Electrical Advice - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

slant eyes · 11-10-2003, 11:22 PM

i'm looking to do some wiring in my house with some modifications to the existing wiring. is there a reputable site out there that shows the basics to wiring? ie connecting common/neutral, hot and ground?

thanks

Ashton · 11-11-2003, 02:53 AM

Depends on what you're doing,

AC is pretty cut and dry....... I've done plenty of rewiring but to be honest it isn't something I'd advise a novice to try unless there is someone around that knows what they're doing.

What exactly do you want to do? Add a circut? Add outlets? Change switches to dimmers?

slant eyes · 11-11-2003, 02:57 PM

well, by trade, i'm an electrician for setting up shows and concerts. i deal with large wires (feeder/4,0) so i feel really comfortable doing this

what i want to do is add a breaker to the existing main with 1 outlet to power my air compressor.

shakran · 11-11-2003, 05:13 PM

ok, you'll want a 20 amp breaker. Check your compressor to see if it's 220 or 110 so you know if you need a single or double breaker. You want 12/2 or 12/3 (again depending on 110 or 220) NM-B wire (avaliable at your local hardware store). Run the wire from the box to the location of the outlet. Wire the outlet. (see below for extra help here) Shut off the main breaker in your box. Unscrew the breaker cover and remove.

If 110:
Your black wire goes to the screw on the back of the breaker. Your white wire goes to the neutral bar (you can identify this by looking for the bar where all the other white wires are going to)

If 220:
Same as above, but the black goes to one of the back breaker screws, and the red wire goes to the other.

For 110 and 220, the bare wire goes to the ground bar (again identifiable by seeing where all the other bare wires go)

Now clip the breaker in - you'll see how your particular one clips in. Reintall the cover and switch the main breaker on.

Wiring the outlet:

assuming 110, the black wire goes to the brass screw, the white wire goes to the silver screw. The bare wire goes to the green screw. I assume this compressor is in your garage, so you will need a GFCI outlet to do this. If this isn't an inspected job, try to find a GFCI that was made before the UL2003 requirements came out. UL2003 GFCI's will automatically disable themselves after a certain number of ground faults, and will require replacement. The older ones will keep working.

If the job is inspected, you're screwed and must get the UL2003. If you're worried about passing inspection, don't. Make sure you do a very neat job - no wires all over the place, especially in the breaker box, and you'll pass unless the inspector's a jerk.

If you want more info, Black and Decker puts out an excellent series of books about wiring. They have a Beginner, Advanced, and Complete book - the complete is just the beginner and advanced combined. Get that one. Well worth the money. It covers pretty much any household wiring job you could ever do.

Also, you didn't mention how old your house is. If it's really old, you may have rubber-iinfused-cotton insulated wires. The rubber breaks down after 25 years and will flake off. If you have this wiring, BE CAREFUL. If you break the insulation off you MUST replace the wire or you risk a fire.

Note (not for you - I know you know this being an electrician, but for others): Any time you are working with electrical wiring, ALWAYS assume the power is on or could be turned on at any minute. Never know when someone's gonna turn that breaker back on while you're rewiring the outlet/switch. Follow the "one hand rule" - only ONE hand touches what you're working on. The other hand touches NOTHING. If you get shocked and you are not following this rule, the current can go through your heart. Also, lift the opposite heel to the hand you're workign with - i.e. right hand, left heel. This will make an easier path through the side, rather than through the middle of your body. Much better to have current going down your side than through all your organs

Never work on wiring with any moisture present - this includes sweat. If it's hot, keep the sweat away from the job. Not only does the water in the sweat increase your conductivity, but the salt does as well.

Ashton · 11-11-2003, 05:47 PM

EDIT

After typing out all that crap I post only to find the same instructions above mine.....

Mango · 11-11-2003, 07:44 PM

You're an electrician and you are asking ppl on the internet how to wire a simple air compressor? Jeebus help you man. If you can't do it with your eyes closed perhaps you should pick up a different trade.

shakran · 11-11-2003, 09:40 PM

there's a BIG difference between a gaffer and a residential/commercial electrician. About the only thing the two professions have in common are the electrical safety lessons. The gaffer deals with wires from the outlet to the equipment. They're not gonna be messing with installing outlets, so it's not at all surprising that he wouldn't know how to wire a 20A circuit.

Ashton · 11-12-2003, 04:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mango
You're an electrician and you are asking ppl on the internet how to wire a simple air compressor? Jeebus help you man. If you can't do it with your eyes closed perhaps you should pick up a different trade.

LOL!

A Psychiatrist is a 'Doctor' but you don't go to one for Appendicitis.......

slant eyes · 11-12-2003, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mango
You're an electrician and you are asking ppl on the internet how to wire a simple air compressor? Jeebus help you man. If you can't do it with your eyes closed perhaps you should pick up a different trade.

i think you're not really understanding what i do. as stated by Shakran, i'm pretty much a gaffer for shows. meaning i hang lights, focus them, run the power to the generators, run feeder cable, and run soca picks. we never have to do anything with plugging into residential main panels or installing new circuits. i'm very comfortable with installing new outlets and such in my house, but it was the main panel that i thought i should get some help on. i've looked at the main panel and it seems straight forward, but i just took a precautionary measure by asking.

i am not trying to wire my compressor. it has a wire to it already, but needing 115v/24a in full phase, i need to run some 10 gauge wire back to the main panel with a new circuit breaker.

thanks shakran and ashton. and thanks mango for taking the time to help

shakran · 11-13-2003, 01:38 PM

24 amp? DAMN! That's a helluva compressor!

no prob, happy to help.

