Michael McAlister

Michael McAlister is a licensed electrician, electrical contractor, and general building contractor in California. He is currently the Vice President of Construction for McMillan Electric, a commercial design/build electrical construction firm based in San Francisco.

Installing a Motion-Sensor Light
Learn how to mount and wire an outdoor security light.
Installing Low-Voltage Path Lights
Illuminate your way outside with these easy-to-install lo-vo lights.
Choosing Outdoor Lights
Select from line-voltage lights and low-voltage lights.
Tapping Into an Existing Outlet
Follow these guidelines to tap into an interior outlet when adding an outdoor receptacle.
Tools and Materials for Outdoor Wiring
Aside from something to dig with, most of the electrical tools you'll need for outdoor work are the same as those you'd use inside, but outdoor receptacles and circuits have some specific requirements.
Running Power to an Outbuilding
The hardest part may be digging the trench for the cable.
Planning Your Outdoor System
It pays to anticipate future needs as you plan for exterior outlets and light fixtures.
Installing an AFCI Breaker
Here's how (and why) to install protective AFCI breakers, which are wired somewhat differently from conventional breakers.
Wiring One-and Two-Pole Breakers
Follow the guidelines for installing breakers for general-use, lighting, and small-appliance circuits as well as for larger-appliance circuits.
Adding a Circuit
Understand the process of adding a circuit to an existing panel.

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