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New Electrical Work
Electrical work ranges from the installation of new electrical components to the maintenance and repair of existing electrical infrastructure. It may also include wiring airplanes, ships and other mobile platforms.
4,938 Questions
Open or short? If it's truly a short you have a major fire hazard. If it's an open circuit you may just have a poor connection at one or more of the duplex receptacles. Does your home have aluminum wire to the outlets? If so, you'll keep having problems and that too is a fire hazard. Aluminum wire tends to oxidize and otherwise end up with poor connections. You may need to get an electrician to solve the problem. But for now, find out which circuit controls the offending outlets. Turn on something that uses low power, such as a small wattage light bulb. Then go through the breakers to find out which one controls that line and mark every outlet that is on that breaker. Start at the breaker panel and tighten every connection. DON'T DO THAT WITH THE POWER ON!!!!! If you have any questions, contact a licensed electrician.
How do you upgrade a breaker box?
== == == == === === === === Home owner, big job In the trade this is called a service change. It is a complicated job in as much as you have to know wire sizes, ampacity of wires and proper electrical workmanship. Such a project should be left to a licensed electrical contractor to take out the proper permits and call for proper inspections. By taking this route it will leave you confident that if any mishaps happen to the installation down the road your insurance company will be behind you 100%. <><><>
As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed. Before you do any work yourself,
on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,
always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.
IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB
SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY
REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.
It's much safer to feed it from a separate breaker rather than double lugging to the service. Also make sure you use the right gauge wire for the amperage of the breaker you're using to feed the sub.
(LIFE SAFETY WARNING! [disclaimer]
Electricity is dangerous!
You can be injured or killed!
Improper installations can cause fire, injury and death!) The reason a poorly wired lamp [fixture] may seem to cause a receptacle to blow but have an effect on other receptacles when no GFCI or breaker tripped is that these devices are all wired in parallel [mechanically speaking] on the same circuit.
The fault current flows through the whole circuit, so every device is subjected to the same current.
1.] The circuit breaker on the main panel may be tripped, but not have an external mechanical indication. [The handle could be stuck.] Reset your breakers anyway and the circuit may reset.
2.] The breaker may have failed under the fault current and needs to be replaced.
3.] One of the splices or screw termination connections for the conductors in the circuit hs failed completely or partially under the fault current and needs to be repaired.
4.] You are possible mistaken, and there is some device in the circuit you have not recognized. <><><>
As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.
Before you do any work yourself,
on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,
always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.
IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB
SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY
REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.
Can you rewire an old electric stove with a three-prong wire to go into the extra dryer spot?
I am guessing that the stove runs on 240 VAC and that the four wires were Black, Red, White and Green. There would be 240 VAC between the Black and Red wires and 120 VAC between the Black and White and Red and White wires. The green wire is ground. If this is the case you need a plug that matches the original 4 conductor receptacle.
You need a 3 conductor wire with ground. For example if you had a 30 amp breaker for that outlet you would need 10awg 3w/ground. That's 10 gauge 3 conductor with ground and replace the old wire back to the panel.
You will need to use a circuit tester to identify the correct wires in your Mitsubishi Montero's wiring harness. Connect the red wire to the brake light circuit, green to the right turn signal, brown to the tail lights, and yellow to the left turn signal. Be sure to check your vehicle's manual or diagram for specific wire colors and locations.
It sounds like you're trying to wire up a dryer or an oven. Your old appliance has an old 3 wire cord and your home has a 4 wire plug. If you downgrade that plug your home no longer meets code. Put the new outlet back and install a modern cord on the appliance. New 4 prong plugs are required for new work. What you're suggesting is dangerous and violates the National Electrical Code and can cause you some serious problems with the insurance company, building department and fire department if the house catches fire and you're caught. Use the proper wire, breakers, plugs and outlets for the application. It's not that much more expensive and everything will work properly when you're done.
Why do two light switches need to be on in order to get any power to the lights?
For more information about two switches controlling one light see the Related Questions shown below.
* You need to have two switches on to get power to the light because you have them wired in series. * I going to go out on a limb here and say that you possibly are asking about three way switches and why are they functioning in this manner. * One of the switches or possibly both are wired incorrectly.
* You may be able to sort this out by yourself through trial and error, but it would probably be quicker to consult a local electrician.
<><><> By asking this question you are probably not quite ready to take on this particular task. The correct answer to your question will depend on the exact locations of the two light switches and the lights they control.
<><><> As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.
Before you do any work yourself,
on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,
always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.
IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB
SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY
REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.
Is it safe to repair a ripped electrical cord?
