Maintaining the electrical installation of a home: the keys to understanding it
Many people are unfamiliar with the electrical system in their homes, so attempting to repair or tamper with it can be dangerous. We invite you to learn the basics of your home’s electrical system so you know how to respond to a problem.
What you need to know about the electrical installation of a home
Regarding the electrical installation of a home, there are several aspects that we are interested in knowing, both for our own safety and for our comfort.
Type of electrical installation
An electrical system can be of two types:
- Two-phase: The distribution of electricity is carried out through two conductors, one phase conductor that comes from the distributor and one neutral conductor.
- Single-phase : Electricity is distributed through four conductors, three of which are live (phase) and one neutral. This is the most suitable system because it allows the use of appliances with two-phase or three-phase connectors.
Components of the electrical installations of a home
The main components of interior electrical installations are the splicing, the panels, and the circuits.
Connection points : These are usually located next to the meter in easily accessible places to perform the necessary operations. This is the ideal scenario, but it may not be found in all homes.
Panels : They can be of different types: general, command panels, control panels and auxiliary panels, each of them with a specific function that renovation experts know perfectly.
Circuits : These depend entirely on the existing electrical installation. Circuits consist of terminals such as switches or sockets , conductors (the wires through which the electricity flows), and conduits (the channels through which the wires are run and enclosed).
Why is maintaining the home’s electrical installation so important?
A failure in any component of the electrical system that powers a home can have numerous negative consequences, including causing fires. This underscores the importance of maintaining your home’s electrical system.
What does the maintenance of the electrical installation involve?
Electrical maintenance in the home mainly deals with three aspects: repair, prevention, and maintenance.
Prevention
By maintaining the installation, we can prevent future problems . Prevention is achieved through both visual inspections and proper cleaning of its components.
You might also be interested in: OAK2000 explains how to save on electricity while decorating your home
Fault detection
Regular inspection of the various visible parts of the electrical installation will allow us to detect the presence of faults or situations that require intervention because their tendency will be to worsen.
Repair
Taking immediate action is another task that the maintenance of electrical installations in homes is concerned with.
What can we do and what can’t we do if we’re not electricians?
Two of the tasks involved in maintaining an electrical installation are cleaning and visual inspection . In this regard, we can clean electrical outlets such as switches with a damp cloth or electrical panels with a dry cloth, always ensuring the main power is disconnected and wearing protective gloves .
By fulfilling this requirement to ensure our own safety, we can also detect problems in the lighting fixtures.
Don’t assume that just because a light bulb isn’t working, it needs to be changed!
The procedure in this case is:
- Cut off the electricity
- Remove the bulb that doesn’t light up and place it in a fixture that does work, and vice versa.
- Turn the electricity back on from the panel to check if the bulb works or if the problem is in the light fixture or electrical circuit.
What do I do if I encounter a breakdown?
If you discover a problem during a visual inspection or after changing a light bulb, try disconnecting the power to the area and call us . We’ll help you solve your problem and give you the best advice for maintaining your home’s electrical system.