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Old January 19, 2017   #1
Worth1
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Default Basic Electricity For Homeowners

Here is the introduction to the electricity thread.
What I will try to do is explain some things about it and how it works.
The reason I say try is because I dont know it all.
What I will do is talk about some of the myths and the why's and why nots of things to do.
I will start from the pole to the house including the breaker panel and basic wiring.
We will discuss both AC and DC current.
Plus many other things to help folks out.
Worth
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Old January 19, 2017   #2
ContainerTed
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Worth, this is a great idea. Some good info on what comes from the power poles could save a life or two, and greatly reduce home fires and other accidents.

Good on you, my friend.
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Old January 19, 2017   #3
Worth1
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Thanks Ted.
Here is where I am today.
Have to remove my wire from the rest of this mess.
What a nightmare.
Worth
IMG_20170119_30107.jpg
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Old January 19, 2017   #4
Gerardo
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Default diablitos

Your pic reminded me of these types of setups.

Chronic problem down here.

diablitos.jpg

diablitos2.jpg
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Old January 19, 2017   #5
GrowingCoastal
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Hi Worth. I hope you don't mind a question as simple as the one I have.

I have a two light unit (for plants) that I would like to add a ground wire to.
It has ceramic sockets and they now hold CFL bulbs. Works fine once I wired it up but I worry that there is no ground. Does it need one?
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Old January 19, 2017   #6
Worth1
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GrowingCoastal View Post
Hi Worth. I hope you don't mind a question as simple as the one I have.

I have a two light unit (for plants) that I would like to add a ground wire to.
It has ceramic sockets and they now hold CFL bulbs. Works fine once I wired it up but I worry that there is no ground. Does it need one?
Many lights and lamps only have a ground connected to any metal that may be present.
I have 4 inch octagon boxes with the old round ceramic light fixtures.
Not really anyway you can get shocked unless the hot wire touches the box.
But I have that ground wire connected to each one.
Even then it would be hard because I would be on a fiberglass ladder.
My body would have to complete the circuit from hot to ground to get shocked.
No question is too simple.
Worth
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Old January 19, 2017   #7
AlittleSalt
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Those wiring pictures.... WOW! (wow is more acceptable)
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Old January 19, 2017   #8
NewWestGardener
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Thank you Worth for this. I will be following you closely. Good timing. I'm dry-walling my old basement which is full of wires and pipes, some of which need to be relocated when possible. I also need to replace a malfunctioning timer control (it keeps going and won't stop at "off") for a bath fan and just wondering how to do it after taking out the old timer switch. Then adding additional lights and outlets.
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Old January 19, 2017   #9
Worth1
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I will start this weekend right now I have seen enough wire to drive anyone insane.
I sent my boss a pictuer of the place I was working and he was flabbergasted I could do anything at all.
The place looked like a bomb went off in it.
You could call it a hostile work environment.
This is the place I saved all of the glass from.
Worth
Here it is.
IMG_20170119_59396.jpg

Last edited by Worth1; January 19, 2017 at 06:23 PM.
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Old January 19, 2017   #10
Cole_Robbie
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Wow, that's ridiculous, that whoever tore down the ceiling just left all their mess like that. It's dangerous, and shows a poorly managed job site.
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Old January 19, 2017   #11
AKmark
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Worth1 View Post
I will start this weekend right now I have seen enough wire to drive anyone insane.
I sent my boss a pictuer of the place I was working and he was flabbergasted I could do anything at all.
The place looked like a bomb went off in it.
You could call it a hostile work environment.
This is the place I saved all of the glass from.
Worth
Here it is.
Attachment 68942
What a mess, do you just start from scratch?
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Old January 28, 2017   #12
dustdevil
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Worth1 View Post
I will start this weekend right now I have seen enough wire to drive anyone insane.
I sent my boss a pictuer of the place I was working and he was flabbergasted I could do anything at all.
The place looked like a bomb went off in it.
You could call it a hostile work environment.
This is the place I saved all of the glass from.
Worth
Here it is.
Attachment 68942
Now you know why they call it a "drop" ceiling
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Old January 28, 2017   #13
Worth1
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dustdevil View Post
Now you know why they call it a "drop" ceiling
I was back there yesterday and figured out all of the wiring.
The boss was in the control room with another guy and the fire alarm panel went to hell.
What the!!!!!!.
Was that Lee cutting into the circuit?
No he wouldn't do anything like that.
He came down and I said yes I did.
What?
The guy is a fraidy cat.
I told him so I also told him I was tired of fooling around the wire had to go and the only way to find were it came into the room was to cut wire and check voltage.
This to see where it came from.
We did and we fed it back into itself in J boxes to isolate the room.
After I did that the wire started coming down.
This IS NOT 120 VAC it is supervised data and speaker wire for fire alarm.
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Old January 19, 2017   #14
ContainerTed
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Well now, Worth. I've seen something like those pictures before. But what I saw was "AFTER" the fire. Things were also a little bit smoked up.
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Old January 19, 2017   #15
Worth1
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Yep it is a scheduled push and the GC is a young kid.
BUT I know more about him than any other person and he is starting to respect me.
He Likes to cook.
We will go in and completely remodel the place.
This used to be the Spa at the Four Seasons Hotel in Downtown Austin.
Every job site is a mad rush if you cant handle it get out of the fire.
What a change from the cant do nothing for safety reasons stuff on the slope.

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