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Electrical Wiring in the Home/Questions Answered by Expert Bruce Grant
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Live hot wire on switched receptacle - even when completely disconnected | 10/24/2010 |
| Q: I have a receptacle that is wired correctly to have one of the top portion be switchable and the ... A: Justin, Based on your input, I would suspect that in your attic or crawlspace (wherever your wire ... | |
| outlet for micowave oven | 10/23/2010 |
| Q: 4+ years in this house. About three weeks ago our micorwave oven quit while in use. Thinking it was ... A: Larry, The "mixing of the circuit breaker ..., ...wire..., ...outlet..." could NOT have fried the ... | |
| outlet for micowave oven | 10/23/2010 |
| Q: 4+ years in this house. About three weeks ago our micorwave oven quit while in use. Thinking it was ... A: Have you tried plugging the microwave into an outlet on another circuit? If it works elsewhere, ... | |
| Half The Power out in house, possible surge? | 10/22/2010 |
| Q: The other night it was raining and at about 11pm at night the lights in the house got really bright ... A: Nick, Your problem certainly sounds like a power surge, probably caused by a lightning strike ... | |
| wiring a generator using an interlock switch | 10/20/2010 |
| Q: I've purchased a 17.5 kW portable generator and plan to use an interlock switch to backfeed it thru ... A: By "interlock switch", I assume that you mean a heavy-duty, TPDT switch that will absolutely ... | |
| light flickers but won't stay on | 10/18/2010 |
| Q: My bedroom ceiling light flickers on when I flip the switch on, but won't stay on. I have replaced ... A: It is probably beyond what you as a homeowner can do, but maybe not. It definitely sounds like an ... | |
| adding a box below counter | 10/17/2010 |
| Q: adding a dishwasher below counter top above counter on back splash is a socket with surge protector ... A: Jerry, Voltage on most circuits in a home can be referred to as 110, 115, or 120V because they are ... | |
| GFCI switch/outlet combo install | 10/16/2010 |
| Q: I am updating a switch/outlet combo in my bathroom to a GFCI combo unit, 15 amp. The way it's hooked ... A: This sounds like a wiring error, possibly caused by confusion over the extra terminals on a GFCI or ... | |
| wiring receptacle from light switch | 10/15/2010 |
| Q: i have 3cables 14/2 in box with switch power in box also the switch operates light and fan. can i ... A: The 14/2 cable (NM-B, I assume) may only carry a maximum of 15 Amps, so be sure that whatever the ... | |
| power in the cable tv wire | 10/14/2010 |
| Q: i have a very odd situation in my house, i have satellite TV in my house, the dish is connected to ... A: Ryan, You probably gave me the answer in your question when you said, "when i plug my sat receiver ... | |
| electrical wiring | 10/13/2010 |
| Q: I check the outlets in my shop building and the voltage is 121, but when I turn on the incandescent ... A: IF, and this is a big IF, all of the original wiring for the outlets and the lights was done by an ... | |
| replacing light switch with GFCI combo | 10/12/2010 |
| Q: I am replacing the light switch in a bathroom with a combo gfci outlet/switch. When I pulled the ... A: The switch box does not have all of the wires required for a receptacle, GFCI or not. Apparently, ... | |
| no power to bathroom receptacles | 10/11/2010 |
| Q: My GFCI in the master bath had no power, #2 bath had no power. My outside outlet has no power, I ... A: I'm sorry, but without being there, there is probably not enough data to resolve your problem yet. ... | |
| Motion sensor security lights | 10/10/2010 |
| Q: I've installed one 500W flood light with one 500W-capable motion sensor to run this light. My ... A: I am very sorry it took me so long to answer your question, but my initial reading gave me no answer ... | |
| Wiring Mystery | 10/8/2010 |
| Q: I have three lights linked to a single dimmer. Never had any problems with them for years. Then I ... A: Rans, I am so sorry for the delay in responding, but I was almost as baffled by your problem as you ... | |
| How to convert Watts to kilowatts and VA to Watts | 10/4/2010 |
| Q: How can I convert 9000 watts to kilowatts? AND how can I also convert watts to 'k v a'? A: Two answers to your two questions, one simple, one complex: 1) 9,000 Watts = 9 kilowatts One ... | |
| wire size calculation | 11/17/2009 |
| Q: I want to run single phase 2 200 amp services a distance of 700' from the 400 amp meterbase. What ... A: Voltage drop is the limiting factor, with 5% maximum drop being the rule of thumb (5% of 120V is ... | |
