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| Subject | Date Asked |
| home wiring | 1/11/2012 |
| Q: We have two lights in our vestibule that now don't work. It could be that my wife was using a home ... A: Being in the vestibule it may be on a circuit with an outdoor GFI receptacle. Check all outdoor ... | |
| Circuit breaker | 1/6/2012 |
| Q: I have a breaker that tripped and when I try to reset it, it sparks..... any sugestions? I have ... A: There has to be something on this circuit that has shorted out. Trace the dead circuit and unplug or ... | |
| groundfault outlet | 12/17/2011 |
| Q: In my garage I have a 15 amp breaker at the panal which controls two outdoor recepticals and one ... A: According to electrical code, you are correct. With a 20 amp receptacle a 20 amp device could be ... | |
| Sub-panel exit wiring | 12/2/2011 |
| Q: I'm installing an outdoor (3R) load center. (I've done interior subpanels before, but not outdoor.) ... A: Wiring troughs are common, you could use one large conduit to penetrate into the wall and run all 4 ... | |
| capacitor change | 11/7/2011 |
| Q: Our water motor pump at home stopped working. My dad suspected the problem was the capacitor as it ... A: That would be an engineering question that I am not comfortable answering. I know the engineers ... | |
| 240 volt drops when dryer turns on | 11/3/2011 |
| Q: I have 240 volts to the connection at the dryer (red and black wire). I have 120 on each wire when ... A: I am not positive this is the case, but this is a common mistake when checking for 240 volts. You ... | |
| installing 240a electric heaters | 11/2/2011 |
| Q: I have a barn that is new but is being changed to a residence. I have a 200a service now and want ... A: The formula is watts divided by voltage = amps, so 2250 watts divided by 240 ... | |
| Dimmer problem | 10/10/2011 |
| Q: I bought my home new 12 years ago. The builder installed a ceiling fan in the master bedroom. I had ... A: If the fan operates, I would not suspect incorrect wiring. I more feel the fan motor may have wear ... | |
| backup generator connection to transfer switch | 10/8/2011 |
| Q: I purchased a 6-circuit Reliance generator transfer switch. The input for the generator transfer ... A: The formula to see the capacity of any electrical device is: WATTS DIVIDED ... | |
| wiring for generator to panel. | 9/27/2011 |
| Q: I have purchased a kohler 20kw home standby generator with a 200 amp transfer switch. What size ... A: There are many variables in play. Does the generator have a main breaker? If so, the wiring must be ... | |
| Sub panel wiring | 9/25/2011 |
| Q: This is more than a little strange - I'm familiar with electrical wiring, but by no means an expert. ... A: The 240 volt devices would have worked fine as they do not require a ground or neutral to operate, ... | |
| window unit a/c /heater | 9/24/2011 |
| Q: i recently purchased a new window unit a/c with heat from sears its a kenmore 18500 btu..i looked at ... A: The reason for different sizes is directly related to the amps they are rated for. Be sure the ... | |
| electrical wiring | 9/23/2011 |
| Q: How do i get power out to a small addition for 5 receptacles, when there are no spaces left in the ... A: There are several ways you can do this. The most expensive would be to take two breakers out and use ... | |
| Wiring Meter to Panel | 9/22/2011 |
| Q: OK, here's the deal. I need to run Power in MN from Meter on Pole, 75ft to my Panel inside my house. ... A: According to the code table for UF direct buried, you would need 250 copper as 4/0 is only rated for ... | |
| Wolf Tanning Bed Power and Control | 9/21/2011 |
| Q: J Cook, I've got a Wolf tanning bed calling for no more than 230VAC. At the dryer outlet we are ... A: Unless this is a totally unique item, every electrical device, motor, control, etc. I have ever seen ... | |
| Ceiling Fan Remote Installation | 9/13/2011 |
| Q: See attachment. I am replacing a ceiling fan that is controlled by 2 wall switches (1 for fan and 1 ... A: Without knowing how the original fan was wired, I would assume there is a black wire, the normal hot ... | |
| electric | 9/10/2011 |
| Q: my ac has stopped working, when I turn power off just to the ac I lose power to a couple of ... A: I am suspecting you have a locked up compressor. The high amp draw on a locked up compressor will ... | |
| circuit breakers | 8/30/2011 |
| Q: I am wiring a cabin in Colorado and it was suggested that the state requires arc type circuit ... A: Steven I am in NC and I know any local inspector can overide and demand a higher protection in any ... | |
| Changing a pull fan to a chandelier | 8/26/2011 |
| Q: I have a really ugly fan over my dining table. I would like to replace it with a chandelier, but it ... A: Actually I did a similar thing as I have a 100+ year old home. I rewired everything I could get to ... | |
| wiring through home 2nd story | 8/15/2011 |
| Q: Do you know of any techniques or tools for wiring / running av cables through a fairly new home ... A: It seems every home today is constructed a little differently. It is not like the 100 year old home ... | |
| electricity | 8/12/2011 |
| Q: I have a microwave and TV in my kitchen, both connected to the same wall outlet. Both of them ... A: The two together should not cause any overloading problems, however the microwave can pull enough on ... | |
| nail in wire | 7/30/2011 |
| Q: I suspect that when siding was put on an addition to my house, a nail nicked an electrical wire. ... A: You may be able to determine the piercing nail using a voltmeter and checking varying points along ... | |
| Provider / B Box / Lines | 6/30/2011 |
| Q: Our lights tend to flicker in the morning when everyone is waking up and creating a large demand ... A: From your information, it appears your home has an inadequate service. Has the electrical service ... | |
| Electrical Wiring | 6/18/2011 |
| Q: I am trying to replace the thermostat to our central heat and air. My husband started the job, but ... A: The thermostat operates on 24 volts supplied by a transformer in the indoor unit. Being this old, ... | |
| Light switch | 6/16/2011 |
| Q: I have a light switch that controls 4 lights. I want to add another light switch to the right of ... A: In many cases there is not a neutral wire in the light switch junction box, so it could not be done. ... | |
| Wiring new exhaust fan separate from vanity light | 5/26/2011 |
| Q: I replaced the bathroom exhaust fan from a builder's grade to a better one. They both have lights. ... A: There should be different color wires for the fan and the two lights. With the breaker to the ... | |
| copper wiring | 5/19/2011 |
| Q: Can you please tell me when copper wiring was introduced to Mobile Homes, I have a 1983 mobile home ... A: This varied by manufacturer, and this was in the middle of the years there was so much controversy ... | |
| wiring a new 230v breaker+outlet | 5/10/2011 |
| Q: How many hot and ground, neural wires are left for a typical 4 year old house to wire into a new ... A: The only way to know is to open the panel and see what is available. Panelboards can have as few as ... | |
| wire 14/2 w / g | 5/6/2011 |
| Q: Can i put a 14/2 w/g onto a 20 amp breaker A: No. #14 is only rated for 15 amps, so you would have to use a 15 amp breaker. I always use #12 so I ... | |
| Open Neutral | 5/5/2011 |
| Q: Recently, I woke up one morning and my kitchen lights and a wall outlet wouldn't work so I began ... A: This indicates that there is either a loose connection with the neutral somewhere in the circuit, or ... | |
| 240 volt, single phase circuit pulled from 120/208 3 phase panel? | 4/19/2011 |
| Q: I work as an industrial maintenance technician and need to run a circuit to supply a piece of ... A: Yes this is normal, the transformer on 480 volts pulls very little even with a full load on the ... | |
| Electrical wiring | 4/7/2011 |
| Q: 1. Can you show me the electrical wiring for a window air conditioner system and heater (best with ... A: There is no way to make a generic wiring diagram. If you have the manufacturer and unit model and ... | |
| 1/2"conduit and switch box | 3/29/2011 |
| Q: I'm trying to run lights in the basement , total of 18 65 WATS each , there is 2 separate line on ... A: The formula to determine the total amps is: Watts divided by volts = amps So in ... | |
| 30 amp outlet to storage shed | 3/28/2011 |
| Q: It is currently in place, 30 amp breaker, 10/2 ( maybe 10/3? ) Was the three pronged standard drier ... A: Now another item is in play, a breaker box. When a panel or a sub panel in this case is installed ... | |
| 30 amp outlet to storage shed | 3/27/2011 |
| Q: It is currently in place, 30 amp breaker, 10/2 ( maybe 10/3? ) Was the three pronged standard drier ... A: For this length of a run, I would continue the #10 wire all the way to the shed and as you stated ... | |
| Lamp switch causing short | 3/1/2011 |
| Q: I have rewired an old lamp. It had a toggle switch attached. When I tested the light without the ... A: If you replaced the switch, it has to be the wiring. From the socket, the attaching cord will have a ... | |
| volts per meter | 2/28/2011 |
| Q: i measure the voltage in my house with a volts per meter measurement and with everything unplugged ... A: Every incoming service has one conductor called a neutral. This conductor is connected to an earth ... | |
| volts per meter | 2/26/2011 |
| Q: i measure the voltage in my house with a volts per meter measurement and with everything unplugged ... A: You could have varying voltage readings depending on what the neutral is picking up. A neutral close ... | |
| 3way switch with dimmer | 2/25/2011 |
| Q: I have a living room fan with light, which is connected to a 3 way switch. One of the switches is a ... A: From the description, it still sounds like the dimmer. The only component in a fan/light combo that ... | |
| burners in a ge model # jbs55wok4ww | 2/24/2011 |
| Q: i replaced 2 burners (when looking front to back) the left rear and left front. i have the wires ... A: I do not have a wiring diagram for this unit. A way you can determine which ones are front and rear ... | |
| 125 amp breaker box | 2/15/2011 |
| Q: im wiring a small building i got a 200 amp main service pole an a 125 inside breaker box i have a ... A: A 125 amp service will more than handle what you have described so far. Everything is very unlikely ... | |
| Power Bill Explaination | 2/12/2011 |
| Q: My daughter lives in a two story townhouse here in Atlanta. 3500 Sq. Her power bills are very high ... A: If this service is as most services, over 250 amps is considerd a commercial services and the rates ... | |
| doorbell ringer help | 2/11/2011 |
| Q: I have a faulty doorbell ringer. Voltage going into transformer is good. voltage coming out of low ... A: There appear to be a transformer problem. The transformer is not putting out enough low voltage. A ... | |
| doorbell ringer help | 2/1/2011 |
| Q: I have a faulty doorbell ringer. Voltage going into transformer is good. voltage coming out of low ... A: Yes you are correct. Low voltage is exactly like high voltage. Either of the low voltage wires can ... | |
| Square D QO 200Amp circuit breaker | 1/31/2011 |
| Q: New installation of Square D CB pnl.Power has not been turned on from service pole yet. On the in ... A: There is a lock mechanism to prevent it from being accidentally turned off. I am not saying there is ... | |
| THERMOSTAT WIRING | 1/29/2011 |
| Q: I am installing a Honeywell Thermostat. My old system has a W2 and E. In the new thermostat it is ... A: The first inquiry did not mention the propane furnace and with this addition, you are correct. The ... | |
| THERMOSTAT WIRING | 1/28/2011 |
| Q: I am installing a Honeywell Thermostat. My old system has a W2 and E. In the new thermostat it is ... A: Some commercial units have two compressors. The second would be connected to the W2 terminal and the ... | |
| monitor usage | 1/27/2011 |
| Q: I need to know how many amps my 240vac motor is pulling when I turn it on.Thanks ... A: There are a number of factors that determine the start amps. I will need the motor codes, single or ... | |
| Power outage triggers observatory roof closure | 1/18/2011 |
| Q: I am designing a simplified roll-off roof observatory to put my telescope in. The roof will open and ... A: The problem I see is the UPS will engergize the controls telling the door to close, but unless it is ... | |
| Main Breaker & PV Source Breaker | 1/16/2011 |
| Q: I'm adding roof-mounted solar power to my residence. I've determined that my home run will terminate ... A: Depending on how an inspector interprets the code, reducing the main to a 175 still does not change ... | |
| ground wire | 1/14/2011 |
| Q: to the ceiling of a storage room. To the fixture I will run a length of power cord that I salvaged ... A: No, it is actually called a double insulated product, it is common in residential tools such as a ... | |
| breaker box/ circuit breaker main | 12/7/2010 |
| Q: I was using my washer and when it changed to spin there was a surge and the lights flickered and ... A: A loose connection would cause exactly what you have described. If the loose connection was found ... | |
| dryer | 12/2/2010 |
| Q: three rooms in my house has no power unless the dryer is on. What is wrong A: There are some serious circuit problems that could eventually cause a fire. You need to have an ... | |
| Main line arch | 11/24/2010 |
| Q: Mr. Cook I live in a mobile home and the other day my wife noticed that the inside panel box was ... A: With the amount of arching that was happening, it is very possible it has damaged the main breaker ... | |
| 220 volt shut off switch. | 11/23/2010 |
| Q: I have three 10 gauge wires running between my circuit breaker box & the pressure switch on my 220 ... A: Install a single pole single throw 20 amp switch and connect one wire to each terminal and run these ... | |
| Wiring an Exhaust fan with a combination two single pole switch | 11/17/2010 |
| Q: How do I wire an exhaust fan into a combination two single pole switch? Currently, I only have a ... A: It will take a separate wire from the fan to the existing switch box. The wires coming in from the ... | |
| electrical wiring | 11/16/2010 |
| Q: I am trying to hook up a chandelier. I have 3 sets of wires in the box- 3 white wires with cap, one ... A: The orange and silver do not make sense. Get a volt tester and turn the switch on and off to see it ... | |
| cord ends don't match up | 11/15/2010 |
| Q: I am putting up Xmas lights outside and have a problem. The female end of the LCD lights has two ... A: Are you certain these are outdoor lights. It sounds as though they do not have a ground if both ... | |
| Only some lights on the breaker are working. | 11/12/2010 |
| Q: After installing a dimmer switch in my dining room I flipped the breaker back on. Sadly the dimmer ... A: I would have to believe the circuit fed through this switch box and on to the other devices that are ... | |
| No power to bedroom | 11/10/2010 |
| Q: I have no power to one bedroom. Checked breaker box and there are no breakers tripped. I flipped ... A: The GFI is the most likely culprit, they do fail. I know you checked the wiring for a loose ... | |
| 240 V vs 120V wire for motor | 11/9/2010 |
| Q: 1. Why does 120V need a neutral wire, but 240V doesn't? 2. Other than two wires sharing the ... A: In essence any electrical device is operating as a controlled dead short. Two legs are hitting each ... | |
| Neurtal and groung bar installation | 8/31/2010 |
| Q: I am buying a house that has had the wiring stolen from out of it. They also took the grounding ... A: It is difficult to tell by the photo. Some ground bars are located on the sides, bottom, or top. ... | |
| How to wire a 3 way switch and single pole switch using single power source | 8/30/2010 |
| Q: Greetings: I have a 3 way switch for my recessed lights with power at the switch. I want to add a ... A: From the 14/2 power wire, connect two black jumpers to the black and two white jumpers to the ... | |
| Heater and Outlet wiring | 8/28/2010 |
| Q: I have a bathroom wall heater wired into another outlet into another bathroom. It apprears to be a ... A: When a device is operating on the circuit, it is common to also read voltage on the white neutral of ... | |
| voltage on electrical base board heater | 8/27/2010 |
| Q: What should be the voltage reading on a base board heater at the end of a run controlled by a low ... A: I am not sure if you are referring to the line voltage of the heater or the control circuit. ... | |
| Service cable | 8/26/2010 |
| Q: New home install. I have a remote meterbase/200 amp disconnect. Need to run URD from there to house ... A: If the meter is 6' or less from the indoor panel, conduit can be ran directly to the panel from the ... | |
| Light switch and fixture | 8/14/2010 |
| Q: We have a light switch to a florescent light in our kitchen. I heard a crackling several times when ... A: If the sounds were from the switch, it most likely will fix it with a new switch. Make sure the ... | |
| hard-wiring short?! | 8/13/2010 |
| Q: Last night I had my fan/light on as well as my bathroom light (master bedroom) - fuse blew. I tried ... A: No, was the switch to the fan and light also off when you tried to reset the breaker? If so, then ... | |
| bathroom fan | 7/31/2010 |
| Q: Cook! I have the bathroom fan connected to the light switch and every time I want to put the fan on ... A: With the fan and light on the same switch circuit, it will require an additional wire to the fan. ... | |
| wiring instructions for an outdoor motion light | 7/29/2010 |
| Q: I have misplaced the wiring directions for my outdoor motion sensor light. There are 1 white & 1 ... A: Kurt, the only wire I am having a problem with is the white wire with a black stripe on the sensor. ... | |
| 100 amp service vs 200 amp panel | 7/20/2010 |
| Q: My father has an older home that the "main" panel (which is in the garage) is a 100 amp panel. this ... A: The panel inside the house should be fed from a breaker in the garage panel, the rating of this ... | |
| replacing standard outlet with gfci outlet | 7/18/2010 |
| Q: The current standard outlet has 6 wires (3 pairs) coming into it. 4 going into hole type pressure ... A: It depends on whether you want to protect only the GFI location, or do you want to protect the ... | |
| Switch controlling light and outlets | 7/16/2010 |
| Q: We have a switch in our office that is wired to control two outlets in addition to the overhead ... A: Since you solved the receptacles, the light will have a white and a black. The white will connect ... | |
| electrical wiring | 7/15/2010 |
| Q: I have a light switch that has red, black, white wires, the wires run up to 2 light fixtures that ... A: According to your description, the BOX on the side of one light has the incoming power circuit. I do ... | |
| ceiling fixture wiring | 6/16/2010 |
| Q: I have a ceiling fixture that keeps blowing out lightbulbs after just a few days after i hung a new ... A: At the switch, you are stating THE black is attached on one side of the switch but at the ceiling ... | |
| 120/240 sub panel wiring | 6/4/2010 |
| Q: I have a Square D 60 A 3 circuit/3 space enclosed panelboard. I want to install 1 15 AMP DPST and 1 ... A: If you look carefully at the connection points for the breakers, every other one is the opposite ... | |
| Wiring a switch, FGCI and receptacles | 6/3/2010 |
| Q: This is what I have: Power is going into the switch, have the 12-2 to the light then the 12-2 to ... A: Michael, everything sounds correct. The only thing I can suggest checking is the GFI has a ... | |
| Light Switch Question | 5/20/2010 |
| Q: I am replacing some light switches in my home with lighted toggle switches. The are 2 sconces ... A: First, make sure you have the correct switches. A three pole or four pole is not necessarily a three ... | |
| ceiling fans and wire colors | 5/11/2010 |
| Q: I am replacing a ceiling fan. I never thought that I would have a case where the NEW fan wiring ... A: It would help considerably to know on the old fan what color of circuit wires the old one is ... | |
| running wiring to a outside shed | 5/8/2010 |
| Q: i have a 40 amp breaker in my main electrical box that was used for a electric dryer,can i use this ... A: It depends on the distance of the run. You will still need wire and connectors etc. and by using ... | |
| switch for ceiling gan | 5/7/2010 |
| Q: wired a wall switch for new ceiling fan. When switch is off, volt meter shows 33 volts at supply for ... A: George, I could not access the diagram. I will give you two methods depending on what you have. 1. ... | |
| Photocell | 4/29/2010 |
| Q: I want to install indoor stair lighting and night lights in my hallway. I would like to put them on ... A: You will either have to run a 14/3 or an additional 14/2 that will be going to the light circuit. ... | |
| Light Switch Replacement with Gfci outlet/Switch | 3/30/2010 |
| Q: I just purchased an older home. The upstairs bathroom has only a light switch. I purchased a GFCI ... A: Sorry for the delay Kevin, I was not sent the question until this morning. I am not sure about the ... | |
| Turn outlet off of power switch | 3/29/2010 |
| Q: I need help with our outlet that is controlled by our light switch. I can not use the outlet without ... A: You just need a standard receptacle. Check to see what amp breaker is feeding this circuit, it is ... | |
| Uneven voltage in each leg of sub panel | 3/28/2010 |
| Q: A 20 amp double pole breaker feeds a sub panel in my shop through overhead wires. Each leg of this ... A: There has to be a problem with the wire from the main to the sub panel to get this reading at the ... | |
| Uneven voltage in each leg of sub panel | 3/27/2010 |
| Q: A 20 amp double pole breaker feeds a sub panel in my shop through overhead wires. Each leg of this ... A: Scott, I am not sure how you are reading the voltage, but there are two ways to do it properly. One ... | |
| wire or circuit problem? | 3/26/2010 |
| Q: My outside electrical receptacle is on a GFCI circuit. Took the face plate off, with a multi meter ... A: With a hot circuit, you will read 120 volts between either the neutral and hot or the ground and ... | |
| using my european stereo in US | 3/25/2010 |
| Q: I brought my mini Sony stereo back to the US with me. It does have a 50/60 width but I am not able ... A: I would check with Sony. It is now wired for the 220 voltage in Europe and it depends on how it is ... | |
| Halogen pot light outage | 3/16/2010 |
| Q: I have six halogen lights in the bedroom ceiling. These are original equipment in a house built in ... A: Usually a voltage spike is the only thing that will damage a transformer. They are ususally very ... | |
| seperate structure | 3/15/2010 |
| Q: i have a shed about 100' from house and want a sub panel out there for circuits plus future pool and ... A: The feeders will totally be determined by the loads you want to attach. Figure out the total load ... | |
| High electric bill | 3/14/2010 |
| Q: Could I reduce my electric bill by turning the main breaker off every night? Total electric home. ... A: Some tips for saving are: 1. Install a programmable thermostat to put the unit in an unoccupied mode ... | |
| WIRING A TIMER SWITCH | 2/15/2010 |
| Q: HEY HOW R U TODAY, I GOT A PASS%SEYMOUR 7 BUTTON SINGLE POLE TIMER SWITCH, THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ... A: The original switch did not have a neutral wire. The present white wire that was attached is part of ... | |
| moving a switch | 2/14/2010 |
| Q: I have taken out a wall in my bathroom and need to move the switch for the exhaust fan/light to the ... A: By the explained wiring, you do not have separate wires from the light and the fan, one black wire ... | |
| Wiring a gas cooktop | 2/12/2010 |
| Q: "I'm reinstalling a gas cooktop (110V) after we replaced our countertops. No problem with the gas - ... A: It appears the wiring was originally a 240 volt circuit by having a black and a red. You will need a ... | |
| 220 volt wiring | 2/3/2010 |
| Q: can I junction 220v to run an air compressor and welder off of the same line. A: Dustin it depends on the rating of the circuit and if both will operate at the same time. If only ... | |
| Fuse Box Nuetral Bar with High Temperature | 2/2/2010 |
| Q: I am preparing a 1969 house for sale. The house has aluminum wiring, a fuse box with a master fuse ... A: If this home still has screw in fuses, it is very likely the service is now underated. With the ... | |
| floodlight wiring problem | 1/29/2010 |
| Q: I have an outdoor floodlight that recently started tripping a breaker on my electrical panel. The ... A: The white wire is the neutral and must be connected to the proper terminal or white wire of the ... | |
| 2 prong electrical plug | 1/28/2010 |
| Q: My vacuum sweeper has quick working. When I plug it in it momentarily starts and then stops. One ... A: Any male plug can be installed even a grounded type since it is grounded internally and does not use ... | |
| converting european 220v outlet to 110v outlet | 1/22/2010 |
| Q: I moved to Belgium and I want to change the outlet plugs to accomodate all my tools. How do I ... A: It will not be a matter of converting the outlet. In Europe, where we use a single 120 volt line ... | |
| A.O.Smith Blower Fan motor wiring | 1/14/2010 |
| Q: I have an old furnace that had a Westinghouse single speed. 1050 rpm motor. It overheats and quits, ... A: The wiring diagram should be either on the motor, or on the cover that is removed to connect the ... | |
| GFI tripped, wiring is two-wire | 1/13/2010 |
| Q: My son recently bought an old house. The GFI in the bathroom tripped. The wiring to it is just a ... A: Dave, actually with two wire circuits, there is a neutral, but no ground. This being the case, be ... | |
| Christmas lights tripping every circuit | 12/20/2009 |
| Q: we have approximately 35 strands of 100 mini lights and icicle lights in our yard along with light ... A: The dampness is most likely the culprit. You are connecting the lights to a circuit that is GFI ... | |
| Cooktop & Wall Oven electrical connection | 12/19/2009 |
| Q: I am replacing a range, with a single wall-oven and a cooktop. The wall breaker for the range show ... A: If I see this correctly, the oven and the cooktop needs a 40 amp circuit. The existing circuit needs ... | |
| Automatic Switch for Water Heater | 12/18/2009 |
| Q: My utility has just introducted time of day electric rates. I get a break for power used at certain ... A: If you go to most electrical supply or HVAC supply stores, most will have a 240 volt time clock with ... | |
| adding an exterior outled | 12/17/2009 |
| Q: what is the best way to fish a new circuit from an attic down an exterior wall to a new exterior ... A: With the walls having a fire block, it is almost impossible to do this. You may be able to go ... | |
| space heaters | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: My mother is having difficulty getting my father to take seriously the danger of their bedroom space ... A: It most certainly is cause for concern. A circuit is pulling hard when the lights dim. It can cause ... | |
| 94samaya | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: I live in New England and just installed a new dedicated GFCI line for my main bathroom (the ... A: The older light will probably cause problems with the GFI, so this method does not have the light ... | |
| Electric wiring | 12/2/2009 |
| Q: Currently have a single pole light switch run as the last of the run from the breaker. How can I ... A: Identify the hot feeder wire and add a small piece of wire to it and run it to the new switch on ... | |
| voltage reading in one circuit | 11/20/2009 |
| Q: I recently purchased a fixer-upper, and found four outlets (all isolated to a single 15A breaker) ... A: Assuming this was a working circuit at one time, there has to be a section of damaged wire allowing ... | |
| Ceiling Fixture Wiring | 11/19/2009 |
| Q: U resolved a similar problem to mine already. Unfortunately his problem only had two main wires ... A: There is most likely a circuit feeding through this junction and also a drop down switch leg. Do you ... | |
| New electric range | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: We wanted to replace our gas range with an electric range and we want to know if we have the right ... A: Very excessive. Locate the breaker feeding this receptacle to ensure it is of the proper amps for ... | |
| 3-stage touch light swich not responding | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: I have installed 4 sets of 5 low voltage xenon lights each in my house. The switches are round ... A: You need to check the rating on the switches. You may have overloaded them with the number of lights ... | |
| installing a subpanel | 11/14/2009 |
| Q: my garage is currently wired with an electric stove plug. We do not want a stove in the garage but ... A: The most common and thus usually the least expensive sub panel is a 125 amp main lug without a main. ... | |
| need to know | 11/11/2009 |
| Q: can i feed 3 subs off of 1 main A: Just as there is no limit to the number of receptacles on a circuit, there is no limit to the number ... | |
| nutral wires hot | 11/10/2009 |
| Q: Plugged in a lamp blew the bulb, knocked out outlets and lights on circuit. Took the outlet out ... A: There is either a damaged device on the circuit, or the wiring itself. I would start at the breaker ... | |
| Electric | 11/6/2009 |
| Q: I am installing Recess lighting in our basement, I have a ceiling with a foot and half space with no ... A: You can " Daisy Chain " from light to light. The calculation to determine how many on one circuit ... | |
| UPS over load | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: I face probelm during comissioning of one project , and I hope that I will find answer here. My ... A: I apologize for the delay, but I am out of work on a work related injury and had surgery. As to this ... | |
| grounding 200a electric service | 9/16/2009 |
| Q: i know that now you need two ground rods,but how big of a wire& how do you run the wire? THANK ... A: You only need two if the ground does not have sufficient impedence verified by a meter on one driven ... | |
| ceiling fan installation | 6/17/2009 |
| Q: My wife and I just purchased an older lake cottage. I have a ceiling fan with lights that came out ... A: This should have been correct. You will need to purchase a volt tester from a home supply. It is ... | |
| Amps/watts, single or three phase, & 220 wiring... | 6/3/2009 |
| Q: I want to put a ceramics kiln in my basement. The kilns I'm in the market for usually require ... A: On the high end, at 220 volts, a 14,300 watt device needs a 65 amp circuit. The formula is watts ... | |
| Light On in Off position. | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: I recently bought a new light fixture to go in my dinning room where a ceiling fan was. I was able ... A: One of the cables with a black, white and ground is the power cable, the other is the switch leg. ... | |
| 3 Phase air compressor switch | 6/1/2009 |
| Q: Can you explain where to connect the 2 wires coming from the air pressure switch. This is an 80 ... A: David, on this type of device there should be a disconnect at the compressor installed that is ... | |
| Electrical Connection for a Freestanding Range | 5/28/2009 |
| Q: We recently had a new range installed. Before we could connect it, we had to change the connector ... A: It is just a different more modern design in most cases. It could also indicate a different amp ... | |
| 230 to 115 | 5/27/2009 |
| Q: downgrading 230 volts to 115 volts service how is been done A: To convert a 230 volt circuit to 115, the double breaker has to be removed and two single breakers ... | |
| Wiring??? | 5/19/2009 |
| Q: How do you a switch to a separate light from another switch? A: If the switch does not have the neutral in the junction box, you can't. Most switches are dropped ... | |
| Garage Door Opener pre-wire | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: I am trying to install the control box for the garage door opener. It has only two terminals for ... A: Every manufacturer has their own terminals for the opener connection. The wires you have found are ... | |
| properly testing new work | 5/15/2009 |
| Q: Mr. Cook, In a basement remodel, we have a new circuit breaker which goes to a newly installed gfci ... A: You would actually have to create a dead short to test the breaker, so I do not recommend this. With ... | |
| Sub-panel | 5/13/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could explain how sub-panels are used in residential applications. Are they ... A: The number of breakers has nothing to do with the load capacity of the service. Counting all of my ... | |
| electric | 5/11/2009 |
| Q: metal sheathed cable, 10/3 can the metal sheath be used as ground (with metal box)so I can wire 3 ... A: Certain cables can use the sheath in certain jurisdictions. I would check with a local electrical ... | |
| Sub-panel | 5/10/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could explain how sub-panels are used in residential applications. Are they ... A: In you case it would be a matter of preference, but I would install one and have in my own home with ... | |
| electrical | 5/9/2009 |
| Q: I have 2 questions, hope this is OK. 1-I am replacing new outlet plugs in my home. I am getting a ... A: The idea of the foam in the boxes is an excellent way to seal off drafts. There are foam gaskets ... | |
| gfi | 5/7/2009 |
| Q: I'm installing a GFI in one of our to bathrooms. Before I started I had power to outlet. Now that ... A: Jason you will have to follow the devices on this circuit. It may already have another GFI on it ... | |
| electrical | 5/6/2009 |
| Q: i have to install a new 220 outlet, run the wire to the breaker box. I already have a breaker box ... A: You would treat the sub panel just like an extended circuit. Remove two existing breakers, install ... | |
| Replacing outlets and switches | 5/5/2009 |
| Q: My dad is an electrician, and I've been helping him on a job over last Christmas break, so I know a ... A: Not as long as you follow some simple rules. First, plug a lamp or other item into the receptacle ... | |
| Grounding a Hot Water Heater | 5/2/2009 |
| Q: I am going to be replacing my cold water copper pipes with cvpc. My electric hot water heater is ... A: The feeder wires to the water heater should be three conductors, two phase or power conductors and ... | |
| screw in type fuse panel | 5/1/2009 |
| Q: my daughter was doing hair (dryer,crimper,tv,music)kind of blew the fuse its a 15 amp fuse.I ... A: There is a dead short somewhere in the circuit. It would be costly as it will blow a fuse with each ... | |
| Enclosure | 4/23/2009 |
| Q: I have a water pond in my backyard that I'm "raising from the dead". There are 4 outdoor spotlights ... A: Yes. Go to an electrical supply and ask for an outdoor box. There are many manufacturers of these ... | |
| Hot Electrical outlet | 4/14/2009 |
| Q: We had an electrical outlet in our living room that was hot to the touch and had a burning smell ... A: Without knowing the wattage of the heater I can not say if it was overloaded, but if so, it should ... | |
| Main Panel Now a Subpanel without seperate ground | 4/13/2009 |
| Q: We have a second home which was extensively remodeled and added on to in the sixties and seventies. ... A: By code if you were now adding this basement panel as a sub panel, it would require a four wire feed ... | |
| my power source is a 14-3 line | 4/10/2009 |
| Q: How do I wire a three-way switch when my power source coming into my switch box is from a 14-3 line ... A: Jason, a three way switch circuit is one of the most difficult circuits to describe without a ... | |
| baseboard heaters | 4/9/2009 |
| Q: I have installed several baseboard heaters using the thermostats that mount in them. My question is ... A: I have used both types of thermostats, and once a comfort level is reached and you know the stat ... | |
| sattelite cable sparks and trips breaker | 4/7/2009 |
| Q: Good evening . I am trying to diagnose a problem with my sattelite cable tripping my breaker when I ... A: It seems there could be several areas to check. When you install new receptacles, do you use the ... | |
| instalation of GFCI | 4/6/2009 |
| Q: My new old home (Montgomery County, MD; built 1950's) does not have any outlets in the bathrooms. ... A: You can connect it to either existing circuit and the amperage and wire size will be determined by ... | |
| circuit breaker | 4/4/2009 |
| Q: I have a 100 amp panel with more than one line connected to many of the breaker switches. I was told ... A: There are two solutions. You can either install a larger panel with more circuits, or a legal method ... | |
| Wiring in a 240 V Circuit Breaker into Garage with Finished Walls | 4/2/2009 |
| Q: I am wiring up an air compressor in the garage that has finished walls (dry wall) and is attached to ... A: we will take these in order. 1. The circuit can enter the panel in any accessible part of the panel ... | |
| Electrical power feeds for single phase 220v equipment | 3/30/2009 |
| Q: Mr. Cook, Recently, I purchased two pieces of woodworking equipment that I will be installing. The ... A: You have to overlook the cords the factory supplies as they are under different rules and ... | |
| Electrical Sockets | 3/29/2009 |
