Watch for Signs of Starvation
Of course, as your state has done with its highways, some people have expanded and modernized their wiring. But many others have not yet seen this need, or if they have, they may have to do it again.
Here's why:
Your power supplier delivers current to you at the right voltage or electrical pressure. If the wires in your house are large enough, they will pass this full voltage on to the appliances.
But if your wiring is too small, the electricity arrives at the appliances so weak that they can't work properly, and much of what you pay for is wasted.
Here are some things you can watch for in your own home. They will tell you whether your appliances are getting enough electrical "food" or not.
1. A shrinking TV picture—If it draws in from the sides of the screen, fades, loses contrast, or if the sound becomes distorted, you may have low voltage.
2. Too much fuse blowing or circuit breaker tripping.
3. Heating appliances are slow to do their jobs.
4. Lights dimming, when motors or other appliances are turned on.
There Should Be Enough Ways to Get "Appliance-Food" Around
If appliances in your home show these starvation signs, then you may not have enough ways for the electricity to get to where it's used.
There are three kinds of these electrical highways or circuits, and your home should have enough of each:
1. General purpose circuits—These serve lights all over the house, and convenience outlets everywhere except in the kitchen, laundry, and dining areas.
A rule-of-thumb is: There should be at least one general purpose circuit for each 500 sq. ft. of floor space.
2. Small appliance circuits—These are not used for lights, but instead they supply convenience outlets in the kitchen, laundry, and dining areas where portable appliances are most used.
Every home should have at least two small-appliance circuits.
3. Individual or special-purpose circuits—One of these is needed for each: electric range, dishwasher, water heater, freezer, automatic washer, clothes dryer, air conditioner, pump, and house heating equipment.
Wire sizes commonly used in homes