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Would a transformer protect a 24V digital flow meter if it received 48V? I purchased a new water softener for the house. It has a digital flow metering device. It worked great for a few days and then stopped working. Long story short, I finally figured out that the outlet I plugged it into was for 240V instead of 120V ...	It is not possible to know, without reviewing a schematic for the metering unit, if the unit was designed to work properly with a wide range of input voltage or not. Most well-designed products will have no trouble with a momentary transient but they may not be able to withstand continuous abuse.
How to put telephone plate back to the wall I have this telephone plate in the kitchen and the backsplash tile is brand new. I don't remember how it looks like before. There were only two wires coming out. Now I don't want to cut the tile and insert a box. How to actually mount this back into the wall (now tile ba...	I would just drill two holes into the tile and use plastic anchors to face mount it to the tiles.
Is it normal for a hammer drill bit to wobble? Last year I bought a Makita HR2470 for home use from German Amazon, because it had many positive reviews. Since then many negative ones appeared saying that the drill bit wobbles. There is also a user video on their site. It is an SDS-plus drill and I have an adaptor to ...	A wobble makes a larger hole than the size of the drill which prevents jamming of the bit in the hole.
Will walnut work for an office table? I am looking at getting a walnut butcher block table for an office because the dark color will work well with the existing color scheme. The maker offers a choice of "natural oil finish" and "varnique semi-gloss" whatever that means. However, I have never used walnut before. Are t...	I imagine you could check with the maker, but walnut oil is dark and you can stain your hands or clothes working with walnut.
Can you add another stove to an existing circuit? Suppose you wanted to put a second oven next to the existing oven in your kitchen. Could you simply add a second receptacle to the circuit? Hypothetically speaking, suppose your stoves were a Kenmore 970-678534, and a C970-502123, and your circuit had a 40AMP breaker ...	Nope NEC 210.23(C) limits 40A and 50A multioutlet branch circuits in dwelling units to powering fastened in place (i.e. built-in) cooking appliances, not freestanding ones. I would say the one should be installed with a 50A breaker (12kw) and #6 wire, unless the instructions say to do something else, in which case foll...
Header question for newly created exterior basement door I have an 1888 Victorian. I have hired a contractor to create an egress exterior door going into my basement. Originally the door to access the basement was on ground level but we needed to dig down and move the door access point to the basement level for several...	The header has to carry the load that was previously carried by the studs you remove, transferring it to the king studs on either side of the door. If the header is missing, the wall above the door opening may sag, the floor above the door opening may sag, but no additional load winds up on the floor around the door op...
Is it normal for GFCI receptacles to explode and burn? I noticed my tooth brush wasn't charging one morning and none of the plugs in my bathroom were getting power, I went down to the circuit box and saw a flipped breaker so I flipped it back and it immediately tripped again. I tried it once more with the same result s...	If there are other receptacles as part of this circuit before this outlet (e.g., possibly the bathroom that is on the same circuit), replace one of those with a GFCI receptacle. This happens all the time if an exterior GFCI is not weather-resistant. Exploding and burning equipment is not normal at all.
What is the advantage of a double pole switch over a single pole switch? I know that a double pole switch is used to cut off the current in both live and neutral wire simultaneously, but by using a single pole switch,if you switch off the current through the live wire, the current doesn't flow through the neutral wire ...	A double-pole switch is used where you need to isolate a circuit for safety reasons during maintenance of the circuit.
Can I run data cables in the same cabinet as a service panel? If the power panels inside my home are all enclosed (no exposed live wiring anywhere), am I allowed to route my data cables and coax to a router and (data distribution hardware) housed in the same room and wood back panel in which my power panel resides or d...	Don't attached anything to the existing wires, panels or conduit. In the same decorative wooden cabinet, yes. IOW, don't put anything in front of the panel.
Will my US 120v power tools work on UK 240v 50Hz? I may be moving to Scotland for my wife's job. Will my power tools and other basic electrical equipment (like fans and lights) work on 240v 50Hz? <Q> Probably not, but check the specs. <S> A lot of consumer electronics - e.g., computers, TVs, etc. will work fine on a ...	The frequency is a particular issue with motors, so even if you use a transformer to go from 240V to 120V, the motor may still not work correctly, leading to it running too slowly and/or premature wear.
How can I frame around a service panel in the corner of the room and maintain clearance? I'm refinishing my basement (1952 CMU masonry duplex) and need help figuring out how to frame around the electrical box that was replaced before the we put up the insulation. Unfortunately, the panel's location is in the corner of ...	Your cover door would need to be hinged on the left side of the panel (if allowed) my current area allows decorative covers but a label has to tell what is behind the panel and it can not be locked. Distances shall be measured from the exposed live parts or from the enclosure or opening if the live parts are enclosed. ...
Is it bad to close furnace dampers in order to balance temperatures seasonally? I have a two story home. As such, it's always hotter on the second floor than the first floor. As advised by many articles and how-to videos out there, I usually close the dampers in the ducts leading to the first floor in the summer, so t...	Yes, if you close too many dampers, you can overly restrict air flow which will burn out your furnace motor. When we design heating/cooling systems, we try to balance the air flow so more air can go where there is greatest heat loss/gain. This will reduce wear and tear on the entire system.
