letsgofishin
New member
cool, thanks...
Electrician here...If you need advice or help
- Thread starter bigdaddystar
- Start date
bigdaddystar
New member
No Problem..........I also do custom home theatres if anyone has any questions on that too.....They are just not as simple as they used to be
bigdaddystar
New member
Electrician tip
People do die messing with there electrical especially on saltwater....maybe some of you know some who was severely burned or killed...it is rare but can happen
Tips:
always use a gfi (and make sure they are wired correctly)
I avoid gfis however on the return pump as I previously stated I will take
the risk and not come home to a dead tank
Make sure all wirenut/ splices are at least wrapped in electrical tape
they rust quite quickly with saltwater even just from evaporation in
your canopy
Make sure there is a ground on all plugs...and if the equipment had a ground
never break it off the plug and make sure to wire all the grounds in on
retrofit lights.
Always use drip loops on cords...I mount my plug strips to the top of the
stand to ensure this always happens
Unplug everything when working on it...
Here is a true story....kinda funny.
I was working on a air pump years ago...I had it open and was trying to figure out why the diaphram wouldnt work....My 14 months old daughter was watching me intently...She decided to reach out and touch the incoming wires....the look on her face followed by the immense screaming was amazing...she did not know what to think of what just happened but she knew she didnt like it.......lol.....she was just fine so its funny
People do die messing with there electrical especially on saltwater....maybe some of you know some who was severely burned or killed...it is rare but can happen
Tips:
always use a gfi (and make sure they are wired correctly)
I avoid gfis however on the return pump as I previously stated I will take
the risk and not come home to a dead tank
Make sure all wirenut/ splices are at least wrapped in electrical tape
they rust quite quickly with saltwater even just from evaporation in
your canopy
Make sure there is a ground on all plugs...and if the equipment had a ground
never break it off the plug and make sure to wire all the grounds in on
retrofit lights.
Always use drip loops on cords...I mount my plug strips to the top of the
stand to ensure this always happens
Unplug everything when working on it...
Here is a true story....kinda funny.
I was working on a air pump years ago...I had it open and was trying to figure out why the diaphram wouldnt work....My 14 months old daughter was watching me intently...She decided to reach out and touch the incoming wires....the look on her face followed by the immense screaming was amazing...she did not know what to think of what just happened but she knew she didnt like it.......lol.....she was just fine so its funny
Bui
Member
Aluminium wire
Aluminium wire
My parents house have all aluminium wiring inside their wall. They have all sort of problems with it. I think I know the answer to this question but want to ask anyway. What is the process to get it replace? Do we have to break down all the drywall to replace the wiring?
Aluminium wire
My parents house have all aluminium wiring inside their wall. They have all sort of problems with it. I think I know the answer to this question but want to ask anyway. What is the process to get it replace? Do we have to break down all the drywall to replace the wiring?
letsgofishin
New member
im not sure the professional answer, but i would first look at what the problem is... alumium wiring isnt bad.. maybe something is wrong and can be fixed cheaper?
second, if you want to rewire you can abandon the old wire, (terminate all the ends, and make safe, and tag them, i think), and then just put in new wiring.. there are different ways to do this depending on your house.. if it is sitting on a slab and there is attac space you can drop wires down into the walls, (harder then that but that is how i call it)... or you if the house is 'above ground', and there is crawl space below...
you may have to punch a couple new holes and install new panels, etc... but drywall repair can be minimal...
not sure of the code here, but in hawaii, you can run the wires outside in raceways, and cut / drill into the house, (the older houses there are 'single wall construction', so no drywall or cavity space..._)
they also run romex inside wood channels/strips... they look llike interior wood moulding kinda looks good until some fool tries to put a nail in there... hehehe
gl
second, if you want to rewire you can abandon the old wire, (terminate all the ends, and make safe, and tag them, i think), and then just put in new wiring.. there are different ways to do this depending on your house.. if it is sitting on a slab and there is attac space you can drop wires down into the walls, (harder then that but that is how i call it)... or you if the house is 'above ground', and there is crawl space below...
you may have to punch a couple new holes and install new panels, etc... but drywall repair can be minimal...
not sure of the code here, but in hawaii, you can run the wires outside in raceways, and cut / drill into the house, (the older houses there are 'single wall construction', so no drywall or cavity space..._)
they also run romex inside wood channels/strips... they look llike interior wood moulding kinda looks good until some fool tries to put a nail in there... hehehe
gl
bigdaddystar
New member
Aluminum wire is extremely bad.....here is the reasons...over time the wires literally rip themselves apart from there plugs and wirenuts....it will always only cause problems...it is not commonly used anymore except by edison....I have actually seen aluminum wire blow it self up from over current and heat or from a short....
