Electrical Wiring and Circuitry: Understanding the Basics
76As explained in my previous article “Basic Electrical Circuit: Branch Circuits and Wiring System,”
a circuit is a continuous path or medium for electricity to flow “to and fro”
from a power source.
Parallel or series wiring is done to connect fixtures or
receptacles on a circuit. You may also add switches on the way of the wiring.
Normally, these receptacles, switches and light fixtures are mounted in housing
boxes.
There are a number of options when it comes to wiring. It
can be parallel wiring, series wiring, missed wiring or switch wiring. Below is
an explanation of all these wiring.
Parallel Circuit
Parallel wiring
Parallel wiring is done in most homes. Receptacles and light fixtures operate on the same circuit with the hot and neutral wires running together from one housing box to another. Wires to individual devices or appliances branch off from them.
Electricity - Series + Parallel Circuits
Series wiring
Series wiring or circuit passes the hot wire through a
series of devices before joining the neutral wire that returns to the power
source.
Series wiring is rarely used for home light circuits because if one
light bulb fails, all the lights will go out in the circuit. A string of
old-style Christmas tree lights is an example of series wiring.
Light Switch Wiring
Switch wiring
Switch wiring is quite simple to understand. It controls the flow of electricity and turns devices and appliances ON and OFF. A switch is installed only on hot wires. A switch basically completes or breaks a circuit and thus controls the flow of electricity. When a switch is ON, it completes a circuit allowing flow of electricity and when it is OFF, it breaks the circuit hence electricity is not able to flow.
Read More
→ Home Electrical Basics
→ Glossary of
Electrical Terms
→ How Home
Electrical System Works
→ Basic
Electrical Circuit: Branch Circuits and Wiring System
→ Main
Electrical Panel, Subpanels and Circuit Breakers
→ Electrical Grounding
→ Understanding
Electrical Meter
→ Electrical Tools
→ Mapping
and Wiring House Electrical Circuits
→ How
to Trace a Short Circuit or Overload
→ How to
Safely Test Electrical Circuit
→ Energy Star (Energy Efficiency and
Environmental Protection)
→ How
to slash and lower electric bills
→ How
Solar Panels Work to Generate Electricity
→ Do it Yourself Home Repair
and Maintenance
→ Top Ten Essential Home
Tool Kit for Home Owners
→ Home Improvement Tips
→ 101 Home
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