🧑‍🤝‍🧑 / 🏡 I hate messing with electrical issues

[sean]

Okay. Just a tad bit after the move from the true 2x4 to the 1.5 x 3.5. Ya know, back when they actually built thing that were true, plumb, level...

Yeah...not in this house, lol.

Also, I was trying to get one more brew before I went to the hardware store (they don't open until 8:00) to get the new outlets. But as the coffee maker was starting, the GFCI tripped...and it did something to the coffee maker. And now the coffee maker won't work. I plugged into a different (standard) outlet, but it still does nothing. It'll turn on, but when you hit the brew button, nothing happens. No way to reset it, and after a bit, an error code comes up on the screen. The solution is to call customer service.

So I just ordered a new coffee maker; should be here tomorrow.

I can still make coffee, it's just a PITA to have to do it manually. I've done it before when the old coffee maker decided to grenade itself (it was old and worn, surprised it lasted that long) and I was 3 days without a coffee maker.

 

[TerryP]

Yeah...not in this house, lol.

Also, I was trying to get one more brew before I went to the hardware store (they don't open until 8:00) to get the new outlets. But as the coffee maker was starting, the GFCI tripped...and it did something to the coffee maker. And now the coffee maker won't work. I plugged into a different (standard) outlet, but it still does nothing. It'll turn on, but when you hit the brew button, nothing happens. No way to reset it, and after a bit, an error code comes up on the screen. The solution is to call customer service.

So I just ordered a new coffee maker; should be here tomorrow.

I can still make coffee, it's just a PITA to have to do it manually. I've done it before when the old coffee maker decided to grenade itself (it was old and worn, surprised it lasted that long) and I was 3 days without a coffee maker.

Oh man. Been there. Done that. I wasn't...so happy. Lesson learned.

A few months ago my Keurig went out. But, in reserve (the lesson learned) was the percolator and a Mr. Coffee. I chose the perc. It seems like it took forever but I gotta admit, the sound and smell were worth it that morning.

How things change...'bout like your little project. How easy does it make it now with a magnetized tip in a screw driver?

 

[sean]

Got coffee made using an old tea strainer, some hot water, and coffee grounds. After that, and a quick breakfast, I went and got the new outlets.

And on the pigtail situation...no way to add them. The boxes they used are those real shallow brown boxes. There's barely enough room for a couple inches of wire and the outlet, much less any sort of pigtail. So I just dealt with it as best I could. I got them both in and they're both working fine.

Also, one of them had a bit of rust on it and the top screw that holds the outlet in the box was completely rusted. There was a leak in that area last year that I had fixed. I didn't realize it had gone inside the wall. I knew it was running down the outside of the cabinet that sits above that outlet, but I never saw any signs it was inside the wall (checked the lower cabinets and never saw any signs of water there, either). Thankfully that leak is fixed and hopefully this fixes the outlet issue. Just waiting on whatever else is going to happen...to happen...

Already bought a new range, clothes dryer, and thermostat this year (damn thermostat and electrician cost was almost as much as the range or dryer). So I don't need anything else to happen.

 

[Rsedge72]

Whew house maintenance sucks!!! I’ve built all my houses I’ve lived in, other than rentals during the builds. When maintenance issues have popped up, house goes on the market. The house I’m in now (been here a year and a half), may be lived in for the long haul. At least that’s my thought process now.

 

[TerryP]

(damn thermostat

I replaced one of those with a friend at his house a few years ago. The most important tool? Cell phone: camera, specifically. Gotta know what goes where, right?

Honestly, the hardest thing was the size of the screws and wire...hard to get a handle on. Other than that, it was really easy to do.

I don't recall the thermostat being that expensive. I remember it was Wi-Fi, 7 day programmable...seems like it was about $100 at Home Depot. Did the electrician just rape ya?

Got coffee made using an old tea strainer, some hot water, and coffee grounds.

That's funny. I have one of those my grandmother passed down...hanging on the kitchen wall as a small piece of "useful" decor.

