Basic Electrical Practices

Know about hazards that may occur when using electricity.

Major hazards

• electrical shock stopping the heart
• burns to the skin when in contact with a conductor
• minor shocks to the nervous system
• exit wounds where electricity is earthed

Assessment Criteria

• 1.1

  State major hazard that may occur when using electricity. 

Be able to safely terminate flexible cords and cables

Hand tools

• cable strippers
• wire cutters
• knives

Demonstrate

• removing insulation to cables
• removing insulation to conductors to the correct length
• cable clips
• termination in a socket or fitting with face plates or plugs

Assessment Criteria

• 2.1

  Select a range of hand tools used to terminate cords and cables.

• 2.2

  Demonstrate how to strip outer insulation on a cable. 

• 2.3

  Demonstrate how to strip insulation on the conductors.

• 2.4

  Demonstrate how to terminate flexible and wiring cable. 

Know how to carry out insulation and conductance tests.

Testing installations

• visual inspection of insulation
• visual inspection of termination of cables
• conductance tests
• earthing tests

Assessment Criteria

• 3.1

  Outline how to carry out insulation and conductance tests. 

Be able to prepare electrical boxes to receive cables. 

Wiring applications

• wiring to dry wall and solid wall applications
• power and lighting installations

Prepare conduit boxes for installation both recessed and surface mounted

• cutting and fixing conduit
• fixing conduit connectors to boxes
• fixing conduit clips
• measuring and installing singles and multi conduit cables

Assessment Criteria

• 4.1

  Select appropriate electrical boxes for 3 different installations. 

• 4.2

  Demonstrate how to cut cable entry when preparing electrical boxes for installation. 

• 4.3

  Demonstrate how to cut cables to correct length for installation with electrical boxes.