Distribution and use of electricity throughout the home. Electrical standards vary greatly worldwide, so providing your location in your question or your profile helps ensure you get answers that are relevant to you.
5
votes
1answer
47 views
Is a high electric bill for a pump house caused by a well pump running constantly?
I recently had to turn on the electric for a shared well in my name. I got a bill and it's as high as what my house bill is. The well is the only thing connected to the electric in the well house. We ...
-1
votes
0answers
37 views
Increasing Amps [closed]
I am not sure if this is the place to post this, but both physists and electricians should be able to help here, so I am going to cross post with DIY (sorry if this really annoys people - I know it ...
1
vote
1answer
36 views
How can I wire a GFCI receptacle and a combination switch/receptacle device?
We are trying to install an outside receptacle box. We have one GFCI receptacle and one switch/receptacle combo. We want the combo to be protected by the GFCI. We also want the switch to control the ...
2
votes
1answer
40 views
Does it mean a broken wire if a doorbell transformer works, but there is little-to-no voltage at the switch?
My family has just moved to an older home, and I've been tasked with repairing the doorbell(s).
We have two doorbells, both connected to the same (for lack of a better word) ding-dong-thing. :) I ...
0
votes
2answers
60 views
What's causing the popping noise from my speakers?
Several weeks ago, I moved into a new home. In office, I have my computer set up with a set of media speakers (older model of Logitech Z-550's). Every now and then the speakers will make a popping ...
2
votes
0answers
36 views
Why is my air conditioner tripping the circuit breaker?
Our air conditioner recently stopped blowing out cold air. When I went to check on it, I noticed that the outside unit wasn't coming on. We had had problems with ants in the contacter in the past, ...
1
vote
1answer
64 views
What can I use as an alternative for an underwriter's knot?
I want to hang a vertical pendant, but what do I do to prevent the wire from pulling through? The vertical cord is a hard nylon that can carry the vertical load of the pendant, and the hole in the ...
1
vote
2answers
48 views
How do I wire up a saeco magic deluxe coffee grinder to be a standalone coffee grinder?
I would like to make a standalone coffee grinder by reusing the grinder in an old broken down Magic Deluxe Espresso machine. My electrical skills are pretty limited but I thought I'd find an ...
0
votes
1answer
74 views
Why is my Australian light fixture wired this way?
I just want to replace it with a new light fitting philips tcg701 but there's way too many wires and I don't know why it was done this way.
4
votes
1answer
63 views
What should I check when troubleshooting a doorbell?
Our doorbell stopped working a while ago and my wife finally bugged me enough to fix it.
First, I found a diagram on another site when I googled this. It is wired like the right box:
I started by ...
5
votes
4answers
93 views
Why would my TV image turn black when electrical appliances turn on?
I have my computer connected to my TV via HDMI. Every time something electrical happens (fridge turns on, stove sparks, etc), the image on the TV goes black for a second and then comes back on. And ...
0
votes
0answers
32 views
How do I wire a bathroom exhaust fan/light to two switches?
I could use a diagram to wire the following: a bathroom exhaust fan with light on two separate switches. I also need a 3rd switch for a vanity light and a GFCI. My power comes from the attic (12/2 ...
1
vote
1answer
37 views
How should I connect conduit in the wall to conduit on the ceiling?
In running conduit for a subpanel, I'm not sure how to make the transition from conduit running vertically in the wall cavity to running out from the wall along the ceiling. I could notch the top ...
-3
votes
0answers
29 views
How do I wire two switches to a fan light fixture [closed]
How do I wire a bathroom vent light fixture with two switches
3
votes
1answer
35 views
How can I insulate a stud bay containing a subpanel?
I'm putting a subpanel in the outside wall of my attached garage, which I'm also insulating so I can work out there in the winter. I'm wondering what steps are worthwhile to air seal and insulate ...
5
votes
2answers
77 views
Do exterior duplex electrical receptacles have to be on multiwire branch circuits?
I have an exterior receptacle on my house, and it is currently taking up 2 circuits (similar to kitchen counter plugs). Is there any code/regulation that indicates exterior receptacles must be on ...
7
votes
1answer
124 views
How do I wire this motor with 240V?
