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| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| Switches/chandelier | 2/8/2012 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: My husband changed the electrical outlets in our home (to designer switches) now they no longer work ... A: If the outlets do not shut off, and half of each outlet was controlled by a switch, then you need to ... | ||
| wiring issues | 2/7/2012 | Greg Hughes |
| Q: i am trying to install a 7 button timer switch for the bathroom fan. The new switch has a black, ... A: What are the instructions that came with the new switch? In your existing box you have the ... | ||
| wiring | 2/7/2012 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: hi my name is randy my question is ive recently installed 3 potlights and was wondering if its ... A: Probably not. You would have to connect it to a switch where the power wire enters the system ... | ||
| upgrading breaker panel | 2/7/2012 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I currently have a 125 amp service and want to go to 200 amp.What do I need for wire from the meter ... A: Unfortunately, it is not that simple. You will need to get the power company involved to make sure ... | ||
| Green wire exposed | 2/7/2012 | Ben |
| Q: Not sure really how to address this question, I hava a green wire that is hanging off of a thin rod ... A: Eva this wire is used for grounding,yes it can be removed only if it is not used for anything if the ... | ||
| recessed light | 2/5/2012 | Bill Lutz |
| Q: I have a recessed light in the kitchen, a full-size one that takes a flood light bulb. It has ... A: 99% of the lights can be accessed from below and repaired or replaced. It can be difficult to figure ... | ||
| baseboard heater | 2/1/2012 | Ben |
| Q: I have a circuit for 2 baseboard heaters (2000W, #12 wire, 20Amp breaker) in the basement. I want ... A: Tad You have 2 2000 watt heaters on a 20 amp circuit? I hope they are 240 volts. Installing 240 volt ... | ||
| Loss of power to part of my home | 1/31/2012 | Bill Lutz |
| Q: My home was built in 1976. I leave home for less than 3 hours and when I returned home I could not ... A: I'm sorry but I don't have a good answer for you. Here is what I would try before calling an ... | ||
| Detectors alarming | 1/31/2012 | Ben |
| Q: My tenants left unexpectedly.. When I went to check the home all the smoke alarms are alarming. No ... A: Theresa usually when the power gets turned off the battery back up takes over. What they are telling ... | ||
| Circuit Sizing | 1/30/2012 | Greg Hughes |
| Q: Greg, I've done quite a bit of wiring in my own home, but have little knowledge of how to actually ... A: It sounds like you are going to enjoy your new addition. If you are running 12/2 to all your outlet ... | ||
| circuit breaker no longer indicates power | 1/30/2012 | Robert Wilber |
| Q: Wilber. Thanks in advance for your help. I live in a 100 plus old six unit building in DC ... A: There are near endless possible causes. You need an electrician because: 1-Possible utility ... | ||
| Electrical Wiring Reverse Polarity Effects? | 1/30/2012 | Will Babbitt |
| Q: Here's a copy of a question. I asked previously (three days ago). I wondered if you could answer ... A: Howard, sounds like this guy wanted to use multiple syllable words to sound educated, I am with ... | ||
| Circuit blown | 1/30/2012 | Greg Hughes |
| Q: We were cooking in the oven (stove) for about an hour last night and then we heard a pop and then ... A: You could have a shorted wire to ground, or a shorted wire to neutral. Is the oven breaker on at ... | ||
| RV Question | 1/30/2012 | Ben |
| Q: I have an RV. My primary AC is derived from batteries and an inverter. I recently got an Ideal ... A: Chuck The ground wire system and the neutral wire system are two separate wire systems. By code, ... | ||
| dimmer switch wireing | 1/28/2012 | Robert Wilber |
| Q: I have what I beleive is a single pole switch.It has only two black wires attached to it I suppose ... A: Robert Wilber Licensed Philadelphia Electrician Philadelphia License # 3516 - 16765 * LIFE SAFETY ... | ||
| hard wire of garbage disposal | 1/28/2012 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I had a hard wire into my old garbage disposal. My new disposal has a power cord. I disconnected ... A: You should not need a GFCI for a disposal, since it will be permanently plugged in under the sink. ... | ||
| Liton can light buzzing | 1/27/2012 | Ben |
| Q: I have a house with many 4 inch MR-16 bulb can lights: LH1499IC - IC DOUBLE WALL HOUSING, 4" LOW ... A: Mitch There are two types of transformers that you can choose from. The most common type of ... | ||
| Petsafe fence problem | 1/26/2012 | Kevin L. Ogle |
| Q: My fence has suddenly stopped working. I've tried two different collars with fresh batteries, two ... A: 3.5 Ohms is right on for 700 feet of wire. There is no way for me to troubleshoot this effectively ... | ||
| washer trips circuit | 1/25/2012 | Ben |
| Q: My Samsung washer (WF328AAW) trips the outlet. It works fine when plugged in to a different outlet. ... A: Julie yes you should change that receptacle to a 20 amp 120V & also the breaker to a 20 amp. Your ... | ||
| Connection of generators to residential service | 1/24/2012 | Robert Wilber |
| Q: A generator is to be connected to a 6 circuit sub-panel, which will be connected to the main panel ... A: Double-Pole, Double-Throw, better known as a transfer switch. Properly installed, it should not be ... | ||
| Reverse Polarity issues... | 1/24/2012 | Ben |
| Q: In my apartment there were two outlets displaying 1) a building wiring fault & 2) a reverse ... A: Howard Initially, reverse polarity (DC voltages) will have a negative effect on electronics. ... | ||
