| Subject | Date Asked |
|
| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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", ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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, ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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" ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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? ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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" ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| "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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Low voltage at wall switch | 5/18/2008 |
Q: A wall switch controls a porch light. It had been working. When it quit working i checked the ... A: What do you get hot to neutral from both sides of the switch with the switch in the "ON" position? ...
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| water pump to definite purpose (relay?) | 5/17/2008 |
Q: I am installing a new Torrium water pump and water storage tank to replace mt 30 gal. bladder tank. ... A: It sounds like they are switching one leg of the 220 volt. Which is okay. It may be that you have ...
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| water pump to definite purpose (relay?) | 5/17/2008 |
Q: I am installing a new Torrium water pump and water storage tank to replace mt 30 gal. bladder tank. ... A: L1 and L2 are the supply voltage from the source. You should have two hot legs and a ground. The ...
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| cooktop hookup | 5/15/2008 |
Q: how to wire a new electronic control cooktop with 240vac 4 wire (red, black, white and green) to a ... A: Black, white, and ground (copper) is considered 2-wire with a ground. When used for 220 volt both ...
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| stove and miro wave hook up | 5/15/2008 |
Q: i had a direct wire 220v to my stove 3 wire white,black,copper. bought a three wire plug hooked ... A: If these are separate appliances you cannot hook them both up to the same breaker. If you have ...
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| new light switch wiring | 5/11/2008 |
Q: I have a switch that is at a end run and I wanted to add one more switch that would operate a hall ... A: You are switching either the neutral or hot leg for the existing lights and your new switch and ...
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| inground pool ground | 5/10/2008 |
Q: I recently pulled out a cement slab in front of my pool that had to holes for a handrail in it. When ... A: Call either an electrician in your area or a building inspector right away to get the proper ...
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| Kitchen/Bathroom remodel and wiring | 5/8/2008 |
Q: My wife and I are currently in the process of remodeling our kitchen. We do not plan on ripping out ... A: This is a good question because it poses a dilemma for many homeowners updating their houses. If ...
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| GFCI tripping | 5/7/2008 |
Q: I have a GFCI next to my sink. My refrigerator is the only thing connected to it downstream. Small ... A: The first thing I would do is put the refrigerator on it's own 20 amp circuit. It should not be on a ...
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| Using a European espresso maker from Italy in the USA | 5/7/2008 |
Q: I lived in Italy and purchased an espresso coffee maker and brought it with me to the USA. I got it ... A: Oh sure you can make it safe and pass code. Of course what you have now is really not advisable. ...
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| 30 AMP OUTLET | 5/6/2008 |
Q: I HAVE A TILE SAW WITH A NORMAL GROUNDED PLUG THAT NEEDS TO RUN ON A 30 AMP BREAKER. I AM GOING TO ... A: You did not say, but I will assume it is 115 volts. If so, 30 amp outlets are pretty common and most ...
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| Using a European espresso maker from Italy in the USA | 5/6/2008 |
Q: I lived in Italy and purchased an espresso coffee maker and brought it with me to the USA. I got it ... A: 1)I am not familiar enough with the color system of the Italians to answer properly. If I had a ...
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| convert one three wire circuit to two circuits | 5/5/2008 |
Q: At present, two fixtures on one switch are in parallel; so a three wire cable connects the two ... A: If you have three wire running from the switch to each fixture you can do this. Take the hot wire ...
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| dishwasher that may have caused an electrical problem | 5/3/2008 |
Q: A wooden spoon dropped onto the heating element of our dishwasher while it was running. This caused ... A: Mick, Some dishwashers are on their own breakers, and just because a breaker appears to be on does ...
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| 3 way switches | 5/2/2008 |
Q: I'm installing some new lighting in a house and one of the dimmer switches burned out on me. I was ... A: The original switch has a "hot" leg coming to it and a "hot" leg leaving to feed the light. It is ...
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| gas to dual fuel range replacement | 5/2/2008 |
Q: I am replacing a gas only slide-in range with a dual fuel one. The only wiring present now is a 40' ... A: John, Even though the bigger gauge wire is more expensive you are smart to be thinking ahead in case ...
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| 3 way switches | 5/1/2008 |
Q: I'm installing some new lighting in a house and one of the dimmer switches burned out on me. I was ... A: If the original switch had two wires (not including the ground) then it was not a 3-way switch. If ...
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| 3-wire confusion | 4/29/2008 |
Q: I'm finishing my basement and can't seem to successfully add 2 lights to the existing lighting ... A: It sounds like the black wire is being ran as "hot" all the way from the breaker to your switch. ...
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| jenn air cooktop | 4/29/2008 |
Q: On my new jenn air cooktop stove, i am having trouble getting the grill warm enough to grill. We ... A: Are you sure it is 3-phase? 3-phase is mostly found in commercial buildings. 208 volts is at the ...
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| a/c circuit breaker hookup unusual question | 4/28/2008 |
Q: Is this correct? A/C unit calls for a 50 amp breaker. Wire is a size 8 (3 wires and a ground inside ... A: You need to install a 50amp double pole breaker. You need 6 gauge for a 50 amp breaker. Two single ...
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| 220 volt to 115 volt | 4/25/2008 |
Q: I have a 220 single pole outlet (nema 6-15 plug) that I would like to convert to a 115 volt ... A: Yes, it should be easy. You should have two hots and one ground. You will keep one hot by keeping ...
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| Installing a Celling fan to a Switch Outlet | 4/24/2008 |
Q: I have a switch that is connected to an outlet in my bedroom. I want to add a celling fan to this ... A: Without drywall work your best bet is Wire Channel or Wiremold. It is channel that goes on the ...
