ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Electrical wiring in North America

Okay kiddo, so electrical wiring is how we make sure our lights turn on and our appliances work. In North America, we use something called a standard voltage of 120 volts to power most things in our homes.

The wiring in our walls is made up of tiny wires inside something called a sheath. Think of it like a straw, but instead of drinking from it, we use it to carry electricity. The sheath is usually made of plastic or rubber so that we don't get shocked when we touch it.

Now, these wires need to be connected to something called an electrical panel. This panel is like the boss of all the electrical wiring in our homes. It helps control the flow of electricity and makes sure everything works properly.

When we want to add more things that need electricity, like a new light switch or outlet, we have to add more wires to the existing ones. This is called running wires and it can be a bit tricky because we don't want to mess up the existing wiring.

Finally, it's important to remember that electricity can be dangerous if we don't use it the right way. That's why grown-ups always tell us to be careful around electrical stuff and never touch anything that looks dangerous.