240v baseboard heater on a 120v circuit using a step up transformer ? I have been wondering if this is possible or not? If you wanted to run a 240v ac baseboard heater on 120v ac couldn't you just just use a 120v ac to 240v ac step-up tranformer? I already know what happens if you would run a 240v baseboard on a 120v c...	You could use a transformer at the panel to step up the voltage from 120 to 240 and run more power at the same current on the same wire.
How to test if both Hot wires are disabled without Neutral? Supposed the breaker is off but the left side is still hot (let's say breaker defective). Won't it work if you measure the terminal in the hot right and load left like in the following picture? Why won't it work (if it won't work)? Original message: I'll ...	First test the load side with the breaker closed and record that voltage, i.e. 240V. Then open the breaker and test it again, if both sides are open, it would read zero.
Architect drawing home addition by hand I am planning to expand master bedroom and hired an architect to draw the plan. What I learnt is that he drew diagram by hand and not using CAD. He is an old guy. But I am wondering if I should be concerned now? Given this age, everything has to be exactly accurate and submit as ...	I learnt the technique and talked to those architects. Hand drawn drawings will be more scrutinized by the permit authority. No, a proper plan will include all measurements and you can be accurate enough by hand to create a to-scale plan. You haven't been seeing the plans every day and may find some issues the architec...
Weird smell from electrical disconnect box when appliance is on I have a 240v, 48amp (60 amp breaker, 6 awg NM-B wire) car charger outside that has a disconnect inline and last night I noticed a really weird smell in the room the wires to out to the charger from. I tracked it down using my nose to the disconnect box (o...	I would shut off the supply breaker and then open your disconnect and look for anything that is damaged. Bad connections and bad contacts generate heat, the heat can damage the insulation of the wires, and even cause a fire. and that is the top end of your circuit which you have installed to charge your vehicle. Stay s...
Using conduit from ceiling to wall for closet switch? We're adding a wall to separate a garage and want to put outlets and a light switch in the wall but it was installed aligned with a steel beam above it so there is no way to fish a wire down into the wall from above. Would it be within code to come down from the cei...	Surface conduit is an option, and can just fit one cable, but again two cables will be too much for systems like normal size Legrand Wiremold. The short answer is yes, you can run EMT conduit exposed, it's done all the time. If you work with it all the time and own a bender, it's easy to work with, and cheap. Don't try...
Should I protect a shipping container from direct contact with the ground? I'd like to buy a shipping container (something like the picture below) for my plot of land. However I heard some people saying that it can't go directly on the lands earth (don't know if it is true or not). So what should I use between the eart...	The solution that I have seen most commonly is to use wood to hold it up.
Circuit breaker won't turn back on after being turned off (not tripped) I turned off all the breakers of my home to work on my electric. When it was time to turn the circuit breakers back on, 3 of them wouldn't: the one for the dishwasher, the one for the dryer and one that says "Kitchen GFI". The breakers are NOT tri...	Switch off the main breaker and see if the branch circuit breakers will reset. But check everything you did - and if need be take pictures and then carefully disconnect any new switches, outlets, etc.
What screws to affix TV mount to wooden stud partition? A 70" TV weighing 35kg is being mounted on stud partition wall using a fixed position TV mount which is 600mm wide. It will hit two studs approximately 230mm apart in the centre of the TV mount. While studs are normally 600mm apart, they are closer together beside...	The rule of thumb I use is 1" of screw into the framing behind the drywall and the plywood.
How dangerous is induction in my wires? I had to replace a cable going to a light switch. The cable was about 7m long and contained three (1.5mm^2) copper wires, with a distance of about 2mm between any two of them. Source One wire was the hot wire that constantly provided 230V, 50Hz alternating current to the switc...	Better meters for house wiring and other electrician type tasks have a low impedance (low Z) voltage test, in which the meter itself has low enough impedance that it will make these phantom voltages vanish.
How can I remove residue left after removing aluminum foil from my windows? Let's see whether this is a question for DIY or for Chemistry. I put up aluminium foil on my windows for a few days, to test whether it was a good way to avoid the heating by the morning sun. I put it up on the inside, by wetting the glass wit...	Clean the glass as if you are cleaning corroded aluminum, with vinegar and water. If I had to do this again , since the results seem to depend on the particular glass pane, I think I would first start with caustic soda on a corner. Notably, I tried "lubricating" as others have mentioned with soapy water or windex, but ...
What are some quick and affordable insulation solutions for a shed? I'd like to use my wood shop in the winter. It's a detached, 20x14 shed and I installed a 5000watt garage heater already but it takes a while (hours) to heat up and it's probably very wasteful since there is no insulation. I'm looking for the best plac...	I'd say I'd use foam board on the ceiling, it will be easier to deal with than bats. If your heater is convection type (with fan) then swap it for radiant heaters.
Electric boiler and dryer same breaker? I'm adding an electric boiler 240 volt. Can I use the same breaker from the dryer? I don't have room to add another breaker on my electric panel. <Q> If you live in the US. <S> Then NEC Article 210.23(2) states that you cannot exceed the circuit ampere rating more than 50% of the...	You might try to revisit your Panel and see if it accepts half size breakers and see if you can create some space in it, or the only other practical solution I can see, would be to install a subpanel.
Two power sources in a single gang switch box I'm in the process of upgrading a bunch of switches in my house to TP Link Kasa smart switches. I just opened a switch box and I don't understand the wire configuration in it, and was hoping to get some explanation about what's going on. Here's what I see: When I turned o...	Black 1 (switched line) is the switched loop controlling your light fixture (in newer installations it's a red wire).
