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A pigtail is the only safe way to connect an electrical device to more than one circuit wire. Connecting multiple wires to a single screw terminal is extremely dangerous and must never be done. Many electricians will opt for pigtails even when there are multiple screw terminals available so that the device in question won’t halt the flow of downstream current when a problem arises. 

If half of a string of Christmas lights is out, it is likely because of a single burned-out, loose, or broken bulb within that section. Long strands of lights often contain more than one circuit, so when one bulb fails, it can cause the entire circuit (or half the strand) to go dark. To fix this, inspect the unlit section and test each bulb to ensure it is tight and functioning properly. Replacing the faulty bulb or repairing a damaged shunt will typically solve the problem.

A voltmeter measures the voltage of AC or DC electrical current. Unlike a multimeter, measuring voltage is a voltmeter’s only function. Voltage is the potential difference between two points within a circuit. Measuring voltage with a voltmeter can help identify wiring issues or determine whether a battery is dead.

Yes, a whole-house surge protector needs a designated breaker in your electrical panel. You will need to choose a double pole breaker that has two wire terminals so that your surge protector can connect to the breaker. This breaker needs two breaker slots inside of your panel. If you do not have room, then you will either need to adjust some of the existing breakers in the panel box or hire an electrician to install a subpanel.