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.
9
votes
3answers
1k views
What are the pros and cons of different types of smart switches (that are on the US market) ?
When putting in a new switch for a light it is often less work to put in a smart switch than run the mains cables.
However, how do you choose the type of smart switch to use?
See also "What are ...
2
votes
1answer
248 views
Is a water pressure booster pump with an induction motor suitable for kitchen tap use?
The water pressure in my kitchen is too low to achieve a reasonable flow rate through the kitchen tap. For many years I have fitted a series of booster pumps which are activated when water is flowing ...
1
vote
3answers
49 views
How can I remotely monitor a GFCI receptacle?
How can a sump pump in a crawl space only accessible by crawling down a hole in a closet have its GFCI protected outlet monitored from the living room?
I am imagining the best way to run the pump is ...
2
votes
2answers
194 views
Can I extend the ground/bus bar in a main service to accomodate subpanel equipment ground?
I am about to replace the main service breaker panel in my house. The old panel (a 200amp Siemens 40-circuit) had bus bars that extended the entire vertical length of the box. The new panel I would ...
6
votes
2answers
80 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 ...
0
votes
0answers
21 views
What features should I look for in a full-house surge protector?
How does one select a surge protector for a typical home?
We get surges and slight drops in line voltage. We are the last pole on a small town electric provider, three miles from town. Surge ...
4
votes
5answers
795 views
How Do I Power A 220 Water Heater Off Two 110 Breakers
First off I know this is not the best idea.
To start my 200 Amp Main has suffered a partial failure and as it is old (60s) and unusual it will be very hard or impossible to replace it. Since the main ...
5
votes
4answers
129 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
2answers
87 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 ...
17
votes
4answers
5k views
Would you ever wire white and ground together?
I was replacing some outlets in my house with tamper-resistant ones, and came across one where the white and ground were wired together, as seen in this picture. Why? Is that okay or appropriate ...
7
votes
2answers
263 views
Will security system wiring cause interference in data cables?
Is it acceptable to run 22/4 security wire along side Cat6 and Coax cables, or is there any possibility for interference?
15
votes
4answers
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 ...
1
vote
1answer
38 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 ...
-1
votes
0answers
42 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
41 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
228 views
How can I locate the doorbell transformer?
my doorbell stopped working and I tested it with a multimeter and found no current to the box. How do I locate the transformer to replace it?
4
votes
1answer
68 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
66 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
0answers
41 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, ...
3
votes
2answers
507 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
4answers
420 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
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 ...
0
votes
2answers
49 views
How do I wire up a saeco magic deluxe coffee grinder to be a standalone coffee grinder? [closed]
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
78 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
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
0
votes
0answers
38 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
232 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
37 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
70 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
78 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
43 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
234 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
187 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
136 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
81 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
63 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
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 ...
3
votes
2answers
432 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
52 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
199 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
101 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
91 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
27 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
100 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
172 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
107 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
62 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
92 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
67 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 ...
