Important Safety Tips When Working with Wires and Cables

1. Important Safety Tips When Working with Wires and Cables Electricity is become the fourth necessity in our life after food, clothes, and shelter. People staying in cities are addicted to appliances and gadgets that need electricity to function. For them to imagine life without electricity or to say wires and cables is almost impossible. The story of people staying in rural settings is different. Though, they might not consider electricity a necessity; they would not deny the benefits. When we talk about electricity at home or offices, wires and cables naturally come to our mind. At least once in our lives, we have worked with wires or cables either to repair something temporarily or to permanently damage something. Jokes apart, safety is an extremely important aspect when we work with electricity and today, we will read about some important safety tips. Understand the Difference We often fail to understand the difference between things and as a result we end up with a complicated situation. In the context of safety while working with electricity, you should understand the difference between wires and cables and self-service and professional service. A cable comprises of multiple wires and is meant to carry high voltages in comparison to a wire which is generally made of copper to carry light current. Additionally, at times, you

2. might require a professional to replace the wires or cables rather than relying on your own skills and doing connections that might end up making you pay even more than what you wanted to save. Be Alert and Careful This is a combination of multiple aspects. You would have heard about safety tips like switching off the power while working on electric wiring and connections, remaining dry or away from water, using good tools, prevent touching, etc. It is time to put all these to use together. It is absolutely important to switch off the power preferably from the main panel if you are working on socket fittings or at least unplug an appliance when you are repairing it. Any direct source of current can be fatal if you are exposed to it. Moreover, be dry and use good quality tools like testers to check the current rather than touching them with naked hands. Prevention and Caution Depending on the conditions like temperature, climate, etc. wires and cables can be prone to wear and tear. In case of worn out wires, it is always better to replace them as a caution because such wires can cause short circuits and damage appliances. It is a good practice to check wirings for signs of wear and tear at regular intervals. At times, you would be required to take some preventive measures if you are dealing with high power cables. This includes switching off the main supply source. Another example is to prevent using extension cords for appliances that require high voltage. Using simple preventive techniques can save you from major fire hazards. Learn and Invest If you are an electrician, you would already have a tool kit and would be aware of the parts that you are required to use when making connections and electricity points in a new house. But, if you are an individual who believes in DIY, then working with electricity would require you to first get some basic knowledge about the type of wires like neutral, main, etc. This should be followed by investment in tools like a tester, pliers, etc. that have universal application. You would also be required to use specific accessories like junction box when you are doing underground wiring. These simple investments ensure safety for you and the ones who will be dealing with the connection in the future. Source: Important Safety Tips When Working with Wires and Cables