What do I need to know for wall-mounted desk I'm trying to build a rather large desk that's going to hold 2 computers 2 monitors and accessories associated with them, and well, 2 humans working all day long and occasionally resting on the desk. I've already picked the countertop, which is a 2000mm/600mm/28mm in size ...	I would do this as a combination: do it wall-mounted, but support the front length of the table with some kind of table legs which help reducing the torque at the wall. Legs are your easiest and likely cheapest option.
I want to install outlet on existing junction box I tried to install an outlet on existing junction box as below, but failed because it's too small to put in. I have 3 solutions to think. Remove junction caps and put 2 outgoing lines into backstabs and screws, so it works as junction Buy conduits and extend another ...	GFCI devices are able to protect a downline circuit, e.g. A GFCI circuit breaker does exactly that. If there's no upstream GFCI, you need to have a GFCI and it needs to be weather resistant. That box has plenty of room, but you need to be strategic in where you place the wire nuts. Many people use those terminals accid...
What type of tool do I need for this screw with a pin in the slot? What type of tool do I need for this screw holding my license plate? <Q> This is secure hex bit or similar. <S> There are a bunch of varieties. <S> The basic idea is to take a "normal" head (e.g., a standard hex or Torx) and add something to prevent ...	You need a TX Torx bit or screwdriverOrdinary torx bits are numbered T10, T20 T30 Etc.
Convert Full Switched Receptacle to Half Switched I have a switch that controls both halves of an outlet. I want to convert it so that it only controls half the outlet, leaving the other one hot all the time I found a diagram online, does it look right? <Q> The incoming hot is switched, and there's likely no constant h...	If the switch cable does not go through multiple studs to get to the receptacle, then experts might offer hope you could do this. It's probably not possible with your configuration.
What is the correct way to wire a 3 way switch where power comes into the middle switch? I found checked two books and neither had the diagram. Only I found two separate diagrams that did not work. The setup: Box 1 with 3 wire runs to box 2.Box 2 has 2 wire power in, 2 wire to light and 3 wire to box 1 Both Diagram...	So in the /3 cable, tape the black and white wires with yellow tape.
help me interpret the results of an outlet tester on some GFCI receptacles I'm trying to figure out what might be wrong with some exterior GFCI receptacles that I have. The problem is that this is an old house, and I'm not really sure what is happening between the receptacles and the breakers. Since the receptacles a...	Part of your problem may be: too many GCFI's.
How to remove broken light protector/cover from inside oven? I bought a 6 year old house, and the Previous Owners did basically zero maintenance. The oven is a Bosch underbench electric unit, and it looks like the glass cap/protector for the interior light has broken off at some point, so they kept using the oven with...	I have had some luck with a hot oven and needle nose pliers getting stuck fixtures apart, make sure to unplug prior to doing this, also I have found that sometimes turning clockwise (tighting) then back counter clockwise can help break loose whatever is causing the glass to stick. Looks like the heavy handed ‘bash it w...
I ran out of propane and now the water heater pilot light will not stay lit I had run out of propane. Now that I have propane, I can’t get the pilot light to stay lit on my water heater, nor will it stay lit even long enough to light the burner. Click for larger view: <Q> I have had similar problems in the past when r...	First, any time I can, I use a propane torch to heat the thermocouple and light the pilot.
Can I reduce the width of a board half an inch by sanding? I am building a bed frame. Like a fool, I thought 2 x 4 lumber was actually 2 x 4 inches. Now I have a gap that is .5 inches too wide on either side of my frame. I'm wondering if there is a good fix for this without reordering more boards. <Q> It is not feasibl...	If something is too long then cut off the additional half inch using a saw.
Electric shock through laptop case and LEDs stay dim but on when switch is off There is something wrong with the electrical wiring in my house. A few LED lamps stay on (but dim, with the intensity depending on the location of the lamp) even when off. In addition, I sometimes get shocked by my laptop case. The shocks ...	Getting any kind of shock from the outside of a laptop plugged into a mains socket is a sure sign of some sort of fault. If you want to keep the voltage constant you wire in parallel. All together it seems serious enough tp call in an expert.
20amp circuits with 20amp receptacles Hi Is it a problem to have a number of 20amp receptacles on a 20amp circuit-breaker like a number of 15amp receptacles on a 20amp circuit? Or should a 20amp circuit have only one 20amp receptacle? I have read numerous electrical books looking for this answer and not see it [if it i...	There are other rules in NEC or building codes which, in some cases, limit how many receptacles you can have on one circuit.
How to tap into a light switch whose junction box is already full? I have a light switch I want to tap into to add another power outlet a few feet away. I believe this switch's junction box is already too full to accommodate adding new wires. I think I would have to re-wire things so my new outlet goes to this switch...	Trace that hot line back somewhere to see if it's in another box that you can tap into.
pick thickness of the engineered wood planks I'm considering to install an engineered laminate floor on the plywood subfloor, the planks vary in thickness. How do people normally pick the right thickness of the planks? I understand that there will be underlay installed as well, which has its thickness, and the laminate...	You want the thickness (don't worry about settling) to be equal to the floor it is meeting. The thickness does matter in that if the two floors are at different levels (1/4" will be fairly noticeable), then your T transition will slope. So the only issue I see is if the wood flooring that you are meeting with is pretty...
