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| Subject | Date Asked |
| Switches/chandelier | 2/8/2012 |
| Q: My husband changed the electrical outlets in our home (to designer switches) now they no longer work ... A: If the outlets do not shut off, and half of each outlet was controlled by a switch, then you need to ... | |
| wiring | 2/7/2012 |
| Q: hi my name is randy my question is ive recently installed 3 potlights and was wondering if its ... A: Probably not. You would have to connect it to a switch where the power wire enters the system ... | |
| upgrading breaker panel | 2/7/2012 |
| Q: I currently have a 125 amp service and want to go to 200 amp.What do I need for wire from the meter ... A: Unfortunately, it is not that simple. You will need to get the power company involved to make sure ... | |
| hard wire of garbage disposal | 1/28/2012 |
| Q: I had a hard wire into my old garbage disposal. My new disposal has a power cord. I disconnected ... A: You should not need a GFCI for a disposal, since it will be permanently plugged in under the sink. ... | |
| installing electric baseboards | 1/24/2012 |
| Q: I want to install a number of baseboard heaters in the basement. As of now I have two 8 foot ones ... A: It is not unusual to run more than one heater on a circuit. However, you may have local codes to ... | |
| outlets | 1/21/2012 |
| Q: My outlets quit working in one room of my house. I've checked the circuit breaker and they're fine. A: What room? If it is a room that has water in it, it could be a GFCI that tripped. Check for an ... | |
| Open Ground | 1/20/2012 |
| Q: when I had my home inspection done the inspector said we have 3 plugs that are not grounded when I ... A: An open ground means that the ground wire is not making contact somewhere from the outlet to the ... | |
| Quartz Heater Burned Poweroutlet | 1/19/2012 |
| Q: I had a Quartz Heater out in my room (Garage) and it was ... A: It is not a good idea to plug electronic things in the same circuit as a heater. When the heater ... | |
| light fixture | 1/18/2012 |
| Q: I replaced a ceiling fan in my dining room with a light fixture. In the ceiling the three wires are ... A: You should just cap off the red wire. That should not be a problem at all. It would be better to ... | |
| light fixture | 1/18/2012 |
| Q: I replaced a ceiling fan in my dining room with a light fixture. In the ceiling the three wires are ... A: One switch should be controlled by one breaker. If it is connected to two breakers, the wires are ... | |
| Ground vs. neutral | 1/17/2012 |
| Q: Bob, I just replaced two wall mounted lamps in my bedroom. House (condo) is 10 years old. First ... A: Most likely, there is a break in the neutral, so someone used the ground as a neutral, which is ... | |
| Quartz Heater Burned Poweroutlet | 1/16/2012 |
| Q: I had a Quartz Heater out in my room (Garage) and it was ... A: Yes, it is quite likely that there was arcing. Both plugs need to be replaced, if you have not done ... | |
| 3 way system in late 60's home | 1/4/2012 |
| Q: I have some weird wiring stuff on a 3 way circuit. I have 2- 14/2 G's coming directly into the ... A: There are too many wires, plus the wiring of a 3 way switch is never standard, so I really can't ... | |
| loss of power | 1/4/2012 |
| Q: there is an area in my house that is controlled by one breaker that keeps losing power for a while, ... A: Most likely it is a loose wire. These things can be hard to track down. Somewhere in the circuit, ... | |
| No power at only 3 areas of the house. | 1/1/2012 |
| Q: We have power in the rest of the house excepting, in the powder room, mud room and Garage lights, I ... A: It sounds like a GFCI problem. They have test/reset buttons and make it harder to get shocked. They ... | |
| GFI Outdoor Receptacle | 12/26/2011 |
| Q: Have GFI both front and back of house, the one on the front is working well, the one on the back was ... A: If you are sure there are no other GFCIs, then you probably have a wire not making a connection ... | |
| 1950's wiring | 12/22/2011 |
| Q: I pulled down some formica backsplash and found a junction box with a live bundle of wire coming in ... A: This is against the code. Why they did it, I can only guess that it either went to something at ... | |
| no power to lights | 12/21/2011 |
| Q: i have a 8 foot light that just stopped working i replaced the whole fixture still did not work. ... A: It's just a matter of getting a straight path of metal from your breaker box to the light. These ... | |
| Switch lights not working | 12/20/2011 |
| Q: About 10 minutes ago all but two lights in my house controlled by switches shut off. I am still ... A: In most areas of the house, the outlets and lights are wired together. The kitchen, dining room, ... | |
| Switch lights not working | 12/20/2011 |
| Q: About 10 minutes ago all but two lights in my house controlled by switches shut off. I am still ... A: It is probably a coincidence that only the lights went off, but the outlets stayed on. You may have ... | |
| partial power outage | 12/18/2011 |
| Q: At my house a handiman was using two extention cords to a leaf blower when the power for that ... A: First of all, Google FPE or Federal Pacific. You will find that most people find these breakers ... | |
| Bath fan light heat combo | 12/18/2011 |
| Q: I recently had a 400 amp service installed in my house to have capacity to do some bath and kitchen ... A: You will need 4 conductors to run the combo if you have 3 different switches. Since the heat is 20 ... | |
| outlets , no power | 12/17/2011 |
| Q: I have a 1 yr. old home. power out on a circuit this week. garage and living room outlets and ... A: Resetting a breaker without fixing the problem can be dangerous. If you can't find the problem, it ... | |
| 'Dirty Power' Electricity Issues | 12/13/2011 |
| Q: I understand that the power supplied to my apartment is classified as 'dirty power.' The room I use ... A: Dirty electricity, if it really exists, would not affect your house wiring. There is always a ... | |
| Some circuit breakers are not working | 12/12/2011 |
| Q: While installing and wiring some new circuit breakers I accidentally touched a bare/ground wire to a ... A: The problem is going to be either in the main breaker in this box, or in the wiring before the ... | |
| wall outlet | 12/5/2011 |
| Q: I have a wall with 3 outlets and 1 light switch on it. It would work, but when you walked by it the ... A: It sounds like the outlet is bad. Or perhaps the wiring to it is bad. This could overheat and ... | |
| landline telephone | 11/28/2011 |
| Q: I hope I've reached someone who can help me with a phone problem. It was hard to find a phone ... A: Generally Verizon is responsible only to the box outside of your house. If you pay a charge for ... | |
| Wall heater | 11/27/2011 |
| Q: I would like to install an electric heater in my garage. The heater is available in either 120V or ... A: The heater will need to be on a separate circuit. If it is 240 volts, you will need two spaces in ... | |
| Upgrading lighting in my house | 11/26/2011 |
| Q: Bob, I have a 1960's house that has poor lighting. There is only one small fixture in the kitchen, ... A: It is pretty involved, but it depends on your skill level. The best thing to do, is to do one job ... | |
| Partial Power Outage | 11/22/2011 |
| Q: I live in a 60 year old triplex and the power is out in part of my apartment. The power to the other ... A: By partial, do you mean half of your power is out? If not, it may just be one breaker or fuse that ... | |
| Partial Power Outage | 11/22/2011 |
| Q: I live in a 60 year old triplex and the power is out in part of my apartment. The power to the other ... A: This is not really something someone can do themselves. And most places will allow homeowners to do ... | |
| fuse box power | 11/21/2011 |
| Q: ..here is my problem...I'm replacing a sinkbase and sink and garbage disposal...the house is an old ... A: Unscrewing the fuse should turn off the power. However, you may have a shared neutral, which means ... | |
| Dining room wiring | 11/20/2011 |
| Q: Recently I replaced a standard light switch in my dining room, to a dimmer switch. This light ... A: It depends on what wires. The wire going only to the chandelier should not test hot. However, if ... | |
| ANOTHER DIMMER switch PROBLEM | 11/18/2011 |
| Q: My dimmer switch with a 15 amp keeps tripping the breaker, whats strange is that its never happen ... A: Do you have an arc fault breaker (with a test button)? If you do then you probably have something ... | |
| ANOTHER DIMMER switch PROBLEM | 11/16/2011 |
| Q: My dimmer switch with a 15 amp keeps tripping the breaker, whats strange is that its never happen ... A: Do you have arc fault breakers? They have test buttons on them. If so, the dimmer is probably ... | |
| 4-WAY SWITCH WITH THREE LIGHTS | 11/15/2011 |
| Q: THE DOWN STAIRS LIGHT SWITCH WILL SHUT ALL THREE LIGHTS OFF OR ON. IF YOU LEAVE THE DOWN STAIRS ... A: Was one switch just replaced? It sounds like one was miswired. There are 2 wires called carriers ... | |
| on and off | 11/9/2011 |
| Q: hello bob to start all of my breakers are hot but in the kitchen area and the living room area i ... A: There may be arcing in the panel, especially where the main wires coming in connect to the box. This ... | |
| Hardwire garbage disposal | 11/8/2011 |
| Q: Hard wired a switch to the disposal under the sink, when you turn on the breaker it will run but ... A: Is it an arc fault breaker? It would have a test button. If so, the switch is probably arcing when ... | |
| Junction Box | 11/7/2011 |
| Q: I am installing 3 new circuits (2 20A and 1 15A) that are all fed from the same sub-panel. My ... A: Yes, you need to separate the white wires. There is something called a shared neutral, but there ... | |
| dimmer switch install | 11/3/2011 |
| Q: ..I'll try and paint the picture as best I can...In my basement at the base of my stairs there are 5 ... A: If anyone just starts pulling wires apart, they are going to have a major problem. There is no way ... | |
| ceiling light | 11/3/2011 |
| Q: I took down a fluorescent light to replace with a flush mount fixture. There were 2 boxes covered 1 ... A: Unfortunately, someone would need Xray vision to find out. The wires may be disconnected at a box ... | |
| GFCI | 11/1/2011 |
| Q: I have a GFCI outlet in my bathroom. Every type of device will work on it except my wife's hair ... A: Is your outlet a GFCI outlet? If not, then her hair dryer may have a defect. If it is, then either ... | |
| wiring porch light | 10/29/2011 |
| Q: We wired porch lights, then connected to switch. black to black and white to white. Turned on the ... A: Did you connect the white wires to the switch? You should not. The two black wires connect to the ... | |
| Honeywell CT410B thermostat install | 10/28/2011 |
| Q: I recently purchased a couple Honeywell CT410B thermostats to replace some old ones, the new ... A: It sounds like your thermostats were made for one pole 110 volts, and the ones you bought were for 2 ... | |
| old house...replacing ceiling fan | 10/27/2011 |
| Q: I know black/blue go to black, white goes to white. Here is my dilemna...house is quite old, has old ... A: If the bare copper wire is in the house wire, then it should be the ground. However, before you ... | |
| some of my ceiling lights are out | 10/24/2011 |
| Q: i woke up one morning and my upstairs ceiling lights were out.. i live in a three floor house.. the ... A: It sounds like you have a loose or broken wire connection somewhere. These things can be hard to ... | |
| Re-wiring a sub-panel | 10/23/2011 |
| Q: I currently have a 50 amp breaker in my house 400 amp service run to an outbuilding. There are 4 ... A: The neutral is not making contact somewhere from the source to the panel. If it is underground, it ... | |
| 3 way switch | 10/21/2011 |
| Q: I have a ceiling light controlled by two 3-way switches. It suddenly went dead. Checked the bulb ... A: Each switch has one screw that is one color, and two screws that are the same of another color. ... | |
| 240V Oven Wire | 10/19/2011 |
| Q: I'd like to double check wiring on my new wall oven. Here's what the manufacturer recommends: oven ... A: Prior to the 1990's, there was no ground wire for ovens and dryers. They were grounded through the ... | |
| 240V Oven Wire | 10/18/2011 |
| Q: I'd like to double check wiring on my new wall oven. Here's what the manufacturer recommends: oven ... A: If your oven does not have a white, then usually the white is capped off, if you have a bare ground ... | |
| chandelier out | 10/18/2011 |
| Q: While I was tightening a bulb in the chandelier, I went to far & all the remaining bulbs blew (only ... A: Most likely you caused a short. Instead of the breaker tripping, a wire burned somewhere in the ... | |
| problem with double pole breaker | 10/18/2011 |
| Q: I have a 40A double pole breaker installed. when I measure from one hot to ground, I get ~120V. But ... A: If the other double pole breakers work (you get power between the two hot wires), then it is not the ... | |
| Receptacel problems | 10/18/2011 |
| Q: I moved a receptacle from a wall in a bedroom to the inside of the closet in the same room, probably ... A: The outlet has one cable coming in, and one cable going out. If that outlet is working, but not the ... | |
| 3 wall switches stopped working | 10/18/2011 |
| Q: I have a triple wall switch plate at my back door. One switch controls two separate outdoor lighting ... A: Unfortunately, it is not a step 1, step 2, step 3 kind of thing. It is mostly detective work in ... | |
| problem with double pole breaker | 10/17/2011 |
| Q: I have a 40A double pole breaker installed. when I measure from one hot to ground, I get ~120V. But ... A: The hot wires are on the same phase, but need to be on the opposite. Check your main breaker. If ... | |
| Receptacel problems | 10/17/2011 |
| Q: I moved a receptacle from a wall in a bedroom to the inside of the closet in the same room, probably ... A: It sounds like a loose wire. Did you make all of the connections inside of a junction box? Any ... | |
| Removel of a breaker switch | 10/16/2011 |
| Q: The switch for my kitchen lights broke i need to remove it from my underwriters laboratory breaker ... A: Turn the main breaker off, but still be careful what you touch. Once you take the cover off, pull ... | |
| Wiring in attic | 10/16/2011 |
| Q: I am going to install EZ Heat roof and gutter de-icing cables. I have calculated that I will need ... A: You should glue a threaded adapter onto the conduit. Then you will need either a metal or plastic ... | |
| wiring | 10/15/2011 |
| Q: the lights in the master bedroom bathroom have gone out,there is power on the wires but the lights ... A: With the wires inside of the walls, it is almost impossible to figure out where they go to. Usually ... | |
| Drop down pendant lights humming | 10/15/2011 |
| Q: I installed two drop down pendant lights over our bar. They are both on a 120v, 15A circuit. ... A: If the bulbs are incandescent, you should be OK. They might hum a little, especially on the lower ... | |
| Electrical | 10/14/2011 |
| Q: I have a outlet that has worked for two years. It just stopped working. A three prong tester told me ... A: An open hot just means that the black hot wire is not making contact. These things can be hard to ... | |
| no power to kitchen outlets | 10/14/2011 |
| Q: I have two outlets in the kitchen with no power. No GFI's are tripped and no breakers are tripped. ... A: If you have checked both GFCI's in the kitchen, then it is probably a wire that burned loose. These ... | |
| Wiring in attic | 10/13/2011 |
| Q: I am going to install EZ Heat roof and gutter de-icing cables. I have calculated that I will need ... A: You can't use Romex in conduit. You either have to use the Romex by itself, or use THHN wire inside ... | |
| New 120v 15A outlet in middle of existing run | 10/13/2011 |
| Q: I have a 15Amp 120vac circuit that is run to my guest bedroom. I want to add another outlet in the ... A: You should pigtail all of the wires. You shouldn't use both the screws and the holes. It is usually ... | |
| adapter plug | 10/12/2011 |
| Q: We would like to know is it is safe to use an adapter plug in the outlet that only has room for two ... A: For the most part no. If the system is grounded but there is a two prong plug, the adapter would be ... | |
| green bonding screw | 10/10/2011 |
| Q: bob, where does the green bonding screw go in the main panel? is there anything that i have to wire ... A: I am not exactly which screw you mean. If it bonds the panel frame to the neutral wires, it is used ... | |
| Running exstention cord through wall | 10/10/2011 |
| Q: Sponaugle. We have exstention cord running through the window to plug in lights from outside. We ... A: You should not run an extension cord through a wall. The only wire that is safe to be inside of a ... | |
| recipticles not working in the bathrooms | 10/10/2011 |
| Q: As I pulled the GFI recepticle out of the wall box to look at it in preparation for adding another ... A: Most likely a wire came loose when you looked in the bathroom. The wire going from the GFCI you ... | |
| Bathroom Wiring | 10/5/2011 |
| Q: Bob: I have two single pole switches in our bathroom: one for the light and the other for the ... A: You can leave the switch you plan to leave there as it is. When you replace the other switch, make ... | |
| Bathroom Wiring | 10/5/2011 |
| Q: Bob: I have two single pole switches in our bathroom: one for the light and the other for the ... A: The black power in goes to the switch/outlet. Depending on how it is made, it may be one screw and ... | |
| partial power | 10/5/2011 |
| Q: My daughter plugged up an outlet in her room which sparked and burned. My room is the right next to ... A: Instead of tripping the breaker, the short burned a wire somewhere in the circuit. These things can ... | |
| Electrical Power to Range | 10/2/2011 |
| Q: Good morning. Our Kenmore range, nearlly 2 years old, was not working at the stovetop or oven this ... A: To get 110 volts, you use one hot wire and one neutral wire. To get 220 volts, you use two hot ... | |
| Dryer tripping main breaker | 9/30/2011 |
| Q: This problem seems odd. I can go for long periods of time with no issues. Then, when I start using ... A: Make sure that the total use of electricity does not exceed the capacity of the main breaker. For ... | |
| Replacing Outlet Controlled by Switch | 9/28/2011 |
| Q: After painting we decided to replace the light switches and plug outlets. One of the living room ... A: Did the switch control only half of the outlet? If so, you need to break the tab only on the dark ... | |
| marbled light bulbs | 9/27/2011 |
| Q: I live in a new home built about 14 months ago and all of the the bulbs that have burned out show ... A: The bulbs look like they got air in them some way. Bulbs have all of the air removed. So either you ... | |
| Electrical Fluctuations Dirty Power | 9/14/2011 |
| Q: In the apartment I started measuring the Voltage coming from the wall after I had three surge ... A: Are any outlets over in voltage? If so, there is a neutral disconnected somewhere between the power ... | |
| outlets not working | 9/12/2011 |
| Q: we have some outlets throughout the house which are not working. My husband has fixed them ... A: A GFCI is usually used for an outlet that is near water. It not only controls the outlet itself, ... | |
| outlets not working | 9/11/2011 |
| Q: we have some outlets throughout the house which are not working. My husband has fixed them ... A: You didn't say where the outlets were. If they are in the kitchen, bathroom, outside, basement, or ... | |
| Bad Neutral or Ground | 9/8/2011 |
| Q: I have an electrical problem that first appeared when my cable went out. It sounds like a bad ... A: Somewhere the neutral is not making contact between your panel and the street. Sometimes the power ... | |
| Smoke Detector won't shut off | 9/6/2011 |
| Q: I have many wired in smoke detectors on all floors & they all went off at once. I shut off the ... A: They are probably battery back-up, and you can't shut them off. There is no way for them to know if ... | |
| GFI Keeps Tripping* | 9/5/2011 |
| Q: I have 3 wall oulets & a GFI above my kitchen counter, when I plug in an electrical device into the ... A: This is usually caused by a ground and neutral wire that is touching. I assume you have tried ... | |
| 2 hole outlet to 3 hole outlet | 8/31/2011 |
| Q: Just bought a new house (built in 1961) which has 2 hole outlets. The fuse box has been upgraded to ... A: Sorry it took so long to answer. I changed computers, and somehow your question got lost until now. ... | |
| Outdoor Light | 8/31/2011 |
| Q: Our front light sits on a post about 15 feet from the house; a light sensor turns it on at night, ... A: You would have to look for corrosion on the socket and wires. It probably is OK. If the sensor got ... | |
| Electri outlet | 8/31/2011 |
| Q: I have an outlet in my bathroom that only works when the light is turned on,I would like it to be ... A: It depends on the relationship between the light, the outlet, and the power source. If the power ... | |
| 2 hole outlet to 3 hole outlet | 8/31/2011 |
| Q: Just bought a new house (built in 1961) which has 2 hole outlets. The fuse box has been upgraded to ... A: There is a difference of opinion if that is OK or not. I vote no. And if a home inspector or ... | |
| Bathroom fan won't shut off | 8/23/2011 |
| Q: I recently moved into a split-level condo (it's relatively new, about 6 or 7 years old) and am ... A: That is hard to answer without seeing it. Normally it sounds like a bad switch. If you took off ... | |
| Installing a spring-wound timer switch | 8/21/2011 |
| Q: I just purchased a a GE spring-wound timer (model 15305). I have installed many dimmer switches and ... A: If the house was built before the early to mid 1960's, it probably is not grounded unless the wiring ... | |
| Installing a spring-wound timer switch | 8/20/2011 |
| Q: I just purchased a a GE spring-wound timer (model 15305). I have installed many dimmer switches and ... A: If your system is not grounded, then do not connect the ground wire. If it is not grounded and ... | |
| using neutral wire | 8/18/2011 |
| Q: can I use a neutral wire for 2 separate circuits. Thanks Mark A: This is called a shared neutral, and I do not recommend it. If the neutral becomes loose, then both ... | |
| pump | 8/17/2011 |
| Q: There is a timer hooked up to the electric by the pool. But from what it looks to me the timer was ... A: Intermatic pretty much makes most of the timers used today. I have 5 of them installed for my ... | |
| electrical short | 8/17/2011 |
| Q: well my Q? is I have four rooms that have no power,one is the bathroom,and three bedroom , an d a ... A: It looks like a wire is loose or disconnected somewhere in the circuit. These things can be hard to ... | |
| Hot wall swich | 8/16/2011 |
| Q: I recently noticed that the wall switch connected to my 10 can lights gets hot after a while. The ... A: Is it a dimmer or an on/off switch? A dimmer can get warm. Also, how many watts are all of your ... | |
| Power to outlets but not light switches | 8/15/2011 |
| Q: Today I changed two switches in our guest bath. One for the light and one for the fan. When I went ... A: Yes, all the black wires should connect to each other. If the wiring is old, maybe the metal part ... | |
| Power to outlets but not light switches | 8/15/2011 |
| Q: Today I changed two switches in our guest bath. One for the light and one for the fan. When I went ... A: Most likely you pulled a wire loose. Check all the wire nuts in the box for both black and white ... | |
| pump | 8/14/2011 |
| Q: There is a timer hooked up to the electric by the pool. But from what it looks to me the timer was ... A: It is not only a matter of the voltage, it is a matter of the amperage. This information should be ... | |
| Replace a three way switch with an outlet | 8/14/2011 |
| Q: I have a light in my stairs controlled by two(three way switches)I want to cancel the light and to ... A: In order to do that, you need to know where the wires go to. You would need to know where the power ... | |
| pump | 8/14/2011 |
| Q: There is a timer hooked up to the electric by the pool. But from what it looks to me the timer was ... A: You can't use a low voltage timer for a pool pump. You will need to use the correct timer for that ... | |
| Adding switch and ceiling lights | 8/11/2011 |
| Q: How do I add a switch and two basic ceiling lights to an existing circuit? A: You have to make sure you tap off the correct place. You can't tap off of a switch, if the power ... | |
| grounding | 8/9/2011 |
| Q: I have been doing some re-wiring in my home. It was built in 1971, and has a neutral ground. there ... A: Different people have different opinions about running grounds separately from the rest of the wire. ... | |
| Outlet replacement | 7/31/2011 |
| Q: I am replacing the outlets and light switch in a bedroom and the new outlets require 14 gauge wiring ... A: In most outlets you can put either 12 or 14 gauge wire on the screws, but put only 14 gauge in the ... | |
| tripping GFI | 7/30/2011 |
| Q: My garbage disposal trips the GFI immediately when I turn it on, when I reset the same thing ... A: If the garbage disposal is plugged into a dedicated outlet, it does not need a GFCI. However, there ... | |
| low voltage damage to a server | 7/29/2011 |
| Q: Bob, After the storms in the midwest we have a problem that will be fixed by ComEd but not until ... A: This really is out of my area, and computer experts would be better to answer this. But I can give ... | |
| Lost power to GFI | 7/27/2011 |
| Q: I ran into a problem replacing a GFI. I had a GFI that was acting up. The GFI would have power for ... A: That popping noise was the wire burning through at some point. You will need to check the wiring ... | |
| stove top | 7/25/2011 |
| Q: my new stove top has three wires black/red/green i wont to put a plug on it do i use the green where ... A: No. It's usually best to wire it directly. But if you use a plug, you must get the right type of ... | |
| electrical panel | 7/24/2011 |
| Q: Just bought a house, and turned on the microwave and lost all that side of the house,went down and ... A: I would call an electrician. Any time things are loose like that, you have the danger of arcing and ... | |
| ceiling fan remote | 7/20/2011 |
| Q: I recently noticed that three of the four ceiling fans in my bedrooms were not working. I installed ... A: The light kit would usually have a blue wire. Sometimes black and white striped. As long as you ... | |
| Replaced Ceiling Fan - Wiring Error! | 7/20/2011 |
| Q: Fan has two sets of electrical wire coming in. One cabel has Black, White and Copper, the other has ... A: The black is hot all the time. So, you need to connect the black and white going to the other room ... | |
| ceiling fan remote | 7/19/2011 |
| Q: I recently noticed that three of the four ceiling fans in my bedrooms were not working. I installed ... A: If the fans work when you bypass the remote control, but don't work with the remote control, then ... | |
| Flickering Circuit | 7/18/2011 |
| Q: Over the past week a lamp has began to flicker intermittently. At times it gets bad enough that is ... A: You have a loose wire somewhere. This could be dangerous, because it could overheat. If you can't ... | |
| Replaced Ceiling Fan - Wiring Error! | 7/18/2011 |
| Q: Fan has two sets of electrical wire coming in. One cabel has Black, White and Copper, the other has ... A: The red wire coming from the switch is the wire that is controlled by the switch. So connect the ... | |
| Tanning bed | 7/16/2011 |
| Q: my wife just got a new tanning bed..the old one was a 3 wire..wired with 10-3 wire ... A: The best thing is to use 10-3 with ground. There should be a good ground when using something that ... | |
| light switch wiring in a 115+ y/o house | 7/14/2011 |
| Q: and thanks for taking the time to consider my question. I live in a 115 year old house in AL that ... A: Except for in certain rooms, like the kitchen, dining room, and laundry room, it is OK to have the ... | |
| light switch wiring in a 115+ y/o house | 7/14/2011 |
| Q: and thanks for taking the time to consider my question. I live in a 115 year old house in AL that ... A: You have a switch loop, with no neutral, so you can't add anything to that box. The age has nothing ... | |
| Replacement panel | 7/12/2011 |
| Q: I need to update the panel on my 30's era home. The existing is a Zinser located inside; the new one ... A: It really does not matter. All of the ones on the market now are good brands. Both brands have 2 ... | |
| Photo Cell Lamp Post | 7/11/2011 |
| Q: I put a new photo cell switch into my outside light post. I have done this before with no problem. ... A: The most likely cause of that, is that the electric eye can see the post light. When it is on, it ... | |
| Wiring for school project | 7/11/2011 |
| Q: How to wire this? I need to wire a single pole switch to a duplex receptacle (12/2 MC Cable, feed is ... A: Hi. I am assuming this is the order: outlet, SP switch, 3 way switch, light, 3 way switch. You ... | |
| INSTALLING A SEPARATE BREAKER | 7/10/2011 |
| Q: The outlets that are on my back porch are on the same breaker as my bedroom. I recently purchased a ... A: First of all, make sure that the hot tub does not require a breaker larger than 20 amps. There ... | |
| voltage | 7/9/2011 |
| Q: If 240 volts comes into my house, how does it become 120 volts at the outlet in the wall? I don't ... A: There are 3 wires that come into your house. Two are 120 volts (hot wires), and one is the neutral. ... | |
| Electric outlet repair | 7/9/2011 |
| Q: I have a 5 outlet power strip attached to the underside of my kitchen cabinet and all 5 of the ... A: If it is a Wiremold power strip, you can replace parts. However, if the whole thing is not working, ... | |
| Electric outlet repair | 7/9/2011 |
| Q: I have a 5 outlet power strip attached to the underside of my kitchen cabinet and all 5 of the ... A: You can't repair a power strip, it has to be replaced. However, it is not a good idea to use one in ... | |
| Pacific Electric | 7/8/2011 |
| Q: It is my understanding that electrical boxes installed by Federal Pacific or Pacific Electric (not ... A: It is the breaker panels that are made by Federal Pacific Electric that are in question. There is ... | |
| changing an plug in older home | 7/7/2011 |
| Q: My house was built in the 1940's. The electrical outlet plugs have only two wires, covered in ... A: Not sure how you ended up with red and black. Both have always been hot. White should be neutral. ... | |
| problem with the kind of socket i have | 7/7/2011 |
| Q: i would like to start by apologize about my english i usually speak french so the terms might not be ... A: There are adapters, but they are made for buildings that are grounded, but have 2 prong outlets. ... | |
| ceiling fan install | 7/6/2011 |
| Q: i live in an old house that has light fixtures on the ceilings that are broke so i want to install a ... A: The ground is a safety feature. The fan will work without it. Do not connect any green wires to ... | |
| wiring | 7/5/2011 |
| Q: After a short, the wires that cone to the on/off switch for track lighting are dim (when using a ... A: Most likely a white neutral wire burned loose somewhere in the circuit. The light you are getting ... | |
| Wall Switch Isse | 7/4/2011 |
| Q: I have a two switch wall panel in my living room in which one switch controls (a) the ceiling fan ... A: It all depends on where the wires come from for the lights you want to split. If there are separate ... | |
| Bath exhaust fan | 7/2/2011 |
| Q: I had asked a question previously about installing an exhaust fan in a bathroom. I had a standard ... A: I don't see the image. However, I don't think it will do much good, because it would not show where ... | |
| Bath exhaust fan | 6/30/2011 |
| Q: I had asked a question previously about installing an exhaust fan in a bathroom. I had a standard ... A: You have to make sure the right wires are on the right screws. On one side, there should be two ... | |
| mysterious lack of continuity | 6/29/2011 |
| Q: I have a room with three wall sconces, all controlled by the same light switch. One of the lights ... A: I can't tell you exactly why that is happening. However strange things like that are usually caused ... | |
| Wiring from breaker box to attic fan | 6/28/2011 |
| Q: First off, thanks for providing help! We do not currently have an attic fan installed, and ... A: You need a switch near the fan, which would be in a junction box. Most of the attic fans I have ... | |
| Wiring from breaker box to attic fan | 6/28/2011 |
| Q: First off, thanks for providing help! We do not currently have an attic fan installed, and ... A: You should be able to run the wire in the closet, and staple it to a wall. There may be a local ... | |
| Wall Oven | 6/26/2011 |
| Q: Wiring in a wall oven under a cabinet. Range there before with plug. To wire oven from 4 wire (Oven) ... A: Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you have no neutral coming in. Your oven requires a ... | |
| Problem with fluorescent lighting | 6/25/2011 |
| Q: I have fluorescent lighting in my bedroom and bathroom. Every year when the weather gets warmer and ... A: Are the fixtures grounded? Fluorescent lights need a good ground for them to start properly. If ... | |
| wire tripping | 6/24/2011 |
| Q: I have a pool pump and a salt water system plugged in to different outlets, my surge protector ... A: Is it your GFCI that is tripping? I would try one running without the other for a while, and see if ... | |
| Bathroom Exhaust Fan | 6/24/2011 |
| Q: My bathroom has never had an exhaust fan and I am now installing one. There is no light in the fan. ... A: Remove the single switch. The wire from the power goes to the side where the two screws are ... | |
| recessedlighting | 6/24/2011 |
| Q: Above my kitchen counter I have 4 recessed lights. One of the lights will come on and off while the ... A: You should not have to remove the drywall to fix the unit. All recessed lights come with a thermal ... | |
| breaker question | 6/24/2011 |
| Q: I'm having a problem with my breaker panel. It seems that the AC (30A circuit) is causing my main ... A: I would have someone look at it. It's not cheap to get an electrician, but it's cheaper than a new ... | |
| Bathroom Exhaust Fan | 6/21/2011 |
| Q: My bathroom has never had an exhaust fan and I am now installing one. There is no light in the fan. ... A: If the power goes the light first, you can't add a switch without running another wire from the ... | |
| Adding a light kit to an existing ceiling fan | 6/21/2011 |
| Q: I am try to add a light kit to an existing ceiling fan. My only problem is that I do not have a ... A: It is hard for me to say what those wires go to. Usually there is a little piece of tape that says ... | |
| 2-wire BX | 6/20/2011 |
| Q: I have two wire BX or armored cable in my home. I replaced the two prong outlets with three prong ... A: Sometimes when the neutral is disconnected, it will come up as reversed, because there is feedback ... | |
| Loss of power at light swiitch | 6/18/2011 |
| Q: The ceiling fan light in one of my bedrooms came to a stop without turning it off. After checking ... A: Strange readings are caused by a disconnect neutral wire. Check all white wires, in the fan box and ... | |
| Outdoor Light | 6/18/2011 |
| Q: I hope you can help. Tonight, I noticed that a lantern over my garage is flashing and I can't get ... A: Does your garage door turn lights in the house on and off? Can your floodlights be turned on and ... | |
| short? | 6/15/2011 |
| Q: I live in a house that was built in 1960. A while back I changed the front porch light. It didn't ... A: This is an electrical issue. The ground needs to go from the panel to well into the ground. In ... | |
| short? | 6/15/2011 |
| Q: I live in a house that was built in 1960. A while back I changed the front porch light. It didn't ... A: Check the water pipe, and make sure they did not cut a copper water line and put plastic between it. ... | |
| Outlet won't power anything. | 6/14/2011 |
| Q: I have 4 outlets in my guest house. The 1st outlet from the breaker box I checked with a multimeter ... A: Yes, it does not make sense. I am assuming all of blacks are connected to the brass terminals, and ... | |
| Replacing back door light | 6/14/2011 |
| Q: Back door flood light quit working after I changed light fixture. It worked before, and I have ... A: Did you wire the new fixture EXACTLY as the old fixture? If there is no other light on that switch, ... | |
| new plug receptacle | 6/12/2011 |
| Q: i bought a new window ac unit that has a different plug than my old 220 plug receptacle. i took the ... A: Different plug configurations are for different amps and volts. You will need to replace the ... | |
| 220 ac voltage for welder | 6/11/2011 |
| Q: How do you wire 220 voltage from elect. box to a outlet for welder A: This may not be an easy project for a do-it-yourselfer, so you may want to get an electrician. You ... | |
| Can't turn off light | 6/9/2011 |
