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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Common ground wire for multiple circuits with different wire sizes

I'm wiring my workshop and want to use a common ground wire for multiple circuits. I've found several answered questions here about using a common ground wire but I haven't found one for my specific ...
JeffC's user avatar
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My light switch is stuck in on position and blew all the lights of the house off!

My kitchen has a 2 gang light switch which one of the switches have been blowing all the lights in the house whenever turned on, I accidentally turned it on today and it is stuck in the on position so ...
Saff's user avatar
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1 answer
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Is it possible/safe to fork one LINE wire for two light circuits?

The kitchen in my house opens out into the family room. On the far side of the kitchen, there is a 2-gang switch box [AB], on the near side of the family room is a 1-gang switch box [C]. - ---...
bosco's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
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Converting 3-way Switch to Single Pole Smart Switch

(Reposted from a guest account I lost access to somehow) I recently moved into a new home built in the 1970's and am looking to upgrade some no-neutral dumb switches to smart switches. After doing ...
Sandersonerson's user avatar
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42 views

Any special code to surface mount two gang box for outlets undersink?

I need to add four outlets under my sink. I am going to supply the outlets with the (20A) power circuit from my dishwasher (9A); the dishwasher and garbage disposal are on separate circuits. I was ...
BLH BLH's user avatar
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1 answer
56 views

Surge Protector with travel adapter for a different country [closed]

I am using the following Schuko (Germany) to India adapter (Amazon.de) I am using this surge protector with Schuko plug (Germany) (APC Surge Protector - PM8-GR - Power strip with surge protection: ...
Porcupine's user avatar
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0 answers
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Is my subpanel service entrance cable secured properly?

This will be a 100a sub panel. Using Al 1-1-1-3 SER. Questions: 1.) Is this SER feeder wired and secured sufficiently? 2.) How about here where it enters the main panel? Can I put some form of ...
crichavin's user avatar
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0 answers
29 views

I want to add another switch and fixture from a switch

I have power coming through a light to the switch with 12/3 wire. at the switch location I want to add another switch to another fixture. How do I wire it?
chris's user avatar
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1 answer
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New GFCI Tamper Resistant Outlet not working

Purchased a new Leviton Tamper-Resistant GFCI Outlet. Installed it and the green light comes on, but when I plug something into it, it doesn't come on. Tried something else that I know works and ...
Denise Bernard's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
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Can I use LFNC to supply an EVSE on the exterior wall of my house?

I'm trying to add a Level 2 EV charger (EVSE) to my home in the least expensive way possible. The Grizzle-E charger can output 40amps, so I'm planning on supplying it using a 50amp breaker with 6awg ...
Uncle Woody's user avatar
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2 answers
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How do I add a always on duplex receptacle under sink on same circuit as switched garbage disposal

Garbage disposer and dishwasher each have their own breaker. Garbage disposer hardwired into a toggle switch above sink that powers it on/off. My filter and faucet needs somewhere to be plugged in and ...
BLH BLH's user avatar
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2 votes
0 answers
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How can I add a neutral to my subpanel?

I have a 60a subpanel on the side of my house for the pool equipment. There are only two conductors and a ground. Originally the only things that were probably connected were the pool pump and heater, ...
Don Caton's user avatar
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1 answer
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Can I use grey PVC to go from breaker panel to underground run to hot tub?

I want to run grey PVC schedule 40 conduit down the wall from my breaker panel outside and through an 18 inch deep trench back to my hot tub. I'll terminate the conduit at a Cantex box at ground level ...
DOUG's user avatar
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3 answers
117 views

Can I safely add a 50A EV charge circuit breaker to a 90A panel?

I have a sub panel mounted next to my main panel that is supplied with a 90amp breaker. I would like to add a 50 amp breaker to handle a 14-50 plug for an EV charger. My question is can the sub panel ...
Rafael Fuentes's user avatar
23 votes
7 answers
6k views

Is this two-110-to-one-220 adaptor as fire-hazard as it looks?

I was browsing amazon and found this strange extension cord that takes two 110v circuits and combines them into one 220v circuit. I vaguely understand how two outlets can be on a different circuit/...
Sidney's user avatar
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How to wire smart switches with a dead-end 3 way?

