Electrician here...If you need advice or help

[bigdaddystar]

Sorry a little late now but for future reference you can put as many circuits in a box as you want...its not about circuits but the total allowed wires in a box or conduit.

In addition you can also share 3 circuits to 1 neutral...but for most applications I recommend dedicated each to its own.

But good job looks like everything came out nice.

 

[letsgofishin]

i kinda question the 'access' to the junction box...

two things.. you never want to combine water and electricity... and second the 'cover' isnt typical, so in that, no one but you would know to look there for a problem...

you would at the least need to permanently identify that 'cover' as a location for a j box..


the scenario would be if you were to lose electricity at the outlet and the breaker is not tripped, then it would be a broken wire / connection, and the first place to look would be the junction boxes where splices and connections are known,,, and if the elctrician dont know there is a j box behind that plumbing cover, then he will be looking for a long time....

a simple 4"sq box with a blank cover would suffice...

 

[MHG]

i kinda question the 'access' to the junction box...

two things.. you never want to combine water and electricity... and second the 'cover' isnt typical, so in that, no one but you would know to look there for a problem...

you would at the least need to permanently identify that 'cover' as a location for a j box..


the scenario would be if you were to lose electricity at the outlet and the breaker is not tripped, then it would be a broken wire / connection, and the first place to look would be the junction boxes where splices and connections are known,,, and if the elctrician dont know there is a j box behind that plumbing cover, then he will be looking for a long time....

a simple 4"sq box with a blank cover would suffice...

I am less than worried as I know it is there and when I move I am taking my tank with me and will get rid of all the outlets.

If I had a nickle for every box I have uncovered in a wall I would be rich...

 

[letsgofishin]

yea, thats ok, but when you ask for information you should expect to get information that is technically, feasibly and code compliant correct...

you could have run romex down the face of the walls if code and safety wasnt a concern... just sayin'

 

[MHG]

Oh I apreciate the info...

 

[ReefPharmer]

hey this is a newb question but I was working on a DIY LED build and i see people posting Vf for their individual LEDs. Here is my question. I do not have any resistors. I am using meanwell dim drivers. How do i properly measure Vf for each LED? I have a regular multi-tester i got from Harbor Freight but i am not proficient in its use. I performed the diode test, and hooked up all the LEDs (12 per driver) and they work (lucky for me). However, if/when i make another fixture, I want to be sure I am measuring things properly.

What measurement should i be using? Since I do not have a resistor, how do i use what I have (driver, led etc) to measure it? Thank you!

 

[websiteworld]

Basement outlets don't appear to be grounded

Basement outlets don't appear to be grounded

One of my submersible pumps was giving off some stray current that I felt in the water which prompted me to investigate a little.

The outlet I am plugged in to is on a GFCI circuit. I plugged a surge protector into it that has a light to show Surge and Ground and the ground light does not come on. I checked the Garage which is on the same circuit and the same issue, no green light for GND.

I plugged the surge protector into another outlet on a different breaker, and the ground light came on.

Is this normal? The basement is roughed in.

 

[letsgofishin]

hey this is a newb question but I was working on a DIY LED build and i see people posting Vf for their individual LEDs. Here is my question. I do not have any resistors. I am using meanwell dim drivers. How do i properly measure Vf for each LED? I have a regular multi-tester i got from Harbor Freight but i am not proficient in its use. I performed the diode test, and hooked up all the LEDs (12 per driver) and they work (lucky for me). However, if/when i make another fixture, I want to be sure I am measuring things properly.

What measurement should i be using? Since I do not have a resistor, how do i use what I have (driver, led etc) to measure it? Thank you!

hello, this is kinda an 'electronics' question and not so much an electrical question...

you might wanna check out the diy led thread... good luck

 

[bigdaddystar]

+1....best advice save the headache and buy a fixture.....some diy are just not worth it.....I have priced it out and you save a little....but IMO not worth the time and effort...I have not read up much on the dimming up leds so I have no experience

hello, this is kinda an 'electronics' question and not so much an electrical question...

you might wanna check out the diy led thread... good luck

 

[bigdaddystar]

You have lost your ground somewhere....get a $10 plug tester from home depot and plug it into your plugs and see if they are wired correctly...if the ground light does not come on go around and check them all until you find one that is grounded...your problem will lie between that plug and the next one down the wall that isnt grounded....probably just a loose connection...or miswired.

One of my submersible pumps was giving off some stray current that I felt in the water which prompted me to investigate a little.

The outlet I am plugged in to is on a GFCI circuit. I plugged a surge protector into it that has a light to show Surge and Ground and the ground light does not come on. I checked the Garage which is on the same circuit and the same issue, no green light for GND.

I plugged the surge protector into another outlet on a different breaker, and the ground light came on.

Is this normal? The basement is roughed in.

 

[mackubb]

what is a normal hourly rate?

 

[bigdaddystar]

Depends varies on type of work but generally between $50-$100 hr....most residential jobs are $50 hr......

 

[moonpod]

Paul does great work!

 

[bigdaddystar]

Thanks Chuck.........

 

[moonpod]

Seriously guys. Paul put in the circuit for my tank. Recessed cans for my lights, AC install and circuits. Some minor stuff for my bathroom. I'm gonna have him come out to do a circuit for a washer dryer too. Referred him to some other non RC locals for work too. He's great.

 

[bigdaddystar]

Just thought I would share with you all how an Electrician does a lighting rack...This was an idea I had and have long wanted to put it into action...Finally have a tank it will work with...

The concept is to completely hide all wires....This is accomplished by utilizing ceiling fan drop-poles and ceiling fan mounting hardware (all of which can be purchased at home depot without buying a ceiling fan for about $60-$80)

One pole is a dummy with no wires running through it....the other pole holds the wiring for the 2-250w halides, 6 T-5s, and 24 LEDs...They run through the ceiling into a cabinet in the kitchen where the ballasts are located.

The end result....a very clean look at a minimal material cost (especially for me since it all came out of my work van)

This is my new set-up 120g leemar....so its a work in progress...dont mind the missing doors.

Let me know what you think.....

 

[Enjoy]

Looks great, can you raise and lower the lights as needed?

 

[bigdaddystar]

I could have designed it to have an adjusment of about 10" (the hight of the canopy) but I decided to put the canopy high enough to allow me to service it and still give adequate light so i felt it would never need to be adjusted or moved...and this allowed me to incorporate the leds that way

 

[letsgofishin]

you can see the light splash the wall at about 10" below the canopy... this will light up you entire room from all sides of teh canopy.. this is a lot of light being wasted, (not to mention the electricity to power it)

the good news is that it wont heat the tank as much.. heheheh

 

[bigdaddystar]

Surprisingly it does not light the room up to bad...I was worried because the tv is not to far from the tank and i didnt want to be blinded by it which is why I like the lumenarc designed reflectors the keep it aimed more directionally over the area they need to light...but yeah my house definently looks like a spacecraft from outside...

you can see the light splash the wall at about 10" below the canopy... this will light up you entire room from all sides of teh canopy.. this is a lot of light being wasted, (not to mention the electricity to power it)

the good news is that it wont heat the tank as much.. heheheh