| Q: I have a five year old house and am putting pot lights in basement. All was working fine until i ... A: I am still pretty sure that the red wire is the switch wire. Make sure that the black wire from the ... | |
| Can't turn off light | 6/9/2011 |
| Q: I have a five year old house and am putting pot lights in basement. All was working fine until i ... A: There are so many different ways of wiring things, I really can't give you specifics. But I can ... | |
| Wiring Configuration | 6/8/2011 |
| Q: I am trying to remove a hidden junction box that was hiding behind my paneling that I took down. I ... A: This does seem a little confusing. There is something called a switch loop, where two wires go to a ... | |
| Issues with adding recessed lighting | 6/8/2011 |
| Q: I am attempting to swap a light in the middle of the bedroom for a fan and install recessed lighting ... A: Someone needs to separate the two circuits. Someone could get shocked working on it, or the wires ... | |
| tork 1101 install | 6/8/2011 |
| Q: I'm a little confused with the L 1 X 2. I'm coming out of the breaker to the timer which will have ... A: For some reason, I am getting a lot of Tork Timer questions. The best people to ask about a ... | |
| Wiring | 6/8/2011 |
| Q: I am replacing a #655 Broan light/vent/heater with a #655 Broan light/vent/heater I have a black, ... A: Wire the new one exactly as the old one is wired. It looks like whoever wired it used two 2 wire ... | |
| pool system | 6/7/2011 |
| Q: i got 240v going to a pool pump they want a salt system we installed one its 240 v. Is there any way ... A: Generally 240 volt appliances require their own circuit. You should also check the combine load of ... | |
| Outlet won't power anything. | 6/7/2011 |
| Q: I have 4 outlets in my guest house. The 1st outlet from the breaker box I checked with a multimeter ... A: Are you sure that the wire goes from one to another to another in order? Usually getting a reading, ... | |
| Issues with adding recessed lighting | 6/5/2011 |
| Q: I am attempting to swap a light in the middle of the bedroom for a fan and install recessed lighting ... A: Two circuits are intermixed. This can be dangerous. It is not easy to track down. You would have ... | |
| no power in the receptacle | 6/1/2011 |
| Q: I Have one of the wall plug receptacles with no power. This happened about a week ago.I replaced the ... A: It's just a matter of finding the break in the metal path between the outlet and the breaker. Use a ... | |
| Upgrade 2 prong outlet to 3 prong outlet | 5/31/2011 |
| Q: I am working in a 50 year old house. There have been some upgrades in parts of the house where there ... A: You can't ground the fan without a ground wire. You can either rewire the circuit back down to the ... | |
| Wiring Tork 1101 | 5/30/2011 |
| Q: I have a paragon 4001 timer wired to a circuit breaker which I am trying to replace with a Tork ... A: The wire connecting to the breaker goes to the L gold terminal. The white wire goes to the silver ... | |
| Wiring Tork 1101 | 5/30/2011 |
| Q: I have a paragon 4001 timer wired to a circuit breaker which I am trying to replace with a Tork ... A: It depends where the wires go to. The white wire would go to the silver screw that has a wire going ... | |
| Replacing Garbage Disposal, can't figure out how it was wired | 5/29/2011 |
| Q: I am replacing a garbage disposal, and I can't figure out how to wire it. Here's the situation: I ... A: It sounds like a switch loop. You need to figure out which wires go the switch, and which ones from ... | |
| electrical wiring | 5/29/2011 |
| Q: Is there a correct order of disconnecting electrical wiring (green, white and black wires)? A: I'm not sure how important it is in house wiring, since the breaker should be off, but normally the ... | |
| Wiring a 2 wire light to a 3 wire dimmer switch | 5/29/2011 |
| Q: I am trying to replace a 3 wire light/fan with a 2 wire light. The switch turns on both the dining ... A: There is a black wire connected to the switch that just goes out of the picture. I am not sure what ... | |
| Tork 1101 for outdoor lights and a non-timed outlet | 5/28/2011 |
| Q: Trying to replace an non-functioning 120V timer with a new Tork 1101 timer to control my mom’s 2 x ... A: You need to make sure that the red wire coming from the box goes to the porch lights. If there is ... | |
| Tork 1101 for outdoor lights and a non-timed outlet | 5/28/2011 |
| Q: Trying to replace an non-functioning 120V timer with a new Tork 1101 timer to control my mom’s 2 x ... A: I am not sure why you have a red wire coming from the breaker box. Anyway, assuming that the wiring ... | |
| Upgrade 2 prong outlet to 3 prong outlet | 5/27/2011 |
| Q: I am working in a 50 year old house. There have been some upgrades in parts of the house where there ... A: The only legal way to use a 3 wire outlet on a 2 wire system is to use a GFCI. This will not ... | |
| Ceiling fan | 5/27/2011 |
| Q: I want to install a ceiling fan in bedroom with no existing ceiling box. Can I install a junction ... A: Yes you can do that. Just be careful where you tap the wire into. It needs to be tapped at a ... | |
| Install sub-panel for 220 service. | 5/26/2011 |
| Q: I currently have 100 amp service in a 20-space panel. There are currently three 220V circuits - ... A: Your panel is maxed out. You need to upgrade your service. 10/3 will carry 30 amps at the most. ... | |
| WIRING A CEILING FAN | 5/26/2011 |
| Q: Trying to hook up a ceiling fan that I put up myself but can't remember how it was wired. There are ... A: You wired it correctly the first time. Blue and black to black, white to white. Either the fan is ... | |
| outlet voltage | 5/25/2011 |
| Q: About 2mnths ago the outlet in my sons bathroom quit working. I changed it out with an old one we ... A: Strange voltages are caused by a disconnected neutral wire. These things can be hard to track down. ... | |
| Light switches in a room won't work | 5/24/2011 |
| Q: I have a room in my home where no light switches work. This is the result of an error I made by ... A: It sounds like the neutral is disconnected somewhere, because you are getting a trace of ... | |
| Phone jacks not working after repair | 5/24/2011 |
| Q: After outside phone repair job, our service is back, but now two jacks don't work. This service ... A: Since one phone works, it is probably not an outside problem. Although it seems strange that you ... | |
| 5 Wires in celing box | 5/24/2011 |
| Q: I am attempting to change the ceiling light in one of my rooms. Inside the box I have 5 wires. 1 ... A: Always connect the new fixture how the old fixture is connected. Just by guessing from what you ... | |
| Garage Wiring from Circuit Breaker? | 5/23/2011 |
| Q: Problem with the lighting and some outlets in my Garage. I made a diagram to help. The breakers are ... A: Get a cheap neon tester and trace the wires. make sure they are getting power at the panel. Then ... | |
| Garage Wiring from Circuit Breaker? | 5/23/2011 |
| Q: Problem with the lighting and some outlets in my Garage. I made a diagram to help. The breakers are ... A: The breakers should be 110 volts. The black wire goes on the breaker. The white wire goes on the ... | |
| Open Ground | 5/23/2011 |
| Q: I have an outlet that was grounded and working fine however my breaker tripped and then my surge ... A: You should have one or more bare wires in the box. If there is more than one, they should be ... | |
| Fixture lights not working | 5/21/2011 |
| Q: Sponaugle, While replacing a bad switch to a light that was not working, a spark was made at switch ... A: Yes, I would say that there is a neutral broken somewhere. When that happens, people get funny ... | |
| Circuit breaker | 5/21/2011 |
| Q: I wanted to change a light fixture in my home. After removing the original fixture with the circuit ... A: To see if the breaker works, you can get a test light and put one wire on the screw of the breaker, ... | |
| code for wiring | 5/18/2011 |
| Q: My neighbor/contractor, Mike, re-did our laundry room (and other rooms as well) following a flood. ... A: There should be a dedicated outlet for your washer. If there is, it is OK to add another outlet ... | |
| Ceiling fan Light/fan switch combo | 5/14/2011 |
| Q: I have a ceiling fan in my great room, with 2 switches. One controlling the light and the other ... A: Make sure you use a speed control, not a dimmer. The black wire brings the power to the switch, so ... | |
| new ceiling fan electrical wire don't match | 5/11/2011 |
| Q: I am replacing old ceiling fan myself, the new fan electrical wire don't match with mine. It comes ... A: If you have 2 switches and only one black, one red, and one white, then black to black blue to red, ... | |
| Lamp Post Photocell | 5/10/2011 |
| Q: I'm trying to replace a photocell/light sensor in my lamp post. Coming out of the lamp post is a ... A: The main thing is to determine which is really the black wire from the lamp post. It will be the ... | |
| Ceiling Fan | 5/9/2011 |
| Q: After 12 years of working with no issues, the ceiling fan in my study stopped working. Upon hitting ... A: There are no fuses in the fan, so what you probably heard was a wire shorting out. If it is in the ... | |
| vanity/shower light not working | 5/9/2011 |
| Q: While removing the vanity light in the master bath, the shower light went out. When I rehooked up ... A: If you just took out the vanity light and did not mess with the switches, and did not have any short ... | |
| vanity/shower light not working | 5/9/2011 |
| Q: While removing the vanity light in the master bath, the shower light went out. When I rehooked up ... A: There is probably a loose wire somewhere. Usually GFCIs do not connect to lights, only outlets. ... | |
| 3 WAY SWITCH | 5/7/2011 |
| Q: I am finishing my basement and before the sheetrockers arrived, I had all of my lights and outlets ... A: Unless the sheetrockers drove a nail though the wire, probably a wire came loose from a wire nut or ... | |
| halogen lights | 5/7/2011 |
| Q: I have 6 halogen lights which have 3 wired romex sticking out of them that i bought at a garage ... A: Halogens are the kind of bulbs it uses. That doesn't tell me why style the fixture is. Are they ... | |
| 200a mainbreaker smoked | 5/6/2011 |
| Q: The other day my 200 amp main breaker burned up. We had a big storm come thrue and I guess ... A: You must replace the breaker with the breaker that is made for that box. Check with an electrical ... | |
| no power in the receptacle | 5/6/2011 |
| Q: I Have one of the wall plug receptacles with no power. This happened about a week ago.I replaced the ... A: If there is no power going to the outlet (once you check the wires), then the problem is at another ... | |
| low voltage at ac outlets | 5/3/2011 |
| Q: I have two a/c interior elec outlets in one room next to each other (10 ft) that have very low ... A: By AC, do you mean typical alternating current outlets, or Air Conditioner outlets? If they are air ... | |
| 3 way wiring on kitchen light | 5/3/2011 |
| Q: I have 2 fluorescent lights that are on a 3 way switch. I replaced one of the switches with a 3 way ... A: Usually two tubes are on one ballast, so it is possible that one problem would cause both tubes not ... | |
| Ceiling Fan Replacement | 5/1/2011 |
| Q: I am replacing a broken ceiling fan in an older house. I am experiencing difficulty with a ... A: Wire the new fan the same as the old fan. If you forgot, then see if there are two switches, one ... | |
| Replacing outlets | 4/30/2011 |
| Q: I replaced the electrical outlets in my house (the previous owner painted over them). Now some of ... A: Outlets on the kitchen counter, bathrooms, outside, garage and basement must be protectged by GFCIs. ... | |
| Doorbell upgrading | 4/27/2011 |
| Q: We recently purchased a 1950's home which has a doorbell that may just be as old as the house. It is ... A: In most cases, you can just replace the doorbell itself and leave everything else as it is. Some ... | |
| Electrician Needed? | 4/26/2011 |
| Q: My elderly Mother lives in a house that is 53 years old. Now that the weather is getting hot in ... A: Some blinking is normal. It's the same as with water when you flush the toilet when someone is ... | |
| Bathroom outlet with no power | 4/26/2011 |
| Q: We have a five year old KB home. Recently the outlet in the upstairs master bathroom has stopped ... A: Bathroom outlets are GFCI protected, which makes it harder to get a shock. The GFCI outlet could be ... | |
| Bathroom outlet has no power | 4/25/2011 |
| Q: My house was built in 1979, and one of the bathroom outlets is not getting power anymore. It's been ... A: The bathroom should be protected by a GFCI outlet. This makes it harder to get shocked. The GFCI ... | |
| circuit breakers | 4/24/2011 |
| Q: My electrical panel is full but, I need to wire my entire basement because I added rooms. My ... A: You are allowed so many breakers depending on the amperage of your box. It is 10 per 50 amps. So, ... | |
| Replacing a 3 way switch | 4/23/2011 |
| Q: I installed 2 new 3 way switches and none of the wiring diagrams seem to match the wiring in the ... A: On three way switches, there are two screws that are one color, and the third that is another (not ... | |
| Cloth Insulated copper wire | 4/23/2011 |
| Q: I went to replace my ceiling flush mount fixture with a fan and found cloth insulated copper wiring. ... A: Usually old wire is OK, as long as it has not been damaged. Usually the hardest part about ... | |
| ground rod | 4/22/2011 |
| Q: I receive electrical shock when i touch metal on outside of mobile home. Need to know if installing ... A: Yes, you would need to find the problem. There should already be a grounding rod anyway. One way ... | |
| light switch | 4/19/2011 |
| Q: the switch in the garage has a red wire on one side and two black on the other side what can i do to ... A: There is not much you can do without running new wires. Most likely the wires go from one light to ... | |
| light wiring unmarked wires | 4/18/2011 |
| Q: I bought an IKEA light to replace the ceiling light in my kitchen. The Ikea light was suppose to ... A: The light will work either way. The difference is, is that you can get a shock changing the bulb ... | |
| Adding outlet for TV | 4/7/2011 |
| Q: I am adding an outlet to put under my mount television, and mechanically everything is in place ... A: It is unusual to use 10-2. So make sure it is a general purpose circuit. (Lights anywhere in the ... | |
| removing switch timer | 4/1/2011 |
| Q: our attic fan gets plugged into an outlet that runs to a fusebox in the attic. from the fuse box ... A: Most likely the white is a hot wire, and that is a switch loop. So, you would need to connect the ... | |
| electricity | 3/31/2011 |
| Q: I want to hook up a motion light. Is there any way that I can get power from a light switch without ... A: It depends on how the switch was wired up. If the power comes into the switch first, and then to ... | |
| Electrical wire to pond pump | 3/28/2011 |
| Q: I need to setup an electrical wire for a pond pump. The pump will be rougly 20' away from the ... A: In order to be safe and meet code, a permanent outdoor outlet needs to be installed near the pond. ... | |
| Water drainline by electrical panel | 3/28/2011 |
| Q: I do some remodeling and guy ask me about upgrading his 100 amp to a 200 amp box. I took a look and ... A: Codes are always open to interpretation. But just a drain should not be a problem, as long as there ... | |
| generator panel | 3/27/2011 |
| Q: am feeding 60 amp generator subpanel from main panel with a 60 amp breaker and # 8 3 wire with ... A: The only safe way to install a generator is to use a transfer switch. This will make sure that the ... | |
| Installing a combo switch where the switch controls to lights in series and keeping the outlet hot | 3/24/2011 |
| Q: I am trying to change a 120v switch to a combo. the current switch box has a Red, Black and White ... A: You can't put an outlet in the middle of a 3 way switch run (or end). You don't have a neutral, and ... | |
| 1/2 outlet no power | 3/19/2011 |
| Q: I have a outlet that I recently discovered that the lower plug has no power and have only used the ... A: Most likely the outdoor lighting is on a GFCI which is probably not related to this outlet. If the ... | |
| baffled by ceiling wiring | 3/19/2011 |
| Q: Bob, I'm not the sort of person who, with lack of knowledge, gets himself into trouble often. I have ... A: Knob and Tube wiring did not have color coding, but I thought BX cable did. I've never really ... | |
| No electrical box | 3/19/2011 |
| Q: Replacing a 6 bulb vanity bar light with a smaller 3 bulb vanity light with a round base and bracket ... A: Some fixtures are made to have the connection inside of them. They would have a connector where the ... | |
| baseboard heaters | 3/18/2011 |
| Q: I think I got everything hooked up right I'm getting a reading of 240 at the thermostat and two ... A: Perhaps you have the heaters in series with each other. Once the wire leaves the thermostat, it ... | |
| baffled by ceiling wiring | 3/18/2011 |
| Q: Bob, I'm not the sort of person who, with lack of knowledge, gets himself into trouble often. I have ... A: If any wires are damaged, they have to be replaced. You can run the good part of the wire to another ... | |
| vanity lighting | 3/18/2011 |
| Q: 1. I thought I had the breaker off but did not when i had the shocking experience of trying to ... A: Only if it is bad. If it is not getting power, it won't test or reset. You can put a test light on ... | |
| vanity lighting | 3/17/2011 |
| Q: 1. I thought I had the breaker off but did not when i had the shocking experience of trying to ... A: If the breaker is on, but things are not working on the circuit, then a wire burned or became loose ... | |
| Two Light Fixtures, One Switch | 3/9/2011 |
| Q: I want to replace our single light bar fixture in our washroom (it is the bar type with 6 bulbs). I ... A: If you connected both fixtures the same wires where the first was hooked up, and it does not light, ... | |
| Residential Wiring | 3/9/2011 |
| Q: See you have been ask many questions so I picked to start here. I am a Industrial I&C Engineer by ... A: When you have a shared neutral circuit, it must be on opposite phases. The load on the neutral will ... | |
| home electrical problem | 3/8/2011 |
| Q: My sister home has an unusual problem, for some reason when reading voltage on the main panel I have ... A: It sounds like there is a neutral wire loose somewhere between the panel and the street. The two hot ... | |
| Partial power in single mobile home | 3/8/2011 |
| Q: MOBILE HOME HAS PARTIAL POWER, FIND PROBLEM AND FIX? I HAVE 220 POWER GOING IN THE TRAILER AND 120 ... A: If you try wiring from one section to another, there is a good chance it will start a fire. You ... | |
| circuit without voltage | 3/8/2011 |
| Q: Adding some circuits in my basement. During the project the outlet circuit in my main floor bedroom ... A: It is just a matter of following the wires, and making sure there is a solid path from the source to ... | |
| Partial power in single mobile home | 3/7/2011 |
| Q: MOBILE HOME HAS PARTIAL POWER, FIND PROBLEM AND FIX? I HAVE 220 POWER GOING IN THE TRAILER AND 120 ... A: There are two 110 volt phases going into your main box. The two wires together make 220 volts, One ... | |
| Open Ground | 3/6/2011 |
| Q: I bought a plug in fault detector and found a light switch/outlet with a open ground. The wiring ... A: Either the device was wired a long time ago before a ground wire was required between the grounds ... | |
| combo switch and outlet | 3/5/2011 |
| Q: Bob, I am trying to install a combo switch and outlet where presently there is just a switch. ... A: You need only one more wire. But since wire comes in 2 or 3 conductor, you will need to run 2 ... | |
| combo switch and outlet | 3/5/2011 |
| Q: Bob, I am trying to install a combo switch and outlet where presently there is just a switch. ... A: You have a switch loop, and there is no neutral wire. The white wire is hot in this case. Without ... | |
| 30 amp circuit | 3/3/2011 |
| Q: I have a 30 amp circuit for an electric oven that will no longer be needed. Can I split this into 2 ... A: Be sure you have a ground wire and a neutral wire, as well as two hot wires. If you don't, you ... | |
| light stays on all time | 3/2/2011 |
| Q: we have 1 patio flood light that all of a sudden came on and stays on and can't shut it off with the ... A: Is the switch the only way it ever turned on and off? Or does it have a motion sensor or a light ... | |
| New Light causing another light in circuit to stop working | 2/28/2011 |
| Q: Replaced an old ceiling fan(light on fan was controlled by switch--fan was controlled by pull chain) ... A: You shouldn't connect a black wire to the ground screw. Someone could get a shock. Assuming the ... | |
| Replacing a 3 way rocker switch | 2/24/2011 |
| Q: I am trying to replace an old nutone 3 way rocker switch that controls a ceiling fan and heater ... A: Some combination switches need a wire to each switch, some have one screw which energizes all of the ... | |
| wiring two receptacles between two 3way switches | 2/23/2011 |
| Q: Greetings. I want to wire two receptacles between two 3way switches. This picture is the closest ... A: You will need to run 2 conductor wire between the two outlets. At the outlet between the switches ... | |
| Replacement light fixture | 2/21/2011 |
| Q: I have a ceiling light fixture rated at 100 watts. Can I replace it with a new fixture which has 4 ... A: No, you do not have the change the wiring. The purpose of the rating is not how much electricity it ... | |
| grounding | 2/21/2011 |
| Q: hooking up a dishwasher. the dishwasher panel has a black, white and green wire. The bx cable ... A: Flexible cable now requires a ground wire, but since you are using the old wire, hopefully the metal ... | |
| Grounding old 2-prong outlets | 2/16/2011 |
| Q: When replacing 2-prong outlets in older homes what are the wiring options to grounded 3-prong ... A: All of the wiring would have to be replaced, so either ripping out the walls, or getting the new ... | |
| Grounding old 2-prong outlets | 2/16/2011 |
| Q: When replacing 2-prong outlets in older homes what are the wiring options to grounded 3-prong ... A: Other then replacing all of the wire behind the walls, the only other option is to put the circuits ... | |
| Shock with light switch off | 2/15/2011 |
| Q: A few weeks ago, in our newly bought 1940's house, I needed to move a bathroom wall light a few feet ... A: You should always turn the breaker off when working on anything. It's hard to say exactly what ... | |
| short circuit | 2/11/2011 |
| Q: I have an outside GFCI outlet. The circuit breaker won't stay on. I took the outlet off and the ... A: When you took the outlet off, were both wires still connected? If none of the wires were connected, ... | |
| Wiring and circuit breaker | 2/9/2011 |
| Q: Last night I was sitting in my livingroom reading and all of a sudden the power went out from one ... A: It sounds like a wire is loose somewhere in the circuit. These things can be hard to track down. ... | |
| adding a combination single pole switch and grounding receptacle | 2/8/2011 |
| Q: I am looking to swap out a light switch in a hall of my house that controls an overhead light ... A: If there is no neutral tucked behind the red wires, then you will need to run a wire from somewhere ... | |
| Wiring multiple lights with power coming from one switch. | 2/6/2011 |
| Q: I installed eight lights in my garage using 12/2 Lumex, I have the power coming from only 1 switch ... A: You are running all 8 lights on the one switch, and the power comes in at the switch? You would ... | |
| Wiring a bathroom fan, light, heater | 2/6/2011 |
| Q: We had one switch (A) for the light and fan, a second switch (B)for the heater. Power goes to the ... A: Do you have 3 wires between the unit and the switches? You can use the white wire to bring the ... | |
| swag lamps | 2/6/2011 |
| Q: Can you add an extra cord with an inline switch to a swag lamp that already has a cord? I would like ... A: You really can't have a 3 way switch set up with inline switches. If you have two switches, both ... | |
| electrical | 2/5/2011 |
| Q: Why does my florescent 2 lamp 40 watt fixture only lite intermitantly wnen I energize it with the ... A: The most likely cause is a bad ground. Rapid start fluorescent bulbs need a good ground to start. ... | |
| installing dimplex baseboard heaters | 2/4/2011 |
| Q: I am installing two, two thousand watt and one,1 thousand watt dimplex baseboard heaters. Two in ... A: The breaker will trip only if there is a short circuit or an overload. You need to get a cheap neon ... | |
| Placement of breaker box | 2/3/2011 |
| Q: We are rebuilding from house fire. We have added a room on back of house. There was an outside ... A: The breaker box can not go in a clothes closet (or any closet with easily ignitable materials). If ... | |
| wiring | 1/31/2011 |
| Q: We have a duplex under the kitchen sink for the disposal and dishwasher, but the switch has to on to ... A: It sounds like someone illegally stuck the dishwasher on the outlet. The dishwasher and disposal ... | |
| Outlet Wired to a Switch Loop | 1/31/2011 |
| Q: I was reading this"I have a combination switch and duplex outlet (2-gang) in my bathroom. I just ... A: The outlet and the light are in series with each other. Ohm's law kicks in, and electricity follows ... | |
| one breaker in box has slight hum | 1/28/2011 |
| Q: I just replaced all the ballasts from rapid start t12 to electronic t8 ballasts. I rebuilt 12 two ... A: You may have a slight short somewhere. It may be enough to almost trip the breaker, but not quite. ... | |
| 240 volt wiring | 1/28/2011 |
| Q: I installed a 30 amp 240 volt circuit for a heater that I use for a greenhouse. The fusebox is a 100 ... A: It is the neutral that is not used in a water heater and some other 220 volt appliances. Two hot ... | |
| Outdoor Motion Sensor lighting | 1/27/2011 |
| Q: I have an outdoor motion sensor (model EL100?). Today, it just started to flash on and off while I ... A: Yes, it needs to be replaced. There is nothing that can be repaired in the sensor. You may also ... | |
| Ceiling Light Short | 1/27/2011 |
| Q: I appreciate your time. I will preface this question with a fact- I do not know anything about ... A: You should either replace the socket, or the entire fan light kit. Some fan light kits are built ... | |
| bathroom fixture | 1/26/2011 |
| Q: I currently have a single bar light over a double vanity. In the wall is just a wire, no box or ... A: If you can move the wire over to one side, it would be the best. You should install a junction box ... | |
| ARC fault breakers | 1/25/2011 |
| Q: I am a builder in North Florida and have had issues with the Arc fault breakers tripping when a ... A: I get questions and complaints about Arc fault breakers from time to time. But I can't remember any ... | |
| circuits | 1/23/2011 |
| Q: Bought an older home and have one circuit that has 3 plug-in receptacles and a light all on the ... A: You really can't trace the wiring. Everyone should know what it is on what circuit, but most people ... | |
| Kitchen Lighting Problem | 1/22/2011 |
| Q: Last week, one of my kitchen lights started smoking and very quickly shorted all of the lights in my ... A: The outlets in the kitchen are never on the same circuit as the lighting. The kitchen lights are ... | |
| Outlet problem | 1/21/2011 |
| Q: I have a GFI outlet that has a pump plugged into it that trips once in a while. Obviously I need to ... A: They make a high water alarm, which would let you know if the water gets too high for any reason. ... | |
| Wiring Waste King L-8000 disposal wiring | 1/19/2011 |
| Q: I'm connecting a Waste King L-8000 garbage disposal which comes with a built in 3-prong power cord. ... A: No, you can't do that. Any wiring attached to permanent wiring has to meet code. That means making ... | |
| broken solar lamp | 1/17/2011 |
| Q: You sound way over qualified for this question, but, two of my solar lamps cracked and broke but the ... A: You need to find out why it does not light up. Will it light up without the soda bottle? Perhaps ... | |
| Moving electrical panel | 1/16/2011 |
| Q: What is required to move the electrical wire from the service poll to a new service box outside 20 ... A: The best place to start is with the power company. They should be able to tell you what they will ... | |
| electrical | 1/16/2011 |
| Q: I am going to wire a three way light switch. Do i need to put a grommet where the wires enter the ... A: It is best to use a separate piece of wire, although I have seen people use the same wire. If the ... | |
| electrical | 1/15/2011 |
| Q: I am going to wire a three way light switch. Do i need to put a grommet where the wires enter the ... A: If it is a metal box, then you should have a wire clamp. On some boxes, they come inside the box ... | |
| AFCI | 1/14/2011 |
| Q: I have a ITE Siemens breaker box. I know the pigtail attaches to the bar on the side, and that the ... A: I also have a Siemens box, and have some AFCI breakers. The grounds are connected with the neutrals ... | |
| ground wire | 1/14/2011 |
| Q: to the ceiling of a storage room. To the fixture I will run a length of power cord that I salvaged ... A: The ground wire is like a seat belt. It works only when there is a problem. The vacuum is probably ... | |
| Replacing Razor outlet with GFCI outlet. | 1/14/2011 |
| Q: I want to replace a razor only outlet with a GFCI outlet. I have 6 wires (not including grounds) ... A: Connect only the line side. The load side would be for other things protected by that GFCI. It ... | |
| Replacing Razor outlet with GFCI outlet. | 1/13/2011 |
| Q: I want to replace a razor only outlet with a GFCI outlet. I have 6 wires (not including grounds) ... A: It sounds like you have a shared neutral. When the neutral is disconnected, the two circuits are in ... | |
| ground wire | 1/13/2011 |
| Q: to the ceiling of a storage room. To the fixture I will run a length of power cord that I salvaged ... A: If there are two prongs and two wires, there is no ground. If something goes wrong, and you touch ... | |
| lights turning themselves off | 1/12/2011 |
| Q: Recently the light attached to my daughters ceiling fan went out so we replaced the light bulb. ... A: It sounds like you have a loose wire somewhere. It could be arcing and overheating, so it is ... | |
| Warm Outlet with electrical smell | 1/12/2011 |
| Q: We have an outlet in our bedroom that gets warm and smells. I know it's because we just bought an ... A: This seems very strange with no logical answer. Sometimes two circuits share the same neutral, but ... | |
| Reading with breaker off | 1/11/2011 |
| Q: I have a circuit that all but one receptacles and light fixtures are dead. At the first receptacle ... A: You could have a shared neutral wire. (Two hot wires using the same neutral). Turn off the other ... | |
| Replacing outlet | 1/9/2011 |
| Q: I noticed that one of the receptacles in an outlet was not working so I took the cover off.There was ... A: It is more likely the connections. However, it may be a connection anywhere in the circuit. These ... | |
| one more observation | 1/8/2011 |
| Q: Perhaps you may know what's going on. I'm a pretty good handiman, but this one is wierd-at least to ... A: The white wire should not be hot. It will register as hot if it is disconnected. Did you connect a ... | |
| Electrical | 1/7/2011 |
| Q: Bob, I am running 12/2 wire that comes from the panel and brings power to a switch box. From the ... A: You would need 4 conductor wire between all of the lights. The easiest thing to do is to run all ... | |
| only "one" of three won't work!? | 1/7/2011 |
| Q: Perhaps you may know what's going on. I'm a pretty good handiman, but this one is wierd-at least to ... A: The nuetral wire may be loose or disconnected somewhere. The neutral would then be hot from the ... | |
| Doorbell | 1/7/2011 |
| Q: Someone rang my doorbell earlier today and everything worked fine. Tonight my doorbell started going ... A: Most likely, the wires are touching each other somewhere. Perhaps a staple went through the ... | |
| Electrical problems in trailer. | 1/5/2011 |
| Q: Today, the power in the trailer went out except the outlet in the bathroom and screened in porch ... A: You have lost one phase of your power. When you turn on something that is 220 volts, the power is ... | |
| Light fixture hot to the touch | 1/5/2011 |
| Q: I have three newly purchased and newly mounted wall sconces in a newly finished basement. They are ... A: If these are incandescent, the bulbs normally get hot. If they are halogen, they get very hot. Make ... | |
| electrical wire | 1/3/2011 |
| Q: i cut an electric wire to extend it over a new door opening and when i tested both ends of the wire ... A: It sounds like it is wired wrong. Perhaps someone accidently connected two circuits together. You ... | |
| Lights flicker/dim | 1/2/2011 |
| Q: We've got a set of 5 can lights (5x60 watts) on a dimmer switch. Lately we've seen they will dim ... A: It is probably a loose wire somewhere. You may want to use a toggle switch temporarily. Dimmers ... | |
| Vacuum plugin got hot | 1/1/2011 |
| Q: I was just vacuuming for about 10 minutes and went to unplug the vacuum and the plug was very hot. ... A: If the outlet and plug are not making good contact, it could be arcing. Make sure it is plugged in ... | |
| Sub Panel wiring | 12/29/2010 |
| Q: Looking at an existing sub panel in an attached garage.It has 3 15A breakers plus a 220 welding plug ... A: Yes, the neutral and grounds should be separated. This is because if the white wire becomes ... | |
| electrical wiring help | 12/29/2010 |
| Q: I have two pipe warmers plugged into a regular dual outlet which is pulling power from an outlet one ... A: You can put a GFCI on a switch, just like any other outlet. If the switch comes first, then the ... | |
| Replaced switch | 12/27/2010 |
| Q: I'm replacing a rheostat switch on a 15a circuit with a standard switch. The old switch had red, ... A: It is unusual to have a white wire in the box. However, with the questions I get from people ... | |
| Appliance Protection | 12/25/2010 |
| Q: I am installing a heat pump water heater in the garage. There is power outlet in the Garage labeled ... A: Is the outlet connected to a double pole 40 amp breaker, and is the wire number 8 or 6? If so, you ... | |
| electrical outlet smells | 12/22/2010 |
| Q: I have a "fishy" odor coming from my downstairs bathroom. It stumped me at first since it only ... A: Yes, that can be a fire hazard. Most likely all of the bathroom outlets, garage, and basement ... | |
| Wiring 5 switch's in a row | 12/22/2010 |
| Q: At my front door I have 5 switches all next to each other. A 5 gang I assume this is called. From ... A: There are many ways a 3 way switch can be wired. So it depends on how it was wired. There are 2 ... | |
| ground trip receptacle and circuits in 20+ yr old mobile home. | 12/20/2010 |
| Q: My father in law lives in a 20+ year old mobile home. Occasionally an electrical circuit that ... A: Even in a 20 or 30 year old home, the kitchen outlets should be separate from anything else. The ... | |
| Testing light switch | 12/20/2010 |
| Q: Sorry to keep bothering you, but I think you misunderstood my last question. I am not using a ... A: What you are measuring is the voltage between the power source and the fixture. In effect, you are ... | |
| Light fixture stopped working | 12/19/2010 |
| Q: I have a light fixture in my kitchen which has recently stopped working. I have determined that ... A: One wire brings the power to the other wire. One wire is connected to the power source, the other ... | |
| wiring | 12/19/2010 |
| Q: Is there any way to measure for a false ground (neutral to ground wire) without pulling receptacle ... A: No, you would have to pull the outlet out and check. All the ground wires would have continuity, ... | |
| Light fixture stopped working | 12/19/2010 |
| Q: I have a light fixture in my kitchen which has recently stopped working. I have determined that ... A: If your system was grounded, then you would put a tester on the ground, then each terminal of the ... | |
| circuit breaker | 12/19/2010 |
| Q: This morning I woke to the furnace off, the power including the lights off in my living room, the ... A: Most likely the main breaker is bad. There could also be loose wires, or other problems. But since ... | |
| Light fixture stopped working | 12/18/2010 |
| Q: I have a light fixture in my kitchen which has recently stopped working. I have determined that ... A: You have a switch loop, and there is no neutral. The white wire is also a hot wire. The easiest ... | |
| Lights Flicker | 12/15/2010 |
| Q: I have a problem with my home lighting. Recently we had our home renovated and an extra room, ... A: It is probably a loose wire somewhere. However, it can be a fire hazard if it is arcing. So, I ... | |
| mis-marked breaker panel/possible overloaded cirts. | 12/15/2010 |
| Q: Our breaker panel is "marked" but after I went through it to try and find the breaker that shut off ... A: It depends what you use, if a circuit is overloaded. For example, if someone tries to use a space ... | |
| Room Wiring | 12/14/2010 |
