Questions tagged [electrical]
Distribution and use of electricity throughout the home. Electrical standards vary greatly worldwide, so you need to provide your location in your question or profile to ensure you get answers that are relevant to you. Posting photographs of wiring junctions or drawing a wiring diagram and posting it is also highly recommended.
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Seeking Advice for Outdoor Junction Box
I'm in Pennsylvania (US).
We recently had a patio installed and I chose to do the electrical myself. I've done tons and tons of residential electrical, including weatherproof outdoor receptacles, but ...
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Fishing coax through two floors
I’m trying to run coax from my attic to my second floor. I got it from the attic to a wall cavity in the third floor no problem, and can access the bottom of the wall cavity (at floor level) through ...
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Replacing a 2-pole Quad Circuit Breaker
Can a 2-P Quad Breaker (20/30/30/20, with inside common trip) be replaced with a 1-P 20A breaker, a 2-P 30A breaker (common trip) and another 1-P 20A breaker?
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Outdoor Farm Yard Pole Lamp Intermittently on
Barn yard light on a pole is going off and on. Supposed to be on in the evening and off in the day but this is not always the case when it's raining or windy. There's a switch inside that turns it off ...
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Where should my C wire be connected at the furnace?
I have had a Google Nest for a while now and I realized that it never turns off and I connected the C wire during installation but realized today it’s not actually connected into anything. The cables ...
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Flickering kitchen downlighters
UPDATE 3:
So based on Update 2 I placed the new bulbs in the slots where new slots had worked and old bulbs in slots where there new ones hadn't. This I thought would work!
The new bulbs started to ...
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Bare copper conductor for grounding a sub panel
Several years ago, my father converted a 240V sub panel to 120V by re-purposing one of the 3 available conductors for the ground wire and using the other 2 conductors for the hot and neutral.
Now he ...
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Inspector tells me that the electrician should have removed green screw from the panel
After an electrical inspection of my 3-unit multifamily building, the inspector told me that the electrician has made a mistake when he installed the new panel because he didn't remove the green screw....
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Convert double rocker switch into single digital timer - how to make this work
I'm trying to convert this double rocker switch into a single switch with a digital timer. This switch controls my spa and pool lights and want them to turn on and off at specific hours. It also ...
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Why are there two breaker boxes in my home?
I've noticed that our single family home has 2 separate breaker boxes. I've been wondering why 2 is needed for a one story, single family dwelling? Our home used to have a garage that was converted ...
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What is the purpose of long plastic sleeve tubes around connections in appliances?
It appears this particular stove top uses long plastic tubes around its connectors to the infinity switch.
Why are those there? Why not just connect into it directly with a disconnect?
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During a remodel lost power to ceiling fans [closed]
During a remodel all receptacles and switches were replaced. The ceiling fan in the living room and the ceiling fan in the back bedroom lost power. I rechecked all outlets and switches; all checked ...
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THQL2150 50 amp breaker rated for CU/AL 60/75C wired with 8/3 teck cable for hot tub
I have a hot tub. It is wired with 6/3 teck cable to a pull out disconnect switch. The pullout is wired with 8/3 teck cable to the main GE panel with a 50amp standard breaker.
It was roughed in with ...
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Why does each leg of my 240V outlet measure 125V to ground, but 217V across the hot wires?
When I measure from hot A to ground of my 240V receptacle, I see 125.3V on my multimeter. And 125.8V from hot B to ground.
But across hots A and B, I see 216.7V. (There is no load when I'm measuring.)...
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How can I add a neutral to a 240V to 120V circuit conversion?
We’ve replaced our furnace and a/c - which resulted in changes to the wiring from the furnace to the subpanel. The prior furnace was wired to a 240v subpanel with no neutral, which I assume was okay ...
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Wiring Leviton Combo 3 way switch (Part number 5645–W) on a 3 way lighting circuit
I just bought a Leviton Combo 3 way switch to replace an other three way switch because a need an outlet.
