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.
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 ...
3
votes
2answers
429 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
2answers
491 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
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?
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
76 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
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
170 views
Can I replace an old closet light with multiple electrical outlets?
I have asked a family member to replace an old light fixture in a large walk in closet with an actual electrical strip. The house is an 101 year old craftsman. There aren't any electrical outlets in ...
2
votes
1answer
243 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
202 views
looking for a WATT-O-METER with specific features
Recently i have bought an OWL+USB WATT-O-METER and got very disappointed. Making a long story short, i'm looking for a device that will give me:
accurate readings
good software for data management
a ...
1
vote
1answer
31 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
1answer
160 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
494 views
3-way switch for light with fan controlled by switch built into fan. Odd wiring layout. Wiring assistance required
My electrician and I have parted ways. This has resulted in my having to finish off various projects. I have managed to get 2/3 lights operating the way they were intended. However, I am having ...
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?
0
votes
1answer
53 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
185 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, ...
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
78 views
Why isn't my thermostat clicking on/off automatically?
My thermostat is not clicking on/off automatically, I have called my landlord and they replaced a very old one with a brand new one and it is still not clicking on off automatically, but will ...
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 ...
0
votes
1answer
195 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?
0
votes
1answer
318 views
How do I wire 3 way switches?
For cosmetic reasons, I've been replacing the switches and outlets in my house (from beige to white). It's been going well until I ran into two 3-way switches in a hallway that turn off and on one ...
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 ...
-1
votes
1answer
58 views
Can I get a completely flush plaster-in switch or socket?
I've seen recessed downlights that fit in/on the ceiling prior to plastering, then after the ceiling is plastered the light has no visible bezel, just a recess in which the light sits. Search google ...
-1
votes
1answer
100 views
What is going on with my three way switches?
I have a three way switch I can't figure out why or how it works. I want to disconnect one of the three way switches and relocate it. I disconnected the switch (within three feet of the panel) that ...
5
votes
0answers
57 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 ...
5
votes
0answers
125 views
How can I mount an 12V transformer for LED lighting inside a wall?
The stairs to my basement has one light fixture at the bottom, and that casts a shadow on the rest of the stairs. I want to run a strip of LED lights up the crown molding or on top of the upstairs ...
3
votes
0answers
59 views
Why is my lighting circuit tripping the breaker?
I have several MR16 2 pin style light bulbs in my kitchen - The other day the trip switch for the light bulbs tripped when turning these bulbs on - I went and flipped the trip switch and tried again ...
2
votes
0answers
104 views
AFCI breaker tripped when there was no power to wire
I was wiring a ceiling fan in my new home, and I am not used to working with some of the newer electrical devices. I know very little about AFCI breakers, however I think I was somehow able to trip ...
2
votes
0answers
66 views
Change circuit breaker for dual purpose fitting
I have a power breaker fitted with a ducted outlet to exterior wiring. It is in white plastic, same size as twin socket, with push switches for on/off test/restart and neon light. I would like to ...
1
vote
0answers
83 views
Can I convert my front intermediate light (with only 1 wire) to a junction box with live, neutral and ground wires?
I want to change my entire front light housing because it is old and uses an intermediate-base light bulb. The new one I have purchased has black, white and copper wires. The old one only has a wire ...
1
vote
0answers
73 views
Where can I connect the ground wire when replacing my oven heating element?
My old heating element finally burned out and had to be replaced. That element is not made anymore, but an appliance store gave me the part # for a replacement that works for that oven. I took out ...
1
vote
0answers
121 views
What could cause neutral wires in my service panel to read 120V?
I have a 200 A service panel with 12 breakers. Seven of the breakers work fine. There are 5 other lines that come in. When I hook up the black wires to the breakers and turn them on I get a charged ...
1
vote
0answers
96 views
How do you plug an unused hole as per the NEC for a liquid tight enclosure?
I have been looking for a way to seal a liquid tight product using Listed blanking plugs / Cap-offs or similar to comply with the NEC (US National Electrical Code). We wanted to use Conduit Entry ...
1
vote
0answers
207 views
Is there something wrong with this 3-way lamp switch?
We have a floor lamp with a three-way combined switch and socket. I noticed arcing sounds when rotating the switch, so I disconnected it. Later I found that the "low" and "high" settings worked fine, ...
1
vote
0answers
171 views
Why does half the house go out when a single breaker trips?
The breaker box at my brother's house is well marked and balanced except when a breaker is tripped half the house goes out. I'm currently living on the third floor of his house. When I turned on a ...
1
vote
0answers
250 views
How do I wire a light fixture with two white wires to a ceiling box with three white wires?
I am trying to install a new light fixture. The ceiling mount has three white wires and one black one. The problem is that the fixture has two white wires and one black wire. They do not match up.
...
0
votes
0answers
5 views
Alternatives for underwriters knot
I am looking 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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
0
votes
0answers
88 views
Why did my ceiling light fixture stop working after adding an outlet on the same circuit?
I recently added a receptacle for hanging my TV on the wall. To do it I fished a wire through the wall and attached wires to an existing receptacle that's at a lower level on the same wall.
This is ...
0
votes
0answers
167 views
Why isn't my mini fridge staying cold?
My mini fridge has full power, but I come home after a couple of days to find that the compressor has shut off and everything has defrosted and the fridge isn't cold anymore. I can turn the knob and ...
0
votes
0answers
168 views
Can I steal a neutral wire from another circuit?
I have some Z-wave light switches that I want to install; below is a link to the diagram for the light switches. Basically I can have all the wiring completed minus the neutral wire for the switch at ...
0
votes
0answers
112 views
How can I replace a ceiling fan with a regular light fixture?
I live in Canada, and I have taken down a ceiling fan light fixture and then hooked up a regular light fixture.
I found the light remains on and does not work with the switch. I have never had this ...
0
votes
0answers
69 views
How can I install this automatic transfer switch?
I currently have a Gentran 3028 subpanel connected to a 12,000 watt generator over a 30 AMP branch and the utility/main panel over a 60 AMP branch. I want to replace the Gentran with a APC UTS10BI. ...
0
votes
0answers
93 views
Why would my lights take 10-20 seconds to turn on after installing a dimmer?
I have double-checked the connections. I am guessing next step is to replace the switch in case that was the problem. It is only running two wall sconces, each with one low wattage bulb. Anyone ...
0
votes
0answers
125 views
How do I replace a triple dimmer switch to a much smaller conventional switch?
Our kitchen lights are playing up, they're halogen spotlights controlled by a dimmer switch, and one by one they're either refusing to switch on, coming on if the dimmer is halfway on but off when ...
0
votes
0answers
126 views
Do I need a ground for a new 240 volt 20 amp circuit?
I ran a new 240 volt circuit to operate some motorized equipment. The equipment has a 3 prong grounded 240 volt plug. My source however doesn't have a grounding strip. Would it be better to not ...
0
votes
0answers
92 views
How can I tell if my lutron light switches support wireless home automation?
I recently bought a new home finished in early 2009. The previous (first) owner clearly liked the special touches. Virtually all of the light switches are labelled "Lutron". My reading online is ...
0
votes
0answers
174 views
How can I get my ceiling fan lights working again?
After my light kit on my hunter type 2 fan stopped working I determined there is power entering this device (white wire) but none exiting it (pink wire). The pink wire runs to the pull chain for the ...
0
votes
0answers
200 views
Is it possible to retrofit an external kitchen fan in an existing house?
I have a 2-storey half duplex that was built in 2008. The kitchen (1st floor) has a range hood fan that exhausts to the side of the house through 8" aluminum duct. The outside vent is not directly ...
