The Safe Use of Electricity Electricity flows into your neighborhood through high voltage wires. Transformers reduce the amount of power entering homes to 120V per wire. Three wires connect the hydro pole to your house. Two live wires carry power into your home and one neutral wire carries it back to the hydro pole to complete the circuit.

Electric Meter Measures the amount of electrical energy used.

Main Breaker Switch Can be used to shut off electricity to all the circuits in your home. Controlled by a circuit breaker.

Distribution Panel The place where all circuit breakers connect to each circuit in your home. A ground wire helps protect against electric shock from a short circuit.

Circuit Breakers Help control the flow of electricity. A circuit breaker shuts off if there is a current overload.

Fuses Pieces of material that will melt when the temperature in the circuit is too high. You must replace a fuse every time an overload occurs.

Wall Outlets A wall outlet has many safety features. Wall outlets are plastic. Plastic does not conduct electricity. Most wall outlets have a ground terminal that allows electricity to leave the building should a short circuit occur. Polarized plugs fit into the outlet only one way. Prevents a device from having power even when it is turned off.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter An outlet that includes a circuit breaker that responds to very small changes in current and interrupts the flow of electricity. Often used in kitchens and bathrooms.