POWER IN THE HOUSE

PREFACE

House power line has line diagram like below. Before power come out to the outlet, usually must passing a KiloWatt Hour (KWH) meter and a circuit breaker or fuse. A KWH meter is installed outdoors at the end of the service mast. This meter records the amount of electric energy used in the home.

        Many of new installations didn't use fuses anymore, because it is more difficult to maintain it than a circuit breaker and besides that for a long time used circuit breaker is more cheaper than fuse. If a fuse was blown up, it must be replaced with a new one. If a circuit breaker was tripped, it is simple to on again by clicking it. There is also another type of fuse called automatic fuse. This fuse has the inner works like circuit breaker, but the body is likely the common fuse, except it has a button to release the tripped coils. Becareful when do some repair on this section, because a wire carried a hot line, don't ever to touch that.

        After passing this circuit breaker (fuse), the line maybe branch to any part of the house and each part usually completed with another circuit breaker. This circuit breaker placed in a panel board (distribution panel). Distribution panel also used in the building or in the staged house. From here the line maybe used for lighting or to electric outlet. Always keep in mind, before do some electrical job, always off the circuit breaker or take the fuse from the holder first.
 

SWITCH CONNECTION

        There are many kinds of connection switch, ie. single pole switch, double pole switch, three-way switch, four-way switch.

• Single Pole Switch
A single pole single throw switch is used in house wiring to control light(s) from one point. When this switch is push on, the circuit is completed between the two terminal points, allowing current to flow through the switch. In the off position, the contact between the two terminal point is broken, opening the internal switch circuit.

 

• Double Pole Switch
A double pole single throw switch is used on heavy-duty house circuits. This switch capable of opening both wires at the same time. The double pole switch is similiar in construction to a pair of single pole switches. Two sets of terminal screws marked line and load are provided, and the handle of the switch is identified as being on or off. 

 

• Three-Way Switch
A pair of single pole double throw switches, commonly referred to in house wiring as three-way switch, must be used to control light(s) from two positions. Common examples include control of hall or stairway lights, also generally used in the hotel room. The internal circuit of this device is such that it allows current to flow through the switch in either of its two positions. For this reason there are no on/off marks on the operating handle. A three-way switch is recognize by its three terminals. The common terminal is identified by the word "line", or by a differently colored terminal screw. When replacing this type of switch be careful to connect the line wire to the proper terminal screw. 

• Four-Way Switch
To control light(s) from three different positions, you need a pair of three-way switches and a four-way switch. The four-way switch, like the three-way switch, allows current to flow through the switch in either of its two positions. For this reason there are no on/off marks on the operating handle. 

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