| Q: We bought our house, all outlets worked, but were outdated, so we went to do a simple switch out of ... A: You have a disconnected or loose white neutral wire somewhere. When you plug something in, the power ... | |
| Ground and Neutral in a 240 volt appliance | 12/14/2010 |
| Q: Bob, I read a post from you here that was helpful in this ground vs neutral question that I have. ... A: Only appliances that use both 220 volts and 110 volts need a neutral (mainly ranges and dryers). If ... | |
| fuse box in an older rental house | 12/13/2010 |
| Q: i am renting an older house with a fuse box. there are 24 glass fuses in this fuse box. i was ... A: If you use a breaker or fuse larger than the wire was made for, there is a good chance it would ... | |
| main 100 amp panel | 12/13/2010 |
| Q: just purchased a bungalow with 100 amp. when hot water forced air furnace kicks in other lights in ... A: It sounds like you have a loose or disconnected neutral wire somewhere between your main panel and ... | |
| one outlet with odd wiring trips whole circuit | 12/12/2010 |
| Q: Morning! I think I have an odd problem. about 4 months ago A hallway outlet died while vacuum was ... A: You may just have the power coming in from one wire, and then going out in 2 different directions on ... | |
| Bedroom Light Fixture | 12/10/2010 |
| Q: Prior to our purchasing our older home, the attic was converted into a bedroom. It is very long and ... A: If the light worked before, and there are only 2 wires, then the whites have to go to one, and the ... | |
| Bedroom Light Fixture | 12/9/2010 |
| Q: Prior to our purchasing our older home, the attic was converted into a bedroom. It is very long and ... A: Are you saying that the box has 2 black wires, or the fixture does? Normally you just wire up the ... | |
| hot water heater | 12/8/2010 |
| Q: "HI I am wondering if you can help my dad. His hot water heater just quit heating water. He replaced ... A: He should test the power at both the breaker and the heater. A meter would be best, because it ... | |
| 100 amp service | 12/7/2010 |
| Q: I am renting a home that was built in the 50's and still uses the old fuses and only has 100 amp ... A: You probably have two issues. In addition to having only 100 amp service, the wiring is old. The ... | |
| electrical wiring | 12/6/2010 |
| Q: i had a light switch in my room that controlled a plug but there was no overhead light. I installed ... A: There is no neutral at the switch, so the outlet and light are in series with each other. You can't ... | |
| Stove & Dryer | 12/5/2010 |
| Q: This morning I went to warm up my baby's bottle in the microwave like I have been doing always and ... A: It sounds like there is a wire broken between your panel box and the street. This could be the ... | |
| The safety of using an extension cord from the inside of a building to the outside. | 12/5/2010 |
| Q: A 3rd floor resident has hung an extension cord from his window reaching to the oil plug of his ... A: Laws and codes generally apply only to the permanent wiring of a building. So there probably isn't ... | |
| 3 wire | 12/2/2010 |
| Q: I am doing a Reno and part of it was a new panel and a bunch of residing. My electrician has since ... A: Make sure that the breaker is a double pole breaker. This is required for shared neutral circuits. ... | |
| stray voltage | 12/2/2010 |
| Q: I didn't know if I sent the wrong e-mail address first time. conduit to garage. shocks you in yard ... A: Most likely a wire is damaged and is touching the conduit. It also sounds like the entire section ... | |
| kitchen wiring | 12/1/2010 |
| Q: I want to hook up a new stove and above range microwave The existing wiring from the old double ... A: No, that is not the correct way. You can't use the ground wire to carry current. You also don't ... | |
| 2nd circuit from main | 11/30/2010 |
| Q: My wife is putting a beauty shoppe in our garage. She is going to be running 2 chair dryers and 1 ... A: Any sub panel should normally be connected to the main box in the house with a breaker. Then there ... | |
| breakers wired to the home | 11/29/2010 |
| Q: i recently started renovating a house 2 bedroom,1 bath,living,dining,kitchen,and basement. we ... A: It is not enough. Even though the house is small, you will need a certain number of breakers for ... | |
| kitchen wiring | 11/28/2010 |
| Q: I want to hook up a new stove and above range microwave The existing wiring from the old double ... A: Some 220 volt appliances use two hot wires, some use 2 hot wires and a neutral. They all now ... | |
| low voltage on my outlets in kitchen area | 11/27/2010 |
| Q: The outlets in my kitchen are are not producing enough power to charge a cell phone or my disposal ... A: Strange voltages are usually caused by a loose or disconnected white neutral wire. Check the white ... | |
| 3 pole switch changing to 3 pole switch and receptacle | 11/26/2010 |
| Q: When I swapped out the existing 3 pole switch for the new 3 pole and receptacle combo I either get a ... A: The two red are throwing me off too. But it looks like the red wire on the second wire from the left ... | |
| ceiling light | 11/21/2010 |
| Q: Putting up a light fixture. When I put the power back on the light worked but the switch on the wall ... A: Normally in this case, the black fixture wires would connect to the red house wire. Any black wires ... | |
| open hot wire | 11/21/2010 |
| Q: I have one outlet that has no power to it so i got a tester for Grainger and it said i have an open ... A: It just means that the black (or red) wire is not making contact somewhere between the source to the ... | |
| 240volt back to 120volt | 11/20/2010 |
| Q: I'm trying to convert an old unused 240volt electrical circuit back to a 120v outlet or a pair of ... A: With two wires, you can have only one circuit. You can't step it down. You either have one 110 ... | |
| 240volt back to 120volt | 11/19/2010 |
| Q: I'm trying to convert an old unused 240volt electrical circuit back to a 120v outlet or a pair of ... A: Even 120 volt A/C's should have their own circuit. In the dining room, the circuit will be the same ... | |
| Wiring two socket floor lamp | 11/17/2010 |
| Q: I am rewiring a two socket floor lamp. I have a standard two wire from the plug leading to the top ... A: You should have a switch with a black, red, and blue wire. Connect one wire from each (1 coming in, ... | |
| wire from fuse box to welder plug | 11/16/2010 |
| Q: I have an older miller welder its a 50 amp 230 volt AC/DC arc welder that will be less than 50 feet ... A: Each type of wire is different, and because of that most people do not like to quote wire size. ... | |
| cord ends don't match up | 11/15/2010 |
| Q: I am putting up Xmas lights outside and have a problem. The female end of the LCD lights has two ... A: Unfortunately, you can't plug an extension cord into the end of a miniature light set (LED or ... | |
| 3 pole switch changing to 3 pole switch and receptacle | 11/15/2010 |
| Q: When I swapped out the existing 3 pole switch for the new 3 pole and receptacle combo I either get a ... A: If the power comes into the switch, then the power wire would go on one terminal of the single pole ... | |
| Wiring Help Part 2 | 11/14/2010 |
| Q: I have a light fixture and ceiling fan controlled by two switches at opposite ends of the room. How ... A: If there was one point where all the wires came together, I could tell you how to put the wires ... | |
| wiring cooktop to outlet | 11/13/2010 |
| Q: Trying to reconnect a GE cooktop to home outlet. Outlet has 2 wires and ground (black, white, bare ... A: How many volts and amps is the outlet? The cooktop is 220 volts. How many amps is it? If the amps ... | |
| 3 prong outlet | 11/12/2010 |
| Q: plugged in vacuum and now the GFI outlet does not work. It would not reset, so i replaced it. None ... A: It sounds like the circuit was overloaded and the white neutral wire burned loose, or came loose. ... | |
| wiring | 11/12/2010 |
| Q: I read your answer to a wiring issue and I have one much like it, but with more wires. I have two ... A: Assuming that the two blacks are capped together, it sounds like it is wired correctly. Getting ... | |
| ceiling fan | 11/10/2010 |
| Q: I am trying to wire a ceiling fan using a swag kit. The wire with the swag kit only has two wires. ... A: No, the green ground is just there for safety and will not affect the operation of the fan. If ... | |
| electrcal outlets | 11/9/2010 |
| Q: 3 electrical outlets in kitchen stopped working when I tried to use microwave and the circuit ... A: One of two things. Either there is a GFCI at one of the outlets, and it needs to be reset. Check ... | |
| GFCI | 11/7/2010 |
| Q: I installed a new GFCI outlet in the master bath along with a second outlet that is also protected ... A: First of all, make sure that the wires for anything protected are connected to the load side, and ... | |
| Hall light won't work | 11/5/2010 |
| Q: I'm hoping you can offer some advice. I have three hallway lights, with a light switch at the top ... A: Most likely the three hall lights are wired from one to another to another. If there are two cables ... | |
| home wiring | 11/5/2010 |
| Q: I want to add recessed lighting in a room that only has a switch for receptacles. Also there is a ... A: The joists usually run from front to back in a house. That means that you can run the wire from ... | |
| wiring | 11/4/2010 |
| Q: We are renovating our basement and removing a wall. My husband is capable of doing the construction ... A: Usually the wires go from outlet to outlet. So, if you just cut a wire, you may end up with some ... | |
| wire-in programmable timer switch | 11/2/2010 |
| Q: The programmable switch I have is replacing the left side of a double switch and will control the ... A: Without seeing the instructions, most likely the black goes to the black power source and the red ... | |
| Garage receptacles not working | 11/2/2010 |
| Q: While attempting to find a part number on my garage door openers components, I mistakenly blundered ... A: There is probably a GFCI on that circuit. It could be in any bathroom, the garage, basement, or ... | |
| Breaker Box | 10/31/2010 |
| Q: How come I can not get 240 for my range,dryer,waterheater. How do I test double pole breakers. A: In order to get 220, you need two 110 volt hot lines that are on different phases. Using a tester, ... | |
| 120 V outlet | 10/31/2010 |
| Q: I have a plasma cutter which CAN work on a 120 V circuit. Can I simply change the type of ... A: If the machine has a 220 volt plug, then you would need to contact the manufacturer to see what ... | |
| Outdoor Security Lighting Issue | 10/31/2010 |
| Q: Bob, We have security lights in front and back. The front (two, single lamps) come from one switch ... A: If the tester is not saying 110 volts and the light does not work, then there is no power there. ... | |
| Outdoor Security Lighting Issue | 10/30/2010 |
| Q: Bob, We have security lights in front and back. The front (two, single lamps) come from one switch ... A: The grounds are for safety, but do not affect the operation. Be sure that nothing is in series with ... | |
| electric water heater | 10/30/2010 |
| Q: My husband wired our water heater when we bought it and our electric bills have been twice that of ... A: Water heaters use more electricity than any other appliance other than electric heat. The water has ... | |
| outlet wiring | 10/30/2010 |
| Q: I have garage lights controlled by a wall switch and want to add a dedicated outlet in the ceiling ... A: You need to find out where the power comes into the system. Wherever the power comes in, is where ... | |
| Lose neutral in bedroom | 10/30/2010 |
| Q: I have an electrician friend and he thinks we have lose a neutral in our middle upstairs bedroom as ... A: It is very rare for a wiring problem to be behind the walls. It is always almost at the connections ... | |
| Splicing lead in wire | 10/25/2010 |
| Q: When my service was run into my electrical panel from the pole, it was connected to the bottom lugs ... A: Normally split bolt connectors are used to connect thick wires together. Make sure they will work ... | |
| 'Variable voltage" | 10/25/2010 |
| Q: I have a 1970 era home with 200 amp service with an under ground service to a dog kennel aprox 150 ... A: I am afraid this has me baffled too. If everything was high voltage, then it would be a power ... | |
| Lost dusk to dawn sensor | 10/24/2010 |
| Q: I have a light for my flag pole but I can not find the dusk to dawn sensor. How can I find the ... A: I am not aware of any special way to find them. It should be between the panel and the first light. ... | |
| elect water heater 220 volts | 10/24/2010 |
| Q: i put in a new water heater itested my black wire it show 110 votes i tested white wire it show 110 ... A: You should have 110 volts between the white and ground, and the black and ground. You should have ... | |
| wiring | 10/23/2010 |
| Q: I installed new switches in my bathroom. Now both switches need to be on in order for the light and ... A: It sounds like the power comes in at one switch, then goes to the other switch, then go to both the ... | |
| "Variable Voltage" | 10/23/2010 |
| Q: I have a 1970 era home with 200 amp service with an under ground service to a dog kennel aprox 150 ... A: No, that is not normal. Does the line have a shared neutral somewhere? That is two hot wires that ... | |
| Lost dusk to dawn sensor | 10/23/2010 |
| Q: I have a light for my flag pole but I can not find the dusk to dawn sensor. How can I find the ... A: It depends on how standard it is. I would try at a home center first. Try to take a picture or ... | |
| Electrical main and sub-panels | 10/22/2010 |
| Q: My house has a 200A main panel with 24 breaker spaces. I built an addition at the far end of the ... A: It's not the matter of how many sub panels, it is the ability to have enough power to power them. ... | |
| adding a 220v outlet | 10/22/2010 |
| Q: I have an L6-30, 3 prong twistlock plug and matching outlet. do I tie the red and black wires to the ... A: The X and Y are for hot wires. There should be another one marked gr for the ground. In any case, ... | |
| Thermostat install | 10/9/2010 |
| Q: I am trying to instal a new thermostat in my family room. I have installed this same model in all my ... A: I don't know why you would have three wires going to the heater. Are you sure all 3 wires are ... | |
| 240 hot tub | 10/9/2010 |
| Q: Im trying to wire a 4 wire hot tub, the old one was 3 wire but there was already 4 wire ran, the ... A: The neutral should run from your GFCI breaker along with the hot wires. If it is conduit, it should ... | |
| 240 hot tub | 10/8/2010 |
| Q: Im trying to wire a 4 wire hot tub, the old one was 3 wire but there was already 4 wire ran, the ... A: The code requires safety devices. You most likely have a GFCI and that requires the neutral to be ... | |
| Light switch to outlet | 10/8/2010 |
| Q: I have a light switch in the sitting area of my bedroom. There is no lighting in this area. I can't ... A: Be sure to try both the top and bottom of the outlets to make sure that the outlets are not split. ... | |
| putting in new stove top | 10/5/2010 |
| Q: I am replacing my stove top. And when I took off the old one there were three wires to attach to; a ... A: It looks like you need two hot wires and a ground. The bare wire is the ground, so the green wire ... | |
| 4 wire plug / 3 wire outlet; 240v dryer | 10/5/2010 |
| Q: I live in an old apartment. I cannot afford to rewire the outlet. Is there a way to wire in a 4 ... A: You would have to replace the 4 prong cord on the dryer to a 3 prong cord. If you have the manual, ... | |
| wiring question | 10/4/2010 |
| Q: I have a question regarding generator outlets. My existing generator has an outlet that has a ... A: The plugs have different configurations because they have different amperages. So, it is not just a ... | |
| GFI Question | 10/3/2010 |
| Q: Greetings from a fell Expert (I'm in the Microsoft Excel group)! I have an external GFI protected ... A: You don't need the ground wire for the GFCI to work, but you probably need it for the tester to work ... | |
| wiring a chandelier, flashing lights | 10/3/2010 |
| Q: I just tried to install a chandelier and the lights are flashing when I turn it on. I put the white ... A: Dimmers are very temperamental. So it may just stopped working properly. There should be the ... | |
| changing a light fixture | 10/2/2010 |
| Q: I've never changed a light fixture before so my question will probably seem kind of lame. I'm ... A: All of the ground wires have to connect together. You can buy a short piece of ground wire and a cap ... | |
| 220volt wiring | 10/2/2010 |
| Q: I have a new electric range with a 4 prong plug. The old wiring is 3 prong. Does the range need the ... A: You would need number 8 or 6 copper, depending on the length, and assuming it is a 50 amp stove. ... | |
| Wire Light through receptacle to switch | 10/1/2010 |
| Q: Behind my vanity light are 2 #14 wires ....Onecomes from a receptacle and is obvioulsy providing ... A: At the light, the black wire bringing in power goes to the wire going to the switch. The black ... | |
| Wire Light through receptacle to switch | 9/30/2010 |
| Q: Behind my vanity light are 2 #14 wires ....Onecomes from a receptacle and is obvioulsy providing ... A: The two wires going to the switch are hot, and this is called a switch loop. The black wire coming ... | |
| no power at switch or light | 9/30/2010 |
| Q: Had a closet light go out. Assumed it was the bulb but it was power. I changed the switch and ... A: It sounds like a wire that became disconnected. These things can be hard to track down. Somewhere ... | |
| thermastat wiring in to the furnace | 9/30/2010 |
| Q: If the heat is running and will not shut down. Is it possible that the wires are touching and ... A: This would be better to ask an HVAC expert (furnace guy), but there are a lot of parts that could ... | |
| fan/garage door remotes | 9/30/2010 |
| Q: Bob, I have a homeowner who has 3 ceiling fans with remotes in his garage, along with 3 garage door ... A: I doubt if the garage doors are causing it if the buttons are not being pushed. You can reprogram ... | |
| Wiring | 9/30/2010 |
| Q: I installed a ceiling fan which came with a light. When I went to work it worked, when I got home ... A: The fan may be defective. Check where the blue or striped wire connects to the wire in the box. ... | |
| 220volt wiring | 9/29/2010 |
| Q: I have a new electric range with a 4 prong plug. The old wiring is 3 prong. Does the range need the ... A: Back in the 1990's, the code was changed requiring a 4 prong plug. The only way to change the female ... | |
| 20 amp circuit voltage too low | 9/29/2010 |
| Q: My electric hair trimmer quit working when plugged into a 20 amp GFCI outlet in my bathroom. I tried ... A: Strange voltage readings are caused by disconnected white neutral wires. If two outlets share the ... | |
| replacing blown fuse | 9/29/2010 |
| Q: my fuse box is ancient..screw in fuses. plate over outlet slipped when washing surrounding wall, ... A: Normally you just replace the fuse, although I have not seen a box with handles for the small fuses. ... | |
| Power Surges | 9/21/2010 |
| Q: I have a ranch style home which I bought 3 years ago.. when we bought the house my wife couldn`nt ... A: You don't have a power surge, you have a short circuit somewhere in the circuit. You will need to ... | |
| ceiling fan/light | 9/21/2010 |
| Q: I would like to install a ceiling fan with light. I want both the fan and light to be controlled ... A: You will need two pairs of 3 conductor wire between the two switch locations. The fan can be wired ... | |
| Breakers | 9/20/2010 |
| Q: The 30 amp water heater Breaker turns off sometimes. Is it OK to replace it with a 40 or 50 amp ... A: If you replace a breaker with a bigger breaker, it can cause a fire. Homeowners insurance will not ... | |
| upgrading outlets | 9/20/2010 |
| Q: my outlets are not grounded what size ground wire do i need to run and how many can i put one ground ... A: The ground wire must be as thick as the wire going to the outlets, so that would be 12 gauge. Some ... | |
| sconce wiring | 9/13/2010 |
| Q: I have a similar issue as you solved below. We are replacing what were sconces that are now capped ... A: If the breaker blows when a switch is turned on, then the wire going to the switch is wired wrong. ... | |
| electrical shock | 9/13/2010 |
| Q: We have a detached garage fed by a 50 amp breaker from the main house to a subpanel. The garage is a ... A: Maybe you can see if you can get him back to check. The metal building should be bonded, which ... | |
| two nm wires found inside wall [cut and taped | 9/13/2010 |
| Q: I tore out a basement interior wall 1970s home. found 1 black nmb 90 10/2 and 1 brown nm 90 10/2 ... A: You can use a cheap neon tester to see if they have power. But be very careful, because if they do, ... | |
| grounding receptacles | 9/12/2010 |
| Q: Bob, I have 3 outlet boxes with 12/2 no ground romex. Receptacles show open ground on my tester. ... A: The only correct way would be to replace the wire from the panel box to the outlets with grounded ... | |
| wiring chandelier | 9/11/2010 |
| Q: I purchased a chandelier with 3 bulbs, I don't have a wire box in the ceiling over my table so ... A: They make swag light conversion kits, available at most hardware stores and home centers. The ... | |
| breaker box | 9/11/2010 |
| Q: i hear a humming in the breaker box.when i push on a breaker it stops what is causing this A: Either the breaker is going bad, it is loose in the box, or there is a problem with the circuit. ... | |
| electical question | 9/11/2010 |
| Q: Names William and I had a question about a GFCI circuit. I have; from sourse to junction box, then ... A: You can't run the power to one light, and then run a switch wire from another light and control both ... | |
| Outlet problems | 9/10/2010 |
| Q: I have an old rental house 40 yrs - Renters blow wall outlet just one recepticle at a time. Do I ... A: I am not exactly what you mean that the blew the outlets. The outlets should not wear out like a ... | |
| wiring | 9/10/2010 |
| Q: ok here goes i am having trouble reconnecting a wire to a switch because the light fixture is ... A: The power comes to the light first, and then another wire goes to the switch? If that is the case, ... | |
| replacing bathroom fixture | 9/9/2010 |
| Q: Here is my situation: There are 4 wires coming from the wall • 2 white • 2 black • 1 one ground I ... A: Wire it exactly as the old fixture was wired. Hopefully you did not disconnect any wires that were ... | |
| Old house Three Way Switch | 9/9/2010 |
| Q: In a old house with no ground wire, there is a three way switch that controls a ceiling fan (no ... A: It is best not to connect any wires unless you are sure where they go to. If there is no power, ... | |
| Changing 220 to 120 | 9/8/2010 |
| Q: I'm a new homeowner, lived in trailers all my live. I'm installing a new gas range. The outlet ... A: There is a way to change 220 to 110, but it is extremely hard to work with thick wire on small ... | |
| Old house wiring | 9/8/2010 |
| Q: My 3 story house was built in 1921 and has, what I believe you call, knob and tube wiring. I live ... A: The type of wire does not affect the capacity of the wiring. However, usually the houses with the ... | |
| buzzing and sparking breaker | 9/5/2010 |
| Q: the breaker is only for the water heater it is older but just recently noticed a buzzing sound from. ... A: I think you are under the assumption that something is wrong with the breaker which is causing the ... | |
| Westinghouse 67141 Chandelier | 9/4/2010 |
| Q: I am attempting to attach subject light to the kitchen ceiling. My problem is that the chandelier ... A: If the ribbed wire is the hot, then it should connect to the button part of the socket. If the ... | |
| Westinghouse 67141 Chandelier | 9/4/2010 |
| Q: I am attempting to attach subject light to the kitchen ceiling. My problem is that the chandelier ... A: The neutral white wires go to threaded shell of the socket, the hot wire goes to the button on the ... | |
| Adding Outlet in Attic | 9/4/2010 |
| Q: Can I splice a wire in the attic (from a bedroom wall outlet below) and run a new outlet off of the ... A: Yes, you can do that as long as you have enough slack in the wire to do it safely. But many times ... | |
| New fan wiring | 9/4/2010 |
| Q: I need to install a new ceiling fan with a remote wireless control. It would be easiest for me to ... A: You can tap off of general lighting circuits. But you can't tap off of outlets in the kitchen, ... | |
| changing 220 into 110 | 9/3/2010 |
| Q: I have an old 220 outlet that I don't use anymore but I would like to run a three way switch and ... A: At the breaker box there should be a double breaker for this outlet. If there is a red and black on ... | |
| Ceiling Fixture | 9/2/2010 |
| Q: I recently installed a ceiling fixture in my bedroom and the wiring seems to be right. When i switch ... A: If there was a fixture there, always wire the old one like the new one. Is there a red wire that is ... | |
| no power in upstairs bedroom | 8/28/2010 |
| Q: a house with no power in one bedroom.next bedroom over has one working recept. others dont ... A: There is no way there could be 1000 volts in the wire, so the meter is probably not set correctly. ... | |
| kitchen wiring | 8/28/2010 |
| Q: My kitchen is being renovated. It has just been retiled and I noticed an electrical cord going from ... A: It is best if the wire be buried in the wall or floor. If the wire is legitimate house wire (NM ... | |
| Ground requirements under the 2008 code | 8/27/2010 |
| Q: What is the ground conductor size for a 200A service in a home. Question about the number of ground ... A: Two ground rods are usually required, but it is always good to check with the local inspector to ... | |
| HOT TUB | 8/23/2010 |
| Q: I currently have a 50 amp subpanel in my garage,it has 4 15 amp breakers powering lights, opener, ... A: No, if you have a 50 amp sub panel, you can not use a 50 amps device, plus other things on it. You ... | |
| switch and outlets | 8/12/2010 |
| Q: I have a switch that controls and outlet. I want the outlet to stay on all the time. I understand ... A: If you connect the red wire to where the black wire connects (there should be a wire nut behind the ... | |
| 30A dryer line | 8/11/2010 |
| Q: I'm hoping to install a new 30A service to a dryer we've purchased recently. The dryer is a ... A: You would need a double pole breaker for your dryer, assuming it is 240 volts, which most dryers ... | |
| light fixture with K&T | 8/11/2010 |
| Q: I am replacing the ceiling light in my son's room. It is K&T wiring - the black is hot and the ... A: All the blacks go together, and all of the whites go together. The best thing to do with the ground ... | |
| Location of outlets | 8/11/2010 |
| Q: I am adding a wall to divide a great room into two seperate rooms, with a large opening/doorway in ... A: The main thing you need to be concerned about is that no point of the new wall be further than 6' ... | |
| SJO cord as a feed | 8/10/2010 |
| Q: Can I run 50' to a disconnect IN my cellar for a hot tub. A: The purpose of the disconnect switch is so that a repairman can turn the power off and no one can ... | |
| electric | 8/9/2010 |
| Q: My electric panel is mounted between two studs in the kitchen. On the rh side is a window, on the ... A: Yes, you can do that. Can you bring the wires on the other side of the corner, and then just drill ... | |
| wire size | 8/8/2010 |
| Q: I have some older wire in the house that has a silver wrapping around it. Was all this wire the ... A: It depends on the appliance. Dryers require a neutral, as well as two hot wires, so the red and ... | |
| switch and outlets | 8/8/2010 |
| Q: I have a switch that controls and outlet. I want the outlet to stay on all the time. I understand ... A: In order to answer that, I would need to know the exact configuration of the outlet and switch. ... | |
| wire size | 8/8/2010 |
| Q: I have some older wire in the house that has a silver wrapping around it. Was all this wire the ... A: The code only applies to new wiring, so anything that is there now is OK. It is safer to use the ... | |
| wire size | 8/8/2010 |
| Q: I have some older wire in the house that has a silver wrapping around it. Was all this wire the ... A: It is hard to tell the difference between 12 gauge (20 amp) and 14 gauge (15 amp). I don't think I ... | |
| wiring pool | 8/7/2010 |
| Q: I want to wire my pool pump but the house is not grounded, can replace regular plug with GFCI and be ... A: The pool pump should be on its own circuit, so the rest of the house not being grounded should not ... | |
| 3 way switches | 8/6/2010 |
| Q: light switch upstairs, light switch downstairs, feeds switch in downstairs bathroom. How do you ... A: If the power comes from downstairs and the light is upstairs, the power should enter the first ... | |
| celing fan with light | 8/6/2010 |
| Q: I have two lines coming in.I have connected both whites to white from fan, one black to black on ... A: You need to know where the wires go to or come from. Is there one switch for both? or separate ... | |
| Wiring Question regarding Switch and Outlet | 8/5/2010 |
| Q: We recently bought a home and found out that in one of the bedrooms there is 1 outlet that is ... A: Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but whoever tried to put an outlet there, shouldn't have. This ... | |
| Electrical problem | 8/4/2010 |
| Q: To Whom it May Concern; After a recent Severe Thunderstorm, with many lighting strikes and power ... A: There has to be a wire not making contact somewhere. There should be a solid metal path with the ... | |
| Wiring a double wall socket | 8/4/2010 |
| Q: I am installing a new wall socket with 2 sets of 2, i have 2 wires a neutral and a hot wire, i ... A: You are wiring it correctly. Do you have power in any outlets? if not, then there is a problem ... | |
| strange single hole outlet in old house | 8/3/2010 |
| Q: My folks just bought a 1930s home in the better part of our town (I mention this only because the ... A: Are they near windows? Perhaps they were for window air conditioners, and then they had central ... | |
| wiring 2 gfci's in parallel? | 8/3/2010 |
| Q: I would like to add a gfci outlet for a bar on one side of a wall with 2 load circuits downstream. ... A: You can have a circuit with multiple GFCIs on them. Normally you would connect everything to the ... | |
| auxillary service panel | 7/29/2010 |
| Q: I have a 200A Square-D service panel mounted on my poured basement wall and all the home's circuits ... A: You can use any knockout you want. If you use non-metallic wire, then you need to use a ... | |
| In home power fluctuations | 7/29/2010 |
| Q: Since yesterday, the lights in our house have been fluctuating between bright and dim, and my ... A: The fridge may be bad, so try unplugging it for a little while, and see if that fixes the problem. ... | |
| Service Panel | 7/28/2010 |
| Q: Mr. Spnaugle, I have recently moved into a townhome w/o Air Conditioning. I'd like to add A/C. The ... A: You are allowed 20 breakers for 100 amps. You can't add them up because they assume you will not be ... | |
| determining wire connections on light fixture | 7/27/2010 |
| Q: I had one of three hallway fixtures blow. Had it rewired and now want to reinstall it. These three ... A: There is no obvious answer here. There should be 2 sets of traveler wires, and the traveler wires ... | |
| Carport wiring for ceiling fan | 7/27/2010 |
| Q: We have an outdoor carport which attaches to the house and our garage. Right now, it has 2 sets of ... A: If you use the light kit, it will also be on when the fan is on unless you use the pull chain. You ... | |
| dryer won't come on | 7/26/2010 |
| Q: We just bought a older home and had to replace the dryer outlet before we could plug in the dryer, 3 ... A: The main thing is to check the voltage at all 3 points. Because part of the dryer may be getting ... | |
| low voltage in garage | 7/26/2010 |
| Q: i ran a wire from my breaker box in my basement to another breaker box in my garage and i dont have ... A: First of all, make sure you have the right wire to match with the breaker and the length of the run. ... | |
| Doorbell installation | 7/26/2010 |
| Q: I'm hoping you can give troubleshooting advice for hooking up a doorbell. My contractor installed a ... A: There should be a resistor that goes between the two terminals of the button. This should come with ... | |
| gutter giving shock | 7/26/2010 |
| Q: I, too, have the shock problem with the gutters -- but, I have found, only when they are wet. ... A: You kind of have to be a detective and figure out where the power is coming from. Anything that is ... | |
| dryer won't come on | 7/26/2010 |
| Q: We just bought a older home and had to replace the dryer outlet before we could plug in the dryer, 3 ... A: The fourth prong is just a ground, which is there for safety. It won't affect the operation. If you ... | |
| dryer won't come on | 7/25/2010 |
| Q: We just bought a older home and had to replace the dryer outlet before we could plug in the dryer, 3 ... A: There are 3 circuits to the dryer, so be sure to check them all. With the tester, you should get ... | |
| electric shock on 1 downspout | 7/25/2010 |
| Q: We just moved into our new home, but was built in 2007. We noticed the other day that 1 out of 4 ... A: If all the power is turned off, and you are still getting shocked, it is most likely the power line. ... | |
| lost power | 7/25/2010 |
| Q: I recently lost power to a ceiling fan with lights, that I installed in my stairway. I have two ... A: A funny voltage reading is usually caused by a loose neutral wire. However, it is unlikely that one ... | |
| switch malfunction | 7/15/2010 |
| Q: The switch to my pool pump will not turn off. Pump keeps running even when turned off. A couple of ... A: Most likely the switch is bad. Turn the breaker off, and take the old switch out. Bring it to a ... | |
| Flickering Lights | 7/15/2010 |
| Q: my main breaker has tripped about 3-4 times in the last month shutting all power off to the house, ... A: This is something that may take some investigating. However, the most common cause of flickering ... | |
| cieling fan wiring | 7/13/2010 |
| Q: i am replacing an old fan with a light kit, the new fan and light has a blue wire what should the ... A: If there is only one switch, then the blue light kit wire connects to the black fan wire and the ... | |
| Electrical main service panel amperage | 7/13/2010 |
| Q: As a beginning real estate appraiser, I would like to know how to determine amperage of a service ... A: If there is a main breaker, then the amperage should be stamped on the breaker. Most panels are 60, ... | |
| wiring a switch to an outlet with a motion light in between | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: I'm wondering how to wire up an outlet in my garage for a plug-in florecsent light and I want to add ... A: You can't get power from a switch that is wired after a light. To run new things, you need to get ... | |
| Wiring Problem | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: I recently replaced and old ceiling fan with light kit with an 'industrial' type fan without a light ... A: This is something that someone has to see to be sure. However, most likely the red wire went to the ... | |
| Phone wire | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: I hope you can help me. My mobile home came with 3 telephone jacks already wired but we cannot find ... A: The wires may not be under the trailer. It could be on the side walls or even the ceiling. But ... | |
| Electrical problem | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: To Whom it May Concern; After a recent Severe Thunderstorm, with many lighting strikes and power ... A: Most likely there is a wire loose somewhere. However, I am not sure how someone made a 30 amp ... | |
| broken wire to halogen light fixture | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: Okay, this is embarrassing. I was trying to remove a halogen bulb in a fixture that's suspended ... A: The problem with halogens is that they burn very hot, and require special wire. I also have not ... | |
| delay in light coming on when switch turned on | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: We recently had an electrician install a ceiling fan (with light) in a room with only one wall ... A: It would depend on if it is a toggle switch or a remote switch. A remote switch would have separate ... | |
| To convert a multiple type switch box to a duplex receptacle pox | 7/9/2010 |
| Q: I have a courtyard configured house with three separate switches from three different rooms used to ... A: You would need to run another wire from another power source. There is no neutral there. You may ... | |
| Detached garage sub panel cpacity | 7/9/2010 |
| Q: I have a Square D HOMC12UC sub panel in my detached garage that is fed from my in home panel by a ... A: There are not too many rules that I am aware of as far as the capacity. You are allowed so many ... | |
| power outages | 7/8/2010 |
| Q: can a power outage turn on air conditions that were already shut off? A: If it is an electronic switch, it might. I know my china cabinet lights come on after a power ... | |
