All Questions
1,654 questions
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Replace recessed light with flush mounted light
I'm somewhat new to electrical stuff but have dabbled a bit. I have experience changing outlets, light switches, and existing light fixtures.
I'm trying to change some recessed lights with some flush ...
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2
votes
1
answer
94
views
Where should I connect ground in my new service panel?
I am DIYing my house from the ground up and have reached the point of electrical. I am in beautiful rural Michigan.
I mounted my 200amp meter socket. I have also mounted the 200amp disconnect. I also ...
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votes
1
answer
68
views
Why isn't my new smart switch powering the lights?
The switch was previously just on/off to 4 can lights. I am trying to add smart dimmer to that one. The switch on the left controls 2 outdoor security camera w/flood lights.
Kasa smart wi-fi light ...
0
votes
1
answer
35
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Replaced dimmer with regular light switch and now the other light switch does not work
I have a set of overhead lights that were wired to both a dimmer and standard flip style switch. I needed to remove the dimmer and put a standard flip switch in its place. On the dimmer I removed, ...
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3
votes
2
answers
691
views
How can I properly ground my service disconnect panel?
I am not sure my house is properly grounded.
The meter outside connects to a single breaker panel with a 150 amp breaker (I will call this the service panel). This service panel is not connected to ...
- 981
3
votes
1
answer
299
views
Can I install a 3-way smart dimmer switch and a wired companion dimmer here?
I purchased the following dimmer and dimmer companion.
Leviton Decora Smart - D26HD (Primary Dimmer)
Leviton Decora Smart - DD00R-DLZ (Companion Dimmer)
My house was built in 2009. I have a three way ...
- 31
0
votes
0
answers
37
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Grounding a Chandelier Properly
The ceiling box has a ground copper wire coming from above the ceiling wrapped around a green screw and then extending downwards. The mounting bracket also has a green grounding screw. The chandeliers ...
2
votes
1
answer
407
views
Does Sub panel need ground rod?
Have a Outside Main Box that's Full. Want to add Outside Sub-Panel right next to it 12 inches to the right. I know the Sub-Panel uses separate Neutral Bar and Ground Bar. But, Does the Sub-Panel need ...
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0
answers
36
views
Copper grounding to water line
when grounding residential home with 4 gauge copper wire to main water pipe, does wire need to touch panel also? I already have panel grounded with 6 gauge copper wire touching same water pipe.
1
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2
answers
72
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How should I ground three switches in a box with one ground wire?
There are 3 switches in a junction box. Only one switch has a ground wire.
Can I extend the current ground wire to the other two switches? Can I do this by connecting all 3 ground terminals together ...
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7
votes
2
answers
397
views
Do I need a GFCI sticker when grounded by box
I have replaced a 3-prong bathroom outlet with GFCI. The metal box does not have any ground wire in it, so I just connected the hot and neutral wires. I was expecting the outlet tester to indicate the ...
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-2
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1
answer
66
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Where does the ground go or use a different fixture thoughts? [closed]
I’m replacing track lighting in my garage there are two, one track at both ends of the garage and they run on the same switch.
When I took it all down it’s in a plastic housing and had one hot one ...
2
votes
1
answer
329
views
What is the correct way to replace this switch?
I have a touch dimmer switch (press on the switch to turn on, keep pressing to dim/rise) in a bathroom that my family would like replaced (whenever the shower is too steamy it causes the lights to dim ...
- 299
0
votes
0
answers
53
views
How to handle grounding of a hybrid inverter/grid system?
I am researching integrating a solar system into a house, in the USA.
Design goals:
The solar system and the grid need to be able to power the house simultaneously.
Ideally, I would like to have ...
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votes
1
answer
34
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Is it ok to use a wood screw with a washer when installing outside lamp into metal mounting bracket but also screws into the wall
I had 2 hard grounding wires coming out of the wall and had a thin wire from the outside light I was installing. The grounding screw was just too short so I found a screw that along with a washer ...
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0
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0
answers
38
views
2 black wires and 2 white wires
I'm changing a light switch to a dimmer switch. When I took off the old switch there were two black wires and two white wires as well as to ground wires. On my dimmer switch is one post for neutral ...