| Q: My daughter has told me that when she plugged her new kettle into the socket in the kitchen it did ... A: I would first suspect a loose connection on these particular receptacles. Turn the power off on each ... | |
| outdoor low voltage lighting | 3/27/2009 |
| Q: I have a set of 8 low voltage outdoor lights. The wiring goes appox: 10 feet from the transformer ... A: There may be several issues. First, make sure the photo cell is wired in the correct location. A ... | |
| 3 phase electric | 3/24/2009 |
| Q: I have a small fabrication shop that runs off of 220 single phase. I recently purchased an air ... A: A converter for this large of an amp draw would be very difficult. You may be either able to install ... | |
| wiring electric range | 3/21/2009 |
| Q: what gauge wire for a free standing electric range and oven? A: Every range or oven is rated in watts and it depends on the total watts. If you can get this ... | |
| adding extra lights to a 15 amp | 3/20/2009 |
| Q: I have a customer that is adding extra 4" Ressesed lights to his kitchen. What is the max number of ... A: Last part first, you can not put #14 on a 20 amp breaker as it is only rated for 15 amps. To ... | |
| wiring question | 3/19/2009 |
| Q: I moved into my house last year, it was built in 2003, I want to install recessed lighting into my ... A: The smallest gauge it should be is 14 and it must be fused at no more than 15 amps. It would depend ... | |
| motion detectors | 2/12/2009 |
| Q: i'll try to make this simple. i work for a hotel.i'm trying to find a motion detector which has a ... A: Yes, and there are detectors that will work with a variety of options. Seek out an electrical supply ... | |
| Baseboard heater | 2/10/2009 |
| Q: I recently purchased a 35 year old home. One of the upgrades to the house was a new 100A electrical ... A: If the heaters are on a separate circuit, and this needs to be verified before changing any wiring ... | |
| 120/240/12v Options | 2/9/2009 |
| Q: We're building a small portable safe bedroom for my chemically injured partner, and we're trying to ... A: Tony, you have an excellent understanding of the panel and you are correct in every way. If there ... | |
| adding new outlet to middle of existing circuit | 2/7/2009 |
| Q: I thought you might be able to help me. I found your other post concerning adding new outlets to ... A: No problem Denis. Since the existing outlet will already have two blacks and two whites connected, ... | |
| wire size | 1/31/2009 |
| Q: recently purchased new home.lights flicker when heat pump goes on.(all brand new trane ... A: #12 is only rated for 20 amps and with this long of a run it is adding to the problem. This wire ... | |
| subpanel/feeder | 1/28/2009 |
| Q: I would like to put in a subpanel on the first floor in order to be able to limit access to the main ... A: Not legally. #4 is only rated for 85 amps. #3 is rated for 100 if you are pulling copper and #1 for ... | |
| Generator - Proper cord from Gen to House | 1/26/2009 |
| Q: I have a small Coleman Powermate PM0524000 generator (4000W - 5000W surge). It has a NEMA 6-15 240 V ... A: The formula to convert watts to amps is: Watts divided by voltage = amps So on ... | |
| Wire Splicing In Breaker Box | 1/24/2009 |
| Q: My 200amp Murray load center/breaker box supports full width breakers at the upper portion and full ... A: Yes, you can legally do this type of a splice within the panel. A suggestion, if you think you may ... | |
| electrical wiring | 1/20/2009 |
| Q: i am replacing a exhaust fan, and light fixtures. currently in the box there is 3 switches and 2 ... A: Part of this does not make sense, in the three wire cable it leaves the white wire connected to ... | |
| electrical upgrade | 1/17/2009 |
| Q: I'm thinking of buying a rehab house, I can do everything except the electrical. Approximately 1200 ... A: Scott, this varies so much by location, will the panel be replaced, the meter box, the devices? Most ... | |
| electric to a shop | 1/16/2009 |
| Q: my shop is approx. 150 ft. from my fusebox in my house..i want to run 3 flourecents and a few ... A: You can either use two strands of 10/2 or one strand of 10/3 and share the neutral and still have ... | |
| electric to a shop | 1/15/2009 |
| Q: my shop is approx. 150 ft. from my fusebox in my house..i want to run 3 flourecents and a few ... A: The only problem I forsee is using 30 amp breakers. No 120 volt receptacle or light is rated for 30 ... | |
| simple wiring | 1/13/2009 |
| Q: I installed a new light in the laundry room. The old fixture was a circular florescent. I ... A: Is there only one black and one white wire in the light junction box? If so, this should be correct. ... | |
| Ceiling Fan Sparked | 1/12/2009 |
| Q: I was taking the light kit off of our ceiling fan since I recently installed can lights, and I ... A: The switches in a ceiling fan have very small contacts in them and most likely the switches were ... | |
| Bath light with vent and heat | 1/10/2009 |
| Q: I have 4 switches in my bathroom (2 doubles). Each switch should correspond to 1 function. 1- ... A: If these are the ONLY five wires in the junction box, we are in luck. Only one of these five is the ... | |
| Burnt component smell at disconnect switch | 1/9/2009 |
| Q: Overjoyed to have found this resource, thanks in advance for any insight. Basic Issue: ... A: I am suspecting a heater problem. The heater should only be pulling 23 amps, and reading 46 - 47 ... | |
| popping noise and a rubbery burning smell | 1/8/2009 |
| Q: I was in the shower this morning, and I heard a loud popping noise. When I got out and was getting ... A: I would be concerned but I am not sure where to tell you to begin looking. Since you heard the sound ... | |
| Disposal hookup | 1/7/2009 |
| Q: I have 12/2 Home run to outlet box And 12/2 going to switch from same outlet box Would like to have ... A: Look closely at the receptacle terminals on the side with the brass screws only. You will see a ... | |
| 2 gang - 3 way switch & dimmer switch | 12/17/2008 |
| Q: I have an existing 14/2 circuit ,with a dimmer switch and a 14/2 power source for 4 potlights. ... A: If the circuit originates in the switch junction box it will be somewhat simple. In most switch ... | |
| Hot Ground | 12/16/2008 |
| Q: I noticed some of the ground wires in my grandmother's home have current coming through them. I can ... A: If there are circuits sharing a neutral, which is common, the neutral may have some feedback voltage ... | |
| Power Consumption | 12/14/2008 |
| Q: I live in a small one room studio apartment. I have a G.E. electrical window mounted A.C./heating ... A: I would need to know the actual wattage of the heaters to determine the less expensive one to ... | |
| Electrical Terminology Question | 12/13/2008 |
| Q: when you say something is 480 / 208 V - what exactly does that mean? What is the first # and the ... A: This is a multivoltage device that depending on how it is wired will operate on 480 or 208 volts. A ... | |
| 2 lights with switch at end of run | 12/10/2008 |
| Q: I am trying to wire 2 lights behind my bar and want them both to run off the same switch. I have the ... A: In order to have a working switch at the end, you would need a three wire cable from the first light ... | |
| What type of wire for 240 volt outlet | 12/9/2008 |
| Q: i am installing 4 outlets in my shed that will be 240 volt. what type of wire from home depot should ... A: First, #4 copper is only rated for 85 amps, so keep this in mind as you apply loads to this panel. ... | |
| outside circuit breaker box | 12/6/2008 |
| Q: I have 2 wells currently running on thier own 30 amp separate 2 pole breakers. However, I need a ... A: These are mini breakers and I personally do not like them as the contact point in the panel is 1/2 ... | |
| GFI Circut not working | 12/5/2008 |
| Q: All the electrical circuits on two walls in our kitchen stopped working tonight. This circuit ... A: If the GFI will not reset, it has failed. Even though the tester does not show that voltage is ... | |
| FLASHING HOME LIGHTS | 12/4/2008 |
| Q: A PREVIOUS ANSWER SAID "IF IT'S A LOOSE CONNECTION" I WISH TO KNOW IF THE POWER CO HAS THE ABILITY ... A: No, it is not possible. The transmission lines are continuous from the utility, go to different ... | |
| Metal Flex: | 11/24/2008 |
| Q: I'm running 14/2 metal flex inside a garage to power outside garage lights. I have a run that when ... A: Metal flex will break easily when bent, so I recommend a box on both sides connected by conduit ... | |
| Early '50's residential wiring | 11/24/2008 |
| Q: My husband & I are remodeling a home built in the early 1950's. The old light switches are wired ... A: This sounds like a low voltage wiring system that was experimented with in a number of ... | |
| USE wire type permitted uses | 11/23/2008 |
| Q: I have a 400 amp u/g service (dual sweetbriers 4/0-4/0-2/0 al) being brought into a shop in conduit. ... A: The utility is not regulated by the code for distribution lines and to the meter is all part of the ... | |
| need to hook blower back to furnace | 11/22/2008 |
| Q: We had to have a new blower motor put on our furnace. we have it back now and don't know ... A: The white will be the neutral or common wire and will connect to one line lead or the neutral wire. ... | |
| 3 phase to 1 phase | 11/21/2008 |
| Q: I am looking for a transformer or a correct way to use 440 volt 3 phase to operate a system that has ... A: I have a friend in the plastic injection molding industry who is in the process of retrofitting a ... | |
| recessed lighting | 11/20/2008 |
| Q: J. Cook,"Your the man!" I installed recess lights on the living room and ran a 12-2 wire to the ... A: Fernando I need a little clarification. Do you want the new recessed lights to work by the three way ... | |
| wiring in a tanning bed | 11/20/2008 |
| Q: i need some help understanding how to do a wiring job. i have no experience with wiring except with ... A: Joe I need one piece of information that should be on the label of the tanning bed, what is either ... | |
| GCFI Question | 11/17/2008 |
| Q: Is the single pole switch GFCI protected on a GFCI single pole switch combo (like the Cooper Wiring ... A: John, that is an excellent question. It would depend on how the switch is powered internally in the ... | |
| Wiring! | 11/16/2008 |
| Q: Last week,I tried to change a ceiling fixture,the guy who installed the old one put a long screw and ... A: If you are positive the two white wires were connected together before, do not change either of ... | |
| Adding attic lights | 11/16/2008 |
| Q: I'm adding 4 lights in my attic 2 at each end, I would like to wire them to a central junction box ... A: It is up to you, but I would put them on a separate switch as you do not want the attic on every ... | |
| Wire sizing | 11/14/2008 |
| Q: I am building a shop and need to run electrical underground from the house to the shop. I figure ... A: I know copper has gone sky high, but I still prefer copper. For 100 amps on this distance: ... | |
| electric heaters | 11/14/2008 |
| Q: How much wattage of electric heaters can I put on a 20 amp circuit breaker. A: The formula to determine the watts of any appliance is" Watts divided by Volts = ... | |
| install ceiling light where a ceiling fan and light used to be | 11/11/2008 |
| Q: I removed a ceiling light and fan from the dining room and I want to install a light. My new light ... A: I am not sure what you mean by exactly like the switch. The incoming power should have a continuos ... | |
| power surge | 11/11/2008 |
| Q: I was told be the fire dept. last Aug as they were putting out the fire at my house, that if you ... A: The panel needs to be checked to see if it is balanced. There are two hot legs feeding in the ... | |
| Non-operating pump on boiler | 11/10/2008 |
| Q: I have an American Standard boiler which circulates by convection. However, there is a B&G pump for ... A: The electrical is easily accessed on the pump, it is most likely a 120 volt pump and you can attach ... | |
| Strange elctrical clicking in wall | 11/9/2008 |
| Q: i have a strange clicking sound in the wall i have only heard it at night it is in the same place ... A: I would turn off one circuit at a time until you determine it is definitely an electrical circuit ... | |
| install ceiling light where a ceiling fan and light used to be | 11/8/2008 |
| Q: I removed a ceiling light and fan from the dining room and I want to install a light. My new light ... A: I am 99% sure the two red wires go to the switch. Remove the switch plate and look at the switch to ... | |
| Indoor vs outdoor spa requirments | 11/7/2008 |
| Q: Can you tell me what differences are allowed in wiring a inside spa vs an outdoor one? My ... A: I am not sure what the intent was, but for an indoor spa, there has to be a GFI protected receptacle ... | |
| esb avalon16 residential tanning bed electrical help | 11/7/2008 |
| Q: We have a esb avalon16 bed that has always worked great but now shuts off automatically every couple ... A: I would have to believe something has failed in the bed. The heat produced from the bed has damaged ... | |
| Burned out receptable | 11/6/2008 |
| Q: "Hi - I have a 1943 Cape Cod home, where a "master electrician" once lived. Apparently this guy ... A: There is a loose connection somewhere on the affected circuits. It does not appear to be in the ... | |
| Bathroom Vent and Light | 11/6/2008 |
| Q: Here is what I have my bathroom: 2 switches. One switch controls the vanity light and a light ... A: Actually you will need to do the opposite. You already have a power source on both switches, so ... | |
| Subpanel to detached garage | 11/5/2008 |
| Q: I'm an electrician that has not done a lot of work recently but I need to run a 60 amp sub panel to ... A: I also built and wired a detached garage. The problem with calculating the electrical is what will ... | |
| Floor mounted outlets | 11/4/2008 |
| Q: We live in Florida (where everything is near sea level) and have several floor mounted outlets in ... A: Not by code. If concerned, the easist way is to install a GFI breaker on the affected circuits, this ... | |
| Attic Fan | 11/3/2008 |
| Q: Bought this house 6 mos ago. Attic fan runs when temps are cooler not when hot no matter what you ... A: There should be a common terminal supplying power to the thermostat and in turn to the motor. One of ... | |
| splicing | 11/3/2008 |
| Q: Is there an easy way to splice a heavy duty extension cord (three prong) back together that was cut ... A: The best way is to use butt connectors that are crimped onto the wire. You also need a heat shrink ... | |
| grounding outlet | 11/2/2008 |
| Q: I asked my landlord to replace a two pronged outlet with a three prong outlet. He did, but when I ... A: If there was an ungrounded receptacle installed, in 99% of cases it was because there was no ground ... | |
| Home Generator / Transfer switch outlet | 11/2/2008 |
| Q: The existing home we recently purchased is actually wired to accept a generator plug via a transfer ... A: It is critical the receptacles are rated the same or at least rated at the generators capacity. The ... | |
| grounding my subpanel | 11/1/2008 |
| Q: I have a 200 amp service in my barn. I put a 100 amp breaker in to feed a subpanel at my "beach ... A: Yes, by code you did need the fourth wire. A suggestion, you could tie a pull string to the smallest ... | |
| Attic Fan | 10/31/2008 |
| Q: Bought this house 6 mos ago. Attic fan runs when temps are cooler not when hot no matter what you ... A: There should be terminals on the thermostat that allow a device to operate on temperature rise or on ... | |
| Wire size question | 10/31/2008 |
| Q: For a 120/220 standard house power panel I want to run a 3 conductor with a ground for 30 amp ... A: By theory the neutral is only for the imbalance of the load, so according to the electrical code, a ... | |
| 220v wiring | 10/30/2008 |
| Q: I READ THAT A 220V CIRCUIT HAS TWO HOT (110V) WIRES AND A GROUND FOR SAFTEY. I'M CONFUSED, WILL THE ... A: Electricity doe not actually flow in a loop, it deadheads at whatever device is being operated. On a ... | |
| LIGHTS OUT IN THREE ROOMS | 10/28/2008 |
| Q: I TURNED ON MY HALL LIGHT YESTERDAY AND THE BULB SOUNDED LIKE IT FLICKERED OFF AND THREE ROOMS ... A: A connection has broken somewhere. First make sure there are no GFI receptacles that are tripped, it ... | |
| Backup generator | 10/27/2008 |
| Q: What would be the best home backup propane generator to buy for a 2500 SF home? How exactly do ... A: It is based on the service size if you want to operate the entire home. The formula is amps x volts ... | |
| hot spot in wall | 10/26/2008 |
| Q: While at my daughter's house, entering a room, I noticed that the switch was warm to touch. Above ... A: This usually indicates a loose connection causing heat. This could create a fire eventually. If the ... | |
| installing a new pull switch in ceiling fan/light | 10/25/2008 |
| Q: I am installing a new pull switch on my ceiling fan. Prior to installing the switch and with the ... A: I can not see anything with the fan creating a problem at the switch. The hot circuit wire will ... | |
| gronding outlets from armored cable to romex | 10/25/2008 |
| Q: the line from the breaker box is armored cable with no ground wire. how do i add outlets grounded ... A: Using the correct connectors, the metal sheath is the ground. Also it is allowable to install ... | |
| Wire Sizing | 10/23/2008 |
| Q: I am rewiring a house in Mexico and following the 2002 NEC for wire sizing, grounding, circuits, etc ... A: The utility is not required to meet code specs. Since this wire is in free air, it is rated ... | |
| electrical remodel question | 10/23/2008 |
| Q: and thanks for your time. I'm in the midst of a kitchen remodel project (doing it all myself) and ... A: You are in luck. By code kitchen receptacles are considered appliance receptacles for obvious ... | |
| 20 amp circuit / 15 amp receptacle? | 10/19/2008 |
| Q: This should be simple but I've read just enough to confuse myself. I'm installing a dishwasher as ... A: I personally do not agree with the code, but according to the code a 15 or 20 amp rated receptacle ... | |
| generator hook up | 10/17/2008 |
| Q: I currently have a work shed that is being supplied via the house power and I would like to power it ... A: There should be a wattage rating for the unit to determine the actual load it can pull. You would ... | |
| 4 way switch wiring | 10/16/2008 |
| Q: How do I wire a dimmable recessed lighting configuration that will have switches at 4 different ... A: This is a more complicate circuit than I can describe and I have no way to send a diagram. My ... | |
| Transformer for Downlight | 10/16/2008 |
| Q: how do I replace a transformer for a downlight? What equipment am I going to need? A: In the ones I have replaced it requires an 11/32 nut driver for the nuts holding it in and a pair of ... | |
| How to install 240 outlet | 10/15/2008 |
| Q: I have wanted to install a 240 outlet for a kiln in a bedroom I use as art studio. My home is a 2005 ... A: If you have never worked in a live panel, I do not advise it as the panel will always be hot even ... | |
| Pump starts running backwards | 10/8/2008 |
| Q: I have two pumps that are in a pit and pump out only water from some gutters. They are 480 3 phase. ... A: I would keep an eye on them. I had the same thing happen to an entire rooftop full of a/c units. The ... | |
| hot/fgrd. reverse | 10/7/2008 |
| Q: a few years ago, several outlets on a circuit went dead. they'd be dead for months and then they ... A: Check the voltage with a meter at the last working receptacle on the outgoing terminals feeding to ... | |
| INSTALLING TWO PARALLEL SWITCHES FOR CONTROL OF TWO SEPARATE LIGHTS | 10/3/2008 |
| Q: connection switch: Ok I have a single simple switch which controle a ligth inside the house and ... A: The original set up is not parallel, it is in series. The time clock was making the circuit based on ... | |
| getting electrical work | 10/3/2008 |
| Q: I am a recent graduate of a technical trades school. I took electrical classes and also took and ... A: I got the best results from a Yellow Page add for business. Also vs going to the job sites, the ... | |
| Running 220v Power for Stereo System from UK | 10/2/2008 |
| Q: I own a Sony HDC-RDX8 stereo system which I purchased in the Middle East and brought back to Canada. ... A: I had the same problem with mine years ago. Mine was a Marantz receiver. You will be surprised how ... | |
| Electric Water Heater Timer | 9/30/2008 |
| Q: A timer was installed on my old water heater which died so I want to attach it to my new one. I ... A: I have never seen this particular type timer. All timers I have seen break either one or both lines ... | |
| short circuit | 9/29/2008 |
| Q: I have a question for ya. I recently installed a new plug in outlet..the wires got tangled and i ... A: If this receptacle is not controlled by a switch, there are silver terminal screws on one side that ... | |
| the obvious is not workiing, baseboard wiring | 9/28/2008 |
| Q: J, I am installing electric baseboard heaters. The heaters will be individually controlled by wall ... A: If you connected the feeder cable with the white on one side of the breaker and the black to the ... | |
| Programmable thermostat help | 9/27/2008 |
| Q: Last year I purchased a Honeywell rlv430a. It is a 2 wire programmable thermostat. ... A: Most 240 volt heaters only break one circuit leg, when doing it this way one leg is always hot to ... | |
| dryer wiring | 9/27/2008 |
| Q: I just remodeled an old cabin and put 10-2 wire in for the dryer instead of 10-3. The walls have ... A: Mark, actually this is how dryers were wired for years before the code update. Personally this is ... | |
| 3-wire for two circuits | 9/26/2008 |
| Q: I ran a 14/3 line from two breakers in my panel to the attic to provide two separate circuits for ... A: The tester is seeing back feed voltage from the neutral because these two circuits are sharing a ... | |
| outlet to three switches | 9/24/2008 |
| Q: wiring (black, white, ground) goes to outlet then to three separate light switches. They control ... A: Lesson Learned? Happens all the time so don't feel too bad. The circuit cable with the black, white ... | |
| jenn air cook top | 9/24/2008 |
| Q: we do not have an updated 220 wire box We have a 4 wire cooktop and a 3 wire breaker box we blew the ... A: This should have been correct. On a four wire appliance, the white would be connected to the neutral ... | |
| elec dryer issue | 9/22/2008 |
| Q: I have a rental (Mom's estate) that my kids just moved into. There was an elec dryer in the house ... A: A dryer typically takes a 30 amp circuit. The problem may be the circuit rating. It has to be fed by ... | |
| Change dryer circuit to a range circuit | 9/21/2008 |
| Q: I've moved into a late 1950's house, standard 60a main fuse box (no breakers) and two 220v buddy ... A: Regardless of the rating of the buddy box, of course it does have to be at least 50 amps and this ... | |
| wiring for a dummy | 9/20/2008 |
| Q: i put in a new kitchen and put in a disposal need to know how to wire from wire that runs from ... A: At first it appears you need to know how to wire in the disposal, but at the end you are going to ... | |
| circuit breakers | 9/19/2008 |
| Q: my dryer stop producing heat it will spin but no heat, i called the manfacture and they said if the ... A: You need a volt meter and check between the two large slots at the dryer receptacle to ensure you ... | |
| converting outlet to light switch | 9/19/2008 |
| Q: I am remodeling my "L" shaped kitchen. I have 3 outlets (2 on vertical line of the L & 1 on ... A: Pull out the receptacle you want to add the switch leg on. Use a two wire cable with ground, which ... | |
| temporary short | 9/18/2008 |
| Q: I drove a screw into the 220 dryer line which tripped the breaker, I removed the screw and ... A: Depending on how bad it damaged the insulation, it may never be a problem. The best solution would ... | |
| Re-Wiring Table saw for 220 | 9/17/2008 |
| Q: I have a Sears 10" table saw that is wired for 110 volt operation, but the motor can be re-wired for ... A: The receptacle you describe sounds like a 20 amp 120 volt receptacle. You need to verify the voltage ... | |
| shop subpanel | 9/16/2008 |
| Q: I am setting a house trailer approx. 100' from my existing garage/shop, where my meter and 200 amp ... A: I am not sure how much power is being used in the shop, or how much you want to use in the trailer, ... | |
| putting in a light fixture | 9/15/2008 |
| Q: I have a red, white and black wire coming in and a red, white and black wire going out. How do I ... A: You will have to open devices before and after this box to determine what is there. These could be ... | |
| 3 way switch replacement | 9/13/2008 |
| Q: I'm trying to replace an old 3 way switch but I'm having trouble matching up the connections between ... A: The only connection that is critical is the common terminal of the three terminals. It will be ... | |
| 2-200A+200A ATS?? | 9/13/2008 |
| Q: Building a new home. Electrician is telling me I need 2-200A main boxes plus a 200A transfer switch ... A: You need a little more clarification. There will not be 3 - 200 amp breaker boxes with this ... | |
| Switch at End of Circuit | 9/11/2008 |
| Q: I am adding a circuit of recessed lighting in my basement. Power comes from the panel, thru seven ... A: The switch is a back fed device when using the white wire, if it was at the beginning of the ... | |
| dead switch | 9/11/2008 |
| Q: Recently moved into a relatively newer house. There is a switch in the entry way that looks like it ... A: A tool every homeowner needs is a volt tester. It can be purchased at any home supply and is about ... | |
| 220 single to 220 3 phase conversion | 9/10/2008 |
| Q: I need to convert a 220 single phase outlet in my shop to 220 3 phase for a 15 horse motor. I read a ... A: Randy there are a couple of options, you can use a converter just for this one device, or a ... | |
| splitting 220 | 9/9/2008 |
| Q: I noticed there is a romex cable beginning at the box in the barn with the two insulated wires ... A: It is not providing a safe ground as it is. Since this circuit goes to a dock at any point, the ... | |
| installing ceiling lite fixture | 9/7/2008 |
| Q: the light fixture that I want to install has a standard white and black connecting wire, the ceiling ... A: You will have to use a volt tester or meter to determine which wires are the returning hot wires. I ... | |
| splitting 220 | 9/7/2008 |
| Q: I noticed there is a romex cable beginning at the box in the barn with the two insulated wires ... A: From the 220 breaker, there should have been a 3 wire with ground ran so there would be an insulated ... | |
| ceiling light | 9/3/2008 |
| Q: I'm looking to add a ceiling light to a bedroom. The existing switch is now controlling a wall ... A: The big obstacle is the circuit is at the receptacle, not the switch so the wire will have to ran to ... | |
| Ceiling fans | 8/29/2008 |
| Q: I am helping a friend install ceiling fans in rooms with light fixtures leading to single wall ... A: It will require one more wire to the fan. The current switch has the hot circuit on one side and the ... | |
| Electrical wiring | 8/28/2008 |
| Q: During a remodeling project I forgot to write down how a switch box was wired. There are two ... A: With out being able to test the voltage, each switch appears to need the black and red conncted to ... | |
| home wiring problem | 8/28/2008 |
| Q: my power keeps cutting in and out it will flicker go out for a few seconds and then return it does ... A: The first avenue is to contact the utility to check their incoming lines. There is a loose ... | |
| Clicking sound in walls | 8/27/2008 |
| Q: Hear an intermittent clicking sound in the wall of an interior bathroom. Sounds like it is coming ... A: Since it seems to be from the exhaust fan, it may be a damper that is opening and closing that is ... | |
| Wall Oven Wiring | 8/27/2008 |
| Q: I have 2 questions I was hoping you could ahelp with: 1. I am remodeling the kitchen and will ... A: 1. It will be no problem running the oven on a circuit with wiring rated for 50 amps, which would be ... | |
| Hot Tub | 8/26/2008 |
| Q: what is the difference between 15A 110V and 20A 125V other than the plug being sideways on one end. ... A: The voltage figures do not matter as some manufacturers say 110, 115, or 120 but all are referring ... | |
| wiring outlet | 8/26/2008 |
| Q: I want to move an outlet, and when I opened it up, I found 3 wires. Red, black, and white. No ... A: My first thought was, and still may be correct, is this receptacle is fed by two hot wires, the red ... | |
| installing new door chime | 8/25/2008 |
| Q: Mr Cook I am helping someone do some odd jobs around her house, built in 1939. She had removed the ... A: At the button location see what color wires are feeding it, this will verify two of the wires. I am ... | |
| light switch | 8/24/2008 |
| Q: how do i hook up a switch ,to a wall outlet A: If you have a live receptacle to add a switch, run a two conductor wire with a black, white and ... | |
| rewiring 1200 sq ft house | 8/24/2008 |
| Q: looking at buying house, know it has wiring problems, what would the approx cost be to rewire the ... A: Since an electrician is personably liable for the wiring, I do not believe there is much you can do. ... | |
| Need 120V from 240V on a water heater | 8/23/2008 |
| Q: here is the setup: Installed a pool electric water heater (4 elements 20000 W total on 240V). From ... A: The best solution would be a proper transformer. Almost every a/c units control voltage is 24 volts ... | |
| Pink & Orange wires? | 8/22/2008 |
| Q: We are remodeling our kitchen and I noticed the electrician installed pink & orange wires in the ... A: Manufacturers are now using every color of wire known to man, nothing is standard any more and as ... | |
| weld machine wiring | 8/21/2008 |
| Q: wanting to rent a 250 amp welder. I need to wire it up at the house. I have a 200 amp main/with ... A: Philip, a welder is a somewhat unique device. It converts energy similar to a transformer to have ... | |
| generator | 8/20/2008 |
| Q: I (work for electric co.) need to hook up a generator to a 120v 2w meter can to keep a street light ... A: Every generator has built in receptacles. I would put a male cord end on a #12 rubber cord long ... | |
| Electrical wiring | 8/19/2008 |
| Q: J. I am wiring two wall lights on separate switches, with power to one of the lights. Can you help ... A: It will depend on whether you are going from the switch to the second light, or feed from the first ... | |
| wiring | 8/17/2008 |
| Q: installing a new light in the bathroom There are 4 wires coming from the ceiling 2 black 1 white ... A: Look very carefully in the ceiling box. One cable has either one black, one white and one bare ... | |
| making a 3 way light for timing - parts? | 8/16/2008 |
| Q: I want to make a small, light, sturdy unit which holds 3 different colored light bulbs. The user ... A: I do not know of an existing device to use, but making one out of wood and painting it you can ... | |
| stove outlet/ braker & check up | 8/16/2008 |
| Q: ok cook thank you for all this good info. i am learning alot and hoping some time soon i can get ... A: The size of the wire really can be deceiving as the insulation thickness or the number of strands ... | |
| Wiring Methods-unfinished basements | 8/15/2008 |
| Q: I understand that according to Article 334.15(c) you must staple non-metallic sheathed cable that is ... A: I totally agree, and apparently many inspectors do also. The electrical code is a guide, but any ... | |
| New breaker box in detached garage | 8/15/2008 |
| Q: I have an old fuse box in a detached garage. All the wiring into and out of the box is new and I am ... A: You are correct, #10 is only rated at 30 amps, so it will not take much to overload this wire. If ... | |
| Running entire home electrical system from a phase converter | 8/14/2008 |
| Q: I was given a 3hp table saw and a 5hp air compressor, both have a 3 phase motor on them because they ... A: From the information I can obtain it appears this converter is rated for 100 amps. Just as with an ... | |
| light will not turn off | 8/14/2008 |
| Q: I've installed 4 new lights n the kitchen, along with a new switch. The #1 light works like it ... A: The black wire from the switch should be connected to the power black wire and nothing else. The ... | |
| whos right | 8/13/2008 |
| Q: i am going to hook up a ac 225 stick welder. it calls for 230 volts and 50 amps. i only have room ... A: Paul, I think I am as ready for you to get this completed as you are. First, I can not believe a ... | |
| installing a subpanel | 8/13/2008 |
| Q: i want to add a subpanel in my workshop: 1.my main panel is rated at 150amps & has all but 2 slots ... A: I will go in question order. 1. It depends on the load that is already on the panel. The only way ... | |
| Doorbell chime | 8/12/2008 |
| Q: I purchased a DE-Light LED doorbell and a Craftmade Westminster (8) tone Door Chime model C3PW. When ... A: There have to be two wires going to the button. I do not have the wiring diagram, but the ... | |
| Switching a 220 volt element | 8/11/2008 |
| Q: I have a question regarding a homemade smoker/cooker. I will be using a typical 220 Volt oven ... A: You can do it exactly as proposed. A similar use is a 240 volt baseboard heater. The thermostat on a ... | |
| submetering | 8/11/2008 |
| Q: I need to install an emon dmon class 2000 submeter. Here is the situation: I will install a 600 amp ... A: That is exactly how the systems are metered in my location, but before I invested a lot of time and ... | |
| Subpanel service | 8/10/2008 |
| Q: I've built an outbuilding that I've got a subpanel in, the building is wired inside already. I'm ... A: By code you have to use a 4 wire cable from the main panel. This change was made almost 10 years ... | |
| 60amp to 100amp cost | 8/10/2008 |
| Q: looking at houses and one I like has a 60amp fuse panel, and for insurance purposes I would most ... A: Most residential services are 200 amps. I would go ahead while it is being upgraded with a 200 amp ... | |
| dimmer switch wiring | 8/8/2008 |
| Q: In our dining room there are two switches that can turn the chandelier on and off. I replaced one ... A: With two switches controlling the same device, each must be a three way switch with a common ... | |
| electric service in 1920 4-plex | 8/7/2008 |
| Q: My mom & dad inherited a 1920s 4-plex. The electric service coming in is 60AMP cartridge fuses to ... A: There must be many gas appliances in this structure. I do not see how today a single family home can ... | |
| powering a lincoln ac 225 s welder | 8/6/2008 |
| Q: i just got a ac 225 lincoln stick welder and am tring to find a way to get power for it. it calls ... A: It would be really pushing the 40 amp stove circuit as this is the max rating on the circuit and the ... | |
| getting power for 230v 50amp welder | 8/5/2008 |
| Q: i just got me a nice old lincoln ac 225 s stick welder. i know very little to electric trems. i was ... A: First of all does this friend not care for you very much? If you attempt to connect to the wires ... | |
| adding a ceiling light | 8/5/2008 |
| Q: You were really helpful last week, so I'm hoping I can get a little more info for another possible ... A: Jay I am glad I was able to help earlier and will assist at any time I can. You will have no problem ... | |
| Flat blade plugs | 8/4/2008 |
| Q: I just purchased an a/c window unit and it came with a two blade flat (horizontal) plug. I wired a ... A: The installation is correct. However a mistake in checking the voltage is reading from each slot to ... | |
| Lights | 8/3/2008 |
| Q: I have remodeled a room and installed two light fixtures on the ceiling controlled by switches on ... A: This is a three way circuit and something is crossed. It is a very difficult circuit to describe in ... | |
| Motor wiring | 8/1/2008 |
| Q: Seems popular, and there is no wiring diagram, but here is what I have to work with. AO Smith 115v ... A: Kevin, even amongst AO Smith motors the wire colors can be controlling different items. The only way ... | |
| Electrical wiring | 8/1/2008 |
| Q: I'm trying to replace a switch that controls a recept to control a ceiling light that I'm ... A: This sounds confusing as I do not see why the switch would be controlling a receptacle to control a ... | |
| adding a bathroom fan | 7/31/2008 |
| Q: I'd like to add a fan to my bathroom which currently isn't wired for one. The bathroom only has a ... A: It depends on the type of dimmer. Some require a neutral connection also, but that can just be ... | |
| Sensor light | 7/31/2008 |
| Q: Want to wire two outdoor sensor lights, "Portfolio" model #PF-4166-SA , to have a dual master ... A: A standard sensor light is connected to a constant power source and when the sensor detects motion ... | |
| Lampshade voltage | 7/30/2008 |
| Q: I am going to move to a country where the electrical current is at 220 volts. Will my 120 ... A: I am sure the plug configuration is different and the internal components are only rated for 120 ... | |
| Dryer Electrical outlet | 7/29/2008 |
| Q: My old dryer is currently connected to a 50 amp dryer receptacle, which I have come to discover is ... A: The only reason this could void the warranty is the 50 amp breaker that will not trip if there is a ... | |
