Electrical Wiring in the Home - Home Improvement/Repair - Home/Garden

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About Bob Sponaugle
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
Just about any home wiring question. (not appliance repair) I have done all kinds of home wiring for myself, including adding a new breaker box, etc. Please, questions from North America only. Please be specific with details.

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Questions Answered By Expert Bob Sponaugle
In Category Electrical Wiring in the Home

Subject	Date Asked

Converting 240 wire to TWO 120 plugs.	11/22/2009
Q: I have removed an electric range and the 240 in the wall is no longer needed. Instead of leaving a ... A: If the wire is very thick, it will be hard to connect it to the smaller breakers (You should use a ...
Water heater keeps tripping.	11/21/2009
Q: I recently noticed that the breaker on my electric water heater's top thermostat keeps tripping. I ... A: The main parts are two thermostats and two elements, so if you replace everything, all that is left ...
Circuit Breker keeps tripping	11/21/2009
Q: Bob, my dryer blows after is has been running for about 10 minutes. I ran it today I let it blow. ... A: You may need to replace both the dryer cord and the wall outlet for the dryer. Sometimes it does ...
Switched row of lights	11/21/2009
Q: I am wiring my shop. No sheetrock so studs/ceiling joists are exposed. The breaker box is at ... A: The only way you can connect the switch at the end of the circuit is to use 3 conductor (plus ...
Wiring 3-wire countdown timer (no neutral) to bathroom exhaust fan works, but is there a risk?	11/21/2009
Q: I bought 2 Leviton countdown timer, one is 3-wire (no neutral) type, another one is 4-wire (with ... A: You don't have a neutral, so you can't use a timer that requires one without running another wire to ...
Wiring of GE Cook Top Range	11/21/2009
Q: I have a GE Cook Top Range Model#JP389WOU1WW and am trying to wire it to the service wire. The Cook ... A: Black and red are both hot, so red and blacks can connect together (As well as the black and black). ...
Adding recessed lighting to my kitchen	11/21/2009
Q: I had a question about daisy-chaining recessed lighting from one existing light fixture in my ... A: You probably won't overload the circuit. If it is a 15 amp circuit, you can put a maximum of 1800 ...
Power in Backyard Shed Quit Working	11/20/2009
Q: There is an outlet by the door, and a switch plate up above. I am wanting to put a couple of heat ... A: You should check each end of the wire going to the shed. If you have power at the house end, but not ...
electric wall oven installation	11/20/2009
Q: we are having to replace a single, electric wall oven. the wires coming out of the wall are ... A: Copper wires are safer. However, aluminum was more common in large wires. Make sure, if you use ...
gfi breaker	11/20/2009
Q: we got a new coffee pot,large 40 cup,and it started blowing the gfi breaker that one side of the ... A: The pot may be defective and have a ground fault. Is there anything else on the circuit? The ...
Light burns out after you turn switch on	11/20/2009
Q: When I turn on one of the light switches, it immediatly blows light bulb. Any thoughts? A: If it is an incandescent bulb, then only overvoltage, heat or vibration will cause a bulb to burn ...
Partial electrical outage	11/20/2009
Q: Came home to 5 ceiling fixtures, one wall plug, and the forced air furnace being out. They may all ... A: Is the 30 amp breaker for a sub panel? These items should not be directly on a 30 amp circuit. If ...
GFCI Outlet problem	11/19/2009
Q: My question is: I have a GFCI outlet in my bathroom which we have an exhaust fan and two lights that ... A: I have never heard of a GFCI making a clicking sound. You can start by replacing it. If that does ...
Hot Ground - Fixture Screw Shock	11/19/2009
Q: I saw a response on 4/6/2009 about a hot ground reverse. Your answer is that this would cause a ... A: Things can get pretty complicated. To get the exact problem, a very experienced electrician with ...
smoke det	11/19/2009
Q: If you have smoke detectors ran with 14/2 with ground or 12/2 with ground, couldn't you use the ... A: It is dangerous to use the ground as a neutral. There is current in a neutral wire, there should ...
Ceiling fan	11/18/2009
Q: I am trying to move a ceiling fan to the center of the room and I'm not sure how to do that, also ... A: I am not exactly sure what you mean by the fan connected to the light. Any lights are usually part ...
electric wire	11/18/2009
Q: I have 200 feet of 14/2 w/grd UF wire. Can I use it to install 6 recessed lights and a GFCI outlet ... A: It depends on what you use the outlet for and how many watts the lights are. The absolute max on 15 ...
Repairing cut Romex wire	11/18/2009
Q: Yesterday, I was digging a trench along side of my house so I could install some pvc pipe, and I ... A: You should get a UF splice kit. They are sold in most home centers. It should be where the wire ...
blowing fuses in a 2 bed mobile home	11/18/2009
Q: I keep blowing the fuse in the mobile I live in when I turn on the microwave. What goes off is the ... A: If the microwave is in the kitchen or dining room, there has to be 2 20 amp circuits in those rooms, ...
Bathroom Fixture	11/18/2009
Q: I just took down a light fixture in my bathroom that was functioning normally. When I put up the ... A: This sounds very strange. The GFCI should not connect to any light fixtures. It's OK if it does, ...
voltage surges/ uneven voltage in breaker panel	11/18/2009
Q: In late summer we had what seemed like a very close lightening strike, followed by some power ... A: To me, the power company's answer is totally unacceptable. I would call them again. Yes, it is ...
dryer wire	11/17/2009
Q: I want to replace the wire to my dryer. It has a 3-wire electrical cable (black/red/white wires) ... A: The code changed in the 1990's, and you are now required to have a ground wire. At the dryer end, ...
ceiling light wiring	11/17/2009
Q: have just bought a ceiling light, has a black and a white wire coming from it. the ceiling has a ... A: It sounds like there is another problem there. If you have 2 wires on the fixture and 2 in the box, ...
110v to 220v	11/17/2009
Q: I'm shopping around for an air compressor for my garage. All the ones that do what i need are 220v. ... A: You really can't change a 110 volt outlet into 220. You would have to run a new circuit from your ...
voltage surges/ uneven voltage in breaker panel	11/17/2009
Q: In late summer we had what seemed like a very close lightening strike, followed by some power ... A: It sounds like the neutral is not making contact, and the two hot phases are in series with each ...
Ceiling fan shorted-out	11/17/2009
Q: I have a CasaBlanca Inteli-Touch light/fan. Stupidly, I tried to unscrew a bulb while it was on and ... A: This should be fixed ASAP, because you probably have a bare wire somewhere, and it can short out ...
part of wire burnt	11/16/2009
Q: I know this is going to sound stupid but please bear with me. I was trying to install shelving on ... A: I would turn off the breaker to that circuit until you fix it. All connections have to be made in a ...
Ceiling fan shorted-out	11/16/2009
Q: I have a CasaBlanca Inteli-Touch light/fan. Stupidly, I tried to unscrew a bulb while it was on and ... A: A wire probably did burn somewhere. You should get a tester and see where you have power, and where ...
replacing bath light, extra red wire	11/16/2009
Q: I am replacing an old bathroom fluorescent light fixture that has an integral electric outlet with a ... A: What was connected to the old red wire? If the old black fixture wire was connected to it, then the ...
Electrical wiring	11/16/2009
Q: I'm having an irrigation well drilled on my property and need to provide a 220 receptacle on the ... A: With all 220 volt outlets, the outlets have to match what you are plugging in. That is determined ...
Sensor Light	11/15/2009
Q: hope you can help me out since Benny is On Holidays, please see comments below Thanks Bob Your ... A: It looks like the instructions he gave you was to purposely not have the switch do anything. If you ...
Leviton oven power cord	11/15/2009
Q: my first time here.Having trouble figuring out the positve and negative connectons on the power cord ... A: What is the voltage and amperage of the oven? If it is a regular oven, and not a microwave, it will ...
Light Bulbs Burn Out	11/15/2009
Q: I have 4 pot lights in my kitchen. Two them burn out more frequently then the other two. I also ... A: You should have the voltage checked. The circuit could be accidently wired for 220, or the power ...
breaker trips	11/15/2009
Q: when i plug my new electric heater in an run things in the bath room it trips a breaker do i need ... A: If you change the breaker without changing the wire, you will cause a fire, so do not do that. ...
Breaker Panel	11/15/2009
Q: I have a breaker panel that I believe to be 100 amps. The main breaker is a double and says 100 on ... A: You have 100 amp service. Changing the panel is usually not a homeowner job. The power company and ...
low voltage on 240V outlet	11/14/2009
Q: I've got a 240V dryer outlet. Using a digital multimeter, I get 124V between either L1 or L2 and ... A: This is very strange. It indicates that all the wires are making contact. I would try the panel. ...
home wiring	11/14/2009
Q: I have installed low wattage ceiling lights and want to power them from an existing single pole ... A: You should be able to get power from the red and white wires (the red wire should be switched, the ...
flouorescent lights	11/14/2009
Q: My husband hung two 4 ft.2-light Shop lights to brighten our garage. They have magnetic ... A: Yes, that is warm enough not to affect them. You can use a circuit analyzer to check the grounds. ...
lights dim slowly and go out or don't come on in kitchen	11/14/2009
Q: Bob, We started experiencing a weird phenomena in our kitchen recently. A few days ago, my wife ... A: It sounds like one of the switches is defective. Strangely enough, it may not be the one your wife ...
Home wiring	11/14/2009
Q: Can you splice from a dual ganged 40 amp breaker for the stove 240 v AC 8 awg stranded into existing ... A: Something that thick would need a split bolt connector and tape. The code has changed in the ...
closet light 34 watt 48inch problem	11/13/2009
Q: My lights went out in my walk in closet about 2 weeks ago. I went to the store and tried replacing ... A: If the fixture is stamped with "use T-8 lamps only," then you have to use the thinner bulbs. If you ...
residential electricity	11/13/2009
Q: Just installed 3 way switching for the kitchen lighting. during the day the lights have come right ... A: Are they florescent lights? They can be temperamental. They need a good ground to start. Also, ...
Bathroom Vent Fan	11/13/2009
Q: I am installing a bathroom ventilation fan this weekend and I am a complete novice when it comes to ... A: The easiest is to tap off of the light fixture itself, and just wire it exactly where the wires for ...
buzzing sound wall	11/13/2009
Q: about every three minutes get a buzzing sound like something is going on and off (even after turning ... A: In a 7 story building, the utilities may be passing through. It could be anything from sewer to ...
flouorescent lights	11/13/2009
Q: My husband hung two 4 ft.2-light Shop lights to brighten our garage. They have magnetic ... A: Is it cold? Fluorescent lights do not do well in cold. Electronic ballasts are better than ...
Wiring recessed lights	11/13/2009
Q: I am currently wiring my basement with 24 50 Watt recessed lights. I want to have them in three ... A: I have heard that the lights should be as far apart, as the distance of the height of the ceiling. ...
Replace fan with standard light fixture	11/12/2009
Q: I removed a ceiling fan from between two 3-way switches to install a basic light fixture. The ... A: There should be one white wire with the old fan, and one white wire with the new fixture. They ...
bypassing a switched receptacle	11/12/2009
Q: I have a bedroom with 2 split-wire receptacles that I would like to make the one closest to the ... A: All you need to do is cap off the yellow wire, then wire the new outlet as the old one except for ...
Moving a bathroom wall mounted light fixture	11/12/2009
Q: How can I relocate my bathroom vanity light? I installed a larger vanity and now the electric box ... A: Yes, you have to keep the old box and cover it. Then run a wire to the new box. If you don't see ...
bath heater/light/fan wiring	11/12/2009
Q: We are installing a bath heater which will require 3 wires: light, fan, heater. We currently have ... A: You actually need 4 wires. One white neutral that goes to all of the white wires. Then one hot ...
Ground and neutral?	11/12/2009
Q: I will do my best to explain myself and the problem. I have only, from the circuit box, two wires ... A: Open ground just means that it is not making contact somewhere between the outlet and the breaker ...
Ceiling fixture	11/12/2009
Q: I am wanting to install a flush mount in my sons room. There are 2 whites hanging and two blacks. ... A: IF one wire is the switch loop, and one is the power in, then carefully disconnect the wires and see ...
breaker	11/12/2009
Q: In the house I live in the kitchen outlets are all on the same circuit. the frig microwave coffee ... A: The wiring part is easy. The running the wires is harder. If you have an attic, basement, or crawl ...
Ceiling fixture	11/11/2009
Q: I am wanting to install a flush mount in my sons room. There are 2 whites hanging and two blacks. ... A: How were the wires wired before, if there was a fixture? Most likely one of the white wires is a ...
22o v to a garage	11/11/2009
Q: i am restoring an old car so i am looking to upgrade my air compressor and possibly a welder. the ... A: No, you have to be concerned about the amperage of the circuit, and also the number of hot/neutrals/ ...
grounding wire	11/11/2009
Q: Plugging a circuit tester into a wall outlet in a spare room, the one light that does light up ... A: An open neutral means that the white wire is not connected somewhere. It has nothing to do with the ...
Need a heavy duty wall timer for bathroom fan/heater installation	11/11/2009
Q: Bob, I purchased a Panasonic FV-11VH2 ventilating fan that has a heater element. The specs and ... A: No, most timers are electronic, and they have to be incandescent only. Your best bet is to go to an ...
Sub panel wiring	11/11/2009
Q: I am installing a Cutler Hammer 100a BR loadcenter to provide power to a new house addition. I plan ... A: By connecting a 100 amp box to a 50 amp breaker, you are going to end up with too many breakers for ...
Wiring	11/10/2009
Q: My house is 24 years old. I have a 20amp circuit that services three double outlets (2 plugs each) ... A: Is the circuit breaker a double pole breaker? If it has a shared neutral, it should be. Also, GFCIs ...
ELECTRIC DRYER	11/10/2009
Q: I HAVE EN ELECTRIC DRYER THAT WAS MOVED FROM ONE END OF THE HOUSE TO THE OTHER. IT WORKED IN IT'S ... A: Do not use your dryer until it is wired correctly. Connecting a dryer with 12 gauge wire can cause ...
connecting 12/3 GFI receptacle to 14/2 wiring	11/10/2009
Q: I have a new 12/3 wire coming from service panel(connected to 20Amp breaker)to a box in the garage ... A: No it is against code and not safe to use 14 gauge wire on a 20 amp circuit. You will need to use ...
home electrical problem	11/10/2009
Q: Here's my problem: After my house was vandalized, there was a damaged outlet in the living room ... A: There is another problem besides the living room outlet. It sounds like half of the electricity is ...
GFI to wall switch to garbage disposel	11/9/2009
Q: can U send me a wire diagram to help i have 2 sets of wires coming in 2 the box top 1 from bottom ... A: That is very immature to give me a low rating, just because it is against the code to do what you ...
Single duplex to double toggle switch	11/9/2009
Q: The electrician put in single duplex switches, the easiest, cheapest way to do it. I have replaced ... A: As long as all the connections are made in the boxes, and the wires between the boxes are the proper ...
defestive rheostat?	11/9/2009
Q: Suspended 3 light ceiling fixture suddenly fails to light. When taken down and plugged into wall ... A: Rheostats went out a long time ago, they have been replaced by electronic dimmers. Dimmers can be ...
wire gauge size to amperage	11/9/2009
Q: I know that a 14 gauge wire is 15 amps 12 gauge =20 amps 10gauge=30 amps is the 8gauge=40 amps and6 ... A: It's not quite that simple. It depends on the type of wire and the conductor and the length. If it ...
removing a dimmer switch on a circuit with 3 switches for 3 lights	11/9/2009
Q: I replaced a bathroom fixture and removed the dimmer on the light switch. Problem is I can't get ... A: If the only live wire is connected to the bathroom, that is why it is the only thing working. It has ...
gfci switch/outlet combination	11/8/2009
Q: I would like to know how to wire a gfci switch/outlet combination. I recently had a pool installed ... A: First of all, you have to figure out which wires/terminals are for the switch, and which ones for ...
help!	11/8/2009
Q: I was drilling a hole into our bedroom wall and drilled into the electrical wire for the ceiling ... A: I would turn the breaker off until it is fixed. It won't be easy to fix because you can't just ...
Electic	11/8/2009
Q: Good evening Bob I am installing Recess lighting in our basement, I have a ceiling with a foot and ... A: NM stands for non-metallic, which is sometimes called Romex, which is a trade name. B is the ...
100 amp vs 200amp	11/8/2009
Q: I have been told that it is cheaper to run a 240v A/C (or anything for that matter ), than to run a ... A: It does not matter how many volts you run appliances on. You are billed for watts, and that does ...
electric furnace	11/7/2009
Q: I just installed an electric furnace by Nordyne. Book stated to use 6seu wire with 60 amp. I did. ... A: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.southwire.com/images/products/seu_alum.gif&imgrefu ...
Kiln	11/7/2009
Q: We have had a kiln running in our garage for about 6 years now and just recently it started popping ... A: Sometimes, either the male or female plug does not make good connection, and the electricity arcs ...
Electic	11/7/2009
Q: Good evening Bob I am installing Recess lighting in our basement, I have a ceiling with a foot and ... A: Five lights will probably be OK. If you have 65 watt bulbs, it will be 325 watts. The maximum on a ...
Wiring outlets on backporch	11/7/2009
Q: I am about to add a new circuit and install 4 outlets on my back porch. I would like to have one ... A: That is easy, and you don't need 3 conductor wire. At the first outlet, all the blacks to the brass ...
Ghosts in my Wiring	11/6/2009
Q: I had an office built in my garage a couple of years ago, a new panel put in and all new wiring ... A: You may have a wire that is not making contact. A neutral wire broken will cause the two phases to ...
12X3 wiring	11/6/2009
Q: I am replacing a ceiling fan that had 12X3 wiring from the switch. I am installing four recessed ... A: If you don't need the red wire, then cap it at both ends. However, it depends on why there is a red ...
bedroom not getting power	11/6/2009
Q: i have a bed room that is not getting power. it has power going out of the breaker box but there is ... A: It sounds like a loose wire somewhere. These things can be hard to track down. Somewhere in the ...
Wiring outlets on backporch	11/6/2009
Q: I am about to add a new circuit and install 4 outlets on my back porch. I would like to have one ... A: Yes, you can do it. To give you the exact way to wire it, I would need to know the exact relative ...
Electic	11/6/2009
Q: Good evening Bob I am installing Recess lighting in our basement, I have a ceiling with a foot and ... A: You can tap off of the existing light, but you can't make the splices in a box and then bury the box ...
room lights and plugs went out	11/6/2009
Q: I plugged in a portable heater in my master bedroom and also had the iron on at the same time, as a ... A: The heater and iron can't be used at the same time. You probably burned a wire loose somewhere on ...
Home voltage too high	11/5/2009
Q: I tested all my outlets with a VOM lat night and they are consitantly between 169-174VAC. Would ... A: You would need to check the power coming in at the panel (very carefully not to touch anything you ...
No grounds.	11/5/2009
Q: Just bought a house. It has been updated to 100 amp. Dont think it was done by certified electrician ... A: A ground is an additional safety device. If the house is old (around 1950's) it does not have to ...
wiring for range hoods	11/5/2009
Q: We are first time homeowners and have pretty much had to rebuild our kitchen. My husband and I have ... A: Theoretically, it should not be on the same circuit as the kitchen and dining room outlets. Living ...
220v compressor	11/5/2009
Q: I have a 220v compressor in my shop that keeps buring the pressure switches up. I have found that i ... A: No. For some reason one phase is 110 volts, 2 phases is 220 volts and 3 phases is 208. So, I am not ...
electrical panel box blanks	11/5/2009
Q: I am missing two "knock outs" in my electrical panel box. How do I replace them? A: Are they the where breakers were? If so, you can buy them at some home centers (where the boxes ...
WALL SWITCH DIMMER WITH CEILING FAN	11/4/2009
Q: I have a single pole wall switch in my kitchen controling my CEILING FAN WITH LIGHT. I wanted to ... A: You can't have a motor on a dimmer. Check the wiring in the box of the fan. If the red wire goes ...
Ark fault	11/4/2009
Q: The house is wired in aluminam the insurance company wants ether pigtail down to copper or install ... A: Arc fault breakers could trip when you don't want them to. If the switch or relay arcs, it will ...
GFCI Protected Receptacle - Moving it	11/3/2009
Q: I have in my bathroom a GFCI protected (Not GFCI receptacle) receptacle. I want to move the ... A: Yes, you can do that. Remember you can't hide the junction box inside the wall. It has to have a ...
blown lightbulbs	11/3/2009
Q: i have 6 4" recessed lights over the work area in the kitchen on a dimmer switch. also on the ... A: Lighting should not be on the same circuit as kitchen outlets. However, this would not cause the ...
Installing Recessed Lights but Tripping Breaker	11/3/2009
Q: Two questions: I am attempting to install recessed lights in the basement of my 1925 Sears Catalogue ... A: It sounds like you either have some wires crimped, or even more likely a switch loop wired wrong. ...
Have one outlet, need another and add light fixure	11/3/2009
Q: This is all in a closet I built that will have a 4.4 cubic refrigerator, microwave and small bar ... A: The black wire from the outlet goes to one wire of the dimmer. The other black wire of the dimmer ...
Aluminum Wired House	11/2/2009
Q: While installing a food waste disposer I noticed that the wiring leading to the disposer was ... A: Aluminum wiring is bad news. You can Google it to find out more. However, it needs to be ...
Changing a light fixture with spliced K & T wiring	11/2/2009
Q: We are trying to change out a light fixture that has K & T wiring but also has newer wiring. There ... A: You may need to find where the wires go to. However, it sounds like there is a switch loop. The ...
trouble shooting house circuit triiping breaker	11/2/2009
Q: I have an old house which has a circuit tripping the breaker.It happens intermittantly whether ... A: You can try replacing the breaker, and see if the breaker is weak. That doesn't happen often, but ...
replacing 2-hole socket with 3-hole	11/2/2009
Q: I just replaced an 2-hole electrical outlet with a 3-hole outlet. But there is no earth ground ... A: You can not replace a 2 prong outlet with a 3 prong outlet unless there is a ground. The only ...
receptacles have power but won't "work"	11/1/2009
Q: we have installed 3 new receptacles in our basement. When we check the receptacles with a tester it ... A: Funny readings like that are usually caused by a disconnected neutral wire. The reading you getting ...
2-Way Wiring	11/1/2009
Q: I am working in a older house that only runs off of a hot wire and a neutral wire, no ground wire. ... A: No, if the hot and neutral wires are reversed, it would be safety hazard, since a device would get ...
Kitchen ceiling lights	11/1/2009
Q: We have 8 recessed ceiling lights in our kitchen ceiling; each has a 100 watt bulb. I would like to ... A: You will have to replace the recess light with a junction box and patch the hole in the ceiling. As ...
No power at outlet	11/1/2009
Q: I was mowing the lawn this morning using an electrical mower, and at one time I re-adjusted the ... A: The kitchen ones are supposed to be on their own circuit, so you can rule that out. If there are ...
Garage Sub Panel	10/31/2009
Q: I have a 100 amp sub panel in the garage that I'm told has to have the neutral and ground bar ... A: Yes, the grounds and neutral have to be isolated in a sub panel. If the wires won't reach, you can ...
No power at outlet	10/31/2009
Q: I was mowing the lawn this morning using an electrical mower, and at one time I re-adjusted the ... A: There should be one outlet in the house that has a test and reset button that controls other outlets ...
Wiring an outlet, ceiling fan, wall switch	10/31/2009
Q: I am in the process of installing 3 ceiling fans in separate bedrooms where there was no previous ... A: What you have is called a switch leg, and you have no neutral. So you either have to bring power ...
Lights out	10/31/2009
Q: I have an issue with one of my home circuits. Everything on the circuit would turn off then turn ... A: It sounds like there is a loose wire. These things can be hard to track down. Somewhere in the ...
Circuit planning; 15 amp versus 20 amp	10/31/2009
Q: I'm planning the circuitry layout for a new house that we will have built this winter and need to ... A: There are some circuits that have to be 20 amps, such as the kitchen/dining, bathroom plugs and the ...
Nutone 665RP Wiring Problem	10/30/2009
Q: Bob, I purchased the subject fan/exhaust/heater for my new bathroom I'm building. I completed the ... A: It would be funny that both the fan and heater are not working. Is each part connected to the ...
Have one outlet, need another and add light fixure	10/30/2009
Q: This is all in a closet I built that will have a 4.4 cubic refrigerator, microwave and small bar ... A: Dimmers can be damaged easily, so make sure the power is off when you wire it. Yes, it sounds like ...
Electrical short?	10/30/2009
Q: House electrical to separate building (Studio). Problem: Low voltage 20-30V on the studio side. On ... A: Strange voltage readings are usually caused by a broken neutral wire. Check your meter and see if ...
Light Switch	10/29/2009
Q: I have recently installed a ceiling fan in my daughters room. This is a home that is 101 years old ... A: You most likely have the switch installed between the neutral and hot wire. It should be between ...
Adding a Toggle Dimmer Switch for Under Cabinet Lighting	10/29/2009
Q: I would like to install under-cabinet lighting (hardwire) in my kitchen.(US, NJ) I will need to add ... A: You are not supposed to add any lighting to an outlet circuit in the kitchen. Although some people ...
Outlet in the bathroom and 220 not working.	10/29/2009
Q: I have one outlet in the bathroom that is out I have checked the circuit breaker and non of them are ... A: The two problems are probably unrelated. If the GFCI does not reset, you either have a ground fault ...
Replace fan with standard light fixture	10/29/2009
Q: I removed a ceiling fan from between two 3-way switches to install a basic light fixture. The ... A: Normally you should just wire up the new fixture as the old fixture was wired. You should not mess ...
Have one outlet, need another and add light fixure	10/29/2009
Q: This is all in a closet I built that will have a 4.4 cubic refrigerator, microwave and small bar ... A: BX is hard to work with. If it is a residential wiring job non-metalic (Romex) should be OK. ...
Under cabinet lighting	10/28/2009
Q: I have purchased the Hampton Bay Xenon puck lights for under my cabinet. My power source is the ... A: If they are the plug in type, they should not be hardwired. If you get the type with a transformer, ...
Have one outlet, need another and add light fixure	10/28/2009
Q: This is all in a closet I built that will have a 4.4 cubic refrigerator, microwave and small bar ... A: The easiest thing is to bring power in to one outlet, and then to the next outlet, and then to the ...
new switch	10/28/2009
Q: Bob, I just installed recessed light in my bedroom and connected then and I want to be able to ... A: You can't tap off of a switch to get power. You have to tap off of the wire that brings power in. ...
ceiling wires	10/28/2009
Q: my ceiling fan fell off the ceiling completely tonite taking the box that you use to wire things ... A: If there is any chance that the wire pulled loose from the other end, it might be best to get an ...
GFI Breaker help	10/27/2009
Q: GFI breaker for my 2 yr old son's bedroom has started tripping at different intervals...sometimes 5 ... A: You probably have an AFCI, which shuts off if there is an arc. The arc could be caused by a switch ...
3 switches control 3 lights	10/27/2009
Q: How do I wire 3 swiches that will control 3 lights? We would like to be able to turn on/off all 3 ... A: The only way you can do that is to run the other two lights from one light. In other words, you will ...
No Power after outlet replaced	10/27/2009
Q: I recently bought a house, and the main bathroom's outlet was loose. My cords would fall out of it ... A: All bathroom outlets should be controlled by a GFCI. These are outlets with test and reset buttons. ...
Outdoor Outlets	10/26/2009
Q: I have two weather proof outdoor outlets in the front of my house. I tried to connect a hallowen ... A: You should have a GFCI somewhere in the house. Basement, garage, any bathroom or outside. It has a ...
Porch light and switch	10/26/2009
Q: HELP! .. I have an old porch light that was giving us trouble. The switch would have to be flicked ... A: It is probably not related. The bathroom plug should have a GFCI somewhere in the house. Garage, ...
some dimmed lights...	10/26/2009
Q: Good morning. Last evening I came home and my daughter told me that the hallway lights did not go ... A: You have lost one of your two hot phases. The electricity was leaking through the dryer from one ...
Have one outlet, need another and add light fixure	10/25/2009
Q: This is all in a closet I built that will have a 4.4 cubic refrigerator, microwave and small bar ... A: This is rather an open ended question, and I am not sure where you need help. You may need 2 ...
recepticals	10/25/2009
Q: I wired a light a rec. then a switch, then two more rec. im useing my meter and it says i have only ... A: If you put a receptacle between the switch and the lights, then you need 3 conductor wire between ...
New Bathroom Vent Installation	10/25/2009
Q: Good morning Bob- I'm extremely new to the world of home electrical, so please bear with me. I ... A: New outlets in bathrooms should be 20 amp, and should only have that bathroom on the circuit. If it ...
shock	10/25/2009
Q: while changing a wall socket if you touch the hot wire with rubber handle needle nose pliers will it ... A: I would turn the power off before working on it. Theoretically you should not get shocked. But if ...
ground an electrical outlet	10/24/2009
Q: Greetings, My problem is that all my outlets{older home} show open ground with the use of a plug-in ... A: It is legal, as far as the code is concerned, to use a GFCI in place of a grounded outlet. But it ...
dimmer light switch Breakfast light/outside lights	10/24/2009
Q: I have an outlet box with 3 wires from attic (one has four wires) (the other two have three wires ... A: I am sure if wires were put there, they are needed. It would be hard to say why the extra switch ...
home wiring--3 way and mystery switches	10/24/2009
Q: Just moved into a home that was built 3 years ago, and am in the process of replacing a few light ... A: Yes, if there are 2 circuits intermixed, it could be a hazard. Turn everything off, then turn one ...
dimmers	10/24/2009
Q: I put in two dimmers next to each other. One is for a inside light,and it works just fine. The other ... A: Do you have regular incandescent bulbs in the fixtures, and not CFLs? And no electric eyes or any ...
