Know safety requirements.
Many people are electrocuted and even killed each year because they were not observing the proper safety requirements when working with electricity.

The following are some basics:


• Always turn off the power before you start any kind of electrical work or repair. You can remove the fuse for the circuit you will be working on, or you can trip the main breaker if you are unsure if it is really off or now. Keep in mind, though, that this will turn off power throughout the rest of your house as well.


•  Never work alone. Always have someone with you who can shut off the power or administer CPR in the event that you get shocked or electrocuted.


•  Work with one hand. Whenever possible, you should always work with one hand because when an electric current passes from one hand to the other, it travels through the heart as well. Even severe shocks can be survived when they go through the hand to the foot, but shocks that freeze up the muscles in the heart and chest can kill you and make CPR and defibrillation useless.


•  Read the instructions completely. This may seem like a no-brainer, but make sure you read all of the instructions if you are installing something before you begin working.


•  When in doubt, hire a professional. If you have any doubt about what you are doing or are not sure you understand, make sure you hire a professional or call in someone who knows what they are doing.

Know the basics.
Basic electrical knowledge, including the following information, can help you plan ahead before doing electrical work on your home.


• Wires are color coded. White wire is the neutral wire, the black wire is the "hot" wire, and the exposed copper wires are ground wires. In some situations the white wire is used as the hot wire, and in this case it should be (but isn't always) marked black with marker, paint, or tape so you can tell. In some cases there is a red wire; if this is present, it is also hot.


•  Know whether you have aluminum wiring or not. Some homes are wired with aluminum wire. You can tell if yours is because the metal under the insulation will be white instead of copper in color. If you are working with aluminum or copper wires, be sure to use a wire connector that is made specifically for cases like these.

Doing electrical work yourself can save you money, but it can also be dangerous if you are unsure of what you are doing. The above tips are just a few things you should know before putting in your electrical.