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| Subject | Date Asked |
| bathroom light fixtures | 2/10/2012 |
| Q: I own a house that is about 70 years old. The bathroom medicine cabinet, in the house when I ... A: Without a volt meter you are just guessing. It sounds like you have replaced all the parts to the ... | |
| wiring issues | 2/7/2012 |
| Q: i am trying to install a 7 button timer switch for the bathroom fan. The new switch has a black, ... A: What are the instructions that came with the new switch? In your existing box you have the ... | |
| Circuit Sizing | 1/30/2012 |
| Q: Greg, I've done quite a bit of wiring in my own home, but have little knowledge of how to actually ... A: It sounds like you are going to enjoy your new addition. If you are running 12/2 to all your outlet ... | |
| Circuit blown | 1/30/2012 |
| Q: We were cooking in the oven (stove) for about an hour last night and then we heard a pop and then ... A: You could have a shorted wire to ground, or a shorted wire to neutral. Is the oven breaker on at ... | |
| 12/3 wire or a seperate run | 1/23/2012 |
| Q: I am putting in an aeration system for my pond. The aerator is 220V with a peak draw of 11.3 Amps ... A: No, you cannot do that! And even if you did you would not put red on neutral and white on hot. ... | |
| 12/3 wire or a seperate run | 1/22/2012 |
| Q: I am putting in an aeration system for my pond. The aerator is 220V with a peak draw of 11.3 Amps ... A: It is smart of you to plan ahead with the outlet. The problem with your plan is you cannot use one ... | |
| wiring a 3 way switch, tied to single pole,then to outside light & receptecles | 1/21/2012 |
| Q: You have answered some hard questions for me, thank you so much, and I have two last ones please. 1. ... A: I will work on a drawing. If you have 110 volts to your gfci outlet, and it is wired correctly, but ... | |
| wiring a 3 way switch, tied to single pole,then to outside light & receptecles | 1/21/2012 |
| Q: You have answered some hard questions for me, thank you so much, and I have two last ones please. 1. ... A: These do not have to be your last questions. Feel free to write in anytime. 1. Please draw me a ... | |
| GFCI/GFI and downrange outlets on breaker | 1/19/2012 |
| Q: I just had a house inspection and the inspector noted a GFCI needed to be replaced because it was ... A: The GFCI outlet and all outlets that get fed from it should be on the same breaker. The outlet is ... | |
| Reuse existing wiring | 1/17/2012 |
| Q: I need a 120v 20amp receptacle in my basement to power a heavy duty sump pump. All circuits are ... A: It sounds okay as long as the ground wire is properly protected, and properly connected at each end. ... | |
| older model remote not working with new fan | 1/15/2012 |
| Q: I just purchased a hunter Andross 793 321 ceiling fan and want to use the remote I had with the old ... A: It may be that your control has a recall on it. Check out ... | |
| wire size for dry sauna | 1/13/2012 |
| Q: I have a older Viking sauna with a heater thats 240 volt 60 hz 14 amp, its prewired to the top of ... A: I cannot tell you if the white is being used as a neutral, meaning you have something that uses 110 ... | |
| wire size for dry sauna | 1/12/2012 |
| Q: I have a older Viking sauna with a heater thats 240 volt 60 hz 14 amp, its prewired to the top of ... A: You can use 12 awg copper wire with a double pole 20 amp breaker. The circuit needs to be dedicated ... | |
| installing a switch/outlet combo | 1/12/2012 |
| Q: I would like to replace a regular two outlet plug with a Leviton 5625 combo switch. There is only ... A: As you can see from the instructions/diagram this is made to control a light and supply an outlet. ... | |
| Kitchen Appliance Problem | 1/12/2012 |
| Q: I opened my fridge door and the handle from the fridge touched the handle of the oven and caused an ... A: One of your appliances (or both) are looking for a path to ground or neutral. So two things you ... | |
| installing a switch/outlet combo | 1/11/2012 |
| Q: I would like to replace a regular two outlet plug with a Leviton 5625 combo switch. There is only ... A: I am not sure what you are switching. Are you switching the outlet? First take a voltmeter and see ... | |
| eletrical | 1/5/2012 |
| Q: why in a three phase transformer in which each single phase is 122v would an arrangement of any two ... A: I am not sure what you are asking. Are you asking why is it 214 instead of 244, or are you simply ... | |
| hot main buss fuse old wireing | 12/31/2011 |
| Q: wht doo i do abought a hot main buss fuse its the left side im not shure what it runs the maine ... A: You probably do not have a balanced load and one phase is drawing more power. The best thing to do ... | |
| Light Popping | 12/25/2011 |
| Q: for about 3 months or so i have been hearing a popping sound coming from lights above my dining ... A: You should have your voltage checked, and the connections at the panel. It is possible that you have ... | |
| Click sound when light is off | 12/22/2011 |
| Q: I have noticed that the light in the bathroom randomly makes a click sound even though the light is ... A: Depends on what type of light fixture it is and how well the wall is insulated. You could have the ... | |
| residential... old school | 12/21/2011 |
| Q: please help i am adding a swicth for an outside light im using the swicth box by front door for ... A: Is the light existing, or are you adding a light? You are probably right about the living room ... | |
| wiring to shop/ garage | 12/17/2011 |
| Q: My barn is about 140 feet from the house. I am wanting to run electric from open breaker spot under ... A: You need to add the wattage of the heat lamps and the wattage of the lighting and multiple that by ... | |
| countertop microwave oven | 12/17/2011 |
| Q: I have had my microwave for 7-10 years. Recently, if I am using my gas oven at the same as the ... A: Typically gas ovens use very little electricity unless you have one that uses a fan to move the heat ... | |
| Ceiling Fan Issue | 12/11/2011 |
| Q: I was taking out a burnt out light bulb from a Hunter ceiling fan. It felt like the socket was ... A: If the same switch controls the fan and the light you need to turn off the breaker and remove the ... | |
| GFCI Recepticle | 12/10/2011 |
| Q: The other night I had a smell in my kitchen. Upon investigation I found the Line side (from the ... A: Most likely the smell is coming from the wires connected to the lower outlet. You should turn the ... | |
| Electric Usage | 12/2/2011 |
| Q: I am trying to get my Electric usage under control for the winter. My only option is electric heat. ... A: Your meter and bill is in Kilowatts/hour. To find the kilowatts you take the amps and multiple by ... | |
| Tankless Water Heater | 11/30/2011 |
| Q: I purchased an EcoSmart 11kW tankless hot water heater. It has a requirement for a 60 amp double ... A: Yes that is acceptable, and as long you put green electrical tape around the white wire at the ends ... | |
| Tankless Water Heater | 11/29/2011 |
| Q: I purchased an EcoSmart 11kW tankless hot water heater. It has a requirement for a 60 amp double ... A: Your water heater requires 220 volts, not 110 volts, so the neutral is not needed. However, the ... | |
| rewiring existing light fixture | 11/27/2011 |
| Q: I am deseperate fr an answer at this point! I am waiting on my ex to sign my home over which should ... A: Linda, With that old wiring you most likely have a fire hazard. You probably have a break in the ... | |
| switch controlled outlet | 11/26/2011 |
| Q: I want to add an outlet at the end of a run. Power goes from breaker box to light to switch (end of ... A: Let me caution you that your lighting and outlet circuits should be separate. It is very easy to ... | |
| red wire | 11/21/2011 |
| Q: I took out a ceiling fan and have the two wires left in the ceiling.There is another light connected ... A: It is a good idea to either write down what wires you took apart, or take a digital photo before you ... | |
| Adding a 3-way switch and a new light | 11/18/2011 |
| Q: I have an existing switch-light-light setup that I would like to (a) make 3-way and (b) add a new ... A: This should be pretty easy. You will need to run 3 wires, plus ground, to the new switch. So it ... | |
| Where's the ground? | 11/17/2011 |
| Q: Greg: Has the practice of grounding a residential system to rods or pipes been replaced by some ... A: No, your assumption is wrong. Your main panel is the "service equipment", the panel in the barn ... | |
| One Switch Works Two Fixtures | 11/15/2011 |
| Q: I replaced a ceiling fan in a room that has recess lighting. The room has two switches, one of ... A: It sounds like the red wire was for both the light kit and fan on the ceiling fan. At your ... | |
| Where's the ground? | 11/13/2011 |
| Q: Greg: Has the practice of grounding a residential system to rods or pipes been replaced by some ... A: Some homes have the grounding in the rebar of the foundation while others have a ground rod. Some ... | |
| wiring for rv | 11/9/2011 |
| Q: i want to install a 30 amp dedicated circuit at home for my rv. is this supposed to be wired as 220 ... A: If you are really interested in understanding RV wiring, and I totally advise it if you are going to ... | |
| Outside wood/coal boiler | 11/9/2011 |
| Q: I just installed a used outside wood/coal boiler. I am concerned that the wiring to pumps, fans and ... A: When you talk about the combustion fan are you talking about an intake fan that supplies the boiler ... | |
| Outside wood/coal boiler | 11/8/2011 |
| Q: I just installed a used outside wood/coal boiler. I am concerned that the wiring to pumps, fans and ... A: My advise is to get a good HVAC contractor out to look over your system and the wiring. Boilers ... | |
| wiring for rv | 11/5/2011 |
| Q: i want to install a 30 amp dedicated circuit at home for my rv. is this supposed to be wired as 220 ... A: Sorry Sarah, that information is incorrect. I appreciate your thoughtfulness to instruct us, ... | |
| Crackling sound in range outlet | 11/3/2011 |
| Q: Last night I went to use my new electric range. The light came on indicating that the burner was on ... A: Dealing with the large wire in oven outlets can be difficult and frustrating. I would definitely ... | |
| Existing switched outside electrical 120V outlet | 11/2/2011 |
| Q: I have an existing 120V/20A switched duplex outlet in my outside garage soffet. I wanted to make ... A: Check polarity (black is hot, white is neutral) by testing with your meter from black to ground, and ... | |
| Existing switched outside electrical 120V outlet | 11/2/2011 |
| Q: I have an existing 120V/20A switched duplex outlet in my outside garage soffet. I wanted to make ... A: Does the power originate at the original switch for this outlet, or does it originate at the outlet ... | |
| wiring for rv | 11/1/2011 |
| Q: i want to install a 30 amp dedicated circuit at home for my rv. is this supposed to be wired as 220 ... A: You want 220 volts on a 30 amp double pole breaker. If the distance from the panel to the outlet is ... | |
| Generator - Power/Line Conditioner Help | 10/31/2011 |
| Q: Greetings from Pennsylvania! I am running a 5000w Coleman Powermate generator during a power outage ... A: You are looking for an AVR. What I do is find a brand that looks interesting and do a google search ... | |
| Generator - Power/Line Conditioner Help | 10/31/2011 |
| Q: Greetings from Pennsylvania! I am running a 5000w Coleman Powermate generator during a power outage ... A: A couple of things. The pulsing is the generator hunting, when the pump comes on it settles the ... | |
| Home generator hook up | 10/30/2011 |
| Q: I have a 5k generator. I want to hook up my generator to the 220 line in my home. I need to know how ... A: Without a transfer switch you can use the generator to power a 220 volt outlet that is not connected ... | |
| KVAR power factor correction devices | 10/28/2011 |
| Q: Can you give me any feedback on these devices. I know the savings they project are suspect at best. ... A: Do both legs drop to 117 volts on start up? Or does one go up and one go down? It could be at the ... | |
| Dual Control of Ceiling Fan w/Light | 10/28/2011 |
| Q: I have a ceiling fan with light kit wired with a 2-wire connection (1 white, 1 black & 1 ground). ... A: The only way you can do this with the existing wiring is to install a remote control. You get a ... | |
| KVAR power factor correction devices | 10/27/2011 |
| Q: Can you give me any feedback on these devices. I know the savings they project are suspect at best. ... A: Is your panel balanced? Is your A/C okay? Meaning is it pulling the right amount of amps, are there ... | |
| Switched outlets controlling outside lights? | 10/27/2011 |
| Q: I did a simple replace of light switches to upgrade from the 60's. All was good there. I moved ... A: Look for a gfci outlet that has tripped. If not, it sounds like you are in for some ... | |
| Main / Sub panel | 10/22/2011 |
| Q: I have a Siemens 200 amp main panel with all 40 spaces used with mostly 20 amp breakers. I need ... A: The first question you need to answer is what size panel do you need to add? Then you need to find ... | |
| 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: The new 3-way switches are wired different than the older ones so if you go wire-for-wire you will ... | |
| outlets not working | 10/19/2011 |
| Q: I have a string of electrical outlets along the sink and of the other side of the kitchen. When I ... A: I would start at the gfci outlet and pull it out. Check it with a voltmeter. You may be getting ... | |
| wiring a new light fixture | 10/4/2011 |
| Q: I added a light fixture in hallway. Took power source from light switch in exsisting bathroom off ... A: Yes, you wired it in series. Undo all you have done and find a power source for one of the bedroom ... | |
| adding a plug mid-way in a circuit | 10/3/2011 |
| Q: I have access to the inside of the wall, plus I'm running new romex (12-2) to the existing switch. ... A: It sounds like you do not need a pigtail, except for the ground. However, both blacks will be on ... | |
| Heat Pump Power Circuit Adequate | 9/30/2011 |
| Q: Mr Hughes - Considering replacing old 6 seer 4 1/2 ton all electric packaged heatpump (roof mounted ... A: I can understand you wanting to wait to go in the attic. And btw, Phoenix is not "as hot" it is ... | |
| hot neutral in part of circuit | 9/26/2011 |
| Q: I've been trying to isolate an electrical issue all day and I've found some things that are out of ... A: Hopefully my answer is not just a "shot" but a direct hit. If you are sure this is not a multiwire ... | |
| Wiring New RV/Tractor Shed | 9/24/2011 |
| Q: I am in the process of running electrical service to a new tractor/RV shed - length of run = 172' ... A: Get snookered and use all #2 and then the #4 for your RV outlet. Keep the rest of the #4 for any ... | |
| Wiring New RV/Tractor Shed | 9/24/2011 |
| Q: I am in the process of running electrical service to a new tractor/RV shed - length of run = 172' ... A: Your long run has made your wire #6 awg, in effect, because of the voltage drop. If you run the #4 ... | |
| Remote control switch | 9/24/2011 |
| Q: I have a old farm house with Plank wall framing witch makes for a bad time when need to rewire ... A: I normally do not promote one brand over the next, and I am not doing it here, but if you look at ... | |
| 120 v / 240v ? | 9/23/2011 |
| Q: my breaker says 200 amps at the test / shut off section above, and 100 amps below for max. Also ... A: Probably the most helpful thing you can do is to perform a "load calculation" on your home. Once you ... | |
| 220V vs. 240V | 9/21/2011 |
| Q: We are about to purchase a garage heater and it is rated at 240V. I have a 220V circuit already ... A: Voltages, in the US, vary from 208 to 240 volts. The manufactures have to take that in account when ... | |
| electric outlets | 9/20/2011 |
| Q: None of the wall outlets in one upstairs bedroom are working. This happened before and I was advised ... A: It is possible that the GFCI, that controls that room, has gone bad. It is also possible that you ... | |
| Will this circuit fry a motion sensor light fixture? | 9/18/2011 |
| Q: Request is for several outdoor lights to be on motion-sensor operation MOST of the time, with the ... A: First, your 3-way switch circuit is a good idea and should not harm the devices. Remember, in AC ... | |
| in line furnace fan | 9/18/2011 |
| Q: I'd like to install an in line fan to boost heat and airflow into a remote bedroom (there's duct ... A: Actually there is already a switch like that built into your furnace. When you have the t-stat ... | |
| Electrical panel | 9/16/2011 |
| Q: I have an older Challenger electric panel (please see attached image). At the top right buss there ... A: I cannot tell you to do something the manufacture is telling you not to do. If you need more room ... | |
| Wiring a light fixture | 9/16/2011 |
| Q: I removed a ceiling fan to install a light fixture. However the ceiling fan was connected to 2 red ... A: If both wires were hot you would have 220 volts. If you measure from one wire to the other and the ... | |
| 3 prong dryer outlet | 9/16/2011 |
| Q: I have purchased a new dryer and am able to use a 3 prong plug with it. At the outlet, I currently ... A: In a 3-prong dryer the neutral and ground travel back to the panel on the same wire. If the ground ... | |
| CIELING FAN | 9/12/2011 |
| Q: "Just removed ceiling fan, i have three separate lines coming into box.... Three white three black ... A: Whoa, turn off the caps I can hear you okay. It sounds like you forgot to write down what wires ... | |
| fan noise, Hampton Bay | 9/10/2011 |
| Q: This is related to a previous question, but now it is regarding the NEW fan we just had installed by ... A: It is possible. In fact all the fans in my house make a noise. Of course some fans are more quiet ... | |
| vanity light with wall switch | 9/10/2011 |
| Q: I am replacing a vanity wall fixture. Seems simple. The new fixture has 2 lamps with a black and ... A: It sounds like the power goes to the wall switch first and then to the light. Disconnect all the ... | |
| breaker size for baseboard heaters | 9/8/2011 |
| Q: I have 3- 220volt, 1500amp baseboard heaters on a 30 amp dp breaker. The wire going to the breaker ... A: As you realize, the 12 awg wiring is just to small for the heaters and the breaker. Your options, ... | |
| Installing a sub panel in a detached garage | 9/7/2011 |
| Q: I have an older home outside of Chicago, with a detached garage. It currently has one old 15 amp ... A: Dave, 1) I prefer PVC. Glue it above ground and sit it in the ditch. 2) Not if you pull the ... | |
| Light switches | 9/7/2011 |
| Q: My question will involve three different wall switch locations (8 switches), most of which seem to ... A: I have seen a similar situation where a 3-way was wired wrong, and to make matters worse the ... | |
| Inadequate Wiring? | 9/6/2011 |
| Q: I have a question regarding the wiring in my new apartment. It is a three-bedroom apartment, and all ... A: First off, they are wired in parallel or else you would not be able to run two devices on them. But ... | |
| Electrical | 9/5/2011 |
| Q: We have three switches inside the entrance to our mobile home. The commons are all tied together. ... A: It sounds like you have a multicircuit, meaning that two circuits share the same neutral. Or, ... | |
| GFI Keeps Tripping* | 9/5/2011 |
| Q: I have 3 wall outlets on a GFI, when I plug in an electrical devise into the 2 furthest away from ... A: With the power off, pull the GFCI outlet out and see where the wires that feed the other outlets are ... | |
| Electrical | 9/4/2011 |
| Q: We have three switches inside the entrance to our mobile home. The commons are all tied together. ... A: With both switches going to the fan I am thinking that one is suppose to control the light and one ... | |
| 12/4 Romex cable | 9/3/2011 |
| Q: Where can I buy 12/4 Romex cable by the foot? Home Depot sells what they refer to as 12-2-2, which ... A: It should not be that hard to run two romex cables. I do not know where you can find that cable by ... | |
| circuit breaker buzzing at timed intervals | 9/1/2011 |
| Q: have a 200 amp breaker box with 40 amp double breaker for the A/C. original breaker started tripping ... A: Check to see if your A/C compressor is short cycling during those times. If it keeps short cycling ... | |
| Oven wiring | 8/31/2011 |
| Q: I have a gas oven which is as old as the house which is from about 1960's. Last night while in the ... A: It sounds like you need either an electrician or appliance repairman. It would be preferable to get ... | |
| Trouble wiring flourescent fixture to 3-pronged plug | 8/30/2011 |
| Q: The other day I bought a fluorescent light fixture that I want to use for growing carnivorous ... A: There is no way for me know over the internet what the red/grey wire is for in your fixture. You ... | |
| Cable and electric | 8/29/2011 |
| Q: I want to bury power and cable lines in a secluded area. Can they go in the same pvc conduit or do ... A: Separate your lines. PVC conduit is fairly cheap and if you ever need to pull a new line it is ... | |
| Wiring of multiple fans | 8/29/2011 |
| Q: I recently bought a house that has a screened porch with 5 ceiling fans. All are connected to one ... A: It could be that this circuit is simply overloaded. Or it could be that they are wired in series. ... | |
| ceiling fan wiring | 8/26/2011 |
| Q: I'm having trouble wiring my ceiling fan it has a reverse switch and a capacitor. The fan is wired ... A: For the fan switch; L should be the power coming in (LINE) 1 should be fan speed One 2 should be fan ... | |
| Installing a fan speed control switch/dimmer into an extension cord | 8/26/2011 |
| Q: I have a 3 prong grounded extension cord and a fan speed control switch. I'm wondering if there's ... A: If the fan motor is not equipped to run at different speeds you could burn up the motor. Which is ... | |
| Installing a fan speed control switch/dimmer into an extension cord | 8/25/2011 |
| Q: I have a 3 prong grounded extension cord and a fan speed control switch. I'm wondering if there's ... A: What are you connecting it to? You don't simply connect an extension cord to a switch. There has to ... | |
| wall timer | 8/24/2011 |
| Q: I just replaced the old wall time with a new GE that has pins that you pull out for every hour you ... A: There are only two wires in the box and they both have power? How did you test that? Did you get a ... | |
| Query about Washing Machine Wiring | 8/22/2011 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could help me with my washing machine. I own a Whirlpool AWG 338-4 and ... A: Your washing machine should have a schematic located somewhere in it. Sometimes they are located in ... | |
| deaf doorbell | 8/22/2011 |
| Q: I am deaf, and I am trying to figure out how to rewire the doorbell circuitry so that one or more ... A: You can keep the chimes or remove them but if you keep them you may need a larger transformer (you ... | |
| Older Electrical wiring +HW heater | 8/21/2011 |
| Q: I have a house that has some older, some newer wiring (ie the wiring comes into a large electrical ... A: You are right in calling an electrician. It may be that both wires are the same phase. Regardless, ... | |
| 125 amp service | 8/18/2011 |
| Q: I have a small shop that I have installed a 125 amp service in. It is stand alone and not running ... A: You have to understand that your RV has little insulation and most shop/garages are not well ... | |
| Nat'l Electric Code | 8/15/2011 |
| Q: I own a 10,000 sq ft commerical building in a small town in WI that used to be a hardware store. I ... A: What you need to do is have the local inspector come out, or go their office, and find out what they ... | |
| 8/3 Wire: Damaged Insulation? | 8/13/2011 |
| Q: Greg. While checking a new 240V circuit with a multimeter (inside 4X4 outlet box for oven hookup), I ... A: On a direct short a good breaker will trip before the wire (or insulation) is harmed. It sounds like ... | |
| electricity | 8/12/2011 |
| Q: I have a microwave and a TV in my kitchen, both using the same wall outlet. Both had to be replaced ... A: It could be a problem, and most likely is a problem. New codes require multiple outlet circuits in ... | |
| GFIC | 8/12/2011 |
| Q: Hi what would cause the breaker to burn up? IT did not trip when it was tested A: A loose connection or the amperage on the circuit running at max can cause a breaker to burn and not ... | |
| Portable Generator Backup | 8/7/2011 |
| Q: I have a Storm Responder 55000 portable generator and purchases a Reliance emergency transfer ... A: The problem I see is that your 120 volt circuits should be divided across the two phases in the ... | |
| Ceiling fan wirring | 8/6/2011 |
| Q: I have two switches on wall. I am assuming one is foR light and other foR fan. I put new fan up ... A: You should be able to wire it exactly like it was wired. If you did not write down, or take a ... | |
| AC Condenser Unit Wiring | 8/5/2011 |
| Q: I have two 1.5ton AC condenser units. The max amps it says are 15, it lists the voltage as 230. ... A: You would run 14/2 and connect the black wire to one pole of the breaker, and the white wire to the ... | |
| 3 phase | 8/5/2011 |
| Q: How can I run regular 220/100 amp service into a 3 phase box and have it work properly? Am just ... A: I know how to do this in the U.S.A., but you have to tell me if your electrical is 220 single phase ... | |
| New attic fan install dropping performance of ceiling fan | 8/1/2011 |
| Q: I recently installed a new attic fan with both a thermostat and a humidistat. It is on the same ... A: The old motor may have quit working because it was miswired. I recommend you turn off the power ... | |
| Question concerning three way shitches | 7/30/2011 |
| Q: I've got a three way switch that I'm wanting to switch over to a single switch.. Right now I have ... A: I am sending you an attachment with the different ways a 3-way circuit can be wired. You need to ... | |
| Wiring electric cooktop | 7/27/2011 |
| Q: My house wiring is black, white and bare wire (ground). The stove top has black, red and green. What ... A: If wired wrong it will at least shock you and may kill you. Verify that the black and white have ... | |
| re model can light installation | 7/26/2011 |
| Q: ... The kitchen had a bank of florescent lights on the ceiling, an angled ceiling. He tour out the ... A: Most large home centers have them in their electrical department and the instructions are included. ... | |
| GFCI | 7/25/2011 |
| Q: Over last weekend, I had a refrigerator plugged into a socket in the garage that must have been a ... A: I agree that all of those should not be on the same circuit. That is something you need to fix. I ... | |
| Tripped Breaker | 7/24/2011 |
| Q: All of a sudden, we have one breaker that keeps tripping. It's a 15 amp breaker that covers one ... A: It sounds like you are maxing out that circuit and the breaker cannot hold anymore. To correctly ... | |
| light switch in bathroom | 7/24/2011 |
| Q: Iturned the light switch on in the bathroom when I went to turn it off the light stayed on. A fan ... A: It sounds like you have a short in the fixture. Most likely the power goes to the fixture first ... | |
| RV hookup | 7/22/2011 |
| Q: My RV is set up for hookup to a 30 amp outlet, and with an adapter I can also plug into a 15 amp ... A: The way to tell is to take your voltmeter and measure between the two hot legs. 220 volt reading ... | |
| RV hookup | 7/22/2011 |
| Q: My RV is set up for hookup to a 30 amp outlet, and with an adapter I can also plug into a 15 amp ... A: I am familiar with Calif. State parks but not N.Y. State parks. Here they supply either 30 or 50 amp ... | |
| main panel neutral/ground bars | 7/18/2011 |
| Q: how do i know if my main panels neutral and grounding bars are bonded? Each bar has a bonding screw ... A: If they are bonded they will both have a screw that attaches them to the chassis of the panel. An ... | |
| Getting a new dryer - proper outlet? | 7/15/2011 |
| Q: Our dryer died and last night (Wednesday) we purchased a new one. It's to be delivered Saturday. The ... A: The outlet with the "L" is a 30 amp outlet made for dryers. The one you currently have is a 50 amp ... | |
| 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: What you have at the switch box is called a switch leg. The power goes to the outlet and they send ... | |
| Replace Timer | 7/12/2011 |
| Q: I am replacing a 24 hour timer and am confused by the hook up. I have black and white going in with ... A: The wires feeding the timer: Your hot wire goes to the terminals "L", and "1" (they are bridged ... | |
| A Last Question ... Thermostat Issue | 7/11/2011 |
| Q: Greg ... In reflecting on your various answers to my questions, a new (and hopefully LAST) question ... A: Your question does make sense. However, the computing takes place at the t-stat not at the furnace. ... | |
| Replacing gas furnace thermostat CON'T | 7/10/2011 |
| Q: You are a very smart man, Greg! Yes, I found a remote sensor in our guest bedroom. I'll check with ... A: If you want to use the sensor you will need to purchase a t-stat that has remote sensor capability. ... | |
| electrical grounding on tankless water heater | 7/10/2011 |
| Q: i had a tankless water heater installed and had the city inspector come out to see it. he sid that ... A: It is pretty typical and it is called "bonding the hot and cold water pipes". There are clamps that ... | |
| Replacing gas furnace thermostat CON'T | 7/9/2011 |
| Q: You are a very smart man, Greg! Yes, I found a remote sensor in our guest bedroom. I'll check with ... A: That is correct. A remote sensor is used to take the temp of the room the sensor is in and sort of ... | |
| Honeywell Thermostat Wiring | 7/9/2011 |
| Q: I presently have a Carrier thermostat connected to my gas, forced air system (no A/C or heat pump). ... A: The 3-strand is for a remote sensor. So apparently you have a remote sensor somewhere in the house. ... | |
| 110 to 220 for Central Air | 7/9/2011 |
| Q: Is it safe and advisable to convert an existing 110 volt line for a central air system to 220 volts? ... A: When you say "attack" do you mean "attic" (the space above your ceiling and below your roof)? ... | |
| 110 to 220 for Central Air | 7/8/2011 |
| Q: Is it safe and advisable to convert an existing 110 volt line for a central air system to 220 volts? ... A: When you have a central A/C system you have one of two configurations: 1. A package unit that has ... | |
| Wiring a GFCI breaker to timer to pool pump | 7/8/2011 |
| Q: We have spoken before. Since we spoke. I ran 2 grounding rods and installed a seperate ground bar ... A: GFCI trips on an unbalance, real or perceived. I told you how to isolate the timer motor from the ... | |
| Honeywell Thermostat Wiring | 7/8/2011 |
| Q: I presently have a Carrier thermostat connected to my gas, forced air system (no A/C or heat pump). ... A: I believe you may be able to connect the new t-stat. You will need to unplug the furnace or turn off ... | |
| Honeywell Thermostat Wiring | 7/7/2011 |
| Q: I presently have a Carrier thermostat connected to my gas, forced air system (no A/C or heat pump). ... A: A system that is just using gas forced air really only needs a "R" (hot) and "W" (heat). However, ... | |
| Outside Lighting | 7/7/2011 |
| Q: My front porch light is on a 3 way switch in the Family Room with another 3 way in the garage. The ... A: The difficulty is that there is no neutral at the 3-way front porch switch. You want to make sure ... | |
| Wiring a GFCI to a timer to a 120V Pool pump | 7/6/2011 |
| Q: I have a brand new above ground pool. I am running a 50 am circuit out to a panel in my shed w 6 ... A: I was not talking about feeding the outlet with two circuits. One circuit just for the timer motor ... | |
| Wiring a GFCI to a timer to a 120V Pool pump | 7/6/2011 |
| Q: I have a brand new above ground pool. I am running a 50 am circuit out to a panel in my shed w 6 ... A: I agree they should place some sort of warning that they are not compatible with GFCI breakers. You ... | |
| electrical recepticals and wires in attic... | 7/3/2011 |
| Q: I have two issues.. Issue 1: I had new circuit breakers and wires install going up through the ... A: Always run a 20 amp (12 awg wire) to an outlet circuit. Keep the outdoor outlets off the lighting ... | |
| wire a flourscent light | 7/2/2011 |
| Q: I took down the light fixture in the kitchen I didn't pay attention to how I took it down. Now I am ... A: If all the whites were tied together and all the blacks tied together you would simply do the same ... | |
| Electrical Shortages in Sockets | 7/2/2011 |
| Q: I am having an issue with the electrical sockets in my apartment. I have had 3 electronic devices ... A: Sorry Kandice, but my advise is going to be to wait for the electrician. In the meantime you can ... | |
| Wiring a metal barn with a branch Circuit | 7/1/2011 |
| Q: I have recently acquired a property and have put up a livestock (horse) barn and need to wire a ... A: 1. Yes, it should be the ground. 2. If you are sure the wire to each outlet is #4 then you have ... | |
| Wiring a metal barn with a branch Circuit | 6/30/2011 |
| Q: I have recently acquired a property and have put up a livestock (horse) barn and need to wire a ... A: Lets tackle this a little at a time so we do not miss anything. 1. True, but it is one more wire to ... | |
| Built-in Double Oven | 6/29/2011 |
| Q: I need some help identifying what guage wire to use when installing a built-in double oven in my ... A: This is a good question. Let me give you another example of this type of situation. Lighting ... | |
| electrical recepticals and wires in attic... | 6/29/2011 |
| Q: I have two issues.. Issue 1: I had new circuit breakers and wires install going up through the ... A: Excuse me if I am wrong but didn't you write the following; "The circuit braker (15amps) to one ... | |
| electrical recepticals and wires in attic... | 6/28/2011 |
| Q: I have two issues.. Issue 1: I had new circuit breakers and wires install going up through the ... A: Wires in the attic need to be properly secured for safety reasons. You cannot tap into the bathroom ... | |
| Kitchen circuits tripping breakers | 6/26/2011 |
| Q: Our home is 58 years old and has a "Bulldog??" breaker box. Recently, the dryer has tripped the ... A: I agree that it is time to upgrade your circuit panel. The wiring of that era is not prepared for ... | |
| how to add a switch for vent fan/light in an end run switch | 6/25/2011 |
| Q: I have an end run switch that connects to two sconces. On the switch there is two wires. One black, ... A: You are missing the neutral. You will need to tap into one of the existing lights on that circuit ... | |
| 220 VOLT PROBLEM | 6/24/2011 |
| Q: WELL MY MOMS TRAILER IS REALLY MESSING UP SHE HAD A BAD STORM ONE NIGHT AND HEARD A LOUD BANG AND ... A: You should only read 220 volts across both legs, meaning you will only read 220 volts one way you ... | |
| ceiling fan noise | 6/22/2011 |
| Q: We have a ceiling fan (with light) that has been making a whirring noise - not very loud, but enough ... A: It depends on what is causing the whirring noise. If the blades are out of balance you can buy a kit ... | |
| cable repair | 6/21/2011 |
| Q: I have accidentally cut through the electrical cable of a hover lawn mower. Is there a simple cheap ... A: You can solder the connections and then shrink wrap the connections, you can solder the connections ... | |
| Breakers for Kitchen Appliances | 6/19/2011 |
| Q: I am having a 5.7KW cooktop and a 2.5KW oven installed. Based on wattage, it seems that a 30amp ... A: Yes, but I do not like the "light tester" because it does not tell you the actual voltage. You put ... | |
| Existing switch and light. Two sets of wires | 6/17/2011 |
| Q: Ok here is what I started with, one light, one switch and two sets of cables running between the ... A: At this point you need to establish what wires are the line voltage. Then you need to figure out why ... | |
| Basement Wiring | 6/16/2011 |
| Q: I have 3 lights in my basement in three different areas (Bedroom, Walk in closet, and Laundry room) ... A: The smoke detector needs to have its own circuit. To wire in switches for the lights you need to ... | |
| Outlets in Garage | 6/16/2011 |
| Q: None of the outlets in my garage are working. The light works and the garage door works. There are ... A: Do you have fuses or circuit breakers? Fuses tend to blow and breakers trip. You need to verify ... | |
| Ceiling light | 6/14/2011 |
| Q: I have replaced a ceiling light in my kichen and the following problem occurs: In the morning, when ... A: The first thing I would do is make sure the lights are not wired in series (the two fixtures). Then ... | |
| formulas request | 6/13/2011 |
| Q: Greg Hughes I would ask for formulas for calculating the required cable for breaker power ? 55kw ... A: Breakers are rated in amperage so you need to know the supply voltage to calculate the amperage. ... | |
| Tripping breaker question | 6/11/2011 |
| Q: We had a lightning strike near our house last night, and two of our breakers tripped. Reset the ... A: Yes, I hear you. My advise is still get a professional electrician. All a homeowner can do is ... | |
