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About Dale
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
Trouble shooting electricial problems, house wiring

Experience
25 years

Education/Credentials
electricial maintenance 1970, licensed contractor 20 years

You are here: Experts > Home/Garden > Home Improvement/Repair > Electrical Wiring in the Home

Questions Answered By Expert Dale
In Category Electrical Wiring in the Home

Subject	Date Asked

outlets controlled by two switches	10/5/2008
Q: IN MY LIVINGROOM I HAVE TWO LIGHT SWITCHES CONTROLLING THE LOWER HALF OF THE OUTLETS. I JUST ... A: On the receptacles look on the side with the dark colored screws, between the screws is a small tab, ...
ballast problem?	10/3/2008
Q: we have a ceiling ballast (15x48in) 4 lamps, no problems before (15 years) just replace single ... A: It sounds like you have a bad ballast in the fixture. The fixture may have 2 ballasts and only one ...
Wiring Issue	10/2/2008
Q: I just rewired an entire house with all new service (everything in and outside the house). Today I ... A: I would check the connections on the receptacle and make sure they are tight. Are you sure there is ...
electrical mystery	10/1/2008
Q: We just bought a house and discovering some wiring issues. It is an older Katrina home but was ... A: Have you tested between the hot and neutral or hot and ground? It does sound like you have a bad ...
Fluorescent light not working	10/1/2008
Q: I was fixing a light but new bulbs did not fix the problem, so I changed the balast. Still didn't ... A: Have you tested the circuit to see if you have power coming to it? They are supposed to be grounded, ...
Dedicated outlet	9/30/2008
Q: I read other questions about HOW to install a dedicated circuit BUT this is ourWe want to get a ... A: There could be other receptacles on the circuit, turn off power to the receptacle and see if you ...
short circuit	9/29/2008
Q: I have a question for ya. I recently installed a new plug in outlet..the wires got tangled and i ... A: Check the receptacle in the bathroom and see if the GFCI has tripped, if it doesn't reset or trip ...
Electrical Wiring Problem	9/26/2008
Q: Last night when I turned on the switch for my exterior house light I could hear a loud crackling ... A: It sounds like one of the 3 way switches for the dining room light is bad. For the outside light if ...
20 Amp outlets vs. 15 Amp outlets	9/24/2008
Q: Do all of the outlets on a 20 Amp circuit need to be rated for 20 Amps. I am finding that they are ... A: It is legal to have 15A receptacles on a 20A circuit as long as there is more than one receptacle on ...
3 lights , 3 seperate switches wired together	9/22/2008
Q: we have the power source coming into the first light running to a second light and then to a third ... A: In the first light connect the black (power in), black going to the next light, and white wire going ...
switch and plug	9/22/2008
Q: here is my issue. I installed all new flat switches and plugs throughout the house and didn't ... A: You can have a receptacle switched with just 2 wires, however the power must go to the switch first ...
electrical light switches	9/21/2008
Q: I own an old home. The hallway has a simple light switch on one end and one of those "push" to turn ... A: I tried looking up the switch at Leviton, I couldn't find the exact switch. The ones they have ...
stove wiring	9/20/2008
Q: I have an advantium microwave/oven that uses a 220 outlet and wish to get an ordinary microwave - is ... A: If the microwave is the only thing on the circuit all you need to do is replace the double breaker ...
Discharge from plug receptacles	9/19/2008
Q: Last year, I added three additional plug receptacles in my basement workshop area. I made the ... A: It could be from condensation or maybe water getting into the receptacles some how. I would make ...
Wire to stove	9/19/2008
Q: I have been having stove/oven problems, so I bought a new stove. I am still having problems. ... A: It sounds like you do have a bad connection somewhere in the circuit or a bad breaker. I would ...
220 dryer plug	9/16/2008
Q: Why would a dryer come on but not heat. I have had three brand new dryers in my home in one week. ... A: A dryer can run but not heat if you have lost one side of the power. Check the breaker and ...
open ground	9/16/2008
Q: A home inspector told me the 3 outlets by my kitchen sink have open grounds. One of the outlets is a ... A: Do you know if there is actually a ground wire present? If so then a connection has likely come ...
Home wiring troubleshooting	9/15/2008
Q: This week we had allot of rain and the ground was saturated. I had some water in the basement. I ... A: It sounds like you have a short in that circuit, probably in the conduit with rust in it. I would ...
water heater	9/14/2008
Q: water heater does not shut off, ANSWER: Hi Ken, Sounds like the thermostat has gone bad. You should ... A: Sorry it has taken so long to get back to you, trying to clean up and catch up after Ike went ...
breaker problem	9/14/2008
Q: Dale- earlier today i plugged a 3-prong adapter into a recepticle and it sparked and blew the ... A: Sorry this has taken so long, trying to clean up and catch up after Ike went through. When you ...
Bathroom GFCI outlet not working	9/13/2008
Q: I have a GFCI outlet in my bathroom, and one day my hair dryer stopped working. The dryer works ... A: Sorry this has taken so long, trying to clean up and catch up after Ike went through. Check to see ...
one circuit/part of circuit out	9/10/2008
Q: our house has had the power in two bedrooms, the guest bath hallway lights go out. It did not trip ... A: When the power is working, turn the breaker off and find everything on the circuit. When it goes off ...
GFI off branch panel in punp house	9/8/2008
Q: I tried to add a GFI outlet to a branch panel in my pump house, but it does not seem to work. (Does ... A: There could be a few different causes,: 1) the GFCI is faulty 2) The ground wire is not actually ...
Dual outside light switches	9/4/2008
Q: We have outside lights that are controlled by a switch in the kitchen upstairs and a switch ... A: The switches that have only 2 wires going to them are not 3-way's. They are just single pole ...
Dual outside light switches	9/3/2008
Q: We have outside lights that are controlled by a switch in the kitchen upstairs and a switch ... A: Were the wires wire nutted together? How many wires are in the box besides any ground wire (bare ...
Puck Lights	9/2/2008
Q: I have under-cabinet puck lighting...2 lights. Integral not plug in. The first one doesn't work, the ... A: You should be able to replace just one of the lights, the problem may be being able to buy just one ...
Breaker not showing to be tripped	9/1/2008
Q: my garage outlets are not working. Tried to reset the GFCI switch, but the reset switch will not ... A: The breaker could be tripped even if it doesn't show it, try pushing it firmly to off, then back on. ...
breaker keeps tripping	8/31/2008
Q: I have a game room that sits behind my house but is not attached. My panel in the house has a 40 amp ... A: It sounds like you have a problem between the house and the sub panel in your game room. Try turning ...
Dim Lights	8/30/2008
Q: I am wiring my garage and when I thought I had all the lights done I ran into a problem. They are ... A: You have them wired wrong. The hot needs to go to the switch first. I would run a 14-2 from the ...
ceiling fan	8/29/2008
Q: I installed a ceiling fan and was doing great until...I was forced to include a remote the mix. ... A: Cap off either the black or red in the ceiling box, which ever one is switched if both are, it ...
wiring three way switch to outlets!	8/28/2008
Q: I'm Currently working on renovating my house, In my upstairs bedroom i want to have my receptacles ... A: I don't have time right now to explain this, I will later. But to get you started run your power (a ...
home wiring problem	8/28/2008
Q: Yes I am having a problem with my home electricity. My electricity cuts in and out. It will ... A: I would check the connections at the main breaker or the outside disconnect. You might feel the ...
GFCI	8/26/2008
Q: I have a gfci circuit in my home that seems to trip for no apparent reason. it is composed of ... A: It is possible you have a bad receptacle or light on the circuit, do you have a security light or ...
Getting direct burial wire from outside to inside	8/25/2008
Q: I ran and buried a bunch of (direct-burial type) electrical wire a few years ago when I had some ... A: What you have planned sounds good. They do make a offset PVC connector you can use to get around the ...
Electrical wiring for flourescent lighting.	8/24/2008
Q: I have 16 f96t12 fixtures surrounding my building. They are in an enclave under the roof overhang. I ... A: It sounds like you have a loose neutral connection. You need to trace the circuit backwards to the ...
possible short/loose wire	8/23/2008
Q: I recently bought an old house (1948) with mostly original wiring. Former owners did a little ... A: Can you test the voltage when it is acting up? It sounds like you may have a loose neutral and are ...
Hot Electrical Smell	8/22/2008
Q: My husband just woke me up and had me go downstairs because he was smelling something very hot and ... A: You might want to shut off the circuit breakers for the affected circuits. It is hard to say what ...
