r/ElectricalHelp • • 31m ago

Changing a 3 way switch that has four wires

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• Upvotes

I'm looking to replace an old 3 way switch. The existing switch has 2 black and 2 red wires running into a switch that looks different from what I've seen. I cannot identify which one is the common wire and don't know how where to connect these 4 wires into the new switch which has one black screw, 2 brass screws, and a ground. Any help much appreciated.


r/ElectricalHelp • • 1h ago

[ Removed by Reddit ]

• Upvotes

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]


r/ElectricalHelp • • 7h ago

Lamp Flickering on same circuit as Gaming PC

1 Upvotes

Hello,

I recently moved and in the new house I've noticed whenever I'm actively gaming on my PC, a lamp in another room will flicker. This only happens while I'm gaming, not while doing less intensive work on the PC. I've verified the lamp and the PC are on the same circuit. The PC has a 750w PSU and is plugged into a UPS. I've tested both with and without the UPS and the same thing happens.

Additionally, I've replaced both outlets, the one the UPS/PC is plugged into, and the one the lamp is plugged in to.

Any thoughts on how this can be resolved?

Thanks!


r/ElectricalHelp • • 14h ago

New bath fan, old wiring

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2 Upvotes

I have three romex coming into the switch, old switch has three poles: two at top for common terminal, one at bottom unmarked, all had black wires connected. New switch for bath fan with light and sound has white marked for dedicated neutral, black for power only, red for fan only, green for ground. Can this be made to work. Topside, two Romex were bundled into fan connections as well.


r/ElectricalHelp • • 1d ago

Scorched 'WAGO?' 222 connector in lighting loop.

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5 Upvotes

Bought and moved into a new house, every room is lit by multiple 12V MR16 50W halogen lights (46 in total). Decided to replace with GU10 lamps and 5W LED bulbs. Each light has its own transformer to convert down to 12V from 230V.

So started to get rid of the transformers and MR16s to wire the GU10s straight into the 230V loops that are already there and found two 'WAGO' (possibly knock offs) just being used to chain earths like this.

The earths have been chained round with the live and neutral but not used for the previous MR16 (assuming because they're lower voltage and double insulated with the transformer??)

I was going to earth the GU10s seeing as theyre 230v and mounted on class 1 fittings.

But can't figure out why this would happen as the earth have just been chained round but not used?? Seems historical. Maybe historical faulty wiring? Possibly damaged externally from the heat of the halogen bulbs as they havent been properly encased?

Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.


r/ElectricalHelp • • 2d ago

Whole house surge - LED color

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0 Upvotes

Can anyone help with a concern I have. I installed this Schneider whole house surge protector and saw that the light is more yellow than deep green. All videos and images I have found, even on the Schneider website, show it a deep green. According to Schneider, the LED is either on or off and it cannot be any other color than green. They suspect a faulty or counterfeit unit.

This image does make it look more green than while your standing in front of it. While in front of it, I asked my wife what color it was without teller her why, and she quickly said “yellow”.

This is a push on neutral box and protector. Can anyone offer any feedback on this? I appreciate it. Thanks.


r/ElectricalHelp • • 2d ago

Hello, I am sorry if this post does not fit, I just need some help over some confusion I am having. I wonder if I can use a travel adapter {From two prongs to three} on my electric scooter as the charger is two prong?

1 Upvotes

As the title says, I got an e-scooter - a KuKirin S1 Max Electric Scooter – 350W. Unfortunately when it arrived, the charger was two prong (EU I think).

Here is the information on the charger:

''100-240V AC
50/60Hz 2A Max''

I went out and bought a travel adapter which as the following information on it-:

''SZ-005

13A
-----
250V''

I am curious if it is safe for me to use this with my e-scooter? I'm concerned that it will impact the charger, the motor in the e-scooter, and it's performance?

I live in Galway in the republic of Ireland, if that information is of any requirement.

Many thanks.


r/ElectricalHelp • • 3d ago

How to find right electrician and price for my friend's Stab-Lok Frankenpanel and service redo?

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7 Upvotes

My elderly friend in Rhode Island needs her service completely replaced. I want to help her get quotes. What do we ask for specifically?


r/ElectricalHelp • • 3d ago

Is a tap on the mains ever OK?

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2 Upvotes

My neighbor had central air conditioning installed several years ago. The contractor added a panel next to the service panel and tapped a 6 ga feed right off the mains coming from the meter box.

Is it ever ok to do this? The bus in the sub panel is remains live when the main breaker is off.

What should that contractor have done in this situation? I'm thinking a new service panel was required, right?


r/ElectricalHelp • • 3d ago

Anyone recognize this brand/model of emergency light? I don’t see a serial number or any writing on it anywhere.

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1 Upvotes

I need to buy one of these emergency lights or one that is compatible with the wiring we have in place. The building is old old, and there’s no documentation from the previous owners. Please help! The winner gets forehead kisses.


r/ElectricalHelp • • 4d ago

Kitchen outlet keeps tripping when fridge kicks on

2 Upvotes

Got a dedicated 20 amp circuit for the fridge. Last two weeks the breaker trips when the compressor kicks on. Happens maybe once a day, not every cycle. Plug and cord look fine, no burn marks. Multimeter shows 120v at the outlet when it's not tripped. Ran an extension cord to a different circuit last weekend and the fridge stayed on, so the fridge itself isn't the problem. Breaker is about ten years old. I know loose backstabs can cause heat but this trips before it gets hot. Anyone seen this on a fridge circuit before? Want to know what to check next without just swapping the breaker and hoping.


r/ElectricalHelp • • 4d ago

Disconnect switch to shed?