| electrical | 7/29/2008 |
| Q: how do i add another switch to control one lite from two different positions A: Nathan, this would be a three way switch circuit. It is very difficult to explain this in writing ... | |
| How many amps is a 3HP treadmill | 7/26/2008 |
| Q: How many amps does a 3HP treadmill motor use? A: It should be stated on the nameplate label, but a positive way to know is to connect it to a drop ... | |
| installing a sub-panel | 7/26/2008 |
| Q: I just built a 12x20 shed to be partially used as a small workshop. I was planning on installing a ... A: Depending on what loads you will be using, I would still go with the 20 amp circuits and put two on ... | |
| adapter 230 Volt AC to 9 Volt DC 1000 mA | 7/25/2008 |
| Q: Long time ago I bought a Radio Shack A mini amplifier speaker : - input sensivity : 1mV - Imput ... A: Yes. A transformers rating is based on its maximum capabilities, so anything under this will work as ... | |
| low voltage lighting | 7/23/2008 |
| Q: I don't understand electronics very much. I installed a 300 Watt low voltage transformer to a GFCI ... A: The transformer is not emitting 300 watts, it is only emitting what load is attached, ie 140 watts, ... | |
| hot tub wiring | 7/23/2008 |
| Q: I have a 240v hot tub hard wired to my electrical box. I am moving across town and want to ... A: That is all it will take. If you have never working in a live panel before though, keep in mind that ... | |
| Pendant Lamp Installation | 7/22/2008 |
| Q: ..I installed a pendant hanging lamp on my own and i connected the black to black, white to white, ... A: I need a little more information Tara. Did you replace an existing fixture? Also, there is a switch ... | |
| Converting a switch to control 1 outlet on a 2 outlet recep. | 7/20/2008 |
| Q: i have in my home a dual outlet wall socket that is controlled by a switch. The switch controls both ... A: If you turn off the circuit controlling this receptacle and pull it out of the wall, you will see ... | |
| hi | 7/18/2008 |
| Q: some friend of mine is very poor and told me they plan on somehow stealing electricity form the ... A: There will always be some electricity lost from damaged lines, weak transformers etc. that the ... | |
| pump wiring | 7/18/2008 |
| Q: i have a 1.5 hp pump 230v 8.0amps what size breaker would i use? single or double pole? what size ... A: It will require a double pole to get 230 volts and with a rating of 8 amps, to allow for start up ... | |
| RELIANCE TIMER FOR INGROUND POOL | 7/17/2008 |
| Q: I HAVE A RELIANCE TIMER TYPE 511 AND HAD TO REPLACE A WIRE TO MY POOL PUMP AND NEED HELP RE-WIRING ... A: The incoming power wires SHOULD connect to the front two screws and the pump wires to the other two, ... | |
| condensate pump | 7/17/2008 |
| Q: Montgomery County, Maryland required a condensate pump although I have a drain hole right next to ... A: There is usually a molded cord on the pump to allow it to plug into a regular receptacle for power, ... | |
| panel load max | 7/2/2008 |
| Q: Our house has aluminum wiring w/ 125amp box. It has open slots for additional breakers and I would ... A: The only way to truly tell is to turn on all possible loads and with an amp clip, put it around ... | |
| installing electric heaters | 6/30/2008 |
| Q: I will be installing 3 500 watt 3' electric (220v) baseboard heaters, up on the 2nd floor. What ... A: The formula to determine a circuit size is: Watts divided by Volts = Amps So with the ... | |
| 220 to 110v wiring | 6/30/2008 |
| Q: i have 220 v single wire in my pole barn and would like to wire this with with 110 v how do i ... A: I am not sure how you have 220 on a single wire as it usually requires both legs of a service of 120 ... | |
| Outlet damages appliances | 6/29/2008 |
| Q: I believe I have a problem with my bathroom outlet. I have damaged several appliance. For instance ... A: It is very likely there was a problem with the old receptacle. What you need to try is plugging ... | |
| working spaces | 6/28/2008 |
| Q: NEC 110.26 defines the width of the working space in front of the electrical equipment shall be the ... A: I would absolutely get the inspector who will pass the job's input. By code, the area in front of a ... | |
| ceiling fan | 6/27/2008 |
| Q: I just installed a ceiling fan. Out of the ceiling I have 2 white two black and one red and a ... A: The two blacks and whites on the fan are for the fan and a light kit in case one is installed. The ... | |
| low voltage canopy | 6/26/2008 |
| Q: I'm trying to install exterior low voltage fixtures inside my house (new construction). I'd like to ... A: The problem may be with either of these is any wire junction has to be readily accessible according ... | |
| Wiring upgrade? | 6/25/2008 |
| Q: I'm about to help a friend wire a basement he is finishing. It's about 1600 sqft with 3 bedrooms, ... A: Regardless of the number of breakers or the current incoming service size, it depends on the current ... | |
| second panel box | 6/25/2008 |
| Q: i have a 200 amp panel. i have added things to it in the past. now i have got a tankless water ... A: In no jurisdiction I am aware can you do this yourself or any licensed electrician. The pole feed is ... | |
| fan/light and 3 way switches | 6/24/2008 |
| Q: I have a huge problem. I have 2 locations in my home that have this. The wiring setup is as ... A: It would require removing the remote control device in the new fans which I am sure would void the ... | |
| Neutral wire size | 6/24/2008 |
| Q: I am doing a 100 to 200A service upgrade and need to splice most of the circuits in a junction box ... A: I have not encountered this situation where the neutrals did not go back to the panel separately and ... | |
| no power to outlet | 6/23/2008 |
| Q: I just noticed that both power outlets in both of my bathrooms are not working. All other light and ... A: These receptacles should be controlled by a GFI device somewhere. It is a receptacle with a reset ... | |
| Timer Switch | 6/22/2008 |
| Q: I am trying to install a in-line vent fan with a wall timer switch. The timer switch has 4 wires ... A: Without the exact model switch I can not be 100% certain, but the circuit should connect color for ... | |
| GFI tripped after strom and won't reset | 6/22/2008 |
| Q: We had one of our usual storms yesterday in Florida and I had one GFI trip. When I pushed to reset, ... A: I would call an electrician. Either the circuit has been damaged or some other device on the circuit ... | |
| Wiring a Detached Garage | 6/20/2008 |
| Q: I need some clarification. I am wiring a detached garage that is about 80 feet away. I buried four ... A: The only thing different from what you have so far is the ground needs to be connected to the ground ... | |
| GFCI v.s others | 6/18/2008 |
| Q: (1)A GFCI is the best to use, especially in a bath or kitchen (2)Then we have an older outlet in ... A: 1. A GFCI is required by electrical code in a bath, kitchen, outside, or near a water source such as ... | |
| Mobile home electrical | 6/17/2008 |
| Q: I have an 1987 pinewood mobile home (Doublewide) half of the power in the house is out. I have ... A: Different manufacturers run the electrical in different areas, you would have to check with the ... | |
| 220 electric dryer | 6/16/2008 |
| Q: Our old electric dryer suddenly stopped producing heat, everything else worked as it should. We ... A: I agree Pat. Most dryer components including the motor work from 120 volts, but it requires the full ... | |
| GFCI w/switch | 6/15/2008 |
| Q: The GFCI has a line side and a load side. There is also 2 black switch leads coming out of the top ... A: From the load side, there should be one black and one white just like the line side. Apparently ... | |
| Can light to pendant light | 6/15/2008 |
| Q: I have several can lights and want to make them into regular ceiling light attachments. I want to ... A: It is not impossible, but difficult. The can light fixture is an entire apparatus in itself. A ... | |
| split line | 6/12/2008 |
| Q: had 5 florescent lights and am replacing them with 50 watt lights. I plan on installing 6 or 7 of ... A: The formula to determine the load on a circuit is: Watts divided by volts = amps ... | |
| Square D sub panel expansion | 6/12/2008 |
| Q: I currently have a Square D Q08-16L 100D sub panel with eight circuit breakers. Eight is not ... A: No panel can be modified by code. It is common for manufacturers to use the same inside panel shield ... | |
| Double Meter Socket Wiring | 6/10/2008 |
| Q: Do you know if it's allowed to use a 2 gang 200 amp meter socket to feed (1) 200 AMP panel and (1) ... A: Some utilities do offer a meter base with two load side lugs. You will have to check with the ... | |
| Relocating 220 volt for Stove - splice ok? | 6/10/2008 |
| Q: I am planning on remodeling my kitchen. As part of the make-over I will be moving the electric ... A: A junction box has to be accessible by code. You can cut around it even if it inside of the cabinet ... | |
| European to American | 6/5/2008 |
| Q: Hope you can help or know someone who can help. We are building a home in the Caribbean where the ... A: Most likely it will require a fairly large transformer to convert the power. I would check with a ... | |
| wiring | 6/4/2008 |
| Q: what exactly is a common in an elec. circuit. Low voltage and high. Does it have the same voltage as ... A: Every type of voltage requires a " Hot " and a common or in higher voltage commonly called a ... | |
| Outdoor 20A Circuit & Low Voltage Circuits | 6/4/2008 |
| Q: I am landscaping my back yard and want to install a 20A circuit. I have an extra slot in my garage ... A: Running 100 feet you need to step up to #10. Since it will be in conduit, it would probably be ... | |
| Low flowing electric | 5/30/2008 |
| Q: I have electricity that runs to my barn and everything works but it is now running slow, example, ... A: I would say there is a damaged wire or loose connection. Check the voltage with a meter in a ... | |
| detached garage wiring feed | 5/30/2008 |
| Q: I have a 50'x80' detached garage that is 500' from my home. I want to run power from the home (200 ... A: To allow for the distance, I would run 2-#1 copper for the hot leads, 1-#3 copper for the neutral, ... | |
| trifield reading | 5/29/2008 |
| Q: We live in a condo conversion built in the mid 1980's. I have this EMF reader, and most of the house ... A: Some of these meters are so sensitive they can pick up readings from a cell phone, copper piping, ... | |
| Electric Question | 5/29/2008 |
| Q: This might sound strange but this is what is happening in my sons room... When we have our Dish ... A: It may very well do this if anything is plugged and then unplugged from this receptacle. I suspect ... | |
| Ceiling fan wiring | 5/28/2008 |
| Q: I have a switch that controls the top 1/2 of the outlet. I would like to remove the switch, make the ... A: Actually you have two different power feeds to the current receptacle, both coming in on red wires. ... | |
| Flourescents and Humidity | 5/21/2008 |
| Q: Does humidity affect fluorescent tube lights? I have several older ceiling fixtures in my garage ... A: I have never encountered a problem with flourescent lighting affected by humidity, but any thing is ... | |
| 220 single phase to 220 2 phase | 5/21/2008 |
| Q: G'day we are moving back to Australia and would like to take a 220v 2 phase appliance (clothes ... A: Unless there is some sort of a converter available at an electrical supply, I do not see how it can ... | |
| service disconnect, residential | 5/20/2008 |
| Q: For a residential application, if the service drop and meter is on the outside wall of an attached ... A: The first means of disconnect from the meter has to be within 6 feet of the meter. You can penetrate ... | |
| Table Saw Circuit | 5/20/2008 |
| Q: I'm wiring a basement shop and need to run a 220 outlet for my tablesaw. It has a 3 hp single-phase ... A: You will need a double breaker for a 240 volt circuit to the saw. Every panel is different, you can ... | |
| 220v hot water hookup | 5/19/2008 |
| Q: but no hot water. Have 4 leads coming out of the wall. Black, red, white all with plastic jacket on ... A: Joe, with existing wiring who knows what is actually attached to the breaker. Go to a home supply ... | |
| hvac wiring | 5/18/2008 |
| Q: I just had an air-to-air heat pump installed at my 1952 home in Arizona, but I don't trust the job ... A: It violates all sorts of electrical codes. The conduit, whether suspended below a surface or laying ... | |
| wiring house panel to air conditioner condensor | 5/16/2008 |
| Q: i own a mobile home ( mfg in 1996) in cook county illnois.. and two things are in question. 1- the ... A: Neither of these are safe. The a/c unit by code has to have a disconnect within site and no more ... | |
| timer connections for controlling outdoor lights with the help of circuit diagram | 5/16/2008 |
| Q: I want to control my outdoor lights with the help of timer so that they will switch on at 6 pm and ... A: There are several issues to consider using a timer. Right now with daylight savings time, it is ... | |
| swamp cooler wiring. | 5/15/2008 |
| Q: I am wiring a new swamp cooler, motor and pump. Ive got black, white, red, green coming from my ... A: By the wiring indicated, unless the green wire is being misused as a hot wire, there are only two ... | |
| low voltage electrical system | 5/15/2008 |
| Q: My house was built in the mid 1960's and has a low voltage electrical system with relays. I am ... A: You may be able to contact the manufacturer of the switches and see what they may have available as ... | |
| How to locate short in underground outdoor lighting wiring | 5/14/2008 |
| Q: I have a 110V to 12V transformer connected to underground wire that runs under my landscaping, lawn, ... A: Are you positive it is the wiring and not the attached load? You can take a 120 volt circuit and add ... | |
| solar option? | 5/13/2008 |
| Q: I am in need of an outdoor power supply, Primarily for my pool pump (115 volts 11 amps) but also an ... A: Cyndi I really have no experience with solar devices. I do know motors however and it would require ... | |
| Adding 100 amp fuse panel to garage from main house panel | 5/12/2008 |
| Q: Mr. Cook, how are you? I have a question for you. I have a 2 car garage which I am adding on to make ... A: I hope you have not purchased a panel yet. Considerable savings can be had by using a main lug panel ... | |
| A/C in mobile unit | 5/12/2008 |
| Q: I installed an air conditioner in a trailer that I am using as a mobile laboratory. Too late I ... A: If the a/c unit is a 240 volt unit, you can replace the 30 amp breaker with a 20 amp, or if the a/c ... | |
| wind generator info | 5/10/2008 |
| Q: would like to know what is involved to install a wind generator in my home ? Thank You A: It would connect the same as any generator. The safest method is to use a transfer switch so the ... | |
| buss bar space in main panel | 5/10/2008 |
| Q: My main panel is a GE load center Cat. TL302OC Mod 2. My question is: I ran out of buss bar ... A: It is not legal to modify any electrical panels, so a buss bar cannot be added. An alternative is to ... | |
| burcam 230v sprinkler system pump | 5/9/2008 |
| Q: currently hardwired and I want to convert to a plug connection. can it be done and how? Thanks in ... A: There are numerous plug and receptacle combinations. They are rated by the voltage and amp draw. See ... | |
| 3 way switch controlling a receptacle | 5/8/2008 |
| Q: There are 2 light switches that used to be able to turn on/off the bedside lamp that has been ... A: There is a tab on the hot or black wire side of the receptacle. It connects the two terminal screws ... | |
| wiring home for a 220 dryer | 5/7/2008 |
| Q: I have an old home, and there is one 220 receptacle. However,it is attached by using 2 20 amp ... A: First, this circuit is very light for a dryer. Most dryers are on a 30 amp receptacle requiring a ... | |
| home wiring | 5/7/2008 |
| Q: I'm re-wiring my house one room at a time, I just started and had a question about proper wiring. I ... A: With no more load than one room would put on a circuit including every load in it, the voltage drop ... | |
| baseboard heaters | 5/6/2008 |
| Q: I've read up on baseboard heater installation and seem to still have a couple questions: Why are ... A: It depends on the heater wattage for the size wire and circuit you will need. The formula for ... | |
| Flashing Interior Lights | 5/6/2008 |
| Q: The lights throughout our house tend to flash quite a bit. It happens mostly in the evening but ... A: If it is caused by a loose connection, there could be a lot of concern as it could heat up and ... | |
| faulty outlet/wiring | 5/5/2008 |
| Q: I have an outlet in my kitchen that has a reset button and seems to govern several other outlets. ... A: He is correct. Because the receptacle GFI's seem to fail so often, I use a GFI breaker. It is more ... | |
| convert one three wire circuit to two circuits | 5/5/2008 |
| Q: At present, two fixtures on one switch are in parallel; so a three wire cable connects the two ... A: The only reason there would be a three wire cable anywhere in this circuit is the hot circuit enters ... | |
| Receptacle replacement error | 5/4/2008 |
| Q: I made a rookie error. I thought I had turned off the circuit to the room when I went to replace a ... A: Look for a tripped GFI receptacle. It may be a bathroom, kitchen, or outside receptacle. If none are ... | |
| HOT NEUTRAL | 5/4/2008 |
| Q: I have a hot neutral, and electricians have not been able to find the source. Can I simply ... A: It will not affect the power bill, but it is potentially dangerous. You need to start at the breaker ... | |
| moving an electrical outlet | 5/3/2008 |
| Q: I am remodeling my bathroom. When we purchased the home two walls were covered with mirrors, with ... A: You can not make a junction box where the originals are as they would be covered by the new mirrors ... | |
| replacement gfi bathroom wiring | 5/3/2008 |
| Q: I have removed the old gfi outlet, we are replacing only because we wanted a new colored outlet ... A: The best tool a homeowner that is doing any electrical work needs is a volt tester. It is about the ... | |
| Electric generator | 4/29/2008 |
| Q: I have electric generator 100KVA 380Volt 3Phase, when I used power consumption calculations standard ... A: It would be per phase. A device pulling 100 amps is pulling 100 amps on all three legs, it would not ... | |
| 3-wire confusion | 4/29/2008 |
| Q: I'm finishing my basement and can't seem to successfully add 2 lights to the existing lighting ... A: The reason there is a three wire cable from L1 - L3 is to have the switch circuit at the end. You ... | |
| Kitchen Wiring | 4/27/2008 |
| Q: I hope this is not too much for one question but here goes....I am remodeling my 1960's kitchen. It ... A: First, the #14 wire is illegal on a 20 amp circuit as it is only rated for 15 amps. I rewired my ... | |
| caps | 4/26/2008 |
| Q: Regarding those plastic twisty caps for holding wire connections; Do the wires need to be twisted ... A: The code book says not to twist the wires together, allow the nut to twist them. As far as the ... | |
| Plasma Cutter | 4/25/2008 |
| Q: I just borrowed a plasma cutter from work to start cutting some body panels off of my current car ... A: I would not trust the wire colors on the plug as it was field installed and could be any ... | |
| 100 amp service / new a/c | 4/24/2008 |
| Q: We have a home, built 1968 in Arizona which appears to have a 100amp service. We recently had an 4 ... A: You may be just fine as is, the new unit compressor are much more efficient than the older units. ... | |
| Garbage disposal wiring question | 4/24/2008 |
| Q: Howdy from a fellow AllExperts "expert" (in a computer-related area). I am about to replace our ... A: If this will ever be inspected, using flex from the disposal will be the least of your worries. You ... | |
| overhead lighting | 4/23/2008 |
| Q: I am moving into a renovated condo that was built in the 1950's. There is no overhead lighting in ... A: It depends on the ceiling construction. It is possible to fish wiring into some ceilings. A cheaper ... | |
| Replacing an outlet | 4/22/2008 |
| Q: The house I'm living in was built in 1965 and I was wondering how do you replace an outlet in a home ... A: Turn off the breaker feeding this receptacle. Remove the cover plate to expose the receptacle, ... | |
| subpanel needed for AC | 4/20/2008 |
| Q: I live in Massachusetts and need to add a subpanel for a new AC installation. My current panel is ... A: In the long run it would pay to upgrade to a 200 amp service, this is the most common in ... | |
| emigration | 4/20/2008 |
| Q: Im a qualified electrician with wiremans license. I have my own business for 12 years that employees ... A: Each state has its own Electrical licensing board. Check with the state you are moving to at the ... | |
| unbalanced panel? | 4/19/2008 |
| Q: main electrical panel is reading 118v(L1 to ground or neutral) and 126v(L2 to ground to neutral). ... A: The first thing I would do is call the utility to check the incoming service to ensure there is no ... | |
| 20 amp dual circuts with CGCI | 4/18/2008 |
| Q: I am converting my garage into a woodshop. I want to run 20 amp dual circuit outlets along the walls ... A: Most residential services are single phase, but you may be able to get three phase in your area, but ... | |
| electric overhead lights | 4/18/2008 |
| Q: My son in Nashville Tn. finished off his basement. He has 4 overhead lights wired into a box and ... A: The panel needs to be opened and this supply cable checked to see if the ground and neutral wires ... | |
| Flickering Lights In Entire House | 4/15/2008 |
| Q: Cook.... I am experienceing the problem of flickering lights all over my house. On occasion they ... A: If it is a loose connection, yes it could possibly be dangerous. I would have the electric utility ... | |
| sub panel | 4/14/2008 |
| Q: I am upgrading a 100 amp main breaker panel to a 200 amp panel so that I can install a 100 amp sub ... A: If it is a cable vs individual conductors, a cable will not have to be in conduit. You need a 4 wire ... | |
| Brown outs... Sort of... | 4/13/2008 |
| Q: Occasionally, I will get brown outs in my house. One item seems to pull power from another. At ... A: You have said you moved some around to attempt to balance the panel. I am not sure what readings you ... | |
| 3 Way Switch Circuit reads 34-38 V when OFF | 4/13/2008 |
| Q: I have wired 2 vent lights between two 3 way switches on a staircase. After wiring per the attached ... A: Due to voltage being available in three configurations, there will be some bleed through voltage of ... | |
| please help | 4/11/2008 |
| Q: We just moved into a new place. When we attempted to plug a light into an outlet here, there was a ... A: You need to verify what is going where. It appears the cable with the black, red and white is the ... | |
| genarator | 4/11/2008 |
| Q: I have a 1300 power watt generator it will start but nothing will run off it iam trying to see do i ... A: I am not sure on this particular model or what you are attempting to operate, but the formula for ... | |
| taking power off a switch circuit | 4/9/2008 |
| Q: Can I take power from a switch circuit to energize a base plug? The switch will not operate the plug ... A: It depends on how the switch is fed. Open the switch junction box, if there are white neutrals ... | |
| Adding a light and receptacles | 4/6/2008 |
| Q: I have an existing Flourescent light in my Garage, but it is inadequate. I am planning on enclosing ... A: There has to be at least one receptacle in this area now. You can pull this one out, add an ... | |
| load center balancing | 4/5/2008 |
| Q: does each side of incoming legs(120 each leg) need to be balanced?does this lower electric bill?how ... A: It does need to be balanced or a 240 volt appliance coming on and pulling a lot of amps can cause ... | |
| Connecting to meter | 4/5/2008 |
| Q: I am running the wires for a hot tub. It calls for 6-3 wiring. We are having to come off the meter ... A: This is correct. However another problem to consider, in my location unless the meter box is ... | |
| Old Wiring | 4/4/2008 |
| Q: I am simply replacing old outlets with new ones, there are two wires both with brown fabric ... A: The most simple device every homeowner doing any electrical work needs is a volt stick. You can get ... | |
| Wire Types | 4/4/2008 |
| Q: What is the difference between SEU wire and NM-B. A: SE is a service entrance wire and the consensus of distributors is the U possible stands for ... | |
| Residential wiring | 3/31/2008 |
| Q: i need to know how does a bypass switch works when connected to a photocell. A: A photocell is in fact a 120 volt device. It has the black hot circuit wire and a white neutral ... | |
| Convert pull down lamp to switched | 3/31/2008 |
| Q: John, quick question on how to convert a pull down light to a switched light. I have a new cable ... A: If your new cable is connected to the white and black in the original light junction box, at a ... | |
| Question concerning wiring to 100 amp panel | 3/27/2008 |
| Q: We are replacing an older outside service panel, which this identical panel is no longer available, ... A: Usually and is the case in my area, the utility makes this connection. Check with the utility and if ... | |
| GFCI wiring | 3/26/2008 |
| Q: I have a question that I'm sure will come with a relatively simple answer. Maybe I'm just not in ... A: You did great describing what you have. Connect the incoming hot circuit to the line side of the ... | |
| 3 phase wiring - converter to 3 machines | 3/25/2008 |
| Q: We are building a shop, have done electrical home wiring extensively but have never used 3 phase ... A: First, yes you can use a 220 disconnect as suggested to turn it off. As far as the converter, I do ... | |
| Sub Panel | 3/21/2008 |
| Q: I now have a 100 Amp QO Square D distribution panel that is full. I want to add a sub panel, I only ... A: A 125 or 150 amp main breaker alone is over $100, so I would search for one without the main in it. ... | |
| 220 3phase conversion | 3/21/2008 |
| Q: Mr. Cook, I am in need of some advise! I am a member of a small church that is doing some ... A: Unless a separate service was installed, which is illegal, I do not see how you will have a panel ... | |
| Electrical problem in home | 3/20/2008 |
| Q: i am having a serious problem with my mybile home. half of the home's power availability decreases ... A: This is a classic utility problem. One of the incoming feeder wires is either loose or damaged. Call ... | |
| Sub Panel | 3/20/2008 |
| Q: I now have a 100 Amp QO Square D distribution panel that is full. I want to add a sub panel, I only ... A: The sub panel does not have to be the same brand as the main panel, however you will have to have a ... | |
| Low voltage | 3/19/2008 |
| Q: We are constantly having to replace the bulb in our closet. The new bulb only lasts a few weeks and ... A: It sounds like a loose connection. This is very apparent with the dim light and occasionally ... | |
| Shallow Well Jet Pump Motor | 3/17/2008 |
| Q: I have a jet pump on a shallow well for my sprinkler system in South Florida. The system was in ... A: There is a 99% chance the capacitor will correct the problem. It absolutely will not operate without ... | |
| Sprinkler controller problem | 3/16/2008 |
| Q: I have a problem with one of my sprinkler controllers. Background -- I think I have a more ... A: Mike it appears to me with the provided information there is a defective wire somewhere. It seems to ... | |
| Air Compressor Wiring | 3/16/2008 |
| Q: I have an air compressor that is a 240V/30A/60Hz/1PH (information directly off compressor). I want ... A: The only stupid question I have ever been asked is how much does it cost for power for a skylight? ... | |
| outlets | 3/14/2008 |
| Q: How many outlets can you have on one 20 amp breaker. A: You can have an infinite number of receptacles on any circuit, the code only states that the ... | |
| Subpanel Wiring | 3/13/2008 |
| Q: I want to set up a subpanel for my kitchen wiring -- isolated from the rest of the house ... A: If you do not run 240 volts, all of the new panel load will be on one buss bar in the main panel and ... | |
| Stove ties to other outlet? Potential fire hazard? | 3/12/2008 |
| Q: I found lights in two bedrooms and light/fan in the washroom were out tonight. The living room ... A: It appears you have lost one of the two incoming power legs, thus you do not have a full 240 volts ... | |
| Correcting Double Tapping in Illinois | 3/10/2008 |
| Q: I recently had my condo inspected and the inspector noted double tapping in the electrical panel. I ... A: You are correct. This is the acceptable method according to the National Electrical Code. You can ... | |
| Electrical Phase question | 3/10/2008 |
| Q: I have been experiencing probems with brownouts in my home. Sections of the house have low voltage ... A: This transformer would not cause the problems you have. I would first call the utility and let them ... | |
| two way switch ceiling fan | 3/9/2008 |
| Q: My husband removed a ceiling fan that is wired for a two way switch. We now have three wires coming ... A: With two switches controlling the same device, it is a three way switch circuit. It is almost ... | |
| Possible overload and breaker panel troubles | 3/8/2008 |
| Q: Below is a posted background description of my problem, and a rsponse from one of the electricians ... A: Bob is correct. When you turn on any of the burners or controls of the stove, you are back feeding ... | |
| Wiring my shop for power | 3/6/2008 |
| Q: I have a 200 amp panel in my house and i have found a 220 plug in my carport. My question is can i ... A: This is a very often asked question. I can tell you from experience, most likely this receptacle was ... | |
| lights dim when turned on | 3/6/2008 |
| Q: In the last two days, the lights in the bathroom and one bedroom come on dim unless the furnace is ... A: This is classic of a slightly loose connection somewhere in this circuit. When the furnace is on, it ... | |
| 220 v circuit | 3/5/2008 |
| Q: I live in northern NJ is it allowed to wire a second receptacle (outlet) on a 220 v circuit so I can ... A: Yes, you can do this with no problem. The code states as long as the connected load does not exceed ... | |
| 3-way wiring | 3/4/2008 |
| Q: I want to wire 2 light fixtures with two (3-way) switches. I can get one light to work, but not the ... A: A three way or four way is a very complicated circuit. It is almost impossible to just write out the ... | |
| electrical buzzing | 3/3/2008 |
| Q: We live in a two story house. There is a buzzing coming from the ceiling in the first level family ... A: It is very difficult to tell, but when you hear this buzzing, turn off breakers one at a time until ... | |
| 220 baseboard heater | 2/28/2008 |
| Q: I'm adding a Marley baseboard heater to my tv room. I want to add a thermostat to the heater, but i ... A: For a 240 volt circuit you will not need the white wire as it would be a neutral for a 120 volt ... | |
| Electric outlets | 2/26/2008 |
| Q: I remodeled a room and used 12 gauge wire and 20 amp circuit breaker. I needed to extend the wiring ... A: #14 is only good for 15 amps and should not be connected to this circuit. You can make it correct by ... | |
| broken light switch. | 2/25/2008 |
| Q: When opening an old receptacle to replace the light switch, I found hot(black)line going in and ... A: I need to be sure we are speaking about the same devices. A receptacle is a device with usually two ... | |
| 240 volt electric heat circuit | 2/24/2008 |
| Q: I installed a 30 amp 240 volt circuit that runs 3 - 1600 watt in-wall heaters in my unfinished ... A: On the thermostat boxes, if there is a ground screw on the thermostat, remove the paper tab that ... | |
| ceiling fan installation | 2/23/2008 |
| Q: I am installing a ceiling fan with a remote control in a box replacing a light fixture that was ... A: You will need to use a volt tester to indentify the correct wires. One can be purchased at any home ... | |
| power supply to instant water heater | 2/20/2008 |
| Q: Instead of adding a junction box to power Chronomite Instant-Flow water heater, can I simply attach ... A: No. Any standard receptacle will have a maximum rating of 20 amps. This requires a 30 amp circuit ... | |
| Outdoor GFI problem | 2/19/2008 |
| Q: I have an outdoor pond. Before winter I put an areator pump and a heater in the pond to provide air ... A: If you use a single outlet receptacle instead of a duplex with two outlets, it will be considered a ... | |
| Power to the she | 2/19/2008 |
| Q: I would like to install a new breaker panel in the house first of all, second of all I wanted to ... A: I would go with a 200 amp 240 volt service for the main panel. This is the most common and will be a ... | |
| Several Electrical questions about re-wiring | 2/18/2008 |
| Q: I am remodelling my kitchen and I have to move some of the outlets and install a switch and a 50-amp ... A: 1. No. The box must be accessible without removing any permanent structure. It may be undesirable, ... | |
| Plug in chandilier with round black 3 prong plug in cord | 2/17/2008 |
| Q: Can I convert a plug in chandilier (under subject above) to a direct wire in ceiling box? If I cut ... A: It can just be sure to connect correct polarity. The neutral wire is usually identified by ridges on ... | |
| Strange wiring? | 2/17/2008 |
| Q: We moved into a home built in 1952. I have no idea how old the wiring is in the home. I have motion ... A: I would be more inclined to say the fixtures have failed as none were corrected by replacing a bulb. ... | |
| Recessed lighting in the basement | 2/16/2008 |
| Q: I would like to install highhats in my basement.It has 7' foot ceilings and measures about 25'x 14'. ... A: The can size would totally be personal preference. I like a lot of light and would use the 6's, ... | |
| Bad socket | 2/15/2008 |
| Q: We have a socket in our family room that had a surge protector extension chord - we had our laptops ... A: Most likely the overload on this particular receptacle has damaged it, and plugging a device back ... | |
| subpanels | 2/15/2008 |
| Q: i recently installed a new subpanel in an addition of an existing building. after all load ... A: If pulling the meter kills the entire electrical feeding the structure, the inspector is incorrect. ... | |
| Baseboard Heater. | 2/14/2008 |
| Q: I AM replacing my baseboard heater and wall thermostat..The old thermostat had 4 wires...2black...2 ... A: Usually the two black will be the hot circuit, verify this. The two blue should be to the load or ... | |
| Boathouse circuit | 2/13/2008 |
| Q: We're having a boat lift installed on our lot & need to extend service from our power pole to the ... A: #8 copper is only rated for 50 amps, so you need to step up to 6/3 from the power pole to the shed ... | |
| strange house wiring - ceiling fan installation | 2/12/2008 |
| Q: I need to add to a question asked previously on 8/18/06 and answered by R. Cunard. The previous ... A: You do need to change out the box as it has to be rated for a fan. The best replacements I have seed ... | |
| electrical | 2/10/2008 |
| Q: I used a receptacle tester to test my electrical plugs. Four plugs in one room showed hot/neutral ... A: 1. The neutral and hot reverse can cause electronics to fail. It is most likely only reversed on one ... | |
| New Refrigerator & Generator. Ok? | 2/9/2008 |
| Q: I am needing to buy a new Refrigerator, and considering either the Amana AFI2538AES or the Maytag ... A: It will probably survive better than an old unit as the compressors are more energy efficient and ... | |
| hooking up wiring | 2/8/2008 |
| Q: Have a two part question. First what limit you recommend when hooking up wires in juntion ... A: 1. It depends on the connector. I do not use the standard yellow or red wire nuts. There is a better ... | |
| electrical outlet has no power flowing.. | 2/8/2008 |
| Q: I recently was replacing electrical outlets in the home. It went ok except one electrical outlet ... A: Disconnect the wires from with the breaker off to this receptacle. With the wires free and not ... | |
| tripping breaker 15A | 2/7/2008 |
| Q: my house is 4 years old and today a 15A breaker flipped on me, shutting the basement lights off and ... A: Something is creating a short on this circuit. Try unplugging anything that is on this circuit and ... | |
| standby generator | 2/6/2008 |
| Q: Cook, thanks for being available! My question concerns powering our home with a standby generator. ... A: The formula for determining the amps available is: Watts divided by volts = amps ... | |
| double light switch wiring | 2/6/2008 |
| Q: I am replacing a single light switch with a double switch to operate 2 sents of double lights. ... A: This may be fine, it depends on whether the white that is connected is a part of the switch leg, or ... | |
| wiring 4 wire therostat to 2 wire forced air heater | 2/4/2008 |
| Q: We have an older forced air furnace (1950's), it works fine except we needed a new thermostat. We ... A: On your new thermostat, there are two incoming wires and two are the outgoing, so one set will not ... | |
| new panel installation | 2/2/2008 |
