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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Do I need a permit to replace an island (with two outlets)?

We removed a small old island and are planning on replacing it with a new, slightly larger one. The old one had two outlets on either side that we've left completely intact (wiring, receptacles, and ...
4 votes
1 answer
67 views

Sauna Stove Controller Wiring Help - Harvia 9kw

I have a sauna heater from Harvia that had limited information about the controller prior to receiving it from Ireland after a 4 week wait. The stove itself seems to be compatible with 220v US wiring, ...
0 votes
3 answers
122 views

Abandoning conductors inside sub panel

I had a huge roll of 12/3 Romex that I was trying to maximize the use of, when I recently ran the rough electrical for a home addition project. To save time and $$ on cable, I ran some of the home ...
4 votes
4 answers
411 views

run double socket for LED Lights off lighting circuit

I want to put LED lights in the kids' bedrooms and have fitted the coving, the lights have 3pin plug 200-240v 50/60HZIP20 transformer built into plug 12V 3AMP. My problem is I need to fit a double ...
2 votes
1 answer
61 views

Replacing old Nutone Despard/triple Switch with Triple Rocker

I'm looking to replace an old Nutone Despard/triple switch, which has individual controls for the light, vent & heat aspects of the overhead unit. Through a series of push-in and jumper wires, ...
2 votes
2 answers
99 views

Upgrading Garage Sub-Panel

Existing: I have a 100 Amp panel in my garage. It is supplied by 3-2/0 Aluminum cables (Hot-Hot-Neutral) in 2" PVC conduit, from my 200 Amp Main Service Panel on the house about 50' away. Goal: ...
0 votes
0 answers
55 views

Light box switch wire dilemma

I am trying to replace a single pole light switch to a light switch box with one black, green, red, yellow, with orange, white with black tape on the end wires. I’d like to know what is the function ...
2 votes
1 answer
78 views

Replacing ceiling light/fan switch with TP-Link Kasa HS200

I'd like to replace this ceiling fan/light switch with a Kasa switch. I believe it is a 2 way switch, as that is the only switch for that fan/light. The original light switch has 3 wires going into ...
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4 votes
3 answers
202 views

sizing a Level2 EVSE to add to an existing subpanel

I have an existing 40-amp subpanel: a 125-amp main-lug load center, wired to a 40-amp breaker in the main panel with 8-3 NM-B. The subpanel has one existing load - a minisplit heat pump. I wish to ...
0 votes
3 answers
56 views

When the controller is included, how do you connect long strings of LED strips to the power supply at both ends?

I'm looking to use 24v LEDs (https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01LYNJTBN/?coliid=I359TOA9WZGE2V&colid=3HRP4V1TLBJ6P&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it) along my fence to help light my pool area. I ...
3 votes
0 answers
34 views

Required Circuits for Waterfurnace Geothermal Unit and Aux Heater

I am pulling the permit and installing the electrical wiring for my Waterfurnace 7 Series 4-ton Ground Source Heat Pump / Furnace. These are the components: 7 SERIES 700A11 Model 048 (Reference ...
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1 vote
1 answer
71 views

Correct disconnect switch for 50A breaker and 6/3 romex

I am wiring two new circuits for a geothermal furnace. For the 6/2 AWG circuit, a standard 60A disconnect switch is fine. There are two line lugs , two load lugs, and two ground lugs. For the 6/3 AWG ...
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0 votes
2 answers
43 views

Wire size for 125amp subpanel ,30'underground

125amp subpanel off of a 200 Amp main 30'ft run between panels Underground wire. What size wire would be required?
0 votes
2 answers
98 views

Custom Generator interlock switch

I have just wired a 8KW backup generator into my Siemens main load center. I used the top right-hand bus position for the 50A breaker to the generator. All of the interlock switches for Siemens ...
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4 votes
4 answers
589 views

Are there advantages to running separate lighting circuits to my addition?

I'm wiring a 2-story addition to my house, each floor of the addition is a bathroom and closet. I will be running two receptacle circuits, one for each bathroom, each protected by a GFCI receptacle, ...
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2 votes
1 answer
72 views

Multi-switch Light Wiring - Something has changed [duplicate]

I had a workman come round this morning and he had to detatch the light switches. Afterwards, he put them back on again, but something seems to have changed and I know that I need to swap two wires ...
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1 vote
1 answer
120 views

How do I connect a shop subpanel to the house main?

