image Index

A

AFCI, location requirements, 121

Air-conditioning

circuit maps for 240-volt receptacles for window units, 19

circuit needed for, 55

generators and, 84, 85

Amperage

measuring, 96–97

receptacles and, 118

service panels and, 28–29

Appliances

dishwashers

circuit needed for, 65

connecting receptacle for, 71

food disposers

circuit needed for, 65

connecting GFCI receptacle and switch for, 69

connecting receptacle for, 71

microwaves

circuit needed for, 65

connecting, 70

ranges

circuit map for 120/240-volt receptacle, 18

circuit needed for, 65

installing 120/240-volt receptacle for, 70

small

circuit maps for, 17

circuit needed for, 65

connecting receptacles for, 68

window air conditioners, circuit map for 240-volt receptacles for, 19

B

Backup power supply

choosing a generator for, 83, 84

cord-connected transfer switches, 85

generator tips, 85

maintaining and operating automatic standby generator, 87

operating manual system, 87

overview of, 82

running & maintaining, 86

typical system, 84

Baseboard heaters

circuit maps for 240-volt, 18

connecting 240-volt, 63

Basic problems and solutions, 9

Bathrooms

circuit for, 54

connecting GFCI receptacle and, 59

diagram for circuit map for 15-amp, 120-volt circuit for bathroom & closet, 56–57

Bedrooms, diagram for circuit map for 15-amp, 120-volt basic lighting/ receptacle circuit for, 56–57

Bonding. see Grounding & bonding an upgraded system

C

Cable television jacks

circuit needed for, 55

circuit shown on wiring diagram, 57

Cables, non-metallic (NM), 115–117

Ceiling fan/light fixture combinations

circuit maps for units controlled by ganged switches, 20

connecting, 61

Ceiling fans, connecting switches for, 60

Ceiling fixture, connecting surface-mounted, 72

Circuit breaker panels

connecting circuit breakers, 32–33

description of parts of, 30–31

installing subpanels, 34–37

overview of, 28–29

safety and, 28, 31

upgrading

locating, 40

overview of, 38–39

replacing main service panels, 41–45

Circuit breakers, installing, 32–33

Circuit maps

ceiling fans/light fixtures controlled by ganged switches, 25

diagrams for

bedroom and bathroom wiring, 56–57

kitchen wiring, 66–67

double receptacle circuits with shared neutral wire, 16

double receptacle small-appliance with GFCI & separate neutral wire, 17

double receptacle small-appliance with GFCI & shared neutral wire, 17

four-way switches and light fixture, 23–24

ganged single-pole switches controlling separate light fixtures, 19

ganged switches controlling vent fan and light fixtures, 20

GFCI receptacles

multiple-location protection with switch & light, 13

single-location protection, 12

multiple four-way switches controlling light fixtures, 24

120/240-volt range receptacle, 18

120-volt duplex receptacles wired in sequence, 12

overview of, 11

single-pole switch & light fixtures, 13–15

switch-controlled split receptacles, 15–16

three-way switches & light fixtures, 20–21

three-way switches & light fixtures with duplex receptacle, 22

three-way switches & multiple light fixtures, 22–23

240-volt appliance receptacles, 19

240-volt baseboard heaters, thermostat, 18

Circuit tester, touchless, 95

Circuits, selecting backup, 89

Circuits, short, 102–103

Clearances, 110–111

Codes

current wiring methods, 114

general requirements, 105–111

National Electrical Code, inspections and knowledge of, 104

overview of, 104

for range, 18

requirements for rooms without overhead lights, 15

for window air conditioner, 19

Computers, circuit needed for, 54

Continuity

neutral & equipment grounding wire, 109

testing for, 99

Current, measuring, 97

D

DC lighting circuit, how to wire, 77–81

Device boxes, 122–124

Diagnostic tools, 94–95

Dishwashers

circuit needed for, 65

connecting receptacle for, 71

Disposers

circuit needed for, 65

connecting GFCI receptacle and switch for, 69

connecting receptacle for, 71

E

Electrical box fill chart, 124

Electrical code. see Codes

Electrical panels

general requirements for, 105–106

inspecting for proper grounding, 112

installing subpanels, 34–37

overview of, 28–29

Electrode wires, 113

Enclosures, 122–123

F

Feeders, 113

Food disposers

circuit needed for, 65

connecting GFCI receptacle and switch for, 69

connecting receptacle for, 71

Four-way switches, circuit maps for, 23–24

Framing member chart, 115

G

Generators

choosing, 83, 84

on-demand, 83

maintaining and operating automatic standby, 87

portable, 83, 86

standby, 93

tips for, 85

transfer switches for, 85

GFCI receptacles

circuit maps for

double receptacle small-appliance, 17

multiple-location protection, 13

single-location protection, 12

connecting bathroom, 59

installing

disposer switch and, 69

two switches for recessed lights and, 69

location requirements, 120–121

Grounding & bonding

at service panels and subpanels, 112

upgraded system

ground rod installation, 49

how to bond metallic piping, 47–48

how to install a grounding electrode system, 49–51

overview of, 46

tips for, 51

tips for grounding the panel, 48

Grounding electrodes, 113

Grounding wires, 52

H

Heaters

circuit map for thermostat and 240-volt baseboard, 18

circuit needed for, 55

connecting 240-volt baseboard, 63

connecting 240-volt blower, 62

Hot wires, 52

I

Inspections, preparing for, 104

J

Junction boxes, 122–124

K

Kitchen remodels

circuits likely wanted, 64–65

diagrams for circuit maps, 66–67

installing under-cabinet lights, 73

wiring connections, 68–73

wiring diagram for, 66–67

see also Appliances

L

Light fixtures

box installation, 122

circuit maps for

ceiling fans/light fixtures controlled by ganged switches, 25

four-way switches and, 23–24

ganged single-pole switches controlling separate, 19

ganged switches controlling vent fan and light fixtures, 20

GFCI receptacle, switch & light fixture wired for multiple-location protection, 13

