When a home or business has an electrical installation, it’s important that the wiring is connected correctly to prevent shocks and other damages. Having a clear understanding of how switchboard wires work is the best way to reduce risk and save time and money on repair costs.
Basically, switchboards are a series of circuits that send power from the utility provider to devices throughout a property’s reach of a power grid. These circuits are separated into various load circuits, such as lighting loads or plug sockets. The amount of current each circuit holds depends on the device it is connected to.
The switchboard is a complex assembly of panels/frames, control/monitoring devices and busbars that distribute power to different sections within the installation. This can include circuit breakers, overcurrent protective devices and metering systems.
Wiring in a switchboard is a process that requires multiple different wires, tools and materials. This is a dangerous task and should only be completed by experienced electricians or trained experts to avoid damage to your property, injuries and other complications.
First, you need to determine which switchboard wires you’re going to use. This can be done by removing the existing insulated wiring from the switchboard enclosure. You may also need to remove the wiring from the meter box, if there is one.
Once you have identified which switchboard wires you’ll be using, it’s time to begin the actual connection. Start by exposing about 3/4-in. to 1-in. of copper conductor on each wire. Once you have uncovered the conductor, twist it with your pliers and cap it with a wire nut. Consult the wire-nut package to ensure that you’re properly sizing the wire connectors.
When you’ve finished with the sizing, connect the wires together in a bundle. You’ll want to make sure that there’s a little bit of overlap between the wires so you don’t damage any.
White (neutral) wires are often connected in a bundle before the black (hot) ones. These wires are typically attached to the back of a switch box and routed to a central location. Once you’ve shortened the length of each wire and twisted it with your pliers, you can connect them to their respective terminals in the switch box.
Light switch wiring is a common type of switch wiring that is used for both commercial and residential applications. The basic function of a light switch is to turn on or off a particular light fixture or light bulb. However, there are many other types of lights that can be controlled by a light switch.
The wires that connect the lights to their switches are known as power-through wires and end-line wires, respectively. The power-through wires are connected to the switch itself, while the end-line wires are connected to the light fixture or light bulb. In addition, you’ll need to place an earth wire on each of these wires. The ground wire is meant to keep the body of the switch and the plugged-in device at the same potential.
