Tag
Earthing
13 articles
ArticleGrid-tied solar wiring diagram: DC box, AC box and inverterA grid-tied solar wiring diagram for a home runs in one direction: PV array → DC box (DC fuses, DC breaker, DC surge protector) → grid-tied inverter → AC box (MCB/RCBO, AC surge pr…
ArticleHow to Earth (Ground) a House Safely: Earth Rod Installation, Earthing Conductor, Bonding and TestingA house can have new wiring, good MCBs and a 30 mA RCD, and still be unsafe if its earthing is poor. The earth connection lets a fault on a metal appliance case be detected and cle…
ArticleInstalling outdoor lighting (gates, yards, boundary walls): choosing the IP rating, weatherproof wiring, sealed junction boxes and RCD shock protectionA client calls: “We’ve just redone the gate and front yard. Can you fit two gate-pillar lights, a wall-washer light on the boundary wall and a few path lights for us? And at the ol…
ArticleInstalling a ceiling fan properly: hanging hooks, wiring the speed regulator and test-running without wobble“The new fan wobbles like it’s about to fall; nobody in the family dares sit under it.” “Speed 1 and speed 5 give the same airflow.” “Can a fan be hung from a plasterboard ceiling?…
ArticleTingling when touching a washing machine or fridge: causes of current leaking to the appliance casing, how to test and how to fix it safelyA customer calls: “My hands were still wet and when I touched the lid of the washing machine I felt a tingling. Our fridge does it sometimes too – the handle feels prickly. Is that…
ArticleInspecting the electrical system of an old house before buying, renovating or renting: signs of deteriorating wiring, insulation resistance testing and when to rewireA client calls: “I’m about to buy a townhouse built more than twenty years ago. The price is reasonable, but the distribution board looks very old. Could you come and check whether…
ArticleInstalling a surge protective device (SPD) in a home distribution board: choosing the type, wiring in the right position, short earth leads and checks after thunderstormsAfter a thunderstorm, a client calls: “Lightning struck near the house last night, and this morning the wifi modem, the camera recorder and the air-conditioner control board are al…
ArticleInstalling a changeover switch for a home generator: choosing the type, wiring mains and generator, preventing backfeed and operating safelyA customer calls: “We've been getting a lot of power cuts lately, so I just bought a 5 kVA petrol generator. The other day I made a cable with a plug on both ends, plugged one end…
ArticleSafe home charging sockets for e-scooters and e-bikes: charging location, dedicated cable and breaker, RCD protection and fire preventionA boarding-house owner calls: "There are eight or nine electric scooters in my row of rooms now, and every evening they're charged in the corridor from extension leads. Yesterday o…
ArticleWiring induction and infrared (radiant) cooktops correctly: calculating current, choosing cable and a dedicated circuit breaker, socket or hard-wired, earthing and test runA client calls: "We've just bought a double induction cooktop and were going to plug it into the socket next to the kitchen cabinet where the rice cooker is plugged in. Could you c…
ArticleHow to Install a Ceiling Fan Safely: Mounting Hook, Wiring the Regulator and Earth, and Balancing to Stop WobbleA client has bought a new ceiling fan. There is a hook in the slab, two wires poking out of the ceiling, and the client wants it "done in an hour". Hanging a fan looks simple, but…
ArticleHow to Replace a Ceiling Light Fixture (Pendant or Flush-Mount): Safe Isolation, Wiring, Secure Fixing and EarthingReplacing a ceiling light is one of the most common jobs a residential electrician is asked to do. A family wants a modern LED flush-mount in place of an old fluorescent fitting. T…