 

[sean]

I replaced one of those with a friend at his house a few years ago. The most important tool? Cell phone: camera, specifically. Gotta know what goes where, right?

Honestly, the hardest thing was the size of the screws and wire...hard to get a handle on. Other than that, it was really easy to do.

I don't recall the thermostat being that expensive. I remember it was Wi-Fi, 7 day programmable...seems like it was about $100 at Home Depot. Did the electrician just rape ya?

That's funny. I have one of those my grandmother passed down...hanging on the kitchen wall as a small piece of "useful" decor.

My thermostat isn't the smart kind I'm not a fan of smart products in my home other than cell phone and computer. I have 2 smart TVs, but neither are connected to WiFi. I do stream, but I use my PS5 for that (or my computer).

And, yes, he probably raped me on it. But I was at work at the time (my mom was here when he came by) and just wanted the a/c going again. I can do cold, but not hot.

 

[TerryP]

My thermostat isn't the smart kind I'm not a fan of smart products in my home other than cell phone and computer. I have 2 smart TVs, but neither are connected to WiFi. I do stream, but I use my PS5 for that (or my computer).

The only thing I will not do is put camera's inside the house. Other than that IoT (Internet of Things) is pretty damn cool. It's too expensive today. But, it's still cool.

You mentioned a range earlier. I saw a "smart oven" the other day that was about the size of a microwave. It's with a food delivery service. All you do is scan the bar code/QR code and the oven sets itself. IoT. It's getting the temp and time off the 'net.

I'd consider that thermostat. The idea of not having to get up and turn the AC on is not a lot different than the TV remote. My security system is IoT. Ring doorbell, IoT.

I don't need to turn my oven on when I get in the car to go home. I don't see that as practical. I don't need a computer in my fridge for a grocery list.

And, yes, he probably raped me on it. But I was at work at the time (my mom was here when he came by) and just wanted the a/c going again. I can do cold, but not hot.

I hear ya! Although, I'm the complete opposite. (except for sleeping...)

 

[footballer]

Hot, cold, I don't like the extreme of either.

A few years ago, I had to replace my thermostat. Bought a new one, took the old one off the wall only to see there were a different number of wires, old to new. Only took a few minutes to figure it out. Must have gotten it right for it is still working. Knock on wood.

I'm with Sean. I don't want smart appliances either.

 

[TerryP]

Whew house maintenance sucks!!! I’ve built all my houses I’ve lived in, other than rentals during the builds. When maintenance issues have popped up, house goes on the market. The house I’m in now (been here a year and a half), may be lived in for the long haul. At least that’s my thought process now.

I should have bookmarked the post. I may be able to find it again...

Yesterday morning I saw an interview with a couple from different parts of Africa. I can't recall which providences, but they were both under British control until "released." The UK had built roads, post offices, schools, hospitals, you name it...and all of it is in horrible disrepair now; buildings abandoned, roads impassable, rail roads overgrown and out of service.

Why? According to the interview, there isn't a thing called "maintenance" in their vocabulary. There is "repair," but no "maintenance." It's just not a part of their nomenclature.

 

[Rsedge72]

I should have bookmarked the post. I may be able to find it again...

Yesterday morning I saw an interview with a couple from different parts of Africa. I can't recall which providences, but they were both under British control until "released." The UK had built roads, post offices, schools, hospitals, you name it...and all of it is in horrible disrepair now; buildings abandoned, roads impassable, rail roads overgrown and out of service.

Why? According to the interview, there isn't a thing called "maintenance" in their vocabulary. There is "repair," but no "maintenance." It's just not a part of their nomenclature.

Yeah I saw that… If I can find it again I’ll post as well..

 

[sean]

Whew house maintenance sucks!!! I’ve built all my houses I’ve lived in, other than rentals during the builds. When maintenance issues have popped up, house goes on the market. The house I’m in now (been here a year and a half), may be lived in for the long haul. At least that’s my thought process now.

Honestly, I don't mind house maintenance. That's how things are kept updated and working. But shit breaking just always seems to come in waves. It's never 1 or 2 small things (although replacing 2 electrical outlets IS small), but some larger things thrown in, as well. I'd just like a year of nothing major happening or having to replace a large appliance.