So I got some smart switches (Kasa HS210), and being relatively handy thought I could wire them up alright, but I guess I'm in a bit over my head due to having a "dead end 3-way"? Using the ...
Havegooda's user avatar
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code requirements for conduit attached to a bridge

I plan to run #2 aluminum MHF for a 300' run direct buried from the distribution panel to a sub panel. Part of the circuit will cross a small bridge across a creek. What does the code call for to ...
jonc's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
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Capping off old weatherhead conduit after underground power installed

The power company has installed underground power, so theyll be removing the lines from the roof weatherhead & conduit. How can we cap the conduit to prevent incects & small animals from ...
Florida res's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
510 views

GFCI on an induction range?

Based on my reading, NEC2023 says that if a stove is within 6 feet of the edge of a kitchen sink then the stove needs to be GFCI protected. Modern induction ranges pull 50 amps and (usually) need ...
THill3's user avatar
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1 answer
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Charring and insulation damage on floor heat wire

I have a floor heat system that was only working intermittently (the thermostat seemed to operate just fine, but the floor only warmed up about 25% of the days it was supposed to). I was planning to ...
jtbandes's user avatar
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0 votes
2 answers
88 views

Did I wire the outlet to my dryer wrong?

The way my house was built means that the electrical panel is at the opposite end of the house from the kitchen, living area, and laundry, so I have to run long cables to get electricity to where it's ...
THill3's user avatar
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0 votes
3 answers
62 views

Messing with unpowered fixture causes breaker to trip

The issue I'm encountering is this: I'm replacing an old light fixture, or just removing it so I can paint. Power is off at the switch. I get the fixture disconnected from the wiring, and then any ...
Andrew Heffron's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
71 views

What will cause my main breaker to trip?

It’s totally random, sometimes the dryer running will throw the breaker. Sometimes it will be a hot shower, sometimes it’s washing our hands in the sink. It’s unpredictable what will throw the breaker....
Liberty's user avatar
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0 answers
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Replacement fan+light switch wiring

I am in the process of updating/modernizing the switches in our home (DIY - I am not an electrician) and I have replaced an old fan/light switch with a knob for the various fan speed with a Lutron ...
Gabriel's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
196 views

My electrician left a spliced cable outside a junction box. How big a deal is this?

I'm having some electrical work done to run existing lines through the joists so we can hang drywall on the ceiling. Some of the existing cable runs were too short so the electrician added a larger ...
TheDandyLion's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
55 views

Why would a smart switch not turn on if seemingly wired correctly?

We have floodlights that I would like to put on a timer using a Geeni Tap smart switch. I killed the power, uninstalled the old switch. Gang box has 2 black wires, a white wire, and a bare copper wire....
Rick Yoder's user avatar
0 votes
3 answers
74 views

Correct wire and conduit to extend a 30 amp circuit 350 feet?

I'd like to check my plan before contacting an electrician. I plan to install a 30 amp RV connection in a wet environment approximately 350 feet away from a 200 amp distribution panel. Based on ...
jonc's user avatar
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0 answers
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correct wire and conduit to extend a 30 amp circuit 350 feet [duplicate]

I'd like to ask a question here before contacting an electrician. I plan to install a 30 amp RV connection in a wet environment approximately 350 feet away from a 200 amp distribution panel. Based on ...
jonc's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
61 views

Attach 2-2-2-4 SER cable to bottom of ceiling joists

I am running 2-2-2-4 SER aluminum service cable perpendicular to overhead ceiling joists in an unfinished basement. What do I use to attach the cable to the bottom edge of the ceiling joists? I have ...
user149104's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
80 views

LED ceiling light flashes when another light is turned on

I have a circuit with 3 Leviton smart dimmer switches that control 3 different LED ceiling lights, 1 on/off bathroom fan, and 1 on/off LED light. Whenever the 1 on/off LED light is turned on, 1 and ...
pennstump's user avatar
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2 votes
5 answers
1k views

GFCI outlet or centralized differential circuit breakers

Looking at the North American electrical regulations, I come across the concept of GFCI protection in electrical outlets. In contrast, in the IEC regulations, differential protection is comprehensive ...
Julián Oviedo's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
87 views

Installing 4 baseboard heaters on a 20A double pole circuit

I am looking for some help with configurations on installing 4 baseboard heaters on a 20 amp double pole breaker with 12/2 wires. My current set up is all four baseboard heaters are hooked up to one ...
Bryan's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
387 views

Schedule 40 strapping ideas

I have some schedule 40 conduit on the side of my house that was never really installed properly. The 2 inch conduit at least has an expansion joint in place, but does not have any strapping. The 3/4 ...
kubiej21's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
64 views

Connecting 4/0 feed wires to a 200A Challenger Main Panel: Can I use these lugs?

