Connecting Our Lives

Electrical uses of copper, including power transmission and generation, wires for building purposes, telecommunication, and electrical and electronic products, account for about three quarters of total copper use - over 933,000 tons - a year. Because of its properties of high ductility, malleability, and electrical conductivity, it has become the benchmark for almost all types of wiring.

There are many things to take into consideration when wiring a home for both electrical and telecommunication purposes. In this section, some of the myths and confusion surrounding home wiring are dispelled, as well as some important safety tips to protect your home and your loved ones. As technology advances, it has become clear that the importance of having high quality copper wiring in your home is indisputable.

News

• CDA Offers Portable Electric Power Tips and Tricks
• Yesterday's Puffs of Smoke Are Today's Pulses of Electrons
• Communications Wiring Report Card
• A House Isn't a Home Without Copper
• House Wiring "Bundles" Could Be a Fire Hazard

Home Planning Series

Home Planning Series features a set of articles specifically developed to provide useful information on various applications and use areas within a home. Selected articles related to electrical and communications wiring are presented here:

Home Networking

• Home Communications Wiring Upgrades Can't Wait for Tomorrow
  
• Ask Your Remodeler about Structured Wiring for Your Home: There's No Better Time to Upgrade
  
• Does Your Home Have the "Right Stuff" for Voice, Video and Data Transmission?
  
• Copper Makes for Faster Home Networks
  
• DSL or Cable - Which is Right for You?
  
• Wireless No Match for Hard-Wired Networks in the Home
  
• FCC Protects Consumers with a New Standard
  
• A Plug for Digital Communications in the Home
  
• Home Telecommunications Networking
  
• DSL Technology Offers High-Speed Internet Connections through Ordinary Phone Lines
  
• Home is the Destination for Boomer Generation
  
• Whole House Audio Meets Home Networking
  
• 10 Questions to Ask Yourself About Communications Wiring
  
• Start a New Career Installing Home Networks
  
• To Be at Home with Today's Communications Technologies, You've Got to Have the Right Connections
  
• Taming the Tangle of Wires in Your Home
  
• CDDs Make Sense of Home Networks
  
• "Wired" Homes Still a Dream for Many
  
• Tech Home Report Card Gives Homebuyers Clout
  

Wiring

• Turning on to the "Current" Lingo
  
• In Electrical Cords, Size Matters
  
• Fatter is Better for Long Electrical Wiring Runs: Eliminate "Voltage Drop" Problems in Your Home
  
• Is Rewiring In Your Home's Future?
  
• Mapping Electrical Circuits in Your Home
  
• Smart Electrical Upgrades for Home Remodelers
  
• Do You Need an Electrician?
  
• The Top 10 Reasons To Call An Electrician
  
• High-Tech Wiring Is Best for High Definition
  

Safety/Codes

• New Wiring Device Saves Lives and Property
  
• Homebuyers Beware: Older Electrical Wiring Can Be Hazardous
  
• Can Your Home Wiring Handle The Load?
  
• Older Homes Need New Wiring
  
• Understanding a Home's Electrical System
  
• Give Home 'Energy Gobblers' the Boot
  
• Protect Your Home Electrical System from Power Surges
  
• Protect Your Home Electronics from Lightning
  
• Ground Rules for Household Wiring
  
• Living by the "Code" Reduces Electrical Risks
  
• Is Your Electrical Wiring Too Hot?
  
• Top Ten Wiring Hazards Threaten Life and Property
  
• House Wiring "Bundles" Could Be a Fire Hazard
  
• Keeping Pace with Code Changes
  

Additional Information

• Electrical
• Communications