I have 240 plug with a switch dedicated for Air compressor. I have compressor that supposedly can be wired for 240V
2 pictures show sticker and current wiring. How do I update wiring to make it 240V? ...
5
votes
0answers
60 views
How can I install a ceiling fan that needs a 4“ box where I only have a 3” box?
As part of a home renovation project I discarded my old ceiling fan and have bought a new one. When installing the new one the electrician tells me that I have a 3" junction box and that I'll need a ...
1
vote
2answers
75 views
How can I convert switched receptacles to half switched receptacles?
In my new house, I have two outlets which are both fully switch, and can be controlled by two different switches (three way of course). I would like to convert the outlets both to half switched, but ...
2
votes
1answer
50 views
Does outside air conditioning compressor fan run all the time?
Had some electrical issues with an air conditioner and after I rewired it, I noticed that the fan was stopping every 30 seconds or so. Is this fan supposed to shut off when unit is running?
0
votes
1answer
79 views
Why doesn't this LED strip work, even though the power supply seams appropriate?
I recently bought a 3528 SMD Flexible LED Strip, 300 LED for 5 M.
The Power Supply I have output 12V and 3A.
From what I found online, this seams okay, but it doesn't work. I managed to light them ...
4
votes
2answers
90 views
How should I connect these two yellow wires?
I don't know what this cap is... is it ok to cut it off and splice the two yellow wires together as I have been with the previous splices.
0
votes
1answer
26 views
Can I use a T5 HO lamp in a non-HO luminaire?
Does anyone know what would happen?
Does the ballast limit the power?
If the T5 HO lamps were less expensive than T5 non-HO lamps, would it be ok to just use them in a non-HO luminaire?
1
vote
1answer
24 views
thermostat c wire question [duplicate]
I am looking to install a new thermostat that will require a C wire. I have a single stage A/C unit and my current thermostat has Rc, G, and Y wires. There is also an unused blue wire which I traced ...
5
votes
1answer
61 views
What wire and conduit is required for an attached-garage subpanel?
To make my garage more usable as a workshop, I'm planning to add a subpanel which can feed a number of additional outlets. 60 amps would be plenty for my current needs, but I'd like to go with 100 so ...
2
votes
1answer
55 views
What would be involved in moving electrical panel a few inches?
My reading on the Building Science Corporation's website has convinced me I ought to remove the shoddy fiberglass+vapor barrier that the contractors put in my basement and place XPS directly against ...
3
votes
2answers
84 views
Can I screw a ceiling fan electrical box directly to the joist?
I am putting in a ceiling fan in a bedroom. It is a smaller one approx. 18 lbs.
The remodeling-type expander brace failed, so can I just screw one side of the box to the joist? (I cannot access the ...
0
votes
0answers
38 views
How do I connect up a ceiling rose in a 2-way switch circuit?
I removed a ceiling rose and forgot to at least take an image or draw the wiring before replacing it.
It is part of a 2 way switch (the other switch is upstairs). However, the wiring colours are ...
3
votes
2answers
64 views
How can I have a light turn on when a pocket door is opened?
I'm building a new home with quite a few pocket doors and would like to know if there is a way for the pantry and utility room lights to come on when the pocket door slides open.
1
vote
2answers
152 views
How can one properly and tidily install this hardware for internet access?
This picture shows what my new home has for the wiring necessary for internet access. Some of the wiring here isn't necessary---in fact, most of it isn't, just the telephone wiring.
With an idea of ...
1
vote
1answer
63 views
What are my options for running feeder cable into an exterior main panel?
I'm trying to connect a 4/3 nm feeder cable into to my exterior mounted service entry / main panel.
There is already what looks like a 1 1/2" rigid conduit from the crawlspace through the rim joist ...
0
votes
1answer
72 views
What is this circuit board and how to I replace it?
I have two under counter lights in my kitchen which stopped working at the same time. I assumed some kind of fuse needed changing, and on opening the little box connecting them to the mains I found ...
5
votes
1answer
96 views
What is “workmanlike manner”?
I have to ask this because I have been doing a ton of electrical work in my house. Will get inspected soon.
I am pretty neat - everything is stapled uniformly and ran at the same height- but I ...
7
votes
1answer
183 views
What are these clips on the wires in my junction box?
Are these clips just for protection? or are they connectors for something?