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| Outlet distance | 4/22/2008 |
Q: We are trying to finish the basement in our house and I was wondering what the distance the outlets ... A: If a wall is 2ft or more it needs an outlet. From the beginning of a wall the first outlet must be ...
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| Converting a 110 outlet to 240 | 4/21/2008 |
Q: I'm purchasing a new washer/dryer that operate at 240V / 20amp. I've got an existing dedicated ... A: Good question. Usually a washing machine does not fall into the continuous load category, however ...
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| A/C Start assist kit | 4/21/2008 |
Q: I need a little help here. I have been an a/c mechanic for about 25 years, but have forgotten how to ... A: I am wondering why you are not going with the "Kick-Start" or "Hard-Start" kit? Those are wonderful. ...
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| halogen lighting problems | 4/20/2008 |
Q: I have a series of 3 halorgen pendants hanging in a series in my kitchen. Yesterday, one light went ... A: If they are truly in series then they are wired wrong. However, I suspect you mean that they are all ...
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| Install pump start relay | 4/19/2008 |
Q: How do I install a pump start relay? I have a 240v irrigation well pump with 3 wires coming into the ... A: You should place the start relay as close to the pump as possible. If there is no box you can ...
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| electric space heaters | 4/19/2008 |
Q: How many 1000 watt in-wall or baseboard heaters can be safely wired on (for example) a 20amp 120 ... A: A 240 volt load that does not require 110 volts only needs the black and white plus ground. ...
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| electric space heaters | 4/18/2008 |
Q: How many 1000 watt in-wall or baseboard heaters can be safely wired on (for example) a 20amp 120 ... A: One on the 120volt circuit and Three on the 240 volt circuit. These would be considered "continuous ...
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| Motion sensor with multiple lights | 4/17/2008 |
Q: I have a building that I would like the lights to come on when someone comes in the door and then ... A: If you were happy with the system but it draws too much power for the sensor I would suggest adding ...
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| Water Wire HOT | 4/17/2008 |
Q: The wire to my water heater gets extremely hot (too hot to hold) when it is in heating mode. ... A: My first thought is why are you holding a wire to your water heater? Second thought is what gauge is ...
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| Second Meter Base | 4/14/2008 |
Q: I have a small metal working business in my home and feel that it uses a good portion of the total ... A: If your shop is separate from the home they should allow this. But I am sure you can see their ...
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| Sub panel fusing | 4/13/2008 |
Q: I'm planning to install a sub panel to feed a fridge, kitchen plugs, and a dishwasher. Based on ... A: The first thing you need to do is make sure your main panel can support the extra load you are ...
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| Split Circuit with shared neutral and ground | 4/13/2008 |
Q: Due to some issues with the wiring in my house I have found I am mapping the whole house and ... A: Yes it is allowed, if you mean having two branch circuits sharing a neutral. Yes, you can. It is ...
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| Wiring a Ceiling Fan w/ dimmer switch and motor control on the wall | 4/12/2008 |
Q: There are similar answers to this question, but I think I have a unique problem here. I want to ... A: The best way to do this is to run another cable from the fan to the switch. Remove the existing ...
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| please help | 4/11/2008 |
Q: We just moved into a new place. When we attempted to plug a light into an outlet here, there was a ... A: Forget saving your landlord the cost of an electrician and save yourself a lot of trouble by calling ...
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| Running out of ideas | 4/11/2008 |
Q: I have checked our panel box,switch and outlet power and light bulbs and one trip to the attic. My ... A: Sounds like a perfect candidate for a tripped gfci outlet or breaker. If it is an outlet it will ...
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| GFI Keep Popping | 4/9/2008 |
Q: Ok, so we bought a refigerator (used) on Craigslist a couple weeks ago. Previous owner said it was ... A: The first thing to do is not plug it into a GFCI protected outlet, ever. Refrigerators, and other ...
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| home wiring | 4/8/2008 |
Q: last week lightning struck near my house and shut the power off. The power came back on quickly ... A: You should see if there is a gfci outlet controlling those outlets, it may be tripped. Plus, you ...
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| pendant light | 4/8/2008 |
Q: I just ordered two pendant lights (hanging from the ceiling) and found out they are plug-in. Do you ... A: You have a ceiling cover that the wires fit through and if it is the proper ones for the new lights ...
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| conversion of power | 4/7/2008 |
Q: I've ran the 220 line and set up the recepticals and had them checked by my local electrician for ... A: You need to look at the nameplate, which I am assuming you have not because you are guessing at the ...
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| Dryer sparked when plugged in | 4/7/2008 |
Q: I have a maytag electrical clothes dryer that is about 9 years old. It was making a loud noise, my ... A: Lani, I believe the lint trap is in the front so I am concerned when you say he took off the back ...
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| flickering lights, popping noises, | 4/6/2008 |
Q: I truly hope you can help me! My wife and I have an older home with a 100 amp service. Last night, ... A: The loose neutral certainly could of caused what you described. It is possible that the utility tech ...
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| conversion of power | 4/6/2008 |
Q: I've ran the 220 line and set up the recepticals and had them checked by my local electrician for ... A: The frequency of a load is only important to certian devices. For instance, an incandescent light ...
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| flickering lights, popping noises, | 4/5/2008 |
Q: I truly hope you can help me! My wife and I have an older home with a 100 amp service. Last night, ... A: A bad (loose, corroded, etc) main neutral at the panel is connected with every circuit and can cause ...
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| flickering lights, popping noises, "hot electric" smell | 4/5/2008 |
Q: I truly hope you can help me! My wife and I have an older home with a 100 amp service. Last night, ... A: Mike, This definitely needs to be checked out by a qualified electrician. Is PP & L the utility ...
