You've probably got countless power outlets around your house, but you may wonder why some of them seem to be installed ...

While the National Electrical Code (NEC) specifically mandates that new construction includes GFCIs in basements, there is another ironic exclusion among the list: sump pumps. Sump pumps are designed ...

I have asked hundreds of electricians, inspectors, and Code enthusiasts if the receptacle in the photo is included in the 2017 GFCI protection requirements of Sec. 210.8(B). I was surprised at the ...

You know what sends a home inspector's blood pressure through the roof? Opening up a panel or peeking behind a wall only to ...

All references are based on the 2014 edition of the NEC. Many of you have probably experienced the unpleasant feeling of stepping out of a nice hot shower on a freezing cold winter day only to step on ...

Many a homeowner has had the experience of losing power halfway through a morning shave or blow-dry. A quick run to the breaker panel to see what happened doesn’t help at all. None of the breakers ...

A core-balance protection device serves as an example of how these switches operate. Phase and neutral power conductors pass through a toroidal (differential) current transformer. Under normal ...

Few things are more convenient than an in-wall smart outlet when you want to turn a lamp or small appliance on and off, and the devices have been around almost as long as smart switches. But you haven ...

Since their introduction in to the National Electrical Code in the 1970s, ground fault circuit interrupters have saved thousands of lives. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 50% of ...

Residential electrical branch circuit breakers incorporate electronic and electrical technology in Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters that can turn off power to prevent fires if arcing occurs. This ...