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New Electrical Work

Electrical work ranges from the installation of new electrical components to the maintenance and repair of existing electrical infrastructure. It may also include wiring airplanes, ships and other mobile platforms.

4,938 Questions

Can you put a 220 amp circuit breaker on a single phase?

No, 220 amp circuit breakers are typically reserved for three-phase systems. For a single-phase system, common amperage ratings include 15, 20, or 30 amps. If you need a higher amperage, you may need to install a subpanel with multiple lower-rated circuit breakers instead.

If the fuse board in your house is twenty years old and you want to upgrade it to a modern fuse board can it be done with out re-wiring the house?

In the UK, a Domestic Electrical Installation certificate along with a schedule of tests and a schedule of inspection signed off by an approved electrician should be issued, as above any upgrade must comply with the current regulations, currently 17th edition.

Test must be done on all cables, this includes (not necessarily limited to):

  • continuity of protective conductors
  • continuity of final ring circuit
  • Insulation Resistance test
  • Polarity Dead

then a board could be installed.

  • then test polarity live
  • earth fault loop impedance
  • earth electrode (if any, TT system)
  • prospective fault current
  • prospective short circuit current
  • loop impedance values at end of lines
  • RCD tests

Make sure any derivations of the regulations are noted, if any of the above tests fail, cables could need replacing. All cables must have an acceptable current carrying capacity and be suitably fused!

There is more but without writing the whole of the 2391 test and inspection book I think this should put you off from doing it!

Leave it to the professionals.

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Keep in mind that any changes made to an existing electrical system have to bring it up to current code regulations. This means you will need wiring permits and inspections. Your old panel board most likely will have to be disconnected from your supply utility and they will not reconnect until they get approval from the electrical inspector. This type of installation falls under the category of a "Service Upgrade".

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In most cases yes. If the wiring is sloppy, it may be a sign that the wiring should be at least checked pretty carefully.

Get an electrician in to take a look, and give you an estimate.

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Remember, that depending on your local ordinances, and how your wiring is done a lot of the new breakers must now be arc-fault to be code-conformant. (It may mean some rewiring.)

Electricians know which brands and models work best with the situations currently in the box. THIS IS NOT A PLACE TO SKIMP!

(If you plan on adding on to your house, you should plan for the electrical now)

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As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.

Before you do any work yourself,

on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,

always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.

IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS

WORK SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY

REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.

What gauge wire from 60 amp ckt breaker feeding 100 amp sub panel in detached garage 70 feet away?

6AWG copper wire should be suitable for this need if being run underground in either conduit or direct burial cable. If you go underground I would recommend using 6AWG wire type "THHN/THHW". If this is to be an overhead installation I would also use 6AWG wire but use aluminum type "XHHW". If running underground in conduit you can use 1" schedule 40 PVC conduit but for ease of pull and future expansion I would run 1.25" conduit.

Amp capacity of 10 gage copper wire?

in most circumstances the ampacity of a 10 awg wire is 30 amps but should not be loaded to more than 80% of its capacity as a rule of thumb. there are certain instances were these values can change but like i said under "normal" conditions 30amps

How high a ceiling for recessed lights?

The height at which you install recessed lights will depend on the size and intensity of the light fixtures. In general, for standard 6-inch diameter recessed lights, a ceiling height of 8-9 feet is recommended to provide adequate illumination and coverage. For higher ceilings, larger or more powerful fixtures may be required to achieve the desired lighting effect.

Gfci outlet feels warm to the touch?

It is normal for GFCI breakers and receptacles to feel warm to the touch while under load. They should not feel "hot". GFCI receptacles often protect other receptacles further down the line, so the load does not necessarily need to be plugged into the GFCI receptacle itself. AFCI breakers will also feel warm to the touch.

Again the receptacles should not feel "hot". If they are hot or heat discolored, you should discontinue use and call a licensed electrician.

C. P., Master Electrician

Why do you need 20 AMP power outlet?

A 20 amp power outlet is needed for devices or appliances that require more electrical current to operate safely and efficiently. These outlets are designed to handle higher power loads and reduce the risk of overheating or overloading a circuit, which can help prevent electrical fires.

What size wire should you use for 1000 amps?

It primarily depends on the voltage, distance and load. The longer the cable, the higher the resistance/impedance. There are also factors such as the ambient temperature, type of insulation, number of conductors, and whether it is buried in the ground or suspended in the air.

At a very minimum, 100 Amps (using a 24kVA generator) could feed a house using type THHN 60C conductors having AWG 1 or larger, but only over about 230 feet (copper conductor, 240 volts) before voltage drop would exceed 3 percent. A smaller conductor would not be allowed if the system actually pulls 100A. If the load is actually 60A, for example, you can get over 100 feet using AWG 6 (or a bit over 60 feet if it's at 120 volts).

Note: A typical house with 100A panel does NOT use 100A at the same time, and the generator (and connecting cable) should be designed to supply only the normal load, or perhaps just the emergency loads (if it is a standby system).

What size wire to use for 240 volt 60 amp?

A #6 RW 90 copper wire is rated at 65 amps. <><><> As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed. Before you do any work yourself,

on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,

always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized. IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB

SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY

REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.

How many amps will a number 1 AWG wire handle?

A #1 RW90 copper wire is rated at 140 amps. <><><> As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed. Before you do any work yourself,

on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,

always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized. IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB

SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY

REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.

How big is 23 gauge wire?

Standard 23 gauge wire is (0.0226 inches/0.57404 mm) thick in diameter.

What size electrical wire is required for 15 amp service?