No, it is not safe to repair a ripped electrical cord. It is recommended to replace the cord entirely to ensure safety. Repairing the cord can lead to electrical hazards and pose a risk of fire or electric shock.
How do you wire a two-phase outlet for a stove?
Two-phase power is not generally available anywhere and three-phase is largely used for commercial and industrial applications.
Residential power in the United States is single-phase, limited mostly to 240V at the service entrance panel as two legs of 120V each plus a common neutral.
If that is what you're making reference to, please see the answers to the Related Questions shown below.
What is a 3-pole electric service?
I think you are referring to 3 wire service. There is also 3 phase service, wich is usually found in manufacturing settings where higher voltage or amperage is needed. But if its 3 wire service you wonder about, that is simply the 3 wires that come into most homes in the US. Two are 120 volts each, the third is a neutral wire. Each of the hot wires is connected via a main switch to the branch circuit panel, where all your circuit breakers are located. Generally the panels are arranged so half the breakers work off one wire, the other half work off the second 120 volt wire. In the case of an Electric clothes dryer, oven, water pump or HVAC system, it would draw power from both of the hot wires, thus, it would be a 220 volt appliance. Older homes primarly in the Northeast section of the US sometimes are still found with 2 wire service. That means they could not have any 220 volt appliances- which nobody had anyway back in the 1930's when most of the 2 wire installations came to a close.
=== === === === NO!
<><><> (LIFE SAFETY WARNING! [disclaimer]
Electricity is dangerous!
You can be injured or killed!
Improper installations can cause fire, injury and death!
Should you be doing this yourself?)
From NEC Table 220.55
The combination of elements in this unit sound like 14 kW.
The demand for a 12 kW range is 8kW. There is an allowance of 5% for each kW over 12, which makes this a demand load of 8.8 kW. At 240 volts, that is a load of 36.7 amps, which would call for a 40 amp circuit.
The ampacity controls cable size.
Cable type and insulation control ampacity.
As an example, copper # 8 gauge non-metallic sheathed cable would have an ampacity of 40 amps, which would be acceptable. Aluminum cable would have to be a # 6 gauge.
The Authority Having Jurisdiction has final say.
ASK YOUR INSPECTOR!!
<><><> I don't know of any Professional Electrician who would install aluminum wire inside a residence or business. That being said, you are in over your head and should hire a pro to advise and install your ovens and burners. Electricity and it's wiring is dangerous. Home Depot and Lowes associates are not Licensed Electricians! ( If they are, they are not very good.)
<><><>
As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed. Before you do any work yourself,
on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,
always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.
IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB
SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY
REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.
What size breaker and wiring should you use for an electric range with standard elements?
For USA, Canada and other countries running a 60 Hz supply service.
(LIFE SAFETY WARNING! [disclaimer]
Electricity is dangerous!
You can be injured or killed!
Improper installations can cause fire, injury and death!
Check NEC Table 220.55
The minimum circuit size for ANY electric range is 40 amps.
Circuit size depends on the nameplate rating of your range!
The Authority Having Jurisdiction has final say.
ASK YOUR INSPECTOR!!
<><><>
Ok where should we start? What is the total amp draw for the range? What plug and receptacle do you need? What size wire will safely carry the total demand of the range? What is the minimum size breaker that will protect everything? Can the service box handle the extra load?
There is a reason Electricians do what they do, they don't have to use the Internet ask such a basic question.
<><><>
If you had to ask this question here you need to learn more about your local wiring code re all the items you must use for a new household AC power range circuit.
Serious home fires can result from incorrectly installed new circuits.
So that the new installation is safe and legal - and complies with the terms of your home insurance policy - you must use the correct type and size of cable, the correct type of circuit breaker and the correct type of wall outlet.
From the local wiring code, a licensed electrician will know which size of wire to use because the answer depends both on the current to be carried (amps) and on the length of the run from the breakers on the main supply panel to the place where the outlet for the kitchen range is to be fixed.
<><><>
As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.
Before you do any work yourself,
on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,
always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.
IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB
SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY
REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.
(LIFE SAFETY WARNING! [disclaimer]
For informational purposes only!
Electricity is dangerous!
You can be injured or killed!
Improper installations can cause fire, injury and death!
Should you be doing this yourself?)
What is the largest size of sub-panel and wire that should be used from a 200 amp service for a basement apartment?
Sorry, it depends ...
Literally, it is a question of which manufacturer's load center the sub-panel is being derived from.
Some manufacturers, Square D [QO line] for example, have a 200 amp breaker, QO2200BB, that can be installed in the panel as a branch breaker. This would theoretically allow you to install a 200 amp sub-panel in the apartment.