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| Comination switch recptacle | 4/2/2008 |
Q: Currently in a 2 gang box I have the garbage disposal switch and a regular duplex receptacle each on ... A: Are you just adding an outlet? In other words, you still have the duplex and now you have a ...
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| New Circuit | 4/1/2008 |
Q: Mr. Hughes I am adding a 15 amp breaker to my box. It will run about 25-40 feet to the circuit. The ... A: Justin, These are all good questions and I am glad you asked before doing the work. Your outlets ...
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| My light will not turn off / even without the switch | 4/1/2008 |
Q: Stupid of me... I changed a fixture and during my re-wiring, the light's GROUND cable hit the live ... A: Allan, We need to retrace a bit first. How many wires are in the light fixture box? It is possible ...
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| Current With Circuit Breaker Off | 3/31/2008 |
Q: Is it possible for a circuit to retain or carry a residual or parasitic charge even when the ... A: Gary, please do not use an aluminum ladder to do electrical work, instead switch to a fiberglass ...
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| Lighting fixture | 3/31/2008 |
Q: "My new light fixture has clear wire. I have read conflicting - opposite- information on the web ... A: Technically it does matter for safety's sake. However, because it is AC and not DC it will work with ...
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| 220 plug for hook up of a dryer | 3/30/2008 |
Q: in my kitchen i had a stove they removed the stove we want a dryer there but the 220 wire that was ... A: You will need a voltmeter to check which two are the "hot" legs and which one is the neutral. The ...
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| Arching | 3/30/2008 |
Q: My daughter just moved into a single family home. When pluggingin the gas stove circuits in house ... A: You have done the right thing by calling out a professional electrician. This sounds like a ...
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| double pole gfci circuit | 3/29/2008 |
Q: I hope that you can help me with this question. I pulled 4 #12 thhn wires to my bathroom, with the ... A: I do not know why you want two independent outlets. The only reason I can think of is that you are ...
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| how to size a panel | 3/28/2008 |
Q: i have a friend that wants to change out his panel from a 100 amp servise to a 200 amp servise but i ... A: 100 amp panel use to be the standard, but with all the new appliances and loads a lot of people are ...
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| Pendant lighting | 3/25/2008 |
Q: Is there a rule of thumb to hang pendant lights.I feel the previous owner hung them in the wrong ... A: They are generally hung in the center over the counter to light up the countertop. Generally they ...
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| Thermostat duel fuel | 3/23/2008 |
Q: I have conventional heating and a heat pump and I wanted to put a programmable thermostat in. I ... A: Honeywell makes good products. What you need is a heatpump t-stat. Keep a record of what you just ...
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| Amperage Question | 3/22/2008 |
Q: I was wondering if you could assist. I originall asked Rick Meill a question about roughing in the ... A: Lets go back to the start. According to the NEC, your bathroom outlets cannot be shared with any ...
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| adding single pole switch for under cabinet light | 3/20/2008 |
Q: I am adding hard-wired under-cabinet light fixtures in my kitchen. I want to use a single-pole ... A: Justin, You will need to add what we call a "pig tail" to one of the black wires and one of the ...
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| cook top replacement | 3/19/2008 |
Q: I replaced a cook top in my kitchen. The old wiring was standard 12 2 110v, the new cook top ic 220. ... A: Are you replacing a gas cooktop with an electric cooktop? You can use the existing circuit as long ...
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| Wire Warm to the Touch | 3/18/2008 |
Q: Greg, Is there any reason one lone wire should be warm to the touch when all other wires coming from ... A: Most likely it is either drawing more wattage, or it runs more continous than the others. There is ...
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| wiring question | 3/17/2008 |
Q: I have little wiring knowledge so bear with me, in a bathroom I am trying to switch a ... A: Aaron, Thanks for the picture it helped me see what you were saying. Actually this has been wired ...
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| new light fixture | 3/17/2008 |
Q: i have just replaced one light fixture in a hallway with another and rewired the new fixture the ... A: There are about 12 different ways to wire a 4-way switch circuit. What I need to know is how the ...
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| Lights Dimming, then brightenning - Really worried! | 3/16/2008 |
Q: I live in a rental apartment, that is likely 50+ yrs old now (not sure exactly). I have put a call ... A: Your local utility company may be of some assistance, so you might give them a call. I do not know ...
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| Tap an existing electrical wire | 3/14/2008 |
Q: I'm installing a steam shower. The steam generator requires a 110V/30A power supply. Nearby in the ... A: Norman, I have never used those on anything more than 24 volts, and I probably would not. But you ...
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| Bathroom H-F-L-NL rough in question. | 3/14/2008 |
Q: Can you give me some guidance on roughing in my bathroom? I bought my house with an unfinished ... A: BC, If you are in the United States, this is not up to code as I understand what you are ...
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| New wiring | 3/13/2008 |
Q: I had a contractor install a new Jacuzzi tub which required 220. The existing location had 110 ... A: There are several issues to this. To answer you first question; This is how 220 volts is made when ...
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| Lights Out | 3/11/2008 |
Q: My boyfriend was painting the kitchen and had all the outlets unscrewed from the wall he hit the ... A: The best way to diagnose is with a voltmeter. If you do not feel "qualified" enough to stick a meter ...
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| No power to rooms. | 3/11/2008 |
Q: I'm having a problem with no power getting to neither my sister's room, nor the bathroom (they're ... A: Two things to check. First see if there is a gfci outlet in the bathroom. There should be one and ...
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| wiring to a triple switch | 3/10/2008 |
Q: Please could you help. I am trying to connect 2 individual kitchen lights and an outside light to a ... A: The back of your triple switch should have a common on one side and three terminals on the other ...
