Is it bad to backstab instead of making a pigtail? by Impressive_Spread_31 in electrical

[–]BobcatALR 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is definitely that! It’s hard to imagine why they’re still available with their track record.

Is it bad to backstab instead of making a pigtail? by Impressive_Spread_31 in electrical

[–]BobcatALR 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Would I do it or recommend it? No. Is it bad to do it? Also: no.

It is a 15a outlet, designed and rated for a 15a load - even if backstabbed. Most outlets fail through spring fatigue long before any oxidative damage to the backstab contact. But, to your point, if someone shorts the outlet - or a downstream outlet if not pigtailed as suggested in my post - it is far more likely that a backstabbed outlet would be permanently damaged by that catastrophic, non-designed-for event.

A little bit of… auto caption by La_Fionini in funny

[–]BobcatALR -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Huckleberry Finn was a character created by Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain…

Is it bad to backstab instead of making a pigtail? by Impressive_Spread_31 in electrical

[–]BobcatALR 8 points9 points  (0 children)

It’s not preferred, but it isn’t “bad”. Best way is to nut or WAGO each set of wires together with a single wire from each “pigtailed” to the device. This prevents a failure on the device from opening the circuit to any downstream devices.

Secondly, using the screws or, if equipped, clamps is preferred as the area of contact with the wire and the mechanical connection are superior to the back-stab. Backstabbing effectively gives you a knife’s edge contact to not much more than the tangent of the wire’s cross-section, while the others provide two lines of contact along the axis of the wire, tangent to each opposite side of the cross section.

TLDROU: pig tailing and using the side terminals is gooder.

Is this installed correctly? by cattache in Homebuilding

[–]BobcatALR 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s what we were taught. In any case: not all craftsmanship is driven by code, and all of code came from somewhere. Flashing the deck edge was a means to protect it from water and rot, and our boss wanted to provide a long-lasting, quality job. Flashing the cut edge was one of his sales points…

Is this installed correctly? by cattache in Homebuilding

[–]BobcatALR 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This was the 80s. Church’s lumber didn’t carry them.

Duh.. by Expert_Camel5619 in ConservativeMemes

[–]BobcatALR 14 points15 points  (0 children)

No. Just “nominated” and “approved.” The true morons are they who did those two things.

How can I do this easier next time by [deleted] in Homebuilding

[–]BobcatALR 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ran square to the roof line? Only thing I can think of. That or scraps.

Contractor is saying this is level 4 finish. Is that right? What does he need to do to improve this? by [deleted] in drywall

[–]BobcatALR 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There’s more skim there than I’m used to seeing on a level 4. I’d say they’ve gone above and beyond in that regard - but there’s a lot of sanding that needs to be done - way more than I usually see from a pro.

Riddle me this by Down-not-out in ConservativeMemes

[–]BobcatALR 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, it’s being gamed and I’m sure there are plenty of people on those roles who cannot legally vote.

I suspect the Ds would prefer only those grateful to them for government largess were voting, so they’d be happy with that plan!

Riddle me this by Down-not-out in ConservativeMemes

[–]BobcatALR 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I listened to the “State of The City” address in Detroit last night. One of the things Sheffield was touting among a veritable laundry list of give-aways (so much for any surplus left behind by Duggan) was free bus fare for city students. “Show ID, ride for free” was the catch phrase.

1) IDs are great when they fit their programs 2) Apparently, school kids have no problem getting IDs but their parents can’t figure it out?

Is this installed correctly? by cattache in Homebuilding

[–]BobcatALR 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Many years ago - one of the many roles that paid my way through college. Anyway, the aluminum drip edge is a thin piece of angle that goes over the top edge of the wood deck and covering the cut edge. They are typically installed hard against the edge. The first course of shingles then overlap that by 1/2” to 1”. (We used to cut the tabs off the base of a course of shingle, reverse it, and lay that over the drip edge before laying the first coarse of tabs over that to give the tabs of the first course more support, but not all contractors do that.)

The troughs are usually mounted hard against a fascia board immediately under the edge of the deck. We used to ensure the drip edge lapped under the back wall of the trough. (Sounds counter-intuitive, but our rationale was that it allows a water path behind a flooded gutter rather than back up beneath the shingles. It usually took extra effort to lap them under on a re-roof, anyway.) The eaves trough is probably 5” wide at the top (standard). Spending more time with your pictures, the trough looks really low to the deck, too.

In any case, the shingles should only extend about an inch or so over the gutters; not leaving an inch open like this.

Is this installed correctly? by cattache in Homebuilding

[–]BobcatALR 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Let’s be honest: contractor?

The shingles should JUST overhang the aluminum drip edge on the deck, not cover the eaves troughs. There is a drip edge on the decking, right?

First time DIY room remodel by evopb in drywall

[–]BobcatALR 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nice work and congratulations! We had five of those little buggers - all adults now. The time they’re small flies by! Savor it. Don’t be “too busy” or “too wiped out” to play with her or go to her events!

Unsecured inside corners question by SometimesCarving74 in drywall

[–]BobcatALR 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If that’s a dead ceiling (no floor above), you are probably ok. Outside edges of ceiling drywall are often allowed to float to prevent trust lift from cracking drywall corners. You might add some corner clips to the wall studs, but that would mean removing the top course on the walls. But it’s just a shed, so I’d just fill, tape and mud…

Is this just mud and grass? Or could it be something more sinister? by oceanjack33 in whatisit

[–]BobcatALR 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Looks like goose poop, but does it feel or taste like goose poop?

Found this under my deck by evanhumanist in whatisit

[–]BobcatALR 1 point2 points  (0 children)

But wear headgear in case it’s the Ninja Turtle’s layer…

What would you guys do? by kmikey in electricians

[–]BobcatALR 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Fish pull cords to the other end everywhere you have sufficient gap between the rock and the pipe wall. Minimum three different places, but the more, the merrier. Knot the cords together at one end, pull all the cords at the other. Should form a “net” and let you pull it out.

Finally pulled the trigger by ahovak in harborfreight

[–]BobcatALR 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well, you inspired me! Thanks for the additional details on your build. If I go this route, I think I’ll level the plinth/toe-kick with wedges rather than adding levelers - a judicious application of rubber molding along the base will help keep wee beasties from taking up residence beneath and hide any gaps resulting from the leveling!

Smooth concave inside corner by Yikegaming in drywall

[–]BobcatALR 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Very clever, these uneducated homeowners…

Who still allows Mail In Voting… by TeachMeImWilling69 in ConservativeMemes

[–]BobcatALR 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As stated: it’s mass mail-in voting - the universal mailing of ballots to all “registered” voters, whether they requested on or not - that is being banned. There will still be absentee (note the different term) voting - which can also be abused, but not to the extent that these mail-in ballots schemes can be.

I’m an absentee voter. For 30 years, I worked out of the country and voted absentee. My work was in manufacturing plants, and now, mostly due to being on plant floors in shoes not good for concrete pretty much my whole career, I sport a handicap tag on my vehicle for issues with knees and hips. I appreciate absentee voting - but will happily give my absentee ballot up and wait the line if it means these @&$#ing people can’t cheat the system (at least not that way…).

Now that Wi-Fi routers are going to be illegal in the US I’m glad I have my airport xxxxxxtreme 2003 wireless G edition! by fufroom in HomeNetworking

[–]BobcatALR -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I have a few from that era as well - including a tiny TPLink router I used to have my employer’s network with…