T8 Wiring	10/24/2009
Q: I just installed new 2 bulb 8 foot T8 High output fixtures in my garage and don't think they are ... A: Perhaps the ballast is bad. Sometimes when they are brand new it takes a few minutes to reach full ...
wiring recessed lights	10/24/2009
Q: I am new to this site and am sorry to hit you with so many questions first time out. I have four ... A: You can tap off of an outlet as long as it is not in a kitchen, bathroom, dining room, laundry, or ...
reading tester	10/24/2009
Q: I install a GFI duplex receptacle out side my home and when I insert the sperry tester no light ... A: It means that the black hot wire is not making contact. Is it connected to a GFCI circuit? Perhaps ...
dim lites in out side pamp post	10/23/2009
Q: last fall they put in new sod/ they cut the wire to the lamp post. I found the wire and re wired it ... A: Did you make secure connections? If the wire is UF, then you need a UF wire splice kit. The wet ...
wiring dimmer and toggle in a 2-gang box	10/23/2009
Q: I am replacing toggle switches that shared a feed in a 2-gang box. I am installing a Leviton Acenti ... A: All dimmers and toggle switches should wire in the same, no matter how fancy they are. They would ...
power in outlets and top floor, but no power in ceiling lights of basement and 1st floor	10/23/2009
Q: My husband and I were installing a leviton one piece pullcain side wired outlet box lampholder, ... A: Most likely there is a wire not making contact. Go back and make sure everything was wired as ...
4 wire stove into a 3 wire receptacle	10/23/2009
Q: My daughter bought a house which has three wire 240 v. A black,white and bare copper wire. The stove ... A: What color wires do you have at the wall? If you have only black and white and bare, you can not ...
Shop Wiring using house outdoor 15amp GFI outlet	10/23/2009
Q: I have a small shop (10X16) that I have installed 2 wall outlets and one on/off switch. I have ... A: If you want the first outlet to be switched, you can't connect the switch to the second outlet ...
programmable thermostats	10/22/2009
Q: I previously erroneously submitted this question to Norval Trimborn (HVAC),and his reply was that ... A: This is a little out my expertise too, but I'll try to answer it so you don't get a run around. A ...
Add Crawl Space Outlet	10/22/2009
Q: I am trying to add a standard electrical outlet in my crawlspace. The other night when I was down ... A: I would not connect anything to a wire unless you know where it goes to. It would have to be a ...
loose light switch	10/22/2009
Q: My house is 54 years old. There is a 3-switch unit in the bathroom which operates the overhead ... A: Yes, it is always best to keep everything tight. It may be the old despard system. I doubt if they ...
wiring /3 way switches	10/22/2009
Q: I am having no luck with this installation. Anyone able to give me the correct way of wiring this? ... A: At the track light, the white power wire goes to the white fixture wire and the white wire going to ...
Combo Outlet/Switch	10/21/2009
Q: I'm wondering how to correctly configure a combo outlet/switch in a home that I just bought. In the ... A: You have a switch loop, and there is no neutral there. The white wire is a hot wire. You can't add ...
wiring two lamposts to duplex switch	10/20/2009
Q: Outdoor deck and garden. My power source comes from deck outlet. I have wired both lampposts ... A: The black wire bringing power in goes to one terminal of the switch. The 3 white wires connect to ...
outlet problems	10/20/2009
Q: I would appreciate any kind of help you can offer me. I have an outlet that is wired / mounted to a ... A: When there is a wiring problem, many people forget that there are two ends to the wire. If there is ...
adding a new lighting switch	10/20/2009
Q: I am wanting to add new wall lights and was going to change an existing switch to a two way one, ... A: If you have a switch loop with only two insulated wires in one cable there is no neutral. You would ...
dimming lights	10/20/2009
Q: Bob: Read your response to question regarding random dimming of lights. I have a dimming light ... A: If the lights dim, they should be OK. If they get brighter than normal, then there is a problem. ...
light bulbs burning out	10/20/2009
Q: I recently had my circuit breaker panel replaced by a licensed electrician. Now two incandescent ... A: The way you did it is the best way to tell. If you get two circuits mixed up, it is possible to get ...
Fuses	10/20/2009
Q: I have two rooms next to each other. Each time I turn on the heater and the TV in one of the room, ... A: Space heaters use as lot of electricity. Most likely the circuit is overloaded. Space heaters have ...
light bulbs burning out	10/19/2009
Q: I recently had my circuit breaker panel replaced by a licensed electrician. Now two incandescent ... A: Incandescent bulbs can burn out with overvoltage, vibration, or excessive heat. The most likely ...
electrical	10/19/2009
Q: my fridge barely comes on in kitchen outlets run cord to dining room works fine smll appliances work ... A: If you have a shared neutral circuit, the two circuits sharing it could be in series with each other ...
"hot" light switch plate	10/19/2009
Q: The kitchen has a dimmer light switch, however, it does not work and is always on the bright ... A: If the dimmer does not work, it should be replaced with a regular switch. Energy saver bulbs (CFLs) ...
Proper wire sizing	10/19/2009
Q: I need to install a 115 volt circuit for resistance heating (14 amp waffle maker). It will be 150 ... A: The manufacturer of the wire usually has an ampacity chart that they send the retailer, so when you ...
Why 71V in bathroom v.s. 177V in bed room	10/18/2009
Q: Last night, my TV in my bed room smokes even when it wasn't being used. So I unplugged it. I then ... A: It sounds like the two circuits have a shared neutral. When the neutral comes loose, it puts the ...
wiring a ceiling light	10/18/2009
Q: I have installed a ceiling light and have a common switch with the dining room light.(controlled ... A: Yes, if there is a power source in that box, plus the wire for the new fixture is in there, you can ...
Box for bathroom wall light	10/18/2009
Q: What is the proper box to use to attach a wall light above a mirror? I've seen round, square, ... A: Any box is legal. The bare wire can be legal if there are knockouts to install the wire into ...
electric tankless waterheater	10/18/2009
Q: How can I use my electric tank water heater wiring to power a electric tankless water heater? A: I doubt if you can. The tankless heaters usually draw 3 times more power than the standard ones. ...
Putting two 240v heaters on one circuit?	10/18/2009
Q: In my house a previous owner installed two 240v 4000W electric heaters in the basement. Each one is ... A: No, you should not put the heaters together. Using 10 gauge wire with a 40 amp breaker will cause ...
Dryer outlet next to water hoses	10/18/2009
Q: I had to replace my front loading washer. We have a built in platform for the washer and dryer in ... A: I do not believe there is a distance from the water that the outlet has to be. Most likely if a ...
GFCI problem	10/17/2009
Q: Recently I installed 3 gfi’s all on the same circuit breaker (two bathrooms and one outside). One ... A: If every outlet has a GFCI that needs one, then you would only connect wires to the line side. This ...
flickering lights. power outage	10/17/2009
Q: I have some lights that have been flickering off and on. the lights that do are not on the same ... A: If your house was built in the 1970's, you may have aluminum wiring. This requires periodic ...
Switch to outlet wiring	10/17/2009
Q: I want to wire a switch to control the power to a single outlet. The switch and outlet will be in ... A: The white wire will connect to the silver colored terminal on the outlet. The black wire will ...
connecting cook top to stove	10/17/2009
Q: i have 4 wires coming from the break which are in a junction box which is connected to the stove top ... A: Make sure that the circuit has enough amps for your oven and stove top combined. The amp rating of ...
lights dim and brighten	10/16/2009
Q: When I iron my clothes, I notice the lights in the room dim and brighten. At the same time, the ... A: An iron uses a lot of power, and some dimming is normal. If there is excessive dimming, then ...
3 way ceiling light switch replacement	10/16/2009
Q: I have several black and white wires (twisted together black and white seperate) coming through the ... A: Without seeing it, all I can do it tell you the most common way it is wired. Normally the black wire ...
wiring kitchen fan	10/16/2009
Q: I removed the microwave/fan assemply that was above the stove and would like to replace it with a ... A: As far as I know you can do that legally. Just get a short appliance extension cord, and cut off ...
open grounding/ground loop?	10/16/2009
Q: I installed a grounding rod and wire to the neutral wire lug in a new meter box. I also installed a ... A: No, you do not need to upgrade all of your wiring, it is grandfathered. You can use GFCIs in place ...
120v to 240v	10/16/2009
Q: I am wanting to have 240 volts going to my garage, as a heater I have requires 240 volts. I think ... A: The heater would use up the entire capacity in the garage, and you could not even wire up the other ...
Wiring Help	10/16/2009
Q: I was replacing old switch in room. there are 2 cables in the box with 3 lines in each cable black, ... A: The best thing is to wire the new switch exactly as the old switch. It sounds like there are two ...
motion sensors	10/15/2009
Q: i have an area about 75' long with a motion activated sensor a center. i would like to have a sensor ... A: Normal motion sensors will not work. You may be able to use X10 sensors with a remote switch. ...
120v to 240v	10/15/2009
Q: I am wanting to have 240 volts going to my garage, as a heater I have requires 240 volts. I think ... A: You will need to run a new line to the garage. You did not mention how many amps the heater is, or ...
Charred Appliance Plug	10/14/2009
Q: I live in an old 12 x 60 mobile home. I recently had both prongs of a polarized plug for a brand new ... A: The most likely cause is a defective outlet. If the plug does not fit tightly, then the electricity ...
Single pole light switch to light	10/14/2009
Q: I have a question about an end line receptacle. I would like to run a single pole light switch from ... A: This is a shared neutral circuit. You can tap off either the black or the red. Also, tap from the ...
Wiring Help	10/14/2009
Q: I was replacing old switch in room. there are 2 cables in the box with 3 lines in each cable black, ... A: I can't figure this out either, and most likely an electrician is going to have to take a look at it ...
110/220 circuits	10/14/2009
Q: I have a 1/2 hp boat lift motor that is stalling just as it approaches near full load. It has been ... A: make sure that the motor is intended for 220 volts. There should be a separate circuit for 220 volt ...
How do you wire with no neutral?	10/13/2009
Q: My father and I are replacing a bathroom ceiling fan/heater/light. We removed the old unit, which ... A: Nothing can work without a neutral (unless it is 220 volts, then you need 2 separate hots). So ...
Single pole light switch to light	10/13/2009
Q: I have a question about an end line receptacle. I would like to run a single pole light switch from ... A: It depends why the red wire is there. If it is a 220 volt outlet, you can't tap from there. If the ...
wiring	10/13/2009
Q: i had a water leak in my mobile home the other day and now my stove, microwave,and water heater are ... A: It sounds like the neutral is loose. You probably have the two halves of the power system in series ...
Square D Panel - Buzzing/Humming Sound	10/13/2009
Q: I have a Square D QON 16M 100A Series 9 CTL panel. I previously had a gas water heater and air ... A: You may want to call the customer service department at Square D. You might also try calling the ...
Switch to three ceiling lights	10/13/2009
Q: I want to install and wire three ceiling lights on a single switch. I have an outlet near where I ... A: Since you can only wire one or two wires to the outlets themselves, you will need to get all of the ...
garage wiring	10/12/2009
Q: chris from reading pa. i have 5 sockets in my garage all linked together attached to the light ... A: Any splices have to be in a junction box. If it is outside, then it has to be weatherproof. If the ...
Bathroom Fan/Light wiring	10/12/2009
Q: I'm having a little trouble in determining the wiring plan for a new Bathroom Fan/Light combo. ... A: No, you can connect the fan light directly to the vanity light. Then run another wire to the power ...
Residential Power Fluctuation	10/12/2009
Q: My home was built in the 50's. Recently, the lights dim to about 1/2 the level they usually shine ... A: It sounds like you have a loose neutral somewhere between the street and your panel. If the problem ...
Electricity Reset	10/12/2009
Q: I love in a 2 year old home and for aslong as I can remember,once or so per week, my electric will ... A: If everything shuts off at one time, then the problem is between the main panel and the street. ...
3-way problems	10/12/2009
Q: I have three 3-way switches operating three lights in a hallway. Turn 1 switch on, they all go on. ... A: Yes, this is a big job. You would need to run wires behind the wall from each light to the switch ...
Rewired switch connected to junction box	10/12/2009
Q: I installed a ceiling fan which is connected to a switch that is also hone to a junction box whitch ... A: When you wire a switch, you put the power coming into on one terminal. That terminal is always on. ...
ceiling fan repacement with chandelier	10/11/2009
Q: we have taken down a ceiling fan which had 2 black wires, 4 white wires, 1 red and one green wire. ... A: I have never heard of those combinations on a fan. But what matters is what wires were connected to ...
track lighting problem	10/11/2009
Q: I have a WAC track lighting strip with model 826 heads. One head seems to be burning out the bulbs. ... A: You may want to call the manufacturer to get their opinion of the situation. Since that model uses ...
home wiring	10/11/2009
Q: One of the rooms i my home has no power. I checked the circuit breaker and flipped it few times, but ... A: It sounds like a wire loose somewhere. These things can be hard to track down. Somewhere in the ...
Track lighting	10/11/2009
Q: Bob, Thank you for helping...hopefully! I have a curved track lighting system. The lights do not ... A: You may have a loose neutral wire. It is detecting the voltage on the hot wire, but without the ...
Low voltage	10/11/2009
Q: Bob, I have a room in my house that all the receptacles are getting a voltage reading of 58 volts ... A: You have a loose white neutral somewhere. The reading is feedback from the hot wire. Do not rule ...
How many light switches on a 20 amp circuit	10/11/2009
Q: I am in the middle of eliminating hazardous wiring due to overloading several circuits in my ... A: How many circuits depends on how many square feet, by code. The thinking is that if there are less ...
wiring cfl's in series	10/10/2009
Q: home wiring - light bulbs in series. what is the result of wiring two compact fluorescent lights in ... A: They probably won't work at all. And they will probably burn out quickly. Fluorescent lamp ballasts ...
hot electrical box	10/10/2009
Q: I wired the circuit myself. I picked up the power from a plugin outlet that is the only out let on ... A: Is the heat coming from the light fixture, or the wiring? Bulbs put out heat, so some heat would be ...
wall fan switch	10/10/2009
Q: My question to you is. How can I change a 3 speed pull chain on a ceiling fan to a wall mounted fan ... A: Normally you just leave the switch at the fan to high and use the wall switch. If the breaker is ...
Electical service	10/10/2009
Q: Question Hello, Can you tell me what awg copper cable size to put inside a 2" electrical conduit ... A: Wire size is based on the type of wire and the length. The retailer should have an ampacity chart ...
Lights Out!	10/10/2009
Q: I have one area of the house that seems to be completely devoid of electrical lighting. There is one ... A: It sounds like a wire came loose somewhere. These things can be hard to track down. Somewhere in ...
Size of wire	10/10/2009
Q: I built a detached garage. I want to run a 220 air compressor and other power tools. I want to run a ... A: Everything depends on the amperage. You can either run a sub panel in the garage, or you can run ...
Adding a sub panel	10/10/2009
Q: I have a main panel with a 100amp. I'm finishing a basement and putting in a 100amp sub. Do I repace ... A: You can't have a 100 amp sub running off of a 100 amp panel. You will need to upgrade the main ...
Replacing a Light Switch Problem	10/10/2009
Q: I'm trying to replace a light switch in my sons' room. When I took off the old switch, I noticed the ... A: Do the outlets in the south rooms come on only when the switch is on to that room? If so, then one ...
warm wall	10/9/2009
Q: Last night I noticed as i got into my bed that my pillows that were up against the wall were very ... A: If the warmth is caused by electricity, then it could be very dangerous. If your house was built in ...
pull chain for ceiling light	10/9/2009
Q: I replaced a pull chain that had broken but still have the problem of it only turning on the light ... A: If it is a typical porcelain or plastic fixture that is used in the basement, then the socket needs ...
Lights flicker and burn out	10/9/2009
Q: We have recently moved into an older home and replaced the bulbs in energy efficient bulbs. Since ... A: Are these incandescent, fluorescent or CFL bulbs? If they are CFL bulbs, they won't work with ...
OVEN/STOVE	10/9/2009
Q: 30 OR 40 AMP BREAKER ? SIZE OF WIRE 3/10 OR 2/10 A: Most stoves are 50 amps, but you have to look at the plate, probably inside the oven door to get the ...
Outdoor Xmas lights	10/8/2009
Q: Bob, Re: 2009 Outdoor Christmas display: If I have a whole bunch of brand new commercial grade mini ... A: You can use different strings, but you can't use one string with different bulbs. All of the strings ...
Kitchen light fixture replacement	10/8/2009
Q: I have a kitchen light fixture (fluorescent) that would not turn on at times and now will not turn ... A: The new fixtures are much more energy efficient, and it is easier to replace the whole fixture. I ...
Panels	10/8/2009
Q: Sir, I have 2 100 amp Homeline panels. Each panel has a green Bonding screw. 1 ground rod at each ... A: The only place you can put the neutrals and ground together is at the main panel. You either have to ...
Controlling Multiple Outlets With A Switch	10/8/2009
Q: How do you wire a series of receptacles that are controlled by a switch when the switch is at the ... A: You would break the tab only if you want half of each outlet switched. If all of the outlets are ...
switched outlet?	10/8/2009
Q: i recently wanted to replace an outlet that would no longer hold the plug. i shut off the power, and ... A: The push in outlets are still around. However, it is better to use the screws, since the tabs ...
switched outlet?	10/7/2009
Q: i recently wanted to replace an outlet that would no longer hold the plug. i shut off the power, and ... A: I don't see how it can be switched if none of the wires were connected together. If one was the ...
adding a 230 volt brkr to an already full box	10/7/2009
Q: I need to install a 230 volt breaker for a hot tub and the panel in the brkr box is full. can i ... A: Chances are if you don't have enough room for a 60 amp breaker, you don't have the capacity to add ...
garage wirering	10/7/2009
Q: chris from reading pa. i have 5 sockets in my garage all linked together attached to the light ... A: You really can't run the wire from switch to light to light, etc to switch. You would need 5 ...
Electric stove install	10/6/2009
Q: I just inherited a 1965 frigidaire electric oven/stovetop. I need to know what size wiring, type of ... A: You need to find out for sure that the amperage rating is. There should be a plate with that ...
Connecting Disposer Receptacle to a Dual Light Switch and GFCI Outlet	10/5/2009
Q: Am trying to surprise my dad by adding a waste disposal to his kitchen sink in a 100+ year old New ... A: The black wire should go to the light switch. The white wire should connect to the other white ...
Losing B phase ,voltage drops	10/5/2009
Q: Heres my problem.The house has a 100a service,with a main in the meter panel,with a newer MLO panel ... A: It sounds like a loose or disconnected neutral between the pole and the breaker box. If the power ...
6-2 romax	10/5/2009
Q: I was sold 6-2 with ground romax at lowes to replace my 6-2 that went to stove that had 40amp ... A: Stoves require 3 conductor plus ground. The code for the last 10 years requires 4 prong outlets for ...
how to increase amp service to the house	9/30/2009
Q: I currently have 100 amp service and want to upgrade it to at least 150 or to 200. The powerline is ... A: You should call the power company and they will tell you. I can tell you what is usually is, but ...
electrical interference in my house	9/30/2009
Q: I have just had new lighting put in my kitchen; added can lights and under counter lights. Now my ... A: Dimmers are the most likely cause. Other causes could be speed controls for fans, and transformers ...
two light swithch box	9/30/2009
Q: I have a dimmer switch and an on-off in same box for different lights. Tried to change to two ... A: The black wires could be any one of the following: bringing power to the box, taking power out to ...
partially labeled breaker box	9/30/2009
Q: I recently moved into a condo and realized while looking at the breaker box that it was only ... A: There is something at most home centers called a circuit breaker finder. However, this costs around ...
panel neutral and ground bars	9/30/2009
Q: I have an older 200a main breaker panel where the neutrals and grounds both screw to a common bar. ... A: It sounds like what you bought is just for the ground, not for the neutral. However, you should ...
panel neutral and ground bars	9/29/2009
Q: I have an older 200a main breaker panel where the neutrals and grounds both screw to a common bar. ... A: Generally neutrals and ground can go together at the main panel only. However, make sure that the ...
Main panel amps	9/29/2009
Q: How do I determine the amps of my main panel? I want to run a 100amp sub-panel in my pole barn, but ... A: Usually there are 10 breaker slots per 50 amps. So a 100 amp panel would have 20 slots and a 200 ...
Bathroom blower/heater/light combo	9/29/2009
Q: How do you wire a Nutone bathroom blower/heater/light(3 combo). I already have two switches on the ... A: The heater will draw a lot of current, and if there are other things on the circuit, it could be ...
fan in shower jumped of gfci load side?	9/29/2009
Q: I have rewired the bathroom with new line all coming off 4" junction box that is feed from original ... A: The fan does not need to be on a GFCI. Usually a ground fault is caused inside by a neutral and ...
open ground	9/29/2009
Q: The junction box is in the attic it is a 2 stoiry home.There was 4 two strand wires coming into the ... A: Open ground means that the ground wire is not making contact. Is the house grounded? Was there ...
3 way switch	9/29/2009
Q: I ran wires from the house to shed and installed a 3 way switch at both ends. In the shed I tapped ... A: The GFCI detects current differences between the hot and neutral side, and shuts it off when they ...
electrical system ground wire	9/28/2009
Q: I live in NY and the electrical system ground wire is fastened to the main water pipe that is coming ... A: To be honest, I am not sure of what the law or code is (if this is even in it). I could have ...
subpanel loads	9/28/2009
Q: My spec sheet for my new stove states: 1) connected load (kWatt rating) @ 240/208 volts = 5.0/3.7; ... A: Your sub panel has a capacity of 100 amps at 220 volts, or 200 amps at 110 volts. So, you are ...
bathroom gfci outlet switch combo	9/28/2009
Q: I want to replace my existing gfci outlet switch combination unit, single gang, to a double gang ... A: OK, I thought you were going to add an additional single box, but I guess you are removing the ...
240V to 120V conversion	9/28/2009
Q: I am replacing an old 240V wall heater with a new 120V Cadet heater. The current heater is connected ... A: Make sure that the wiring will support the amperage of the new heater. It has to be rated for under ...
wiring a pool pump to a breaker box	9/28/2009
Q: i just would like to know what is the best way to wire a pool pump to a mobile home breaker box. A: You're not giving me too much information here. If it is the normal main panel for the home, then ...
Outlet reads reversed/stumped!	9/28/2009
Q: Ok...so here is the issue. I have a circuit that supplies 3 rooms outlets and lights. The first 3 ... A: It's pretty simple. Somewhere between (and including) the 3rd and 4th outlets, the white wire is ...
light fixture wiring in home	9/28/2009
Q: Noticed that when I pluged a hair dryer into the power outlet that when i turned the hair dryer on ... A: It sounds like the garage switch is a switch loop, and has no neutral. Whoever wired the bathroom ...
40 AMP Range on a 30 AMP Circuit	9/27/2009
Q: A friend has an apartment with a 30 AMP 2 pole circuit and a 10/3 wire going to an outlet with a 40 ... A: The breaker should trip. However, if it doesn't it will start a fire. He is putting a lot of lives ...
bathroom gfci outlet switch combo	9/27/2009
Q: I want to replace my existing gfci outlet switch combination unit, single gang, to a double gang ... A: You don't need a special switch for the lights. Just a regular switch. Run a piece of house wire ...
Bathroom blower/heater/light combo	9/27/2009
Q: How do you wire a Nutone bathroom blower/heater/light(3 combo). I already have two switches on the ... A: Put the blue and black wires together from the unit and connect it to the black wire. Connect the ...
troubleshoot wiring	9/27/2009
Q: Im trying to troubleshoot some wiring for a ceiling fan. Heres my problem, i have my electrical box. ... A: I am not so sure that the other two wires are switch legs, because the electrician could have used ...
electrical	9/26/2009
Q: what dose it mean hot ground reverse A: If you get this reading on a tester, it could mean the neutral wire is loose. The funny reading is ...
Electricity	9/26/2009
Q: If I arrive at home one night and reach to turn on my light and it doesn't work, what could be the ... A: The fixture could be bad. Or it could be the switch, or it could be a loose wire. You can get a ...
wiring switches	9/26/2009
Q: I am remodeling my living room and want to install a ceiling fan where none existed before. In ... A: It depends on where the power enters. Also, do you want separate switches for the light and fan? ...
Light switch with no light	9/26/2009
Q: I have a set of dual light switches that are located to the left of my front door. I'm assuming they ... A: There is no way that I know of to track the wire. Perhaps you can ask a neighbor if they remember ...
Voltage Drop	9/25/2009
Q: There is a circuit in a house one recepticle measures 120 volts then the next one it feeds to ... A: If the outlets have a shared neutral, and the neutral is disconnected, the two circuits would be in ...
ceiling fan/light	9/25/2009
Q: I'm trying to install a ceiling fan/light with no instructions! At the ceiling fixture I have two ... A: For starters, the blue and black wires from the fan should be connected together to the same house ...
Mounting an exterior light fixture	9/25/2009
Q: I'm installing new exterior light fixtures, and I'm not sure how to keep the x-bar from spinning. ... A: Try to use it as they suggest. When everything is together and the light is against the house, it ...
Entire Circuit Turns Off/On At Will	9/25/2009
Q: Today when I came home from work, I noticed the clocks in my bedroom had obviously reset from a ... A: Most likely a wire is loose somewhere. It is not likely the breaker. If the house was built in the ...
Breakers	9/24/2009
Q: What is the reason that there shouldn't be two wires on a single breaker? A: Because when there are 2 wires, it is usually because 2 circuits are now one circuit. There is a ...
bathroom plug	9/24/2009
Q: Bob, I have a plug that has gone out in the bathroom. I checked the breaker box but nothing was ... A: Somewhere in the house there has to be a GFCI that controls that outlet. It could be in a bathroom, ...
photo sensor	9/24/2009
Q: We have 3 'canned lighting' bulbs that overhang from above our garage on the outside. Last night all ... A: Yes, they can be replaced. It should be outside somewhere. The actual photo part is about the size ...
50 Volt reading when light switch off	9/24/2009
Q: In the course of replacing an outdoor flood light, I noticed that with the interior switch turned ... A: Voltage like that usually comes across the neutral wire. Either the circuit has a shared neutral ...
kiln in a dryer that used to be a stove	9/24/2009
Q: I have a kiln to fire ceramics that draws 30amps. I want to use it outside but I only have 15 amps ... A: You really can't use extension cords for large appliances like that. There is a good chance the ...
installing ceiling fan	9/24/2009
Q: I have a wall switch that was controlling a dated corner ceiling light fixture. I removed the ... A: You can either run the wires to the switch, or you can run it to where the old fixture was. If you ...
Changing ceiling circular light fixtue to fluorescent	9/24/2009
Q: I have a circular ceiling incandescent light fixture and am changing it to fluorescent.The circular ... A: The black wires together is like one black wire. The white wires together is like on white wire. ...
Changing ceiling circular light fixtue to fluorescent	9/23/2009
Q: I have a circular ceiling incandescent light fixture and am changing it to fluorescent.The circular ... A: When you take the old fixture down, you should end up with two wires. Most likely a black and white ...
Faulty Light Wiring...?	9/23/2009
Q: We have two light switches in my home that powers on two separate lights simultaneously in our ... A: If it is a fluorescent light, they can be quirky. It could be the ballast or the starter. If it is ...
Wiring hot tub cabana	9/23/2009
Q: I just built a new hot tub cabana. The hot tub part of this is all running and wired on a GFCI ... A: If the hot tub is not part of this circuit, you should be OK. It depends on what you use the ...
Bathroom fan wire	9/23/2009
Q: I have a Broan 741WH exhaust fan with light- wire from single pole switch to light above sink ... A: The whites are your neutral and should connect to the white wire coming in. The blue and black are ...
wire dilema!	9/23/2009
Q: sorry to trouble you and thank you in advance! I have no power to my detached garage. It was ... A: It sounds like you have a 20 amp breaker, wire for 40 or 50 amps and a 100 amp panel. Everything ...
Eliminate switch controlling outlet	9/22/2009
Q: I have an outlet in the bedroom which was completely controlled by a light switch in the room. A ... A: Most likely if you get a short piece of house wire and connect it to the other brass terminal and ...
wiring garage	9/22/2009
Q: I'm wiring up my garage right now, and this is what I've done so far. Dug my trench, 24" deep. Laid ... A: Yes, all separate buildings require ground rods. Yes, you can use a junction box and splice the ...
Ceiling light in garage	9/22/2009
Q: I am using a garage as a games room. I want to suspend a light from the ceiling over a pool table. ... A: Aren't there any lights in the garage? Normally you would just change the fixture out. It would ...
adding ceiling fan/lights wiring	9/22/2009
Q: Bob, I read your answer to a similar question and hoped you might help me. I am adding a ceiling ... A: You can use a 3 conductor wire such as 14/3 or 12/3 (depending on the size of the breaker) between ...
Wiring shed electric to well pump	9/16/2009
Q: I am trying to wire the electric to my portable shed to my well pump since it is 5 feet from it. ... A: The well pump needs to be on its own circuit. You would need to run another circuit out. Most ...
Deading wires	9/16/2009
Q: The question I have is we a wall that we are taking out and we have to dead the wires before they ... A: It's not easy. Either the wires have to be disconnected from each end and removed. Or they have to ...
Ground wire / light fixtue	9/16/2009
Q: I re-wired a light fixture and did not include a ground wire - is this going to cause problems with ... A: A ground wire is required unless it is an old ungrounded building. It is for safety. You must ...
sub panel	9/16/2009
Q: ANSWER: Hi. A sub panel will not add any new capacity. There is no way a 100 amp panel will take ... A: It's still a tough situation, because the stove would use 50 amps, and the water heater 30. So, you ...
Re: Electric Dryer not getting power	9/16/2009
Q: We recently had a houseguest from Britain, who tried to use a hair dryer with a converter to us ... A: I don't see how the problem with the hair dryer could cause the dryer not to work. If it does not ...
How to find a short in wiring	9/15/2009
Q: We turned on the light over stove and the light got very bright and then the light blew & the entire ... A: It sounds like a wire burned loose. If the breaker is a double pole breaker, then you have a shared ...
adding a light to a switched plug	9/15/2009
Q: I have added a ceiling light. and want to run it off the switch that works a plug in the room. when ... A: You put the plug and light in series with each other. Was there only a black and white wire at the ...
GFCI	9/14/2009
Q: are the outlets in a garage required to be on a gcfi, also what about the the outlet for the washing ... A: Yes, GFCIs are required in garages. Also 6 feet from any laundry sinks, and I assume the washer ...