2
votes
0
answers
54
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house water pipe is energized
this is a mobile home, the owner tried to shut off the main water and got a shock when he touched to valve, I found, with the main house breaker off and the electric meter pulled, I had 35 volts A/C ...
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0
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2
answers
88
views
Will my panel inside be considered a subpanel, and now be un bonded
I have installed a 200 amp distribution panel w/socket head. Will this be considered my main panel, and my panel inside now becomes my subpanel?
Should my subpanel be unbonded, and 2 lines, 1 neutral, ...
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votes
3
answers
45
views
Upgrading to smart 3-way switch with existing non-grounded switch
I have been upgrading my dumb switches with some new matter based smart ones. My home was built in 1997, so there are ground bundles in the boxes, but the existing switches do not have a ground ...
3
votes
1
answer
455
views
What purpose is the GND screw serving in this vanity lighting setup?
Trying to install a bathroom vanity light. Here's the wiring coming out of the wall:
So 3 wires:
White
Black
Bare copper
Plus a green GND screw
This wiring was set up by our electrician before we ...
- 57
1
vote
1
answer
49
views
Need help understanding wires behind 3,4? way light switch
hoping I can get some clarity on the following set of switches, as I have little electrical experience. I am looking to replace this set up with a Lutron smart switch with a pico remote to serve as a ...
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1
vote
0
answers
88
views
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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votes
1
answer
42
views
Will running bare wire to this part of the box properly ground my receptacle?
I had an outlet with wiring that did not touch the box itself. Here's what it looks like now.
Here is the spot I hope is designed for a ground screw:
Here is how I want to wire it. Would this work ...
- 209
1
vote
2
answers
87
views
Why do we ground receptacles to their metal boxes?
I believe you need to ground receptacle boxes. What benefit is offered in doing so vs. running bare ground wire from the romex straight to the receptacle?
- 209
1
vote
1
answer
65
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Question on installing NEMA 14-50 for EV charging
I have a question with regard to installing a NEMA 14-50 for EV charging. I know these outlets are not fantastic for this purpose, but I’m looking to install one just temporarily to be replaced by a ...
2
votes
2
answers
986
views
Is this screw inside a 2-prong receptacle a possible ground?
My house was built in the 1920s and I don't know how old this wall box is. Is there any hope that the bottom screw is a ground? If not, what are the metal circles for?
- 209
8
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Why was this lighting fixture smoking? What do I do about it?
When we moved in 3 years ago, we replaced the 12V MR-16 halogen lamps in two recessed fixtures in our ceiling with matching LED lamps.
This evening I smelled electrical burning and wisps of smoke ...
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-1
votes
2
answers
53
views
Safely grounding RV site which has no ground conductor to house main panel?
Gordian Knot here-
200A Square-D meterbase has ground rod with #4 bare copper + 2/0-2/0-1 URD -> 1974 mobile home 200A Square-D Homeline main panel.
2/2/4 URD ON 100A 2 pole breaker in this box ...
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vote
0
answers
70
views
Propane tank too close to ground rod?
My propane tank for my home was leaning at a really bad angle after it was set in place. It wasnt too bad at first, but it got worse. I waited until it was empty to move it so I could regrade the ...
- 37.4k
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votes
1
answer
51
views
Do you separate grounds and neutrals main box?
do you need to separate the grounds and neutrals in main box when adding a subpanel? what about just ground subpanel in same wall as main box with ground from main not from outside rod?
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0
answers
33
views
Replacing single switch with dimmer switch
Single switch has a blue and a yellow wire attached with no ground wire attached nor in the box. The box has 2 white wires capped together, one black wire capped and one red wire capped.
Trying to ...
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0
votes
1
answer
61
views
Can I safely add a dimmer to this 15-bulb chandelier?
This chandelier takes 15 candelabra bulbs. Right now they are all incandescent. I am unsure of the wattage of each bulb, but I believe they are all 25W. There are two switches that control this ...
- 103
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0
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75
views
What do I do with the ground wire when I replace a two prong cord with a three prong one?
My father in law gave me an old corded Dewalt orbital sander. It's rated at 120 volts and says it draws 2 amps. The attached power cord is a two prong (hot and neutral), and it's terrible. FIL says ...
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1
answer
54
views
How can I add a ground conductor to outside GFI outlets?
I have 3 GFI outlets in and around my garden, they all are showing an open ground. Can I fix this by putting in a grounding rod and grounding them to that?
