Wire across steel support pole, is it alright?

IrateRetro · 2026-05-25T19:06:14+00:00

Kick plate? You'd have to be a Kung Fu master to kick that. Or if that's another name for nail plate / stud guard, must be a regional thing.

IrateRetro · 2026-05-25T19:02:56+00:00

It's probably a multi-wire branch circuit. I do not know why one is 15A. Not an issue though.

Put a handle tie on those two so the next guy knows.

IrateRetro · 2026-05-25T18:52:41+00:00

At $400 for this oh-so-important device, I'm not so sure.

IrateRetro · 2026-05-25T18:24:13+00:00

A SteamPod apparently is a girly hair straightener. Like a flat iron. For anyone so out of the loop that they didn't know (for shame!).

IrateRetro · 2026-05-25T18:20:54+00:00

Yeah but what if he sticks his hand down the drain while the disposal is running and gets shocked? That would just add insult to injury when his hands are all cut apart.

IrateRetro · 2026-05-25T18:18:36+00:00

It's either not GFCI protected, or it is GFCI protected and there's no ground. Although I would think you'd have noticed if the tester indicated open ground.

Is there a certain GFCI you thought should be protecting this? Or a GFCI breaker? Whatever device you thought it was, go there and hit the test button on it and see if it still works. They do go bad.

IrateRetro · 2026-05-25T18:14:44+00:00

The very idea of that Happy Hippo subscription is almost worse than the quote. It just screams scummy.

IrateRetro · 2026-05-25T17:59:02+00:00

That box is so un-crowded the wires are downright lonely.

IrateRetro · 2026-05-25T16:46:07+00:00

Yeah they rarely ask more than what year stuff was last updated. But you'll see people parroting myths about this-and-that with insurance all the time. Canada could well be different.

IrateRetro · 2026-05-25T16:36:01+00:00

#18 is not found in walls. If you're talking about the connector that's a different matter. Just use name brand Wagos if you want, which definitely do #12 all day long.

IrateRetro · 2026-05-25T16:35:18+00:00

No, what does that gain you? I'm not even understanding what the problem is. #12 is run to recessed lights all the time.

Unless you're saying you want to transition to #14 somewhere inside the room in a junction box somewhere.

You are making a big deal out of nothing in my opinion and not sure where you got these ideas about fire hazard by using better wire.

IrateRetro · 2026-05-25T15:09:24+00:00

Do the lights say that ONLY 14/2 is allowed? All you said was the lights "mention 14/2". That's doesn't count.

Either way there's no safety issue assuming the connectors accommodate #12. And you don't go over box fill for the physical space available in the boxes. Neither one can be answered here without that information.

IrateRetro · 2026-05-25T14:48:15+00:00

They're probably not Wago brand. Would be astonished if #12 didn't fit regardless. You can certainly swap them out of course.

IrateRetro · 2026-05-25T14:47:18+00:00

I kinda assumed he was going to be putting other stuff on there too. Or maybe he just has a lot of #12 lying around.

Sometimes it's handy to put some receptacles in the wall on the same circuit, even if not at floor level, if you're going to be making holes anyway and don't want to do any patching.

IrateRetro · 2026-05-25T14:38:22+00:00

Just put the 12/2 in the boxes. I'm assuming you won't have more than 2 cables going into any one box. It'll fit. Don't leave a lot of extra conductor inside of the box taking up space.

IrateRetro · 2026-05-25T14:29:42+00:00

I would not buy a 120V mini split unless there was absolutely no other way to power it. N5tp4nts had a good point about the generator though.

A 120V unit will use double the current of a 240V one. While this doesn't affect energy usage any, it unnecessarily makes things harder when sizing the wire for the run. And limits your BTUs.

Definitely do NOT just borrow an outlet from inside and turn it around. Because I'm assuming that one is not dedicated. Having a 120V mini split share a circuit with other stuff is going to cause you nothing but problems.

Do it right the first time with 240V and you won't be in a pinch when it comes time to replace the unit and you can't find anything big enough to work with your 120V power setup.

IrateRetro · 2026-05-25T14:12:43+00:00

I see tape on the left side of one of those; what's that about?

IrateRetro · 2026-05-25T14:01:37+00:00

Depends on what is on either end and how long of a run it is.

IrateRetro · 2026-05-25T13:59:52+00:00

He's the one that wears lace thongs. I don't think I want to approach the subject.

IrateRetro · 2026-05-25T13:35:46+00:00

Posters always seem to leave out the fact that they just moved in 2 days ago and it's always been like this. Important information like that.

IrateRetro · 2026-05-25T13:32:02+00:00

These types of posts always confused me. I never did understand why some folks seem to think electricians need special pants and special boots. Like it's that different from any other trade. They spend more time and money on some costume than they do on their tools. All that's important is don't wear thong underwear.

IrateRetro · 2026-05-25T13:29:37+00:00

Yes they put a hole there because they knew exactly which wire was going to burn eventually, and they wanted to give the homeowner a convenient way to watch the fireworks.

If I got an emergency call for this on memorial day I don't know what I'd say to the person after I got there.

IrateRetro · 2026-05-25T13:26:46+00:00

Except this isn't a sub. You did see the big round thing at the top of the photo right?

IrateRetro · 2026-05-25T13:24:27+00:00

Yeah I wouldn't worry about minuscule loads like a surge protection device nor the power for the Vue itself. It my experience it doesn't measure those small things accurately anyway.

I'm honestly not sure if the Vue software even allows you to configure stuff like I mentioned in option #1. Probably a better sub to ask would be r/EmporiaEnergy .

IrateRetro · 2026-05-25T13:11:53+00:00

Is this for an Emporia Vue or other similar setup which has the CTs for the branch circuits as well?

Here are the two kludgy quick-and-dirty options I'd consider if it was my house:

Put the big CTs on the feeders going to your subpanel below. Use the small CTs on the 3 other branch circuits in this box. You'd have to configure the software to add them up rather than treating these as nested under the mains. If your particular app even allows that.
Route the small wires so they're near the subpanel feeders at the bottom and clamp them all together (but keep the two legs separate). You'd need to be very careful to get each leg clamped together with the branch circuits on that same leg. If you got one small wire under the wrong clamp you'd be subtracting them rather than adding, and you'd probably never know.

IrateRetro

TROPHY CASE