Crossed wires somewhere in 1950s era home	9/14/2009
Q: I have a pair of circuits that may have a crossed wire somewhere. Let me give you some detail. I ... A: No, they MUST be connected to a double pole breaker. If they are connected on the same phase, the ...
Electrical wiring for lighting fixtures at home	9/14/2009
Q: I installed 2 lighting fixtures in the Master Bedroom, and it's a simple install. I connected the ... A: Your wires are strange colors. Normally when that happens someone has connected the black fixture ...
electrical outlet i replaced	9/14/2009
Q: I recently replaced an electrical outlet in my living room. However; now the outlet doesn't work nor ... A: The ground wire is a safety device and should not affect the working of the plugs. However, usually ...
Crossed wires somewhere in 1950s era home	9/13/2009
Q: I have a pair of circuits that may have a crossed wire somewhere. Let me give you some detail. I ... A: It sounds like you have a shared neutral circuit in the kitchen. That is two hot wires and one ...
wire size	9/12/2009
Q: I want to run wire from my main elect. supply that is in the house to a green house in back of the ... A: The size wire depends on the type of wire and the length. At the very minimum you will need number ...
Under cabinet hard-wired lighting	9/12/2009
Q: An electrician installed under cabinet lights that are hard-wired. After a year one of the units ... A: There are different kinds. Most likely it is outside of the fixture. There may be a tab that has ...
electrical problems	9/12/2009
Q: This may be beyond your expertise, but I will ask anyway. Thank you problems are numerous. There a ... A: If some of the lights get brighter and some dimmer, then it is the neutral wire. However, if ...
Metering voltage on electrical outlets	9/12/2009
Q: 4 electrical outlets connected in parallel. Last two does not work. I metered the first dead outlet ... A: Yes, if you know that is the way they are wired up. If the wiring is behind the walls, it could be ...
12/2/wire	9/11/2009
Q: I know that it takes 12/2 wire to run 20amps, but is there any reason I can't use 12/2 on 15a ... A: You are definitely going to need a 60 amp breaker. You should also use a 60 amp sub panel. Since it ...
Metering voltage on electrical outlets	9/11/2009
Q: 4 electrical outlets connected in parallel. Last two does not work. I metered the first dead outlet ... A: There is a white neutral wire loose or disconnected. The reading you are getting is feedback. Do not ...
Internal LIght sensors	9/11/2009
Q: I need some help, I need to know if theres a outdoor sensors that when crossed turns on a timed ... A: I usually don't answer questions outside of North America, because I do not know the electrical ...
changing switch to outlet	9/10/2009
Q: okay here is the circuit chain i am looking to modify. Kitchen Circuit---> Inside Light Switch ... A: Yes, you can do it. If the power enters the switch first, then take out the switch. You should have ...
Light Switch/Dimmer Wiring	9/10/2009
Q: I am trying to connect a dimmer switch to each of two outlets in a room with overhead track ... A: First of all, you can use only one dimmer and a switch. You can't use two dimmers. There is no ...
combination 2 switches	9/10/2009
Q: I am attempting to replace a switch to my lighted ceiling fan, The switch has two toggles and five ... A: The wire coming from the power source goes to a terminal marked "common" There should also be a ...
Energy Saving Bulbs + Low Prices?	9/9/2009
Q: I am in the process of switching my apartment over to energy saving light bulbs. This is the first ... A: They are usually cheap because someone (power company, government, etc.) subsidizes them. If you ...
GFIC trips	9/9/2009
Q: I have Square-D QO 20amp breakers in panel & working, trying to replace a couple with Square-D 20amp ... A: Do you have the white wire from the load connected to the breaker, and not the neutral bar? Only ...
12 2 no ground	9/9/2009
Q: i took out an old wall heater. it had 12 2 wire, NO ground. i want to replace it (the heater) with ... A: It would be best to run a new line to the panel. If you use the old wire, make sure it was not a ...
1960 electical issue..	9/9/2009
Q: I bought a house built in 1960 and believe the wiring is still original. We had an overload in the ... A: It sounds like there is a wire not making contact somewhere. These things can be hard to track down. ...
Home Electrical open Ground outlet	9/9/2009
Q: The subject receptacles (duplex) was working good until I notice that my sprinkler system is not ... A: No. If your load is using the ground as a neutral, it is a shock and fire hazard. The ground has ...
I should have marked my wire	9/8/2009
Q: I have an issue with a garage switch that I was wanting to change out because I was needing to turn ... A: It isn't that hard. All the whites connect together. The black from the power source goes to one ...
3 hot wires on a 15 amp switch?	9/8/2009
Q: I have a 15 amp switch that I would like to add ceiling fan wiring to. The switch already has 2 hot ... A: Most terminals are made for only one wire. The proper way to add more wires is to run a short ...
time for professional??	9/8/2009
Q: The tv keeps popping the circuit breaker, several outlets are not working, the ceiling fans in both ... A: It depends on the situation. If the TV is causing the breaker to pop, then you may just need a new ...
Adding Sub-Panel	9/8/2009
Q: I have a 200 amp main service, it is full and cannot even add the 1/2 piggyback (mini-breakers). I ... A: No, you can't add a 100 amp panel, then run a 60 amp line to it. With a 100 amp panel, you would ...
unwanted electrical outlets	9/8/2009
Q: I have two switches on the wall to lights that have been removed. How do I safely disconnect the ... A: Unfortunately, you are not allowed to cover up junction boxes that have live wires in them. So, you ...
Home Electrical open Ground outlet	9/7/2009
Q: The subject receptacles (duplex) was working good until I notice that my sprinkler system is not ... A: The ground wire is there for safety. It should not affect the operation of the outlet. Metal boxes ...
Multiple AC outlets with weak current	9/7/2009
Q: I've got a situation where several outlets on different circuits in my home seem to have weak AC ... A: I am not sure what you mean by weak current. If you check the voltage, and get less than 110 volts, ...
switch and plug	9/7/2009
Q: I want to wire a double plug to be controlled by a switch. I have a ground, black and white wire ... A: OK. I am assuming that both the power source and the switch wires are in the box with the outlet. ...
tanning bed	9/7/2009
Q: I brought my girlfriends tanning bed to my house and bought 50ft of wire, the hardware store said it ... A: You not only have to worry about volts, but also amps. Any wire that can handle 110 volts will ...
unwanted electrical outlets	9/7/2009
Q: I have two switches on the wall to lights that have been removed. How do I safely disconnect the ... A: Since there is still one switch there, you would need to get a triple plate with one switch and two ...
Wiring Under Cabinet Lights	9/7/2009
Q: I want to add hard wired under cabinet lights to my kitchen. I want to tap of an already existing ... A: There should still be no lamp cord connected permanently to the circuit. Even if you planned to use ...
Loss of power	9/7/2009
Q: I have lost power to a bathroom and also 2 patio outlets. have reset breakers that seemed related, ... A: There is a GFCI somewhere in your house, that controls the outdoor plugs. Check the bathrooms, ...
Wiring Under Cabinet Lights	9/6/2009
Q: I want to add hard wired under cabinet lights to my kitchen. I want to tap of an already existing ... A: The code does not allow you to connect lamp cord directly to an outlet. It really isn't safe, and ...
home wiring	9/6/2009
Q: I'm installing a new range in my old house, and re-routing a 50 amp existing wiring, that was ... A: If you get a voltage meter or a light that detects different voltages, put the tester on the wires. ...
GFCI's	9/6/2009
Q: All of my GFI are not working, they have all switched off. They will reset when I turn the breaker ... A: I don't understand why all of the GFCIs are on one circuit, if each outlet has a GFCI. If you are ...
up-grade service w/ 2 meters	9/6/2009
Q: How difficult is a service up-grade ( 100amps-200amps ) with a main meter above a hotwater meter. ... A: I agree that the electrician was not experienced with the double meter. But it is not that uncommon ...
double switch outlet	9/6/2009
Q: i have a light switch that has two on-off flippers. one goes to a light in kitchen, other to porch ... A: Sorry about the glitch in the system. Anyway, one wire goes on the side which should be marked ...
wiring	9/6/2009
Q: I 'VE GOT A 50 FT. WELDING EXTENSION CORD THAT WAS MADE FOR A WELDER IT HAS HAS 3 WIRES ... A: How many amps is the welder. If it's more than 30, you can't connect it to a 30 amp circuit. It's ...
Stove wiring	9/5/2009
Q: I had a gas stove and now am installing an electric one. There is an outlet behind the current ... A: The stove uses more power than anything else in a house, so you will need very thick wiring. Check ...
up-grade service w/ 2 meters	9/5/2009
Q: How difficult is a service up-grade ( 100amps-200amps ) with a main meter above a hotwater meter. ... A: It seems that most utility companies charge the same for water heaters and everything else, so you ...
low voltage	8/22/2009
Q: I have a kitchen florecent light hooked up to 2 3-way switches. The light blew out and will not come ... A: The first step is to replace both switches. They can wear out, and cost only a few dollars. Be sure ...
Wiring 110 to 220 on a receptacle	8/21/2009
Q: I need to convert a 110 wall outlet to a 220. It's on a dedicated line. Is the following correct? ... A: You have to make sure that the amps are right. The wire, the appliance, and the breakers all have ...
Door Chime	8/21/2009
Q: Bob, I just bought an old house (1955) and the doorbell doesn't work. With a little investigative ... A: It's hard to tell how it was wired up. If the 2 white wires were connected to each other, then most ...
adding a switch to basement	8/14/2009
Q: I am in a 1920's home and the top of my basement steps has a switch that operates one light. I ... A: If one of the wires go only to the other lights on pull chains, then you can change the black wire ...
New wiring for ceiling fan	8/14/2009
Q: I'm having a ceiling fan with light installed and want to control the light and fan separately, so I ... A: It is very unsafe. Do not use it. You can get a remote switch and still use the two conductor ...
wiring for a roommate!	8/14/2009
Q: My question is, how do i wire two outlets after one switch so that when i flip the switch, both ... A: Have the power enter the switch first. At the switch, the white wires connect to each other. The ...
Water Heater	8/14/2009
Q: I recently bought a water heater and am going to put it in. It is the same type that I am taking ... A: Water heaters work with 2 hot wires (no neutral). The wire you have going to it should have 2 ...
wiring a pendant	8/13/2009
Q: im wiring up a pendant,and there are two in the room but just changing one,now the other one i havnt ... A: There are many ways it can be wired. However, if you have red and black wires at the existing ...
wires/changing light switch	8/13/2009
Q: I have replaced a ceiling fan in one of my bedrooms. The ceiling fan before worked off a dimmer ... A: You can't connect a fan to a dimmer. Only lights can connect to a dimmer. Is there 2 switches ...
Light Wiring	8/13/2009
Q: We've replaced a bedroom light with a ceiling fan. It comes with a remote that doesn't work with the ... A: You can not make connections without a junction box. It is against code. It is also dangerous. It ...
Disconect a switch leg of 3-way and replace with single pole	8/12/2009
Q: I have the outside lights connected to two 3-way switches,one in living room Sw#1 and another in ... A: This is too complicated to answer without knowing exactly where each and every wire goes to. I would ...
install ceiling fan with recessed lighting: individual shutoffs for recessed lights available?	8/12/2009
Q: I have a line of 3 recessed lights in a 2nd story, the room needs a ceiling fan in the center light ... A: You can run a separate wire to the fan, and have that on a separate switch. Your recessed lights ...
switch-plug install	8/12/2009
Q: Good afternoon Bob I have a switch-plug to replace an existing two-plug outlet so we can avoid ... A: There should be a green screw that connects to the metal strap of the device. That is the ground, ...
adding outlets & fan	8/12/2009
Q: I live in a condo in PA. I would like to install a ceiling fan in the living room and 3 ... A: I don't know where you got the number 7 from. There are other rules. You have to have so many ...
Tankless water heater	8/12/2009
Q: What would happen if a tankless water heater requiring a double 50 AMP breaker was hooked up to a ... A: If you are lucky, it would trip the breaker. If you are not lucky, it would start a fire. ...
Dawn to Dusk light	8/12/2009
Q: I have just replaced my dawn to dusk floodlight and put the wires in the same places as I took them ... A: The photo cells are very sensitive, so it may be defective or damaged. Make sure there is not an ...
Voltage Drop in Garage	8/11/2009
Q: I was replacing outside lights attached to the garage circuit. After replacing the first one, I ... A: Strange readings like these are usually caused by a disconnected neutral. The reading is feedback. ...
replace existing switch in switch box	8/10/2009
Q: My 20amp for closing garage door is not working.(9 yrs) Time & again I have turned switch off & back ... A: There may be a short or overload causing the problem. So changing the breaker may not fix it. When ...
Bedroom Ceiling Lighting Periodic Dimming	8/10/2009
Q: Our master bedroom circuit is trending towards a worsening condition of intermittent blinking or ... A: If it is only that circuit flickering, then about the only wires you will need to check are the hot ...
electrical short?	8/9/2009
Q: As new homeowners my husband removed an old ceiling fan and installed the new one in our livingroom. ... A: Unfortunately, whatever was shorted and burned loose was between the fan an the breaker box. So, ...
Recessed lights wiring to exisiting points	8/9/2009
Q: I am planning to install 2 sets of recessed lights 6bulb and 3blub. Currently on the wall there is a ... A: The two conductor cable in the switch box is most likely the power coming in. So the black wire ...
Bedroom Ceiling Lighting Periodic Dimming	8/9/2009
Q: Our master bedroom circuit is trending towards a worsening condition of intermittent blinking or ... A: Most likely there is a wire somewhere not making a good connection. It may be a wire pushed into ...
dusk to dawn lights	8/8/2009
Q: bought two new lights with sensors lights burn when you turn on switch, no cover on photo eye ... A: When you have problems with a specific brand, it is best to contact their customer service ...
ceiling/vanity lights not working but outlet is	8/8/2009
Q: When I flipped the switch there was a pop & the ceiling light didn't come on. Changed the light ... A: Lights and outlets are usually on different circuits in the bathroom. It sounds like a wire came ...
accuracy of circuit testers	8/8/2009
Q: ..i just moved into an apt where most of the electrical outlets are 2 prong, however there are a ... A: The grounding is a safety device that was started around the early 1960's, so anything before that ...
accuracy of circuit testers	8/7/2009
Q: ..i just moved into an apt where most of the electrical outlets are 2 prong, however there are a ... A: If the person who wired the outlet connected the ground to the neutral, this is dangerous, but would ...
amp breakers	8/7/2009
Q: I have a business that requires me to install a 2/20 amp breaker to the main panel to connect and or ... A: In most cases, the only allowed work that is not done by an electrician is for a homeowner to do ...
Size of wiring for AFCI and GFCI	8/6/2009
Q: Bob, does the fact that a circuit is going to be controlled either by an AFCI or a GFCI breaker have ... A: It does not matter on the wire size, except that most places that need a GFCI needs a 20 amp ...
Changing an electrical outlet controlled by a lightswitch	8/6/2009
Q: I have been replacing all of the plugs & light switches in my home, and have created a problem. In ... A: Are there any plugs that have one outlet on all the time, and one on a switch? If so, the brass tab ...
Grounding	8/5/2009
Q: We live in a double wide mobile home. The breaker box is a 220. When I went to turn on the overhead ... A: There is a wire loose somewhere in the circuit. However, it would not be the ground, because the ...
Wiring in a Mobile Home	8/5/2009
Q: I have a very old mobile home. The wiring looks fairly new, mostly copper if not all. My question ... A: If it is every other breaker not working, the problem is between the breaker panel and the street. ...
outlet not working	8/5/2009
Q: Two outlets, on the same circuit, felt hot so I turned off the breaker and pulled the receptacles on ... A: Did you break the tab between the two brass colored screws? You should have. Did you break the tab ...
Wiring to add a ceiling fan	7/26/2009
Q: I am looking to add a ceiling fan to a bedroom. There currently is no fixture on the ceiling. I ... A: If all the outlets are on all the time, you won't need the switch anyway. So you may as well use it ...
Wiring attic fan	7/25/2009
Q: I'm trying to wire an attic fan up to an existing switched circuit that's powering a ceiling fan. ... A: It may be something entirely unrelated to how it was wired. The fan could be defective, or a wire ...
Receptacle wiring	7/25/2009
Q: I am trying to change my receptacles and noticed that the black wire has a little strip exposing the ... A: Theoretically any lighting is not supposed to be on a kitchen outlet circuit. Although I can't say ...
amps per square footage	7/24/2009
Q: Is there a chart I can find on line that would give the necessary amps per home square footage.... ... A: There are formulas for branch circuits based on square footage. However, there are a lot of factors ...
replace 100 amp main breakers	7/24/2009
Q: Can I replace 100 amp pushmatic main breakers with a different type that is more available? A: Pushmatic breaker boxes will accept only Pushmatic breakers. So, you will either have to get a ...
Receptacle wiring	7/24/2009
Q: I am trying to change my receptacles and noticed that the black wire has a little strip exposing the ... A: I would feel comfortable wrapping the wire with tape, as long as it is in a junction box. Although ...
Residential Home Amperage	7/24/2009
Q: My realtor has requested a disclosure statement to be completed prior to listing our home for sale. ... A: You are getting amperage and voltage confused. The amperage is the total for the whole house. It is ...
electric wiring in home	7/23/2009
Q: So I'm wanting to know how to run wire from an outlet and connect it to the breaker box. ANSWER: ... A: If the breaker trips, there may be a wire pinched or a ground touching a screw. Look for black or ...
electric wiring in home	7/23/2009
Q: So I'm wanting to know how to run wire from an outlet and connect it to the breaker box. A: I can tell you how to connect the wires. However, there are a lot of rules, so you may want to take ...
outlets not working	7/23/2009
Q: Half of the outlets in my house have stopped working. when i test these outlets they all have power, ... A: I agree it is a neutral problem. It's just a matter of finding the problem. These things can be ...
Panel Box	7/23/2009
Q: I have an ITE G3040 main breaker box with no 100 or 200A main breaker. Can a main breaker be added ... A: Normally breaker boxes without mains are intended as a sub panel, or to be connected to some other ...
Switch for Hot Water Heater	7/23/2009
Q: My hot water heater does not have a switch to turn it off or on. I would like to install one. I can ... A: If you just cut the wires, you may not have enough slack to work with them. The connections have to ...
Light fixture problem	7/22/2009
Q: My problem concerns one circuit that powers 4 switches. The power runs into 1 box from the breaker, ... A: It sounds like somwhere there is a white neutral wire not making contact. The reading you are ...
use of 120v 250w bulb in outside lght	7/22/2009
Q: can I use a 120v 250w halogen bulb in my outside light with normal household wiring? I don't have ... A: Just about all fixtures have a maximum wattage stamped somewhere on the fixture. It is important to ...
Switch for Hot Water Heater	7/22/2009
Q: My hot water heater does not have a switch to turn it off or on. I would like to install one. I can ... A: With 220 volts, you have to disconnect both wires. So you would need a double pole switch with a ...
Electirical Wiring	7/21/2009
Q: This may sound silly, but I am just starting to decorate my three year old home, which was new when ... A: If you use plastic anchors (or other type of hallow wall anchor), you can make a hole in the ...
Load test	7/21/2009
Q: Bob, Thank you for your help. I have learned a lot by reading your posts. I would like to ... A: Although a lot of sub panels are installed, I am not really a fan of them. If you are running one ...
Electrical	7/21/2009
Q: I live in an apartment building and i had my AC running and the power shut down i reset the circuit ... A: If you live in a multi-tenant building, any electrical work should be done by an electrician. Most ...
Dryer Wiring	7/21/2009
Q: I just finished remodeling an older home. I discovered that I used 8-2 wire for the dryer instead ... A: This is not safe, and can lead to a shock or fire. Prior to 2005, the neutral was used as a ground. ...
Changing a hardwire to a 220 plug for my stove	7/20/2009
Q: I have a 55 year old house and my range just died. Currently the electricity is hard wired to the ... A: Each area is different, as far as allowing homeowners to do wiring themselves. Some places allow ...
intermittent power to bathroom recptacle	7/20/2009
Q: I have a bathroom receptacle that comes on and off at random. It almost seems to go on or off when ... A: I have never heard of a GFCI doing that. However, if the problem is temperature related, the garage ...
Adding a new breaker to supply pool/pond	7/20/2009
Q: I have recently installed both an above ground pool and a pond in my back yard. The goal is to be ... A: Everything depends on the amperage and voltage of the pumps. If you use any 12/2 on a circuit, you ...
plug w open neutral	7/20/2009
Q: we have a 3 elec. plugs (one in each bath) with one being a circuit braker type. they have worked ... A: It sounds like a white wire is not connected somewhere. Be sure to check the wire coming out of the ...
Changing regular outlet to GFCI	7/20/2009
Q: Since you are a "do-it-yourself" person, I figured I would contact you with my problem. Yesterday I ... A: You should not get any light between the long slot and the round one. This would indicate to me ...
circuit breaker tripping	7/19/2009
Q: Today I had a circuit breaker trip. When I tried to reset, it tripped again immediately. There ... A: The problem is usually in a box, not along the wire. So, just open up all of the boxes that are on ...
house electric problem	7/19/2009
Q: I have 100 amp service in a small house. Lately some lights and outlets will go out but no circuit ... A: Probably not. The main breaker would affect at least half of the breakers, with the problem being ...
Adding a power outlet to an existing wall switch	7/18/2009
Q: I have a wall switch the controls the ceiling light I want to add a power outlet next to it to power ... A: The main thing is checking the wires. If you have only one black and one white, you can not tap ...
Installed a new fan	7/18/2009
Q: I just installed a new fan and I connected for a wall switch for the light and a dimmer switch for ... A: Dimmers dim lights. Speed controls control speed. You can't interchange them. As far as the ...
light switch on blows breaker	7/18/2009
Q: We've lived in our home for 5 years. We were not doing any remodeling or repairs when problem ... A: First of all, the Home Depot guy was clueless. You only need a 20 amp switch if the lights pull 20 ...
Lost power to part of the house	7/15/2009
Q: My son caused a short in the wiring of a garden trimmer that was plugged into an outside outlet. The ... A: Is everything on the circuit, the bathroom, garage, basement, and outside? If so, there is a GFCI ...
wiring outlet for welder	7/15/2009
Q: I WOULD LIKE TO WIRE AN OUTLET FOR A WELDER I AM PURCHASING. OF THE TWO I AM CONSIDERING, THE FIRST ... A: You can't use 208 volts in a house. It is for industrial buildings. You would have to run a wire ...
door bell wiring	7/14/2009
Q: Bob I recently moved into this house and the door beel is not working I replaced the transformer ... A: If the chime is humming, it sounds like the button is on all the time, or the wires going to it are ...
Wall Outlet	7/14/2009
Q: I have an outlet for 4 (2 single plugs over/under and side by side). The left side stopped working ... A: The grounds are for safety, and will not affect the outlet. Do you have wires between the outlets? ...
bedroom light switch	7/13/2009
Q: can i attach two hot wires (black) to one of the two slots on back of light switch? A: If the slot is made for one wire, which most are, then you can't put 2 in. These slots are more ...
Hot/Ground Reversed Problem	7/13/2009
Q: Bob, I recently went on vacation and flipped some of my breakers off in the garage to save energy. ... A: Things just happen sometimes. Usually strange readings like this are caused by a loose or ...
socket wiring	7/12/2009
Q: I have an electrical socket that only has two wires and no ground. When I check the circuit, it says ... A: If you do not have a ground, you will get "open ground." However, you should not have a 3 prong ...
INLINE PLUG WIRING	7/12/2009
Q: BOB DURING A REMODEL IN A BEDROOM I HAVE HAD TO EXTEND A WIRE SO I COULD MOVE A SWITCH OVER A ... A: The switch sounds like a switch loop. a switch loop has 2 hot wires and no neutrals, so you can't ...
Buzzing noise from light fixture	7/12/2009
Q: I'm wondering about a buzzing noise coming from a light fixture in my attic. The buzz comes and goes ... A: If it is a simple porcelain socket with an incandescent bulb, I would try a new bulb. If not, there ...
Ground Wire	7/12/2009
Q: I am a brand-new home owner who closed on my home in Colorado only yesterday. Upon moving into my ... A: There are different opinions about running just a ground wire. If most people do not approve of a ...
AFCI Breaker tripping	7/7/2009
Q: Reecently had panel upgraded to include new arc fault breakers as required. Everything works ... A: AFCIs detect arcs and shut the power off. Many house fires are caused by arcing. It looks like the ...
Electrical Outlets not working	7/7/2009
Q: During a thunderstorm, the electricity went out in our 21 year old house. He came back on within ... A: These outlets would be controlled by the GFCI. This is a safety device for outlets near water. One ...
wiring for ceiling fan w/ light kit	7/7/2009
Q: I am having difficulty with my fan/light kit and need some help. I am confused by the wiring : from ... A: Do you have 2 switches for the unit? If so, the whites go together, the blacks go together, and the ...
Short in pendant lights?	7/7/2009
Q: Below is the problem I am having and a response I got earlier from AllExperts. I did what was ... A: If you had sparks flying from the center light, then you need to take it down and repair the wiring. ...
combination gfic outlets	7/7/2009
Q: How to install combination switch and gfic outlet? A: Normally they should come with instructions. It would wire like they are 2 separate devices. The ...
Electric Dryer Continued Problem	7/7/2009
Q: I had asked you a question on June 29th with subject of Home Grounding Problem. Our dryer had no ... A: You can put a tester between the two hot wires, either at the plug or at the panel. If you get a ...
Twist Lock Outlet	7/6/2009
Q: I am in the process of installing power to my pool pump. I have buried the wire in conduit and am ... A: I have never heard of this happening. But it sounds like the ground and neutral may be touching at ...
Townhouse without lights in two rooms	7/6/2009
Q: I own a 3-level townhouse which has no lights on the two small rooms on the third floor. Each room ... A: You can tap off of the switch. However, depending on where the power enters the system, you may ...
80 volts at wall outlet	7/6/2009
Q: I have 6 outlets in a bedroom that were working fine for many years until yesterday. All of the ... A: You have a neutral disconnected somewhere. The reading you are getting is from feedback through ...
no power in switch and plug	7/6/2009
Q: I started to use my vacuum and the power went off in several plugs on circuit. I thought I blew the ... A: I assume that the dimmer does not go to the outlet. Dimmers should never go to outlets. It sounds ...
switch problem	7/5/2009
Q: I recently replaced a a dimmer switch (that goes to a ceiling fan/light) to a remote wall switch. ... A: One of the wires is probably loose inside of the box. Check under the wire nuts so that you can see ...
Replacing Light Switch with Dimmer	7/5/2009
Q: I'm trying to do what I think should be a simple operation. Replace a light switch controlling a ... A: One wire from the dimmer connects to the black wires. These are the wires that bring power into the ...
Better to Increase Arc-Fault Breakers from 15-Amp to 20-Amp	7/5/2009
Q: Bob: We just moved into a 1965 home and are experiencing problems with the circuit breakers ... A: Never change a breaker to a higher amp. You would likely have a fire. Homeowners insurance would ...
Installing new light switch	7/5/2009
Q: Hey, I've been trying to install a new dimmer switch in my bathroom, but I cannot figure out the ... A: One terminal has 2 black wires. One bringing power in and one bringing power to the next box ...
celing light wiring	7/4/2009
Q: I removed a ceiling fan that had 3 wires (black, black with a white stripe and white) it was ... A: One red wire is on all the time, the other one is on when the switch is on. Treat the 2 black wires ...
Replacing a range receptacle	7/3/2009
Q: I just bought a house. Went to install my new dryer and the utility room had a Range Receptacle ... A: I hope the Lowe's guy stays out of the electrical department (unless it is to learn something.) As ...
Electrical outlets reading open ground	7/3/2009
Q: ok I have 6 outlets in my room that are reading open ground I have went and checked all the outlets ... A: Somewhere the ground wire is not making contact. It may not be easy to find. But there has to be a ...
ground wire to cold water spigot	7/3/2009
Q: I had a leaking hot water hose to my washer so I pulled it out to change the hoses. I found a wire ... A: The appliances don't need to be grounded to the water pipe if the house was built in the 1970's, and ...
Wiring lighting	7/3/2009
Q: Sir, I'm attempting to wire a porch light running from an existing light switch, using a separate ... A: At the outlet if all the screws are full on the outlet, you will need to use wire nuts and a short ...
Do I need a bigger breaker box?	7/3/2009
Q: I am remodeling a 25 year old master bath that currently runs off the same 15 amp service that the ... A: In most cases 100 amps is not enough, 150 is OK, but 200 amp main is best. Either look at the main ...
200 amp vs. 400 amp	7/2/2009
Q: Can you tell me the visible difference between looking at a 200 amp electrical panel and a 400 amp? ... A: Most houses are 200 amps or less. Usually for 400 amps, there are two 200 amp panels. So, you ...
FLOODLIGHTS	7/2/2009
Q: I HAD SOME DUSK TO DAWN FLOODLIGHTS ON MY PORCH AND EVERY TIME IT GETS LITTLE CLOUDY THEY COME ON. I ... A: Are the switches connected between the power coming in and the floodlight, or are they run from a ...
Wiring lighting	7/2/2009
Q: Sir, I'm attempting to wire a porch light running from an existing light switch, using a separate ... A: Not counting what you just added, do you have more than one cable with 2 wires in the existing ...
One leg of 240v not right	7/2/2009
Q: Incoming power to my distribution panel on one leg is 120V. The other leg is 124v. The leg with the ... A: The leg that is not working properly is not connected at some point. You are getting a reading from ...
circuit wiring for ceiling fan w 2 switch & separate electrical outlet	7/2/2009
Q: I have run 12-2g from panel (15 amp) to wall dual switch (light&fan) and have run 12-3 from switch ... A: At the switch box, the black power wire coming in will connect to all the switches. If the ...
installing a new outlet	7/2/2009
Q: I am replacing the outlets in my bedroom from the 1960's....there are 3 outlets and a switch that ... A: It depends on where the wires go to. If they all go to other outlets, then all the whites would ...
add 110 volt from 220 circuit	7/1/2009
Q: I have a 220 volt well pump supplied from a panel box in my home. The wire from my home goes to a ... A: The pump should be on its own circuit, and nothing should be added. Normally pumps do not require a ...
electrical outlet	7/1/2009
Q: this is what I have done. I cut a preexisting 120 volt line and ran it into a junction box where I ... A: It is correct if it is a regular line. Do you know exactly where the wire goes to? If not, it ...