Voltage Drop/Long Run/Wire Selection	8/22/2008
Q: I am trying to determine the right wire size for running wire from my home to a shop. The distance ... A: You didn't give the amperages of the equipment you will be using. However if you use #10 CU with a ...
low voltage home electrical system	8/22/2008
Q: I recently purchased a home that runs on a low voltage system. Transformer box in attic is buzzing. ... A: It could very well be what the buzzing is, it is quite common for some to buzz. If it is too much of ...
Fluxuating current in house	8/21/2008
Q: I recently had remodeling work done, changed lights, added circuits, etc. Now we have lights in the ... A: It sounds like you could have a loose neutral connection either in your panel or disconnect, it ...
no power or lights	8/20/2008
Q: I have a 1999 oakwood moblie home double wide. I am having a problem because i have no power going ... A: You might try to contact the manufacturer and ask them where it is. On most I have worked on there ...
Faulty Lamp	8/20/2008
Q: I attempted to tighten the cap on my floor lamp last night and blew all of the power in the home. I ... A: If your mechanically inclined at all you should be able to repair it yourself. Inspect all the wires ...
installing photo cell	8/19/2008
Q: light fixture one has two black wires and two white wires and two grounds. do i just add the photo ... A: Is there a switch that turns the light on also, If so one set of those wires likely go to the ...
installing photo cell	8/18/2008
Q: light fixture one has two black wires and two white wires and two grounds. do i just add the photo ... A: The black wire for the power in would go to the black wire on the photo cell, The red wire on the ...
air conditioner install	8/18/2008
Q: i need to install a 3 ton air conditioner. what wire size would i require for the 220??? thanks i ... A: 10 gage wire should work. If the amp rating is more than 24A use 8 gage wire, I believe it should ...
Not Getting 240 Volts from breaker	8/17/2008
Q: Dale, This is a follow up question about my window AC unit which was not getting power. You had me ... A: Try resetting your main breaker and also the disconnect under the meter if you have one. Test the ...
240 Volt AC Receptacle issues	8/16/2008
Q: I just installed a line from our breaker box to another room in our house to run a 240 volt window ... A: Sounds like you either have a faulty connection at the receptacle or a faulty breaker. Try resetting ...
240 Volt AC Receptacle issues	8/16/2008
Q: I just installed a line from our breaker box to another room in our house to run a 240 volt window ... A: It sounds like you have it wired right, what voltage do you get between the red and black? When you ...
Indicator for Electric Service Power On/Off	8/15/2008
Q: I have an emergency generator that back feeds my panel through a breaker that is interlocked ... A: They make a automatic transfer switch that will automatically switch when the power goes off or on ...
240 Volt AC Receptacle issues	8/15/2008
Q: I just installed a line from our breaker box to another room in our house to run a 240 volt window ... A: On a 240V A/C unit there is no neutral, just two hots and a ground. You didn't say what kind of wire ...
arcing frrom armored conduit	8/14/2008
Q: While dusting in the turret of our loft, I wiped the electrical conduit with a dry dustcloth. A huge ... A: Assuming it wasn't a static electricity spark you could have a loose ground. Worse case would be ...
Installation of GFI combination switch	8/13/2008
Q: Which wires go where? When I looked at the switch that I am replacing, the white wires were ... A: Connect the set of wires from the panel as you did on the "line side of the combo switch, then ...
Two circuts using a single neutral	8/13/2008
Q: I have an older home with 2 circuits using a single neutral. I believe that they are on the same ... A: Being on the same side of the box doesn't mean they are on the same phase. If they are sharing a ...
panelboard cover	7/28/2008
Q: what is the size and thread of cover retaining screws on 60 and 100 amp residential panelboards? A: Every manufacturer is different, there is no standard screw for the covers. Most use about a 10 gage ...
Shocked by Dryer	7/27/2008
Q: Dale, I just recently purchased a used washer and dryer. The dryer came with a 3-prong plug, but ... A: Did you remove the bonding strap from the neutral terminal to the frame of the dryer also? If you ...
Not enough voltage	7/26/2008
Q: All the outlets on one circuit in my home are testing 120 until something is plugged into one of ... A: Good morning Michelle, Is it just one breaker or half of the breakers? Does the other side have high ...
Not enough voltage	7/26/2008
Q: All the outlets on one circuit in my home are testing 120 until something is plugged into one of ... A: It sounds like you have a loose connection somewhere in the circuit. I would turn off the breaker ...
Vent Pipe Shock	7/24/2008
Q: I am a journeyman electrician with years of troubleshooting experience. Recently a customer was ... A: Is this a sub panel or the main? Did you test between the neutral and ground in the panel? The only ...
aluminum wiring	7/24/2008
Q: I recently bought a 30 year old house with all aluminum wiring. I have replaced all outlets and ... A: It would be best to replace all the small gage wire if at all possible. It is time consuming but ...
sub panel	7/23/2008
Q: I have an older home with aluminum wiring. The box says 125 amps. Can I have a 200 amp box ... A: Unless your adding more load to the panel other than a couple receptacle circuits I would worry more ...
Do I have an electrical problem?	7/22/2008
Q: Good morning Dale! I have a couple of lamps and a ceiling light that flicker a little, but only ... A: Good morning to you also. It does sound like you may have a problem. When the power is flickering ...
fan with light, double wall switch	7/22/2008
Q: just bought a fan with light kit. would like one switch to control light, one to control fan (and ... A: The 2 wire with the black and white should be your power in, if you have a tester you should check ...
re-wiring 3 way	7/21/2008
Q: I am renovating a bathroom. My house is over 100 years old though the bathroom was an addition ... A: If you replace the wire from the fuse you only need a 12-2 w/ground, as old as it is, it is probably ...
3-way switch vs 2-way switch	7/20/2008
Q: Can I use a 3-way switch in a 2-way switch? Thanks A: I assume you mean can you use a three way switch in place of a single pole switch. If I am correct, ...
some power is out, but the rest still works	7/19/2008
Q: I am trying to figure out why some of the power is out in my house and the rest works. It all ... A: When the power is on locate the breaker that controls that circuit and check to see what all is on ...
main breaker tripping	5/3/2008
Q: We've lived in our house for over 13 years, but just recently (last 2 week) we have had the main ... A: That could be the problem, first I would check the connections on the breaker, look for loose wires ...
220v supply to 110v circuits	4/27/2008
Q: I am a member of a BBQ team in Memphis. We enter events where electricity is supplied by the ... A: Yes, that is basically what it is, You would just need to know what type 120/240V plug to use, A 50A ...
wiresize	4/22/2008
Q: 120vac 20 amp 350 ft run what is formula for wire size is it 1 size up for every 100 ft ? A: I should have put this site in with my answer. Here you can put whatever you want in and it will ...
burnt hot and neutral wire	4/21/2008
Q: I was trying to hook up a ceiling pendant fixture and managed to spark the hot and neutral wires by ... A: If you were replacing a light in a bathroom, check to see if you have tripped a GFCI receptacle. If ...
GFI wiring	4/21/2008
Q: I Have a 60 Amp sub panel in my Garage one breaker 20Amp GFI from that breaker i ran 100Ft 12/2 w ... A: How do you have the wire hooked to the GFCI breaker? On the 12-2 w/g you hook the black to the hot ...
Small outlet spark	3/25/2008
Q: In one of the bedrooms of my house, the outlets give a tiny spark whenever I plug in my computer or ... A: Sorry I have taken so long to answer, I am in the middle of all the flooding. If the sparks are ...
swimming pool equipment	3/24/2008
Q: My pool set up uses 2 motors and a freeze protector. There is a double pole switch that supplies ... A: Sorry I have taken so long to answer, I am in the middle of all the flooding. It sounds like the ...
Disabling an in floor outlet	3/22/2008
Q: We have an electical outlet in the floor in the center of the room. We do not use the outlet. We ... A: Sorry I have taken so long to answer, I am in the middle of all the flooding. You need to locate ...
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: If I understand correctly you are using a circuit that is for baseboard heaters I assume the circuit ...
wiring a switch	3/19/2008
Q: would like to install an on/off switch on my 220 hotwater tank. thankyou A: I'm not sure what your question is. You can put a switch on your water heater, they make a time ...
dead house circuit	3/18/2008
Q: i have lost power to one side of my house (bedroom & computer room. I have a fuse type panel and all ... A: Test your 220V fuses and see voltage is right. If you do have 220V check the boxes closest to the ...