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| clicking sound in wall | 3/8/2008 |
Q: At night while lying in bed I hear a clicking sound coming from the wall. It appears to be coming ... A: You could try turning of the breaker to that outlet one night and see if it goes away. More likely ...
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| light switch/outlet | 3/7/2008 |
Q: I have a light switch (for light above kitchen sink) and an outlet in the same receptacle box. I ... A: My best guess is that one of the wires came loose in a wire nut (cap). With that many wires in one ...
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| WIRING NOT SHUTTING OFF | 3/6/2008 |
Q: I remodeling my basement. i placed 7 can lights in the ceiling and would like to have these on a ... A: Mike, Unless these are high wattage heat lamp bulbs 30 amps is too much. They should be on a 15 amp ...
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| Jacuzzi bathtub wire. | 3/5/2008 |
Q: I am installing a Jacuzzi bathtub which requires a 120 VAC, 15 AMP, 60 Hz dedicated GFCI protected ... A: Dan, I would recommend running pvc conduit on the outside of the house, and installing a gfci ...
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| Installing new light fixture | 3/4/2008 |
Q: I had our handyman Tyler come to our 10-year-old house (purchased by us in the fall of 2007) to do ... A: You are correct, the power was ran to the fixture and then the hot leg was sent down to the switch ...
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| Light fixture | 3/3/2008 |
Q: I am trying to install a light fixture with a 3 way switch, but I am not sure where the wire from ... A: Tony, It sounds like power is coming in one switch and the other switch is being fed through your ...
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| faulty breaker | 3/1/2008 |
Q: I have an old breaker I'm trying to replace the only writing on it is CB SWP it is a single pole 15 ... A: Yes take it with you and it only matters if the breaker itself is gfci. It would probably be better ...
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| Ground Rods | 3/1/2008 |
Q: Have upgraded old service from 60 amp to 100 with new disconnect and panel box.How many ground rods ... A: You need one ground rod and you will need to ground the water pipes. Check with local codes to see ...
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| range cord | 2/29/2008 |
Q: we have a 40-amp range, and can only find 50-amp cords at Home Depot. is it okay to attach a 50-amp ... A: Will it work? Yes. Technically, the wire size should match the outlet rating. Will it cause a ...
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| Hot wire, very hot. | 2/29/2008 |
Q: I bought a new over the range micro/convection oven with a 110v plug. The previous fan/light hood ... A: Those are not meant to be hardwired, hence the cord. So that is the first thing gone wrong. Next, ...
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| no power to GFI outtlet in bathroom | 2/26/2008 |
Q: the GFI went out and we replaced it but there is still no power to the outlet. The circuit breaker ... A: Your follow question needs to be more specific. Do you have power at the wire on your circuit ...
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| no power to GFI outtlet in bathroom | 2/25/2008 |
Q: the GFI went out and we replaced it but there is still no power to the outlet. The circuit breaker ... A: Pull the outlet out of the wall and check with a voltmeter across the two wires. If you have power ...
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| Failing miserably at installing a light fixture | 2/25/2008 |
Q: I have done a lot of research and I'm not too goo ith terminology but I'll try my best here. I spent ... A: Mark, It sounds like you need to connect to red and white at the light fixture. Here is a quick ...
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| Wiring in our home | 2/23/2008 |
Q: We have a new construction and have noticed that whenever I run the vacuum the lights dim. Is that ... A: Yes, it could be an indication that something is not correct. The outlets should not be on the same ...
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| 100A subpanel | 2/22/2008 |
Q: We are finishing our basement and one electricians quote includes installing a 100A subpanel, the ... A: Patti, A subpanel is used when you either need more room for breakers than the box has, or you need ...
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| multiple fixtures | 2/1/2008 |
Q: we are stuck!! we got two 3way switches with 3 light fixtures between them...HOW DO WE WIRE IT WITH ... A: This has a level of difficulty to it. 3-wire is black, red, white and ground. 2-wire is black, ...
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| Range Wiring | 2/1/2008 |
Q: I moved into a home built in 1981. The range area in the kitchen had no receptacle. It had a armor ... A: You mentioned that you have 4 wires. Two hots, a neutral, and a ground. You said the ground and ...
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| Circuit problem | 1/31/2008 |
Q: I've been using a lot of electricity on one particular circuit (my room). I was using the tv, ... A: Your question is not aimed at the source problem and that is you are overloading your circuit. ...
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| Range Wiring | 1/31/2008 |
Q: I moved into a home built in 1981. The range area in the kitchen had no receptacle. It had a armor ... A: If you want to bring it up to the newest code you will need to install a 4 prong plug and a 4 prong ...
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| InGround Pool wiring | 1/29/2008 |
Q: I am in the process of running a feed line to a pump house located near the pool. I have read ... A: A portable spa has a breaker in the main panel and then a gfci breaker in the disconnect located ...
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| Tracklights burning out. | 1/29/2008 |
Q: i'm a new j-man electrician in canada, so im doing some trouble shooting for my sisters place. but ... A: Tracklights are very specific in what can be used and the allowed wattage. Often people put in a ...
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| Short circuit in a Jenn Air Range | 1/28/2008 |
Q: Hughes, I have read your answer on another Jenn-Air range, 4 to 3 wires conversion, but, while very ... A: From your explanation it does not appear that you did anything wrong. It sounds like the 110 volt ...
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| Arc Fault Circuit Breakers | 1/27/2008 |
Q: We are in the final phases of purchasing a house built in 1940. During the home inspection, our ... A: With the wiring is in this condition it sounds like a whole house rewire is in the near future. If ...
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| Outlet/light combo | 1/27/2008 |
Q: I built a room in my basement and I want to wire lights in it. I would like to use the same power ... A: Be careful to not overload any of the circuits. Find out what is on the circuit you would like to ...