Ceiling Light	7/1/2009
Q: I am replacing an existing flush mounted ceiling light with a chandelier type light in my dining ... A: Did you connect the fixture to the black and red? It is probably red and white. If not black and ...
gfi controlled receptacle	6/30/2009
Q: This problem is driving me crazy! I have receptacles in bathrooms that are on the same line with a ... A: I am sure it is a disconnected white wire somewhere. While it is rare for a problem to develop in ...
no power with breaker on	6/30/2009
Q: I blew an outlet checking it with a tester on the wrong setting, but the breaker never tripped. I ... A: The short probably burned a wire loose somewhere. These things can be hard to track down. ...
Ceiling Fan	6/30/2009
Q: I recently removed a ceiling fan that was working fine from the dining room to replace it with a ... A: You might have had a wire in the box touching something it shouldn't have. When you took the fan ...
New light bar	6/30/2009
Q: I am remodeling the bathroom. i am planning on removing the light bar (8 bulbs) and install two ... A: If you split from the existing box, you have to keep the box there, and you can't cover it up with ...
Circuit Breakers Keep Tripping	6/29/2009
Q: I believe I have an electrical problem in my home. Last weekend, I put on my self cleaning over and ... A: If the breaker box gets hot or even warm, it could cause the breakers to trip. The box could get ...
gfi controlled receptacle	6/29/2009
Q: This problem is driving me crazy! I have receptacles in bathrooms that are on the same line with a ... A: Funny voltage readings are caused by disconnected neutral wires. The reading is feedback through ...
adding a switch for low voltage undercabinet lighting	6/29/2009
Q: I installed 12/2 romex in the wall from an existing outlet in the kitchen and a single pole switch ... A: I am talking about what is there now. If you have only one black and one white, then it is a switch ...
Home Grounding Issue	6/29/2009
Q: One week ago we had an electrical storm and lost power to our home for approximately 3 hours. All ... A: The ground is a safety system, but should not affect the operation of anything. I also don't see ...
Wiring ceiling fan/light made plugs not work	6/29/2009
Q: Bob, I tried my hand yesterday for the first time installing lights in my rented townhouse. I ... A: You probably just have a wire loose or not connected. Take a look under the wire nuts and be sure ...
Here's a winner...	6/28/2009
Q: 12 year-old home. We've been here 7+ years. Load center circuits were never identified well so we ... A: Did you check the smoke detectors? Furnace motor? Bathroom outlets? If it isn't anything you can ...
ceiling fan & light	6/28/2009
Q: currently the ceiling fan and the light are operated by a single switch. I would like to control ... A: Assuming that the power enters the switch first, then you would have to run another wire from the ...
adding a switch for low voltage undercabinet lighting	6/28/2009
Q: I installed 12/2 romex in the wall from an existing outlet in the kitchen and a single pole switch ... A: Some people do hook up a few lights with the outlets, but it is against code. It just takes away ...
SPST switch w/pilot	6/27/2009
Q: i rewired my basement lights to work with the step light. It works the way I wanted but the pilot is ... A: In order for the pilot to work only when the lights are on, it must have the same connections as the ...
Installing Ceiling Light Fixture	6/27/2009
Q: I started to install a new hanging ceiling light fixture and when I got to the point to wire the ... A: The wire that goes to the socket's threaded shell should be the white, and the wire that goes to the ...
gfci outlet problem	6/27/2009
Q: The gfci outlet in my garage tripped and is unable to be reset. I replaced it with a new one and it ... A: My guess is that water got into the outside outlets. Of course, make sure everything is unplugged ...
outlest not working in the bathrooms	6/27/2009
Q: Bob, I have a 2bd/2ba condo and both of the outlets in the bathrooms have been dead for a while. I ... A: The outlets should be on a circuit with a GFCI. These are outlets which have a test and reset ...
adding electrical outlets	6/27/2009
Q: I currently have a gang box outside that has 3 different lines coming in and connected to each other ... A: You may not want to add anything else on this circuit. What do these wires go to? Is it a general ...
adding a switch for low voltage undercabinet lighting	6/27/2009
Q: I installed 12/2 romex in the wall from an existing outlet in the kitchen and a single pole switch ... A: Lighting should not be added to kitchen outlet circuits. It should be added to lighting circuits, ...
box with two switch poles and two electral plugs.	6/26/2009
Q: I have an old house, I'm trying to replace my two switch and electrical outlets. One switch turns on ... A: Not having a ground would not be the cause of a tripped breaker or blown fuse. Most likely you have ...
Electrical outlet / Kitchen	6/25/2009
Q: I just returned my 4th coffee maker within the last 2 months. They have all been different brands ... A: Sometimes kitchen outlets are wired on a shared neutral circuit. Is the breaker for that outlet a ...
Installing outside motion light	6/25/2009
Q: I am planning on installing an outside motion light from scratch. There is a light socket in the ... A: If the power enters the light first, then you can tap off of it so that it is on when the light is ...
bathroom wiring	6/25/2009
Q: i am wiring a gfci and 2 switches in the same box. i have a 2 wire system conduit covered wire ... A: If everything is working OK, I wouldn't worry about it. You are getting a funny reading because it ...
dimmer light on ceiling fan	6/25/2009
Q: About 6 months ago I added a light to my ceiling fan. It had wiring for a light but no socket. I ... A: I have not heard of that happening. You can try to connect another socket, and see if it helps. If ...
3 way switch wiring	6/25/2009
Q: I have a double switch in my basement I am trying to replace. The problem is it is a combo switch ... A: A 3 way switch has 3 screws and a regular switch has 2, so you need only 5. I assume that the extra ...
Wiring project	6/24/2009
Q: Remodeling a bath room and want to do the following: replace the wall switch with a combination ... A: Yes, what you have is a switch loop, and there is no neutral. Both wires are hot, one being on all ...
outdoor post light:: gas or electric?	6/24/2009
Q: I bought my current house with a outdoor post light by my driveway that has never worked. A ... A: It is hard to tell. You will have to look more closely. See if maybe someone used water/gas pipe ...
Receptacles and circuit breakers	6/24/2009
Q: I have a receptacle which apparently bypasses all circuit breakers in my house. It stays hot while I ... A: I have never heard of this. I would try turning off everything at one time and see if you have ...
Breaker Box Question	6/24/2009
Q: The electrical outlets in my office are virtually impossible to access, being behind a desk that ... A: No, the surge can still come from the neutral or ground. The breaker will stop only the hot wire. ...
Light Fixture	6/23/2009
Q: I changed out a single light fixture with one that has 3 lights. One by one the light bulbs have ... A: This is hard to figure out. You might want to check the voltage. If there was a mistake, it is ...
Outdoor water spigot sending a nasty shock!	6/23/2009
Q: First off, Thank You for submitting your time for MY PROBLEM!! My Question to you is everytime I go ... A: Getting a shock is serious, so you are right not to touch it. Usually this can be a pretty ...
power problem in 2 rooms	6/23/2009
Q: Power is out in two of my rooms. i tried resetting all the switches in my house. The breaker is on. ... A: You can always disconnect the fan. However, it sounds like there is a loose wire somewhere else in ...
Electrical Wiring in the Home - AFCI	6/23/2009
Q: Electrical Wiring in the Home - AFCI Question I put an addition on my house with 2 ... A: No, I misunderstood your question. The wiring before the AFCIs should not matter, just the wire ...
Replacing two-prong outlets	6/23/2009
Q: I live in a house that was built in 1950. Most of the electrical outlets are two prong outlets. I ... A: The only way you can install 3 prong outlets on a non-grounded system is to use GFCIs. You can use ...
Wiring Double Switch (two single switches in one switch)	6/22/2009
Q: I am installing a ceiling fan in a room in my house. The house is new construction (bought Nov. ... A: Look at the existing fixture. If the red connects to the light fixture, and the black wire connects ...
help!	6/22/2009
Q: I am trying to install a new wall mount "vanity bar". I am getting power from the breaker, when ... A: It sounds like you connected these to a light switch going to something else. This is called a ...
Electrical Wiring in the Home - AFCI	6/22/2009
Q: Electrical Wiring in the Home - AFCI Question I put an addition on my house with 2 ... A: You have to have separate wires to the circuits with an AFCI or GFCI. It sounds like you have a ...
installing a remote control for ceiling fan	6/22/2009
Q: BoB I need to install a remote for a ceiling fan. The existing ceiling fan was controled by one ... A: The white and black should connect to the white and black power wires coming in. On the other side, ...
new ceiling fan	6/22/2009
Q: I installed a ceiling fan in my master bedroom. I tapped into an existing wire that runs in the ... A: You should not cut a wire in the middle. Be sure that when you fix it, it is in a junction box. If ...
generator to run hot wwater heater	6/22/2009
Q: and thank you . my question is about my hot water use if the power goes out after a hurricane here ... A: The only safe way to use a generator is to use a transfer switch. This will transfer the power from ...
pool motor failures	6/21/2009
Q: I have had 5 pool motors fail in 2 years (7/07, 1/08, 7/08,12/08, 2/08, 6/08). The 7/07 replacement ... A: I am not really a motor expert. But I would think that the main problem is that the motors may be ...
wiring problems?	6/21/2009
Q: My problem is the wiring in my barn. I had a bad light switch that I changed. The box is metal and ... A: When you get funny readings like that, it is usually caused by a loose or disconnected neutral white ...
outlets/switches	6/21/2009
Q: I replaced a ceiling fan with a regular ceiling fixture. There was a double switch in the bedroom ... A: Somewhere where you worked, there is a wire going to the rest of the circuit that either was not ...
Home Wiring	6/21/2009
Q: My home was built in 1945 we have had some problems with our electric ( not being able to run big ... A: The biggest appliances, should be on their own circuits, so that is usually not an issue. The room ...
kitchen receptical	6/21/2009
Q: My question today involves a 110-volt receptical in a kitchen. North American application My ... A: The neutral provides the path for electricity to return, since it always has to work in a circle. ...
Air Compressor Question	6/21/2009
Q: I am wanting to by an air compressor, probably one of these two: ... A: The outlet is definitely a 220 volt outlet. But any switch has to turn off both hot wires. It has ...
Open Ground	6/21/2009
Q: Bob, I have 4 110V outlets in my garage with one being a GFCI. This outlet is the only one i get a ... A: An open ground means that the bare ground wire is not connected somewhere. Although strange events ...
kitchen receptical	6/20/2009
Q: My question today involves a 110-volt receptical in a kitchen. North American application My ... A: This sounds like a shared neutral circuit. That is 2 110 volt circuits sharing one neutral. It is ...
Air Compressor Question	6/20/2009
Q: I am wanting to by an air compressor, probably one of these two: ... A: I see one compressor is 22 amps, the other is 15. Check the breaker size for that circuit. It ...
replacing ceiling light fixture	6/20/2009
Q: We are replacing light fixture (ceiling type - nothing fancy) have 2 white wires, 2 black wires, ... A: Always replace the light fixture exactly as the old one was wired. If you have a red wire, it is ...
Outlet blowing irons	6/19/2009
Q: My mon has an electrical outlet that is frying her clothes irons. She has gone through 2 and is on ... A: Unless those outlets are accidently wired for 220 volts, I don't see how an outlet could damage an ...
3 way switch	6/19/2009
Q: I am trying to wire up 3 way switches. I understand the concept but here's my problem: In one box I ... A: No, you don't need to run any other wires. The six conductors between the switches is enough. ...
motion sensor light	6/19/2009
Q: I've installed a motion sensor light @ the corner of my house. I ran 14 gauge wire and spliced it ... A: If you tapped from the porch light, it does not matter what the switch has (and it would have to ...
motion sensor light	6/19/2009
Q: I've installed a motion sensor light @ the corner of my house. I ran 14 gauge wire and spliced it ... A: First of all, make sure that nothing is touching what it shouldn't be touching. It may not be ...
3 way switch	6/19/2009
Q: I am trying to wire up 3 way switches. I understand the concept but here's my problem: In one box I ... A: Yes, that seem possible, although complicated. There are 6 conductors going between the switches. ...
feeding 2 dp 60amp breakers	6/19/2009
Q: what size circut do I need to feed 2 dp 60amp breakers in a sub panel A: Different types of wire, and different lengths require different sizes. When you buy the wire, the ...
Adding a ceiling fan with no light in ceiling	6/16/2009
Q: I want to add a ceiling fan to an upstairs room that has no lighting fixture on the ceiling at all. ... A: I have not seen that. You might be able to get a regular fan, and a swag kit. However, you should ...
20A circuits	6/15/2009
Q: Bob, I am running power to my tool shed for lights and maybe a receptacle to plug in a radio, weed ... A: If the shed is far from the house, 12/2 may not be thick enough. You need thicker wire over longer ...
curcuit breakers	6/15/2009
Q: Can I mix the brands of curcuit breakers in a curcuit breaker box? A: It is best not to. Some breakers will fit only their own brand, and some are interchangeable. Some ...
Adding a light and its switch to a loft	6/15/2009
Q: Your question was Our garage has a pair of florescent ceiling fixtures that are activated from a ... A: The diagram is correct. However, you may have accidently connected the power for the new switch on ...
bathroom plug humming & warm to touch	6/15/2009
Q: I have a plug in my bathroom for recharging my razor (faceplate says RAZOR ONLY). When I woke up ... A: There could be many reasons. The outlet may be defective, or the wire may be loose to it ...
Switch with pilot light	6/14/2009
Q: I just replaced a wall mounted light switch with pilot light. It works fine, but the pilot light ... A: Do you have a neutral in the box? Not all switches have a neutral in the box. In those cases, the ...
220 volt circuit	6/14/2009
Q: I need to add a 30 amp 220 circuit to the garage but my existing box is full. I need to remove the ... A: It depends on the type of wire and the length. But you need at least number 4 copper. The retailers ...
power out to wall sockets	6/14/2009
Q: I was running a TV and satellite receiver off a wall socket in my family room. I added a new music ... A: Strange readings like that are caused by feedback from the white wire not being connected somewhere. ...
Bathroom Light Fixture	6/14/2009
Q: We are replacing an old bathroom light fixture. The black and white wires both have two other wires ... A: Yes, the bundle of white wires from the fixture would act as one white, and the bundle of black ...
Installing a new switch next to an existing 3 way	6/14/2009
Q: We currently have a 3 way switch in our kitchen which controls recessed lighting. We want to add a ... A: No, it is not possible to tap there, unless the power happens to enter there. If it enters at the ...
Breaker box full need to make some room	6/13/2009
Q: I have a Jersey Pacific box that is full maybe one slot left. I need to add 220v/50amp breaker for ... A: Those double breaker in one slot will usually not work anyway. The boxes are made to hold only 10 ...
electrical	6/13/2009
Q: Is it possible to have a loose connection at the panel which causes the meter wire to burn? A: A loose connection could easily cause a wire to burn at the location it is loose, because there ...
bedroom breakers pop every morning	6/13/2009
Q: I just bought a new house built in 2008 I have been in it for about a week in a half, but every ... A: The breakers for the bedroom are AFCI breakers. These trip when there is an arc in the system. ...
wiring	6/12/2009
Q: I have a long hallway and want to be able to turn the light on and off from either end of the ... A: The easiest way would be to use a remote switch, which is a fake switch that looks like a real one ...
Home Re-wiring	6/12/2009
Q: I am about to re-wire an older home we just purchased and am looking to buy wire. I've heard that I ... A: Almost all homes are wired with nonmetallic wire. That would be NM-B. It is also called Romex, which ...
Gfi	6/12/2009
Q: this evening I heard a loud crackling sound coming from the kitchen and found it was coming from a ... A: It is hard to say what happened. A GFCI should shut off only where there is a ground fault. So, it ...
Pendant lighting with 3 way switch	6/12/2009
Q: I have been reading up on this... but questions remain. I have 3 pendant lights to hang ... A: The pictures don't really help, because I would need to know where the wires go to. Please tell me ...
wall outlets	6/11/2009
Q: My house is 15 years old -- all of a sudden 3 out of 4 of the wall outlets that run along my kitchen ... A: Kitchen outlets and lights are always on separate circuits. The only other thing with the kitchen ...
Exterior garage lights	6/11/2009
Q: I want to have 2 exterior garage lights controlled by the garage door opener(GDO)so that the ... A: Many years ago, Stanley made a gargage door opener that was X10 compatible. Unfortunately they sold ...
wiring change	6/11/2009
Q: I have a light controlled by 3-way switches. I want to rewire so I have light (power source) ... A: To give you the exact information, I would need to know exactly where the power enters the system, ...
12/3 20A Junction Box	6/11/2009
Q: Whatever level of knowledge is classified as novice, I'm below it! I've just started learning by ... A: The air conditioner needs to remain on its own circuit. You will need to run new circuits from the ...
Variable Fan Controls and Weird Voltage	6/11/2009
Q: I am in the process of replacing two ceiling fans in my living room. The fans are on a 3 way ... A: If you have 190 volts, it sounds like somehow the hot wires of two circuits are involved with the ...
wire gauge	6/11/2009
Q: I am putting up a small utility shed that I want to put one outlet in. I will be running the wire ... A: The retailer normally has an ampacity chart based on the length and type of wire. Without seeing ...
Wiring 2 switches from 1 source	6/11/2009
Q: I have 1 source from my panel to the switch box. Going out of the switch box, I have 2 feeds, 1 to a ... A: There are 2 ways that the black wire can go to both switches: Leave a very long piece, cut the ...
Dead outlets	6/10/2009
Q: Sponaugle, I've recently replaced an overhead lighting fixture in my bedroom with a ceiling fan. ... A: This happens once in a while. Usually one of the wires is not making contact, even though it looks ...
Addition of 100 AMP Outdoor CB Box	6/10/2009
Q: I wanted to know what size wire should feed the Outdoor Box I am installing. The box is a 100 AMP ... A: It all depends on the kind of wire, and the length of the run. Normally when you buy the wire, the ...
Two main breakers	6/10/2009
Q: I have a nice 100 year old house. It's a little over 2000sq ft. It has a 100 amp main feeding a ... A: It may be a "fire switch." This gives the firemen a chance to easily turn the power off from ...
adding another outlet to an existing one	6/10/2009
Q: I have a standard wire coming from the wall, ready to hook up to an outlet socket (the thing you ... A: You can install a GFCI anywhere in the circuit, but it can't protect any outlets before it. It ...
grounding outlets	6/9/2009
Q: my friends and it happens to be my boss...has an older house and the outlets are NOT grounded.. he ... A: There is no way anyone could give you even a ball park estimate, because it would mean tearing out ...
wiring	6/9/2009
Q: i have a feed line going into an outside outlet, and we are hooking a light switch and a light to ... A: If the wire goes from the outlet to the switch to the light, then at the outlet, you would connect ...
Electrical	6/8/2009
Q: Bob, I have a few questions: #1 Can I 3-way wire a ceiling fan and light separately using a slider ... A: The outlets in the kitchen must be separate from any lights and fans, and these must be 20 amp ...
20 amp Cutler Hammer dual pole circuit breaker	6/8/2009
Q: The above 20 amp circuit breaker tripped because a microwave, infrared cooker, refrigerator and ... A: The breaker could be bad. But more likely a wire burned loose somewhere in the circuit. These ...
adding another outlet to an existing one	6/7/2009
Q: I have a standard wire coming from the wall, ready to hook up to an outlet socket (the thing you ... A: You will need to get short lengths of wire the same thickness as what is there. (12 gauge if you ...
electrical wire and panel	6/7/2009
Q: if i have a 10.3 wire running to an existing panel and want to upgrade to a 60 amp panel which will ... A: If you change a breaker without changing the wire, you will likely have a fire. Most insurance ...
bathroom light	6/7/2009
Q: I have a bathroom light that doesn't light when the switch is on. I have checked the voltage at the ... A: When you get a reading with a meter, but not with a bulb, you are getting feedback. In most cases, ...
no power to outlet, o/s outlet, & double switch	6/7/2009
Q: My home is 46 years old with same electrical wiring. I have a double switch to power a track light ... A: It sounds like a wire is not making contact. These things can be hard to track down. Somewhere in ...
3 Prong Plugs need changed	6/7/2009
Q: Bob, my husband is building a new computer and has purchased 3 trippLite ™ Power strips. These are ... A: If you are sure that the breaker is 20 amps and the wire is 12 between the panel and the outlet, ...
kitchen light	6/6/2009
Q: my kitchen light quit working. i changed the switch, but that wasnt it. iv noticed after trying to ... A: The outlet should be on another circuit, since all kitchen outlets are separate from lights. If you ...
residential wiring	6/6/2009
Q: i plugged my vacumn in, it blew the breaker, now my ground is energized to 14 volts and hot is only ... A: Strange readings like that are usually caused by a disconnected neutral (white) wire. These things ...
kitchen light	6/6/2009
Q: my kitchen light quit working. i changed the switch, but that wasnt it. iv noticed after trying to ... A: Is it a florescent fixture? Perhaps the ballast is bad. You can get a cheap socket and a 60 watt ...
Hot Tub Circuit	6/6/2009
Q: Here is the scenario, we just bought a house with a tripped 50a 240v GFCI breaker feeding the tub. ... A: It sounds like you did everything correctly. I don't know of any way to find the problem other than ...
Timer Switch	6/6/2009
Q: I have an "Intermatic" spring wound interval switch. Normally it's used to replace a wall on/off ... A: It sounds like it is wired correctly. One wire of the extension cord should not be cut. One wire ...
Wiring several lights in a row	6/6/2009
Q: I have a line of lights I would like to wire in a row with the supply cable entering the first light ... A: If the plug is connected to the second light, you are OK. If it is connected to the third light you ...
60A subpanel	6/6/2009
Q: I am using 30A of the 60A subpanel located in the garage. I live in San Jose, California. The ... A: You can use normal wire for a crawl space. It does not have to be waterproof. The thicker the wire, ...
GFCI Outlet installation problem	6/5/2009
Q: Bob: I have 2 outdoor lamp post lights which I am trying to bring up to code by installing a GFCI ... A: Yes, only outlets require GFCIs. Permanently installed lights do not. It is much better to have ...
GFCI Outlet installation problem	6/5/2009
Q: Bob: I have 2 outdoor lamp post lights which I am trying to bring up to code by installing a GFCI ... A: GFCIs are not required for lights, only outlets. So unless there is an outlet on the post light, ...
Wiring a quad to a switch	6/5/2009
Q: I would like to wire a quad outlet and from that wire a switch to operate an overhead light at my ... A: I am not sure what the question is. Does the power enter the outlet? Is the switch next, then the ...
tankless water heater	6/5/2009
Q: I'm trying to replace my old water heater with tankless,can i use the same wire to go to a breaker ... A: If you use the existing wire and change the breaker, you will likely have a fire. (Most insurance ...
Pendant lighting with 3 way switch	6/5/2009
Q: I have been reading up on this... but questions remain. I have 3 pendant lights to hang ... A: Everything depends on the relative position of the lights, switches, and power source. Unless you ...
Wiring several lights in a row	6/5/2009
Q: I have a line of lights I would like to wire in a row with the supply cable entering the first light ... A: If you have the powering entering the first light, 2 conductor wire between each light, and a switch ...
wiring ceiling fan with remote	6/4/2009
Q: I have 3 wires from my ceiling black,red,and white. I have a ceiling fan with a light and remote. ... A: The fan should either be wired white to white and black to red, or white to white and black to ...
Lights Flickering on a Single Circuit	6/4/2009
Q: We just bought a house and have noticed a strange electrical issue happening on an individual ... A: If your house was built in the 1970's, you may have aluminum wiring. This needs periodic ...
wire size for 120/240V 50A RV hookup	6/4/2009
Q: I want to run a 120/240V 60A electrical feed to an RV hookup for one RV. The RV has 2 ACs, electric ... A: The calculations at determining wire size and voltage drops are more aimed at engineers than anyone ...
rewiring a mobile home	6/4/2009
Q: Recently lighting struck near our home. Since then we have lost power to 2 circuits. I would like to ... A: You don't need to rewire the circuits, just find the problem. If you rewire, you might have to tear ...
Outdoor GFI problem	6/4/2009
Q: I recently extended a line from a dedicated GFI outlet to add an additional outlet for a pool pump. ... A: The problem is more likely to be at a connection or an outlet rather than the wire. Perhaps you can ...
TOGGLE SWITCH.	6/4/2009
Q: CAN'T BELIEVE I'M ASKING THIS, BUT ONE SHOCK IS ENOUGH. BLACK WIRE/HOT(LOAD) RIGHT? ... A: If it is a switch loop or a 3 way switch, the white is a hot wire too. There are other cases too. ...
faulty connection	6/4/2009
Q: I have a light that still "glows" after it has been turned off,which seems to burn on about half the ... A: Some CFL bulbs will do that. I have heard Phillips is more likely to do that. It's just the nature ...
Outdoor Lamp Post	6/4/2009
Q: Lamp post will not turn on. Contractor said he replaced sensor about a year ago. No switch. ... A: You need to make sure you have power to the sensor, to rule out any problem with the wiring. If you ...
50 volts from switch	6/3/2009
Q: Why do I get 50 volts between the black and white (common) wire from a light switch when the switch ... A: How many wires do you have at the switch? If there is only one black and one white, both wires are ...
3-wire with no ground problems	6/3/2009
Q: Jimmy, I am installing a light fixture into a ceiling with no pre-existing fixture at that ... A: The wire that connects to both terminals of the existing switches is the power coming in. It should ...
electrical problem after storm	6/3/2009
Q: i got back home yesterday after a very bad storm here in st louis. i had lost power to part of my ... A: If the circuit is made for a GFCI, then it should have one. Someone could get a nasty shock. The ...
220 Breaker	6/3/2009
Q: I need to remove the 220 out of my main breaker box to my house, i would like to know how to do ... A: I am not sure what you are doing. If there is a main, it should be labeled. Or the main wires from ...
Wiring a generator	6/2/2009
Q: I live on the Gulf coast and we are preparing for hurricane season. I am about to purchase a ... A: The only safe way to wire a generator is to use a transfer switch. They transfer the power between ...
detached sub panel	6/2/2009
Q: I have already put three alum. conductors in pvc out to my detached pole barn. I have a full panel ... A: You can have a sub panel at the barn that comes from the main panel. However, if there are any ...
install two outdoor motion detector lamps	6/2/2009
Q: Can you help me install 2 outdoor motion detector lamps that I bought from Home Depot yesterday? ... A: It is not possible for both lights to come on if one detects motion. You would just wire each one ...
multiple fan wiring	6/2/2009
Q: I have a three way switch that controls four areas where lights used to be on a covered patio. Is it ... A: The switches would turn the power off and on to the fans. You would have to look and see if the ...
pool heat connection	6/1/2009
Q: just bought this house with pool and...how many times do you here that? well here is another one.. ... A: You need a lot of electrical work to get that heater to work. If you use 10 gauge wire with a 46 ...
electric boxes	6/1/2009
Q: I have a fuse box with screw in fuses.. How do you know if the outlet in the fuse box is bad?? ... A: There is something called a circuit breaker finder, but it is expensive. It should work with fuses ...
3 Way Switch - Pilot Light Not Coming On	6/1/2009
Q: I'm adding a room in our basement and have done all the wiring for the outlets, switches and lights. ... A: There really is no way that you can wire the switches wrong, so that the switches work, but the ...
Doorbell Not Working	6/1/2009
Q: I have 2 westinghouse chimes model 76514 installed on the 1st and 2nd floors operate off the same ... A: I think you should find the transformer and check that. They are frequently in the basement/crawl ...
Control Outlets at Switch	6/1/2009
Q: I have a light switch that controls two separate outlets in our master bedroom. I have replaced the ... A: If you have another switch with a black and red connected to it with a tab, it is very likely it ...
dishwasher	6/1/2009
Q: i need to hook up the electric to my dishwasher, there is a switch above the sink for the dishwasher ... A: There has to be something more. Perhaps the dishwasher is defective. Or maybe the wires don't go ...
dishwasher	5/31/2009
Q: i need to hook up the electric to my dishwasher, there is a switch above the sink for the dishwasher ... A: If you have white wires at the switch, then that is where the power enters. However, without a red ...
two rooms without power	5/31/2009
Q: last night watching tv the power went out in two rooms in my house.the breakers didnt flip.and i do ... A: If you are lucky enough to know exactly where the power goes, it should be easy to see where you ...
dishwasher	5/31/2009
Q: i need to hook up the electric to my dishwasher, there is a switch above the sink for the dishwasher ... A: The dishwasher should have its own circuit. If there is only a black and white wire at the switch, ...
Control Outlets at Switch	5/31/2009
Q: I have a light switch that controls two separate outlets in our master bedroom. I have replaced the ... A: It sounds like there may still be a tab somewhere in the system that needs to be broken. Or perhaps ...
Ceiling fan won't work	5/31/2009
Q: Bob, I have a ceiling fan box with adequate power according to my meter. However, once I connect ... A: What exactly is the fan wired to? What was there before? Did you just add it? It sounds like it is ...
ceiling fan installation probelm	5/31/2009
Q: Bob, We just installed a new ceiling fan and everything works! Here's our problem tho... We have ... A: It sounds like you may have a wire crossed. Check the wiring, assuming the power enters the switch ...