| Q: Mr. Cook: I am installing a new 200 amp service with the load center approx. 30 feet (wire length) ... A: If these are copper conductors the sizes are correct. The second panel will still be considered a ... | |
| 2 pole CB question | 2/1/2008 |
| Q: I am running a 2/3 UF cable buried from my house panel to a subpanel in an outbuilding. I hope to ... A: Assuming this is copper, it is only rated for 115 amps, so fuse it with a 100 amp breaker. I have ... | |
| Switches at top of stairs | 1/31/2008 |
| Q: I am currently renovating my basement. The house was built in the early 70's. At the top of the ... A: You are correct, and this would be a three way switch circuit. The most simple resource is a manual ... | |
| wiring an electrical sub panel | 1/31/2008 |
| Q: can you show me a diagram on what i need to do to feed a sub panel off my main panel i have 200 amp ... A: The best resource for this is a manual titled " Basic Electricity " . It is available in the do it ... | |
| GFCI w/switch installation | 1/29/2008 |
| Q: I will be replacing existing GFCI outlet with one with the switch. I will run a new wire to feed new ... A: On this particular GFI, it appears there is only one neutral connection. Attach a short white wire ... | |
| range hood | 1/28/2008 |
| Q: my mothers range hood burnt out , her trailer is like a 1967 , the wiring coming into it seems to be ... A: I agree but the most simple way to know is to make sure all wires are loose and not touching with a ... | |
| open neutral, | 1/28/2008 |
| Q: 1/2 of a circut is not working, we have checked all the plugs and switches. the breaker switches off ... A: Make certain there is not a GFI receptacle in this circuit that is tripped, it could even be ... | |
| Landscape lighting | 1/27/2008 |
| Q: I am going to use a multi tap transformer for a low-voltage landscape lighting project. I will need ... A: I would check at any home supply that you would purchase the lights from to see what types of ... | |
| Wiring a L1430P locking plug | 1/26/2008 |
| Q: I have a camper that says :This connection is for 120/240 volt, 3 pole, 4 wire 60 hertz/50 amp ... A: With the 50 amp split into a 30 and a 20 amp, my concern is these are two separate 120 volt ... | |
| electric baseboards | 1/26/2008 |
| Q: I'm updating my kitchen and want to replace the electric baseboard and put a digital thermostat in, ... A: As long as the voltage of the new heater and thermostat match the existing, yes both can be ... | |
| motion light | 1/25/2008 |
| Q: I have an existing motion light and a standard light on the same switch. Standard light stays on, ... A: Most motion lights are wired internally with the motion sensor connected directly to the fixture ... | |
| Compressor wiring | 1/24/2008 |
| Q: Mr. Cook, you were very helpful with my closet lighting problem a couple of weeks ago - thanks! ... A: If you have not worked in a live panel, do not attempt it. # 10 is only good for 30 amps max, so the ... | |
| thermostat installation | 1/23/2008 |
| Q: I am trying to replace an older thermostat with a new Honeywell programmable. We have a heat pump, ... A: C is the common 24 volt connection for both stats. G is the indoor fan for both. Y is the compressor ... | |
| Fan on a three way switch | 1/21/2008 |
| Q: J- I am upgrading an existing ceiling fan. The current fan did not have adequate support so I ... A: You did not state if you want three way control, or to control the fan with the unit switch. The ... | |
| 3 way switch to contol half outlet | 1/21/2008 |
| Q: I have one half of an outlet that is controlled by a 3-way switch. The problem is that one of the ... A: First, are there three wires to each switch? If so, it is a matter of switching the wires to the ... | |
| hydronic baseboard heater wiring 220 volts | 1/20/2008 |
| Q: just purchased a hydronic heater 3UG30 with thermostat 3UG32 HEATER HAS 2 wires themostat has 4 ( ... A: On a 120 volt thermostat, line 2 would be the neutral, not another power line. I do not believe this ... | |
| halogen light | 1/19/2008 |
| Q: my new light requires live,earth& neutral only, but i have 4 reds,2 black,2 yellow and dont know ... A: Sorry for the delay, I have been out of town. I need more clarification. Are the wire colors listed ... | |
| ceilingfan installition | 1/18/2008 |
| Q: trying to install ceiling fan with light package. house built in early 70's found lights are hotted ... A: There is only a two wire cable going to the switch. One of the white wires should have been color ... | |
| 2 wire from panel, 2 wire to light, 3 wire to other lights??? | 1/16/2008 |
| Q: From there, there was a 3 wire going upstairs, and another 2 wire going to a light fixture 5 feet ... A: The question was incomplete. The last partial sentence was: " When I tried connecting the ... | |
| Furnace/Humidifier wiring | 1/16/2008 |
| Q: I installed a whole house humidifier to my furnace. I have a heat pump and gas-fired furnace. ... A: The most simple way to control it will be with a sail or pressure switch installed in the supply ... | |
| Arc fault in transfer switch. | 1/14/2008 |
| Q: I am wiring a new home I am building that has a standby generator with an auto transfer switch. I ... A: Gary, we have installed many emergency generators for entire building power, and I can not recall ... | |
| euro appliances (washer / dryer ) moving to new home in the u.s. | 1/13/2008 |
| Q: in one form or the other has been asked before, but in my vast ignorance, the answers have failed to ... A: The problem is that these units may be 220 volts, but it is a single line 220 volts. In the US, the ... | |
| Getting 120v from 240v | 1/13/2008 |
| Q: I am replacing an electric range with a gas range, but I need a 120 receptacle for the electronics ... A: Yes. You will need to go into the panel. If you have never worked in a live panel, it is extremely ... | |
| Curcuit Breaker Malfunction | 1/12/2008 |
| Q: Two circuit breakers in an open subpanel were accidentally switched to the off position when an ... A: There are contacts inside of a circuit breaker that open on a higher current draw that the rating of ... | |
| Stove controlling the lighting | 1/11/2008 |
| Q: Just last night the power suddenly went out to 4 circuits in our home (none of their breakers went ... A: It appears you have lost one of the two incoming power legs. When you turn on the stove, the burners ... | |
| Lights surge when appliance turns on | 1/11/2008 |
| Q: I just bought a 35 year-old house. I've replaced the disposal and had an electric washer and dryer ... A: This could be potentially a dangerous situation. I am not trying to alarm you, but the fact appears ... | |
| single or 3 phase | 1/10/2008 |
| Q: we are building a redsidential development in kenya and have differing opinions as to wheter we need ... A: I am not certain what voltage is present, but the formula to determine amps is: Watts divided by ... | |
| Series circuit | 1/10/2008 |
| Q: I am installing two light fixtures in my closet. It is wired in series with two 60w light fixtures ... A: In this configuration, at the first 60w bulb, entering this junction box will be the hot circuit ... | |
| Series circuit | 1/9/2008 |
| Q: I am installing two light fixtures in my closet. It is wired in series with two 60w light fixtures ... A: So if I see this correctly, your new circuit black wire is connected to the other hot wires that ... | |
| Faulty Outlet | 12/15/2007 |
| Q: We have two strings of outdoor Christmas lights and a flood light plugged into two outdoor ... A: Scott this receptacle should have been a GFI with a reset switch. If not, carefully remove the ... | |
| A/C wiring | 12/14/2007 |
| Q: I am replacing my old central air unit which is a 230volt 30amp unit.Im goimg to replace it with a ... A: There is no neutral for a 240 volt appliance. The white wire on a four wire cable such as a range is ... | |
| Plugging my well pump into a generator | 12/13/2007 |
| Q: I purchased a 5500 watt (6000 surge) generator that has one four-wire 220V outlet. I would like to ... A: As well as the two hot wires, there should have been a ground wire from the service panel to the ... | |
| Breaker Box Wiring | 12/12/2007 |
| Q: Two questions: How important is the size of the breaker relative to the application? Specifically, ... A: For the first question, I have a 100 + year old home. I used #12 wire and all 20 amp circuits. I ... | |
| Wiring a timer | 12/11/2007 |
| Q: I just bought a Intermatic timer to replace the TORK 1101 (http://www.weisd.com/store2/17oa.pdf). ... A: This timer is using the main feed lines to continue on to the load. The main feed lines will connect ... | |
| circuit breaker tripping | 12/10/2007 |
| Q: hi i was out of town when i returned home my wife told me some outlets in our house didnt work i ... A: You first need to be sure the affected breaker is not damaged. Pull the wire off of this breaker and ... | |
| Outlet Plug Overload? | 12/9/2007 |
| Q: I haven't seen this addressed elsewhere, so please forgive me if this is repetitious. My daughter ... A: I agree it appears they totally overloaded this circuit. However I will say I have argued with a ... | |
| coridor light | 12/8/2007 |
| Q: sir How ican operate my home coridor light from 3 diffrent rooms thank you Ashokan A: This is a four way switch combination and I have no method of creating a diagram. The best solution ... | |
| Wiring Issue | 12/7/2007 |
| Q: Here is my problem ... I moved into a house built in 79. The front entrance has two switches side ... A: I believe what you have are two live circuits, one appears to be A and the other is the opposite ... | |
| 240 hot tub | 12/4/2007 |
| Q: We are going to purchase a hot tub soon. Our problem is that we require a 240v service to the tub, ... A: This is totally feasible and is the way most expansions are done. Some advice, a 125 amp sub panel ... | |
| follow-up question | 12/3/2007 |
| Q: I had asked another expert, Bob, about changing a bathroom outlet that had 6 wires feeding into it. ... A: A wire nut is a thimble looking device to connect two or more wires together. A pig tail is ... | |
| Ground fault | 12/1/2007 |
| Q: To find a fault in an outdoor lighting loop supplying garden uplighters that is trippling the RCD ... A: You COULD be on the right track. One thing to also keep in mind as you did not state the circuit ... | |
| light switch | 11/30/2007 |
| Q: i have double light switch and want to run one of them to a two way light and run the other to as a ... A: Ken, this is one of the most complex circuit to attempt to explain in writing and I have no way to ... | |
| Christmas lights | 11/29/2007 |
| Q: I have some 20 count mini light strings with no conncetor ends. They are 6 volt bulbs and get ... A: You can see how long they will last, but most likely they will either immediately burn out, or burn ... | |
| time delay breaker | 11/28/2007 |
| Q: I want to install a dedicated circuit for my table saw. Manufacturer says to use a 15 amp time delay ... A: I would contact an electrical supply and have the entire panel model number to see if they can get ... | |
| double luggin in a fuse panel | 11/19/2007 |
| Q: I just bought a house and it has a 200 amp service and the home inspector told us that there is ... A: 200 amps should be sufficient for the service, but panel wise it could be an 8 circuit to a 42 ... | |
| Electric "Outages" & Causes | 11/19/2007 |
| Q: I've asked about the electricity fluctuating and causing the lights, TV's's , outlets, to come on ... A: The utility is not sending a clean steady electrical feed to you. It may be a faulty transformer in ... | |
| Garage door sensor | 11/18/2007 |
| Q: I replaced my garage door motor and sensors, but is unable to get the sensor's light to come on, and ... A: Every manufacturer is different with their wiring colors. The only way to know if this is correct is ... | |
| exterior disconnect | 11/17/2007 |
| Q: I am upgrading electrical , new main 100 amp for small house . Main is about 15 ft. from meter in ... A: You would not have needed a main in the indoor panel as the fused disconnect is the panel main. Yes, ... | |
| Electrical | 11/17/2007 |
| Q: I have outside lights with GFI receptacles on two of the outside path lights. The switch that turns ... A: First, the switch is definitely switching the wrong wires. Second, the GFI receptacles are spliced ... | |
| HOT TUB 4 wire | 11/16/2007 |
| Q: The Panel has a Double Pole Circut breaker all ready installed two pole marked 70AMP. for saftey ... A: One detail that is not given is the circuit amp requirement of the tub. You are stating you want to ... | |
| popping sound in electrical outlet | 11/16/2007 |
| Q: We have an electric heater in our home and now when it is running a strange sound comes and goes ... A: Any receptacle and any panel making a sound should be checked for loose connections. Find the ... | |
| suggestion | 11/15/2007 |
| Q: I'm asking for your advice in bringing the well pump, and septic pump wires from outside by ... A: There is no simple way as I am sure you are aware, but what I would suggest is to install a new ... | |
| residential wiring | 11/15/2007 |
| Q: I have a newly constructed house that I just moved into about 4 months ago. I recently noticed that ... A: You are both correct, unfortunately for you there will be little that can be done now. I am certain ... | |
| electrical outlets in house | 11/14/2007 |
| Q: I am a renter and the electrical outlets in my son's bedroom, the dining room, and only 1 plug in ... A: Look through the entire structure including any outside receptacles for a tripped GFI receptacle. If ... | |
| Kitchen Swtiches | 11/14/2007 |
| Q: I have two light switches and one pair of outlets all in the same electrical box in the wall of my ... A: Only one of the two wires on the switch will be hot with the switch turned off. You need to use a ... | |
| Home florescent light | 11/13/2007 |
| Q: Purchased and installed a new 24" single tube fixture and switch in a closet. It's at the end of an ... A: There has to be some wiring crossed. I am assuming the circuit goes to the light then to the switch, ... | |
| Electric Clothes Dryer | 11/12/2007 |
| Q: I moved into a rental house that equiped for a gas dryer, I have electric. The movers said I could ... A: Before modifying anything in a rental, I am certain it would be in the lease to notify the landlord. ... | |
| electrical wireing | 11/11/2007 |
| Q: how do I wire a 3 way switch? thanks A: This is a complicated circuit that I have no way of describing in writing and have no way of sending ... | |
| South african sockets | 11/11/2007 |
| Q: I bought a steamer, it has an american socket and the wires are different colors, south african ... A: You really need to use a tester to identify the hot wire(s). You may have a voltage different from ... | |
| electrical | 11/10/2007 |
| Q: I just bought a little chandelier for my hallway. There is an existing overhead light I just need ... A: The switch feeding the light can act as a disconnect. As long as the switch is off, there will be no ... | |
| install ceiling fan to three way switch in the middle of the run | 11/9/2007 |
| Q: i'm trying to install a ceiling fan with three wires.one is blue,one is black and one is white.i ... A: If you are not referring to the wires in the fan let me know, but usually the fan is the black wire, ... | |
| Wiring an outside building | 11/9/2007 |
| Q: J, I'm wiring an outside building with 2 lights and 3 outlets. The building is 50 feet from the ... A: You of course only know what type of loads you have in the outside building, but I can not tell you ... | |
| bypass/isolation/transfer switch | 11/8/2007 |
| Q: One too many blackouts here in Cape Cod. I'd like have a portable generator (kW - 10kw) on hand for ... A: You are correct Larry. I appreciate the information as I have had this similar question many times. ... | |
| Double pole thermostat to single pole electrical box | 11/7/2007 |
| Q: I recently purchased several double pole Aube 115 240D thermostats to replace our old thermostats ... A: A line voltage thermostat is just a sophisticated switch that makes and breaks on temperature. It is ... | |
| Dimming lights | 11/6/2007 |
| Q: Everytime any appliance goes on like the Washing machine or the table saw all the lights in the ... A: This could be an indication of several things Dick. 1. The incoming service is too small for the ... | |
| 240V Receptacle from 120V | 11/6/2007 |
| Q: I need a 240V 20 Amp receptacle for an air compressor. I would like to use an existing 120V 15 Amp ... A: I would have to agree Chris. The breaker is sized according to the conductor it is protecting and ... | |
| bypass/isolation/transfer switch | 11/5/2007 |
| Q: One too many blackouts here in Cape Cod. I'd like have a portable generator (kW - 10kw) on hand for ... A: I am not sure how much more tactful I could have been with this answer. Sometimes its amazing what ... | |
| adding a 50 amp spa curcuit | 11/4/2007 |
| Q: I have a 3 year old home, which has a 100 amp service panel. The home has gas heat, hot water, and ... A: You explained it perfectly Charles. The problem is most utilities will not allow but one feed from ... | |
| thermostat wiring | 11/3/2007 |
| Q: I added a zone to my boiler heating system. I added a taco pump which is connected to a taco zone ... A: The red and white to the thermostat from the pump relay should just be a continuation of a single ... | |
| Low voltage light | 11/3/2007 |
| Q: While planting new shrubs, my landscaper buried 14/2 UF wire to be used for accent lighting. Can I ... A: Yes, this is an excellent choice for the lighting you are proposing. One thing to keep in mind is ... | |
| Changing everything in home | 11/2/2007 |
| Q: Hey im looking at purchasing a 75 year old home in philly. It is basically a shell and needs all new ... A: I am not sure if any electrical is existing at the present and if so if any of it is usable. You ... | |
| Panel wiring | 11/1/2007 |
| Q: I have welder that needs a 50 amp 230 volt source. The plug on the welder is a 3 prong plug. What ... A: 1 50 amp double pole breaker and it will depend on the cord, but you need a total of 3 conductors, 2 ... | |
| Wiring Switched Outlets | 10/31/2007 |
| Q: Here is the situation...Two of the outlets in my living room are controlled by three switches. One ... A: James you really have a mess here. If the tab was broken out on the previous receptacles, the ... | |
| Electrical socket | 10/31/2007 |
| Q: When I went to open my deep freezer, I noticed that it was not freezing. I unplugged it and plugged ... A: It may be that this receptacle is controlled by a different GFI receptacle. Make sure none in this ... | |
| low voltage question | 10/30/2007 |
| Q: Greetings, I am putting in a beam detector for the end of my long driveway. That detector is ... A: I think this is very borderline. This is a very small gauge wire to run this long of a distance as ... | |
| Lighting dilemma in condo!! | 10/30/2007 |
| Q: I recently bout a ceiling light from Ikea for my dining area in my condo. After removing the cap on ... A: Brian, you need to go to a home supply and pick up a tool called a volt stick. It is about the size ... | |
| 200 Amp upgrade | 10/29/2007 |
| Q: I have a panel rated for 200 AMP service. I would like to add some amp capacity to this maybe up to ... A: I am not sure what you are installing that would require a 400 amp service. I have a two story home ... | |
| Power Goes out randomly in house | 10/28/2007 |
| Q: I rent, we recently have had some strange things start happening with our power. We have lived here ... A: Yes you do have reason to be concerned. This panel needs a thorough inspection by a licensed ... | |
| question | 10/26/2007 |
| Q: I was short with my wire 4 n6 for my spa can i splice them or do i need to waste the ... A: With a wire this large I would splice it with a split bolt and wrap the splice good with rubber ... | |
| 4-Wire Romex for Plugs? | 10/25/2007 |
| Q: A few years ago during a reno, I had the electrician put a wire down to my basement for later ... A: First, remove the wire that is lacing the two together. Verify that on one breaker the red wire is ... | |
| Wire Distance | 10/25/2007 |
| Q: What is the max length I can have between the point of entry and the main shut off? A: If you are speaking of residential, from the meter if you pentrate to the inside, you can go 6 feet ... | |
| Add a Plug to Romex from Fan | 10/23/2007 |
| Q: I have a bathroom fan that has Romex coming out of it. I would like a plug on the end so I can plug ... A: I am sure that now the switch is controlling the fan. The most simple way to do what you want is to ... | |
| circuit breaker | 10/21/2007 |
| Q: I installed 2 ceiling fans in 2 bedrooms about 6mnths ago. I dont know what happend but there is no ... A: It sounds like a dead short has been created by some crossed wires. Were there light fixtures before ... | |
| ground rod | 10/20/2007 |
| Q: I UPGRADED MY GARAGE FUSE PANEL AND WOULD LIKE TO INSTALL A GROUND ROD MYSELF. NEED INSTALL ... A: You will need to check with the local inspection department as in some areas there have to be more ... | |
| Ceiling Fan | 10/18/2007 |
| Q: Have fan that has a light fixture attached. Fan only words on one speed. Lite comes on with fan. ... A: There should have been line voltage wires indentified for connections. Either the fan has a black ... | |
| ac disconnects | 10/18/2007 |
| Q: This concerns residential codes. I have 2 condensor units. The large one is rated at 50m amps and ... A: I would not begin ( Although in many cases I would LOVE to ) tell an engineer how to design a ... | |
| outlets in one room will not work | 10/16/2007 |
| Q: my husband and daughter were painting her room and she painted over an outlet, which sparked, ... A: The circuit is very likely still on, it is just not feeding through the GFI receptacle with the ... | |
| GFCI won't hold | 10/16/2007 |
| Q: The GFCI circuit in my basement will trip if I plug in any device like a lamp or television even if ... A: #4 was the most common suspect. How is this neutral connected to other devices on this circuit? A ... | |
| wires and circuit breakers | 10/15/2007 |
| Q: I want to change a 110v 20amp circuit breaker to a 220v(?) 40amp breaker to feed a new electric ... A: No 120 volt circuit will have large enough wires for a 40 amp 120 or 240 volt circuit. You will have ... | |
| red wire/black wire | 10/15/2007 |
| Q: I am trying to put in a new electrical light switch. After taking of the plate all of the wires are ... A: If you are saying how to determine the hot lead as color does not matter on a switch unless it is a ... | |
| Electifying the detached garage | 10/14/2007 |
| Q: I will erect a detached garage in proximity to my existing house. I wish to install 200 amp service ... A: With a recent code change it requires a fourth ground wire and a ground rod at the sub panel. You ... | |
| Electrical switch | 10/14/2007 |
| Q: I have two switches in my hall bath. One for the exhaust fan and one for the light. My issue is, ... A: Turn the circuit for these off and pull out both switches. You will see the hot circuit will be ... | |
| converting an electrical outlet | 10/13/2007 |
| Q: I have an air/heat exchanger installed in my kitchen that was wired to 220.It burned out. I bought a ... A: If you have never worked in a live panel, an electrician needs to do this. The procedure is first to ... | |
| GFI outlet by front door.. how to turn off power to replace outlet | 10/12/2007 |
| Q: Where's the breaker for this outlet? The GFI has apparently tripped and does not reset; running ... A: The outdoor light is most likely on this failed GFI, so until it is replaced, the light will not get ... | |
| Kitchen Light | 10/11/2007 |
| Q: I have a light switch in my kitchen that quit working. I replaced the switch still nothing, ... A: One of the best investments a homeowner can have is a volt tester. It can be purchased at any home ... | |
| Run 220 line to garage | 10/4/2007 |
| Q: I would like to run (3) #8 wires in a conduit to my garage and a new panel. Can I bury an 8 foot ... A: Actually John there was a code change some time ago. You used to be able to either run a fourth line ... | |
| Replacing a 3-Way Socket | 10/3/2007 |
| Q: I just replaced a 3-Way socket for a lamp in our house, but it does not work on all three settings ? ... A: Just as with a three way switch, there is one connection that is the common connection at the ... | |
| high pitched whine from wall | 10/3/2007 |
| Q: i have a high pitched whine that sounds like it is coming from my wall. it has gotten louder over ... A: Check to see if the a/c unit is located near this wall. There may be refrigerant lines in the wall ... | |
| 230 volt single phase 5hp air compressor | 9/28/2007 |
| Q: Ingersoll Rand stated I needed to use #8 wire for a 50 foot run and a 50 amp breaker. Would this be ... A: You will need 8/2. The ground is not counted in a cable. This appears to be a 240 volt unit by the ... | |
| Circuit breaker switches | 9/27/2007 |
| Q: The switch that controls the outside air compressor (2 pole 30 amp) will trip and will need to be ... A: I agree it is dangerous to upsize without checking the wiring. The breaker should be sized according ... | |
| Low Voltage Under Cabinet Puck Lights | 9/26/2007 |
| Q: I installed low voltage puck lights underneath my counter about 6 months ago, and they have worked ... A: As inexpensive as a transformer is, I would try this first as it could very well cause this problem. ... | |
| 4 switches controlling multiple outside lights | 9/26/2007 |
| Q: I have a switch at the kitchen door leading to a patio. There are two 40 watt lights at that door. ... A: I do not have a means for sending a diagram, but the best resource is a self help manual titled ... | |
| wiring cooktop | 9/21/2007 |
| Q: I am installing a new Jennair downdraft cooktop; replacing a similar Jennair unit that is almost 30 ... A: I agree it appears you need a 40 amp circuit with #8 wire. This can be confirmed as the name plate ... | |
| plug | 9/21/2007 |
| Q: I bought a house with a hook-up for a back-up generator which has a 3 prong male turnlok plug for ... A: I first need to know if this plug is directly connected to the panel, or is it part of a transfer ... | |
| thermostat | 9/20/2007 |
| Q: i wanted to replace my old thermostat and i never marked my wires.my old one was the mercury switch ... A: Joe, there is somewhat of a standard for wire colors, but it really depends on how the installer ... | |
| smoke alarms | 9/18/2007 |
| Q: Our electric smoke alarms went off in the middle of the night but there was no smoke in the house ... A: All line voltage devices have circuit boards that can be sensitive to voltage spikes. Unless the ... | |
| 220 3 phase to 110 single phase | 9/18/2007 |
| Q: i have a shop that was a tire shop before there was a 220 tire balancer box ther before that worked ... A: The balancer is currently powered from a 3 phase breaker that needs to be replaced with a 2 pole ... | |
| Running electrical wiring to outside building | 9/17/2007 |
| Q: I want to run electrical wiring from the house to a new outside building. The Building is 1500 sq ... A: I have a very similar set up at my home. I wanted to be certain I had enough in my sub panel for any ... | |
| Whole house fan switch replacement | 9/16/2007 |
| Q: I'm trying to fix a whole house fan for a friend. I determined it to be the dimmer (rheostat?) ... A: I would check with some of the fan manufacturers. This type of switch is very sensitive to motor ... | |
| SPA Wiring Load vs Distance | 9/16/2007 |
| Q: My new spa installation calls for a 50Amp GFCI on #6/3 w/Ground Copper. My run distance is 90 feet. ... A: It would be borderline to have any voltage drop at all on this large of a conductor, but if you have ... | |
| Lights in new kitchen | 9/15/2007 |
| Q: I are in the process of remodeling my kitchen, it's stripped to the studs. Along with the basics, I ... A: Lets do the easy one first. If there is a way to run a circuit where the swing arm light is located, ... | |
| WIRING A SWITCH | 9/14/2007 |
| Q: I have basement lighting that operate by pull chain. There are multiple lights on the same circuit. ... A: At each light there will be two black wires connected to each light as the hot circuit is connected ... | |
| Photocell and switch combination | 9/13/2007 |
| Q: I want to install a photocell to control an existing porch light that is currently controlled by a ... A: By doing this you will damage the photocess as it will back feed voltage into the red wire back to ... | |
| voltage drop over distance | 9/12/2007 |
| Q: i am adding a pole barn, about 1000ft from my meter and panel. i will be running up to 6 8ft ... A: The code will not allow that small of a wire to be used in parallel, so you are on the correct path, ... | |
| Help with wiring | 9/11/2007 |
| Q: need some help with wiring. I have an available 30 amp breaker in my air conditioner breaker box ... A: Eric, I am sure we can figure something out, but I need a little more clarification. The air ... | |
| 3-prong Dryer Outlet | 9/10/2007 |
| Q: My old dryer has a 3-prong Range type cord and outlet connected to 50amp circuit breaker. My new ... A: You sure can. Of course you could not do it the other way around, but you can always use an oversize ... | |
| Half of my electrical panel is out | 9/10/2007 |
| Q: For some reason circuits 1 and 2 have 120 volts each, but 3 and 4 have 0, 5 and 6 have 120 volts ... A: If you removed the 8 breakers, you would see that one buss bar controls every other breaker on both ... | |
| High Pitched Squeal/hum | 9/8/2007 |
| Q: In the past 10 days, I have had a high pitched squeal in my kitchen, sounding like the electric ... A: This is a good one! The only other things I can imagine is either a water line equalizing, or the ... | |
| Is a main diconnect needed in a home electrical panel? | 9/7/2007 |
| Q: We are in the process of buying a home and as part of the home inspection it was found there was ... A: The contractor is correct, it is still common to find this type of panel still in service, although ... | |
| GFI OUTLETS | 9/7/2007 |
| Q: I have (8)GFI outlets on a 20 amp circuit. It is outdoor and located on the exterior of my house.I ... A: If you understand how he is saying to wire these, instead of connecting each circuit to the line ... | |
| re wiring in old house | 9/6/2007 |
| Q: Cook just want to ask you question about re-wiring whole house as i bought this house last year and ... A: Without actually seeing the condition of the wiring, it is difficult to say. The main thing is the ... | |
| partial power loss | 9/6/2007 |
| Q: I lose power to over half of my house several times per day. I have checked the breakers and the ... A: To be loosing power on more than one circuit, you need to have an electrician look over your service ... | |
| Blown fixtures | 9/4/2007 |
| Q: I have two light switches on either end of a hallway that operate two ceiling fixtures. The other ... A: You need to purchase a volt tester. It is about the size of a permanent marker and the tip lights up ... | |
| wiring switches | 9/4/2007 |
| Q: I'll tve try to explain this as best I can. I have two ceiling lights, two sets of under cabinet ... A: It can not be done as you want it. It would be no problem putting them all on one switch, and you ... | |
| dimmer switch | 9/2/2007 |
| Q: In our bedrooms we have 3 wall switches. The first switch controls the ceiling fan, the second ... A: The new dimmer switch is not making sense unless it is a three way switch which is not needed. You ... | |
| A/C & Dryer Turn Lights On | 8/30/2007 |
| Q: First of all, forgive me if my terminology is all wrong... but I will do my best... Yesterday, at ... A: Your terminology was perfect. You have a potentially very dangerous situation. It appears there is a ... | |
| Home Wiring | 8/29/2007 |
| Q: I recently bought a home built in 1918. The wiring, outlets, and switches are a mix of various ... A: You did not indicate the service panel. If you still have fuses, or less than a 200 amp service ... | |
| fan and switched outlet | 8/29/2007 |
| Q: I've just installed a ceiling fan in a room that had no existing fixture. I have a light switch ... A: You needed to run a 14/3 wire to the fan. As is, there is only one hot wire to the fan, so the ... | |
| Wiring a 4 way switch for light/fan? | 8/28/2007 |
| Q: I have a 4 way stich which connects to a fan and a light in the bathroom. The ballast went out on ... A: Both white wires have to be used. One is the circuit neutral and should be the white that is with ... | |
| Home Generator Installation/use | 8/27/2007 |
| Q: Greetings, I purchased a Troy-Bilt 8000 running watt generator for emergency blackout use. My fuse ... A: The main safety feature required with a generator will be a transfer switch so the utility and the ... | |
| Wiring a 4 way switch for light/fan? | 8/27/2007 |
| Q: I have a 4 way stich which connects to a fan and a light in the bathroom. The ballast went out on ... A: The black and white wire in the same cable should be the hot circuit. Connect the white of this ... | |
| electric service to the house | 8/26/2007 |
| Q: I am curiuos to know the average price for a new service to the house. A: It depends on the area you are in, if it will be overhead or underground, the length of the run and ... | |
| Wiring Diagram | 8/26/2007 |
| Q: Ok here goes...I have to install A Light, Wall switch, Light, Wall switch...With the light at the ... A: I do not know of a web site, but there is a manual available at most home supply stores titled Basic ... | |
| Adding a circuit breaker | 8/25/2007 |
| Q: Our new house has 400 amp service with two 200 amp main breakers, off one of the panels is an ... A: You could legally fill the outdoor panel with breakers, the code stipulation is that the total ... | |
| Looking to disconnect unused switch | 8/25/2007 |
| Q: We recently remodeled, making 2 rooms one. The electrician disconnected a switch from an outlet for ... A: You will have to trace the feeder wire to the switch and disconnect it where it is receiving power. ... | |
| Ceiling fan wiring | 8/24/2007 |
| Q: I've just installed a ceiling fan in a room that had no existing fixture. I have a light switch ... A: There are separate wires in the fan, one for the light and one for the fan. Connect only the red ... | |
| 240 volt motor | 8/23/2007 |
| Q: I have a serious flaw in my eletrical motor knowledge, come to find out. I have always understood a ... A: Contrary to popular belief, electricity does not make a circular path. Actually on a 240 volt ... | |
| Wiring outlets off double 40A circuit breakers | 8/22/2007 |
| Q: I'm taking out an electric cooktop and replacing it with gas. The old cooktop ran off double 40A ... A: I am assuming the new cooktop only needs a 120 volt standard receptacle. If you have never working ... | |
| spark in breaker box | 8/22/2007 |
| Q: my ceiling fan was causing a short on the box, I remove the fan, replace one of the electric wires, ... A: Does the breaker trip or just spark and the fan operates? If the breaker trips off, there is either ... | |
| panel/breaker box | 8/21/2007 |
| Q: i hoping u can help me out. i'm in the process of finishing my basement and ran into a major ... A: You are for certain in a difficult situation. It is against electrical code to have a panel in a ... | |
| dble mini breakers | 8/10/2007 |
| Q: Is there a special tool or technique to remove the metal guard? A: Franklyn I am not sure what metal guard you are referring to. If you are talking about the metal ... | |
| pendant lighting in place of recessed can | 8/8/2007 |
| Q: I have on recessed can light above my island in the kitchen. I want to install 3 pendant lights in ... A: With the power off, remove the existing can light. This will give you access to the junction box it ... | |
| light switches not working | 8/7/2007 |
| Q: I bought a townhouse and a couple of the light switches in the bedrooms are not working. The ... A: There is a good chance that there is either a tripped arc fault or ground fault receptacle. Look at ... | |
| Whirlpool bathtub wiring | 8/7/2007 |
| Q: With much trouble, I ran a dedicated 20 amp circuit to where my new bathtub is. The motor is rated ... A: The nameplate should give you the max circuit amps. Even though the motor is rated for 9.6 amps, the ... | |
| sub panel | 8/6/2007 |
| Q: i need to run power to my 100 amp sub panel in the garage i have a 100amp main in the house and the ... A: Not legally. You really have a good set up for upgrading since the indoor panel is fed from this ... | |
| Service/feeder sizing | 8/5/2007 |
| Q: I am a small shop located in MN, used to doing only residential. I am doing a small new commercial ... A: I know what is acceptable in my area due to knowing the electrical inspectors and what they will ... | |
| Do I need to upgarde my service | 8/5/2007 |
| Q: First off Thank you for reading this I appreciated your time. I just bought this house about two ... A: I can not believe the previous owner paid for an upgrade and only went with a 100 amp service. You ... | |
| GFCI | 8/4/2007 |
| Q: Want to put a GFCI in my daughters kitchen & bath. Its an older Bldg, 30 yrs. THe GFCI has a green ... A: The purpose of the load side of a GFI receptacle is to protect all downstream devices. Only one GFI ... | |
| 220 wiring on concession trailer | 8/4/2007 |
| Q: my 220 outlet in my garage is 3 wire with smaller plug. I need to changew plug on trailer to 3 ... A: It would be better if the garage receptacle was changed to a 4 wire receptacle. You should be able ... | |