| wiring has me puzzeled | 7/5/2010 |
| Q: I live in a mobile home and a week ago the lights and the outlet went out in the second bathroom. I ... A: The white wire is not making contact somewhere along the line. Check the wire nuts, and anywhere ... | |
| grounding | 7/4/2010 |
| Q: How do I know if my mobile home is grounded? Thank you very much A: The wiring would be grounded if there are 3 prong outlets, and it was built since the mid 60's, and ... | |
| baseboard heaters | 7/4/2010 |
| Q: How many 1000 watt 240 volt heaters can you run on 1 double 15 amp breaker. The wire being used is ... A: Watts divided by volts is amps. You should give yourself around a 20% margin. So, each unit is ... | |
| 240v outlet to 120v | 7/4/2010 |
| Q: Hey Bob, I have a 240v outlet i would like to convert to 120v. It has 2 wires(1 black, 1 white) in ... A: Yes, replace the outlet with a 110 volt outlet and put the white wire on the neutral bar. The ... | |
| Red Wire in household light fiture | 6/18/2010 |
| Q: I am installing a ceiling fan in the bedroom and following the instructions provided with the ... A: You should always install the new item exactly as the old one was wired. If the old light was ... | |
| Removing a switch from a receptacle | 6/18/2010 |
| Q: I have a standard 110V wall receptacle which is controlled by a switch. On the receptacle is my TV ... A: If you are going to use that switch as a 3 way switch, you will need to run 3 conductor wire between ... | |
| 1917 house ceiling fixture | 6/18/2010 |
| Q: When we bought our house, one bedroom had an empty ceiling light fixture. An old brass ... A: I would just tape the wires for now. It is amazing what you can find, between things being done ... | |
| code for adding twin breakers. | 6/18/2010 |
| Q: What is the danger if a gfci in a bathroom is not grounded ANSWER: Hi. The GFCI will work, even if ... A: No, I have never heard that. It would not make sense, because it would depend on the amperage, how ... | |
| code for adding twin breakers. | 6/17/2010 |
| Q: What is the danger if a gfci in a bathroom is not grounded ANSWER: Hi. The GFCI will work, even if ... A: Breaker panels are made to accept 10 breakers per 50 amps. So, a 100 amp panel will accept only 20 ... | |
| 1917 house ceiling fixture | 6/17/2010 |
| Q: When we bought our house, one bedroom had an empty ceiling light fixture. An old brass ... A: I would try to make things as safe as possible, and not connect any wires to the junction box. If ... | |
| gfci | 6/17/2010 |
| Q: What is the danger if a gfci in a bathroom is not grounded A: The GFCI will work, even if it is not grounded. If the house is grounded, then everything in the ... | |
| 240 vs 250 volts | 6/17/2010 |
| Q: I had to switch out 3 prong the plug in my LG dryer and installed a 4 prong plug. It is correctly ... A: There is no difference between 220 to 250 volts. Volts is a measure of pressure, and it varies ... | |
| Replacing Track Lighting and Wiring problem | 6/16/2010 |
| Q: I am replacing two track lights in my living room, each on their own dimmer switch. The first ... A: It still goes back to the problem that there is enough power for the test light, but not the real ... | |
| doorbell | 6/16/2010 |
| Q: I attached a new doorbell. The problem is that the light comes on on the doorbell, but the bell does ... A: If the light comes on, then it is making a complete circle. Take the button off and touch the wires ... | |
| Light switch wiring | 6/16/2010 |
| Q: At several locations in my house, I have light switch panels with two switches, where each switch on ... A: Turn the power off and remove the switches from the box, but do not touch the wires. See if the ... | |
| Replacing Track Lighting and Wiring problem | 6/15/2010 |
| Q: I am replacing two track lights in my living room, each on their own dimmer switch. The first ... A: I need to know where the wires go to, in order to tell you how to hook it up. However, the ... | |
| replacing switch for fan/light combo | 6/15/2010 |
| Q: I am trying to replace an old switch with a new Cooper decorator lighted single pole switch for a ... A: Was there one switch there to run both the fan and light? And now you want two switches? If so, you ... | |
| can get switch to work light | 6/15/2010 |
| Q: Before we installed this new GFCI switch on our deck, the outdoor deck light worked, with having the ... A: With the switch off, you should have power at only one terminal. With the switch on, you should ... | |
| my 110 changed into 240 | 6/14/2010 |
| Q: my Washer starting shocking me and my uncle came and tested the plug, he said that it is marking 240 ... A: Even if the voltage changed to 240, you should not be getting a shock. If the voltage did change to ... | |
| three way switch | 6/13/2010 |
| Q: I have two black wires twisted together....a single red.....and the whites are all combined in the ... A: There is no standard color codes for 3 way switches. The wires that connect to the two screws NOT ... | |
| Electric circuit | 6/13/2010 |
| Q: I have lost power to wall outlets and switches to SOME on the circuit that supply my ... A: There is a chance that the bathroom outlets may not be on the same circuit as the bathroom lights. ... | |
| Electrical wiring videos | 6/13/2010 |
| Q: Where can I find instructional videos on electrical wiring? I have an old Hometime video made in ... A: I really wasn't aware of any. I Googled a few things, and came up with this; ... | |
| electrical wiring | 6/13/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 outlets and a light switch at the end of a line that do not work. I checked the breaker and ... A: It sounds like a loose wire somewhere. These things can be hard to track down. Somewhere in the ... | |
| Repalcing fluorescent light fixture | 6/12/2010 |
| Q: I have 4 4'fluorescent light fixtures in my kitchen that I would like to replace with cannister ... A: Many homeowners can do it. It also depends on any local laws about homeowners doing their own ... | |
| electric | 6/12/2010 |
| Q: I have a 100amp in my house, i want to run power to my newly built garage, the house runs a dryer, ... A: You probably will need to upgrade the main panel. 100 amps is not considered enough. Most houses ... | |
| fuses | 6/12/2010 |
| Q: I have a blown fuse 30 amp when I took the fuse out the threads of the fuse stayed how do I get the ... A: Are you sure it is not a type S fuse? These have a special adapter that stays in the fuse box. The ... | |
| L14-30R | 6/11/2010 |
| Q: Have a question about the NEMA L14-30R. I wanted to know how it is wired. It is 3pole 4wire, so ... A: Yes, that sounds right. As with any outlet, the ground is a green screw, the neutral is a light ... | |
| 50amp circuit | 6/11/2010 |
| Q: I need to run a 50 amp outlet about 150 feet from the main box. I need to know what gauge wire would ... A: Most places do not want to give you wire sizes, because there are too many variables. It depends on ... | |
| elec wireing | 6/11/2010 |
| Q: can i run a homerun using a 20amp breaker , 12/2 wire to run both a microwave and a refrigerator? ... A: If the microwave is a built in one, then it requires its own circuit. The fridge can go on one of ... | |
| Burying a Wire from House to Garage | 6/11/2010 |
| Q: Bob, I'm a new home owner (in Lakewood, Ohio) and upon the city's home inspection stated that I ... A: These questions are always better asked of the person making the inspection. He has the final say, ... | |
| bathroom exhaust fan to new switch | 6/11/2010 |
| Q: have a new bathroom exhaust fan (none there before). No light. Light is on wall with own switch. ... A: If the wire there is 12-2, then any wire you add to the circuit should be 12 gauge. I can't give ... | |
| whole circuit not working | 6/11/2010 |
| Q: We have two lights and a diswasher on this circuit line only. All are not working and the breaker ... A: The dishwasher should be on its own circuit. The problem may not be caused by this, but it is ... | |
| doorbell wiring | 6/10/2010 |
| Q: Ever since my entire AC unit was replaced (with a 25V transformer), my single doorbell makes one big ... A: The doorbell and house numbers should have their own transformer, and not be connected to your AC ... | |
| getting 230v out of a 115v outler | 6/10/2010 |
| Q: Bob, My question is what would be the easiest, cheapest way to get 230v (1-phase) out of a standard ... A: You can't get 130 volts out of a 115 volt outlet. And if you try to get 22 amps (which is 44 amps ... | |
| 200 amp service change | 6/10/2010 |
| Q: when upgrading to a 200 amp service do you have to use arch fault breakers or can you use standard ... A: That was a good question. I spent a while looking up the answer, and pretty much got the conclusion ... | |
| voltage drop/increase lights dim | 6/9/2010 |
| Q: I have a rental house next door to mine. We are both on the same transformer. For years the tenant ... A: If the neutral between the street and the house becomes loose, the two phases will be in series with ... | |
| Breaker Panel | 6/9/2010 |
| Q: How many circuit breakers or total amount of amp/breaker can safely be connected to a 200 amp panel? ... A: Breaker panels will allow only a certain number of breakers. For 200 amps, it is 40 breakers. As ... | |
| Replacing wire for a ceiling fixture | 6/9/2010 |
| Q: I've got a 1920's era house and need to run new wiring from a wall mounted switch to a ceiling ... A: There is no way to pull through a new wire by connecting it to the old wire. You will need to run ... | |
| Dryer | 6/9/2010 |
| Q: My home and old dryer has 4 prong plug. I bought a new dryer and it has only connections and a new ... A: No, the green and white wire each has a place to go. It sounds backwards. Usually old dryers have 3 ... | |
| electric light timer installation | 6/9/2010 |
| Q: I want to control the two front lights with a electric timer but I can not install it properly. The ... A: If it is an electronic timer, it may be defective. They can be temperamental. If you have four ... | |
| Switch/outlet wiring | 6/8/2010 |
| Q: I have a switch that does not work, it goes to an outlet. There is a black and yellow wire from the ... A: If there are any tabs on any outlets on that switch that should be broken, but aren't, none of the ... | |
| Junction box | 6/7/2010 |
| Q: In my basement a ceiling light in a porcelain lamp base attached to a junction box stopped working. ... A: Treat the brass colored screw as a black wire, and the light colored screw as a white wire for the ... | |
| New light fixture | 6/7/2010 |
| Q: Morning I took down a ceiling fan and replaced it with a new light fixture. The fixture has a white, ... A: Try connecting the black fixture wire to the red house wire. Most likely the black goes to one ... | |
| Outdoor lamp post | 6/7/2010 |
| Q: I have an outdoor lamp post about 10 years old. It has a dawn/dusk sensor to turn the light on and ... A: The bulb should not break unless the heat from it is breaking the bulb when it gets wet. The only ... | |
| Wire type | 6/7/2010 |
| Q: I just built a 24' x 24' shop out in my back yard and I am getting ready to start wiring it. I have ... A: It is probably legal, but it will drive you crazy trying to connect that to the little screws on the ... | |
| adding ceiling fan switch to existing 4 way outlet switch | 6/7/2010 |
| Q: we are trying to add an additional ceiling fan switch to an existing wall switch which controls an ... A: You have to connect the fan to the place where the power enters the system. You can't connect the ... | |
| 230v 1ph wiring | 6/7/2010 |
| Q: I have an air compressor, listed at 230volt 1 phase. It is being moved from one location to another, ... A: All 240 volt appliances for residential use in North America work the same way. It requires two hot ... | |
| Ceiling Fan | 6/7/2010 |
| Q: We had an existing ceiling fan with light kit. The fan worked from the pull chain and the light ... A: The fan motor should not be on a dimmer. If it was, you may have damaged the dimmer. Do the wiring ... | |
| sensor switches | 6/7/2010 |
| Q: i am a litttle uncertain on how to wire a senser switch i have two s3 switches (3 way switches) on ... A: You would need a sensor switch that is made for 3 way use. It would have 3 wires (not counting any ... | |
| 100 or 200 amp | 6/6/2010 |
| Q: I have been told a different story from different electricians. One said I only have 100 amp ... A: It is technically 100 amp service. Remember that there is a relationship between volts and amps. ... | |
| convert 3 wire range to new stove with 4 wire | 6/6/2010 |
| Q: i have very old style wiring,the new stove comes with the ground plug and is a 4 wire plug . i put a ... A: The code changed in the 1990's. If you don't want to upgrade your wiring, then you should run a ... | |
| Two circuits/One Cable | 6/6/2010 |
| Q: I have a 60 Amp Panel in my garage. I want to run a 30 Amp and a 20 Amp dedicated 110 volt outlets ... A: I've never heard of doing with with different amperages, but I guess it can be done. A big ... | |
| Junction box | 6/6/2010 |
| Q: In my basement a ceiling light in a porcelain lamp base attached to a junction box stopped working. ... A: This is a shared neutral circuit, so you need to be very careful that both circuits are turned off ... | |
| electrical extension cord-outside | 6/5/2010 |
| Q: We had a motorized awning installed yesterday. The cord from the motor is 7' short to attach to our ... A: The only totally safe and legal way is to have an electrician install another outlet closer to your ... | |
| Electrical Rad Wiring | 6/5/2010 |
| Q: They apparently cheaped out when they added Electrical heating to our home (done in the ... A: I can't see the wire perfectly. But if it is covered with plastic or metal (which it appears to ... | |
| Switch with Outlet | 6/5/2010 |
| Q: I live in an apartment building. I have this switch with and outlet in my bathroom. When you have ... A: Is the switch and outlet together in the same box? If the outlet is on the light or elsewhere, you ... | |
| wiring exhaust fan w/ light | 6/5/2010 |
| Q: I have a ceiling exhaust fan that has a light in it. the unit has a white wire & a black wire from ... A: You can't operate the fan and light independently without adding a new wire between the fan and ... | |
| Electrical | 6/5/2010 |
| Q: My tenant has been complaining about high electric bill and I was wondering what I can check out ... A: The price of electricity keeps going up. If there is electric heat, cooling, and water heating, $200 ... | |
| Minimum service required for electric range | 6/4/2010 |
| Q: I recently purchased a old mobile home. Inside was a Frigidaire MEF352BGWD electric range but no ... A: Most ranges require 50 amps. If it was a short run, you might get away with 8/3. But longer runs ... | |
| 1 electrical outlet in two bedrooms and 1 in kitcken | 6/4/2010 |
| Q: That switch was replaced , (fine for 1 week).The next week the same problem,using extension cord in ... A: By safety switch, do you mean circuit breaker or GFCI? Was your house built in the 1970's? If so, ... | |
| converting a single pole switch to a combo switch/receptacle | 6/4/2010 |
| Q: i am trying to replace a single pole switch with a combination device. the diagram shown on the ... A: How you would wire up the switch would depend on what wires are in that box. If you have 3 cables ... | |
| Track Lighting | 6/4/2010 |
| Q: I want to install track lighting. I'm wiring into a ceiling light and running the wire to a switch, ... A: You are wiring the light to another light and the switch? If you want the track light to come on ... | |
| no power to lights and plugs | 6/3/2010 |
| Q: I recently installed a small pond with a pump plugged into a outside GFCI. Last night there was a ... A: It is rare the breaker goes bad. You can switch the wires to two breakers that are the same ... | |
| wiring an old ceiling light fixture | 6/3/2010 |
| Q: the wires in the ceiling include three white wires capped together, three black wired capped ... A: If your system is old and not grounded, then you can't connect the bare wire or screw to anything. ... | |
| 230/208/1/60 circuit | 6/3/2010 |
| Q: I am wiring my house for an up coming AC installation and I need to know if I need to run a 220 20 ... A: This is getting more into HVAC, and I am not really an expert there. All the home units I have seen ... | |
| Issue with Switches and Outlets | 6/3/2010 |
| Q: I am having a strange issue where 4 lights on switches, and 2 outlets in my living room have stopped ... A: It sounds like a neutral white wire is loose or disconnected somewhere. These things can be hard to ... | |
| chandelier | 6/3/2010 |
| Q: I am from Canada, and I have a question regarding my new chandelier. The wall switch box has two ... A: If the electrician did it right, the white wires will connect together, the black fixture wire to ... | |
| ceiling fan | 6/2/2010 |
| Q: I want to put a ceiling fan in where there is no box in ceiling now. I know how to put the box in, ... A: Remember to get a special box made for fans. You can get the electricity from any general purpose ... | |
| Townsend Electrical Question part2 | 6/2/2010 |
| Q: okay i took all the wires apart...i have 6 black wires coming out, one is hot..so now i have two ... A: If you have two wires that go to one screw, whether it be to two lights, or if it is the wire coming ... | |
| No lights in my house | 5/31/2010 |
| Q: I have a pool pump that I turned off and when doing so I touched some wires in the box with a pencil ... A: It sounds like one leg from the street is not making contact all the way to the box. When you turn ... | |
| BREAKER DOES NOT WORK | 5/31/2010 |
| Q: I WAS WATCHING TV LAST TUESDAY NIGHT , AND DURING THUNDERSTORM MY LIGHTS AT THE FAMILY ROOM WENT OFF ... A: The breaker may be defective, or there may be a short in the wiring causing the breaker not to ... | |
| Ceiling fan installation | 5/31/2010 |
| Q: I decided to replace an existing light fixture in my kitchen with a ceiling fan. Before starting ... A: It sounds like your house was wired wrong, but it has nothing to do with the microwave not working. ... | |
| replacing receptacles and switches | 5/31/2010 |
| Q: I put in new receptacles and switches in a bedroom. Before the change, the light switch controlled ... A: Every outlet where the top and bottom were split needs to have the tab between the two screws broken ... | |
| Burned wiring leading to water heater | 5/31/2010 |
| Q: The other morning my wife and I noticed that there was no hot water so I went to the water heater ... A: Aluminum wiring is bad news. Someone needs to check your whole house and tighten the connections ... | |
| power issue | 5/31/2010 |
| Q: I installed a 100amp subpanel in my outbuilding workshop 2 yrs ago.I put in a 100amp breaker in main ... A: If the neutral wire becomes disconnected somewhere, then the two phases will be in series with each ... | |
| Lights on /Switch off | 5/30/2010 |
| Q: I recently turned my bathroom light switch off and the lights stayed on. I replaced the switch. No ... A: It would be highly unusual for this to happen without something changing. How many wires are at the ... | |
| old BX wiring | 5/30/2010 |
| Q: I am tring to replace an old celiling light with a fan unit. I have installed fans before, so I am ... A: This is a switch loop, and is used with all kinds of wire. The wire going to the switch is actually ... | |
| wiring 240 | 5/30/2010 |
| Q: I have a new woodworking machine that requires 240v at 14 amps. It came with no plug and the motor ... A: When I go into a home improvement store, I don't care if someone doesn't know the answer, but it ... | |
| short/busted breaker?? | 5/30/2010 |
| Q: Recently we lost power/current to two bedrooms in our circa 1880's home (95% sure due to overload). ... A: This is probably my most asked question. Theoretically, the breaker should be the weakest point in ... | |
| Electric stove | 5/30/2010 |
| Q: My daughter is getting a new stove. existing stove is wired direct. New stove will be a plug in. She ... A: You will have to check the amp rating of the stove. Most stoves are just under 50 amps, so you ... | |
| Electric Drop in Range Installation | 5/30/2010 |
| Q: Hey Bob, Today I took out an old GE "Drop in Range" and replaced it with a new to me "Drop in GE ... A: Is it tripping? If so, disconnect it and see if it trips. If so, there is a short in the wiring. ... | |
| Electric Drop in Range Installation | 5/30/2010 |
| Q: Hey Bob, Today I took out an old GE "Drop in Range" and replaced it with a new to me "Drop in GE ... A: It sounds like it is wired correctly. Get a tester and make sure you have power between black and ... | |
| Installing Line Voltage Thermostat | 5/29/2010 |
| Q: I disconnected and discarded 3 thermostats for radiant ceiling plenum heat. I need to reconnect the ... A: If the voltage is 220, you need double break. If it is 110 volts, then you need a single break. ... | |
| Townsend Electrical Question | 5/29/2010 |
| Q: When I turn off my breaker it turns off the following devices: - Dining room light next to front ... A: In that box, there should be one cable bringing in power, 3 cables going to the lights, and perhaps ... | |
| 220 power | 5/22/2010 |
| Q: I have a window unit a/c that requiers a 220 power service. How do I wire it from the braker box?? A: There isn't that much difference between wiring 110 and 220 volts. At the breaker box, you will use ... | |
| Outside Electrical Box | 5/22/2010 |
| Q: I had an electrician extend power from the main power outside box to another box to power a hot ... A: It would be best to disconnect the wires from the main box. If you do that, then you don't need to ... | |
| how to ground a ground wire | 5/22/2010 |
| Q: I had to disconnect a wire (the big 3-wire electrical wire) under the house from a metal box. But ... A: I need more information here. Why are you disconnecting wires? What do they go to? Why is there ... | |
| wire color coding | 5/22/2010 |
| Q: I have a really old house with wires sticking out where there was an outlet removed and it has power ... A: If there are 3 wires there, it could be 220 volt. However, the colors do not tell what the voltage ... | |
| Wiring a bathroom Exhaust Fan | 5/21/2010 |
| Q: I am replacing a bathroom exhaust fan and light combo with a Panasonic FV-08VKML2 fan and light kit ... A: If there are any white wires from the night light, it would connect to the other white wires. The ... | |
| ground voltage | 5/20/2010 |
| Q: We have gotten a small electrical shock off the coping around our in ground pool. I have continuity ... A: If you turned off all of your power, and are still getting shocked, then the power must be coming ... | |
| circuit breaker | 5/20/2010 |
| Q: We have a bad breaker 20amp. It keeps tripping. We have a large fridge (newer model). Can we replace ... A: I don't know who told you that, but that will cause your house to catch on fire. Please do not take ... | |
| Wiring Connections | 5/20/2010 |
| Q: How do I connect 2 Ceiling fans to be controlled by 1 switch? A: It depends where the power enters. If the power enters the switch, you would wire black to the ... | |
| Wiring a bathroom Exhaust Fan | 5/20/2010 |
| Q: I am replacing a bathroom exhaust fan and light combo with a Panasonic FV-08VKML2 fan and light kit ... A: You can't really use the night light unless you add another wire. You could wire it to come on with ... | |
| Sub Panels | 5/19/2010 |
| Q: Here Goes, At the present time I am having and addition built on. At the panel I have a 100 amp ... A: You really can't run electric heat with 100 amp service. It is time to upgrade. Electric heat is ... | |
| blinking out door light | 5/19/2010 |
| Q: I have an outdoor lamp post light on a light sensor. It blinks on and off for several minutes in ... A: Either the sensor is defective or made poorly. In the morning it may have a hard time deciding if ... | |
| Replace switch with pilot light with a digital timer | 5/19/2010 |
| Q: I have an existing copper switch with pilot light. The switch has the switch at the top and the ... A: You need to figure out which wire is bringing power in, and which goes to the light. Use a tester, ... | |
| hanging lamp | 5/19/2010 |
| Q: In a room with a 14 foot ceiling, I have a small hanging globe light that hangs from the ceiling on ... A: It is called lamp cord, or sometimes zip cord. You can also buy it with the plug installed on it ... | |
| only getting 1-2 volts on outlets | 5/18/2010 |
| Q: i was moveing boxes, when one of them hit the light blub and caused sparks and the light went out. ... A: Funny readings are usually caused by disconnected neutral wires. Get your meter and see if you have ... | |
| Vanity light fed through GFI | 5/18/2010 |
| Q: What is the current NEC requirement for bathroom light switches for residential applications? I've ... A: The bathroom outlet has to be 20 amps and GFCI protected. Either the light from that bathroom or an ... | |
| Adding double switch. | 5/18/2010 |
| Q: Hey Bob. Question. I want to add an additional switch for a closet light to an existing single ... A: Most likely, the white wires are your neutral, and the black wires are your power source. Connect ... | |
| Kitchen Ceiling Light | 5/18/2010 |
| Q: I recently tried to replace the florescent (4 bulb) light fixture mounted on my kitchen ceiling. I ... A: Yes, you can install a junction box. It is best to install a fan box in case someone wants a fan ... | |
| Tv won't turn on | 5/18/2010 |
| Q: I have a Sony TV it's 8 years old ,yesterday I tried to turn it on but I no thing it didn't turn ... A: It could be the wire or the male plug on the TV that is bad. All wires must be polarized on a TV, ... | |
| sensor lights have different brightness | 5/18/2010 |
| Q: I need your help, my front motion sensor lights are different brightnesses. One is rather bright and ... A: Some motion sensor lights are set to come on at half brightness at night, then go to full brightness ... | |
| sub panel | 5/14/2010 |
| Q: i have a 100amp service in my garage with a small panel that is full. I need to run 12/2 wires for ... A: Make sure that the total you will be using at any one time will not overload the system. 6/3 copper ... | |
| Wiring a ceiling fan from an existing switch | 5/14/2010 |
| Q: I am installing a ceiling fan without existing electric. Currently I have a switch (single pole) ... A: It depends where the power enters the system. If you have two wires in one cable with the white ... | |
| Outdoor Wiring | 5/14/2010 |
| Q: We have outdoor lights (4-5) that turn on with the same switch. One of the lights and posts was ... A: If it is UF cable (underground plastic covered), you can use a UF splice kit. (Available at most ... | |
| detached garage | 5/13/2010 |
| Q: I am trying to determine wiring requirements to get power to a detached garage that is 40' if ran ... A: If the area us dry, you do not need UF-B cable. You can't run UF cable in conduit. It has to be ... | |
| Our 40amp breaker | 5/13/2010 |
| Q: Our 40amp breaker is apparently underwired with gauge wire. Question is what gauge should it be, ... A: The exact gauge of wire depends on many things, including the type of wire, length, etc. However, ... | |
| Timer for Fireplace Switch | 5/13/2010 |
| Q: Bob... I recently bought a timer to replace the wall switch that turns on my gas fireplace. There ... A: You need a neutral for the timer. Is there any white wire tucked in the back? if not, you will ... | |
| REVERSE POLARITY | 5/13/2010 |
| Q: We got a furnace put in at the end of '08 and it has worked fine. May of this year I tested it ... A: There is a good chance that the white neutral wire is not making contact somewhere. Most things ... | |
| open neutral electrical circuit | 5/13/2010 |
| Q: Today I replace one outside receptacle and one inside receptacle wiring them the same way they ... A: An open neutral would mean that a white wire is not making contact somewhere. These things can be ... | |
| dawn to dusk outdoor light | 5/12/2010 |
| Q: the sensor is not working, light is on 24/7. Can I just replace the sensor and if so where do i ... A: If it is a standard size sensor, you can replace it. See if you can take the old one out and bring ... | |
| REVERSE POLARITY | 5/12/2010 |
| Q: We got a furnace put in at the end of '08 and it has worked fine. May of this year I tested it ... A: That means that the black and white wires are reversed somewhere. Once they are reversed, then ... | |
| Dimmers on circuit | 5/12/2010 |
| Q: I need to wire two 1000 watt dimmers in sequence on a circuit. Is that possible...advisable? A: I am not sure what exactly you are doing. If you want to use them as 3 ways, then you can't put 2 ... | |
| outlets not working | 5/12/2010 |
| Q: It seems I have a few outlets in different rooms on one breaker, that are not working. I replaced ... A: This seems strange. The laundry room should always be on its own circuit. Recently, the code ... | |
| rewiring | 5/12/2010 |
| Q: My husband and I are trying to do rewiring from a outlet to the fuse box so that we can change the ... A: You need at least 10 gauge wire for a 30 amp circuit. You would wire it the same as the thinner wire ... | |
| outlet and disposal not working | 5/12/2010 |
| Q: In my kitchen, 4 of my outlet don’t work. The 4th outlet has a switch next to it. At some point my ... A: Normally the disposal is not on the same circuit. But maybe it was wired with it. If you are sure ... | |
| electrical wiring | 5/12/2010 |
| Q: i just moved into a condo and i notice that the living room has no ceiling lights in the rooms at ... A: You will probably have to make some holes in the drywall, unless there is an attic above. You can ... | |
| 2 prong receptacles | 5/11/2010 |
| Q: getting a house ready to sell , the inspector said some of the recept. werent grounded. some 2 prong ... A: If you don't have a ground, you either have to put in 2 prong outlets or a GFCI. There should be a ... | |
| Home Wiring | 5/11/2010 |
| Q: I'd like to connect a 110v circuit to a 220v outlet box. The 220 outlet has a red, black, and plain ... A: First of all, make sure that the circuit breaker is 20 amps or less. If it is more, using 12 gauge ... | |
| 240v gfci breaker wiring | 5/10/2010 |
| Q: can you wire a 240 volt gfci breaker with out a neutral at wire A: You have to wire a 240 GFCI breaker without a neutral. You can use a 240 volt GFCI with a 220 volt ... | |
| Accidently cut house ground wire | 5/10/2010 |
| Q: While trimming shrubbery away from the gas and electric meters, I accidently cut what I think is the ... A: It may not be the ground wire, since ground wires are usually not insulated. Also, the older houses ... | |
| GFI outlets per circuit | 5/10/2010 |
| Q: Greetings Bob I'm renovating an old bathroom and installing all new wiring. I plan for 3 GFI ... A: The rule for bathrooms, is that there must be a 20 amp circuit. That circuit can either control ... | |
| Ceiling Fans Shutting Down | 5/10/2010 |
| Q: I wired a deck with two outdoor ceiling fans. The wire comes from a new 20 amp breaker into a GFI ... A: If they both go on and off at the same time, it sounds like a loose wire somewhere. These things ... | |
| lights not working | 5/10/2010 |
| Q: I have a ceiling fan light over my dining room table which worked great for years. One day it quit ... A: There has to be a wire loose somewhere, assuming that the breaker is not tripped. These things can ... | |
| electral backfeed | 5/9/2010 |
| Q: I was up in the attic and I touched the metal box of the exhuast fan and at the same time my arm ... A: Overloads have nothing to do with shocks. If a hot wire was touching a neutral, it would trip the ... | |
| New installation | 5/8/2010 |
| Q: Sir,I want to install 3 ceiling light(spot light) in my living room.On the wall I already have a ... A: If the power enters the switches before it enters the light, you can tap off of there. Usually when ... | |
| breakers | 5/7/2010 |
| Q: I plugged in the vaccum cleaner and blew a breaker. we have replaced the breaker yet we still have ... A: The outlets in the kitchen should be on a separate circuit, if it was built in the 1960's or after. ... | |
| interruptor switch on a table lamp | 5/7/2010 |
| Q: How do you wire an interrupter switch on the power cord on a table lamp. Rather than using the ... A: When you buy the switch, the instructions are on the package. Normally, you would unplug the lamp, ... | |
| water heater | 5/6/2010 |
| Q: I have a new steel building. I have installed pex tubing in the slab for a closed loop radiant ... A: I looked up the information, and there is no code about installing a water heater near an electrical ... | |
| Bedroom lights don't work | 5/6/2010 |
| Q: I'm 16, and I was painting and re-decorating my room the past couple days and I tried to put up a ... A: You should call an electrician, unless you want to wait for your father to come home and try to fix ... | |
| jumping off an electrical outlet | 5/5/2010 |
| Q: i am adding a door where a window is existing. outiside of the door i would like to add an exterior ... A: If it is a general lighting circuit (not a kitchen, dining room, or laundry), you can tap off of the ... | |
| electrical | 5/5/2010 |
| Q: i have a double switch on the wall 1 switch controls the ceiling fan blades and 1 controls the ... A: yes, as long as there are separate switches, you can put a dimmer on the light. Replace the switch ... | |
| Is it a code violation / Fire Hazard | 5/5/2010 |
| Q: Rent from a "slumlord" who has our stove and dryer ran on the same 220 wire. The house is still on ... A: Yes, it is a violation. Each 220 volt appliance must be on their own circuit. The wire going to ... | |
| combination switch/outlet for bathroom | 5/5/2010 |
| Q: How do i go about wiring a combination switch/outlet for the bathroom. the switch that is there now ... A: Do you have 1 cable with 2 wires, or 2 cables with 4 wires (not counting the bare ground wire?) If ... | |
| adding a light switch and light to existing cirucuit | 5/4/2010 |
| Q: I am replacing my countertops and backsplash in my kitchen and right now all of the drywall is ... A: It's probably not a good idea. They would have to follow all the rules. They would have to be 20 ... | |
| MOVEMENT OF ELECTRICAL BOX | 5/4/2010 |
| Q: I NEED TO MOVE MY ELECTRICAL BOXES 3 INCHES. DO I HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE WIRES OR CAN I JUST RE-CUT ... A: If you can move the box without disconnecting the wires, that would be good. However, all splices ... | |
| Emergency Transfer Switch | 5/4/2010 |
| Q: This question has to do with sizing. Let me get started with some base info. I have a two story ... A: The only safe way to use a generator is with a transfer switch. You would get a sub panel based on ... | |
| home electrical | 5/3/2010 |
| Q: This means completely rewiring our house. She said her father told her our house was to big to run ... A: Most of the house is 110 volts. Certain appliances, such as the stove, AC, dryer, and water heater ... | |
| Outlet trouble | 5/3/2010 |
| Q: We had a severe thunderstorm this weekend and now 2 of my outlets do not work in my living room. I ... A: It sounds like a wire came loose or burned loose. These things can be hard to track down. Somewhere ... | |
| detached shop from subpanel | 5/3/2010 |
| Q: I have done extensive searches, but have yet to find an exact answer to my question. So I purchased ... A: In any subpanel anywhere, the neutrals and grounds have to be separate. As far as a ground wire, as ... | |
| Replacing ceiling fan with a light fixture | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: When I removed the ceiling fan I found 5 wires (2 white, 2 black, 1 red) not including the ground ... A: It depends where all the wires go to. But the new light should be connected the same way the old fan ... | |
| Electrical Outlet | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: When I ran a vacuum cleaner and a steam mop from the same outlet yesterday, the outlet no longer ... A: It sounds like the outlet was overloaded. Check the breaker and make sure it is not tripped. Turn ... | |
| new light wiring | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: I installed a new light. There were 2 white wires, 2 black wires, 1 red wire and 2 grounds from ... A: Most likely the red wire is the switched wire. Connect the black fixture wire to the red wire. Was ... | |
| Intermatic timer T10404R | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: I have wired one of the timers (other not being used) to a 120v setup per Intermatic's diagram, ... A: Questions about a specific product is always best answered by the customer service department of the ... | |
| 3 prong dryer outlet to prong | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: bought a 4 prong dryer for a 3 prong outlet so bought a 4 prong where do wires go A: The code changed in the 1990's requiring 4 prong outlets. In order to use a 4 prong outlet, you ... | |
| 30v between hot and neutral? | 4/23/2010 |
| Q: I came across a problem in a bathroom switch which is for a heater, light and fan (all in one). I ... A: The neutral is disconnected at some point. The 30 volts is feedback through a device. Look for ... | |
| To sub-panel or not to sub-panel | 4/23/2010 |
