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To anyone reading this post: This a first draft and should NOT be used for reference!!!
As the forum regulars know, working on electricity is very different from working on other home repair projects. Electricity is invisible, it can start fires, and it only takes a fraction of a second to get a potentially fatal shock off the mains supply. The only other work that even comes close to this level of danger is working with gas, and you can at least smell a gas leak (usually).
Lately I've seen some disagreement on what a DIYer should know and what tools he should have before he even considers taking off the cover plate to a light switch. It is my intention therefore to create a master list of tools and basic knowledge for electrical DIY projects. A couple of lists for specific projects (such as kitchens) that require additional tools and have extra IEE wiring regulations would be helpful additions. A list of projects that the amateur has no business tackling himself might also be a good idea.
I know some of the basic information is in the "welcome" post, but it's rather scattered and disorganized, and there is disagreement therein. What I'm looking to accomplish is a maintainable, organized, single post containing as much information as possible. A forum regular who isn't planning on leaving any time soon should make this post and edit it as necessary.
If we could make the final version of this list an "announcement" style post, we could point all new DIYers to it rather than repeat the same safety information over and over in the posts, as well as make sure that they know basics like what color the neutral wire is before they start work.
Here's some suggestions from me to get started, bear in mind I'm not an electrician and I'm not from the UK, so this is just to get started.
Essential DIY Information for Electrics:
Please correct me where I have erred, and make additions! Let's make this the best single reference for DIY electrical work anywhere! And let's get the issue of whether or not a multimeter is an essential tool settled once and for all.
As the forum regulars know, working on electricity is very different from working on other home repair projects. Electricity is invisible, it can start fires, and it only takes a fraction of a second to get a potentially fatal shock off the mains supply. The only other work that even comes close to this level of danger is working with gas, and you can at least smell a gas leak (usually).
Lately I've seen some disagreement on what a DIYer should know and what tools he should have before he even considers taking off the cover plate to a light switch. It is my intention therefore to create a master list of tools and basic knowledge for electrical DIY projects. A couple of lists for specific projects (such as kitchens) that require additional tools and have extra IEE wiring regulations would be helpful additions. A list of projects that the amateur has no business tackling himself might also be a good idea.
I know some of the basic information is in the "welcome" post, but it's rather scattered and disorganized, and there is disagreement therein. What I'm looking to accomplish is a maintainable, organized, single post containing as much information as possible. A forum regular who isn't planning on leaving any time soon should make this post and edit it as necessary.
If we could make the final version of this list an "announcement" style post, we could point all new DIYers to it rather than repeat the same safety information over and over in the posts, as well as make sure that they know basics like what color the neutral wire is before they start work.
Here's some suggestions from me to get started, bear in mind I'm not an electrician and I'm not from the UK, so this is just to get started.
Essential DIY Information for Electrics:
- Things to Know:
- The definitions of Voltage, Amperage, and Resistance.
- The difference between Live, Switched Live, Neutral, and Earth, and the standard wire colors of each.
- What the standard markings and abbreviations mean on electrical parts, such as "Com" and "L1". (someone help me out here with others)
- The difference between a fuse, a circuit breaker, and a residual current device.
- How to isolate the power to the area in which you will be working.
- How to use a voltmeter at the very least, a multimeter preferably.
- The minimum wire size you should be using (someone help me out here with UK regulations).
- The difference between AC and DC
- What "ring mains" wiring means and how to properly hook it up.
Don't work on electricity unless you understand all of these terms!
- Tools to Have:
- A set of screwdrivers (do you use both Philips and flathead in the UK?)
- Wire strippers
- If a fuse is protecting your work area, have at least one spare fuse of the same Amp rating and style
- A voltmeter at least, a multimeter preferably
- Eye protection
- Safety Precautions to Take:
- ALWAYS isolate the power to your work area, either by turning off the circuit breaker or removing the fuse. Leave a conspicuous note at the consumer unit to prevent anyone from turning the power back on while you are working, and make sure everyone else knows you will be working. If your consumer unit locks, lock it and keep the key with you at all times until you are finished. NEVER work on live wiring!
- Always test the wires and connections you will be working on with your voltmeter to make sure they are unpowered. Even if you think you have isolated all the power, bad wiring or multiple feeds into the same room can cause accidents.
- Always make a note or a sketch of the wires you are working on so you know where they go. It wouldn't be a bad idea to file this away for future reference, in case something goes wrong or you need to work on it again.
- Common Tasks in Order of Difficulty:
- Replace an socket
- Replace a light switch
- Add a spur off a ring mains
- Install a new mains power light fixture
- Add a new socket in a ring mains
- Replace a 2-way light switch
- Install a new extra low-voltage light fixture
- Add an additional consumer unit
- When You Should Call an Electrician:
- If your circuit breaker keeps tripping/fuse keeps blowing and it's not immediately obvious why.
- If you see that the existing wiring is wrong (wrong colors used, not up to IEE wiring regulations, etc).
- If you are not comfortable working with electricity, don't know all the terms in the "things to know" section, or don't have the proper tools.
- If there might be IEE wiring regulations you don't know about, for example working in the bathroom or kitchen.
- If the project is replacing the consumer unit, or working directly with the supply from the utility.
Please correct me where I have erred, and make additions! Let's make this the best single reference for DIY electrical work anywhere! And let's get the issue of whether or not a multimeter is an essential tool settled once and for all.