House Wiring Problems	3/17/2008
Q: Dale, I live in a house built in the 1920's. It is a rental. There has been various wiring ... A: Sorry to take so long to answer but I am in the middle of all the flooding going on. To answer your ...
110 socket not working	3/12/2008
Q: I'm a little stumped on the socket in one of my bathrooms. The socket does not work even though my ... A: What kind of fixture is it, is it possible that the bulb just isn't screwing in far enough? It could ...
One feed three switches	3/10/2008
Q: I'm trying to wire an existing box as follows...One 14/2 main feed to a receptacle - from there one ... A: On your 14-2 bringing in power connect 3 short wires to the black with a wire nut, then hook 1 of ...
ceiling fan	3/9/2008
Q: I have a problem tht is probably an easy fix, but since I am not tecnically gifted, oh well. We ... A: Before giving up on the fan I would try replacing the capacitor first. They are usually in the ...
Panel and Service	3/6/2008
Q: I had a new service panel put in my house last year. 200 amp 40 breakers. When the local electric ... A: If you have a 200A breaker you have a 200A service. The power company can run any size wire they ...
wiring too short	3/5/2008
Q: I have an older home, built some time in the 40s. After updateing the 60 amp to 100 amp service and ... A: As long as your connections are tight and the insulation on the wires is in good shape they should ...
Halo H7ICT	3/4/2008
Q: I recently finished my 2nd floor and I have recessed can lite in my kitchen directly under the 2nd ... A: If the insulation is too close to the fixture it may be overheating and burning the bulbs out. The ...
No power to lights...	3/3/2008
Q: I just put up two new lights up in my kitchen, After painting. When i install one of them i noticed ... A: Does either of the lights work, if not, I would check the wires where they enter the box and see if ...
high energy bills	2/28/2008
Q: we recently installed a high effient furnace nordyne/frigidaire and since we put that in our ... A: Do you know the difference between what the old furnace drew and what the new one draws? Can you get ...
Wiring new light fixture	2/25/2008
Q: I replaced our kitchen light and have encountered some problems with the wiring. The old fixture ... A: Sorry, I've been down with the flu. Sounds like you may have hooked the switch up to both hot and ...
short in house?	2/19/2008
Q: I'm hoping you can help with what is going on in our home. The breaker has been tripping regularly ... A: It sounds like it could have a short, but it could possibly just be overloaded. If you live in a ...
changing from manuel to digital thermostat for electric baseboard	1/28/2008
Q: I removed the old thermostat and there are 4 wires and my new thermostat has 2 wires. How do I hook ... A: Were all 4 wires hooked up to the old thermostat? You may have got the wrong type of thermostat, ...
Removing a 3 way switch	1/27/2008
Q: We knocked out a wall inbetween our kitchen and dining room to combine the two. In the room where we ... A: If I understand what you are wanting to do you should be able to leave the wires in the box, put it ...
220 plug	1/22/2008
Q: I have a 220 electric heater in the garage. I bought a used electric stove to use out there and the ... A: Unless it was a large heater the breaker likely isn't large enough to run all the elements of your ...
sparks flew, wires touched metal	1/21/2008
Q: I sucessfully removed a faulty dimmer switch from the wall outlet. The wires were still hanging out ... A: If none of the round fuses are bad check the main breaker or fuses, if they are fuses they should be ...
Light surges	1/18/2008
Q: For about a month now we have been having surges in our lighting -- this occurs when the AC clicks ... A: The power company is probably being straight with you, that doesn't mean they can't be wrong though. ...
Splitting 20 amp breaker	1/15/2008
Q: Dale- I have a Homelite 200 amp box that is full, but many of the 15 amp breakers have something ... A: They do make half size 20A breakers to fit your box, it should say somewhere on the panel what type ...
electrical trouble	1/13/2008
Q: what is an open ground and how to repair A: A open ground means the continuity of the ground wire between the panel and whatever it is connected ...
aluminum wiring to copper	1/12/2008
Q: I want to change my wiring from aluminum to copper in my upstairs. I am going to tear out the ... A: The aluminum wire coming into the house should be fine, you might want to check to make sure the ...
AC Ground Problem	1/11/2008
Q: Well before I get into my AC outlet grounding problem I think I should start from the beginning. A ... A: Sounds like you may have a couple problems. A loose or corroded ground connection and at some point ...
wolf double oven	1/11/2008
Q: My builder used a 4O amp three wire hook up for my wolf double oven. It requires a 50 amp four wire ... A: The 40A vs 50A would not have damaged your oven, at worst it would have caused nuisance tripping of ...
Thankyou for your outstanding help.	1/10/2008
Q: The circuit didn't work. After several hours of searching, I lucked into this site. Imagine hot to ... A: The symptoms are a classic sign of a loose neutral. I'm glad you were able to find the answers you ...
Unknown Switch	1/9/2008
Q: We have lived in our home for approximately 9 years. There is a "light switch" in the hallway that ... A: It sounds like it may have been a switch for an old whole house fan, does the ceiling in the hallway ...
Sparks from outlet, yet no power to items plugged in.	1/9/2008
Q: I have a powerstrip plugged into an outlet (my computer, monitor and printer are plugged into the ... A: It sounds like the wires connecting to the receptacle are loose. You can shut the power off and ...
Add Subpanel to old Main panel without main circuit breaker?!	1/8/2008
Q: I have some small issues!! I live in a 1,000sq2 townhouse, build in the late 70's. My main panel is ... A: I'll try to answer your questions one at a time. From looking at your photos your right, you do not ...
Wall Oven Installation Question	1/7/2008
Q: I tried to replace a wall-mounted oven with a new Whirlpool oven. The house was built in 1992, and ... A: If it is any consolation, the way you hooked it up would be the most logical. I think what someone ...
Switch controlled outlet	1/7/2008
Q: I am hoping to install a switch controlled outlet. I will be running wire from breaker to this ... A: Run a 12 2 w/g from the panel to the switch and then a wire from the switch to the receptacles. At ...
half power supply	1/5/2008
Q: I am having diffuculty with my power supply in my home. I was told I have only half a power supply. ... A: Try resetting your main breaker, and outside disconnect if you have one. If you have a tester check ...
Low voltage ceiling lights blowing out buss 11/4 plug fuse.	1/4/2008
Q: in the last 4 months the heavy winds in oct and jan seems to impact our low voltage ceiling ... A: The light that won't turn off likely needs a new switch. Do all the rest of the lights share the ...
Circuit breaker sizing	1/3/2008
Q: I currently have a 2 switch, 40 amp 220V circuit (used to run the old electric stove). I want to ... A: Does the circuit have a neutral and a ground? If it does you can replace the breaker with a 2P20A ...
circuit breaker trip repeatly in master bedrm	1/3/2008
Q: Tonight at 11:30Pm I notice my master bedroom light would not come on. I checked the breaker panel ... A: It sounds like you have a short in the circuit. Try resetting it with the light turned off, if it ...
tankless electric water heater	1/2/2008
Q: I currently have a 40 gallon water heater, we would like to replace it with a tankless electric ... A: No, the existing circuit you have won't work. The type of water heater you are considering buying ...
Removing/converting switch	1/2/2008
Q: Good afternoon, and happy New Year! We recently tore out a pantry in our mudroom that had two ... A: For your firstthe white wire on the three way wiring isn't a neutral wire, it is either a traveler ...
Power Out; Replacing Fuse Does Not Help	12/30/2007
Q: New York) and thanks a million in advance. My wife turned on our microwave today, and it ran slowly ... A: A insulated screw driver is best, but most any plastic handled one will work. If you have tennis ...
Power Out; Replacing Fuse Does Not Help	12/30/2007
Q: New York) and thanks a million in advance. My wife turned on our microwave today, and it ran slowly ... A: It sounds like you have a loose connection, it could be in the fuse box or the first box in the ...
Hot Water Heater	12/29/2007
Q: Every couple of days my hot water heater trips the circuit breaker located on the heater itself. Any ... A: The reset on your water heater is thermal, if it is tripping the reset itself could be getting weak ...
Electrical cord repair	12/23/2007
Q: A rat chewed the electrical cord on my hand-held saw in several places. In one place the copper ... A: No, you don't want to do that, most all cords are replaceable. The case should come apart and allow ...