| Tripping breaker question | 6/11/2011 |
| Q: We had a lightning strike near our house last night, and two of our breakers tripped. Reset the ... A: I know your state has got hit hard this year with weather, harder than normal. You really should ... | |
| Best Brand of Air conditioner | 6/9/2011 |
| Q: Hey Greg, In your opinion what are the best air conditioners (brands) out there for central air ... A: I have worked factory service for a few of the big name brands. The answer lies in what you are ... | |
| Problem converting 240V to 110V | 6/8/2011 |
| Q: I hope this won’t be too confusing, but I’m pretty bewildered. We’ve replaced an old 15,000 BTU, ... A: This setup is against code and dangerous, however your description is very helpful. If you are ... | |
| Low Power in Wall Outlet | 6/6/2011 |
| Q: My wife said that when she ran the canopener she it runs slower from the bottom outlet then the top. ... A: You are measuring voltage with no load I presume. A voltmeter simply measures the voltage present ... | |
| Circuit breaker | 6/1/2011 |
| Q: I wanted to change a light fixture in my home. After removing the original fixture with the circuit ... A: There is an element of danger when you remove the breaker cover plate. If you are not comfortable ... | |
| Breaker tripping | 5/30/2011 |
| Q: We are in the midst if tackling a bathroom remodel. If ONLY the electrical was the least of our ... A: You should run a separate line so the gfci outlet and light/fan are on separate circuits, that is ... | |
| Non-working outlet - Possibly open hot? | 5/27/2011 |
| Q: I'm all out of ideas. I've had a non-working outlet for several days and have tested, traced, and ... A: If you are sure they are on the same circuit and there are no other devices between them, you have a ... | |
| ceiling fan connection | 5/26/2011 |
| Q: I have a fan with a black ,white and green wire and from the ceiling is a black, white, green, bare ... A: The extra wire is in case you want to separate the fan and light at the switch. So you would have ... | |
| Lighting | 5/26/2011 |
| Q: I was working on putting up a new light fixture in my bedroom. At one point, the power was on and a ... A: A breaker could be tripped without appearing to be tripped, and it can go bad without appearing to ... | |
| Swamp cooler | 5/25/2011 |
| Q: I just picked up a used swamp cooler that was on a roof at a residence. I have made a stand to make ... A: These instructions are for typical swamp coolers and may not apply to yours. L1 is the Hot power ... | |
| Breakers for Kitchen Appliances | 5/24/2011 |
| Q: I am having a 5.7KW cooktop and a 2.5KW oven installed. Based on wattage, it seems that a 30amp ... A: Your actual voltage plays a part in the amount of amps that are drawn. You have to go with what the ... | |
| Wiring for ceiling fan | 5/22/2011 |
| Q: ..I have a question...I bought a ceiling fan by Hampton bay that contains a black and blue, white, ... A: The fan should have a diagram with the instructions that tell you if the black is for fan or light ... | |
| 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: Take a voltmeter (digital are best) and place one probe on the neutral bar and one probe on the wire ... | |
| flat wire | 5/20/2011 |
| Q: We are purchased an electric reclining sofa that will is in the middle of the room, however there ... A: If this a raised house, meaning you have room under the house, you can run the wires under the house ... | |
| Dryer Wiring | 5/19/2011 |
| Q: they really are great. Small problem - I moved our used dryer into our new house, where we have a ... A: You need the neutral for the motor/timer/electronic circuits to work. On your new cord; the green ... | |
| Circuit breaker | 5/19/2011 |
| Q: I have 1 circuit break, for the downstairs, that just quit working. The fuse did not trip and I ... A: I am not following you on this. Are you saying that you have a "circuit breaker" that quit working ... | |
| whole house - main meter drain - flickering lights | 5/18/2011 |
| Q: Why does meter show current flow even when main breaker is off? I shut off the main breaker but the ... A: Some people argue that this is normal, but I believe what is accepted does not mean it is normal. ... | |
| whole house - main meter drain | 5/18/2011 |
| Q: Why does meter show current flow even when main breaker is off? I shut off the main breaker but the ... A: I would call the electric company out to check their meter. They can pull the main breaker and check ... | |
| New cooktop wiring | 5/18/2011 |
| Q: similar to one you just answered. my old cooktop had a 30 amp fuse with what looks like 10 ga wire. ... A: You have to upgrade the wiring, it is code. Period. You are not the only one going to use the ... | |
| 220V, 2-pole GFCI w/o Ground | 5/18/2011 |
| Q: I am updating my electrical panel. Install separate ground bar and neutral bar, improve the ... A: If you have a nick in the outer insulation your neutral will be exposed. Also, if you have a nick in ... | |
| 220V, 2-pole GFCI w/o Ground | 5/17/2011 |
| Q: I am updating my electrical panel. Install separate ground bar and neutral bar, improve the ... A: My comment is this; If the third wire to your oven, range, and dryer is a bare wire then you should ... | |
| Elecrical needs to a building 125 ft away | 5/17/2011 |
| Q: I am going to construct a pole barn about 125 from my house where I will need to tap into the panel ... A: The size would be determined by three factors; Length, amperage, and copper vs alum. You mentioned ... | |
| GFCI | 5/14/2011 |
| Q: If you have 2 circuits with a common neutral. (i.e 12-3 wire.) Can you protect each circuit ... A: MWBC can be tricky. The neutral has to remain unbroken to the panel and you must have a double-pole ... | |
| Range wiring | 5/13/2011 |
| Q: I got a new range and it has a 4 wire setup but the old one has a 3 wire setup, also the wall outlet ... A: The correct way is to run a ground wire from the panel to the outlet. This will separate the ground ... | |
| electric baseboard heaters | 5/12/2011 |
| Q: when running 2 heaters in a room can you control them from 1 t- stat and i believe they should be ... A: Yes the heaters will be in parallel with each other, but both in series with the t-stat. You can run ... | |
| tube lights | 5/11/2011 |
| Q: I replaced a tube light ballast and bulbs. I have tested and do have 120 coming through but the ... A: The end connections tend to be a little flimsy and the wires can easily come out of the connector so ... | |
| wiring a new 230v breaker+outlet | 5/10/2011 |
| Q: How many hot and ground, neural wires are left for a typical 4 year old house to wire into a new ... A: The utility company turns off the power when the main breaker or main panel is being replaced. They ... | |
| Buzzing Power Bar | 5/9/2011 |
| Q: I have just bought a used home and the previous owner has a 6 outlet power bar wired directly to a ... A: If this is in the house it would be against code in the USA, and it would be potentially dangerous ... | |
| Thermostat wiring | 5/5/2011 |
| Q: Greg, I have Two exhaust fans in my attic each one has a separate thermostat on opposite sides of ... A: The neutral does not get connected to the t-stat. How you tell the hot from neutral is you take a ... | |
| Thermostat wiring | 5/5/2011 |
| Q: Greg, I have Two exhaust fans in my attic each one has a separate thermostat on opposite sides of ... A: Yes you can. If they are on the same circuit you take the hot wire feeding them and run it to the ... | |
| Wiring | 5/5/2011 |
| Q: We had our kitchen updated 10+ years ago. Over that time we've had 2 dishwashers that had ... A: Per code; the refrigerator should be on a dedicated 20 amp circuit, the kitchen outlets should be on ... | |
| home wiring | 5/3/2011 |
| Q: I am having a problem with a circuit. The lights will work for a couple of days even weeks then all ... A: If it is only one circuit and you replaced the breaker, and the bar under the breaker looked good, ... | |
| sub-panel connections to circuit breaker | 5/2/2011 |
| Q: i.e., the breaker contacts slip over the bar, appeared a little oxidized. I sanded them all with ... A: It is possible that you damaged the coating. Hopefully the anti-ox will keep enough oxygen away to ... | |
| changing from3prong to 4prong dryer power cord | 5/1/2011 |
| Q: on the middle terminal there are two white wires connected. On the bottom (3) terminal there is a ... A: It sounds like the black goes to the red/black post, white goes to white, red goes to blue, and ... | |
| Home Wiring | 4/28/2011 |
| Q: Mr. Hughes~ I have one half of a wired circuit not working. The circuit runs from the box to ... A: Look in the box that goes from bedroom 1 (the working bedroom) to feed bedroom 2. Make sure that ... | |
| Under cabinet lighting problem | 4/27/2011 |
| Q: My home builder did a crummy job and disappeared. He installed under-cabinet puck lighting, but the ... A: There is something called wiremold that you can use to put the wiring in and then secure it to the ... | |
| re: European Light Fixture | 4/26/2011 |
| Q: I live in CA and my wife fell in love with a euro, 240v chandelier (two hot wires), that we recently ... A: Your light sockets will be the biggest determinate if you can use this here in the U.S. or not. You ... | |
| Hot Fuse | 4/25/2011 |
| Q: Have a older glass fuse panel installed in this apartment one of the fuses has suddenly started ... A: There is something wrong with this question. Circuit breakers trip and fuses blow. Not sure how ... | |
| no heat on commercial dryer | 4/22/2011 |
| Q: adc commercial ad81 direct spark ignitor not working change transformer hi limit checked fuses dryer ... A: First things to check are the sail switch, the lint drawer/screen (clean out), and see if there is a ... | |
| light switch | 4/20/2011 |
| Q: i am replacing light switches in a mobile home at my front door they areside by side each switch ... A: Were you trying to add a switch? The reason I ask is your statement "i do believe i will need to go ... | |
| Dryer Breaker Switch | 4/20/2011 |
| Q: We just installed a new dryer using a 4 prong 30 amp cord hooked to a 30 amp breaker switch. out of ... A: It is not uncommon for a breaker carrying as many amps as a dryer breaker does to warm up to the ... | |
| Circuit failure | 4/20/2011 |
| Q: Some lights and receptacles, all on the same circuit failed. I went to the panel, no breakers ... A: It is most likely a bad connection that is usually in the form of burnt or loose wiring. It could ... | |
| Power goes out, but breaker doesn't trip. | 4/19/2011 |
| Q: I have a problem where some of the circuits will go out, but no breaker trips. This panel is in my ... A: You could have an unbalance load, an undersized sub panel, undersized main, undersized wiring, worn ... | |
| Power goes out, but breaker doesn't trip. | 4/19/2011 |
| Q: I have a problem where some of the circuits will go out, but no breaker trips. This panel is in my ... A: It sounds like you are back feeding into the other phase by turning on the two-phase oven. You ... | |
| light replacement | 4/18/2011 |
| Q: I bought an IKEA light to replace the ceiling light in my kitchen. The Ikea light was suppose to ... A: For the light to work it does not matter because it is an A/C circuit. However, the polarization ... | |
| outlets don't work | 4/17/2011 |
| Q: Some of my outlets stopped working suddenly. House built 70’s. I’ve lived in for 20 years. Never any ... A: It sounds like you may have a multiwire circuit, meaning that two circuits share the same neutral. ... | |
| One circuit cuts off and on w/o tripping breaker | 4/16/2011 |
| Q: Our house was built in 1969; we had a new breaker box put in about 15 years ago with new breakers ... A: The breaker, a regular breaker, would not normally catch that problem. It would take an AFCI breaker ... | |
| One circuit cuts off and on w/o tripping breaker | 4/16/2011 |
| Q: Our house was built in 1969; we had a new breaker box put in about 15 years ago with new breakers ... A: It sounds like a loose, broken, or chewed up wire. It could be the neutral or hot. The first thing ... | |
| Electrical outlets | 4/13/2011 |
| Q: I am trying to change electrical outlets in my kitchen and have the exact same outlets (15A 125V) to ... A: Look at the old outlet and see if the tab between the upper hot and lower hot was broken. It ... | |
| Please help me locate the circuits | 4/13/2011 |
| Q: I have 3 circuit breakers (20A, 20A and 15A) in my sub-panel that I cannot find where they go. ... A: A good tone generator will work through the drywall. My guess about the outlets behind the subzero ... | |
| WIRING | 4/4/2011 |
| Q: I have an exhaust fan for my greenhouse. I want it to come on whenever the inside temp gets too ... A: If you want the fan to come on with either device you wire them in parallel. As long as the same ... | |
| Flexible conduit | 4/3/2011 |
| Q: I want to install an electrical outlet up high on my wall for a flat screen TV. There is an ... A: I am familiar with that type of return but I have never seen them used in the same bay as an ... | |
| Flexible conduit | 4/3/2011 |
| Q: I want to install an electrical outlet up high on my wall for a flat screen TV. There is an ... A: I have never seen an outlet in duct work. Why is it in the ductwork and not in the wall or on the ... | |
| Guardian 15 kW Portable Generator | 4/1/2011 |
| Q: My Guardian Ultrasource 15kW/22.5kW surge portable gasoline gen-set has a 50 amp/240v plug and a 30 ... A: I have seen this question in the question pool. They are questions that should be directed to the ... | |
| Accidentally dropping a lamp into aquarium? | 3/31/2011 |
| Q: My aquarium has a 48" dual fluorescent strip light on top of it. As per code it does have a glass ... A: It depends on the fixture. Pools have lights, fountains have submersible lights. So there are light ... | |
| Hot water heater | 3/31/2011 |
| Q: I have a 240volt water heater that I just replaced. I replaced it with a 120volt, before I realized ... A: You have to make sure the wire size and breaker are appropriate for the amp draw of the 120 volt ... | |
| can't get NEMA 6-15R | 3/29/2011 |
| Q: You answered a question for me in an earlier post that relates to this new question. I will cut and ... A: You can order that outlet online if your local home center does not carry it. If the manufacture ... | |
| Non-working Outlets | 3/28/2011 |
| Q: Recently 9 electrical outlets in two bedrooms suddenly stopped working. I suspect an electric ... A: It is possible that a breaker can test good with a meter but cannot hold a load. That is easy to ... | |
| going from flourescents to track lighting | 3/28/2011 |
| Q: I'm redoing my showroom lighting. Existing was 12-cold florescent fixtures running on 1-20amp ... A: You add up the total wattage on the circuit and divide by the supplied voltage to determine the amp ... | |
| dryer electric current | 3/28/2011 |
| Q: wondering if my Maytag Neptune dryer uses a 220v or 110v source ? It is a heavy 3 or 4 prong ... A: If it has a gas line it requires 110 volts. If it has only a large electric cord it is 220 volts. ... | |
| Supplied cord for wheelchair battery charger has no grounding plug | 3/27/2011 |
| Q: The electrical cord supplied with my wheelchair's electric charger, a charger I have used for many ... A: Some chargers do not have a ground. My cell phone chargers do not come with a ground, for example. ... | |
| Adding 240V Service to Garage | 3/24/2011 |
| Q: I am looking to add 240V 30A 2 phase service to my garage to power a welder and electric brewing ... A: It sounds like you are saying you are adding a subpanel to your garage, or you are adding a new ... | |
| window A/C wiring | 3/23/2011 |
| Q: I am installing a window A/C that requires a NEMA 6-15R. I know this requires 250V, double pole 15A ... A: You are in luck. The wiring can be oversized, unlike the breaker. In fact, the bigger the wire the ... | |
| Braker and wiring requierement | 3/21/2011 |
| Q: Just bought a new GE Profile stove model: PCS968SRSS Here is the electric Requirements for it: ... A: If you add those watts up you get just less than 14 KW, which falls into the range of what you ... | |
| Replacement of BX with NM in open ceiling (exposed wiring) | 3/20/2011 |
| Q: We have removed plaster and lath from a bedroom ceiling for a "loft like" feel to the room and would ... A: It has to be treated the same as if it were an open-beam construction and that would be required to ... | |
| fuse box issue | 3/19/2011 |
| Q: I have an upper story electrical box of traditional tripper switches that I've turned off for about ... A: It may be the fault of the electrical company, but if it is a subpanel then it is more likely the ... | |
| ground connections for new circuit | 3/14/2011 |
| Q: The way my house is set up, their are 2 50A breakers outside where power enters the house. Then the ... A: In a subpanel the neutral bar is isolated from the case while the ground bar is connected to the ... | |
| ground connections for new circuit | 3/13/2011 |
| Q: The way my house is set up, their are 2 50A breakers outside where power enters the house. Then the ... A: Your panel has to be grounded. If this is not a true subpanel, where the neutral is not bonded to ... | |
| amperage | 3/12/2011 |
| Q: Can you explain the amperage draw to the service panel. I have a problem where the service load ... A: In a residential 220 volt panel, basically, what you read on one leg is the total amperage. You do ... | |
| Cutting concrete slab for installing electrical wiring - kitchen | 3/11/2011 |
| Q: We are remodeling our kitchen and we are going to remove a partial wall that separates the kitchen ... A: You can use one 220 volt supply for the cooktop and oven, but make sure it is large enough for them. ... | |
| transfer switch | 3/9/2011 |
| Q: My issue is about saving time and money. I need to install an emergency generator to my home but the ... A: Sorry Jon, but you are going to have to add a certified transfer switch according to both the NEC ... | |
| Outdoor sub panel | 3/4/2011 |
| Q: I want to wire a detached workshop with 100amp service from my house's main panel. There is an ... A: A subpanel does not have a main breaker in the panel. The main breaker for the subpanel should ... | |
| Doorbell | 3/4/2011 |
| Q: We recently replaced the doorbell switch due to door being replaced. The old switch would cycle the ... A: Sounds like the relay in your chime is not working. A doorbell switch is merely a momentary switch, ... | |
| electrical well pump connecting | 3/2/2011 |
| Q: You recently posted a question to Bob Sponaugle in category Electrical Wiring in the Home: Hello, ... A: I am not familiar with Canadian code but I will tell you how we would do it here in the U.S.A. if ... | |
| GFCI/Fan/Rewire | 3/2/2011 |
| Q: I live in a house built in 1973. in the master bath I am installing a bathroom fan. it is a Broan ... A: I believe, but you need to verify, that the power is coming from the attic and continuing on to the ... | |
| relay for bath fans | 3/2/2011 |
| Q: I wish to close a 24v hvac circuit(residential) to a central fan controller when any of 4 bath fans ... A: 136 pretty much covers the subject as far as I know. Code or no code, you want at least 1/4 inch ... | |
| relay for bath fans | 2/28/2011 |
| Q: I wish to close a 24v hvac circuit(residential) to a central fan controller when any of 4 bath fans ... A: Control boxes have different voltages. Your furnace has different voltages. Your A/C has both low ... | |
| relay for bath fans | 2/27/2011 |
| Q: I wish to close a 24v hvac circuit(residential) to a central fan controller when any of 4 bath fans ... A: As you have explained it, and as I understand what you are doing, it is pretty simple and ... | |
| no power to garage | 2/27/2011 |
| Q: my question is i was using a skill saw to cut some wood when i lost all power in my garage i went ... A: Test the power from the breaker at the panel. If the power is good that eliminates the breaker. If ... | |
| Adding a ceiling fan no existing fixture | 2/23/2011 |
| Q: I'm adding a ceiling light/fan combo in a family room where there was no previous ceiling fixture, ... A: Bypassing the switch does not tell you any useful information. You need to find out if there is a ... | |
| Adding a ceiling fan no existing fixture | 2/22/2011 |
| Q: I'm adding a ceiling light/fan combo in a family room where there was no previous ceiling fixture, ... A: When you open the switch cover and pull out the switch you should find a neutral wire if the power ... | |
| 77V on Hot to Neutral | 2/20/2011 |
| Q: I'm having a problem with an abnormal voltage between the Hot and Neutral that reads 77V between ... A: Your problem may be in the service panel. See if you have a multiwire circuit (two hots sharing the ... | |
| recessed light in bathroom | 2/19/2011 |
| Q: I was trying to change the bulb in the recessed light above the shower in our master bath. One of ... A: If it is a remodel fixture you should be able to pull the can down to examine it. A remodel fixture ... | |
| Circut Breaker | 2/18/2011 |
| Q: My daughter's furnace, electrical resistance type, recently quit working. The repair guy said it ... A: The repairman may of been correct that the furnace requires a 60 amp breaker, however if the wiring ... | |
| Adding additional lights to a circuit | 2/17/2011 |
| Q: Doing a bathroom reno and I want to add some additional lighting to an existing circuit. I am ... A: It sounds like you want to make sure the circuit is not overloaded and there is only one way to do ... | |
| two to three prong | 2/16/2011 |
| Q: My house is two wire and two prong for the majority of outlets. The breaker panel has a ground wire ... A: 12 awg is a good size to run. Leave the ground wire from the cold water pipe to the grounding rod, ... | |
| two to three prong | 2/15/2011 |
| Q: My house is two wire and two prong for the majority of outlets. The breaker panel has a ground wire ... A: You are right about being concerned and I am glad you took the time to write in and ask. You need ... | |
| White wires used in a 240 | 2/15/2011 |
| Q: I have just completed the replacement of my problemmatic push matic load center. I have a question ... A: It is standard practice to put black or red tape on a white wire that is an "ungrounded ... | |
| Wiring a 4 prong dryer outlet - 2 questions | 2/11/2011 |
| Q: I am having trouble with my 4 prong dryer outlet. It is wired with the two hot wires going to the ... A: Erin, Here is a wiring diagram/photo of how this is suppose to be wired according to the NEC ... | |
| heating/ furnace/ electrical wiring | 2/10/2011 |
| Q: i just bought my first house and they did a property condition report. i'm not sure if i am ... A: I agree that this is vague. Perhaps the Inspector was covering their assets. A damaged t-stat should ... | |
| FLICKERING LIGHTS | 2/9/2011 |
| Q: I HAVE A BREAKER BOX INSIDE AND ANOTHER OUTSIDE. THE ONE OUTSIDE HAS THREE BREAKERS TWO LOOK NEW AND ... A: It could be your breaker is going bad or, it could be a loose wire either in the panel or inside the ... | |
| Residential wiring | 2/4/2011 |
| Q: I'm a business student at college and we have to put a business presentation together mine is to be ... A: Most contractors have a price per square foot that gets them pretty close. However, they have served ... | |
| Home Appliance Monitor | 2/3/2011 |
| Q: I am a student at Tri-County Technical College, working on a project with a partner in an ... A: Typically I stay away from student's questions or projects, but I will point you in the direction I ... | |
| neutral wire | 2/2/2011 |
| Q: What will happen if the neutral wire from power supply to a house breaks in a 220V system ? Some ... A: The most likely event would be smoke then immediately followed by flames and then hopefully the ... | |
| Can it be done? | 1/31/2011 |
| Q: I live with my family in probably one of the oldest houses in town (around 200 years old). We had ... A: Okay. Just remember to have the ground and neutral NOT bonded at the subpanel. A load calc is ... | |
| Can it be done? | 1/31/2011 |
| Q: I live with my family in probably one of the oldest houses in town (around 200 years old). We had ... A: It sounds like it can be done. You probably want more than a 30 amp sub to your garage. Since you ... | |
| lennox 7000 series to honeywell truesteam | 1/28/2011 |
| Q: I can not understand how to wire this up to work ANSWER: You need to tell me the model numbers of ... A: I can see why you are confused. This is a very complicated t-stat with a lot of dip switches that ... | |
| hot to wire a furnace blower | 1/28/2011 |
| Q: how do you wire a 110 furnace blower and a thermostat to be used on a wood burning stove. any help ... A: There are a lot of variables in this kind of setup. If the wood stove has a built in blower you ... | |
| converting dryer from 3 wire cord to 4 wire | 1/22/2011 |
| Q: I recently moved and had to change my dryer power cord from a 3 prong to a 4, I've read several ... A: it really is worth a thousand words. It appears to be wired correctly. The ground gets removed ... | |
| 220v 4wire to 220v 3wire | 1/22/2011 |
| Q: Greg, appreciate your posting, my question is similar to the garage welder. We have a 220v 4wire ... A: I enjoy helping when I can. Your 220v compressor should only need the two hots (black, and red), ... | |
| Electrical Outlets | 1/21/2011 |
| Q: I can't figure this one out. I just completed the rewiring of my garage. I installed new outlets ... A: This should never happen if both doors have different codes. So the first thing you want to do is ... | |
| gfci for multiple outlets | 1/18/2011 |
| Q: How do I wire a bathroom using a gfci to protect itself plus 2 more outlets? ANSWER: Power in goes ... A: You said it "seems" like there is no power down the line. Do you have a voltmeter that reads out ... | |
| Gas Fireplace Switch | 1/15/2011 |
| Q: I have a gas fireplace that at one point in time had switch and remote control to turn the fireplace ... A: Unplug the fireplace (if it has a cord). Take the wires that go the outside switch and place a ... | |
| Bedroom mis-wiring | 1/14/2011 |
| Q: I recently bought an older house and soon found out that the 2 bedrooms and bathroom outlets are ... A: Typically there is one lead outlet that feeds the rest in a bedroom circuit. In a older home you ... | |
| Fishy smell coming from breaker box after it trips | 1/13/2011 |
| Q: Please help! I've had an ongoing electrical problem with my house now for 8 years. I purchased the ... A: The lights and the outlets should be on separate circuits, that is one problem. Instead of ... | |
| oven electricity | 1/11/2011 |
| Q: I live in a small apartment that is cold, even with the heat on during the winter. Turning the ... A: Yes, that is expensive and not an accepted way to heat your home. An electric space heater is ... | |
| 14- 12 gauge wire running distance | 1/8/2011 |
| Q: I want to install some can recess lights , about 10 of them in my living room with 60watt bulbs. The ... A: If your voltage is 110 volts or more at this length, with copper wire, and your amp draw, your ... | |
| Bathroom electrical/circuit breaker | 1/7/2011 |
| Q: Circuit breaker was tripped after hair dryer and straightener plugged into bathroom outlet at same ... A: The bathroom GFCI should be the only thing on that circuit and it should be on a 20 amp circuit. ... | |
| surge protection | 1/7/2011 |
| Q: I have read to avoid making ground loops in surge protection such as plugging the AC power lines ... A: You want to make sure that your surge protection comes from the same outlet and that your coax is ... | |
| GFI outlet reset | 1/6/2011 |
| Q: We live in a home that is approximately 2.5 years old. I have 2 kitchen outlets that are on the same ... A: Yes, it is possible that the neutrals at the GFCI are reversed. To test this you turn the breaker ... | |
| GFI outlet reset | 1/4/2011 |
| Q: We live in a home that is approximately 2.5 years old. I have 2 kitchen outlets that are on the same ... A: The problem with those type of testers is that it only tells you if you have voltage present, not ... | |
| truesteam | 1/1/2011 |
| Q: I read a question you answered about wiring for a truesteam, I just installed one and cannot figure ... A: The various manufactures are better now at using a standard for their letter than they use to be. ... | |
| electrical wiring | 12/30/2010 |
| Q: I have two pipe warmers plugged into a regular dual outlet which is pulling power from an outlet one ... A: So you want the gfci outlet hot always and have it feed the switch and then the non-gfci outlet? ... | |
| electrical wiring | 12/29/2010 |
| Q: I have two pipe warmers plugged into a regular dual outlet which is pulling power from an outlet one ... A: Some of the new GFCI outlets trip when power is removed from them, so you do not want that style of ... | |
| dishwasher/ freezer same breaker | 12/28/2010 |
| Q: I have a new dishwasher and a new small chest freezer can i run a new line from the panel with a 20 ... A: You physically can do that. However, the NEC says you should not do it. You can damage one or both ... | |
| Combo Switch | 12/27/2010 |
| Q: I have one switch in the bathroom that controls both the lights and fan. The fan is driving me crazy ... A: The fixtures are not in series, but are connected together (this would be in parallel). You can ... | |
| Combo Switch | 12/26/2010 |
| Q: I have one switch in the bathroom that controls both the lights and fan. The fan is driving me crazy ... A: The black that was on the common will go to the black screw with the fin, but do not break the fin. ... | |
| outlet required on peninsula? | 12/19/2010 |
| Q: I understand with the new code that islands need electrical outlets, but I have two peninsula's - ... A: The conflict may be due to the way the code is written (poorly). It is most likely the inspector ... | |
| Hard wiring a new dishwasher | 12/16/2010 |
| Q: I just purchased a new dishwasher, the salesman sold me a electrical cord kit with it. The old dish ... A: Some dishwashers are hard wired and some have cords. It depends on how the electrician wired your ... | |
| Ceiling Fan wiring | 12/16/2010 |
| Q: I am trying to install a new (Hunter The Lancaster) ceiling fan. Here's what I've got: - a wall ... A: The "white box" is your receiver for remote control of the fan and light. The white wire from your ... | |
| mounting electrical box | 12/15/2010 |
| Q: the thermostat( GFCI protected) mounting requires a 2 gang square metal box with a raised single ... A: I agree that it would be better if it looked a little nicer. That type of plate is typically used ... | |
| wire | 12/14/2010 |
| Q: i have a pond the wire on the switch is brown green and white. the pump wire is green red white. how ... A: Your first post said the light switch wires are brown, green, and white. Your second post said they ... | |
| Electric Range Wiring to 120/208 3 phase electrical panel | 12/14/2010 |
| Q: Wife decided to try out the self cleaning oven feature before Christmas this year (2010). We moved ... A: It needs to be wired so you have 220 volts between L1 and L2, 110 volts between L1 and Neutral, and ... | |
| wiring | 12/13/2010 |
| Q: I have an outlet on the outside of my home with 2 plug outlets ( as you would find inside) sometimes ... A: It could be corroded wiring inside the outlet box or the outlet itself is corroded due to weather. ... | |
| Outdoor Kitchen and Patio | 12/12/2010 |
| Q: Remodeling the backyard. Installing outdoor kitchen and secondary raised patio in far rear corner. I ... A: You have two choices with the outdoor kitchen; You can run one larger circuit and install a ... | |
| rewiring a house in america but a british trained | 12/11/2010 |
| Q: i want to rewire a house in america for a freind but i am british trained. I have been told that you ... A: There are a lot of codes that need to be observed here in the U.S. There is the NEC and then there ... | |
| Central Air Conditioning Wiring | 12/10/2010 |
| Q: I had my circuit breaker box changed in the house I just purchased. The house has a central air ... A: Are you sure that is a transformer? Could it be a box from the utility company to control your ... | |
| Wiring | 12/8/2010 |
| Q: How do you wire from a 3 way switch end so that you can add on an outlet after the run? A: You have to run a neutral and hot with a ground. Since you have to run another line you might as ... | |
| Wiring a Bathroom Vent | 12/7/2010 |
| Q: In a 1930's era house there is a bathroom light with two 3-way swtiches, each control the light ... A: If you added a switch to the three-way circuit you will need to have the hot to be able to control ... | |
| fan to move air to attic room | 12/6/2010 |
| Q: I'm trying to hook up a fan to a thermostat.What I want to do is I have a old home and I put a ... A: By adding square feet to your living area you may have put too much of a load on your existing hvac ... | |
| Whirlpool Model LEC7848DZO Dryer | 12/5/2010 |
| Q: Dryer will not turn on. I have checked 240 volt to dryer. I have 240 volt to the timer and I have ... A: I seem to have difficulty finding a schematic for this model number. Can you double check the model ... | |
| Ceiling fan question | 11/29/2010 |
| Q: I was reading one of your post's you answered about ceiling fans. And I had a question if you could ... A: If the switch box has a neutral to go with the hot wire on the switch you can simply grab both and ... | |
| Electric | 11/29/2010 |
| Q: I am on the last step of installing a lighted pot rack. The instructions tell me to connect black ... A: As I see it you have three choices. You can learn Chinese, you can take the light socket apart, or ... | |
| remove outlet and install toggle/outlet | 11/27/2010 |
| Q: I would like to know how to remove an outlet and replace it with a P&S 691 TR ivory toggle ... A: You need to find out which wire is hot and which wire is neutral. If you take a voltmeter you will ... | |
| loss of electricity to detached garage | 11/27/2010 |
| Q: I live in minnesota in a mobile home and when the temperature gets below 10 degrees above zero i ... A: Take a voltmeter to the garage when this happens and verify if you are losing all or part of the ... | |
| Grabbing power from existing ceiling light | 11/24/2010 |
| Q: I have an existing ceiling light that I want to grab power from for a new ceiling fixture in another ... A: You need to take the new wire(romex) and connect black to the black wire of the existing light, ... | |
| rewiring a chandelier | 11/23/2010 |
| Q: I am having trouble getting the wire through the arms of a chandelier. It seems to get stuck 1/2 ... A: There is a product in home centers in the electrical department that is used to pull wires. It is a ... | |
| wiring | 11/23/2010 |
| Q: why are light bulbs blowing out when the light switch is turned on, new switch -new wire-new plastic ... A: Are new bulbs blowing immediately(the first time) when the switch is turned on? Check the voltage ... | |
| 240v circuit breaker | 11/22/2010 |
| Q: I recently had some dryer problems (runs but no heat) and one of the troubleshooting steps is to ... A: Are you sure your dryer is not gas? That would require a 120 volt circuit at 20 amps. If you are ... | |
| sub panel box | 11/20/2010 |
| Q: hello my name is nick and i want to run a sub panel next to my existing 200 amp service as of right ... A: Are you adding a subpanel because you are out of room in the main? If you are adding a subpanel for ... | |
| 3 way switch issue | 11/17/2010 |
| Q: I am trying to install a dimmer switch onto a 3-way circuit. I have power coming into switch 1 ... A: Ron, this will be easy. At Switch 1 you will: Take the black hot wire and connect it to the ... | |
| a/c kicks on but not heat | 11/16/2010 |
| Q: We have a digital non-programmable electric/gas thermostat. Our buddy hooked up our air conditioner ... A: The picture did not make it to me. I need to know more about your system. Is it A/C and a heat ... | |
| How much weight can a plastic ceiling light box support | 11/15/2010 |
| Q: we just bought a semi-flush mount light for our living room. It is not a fan light. I took down the ... A: You would have to look at the particular box to get the rating. There are different types with ... | |
| Thermostat wiring | 11/10/2010 |
| Q: I own-Breckwell G29v gas stove.Purchased 3M-10 millivolt stat.No previous stat, just two wires in ... A: There should be two brown wires going from your gas valve to the on/off switch. On your gas valve ... | |
| florescent lights | 11/9/2010 |
| Q: Greg We have florescent lights in our basement cieling, four enclosed units in all each with two ... A: The only two components you have are the bulbs and the ballast (unless this is old enough to have a ... | |
| Bathroom Electrcal | 11/9/2010 |
| Q: I like to install a 220 volt, 300 watt baseboard heater in a basement washroom that has a shower. ... A: In my opinion baseboard heaters are a bad idea in the bathroom. There can a lot of water on the ... | |
| Ground Currents | 11/8/2010 |
| Q: A brief background….We had pin-hole water leaks on internal copper piping which are becoming ... A: You need to identify if the voltage is coming from the ground (earth) to your panel, or is it coming ... | |
