Electrician's instant answers (instant answer series)
start-of-run The first switch or outlet on a circuit. stranded wire Wires that are spun together to form a single con- ductor. stripping The removal of insulation from wire or sheathing from cable. subpanel A subsidiary service panel that contains circuit breakers or fuses and supplies a number of branch circuits. switch A device that controls electrical current passing through hot wires. system ground A method by which an entire electrical system is grounded. task lighting Lighting that is directional for point-of-use operation. three-way switch A switch used when two switches control a light. through-switch wiring (in-line wiring) Wiring a switch so that power runs to the switch box. time-delay fuse A fuse that does not break the circuit during the momentary overload that can happen when an electric motor starts up. However, the fuse will blow if the overload continues. transfer switch A device that switches a load from its main source to a standby power source. The switching action may be automati- cally or manually operated. transformer A piece of electrical equipment that changes voltage in a circuit. If the voltage is increased it is called a step-up trans- former. If the voltage is decreased it is called a step-down trans- former. transponder A control device that receives a remote signal and then sends out its own signal to another device. travelers Two conductors that run between switches in a three-way installation. They are connected to the two like colored terminals on the switches. twistlock A receptacle or plug that can be locked in place to pre- vent accidental removal. type S fuse A plug fuse that can only fit into a fuse holder or adapter having the same amperage rating. UL An abbreviation for Underwriters Laboratories. ultrasonic sensor A device that emits high frequency sound and then listens for changes in the echo. Glossary 343 ultraviolet (UV) light Range of invisible light just beyond violet in the spectrum. Underwriter’s knot A knot that ensures electrical wiring connec- tions in a fixture will withstand the strain on a cord that is jerked. voltage (volts) A measurement of electricity in terms of pressure. voltage detector A tool that senses electrical pressure. voltage tester A tool that senses the presence of electrical pressure when its probes touch bare wire ends. Some voltage testers are capable of telling how many volts are present. watertight A term given to devices that are designed to be tem- porarily immersed in water. wattage (watt) A measurement of electrical power in terms of total energy consumed. A product of voltage and amperage. Watts = volts x amps. weatherproof A means of construction to allow a device to func- tion without interference from weather. wire connector A plastic device with a metal spring on the interior of the connector that is used to connect multiple wires safely. zip cord A two-wire cord that is made to split down the middle when pulled apart. Glossary 344 359 A AC circuits, 159 Accent lights, 128 Accessories, 253 Advertising expenses, 295 Air-powered tools, 314 Allen wrenches, 246 Attics, 55, 109 Automated lights, 27 B Back injuries, 326 Baseboard heating units, 148 Basement lighting, 97 Basement wiring, 34 Bathroom exhaust fans, 136 Bathrooms, 105 Bending metal conduit, 63 Bedrooms, 107 Bid process, 276 Bid sheets, 272 government, 273 Bidder agencies, 272 Bleeding, 320 Blisters, 326 Bollard light, square exterior architectural, 130 Bollard light, round exterior architectural, 130 Bonds, 273 bid, 273 performance, 273 security, 273 Box placement, 52 Boxes, 45 cast-aluminum, 52 metal, 50 plastic, 49 plastic retrofit, 49 standard, 49 Branch circuits, 6 Budgets, 287, 292, 293 Burns, 329 Business budget, 293 C Capacitor tests, 248 Cash-flow problems, 274 CEBus protocol, 77 Ceiling fans, 61, 136 Chandeliers, 117 Circuits, 1 AC, 159 branch, 6 DC, 152 delta, 161 divided, 4 feeder, 5 INDEX Copyright 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Click Here for Terms of Use. high pressure sodium