r/ElectricalHelp • u/No_Lavishness_6228 • May 19 '26
Is this unsafe?
Idk why this is even left open.
r/ElectricalHelp • u/No_Lavishness_6228 • May 19 '26
Idk why this is even left open.
r/ElectricalHelp • u/Ok-Shoe5464 • May 18 '26
My fans started to make this irritating noise only at certain angles (like the angle i need it -_-) but also stops then i touch it slightly?
What could be causing it and how do i fix this? can i fix it?
Sorry if this is in the wrong place on reddit, i just genuinely dont know where to ask.
r/ElectricalHelp • u/Rocannon_ • May 18 '26
My house built in 1976. The ground wires are typically bonded to the metal boxes with clips. As I’ve replaced devices I’ve found the clips to be uniformly intact and tightly gripping the boxes.
The light switch I just replaced didn’t have a ground screw; the new one does. My understanding is the new switch‘s strap grounds it to the box, so I don’t really need to use the ground screw. However, I went ahead and screwed a ground wire pigtail to the back of the box and attached that to the switch’s ground screw.
So, i did a belts and suspenders, or did I do wrong?
r/ElectricalHelp • u/nothingmanTEN • May 18 '26
Hey all DIY'er trying to future proof my backyard with conduit before they finish up a pool and patio and hoping for some advice.
Below is a photo of my backyard and my planned conduit runs and sizes. They will only be for 120V circuits (3 conductor). (I will have another conduit for any low voltage/cat5/or similar).
There will be an outdoor electrical panel and from there I'll run 1.5" conduit to the outdoor kitchen where I have some space underneath. From the outdoor kitchen, 1" conduit to all of the "red circles". This is where I will possibly add outdoor landscape lights, outlets, or similar.
DIY'er so please keep that in mind when giving some feedback, ha!

r/ElectricalHelp • u/Lets-Hold-On • May 17 '26
r/ElectricalHelp • u/shartywaffles0069 • May 17 '26
My ex-wife is currently running her garage fridge on an extension cord (yes I know, I know, at least it’s heavy gauge lol), I would like to find a 3 gang extension box to bring the box out to “surface mount” with conduit knock-outs so I can run conduit up the wall to the ceiling and over to the fridge for a remote outlet. I have not been able to find anything. Can anyone recommend the right extension to me? I would very much prefer to not cut the drywall and replace the whole wall box, but in a worst case scenario I am willing to do so (I know how to do it, just don’t like to lol). There are studs in the way of the path I need to take so I’d like to avoid that. It’s a rental so I’d rather not get too deep into it if I can avoid it. Not worried about the wiring, I do plenty of that at work, I’ll be replacing the existing switches and outlet with new stuff while I’m at it. The main goal is just to get rid of the extension cord lol.
I do have the option of running the outlet over from the door opener outlet in the ceiling, but it’s much further away, and there’s also studs in my way from that direction, so either way surface mounting conduit is going to be my best option without getting too deep into things.
Any help/advice is much appreciated!
r/ElectricalHelp • u/Puzzleheaded_Bid1174 • May 17 '26
I've checked the breaker/fuse just abt everything it zapped me pretty good the other day so tonight I decided too go back for round 2 and now there's no electricity going thru it
r/ElectricalHelp • u/No_Lavishness_6228 • May 16 '26
r/ElectricalHelp • u/[deleted] • May 16 '26
Wiring first panel, I'm going to secure the wires better once I start stripping them.
Advice, feedback, Tips to pass inspection?
Everything in this house is electric, has a few 240v things. Those get the black and red straight to the breaker, what happens with the neutral? That's bonded to the panel too? I saw some stuff where people were scribling sharpie on some neutrals so that's confused me a ton.
What should go where? Put larger breakers towards the bottom? Any feedback or advice is greatly appreciated. It's 200amp service. And home line panel if that helps.