| Fan w/light fixture wiring | 11/16/2009 |
| Q: I recently installed a fan w/light fixture in a bedroom. I followed the instruction verbatim and ... A: David, I can only assume that the light is a CFL or other type of fluorescent light. There is ... | |
| reduce 240v to 110v | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: Bruce, I have rebuilt my old wellhouse. The service was 240v. There were no 110 outlets. We have ... A: JD, I assume (correct me if I'm wrong) that you still need the 240V to power the pump, but also ... | |
| electrical wire ground | 11/10/2009 |
| Q: I want to relocate main box but from the box to mental pipe it about 22 feet so can I do rop to the ... A: Hai, I apologize for the delay in responding. We've suddenly had several family medical issues to ... | |
| light dimmer | 11/8/2009 |
| Q: I am attempting to install a light dimmer ( Lutron DVH - 603ph - WH ) after turning off the power ... A: Shawn, I apologize for the delay in responding. We've suddenly had several family medical issues to ... | |
| wiring microwave and refrigerator | 11/7/2009 |
| Q: I'm installing an under-the-cabinet microwave in our kitchen against a wall that is also shared by a ... A: Terry, I apologize for the delay in responding. We've suddenly had several family medical issues to ... | |
| Tripping breaker | 11/4/2009 |
| Q: I dug a trebch to the garage and just routed the cables underground to the garage. Installed a ... A: Bill, First, you should know that #10 wire is rated for no more than 30 Amps, not 50. Therefore you ... | |
| 30 Amp Service installed | 11/3/2009 |
| Q: My wife and I bought a 1927s house that we are remodeling. It has a 3 car garage that I intend on ... A: Terry, I'm glad I could help you. I'm amazed at just how much work you are doing in such a short ... | |
| Wiring a motion sensor light switch | 11/2/2009 |
| Q: I have a motion sensor light switch that I got from work. They were going to throw them away, so I ... A: Scott, This is an easy one if you follow my logic. == First, you were probably right in using the ... | |
| Main disconnect | 11/1/2009 |
| Q: Happy Halloween! New construction, SIPS not stick frame. Meter base going on outside garage wall, ... A: John, Code requires an outside disconnect switch, even if the Main Breakers can act as one. That ... | |
| broken busbar | 10/31/2009 |
| Q: I just moved into a doublewide. One of the breakers keep kicking off so i looked in the breaker box. ... A: Steve, Replacing the busbar is not practical. Even if a replacement were available, its price ... | |
| replacing old non grounded receptable | 10/22/2009 |
| Q: I have to replace an old non grounded outlet with a grounded one for use with a particular ... A: Replacing that old wire with 12/2 NM-B cable is an excellent solutions unless the current wiring ... | |
| Weird Voltage | 10/21/2009 |
| Q: I recently bought an old double wide home and was checking the wiring. The outlets in two bathrooms ... A: Double-check the wiring to the new GFCI receptacle. There are usually 2 sets of connections, 1 set ... | |
| High residential voltage | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: I happened to be using my digital multi-meter in the house when I decided to check the voltage at ... A: Because you say there has been nothing abnormal about your TV, lights, etc., I would blame the ... | |
| Fuses | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: I have two rooms next to each other. Each time I turn on the heater and the TV in one of the room, ... A: TVs draw a reasonably large amount of current, but electrical heaters usually draw huge amounts of ... | |
| Pulsating lights in home | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: I live in Ireland ( voltage 220v.) in a 3 bedroomed 60 yr. old house which has original rubber ... A: Bill, I would definitely look to the dimmer switch itself as the culprit, particularly if it were ... | |
| Ceiling fan too slow | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: I replaced 9 yr old builders ceiling fan with a 70" Hunter Grand Vista Model #23285 , I believe. ... A: Steve - As a rule of thumb for ceiling fans, the larger the diameter, the slower the maximum RPM ... | |
| voltage problems | 9/25/2009 |
| Q: Several of my electrical outlets and lights are working improperly. Many of my 120v outlets meter ... A: This is unbelievably serious! CONTACT YOUR LOCAL POWER COMPANY IMMEDIATELY to troubleshoot this ... | |
| vintage electric stove | 9/25/2009 |