Wiring a Fan Timer Switch	12/22/2007
Q: I wired in a fan timer switch for my bathroom fan the other week. All was working well until one ... A: Have you checked the GFCI receptacle in the bathroom? You didn't say what wires you had feeding the ...
help in installing chandelier	12/21/2007
Q: I am trying to install a chandelier ... I see one white and one black and one red and some copper ... A: Without me being there to check everything it is hard to say for sure what the cause is or how many ...
existing 3-way circuit new fixture	12/20/2007
Q: I want to add a sconce light at the top of my staircase just above an existing light switch. The ... A: To do that you would have to rewire it at the other switch if there is a neutral there, if you were ...
help in installing chandelier	12/20/2007
Q: I am trying to install a chandelier ... I see one white and one black and one red and some copper ... A: I would hook the red and white up to the light and cap the black off, If that doesn't work swap the ...
Electrial Sub Panel	12/19/2007
Q: I am looking to have a tankless water heater installed {Electric } I had an electrican here to price ... A: Assuming your panel is full, what he says makes sense. If the panel is full and he has to install a ...
Two circuits wired together? Why?	12/18/2007
Q: I am in the process of installing an overhead light in a bedroom of my circa-1950 house and have ... A: For the age of your house that is common. What you have is two switch legs using the same box, both ...
Light switch has no power	12/16/2007
Q: Please help. I have been replacing existing light switches and sockets in my home (all wiring was ... A: To make one half on the receptacle work all the time and the other half switched, there is a tab on ...
telephone wiring	12/11/2007
Q: My existing phone lines have 4 wires: red, green, yellow, black, as does the new phone jack that I ... A: The 8 wire phone line is what most contractors are installing now. There are 4 pairs in your new ...
light bulb exploded	12/11/2007
Q: Yesterday I was about to turn on the bathroom's light , all of a sudden the bulb exploded WHY? A: The bulb may have developed a pin hole or small crack that let air in when you turned it on, or you ...
wiring	12/9/2007
Q: i have a older dust collector that says it is a 11 amp draw. I wired it to a 20 amp breaker and it ... A: Is there anything else on that circuit? You don't want to install a larger breaker on the circuit, ...
Trouble with Main line in breaker box	12/8/2007
Q: The main line coming into the breaker box in a newly built house. 1 of the wires in reading 110v and ... A: Are you sure you have your test leads on the right wires, you should have 110 between each one of ...
electrical stove outlet 240v to 110v	12/7/2007
Q: with a new gas stove I don't need the electrical outlet and would like to convert it to 110v and use ... A: In the panel you would have to replace the existing two pole breaker with a single pole breaker, ...
outside door light trouble	12/6/2007
Q: We have an outside door light we turned off one night and it wouldn't come on the next night. We ... A: If you have a voltage tester check and see if you have power to the switch, if you do check the ...
Help! almost had electrical fire	12/6/2007
Q: Sunday night our lights in the living room went super nova they looked alot like stadium lights,then ... A: The loose neutrals most likely the cause and tightening it should solve the problem. If you have a ...
crackling circuit breaker box	12/6/2007
Q: I have been told that because the crackling noise indicates replacement is necessary for my breaker ... A: The crackling noise could just be a bad breaker or bad connection. It should be addressed as soon as ...
hot tube	12/6/2007
Q: HI I hooked up my hot tube with a 50 amp gfci breaker it is within 50 feet for some reason when i do ... A: Make sure you have the GFCI hooked up properly. The neutral lead from the breaker connects to the ...
outlets out	12/5/2007
Q: I just bought my home and my braker box looks new, but just yesterday everything was fine I left and ... A: You didn't say if you checked for GFCI receptacles on the circuit that are not working, check for ...
GFCI trips constantly	12/5/2007
Q: Yesterday, a GFCI outlet in my kitchen suddenly tripped. When I push the reset button, it ... A: There could be other receptacles on that circuit before the GFCI, the GFCI tripping wouldn't affect ...
Help! almost had electrical fire	12/4/2007
Q: Sunday night our lights in the living room went super nova they looked alot like stadium lights,then ... A: If you trace the wire from the breaker to where it leaves the panel, see if there is just a black, ...
No power to rooms	12/3/2007
Q: ball hits hallway light fixture, lights in hallway, 2 bdrooms and bathroom go out. Have not been ... A: Sorry, not good news. The ball had nothing to do with your problem, it was just a coincidence. The ...
3-way switch wiring	12/3/2007
Q: both 3-way switches were malfunctioning, so I replaced both now one switch turns on/off, but in the ... A: If one of your switches has "off/on" on it they gave you the wrong switch. Assuming you just mean ...
Breakers are Good but still No Power!	12/3/2007
Q: about 3 weeks ago I had about 6 outlets, a kitchen light, and a ceiling fan go out. This all ... A: You didn't say what room they are in, but since the kitchen light is involved I assume it is the ...
wierd wiring	12/2/2007
Q: I just removed a cieling fan and it had 2 black wires, one of them is a constant, and two white ... A: My guess is you need to hook the black wire that is hot all the time to the white wire in the other ...
GFI	11/30/2007
Q: MY KITCHEN LIGHT IS ON A GFI. SOMETIMES WHEN I TURN THE LIGHT OFF IT TRIPS THE GFI. IT DOESN'T DO IT ... A: That isn't a problem I have run across before. I can only think of a couple options. Are the screw ...
Help! almost had electrical fire	11/30/2007
Q: Sunday night our lights in the living room went super nova they looked alot like stadium lights,then ... A: I've been running the info you gave me over and over in my mind trying to figure out a ...
breaker switch	11/29/2007
Q: This morning the power went off in my bedroom. I thought it was a total power outage until our ... A: When you reset the breaker make sure you are firmly pushing it to off before you try turning it back ...
CFL bulbs	11/29/2007
Q: I use incandescent bulbs with screw-in photocell adapters for my outside lights. When I try to ... A: I'm not sure about a screw in photo cell, however Intermatic makes a switch (I believe series SS8) ...
light socket eating bulbs	11/28/2007
Q: my home is six years old. recently i changed a 65 watt floodlight over the kitchen sink. this light ... A: The lamp holder could be loose where it is riveted to the terminals creating heat and burning the ...
no power	11/28/2007
Q: Right now i have 1 outlet in laundry not working. I have a plug in tester and it shows all other ... A: Sorry, your question went into my spam folder some how. Try resetting the individual breakers, push ...
Combo Box	11/27/2007
Q: I have a bathroom with the sink outside. There is one light switch in the bathroom that controls ... A: If you have a voltage tester check to see if you have 120V between the wires feeding your switch and ...
Turning off Hot Water Heater using Breaker	11/27/2007
Q: Does turning off the hot water heater daily using the breaker box to save electricity weaken the ... A: Turning off the breaker several times daily will wear the breaker out sooner and it will have to be ...
Ceiling fan wiring - extra red wire from ceiling outlet box	11/25/2007
Q: I have not only the regular black, white and bare copper wire but, also a red wire. Not sure what I ... A: If you have a tester check to see which one or if both are switched. If only one is switched, I ...
Electrical Outlet Issue	11/25/2007
Q: One of the electrical outlets in my condo (702 sq ft) has 'burnt out'. Well, I think it still ... A: If you can tape up all the excess copper wire where the insulation is burnt (all but about a half ...
GFI Receptacle	11/25/2007
Q: I have a GFI receptacle in my bathroom over the sink - it is tied in with a second receptacle over ... A: Without knowing what brand receptacle you have, it is hard to say. My guess is it is OK as long as ...
Electrical Outlet Issue	11/25/2007
Q: One of the electrical outlets in my condo (702 sq ft) has 'burnt out'. Well, I think it still ... A: It sounds like the receptacle has gone bad. Since you have the power off you can try replacing it, ...
aluminium wiring	11/24/2007
Q: I have 40-year-old aluminium wiring in my house. We're remodeling the house piecemeal. Is it safe to ... A: You can rewire it either way, it is best if you can to rewire the whole circuit at the same time. By ...
rewiring an old home	11/24/2007
Q: I was pretty much electrocuted yesterday morning when I plugged in my iron. I was dazed, burned, ... A: Not knowing where you live I can't say whether you need conduit or if Romex is allowed. I would talk ...
Ceiling Fan Problems	11/24/2007
Q: My husband recently replaced the ceiling fan in our master bedroom. Since we replaced it we have ... A: It could be a faulty fan, before returning it, I would first check the connections to the fan in the ...