Doorbell Not Working	5/30/2009
Q: I have 2 westinghouse chimes model 76514 installed on the 1st and 2nd floors operate off the same ... A: Are you sure that transformer is for the doorbell, and not the thermostat for the AC? I have never ...
over head light	5/30/2009
Q: I am installing an overhead light in the kitchen of my mom's 30 year old condominium complex. In ... A: If there was an old light there before, then the new light wires up exactly as the old. You should ...
changed outlet and no power	5/30/2009
Q: I changed a standard 110 outlet to a 110 20amp outlet. Now I have no power in that outlet and two ... A: First of all, I assume that your wiring is 12 gauge, and the breaker is 20 amps. You probably just ...
gfi stablok	5/30/2009
Q: I have a 1 hp Jacuzzi pool pump installed and is exposed to the weather. Its only 3 years old and ... A: Tracing a ground fault can be very frustrating. The problem sounds like it is before the switch, ...
wireing duplex switch	5/30/2009
Q: How do I wire a duplex switch when the power comes in to box 2 and the wire to the light leaves box ... A: I assume you mean a 3 way switch, which is two switches controlling one light. The white power ...
trouble with light switch after connecting new wall outlet	5/29/2009
Q: I replaced 2 wall outlets yesterday in one room, and now the light switch does not turn the ceiling ... A: I don't understand how an outlet can have 2 blacks but only one white. If it wired with Romex, it ...
Switch to outlet wiring	5/29/2009
Q: I have a switch wired to an outlet and recently changed it from a two prong outlet to three prong ... A: If you broke the tab, and it should not have been broken, then one outlet will not work. So, you ...
Garage wiring	5/29/2009
Q: Bob, We just built a house and I am doing the electric. The only problem I have is the garage. We ... A: If you plan on using tools, then you will need a lot more than 15 amps. Many compressors are 220 ...
neutral wire	5/29/2009
Q: Does electrical outlets usually have a neutral wire (120 volt circuit?) I guess what I am trying to ... A: Yes, any 110 volt outlet would have a neutral. However, it is usually not good to connect a neutral ...
Burned outlet -air conditioner prong burned off	5/29/2009
Q: We have had a window air conditioner for several yrs. Last summer while running, the outlet caught ... A: Many times that problem is caused by a bad connection between the male and female plugs. But if you ...
Underground cable	5/28/2009
Q: I purchased a home built in 1971, in Houston, Texas. Last month sections of the electricity went ... A: Normally the power company is responsible for the power coming into the house, so I do not ...
Bathroom vanity mirror	5/28/2009
Q: I'm trying to install a new bathroom light. The fixture has two lights with each light having a ... A: Without seeing it, all I can do is make an educated guess. Yes, look and see how the working light ...
Switch to outlet wiring	5/28/2009
Q: I have a switch wired to an outlet and recently changed it from a two prong outlet to three prong ... A: First of all, if your system is not grounded, you should not replace the outlet with a 3 prong one. ...
"Feeder" lines	5/28/2009
Q: At my father-in-laws farm (in Wisconsin), the power from the road comes to the barn. It goes down ... A: I can't tell where the wires to the lights go. But if it connects to a feeder line, and not a ...
open hot	5/28/2009
Q: All the outlets and switches just stopped working in the den and the 3rd bedroom. The 3rd bedrooms ... A: It sounds like a loose connection. These things can be hard to track down. Somewhere in the ...
115v but lights don't work	5/28/2009
Q: i'm rewiring my home and i replaced the power to the switches. i'm trying to use the existing ... A: Are you trying to get power from a switch leg? You can't. There is no neutral. If you try to ...
European Light Fixture	5/27/2009
Q: I bought two light fixtures in Crete and both are pre-wired for 220. I want to replace existing 110 ... A: You can wire them directly. However, the problem is the bulbs. 220 volts bulbs would be very dim, ...
220V run	5/27/2009
Q: I I live in Denver, CO. I want to run 14gauge romex (20amp/220V) from my circuit ... A: You need at least 12 gauge wire for 20 amps. Unless you have a local code, you can use Romex to the ...
dusk to dawn security light	5/27/2009
Q: The previous owner of our home had a dusk to dawn security light attached to the TV tower. He did ... A: Theoretically, it should be permanently wired. If there is a ground wire, then it is probably OK ...
Light switch throws the breaker	5/27/2009
Q: I replaced an old fan with a ceiling light and the switch for the fan (a radial knob) with a ... A: Without actually seeing it, it would be hard to say what the problem is. If the outlet worked ...
Replace baseboard heater	5/27/2009
Q: During a bathroom remodelling project, I removed an old rusty baseboard heater. I always assumed it ... A: There could be two hot wires. Since NM cable in 2 wire comes only in black and white, the white is ...
baffled in Texas	5/26/2009
Q: I had my house wired and I'm in the process of installing the light fixtures. Everything went well ... A: If you have a single cable going to the switch, then both wires are hot, and there is no neutral. ...
Light switch throws the breaker	5/26/2009
Q: I replaced an old fan with a ceiling light and the switch for the fan (a radial knob) with a ... A: Did you disturb a wire that did not attach to the light fixture? When you have a switch loop, you ...
neutral wire	5/26/2009
Q: I have an air switch button which requires a neutral line to this switch. I have several electric ... A: As long as the white wire is connected, you should be able to put one prong to the white, and the ...
electrical power variations	5/26/2009
Q: I have an outdoor patio switched light circuit and an outdoor switched outlet circuit. They are ... A: It sounds like the two circuits are in series with each other. Are the switches in the house? ...
Walk-in type switch for Attic	5/26/2009
Q: Purpose is to tell if my attic light is on without having to go in. The current switch is mid line, ... A: If there is a tab, then connect the black power coming in to the side without tab. You can connect ...
underground wire	5/25/2009
Q: I have a wire running from my house to a mercury light deep in my back yard well i just had some ... A: You can't splice wires inside the conduit. So, you'll either need to rerun the wires after fixing ...
instaling remote on ceiling fan	5/25/2009
Q: i connected the white and black wires to the power source next I connected the white neutral wire to ... A: No, you should not connect any wires together that come out of the remote. It sounds like there is ...
"dimming" a portable 3-speed electric fan?	5/25/2009
Q: I hope that this isn't a jury=rigging question, so let me apologize in advance if it is. I have a ... A: You can't use a dimmer. Rheostats have been replaced by electronic dimmers and speeds control ...
Sub-Panel	5/24/2009
Q: The main panel has a 90 amp breaker. The sup panels have 4 15 amp breakers when turning on the ... A: The wires connecting to the breaker may be corroded. If so, the breaker is probably damaged, and ...
electric on in half the home breaker did not break	5/24/2009
Q: i have lost electric to four rooms in my home seems all these rooms must be on same circuit, the ... A: If more than one circuit is involved, then you have a problem between the main panel and the street. ...
Walk-in type switch for Attic	5/24/2009
Q: Purpose is to tell if my attic light is on without having to go in. The current switch is mid line, ... A: I am assuming that the power enters at the switch, then goes to the light. That is the only way ...
GFCI	5/24/2009
Q: The GFI in our 2nd bedroom will not hold. I only know of two other outlets on the circuit, one in ... A: You can try to disconnect the load wires, and see if the GFCI works. If it works, then you probably ...
switched outlet	5/24/2009
Q: I have a room with 7 outlets. I have a 3 switches - 1 for fan, one for light and one for outlet. ... A: If the outlets were originally wired so that one (top or bottom) is hot all the time and the other ...
dead outlet in basement	5/23/2009
Q: I have a dead outlet and I'm trying to figure out how to fix it. I took it apart, there are two ... A: It is very rare that a wire fails inside the wall. First of all, make sure there are no GFCIs on ...
Switched outlets	5/23/2009
Q: I have a room that has a switch that controls half of three oulets while the other half is hot. I ... A: You will need to replace the outlet. DO NOT break the tab off like the outlet you are replacing. ...
bathroom lighting	5/23/2009
Q: My wife and I just installed a new fixture in the guest bathroom as part of a home makeover. We ... A: The new fixtures wire up exactly as the old fixtures wire up. Do not disturb any wires that did not ...
Kenmore pro circuit breaker requirements	5/22/2009
Q: I am replacing a gas range with a dual range. The manual states that the circuit breaker amp ... A: It sounds like things are pretty screwed up. You might try contacting Kenmore or Sears and see what ...
plastic ceiling boxes	5/22/2009
Q: Recently had round ceiling boxes installed in a workshop. Duplex receptacles were installed in ... A: Yes, you can use a round box with a round duplex cover. Usually machine screws are used for ...
Home electrical problems	5/22/2009
Q: None of the wall outlets are working with the exception of 2 wall outlets in the kitchen - The ... A: There is a major wire disconnected in your house. The electricity is traveling from one phase to ...
Baseboard heater installation	5/22/2009
Q: I'm wiring two rooms in a basement and I need to hook up the heaters I have the supply from the ... A: You did not mention if you have 110 volt or 220 volt heaters. If you have 220 volt, then you will ...
home wiring	5/21/2009
Q: I have a detached garaged and i have no power to any outlets no lights. I have detatched all plugs, ... A: First of all, check for any tripped GFCIs. These are outlets with test and reset buttons. One ...
No power.....	5/21/2009
Q: I have a bathroom off my kitchen, there is an outlet in this bathroom. The outlet works but the ... A: If the house was wired properly, the kitchen outlets and the bathroom light should not be on the ...
grounding rod for meter	5/20/2009
Q: we just found out we need to replace the rod, 5/8 solid copper grounding rod. my husband is not a ... A: If you need to break the seal on the meter, you need to get the power company involved. He has to be ...
Outside wiring..	5/20/2009
Q: I was doing some landscaping and accidentally cut into a wire outside that went to a outside Light ... A: Yes, you can turn off the main breaker. You can also, carefully, use a tester on the wire that ...
kitchen outlets not working	5/20/2009
Q: Yesterday my one outlet in my kitchen starting sparking, after that I noticed that the other two had ... A: I would turn the breaker off until you fix the problem. The sparks probably burned the wiring. You ...
odd GFCI behaviour	5/20/2009
Q: I have a hot tub 220 Volt #10 wire underground direct burial and run through PVC for added safety. ... A: GFCIs temperamental, and will trip for no apparent reason. I would just tell the power company you ...
exhaust fan	5/20/2009
Q: I added an exhaust fan to my washroom and connected the wiring to the existing light switch. The ... A: You have a switch loop, when you have only 2 wires. There is no neutral there. So, you put the fan ...
Pull Box Splice	5/20/2009
Q: I'm running 12/3 romex and individual #12 THHN from my main panel thru the outside wall via a pull ... A: You actually need THWN for outside. Many wires are rated for both. That is a pretty long run, so, ...
GFCI Problem	5/19/2009
Q: I Installed a Leviton Smartlock GFCI receptacle and have a bathroom ventilator downstream wired to ... A: Obviously a fan should not trip the GFCI. First of all, you can probably contact Leviton, and they ...
220v socket to 110v	5/19/2009
Q: Let me start by telling what happened first. I had an older a/c that uses a 220v socket which was ... A: You may want to get an electrician. But here is how to change it if you try: Be careful what you ...
3 strand telephone wire	5/19/2009
Q: I want to install a new telphone jack but I have red, black and white 3 strand telephone wire. ... A: The red and green wires are line one. The jack will hold 3 lines. I can't tell you which wires of ...
Outside outlet wiring	5/19/2009
Q: My husband ran a wire from an outlet by our pool to a switch inside his shop. The switch is to turn ... A: Is the breaker an AFCI breaker? If so, the switch may be arcing and causing the breaker trip. If ...
wiring	5/19/2009
Q: i'd like to put a ceiling fan in. the switch on the wall turns a plug on and off. the power comes ... A: Does the power enter the switch first, and then go to the plug? Or does it go to the plug first, ...
Musical Doorbell Problem	5/18/2009
Q: My wife and I just moved into a new construction townhouse and are having a problem with the wired ... A: There is an electronic component that goes across the wires of the button. I think it was a ...
Light Fixture Wiring	5/18/2009
Q: I want to replace a standard ceiling light with a fluorescent light. I have done this several times ... A: It is just a matter of replacing the new fixture exactly as the old fixture was wired. If the red ...
No Power in Laundry Room	5/18/2009
Q: Yesterday I used a neighbor's electric lawn mower and plugged it into a GFCI outlet in my laundry ... A: Either the GFCI is bad, or it is not getting power. Did you check the branch breaker for the ...
amps	5/18/2009
Q: I have an ice cream truck with two freezers. I connected a three-headed extension cord to another ... A: Every extension cord should have a rating on the package. Usually any cord can carry 5 amps, unless ...
220 plug wiring sequence	5/18/2009
Q: I had a question about a tanning bed I just bought. It has no plug in,and it has red-white-green- ... A: Make sure that the rating of the tanning bed is the correct rating for the outlet you are using. It ...
Electrical Wiring Outside the Wall	5/17/2009
Q: We have a home built in 1906. The walls are plaster and we are planning on not tearing into them. ... A: All light fixtures need wires. You could get a swag light, which would have a chain and plug into ...
220 volt stove plug	5/17/2009
Q: how to connect the 3 prong wire plug to stove. The center wire is labeled W. Is it ok to connect the ... A: Do not connect the white and black together. It will be a dead short, and could cause damage or ...
two hot wires on basement ceiling fixture	5/17/2009
Q: The switch on one of the porcelain ceiling lights in our basement failed. I purchased a ... A: The tan wire is probably supposed to be white, and is the neutral. It sounds like you have 2 ...
Loss of power to electrical outlet	5/17/2009
Q: All was fine last night. Today, in my office (which use to be a screened in porch that was enclosed ... A: Perhaps it is on another GFCI outlet. If not, it sounds like a loose wire somewhere. These things ...
Possible service changeover	5/17/2009
Q: Ok I have a 100 amp panel, and it isn't enough to power whole house. Breakers"circuits" draw from ... A: A sub panel takes power from the main panel, so it won't help. You will still have 100 amps. You ...
Changing from one switch two lights to two separate switches	5/16/2009
Q: I have a switch at the entrance to my house which controls two lights (one on the porch and one in ... A: It just depends on the construction of the house. From the pictures, it looks like an older house, ...
Changing from one switch two lights to two separate switches	5/16/2009
Q: I have a switch at the entrance to my house which controls two lights (one on the porch and one in ... A: You would have to run more wires. It looks like you have a switch loop, so all you have at the ...
Underground wire	5/16/2009
Q: We have a cottage and there was a power connection buried that runs to the boat house to supply ... A: Most likely there is a break in the white neutral wire. You can still get a reading on the black ...
one light comes on the other goes off	5/16/2009
Q: I am trying to install a vanity light in my bathroom. I currently have a celing light that is ... A: Do you have a wire going to the switch, and another wire coming from the switch? (inside the box ...
one light comes on the other goes off	5/16/2009
Q: I am trying to install a vanity light in my bathroom. I currently have a celing light that is ... A: You have the lights in series with each other. If you tapped off the switch wiring, and there is ...
pull chain light	5/15/2009
Q: Is it possible to convert a ceiling light that runs off a wall switch to one that also works with a ... A: I am not sure what you are trying to do. You can't have it work like a 3 way switch. That is you ...
chandelier won't light	5/15/2009
Q: i bought a new light for over the dining table - the fixture works (i checked it on another wiring ... A: When a tester lights, but not a fixture, it is usually a neutral (white) wire that is not making ...
electric problem	5/15/2009
Q: I plugged in my deep fat fryer into the kitchen outlet and then, without any flashing, popping, ... A: See if the affected area is every other breaker. Most likely it is. The problem would between the ...
electricity going on/off	5/15/2009
Q: Several outlets and switches in certain areas of the house are going on and off. Not the whole house ... A: Assuming that the wiring is independent for each house (separate meter, not a single house made into ...
home wiring	5/15/2009
Q: I bought a 1985 home in South Georgia. No GFI's. Ceiling fans will only work on medium and low and 3 ... A: None of these things are related. It would be nice to replace outlets near water, such as bathroom, ...
switches to control outlets	5/14/2009
Q: I have multiple outlets in a room that used to be controlled by two switches(side by side). After a ... A: Without being there, it is hard to say what the problem is. Most likely a wire came loose when the ...
home wiring to light fixture	5/14/2009
Q: i have a flourecent fixture that stopped working in a closet. I have done the following: 1. Changed ... A: The most likely problem is that the white wire is not making contact somewhere. Perhaps in the ...
Adding a subpanel when main panel is full	5/14/2009
Q: I need to add a subpanel off of my 100A main house panel for a detached garage. The problem is the ... A: In this day and age, 100 amps really isn't enough. So, you really should upgrade to 150 or 200 amps, ...
wiring a chandelier	5/14/2009
Q: Bob, I have an chandelier which i want to change with an existing light fitting, there is a ... A: The difference between the black and white with the light fixture is to keep the shell of the bulb ...
wiring a chandelier	5/13/2009
Q: Bob, I have an chandelier which i want to change with an existing light fitting, there is a ... A: If you can trace the wires back to the sockets, then you can figure it out. The wire that goes to ...
Power Surge - lights bright	5/13/2009
Q: When my refrigerator starts to run suddenly all the lights that are turned on surge very bright for ... A: You probably have a neutral wire loose somewhere between the panel and the street, if it is all the ...
220 volts light fuxtures	5/13/2009
Q: i am trying to buy chandeliers and other light fixtures to send home to nigeria where we use 220 ... A: The problem is getting the light bulbs to fit in the sockets. I don't know how the bulbs are in ...
Installing a Ceiling fan without existing wiring	5/13/2009
Q: I'm planning on installing a fan in my den. Currently there isn't a light fixture in the ceiling. ... A: You really have to know how the circuit is wired before you tap into it. You also need enough slack ...
Circuit breaker	5/12/2009
Q: I have a 15 amp circuit where the breaker frequently kicks out. Recently, some of the outlets on ... A: No, if you keep turning on a breaker that trips, you are risking a fire. It looks like the wiring ...
Fixing open ground wire	5/12/2009
Q: I live in a building with very old wiring which gives me an open ground when I installed new elect. ... A: No, it is not really considered safe. If you know the water pipe is grounded or if it goes to the ...
Convert 120v circut to 240v	5/12/2009
Q: My mom just moved into a house that is 75+ years old. She has a set of Bosch washer/dryer. The ... A: You first have to make sure that the house is wired for 220 volts. Check the panel, and see if it ...
new circuit	5/12/2009
Q: I'm trying to wire a new circuit from the box that does have an open circuit, to my attic. I have ... A: This is a pretty broad question. You may want to read a basic wiring book. You would run the wire ...
New light switch	5/11/2009
Q: I want to install 3 can lights in the kitchen. Where I want my switch is on a wall with a hot ... A: The outlets in the kitchen and dining room are not supposed to have any lights on them. If there is ...
Outside electric deck lighting	5/11/2009
Q: I have had night time low wattage (12w) lights for my deck. Six lights. I installed it when I built ... A: I would contact the manufacturer. The people in their customer service department may have had the ...
Outside electric light yard light	5/11/2009
Q: I am visiting my brother-in-law's family and doing odd jobs around their newly moved in home ....25 ... A: Without seeing the instructions, I would assume that the photo eye black connects to the power ...
Square D -home line	5/11/2009
Q: I have a 200 amp Square D main box,I'm putting in a 100 amp main box in my basement,How or what do I ... A: Normally, for a sub panel, you would need to run a 100 amp breaker from your main box to the sub ...
loss of 110 power comes back on after turning something on that requires 220	5/11/2009
Q: A friend of mine is experiencing a power loss of the 110 in their single wide mobile home. They lose ... A: There is a wire loose somewhere, so the power needs to go through from one phase to the other ...
3-way outlet killed entire garage	5/10/2009
Q: Question for you- In my garage, I had a single 3-way light in the center of the ceiling. I wanted ... A: I agree that it does not make sense. No matter what caused it, it just sounds like there is a break ...
New 220 circuit	5/10/2009
Q: I'm trying to install a new 220 circuit to run an 8" jointer. I have a 50 amp Siemen's sub box in ... A: You would get 220 volts across the two hots only when they are on opposite phases. Every other ...
220	5/10/2009
Q: I JUST RECEIVED A WASHER AND DRYER SET FOR MOTHER'S DAY AND AFTER READING THE INSTALLATION ... A: Unfortunately, the only way you can use a dryer is to run a separate wire from your circuit breaker ...
DIsable Floor Outlet	5/10/2009
Q: I have an electical outlet in the floor in the center of the room. I do not use the outlet. I ... A: Before you cover the hole with cement, you need to disconnect the wires from the source. It is ...
track lighting install	5/9/2009
Q: i am trying to put up a new track light where a light used to be. i took down the old light, which ... A: If your house is not grounded, then do not connect the green wires anywhere. Should your house be ...
kitchen outlets	5/9/2009
Q: I'm replacing all the outlets, three wires going to old ones, black, white and red. all are pushed ... A: Look at the old outlet and see if the tab is broken off between the dark screws. If that is the ...
wiring in series	5/9/2009
Q: I have 3 lights outside garage, all controlled by one switch. I converted one to a sensor flood and ... A: Make sure the sensor is meant for the number of lights you are using. Then the first light in the ...
Double outlet	5/9/2009
Q: I am installing a double outlet in my basement. I grounded and connected the wires to the first ... A: You may have something touching that shouldn't be. The first outlet will have the black wire from ...
electrical	5/3/2009
Q: We lost all power to a whole wall in our mobile home.Could the circuit breaker go bad?It doesn't ... A: The breaker is probably good. You can either get a tester and test for power at the breaker, or ...
Revised 3-way light switch	5/3/2009
Q: 2 years ago I registered an 'Always Down 3 way light switch." It replaces a conventional ... A: That may be able to be done. However, then you may have lights on with the switch down. On a 3 way ...
Wiring Multiple Dimmers.	5/3/2009
Q: I am getting ready to wire the lighting in media room. I will be installing 3 lutron dimmers in a 3 ... A: The grounds and neutral can not be connected together anywhere except at the main panel. The ground ...
Breakers	5/3/2009
Q: Bottom left of box. Tandem 15amp breaker. As far as I can tell, top is to a living room lights and ... A: If everything is 110 volts, then you can get a GFCI breaker. But if the pump is 220 volts, and the ...
gfci outlets	5/3/2009
Q: I recently moved into an older 2 bedroom apartment (mid to late 50s early 60s) but in great ... A: The only legal way to change a 2 prong outlet into a 3 prong outlet is to install a GFCI. They ...
outlets	5/3/2009
Q: i have outlets go out but lights stay on -to reset i turn on oven? A: If you have to turn on a 220 volt appliance to get your 110 volt circuits to work, it sounds like ...
outside garage lites	5/2/2009
Q: I just moved into this house and 1 of the lites on the garage does not work. I replaced bulb. When I ... A: It sounds like the fixture is bad. Most likely the power enters the fixture box that is not working ...
Lights Dimming	5/2/2009
Q: I have noticed recently that when our dryer is turned on, the lights dim and then go back to normal. ... A: Either the dryer has a problem, and is drawing too much current, or you may have a neutral wire ...
Electrical outlet quit working	5/2/2009
Q: One electrical outlet stopped working which in turn made other outlets not work(including outside ... A: Perhaps that outlet is in series with the rest of the circuit. If a wire came loose, it can be ...
sump pump outlet	4/18/2009
Q: The outlet our one sump pump is plugged into is not GFCI, I'm guessing so that it does not ... A: It should be OK to plug the pump into a non-GFCI outlet, as long as there is no other place to plug ...
Expanding amp service to your home	4/18/2009
Q: We are creating a basement suite in our house and trying to decide whether we should use gas for ... A: Changing to gas will be expensive, because you will have to run new gas lines and replace your ...
non working outlet	4/18/2009
Q: i have 3 outlets that just stop working. the one outlet before them test as a hot neutral reverse. ... A: Strange readings like that are caused by loose or disconnected neutral wires. Check the first non ...
wiring mess	4/18/2009
Q: I have a 200amp breaker box I wired from breaker box to closet light,Then to the master bedroom ... A: You can either run the wire from the breaker box to switch to switch to switch, then run a wire from ...
switch problem	4/13/2009
Q: All of a sudden, with no changes to anything, a single switch has started flipping a breaker. there ... A: If it is an AFCI breaker, then a bad switch could cause it to trip. If it is a regular breaker, ...
moving an outlet	4/13/2009
Q: I am moving an existing outlet over 1 foot to accomodate a new cabinet. The old outlet is metal and ... A: It sounds like the conduit itself is the ground. You should run a wire from the metal box to the ...
newly installed 3 way	4/13/2009
Q: Bob, Just installed 3ways in a stairwell. I have a can at the top of the stairs, keyless at the ... A: You can't install one light to one switch, and another light (or outlet) to another switch, if that ...
things that go off and come back on later	4/12/2009
Q: My lights on certain circuits will flicker from to time and then sometimes go off completely but ... A: If it affects more than one circuit, then the problem has to be between the main panel and the ...
basement wiring	4/12/2009
Q: I am finishing our basement. I have two sides to finish, they are separated by the stairs. side ... A: The code only requires one circuit per every 500 square feet. So, beyond that it is just a matter of ...
Installing chandelier in existing ceiling box	4/12/2009
Q: I have to put up a new chandelier as the old one was damaged by water from a burst pipe incident. ... A: Look at the plastic wire, and either one side has writing on it, or one side is ribbed while the ...
What should I do with the wires.	4/12/2009
Q: I removed a double oven and for thick wires are exposed: red, black, white and copper. Now, the ... A: There should be nothing else on that circuit, and if you connect any combinations of wires together ...
wiring ceiling light/fan/heat bath unit	4/12/2009
Q: we now have 1 switch box on wall to operate existing ceiling light and broan 154 aluminum wire ... A: If you have only 2 wires coming from one cable at the switch, then you can't tap off of there. You ...
older property has all GFCI outlets	4/11/2009
Q: I am looking into buying some older property. As i looked this property over (built 1957) I noticed ... A: The only permissible way to have 3 prong outlets in an older house without a ground is to have GFCI ...
Electrical miswiring of my ceiling light	4/11/2009
Q: Maybe you can help me? I mistakenly connected one of the two black wires from my new light fixture ... A: Funny voltage readings are almost always caused by a neutral wire not making contact somewhere. So, ...
Underwater lights transformer loading	4/11/2009
Q: My uncle wants me install underwater lights to his pool/pond but i don't know about underwater ... A: It should be plugged into a GFCI circuit, as should anything that is used outside. If you live in ...
Installing chandelier in existing ceiling box	4/11/2009
Q: I have to put up a new chandelier as the old one was damaged by water from a burst pipe incident. ... A: First of all, do not disturb any wires in the box that were not connected to the old fixture. The ...
free standing cfls	4/11/2009
Q: so this is my question. i have a very large laundry/storage room, with no light fixtures. i dont ... A: Back in the '70's swag lamps were very popular, They had a chain that plugged into the wall. While ...
3-way switch wiring	4/11/2009
Q: Bob, Need some help with a 3-way setup. Have power coming into a light at bottom of stairs with ... A: In a 3 way switch configuration, there is only two places where you can add a light. Either from ...
Replacing a 4-wire dryer outlet with a 3-wire dryer oultet	4/10/2009
Q: I just bought a NEMA 10-30R cooper wiring devices 3-wire outlet to replace the 4-wire outlet. I ... A: You shouldn't replace a 4 wire female outlet with a 3 wire one. You should replace the cord on the ...
amp breakers	4/10/2009
Q: I received an inspection report for a home I am considering buying. The inspector said that there ... A: These are all very simple. It seems that the seller should fix the dryer, since it was done wrong. ...
Post lamp not functioning	4/10/2009
Q: Noticed front yard post light not functioning. Replaced bulbs, no help. Checked the circuit ... A: If you have power to the photocell but it doesn't light, it sounds like the photocell is bad. Try ...
dimmer switches	4/10/2009
Q: im wondering about my recessed lighting ive installed i want to know how to wire up 2 dimmer ... A: You have to use special switches and wire nuts. You should also put oxyguard on it. The special ...
14-3 power source	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: There can only be 2 wires used from the power source. So, all I can do is tell you how to do it ...
dimmer switches	4/9/2009
Q: im wondering about my recessed lighting ive installed i want to know how to wire up 2 dimmer ... A: You can use only one normal dimmer on a 3 way circuit. The other switch has to be a regular switch. ...
GFI Failure	4/9/2009
Q: My home was built in 2004. Since this time I have had a number of problems with the electrical ... A: You can contact the power company and ask them to check your voltage. It should be between 110 and ...
Neutral wire Vs. Ground wire	4/9/2009
Q: Is the neutral wire and the ground wire electrically the same. and can you connect them together. A: No, you can't connect them together anywhere except for the main panel. You don't want current, ...
15 or 20 amp GFCI outlets	4/9/2009
Q: I have decided to go the GFCI outlet route rather than a re wire to achieve the most safety i can at ... A: As long as the 15 amp outlets are marked for 20 amp feed through, you can use them on a 20 amp ...
combo switch/outlet	4/9/2009
Q: I did everything you told Luis, my light and outlet still doesn't work. What do I do wrong? Ok, I ... A: First make sure you are getting power to the switch from the outlet. The black power coming in goes ...
SPA wiring	4/8/2009
Q: Bob, I am wiring a 4 wire 50AMP SPA and I know for the amperage I will need a 6 gauge wire. Inside ... A: I don't understand why you will need 4 wire. You should only need 3 wire plus the ground, which is ...
220v gfci breaker - different loads per leg	4/8/2009
Q: I'm upgrading a smoked 110V pool pump motor to a 2-speed 220v unit. I planned to put a 220v 30A ... A: Yes, for the GFCI to work, it must be equal. You should not add anything to a 220 volt circuit. ...
Black/white/unknown in ceiling	4/8/2009
Q: I live in a tract home built in 1957. I think all wiring is original, but I know previous owner's ... A: These are wires that are in a ceiling box? The unknown is probably either red or bare. If it is ...
Splitting light/fan switch	4/8/2009
Q: I want to split a light fan switch. I took the switch out of the wall and there were two black ... A: It depends where the wires go to. The easiest thing to do would be to open up the fan and see if ...
wiring in the attic	4/8/2009
Q: we have wires running all over the joist in the attic, we want to put down plywood so we can use the ... A: No, you should not put the boards on top of the wire. The best thing would be to move the wires out ...
exhaust fan	4/7/2009
Q: I live in an old house (built in 1953) and I want to install an exhaust fan or an exhaust fan/light ... A: If you tap in the middle of a wire, you need to add a junction box. Check the switch, and make sure ...