| Q: I have the opportunity to purchase a 1950-1960 electric stove. The woman says that the wiring is ... A: This is expensive to do IF you do not already have a 240 Volt receptacle in your kitchen or nearby. ... | |
| Outlets not working | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: I have 4 outlets in the kitchen and 2 in the dining room not working. I have replaced the outlets ... A: If I am understanding you correctly, the circuit breaker trips immediately after you have reset it ... | |
| bathroom electric | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: ... I need to hook up one bathroom light and one bathroom exhaust fan .... i have a double ... A: Bad news, Dave. You really need that 3rd wire. Look closely at the 2 wires at the light switch; one ... | |
| GFCI Receptacle Trip | 9/18/2009 |
| Q: I have several GFCI receptacles in my home--as you would expect. Occasionally, one trips but it ... A: I think you have already properly determined the immediate cause of the problem -- moisture entered ... | |
| older home having electrical prob | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: I don't know much about electricity at all and how it works.We have a home that's over 150 years old ... A: I'm glad your 15-month-old didn't electrocute himself. Since the problem began when he stuck the key ... | |
| exhaust fan to existing light switch | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: i am trying to wire a bathroom exhaust fan to an existing light switch. on a double switch i tied ... A: Mike, Your description of what you did is a bit confusing, but it sounds like your wiring was ... | |
| installing spot lights | 9/16/2009 |
| Q: I would like to install spotlights in a room. The room does not have any light bulb in the ceiling, ... A: Bad news first -- this won't be inexpensive unless you are *extremely* lucky, because it is actually ... | |
| L1430C connector wiring | 9/16/2009 |
| Q: I just had the wires all pull out from this connector on a 220 extension cord. The L1430C plug is ... A: The L14-30C plug should only be used with FOUR-wire cord, #10 or larger. Correct wiring is 2 Hot ... | |
| 30 Amp Service installed | 9/15/2009 |
| Q: My wife and I bought a 1927s house that we are remodeling. It has a 3 car garage that I intend on ... A: Terry, Your concern about safety and doing things correctly is one that most people should have -- ... | |
| pre-running conduit before insulation. | 9/15/2009 |
| Q: I am planning on getting cellulose blown-in insulation. I would like to pre-run some kind of wire ... A: Your idea to install this wire raceway for future use is an excellent one. It will certainly make ... | |
| Light Dimming Problem | 9/14/2009 |
| Q: Sir, I am having a problem with lights in my home dimming when another light is turned on. To ... A: Charles, First, let's consider voltage drop. A standard rule of thumb for voltage drop (and there ... | |
| outside light GFCI fault | 9/14/2009 |
| Q: I have an automatic outside lamppost that seems to be wired to the GFI in the garage. If it rains ... A: Todd, The wiring for that lamppost is probably not through a nearby outlet. Electrical wiring is ... | |
| Chandelier wiring | 9/12/2009 |
| Q: I have a chandelier that I need to lengthen the cord on because we do not have wiring in the ... A: Lisa, This sort of gets into the area of what is Code-legal and what is not? The Code's primary ... | |
| Branch Wiring for Kitchen | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: I have an orange (believe 10/2) wire from a 20-amp circuit that a contractor wired to a simple ... A: Michael, I apologize for the 5-day delay in answering your question, but since it was not directed ... | |
| Service Upgrade | 9/6/2009 |
| Q: A bidder to do my service upgrade opened the meter can and removed the meter and told me that the ... A: Wow! This is a tough one to call without seeing things myself. You are right to be cautious, but ... | |
| Splicing into an existing circut | 9/6/2009 |
| Q: Bruce, I am installing a ceiling fan in a room that never had a ceiling fixture. This is an older ... A: Splicing #12 and #14 wire together just requires more care, since the unequal sizes won't stay ... | |
| wire my barn from house service | 9/6/2009 |
| Q: I want to run a 100 amp service to my barn from my house it will be 125-150 feet from my electrical ... A: The minimum size for that line would be #4 wire, but I would recommend #2 for an extra level of ... | |
| Installing a ceiling motion detector in old electric installation | 9/5/2009 |