Two GFIs in Series	11/24/2007
Q: If I install an additional GFI on an already protected circuit, will I get false trips? This is ... A: You should be able to hook it up either way. A lot of older mobile homes have the bathrooms set up ...
Water Heater Installation	11/22/2007
Q: I have four wires (red,black,white and ground) coming from the wall to my water heater but only two ... A: It should be the red, black, and bare wires. But some use the black, white, and bare wire. It would ...
electrical	11/22/2007
Q: House lights dim when all big appliances come on. This is all lights in house! Example: If ... A: That is normal in most homes to some extent, however you can check the connections in your panel and ...
blowed electric outlet	11/21/2007
Q: I just recently had my old stove removed and in cleaning the wall behind the stove i accidently let ... A: I'm sorry, yes, I was referring to the receptacle, and yes, you can pick one up at Home Depot. I ...
fuses	11/21/2007
Q: Here is a good 1, I have a circuit that controls a few lights and outlets throught out the house ... A: First I would check the connections in the fuse box to make sure they are tight. When the circuit ...
well pump & pressure tank	11/3/2007
Q: suddenly no water to house, discovered no pressure @ pressure tank and realized no power to pump ... A: You may have a bad breaker, a wiring problem, or the pump may be going bad. I would check the wiring ...
Ceiling Fan Wiring Troubles	11/2/2007
Q: Ok, so I bought my first house and decided to update the old ceiling fans. The first one I wired in ... A: Guess I got confused on what you did. You have determined which wires bring the power into the ...
Ceiling Fan Wiring Troubles	11/1/2007
Q: Ok, so I bought my first house and decided to update the old ceiling fans. The first one I wired in ... A: The next thing you need to do is identify which wires go to the switch. Once you have done that ...
wire and breaker size for 220 volt baseboard	10/31/2007
Q: installing 2 , 2000 watt baseboard heaters ,, how many amps? I figure 9 amps each, can i run 12/2 ... A: Code wise 2 2000W heaters won't fit on a 20A circuit, 20A 240V is 4800W code says you can only run ...
converting swag to ceiling light	10/31/2007
Q: I want to convert a swag light to a ceiling light. Are there converter kits available to do this, or ... A: Depending on what kind of swag light you have, you should be able to convert it. Home Depot or Lowes ...
Non-Working Light Switches	10/31/2007
Q: I have 2 light switches located in the same wall box that aren't working. 1 of the switches controls ... A: You would be surprised at how many light bulbs I have been paid to replace over the years. Sounds ...
Connors	10/30/2007
Q: just retired from the military. We bought a 35 year old house & the missus wants me to replace ... A: First of all, THANK YOU for your service, what branch did you serve in? Now to answer your ...
garage wiring	10/30/2007
Q: Hope you can help me out. I bought a character home (1930's) recently with a detached garage. I ... A: I don't know the codes for Canada. Here in the US 4 gage CU is rated 100A for residential use. I ...
baseboard heater	10/29/2007
Q: I sure hope someone can help me. I have installed many baseboard heaters in the past, but this one ... A: No, don't jumper the black and white together, just use your tester leads between them. If you only ...
neutral is hot	10/29/2007
Q: my neutral is hot on one of my circuits and nothing now works on it.. where would the issue be, as ... A: Depending on how old your house is your right, the switches shouldn't be a part of the problem. ...
Adding an outlet in bathroom	10/28/2007
Q: I recently bought a home built in 1965 and there is no AC outlet in the bathroom. I bought a ... A: It sounds like you have a wire crossed. Hook the hot and neutral to the terminals for the ...
ceiling fan wiring	10/28/2007
Q: I have wired a ceiling fan w/light to the switch of a switched plug.I noticed after doing so that ... A: It sounds like you might be tapping into a 3-way switch circuit, if that is the case you may be ...
dead house circuit	10/27/2007
Q: One circuit went dead, knocking out sockets, lights and T.V.Circuit breaker checks ot good. This ... A: It sounds like there is a junction box that has connections for both circuits in it and the ...
Tripped breaker	10/25/2007
Q: The 40amp would not reset so I unplugged the range but the breaker still won't reset. Thanks for ... A: I assume you pushed the breaker firmly towards "off" before you tried to reset it. That said you may ...
Entrance box/ service panel	10/25/2007
Q: How do you determine the correct capacity of a 200 amp entrance aside from the supply wires ? I have ... A: Well trying to keep it simple, the load or potential load is added up. So much for each light and ...
How to find electrician's insurance coverage	10/25/2007
Q: An electrician worked for four hours to install my hot tub on my backporch, and it was running fine ... A: Don't know if you can start a claim without his permission but it can't hurt to try. You should be ...
Water Heater 220V	10/25/2007
Q: I am troubleshooting a friends water heater problem. He complains his hot water dose not last long. ... A: Yes, the circuit needs to be 2 pole 30 amp. Use three #10 gage wires (two hots and a ground). There ...
Dead circuit	10/24/2007
Q: I have a dead circuit in my home. The power is on at the breaker and it is hot at that point. The ... A: If you know the route of the circuit check the connections in the last box you can find that is ...
3 volt drop	10/24/2007
Q: i tested the voltage in all different outlets on all different circuits. every thirty seconds or ... A: 3 volts isn't really much to worry about and could be near impossible to trace out the cause. Do you ...
110 receptical	10/23/2007
Q: Was doing some tiling and when I touched the metal part of one of my 110 receptacles to pull it out ... A: Check the continuity of the ground and neutral connections all the way back to the panel. If your ...
GARAGE DOOR WIRING	10/23/2007
Q: MY ELECTRICIAN IS WIRING MY NEW GARAGE,I DIDNT GET A GARAGE DOOR CLOSER YET,HE SAID IF I KNEW THE ... A: I believe it is normally 22 gage wire, You may want to have the garage door opener installed before ...
Lost Power to Half the House	10/23/2007
Q: Just tonight I lost power to half of my house. I checked my fuse box to see if the problem was ... A: Sounds like you may have a loose connection, either in your fuse box or outside. If you don't see ...
Mobile electrical problem	10/23/2007
Q: 40 Year old Mobile home, began experiencing lights dimming and then this spring no power at all from ... A: It sounds like you may have a bad breaker or loose connection. When you had no power leaving the ...
GFI switch popped	10/22/2007
Q: Water recently got into our outside lamp posts and set off the GFI and now the GFI won't reset, and ... A: Have you tried turning the light switch off before resetting the GFCI? They do wear out but you ...
sensor light	10/21/2007
Q: I was hoping you could answer a technical question as to why when I operate my kitchen fluorescent ... A: my best guess with the info you've given is that one of the two wires on the switch for the kitchen ...
To wire or not to wire....	10/20/2007
Q: I own a 20yr old condo, and my washer/dryer finally died. I have been looking to replace with a ... A: It would be fairly easy to rewire the circuit to 120V. Just move the white wire from the breaker to ...
wiring	10/20/2007
Q: How do I connect the following wires in a junction box?? 1. power (black & white wires) 2. switch ... A: I don't understand why you have two wires for the switch in the box with the wires for the same ...
To wire or not to wire....	10/20/2007
Q: I own a 20yr old condo, and my washer/dryer finally died. I have been looking to replace with a ... A: I'm not sure you can find a dryer that runs off a 20 amp circuit, at least I've never seen one ...
Outlets	10/18/2007
Q: We are in a new house (about a year now). We have two issues: 1. a clock radio in a two room suite ... A: You might see if your utility company will install a voltage monitor on your system for a few days ...
Whole wall is just ....dead....	10/10/2007
Q: I went to turn on my disposal. It came on, went off. I thought I blew a breaker. No. I turned ... A: Have you checked to see if a GFCI receptacle has tripped? There are 2 little buttons in the middle, ...
ceiling fan wiring	10/10/2007
Q: Fan motor not working. 2 wall switches. Light works (blue) on both the black (1ST SWITCH) or the red ... A: There almost has to be a bad connection between the switch and the black wire on the fan, is there ...
Counter-Top Stove	10/9/2007
Q: I recently replaced my counter-top stove. The wiring in the junction box is a black wire, a black ... A: If you have a voltage tester check to make sure the black and black/red are the hots and white is ...
stolen breakers	10/9/2007
Q: i am buying a home where all the breakers were stolen out of the breaker box. can you tell me what i ... A: Without looking at the wires I can't say for sure. Generally speaking though the hot water heater, ...
three wire switch - dimmer w/off/on installation	10/9/2007
Q: I am at a friend's house and he has a problem I'm trying to help him out with. He had two three-way ... A: The green connects to the bare wire if you have one. If you have a voltage tester determine which ...
