When a lightbulb goes out in the living room or the phone charger in the bedroom stops working, for simple electrical issues such as these, as long as you exercise common sense, you have nothing to worry about.
However, more and more people are now attempting larger (and therefore more dangerous) electrical jobs, and if you are one of them, you should definitely continue reading.
Here are some helpful tips and safety advice for amateur and DIY electricians.
Low Voltage Can Still Be Dangerous
Should you be working on an area of your home that does not outwardly prove to be particularly tricky in terms of the electrical wiring, do not make the mistake of assuming that wiring labeled as low voltage means a lack of danger.
You can still experience a mild electrical shock from this kind of wiring, and if you do not expect this, it could push you off your ladder or endanger you in some other way.
The best practice, therefore, is to treat every single wiring set-up as a standard voltage, which will ensure you always keep up the high electrical health and safety standards that you need.
Never Cut Corners
Regardless of the electrical work you are preparing to embark upon, it is necessary to invest in several safety tools to ensure nothing goes wrong from start to finish, including the following:
- VDE wire cutters for protection when trimming and cutting
- A voltage detector to test where power is situated within the walls
- VDE 1000V screwdrivers for shock protection
- Cable detectors
Prestigious electrical suppliers like powerpoint bulk electrical supplies are not only for professional electricians but supply individuals, too, and they will also be more than happy to answer any questions or queries you may have.
Learn About GFCI Devices
Amongst the more common reasons why a professional electrician is called to a residential property is due to a failure of the electricity in the bathroom.
The UK law states that any plug socket within six feet of a sink, toilet, or other water source should be protected by a GFCI device.
A GFCI, meaning a ground fault circuit interrupt, is a failsafe piece of equipment that will kick in should an electrical circuit lose power, specifically amperage and is also useful for outdoor plug sockets.
GFCI devices are commonly found in bathrooms due to the simple fact that such rooms are not usually wired through an isolated circuit, meaning that a problem in the bathroom would otherwise affect wiring in other rooms in the home.
Always Install Protection for Electrical Wires
Finally, even though many magazines and online advice websites state that simple household rubber is enough to ground a wire and, indeed, wearing rubber boots will protect from shocks, most regular rubber is simply not pure enough to be guaranteed to work.
If you are someone who has protected wiring and other electrical accessories with plain rubber, you should also ensure that you are using proper safety equipment when handling anything to do with electricity.