» Residential Electrical Wiring: Guide to Home Wiring
» Need Electrical Help? Get a Quick Reply! Ask the Electrician
Electrical Questions
Installing Recessed Lighting
Electrical Question Summary :
I am an HGTV buff. I have been watching income property for some time now. They've been saying there is an illegal short cut that some contractors use when inserting recess lighting. |
A bad recessed lighting shortcut |
|
Electrical Question: |
|
What HGTV may be referring to is that most locations require recessed lighting that is installed into an Insulated Ceiling to be a IC Rated fixture enclosure, and in some areas it is required to be an Air-Tight or AT Type enclosure for energy efficiency purposes. There are heat factors with regard to proximity of insulation materials and in some cases it is necessary to install a barrier or a recessed light that has a box enclosure around the recessed light can. |
|
Sometimes this is referred to as a Boot Box and an inspector may require this if the recessed light fixtures are not an IC type enclosure. I have seen scorched cellulose insulation that was too close to recessed lighting that was not IC rated. |
The Safest Way to Test Electrical Devices and Identify Electric Wires!The Non-Contact Electrical TesterThis is a testing tool that I have had in my personal electrical tool pouch for years, and is the first test tool I grab to help identify electrical wiring. It is a Non-contact tester that I use to easily Detect Voltage in Cables, Cords, Circuit Breakers, Lighting Fixtures, Switches, Outlets and Wires. Simply insert the end of the tester into an outlet, lamp socket, or hold the end of the tester against the wire you wish to test. Very handy and easy to use.
The Quickest Way to Check for Faulty Electrical Wiring!The Plug-In Outlet TesterThis is the first tool I grab to troubleshoot a problem with outlet circuit wiring. This popular tester is also used by most inspectors to test for power and check the polarity of circuit wiring. It detects probable improper wiring conditions in standard 110-125 VAC outlets Provides 6 probable wiring conditions that are quick and easy to read for ultimate efficiency Lights indicate if wiring is correct and indicator light chart is included Tests standard 3-wire outlets UL Listed Light indicates if wiring is incorrect Very handy and easy to use.
Strip Off Wire Insulation without Nicking and Damaging the Electric Wire!The Wire Stripper and Wire CutterMy absolute favorite wire stripping tool that I have had in my personal electrical tool pouch for years, and this is the tool I use to safely strip electrical wires. This handy tool has multiple uses: The wire gauges are shown on the side of the tool so you know which slot to use for stripping insulation. The end of the tool can be used to grip and bend wire which is handy for attaching wire onto the screw terminals of switches and outlets.. The wire stripper will work on both solid and stranded wire. This tool is Very Handy and Easy to Use. |
|