| outdoor wood burner | 11/7/2010 |
| Q: I have a outside woodburner that is going to be used as a forced air. I want to use my oil furnace ... A: You did not mention any cooling application so I am going to have to say that the t-stat you ... | |
| outdoor wood burner | 11/7/2010 |
| Q: I have a outside woodburner that is going to be used as a forced air. I want to use my oil furnace ... A: Is the woodburner made to be a forced air unit? There are concerns about carbon monoxide if it is ... | |
| GFCI Reversed | 11/5/2010 |
| Q: I have a 50 year old home I need to install GFCI protection. I installed one on the first outlet in ... A: An open ground can give you this reading on a gfci outlet. The NEC states this about GFCI outlets ... | |
| Locating breaker | 11/3/2010 |
| Q: we moved into our house about 6 months ago and just recently had a problem that has me stumped. The ... A: The only way to test them is to remove the faceplate off of the breakers in the panel. This exposes ... | |
| Locating breaker | 11/2/2010 |
| Q: we moved into our house about 6 months ago and just recently had a problem that has me stumped. The ... A: If your house was wired to code (not guaranteed) then those outlets are on a gfci somewhere. Look in ... | |
| Baseboard Heaters | 10/31/2010 |
| Q: I had my cottage wired professionally about 15 years ago and we are finally getting power in the ... A: I am not familiar with Canadian codes but here in the U.S. we are not suppose to start with one size ... | |
| Baseboard Heat - Thermostat Problem | 10/29/2010 |
| Q: The other day, I attempted to lower the thermostat setting and when I turned the knob, it sparked ... A: I have seen a bad part that was new, but before we blow another t-stat pull out your multimeter ... | |
| hot/ground reverse | 10/27/2010 |
| Q: I had a power outage the other day, woke up and the power was out in the kitchen lights, the outdoor ... A: If you plan on troubleshooting this yourself then I suggest you get the utility company out and ... | |
| US vs. France electrical for dual voltage appliances | 10/26/2010 |
| Q: We manufacture a boot drying appliance for the ski industry that has a 240v heating element and a ... A: You have two issues; The lower voltage of the motor. The phase of the motor. If your customers in ... | |
| Air Compressor wiring | 10/25/2010 |
| Q: I recently bought an upright air compressor from an estate sale. I want to wire it in my attached ... A: You could use the 50 amp line for a sub panel. No, you cannot put a 70 amp breaker on #8 awg. That ... | |
| light/switch question | 10/24/2010 |
| Q: I had an overhead light "pop" and go out. No circuit breaker tripped. I thought it was the switch. ... A: The pop may be from the dimmer switch, which the 33 volt reading is probably from the bad dimmer ... | |
| light/switch question | 10/24/2010 |
| Q: I had an overhead light "pop" and go out. No circuit breaker tripped. I thought it was the switch. ... A: You should never replace a fixture with just the switch in the off position. The circuit breaker ... | |
| electric | 10/22/2010 |
| Q: last night the lights in the living room started flickering, then everything blinked off for a ... A: The first thing I would recommend is turning off the breaker and pulling it out so the bar ... | |
| Installation of tankless hot water heater | 10/22/2010 |
| Q: I am considering the installation of a Tempra 24 tankless hot water heater. It calls for two ... A: It calls for one double phase circuit. They gave you operating info if your supplied voltage is ... | |
| thermostat wiring | 10/20/2010 |
| Q: bryant model 312aav/jav furnace. assembly booklet # 329983-701. this manual does not have the wiring ... A: I did not find any information on a 2-stage furnace and a single-speed AC. Are you sure you have a ... | |
| problms with several electrical things in my home | 10/19/2010 |
| Q: We've been having some weird stuff happening w/ our elecrticity for a while. For example sometimes ... A: It did sound like you lost one of the legs. If your dryer elements do not work but the motor does ... | |
| kitchen wiring for new garbage disposal | 10/18/2010 |
| Q: Current set-up in kitchen: incoming ground electrifies one switch (controls oversink light) and plug ... A: Aimee, Check codes because what you are doing may be against code. The garbage disposal should be ... | |
| Installing new ceiling fan | 10/15/2010 |
| Q: Too many wires? I'm replacing an old ceiling fan that has green (ground), black (hot), white ... A: You wire it the same way the old one was wired. If the switch on the wall is using either the red ... | |
| Wiring a 250V receptacle | 10/15/2010 |
| Q: I recently bought a 250V arc welder which uses a NEMA Type 6-50R receptacle. I am making an ... A: You need to run the wire from the panel close to the welder and install a box with that outlet in ... | |
| Over outlet wiring | 10/14/2010 |
| Q: Greg, I have a 3 slot over outlet and my oven has a 3 prong plug. I want to run new wire for the ... A: The new wiring would bring your oven up to current code and make your oven more safe, so why would ... | |
| Wiring a 250V receptacle | 10/14/2010 |
| Q: I recently bought a 250V arc welder which uses a NEMA Type 6-50R receptacle. I am making an ... A: In this type of outlet you have no neutral. Both legs are hot and then you have the ground. Does it ... | |
| 3 way switch | 10/12/2010 |
| Q: I have bought a modular home ,at the top of the basement stairs they installed a 3 way swith and it ... A: How many wires are included with the "rest of the wire"? The term "common" in a 3-way circuit means ... | |
| electrical question | 10/12/2010 |
| Q: I have a 3 light switch panel. 2 of the light switches operate the overhead lights in the room, the ... A: Anytime you suspect a problem with your electrical circuits it is a good choice to call an ... | |
| Outlet Wiring for Combo NightLight/Outlet | 10/11/2010 |
| Q: I'm having a little problem trying to figure out how to wire a Pass & Seymour ... A: You will need to make a "pigtail" with the black, white, and ground. The ground should already have ... | |
| re-installing 10 year old GE Cooktop 220 volt | 10/10/2010 |
| Q: Counter work has been completed and helper can not remember how wires were connected. The cooktop ... A: The best way is with the use of a voltmeter. Whatever two wires at the box give you approx. 220 ... | |
| Combo 3 rocker switch | 10/9/2010 |
| Q: I am replacing a very old three switch system and updating it to combo 3 rocker switch. These ... A: There are different ways that lights and their switches get wired. If all of your whites were ... | |
| Main breaker replacement | 10/8/2010 |
| Q: My existing Cutler Hammer main breaker is a 200 amp 25kAIC. Can I replace it with a Cutler Hammer ... A: The "kAIC" stands for Kilo Ampere Interrupting Capacity. This is a term used in case there is a ... | |
| electric baseboard heater relay | 10/8/2010 |
| Q: I have three baseboard heaters in my living room 240 volts each and 20amp all combine but I want to ... A: The relay mentioned is only rated for 120 volts and the contacts are not rated high enough in amps ... | |
| baseboard heater wiring | 10/5/2010 |
| Q: I am installing a new 240v king baseboard heater to replace an old junk one. the old one was wired ... A: I recommend you get an electrician to take a look at what you have before you go any further. ... | |
| transformer or timer | 10/5/2010 |
| Q: I have a house with a swamp cooler that works through a programmed thermostat. I cannot turn off ... A: It may not be wired correctly or the relay and or thermostat may not be working. Normally, a swamp ... | |
| old door bell wiring | 10/4/2010 |
| Q: There was an old door bell at the back door of our house that never worked (and we don't need it). ... A: There are several ways to wire up a two switch doorbell system. You can have two switches control ... | |
| main panel | 10/2/2010 |
| Q: I want to replace the main breaker panel in our house. It is 100 amps, I want to install a 200 amp, ... A: The Electric Company supplies voltage. The current depends on the supplied voltage and the ... | |
| Wiring a Garage - Unfinished | 10/1/2010 |
| Q: I am just starting to wire my new, unfinished garage. I do not plan on finishing it while I own it. ... A: No, but you must drill a hole in the top plate to run the wires down. It is much easier and cheaper ... | |
| 30 Amp Breaker Tripping in Panel When Turned On | 9/30/2010 |
| Q: Just installed 2-pole 30 amp breaker for dryer in panel. All hookups correct on oulet and in ... A: In a normal panel all the odd numbered breakers are one phase and all the even numbers are on a ... | |
| built in stove top | 9/29/2010 |
| Q: Please help!! I have a counter top built in stove top, ceramic, by Kenmore. We replace our counter ... A: You should get a volt-meter and check which two wires supply the 220 volts. This is dangerous and ... | |
| Tube amp 240V to use in 110 country | 9/28/2010 |
| Q: As I will be moving to a 110-115V country I was checking what can be done on using my stereo gear ... A: Look at the name plate to see if your equipment can take 100 to 240 volts. Some are rated for either ... | |
| Doorbell rings on it's own | 9/27/2010 |
| Q: Ok first thanks for taking the time to read this and advise. Thanks.. Ok... Last night at around ... A: The answers are: 1. Yes it is most likely. 2. Yes it could be but not probable. 3. Doubtful. Turn ... | |
| Electric Dryer tripping circuit | 9/25/2010 |
| Q: First, dryer kept tripping 40 amp circuit, then after testing outlet, was not getting 120 from one ... A: You need an amp meter to discover if the dryer is pulling too many amps or whether you have a wiring ... | |
| receptacle to 3 lights and switches | 9/25/2010 |
| Q: I am remodeling my kitchen. Have all receptacles wired and my last thing I need to do is the ... A: You are not suppose to have the lights fed from a receptacle circuit in the kitchen. Three circuits ... | |
| afci breaker will not reset | 9/23/2010 |
| Q: There was an electrical storm last night. The power to my alarm went out. When I checked the ... A: Turn them off and remove the wires from them. Turn them back on. If they trip they need to replaced. ... | |
| sub- panel | 9/23/2010 |
| Q: Sending power to shop. Running from main panel with double pole 30 amp breaker using 10/3 wire. ... A: Is the 10/3 supplying the sub panel? Remove the wires from the 30 amp breaker and turn it on. If ... | |
| Open Hot??? | 9/22/2010 |
| Q: Hey Greg, 4 duplex outlets in basement. Outlets were intermittent until 6 months ago.{Change in ... A: This is a situation where the electrician is really worth the money. But I will see if I can help ... | |
| Oven outlet question | 9/20/2010 |
| Q: I have a older magic chef oven which I have purchased to use to bake parts I have powder coated. I ... A: If someone did turn them both on it would at least trip the breaker and at most fry the wiring and ... | |
| Temperature relays | 9/18/2010 |
| Q: I want to be able to control 3 lights independently with a thermostat type relay. I want to be able ... A: I would replace the switch for each light with a 110 volt temperature sensor (t-stat). Or, you ... | |
| Bathroom lighting (vanity) | 9/17/2010 |
| Q: I am installing a 6 bulb horizontal fixture above the mirror in my bathroom. My question is how high ... A: I do not have any figures on me about what distance is safely needed to keep from peeling the paint ... | |
| Splices in breaker box | 9/16/2010 |
| Q: I’m working in a house that is going to be sold, so I want everything to be up to code. I see ... A: Not of the NEC but some local codes prohibit it. It is pretty common to have splices and unless it ... | |
| Line Thermostat | 9/16/2010 |
| Q: I have baseboard heat. A wall thermostat (White-Rodgers 1a65). I would like to replace the tstat. ... A: 1. You always have 110 volts on the elements but the path is not complete until the t-stat closes ... | |
| Switch/GFI outlet | 9/13/2010 |
| Q: I have both a GFI outlet and a standard light switch in my bathroom coming out of the same box. ... A: One of the sets is the hot & neutral and one set goes to the switch. If you separate both sets and, ... | |
| residential wiring | 9/11/2010 |
| Q: The vent blower over the kitchen stove comes on automatically without hitting the on switch. This ... A: The blower may have a safety thermostat that automatically turns the blower on when the temp above ... | |
| loose wires, too many in living room | 9/10/2010 |
| Q: How can I make our living room safer. I, and my husband are old, and we have a multi adaptor in the ... A: A product called "Wiremold" could probably help. And, there are other products like that available. ... | |
| Receptacle Placements | 9/9/2010 |
| Q: my name is Justin. I recently came across a job where a homeowner had asked me why I cannot put a ... A: Actually, if there is 2' or more on the other side of the door it needs an outlet. Look at ... | |
| 4 way shocking | 9/7/2010 |
| Q: I have a new kitchen which included a 4 way switched light fixture circuit. Today while my ... A: Make sure the switch is properly grounded. If it is then the switch parts that are exposed should be ... | |
| residential remodel | 9/7/2010 |
| Q: I've gutted a home that I puchased. It has tube and knob. What size wire for ... A: There are codes for bedroom outlets, bathroom outlets, kitchen outlets, and garage outlets. There ... | |
| 3 way switch | 9/6/2010 |
| Q: I want to put a ceiling fan in with a single pole switch.I have a 3 way switch I would like to ... A: You need a constant hot wire and a neutral. Which means the power would have to originate at the ... | |
| Wall Oven Junction Box Location | 9/2/2010 |
| Q: I am installing a new double wall oven. I have existing 4-wire wiring and 50-amp dual pole breaker. ... A: No need to go into the attic. Just make the existing box a j-box and run wires from it to a new box ... | |
| Wall Oven Junction Box Location | 9/1/2010 |
| Q: I am installing a new double wall oven. I have existing 4-wire wiring and 50-amp dual pole breaker. ... A: My understanding is that it is still readily accessible by sliding the oven out. Your wall oven is ... | |
| Single wall wire drop | 8/26/2010 |
| Q: I have a home with single wall construction and no grounded wiring. I am trying to replace the ... A: Normally when a ground is needed you simply run a ground to each outlet instead of all new wire ... | |
| residential grounding | 8/26/2010 |
| Q: in our area the ground rod needs to be tied in with the rebar of the foundation.how do you properly ... A: You do it while the house is under construction and usually it is not the ground rod that gets tied ... | |
| deck light wiring | 8/25/2010 |
| Q: I have done a fair amount of wiring but want to be sure I am on the right track with this project. I ... A: You will need conduit where the wire is exposed (under the decking). At each post under the deck you ... | |
| did some re-wiring, buit lost some lights | 8/24/2010 |
| Q: I was swapping a regular switch for a dimmer in my b-fast nook. I always turn power off, but ... A: Just looking at a breaker really does little to no good. A breaker could be non-functioning and ... | |
| did some re-wiring, buit lost some lights | 8/23/2010 |
| Q: I was swapping a regular switch for a dimmer in my b-fast nook. I always turn power off, but ... A: The first thing you need to do is buy a power tester and always test the circuit first. You are ... | |
| crosley range mdl ce3537xua | 8/22/2010 |
| Q: can I use a 10 gauge wire from my fuse box to hook up the stove or do I need a larger wire? A: I could not find the manual online so you will need to look at the nameplate for the acceptable ... | |
| Open circuit in home | 8/22/2010 |
| Q: I recently developed what I thought was a blown breaker in our family room. Upon further inspection ... A: So the breaker that controls your family room has no wire attached to the breaker? Seems odd to me, ... | |
| Jumping one electrical box to another | 8/21/2010 |
| Q: I am upgrading my electrical service from 100 amps to 200 amp service. I want to start transferring ... A: The proper way is to wait until the utility company disconnects your line and then remove the old ... | |
| Residual Voltage | 8/20/2010 |
| Q: A 3 way switch circuit between the house & the detached garage showed 30V with the circuit open, ... A: Okay, but where did you measure the 30 volts? At the switches? Both switches, one switch? Did you ... | |
| ceiling fan not turning | 8/19/2010 |
| Q: our ceiling fan (only 18 months old) does not turn. The light works, but fan will not turn in either ... A: Does the same switch on the wall control both the light and the fan? If so, it may be that the wire ... | |
| The dreaded flicker | 8/17/2010 |
| Q: My Hughes I am in my second home now with flickering lights. We moved into a 25 year old house ... A: Many people say this is "normal" and there is nothing you can do about it. But they are wrong! ... | |
| Sub- panel location | 8/16/2010 |
| Q: In new Residential Construction, is it ok to have a Sub Panel Breaker Box in a Laundry room. If it ... A: NEC 240.24(E) relates to not having a subpanel in a bathroom and NEC 240.24(D) states 'Overcurrent ... | |
| Dryer Connection | 8/14/2010 |
| Q: We've had our dryer for two years, it replaced an old dryer that was arcing. Now the new dryer is ... A: You have a serious situation here. If that gas valve leaks and that plug arcs you could have an ... | |
| Power Conversion | 8/14/2010 |
| Q: I have a 5 ton roof top AC/electric heat unit that is wired for 208 3ph, want to install in building ... A: You want a "phase converter" not an "AC converter". The 7.5hp may be enough, check the plate to see ... | |
| Electrical power "fluttering" on an outlet | 8/13/2010 |
| Q: I have an external outlet that is driven by a light switch inside the house. When I turn it on (from ... A: It sounds like the white is the hot since they are pigtailed together and connected to each switch. ... | |
| Loose Neutral? | 8/11/2010 |
| Q: In the apartment I have been renting for a year I am suspecting a loose neutral. All the lightbulbs ... A: You should of demanded the landlord have an electrician or the utility company check your circuits a ... | |
| re-wiring older home | 8/10/2010 |
| Q: We've got a 1940s home with some knob and tube wiring still in place and powering much of our home. ... A: I have seen that old wiring under the joists before and that is not how it is suppose to be done. ... | |
| 250v 50A vs 240v electric dryer | 8/9/2010 |
| Q: We removed an old dryer from my parents 50+ year old home. The electrical outlet it was plugged ... A: Rated voltages and actual voltage usually are different and that is okay as long as they fall within ... | |
| Home electrical problem | 8/9/2010 |
| Q: Upon plugging my TV in a bedroom and hooking up the coax line I got shocked, I measured the voltage ... A: If it is like this on only one circuit it is probably part of a multiwire branch circuit, this means ... | |
| Outage in one room | 8/8/2010 |
| Q: We were sitting watching TV in the family room and the power to JUST that room went out. My husband ... A: You could have a bad breaker or tripped gfci. The other things that could be wrong are a loose or ... | |
| No power in outlets and lights. | 8/7/2010 |
| Q: Major problem. Lightning struck near home and tripped two breakers. After resetting breakers, still ... A: If you put voltage on the circuit after the gfci and the circuit works, but if you put voltage on ... | |
| Consolidating circuits vs. Subpanel when no free space for new circuits | 8/6/2010 |
| Q: I am a homeowner who wants to install a 220 outlet in my garage for a welder (which I have not ... A: As far as the mounting I was just wondering if you had a choice. Yes, it is code and it is rated ... | |
| Electric Wiring - Electric Water Heater | 8/4/2010 |
| Q: HELP!!I'm a student and renter in an apt, which heat & hot water is included in the rent. How can I ... A: Make sure everything is off, as much as can, and then run hot water and see if your meter starts ... | |
| Electric Wiring - Electric Water Heater | 8/3/2010 |
| Q: HELP!!I'm a student and renter in an apt, which heat & hot water is included in the rent. How can I ... A: There would be a breaker marked water heater, and one marked heat. They would most likely be a 30 ... | |
| appliance wiring | 8/3/2010 |
| Q: I recently purchased a GE JRP28SKSS double oven wall unit to replace my 1980 Amana single oven wall ... A: If you look in the installation manual under Electrical Requirements it explains your situation. If ... | |
| adding a switch and additional lights after pull chain light | 8/2/2010 |
| Q: power comes from an outlet to the pull chain light where it currently ends. have wired up ... A: You connect the hot, before the pull chain switch, to the hot going to your new switch. You connect ... | |
| range outlet | 8/2/2010 |
| Q: I am updating my kitchen range. I am hoping I can change the receptacle to match the new plug ... A: To bring it up to current code, and to be more safe, you would need to run a neutral wire from the ... | |
| disconnect requirment | 8/1/2010 |
| Q: I built large workshop behond my home. I want to add a disconnect to the back on my house next to ... A: I believe what you want is a subpanel rather than a disconnect. It sounds like 100 amps is enough ... | |
| adding a second lithe to a circuit from on switch at the switch | 7/18/2010 |
| Q: I am trying to ads a second light fixture to a circuit to one line controlled by the same switch by ... A: You have managed to wire them in series, which is why the dimming. If the switch does not have a ... | |
| replacing a water heater timer | 7/18/2010 |
| Q: Our Intermatic timer on our water heater finally died after 33 years of faithful service. We are ... A: Electric water heaters take 2 wires to operate and a third for ground. They are 220 volts which ... | |
| HVAC Wiring | 7/17/2010 |
| Q: I need to prewire for a 5 ton heat pump with a 20kw electric heater. What size conductor do I need ... A: You have to look at the installation instructions for the electrical requirements for each ... | |
| replacing electrical outlets | 7/16/2010 |
| Q: I have been replacing electrical outlets in our 1920 colonial with no problems, until today. I had a ... A: Just looking at a breaker can fool you. The panel has to be removed and a voltmeter used to test the ... | |
| 3 prong to 4 prong dryer outlet | 7/14/2010 |
| Q: Just wanted to know if there are any dangers to replacing the 3 prong outlet with a four prong (no ... A: If you do not have a separate ground wire it makes no sense to install a four prong outlet or cord. ... | |
| CIRCUIT SIZE AND QUANTITY | 7/14/2010 |
| Q: Regarding a 1.5 ton split a c with gas furnace: What size 220 V circuit is required for the ... A: A gas furnace requires 110 volts for the various motors and ignition system. An electric furnace ... | |
| Replacing outlets & panels | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: I live in a house built in the 70s in San Diego California. My question is about Labor costs. I'm ... A: Labor is a subject I cannot comment on because I am sitting behind my computer in a different part ... | |
| Loud pop and smoke when plugged in oven | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: Greg, We just remodeled our kitchen and switched the oven to the opposite side of the kitchen. We ... A: What size are the wire and the breaker that feed this circuit? If the Jenn-Air was gas then it ... | |
| Loud pop and smoke when plugged in oven | 7/11/2010 |
| Q: Greg, We just remodeled our kitchen and switched the oven to the opposite side of the kitchen. We ... A: From what I can tell from the picture it looks like it is wired correctly, but only a voltmeter will ... | |
| Loud pop and smoke when plugged in oven | 7/11/2010 |
| Q: Greg, We just remodeled our kitchen and switched the oven to the opposite side of the kitchen. We ... A: You need to make sure you are not getting 220 volts to the neutral. That would "smoke" the ... | |
| Wiring a ceiling fan with 2 switches, one controlling a switched outlet | 7/10/2010 |
| Q: I just installed a ceiling fan where there was no previous fixture. I ran the ceiling fan wire to a ... A: To switch the fan and light separately you need to run 12/3 with a ground from the switch box to the ... | |
| house wiring - 220 to 110 | 7/8/2010 |
| Q: It is 10 AWG. It's 3-wire, 2 hot (black/red) and a common (white). I would like to change the ... A: At the panel: You remove the 30 amp breaker. Keep all wires disconnected and safely away from other ... | |
| outside electrical outlet on a mobile home | 7/8/2010 |
| Q: while mowing my yard with an electrical mower i severed the electrical cord and the outside power ... A: There may be a GFCI outlet, meaning there is a little reset button on one of your outlets that needs ... | |
| 220 to 110 conversion | 7/7/2010 |
| Q: I am converting our built in electric oven/cooktop and microwave that were all hooked up to one 220 ... A: If you are going to hire an electrician, then allow them to do both ends not just the breaker. They ... | |
| ceiling fan smoked | 7/7/2010 |
| Q: we installed a ceiling fan where we had a light fixture. There are 3 switches to the fan (and the ... A: Do you mean that there are 3 separate switches that turn the fan on and off, located in different ... | |
| GFCI Wiring | 7/5/2010 |
| Q: In my home, there is a circuit that runs from the circuit breaker panel to a GFCI outlet in the ... A: You need a gfci outlet for your garage and your outside outlet. I recommend running a new circuit ... | |
| Wire a floor lamp | 7/4/2010 |
| Q: I have a floor lamp that has a single on / off switch and I would like to install a on/on/on off ... A: If this is a wall switch controlling an outlet then you will have to go to a dimmer like control ... | |
| Bathroom fixture | 7/4/2010 |
| Q: I am an active duty Air Force guy and I just moved into a house in VA. One of the bathrooms had a ... A: Please give me more info. Was the box with a plate for a light or switch? Where was the box in the ... | |
| Double outlet change | 7/3/2010 |
| Q: I am wanting to change the third duplex outlet wired in series of six to a single outlet switch ... A: This is easy, however they are not in series. Technically they are in parallel or else you would ... | |
| Chandelier wiring problem | 7/3/2010 |
| Q: I just had the ceilings replaced in my 100 year old house, and I'm having difficulty re-hanging the ... A: When removing and replacing fixtures it is in your best interest to mark which wires connect to what ... | |
| Rewiring bathroom outlets | 7/2/2010 |
| Q: My house has two bathrooms, and the outlets in both bathrooms are on the same 15-amp circuit, along ... A: Wire nut the two hots together, and wire nut the two neutrals together. If you have a ground connect ... | |
| Ceiling fan and AFCI | 7/1/2010 |
| Q: Installed new Hunter ceiling fan in new condo bedroom. Works fine. While installing a Hunter remote ... A: You are right about the code, I was thinking of the older codes. Try wiring the fan without the ... | |
| Ceiling fan and AFCI | 7/1/2010 |
| Q: Installed new Hunter ceiling fan in new condo bedroom. Works fine. While installing a Hunter remote ... A: If it tripped while you were putting the wires together the power must of been on and it detected ... | |
| replacing electrical outlets | 6/30/2010 |
| Q: I have been replacing electrical outlets in our 1920 colonial with no problems, until today. I had a ... A: You need to find where the power stops and look there. A voltmeter is needed to keep from going ... | |
| Adding a circuit for a dishwasher | 6/29/2010 |
| Q: I was hoping you could help me with a few answers. We have a house with a finished basement(95%). ... A: I am not familiar with Canadian code so I can only tell you what is code in the U.S. but you have to ... | |
| Voltage when switch is off | 6/28/2010 |
| Q: 5 year old house, 100 amp service. One circuit runs up to the kitchen for just the lighting. One ... A: In troubleshooting you can never say "I can't believe it is ....." You have to keep an open mind ... | |
| Power surge? | 6/27/2010 |
| Q: I came home and found 6 breakers tripped so I reset them. Now the TV works fine but the Cable box, ... A: It depends on how much troubleshooting you can do. If your abilities and comfort level end with ... | |
| Outdoor Outlet Reset | 6/26/2010 |
| Q: I had a few extension cords connected and running from an outdoor outlet. Where two of the ... A: Keep looking for ANY outlet with a RESET button. Then take a multimeter and see if your breaker is ... | |
| service panel | 6/25/2010 |
| Q: I'm replacing an older service panel. The new one has to be 10 inches lower but now the wires won't ... A: I do not know if you have room to drill a hole in the panel. One problem with that is the metal ... | |
| knob n tube | 6/24/2010 |
| Q: I have a customer who cannot get insurance on his house until he cleans knob and tube in attic. ... A: Some knob-tube wiring does not have boxes in the wall so that needs to be inspected. If you join ... | |
| 240v outlet to 110 outlet | 6/24/2010 |
| Q: i have a 240v outlet in my room,and im trying to put a ac window unit ,but the out is a lil ... A: Outlets are mostly rated by amperage. A 30 amp 110 volt outlet looks different from a 15 amp outlet. ... | |
| replacing electrical outlets | 6/23/2010 |
| Q: I have been replacing electrical outlets in our 1920 colonial with no problems, until today. I had a ... A: Sounds like a wire is loose in a wire nut or came off the screw on the outlet. Go to the outlet ... | |
| Ceiling Lights that Flicker | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: We Started having problems with ceiling lights that flicker. When several ceiling lights are cut on, ... A: First I will tell you that working with aluminum can be tough because it wants to break when you ... | |
| Where to connect a Ground wire and determine which wire is hot | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: I am replacing a pool pump timer and my problem is two-fold. The original timer crapped out for ... A: The first problem is easy; if you take the wires apart and keep them from touching anything you can ... | |
| AFCI | 6/21/2010 |
| Q: I have a new house with a breaker box that combines some standard and some AFCI. Would all AFCI ... A: For the same reason I would not want them on a GFCI. Both AFCI and GFCI are susceptible to nuisance ... | |
| Lights dip | 6/19/2010 |
| Q: every time a motor starts in my house, all the lights in the entire house dip momentarily. This ... A: There are so many things it could be. The 220 volt motors are hard to get away from any dimming due ... | |
| 220 to 110 | 6/18/2010 |
| Q: How would you go about converting a whole house from 220 to 110? The house would be in the ... A: I am not familiar with foreign electrical codes and practices. The assumption is that the whole ... | |
| inground pool | 6/16/2010 |
| Q: I have a few questions specific to hooking up a pool - 1. What kind of clamps do we need to use to ... A: Sorry but I only recommend licensed electricians to do pool wiring which means I do not give advise ... | |
| Spike in electric bill | 6/15/2010 |
| Q: I have a customer that said there electric bill went up three fold in a month. He said they just ... A: If they were using heat and they have a heat pump with electric back up it is possible that the back ... | |
| garage project | 6/14/2010 |
| Q: i'm helping a buddy by wiring up a detached garage. he wants three 20amp breakers for the buildout. ... A: Yes you are close. If you run a ground from the main to the sub you do not need a ground rod, so you ... | |
| RUNNING ROMEX FROM BREAKER BOX OUTSIDE | 6/9/2010 |
| Q: I HAVE A WORK ROOM IN MY CARPORT THAT SEEMS TO BE WIRED ON THE SAME BREAKER AS MY KITCHEN. THIS ... A: Ahh Pam, remember what our parents use to tell us; "two wrongs do not make a right"? Well, that ... | |
| Can't get our Bath vent/light combo to run on seperate switches | 6/8/2010 |
| Q: . I'm hoping you can "throw some light" on my situation.. Bath/vent model is the NuTone 757SNNT. We ... A: If you did not run 12/3 from the switches to the light/fan it means you had to run two 12/2 wires. ... | |
| Ceiling Fan/ Light Kit problem | 6/7/2010 |
| Q: We had an existing ceiling fan with light kit. The fan worked from the pull chain and the light ... A: This is the perfect example of why you should write down or take a photo of how the existing fixture ... | |
| partial outage | 6/7/2010 |
| Q: all of a sudden i lost power to several outlets and switches called elec co they said ita an ... A: It may be a tripped circuit breaker or a breaker that quit working. That is the best place to start ... | |
| Plug to Hardwire conversion | 5/28/2010 |
| Q: I am looking to replace a basic ceiling fixture which is currently on a dimmer switch. I have a ... A: You need the proper strain relief on the cord, but yes it is black to black and white to white. ... | |
| sub panel wiring | 5/27/2010 |
| Q: I have a 30A/240v breaker on my main panel feeding a baseboard heater I do not use. I want to use ... A: If you are running new wires from the main to the sub why not replace the 30a 2 pole breaker with a ... | |
| Lights Flicker | 5/26/2010 |
| Q: When my home AC unit kicks on all the lights in my house will flicker for a quick second, What can ... A: Some people say this is normal, however I do not agree with that. A properly wired home that was ... | |
| switched outlet | 5/24/2010 |
| Q: i want to wire a switched outlet. but i want 2 switches to control one outlet, so i can plug in 2 ... A: It is possible. You break the tab on the hot side of the outlet so the upper outlet is separate from ... | |
| home wiring | 5/23/2010 |
| Q: i had a light switch for my garbage disposal go bad no problem turned off breakers to this box ... A: Not sure what "unit" means but I am guessing you mean garbage disposal and vent hood. It may be ... | |
| ground fault going 'red' | 5/23/2010 |
| Q: i have installed a ground fault receptable in my garage, wired white-white,black-hot, copper to ... A: Hot goes to "Line hot", neutral goes to "Line neutral" and ground to ground screw. It states this on ... | |
| New Dryer | 5/22/2010 |
| Q: New dryer has 4 prong, outlet is 3. Master Bob had a similar question which helped me get to where ... A: I am sending you a photo of what it is suppose to look like versus what you have right now. It ... | |
| New Dryer | 5/22/2010 |
| Q: New dryer has 4 prong, outlet is 3. Master Bob had a similar question which helped me get to where ... A: By not installing a 4-prong outlet with the appropriate wiring you take the chance of energizing ... | |
| 220 GFCI | 5/21/2010 |
| Q: I want to wire a 220V pressure sprayer to a GFCI breaker. The sprayer has 3 terminals-2 hots and a ... A: You need a gfci breaker, much like for a hot tub. Since the sprayer does not have have a neutral you ... | |
| another ground question | 5/20/2010 |
| Q: A follow up to the previous question. I was planning to run MC cable from the disconnect to the ... A: Yes, you can use the mc cable. Mark the white with red electrical tape on both ends. Use the black ... | |
| home electrical | 5/20/2010 |
| Q: I am planning to use an old air conditioner circuit (240 VAC) for a new 240 VAC compressor. The old ... A: You are right, codes are much different now than they were back then. If your compressor does not ... | |
| breaker/fuse size for residential A/C | 5/19/2010 |
| Q: Installing a new residential (240/1 phase) A/C unit and furnace. The unit says 30FLA. What size ... A: I have not seen fuses required in an A/C disconnect in a long time. If the installation instructions ... | |
| Sub Panel | 5/18/2010 |
| Q: I am building a sun room and would like to have some outlets and fans in it. I have a 220v 3phase ... A: I am going to have to recommend that you get an electrician to do this because there are codes that ... | |
| Wiring | 5/17/2010 |
| Q: I have a 60 watt light bulb in my garage attic. With the switch off, the bulb glows about half ... A: The first thing you want to do is pull the fixture and measure hot to neutral. Look for loose wires ... | |
| Outlet boxes with different number of wires | 5/17/2010 |
| Q: I am looking to replace 2 different flours. fixtures and install a simple track system. Outlet box ... A: Are you talking about outlet boxes or junction boxes? They are very different. The new lighting ... | |
| electrical wiring | 5/16/2010 |
| Q: One of the units in the condo where I live had a fire. When they redid the interior they placed ... A: Most insulation is not a good conductor of electricity. If the insulation has a good fire retardant ... | |
| timer installation | 5/15/2010 |
| Q: I am putting in a new timer for outside lights. The wall box has 2 wires, black and white. The timer ... A: Your switch does not have a neutral, it is simply taking the hot and sending it to the load. If it ... | |
| 6/2 or 6/3? | 5/15/2010 |
| Q: I am pulling new wire from my breaker panel to the unit's disconnect. Do I use 6/2 or 6/3? There ... A: I am not sure what "unit" you are talking about. If it is an air conditioning condensing unit then ... | |