| Q: Sir, Looking for advise on the best means to power an up coming addition (Master bedroom and Bath ... A: For the bigger boxes, you can have 10 circuits for each 50 amps. However, with the smaller boxes, ... | |
| red, white, and black wiring | 4/23/2010 |
| Q: Forgive me if my terminology is a little bad as i don't have too much experience in this department. ... A: Without a ground, you have 2 options. You can either rewire the circuit, which will involve running ... | |
| red, white, and black wiring | 4/23/2010 |
| Q: Forgive me if my terminology is a little bad as i don't have too much experience in this department. ... A: Do you have a ground wire in the box? If there is no ground wire, you can not replace the 2 prong ... | |
| stove cooktop | 4/23/2010 |
| Q: House wiring coming in has Red, Black, White and Bare Copper. New cooktop has all the same except ... A: It sounds like you did the right thing. Make sure that the two hot wires are on opposite phases. ... | |
| Outlets | 4/23/2010 |
| Q: My front porch light and the wall inside my front door (4 outlets) are not working. I have reset ... A: It sounds like a wire is not making contact somewhere. These things can be hard to track down. ... | |
| Bonding screw ? | 4/23/2010 |
| Q: Bob, I just installed a "add on" panel box. The 220 is not ran to the box yet. I wired a temporary ... A: In the sub panel (the add on), the neutrals and grounds have to be separate. You either need two ... | |
| Ceiling lights went out in three rooms simultaneously | 4/22/2010 |
| Q: Home built in 2002. The lights in three adjacent rooms all went out at the same time but there is ... A: It would be very unusual for parts of 3 circuits to go out at one time. Most likely the lights in ... | |
| AFCI | 4/22/2010 |
| Q: Installed a new AFCI breaker for a basement finish. Occasionally it will trip with the led lights ... A: About all you can do is check the wiring and make sure nothing is touching or almost touching that ... | |
| Under cabinet light not turning on | 4/22/2010 |
| Q: I have several Kichler under cabinet lights in my kitchen. A few months ago one of the fixtures ... A: Do these fixtures have starters? These are little cans under the tube which twist out and can be ... | |
| one wire to the switch | 4/22/2010 |
| Q: Am trying to add another light/switch/outlet to existing wire while sheet rock is down. There is one ... A: That is a switch loop, and there is no neutral there. So you can't get power there to power another ... | |
| wiring | 4/22/2010 |
| Q: iam trying to wire 2 pendant lights on 1 switch and 6 pot lights on another switch but from the same ... A: In order for this to work, you need 3 cables coming into that box. 1) a power source. 2) a wire ... | |
| Low Voltage | 4/21/2010 |
| Q: I had an electrical problem at my house last night. I was in the living room watching TV and using ... A: You have two hot phases going from the street to your house. One of them is not making contact. ... | |
| wiring | 4/21/2010 |
| Q: iam trying to wire 2 pendant lights on 1 switch and 6 pot lights on another switch but from the same ... A: The power source has to enter the switch first for this to work. The black power entering connects ... | |
| Fan switch | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: Im doing an open outside patio, and are installing two fans. My question is: "is it necessary to ... A: If you use the fan pull chains, you probably don't need a switch. However, the code requires a ... | |
| lost power | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: lost all power in bathroom last night. I know the breaker is not tripped because half of a bedroom ... A: If the GFCI is set, then you probably have a disconnected wire. If you got a shock with it off, it ... | |
| 200 amp from garage to home | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: Now I am building a house 118' away. I am running 3 copper 2/0 wires in conduit to 200 amp breaker ... A: It is almost impossible to have anyone commit to a wire size online, since there are so many ... | |
| wiring in a wall | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: I am trying to feed a wire from about the second floor on my house from an unfinished interior attic ... A: They make flexible drill bits that are several feet long. However, if the obstruction is a gas or ... | |
| Ground wires in breaker box | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: I have a sub panel box that is rated at 125amps. I recently had to add the fourth wire to make it ... A: It is always best to ask the inspector, because they have the final say. And they usually don't ... | |
| bad electiric wiring in my apartment? | 4/19/2010 |
| Q: Foremost thank you for taking the time to look into my inquiry. I hope I've provided all the ... A: That does not sound normal. I would get a meter and check the voltage. You can also get battery ... | |
| Fan switch | 4/19/2010 |
| Q: Im doing an open outside patio, and are installing two fans. My question is: "is it necessary to ... A: I am not sure exactly what you mean. Are you putting both fans up, or is one up already. You can ... | |
| Electrical panel no Ground | 4/19/2010 |
| Q: I have a sub panel in the house that has no "Ground" and i recently installed a Hot tub connected to ... A: The wire must go to the main panel. There is probably another issue too. Probably a loose wire, or ... | |
| Light switch trips the breaker | 4/19/2010 |
| Q: Home built in 2002. There are ceiling lights that are in a enclosed can. One over the shower and ... A: You may need to remove the light from the living side. Take the bulb out, and see if there are any ... | |
| Ground for house | 4/19/2010 |
| Q: I was told by a repair service that my house has no ground and they gave me a cost estimate to ... A: There should be a thick bare copper wire coming out of your panel and going to a water pipe or a ... | |
| install a light/heater/fan over a shower/tub | 4/18/2010 |
| Q: I would like to know if i can install a light/heater/fan over my shower. Can i use 12/2 wire from my ... A: You can't put the unit over the shower. It would have to be rated for wet locations. It can go ... | |
| hidden ciruit breaker | 4/18/2010 |
| Q: My wife and I purchased this house about 3 months ago. This morning while reading there was a big ... A: I am sure one of the breakers go to the sun room. It is just that no one bothered to write that on ... | |
| adding an outlet | 4/18/2010 |
| Q: We are installing new cupboards and we have an outlet we would like to move about 4 feet for the ... A: You can use the old box as a junction box and reinstall the outlet four feet away. However, you ... | |
| Cooktop/downdraft Install | 4/18/2010 |
| Q: I currently have an electric cooktop/downdraft combination that I am changing to a gas cooktop and ... A: You shouldn't really mess with the outlets that are there. The code requires at least two 20 amp ... | |
| Crossed hot and ground | 4/18/2010 |
| Q: Bob, thank you for providing such a great service! My Fiance recently asked me to help her parents ... A: If the hot and grounds were really reversed, most likely someone would be getting shocked touching ... | |
| New Dryer Outlet affected a GFCI | 4/18/2010 |
| Q: i just replaced a dryer outlet that now works fine. I have a GFCI for the washing machine with a ... A: Did you try to reset the GFCI? The dryer outlet should only have the wires going to the circuit ... | |
| Seperating recessed lights | 4/16/2010 |
| Q: I have 6 recessed lights in my kitchen that work off one switch and I would like to seperate them ... A: You can't put lighting on outlets in the kitchen or dining room. You can probably add more lights, ... | |
| home wiring | 4/16/2010 |
| Q: I have a single outlet box. can I have 3 cables 14/2 in it. cable 1 is the feeder cable 2 feeds ... A: Yes, you can have 3 wires. Here are the rules for the size box you need, which I found online some ... | |
| Getting power to an island range | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: As part of a kitchen remodel, we're thinking about moving the range to an island. (There is no ... A: That should be OK. But if there is steel reinforcing in the concrete, it may be even harder to cut. ... | |
| Ground wire | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: I have a basement and I ran a new exposed conduit on the ceiling with new wiring for a light ... A: It sounds like either the ground or the conduit is making contact with a hot wire. If you ... | |
| 3 way switch | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: I have one 3way switch controlling several receptacles.The switch does not appear to do anything.In ... A: It does not sound like you have a 3 way switch. It sounds like you have split outlets. One half on ... | |
| Wiring/ GCFI | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: In my house I have several outlets/switches not working. Others in the circuit do. After looking ... A: The most likely place is in a wire nut or where a wire pushes in to the back of an outlet. A ... | |
| power | 4/14/2010 |
| Q: my power keeps going out but only some of the rooms.but at times it does not go out the lights just ... A: Check and see if the lights that go out or dim are on every other row of breakers. If so, the ... | |
| setting up an elwc tric outlit from house to outside | 4/14/2010 |
| Q: I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN HOW TO MAKE A ELECT. LINE THAT RUNS FROM THE HOUSE TO THE YARD ... A: You will need to use UF cable, which is used for burying in the ground Most places allow it, and ... | |
| Wire between floors | 4/14/2010 |
| Q: I have hardwood floors in my living room. I want to run a wire from the basement to the livingroom ... A: It just depends on how the house was built. If the wall is studded with 2 x 4's, and these were ... | |
| breaker boxes residential home | 4/14/2010 |
| Q: MY BREAKER BOX IS LOCATED ON AN OUTSIDE WALL OF MY GARAGE. I HAVE HAD VANDALISM AND OTHER PROBLEMS ... A: Any work replacing the main box is going to be major. You will need to get the power company ... | |
| 3 way switch | 4/14/2010 |
| Q: I have one 3way switch controlling several receptacles.The switch does not appear to do anything.In ... A: I doubt if there is anything wrong with the switch. It looks like the switching circuit is ... | |
| 3-way Lighting Dual Switch, & Switch/Receptacle | 4/14/2010 |
| Q: I'm researching the electrical for my kitchen remodel. I'll be installing a garbage disposal (where ... A: There are a lot of rules you have to follow, especially when wiring a kitchen. It is never safe or ... | |
| Electric switch suddenly stopped working | 4/13/2010 |
| Q: I just got a home recently and trying to fix something new everyday and not good at it. I appreciate ... A: There may be a wire loose somewhere between the switch and the fan/light. If you are showing power ... | |
| rewiring a garage | 4/13/2010 |
| Q: The garage is 100 ft from the house! There was already wire ran to the garage when the house was ... A: If you just have 12-3 between the house and the garage, you wouldn't use any breakers in the garage. ... | |
| rewiring a garage | 4/13/2010 |
| Q: The garage is 100 ft from the house! There was already wire ran to the garage when the house was ... A: If you use conduit, then you have to use THWN wire, or whatever local codes call for. You can't use ... | |
| Lighting wiring | 4/13/2010 |
| Q: I recently decided to replace the lighting in the kitchen which was a two long tube florecent. Upon ... A: It is OK to make connections inside a fluorescent fixture. But you'll have to install an outlet box ... | |
| AFCI | 4/13/2010 |
| Q: The AFCI in one of my bedrooms tripped one night. It had a space heater plugged into one of the ... A: Space heaters use a lot of power, so it probably burned a wire loose. It may not have been an arc ... | |
| 50 amp breaker to a 100 amp breaker | 4/13/2010 |
| Q: I purchased a new welder and noticed the breaker I have is a 50 amp. of which I need 100 amp to be ... A: First of all, don't forget you have to replace the wire as well as the breaker. I really wouldn't ... | |
| eletric wiring | 4/13/2010 |
| Q: I need to run, five single phase 240v 30amp circuits 65ft. Is it cheaper to install a sub panel? or, ... A: My first question is where are you going to get 150 amps from? You really can't run a 150 amp panel ... | |
| LED TV tripping a GFCI | 4/12/2010 |
| Q: I purchased a Samsung LED TV that is causing the GFCI that is attached to power cord to my Carrier ... A: If something is causing something on another circuit to trip, then the circuits are interconnected. ... | |
| Light fixture | 4/12/2010 |
| Q: i live in a home built in 1973. last week had some work done in the finished basement where the ... A: If you have 2 circuits that share a neutral, and the neutral is disconnected, then the two circuits ... | |
| replacing an outlet | 4/12/2010 |
| Q: The house was originally wired in the early 1960's. The wire used for the bedroom outlets is 14-2 ... A: There are different opinions about running grounds to places other than the panel box. But most ... | |
| Adding a switch mid circuit | 4/12/2010 |
| Q: Bob, I want to install a wall switch for a chain light located mid run. I ran 14 2 from the ... A: You were correct the first time. The second time you have the neutral and hot reversed. If you ... | |
| replacing an outlet | 4/11/2010 |
| Q: The house was originally wired in the early 1960's. The wire used for the bedroom outlets is 14-2 ... A: No, it is not safe to connect the ground to the neutral. If the neutral becomes disconnected, ... | |
| FLORESCCENT LIGHTING | 4/11/2010 |
| Q: My husband just removed a florescent fixture from our Master bath.The builder didn't use a junction ... A: It's not a problem for the fluorescent fixture, because the fixture was enclosed in metal and had ... | |
| installing a nutone 665rp bathroom vent | 4/11/2010 |
| Q: I am replacing a nutone hs-93 with a nutone 665rp. The wires that lead into the old unit are black ... A: Do you know where the power enters the system? In any care, you will need to run another wire ... | |
| basement renovation | 4/11/2010 |
| Q: I stripped the panel board that was on the wall and ceiling in a garage to renovated the area for a ... A: You will need 3 wires plus the ground for the dryer. If the current wire has 2 wires and a ground, ... | |
| Red wire and ceiling fan | 4/11/2010 |
| Q: Ceiling box has white, black, red and green wire. The fan came with a blue, black and white wires. ... A: There has to be separate wires for the light and fan. Hopefully the red wire was installed for ... | |
| wiring multiple lights to one switch | 4/10/2010 |
| Q: how do you wire multiple lights to one switch for ontario. A: Usually a wire goes from light to light. The power has to enter either the switch first, or the ... | |
| Dimmer switch wiring | 4/10/2010 |
| Q: I would like to replace the “outside light” switch with a dimmer. This are shown on the attached ... A: A three way switch needs to have 3 screws, not counting the green ground screw. The two that are ... | |
| Dimmer switch wiring | 4/10/2010 |
| Q: I would like to replace the “outside light” switch with a dimmer. This are shown on the attached ... A: If the switch says on and off, it is a single pole switch. Is there more than one switch controlling ... | |
| dead circuit to outdoor flood light | 4/10/2010 |
| Q: Bob, We live in a 60 year old home in Alexandria, VA. I have a dead circuit going to an outside ... A: If the other lights work in the box and it is on the same circuit, then the problem should be a ... | |
| Light surges in bedroom? | 4/10/2010 |
| Q: I have noticed lately that a ceiling light (with a fan) in one of the bedrooms in my house has been ... A: If two circuits are sharing one neutral, then you may have a loose neutral which would cause the two ... | |
| coach lights | 4/9/2010 |
| Q: I had new wiring installed by an electrician last fall and am now putting up the coach lights. Box ... A: If the wires go from the panel to the switch, and then to light 1 to light 2, then all the blacks ... | |
| GFCI trips when I turn light switch on | 4/9/2010 |
| Q: I changed orginal outlet to GFCI in the kitchen that is connected to a light switch for a light that ... A: Either the GFCI is bad, or there is a ground fault in the wiring. If you are having problems with a ... | |
| wiring for 3 lights with inline switch | 4/9/2010 |
| Q: I want to wire 3 ceramic receptacles together, in order to hang 3 paper lanterns over my daughter's ... A: Yes, any switch made for 110 volts should be able to handle the load. It's a very small load, as far ... | |
| Electrical wiring diagram | 4/8/2010 |
| Q: I have a similar problem to one asked before. I have a power source coming into a switch box that ... A: If there is one wire going to both lights, you can't separate the lights without running another ... | |
| wiring | 4/8/2010 |
| Q: Just bought a 2002 palm harbor double wide. It has been on the real estate market for a couple of ... A: That is pretty much something someone would have to come in and take a look at. If it was a ... | |
| Window AC unit & cord | 4/8/2010 |
| Q: I have a 12,000 BTU window unit that has a 3 prong plug. I do not have any 3 prong outlets in my ... A: To do it correctly, air conditioners should be on their own circuits. If you have much else on the ... | |
| GFCI outlet | 4/7/2010 |
| Q: My GFCI outlet in my bathroom will not reset. I have reset by circuit breaker and tried it again ... A: See if it is getting power. You can use a test light, just be careful not to touch any metal. If ... | |
| Cooktop wiring - 240v | 4/7/2010 |
| Q: I have done quite a bit of work throughout my 51 year home and I would consider myself above average ... A: If it's hard to change the wire, then you can leave it there. It was considered safe for a long ... | |
| 240 v. circuit problem | 4/7/2010 |
| Q: I have installed a used electric clothes dryer 3 times in my home, and each did not work. One of ... A: The amperage is not given at the panel. It is taken by the appliance. The circuit breaker tries to ... | |
| Cooktop wiring - 240v | 4/6/2010 |
| Q: I have done quite a bit of work throughout my 51 year home and I would consider myself above average ... A: If the wire from the panel to the outlet has a red, black, and white with no ground, it was legal ... | |
| Replacing ceiling fan/light with light only - too many wires left over | 4/6/2010 |
| Q: I just bought my first house and am changing out many of the OLD light fixtures. I am trying to ... A: When replacing a fixture you have to wire the new fixture exactly as the old fixture is wired. ... | |
| sharing a ground and a outlet box with two feeds | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: running 14-3 to panel one for plugs the other for lights in the same room on a tandem breaker ... A: You can have two hot wires work with one neutral, as long as you use a double pole breaker. ... | |
| high power bills, odd symptoms | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: I am an expert in the plumbing department. Semi-retired and I also volunteer only to help folks in a ... A: There are two hot wires and one neutral wire. If the neutral wire is broken, then the two halves of ... | |
| Adding an on/off light switch | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: I am adding an on/off light switch beside an existing electrical outlet. The outlet has a red, black ... A: This outlet either already has a switch that controls half of the outlet, or there is two circuits ... | |
| Wall outlet not working | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: Had an earthquake recently and one of our ceiling fans fell down but didn't hit the ground. The ... A: The wires in the ceiling box have to be connected for the remainder of the circuit to work. So if ... | |
| ceiling light | 4/4/2010 |
| Q: I am trying to replace a ceiling fan (with lights) with a regular light fixture. In the junction ... A: The new fixture should always be installed exactly as the old fixture was wired up. You'll need to ... | |
| Outlets going out. | 4/4/2010 |
| Q: My house was built in the 1980's. All of a sudden several outlets in the house went out. Things like ... A: The problem should either be every other breaker on the panel, or one circuit. If it is every other ... | |
| Running temporary power | 4/4/2010 |
| Q: We live in a mobile home.We recently purchased a used mobile home that is bigger than ours.It needs ... A: The cord will be OK, if it has one male and one female end. When you have two male ends, then you ... | |
| Running temporary power | 4/4/2010 |
| Q: We live in a mobile home.We recently purchased a used mobile home that is bigger than ours.It needs ... A: You should never use a cord with two male ends. It is very likely someone will get a shock. You ... | |
| ceiling fans | 4/4/2010 |
| Q: If i removed a ceiling fan that had dimming capabilities and replaced it with a new fan, if the new ... A: Are you talking about dimming the lights, or the speed control? The speed control does not require ... | |
| crossing wires | 4/4/2010 |
| Q: I just installed a new dimmer switch in my bathroom and now when I turn my bathroom lights off the ... A: Yes, you got the wires crossed. There should be a black wire bringing power in, a black wire ... | |
| 50V on neutral | 4/3/2010 |
| Q: I have a home 9 years old, in NC, I'm getting voltage that can be read at outside cable box easily, ... A: If you are getting a reading on the neutral, it is disconnected at some point. The reading you are ... | |
| air compressor | 4/3/2010 |
| Q: I bought a air compressor that runs on 220 v.what i was wondering was I have a Lincoln electric ... A: Each 220 volt appliance should have its own circuit. If they both happen to use the same plug, then ... | |
| Home Light Wiring | 4/3/2010 |
| Q: I have recently purchased a new home and I am in the process of replacing the lights. I have ... A: You should always wire the new fixture the same way as the old fixture. If you've got the wires ... | |
| apartment wiring | 4/3/2010 |
| Q: Is an apartment wired with a 110v or 220v A: All buildings in North America have 110 volt wiring. It may also have 220 volt wiring depending on ... | |
| popping noise and smell from light switch | 4/3/2010 |
| Q: I read your post from a reader named kristy, but the popping noise I heard while turning on one of ... A: I am not a fan of portable electrical heaters. They are dangerous from both the amount of ... | |
| Ceiling fan problem | 4/3/2010 |
| Q: I have been having a recent problem with getting my ceiling fan/light to turn on from the wall ... A: Is there a remote control involved? Remote controls are electronic and can be very temperamental. ... | |
| digital clock gains time since new lights | 4/2/2010 |
| Q: I recently added 10 recessed lights to my home. Since the addition, when the new lights are on, the ... A: It is most likely a coincidence. Hopefully the lighting is not on the same circuit as the coffee ... | |
| Aluminum rating on old switches | 4/2/2010 |
| Q: I'm working in an older apartment complex built in the early 1970's that has aluminum wiring on all ... A: The switches should have co/alr written on them somewhere. Switches and outlets made for aluminum ... | |
| Porch light wiring problem | 4/2/2010 |
| Q: Older home. I'm trying to repair a back porch light that stopped working a while ago. I have ... A: I don't see how it could be wired correctly. Did it ever work? The only way that could possibly ... | |
| ceiling fan | 4/2/2010 |
| Q: The house wiring is red-white-black.The fan's wiring is black-white-blue. Which wires go together. A: It depends on where the wires in the house go to. Is there one switch or two? In most cases, the ... | |
| breakers | 4/1/2010 |
| Q: how many 20 amp breakers are used in a 2100 square home A: The number of general lighting circuits would be 4 or 5. However, the total depends on what you ... | |
| Photocell wiring problem | 4/1/2010 |
| Q: I have a building that had a timer on it previously to run the 4 lights. the Timer was in a utility ... A: Is the photo cell near the lights they are controlling? They turn the lights on, see their own ... | |
| arching wire | 4/1/2010 |
| Q: I have a new home, but had been having problems with one outlet in my house. A child safety plug ... A: If you have AFCI breakers (with test buttons), then they SHOULD shut off when there is arcing. A ... | |
| flickering lights, power spikes | 4/1/2010 |
| Q: lately my lights have been flickering and I've been blowing light bulbs like crazy. i decided to ... A: Usually it is caused by a loose neutral between the main panel and the street. It could be your ... | |
| turn 110v to 220v | 4/1/2010 |
| Q: How can I turn two 110 volt outlets into one 220 volt outlet? A: 220 volt outlets need to be wired by a separate line to the breaker panel. If you happen to have ... | |
| water in ceiling light fitting | 3/31/2010 |
| Q: had a water leak that's fixed but there' water in the ceiling light what should I do already turned ... A: I would take the fixture down, and wait for everything to dry out before you turn the breaker back ... | |
| wiring problems | 3/31/2010 |
| Q: me and my mom put up a new light fixture for our living room, its been wired and put up but the ... A: A new light fixture should always be installed the exact same way the old one was wired. There ... | |
| Generator wiring to house | 3/31/2010 |
| Q: My house is wired for a generator. The old generator is too small and is hard wired in. I purchased ... A: Logically, I do not see a problem with that. As far as what the code allows, I am not sure, to be ... | |
| wiring floodlights | 3/31/2010 |
| Q: I read an answer to a question you were asked about setting a switch/motion sensor into a group of ... A: Normal motion sensors will not do that. The only way you might be able to do it, is to use the X10 ... | |
| grounded outlets. | 3/30/2010 |
| Q: I have outlets in my house that have the grounding hole, but it is only a 2 wire system Is there ... A: If you put a GFCI on the first outlet, you can use 3 prong outlets anywhere on the circuit. The ... | |
| outlet | 3/29/2010 |
| Q: We have replaced the outlets with new ones and everything works except the outlets in the bathrooms. ... A: Bathroom outlets are usually on a GFCI circuit. Sometimes the GFCI is part of the breaker, ... | |
| Junction Box on a dedicated stove line | 3/29/2010 |
| Q: Like you I'm just a homeowner with a bit of skill doing some home rewiring. I own a house in ... A: If the stove cable reaches, and if the outlet is not covered with drywall, you should be OK. Be ... | |
| Turn outlet off of power switch | 3/29/2010 |
| Q: I need help with our outlet that is controlled by our light switch. I can not use the outlet without ... A: Unfortunately, the overhead light fixture was wired to the outlet, so there is no way for the switch ... | |
| Unsecured wall fixture box | 3/29/2010 |
| Q: In the process of changing a bathroom fixture, I discovered that the fixture box is unsecured. The ... A: You can use a Madison Bar. This is a flat piece of metal in the shape of an F which will partly go ... | |
| wire for gas insert | 3/28/2010 |
| Q: need to tap wall outlet to run 120v into firebox for new gas insert. Will be drilling thru concrete ... A: Codes can vary from place to place, but in most places you do not need conduit going through block. ... | |
| electric water heater | 3/28/2010 |
| Q: I AM GOING TO PURCHASE A 30 GALLON RELIANCE HOT WATER HEATER. I HAVE A 30 AMP DOUBLE POLE BREAKER ... A: Most likely it is the correct wire and breaker. But you have to make sure that the water heater is ... | |
| wiring a combination ground fault outlet and light switch | 3/28/2010 |
| Q: I am installing the combination outlet/switch. It is stand alone, not in series. I've got the outlet ... A: How many wires do you have? If you have only one black and one white wire, it is not enough. ... | |
| three-way light switch | 3/28/2010 |
| Q: I pulled the copper wires out of the three-way light switch but cannot get them to go back in ... A: You pulled them out of the back of the switch? There is a release hole where you have to stick in a ... | |
| ceiling fan wiring | 3/27/2010 |
| Q: I am installing a ceiling fan. The fan's wires are white, blue and black with green grounding. the ... A: The wires in the ceiling should be black and white. If it is an extremely old house with knob and ... | |
| electrical wiring | 3/27/2010 |
| Q: I want to run electricity to my work shed. The distance from my electrical panal to my shed is 145 ... A: You either have to run a sub panel the shed. This will require 2 hot wires (plus neutral), even if ... | |
| Losing power to some outlets | 3/26/2010 |
| Q: I have noticed since I moved into my home that sometimes, during the night it seems, I lose power to ... A: The kitchen outlets should not be on any other circuit, other than the dining room outlets. It is ... | |
| dimmer switch to old wiring, is there a ground? | 3/26/2010 |
| Q: I have a dimmer switch in a bedroom that I'm not sure is grounging out or just plain done for. On ... A: On the new dimmer there should be 2 black wires and a ground wire. It does not matter which black ... | |
| Installing Chandelier - Oops! | 3/25/2010 |
| Q: I have boldly (stupidly?) attempted to install a new chandelier in my dining room when I don't know ... A: If there was a dimmer, you probably damaged it, and needs to be replaced. If there was no dimmer, ... | |
| outlet | 3/25/2010 |
| Q: I HAVE A OUTLET CONTROLLED BY TWO SWITCHES. A MONTH AGO THE OUTLET STOPPED WORKING. I CHANGED THE ... A: A lot of times when people get this reading, it is because the neutral is disconnected somewhere in ... | |
| oreantation of a photo eye switch for a lamp post? | 3/25/2010 |
| Q: Good day, I'm installing a photo eye on an outdoor lamp post. Should I mount it facing West the ... A: Make sure that the sun does not hit it directly. You can put it any direction. If you face it ... | |
| sub panel wiring in detached garage | 3/25/2010 |
| Q: BOB MY DETACHED GARAGE IS WIRED FROM MY MAIN POWER BOX FROM MY HOUSE, (APPROX. 75' AWAY). IT IS ... A: There does not need to be ground wire, unless there is any other metal path between the buildings. ... | |
| Dead outlets and ceiling light | 3/25/2010 |
| Q: "I have two outlets and a light in my ceiling all located in the same room which I cannot get any ... A: There should be a chart on the breaker box. If not, and you don't remember what breaker went to ... | |
| wiring switch | 3/25/2010 |
| Q: Was replacing the light switch in my garage with a new switch. I took the old switch out and ... A: You are right, you should get a reading only on one of the hot wires. Normally to test a switch, ... | |
| New Stove | 3/25/2010 |
| Q: My fiancee and I just bought our first place. It used to have a gas stove, but we wanted an ... A: It's pretty much 200 time. A stove, unlike most other appliances, use different amount of ... | |
| Trying to install 3-way switch | 3/24/2010 |
| Q: I am running a 15-amp lighting circuit in a new basement and having trouble with the last set of ... A: It sounds like somehow the neutral wire is connected to a switch. The only other way a circuit ... | |
| motion sensor security light | 3/24/2010 |
| Q: I installed a new motion sensor security light that i had sitting on a shelf for 6 years unused. I ... A: Is there a wire to connect between the motion detector and the socket? Or was it already connected. ... | |
| Grounding | 3/24/2010 |
| Q: Our house in Pierre SD is 13 years old. Our water is high in iron and mag. We use a water softer but ... A: I hadn't heard of such a thing until I did some Googling, and apparently it is possible. It is ... | |
| Lost power | 3/24/2010 |
| Q: In bathroom, using a hair dryer, there was a "pop" and a small flash and I lost all ceiling lighting ... A: A hair dryer uses a lot of power, and it probably overloaded the circuit. Rather than tripping the ... | |
| circuit breaker | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: in the kitchen i have a outlet and two gang switch the other controlled the light and the other is ... A: It sounds like two circuits are mixed together. The lighting and the disposal should be on separate ... | |
| Range wiring | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: I am installing a new circuit for a dual-fuel range rated at 30A. (Previously there was only a gas ... A: No, you can't use a standard range outlet for 30 amps. All outlets have special configurations ... | |
| fuse box screw in fuses | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: I noticed a very faint flash of light emitting from my fuse box every few seconds. What could cause ... A: I have never heard of this. But if something is arcing, it is definitely a problem. See if you can ... | |
| Dead outlets and ceiling light | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: "I have two outlets and a light in my ceiling all located in the same room which I cannot get any ... A: Don't forget to check everything that is working on the circuit, because it could be a wire leaving ... | |
| track lighting | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: I replaced 3 of the 5 halogen lights in my Ikea track lighting with 50w and should of been only max ... A: Normally it would be in a little box on the track head next to where it attaches to the track. If ... | |
| Installing a Motion Sensing Switch | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: I've read a lot of how to installs for a motion sensing switch, but none seem to reproduce my ... A: Neutral wires are never switched. Usually the black wire goes to the power source, and the red wire ... | |
| track lighting | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: I replaced 3 of the 5 halogen lights in my Ikea track lighting with 50w and should of been only max ... A: If there is a transformer, you may have damaged it, and will need to replace the unit. If there is ... | |
| TV coax wiring | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: I need to add a TV coax connection to a wall. What's the secret to finding the proper area(cavity) ... A: You just have to measure the location of the outlet and find the area directly above it in the ... | |
| electric wiring of a dishwasher | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: I just purchased a new dishwasher. And the house did not previously have a dishwasher. The wiring ... A: Technically the dishwasher should be on its own circuit. If you connect it to a kitchen plug, you ... | |
| Home Wiring - Take neutral from something else? | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: I have a switch at the end of a run. At the moment the switch has a black wire, an earth and a white ... A: Without seeing that timer, most likely the black is the power source and the red goes to the hot ... | |
| Adding to an existing Original (New Work) 3 gang box to make it 4 | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: .. I thought this would be easy to go buy a 4 gang old work box and redo it, but the existing 3 ... A: If the old boxes are made to be ganged together, and you can find the match you can do it. But it ... | |
| 220 V outlet for a welder | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: Is it correct that the size (AMPS) of a welder is limited by the existing wire gauge in that 220V ... A: Yes, the plugs are different. But they are different so that you can't connect the wrong amperage ... | |
| 220 V outlet for a welder | 3/21/2010 |
| Q: Is it correct that the size (AMPS) of a welder is limited by the existing wire gauge in that 220V ... A: The welder will try to pull as many amps as it is designed to take. However, if the wire is not ... | |
| Home Wiring - Take neutral from something else? | 3/21/2010 |
| Q: I have a switch at the end of a run. At the moment the switch has a black wire, an earth and a white ... A: The neutral wires should be capped together behind the switches. Switches are never connected to ... | |
| outlets in the kitchen area does not work | 3/21/2010 |
| Q: Yesterday, I had something in the microwave; all of a sudden, it quit working. Now, all the outlets ... A: If you do not have circuit breakers that have a test button, then it would in as part of an outlet ... | |
| Dryer 10-2 wire | 3/21/2010 |
| Q: I recently purchased a new house(built in 2008.) As I ordered my new washer and dryer and had them ... A: This is not safe. I would have someone run the correct wire. If it was me, I would complain to ... | |
| Circuit Breaker does not trip, but still no electricity | 3/21/2010 |
| Q: I'm having problems with my power in the home. All power in my living room is out and all the lights ... A: The kitchen outlets are supposed to be on a different circuit than any outlets in any other room ... | |
| losing voltage/ no voltage | 3/20/2010 |
| Q: I have an older mobile home. The problem I am having is my outside light (by the door), and the four ... A: The strange voltage readings is probably caused by a white neutral wire that came loose. So, you ... | |
| Service Panel addition | 3/20/2010 |
| Q: Two questions; First, I want to know if this is a 100 amp breaker. The wires coming to the panel ... A: Ok, it sounds like you have only 60 amp service, even though the wire is thick enough to handle ... | |