Within the past 2 years:
Washer
Dryer
Range
Dishwasher
3 roof leaks (1 bad, 2 smaller that I didn't even know about)
Various other, smaller things (coffee maker, thermostat, shower head and supply line coming from the diverter/mixing valve)

And I still need to get my 2 oak trees trimmed...which will cost ~$1500 (already had an estimate done). I'd also like to have a sub panel put in my shop so I can run 220. I got an estimate for that maybe 6 years ago and it was high, then. I can do most of that work, myself. But hooking it to the main panel requires a licensed electrician if I want it to be up to code and covered in case anything happens (for insurance reasons).

Plus I still need to do a ton of landscaping. But most of that is just me wanting to do stuff that really doesn't NEED to be done. Most of it is just aesthetics. But I'd still like to do it to make the yards look nicer. But every time I think I can start to buy stuff to work on it, something else happens and I have to take care of that, first.

 

[Krimson]

Honestly, I don't mind house maintenance. That's how things are kept updated and working. But shit breaking just always seems to come in waves. It's never 1 or 2 small things (although replacing 2 electrical outlets IS small), but some larger things thrown in, as well. I'd just like a year of nothing major happening or having to replace a large appliance.

Within the past 2 years:
Washer
Dryer
Range
Dishwasher
3 roof leaks (1 bad, 2 smaller that I didn't even know about)
Various other, smaller things (coffee maker, thermostat, shower head and supply line coming from the diverter/mixing valve)

And I still need to get my 2 oak trees trimmed...which will cost ~$1500 (already had an estimate done). I'd also like to have a sub panel put in my shop so I can run 220. I got an estimate for that maybe 6 years ago and it was high, then. I can do most of that work, myself. But hooking it to the main panel requires a licensed electrician if I want it to be up to code and covered in case anything happens (for insurance reasons).

Plus I still need to do a ton of landscaping. But most of that is just me wanting to do stuff that really doesn't NEED to be done. Most of it is just aesthetics. But I'd still like to do it to make the yards look nicer. But every time I think I can start to buy stuff to work on it, something else happens and I have to take care of that, first.

In alabama you don't have to be licensed if the cost is under 10k and property owners can do their own electrical. Not sure how insurance could go against that. Hooking to the main panel can be done with a double pole 100 amp breaker, not hard, if you're not planning to pull more than that. Where do you live? I've been known to work for beer if you're close enough.

 

[TerryP]

In alabama you don't have to be licensed if the cost is under 10k and property owners can do their own electrical. Not sure how insurance could go against that. Hooking to the main panel can be done with a double pole 100 amp breaker, not hard, if you're not planning to pull more than that. Where do you live? I've been known to work for beer if you're close enough.

IF I followed the law in SC...and this based on looking it up a few years ago.

Repairs have to be less than $250. One is supposed to get a permit which runs $242.50.

 

[Krimson]

IF I followed the law in SC...and this based on looking it up a few years ago.

Repairs have to be less than $250. One is supposed to get a permit which runs $242.50.

That sounds about like most states, crazy.

 

[TerryP]

That sounds about like most states, crazy.

Oh, it is. A bought a shed a few years ago (one of those you can expand from Rubbermaid) and only "claimed" the 8X10 "base section." It was $999.99. I would have had to have a permit if it exceeded $1000.

I bought the base...put it up, partially, and went back and bought another section two days later...did that again.

Now, you may think, "why go to that trouble?"

The County Building Inspector lives just around the corner. He drives around all the time putting signs out, "most improved this week," "yard of the month," and other crap like that. Hell, saw him shut down a guy building a work shop behind his house several weeks ago. I saw that one coming. (You can't run a table saw all day and not expect someone to hear it...)

 

[sean]

In alabama you don't have to be licensed if the cost is under 10k and property owners can do their own electrical. Not sure how insurance could go against that. Hooking to the main panel can be done with a double pole 100 amp breaker, not hard, if you're not planning to pull more than that. Where do you live? I've been known to work for beer if you're close enough.