| exhaust fan | 5/14/2010 |
| Q: I had a bathroom exhaust fan go out.At the fan box I get 40v hot to nuetral,120v hot to ground. It ... A: You have a broken or loose neutral somewhere. Depending on how the wires were ran it may in the ... | |
| Hot Tub Wiring | 5/14/2010 |
| Q: Morning Greg, I purchased a used Hottub(came with everything)wire,GFI,Breaker This is my plan from ... A: I am not familiar with the CSA, but if it helps what you have described would pass here in your ... | |
| three way switch to a split recepticle | 5/13/2010 |
| Q: I have 14/3 wire running into a recepticle and 14/2 running out of it. I was replacing an old ... A: What you have is either a switched half outlet, or an outlet that has two circuits feeding it, one ... | |
| grounding wire/outlet | 5/13/2010 |
| Q: We have an older home - built 1978. one plug is not grounded properly. There are two other outlets ... A: The ground wire may be broken at the connection from the outlet that feeds this outlet, or the ... | |
| Retrofitting old ceiling box | 5/12/2010 |
| Q: I have a plastic ceiling box that I need to extend the circuit wiring from due to new construction. ... A: I cannot answer code questions outside of the NEC due to each town in the U.S. having it's own added ... | |
| Sup Panel/Pool | 5/12/2010 |
| Q: I am doing a job which had an existing 30 amp sub panel which fed a pool pump 2 pole 20 amp breaker ... A: It looks good. This is why it is better to have 220 volt pumps rather than 110 volts. It keeps the ... | |
| 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: You have to open the main panel and with the power off remove the red wire from the breaker and wrap ... | |
| Sup Panel/Pool | 5/11/2010 |
| Q: I am doing a job which had an existing 30 amp sub panel which fed a pool pump 2 pole 20 amp breaker ... A: Add up the wattage of what will be on that subpanel and divide by the voltage. If a load will run ... | |
| Dryer outlet | 5/10/2010 |
| Q: Recently my husband replaced the dryer outlet to the same 3 prong. I believe Nema 10-30r ... A: This is one of the reasons the new code calls for a 4-prong outlet and cord. You are sending power ... | |
| Faullty Outlets | 5/9/2010 |
| Q: I have outlets that do not work all over the house on both floors of a 20 year old home. The ... A: They could be connected through a gfci outlet. Go around and check each gfci outlet. You will find ... | |
| Dryer | 5/8/2010 |
| Q: I hope this isn't to stupid of a question if it is glad i could make your day a little brighter.I ... A: You can convert the outlet but the dryers are not designed to run on 110 volts. The dryers would ... | |
| basement wiring | 5/6/2010 |
| Q: I am currently adding a bathroom to my finished basement. I have two things I need to add that I ... A: Yes, just follow your diagram. Black that is hot from the panel will go to each switch (using a ... | |
| Dryer | 5/6/2010 |
| Q: I hope this isn't to stupid of a question if it is glad i could make your day a little brighter.I ... A: The only stupid question is the one not asked. Dryers come in the electric variety and the gas ... | |
| Protection against low voltage brownout for refrigerator | 5/5/2010 |
| Q: I live on a coastal island which suffers occasional brownouts as the underwater cable which supplies ... A: There are many UPS and APC devices on the market, but most of them protect smaller equipment such as ... | |
| Replace Y594 Thermostat | 5/4/2010 |
| Q: I bought a TH5220D thermostat to replace a Y594. The wiring is little bit different and I am afraid ... A: Your original t-stat is for a heat pump and the replacement is not, therefore you to check to see if ... | |
| open slots in service panel | 5/4/2010 |
| Q: Selling our home, the inspector wants open slots in the service panel corrected. What is the danger ... A: Buy inserts (blanks) for the open slots. They sell them at most home centers. The danger is that ... | |
| popping sound | 5/3/2010 |
| Q: all of a sudden when i switch the light on in the bathroom the light makes a loud pop, goes out, ... A: Turn the breaker off and carefully look for a ground wire touching the switch when all the wires get ... | |
| Determine AMPs remaining on a circuit | 5/3/2010 |
| Q: We have an unfinished basement, and several junction boxes on the floor joists are hooked up to old ... A: First determine what all is on that circuit and add up the wattage. Divide by the supply voltage to ... | |
| Ceiling Fan Install | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: I'm connecting the wires on a new ceiling fan. The current ceiling fixture has 3 wires coming out - ... A: You can, as in it is possible, to connect the green to red but get ready for a power outage. You ... | |
| Installing a timer switch | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: I purchased a Pass&Seymour RT1WCCV4 7 button timer switch to replace a regular flip switch that ... A: To use this timer it would require you to run more wires from the light fixture to the switch. This ... | |
| elec motor wiring | 5/1/2010 |
| Q: red, black and blue to heat cool and w2 are fine......old motor had brown and white wires to ... A: The motor should have a diagram on it or in/on the box it came in. Remember to replace the cap when ... | |
| breaker size? | 4/30/2010 |
| Q: just bought a split ac unit 24,000 btu needed to know what size breaker to get for it? A: The installation manual should tell you, and if you do not have the manual you can look on the ... | |
| split a 220V line | 4/29/2010 |
| Q: I am replacing an old electric 220V, 40A double oven with two new separate ovens. The first oven is ... A: Unless you have some new oven that I am not aware of, when they say "dual-rated" they do not mean ... | |
| Microwave over range | 4/29/2010 |
| Q: I currently have a range hood, replacing cabinets and would like a microwave over range. My ... A: Your breakers for the range have nothing to do with your microwave and you cannot use that circuit ... | |
| Hot Tub wiring | 4/28/2010 |
| Q: I have a hot tub that is wired for 220. I recently purchased an 'ozonator' (helps fight bacteria ... A: It depends on how your tub was wired. Typically there are 4 wires ran from the main panel to the ... | |
| 40 amp service | 4/27/2010 |
| Q: I'm just replacing a wall oven and a cook top with new ones. I have noticed that the wall oven and ... A: I am not familiar with codes in Canada so I will speak to codes here in the U.S. and you can see the ... | |
| Stove trips breaker | 4/26/2010 |
| Q: Greg, I had an intermittent problem with my stove tripping the breaker. It would not trip when it ... A: You did not mention if this is a gas or electric stove. If it is gas you can try plugging it into a ... | |
| 220 wiring question | 4/26/2010 |
| Q: i have a 17" grizzly band saw with a 2hp motor that is 220v with a 15amp draw. i need to wire up my ... A: It sounds good, but I am wondering why the 12/3 extension cord from 12/2 wire. Plus, if you are ... | |
| Attaching a High Voltage to Low Voltage Fixture | 4/25/2010 |
| Q: A 500 watt outdoor security light was installed in the stucco on the outside of my home, near the ... A: Which is the high voltage and which is the low voltage? You mentioned watts but not volts and that ... | |
| 3 phase pump | 4/24/2010 |
| Q: When the float switch send the signal, control panel activate the three phase sewage pump which ... A: Start by making sure you have the proper supply voltage on each phase. If you do, then the problems ... | |
| GFCI Outlet and bathroom lights | 4/23/2010 |
| Q: We have just completed a bathroom remodel with a contractor. The old bathroom was completely ... A: If this is the only bathroom then both the lights and outlets can be on the same circuit. If there ... | |
| 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: You did not mention what type of lights, but under cabinet are usually fluorescent. If so, then the ... | |
| arc fault | 4/21/2010 |
| Q: here's the situation...i have an old house with knob and tube wiring and an original 6 circuit ... A: The 2008 NEC is the now the ruling edition. But to answer your questions: 1. AFC are for bedrooms, ... | |
| Fridge trips outlet downstream of bath GFI outlet | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: I have a GFI outlet on a bathroom wall that has a regular outlet jumpered off it which happens to ... A: You are right, your fridge should not be on a gfci outlet. The person that installed the gfci outlet ... | |
| electrical code questions | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: i would like your help on something that has to do with the NEC electrical code. You see I'm a ... A: My forte is not in commercial electrical codes and like you I would have to study the code book to ... | |
| Electrical Panel | 4/19/2010 |
| Q: We have an old cabin (80 years+) that we would like to replace the new master/meter panel and ... A: I have PGandE and they will not do what you want without a permit and a signed off inspection sheet. ... | |
| Range/Microwave Service | 4/18/2010 |
| Q: I am in the process of moving a range and microwave(also is convection) from my home to a villa. ... A: Code allows for the cooktop and oven (two separate appliances) to be on the same circuit. It sounds ... | |
| two wires "leftover" from dishwasher installation | 4/17/2010 |
| Q: I received a late model used dishwasher in excellent condition from a reputable source which ... A: Power from the timer runs to a float switch (over flow protection) then to the fill valve. If the ... | |
| load calculation | 4/17/2010 |
| Q: our control panel shows different amp in different phases, I mean R shows 60amp, y shows 40amp and b ... A: Three phase calculations are not easy because there are many variables. Such as the actual measured ... | |
| double wide mobile home electric problem | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: we have a 2001 double wide mobile home lived here for 4 years, one morning we wake up to half of the ... A: It sounds like you have a gfci circuit(s) tripped or half of your main breaker is tripped or not ... | |
| noisy outlet | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: I am an audio engineer and do a lot of work out of my house. i recently moved to a pre war building ... A: Noise is usually a tough one to solve with electronic equipment. It could be caused by a ground that ... | |
| Disconnect Switch | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: Am I required to have a disconnect switch on my home AC unit if my main panel is in the line of site ... A: Installing a disconnect here would be a courtesy to the HVAC tech so they would not have to lock ... | |
| electrical entance cable | 4/14/2010 |
| Q: My home has a cable from the meter to the fuse box. I am told it is a #4 copper. The electrician is ... A: It sounds like you have a legitimate concern. Normally a job like this requires a permit and ... | |
| found air compressor with 230volts | 4/12/2010 |
| Q: today i found a air compressor that some one was throwing out it is 230 volts and has a three prong ... A: It is doubtful that your fuse box is 220 watts. But now that you said that I need more information ... | |
| Garage Door | 4/11/2010 |
| Q: My Automatic garage door has stopped working. The power point is getting power but the garage door ... A: If you have power at the outlet feeding the opener, the next logical place to look is the fuse. ... | |
| electrical interference on tv | 4/8/2010 |
| Q: We built a new home 10 yrs ago. the electrician said there was an electrical bleed or seepage or ... A: I think you should have an electrician isolate what is causing this and repair it. A line may have ... | |
| socket popping sound | 4/7/2010 |
| Q: I'm looking at buying a house. When I tried to put my portable printer plug into 4 sockets in the ... A: If you tried all the outlets and only four acted like that I would have to guess that maybe those ... | |
| Why did this wire fry? | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: I have an old house. When the electric Dryer was installed, the electrician had to put it on the ... A: You really, really, need to get another line ran to either your dryer or WH and put them on separate ... | |
| Amp to Watt Calculation | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: I just read your post about the dryer and the amps on both legs were about equal. What if I am ... A: (60a x 240v) = 14400 VA (23a x 120v) = 2760 VA Total VA = 17160 or 17.16 KVA This means ... | |
| Circuit Breaker | 4/4/2010 |
| Q: My son was vacuuming today in the living room and when he turned the vacuum on all power was lost in ... A: Take a voltmeter and check the power coming from each breaker to make sure you are getting the ... | |
| outdoor floodlights burn out quickly | 4/3/2010 |
| Q: Recently acquired a rental house. Tenant says outdoor floodlights burn out quickly. Former owner ... A: I believe cheaper fixtures are the number one cause. If the connection at the base is not made real ... | |
| receptacle placement | 4/2/2010 |
| Q: contactors installed a new vanity in my bathroom, it is 5 inches higher than my old one. The plug ... A: As long as you can access the outlet, meaning you can replace it. But, you do not want it even with ... | |
| continuing 3 way switch and light | 3/31/2010 |
| Q: Greg, Thanks for getting back to me so quick and here is how the light is wired. The poser comes ... A: Something does not sound correct. Maybe I am misunderstanding you. Where are the two wires (black ... | |
| Wire and breaker size for hot water heater | 3/31/2010 |
| Q: I am converting from gas to electric.Will 10/3 wire work for my hot water heater ? Also do i need a ... A: 10/2 with a ground is sufficient, but 10/3 will work. You just do not use the neutral(white). You ... | |
| 3 way switch | 3/30/2010 |
| Q: I have a regular wired 3 way switchs, one at each end of the stairs, but the light is at the ... A: Your options depend on how your circuit is currently wired. I need to know at what point does the ... | |
| electric water heater malfunction | 3/28/2010 |
| Q: According to my neighbor during the last storm some of her electrical appliances quit working due to ... A: Let me preface this answer by saying this is not legal advise and it is simply my opinion, which ... | |
| Trouble shooting | 3/28/2010 |
| Q: If I'm sure that my pressure switch for the well is wired up right, and I'm still not geting any ... A: 1) Your motor might not be working 2) You might not get the correct voltage to the motor 3) Your ... | |
| How to make the proper connections | 3/27/2010 |
| Q: A year ago, We sarted renovating our home and had an electrician run the wiring for a future light ... A: It is rare to find a black and red (in that size) without a white along with it. However, I am not ... | |
| random power outages | 3/26/2010 |
| Q: I moved into my house about 4 years ago and up until about 8 months ago i didn't have any problems. ... A: It does sound like the main breaker is failing or the panel has become pitted. It seems like a ... | |
| 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: Most homes are wired in a way that the least amount of romex has to be ran. Which means each house ... | |
| Adding a 30a 240 volt circuit | 3/24/2010 |
| Q: I am going to add a 30a 240 volt circuit for a compressor to the electric panel at my home. The ... A: The type of breakers accepted by that panel should be listed inside the panel. Take that info to ... | |
| Moving electric service to side of house | 3/24/2010 |
| Q: I currrently have the main electric service coming into the house from the back. it is mounted on ... A: 1. As far as you want. 2. There has to be some sort of disconnect close to the meter and marked as ... | |
| 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: You will need a good voltmeter to start checking where you lost power. Normally, a room has all the ... | |
| conduit | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: I would like to upgrade my power going into my detatched garage. I have pvc conduit running ... A: The "2 versus ...3 wire" refers to whether it is 120 volts or 220 volts, and yes it does change. ... | |
| Detached Garage Sub-Panel | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: Background: Attached 1/2" away to my outdoor Duke Energy meter box is a sub-panel fed from the ... A: 1) You can use the 50 amp breaker. 2) They should of ran a ground, however; If they did not need a ... | |
| Detached Garage Sub-Panel | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: Background: Attached 1/2" away to my outdoor Duke Energy meter box is a sub-panel fed from the ... A: Yes, you can use that subpanel. A subpanel does not have the ground and neutral bonded. Meaning that ... | |
| electrical outlets | 3/19/2010 |
| Q: I have about 6 outlets in my bedroom. The top one on every outlet does not have power. No circuit ... A: It sounds like they are tied into the switch on the wall. Each outlet has a tab that can be broken ... | |
| wiring baseboard heater | 3/19/2010 |
| Q: when connecting a 120V baseboard heater without a terminal on the heater for the neutral wire, where ... A: Something is not right with this picture you painted. If it is 120 volt, not 220 volt, then it ... | |
| pump circuit | 3/18/2010 |
| Q: I am installing a mechanically timed 220v pool pump and salt generator system. The pump circuit ... A: I believe you should go with a 20 amp circuit because if your pump runs for 3 hours (plus if the ... | |
| HVAC sub trips & takes Main with it ! | 3/18/2010 |
| Q: Triple socket Main Service. Original problem=Old red colored 125A main breaker (old Murray's?) ... A: Replace the main panel and upgrade to a 200 amp service panel. That will solve a lot of your ... | |
| non-ic rating | 3/17/2010 |
| Q: Is it possible to install a non-ic rated troffer fluorescent light in a insulated ceiling if you ... A: As far as I know the answer is yes. I have seen it many times and this is what happens when flush ... | |
| installing ceiling fan | 3/16/2010 |
| Q: i am installing a ceiling fan to a switch that uses a outlet with just the basic wiring black,white ... A: What wires are available at the switch? You would remove the wires from the switch and wirenut them ... | |
| Extending a 220V outlet | 3/14/2010 |
| Q: I need to move my A/C condenser unit to a new location outside my house but the new location ... A: You just replace the old disconnect with a junction box and run the wires from it to the new ... | |
| reverse polarity | 3/13/2010 |
| Q: I recently bought a log home that has had an addition built on to it. All of the outlets in the ... A: First start by checking your grounds. A poor or nonexistent egc can cause this reading on those ... | |
| electrical | 3/13/2010 |
| Q: how many duplex outlets can you have on a 15 amp breaker A: Commercial it is 180VA per outlet so you can do the math. Residential it is, well let me say this ... | |
| Kitchen remodel - new subpanel | 3/12/2010 |
| Q: I have gutted my kitchen, and in the process found some (usual?) surprises, with lights and ... A: It looks like you could use a 60 amp subpanel. But you need room for at least 8 circuits. If you ... | |
| main panel issue | 3/12/2010 |
| Q: Greg, Hello. My friend is having as issue at his panel. He hears sizzling and he changed out some ... A: The first place to look is behind or underneath the breakers. The bar that the breaker connects to ... | |
| dimming of light | 3/11/2010 |
| Q: I plugged in the vacum in the same outlet as the light and noticed the lamp dims a little. It is ... A: Most motors draw more amps when starting then when running. A properly sized circuit should not dim ... | |
| dimming of light | 3/11/2010 |
| Q: I plugged in the vacum in the same outlet as the light and noticed the lamp dims a little. It is ... A: It is worth looking into the situation. First, make sure your fixture is for a 100 watt bulb and ... | |
| Find covered floor receptacle. | 3/10/2010 |
| Q: When my home was built (~15 years ago) I had a receptacle placed on my family room floor because it ... A: There are devices to locate this outlet. If it is live you can use a voltage detector, if it is not ... | |
| Sauna installation-home amperage | 3/10/2010 |
| Q: I am interested in adding a sauna to my home. My house has a 150 AMP main breaker that is maxed out ... A: You can start with your utility company and have them see if you can upgrade your system with their ... | |
| electrical wiring in home | 3/9/2010 |
| Q: I bought my home about 4 years ago. It is about 20 years old. Since moving, I have had 3 light ... A: Do mean the glass shattered or the filament burnt out? Two things to look for immediately is the ... | |
| Replace 3 wire Dryer Cord with 4 Wire Cord | 3/8/2010 |
| Q: I have a Sears Kenmore electric dryer model # 110.66902692 There are 3 terminals at the terminal ... A: Here is an image of what it should like. What you are doing is not bonding the neutral and ground. ... | |
| recess lighting | 3/7/2010 |
| Q: I am trying to install Recess lights in our basement, we have a 2 inch gap between the top of the ... A: I do not understand the 2" gap but that is not important for your question. The answer is to use a ... | |
| wiring ? red black and white ?? WTF | 3/6/2010 |
| Q: So I tried to change a basement light . I open it and take it apart then realize that there is two ... A: This is why it is so important to mark the wires and write down where everything goes BEFORE taking ... | |
| outlets not working | 3/5/2010 |
| Q: 1 in living room the 2nd in dining room and 3rd in sons room up stairs.Ihave replaced all of them ... A: The best place always to begin is the service panel and check the breakers with a volt meter. A ... | |
| GE Touch Auto-Shut off timer | 3/5/2010 |
| Q: Just bought a touch timer to replace an existing single pole switch which is an "end-line" switch. ... A: If this is an end of the line switch you have no neutral so no need to mark it as such. An end of ... | |
| hot ground reversed | 3/4/2010 |
| Q: I had an entire circuit quit working a couple days ago. The outage is a microhood, light over the ... A: Probably a broken wire somewhere. It could be in the wall, in the panel, junction box, attic, etc. ... | |
| Can lights in first floor ceiling | 3/3/2010 |
| Q: I want to put some 4" can lights in the ceiling of my foyer (1971 2 story w/ AL wiring). I've ... A: Do you not have attic access? How are you running the wire to the switch and then up to the ceiling? ... | |
| hot ground reversed | 3/3/2010 |
| Q: I had an entire circuit quit working a couple days ago. The outage is a microhood, light over the ... A: Hot - ground reversed on those indicators usually means that some one has created a reverse polarity ... | |
| Humming Sound from New Coffee Maker | 2/26/2010 |
| Q: I'm not sure if this is a small appliance question or an electrical issue: I just bought a Mr. ... A: From my experience I will take an educated guess, but remember I am not looking at the unit so it is ... | |
| Brain teaser | 2/25/2010 |
| Q: Two buildings, a house and a barn have a walk way between them that is illumnated with two lights, ... A: You have to tell me how many wires are at each switch and the fixture and the colors. There has to ... | |
| Brain teaser | 2/25/2010 |
| Q: Two buildings, a house and a barn have a walk way between them that is illumnated with two lights, ... A: It appears that you want to know simply because it is a riddle to you. You implied that I needed to ... | |
| installing a chandelier | 2/25/2010 |
| Q: my daughter's room does not have a ceiling light and I would like to install a chandelier. The only ... A: I do not know if you know what "wiremold" is but you can look it up online or at your local home ... | |
| installing a chandelier | 2/24/2010 |
| Q: my daughter's room does not have a ceiling light and I would like to install a chandelier. The only ... A: It depends how the ceiling is vaulted and if there is blocking between the joists. You can run the ... | |
| switch not wking | 2/24/2010 |
| Q: I have a kitchen two kitchen switches one operating the main light in the center of the kitchen the ... A: Try checking your gfci outlets to see if one tripped. It is not common to find the lights on the ... | |
| swapping metal halide for cfl | 2/23/2010 |
| Q: I have a Utilitech Dusk to Dawn light that uses a 70-Watt metal halide lamp (medium base). The ... A: You need to check with the manufacture if you want to be safe. Fixtures are designed for certain ... | |
| new resi construction | 2/21/2010 |
| Q: We are building a new home in an are where it is permissible to do your own electrical wiring, ... A: Wiring can be ran under the house. You could install a subpanel on the kitchen side and then you ... | |
| 110 to a 125V | 2/20/2010 |
| Q: I have an RV hook up that is 30 am 125v I have a suna I want to hook up to that which is 110v ... A: If you do not know for sure if it is 110 or 220 then you need to use a voltmeter to determine before ... | |
| follow up on a question | 2/19/2010 |
| Q: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Electrical-Wiring-Home-1734/Wiring-Exhaust-Fan.htm My dad also has a ... A: I could not find a diagram for the ---S1 but I did find one for the ----S2 and I have attached it. ... | |
| Electronic timer and dimmer control on same circuit | 2/18/2010 |
| Q: I have a bathroom light/fan combination. Currently it has a screw-in fluorescent bulb in it. I ... A: Try replacing the cfl with the bulb the manufacture stated to use and if that does not work, put ... | |
| Neutral load | 2/17/2010 |
| Q: I have an alluminion wire rated for 60Amps to a basement appartment. The total load is 59Amps, ... A: No, that number is not an indication of reasonable use at any given moment in time, only over a ... | |
| convection oven | 2/17/2010 |
| Q: We just purchased a convection oven, this is used in a kitchen that we do a veterans breakfast once ... A: First, thank you for honoring our vets! Each leg is rated for 30 amps with both the breaker and 10 ... | |
| Neutral load | 2/16/2010 |
| Q: I have an alluminion wire rated for 60Amps to a basement appartment. The total load is 59Amps, ... A: Okay, so you have not actually measured the total amps but are going by a load calculation, which is ... | |
| Split receptacle | 2/16/2010 |
| Q: I have a split receptacle in the kitchen that controls the garbage disposal; the other half is ... A: First you have to make sure the total amps will not exceed that of the circuit. What will be your ... | |
| wet electrical wiring | 2/14/2010 |
| Q: I live in Michigan where the winters can get rather cold. Last March (2009) I remodeled a family ... A: Having moved from Southern California to the Adirondacks I can relate to this story. It only took me ... | |
| wires with no colors | 2/14/2010 |
| Q: I have a light fixture I want to install but it does not have COLORED wires no black or white only ... A: If you have a multimeter you can tell with it set on ohms. With the meter set to ohms you place one ... | |
| garage door openers code | 2/13/2010 |
| Q: By code can i put 2 receptacles on the same circuits for 2 different garage door openers. If you ... A: You can have as many outlets as you want as long the total wattage does not exceed the circuit. This ... | |
| 220v | 2/12/2010 |
| Q: what is the approx. max distance from a 220 outlet can i run a small welder A: You could make a big cord out of large wire and run it around the block if you wanted. You are ... | |
| Re-installing a gas cooktop | 2/12/2010 |
| Q: I had a licensed electrician convert a 220 electric cooktop to 110 for gas about a year ago. ... A: I would not assume anything here. In the breaker panel you will see the wires and you should be able ... | |
| Interior low voltage wiring | 2/10/2010 |
| Q: afetr searching for 2 hrs. on interior low voltage wiring I found you...please help. I am remodeling ... A: Why the NEC of course. One problem you will have with that xfmr is the location needs to be ... | |
| Interior low voltage wiring | 2/9/2010 |
| Q: afetr searching for 2 hrs. on interior low voltage wiring I found you...please help. I am remodeling ... A: No, you have to treat it like it was 120 volts. Check out "Article 411.4" actually just read Article ... | |
| chevelle427rat@yahoo.com | 2/8/2010 |
| Q: I'm trying to put a flourescent light in my shed and I ran the wire from an outlet to a light switch ... A: It sounds like you are wiring it so there is a direct short. Take the black (hot) from the outlet ... | |
| funny smell | 2/8/2010 |
| Q: I installed a new waterheater. it was exactly the same as the old other than being 50gal. instead of ... A: Replace the breaker and check all the connections. Physically make sure they are tight. Make sure ... | |
| Installing new receptacle, wiring into crowded box. | 2/7/2010 |
| Q: I'm preparing to install a [URL="http://www.panamax.com/Products/In-Wall/MIW-SURGE.aspx"]Panamax MIW ... A: A sawzall is good for many applications but there is a tool that vibrates instead of recip action. A ... | |
| Installing new receptacle, wiring into crowded box. | 2/7/2010 |
| Q: I'm preparing to install a [URL="http://www.panamax.com/Products/In-Wall/MIW-SURGE.aspx"]Panamax MIW ... A: A) Good idea. It is okay here in Calif just put a blank plate over it. B) You just cut the box out ... | |
| Pool Lights | 2/7/2010 |
| Q: My friend has a pool and the breaker keeps tripping. He went to Home Depot, they told him to change ... A: Any time you have a pool breaker tripping you should immediately call a qualified electrician with ... | |
| combination electric switch | 2/5/2010 |
| Q: My kitchen ceiling light will not shut off using the switch (the only switch, it is not duel ... A: This is one reason you should check with a digital voltmeter instead of a light bulb. The glowing ... | |
| repairing wiring inside dishwasher | 2/5/2010 |
| Q: My dishwasher is not filling with water or heating during the dry cycle, and I traced the problem to ... A: Trace the wires under the dishwasher and cut them under the dishwasher. Connect the new wires and ... | |
| My circuit has too much on it | 2/4/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 circuits that feed the second story of my 60 yr. old home. I have updated the wiring to ... A: It depends on many factors, such as; why type of attic space, the type of walls, is there a basement ... | |
| Spike in Electric Usage following Electrical Work | 2/4/2010 |
| Q: We recently had electrical work completed in our home - a ballast box was replaced in our laundry ... A: Lets start with the ballast. Make sure the new ballast is the electronic type and not the old ... | |
| calculating watts for an electric dryer | 2/3/2010 |
| Q: I have measured the amps on both 120 volt lines running to my dryer. I have 23amps on 1 and 22amps ... A: This is real easy. Take a voltmeter set on "AC" and measure the voltage at the circuit breaker from ... | |
| converting a wall outlet | 2/3/2010 |
| Q: I have a wall outlet that is controlled by a switch on the wall. If I turn the switch off at the ... A: Take the cover off of the switch that controls the outlet, and with the power off at the breaker ... | |
| converting a wall outlet | 2/3/2010 |
| Q: I have a wall outlet that is controlled by a switch on the wall. If I turn the switch off at the ... A: You would take the two wires on the switch, controlling the outlet, and remove them from the switch ... | |
| Main panel to sub panel with existing 2 conductor and gnd. | 2/2/2010 |
| Q: I am finishing my basement and as such I would like to run more circuits. I currently have a 6AWG, ... A: Why not just use the existing breaker? I believe your loads will be too close or exceed the 30 ... | |
| calculating watts for an electric dryer | 2/2/2010 |
| Q: I have measured the amps on both 120 volt lines running to my dryer. I have 23amps on 1 and 22amps ... A: Watts in a purely resistive circuit are determined differently than a capacitive or inductive ... | |
| Main panel to sub panel with existing 2 conductor and gnd. | 2/2/2010 |
| Q: I am finishing my basement and as such I would like to run more circuits. I currently have a 6AWG, ... A: In the Service Panel, the 6 gauge (black or black stripe) would get wired directly to the breaker ... | |
| Installing a NuTone Ceiling Fan Light M736RLN | 1/31/2010 |
| Q: This is a replacement installation for an older Ceiling Fan Light My existing home wiring has a ... A: I went to Nutone's website and they indicate that no such model exists. Recheck your model number ... | |
| Electric Heat | 1/30/2010 |
| Q: Greg: I have electric baseboard heat in my home. Each room is controlled by its own thermostat. ... A: Make sure the breaker is off and then look at all the wiring inside the t-stat box. Write down where ... | |
| Outdoor Lighing - Multiple Motion Sensors | 1/29/2010 |
| Q: Greg, I would like to install multiple motion sensor light fixtures in my front yard, approximately ... A: I understand now what you are trying to do. Wiring it is easy to do that but I am not sure what ... | |
| Ceiling fan switch. | 1/29/2010 |
| Q: I'm trying to wire an existing ceiling fan/light to a wall switch. The wall switch I bought was a ... A: Since you ran 14/3 this is not a problem and is pretty easy. At the fan you wire your power coming ... | |
| appropriate amount of recessed lights for living room | 1/28/2010 |
| Q: I am planning to install recessed lighting in my living room, where there currently isn't any ... A: There is no "pat" answer to this question. Lighting involves many factors and a lighting designer ... | |
| I need to replace my old 3 way house light switches | 1/28/2010 |
| Q: The switches are stamped 5A 250V 10A 125V. I tried replacing them with newer 15A 120V but they ... A: It is not a problem with the amperage of the switch that you are experiencing. Those markings are ... | |
| 3 way light switch | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: I have a hall light that has one bad switch on a three way switch. It is a 15 amp switch as is the ... A: If you are asking if you need a 20 amp switch, then the answer is no if this is a residence with ... | |
| Disconnecting a Light Switch | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: This may be a pretty simple question but I am not 100% sure if what I'd like to do is the correct ... A: You do realize that code requires a switch at the top and bottom of the stairs controlling that ... | |
| electrical | 1/26/2010 |
| Q: Five electrical wall outlets in my house lost power over night . I think that they are all on the ... A: It sounds like the EC was lazy and put all the gfci's on a common circuit. So you need to look for ... | |
| residential surges.. bad neutral in base?? | 1/25/2010 |
| Q: hoo boy!! a old customer who i've been doing a lot of pro bono work for over the years has been ... A: I am not sure what to tell you that you do not already know and I am not sure if there is a ... | |
| Extension behind Sofa | 1/25/2010 |
| Q: I have following 4 small instruments hooked onto an extension cord. - Internet Cable Modem - ... A: It sounds like you have a power strip that the devices are plugged into, which is a good idea but a ... | |
| heater won't quit blowing | 1/24/2010 |
| Q: We live in a mobile home in Texas and the heater will not turn off. Everything was fine till last ... A: I am not sure how much troubleshooting you are able and willing to do on this. It will require you ... | |
| HAVIN PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL | 1/24/2010 |
| Q: I AM HAVING A PROBLEM HOOKIN UP A THE OVER HEAD LIGHT AND THE GARBAGE DISPOSEL WHAT I HAVE DONE SO ... A: I will try to help but you have to turn off your Cap Lock on the keyboard. The power going to the ... | |
| gfci outlets | 1/23/2010 |
| Q: I have a two wire system (no ground) Can I install gfcis to protect a complete circuit? ANSWER: ... A: It depends on how you wire it, but remember that your protection is very limited. This is no ... | |
| low voltage street address sign not working | 1/23/2010 |
| Q: I cant figure this out the transformer seems good as it is also connected to the door bell which ... A: Measuring to ground is rarely helpful. You need to read the voltage across the two wires feeding the ... | |
| dimmers on three way line | 1/22/2010 |
| Q: I just installed 5 recessed lights in my hallway with the power going to the first light and then ... A: Your three-way switches need three wires not including the ground. What you need is 3 wire with a ... | |
| Wiring a two speed blower | 1/21/2010 |
| Q: I have a squirrel cage blower that I am turning into a wood shop air filter. Depending on how it is ... A: You do not want a ceiling fan switch for this application. You want either a rotary type switch or a ... | |
| codes | 1/21/2010 |
| Q: my wife and I are buying a house built in the forties and are doing some rewiring. Can we leave some ... A: Your concerns are codes and safety. There are some issues here that require an electrician to ... | |
| A question on high voltage wiring | 1/20/2010 |
| Q: I've never used this service before so please forgive me if I'm asking the wrong person. I bought an ... A: Wire is generally rated for voltage and amperage. There are other factors in wire rating that ... | |
| water heater timer | 1/19/2010 |