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| electrical panel | 1/26/2008 |
Q: I have a 3 panels with 3 separate 50 amp services coming into my RV home. 1 for the heat pump, 1 ... A: If you run the washer and dryer at the same time you will be pulling almost 30 amps. The new water ...
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| TRipped Circuit Breaker, no devices plugged in, no wire ends touching | 1/24/2008 |
Q: In the process of remodelling my kitchen, I removed the cabinets from the walls. To get one cabinet ... A: First turn the breaker all the way to the "off" position and then try turning it to the on position. ...
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| 240v hookup | 1/23/2008 |
Q: I had a professional rewire my new home, and install a laundry in the basement. I decided to make a ... A: The two things I suggest you do is to buy a voltage tester and remove the wires from the circuit ...
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| Dimmer Switch 2 black wires and One Green | 1/23/2008 |
Q: I bought this a few years ago, and never got it installed and am without packaging (surprise!) I ... A: The markings indicate the type of wire used. Your old switch should have two wires connected to it ...
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| Adding an Outlet for Plasma TV | 1/22/2008 |
Q: "I have an electrical outlet that I am trying to add a new outlet to use for a 50" plasma ... A: Are you installing the outlet in the upper half of the wall? Since you already have a refrigerator ...
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| Breaker size for small appliance | 1/21/2008 |
Q: I was planning to install a small 500watt base board heater (240V) I have a 240V line on a 50amp ... A: Your base board heater does not meet the requirements to be fed directly from the range. Your ...
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| SUB PANEL | 1/21/2008 |
Q: GREG THANKS FOR TAKING TIME TO HELP. I HAVE A REMODEL OF A KITCHEN. WE HAVE REMOVED THE OVEN STOVE ... A: Can you replace two of the 15 or 20 amp breakers with a "twin" breaker? It is a thin version and has ...
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| Ceiling Fan wiring | 1/14/2008 |
Q: I am replacing a ceiling fan/light combo unit and didn't pay close attention to how the original ... A: Take the white wire that is paired with the "hot" wire and connect it with the white wire from the ...
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| Ceiling Fan wiring | 1/13/2008 |
Q: I am replacing a ceiling fan/light combo unit and didn't pay close attention to how the original ... A: Your best thing to do now is purchase (if you don't own one) a tester. Separate all the wires and ...
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| 110v apliance on 230V socket | 1/13/2008 |
Q: I am a fellow volunteer at allexperts.com, though of a very distinct area of knowledge: Dentistry. ... A: Looking back I thought the bulb was rated at 125 volts, but I now see that the extender is rated at ...
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| Garbage disposal wiring | 1/12/2008 |
Q: I have a new garbage disposal with a white and black wire. The old disposal was connected to a ... A: Sometimes the electrician leaves 110 volt at one of the two outlets at the double outlet, and the ...
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| 26 volts on turned off breaker | 1/10/2008 |
Q: Live on an island, solar/wind house for collecting power inverter used to produce AC, house is wired ... A: Charles, There are several things to look for. Check for voltage coming from your ground rod up ...
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| possible defective residential electric meter | 1/9/2008 |
Q: We started reading our meter several times a day when our bill became unreasonably high and found ... A: The digital meter will not act like the older type that you could watch spin. There is a product ...
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| Extension Cords | 1/8/2008 |
Q: You have seen the craze on christmas lights beening set to music.. Well I joined the club. But I do ... A: It is a little late for Christmas but I like the idea. There is wiring that is rated for outdoor ...
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| warm electrical receptacle / brackish wires | 1/8/2008 |
Q: in our home there are no gfi receptacles. i noticed that the bathroom receptacle is warm when it ... A: The most likely culprit is an overloaded circuit. However, it is possible that the outlet is worn ...
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| electrical trouble | 1/7/2008 |
Q: I was trying to install a ceiling fan when I touched to wires that apparently didn't go together. ... A: Check to see if the GFCI outlet in your bathroom tripped. It may be in a different bathroom if you ...
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| WELDER WIRING OUTLET | 1/7/2008 |
Q: the breakers are a double-throw(barred-together) am i to believe the wiring is 10-3 not 12-2 ... A: Eric, I would not assume that the wires are 10 gauge and they would not need to be 3 wire for a ...
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| rewiring | 1/6/2008 |
Q: My aged parents have been told they probably need their 5-bedroom house rewired. I know this ... A: No need to apologize for the length, it helps me give better advise. Since this is happening to the ...
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| rewiring | 1/5/2008 |
Q: My aged parents have been told they probably need their 5-bedroom house rewired. I know this ... A: Hmmm, just how long is a piece of string? It sounds like you already know my answer but I will go ...
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| wiring a heat pump to breaker box | 1/3/2008 |
Q: i recently purchased a heat pump and the electric installing was not included in the install , i ... A: Is this a wall unit, split system, or package unit? You mention two breakers in the furnace, are ...
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| Lights dim and bright | 1/3/2008 |
Q: House built in 1920's New wiring added 2 yeaars ago with new breaker box. I turned on the washing ... A: It appears to be your whole electrical system that is affected. The voltage needs to be checked at ...
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| 240 Volt Wall Heater | 1/2/2008 |
Q: Have purchased a 240 V wall heater and already have 240 v. run to the location. The wireing is red, ... A: You can open up the circuit breaker panel and see if the black and red are connected to the double ...
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| 220 and 110 for Washing Machine and Dryer | 1/1/2008 |
Q: I have a stacking washer and dryer in a closet in a high rise apartment. The closet has a 220 ... A: The 220 volt outlet was intended for a combo unit that requires one 220 volt outlet. The internal ...