| Service Panel addition | 3/20/2010 |
| Q: Two questions; First, I want to know if this is a 100 amp breaker. The wires coming to the panel ... A: The only way to know for sure is by the main breaker, and you don't have one. The size of the wire ... | |
| Dual combo switch and outlet | 3/20/2010 |
| Q: This question sounds like some others but I'd like to give more info as to my situation. I have one ... A: The power should go to the outlet first, so if everything else works, the outlet should work. ... | |
| Bathroom Outlet stopped working | 3/20/2010 |
| Q: Mornin' Recently while using a blow dryer in our bathroom the outlet suddenly stopped working. This ... A: Is there anything connected to the load side? If you have other outlets that are connected, the ... | |
| Lights wired in series | 3/19/2010 |
| Q: While working on my house I have found that my two porch lights (controlled by a single switch) are ... A: If you use the same size bulb, it would be 60 volts each. However, electricity follows the path of ... | |
| Followup to Home wiring- grounding | 3/19/2010 |
| Q: My original question and your answer follow: Question My house was built around 1952 and only has ... A: There is a difference of opinion from professionals if this is OK or not. It is frowned upon by ... | |
| L6-30 welder plug | 3/19/2010 |
| Q: I bought a new welder and it came without a plug. L6-30 230v recommended. Welder has green, black, ... A: If it is 230 volts, then it has no neutral, so it does not matter. The white is also a hot wire. ... | |
| Bathroom Outlet stopped working | 3/19/2010 |
| Q: Mornin' Recently while using a blow dryer in our bathroom the outlet suddenly stopped working. This ... A: It sounds like the neutral white wire is disconnected somewhere in the circuit. Hair dryers use a ... | |
| electricity to my shed | 3/18/2010 |
| Q: i know very little about electrical wiring, so please bear with me as i am not sure of even the ... A: I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you almost need to start from scratch. It looks like the ... | |
| Moving a ceiling fan to a switch | 3/17/2010 |
| Q: Good afternoon, I have a number of celing fans in my bedrooms in my home. None of them are actually ... A: Probably the hardest thing will be fishing the wires. You will need 3 conductor wire for 2 ... | |
| connecting 12-2 to 14-2 | 3/17/2010 |
| Q: I have a wire running out to our detached garage that was already there when we bought the house. ... A: You can mix the wires only if it is a 15 amp breaker. If it is a 20 amp breaker, the 14-2 will ... | |
| Home wiring- grounding | 3/17/2010 |
| Q: My house was built around 1952 and only has 2-wire electric wiring. An upcoming ATT installation ... A: You can have one circuit that is grounded. You will need to run the wire from the panel to outlet. ... | |
| Dual combo switch and outlet | 3/17/2010 |
| Q: This question sounds like some others but I'd like to give more info as to my situation. I have one ... A: Yes, you can do it. Be sure to mark how the wires are wired up. The white will remained wire ... | |
| Outlet to be wired to code | 3/17/2010 |
| Q: I am putting in a fourplex outlet. Which is the proper way to code and if both are acceptable which ... A: Number 2 is the best. One is acceptable, but you have another splice that takes up more space and a ... | |
| 220 dryer outlet | 3/16/2010 |
| Q: I have a 2wire 3 prong outlet for my dryer it consists of 2 hot wires (white and black) and the ... A: You need 3 wires, not counting the ground for the dryer to work properly. It requires two hot wires ... | |
| Old Thermostat | 3/16/2010 |
| Q: There is/was an old, non-working thermostat that is in my living room that is an eye sore. I've been ... A: If it is a thin low voltage wire, you don't have to worry about it. However, if it is a regular ... | |
| Dim Lights after GFCI replacement | 3/16/2010 |
| Q: The GFCI in our upstairs bathroom was recently replaced because it kept tripping even after some ... A: If the lights are on the same circuit as the GFCI, it is possible that something was put back wrong. ... | |
| light fixture with junction box | 3/16/2010 |
| Q: We are trying to re-attach a light in a junction box.(unfortunately, we did not take a picture of ... A: I can only tell you the normal way they are connected. Hopefully it was done correctly by the ... | |
| 220 Power | 3/16/2010 |
| Q: Bob, I have had problems for about 7 months now with my energy bill being sky high. My family and I ... A: You may want to ask a plumbing expert, since they deal with water heaters more. Since you have a 30 ... | |
| 1992 mobile home wiring | 3/16/2010 |
| Q: i just purchased a 1992 28x68 double wide mobile home that i am in the process of remodeling. Due to ... A: I doubt if there is any wiring diagram. You can ask the mobile home manufacturer. However, the ... | |
| Internitent power to verious circuits | 3/15/2010 |
| Q: Power goes off and on at various circuits. Mostly comes back on by themselves, but can be made to ... A: One of the hot phases is not making contact. When the dryer is on, the electricity is going from ... | |
| bathroom fan | 3/15/2010 |
| Q: I have an old bathroom fan/light/heater combo that I am trying to replace with just a fan/light ... A: The only way to tell what goes to what is to look at how the old one is wired, and repeat is with ... | |
| DPST switch installation | 3/15/2010 |
| Q: I have the following setup: double-30 breaker --> double pole, single throw switch --> outlet. The ... A: The switch should be marked line and load. The line are the two wires that come from the breaker ... | |
| switching 2 lights to come on independently | 3/15/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 ceiling fixture lights in the kitchen, both are flex track lights. They currently are ... A: You will have to run a wire from a power source to a switch, and then to one of the lights. This ... | |
| Meter amperage | 3/15/2010 |
| Q: I bought a 220 volt welder and am adding a 50 amp circuit to my garage. Does my meter need to be ... A: The system that brings power to the house starts at the street and goes to your breaker box. What ... | |
| 220 Power | 3/15/2010 |
| Q: Bob, I have had problems for about 7 months now with my energy bill being sky high. My family and I ... A: You can get a relatively inexpensive meter at any home center. Extra voltage should not really ... | |
| Adapting hard wired fixture to use as a plug in fixture | 3/14/2010 |
| Q: I would like to install a hanging ceiling light in my foyer. Problem is, I do not have an existing ... A: There is a product called a "swag light kit." I assume both stores still sell them. It contains ... | |
| light connection | 3/14/2010 |
| Q: the ceiling light has brown wires marked l and n which do ihook up to the white and black A: If you can figure out where the wires go to, the wire that connects to the bottom button of the ... | |
| DPST switch installation | 3/14/2010 |
| Q: I have the following setup: double-30 breaker --> double pole, single throw switch --> outlet. The ... A: In this case the white wire is a hot wire. You should put a piece of black tape on it to show it is ... | |
| electrical wire on dryer | 3/14/2010 |
| Q: got a dry that has a four prong cord and i have a three prong outlet can i take my old cord and put ... A: If you have 10-2 in the wall, the circuit was wired wrong, and needs to be rewired. When there was ... | |
| lossof power in one room | 3/14/2010 |
| Q: I have read your answers about power loss in one room. My home is a 1972 double wide mobile home ... A: It would be impossible to give you even a ballpark estimate. If you live where the cost of living ... | |
| Receptcale | 3/14/2010 |
| Q: I have a single receptacle with a light switch combo. I want to replace it with a 2 receptacle and ... A: No one is going to be able to tell you where the wires go by color. However, if you already have a ... | |
| Lighting basement stairwell | 3/13/2010 |
| Q: Trying to save myself some drywall and time by getting your take before beginning. I am attempting ... A: A carpenter might be a better person to ask. However, I would not count on there being any open ... | |
| Intermitent brownout or dimming | 3/12/2010 |
| Q: I have a house that more than one area of the outlets and lights go low for a few seconds and then ... A: Some dimming is normal if a major appliance is coming on and going off. See if the furnace, fridge, ... | |
| Running wiring inside I-beam | 3/12/2010 |
| Q: I want to run several new wires from the box at one end of the house to the other end of the house. ... A: Hopefully the breaker will trip before the wire overheats. Most wires have paper inside of it, so ... | |
| circuit breaker ON when OFF? | 3/12/2010 |
| Q: This is really a 2parter (but they 'happened' at the same time, AKA by the same hand): 1)First my ... A: There is the possibility that two circuits are connected together somehow. If that is the case, ... | |
| aluminum wiring | 3/12/2010 |
| Q: We just bought a new house and it has aluminum wiring. The inspector suggested we replace all of the ... A: Very few switches and outlets are made for aluminum wiring. They should be marked "Co/Alr" and the ... | |
| 3 AND 2 WIRE | 3/12/2010 |
| Q: I THOUGHT I HAD A THREE WIRE HOME AND MOST CIRCUITS ARE, HOWEVER I JUST SWITCHED TO SATELLITE TV AND ... A: Having a good ground just means having a ground wire that goes from the main panel to each device, ... | |
| Buzz in bathroom light fixture even with all house breakers off | 3/12/2010 |
| Q: One hour ago I noticed a humming buzzing noise coming from the down stairs bathroom light over the ... A: Most likely it is something else. I had something that sounded like an electrical buzzing, and it ... | |
| Wiring a Sub Panel | 3/12/2010 |
| Q: Good Day Bob, Just a really quick question for you. Thinking of wiring a sub panel in my garage so ... A: There is a very complicated formula used for this. Also, different types of wire have different ... | |
| step up transformer 120 or 240 to 277 | 3/11/2010 |
| Q: Do they make a transformer to step up 120/240 to 277 volts.Or can I reverse a 277 to 240 volt? A: I have never seen a transformer for that. In commercial buildings, much of the wiring is 277 volts, ... | |
| circuit breaker ON when OFF? | 3/11/2010 |
| Q: This is really a 2parter (but they 'happened' at the same time, AKA by the same hand): 1)First my ... A: If the breaker is in the off position and not off, or if they will not shut off, then they are ... | |
| Bedroom light won't turn on | 3/10/2010 |
| Q: I a having an issue with my bedroom light. When I flip the switch...nothing happens. I thought it ... A: It is always best to have everything working. There is less chance of a problem that way. Check ... | |
| 330 volt curcuit | 3/5/2010 |
| Q: A friend need to install a 330 volt circuit in his garage. His breaker panel will accommodate the ... A: There is no such thing as 330 volt circuit in residential wiring. The power company supplies only ... | |
| garbage disposal hard wired?? | 3/5/2010 |
| Q: Our garbage disposal started leaking yesterday, and after looking online about garbage disposals, it ... A: Yes, you can install a box on the wall. It is called a handy box. There are handy covers to cover ... | |
| Kitchen wiring | 3/5/2010 |
| Q: I have a garbage disposal under sink plugged into a duplex receptacle and the power to receptacle is ... A: To give you an exact answer, I would need to know where the wires go to. To give a general answer, ... | |
| Grounding Br. Cir. in older home | 3/4/2010 |
| Q: I live in a 40 +or- y.o. home copper 2 wire branch cirs. During a recent extended outage due to ice ... A: The grounds are just an extra safety precaution. Other than fluorescent lights (they don't start as ... | |
| garbage disposal hard wired?? | 3/4/2010 |
| Q: Our garbage disposal started leaking yesterday, and after looking online about garbage disposals, it ... A: You can do it either way. It may be easier to install an outlet, then plug the new one in. ... | |
| Power flickers but breaker doesn't trip | 3/4/2010 |
| Q: 8 months ago, my house would start losing power in small increments of time, in the middle of the ... A: If the wire is aluminum, it will corrode unless a compound is put on to prevent it. Also heat will ... | |
| 120 volt | 3/4/2010 |
| Q: I recently moved a treadmill, and am getting an error message at the new location. It has power. The ... A: 110 volts and 120 is the same thing. Voltage is a measure of electrical pressure, and it varies ... | |
| dryer 220 outlet into the breaker box | 3/3/2010 |
| Q: want to hook up a dryer outlet 220 to the breaker box above the new outlet box once in the box where ... A: A dryer outlet should have 4 wires. The black and red go to the two breaker terminals of the double ... | |
| Garage Power | 3/3/2010 |
| Q: HELP... I just got a $630 monthly power bill (no balance forward! The only thing I can think of is ... A: A high electric bill should not be caused by a wiring problem, unless the wiring is overheating. ... | |
| kitchen remodeling | 3/3/2010 |
| Q: what's the easiest way to put GFCI in my kitchen remodel? the countertop receptacles are fed with a ... A: You can't use GFCIs with split outlets. The only way you can use a GFCI with a shared neutral wire, ... | |
| Outlet problems | 3/3/2010 |
| Q: I have several outlet in my home that are out. I have had the untility company come out to check an ... A: Is it on all one circuit? If so, it sounds like a disconnected or loose wire. These things can be ... | |
| Adding 2 lights to an existing switch | 3/2/2010 |
| Q: I am about to add two recessed lights to my bathroom. Right now there is a box with two switches; 1 ... A: As long as you have enough slack to do that, and you don't bury the junction box behind drywall or ... | |
| wiring | 3/2/2010 |
| Q: I have a three way switch hookup between my upstairs and basement When I turn one of the switches ... A: The switch is probably wired wrong. If you look at the switch, there is one terminal marked common ... | |
| combo switch | 3/2/2010 |
| Q: I have a switch/outlet combo switch that I want to install where the switch itself controls the ... A: I don't know where the wires go. However, normally if you put the white power wire on the brass ... | |
| Replaing circuits in my breaker box | 3/2/2010 |
| Q: I have a Challenger breaker box. I need to replace one of the breakers. Can I use a Siemens ... A: If they are meant to be interchanged, then you can. There are a number of interchangeable breakers. ... | |
| 30 amp GFCI single pole Square D homeline breaker | 3/2/2010 |
| Q: I have a Square D homeline panel that is 110v service. I have a Whirlpool tub that is being ... A: It looks like they make them. If this link does not work, Google Homeline 30 amp. ... | |
| Outlet wiring problem | 3/1/2010 |
| Q: In my kitchen, there are 3 outlets with a black, white and red wire. I've connected several outlets ... A: You have a shared neutral circuit, and the breaker should be a double pole breaker (like a 220 volt ... | |
| Intermittent electricity loss to Kitchen | 3/1/2010 |
| Q: Last night we lost power to the oven and fridge only after my wife used the toaster. Only the ... A: It sounds like a loose wire somewhere. These things can be hard to track down. Somewhere in the ... | |
| New Ceiling fan wiring | 2/28/2010 |
| Q: Going from previous 2 wall switch ceiling fan/light setup where switch 1 was for fan only operation ... A: Make sure that you are not trying to use the wall dimmer switch. Use the toggle switch. If the fan ... | |
| replacing pull cord ceiling fan with pendant light | 2/28/2010 |
| Q: I'd like to replace a ceiling fan that operates with a pull cord with a pendant light. From what I ... A: The fan could have been installed without a switch. You can add a wall switch, but you would have ... | |
| stepdown 12 gauge to 14 gauge | 2/28/2010 |
| Q: Good Morning Bob just found this site and I'd like to thank you for all the help you give people. I ... A: Yes, you can not use 14 gauge wire on a 20 amp circuit. If there was a short circuit, it might ... | |
| Wiring electrical outlets | 2/28/2010 |
| Q: We are finishing out attic and we need to install 3 outlets. Is it safe to tap/splice into an ... A: You should get a tester and work from the box outward and see if you have power. At the panel, the ... | |
| renovating and the code | 2/28/2010 |
| Q: From Alberta, Canada: When running wires through existing walls/ceilings, how can you comply with ... A: No, no inspector would require a wire to be stapled that is inaccessible. It really isn't needed, ... | |
| fried appliances | 2/27/2010 |
| Q: we built a new home in 2003 of all steel framing. since the home has been built we have had what we ... A: Check the voltage and make sure it is between 110-120 volts. If you have more voltage in some ... | |
| voltage drop | 2/27/2010 |
| Q: One of my bedroom wall outlets dropped voltage to 83 volts. All the others in the room work fine ... A: The strange voltage is caused by a loose or disconnected neutral (white) wire. Check all the white ... | |
| Light goes off /on a intermittent basis | 2/27/2010 |
| Q: My kitchen light will go off after 30/40 mins and then come back on after another 15/20 mins. It ... A: It depends on what kind of light it is. If it is a fluorescent light, the ballast is probably ... | |
| hardwire clothes dryer | 2/27/2010 |
| Q: My clothes dryer may need to be replaced so I've been looking at them online. I see that they now ... A: Dryers pretty much have to be plugged in. Some dryers are meant to be hard wired (commercial type), ... | |
| Electric Fading and acting strange | 2/27/2010 |
| Q: I thought I would ask you a question since I am at my wits end. You see, I live in a very old house, ... A: When your problem is intermittent, the power company can test it, and it might be OK. Usually the ... | |
| Installing a wall mount light fixture | 2/26/2010 |
| Q: I am trying to install a wall mount light fixture. It will not turn off when I turn off the light ... A: Where does the power enter? The switch or the light? Did you install the wiring, or are you ... | |
| how to measure total amperage draw | 2/26/2010 |
| Q: i am trying to calculate how much amperage draw and there for how many watts my house draws at any ... A: To get amps, divide watts by volts. Yes, you will get different readings on the two lines, because ... | |
| generator | 2/26/2010 |
| Q: i am hooking a 5000 watt generator into my 200 amp electrical box what size breaker should i use? i ... A: Wiring a generator to the house is much more complicated. You need a transfer switch that will ... | |
| Extending conduit to reach new fixture | 2/26/2010 |
| Q: We would like to install a new under-the-cabinet light fixture to replace the fluorescent fixture ... A: You can't make splices in the conduit. You will need to either put a junction box on the conduit, ... | |
| Three wire 220v appliance to 4 prong recepticle | 2/26/2010 |
| Q: I have a window ac/heater unit that had the plug removed (discarded) and was wired directly into a ... A: You are supposed to match up the amperage, as well as the voltage. Most likely the outlet you want ... | |
| wiring a light switch | 2/26/2010 |
| Q: Yesterday, a basement light switch started sparking when it was turned on (making a noise), so I ... A: All wires connected to switches are hot wires. The wire going to both switches brings the power in. ... | |
| Wiring electrical outlets | 2/26/2010 |
| Q: We are finishing out attic and we need to install 3 outlets. Is it safe to tap/splice into an ... A: It is not against most codes per se, however most home inspectors will write it up as a negative. ... | |
| replacing light fixture | 2/25/2010 |
| Q: I am replacing an old ceiling light fixture with a new one. On the new fixture it says " caution: ... A: You probably have the correct wire, so you should be OK. If you can see the jacket anywhere in the ... | |
| Wiring electrical outlets | 2/25/2010 |
| Q: We are finishing out attic and we need to install 3 outlets. Is it safe to tap/splice into an ... A: You have to know where the wiring is going to. If it is part of a switch loop, the outlets won't ... | |
| plug in and throw breaker | 2/25/2010 |
| Q: maybe you can help me. I bought a new wood stove and it has two blowers on it, I put them on wired ... A: Check for any pinched wires. I would also contact the manufacturer's customer service department. ... | |
| Hot/Ground Reverse | 2/25/2010 |
| Q: I have a number of plugs that have stopped working. I have a polarity tester that indicates ... A: Funny readings like that are usually caused by a disconnected neutral wire. There is feedback ... | |
| wiring size | 2/24/2010 |
| Q: Bob I would like to run to wire from my circuit panel to my central air unit. There is currently a ... A: Central A/C units are usually 30 amp, so I am surprised it has only a 20 amp breaker. As long as it ... | |
| hooking up a timer on outside lights | 2/24/2010 |
| Q: I have a switch that turns on 4 outside lights, two mounted on house and two floods. My son ... A: Does the timer require a neutral? Does it have a neutral wire for it connect to? I hope you know ... | |
| Triple switch w/ GFCI outlet | 2/24/2010 |
| Q: I have a triple switch (vanity light, fan, fan light) in a double gang box with a GFCI outlet. The ... A: That sounds correct to me. You don't want the power to go through the GFCI for the lights, because ... | |
| Increased amperage | 2/23/2010 |
| Q: My home is about 30 years old and lately everytime I operate more than one item at a time, I trip ... A: Increasing a breaker size without increasing the wire size will likely result in a fire. (Homeowners ... | |
| Outlet wiring | 2/23/2010 |
| Q: we just bought a house that has a few wiring issues in the master bedroom that I need some help ... A: I don't think it is a 3 way switch. Using red and black, the black is on all the time, the red is ... | |
| picture for my last question | 2/23/2010 |
| Q: Sorry, forgot to attatch this last time. A: Yes, that is quite a mess, and can be dangerous. The wires were not properly clamped to the box, ... | |
| Track Lightin | 2/23/2010 |
| Q: I'm putting in Track Lighting in my house, and the wiring I have is 2-wire with no ground. Is there ... A: The problem you are having is not related to the grounding. The only proper way to ground it is to ... | |
| No power at three light switches | 2/23/2010 |
| Q: We have no power at three of our light switches in our house. We checked the breaker it is good. ... A: It sounds like there is a wire not making contact. These things can be hard to track down. ... | |
| no power | 2/22/2010 |
| Q: it all started when i rran an extention cord from light pole outlet to my garage, apparently i used ... A: The problem would be with the main wire coming in. So, you would check the neutral and hot of the ... | |
| crowded electrical box with dimmer | 2/22/2010 |
| Q: i have a 4X4 metal box with bx wire and and it is very crowded because i have a dimmer switch and a ... A: You need room to make the connections safely. You can get a deeper box, or a box with a side ... | |
| Replacing Bathroom Vanity Light Fixture | 2/22/2010 |
| Q: I am having difficulty with replacing a three light vanity fixture. I removed the original fixture ... A: yes, all the blacks connect together, and all the whites together. The green to the bare. If the ... | |
| Tanning Bed | 2/22/2010 |
| Q: Im buying a tanning bed with 220 amp can i use a amp booster on do i have to call an electrician ... A: There is no such thing as an amp booster. If something takes a lot of amps, then thick wire needs ... | |
| electrical outlet/breakers | 2/21/2010 |
| Q: We are renovating our 1950 home. We have one newer electrical panel and one original. We are ... A: Outlets usually do not make sounds. Are you sure it is not the dishwasher going through the cycle? ... | |
| pot lights going off and on | 2/21/2010 |
| Q: When I turn on the pot lights that I installed they stay on for about 15 or 20 mins then one goes ... A: If you do not use the correct type and wattage bulbs, they will go off until they cool down, and go ... | |
| Outlet wiring | 2/21/2010 |
| Q: we just bought a house that has a few wiring issues in the master bedroom that I need some help ... A: I'll give it my best shot, but without knowing where the wires go to, I really can't give you ... | |
| no power | 2/21/2010 |
| Q: it all started when i rran an extention cord from light pole outlet to my garage, apparently i used ... A: The problem has to be between and including the main and sub panels. It's not at the outlets. You ... | |
| bad wiring | 2/21/2010 |
| Q: I just bought a foreclosed home that has a basement (rare in my central California area). The ... A: I don't know what kind of stove you have, but extension cords are not a good idea for appliances ... | |
| flickering lights | 2/21/2010 |
| Q: In mys sitter's house when the fluorescent lights under her kitchen cabinets are on the lights in ... A: Yes, most likely. But this is strange situation, with no easy answer. It's going to take some ... | |
| wiring to ceiling fan | 2/20/2010 |
| Q: I am replacing a ceiling fan and found a mess in the ceiling box; numerous wires twisted and taped, ... A: If you are getting a strange voltage, it is because that wire is in series with something. That is ... | |
| 3 way switch with outside light on the end | 2/20/2010 |
| Q: I have wired a three way switch that works. It is a switch at the top of the stairs. Light over the ... A: Yes, it is dangerous to use the ground as a neutral. It is possible to get a shock or even have a ... | |
| intermittent electricty | 2/20/2010 |
| Q: I have a 2 year old home. Is the past few months one circuit that runs the plug in's in my living ... A: If the circuit breaker that was there was 15 amps, you replaced it with a 20 amp, it is possible you ... | |
| wiring | 2/20/2010 |
| Q: give you some info. first. I have 2 switches outside my bathroom. One turns on the light and the ... A: Everything depends on how the house was wired. Most likely the power enters the switch first, so ... | |
| Requirements for attaching wires in old work rewiring | 2/20/2010 |
| Q: I own an older home (1928). I'm considering changing some of the wiring myself. There is a ... A: When working with old work, you can fasten the wire only where you can. I don't think any inspector ... | |
| no power | 2/20/2010 |
| Q: it all started when i rran an extention cord from light pole outlet to my garage, apparently i used ... A: Yes, the neutral is not making contact, and the two phases are in series with each other at 220 ... | |
| flickering lights | 2/20/2010 |
| Q: In mys sitter's house when the fluorescent lights under her kitchen cabinets are on the lights in ... A: There could be two causes. Either there is a problem in the wiring somewhere in the circuit, or the ... | |
| Home circuit breaker | 2/19/2010 |
| Q: I was using my hair blower at the same time that I had a portable heater running, and I blew the ... A: You definitely overloaded the circuit. Each appliance by itself uses almost the entire capacity. ... | |
| clothes dryer receptacle change | 2/19/2010 |
| Q: I recently purchased a used dryer to replace the one I had. Unfortunately, I didn't notice that the ... A: The voltage is the same for both dryers. The difference is that the code changed in the 1990's ... | |
| adding a receptacle in my garage | 2/19/2010 |
| Q: I need to add a quad receptacle to an existing light switch in my garage. I live in a very old ... A: If the switch box has only one black and one white and connect to the switch, then you do not have a ... | |
| Switch AFTER light fixture wiring | 2/19/2010 |
| Q: I have 3 light fixtures that I'd like to install with the switch, that controls all 3 fixtures, at ... A: You will need 3 conductor wire plus ground between the fixtures. At the first light where the power ... | |
| electrical | 2/18/2010 |
| Q: Recently we've lost power to several lights and plugs which appear to be on one breaker. Through ... A: The problem would be with the white wire somewhere between that switch and the panel. Don't rule ... | |
| House wiring and soaring Elec. bills | 2/18/2010 |
| Q: Bob, wife and I moved into 50 year old, 2100 sq.ft home back in November. Upon first high Elect. ... A: Bad wiring does not cause a higher bill unless the wire is majorly overheating, which is unlikely. ... | |
| fan/light? | 2/18/2010 |
| Q: I have a crappy shandeler hanging in my living room and want to replace it with a fan/light combo. ... A: The new code requires all bathroom circuits to be 20 amps. They can only have the lights for that ... | |
| Just hooked up a new ceiling fan | 2/18/2010 |
| Q: I just finished hooking up a ceiling fan in my kitchen downstairs. Fan works great but now nothing ... A: One of the black wires in the box brings to power into the box, and the other black wire brings to ... | |
| 12-3 romex to kitchen | 2/18/2010 |
| Q: I ran a new 12-3 romex to kitchen for future hook-up during kitchen remodel. After reading this ... A: You can run two circuits from it, however, each outlet will need to be on a GFCI. If you can split ... | |
| 220v wiring | 2/17/2010 |
| Q: I would like to hook up my ingersoll rand air compressor directly (stand alone) to my portable ... A: The compressor does not need a neutral, so the white wire would not connect to anything. You should ... | |
| mobile home elect. | 2/17/2010 |
| Q: I have a 1988 victorian mobile been he for 6 month in the last 3 weeks the lights and outlets have ... A: You have 2 hot wires and one neutral wire bringing power into your house. One of the hot wires is ... | |
| shocked while in shower | 2/17/2010 |
| Q: This morning I was taking a shower and when I touched the metal piping part of the shower head, I ... A: You have 2 problems. One is the hot wire touching the pipe. However, the other problem is that the ... | |
| fan/light? | 2/17/2010 |
| Q: I have a crappy shandeler hanging in my living room and want to replace it with a fan/light combo. ... A: If you have 2 wires, it is just bringing power into the outlet. If you have 4 wires, 2 wires are ... | |
| knob and tube rewiring | 2/17/2010 |
| Q: I have been rewiring knob and tube wiring. I have exterior lights blowing a circuit. I have ... A: This is hard to answer without seeing it. Make sure you don't have any switch loops hooked up to ... | |
| electrical plugs | 2/16/2010 |
| Q: I have had trouble understanding why the plugs in one room of the house have stopped working.I have ... A: You probably have a white neutral wire loose. The tester is getting a little bit of current from ... | |
| Partial Outage in Home | 2/16/2010 |
| Q: I saw your answer recently regarding partial outage-have the same thing in my 5 year old townhome. ... A: If you have a problem with half of the circuits, it would be between the main panel and the street. ... | |
| wiring | 2/16/2010 |
| Q: Please answer my question!!! Im very worried because when I turn on my kitchen lights or my ... A: You should probably have an electrician look at it. There is probably a loose wire somewhere in the ... | |
| fan/light? | 2/16/2010 |
| Q: I have a crappy shandeler hanging in my living room and want to replace it with a fan/light combo. ... A: The fan and light should be able to be connected where the chandelier was connected. The main ... | |
| Fire alarm wiring | 2/16/2010 |
| Q: Your question was Hi- I have a 12/3 wire running from the breaker panel to 3 fire alarms..The ... A: You may need to contact the manufacturer to get specific wiring information. However, it obviously ... | |
| short in electricity | 2/16/2010 |
| Q: I recently bought an old Victorian house. Just recently, the electricity in part of the house will ... A: Is it one circuit that goes out? Or half of the circuits? If it is one circuit, then you would have ... | |
| partial power outage | 2/15/2010 |
| Q: we live in rual Oklahoma and have lost partial power in our house we have changed all breakers and ... A: The electric enters your house with two hot wires and a neutral. If one of the hot wires is not ... | |
| power to can lites | 2/15/2010 |
| Q: Bob, I have a box with 2 switches (1 for the garbage disposal and 1 for the can lites). The garbage ... A: The disposal should be on its own circuit, so it should not affect the lights. Have you checked the ... | |
| dead circuit | 2/15/2010 |
| Q: I have a dead circuit in my house, went out all at once circuit breaker is good,what could it be? A: It sounds like you have a loose wire somewhere in the circuit. These things can be hard to track ... | |
| outlets not working | 2/14/2010 |
| Q: the outlets and light on one curcuit quit working yesterday. The breaker did not trip. I tested the ... A: It sounds like a wire became disconnected. These things can be hard to track down. Somewhere in the ... | |
| home wiring | 2/14/2010 |
| Q: I have recently had a tech look at my heat pump and the compressor is shot. He asked about the aux ... A: To upgrade, everything from the panel out to the street has to be upgraded. The power company has ... | |
| installing electrial plug | 2/14/2010 |
| Q: I want in install a electrical plug out let.I have off and on light switch on the back side of the ... A: If there is power entering the switch, then going to the lights, you can tap off of it. If the ... | |
| gfi wiring | 2/13/2010 |
| Q: I recently remodeled my kitchen and it required me to install 2 (countertop) 20A circuits both GFI ... A: Yes, you can't use GFCIs downstream on a shared neutral circuit. The GFCI compares the current ... | |
| 200 amp breaker tripping | 2/13/2010 |
| Q: my 200 amp main breaker on my trailer has tripped several times this winter. it seems it only ... A: It may be that the 200 amp breaker is weak and is tripping too soon. I doubt if you have 130 amps ... | |
| Needing more spaces in my breaker box | 2/12/2010 |
| Q: I am finishing the basement in my house. I have only two spaces remaining in my current breaker box. ... A: You can add a sub panel. But before you do that, you should analyze your system and your ... | |
| 110v to 220v | 2/12/2010 |
| Q: My Home Has A 110v-100Amp Service-I am Trying To Get a 240v Dimplex Fan Forced Wall Heater To ... A: Unless your house was wired in the 1940's or before and not upgraded, you should have 220 volts. Do ... | |
| wIRING A LIGHT SWITCH AND OUTLET IN THE SAME RECEPTACLE BOX | 2/12/2010 |
| Q: i AM INSTALLING A LIGHT SWITCH NEXT TO AN OUTLET IN THE SAME BOX TO RUN MY BATHROOM VANITY LIGHT. ... A: One wire from the light switch will connect to the black wire bringing power in. The other wire on ... | |
| Tripped GFI & circuit breaker | 2/12/2010 |
| Q: ! anyway - I went down to the circuit box - thinking there would be a circuit breaker for the smoke ... A: The smoke detectors probably have a battery back up, so turning off the breaker won't do anything ... | |
| Wire color and gas cooktop | 2/12/2010 |
| Q: I'm reinstalling a gas cooktop after we replaced our countertops. No problem with the gas - ... A: It sounds like a 220 volt setup, which seems unusual for a gas cooktop. Check the instructions. If ... | |
| No power downstream from replaced GFI | 2/11/2010 |
| Q: I had a heavy load room heater trip the GFI in the bathroom. I replaced it because the GFI had ... A: A GFCI should not trip from an overload. However, it sounds like the circuit was overloaded, and ... | |
| Circuit breaker tripping and will not reset | 2/11/2010 |
| Q: The 20a circuit breaker to my room has tripped for the second time in two months. Both times it was ... A: If it is not a GFCI or an AFCI breaker, and it is not overloaded, the only other thing left is a ... | |
| 3 phase panel at my home | 2/11/2010 |
| Q: When I measure the voltage from coming from the meter I get 240 from two legs.In order to replace my ... A: Three phase is used for commercial buildings. It also has a 208 volt option. I have never seen it ... | |
| House Voltage | 2/10/2010 |
| Q: Over the past few days the lights in my home are flickering. They seam to get brighter once in a ... A: If the neutral wire between the panel and the street is loose, it will cause flickering and strange ... | |
| dryer | 2/10/2010 |
| Q: i just got a brand new dryer and when i got it home and hooked the power plug up correctly it ... A: When the outlet is tested, it should read 220 volts between the two side prongs, and 110 volts ... | |
| wiring a GFI and 2 switches, one power source | 2/10/2010 |
| Q: GFI keeps tripping, everything downstream after the GFI is wired correctly so I don't think that is ... A: Make sure that everything that is protected by the GFCI is wired on the load side, and everything ... | |
| electrical wiring | 2/10/2010 |
| Q: I have a double light switch in the bedroom. one to a ceiling light and the other to a wall outlet. ... A: Sometimes outlets are wired to that one outlet is on all the time, and the other one is on the ... | |
| breaker problem? | 2/9/2010 |
| Q: I have a 15 amp breaker that controls a room. The room has a ceiling fan and light (3-40 watt), a ... A: Since the house is new, you probably have an Arc Fault breaker. If any switch arcs when turned on ... | |