Did not know that...thanks.

The main reason I haven't done it already is due to how I'd need to run the line from the main panel out to the shop. Going from the main panel, the line would have to go up, then back over your head and horizontal about 25 feet, then outside, then drop down, about 8-9 feet, bury the line vertically about 15 feet or so, then up into the shop, then up a bit into the sub-panel. And running it from the main panel back over and horizontally means inside the ceiling. Half of it is drop-tile ceiling. The other half is sheet-rock (1 large room split into 2 rooms with a wall separating them). The drop-tile would be fairly easy, but getting from the panel across the sheet-rock portion would be a pain. And that's something I've never done. I've run wires in walls, before. But I have a small fish-tape for that and it was only vertically inside a single stud bay, and only about 4 feet or so.

I have the sub-panel and all the breakers I need, minus the one for the 220 outlet I want to put in there. But thinking about it, I'd really like 2, 220 outlets. One would be for a bigger table saw. The one I want is wired for either 120 or 220. So I could get it now, then rewire it for 220 if I ever get the electrical redone. That way, I could use the full power of the saw if I needed to cut some solid hardwoods. The other 220 would be for anything else that might need that much voltage.

 

[Krimson]

Did not know that...thanks.

The main reason I haven't done it already is due to how I'd need to run the line from the main panel out to the shop. Going from the main panel, the line would have to go up, then back over your head and horizontal about 25 feet, then outside, then drop down, about 8-9 feet, bury the line vertically about 15 feet or so, then up into the shop, then up a bit into the sub-panel. And running it from the main panel back over and horizontally means inside the ceiling. Half of it is drop-tile ceiling. The other half is sheet-rock (1 large room split into 2 rooms with a wall separating them). The drop-tile would be fairly easy, but getting from the panel across the sheet-rock portion would be a pain. And that's something I've never done. I've run wires in walls, before. But I have a small fish-tape for that and it was only vertically inside a single stud bay, and only about 4 feet or so.

I have the sub-panel and all the breakers I need, minus the one for the 220 outlet I want to put in there. But thinking about it, I'd really like 2, 220 outlets. One would be for a bigger table saw. The one I want is wired for either 120 or 220. So I could get it now, then rewire it for 220 if I ever get the electrical redone. That way, I could use the full power of the saw if I needed to cut some solid hardwoods. The other 220 would be for anything else that might need that much voltage.

Yeah that sounds like a bit of a pain. Assumed you'd be able to run from an outside service. Not sure what service you have to your house, built in 69 it's apt to be on the smaller side so be sure to look at that before you add your shop. Your house and shop total will be limited by your main if you even have one, many older service boxes don't. Hopefully you get an easy way figured out.

 

[sean]

Yeah that sounds like a bit of a pain. Assumed you'd be able to run from an outside service. Not sure what service you have to your house, built in 69 it's apt to be on the smaller side so be sure to look at that before you add your shop. Your house and shop total will be limited by your main if you even have one, many older service boxes don't. Hopefully you get an easy way figured out.

Yes, there's a main panel. It used to be fuses, but it pretty much blew up one day (loud as HELL and scared the shit out of me). So I had a new one put in and they obviously went with breakers.

Talking to the electrician about what all I want when I had him out, he said it'd be fine.

I have a couple tools that are 15amp, but they're never run at the same time. And I switched all of my lighting over to LED not too long ago, so that saved a little bit of wattage, I'd think (not a lot, I know...but some).

 

[Justneedme81]

I got story to tell about Mom's house. How I ended up paying 2k to correct the electrical wiring based on my mistake and realtor

 

[Rsedge72]

In alabama you don't have to be licensed if the cost is under 10k and property owners can do their own electrical. Not sure how insurance could go against that. Hooking to the main panel can be done with a double pole 100 amp breaker, not hard, if you're not planning to pull more than that. Where do you live? I've been known to work for beer if you're close enough.

In Florida you need a licensed electrician to do that type of work. If your running service to anything you need a permit and electrical inspection.