We have electrical service in the house that has a newly updated 200 A service. The service consists of GE PowerMark Gold 200 A 40/80 indoor breaker box model TM4020C80K. Service is provided into the ...
0 votes
0 answers
61 views

Replacing an apartment interphone (2 wires)

I live in an apartment and my intercom died. I can't find the brand of the current one, but it's probably decades old. It transmit voices from the street + a button to open the door. I dismounted the ...
4 votes
1 answer
268 views

Can we fish non-metallic cables between steel furring (aka strapping) and joists in finished ceiling?

I want to wire up a recessed light in a finished closet ceiling, and link it up to a switch on one of the walls of the closet. To reach the wall from the fixture, I need to cross two joists. There’s a ...
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2 votes
1 answer
165 views

Why would each leg suddenly read 240 volts power drop in part of my house every 5-10 minutes?

Problem started when I woke up with no power in my bedroom. I checked the box and no breakers were tripped, so I tried to turn on a tv that I have hooked to my security system. The tv went up in ...
0 votes
0 answers
27 views

Outside unit won’t work when inside blower fan spins correct way only when it is going wrong direction

I have a universal motor on my inside electrical unit. It runs but doesn’t have much air flow (like can barely feel anything even from the closest vent) so I swapped the direction wires and it gave me ...
0 votes
0 answers
67 views

Can my electrical and gas meter be located under an overhang?

I'm thinking of adding an extra room above my garage. This would mean I would have a covered area to the front door and the meters would be under the over hang.
3 votes
1 answer
125 views

How to protect Romex entering a sub panel

I have this sub panel I'm considering replacing. What do I do with the exposed Romex to pass inspection? Some kind of cable trough maybe?
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0 votes
1 answer
56 views

Understanding bathroom fan wiring

I want to replace existing fan switch in bathroom. I need to identify line, neutral, ground and load. Existing wiring is in the picture. I'm especially confused by green wire because everywhere it ...
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3 votes
3 answers
152 views

Use subpanel main breaker slot for outgoing circuit?

We have a small electrical subpanel with only 12 breaker slots. It's rated 125A, which is enough for all the circuits we want, but we will probably run out of slots when adding solar, induction range, ...
1 vote
2 answers
58 views

Outdoor light without recessed box

My tree contractor accidentally broke my light fixture and decided to leave it like this (yes those wires are live). I'm planning to replace it with a new fixture, but would the recommended plan be to ...
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3 votes
3 answers
764 views

motion sensor switch always on

I wanted to install motion sensor switch in my bathroom. Its a small closet like room with a toliet sitting area. Most US users know what I am talking about. In it are two switches. One switch ...
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-2 votes
1 answer
75 views

Two switch breaker reads hot with Main power off [closed]

Reformatted question: I have, with this same set up, and the question to still be asked, successfully (loosely termed) replaced a 2 prong 20 Amp breaker, and another seperate 2 prong 20 Amp breaker, ...
1 vote
1 answer
66 views

How do I release this connector

House was built in 1982 and this is a connector going to my 2x2 florescent light fixtures in the drop ceiling. How do they come apart or off? The small tab on the left was connected but broke from ...
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0 votes
1 answer
52 views

I need power for a 240 volt a/c unit and electrical for 120 volt outlet

I have #8 - 2 wire with ground from the house panel to a 2 breaker sub panel. I am using a 240 2 pole breaker from the sub panel to the outlet. Did I need another (3) insulted wire for this to work? ...
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1 vote
1 answer
78 views

Not using the third prong on a plug end

I've wired a lamp holder using some lamp wire, with two wires. On the end, I've added a plug end that has a ground prong. I didn't connect anything to the ground prong. I've plugged it into a grounded ...
2 votes
1 answer
90 views

2007 GE panel, I installed a 50 AMP GE double breaker on the bus for generator hookup.Inspector wants a hold down kit but ITS on the bus? [closed]

The 50 AMP generator breaker is on a bus of a 2007 GE panel, all the back-fed GE breaker hold-down kits I can find are made for only the GE main breaker THQL-RK1, THQL-RK2, or THQL-RK4. Inspector is ...
3 votes
2 answers
360 views

How do I replace this switch if the black wire is looped around the screw?