How can I convert a single light/fan switch to separate switches? I have a single switch for ceiling fan and overhead light. I’m looking to wire to a two switch plate so I can run independently. <Q> Assuming that you currently have 2 wires (plus ground) going from switch to fan, you will need to do the following: Add...	If you have individual wires then you just run another wire (make it a different color from the existing wires) through the conduit from the switch to the fan.
Are my GFCI outlets tripping each other? GFCI 20 amp breaker in main panel powers 1 bathroom on far end of house, 2 lights 1 fan on switches, and 2 GFCI receptacles. Occasionally the power panel GFCI trips. I think the GFCIs are fighting each other. I believe this is redundant and should not be wired this way because...	If the ground fault is between the circuit breaker panel and one of the bathroom GFCIs then the circuit breaker GFCI would be the one to trip. A GFCI will not trip on a ground fault that is not downline of it.
How can I cut copper water pipe to add a fitting? I am used to working with PVC and CPVC, but these are copper pipes that I am thinking about adding in a water cooler that needs a water line. My question is, obviously I can't use the CPVC scissor like cutters to cut copper piping, so how would I cut the copper piping ...	I find that a good tubing cutter is preferable to a hacksaw when using these fittings, because the tubing cutter makes it easy to make a perfectly square cut.
Repairing Hole Drilled Vertically in Joist I'm remodeling my kitchen and pulled up the old flooring down to the joists. I discovered that a hole was drilled down into one of the joists, nearly 3/4 of the entire height of the joist. The joist is a 2x10, spanning 14 feet. The options I'm considering are: Add a new joi...	You could just remove and replace the old joist, but I don't know if that's worth the trouble, the extra joist won't do any harm there.
Bare copper wire under kitchen sink I have a bare copper wire that runs from the breaker box to the hot water hose under the kitchen sink. The electrician did this. Is this safe, if not how do I fix it? <Q> Carefully inspect your Grounding Electrode System <S> This shouldn't be it. <S> The Grounding Electrode Sy...	That is to say, maybe that ground wire isn't there to send fault current through the water heater, but rather to prevent fault current from a troublesome hot-water-connected device (cough dishwasher cough) from going through the water heater. It's not a code requirement or a standard practice.
The inside coil of the A/C unit has ice on it when the temperature outside is cooler than 65 degrees The inside coil of the A/C unit has ice on it when the temperature outside is cooler than 65 degrees. Freon has been added, but it has iced up again six months later. What is the problem? <Q> Most A/C units do not work ...	Ask the HVAC people that service your unit to install a "low ambient control device" to help keep the head pressure up to allow the unit to operate below 65 degrees.
How to fix edge of tile that cracked Our tile flooring cracked and I am wondering what the best method is to repair it without actually repairing the whole tile? <Q> It would be easier for people to see what's going on if you move the rug to photograph the whole affected area. <S> It's impossible to tell the extent o...	If you can't find a matching tile, an artist may be able to mask the crack by painting filler to match the tile's pattern.
Is it best practice to paint bath walls before before installing vanity, tile and sink? Should I paint the drywall walls, before installing tile, sink and vanity? <Q> Paint first You will have fewer things to mask/protect and fewer critical edges to deal with and less stuff getting in the way. <S> If you have large are...	So really you have a to do an analysis of how much room you have to work with, how likely you are to mess up paint job and how much extra time it will take you to paint around things.
Exposing a 220v socket in my condo I live in the US and own a few appliances (mostly audio) that are European, designed for 220V and don't have a built-in converter to deal with 110V. I'd like to find a way to use these in my condo, for which all regular sockets are on 110V. My understanding is that heavy appliances l...	That provides 208 volts between any two of three phase terminals and 120 volts between any phase terminal and the neutral terminal. The breaker box then has two live busbars, a neutral bar , and a ground bar, with the commoning jumper between the latter two. The equipment should be marked with a voltage range and frequ...
Leaky drain, round 2: Trap joint won't stop leaking I've just replaced the trap on a sink drain, and I can't get the replacement to stop leaking. The leak is coming from the where the trap connects to the wall stub (circled in the picture). There is no washer here; it looks like this is supposed to be a pressure fit ...	Still it is possible you could get the leak to stop if you loosen the slip joint under the sink, then tighten the union of the trap, then re-tighten the slip joint. Another possibility is to use a flexible tailpiece . Put a standard tailpiece onto the sink, a starndard trap like brhans mentioned, and a slip nut on the ...
Fill large gap in plaster with no lath An electrician recently replaced the electrical panel in my apartment and left an inch-wide gap in the plaster along one side of the box. Unfortunately, they had to cut through the lath, so there is no backing for a repair patch. I've included two pictures below. Any thoughts on...	Or alternatively for a quick fix, you could fill the gap with insulation and then tack wooden cover trims either side to blend in with the existing wood work below and above, paint them white and the jobs done.
If it is not going to actively heated or cooled, is there any value in insulating a garage? In Southern California, during new construction with a finished garage, the cost of adding insulation at this point should be low. But if the space will not have any active cooling or heating elements (outside of a tankless wat...	Extremes of temperature are moderated by building's thermal mass*, which (with the insulation) helps it resist changes in temperature.
Replacing two 3-way dimmer switches with two non-dimmer 3-way switches I had two Lutron 3-way dimmer switches for my bedroom lights. They looked something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Lutron-MAW603RH-WH-Electronics-Maestro-Dimmer/dp/B000BQMVXC I replaced the bulbs w/Philips Hue smart lightbulbs, so I needed n...	When you flipped the miswired switch to the other position, it then connected the common to the miswired traveler, allowing the other switch to control the light normally.
