Electrical
Power and Communication
Read Ching, Chapter 11
  1. Purposes of electricity in houses
    1. Lighting
    2. Air conditioning
    3. HVAC controls
    4. Power at receptacles

  2. Sources of electrical power
    1. Local power utility company
      1. Nuclear power plants
      2. Coal-fired steam turbine power plants
      3. Hydroelectric power plants
      4. Co-generation
      5. Wind turbine power plants
      6. Solar arrays
    2. Self-generated
    3. Battery
    4. Solar photovoltaic array

  3. Power utility company delivery methods
    1. High-tension power grid
    2. Transformers
    3. Power service
      1. Overhead
      2. Underground
      3. Meters

  4. Codes
    1. National Electrical Code ("NEC")
    2. National Fire Protection Association ("NFPA")
    3. Chicago Electrical Code
    4. Sizing electrical power systems
      1. Residential
      2. Commercial
    5. Permits

  5. Electrical Trades
    1. Licensing electricians
    2. Apprenticeships
    3. State regulation

  6. Electrical Materials
    1. Wiring
      1. Conductors
        1. Copper
        2. aluminum
      2. Sizes
      3. Insulation
      4. BX
      5. Romax
      6. Sealtight
      7. Knob and Tube
      8. Splicing methods
    2. Conduit
      1. EMT ("Electrical Metallic Tubing")
      2. Steel
      3. Greenfield
      4. PVC
    3. Transformers
    4. Main distribution panels
    5. Electrical bus
    6. Branch circuit panels
      1. Fuses
      2. Circuit breakkers
      3. Disconnects
    7. Junction and device boxes
    8. Devices
      1. Receptacles
      2. Switches
      3. Rheostats
    9. Low voltage power systems
    10. Automated lighting systems

  7. Emergency Power systems
    1. Purposes
      1. Fire alarms
      2. Smoke detectors
      3. Egress lighting
      4. Exit signs
    2. Types
      1. Continuously recharging battery backup systems
      2. UPS ("Uninterrupted Power System")
      3. Separate power service from utility company
      4. Generator
        1. Gasoline
        2. Natural gas
        3. Diesel
      5. Testing

  8. Lighting
    1. Types of light fixtures
      1. Surface mounted
      2. Recessed
      3. Pendant
      4. Floor
    2. Types of light sources (lamps)
      1. Incandescent
      2. Fluorescent
      3. High intensity discharge
        1. Mercury vapor
        2. Metal halide
        3. High pressure sodium
        4. Low pressure sodium
      4. Halogen
      5. LED (Light Emmitting Diode)
    3. Control
      1. Switches
        1. Single-throw toggle switch
        2. Double-pole, double-throw
        3. Three-way switch
        4. Four-way switch
        5. Relay switch
        6. Local switch
        7. Wireless switch
        8. Timer controlled
        9. Photo cell controlled
        10. Motion detector controlled
      2. Dimmers

  9. Communication
    1. Telephone
    1. Materials
      1. Wiring
      2. Conduit
      3. Splicing
    2. Devices
      1. Receptacles

  10. Door bells
    1. Chimes
    2. Visual notification
    3. Closed circuit TV

  11. Intercom
    1. Communication devices
      1. Microphones
      2. Speakers
    2. Paging

  12. Network System
    1. Wiring - CAT5 cable
    2. RJ-45 receptacles
    3. Hub

  13. Cable TV
    1. Materials
      1. Wiring - Co-axial cable
      2. Conduit
      3. Splicing
    2. Television
    3. High Speed Modem service
    4. Sattelite
    5. Devices
      1. Receptacles

  14. Fire alarms
    1. Local
      1. Smoke detectors
      2. Heat detectors
      3. CO detectors
    2. Fire department connection
      1. Detectors
      2. Pull stations
      3. Annunciator panels
    3. signals
      1. Auditory (bell)
      2. Visual (strobe lights)

  15. Security alarms
    1. Local
    2. Connected to police or security company system
    3. Computerize