Electrical: Safety, How Tos & DIY Repairs
Understanding the wires, circuits, and more in your home can help you make safer repairs and upgrades. Here's all you need to know for DIY electrical work on circuits, outlets, breakers, and more.
Explore Electrical
![selecting a light bulb](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/lupiYVBou4UaVQKhc2WbaBaLJbk=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1370508445-dbe743aa224646b7b3ba44e2602ebb58.jpg)
Warm White vs. Soft White Light Bulbs: When to Use Each
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How to Install LED Strip Lights
![Ceiling fan](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/mShSsBmskxpLp2nBuSuUUVA1bZE=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1450315989-9b182972433648c9bac7e352373c66b9.jpg)
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Ceiling Fan?
![How to fix a wobbly ceiling fan](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/mq2nyW5_ImJIL3rEjuiyMWzS18w=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/SPR-how-to-fix-a-wobbly-ceiling-fan-6828400-hero_30683-c30bcf9100de428f8eb7fad357c58704.jpg)
How to Fix a Wobbly Ceiling Fan
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How to Remove a Stuck Recessed Light Bulb
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How to Remove a Recessed Light
![Low-Voltage Wiring](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/AH2F-y0OCzy5oimPdvPBZMJFqvE=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/LowVoltageWiring-c6522cbfd0d6405685b9e1d722e2bb83.jpg)
What Is Low-Voltage Wire?
![Dining Room Light Fixtures](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/A7FC0XLAJWANFwHkaMqwZxjge-Y=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/DiningRoomLightFixtures-331698a035164dae83ae46e9d40d06f2.jpg)
Why Is My Light Fixture Buzzing?
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How to Choose the Right Shower Light
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How to Install a Wall Sconce
![Kitchen outlet with electric kettle across from mug and french press coffee maker](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/957sD6YdNYvGfRmDL5hFPLxMkHo=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/kitchen-electrical-code-basics-1821527-hero-09fe7b0ecff34664aed19658e11cfd36.jpg)
Kitchen Electrical Code: Everything You Need to Know
![Closeup of a hand finishing installing recessed lighting](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/fJChwA3-FSC81u0DQZQvVw79ZKY=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/SPR-how-to-install-recessed-lighting-5192848-hero-01a3c4a146e9471fb16cc1db0d6429c0.jpg)
How to Install Recessed Lighting
![Lightbulb](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/Jjgg8U737KRwevwbDstvQvdDxDw=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Lightbulb-718d3da39d5e4aa2832988878c8ce1d6.jpg)
Watts vs Volts: Everything to Know About Measuring Electricity
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20 Top Tools You May Need for Electrical Projects
![A person using a voltmeters to measure amperage.](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/URDdKVIzeaO-y06_t8Azgzp7GPU=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/amperage-not-voltage-kills-1152476-48ee34a39c4248268f3c63b16a46256d_1-09e7a2c35de34f669647d2624aae39cc.jpg)
Amps vs. Volts: The Dangers of Electrical Shock
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What Light Bulb Wattage Do You Need?
![voltage tester](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/6szern4SBCHxsrsZsjhscq_od8c=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/top-electrical-tools-1152575_10_voltagetester_3257-540b90f4e65a48ec81b4b28e860e2b90.jpg)
8 Different Types of Electrical Testers and How to Choose One
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How to Determine Your Electrical Service Amps
How to Set Standard Outlet and Light Switch Heights
![Ground fault breaker installed inside home service panel](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/24UK02lV52j24PtVeOMww9caw3c=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/install-a-ground-fault-circuit-breaker-1152716-hero-c29ac379f11245dab3a0914e17d35c82.jpg)
How to Install a GFCI or AFCI/GFCI Circuit Breaker
![Recessed lighting held up by hand with light on](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/KvLH8HdNMJj_hwpp7zEgu6YOUh8=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/convert-ceiling-light-to-recessed-light-p2-1821561-hero-1fd056c75f4c453b911a9ab5ea211d71.jpg)
How to Convert a Ceiling Light to a Recessed Light
![Old work electrical box being mounted into wall with screwdriver](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/NqGA-pdajwuI4Cb-q5-uwydTKi8=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/install-old-work-electrical-box-1824655-hero-4d26cefd7df34e878ad375104f897797.jpg)
How to Install an Old Work (Retrofit) Electrical Box
How to Calculate Electrical Load Capacity for Safe Usage
![Hardwired smoke detector installed on wall](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/zdHIs7lQ_2l85c_Yj-0TexoQX00=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/install-hardwired-smoke-detectors-1152329-hero-d1c9df34ca7941a594e09daf1ce6cb51.jpg)
How to Install Hardwired Smoke Detectors
![replacing an outlet plate](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/hjNkQLIhUQHicrnRT5QCqqtMbHY=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/electrical-project-costs-1152463-04-55609fa6deb74a42923b74ae86d9d6a7.jpg)
How Much Does an Electrician Really Cost? We Break It Down by Service
![recessed ceiling light](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/_2OuHM_lZVWViUh-L8aNhYzeJXA=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/before-you-buy-recessed-lights-2175005-recirc-00fe987f7ba44677bf217b2efc85c989.jpg)
How to Buy Recessed Lights
![electric box](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/iqBCOQiJA0u0FSuMdbgsnISF-kM=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/electrical-switch-and-junction-boxes-1824666_02_standardrectangular-7c01a80666824af4a33ddd556abfe201-d31e6ea615cf48bd8e9165fe3fba589b.jpeg)
11 Types of Electrical Boxes and How to Choose One
![Plastic and metal electrical box](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/nSTNuxrQ6g4uQ6HvhfDlmIypd68=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/plastic-vs-metal-electrical-box-1821522_hero-de11812cdb1b4174b0fea6cc2fb5ffd4.jpg)
When to Use a Plastic or Metal Electrical Box
![Electrical junction box being nailed to wooden post for installation](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/B7P0UbEvR4LWYJcwoelJgi7Udbw=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/how-to-install-junction-boxes-1152327-hero-58c5720f8fd54c7bb1d7eb8e4a6b881a.jpg)
How to Install an Electrical Junction Box
![light switch on wall](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/4tXQ85MHgQiaBgXMALbNyxlEeO4=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/common-electrical-codes-by-room-1152276-hero-c990ede99b954981988f2d97f2f23470.jpeg)
Electrical Code Requirements by Room
![GFCI receptacle wired to line and load electrical system](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/u0-HojhA4Duv7zy7HJlsvpg2tYU=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/line-and-load-connections-1152729-hero-3c69852fd05843b3b1eaa1051e9c6065.jpeg)
Line vs. Load Wiring: What's the Difference?