| Q: how do i disconnect the water heater timer? i do not use it and it has become very noisy like an old ... A: Does this have a manual switch to bypass the timer? If so, put the timer into manual mode and ... | |
| Electric Range Installation | 1/19/2010 |
| Q: Just moved into a new house and will be installing a new slide in on the floor electric range. It ... A: In my opinion, the wire should be replaced with #6 copper, with a 50 amp breaker. Plus, the range ... | |
| Adding Convience Outlets in Basement | 1/17/2010 |
| Q: I'd like to install two outlets in my finished basement. On the inside wall, is it permissible to ... A: Any wires exposed would need to be in conduit. Any wires inside the drywall or paneling could be ... | |
| grounding question | 1/15/2010 |
| Q: I have noticed on my washing machine and fan/lite combo installations, that the appliance ground is ... A: The ground wire is suppose to go to ground, not neutral. Sure it works until you get voltage on the ... | |
| Breaker to Subpanel Wire Gauge Step Downing... | 1/15/2010 |
| Q: IT, and Automotive repair Technician; And have taken on the task of Rewiring some of my home... My ... A: You need to hire an electrician because you have many code and safety issues here. Some electricians ... | |
| 3 switches to Motion | 1/14/2010 |
| Q: I Have a hall way with 3 switches in it. I want to change them out to motion sensor switches there ... A: Your 3-way switches have two travellers and one common per switch. Your new motion sensors should ... | |
| Re-routing wires or re-wiring house. | 1/14/2010 |
| Q: I have a house that was built in the 60's. Anytime I have to do a wiring project in the home I ... A: The kitchen: Two circuits for counter outlets (GFCI protected). One for the Ref. One for the garbage ... | |
| HOW TO INCREASE AMPERAGE IN SPECIFIC ROOMS | 1/14/2010 |
| Q: Hughes. The breaker switch for my master bedroom and my second bedroom which I use as a home office ... A: This is a common problem as we add more and more loads to our circuits. The solution is to run more ... | |
| low voltage at 2 different circuits | 1/13/2010 |
| Q: I woke up this morning to find that two outlets in my house have stopped working.I traced the wiring ... A: Check the voltage at the main panel. You want to check from each leg to each leg. This should read ... | |
| estate washer | 1/12/2010 |
| Q: my machine will not spin all the way clothes are still to wet A: It could be several things but the first thing you should check before calling a technician out is ... | |
| Electrical Breaker | 1/12/2010 |
| Q: A little over a year ago I had my air conditioner and furnace replaced and the new furnace requires ... A: No, you cannot put a 60 amp breaker on a 6 awg line. The 6 awg (rated for 50 amps) will most likely ... | |
| Portable genset and transfer switch | 1/12/2010 |
| Q: I will be installing a 15KW portable generator with a 50 amp plugs and cord and a Power center ... A: As long as your TS is service rated you do not need a service disconnect before it. If it is ... | |
| 240V on 110 leg, bad neutral or ground? | 1/11/2010 |
| Q: I changed an old 100A federal pacific panel at a friends mothers house. The basement had been under ... A: If your only ground is to the water pipe then you need a ground rod. You cannot depend on the water ... | |
| Portable genset and transfer switch | 1/11/2010 |
| Q: I will be installing a 15KW portable generator with a 50 amp plugs and cord and a Power center ... A: The generator and TS needs to be grounded, however; with a switched neutral, bonding is required in ... | |
| 14/3 feeding 2 circuita | 1/11/2010 |
| Q: I read a reply that i wanted to get clarification on ... here is it is. It is a Code violation to ... A: You need to confirm if your panel has each phase on each row, or if they alternate down the row. If ... | |
| wiring a light fixture | 1/10/2010 |
| Q: Good morning- I’m in an old house with some “funky” wiring… I’m looking to hang a new light ... A: Before disconnecting a fixture it is prudent to mark the wires that are attached to the fixture or ... | |
| undercounter water heater | 1/10/2010 |
| Q: I have a 1 year old electric hot water heater under my counter it is 110 ac. I installed it a year ... A: Go to the breaker and measure your voltage there. If it is good, you can wire a load right there ... | |
| residential wiring | 1/9/2010 |
| Q: When I turn off any light in the house, the other lights dim. This just recently started. Is the ... A: It sounds like you have a common neutral between two circuits or a three way circuit with a loose or ... | |
| Rewiring Russian Samovar | 1/9/2010 |
| Q: Is it possible to rewire an electrical russian Samovar (Tea Urn) with an american plug and cord and ... A: It should have a plug with two pins which usually means it is 220 volts with no neutral. Your home ... | |
| 14/3 feeding 2 circuita | 1/9/2010 |
| Q: I read a reply that i wanted to get clarification on ... here is it is. It is a Code violation to ... A: You use a double pole breaker, with the link. The double pole breaker causes the two circuits to be ... | |
| light switch | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: i have a problem with a light switch, the electrical box for the switch had a dimmer switch in it ... A: Again, it is wise to write down and mark the wires before disconnecting anything. Even taking a ... | |
| Central Heating keeps flipping breaker. | 1/2/2010 |
| Q: I have a central heat & air unit. We've been using the AC for months and haven't had any problems. ... A: You should have a HVAC tech check out your system. If it has not been serviced you need at least ... | |
| Pull cord switch | 1/1/2010 |
| Q: Greg I live in Australia so not sure whether you will be able to respond or not. I have a pull cord ... A: The best thing to do, no matter how simple it looks, is to mark the wires before disconnecting them. ... | |
| 240V Wiring | 12/31/2009 |
| Q: Good Morning Greg. A couple of years ago, I ran power from my main breaker panel in my basement to ... A: You should of ran four wires, unless you have a ground rod at the garage, from the main to the sub ... | |
| heater | 12/30/2009 |
| Q: I recently picked up a 208v 60Hz single phase wall heater from a demo. Can I wire this in my home ... A: Yes, but it has to be on a dedicated 25 or 30 amp circuit. In the U.S. we have anywhere from 208 to ... | |
| For a Project, Want to light a bulb using the wires and battery when the correct answer selected. | 12/29/2009 |
| Q: For my project at school, I want to know how to do the wiring to light a bulb when the correct ... A: The subject of electricity and how it works is way too deep for me to explain it in this type of ... | |
| Smoke detectors | 12/28/2009 |
| Q: I am installing 7 hardwired replacement smoke detectors as our existing ones are 12 years old. I ... A: A tester with a light is only good to see if voltage is present. It does not tell you how many volts ... | |
| 3 way switches to 2 way | 12/28/2009 |
| Q: Here is my dilemma. I have a 3 way switch in the bathroom and a 3 way switch in the bedroom. Both ... A: This will most likely require running more wires. I will attach diagrams of how 3-way switches can ... | |
| Ceiling fan wiring | 12/27/2009 |
| Q: I am replacing an existing ceiling fan and have a question regarding wiring connections. The ... A: It is common to have two separate switches on the wall, one controlling the light and one ... | |
| 240V Thermostat Connection | 12/27/2009 |
| Q: Greg, I installed 240V electric baseboard heaters connected to a 20 amp breaker. I have three ... A: You are too close to the 20 amps to start with and if you used 12 gauge you need to go with 10 ... | |
| Installing a new light fixture | 12/27/2009 |
| Q: I just purchased a small track lighting that has a warning on the box that says, " Caution- risk of ... A: They are trying to ensure that their product is used appropriately. Wire is rated in several ways; ... | |
| disposal | 12/26/2009 |
| Q: I am installing a dishwasher and garbage disposal and I added an outlet GFI under the sink, for both ... A: The disposal and dishwasher are not normally on a gfci outlet. Where did you pull power for these ... | |
| instant hot water heater | 12/25/2009 |
| Q: I have solar domestic hot water. As water exits the solar tank hot it flows thru an instaneous hot ... A: The only way to give it less amps is to change the voltage. So when it attempts to heat the water it ... | |
| Old wiring for a Ceiling fan | 12/24/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I are changing a out a ceiling light to a ceiling fan with the lights. When he took ... A: You need a tester to see which wire is hot. It works both ways because we use Alternating Current. ... | |
| Aluminum to copper @ cooktop | 12/23/2009 |
| Q: I am replacing a cooktop.When I removed the wire nuts on old wires I realized I have aluminum ... A: To be the safest you should run copper. If you absolutely do not want to do that the next safest is ... | |
| Aluminum to copper @ cooktop | 12/22/2009 |
| Q: I am replacing a cooktop.When I removed the wire nuts on old wires I realized I have aluminum ... A: Imho, it is always better to have copper wire. However, it is not always cost practical. The problem ... | |
| Locate white wire for circuit breaker | 12/21/2009 |
| Q: I need to replace a breaker with AFCI breaker for my basement remodel. I know how do replace a ... A: You can disconnect the black and white and then connect them together, or you can place a jumper ... | |
| Locate white wire for circuit breaker | 12/21/2009 |
| Q: I need to replace a breaker with AFCI breaker for my basement remodel. I know how do replace a ... A: Yeah, that is really not the right way to do it. The two best ways are to either use a "ringer" ... | |
| Residential - Fluorescent lamp - blinking | 12/20/2009 |
| Q: I have a 48"-2 tubes fluorescent lamp in the kitchen. The old GE tubes (40watts F40RES) had a few ... A: and Merry Christmas to you. Try an electronic ballast, and if you do have one try replacing it. ... | |
| GFIC breaker for hot tube | 12/20/2009 |
| Q: I recently replaced a 50 Amp GFIC on a hot tub. The old breaker tripped as soon as it was turned on. ... A: The ground is normally bare and only becomes a problem if you have a nicked hot wire in the conduit ... | |
| Installing a new meter/disconnect/panel | 12/19/2009 |
| Q: Just want to make sure I have this right before I call for an inspection. I do know local codes vary ... A: In my neck of the woods, any electrical wire on the outside needs to be in conduit to protect it ... | |
| Installing a new meter/disconnect/panel | 12/18/2009 |
| Q: Just want to make sure I have this right before I call for an inspection. I do know local codes vary ... A: The inspector may call for some additional things such as bonding hot to cold at the water heater, ... | |
| Power off, Breaker not Tripped | 12/18/2009 |
| Q: Power to two rooms (Bath and Bedroom) shuts off on its own and sometimes when I throw any switch. ... A: You should be concerned. You need to put a gfci outlet back in the bathroom. When the power goes ... | |
| Outdoor Receptacle Issue | 12/18/2009 |
| Q: I have 2 outdoor receptacles without any GFI. The house is about 20 yrs old and I have owned it ... A: This is odd because 20 years ago outside receptacles were put on gfci circuits. So either someone ... | |
| water closet (toilet room) receptacle | 12/17/2009 |
| Q: I ordered a bidet toilet seat for my husband (you don't want the details, I'm sure). The toilet in ... A: I do not know of any distance requirements in a wc that apply to the separate toilet room. Obviously ... | |
| wireing exterior outlet | 12/17/2009 |
| Q: what is the best way to fish a new circuit from an attic down an exterior wall to a new exterior ... A: Actually getting through the insulation is the toughest. If you are not careful you can remove too ... | |
| wireing exterior outlet | 12/16/2009 |
| Q: what is the best way to fish a new circuit from an attic down an exterior wall to a new exterior ... A: You have three options: 1. You run down the outside of the house in conduit. 2. You run down the ... | |
| aprilaire | 12/16/2009 |
| Q: can i wire my aprilaire to come on when the humidistat senses the need for water without the "call ... A: You could wire it many different ways but you should contact the manufacture to see what they ... | |
| GCFI outlet | 12/15/2009 |
| Q: A GCFI outlet suddenly stopped working. It gets its power from another GCFI outlet which is working ... A: A gfci being fed from a gfci should be getting it's power from the line terminals, not the load so ... | |
| Outlets not working but getting voltage readings | 12/15/2009 |
| Q: A few days ago we lost power in our bedroom and bathroom which I thought was just an overload and a ... A: Sounds like you have a loose or broken neutral wire. The place to start is at the panel, however it ... | |
| electrical wiring - slight shock & spark when cleaning off stove | 12/14/2009 |
| Q: I rent my house which was built in 1952. There is one wall plug for the refrigerator, stove/oven ... A: An electrician needs to come fix the problems. Simply changing a two-prong outlet to a 3-prong ... | |
| volt problem | 12/14/2009 |
| Q: I tried cookin a pizza today and noticed that the oven would not get hot. I thought the stove was ... A: It sounds like you lost one leg of your power coming in. Take your voltmeter and measure the ... | |
| themostat, alarm, telephone wiring | 12/13/2009 |
| Q: I hope you don't mind that I included several questions. They're all related to the same problem... ... A: You are right, low voltage codes are different. However, you would be best off by calling the phone ... | |
| UF inside walls? | 12/12/2009 |
| Q: I've got 3 rolls of 'normal' 12/2 w/g wire. I ALSO have 300' of left over 12/2 UF wire that I 'need ... A: As far as I know it can. It usually isn't used indoors like that because it costs more than normal ... | |
| Heated base for poultry water heater | 12/12/2009 |
| Q: I have a thermostatically controlled heated water base for poultry that the mice have chewed on the ... A: The important thing is to get the ground wires connected properly. You want the ground from the ... | |
| electical short in heat pump | 12/11/2009 |
| Q: Everything in my home is electric there is no gas. About 4 years ago in the winter my heat stopped ... A: This is strange. What is the use of a heat pump if you are told not to use it. I would need to know ... | |
| 3 way switches | 12/11/2009 |
| Q: I have a stairway with 2 switches, one at the top the other at the bottom, and they both turn on and ... A: There are motion sensor 3-way switches. What you need to know is the "common" at each switch. The ... | |
| Outlet issue | 12/10/2009 |
| Q: I recently noticed a 20amp outlet wired with 2 hot wires. Each hot wire is coming from a different ... A: This sounds like a 220 volt outlet. These are typically used for window air conditioners, but can ... | |
| 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: Start with the circuit breaker and if it is okay look at the switch. If you have the correct power ... | |
| Light fixture | 12/9/2009 |
| Q: My kitchen ceiling light fixture recently stopped working. I removed the light fixture from the ... A: Ah, the disappearing voltage. It is usually the white wire that has become loose, but it could be ... | |
| electrical problem | 12/9/2009 |
| Q: I have a strange problem with the kitchen lights. All ceiling lights have stopped working - ... A: Does the fan above the oven work? It could be a switch quit working or a wire came loose at the ... | |
| exhaust fan | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: I have a bathroom exhaust fan that is controlled by the light switch[light switch controls overhead ... A: If the fan has a safe place to mount a pull chain I do not see why you could not do that. If the fan ... | |
| table lamp socket wiring?????? | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: purchased on ebay, was DOA...Disassembled. There is an in line switch. Smooth (hot) cut, and ribbed ... A: This is interesting because you are describing the base of one being hot and the threads of the ... | |
| Dayton G73 | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: I had a Dayton G73 heater installed in my garage. When running on the "High" setting there doesn't ... A: The first thing to check is to make sure it has been wired correctly for 208/240 volts. It is ... | |
| electric ceiling heat - covering thermostat | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: We have electric ceiling heat and the dining room thermostat control is in the middle of the only ... A: A thermostat measures the air around it and then tells the heat to turn on or off accordingly. If ... | |
| Dryer receptacle to subpanel? | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: I need another circuit on the far side of our house for Christmas lights. Our house (built in 2006) ... A: You do have the option of installing two 20 amp circuits from this circuit. What you need to do is ... | |
| residential wiring - power failure | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: I just replaced an outlet that kept blowing the breaker (original outlet from 1971 wiring - it was ... A: Look for a loose connection at the outlet you replaced. If that is not the problem you need to ... | |
| Installing new breaker box | 12/6/2009 |
| Q: I am going to replace the old fuse box in my small woodworking shop with a new breaker box. I built ... A: You need to know the wire size to your shop. If you cannot read the writing you have a couple of ... | |
| circuit breaker | 12/6/2009 |
| Q: I noticed in my circuit breaker box that a 15 amp breaker is being used to service 12/3 wire. I ... A: First, and most important. If you have two breakers sharing the same neutral (which is the case with ... | |
| 20A 250V commercial outlet | 12/6/2009 |
| Q: I have a 20A 250V commercial outlet in my house, best guess is that it might have been used for a ... A: You need to open the breaker panel and remove the breaker cover. Figure out which double pole ... | |
| Killing electrical switch and Outlet | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: I am in the process of renovating my guest bedroom built in 1949. I have a door into the garage ... A: You have a couple of choices. Since you are removing the drywall I would suggest (with the power ... | |
| Second service panel | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: I would like to install a second 200 amp service panel to accommodate the load of a 10kw electric ... A: This will require the utility company and the local AHJ, which means inspections and permits. Go to ... | |
| recessed lighting | 12/4/2009 |
| Q: I have some low voltage recessed lights that need the pigtail changed. Can I pull the "can" down ... A: If they are remodel cans then you should be able to pull them down. You can tell by looking in the ... | |
| Installing a new service meter, disconnect and panel | 12/4/2009 |
| Q: I'm looking at moving my meter box to the other side of my house. Along with this I'm going to put ... A: These are all great questions. Since you are pulling a permit for this, which I assume you have to, ... | |
| Load Estimation | 12/3/2009 |
| Q: I am doing a remodel on my basement (house is a split foyer style), and I am in process of doing a ... A: Something being a "hassle" should never be the reason to do not do something smart. This is a ... | |
| changing water heaters | 12/3/2009 |
| Q: I'm changing from a gas water heater to an electric one and the new one is 220 but the outlet for ... A: You cannot convert it unless the wire gauge is large enough to handle the wattage of the heater. ... | |
| Vanity light | 12/3/2009 |
| Q: I put a new vanity light in my one and only bathroom. Now the lights stay on with the switch off. ... A: If the old one worked correctly it is doubtful that you wired the new one exactly like the old one. ... | |
| colors of 240v wires | 12/2/2009 |
| Q: I am installing a sun mite infrared heater 240v to a circuit breaker and I need to know what the ... A: I would need to look at the installation instructions or a wiring diagram of the specific unit. ... | |
| Natural Gas Furnace | 12/2/2009 |
| Q: Mr Hughes, I live in NJ and have a natural gas forced hot air furnace and the emergency red plate ... A: I am not familiar with the NAC, but oil furnaces are suppose to have a shut off switch as you enter ... | |
| CFL use in chandelier | 12/1/2009 |
| Q: I have a 7 lamp chandelier with 2 lamps in the bottom "dome" and 5 up top. Tried using CFLs but only ... A: Have you tried incandescent bulbs? Do your CFL bulbs all come with their own ballast? Do the ballast ... | |
| Electric Stove Burner | 11/30/2009 |
| Q: I recently had a reputable repair company out to replace the main 8"and another 8" burner on my ... A: Something could be miswired, or the wrong burner put in. If it is a reputable company they will come ... | |
| Circuit Breaker | 11/29/2009 |
| Q: All of a sudden one of the circuits keeps blowing and immediately shuts off upon powering on,even ... A: If you remove the wire from the breaker (when it is in the off position) and it trips when you turn ... | |
| 30 amp | 11/28/2009 |
| Q: I have a camper with a 30 amp breaker box, can I put on a male 20 amp plug so I can run a drop ... A: Camping supply stores and many home centers sell all kind of adapters for trailers and campers. ... | |
| Adding An Additional Breaker Panel | 11/28/2009 |
| Q: Our home has a 100 amp breaker panel. We had a heat pump installed two years ago and decided to use ... A: Do you have lack of room in the panel or lack of capacity? There is a difference. If you have lack ... | |
| Sub Panel | 11/24/2009 |
| Q: I have a 200 AMP panel box electrical service on a pole. There is presently nothing connect to the ... A: I know that RVs can run very close to the 30 amps so the question is what will be the total max load ... | |
| wiring a stacked 3way switch | 11/24/2009 |
| Q: Is there a place to find a schematic for wiring a combination two switches 3-way, side wire (a ... A: You break off the tab at the switch that has two different commons. If the other switch has a common ... | |
| 208 volts for a cooktop | 11/23/2009 |
| Q: I really need some expert advice. I had a Maytag stove/oven combination that was purchased in 1989. ... A: The cooktop, and most electric cooktops in the U.S., are rated at 208/240 volts. Which means the ... | |
| 3 pole dimmer | 11/22/2009 |
| Q: I purchased two 3 pole dimmers and wired them as per the instructions found in the packaging but for ... A: New 3-ways are wired differently than older ones. Now you will need to find the two commons (not ... | |
| MY lights went out when changing a light bulb. | 11/21/2009 |
| Q: I have a lampficture in my kitchen that has about 8 small light bulbs. There were only 3 light bulbs ... A: It is possible that part of the old bulb is still in the socket and creating a dead short. With the ... | |
| direct wiring a european model waterheater | 11/20/2009 |
| Q: i purchased an under the sink instant water heater, little did i know it was a european model unit, ... A: You will need a dedicated line from the breaker panel to that outlet under the sink. If your outlet ... | |
| Old Breakers | 11/20/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering if HACR breakers were necessary years ago. While I was looking online at older ... A: HACR breakers react differently than the older standard breakers. Even fuses for HVAC equipment act ... | |
| Testing low volt transformer | 11/19/2009 |
| Q: New home. Five years old. My low voltage lights don't work in my bath and I tried replacing the ... A: First you test the high voltage being supplied to the transformer. Since a transformer merely takes ... | |
| romex to knob and tube switch leg in wall | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: ..I'm try to abandon knob and tube in the attic...will run 12/2 romex from new panel..should i use ... A: In my experience some of the most dangerous incidents of k and t is in the wall so I hope you are ... | |
| kitchen circuits | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: i am updating my kitchen which has 15 amp circuits, do I have to upgrade existing circuits to 20 ... A: If you are pulling permits for this job you will have to follow what the AHJ dictates. So you will ... | |
| 220 V 2 pole Breaker | 11/17/2009 |
| Q: I have a motor that I am running an outlet for. The motor is 230 V 14 amp and comes with a 30 amp ... A: In the U.S.A this is how we would do it: If you buy 10-2 with a ground you will connect the ground ... | |
| Ceiling fan lighting issue | 11/16/2009 |
| Q: I have an issue with my ceiling fan light kit. The first kit capacitor blew and Hunter sent me a new ... A: Voltage in Japan is 100 volts, ungrounded, and either 50 hz or 60 hz depending on what area you are ... | |
| Is replacing the entire subpanel overkill? | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: After inspecting our home built in 1965, an electrician recommended that we replace the subpanel in ... A: If you have a certain type of panel then I would say yes you need to update it. That panel is over ... | |
| Eletrical line problem | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: We got a heater of 1500 watts and plugged in. But it went off and when we checked further we ... A: You are talking about two things, fuses and tripped circuits. Fuses blow and are not resettable and ... | |
| 220 breaker on a dryer | 11/14/2009 |
| Q: i have a new dryer.everytime i use it it trips the breaker. i got a new breaker (20) and it still ... A: Electric dryers require a double-pole 30 amp breaker and at least 10 awg wire. After you make sure ... | |
| Bathroom exhaust fans | 11/13/2009 |
| Q: I own a rental house with a small (5x8) bathroom with a very old exhaust fan (about 40 years old, ... A: Any electrical fixture above the shower or tub area needs to be on a gfci circuit. Doubtful your ... | |
| capacitors | 11/13/2009 |
| Q: I have a capacitor gone in a motor,its a 400v 50hz 36uf with push on lugs at top for connection. Ive ... A: Caps wired in parallel are added together because you have increased the plate size. It is like ... | |
| Generator hookup | 11/11/2009 |
| Q: I am installing a Generac 10kw propane standby generator. Pre-wired harness is 30 feet long. I may ... A: There are splicing blocks available but you have to wrap (insulate) them well. I would splice in the ... | |
| electrical | 11/11/2009 |
| Q: my kitchen lights quit working as well as the fan and light on our hood vent, and in the living ... A: Without a voltmeter you are just guessing. And you should never touch electrical wires without ... | |
| Centering a chandelier | 11/10/2009 |
| Q: The chandelier is slightly off center due to the ceiling joist. The electrical box is attached to ... A: The ceiling joists are rarely found in the center of a room so you will need to have attic access. ... | |
| Size &t ype | 11/10/2009 |
| Q: I have a new detached garage 150 ft from main box. I want 220& 110 underground (no conduit)type ... A: What you need to know is how many amps you plan on using. Add up your lighting, your air compressor, ... | |
| Range Outlet | 11/9/2009 |
| Q: I have a question regarding moving the outlet for my range. I am doing some rearranging of my ... A: You should test the outlet for power after you turn off the breaker and before you disconnect it, ... | |
| Four Way Switch | 11/7/2009 |
| Q: I recently switched an existing four way switch to a white one and since then the whole system ... A: If it worked before you changed the switch it means you have miswired the new switch. The new ... | |
| switch for blower | 11/7/2009 |
| Q: Im replacing a dimmer switch for wood stove the old switch has a blk and white wires the new has 2 ... A: They are different because they were made at different times, perhaps from a different company, both ... | |
| adding ceiling light in existing room | 11/6/2009 |
| Q: Is there a technique for running the wire (romex) in a finished wall and ceiling without tearing up ... A: Pulling wires is partly technical and partly an art form. Having the right tools makes all the ... | |
| Shop Wiring | 11/6/2009 |
| Q: I recently built a shop and need to get power to it. An electrician suggesting taping my main power ... A: The amount of lighting will depend on several factors. One is your age, another is what type of ... | |
| gfci switch wiring | 11/5/2009 |
| Q: I plan on wiring a switch to an outdoor lantern using power from my gfci load out. I have run my ... A: Hot from the load terminal will go to the switch. Neutral from the load terminal goes to the switch ... | |
| Shop Wiring | 11/5/2009 |
| Q: I recently built a shop and need to get power to it. An electrician suggesting taping my main power ... A: The attic is better than a ditch. I do not like aluminum so I always suggest copper. The size of the ... | |
| Shutting off when hot | 11/4/2009 |
| Q: I live in a older home and my kitchen and bath overhead lights are on the same circuit. I also have ... A: The first things to look for are wrong wattage bulbs and wrong type of bulbs. Each light is built ... | |
| 12/3 | 11/4/2009 |
| Q: Good afternoon, We just ran 3000 ft of 12/3 and have a power converter (for a lack of better words) ... A: At 3000 feet you are going to have major voltage drop issues. What type of voltage and wattage do ... | |
| Multiple outlets stopped working | 11/3/2009 |
| Q: After reading thru many question and answers, I believe I know what at least what to check. Anyway I ... A: First, throw the tester with lights in your drawer and get a digital voltmeter (they are less than ... | |
| 1930's school clock | 11/3/2009 |
| Q: I have a 1930's school clock. It has 3 wires. Black, White, Red. The lable says 24 VDC. Does that ... A: How the schools kept all the clocks running at the same time, which is very important when you have ... | |
| Installing Appliances | 11/2/2009 |
| Q: I will be installing a dishwasher in my mobile home tomorrow and have a few questions. 1) Am I able ... A: I am not familiar with local codes for your area and you may need a permit for what you are doing. ... | |
| only getting 52 volts from 110 volts | 11/2/2009 |
| Q: I have a wire going to light sconces where I am reading about 52 volts. This wire is connected in a ... A: How I would troubleshoot this is to check all the connections in the switch box (with the power off) ... | |
| Hot tub circuit | 10/31/2009 |
| Q: I have a hot tub that requires a 40amp circuit. Here is how I have installed it. There is a GFI ... A: The wire at that length is rated for a 40 amp breaker. It would be 50 amps if it was under 100' in ... | |
| Short cirucit? | 10/31/2009 |
| Q: House electrical to separate building (Studio). Problem: Low voltage 20-30V on the studio side. On ... A: The wires could of been nicked originally and the conduit leaks somewhere. Once the ground became ... | |
| Short cirucit? | 10/30/2009 |
| Q: House electrical to separate building (Studio). Problem: Low voltage 20-30V on the studio side. On ... A: You say you have 110 volts at a double pole breaker but you should be getting 220 volts across them. ... | |
| Freaked-out Smoke Detector | 10/29/2009 |
| Q: We have a ceiling fan and smoke detector in one of our bedrooms. Whenever the ceiling fan is turned ... A: I have seen lower-grade ceiling fans get so hot when they are on that you cannot touch the base and ... | |
| Capping electrical outlet (plug) | 10/29/2009 |
| Q: I have several outlets I want to cap, with blank plates, what is the safest way to do this? A: With the power off, disconnect the wires from the outlet and put wire nuts on them and then wrap ... | |
| GFCI outlet | 10/28/2009 |
| Q: I am also on the board, in roofing and ventilation. I am remodeling a bathroom on my home. One ... A: If this circuit goes on to feed other outlets outside of the bathroom that are not normally gfci ... | |
| 6+ wires in Ceiling Light | 10/26/2009 |
| Q: I am trying to replace an existing ceiling light that for some reason has 3 black, 3 white and a few ... A: It sounds like you should wire it the same as the old one. I am not sure what you mean when you say ... | |
| SMOKE COMING FROM ELECTRCAL OUTLET | 10/25/2009 |
| Q: THEN NOTICED SMOKE AT THE RECEPTACLE. WE QUICKLY TURNED OFF UNIT AND UNPLUGGED. WATCHED AND WE DID ... A: If the unit was running at the appropriate amp draw then it may be that you had a loose connection ... | |
| Open Circuit ? | 10/22/2009 |
| Q: In my home some outlets and switches on a circuit work and some do not. This includes a light switch ... A: Look for gfci outlet(s) that could of tripped. If that is not it start checking each circuit at the ... | |
| fused 120 volt outlet | 10/22/2009 |
| Q: Is their such a thing as a fused 120 volt switch or outlet? A: The difference between a fuse and breaker is that the fuse blows and is not resettable, whereas the ... | |
| Switch Leg Issue | 10/21/2009 |
| Q: I have a new construction switch leg question. My basement has 8 blue box pull string light fixtures ... A: You really should have two separate circuits for the lights and outlets. I always recommend putting ... | |
| Fuses | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: I have two rooms next to each other. Each time I turn on the heater and the TV in one of the room, ... A: Check the wattage of the heater and see if you are drawing more amps with that and the T.V. on at ... | |
| 220 line problem | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: I have a problem...Each time I run my electrical dryer, I blow a circuit. At firs, I thought it was ... A: One option is to have the factory service come and look at the new dryer to establish that the dryer ... | |
| 220 line problem | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: I have a problem...Each time I run my electrical dryer, I blow a circuit. At firs, I thought it was ... A: What needs to happen is an amp meter put on the circuit and watched while the dryer is running. If ... | |
| resident wiring | 10/18/2009 |
| Q: I visited my mother and she had six wall outlets that when I put a volt meter on them I got a ... A: The only time a broken ground would affect your reading is if you are testing to ground. If your ... | |
| oven bake element | 10/18/2009 |
| Q: I need to replace my bake element that burned out I took the old one out and thought that there was ... A: At this point you should look at the schematic. But, normally the two black wires go together while ... | |
| connecting cook top to stove | 10/17/2009 |
| Q: the cook top have 4 wires black,red,white, and a ground new wall mount stove has three black,red,and ... A: Usually the red and black are the two hot legs, white is neutral, and green is ground. You could ... | |
| Oven and Microwave Electric Supply | 10/16/2009 |
| Q: Doing a kitchen makeover. I just removed a built in double oven. It had a plug/socket 240V supply, ... A: If the two are one unit all you do is wire it to the existing wire and check to make sure you have ... | |
| long distance wiring | 10/16/2009 |
| Q: i have a 200 amp service pole about 300 feet away from the main panel of my home. what size wire and ... A: The rule of thumb is for every 100' over 100' you go to the next bigger size for copper wire. The ... | |
| question regarding sub panel | 10/15/2009 |
| Q: I am looking to update the sub panel located in my garage (main panel in house). The main panel has ... A: First you need to establish how many amps you need for your house and that will tell you the ... | |
| kitchen wiring - countertop and dishwasher/disposal | 10/14/2009 |
| Q: I am doing a complete remodel of my kitchen, down to the studs. Everything is exposed, and I'm ... A: As far as I know you can install as many outlets you want on the counter, as long as a 24" cord can ... | |
| 220 dryer plug | 10/13/2009 |
| Q: i had to change the plug to fit dads old dryer(dryer plug to range plug),we decided to get a new ... A: At this point you need to take a voltmeter and verify which wires are supplying the 220 volts and ... | |
| 240V double pole fuse amperage | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: I have a simple question that I've had people give me different answers. I have fuse box with a ... A: Two 30 amp fuses. You have up to 30 amps flowing through the two fuses so if you have 15 amp fuses ... | |
| Replaced bathroom switch, now GFI trips | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: Bathroom, separate light and fan controlled by a pair of SPST switches with a common terminal on one ... A: You need to find out if you have reversed polarity, meaning the white is hot and the black is ... | |
| new LG 240v. 18,000 ac wall unit | 10/11/2009 |
| Q: installed this unit 10/09/2009, i have a new 200 amp service, used a 20 amp 2 pole breaker switch, ... A: What do you get when you measure from hot prong to hot prong? You mentioned 123 at each prong but we ... | |
| New Construction Recessed Lighting with no access | 10/11/2009 |
| Q: As I understand the NEC code, all junction boxes must be accessible without removing ... A: Lets use some good old common sense for this situation. If you install new construction in an area ... | |