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| conduit | 1/1/2008 |
Q: i need to run a new circuit from my existing panel to a new addition on the opposite side of my ... A: Check local codes you may not need to run the coax and phone line in conduit. If you do, then no, do ...
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| how to start an Air Conditioning and Heating business | 12/30/2007 |
Q: My father and I are considering starting an Air Conditioning and Heating business in a small local ... A: Drew, you would be better served by contacting local HVAC companies and your local BBB. You might ...
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| Switch has 60VAC in off position | 12/29/2007 |
Q: I just bought my house 6 months ago, and I'm in the process of redoing one of the bathrooms. Today ... A: It appears that you have reverse polarity somewhere. Meaning that your neutral wire is hot. Take ...
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| Converting 120/240 circuit to 240 only | 12/29/2007 |
Q: How can I convert a 120/240 circuit with a Nema 14-30 receptacle in my basement to a 240 volt 30 ... A: In a 240/120 volt outlet you will have a black and red hot leg. The white is neutral and green/bare ...
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| Re: Rewiring a 110 lamp 220 | 12/28/2007 |
Q: We are building a house in Ireland and are looking to bring some lamps from the US. Are we able to ... A: I believe a simple plug adapter will work for you since the load is purely resistive. Check the lamp ...
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| Installing a ceiling fan | 12/27/2007 |
Q: My husband and I just bought a new ceiling fan for our bedroom. Previously, we had been using a ... A: In residential wiring "red" is never, ever used as ground. There are standards for wiring and those ...
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| breaker burns and smokes | 12/26/2007 |
Q: I had a new furnace and heat pump installed 12 months ago. everything was working fine until 2 weeks ... A: Quickly get a qualified electrician familiar with mobile homes to check out your electrical system. ...
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| Oven and Cooktop wiring | 12/25/2007 |
Q: My house was built in the early '80s. We will be installing a new cooktop and built-in oven soon. ... A: It will save you money by not installing an outlet and cord for your built in oven so that is good ...
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| Gas range | 12/24/2007 |
Q: My contractor installed my gas range (convection oven gas burners); manual says to use 125/250 volts ... A: The manual states that you need 125/250 volts and your contractor said that 110 volts "would ...
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| thermostate replacement | 12/23/2007 |
Q: I have an old thermostat with 7 wires. I don't know what to do with the "B" wire. can you help? ... A: The best thing to do is trace the "B" wire and find out what it feeds or being fed from. Usually it ...
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| King Wall heater | 12/23/2007 |
Q: im wanting to install a king wall heater and run it off 220volt,but there is only 110V supplying a ... A: You cannot connect to that light switch or light fixture to feed a heater. You did not mention the ...
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| Garage Heating Solution | 12/23/2007 |
Q: I just can't figure out what to do and I was hoping you could help. I've installed a 240V heater in ... A: I would install a relay with a 220 volt coil that closes the circuit to the 110 volt fan circuit ...
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| Main breaker haphazardly trips | 12/23/2007 |
Q: I am having a problem with the main circuit breaker in my apartment. Once in a while, it will break, ... A: It sounds like you need a bigger main breaker, however you can only install one if the supply wire ...
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| open ground at receptical | 12/22/2007 |
Q: Can you install a GFI receptical in a circuit that has an open ground and be in code? A: Yes. You have to mark the receptacle (on the outside so anyone can see) that it is ungrounded. Most ...
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| shop wiring | 12/22/2007 |
Q: I recently bought a house with a small work shop. The problem I'm having is the receptacles only ... A: The first problem I notice is that the breaker is over rated for the wire size. That is a code ...
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| hot water heater | 12/22/2007 |
Q: we have changed the elements and the thermastats on our hot water heater, but still don't have hot ... A: Have you pushed in the "reset" button on overtemp protection? If you feel qualified, measure the ...
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| Burned up line voltage thermostat | 12/21/2007 |
Q: I had electric baseboard heat in a room addition and the 240 volt line voltage thermostat melted the ... A: The breaker will trip if an overload of current passes through it. From your explanation I am not ...
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| both my outlet holes are live | 12/21/2007 |
Q: I added a bunch of outlets to my house recently when we were remodeling and we just realized that ... A: How are you testing to see if they are "live"? This would mean that you disconnected a neutral and ...
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| three cable confusion | 12/19/2007 |
Q: I am trying to move the location of the switch (which was in a very inconvenient spot) in the ... A: Since you did not mark the wires when you removed the switch you will need a voltmeter to be able to ...
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| Space heater wiring | 12/18/2007 |
Q: We keep tripping the fuse when we use a new space heater. We have tried different outlets.One on a ... A: Your voltage will play a part in how many amps are pulled. But in any case your 15 amp circuit ...
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| Single Circuit Rewire, PVC Conduit Use | 12/17/2007 |
Q: I have a quick question. I am rewiring a single circuit in my home (one of the last which was ... A: 1. Use the gray PVC found in the electrical department along with the glue that is made especially ...
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| Outdoor lighting with motion detection | 12/17/2007 |
Q: I want to install outdoor motion sensor light, but also want to control the same light from an ... A: Most outdoor lights with motion sensor have a way to turn them on at the switch without motion ...
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| Electrical clothes dryer | 12/17/2007 |
Q: I'm renting a house with a hook up for a gas dryer. I own an electrical dryer. i want to hook up my ... A: You have two choices. You either buy a gas dryer, or you get the landlord to run a 220 volt circuit ...
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| 220v circuits | 12/15/2007 |
Q: When I moved to the US from the UK I brought all my 230V woodworking tools with me - in the hope ... A: Gareth, Actually they are both single phase. Here in America the norm is 120 volts supply and in ...
