Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [wiring]

The installation of wire and/or electrical devices, to allow the transmission of electricity from one point to another.

Wiring can include installing wire for electrical distribution, and data communication. As well as installing outlet devices such as receptacles, light fixtures, switches, etc.

In most locations the installation of wires and devices is strictly regulated by safety and standards organizations, and can only be done by qualified licensed professionals.

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What is the purpose of these holes on my wire stripper?

I have been using this wire stripper for a while, but I have always wondered what was the purpose of those holes in the center and above LOOP, and those teeth on the handles.
alecail
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Can Romex (NM-B) cable be run through conduit?

A few days ago I asked an electrician if I could run cable through conduit - he gave me a funny look and said "No, Romex is not allowed in conduit." When I searched online, there seems to be a wide belief that Romex cannot be run through conduit,…
BlueRaja - Danny Pflughoeft
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What are insulated screwdrivers for if you’re not supposed to work on a live circuit?

It’s not just that I’ve been told by some people to never work on a live circuit as an amateur (I know that electricians often do work on live circuits)... but the package itself containing the insulated screwdrivers says to never work on a live…
Josh Withee
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How do I properly feed coax through an outside wall?

I would like to add a new cable outlet to an outside wall and wanted to find out what kind of drill bit is needed to drill through and feed the coax cable as well as anything else to be mindful of. Comcast wanted $70 for a new outlet installation…
Kermit
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Why is my voltage dropping with load and why is current flowing on my ground wire?

I am not an electrician, but I've been researching a lot recently to try and figure out why my system is behaving so strangely. Main problem: Lights flickering, sometimes quite severely, and appliances sometimes just turning themselves off or not…
Sasha Aickin
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How did a circuit that was shut off at the breaker almost kill me?

I just had a near-disaster while trying to install new smoke detectors. My house has AC hardwire connections for the smoke detectors. I wasn't sure which circuit the smoke detector AC connection was on, but after going through the breakers one at a…
Kevin
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Why don't you connect unused hot and neutral wires to "complete the circuit"?

I'm new to home wiring and had a question I'd like explained to me. I removed a vent hood over my oven and I thought I had to complete the circuit so I tied the hot and neutral wires that were powering the hood together with a wire nut, but all the…
Skoant
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How should I go about installing a 12 volt DC residential circuit?

I have a couple deep cycle batteries that trickle charge from a solar panel, for emergency use. Right now the only way I get useful power from them is to use a 12VDC -> 120VAC inverter, e.g. the type that can hook up to a car battery. I'd like to…
Hank
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When doing electrical work, what do I use to check wires are safe?

If I am thinking of replacing a light switch, a light-fitting, a socket/outlet or doing other work with household wiring where there may be 120 Volts or 240 volts present ... There is already a question on "what should I have done differently [to…
RedGrittyBrick
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How do you know when and where it is safe to drill into a wall?

Lots of home projects involve cutting or drilling through walls (everything from nails, screws, or hooks to mount things to cutting through drywall and drilling through studs to run wire). In general, how do you know what's safe to break through and…
jrdioko
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How do I wire an old house with Cat6?

I have a older home (build in the 50's) with 1/2" dry wall and then plaster on top. I would like to run Cat6 cable through most of the house (living room, kitchen, entertainment room,etc). So, I'm looking for pointers on how to do this. At first…
cbrulak
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Why do electricians in some areas choose wire nuts over reusable terminal blocks like Wago offers?

Why do Americans (and others) choose wire nuts over reusable terminal blocks like Wago offers? Do they offer any benefits? More current, longer lifetime,...? Or are there regulatory restrictions?
Fritz
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Can I DIY fix the broken main feeder support cable?

After trimming the old tree, we found out that the steel cable supporting the main feeder lines is broken: Must have been like that for years. The actual feeder wires are fine, the electricity is on. The steel cable seem not to be really connected…
George Y.
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Home electronics break daily and wiring is OK. Any ideas?

We have a very old house, circa 1850-1900. It seems that as often as every week we have had to replace an electronic device. In the past six months, we have had to in total, replace: 1 washing machine 1 refrigerator 1 PC motherboard (of my custom…
matthapkidokarate
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Why does my home's power fade and surge when I plug things in?

I live in Texas. I ran 300 ft of aluminum electric direct-bury 4-4-2 from the pole on street to my new home. The pole is metered and yes, I had my utility's blessing to do so. Everything worked perfectly for 6 months, but now suddenly if I plug…
Sarita W
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