In the outlet there are 2 cables, one black and white and ground wire an a second with white,...
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How much current should I expect at 240V on 4/0 wire at 670 feet?
I plan on running aluminum direct burial 4/0 4/0 4/0 2/0 wire to my shop. It's a 670-ft run. I understand there's going to be a large voltage drop. How many reliable amps do I expect to get out of ...
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Would two switches in parallel in the same box meet code?
For convenience, I'd like my workshop light to be controllable by the home automation.
For safety, I'd like to be able to bypass that and force the lights to stay on when unexpected sudden darkness ...
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Identifying an older electrical breaker
Wondering if anyone knows what brand/model breaker box this is and what year its from approximately? Is it original? (this is on the exterior of a single family house built in 1947 in southern ...
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Replacing LED lamps with different Lumens
I need to replace an LED lamp. On the lamp I see:
400lm 6W 67lm/W 32mA
I have some lamps in storage that say: 345 Lumen/4.7Watt = 50Watt
If I understand correctly I could replace the lamp with the one ...
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Bonding question on new remote 400amp panel feeding 2 200amp panels
Just set up a remote 400 amp service panel with 2 200 amp disconnects. Povider is going to dig up cureent 4/0 (2 hots and neutral) feeding orig panel on the house and hand it to me to terminate on ...
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What is this adapter and why is it required? [closed]
I need to replace this adapter:
that comes from an IKEA lamp:
Where it is indicated:
MODEL YZ-230/11
FOR PL LAMPS 7/9/11W
230-240V AC 50Hz 0.17A λ0.35
the lamp itself seems to be a standard FL lamp,...
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What am I missing when attaching this light switch?
I thought that I was embarking on what was going to be a very easy fix. Instead, I found that the light switches were apparently a homeowner special. I looked through the attached dimmer switch, and I ...
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3 sets of wires, now what?
I removed an old medicine cabinet with a light fixture that I was surprised to find had an exposed and unsecured work box (maybe this is unsurprising to those who know what they’re doing; I thought it ...
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Possible cause of electric oven failure?
I'm not sure what has failed in my electric oven. I had it warming up to temperature to cook a meal. I heard a loud pop and it's now completely dead. The hob which is also connected up to the same ...
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Pair of Pendants - One flickers then fails, but not right away; second bulb, second switch
When we remodeled the bathroom 7 years ago, we installed a pair of pendants over the vanity operated on the same switch. Last spring, the lefthand pendant began to flicker, then go off, then go on, ...
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What does "opposite to neutral" mean when installing a feeder breaker?
I am adding a 100A subpanel to my 200A main panel (Vintage Cutler Hammer - Model CH30JM200). I intend to add a ground bar, clean up the wiring and better secure the SER cable, but a sticker in the ...
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Screw in fuse box
I need to replace the piece in fuse box that my 30amp fuse screws into. Can I buy just that? Or have to change the whole thing?
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Installing solar panels by the Pool
I have 10 solar panels that can be arranged in a 7'x30' pattern my goal is to use them to run my pool pump. I'm thinking it would be cool to add a long pergola beside my pool, set back 8' to 12' from ...
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I want to have 8 light bulbs and 8 switches in the circuit. Any switch should be able to put all light bulbs on or off [closed]
All the bulbs can be put on/off by any of the switches.
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What is a safe distance from a power transformer to avoid health risks from EMF exposure?
A nearby power transformation station converts 30,000V to 400V, and I’m concerned about electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that while research is ongoing, ...
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Breaker trips when plugging into wall outlet(receptacle) directly, but not when using extension
I have recently run into a really weird situation. I have a two-socket wall outlet(receptacle) in the living room, and it is connected to a 15 amps breaker with arc fault indicator. I can also ...
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How to clean a female disconnect spade connector
I'm used to sanding electrical connections to clean them up before reusing them, but I am not sure how to clean a female disconnect like the kind used in appliances.
Ideas/thoughts?