| wiring single a/c outlet | 8/3/2007 |
| Q: I was recently given an A/C unit but the plug is a 15 amp. 250 volt. I have an older house built in ... A: You can not legally do that and yes it would be dangerous. I would seriously investigate upgrading ... | |
| Electrical disconnect | 7/31/2007 |
| Q: "I want to disconnect electric source that powers an electrical power strip that is connected to my ... A: Every splice by code must be in a junction box. There must be a box below the floor that feeds this ... | |
| 6 =3 or 6 =2 | 7/31/2007 |
| Q: my question is which wire do i need? 6-2 or 6-3 it will be run between the power co, meter box into ... A: Larry I would not want you to make a mistake you would regret later. You could use a 6/2 cable and ... | |
| Main Panel Board | 7/30/2007 |
| Q: A Siemens W1224ML1200CU outdoor load center was installed at my residence 5 years ago for an upgrade ... A: I am not certain of the reason to want a main breaker? I am surprised this panel passed inspection ... | |
| 220 LINE | 7/29/2007 |
| Q: WHAT'S INVOLVED IN CONNECTING ONE 220 BOX TO ANOTHER 220 BOX? HOW DO I MAKE THE CONNECTIONS? WHAT ... A: I assume the connections are to feed a circuit from one to another, or power a second panel from the ... | |
| Transfer switches | 7/29/2007 |
| Q: We are having a 20kW Generac generator installed. We have a 400 amp service/system with 2 breaker ... A: I am not certain this unit would operate either unit, it certainly will not operate both and it ... | |
| Ground Fault breaker problem | 7/28/2007 |
| Q: I have installed a 100amp sub panel connected to my 200amp main circuit breaker box. In the main ... A: That is possible. The breaker had an attached neutral wire. It connects to the neutral bar and the ... | |
| Jacuzzi Tub | 7/27/2007 |
| Q: My house is 9 years old, and there is a jacuzzi in the master bedroom. One day the jacuzzi part of ... A: If there is a short in the jacuzzi, the breaker will not reset. It may also be a defective breaker. ... | |
| Home wiring/ A/C | 7/27/2007 |
| Q: We had our air conditioning on auto and it's been running fine. 2 days ago a circuit tripped. We ... A: Is your unit a split sytem or package unit. A package unit is totally self contained outside, a ... | |
| line to line and line to neutral | 7/26/2007 |
| Q: What is the difference of the two conditions: 220VAC 60HZ line to line 220VAC 60HZ line to neutral ... A: I am unsure of the question as far as conditions. I can say that if using a volt meter, the voltage ... | |
| wire | 7/26/2007 |
| Q: 25 amps continuous and 15 when i use a saw thanks for any help Larry A: Larry there was a code change some time back. At one time you could either pull a three wire cable ... | |
| dryer attached to refrigerator outlet? | 7/25/2007 |
| Q: We are purchasing a new 24" washer/dryer to fit in a 25 inch space in our kitchen next to the ... A: Due to the start up draw of the refrigerator compressor, even if it did not trip the breaker if the ... | |
| Enhanced Decorator Hallway Light & Single Receptacle | 7/23/2007 |
| Q: I purchased a Pass & Seymour Enhanced Decorator Hallway Light & Single Receptacle TM8HWL. I bought ... A: The original receptacle was a common wiring circuit. It had a hot circuit that fed the receptacle ... | |
| WIRING FROM LIGHT | 7/22/2007 |
| Q: HOW DO I INSTALL A OUTLET WITH THE FEED COMING FROM THE LIGHT AND KEEP THE OUTLET HOT WHEN THE ... A: Most often the live circuit enters the switch first, but not in all cases. If the live circuit is in ... | |
| panel upgrade | 7/21/2007 |
| Q: I want to upgrade the electrical service in the house I am remodeling to 200A and replace all the ... A: It may be easier to install an outdoor panel at the meter to feed the indoor panel. If the indoor ... | |
| Grounding Sub Panel | 7/21/2007 |
| Q: I am installing a 100 amp sub panel and have a question about the optional ground screw. The main ... A: You need to install the screw as well as install a separate ground bar just like the neutral bar. ... | |
| Bathroom exhaust fan | 7/19/2007 |
| Q: we bought a new home(3 yrs old) and the main bathroom exhaust fan will not shut off..My husband ... A: If the fan originally was controlled by a switch, it is in the switch or the switch wiring. Try ... | |
| Home Spa. | 7/18/2007 |
| Q: I've a 120v spa, that when I plug inot an outlet it only runs for about 5 mins, there is an Circuit ... A: Are you just wanting to use the breaker spot, or were you wanting to use the circuit that the double ... | |
| Wiring Secondary Breaker Box | 7/18/2007 |
| Q: I need to install a secondary breaker box in my attic. The main breaker box is 200 amp, the breaker ... A: You will need a double pole 100 amp breaker for the main panel to feed the sub. The sub can be a ... | |
| Arc Fault Breaker Circuits | 7/17/2007 |
| Q: I am constructing a new home in Chicago and the electrical portion is out for bid. I requested from ... A: There are some circuits that are required to be GFI vs arc fault, such as the outdoor receptacles, ... | |
| adapters from 2 to 3 prong | 7/17/2007 |
| Q: I have an older home with the majority of receptacles being 2 prong. A friend told me that I could ... A: No. It will connect exactly as the original two prong receptacle. The only difference is the GFI has ... | |
| adapters from 2 to 3 prong | 7/16/2007 |
| Q: I have an older home with the majority of receptacles being 2 prong. A friend told me that I could ... A: This is not necessarily true. The house may be grounded, ( it is required to be grounded with a rod ... | |
| wiring a car stereo receiver to ac outlet | 7/15/2007 |
| Q: I am looking to mount a car stereo receiver to a shelf in my garage (mostly because these receivers ... A: This will blow the receiver off of the shelf and most likely start a fire. The receiver is a 12 volt ... | |
| 100-150AmpEl v/s 200-300AmpEl | 7/14/2007 |
| Q: Can you explain the differences between 100-150AmpEl v/s 200-300AmpEl in a residential house. ... A: The higher the service amps, the more devices can be installed. If this home currently does not have ... | |
| Low Voltage Wiring | 7/14/2007 |
| Q: Situation: My old home alarm had a red light in the garage that blinked when the alarm is on – it ... A: The first thing to determine is what voltage the old system was operating this light at. Most ... | |
| Ceiling Fan Dimmer Switch | 7/13/2007 |
| Q: I am having trouble with a ceiling fan /dimmer combo and I would appreciate your help. Note that ... A: If the black dimmer wire is connected to the black circuit wires that are bundled together, the red ... | |
| Ceiling Fan Dimmer Switch | 7/13/2007 |
| Q: I am having trouble with a ceiling fan /dimmer combo and I would appreciate your help. Note that ... A: You almost had it Jeff. In the switch box the bundle of black wires are the live circuit wires, the ... | |
| wiring | 7/12/2007 |
| Q: I have any old house and the wiring is not colored coded black and white. How do I tell which is ... A: I used to be, now I consider myself neutral vs hair challenged. A great investment is a tool called ... | |
| Outside Outlet | 7/12/2007 |
| Q: There is no power to waterproof electrical outlet mounted outside the of my kitchen. I checked the ... A: Many outdoor receptacles are protected by the kitchen GFI. I believe there is a loose connection on ... | |
| ADDING A/C | 7/11/2007 |
| Q: MR. COOK..INTEND TO HOOK UP A NEW 3T A/C COMPRESSOR 240 AND PLACE IT APPROX 80 FEET FROM SERVICE. ... A: If this is a split system unit and you are only running a circuit to the outdoor unit, a #10 will be ... | |
| Outside Outlet | 7/11/2007 |
| Q: There is no power to waterproof electrical outlet mounted outside the of my kitchen. I checked the ... A: This receptacle is GFI protected somewhere, most likely from the kitchen receptacle. Pull out the ... | |
| GFCI outlet | 7/2/2007 |
| Q: I want to add an outlet in my crawl space for a fountain I installed in the front of the house. The ... A: I am not sure how you were going to make the actual connections, but there is a fill concern. Every ... | |
| home surge protection | 7/2/2007 |
| Q: do i need to purchase a surge protector for the whole house to protect appliances , tv, computers, ... A: Either will offer some protection. I personally use individual item surge protectors, however my ... | |
| wiring | 7/1/2007 |
| Q: i am building an under the stairs closet. on each side of the stairs there is one outlet. the main ... A: You can make a splice in the wire, but it has to be done in a box that is always accessible in case ... | |
| Fluorescent light switching | 6/30/2007 |
| Q: I have recently installed 4 x 35watt fluorescent lights in my garage and switch these via 2 x 2-way ... A: It is really hard to tell. Most flourescent fixtures have a ballast that does not require the ... | |
| Subpanel | 6/29/2007 |
| Q: I'm adding 220 V woodworking equipment to my shop that is 28 ft away from the house (main panel). I ... A: Bless your heart. You would not believe the questions I receive of homeowners wanting to run a 20 ... | |
| cannot remember which wire's go where | 6/28/2007 |
| Q: i have bought a new ceiling light took the old one down but cannot remember which wire goes with ... A: Being that none of these wire colors are typical, it will take a little work to correct this. You ... | |
| old wires/? short? | 6/28/2007 |
| Q: My coop apartment (built 1929)has cloth covered wires. the circuit box shows strange ... A: It would be difficult to say how many times this electrical has been modified, but I would have to ... | |
| wiring head aches | 6/27/2007 |
| Q: i have a floor lamp w/ a 3 way switch (that i'm replacing) it has black white and red wires where ... A: Every manufacturer has their own wiring methods. If you did not purchase an exact replacement switch ... | |
| 220v verses 110v on 12000 btu ac | 6/26/2007 |
| Q: which is more cost effective?Can you show me the formula to determine this? thanks A: There is really no cost savings of one vs the other. A 120 volt load will pull twice the amps of the ... | |
| splitting circuits | 6/26/2007 |
| Q: I am running a #10/3 wire to an outbuilding approximately 150ft. I will be drawing less than 15 amps ... A: This situation is one of the most common questions I receive. My standard reply is that for the ... | |
| Add central A/C in an old home | 6/25/2007 |
| Q: We would like to add central A/C to our home but was told that we do not have enough power coming ... A: It will vary depending on the local inspector. In most cases for a change of service it will require ... | |
| spotlights | 6/25/2007 |
| Q: i hope you can help me. I have a living room that leads into the dining room. The living room has 8 ... A: It appears to me to be a classic case of a loose connection. If the connection is barely making a ... | |
| Calculating # of recessed cans on a circuit | 6/23/2007 |
| Q: I'm remodeling a basement (dry) rec room roughly 13' x 29'. I removed the old sheetrock ceiling and ... A: The formula to determine this would be: Watts divided by volts = amps. Total up the wattage of the ... | |
| electric failure | 6/22/2007 |
| Q: In my barn, I have 245 volts coming in. Beside that is 2 legs each with 130 +- volts with a breaker ... A: You may be checking the voltage incorrectly. If you are checking each leg of the breaker to ground ... | |
| Running a Basement Subpanel | 6/21/2007 |
| Q: I have an unused 3-wire #6 cable (2 black and 1 ground) that I want to use for a new sub panel ... A: You used to be able to either run a three wire cable giving you the two hot legs and a neutral to a ... | |
| Old cloth covered wires | 6/20/2007 |
| Q: I just replaced a ceiling light fixture that is operated by a wall switch. The old fixture had 2 ... A: Not necessarily as it would work either way. The danger problem is if the wires are reversed, the ... | |
| Garbage Disposal Circuit | 6/19/2007 |
| Q: I am doing some remodeling work on my kitchen and had a question on wiring. My house is approx 45 ... A: As you can see by the age of this installation, using BX is not as common as it used to be due to ... | |
| Circuit Breaker | 6/19/2007 |
| Q: My house was built in 1981. The main 150 Amp circuit breaker, GE TQDL21150, blew out this morning. ... A: The price is not out of line for a panel replacement, however I know that Lowe's and Home Depot ... | |
| Shop addition | 6/18/2007 |
| Q: I want to run 75 ft. of 6/3 wire from an existing breaker box utilizing a 50 amp. breaker to a ... A: Concerning a sub panel in a shop is one of the most common questions I get. I know you have a plan ... | |
| switched recepticle | 6/17/2007 |
| Q: My Boyfriend is trying to hook up the garberator and we have 3 wires coming in. We want the switch ... A: The circuit will have a black hot wire, a white neutral, and a ground wire. The black wire will go ... | |
| Trouble Shooting Outlet | 6/17/2007 |
| Q: "I have an outlet that was working fine. It has 2 red and 2 white copper wires. However a red copper ... A: The receptacle will have gold terminals on one side and silver on the other side. There is a brass ... | |
| 110v outlet from a 220v outlet | 6/16/2007 |
| Q: Right now I have a stack washer/dryer that plugs into a 220v outlet. I now want a side by side ... A: Are you wanting to totally convert the receptacle to a 120 volt, or do you still need this also as a ... | |
| light toggle issue turning on power to outlet | 6/15/2007 |
| Q: I recently replaced my outlets and light switches in my bedrooms. My bedrooms do not have a light ... A: I may need further information regarding how the circuit runs, but I will assume since the switches ... | |
| wiring from double wide to shop | 6/15/2007 |
| Q: I want to run this wire from my outside box. Down to the space between house and the foundation to ... A: You do not say how far the run to the shop is, but I would use #10 uf for underground feeder. From ... | |
| arizona 3 phase electrical meter box | 6/14/2007 |
| Q: i have a 3 phase overhead service coming in to meter box. question is i know the higher voltage leg ... A: The third leg is not color coded at all so it remains a black wire. These colors must continue ... | |
| New 230v circuit | 6/13/2007 |
| Q: I'm wiring a cooler in a calf room to enhance their coats for shows and have all the materials but ... A: Connect the red to one of the flat blades and the black to the other flat blade. The cable is plenty ... | |
| voltage across switch | 6/7/2007 |
| Q: i'm hoping you can help me understand something about house wiring. in a simple home circuit ... A: I am not sure where you are placing your meter leads, but if there is a neutral wire available in ... | |
| services (pole) | 5/30/2007 |
| Q: i live in radcliff ky and i am trying to find out where to get a copy of the code that verifies i ... A: There is nothing in the code that addresses this. It is similar to a drivers manual, the manual ... | |
| wiring a lamp with 10 minilights from scratch | 5/21/2007 |
| Q: I've designed a lamp that will use 10 Christmas minilights. As of now I have used bulb sockets from ... A: NO! Think of how many 120 volts bulbs there are on a standard tree, it is not connected to a 30,000 ... | |
| Three wires,split receptacle and to single pole switch | 5/20/2007 |
| Q: in advance, thank you for your help. For the life of me, I cannot figure out how to wire the ... A: If you look on the side of the receptacle, there is a brass tab between the two gold terminal ... | |
| sub panel | 5/19/2007 |
| Q: I am purchasing a welder that requires a 50 amp ckt. I was going to run 6/2 from the main panel to ... A: You can use either size wire and with the smallest, a 60 amp breaker is legal, so either size wire ... | |
| Residential Light post | 5/18/2007 |
| Q: I am installing qty 3 - light posts on my driveway. They will be 7 feet tall and the head is fairly ... A: Every manufacturer has their own specs for the base concrete, I can not say what may be required as ... | |
| 12v dc fans on ac source | 5/17/2007 |
| Q: I'm building a UV exposure box for printing, which contains 5 ballasted florescent fixtures. I'd ... A: You will need to know the volt amps of the motors, but an electronics supply should be able to get ... | |
| hot tub wiring | 5/17/2007 |
| Q: I know you have covered parts of this, but I would like to see full process dicription with diagram ... A: Dan, I would need to know the electrical specs in order to provide this if I could, I have no way ... | |
| 3-Way Dimer | 5/16/2007 |
| Q: I have wired a 3- way dimer to a 3-way switch. The 3-WSwitch when flipped to an on position will not ... A: On every three way switch there is one common terminal. If the wiring was not changed on the other ... | |
| Setting Up Swtich to Control Outlet | 5/15/2007 |
| Q: I have a question on setting up my wall switch to control top/bottom outlet. In my house, every room ... A: This raises a number of questions. Does the one switch control the overhead light, or are both ... | |
| wiring up a new kitchen plug | 5/15/2007 |
| Q: I have a kitchen plug over my countertop that has the wire (white red black) running to my fusebox ... A: That is correct. Do check one thing on the receptacle. With a red and a black connected, each half ... | |
| Ceiling Fan Question | 5/14/2007 |
| Q: My son had to have this twin blade Harbor Breeze Ceiling fan w/ light and remote. I wired it thru ... A: The only way would require an additional wire from the switch to the light in the fan, and since the ... | |
| Help Please | 5/13/2007 |
| Q: Whn I turned on the light switch in our bedroom the light blew out and then after that we now have ... A: It sounds like part of the incoming power has been lost. The dryer heaters work on both incoming ... | |
| Ceiling fan wiring | 5/13/2007 |
| Q: I have an existing ceiling fan I just took down to replace with a new hunter brand fan. The old ... A: The receiver for the dimmer was made into the old fan. The new remote should work all functions as ... | |
| Low Volatge Wiring of Condensate Pump | 5/12/2007 |
| Q: Howdy- I have had to utilize a condensate Little Pump to dispose of runoff from my residential A/C. ... A: I'm born and bread hear, ( Spelling intentional ) so be careful. There is no such thing as a stupid ... | |
| Ceiling Fan-New Install | 5/11/2007 |
| Q: This question is regarding new installation of a ceiling fan with a light. I will put a metal ... A: If you are going to use the pull chain switches on the fan itself to switch the fan and the light, a ... | |
| Miswired switches and outlets | 5/10/2007 |
| Q: I just refinished a bedroom and changed the outlets. It has on switched outlet (on the top ... A: I am still trying to sort the circuit out. With two black wires on one side of the receptacle ... | |
| Miswired switches and outlets | 5/9/2007 |
| Q: I just refinished a bedroom and changed the outlets. It has on switched outlet (on the top ... A: If I understand correctly, the switch should only control the top outlet of the one receptacle and ... | |
| Flourescent light pull chain | 4/27/2007 |
| Q: I want to install a pull chain switch on a double bulb flourescent light. A: Inside of the fixture locate the black wire feeding the ballast. Install the switch into this black ... | |
| Hvac electric | 4/27/2007 |
| Q: I am an Hvac/r student from long island and im in my electricity mod. I have a project due and i am ... A: All of the products should be available from an electrical supply or HVAC manufacturer such as ... | |
| GFCI question | 4/26/2007 |
| Q: Will a GFCI device in a main provide GFCI protection to all downstream circuits? Does this include ... A: From the transformer, the secondary side is what is feeding into a structure. The primary side is ... | |
| replaceing blower wirer and main hot wire etc | 4/26/2007 |
| Q: diy rheem product great but service bad i have a rheem gas heater unit that went out and the ... A: On almost any manufacturers web site there will be a section to order a new wiring diagram. You will ... | |
| Generator- Single or Three Phase | 4/25/2007 |
| Q: I am evaluating purchase of a genset but am confused whether I need a 3 or a single phase genset. I ... A: Since you have three phase utility, I would go with a three phase generator in the event you did ... | |
| feed capacity for detached garage | 4/25/2007 |
| Q: want to add a sub feed to a new detached garage which is 30 feet from an existing 200 amp mobile ... A: You are doing exactly what I would have recommended. Actually the attached loads determine when a ... | |
| sub-panels | 4/24/2007 |
| Q: i am currently attending electrician school and have been told that a sub feed panel must have a ... A: A grounded conducting is more commonly known as a neutral. A grounding conductor is a ground, and ... | |
| acoustic celing | 4/24/2007 |
| Q: paddle fan in an acoustic ceiling how do i support it A: There is not a specific device to install a fan in this type of ceiling because there are all types ... | |
| Outdoor wiring-- Am I doing this right?? Please Advise... | 4/22/2007 |
| Q: Please forgive my ignorance. I need to install four 110v outlets in my back yard for an above ... A: Kirk, it appears you are going to operate all four receptacles from this one 20 amp circuit. That is ... | |
| Using Dryer Outlet for more power | 4/22/2007 |
| Q: Summer is coming and I had just finished upgrading my bar in the backyard. Usually when I have ... A: The only problem with this would be that nothing is GFI protected. It would be better to remove the ... | |
| Electrical panel issues | 4/19/2007 |
| Q: I just bought a new home, and since I have a big 220v welder, a plasma cutter, saws, saws, more ... A: A panel can not be modified with additional breakers, it has to be manufactured with a specific ... | |
| cable wiring | 4/19/2007 |
| Q: Bought a new digital TV and when it was hooked up for cable television we lost cable service. The ... A: I meant even at the pole. The electrical and cable lines are mounted to the same pole and the lines ... | |
| wire splitting | 4/15/2007 |
| Q: i know this is not recomended, but i have seen people rig radios into there bathrooms off of their ... A: The way this is accomplished is to control a receptacle with the light switch, however unless there ... | |
| elec. baseboard heater | 4/14/2007 |
| Q: I have 14/3 wire coming in with double 15 amp. breaker. My thermostat has 2 black wires and 2 red ... A: This should be a double pole thermostat. The incoming 14/3 wires, connect the black to a black on ... | |
| 50 amp 4 wire RV outlet from 50 amp 3 wire welder outlet | 4/11/2007 |
| Q: My garage is wired with an existing 50 amp welder outlet using only 3 wires. It is fed from the main ... A: Marty you are on the right track. I totally agree to install a sub panel that will take care of the ... | |
| 50 amp 4 wire RV outlet from 50 amp 3 wire welder outlet | 4/11/2007 |
| Q: My garage is wired with an existing 50 amp welder outlet using only 3 wires. It is fed from the main ... A: Actually you do have a ground with the welder circuit, you do not have a neutral. Even though it is ... | |
| sub-panel | 4/5/2007 |
| Q: I need to install a sub-panel to handle a 50 amp a/c, 50 amp dryer and 2 20 amp circuits. What amp ... A: Dave, the most common panel is a 125 amp panel. You will not need this much, but it will be cheaper ... | |
| Lights flickering constant | 4/5/2007 |
| Q: I Have lights that are flickering I check my breakers to see if they are hot. the voltage to the ... A: Try turning off the breaker that controls these lights and see what else is on this circuit. It may ... | |
| 220 to 110 | 3/31/2007 |
| Q: I have an outlet box that for some reason was wired as a 220. Both the black and white wire are hot. ... A: I am not sure what type of tester you are using, but if it is a voltage stick type detector vs a ... | |
| upgrading service | 3/30/2007 |
| Q: I am going to be upgrading my service from 60 to 100 amp. I am wondering if I am going to need a ... A: It depends on the utilities box. Every utility has their own manufacturer. While you are upgrading, ... | |
| SINGLE PHASE 220 FROM TRIPLE PHASE 220 | 3/30/2007 |
| Q: I HAVE A STEREO FROM GERMANY THAT DOESNT HAVE THE SWITCH ON THE BACK FOR 110 IN US AND 220 ... A: The European 220 volts is similar to our 120 volts. It uses a single line of 220 volts with a ... | |
| Spa Electric | 3/29/2007 |
| Q: I'm wiring a Hot Tub and have a couple of questions. First, the tub requires 3 dedicated 20 amp ... A: The installation proposed sounds fine Dave, and yes, I would install a separate ground rod to ground ... | |
| PULL CHAIN CIELING LIGHT | 3/29/2007 |
| Q: the chain broke off my bathroom ceiling light fixture. I removed the fixture and it was a very old ... A: I am not understanding a white wire on the new switch. A switch is always installed in the hot wire ... | |
| splitting circuits | 3/28/2007 |
| Q: I'm planning circuits for the home I'm building. Can I make a Y-Branch from a receptacle or switch ... A: It depends on what else you will be feeding as you do not want to overload a circuit. You can extend ... | |
| Water Pump | 3/26/2007 |
| Q: I have a Single Phase 2 HP water pump that is capable of running 115/230 volts. The distance from ... A: The only result of changing to a 20 may result in the breaker tripping. As long as the pump is ... | |
| vintage traffic signal | 3/23/2007 |
| Q: I have a vintage traffic signal - now to be used as a set decoration. it currently has 3 separate ... A: It is going to require a timer with relays to operate the lights. I am not sure how we may be able ... | |
| wiring | 3/23/2007 |
| Q: I want to run electric to my pole barn that is 250 feet from the main panel in the house. I want to ... A: For this distance you need to step up one size more than the table rating. The table calls for #3 ... | |
| wiring a 120v 1500 watt wall heater | 3/22/2007 |
| Q: Is it possible to remove an unused outlet and use the power supply to wire a 120v 1500watt wall ... A: You may have a receptacle that is not being used, but it most likely is on a circuit with other ... | |
| Wiring two new lights to a new double switch. | 3/22/2007 |
| Q: J, I am installing 2 new light fixtures and a new double switch (2 singles in same box)in a closed ... A: You will need a 3 wire from the first light to the second also. In the first light, connect the ... | |
| Wall Outlets | 3/21/2007 |
| Q: I moved into this apartment about 3 months ago. When entering the home, the light switch turns on ... A: With the wiring daisy chained from the switch through the receptacles, it will be almost impossible. ... | |
| 120v outlet on a switch to turn on/off | 3/20/2007 |
| Q: We have a switch (120v) which controls an outlet on and off. My electrician left a wrong ... A: It is wired correctly. The red wire would be connected to the breaker, the white to the neutral bar. ... | |
| 220 volt switch wiring | 3/20/2007 |
| Q: it has been a while since i wired a 220 volt switch.my buddy has asked for my help it is for the air ... A: You can either use a single or double pole switch. However remember if you use a single pole switch, ... | |
| A 204V 20Amp oven using 110V 20 amp line? | 3/19/2007 |
| Q: I bought an electric oven which specifies hard wire to a junction box using 204V 20amp. However, I ... A: If this receptacle is the only one on this circuit and it has at least a #12 wire feeding it, yes it ... | |
| 120 Volts on Common | 3/18/2007 |
| Q: I have several outlets and lights that just stopped working. I checked the breakers and nothing has ... A: It is possible they are backfeeding the panel and making the neutral bar hot. I know it would be an ... | |
| no power to a few outlets | 3/15/2007 |
| Q: Went to turn on the basement tv/stereo/dvd last night and there was no power to any of electronics. ... A: Unplug every device that is on this circuit and see if the breaker will stay on. If so, one of the ... | |
| Switch/breaker panel | 3/14/2007 |
| Q: I have a 3-way light switch for my stairwell light. If this switch is turned on or off rapidly, it ... A: You are seeing an electrical arc. It is either inside of the switch, or from the wiring connections. ... | |
| adding six 3in. gu10 white gimbal lights | 3/11/2007 |
| Q: When you say receptacle, You mean a plug right? And if I tap into a plug, then I would have to add a ... A: The correct term is a recepacle as it is a receiver for the plug of a device. On any 120 volt ... | |
| Hot Water Heater | 3/10/2007 |
| Q: Mr. Cook, When we built our home we had our builder install a basic water heater. At that time, ... A: One question. Do you have gas available? If so, the instant, tankless water heaters are the future. ... | |
| Different Wire Sizes for Sub PAnel Run | 3/9/2007 |
| Q: Now that I am running my 2 AWG to the garage I have one more question. What is the correct size ... A: In table 250.122, it is based on the setting of the Automatic Overcurrent device ahead of the ... | |
| adding six 3in. gu10 white gimbal lights | 3/9/2007 |
| Q: I built an entertainment center and I added 6 of these small 3in gu10 lights for visual appearance. ... A: The white wire is actually a hot wire on a switch circuit and should have been color coded black. ... | |
| Multi Recepticals | 3/8/2007 |
| Q: How many receptacles can you have on a circuit? A: The code has no limitation on a maximum number. You can put all the receptacles on Home Depot's ... | |
| Connecting ceiling fan | 3/8/2007 |
| Q: How do I match up red, white and black wiring to match the wiring (Black, White, and Green) of the ... A: In the cable with the red, white, and black, there should also be a bare copper. The bare copper ... | |
| Replacing Old Wire and Fixture | 3/7/2007 |
| Q: The two light fixtures are controlled by separate switches. The light fixture to remain is located ... A: Patrick, I apologize also this is taking so many responses, but like you, I want to be certain we ... | |
| Replacing Old Wire and Fixture | 3/6/2007 |
| Q: I apologize, I wasn't very clear. I am replacing the wire between two light fixtures as well as ... A: Sorry for the misunderstanding. I will need a little more information as according to the existing ... | |
| Replacing Old Wire and Fixture | 3/6/2007 |
| Q: Hi, 1. I have a question about installing a new light fixture in my house. Some of the wiring in my ... A: In every light fixture, the neutral is the wire connected to the screw or threaded portion of the ... | |
| OUTDOOR RECEPTACLES | 3/4/2007 |
| Q: My son plugged a mutli-plug cord into the rear outdoor outlet. Since then, both the front and rear ... A: I am assuming the voltage attempt was into the receptacle slots. The receptacles need to be pulled ... | |
| Wall over | 3/2/2007 |
| Q: I purchased a 4000 watt wall over from Sears, and it came with a factory cable to connect to my ... A: The formula to determine amp draw is: Watts divided by voltage = amps, so: 4000 divided by 240 = ... | |
| Electrical baseboard | 3/2/2007 |
| Q: I have installed 2x DBH 1500 electrical baseboard with double TSAT controller and one DBM 2000 ... A: Sandy I am a little unclear as to the question. With all three of these on, it only amounts to 20.83 ... | |
| Kitchen lights | 3/1/2007 |
| Q: I have a florescent light in the kitchen I am trying to replace. It is controlled by two switches. ... A: Something in the process caused a short. A breaker can be tripped without appearing tripped. The ... | |
| Blower control | 2/28/2007 |
| Q: My question is a bit unique but hopefully you can help. What I am trying to do is use an electric ... A: Jeff, do not by any means think this is the most unusual question I have been asked. I once had ... | |
| wiring a cabin | 2/27/2007 |
| Q: We are wiring a cabin. Planning on having 2 heating and cooling units like found in a motel. They ... A: Before you install a permanent electrical installation, you will need at least a 100 amp service ... | |
| Adding sub panel | 2/27/2007 |
| Q: Here's what I have and what I want -200 amp service in main -3 open slots to add breakers -In the ... A: Trust me on this Matt, there may be electrical devices that are not even invented yet you may want ... | |
| switch with delay? | 2/26/2007 |
| Q: My sister just bought a 1960's era house and at least two of the light switches seem to have some ... A: Are you positive these are not energy saving bulbs? You can take a regular bulb if unsure and try a ... | |
| buck boosters wiring | 2/26/2007 |
| Q: I have a powerformer model 216-1151-000 buck booster for a single phase tanning bed. I am trying to ... A: I do not have a total wiring diagram for this powerformer. I would call the manufacturers technician ... | |
| electrical lighting: strings with 5 watt bulbs | 2/21/2007 |
| Q: How do I figure out how many amps I am using when I use my outdoor lights? In one outlet (out door ... A: The formula to determine amperage is: WATTS - DIVIDED BY VOLTAGE = AMPS So 10 100 watt ... | |
| wiring | 2/21/2007 |
| Q: im trying to hook up a HID "multi-tap" ballast. it is for a metal halide aquarium light. i want to ... A: The ballast will also have a wire or terminal labeled common, this will be the connection for the ... | |
| 3-way lamp | 2/19/2007 |
| Q: yes, we tried new 3-way bulbs even. the 3-way was operating properly until about a month ago. Both ... A: If the replaced switch was a three way switch and you have installed new bulbs, Yes, I would ... | |
| circuit not working | 2/19/2007 |
| Q: Today I replaced a wall light. I connected the wires on the new light in the same way as the old ... A: It is unusual for there to have been a red wire in this circuit. Pull out the switch and see what ... | |
| Shock | 2/18/2007 |
| Q: We recently bought our home but since we move in we always get shocked if when we touch switches or ... A: Are you certain it is not a static electricity shock? Try walking around and touch metal objects to ... | |
| Wiring fans to three way | 2/18/2007 |
| Q: I have a junction box that has a 12/2 wire that controls outlets and a ceiling light. There are also ... A: Steve is is unclear exactly how you want it controlled, but it is almost impossible to relay it in ... | |
| thermostat | 2/16/2007 |
| Q: There is no terminal for the common wire so do i need to hard wire the wire to the common side of ... A: You can do it that way, however the indoor fan is energized by a 24 volt relay, either on a circuit ... | |
| thermostat | 2/16/2007 |
| Q: I'm trying to install a new thermostat and i do not know if the common wire is hooked up. The old ... A: You are correct Bryce. It attach the blue wire to C on the stat and open the indoor unit and look ... | |
| Room wiring | 2/15/2007 |
| Q: i have room in my new home, where every wall outlet is controlled by the same wall switch which also ... A: It depends on where the connections are made. If the switch is pulled out, see if there are two ... | |
| No power in garage | 2/14/2007 |
| Q: I blew out a circuit in my garage. I have replaced the breaker and still do not have any power. All ... A: You will need a voltmeter. I would begin at the breaker and be certain voltage is present on the ... | |
| single phase to 3 phase? | 2/13/2007 |
| Q: I am replacing a 220v single phase pressure fryer in my bar. I have found a good used one but it is ... A: It will require some rewiring of the circuit. First make sure you have the available circuit space ... | |
| blower fan wiring | 2/13/2007 |
| Q: I am installing an "in duct fan" on a 6 inch branch. I'd like to wire this to the main blower fan ... A: You can get a relay with a 24 volt coil rating and from the indoor fan section terminal board where ... | |
| condiut | 2/12/2007 |
| Q: what are the factors which need to be taken into account when choosing metallic and non metallic ... A: A metal conduit will get hotter than a non metallic conduit by high ambient conditions. It will also ... | |
| low voltage | 2/11/2007 |
| Q: i have low voltage in the outlets on one wall of house.switches and outlets alike. also basement ... A: It appears there is a loose connection in the circuit. You need to start at the breaker to be ... | |
| flying night light | 2/10/2007 |
| Q: Okay...this is going to sound odd, but does anyone know why this is happening???? I just bought a 30 ... A: I believe somewhere in this circuit, maybe even inside of the panel there are two wires that ... | |
| furnace blower fan | 2/9/2007 |
| Q: Can you tell me why our Furnace/Central Air fan runs constantly? The previous homeowner mounted a ... A: You are correct. Depending on the age of the furnace, there is either a circuit board with a built ... | |
| 3 phase question | 2/8/2007 |
| Q: i have 220v 3 phase in my bakery,i was checking the panel and i have 4 wires 3 hots and 1 neutral ... A: This indeed appears to be a three phase service with a high leg. This is usually only found in ... | |
| Solar converted to DC | 2/6/2007 |
| Q: I want to get a solar panel w/ alligator clamps for camping. I have a 12v car battery. My question ... A: I wish I could give you a more definite answer, but the fact is that every manufacturer is ... | |
| wiring schematic for controlling one light from six different switches | 2/6/2007 |
| Q: Would you be able to help me? I am trying to wire one light source so that it can be turned on or ... A: I have never heard of this many switches on the same circuit. The problem would be that when ... | |
| flat plug for horizontal outlet | 2/4/2007 |