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| 200 amp to 400 amp service upgrade? | 12/15/2007 |
Q: I also sent this question to another moderator in this forum but since then noticed that you have ... A: Ken, Adding up the breakers in the panels is really of no value since they are rated above what the ...
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| Oven wiring | 12/13/2007 |
Q: I am installing a KitchenAid double convection oven. The pigtail has 4 wires, black, white, red and ... A: This would not pass code today. Not all inspectors pay close attention to detail so this could of ...
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| heater | 12/13/2007 |
Q: if i my heater is not heating and I have a light blinking on and off on my circuit board, what does ... A: It means that your board detected a fault. A certain amount of blinks in a row tells the technician ...
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| Changing a ceiling fan into 2 flush mount light fixtures | 12/13/2007 |
Q: G., I have a client that needs me to change a ceiling fan into 2 flush mount light fixtures on the ... A: It depends on where you want the lights. If they have to be in an exact location and other than the ...
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| Changing a ceiling fan into 2 flush mount light fixtures | 12/12/2007 |
Q: G., I have a client that needs me to change a ceiling fan into 2 flush mount light fixtures on the ... A: Flush mount refers to a light that hugs the ceiling. You should be able to simply remove the ...
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| Electric baseboard heater problems | 12/11/2007 |
Q: I just bought a condominium constructed 20 years ago. There was a 1000 watt 208V baseboard heater ... A: It could be a partially tripped breaker. The best way to check is with a voltage meter. Put the two ...
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| Battery Preservation | 12/10/2007 |
Q: Since one usually has to buy batteries at a store in packs, how can I store the batteries I don't ... A: Batteries generally do not like extremes (hot or cold). I am assuming we are talking about AAA, AA, ...
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| wall mounted switch | 12/9/2007 |
Q: A: This is a good question. If you are remodeling a house for little people, or people in wheel chairs ...
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| light fixture wiring | 12/6/2007 |
Q: i am installing a new light fixture in an old house. the new fixture has a black wire, a white wire ... A: Take the two black wires and connect them to the black wire of your new fixture with a wirenut. Take ...
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| Having two dryers in one home | 12/4/2007 |
Q: I have two dryers but only one plug. Is there a plug made to run both dryers on the same circuit, ... A: You might get away with it if they are both GAS dryers. But if they are electric, you will not be ...
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| Furnace Motor Wiring | 12/2/2007 |
Q: I do understand my motor has different speeds, but if I only connect White to white, and Blk to Blk, ... A: Most home owners should not mess with the speed of their furnace blower motor. The speed needs to be ...
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| lights dimming when other loads start | 12/2/2007 |
Q: We are experiencing a problem with lights dimming in our home. When other loads such as microwave, ... A: Your symptoms all point to either low voltage, too many loads on one circuit, or a loose neutral or ...
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| outdoor electrical outlet | 12/2/2007 |
Q: I am trying to plug up my Christmas lights and they won't work from any of the outlets on the ... A: They should be fed from a GFCI outlet or GFCI breaker. If you look in your breaker panel and find a ...
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| Follow up to question I asked of Will Babbit | 12/1/2007 |
Q: I assume you have access to my question but basically, I have an 3hp, 11 amp, single phase, 230V ... A: Jeff, I do not have access to your original question. Is this a dedicated line to your planer? ...
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| 20 amp outlet | 12/1/2007 |
Q: Sir: The A/C I'd like to install has a 20 amp plug. Is it possible to replace the existing outlet to ... A: If you are trying to plug it into a 15 amp circuit than you need to run a new circuit for the A/C or ...
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| Adding a sub-panel | 11/30/2007 |
Q: Greg, I am adding about 500 sf to my house and will be adding a sub-panel for the new circuits. I ... A: To do it correctly a "Load Calculation" needs to be performed on your existing circuits with the ...
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| Wiring Question | 11/29/2007 |
Q: Greg, I recently bought a new house and had a quick question regarding the wiring of the Electric ... A: Martin, First find out what the requirements are for the oven. If the oven requires a 30 amp ...
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| grounding... | 11/28/2007 |
Q: We have a 2 1/2 yr old modular on a full concrete basement. Ever since, we had a water issue, with ... A: On top of your tank you will find a large nut. Under that nut lies the anode. You will need to turn ...
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| grounding... | 11/27/2007 |
Q: We have a 2 1/2 yr old modular on a full concrete basement. Ever since, we had a water issue, with ... A: Mike, You did the right things by grounding the pipes and installing the correct connectors from ...
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| wiring pot lights | 11/27/2007 |
Q: I`m was wondering about wiring 6 pot-lights in a 20-10 rec room. its a drop ceiling, the ? is when ... A: Your first light should have two wires coming in (hot and neutral). Connect these to the wires of ...
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| Hot to touch Ceiling light fixture | 11/25/2007 |
Q: I have a flush ceiling light fixture in kitchen. It smells hot and is hot to touch.I was up in crawl ... A: When you say "flush" are you referring to a "recessed" light fixture? If so, there are basically ...
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| change a circuit breaker | 11/25/2007 |
Q: I have a circuit breaker that has gone bad. A little bit of smoke comes out of it when it is on so I ... A: Most breakers place the model number on the side of the breaker so you cannot read it until you ...
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| Outdoor light on 20 amp circuit | 11/24/2007 |
Q: I goofed when I rewired my home. I wasn't thinking and tapped of a junction box for lighting in one ... A: Putting a j-box concealed in the wall is against code. Running the wire diagonally in the wall is ...
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| Aux Electrical Panel | 11/23/2007 |
Q: I want to install an aux electrical panel in my basement for new basement shop power, game room ... A: You do need a 100 amp breaker in the main panel to feed the subpanel, and you need a separate ground ...