multiple four-way switches and, 24

single-pole switch and, 13–15

three-way switches & multiple, 22–23

three-way switches and, 20–22

connecting, 59

ceiling fan/light fixture combinations, 61

GFCI and two switches for recessed, 69

installing under-cabinet, 73

M

Main service panels

overview of, 28

replacing

locating, 40

overview of, 38–39

steps in, 41–45

safety and, 6

Microwaves

circuit needed for, 65

connecting, 70

Multimeters

clamp-on, 96

digital autoranging, 94, 95, 96

overview of, 96

N

National Electrical Code (NEC), 104 see also Codes

Neutral wires, 52, 100–101

Non-metallic (NM) cables

installation of, 116–117

maximum ampacity, 115

rules for, 115

O

Open neutrals

overview of, 100

possible symptoms of, 100

troubleshooting, 101

P

Permits. see Codes

Plug-in tester, 95

PV panels, mounting, 76

R

Ranges

circuit map for 120/240-volt receptacle, 18

circuit needed for, 65

installing 120/240-volt receptacle for, 70

Receptacles

amperage and, 118

circuit maps for

double receptacle small-appliance with GFCI & separate neutral wires, 17

double receptacle small-appliance with GFCI & shared neutral wire, 17

double with shared neutral wire, 16

GFCI receptacle, switch & light fixture wired for multiple-location protection, 13

GFCI receptacle wired for single-location protection, 12

light fixtures with three-way switches and duplex receptacle, 22

switch-controlled split, 15–16

240-volt appliance receptacles, 19

connecting, 61

dishwashers, 71

food disposers, 71

small appliance, 68

switched, 61

switches for stairway lights and, 61

installing

20-amp, 120-volt for microwaves, 70

kitchen countertop, 119

120/240-volt for ranges, 70

in rooms, 118

measuring at, 97

Room additions

circuits likely wanted, 54–55

wiring diagram for, 56–57

S

Safety

overview of, 6

tips for, 7–9

Service drops, 110–111

Service entrance head, safety and, 6

Service grounding at two buildings using four-wire feeder, 113

Service panels

connecting circuit breakers, 32–33

grounding & bonding at, 112

installing subpanels, 34–37

overview of, 28

safety and, 28

upgrading

locating, 40

overview of, 38–39

replacing main service panels, 41–45

Single-pole switches

connecting, 59

connecting timer and, 58

Single-pole switches & light fixtures

circuit map for ganged controlling separate, 19

circuit maps for, 13–15

Small appliances

circuit maps for, 17

circuit needed for, 65

connecting receptacles for, 68

Solar light circuit

how to wire a DC lighting circuit, 77–81

mounting PV panels, 76

overview of, 74

schematic diagram for, 75

Stairway lights, connecting switches for receptacle and, 60

Subpanels

grounding & bonding at, 112

installing

overview of, 34

planning, 35

steps in, 35–37

overview of, 28

room additions and, 54–55

Switched receptacles, connecting, 61

Switches

circuit maps for

ceiling fans/light fixtures controlled by ganged, 25

ganged controlling vent fans and light fixtures, 20

GFCI receptacle, switch & light fixture wired for multiple-location protection, 13

light fixtures and four-way, 23–24

light fixtures and multiple four-way, 24

light fixtures with duplex receptacle and three-way, 22

single-pole ganged controlling separate light fixtures, 19–20

single-pole switch & light fixtures, 13–14

switch-controlled split receptacles, 15–16

three-way & light fixture, 20–22

three-way & multiple light fixtures, 22–23

connecting

ceiling fans, 60

GFCI and two switches for recessed lights, 69

GFCI receptacle and disposer, 69

receptacle & stairway light, 60

single-pole, 59

three-way, 72

timer and single-pole, 58

three-way, testing, 99

transfer, 83, 85

installing manual, 88–93

T

Telephone outlets, circuit for, 55

Testers, 95

Thermostats

circuit maps for, 18

circuit needed for, 5

connecting 250-volt, 62

Three-way switches

circuit maps for

light fixtures and, 20–21

light fixtures with duplex receptacle and, 22

multiple light fixtures and, 22–23

connecting, 72

testing, 99

Timers, connecting single-pole switches and, 58

Troubleshooting

basic problems and solutions, 9

diagnostic tools & testing and, 95–99

open neutrals, 100–101

overview of, 95

short circuits, 102–103

240-volt baseboard heaters

circuit map for thermostat and, 14

connecting, 63

240-volt blower heaters, connecting, 62

240-volt thermostats, connecting, 62

U

Under-cabinet lights, installing, 73

V

Vent fans

circuit maps for ganged switches controlling light fixtures and, 20

connecting, 59

Voltage, measuring, 98

Volume unit chart, 123

W

Window air conditioners, circuit map for 240-volt receptacles for, 19

Wire gauge

capacity and, 109

connectors and, 107

Wires

color coding, 109

connecting to terminals, 108

extended from boxes, 108

size chart, 109

splicing, 107

volume unit chart, 123