How to mount powerboards with strange holes? Wondering how to mount these powerboards, with this illogical mount hole design. As seen in the picture, each of the keyholes are facing in a different directions. This makes mounting extremely tedious, and almost impossible to get straight. You can’t treat it like a regu...	The best way to find the proper screw locations for devices like these, and indeed for any keyway mounted devices, is to place a short screw in each keyway, pushed all the way into the narrow end of the slot, and then press or tap the device against the wall in the desired location.
What's the best way to remove a rusty, broken screw from a tiled bathroom wall? The previous inhabitant of our apartment used screws which aren't rust-free in the shower. Now the screw holding our shower head rail broke off - or rather, just "came off" without any resistance. The part of the screw sticking out of the ...	You need to determine if this screw was penetrating a stud or if it is in a plastic plug type anchor or a toggle if it is in a stud move up or down a bit and drill a new hole through tile and backer then a pilot hole into stud mount with a stainless steel screw.
How to connect router to patch panel in new home I recently moved into a new home (new build). Comcast installed my internet, but was of no help getting my ethernet working. My builder told me the modem needs to be connected in here and then the router needs to be connected to the patch panel for the room I want to ...	Assuming your yellow cable is good, and this cable is connected to a room with an actual device plugged in, AND the yellow cable is plugged into a LANport on the router, you should be all set. You should, if a new build, call the contractor and ask them to confirm the wiring order to the specific patch panel they used....
New Switch for Outdoor Area Lights I'm working on replacing an old rotary timer switch with a new smart switch, that controls two outdoor area lights. However after getting everything wired up, the switch is not turning on the lights. Here's what I'm working with. Old rotary timer and wiring: There's also more info o...	The type of smart switch you are using is one designed to operate without a neutral connection and as a dimmer for indoor lighting. You are going to have to install a proper electrical box in the wall to secure the Romex cables, contain the electrical connections and provide means to mount the switch.
Outlet in Kitchen Not Working Haven't seen my exact question answered on here so forgive me if already has been. Here's my issue - there are 3 outlets around my kitchen counter. The first is a GCFI outlet that I'm assuming has the other 2 chained two it. It works fine. The next one works fine too. The last one however...	I would check for another outlet behind the middle or last outlet on the other side of the wall and a broken wire or loose wire nut could be the cause. If you find one, that is likely to be the source of the problem - and hopefully easy to fix. Kitchen countertop receptacles are allowed to be on the same circuit as cer...
Do HVAC technicians need to be registered or licensed? We had several HVAC companies come out on a Sunday to look at our furnace. Unfortunately, it could not be fixed. Each contractor offered their solution and did not charge us for their time- but if they had to fix it it would be more because it was Sunday. Everyone ...	Licensing for technical trades (plumbing, electrical, HVAC, roofing, etc.) is generally about making sure that the contractors have the background/training/knowledge to do the job in a safe & effective manner. In most places that I know of, the actual fees charged are entirely up to the business & the consumer - for ex...
Protect screws in joint and make it look nicer? So this is what the joint looks like. It's solid, but as you can see, the screws are exposed so they'll be rusting pretty soon. Also, the joint looks horrible. It's PT wood. What can I buy to make it look nicer, and the same time, strengthen it? <Q> Is that a hand rail...	If it is a hand rail, I would get a better untreated wood that can cover over the entire arrangement, then use a safe stain or sealant on that new wood.
Can I run PEX directly into my clothes washer? Aside from the difficulty of finding the right fitting, is there a specific reason I need to connect my clothes washer to the taps via a hose instead of directly via PEX? I ask because hoses are regarded as a poinit of with a high likely hood of failure. Given PEX and ...	All though I am not sure if this is a code enforcement issue, the one issue I see is the flexibility of the hoses to allow the machine to "wobble" or "jump" when out of balance.
Should a chainsaw go dull so quickly? I recently moved to a new home which had a lot of felled trees which needed to be bucked up into logs. I bought a 14" Husqvarna 967158004 to accomplish this. The shop I bought it from gave me a lot of maintenance information which was greatly appreciated because I don't have ex...	Any blade (even a lawnmower) will dull after constant use, but a chainsaw is doing a lot of work, and most of it by the blade.
Are Sonoff smart switches actually UL listed? Sonoff is a system that comes up often on this stack. However, I notice it seems to be of unusually low cost, not available in retail shops, sold widely in the "dodgy side of the internet" (eBay, Amazon Marketplace, Ali, etc.), and I only ever see the fairly meaningless CE...	The NEC does not require UL listing, but it may, depending on the type of product, require "listing" by what's referred to as an "NRTL", Nationally Recognized Testing Lab, of which UL is the most widely known. No listing for UL, ETL or CSA listing just the meaningless CE , I also did not see an FCC certification when t...
Are loose teeth in a saw blade a safety concern? When I watch videos on using a table saw safely, it almost always is about kickback.I realize, that kickback is the most dangerous hazard, but are loose teeth, that could become projectiles, when disconnecting from the blade really no issue ? For example in case of an ma...	Loose teeth on a modern table saw blade are indeed a thing to be concerned about.
