Electricity is used in nearly every single home for a wide range of purposes, but very few people actually have any idea how the home electrical system works. If you know a little about how the electrical power in your home operates, you will be better able to maintain and operate that system safely and efficiently, and hopefully avoid any major problems.
The electricity that powers the various electronic devices in your home – television, lights, fridge, microwave, etc – can be produced in a number of ways. Water, coal, gas, diesel fuel, or nuclear reactors have all been used to generate electrical for domestic consumption. Once the electrical power has been generated, it is normally sent to a device called a ‘transformer’, which increase the voltage to around 200,000 volts. Boosting the voltage, or power, of the electricity generated allows the wires and conductors that transfer electricity to remain quite small.
From the transformer, the electrical energy is sent across the country, branching off along the way into the areas where it will be used. For industrial areas, the voltage in the electrical power is reduced to anywhere from 5000 volts to 30,000 volts. In residential areas, the voltage will be reduced to a maximum of 13,000 volts. This is then reduced even further once it actually reaches your home. A typical voltage used in a home electrical system is around 240 volts, and enters your system via the electric meter.
After entering the electric meter, the electricity will pass through your home’s breaker panel, which distributes the electricity (via individual breakers) throughout your home. Breakers can be designed for either 120 volts, or 240 volts. If a higher amount of electricity tries to go through the breaker, it will trip, cutting the power to that part of your house.
Other types of breakers which you may have installed in your home are GFCI breakers, and AFCI breakers. These increase the safety of your home electrical system, and are a very good thing to have installed. GFCI (Ground Fault circuit Interrupter) breakers protect you from electrical shocks by detecting when current goes to ground. AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) breakers are used to help prevent electrical fires in your home.
When it comes to electricity, there are a few basic safety rules you should always follow. Always shut off the power before working on any part of your home electrical system. If a breaker trips repeatedly, call an electrician as this may be a sign that something is wrong. Never handle electrical equipment with wet hands, and keep any electrical appliances well away from water. Do not touch live or exposed wires. If in doubt, it is always best to call a professional electrician.