| Q: How do I get a flat plug for horizontal outlet A: When the plug does not mate to the receptacle, the amps of the device usually will not work on this ... | |
| 3 phase question | 2/2/2007 |
| Q: i have 220v 3 phase in my bakery,i was checking the panel and i have 4 wires 3 hots and 1 neutral ... A: My concern is how were you checking the individual lines to determine the 3rd had 220 volts. There ... | |
| Light Switch Cover Crooked | 2/2/2007 |
| Q: recently we had a partion wall added to our home that has 2 blocks of light switches each ... A: This could be sticky as the electrician who installed the box may have had it level but the drywall ... | |
| static electricity | 2/1/2007 |
| Q: I know this isn't related to wiring but I couldn't find a category specific to my problem. Anyhow, ... A: I have never been asked a question by a Melvin, that is my Dad's name and my middle name. Actually I ... | |
| Battery heated glove liners-suitable wiring | 1/31/2007 |
| Q: I work in the outdoors and was looking for pair of battery heated glove liners. Unfortunately all I ... A: Darryl it sounds like an idea you need to patent. The best I can offer would be to contact the ... | |
| fan motor wiring | 1/31/2007 |
| Q: That is part of the problem. The old motor is gone now and I have no reference.I have an older GE ... A: Is the wiring diagram still intact on the unit door? The new motor wiring sounds strange not to have ... | |
| Bathroom electrical plugs | 1/29/2007 |
| Q: The electrical plugs in 2 bathrooms on the same floor will not work although everything else in the ... A: Be sure the GFI is wired correctly. Old ones would work even if wired incorrectly but would not have ... | |
| sauna plug | 1/27/2007 |
| Q: I just bought a sauna for my home. It is 20 amps. The plug is different. It says it is 110 V but one ... A: If you will notice, a true 20 amp receptacle has one slot with the T cut into the left side. This ... | |
| home electrical problem | 1/25/2007 |
| Q: one day we waked up in the morning and half of are power work and the other did not. then we called ... A: The utility needs to check the line feeding your house. They may not have had a system problem, but ... | |
| Attaching receptacle boxes to bare basement walls | 1/24/2007 |
| Q: Greetings. I am adding a 20 amp circuit in my basement to handle my work area, mostly Radio ... A: There is no way to attach it to the wall without making a hole. I used the plastic anchors with ... | |
| new wirimg | 1/19/2007 |
| Q: i'm finishing a bare attic into bedroom.i will run 14/2 wire from panel with new circuit 15 amp ... A: If you have not already purchased the wire and breakers, I highly recommend using 12/3 on 20 amp ... | |
| Use of junction box in attic | 1/18/2007 |
| Q: I am installing a new ventilation fan in the bathroom. Current wiring is a little short. Can I ... A: Yes you can install a junction box. The codes states the box must be accessible. I would interpret ... | |
| lights come on after delay | 1/17/2007 |
| Q: I appreciate the care you've taken to answer my many questions. Yes, the lights are incandscent. I'm ... A: I totally agree Fred. I am sorry we could not pin point it closer, but some circuit problems require ... | |
| Adding a GFCI to an existing light switch | 1/16/2007 |
| Q: J. Cook, Thank you for your time. I am having trouble wiring in a GFI outlet to an existing two ... A: This sounds exactly correct Jeff. One question, was the white connected directly to the existing ... | |
| lights come on after delay | 1/15/2007 |
| Q: J, This is getting too electrical for me. If you agree this could take a long time to diagnose, ... A: Fred, I do believe it will cost more than $200 as it will be time consuming going through this ... | |
| change 2 prong to 3 prong | 1/14/2007 |
| Q: is there any other way to add a ground without replacing the houses wire to go to a grounded plug ... A: A legal method is to make the circuit protected by GFI, or ground fault. This can be done by either ... | |
| 3 0r 4 way switches | 1/13/2007 |
| Q: I have a switch designation question on a home of mine. I'll do my best to discribe the situation. ... A: This is the same advice given to all with three and four way switch problems. Pick up a manual at ... | |
| 110v/220v | 1/12/2007 |
| Q: The thing is that the circuit breakers of the two outlets are separate in the box...each one is ... A: Joe, I am not trying to demean you in any way, but it is obvious from the questions you have no ... | |
| lights come on after delay | 1/12/2007 |
| Q: I decided to test a switch by connecting its wires. After turning the circuit breaker on and off, ... A: You can test the breaker by using a volt meter and touch the exiting wire when the breaker is turned ... | |
| 110v/220v | 1/11/2007 |
| Q: I have 2 outlets together, each(110v), how would I go to change them to 220v? Do I need to rewire ... A: Since each 120 volt circuit has a black and a white plus the grounds, you can use just the black ... | |
| lights come on after delay | 1/10/2007 |
| Q: I have a room with two rocker-type light switches (call them A and B) side-by-side at the ... A: Fred, with the delay and the dim light, I suspect a loose connection. It takes a while after the ... | |
| Running 120 from a 240 feed. | 1/10/2007 |
| Q: I just purchased a home which was built in 1961. In 1992 an addition was put on the rear of the ... A: No, this was not legal. There is no true neutral in a 240 volt circuit this old, only a ground. In ... | |
| Emergency stop button | 1/9/2007 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could send me a basic wiring diagram or explanation of a control circuit that ... A: This is by no stretch a simple wiring diagram. Also I do not have the ability on this site to create ... | |
| Secondary extension | 1/8/2007 |
| Q: We recently had a 200 amp upgrade to our service pole by our local rural coop. When this was done ... A: Bruce, by code restrictions I would say yes, however there are so many local codes and the local ... | |
| old switch | 1/7/2007 |
| Q: i disconnected the switch and both wires are hot when powering either wire at the light box.hello - ... A: There has to be either a damaged wire or wrong connection somewhere for both to be hot even with the ... | |
| Hot-ground reversal | 1/6/2007 |
| Q: Last night, I had a series of receptacles go out and cut power to several appliances. I tested the ... A: It would actually be impossible to have the hot and ground reversed and any device operate. You can ... | |
| Adding another light switch | 1/6/2007 |
| Q: My 5 basement lights are all tied together in one circuit to the same switch. I'd like to add a ... A: It will be simple if the other lights are on when you want to turn #2 off as the power will be ... | |
| 3-phase vs single phase | 1/5/2007 |
| Q: In our small performance space, only single phase power is available. We want to buy a stage ... A: Pretty hard on a volunteer. With all of the information provided, I knew you could assume you could ... | |
| wiring a intermatic 3 way timer with a 3way dimmer | 1/5/2007 |
| Q: I'm reading the fine print on the instructions that came with my intermatic 3-way timer that I'm ... A: There is something I must be missing as I do not see the relation of a timer that would affect a ... | |
| switches keep burning up. | 1/2/2007 |
| Q: Cook, I am currently residing in Kenya and have a problem with the domestic wiring.I need your help ... A: I am not in my office where my code book is at, I am not sure what 2.5 mm equates to in gauge size, ... | |
| one power source, three lights | 1/1/2007 |
| Q: I installed three light fixtures in my basement. I have one line coming from the power panel going ... A: From either of the two terminals on each switch, connect a short piece of black wire and connect all ... | |
| circuit breaker | 12/31/2006 |
| Q: I recently purchased a home that was built in 1986. and yesterday one of my circuit breakers tripped ... A: It appears a new circuit has been added, and it may have a problem. You can try removing the wire ... | |
| how to wire light, light, light, switch, switch? | 12/29/2006 |
| Q: I am installing a three way switch and attempting to find out how to wire this if I desire the 3 ... A: You are not alone Greg, I get a number of questions regarding three way circuits, and it is the most ... | |
| Attic exhaust fan wiring | 12/28/2006 |
| Q: I'm installing an attic exhaust fan and wanted to know where is a good source of power to tie into? ... A: No more that this fan will pull on the circuit, any available circuit will work. Be careful ... | |
| GFI wiring | 12/28/2006 |
| Q: J, i have in my bathroom a light-switch/socket combination switch and have just installed a GFI ... A: I am not sure what the question is. If the receptacle will trip with the test button, the receptacle ... | |
| nec wireway | 12/21/2006 |
| Q: It might seems like I am gonna ask to do my homework but it is not.Currently I am studying NEC ... A: I agree with you this answer is incorrect. I could not locate any table these figures came from ... | |
| electrical wiring | 12/20/2006 |
| Q: Mr J Cook Now i understand how the earth wire is connected. I understand that it brings the leaking ... A: If there is a short in any device, yes there will be voltage present at the ground rod. You can ... | |
| Doorbell Wiring | 12/20/2006 |
| Q: There are two white single strand (maybe 16 gauge) wires to the buzzer. There is no voltage to the ... A: Try this configuration. Connect one of the white chime wires to one of the transformer wires, it can ... | |
| electrical wiring | 12/19/2006 |
| Q: The kind of test pen i mentioned can only function if it is touched at the tip by the human hand, ... A: There is a separated bar in every panel that all grounds connect to from the house circuits. This is ... | |
| 2 hots in old 3-way switch? | 12/19/2006 |
| Q: I have two 3-way switches that connect to a ceiling fan/light in a 1925 house. We moved in 6 months ... A: On any three way switch, there will be two hot wires and one traveler wire. This way regardless of ... | |
| Power Inverter | 12/18/2006 |
| Q: I want to get your opinion on the feasibility of using a power inverter to run things during power ... A: The main problem I see is the voltage drop as the battery discharges. It will damage a compressor. ... | |
| Doorbell Wiring | 12/16/2006 |
| Q: I'm removing a 4 bell chime and replacing it with a simple two tone chime. The old chime had six ... A: Two of these wires will be for the button circuit. You will need to remove the control button at the ... | |
| 220-240v plug to 110-120v plug | 12/15/2006 |
| Q: I maitakenly purchased a hot water heater for tea, from England, and neglected to tell them it ... A: It will be taking a chance as the heater may not work on 120 volts, but if it will work at all on ... | |
| flickering lights in winter | 12/15/2006 |
| Q: I live in an old apartment building and I'm sure the wiring isn't great. Last fall, my lights began ... A: I agree it is very likely another tennant. I would let the building owner know in writing as it ... | |
| wire outlet to light switch | 12/14/2006 |
| Q: OK...I have a old light switch in my laundry room. It only has ONE black wire and ONE white wire ... A: You will not be able to wire a receptacle from this switch, because there is no neutral in this box. ... | |
| wire outlet to light switch | 12/14/2006 |
| Q: have a single pole light switch to my laundry room. Want to add an outlet, 4 way as I see it, 2 ... A: I am a little confused Daniel. Are the connections you are describing on the receptacle? It seems ... | |
| Welder hook up | 12/13/2006 |
| Q: This is for in my garage. I need advice on proper electrical hook up. I have a 200 amp service. I ... A: I am assuming there is no panel in the garage now. I would install a 125 amp main lug panel without ... | |
| circuit flickers | 12/11/2006 |
| Q: I have a 15 amp circuit that flickers and I replace the breaker thinking that might be the problem. ... A: It most likely is arcing in the breaker, but most likely also it is caused by a short somewhere else ... | |
| GFI's at box | 12/10/2006 |
| Q: J I have a small cottage (about 320sq ft) on my property that has its own power line and meter. ... A: Over time, these receptacles are known for problems. I know it is more expensive initially, but I ... | |
| stove and dryer | 12/10/2006 |
| Q: can i or is it safe to run a stove and dryer on 1 double 40amp breaker using #8 copper wire ( ... A: They should be on separate circuits as if both are operated, the circuit wiring will overload and ... | |
| Partial Power from A Circuit | 12/9/2006 |
| Q: Two days ago I purchased an oiled-filled heater to use in my home office. Yesterday, I had the ... A: The breaker tripped because the combination of the printer and heater overloaded the circuit. The ... | |
| Baseboard Thermostat Wiring for 120v | 12/7/2006 |
| Q: The wiring diagram that came with the thermostat seems straight forward for 240 but is confusing ... A: I agree it is confusing. You will in fact only use one set of wires if the thermostat has two reds ... | |
| heating a breezeway | 12/6/2006 |
| Q: I have an enclosed 4 season breezeway. It is on a concrete slab. The dimensions are 15'x 11. There ... A: It is not that simple. To totally determine the exact requirements it would entail completing a ... | |
| duplex outlet | 12/5/2006 |
| Q: I need to replace a duplex-split circuit- outlet. I don't know how the old one was pulled out as I ... A: If you still want this to be a split circuit receptacle, there is a very thin tab between the two ... | |
| 56V | 12/4/2006 |
| Q: I am re-wiring my family room. I have installed 6 recessed lights. I have 5 outlets in the room. ... A: Yes it should. There is most likely a loose neutral connection. You can start at the breaker to ... | |
| Panel Box ? | 12/3/2006 |
| Q: I need to feed a new spa that I just bought 60 amp 220 volt GFI service. I have wired in my own ... A: They not only care, it is illegal in most jurisdictions to remove this tag without their approval, ... | |
| Outdoor post light | 12/2/2006 |
| Q: How do I install a photo cell on a outdoor post light. It is not a single bulb light so I can not ... A: All photo cells I have seen have a black, red, and white. The white will connect to the other whites ... | |
| 240V Electric Oven.. 12AWG Leads?? | 12/2/2006 |
| Q: I am installing a Kenmore electric convection oven. I noticed that the factory supplied leads are ... A: It is amazing what manufacturers can get by with. Actually however if you notice, the #12 they are ... | |
| New electrical installation | 12/1/2006 |
| Q: I have a new installation, a room which is 4.5m by 7m. The service power is a special power meaning ... A: If the meter is more than 6 feet from the panel, there will have to be an external disconnect ... | |
| Electric hpt water heater | 11/30/2006 |
| Q: We bought a new electric hot water heater.It keeps blowing the main braker and the hot water does ... A: The physical size will not determine the wattage of the elements. Look at the name plate and see ... | |
| digital thermostat | 11/30/2006 |
| Q: we are trying to replace our old thermostat with a new digital one. we have an older house with old ... A: What terminals were the wires connected to on the old stat? A mechanical stat does not require both ... | |
| Ground Fault outlet outside | 11/29/2006 |
| Q: I have one GFCI outlet on the outside of my house and I just plugged in my Christmas lights and put ... A: It may be the receptacle is not powered. It has to be powered for the test button to operate. Look ... | |
| Double pole single throw switch | 11/21/2006 |
| Q: I have a single pole switch in place which switches/powers a socket and I would like to know if a ... A: Each throw of a breaker switch should disconnect one circuit, a double pole would be a single 240 ... | |
| Electrical code outside wiring | 11/21/2006 |
| Q: I understand your advise based on lessons learned, thanks. I do not think my question was clear, i ... A: I did understand and Table 300.50 states that rigid metal conduit burial depth is 6 inches and note ... | |
| flashing lightbulb | 11/20/2006 |
| Q: I have recently replaced my lightbulbs at home with energy saving ones. It has uncovered a problem ... A: Find the circuit breaker that controls this circuit and with it off, remove the wiring from the ... | |
| Circuit Breaker | 11/20/2006 |
| Q: I have done all the electrical work around my house, the only thing that conserns me is adding a 20A ... A: It will have to be from the panel, a dedicated circuit for the unit only. There are live wires still ... | |
| Electrical code outside wiring | 11/19/2006 |
| Q: I need to run conduit to provide 220 service to an outside hot tub and 110 service to two electrical ... A: This should be sufficient, but the local inspection department will have final authority. I would ... | |
| extra hot wire | 11/18/2006 |
| Q: I have a new house.I choose to install my own ceiling fan. The outlet was pre-wireed with two hot ... A: I am not sure if this fan is switched or the intention was to use the fan switches. If there are ... | |
| Wiring | 11/17/2006 |
| Q: I have a small problem. What I have is a wire comming from the Box, I want to tap into that, to ... A: I am assuming this is a circuit wire with a hot wire and a neutral, not a switch leg. With the power ... | |
| open ground | 11/16/2006 |
| Q: i just bought a 150 year old wood frame house. The inspector says in the living room there are some ... A: It would be difficult to tell when the last electrical upgrade was on this home. The existing wiring ... | |
| Outdoor Wiring | 11/15/2006 |
| Q: I am planning on building a detached shed/greenhouse in the future and would like to make provisions ... A: The only problem here is the 40 amp breaker. #12 is only rated for 20 amps, so it can not be on a 40 ... | |
| panel upgrade | 11/14/2006 |
| Q: how do you do a panel upgrade.what are the steps A: You first have to determine what size is the existing service. Most residential average size homes ... | |
| BREAKER WIRING | 11/14/2006 |
| Q: AFTER PURCHASING THE BLACK & DECKER COMPLETE GUIDE TO HOME WIRING, AN READING IT CAREFULLY, I FOUND ... A: It is illegal to have more than one wire directly connected to a breaker. If you have room for ... | |
| power surge | 11/12/2006 |
| Q: when my heat comes on,just when the fan loads up.All the lights get brighter.The are less bright ... A: It may be the motor itself is causing a power surge. The actual voltage needs to be checked on a ... | |
| gfi outlets | 11/12/2006 |
| Q: I im trying to wire up gfi's in a kitchen wher there were none befor i got one wired up it had 2 ... A: A GFI has a definitive line and load side. There will be a black and white connection point on the ... | |
| upgrade electrical to 200 ampere | 11/11/2006 |
| Q: I want to install an electrical tankless water heater in my 1980-built condo. The heater ... A: First, this heater can not be installed with your present service. It would require a major upgrade, ... | |
| Adding a receptacle | 11/10/2006 |
| Q: I have one inside receptacle in my garage on one end of the garage and it would be convenient to ... A: If it is wired from the light, it will only work when the light is on, unless the circuit back feeds ... | |
| Outdoor spa wiring | 11/10/2006 |
| Q: I'm putting in a used hot tub. The tub's electrical panel reads 240V/40A. In preparing my house ... A: The manufacturer has to cover their proverbial butt. #8 copper is rated for 50 amps, so with the ... | |
| Combo switch outlet wiring | 11/9/2006 |
| Q: Good Morning, I have a GFI controlling a regular outlet and another GFI in the kitchen. I want to ... A: I do not have this wiring diagram, but based on the terminal markings it should work as follows: 1. ... | |
| Garage wiring | 11/9/2006 |
| Q: I am adding electric to a detached garage. When I began my work, I was told that unless I was adding ... A: This would not be a legal installation by code, so I can not advise other than to say it needs the ... | |
| electrical wiring | 11/8/2006 |
| Q: when i plug a hairdryer or drill into the outlet, the lights dim. not a lot just a little. can you ... A: This is common on a low amperage circuit. A 1500 watt hair dryer is pulling 10 amps. On a 15 amp ... | |
| electric baseboard on when off | 11/8/2006 |
| Q: we installed new baseboard heaters 3on one breaker and 2 on another the thermostats are on the ... A: Something is wired incorrectly for the thermostats not to turn off the heaters. Normally the ... | |
| # cables in plastic conduit | 11/6/2006 |
| Q: I would like to run 3 individual #2 copper wires (THHN from Home Depot) and 1 #6 ground to a 125A ... A: The first item is the #2 aluminum. You have to use the 75 degree C column for ampacitiy, and #2 ... | |
| Installing a Combination Switch/GFCI | 11/5/2006 |
| Q: I want to replace a combo outlet switch that is right next to my sink with a new Combination ... A: On the combination units I have seen, the circuit hot wire will be connected to the black outlet ... | |
| switch/light | 11/2/2006 |
| Q: I live in an upstairs flat. downstairs they have a flood light outside. I'd like to connect to that ... A: It will have to be determined by opening the existing light switch to see if the entire circuit is ... | |
| Basesboard Heater | 10/31/2006 |
| Q: can i install a 120v 8.5amp baseboard heater on a circuit that is controlling the hole beadroom and ... A: It depends on the loads already on the circuit and what the circuit is fused at. If the circuit is a ... | |
| sub panel | 10/31/2006 |
| Q: i am finishing my basement and need to add a sub panel. i will have central heat and air,electric ... A: What can be added is determined by what your main panel rating is now and how much of a load is on ... | |
| Breaker popping | 10/31/2006 |
| Q: I just bought an older home and am remodeling the bathroom. I didn't change much moved a couple ... A: 1. Yes, you are within code to continue with #12 as long as it is not fused at more than 20 amps. 2. ... | |
| Thermostat | 10/25/2006 |
| Q: I am replacing a double line break thermostat for an electrical baseboard heater. The new ... A: The original thermostat was only breaking one of the power legs to control the heater. This new stat ... | |
| wring a range | 10/25/2006 |
| Q: J Cook, I am remodeling my kitchen and having trouble with my range. I have power for the light and ... A: The slim breaker is catching the same power leg on each breaker. It will require either a standard ... | |
| 100 amp subpanel in basement | 10/25/2006 |
| Q: we are finishing our basement and I'm going to install a subpanel for feeding the new circuits. Our ... A: In most homes this new, there will be cross braces within the walls making it impossible to feed ... | |
| Heated Driveway power requirements | 10/18/2006 |
| Q: Trying to make sense of an electrician's quote and to right-size what I am looking for. Some ... A: 1. Unless an exception is listed, and I can not locate an exception for this cable, a continuous ... | |
| Possible grounding problem | 10/18/2006 |
| Q: In my home the lights become very bright when appliances such as microwave oven or the furnace ... A: This is very unusual as it is usually the other way and they dim. If you have a meter, check the ... | |
| 220 Volt wiring | 10/18/2006 |
| Q: I recently purchased a Jet 1 3/4 horse table saw. It has the capability to be run with either 110 V ... A: As long as the two will not operate at the same time, you can branch off to another receptacle. It ... | |
| open neutral | 10/17/2006 |
| Q: i rented a florida home on the coast. 110 fans, lights, stove lights, microwave, and other things ... A: The service neutral bonds to the ground in the meter base and/or the panel. When the neutral ... | |
| Wiring Crawl Space | 10/17/2006 |
| Q: I want to finish one section (11 x 13) of my crawl space (18 x 13 total) for my kids as an extra ... A: It should be no problem using the existing wiring. Without the specifics of the wires you have now ... | |
| No Power in Bedroom after Ceiling Fixture Replacement Attempt | 10/17/2006 |
| Q: I went to replace a ceiling fixture in the bedroom with a 2 light flushmount. When i took off the ... A: The white wire that was connected to the old fixture black wires should have been color coded black ... | |
| Honeywell VisionPRO Thermostat | 10/17/2006 |
| Q: Oh well, I just hate the fact that I have a professional servie that costed me a good bunch (part & ... A: I have three heat pumps and on all three I am using the Carrier Totaline Gold programmable model ... | |
| 240V Subpanel | 10/16/2006 |
| Q: I have recently added a 240v outlet in my garage for an electric heater. I ran 8awg wire 65 ft, ... A: You could actually install a 200 amp panel and feed it from the #8 wire as long as the breaker ... | |
| No power to ceiling fixture and receptacle | 10/16/2006 |
| Q: I plugged a heavy vaccum into a receptacle which crated a short knocking out a ceiling fixture ... A: The tester may not be indicating full power. The only way to verify is to use a meter and make sure ... | |
| How to hook up a 10/3 wire @ plug & panel? | 10/16/2006 |
| Q: I have an 10/3 30 amp wire run for a construction heater 240 volts. Inside the wire there is a grnd ... A: You are correct in the panel that the black connects to one side of the double pole and the red to ... | |
| breaker box | 10/16/2006 |
| Q: I live in a apartment where the neighbor's breaker box is in my living room. For the past couple ... A: It is not uncommon for a breaker to buzz slightly when a large appliace such as an a/c compressor ... | |
| Honeywell RTH6300 to a Comfortmaker RSJ II gas heater/central air | 10/15/2006 |
| Q: Classic amatuer handyman mistake that maybe can be solved. In an eager attempt to install a new ... A: R, the Hot leg of 24 volts is always the red, C, the common of 24 volts can be almost any other ... | |
| power to switch(recessed lights) to double switch(separate lights) | 10/15/2006 |
| Q: I am rewiring my house and have laid out one of my circuits as follows - with a 14-2 wire I am going ... A: In the single switch box, you will have the incoming hot circuit, the circuit feeding the two lights ... | |
| Dimmer Switch on big Chandelier | 10/15/2006 |
| Q: I installed a large chandelier with 17 40 watt bulbs for a total wattage draw of 680 watts. After ... A: In my encounters with dimmers, if let on very long they all get very hot. I do not like it and do ... | |
| Crossed Thermostat wiring | 10/14/2006 |
| Q: Answer - I need to know if you have a heat pump or a/c with some other type of heat. Also I need ... A: With an O terminal, it indicates you have a heat pump. The red wire will connect to RC with a jumper ... | |
| installing an outlet in my bathroom | 10/14/2006 |
| Q: I'm wiring a bathroom outlet from under the house. I would like to "splice" off an exsisting wire ... A: The splice is required to be in a box with a cover. The wire will have a black hot wire, a white ... | |
| portable generator to home curcit box | 10/13/2006 |
| Q: I want to have an electrician hook up an outlet on the out side of my home to my circut breaker. ... A: It is illegal to install it the way it is described. A transfer switch has to be installed so there ... | |
| Wiring Dilemma | 10/13/2006 |
| Q: I have a two-story house that was built in 1993 with no ceiling light fixtures in the bedrooms and ... A: Unless the wiring is accessible to the switch, it will be virtually impossible to fish wire to the ... | |
| Neutral Lead Fried in Circuit Box | 10/12/2006 |
| Q: Home - New Contruction 3yrs old Circuit Box - Cutler Hammer Hi Mr. Cook, A couple days ago I ... A: I would not use any of this wire as it has been overheated. It is a short run to the meter from the ... | |
| 4way switch delete | 10/12/2006 |
| Q: I need to delete a 4way switch, can I attach the two black wires together and electrical tape them ... A: A four way combination is a somewhat complicated circuit. It depends on how these are connected to ... | |
| wiring | 10/12/2006 |
| Q: We recently moved into a home that has a partially finished basement. Some electrical is already ... A: It is common when under construction to power a circuit from the temporary service in order to ... | |
| Honeywell VisionPRO Thermostat | 10/11/2006 |
| Q: I have a Honeywell VisionPRO TH8000 Series thermostat. I just want to know if my wiring is correct. ... A: Everything else looks good. The white wire is the strip heat control wire. Connect it to the Aux/W2 ... | |
| 45 amp breaker on 10 guage wire | 10/11/2006 |
| Q: Recently, I had a repair person tell me that I had a 45 amp breaker of the outside unit on 10 guage ... A: My first comment is this can not be an electrical contractor as he is giving the industry a bad ... | |
| Baseboard heater wiring. | 10/11/2006 |
| Q: I am finishing my basement and need to re-run a cable to my baseboard heater in order to eliminate a ... A: This is a common misconception about electricity. The neutral has been called the return path for ... | |
| doggonedesign@hughes.net | 10/10/2006 |
| Q: I have a small cabin and the breaker marked 'test' keeps flipping off for no apparent reason. Any ... A: This is a GFI or Ground Fault breaker. It trips when there is moisture somewhere in the circuit. It ... | |
| Open Neutral in home? | 10/10/2006 |
| Q: Yesterday found that a circuit in my home is inoperable. 15amp circuit does not trip. Getting ... A: It may be a damaged wire. I know it will be time consuming, but start at the first device on the ... | |
| Thermostat Replacement | 10/9/2006 |
| Q: need to replace my central heating thermostat. The new one says to connect Live to Com, Heater to ... A: This appears to be a line voltage stat. I am not sure what the resistor was intended to do. Normal ... | |
| Grounding 200A Service Panel | 10/9/2006 |
| Q: Mr. Cook, I've been searching alot to find an explanation to this question. I have a lake ... A: You will need the ground wire connecting to the ground buss in the sub panel and connected to the ... | |
| Whole house fan runs backwards | 10/8/2006 |
| Q: I have a whole house fan installed in my home. The fan blades seem to run backwards so that the air ... A: These motors should be reversable. Check the motor diagram. There should be two connections points ... | |
| Gang Box in Cinder Block Wall | 10/8/2006 |
| Q: SITUATION: ----------- The exterior walls of my home are made of cinder block. There are a number ... A: You can use these type of boxes. Two problems will be getting the wire fed into the box and cutting ... | |
| Short maybe? | 10/8/2006 |
| Q: appreciate you anwsering questions for everyone. My problem is, a 1993 Chandelier mobile home. I ... A: Some of the original wiring may have been crossed. The only way to be certain which is the hot wire ... | |
| Wiring questions | 10/7/2006 |
| Q: One thing I see in print a lot is that many codes require 8 inches of workable wire to extend beyond ... A: The inspectors I have dealt with require the 8 inches for rough in, but I have never had one ... | |
| transfer switch and generator | 10/7/2006 |
| Q: I am looking to get a generator for my home. I have just about ruled out the stationary units since ... A: I know this sound feasible, but most generators are not designed for all loads at once. The formula ... | |
| Standby generator 70 amp not made? | 10/6/2006 |
| Q: I purchased the guardian 13kw standby Gen., and the House circut box is SquareD, and only excepts ... A: The formula for calculating wattage to amps is: Watts divided by volts = amps So a ... | |
| Possible voltage on neutral wire and cable tv related problem | 10/6/2006 |
| Q: For several months I have been having problems with my digital cable tv freezing up and loosing ... A: If the ground wire is not connected to the metal housing, touch one lead to the housing and the ... | |
| Electricity consumption | 10/6/2006 |
| Q: I have moved into a house which has 12 volt recessed lighting in most rooms. I am worried about the ... A: The amp draw of any device is what is converted to kilowatts for billing purposes and the formula to ... | |
| Panel is full | 10/5/2006 |
| Q: I think its 200amp rating...... as my house is all electric...I have Square D panel box main service ... A: I do not recommend using the mini breakers. The better solution would be to install a sub panel near ... | |
| Antique chandelier installation | 10/5/2006 |
| Q: I have a chandelier which is wired with what I believe to be lampcord(looks like speaker wire). ... A: The two wires may have appeared identical, but the neutral wire has ribbs on the outside jacket of ... | |
| Running a 60 Amp Circuit | 10/5/2006 |
| Q: I am running a circuit from an outside panel (new 200 amp service)for an inside the home air handler ... A: The subject states " Running a 60 amp circuit." If you are running a 60 amp circuit, you will need ... | |
| 220 wiring | 10/4/2006 |
| Q: I recentlly bught a new three prong dryer. The dryer runs but does not heat. I was told that the ... A: You may have made a common mistake checking the voltage. In order to ensure you have 240 volts, you ... | |
| Is it arching? | 10/4/2006 |
| Q: we just recently purchased our home in March of this year and all has been well until recently we've ... A: If there are any GFI receptacles on this circuit with the test and reset buttons, replace them being ... | |
| Doorbell Transformer Problem | 10/4/2006 |
| Q: I have recently purchased from Home Depot a Heath®wired doorbell (96M-B) and lighted doorbell ... A: I can not say to exceed the manufacturers ratings, however I can say that in my opinion they have to ... | |
| Can Low voltage affect my television | 10/4/2006 |
| Q: I have a 50" projection screen television that's about 8 years old. I just moved to a new place and ... A: It is on the low end, but almost every electric device is designed for a voltage tolorance, high and ... | |
| wiring question, 3way/4way lighting question | 10/3/2006 |
| Q: In our hallway we have two lights that turn on together. There are three light switches, two ... A: One of the switches is either bad or wired incorrectly. To work the way they originally did, one is ... | |
| Generator hook up to home electric panel | 10/3/2006 |
| Q: I have a 5500 watt generator and I want to hard wire it to the house so it can be used to run the ... A: You have to use a transfer switch with a generator. The easist method is to install a small sub ... | |
| what are the basic colors of wires in a home | 10/3/2006 |
| Q: what colort wires are there and what do they stand for as neg pos and ground A: The most common are called a two wire cable even though they have three wires. The ground is not ... | |
| receptacle and dimmer switch | 10/3/2006 |
| Q: I recently replaced all of my light switches and receptacles in my home. Everything went fine until ... A: It is pretty confusing. The cable with the red wire also has a black and white plus a ground wire. ... | |
| Baseboard heater wiring problem | 9/27/2006 |
| Q: I am changing one my electrical baseboard heaters (first time I do this). The previous heater was ... A: On most baseboard heaters, the thermostat is breaking one of the hot legs. Most likely you are ... | |
| switching circuit breakers | 9/27/2006 |
| Q: We are trying to run a treadmill that is on a 15 amp circuit in our bonus room- with all the fun ... A: Unfortunately this is all too common of a problem. I rewired my 100 year old home and used #12 wire ... | |
| Additional light switch | 9/27/2006 |
| Q: I wish there was a way I could email you a sketch of the circuit. It appears to me I haven't been ... A: I am pretty sure I understood the method, but running a single wire separated from the neutrals and ... | |
| Copper-clad aluminium wire | 9/25/2006 |
| Q: We just moved into a new place and, as I am replacing (30 year old and easily cracking) electric ... A: There was a major problem with some of this type of wiring, not necessarily the particular wiring ... | |
| Wiring bathroon exhaust fan with heater lights and nite light | 9/25/2006 |
| Q: How do you wire the switches and what king of swiches do I buy? Backgound: thinking of buying a ... A: You can eliminate some of these. From the appliance, there will only be one white neutral and one ... | |
| Wiring in an electric motor | 9/24/2006 |
| Q: I'm not sure if this is in your area of expertise, but I thought I would try. I recently bought an ... A: Dan, unfortunately motor manufacturers do not use standard wiring. You will have to contact the ... | |
| FLourescent Tube, Low Voltage Halogen Mix | 9/24/2006 |
| Q: I have a lighting circuit feeding a shop sign containing 12 flourescent tubes. The tubes are ... A: I do not see a problem as long as the circuit is not exceeded. The formula for determining the ... | |
| 120 to 240 | 9/24/2006 |
| Q: We are replacing our electric cooktop that required a 120/240 volt wire connection. Now I don't ... A: Correct that you need to do both. The 120 circuit may not trip the double breaker. Replace the ... | |
| Thermostat Wiring | 9/23/2006 |
| Q: I would like to install a thermostat that will turn on the fan of my furnace only and only when the ... A: Sounds like a great idea. You can use the simple Honeywell " Round " thermostat, called so because ... | |
| tapping from a/c cu cir for lts | 9/22/2006 |
| Q: I've been searching for a code ref regarding the prohibition of tapping off a condensing unit feed ... A: Actually article 440.34, combination loads, does allow this providing the feeder wires are sized for ... | |
