Electrical Guides and Articles
Clear explanations of wiring, components, regulations, and electrical safety.
How to Read an Electrical Wiring Diagram: Beginner Guide with Symbols
Learn how to read electrical wiring diagrams, understand common symbols, trace live, neutral and earth paths, and test simple circuits safely in ElectraSim.
Extension Leads and Power Strips: What's Safe, What's Not, and When They Cause Fires
Every UK household has extension leads and power strips. Most are using them unsafely. This guide covers safe loading, daisy-chaining risks, cable reel fire danger, surge protection, outdoor use, RCD requirements, and the simple calculation that prevents overloads.
Electrical Safety Certificates Explained: EICR vs Electrical Installation Certificate vs Minor Works
EICR, Electrical Installation Certificate, Minor Works Certificate, Part P compliance — four documents, four different triggers, constant confusion. This guide explains which electrical certificate you need, when, why, and what each one actually proves.
Surge Protection Devices (SPDs) Explained: What They Are and What BS 7671 Amendment 2 Requires
Voltage surges from lightning and switching events can destroy electronics silently and instantly. This guide explains how Surge Protection Devices work, the main SPD types, where BS 7671 Amendment 2 requires them, and how to choose the right SPD for a domestic or commercial installation.
Cable Clipping and Containment: How to Run Electrical Cables Safely and Legally
How you route and support electrical cables is just as important as choosing the right size. This guide covers every containment method — surface clipping, conduit, trunking, cable tray, concealed runs — and explains the BS 7671 rules on prescribed zones, the 50 mm depth rule, and mechanical protection.
AFDDs Explained: Arc Fault Detection Devices and BS 7671 Requirements
Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDDs) are required by BS 7671 in specific higher-risk residential locations and recommended more widely. This guide explains what AFDDs are, how they detect dangerous arcing faults that MCBs and RCDs miss, where they are required, and whether you need one.
RCD Protection Zones Explained: How to Design a Modern Consumer Unit
Split-load, fully RCBO, whole-board RCD — which layout gives the best protection without constant nuisance trips? This guide explains how RCD protection zones work, how to plan circuit allocation, and what BS 7671 actually requires for new and upgraded consumer units.
How to Use a Multimeter: Electrical Testing Guide for Beginners
A multimeter is the most useful tool in any electrician's or DIYer's kit. This UK guide covers voltage, continuity, resistance, and current measurements — how to set up the meter, what the readings mean, and how to use a multimeter safely on domestic wiring.
Landlord Electrical Safety Obligations: Complete UK Compliance Guide
UK landlords have clear legal obligations for electrical safety — EICR checks, safe supplied appliances, Part P notification for new work, and RCD protection expectations. This guide covers every obligation, the penalties for non-compliance, and what to do when an inspection reveals a problem.