You need to calculate the load for the apartment and size your branch breaker accordingly.
Remember that the neutral has to be isolated from the ground buss in the sub-panel.
<><><>
As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.
Before you do any work yourself,
on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,
always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.
IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB
SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY
REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.
Where should the green wires be hooked up in an older Caloritech hot tub?
There may be information supplied with the hot tub which will lead you to the tub manufacturer. Caloritech could just be the manufacturer of the water heating unit.
Look for a nameplate fastened to the inside face of one of the removable panels or the body of the tub.
Further enquiry may reveal that the green wires are ground wires or bonding jumpers.
<><><>
As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.
Before you do any work yourself,
on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,
always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.
IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB
SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY
REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.
There could be a problem with a circuit connection or a faulty outlet. Check for any loose connections and inspect the outlets for any visible damage. If everything appears normal, consider calling a professional electrician to diagnose and fix the issue, as electrical work can be dangerous if not done correctly.
== == By asking this question you are probably not quite ready to take on this particular task. The correct answer to your question will depend on the exact locations of the desired GFCI-protected socket outlets. <><><> There is not, per se, a standard for location of ground fault interrupt receptacles around sinks.
There are rules requiring the placement of receptacles
These can be found in the NEC in Article 210.52
NEC 210.52(D) mandates a MINIMUM of one receptacle outlet in a bathroom in a "dwelling unit" and states that it shall be within three feet of the outside edge of EACH basin, and in a wall adjacent to the basin or countertop, with exception.
The balance of Article 210.52 gives requirements for placement of other receptacles throughout the "dwelling unit"
There are rules requiring that these receptacles be GFCI protected
These can be found in the NEC in Article 210.8
NEC 210.8(A)(1) mandates that the required bathroom receptacle in a "dwelling unit" shall be GFI protected
The balance of 210.8 addresses other GFI protection requirements.
Kitchen placement is also in these Articles. <><><>
Electricity 101, Logically, anywhere you think you need one, and anywhere within 6 feet of the rim of the outside edge of the sink. <><><>
As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.
Before you do any work yourself,
on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,
always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.
IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB
SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY
REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS. == ==
Where does the two wires coming from an accel distributor connect too?
The two wires coming from an ACCEL distributor typically connect to the coil. One wire is for the ignition power source, while the other wire is for the tachometer. It's important to consult the manufacturer's instructions or a wiring diagram to ensure proper connection.
With 10-3 wire what wire goes where when hooking the wire to an enclosed disconnect switch?
Black wire to gold screw terminal, white wire to silver screw terminal, ground wire to ground terminal. I am sorry, I can't even begin to answer this question. I don't what you are trying to do and I am positive you don't either. Call a pro, please...pkazsr
European electrical equipment, fittings and fixtures have wires coloured as follows:
Brown for Hot (also known as "Line" in Europe)
Blue for Neutral
Green/Yellow stripes for Ground (also known as "Earth")
So it seems to me that your light fixture may have come from Europe.
For more information see the Related Link below.
As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed. Before you do any work yourself,
on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,
always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energizedIF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB
SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY
REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.
How do you wire a 4-prong 240V 30A outlet to a 3-wire sauna heater that needs 240V 15A?
== == You are not allowed to change a four-wire outlet to a three wire outlet.
You can change a four wire cord to a three wire cord.
That is VERY different! == I have answered this question at least 6 times. The 4 wire plug has a neutral and the 3 does not. An untrained homeowner who does their own plumbing can flood the house with water or sewage, on the other hand electricity can kill instantly. I wouldn't want to gamble my family's lives on my incompetence.....pkazsr 3 wire plugs are old and outdated. Way back in the old days they didn't ground equipment so plugs didn't have a ground. (Remember the old 2 wire 110V outlets on houses built before the 50s?) A few people got killed so they decided to add a safety wire. It took them longer to catch on with heavy appliances, but eventually they did. That it what the fourth pin is. Since many homes still have the 3 wire plug it is allowed in older homes. New homes must use the new 4 wire plug. Changing your 4 wire cord to a 3 wire cord is the same as plugging a 3 wire 120V appliance into one of those 3 prong to two prong adapters they sell. Your appliance works now, but is ungrounded. Don't listen to anyone who says to replace the new up-to-code plug with an older plug. That is the same as replacing your 3 prong 120V outlets with old two prong outlets! Ignore anyone who tells you to do so, they think they know a lot more than they actually do. Buy a new cord. It is cheap and safer.
