Questions tagged [low-voltage]
Electrical systems with voltages significantly lower than mains wiring. Examples include ethernet, telephone, cable tv, and alarm systems.
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Safe to run LED strip extension wire under an oven?
I'm installing LED strip lights around the base of our kitchen cabinets, but there's an oven right in the middle of it. Is it safe to run extension wire (like this) under the oven?
If it matters, the ...
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How do you connect to one of the 5 wires of a low voltage cable in the middle of the run (the cable goes farther than the connection point)
In the below picture, A is a irrigation controller. BCD are inline valves with D being the main valve installed on the water tap and B and C being the manifold valves.
I have a 5 wire cable that runs ...
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Does Power-Over-Ethernet help the DIYer?
Power-Over-Ethernet (POE) has come up in several answers recently as potential solutions to problems involving wiring and getting power to strange places.
How does POE help the DIY person in achieving ...
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How do I run ethernet [or other low-voltage wire] at an exterior wall?
Is there anything different about adding an outlet to an exterior wall?
I've added several ethernet jacks to interior walls (drywall) using low-voltage rings & keystone plates, but never on an ...
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How can I securely power a USB camera from an outdoor outlet?
I would like to power an outdoor USB camera from an outdoor outlet. We have a vacation rental so I don't want to plug anything in, I want it to be permanent. I have an outlet about 6 feet from the ...
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material for low voltage conduit on FACE of wall, basement to attic
I'm looking to run CAT5E/CAT6A cabling from my basement where I have a network rack to the attic above my 2nd floor. After a lot of investigation there was no way I was going to feed the cabling ...
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How to protect outdoor low-voltage cable over concrete walkway?
I'm considering Philips Hue low-voltage outdoor lighting for my front lawn. The challenge is the outdoor 120V outlet and the yard / landscaping is separated by a concrete walkway. How do I run the ...
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Can I replace a 115 V doorbell transformer with a 120 V doorbell transformer?
update I replaced the transformer and 1 single doorbell with the ring video doorbell wired. Everything is functioning as it should. The existing chime from the standard doorbell is slightly louder ...
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Identifying thin plastic sheets between interior walls
I needed to run a cat6 cable through an interior wall between the living room and the office. Upon removing the drywall to insert a low voltage bracket, I realized there was a thin, opaque, plastic ...
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CAT5 port suddenly stopped working but all connections are good
I have a CAT5 jack that was working fine and seemingly stopped transmitting data all of a sudden. I use this for my TV's internet connection.
My setup is pretty basic and straight forward. I have a ...
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How To Check Electrical Current
I believe the PSU in one of my gaming consoles is shot. I was attempting to test the current using Woods Analog Multimeter
Will this tool do the job and tell me if the voltage from the PSU is within ...
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Can I mix AV and Power cables in the same raceway?
I've read that you cannot mix power cables and low-voltage cables (in my case: HDMI, CAT6, USB) in the same raceway (that plastic conduit that stick to the outside of the wall)
But in every home I've ...
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Small-Scale Low Voltage Lighting Separated by 175'
I am looking to install a new, all-LED low voltage lighting system. Basically I want to illuminate the 2 edges of my lot with 100' of 12V up lights and a few path lights. It's a pretty small system, ...
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Any prescribed zone or similar concept for extra-low voltage/DC and data concealed wiring?
Is there any concept of 'prescribed zones' (née 'safe zones') - or interaction with those for concealed mains wiring - for other concealed cables?
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Metered Electricity
I live in a 20 yr old motorhome that is parked in an RV park near Roseville Ca. The park has 90 separate sites each side has its own electrical tower to plug into. Each tower has a 50amp,30amp,and a ...
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T-Tap Connector for 12/2 Low Voltage Landscape Lighting
I'm looking to install wiring for some outdoor post lights. More specifically, I will have an approximately 150' run of low voltage wiring with 9 evenly spaced T intersections. Each T will have an ...
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Is there a good way to get 12v into an electrical box?
