Rewiring your home is one of the most important electrical upgrades you can make. It reduces safety risks, prevents costly electrical repairs, and makes it easier to install modern appliances and devices.
If your house has old knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring, rewiring it with modern materials is essential. It reduces fire hazards and makes it easier to add electrical circuits, such as an outlet for charging electric vehicles. Contact Jacksonville NC Electric for professional help.
Your home’s electrical outlets are the lifeblood of your electric system. Over time, they become worn out and need to be replaced with new outlets. When it comes to upgrading your electrical outlets, it’s not only a safety issue but can also save you money on your energy bills.
One of the most common electrical outlet upgrades is the addition of GFCI outlets in kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms. These outlets are designed to protect against shocks and shut off if they detect moisture, which can help prevent electrical fires.
An upgrade to your home’s circuit breakers can also greatly improve the performance of the electrical wiring (those vital arteries mentioned earlier) throughout your entire house. You might want to add dedicated circuits for large appliances like refrigerators or air conditioning units, or simply put in a few extra breakers if your existing ones are only rated at 15 amps.
Your circuit breaker is the heart of your house’s electrical system, with each individual breaker connected to a specific set of outlets. If you open up your breaker box, you’ll often find numbers and masking tape that indicate which room or areas of the house each breaker powers. If you have a 20-amp wall outlet plugged into a breaker that is only rated for 15 amps, it won’t just trip the breaker; it will literally start to melt the wires inside the breaker box, and you could end up with an electrical fire in your home.
A qualified electrician can easily upgrade your home’s circuit breaker to 200 amps, which will be more than enough to handle the demand of modern devices and appliances. In fact, many homeowners in Northern Virginia who experience flickering lights, constantly tripped breakers or only have two-prong outlets will benefit from having their homes upgraded to this amperage level.
USB Outlets
You’re likely familiar with wall outlets that include USB ports — they’re becoming more common in public places like airports and coffee shops. Aside from the fact that they look sleek and modern, they’re a convenient way to avoid cord clutter in your home. A USB outlet simply plugs straight into the wall where a standard outlet would normally reside and is accessible to all your devices that use a USB charger, such as tablets, phones, laptops, smartwatches, or electric toothbrushes.
When choosing a USB outlet, it’s important to consider the amount of power each port can provide to ensure the safe operation of your devices. You’ll also want to select an outlet that is UL listed, respects National Electrical Code standards, and is tamper resistant.
For safety purposes, it’s always recommended that you hire a licensed electrician to install any outlet upgrade, including those that incorporate USB ports. Before beginning, it’s essential to turn off the breaker for the outlet you’re replacing at your circuit breaker panel and verify that there is no electricity running through the existing outlet by using a non-contact voltage tester or by plugging in an electrical device. You’ll then remove the old outlet and wire and connect your new receptacle outlet, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Once your new USB outlet is connected, you’ll need to switch the breaker back on and test it again to make sure no current is flowing through it. You’ll then screw the new outlet cover plate back into place and restore power to your home.
In most cases, installing a USB outlet isn’t a difficult task for someone familiar with basic electrical work. It’s best to consult a professional, however, if you’re inexperienced with replacing outlets or are concerned about whether your home wiring can support the additional amperage required by an upgraded outlet. In most instances, this will mean upgrading your existing wiring to accommodate the higher amperage. In some cases, this may also involve adding a new junction box to house the increased amperage. In either case, an electrician can assess your wiring and recommend any necessary upgrades.
CAT6 or CAT7 Ethernet Cables
The wires connecting your devices to your network can be upgraded at a relatively low cost. CAT 6 or CAT 7 Ethernet cables can handle current and future speed requirements, enabling you to enjoy faster gaming, streaming, and other applications. These cables provide more protection from interference, as well. The twisted pairs of copper in each cable are insulated from each other, significantly reducing noise and crosstalk. These wires also have a thicker diameter and are more difficult to cut down than CAT 5 or CAT5e wires. The added thickness and rigidity make them more expensive to install. Choosing the right cable is an important part of a home network upgrade, but it’s also necessary to consider how often you plan on upgrading your devices or changing your technology setup.
Currently, most ethernet cables used in homes are either CAT5e or CAT6. The former supports speeds up to one Gbps per second at 100 MHz and can be run up to 328 feet. The latter offers speeds up to 1000 Mbps at 250 MHz and has more reliable performance. Using these cables is sufficient for most home applications, but it may be worth upgrading to a higher standard if you’re planning on installing more advanced equipment.
Both CAT6 and CAT7 offer superior bandwidth and protection from interference. They are backward compatible, meaning you can continue to use your old hardware with these new cables. CAT7 provides a more robust connection than CAT6 and allows for up to 10 Gbps at 600 MHz. It has increased durability and a longer life cycle, making it a better choice for people who anticipate having to rewire their homes in the near future.
The difference between CAT7 and CAT6A is that the latter is augmented with additional shielding for each of its twisted pair. This helps to eliminate alien crosstalk and improves transmission quality. CAT7A is more expensive than CAT6 and should only be installed when the full advantages of this cable are needed, such as for data centers or high-performance networks. It isn’t practical for most home users, especially those who are less likely to regularly upgrade their technology.
The Big Three Wiring Upgrade
Adding high-powered car audio systems and other aftermarket accessories can put a strain on your vehicle’s original wiring and charging system. This can cause problems like dimming headlights, voltage drops and even damage to your battery or alternator. To avoid these issues, you can upgrade the Big Three wires in your car.
Upgrading these three crucial wires is an easy, affordable way to improve your overall driving experience. You can use larger gauge wires to reduce resistance and increase current flow. These upgrades will also protect your equipment from electrical failure and help it last longer.
The Big 3 Wiring Upgrade consists of replacing your factory battery ground wire, engine block ground wire and alternator power wire with larger versions. These upgrades will allow for increased current flow, less voltage drop and better conductivity. When paired with a high-output alternator, this wiring upgrade will give you enough juice to power your audio system without stressing your battery or other systems.
To perform the Big 3 Wiring Upgrade, you’ll need a handful of essential tools and supplies. First, you’ll need a heavy-duty cable capable of handling the increased electrical flow to your audio system. You’ll also need a pair of wire cutters, plastic cable ties for organization purposes and a soldering iron or torch to make the necessary connections. Finally, you’ll need heat shrink that matches your AWG and ring terminals/lugs for your new cable.
Once you’ve obtained these items, you can begin the installation process. Begin by locating your factory ground wire, which will be running from the battery to the chassis. If your car has a ground strap that runs from the engine block to the frame, you’ll need to grind away any excess paint on the frame to ensure it can accept the new, larger ring terminal.
Next, you’ll need to remove the positive battery terminal and the alternator power wire from the negative terminal. You’ll then connect your new cable to the positive battery terminal and the alternator power terminal. Ensure that the new wire is connected securely and that there are no exposed metal components.