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Well, don't take me out of context. But for a short run I wouldn't think you'd have to worry about it. This is why I'm asking about the ampacity limits on conductors. This situation would not have come up if the wires were sized properly for the breaker that was protecting them. If it was...

Is the CB required to be downstream from the RCD, or is it just generally put there? *Edit* Actually, now that I think about it, because the RCD is protecting multiple breakers it would have to be upstream from them... I am not aware of a unit in the US that's intended to provide ground...

I'd like to mention that up here in rural Minnesota, USA, when the power goes out it can sometimes be a few days before the power company can make it around to turn the electricity back on (they hit the big population centers first). So a lot of people around here have their own generators...

As long as you brought it up, I would definitely not recommend using this particular probe to verify the power is OFF. Only use it to verify the power is ON. It's not fail-safe. A dozen things can make the little light fail to come on, even if there is voltage on the wire you're testing...

Unfortunately what I am looking for is a straightforward answer. Yes, I realize that there are a number of exceptions and odd circumstances that can creep up in electrical installations that would influence your wire sizes and breaker ratings, but the average DIYer isn't going to be dealing...

It's okay to ask me directly! Yes, I know there's a difference. I meant extra-low voltage. It's fixed now, thanks.

See the BBCode Guide

I made some of the changes, but I have questions: What are the maximum fuse/breaker sizes for the wires you mentioned? By "all cable is twin and earth" do you mean that every wire you pull to any fixture or device must have three insulated conductors wrapped in a single jacket? What is a...

Go to google , click "images" and search for "electrical symbols". You'll find a ton of helpful images.

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...

I'm going to have to agree with BAS on this one. When performing electrical work, even DIY work, a cheap multimeter is an essential tool. Electricity is invisible, and you need some way to "see" it if you're going to work safely or troubleshoot a problem you have along the way. Sure, you...

Okay, here's the long answer. A normal switch is what we call "single pole single throw", or SPST. This means that in one position, the switch makes a contact between wire 1 and wire 2, and in the other position, the switch breaks the contact between wire 1 and wire 2. When wired in series...

Sorry for the confusion, BR. The terms GFI and GFCI are interchangeable in the US. We sometimes drop "current" from the name as redundant, obvious, and unnecessary. I don't think there is an exact equivalent to the RCD in the US. The difference I was pointing out above was simply the...

This is neither the forum nor the topic for a political discussion, but to be fair, when the British say "the rest of the world" they usually mean "Europe". You need to know about the other European countries because they're so close to you. I'd wager you don't know much more about, say...

Looks like we found our problem. :) Your friendly and helpful sales associate at your local hardware store will gladly explain the difference, help you select the right switch, and instruct you on how to fix your mistake. Small, family-owned hardware stores will be the most help. If you...

Excuse my interruption, but this is probably the best place to ask. Marcus1507 wants to use the 2.5mm^2 wire he already has, so I'm wondering if he can just run three 2.5mm^2 lines in parallel to get the same ampacity as a single 10mm^2 line? Is this acceptable in the UK?

Well first thing's first. Are you certain the old 3-way switch was replaced with a new 3-way switch, or could it have been replaced with a regular switch by mistake? There are several mistakes that could have been made. It would help if you told us what the four possible up/down...

I should clarify: The GFI Protected Outlet provides only ground fault protection. The circuit breaker that is powering the outlet provides the necessary overcurrent protection. The GFI Circuit Breaker, which you would put in the circuit breaker panel just like any other breaker, provides...

I assumed, when I first started learning about British electrical work, that a UK Residual Current Device and an American Ground Fault Current Interrupter were virtually identical. However, in the recent "kitchen ring" post in the UK electric forum, I found the following two statements: This...

I'd think the easiest thing to do is replace one of your 3 way switches with a 3 way dimmer switch, and leave the other one as a regular 3 way switch. And don't go cheap on the dimmer, higher-quality dimmers increase the lifespan of your light bulbs and don't make as much noise when they're set...