| Baseboard heating in every room? | 9/22/2006 |
| Q: We are about to purchase a home. It was built in 1967. It uses both baseboard heat and a wood ... A: I would investigate this further. It may not qualify for homeowners insurance with no heat in the ... | |
| grounding when rewiring old outlets | 9/21/2006 |
| Q: In short, I will do the GFI in the ones that allows this, but in the other 2 I can not (unless I ... A: Another option is locate the circuit breaker feeding any other receptacles and replace this breaker ... | |
| grounding when rewiring old outlets | 9/21/2006 |
| Q: I am finishing half of my basement and there are olde wiring which I want to replace with 12/2 (old ... A: The legal method is to locate the first receptacle on this circuit, replace it with a GFI receptacle ... | |
| Sub Panel | 9/20/2006 |
| Q: I am installing a sub-panel in my basement. I wanted to have one or two 15A breakers for outlets ... A: The least expensive panel due to supply and demand is a 125 amp panel. It can be a main lug panel, ... | |
| 230 volt | 9/20/2006 |
| Q: I need to run 240 volt wiring to the garage for my 230 volt welder I just bought, but the house fuse ... A: Inside of the panel, there are two separate bars that the incoming service connects to creating two ... | |
| low voltage wiring | 9/19/2006 |
| Q: We are having a problem with the low voltage wiring. The electrician cannot figure it out. Our ... A: I would say there seem to be multiple problems. The lights that will not go off may be a defective ... | |
| replace toggle switch w/timed switch | 9/19/2006 |
| Q: Good morning; I want to replace an indoor toggle switch with a digital timer switch. The switch ... A: The existing switch was used as a junction for a circuit to pass through. It most likely was the ... | |
| Electrical Wiring - Changing a Light Outlight to Dual - Both Light and Plug | 9/19/2006 |
| Q: We are trying to change an exsiting light switch to make it a a light and a plug. The wires that ... A: A receptacle requires both the hot black wire and the white neutral wire. One of the black wires is ... | |
| Baseboard heater wiring | 9/18/2006 |
| Q: I meant 1000wattsI have 200amp service. Bought 100watt Cadet baseboard heater, 240V. Do I need to ... A: If this is the only heater, it will only be pulling less than 5 amps, so #12 will be fine. You will ... | |
| Heat Pump Electrical Hookup | 9/18/2006 |
| Q: I am installing a new 5-ton heat pump, both air-handler and outside condenser. The outside ... A: I will give you the proper wire sizes, but my first concern is the 5 ton unit. I am in a situation ... | |
| old lamp rewire | 9/18/2006 |
| Q: we have a "y" shaped lamp about 50 years old. it has a 2 bulbs with two separate switches in the ... A: Each light socket requires two wires. The hot wire black wire from cord will connect to one side of ... | |
| Circuit breaker to the AC | 9/17/2006 |
| Q: My AC was not working properly....the fan in the house was running but the air was not cool. I ... A: The indoor unit is on a separate breaker than the outdoor unit, so the indoor fan can operate ... | |
| voltage | 9/17/2006 |
| Q: Re: New installation of a two-speed whole house fan. I have tapped an attic junction box for 120v ... A: You are getting what is considered a false reading between the hot and the hi/low lines. For ... | |
| Home Wiring...replacing 2 prong outlets | 9/16/2006 |
| Q: I recently purchased an older home with the original wiring still used in the home. I want to ... A: Correct. Any circuit with #14 wire should be fused at no more than 15 amps. These circuit breakers ... | |
| Underground fault | 9/16/2006 |
| Q: This problem has stumped three local electricians. We direct buried a heavy, 600' , 220 volt, ... A: First, if you read 0 between the two hot wires and voltage between the hot wires and ground or ... | |
| Making a 2 wire line into a 3 wire curcuit | 9/16/2006 |
| Q: I want to install an outlet where I can plug in an instant hot water heater and a garbage disposal ... A: The circuit wiring is actually the black hot wire, the white neutral, and a bare or green ground ... | |
| Electrical Wiring | 9/15/2006 |
| Q: J, I have installed 2 low voltage pendant light fixtures in my kitchen each with their 11.7 v ... A: When any device is only making a partial connection, it can pull a great deal of voltage from the ... | |
| 3 pronged outlets with no ground | 9/14/2006 |
| Q: I just bought a 60 year old house. The entire house has 3 pronged outlets but no ground wire to any ... A: You need to make a couple of changes. First, any receptacle connecting the ground to the recepacle ... | |
| Wiring Coming into Breaker Box | 9/14/2006 |
| Q: I have wiring coming into my breaker box from both the top and bottom. All top-entry wires come ... A: You may be at the mercy of the inspector. Now that it is a noted problem, it will have to be ... | |
| range wiring | 9/14/2006 |
| Q: I purchased a new dual fuel stove. Siemans model hd2515u.My previous stove is gas and I need to set ... A: The 4 wire cord is a fairly new code change, so any appliance with a little age will have a three ... | |
| Light Switch | 9/13/2006 |
| Q: My kitcen light switch stopped working. It is used to turn off and on the light but the light also ... A: A three way switch has a definitive common terminal. The wires have to be properly connected for the ... | |
| Wiring Plug for well pressure switch | 9/13/2006 |
| Q: I would like to set up my well to use a portable generator durig power outages. The generator has a ... A: What you will need is a manual transfer switch. A low amp switch is not very expensive. The incoming ... | |
| Outlet | 9/12/2006 |
| Q: I have a question regarding continuity. Recently, I was performing some outlet maintenance with the ... A: When I have encountered this, a circuit that was off I was working on was sharing a neutral with a ... | |
| Open Ground | 9/12/2006 |
| Q: ..I've got a 15 amp feeder coming out into the garage, it connects into a GFCI plug. From the plug. ... A: You definitely need a ground on the GFI connected to the ground screw and pigtailed to the other ... | |
| Electrical Wire Cabling | 9/12/2006 |
| Q: Is there any industrial guideline which states the distance between the use of one cable support (be ... A: I did not locate anything in the code book other than a general statement that cables should be ... | |
| using existing fan light wiring for recessed cans | 9/12/2006 |
| Q: I have a fan with a light that each have seperate switches. I would like to remove the light and ... A: I cannot say what color wires you will encounter. You will have to open the fan junction box to see ... | |
| electric baseboard | 9/11/2006 |
| Q: We are still missing each other. What I want to do is... 1-run 10-2 from the box to the attic 2-once ... A: As I stated, I have not been a part of any of this question thus far, but as you are describing this ... | |
| Open Ground | 9/11/2006 |
| Q: ..I've got a 15 amp feeder coming out into the garage, it connects into a GFCI plug. From the plug. ... A: Are the circuit wires connected to the line side of the GFI and the continueing circuit connected to ... | |
| how to troubleshoot electrical problem | 9/10/2006 |
| Q: I have a real 'head-scratcher' Problem under-cabinet lights come on when the kitchen water faucet ... A: I can see how this could be a head scratcher. I agree it seems to be a ground problem. On a home ... | |
| basic wiring | 9/10/2006 |
| Q: When installing a light what happens if you have incorrectly joined the white wire to the black, ... A: This is called reverse polarity. It is very dangerous for a light as the hot wire on a bulb socket ... | |
| Short run PVC conduit at Grade for Emergency Generator? | 9/9/2006 |
| Q: J Cook, I’m installing a 16kw Auto Standby Generator. The connection box will be mounted on my ... A: I had a mobile home set up for one week for a Nascar event and the trailer was for a fire command ... | |
| 3 way dimmer switch | 9/9/2006 |
| Q: I just want to make sure we have our 3 way dimmer switch working properly. On one side is the 3 way ... A: A three way switch combination is the most difficult to describe without a diagram. It sounds like ... | |
| time lag fuse | 9/9/2006 |
| Q: i am asking about a fuse type which is called time-lag fuse what is it and why it is named so? if ... A: Fusetron is a very popular fuse manufacturer, you may be able to locate this site. A time lag, or ... | |
| 4-prong dryer conversion (follow up) | 9/9/2006 |
| Q: On 2/25/06, you answered a question about switching out the 4-prong cord on a dryer with the old ... A: A jumper is just a short piece of wire to connect two terminals. A #10 piece of wire needs to ... | |
| Electrical | 9/8/2006 |
| Q: My hot tub keeps blowing the circuit breaker on the panel. I checked the fuse in the electrical box ... A: A live panel is very dangerous. You need to have an electrician replace the breaker, this is the ... | |
| double tapped circuit breaker | 9/8/2006 |
| Q: When we bought our home the home inspector (not an electrician) said we had a circuit breaker which ... A: A single line can not possibly be a 240 volt circuit. If two lines were double tapped, that is ... | |
| WIRING PROBLEM-- | 9/8/2006 |
| Q: I HAVE 2 NON-WORKING RECEPTACLES IN A TOWNHOUSE I RECENTLY MOVED INTO THAT READ "OPEN NEUTRAL" ON MY ... A: It means the neutral wire is loose somewhere in the circuit. The only way to locate the connection ... | |
| GFCI Added on outdoors | 9/7/2006 |
| Q: I have a 15 amp circuit with the following: Switch 1: 2 indoor halogen lamps 100 watts combined ... A: The formula to determine a circuits load is watts divided by voltage = amps. So 2 100 watt bulbs = ... | |
| 100 amp subpanel | 9/7/2006 |
| Q: Would I have to continue the conduit inside my house to the main box? If so this would be difficult ... A: With the conduit problem, I would go to a disconnect at that point and use an indoor cable to ... | |
| 1950s light switch/wiring | 9/6/2006 |
| Q: Our home was built in 1954 with switches about 3/4"x 1" that, when pushed, create an audible ... A: There appears to be a loose hot wire connection somewhere that is occasionally touching this light ... | |
| Voltage at light fixture | 9/6/2006 |
| Q: Each of the three bedrooms in my house has one light swtich controling an over head light fixture. ... A: The only way to determine if there is a problem would be to test these lines with a voltmeter. A ... | |
| Light Switch | 9/5/2006 |
| Q: My light switch in one of my bedrooms was not working and my brother decided to help out. He opened ... A: I hope someone learned a lesson to label the wires as they are connected. You need to get a volt ... | |
| 100 amp subpanel | 9/5/2006 |
| Q: My follow up question is: Do the wires have to be copper (copper is so expensive) or can I use ... A: You can run aluminum, but the size is dramatically larger with aluminum. For the two hot legs, it ... | |
| 3-way switch | 9/5/2006 |
| Q: I just bought a house in the raleigh area and during the home inspection they found a light with a ... A: The ground positively can not be spliced to a neutral, if there is not a ground wire with the ... | |
| 100 amp subpanel | 9/5/2006 |
| Q: I would like to wire a 100 amp subpanel to my barn. The barn is about 200 feet from my house and ... A: For this long of a run, you will need two #1 copper for the hot legs, one #3 for the neutral, and ... | |
| Fan switch wiring | 9/5/2006 |
| Q: ok.. ill try to keep this short and simple.. I have existing light im taking down and installing 2 ... A: The problem you will encounter is there is only one hot wire to the existing light. The dimmer ... | |
| electrical breakers | 9/4/2006 |
| Q: what is a hacr rated circuit breaker and how is it different from any other breaker? If something ... A: These breakers are manufacturer breakers that can be rated for the exact draw of an HVAC unit or ... | |
| Wiring baseboard heaters | 9/3/2006 |
| Q: Id like to run 4 240 electric heater to pick up where the wood stove cant heat I have a small ... A: It is very doable. I heated my home for a number of years with a two stage thermostat connected to a ... | |
| adding new puck lights betwn existing outlets | 9/2/2006 |
| Q: How to install 3 puck lights controlled by dimmer switch, wired between 2 existing outlets. Is this ... A: With the connections made this way, the transformer is being dimmed. It may be designed this way, ... | |
| GFCI | 9/2/2006 |
| Q: Power comes in box black white and ground - power going out is black white ground as is now the ... A: If you connect all blacks with a pigtail to go to the GFI, and do the same with the neutral and ... | |
| range outlet | 9/1/2006 |
| Q: I am replacing my range and the electric is connected directly to the range. I want to install a ... A: The critical wire is the ground. You need to look at the range connections to determine the wire ... | |
| 3 phase upgrade for a warehouse | 8/31/2006 |
| Q: sometimes it is good to get another professionals advice. I am good with 1 or 2 phase, but never ... A: You can not increase the main breaker size as it is rated for the panel rating and the wire rating. ... | |
| Adding a combo GCFI outlet/switch | 8/31/2006 |
| Q: I'm new to home wiring, but recently replaced a faulty GCFI in the kitchen, and wanted to do the ... A: I would have to see the diagram for this device. There should be either a diagram on the device or ... | |
| Service Line to Panel Box | 8/31/2006 |
| Q: I had an home inspector look at the house we will be purchasing. During the inspection the panel ... A: The only way to determine the amount of damage, would be to strip the insulation at the puncture and ... | |
| Well Pump Tripping Breaker | 8/30/2006 |
| Q: I have a well pump that keeps tripping the breaker when I reset the breaker it runs fine for a few ... A: There is a spray especially for electrical components available at most electrical supply outlets. ... | |
| Electric Stove Wiring | 8/30/2006 |
| Q: I do not have all the information around this but here are the symptoms. My daughter has an ... A: You need to check the simple things first. Make sure the breaker is rated for the stove, It should ... | |
| Dimming lights | 8/30/2006 |
| Q: Why do my Household lights dim when a/c unit kicks in ?mp A: The incoming service may not be large enough for the total load of the home. An electrician can ... | |
| Sub Panel | 8/30/2006 |
| Q: Cook, I currently have a 100 amp squarae d Box that is maxed out. We are putting in central air ... A: There are two things that must be checked. Have the utility check to see what the rating on the ... | |
| Using oversized service panel for sub panel | 8/29/2006 |
| Q: I reviewed the question section, but may have missed my question if it was in there. But I just ... A: Since you were going to replace one service, I would replace whichever service is the most ... | |
| ceiling fan | 8/29/2006 |
| Q: I am trying to install a ceiling fan. I have an old house and the wires are not labelled or color ... A: You need to get the type of volt tester that will light up or beep on the hot wire. You may be ... | |
| Electrical wiring | 8/28/2006 |
| Q: We just had our basement finished. The hard wiring was done but left without the outlets and ... A: You will have to start at each breaker. Make sure voltage is leaving the breaker and then go to the ... | |
| GFCI Plug issue | 8/28/2006 |
| Q: I have a GFCI plug in my kitchen that also controls the outlet my washer / dryer is plugged into. ... A: I think you are exactly correct. Try turning off the breaker controlling this receptacle and look ... | |
| compressor to generator wiring | 8/24/2006 |
| Q: I have a compressor motor that is wired 15 amp 240 three prong and a generator that has a 4 prong ... A: Yes. The extra terminal in the generator will be for a neutral that does not exist on the ... | |
| no subject | 8/24/2006 |
| Q: I am having difficulty with outlets in several rooms in my mobile home. it started in my small ... A: There is a loose connection somewhere. It is time consuming, but the only way to locate it would be ... | |
| Question on replacing dimmer lights | 8/23/2006 |
| Q: I currently have 3-pole dimmers (levitron?) installed in my home, and would like to replace them the ... A: I was unable to view this site, however a switch only operates on the hot legs. Instead of a common ... | |
| wiring 220 to 30 amp breaker | 8/6/2006 |
| Q: i need help on how to wire a 220wire to a 30 amp breaker its for a a/c heating unit. a diagram will ... A: First, this wire must be at least a #10 wire to be fused at 30 amps. Second, this cable will have a ... | |
| Outlet-to-switch | 8/5/2006 |
| Q: I'm installing linear lighing in my kitchen. I have a 300W transformer that is fed the house ... A: This seems to be a single gang box, so a switch with a single receptacle seems to be the device of ... | |
| switch loop | 8/4/2006 |
| Q: Why do you reidentify the white wire as black or "hot", how and ,when does this apply? A: If a circuit is hot say at a light fixture. There is a two wire cable from here that drops to a ... | |
| Installing a light fixture | 8/3/2006 |
| Q: J: I recently bought an older home and want to change the kitchen light fixture (standard fixture, 2 ... A: The manufacturers have to cover themselves. The ground wire can be attached to the metal box the ... | |
| wiring pole barn | 8/3/2006 |
| Q: Need to run 220V air compressor, 115V Mig welder,regular 110V power tools, lighting etc. Thank you ... A: I would go ahead and install another 100 amp panel in the barn also with these loads, and you will ... | |
| Ceiling Fans | 8/3/2006 |
| Q: About how much does an electrician charge to install a ceiling fan into a bedroom where there is no ... A: It will depend on how accessible the wiring will be to install a circuit in this area. I doubt you ... | |
| Recessed Lighting | 8/1/2006 |
| Q: I have three recessed lights in a basement all on only one switch. The lights do not come on ... A: It is unusual, but possible to have a loose neutral connection. The fixtures will indicate 120 ... | |
| gfi/gfci | 7/28/2006 |
| Q: The circuit goes from panel GFCI to Mstr Bed light switch, then to master bedroom duplex, then to ... A: One problem is if the originating breaker as you indicate is a GFI breaker, there was no need in any ... | |
| GFCI with two circuits | 7/26/2006 |
| Q: outlet-three conduits with blck and white and one with additional red which is connected to one of ... A: There may be even more than two if any of the circuits with the black and white are powered. If you ... | |
| Wire Rating | 7/23/2006 |
| Q: I am installing a light fixture which requires branch supply wires be rated: Min 90C. What does ... A: This refers to the insulation rating of the house wiring. The manufacturer is covering themselves by ... | |
| proper wiring | 7/22/2006 |
| Q: I want to add a breaker to my panel and run a circuit to provide power to my welder in my garage. ... A: It will require a 40 amp circuit. A three wire cable will suffice with # 8 copper conductors. A ... | |
| shorted out ceiling fan | 7/22/2006 |
| Q: I have a casablanca ceiling fan...style panama with computerized wall switch. I was ... A: The wiring inside of the fan is so cramped, it is very difficult to separate the components, but it ... | |
| Parallel Flourescent lighting | 7/22/2006 |
| Q: In my workshop I have four 2 bulb 40W florescent fixtures. They are all operated by a single wall ... A: Always install new bulbs with a new ballast. It is almost like installing a new engine and using the ... | |
| Burned up doorbell transformer | 7/21/2006 |
| Q: My doorbell just stopped working, and I traced it back to a bad transformer, so I replaced. The new ... A: You are correct, either the chime is damaged, or the wiring itself it damaged. You can place an in ... | |
| Need help - pictures!? - on how to connect the wiring in my new four light chandelier. | 7/20/2006 |
| Q: My new crystal chandelier came with sketchy instructions and no pictures for wiring. It has four ... A: The blacks go together, the whites together, the silvers together, all of these are the light wires. ... | |
| Small electric motor question... | 7/19/2006 |
| Q: Mr. Cook: This question has always bothered me, and I wondered if you could answer it: Why do so ... A: It could have been wired either way David, but I would have to say that the high speed is the most ... | |
| Wiring in a new 220V home service | 7/19/2006 |
| Q: We have a ten year old home that has 220 for the range and dryer ( not used)service. We're buying a ... A: I would leave the range and dryer ciruits intact for future use or resale. The best solution would ... | |
| wiring to garage 100 feet away | 7/19/2006 |
| Q: Mr. Cook, I am in the process of wiring to my new 24 feet by 52 feet garage, which is 100 feet from ... A: Wire size is specific based on the amps required. You will have to add up all expected loads to ... | |
| circuit problems | 7/19/2006 |
| Q: Friday, I went out for the evening, later there was a rain storm, but to my knowledge, no lightening ... A: You may have a damaged breaker. Use a volt meter or volt tester to be sure power is actually leaving ... | |
| Need help - pictures!? - on how to connect the wiring in my new four light chandelier. | 7/18/2006 |
| Q: My new crystal chandelier came with sketchy instructions and no pictures for wiring. It has four ... A: Each light has a hot wire which is black and a neutral which is white. The system wiring in the ... | |
| Light switch trips breaker | 7/17/2006 |
| Q: There is no box at the fixture, just two wires coming from the ceiling. They seem to both be the ... A: The hot circuit is in the light fixture junction. One of the two pairs is the hot circuit, the other ... | |
| Light switch trips breaker | 7/17/2006 |
| Q: I will have to look in the basment to see if I can figure out which wires lead upto that circuit. ... A: With older wiring there is nothing that can be done short of a new circuit when the ground is ... | |
| GFCI outlet | 7/17/2006 |
| Q: Can I replace a regular plugin outlet with a GFCI plug in outlet ? Do I need to do anything ... A: Yes you can do this. The main concern will be to identify the hot circuit. Does the existing ... | |
| 220 single phase | 7/16/2006 |
| Q: I have a 220 single phase well pump only three wires.black,white and ground how do I wire this off a ... A: A 220 volt plug will have two hot leg connections, and either two others for a neutral and a ground, ... | |
| electrical wiring | 7/16/2006 |
| Q: installing new fixture...red wire, white wire, black wire, bare wire capped. Light has two wires..no ... A: As a learning experience, a new fixuture must be wired exactly like the original. Be sure to note ... | |
| ceiling fan wires | 7/16/2006 |
| Q: Jeff, I am trying to install a ceiling fan and have old, colth wiring in my house. The cloth is ... A: There may not be any ground wires, only the hot and neutral wires. You can purchase a volt tester ... | |
| Wired doorbell | 7/15/2006 |
| Q: Newer house, and when I connect the doorbell, it will not stop ringing, but this is with the two ... A: Low voltage wiring is very similar to high voltage, or 120 volt wiring. From the transformer, one ... | |
| New Ceiling Fan | 7/15/2006 |
| Q: 2nd part of a two part question. I am wiring a new fan/light combination in my master bedroom. I ... A: With the existing wiring, the light and fan will be on the same switch, without doing additional ... | |
| 2 ceiling fans | 7/15/2006 |
| Q: first of all I just want to say this site is awsome. And for the question. I am wiring a ceiling ... A: It will depend on where the live circuit is located. Usually in a switch, there is no neutral, so it ... | |
| bends | 7/14/2006 |
| Q: how many 90 degree bends from box to box allowed? how many outlets can i have in one circuit? what ... A: Four 90 degree bends are the max allowed. There is no set number of receptacles per circuit, the ... | |
| Wire Sizing | 7/13/2006 |
| Q: The only writing I found on the wire was E18679 G(UL) Romex(R) Simpill(TM) Awg 4 CU 3 CDR with 8 ... A: Richard, as best as I can determine by the code book, using table 310.16, which is the table for not ... | |
| reset on outlet keeps popping | 7/13/2006 |
| Q: We have been using this outlet for years without issue - the same appliance, a microwave. This ... A: If the receptacle is tripping with the microwave plugged in, there is something in the microwave or ... | |
| questionable receptacle wiring | 7/13/2006 |
| Q: Renting a home, changing 3 prong room receptacles and came across a wiring setup I didnt like / ... A: Every two wire cable has a black, white and a ground. There is either a black wire cut or unused in ... | |
| switch wiring | 7/13/2006 |
| Q: i need to wire two lights to one switch, the original light is already wired to the existing switch, ... A: Turn off the circuit and pull down the existing light. It will have a black on one terminal and a ... | |
| Novice mistake | 7/12/2006 |
| Q: This is a case of a little knowledge messed me up. We had an existing ceiling light fixture we're ... A: The switch has to be on the same ciruit as the light, so I am trying to figure out what we have ... | |
| blown electrical outlets | 7/12/2006 |
| Q: I was recently using both my microwave and toaster oven, which are plugged into the same outlet, and ... A: Double check the breakers first. A breaker will sometimes trip and not appear to be tripped. ... | |
| fading voltage | 7/12/2006 |
| Q: Last night all items on one breaker all starting fluction voltage. Going up and down. Could this ... A: I would say it is either the breaker, a connection on the breaker, or a loose connection on a device ... | |
| Upgrading service | 7/11/2006 |
| Q: My next question is if I currently have a 200Amp main panel, it has a 150 amp tri breaker and ... A: A 100 amp should be plenty in the garage and the main panel can indeed supply this just fine by all ... | |
| GFCI combination switch/outlet | 7/11/2006 |
| Q: Just removed an old medicine cabinet with the built-in lights that includes a switch at the bottom ... A: These devices are made different depending on the manufacturer. There should be terminal connection ... | |
| Running an electrical line outside | 7/11/2006 |
| Q: I had a well installed with water pump on my property 13 years ago. Since then the original house ... A: The water pump line needs to be underground. There are several methods of splicing this wire. They ... | |
| Wiring a 3-way switch | 7/10/2006 |
| Q: Yes, I planned the rooms so that the existing lights in the basement would be in each room. There ... A: Mike, I promise I am not trying to make this confusing, I am just trying to understand what is ... | |
| 240 volts electrical wiring | 7/10/2006 |
| Q: I want to add a ac system to my two car garage. my home is about 8 years old and I have empty spaces ... A: It is somewhat simple, however you will need two circuits as the indoor unit is on one circuit and ... | |
| Install generator transfer switch. | 7/9/2006 |
| Q: Country home has seperate well control panel from whole house. Well circuit stays hot all the time, ... A: The white neutral from panel 1 should have connected to the panel 2 neutral bar and then fed to the ... | |
| underground wiring | 7/8/2006 |
| Q: what is the code in NJ for buried electrical wiring. I undertand it's 18" min.....what if I can't ... A: The depth is determined by the voltage of the wiring being buried. Check with the local inspection ... | |
| 3 wire cable pane location | 7/8/2006 |
| Q: can you use a 12/3 cable to feed two lighting circuits or only for kitchen appliance circuits? I ... A: You can use 12/3 for any two circuits and allow them to share a common neutral as long as a GFI is ... | |
| Wiring outlets | 7/8/2006 |
| Q: Mr. Cook, How many recepticals can you place on one circuit, running on 12-2 wire? We currently ... A: There is no maximum number, all the code states is that the attached load can not exceed the rating ... | |
| Possible Bad Breaker | 7/7/2006 |
| Q: From reading past questions, I believe I have a bad breaker (or one that is starting to go bad), but ... A: NO! The breaker is doing its job correctly. Someone has really made a mess of the wiring here. There ... | |
| dual combo switch/outlet from single pole switch | 7/6/2006 |
| Q: How do I changeout a dual single pole switch setup to a dual combo switch/outlet in the same box? ... A: You will have to cut off the switch circuit at the breaker and pull out the existing switch and let ... | |
| Panel upgrade vs. subpanel | 7/6/2006 |
| Q: we own a 1700 sq. foot home built in 1973 with a 100 amp Zinsco panel. We have been told over the ... A: I am not familiar with this brand of panel or the associated problems. I am not sure what is ... | |
| Sub panel wiring | 7/6/2006 |
| Q: I want to install a 100 amp sub panel in my garage coming off of my 200 amp house panel. what size ... A: The conductor ratings are as follows: #3 is rated for 100 amps. #4 is rated for 85 amps. #3/0 is ... | |
| light switch | 7/6/2006 |
| Q: I have all the neccessary parts and when I when to do the project, the wiring boggled me! The switch ... A: That was correct Ed, the switch only breaks the hot leg. In order to install a receptacle in this ... | |
| Changing 240V cicuit to 120V circuit | 7/6/2006 |
| Q: An old work room had a designated 240V circuit that went to a small welder (I think). I have turned ... A: Yes. Just purchase two single pole breakers and use one for the circuit and the other will be a ... | |
| air conditioning and phone line | 7/6/2006 |
| Q: cooks I have voip (voice over Internet protocol), everything is connected correctly. The problem ... A: That is one I have never heard. In some manner, the a/c is causing electrical interference in the ... | |
| HOT SPA WIRING | 7/6/2006 |
| Q: I need to install a 60 Amp. GFI breaker, in a 125 Amp. outside panel for an outside hot tub. The ... A: I am not sure what loads the future breakers will have connected, but #6 is only rated for 65 amps, ... | |
| Light dont turn off with by any breaker | 7/5/2006 |
| Q: I just bought my house and was looking to label all the breakers. I have a couple of lights in my ... A: Some circuits use a common neutral for more than one circuit and it sounds as though some wiring is ... | |
| Upgrading service | 7/5/2006 |
| Q: I have built a 750sq ft garage behind my house. I thougth I would just pull another service for the ... A: I am not sure how it is in your location, but in this area, a 250 amp service is the largest we can ... | |
| UF Cable Wiring | 7/4/2006 |
| Q: J.Cook: Many thanks for your prompt, complete and very professional response. I may have mislead you ... A: That was the way I understood it Nick, the problem is the two 12/2 are connected back to the 12/3 ... | |
| Installed bathroom vent fan, but now it won't turn off at switch | 7/4/2006 |
| Q: Yes, there are 2 cables (groups of wires) that "end up" at the fixture's location in the ceiling. ... A: We can get this narrowed down now. Let me know if you can what wires and colors were connected to ... | |
| overheated wiring | 7/4/2006 |
| Q: I'm surprised someone hasn't come up with a surge protector that would act as a disconnect between ... A: Lightening is so high of a voltage, it can actually travel the outside insulation and enter the ... | |
| multiple 220V appliances on one circuit | 7/3/2006 |
| Q: My Heat/pump unit is currently being powered by a dedicated 30amp circuit. It's function in the ... A: In theory this will work, however according to code, the attached loads can not exceed the rating of ... | |
| Changing out a 220v outlet | 7/3/2006 |
| Q: I just bought a house and the Dryer outlet is original to the house. So the plug that my dryer has ... A: Check the breaker for the dryer. I have not heard of one rated less than 30 amps, so it should be ... | |
| no subject | 7/3/2006 |
| Q: We just purchased our first home in Chicago. It was built in 1956. According to our home inspection, ... A: I am not sure what he meant by the entire house. If the existing wire has never been upgraded, and ... | |
| Residential wiring | 7/3/2006 |
| Q: Old wiring going to kitchen light, red/black/white. Replaced with romex 14/2 red wire not ... A: The red appears to have been the bedroom and dining room. Also the switch leg was not wired ... | |
| overheated wiring | 7/3/2006 |
| Q: My sister-in-law just had a tree by her house struck with lightning. The tree fell against her ... A: The circuit this receptacle is on most likely has damage. I would have an electrician load test ... | |
| Install Electric Dryer Outlet | 7/2/2006 |
| Q: I currently live in a condo with a 110V outlet for the dryer. We purchased a new electric dryer ... A: By using metal conduit, it is self protecting, so no additional considerations are necessary. I ... | |
| Installed bathroom vent fan, but now it won't turn off at switch | 7/2/2006 |
| Q: We have just installed a bathroom vent fan/light, where there was previousely just an overhead light ... A: There are some wires crossed. If I am correct, there are two cables of wires coming into the light ... | |
| Wiring new bath light fixture | 7/2/2006 |
| Q: Just removed an old medicine cabinet with the built-in lights that includes a switch at the bottom. ... A: Both cables will have a black, white and a ground, or should have a ground. If the switch is being ... | |
| wiring of ceiling fans (remote controlled) | 7/2/2006 |
| Q: How would you be able to not use your remote but to re-wire the ceiling fan to be controlled by a ... A: Every manufacturer is a little different, and some can not be rewired for this. It requires ... | |
| UF Cable Wiring | 7/1/2006 |
| Q: J.Cook: I am installing some UF cable for a pool filter along with some GFI outlets. I am using 12/3 ... A: If you have not already installed the 12/3 line, don't. A GFI has to have a dedicated neutral and ... | |
| circut breaker | 6/30/2006 |
| Q: I am installing a sign at my business and when I turn the circut breaker on the sign will light up ... A: A dead short would immediately trip the breaker, so I would say this circuit is overloaded. A larger ... | |
| Electrical | 6/28/2006 |
| Q: I just installed a Dryer in a house that has knob and tube wiring. The wire for the 220 seems ... A: With this type wiring, there is usually no ground wire to attach to the dryer cabinet to prevent ... | |
| follow up to wiring switches w/ 3 devices question | 6/28/2006 |
| Q: Sorry about that; the new switch has 3 terminals on one side but only 1 common terminal on the ... A: That makes more sense. The existing wiring has a power leg for each switch. A meter needs to be used ... | |
| follow up to wiring switches w/ 3 devices question | 6/28/2006 |
| Q: You assumed correctly on the old switch - 3 separate switches controlling 3 devices. The new switch ... A: I was sent this as a follow up, but I did not answer the original question. I will be glad to ... | |
| 240V Water pump | 6/28/2006 |
| Q: Cook! I have a water pump I'd like to install as part of an underground sprinkler system. The pump ... A: If the pump is wired direct, or if a single receptacle is installed, it is considered a dedicated ... | |
| 120V outlet tapped to a 240V line | 6/28/2006 |
| Q: I'm attempting to install an outlet on the side of my range island and at first, the writing on the ... A: There is no way to tap a 240 line for a 120 volt circuit because there is no neutral wire, the bare ... | |
| #14 gauge wire for Central AC | 6/28/2006 |
| Q: I have just had Central AC installed in my Home. On viewing the sub contractors (a licensed ... A: NO! You can not install #14 on a 30 amp breaker. A 15 amp is the maximum size breaker for # 14 and ... | |
| 3 way switch wiring | 6/14/2006 |
| Q: Four days ago, I replaced sitches on either side of my kitchen which control 6 can lights. On one ... A: A three way combination is the most difficult to explain. The best resource available is a manual at ... | |
| outdoor light post and recepticle | 6/14/2006 |
| Q: I had an existing light standard in my front yard. I want to install a new one. The electrical leads ... A: When you remove the existing light with the circuit off of course, there will be a white neutral, a ... | |
| 3-way switch wiring | 6/14/2006 |
| Q: I am going bananas. I wanted to install two 3-way switches to control a ceiling light. After all the ... A: I agree these will drive you to drink. The best resource is a manual available at a home supply ... | |
| High Voltage in one outbuilding | 6/13/2006 |
| Q: I have two out buildings and a well that runs off of the same overhead line (an ariel line?) ... A: The overhead lines from the utility will have three power wires, two will have 120 volts each and ... | |
| circuit box connection | 6/13/2006 |
| Q: I installed two new 220 v electric heaters in my garage. My circuit box has a single 20 amp double ... A: First we need to determine if this breaker is large enough for both heaters. The formula to ... | |
| 2 Switches 4 Lights, Power to Switch | 6/13/2006 |
| Q: I'm wiring a group of recessed lights. The wiring is semi-exposed. I have access to run the ... A: It is so critical to get the connections correct for a three way switch combination to operate ... | |
| GCIF | 6/13/2006 |
| Q: What is GCIF? Can one Recommend me it paginates that I become trained the coneccion of GFCI? A: The best source will be at a home supply for a manual titled, " Basic Electricity ". It will have ... | |