| Q: I am having trouble installing a ceiling motion detector. I am trying to connect it to a light ... A: Ivan. Now that you've shown me that diagram, I can answer your questions knowledgeably. The black ... | |
| Faulty plug? | 9/5/2009 |
| Q: I have an outlet that tests to be "hot", but when I plug something into it-IT, the appliance, radio, ... A: Because you say that the outlet tests "Hot" (with a meter or test light, I assume) and it doesn't ... | |
| new light fixture | 9/5/2009 |
| Q: I am installing a new light in my nursery i took the old light down and found 3 sets of wires (1 ... A: Justin, I'm sorry it's taken me so long to answer your question. I intended to do so several times, ... | |
| Help, Main Panel & SUB | 9/5/2009 |
| Q: First Thank you for having such a wonderful site, with so much knowledge. My question I am Building ... A: SE Type R seems to be a good idea as a more heavy-duty wire, that is also water-resistant. Size AWG ... | |
| No lights, no power | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: renters moved in. circuit breaker tripped 2 days ago. reset and all was well until today. lights ... A: Evelyn, I must apologize for being in too much of a rush when answering before. Apparently I ... | |
| Power loss over a long run | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: Bruce' Can you tell me how many watts of power I will have at the end of 1000 feet 10/3 coming from ... A: Sorry, Kim, but #10 would still be insufficient for that long a run. I know the cost for larger wire ... | |
| utility room ceiling light fixture | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: I bought a house a while ago and this light worked a week before I moved in.now it doesn't ... A: The first thing to do electrically, whenever you move into a home new to you, is to get the panel ... | |
| tankless electric hotwater heater | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: I am installing an electric tankless hotwater heater and the call is for (2) 50 AMP DOUBLE POLE ... A: I'll try to help you. First, though, I don't know what you mean by a PNY panel. If that is just a ... | |
| Installing a ceiling motion detector in old electric installation | 9/3/2009 |
| Q: I am having trouble installing a ceiling motion detector. I am trying to connect it to a light ... A: Ivan, I've installed motion detectors in place of light switches, but I've never wired one designed ... | |
| No lights, no power | 9/3/2009 |
| Q: renters moved in. circuit breaker tripped 2 days ago. reset and all was well until today. lights ... A: Check outside your home where the power enters the building (3 thick wires twisted or bundled ... | |
| cbreaker panel | 9/3/2009 |
| Q: We just moved in to an old trailer house while we build our new house and since then the dryer quit. ... A: It is possible that the problem is a defective circuit breaker, but it's NOT as likely as other ... | |
| voltage drop | 9/2/2009 |
| Q: Should I expect a voltage drop of 12 volts over 150 feet using 10 gauge wire? Would the voltage drop ... A: Your voltage drop on 120/240V circuits would be 5.4 volts (4.5%) with a 30 Amp, non-inductive load. ... | |
| Residential Electrical Circuit | 9/2/2009 |
| Q: I recently found that several of the lights in our home are not working. Naturally I went to see if ... A: Tracing and labeling all the circuits is always an excellent idea, so as to avoid confusion in the ... | |
| main breaker panel and new construction | 9/1/2009 |
| Q: we are in the process of building a 1600sq.ft slab home in Mn. We will have a 200amp main panel. ... A: Mike, The panels that are 40/40 are, I assume, roughly 15-20% taller than the 30/40 panels. ... | |
| Master light switch/dimmer for multiple fixtures | 9/1/2009 |
| Q: I am an assistant pastor at a church, and have recently been put in charge of changing a few things ... A: The best way to do what you want is to add a new, small sub-panel, connected to the existing panel ... | |
| wiring ceiling light | 9/1/2009 |
| Q: help please. I have a new 2 lamp ceiling light to install. it seems the wiring is in the middle ... A: Lee, with the existing ceiling box having a black/white pair of wires coming in one hole and another ... | |
| Pole barn wiring | 8/31/2009 |
| Q: What is the best gauge wire for my pole barn, which is 200' from house, I have a 50 amp breaker ... A: I would definitely use the copper wire. Aluminum wire is no longer recommended because of problems ... | |
| breaker panel failure | 8/31/2009 |
| Q: I trip the same breaker with microwave 15 times over 5 months. Now only half of the panel's ... A: Your friend is on the right track, definitely. Normally, close to your electrical meter should be ... | |
