When homeowners call for Electrical Services in Salem OR, one of the big projects they might request is an upgrade to the wiring of the house. This is advisable when the home is many years, old and the wiring has never been updated. If the household residents watch any of the project being completed, they might wonder why the electrical wiring is covered in some other material.
Electrical Insulation
This wiring installed by contractors providing Electrical Services in Salem OR is covered in plastic, technically called an electrical insulator. These do not allow electricity to be conducted if the metal ever touches another material that is an electrical conductor. They stop the flow of current. This is a crucial safety issue. Visit our website to learn about one particular electrical contractor.
Wires can safely be crossed around each other because of the insulation. A person can touch the wire while the current is running through it as long as plastic or rubber is covering the metal. That prevents shocks.
Old-Fashioned Insulation
In the earliest days of electrical power usage, manufacturers used to coat wiring with cotton. They understood the importance of insulation, but cotton loses its electrical insulating characteristics when it gets wet. For that reason, the material is no longer used for this purpose by any electrical service and installation company, including Safety Electric Inc.
Everyday Devices
Looking around one’s home, a person likely can see all sorts of electrical wiring covered in plastic. The cell phone charger, the cords for the computer, the wired headphones, the cord for the landline phone and extension cords all have this type of manufacturing feature. A common type of plastic for this purpose is polyvinyl chloride or PVC. People may be familiar with PVC because it is a popular modern-day option for plumbing pipes in buildings.
Electrical Tape
If cords attached to electrical devices start to fray, the area can be covered with electrical tape, but this should be considered a temporary measure. The cord should be replaced. It’s imperative not to use duct tape, which looks somewhat similar to electrical tape. Duct tape does not have the insulating property.