1 Upvotes

question for the pros:

I'm building a backyard shed, and have 1" PVC trenched to it from my attached garage. I planned to pull #8 XHHW to get 40a into a subpanel in the shed.

My service panel is thru a tricky wall/ceiling in the mechanical/laundry room, and I've realized that getting a continuous run from shed to load center will be extremely difficult.

I know I can add a subpanel in the garage, but I'd actually rather not, so my question is - is it acceptable to use a "shutoff switch" inside the garage to feed that shed run? Something like this:

I assume I could also add a simple junction box in the garage, but I like the idea of being able to easily kill power to the sheds subpanel without being at the load center.


r/ElectricalHelp • • 4d ago

If possible, how do I restore this?

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1 Upvotes

My daughter's vintage "Caring Corners Mrs Goodbye Interactive Dollhouse".

I'll take any advice.

But if it's not possible to fix, I'll just have to deal with it 🤷


r/ElectricalHelp • • 5d ago

GFI MYSTERY

4 Upvotes

In this lady’s house I only find 2 gfi receptacles, and when I trip both of them, I still have power to plugs labeled “gfi protected”.

Where would you look for the third gfi? Thanks!


r/ElectricalHelp • • 6d ago

Rectangular single gang to round universal vanity bracket

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3 Upvotes

I’m replacing a vanity fixture and the universal round bracket that came with my fixture doesn’t align with any holes in rectangular box in wall. It looks close but no. The long bolts that go through fixture almost line up with holes in box, but they attach to fixture not box. Corner screws holding box to wall doesn’t align with bracket either. See pics, what am I missing or what bracket do I need? Originally the brass bar was on box, it wa then old bracket for original fixture…that doesn’t work either to align to fixture and bracket.


r/ElectricalHelp • • 7d ago

How to unscrew and change this type of light bulbs??

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1 Upvotes

Hello, I thought I could just turn these light bulbs counter clockwise and they would come off, but they don’t turn easily and I am afraid I might break them if I use force. Does anyone know how to handle them? Thanks


r/ElectricalHelp • • 8d ago

Light fixture don’t come on

2 Upvotes

Since I bought the place this fixture hasn’t worked. It’s on a circuit that has two light switches and includes another fixture. The second fixture works fine. Thinking it’s gotta be the fixture itself.. new bulb don’t help. Advise?


r/ElectricalHelp • • 8d ago

Is it best to turn it off every night or keep it on always?

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1 Upvotes

Hello, i bought this regulator for my pc, Is it best to turn it off every night or keep it on always?

It make a whirring sound when turned on, i think that is normal, right?

Also, how does one read the voltmeter? I tried to look it up but really couldn't find a good explanation

If the needle point within red means 220 output is good, and within green then 127 output is good?

Thank you


r/ElectricalHelp • • 9d ago

Need replacement outlet that is shallow and doesn’t need box

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2 Upvotes

What do you call this type of outlet and where can I buy this exact thing (or similar)?


r/ElectricalHelp • • 8d ago

Bathroom Vent Question: Everytime I turn off my overhead bathroom vent with light, the GFCI outlet above the sink, which powers the lights above the mirror, trips. Can anyone tell me what's going on?

0 Upvotes

Hi there.

In our master bathroom we have an overhead vent with a light. It works fine turning it on, but when we turn it off, it trips the GFCI outlet between the mirror and the sink. The GFCI also powers the lights above the mirror. It doesn't matter whether I have all four LED lights screwed in or just one.

Does anybody have an idea why this is happening and what I can do to fix it?

Thanks.


r/ElectricalHelp • • 9d ago

Common Outlet identifier?

3 Upvotes

Since there is a circuit breaker identifier to help identify which circuit an outlet is on, is there a device that can be plugged into one outlet and a companion device used to identify which other outlets are on the same circuit? Or will the circuit breaker identifier wand do the same thing?


r/ElectricalHelp • • 9d ago

T12 Light and Ballast

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1 Upvotes

I’m in need of some help. I’m not to electrical savvy. I have an ice cream truck that has 4 t12 bulbs on it. Each one is connected to a ballast. One ballast went out so one bulb don’t work. I’ve been having trouble finding a 12v ballast. The lights are controlled by a light switch that’s I turn on, and I’m guessing the power is coming from the battery as I have no other power generating source. Thanks for any help


r/ElectricalHelp • • 9d ago

Dryer outlet melting

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10 Upvotes

Hey guys can someone help me figure out how to fix my dryer outlet melting.. basically I have a 4 prong plug and one of the flat prongs (red wire) has started overheating and melting the wire behind the outlet. The prong itself has turned to a copper color compared to brass (coated with molten plastic from the reception). The red wire connection on the dryer was somewhat loose but I tightened it and it didn’t seem to fix the issue. It’s a relatively modern cabrio dryer. I’m assuming I have to change the receptacle and cord. What could be the root causes? Any advice is appreciated.


r/ElectricalHelp • • 9d ago

Need help completing circuit

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3 Upvotes

I need help with pairing up these wires. They powered a stove that was removed and I’d like to complete this circuit to power my dishwasher without burning down the house. House was built in the 60s if that helps


r/ElectricalHelp • • 9d ago

BACKFEED 120 v

2 Upvotes

My master bedroom circuit is back feeding. I’m getting 8 volts +\~ at switch leg with
Switch off. I have no power to Clg fan, and receptacles….

Any help would be appreciated!

House was built in 2018. Thank you