Exterior Shut Off	10/9/2007
Q: If there is an exterior shut off breaker box does this act as the main panel with the interior panel ... A: If you have a outside disconnect you should have 4 wires running between the disconnect and the ...
Wiring	10/8/2007
Q: Our AC unit is 40amp...the breaker is 40amp..the wire between the two is 30amp...Our builder's AC ... A: What is the name plate amperage on the A/C unit They are normally less than 30 A. The code does ...
Wiring a Wall Switch Questions	10/6/2007
Q: ok here goes... I got a automatic light switch (sensor) to replace a switch in my toddler's room. ... A: You didn't tell me which switch you wanted to replace with the new one. However, Cap the red wire ...
electrical interferce on sat tv	10/6/2007
Q: I have a problem with my tv. I have Direct TV. Whenever something that uses a fair amount of ... A: I would check the connections in the panel, make sure they are all tight and insure they are ...
ceiling fans, operating half power	10/6/2007
Q: My husband thinks I am crazy, but I have two bedroom, same side of the house, when ceiling fans are ... A: If for some reason you are getting a lower voltage on that circuit the fan could be running slower, ...
wiring a thermostat	10/6/2007
Q: I going to be installing a thermostat in my house,it used to be base board but I changed them out ... A: Sounds like what you have is a hot wire in to the thermostat and a switch leg back to the heater. ...
partial power loss in two rooms	10/5/2007
Q: there are two rooms in my home that has loss power on half the electrical outlets.prior to this ... A: Sorry for not being clear. Yes, remove the receptacle and see if any of the wires are burnt or if ...
GFI	10/4/2007
Q: I am a general contractor in the Seattle area. I have two GFI issues in my home. First: In my ... A: I Greg, I'll trade you your weather. I'm grew up in Seattle, now living in Illinois. I really miss ...
Wiring for 10x12 shed.	10/4/2007
Q: I want to put some outlets out in my shed. Looking to put a window unit ac, light and some power ... A: I don't know what brand of panel you have, but most manufacturers make half size breakers, you ...
bath outlet and hair dyrer	10/3/2007
Q: Sorry I sent this already but my email address was spelled wrong. My wife has gone thru 3 hair ... A: You could be getting a voltage drop when the hair dryer is running. If possible have your wife run ...
Under Cabinet Lighting	10/3/2007
Q: My husband just installed under cabinet lights we bought at Lowe's this weekend. There is also a ... A: Those lights do get extremely hot. My guess is the odor you are smelling is from the paint on the ...
Outdoor Motion Sensor Lights Flash	10/2/2007
Q: My motion sensor lights outside flash when I turn them on (from a switch inside) rather than only ... A: What do you mean they "flash"? Is it day time or night time when they do it? If you turn them on ...
wiring a double outlet box	10/2/2007
Q: I am building a new wall in my shop, there are only 3 existing outlets in the entire building. I ... A: You need to pigtail both the black and white, black to the dark colored screw and white to the light ...
replacing a four wire ceiling fan with a two wire light	9/27/2007
Q: I have four wires coming out of the ceiling. White, Black, Red and bare copper. The light I am ... A: Without testing the wires I can only make an educated guess. I would cap the black off. If you feel ...
Bathroom light	9/26/2007
Q: I was replacing a light in my bathroom and attached the wires properly. When placing the plate on ... A: It could be a bad breaker, you can test the breakers to make sure they all have power leaving them. ...
wiring	9/26/2007
Q: i have a 24 automatic in wall timer model Intermatic E-1020 it has 3 wires red,black & white. the ... A: The three wires in the timer are a hot in, switch leg back to the light, and a neutral. The wires in ...
No Votage from white wire	9/25/2007
Q: With two toaster on one circuit run, I thought my wife "popped" the circuit breaker. However, the ... A: How are the wires hooked to the receptacles. If there are no other devices or junction boxes between ...
outdoor box...	9/24/2007
Q: I have a 2yr old Modular on a full basement. The backside has an outdoor GFCI box w/2 outlets. One ... A: First shut the power off. Remove the receptacles and tighten the screws (even the ones without wires ...
No Votage from white wire	9/24/2007
Q: With two toaster on one circuit run, I thought my wife "popped" the circuit breaker. However, the ... A: Have you turned the breaker off to see if anything else looses power, (it could possibly be in a ...
installing a photo cell(dusk to dawn)	9/24/2007
Q: I have 7 exterior can lights that are in the sophist of the house which are operated from two ... A: You need to determine which switch has the main power coming into it. I would assume it is the ...
Adding New Ceiling Fan	9/24/2007
Q: I am replacing a ceiling fan. The fan has a blue, black and 2 white wires. The wires coming into the ... A: "I am replacing a ceiling fan. The fan has a blue, black and 2 white wires. The wires coming into ...
Short in house wiring	9/24/2007
Q: I sent a question yesterday regarding a circuit breaker that keeps tripping. Today, I tried exactly ... A: Split it again between what you have left, that should isolate it to one receptacle. Then make sure ...
trouble shooting	9/23/2007
Q: one light in kitchen and one whole bedroom is out. circuit breaker is good and did not trip. ... A: It sounds like you have lost the neutral connection. Since none of them are working the problem ...
plug	9/23/2007
Q: I bought a house with a hook-up for a back-up generator which has a 3 prong male turnlok plug for ... A: You can change the receptacle and hook both hots up to your plug, but cap one of them off in the ...
House wiring short	9/23/2007
Q: Recently, one of my home circuits stopped working - outlets and some light switches dead. A 15 amp ... A: Did you try it with the lights turned off to eliminate a fixture as the problem? If everything is ...
plug	9/22/2007
Q: I bought a house with a hook-up for a back-up generator which has a 3 prong male turnlok plug for ... A: Sounds like the old hook up was for a 120V generator, you might want to check yours and see if it ...
ceiling fixture	9/22/2007
Q: In a building that I use for a woodshop I took down the light fixture that was in the ceiling and I ... A: Hook the white wire from the power in to the light colored screw on the receptacle. Hook the black ...
Lights flicker when air conditioning goes on	9/22/2007
Q: I moved into a new home. It has 3 heating/cooling zones. When certain zone air conditioning zones ... A: That really is quite common when a motorized load kicks in, A/C, refrigerator, furnace, etc., and ...
Cutting a wire	9/22/2007
Q: I have 2 120v cables coming into the meter and I need to remove one of them from the panel and from ... A: I don't understand why the power company doesn't just replace the 120V meter with a 240V meter. ...
Cutting a wire	9/21/2007
Q: I have 2 120v cables coming into the meter and I need to remove one of them from the panel and from ... A: Why do you want to remove half of your 120/240V service? If you remove one of the wires none of your ...
trouble shooting	9/21/2007
Q: one light in kitchen and one whole bedroom is out. circuit breaker is good and did not trip. ... A: It sounds like you have a loose neutral connection on that circuit. I would first check the ...
High voltage	9/21/2007
Q: Every now and then the voltage in a section of my basement where I work jumps to 127VAC or higher. ... A: While your voltage reading doesn't sound very high, I don't know what your normal voltage is. Around ...
new 100 amp feed	9/21/2007
Q: I'm wondering what size wire I'd need for a feed for a small cabin. The meter is approx. 900 feet ... A: The normal voltage your local utility company delivers could affect the wire size you would want to ...
wire size to length of run	9/20/2007
Q: David Again I thank you for your expertise. Is there a rule on what distance in the wire run is the ... A: Both distance and load are taken into effect to determine the voltage drop. The type of insulation ...
dryer outlet	9/19/2007
Q: I have a dryer outlet that is no longer functioning. One of the wires that was connected to the ... A: Tape up any excess bare wire so only enough bare wire to hook up the receptacle is exposed, that ...
Wiring new shop	9/18/2007
Q: I currently have 200Amp 240V service in our new house. I am putting up a shop and want to run ... A: Running #2 AL 180' at 100A you will have about a 4.8V voltage drop at 240V Not really enough to ...
baseboard and thermostst wiring	9/18/2007
Q: i have 2 electric baseboards 1 need to hook up 4 foot 240v each. the diagram with the heaters is a ... A: Yes you would wire them the same way you would wire several receptacles on the same circuit. The ...
remote switches	9/17/2007
Q: I do a lot of little electrical repairs at home and am not afraid of reading how to books. I am ... A: I'm not sure what type of switches they sell you are considering. If it is the wireless remote ...
