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.
3
votes
2answers
496 views
Motion sensing light triggered by fan on the same circuit
I have an inexpensive motion sensing light on the outside of my house, which is on the same circuit as a 120V thermostatically controlled duct fan that pulls warm house air into the space (it's an ...
4
votes
1answer
45 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 ...
4
votes
4answers
404 views
Risk from installing a “Nest” thermometer without shutting off home power?
I'm trying to install a new Nest-brand thermometer in my parents' house (unscrewing a thermometer from the wall and screwing on the new one.
The first instruction in the manual is to shut off power ...
1
vote
1answer
31 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 ...
2
votes
3answers
79 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
34 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
43 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
61 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.
-3
votes
0answers
28 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
0
votes
0answers
25 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 ...
7
votes
2answers
227 views
Should switches in a kitchen area have GFCI protection?
Do the switches on the wall and over the counter areas have to be on a GFCI protected circuit? As there is live power at the switch all the time, I would think this to be true, but I'm not sure.
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 ...
2
votes
2answers
69 views
Should I replace an existing gas fireplace with electric?
Does it make sense to replace my existing gas fireplace with a newer electrical one? Would the new electrical one require less maintenance? Would it run more efficiently and in doing so cost less to ...
5
votes
2answers
67 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
42 views
What lamps available in the UK are compatible with BS 546 plugs?
We have lots of spare BS546 plug sockets in our rented house (we are located it London, UK). In the bedroom, these are linked to the lighting circuit but we only have one lamp so the room is very ...
7
votes
2answers
230 views
Do I need junction boxes where conduit containing data cables terminates?
I'm going to be running 1" blue PVC conduit from all my low voltage boxes to a structured wiring panel. My wiring panel will chase to the attic where necessary and I was wondering what the best ...
0
votes
1answer
186 views
Why am I getting 50V at a light when the switch is off?
I am trying to put in a switch and a light it controls in a storage building and this is how I wired it.
Click for larger view
When I checked the wiring it registered 120V when the switch was on, ...
7
votes
1answer
111 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? ...
1
vote
2answers
71 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 ...
5
votes
0answers
58 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
77 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
430 views
Why won't the bulbs light up brightly in my European chandelier?
I bought a European chandelier not knowing there were light bulb size differences. I ordered 12 European to Candelabra Reducers (E14 to E12). I was so happy when I received them, and couldn't wait to ...
2
votes
1answer
47 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
288 views
How to install 230V Light with Light-activated-resistor?
I am trying to set up light-activated-resistors that activate a light during dark hours. I have bought a ready Chinese thing that apparently contain a driver to change from AC to proper DC output for ...
0
votes
1answer
196 views
How can I wire multiple recessed lights and multiple dimmers?
How do I wire recessed Zinc Alloy ceiling lights. There are eight lights and eight dimmers.
Can I run all wires and the feed into a junction box?
2
votes
1answer
98 views
Why is my electric water heater making an intermittent groaning noise?
My 8 year old electric water heater started to make a strange rattling noise a couple of weeks ago. The noise happens at random and lasts for only a few minutes. Short bursts of noise about a minute ...
0
votes
1answer
84 views
Why do the lights on my newly installed ceiling fan flick on and then off immediately?
We just installed our new ceiling fan with lights. The fan works fine but the light will flick on and then off again immediately. We took it back down and reinstalled it, ensuring that all wires were ...
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?
4
votes
2answers
87 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.
4
votes
1answer
170 views
Is there any NEC code requirement for how far off the floor Category 5 wiring must be run?
I am currently running conduit for Cat5e cable in the home office I am finishing off. Are there any rules in the code for how far off the floor Category 5 wires in conduit must be run?
0
votes
1answer
100 views
How can I get my thermostat C wire connected? [duplicate]
I have an older furnace, on the switch block I have Y,C.W,R and an unlabeled screw that connects to the shut off it looks like. I need to hook up a thermostat that needs the C wire. I have a spare ...
5
votes
1answer
60 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
78 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
59 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 ...
6
votes
1answer
80 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 ...
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 ...
1
vote
2answers
144 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 ...
0
votes
3answers
658 views
Could a power outlet be ruining hair straighteners?
I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this. We've gone through 3 hair straighteners in the past 2 months. 3 different models, 2 different brands.
The outlet is a normal outlet (No GFI) and ...
2
votes
1answer
54 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
4answers
3k views
What could cause ceiling fan lights to flicker on with power and then go out immediately?
I have ceiling light fan. The fan works fine. The light used to work fine. All of a sudden one day the light started acting up. When I turn on the switch, the light flickers on for about a second ...
7
votes
8answers
4k views
When wiring outlets should I use pigtails or both sets of outlet screws?
I'm replacing the outlets in our house and pulled out one that had two black and two white cables. My first thought was that it was two circuits, one of them being switched, but then realized the tab ...
0
votes
0answers
34 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 ...
15
votes
3answers
2k views
Is it OK to borrow a ground wire from a different circuit?
I've got a circuit in the basement carrying a handful of outlets. This circuit has no ground wire. I want to add a couple of outlets and want them to be grounded. I may even want gfci outlets on ...
3
votes
2answers
63 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.
0
votes
1answer
71 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
54 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
89 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
174 views
What are these clips on the wires in my junction box?
Are these clips just for protection? or are they connectors for something?
3
votes
1answer
1k views
Can I replace broken clips in a recessed light fixture?
I have discovered some of the remodel cans (Halo/Elite) that I had an electrician install have broken clips (the clips that hold the can to the drywall). Are these easy to replace or does the entire ...
2
votes
1answer
77 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 ...
