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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How do I uninstall a receptacle when the wires are stuck?
I just installed a receptacle in my basement and I realized I need to reinstall it someplace else. The leads are inserted into the holes behind the receptacle and I can't get them out!
The ...
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Can I install a 220V chandelier from Turkey on a Canadian 110V circuit?
I got a 70 years old chandelier from Turkey that is wired in 220V. The seller told me that the electric cable has been recently changed and that it will work in 110 or 220V.
I'm in Canada where the ...
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Why is my two way dimmer switch not working?
So I am putting in a dimmer switch, replacing a simple single pole switch. It is a simple two way, single pole dimmer, should be pretty easy. The existing switch works fine. AFter installation, the ...
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Is this an acceptable way to add a light to a 3-way circuit?
I have three way switches at the top and bottom of my stairs. There is a light at the top of the stairs controlled by the switches and I wish to add a light at the bottom.
A 14/2 runs first to the ...
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How do I install a receptacle box in lath/plaster wall?
I have a room with ungrounded electrical receptacles and I need to install a grounded outlet. The walls are lath and plaster. What I want to do is install a new receptacle box for the outlet. Is there ...
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Is this electrical junction up to code?
I was up in my attic a few days ago, and I noticed a pretty ugly electrical junction that wasn't in a junction box. Here's the pic:
Is this up to code? FWIW I live in north Alabama, outside city ...
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Testing a transformer
I have a Comfort home control system. This takes 15V AC via a transformer (from 240V). It's been working for years, but last week the fuse blew. It's a 250mA fuse on the mains side of the transformer.
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What's the best/official way to draw a building's electrical system?
We are installing home automation systems, and we have serious problems with electricians. Short: they are stupid and lazy. So, we have to do something.
There're some stories:
We have a spreadsheet ...
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Can I safely power a three-prong electrical device from a light socket?
I have a covered lampholder (light socket) outside my house that I want to use to temporarily power a plug-in string of indoor/outdoor lights. Using CFLs, the total wattage of the string of lights ...
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How can I create circuit diagrams and what program should I use?
Circuit diagrams are very handy. On this site, they can really help illustrate the problem or solution (see here). They can help you visualize what needs to be changed when doing work on your house, ...
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Is it necessary to connect a boiler and gas meter to the main fuse box?
We are getting a new kitchen fitted. An electrical survey has been carried out by the compnay installing kitchen. they have said that, our brand new and recently fitted, boiler needs a earth wire ...
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Is some asymmetry in a breaker box normal? What about neutral to ground having voltage?
So, next in my quest to evaluate the health of my new home's electrical system, and call in professionals if needed, was some voltage checking of the panels/outlets around the house. What I have is a ...
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Is there any legitimate reason you would NOT connect the ground wire on a circuit?
I've been doing some remodeling on my house and had the need to move some electrical outlets. While doing so, I noticed that the ground wire wasn't hooked up on any of the outlets in the circuit (...
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How can I stop my lights from dimming when major appliances start up?
So it appears that I narrowed down the cause of my Random Flickering- the faulty 20-amp circuit on the detached garage service panel (leaking 60 volts at some point between the breaker and the last ...
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Is it unsafe if some three prong outlets don't properly test as grounded?
It's me again -- the pest ;-)
On the general inspection report for the house we're looking at buying, there's a note about the house's electrical:
Some three prong outlets did not test properly ...
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