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Electrical Wiring in the Home/Questions
| 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. ... | ||
About Electrical Wiring in the Home
This site answers questions related to home electrical wiring, home wiring, general electrical help,and other electrical questions related to aleternating current (AC). You can find help on the National Electical Code, home electrical issues, wiring electrical outlets, installing lighting, electrical grounding, and general electrical help for do-it-yourself projects not require an electrician. If you do not see your home electrical wiring question answered in this area then please ask your electrical wiring question here
This site answers questions related to home electrical wiring, home wiring, general electrical help,and other electrical questions related to aleternating current (AC). You can find help on the National Electical Code, home electrical issues, wiring electrical outlets, installing lighting, electrical grounding, and general electrical help for do-it-yourself projects not require an electrician. If you do not see your home electrical wiring question answered in this area then please ask your electrical wiring question here
Electrical Wiring in the Home
Answers by Expert:
Bob Sponaugle
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
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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