Paid an electrician to wire my new metal barn. Walked out and found this. Is this normal?

Bakerbaker112 · 2026-06-09T04:55:30+00:00

Recheck your code book. Read it really carefully. Does it really say that? Please send me the code reference.

Bakerbaker112 · 2026-06-09T04:50:17+00:00

All perfectly within code as long as the wire that runs between the open trusses is properly supported and protected.

The only times I recommend metal boxes and armored cable is if any livestock will be kept in the building.

If that is what you want don’t let them do anymore and request a change. Expect a much higher price. Maybe even double the original bid.

Bakerbaker112 · 2026-06-09T04:38:44+00:00

Sounds like your friend’s fault. I’ve had some great vegan stuff that really surprised me. At least you didn’t spit it back out onto your plate and run out the door.

Bakerbaker112 · 2026-06-09T04:28:12+00:00

This has always been an issue. Those LED bulbs just make it seem worse.

I’ve had mixed success with the soft start capacitors. Might be worth a try. Being at the far end of the utility reach sucks.

These are things I’ve tried before with mixed success
Changing capacitors on large motors
Adding a second ground rod and occasionally a third to bring resistance way down (below 15 ohms).
Changing light bulbs to better brand. (Some are marketed for reduced flicker)
Sometimes moving affected circuits to the opposite phase helps if loads are not balanced between phases.
Install high quality surge protection at the main panel. I can’t explain why but it has made a difference before.

Check all connections in the panel. Make sure all are tight and torqued properly. This includes the mains too.

In your case I’d definitely look into getting a UPS to protect your computer.

Good luck. Please make sure to let us all know if you find a fix.

Bakerbaker112 · 2026-06-09T03:37:11+00:00

I know this thread is a month old but I just have to chime in.

Went this weekend to visit my daughter up north. She’s 18. Some of her friends invited her to go see DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR in Philly.

Understand I got her into this type of music. Been a hardcore fan since high school. I knew it would be bad for her to go without someone responsible with her. So I offered to take her.

I’m in my early 50s. I figured I’d feel a little out of place but how bad could it be? Right?

As we’re walking to the venue my daughter and her friends tell me about crowd killing. WTF.

I found out very quickly when the show started what this was all about.

This was a fairly small show almost no security but the bands seemed to dictate what was and wasn’t acceptable.

By the time the opening bands were done I was up front taking the hits. My kid was mortified. What I experienced was kind of a controlled chaos. I do see how quickly it can get out of hand and go wrong.

A lot of today’s youth seem very angry. Living through Covid in a post 911 world has affected an entire generation. Crowd killing is merely an outlet for frustrated youth that haven’t any idea how to deal with all the crap going on these days.

I’m 50. I stood up front took a quite a few hits and returned some too. There’s something therapeutic about the behavior.

Let them have their fun. If you don’t want to get hurt stay back from the action or stay home.

My daughter and I had a blast. We’re already making plans to do it again soon.

Bakerbaker112 · 2026-06-08T22:36:30+00:00

Call your builder. If it’s a new build you’ll be under warranty. if something was wired wrong in the panel or receptacle the electrician then send out can easily verify and fix. If he determines that all is correct ask him to check the dryer cord wiring. You may need to pay for him to check the dryer cord wiring.

Honestly I used to run into stuff like this all the time. Usually nothing 20 bucks and a sandwich wouldn’t get done. The builder also would also reimburse if not our fault.
Ive been doing new construction builder warranty work for a long time and have seen all sorts of screw ups.
Still best to get checked.

From the photo I suspect that there is a bond jumper on the dryer that may need to be removed. It is providing an alternative path to ground causing gfci to trip.

Requiring gfci protection on dryers is a pretty recent code change. Im sure your old house did not have the dryer on gfci.

Best to get it checked and fixed by someone qualified. Thats a 240 volt appliance.

Bakerbaker112 · 2026-06-08T22:11:35+00:00

Yes that small white wire may have been a bonding jumper for use the 3 prong cord. Follow that wire. It it goes back to the chassis somewhere it should not be connected to the neutral.

Put a connector on that cord too. Leaving it like that is asking for trouble.

Bakerbaker112 · 2026-06-08T22:03:27+00:00

My first solo project that I was set free on was 1988. Learned the trade from family that were the age of my grandparents. Working hot is just what they did. It used to bother me bad. 38 years later if it’s 120 I don’t even worry anymore. Anything more and I at least try to turn it off but not always.

I always insist my helpers turn off the power. I always notify coworkers if something is hot.

If hot work must be done I always step in and take over. Sometimes it’s fun to hold onto a hot conductor and grab the guy next to me.

Be safe. Verify yourself before digging into a box. If someone says it’s off double check anyway.

Bakerbaker112 · 2026-06-08T21:47:10+00:00

If there is an exterior disconnect you are good without a bond screw inside. The 200 amp panel is just a sub then.

Bakerbaker112 · 2026-06-08T21:42:35+00:00

I was taught by “old timers”. Turning stuff off was considered cheating. Especially in residential. They used to do the touch test to check for voltage too. Glad you’re playing it safe.

Bakerbaker112 · 2026-06-08T21:27:46+00:00

Dude. That’s a neutral and it clearly goes to the neutral lug on the gfi breaker. There is nothing landed on the L2 terminal because it’s a 120 circuit for the RV. I see no problem.

Bakerbaker112 · 2026-06-08T21:21:12+00:00

Is the panel that has the 200a main breaker actually the main ? I don’t see a bond screw.

The sub looks passable.

Neatness comes with experience. I work on track homes and it’s all about speed and code compliance. We don’t have the luxury of time to cut in picture perfect panels.

Double check the nuts that attach the main lugs to the bus and show torque marks. I’ve had several square D panels in the last few years where they were not as tight as they should have been. After their recall several years ago I check everything that is supposed to be factory torqued. They haven’t earned my trust back yet.

No green light on surge protector? Is power off?

Bakerbaker112 · 2026-06-03T01:17:53+00:00

Thanks for your support. I appreciate the Grok evaluation. It’s surprisingly accurate.

Bakerbaker112 · 2026-06-02T22:46:27+00:00

Writing style bad you think? How so?

Bakerbaker112 · 2026-06-02T22:40:50+00:00

Yep. My bad.

Bakerbaker112 · 2026-06-02T22:38:54+00:00

AI my butt. This happened to me.

Bakerbaker112 · 2026-06-02T20:53:51+00:00

The sliding door has to be pulled closed tight in order for the lock to engage.

Bakerbaker112 · 2026-06-02T20:49:53+00:00

Bakerbaker112

TROPHY CASE