GFI circuit	4/7/2009
Q: The GFI circuit in my bathroom has gone out and I can not figure out how to get it back on. My ... A: You probably have a ground fault in the wiring. Perhaps something is plugged in at another outlet ...
ceiling fan....	4/6/2009
Q: The light for my ceiling fan is on a dimmer and the fan runs on a switch. on occasion, not every ... A: My guess is that you have an AFCI breaker. These trip when there is an arc. Switches will sometime ...
Re-wiring a fuse box?	4/6/2009
Q: I have a 50 year old house with a fuse box. One of the eight 15amp fuses powers lights and outlets ... A: Yes, an electrician can do that. Hair dryers and vacuums use a lot of power. The other things ...
breaker panel install help.	4/6/2009
Q: I just put a circuit breaker panel in my garage at my house. It is a 15 amp 120 volt drop.... my ... A: A breaker tripping means something is wrong. It could end up causing a fire. So, I would not plan ...
hot ground wire reverse	4/6/2009
Q: i used a plug-in tester on my wall plugs and the tester showed hot grd reverse. i took out the plugs ... A: A hot/ground reverse would be pretty dangerous, and you would probably know about it without the ...
exhaust fan	4/6/2009
Q: I live in an old house (built in 1953) and I want to install an exhaust fan or an exhaust fan/light ... A: You have to know where the power enters the system. If the power enters at the switch, then the ...
melting white wire in panel	4/5/2009
Q: Bob, I started having problems with my garage door opener a week ago. Long story short after ... A: Yes, it seems like you have a problem. A loose wire will arc and cause it to overheat and melt. Do ...
wiring a switch and outlet	4/5/2009
Q: it has the switch and the outlet on the same thing i wired the plug works but not the switch what am ... A: If you want the switch to control the outlet, then connect the white wire to the silver terminal, ...
Splicing Ground Wire within CB Panel	4/5/2009
Q: The wiring from the outlet to the panel is in however I discovered that the bare ground wire is too ... A: You can use a wire nut to connect another wire to it. It doesn't matter where the knock out is. ...
Adding security lighting	4/5/2009
Q: I want to add security lighting to the exterior of my house. I will have to wire them in the attic ... A: A hall light may not be as easy. You may have more wires because it has 3 way switches. If you ...
Odd Old Outlet	4/5/2009
Q: My son just moved into an apartment in an very old home in Southern California. It has beautiful ... A: I have never seen an outlet like that either. It does not look like a typical 220 volt outlet for an ...
rewired now flickering	4/4/2009
Q: we have 3 bedrooms that all have light switches attached to plugs (not lights on the ceiling). My ... A: No, there is no easy answer. Make sure that the wires are tight under the wire nuts. Also use the ...
red wire in cieling outlet box	4/4/2009
Q: Hey Bob I have an old house in Canada , Ottawa. The question is this,The ceiling fixture box has 1 ... A: Try moving the black fixture wire to the red wire. That should make it so that the switch works. ...
Adding security lighting	4/4/2009
Q: I want to add security lighting to the exterior of my house. I will have to wire them in the attic ... A: It depends on how the electrician wired the house. The electrician could wire the power to the ...
Replacing ceiling fan with regular	4/4/2009
Q: I am trying to replace the ceiling fan with regular ceiling lamp.From the box there is 3 black wires ... A: First of all, when you replace anything, always replace it exactly as the old one was wired. Red ...
range replacement	4/4/2009
Q: I am replacing an existing cooktop and oven with a drop in range. I have a 220v receptacle, but the ... A: I really can't tell you the reason. However, the code requires people to follow the manufacturer's ...
wiring a 220v electric stove	4/4/2009
Q: The church i attend recently bought a 220v electric stove. I need to know what size breaker is ... A: You would need to see what the rating of the appliance is, which would be on the appliance. Most ...
Switch wiring	4/4/2009
Q: I'm a novice when it comes to home electrical wiring...was hoping you can steer me in the right ... A: First of all, you have to look at the switch. If there is only one cable with two wires in it (not ...
ARC breaker	4/3/2009
Q: last night after a heavy rain one of our EATON ARC breakers tripped. I tried to reset it but it ... A: I don't know how easy it would be for an electrician to find the problem. But arcing could cause ...
flicker lights when in off position	4/3/2009
Q: We have a light at top of stairs that has 2 switches one up and one downstairs. We recently changed ... A: I am getting more and more questions about this. I Googled CFL and "when off," and got all kinds of ...
changing to GFCI	4/3/2009
Q: I changed the unit but can't get power to it. there are two sets of wiring coming from in ... A: Open hot means that there is no power coming from the black wire. The light may be lighting up from ...
electrical	4/3/2009
Q: my question is! can you run a light switch from a wall plug?if so how do you connect in light switch ... A: Do you want to control the outlet, or control something else? If you want to control the outlet, ...
GFCI Breaker trips every time it rains	4/3/2009
Q: My breaker panel in the garage has one GFCI breaker that all my bathroom receptacles are wired to. ... A: It sounds like the rain is getting into an outlet. Obviously, the most likely ones are the ones ...
single pole/grounding receptacle	4/2/2009
Q: I am having trouble getting this to work. I have power to the plug in and the power red light stays ... A: How many wires do you have going to this unit? If you have only one cable with 2 wires, you can't ...
Shorted and Dead Outlets	4/2/2009
Q: After a flood from the rear toilet in my mobile home, about every other outlet along each line ... A: If the outlets are outside, in bathrooms, garages, basements, crawl spaces, or kitchens they would ...
Number of Circuits in Kitchen	4/2/2009
Q: I am in the quote process of re-wiring our kitchen. I am already going to upgrade the service box ... A: It really depends on what the appliances say. Normally the hood would not need a separate circuit, ...
GFI Outlet/Short	4/2/2009
Q: I was trimming bushes with an electric hedge trimmer plugged in to an outdoor outlet. I ... A: Are we talking surge suppressor or GFCI? If the GFCI does not work, then you would need to see if ...
GFI blown	4/1/2009
Q: We had our truck plugged into a GFI plug. The block heater blew the GFI. We reset the GFI and it ... A: A GFCI is a safety device that helps reduce the chance of shock. It has nothing to do with how much ...
Outlet for Disposal	4/1/2009
Q: I have two unrelated questions: 1)Disposal 2)Light switches. House is 3 years old. I live in Texas, ... A: You are not required to have a GFCI on the disposal. Does the outlet work? It would not work if ...
220v outlet wiring	4/1/2009
Q: I wired an outlet for my dryer because the existing outlet was the older, 4-prong, square pattern ... A: What do you mean that you wired an outlet? Since around 1995 the code requires 4 prong dryer ...
Breaker overload	4/1/2009
Q: Hey Bob, Have a scenario I'd like some advice on. IN my kitchen I have the usual, fridge, coffee ... A: The den should not be on the same circuit, unless it was the dining room when the house was built. ...
8' indoor extension cord conductor ID?	4/1/2009
Q: I have a 8' 13A/125V 3-wire grounded indoor extension cord that I want to connect to my small ... A: If the wires are black and white, then the white wire is neutral and the black wire is hot. If they ...
outside garage lights blink on and off	3/29/2009
Q: my outside garage lights are on a timer and have worked fine for a few years. all of a sudden the ... A: It sounds like the timer is defective. They are electronic and have a limited life. I assume there ...
GFCI circuit trips - open neutral?	3/29/2009
Q: Good afternoon. I have a 20amp GFCI breaker on a circuit that doesn not have to be protected ... A: No, the wires being capped should not cause that. Is it possible that a ground and neutral are ...
wiring for electric dryer	3/29/2009
Q: I have recently purchased an electric dryer but do not have the 220 line in my house. How can i ... A: You have to have 220 volts in your house for the dryer to work. If your house is so old that it is ...
black electric wire attached to white wire	3/29/2009
Q: I was recently removing some old flourescent lighting from my newly bought house. I followed the ... A: You should always turn the power off when working on the wires. There are times when whites and ...
Dimmer USED to work, new light and no dim?	3/29/2009
Q: We had a light that came with the house, 6 "little" bulbs and a single down bulb. It had a "twist" ... A: Dimmers are pretty temperamental. If it turns on and off, but does not dim, then it is probably ...
outdoor floodlight not working	3/29/2009
Q: I have an outdoor floodlight fixture that has two lights. A couple of days ago, during a snowstorm, ... A: Does it have any electric eyes or motion sensors? If so, these are pretty temperamental and may be ...
spark from ceiling light fixture	3/28/2009
Q: In my kitchen, I have two light fixtures, a globe light and a 2nd light that has 4 little bulbs. I ... A: The way to narrow it down between the fixture and the wiring is to disconnect the fixtures and see ...
Replacement Fuse Block	3/28/2009
Q: Robert, I have an old Murray Fuse panel in my home. It has screw in fuses along with two fuse ... A: If the electrical supply houses do not have it, and can't tell you where to get it, it may not be ...
GFI Outlet/Short	3/28/2009
Q: I was trimming bushes with an electric hedge trimmer plugged in to an outdoor outlet. I ... A: If the test and reset buttons do not work on a new GFCI, then the outlet is not getting power. There ...
outlets on and off	3/28/2009
Q: Hey, I have a question. Couple months ago, I noticed that my lamp would dim and light up ... A: It sounds like there is a wire loose. If the house was built in the 1970's, you could have aluminum ...
Troubleshoot wiring	3/28/2009
Q: Overnight, one circuit carrying only a ceiling fan and two pendant lights died. Relatively new ... A: It sounds like a short. Do not turn the breaker back on until you are reasonably sure you fixed the ...
home eletrical problem	3/27/2009
Q: we have two rooms that the plugs or the lights or not working, we changed the plugs and checked the ... A: It is not likely to be the breaker. It sounds like a wire that has become disconnected. These ...
grounding a 2nd subpanel	3/27/2009
Q: First off, the 2nd subpanel I'm working on is fed from a 100a 1st subpanel that has a 50a breaker ... A: Everything depends if the panel is in the same building, or in an outbuilding, such as a garage. If ...
hooking 3 way switches with 14/2 w/ground	3/27/2009
Q: can i use the ground wire as a neutral if i only have 14/2 between the 3 way switches? A: No, this is very dangerous and could cause a shock or even a fire. It would most likely void your ...
Bathroom receptacles	3/26/2009
Q: Do bathroom receptacles (GFCI) have to be on a circuit by themselves? Can I wire more than one ... A: The bathroom outlet has to be 20 amps. You are allowed to either add only other bathroom outlets on ...
EJ500 Timer to Control Outles	3/26/2009
Q: Can the EJ500 timer be used to contral an outlet? Or does this electronic timer switch only work as ... A: No, you can't use it. If you read the instructions, it will probably say "for permanently installed ...
calculating electrical loads	3/26/2009
Q: Bob, I want to redo the electrical in my partially finished basement and want to do it right, ... A: For general purpose, it is about one circuit per 600 square feet. If there is anything special like ...
double check	3/26/2009
Q: The existing outlet boxes are metal and have had outlets in them since this place was built.The ... A: For the record, this is the rule on box capacity, which I got from a website: "It depends on the ...
Do I need to upgrade home amps?	3/26/2009
Q: I'm looking at buying a home with a 100 amp breaker box. I want to use normal household appliances, ... A: 100 amps is no longer enough capacity in today's world. The standard is 150 or 200. Does the house ...
Response	3/25/2009
Q: My lights and TV and fan dim then brighten, dim and brighten. It is often and is bad, but especially ... A: Some dimming is normal. But if it is abnormal, then there is a neutral loose between your panel and ...
New Light Fixture	3/25/2009
Q: I put in a new light fixture in the bathroom. It has four lights on it. 2 Black wires - 2 white ... A: If the switch part is working, then it is wired correctly. Dimmers are very temperamental. Be sure ...
Vanity Light wiring.	3/25/2009
Q: I am in the process of replacing a vanity light, and have encountered some minor difficulty. There ... A: If the dimmer was wired wrong, it may have been damaged. So you may want to use a temporary switch ...
Want to add a bath fan/light	3/25/2009
Q: Bob, Currently, my bathroom has one vanity light. I'm assuming the wires go down from the attic to ... A: The fan and light should not be directly over the tub. The black power entering the switch box will ...
Basement receptacles	3/25/2009
Q: What is the best way to wire up two duplex receptacles that have two 12-2 wires entering the box? A: If it is an unfinished basement, then the outlets need to be GFCI outlets. I assume that the wire ...
Home Wiring , what should be grouped in the fuse box	3/24/2009
Q: We have just purchased a newer home (3 years old) that seems to have a wiring issue. In the fuse ... A: Yes, you are right, this is very wrong. The code requires 2 20 amp circuits wired with at least ...
Exterior Wiring	3/24/2009
Q: I'm in PA. I wanted to run electricity to my deck, but wanted to make sure I did it correctly. The ... A: The weatherproof box would be used to transition from indoor wire to outdoor. If you used conduit ...
220 into garage	3/24/2009
Q: I want to install a 220 plug for a small welder in my detached garage that isn't set up for 220. ... A: If the welder is less than 30 amps, if you don't need the 110 volt circuits any more, and the ...
Exterior Wiring	3/23/2009
Q: I'm in PA. I wanted to run electricity to my deck, but wanted to make sure I did it correctly. The ... A: It is always best to check with local codes. The only problem I see, is that you shouldn't use NM ...
3-Way switch with Motion Sensor	3/23/2009
Q: I have a Leviton 6793-I 3 way motion sensor light switch in a 3 way application in my garage. ... A: It would be very unlikely. Perhaps a wire worked its way loose. Recheck the wires, especially in ...
Pull chain lights	3/23/2009
Q: I'm adding two pull chain lights to an existing switch and light. After installing it per the light ... A: How did you wire it? If you wired it to the existing light, the blacks should be connected to the ...
outdoor low voltage lighting	3/23/2009
Q: I have a set of 8 low voltage outdoor lights. The wiring goes appox: 10 feet from the transformer ... A: Yes, this is a stumper for me too, other than the basics which I mentioned. You can carefully try a ...
home electrical	3/23/2009
Q: We have a 200 amp electrical system. The electricity in one area of our basement and part of our ... A: This is caused by a hot wire not making contact somewhere between your panel and the street. It ...
electrical	3/23/2009
Q: installed wall switch and saftey outlet in bath hot comes from outlet in bedroom lost power to bath ... A: Go back and make sure all the wiring is tight, especially under the wire nuts. Make sure that wires ...
mobile home wiring	3/22/2009
Q: i have to replace a switch in the bathroom in our mobile home. it has to switches. one for light ... A: Just replace the switch exactly as the old one was wired. On Single pole switches, it does not ...
Bathroom Light/Fan Combo wiring	3/22/2009
Q: I am installing a Bathroom Light fan/combo and I need help in wiring. There are two switches with ... A: You can use the switch. But you would need to run a new wire either between the fan and vanity ...
outside outlet in brick	3/22/2009
Q: house 40 yrs old .want outlet installed in the brick without being seem. (don't want outlet box ... A: It can be done. However, it is a lot of work. And breaking out the brick could cause cracks in the ...
Smoke from Outlet	3/22/2009
Q: I heard a loud buzzing coming from a bathroom. I ran in to find the electrical outlet smoking. ... A: Yes, you did the right thing. Do not turn the breaker back on until it is fixed. You may want to ...
Need wiring diagram for wiring switch between two plug outlets	3/22/2009
Q: Ok, I'm installing a built-in computer hutch into my wall. It's being installed in between two live ... A: The main thing is that you can't block any junction box so that it is inaccessible. You can put a ...
outdoor low voltage lighting	3/22/2009
Q: I have a set of 8 low voltage outdoor lights. The wiring goes appox: 10 feet from the transformer ... A: Photo cells can be temperamental. They are also affected by any other light. If there are car ...
3-way light switch repair...	3/21/2009
Q: I have a lighting/wiring issue that I hope to try to resolve before hiring an electrician. My ... A: If you look at that switch, there should be 3 terminals, not counting the ground. One screw is ...
shorted wire	3/21/2009
Q: So, I switched out a ceiling fixture which I've done a million times, but the set up in the ceiling ... A: When you replace a fixture or fan, you have to connect the new one exactly as the new one was wired. ...
GFI Electrical Outlet	3/21/2009
Q: I have one GFI outlet that is not working in my kitchen. I am not a fix it type of guy and I would ... A: First of all, make sure that the reset button is pushed in. There may be a chance that the outlet ...
hot water breaker	3/21/2009
Q: How many amps should the breaker at the box be for a hot water heater? The tanks I am looking at ... A: An appliance takes a certain amount of amperage. If the wiring is less, then the wire will ...
light fixture wiring	3/20/2009
Q: I have an older light fixture that has only one silver and one gold wire (no ground). I need to ... A: If I had to guess, I would say that silver is white and gold is black. However, the black wire ...
220VAC	3/20/2009
Q: I have installed a 50 AMP breaker. I need to run two devices one Kiln (requirements 240 VAC 24 AMPS) ... A: All 220 volt appliances need to be on their own circuit. The circuit breaker and the wire must be at ...
hot water breaker	3/20/2009
Q: How many amps should the breaker at the box be for a hot water heater? The tanks I am looking at ... A: The breaker is always based on the size of the wire, since it is there to prevent the wire from ...
wiring	3/20/2009
Q: I'm wiring a basement bathroom. I would like to put in 2 GFI's above the bathroom sink its a double ... A: The bathroom outlet either can have only other bathroom outlets on it, or it can have the lights ...
Dusk to Dawn Sensor	3/20/2009
Q: I have a two year old home with coach lights on the front. The lights and the address plate are on ... A: About the only thing you can do is check the wiring to make sure all the connections are good. If ...
Main Breaker	3/19/2009
Q: Main Breaker is OFF but electricity is ON. How could that be possible? The plot thickens when we ... A: If all of the 110 volt devices work, but none of the 220, then everything is on one phase. There ...
Help please With Electricity	3/19/2009
Q: Please I need help. My dad re-wired my room with 14 gauge wire. I do not know yet whether it is on ... A: One thing I can think that would cause that is if the outlet is 220 volts. You should test it. You ...
Breaker Box replacement	3/19/2009
Q: I am in process of purchasing a hud home. It has a 50 amp main breaker box, I am told a 2oo amp ... A: If the box is only 50 amps it must be pretty old and the breakers should be replaced. If it was ...
Lamp with three-way switch	3/19/2009
Q: One of my wedding presents (from 1966!) was a set of globed lamps. Each lamp has a top globe and a ... A: If the switch is part of the socket, then the whole socket needs to be replaced. If the switch is ...
Power outage	3/19/2009
Q: Our upstairs power has went off and the breaker was tripped. We reset it and it kept tripping just ... A: Do not reset the breaker until you fix the problem. It could cause a fire. There is a short ...
Light Fixture with Emergency Kit in Dimming Circuit	3/19/2009
Q: I'm don't know about the installation of lightings with dimmers for my new house. Can I include a ... A: Halogen lights usually do not have ballasts, they have transformers, and require a special dimmer. ...
run from a wall outlet	3/19/2009
Q: tell me if i am correct please--i have a wall outlet as source of power and i want to put in a ... A: Yes, that sounds correct. At the dimmer, the white wires will connect to each other, the blacks to ...
short but where	3/19/2009
Q: have had no problems till now pluged a lamp into an extension cord turned on the lamp it made like ... A: It could be anywhere on the circuit. Look for black marks. These things can be hard to track down. ...
low voltage	3/18/2009
Q: I have three outlets that test 110 volts. All others in house test 120. The three at 110 will do not ... A: It sounds like the neutral wire is disconnected. The voltage reading you are getting is feedback. ...
Kitchen rewiring	3/18/2009
Q: I have a 6 year old 200 Amp service coming in a 40 space box. 38 space is taken with various ... A: You will probably find out that the slim breakers do not fit. With a 200 amp panel, you are allowed ...
switch or what?	3/18/2009
Q: I have wired and installed over the years about 7 ceiling fans in my home. I am installing 2 more. ... A: First of all make sure it is wired correctly. Where does the power enter the system? Many people ...
wiring	3/18/2009
Q: want to put a extra light in a bathroom. found a junction box in wall during demo. someone had ... A: You really need to know what the wires go to. Make sure it is not a dedicated circuit. Although it ...
Low Voltage	3/18/2009
Q: I am having a problem with low voltage reading from every outles connected to the CFI circuit in my ... A: Usually funny readings are caused by a loose or disconnected neutral wire. However, if there is ...
Ready for power to shop	3/17/2009
Q: I ready to get electric out to my shop, but need some advice on wire sizes and such! Ok, I have a ... A: Yes, you will need to use THWN wire. Install the conduit. You may want to read up on the details, ...
Wiring a double switch to control a double outlet	3/17/2009
Q: I ran a 12-3 with ground to a outlet that I wish to control with seperate switches. The switch I ... A: OK, as I understand it, you have two single pole switches you want to control 2 outlets? The power ...
Wiring	3/17/2009
Q: When we turn on our light in the upstairs bathroom the light in the bathroom downstairs goes out. ... A: This would probably take someone being there and tracing the wires to see what is going on. A ...
neutral wire- where did it go?	3/17/2009
Q: Outlets in bedroom stopped working last night. Checked it with "GD receptacle tester" and found the ... A: The white wires should be connected to the silver colored terminals, the black to the brass. Also, ...
neutral wire- where did it go?	3/16/2009
Q: Outlets in bedroom stopped working last night. Checked it with "GD receptacle tester" and found the ... A: If the neutral was connected to the ground wires, this is dangerous. Aluminum wiring is dangerous ...
Wiring two switches for one light	3/16/2009
Q: I recently changed the switches and outlets in my kitchen from the ugly beige to nice white ones. My ... A: Normally when you wire them, you need to make a note of which wire is on the terminal marked ...
testing ground connections	3/16/2009
Q: I have added connections from a ground wire to my EMT box and the two receptacles in the box. The ... A: If the black wire touched the grounded conduit, the breaker should have tripped. However, it is a ...
Kitchen Light Won't Turn Off	3/16/2009
Q: I'm replacing an old light in my kitchen. The new light is a unit that has a chain attached to it ... A: The black wire from the fixture should go to the blue wire. Now, if you changed the other fixture, ...
electric range	3/15/2009
Q: what wire do i need for electric range A: It depends on the rating of the range, the type of wire, etc. You will need at least 8/3 with ...
trip the breaker when I plug in work light	3/15/2009
Q: I just purchased a double Halogen worklight for home projects. It worked fine for an hour or so. ... A: It sounds like it has a short in it. You can try returning it if you just bought it. If it is the ...
Wiring for RV 50 amp plug	3/15/2009
Q: My RV is currently hooked up to a 125v 30amp plug. I want to change it to a 50 amp plug. That is ... A: You have to use thicker wire before you change the breaker. If the 50 amp plug is 220 volts, then ...
home wiring	3/15/2009
Q: I'm installing a closet light,I'm planning to have a double gang box with two switches,one for the ... A: Here is the formula used for determining the size of junction box you need, which I got off of the ...
Installing a Vacancy Sensor	3/15/2009
Q: I am having trouble installing a motion sensor into my laundry room - I want the light to turn on ... A: To eliminate the other switch, connect the wire that is on the terminal marked "common" (it is the ...
blown circuit breaker	3/14/2009
Q: The ignitors on my gas stove/oven aren't working and an electrical plug in the vicinity of the range ... A: It means that there is a short somewhere in the circuit. Do not turn the breaker back on until you ...
wiring two outlets on one line	3/14/2009
Q: i want to wire two outlets using one line, how would i do this.thanks,mike A: Each outlet will have two screws on each side. At the first outlet, you will have 2 wires (one in, ...
outlet problems	3/14/2009
Q: All but one electrical outlets in my living room stopped working. I've checked the breaker box and ... A: No, you don't have to replace all the outlets. You just have a loose wire somewhere. These things ...
wiring for my water feathure	3/14/2009
Q: I have pond with lights and a pump,I removed the GFI plug and put in a switch with plug so can run a ... A: How many wires do you have? If you have only two wires (not counting the ground) then you can't ...
wires stuck in old receptacle	3/14/2009
Q: I'm trying to replace some outlets in a room. My home was built in 1988. I cut the power (at the ... A: There should be a hole near where wire enters. Use a jeweler's screwdriver or even a paper clip and ...
replacing cooper lightswitch with Leviton motion activated light control	3/14/2009
Q: The cooper switch has: red, white, 2 black, and a green(ground). The Leviton has directions to ... A: Not counting the ground, if there are two wires on the old switch, it is a single pole. Normally ...
Sharing a common	3/13/2009
Q: I have two 20A breakers in my house that have one 12/3 wire coming off of them and then feeding two ... A: Yes, it is considered safe as long as it is a double pole breaker and on different phases. However, ...
Low Voltage Garden Lights	3/13/2009
Q: I have two low voltage exterior timer transformer boxes, one for the front yard and one for the back ... A: This does seem strange. Even though it is a coincidence, you should check the bulbs. They are ...
weak lights?	3/13/2009
Q: Blew breaker several times, when the braker blew the last time the lights were very dim. I repaced ... A: Most likely the lights are in series with each other, or with something else. There may be two ...
How many duplex outlets per breaker.	3/13/2009
Q: I am wiring my new workshop and I am putting 3 dual duplex (12 outlets total) on each of the long ... A: There is no set rules for how many outlets on a breaker. People generally don't use more ...
AFCI trip with paper shredder	3/12/2009
Q: While using a small home paper shredder, which only uses a couple of amps, I tripped an AFCI ... A: The shredder is obviously arcing, which the AFCI is reacting to by shutting off. It sounds like it ...
outlet	3/12/2009
Q: i recently had my house redone and they left an outlet unfinished with wiring but no outlet ... A: I would contact the builder or electrician. You have to have a ground wire. It is against code ...
old 2 wire house	3/12/2009
Q: I have an old 2 wire house (no ground wire). 3 prong outlets were installed, but aren't actually ... A: Yes, you can do that. It will trip if there is a ground fault. The breaker should trip if there is ...
bathroom switch	3/12/2009
Q: i am trying to separate a single switch that turns on the vent and light to a double switch. i ... A: If the wire goes to the light and fan one after the other, you are out of luck. All of those wires ...
2 wire system	3/12/2009
Q: I have an older home that has a 2 wire electrical system. I have been changing some outlets to the ... A: You can not use 3 wire outlets on a 2 wire system, unless the outlet is protected by a GFCI. Then ...
electricla circuit for a pool filter	3/11/2009
Q: I am getting an above ground pool installed 05/09. I am planning on running a circuit for the ... A: Yes, you can run multiple circuits in one conduit. You really should check the amperage of the ...
Covering 220v 10/2 w/ground wire (not in walls)	3/11/2009
Q: One of our outbuildings has its own breaker box. It was installed on top of the existing wall rather ... A: For local codes, you can contact the code enforcement department of your city or county or township. ...
3 way wiring	3/10/2009
Q: here is my problem . I would like to change one off my three way switches to a light is this ... A: You probably can. Do you plan to use just one switch? Do you want the new light to be on the ...
Covering 220v 10/2 w/ground wire (not in walls)	3/10/2009
Q: One of our outbuildings has its own breaker box. It was installed on top of the existing wall rather ... A: Putting the wire behind walls is usually for aesthetic reasons. You can put the wire on the wall. ...
One section of the house is dead.	3/9/2009
Q: Recessed lighting in one area of my condo (Upstairs Hallway)went completely dead. We have 2 ... A: Check the bulbs anyway. If not, there is probably a wire loose. These things can be hard to track ...
Wiring vanity lights	3/9/2009
Q: I am replacing the vanity lights (2) in my bathroom. Light 1 has 2 black wires, 2 white wires, and 1 ... A: All the black wires connect together. All the whites connect together. If it is showing power but ...
ceiling fan buzz	3/9/2009
Q: I have a Harbor Breeze ceiling fan/light. It was there when we moved in, so I'm guessing it is a ... A: Usually speed controls cause more buzzing than a switch. Make sure everything is tight. Make sure ...
Miss wired outlets in bedroom	3/9/2009
Q: I have a situation where I have an outlet in my daughters bedroom which has two neutral (white) ... A: Yes, you should get 110 volts between hot and ground. It sounds like the ground wire is not ...
Removing ceiling fan and replacing with florescent	3/9/2009
Q: Hey Bob, My wife wants a brighter room for quilting so I am removing a ceiling fan/light and ... A: It is probably better to cap the wire at the switch end too. You can remove the switch and cap the ...
Electrical	3/9/2009
Q: Is it legal to split a home into two areas not seperated by a fire wall? Or in a R1 neighborhood. My ... A: More of this is a legal than an electrical question. it may not be legal to split the electricity. ...
power outage	3/8/2009
Q: i have an older trailer and my lights went out. i have lights in 2 bedrooms and bathroom and ... A: It sounds like there could be a wire loose. If it is half of the circuits, then it is between the ...
New Circuits for Master Bathroom	3/8/2009
Q: I am currently renovating my master bathroom and decided to change the wiring in it because the ... A: Outlets in the bathroom have to be 20 amps. At the switches, the black wire in goes to one terminal ...
100/200 amp	3/8/2009
Q: can i install a 200 amp panel box using 100 amp service for approx. 2-3 months i know i wont have ... A: No, even if it is temporary, you could still have a fire. And even if the fire wasn't caused by ...
Oven Makes Lights Work	3/8/2009
Q: Good evening! First, my boyfriend and I live in a very old house. Recently, we took down an old ... A: Your situation sounds pretty complicated. Is everything in the house dim or bright? If so, it is ...
Oven Makes Lights Work	3/8/2009
Q: Good evening! First, my boyfriend and I live in a very old house. Recently, we took down an old ... A: It sounds like the neutral wire is broken somewhere between the street and the panel. It could be ...
HONEYWELL TL8230A1003 LINE VOLTAGE THERMOSTAT	3/7/2009
Q: I AM REPLACING A THERMOSTAT FOR MO ELECTRIC BASEBOARD HEATER, THE NEW THERMOSTAT HAS 4 WIRES...2 RED ... A: I don't see how you can have 3 wires to the box. Does the power go to the heater first? Is it 220 ...
home wiring, 30-50 amp	3/7/2009
Q: We just bought a new home and were shocked to discover the higher amperage circuits done in ... A: There are many less connections when you have only a few circuits that are aluminum. So it is less ...
wiring a switch	3/7/2009
Q: I am finishing 1 room in a basement that had a light in the ceiling with a pull string switch. I ... A: You will need to make a switch loop. Run a wire from that box to a switch. Both wires will be hot, ...
smoke alarms	3/6/2009
Q: I have a home where 6 hardwired smoke alarms are installed. In 2004 I changed all but one - that I ... A: Ooops. hit the wrong button. If Kidde can't figure it out, it's a stumper. Can you replace all the ...