I have a bit of an odd situation. I have a standard outlet (120v, 15 amps, just a normal United States receptacle). I'd like to run some raceway conduit up from the outlet*. At the other end of the ...
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Interfacing line and low voltages for automatic receptacle control
I would like to build some electronics to automatically and individually control two receptacles on a 20A circuit.
Is the following a good plan?
Fish 12/4 NM through the wall from the receptacles' ...
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Install old work low voltage bracket in too big hole
I'm trying to repair a low voltage outlet that was butchered by our cable installer. I was hoping I could reuse the bracket he had used by the "wings" were on serrated or corrugated tabs ...
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Should I change how this switch is wired for a low voltage light?
In my kitchen I have these three switches. From left to right they are:
Cabinet accent lights
Under-cabinet task lights
Garbage disposal
The middle switch no longer functions properly (it looks like ...
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What kind of conduit for cable riser raceway?
Some background: I asked a longer version of this question here.
I recently bought a late 70s, two story home. I am working on (i.e. planning and budgeting) a project to wire the home for ethernet, ...
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Computer I/O Button on a Wall Plate [closed]
I am looking to put a computer monitor in my kitchen and the actual computer in my basement. I want to install a wall plate in my kitchen with a button that can turn the computer on and off.
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Finding unused Cat5 cables
I recently moved into a house built in 2015, and I’ve been trying to see how practical it is to wire parts of the house for Ethernet.
In the basement, there’s a bundle of 9 Cat5e cables. 6 of them ...
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Resurfacing a raised deck; want waterproofing (dexerdry); need gutters? Also: comment on plan?
Thanks for reading. I'm starting the planning stage of a raised deck (without space underneath) overhaul/resurfacing. I have one concrete question regarding waterproofing but would also appreciate ...
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Landscape lighting wire rough in for future, what wire, how deep? Other things to consider?
I am currently working on my landscaping and I have a concrete pour planned for the front paths.
I'd like to rough in landscape wire for future lighting. What kind of wire should I use, how deep ...
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Problem with AC low voltage
My AC won’t turn on and the thermostat is not functioning properly. Voltage reading at the thermostat fluctuates between 7-9 volts. No low voltage at the contacter. I am still getting 240 at the ...
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Is it possible to make an "energy harvester" that drains old batteries? [closed]
I am currently looking at my stack of old batteries at home, did some measurements and found that most of them contain at least some energy left. I was then thinking. What is I could make a device ...
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Low-voltage LED light strip through wall to outlet - Allowed?
I am installing some cabinets in my basement media room. I'd like to use a Philips Hue Lightstrip for accent lighting. The other side of the wall on which the cabinets are mounted is unfinished - it's ...
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Can I control a heat pump and boiler heat with one thermostat?
I want to swap out the old air handler for a new one and the old straight AC for a heat pump. I will not be putting a heat package in; I will use my boiler as the emergency heat.
The boiler is in the ...
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Wiring low voltage doorbell wire through exterior wall and studs
I currently have a battery powered doorbell that I would like to replace with a hardwired doorbell. Problem is, my house is not wired for a doorbell.
My solution is to replace the outlet in the ...
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LED lighting fixture driver busted - what can I replace it with?
A LED lighting fixture in my apartment (in Israel/Palestine) started flickering for a while before coming on, then went bust. I suspect it's the driver/power supply rather than the LEDs themselves, ...
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How to connect 14 guage speaker wire to LED light strips?
I am installing 12v undercabinet led light strips in my kitchen. I have in-wall 14-2 speaker wire and I'd like to use this to connect a 4 short runs (8 ft total) of LED light strips. Most of the ...
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Is it permissible to cover over an ethernet (or other low voltage) wall plate
I am building a built-in bookshelf that covers a good portion of a wall. I know it is not to code to bury an electrical junction box, so I moved an outlet accordingly. I also have an ethernet data ...
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What relay is needed?
