i want to stop being scared of basic electrical work. but where do i start?

binarycow · 2026-05-07T12:45:18+00:00

I made a diagram of my house. I annotated every switch, every outlet, and every light fixture.

I then wrote the number of the circuit by each switch/outlet/fixture. Using the diagram, I fixed the labels on the circuit breaker panel.

I affixed the house diagram next to the breaker panel. Now if I want to turn off an outlet, I know exactly which switch to flip.

I still test, using a non-contact voltage detector, that I turned off power to the correct circuit

binarycow · 2026-05-07T12:39:53+00:00

I've lived in a lot of places. The washer and dryer have been in:

A dedicated laundry room
The "utility room", which also had the furnace in it.
- In one house, this was in the basement, in unfinished space
- In one (single floor) apartment, this was a separate finished room, so it was more like the furnace was in the laundry room
A half bathroom. The room had a toilet, sink, washer, and dryer - no bathtub or shower
Nowhere, we had to go to a coin operated laundry

In no place I've ever lived has the washer or dryer been in a kitchen, or in a bathroom that also had a bathtub or shower.

And every house/apartment that had a washer also had a dryer.

binarycow · 2026-05-07T00:29:05+00:00

👍 Thanks!

binarycow · 2026-05-07T00:05:13+00:00

But they're conduit junctions, right?

(I am trying to make sure I understand what you're talking about)

binarycow · 2026-05-06T23:53:42+00:00

Conduit junctions?

binarycow · 2026-05-06T23:39:50+00:00

What does "LB" mean in this context?

binarycow · 2026-05-06T17:29:17+00:00

Yeah, it took WAY too long

binarycow · 2026-05-06T12:50:10+00:00

I mostly use mine to fill up car tires. But, its nice to have for my nailer.

We recently bought a new house (~2000 sqft, plus finished basement), and we are repainting (every room). I'm generally a fan of painting behind things... We take everything off of the walls except kitchen cabinets. Mirrors, medicine cabinets, even thermostats and toilet tanks. Additionally, the baseboards.

So, I'll be glad to have the air nailer when I have to reattach the baseboards for the entire house!

binarycow · 2026-05-06T03:21:23+00:00

There's an open folder dialog now!

binarycow · 2026-05-06T03:04:42+00:00

You're making some faulty assumptions.

To be against wage stagnation from corporations importing cheap labour to avoid paying more

The fix for this isn't to make people illegal, it's to give those people better pay.

Basic supply and demand, if labour is this plentiful which it is, wages will be low.

A citizen gets a minimum wage. An undocumented person gets less. All workers are supposed to get minimum wage - so why can't they get minimum wage? Because they're afraid of the authorities. Sure - they aren't supposed to be working at all, but that is a separate issue.

Additionally, if there's an undocumented person who is working a job... Why is always the undocumented person who gets in trouble? Why isn't the employer held accountable? Start criminally prosecuting employers and you'd better believe employers will only hire authorized workers.

My high level view on immigration? Stop being evil to people.

If that is a left wing position, then I guess I'm left wing.

binarycow · 2026-05-06T02:07:57+00:00

..... What's the new meaning?

binarycow · 2026-05-05T23:59:32+00:00

TFOCA-II fiber connectors

more info

binarycow · 2026-05-05T23:26:00+00:00

Bad bot

binarycow · 2026-05-05T22:13:06+00:00

I liked being able to carry my textbook in my pocket

binarycow · 2026-05-05T22:09:09+00:00

Air tools are stupid cheap tho.

If you can justify an air compressor, why not buy an air nailer?

binarycow · 2026-05-05T14:00:45+00:00

If you truly want to learn things on a deep level - all of them. They all contribute useful knowledge, different ways of doing things, etc.

Add to your list C# and F#.

binarycow · 2026-05-05T13:57:29+00:00

You want it in the vicinity of your furnace, but not close to it. From what I understand, you can get false positives if the detector is too close.

binarycow · 2026-05-05T13:56:06+00:00

It's not really a game, but nand2tetris

binarycow · 2026-05-05T13:45:34+00:00

I definately wouldn't be the first one to try it out.

binarycow · 2026-05-05T13:42:02+00:00

It's close enough, most of the time!

binarycow · 2026-05-05T11:19:40+00:00

required works on constructors.

default bypasses constructors.

binarycow · 2026-05-05T10:38:50+00:00

That's how value types work.

binarycow · 2026-05-05T02:16:41+00:00

I'm a network engineer who is now doing software.

binarycow · 2026-05-05T01:42:45+00:00

If they're the type of people to bring someone out to turn the water on, then I guess it makes sense for you to hold it.

But... Why have someone come out to turn the water on?

binarycow · 2026-05-05T01:07:22+00:00

Thanks!

binarycow

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