Basic Electricity

Facts and Diagrams

Cable TypesDetermine your need to determine the type of cable (Romex) neededGage

Size of the wire (common = 12 or 14)2 wire

1 black, 1 white, and 1 bare/green ground wires

3 wire 1 black, 1 red, 1 white, 1 bare/green ground

wires

Wire Types

There are 4 basic types of wireBlack wire = hotWhite wire = neutralBare/Green wire = groundRed = hot

Wire Types

Device TypesVarious devices are needing in wiring Light fixture Single-pole switches 3-way switch Duplex receptacles

Device Types

Device Types

Device Types

Device Screws

There is 3 basic types of screwsBrass (gold) – hot (black)Silver – neutral (white)Green – ground (bare/green)

Device Screws

Connector Types

Connecting caps are colored by size and useRedYellowGreen – primarily for ground

Connector Types

Wiring Rules

Neutral wire goes without interruption to every place in the circuit where current may be used

Neutral wire is connected to the silver-colored terminal.

The neutral wire is white.

Wiring Rules

Black or red wire is always connected to a brass- colored terminal.

Black or red wires carry “hot” power or current from the source to the devices within the circuit

Wiring Rules

The green, or bare, grounding wire is connected to the grounding terminal (green screw) of a grounding-type electrical fixture.

All wires must be spliced or connected to a terminal screw in each box.

Only one wire is allowed to be fastened under a terminal screw.

A single-pole switch to a light fixture

Duplex Receptacle with continuous Circuit

A single pole switch to two light fixtures

A single-pole switch controlling a light fixture with a line coming in and a line

extending beyond the fixture.

Two 3-way switches controlling a light fixture with the power coming in through the first

switch.

Draw the Schematics

Keyless lamp fixture

Black wire

Gold screw

Single pole switch

Red wire

Duplex Receptacle

Ground wire

Traveler screw

3 way switch

White wire

Draw a Schematic

Single pole switch to a keyless lamp

Duplex receptacle

Single pole switch to two keyless lamps

Two duplex receptacles – both GFI, but only one a GFI receptacle