Changing the plug on a dryer	9/17/2007
Q: I moved. Dryer chord doesn't match dryer outlet. Old dryer. I bought the correct chord at Menards. ... A: You should be able to change the cord. There is a small panel cover where the cord attaches, when ...
Circuit Breaker Tripped A While After Reset	9/16/2007
Q: The circuit breaker to my detached garage tripped last night. Now it always trips a while ... A: It sounds like you have do have a short somewhere in the circuit. Turn off the lights and see if it ...
GFCI with three cables	9/16/2007
Q: I bought an older home. no GFCI in the bathrooms. Took out standard receptacle. Has three cables ... A: What happened when you put them on the line side? Are both the hot and neutral for the light going ...
GFCI with three cables	9/16/2007
Q: I bought an older home. no GFCI in the bathrooms. Took out standard receptacle. Has three cables ... A: I'm confused now, were the wires hooked to a receptacle or a switch? Is the GFCI receptacle ...
breaker size	9/15/2007
Q: What is danger -if any- of installing 20A breakers instead of 15A breaker in 110V wiring ? A: It's not the voltage that determines the breaker size, it's the size of the wire. If you install a ...
Main Lug in Detached Garage	9/13/2007
Q: I have a detached garage with a 45Amp double-pole breaker in the main panel at the house feeding a ... A: The only way to know for sure is to dig the conduit up at a couple locations in between the house ...
ELECTRICITY PROBLEM	9/12/2007
Q: WHAT WOULD CAUSE POWER TO GO OUT IN HALF MY HOME ON AND OFF THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND NOT TRIPP THE ... A: Sounds like you either have a bad main breaker or a faulty connection between the main breaker and ...
No power to outlets, etc.	9/12/2007
Q: I have power leaving the breaker, but no power to any of the outlets, lights or switches on the ... A: It is unusual for a wire to break in the middle unless it has been damaged with a nail or screw. ...
Old wiring	9/11/2007
Q: I am installing a florescent light fixture. The existing wiring is the kind in a silver metal ... A: What you have is probably BX, the hot wire should be black, the neutral is supposed to be white but ...
home install	9/11/2007
Q: dale I'm runing 1500 feet of underground conduit for res use main electrical do you know anything ... A: Electrical conduit only comes in 10' lengths, that would take 150 of those. I would just use direct ...
No power to outlets, etc.	9/11/2007
Q: I have power leaving the breaker, but no power to any of the outlets, lights or switches on the ... A: Have you checked to see if you have power between hot and ground? Did you check the neutral wire ...
evaporative cooler	9/11/2007
Q: I have a swamp cooler that is not working properly. I thought that it was a faulty switch, and I ... A: It sounds like the motor may have a broken internal start switch. A motor repair place if you have ...
Federal Pacific Breakers	9/9/2007
Q: I have an old Federal Pacific breaker panel ( 35 years ?) and it is rates at 100 amps. I wanted to ... A: They have had a problem with FPE panels, but there are still thousands of them in use in homes ...
Blown fixtures	9/8/2007
Q: This is a follow-up question. My fixtures in my hallway blew out when someone hit a switch to turn ... A: It sounds like you have a loose connection. If you know what else is on that circuit check the ...
Manufactured Home Wiring	9/8/2007
Q: I tried to install a motion activated switch in my kitchen. I have three cables running to my ... A: Hook the black wire from the fuse box, the outlet and one of the black switch wires together. ...
one fan remote controls 3 fan/lights	9/8/2007
Q: I have two Hunter Breeze and one one Hampton Bay fan/lights with remotes. But each remote controls ... A: In the canopy on the fan there is a remote receiver there are normally 4 little micro switches on ...
Main Lug in Detached Garage	9/7/2007
Q: I have a detached garage with a 45Amp double-pole breaker in the main panel at the house feeding a ... A: I wouuld just use a Seimens or Murry 100A ML panel, breakers are cheaper and easier to find. You can ...
Manufactured Home Wiring	9/7/2007
Q: I tried to install a motion activated switch in my kitchen. I have three cables running to my ... A: I'm confused about how you wired the switch. You said you have 3 black wires coming into the switch ...
electrical issue	9/7/2007
Q: I replaced a light bulb in a ceiling outlet and when the new bulb went in I heard a "pop" and the ... A: If you know which box you heard the "pop" in, shut the power off and open it up and see if you see ...
electrical issue	9/6/2007
Q: I replaced a light bulb in a ceiling outlet and when the new bulb went in I heard a "pop" and the ... A: When you reset the breaker did you push it firmly towards off then back on, if not try it again. If ...
220 plug single phase	9/6/2007
Q: I believe it's a 220 plug single phase, but please correct me if I'm wrong. How would I be able to ... A: Unless the receptacle you are wanting to use is on a dedicated circuit you would have to run a new ...
No Power to outlets, etc.	9/5/2007
Q: One day my power worked in the living room and master bedroom, the next day it didn't. I have no ... A: Check the connections in the boxes starting at the box closest to the panel that contain wires for ...
No power- most of circuit	9/5/2007
Q: After flipping a 3 way switch to the OFF position, I have lost power to three seperate light ... A: Does the power come back on when you turn the switch back to the "on" position? Assuming you've ...
No Power to outlets, etc.	9/5/2007
Q: One day my power worked in the living room and master bedroom, the next day it didn't. I have no ... A: Each handle on the breaker controls a different circuit, independent of the other. I assume you mean ...
Ceiling fan issues	9/4/2007
Q: I was helping a friend install her ceiling fan and we came across 2 issues. 1. The green wire had a ... A: Your ground sounds OK. Not knowing what kind of fan you have it's hard to say. If it has a down rod ...
GFCI Grounding	9/3/2007
Q: My recently purchased home is not wired with a ground wire. However the kitchen has GFCI outlets ... A: They probably ran a wire from the neutral to allow the test feature of the GFCI to work. I would ...
Eletric	9/3/2007
Q: One portion of my basement lights / outside lights don't work. I checked the breaker box and ... A: Check the receptacles and see if you have a GFCI receptacle that has tripped, it may be in the ...
In the dark in the house 50% of it at least.	9/3/2007
Q: After a extremely bad day as today had gone, I resolved to try and make it better and go to bed. ... A: Sorry to hear you had a rotten day, hope today goes better. It sounds like you may have blown a ...
Dishwasher/Garbage Disposal	9/2/2007
Q: We just re-did kitchen cabinets etc. I did not pay attention when pulling out the old kitchen. Above ... A: Your right on the first question, black to brass colored screw, white to silver screw, and bare to ...
Trouble during heatwaves...	9/2/2007
Q: During high tempurates our ac curcuit on the breaker box is continuously tripping (I hope I'm using ... A: Do you have fuses or breakers, you mention having both. Sounds like you may have a loose connection ...
ceiling fan problem	9/1/2007
Q: We just took down our ceiling light and installed a fan with a light kit. The first one worked fine ... A: It sounds like you have done a good job of checking out possible problems. You might check in the ...
wiring	9/1/2007
Q: the wiring to my outlets have no ground wire so my power surge outlets cant help me ?? and what can ... A: You can install or have installed a surge protector in the main panel that will protect the entire ...
generator, 220, load balancing	9/1/2007
Q: My 5500 watt generator panel has a single four prong female socket which also splits off to feed two ... A: Yes it will allow you to do that. You want to use 10-3 w/g all wires are the same size. The load on ...
update wiring, but keeping circiut	9/1/2007
Q: We have an older home with an updated panel, and only the kitchen is updated and NOT on the 2 ... A: I would start at the room farthest from the panel and cut it loose from where to power is fed to ...
wiring on moble home	8/31/2007
Q: Want to know if you know how a mobile home wiring is routed from circuit box to other end of ... A: If you have 2 bath rooms in your mobile home check the GFCI receptacle in the other bathroom. I have ...
SPLICE 6 GA. WIRE	8/31/2007
Q: OLD HOUSE AND SHE DOESN'T WANT TO UP GRADE BOX. NEED TO GET 2 220 LINES IN THE KITCHEN. FROM A ... A: Yes you can splice them. I would use split bolts, you can get them at most hardware stores or Lowes, ...
breaker box issues	8/30/2007
Q: I apologize if my language use is incorrect - i am not incredibly well-versed in electricial ... A: I don't know about any local codes in your area. As far as the National code goes, the circuit ...
