TryBuildCalcElectrical Resources (10 guides)
Wire sizing, circuit breaker and panel planning, generator and battery backup sizing, solar system sizing, and practical electrical planning references.
Resources in this section
- Wire Gauge Selection Guide→
Complete guide to selecting the correct wire gauge (AWG) — base ampacity by insulation rating, the derating factors that reduce it (conductor count, ambient temperature), the small-conductor breaker cap, and a worked example.
- Voltage Drop & Wire Run Length Guide→
Complete guide to voltage drop — why it happens, the recommended 3%/5% limits, the factors that make it worse (length, current, material, gauge), symptoms of an undersized circuit, and a worked example.
- Home Electrical Panel Sizing Guide→
Complete guide to sizing a home's electrical service panel — general lighting load, small appliance/laundry circuits, the demand factor that reduces the total, HVAC's largest-of rule, common service sizes, and signs you've outgrown your panel.
- Circuit Breaker Types & Protection Guide→
Complete guide to circuit breaker types — standard thermal-magnetic breakers vs GFCI, AFCI, and dual-function breakers, what each one actually protects against, and how to think about where each applies.
- Generator Sizing & Fuel Type Guide→
Complete guide to sizing a backup generator — running vs starting (surge) watts, why the largest single surge (not the sum of all surges) drives sizing, portable vs standby comparison, fuel type tradeoffs, and a worked example.
- UPS / Battery Backup Sizing Guide→
Complete guide to sizing a UPS or inverter battery backup system — lead-acid vs lithium-ion comparison, depth of discharge, the efficiency and aging factors that reduce usable capacity, and a worked example.
- Solar Panel System Sizing Guide→
Complete guide to sizing a solar panel system — peak sun hours vs daylight hours, system efficiency losses, grid-tie vs off-grid vs hybrid comparison, and a worked example.
- EV Home Charging Guide→
Complete guide to home EV charging — Level 1 vs Level 2 comparison, the NEC 625.41 continuous-load 125% factor, dedicated circuit requirements, GFCI protection basics, and a worked example.
- Conduit Types Comparison Guide→
Complete guide comparing common conduit types — EMT, PVC Schedule 40, and rigid metal conduit — by durability, cost, installation method, and where each is typically used, plus conduit fill basics.
- General Lighting Circuit Planning Guide→
Complete guide to planning general lighting circuits — occupancy-based unit loads, the difference between feeder demand load and branch circuit design load, show window/track lighting basics, and a worked example.