| supplying power to wall mounted flat panel tv | 2/8/2010 |
| Q: A delivery service company delivering a new flat panel TV. provides services for wall-mounting the ... A: No, you should not run lamp cord behind the wall. If it overheated, it would catch fire. Drywall ... | |
| Sub Panel Breaker Ratings | 2/8/2010 |
| Q: Some time ago I installed a 100 amp sub panel to accomodate arc fault breakers, as no AFCI breakers ... A: If you are going to do that, you should have a 100 amp breaker going to a 100 amp panel (with the ... | |
| changing lamp wiring | 2/8/2010 |
| Q: We are moving to South America and I would like to take my floor lamps and table lamps...but the ... A: They should make 220 volt bulbs that would screw into the lamps for that purpose. You would also ... | |
| noise from pannel box | 2/8/2010 |
| Q: I LEAVE IN A MOBILE HOME I HEARD A BUZZING NOISE COMMING FROM THE PANNEL BOX.BUT THE ONLY TIME YOU ... A: The buzz could be from a duct near the box. That would be OK. However, if the breaker that goes to ... | |
| Installing a dimmer switch (odd config) | 2/8/2010 |
| Q: I recently bought a single pole dimmer switch since the light that I wanted dimmed was controlled by ... A: Most likely one set of wires brings power into the system, one set of wires goes to the light you ... | |
| installing recessed lights | 2/7/2010 |
| Q: the area over around the kitchen table is darker than I would like. I have a computer also near that ... A: You can run wires between the joists in the ceiling, and between the studs in the walls. Where they ... | |
| open ground/gfci | 2/7/2010 |
| Q: My bathroom is redone and we had installed a GFCI outlet then a 3 prong downline, both in the ... A: A ground starts actually in the ground through either a ground rod or a water pipe, or both. The ... | |
| open ground/gfci | 2/7/2010 |
| Q: My bathroom is redone and we had installed a GFCI outlet then a 3 prong downline, both in the ... A: If there is a ground wire, it has to be grounded. If the house had no ground wires, then the GFCI ... | |
| Electrical | 2/6/2010 |
| Q: After a recent power outage, all but one of my receptacles re-energized. It was a power outage which ... A: Most likely a wire came loose somewhere. These things can be hard to track down. Somewhere in the ... | |
| recessed lights | 2/6/2010 |
| Q: Right now I have 14 recessed lights controlled by a three way switch on one 15amp circuit. Is this ... A: It depends on the wattage. You can have 1440 watts, which includes a safety margin for all the ... | |
| combination GFCI switch | 2/6/2010 |
| Q: I'm replacing the on off switch with a combination GFCI switch. Only have 2 wires in the box. Black ... A: The hot side has to be the shorter slot, which has the dark colored screws. If it is reversed, it ... | |
| wiring my bayhroom | 2/6/2010 |
| Q: i don't no how high my outlets should be from the floor? and when i put my gfi outlets in do i need ... A: There really isn't a rule for the height of the outlet. Usually most people put it just above the ... | |
| hot-neutral determination w or w/o ground | 2/5/2010 |
| Q: I have a standard double-outlet. I've ID-ed the "service" pair coming in, the "newer" pair heading ... A: If there is not a ground wire coming in to the outlet from the panel, you should not connect the ... | |
| Wiring a series of lights and receptacles | 2/5/2010 |
| Q: I am pretty good at wiring single circuits but am refinishing my basement and need to wire 8 ... A: Unless you use 14/3, the power must either enter the system at the switch, or at the same light that ... | |
| afci / combo afci | 2/5/2010 |
| Q: Do they have afci circuit breakers that also protect against ground fault or do I have to use gfci ... A: Yes, I have found some online. Just do a search for "AFCI GFCI combo." However, it might be easier ... | |
| Finishing Basement of 4-year old home | 2/4/2010 |
| Q: Bob, I've finished framing walls in my basement finishing project and am now ready to run wiring to ... A: The bathroom needs its own 20 amp circuit. The outlets in the bathroom needs to be on a GFCI. The ... | |
| Outlets | 2/4/2010 |
| Q: We have 3 outlets in our bedroom that is on/off working. Other outlets in the bedroom are okay. We ... A: It sounds like there is a wire loose somewhere. These things can be hard to track down. Somewhere ... | |
| Dryer Outlet | 2/3/2010 |
| Q: I bought a dryer recently that has a 10-30 plug with the L bend prong. However, the outlet on the ... A: The breaker has to be 30 amps, and the cord and outlet should be for 30 amps. So, you may need to ... | |
| SIMPLE CIRCUIT | 2/2/2010 |
| Q: I want to feed power into a combination box. The box will have one receptacle, and a switch to ... A: You either need to have the power enter at the switch, then another wire go to the light. If the ... | |
| How to Connect In-Wall Timer Switch | 2/2/2010 |
| Q: I recently bought a wall switch timer (GE smart digital timer 15071)for my outside lights and front ... A: There are no white wires capped together behind the switches? If so, add the white timer wire to ... | |
| Countertop stove connection | 2/1/2010 |
| Q: I am trying to install a countertop stove that has a red, black, and green wire. I asked a person ... A: They gave you the wrong wire. You need wire that has black, white, red, and bare. Orange wire is ... | |
| underground low voltage wires nicked | 2/1/2010 |
| Q: I damaged an underground low voltage wire with a shovel. The wire has single insulation and many ... A: With it being low voltage, almost anything goes. They make kits for splicing UF wires. Since you ... | |
| weird stuff on one breaker | 2/1/2010 |
| Q: My one breaker has a few things on it. Been like this for years and years. Kitchen light went out ... A: It sounds like some wires are crossed. It would be almost impossible for a homeowner to find the ... | |
| Panel upgrad or sub panel? | 2/1/2010 |
| Q: I am installing a stackable washer/dryer in my duplex and would like to have a 4 prong 220v ... A: Sub panels add no capacity. It is just a way of getting around the rules that a 100 amp panel can ... | |
| Single 12/3 to switch | 2/1/2010 |
| Q: I am trying to use a single 12/3 line from a 12/2 hot in a junction box that will control 4 overhead ... A: Where is the power entering the system? As long as the power is entering the switch, or entering ... | |
| hot switch on series of cans | 1/31/2010 |
| Q: I remodeled my brother in laws basement with him and we installed 10 can lights (60 watt bulb max) ... A: Dimmers can get pretty warm. But if it gets hot, it could be a problem. I assume you are using ... | |
| changing ceiling fan to light fixture | 1/31/2010 |
| Q: The junction box where the ceiling fan is removed and the new light fixture will sit, consists of 2 ... A: I hope you did not disturb any wires in the junction box. The light fixture would connect to the ... | |
| how to read amp meter | 1/31/2010 |
| Q: service with everything off except heating shows 55 amps per leg so is unit pulling 55 amps are is ... A: Amps is watts divided by volts. So, you have 55 amps at 220 volts. But if you wanted to compare it ... | |
| 3 way electrical problem. | 1/31/2010 |
| Q: Question. Why does a lamp overheats if it has a 60 watt bulb and the aluminium is burned. Does it ... A: Being on a 3 way switch should not affect anything. Even a 60 watt bulb puts out some heat. But if ... | |
| outlets not working after neighborhood outage | 1/31/2010 |
| Q: I live an a house that was built in the early 50's and has not been updated. Recently, I was ... A: It is probably just a coincidence. Vacuums use a lot of power, and the circuit may have been ... | |
| Attic lights/outlets | 1/30/2010 |
| Q: Hey Bob, What's your opinion on this setup: I'm installing a circuit for attic lights in my older ... A: You really shouldn't need 5 circuits up there. The lights and cameras use very little power. When ... | |
| Cooper Combo Device | 1/30/2010 |
| Q: Sponaugle: I am getting ready to install the 274V Cooper combo device in my bathroom. I now have a ... A: You will need a GFCI in your bathroom, unless there is GFCI breaker controlling the circuit. If ... | |
| Changed out working outlet and now doesn't work | 1/30/2010 |
| Q: I replaced an old working outlet with a new outlet and now the new one doesn't work. We already ... A: You may have knocked something loose in the box, or a wire may have broken. Sometimes a metal wire ... | |
| electrical dryer | 1/30/2010 |
| Q: I am rewiring an old home which had old nob and tube wiring ,installing new romex and and sub ... A: Yes, you need 10/3 with ground. Some 220 volt appliances do not have any 110 volt components, but a ... | |
| switch for outside lights | 1/29/2010 |
| Q: I have a new switch for outside lights. I ran 12-2 wire from each light to the switch. I have power ... A: In that box, the 3 whites should connect together. The black power coming in should go to one ... | |
| fuse that "sparks" | 1/29/2010 |
| Q: what does it mean when you go to change a fuse and it sparks only when you touch it? It doesn't look ... A: The fuse should not spark. It sounds like there is an underlying problem with that circuit. It's ... | |
| Installing new outlet | 1/29/2010 |
| Q: I want to install (not replace) a 15 amp 125 volt outlet on an existing wall. There is a panel with ... A: That looks like a single pole switch. The brown wire is most likely bringing the power into the ... | |
| Hard wire conversion to plug in | 1/29/2010 |
| Q: I hope this question isn't in the jury rig category... I recently purchased a 2 (60 watt) light ... A: The problem with the voltage and bulb does not affect the wiring, only finding a bulb that will fit ... | |
| lights in parallel | 1/29/2010 |
| Q: I am trying to wire two lights in parallel with power coming to the fixture first then connecting to ... A: You either need to have 3 conductor wire between the two fixtures, or run the power-in wire and the ... | |
| wireing bath room fan | 1/28/2010 |
| Q: wiring bath room fan on double switch main power cord is in ceiling 14-2 so i have a wire coming up ... A: I don't know why you are blowing 2 circuits. There may be a problem somewhere upstream where the ... | |
| Hard wire conversion to plug in | 1/28/2010 |
| Q: I hope this question isn't in the jury rig category... I recently purchased a 2 (60 watt) light ... A: If the fixtures are 230 volts, the bulbs required are probably going to be a different base than US ... | |
| wiring | 1/28/2010 |
| Q: I have a wall outlet that had gone out. I noticed that when someone banged on the wall about 6 feet ... A: Yes, it can be a hazard to have a wire making half contact. The problem is probably in a nearby ... | |
| home wiring-renovation | 1/28/2010 |
| Q: I am adding 2 rooms in my sons basement(to many kids) One switch controls 8 pot lights. 4 will be in ... A: It all depends on how it is wired. Assuming that the power enters the switch and then goes to the 8 ... | |
| Dryer plug/outlet do not match | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: I just moved into a house and went to hook up my dryer and am having a problem I am hoping you could ... A: There are many different configurations for different amperages and voltages. Here is a selection ... | |
| ac receptacle | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: How do I terminate an ac receptacle above my kitchen counter? I am installing tile and want to ... A: I don't understand why there are 2 cables in the box, since AC are supposed to be on their own ... | |
| gfci outlet/switch combo | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: I am lost on what to do. The old one had 3 wires white, black, and red. The the new one from ... A: If you have 2 wires entering the box, one with the power, and one going to the light, here is how ... | |
| electrical outlets | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 outlets in my home on either side of one wall--one is in a bedroom and one is next door in ... A: First of all, make sure you don't have a GFCI that has tripped. Check for outlets with test and ... | |
| Reload this Page Convert old (nasty) switch to switch/outlet? (have pics) | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: I have read through some of the threads on how to do this. But I'm confused... 1) because I am a ... A: It looks like you may have a switch loop. If so, you can't add a plug because you don't have a ... | |
| Circuit breaker placement | 1/26/2010 |
| Q: I wired my Morton building using the three wire system of one neutral wire for alternating black and ... A: All shared neutral circuits must be wired to double pole breakers. There are 2 reasons. If someone ... | |
| Electrical Question | 1/26/2010 |
| Q: I have a strange problem. One of my bedrooms in my home has recently began losing power to ... A: It sounds like there is a wire loose somewhere in the circuit. These things can be hard to track ... | |
| Loss of Power - Intermittent two rooms | 1/26/2010 |
| Q: Power goes off (no breakers trip) in two rooms that include the following: 2 ceiling fans with ... A: It sounds like there is a wire loose somewhere. These things can be hard to track down. Somewhere ... | |
| bathroom fan doesn't respond to the switch | 1/26/2010 |
| Q: tonight something happened to our bathroom fan. it started to work probably when my mother-in-;law ... A: Without any nails, it is highly unlikely that there would be a problem in the middle of the wire. ... | |
| wiring light fixture | 1/25/2010 |
| Q: I'm trying to wire a ceiling light to where used to be a light before (the fixture was taken by the ... A: It gets very difficult trying to wire up a light fixture when no one knows how it was previously ... | |
| kob and tube wiring | 1/25/2010 |
| Q: in a recent answer you stated that since I was replacing old metal boxes with plastic boxes it would ... A: Yes, I am saying all the wiring should be replaced. I said that because if someone is taking the ... | |
| Question about amps and stoves. | 1/25/2010 |
| Q: I know very very little about electric or electrical wiring so the simplest answer you could give me ... A: No, this is not safe, as you found out. The stove must have a wire thick enough to carry 50 amps ... | |
| doorbell | 1/24/2010 |
| Q: i put in a new transformer and new wiring from it to the trans, the other wire to the bottom screw ... A: The wiring is a simple triangle between the transformer, button and chime. At the chime, one wire ... | |
| ELECTRICAL OUTLET | 1/24/2010 |
| Q: Bob Hi, I wrote to you once before, well I found the problem, it was in and electrical outlet in a ... A: Unfortunately, there is no safe way other than replacing the wire, or putting in another box near ... | |
| Wiring a shed | 1/24/2010 |
| Q: I have a shed that already has wire runout to it from the breaker. The guy who owned the house ... A: Any connections have to be made in a junction box. If it is outside, then it has to be a ... | |
| ground wire on knob & tube wireing | 1/24/2010 |
| Q: I'm replacing the old metal boxes with plastic boxes. There is a ground wire daisy chained from 1 ... A: Yes, that is the best you can do under the circumstances. However, if you are at the point you are ... | |
| Continuing a Wire Circuit | 1/24/2010 |
| Q: I am trying to add an electrical outlet to a circuit in order to have my cable box plugged in and ... A: People sometimes use both the screws and the push ins, but that is not the correct way of doing ... | |
| Replacing a Light Fixture | 1/24/2010 |
| Q: I am replacing a kitchen ceiling fan / light that has a dimmer switch to it. The new light only has ... A: When replacing a light, always wire the new one exactly as the old one. One of the wires is a ... | |
| adding a lihgt to ciruit | 1/23/2010 |
| Q: I would like to add a light and switch pulling the power from a plug outlet. The circuit is ... A: No, you can never put a larger breaker in a circuit. Instead of tripping, it will overheat and ... | |
| Rewiring | 1/23/2010 |
| Q: Existing (1985)60amp stove circuit with 2ea#8 w/grnd. Installing cooktop %26 separate oven each ... A: Unfortunately, you will need to replace the wire on two counts. Two 40 amp appliances would be 80 ... | |
| 3 phase wiring | 1/23/2010 |
| Q: In my house i have 3 phase wiring, but most of the load like Mixer, Grinder, Washing machine, Water ... A: Most houses have only 2 phases, and commercial buildings have three. However, two or three, you are ... | |
| flush mount switch removal from the wall | 1/23/2010 |
| Q: How do I get a flush mount double switch out of the wall to replace one of the switches? A: Normally the plate is where you start. There should be screws to take it off. If it is a fancy ... | |
| using 10/3 for 2 120 volt circuits | 1/23/2010 |
| Q: I have installed a 10/3 wire from a portable generator to try and provide 2 separate 15 amp circuits ... A: Yes, if the generator is made for 220 volts, you can do that. If it is made for 220 volts, then the ... | |
| Ceiling light | 1/23/2010 |
| Q: Bob, my bathroom lights and fan will not come on, however all electrical outlets are working. The ... A: It sounds like a wire is lose somewhere. The outlet may be on a different circuit however. These ... | |
| wiring a "series" of lights | 1/22/2010 |
| Q: I am wiring six porcelain lights in my basement. The power comes to the sixth light and works its ... A: You will either have to use 3 conductor wire between all the lights, or run the power wire to the ... | |
| using 10/3 for 2 120 volt circuits | 1/22/2010 |
| Q: I have installed a 10/3 wire from a portable generator to try and provide 2 separate 15 amp circuits ... A: Do you have a transfer switch? It is dangerous to use a generator without a transfer switch. A ... | |
| wiring | 1/22/2010 |
| Q: in my hallway i have two switches in one box. the first switch on the right brings in the juice, it ... A: I'm a little confused. You have a switch for the bathroom, but the switch does not turn the lights ... | |
| 20A 12-2 to oultet rate 15A switch | 1/22/2010 |
| Q: My question is If I run a 12-2, 20A to and outlet 20A rate, and junction for the rest of the ... A: All of the wire has to be at the same rating or higher than the breaker. However, that is not the ... | |
| light switches | 1/21/2010 |
| Q: I actually have 2 questions. Question 1: I have 2 light switches in my house(i recently purchased my ... A: Most likely the switches go to outlets. It is possible that they go to only the top or bottom. Or ... | |
| double outlet | 1/21/2010 |
| Q: I recently smelled wires burning on my double outlet and it went away. Tonight i heard crackling and ... A: You have to cut off any burned areas. If that does not give you room to work with the wires, then ... | |
| Breakers | 1/21/2010 |
| Q: My question is, about breakers. I am remodeling my bathroom and in the process, knocked out the ... A: Breakers usually do not go bad, and get the blame for other problems in the wiring. Did you move ... | |
| electrical problem | 1/20/2010 |
| Q: I have three circuits (1 ref. 2.heat pump & 3. upstairs lights & outlets)in a 200 amp breaker panel ... A: There are two phases in houses. One phase does every other row of breakers. If that is the ... | |
| wiring | 1/20/2010 |
| Q: I am going to try to wire a shop. Need to know how many outlets I can install on 12/2/ground with 20 ... A: There are no hard and fast rules. People usually don't use more electricity because there are more ... | |
| switched outlet to half-switched outlet | 1/19/2010 |
| Q: I have a garbage disposal under the sink that is plugged into an outlet that is also located under ... A: First of all, you should know that disposals should be on their own circuit. If the wire goes to ... | |
| Circuit keeps popping | 1/19/2010 |
| Q: I recently had an addition put on my house and since then the new 15 amp breaker that was installed ... A: The AFCIs are there to reduce the risk of fires. It should not be replaced. If the computer is ... | |
| Hanging 90lb light fixture | 1/19/2010 |
| Q: I need to hang 90 lb light fixture in my 2-story (17 feet high) foyer. I want to understand if I can ... A: The fan box should be OK. The joists should not need to be reinforced. I am sure a lot of people ... | |
| Outlet Not Working | 1/19/2010 |
| Q: I'm having problems with an outlet in an outdoors storage shed. There is only one outlet in the ... A: Be sure to check the wires more closely in the light fixture. Make sure none of the metal ... | |
| NO ELECTRICITY | 1/19/2010 |
| Q: Bob Hi, I have one room with no electricity. I have checked the circuit breaker, all switches and ... A: You have to look at everything on that circuit, even if it is working. There is probably another ... | |
| continous sounding of a door bell | 1/18/2010 |
| Q: what could possibly cause continous sounding of an electric bell. A: Most likely it is the button, or the wires going to the button. Take the button off and see if it ... | |
| Re: two dead rooms | 1/18/2010 |
| Q: Its me again. yesterday night I flipped the light switch for my bedroom(force of habit) and the ... A: If the problems are on one circuit, then you should check everything on the circuit, whether it ... | |
| light fixture | 1/18/2010 |
| Q: how u doing?..my friend asked me to install a light fixture in his condo and it is pretty straight ... A: It sounds like they did not use standard colors. But the black wire of the fixture needs to go to ... | |
| Vent heater light combo | 1/18/2010 |
| Q: I have a cabinet light that needs to be hooked up. Also I have a combo vent heater light with a 3way ... A: Using the wrong gauge wire can be a safety hazard, but won't cause the light not to work. Yes, you ... | |
| switched outlets are always hot | 1/18/2010 |
| Q: I have two half-switched outlets on either side of the bed for lamps that are controlled from a ... A: Frequently, when someone replaces their outlets, they have that problem. That is because the tabs ... | |
| NEW SERVICE PANEL | 1/17/2010 |
| Q: im purchasing a Rancher build in 1910. Very nice house, but requires some electrical upgrading. The ... A: I would go with at least 150 amp service. It won't cost much more, and 100 amps is considered ... | |
| Bathroom lite fixture | 1/17/2010 |
| Q: Have 2 recessed lite fixtures that take BR40 bulbs they have been in for 10+ yrs and one fixture ... A: In an incandescent fixture, the fixture really can't cause the bulbs to burn out. If heat is ... | |
| Vent heater light combo | 1/17/2010 |
| Q: I have a cabinet light that needs to be hooked up. Also I have a combo vent heater light with a 3way ... A: I would assume that the breaker is 20 amp, so any wire you add must be 12 gauge. Where does the ... | |
| wiring in our home | 1/17/2010 |
| Q: well i dont know how to start this but i need help on a wiring issue , well at least i think it is , ... A: Some flickering may be normal. Excessive flickering is usually caused by a loose neutral wire ... | |
| ceiling fan installation | 1/17/2010 |
| Q: I am trying to install ceiling fan where where the old light fixture was When I took down light ... A: Always turn the power off at the breaker box before doing any wiring. Not only will this keep you ... | |
| ceiling light wire connections | 1/17/2010 |
| Q: I am installing a ceiling light fixture and there are two sets of wires. One set has white, black, ... A: Was there a light fixture there before? Wire the new one exactly as the old one. Do you know where ... | |
| Alum Wireing | 1/16/2010 |
| Q: How can I make sure alum wiring is made safe through out my house? Thank You Al A: Make sure that you use only switches, outlets, and wire nuts for aluminum wiring. The screws where ... | |
| light bulbs | 1/16/2010 |
| Q: I seem to have had a lot of light bulbs burning out recently ,probably 8-10 in the last 6 mo.Is ... A: Unless the power company is supplying too much voltage, it is probably normal. You can buy a meter ... | |
| wiring a bathroom light/vent combo | 1/16/2010 |
| Q: im wiring a new bathroom in and i want to install a vent/light combo and one can light on 2 single ... A: The black light wire going to the can would connect to the blue wire going to the light. The black ... | |
| Having Trouble With Combination Switch/Pilot Light | 1/15/2010 |
| Q: I live on the second floor of a two family house and our laundry is in the basement. We have a combo ... A: You probably don't have all the wires you need, so the pilot light is in series with the light. ... | |
| putting a 2 switch unit replacing a one switch unit | 1/15/2010 |
| Q: 1955 wiring - in series. One switch controlled two lights and carried power to hall and next room. ... A: Most likely the wire going to the bathroom lights goes to both lights, so you would have to run ... | |
| Baseboard heat | 1/15/2010 |
| Q: I know a 240 amp 20 amp circuit can handle 4800 watts(3840 by adhering to the 80% rule), but can I ... A: You can have more than one heater on a circuit. However, you are going over if you use the 80% ... | |
| loud hum accompanied with crackling and smell | 1/15/2010 |
| Q: This morning I was making coffee and talking to my husband when we heard a loud hum and crackling ... A: First eliminate any plug in items. Anything with a transformers, etc. If you have any fluorescent ... | |
| wiring a bathroom light/vent combo | 1/15/2010 |
| Q: im wiring a new bathroom in and i want to install a vent/light combo and one can light on 2 single ... A: At the fan, connect the wires going to the can light to the same places the light wires go. So, ... | |
| Outlet not receiving power . | 1/15/2010 |
| Q: I recently changed all my light switches and outlets in my home .One outlet is not receiving power . ... A: It would be best not to use the other outlet, because it could be a shared neutral. However, if you ... | |
| Arc fault circuit problem | 1/14/2010 |
| Q: I have a home that was built in 2003. There is an arc fault C/Breaker for the master bedroom. It was ... A: If part of the circuit is working, and part isn't, then it is not the breaker. Most likely there is ... | |
| calculating amperage for water heaters | 1/14/2010 |
| Q: good morning . i have a electric water heater with 2 elements of 1500 watts . do i add together ... A: The amperage should be on the unit somewhere. Most water heaters have only one element that comes ... | |
| Adding Piggy Back breakers | 1/14/2010 |
| Q: I own a new house that has a 200amp box. The box is completely full and there is NO main power ... A: If you have 40 breakers, you are pretty much done adding breakers. The box is designed so you can't ... | |
| Ceiling light fixture shorts out | 1/14/2010 |
| Q: I have a new rail light fixture that I installed (red to black, white to white, ground to green ... A: It sounds like it is wired correctly. Perhaps the fixture is bad. or perhaps a wire is pinched ... | |
| I need help | 1/14/2010 |
| Q: I recently moved into a early 1980's single wide and my power went out due to weather. Ever since it ... A: One of the wires entering the house is not making contact. It could be anywhere from your breaker ... | |
| Lack or low electricity | 1/13/2010 |
| Q: Part of my house does not seem to be getting enough power. Lights are not as bright as they should ... A: If the neutral wire coming into the house does not make contact, then the two phases would be in ... | |
| converting a can light on a 3way switch to a ceiling fan. | 1/13/2010 |
| Q: Bob, i currently have a can light in the stairwell in my home and i want to put a ceiling fan ... A: I looked and I did not see any remotes made for 3 way switches. They do not make slide switches for ... | |
| Electrical Wiring In The Home | 1/13/2010 |
| Q: I've installed a ceiling fan where the red wire from the box was not being used. The fan and light ... A: It depends why the red wire is there. (Where it goes to.) If it is a switched wire, then putting the ... | |
| Light in closet with chain pull | 1/13/2010 |
| Q: I have a hall closet with a chain pull and was wondering if there is something I can screw into the ... A: They make motion sensor adapters that would screw into the socket and then the bulbs screws into ... | |
| Outlet not receiving power . | 1/13/2010 |
| Q: I recently changed all my light switches and outlets in my home .One outlet is not receiving power . ... A: I am not sure why it would have a cartridge fuse. Usually they are used for 220 volt circuits. ... | |
| dimming of lights | 1/13/2010 |
| Q: I had some new light fixtures installed year and a half ago. right from the beginning, I noticed ... A: No, aluminum wiring for branch circuits was outlawed long before 1994. Something could have come ... | |
| nothing works | 1/13/2010 |
| Q: i had a electric heater plugged in the wall,all of the sudden everythig on that circuit shut off and ... A: Heaters use up almost the entire capacity of a circuit. If anything else is on the circuit, it was ... | |
| wiring a ceiling lamp | 1/12/2010 |
| Q: ... a friend of mine gave me a dining room ceiling lamp.it's only about a year old. i want to hang ... A: The neutral (white)would be the wire that connects to the screw part of the socket (the side). The ... | |
| dimming of lights | 1/12/2010 |
| Q: I had some new light fixtures installed year and a half ago. right from the beginning, I noticed ... A: Are they fluorescent or CFL bulbs? If so, the cold will affect them. If the house was built in the ... | |
| Outlet not receiving power . | 1/12/2010 |
| Q: I recently changed all my light switches and outlets in my home .One outlet is not receiving power . ... A: I would have to know why there is a red and black to tell you if the tabs needs to be broken. Is ... | |
| circuit breaker | 1/11/2010 |
| Q: I live in Florida. My house has 2 wings with separate hot water heaters. I want to turn off one ... A: A dryer should not be on the same circuit as a water heater. All 220 volt appliances should be on ... | |
| single pole switch turns off all items down circuit | 1/11/2010 |
| Q: i replaced a light fixture over the weekend in my bedroom. when turning it on, i found out that the ... A: Somehow the wire going to the rest of the circuit got connected to the switch. Did you make any ... | |
| Partial outage | 1/11/2010 |
| Q: I lost power to certain parts of my house. I checked the breakers and there is one particular one ... A: If the breaker is tripped because there is a short, constant resetting it could cause a fire. So, ... | |
| Vacuum cleaner turns ceiling light on | 1/11/2010 |
| Q: I have a combination switch and duplex outlet (2-gang) in my bathroom. I just moved into this house ... A: It sounds like someone tried to wire an outlet to a switch loop, which you can't do because there is ... | |
| bathroom outlets | 1/10/2010 |
| Q: I am having a problem with my 2 wall outlets in the bathroom, there is also a gfi on the outer wall ... A: Most likely the GFCI is the reason the other outlets are not working. I assume you tried to press ... | |
| Installing a 20 amp double pole breaker | 1/10/2010 |
| Q: I added 240v heat tape to my roof, and now need to add a breaker in the breaker box. I have plenty ... A: Unless it is a GFCI or AFCI breaker, you should not have to connect a wire from the breaker to the ... | |
| panel box | 1/10/2010 |
| Q: i am looking to upgrade to 200 amp . problem no room in house to install the new panel box can it be ... A: You should be able to, but since this is a major project involving the power company, you'll have to ... | |
| 1930's home, wiring goes where? | 1/10/2010 |
| Q: There are junction boxes for the original wall sconces in the old eat in kitchen, they are on the ... A: There is no easy answer. You are not allowed to cover them up with plaster, drywall or anything ... | |
| circuits not working in garage after overload | 1/10/2010 |
| Q: I plugged in two space heaters in the garage into two different outlets. After about 10 minutes the ... A: You can look for GFCIs to make sure none tripped. However, even one space heater is pushing it, so ... | |
| Wiring motion sensor for pantry | 1/9/2010 |
| Q: I have wired in a motion sensor in my pantry, however there were numerous other wires (black,white) ... A: With the two remaining black wires, one goes to the pantry light, and the other goes to the kitchen ... | |
| Ceiling Fan Lighting | 1/9/2010 |
| Q: The house I just moved into has ceiling fans without lighting attached to the bottoms. So, since the ... A: Most likely the electrician did not connect the blue wire on the other end. You should be able to ... | |
| Replacing outlet that accepts three 2-prong plugs | 1/9/2010 |
| Q: My home was built in 1954. I need to replace a triplex outlet (electrical receptacle in a bedroom ... A: If there is no ground wire, then you have to replace it with a 2 prong outlet. The only exception ... | |
| lights dimming | 1/9/2010 |
| Q: I installed a new breaker box off of the main breaker box with 10-3 wire for a new bathroom and a ... A: As long as you have a 30 amp breaker, you should be safe. Theoretically you should not have a 6 ... | |
| 3 way switch wiring | 1/9/2010 |
| Q: I have a 12-2 source going into light fixture #1. Fixture #1 contains 12-2 going to light fixture ... A: It sounds like you have the right wires. At fixture 1- the neutral white wire comes in connects to ... | |
| 3-way switch expansion | 1/9/2010 |
| Q: I have an existing circuit consisting of 2 3-way switches and one light fixture, power from one ... A: In order for the light to work, you would either have to tap off the existing light fixture. If the ... | |
| two dead rooms | 1/9/2010 |
| Q: Two rooms in the house recently died(electrically). one being my bedroom and the other being the ... A: Somewhere in the circuit, a wire became disconnected or burned loose. These things can be hard to ... | |
| installing a light kit to a ceiling fan | 1/8/2010 |
| Q: The light kit has a black and white coming out of the socket. When I remove the bottom plate of the ... A: Perhaps. Usually it is a blue or black/white striped wire for the light kit. However, check at the ... | |
| 3-way switches | 1/8/2010 |
| Q: I wired a three-way switch with dimmable three-way switches and have a problem. The lights are ... A: If they are normal dimmers, you can't have 2 of them. One can be a dimmer, but the other has to be a ... | |
| lights dimming | 1/8/2010 |
| Q: I installed a new breaker box off of the main breaker box with 10-3 wire for a new bathroom and a ... A: You have a 6 circuit breaker box installed with 10-3 wire? The wire is much to thin. If you used ... | |
| open neutral | 1/8/2010 |
| Q: When adding a load in one line, voltage on this line drops while voltage on the second line ... A: Is it the whole house? If so, then the problem is between the panel and the street, and yes it is ... | |
| Wiring motion sensor for pantry | 1/7/2010 |
| Q: I have wired in a motion sensor in my pantry, however there were numerous other wires (black,white) ... A: There are two wires on the sensor. On one side should be only the wire going to the pantry light. ... | |
| wall sockets | 1/7/2010 |
| Q: We had two sockets on one wall go out the other day. Last night the bottom part of another socket on ... A: Normally the top and bottom work together unless they are split into one being on a switch, and the ... | |
| Wiring a Light Fixture | 1/7/2010 |
| Q: I just bought a home and was going to install a fixture in the spare family room and identified that ... A: I can only guess without seeing where the wires go to. Either the red and black are both on ... | |
| How to install a heater vent with light kit wiring | 1/7/2010 |
| Q: I have a two switch light vent,I want to install a heater vent light.It takes three switches,I need ... A: You should make sure you have enough capacity in the circuit for a heater, since it draws a lot of ... | |
| garage wiring | 1/7/2010 |
| Q: I have a flood light that is on the back of my house. One switch for the light is in my house. A ... A: Yes, you could do that. To tell you exactly how, I would need to know the exact path of the wiring. ... | |
| kitchen light | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: my hanging kitchen light bulb turned on today by itself with the wall switches flipped to off. It ... A: I didn't know this was possible either. Is it a CFL bulb? Sometimes they will stay lit after the ... | |
| Rewiring a detached garage | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: I have a problem I discovered when trying to add a motion light in my garage. I know the wiring is ... A: Yes, it sounds like you should start over. You can either run a couple of circuits from your main ... | |
| Disconnecting Outlet from Wall Switch | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: I have a wall switch that switches a wall outlet on/off. I wish to disconnect the wall switch so ... A: It is strange that there are 4 wires attached to your switch. Normally there should only be 2. Are ... | |
| CB | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: Can I change a cb on the main panel without turning the main switch off.I will just turn the cb off ... A: Yes, but be very careful. If you turn off that breaker, the screw will not have electricity. ... | |
| garage wiring | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: I have a flood light that is on the back of my house. One switch for the light is in my house. A ... A: Unfortunately, you're going to have to run a wire from your existing floodlights. If you take a look ... | |
