UPFRO Residential Electric Voltage & Amperage This information is presented as a guideline for private use only and serves as discussion points for our inspectors and/or clients. EXTERIOR Voltage This picture shows standard 220+ Volts: Two (2) 110+ wires One (1) ground wire One supporting cable If there is only one 110-220 wire coming into the home (along with the ground wire), this would indicate 110 Volts and is considered antiquated and inadequate service for today s modern homes and appliances. Voltage can be determined from the exterior of a home. * Note: Each Voltage line is normally 110-120V. Two lines would be 220-240V. Voltage leaving the utility pole at the street is rated 240V. This dissipates and will normally be 220V as it enters the house. For our insurance inspection purposes, we indicate the minimum voltage rating it would enter the house. Amperage Amperage is normally shown on the Circuit Breaker or Fuse box located inside the home. Amperage can be estimated from the exterior of the home by the width of the Connecting Pipe by using a gauge see below. The larger the pipe the higher the amperage. Discuss this with your manager. Main Amperages in a home are: 60 Amps 100 Amps 150 Amps 200 Amps A Modern Home today has 220 Volts & at least 100 Amps! Modern Homes may have underground wiring from the street. Just note this in your report! Additional Info The DISK located in the Exterior Meter should be spinning. This indicates that electricity is flowing into the home. If this meter is not spinning it may indicate that the home is vacant or unoccupied. All Wires & Equipment should be in good working order no damage noted, no frayed wires, etc. http://www.upfro.com/inspectors/electric%20101.htm (1 of 5)10/25/2006 10:40:09 AM
Main Amp Estimating Cards 100 AMP 4/0 Alum. Wire UPFRO Inspectors should receive a card similar to the right. The Gauge on this card can be used to accurately estimate the Main Amperage coming into a home. 150 AMP 2/0 Alum Wire Use these wire sizes to deter-mine sizes of electric services cables. There may be slight dif-ferences with different wire manufacturers 60 Amp #6 Alum. Wire 200 AMP 4/0 Alum. Wire INTERIOR When Electricity comes into a home or building it needs to be protected by a Circuit Breaker or Fuse System. If Electricity were allowed to flow directly into the home, a surge/demand could cause damage to the home (fire). As an analogy, think of electric current as water flowing thru pipes. If too much water were forced thru the pipes (a surge) they could break. With electricity, this surge would cause the wires located throughout the walls of a home to heat up (similar to friction). This heat could result in an electric fire. [Similarly, when too many appliances are plugged into an extension cord or a multi-plug, they may create an increase demand resulting in an overheated wire resulting in a fire.] Circuit Breaker System This is the most modern type of protection today (see below). When the flow of electricity is too high, the switches are tripped to the Off position. Circuit Breakers can be switched back to the On position provided the cause of the surge has been corrected. [These switches work using a magnetic current the higher the flow of electricity, the increased magnetism tripping the switch to the off position.] Fuses [Fuse, Fusestats, & Fusetrons] Somewhat older but still effective, these provide protection to a home as well. Fuse Inside a fuse is a small thin (zinc) wire that breaks when too much electric current passes thru it. These will need to be replaced once blown. Fusestats Over time, electric equipment and machines grew. Often there would be a start-up surge demanded by the equipment or machine. The machine might run comfortably at 17 amps, but needed 22 amps to start. A 20 Amp fuse would blow. Fusestats where created to accept, on a time delay this surge before they would blow and shut down the flow of electricity. Fusetrons Often a homeowner would replace the 20 Amp Fuse or Fusestat with a 25 Amp Fuse or Fusestate (and higher and higher Amperages) ever increasing the acceptable amperage and potential for problems. Fusetrons where created to prevent this. The sleeve size is altered for each Fusetron. In this way, you can only replace a blown 20 Amp Fusetron with a 20 Amp Fusetron. Any other size will not fit into the sleeve in the electric panel. Standard Sizes & Identifying Colors 12 Amp (& lower) Lt Blue 15 Amps Blue 20 Amps Orange 25 Amps Green 30 Amps (& higher) Green http://www.upfro.com/inspectors/electric%20101.htm (2 of 5)10/25/2006 10:40:09 AM How Can you tell a fuse from a fusestat or a fusetron? Only by reading never remove a fuse, fusestat or fusetron! What Else Should You Look For? Look for blown fuses next to the panel or boxes of replacement fuses. This would indicate that the homeowner has to replace these often and that a problem might exist.
