Architects, constructors, engineers and even electricians have a common language they speak. And that's blueprints. Blueprints enable people to work together and have a common view about a similar product way before it's started. For electricians, these blueprints show all the details about the electrical wiring in your home or home to be. So learning to speak their language isn't such a bad idea. You'll be able to identify any wiring that you wouldn't want to have in a particular room, but most of all, you'll be properly informed about how your electricity flows. So if you're planning to start learning to interpret these schematics, here are some tips to give you a head start. 

Start Locating the Walls First

At first sight, a blueprint looks really menacing. There's a lot happening all over. To avoid getting overwhelmed, start by locating the walls. They are the most visual aspects on the schematic represented by parallel lines that may be filled with a solid colour or have a pattern. The exterior walls are represented using thicker lines as compared to the interior walls. So you'll be able to locate your rooms and their placement.

From there, you'll easily locate any mechanical and electrical plans. For mechanical drawings, you'll see a capital 'M' and these show where the pipes and utilities go. Electrical drawings are easily identifies by the letter 'E' after a number. You'll be able to know where your switches and fixtures are going to be located, and the overall wiring.

Scale Is Involved

Unlike ordinary drawings, blueprint measurements are drawn to the same scale. That is, each measurement is a proportional representation of the real project. The scale used will be noted on the corner of the drawing, so you can use it to get a better picture of your house. The scaling is what's going to assist you in determining the actual sizes of each room. If you need to make any modifications about the room sizes, then you'll be able to do so before the actual construction begins.

Learn the Symbols

The bulk of the schematic is going to revolve around the symbols and components. It's the only way you can get an accurate reading of the blueprint and actually understand the electrical wiring. For instance, two wires that cross and are connected have a dot at their intersection whereas unconnected wires don't have that dot. A diode is represented by an arrow and a line that cuts across its tip.

You also need to know what these components do. A diode for instance, is like a one way valve for electricity. It only allows electricity to pass through it in one direction.

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