The first thing you do is make sure the power is off before you work on any part of this project. Water and electricity and people don't mix very well. You could easily die. I'm serious. You can get a little shock from changing a light switch, but if you're grounded through water or a metal pipe, you could die from that same amount of current that gave you a little shock when you weren't grounded. It sounds like you're trying to convert a dryer outlet to a sauna power source. You'll need to replace the outlet with a hard-wired connection (you take off the outlet and put a blank cover on the junction box) in that junction box and extend it with 14/2 (with ground) wire to wherever your sauna is. Then you wire your sauna to the new wire. Here's the important part: YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE OLD BREAKER SUPPLYING THIS CIRCUIT
WITH A NEW, 240 VOLT 15 AMP TWO POLE BREAKER. If you're not fully conversant with electrical work, I wouldn't attempt this job. It could mean your life, or the life of one of your family members. Or you could all die when your house burns down. Whatever. Spending a couple hundred bucks on an electrician is worth it. Use angieslist.com so you don't get ripped off.
IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB
SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY
REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.
If you do this work yourself, always turn off the powerat the breaker box/fuse panel BEFORE you attempt to do any work AND always use a meter or voltage indicator to insure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.
The shield wire is not the neutral wire. You will need to connect the black and red wires to the hot terminals of the stove plug and the shield wire to the ground terminal. However, it is advisable to consult a licensed electrician to ensure proper and safe installation.
Welcome to Texas-New Mexico Power Company's Energy Management Guide. You will find information below to help you secure the best value for your electric dollars. We hope you will find this information interesting and useful. Topics include: How your bill is determined Factors affecting your electric bill Electric appliances General energy tips Power outage checklist Energy Guide label The big four for energy efficiency Check list for energy efficiency Appliance energy usage Calculating appliance use HOW YOUR BILL IS DETERMINED Generally, your electric bill varies from month to month. The size of your electric bill is determined by two things: . Watts, which is the amount of electricity that each appliance uses, and . Hours, or the length of time you use each appliance The combination of watts and hours - or kilowatt-hours (kWh) - is what we use to calculate your bill each month. So saving on your bill is as simple as reducing either the wattage or the time you use an appliance. Your bill may also vary because of the number of days billed. If your electric meter was read at exact 30-day intervals, your bill would always cover the same number of days. However, because of holidays and weekends, it is not always possible to read meters every 30 days. If your bill seems unusually high or low, check the period of time the bill covers. Often times, that is the difference. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FACTORS AFFECTING YOUR ELECTRIC BILL Many factors can affect your electric usage, and consequently your monthly bill. Below is a list of these factors to consider in your overall energy management. Conditions . Seasons of the year . Length of daylight . Weather . Five-weekend months . Long billing periods Changes in normal living conditions . Size of family . Average age of family . Visitors in your home . Children - new babies . Changes in living habits . Spring cleaning . Vacations . Repairs . Roomers . Hired help . Sickness . Special diets . Guests and entertainment . Sporting or special events on TV Appliances . New appliances installed . Additional use of older appliances . Larger refrigerator . Defective appliances - dirty coils . Shortage of coolant . Inefficient oven use for house heating . Excessive use of hot water . Leaking hot water faucets . Exposure of hot water pipes to air . Lack of maintenance such as clogged air filters and frost in refrigerator . Excessive cooling or heating . Water heater thermostat set too high New home or apartment . Larger than former home . Windier or hotter location . More leakage of air through windows or doors . Not adequately insulated . Larger air conditioner . Larger electric heating unit . Water heater farther from kitchen . More appliances -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer for USA, Canada and countries running a 60 Hz supply service.
(LIFE SAFETY WARNING! [disclaimer]
Electricity is dangerous!
You can be injured or killed!
Improper installations can cause fire, injury and death!
Should you be doing this yourself?)
How do you calculate the load? Every situation is unique. How do you cook dinner? Do you have pork or tofu? Get a cookbook.
The basic information is in the National Electrical Code:
Article 210.18, 220.25
Article 220
Article 430
Article 520
Article 550
p.s. - [hint] Electrical equipment is allowed to be operated continually [over 4 hours] at 80% of nameplate [nominal] rating, unless rated for other loads. This would suggest you can load your panel at 160 amps at 240 volts forever.
<><><>
I think the answer above is a very good one but may be more academic than you are looking for. You are probably thinking of adding something on and took a look at your service panel. If you start adding up the individual breaker amp ratings you will come up with a number that far exceeds the 200 amp main rating, that is not the way loads are calculated on services, if you have breaker space and unless you double the floor space of your home you should be able to safely add load to your 200 amp service.
<><><>
As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.
Before you do any work yourself,
on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,
always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.
IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB
SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY
REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.