| Power loss over a long run | 8/31/2009 |
| Q: Bruce' Can you tell me how many watts of power I will have at the end of 1000 feet 10/3 coming from ... A: I apologize for the delay in answering you. I've just been too busy this week to check the ... | |
| Operating Two Lights with a Single 3-Wire Cable | 8/30/2009 |
| Q: I currently have a light in my ceiling that is operated by a switch on my wall. For whatever reason ... A: Mark, I apologize for the delay. I thought I had already answered this, but apparently a short ... | |
| adding amps to residential | 8/30/2009 |
| Q: I need to add a 60 amp subpannel to my existing power, to accomodate a home based lighting showroom. ... A: You will probably have to contact your local electrical utility and arrange for them to see whether ... | |
| Circuit Breaker | 8/30/2009 |
| Q: I relocated a water heater and attched the same cable from the 30 amp circuit breaker. The new ... A: The circuit breaker is doing one of its jobs. If a hot lead is shorted to ground, the breaker should ... | |
| central air cuts our sound from HD cable box | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: I thought this might be an audio question but that department told me to ask an electrician, so here ... A: It still sounds like the main service to your house is insufficient and overloaded. Maybe you have ... | |
| dead outlets | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: i have 4 dead outlets in kitchen presumably on same breaker. after running my AC on one for about a ... A: If any of those outlets has a GFCI, then it may have tripped, with the other 3 being on the LOAD ... | |
| central air cuts our sound from HD cable box | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: I thought this might be an audio question but that department told me to ask an electrician, so here ... A: It sounds like the main service to your house is insufficient and overloaded. Since starting up is ... | |
| wiring for AC | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: i recently had to replace one of my units. I have a 5 ton, 3 ton and 1.5 ton unit. Was told i ... A: Since I don't know pricing except in my own area and I don't know your home, I can't give you any ... | |
| upgrading | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: bruce, i know this is an age old question but; putting all rumors aside we have an older home that ... A: Mark, you'll need to contact your local utility company to find out what current "service level" ... | |
| G F I | 8/17/2009 |
| Q: I have replaced a regular 125 volt receptacle with a 125 volt 20 amp GFI (12 wire) in the kitchen. ... A: Well, for starters, I'd say that the Department of Redundancy Department would be proud of this ... | |
| wiring | 8/17/2009 |
| Q: I have a standard outlet near the swimming pool. The pool filter gets plugged into it. I purchased ... A: It sounds like this outlet was installed before the pool existed, since Electrical Code requires ... | |
| no power on one circuit | 8/17/2009 |
| Q: Was reheating a cup of coffee with microwave when power went off in that room. Went down to breaker ... A: First, recheck the breaker box: a tripped CB places the switch in a position that's usually about ... | |
| Intermittent Power Failures | 8/16/2009 |
| Q: Bruce: I could use Tim’s professional advice today. My house lights flicker periodically, and I ... A: Normal home power service is 3 wires, a Neutral and two Hots 180 degrees out of phase with each ... | |
| wires are not hot in electrical outlet | 8/16/2009 |
| Q: First off, thank you for your time. I have fixed many things electrically related in the past, but ... A: Well, Laura, it sounds like you've done your homework, and I can understand why you're stumped. My ... | |
| outdoor Flood light | 8/16/2009 |
| Q: 2 bulb outdoor flood dusk to dawn sensor. Only one flood works. Checked wiring black to black and ... A: You don't mention if this is a new installation or an existing one that recently started being a ... | |
| Several outlets do not have power | 7/27/2009 |
| Q: Bruce: Last week I asked one guy to power wash the exterior siding of my house. After that, I ... A: Checking the CB's the way you did was correct and was the obvious place to look. However, is the ... | |
| I can get my dryer to work | 7/26/2009 |
| Q: I have to change my dryer plug to a 4 wire connection and on accident I switched the black wire with ... A: Based on Electrical Codes, both the Red and the Black should have been 120VAC Hot wires of opposite ... | |
| high voltage in my home | 7/26/2009 |
