Wiring a House

Objective:
Students will describe how electricity is transported from the distribution transformer on
the power line all the way to the outlet that one uses in his/her house.

Students will describe what electrical wiring must be done before having the electrical
company install electricity to their home.

Students will identify the weatherhead, mast, meter socket, meter, service panel, main
circuit breaker, hot cables, neutral cable, neutral bus bar, grounding bus bar, and circuit
breakers.

Students will properly wire two duplex receptacles in a circuit, a single pole switch and a
light in a circuit and the circuit breaker panel.

Materials Students Need

14/2 NM-B cable
Wire cutters
Wire strippers
Cable NM ripper
Wire nuts -yellow (two wires)/ red (three/four wires)
Single pole switch
Duplex receptacles
Light and lightbulb
Electrical switch boxes
Electrical round boxes
Weatherhead
Mast
Meter socket
Meter
Service panel

Unit Overview:

Anticipatory set
 Ask the students if they have ever seen their households electricity bill and what
measuring unit the company used to determine how much electricity was used. Explain how the
electrical company calculates the household monthly bill. Ask the students if they ever had their
electricity go out and what caused that to happen. Explain what a circuit breaker does.

Procedure
1) Use the overhead projector to explain how electricity is transported from the power
lines to the outlets, switches and lights in ones house.
2) Use the demonstration wall with the service panel, electrical meter, mast, and
weatherhead to demonstrate how these components work.
3) Have the students write the names of the electrical components on a sheet of paper
and then discuss the answers.
4) Use the demonstration wall to demonstrate how to properly wire the service panel,
two duplex receptacles, a switch, and a light.
5) Have the students wire the service panel, duplex receptacles, switch and light
properly.

Closure
Review the steps that must be taken to properly wire a service panel, duplex receptacles,
a switch and light. Ask the students how they would have to wire the circuit board if they
wanted to install a stove in their house.

Assessment
Students will properly wire the service panel, duplex receptacles, switch and light.
Teacher Resources:
14/2 NM-B cable
Wire cutters
Wire strippers
Cable NM ripper
Wire nuts -yellow (two wires)/ red (three/four wires)
Single pole switch
Duplex receptacles
Light and lightbulb
Electrical switch boxes
Electrical round boxes
Weatherhead
 Mast
Meter socket
Meter
Service panel
Projector
Laptop