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Will this device protect microwave and other appliances from voltage surges? [closed]
Long story short: our electrical grid is very unstable, so we get frequent brownouts. One of these brownouts fried my microwave, so while it was heating something up, the inner light got stronger from ...
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Is it helpful to use a thicker gauge wire for only part of a long circuit run that could have higher loads?
A new circuit is going in to provide 20A power to a residential garage, mainly for power tools, but also for the garage door motor. All of that and a couple of overhead lights are currently drawing ...
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Connecting two wires to one breaker
I have two light circuits that share a neutral. The lights are now all LED, so each circuit draws about 2 amps. Can I run both wires from one breaker? I need to free up a breaker for another use.
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Electrical service length [duplicate]
How can I run an electrical service 1000 feet to my cabin? I only need 100 amps. It seems like no matter what size wire I use, the voltage drop is very high. Any suggestions on wire size and how to ...
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Adding an AC outlet under my kitchen sink for RO system
I’m looking to add an outlet here under my kitchen sink for a tankless RO system. The system itself takes an AC outlet which I don’t currently have under my sink. Is it possible to add a normal outlet ...
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Can a minisplit be plugged into a generator?
I am considering buying a minisplit system in my home's upstairs. We are working with a reputable dealer/installer. We have no current AC, and the ducting (which is retrofit) very poorly heats the ...
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How do I place electrical outlets in a non bearing wall with 2x4 sideways
I am splitting a very large bedroom into two small ones.
The minimum bedroom width is 7 feet. To accomplish that I have to build the dividing wall orienting the 2x4 studs so that the wide surface ...
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Can this ceiling light box be used to mount a ceiling fan?
I'd like to replace some of the existing light fixtures in my home with ceiling fans with a light. It looks like this box is attached to a joist but I don't see any reference weight limit like I have ...
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What wire size for underground wire? [closed]
I need to run a direct burial wire from my pole to my shop. It is 150ft run length. Just running led lights, fans, air compressors what size service wire do I need?
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Light switch that is flush or recessed (next to fridge door)
I have a light switch on wall next to a fridge.
Replaced the fridge with a larger one. Now the fridge door slams into it. It's a normal toggle switch, not the wide kind.
When pushing the fridge in, ...
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Humidistat and wall switch combo bathroom exhaust fan
Can I have a humidistat and separate wall switch on a bathroom exhaust fan? I want the automatic fan when the kids forget and the switch for a fart fan.
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Wiring a Single Pole Switch with 3 cables coming into box
Trying to wire a single-pole light switch and I have 3 sets of wires coming into the box (3 black, 3 white, 3 copper).
The copper ground wires are bound together but not sure how to attach the 3 black ...
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The light doesn't turn on. Got a brand new light fixture and that also doesn't work. I tried new light bulbs
I need a help on electrical wire problem.
There are a black, a white and a naked copper wires. When I connect the light fixture to it, it does not turn on. When I use the voltage meter to check the ...
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Bad circuit breaker panel?
My occasionally used farm cabin had no power when we arrived. Checked the breaker panel, tested the outgoing wires from each breaker. All were dead but one. I tried a new breaker in a couple of slots ...
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Main 400 Amp service to Distribution Panel (400 Amp) which connects to 4 Subpanels (225 Amps each)
I am trying to fix the mistakes that a contractor made while installing and running the main connection as well as sub panels within our family home that was being rebuilt.
I need some input in regard ...
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Why does my passive IR occupancy sensor switch react to a nearby WiFi access point?
I have a Leviton decora PR180 light switch and a WiFi access point (AP) mounted on the same wall above (~ 3 ft) and to the side (~ 1 ft) of it. The power-over-Ethernet cable feeding the AP runs along ...
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Can I use a voltage tester on knob-and-tube wiring?
I have a receptacle that ended up having knob-and-tube wiring. I want to go through each breaker and find out which circuit it's on. Could I safely use a voltage tester to bridge the two wires? Are ...
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