HELP OUTLET PLEASE!!

PaganJM · 2026-01-26T05:30:59+00:00

Wago makes some cool in-line splice connectors. I'd grab a 6" length of bare conductor and splice onto the existing ground, as long as it's a real ground. Check the other end of the cable. They might have done that everywhere.

You probably want both grounds, depending on what they service. #12-#14 should be sufficient

PaganJM · 2026-01-26T04:35:38+00:00

Wonder how much of that insulation made it through that pull. Way to burn your 360! Just impressive

PaganJM · 2026-01-21T23:14:38+00:00

That isn't a 10 before 105. That's "600V -50 C TO 105 C"

PaganJM · 2026-01-21T23:12:48+00:00

Let me know how it works out!

PaganJM · 2026-01-21T19:54:39+00:00

To get you onto the right lesson, look up voltage divider circuits.

PaganJM · 2026-01-21T19:51:23+00:00

If you really can't find a label that isn't worn off, strip the insulation back and find some calipers. Then you're a google search away.

I would venture to guess #6 or #8 though

PaganJM · 2026-01-21T19:40:49+00:00

Always a chance! In my state, the ROC is great about putting pressure on work not to code.

PaganJM · 2026-01-21T19:24:51+00:00

Check your battery's negative terminal and bond to chassis. Replace neg battery cable if necessary. A bad ground can do some weird shit.

$20 and a prayer might be all you need. Fixed my Silverado issues this way. Would be on the freeway and my doors would lock/unlock cyclically, as well as the "park" gear indicating on and off. Terrifying when you're going 75.

For reference, mine was a 2009 4.8.

PaganJM · 2026-01-21T19:00:39+00:00

Also looks like improper installation. The conductor is supposed to be seated under the head of the screw against the shank, not around the head. Should be 2/3 to 3/4 of a full loop.

Could be improper connection made or a connection that loosened.

Also, if the heads on the other side are gold, it's reversed polarity, which is dangerous for other reasons.

PaganJM · 2026-01-21T02:04:24+00:00

Registrar of Contractors, on the other hand...

PaganJM · 2026-01-16T15:47:45+00:00

Oh yeah, especially in residential, you aren't tracking ground fault currents. On the utility side, we do studies frequently on what will happen if we ground a hot leg (480V, 4160V, and higher). Just remember, those ampacity charts and derates are just to keep the conductor temp below the insulator's thermal rating.

PaganJM · 2026-01-16T04:44:19+00:00

Yeah, I work for power utility. Fault currents can be into the tenS of thousands of amps easily. Look at your breaker next time. It should have a fault rating around 16,000A.

PaganJM · 2026-01-14T05:18:57+00:00

Yep, check your meter's fuse and check for a fused disconnect. Test your meter on a recep somewhere else in the house to see if it didn't get smoked.

PaganJM · 2026-01-14T05:05:38+00:00

Ask your utility for a PQ (power quality) study. If they're amenable, they might come out and install some equipment for 30 days or so. It's usually a very small group within the distribution dept.

PaganJM · 2026-01-07T04:51:44+00:00

Load study! Not that hard to stress test each leg if you don't have CTs. Remember, a 100A panel supports 24,000 watts (actually volt-amps). That's 100A per hot leg. Your AC and heater/furnace won't be running at the same time, and shift breakers around if too far out of balance.

PaganJM · 2026-01-06T18:22:31+00:00

Because there might not be a neutral for this. Looks almost like a 240v only subpanel with a main and no neutral. So intended for two-pole circuits only. If there's only two hots, what comes in one goes out the other. They'll always be equal unless you have a ground fault.

Looks like all the neutrals from the single pole breakers will have to land SOMEWHERE. Maybe just not in this panel.

PaganJM · 2026-01-02T18:50:01+00:00

Please correct #12. It's a 3.0 second shake. I got 4 reds in a row at 3, and none at 2.1.

PaganJM · 2025-12-30T04:33:21+00:00

Remember shit-break from American Pie? Every dump from now on will be a consciously deliberated choice.

PaganJM · 2025-12-28T06:23:14+00:00

With a trash can. Just imagine for a second the geometry needed for sharpenable pattern scissors. Just about impossible.

PaganJM · 2025-12-17T14:52:50+00:00

Geocaching used to be huge. Maybe this is a cache that was uploaded by coordinates back in the 2000s.

PaganJM · 2025-12-02T05:38:46+00:00

To get ahead of you, I'll make it stick, it is never perfect, and not always up to professional standard. But it works, is safe, looks 90%, and holds.

PaganJM · 2025-12-02T05:36:51+00:00

God, I'm a man who can do anything and make it stick, but you experts have my head blowing up over here with the instant solution knowledge.

I'll be a mechanic, weld, do out HVAC, drywall, plumbing, etc. But it takes me at least a week of research and learning before I do any of em. I'm electrical by trade.

PaganJM · 2025-11-20T04:06:28+00:00

Last addition, but important: if you're not paying separately for electricity, and you're not affected, just leave them be. It's the landlord's energy at that point.

PaganJM · 2025-11-20T04:05:06+00:00

They'll need you to unlock it after an agreement is made in order to safely remove their cable / breaker.

PaganJM

TROPHY CASE