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1500 questions
12
votes
4 answers
New Home Construction Electrical Schematic
I'm closing a new construction residential build.
The builder did not include any documentation on how the wiring was done. My question to the community is two-fold.
First, should I ask for some documentation on how the electrical wiring is…
rStrunk
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12
votes
2 answers
How can I mount an 12V transformer for LED lighting inside a wall?
The stairs to my basement has one light fixture at the bottom, and that casts a shadow on the rest of the stairs. I want to run a strip of LED lights up the crown molding or on top of the upstairs door to illuminate the whole area better. The plan…
kavisiegel
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12
votes
8 answers
What can I do to cool down the room?
The room is at south-west on the second floor, so a lot of sun exposure. The temperature got unbearable up to 36.5°C (97.7°F) yesterday. The outside was 37.5°C (99.5°F). I live in a hot and humid country. There are 3 windows in the room. I've…
user165673
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12
votes
2 answers
How can I tighten a bolt in a circular hole?
I've assembled a set of swings, and am trying to tighten the nuts at the top. The trouble is that they are embedded deep inside a circular hole and I can't get to them with a regular spanner.
What kind of tool should I be using? I had a good look in…
Urbycoz
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12
votes
5 answers
What kind of screw has a wide flange with a smaller head above?
What is the exact name of this screw type?
cern
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12
votes
7 answers
Tools/techniques to remove a long section from a wooden board
I am building interior wooden cills and from a 3m x 250mm board/plank (25mm thick) I need to remove a rectangular section about 50mm thick along most of its length, giving something like:
I have a circular saw and jigsaw but no plunge saw or table…
Mr. Boy
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12
votes
2 answers
Should a device with a non-polarized plug touching hot and ground trip a breaker?
I have the following:
a NEMA 5-20 receptable (typical 20amp grounded receptacle) mounted in an exposed work cover on a metal box fed with 12ga conductors through EMF.
a typical string of holiday lights with a non-polarized plug.
I accidentally…
Joshua Taylor
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12
votes
2 answers
What is this outlet in my garage and can I charge an EV from it?
The previous owner had a workshop in the garage supplied with lots of electrical outlets, including this one. Can I use it to charge an electric car?
I believe this is the circuit breaker for it.
jelder
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12
votes
2 answers
Tool Identity and Use
I'm hoping someone can identify this hand tool.
Here is what I do know:
It was made by Stanley
It may be something used with sheet metal or maybe Wire?
It would only be used on the edge of the metal.
It doesn't seem to be used to nibble as it…
jlaurenza
- 123
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12
votes
3 answers
How can I overcome the 30 ft distance requirement of a surge protector?
I bought a new surge protector and the included specification material says I need 30 feet between the outlet and the service panel. My situation is probably about 5 feet. The outlet I want to protect is on the first floor and almost directly over…
Bob Gio
12
votes
3 answers
Can I run a 1300W heater on a 15amp circuit?
I have purchased a bathroom exhaust fan that also has a built-in heater.
The heater is 1300W and in the instructions manual they say to use a 20 amp circuit
However... the electrician just installed the circuit, and he used a 14/2 cable because he…
Thomas
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12
votes
5 answers
What light bulbs are these and how do I replace them?
This is for the light for my house number. The light bulbs burned out and I'm trying to figure out how to replace them. I tried to pull the bulbs out but it didn't budge. Perhaps I didn't pull hard enough but I'm wondering if I need to unscrew…
Classified
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12
votes
4 answers
Why use a tube for post footings instead of directly pouring concrete into the hole?
What are the reasons for using something like Quikrete's Quik-tube for pouring footings for posts rather than just pouring directly into the ground with a galvanized anchor set into the top of the concrete?
One thing I read is that the tube holds…
g491
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12
votes
5 answers
In what situations could "dirty water leak into" municipal water pipes besides a catastrophic loss of pressure?
Under an answer to How is the quality of tap water in Thailand? I commented:
Usually water in pipes is pressurized so that it comes out of the tap when you open it; is "dirty water making its way into cracks in the clean water pipes" really a known…
uhoh
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12
votes
5 answers
Pull my own electric meter?
TLDR: I've got a chicken-or-egg situation where I can't fix the electric until I install a shut-off, and I can't install a shut-off until I fix the electric. What happens if I pull my meter on the down-low?
I bought a new house, and the wiring is a…
Tyler M
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