This is Part one of our series on addressing some of the impossible (OK, more like extremely difficult) tasks electricians come across when rewiring homes. Part one begins with possibly the most obvious issue: how do you rewire lights and fans on the ceiling of the first floor of a two-story home? By no means is this article going to be comprehensive enough for you to do the entire job on your own. More, it's designed to give you some ideas, and to encourage electricians and tradesmen in the decisions they are already making. Lastly, it will give homeowners a better appreciation for just how difficult a job rewiring an older home can be. It's never easy or straightforward and doing it right will result in a large amount of debris and a LOT of holes to be patched up. Expect that when you get into it and you won't be surprised on the back end.
Most home appliances take AC voltage, supplied to your house from the utility company, and use it to make heat, light, turn a motor or, commonly, all three at the same time. But when the appliance stops functioning, a logical approach to troubleshooting comes in handy. The most common problems with household appliances are mechanical in nature: a broken or worn out component (such as a switch or motor), a loose wire, or a bad connection. Troubleshooting appliances comes down to checking for proper voltage at each circuit component, typically 110 to 120 volts AC, as well as checking the integrity of components and connections using functions found on Amprobe multimeters.
When you are wiring a house, either high or low voltage there are several situations where you will come across the need to arm yourself with good electrical wire pulling tools. It's simply part of the job and something that even the best laid plans will intersect with from time to time. Overall this isn't a terribly difficult situation to deal with, but depending upon whether you are in the midst of a complex retrofit, or a more open new construction situation, the tools you use can change the job from one of extreme frustration to one that is more or less routine.
Almost everyone has heard of a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter). These devices precisely monitor the balance of electrical current moving through a circuit and immediately cut off the electricity when a short occurs. For more on the basics of a GFCI see our article on Ground Fault Interrupter Circuits. Wiring a GFCI may vary slightly from manufacturer to manufacturer, but for the most part they follow the same general principles. We'll try to simply and succinctly outline those below so that you understand how to correctly connect a GFCI into your electrical circuit and provide protection for an outlet or series of outlets and fixtures.
Making the electrical connections on a ceiling fan can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be. Pro Tool Reviews gives you a visual guide and step by step instructions on making the best connections for your particular ceiling fan installation. ON a scale of 1-10, the level of difficulty on this project is a 5, though it can be more complex if you include the ancillary projects such as running wiring through walls, etc.
Installing a ceiling fan is almost a rite of passage. It is one of the first projects a new homeowner is likely to come across and also one of the simplest do-it-yourself task you can undergo. Once you get the hang of it, the project will fly by quickly and you'll have a good sense of accomplishment as you work your way towards more difficult home projects.
Whether you're fixing a poorly installed cable outlet or you're just trying to move the television from one side of the room to another, installing a cable TV jack doesn't have to be a daunting task. In fact, it's really just a matter of planning the best way to access the wall and then dressing up your installation with a proper wall plate.
Now that you've decided a ceiling fan is for you, it’s time to see what goes into selecting a ceiling fan that will fit your room and your needs without going into shock at the enormous selections available to consumers. After all, this is supposed to be a fun opportunity to influence the look of your room with a fan that will reflect your style and taste.
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