| Two sets of wires in one outlet | 1/5/2010 |
| Q: I am a new homeowner and have replaced several light fixtures in the home, so far. They have all had ... A: It could be, since the wires usually go from device to device. If something is disconnected, it ... | |
| Amp reading in neutral | 1/5/2010 |
| Q: Should there be an amp reading on a neutral (white) wire? And if there is, could this mean there is ... A: You would usually get a reading when the power is not returning back to the panel. It is caused by ... | |
| recess lighting | 1/5/2010 |
| Q: Hope the holidays where great for you Just a question I am installing recess lighting in our ... A: You have two options. You can replace the fixture with a recess light, or you can leave the ... | |
| Neutral Wiring in Old House | 1/5/2010 |
| Q: I currently have knob and tube wiring throughout my house. I am currently in the process of ... A: The GFCI is not really the same thing as a grounded circuit. It just shuts the power off if there ... | |
| recess lighting | 1/5/2010 |
| Q: Hope the holidays where great for you Just a question I am installing recess lighting in our ... A: When you are running wires through existing walls and ceilings, you may not be able fasten the wire. ... | |
| electrical wiring | 1/4/2010 |
| Q: i wired a light up wrong in the bed room and blew the fuse ! now i have fixed the fuse but still no ... A: You may have damaged the wiring, or it may still be installed wrong. Check all the connections in ... | |
| Double Wall Oven Installation | 1/4/2010 |
| Q: I have a new frigidaire double wall oven with the lead coming off the bottom center of the oven. ... A: The extra wire is just to work with inside the box. But the armored wire has to connect to a ... | |
| Neutral Wiring in Old House | 1/4/2010 |
| Q: I currently have knob and tube wiring throughout my house. I am currently in the process of ... A: If the ground does not go all the way to the panel, do not connect it anywhere. Don't connect it to ... | |
| tapping into switch | 1/4/2010 |
| Q: I intend to install an in-line exhaust fan in my attic for two bathrooms that are next to each other ... A: Yes, the fan can be turned on or off from either bathroom. Is that what you want? I suppose you can ... | |
| power surge | 1/4/2010 |
| Q: I have a small apartment about 20 years ago it seems that the lights are dimming by themself when ... A: Some dimming may be normal. Is there heat or fridge or anything else going on and off that you are ... | |
| Two sets of wires in one outlet | 1/4/2010 |
| Q: I am a new homeowner and have replaced several light fixtures in the home, so far. They have all had ... A: How was the old fixture wired up? The new one would be the same way. Without knowing where the ... | |
| Light Switch Crackles | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: I have a 2005 built condo in NC. In my one bathroom, when I turn the light switch on/off, it ... A: This could be dangerous, so I would replace the switch right away. If it does not help, I would ... | |
| Outside porch light keeps blowing out | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: Bob, We live in a fairly new home, only 5 years old. From the beginning the outside fixture on the ... A: Porch lights usually go through bulbs pretty often. It is the combination of the number of hours ... | |
| Installing Ceiling Fan Without Ground Wire | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: I'm a first time user and hope to state my question clearly for you. I am working on replacing a ... A: If the house was built in the 1940's with fabric wire, there will be no ground in the system, so do ... | |
| New light fixture | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: I would like to add a second light fixture to the exterior of my house. I would run power from an ... A: That would depend on your local laws. Most people probably would not bother. But if it is ... | |
| tapping into switch | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: I intend to install an in-line exhaust fan in my attic for two bathrooms that are next to each other ... A: If a switch has one white, one black and one ground, it is a switch loop, and the white wire is hot. ... | |
| Odd breakdown in double wide modular electrical system. | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: I'm asking a question on behalf of my parents, they own a double wide modular set on top of a full ... A: There are 2 hot wires that enter a house. The 220 volt appliances use both of these. When one wire ... | |
| power outage | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: we lost all power in bedroom and both bathrooms when my wife plugged in vacuum cleaner.No circuit ... A: Apparently the circuit was overloaded, and a wire burned through somewhere. These things can be ... | |
| Outlet | 1/2/2010 |
| Q: I want to replace an outlet in our wall. It is not a grounded outlet. I thought the black wire was ... A: There should not be a black and red. It should be only black and white or red and white. Normally ... | |
| adding an extra switch | 1/2/2010 |
| Q: In my Large MBR, there are no switches at all only outlets, hence if i need to switch on a light, i ... A: You should add a new switch rather than replace an outlet. You will need an "old work" junction ... | |
| aluminum wiring | 1/2/2010 |
| Q: My problem is I have the above wire through out the entire house. The other day I lost power to the ... A: Aluminum wiring requires periodic maintenance. That would be checking all connections and ... | |
| electrical (wiring 4 gang box) | 1/2/2010 |
| Q: and Happy New Year! I'm gutting my bathroom and want to install a gang box to control four separate ... A: You would use single pole switches. You can run a short piece of wire (same gauge as what is there) ... | |
| light fixture | 1/2/2010 |
| Q: I am installing a new light fixture in our kitchen. I know what to do with the white and black ... A: If there is one black in the box cap it. If there are other blacks connected to it, leave the other ... | |
| Outlet Wired Correctly? | 1/2/2010 |
| Q: I was taking baseboard off to find studs behind thick panelling. I needed to remove wiring from an ... A: Yes, for a single circuit that is wired correctly. There is something called a shared neutral ... | |
| Outlet Wired Correctly? | 1/1/2010 |
| Q: I was taking baseboard off to find studs behind thick panelling. I needed to remove wiring from an ... A: Assuming there is no switch, then one set of wires is the power in, the other set is the power going ... | |
| wire size | 1/1/2010 |
| Q: i was told to run an outlet for my rv it needed to be 50 amps but after purchasing the wire (which ... A: The number of wires determines volts (if there are both 220 and 110 volt applications), the ... | |
| electrocution | 1/1/2010 |
| Q: I have two situations right now. My room has a power outlet without a cover. The second problem is ... A: The advantage of higher voltage is that you can get more watts in a smaller wire, making it cheaper. ... | |
| hardwire | 1/1/2010 |
| Q: My electrical heater in my studio apartment has a cord, and plugs into the wall. My bathroom heater ... A: They are made differently for the purpose they serve. Plug in space heaters are made for temporary ... | |
| dedicated plug for freezer | 1/1/2010 |
| Q: I am installing a dedicated line for a freezer in basement. Is it okay to use 12/2 w/ground ... A: The 12 gauge wire is OK. However, if the outlet has one T-shaped slot, then it should be used only ... | |
| light fixture | 1/1/2010 |
| Q: I am installing a new light fixture in our kitchen. I know what to do with the white and black ... A: Light fixtures are not supposed to be on the same fuse as kitchen and dining outlets. But it won't ... | |
| GFCI Outlets | 12/31/2009 |
| Q: Bob, My wife and I recently moved into a brand new house (built in FY09) in Texas and the builder ... A: These are arc fault breakers which are required. They make it less likely to have an electrical ... | |
| Electric heat with low-voltage thermostat | 12/31/2009 |
| Q: My home, built in the 1970's, has electric heat. The baseboard heaters contain their own ... A: You should be able to buy relays with transformers, which will fit line voltage heaters so you can ... | |
| Recepticle Wiring Situation | 12/31/2009 |
| Q: I can't believe I did this now. Anyway, here is the story. I had moved a portable treadmill toward ... A: You probably just have a loose wire somewhere. But make sure you put the black wires on the dark ... | |
| GFCI Not Working | 12/31/2009 |
| Q: I recently moved a GFCI box down about 12 inches from its existing spot in my bathroom (a mirror was ... A: You have to determine if the problem is in the wiring, or the GFCI. If you find power at the wires, ... | |
| bedroom door switches | 12/31/2009 |
| Q: House was built in 1987. I have 3 bedrooms upstairs, each bedroom has a light switch by the door. ... A: Most houses just have outlets on the switches. Did you check the top and bottom of all outlets? It ... | |
| can lighting to regular fixture. | 12/31/2009 |
| Q: My bathroom has 5 canned lights and is very dark. I would like to replace one overhead can with a ... A: No, there is no easy way to do that. It would probably be easier just to add another fixture. ... | |
| reverse polarity in my home | 12/30/2009 |
| Q: Bob, When I bought my home 9 years ago the inspector told me I had some reverse polarity in my home, ... A: It could damage electronic equipment. I don't know why he took that situation so lightly. It could ... | |
| Installing A GE In Wall Digital Timer Switch | 12/30/2009 |
| Q: First of all, thank you for taking my question. Here is my issue. I have two lights on the outside ... A: Without ever seeing that model, it would appear that it requires a neutral. If you have white wires ... | |
| bathroom fan wont turn off | 12/30/2009 |
| Q: My bathroom fan won't turn off with the switch off. Can you help? I don't know anything about ... A: It would take some detective work, and some experience to locate the problem. You can try turning ... | |
| "Buzzing" Light Switch | 12/29/2009 |
| Q: I just noticed a buzzing sound coming from behind a light switch. This was the first time I've ... A: Dimmers can buzz, but a switch should not. Are you sure there is not a pipe or duct in the wall ... | |
| Circuit breakers that don't work | 12/29/2009 |
| Q: I attempted to put in a rheostat switch as a replacement of a regular light switch for a fan. When ... A: Did you put in a speed control? You can't use a dimmer. Rheostats have been replaced by electronic ... | |
| kitchen light | 12/29/2009 |
| Q: My kitchen light all of a sudden stopped working. The power to the fixture is hot I even replaced ... A: It sounds like a white neutral wire came loose. The tester will say where is power there because of ... | |
| power outage in one bathroom | 12/29/2009 |
| Q: I tried to turn on the bathroom lights in my bathroom and noticed none out of the three separate ... A: Most likely there is a GFCI somewhere. Lights really aren't supposed to be on the GFCI, but ... | |
| GFCI Not Working | 12/29/2009 |
| Q: I recently moved a GFCI box down about 12 inches from its existing spot in my bathroom (a mirror was ... A: It is very unlikely the wire is broken unless you nailed it. Most likely a wire came loose under ... | |
| Install a second switch | 12/28/2009 |
| Q: I have power to an existing switch (one black wire, one white) that controls the light fixture in my ... A: If you have only one white and one black wire going to the switch, you only have a switch loop. ... | |
| New Electrical Outlet | 12/28/2009 |
| Q: I am mounting a new flat-panel TV to a wall and would like to place an outlet at the height of the ... A: You can do it either way. Assuming there is room in the junction box, you can connect an extra wire ... | |
| What Amperage should a fuse cartridge be for a dryer? | 12/28/2009 |
| Q: My ex (with the help of his boss) wire the dryer in my condo. The plug and the wiring appear to ... A: Dryers are normally 30 amps. However, if the wire is not equipped to handle 30 amps, putting in 30 ... | |
| Wiring ceiling fan with remote | 12/28/2009 |
| Q: I have replaced a ceiling light fixture in bedroom with a remote controlled ceiling fan with light ... A: You can either bypass the remote, and connect the blue wire from the fan to where the old light kit ... | |
| 220v 3-4 conductor termination | 12/28/2009 |
| Q: I am using a 220v power distribution box with 3 conductor receptacles. I am plugging it into a 220v ... A: You have to have at least 3 insulated wires for the dryer. If you have two insulated wires and a ... | |
| Humming electrical outlets | 12/28/2009 |
| Q: We moved into an older house a few months ago and have noticed two outlets (in two different areas ... A: Are you sure it is the outlet? Not a pipe or duct running near it? Did you turn off that circuit to ... | |
| exterior receptacles | 12/27/2009 |
| Q: All of my outlets stopped working.There is 4 on our deck and one out front of th house when the ones ... A: Assuming that the house was built in the last 25 years or so, there has to be a GFCI somewhere. If ... | |
| 3 way switch with pilot light | 12/27/2009 |
| Q: How to wire up a 3 way switch with a pilot light? I have a pass& Seymour brand and I have 14/2 load ... A: I can't do diagrams. However, you need one black wire to go from the common terminal of the far ... | |
| 3 way switch with pilot light | 12/27/2009 |
| Q: How to wire up a 3 way switch with a pilot light? I have a pass& Seymour brand and I have 14/2 load ... A: OK. The only way to have a pilot light is to run another wire between the switches. You only need ... | |
| Blowing light bulbs | 12/27/2009 |
| Q: I have been seeking answers to a question about why light bulbs burn out so quickly in my house. ... A: The wiring or amp service to the house does not affect it. I would ask the power company to check ... | |
| 3 way switch with pilot light | 12/27/2009 |
| Q: How to wire up a 3 way switch with a pilot light? I have a pass& Seymour brand and I have 14/2 load ... A: You would have to wire it up with additional wiring (between the switches). The first 3 way switch ... | |
| NO ELECTRICITY | 12/26/2009 |
| Q: Bob Hi, recently I lost power to all my electric plug in recepericals, about 5 of them. I have ... A: Usually the wires go from one to another to another. It's hard to say where the wires go. However, ... | |
| home wiring | 12/26/2009 |
| Q: I'm wiring a fan and light combo and having the light and fan operated by separate switches. I have ... A: Unfortunately, you can't do it. You would need 4 wires. One neutral, one hot when the fan switch is ... | |
| electrical questions | 12/26/2009 |
| Q: 1. What is a cross connection 2. What is reverse polarity A: These questions are kind of general. So, if they are study questions, the answer I give you might ... | |
| JACUZZI IN-LINE HEATER | 12/26/2009 |
| Q: I BOUGHT A JACUZZI S750000 INLINE HEATER FOR OUR BATH TUB. THE INSTRUCTIONS SAY TO BE SURE TO ... A: You have to connect the motor with number 8 wire to any metal pipes that are in the area using a ... | |
| part of a circuit not working | 12/26/2009 |
| Q: bathroom/kitchen circuit....light in bathroom is working but none of the 4 plugs on same circuit?? ... A: Trying to use around 2800 watts on a circuit designed for 1800 watts probably caused a wire to burn ... | |
| NO ELECTRICITY | 12/26/2009 |
| Q: Bob Hi, recently I lost power to all my electric plug in recepericals, about 5 of them. I have ... A: If the neutral wire is disconnected or loose, you could still get a reading on the tester. There has ... | |
| Low Voltage | 12/26/2009 |
| Q: I have a electrical outlet that just stopped working I checked voltage and it reads 78 volts. do you ... A: When you get funny voltage readings, it's because a white neutral wire came loose. The reading is ... | |
| paddle fan/light question | 12/24/2009 |
| Q: Bought a new fan/light combo for my new home. Electrician installed. When you tune on with wall ... A: electricity goes at the speed of light, so it is just a problem with something. Are you using CFL ... | |
| Load Center/Breaker box | 12/24/2009 |
| Q: I have a older home built in the 40's there is not main breaker between the meter and the load ... A: You may need to get several estimates. There is no reason why the BX would need to be replaced. ... | |
| I keep getting shocked in one corner of my house! | 12/24/2009 |
| Q: I recently moved into a new apartment, and I noticed that in one corner of my living room my ... A: If you live in an apartment, that sounds like a problem for the landlord. If you owned the place, ... | |
| Light Fixture Wiring | 12/24/2009 |
| Q: I just bought an older condo (built in 1958) and I want to install a light fixture in the hallway. ... A: The white wire should never be hot. When it shows hot, it is usually because it came loose ... | |
| motion shed lights | 12/23/2009 |
| Q: My shed has been wired for about 5 yrs. with a 4' shop light and outside motion sensor coach lights, ... A: Either the fixture is defective, or it is wired wrong. Start by checking to make sure you don't ... | |
| Wire Size for a 100 amp sub Panel. | 12/23/2009 |
| Q: What size wire to use to feed a sub panel off a 100 amp breaker. The sub will be 40 feet from the ... A: Most places will not even suggest a wire size, since it varies by a lot of factors including type of ... | |
| florescent lights | 12/23/2009 |
| Q: My upstairs neighbor had plumbing problems and water came into my unit through the light fixtures: ... A: Florescent lights will have problems starting if there is not a good ground. Make sure the ground ... | |
| Wiring to a sub panel..... | 12/23/2009 |
| Q: I have a 185 amp panel at my house. I just finished building a garage and I want to add power to it. ... A: I have never heard of a 185 amp panel. What does the main breaker say? You will probably be Ok ... | |
| Wiring for a new light fixture | 12/22/2009 |
| Q: We currently have one light fixture (old fixture with a row of bulbs) in our bathroom that we want ... A: If you move the one box, then you would run a piece of NM wire (sometimes called by its trade name ... | |
| Switch is not working | 12/22/2009 |
| Q: I have update all our electrical switch and power outlet for house. The house build at 1979. I have ... A: If the outlet was half on all the time, and half switched, then the brass tab needs to be broken off ... | |
| Wiring for a new light fixture | 12/22/2009 |
| Q: We currently have one light fixture (old fixture with a row of bulbs) in our bathroom that we want ... A: There are 2 ways to do this. 1) leave the old junction box there and run wires to the two new ... | |
| Older wiring question | 12/21/2009 |
| Q: I recently purchased a home that was built in 1966 and i am upgrading some of the light fixtures. I ... A: Always wire new fixtures the same way the old fixture was. The black wire could be on all the time ... | |
| Outlet wiring | 12/21/2009 |
| Q: How do I wire multiple outlets to work off of one switch? I want to hang plug in florescent lights ... A: The power should enter the switch first. Then, the outlets are wired up as normal, since the wire ... | |
| Switch loop | 12/21/2009 |
| Q: Can I wire a chandelier using a switch loop? If so, how-we are not having success. Thank you. A: In a switch loop, both wires going to the switch are hot. One wire connects to the hot power coming ... | |
| arc fault breakers | 12/21/2009 |
| Q: I have 4 fans on a 20amp arc fault breaker, was fine for awhile then breaker wouldn't reset, I ... A: I have not heard anything negative about Cutler Hammer. However, the problem with arc fault ... | |
| Replacement floresent fixture | 12/20/2009 |
| Q: Florescent fixture is wired to a switch. The feed comes from a pull chain light on the same circuit. ... A: Wire it the same as the old fixture. If you forgot how it was, then you will need to see which wire ... | |
| GFCI Outlet | 12/20/2009 |
| Q: A 15 amp GFCI outlet is 'protected' by a 20 amp circuit breaker. If the load to the 15 amp GFCI ... A: Most GFCIs that are 15 amp, still have a 20 amp feed through rating. This means that you can use ... | |
| Adding ceiling lights | 12/20/2009 |
| Q: Bob- I'm trying to add a set of halogen track lights in my son's room. The home is a new ... A: You have a switch loop. There is no neutral in a switch loop, so you can't tap off of those wires. ... | |
| How to identify if a wire is hot? | 12/20/2009 |
| Q: I want to hook up a dishwasher (new installation)and in the circuit breaker box the circuit breaker ... A: They do make some testers that will discover power without taking off the wire nuts. However, you ... | |
| How to identify if a wire is hot? | 12/20/2009 |
| Q: I want to hook up a dishwasher (new installation)and in the circuit breaker box the circuit breaker ... A: Perhaps the easiest and safest thing to do is to buy a socket with wires attached to it. They should ... | |
| extending 220 wire for elec dryer | 12/19/2009 |
| Q: i am movng my elec dryer from the kitchen to an added laundry room. can i remove existing outlet, ... A: Yes, you can extend the wire, as long as you use a covered junction box, and the cover is ... | |
| 20 amp twist to 30 amp twist. | 12/19/2009 |
| Q: hey, not knowing at the time, I bought three 30 amp cords on eBay. Price was good. the trouble is, ... A: You can replace the male plug on the cord, since it is less. It is OK to draw 20 amps on a cord made ... | |
| ceiling fan stopped working | 12/19/2009 |
| Q: I have a ceiling fan with light that stopped working out of the blue. I know the breaker switch are ... A: You should use at least a 60 watt bulb to test the circuit. If there is a neutral wire loose, you ... | |
| replacing 225 amp Zinsco breaker panel | 12/19/2009 |
| Q: I recently read that the Zinsco breaker panels should be replaced. I have a 1970 225 amp Zinsco ... A: You will need to contact the power company. They will disconnect the power at the meter while you ... | |
| lost power | 12/19/2009 |
| Q: I recently started a drywall repair in my kitchen. I shut the breaker off to remove the ceiling ... A: Yes, Just make sure there are no bare wires. Wire nut the wires back together. If there are wires ... | |
| wall outlets | 12/18/2009 |
| Q: I have a dining room with 5 wall outlets and the 5th one connects to a 6th outlet on my front porch ... A: The porch outlet should not be on the same circuit as the dining room outlets. However, that is not ... | |
| Two switch diagram | 12/17/2009 |
| Q: Trying to connect from the one switch that has power to the 2nd switch that has to be connected to ... A: Are you getting power from a switch from another light? Do you have more than 2 wires in one cable? ... | |
| ceiling fan and light wiring | 12/17/2009 |
| Q: Removed old ceiling fan (working) with no lights. Black and white wires only in box. Replaced ... A: Yes, it is very likely you are not getting power on the neutral side. The little bit of power you ... | |
| 3 way switch | 12/17/2009 |
| Q: I have the power feed coming into the first switch box and then 12-3 goes to the light from this ... A: No, you can't wire in a 3 way switch with less than 3 wires. You might be able to use a remote ... | |
| Electrical Outlets | 12/17/2009 |
| Q: I am so confused about two-prong vs. three-prong and GFCI. I have a house built around 1953 with an ... A: Yes, in order to ground the outlets properly, the house has to be rewired. You can use GFCIs with 3 ... | |
| ceiling fan and light wiring | 12/16/2009 |
| Q: Removed old ceiling fan (working) with no lights. Black and white wires only in box. Replaced ... A: If your house is older, and it not grounded, then do not connect the green wires to anything. If ... | |
| Light outlet sizzles | 12/16/2009 |
| Q: I have an outlet on the wall that has 2 switches plus a plug-in socket. When I turn on just one of ... A: That sounds like it could be a fire hazard. I would turn the breaker off until an electrician can ... | |
| Kitchen lights shorting basement? | 12/16/2009 |
| Q: We have a 20is year old townhouse that has started giving us trouble with the electrical. We have a ... A: If they are not on the same circuit, then it sounds like the two circuits are intertwined. It's not ... | |
| adding a light | 12/15/2009 |
| Q: I would like to add a pullchain light in our pantry by splicing into a light switch. can this be ... A: You have to see where the power enters the system. If it enters at the switch, you are OK. ... | |
| smoke detectors | 12/14/2009 |
| Q: Good Morning, I have 7 smoke detectors that were hard wired in when my home was built 7 years ago. ... A: Smoke detectors do that. They need to be replaced every so often. One is causing them all to go ... | |
| electrical wiring - slight shock & sparks when washing off stove top | 12/14/2009 |
| Q: I rent my house which was built in 1952. There is one wall plug for the refrigerator, stove/oven ... A: If the system is not grounded, it is not safe to put a 3 prong plug. If one item causes a shock, it ... | |
| wiring track lighting. | 12/14/2009 |
| Q: I purchased two new 4ft sections of 120v track lighting. I ran it in line from sigle pull dimmer ... A: If the section connected to the power works, and the section connected to that does not, then it has ... | |
| Light switches | 12/14/2009 |
| Q: After I turn on the breaker, the living room ceiling light turns on but the light switch does not ... A: Obviously it was wired wrong. You will have to find the wire going to the switch, and run that wire ... | |
| Track lighting issue | 12/13/2009 |
| Q: I have track lighting in my kitchen. A total of four tracks. For four years I had no problems with ... A: There may be a problem with the fixture or the wiring. A 15 amp breaker should not trip unless ... | |
| installing oven power supply cord | 12/13/2009 |
| Q: I purchased an electric oven that has no power supply cord but recommends installation of a 4 wire ... A: Usually there are instruction on how to do that. There should be a jumper wire between the neutral ... | |
| in-wall timer installation | 12/13/2009 |
| Q: I've just installed a programmable in-wall timer. Now when I switch the light on I get a strobe ... A: Does the timer say "incandescent lights only," and are you using CFL or fluorescent lights? ... | |
| house electrical | 12/13/2009 |
| Q: i have a kitchen receptacle that just stopped ,the microwave was plugged into it,the other socket on ... A: Be careful you do not have two circuits in one outlet. If you wire it wrong (by leaving the tab ... | |
| GFCI Installation | 12/13/2009 |
| Q: First - let me explain the background. Prior to buying my house the inspector said I needed a GFCI ... A: Was the outlet already installed? Did it work? It sounds like someone tried to tap into the switch ... | |
| Christmas Lights not working now | 12/12/2009 |
| Q: We had our Christmas lights on the outside of our house working well, they are home run to a breaker ... A: There should be a GFCI somewhere in the circuit. This is an outlet with a test and reset button. ... | |
| Power sockets are tripping breaker | 12/12/2009 |
| Q: I live in a older house and i notice that in my bedroom and the two others are all on the same ... A: Space heaters use a lot of electricity. They also are not very safe. Even in a newer house, they ... | |
| Gauge Wire | 12/12/2009 |
| Q: I purchase a fisher and paykel wall oven OB24SDPX1. My problem is that everytime i call them asking ... A: It depends on a lot of things, but especially the amp rating of the wall over. The other factors ... | |
| 220 Volt Wiring | 12/12/2009 |
| Q: I have a 220 volt LiPo charger from China. It has a standard two prong plug that would, if I wanted ... A: The outlet would have to be grounded to meet code. So, I don't know of any way to wire it by code. ... | |
| Bathroom Switch | 12/11/2009 |
| Q: The switch that turns on my bathroom vanity lights stopped working. The switch is located on a wall ... A: Assuming that it is a single pole switch, there should be two wires on the dimmer. The switch would ... | |
| Voltage from ground | 12/11/2009 |
| Q: I just checked out a receptacle.... getting a clean 122V from ground to black... 20V from ground to ... A: It sounds like a neutral white wire is disconnected somewhere. When that happens you get feedback ... | |
| Breaker in Breaker Box getting Hot. | 12/11/2009 |
| Q: I have a Siemens electrical 200 amp breaker box. The furnace breaker(s) that are 2 60 amp breakers ... A: The furnace may be pulling more than 60 amps, or the wire that connects to the breaker may not be ... | |
| GFCI switch question | 12/10/2009 |
| Q: I recently had a problem that caused hot water to run from my shower for several hours when I was ... A: Another possibility is that the GFCI was damaged. You don't need to have the light on a GFCI, but ... | |
| ceiling mounted garage heater | 12/10/2009 |
| Q: I have a thermostatically controlled 220v garage heater. I would like to switch it on or off and ... A: It was not wired correctly. Number 12 wire should never have a breaker bigger than 20 amps. So, ... | |
| wiring | 12/10/2009 |
| Q: what gage wire should i use for a 50' 240v run for a stove A: There are many different kinds of wire. Usually the manufacturer has an ampacity chart for each ... | |
| Use 240 volt dryer outlet for 240 volt space heater | 12/10/2009 |
| Q: I would like to use a 240 volt 30 amp portable space heater in my laundry room and use the same ... A: All 220 volt appliances need their own circuit. So, you would need to run another line from the ... | |
| Semi Power Outage | 12/10/2009 |
| Q: Mr. Sponaugle. I have very little knowledge of electrical parts or system... Here is my problem. A ... A: There are two hot wires that go from the street to your panel. Apparently one was not making ... | |
| Repairing a suspected "short" in a light fixture | 12/10/2009 |
| Q: "I'm assisting a friend and resolved one problem, yet caused another (sound familiar?). I was ... A: Sometimes the wire will burn before the circuit breaker shuts off the power. Do any of the lights ... | |
| light fixture switch loop | 12/10/2009 |
| Q: Bob, Need help with switch loop set up.... In the process of installing overhead light that was not ... A: If the cable with the tape on it goes to the switch, and the cable without the tape comes from the ... | |
| HVAC grounding | 12/9/2009 |
| Q: This summer, we had a new TRANE seer 15 HVAC put in that cools electrically and heats with gas. The ... A: Any house built in the mid 1960's or so, should be fully grounded. Even many houses before that ... | |
| outside outlet not wokring | 12/9/2009 |
| Q: My home is 15 years old, 3 bedroom/2 bath house. While using XMas lights my front outdoor outlet ... A: It has to have a GFCI somewhere in the house. This is an outlet with a test and reset button. One ... | |
| Ground wires in light switch | 12/9/2009 |
| Q: I have two 3-way light switches for different lights in the same box. Neither switch has a ground ... A: Assuming that these are bare grounds, and not neutrals, they should connect to each other, any metal ... | |
| light fixture switch loop | 12/9/2009 |
| Q: Bob, Need help with switch loop set up.... In the process of installing overhead light that was not ... A: Without knowing where the wires go, I can't tell you for sure how it was wired. However, the white ... | |
| cost, feasibility of running 800' of Romex up a hill... | 12/9/2009 |
| Q: Bob, And thanks in Advance. I have a client who may want to run Romex (NM type, either 12/2 or 10/2, ... A: Usually when you see what size wire you need to prevent voltage drop, you check a chart. However, ... | |
| electrical | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: The location is in a finish basement which will have a small enclosure 3'*3'*4’ high, hiding sump ... A: If the pump is critical to preventing the house from flooding, it is a good idea to have a separate ... | |
| aluminum wire | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: I replaced an electric furnace in a 1300 sq ft house 3 years ago. Everything was fine until ... A: The grease would keep the wire from corroding. If it corrodes, it could overheat. However, the ... | |
| chrstmas lighting | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: I have a christmas carriage with mini-lights that will not work. Tested all lights before i put it ... A: You can probably buy just a plain set of lights and replace the ones there as long as the clips ... | |
| Bathroom Exhaust Fan Wiring | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: I repainted one of my bathrooms and the light/fan switch no longer matches the paint so I'd like to ... A: To make the fan and light independent, connect the power coming in to the side with the bridge. The ... | |
| unattached garage | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: i recently upgraded my house to a 200 amp service and i want to use my old 100 amp service panel as ... A: Any box in a separate building, such as a garage must have ground rods. If you have any other metal ... | |
| outdoor christmas lighting | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: Our outdoor christmas lighting is plugged into two outlets both gfc. It has been raining for 3 days ... A: Try to keep all of the connections off of the ground. If you have any lights laying on the ground, ... | |
| Lights dimming | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: Bob, We have an older home, probably built in the late 50's or early 60's, not sure if it's ever ... A: Tankless water heaters use an extraordinary amount of power. I personally would never install one, ... | |
| Bathroom Exhaust Fan Wiring | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: I repainted one of my bathrooms and the light/fan switch no longer matches the paint so I'd like to ... A: It sounds like the switch was wired wrong. Normally the fan should be independent of the light. ... | |
| pulling 115v from a 230v and adding a ground | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: House built 1954. 115 is two wire and 230v is three. I have added a few new 115 circuits with a ... A: You have to have the ground wire in the same cable. You could put green tape on the red wire. ... | |
| New wall oven | 12/6/2009 |
| Q: I am replacing an existing wall oven from around the 1960's. The existing oven says its 120/240. The ... A: The amperage is as important as the voltage. If the breaker and wire is strong enough for the new ... | |
| Track lighting | 12/6/2009 |
| Q: I have track lighting in my kitchen, a 4 bulb unit. The track lighting has gotten very dim when we ... A: Is this a transformer operated light? If so, the transformer may be bad. If it isn't, there is ... | |
| switches and fuse box | 12/6/2009 |
| Q: My parents home is 30 yrs old. Last night 5 electrical switches just stopped working. The fuse box ... A: When you say switches, do you mean light switches or circuit breakers? If it is every other ... | |
| Voltage drop | 12/6/2009 |
| Q: I just bought a small heating fan for my bathroom. It plugs into the regular 110V outlet. When the ... A: The circuit may be overloaded and the breaker not tripping. Check and see what else is on that ... | |
| Smoldering Wires | 12/6/2009 |
| Q: I have recently been noticing the unmistakable aroma of smoldering electrical wires. The smell is ... A: Are you sure it is wiring? There are usually more smells at night. Fireplaces, etc. I swear one of ... | |
| Splices in the attic | 12/6/2009 |
| Q: Many years ago I went through a Tim Allen period and made several splices into existing electrical ... A: All splices must be made in junction boxes with covers on them. If you didn't use junction boxes, ... | |
| Old Triplex Receptacles | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: I have recently purchased a dated home and all of the receptacles have 3 outlets on them. There is a ... A: You should test the grounds by putting a tester between them and a hot wire to make sure they are ... | |
| grounding a sub panel | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: Bob, I have a lot of experience with typical home wiring and main panel installation. However, I ... A: The end of your question is correct. Since it is in the same building, it does not need a ground ... | |
| Multiple Faulty Light Switches | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: I have had problems with several light switches going bad in my house. It started with one that made ... A: I don't see how the problem can be caused by anything other than bad switches. However, if they ... | |
| 2 lights on one switch | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: So in our kitchen we have 2 lights. They are running to one switch. What we want to do is run the ... A: You will need to run another wire from one of the lights to the switch. If the switch is a switch ... | |
| odd GFI light | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: Here's a winner. Refinished Basement. In utility room tapped into GFI circuit to run a light. Put ... A: Lights do not need to be GFCI protected. If it is in a bathroom or laundry room, it should not have ... | <
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