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| Outdoor light on 20 amp circuit | 11/22/2007 |
Q: I goofed when I rewired my home. I wasn't thinking and tapped of a junction box for lighting in one ... A: Is it unsafe? You need to wire it correctly and protect it from weather. The difference between a ...
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| Wall Oven installation | 11/21/2007 |
Q: We have purchased a new frigidaire wall oven, which has the standard 4 wires ( a red, a black, ... A: I am not sure where you live and I do not know local codes. However, if it were me with this set up ...
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| Thermostat | 11/19/2007 |
Q: If my digital programmable thermostat is showing the correct room temp and date/time but won't turn ... A: The problem with jumping at the furnace is that you have not ruled out a broken wire between the ...
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| Installing a dimmer switch | 11/19/2007 |
Q: Hey Greg, This might be a simple question but I have to ask, novice here. I am installing a dimmer ... A: Yes, you have a 4-way switch. (I deleted my remarks about advise given from "shelf stockers" about ...
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| Thermostat | 11/18/2007 |
Q: If my digital programmable thermostat is showing the correct room temp and date/time but won't turn ... A: Most digital t-stats show they are calling for heat (usually in the form of an icon), this is what ...
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| New Home electrical Panel | 11/18/2007 |
Q: I am building a new home approximately 2500sf main floor (incl garages) 2000 top floor and 2000sf ... A: A lot will depend on whether you use gas or electric for your big loads (heater, water heater, oven, ...
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| Installing a dimmer switch | 11/18/2007 |
Q: Hey Greg, This might be a simple question but I have to ask, novice here. I am installing a dimmer ... A: Does the original switch have four posts (not poles) or two? If it has two, and the two red ones ...
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| New light fixtures are tripping the breakers | 11/17/2007 |
Q: I am replacing two wall sconces with new ones. The old fixture was a type A the new ones require ... A: The Type of bulb refers to the shape of the bulb. You should have more info than Type A, or B, or C. ...
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| thermostat replacement | 11/16/2007 |
Q: Good evening. I wish to replace my 19 year old Lennox heat pump thermostat with a Honeywell ... A: Rick, Lennox did their own thing when it came to wire color and naming standards. So their units do ...
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| Electrical Outlet problem | 11/16/2007 |
Q: I have an electrical outlet in the kitchen that the toaster will not work in. I can plug in a lamp, ... A: It sounds like the plug from the toaster is not making good contact with the prongs in the outlet. ...
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| residential light switch | 11/15/2007 |
Q: We have lived in our 1960's built 3 bedroom story and a half for 20 years. About 10 years ago I ... A: What type of light bulb are you using? If it is incandescent, you may need to replace the switch. ...
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| circuit problem | 11/14/2007 |
Q: I was running a tale saw when the circuit went dead. The beaker did not trip, though I have since ... A: If this is A/C current you do not have a positive and a negative. You have what we call a "hot" and ...
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| Breaker panel | 11/14/2007 |
Q: I am buying a NEW house in Texas. Is there any particular reason that the circuit breaker panel for ... A: In warmer/milder climates it is not unusual to have your main panel mounted outside. Where I live I ...
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| Main Panel | 11/13/2007 |
Q: I have a 200A main service panel (installed & inspected new in 1981). It is Sylvania panel with ... A: I found this in the question pool and thought I would address it because it is a very, very popular ...
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| Ceiling fan question | 11/13/2007 |
Q: I purchased a new home and recently installed a hunter ceiling fan to a pre-wired junction box. ... A: Doug, You had two wires from the two switches (one for the light, and one for the fan) correct? ...
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| Electrical Outlet issues | 11/11/2007 |
Q: Recently had some electrical work done to the house. All in all, went well, but I have one ... A: Douglas, a good way to find out if you hired a great electrician is to call them back out on ...
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| fusebox | 11/11/2007 |
Q: last night the plug sockets in my house all stopped working. The overhead lights continued to work. ... A: You either have a circuit breaker that no longer works correctly, or you have a short in that ...
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| A 100 year old house.. to buy or not to buy? | 11/10/2007 |
Q: My husband and I are facing a relocation to the Chicago area in a few months and are toying with the ... A: Chicago has some great pocket areas and I love the city (to visit that is). I lived just outside ...
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| sub-panel install | 11/10/2007 |
Q: I'm renovating a 500 sg' room above the garage. There is 200 amp service in the main house with a ... A: The 10 gauge will not pass. It would be for a 30 amp breaker only. Instead of adding up the ...
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| replacing an old wall oven and cook top with a 1 piece combo | 11/8/2007 |
Q: I am in a 40 - 45 year old house. The breaker box is the infamous federal "no blow" pacific. I have ... A: Not knowing exactly all that is involved I cannot really comment on the estimate. I do not have the ...
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| electrical | 11/5/2007 |
Q: is it normal for lights to dim when i start the vaccum cleaner in the same room? A: It is not suppose to be normal, however it is not uncommon. Many homes have the receptacles and ...
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| Outlet replacement - 4black wires and 1 shite | 11/3/2007 |
Q: I've replaced almost all of our outlets, some have 2blk/2wht with 1 ground, some are 1blk/1wht. Now ... A: No need for another outlet. Take two black wire and pig tail it (wire nut) with a small piece of ...
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| Electric Cooktop wiring. | 11/2/2007 |
Q: I just swapped out A Jenn-Air Electric Cooktop for a New Kitchen-Aid Unit. My Power supply is 3 wire ... A: Wires from breaker panel to the cooktop: Black should be one power leg from breaker. Red should be ...
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| Honeywell visionPRO th8000 thermostat | 11/1/2007 |
| Q: I have the ab |