| Q: I live in Mexico. Recently, I checked my outlets with a multimeter and discovered that my home's ... A: A steady 134VAC power supply will be bad for many items, and of no effect on many others. As an ... | |
| motion sensor & switch | 7/26/2009 |
| Q: Is there a way to wire a light so that both a switch and a motion sensor can be used to control it? ... A: You're in luck! You don't need to do any special wiring to get the function you want because most ... | |
| need help | 7/26/2009 |
| Q: I have a 200amp service and a disconnect box on my house.Iam wanting to run service to my garage i ... A: The size of the breaker depends on multiple factors. The primary factor is how much of a maximum ... | |
| 240 volt wiring | 7/26/2009 |
| Q: I would like to know if there is a available on the market a 240 plug in which would then give you ... A: Sorry, but there's no such thing for 240V that I know of in the US. Most items in the US which ... | |
| turning a single outlet into a double outlet | 7/20/2009 |
| Q: Can you tell me how to turn a single outlet into a double outlet? We're building in cabinets beside ... A: The answer assumes that the circuit the existing outlet is on has sufficient Current capacity for ... | |
| 110 to 220 | 7/20/2009 |
| Q: We just purchased a home in Punta del Este, Uruguay.I have tried to find a chandelier for my dinning ... A: Marge, Surprisingly, IF the same wiring principles are followed in Uruguay, you can safely use ... | |
| Panel to 5th Wheel | 7/19/2009 |
| Q: We are currently living in the 5th wheel while we are slowly building our home. I am a general ... A: Upgrading the main panel breakers to 40A would be fine, but don't exceed the current capacity of any ... | |
| add switch to wall sconce | 7/19/2009 |
| Q: I added a 3 amp 125 volt push switch to wall sconce. It blew the breaker. What did I don wrong? A: Apparently you miswired the switch. A defective switch shouldn't cause this type of problem. There ... | |
| Adding a service panel | 7/19/2009 |
| Q: My main service panel has 4 200A main breakers, I want to add a panel in my basement, maybe 100 Amp. ... A: First, you will probably want to write us again with more details, but maybe this answer will be ... | |
| Dishwasher electrical connection | 7/18/2009 |
| Q: I just replaced an old dishwasher in my home with a new Bosch unit. In the old unit the 12/2 wire ... A: Although I can't find the specific reference, I believe there is a Code requirement that your ... | |
| Pot lights burn out quickly | 7/18/2009 |
| Q: I have some small pot lights installed in my kitchen bulk head. The bulbs burn out extremely ... A: Unless the incorrect voltage is going to these lights, this kind of problem is almost always caused ... | |
| Replacing an electrical outlet | 7/18/2009 |
| Q: I'm hoping you could answer an electrical wiring question for me. I was replacing an outlet and the ... A: Uh-oh! No, it doesn't make sense! It sounds like someone who knew nothing about Code and wire color ... | |
| the right servise amps.... | 7/14/2009 |
| Q: my friend just purchased a house and I will remodel her kitchen and I have to add new double oven, ... A: You can probably trust what the inspector said, since he likely noted what wire size is feeding the ... | |
| ceiling fan | 7/14/2009 |
| Q: how do i install a ceiling fan in a 1958 home. the wires are the original wiring, two black wires, ... A: Based on Codes, the Hot should be black, and the Neutral should be white, indicating that the wire ... | |
| light fixture exploded | 7/13/2009 |
| Q: The upstairs hallway light fixture exploded. It did not fall and break. The light bulb did not ... A: The only other reason I can think of right now is that the fixture was still hot from being on ... | |
| Dead bathroom | 7/13/2009 |
| Q: My freind had her son replace an existing light switch in her bathroom to a slide dimmer type. I ... A: The wire found in the attic was probably an NM-2 cable (Romex) containing a Hot wire, a Neutral wire ... | |
| sodium outside security light | 7/13/2009 |
| Q: Bruce...Is there any way to test a sodium light with an Ohm meter? My light will go out for a while ... A: Bill -- Unfortunately, an ohmmeter is useless for testing a sodium light, since these lights ... | |
| light fixture exploded | 7/12/2009 |
| Q: The upstairs hallway light fixture exploded. It did not fall and break. The light bulb did not ... A: This is almost always caused because the bulb was of higher wattage than the fixture was designed ... | |
| GFI wiring | 7/12/2009 |