I have two 200 Amp Challenger Main panels in my garage. I am running 255ft of AL wire (4/0 4/0 4/0 2/0) through an underground conduit to a new 200 Amp Square D Homeline subpanel in an outbuilding. ...
Mike L's user avatar
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0 answers
24 views

3way switch where one switch ends up using a white on the common, the other switch the white is connected to another white

The switch where the two whites are connected n tucked away, the black n red from the same cable are connected to the brass, the remaining black is connected to the Blk common screw, the lower switch, ...
Brian's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
60 views

Could service wire going into the meter be copper or aluminum?

Does the service wire going to meter coming from the electric company have to be copper or it could be aluminum? I'm a homeowner and will like to know because I don't want to be screwed by any ...
louis's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
56 views

Refrigerator on its own circuit (non-AFCI) is triggering a separate AFCI circuit breaker

I have been dealing with a phantom AFCI breaker trigger for the better part of a year. The circuit controls bathroom fans and lights for part of my home. For the last year, at some random interval, ...
Coffee123's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
443 views

Can I use a larger bus bar in this panel?

As a followup to this question of mine, I'm now uncertain if I can add another dual-pole breaker to this subpanel at all. The bus bar on the left side has only one slot left, and the right side is ...
Matt Johnson-Pint's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
134 views

Existing service panel has grounds on neutral bus and neutrals tied to grounding lug!

Opened this panel which serves a well pump on my property and was surprised to find the grounds bolted to the neutral bus bar, and the neutrals wired together to the grounding lug. I am pretty sure ...
David D.'s user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
65 views

replacing lamp post; can underground electrical wire be in concrete?

I'm replacing an old lamp post. Am digging out the old one. The wire seems to be at least or around a foot down, instead of a few inches. I'm not sure if the old pole had a hole in the side, about 12-...
user26270's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
221 views

Off Grid Solar System - 250 amps of Inverter capacity - What load center do I use?

I have four Sol-Ark 15k inverters (Although I'd like to size things so that I have room to add more in the future if needed). Each inverter can supply up to 62.5 amps of continuous power. So 62.5 ...
irwinr's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
113 views

How to connect 3 wire cooktop to 4 wire power supply

I would like to connect my new 3 wired 208/240V cooktop, to a 4 wire power supply. The voltage of the new cooktop is the same as my previous one, with the only difference I can see being that the new ...
Fil's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
42 views

Go-to method for securing multiple NM-B runs

.Hey, all! Looking for code compliant ideas for how to secure 3-4 new NM-B runs in the basement. I'm a big fan of bridle rings for low voltage. Are bridle rings kosher for 120 or 240v? Maybe a large ...
Zoinks's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
48 views

Cook top wiring different than outlet wires

I recently bought a home and noticed the cook top wiring that was installed was never connected, the wiring from the outlet is Black, White and Red. However, the cook top wires are Black, White and ...
Josh's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
57 views

Outlet no ground but upsteam grounded

So I tested an outlet and I get 120v on Hot-Neutral and 0 on either Neutral-Ground or Hot-Ground. I found the previous outlet upstream (verified by disconnecting the hot and checking for power ...
Michael's user avatar
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0 votes
2 answers
61 views

If I have a CL200 meter and 200 amp main box can I add a 200 amp subpanel?

If I have a CL200 meter can I add a 200 amp sub-panel to my metal garage? If so what gauge wire do I need?
Supu's user avatar
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0 answers
20 views

Can I use the wire shown in the fluorescent light to power LED lights that are 110 V and a vent fan on the same switch [duplicate]

enter image description here In the ceiling, I have a fluorescent light I want to use the wire coming to the electric to the fluorescent light to power my vent, fan and LED light strips and take the ...
Ga Woods's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
61 views

Installing new window a/c heater unit rated at 16 amp. Can I use 12/3 wiring or 14/3 wiring?

Installing new window a/c heater in new family room rated at 16 amp for the heater, can I use 12/3 wiring?
Robert Workman's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
73 views

Mysa thermostat(s) and 2 baseboard heaters

I'm having some problems hooking up my baseboard heaters (1500w) to Mysa thermostats. They are both on the same breaker. Currently they are operated by 2 thermostats that are on the same separating ...
cctotti's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
84 views

Ground has power

Half of circuit works other half doesn't, until I use ground wire instead of neutral with black wire. Why does white wire read only 53V? All wires are hooked up the way they were previously and there ...
John's user avatar
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