Now the fix....yes you guessed it a rewire is best....next up make all splices with copper to the plugs and lights using noalox(anti sieze goo) and this should be reapplied every 10 years....
The rewire can be extensive or minimal repairing of drywall and or dropped down from the attic or through crawl space under the house...the cost varies with each but its not thahat much damage any which way...but I also repair drywall as well if necessary
Now the fix....yes you guessed it a rewire is best....next up make all splices with copper to the plugs and lights using noalox(anti sieze goo) and this should be reapplied every 10 years....
The rewire can be extensive or minimal repairing of drywall and or dropped down from the attic or through crawl space under the house...the cost varies with each but its not thahat much damage any which way...but I also repair drywall as well if necessary
bigdaddystar
New member
oh and sorry lets go fishin...its bad
It was only used from about 1965 to 1975...they found out real quick that it was a disaster.....It can be made safe but it a fire waiting to happen
And the problems that the house are facing is common....multiple things all over the house I am sure have stopped working I bet...It you pull a few plugs will find that the wires have probably come off the plugs...also you cannot just replace the plugs with anything....everything needs to be rated for use with aluminum wire....wire nuts plugs and all....
It was only used from about 1965 to 1975...they found out real quick that it was a disaster.....It can be made safe but it a fire waiting to happen
And the problems that the house are facing is common....multiple things all over the house I am sure have stopped working I bet...It you pull a few plugs will find that the wires have probably come off the plugs...also you cannot just replace the plugs with anything....everything needs to be rated for use with aluminum wire....wire nuts plugs and all....
bigdaddystar
New member
Google aluminum wire home danger.....you will see exactly what I am talking about
Bui
Member
Yea, the problems they having is that random outlet would stop and start working for no apparent reason. I fix it about year go by and it stop working again. I will have to ask them if they want to spend $$$ to have it fix.
letsgofishin
New member
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/electrical-wiring/part2/section-16.html
yes, i guess i should have made my comment more specific... I wuold also venture to say that maybe the project was done completely and per specifications at the time, but it was the inevitable rewires and add-ons and modifications that screwes it up.. the mixture of copper and aluminum devices, or even splices will definately make the final end product not 'desirable'...
but it can be made safe... and it can be fixed, the question is cost...and benefit... there isnt much benefit difference between a copper wired house and 'properly' wired aluminum wired house... no energry savings... so nothing to compare there???/
so the cost is just how hard the project is either way... it maybe something to investigate and let the homeowner make that choice, (with any voalid qualifications and or reccomendations)
but, yea, i understand the desire to switch to copper too.. it is 'more foregiving' to field conditions and installations, as nothing is really installed in a vacuum/test lab, and nothing is perfect...
smalltime
New member
letsgofishin are you an electrician or have any professional training? I was reading through the thread and there are 2 different answers being given on almost every question. bigdaddystar how long have you been an electrician and where did you go to school?
I was told years ago (HomeDepot employee)that every time a GFCI trips it wears on outlet increasing potential for future failure. How offten should a GFCI outlet be changed out?
I was told years ago (HomeDepot employee)that every time a GFCI trips it wears on outlet increasing potential for future failure. How offten should a GFCI outlet be changed out?
letsgofishin
New member
hello, nope. not an electrician... i did work as an 'electrician', but it was more of an 'assistant'/apprentice, and my father was an electrical engineer/electrician...
and not sure if there are 'two different' answers or not, and i do try to clarify what i 'THINK' is correct and what is fact... and I would always defer to the professional here, and appreciate his information and experience
the issue above about aluminum wiring along with the quote and link is just for information... in that aluminum wiring by itself is not a problem WHEN PROPERLY INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED... but I agree with bigdaddy in that most aluminum wiring situations now are probably unsafe as they have been altered/modified/butchered by those that dont know the difference or know the propert methods for aluminum....