| Q: I have a GFI outlet that runs back to panel, I wired 2 lights and an outlet (another GFI) to a ... A: Steve - From your description, it sounds like your wiring is logically like the diagram I just drew ... | |
| Buzzing noise coming from light | 7/12/2009 |
| Q: There is a buzzing noise coming from a light fixture in my attic. It's just a single light bulb with ... A: If you replace the bulb, your problem will probably go away. Sometimes when a bulb is burning out, ... | |
| 110V to 220V conversion for gas/electric stove in apartment | 7/12/2009 |
| Q: The current apartment furnished stove is gas. There is a 110V outlet serving the stove, and there ... A: WOW! That's some resume you have! At least I don't have to "dumb down" my answers. First, you are ... | |
| Fixture replacement | 7/11/2009 |
| Q: If I'm replacing a pullstring fixture, do I need to put another pullstring fixture in it's place? A: Nope. You can install almost anything to replace it that you'd like. The primary restriction is ... | |
| Oven Electrical wiring | 7/11/2009 |
| Q: I am getting Kenmore double oven #911.49013 installed during a kitchen remodel. The electrician says ... A: The only specifications I could find online for Kenmore Elite 30" double wall ovens said 40A maximum ... | |
| 220v outlets | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: I want to have installed a few 220v outlets in my garage to set up a catering kitchen. I have one ... A: A 100-Amp service, the most common, is insufficient for a catering kitchen in a typical home garage ... | |
| outdoor outlet | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: My wife raised the cover on the electrical outlet on our porch and a "couple" small bee's flew out. ... A: If the outlet is a GFCI, press the reset button. If it springs back out instead of locking (or if ... | |
| wiring in old home | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: We recently found out that the three prong units in our home These were put in by a previous owner. ... A: Your questions require a lot of answering, but I only have time right now for the basics. If this ... | |
| Circuit Upstream/Downstream GFCI | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: On an existing circuit hidden inside walls where one has identified all outlets on that circuit, how ... A: That's a toughie! All I can think of right now is to use an extremely sensitive voltmeter to measure ... | |
| guage of wiring | 7/9/2009 |
| Q: When wiring a home would it not save money on your electricity bills to use a thicker wire than code ... A: It might do so, because there would be less voltage drop than with the minimum size wire. There is ... | |
| Noise switch is making | 7/9/2009 |
| Q: I live in an apt. in NC. This only happens on occasion, but when turning the light switch on or off, ... A: Jenna -- This answer assumes, from the wording of your question, that the same switch controls both ... | |
| Two circuits on UF 10/3 wire | 7/8/2009 |
| Q: Please tell me if my approach is correct... I'm having a boat lift installed at our small dock. ... A: You are correct about the wiring. Each motor will operate at 120VAC and 13.6 Amps. That will also ... | |
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:
Bruce Grant
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer any questions about residential electrical wiring and most questions about commercial wiring. In my own business, I insist on using best practices in all work we do (which to me means "to Code" or BETTER, using the most recommended ways to do things).
Experience
I'm 65, but learned wiring basics as a teenager. I only used this knowledge for myself, friends and family until early 2002, when economic downturns suddenly made my 30 years in IT irrelevant. Through the Internet, I bought many books on wiring and electrical code and switched careers, becoming an unlicensed electrical contractor, carpenter, and handyman. I now know, after 7 years in the industry, everything I need to get a California C-10 License except some of the Industrial wiring stuff (which I'll probably never use, but need to pass the test). The main reason I haven't yet obtained the License is lack of funds to pay for it and the required insurance. Eventually, I'll get it.
Education/Credentials
* BS in Physics and Mathematics from Oregon State University, 1967
* Primarily self-taught from books written for electrical and construction pros, but also informal training from more experienced pros
Past/Present Clients
homeowners and small businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area, mainly on the S.F. Peninsula
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