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3
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Connect electric cable with 4 wires to 3-prong 30 Amp 125-Volt/250-Volt outlet?
I purchased a 3-prong outlet for my dryer. The cable coming out of the breaker box has 4 wires (white, red, black, bare).
I was looking at a youtube tutorial, and it says to connect the white wire to ...
- 2,133
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0
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19
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lights no longer dimming in ceiling fan
i moved a ceiling fan from downstairs to upstairs and kept the same bulbs and everything and it’s suddenly not dimming anymore.
the old fan that was on there used to dim as well, could there be ...
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0
votes
1
answer
134
views
Electrical switch with two black wires, one red wire and two white wires connected
I’m trying to replace my old electrical switch with a new dimmer switch for my lights. The existing switch controls the light for two light fixtures in the same room.
When I opened up the electrical ...
2
votes
1
answer
100
views
Install a second ground, or do I need to feed back this new ground to the main building?
We have a garage separate from the house. The electricity is provided by 2 wires connected from roof of the house to roof of the garage on a 20 amp breaker.
Therefore no ground was provided (because ...
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1
vote
3
answers
134
views
No Ground wiring seen in Main Lug
So I just found out that the Federal Pacific Stab-Lok main lug in my apt has got to go. After opening the cover, I was surprised to see no ground wires at all in there. There is only a neutral bar. ...
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1
vote
2
answers
96
views
I do not see a ground wire to stake at the meter pole. Is this a utility problem?
I do not see a ground wire to stake at the meter pole.
Is this a utility problem?
Do I have to remove the smart meter to add a ground?
2
votes
1
answer
82
views
Is this part of the grounding electrode network and does it need to be hooked into my new service?
I found this on the outside of my house. As a note, the house was build in the 50s and the electric probably hasn't changed much since that time - the grounding all around is pretty bad. I'm doing a ...
- 831
3
votes
1
answer
178
views
What are the bonding and grounding requirements for my heavy-up and new panel?
Jurisdiction is Dayton, OH - currently on NEC 2023.
I'm upgrading from a 100A service going through a meter on the outside of my house and into a main service panel inside my house.
The new system ...
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0
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1
answer
68
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I'm replacing a dimmer switch with a regular switch, but the only configuration that works involves wires from my another switch. What's going on?
EDIT: Per the excellent answer below,this was (to my surprise) a three way switch. Thankfully I had a few extra three ways lying around! In addition, the other switch on the three way was wired ...
- 103
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0
answers
33
views
Dimming light with no switch
I just moved to a new place and noticed that one of the lights is Super dim when I turn it on. When I tried to take it down to replace it i noticed that it had a dimmer box attached. The light switch ...
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0
votes
1
answer
159
views
Do service panels in new homes in Texas need to be grounded?
Is there an NEC code that explains if a NEW construction breaker box is installed in a NEW house construction, it has to be grounded (not replacing an old breaker box)? In other words, doesn't a new ...
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votes
1
answer
89
views
How do I rechain these wires properly?
The old house owner had done this wiring themselves, and we decided it was time to switch these old dimmer switches out for smart dimmer switches. The new switches need a ground, neutral, load and ...
0
votes
1
answer
152
views
Where is my service panel grounded?
I'm wanting to install a critical loads panel connected to an EG4 6000xp.
This is my main panel and I see the two hots and a neutral but do not see the ground.
Is the main panel grounded?
Top of ...
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3
votes
3
answers
543
views
NEC Code requirements for location of neutral and ground connections
I have one 20amp circuit that runs from the panel box to an accessible junction box in my attic via 12/2 romex. This junction box also contains the 12/2 romex switch leg runs of all six lighting ...
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1
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0
answers
154
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How to install 4 wire plug on old Maytag dryer with two ground wires near connectors? [duplicate]
Attempting to ground older Maytag Legacy Series dryer properly with 14-30 receptacle and 4 prong plug. Can’t find a sticker with model info anywhere on the dryer. (Looked inside and out.) Two ground ...
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1
answer
234
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Stud finder continuously beeping in garage but not inside house
I am trying to find the studs in my garage. When I use the stud finder it continuously beeps. But when I test the walls inside the house it works properly. What is the reason and solution?
Searching ...
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