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10 Wiring Problems Solved
overlamping a fixture, wiring problem
Illustration: Ian Warpole
Illustration: Ian Warpole
Illustration: Ian Warpole
too few outlets, power strips
Illustration: Ian Warpole
Illustration: Ian Warpole
Illustration: Ian Warpole
aluminum wiring illustration
Illustration: Ian Warpole
backstabbed wires illustration
Illustration: Ian Warpole
Illustration: Ian Warpole
Illustration: Ian Warpole
knob and tube wiring
Illustration: Ian Warpole
armored cable
Illustration: Ian Warpole
two-wire plastic sheathed cable
Illustration: Ian Warpole

PROBLEM #1
Overlamping is when a light fixture has a bulb with a higher wattage than the fixture is designed for

PROBLEM #2
Uncovered junction boxes increase the risk of wire damage and shock

PROBLEM #3
Lights flicker when it's windy because frayed wiring causes a short whenever the cables move

PROBLEM #4
Not enough outlets means you're likely to rely on extension cords and power strips

PROBLEM #5
GFCIs shut down circuits in 4 milliseconds to prevent fatal shock

PROBLEM #6
Overwired panels contain more circuits than they are rated to handle

PROBLEM #7
Popular in the 1960s and '70s, unsafe aluminum wiring is a cheap substitue for copper

PROBLEM #8
Backstabbed wires are more likely to come loose

PROBLEM #9
Undergrounded (2-pronged) receptacles means your home has no way to safely conduct stray current

PROBLEM #10
Plugs fall out of their receptacles when contacts are worn

Knob and tube wiring may be covered with building insulation, which causes overheating

Armored cable insulation should be checked every 5 years or so

Grounded receptacles cannot be retrofitted to two-wire plastic-sheathed cables

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8. BACKSTABBED WIRES

What it means: On newer switches and receptacles, wires pushed in the back are more likely to come loose than those anchored around screw terminals.

Code violation? No. The practice is allowed, even for new construction.

Danger level: It depends. At a minimum, loose wires can cause a receptacle or switch to stop working. In the worst case, they can start a fire.

Solution: Check for backstabbed connections by removing a switch or receptacle from its outlet box. If one is backstabbed, there are likely to be more. Release the wires and attach them to the appropriate screw terminals on the receptacle.

Article: Top 10 Repair Questions
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