Basic Electricity For Homeowners

Worth1 · January 19, 2017

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

ContainerTed · January 19, 2017

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.

Worth1 · January 19, 2017

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

Gerardo · January 19, 2017

Your pic reminded me of these types of setups.

Chronic problem down here.

diablitos.jpg

diablitos2.jpg

GrowingCoastal · January 19, 2017

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?

Worth1 · January 19, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrowingCoastal

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

AlittleSalt · January 19, 2017

Those wiring pictures.... WOW! (wow is more acceptable)

NewWestGardener · January 19, 2017

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.

Worth1 · January 19, 2017

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

Cole_Robbie · January 19, 2017

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.

AKmark · January 19, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

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?

ContainerTed · January 19, 2017

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.

Worth1 · January 19, 2017

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.

Worth

Rajun Gardener · January 19, 2017

From my experience doing commercial electrical, all that mess comes down to the company wanting the cheapest price to run wires so the GC runs it on the ceiling grid instead of securing the wire to something. It looks worse than it is and when your GC sends a pic of this to corporate and they think it's a total mess the price goes up.

I love those jobs!!!!

clkeiper · January 19, 2017

Good grief Worth, I think you need a raise just for looking at it. or a medal of valor.

January 19, 2017	#1
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	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

January 19, 2017	#2
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	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. __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

January 19, 2017	#4
Gerardo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Diego-Tijuana Posts: 2,598	diablitos Your pic reminded me of these types of setups. Chronic problem down here. diablitos.jpg diablitos2.jpg

January 19, 2017	#9
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	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 07:23 PM.

January 19, 2017	#12
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	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. __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

January 19, 2017	#5
GrowingCoastal Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Vancouver Island Canada BC Posts: 1,253	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?

January 19, 2017	#7
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	Those wiring pictures.... WOW! (wow is more acceptable)

January 19, 2017	#8
NewWestGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 564	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.

January 19, 2017	#10
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	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.

January 19, 2017	#14
Rajun Gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Tomato Cornhole Posts: 2,550	From my experience doing commercial electrical, all that mess comes down to the company wanting the cheapest price to run wires so the GC runs it on the ceiling grid instead of securing the wire to something. It looks worse than it is and when your GC sends a pic of this to corporate and they think it's a total mess the price goes up. I love those jobs!!!!

January 19, 2017	#15
clkeiper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 4,350	Good grief Worth, I think you need a raise just for looking at it. or a medal of valor. __________________ carolyn k