I would like to use a thermopile to activate a 110 relay to turn on a fan.
What relay would be needed?
Thanks, Michael.
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How to control 120V power outlet with low voltage
I would like to power a 120V attic fan every time my AC comes on. The low voltage wire connecting the thermostat with the compressor (to control the compressor) runs through the attic (as the ...
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Voltage live to neutral low
I'm in the uk on 240V. I've got an extractor fan that isn't working. What I find is that at the fan and the switch that operates it, live to neutral is 160V. Ground to live reads 240 and ground to ...
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One of my IC1004-WH Legrand ON-Q Inquire 1000 intercoms isn't working, is it possible a POE injector would help?
One of my IC1004-WH Legrand ON-Q Inquire 1000 intercoms isn't working, is it possible a POE injector would help? It's a pretty long run, although other longer ones are working. It has worked somewhat ...
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What is a proper way to support/suspend cat6 cable in a drop ceiling?
I am trying to run some cat6 cable in the drop ceiling of my basement. I want to run 3x CAT6-CMP cables that from what i understand should not rest on ceiling tiles.
From what i have read, the ...
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Low voltage LEDs fluctuate from full to half to off and repeat
I purchased and installed 100' of 16/2 wire and eight lamps (LED Lawn Light 12W 2800K AC/ DC 12V) and Malibu’s 200 Watt Low Voltage Transformer. 96 watts of lamps, I was told, would be perfect for a ...
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How to implement a zoned low-voltage lighting?
I have about 80ft of exterior stairs with two landings to which I want to add three zones of low-voltage lights. I would like a 3-way switch controlling each zone at the top and the bottom of the zone....
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Low Voltage Home Wiring
I have a custom built new construction home, but I was not involved with the build process, so I don't know the thought behind some of the equipment decisions.
I am an engineer, so curiosity has me ...
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Making low voltage prettier/weatherproof?
I've got a big hole in my exterior wall where several coax and (old) phone cables punch through. It's just... there in the stucco. All of my low voltage wires are just hanging out on the outside wall ...
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Is it OK to use gray PVC electrical conduit for low voltage wiring?
I'm having my basement finished, and I am going to run conduit for low voltage (network) wiring in a week or two myself. I have been planning on using gray PVC electrical conduit like this, since it'...
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How to mount a 12V transformer for indoor lighting
I'm installing 12V lighting in my basement in the exposed joists. I bought this LET-75 transformer to run them, but I'm not sure how to mount it. There are no mounting holes of any kind, for one ...
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Low voltage vs. regular lighting for closets: What are the technical and code considerations?
I'm hoping to put some lights in a residential hallway closet, so it's easier to see inside. I am considering running low voltage lighting (eg. these LV pucks), or a small regular-voltage light ...
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Ontario 12VDC Electrical Code for LED Strips
Non-electrician here. I'm considering installing 12VDC LED strips along the ceiling perimeter of a room and I was wondering if there is any electrical code (in Ontario) regarding power delivery. ...
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Can I re-task a large conduit to hold a small conduit and low voltage cables?
To revisit our occasional questions on sneaking a low voltage cable into an AC mains conduit...
Suppose you have a fairly large electrical conduit, say, 1-1/2". You also have some sort of ...
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Low voltage on homerun
I have a homerun that goes directly to GFCI that is only getting 88 volts. From hot to ground is 122v, from neutral to ground is 23v. In the panel I am getting 122v also. I have 3 outlets past the ...
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Should I replace ELV 12V transformers with LED drivers?
I have 3 pendant lights, each with its own ELV 12v transformer stuffed into its junction box, controlled by a Lutron MA-PRO dimmer that supports ELV, MLV, LED, and incandescent lighting. I would like ...
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Low-voltage splices behind Drywall without junction box access?
For 120VAC, I know that 'splices' in NM/Romex are not allowed behind drywall: there must be a junction box to inspect the splice.
For low-voltage, such as CATV, how big of a deal is it?
The previous ...
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