ballast, 89 main, 5 metal halide ballast, 90 mercury ballast, 91 multiple, 5 parallel, 1 parallel-series, 2 series, 1 series-parallel, 4 sizing, 41 subfeeder, 5 submain, 5 tap, 6 wye, 161 Circuit breakers, 168 troubleshooting, 263 Clock receptacle, 186 Close-to-ceiling fixtures, 114 Closets, 108 Commercial building electrical distribution system, 160 Compact fluorescent fixture data, 121 Commercial grade designer receptacles, 191 Commercial lighting, 138 Commercial surface mounted fluorescents, 140 Computers, 75 Conduit, 20, 24 metal, 62 PVC, 20 rigid, 20 Conduit benders, 247 Conduit bending distances, 63 Confirmation calls, 289 Connectors, 253 Consumption, 180 Continuity tester, 260 Cordless tools, 251 Cost adjustments, 183 Co-worker safety, 317 Cords, 256 Cramps, 330 Crawlspace installations, 55 Customer satisfaction, 271 Cutting holes, 59 D DC circuits, 152 Delta circuits, 161 Demand, 182 Den, 103 Dimmer switches, 195 Dining room, 102 Direct-burial cable, 18 Directional light distribution, 131 Dishwashers, 61 Divided circuits, 4 Doorbells, 264 Drill bits, 241 Drill safety, 311 E Electrical boxes, 45 cast-aluminum, 52 metal, 50 plastic, 49 plastic retrofit, 49 standard, 49 Electric heating units, 147 Electric rates, 177 Electric switches, 170 Electrician’s hammer, 244 Electronic relay, 171 Emergency lighting, 138, 144 Index 360 Employee expenses, 295 Entertainment, 81 Estimating techniques, 284 Equipment expenses, 284 Exhaust fans, 136 Existing space, 56 Expenses, 293 advertising, 295 employee, 295 equipment, 294 field, 294 growth, 296 insurance, 295 loan, 296 office, 294 retirement, 296 salary, 293 tax, 296 tool, 294 vehicle, 294 Exterior lights, 24, 110 Exterior luminaires, 127 Exterior wiring, 15, 35 Eye injuries, 324 F Facial injuries, 325 Family room, 103 Fans, 61 ceiling, 61 whole-house, 61 Feeder circuits, 5 Field expenses, 294 Fire prevention, 317 First aid, 319 Fish tapes, 252 Fluorescent lighting, 86 Fluorescent fixtures, 258 Foot injuries, 326 Foyers, 104 Fuse bank, 169 Fuses, 168 G GFCI receptacles, 20, 190 Growth expenses, 296 H Hacksaws, 242 Halls, 100, 104 Hand injuries, 327 Heat exhaustion, 331 Heat-related problems, 330 Heat sink, 158 Heating units, 147 baseboard, 148 electric, 147 wall, 149 HID, 88 ballast continuity, 93, 94 ballast testing, 92 High intensity discharge, 88 High pressure sodium ballast, 89 High pressure sodium luminaires, 96 Hole saws, 241 Holes, 59 cutting, 59 Home automation, 73 Home security, 78 Horizontal runs, 58 HVAC, 80 I IMC conduit, 20 Incandescent lighting, 85 Index 361 Incandescent fixtures, 257 Infection, 322 Industrial grade plugs, 197 Insurance expenses, 295 Isolated ground receptacles, 189 J Jelly jar fixtures, 114 Job budget, protecting your, 292 Job costing, 287, 298 accuracy, 301 percentage, 299 simple, 299 Job juggling, 290 K Keyhole saws, 242 Kitchen lighting, 100 Kneepads, 309 Knives, 244 Knockout punches, 240 hydraulic, 240 one-shot, 241 ratchet, 240 stud, 241 L Ladders, 239. 315 Landscape lighting, 111, 127 Lamp, 95 holders, 113 mercury vapor, 95 metal halide, 95 switches, 194 Leg injuries, 326 Lighting, 83 basement, 97 commercial, 138 emergency, 138, 144 exterior, 110 fluorescent, 86 high intensity discharge, 88 incandescent, 85 kitchen, 100 landscape, 111 living space, 99 office, 139 recessed, 132 residential, 96 track, 132 Lights, 24, 79 automated, 27 exterior, 24, 128 Living room, 103 Living space lighting, 99 Loan expenses, 296 LonWorks, 78 Low profile fluorescent light fixture, 122 Low profile louvered fluorescent light fixture, 122 Low profile surface mount fluorescent light fixture, 126 M Main circuits, 5 Materials, 33, 185 Meetings, 32 Mercury ballast circuits, 91 Mercury vapor lamps, 95 Metal conduit, 62 bending, 63 Metal halide ballast circuits, 90 Metal halide lamps, 95 Metal studs, 64 Meters, 248 Index 362 Middle-run receptacles, 59 Modular fluorescents, 120 Motor control center, 164 Multiple circuits, 5 Multi-tap tools, 245 N Nail plates, 53 Neon tester, 259 Networking, 75 New construction, 31 New customer base, 271 Nosebleeds, 