What Type of Ducting Should Be Used for a Bathroom Exhaust Fan? I'm planning on installing a Bathroom exhaust fan (Just a note, the port is 4") and am curious as to what kind of duct should be used. I've heard that the duct should be insulated to prevent water backflow from condensation during the colder months as m...	There is also available pipewrap insulation, Likewise, the Code requires a minimum of 4” flex or smooth duct for exhausting up to 50 cfm and a minimum of 4” metal smooth or 5” flex duct for exhausting 80 cfm and 4” smooth nor 5” flex is not allowed for 100 cfm.
What kind of glass should I use for insulating a garage door window? While insulating my garage door, I'm considering replacing the existing plain glass with something better. I'm considering replacing each pane, or simply attaching a second layer on the inside of the door, to create a double pane effect. What kind ...	For reducing thermal loss, glass is a really poor thermal insulator compared to plastics.
Wiring change 4 prong to 3 prong Can I change a 4 prong wiring to a 3 prong on a washer/dryer combo? Would it be the same procedure as it would be if it was just a 240 volt dryer? <Q> The new code requires that all 240-volt residential appliances that require a neutral to also have a separate properly sized ground wire...	Instead, you would change the cord on the dryer to 4-prong.
Is it acceptable to use a lighted switch with a switched outlet? The bedrooms in our house in California each have a light switch that controls power to an outlet in the room. The switches are the single-pole type, interrupting the black/hot wire. Is it acceptable to use lighted switches in this situation? (E.g., a ...	You certainly should not do this trick with any other load, so change the receptacle socket to one which is keyed so only lamps will fit. YES it is ok to have a lighted switch on an outlet. However, for the simple type with yellow yellow red , the lights are fantastic. Generally, these "magic 8-ball" testers suck for o...
Getting Best Signal With RG6 I have recently "cut-the-cord" and have dropped my TV service through my provider, so the only need for a RG6 cable is my cable internet service. My set-up is that the "orange" cable that leads from the pole to my house connects to a 6-way splitter like this: Cables run all through the ho...	As long as you are getting an acceptable signal level at the router, replacing the six-way splitter with a coupler won't accomplish much.
How can I repair this sagging gate door without replacing it completely? This gate is rubbing up against the wall of this house, and the locking mechanism is on the incorrect side of the post where the lock is and now the gate will not correctly open. I think the problem is just that the gate is sagging. How would you ...	I would purchase a kit that has a steel wire and turnbuckle setup attach to the hinge side top left and the bottom right, some of the kits have turnbuckle the wire rope clamps and brackets to screw into the frame work for under 20$.
Can dielectric grease be used in coax connections? I have two coax cables that need to splice together. I am using waterproof F-type connectors but I was wondering if a dielectric grease where the two screw in to each other would be harmful (signal issues, .etc.). This is the product: https://www.homedepot.com/p/CRC-...	If you are aiming for an anti-sieze application, it could work, just read the product label to ensure it doesn't react with the coating or metals used on the connectors and barrels you are using.
How can I fill a wheelbarrow tire when the bead is gapped away from the rim? I have this wheelbarrow with tubeless tire, I had to replace it with the new one, however I don't see how to pump it! The tire is quite stiff, and it was tricky to put it on the rim, but now it looks like the tire isn't well adjusted to the ri...	Sometimes you can jiggle the tire to effect a temporary seal around the bead as your compressor dumps air in.
Different gauges of wire My house is 54 y/o. Years ago the circuit panel was upgraded to all 20 amps with the exception of the AC and oven. I am adding a can light which uses 12 - 18 gauge wire. I chose 14 gauge. I am wanting to tie it in to the existing on/off switch which I believe may be wired with 12 gauge wire. Is...	You need to use 12 gauge wire. If your existing wiring is aluminum, you must also splice to new copper wiring with a Al/Cu nut to avoid corrosion. Also, any 20A receptacles on that circuit (Ms. Winky) must be changed to 15A receptacles (Ms. Horror).
What happens when using a GFCI Tester on a non-GFCI outlet? I have an outdoor power outlet of which I'm not sure if it's GFCI or not (House was built in 1978). The outlet does not have Test/Reset buttons, but I don't know if outdoor outlets even have them. There's no labeling for GFCI anywhere,. So I'm looking to purc...	No harm will be done testing a non-GFCI outlet using the GFCI tester, but if it does trigger an interrupter elsewhere, you'll need to locate that to reset it.
Why are light switch designs different between Europe and the US? Every single home I've visited in the US has one of these two light switch designs: In contrast, homes in Europes usually have their light switches designed like this: Is there a practical reason for this difference? Could I use a European light swi...	Because cover plates are generic and interchangeable: there are a limited number of opening shapes, and you've just seen them all.
Will three pairs of 12' 2x4 lumber provide a safe work platform for one person? I need to build a temp. floor over my basement steps which is a 9' opening, so I can do ceiling repairs where an old chimney pipe was pulled long ago. If I fasten 6- 2x4x12 together in pairs and place them on the side with plywood on top, h...	I think the most likely trouble is fastening this temporary floor / scaffold to the permanent structure securely and safely. In construction you usually use span tables to determine the distance you can span with lumber. The span tables for an attic with limited storage allow right around 9' of span for 2x4's spaced 16...
Any idea what these cables are for? We moved into a new house and I see these cables in our garage. They come from the ceiling and are right near our water heater and breaker panel. There are 2 cables. One cable is labeled “System to House” and the other is labeled “Back to Main”. One of the cable jackets says that it’...	My guess would be that the previous owner had some kind of telephone related equipment* installed at that location between the incoming line from the telco ("back to main") and the wiring to the phones in the house ("system to house") and that when he removed his equipment he spliced the wires together so the phones wo...