| Pool Pump | 6/13/2006 |
| Q: I had a follow-up question to a previous question but the fellow is unavailable. I have included my ... A: I agree with the need for two separate circuits. One will be the 240 volt circuit with the double 15 ... | |
| Electrical Usage | 6/12/2006 |
| Q: Is there any kind of product that will measure your electical usage by breaker. That way you could ... A: Great question Mark. I know there are some devices that can be attached with a 24 hours recording, ... | |
| control panel | 6/12/2006 |
| Q: May you please explain about control panel wiring? At my worksite (factory), there is a control ... A: Without some type of diagram, with three phase power the possiblities of control wiring are ... | |
| Lighting:Changing 120 to 240 | 6/12/2006 |
| Q: I currently live in South Korea and have purchased an HPS (HID) outdoor 400W floodlight that is ... A: The 120 volt outlet in question will have to be the only thing on the circuit or other outlets will ... | |
| Designated Circuit for Pottery Kiln | 6/11/2006 |
| Q: I have wired a 50' 10/3 AWG copper wire circuit in the basement with a 30-amp double pole breaker ... A: You can never provide too much info. A #10 is good for 30 amps and this is plenty large enough for ... | |
| ground fault | 6/11/2006 |
| Q: i changed the GF recepticale in our bathroom and it kicks out immediately upon switching on the blow ... A: There are line and load terminal connections on the receptacle, also it does not wire the same as a ... | |
| stage power distrabution box | 6/10/2006 |
| Q: my name is Tom and I have a band that plays on regular basis, question, i have a great deal respect ... A: This should be able to be done, however you really need to get an electrician on site to review ... | |
| 250v household wiring | 6/10/2006 |
| Q: I just strip the the European standard cord and it has a Green, Blue and a Brown wire. Which does ... A: It depends on how the receptacle is wired, but G should be G on each end and be green, brown and ... | |
| 250v household wiring | 6/9/2006 |
| Q: I have just recently installed 250v sockets in my house and would like to use 220v-240v European two ... A: You will have to replace the cord end on the adapter strip. The G should be ground, X and Y should ... | |
| changing light fixtures | 6/9/2006 |
| Q: I am in the process of renovating a 40+ year old house. I am updating light fixtures and the new ... A: Light fixture boxes were common to be used as a junction box. The original fixture will have a ... | |
| Service | 6/8/2006 |
| Q: Conectiv in Southern New Jersey requires a meter socket with a fifth terminal. My question is in ... A: I am not familiar with the fifth terminal in the meter box, this must be a local utility item or ... | |
| Voltage drop when using table saw in detached garage | 6/8/2006 |
| Q: A long story here: When I use a new table saw in our detached garage, the saw starts up, then shuts ... A: Try replacing the receptacle above the box with the lines feeding the garage and see if that cures ... | |
| hot tub wiring | 6/7/2006 |
| Q: On the pump motor with leads 2,3,& 4 with ground lug. Which color wires go in 2,3,& 4 with premade ... A: Judy, every manufacturer has their own diagrams. The red and black cable wires will be the line ... | |
| outlets and breakers | 6/7/2006 |
| Q: my outlets do not work, i went to the panel and flipped every breaker 5 times and still no luck. i ... A: That is a definite possibility. Every device on this circuit needs to be checked beginning at the ... | |
| Bathroom Fan Wiring | 6/6/2006 |
| Q: I've been getting a bit of conflicting advice on this one, so I'm seeking a few other opinions. ... A: A three wire cable to the switches will be required. It will have a red, black, white, and ground. ... | |
| adding capacity to my electrical service | 6/6/2006 |
| Q: What size wire should I use to feed the sub panel? Would It be better to to locate the panel next to ... A: I would install two sub panels. One in a convenient space to feed the basement circuits, and come ... | |
| 220V to 110V, Follow up to question from 1/10/05 | 6/5/2006 |
| Q: I started out with the exact same question, but was foiled by the existing situation. I want to ... A: If the green wire is connected anywhere but the ground, someone did some dangerous wiring. This ... | |
| Upgrade Electrical Service | 6/5/2006 |
| Q: I recently talked to the power company about a service upgrade. They told me that they come and ... A: That is where utilities differ. I work for a municipality and they require a riser be installed onto ... | |
| adding capacity to my electrical service | 6/5/2006 |
| Q: Turns out i was wrong about the 100 amp service. It's actually a 200 amp. So, can I just add the sub ... A: You should be good to add the sub panel. I would use at least a 100 amp breaker to feed the sub ... | |
| Replacement switch for electrical baseboard heat | 6/4/2006 |
| Q: Can you recommend a replacement part for a Honeywell R879 baseboard heater relay switch? I searched ... A: This is a very sophisticated stat just to control a baseboard heater. I would purchase a line ... | |
| Sub panels | 6/3/2006 |
| Q: How many sub panels can new residential construction have? I want to come out of my main/meter panel ... A: There is no limit on the number of sub panels. I actually have a 200 amp main panel, it feeds ... | |
| main breaker(s) | 6/2/2006 |
| Q: again. The panel main says "60," but the other breakers have ratings, as well. Do I add all of the ... A: With a 60 amp main, you have a 60 amp service. Since the panel rating is 125 amps, if the conductors ... | |
| main breaker(s) | 6/2/2006 |
| Q: What I understand from your answer is that my split buss has a main breaker and may have other ... A: That is correct, you in fact have a 60 amp service which was common many moons ago. If you add too ... | |
| main breaker(s) | 6/1/2006 |
| Q: In determining the service capacity, I've run into a problem. My service panel rating is 125 ... A: The panel may have multiple breakers, but only one is the panel main. It will have the main feeder ... | |
| Troubleshooting Circuit | 6/1/2006 |
| Q: Mr Cook, Thanks for reviewing my question. Your help is appreciated. I live in a two stotry new ... A: I would have to say the wiring was hit since that is the only thing different from the day before ... | |
| Window AC Volts | 5/31/2006 |
| Q: I am looking at an AC on the internet, (GE Model # agm24dj), IT STATES THAT IT IS 208 / 230 with ... A: I know #12 is rated for 20 amps, but on a motor, heater, or compressor circuit, I always step up one ... | |
| adding capacity to my electrical service | 5/30/2006 |
| Q: It is a 100 amp service.Hello, I am building a pole barn and want to run electrical service out to ... A: With only a 100 amp service, it will have to be done sooner or later, and the service really needs ... | |
| Electrical service upgrade... | 5/30/2006 |
| Q: I'm Upgrading my main to a 150 Amp service. I just want to be sure that I have done my homework. I ... A: Everything is correct with one addition, you will also need a ground rod at the panel if there is ... | |
| air conditioning | 5/29/2006 |
| Q: What is the correct wiring for a 5-ton air conditioner? The 2 switches that are running the system ... A: The breakers are designed for the circuit, and the circuit is designed for the load, in this case ... | |
| backfeeding generator | 5/29/2006 |
| Q: In spite of similar questions, I am still unsure about wiring the output from a 5 Kw generator to a ... A: It can not be connected directly to ANY wiring. It must be connected to a transfer switch that is ... | |
| Adding subpanel to disconnect switch | 5/28/2006 |
| Q: When our home was being built 3 yrs ago, I had an electrician add a circuit to the rear of our house ... A: You can do it exactly as you are proposing, you will just be using a single pole 50 amp breaker to ... | |
| General wiring- switches | 5/27/2006 |
| Q: Mr. J.Cook, I am adding a large addition on to my home and have not done basic wiring before. I had ... A: I admire anyone desiring to learn some basics. The best thing you can do is go to a home improvement ... | |
| J, i live in a manufactured... | 5/24/2006 |
| Q: J, i live in a manufactured home in indiana. i have a outside 200 amp breaker disconnect out side ... A: The problem in making a splice this way is it would have to be on the load side of this disconnect, ... | |
| Residential Low Voltage system | 5/24/2006 |
| Q: I hope you can help us. We live in a 50 year old home in Colorado Springs and it seems to have a ... A: We only have one low voltage system such as this at a Fire Dept to turn on the lights when an alarm ... | |
| 220v subpanel in garage | 5/23/2006 |
| Q: I need to run a 220v Line to my garage, which is approx. 80 ft from the main house box with no easy ... A: I know this sounds good, and if you were only operating lights or a few receptacles, it would most ... | |
| Outlets stopped working | 5/23/2006 |
| Q: I own and live in a 30 year old single story home. Yesterday, several outlets in my kitchen stopped ... A: Check to be sure if there are any GFI receptacles on these circuits that one has not tripped. If ... | |
| AMP's and Gage wire | 5/23/2006 |
| Q: I'm planning to run a line to operate three 30 amp window mount air conditioners. What AMP size ... A: What voltage will these be operating on. It will be more cost efficient to add three separate lines ... | |
| Electric cooktop | 5/22/2006 |
| Q: If I hook up the white and ground greeb from the appliance to the bare ground of the wiring in the ... A: That is the reason for a ground. If there is a short with a standard ground, yes the ground can ... | |
| 3 way switch | 5/22/2006 |
| Q: I have just installed a 3 way switch in my stairwell. In checking it with a non contact current ... A: I am a little confused on the second switch. It sounds like you are saying from the common terminal ... | |
| 4 plug for stove/recepticle into 3 wire house | 5/20/2006 |
| Q: I have a range with 4 wires - black,white,red and ground. I need to hook up with recepticle into my ... A: You will either need a four wire cord and replace the receptacle, or install a three wire cord to ... | |
| 110 Dedicated Line for Hot Tub | 5/18/2006 |
| Q: We have 2 GFCI outlets (4 plug ins) for our patio and are looking at 2 spas that can run on a ... A: A 110 20 amp lines sounds very low for any unit that has a heater. Make sure this is the only ... | |
| fan | 5/18/2006 |
| Q: Followup To Question - hey, iam putting in a ceiling fan in a room, with acces from above, i was ... A: If there is enough room in the box to make a splice, you can remove all the wires on any receptacle, ... | |
| fan | 5/18/2006 |
| Q: hey, iam putting in a ceiling fan in a room, with acces from above, i was planing on screwing a ... A: It is a junction box that will have imprinted on the box itself stating it it approved for a ceiling ... | |
| Main panel input | 5/17/2006 |
| Q: I am building a house back from the 200 from the street. The most economical connection is to have ... A: My supplier said a fused disconnect with double lugs on the load side is available, but is usually a ... | |
| Circuit breaker | 5/17/2006 |
| Q: I'm having a problem with power to an electric dryer. It works for a week, sometimes two, then ... A: Easily. If the failed power conductor is making contact with the ground conductor of the circuit and ... | |
| GFCI | 5/17/2006 |
| Q: have a gfci outlet and a gfci circuit breaker (20 amp) on the same circuit with 12/2. Both were ... A: Part of the problem may be the GFI's are bucking each other. You do not put two on the same circuit. ... | |
| Circuit breaker | 5/17/2006 |
| Q: I'm having a problem with power to an electric dryer. It works for a week, sometimes two, then ... A: The only component left is the actual wiring to the dryer. Especially since it happens more often in ... | |
| Sub Panel Load and Heater Circuit | 5/16/2006 |
| Q: I have a new home in New Jersey with 200Amp Service in attached garage. Builder installed 240Volt ... A: You can replace the 50 amp with as high as a 65 amp breaker as #6 copper is rated for 65 amps. You ... | |
| Connecting 14-3 and 14-2 wiring | 5/15/2006 |
| Q: I am trying to connect three separate wire together in a junction box. I have the main power feed ... A: Yes. Connect the neutrals and grounds as before. The changes will be to keep the black of the 3 ... | |
| Connecting 14-3 and 14-2 wiring | 5/15/2006 |
| Q: I am trying to connect three separate wire together in a junction box. I have the main power feed ... A: First, I would advise against having this junction box in an area that is not accessible. It is ... | |
| Connection for 220v well pump on main breaker panel | 5/14/2006 |
| Q: This past Saturday we had our electric panel up graded from a 100amp Push-O-Matic main panel to a ... A: It is obvious that whoever told you about the right and left breakers is not an electician. From top ... | |
| Wiring a swamp cooler motor | 5/14/2006 |
| Q: I was given a motor for my swamp cooler but, the colored wires do not match the colors on the ... A: Unfortunately the motor manufacturers do not follow a standard of wire colors. This could be a three ... | |
| outlets | 5/14/2006 |
| Q: How many receptacles can run on a 20 amp breaker and can u run light switches also? A: There is no definitive number that can be on one circuit. The code only states the attached loads ... | |
| Where do I start to find this problem? | 5/14/2006 |
| Q: I recently purchase a home built in 1993 in MD. When the home inspector came through, he noted that ... A: A GFI has to be powered for the test button to work. If powered, it still does not trip, it is ... | |
| 3 phase | 5/13/2006 |
| Q: You helped me before! I have a little food service store. My soft serve ice cream machines are 3 ... A: It sounds like that would be the case, however if there is not a wiring diagram, one needs to be ... | |
| photo cell switch for outside lights | 5/13/2006 |
| Q: I had a new garage built a couple of years ago with the electrician installing a photocell for 4 ... A: It sounds as though the cell is " seeing " the light from the fixture. Try rotating the cell another ... | |
| Wiring in a second door chime downstairs | 5/11/2006 |
| Q: Mr Cook; In 2004 you answered a person who had the same delima that I have. I have a rec room ... A: This low voltage setup is wired the same as a high voltage circuit. A switch is always in the " Hot ... | |
| remote ballast | 5/11/2006 |
| Q: I have 6 -250W metal halide fixture in 1 lighting circuit. They are mounted very high above finished ... A: If there is such an animal as a ballast large enough for 6 250w, there is no reason it can not be ... | |
| 3 way switches with two recessed lights? | 5/9/2006 |
| Q: Question Hi and thanks in advance for your time.new construction, hallway with switch at each end ... A: As you have found, it takes a three conductor plus ground cable to connect a three way switch. I am ... | |
| amp limit | 5/9/2006 |
| Q: i had a pool filter pump that was 15 amps and 1.5 hrspwr. the new pump is 12 apms and every other ... A: You are saying a basic three prong plug. Are you speaking of a standard 120 volt plug with a ground? ... | |
| Flickering Lamps | 5/8/2006 |
| Q: I live in a rented apartment in an old building. My table lamps flicker--not all the time, though. ... A: It is not necessarily anything in your apartment. It sounds as though the incoming building service ... | |
| Current in neutral wire | 5/8/2006 |
| Q: I am in a sticky situation. Yesterday I went to flip my ceiling fan's light on (it is a 3 way ... A: I use one of these devices myself, so I am not making fun of you as I do use one, but many call this ... | |
| current changes | 5/8/2006 |
| Q: I hooked a small refrigerator up the other day it runs around 2 amps. When it kicks on I can see a ... A: If you watch when the refrigerator first starts, it will pull 10 amps or more, then drop back to the ... | |
| 120/240 circuit | 5/7/2006 |
| Q: I want to move my electric stove but I need to run a new 120/240 line. The existing three wire ... A: Even with the main turned off, the power will still be on to the main breaker and is a potential ... | |
| Romex size for distance | 5/6/2006 |
| Q: I am in the process of putting one 8' flourescent light fixture and two receptacles in a detached ... A: There is a detailed calculation to determine conductor derating based on distance, a rule of thumb I ... | |
| GFCI outlets | 5/6/2006 |
| Q: I have two GFCI outlets, 1 attached to the deck, another down by our pool. I replaced the deck GFCI ... A: If they are both on the same circuit they will fight each other. Only one GFI device can be on a ... | |
| heat pump wiring | 5/3/2006 |
| Q: We bought a heat pump from weather king changing from a bryant. we do not match on the wire colors ... A: You will have to see what terminals the wires are connected to on the thermostat. The orange wire is ... | |
| 220 V 3 & 4 Wire systems | 5/3/2006 |
| Q: I have a machine that reqquires 220 V to run in the home. I have a 220 V Recepticle for the dryer ... A: Double check to be sure this is a 240 volt device, the machine colors indicate it is a 120 volt ... | |
| 230V electrical Outlet | 5/2/2006 |
| Q: Cook, I just bought a 230v air compressor. I have only one 230 volt in my studio where my MIG ... A: Unless the compressor fails, you will not experience any problems. The only possible problem would ... | |
| GFCI outlet 20 amp | 5/2/2006 |
| Q: I am running 12/2 from 20 amp breaker to gfci outlet. I see the box of the outlet says 15amp and so ... A: I know it does not sound logical, at least to me, but according to code, yes this 15 amp device can ... | |
| 220v pool pump timer | 5/1/2006 |
| Q: I have begun installation of a 220v timer for a pool pump and have run into a roadblock. I ... A: You may be making a very common error. You can not check from the terminals to ground because the ... | |
| kenmore range | 4/29/2006 |
| Q: i just purchased a kenmore range and it didnt come with a manual and we bought a 3 prong plug and ... A: You may have to see which wires are connected to these post's. The two large wires connected to ... | |
| My home has 9 Kidde smoke... | 4/29/2006 |
| Q: My home has 9 Kidde smoke detectors, all model 1276's. 6 of these are part of the original ... A: The red wire on the other devices is just the power source and red because there are two circuits in ... | |
| circuit brakers / wiring trouble shooting | 4/29/2006 |
| Q: After I had an addition put on my home I found that I needed to turn off two circuit brakers to stop ... A: It is possible the GFI is defective, but more likely there are some crossed wires somewhere and the ... | |
| extension cords | 4/26/2006 |
| Q: I need help please. I have two questions, for which I've been on the net for over an hour now and ... A: A #14 is a heavier gauge than 16 or 18, and the code rates a #14 at a maximum of 15 amps load. With ... | |
| Too much on one circuit | 4/24/2006 |
| Q: This may be something you won't be able to answer without actually looking at the home, but here ... A: Breaking down the circuits should not be a major problem. There have to be junction boxes that are ... | |
| Weird Electrical Issue | 4/23/2006 |
| Q: I have a strange issue that I think I have figured out, but I want to run it by you and see what you ... A: George, I think that is very possible. I have also found that as in this case, some bulbs are much ... | |
| FUSE BOX | 4/22/2006 |
| Q: My mother has a fuse box, and I'm more familiar with a circuit breaker box such as we have. ... A: This as you say is a very old device. Pull on the handle and it will totally remove itself from the ... | |
| 220vac wiring | 4/21/2006 |
| Q: I need to run wiring from my house to my garage to run a 220vac air compressor. Where do i need to ... A: Brock, the best resource and the first one I purchased 20+ years ago is BASIC ELECTRICITY. It can be ... | |
| Outdoor Receptacles | 4/20/2006 |
| Q: I plan on running a new circuit from breaker box to feed 4 outdoor gfci's. Questions are 1. At the ... A: 1. The code says the wire must be protected, if you are using UF cable, no LB is required if there ... | |
| motor efficiency | 4/18/2006 |
| Q: I will be purchasing a commercial dishwasher for the place I work at, and have the option of ... A: You really will not be saving any energy, it will draw less amps on three phase due to three power ... | |
| Providing electricity to a Master bedroom With a 20 AMP GFCI Circuit | 4/18/2006 |
| Q: I added a a master bedroom/bath and my contractor put in a 20 AMP GFCI circuit to provide power to ... A: First, if I am reading this correctly, the red and black are connected to the same breaker? If so, ... | |
| Wiring Sub-panel | 4/18/2006 |
| Q: I'm finishing my basement and need to add a few new circuits. I have a 60 amp feed for my hot tub ... A: You can do that Steve, but let me give you some problems you may encounter and another option. The ... | |
| Breaker Problem | 4/17/2006 |
| Q: This morning when I turned on my bathroom lights, they began to flicker and dim. Then, they started ... A: Check the bathroom receptacle. It should be a GFI with a test button and it may be partially ... | |
| A/C outlet | 4/16/2006 |
| Q: I have moved into a new apt. The wall A/C unit is 8000btu and 8.5 amperes. It plugs in to a ... A: Chances are somewhat slim, but yes you could damage the electronic devices on this same circuit. The ... | |
| Installing a electrical socket. | 4/11/2006 |
| Q: In my kitchen I have 2 different sockets that do not work. They are not on the same wall and they ... A: You can extend the wire with a wire nut. A tester can give a false reading if there are two circuits ... | |
| new light fixture | 4/10/2006 |
| Q: I live in an old (1919) NYC apartment buildng. Wiring is original. I have replaced many of the old ... A: This is cya for the manufacturer, however anytime wiring this old is disturbed, there is a very real ... | |
| socket behind built in cupboard | 4/9/2006 |
| Q: ..I have just put in a large cupboard in my sons room.There is a electric wall socket behind the ... A: Great question Philip. You can not use a drop cord of any configuration for permanent wiring, and ... | |
| 3 phase generator | 4/7/2006 |
| Q: I can obtain ( for very low cost) a brand new propane fired backup commercial Generac 20KV generator ... A: Some Generac units can be reconfigured for single phase. You can take the model and serial numbers ... | |
| hot ground | 4/7/2006 |
| Q: I have 120 volt reading between hot and neutral,and 120 volts between neutral and ground. the ... A: The hot wire is making contact on a device or in one of the junction boxes the device is installed ... | |
| Garage subpanel feed w/ water line | 4/4/2006 |
| Q: I am going to run #2 aluminum wire in 2" pvc in a trench to my new garage. Can I also run a 1" ... A: No problem Ron. This is totally acceptable. Just one heads up, if possible, I would put the water ... | |
| Electrical wiring | 4/4/2006 |
| Q: Before the rewire the bathroom switch operated two ceiling lights. I removed one ceiling light and ... A: Sorry for the delay Tim, I have been swamped here. The first thing that must be identified is the ... | |
| Electrical wiring | 4/1/2006 |
| Q: Before the rewire the bathroom switch operated two ceiling lights. I removed one ceiling light and ... A: Sorry for the delay Tim, I have not been able to access the site. I need for you to turn off the ... | |
| 3 wire call station | 3/30/2006 |
| Q: button 1 will buzz buzzer 2, button 2 will buzz buzzer 1 A: Is this a remote control system? If may be the switches are not set correctly whether a hard wired ... | |
| Outdoor recepticals | 3/30/2006 |
| Q: I am installing two recepticles under my deck, I am extending a line from a ground fault recepticle. ... A: If you turn the power off to the GFI you are connecting to and pull it out of its box, you will see ... | |
| AC units with 120 wiring | 3/29/2006 |
| Q: I live in a 2-level apartment in Brooklyn, and recently learned that our unit has 120 wiring. We ... A: I understand fully. I had the same situation in an apartment I had. It totally depends on the number ... | |
| Dimming lights | 3/28/2006 |
| Q: My lights recently started flickering this happens a few times a day and can affect any light in the ... A: The most common cause is a loose wire. Check all the connections again on the devices that were ... | |
| open neutral | 3/28/2006 |
| Q: Have rented a seasonal cabin only to discover surges an sags throughout the place. There are ... A: The breakers are on the hot leg of the circuit, and an open neutral will not always cause a breaker ... | |
| GFCI outlet | 3/27/2006 |
| Q: I have a GFCI outlet in the 2nd floor bathroom that controls outlets in the master bath, 1/2 bath on ... A: Apparently the GFI's are wired for individual protection. If it had been wired as a through device, ... | |
| 110 subpanel from 220 circuit | 3/27/2006 |
| Q: I just moved into a new house (new construction). In the basement, I have a "server room", crammed ... A: this would work, however since you have to purchase the two breakers anyway, why not install them in ... | |
| GFCI outlet | 3/27/2006 |
| Q: I have a GFCI outlet in the 2nd floor bathroom that controls outlets in the master bath, 1/2 bath on ... A: You are working with several circuits. There can be only one GFI device on a circuit or they will ... | |
| receptacles | 3/25/2006 |
| Q: In a 20 amp circuit do the receptacles need to be rated at 20 amps? Most receptacles you buy read ... A: Yes. All devices on a 20 amp circuit must be rated for 20 amps. I never use #14 wire or run any 15 ... | |
| Wiring Lights in an unfinished basement | 3/25/2006 |
| Q: I would like to add a switch in my basement. 5 lights are already in. I want to put a switch ... A: You would need an additional wire from light one to light 3 to control them totally separate. You ... | |
| Electrics | 3/25/2006 |
| Q: I have 2 ceiling lights in the same room. The first one I replaced had 3 wires to connect L, N & ... A: You actually have six L wires and two N wires and the 3 grounds. The two wires from the switch are ... | |
| Basic electrical terms | 3/24/2006 |
| Q: What is the meaning of KWhr? How does energy saving bulb work? What is the different between energy ... A: Electrical energy is sold by the number of watts used. As you can imagine, a 100 watt bulb burning ... | |
| Timer Switch for Lighting | 3/23/2006 |
| Q: I can do a little wiring but this is a little confusing. I just purchased a Leviton Decora ... A: That sounds better. If I am correct in this, the switch you are replacing has three wires connected ... | |
| Timer Switch for Lighting | 3/23/2006 |
| Q: I can do a little wiring but this is a little confusing. I just purchased a Leviton Decora ... A: I am confused also Carl. What was the purpose of this box? We will need an incoming circuit for the ... | |
| can we get too much current coming in to the house? | 3/21/2006 |
| Q: I live in s double wide moble home and our electric bill has always been nearly 300.00 a month,even ... A: It requires a good volt meter. You can check the actual voltage at a receptacle and be sure it is ... | |
| Electrical Wiring | 3/19/2006 |
| Q: I put in a drop ceiling and need to re-connect my basement lights. I am trying to re-connect five ... A: Open the switch and see if the black or red wire is connected to the switch on the 14-3 wire. If the ... | |
| power drop within circuit | 3/18/2006 |
| Q: I've got a light in my master bedroom that seems to have failed some how. At first i thought it was ... A: Jeff, there is either a loose connection somewhere on a device, or it is possible a GFI has tripped. ... | |
| Ceiling fan trouble | 3/17/2006 |
| Q: I have a ceiling fan (which includes light) that stopped working during a storm. There was a loud ... A: The fan motor is the most likely the problem. However, to be sure, you can pull the fan down enough ... | |
| Sub Panels | 3/16/2006 |
| Q: What lugs do you attach a sub panel to from mains panel Answer - Instead of having a main breaker ... A: It is not in all panels. Either the panel is a main breaker or main lug, one or the other. The ... | |
| Sub Panels | 3/16/2006 |
| Q: What lugs do you attach a sub panel to from mains panel A: Instead of having a main breaker that the feed wires would attach to, there will be two large lugs ... | |
| little fuse | 3/14/2006 |
| Q: What's the story on split fuse, two pole fuse the fuse that replaces the one inch fuse with two ... A: In the industry, these are called mini's for obvious reasons. I know the manufacturers would ... | |
| condensation in breaker box | 3/12/2006 |
| Q: I have been having problems with moisture in my breaker box during the winter. The meter box is ... A: I have to admit Chris, I have never heard of this. There are two possibilities. Either the ... | |
| hot/neutral reversed | 3/9/2006 |
| Q: When switching out a sub panel for my father n law, I was having problems with a breaker that kept ... A: Reverse polarity can be very dangerous in several circumstances and in a number of devices. Consider ... | |
| outdoor wiring upgrade ? | 3/9/2006 |
| Q: But I do have one more question. I have decided to run two seperate 12/2 UF cables to the pool, ... A: Just for ease of a pull and the fact that 3/4 is not much more than 1/2, I would use 3/4 PVC. It ... | |
| outdoor wiring upgrade ? | 3/9/2006 |
| Q: First I want to say thanks you in advance for your time and professionalism. I do greatly appreciate ... A: Glad to help any time Woody. If the pump pulled more than 16 amps, I may consider a 10/2 line, but ... | |
| wiring | 3/8/2006 |
| Q: I am in the future going to wire a residential home. My question is can I run a common neutral for ... A: In residential wiring, one neutral can service two circuits. The only thing to be aware of is that a ... | |
| Subpanel | 3/4/2006 |
| Q: I own both sides of a double home. Each side is fed with a Square D 200 amp panel. We are opening up ... A: Yes you can use the existing panel for a sub, and for simplicity, that is what I would recommend. ... | |
| GFI outlet problem | 3/3/2006 |
| Q: I recently tried changing an outlet in my laundry room, from a standard outlet to GFI. The problem ... A: The heating system should be a 240 volt circuit, and if they used one leg of the 240 volts for the ... | |
| electric shower | 3/1/2006 |
| Q: watts it is.its connected to a 30 amp cable and the dia. cable use is about 4mm[3/16th].Could you ... A: Is it on a double or single pole breaker, 120 or 240 volts. If it is a double breaker, it is 240 ... | |
| Adding a light to ceiling fan | 2/28/2006 |
| Q: I am trying to add a light to a ceiling fan(Hunter) that already has a remote control(Harbor ... A: There will be a separate wire for the light. On most fan/light combo's, there is a black wire for ... | |
| 220v to110v | 2/27/2006 |
| Q: Hey, thanks for the info !!! I thought that is what I had to do. I will have to buy a 3rd circuit ... A: There are no provisions for how many receptacles that can be installed on any circuit, the attached ... | |
| 3phase vs sisngle phase in residential | 2/27/2006 |
| Q: I am building a house and have the choice of single phase or three phase electric service. The HVAC ... A: To explain each, a single phase service will have two hot legs, each leg is 120 volts. On a three ... | |
| GFCI | 2/27/2006 |
| Q: I need GFCI outlets in my kitchen. Is it as simple as placing one in there or does it require the ... A: The wiring will not have to change. The major difference is in the attachment points. You will have ... | |
| 4 prong dryer conversion | 2/27/2006 |
| Q: -Thank you very much for the answer. You said "There will be a white and a green ground on the ... A: I was thinking about the dryer having a new four prong cord, I apologize. Use the old cord and ... | |
| 220v to110v | 2/25/2006 |
| Q: I have a 220v elecrtric dryer outlet that is not being used (my dryer is natural gas). I want to tap ... A: Art, you cannot use a bare wire for a neutral. You would have to pull in a new line to be legal for ... | |
| 4 prong dryer conversion | 2/25/2006 |
| Q: I have just purchased a new dryer (4 prong 30 amp) with all the electronic bells and whistles to ... A: The Home Depot guy works there because he is not an electrician. It will not affect the dryer ... | |
| Light switch wiring | 2/25/2006 |
| Q: I have a hall light that is controlled by two different switches. One of the switches will operate ... A: This is a three way switch circuit, and either the wiring is installed incorrectly on one of the ... | |
| Ceiling Fan Wiring | 2/24/2006 |
| Q: I had a ceiling fan that was controlled by 2 wall switches - one turned the light on/off and the ... A: Whatever the original white fan wire was connected to is the circuit neutral wire. This will be a ... | |
| Breaker/Wire Failure | 2/23/2006 |
| Q: Yesterday I was installing some motion detector lights on a building I own and I bridged a wire and ... A: The short may have damaged the bulb on the halogen, or the bulb or ballast in the sodiums, or it ... | |
| electrical | 2/22/2006 |
| Q: When does the neutral and ground buss bars need to be connected, and when not? When does the ... A: They are bonded together at the main panel. The incoming service only has a neutral feed, this ... | |
| a/c wiring | 2/22/2006 |
| Q: J, The info label on the unit says minimum circuit ampacity: 22.8 and maximum overcurrent ... A: As stated, #10 wire is good for 30 amps, but I have encountered enough wire damage with overheated ... | |
| a/c wiring | 2/22/2006 |
| Q: J, I see you say "low voltage wiring" in your bio but maybe you know this. I'm adding central a/c to ... A: Low voltage wiring is actually a relative term, to a lineman, it is less than 600 volts, in my case ... | |
| Hi j, Thanks for taking... | 2/21/2006 |
| Q: Here goes. How much is an acceptable range I should expect to pay for a professional electrian to ... A: I work for a municipality and have never done contract work, so I am out of touch on estimating ... | |
| three way wiring | 2/21/2006 |
| Q: We have a small bathroom with a 3 way switch (I guess because it has a useless entry to the master ... A: I am not sure what you are testing with, but if all original wires are still intact, I see nothing ... | |
| Grounding a non grounded outlet | 2/20/2006 |
| Q: The house I am renting doesn't have grounded outlets on the exterior walls. That is where I want to ... A: The legal way this can be done without replacing the wiring to add a ground, is to replace the ... | |
| Trouble using generator and furnace | 2/19/2006 |
| Q: We have a Heil 90% eff. FURNACE. A 1500 watt generator and a Gentran (sub panel) for converting to ... A: To determine the amp maximum of a generator or any device in watts, you divide watts by volts. 1500 ... | |
| Electric service to work shop | 2/18/2006 |
| Q: I have another question that I forgot to ask in the first. Since my main panel is at the front ... A: If you are using direct burial wire, it can still be ran through the attic, but it will have to be ... | |
| dear j cook,i have a lincon... | 2/17/2006 |
| Q: i have a lincon welder generator,with two 110 15a outlets can i make a wire from 2 extensioncords to ... A: It would depend on whether the two receptaces are on different legs or the same leg. If they are on ... | |
| Electric service to work shop | 2/17/2006 |
| Q: My question is this. I have built a work shop behind my home and now I would like to run a 90 amp ... A: #2 copper is rated for 115 volts, but on this long of a run, I would use #1 which is rated for 130 ... | |
| Ceiling fixture | 2/15/2006 |
| Q: I don't see how I can do this since there is only one black wire that comes from(or to) the switch ... A: I misunderstood the other wires. The black going to the switch must remain hot and not be connected ... | |
| Ceiling fixture | 2/14/2006 |
| Q: Hope your crew gets straightened out. I checked and the black wire is the hot one as I thought. ... A: That should make it easy. The red wire will be the wire going from fixture to fixture to operate the ... | |
| Feeding Service to a Remote Building | 2/13/2006 |
| Q: I have a barn that is detached from my house. There is no metallic connection between my barn and ... A: Excellent question Jim. The old code said you could either run a fourth wire, or a separate ground ... | |
| Recently i flipped the light... | 2/11/2006 |
| Q: Recently i flipped the light switch for the yard lights. In doing so it seemed to knock out allot of ... A: You have some damaged wire somewhere. A bulb, motor, coil or anything with continuity will back feed ... | |
| New Home Power Panel | 2/11/2006 |
| Q: We are having a new home built in SC. The original bid called for a 200 amp power panel for the ... A: Personally it sounds cheap. You would not believe the difference in price of just a 400 amp breaker ... | |
| Recessed Lighting | 2/8/2006 |
| Q: J: I have read a bunch of your other responses and they have been great! I am pretty handy around ... A: No problem Rob. Make sure the circuit is off and remove the existing fixture. If there are more than ... | |
| Replacing breaker panel | 2/8/2006 |
| Q: I have recently began renovating an old barn. Presently, there is power in the barn but it is coming ... A: If the meter is six feet or less from the panel, no disconnect is required. Since it is directly ... | |