Long run to our RV unit	8/30/2007
Q: We want to run 300' of wire down to our camper. We are coming off a 30amp square D breaker. We ... A: The electric code requires #10 CU for a 30A circuit, however for that length I would use at least #8 ...
Ceiling fan wiring with two wall switches	8/30/2007
Q: I want to install a ceiling fan with a remote control. The remote can control the light and the ... A: Great! Sounds like everything is good to go. One tip, it is best to always start your fan on high ...
door bell	8/29/2007
Q: The drywall installer left and the door bell is not working. I check the wires and a smoke detector ... A: If the wires on the transformer aren't marked it shouldn't matter. Green connects to bare. On the ...
Ceiling fan wiring with two wall switches	8/29/2007
Q: I want to install a ceiling fan with a remote control. The remote can control the light and the ... A: I'm not sure that would work, however it shouldn't hurt to try. Some remotes won't work that way. It ...
220 moble home	8/29/2007
Q: we have a travel trailer in the back yard. right now we have a regular extention cord hooking it up. ... A: I would run a circuit down to where you have the trailer and install a receptacle there to plug it ...
Outlet has power but microwave won't work	8/29/2007
Q: We are remodeling our kitchen. Our microwave is an over the range exhaust fan as well. It is on a ... A: If your microwave is on a dedicated circuit the problem is probably just a loose connection in the ...
kitchen appliance circuit	8/29/2007
Q: What wire,outlet and breakers should i use for a fridge,dishwasher,microwave and gas range. ANSWER: ... A: I'm not sure I understand your question completely, I think your wanting to know how to wire the ...
kitchen appliance circuit	8/29/2007
Q: What wire,outlet and breakers should i use for a fridge,dishwasher,microwave and gas range. A: I would recommend using 12 gage wire and 20A breakers. Your dishwasher and microwave should be on ...
plug for electrical range	8/28/2007
Q: I recently bought a new electric range which did not come with a plug. After buying the ... A: He should have removed the ground strap especially since that is why you hired him. It shouldn't ...
fluorescent lighting-electronic ballast	8/28/2007
Q: I have 3 foot, two bulb lights in my kitchen. They are on top of the cabinets so they are industrial ... A: The existing 105 C wire is OK, far better than the 80 C and better than the 90 C called for. If you ...
thermostat wiring	8/28/2007
Q: my husband went to change out our old thermostat for a new programmable one and notice in the ... A: I thought you meant the outer covering. If there is any slack you can pull some more wire until you ...
range ovens	8/27/2007
Q: I have a GE range oven the pigtail on it is 3 pronged as is the outlet that matches, the whirlpool ... A: Most older ranges use a 3 wire cord and receptacle, 2 hots and a neutral/ground. Most newer ones ...
no power	8/27/2007
Q: my garbage disposal was not working, so my first thought was that it had died. But then i tried to ... A: Did you try resetting the GFCI, they come in a tripped position. If that doesn't fix it check for ...
Electrical Grounding	8/27/2007
Q: I just bought a 75 year old home, we had the house grounded by an electrician by both ground rods ... A: Grounding the panel doesn't necessarily ground the whole system, if you have ungrounded romex ...
Ceiling Fan Wiring	8/26/2007
Q: I have seen multiple posts on this but I am still confused. I removed a light fixture that has a ... A: Normally there is a green screw or wire on the mounting bracket and ball of the fan, if not just ...
Outside Wiring Box	8/25/2007
Q: I have a landscape lighting system. One of the 12volt transformers blew recently, and I had to open ... A: You may still have too much wire if they won't fit, or too many wires in the box. The electrical ...
breaker keeps tripping	8/25/2007
Q: it an older house type wiring well one day the bathroom and the bedroom next to it the breaker ... A: You might try replacing the breaker or swapping the wires around with another breaker to rule out a ...
connecting wires	8/25/2007
Q: i have a small appliance that i want to salvage. when i took it out of the thing it belonged in i ... A: I can't say for sure but I don't believe what you have is a pump. I think it is just an electrically ...
double socket to socket switch for light.	8/24/2007
Q: I have a double socket in my garage ceiling with one socket being using for a garage door opener. I ... A: Remove the old receptacle, if there isn't already wirenut the two black wires together with another ...
floor lamp short?	8/24/2007
Q: I have a floor lamp that had started to flicker intermittently, and now does not turn on. I ... A: It could be one of several causes. The switch might have gone bad, The socket the bulb screws into ...
Replacing Light Switches	8/24/2007
Q: I have been changing out switches in my house. I have yet to put the switch plate covers back on ... A: If the connections are tight there should be no arc, If there you might check and see if the wire is ...
Why do some lights dim while others grow brighter when..	8/24/2007
Q: I've noticed that when I turn on the garbage disposal, the lights in my kitchen dim due to the power ... A: Check the neutral connections in your main panel and outside disconnect if you have one. If they are ...
Replacing Light Switches	8/24/2007
Q: I have been changing out switches in my house. I have yet to put the switch plate covers back on ... A: If your seeing an arc between the wire and screw, the screw isn't tight enough. You do want to make ...
Rusting Inside wires	8/24/2007
Q: Dale, I have a ceiling light in my upstairs hallway that develops a water/rust spot under the ... A: Are there any A/C vents in the area, or do any of the other conduits go to an outside location. If ...
electrical trouble shooting	8/23/2007
Q: Dale, Receptacles and overhead fan in one room not working. I get voltage read from ground to ... A: Sorry, I thought I answered this the other day, must have hit the wrong button. You probably have a ...
lightbulbs blowing out	8/23/2007
Q: I am concerned about a couple of fixtures I have in my home that are constantly needing bulbs ... A: Since it is only a couple fixtures it is unlikely a problem with your electrical system. The ...
well emergency shutoff system	8/23/2007
Q: I am worried that I could break a water pipe in my basement ... there is no drain in the floor ... ... A: I haven't heard of one, but I'm sure somebody makes something that would do it. One way to do it ...
3-Way and 4-Way Circuit w/ Photo Control	8/22/2007
Q: Description: I live in a two (2) story townhouse with a detached garage - the outdoor lighting is ... A: I would put a timer by the panel or at the first 3-way switch feeding the lights.The problem with ...
GFCI	8/22/2007
Q: Is it possible to install 2 GFCI outlets in the same circuit? What would be the issue by wiring the ... A: It is possible, I run across it quite often in manufactured homes. The only issue I'm aware of with ...
220V and 110V	8/22/2007
Q: Hope you could answer my query. I live outside the U.S. and I sent a lamp with a 220V bulb ... A: I don't know what kind of base the lamp takes, if it is a Edison base which is standard here, most ...
220V and 110V	8/22/2007
Q: Hope you could answer my query. I live outside the U.S. and I sent a lamp with a 220V bulb ... A: The plug appears to be the standard type used here in the US for a 120V lamp. The picture of the ...
220V and 110V	8/22/2007
Q: Hope you could answer my query. I live outside the U.S. and I sent a lamp with a 220V bulb ... A: Not knowing anything about the lamp that is not a easy question to answer. I would think they could ...
pot lights	8/21/2007
Q: We installed pot lights that are for an insulated ceiling, but after being on for a short time, some ... A: Are they in direct contact with the insulation, many even though rated for insulated ceilings are ...
grounding	8/21/2007
Q: I have a home built in the 1950's. The subpanel was fed by 50amp breakers off the main panel with a ... A: From what I understand you did, it should be OK, However different areas have their own requirements ...
Grounding issue	8/20/2007
Q: I'm getting shocked when touching any ground in basement I shut off all the breakers 1 at a time no ... A: The ground wire in the box is probably not hooked up either. Since the breaker for the water heater ...
single pole/3-way combination switch	8/19/2007
Q: I was replacing a combination single pole/3way switch and must have gotten my wires crossed somehow ... A: It is unlikely you have damaged either switch. I would take one of the wires you know is "hot" and ...
grounding	8/19/2007
Q: I have a home built in the 1950's. The subpanel was fed by 50amp breakers off the main panel with a ... A: Yes, you could have used # 10 between the panel and sub panel, #6 will work fine though. It would ...
changing a GFI outlet to a regular outlet	8/19/2007
Q: We would like to change the GFI outlet in our garage to a regular outlet. so that we can keep a ... A: Some will trip them. To change it out first shut the power off, then use a wire nut to join the ...
gfi	8/17/2007
Q: we have a portable jacuzzi that runs