Should I solder stranded wires when connecting them to a plug? I'm about to perform a few electrical changes in my house in order to be able to control lighting fixtures (230V, 30 to 200 mA) from a PC. I have some doubts about the way stranded wires should be connected to the plugs. For instance, I suppose the way of ...	The wires in your picture are coming towards the screw from the correct side, but they don't wrap far enough around the screw, because you thought you should wrap the end around the connector pins instead. You should not use solder.
Can nonworking half of light set be removed? I have a set of regular Christmas lights, and one half of the set doesn't work. Can the half that doesn't work be removed and somehow join or solder the two remaining wire ends? The last working lightbulb has two wires going in, and only one wire going out. There's a third...	A bad bulb, or a poorly seated bulb, or a broken bulb lead, or a lead not centered well, or a wire pulled out of the socket is usually the culprit.
How to open holes in plastic electrical junction box How am I supposed to open the holes for the cables in a junction box like the one shown in the picture below? <Q> I would use a sharp knife, a so called utility knife, if I had one handy, but would try my moderately well sharpened pocket knife if that was all I had. ...	Alternatively , the box could be held down on a flat surface and the knife held with the cutting edge away from the thumb. The removal would be with a slicing action from above then the box flipped over for slicing the remainder. It can't pass certification without instructions, because certification isn't for all uses...
T&P valve is really tight, not able to remove it I have the below T&P valve, I'm not able to remove it to replace a new one.I saw there has some declaration above the valve which said it's the combination of the water heater, does this mean I can't remove it? If no, how to remove a very tight valve. Thanks a lot. <Q> O...	If the TP valve is bad, you have to replace it, even if it's risks damage to the threads.
How do I tell difference between doorbell transformer and furnace transformer? I’ve been searching for way too long for the doorbell transformer in our house (I suspect it’s not putting quite enough juice for a Nest Hello doorbell setup as the Nest Hello works but the chime doesn’t sound because the solenoid moves but ...	A furnace transformer will be located close to the furnace and in most cases is mounted to the furnace itself.
Is it a bad idea to drill a hole through this door frame to pass wires? I want to pass my ethernet, speaker and sub wires into my newly built media/bar cabinet, but I hate having to pass them under the door, so I'd like to drill a hole as shown by the green circle in the image. Bad idea? <Q> Not a bad idea what so ev...	I would suggest getting a hole cutter instead of drilling a hole so the hole can be future proofed if you want to pass more wires someday.
Kitchen lit with exclusively PAR20 spot lights, how can I reduce shadows? At some point somebody installed 6 can lights that accept PAR20 bulbs in my kitchen. It appears that PAR20 bulbs are for spot lighting, which means focused lighting, which means shadows everywhere. Shadows are not what you want when you're chopp...	However, that said, going with another base will allow you to use an adapter which will take space, allowing the bulb to hang lower, clear the enclosure and let you use a wider arc.
GFI kitchen receptacle blew up I was running my vacuum cleaner and suddenly the kitchen GFI receptacle it was plugged into popped with some black smoke, a burning electrical smell and blackened the receptacle itself. Did my vacuum cleaner die? Is it safe to try a different receptacle? Should I call the electrician w...	It should just trip if something is wrong with the vacuum, not smoke and blow up. Worst that happens is you see a few sparks and the breaker trips. Unless the fridge is plugged into a countertop receptacle. It could be that the GFCI simply died when under load.
How to seal joints in ductwork when tape is not an option The duct-work in the basement for my forced air heating system has been modified at various points over its long history and as a result had quite a few leaks when I moved in recently. I used foil tape to fix most of them, but I'm having trouble with the bigge...	If you want you can add duct-seal to the back of the patch, but the thick product forms a membrane on top of almost anything.
How long will metal pipe last in earth and concrete I'm building a fort for my kids out of wood, 8 foot by 8 foot and trying to work out how to make it last. I can't get treated wood, and apparently untreated wood rots within a year of ground contact even if painted. Can I make a base out of 3 inch pipe, with 2 foot l...	Be sure to treat the end grain and base of the post with the best preservative you have available, and it ought to hold up pretty well.
Can I replace a microwave with a range hood exhaust vent without doing carpentry? My fairly small kitchen has a standard (30") four-burner slide-in gas range, and above it a microwave with a built-in vent. All over 10 years old. The vent exhausts to the exterior via a duct that goes up into the cabinet above the micro...	Make sure to buy a range hood that is the same width as yourmicrowave.
Understanding my main box for Knob and Tube wiring I'm trying to map all my circuits and prepare for replacing my knob and tube wiring. I have three boxes and when testing voltage I notice my central white wire isn't hot. I expect this to be the ground, but it has associated circuits that have no load. Is this box a tw...	In this system, there are two lines (red and black in your fuse panel) and a neutral originating on the same transformer winding. That is why the fuse/wire in every other row of your fuse box will not register as hot if you touch it with a non contact voltage tester or measure its voltage relative to ground. Keep in mi...
Motion sensor with bypass switch? I wish to have a motion sensor on the lights in my garage, but I also want to have an override switch that works normally, and does not require a specific pattern to toggle the override in the sensor. Is this circuit workable? / Wall switch +------0 0-----+ ...	A quality, modern motion sensor with its own neutral isn't going to have a problem with its LOAD hot being externally hottified by a switch or other motion sensor. If you search for a HOA switch you'll find lots of switches that would work, but you won't find the type that you're used to seeing and using and looking at...