| short | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: I have an issue with one side of my mobile home losing electricity occasionally, actually off more ... A: It sounds more like an "open" rather than "short". I strongly recommend hiring an electrician ... | |
| service panel in exterior wall | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: I am putting a service panel in an exterior 2x6 wall in my new garage due to the short length of the ... A: If the vapor is a major concern I would just run my conduit up from the box, on the outside, and ... | |
| wireing diogonogistics | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: how can i trace the problem in an apt bldg on 2nd floor apt whenever they turned on the shower they ... A: Take a volt measurement between the showerhead and a reference ground that you know is really ... | |
| OPEN GROUND | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: When installing a new outlet, tester showed an open ground....When I tested all of the outlets in ... A: It is possible that your house is old enough to not have ground wires. That was common in older ... | |
| electric | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: I am replacing a combination switch outlet with a combination switch/gfci (Shock Sentry) I have a ... A: Your terminology is a little confusing. By "two wire system" do you mean two wires in one ... | |
| Question | 9/20/2009 |
| Q: Is it normal to hear a buzzing sound coming from the electrical panel when the A/C comes on? Thanks A: It depends on where the buzzing is coming from. It can be a sign of a weak or loose breaker, loose ... | |
| Ceiling fan w light | 9/18/2009 |
| Q: I'm wiring a ceiling fan and light is not working. situation....hot wire comes into switch ... A: When you installed the light kit make sure the quick-connect connection is tight. Have you tried the ... | |
| Thermostat for fan control | 9/18/2009 |
| Q: I'm trying to get ventilation into a root cellar to cool it with night air during our hot summers ... A: Let me see if I understand, you want the cellar fan to come on when the outside air is less than 55 ... | |
| Electrical Outlet problem | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: My daughter has an older home with an electrical outlet that has a 6 plug expander box plugged into ... A: Check the rating of the expander to make sure it can handle the amps of the dishwasher. Current ... | |
| shed wiring | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: I can bring power to my 10x10 shed directly from my meter box whioh has breaker switch capability. ... A: You can use romex but that is hard to pull through the conduit. Look for wire with a THHN rating ... | |
| Dead breaker? | 9/16/2009 |
| Q: I will start at the beginning; last winter, we had an electrical issue with our lights dimming, then ... A: There are a couple of possibilities and all are easier to verify when the problem exists. You did ... | |
| wiring a shed | 9/15/2009 |
| Q: I can bring power to my 10x10 shed directly from my meter box whioh has breaker switch capability. ... A: I like PVC conduit in the ground for protection of the wire. You can go directly from a breaker to ... | |
| Electrical Panels | 9/14/2009 |
| Q: I converted by home to a square D 200 AMP Sub panel with 30 breakers. I need to know which Square D ... A: If I understand correctly you installed the 200 amp subpanel and now what to upgrade your main. If ... | |
| hot tub | 9/13/2009 |
| Q: i was advised to use 6 gauge wire to 50 amp breaker box, do i need to run 6 gauge from outside ... A: Your hot tub should have a GFCI disconnect and if it is on a 50 amp breaker then yes, you would use ... | |
| Upgrading 200 Amp Residential Load Center to 400 Amp | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: Just a bit over 25 years ago I was a lic. cert. electrician, HVAC, B1 contractor in LA County, CA. ... A: Yes, but at least you get to live in Florida. This upgrade to 400 amps is not going to be cheap, ... | |
| Upgrading 200 Amp Residential Load Center to 400 Amp | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: Just a bit over 25 years ago I was a lic. cert. electrician, HVAC, B1 contractor in LA County, CA. ... A: You will need to get the utility company and the local AHJ involved in this. The utility company ... | |
| tapping off a 220 circuit for a new GFI Circuit | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: I built a shed 150 feet from my home. I ran 14/2 underground wire ( bk, wht, gnd) in gray PVC to the ... A: You probably should of asked for advise before this project began. The 14/2 is undersized. You ... | |
| 48v at box with power off | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: I was attempting to replace a builder installed fan in a master bed room. With fan removed, and ... A: This is why a person should always, always check for voltage before working on wires. Do you just ... | |
| tube and knob wiring | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: isit easy to determine if electricity is stii activein a old house.we want to blow insulation in the ... A: Yes, it is easy to determine if electrical wires are live. An inspector would have you remove old ... | |
| sub panel on a detached garage | 9/6/2009 |
| Q: I was reading one of your responses on allexperts.com and I was curious about a situation I'm having ... A: Two grounding rods are okay as long as they follow code when installing them. This is not the normal ... | |
| Power fluctuating up and down | 9/5/2009 |
| Q: The power and my home kept cutting off so I called an electriction to fix the problem. The guy said ... A: If your 15 amp circuit has any wire smaller than 10 gauge there is now a fire hazard by installing ... | |
| double switch outlet | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: i am trying to replace a double switch outlet that turns two different lights on and off. each with ... A: Let me make sure I understand. You have a switched outlet that both the upper and lower prongs are ... | |
| electrical outlet | 9/3/2009 |
| Q: I changed the light bulb. The breaker never shut off and the outlet now won't work as well as ... A: Look for a gfci outlet that may have tripped. If that is not the problem you will need a voltmeter ... | |
| wire size for oven | 9/3/2009 |
| Q: What size of wire do I need for a 50 foot span of wire to a 240V double wall oven Total Connected ... A: According to the math that would be a 40 amp circuit so the wire size would be #8 awg copper. But ... | |
| Wiring two fixtures to one switch | 9/2/2009 |
| Q: I have two exterior fixtures that need to be controlled by one switch. I know how to do this where ... A: At the switch you should have 2 sets of 3 wires (black,white,ground) already there and now you will ... | |
| 220V outlets | 9/2/2009 |
| Q: I live in a small mobile home and both the stove and the refrigerator spaces are the same size. I ... A: Are you saying you want to swap where the stove and refrig are or remove the refrig and install a ... | |
| ceiling light | 8/31/2009 |
| Q: I changed a ceiling light but didn't connect the ground wire to anything. There was a bare (I ... A: You should have a bare copper wire in the ceiling box and a bare wire from the fixture. They get ... | |
| AC Fan Motor Wiring | 8/31/2009 |
| Q: The fan in my air conditioner unit does is not turning on. I have confirmed that the motor is ... A: You did not say but it sounds like this is the outdoor fan motor. Normally the outdoor fan is not ... | |
| Covering over house wiring | 8/30/2009 |
| Q: I'm adding storage flooring using 4X8 sheets of osb on top of the bottom of my roof trusses. Some ... A: Wiring ran across joists rather than beside are suppose to have firring ran along so people do not ... | |
| SubPanel Followup Question | 8/30/2009 |
| Q: I will take your advice and install the subpanel however have a couple of followup questions. Can I ... A: I am assuming you are pulling a permit for this and it will be inspected before being energized. It ... | |
| No power in one circuit. | 8/29/2009 |
| Q: I accidently threw a switch and 2 live wires in a light fixture shorted a circuit. The house was ... A: You may have blown that switch or another switch in the circuit. However, if the whole circuit is ... | |
| question | 8/26/2009 |
| Q: I found out a 30A breaker is being used to power outlets and light fixtures. I have a few questions ... A: I will answer backwards. The general length were voltage drop becomes an issue is 100'. The 15 amp ... | |
| proper bonding of CSST | 8/26/2009 |
| Q: There is mixed info about a proprietary method to properly bond CSST gas feed pipe. Can you clear it ... A: The manufacture, the National Fuel Gas Code, the National Mechanical Code, and the NEC, all have ... | |
| Figuring Amps | 8/25/2009 |
| Q: I have a hair dryer that has 1875 watts written on it and I was trying to figure the amps. It has ... A: In your equation P/E = I P = watts E = voltage I = amps The wattage rating of 1875 is if you have ... | |
| Replacing GFI Receptacle | 8/24/2009 |
| Q: I have a GFI receptacle in the bathroom of my mobile home. At the opposite end of the house there is ... A: You should not replace the GFI with a switch. Instead, hire an electrician to find out why your GFI ... | |
| Electrical circuit breakers | 8/23/2009 |
| Q: I have allot of appliances on one 15 amp circuit breaker that pops or breakers if 3 out of 5 of them ... A: If the wire is 14 gauge you cannot install a 20 amp breaker on that circuit. The wires could heat up ... | |
| 6 outlets dead | 8/22/2009 |
| Q: Six kitchen outlets are dead. Not sure how or what did it. I assumed it was the GFI outlet. I ... A: The 15-20 amp outlet is not an issue. So let's move on. Normally in a kitchen you have several ... | |
| Remote Lighting Circuit - Riding Arena | 8/22/2009 |
| Q: I want to run 2 20amp circuits to a new riding arena we are building. One circuit is for general ... A: Your voltage drop for 400 feet is significant. With 12/2 at 400 feet you approx. have a voltage drop ... | |
| Flickering clock display on stove | 8/21/2009 |
| Q: I bought a new electric glasstop range a month ago, and the digital clock and display have a subtle ... A: It sounds like how a traffic signal works. An object disrupts the field (buried under the pavement) ... | |
| Flickering clock display on stove | 8/21/2009 |
| Q: I bought a new electric glasstop range a month ago, and the digital clock and display have a subtle ... A: That would be amazing if you did have some super power that allowed you to turn off electrical ... | |
| Adding a Sub-Panel on 110V Service | 8/20/2009 |
| Q: Adding a Sub-Panel on 110V Service I’m in the process of remodeling a small house in Mexico and the ... A: You said 40v, but I think you meant 40 amps. I am not familiar with codes in Mexico. Here in the ... | |
| 3 way switches | 8/20/2009 |
| Q: Is there any difference in the continuity of 3 way switches from the 40's? One of mine started ... A: Yes, the new 3-way switches are different than the older ones. This is what you need to do: 1. ... | |
| outdoor photo cell | 8/17/2009 |
| Q: I am trying to hook up and out door photo cell for 2 lights on the front porch. Says hook blk wirt ... A: Are these two separate light fixtures working off of one photocell or one light fixture with two ... | |
| 2 Bulb Outdoor Flood Day/Night | 8/16/2009 |
| Q: Checked wiring black to black and white to white. Lamps bulbs ok. Socket...center contact - how do ... A: Checking the center socket can be tricky and dangerous because the very bottom center is hot and the ... | |
| Electrical Outlets in two bathrooms and outside have stopped working. | 8/13/2009 |
| Q: All the outlets in two of our bathrooms and outside have stopped working. The rest of the house is ... A: You can turn the breakers all the way off and then turn them back on. If one of them does not feel ... | |
| 110 or 220 volts | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: i am preparing to replace 2 winow ac units for my mother. my father was an electrician and installed ... A: You cannot direct wire a window A/C unless you have a disconnect switch nearby. In other words, you ... | |
| Jacuzzi | 8/10/2009 |
| Q: I recently installed a used jacuzzi. The new location is about 200 feet if not a little more from ... A: The rule of thumb is every 100' you need to go up one size in wire to adapt for the voltage drop. ... | |
| electrical short? | 8/10/2009 |
| Q: As new homeowners my husband removed an old ceiling fan and installed the new one in our livingroom. ... A: Tripped breakers must be fully turned off before they will reset in the on position. If the breaker ... | |
| installing new electrical oven | 8/7/2009 |
| Q: I have some knowledge of wiring basic things, But I'm ready to install a new elec wall oven.The ... A: The first thing you need to do is determine what the amperage rating is for the oven. If it does not ... | |
| Knob and tube wiring | 7/31/2009 |
| Q: I live in a two family house. I live in the main part and the back was built on. Some of my wirers ... A: It sounds like you want the service split so both parties have a meter and pay separate bills. If ... | |
| Distance/height above roof | 7/31/2009 |
| Q: I've looked all over the web trying to find what the NEC code says about electric feed wires from a ... A: This sounds more like a local problem rather than a NEC, but I cannot tell for sure without seeing ... | |
| replacing old bathroom fixture | 7/30/2009 |
| Q: i recently replaced the vanity and mirror in my bathroom. Now the hole in the wall where the wires ... A: At one time, people ran the wires down to the light fixture without a box for termination and ... | |
| grounding conductor size | 7/29/2009 |
| Q: I'm rewiring a home that was built in 1953. In the service panel , there is no grounding bus. I've ... A: Normally a 1/2 inch grounding rod is sufficient for a 100 amp panel. However, inspectors can ask for ... | |
| Ceiling fan has ground wire | 7/29/2009 |
| Q: I'm putting in a ceiling fan and it has a light wire, a fan wire, a neutral wire and a ground wire. ... A: There should be a ground wire in the ceiling box. It may be shoved way up or sometimes they took the ... | |
| GFCI | 7/28/2009 |
| Q: Will a GFCI work on an old two wire system with no ground wire? Is there a special type of GFCI for ... A: You can install a gfci on a two-wire circuit you just need to use the little sticker that comes with ... | |
| 400a service | 7/28/2009 |
| Q: I'm changing out my 200a service with a 400a service in my home and need to know what size and type ... A: I recommend calling your building inspector because they are going to be the ones that inspect and ... | |
| baseboard locations | 7/27/2009 |
| Q: Does an electric (240V) baseboard heater HAVE to be under a window on an external wall, or can I ... A: The main reasons for heaters being placed under windows and on external walls is that those are main ... | |
| Rewiring my outside light | 7/27/2009 |
| Q: My front outside light went out and I want to replace it with a Security light. Inside my front door ... A: You may or may not be able to pull that wire because it may have been stapled to a stud. If you are ... | |
| double ovens | 7/26/2009 |
| Q: what size breaker should my new double wall oven be connected to the current breaker is a double ... A: The size of the wire from your breaker to the oven will determine what size breaker can be ... | |
| AC and Dryer on same ganged ciruit breaker | 7/26/2009 |
| Q: I recently had my AC go out and the AC tech came out and said my AC was fine so I called my ... A: I have a feeling you should of trusted the AC tech because they make more money by selling you a new ... | |
| Heat Pump | 7/25/2009 |
| Q: My wife and I just bought our first house and we are going to need a new furnace come winter as our ... A: Congrats on your new home ownership! A heat pump is an air conditioner that has a reversing valve ... | |
| 100 amp service - adequate? | 7/24/2009 |
| Q: I'm a homeowner in Philadelphia, PA, and would like to do a load calculation to determine if I can ... A: He is referring to 31,800 watts or 31.8 kilowatts. He is saying that the main panel will allow you ... | |
| power out in only 3 rooms | 7/24/2009 |
| Q: my daughter plugged in and turned on the vacuum in the living room. This caused the power to go out ... A: If you do sell her who will do the vacuuming? It was not your daughter's fault so please do not sell ... | |
| RSK-2 switch for swamp cooler | 7/23/2009 |
| Q: I am installing an RSK-2 speed switch for swamp cooler which calls for 2 black, 1 red, and one "hot" ... A: Use a tester to find out which wire is "hot". Leave the whites alone. With the breaker off; You ... | |
| fuse pull-outs | 7/21/2009 |
| Q: I have a 100 amp square d fuse panel. I would like to hook up an electric drier. I have a spare fuse ... A: It is not just the size of the fuses you have consider; you must consider the wire size that is ... | |
| problems with 3 way switch wiring | 7/21/2009 |
| Q: I changed two 3 way switches out. One upstairs, one down stairs. The down stairs switch has to be ... A: You have miswired the new three way switches. Often the new ones need to be wired differently than ... | |
| 100 amp service | 7/20/2009 |
| Q: I have a small cabin (850 Square Feet) in north georgia. I have 100 amp service to the cabin and I ... A: There is a load calculation sheet that is used to determine what the service should be. Rarely ... | |
| codes | 7/18/2009 |
| Q: I live in central Illinois and had a tree fall on my house tearing away the meter base and wiring ... A: I am not aware of that code. It is my understanding that if you are simply changing out or upgrading ... | |
| Switched/unswitched outlet | 7/17/2009 |
| Q: Greg, Under my kitchen sink is a single receptacle with 2 outlets. They both turn on and off with a ... A: You do need to run more romex because the outlet is being fed power from the switch. The wire is ... | |
| codes | 7/17/2009 |
| Q: I live in central Illinois and had a tree fall on my house tearing away the meter base and wiring ... A: You have the NEC and you have state codes and you have local codes. When you say the wiring has to ... | |
| Plugs and Switeches not working | 7/16/2009 |
| Q: We recently had a new roof installed and we had them replace the turtle back electric fans and ... A: If you believe someone caused a problem why not have them back out to fix it? If the problem ... | |
| Stove Plug Wiring | 7/16/2009 |
| Q: My son just purchased a new stove that came with a 3 prong plug. The previous owner took the plug ... A: If he did wire incorrectly you have a dangerous situation. It means the chassis is now energized ... | |
| dryer wiring | 7/14/2009 |
| Q: I am trying to hook up a dryer in my home. The previous outlet was left hanging under the house and ... A: The old way of wiring 220 volt outlets was to use black and white as hot and bare wire as ... | |
| A/C Circuit Breaker | 7/13/2009 |
| Q: We are trying to replace our A/C circuit breaker. According to the front it is a Challenger 4 pole ... A: You will most likely need to put in a 20a double pole with a tiebar. It may be that the two circuits ... | |
| Wiring a new garbage disposal | 7/12/2009 |
| Q: I want to install a new garbage disposal in a 40 year home that never had one. The source of power ... A: Technically the washer should be on it's own circuit, the kitchen outlets on their own circuit, and ... | |
| Window ACs trip breaker | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: I live in a double wide mobile home with three window ACs. One in the back, the front, and in the ... A: You will need to hire an electrician to examine your circuits and perhaps run one or two new ... | |
| cook top wiring | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: I have a two wire coming out of the wall with ground. The cook top, which is a Jenn_Air Model ... A: The two wires coming out of the wall sound like they are supplying 220 volts which means that each ... | |
| a/c condenser fan motor | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: The fan motor went out at the house,so I purchase a new one but it has 4 wires and the old one had ... A: You need to look at the schematic of the A/C and the one that is on the new motor. It is probably ... | |
| pool filter gfci breaker tripping | 7/9/2009 |
| Q: I had an above ground pool installed last year and the electrical line for the filter was run about ... A: This problem is not common. All of your fittings should be water-tight as well as the outlet. You ... | |
| Ground Problem | 7/8/2009 |
| Q: I live in an apartment and I recently plug a surgeprotector and the "line fault" led lit. So I ... A: There are several ways you can get this type of reading. The ground could be getting power from the ... | |
| Problems wiring a dimmer to outlet | 7/7/2009 |
| Q: I am trying to create a "light control box" Essentally its a portable box that allows me to plug a ... A: Your power cord that is going into this box should have the hot wire connected to the dimmer switch. ... | |
| installing a gfci | 7/6/2009 |
| Q: The electrician installed the wiring in boxes for me to complete with gfci outlets. In the first ... A: When wiring gfci outlets you only want to use the "load" terminals when you want the gfci to control ... | |
| connecting three bulb sockets | 7/6/2009 |
| Q: I'm trying to make my own photography studio lighting as cheaply as possible. So far i have ... A: You will need to add up the wattage of the bulbs and then divide by your voltage (108-120) to get ... | |
| HVAC | 7/4/2009 |
| Q: I HAVE A 230VOLT3 PHASE AC UNIT FROM A CONSTRUCTION JOB LOOKING TO INSTALL IT IN MY HOME. HOW DO I ... A: Yes you can but it is expensive. Unless this used A/C is worth a lot of money it would cost more ... | |
| Missing Electric Heaters in Older FL Home | 7/4/2009 |
| Q: A friend just bought a 1962 house in Florida. No central heat or cooling. There are ... A: Check the ceilings. You probably have radiant ceiling heat. It was very popular for awhile. Because ... | |
| doorbell wiring | 7/2/2009 |
| Q: Hey Greg, I think my doorbell is haunted. I recently purchased a home and two months after I moved ... A: Answering your questions backwards; There may be a ghost in your doorbell but you would need a ... | |
| transformer plug- in hot | 7/1/2009 |
| Q: I recently had a digital cable tv receiver box hooked up; the receiver itself isn't hot but the ... A: Terms like "hot" and "warm" are subjective and really serve little or no help to me in this line of ... | |
| GFIC | 7/1/2009 |
| Q: Can I install a switch in front of a GFIC so I can turn the device on and off with out unplugging ... A: Some GFCI outlets trip when power is taken away, so that is the one you would avoid if you want to ... | |
| transformer plug- in hot | 6/30/2009 |
| Q: I recently had a digital cable tv receiver box hooked up; the receiver itself isn't hot but the ... A: Almost all newer electronic equipment is energized to some degree when it is plugged in. There are ... | |
| Timer switch | 6/28/2009 |
| Q: My outside lights are switvhed on bmo an day-night switch. Can I install a switch that will just ... A: The simplest thing to do is install a timer inline and set the turn-on to be on early in the ... | |
| GFCI in Bathroom | 6/28/2009 |
| Q: I Greg, I have a roughed bathroom with light and fan on one circuit and I have another 20 amp ... A: According to the NEC, your bath outlet(s) should be on their own circuit. If you have only one ... | |
| 2nd Electrical meter base | 6/27/2009 |
| Q: I am adding a rental unit tomy existing home. I am putting in a 2nd electrical 200 amp service ... A: Cities can be different in their requirements so you will need to contact your local building ... | |
| 3 Light Series | 6/26/2009 |
| Q: Greg, I just bought my first home (built in 1958) and am attempting to replace the light fixtures ... A: What you have is a 3-way circuit. It is not wired like a regular 1-switch circuit. The red wires ... | |
| Can't get new ceiling fan to work | 6/25/2009 |
| Q: I have been trying to install a new ceiling fan and am having a bit of trouble. In the ceiling box ... A: The guessing game is no fun so you will need to either purchase a voltmeter or hire an electrician ... | |
| Window AC Question | 6/24/2009 |
| Q: Can I safely use a 15amp 125v plug with an converter on a grounded 20amp 250v outlet? The AC is ... A: If the outlet is wired for 240 volts it means both prongs are hot and if you plug a 120 volt A/C ... | |
| grounding wire | 6/23/2009 |
| Q: I live in 100 year old home and recently upgraded our box to 200 amp and our grounding wire is also ... A: If they laid the grounding rod down at the proper depth you should be able to pour over the rod. The ... | |
| Induction range - how to check amperage? | 6/23/2009 |
| Q: I live in a condo that does not have any gas lines anywhere in the building, but I cook a lot so I'm ... A: If you go to your circuit breaker panel you should find several "double" breakers, meaning they are ... | |
| new ceiling fan | 6/22/2009 |
| Q: I installed a ceiling fan in my master bedroom. I tapped into an existing hot wire that runs into ... A: If the circuit can handle a ceiling fan then you need a hot wire going to the switch and then from ... | |
| line of mini pendants not working | 6/22/2009 |
| Q: We have a line of 3 mini pendant lights above our kitchen counter/bar. They are attached to a ... A: It sounds like when the light blew it shorted out and caused the dimmer to quit working. Turn off ... | |
| pool motor failures | 6/21/2009 |
| Q: I have had 5 pool motors fail in 2 years (7/07, 1/08, 7/08,12/08, 2/08, 6/08). The 7/07 replacement ... A: If I was going to inspect this I would start by examining all of the wires to see if they are ... | |
| old electrical wiring | 6/21/2009 |
| Q: i want to install a windwo a/c unit in my garage. i want to use a on/off switch in the house, run ... A: First you need to determine whether that circuit can handle the additional load of the A/C. If it ... | |
| stove top and oven breaker and wire size | 6/20/2009 |
| Q: I know and electrician and asked him what size breaker to use for a stove top and oven. He said 30 ... A: 30 amp sounds too small for a stove top and oven together. You should go with the larger one. Look ... | |
| How to connect 6/2 W/G Nmb Cable | 6/20/2009 |
| Q: Previous home owner pull a 6/2 W/G Nmb Cable from the main service panel to a subpanel in the ... A: It sounds like they thought about getting 220 volts after they ran the wire, which should of been ... | |
| Circuit reads 60 volts inplace of 120 volts | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: 120 volt circuit with GFCI and 6 outlets reads only 60 volts at each outlet & GFCI. Disconnect ... A: Check each outlet by turning off the breaker and pulling the outlet far enough out of the box to ... | |
| Whole house surge suppressor/protection | 6/15/2009 |
| Q: I'm trying to protect the new computer (and two old computers) and a new 26" HDTV from electrical ... A: If you are going to install 3-prong outlets you will need to run a ground to each outlet. Yes, I do ... | |
| 120v cicuit on 240v breaker | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: would a 240v double pole, single throw breaker interupt correctly if overloaded when its wired 120v ... A: Breakers are rated in amps, not volts. What determines the voltage is whether they are single or ... | |
| 120v cicuit on 240v breaker | 6/13/2009 |
| Q: would a 240v double pole, single throw breaker interupt correctly if overloaded when its wired 120v ... A: A double pole 240v breaker has a 120 volts on each pole, hence the 240 volts. Both poles are suppose ... | |
| bathroom/dining lighting doesn't work | 6/13/2009 |
| Q: Our bathroom on the main floor (half bath), dining room, and porch lights are not working. We ... A: Look for a gfci outlet that may be tripped. It could be located outside or in the bathroom. Also, ... | |
| reconnecting a repaired ceil fan motor | 6/10/2009 |
| Q: when connecting green with green black with black and then white with white a high pitched noise ... A: Did you remove the shipping blocks that keep the motor from turning during shipping and installing? ... | |
| 200Amp Temp. Power Pole undergound to House Sub Panel | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: I have a 200 Amp temp. Power Pole that will feed a Sub Panel on an existing House approx. 100' from ... A: 1. 2/0 copper 2. I prefer conduit but either will do as long as local codes allow it. I would run ... | |
| Electric Panel | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: While at a home inspection for a client the breaker box was hot to touch on one breaker and it ... A: Was the hot breaker for the A/C? If so, an A/C works hardest in the afternoon and if the sun hits ... | |
| Non-grounded subpanels | 6/8/2009 |
| Q: I'm upgrading a '60s house that has a 200a old main panel, feeding two 100 amp subpanels--the house ... A: Regardless of the stove you want your subpanels grounded. With a 100 amp panel you can run #6 for a ... | |
| voltage surge? | 6/8/2009 |
| Q: 3 years ago we have our apartment rewired and all lights have been changed to energy saving bulbs or ... A: I am not familiar with the codes and voltages with your country. I suspect that voltage spikes and ... | |
| Electric meter | 6/6/2009 |
| Q: How can I find someone besides our electric provider to check the calibration of our meter. Our ... A: We can all expect higher bills due to our new administration. But with politics aside, there are ... | |
| Outside Floodlights mounted on wall of house not working | 6/5/2009 |
| Q: I have twin floodlights mounted on either side of my house on the wall in the backyard. The switch ... A: The switches should of had two wires to each and the two wires at each switch can be reversed. It ... | |
| electrical outlet | 6/4/2009 |
| Q: I have an outlet located beneath my sink for the disposal and dishwasher. The outlet burnt out, so I ... A: The white should go on the side with the biggest prong. The other side has a tab that needs to be ... | |
| old wiring problems | 6/3/2009 |
| Q: Jimmy, I am installing a light fixture into a ceiling with no pre-existing fixture at that ... A: The cable with power would be the one coming in and splits and goes to each switch. And that same ... | |
| nothing 240 works in the whole house.all outlets read 120 each side. | 6/3/2009 |
| Q: I have 240 volts @ each element of the waterheater on new elements but no hot water. same with the ... A: The subject says you have 120 volts on each side but then your question says you have 240 volts ... | |
| 2 in 1 light switch/power socket | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: Could you help me connect a light switch and power socket (a 2 in 1 device)to my residential power ... A: For an outlet to work you need a hot wire and a neutral. Some switch boxes only have a hot coming in ... | |
| Breaker 40 Amp Air Conditioner 15 Amps | 5/31/2009 |
| Q: Can I put a 15 amps air conditioner on a breaker that is 40 amps. I know I have to change the ... A: Can you? It is physically possible. Should you? That is another question. If your A/C is rated for a ... | |
| does wiring a motor to 22 increase it's performance | 5/29/2009 |
| Q: Greg, I bought a Rigid Table saw that has the capability of being wired for 220v. I have been ... A: The main advantage is that the amps are reduced and you can run a smaller wire size to it and hence ... | |
| 30A | 5/27/2009 |
| Q: I have a 30A double breaker feeding my detached garage. I would like to replace the fuse box with a ... A: You did not mention where the fuse box is but it sounds like the 30 amp breaker is feeding a fuse ... | |
| Electric motor | 5/27/2009 |
| Q: My fan on my AC unit starts up but runs slow. The paperwork with the unit says it should pull 1 ... A: The first thing to check is the voltage. You should have between 208 and 240 volts being supplied to ... | |
| changing dihwasher from hardwire to pluggin | 5/26/2009 |
| Q: is there a anything wrong with me changing my dishwasher from hardwire to cord wire plugin im using ... A: Technically, yes with each connection you run a greater risk of a loose connection. However, your ... | |
| Tankless water heater | 5/25/2009 |
| Q: Most of the specifications for tankless water heaters indicate 240v and up to 100w for proper ... A: Do you mean 100 amps? 100w = 100 watts and that does not sound right. If your home is electric, ... | |
| 240v outlet | 5/25/2009 |
| Q: How do I determine if my air compressor will require a 3 or 4 wire 240v circuit? can power tools ... A: Good question. The requirements should be on a metal tag attached to the compressor. If it calls for ... | |
| new light and outlet | 5/24/2009 |
| Q: I would like to add a light and an outlet to a circuit. I would like to run the wire from the ... A: Lets go backwards in your questions. You are not suppose to have two different size wires in the ... | |
| installing double oven | 5/24/2009 |
| Q: We are installing a ge monogram double wall oven, ZET2SMSS the specs of the metal plaque are as ... A: When the engineers build ovens they face the dilemma that each house may have a different voltage ... | |
| Air Conditioning | 5/22/2009 |
| Q: We got Central Air installed the beginning of last summer. It's a BRYANT. We turned it on a few days ... A: The most typical causes of what you explained are low air flow due to one or more of the following; ... | |
| exhaust fan | 5/20/2009 |
| Q: I added an exhaust fan to my washroom and connected the wiring to the existing light switch. The ... A: Frank, The white from the fan needs to be connected to a neutral wire, not to the switch. What you ... | |
| second panel for shop | 5/20/2009 |
| Q: I have a 200 amp service to my house panel. I am putting a 100 amp panel in a backyard shop, 160 ... A: I am curious why you are coming off the meter box instead of main panel, but it does not matter for ... | |
| 220v socket to 110v | 5/19/2009 |
| Q: Let me start by telling what happened first. I had an older a/c that uses a 220v socket which was ... A: As you are aware, you hooked 220 volts to your 110 volt A/C. I am surprised it lasted for 2 days. ... | |
| Flood light fixture switch | 5/18/2009 |
| Q: Are you aware of any off/on switch that will screw into one of the three threaded holes that exist ... A: The main thing to overcome are the 1/2" threads and the switch needs to be waterproof if this is ... | |
| bathroom outlets | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: We recently moved into a relatively new house (built 2006). It has 5 1/2 bathrooms on 4 levels. ... A: What do all three have in common? They should all be on GFCI breakers and all require a good ground, ... | |
| 4 electrical things quit working | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: The other day, when I turned on an upstairs bathroom light switch the 5 light fixture over sink made ... A: Is it a "fuse box" or "breaker panel"? A tripped breaker can appear to be okay sometimes and the to ... | |
| Should I upgrade from 100 to 200 Amp | 5/16/2009 |
| Q: I am in the process of renovating a house that my wife and I just bought. It was last renovated in ... A: Given that you are switching two big users of electricity to gas and hopefully installing a more ... | |
| Sub panel and gounding rods | 5/15/2009 |
| Q: I'm getting ready to run a new sub panel and underground line to my detached garage. I'm going to ... A: This is an accepted method but check with the local building codes just to make sure before you run ... | |
| wiring from home to camper / 30amp | 5/12/2009 |
| Q: I just purchased a travel trailer and I need to run a 30amp 70ft. I was just wondering what gauge ... A: I love it when you guys say "I have limited funds for this.." What is that suppose to mean to me? ... | |
| electric to a camper | 5/12/2009 |
| Q: i recently bought a camper and put it 500ft from my mothers house in attempt to save for a house. ... A: The money it is going to cost you to run sufficient wire will be significant. I do not know what ... | |
| Private water pump occassionaly trips circuit | 5/11/2009 |
| Q: I have been having a problem lately with our water well. It started when our pressure switch of 15 ... A: Clint, It is most likely a problem with the motor or the motor controller, or both. You should have ... | |
| outdoor wiring to backyard and building | 5/11/2009 |
| Q: ...I have run romex wire to two locations in my back yard in 1/2" elect conduit, one two plug outlet ... A: Alan, There are a couple of things I believe are wrong with this picture and I probably need some ... | |
| Stanley Vemco Garage Door Capacitor Removed.. Is this dangerous? | 5/10/2009 |
| Q: I have a Stanley Vemco garage door opener that began to stop going up and down intermittently ~ it ... A: You may end up burning your motor so I would recommend you replace the capacitor. I believe it is a ... | |
| Loosing Power | 5/8/2009 |
| Q: I have a bedroom that is intermittently losing power. I have identified the breaker that controls ... A: Most likely they are tied together either in a junction box or an outlet box. They may also be tied ... | |
| 12/3 split (2/20 breakers) | 5/7/2009 |