Re: Smell of fume from water into light fixture	3/6/2009
Q: The tenants above me had a flood which seems to have gone int the light fixture. There was some ... A: The main thing is that the connections and electrical components are now dry, and are not rusted or ...
adding a circuit	3/6/2009
Q: Garage converted to wood-working shop. Home has 200amp service. Adding a large saw-dust vacumn. ... A: If you have 10 amp breakers, I am assuming you are not in North America, because we don't have them. ...
Changing amperage	3/5/2009
Q: Bob, I need to get a new dryer, as our old one had recently died. Our dryer outlet is 20 amp, 220 ... A: The dryer would need a new wire run from the panel to the dryer. You need 10 gauge wire or thicker. ...
Lighting Fixture Conversion	3/5/2009
Q: I am having a hard time finding a modern day electric candelabra. All of the vintage electrical one ... A: Theoretically, it can be done. Since I assume you are plugging it in, you don't have to worry about ...
adding a circuit	3/5/2009
Q: Garage converted to wood-working shop. Home has 200amp service. Adding a large saw-dust vacumn. ... A: The vac will use more power when it first starts up, plus you should have some extra capacity. So ...
wiring	3/5/2009
Q: Bob,Iwould like to add a ceiling light with fan,to be controled by a dimmer switch.I already have a ... A: Fan and light combinations are common. Usually the fan has a black wire and the light has a blue or ...
Parallel Switches?	3/4/2009
Q: I am having some difficulty understanding how a circuit works in my bedroom. There are two reading ... A: These sound like typical 3 way switches. They have wires between them called travelers which ...
wiring	3/4/2009
Q: Bob,Iwould like to add a ceiling light with fan,to be controled by a dimmer switch.I already have a ... A: A fan can not be on a dimmer, and a light can not be on a speed control. So you either need to get ...
new light fixture gives off burning smell	3/4/2009
Q: I recently installed 3 wall sconces to replace my old bathroom light. The condo building I live ... A: For safety, I would contact the light fixture company and get their opinion. However, halogen bulbs ...
Replacing Light Fixture. Have power, no light	3/3/2009
Q: I am trying to replace the 4ft light in my utility room. I have replaced the previous fixture with a ... A: You could get a reading of electricity, but not have enough to operate anything if the neutral white ...
Electric Service/Panel issues?	3/3/2009
Q: my name is Rich and I have the following issue. I hope you can direct me in getting this resolved if ... A: It may cause a little difference in electricity used, but not much. It is a fire hazard only if a ...
home electrical wiring	3/3/2009
Q: I have a wall switch that I want to convert to an electrical outlet. The wall switch is currently ... A: At the first switch, the black wire connected to the common terminal, which is the terminal that is ...
Single Switch >> Switch Plug	3/3/2009
Q: I have seen this posted but never answered in the way normal people can understand. Here it goes. I ... A: The power to the light has to be on the other side of the switch. One screw will be empty where they ...
Kitchen Can Lighting	3/2/2009
Q: In my kitchen I have recessed cans of Par 20 halogen lights wired I am asuming dasy-chain. All of a ... A: Are you getting power on both the black and white wires going to the switch? You can get a reading ...
Electrical outlet problem	3/2/2009
Q: I have an old house, that being said. This weekend I ran a new electrical line from a grounded ... A: Whatever you do, you don't want to get the two circuits connected together. The safest thing to do ...
home wiring	3/2/2009
Q: Electricity in bathroom and garage will not work after plugging in a lamp that popped and smoked and ... A: There is probably a GFCI in the circuit. If the breaker has a test button, then that is the GFCI. ...
Electric Service/Panel issues?	3/2/2009
Q: my name is Rich and I have the following issue. I hope you can direct me in getting this resolved if ... A: Most likely there is a neutral wire loose somewhere between the panel and the street. It may be your ...
home electrical wiring	3/2/2009
Q: I have a wall switch that I want to convert to an electrical outlet. The wall switch is currently ... A: Yes, it is possible. I would need to know where the power enters the system, and the relationship ...
Single Switch >> Switch Plug	3/2/2009
Q: I have seen this posted but never answered in the way normal people can understand. Here it goes. I ... A: First of all, the outlet must be a GFCI outlet, since it is in the bathroom. The black power coming ...
power loss to three rooms	3/1/2009
Q: I have lost power to three rooms, dining, bed & bathrooms. All of this occurred last weekend when ... A: Sometimes when there is a problem, electricity travels from one phase to the other through 220 volt ...
no power in side by side bedrooms	3/1/2009
Q: The power to both ceiling lights and receptacle on the wall dividing the two rooms does not work. I ... A: The electrician who wired the house could run the wires any way he wanted. So, the wires are ...
dryer line	3/1/2009
Q: i'm trying to troubleshoot this 220 dryer line and i'm pulling 165 across both black and red lines ... A: Assuming the tester is working properly, you should 220 volts between the red and black. 110 ...
can GFCI outlet be converted to three-prong?	3/1/2009
Q: When we bought this house, the refrigerator was plugged into an GFCI outlet above the kitchen ... A: GFCIs are required on kitchen counters. However, they are not required behind a fridge. If the ...
Electric Baseboard Heat	3/1/2009
Q: We have a 2 year old home with electric baseboard heaters. The main area of the house is not being ... A: If the heaters are not on all the time, the most likely problem is the thermostat. However, if the ...
wiring problem	3/1/2009
Q: I had a light blow in my kitchen last night. This morning, lights blew in my bathroom and bedroom ... A: If there is a smell of smoke, turn the circuit(s) off at the breaker box and do not turn it back on ...
bathroom outlet	2/28/2009
Q: Yesterday my flat iron was plugged into my bathroom outlet and it stopped heating up but the light ... A: I don't see how it could be the outlet, unless it became 220 volts. And it would very unusual for ...
Flourescent lighting	2/28/2009
Q: Just installed a new ballast in an 8', 2 bulb fixture but now it "hums" or "buzzes" when the light ... A: Is the ballast tight in the fixture? Ballasts sometime hum, but they are not supposed to be too ...
residential wiring	2/28/2009
Q: Is there, any reason that you would have more amps on the neutral than both of the hot legs ... A: I don't see how that could happen. And actually, the neutral wire with two hot wires should have ...
Bathroom lights don't always work	2/28/2009
Q: The lights in my basement bathroom will only turn on every once in a while. I cannot for the life ... A: It could depend on the kind of lights. If they are fluorescent and have starters, the starters need ...
seperating lights.	2/28/2009
Q: I currently have 3 lights on one switch, and am looking to separate them all so that each one is on ... A: First of all, make sure you have a 15 amp breaker before using 14 gauge. If it is 20 amps, use 12. ...
wondering about this wire in the breaker box	2/28/2009
Q: house built in 1957)I noticed a single bare wire about 6 or 8 gauge was not attached or fastned to ... A: I can only guess what it is, and when it comes to safety, it probably isn't a good idea. You may ...
wiring a cooktop	2/28/2009
Q: we have purchased an older jenn air cook top, model c301 (4 burners, exhaust and a grill) we need ... A: You will need to see what it requires. The amperage will be on a plate somewhere on the unit. Get a ...
seperating lights.	2/27/2009
Q: I currently have 3 lights on one switch, and am looking to separate them all so that each one is on ... A: No, you don't have to run a wire to the panel. If the power enters the switch first, then you will ...
3-way switch, 2 lights, power in at light	2/27/2009
Q: Can I bring power in across 2 lights then to one switch and travellers over to the other switch in a ... A: You have to connect a second light to either the first light, or to the switch that connects ...
wiring	2/26/2009
Q: I live in an apartment, where in the basement lie the electric meters for everyone. In each ... A: I can't say that I have really seen it. But most likely they bypass the meter rather than take it ...
replacing glass fuses in electrical panel	2/26/2009
Q: What is your opinion of a home with existing 100 amp service with a fuse box not breakers. We are ... A: It is probably time for an upgrade. A breaker panel can be installed. It shouldn't prevent you ...
blinking lights	2/26/2009
Q: I understand how lights will sometimes flicker when the heat pump compressor turns on. But please ... A: I have noticed that lights on dimmers sometimes do that too. Generally excessive blinking is caused ...
Bizarre electrical wiring question	2/25/2009
Q: I am having a bizarre problem with some electrical wiring in my house. I am a fellow expert in the ... A: I can't figure out what the problem is exactly either, but I can give you a few pointers. Often ...
Dining Room Chandalier Wiring	2/25/2009
Q: So, feeling good about the seven other lights I had replaced in our newly purchased 4 year old home, ... A: First of all, go out an buy a cheap 3 way toggle switch. Install this in place of the dimmer until ...
home wiring	2/24/2009
Q: I am looking at a home to buy-that has a updated 100 amp service that in addition to new copper ... A: I did some reading, and the opinion is that it was safe when it was installed, but time, critters, ...
t8's	2/24/2009
Q: I installed 2 4ft t8 fluorescent fixtures in a storage bldg. 12/2 romex goes from a hot receptacle ... A: You can't run the wires in that order without using 3 conductor wire between the lights. You can ...
subpanel question	2/24/2009
Q: I would like to install a 100 amp subpanel with a 100 amp breaker feed from the main panel. It is ... A: Copper is always better. You should be able to get it in short lengths somewhere. According to my ...
breaker panel capacity	2/24/2009
Q: I am wiring a remodeled house and I am finding that I have too many home run lines back to the ... A: You probably need to upgrade the panel (and the wiring to it). If you are adding more circuits, ...
Rewire lights to switch	2/23/2009
Q: I have several string pull on lights in my basement. I have one that works from the switch at the ... A: You will need to run wires from each section of lights you want to the switches. You also need to ...
Voltage drop at the distribution panel	2/23/2009
Q: When I measure voltage between the neutral and each leg I get the following values dependening on ... A: It sounds like a neutral wire is loose somewhere between the panel and the street. Most of that is ...
Safe wiring of jacuzzi's	2/23/2009
Q: I wish to safely wire a jacuzzi motor in a bathroom at the moment it has a plug on it, would it be ... A: A GFCI outlet is a ground fault circuit interrupter. It is required to be used anywhere near water. ...
X10 motion lights cabling & new outlet	2/23/2009
Q: I have 4 of the X10 floodlights you've mentioned in some of your replies around my house. They work ... A: You can't use lamp cord through the walls, or connected to junction boxes. You should use 12-2 ...
no power circuit not trip	2/23/2009
Q: Please help, I have a strang problem. The circuit breaker at main panel did not trip but I get no ... A: The breaker could be bad, or there may be a loose wire somewhere in the circuit. You can try ...
Outdoor Lamp Post & GFCI	2/23/2009
Q: My outdoor lamp post light recently stopped working. I replaced the photo eye sensor & actual light ... A: You have a ground fault. Somewhere the electricity is going into the ground rather than returning ...
wiring	2/22/2009
Q: I have remodeled my bathroom and I'm having some electrical issues. I have the power coming in to ... A: You will need 3 conductor wire between the fan and the light. Or run the switch loop to the fan ...
Electrical smell	2/22/2009
Q: I have a smell upstairs that reminds me of the smell a florescent light gives off when the ballast ... A: It sounds like it could be a transformer. But if nothing is plugged in, I don't know what it could ...
110 outlet	2/22/2009
Q: on a 110 outlet is the black wire the only wire hot so i can put the white on the ground side whit ... A: On a 110 volt outlet, the hot wire goes on the brass side. The neutral (white) wire goes on the ...
lights sometimes flicker and switch gets hot	2/22/2009
Q: I have a large basement with the center area lit by 15 recessed lights, on a single 15-Amp circuit. ... A: The ground wire is for safety, but does not affect the operation. But it should be connected to the ...
Old Meter vs. New Meter	2/22/2009
Q: My husband and I are shopping for a new house. We really loved a house that we saw and it appeared ... A: In today's buyers market, if you get an inspector's report, the seller may be willing to fix the ...
Old Meter vs. New Meter	2/21/2009
Q: My husband and I are shopping for a new house. We really loved a house that we saw and it appeared ... A: You should probably get a home inspection before buying the house. It is hard to say what the ...
Replaced receptacle doesn't work	2/21/2009
Q: I have replaced old two-prong receptacles with grounded three-prong receptacles in a bedroom I'll be ... A: Is your system grounded? You can not use 3 prong outlets unless the system is grounded or is ...
receptacles don't work seem to have power	2/21/2009
Q: Over a period of time I have lost power in several circuits, it seems like one receptacle at a ... A: False readings are usually caused by a disconnected neutral wire. Since you have so many problems, ...
Power Outage Aftereffects	2/21/2009
Q: In the midwest, we recently had a major power outage due to an ice storm. I have noticed since the ... A: Is there a battery back up in the alarm clock? The extended outage may have caused the battery to be ...
lights sometimes flicker and switch gets hot	2/21/2009
Q: I have a large basement with the center area lit by 15 recessed lights, on a single 15-Amp circuit. ... A: It is normal for dimmers to get warm. Usually 1000 watt dimmers have metal fins on the front to ...
Bathroom Vent/heater	2/20/2009
Q: Can a bathroom vent fan/heater unit be installed on the wall instead of on the ceiling? A: Only the manufacturer can answer that. Each brand should have a customer service department. ...
220 V Wiring	2/20/2009
Q: My wife is interested in buying an electric ceramic kiln with the following electrical requirements: ... A: At 1800 watts, the kiln will use 1.8 kilowatts per hour. You should see what your electric rate is. ...
running electrical wire	2/20/2009
Q: can i run a 10-2 wire from my house to a shed to a fuse box or breaker box and then run around a 5 ... A: No, number 10 is good for 30 amps at most. If it is a long run, then you have to use thicker wire. ...
Grounding and metal conduit	2/20/2009
Q: I recently added some outlets to my workshop. I ran two circuits in metal (EMT?) conduit on one of ... A: Normally 12/2 is not allowed in the conduit, unless it is a short piece. The ground wire coming ...
Motion Sensing Wall Switch	2/19/2009
Q: I bought a cooper single pole motion switch. And it say on the directions not to hook it up to the ... A: All switches (unless it has a timer motor) connect to only the hot wires. The neutral wires bypass ...
electrical problems in my house	2/19/2009
Q: The back half of the house goes out. We've had someone look at it an he said that it could be the ... A: It sounds like there is a loose wire somewhere in the circuit. These things can be hard to track ...
electric meter	2/19/2009
Q: Ever since I upgraded my electrical box from 100 amp to 200 amp, my electric bills have been very ... A: Changing the capacity should not affect the usage. It is just a measure of what you use, not what ...
Electrical theory	2/19/2009
Q: I am studying to be a home inspector, have read several books, but have this nagging question I ... A: You probably have more formal training than I do. I picked this up as a hobby. I have read a lot ...
Grounding and metal conduit	2/19/2009
Q: I recently added some outlets to my workshop. I ran two circuits in metal (EMT?) conduit on one of ... A: The ground can be the EMT tubing. You can also run a green ground wire for safety since the conduit ...
liquid spill	2/19/2009
Q: My son spilled milk on the ac adapter which was plugged into the wall. Now the outlet it was ... A: What room is this in? If the outlet is protected by a GFCI (bathrooms, kitchen, outside, garage, ...
wall lighting (sconce)fixture	2/18/2009
Q: I replaced a wall sconce with switch with one that didn't have a switch. The outlet is controlled by ... A: Make sure the power is turned off from the breaker. Put one lead of the tester on the white, and ...
electrical costs	2/18/2009
Q: how much would it effectively cost approx to run an 8w bulb of a 240v supply per month please?? ... A: Voltage does not matter. A kilowatt is 1000 watts per hour. Assuming a 30 day month, that is 720 ...
6-3 romex in 1" pvc conduit	2/18/2009
Q: I want to run 125' of 6-3 romex with ground from a garage breaker box to an outside hot tub breaker ... A: You can't run Romex wire in conduit. You have to use THHW wire. Also when you buy the wire, make ...
Extra Outlets	2/18/2009
Q: I am building a new master bedroom entertainment center to hold my new TV and stereo equipment. The ... A: There is no limit to the number of outlets that can be on a circuit. What matters is how much power ...
Sub Panel?	2/18/2009
Q: I will be finishing a 1158 sq. ft. basement (home theater, rec room, home office) in a 7 year old ... A: It's just a matter of personal opinion. I prefer to use the main panel because you don't have to ...
wiring ceiling light	2/17/2009
Q: i am replacing a ceiling light with an older ceiling light. the lamp has only 2 wires(not color ... A: If there is no ground, then you would not connect anything to the ground wires. If you can see ...
Wiring GFI's	2/17/2009
Q: I want to run two circuits from one GFI receptacle (one hot wired to a dishwasher and one to a ... A: The dishwasher should be on its own circuit, and the disposal should be on its own circuit too. If ...
Elect wiring - lights	2/17/2009
Q: I replaced an old one-bulb light with a new (fancy) fixture. there are 3 white wires and 3 black ... A: Always wire the new fixture exactly how the old fixture was wired. If you took all the connectors ...
Wiring with: Black-White & Red	2/17/2009
Q: We renovated the washroom which included some electrical. The switch operated the fan and light ... A: You would need to run another wire between the switch and light/fan. Most likely the red is the ...
T8 (E-)Ballast Failed b/c new fan?	2/17/2009
Q: I have a 3 wire (w/g) circuit which controls two light boxes and one fan box. I've had two T8 ... A: You may get a reading of 120 volts even if the neutral has become loose. You may want to take the ...
circuit breaker buzzing	2/16/2009
Q: I'm in a condo built in 1986 (been here for about 2 years) and just this morning, noticed a slight ... A: There could be an almost overload or a short circuit that is causing enough problems to cause it to ...
wiring	2/16/2009
Q: I have a receptacle that is hooked to a switch. It has three sources coming into the box though. It ... A: Assuming that it was wired up normally, then the white wires connect to each other with a pigtail to ...
wall lighting (sconce)fixture	2/16/2009
Q: I replaced a wall sconce with switch with one that didn't have a switch. The outlet is controlled by ... A: If you connected all the blacks together and all the white together, and the breaker tripped, most ...
adding electrical to existing outlet	2/16/2009
Q: i want to add a new outlet to an existing outlet in the middle of a run. there are 2 12/2 wires in ... A: The lights can be on circuits with other rooms. The reason the outlets are different in these two ...
adding electrical to existing outlet	2/16/2009
Q: i want to add a new outlet to an existing outlet in the middle of a run. there are 2 12/2 wires in ... A: The kitchen and dining plug circuit can be only kitchen and dining plugs. It's against code to put ...
Main panel feed	2/15/2009
Q: A friend of mine told me that if you use copper wire instead of the aluminum wire to feed your main ... A: No, it should not make a difference. If it did, it would be pushed an energy saving device. The ...
4 prong to 3 prong cord on dryer	2/15/2009
Q: I recently moved to a house that has a 3 prong outlet and my dryer is 4 prong. I went to Lowes and ... A: You can check the manual for your specific dryer. But with the old 3 wire cords, which are before ...
20" kitchen range new wiring.	2/15/2009
Q: I have a 20" Premier freestanding electric range model #EAK100BP. I need new wiring to my panel ... A: Since the code changed around 15 years ago, 4 prong outlets are required. Before that, the ground ...
adding electrical to existing outlet	2/15/2009
Q: i want to add a new outlet to an existing outlet in the middle of a run. there are 2 12/2 wires in ... A: Yes, it is legal. It is probably better to use a deeper box. Since it is in the middle of a run, ...
cook stove	2/14/2009
Q: changed 3prong two a 4 prong had only three wires. stove top works but oven dos"nt and digel panal ... A: You don't have a neutral, and it won't work until you replace the wire between the panel and the ...
Blown dimmer switch	2/14/2009
Q: The other day my husband went to turn on the light in our dining room (chandelier with 5 bulbs, on a ... A: When you get a funny reading, it usually means the neutral wire is not connected. The voltage is ...
switched outlet	2/13/2009
Q: Hey Bob, I have an existing end-of-run non-switched 2-wire outlet (#1)that I want to change to ... A: What you have in the second outlet is one outlet on all the time, and the other outlet on a switch, ...
Light won't work	2/13/2009
Q: My home is 1+ years old. I have a 8 light chandelier in my foyer. The other day I turned it on by ... A: It sounds like a loose wire somewhere. It could also be one of the switches. These things can be ...
230 volt wire addition	2/13/2009
Q: Bob, I want to add a circuit for 230 volt for 3 HP, 230 V, single phase, single stage air ... A: The panel cover should have knock outs for future breakers. You can choose any 2 in a row on the ...
Loss of power to ceiling fan	2/13/2009
Q: I live in an 8 year old house. I neglected to turn off the breaker installing a ceiling fan. The ... A: A three way switch that is connected to the power end should have power at the common terminal (the ...
plug controled by switch	2/12/2009
Q: hey Bob, I have a switch that operates a plug in my bedrooms. I want to add overhead lights and ... A: Turn the power off from the breaker. At the outlet, remove the red wire and connect the black wire. ...
Loss of power to ceiling fan	2/12/2009
Q: I live in an 8 year old house. I neglected to turn off the breaker installing a ceiling fan. The ... A: When a short happens, sometimes the wires burn loose. These things can be hard to track down. But ...
breaker trips after time	2/12/2009
Q: After some time my 20 AMP GFI breaker trips. I have a tv and a gas fire place and a few lamps on ... A: There is probably a ground fault somewhere. This would be a neutral and ground touching, or the ...
wiring a 3-wire to a 4-wire	2/12/2009
Q: I am about to connect a light fixture to an existing ceiling fan outlet. My question is the light ... A: Did you have two switches for the fan? If so, you can use only one, so connect either the red or ...
220 wirig for stick welder	2/11/2009
Q: My shop is 170 feet from my house breaker box. I have 10/3 wire with a ground. I will need a 30 amp ... A: Without having an ampacity chart for the wire, most likely you will need a 30 amp breaker with ...
NEMA 6-15R on Generator to L14-30	2/11/2009
Q: Bob, I am going to install a proper generator transfer switch in my home with a NEMA L14-30 ... A: The problem is that the amperage is different. It sounds like your old generator was 15 amps, the ...
3 way switch, dim lights	2/11/2009
Q: "I recently built a 24 x 28 shop and am trying to wire the lights. I'm starting with the exterior ... A: You can't put 3 lights in the middle. (Without using 4 conductor wire) Only one. The easiest way ...
plug controled by switch	2/11/2009
Q: hey Bob, I have a switch that operates a plug in my bedrooms. I want to add overhead lights and ... A: You'll need to tell me if the power enters the switch first and then enters the outlet, or enters ...
no electricity to some outlets and switches due to possible blown light switch	2/11/2009
Q: I have one light switch that does not have a cover plate on it and underneath it I keep a portable ... A: Turn the breaker off and back on to be sure it is not tripped. You may have damaged the wiring ...
220 to 110 outlet	2/11/2009
Q: I am remodeling our living room and there is a 220 outlet under one window (for old a/c). I would ... A: If you just replace the outlet, it will be a 110 volt outlet with 220 volts which will damage ...
Only 100 volts at the outlet with 2 small appliances on	2/10/2009
Q: Recently, few days ago, our house lights started to flicker and dim when any appliances would come ... A: I think I already answered this question. But if I got two identical questions today, this is ...
Lights blink	2/10/2009
Q: "I have had arcing in the breaker on position. Concerned it is not safe. This has been going on for ... A: Replacing a 15 amp breaker with a 20 amp breaker is a fire hazard in itself, not even counting your ...
Voltage Readings at Electrical Outlet	2/10/2009
Q: Recently, few days ago, our house lights started to flicker and dim when any appliances would come ... A: It sounds like the neutral is disconnected somewhere between the panel and the street. The system ...
walkway lights	2/9/2009
Q: I have low voltage walkway lights that are on a timer. Throughout the night the lights will go on ... A: You may have too much of a load. The transformer is overheating and shutting off. Then cooling off ...
AFCI circuit in house may be wired wrong	2/9/2009
Q: So, I posted a question regarding tripping of a 15 Amp AFCI breaker. Here's the link: ... A: The most likely cause is a switch being turned on. Switches sometimes arc. Also something could be ...
Breaker problem	2/9/2009
Q: We lost a breaker about 2 months ago, it wouldn't reset to on. I replaced it and we didn't get the ... A: It sounds like you have a loose wire somewhere. These things can be hard to track down. Somewhere ...
Bathroom GFI replacement issue	2/8/2009
Q: Our three bathrooms are all connected to the same GFI receptacle located in the upstairs bath. Due ... A: You shouldn't get any reading if the breaker is off. My best guess is that the meter is not working ...
Wiring a rotary switch	2/8/2009
Q: I am restoring an old floor lamp. Now, I have a SPTT rotary switch with the 3 wires on it, red, ... A: I don't have a diagram. However, the black is the power in. The red and blue are for the two loads. ...
Replacing Swith from 4 wire	2/8/2009
Q: I have 4 wires (red, black, white, & ground) input feeding an existing switch to a light with ... A: What does the switch go to? How many switches control the light? It sounds like a 3 way switch. On ...
Electric outlets in bathrooms	2/8/2009
Q: Your answer to Anthony on 8/16/2007 about failing bathroom outlets was very helpful-resetting the ... A: There has to be a GFCI outlet for those rooms somewhere. They can be in a bathroom, garage, ...
electrical wiring	2/8/2009
Q: I would like to add sockets to my house as our rooms have very few and in a very inconvenient place. ... A: I would get several estimates. Some electricians specialize in big jobs, and really don't want ...
dryer wiring	2/7/2009
Q: In our utility room, the dryer use to be gas - but we just recently bought a stackable washer dryer ... A: You will need to run a wire from the panel to the dryer. Usually it is a double pole 30 amp breaker ...
110 v.house lighting	2/7/2009
Q: I have 2 circuits(ceiling lights) in different rooms,One is single pole switch and one is 2 way ... A: Most likely there is a neutral wire disconnected somewhere in the circuit. These things can be hard ...
Is a new 150 AMP breker box large enough for my house	2/7/2009
Q: We are going to replace our old 1950s model breakerbox with a new one. The old one only has about 6 ... A: Each 220 volt appliance needs its own breaker. Also, you can not put in a bigger breaker than is ...
switch/outlet wiring to a light and additional outlet	2/7/2009
Q: while renovating, I detached a switch outlet and marked wires with tape to remember. Well, tape ... A: Do not break off any tabs. The black wire going to the light fixture goes the switch on the side ...
Is a new 150 AMP breker box large enough for my house	2/6/2009
Q: We are going to replace our old 1950s model breakerbox with a new one. The old one only has about 6 ... A: You should compare the price of doing it either way. Most likely, it is not that much more, so you ...
wiring	2/6/2009
Q: I have an outlet from were I'm running 14/2 wire to a light switch. I run a wire to the light, and I ... A: At the switch box, all white wires will connect together. The two black wires from the outlets will ...
Power Drain?	2/5/2009
Q: Have been away from my summer home in rural WV for several months. Left the furnace w/setting at ... A: It is really hard to say. It seems like it is colder this year than last. Anything is possible, ...
Wiring size	2/5/2009
Q: I am installing a steam generator in my shower and the people selling the system recommend a 50 amp ... A: Copper number 6 will carry 50 amps max if it is not an extremely long run. If you use thicker wire, ...
Changing a Circuit breaker	2/5/2009
Q: I've just bought a house that has a 50-Amp Circuit breaker for the Air conditioning unit that is ... A: You have to be careful of what you touch in the box. Even turning off the main will not turn off ...
ceiling fan installing	2/5/2009
Q: installed ceiling fan light only works fan doesn't A: In the canopy there should be 3 wires, not counting any green wires. The white connects to white. ...
sconce switch	2/5/2009
Q: I have a wall switch for four wall sconces. I added a toggle switch to one of the sconces so when i ... A: Yes, you can use a switch with a dimmer. The black wire from the power connects to one terminal of ...
2-circuit outlet	2/4/2009
Q: I have 3 pairs of wires coming into an outlet. Two of the pairs are not hot and seems to go to two ... A: If the neutral becomes disconnected, you can get all kinds of funny readings. This is because the ...
Cook top and oven wiring	2/4/2009
Q: I'm replacing my cook top and oven and I have the folowin questions. Oven has Blk, Wht, Red and ... A: If your appliances are 220 volts, and the wiring is only 110 volts, you can't use them without ...
GFCI wiring	2/4/2009
Q: I am trying to change an outlet in my bathroom and update it to a GFCI outlet. The box with the ... A: I would connect everything to the line side. If there is anything else on the circuit that needs ...
Range Hood Wiring	2/4/2009
Q: I am replacing a non-ducted range hood. When I removed the old one (probably 25 years old) there ... A: Most likely the wires are the power coming in, and the power going to the next location. Connect ...
Outlets controlled by switches do not work	2/3/2009
Q: I have an issue where all the outlets that are controlled by switches do not work in the house. Say ... A: Has it always been that way? Did you just replace the outlets or switches? It sounds like it has ...
adding an addition switch	2/3/2009
Q: In my bathroom i have 2 switches, one for the lights and one for a bath exhaust fan. I want to ... A: If the heater is 1400 watts, and the breaker is 15 amps, that is pretty much the whole load. (max is ...
GFCI wiring	2/3/2009
Q: I am trying to change an outlet in my bathroom and update it to a GFCI outlet. The box with the ... A: Why are you replacing the outlet? If the old one did not reset, there may be a ground fault that is ...
Recessed lights	2/3/2009
Q: In one of my rooms in my basement, we have 6 recessed lights on the same switch (not a dimmer). ... A: I would check the wiring where you saw the smoke and make sure the wiring is not burned. (Unless ...
Loose neutral for 5 years	2/2/2009
Q: Bob, We just found out our neutral has been loose for five years, since we built the house. Things ... A: The loose neutral would have to be between your panel and the street. So, most of that is the power ...