Scratch on wall - ceramic tile by accident I scratch ceramic tile in my bathroom while cleaning. Do you have any idea how can I remove/(paint?)/fix this? I tried a lot of home products (at start I though its just a tech pencil), but without result. Wall specification: https://www.paradyz.com/en/catalog/elia/elia-bia...	Or a white wax putty stick; the type used for furniture scratch repair. Try a cloth dampened on a corner with the solvent.
Room dead from light switch I live in a sun home trailer and the light really got on my nerves because when you flip the switch the light takes a minute to kick on and when it kicks on it is dim but it flips back and forth from dim to bright over and over for a while then it stays bright until you turn it off. So I dec...	You likely tripped a circuit breaker, blew a fuse or burned out a component somewhere. I highly recommend getting a professional electrician to help at this point. You have likely damaged the circuit. I would start by eliminating the appliances by moving them to a room that is still working.
Are these integrated diagonal wall braces structurally important? I was helping a friend expand the width of a closet door, and when we pulled the drywall off the interior wall frame, we noticed some 45-degree wall braces in the interior wall. I am pretty sure they are just for convenience during construction (e.g. a...	Sometimes framing of a short internal wall that TEE's into an exterior wall is braced that way if the exterior wall is: Intention was to eliminate a lot of flex in the exterior wall both during construction and when there is possibility of large gusty wind loads on the wall. I do suggest a doubled stud, however, and yo...
Repair tiny hole/scratch in copper pipe I discovered a very tiny hole/scratch in a copper pipe in my basement this morning. It looks like the scratch was caused by a screw that was holding up some wood paneling. The hole is in the middle of a run (not at a joint) and drips only once every 5 or 10 seconds. The pipe carr...	What I've done in the past is to saw a coupler in half lengthwise, use a file to remove the center ridge (unless you can find a "repair coupler" that lacks the ridge), thoroughly clean and flux the pipe and inside of the coupler, tie half of the coupler on with bare copper wire (after cleaning/fluxing it), then (after ...
Can I upsize my air conditioner if I have a two-speed compressor? The upper floor of my house has a split A/C, three-ton. When the temperature gets up above about 95 Fahrenheit, the unit can't keep the upstairs cool. That means that for a few weeks a year, my kids' bedrooms are still almost 80 when it's time to put t...	With mini splits each zone only heats or cools when there is a demand so if the compressor was undersized but the inside units were properly sized a larger outside unit may do the job and make your home comfort just right.
How big a hole can I drill in a top plate? I've got a 2nd story home theater room under construction. The framing has been done, but I'm going to be doing the wiring myself. I want to pass some conduit up into the attic space over the room for speaker and network cable. I've been reading the IRC 2015, and the wording...	That size hole in that location is not a problem.
How can I loosen a hard-to-reach square nut whose holder is broken? I've been attempting to disassemble a generator at work to replace the starter cord. Being a suitcase-type generator, it's proved to be excessively painstaking. However, it's almost apart - I just have one bolt holding the remaining cover onto the gene...	Since your bolt is already loose, you should have daylight to get the blade between the nut and the plate (i.e. you don't need to damage the generator) and cut the nut off. Or sometimes bike chain can be used to grab something you can't otherwise get to.
Can I run 8 4 bulb fluorescent fixtures only on one breaker? Electrical would 14 gauge wire 15amp breaker or should I use 12 gauge wire with a 20 amp breaker. It’s just lights only! <Q> I am assuming the fixture you are referring to is something like a 2X4 layin or surface mount fixture with 4' fluorescent lamps. <S> ...	If you still want to investigate using a 15A circuit, we would need more information on your fixture such as lamp and ballast type. These fixtures also need to be calculated as continuous duty or a circuit can only be loaded to 80%.
Why do the bedrooms in my home have split switched outlets? My wife and I are renting a house that was built around 2007 in Washington State. It has a peculiar wiring arrangement that I've never seen before. Every bedroom and the living room has two switches near the entry - one for the ceiling mounted light fixture ...	This is a rather easy problem to fix Modern receptacles have 2 sockets, and a nifty feature -- each side has 2 terminal screws, and a nifty break-off "tab" between them. Residential law requires you to "pull a permit" for any substantial electrical work, but excluded from that is trivial work such as "changing a recept...
How to remove tap with too much tape i think i've screwed this up and put too much tape on and can't for the life of me, turn it the other way round so that the tape isn't exposed so much. Anyway ideas? <Q> The fact that you can see the tape has no bearing on the success of the job. <S> If it doesn't leak consider the ...	That tape has a great way of gripping the seal, but once broken, it will be easy to undo. You could try heating up the part without the handle (female part).
How to get rid of cockroaches using natural products? They come from open junction box on kitchen wall, and they spotted around fridge. Recently been seeing one or two in bedrooms. I think its because I sprayed Raid in the kitchen. This been going around for a month or more now. The type looks to be german cockroaches....	I have had great luck with boric acid based products for ants and roaches and just about any bug.
Garage Door Won't Close, Reverts near bottom, Why? Background: Our doors are made out of wood. They are extremely heavy and around 30+ years old. Recently we notice our 3rd garage door stopping near the bottom of the track when closing and reverting back up. The only way to keep the garage from reverting back up ev...	I suspect the wood of your door is warped at that one place.

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