Household Electricity

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Since the service panel has black, red, and white wires, the total voltage is 120 + 120 = 240 volts.

The service panel usually contains circuit breakers. The breakers have either a red or a black wire attached to them.

The service panel provides electricity for the branch circuits.

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Usually 15 amp breaker

30 amps or greater

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Powerful Devices

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The Neutral Wire (White)

The neutral wire is the ground

Grounds protect us from electrocution

Service Panel has a ground wire

3 prong plug – the circular, bottom hole leads to the ground buried outside.

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The Neutral Wire (White)

The neutral wire is _

Grounds protect us from

Service Panel has a

3 prong plug – the circular, bottom hole _.

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Three Prong Plug

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Circuit Breakers

Circuit breakers open the circuit when a current in a house wire exceeds the rated current for that circuit.

The circuit breaker protects people from being electrocuted to death and protects us from burning down the house.

Circuit overloads cause the generation of heat.

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Circuit breakers - Details

Ordinary breakers are rated as 15 amps.

There are bigger breakers provided for such circuits that require 240 volts – e.g Dryers and water heaters.

Instead of circuit breakers some electrical devices have fuses. Often electric stoves have fuses.

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Fuses are Older than Circuit of Breakers

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GFCI – Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter

Detects current differences in the neutral and hot wire

Should be same

If not, the internal breaker goes immediately

Can reset

Use near water sources – where safety is concern

Bathroom, outdoor outlets

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House Hold Wiring

House hold circuits are 120 volts and are alternating current. Appliances are usually connected in parallel.