Ask The Electrician

Electrical Wiring

dave@ask-the-electrician (Dave Rongey) — Sun, 01 May 2011 05:30:47 PST

The Home Electrical Wiring Resource for Installing and Repairing Electrical Wiring the Right Way

The Basics for Wiring with Existing Switches

dave@ask-the-electrician (Dave Rongey) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 07:18:37 PST

Can I add a switch off an existing switch that has a main power source? If I can, how can it be wired. I have a three wire to a three way switch and I am trying to pigtail off of that to add a switch for a light under a cabinet.

Outdoor Outlet

dave@ask-the-electrician (Dave Rongey) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 05:16:34 PST

I'm installing an outdoor outlet. It's one that has a pole stuck into the ground. The question I'm getting is how deep into the ground does the pole have to be to meet code. The last person did a really bad job and this needs to be completely redone. I just want to make sure it's right this time.

Wiring with 3-Way Switches

dave@ask-the-electrician (Dave Rongey) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 05:08:58 PST

I have can lights in an old house that the common wire is hot. The can lights are on a three way switch. How can i get my my common wire back?

Wiring a Clothes Dryer and Power Cord - 3-Wire and 4-Wire 240 Volt

dave@ask-the-electrician (Dave Rongey) — Sun, 01 May 2011 05:30:47 PST

How to wire 3-Wire and 4-Wire dryer cords. See what to do if your cord does not match the plug. Electrician shows how to install clothes dryer with Step-By Step Pictures and Easy Wiring Diagrams.

3 Way Switch Help

dave@ask-the-electrician (Dave Rongey) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 03:50:39 PST

Is it possible to install 3 way switches on knob and tube systems?

Electric Dryer Wiring Diagram

dave@ask-the-electrician (Dave Rongey) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 04:06:12 PST

I just want to say how much my husband and I appreciate this dryer wiring configuration that you have made available for us. Thank you very much again!

3 Wire Dryer Cord to a 4 Wire Dryer Cord

dave@ask-the-electrician (Dave Rongey) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 04:07:58 PST

I need to convert an old 3 wire outlet for a new 4 wire dryer what is the easiest thing to do with this problem.

4 Wire 30 Amp 240 Volt Dryer Circuit

dave@ask-the-electrician (Dave Rongey) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 04:51:02 PST

Dave, in changing a three wire dryer hook up to a four wire, what does the connection in the circuit breaker panel look like; since you would be running a 10/4 circuit? Appreciate your answer, Nelson

Converting Watts to Kilowatt/hours

dave@ask-the-electrician (Dave Rongey) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 12:35:06 PST

Can you tell me how to convert watts to kilowatt/hours?

How To Get Training About Home Electrical Wiring

dave@ask-the-electrician (Dave Rongey) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 04:39:51 PST

How can I get to know more training about house electrical wiring? I am in my high school now offering electrical as my course and I will to get more in order to avoid bad work. I need your help about that please.

NO POWER TO OUTLETS AND LIGHT SWITCH IN BATH ROOM

dave@ask-the-electrician (Dave Rongey) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:21:11 PST

Question The other night we hooked up a new sauna. While running the sauna one of the kids started the washer and it tripped the circuit breaker. I reset circuit breaker but now I have no power to the lights fan in the downstairs living room. On the east wall of living room two outlets have no power and the downstairs bathroom light switch has no power. I removed and replace circuit breaker and removed and replace both outlets in the living room. I also replaced the light switch in the bathroom, but still no power? All other outlets work in the downstairs living room. I'm Puzzled

Lost Power to a Bedroom Circuit

dave@ask-the-electrician (Dave Rongey) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:46:59 PST

Question: Lost power for small bedroom. Replaced the circuit breaker and still have no power. Short of it being another bad breaker, what else could be causing the problem?

The Brass Tab and Switched Outlets

dave@ask-the-electrician (Dave Rongey) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 01:42:21 PST

Question: I replaced the outlet. The bottom worked with the light switch. the back of the old outlet had 3 white wires to holes in the back and 1 black wire. There were two additional black wires on the bottom screw on the right if you were looking at the outlet with the two prongs on top and hole on bottom. There was also a green ground wire to the ground post. I wired the new outlet the same as the old one and now the switch will not work. What did I do wrong? Thanks, Mike

Options for Installing Exhaust Fans

dave@ask-the-electrician (Dave Rongey) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 02:09:41 PST

Dear ask-the-electrician: I am interested in installing the Air King BFQ50 into an Andy Gump Outhouse for a client who does not wish to have the various construction workers destroy her bathroom again. http://www.airkinglimited.com/pages/exhaust/bfq50.html I don't have access to a hard-line and i was hoping that you would be able to tell me how to convert this unit into a wall-pluggable outlet set up 2 prong or 3. please let me know Thank you and best to you! Rich

Electrical Wiring Topics

dave@ask-the-electrician (Dave Rongey) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 02:59:34 PST

I am so glad I found you on internet. I would be very happy to improve my electrical course if you could add some diagrams for domestic, commercial and industrial electrical wiring. Thanks, Sam

Adding an Exhaust Fan to a Bathroom

dave@ask-the-electrician (Dave Rongey) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 02:24:10 PST

I currently have a single pole switch in a bathroom that works a light fixture. The power source goes to the light first and then to the single pole switch so the white is actually the hot. This is the only wire to this box. I have added a bathroom exhaust fan and replaced the single gang box with a double gang box in order to add another single pole switch in the same box. I would like to use the power from the original light switch to run the fan independently from the light. Both the light and the fan are running on romex with 2 wires plus the ground. I cannot seem to wire the box correctly to make both switches work independently. Can you tell me how to do this?

New Bath Exhaust Fan with Timer Switch and a Light Switch

dave@ask-the-electrician (Dave Rongey) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 04:17:21 PST

Becky, from Beloit, Wisconsin asks: Hi Dave. I'm installing a new bath exhaust fan with 1 timer switch and a light switch. I have power coming to the switch box but nothing going to the fan and light. Do I use a 3 wire? I need a full explaination of this my brain doesn't work well. how to hook up light sw; how to hook up timer; and how the wires hook up at fan. Thanks!

Installing a Motion Detector Light Fixture

dave@ask-the-electrician (Dave Rongey) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:14:30 PST

Yesterday went out to back porch light, to change the burned out bug light bulb (yellow) from regular outside porch light located under the eves. Ok when undoing the bulb the socket broke apart. I went in threw the breaker off. Had a new outside flood light fixture was going to replace the old fixture with. it has a motion sensor on it.

Locating the Problem in an Electrical Circuit

dave@ask-the-electrician (Dave Rongey) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 06:03:33 PST

I added a few lights, switches, and outlets in my garage. There were two power sources. One was from an existing three-panel switch that ran all over. Everything worked A-Okay with that. But I blew it with the other line. It was originally feeding only two outlets: one on the ceiling next to the garage door opener (that plugged into it), and the other outlet was a breaker (GFI?) on the back wall. My plan was to tap into this line for three lights and three outlets (the original two plus one more). But when I was ready to test it one switch was not yet installed but the wires were in place wrapped together (and stripped). So it shorted out. After I separated the wires, I reset the breaker with no power. I turned off the main power and went into the panel and switched the black wire from the line to a breaker I knew was working and still nothing. Is it possible the wires were damaged? Thanks for any advice you can give. Ed in DeLand Florida