| Q: I have an outdoor cooking center and am leveraging a 12/3 line that was no longer used and blanked ... A: You should never put a refrigerator on a gfci protected outlet. You can have a dedicated outlet ... | |
| Electrical hum | 5/7/2009 |
| Q: I have a visual horizontal line running through my tv when plugged into down stairs outlets. If I ... A: It does not have to be on the same circuit breaker to cause noise. Your neighbor a few doors down ... | |
| AFI breakers and GFI outlets | 5/6/2009 |
| Q: I have a AFI protected circuit and every time i put GFI on this circuit the GFI trips am i doing ... A: It sounds like your GFI outlet is not wired correctly or you have reverse polarity. Some of the new ... | |
| Electrical hum | 5/5/2009 |
| Q: I have a visual horizontal line running through my tv when plugged into down stairs outlets. If I ... A: Find out what happens after in 7pm in your house and the house connected to you. It may that your ... | |
| Running extension from light fixture to create outlet in adjacent closet | 5/5/2009 |
| Q: Is it OK to just plug two prong extension cord to the light socket outlet adapter ... A: Looking at that picture I am not sure that light is up to code in that cupboard. Extension cords ... | |
| old wiring spark and dead receptacle...related? | 5/4/2009 |
| Q: while installing a ceiling fan with a light, there was a spark, when pulling wires through 1st ... A: The first thing is why are you working on this with the circuit breaker on? Turn it OFF before you ... | |
| Wires to light both hot | 5/4/2009 |
| Q: I am doing some electrical work in a home I purchased that was originally built in the early 1900's. ... A: I need to know where you touched the probes to get this reading, and I recommend getting a digital ... | |
| wiring basic porcelain incandescent fixtures | 5/3/2009 |
| Q: I am putting simple porcelain fixtures for standard incandescent bulbs (obviously compact ... A: Check to make sure the black coming in to the fixture with the switch is hot, and not the white. It ... | |
| electrical service for aeration | 5/2/2009 |
| Q: Greg, I want to run an underground service line from my home approx. 600ft to my pond.All this line ... A: The first thing you need to know is the amp draw because that will determine the initial wire size. ... | |
| Light switches | 5/2/2009 |
| Q: I have 3 light switches controling one light.Two of the switches work fine,the third,works only if ... A: Most likely it is wired wrong or you have the wrong type of switches. If it is wired correctly and ... | |
| 60 amp breaker | 5/1/2009 |
| Q: i have to add a 60amp breaker for my pool heat pump. and there is no openings in the 200amp box, ... A: Piggy back is dangerous and against code. What you need is a subpanel and then feed from that back ... | |
| GFCI outlets | 4/30/2009 |
| Q: I have a circuit in my house with 2 GFCI outlets on it. Is there any reason to have 2 on the same ... A: It is true that if the line ends with a GFCI that last outlet will be protected by that GFCI. The ... | |
| ceiling lights wiring | 4/22/2009 |
| Q: I bought 4 light ceiling kit. There is no wiring scheme how to connect the rest of ceiling lights. I ... A: It sounds like you are wiring it correct, the blacks go together and the whites go together and the ... | |
| European wiring to U.S. codes | 4/22/2009 |
| Q: I have a chandelier that I bought when stationed overseas in Germany. I thought I wired it ... A: Normally in Germany you are right with the color code. Two things; 1. Make sure that the lamp is ... | |
| Copeland Scroll Compressor | 4/21/2009 |
| Q: I have a 54,000 btu Copeland Scroll compressor, R47K3-PFV-235, in my heat pump which draws 12 amps ... A: Your compressor draws 12 amps, but what about the fan motors? Is that 12 amps including those ... | |
| Plug powered by light switch | 4/21/2009 |
| Q: I recently replaced a plug that was controlled by a light switch in my spare bedroom. I was told to ... A: If the switch originally controlled both halves of the outlet then you would not break or remove the ... | |
| Frigidaire Pro Series Stove - glass cooktop - burner quit working | 4/20/2009 |
| Q: We have the Frigidaire Pro Series Model PLEF398CCA Stainless steel with black glass flat surface ... A: The element is about $150.00 and I am not aware of any programming that is needed, but a quick call ... | |
| microwave hood range | 4/19/2009 |
| Q: simple question i guess may sound stupid but where do you put the plug outlet for a microwave hood ... A: The plug is usually fed up on the right side and above so you can unplug it. The plug has to be ... | |
| Wiring a pool system | 4/17/2009 |
| Q: Is there a safety risk if I use the kitchen range wiring (8 Gage) from my main service panel to ... A: What you are talking about is not safe and is not to code. The only way you could follow code and ... | |
| ground rod installation | 4/16/2009 |
| Q: I am about to upgrade from a 75amp panel to a 200amp panel and need to install a 10' ground rod as ... A: The inspectors in the area I live want the ground rod to stick up above the cement enough so they ... | |
| AFCI breakers tripping when it rains | 4/16/2009 |
| Q: About a month ago, the two AFCI circuit breakers (15 amps each) for my bedrooms in my electrical ... A: AFCI breakers can become weaker (more sensitive) over time, just like regular breakers. And the more ... | |
| 30 amp thermostat for radiant heater. | 4/15/2009 |
| Q: I was hoping to find out about replacing a thermostat. Right now i have radiant heating in the ... A: Turn off the breaker and look inside your t-stat for info on what the amperage rating is. It sounds ... | |
| dryer not heating after re-wire | 4/15/2009 |
| Q: We installed a new electrical panel and changed everything to match what was there. everything ... A: The electric dryer requires 120 volts for the motor to run, but requires 220 volts for the elements ... | |
| Electric Baseboard Heat Issue | 4/14/2009 |
| Q: I recently had an issue with my living room heating where the heat would constantly stay on, ... A: We normally say 220 volts or 240 volts but it is what ever the power company actually gives you. And ... | |
| wire type | 4/14/2009 |
| Q: I just wanted to double check that the wiring in my home is copper wiring. My house was built in the ... A: The best way to find out what type of wire you have throughout the house is to remove the breaker ... | |
| Electric Baseboard Heat Issue | 4/13/2009 |
| Q: I recently had an issue with my living room heating where the heat would constantly stay on, ... A: The first place I would start is the circuit breakers and make sure you do not have one that is ... | |
| Wiring a timer switch | 4/13/2009 |
| Q: I bought a Intermatic FD60MWC Auto Shut-Off Timer ( http://www.rewci.com/infd60inspwo.html ). This ... A: Jason, I clicked on that link and read, quote "These timers are designed to replace any standard ... | |
| Circuit with hot to ground reverse | 4/12/2009 |
| Q: I have a circuit that has worked fine for 4 years. Recently it quit working. The circuit is in a ... A: It sounds like a loose connection or partially tripped breaker. Start at the breaker panel and make ... | |
| Generator Transfer | 4/12/2009 |
| Q: I have several questions about installing my own manual transfer switch. I have a 3kw Honda with ... A: It sounds like you are installing a subpanel type of TS, and if so then you need a double-pole ... | |
| Generator Transfer | 4/11/2009 |
| Q: I have several questions about installing my own manual transfer switch. I have a 3kw Honda with ... A: Kent, Great question. With the current threats to our power grids and the horrible storms across ... | |
| power gone | 4/9/2009 |
| Q: In the kitchen, I have the main overhead lights on a dual dimmer. One on one side of the kitchen ... A: What you have are two 3-way switches feeding the kitchen lights. If you do not have power at one ... | |
| 250 receptacle | 4/8/2009 |
| Q: i bought a welding machine, it requires 250 volts(or 225) to use in my garage, can i re-wire a ... A: To the best of my knowledge you have the same type of voltage and frequency as here in the U.S. ... | |
| Wiring standalone garage | 4/6/2009 |
| Q: I want to run power from the panel in my house to a panel in a stand alone garage I am building. I ... A: Your 10 awg is what we call 10 gauge and it carries 30 amps if the distance is less than 100 feet. ... | |
| Ground Fault Breaker | 4/6/2009 |
| Q: I have a double pole 50 amp Sq. D GFCI breaker that services my hot tub. It now trips off right ... A: I found one hot tub that had a light right above the control board and it was slowly dripping water ... | |
| connecting a portable generator to a house | 4/5/2009 |
| Q: I have a 5000w portable generator. I would like to use it during outages. I understand the need for ... A: Your transfer switch should come with a wiring diagram. Basically you are feeding your whole main ... | |
| 100amp to 200amp service upgrade | 4/3/2009 |
| Q: I recently purchased an older farm home said to be about 100 yrs old. This house is currently ... A: If the "post and line" is the old "knob and tube" (which I suspect it is) then my suggestion would ... | |
| home power keeps tripping more and more regular | 4/2/2009 |
| Q: I live in India so I’m not surprised that I have finally got an electricity issue, however it sounds ... A: Every time the breaker trips it loses tolerance so it will trip easier the next time. If you have a ... | |
| Adding Ground Wire | 4/1/2009 |
| Q: I am going to be moving into an 82 year old house. The house has an upgraded circuit breaker box ... A: It would probably be better to drive a ground rod near the panel and ground the main panel. Then ... | |
| can lights | 4/1/2009 |
| Q: The situation is there are 3 rooms, in feet 13 x 7 10 x 12 8 x 10 Installing 6-inch can (or ... A: Randy, Can lights can be very useful and attractive if used correctly. Here is the problem with ... | |
| outlet plugs | 3/31/2009 |
| Q: I just moved into a house--in 1 bedroom a ceiling fan has been added. The light is control by the ... A: That switch use to control one of the outlets and someone made it control the fan. Does the switch ... | |
| Oven Element | 3/31/2009 |
| Q: I have an old GE wall oven (guessing 1960-70 model) and one of the elements went out. I ordered an ... A: I cannot find that model number. I do not believe you can get the exact element anymore. The white ... | |
| wiring ceiling fan between 2 switches | 3/29/2009 |
| Q: I am installing a ceiling fan, with remote, in family room. House is fairly new and has box set up ... A: Either someone miswired the switches or they are not meant to work together as a 3-way. Are you ... | |
| Lights and Outlets | 3/28/2009 |
| Q: Recently the light in my bathroom went out, I figured it was a burnt out bulb so replaced, no light, ... A: First check for a gfci outlet. It has a little reset and test button on it. It could be in the ... | |
| Electrical Plug for Water Well | 3/28/2009 |
| Q: I currently have a new home under construction. I have a brand new water well/pump ready to go but ... A: You could use a 220 volt 20 amp plug and outlet. Yes you can use the 250 volt outlet. You will wire ... | |
| troubleshooting outdoor light fixture | 3/27/2009 |
| Q: Maybe you will be able to give me some more advice. My husband just replaced the outdoor light by ... A: Did you buy the exact same light to replace the one that was not working correctly? It is possible ... | |
| ground fault breaker/plug | 3/27/2009 |
| Q: We live along the coast-Hurricane Ike put 8' of water in our downstairs--covering all the electrical ... A: All the boxes and junction boxes need to be checked. Water can leave a mineral trail that electrons ... | |
| Removal of electrical outlet and light switch | 3/26/2009 |
| Q: I need to remove a two-plug electrical outlet and single switch light in order to accomodate new ... A: At the outlet your black wires will get connected together (wire nut), the white wires together, and ... | |
| wiring for 9kw sauna heater | 3/24/2009 |
| Q: I have installed a 9kw sauna heater. The house was set up with 10-3 wire to a 30 amp breaker. When ... A: If it takes 220 volts, the heater draws about 40 amps so you need to go up to 50 amps. This will ... | |
| Outdoor number sign not working | 3/23/2009 |
| Q: Need to know how to what setting my multimeter should be on and where to probe and what readings ... A: If it is A/C voltage you should set it to 700 volts A/C and touch where the two prongs of the bulb ... | |
| comes and goes | 3/23/2009 |
| Q: We have a 200 amp electrical system. The electricity in one area of our basement and part of our ... A: It is possible that you are losing one leg of your power and the oven is back-feeding. The question ... | |
| Split Dual Breaker | 3/21/2009 |
| Q: Electrician installed a dual 30amp breaker just in case we use an electric drier but instead we ... A: Your electrician should of ran 10/3 instead of 10/2. This mistake will only allow you to run one ... | |
| Dimming, brightening lights | 3/21/2009 |
| Q: My lights and TV and fan dim then brighten, dim and brighten. It is often and is bad, but ... A: Has the landlord seen the lights flickering? Did the electric company see it? Did the electrician ... | |
| HQI aquarium lighting troubles........... | 3/20/2009 |
| Q: For about the past year I have noticed drastic change sin the brightness, color temp, and longevity ... A: Did you check voltage with no load or loaded? First check it unloaded. Where did you check the ... | |
| Electric dryer wiring | 3/19/2009 |
| Q: I have a used dryer that i just purchased.The plug on the dryer is a 30Amp 125v/250v 4 prong plug.In ... A: Two choices: 1. Install a 3-prong 30 amp dryer outlet and replace the 4-prong cord with a 3-prong ... | |
| broken connection | 3/19/2009 |
| Q: I am having a problem in a mobile home with the wiring. I plugged in a lamp, turned it on and it ... A: Look for a GFCI outlet, usually the bathroom, kitchen, or outside, and see if it tripped. Hit the ... | |
| lights flickering | 3/18/2009 |
| Q: Several of my lights at home started to flicker very frequently and I have a couple UPS started to ... A: It is possible that your circuit is overloaded, and it is possible that another circuit is causing ... | |
| 240v tablesaw swapout from 120/240v dryer | 3/18/2009 |
| Q: Hughes, Just purchased a 1988 home in Houston,,,Has an existing 120/240v 30A clothes dryer on the ... A: You are on the right track. The 10/2 is actually better than the 12/2 in this case. The 6-15 is for ... | |
| Lights Come On With Dryer. | 3/17/2009 |
| Q: So today perfectly normal average day sitting in the living room with my son when the power goes ... A: This sounds like a main breaker issue with one leg bad and your dryer back-fed the other leg. If ... | |
| Installing motion sensor light | 3/16/2009 |
| Q: Iam tring to install a motion sensor light. I have already installed a double switch so that one ... A: You need a hot wire and neutral. A hot goes to the switch and then from the switch to the ... | |
| arc fault interrupter tripping | 3/15/2009 |
| Q: my wife was vacuuming a few rooms with a kenmore upright when it shuts off. apparently, some kind ... A: Jay, The AFCI has not been perfected, but many would argue that it is better than nothing. Unlike ... | |
| electric range install | 3/14/2009 |
| Q: I just removed a 35 year old electric range that was hard wired. Coming from the wall is a Black ... A: In a 2 wire plus ground configuration for 220 volts the black is hot, the white is hot, and the ... | |
| converting 4 prong dryer to 3 prong | 3/13/2009 |
| Q: we converted the dryer to a 3 prong. dryer runs but no heat is producing. is there such thing that ... A: It is possible that you have energized the chassis of the dryer and extreme caution should be taken. ... | |
| Pullout disconnect | 3/11/2009 |
| Q: I have a outside condensor unit AC that is rated at 15 amps. I have a 2-pole breaker feeding this ... A: You have three choices. One, you can install a disconnect that has an arm on the outside. Two, you ... | |
| Tankless Hot Water Heater amperage | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: I have a couple of questions I guess. I want to install a tankless hot water heater in my house to ... A: I have a couple of answers I guess. First, which one is best depends on how many people occupy the ... | |
| Replacing a light with a loop | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: I recently bought a new light to put in my daughters room. When I removed the standard light, there ... A: The old light should of had two wires coming from it (hot and neutral) to the wires in the box. When ... | |
| dryer and stove receptacles | 3/5/2009 |
| Q: what is the difference between a dryer and stove outlet? We have 4 prong outlets for both, but the ... A: The reason they are different is one is rated for 30 amps and the other for 50 amps. They are ... | |
| Electric Baseboard Heaters Relay | 3/3/2009 |
| Q: I have 3 baseboards all on 1 circuit breaker (kitchen, liv room & hall)that continue to run full ... A: Are these baseboard electric or baseboard hydronic heat? Since each heater is in a different room, ... | |
| Breaker Box | 2/26/2009 |
| Q: I just finished instaling a new thermastat. I cutoff all the power when I'm doing any electrical ... A: Pull the dryer plug out of the outlet and try turning the breakers all the way off and then turn ... | |
| dryer outlet/welding outlet | 2/25/2009 |
| Q: Ive read a lot of posts where people are using their dryer outlet for their welder. I would like to ... A: If this is brand new, the manual should tell you the required breaker size. Look at the requirement ... | |
| dryer outlet/welding outlet | 2/25/2009 |
| Q: Ive read a lot of posts where people are using their dryer outlet for their welder. I would like to ... A: I like the idea of changing your dryer to 4-prong because this will separate the ground and neutral ... | |
| dryer outlet/welding outlet | 2/24/2009 |
| Q: Ive read a lot of posts where people are using their dryer outlet for their welder. I would like to ... A: In a garage the NEC allows for one 220 volt circuit used for multiple devices with the understanding ... | |
| size wire | 2/24/2009 |
| Q: running a new line from an old meter to a new barn; I would like to know what size wire to use and ... A: The first thing you need to establish is how many amps are you going to want/need out at the barn ... | |
| Outdoor GFCI & lamp post light | 2/23/2009 |
| Q: My outdoor lamp post light recently stopped working. I replaced the photo eye sensor & actual light ... A: Think of a gfci outlet as a breaker. So all the power on the way to the outlet can be on but ... | |
| breaker keeps tripping | 2/22/2009 |
| Q: About to install a can light in laundry room and discovered 4 separate 12/2 lines going to old ... A: Your homecenter store most likely sells wire markers that electricians use to put on wires so they ... | |
| dryer wire hook up | 2/21/2009 |
| Q: we have a dryer and the wires are red black and white, our plug in wires are yellow blue and white. ... A: You should use a voltmeter to verify which wires are hot and which is neutral. On your dryer; red ... | |
| 3/phase air compressor | 2/21/2009 |
| Q: How to tell the difference between 3/phase and 220v? There is a 3 prong twist plug on the ... A: 3 phase is how many phases you have and 220v is the measure of voltage. This question is like can ... | |
| shower fan install location | 2/20/2009 |
| Q: I'm planning a bathroom in the basement and my location doesn't lend itself to placing my exhaust ... A: There isn't room in the joists to place the fan outside of the shower and run the duct through the ... | |
| cooktop wiring | 2/19/2009 |
| Q: i am installing a cooktop (240). it is a 30 amp circuit (10 guage wire) i have 10/2 with ground to ... A: The installation manual should be clear on this, but if it is not then you can figure if the cooktop ... | |
| Sub Panel Installation | 2/19/2009 |
| Q: Greg, I recently had a sub panel put in by my electrician. I am adding a circuit, and happened to be ... A: The neutral and ground are on the same bar at the main service panel. In other words, they are ... | |
| Sub Panel? | 2/18/2009 |
| Q: I will be finishing a 1158 sq. ft. basement (home theater, rec room, home office) in a 7 year old ... A: You could run everything from the main. However, you need to weigh the cost and trouble of running ... | |
| subpanel wiring | 2/18/2009 |
| Q: im rewiring my home and i have a utility room where my washer/dryer, elec water heater, and few ... A: If your dryer, water heater, and washer all ran at the same time it would probably be too much for ... | |
| wire type and capacity for downline service | 2/16/2009 |
| Q: I want to know the correct wire type and size for an 80 foot run from a current load center to a new ... A: If you are only running 120v you could use copper #4, 2 wire with ground. If you are not using ... | |
| Dryer stopped working | 2/16/2009 |
| Q: I had a leak in my laundry room last week from the washer drain. I went in there barefoot while the ... A: This is a perfect example of why the NEC was changed so the chassis has its own ground separate from ... | |
| Heat pump pulling tomuch amperage | 2/14/2009 |
| Q: We had a Kenmore heat pump installed recently and received a whopper of an electric bill. Had an ... A: It sounds like your electric back up heat is turning on. There could be several causes but let me ... | |
| waterheater | 2/13/2009 |
| Q: I would like to make my water heater quicker to recover. Why can't I wire another 30 amp circuit to ... A: You would have to check with the manufacture of the heater to see if it is designed to handle that, ... | |
| Running a Treadmill in Europe | 2/13/2009 |
| Q: I have a Nordic Track treadmill that runs on 110 (I think it is uses 1100 Watts). Can I use it in ... A: A step-down transformer takes the incoming voltage and lowers it. Sometimes it is cheaper/easier ... | |
| Install Split Aircon | 2/12/2009 |
| Q: I am installing a 24k BTU A/C with #10-3 w/Grd and 25 amp C/B. I intend to install a disconnect ... A: Let me explain how a split system is wired. The indoor unit (air handler) has a either a 220volt or ... | |
| knob and tube | 2/12/2009 |
| Q: I am currently planning on replacing all the knt in my two story cape cod bungalow. I am adequatly ... A: It depends on how your power is ran to your house. And it also depends on local codes. For ... | |
| knob and tube | 2/11/2009 |
| Q: I am currently planning on replacing all the knt in my two story cape cod bungalow. I am adequatly ... A: Whatever the service panel is rated for you will need to run wire (including the ground) that is ... | |
| wellpump pressure switch | 2/10/2009 |
| Q: Pressure switch has 2 different wires coming to switch ,each separate wire has a black wire ,a ... A: If this is a 220 volt pump the switch should be double pole. If it is then there should be two sides ... | |
| 15 Amp AFI Trips | 2/9/2009 |
| Q: Two questions: I think I've got too many appliances and outlets running to my 15 Amp AFI breaker. ... A: It is possible that you have the circuit loaded to the point that it is ready to trip. Each time a ... | |
| dehumidistat wall switch | 2/9/2009 |
| Q: I have an existing bath fan controlled by a wall switch (line voltage) that I would like to replace ... A: It sounds like you want the fan to come on when steam builds up in the bathroom and then turn itself ... | |
| electric outlet near gas line | 2/8/2009 |
| Q: Is there a code problem with installing electrical box ON the wall near the incoming line for a gas ... A: Most gas stoves require an outlet for 110 volts. It is never recommended to use an extension cord so ... | |
| Direct Box Old Electric Dryer | 2/8/2009 |
| Q: Is this acceptable? There is an old dryer in the home that I am renting and it is directly hooked ... A: In all my years I have never seen a dryer direct wired to a box. All appliances that are ... | |
| thermostat replacement | 2/7/2009 |
| Q: I have a seven wire thermostat that is connected to Nordyne air conditioner/heat pump. The manual ... A: It looks like you may be able use it. But with a heatpump it can get pretty complicated and it ... | |
| ELectrical problem | 2/6/2009 |
| Q: I replaced a single electrical switch to a bedroom that was only controlling the light in that room. ... A: It sounds like the power to the other two room are fed from this box. You should have three sets ... | |
| knob and tube | 2/6/2009 |
| Q: I am currently planning on replacing all the knt in my two story cape cod bungalow. I am adequatly ... A: Finding the neutral for a hot in the panel is very easy. I am not sure exactly what you are doing ... | |
| electric in bathroom | 2/5/2009 |
| Q: recentley we added high hats in the kitchen, which is directly under one of our bathroom tub/shower. ... A: If there is a stream of water hitting electricity the current can easily flow through that stream ... | |
| GFCI wiring | 2/3/2009 |
| Q: I am trying to change an outlet in my bathroom and update it to a GFCI outlet. The box with the ... A: You did not mention the ground wire. Some GFCI outlets require a ground wire connected to a good ... | |
| Lights get brighter | 2/3/2009 |
| Q: In my 30 year old house, I recently replaced 2 overhead lights, (2) 2-way & (2) single pole switches ... A: It sounds like it may be time for a service upgrade and redistributing some loads. We have much ... | |
| dimmer light fan | 2/2/2009 |
| Q: I am trying to connect a dimmer fan/light combo to my current fan with light. I have some prior ... A: This should be pretty easy. It sounds like the wires at the bottom go to your outlets, one of the ... | |
| new switch | 2/1/2009 |
| Q: I just put in a new island in my kitchen and have 2 outlets and a switch for the garbage disposal ... A: It sounds like you either wired the switch wrong or the outlet. The switch is a 4-way switch? If ... | |
| OUTLET PROBLEM | 1/31/2009 |
| Q: I had a microwave plugged into an outlet for a while. This outlet is being supplied by an outlet ... A: This outlet may be on a gfci breaker or being fed from a gfci outlet. That is the first place to ... | |
| Wiring a fluorescent fixture as a plug-in lamp | 1/31/2009 |
| Q: The fixture has a ground wire but the zip wire (with 2 prong plug) doesn't. My outlet is 2-prong, ... A: I cannot tell you to disregard the ground wire that came with the fixture. If it comes with one then ... | |
| Fluorescent Lights in Garage - Take Two | 1/30/2009 |
| Q: I was informed the lights are to be wired in parallel. I hope this is not a dumb question. The ... A: Parallel simply means that each light is being fed from the source. Normally the power gets ran to ... | |
| main breaker | 1/29/2009 |
| Q: my main breaker keeps blowing. the watertank has its own circit but it sems like if i run any ... A: Probably the best thing to do is have an electrician take a look at your system and see what the ... | |
| wiring a oven range | 1/27/2009 |
| Q: we have just pull out our old cook top and wall oven and bought a new oven range slide in. and our ... A: Your house was built during the time the NEC allowed for 3-wire connections (two hots and a ... | |
| installing outdoor outlet | 1/27/2009 |
| Q: First want to thank you for your time helping others here. My question, i'll be installing an ... A: If this was new construction or remodeling the outdoor outlet would not be on the same circuit as ... | |
| Space Heater | 1/26/2009 |
| Q: I am replaceing a baseboard electric heater with a built in thermostat. I did not take the old won ... A: It sounds like you bypassed the switch. Yes, there is no neutral in your heater because it is ... | |
| Safety | 1/25/2009 |
| Q: I'm hoping you'd be willing to answer the following question about safety/code: Is it o.k. for the ... A: If the sub panel is rated for 125 amps then you need to run wire that is appropriate for 125 amps, ... | |
| front door sconces -- wiring | 1/25/2009 |
| Q: A friend of mine called me to take a look at this: she is having work done on her house (not ... A: I need to know how you are measuring power, exactly how you did it and what type of voltmeter did ... | |
| Sub Panel Wire Size | 1/24/2009 |
| Q: I have a few questions regarding sub panels. Is the amp rating of a sub panel supposed to be higher ... A: The wire running to a subpanel has to be rated for whatever that panel is rated for. No matter what ... | |
| Electrical Panel | 1/24/2009 |
| Q: I have a 100 amp service fuse panel (amalgamated electric) that is full. Some 14/2 wire has been ... A: Where did you read that about the dryer? The concern I have is if you are overtaxing the 100 amp ... | |
| oven malfunction | 1/23/2009 |
| Q: I have a frigidaire pro gas range #plgf659ec. It is only 16 months old. The "Bake" mode has failed. ... A: The first thing to check is that you are not in "time bake" mode. If you have verified that all the ... | |
| electrical | 1/22/2009 |
| Q: I installed a programmable light switch for my outside lights, beside 2 other switches (3 switches ... A: All the switches should have the tabs snug against the box. If they are not, then yes you probably ... | |
| dryer throwing the main breaker | 1/22/2009 |
| Q: I have a 5 yr. old Roper dryer. It runs on it's own 30 amp breaker. Recently, when the dryer is ... A: You could have a short in the motor or heating element(s). An amp-meter can be used to find out the ... | |
| Safety | 1/21/2009 |
| Q: I'm hoping you'd be willing to answer the following question about safety/code: Is it o.k. for the ... A: You can have junction boxes or subpanels between the main breaker and the device. I am not sure ... | |
| 3 way switch gang box | 1/20/2009 |
| Q: I am working with a new lighting installation in my basement and have never wired 3 way switches but ... A: First, if it is a 20 amp circuit you will need to run 12 gauge all the way through. Do not make the ... | |
| oven wire splicing | 1/19/2009 |
| Q: I have an in cabinet, 96 Kenmore micro-oven combo #665.4433452. The wiring harness had a loose wire ... A: Excellent question. The answer depends on if you feel like you ever need to separate the wires ... | |
| GFI/Circuit breaker | 1/18/2009 |
| Q: We did a bathroom remodel and a friend added a few gfi outlets, a light and an exhaust fan with a ... A: If this is the only bathroom, the lights and outlets can be on the same circuit. Otherwise they need ... | |
| old home wiring | 1/17/2009 |
| Q: I am remodeling my kitchen. For 30 years the fridge has been on a circuit with 2 other receptacles ... A: Your new microwave will need its own circuit (20 amps). The refrigerator should be on its own ... | |
| Lamps and Bulbs. | 1/17/2009 |
| Q: Is it ok to use a regular 60 watt bulb in a lamp that says requires a 3 way 150 watt incandescent ... A: The "type A" is the shape and size of the base of the bulb so you have to follow that. If the ... | |
| wiring bathroom fan/heater | 1/16/2009 |
| Q: I want to put a timer switch on my bathroom heater. Currently I have wiring coming into a two ... A: It sounds like the black/white/ground is the source power. To verify, disconnect all wires and make ... | |
| Wire size | 1/15/2009 |
| Q: I am running 60 amp panel to the garage ,from my 100 amp house panel . It is approx 180 ft of wire . ... A: #6 is very, very close to the max voltage drop allowed by the NEC. Note the words "max allowed" ... | |
| 2 outlets not working | 1/12/2009 |
| Q: This is the previous question I sent: Boyfriend installed a new big computer monitor which blew the ... A: Yes, we do have secrets but unfortunately if I tell you what they are they cease to be secrets. j/k. ... | |
| installing 220 vlt outlet | 1/10/2009 |
| Q: I am trying to put a 220 volt outlet in my basement for my dryer. The wiring is already there I ... A: The two hots get connected to the two straight prongs and the neutral gets connected to the the "L" ... | |
| Burnt component smell at disconnect breaker | 1/9/2009 |
| Q: Overjoyed to have found this resource, thanks in advance for any insight. Basic Issue: ... A: You do not add the two phases together, so your 95 amps is incorrect. However, your 47 and 46 amps ... | |
| voltage in outlets | 1/8/2009 |
| Q: Some of our home outlets read 145-150 volts when we checked them. Is this a problem? How do we ... A: You did not say, but I will assume you are in the U.S. This could be a problem for some loads and ... | |
| Electrical Fluctuation | 1/7/2009 |
| Q: The electricity in my house fluctuates whenever anything is turned on. The strange thing is if you ... A: It sounds like there is a circuit that is wired from two different sources and perhaps shares a ... | |
| Thermostat will not follow commands | 1/7/2009 |
| Q: I have a hot water baseboard heating system and I changed from a conventional thermostat to a seven ... A: I could not locate the model for the White Rodgers. But at this point you need to find out what ... | |
| electrical wiring | 12/16/2008 |
| Q: 1 - in the bathroom there is a combo light switch/single outlet recepticle. The light switch works ... A: The outlet could have a broken or loose connection in the box, or the outlet itself is worn out. Do ... | |
| Breaker? | 12/15/2008 |
| Q: Tonight, our kitchen, garage, and living room lights went out. This has happened a few times in the ... A: That is an awful lot to be on one breaker. The breaker has probably been overloaded for too long and ... | |
| AFCI Breaker | 12/14/2008 |
| Q: I have a question, is it possible in a circuit with a AFCI Breaker that some of the outlets will ... A: Are AFCI breakers required in garages in your part of the country? It seems like they would be a ... | |
| Very low power | 12/13/2008 |
| Q: I live in a duplex and each unit has separate meters. One night around midnight our lights were ... A: There are too many possibilities for you to be expected to fix this problem. You need a good ... | |
| electrical panel | 12/13/2008 |
| Q: I am from Ontario Canada and I'm considering moving my bathroom to a much larger room. The problem ... A: I am not familiar with codes in Canada, but I would not recommend having the panel inside the ... | |
| ceiling fan with light with remote and three way switches | 12/12/2008 |
| Q: I am replacing a hallway light with a remote controlled ceiling fan with a light. The light is in ... A: You should of connected the black and white marked line to the same wires that the old light was ... | |
| AC wiring | 12/12/2008 |
| Q: We are selling our house and the buyer's home inspector identified a double tapped circuit breaker ... A: Placing two wires under the same breaker is not allowed. It sounds like someone took one leg of your ... | |
| exterior christmas lights | 12/10/2008 |
| Q: I am running christmas lights on my property. It is a fairly short run using a 9' extension cord to ... A: This is a very good question. Technically the correct answer is no, however; Christmas lights ... | |
| trip breaker | 12/10/2008 |
| Q: I installed some new sconces, new electrical wiring and new light switches. I used new 12 guage ... A: It sounds like you have the switches bypassing the lights so when you turn them on you have a direct ... | |
| Bathroom outlet suddenly not working. | 12/6/2008 |
| Q: ..this morning I noticed the outlet in the bathroom was not working -- I have my cats water ... A: This should be on a gfci breaker or outlet. The gfci outlet could be located in that bathroom, ... | |
| Circuit goes dead when controlling Circuit Breaker is 'ON | 12/5/2008 |
| Q: An answer to yourThanks for answering this if you can. I have a 15 amp gfi breaker which controls ... A: Feel free to ask as many questions as you like. What you should have is two 3-way switches and one ... | |
| Circuit goes dead when controlling Circuit Breaker is 'ON" | 12/5/2008 |
| Q: An answer to yourThanks for answering this if you can. I have a 15 amp gfi breaker which controls ... A: It is most likely a loose connection and I have never seen a loose connection tighten itself. In ... | |
| Moving an existing electrical outlet to another room | 12/3/2008 |
| Q: My garage is finished with drywall and one electrical outlet (with the exception of the garage door ... A: If you have an AFCI breaker for the bedroom this would not work well. Even if you do not have AFCI ... | |
| Wiring Honeywell truesteam humidifier | 12/2/2008 |
| Q: I am installing a Honeywell steam humidifier to a Lennox dual fuel heat pump/gas furnace. The ... A: When I said four wires to the humidistat, I meant to say four wires to the humidifier. Your two ... | |
| electrical problem at home | 12/1/2008 |
| Q: we had the washing machine, dishwasher,tv, and also the blowdryer on in our small 2 bedroom house ... A: Normally your dishwasher and garbage disposal are not on a gfci, and they are not a circuit together ... | |
| Wiring Honeywell truesteam humidifier | 11/29/2008 |
| Q: I am installing a Honeywell steam humidifier to a Lennox dual fuel heat pump/gas furnace. The ... A: All you are doing is breaking the "G" circuit (which is the fan) and supplying an "R" and "C" ... | |
| electric | 11/29/2008 |
| Q: An outside outlet is dead, tested it with both a meter and a lamp. Switched out the 3 wire unit ... A: If you pulled out the outlet and there was no power to the wires then replacing it would not be the ... | |