| installing electric baseboards | 1/24/2012 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I want to install a number of baseboard heaters in the basement. As of now I have two 8 foot ones ... A: It is not unusual to run more than one heater on a circuit. However, you may have local codes to ... | ||
| 12/3 wire or a seperate run | 1/23/2012 | Greg Hughes |
| Q: I am putting in an aeration system for my pond. The aerator is 220V with a peak draw of 11.3 Amps ... A: No, you cannot do that! And even if you did you would not put red on neutral and white on hot. ... | ||
| Hall Light won't turn on and it's not the bulb | 1/23/2012 | Bill Lutz |
| Q: one of the hallways in our home is lit by a 75 watt flood up in the ceiling. The other day I hit ... A: Your next step would be to go through everything with a voltage tester. This is something that most ... | ||
| Wiring wall switch | 1/23/2012 | Robert Wilber |
| Q: I have changed my outlet in my bedroom. my light switch powers up one my of my wall outlet for the ... A: If you look at the old receptacle outlet, and at the new outlet, you will see that there is a jumper ... | ||
| 12/3 wire or a seperate run | 1/22/2012 | Greg Hughes |
| Q: I am putting in an aeration system for my pond. The aerator is 220V with a peak draw of 11.3 Amps ... A: It is smart of you to plan ahead with the outlet. The problem with your plan is you cannot use one ... | ||
| Combination Switch/Outlet | 1/22/2012 | Ben |
| Q: I have a Levitron Switch/Outlet combination and want the switch to power just the outlet in the ... A: Dave In this switch combo you have a set of screws the colors are the way to determine how to do ... | ||
| wiring a 3 way switch, tied to single pole,then to outside light & receptecles | 1/21/2012 | Greg Hughes |
| Q: You have answered some hard questions for me, thank you so much, and I have two last ones please. 1. ... A: I will work on a drawing. If you have 110 volts to your gfci outlet, and it is wired correctly, but ... | ||
| outlets | 1/21/2012 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: My outlets quit working in one room of my house. I've checked the circuit breaker and they're fine. A: What room? If it is a room that has water in it, it could be a GFCI that tripped. Check for an ... | ||
| wiring a 3 way switch, tied to single pole,then to outside light & receptecles | 1/21/2012 | Greg Hughes |
| Q: You have answered some hard questions for me, thank you so much, and I have two last ones please. 1. ... A: These do not have to be your last questions. Feel free to write in anytime. 1. Please draw me a ... | ||
| Require Assitance | 1/20/2012 | Robert Wilber |
| Q: Situation: 220V dryer is in basement and needs to be tested to see if a drum replacement was ... A: Robert Wilber Licensed Philadelphia Electrician Philadelphia License # 3516 - 16765 * LIFE SAFETY ... | ||
| GFI | 1/20/2012 | Ben |
| Q: Do I need to run a dedicated circuit to my outside outlet I am installing one on the back and front ... A: Bill This depends on how many other outlets are on that circuit,most time if they are outlets in the ... | ||
| Open Ground | 1/20/2012 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: when I had my home inspection done the inspector said we have 3 plugs that are not grounded when I ... A: An open ground means that the ground wire is not making contact somewhere from the outlet to the ... | ||
| dimmer switch | 1/20/2012 | Bill Lutz |
| Q: I want to replace a regular wall switch with a dimmer switch.My problem is, my home is old and only ... A: The colors do not matter on basic dimmers. All a switch is break the line between the hot and the ... | ||
| Quartz Heater Burned Poweroutlet | 1/19/2012 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I had a Quartz Heater out in my room (Garage) and it was ... A: It is not a good idea to plug electronic things in the same circuit as a heater. When the heater ... | ||
| Old lead wiring to copper wiring cconnection | 1/19/2012 | Robert Wilber |
| Q: Can you join old lead home wiring to new copper on a 15 amp circuit? Or do I need to rewire the ... A: Robert Wilber Licensed Philadelphia Electrician Philadelphia License # 3516 - 16765 * LIFE SAFETY ... | ||
| GFCI/GFI and downrange outlets on breaker | 1/19/2012 | Greg Hughes |
| Q: I just had a house inspection and the inspector noted a GFCI needed to be replaced because it was ... A: The GFCI outlet and all outlets that get fed from it should be on the same breaker. The outlet is ... | ||
| light fixture | 1/18/2012 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I replaced a ceiling fan in my dining room with a light fixture. In the ceiling the three wires are ... A: You should just cap off the red wire. That should not be a problem at all. It would be better to ... | ||
| light fixture | 1/18/2012 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I replaced a ceiling fan in my dining room with a light fixture. In the ceiling the three wires are ... A: One switch should be controlled by one breaker. If it is connected to two breakers, the wires are ... | ||
| Reuse existing wiring | 1/17/2012 | Greg Hughes |
| Q: I need a 120v 20amp receptacle in my basement to power a heavy duty sump pump. All circuits are ... A: It sounds okay as long as the ground wire is properly protected, and properly connected at each end. ... | ||
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Just about any home wiring question. (not appliance repair) I have done all kinds of home wiring for myself, including adding a new breaker box, etc. Please, questions from North America only. Please be specific with details.

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