ITABI1245 $8.95 [l[(IR~(Al H DB K ~R~ ELECTRICAL WIRING HANDBOOK Other TAB books by the author: No. 523 Guide to Radio-TV Broadcast Engineering Practice No. 631 Aviation Electronics Handbook No. 671 Electrical Wiring & Lighting For Home & Office No. 825 Flying Model Airplanes & Helicopters By Radio Control No. 939 Handbook of Marine Electronic & Electrical Systems No. 959 CBer's Handy Manual of SSB No. 969 CBer's Handy Manual of Base Stations No. 1071 The Complete Handboook of Robotics No. 1093 Radio Control Handbook-4th Edition No. 1135 Radio Control Manual-3rd Edition No. 1155 Modern RADAR: Theory, Operation & Maintenance- 2nd Edition No. 1174 Model Radio Control-3rd Edition No. 1201 The Complete Microcomputer Systems Handbook No. 1222 Advanced Radio Control, including Rockets & Robots- 2nd Edition ELECTRICAL WIRING HANDBOOK BY eDWARD L. SAFFORD. JR. FIRST EDITION FIRST PRINTING-AUGUST 1980 Copyright 10 1980 by TAB BOOKS Inc. Printed in the United States of America Reproduction or publication of the content in any manner, without express permission of the publisher, is prohibited. No liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information herein. Library of Con Kress CataloKinK in Publication Data Safford, Edward L Electrical wiring handbook. Includes index. 1. Electric wiring, Interior-Amateurs' manuals. 2. Electric wiring-Amateurs' manuals. I. Title. TK9901.S19 621.319'24 80-14360 ISBN 0-8306-9932-5 ISBN 0-8306-1245-9 (pbk.) • Preface • Every book is an adventure. As we begin our exciting journey through this one, we want to examine, analyze and discover every thing pertaining to electricity as used in your home, condominium, or apartment. Some ideas may even be appropriate for offices. There are some differences in the wiring requirements of commer cial and residential buildings which will be discussed. We will examine electrical wiring in detail. We want to know why it is done the way it is, as well as exactly how it is done by the professionals. Our sources of information have got to be the best in the world. They are the master electricians who have put in long hours of study and years of apprenticeship before they became master electricians on their own. They have to pass the most rigorous kind of professional examinations administered by the city in which they qualify for the journeyman's, or master electrician's license. We also have to acknowledge another source of information for this work, that being the design engineers. These men draw plans, figure loads, calculate wire sizes and determine fixture, box and switch sizes, and types and panels to be used in fusing. These professionals have spent years in colleges and universities and are wizards upon graduation. Of course, the architects must be in cluded among these professionals. They must know about lighting, decor, rules and regulations and many other things if we are to have adequate, safe electrical power and lighting in our homes, condos, offices and workshops. Finally, we must add that there is much in the way of personal experience contained in the following pages. Like every home owner, condo owner or apartment dweller, we have had our share of electrical expansion desires, required repairs, replacement of fixtures, renovations, replacement of switches, wall plugs and sockets, motor replacement in air conditioners, and almost every thing else concerned with electricity around the house and shop. We have had a whole world of problems with lighting and safety which we were able to solve. If we were to give you a single concept which we have found to be most important in doing electrical work, we would say it is to be "methodical". There are rules which come from the regulations, and then there are "rules of thumb" which are used by all good electricians universally. There are good and important reasons for these rules and methods. We must know and follow them to the letter if we want to insure safety, correct operation of whatever is being operated electricially, and, finally, ultimate satisfaction with the knowledge of a job professionally well done. First we will examine the basic types of circuits used, what electricity is composed of and how to handle it, some information on wires and how to get electricity to "flow" where it should and not flow where it shouldn't. We need to understand insulation-the types and when to use what type. Some ideas on tools to be used will be of value. As we progress on our journey through this book we will encounter more advanced concepts, ideas and situations. We hasten to add at this point, however, that if you are an experi enced veteran in the use of electricity or electronics, you might want to briefly scan the earlier chapters and proceed to the more adventurous ones. When we said it is necessary to be methodical, we mean in checking to see if power is off, making the right kind of wire connections every time, using the proper precautions on safety and rigorously observing them, using the right kind of joint connection insulating devices or material and doing it properly (not quickly) when sealing an electrical joint, and so on. Never take for granted anything about electricity. Be methodical, systematic and certain. It may save your life. From time to time in the following pages, we will include a little bit of that mysterious element called theory. If we can get through it easily and painlessly, it will make our understanding of the why we do things as we do more perfect. Also, in some cases, we just cannot begin to understand how some devices work unless we can relate a bit of theory to their operation. While reading this book, you might consult books which is appropriate to our subject; Electrical Wiring and Lighting For Home and Office (TAB book No. 67l). It could be a useful supple ment. Now let us begin this adventure. E. L. Safford, Jr. CD Acknowledgments CD I would like to thank the following people, organizations and man ufacturers who supplied illustrations or provided information for this book: National Fire Protection Association, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Perry Homes, Radio Shack, Guy Fish, Bobby Love, Houston Lighting and Power Company, Houston Homebuilders, Don Harris Jr. and Richard Gauthier. • Contents • 1 Fundamentals of Electricity ............................................. 13 The Series Circuit- Lamp and Pass-Through Circuits-Switch Box Wires- One-Hand Rule-Electrical Current Flow Connecting Electricity-Carrying Wires-Using Lugs and Clamps-Extensions-The Parallel Circuit-Connecting Half of a Wall Receptacle To a SWitch-Voltage and Amperage Phase-Pressure and Current Buildups-Power Factor-Input Wires 2 Analyzing Some National Electrical Code Regulations ...... 57 Terms and Definitions-Wire Sizes and Current Capacity Ground Fault Interrupter-Mounting of Equipment and Air Space-Electrical Connections-Individual Interpretation of the Code-Loads and Wire Sizes-Circuit Breakers and Fuses Calculating Amperage-Installing Receptacles-Lighting Sys- tems In Homes- Wiring For Clothes Dryers, Refrigerators and Similar Appliances- Wiring On the Outside of Buildings Connecting Branch Circuits to Buildings-Wiring Under Plaster- Using Plastic Conduit-Location of Outlets-Electrical Space Heating-Summary 3 Electric Company Requirements, Services and Installations ............................................... 87 Learning the Hard Way-Guidelines From the Electric Company-Some Definitions-Know Your Responsibilities Overhead and Underground Service and Specifications Application For Electric Service-Wiring Inspectioll-More Cus- tomer Responsibilities-Changes To Existing Wiring-Utilization Voltage-Motor Protection Devices-Magnitudes of Motor Start- ing Currents- Special Equipment Installations-Construction Site Service-Filters and Generating Equipment-Electric Company Service-Point of Attachment-Anchoring the Service Drop Service Entrance Conductors-Transformer Installations On Cus tomers' Property-Temporary Wiring For Builders-Mobile Homes-Meter Socket Details