intermatic
Tork
Low voltage power packs Recirculation systems
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