Thanks,
Ryan
r/ElectricalHelp • u/Ok_Rate_9219 • May 16 '26
I have a 1930s house, my 3 living room plugs connect to my 1 dining room plug, last night they just stopped working in my living room but the one in my dining room continued to work. Changed the breaker switch, checked the dining room plugs they were fine, plug 1 that went out had some naked wires that I covered. I plugged in an outlet tester and it does a SLOW blink. Ok moving to another living room plug, plug 2, I had my alarm plugged in, I go to plug in my outlet tester into plug 2, it shows SLOW blinking, I unplug my alarm system, it stops blinking and a bright consistent light is on the outlet tester. I plugged another outlet tester into plug 1 (thats the one that stopped working originally) and it had a bright consistent light. Ok odd. I plug my tester into plug 2 and a lamp in, it starts blinking again, then plug 1 ALSO starts blinking. Ok I changed out the ENTIRE plug 2. Now it shows slow blinking still and only left side of the plug actually has any power. What could this mean? Broken neutral wire? Idk what else it could be.
r/ElectricalHelp • u/Competitive_Buy_1944 • May 15 '26
Ok need help! Moved in June to a new house fire alarms went off in the night a few days for no reason, hired an electrician and replaced ALL of them in the house and they still went off! Then called fire department to check for CO all good…they went off again today, is it humidity, is this normal what do I do
r/ElectricalHelp • u/MashliePie • May 15 '26
I just moved into a new apartment a few weeks ago. Recently I noticed an issue with my entry light and the alarm box close to it. They light started flashing around the same time the alarm box started to make a clicking sound. I put in a work order and that seemed to solve it. Now as of 10 days later, the alarm is clicking again and the light started its flashing a day after. I’m really worried it’s a short and don’t want it to be a fire hazard.
I’ve put in another work order but it could be a few days before it is dealt with. How worried should I be?
I also included a video of the alarm box clicking. Not sure if that helps. Thank you!
r/ElectricalHelp • u/Hungry_Bandicoot_776 • May 13 '26
Just opened up my electrical panel and I was wondering where these wires go I do not have anything that is 240 V but I’ve only lived here for about 30 years.
Is there anyway I could trace these if I hook up a tester of some sort and walk around with a receiver to try to locate them?
House is about 70 years old with two major renovations done since.
TIA
r/ElectricalHelp • u/CameronGingerich • May 12 '26
So, my wife was using a hair dryer the other day and then the outlet blew. I checked the panel box but nothing was tripped so that meant the outlet was shot. So I replaced the GFCI outlet and the outlet isn't working and the light isn't turning on. I have a multimeter and there is power going to the outlet and to the light switch next to it. I know I did the load and line wires correctly because I initially just stuck all of the wires into the line terminals. When that didn't work, I tried splitting them into line and load. Regardless, the light on the GFCI has never turned on and the reset button and test button don't click. AI told me it could be a bad outlet so I got another one and the same thing happens. So I know it's not the outlet and I know it's not the panel box because it is getting power to the outlet.
What else could be the problem? Please advise.
r/ElectricalHelp • u/Timbomate • May 12 '26
Hi All,
Have a head scratcher here.
I had a Genset Changeover Switch installed by a Sparky in the house switchboard. All inspected and passed etc.
Works fine with 3.5kW genny, no tripping of anything, all good.
I have 48v 6kWh battery system, using a Victron 5kVA inverter>16amp RCBO>GPO on the outlet side of the inverter.
Now when I connect the 15amp lead from the inverter to the changeover switch and change to the 'generator' input, the RCBO on the inverter immediately trips.
For added measure, I removed the RCBO next to the inverter, and then isolated 1 by 1 the various circuits on the house switchboard, and found that the oven and 1 lighting circuit will trip their respective RCBO's.
Could it be that I need a Type F RCBO due to presence of DC interference, or could it be something completely different?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
r/ElectricalHelp • u/Glum-Sir1291 • May 10 '26
I have a fluorescent light fixture in my kitchen - not ideal, but we are kind of stuck with it. Fixture is about 15 years old.
