Your DIY Guide to Electrical House Wiring

Ask the electrician is dedicated to taking the mystery out of your electrical house wiring projects and answering all your questions about electrical house wiring. Weather you decide on a DIY project or hire it out to a professional, ask the electrician will help you understand what is involved so you can save money and complete the project safely and to code.

Recent Articles about Home Electrical Wiring

Electrical

How to Wire More than One Light Switch

Wiring Light Switches Electrical Question: The house is pre 1965 and I have a hot that comes in to a 4 gang box and feeds a light in a dining room. So a black and white in and black and white out to the light. Wiring for Light Switches Owen asks: The house is pre […]

Help for Bathroom Light Circuit Problems

My bathroom lights went out and now none of the lights or electrical outlets in the master bath or master bedroom are working, what could be the problem? How to Troubleshoot and Repair a Bathroom Light Circuit Problem.

How to Wire a Dryer Outlet

I had a problem with my dryer outlet so I rewired it and now the dryer does not work, how can I fix my dryer? Electric Dryer Outlet Problems and How to Fix Them, Problems with Dryer Outlet Wiring, Dryer Circuit Wiring.

How I Install Circuit Breakers in Electrical Service Panels

How to Install Circuit Breakers: Organizing the Circuit Cables and Wiring, Making up the Grounds and Neutral Wires, Installing the circuit breakers.

How to Make the Right Ceiling Fan Wiring Connections

I replaced my ceiling fan and the switch and now it does not work, how do I check the wire connections? Ceiling Fan Box Wiring, Wiring the Switch Box, Wiring a Ceiling Fan that is Replacing a Light Fixture.

How to Replace a 3 Way Switch with a 3 Way Dimmer Switch

How to Wire 3Way Dimmer Switches: Common 3Way Dimmer Switch Wire Connections and Light Level Adjustments, Wiring Two 3Way Dimmer Switches.

Why Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping Off

Why does my circuit breaker keep tripping? The Most Common Causes of a Tripped Circuit Breaker.

How to Make an Electrical Cable Splice

How to Splice Electrical Cables: Where the cables enter into the junction box will depend on the cable orientation, however I have found that it is best to enter at the same side in order to line up the conductors evenly for the splice.

Read More Posts From This Category

Electrical Wiring

How to Repair Damaged Wires Inside a Wall

Damaged electrical wires in a flex conduit while drilling through a cinder block wall and one or both 14-2 wires that go to an inside bedroom outlet.

Underground Wire to a Shed Panel

I had some 8-3 UFB with ground cable buried in my yard I want to re use it as the feeder for sub panel in a shed.

How to Wire an Air Compressor that is Outside

Installing 8o gal air compressor that requires a 30 amp breaker, Can I use a 50 amp hot tub GFCI breaker outside as a hook up?

Circuit Breaker for a Kitchen Cooktop

How do I connect the wiring for a cooktop or stovetop? Wiring a New Cooktop to Replace the Old Cooktop.

How to Wire a Dryer Outlet

Wiring a Bathroom Exhaust Fan and Switch

Do I need a neutral wire between switch boxes for the circuit wiring? How to Install a Bathroom Exhaust Fan and Electrical Wiring for Switches.

Rewiring a Light Switch that Feeds Another Light Switch

I replaced the switch with a new switch, now the pantry light works, but the range light fan doesn’t. How to Change the Wiring of a Light Switch.

Electric Wiring for AFCI in a Home

Can residential circuits dedicated to lighting with AFCI light switches share neutrals with other dedicated lighting circuits with AFCI light switches?

Read More Posts From This Category

Ceiling Fans

How to Make the Right Ceiling Fan Wiring Connections

How to Wire a Ceiling Fan in an Older Home

I am installing a ceiling fan in an old home where there are three wires in the box, how should I connect the wires? How to Connect the Wires for a Ceiling Fan in an Older Home: The Process for Identifying Wires for a Ceiling Fan.

Installing Remote Control Ceiling Fans

How to Install a Remote Control Module Kit for a Ceiling Fan: Some new ceiling fans have the remote control module wired directly into the fan so there is no exterior remote control module to wire.

How to Wire Ceiling Fans and Switches

Can I connect the electric wires together at the ceiling box rather than run two hot wires off the wall switch? Wiring Diagrams and Wire Connections for Ceiling Fans, Connecting the black wire, red wire, blue wire and the white wires.

Ceiling Fan Wiring Diagram Black White Red and Green Wires

How to Connect the Black White Red and Green Wires of a Ceiling Fan to the Wires in the Ceiling Electrical Box: Connecting the white, black, blue and green wires.

Ceiling Fan Works but Not the Light

I wired my ceiling fan and light. The fan will come on but the light will not. How can I fix this?

How to Replace a Dimmer Switch With a Single Switch

I want to replace a dimmer switch with a single throw switch. The dimmer switch has a black and white wire and a ground wire.

Replaced a Ceiling Fan Now it is Not Working

I replaced a Ceiling Fan in our bedroom. The fan and light were working prior to replacing, now it does not work.

Read More Posts From This Category

Electrical Tips

To Help You Wire it Right

The Safest Way to Test Electrical Devices and Identify Electric Wires!
The Non-Contact Electrical Tester

This is a testing tool that 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 Tester

This is great to troubleshoot a problem with outlet circuit wiring, 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 Cutter

A wire stripping tool used 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.

Recent Testimonials

I think your site offers the the clearest and best electrical information for homeowners I have ever seen on the net.You have given me confidence to do my own projects which I never had before. THANK YOU!
Paul, from Foxboro, Massachusetts

I wish I found this site earlier, it is by far the best electrical related resource I have found on the web.
George, from Scranton, Pennsylvania

I love this site for an office worker that does not know anything about electric wiring.
Bill, from New York City, New York

This site is so much better than the 3 books I just bought, I wish I came here first.
Collin, from Grand Rapids, Michigan

Thank you for answering my question.
I was able to get this done. This site is perfect. I am glad I found it. Please keep it going.
Mike, from Chicago, Illinois

Read more Comments

Leave a Comment

»How To Wire It RIGHT! «
Wire it with Confidence!
Fully Illustrated
Instant Download

Now You Can
Wire it like a Pro!

Residential Electrical Wiring

Learn Electrical Wiring
Instructional Electrical Wiring Videos

Home Electrical Wiring and Electrical Repairs

Please Note:
Unless otherwise posted, please refer to the following Guidelines when working on Electrical Projects:

Skill Level:
Intermediate to Advanced - Electrical Repairs and Circuit Wiring is Best Performed by a Certified Electrician or Licensed Electrical Contractor.

Electrical Tools Required:
Basic Electricians Pouch of Hand Tools, a Voltage Tester and a Multi Meter.

Estimated Time:
Depends on personal level experience, ability to work with tools, work with electrical wiring, and the available access to the project area.

Precaution:
Identify the project circuit, turn it OFF and Tag it with a Note before working with the wiring.

Important:
Modifying existing electrical circuits or installing additional electrical wiring should be done according to local and National Electrical Codes, with a permit and be inspected.