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