Tech Explained
How the equipment works inside: breakers, GFCIs, Power over Ethernet and more.
How a Circuit Breaker Works (Thermal and Magnetic Trips)
Inside a standard breaker are two separate trip mechanisms, one for slow overloads and one for sudden short circuits. Here is how they work and how to read a trip curve.
Read article →2 min readPower over Ethernet (PoE): Power and Data on One Cable
How cameras, access points and lights run on a single network cable, how much power each PoE standard delivers, and what affects it in a real building.
Read article →5 min readSmart Home Wiring: Prewire, Neutrals, Networks and Local Control
How a smart home really works under the drywall: the four layers, neutrals at switches (NEC 404.2(C)), structured wiring and racks, Matter and Thread, local vs cloud control, and retrofit options.
Read article →Local rules decide. These articles explain general ideas and point to the code sections we use. They are not legal or engineering advice and don’t replace the code itself. California adopts the NEC with its own amendments, cities and counties can add more, and the local inspector (the AHJ, or authority having jurisdiction) has the final say on any job. Read the code free at NFPA’s free access page.