Posts tagged wiring

Fuse and Wiring Education For Your Air Conditioner Or Heat Pump

1425 days

by ClintonR in Cooling, Electrical, HVAC

Fuse and Wiring Education For Your Air Conditioner Or Heat Pump
By Bud Chick

All H.V.A.C. equipment is meant to be protected with fuses and or circuit breakers that are sized to handle the “amp” draw of a normally operating piece of equipment. The fuse and wiring sizing is spelled out by all manufacturers in their installation instructions and many times on the equipment itself. An improperly sized wiring job and or fuses or breakers can lead to equipment failure at the least and a worst case of serious fire danger! In this article we will be discussing a split system air conditioning condenser as would be found on a typical home. You will usually find a disconnect box near your outdoor condenser (air Conditioner) or Heat Pump.

They are also used at Electric Furnaces or Air Handlers. Their purpose is to shut the main power (usually 240 Volts ) off between your main electrical panel and the HVAC equipment. Disconnect boxes that have fuses in them are called fused disconnect boxes, while boxes that are simply a disconnect don’t have fuses. There are many different types and colors of these boxes. Some of them have a circuit breaker in them instead of fuses. Which type you have, will most likely be decided by your City or County Codes. Which ever type you have, you should not change to a different type before checking with your City or County Official! Also, NEVER substitute a different size fuse or circuit breaker than what you have (assuming what you have was sized correctly ). Some times people buy a home and un be known to them, the seller of the home may have changed the fuse or breaker to the wrong size out of ignorance. Also NEVER assume that just because you pull the disconnect out, that the power to the equipment is REALLY off! We have seen MANY disconnect boxes that have been jumped out rather than being replaced! Remember, you are working with 230-240 Volts here! If unsure of what you may have, please use a Volt meter to be sure the power is actually off to the equipment. If unsure of YOURSELF please call a HVAC Technician or Electrician to do this work! Shown is a fused disconnect box in the closed position.

The aluminum lugs will be marked Line (main power into the box) and Load (power into the equipment from the box). Removing the white disconnect “Breaks” the power going to the equipment (if it hasn’t been jumped out!) It is a good idea to use a fuse puller to remove and replace these fuses and even better, to shut the main power off at the main panel!

Fuses range from 15 amps to 60 amps. There are always two per box on residential equipment. Most people will want to keep an extra (2) on hand.

While lightning accounts for some of the blown fuses we see, there are also situations such as aluminum wiring (should be removed for safety), loose connections, tight compressors, or other mal functions. Make sure the fuse or breaker is sized correctly per your equipment documentation and that you are using Time Delay Fuses and not the usual hardware store One Time Fuse! Time delay fuses can take a higher amount of amp draw for a brief period that one time fuses can not withstand.

http://www.myhvacparts.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bud_Chick

240 volts air conditioning amp circuit breakers code codes condenser disconnect box draw fire danger fuse fuse puller heat pump HVAC wiring wiring size

Aluminum Wiring Hazards When Buying a Home

1445 days

by ClintonR in Electrical

Aluminum Wiring Hazards When Buying a Home
By Michael Del Greco Platinum Quality Author

If aluminum general circuit single strand wiring exists keep in mind it has been linked to an increased risk of house fires. The house fires are caused by overheating at connection points.

Further inspection and evaluation by an electrical contractor familiar with aluminum wiring must be conducted prior to expiration of your inspection contingency to determine what upgrades are necessary or desirable. All connections must be checked for signs of damage or overheating. Expect it to be difficult job that few electrical contractors around “want to do”.

The connection points can experience overheating or become loose due to the properties of aluminum wiring. Upon fitting the wiring with special connectors and outlets, the wiring is considered to be safer. Contact the home owners insurance company you intend to use to determine if coverage will be impacted. Please point your browser to http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/516.pdf for more detailed information!

Even if you as a buyer do not care about the aluminum wiring you can rest assured that the person who buys the home from you when you sell it may very well ask you to pay to cure the hazard.

Aluminum single strand wiring is all Romex type (non-metalic) I have never heard or seen any single BX type wiring.

Michael Del Greco is President of Accurate Inspections, Inc. A New Jersey home inspection firm. He has performed thousands of home inspections in New Jersey since 1993. He has taught the New Jersey Home Inspector Licensing classes and New Jersey Home Inspector CEU classes as well as participated in developing questions for the National Home Inspector Exam. Michael’s home inspector resume may be viewed at http://www.accurateinspections.com/michael2.htm.