Mango · 11-13-2003, 04:28 PM

Shakran's suggested 20A breaker isn't gonna cut it. I'm not sure what full phase is so I'm gonna guess it's 240v single phase. (Single phase or 3 phase are your options.) you will need a 30A2P breaker if it is 240V or a 30A1P breaker if it is 120v. Wireing a panel is easy. The ground conductor gets grounded to the ground lugs. If it is 120v the white conductor goes to the neutral buss and the black to the breaker. If itis 240v then the white (or red) and black both go to the breaker (one to each terminal) there is no neutral with a 240v cct.

11-10-2003, 11:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
slant eyes Psycho Location: cali	Electrical Advice i'm looking to do some wiring in my house with some modifications to the existing wiring. is there a reputable site out there that shows the basics to wiring? ie connecting common/neutral, hot and ground? thanks __________________ no man or woman is worth your tears - and the one who is, won't make you cry question authority, don't ask why, just do it!

11-11-2003, 02:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
slant eyes Psycho Location: cali	well, by trade, i'm an electrician for setting up shows and concerts. i deal with large wires (feeder/4,0) so i feel really comfortable doing this what i want to do is add a breaker to the existing main with 1 outlet to power my air compressor. __________________ no man or woman is worth your tears - and the one who is, won't make you cry question authority, don't ask why, just do it!

11-11-2003, 05:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	ok, you'll want a 20 amp breaker. Check your compressor to see if it's 220 or 110 so you know if you need a single or double breaker. You want 12/2 or 12/3 (again depending on 110 or 220) NM-B wire (avaliable at your local hardware store). Run the wire from the box to the location of the outlet. Wire the outlet. (see below for extra help here) Shut off the main breaker in your box. Unscrew the breaker cover and remove. If 110: Your black wire goes to the screw on the back of the breaker. Your white wire goes to the neutral bar (you can identify this by looking for the bar where all the other white wires are going to) If 220: Same as above, but the black goes to one of the back breaker screws, and the red wire goes to the other. For 110 and 220, the bare wire goes to the ground bar (again identifiable by seeing where all the other bare wires go) Now clip the breaker in - you'll see how your particular one clips in. Reintall the cover and switch the main breaker on. Wiring the outlet: assuming 110, the black wire goes to the brass screw, the white wire goes to the silver screw. The bare wire goes to the green screw. I assume this compressor is in your garage, so you will need a GFCI outlet to do this. If this isn't an inspected job, try to find a GFCI that was made before the UL2003 requirements came out. UL2003 GFCI's will automatically disable themselves after a certain number of ground faults, and will require replacement. The older ones will keep working. If the job is inspected, you're screwed and must get the UL2003. If you're worried about passing inspection, don't. Make sure you do a very neat job - no wires all over the place, especially in the breaker box, and you'll pass unless the inspector's a jerk. If you want more info, Black and Decker puts out an excellent series of books about wiring. They have a Beginner, Advanced, and Complete book - the complete is just the beginner and advanced combined. Get that one. Well worth the money. It covers pretty much any household wiring job you could ever do. Also, you didn't mention how old your house is. If it's really old, you may have rubber-iinfused-cotton insulated wires. The rubber breaks down after 25 years and will flake off. If you have this wiring, BE CAREFUL. If you break the insulation off you MUST replace the wire or you risk a fire. Note (not for you - I know you know this being an electrician, but for others): Any time you are working with electrical wiring, ALWAYS assume the power is on or could be turned on at any minute. Never know when someone's gonna turn that breaker back on while you're rewiring the outlet/switch. Follow the "one hand rule" - only ONE hand touches what you're working on. The other hand touches NOTHING. If you get shocked and you are not following this rule, the current can go through your heart. Also, lift the opposite heel to the hand you're workign with - i.e. right hand, left heel. This will make an easier path through the side, rather than through the middle of your body. Much better to have current going down your side than through all your organs Never work on wiring with any moisture present - this includes sweat. If it's hot, keep the sweat away from the job. Not only does the water in the sweat increase your conductivity, but the salt does as well. Last edited by shakran; 11-11-2003 at 05:17 PM..

11-11-2003, 05:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
Ashton PORNHOUND Location: California	EDIT After typing out all that crap I post only to find the same instructions above mine..... Last edited by Ashton; 11-11-2003 at 05:54 PM..

11-11-2003, 02:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
Ashton PORNHOUND Location: California	Depends on what you're doing, AC is pretty cut and dry....... I've done plenty of rewiring but to be honest it isn't something I'd advise a novice to try unless there is someone around that knows what they're doing. What exactly do you want to do? Add a circut? Add outlets? Change switches to dimmers?

11-11-2003, 07:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mango Banned	You're an electrician and you are asking ppl on the internet how to wire a simple air compressor? Jeebus help you man. If you can't do it with your eyes closed perhaps you should pick up a different trade.

11-11-2003, 09:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	there's a BIG difference between a gaffer and a residential/commercial electrician. About the only thing the two professions have in common are the electrical safety lessons. The gaffer deals with wires from the outlet to the equipment. They're not gonna be messing with installing outlets, so it's not at all surprising that he wouldn't know how to wire a 20A circuit.

11-13-2003, 01:38 PM	#10 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	24 amp? DAMN! That's a helluva compressor! no prob, happy to help.

11-13-2003, 04:28 PM	#11 (permalink)
Mango Banned	Shakran's suggested 20A breaker isn't gonna cut it. I'm not sure what full phase is so I'm gonna guess it's 240v single phase. (Single phase or 3 phase are your options.) you will need a 30A2P breaker if it is 240V or a 30A1P breaker if it is 120v. Wireing a panel is easy. The ground conductor gets grounded to the ground lugs. If it is 120v the white conductor goes to the neutral buss and the black to the breaker. If itis 240v then the white (or red) and black both go to the breaker (one to each terminal) there is no neutral with a 240v cct.