A 15 amp branch circuit requires a #14 AWG wire. For your information; in electrical terminology the word "service" refers to the main incoming electrical panel and associated equipment. This includes the weather head, service stack, meter base, main disconnect and distribution panel. <><><> As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed. Before you do any work yourself,

on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,

always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized. IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB

SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY

REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.

Where does a GFCI go?

A Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) should be installed in areas where water is present, such as kitchens, bathrooms, outdoor outlets, and garages. It is important to have GFCIs near sinks, showers, and other water sources to prevent electric shocks.

Work area for breaker panel box?

The work area for a breaker panel should have at least 3 feet of clearance in front of it and a minimum of 30 inches of working space in front of the panel. This ensures easy access for maintenance and emergency situations. It's important to keep this area clear of obstructions to comply with safety regulations.

Should a 20 amp circuit breaker get warm while in use?

Yes all breakers will get warm when in use. The full load current of the load flows through the device. Class A breakers current trip rating is rated at 40 degrees C. If in ambient temperatures higher that 40 C then the thermal trip rating lowers. Likewise if the ambient temperature becomes lower the trip rating increases. Sometimes breakers have to be rearranged in the electrical panel to keep high current breakers away from each other. The ambient temperature of adjacent breakers will raise a breakers temperature and cause needless tripping.

Were to put a ground wire?

For safety reasons,no.

The outside panel (where your meter is), is where your power first comes into your residence. In that, the neutral is bonded (connected) to the ground. This is the only place where this is the case. Everywhere else in your home, including the indoor breaker panel, they are kept separate.

There are different reasons for this, the most important is safety. Basically, with 2 wires, a ground and neutral, if one faults, the other can take care of the current without creating a dangerous situation to equipment or people. If there were only one wire to do that job, when it faults, you now have a dangerous situation where someone coming in contact with the receptacle/switch/appliance could be hurt/killed or the connected equipment/appliance could be seriously damaged or cause further problems such as a fire or explosion.

The neutral and ground wire cannot be tied together because of obvious reasons:

1- The neutral wire is a current carrying wire therefore it has current and amps

2- The ground is not a current carrying wire and is designed to provide an easy path for stray voltage to leave rather than leaving through someone who touches a shorted appliance.

The neutral and ground are bonded together at the primary start of an electrical system or subsystem. This way any current on the neutral is carried straight to ground rod. If the two were bonded in the system you would potentially have a hot ground which could electrocute anyone who came in contact with a grounded part of the system.

Before you do any work yourself,

on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,

always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized

IF YOU ARE NOT REALLY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB

SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY

REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.

How deep of a trench to bury aluminum wiring for a garage 100 amps?

In the United States, the National Electric Code dictates the depth of buried electrical lines. You have not provided enough info for me to give an accurate answer. For instance, some cables are manufactured for direct burial, that is to say without a conduit. Other considerations would be whether or not you are crossing a driveway, or alleyway. However, the maximum depth required is 24 inches to the top of the conduit or cable. Under certain conditions this depth may be reduced to 18 inches to the top of the conduit. Thank you for your desire to make a good installation.

Who regulates the calculations for wire size ampacities?

The calculations for wire size ampacities are typically regulated by standards organizations such as the National Electrical Code (NEC) in the United States or the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) internationally. These standards outline the guidelines and formulas to determine the appropriate wire size for a given electrical load to ensure safety and compliance.

Can a 15 amp breaker be replaced with a 20 amp?

Please be more specific....simply replacing the breaker with a 20 amp may cause a fire; if the cable is sized for 15 amp and is overloaded. Your 15 amp breaker is probably feeding #14 wire. The use of a 20 amp breaker requires at least a #12 wire be used. Fire hazard if breakers and wiring are not sized correctly.

How many milli-watts in 1 amp?

The relationship between milliwatts (mW) and amperes (A) depends on the voltage. To calculate milliwatts from amperes, you need to know the voltage the current is flowing at. You can use the formula: Power (mW) = Current (A) x Voltage (V).

What gauge wire should be used for a 480 volt 100 amp run of just under 100 feet?

For a 100-foot run of 480 volts at 100 amps, you would typically need a 3/0 AWG copper wire to ensure safe and efficient power transmission without significant voltage drop. It is recommended to consult with a licensed electrician for a detailed calculation based on specific factors such as insulation type, ambient temperature, and voltage drop tolerance.

By code can an outlet be next to a wall mounted Electric heater?

It is not recommended to have an outlet next to a wall-mounted electric heater, as the outlet can be a fire hazard due to prolonged exposure to heat from the heater. It is important to consult local building codes and regulations regarding the placement of electrical outlets near heat sources.

How do you wire a two wire fixture to a three wire outlet?

The National Electrical Code allows this change only if you upgrade the whole circuit. BUT ..If you are using this outlet only when the light is on, connect the black wires together and the white wires together. Ground wires together to the box also. IF THIS IS WITHIN 6 FEET OF A WATER SOURCE, IN A BASEMENT, GARAGE, OR OUTSIDE IT HAS TO BE GFI PROTECTED!!!!

What is negative electrical wire?

A negative electrical wire conducts electricity and completes a circuit by providing a return path for electrons to flow back to the power source. In direct current (DC) systems, it is typically color-coded black, blue, or another color distinct from the positive wire.

Change motorhome from 30 amp to 50 amp?

STOP! DO NOT DO THIS!

Why exactly would you want to do this?

Are you aware of the dangers of plugging an appliance which draws 30 Amps into a circuit which is protected by 50 Amp breakers?

If something went wrong with the 30 Amp appliance running on a 50A circuit it could catch fire or kill someone because the 50 Amp breakers did not cut the power.

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By asking this question you are probably not quite ready to take on this particular task.

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As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.

Before you do any work yourself,

on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,

always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.

IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB

SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY

REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.