28
votes
Accepted
Should a device with a non-polarized plug touching hot and ground trip a breaker?
A normal breaker will not notice this particular error. You aren't drawing an unreasonable amount of current, it's just being returned along the wrong path.
A GFCI will trip.
- 21.3k
24
votes
What is this outlet in my garage and can I charge an EV from it?
Welders are very different loads
An EV is the hardest "hard load" ever seen on home electric. It runs at full nameplate ampacity continuously for hours. As such any EV circuit needs to be ...
24
votes
What is this outlet in my garage and can I charge an EV from it?
The answer is yes.... but*
The outlet appears to be a NEMA 6-50 which is rated for 240V, 50A. 6-50 is a really widely-used plug for cord-and-plug connected EV supply equipment, partly because it was ...
- 5,813
21
votes
Accepted
What is this weird 2 prong outlet in my kitchen?
The common socket you see everywhere is a NEMA 5-15. If you delete ground that's a NEMA 1-15. That there is a NEMA 1-15 socket for a wall clock.
Note the recessed outlet style, that's so the plug ...
18
votes
Accepted
Blanked receptacle in my kitchen island: Safe to install a GFCI?
Aside from the "rental" legal issue, all you know so far is that the wires are live. You don't even know if they are hot and neutral, because in standard US cables, you can't tell without ...
15
votes
Accepted
Kitchen receptacle not working even after replacement?
You describe a typical multiwire branch circuit (MWBC) as is normal for kitchen receptacles in the USA & Canada. Each half of the receptacle (red wire-black wire) would be protected by a separate ...
- 166k
14
votes
Blanked receptacle in my kitchen island: Safe to install a GFCI?
It's a junction box, NOT a receptacle, and being in a rental, no, your landlord would need to agree to hire a licensed electrician to change it to a receptacle, if that's even possible.
If it's a ...
- 166k
12
votes
Accepted
Can you cut the outlet-bridge clip and run a 2-phase MWBC to a single receptacle?
Yes, that's perfectly legal. The handle-tie (or single-handle two-pole breaker, e.g. QO) is critical - when two different hots go to the same yoke, it must not be possible to shut them off separately.
- 4,715
10
votes
Will installing European outlet in US change frequency to 50Hz?
No they do not convert the frequency.
- 101
8
votes
Accepted
Can I repair NM-B sheath stripped outside junction box?
With the power to the circuit turned off, remove the cable from the junction box and examine it carefully to make sure the existing insulation hasn't been damaged by the cable clamp. If the insulation'...
- 68.6k
7
votes
Can you cut the outlet-bridge clip and run a 2-phase MWBC to a single receptacle?
Yes, you can do that. However, keep in mind that some of the main uses for MWBCs are:
Kitchen - GFCI required for decades.
Workshop - GFCI usually required, though depends on a few factors. But ...
5
votes
Accepted
Why isn't light switch turning off the outlet?
Yes, it is quite possible that the two receptacles are linked. The way to tell for sure is going to take a bit of disconnecting/testing/reconnecting. (But the good news is you got "screw to clamp&...
4
votes
Will installing European outlet in US change frequency to 50Hz?
It is easy to change voltage. In fact, your utility sends electricity at thousands of volts and it is converted to 120/240 in the US, varying but similar voltage elsewhere in the world. For a long ...
4
votes
Need help identifying electrical wiring
Yes, the bare wire is neutral.
I would think twice about installing a receptacle. Most ranges can be installed hard-wired, and I consider that preferable. However, with aluminum wiring you need to ...
4
votes
Should a device with a non-polarized plug touching hot and ground trip a breaker?
It seems to be right.
One of the no-no hacks for a broken neutral is to use the non insulated ground wire to make the circuit complete.
A lousy test for a breaker is to place a piece of metal(wire) ...
- 16.8k
3
votes
Need help identifying electrical wiring
That is aluminum SEU cable. "Service Entrance, Unarmored". Since the service entrance (weatherhead through meter pan to main breaker) doesn't have ground, neither does this cable.
This was ...
3
votes
Accepted
Best way to install duplex receptacle in ceiling. 3" round box
To avoid doing more drywall I would swap that out for a 2 gang old work box and install two outlets. The box and outlet cover should cover the opening since the dimensions are 3.75" x 4". ...
- 96
3
votes
Why is there continuity between line and load wires to a light switch that is off?
The red wire from the switch is most likely LOAD to a switched outlet.
C is the LINE getting power from the panel, when tied to A & B. (A most likely from the panel.)
This makes all the black ...
- 8,688
3
votes
Why isn't light switch turning off the outlet?
I've replaced several old outlets in my living room.
Theres one outlet that had a switch leg.
One? That's a bold claim. They often have 2 or 3 that are switched.
It sounds like the second one, which ...
3
votes
What is this weird 2 prong outlet in my kitchen?
As Harper - Reinstate Monica says, this is a 1-15 clock outlet; historically common and now (in 5-15 form, ie grounded) seeing a bit of a resurgence for wall-mounted TVs.
Some regional codes specify ...
- 31
2
votes
What type of receptacle has three arc-shaped slots, one with an L?
Tl;dr: This is probably wired strangely. Don't use it.
That looks like an L11-30R. Picture at the bottom of this answer. The blade key configuration is wrong for an L6-30R, which has a key that turns ...
- 4,319
2
votes
Need help identifying electrical wiring
You got an excellent answer from Harper, but I'd like to add an important note: you can't connect aluminum wiring to copper wiring by simply twisting them together or using a wire nut! If you don't ...
- 213
1
vote
Routing wires in garage with a Shear Wall
It does appear to only be a shear wall. If it were paneled all the way down the wall, then it would be a fire wall, and you don't want to begin drilling holes in fire walls. If you're going to drill ...
- 19
1
vote
What is this black residue on my receptacle?
It does not look like to be electrical cause (arching)
It looks like is is dirt transfer from the plug.
Where does the dirt comes from ?
That depends where you put the plug when you unplug it.
- 11k
1
vote
What type of receptacle has three arc-shaped slots, one with an L?
It almost looks like it has 50A stamped on it, but I don't believe there ever was such thing as a NEMA L6-50 connector. Looks a lot like a NEMA L6-30R, and based on the breaker that would support ...
- 5,813
1
vote
What type of receptacle has three arc-shaped slots, one with an L?
It is a hubbell type 50 amp receptacle,hot, hot, ground, so about a nema 6-50, but will not match. According to this site. https://www.hubbell.com/wiringdevice-kellems/en/Products/Electrical-...
- 16.8k
1
vote
How do I wire two receptacles to a switch when the switch is at the beginning of the run?
If you have a switch followed by two receptacles, you bring in always-hot, neutral, and ground (connects to the box first, if using a steel box, and we do like those better) to the switch, connect ...
- 166k
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