![Electrical Service Panel](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/OhWSytyhQkLUpNjjjp8orZ4GBaQ=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/LoadCenter-567f54445f9b586a9ec531a2.jpg)
Inside Your Main Electrical Service Panel
![Installing an electrical box into drywall](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/yt36lJlHT9TRrIhWXNxY2fvJ_to=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/SPR-smart-tricks-for-installing-electrical-boxes-1821563-hero_24182-ba3143f80b8f40adab99f53af047ccdc.jpg)
7 Tips for Electrical Box Installation
![Electric Service Drop](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/CvV_Qjw1hRcQK4Mb1jWmerm2Ais=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ElectricServiceDrop-5bbfc876c9e77c00517cd227.jpg)
Residential Electrical Service Drops: What You Need to Know
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Line or Load With GFCI Connection
![Old fuse box](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/c56neqreVOMJAfY2qRwMD81G004=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/old-fuse-box-482257231-153508d24ecb4bf59bbe336151fda202.jpg)
Understanding Fuses and Fuse Boxes
![Residential Circuit Breaker Panel with Service Writing](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/KH-4h-t0lHjpM6cZv-TrgQsTiVg=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-184303809-5845d1253df78c0230340459.jpg)
Subpanels Explained for Home Owners
![Fuse box with screw-in fuses](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/DeqJpWeR578-x2nmGT4CRrHRCjc=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/old-fuse-box-482257231-e001cdffd4394a64b93009f47ac0d741.jpg)
A Guide to Screw-in Fuses
![underground electricity supply](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/DV6XNvhq9dZuLTgIson6EX7QQCQ=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/underground-electricity-supply-815169042-32965ac9e7104fffa52b714f65eb4abf.jpg)
How to Install Underground Electric Conduit Up to Code
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What to Expect During an Electrical Inspection
![person screwing a light bulb into a lamp](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/XmQYqKjbRbAZNFhdLmk4A3vck7Q=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/what-size-light-bulb-to-use-2175029-HERO-01-992d0e1517ed43ba90db12038752385a.jpg)
What Size Light Bulb Can I Use?
![Installation of a switch box](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/AMD0T_K2z5kg_8Iy6Gt_9VqeMfk=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/184359278-56a49e233df78cf772834a95.jpg)
Can I Do My Own Electrical Work?
![Electric Service Panel](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/Nf3uP_FsMp224sGYJdamNvIu8aw=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ShutOffCircuitBreaker-ae9af95b23974bb1ae24cf922033eceb.jpg)
Electrical Panels: Replacement Signs, Maintenance, and Homeowner Basics
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Bathroom Codes and Design Best Practices
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Electrical Code Requirements for Bathrooms
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How Does a Light Switch Work?
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How to Shut Off Your Home Gas Supply Valve
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7 Types of Bathroom Lighting
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How to Replace a Wall-Mounted Light Fixture (Sconce)
![Kitchen track lighting](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/Q1zz2Bdv3Oew3LcVJlVvbLHB-Ko=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Kitchentracklighting-GettyImages-1129132325-1989f37a082c493391d16a1659f1a509.jpg)
Types of Track Lights For Kitchens
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How to Remove a Broken Light Bulb: 5 Methods
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How to Install a Pendant Light
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How to Install An AC Window Unit
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5 Different Fluorescent Tube Sizes and How to Choose One
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How to Replace an Electrical Outlet: A Beginner's Guide
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How Much Does It Really Cost to Replace an Electrical Panel?
![Thermostat](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/UVusFIiTIPXBQ5aDoDjCcU_UOEc=/315x236/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/thermostatGettyImages-163842038-5a29c5eceb4d5200364ab479.jpg)
How Much Does Thermostat Replacement Cost? Here's What to Know
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How to Open a Garage Door Manually Without Power
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Why Isn't My Outside AC Unit Turning On? 6 Causes and How to Fix Them Fast
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How to Replace a Bathroom Fan: a Step-by-Step Guide