Learn about your home Electrical Wiring.

An important component of your home Electrical Wiring that acts as the distribution center to the rest of you electrical fixtures and receptacles, is the electrical service panel located in your home. Electricity from Utility Transformers on utility poles outside your home enter your home through the electric meter to the electrical service panel, which then transfer the energy to connected circuit breakers inside the panel. Circuits then perform the job of transporting the electricity to the various fixtures and receptacles within your home.

Types of Electrical Wires

Wires used in your home electrical wiring come in various size, shapes and colors. They can be enclosed inside flexible metals, plastics or rubber to protect the wires and are generally made of copper or aluminum. They are classified as Hot wires (red, black or white) - Which carry current at high voltage to receptacles and fixtures, Neutral wires (white or grey) - carry current at zero voltage, and grounding wires (bare copper). They are assigned numbers to signify there sizes. These numbers are number 14 wires (0.064 inches diameter)- They are generally used for receptacles etc and carry 120 volts, number 12 wires (0.081 inches in diameter) also carry 120 volts and are be used for receptacles and fixtures, and number 10 wires (0.102 inches in diameter)- carries 240 volts and are used by clothes dryers, electric water heaters or other higher electricity demand items in your home.

Your Home Fixtures, Devices and Receptacles Electrical Wiring

At the heart of your home electrical wiring is the Electrical Service Panel. Electricity is carried to the various fixtures, receptacles and devices in your home by circuits from the Service Panel. Circuits carry currents through hot wires (red, black or white wires) to your receptacles, fixtures etc.. at full voltage, and return current at zero voltage back to the Electrical Service Panel. Current is then returned back by a large neutral wire to the utility transformer outside your home. Circuits breakers inside the panel prevent the circuit from over loading, which is cause when the circuit carries too much current.