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Whether your house is old or new, you should be acquainted with the electrical wiring of your living place. Moreover, the wiring standard updates almost every year, so do not forget to upgrade yours as per law.
You do not need to be a licensed or professional electrician to do the electrical wiring of your house. However, if you are planning to do a simple DIY project for the entire house on your own, you must have clear knowledge about the varieties of electrical wiring for the home. There are some basic labeling, coding, and sizing that you should learn for the wiring work. Do not start any work if you are not comfortable doing it on your own and if you live in Greensboro or near that area, you can ask for professional help from Electrician Greensboro NC.
For your convenience, we have discussed in detail some important factors regarding house wiring in this article.
In This Post:
Fundamentals of Home Electrical Wire
Any job becomes easier when you understand the small details of the work. Similarly, before starting electrical wiring for your home you should understand a few basic terms such as coding and labeling. Knowledge of these terms will make the trip to the hardware shop easier for you. So, let’s get started!
Wire Versus Cable
Both the terms ‘cable’ and ‘wire’ are used so frequently that some people think they are the same. However, their role in the wiring system is different. Electrical wire is used to conduct electricity. Basically, they are the discrete conductors in a jacket. The conductors can be placed with a cover or without any cover on it. On the contrary, a cable is the combination of multiple wires arranged within a single jacket.
Size of The Wire
For the house wiring, first, you need to know the required size of the wires. The size refers to the diameter of the conductor which is mostly regulated by the National Wire Gauge system of a country. In short, the larger the gauge is, the smaller the wire will be. If the proportion of the wires you have matches the amperage of the loop, it is considered a positive factor for the wiring. However, if the proportion does not match with the circuit it may cause short circuits and even result in severe fire hazard for the entire home.
Solid Versus Stranded Wire
Basically, two types of wiring are used for home one is solid wiring and the other is stranded wiring. You will need solid wire when you are pushing the wire through a conduit. On the other hand, you will require stranded wire when you need to pull wire through a conduit.
Now, let’s discuss some more about the types of electrical wire in a home.
Types of Wiring and Cable Fittings
You will find different types of wiring and cable fittings in your home as well as outside. However, as there are varieties of wiring available, and it will take some time if we discuss each of them, so we will try to discuss the most common types in detail.
NM or, Non-Metallic Cable
Wiring systems in Greensboro homes built after the mid-1960s are comparatively standard. The most common electrical wiring found is NM or non-metallic. Another popular name of the non-metallic wiring system is Romex cable, which is considered as one of the most used brands for the wiring work in many houses of Greensboro.
There are more than three conductors in the NM cable. The conductors are covered with an elastic jacket, known as sheathing. In the NM cable, you will find three different types of wire- neutral, hot, and ground wire.
When you are doing the electrical wiring with a non-metallic cable, there are few regulations to be careful about. Firstly, this cable system is not suitable for any building which is more than three stories tall. The design is not right for any commercial buildings or establishments. Another important fact about NM cable is that the set-up is designed only for permanent home wire systems and should not be used as a replacement for extension cords.
AC or Armored Cables
Armored cables are also known as AC. The wiring system is designed with metallic sheathing to shield the conductors inside. Armored cables are not suitable for commercial establishments or buildings less than three stories.
UF Cable or Underground Feeder Cable
While both AC and NM cables are designed for dry-interior-wiring, a cable that is suitable for exterior and wet set-up is known as Underground Feeder Cable. The best factor about this cable system is, it does not require floors, wires, or ceilings to protect the wiring system from any hazard. This is also known as UF cable. The wire is non-metallic and can be tucked in the ground without any conduit. The important characteristic of this system is that it will not create any type of fire hazard or short circuit if it gets wet by any means.
MC Cable or, Metal-Clad Cable
The incomplete areas of your house, like the basements, need a stronger exterior surface than other areas of the house. For such areas, electrical wiring with metal-clad cable or MC cable should be used. This cable system is suitable for the areas where there is the possibility of physical damage to any member of the house.
Wiring Arrangements for Low-Voltage Users
Most houses of Greensboro, use low-voltage wiring of fewer than 50 volts. This type of voltage users does not need much electricity. This includes- thermostats, balcony lights, and doorbells. Cables used for low-voltage wiring are usually wrapped in cable sheathing.
We have tried to discuss the most common wiring system in this article. However, the home electrical wiring system is a complicated task. So, if you understand the details about the task you will be able to do it more easily on your own without any professional help.