326 Nut drivers, 246 O Office expenses, 294 Office lighting, 139 OSHA, 305 Outdoor systems, 81 Outside components, 21 Overhead wiring, 16 P Parallel circuits, 1 Parallel-series circuits, 2 Pendants, 116 Permits, 32 Pipe threaders, 251 Pliers, 244 Plugs, 197, 256 240 volt, 256 industrial grade, 197 quick-connect plugs, 257 replacing round, 256 Plumbing, 80 Polarization, 262 Porcelain light fixtures, 194 Portable band saws, 247 Powder-actuated tools, 315 Power line carrier, 74 Power measurement, 177 Power pipe threaders, 314 Power saws, 313 Presentation, 281 Pricing, 281 Production schedules, 288 Profitability, 300 markup, 279 Protocols, 76 CEBus, 77 Push-in terminals, 60 PVC conduit, 20 Q Quick-connect plugs, 257 R Receptacles, 20, 185 30 amp, 187 50 amp, 187 230 volt, 187 clock, 186 commercial-grade designer, 191 exterior, 20 GFCI, 20, 190 isolated ground, 189 middle-run, 59 specification grade, 186 split-circuit, 60 surge-suppressor, 192 troubleshooting, 261 twist-lock, 189 Recessed light housings, 60 Recessed lighting, 132 Index 363 Reciprocating saws, 247 Referrals, 269 Remote control, 75 Repairs, 255 Residential lighting, 96 Residential luminaires, 113 Retirement goals, 296 Rigid conduit, 20 Rocker switches, 195 Roughing-in, 36 Round plugs, replacing, 256 S Safety, 303 air-powered tools, 314 chisel, 317 clothing, 307 co-worker, 317 drill, 311 ear, 309 eye, 309 general, 306 jewelry, 308 knee, 309 ladders, 315 powder-actuated tools, 315 power pipe threaders, 314 saw, 313 screwdriver, 317 tool, 310 vehicle, 306 Salary, 293 Scalp injuries, 325 Schedule, 34, 287 Scheduling obstacles, 291 Sconces, 119 Screwdrivers, 245 Series circuits, 1 Series-parallel circuits, 4 Severe bleeding, 321 Shock, 327 symptoms of, 328 Sizing circuits, 41 Slab wiring, 34 Smart house, 78 Specification grade receptacles, 186 Specialty switches, 196 Splinters, 322 Split-circuit outlets, 60 Stairways, 100, 104 Steel fluorescent fixture data, 123 Structured wiring system, 74 Subcontractors, 290 Subfeeder circuits, 5 Submain circuits, 5 Subpanels, 71 Suppliers, 290 Surface wiring, 53 Surge control, 76 Surge suppressor receptacles, 192 Switches, 24, 193 dimmer, 195 electric, 170 key, 194 keyless, 194 pull-chain, 194 push-type, 194 rocker, 195 specialty, 196 time-delay, 197 troubleshooting, 259 turn-knob, 194 System specifications, 82 T Take-offs, 277 Tap circuits, 6 Tape measures, 247 Index 364 Taxes, 296 Telecommunications, 81 Temporary service, 33 Temporary wiring, 11 Thermostats, 266 Time-delay switches, 197 Time management, 302 Timers, 74 Tip sheets, 71 Tool expenses, 294 Tool safety, 310 Tools, 239 Tourniquets, 321 Torpedo levels, 247 Track lighting, 132 Tracking production, 289 Transformer, 165 Three-phase conductor, 172 Trimming out, 38 Troubleshooting, 255 Twist-lock receptacles, 189 U Under-cabinet lights, 120 V Vehicle expenses, 294 Variable speed drives, 163 Volt-Ohm-Amp meters, 248, 250 Volt-Ohm testers, 248, 250 Voltage meters, 248 W Wall heaters, 149 Wall lights, 118 Wall mounted fluorescent light fixture, 126 Wall plates, 198 Whole-house fans, 61 sizing, 61 Wire applications, 199 Wire connectors, 199 Wire lube, 252 Wire sizes, 199 Wireless, 75 Wiring, 11, 151 basement, 34 exterior, 15, 35 overhead, 16 slab, 34 surface, 53 temporary, 11 Wires, 173 properties of standard copper, 174 Wood boring bits, 242 Wood framed fluorescent light fixture data, 124 Working wire, 56 Wounds, open, 320 Wye circuits, 161 X X-10 technology, 77 Index 365 . 5 tap, 6 wye, 161 Circuit breakers, 168 troubleshooting, 263 Clock receptacle, 186 Close-to-ceiling fixtures, 114 Closets, 108 Commercial building electrical distribution system, 160 Compact fluorescent. 252 Fluorescent lighting, 86 Fluorescent fixtures, 258 Foot injuries, 326 Foyers, 104 Fuse bank, 169 Fuses, 168 G GFCI receptacles, 20, 190 Growth expenses, 296 H Hacksaws, 242 Halls, 100, 104 Hand. 305 Outdoor systems, 81 Outside components, 21 Overhead wiring, 16 P Parallel circuits, 1 Parallel-series circuits, 2 Pendants, 116 Permits, 32 Pipe threaders, 251 Pliers, 244 Plugs, 197, 256 240