13 Things Every Electrician Wants You to Know

9 / 14 Many people know that rubber is a great insulator, and so sometimes DIYers wrap themselves in rubber boots and gloves before tackling electrical issues. The problem is, most household rubber isnt pure. To keep the price down, manufacturers mix in additives that increase durability. If youre relying on rubber to keep you

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Protective Gear Is Only Protective if it’s Properly Made

Many people know that rubber is a great insulator, and so sometimes DIYers wrap themselves in rubber boots and gloves before tackling electrical issues. The problem is, most household rubber isn’t pure. To keep the price down, manufacturers mix in additives that increase durability. If you’re relying on rubber to keep you safe from an electrical charge, make sure you’re using actual safety gear. Here are a few electrical safety tips for parents.

Have you ever seen a TV show or film where an electrical line falls on a car but the passengers stay safe? That’s actually accurate, because the tires are such good conductors. The electricity takes the path of least resistance, traveling to the ground through the tires and bypassing the interior completely.

Take a tip from your electrician and make quality insulators part of your standard kit of protective gear.

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Family Handyman

You Can’t Install a Three-Slot Receptacle Without a Ground Wire

If you have two-slot outlets, it’s tempting to replace them with three-slot outlets so you can plug in three-prong plugs. But don’t do this unless you’re sure there’s a ground available.

Use a tester to see if your outlet is grounded. A series of lights indicates whether the outlet is wired correctly or what fault exists. These testers are readily available at home centers and hardware stores. If you discover a three-slot outlet in an ungrounded box, the easiest fix is to simply replace it with a two-slot outlet as shown.

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Never Tape or Hold Down a Circuit Breaker

Ask any electrician: Circuit breakers work because they break the circuit! When a breaker keeps popping, you need to find and fix the problem.

If you hold a breaker down with tape, the dangerous conditions will only continue, and you’ll be setting yourself up for a major problem. Forcing the breaker to maintain contact is a recipe for disaster and should be avoided at all costs.

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