Electrical Wiring for Your Home – a Safety Primer

November 26, 2009

Many electrical wiring projects in a home are done by an electrician, who ought to know the safest way to do his job. There are some wiring projects which homeowners do by themselves, however. Even if you aren’t an electrician, you should still follow the same safety procedures he does.

Personal Safety for Electrical Wiring

• First, last and always; shut off the power to the circuit you are working on. Never work on electrical wiring with live power running through it. After you shut off the power and before you begin the job, double check that you’ve shut off the power. It’s that important.
• Don’t wear jewelry when working with electricity. Metal is a good conductor, as are humans when attached to that metal.
• Wear rubber soled shoes and if possible, stand on a rubber mat. If you must be on a ladder when working with electrical wiring, use a fiberglass or wooden ladder. Safely Performing an Electrical Wiring Job
• Know which wires or terminals are “hot”. Improperly connected electrical wiring will cause a short and electrocute the next person using the light switch and/or cause a fire.
• Avoid using bulb-type circuit testers to test a switch or outlet. A larger multimeter provides more information and keeps your fingers away from potentially hot wires.
• Never overload a circuit; whether you use cheater plugs, multiple plug-ins, or add too many outlets to a circuit, it can cause the wires to overheat and your house to catch fire.

Electrical wiring projects are not for the foolish or faint-hearted. If you want to do the job yourself, be deliberate about your safety. When in doubt, though, call a professional.

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