Behind a 2 gang wall plate, there are 2 single pole switches. I am trying to swap the left one out with a Kasa smart wi-fi light switch. The problem is, the black wire that connects to the bottom ...
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0 votes
1 answer
61 views

Power source gives only 6v AC reading

I am replacing a 240v wall mounted convector (500w). After wiring new unit, no power seemed to be getting through. So I tested the voltage from the source at the wall and it only read 6v AC 3 times. ...
2 votes
2 answers
231 views

Is it ok to plug my 240v tankless water heater directly into a 50 amp RV plug instead of putting it on two 30 amp breakers

I live in an RV and am trying to install an electric tankless water heater by myself. It says it requires 2 double pole 30 amp breakers which is not really an option for me, the manual says the heater ...
2 votes
1 answer
53 views

Seeking ideas on how best to splice+move breakers from one panel to adjacent panel

As the title says, I need to move (per my new load calcs after changes were made) three of the bottom breakers on the left panel, over to the right panel. However, the wires do not have enough slack ...
3 votes
0 answers
81 views

How many wires can I put in this recessed light junction box?

I’m installing some recessed lights (halo) in my basement, and I’m wondering how many conductors I can put in the attached box (pictured), since this light will be at a 3-way junction. I calculated ...
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3 votes
3 answers
147 views

Will my 125A electrical panel be sufficient for solar, heat pump, EV charger? [closed]

To my understanding, my main service panel is 125A with a breaker of 100A. My subpanel is 100A. I'm in the design stage of installing solar but I'm planning later in the year to install a heat pump ...
3 votes
1 answer
76 views

2 gang light switch has 4 brown wires

Can anyone help here with trying to replace a light switch? The old one has 4 cables entering the backbox with all blue and earths joined together, but the new switch requires a neutral and which ...
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1 vote
1 answer
54 views

What size box do I need to splice 1-1-1-3 SER cable?

I have 1-1-1-3 copper SER cable that I need to transition to THHN to run through EMT. I think I want to use insulated taps. What size box do I need? Edit: more detail. The SER will enter the box from ...
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0 votes
0 answers
54 views

9 volts on a neutral wire with the switch off

Light switch has 123 volts but light not working installed a new light fixture still does not work meter on ground and neutral shows 9 volts with the switch off or on
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1 vote
2 answers
92 views

120v 40amp water heater

I bought a point of use water heater that is 120v 40amp and has 8ga wire. If it’s asking for a 40amp connection, is it safe to run a dedicated line that only goes to the water heater by installing a ...
0 votes
1 answer
142 views

How to override the need for a neutral wire for an oven hookup

I have had my kitchen remodeled. I have new cabinets and a stone countertop. When it came to hooking up the oven, I was told I needed a neutral wire for the oven to work after the cabinets and ...
user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
51 views

Can I use a fan speed controller to control a vent fan that uses PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) for speed control?

I'm creating a vent system in my workshop, using 4" pipes and I need to put an inline fan in the system and I want to be able to control the speed remotely. While I'm linking to specific products ...
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5 votes
2 answers
141 views

Can I run CAT6A and 12/3 AC90 armoured power cable inside the same watertight PVC conduit for about 5m/16Ft?

The main question I have is two-fold: Is it legal according to the Canadian electrical code and How will it affect performance? My setup: I have my "server room" underneath the stairs, but ...
12 votes
3 answers
3k views

How can I overcome the 30 ft distance requirement of a surge protector?

I bought a new surge protector and the included specification material says I need 30 feet between the outlet and the service panel. My situation is probably about 5 feet. The outlet I want to protect ...
user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
80 views

Almost new GCFI tripping, while breaker not tripping

I just re-wired my house and put most of the lights onto one circuit. It’s a 15 amp circuit and I ran everything to a GCFI first so that I could shut off the lights with the push of a button. Recently ...
0 votes
0 answers
34 views

temp. power post requirement for buried sevice fro power co

I am trying to set up a temporary power post or pole and meter box.The survive from the power co.is buried from the transformer.
8 votes
3 answers
1k views

How do I repair my electric range dual-coil surface element wiring?

My Kenmore (Whirlpool) model# 66595775890 mid-90s electric range dual coil surface element is not working. Upon inspection, discovered that the wire connecting the coil common terminal to the 1A (...
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27 votes
4 answers
4k views

Why is there a jumper between these circuit breakers?

I was replacing defective/broken outlets in my folks' house this week, in preparation to sell it. So I went to the power panel and hit the appropriate breaker for the area I was working in. No problem ...