Pennies Okay, you have probably heard about this old trick put a penny behind a fuse and it won t blow. That is because a penny is copper and conducts the flow of electricity (hence bypassing the fuse, fusestat or fusetron). It might save you a few cents in fuses but could cost you the house. If you see pennies laying around the fuse-box put it in your report! BUT NEVER EVER EVER TOUCH ANYTHING INSIDE A FUSE-BOX!!!!! Other Type Breakers Cartridges Theses are often found in older homes. These are primarily used for larger demands on the electric system such as pool filters, air conditioners, etc and are normally housed in a separate panel. These are tube-like shaped and clipped (North & South Poles) into the accepting slots. Again do not touch! Read and/or take photos in your reporting. ASK the homeowner what it is used for. Fuseable Pullouts These snap-in/ pull-out devices are used the same as cartridges. You might see one in the exterior panel on a home used for central air-conditioning. Additional Panels There may be more than one panel in a home especially older homes. Additional panels may have been added as the electrical demands increased over time. Fifty years ago a home did not have; hair dryers, computers, air-conditioners, microwave ovens, etc. etc. etc. We report on all panels indicating the main panel when known. When in doubt take a photo! Additional Protection Ground Fault Interrupters These are outlets in or around the home that act as a circuit breaker. These are commonly used in areas where there is water (bathrooms, kitchens, pool areas, etc.). These are not normally included in our standard rider but you should be aware of these just the same. Circuit Breaker Box This is normally located inside the home in the Utility Room, Garage, or a Closet, but maybe located in other areas as well ask the homeowners to show you it s location. Photo shows a standard Circuit Breaker box without its cover. Covers should always be present and closed. The Main Breaker Switch located at the top here servers to shut off all electric to the home. The smaller switches located below (10 shown to the left) control electric to the various sections of a home. These are often (but not always labeled, such as: Kitchen; Furnace; Living Room; Pool; etc. Main Amperage This is often shown on the Main Breaker Switch or written inside the panel door (not shown here). If the Main Amperage is not shown you can still estimate as you would from the exterior. And you may note Not Shown in your report. NEVER TOUCH Any Electrical Component other than to open and close the panel door. http://www.upfro.com/inspectors/electric%20101.htm (3 of 5)10/25/2006 10:40:09 AM
Circuit Breakers Fuse Fuseable Pullout Safety Switch (Non-Fuseable) Romex Wiring Types (Still under construction) Romex A brand name of non-metallic-sheathed cable made by General Cable Corporation. Often mistakenly used as a collective term for NM sheathed cable. NM Nonmetallic-sheathed (plastic). NMC Solid plastic nonmetallic-sheathing used in wet or corrosive areas, but not underground (see UF). BX BX Cable An old type of armored cable now illegal. Armored Cable Electrical wires protected by metal sheathing. Conduit Conduit A protective metal tube that wires run through. Amp (Ampere) Definitions/Glossary (still under construction) A unit that measures the strength/rate of flow of electrical current. Circuit Breaker Fuses The most common type of "over-current protection." A breaker trips when a circuit becomes overloaded or shorts out. Removable devices that link a circuit at the fuse box. Fuse connections blow apart and break the circuit if an overload or short occurs. http://www.upfro.com/inspectors/electric%20101.htm (4 of 5)10/25/2006 10:40:09 AM
GFCI or GFI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) UF (Underground Feeder) cable Volt Ohm A specific type of circuit protection (commonly required in kitchens & bathrooms) that helps safeguard against shocks. GFCI protection can come from an outlet or a breaker. Cable designed and rated for underground, outdoor use. Cable wires are molded into solid plastic. A unit that measures the amount of electrical pressure. A unit that measures the resistance a conductor has to electricity. Please contact your UPFRO Representative or Manager for further explanations or details. Disclaimer William A. Haupt September 5, 2003 http://www.upfro.com/inspectors/electric%20101.htm (5 of 5)10/25/2006 10:40:09 AM