Topic: ⚡ General guides
General guides - how-to guides
Working with cable, wiring accessories and everyday tools around the home.
14 guides in this topic
Written specifically for UK domestic wiring - BS 7671, TN-C-S / TT earthing, and the fittings you actually find in a British consumer unit.
10 common DIY electrical mistakes to avoid
The ten wiring mistakes UK homeowners make most often - from working live to skipping the earth - with plain advice on what to check and when to call a qualified electrician.
Read the guideHow to find an electrical short circuit
A systematic UK approach to locating an electrical short circuit - reading the symptom, isolating the circuit, the half-and-half split method, multimeter checks, and when to hand over to an electrician.
Read the guideHome battery storage: 10 things to know before buying
Before you commit to home battery storage - capacity vs usable energy, MCS certification, DNO notification, smart tariff compatibility, 0% VAT and the questions every quote must answer. UK guide.
Read the guideHow to label your consumer unit correctly
What labels BS 7671 requires on a UK consumer unit, how to identify each circuit safely with a plug-in tester, and how to produce a correct circuit schedule.
Read the guideEICR requirements for landlords: the Private Rented Sector regulations explained
What the 2020 Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector Regulations require of landlords in England: 5-yearly EICRs, remediation deadlines, penalties and how to commission a compliant inspection.
Read the guideLoft conversion electrical requirements
What electrical work a UK loft conversion needs -- from new circuits and smoke alarms to Part P notification and building regulations sign-off. Covers lighting, sockets, heating and what to ask your electrician.
Read the guideHow to measure prospective fault current (PFC)
A UK guide to measuring prospective fault current (PFC) at the supply origin - PSCC and PEFC explained, the multifunction tester procedure, BS 7671 Regulation 434.5.1 requirements, and what a high reading means.
Read the guideGetting electricity to a shed or outbuilding
A UK guide to getting electricity to a shed, garage or garden room - SWA armoured cable, earthing options for outbuildings, RCD protection requirements, and why Part P notification is required.
Read the guideHow to reset a tripped breaker
A practical UK guide to finding and resetting a tripped breaker or RCD in your consumer unit. What to unplug first, how to isolate a faulty appliance, and when to stop and call a qualified electrician.
Read the guideHow to select the right cable size for UK domestic wiring
A plain-English guide to cable size selection for UK domestic electrical circuits - design current, MCB rating, the On Site Guide method, correction factors and the most common sizes explained honestly.
Read the guideHow to use a WagoBox maintenance enclosure
When to use a WagoBox or maintenance-free junction enclosure instead of a standard joint box, how to select the right Wago connector size, and the BS 7671 rules on accessible electrical joints.
Read the guideHow to use Wago 221 lever connectors
A UK guide to making safe cable joints with Wago 221 lever connectors - choosing the right pole count, stripping to 11 mm, securing the conductor and housing the connection correctly under BS 7671.
Read the guideWhat to expect from an EICR inspection
A plain-English guide to UK EICR inspections - what an electrician tests, what the codes mean, how long it takes, and what to do if your report has a C1 or C2 observation.
Read the guide7 common reasons homes fail an EICR inspection
The seven faults electricians most commonly find during UK EICR inspections: missing RCD protection, poor bonding, deteriorated cables, oversized fuses and more. Understand your report before calling for remedials.
Read the guideOther topics
🔧 Installation & wiring
Wire, fit and install - cable runs, sockets, switches, consumer units, cookers, showers, outdoor circuits.
🛡️ Safety & testing
Safe isolation, initial verification, insulation resistance, earth-fault loop, continuity, bonding.
🔍 Fault finding
Diagnosing tripping MCBs, flickering lights, dead sockets, buzzing switches and other common faults.
🔁 Replace & upgrade
Swapping old kit for new - light switches, sockets, fusewire, fuse boxes, consumer units, luminaires.
📖 Understand & explain
How your home electrics actually work - cable colours, ring vs radial, MCB vs RCD, live vs neutral, current vs voltage.
📋 Planning & regulations
What is notifiable, when to call an electrician, choosing consumer units and EV chargers, BS 7671 basics.