my point being, for those that have aluminum wired houses to not be concerned and run out and re wire thier homes... (unless they have some significant issues)
I also brought up the point that depending on the 'issues', it maybe feasible/practical to fix the aluminum wiring problems rather then replace it, whereas cost maybe an issue... (as it usually is)
the poster above, actually his family, can figure out if they want to spend a thousand or ten thousand to fix a problem, up to them. but if they didnt know or believe that the aluminum can be fixed, they wouldnt have the choice...
and not sure if there are 'two different' answers or not, and i do try to clarify what i 'THINK' is correct and what is fact... and I would always defer to the professional here, and appreciate his information and experience
the issue above about aluminum wiring along with the quote and link is just for information... in that aluminum wiring by itself is not a problem WHEN PROPERLY INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED... but I agree with bigdaddy in that most aluminum wiring situations now are probably unsafe as they have been altered/modified/butchered by those that dont know the difference or know the propert methods for aluminum....
my point being, for those that have aluminum wired houses to not be concerned and run out and re wire thier homes... (unless they have some significant issues)
I also brought up the point that depending on the 'issues', it maybe feasible/practical to fix the aluminum wiring problems rather then replace it, whereas cost maybe an issue... (as it usually is)
the poster above, actually his family, can figure out if they want to spend a thousand or ten thousand to fix a problem, up to them. but if they didnt know or believe that the aluminum can be fixed, they wouldnt have the choice...
bigdaddystar
New member
Yes certified california electrician and c10 electrical contractor actually....I have been in the trade regularly for the last 10 years....went to school for 5 years at ABC inc...
I have done all aspects of electrical but mostly industrial then commercial...and residential keeps my bills paid when times get tough....lol
Home depot was right for once....kinda....the cheapo gfci I have seen break after one pop
Where as industrial ones I have never had to replace....but that saying for for anything you get what you pay for...
Furthermore any electrical component that has make and break contacts like gfci breakers switches relays wear out over time from the constant arcing inside....and there is no telling when they might go
I have done all aspects of electrical but mostly industrial then commercial...and residential keeps my bills paid when times get tough....lol
Home depot was right for once....kinda....the cheapo gfci I have seen break after one pop
Where as industrial ones I have never had to replace....but that saying for for anything you get what you pay for...
Furthermore any electrical component that has make and break contacts like gfci breakers switches relays wear out over time from the constant arcing inside....and there is no telling when they might go
bigdaddystar
New member
The standard leviton brand is fine at home depot....the only problem I have with them is from time to time I get one that does not work at all....the next step up is their commmercial spec grade and its only a few bucks more....if you are concerned I would get those....they also have an indicator light to tell you they are good....
Wiring can be tricky if the load side is being used....best advice remove the old one and put the new one in exactly how it was.....feel free to ask any more qs
And no problem glad I can help some fellow reefers
Wiring can be tricky if the load side is being used....best advice remove the old one and put the new one in exactly how it was.....feel free to ask any more qs
And no problem glad I can help some fellow reefers
RandyFolds
Reef Troll
I always use 'hospital grade' GFCI on my installations. Ungodly expensive, but it sure as hell isn't going to fail or trip for no reason.
bigdaddystar
New member
Yeah they are by far the best grade out there.....but yeah 3 times the price....but internally no different than commercial spec...hospitals get there own grade just to drive up prices....government spending gotta love it
RandyFolds
Reef Troll
haha. they suckered me in too...or rather my filthy rich clients...
bullitr
broke but happy
I believe you Paul.
I had a contractor tries to charge me 1200 for just adding a 2 dedicated circuits for my tank that is 20 straight feet then another electrician came in do it for 500 for less than 2 hours of work.
So 1 k for a 200 amps upgrade is a big bargain.
You guys really charge more the a internist doctor ...
They make almost minimum wage in the beginning .
Even some long time family doctor makes only $ 60 per visit from medi -cal
Some of them even change profession because of very high malpractice insurance no wonder there is only few American doctors now.
Lol
letsgofishin
New member
i got another question since lanny brought up hospital grade...
on hospital installation of recpticles/outlets, they put the ground up, but in residential and commercial, i see the ground down...
what gives?
hehehe
on hospital installation of recpticles/outlets, they put the ground up, but in residential and commercial, i see the ground down...
what gives?
hehehe
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