If you consider yourself a DIYer, you may be tempted to perform some of your own electrical work around your house. While we don’t recommend that, you should at least know what materials you need for the job. Continue reading to learn a bit more about the tools and materials required for residential electrical installation.
Electrical conduit and conduit fitting: The conduit is a tube the carries electrical wire and is made of steel, plastic or aluminum, depending on the type of wire it’s housing. The conduit fitting is a part used to join other parts or conduits carrying electrical power. Fittings also come in a variety of materials and sizes to meet your needs.Electrical wire: Electrical wire is drawn metal, copper or aluminum that carries electricity through the circuit. Wires may be overhead, underground, run through a conduit or left in the open. Depending on the usage, the wire may be protected with an outer jacket of insulation.Wire strippers: If you’re performing any DIY electrical work, you’ll need a pair of wire strippers to cut and strip the protective insulation from the wire. The tools have a row of gauged holes for stripping different-sized wires. They also usually have cutting jaws for trimming wire ends.Explosion-proof enclosures: An explosion-proof enclosure is a product designed to contain an electrical short so that it doesn’t ignite and cause an explosion. They’re typically made of heavy-duty steel or aluminum, but they can be made of fiberglass. You’ll typically find these devices at gas stations, refineries, paint booths or other volatile environments.Circuit breakers: A circuit breaker is a device that automatically interrupts an electrical current flow to protect against an overload. All of the electrical appliances in your home are connected to the circuit breaker, which is often located in your garage or utility closet.Electrical connectors: As the name suggests, an electrical connector is a part that connects one part to another. These range in size from three-eighths of an inch up to six inches. They can be indoor, outdoor, corrosive-protected or explosion-proof, depending on the application.Electrical box: Also known as a junction box, electrical boxes are used in residential electrical installation to enclose wire connections. They can be made of aluminum, plastic, stainless steel or cast iron. They’re all watertight and can be designed to be corrosive-protected or explosion-proof.Pliers: Needle-nose pliers, linesman pliers and diagonal cutting pliers are just a few of the different types of pliers you’ll want to have on hand. Having a few sets of pliers in your toolbox helps ensure you can tackle all sorts of DIY projects.Call the professionals for residential electrical installation
As mentioned earlier, we don’t recommend that any homeowner performs DIY electrical work. It’s time consuming, dangerous and can end up costing a ton of money to fix any mistakes you make on your own! Instead, call our team at Walsh Electric for your residential electrical installation or repair needs. We have decades of experience performing jobs of all sizes, and we have some of the best rates in the area.