| Wiring Honeywell truesteam humidifier | 11/27/2008 |
| Q: I am installing a Honeywell steam humidifier to a Lennox dual fuel heat pump/gas furnace. The ... A: Scan the diagrams for me. Normally you would have the humidifier turn on when the heat is called ... | |
| dryer plug | 11/26/2008 |
| Q: turned on my dryer smelt burning,red wire was melted a bit in outlet,turned off breaker and the red ... A: With the circuit breaker off; Strip the wire back and cut off burnt part. Reattach firmly to outlet ... | |
| Plugging In Dryer Caused Loud Pop | 11/26/2008 |
| Q: First, thanks in advance for your help! My problem is that my tenant just purchased a washer and ... A: The dryer should be on its own fuse or breaker, so it should not affect any other circuits. If it ... | |
| Help me! | 11/25/2008 |
| Q: I am wiring a ceiling fan that has a variable speed and dimmer light the wiring coming out of the ... A: Okay, what I need you to do is tell me where power is at (hot and neutral) and you will need a ... | |
| partial power outage and surging in mobile home | 11/23/2008 |
| Q: Sometimes when it goes out if flickers many times and other times it just goes out and sometimes ... A: It sounds like either a main breaker is going bad, a few breakers are going bad, the panel is pitted ... | |
| Circuit breaker problem? | 11/21/2008 |
| Q: My wife was drying her hair in the master bath when the dryer shut off. No breakers tripped - yet ... A: It sounds exactly like a gfci outlet or breaker tripped. You should go to the main panel and check ... | |
| House lost neutral | 11/21/2008 |
| Q: An electrical crew cut the neutral going to my house form the street (underground utilities). Most ... A: This is very serious! It sounds like they may have cut through the cable and shorted the wires ... | |
| home wiring | 11/20/2008 |
| Q: While replacing the light fixture in the stairway to the basement, i fount that it uses the old knob ... A: It is possible that they are using the same neutral and you have reversed polarity. It is easy to do ... | |
| Electric Heating Relays | 11/20/2008 |
| Q: A friend of mine has 3 - 2000 watt fan forced electric heaters installed in his living room and they ... A: So that is 4 - 2000 watt heaters you want on one t-stat? The first thing you need to establish is ... | |
| Dryer Plug Issue | 11/19/2008 |
| Q: I put my dryer in storage when I moved into my folks home after they passed away. Their old dryer ... A: Kay, Your dryer has a 30 amp cord on it, which is correct. Your parents have a 50 amp outlet and ... | |
| apartment wiring | 11/19/2008 |
| Q: i am currently renting an apartment where my roomate and i have to constantly reset the breaker ... A: Typically the lighting and outlets are put on separate circuits. A breaker that continues to trip is ... | |
| WIRES | 11/18/2008 |
| Q: hi my partner tried to put up a new light fitting he also replaced the old switches with dimmer ... A: It sounds like either a breaker tripped or the dimmer switch is no longer working. I would start by ... | |
| Electrical Amperage in our home | 11/18/2008 |
| Q: We have a 3200 Sq.ft home in Cypress, Texas. (near HOuston) When the air conditioning comes on the ... A: The size of the main depends on a load calculation that is usually required by the city or county ... | |
| adding a dishwasher | 11/15/2008 |
| Q: I just purchased an older home and it doesn't have a dishwasher.There is a wire ran for under ... A: Your dishwasher uses enough watts to need its own circuit. The dishwasher should not be on the ... | |
| lighting switch- radio controlled | 11/14/2008 |
| Q: I am looking for a lighting switch that can control 1000W of lighting. The circuit is structured as ... A: The same voltage drop to the switch still applies to the wire going to the lights so the wire size ... | |
| German Dryer Not Hot Enough | 11/13/2008 |
| Q: I bought a German Brand dryer (Bosch) n the States and it's not getting hot enough to dry ... A: In your first question you said you had fuses, now you say you have breakers. Do you have a breaker ... | |
| Electrical box for a florescent fixture | 11/12/2008 |
| Q: I am trying to install a florescent light fixture in my laundry room. The electrical box that held ... A: Some florescent light fixtures do not require a separate box for the wiring. You can do the wiring ... | |
| wiring | 11/9/2008 |
| Q: I have my refridge on a 20 amp circuit as well as 3 other outlets is there any way to make sure the ... A: If you really want to know for sure you will have to open each outlet and trace the wire around the ... | |
| esb avalon16 residential tanning bed electrical help | 11/7/2008 |
| Q: We have a esb avalon16 bed that has always worked great but now shuts off automatically every couple ... A: Call a qualified electrician before you start a fire. Unplug the unit until you can get an ... | |
| Non-working receptacles | 11/6/2008 |
| Q: where a "master electrician" once lived. Apparently this guy loved outlets, because my house if ... A: I love Cape Cod homes. However, a custom job by a homeowner or handyman is an electricians worst ... | |
| Garage GFCI Tripping | 11/4/2008 |
| Q: I have four florescent light fixtures each with two 4' long 40 watt bulbs in them hanging in my ... A: You should keep the GFCI in the garage because of code. However, the lights do not need to be on a ... | |
| open ground fault | 11/2/2008 |
| Q: I am wiring a basement and am having a problem with the last three of four outlets, two boxes of two ... A: Each outlet needs it own ground wire connected to it. In the first box you will take the incoming ... | |
| Electric heat 4 wire thermostat question ... | 10/28/2008 |
| Q: I tried another expert, but they are not familiar with electric heat - thank you so much for your ... A: Without looking at your wiring I cannot tell you if you have created a dangerous situation or not. ... | |
| Hot tub wiring | 10/27/2008 |
| Q: i am wiring a hot tub that requires 220 #6 4 wire 3 + ground my panel currently has 5 i belive 220 ... A: It sounds like you have an electric oven and maybe a separate cooktop, water heater, dryer, and your ... | |
| recessed lighting | 10/26/2008 |
| Q: I am instaling four 5 inch can lights in my living room. I have a spare dedicated gfi outlet that I ... A: Technically you cannot add 12 gauge to the end of 10 gauge. I would just go ahead and feed the ... | |
| installing a new pull switch on ceiling fan/light | 10/25/2008 |
| Q: I am installing a new pull switch on my ceiling fan. Prior to installing the switch and with the ... A: Did you remove the ceiling fan to replace the pull switch or did you leave it in place? The pull ... | |
| bathroom GFCI circuits | 10/25/2008 |
| Q: I have rewired many baths, and usually have all switches (to lites, exhaust, etc) protected by the ... A: No, not according to the NEC. The light over the sink and the fan are usually not on the same ... | |
| wiring | 10/24/2008 |
| Q: i turned the power off to my bathroom from my breaker box when i was unscrewing the wires the and ... A: It sounds like the breakers are not marked correctly. Remember that the bathroom light is most ... | |
| power to my shop | 10/23/2008 |
| Q: I've decided to get some power to my shop.Outlets,lights to run saws, sanders ,small ... A: If you bury the wires in conduit you do not need direct burial wire. Of course you can run direct ... | |
| Wire from my home to my shop | 10/21/2008 |
| Q: I just bought a home that has 6 awg al xlpe 600 volts wire running from the home to a shop 200 ft ... A: Your 6 awg is effectively 10 awg at that distance which is good for 30 amps. So your 100 amp panel ... | |
| TRAVEL TRAILER HOOK UP AT HOME | 10/19/2008 |
| Q: I AM TRYING TO HOOK UP ELECTRIC TO MY CAMPER.I GOT A SEPERATE BREAKER BOX. DISTANCE FROM MAIN BOX AT ... A: This is a common problem with campers. You need to know your amperage needs and voltage needs. If ... | |
| 1 second delay when turning on lights | 10/17/2008 |
| Q: 2 days ago I noticed a 1 second delay when switching my daughters room light on. Then yesterday the ... A: The switches most likely need to be changed. They are both probably the same age and get about the ... | |
| nameplate | 10/16/2008 |
| Q: Does a nameplate on equipment tell you if you need a neutral wire?I know ac uses 220 and doesn't ... A: If the equipment uses 120 and 220 volts it needs 3 or 4 wires. An electric dryer uses 220v for the ... | |
| main amperage requirements in resi | 10/16/2008 |
| Q: I own an apartment with 60amp service... How do I determine the amount of main service I need... I ... A: You could do a load calculation to find out the service you need. Simply adding your loads is not ... | |
| a.m. radio noise from house wiring | 10/15/2008 |
| Q: M. radio at my house. I notice that when I turn on an outside light the noise gets dramatically ... A: There are many factors that can contribute to the disturbance of Amplitude Modulation (A.M.), which ... | |
| ceiling fan/ light problem | 10/14/2008 |
| Q: I replaced a broken double switch that controlled a ceiling fan and its light. I wired it exactly ... A: Does the switch have two screws on both sides? If so, then you have wired the hot and the fan to ... | |
| 4 wire drier plug | 10/9/2008 |
| Q: would the ground and nuetral be hooked on the same post at drier? A: On a three prong dryer the ground and neutral are bonded together. The ground is attached to the ... | |
| Remodeling kitchen adding wall oven and cooktop | 10/7/2008 |
| Q: Our home was constructed in 2000. Currently we have an electric 4 burner range with a self cleaning ... A: The NEC allows both the cooktop and oven to be on the same breaker, as long as the breaker can ... | |
| 200 vs 100 amp service | 10/6/2008 |
| Q: We moved from a house with a 200 amp service to one with 100 amp service. Our electric blanket ... A: A quick test would be to use a voltmeter in the same outlet as the one the blanket is plugged into. ... | |
| House Main Breaker | 10/5/2008 |
| Q: Our apt. has only one breaker between the meter , and the Apt, upstairs. I cannot determine the amp ... A: Two 20 amp breakers with single lever is called a 20amp double pole breaker and it is rated at 20 ... | |
| Sub Panel | 10/3/2008 |
| Q: question is ... I am running a 125 subpanel around 125 feet from the main panel ... what size feeder ... A: Normally a 125 amp panel requires #2 copper. However, your long distance means that you need to go ... | |
| Dayton G73 Electric Heater | 10/3/2008 |
| Q: In reference to the Murray/Alex Napier exchange regarding the above. To review - the Dayton Heater ... A: This sounds like a pure 220volt heater, meaning that is does not require 120volts. If so, black from ... | |
| wiring mobile home | 10/1/2008 |
| Q: We just put a pole outside for new electric service. The electrician we got put a 200amp breaker on ... A: There are too many unknowns for me to tell you if it safe or not. You should of pulled a permit for ... | |
| Re-wiring a pump | 10/1/2008 |
| Q: I recently replaced my submersible well pump when I had a new well drilled on my property. The old ... A: Get a voltmeter and determine the voltage of the pump and which wires are carrying what volts. ... | |
| two or more undercabinet lights in series | 9/30/2008 |
| Q: I am wiring two halogen under cabinet lights, with each having it's own switch. Do I need a fourth, ... A: If you are using the built in switches then you need to run one black, one white, and one ground to ... | |
| adding new wiring | 9/30/2008 |
| Q: The load-bearing walls are cinder blocks with wire metal lath and plaster. The non-load-bearing ... A: There is a product called "Wiremold" that goes on the outside of the wall. This may be what you will ... | |
| Trane shop heater wiring | 9/29/2008 |
| Q: Old, hanging Trane shop heater, natural gas, 115v. Fan motor went bad, ordered a replacement from ... A: The four wires indicate that it is either multispeed or requires a capacitor. The wiring diagram on ... | |
| two or more undercabinet lights in series | 9/28/2008 |
| Q: I am wiring two halogen under cabinet lights, with each having it's own switch. Do I need a fourth, ... A: You will have black from the outlet go to each switch. From the other side of the switch you will ... | |
| Dryer wiring problem | 9/27/2008 |
| Q: I just remodeled an old cabin and put 10-2 wire in for the dryer instead of 10-3. The walls have ... A: Mark, There is product called Wiremold that you can run on the outside of the wall. What you need ... | |
| wiring multiple outlets | 9/26/2008 |
| Q: How would i wire multiple outlets or do they have to be home runs? A: This depends on the application. For example, bathroom outlets need to be on their own "home run", ... | |
| 220V Single Phase machine with Three phase socket? | 9/25/2008 |
| Q: I have an espresso machine that requires single phase 20amp power at 60hz...now I have an outlet ... A: You need to change the outlet to match the plug on the espresso machine. Typically you have two flat ... | |
| electricity goes out and later comes back | 9/24/2008 |
| Q: I would be grateful if you can help me with the following problem. On a regular basis (weekly, ... A: When the power goes out you will need to trace the circuit and check each junction box and fixture ... | |
| hvac | 9/24/2008 |
| Q: I have a heat pump that is about 23 years.American standard, I am in the process of changing from ... A: You will need to physically look at which wire goes to the reversing valve, which wire goes to the ... | |
| 3-way rocker switch | 9/22/2008 |
| Q: I have the same problem in all areas with a 3-way. I am using leviton Decora switches. My house is ... A: The new 3-way switches are wired differently than some of the old ones. If you replace it wire for ... | |
| wiring in our new house melted our dryer | 9/21/2008 |
| Q: Greg, Hello! Help! We just moved to a new (old) house and the first few days when I was doing ... A: The two causes that I can think of are the outlet is wired wrong and you got 220 volts on the ... | |
| service entrance | 9/21/2008 |
| Q: My entrance coming in behind the meter goes in to a cylinder fused square d switch box rated at 100 ... A: It sounds like you need an electrician to inspect your wiring and you may need to pull a permit. ... | |
| Upstairs lighting circuit not working ? | 9/18/2008 |
| Q: The problem is that the bathroom light was switched on which in turn blew the bulb, the bulb was ... A: The voltage pen tester only detects if voltage is present, not if you have a good circuit. If you ... | |
| 220v line ? | 9/18/2008 |
| Q: is there any way i can run a 220v line split off of my stove for a dryer,i know that it wont be ... A: You can do that for a stove and oven, and you can do it in the garage for loads that will not be ... | |
| Upstairs lighting circuit not working ? | 9/17/2008 |
| Q: The problem is that the bathroom light was switched on which in turn blew the bulb, the bulb was ... A: Three ways to approach this problem: Start at the main power and work your way towards the light. ... | |
| Hit Electric Wire in Ceiling with Drill | 9/15/2008 |
| Q: We were installing large hanging hooks in our garage ceiling and used a regular stud finder, which ... A: I am glad to hear you are getting an electrician out there. The danger depends on several aspects. ... | |
| Electric furnace wiring | 9/13/2008 |
| Q: Greg I'm installing a 20kw electric furnace and have worked out the min circuit breaker should be ... A: Go with the 2 gauge. A two-pole breaker connects to both legs so you can get 240 volts between the ... | |
| Ceiling fan wiring | 9/11/2008 |
| Q: I'm replacing a light fixture controlled by a wall switch with a ceiling fan/light. Present wiring ... A: Do not worry, this is not a stupid question. Are the two lines present at the switch box or light ... | |
| Two Switches 1 Live Line | 9/11/2008 |
| Q: Currently I have 1 switch at the top of the stairs and it turns on the lights to the Rec Room. It is ... A: If that switch only has two wires coming to it then it sounds like the power goes to the light box ... | |
| Lights | 9/10/2008 |
| Q: My husband moved a window unit from one window to another. It had been working fine all day. Then ... A: The unit is plugged into a circuit that cannot properly support it. You will need to either place ... | |
| Questionable wiring | 9/7/2008 |
| Q: I recently discovered some 14 gauge wiring on a 20 amp circuit in my house. The 14 gauge seems to ... A: If the lights were added on, it should not be too difficult to change the wire. With the power off, ... | |
| Home Sauna Wiring | 8/31/2008 |
| Q: I'm building a sauna in a shed behind my house (120 feet from the main electirical panel). The ... A: You are very close on this one. The max length, given the voltage drop, is 119 feet with #8. If ... | |
| How to replace an receptacle? | 8/31/2008 |
| Q: I found an old 3-prong socket (with one connection) in my new home that appears to be an old socket ... A: First you should find out if it is 220 volt or 110 volt. This will help you if you decide to use the ... | |
| wiring outside the house | 8/30/2008 |
| Q: Is there any way to reconnect to a short line coming through the basement wall? Our old well pump ... A: I guess that is why they are plumbers and not electricians. You are going to need to find where the ... | |
| subpanel | 8/30/2008 |
| Q: the subpanel in my detached garage did not pass inspection because the main breaker did not have a ... A: You gave me the model of the subpanel, which does not have a main breaker. I believe you are ... | |
| WELDER HOOK UP | 8/29/2008 |
| Q: I NEED TO RUN A 240 V CIRCUIT TO A SYNCROWAVE 200 WELDER. ITS RATED OUTPUT IS 150 AMPS AT 26 ... A: The voltage drop should not be a concern for 60 feet. I would recommend #4 gauge and a 60 amp ... | |
| Lennox start capacitor not grounded | 8/29/2008 |
| Q: I believe - red, yellow, green wires) recently burned out on my 10+ old Lennox outside air unit. A ... A: Start caps have a tolerance whereas run caps do not. The start cap should have a % of tolerance ... | |
| wiring three way to outlets! | 8/28/2008 |
| Q: I'm Currently working on renovating my house, In my upstairs bedroom i want to have my recepticals ... A: Here are the different ways to wire it according to where the power comes in and if the light is ... | |
| wire length in main panel | 8/27/2008 |
| Q: I am wiring a new 125 Amp Murray main lug panel. I was taught in an electrical course 20 years ago ... A: You can have a wire nut in the panel. Two schools of thought; you get to pick which one. Bring the ... | |
| washer and dryer grounding??? | 8/27/2008 |
| Q: ..I just got an old washer and dryer and I'm wondering if the green wire hanging from the back of ... A: The middle one should be the neutral, which is white on the dryer. Remember to bond the neutral ... | |
| washer and dryer grounding??? | 8/26/2008 |
| Q: ..I just got an old washer and dryer and I'm wondering if the green wire hanging from the back of ... A: That green wire gets connected to your cold water line. It is most likely that the people who owned ... | |
| electrical problem | 8/26/2008 |
| Q: the other day while vacuuming my breaker tripped. I unplugged the vacuum and went to the breaker ... A: If the bathroom outlets are on the same circuit and have power then it would not be a circuit ... | |
| electric thermostat | 8/25/2008 |
| Q: I want to move my thermostat from the electric heater to a wall mount. I have run 12-2 wire to the ... A: It depends on whether the t-stat is single or double pole. And, are you sure the 12-2 is big enough? ... | |
| wiring in a ceiling fan | 8/25/2008 |
| Q: Greg, I am looking to install a ceiling fan in a bedroom that has no ceiling fixture. There is a ... A: The way I told you to wire it would make the outlet hot on both upper and lower prongs. If you are ... | |
| wiring in a ceiling fan | 8/24/2008 |
| Q: Greg, I am looking to install a ceiling fan in a bedroom that has no ceiling fixture. There is a ... A: I would suggest running wires from your switch to the attic and across to where you want your fan to ... | |
| Replacing Furnce | 8/23/2008 |
| Q: We are replacing a 15yo furnace with more efficient model. Terrible time deciding which brand. ... A: Having been factory trained by Carrier, worked for factory authorized Lennox - Trane & Carrier; And ... | |
| Capacitor | 8/22/2008 |
| Q: If a blower motor (for an air handler) asks for a 5mF/370V cap, would it be a big deal to connect a ... A: Run caps need to be exactly what the motor calls for or else you will have premature burn out of the ... | |
| need home generator connection to house help | 8/21/2008 |
| Q: I have a 5500 watt gas electric generator. I have not had time to get an electrician to install the ... A: "Do you think that will work as a temp fix thru this storm?" All indications that I have seen you ... | |
| Hard wire do wall plug | 8/20/2008 |
| Q: I bought a range hood that was supposed to have a plug but that instead has 2 wires coming out of it ... A: I take it that you are not replacing an existing hood, but adding a new one that never had any ... | |
| Plugs not working | 8/18/2008 |
| Q: The plugs in my two back rooms don't seem to work. I have tried flipping the switch at the circuit ... A: The testers that light up merely tell that there is voltage present, but not how much. It also ... | |
| One Circuit two breakers | 8/17/2008 |
| Q: My garbage disposal circuit requires that I turn off two separate breakers and siimultaneously to ... A: No, this is not normal. Somehow you have that tied into another circuit. You will need to back track ... | |
| New switch | 8/17/2008 |
| Q: I want to add a switch and an outlet to an existing line of outlets. However, I only want the ... A: Yes it is possible. With the power off, run your romex (12/2) from the switch to the outlet. You ... | |
| Outside Garage Lights | 8/16/2008 |
| Q: Have a problem with outside garage light pair, standard builders’ grade fixtures from Lowes: Both ... A: Mike, This is an old trick that sometimes works. We usually do not reveal it because it is ... | |
| Shed feeder question | 8/15/2008 |
| Q: Hughes: I just built a 12 x 16 shed and pulled my electrical permit to wire it up. I have a ... A: I am surprised that the inspector is allowing you to put in a 100 amp service panel on #4 wire. This ... | |
| Outdoor GFCI got wet | 8/14/2008 |
| Q: Greg, My father and I installed a GFCI line outside for my new pool. Over the past 3+ weeks, it has ... A: If the pump was plugged in and the cover was open to accommodate the plug then it is very possible ... | |
| Circuit out | 8/13/2008 |
| Q: After a recent storm, the main switch activated. On turning it back on, the switch activated again. ... A: Bill, That is a good way to troubleshoot. If the breaker trips with no load on the transformer you ... | |
| GFI Outlet | 8/12/2008 |
| Q: I have just replaced a GFI outlet in my kitchen. I believe i have everything connected correctly ... A: You should have the hot wire connected to "Line-Hot" or "Line-Black", the neutral to "Line-Neutral" ... | |
| Running wiring to the shed | 8/11/2008 |
| Q: I'd like to run 20amp wiring from the breaker box, through the basement and outside - then running ... A: Many cities allow a home owner to do an electrical upgrade under builder-owner as long as a permit ... | |
| Running wiring to the shed | 8/10/2008 |
| Q: I'd like to run 20amp wiring from the breaker box, through the basement and outside - then running ... A: Greg, Here are some things to think about: 1. Is the pump 110 volts or 220 volts? 2. Do you think ... | |
| 208 VAC | 8/9/2008 |
| Q: We are a non-profit that just received a donation of a forklift and battery charger for our ... A: 1.The diagram was scanned at too low of resolution for me to read. I can see that it is telling us ... | |
| Dimmer and Recessed Light | 8/8/2008 |
| Q: I installed nine (9) recessed lights in our living room. The wire used is Romex 12 Gauge (Yellow ... A: The actual wattage drawn is a result of the actual voltage supplied. The resistance of the filament ... | |
| 24v supply for humidifier | 8/8/2008 |
| Q: I am (re)installing an Aprilaire 700M humidifier on my Bryant 350MAV furnace. (The old one, an ... A: The "HUM" is for your humidifier connection. This is only energized when the furnace in is the heat ... | |
| Grounding strap concern | 8/6/2008 |
| Q: The original DirecTV installer did not use exactly one of the points in an article "Grounding ... A: I do not enough information from that picture to give you advise. You need to find out how ... | |
| three-way switch wiring issue | 8/5/2008 |
| Q: have three way switch circuit that is giving me a problem. Situation: I have a three switch to ... A: Newer three-way switches are wired differently than older three-way switches. If you replace an ... | |
| mobile home | 8/5/2008 |
| Q: Hughes, How difficult is it to change the aluminum wiring in a mobile home to copper wiring. Also I ... A: Aluminum wire expands and contracts more than copper does, so it is more prone to become loose and ... | |
| TV turns off when Stove is turned on | 8/4/2008 |
| Q: This is a problem that has happened to me in two separate apartments. It only started after I ... A: It sounds like your surge-protector is doing it's job. An A/C draws a lot of power when it turns on ... | |
| MOBILE HOME ELECTRICAL | 8/3/2008 |
| Q: LOST POWER TO A 220 AC UNIT, AND ALSO REFRIGE AND FREEZER, AND OTHER SPOTS AROUND THE HOUSE, WHAT IS ... A: The first place I would look is in the main panel. It sounds like either a main breaker going bad or ... | |
| replacing a receptacle | 8/3/2008 |
| Q: before replacement, when the light switch was in the off position, the receptacles had power to only ... A: There is a small metal tab on the side of the outlet where the screws are that needs to be broken. ... | |
| installing new ceiling fan | 8/2/2008 |
| Q: I am trying to install a new ceiling fan/light combo. The existing fan uses the pull chains to ... A: This means that power is most likely being supplied at the light fixture and the two wires to the ... | |
| swamp cooler motor | 8/2/2008 |
| Q: I bought a 1 yr old cooler this summer from a friend who I guess left it undrained last winter, so I ... A: The first thing to check is the voltage supplied to the motor. If that is okay then you did the ... | |
| Residential remodel wiring | 8/1/2008 |
| Q: I have recently bought an older home that had some older updates, including the electrical. We had ... A: It will probably be better to isolate the bedroom outlets like you are thinking. This will also ... | |
| expanding from one outlet to three | 7/30/2008 |
| Q: I am renovating my bathroom. I have one standard outlet on the opposite wall from the sink. I want ... A: The first thing you want to check is if this outlet is on a GFCI breaker, or fed from another GFCI ... | |
| Stackable W/D | 7/29/2008 |
| Q: My husband pulled out a stackable washer/dryer unit to replace the dryer vent. After it was done, he ... A: Interesting problem. It sounds like a wire came loose, or the plug is not making good contact in the ... | |
| Garage Door Opener (GDO) | 7/29/2008 |
| Q: I had a motor "start" capacitor blown on my 20 year old model 2200 Stanley GDO. A replacement ... A: This sounds like a start capacitor. A run capacitor has an exact micro f. rating. A start capacitor ... | |
| Need subpanel for new A/C system | 7/27/2008 |
| Q: I have an 8.5-yr old house with a 3.5 ton Goodman A/C system going bad. I have 2400 sq. feet and 2 ... A: Without seeing the job there is no way for me to estimate a cost. There are too many variables. ... | |
| no power along one wall in garage | 7/26/2008 |
| Q: I have NO experience in wiring. I was working in my gagrage last week when I noticed that I had no ... A: It sounds like there is a good chance the breaker needs to be replaced. But the outlets need to be ... | |
| Ground rods, GFI & Arc-Fault breaker questions | 7/24/2008 |
| Q: I am building a 24x60 (with 14x60 second floor) workshop next to my house and it is wiring time. I ... A: Ken, For the ground rods you should consult your local building inspector because each area can ... | |
| Vent Pipe Shock | 7/24/2008 |
| Q: I am a journeyman electrician with years of troubleshooting experience. Recently a customer was ... A: What were the two vents for? Are the vents well grounded? Is one well grounded and the other not? ... | |
| Wire capacities | 7/23/2008 |
| Q: Need a direct answer. After asking several electricians I am confused. I am installing a sub-panel ... A: If local codes are stricter than the NEC, the local codes supercede the NEC. Which is why it is good ... | |
| Wire capacities | 7/23/2008 |
| Q: Need a direct answer. After asking several electricians I am confused. I am installing a sub-panel ... A: What is the subpanel rated for? You need to run the wire size that is appropriate for the rating of ... | |
| Running electricity to an outside brick shed | 7/22/2008 |
| Q: i have just moved into a new house and have a brick shed which is about 3 feet from the main ... A: Drilling the holes is okay but you would need to run conduit. Anytime you have electrical wires on ... | |
| Electrical Wiring problem | 7/21/2008 |
| Q: Not a home wiring issue but this is the closest I could find. Hope you can help. My neighbor has a ... A: It is possible that you have a loose or broken ground wire. Try plugging the motorhome into a ... | |
| bad recptacle | 7/21/2008 |
| Q: I have a circuit in my house that that covers three rooms. Two rooms receptacles and lights work ... A: It is a good idea to have the bathroom outlet on it's own gfci circuit. However, it sounds like you ... | |
| Breaker question & kiln | 7/20/2008 |
| Q: Greetings! I hired a professional electrician to add a 50 amp circuit breaker to my home service ... A: How long does the kiln run at (basically) 50 amps? If the kiln runs at 50 amps for 3 hours or more ... | |
| 220V electric shower | 7/20/2008 |
| Q: I will appreciate very much if you can help me with this problem : I´m a resident in a ... A: I looked at the manual, but I do not understand the language, and it appears that there are two ... | |
| A problem I don't understand.... | 7/17/2008 |
| Q: I removed all my basement lights and decded to install new ones. I installed new boxes and wire from ... A: Ground wires can have voltage due to voltage coming up from the earth through the ground rod, from ... | |
| Moving ceiling light fixture | 7/17/2008 |
| Q: My current ceiling light fixture is not centered to our living room. I'd like to move it ... A: If you have good attic access then this is not difficult. You will need to run the romex from the ... | |
| garbage disp and dishwasher | 7/16/2008 |
| Q: our switch for the garbage disp has been sticky latly and you have to really push hard to get it to ... A: It is possible that he tripped a gfci outlet or breaker. Check the kitchen and bathroom for a gfci ... | |
| Switched outlet | 7/15/2008 |
| Q: I have an outlet with 4 receptacles, and power feeding the outlet box. one black, one white, one ... A: First you want to establish if the wires from the switch are hot or not. And you want to establish ... | |
| Toggle switch connection to existing outlet | 7/15/2008 |
| Q: I have installed an exhaust fan under the eave of my house to vent kitchen smoke via existing ... A: You could replace the outlet with an outlet that has a switch, or you can install a cut-in box near ... | |
| electrical - sockets and lights not working | 7/14/2008 |
| Q: Can you please help? In the bedroom: Lights for the closet and above the sinks will not come on. ... A: Were you experiencing a problem that caused you to mess with the electrical panel? Mosts likely a ... | |
| circuit box | 7/13/2008 |
| Q: dryer not working - tried flipping switches in circuit box - 2 for kitchen had white test buttons - ... A: Yes, if the test button is on the circuit breaker it will trip the breaker. If a breaker trips for ... | |
| circuit box | 7/13/2008 |
| Q: dryer not working - tried flipping switches in circuit box - 2 for kitchen had white test buttons - ... A: There should be a reset button for the two. If the reset button does not allow you to turn the ... | |
| Lighting System for church outdoor Poster | 7/12/2008 |
| Q: Our Local church is planing to light up an advertising poster fixed on the outside part of the ... A: Wow, a lot to answer here. First I would suggest using a photocell instead of a timer. This way you ... | |
| CEILING LIGHTS | 7/11/2008 |
| Q: I HAVE TO SAY I DO NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT ELECTRIC. BUT I TURNED MY BREAKER OFF AND CHANGED FIVE LIGHTS ... A: Yes, ground can actually be hot. Which is why electricians are taught to use a voltmeter before ... | |
| electrical panel | 7/9/2008 |
| Q: my 30 year old house had an old heater that had its own small box with two 220v circuits. I ... A: You will need to run it to the main panel. The existing 220v circuit has been broken down into two ... | |
| Confused about wiring my new kenmore H2 Dryer | 7/8/2008 |
| Q: The dryer came with the standard three prong cord. Delivery guys said i had to buy the three prong ... A: Good question and I am glad you asked. The 4-prong is the way the National Electrical Code wants us ... | |
| all home air fan | 7/8/2008 |
| Q: the fan is a few months old turns on, will run and then after a while shuts off, ckt breaker does ... A: Is it a "whole house" fan that takes air from the house and blows it into the attic, or an "attic" ... | |
| Fixing a someone elses Mistake | 7/7/2008 |
| Q: Hey I was installing a new panel box in my 1938 home when I noticed something odd. I have a 220v ... A: You should check local codes because you probably do not have to have the 50a gfi disconnect fed ... | |
| house wiring | 7/7/2008 |
| Q: have a 4" box with a three wire that controls my light on my stair landing also from this box comes ... A: Let me see if I understand this correctly. It sounds like your 3-wire switch is a 3-way switch that ... | |
| Main breaker in subpanel keeps tripping | 5/28/2008 |
| Q: I have a lot of info to give so I will give the question first. The 2 hot bars in a breaker box ... A: When you rewired your house you should of updated the panel to 200 amp service. To answer your ... | |
| loose neutral | 5/28/2008 |
| Q: The lights in my master bedroom dim and stay there when a small appliance such as an iron is ... A: It is not uncommon on older homes to have the lights dim when a clothes iron is plugged in on the ... | |
| combo switch | 5/27/2008 |
| Q: "I am having trouble installing a new combo outlet...the outlet is a combo switch/outlet..I have ... A: You will need a voltmeter to do this correctly. Simply trying wire configurations is dangerous. If ... | |
| Location of Breaker Box | 5/26/2008 |
| Q: I an currently living in Colorado and my wife and I are searching for a home. I've have noticed ... A: Charles, Where I live all main breaker boxes are mounted on the outside. We have no basements. ... | |
| Oversizing electrical wire | 5/25/2008 |
| Q: I ran 10g wire for a Reiker Heater ceiling fan, designed to give out 5,000 btu of heat. Ten guage ... A: The 10 gauge wire is okay. The circuit breaker is there to keep the device from running at too high ... | |
| Wiring a new receptacle from single-pole switch | 5/25/2008 |
| Q: I am trying to add a receptacle near a new work box that currently has a single-pole switch in it ... A: You will need to find out which black wire is the "hot" wire and which one feeds the light. Turn ... | |
| Wall Switch on celing Fan | 5/24/2008 |
| Q: This gives me the option of speeds from "blow you away"...to "pleasant breeze". I'm the nervous ... A: A dimmer switch generates heat because it acts like a resistor in series with the fan. How much ... | |
| Electrical Outlet Problem | 5/24/2008 |
| Q: I can not get a plug pulled out from an outlet. It is an outlet outside that my pool pump is ... A: Jen, It is possible that the prongs have fused themselves to the inside of the outlet, or they have ... | |
| "Strange" Electical problems in my mobile home | 5/23/2008 |
| Q: I have the strangest thing going on here in my mobile home. On several occasions within the past ... A: John, it sounds like your problems are all related in some way. This really sounds like you should ... | |
| Tankless Water Heater Wiring | 5/22/2008 |
| Q: I just bought an electric tankless water heater. The instructions say to run two separate 8/2 wires ... A: At 200 feet (100 feet each) you are at the limit for 8/2 so you cannot go to 10/2. If anything you ... | |
| cooktop | 5/21/2008 |
| Q: I have a three prong 250V outlet for my old cooktop and just bought a new one that came with a four ... A: The NEC is trying to get us away from the old 3 prong system and converted over to the 4 prong ... | |
| Switches & Receptacles | 5/21/2008 |
| Q: I am building a room in my son's basement and want to know how many receptacles & switches can I put ... A: Good question. Technically the outlets and lights should be on separate circuits. The number of ... | |
| bathroom fan | 5/20/2008 |
| Q: i am trying to install a bathroom fan.The bathroom has two sets of lights operated by one ... A: You need to determine if the power is first going to the switch or to the light. If power is going ... | |