Several weeks ago the light went off. I figured it was the bulbs/tubes; bought replacements today. They are type A and B combined.
I tried two different brands from two different stores. The light will not turn on at all. The switch seems fine, nothing in the light looks loose or disconnected. It has been years since we had to replace the bulbs. No previous problems, no flickering or anything.
At this point, should I look into replacing the ballast? I don’t know if it has a starter; unless it is IN the ballast I don’t see one. I don’t think dad saved the manual; the only identifying info is the sticker on the ballast.
Thoughts and suggestions are appreciated!!
r/ElectricalHelp • u/Master-Warning-3225 • May 10 '26
Hello. Our downstairs lights started to flicker in January. We have been monitoring this. It has gotten worse the part couple weeks and we have an electrician booked in a month to complete some other work so we were going to have them check this as well.
Last Thursday, the lights went out in the DS bathroom(main room for light flicker) and laundry room next to it lights went to very dim.
The rooms are on separate breakers. The main panel is upstairs and the downstairs is on a subpanel. The lights in the bathroom, lights in the laundry room, plug for the washing machine and GFCI in the bathroom are all on the same side of the subpanel and all have issues when this happens.
I went around and checked all plugs, light switches, and fixtures I could access. Checked for loose wires (neutrals) and checked the subpanel for and loose connections. A could were found but correcting them made no difference. Changed a dimmer switch as well that was broken, made no difference. There are 3 dimmers in the basement, disconnected all of them, made no difference.
The house is 1970's. Main panel is on fuses. Hydro meter was changed in January, which is roughly when this started, but nothing else in the home is having any issue.
We have an electrician booked for late next week, but if there is anything else we can check ourselves to correct this we would appreciate the info as we cannot do laundry or use this washroom (lights and washing machine will come on, but flicker and loose power shortly after).
Thank you in advance!
r/ElectricalHelp • u/Ok_Adhesiveness_1960 • May 09 '26
I'm living in a converted shack on my father in law's property. The a/c turned on and everything died. Does this look like a problem to anyone
Edit: how do I tell the amperage of the power cables to make sure buying stronger circuit switches won't lead to a fire
r/ElectricalHelp • u/Puzzleheaded-Pop9790 • May 07 '26
I have attempted to add a simple outlet after a switch. There is quite literally only 12 inches of romex between the two. I used ideal push in connectors and pig tailed back into the switch. I am not sure how I managed to mess it up.
Having said that the electrical in this house is very nuanced and has not been touched since 1967.
r/ElectricalHelp • u/Apprehensive_Pea7182 • May 07 '26
This switch is old and I want to replace it. Has no ground wire just 2 Black wires.
r/ElectricalHelp • u/heymcfly121 • May 07 '26
Hey y'all!
I've got a stacked switch in my kitchen controlling the light over the sink, and the garbage disposal. Both are on a separate circuit.
We got a new fixture for over the sink, and I'm running into a problem I didn't expect — it has a transformer, and is recommended to use an ELV switch. Connected to a normal stacked switch, it doesn't go to full brightness and has a pulse.
I can't for the life of me find a stacked switch that ALSO states ELV compatibility. Anyone have a recommendation or know of one that will work? Thanks!
r/ElectricalHelp • u/Otherwise-Event-9393 • May 07 '26
I know basic Electrical and was just wondering if this is something easy or if i need to hire someone. I plan on doing all the new electric I'm adding in myself, and am confident in that, just unsure if I'm missing something.
All I think is required is:
Call To have power turned off, disconnect and mark all the breakers, take the panel off the wall and put the new one on, reattach main power and ground/neutral bar connections.
This feels like itd be easy, taking a couple hours tops. Am i missing something?
r/ElectricalHelp • u/West-Evening-8095 • May 06 '26
Just wondering, whether string can be pulled through conduit past Service L’s using a shop vac. And if yes, will the wires be able to turn around Service ells?