6
votes
1answer
81 views
How do I retrofit a junction box in an insulated wall?
Typical cold climate construction: Drywall, 6mil vapour barrier, fiberglass batt insulation. How do I retrofit a junction box and maintain the vapour seal? To be clear, by 'retrofit', I mean the ...
2
votes
1answer
78 views
How can I hang a custom lamp from the ceiling by its cord?
I have purchased a lamp shade, which I would like to hang from the ceiling on a cord of specific color (in this case orange). I have had a previous lamp, which included the cord, which I replaced and ...
2
votes
1answer
57 views
How do I rewire an old light fixture?
I have an old pendant light fixture with a ceramic bulb socket that needs new wiring (the old cloth covered wires are falling apart). There is a copper colored screw and a silver colored screw in the ...
1
vote
1answer
62 views
Can I have GFCI receptacles on the same circuit as normal receptacles? [duplicate]
I am looking at a few books and they all show samples of circuits, but never tell or show if you can mix receptacle types.
I have a circuit running to 2 bedrooms for my power outlets. The are on 12/2 ...
2
votes
2answers
76 views
How Can I Install A “Main” in my Distribution Box, such that I could turn the main switch to allow all power to be off while I'm away?
My box doesn't have a main, but it has a slot for it (it says, punch out here for main). I'd like to know how I can put a main switch in, so that I can turn everything off at once while I'm away.
...
2
votes
2answers
85 views
Why is difficult to unplug things from this electrical receptacle?
The electrical receptacle in my bathroom is difficult to use. It seems hard to unplug hair dryers etc. Do I need to replace it or can I fix it?
1
vote
1answer
125 views
How can I trim around an electrical outlet?
I had the floor in a sunroom raised up to be level with the floor in the rest of the house. The electrical was already in place, and I didn't think to check how the new floor height would affect the ...
2
votes
2answers
76 views
Can I run a single 12 guage wire outside of 12-2 to provide power to a fan?
I have regular 12-2 wire going to a bathroom fan. Tell me about code issues with just running an extra 12 gauge shielded wire up to the fan so I can do the fan and light separate. Any restrictions, ...
0
votes
1answer
54 views
How do you wire a light fixture with only black and white wires?
How do you wire a light fixture if from a light fixture that was already there and I have a white wire with smaller wires inside to use to install. The 2 wires are black, and one white wire. Why isn't ...
1
vote
1answer
42 views
Can I draw power from nearby recessed lighting for pendant lights?
I want to add two pendant lights above my island where I have a bunch of recessed lighting. Can I draw power from them in order to power the chandeliers?
I'm considering an Insteon solution in order ...
0
votes
1answer
50 views
Why does my ceiling fan pop and sizzle at one speed setting but works fine at another?
My ceiling fan that has been installed for 11 years will pop 1 time when I turn it on. Yesterday it popped when I turned it on then a few minutes later it started to make a sizzling noise followed by ...
3
votes
1answer
87 views
Can I control a bathroom extractor fan independently from the light?
My bathroom extractor timer fan works fine except that I have to have the lights on when it is in use. I have 2 windows in the bathroom and feel it is a waste of energy to have the lights on in order ...
3
votes
3answers
143 views
How can I repair these rusty electrical connections?
When I turn on my air conditioner at the thermostat the vents kick on but nothing outside. Also the last time that it worked it took a few minutes to get going and was pretty loud. I checked the ...
3
votes
2answers
64 views
Can I add an occupancy sensor to a 3-way circuit?
If I replace one switch in a 3-way circuit with an occupancy switch, would this cause the occupancy switch to work in reverse (or not at all) if the regular switch was toggled?
If so, would the best ...
0
votes
1answer
91 views
How can I add a programmable timer to a circuit breaker so that I can force specific circuits on/off at specific times?
My father-in-law suffers from dementia. His doctor wants him to go to bed at 11 PM, but he often refuses and stays up way later than he should watching TV. We have him set up with a separate suite ...
2
votes
1answer
88 views
What should I expect when using electrical equipment rated for 100V/120V at 110V
I have a number of electrical home appliances that are designed for
100V, 50Hz
120V, 60Hz
230V, 50Hz
I have a converter 100V <=> 220V-240V (according to the description). My power outlet has ...
