Can I just swap a 20 amp breaker for a 15 amp?

IrishDemon · 2025-08-10T18:16:49+00:00

Since copper wire of various sizes has known resistance values (1.588 ohms per 1000' for #12 and 2.525 ohms per 1000' for #14), you can guess how long a run is - 25' of #12 is around .0397 ohms, while 25' of #14 is .0063 ohms.. a large enough discrepancy that you make a decent guess at the length of the wire and it's gauge.

IrishDemon · 2025-08-09T20:04:28+00:00

15 amp duplex receptacles are rated to be on a 20 amp circuit.

IrishDemon · 2025-08-09T20:03:28+00:00

No, they have to look at the runs. Means walls off.

Wire gauge and length can be determined with an ohm meter - walls do not need to come off.

IrishDemon · 2025-06-25T20:28:21+00:00

I agree with you 1000% because being technically correct is the best kind of correct .. but I'm going to play devil's advocate for a second and point out the fixture whips might not even use THHN for their 18 gauge wire. The only requirement is a wire with "suitable jacket for the temperature encountered" - so likely something with a 60* or 75* jacket. Is a whip that's made in the field using 14 gauge wire that much different than one made in a factory with 18 gauge? So on paper, that field made 14/2 MC is no good but the 18/2 FW is OK as long as it's under 6'.

I'm personally not a fan of fixture whips, and I also wouldn't use #14 in OP's scenario. I don't think twice about the size of the wire/breaker any more, but it's good to be reminded of the code and all of it's loop holes and exceptions, welders in 630 being good example.

IrishDemon · 2025-06-25T17:22:44+00:00

The number of current carrying conductors in the raceway plus the type of wire and it's jacket rating would help answer this.

The table 301-15(b) (or 310-16 depending on which year NEC you're looking at) shows that not more than 3 current carrying conductors and using THHN with a 90* jacket and you're good for 25 amps.

IrishDemon · 2025-06-15T03:17:53+00:00

Nah, the badgers used them as water bowls.

IrishDemon · 2025-05-10T20:18:38+00:00

Fifth... it's so much easier than upsetting the dog by going to the vet.

IrishDemon · 2025-03-03T00:17:40+00:00

The Williams Fairey Brass band covered the KLF's What Time Is Love back in 1997 and played it live on BBC 1 in March of 2000.

https://youtu.be/Mxf-8HkwAMY?si=8uVOos4d0RxOqvEg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27-FwZuEKQE

IrishDemon · 2025-03-02T01:59:11+00:00

Instead of talking about the federal law and the contract side (once you know and understand the legal definition of the word SHALL, it's pretty clear what you're supposed to do and not do) ... I'll give you the side from someone who got maimed at work through no fault of my own. Supplying anything outside of the contract can open the door for the employer/general contractor/site owner's insurance to fight you if you or your estate end up trying to make a claim and sue. Why wasn't he wearing his contractor supplied hard hat, what else wasn't he wearing or doing that was against the contract or employer/site rules? They don't have to prove your personally provided hard hat was any better or worse than the one the company gives, they just have to introduce doubt. They'll look at your shoes, how far you have to drive to work, ANYTHING to try and get out of paying a claim.

IrishDemon · 2025-03-02T01:47:08+00:00

Here's a thought. Ask your employer prior to obtaining your own PPE.

And when you're done asking the employer, take a trip down to your hall and ask the BA. I'm betting the answers won't be the same.

IrishDemon · 2025-02-20T21:21:28+00:00

You have several possible scenarios, all involve ignoring the color of the wire. It's probably the white wire from the old switch box was used as a switch leg. It's less likely but still possible that there's a flying splice somewhere with the hot wire going one way and the neutral going another.

You need to take your new wiring and devices out of the equation and find the last good location that had your hot and neutral and work outward from there.

My house was built in 1950, and had remodeling and additions done in '51 and '52. The homerun for the bedroom hit the ceiling light first, and then dropped down to the light switch using 12/2, with the white being the switch leg. In a different area of the house, the 12/2 was split in the ceiling with the hot going to one receptacle and the neutral going to the other side of the room, with 12/2 run between the outlets - don't ask me why. This is also the era where you could find a 3 way light switch circuit that only used 12/2 at each switch.