F/U => Treadmill Power Reqs Expert: Robert Wilber - 3/3/2007	2/2/2009
Q: Greetings. It appears the question sent to the Subject Expert (who is currently "maxed out") ... A: The treadmill should be on its own circuit. However, if you are absolutely sure that the wire is ...
adding an addition switch	2/2/2009
Q: In my bathroom i have 2 switches, one for the lights and one for a bath exhaust fan. I want to ... A: If you change the breaker without changing all the wire on the circuit, you will have a definite ...
ELectricity out	2/2/2009
Q: Saturday I had the internet installed in one of my bedrooms. Everything was working fine when ... A: That may be something that an electrician with experience and tools will have to figure out. ...
Reading fuse box	2/2/2009
Q: My question is how can you tell how many amps do your fuse box hold? And how many amps you are you ... A: It depends on how it was wired. If it was wired correctly, then there should be 10 regular sized ...
Dishwasher / Disposal Wiring	2/2/2009
Q: I have a similar problem to a recent question you answered about a dishwasher / disposal wiring ... A: It is strange that you got a different reading between the red and white than the black and white. ...
Basement wiring	2/1/2009
Q: I am finishing my basement, roughly 1400sf. I am very familiar with residential romex wiring as I ... A: I really don't think the conduit will help much. If you run two hots and neutral, then you will ...
Follow-up Question	1/31/2009
Q: I have a second question to an answer you supplied to another poster about a year back. I have the ... A: You would install a junction box at the second location, and run house wire between the two boxes. ...
Home wiring	1/31/2009
Q: how can i find out if i blew a breaker or if i damaged an outlet? when i was doing some work, i ... A: There could be 2 circuits in a box, or perhaps the outlet or radio just didn't work. You can switch ...
power on box	1/31/2009
Q: ok here we go, friend has an older home and they plugged a vaccuum in and half of the house went ... A: If the white wire is connected, you should not get a shock from it, and there should be no reading. ...
faulty disposal switch	1/31/2009
Q: Our disposal recently quit working. We ran an extension cord to the disposal and determined that ... A: The disposal should be on its own circuit, so anything else working nearby really doesn't matter. ...
Electric Washer/Dryer combo wiring	1/31/2009
Q: I have washer/dryer combo unit Kenmore. The washer operates properly but the dryer is not working. ... A: It sounds like the plug is wired right. I don't understand how it can be getting only 28 volts. If ...
Receptical to Switch	1/31/2009
Q: I am installing under cabinet lighting and ran into a snag. I took an existing receptical and ... A: Neutral wires never connect to a light switch. The light switch has 2 terminals, not counting the ...
breaker tripping	1/30/2009
Q: My husband and I bought our home 12/2007. It was brand new and never lived in. We had a problem ... A: Bedrooms in new houses are required to have AFCI breakers. These trip when there is an arc or a ...
New recessed lighting	1/29/2009
Q: We recently installed new recessed lighting. the lights turn on, but when I shut them off the ... A: Something isn't wire right most likely. But I would need to know the exact wiring sequence, how ...
wiring a garage	1/29/2009
Q: I want to wire my two car detached garage. I have run a conduit under the patio I poured. The run ... A: You need at least number 6 wire through the conduit. You also have to use THHW conduit wire. You ...
Wiring question for Dishwasher and Disposer	1/29/2009
Q: Bob; I have three wires coming to switch box from circuit breaker. Red (1), Black (2) and white(3). ... A: Just the neutral from that circuit. Somewhere in the system it is not making contact. Be sure that ...
sizing a residential disconnect	1/29/2009
Q: My dad was informed by a PG&E inspector that he needs to install a disconnect between the meter and ... A: The sum of the breakers is almost always more than the main breaker. They assume you don't use ...
electrical main service	1/28/2009
Q: I have a private dwelling built in 1956. The electrical service main breaker is 75 amp rated. I ... A: The 75 amps is for each leg, so you are OK for now. However, even 100 amps is considered obsolete ...
outdoor outlet install	1/28/2009
Q: First, want to thank you for your time helping others here. thank you. I'm installing an outdoor ... A: Bad news on both questions. The kitchen/dining outlets have to be on their own circuits without ...
Wiring question for Dishwasher and Disposer	1/28/2009
Q: Bob; I have three wires coming to switch box from circuit breaker. Red (1), Black (2) and white(3). ... A: No, the neutral is disconnected. The disposal and dishwasher are in series with each other at 220 ...
Hot/Neut Rev	1/28/2009
Q: If an overhead ceiling fan in the bedroom was installed with the hot and neutral reversed, would it ... A: The circuit not being grounded would not affect it. You are getting power from the neutral, because ...
sizing a residential disconnect	1/28/2009
Q: My dad was informed by a PG&E inspector that he needs to install a disconnect between the meter and ... A: You should probably check with the power company, and see what they want. The size of the box would ...
Amp Loading/Breaker size	1/27/2009
Q: Bob- I am running electrical service to my garage- I have installed 100ft of #10 from my house to ... A: With number 10, you should be able to use 30 amps (breaker and load). If it was a longer distance, ...
Questions about installing sub panel	1/27/2009
Q: I am planning to install a 125 AMP sub panel (main lug) in my garage on the wall two feet from my ... A: Sub panels do not add amps. So, make sure that everything combined won't overload the system. As ...
Shorted out chandelier	1/27/2009
Q: I am installing a new chandelier and I did not notice that some of the wiring was exposed. When I ... A: You will need to look at the wires, and make sure that none of them have the insulation burned off ...
NO POWER TO SEVERAL OUTLETS	1/26/2009
Q: Woke up one morning to find 5 three prong (double outlets) to be completely dead. One had the reefer ... A: There could be a short in the wiring. You should probably check every box for good connections, ...
NO POWER TO SEVERAL OUTLETS	1/26/2009
Q: Woke up one morning to find 5 three prong (double outlets) to be completely dead. One had the reefer ... A: It is just a matter of electricity following the metal path. If you have power at the breaker, but ...
breakers	1/26/2009
Q: Is there a max amount of breakers that can be installed in a house. If I have a panel with 35 ... A: You aren't supposed to have more than 10 breakers per 50 amps. That is the way panels are designed. ...
Connecting 14/2 wire to existing 12/2 wire	1/26/2009
Q: I replaced a range hood over my stove, it has two 50 watt halogen bulbs and a fan, low and high ... A: The person in the store was wrong. Assuming it is a 20 amp circuit, you must use 12/2 wire. Even ...
3 Way Switch	1/25/2009
Q: Bob, The great room in my house has one ceiling fan/light fixture in it. I have two switch ... A: My guess is that what was intended in the first place. The only place you need to make a change is ...
new room	1/25/2009
Q: I have just built on a new addition to my house. It is a 12x12 room. I know the basics of how far ... A: You can have one circuit for the whole room, assuming that it is not a kitchen, dining, laundry or ...
Adding Light and Switch to Existing Outlet	1/25/2009
Q: I am wanting to add a switched ceiling light fixture to an existing circuit. The existing wiring is ... A: Number one will work. In number 2, I am confused as to why you want to add a wire from the old ...
wiring old home	1/25/2009
Q: I'm putting new wiring in an old 2 story home that has 2 wire cable. If I put a junction box in the ... A: If you do not have a ground all the way to the panel, it is unsafe to attempt to connect any ground ...
wet wires	1/25/2009
Q: the drain in our bathroom sink broke and drained the water down through the ceiling fan light in the ... A: I had a similar situation with water leaking into a heating vent and onto a fan. You can let ...
front door sconces -- wiring	1/25/2009
Q: A friend of mine called me to take a look at this: she is having work done on her house (not ... A: The bulbs burned out in a month because they were probably left on for long periods of time, and ...
Outlet Boxes Spacing	1/24/2009
Q: I have already installed wainscotting in a room, so outlet box extenders are not an option (paneling ... A: Here is something that may work. You don't need to get to the original box: ...
240 plug install	1/24/2009
Q: I had a 240 plug installed. It was for my 240v 50 amp Kiln. Inside the electrical box it takes up 2 ... A: If it is truly a 50 amp kiln, then the breakers should be 50 amps. However, if anyone replaces the ...
60A Sub Panel	1/24/2009
Q: I want to hook a 60A sub panel to my old 100A fuse panel. I was going to swap out the existing 30A ... A: What you are proposing is safer than what is there. But you also have to realize that 100 amp main ...
Sub Panel Wire Size	1/24/2009
Q: I have a few questions regarding sub panels. Is the amp rating of a sub panel supposed to be higher ... A: Generally, you should run the breaker in your main panel, and the wiring to match the size of your ...
Knob and Tube	1/23/2009
Q: I own a building that was built in 1925 and was knob and tube wiring. Sometime ago (I think 1970) an ... A: It is not unusual for the neutral to show power if they are disconnected from the power source. The ...
Installing a Double Oven in place of Single Oven.	1/23/2009
Q: My wife is wanting to install a Double Oven in place of our existing single oven. Space is not a ... A: Before changing any breakers, you must have the correct wire size for those breakers. Using a wire ...
outside sockets	1/23/2009
Q: During the Christmas light season, I apparently blew something. I have lost both my front and back ... A: The outdoor outlets should have a GFCI somewhere. It could be in a bathroom, outside, in a garage ...
bathroom GFCI outlet	1/23/2009
Q: I am replacing a GFCI outlet in a bathroom. I replaced it, but have no power in that bathroom nor ... A: Make sure there is not another GFCI between the panel and the GFCI you are replacing. If not, it ...
wire and breaker sizing for electric central heater.	1/22/2009
Q: I have a 4 ton AC and the breaker for it is a double pole 40 A. I never have a problem when the AC ... A: According to my charts, number 6 is Ok with 50 amps. However, you need to be sure it is number 6. ...
old house wiring upgrade	1/22/2009
Q: My circa 1925 house has a mix of knob and tube and newer wiring and a newish panel. About half of ... A: No, this is very dangerous. If the neutral wire comes loose, then everything that is grounded will ...
Replacing Porcelain Lampholder	1/22/2009
Q: I am replacing a ceiling procelain lampholder and when I removed the old fixture I noticed there are ... A: The wires are going in and then back out to another device. You should get a short piece of wire ...
15 amp breaker max load question please	1/22/2009
Q: Hey there, I am finishing the basement in a new home and just to be safe am asking this: 1 - 15 amp ... A: As long as you don't go over the max with the lights, you are OK. If you plan to leave the lights ...
installing a light shorted out my bathroom	1/21/2009
Q: i installed a new light in my bathroom, and when i went down to turn the electric back on, i ... A: First of all, make sure there is not a GFCI on the circuit. There shouldn't be one for the light, ...
amp conversion	1/21/2009
Q: I have a 250v 40amp breaker and I would like to convert it to 110/120v. How many amps can I extract ... A: You have to match the purpose of the circuit to the amperage. In other words, if it is a lighting ...
tanning bed blowing 15amp breaker	1/21/2009
Q: I have an older tanning bed that when used keeps blowing the 15amp breaker. There are two lines on ... A: If you change the breaker without changing the wire, the wire will overheat and very possibly catch ...
4 prong outlet wired wrong?	1/21/2009
Q: I have a 4 prong outlet for dryer. I hooked up the power supply as instructed but it did not work. I ... A: Do you have 4 wires going to the outlet? Usually the end 2 slots are hot, the green screw is ...
Range 120-240 wiring coversion	1/21/2009
Q: We are considering changing over to an electric range from a gas range. House was built in 2004. I ... A: The easiest thing is to disconnect the 240 volt circuit. The range can be plugged into any kitchen ...
moving an outlet	1/20/2009
Q: I have an outlet that is in a bay window area where I will be installing a window seat. It looks ... A: The hard part is that you are not allowed to make a splice in a junction box, then bury it behind a ...
wiring for automatic transfer switch	1/19/2009
Q: I am installing an automatic transfer switch to a 15,000K gen set. The run is about 20 feet from ... A: Normally you would get a sub panel for what you want on the generator. That would connect to your ...
Outlet with a switch	1/19/2009
Q: We only have 1 outlet in our bathroom. The problem is that both plugs (top and bottom) only work ... A: If the outlet is wired to the light, and the power enters the switch first, then the outlet will ...
Garage Wiring	1/19/2009
Q: I am rewiring my garage. I am using 12/2 Romex. I would like to put can lights up and two ... A: Yes, you can use thicker wire than is needed, which would be 12 or 10 gauge. I would not have the ...
wiring compressor to breaker panel 220V	1/19/2009
Q: Inside the pressure switch are 1white and 1black wires going to the motor, from there do I connect a ... A: The only way to get 220 volts is to use two hot wires. Some appliances have both 110 and 220 volt ...
home wiring	1/14/2009
Q: i previously asked this question to another expert on here. i have a double wide mobile home and ... A: Many times people have GFCI's, but can't find them. They can be outside, or in a bathroom. If it was ...
electrical wire and heating ducts	1/14/2009
Q: Bob, In my open basement ceiling I am replacing 2 existing bulb fixtures with 2 can lights, and ... A: The wiring can go outside of the ducts. Although it is probably best to leave a little space if you ...
Outlet and switch replacement	1/14/2009
Q: I have three questions for you. I'm installing two new switches that are together in the same ... A: The light and disposal do not need to be controlled by the GFCI, so you don't need to use the load ...
Wiring a 4 gang box	1/13/2009
Q: How many #12 wires am i allowed to put into a 4 gang box? A: It's not that easy. I found this online. It depends on the cubic inch capacity of the box. Each ...
Partial power loss	1/13/2009
Q: I have check my circuit breaker and everything seems fine. All of a sudden I have lost power to ... A: Is this all on one circuit? Assuming you checked the breakers it sounds like you have a loose ...
re: Electrical	1/13/2009
Q: We live in Cleveland, Oh and we came home last night and we do not have power in a specific area in ... A: If the items that are not working are every other row on the breaker panel, then you have one out of ...
track lighting - power but no light	1/13/2009
Q: My son's LV track lighting's track has power - at least the tool that buzzes when there is power on ... A: It sounds like there is a hot wire going to the lights, which will cause a tester to register, but ...
Installing a sub panel in my garage	1/13/2009
Q: I have to replace wiring to my garage because concrete guys chopped my wires that ran underground.So ... A: It depends on the amp rating of the welder and compressor. 6 gauge copper wire will handle 65 amps ...
Service Panel Wiring	1/12/2009
Q: I am installing a sub-panel in my greenhouse. I don't need 240 volts. I bought a small GE Powermark ... A: Normally all panel boxes are two phase, whether you use 220 volts or not. If you don't have enough ...
Outlet and switch replacement	1/12/2009
Q: I have three questions for you. I'm installing two new switches that are together in the same ... A: You can't add an outlet to either circuit. The lighting circuit in a kitchen can not have any ...
stacked single pole switch	1/12/2009
Q: In my bathroom there is a stacked switch that, one switch controls the light, and the other switch ... A: The only way 2 switches can work with 3 wires is that the power enters the fan and light first, and ...
GFCI, Neutral to Ground Voltage	1/12/2009
Q: Quick question for you. I put in a new GFCI outlet protecting a few downstream outlets (including a ... A: There should be no voltage difference between them if they are connected all the way through. But if ...
2 outside gfci's	1/12/2009
Q: I was required to run 2 outside gfci's in my new home. Code requires 14-3 wire. How do I wire them ... A: I do not understand why you are required to use 14-3. If there are 2 circuits for the outlets, then ...
adding 240 line to existing breaker	1/12/2009
Q: I'm installing a garage heater that will pull 16 amps. I'm looking to run new wire for a 240 outlet ... A: Baseboard heaters are about the only things where you can put more than one 220 volt appliance on a ...
Circuit out in home	1/12/2009
Q: I have one circuit out at home. I looked at the breaker box and all the breaker switches are all on. ... A: Those screwdriver testers test only for hot wires. So, if the light does not work, but it tests OK, ...
Electrical outlet	1/11/2009
Q: I have a problem with a set of outlets that went out. I have checked the master breakers and GFI and ... A: It sounds like something came loose. These things can be hard to track down. Somewhere in the ...
Electrical outside the wall!	1/11/2009
Q: I'm considering purchasing a home built in 1900. When they updated the electrical, they put it on ... A: How safe and modern the wiring is would depend when the upgrade was made. The agent is right about ...
One fixture works the other does not on 1 sw	1/11/2009
Q: In my bathroom I have two vanities. Each has a light over it both of them are controlled by one ... A: It is just a matter of narrowing it down the best you can. Carefully use a cheap neon tester and ...
adding a switched, gfci protected outlet	1/10/2009
Q: Bob - I want to add an exterior receptacle that's gfci protected and controlled by an ... A: The outlet will not be affected by the switch. You can do it the way you planned. Be sure that the ...
220 WIRING	1/10/2009
Q: IF I NEED TO RUN 30FT.OF WIRE BUT ALL I HAVE IS 2 15FT.PCS. CAN I WIRENUT THEM TOGETHER IN A ... A: Yes, you can do that if it is thin enough to wire nut. If it is something thicker than number 10, ...
Wire size for circuits.	1/10/2009
Q: I am running EMT conduit in my shop. I will have about 8 circuits for different things I will be ... A: No, you can't do that. If you overload it, there will be no breaker protection for it. Also, if one ...
Problem with 18 watts 4 pins in kitchen	1/9/2009
Q: I have two 18 watts 4 pins lights in my kitchen, the light goes off and on at random. I turn on ... A: Do these fixtures have starters? They are small metal cans usually under the tube. They go bad ...
AFCI tripping	1/9/2009
Q: I'm in a home less than 2 years old. On two occasions more than 5 months apart, the AFCI that ... A: It is hard to find an arc. Sometimes switches arc when turned on or off, so be on the watch to see ...
Wiring Track Lighting	1/9/2009
Q: I'm trying to wire track lighting in an old house. The track lights have three wires: one white ... A: If the system is not grounded, do not connect the ground to anything. You should wire the track ...
adapter question	1/9/2009
Q: We have an existing outlet, NEMA 14-30R that we use for the dryer... We also have an electric kiln ... A: All 220 volt appliances should have their own circuits. Plugging large plugs in and out can cause ...
partial electric outage	1/9/2009
Q: We've had partial loss of power and lights in our house recently. Each time it happens I go down to ... A: I still think an overload is more likely. Dead shorts are easy to spot, because you can disconnect ...
no 220	1/8/2009
Q: I have 110 electrical service in my home but no 220. The lights work on the stove but not the ... A: It sounds like everything in the house is running on one phase. That would be the power company's ...
Bad breaker?	1/8/2009
Q: yesterday we had an ice storm here in Pennsylvania. Our power was out from 7am until 3pm due to ... A: It sounds like there is a neutral wire that is not connected. This could be anywhere from your box ...
partial electric outage	1/8/2009
Q: We've had partial loss of power and lights in our house recently. Each time it happens I go down to ... A: If it was a power company problem, half of your circuits would be out, and flipping the breaker ...
rewiring a light switch	1/8/2009
Q: I just removed an old ceiling fan/light that had an on/off chain switch and installed a dome light ... A: It is strange that all the outlets would be on the switch. usually just one outlet. There would be ...
wiring of door bell	1/8/2009
Q: i was changing my door bell and the 2 wires coming from the wall were the same color (red), how do I ... A: No, both wires come the transformer. However, one wire has the button between the chime and the ...
Main wiring to horse barn	1/7/2009
Q: Bob. My wife and I have a nine stall horse barn 50 feet from the incoming power pole/main breaker ... A: There should be a double pole breaker in the main box that goes to the sub panel in the barn. At ...
rewire laundry room	1/7/2009
Q: I am going to relocate both the washing machine and dryer outlets in my laundry room. The original ... A: Unless you have local codes that say otherwise: yes, you can use the same boxes. In order to meet ...
rewiring a light switch	1/7/2009
Q: I just removed an old ceiling fan/light that had an on/off chain switch and installed a dome light ... A: Has it always been this way? The switch has 2 terminals (not counting the ground) Everything on ...
breaker	1/7/2009
Q: why does a breaker kick out when it rains? ANSWER: Hi. Is it a GFCI breaker? If so, the water is ... A: If anything is plugged into the outlets, unplug everything and see if it stops. If it does, try ...
fuses assigned in an odd way	1/7/2009
Q: My home is an old 1920's building and we believe the previous owners changed which rooms were ... A: Normally a wire leaves the fuse box and continues into several rooms until it ends. There should ...
wiring of door bell	1/7/2009
Q: i was changing my door bell and the 2 wires coming from the wall were the same color (red), how do I ... A: When you have only 2 wires (no back door), then you should have 2 wires. One goes on the ...
breaker	1/6/2009
Q: why does a breaker kick out when it rains? A: Is it a GFCI breaker? If so, the water is causing the electricity to go into the ground rather than ...
house wiring	1/6/2009
Q: We have a house (mobile home) that was built prior to 1985. We bought some replacement lights for ... A: There really isn't much you can do without rewiring everything. The wiring was changed in 1985 to ...
18 Volts when circuit is turned off	1/6/2009
Q: I have two 20 amp circuits that work fine, but when I turn off one of the breakers, I can still read ... A: If you have two breakers on cable, they should be a double pole breaker so that they are both on or ...
dedicated circuit for heaters	1/5/2009
Q: Do I need to have a dedicated circuit to install a 110 baseboard heater? A: Pretty much so. It depends on the wattage, but most heaters are pretty high in wattage. If it is a ...
wiring 3 set of recessed lights on dimmers	1/5/2009
Q: 2 14/2 wires coming in from 2 sets of cans to the 2 dimmers, from this box i have 14/3 running to a ... A: You shouldn't need 14/3 to run to the other dimmer. The black power coming in will go to both ...
light that wont turn off	1/5/2009
Q: In our childs bedroom they have a over head light fixture that stays on unless you unscrew the bulb. ... A: Did someone change the wiring? If the power enters the light first, then the black coming in should ...
light switch	1/5/2009
Q: I am trying to wire a light in the center of a bedroom when the house was built in 70 they wired the ... A: Connecting all the blacks to the outlet and all of the whites makes sense. (Blacks on brass screws, ...
adding motion sensor to switched lights	1/5/2009
Q: I have two sets of standard flood lights wired together with two switches (diagram attached). I ... A: About the only thing you can do is put a motion sensor on each fixture. They will work only when ...
SWITCHING OUT LIGHT FIXTURES	1/4/2009
Q: I live in a condo, and the lighting is very dim. I have 2 or 3 fixtures that have a globe and 2-3 ... A: The easiest way is to buy compact fluorescent bulbs which use less electricity, but are brighter. ...
electrical	1/4/2009
Q: ihave a light socket box with 3 seperate wires coming out one is labeled feed one is labeled feed to ... A: Any switch will do. The better ones will last longer, but they all do the same job. The two black ...
Aluminum Wire Ground?	1/4/2009
Q: We are painting our kitchen and decided while we are doing this to replace our range hood with a ... A: If the ground wire is inside the cable, that is perfectly normal. You do not need to worry about it ...
Aluminum Wire Ground?	1/4/2009
Q: We are painting our kitchen and decided while we are doing this to replace our range hood with a ... A: This does not sound like anything that was done to code. The ground wire should be in the cable ...
50 Vac on my ground to neutral	1/3/2009
Q: As I said in the subject, I am getting 50 Vac on my ground to neutral. This is not the case on all ... A: It sounds like you have a neutral not making connection somewhere. The power is coming from ...
brass pole ? live or neutral	1/3/2009
Q: i just replaced the plug on a wire that has white black and green wires green is ground and black ... A: The brass screw is the hot wire, which should be black. The silver colored screw is the neutral ...
Fluorescent lighting	1/3/2009
Q: ..I am trying to put up several shoplights in the basement. I replaced an existing switched ... A: It sounds like they ended up in series with each other. Make sure that the blacks are all connected ...
Direct Wiring Undercabinet lights	1/3/2009
Q: I bought some 120V puck lights that basically hook up by each set of 3 lights use regular plugs into ... A: Yes, when you have the transformer type, the transformer has to be properly wired. But pretty much ...
power to celling fan	1/3/2009
Q: I do not get any power to my ceiling fan from the breaker I replaced the breaker that did not do it ... A: In order to get electricity to a certain area, there has to be an uninterrupted path for the ...
hot and neutral reversed?	1/3/2009
Q: I have a house build in 1930 in Nashville, TN. I'm doing a wall repair and I notice that the ... A: Yes, it does seem strange. However there has to be 3 wires between the switch and light, if there ...
outlets	1/2/2009
Q: I am from NY and want to know, whatis the limit to how many outlets per circuit? I have heard ... A: Unless there is a local code, there really isn't a limit on the number of outlets, it depends where ...
Fluorescent lighting	1/2/2009
Q: ..I am trying to put up several shoplights in the basement. I replaced an existing switched ... A: Yes, you can have 3 on the same switch. You can just run a wire from fixture to fixture. Be sure to ...
Replacing outdoor light fixture	1/2/2009
Q: I recently replaced an outdoor light fixture above my garage. When I removed the existing light, it ... A: The red goes to the black. However, the white should not be connected to any bare ground wires. ...
Circuit keeps tripping	1/2/2009
Q: I recently just moved into a room that hasn't been used in a while. When i use the Air-conditioning ... A: It sounds like the circuit is overloaded. Air conditioners should be on their own circuit. ...
Direct Wiring Undercabinet lights	1/2/2009
Q: I bought some 120V puck lights that basically hook up by each set of 3 lights use regular plugs into ... A: If a fixture is not made for direct wiring, you can't direct wire it safely and to code. Connecting ...
grounding in a new work plastic box	1/2/2009
Q: I am adding a light fixture in my attic off of an existing light fixture...as simple as it gets. I ... A: There just isn't anything to hook the ground wire to. If it is the end of the run, no metal box, ...
combining14 awg & 12 awg	1/1/2009
Q: Greetings, In a recent house rewire I used 14awg only for branched light fixture runs and 12awg only ... A: Yes, you can use only a 15 amp breaker. That is because if you used a 20 amp breaker, and the 14 ...
wiring	1/1/2009
Q: I am installing a new overhead fixture in the kitchen. I got the fixture wired up and flipped back ... A: It is possible that other damage was done to the wiring. It probably won't cause any further ...
COMBINATION SINGLE POLE SWITCH AND GROUNDING RECEPTICLE	1/1/2009
Q: Here is my issue I am removing a stamdard to plug outlet in my kitchen and replacing it with a one ... A: Is the disposal on the same circuit? Normally they should be on their own circuit. This ...
Wiring a Porcelain Lampholder w/pull chain	1/1/2009
Q: I want to add a light in my basement by splicing into an existing wire. This lampholder has a pull ... A: I usually warn people not to splice into just any wire. But if there is already a light on the ...
Kitchen addition	1/1/2009
Q: Our original circuit breaker box is a 200 amp box and there is no space left in it. I added an ... A: The limit is how many breakers, plus the total amperage actually used. There is no limit by adding ...
Change receptacle with only two wires so one always hot and one on a switch	12/31/2008
Q: All answers so far say that because there's only two wires going from the switch to the outlet and ... A: The remote would work only if the switch is left on. The remote would be the new switch. Some ...
No current after "mishap"	12/31/2008
Q: My wife (not my kids)! accidentally put a metal object in an outlet in our kitchen wall. There was a ... A: The GFCI may not reset if it does not get power. Or it may need to be replaced. You can get a ...
4 way switches	12/31/2008
Q: I have 3 lights that I wired for a 4 way.Power goes from L-1 to L-2 to L-3 than to 3-way switch with ... A: You need either to run 14-3 between the lights, or run the power and the switch wires into the same ...
240 VAC Male Connector	12/31/2008
Q: How do I attach a 4-wire 240VAC male connector directly to my manual transfer switch out on my pole? ... A: It sounds like the hole is too big. The connectors usually snap into the hole. Your best bet is to ...
Outdoor floodlight problem	12/31/2008
Q: Bob, I just replaced a halogen spotlight fixture with a motion detector. The old one developed a ... A: It sounds like you wired it correctly, so the best thing to do is see if the company has a customer ...
Replacing an old light switch	12/30/2008
Q: The old light switch receptacle has three wires coming out of it... each having a black and a white ... A: If there are two switches controlling the light, then it is a 3 way switch. There are two terminals ...
Change receptacle with only two wires so one always hot and one on a switch	12/30/2008
Q: All answers so far say that because there's only two wires going from the switch to the outlet and ... A: yes, if there is only one white and one black, you can't change it without adding a wire. They make ...
pool motor	12/30/2008
Q: I have three wires coming out of the timer box. One is for ground the other two goes to either L1 or ... A: If the timer is 220 volts, then you would need to have both wires come in and both wires go out. It ...
wiring a switch	12/30/2008
Q: I am renovating my bathroom and had all new wiring from my circuit breaker box installed. The only ... A: There may be power coming from the neutral if it is not connected properly somewhere on the circuit. ...
Light replacing ceiling fan/light	12/29/2008
Q: had a ceiling fan/light. I took it down and installed just a light fixture. I have installed ... A: You may have a switch loop where the white wire is a hot wire. Connecting a hot white wire to a ...
Switches and recepticals	12/29/2008
Q: Are the switches for aluminum wiring different from copper wiring and if so, why? ANSWER: Hi. Yes, ... A: I would fix it immediately. Copper and aluminum expand and contract at a different rate, the wiring ...
Kitchen addition	12/29/2008
Q: Our original circuit breaker box is a 200 amp box and there is no space left in it. I added an ... A: I can't imagine how you could use 80 circuits in one house. Each time you add another box, the ...
Wiring a new gfi outlet from a hot switch	12/29/2008
Q: I have a hot switch with three wires hot ground and neutral and would like to add an outlet that is ... A: Yes, since the power enters at the switch first, you can do it. The wires coming from the power ...
heaters	12/28/2008
Q: My son want to install few heaters in his home. How can do this and what do I need in material. Do I ... A: Most houses do not have enough capacity for electric heaters, which use up a lot of electricity. If ...
tracing wires in a mobile home	12/28/2008
Q: My inlaws have a mobile home and the wires are a mess. Near the door is a dbl gang box. There are ... A: You can tell which wire comes from the panel by disconnecting them, and turning the power back on. ...
Electrical outlet	12/28/2008
Q: I am installing a LCD in my f