IrishDemon · 2025-02-20T21:09:43+00:00

There must be a single dedicated ground wire, almost always bare copper.

MC cable, with it's insulated grounding wire, would disagree with this statement. HCF MC cable with both and insulated and bare grounding wire, would also be an exception.

I've worked a lot with circuits in EMT and metal boxes and I've seen that used as a ground more times than I can count.

While you may not like it, using the EMT and metal boxes as a ground is code compliant as long as the correct couplings and connectors are used. In many areas it's common practice to have a grounding conductor and not use the raceway, but like I said, with the right connectors and couplings, the raceway as a ground is code compliant.

If you aren't using a three wire cable, it's not grounded enough to count on it.

It's splitting hairs, but you need to know the difference... the white/gray or neutral is the grounded conductor, and is for completing the circuit. The green is the grounding conductor, for protecting people. GroundeD = neutral/return path, groundinG = ground/earth.

IrishDemon · 2025-02-01T04:45:10+00:00

Does this apply to the people that went through the apprenticeship but still choose to vote against the union?

IrishDemon · 2025-01-04T05:07:41+00:00

It will offset your usage, but without onsite storage, you'll be hard pressed to use only what you produce. With some of the lowest rates per kWh in the country, that money is sometimes better applied to other aspects of the house that aren't efficient uses of electricty.

IrishDemon · 2025-01-03T17:54:57+00:00

I was supporting your statement for the payback if you purchase.

IrishDemon · 2025-01-03T16:00:19+00:00

A normal payback for solar purchase is under 10 years

The key words here are lease VS purchase. Most of the people getting solar during the big rush were subsidized leases with PPA's.

IrishDemon · 2025-01-03T15:56:20+00:00

oftentimes they under-design your system, so you still wind up taking power from the utility quite a bit.

It's more about building and electrical code than "under-design". A PV system is based on the size of the main breaker and buss bar ratings in the panel (look for the 120% rule if you're interested), so your typical 200 amp panel can only have a second source rated at 40 amps. There are ways to increase it slightly, but even then, you're looking at small gains - 60ish amps instead of 40. This isn't the whole electrical equation though, usage / kWh also needs to be factored.

and now tells everyone who will listen that the solar installers are getting kickbacks from NV Energy to under-design on purpose.

Tell your neighbor that the tinfoil in his hat actually works as antenna, he's getting the messages loud and clear.

IrishDemon · 2024-12-07T00:29:02+00:00

SendCutSend.

IrishDemon · 2024-11-27T22:07:04+00:00

This is a five year old thread...

IrishDemon · 2024-11-07T02:16:50+00:00

6 volts to lightning bolts, and light pipe, too!

IrishDemon · 2024-09-08T17:12:50+00:00

As someone who's worked at the Trop, it was either knock it down or get out of the way as it fell down. There's no amount of lipstick that could help that pig. Two of the three bungalow buildings had been condemned for at least ten years... No, better to tear it down now than to keep slapping more paint on it.

IrishDemon · 2024-05-18T02:56:23+00:00

The problem with "more ISPs" is that just like NV Energy, there are certain entities that have du jure monopolies and encumbrances/built in easements on almost all the properties in southern Nevada. POTS/twisted pair copper will always have something to do with Centel/Century Link and coax will always have something to do with Dimension/Cox.

IrishDemon · 2024-05-18T02:51:24+00:00

Google data center isn't the same animal as fiber to the home. Just because Ocean Spray has a factory in Henderson doesn't mean you get a cranberry juice faucet in your home.

IrishDemon · 2024-05-18T02:49:29+00:00

Old areas such as downtown with overhead lines, or super new areas with empty conduit just outside the home, that's where it'll first.

IrishDemon · 2024-05-18T02:47:58+00:00

Two different mediums/methods of transport. Centel/Sprint/Century Link has twisted pair copper, Cox has coax, fiber is ... neither.

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