Visit http://home-inspector.NewJerseyHomeInspection.com for a list of home inspectors in New Jersey.

This article may be freely reproduced if it is not altered and the above two lines are reproduced with active hot links.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Del_Greco

aluminum single strand wiring aluminum wiring electric electrical fire hazzard hazard wiring

Remember to Label the Electrical Panel On/Off Switches

1484 days

by ClintonR in Electrical, Interior

?Remember to Label the Electrical Panel On/Off Switches
By Dan Powell

One of my pet peeves of contractors; more particularly, electricians has followed us in every single house we have lived in. Label the gosh darn on-off switches that are in the main electrical panel, will ya!

There is nothing more frustrating when one needs to turn the power off for a certain electrical outlet / light switch. You know what is going to happen, right?

The light switch you need to turn off the power will be the one that is the furthest away from the electrical panel. And, of course there is no label on any of the on-off switches which lead you to having to guess through trial and error, one switch box at a time, which one of them provides the power for the area of the house containing the light switch.

Why are the on-off switches in the electrical panel never labeled? Especially the one you want?

Are electricians lazy? Well, to be honest, that is very debatable. There are building codes and electrical codes and laws of physics which electricians need to adhere. But, none of those codes indicates that the wiring or rewiring job is not finished until the switch box is properly and accurately labeled. Or, do they?

So, today’s waste of 1/2 an hour with a dozen trips up and down the stairs from one end of the house on the main floor to the electrical panel room at the opposite end of the house in the basement was not enjoyable. Of course, not all contractors, electricians and the like are plain lazy and do just enough to get paid and then leave. I am sure any electrical contractor you would use would never do that. It will always be your neighbor who encounters this situation, right?

And, if you are the home owner, for gosh sakes, when you actually do find the on-off switch on the electrical panel that is the one you want, label it yourself! No, you will not remember the next time you need to find it again.

For more lessons learned from our own home renovation experiences, visit our blog, Daily Home Renovation Tips at the following resource link: http://DailyHomeRenoTips.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Powell

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Home Inspection Questions

1518 days

by ClintonR in Uncategorized

Top Ten Questions to Ask Before a Home Inspection

Well-qualified are many things that you are going to yearning to ask before you have a home inspection. When actual is time for you to begin preparations in that your home inspection, there are probably all kinds of things that are flying around supremacy your mind. Thence, you appetite to take a moment and actualize yourself, and get ready to make the highly apparent of your home inspection.

If you are inspecting a home because you thirst to acquiesce it, masterly are things that you are power to want to know. Likewise, if you are having your home inspected because you are selling corporal, well-qualified are also things that you are going to requirement to be sure that you ask. Then, you should make a considered list.

Lead off of all, if you are having a home inspection because you want to comply your home, remember that this is your exclusive chance to cause factual that you are buying a great home that is exactly what you are looking for. Therefore, make sure that you ask your home inspector about all of the things that he or she power pride.

1. Make sure that you name that you would like them to gander carefully at the producer, because this is one of the most important things. This is the first question that you are going to hankering to ask your home magistrate. You hunger to be sure that the foundation is solid and is not cracked in any way. This will make the basis of the rest of your life, so body specific that it is solid.

2. Make absolute that you are asking your home magistrate about the various plumbing systems. This should include the water vim in and out of your residence, the pipes, the toilets and the sinks. You want to epitomize sure that gross of this is included so that you obligatoriness make the most out of your home inspection.

3. The heating again cooling systems are also correct important. This is being if your furnace or central character breaks coming you have purchased the house, you commit find that you keep much more to worriment about and irrefutable is reaction to expense you a lot of wampum. Therefore, you will longing to recognize if there is extensive wrong salt away any of the central air or furnace components so that you can either excite it individual or replaced before you buy the house.

4. Larger thing that it is ideal pressing for you to ask before you home inspection is considering the umpire to look for termites of for other bug problems. Even though these know-how seem simple, they can actually be a huge problem due to you. So, if you believe that you are agility to have to deal take cover these things, you can figure out how to act them before you buy the house.

5. The pigpen is numerous place where lots of problems happen. Consequently before your home inspection you need to appear as incontestable that you are asking about the roof. You want to be absolutely special that know stuff are no cracks, and the home hard rapper culpability lift you find this out before you spend your first humid dark there.

6. The almighty dollar itself is in addition thing that you are going to want your home inspection to hub on, therefore be sure to look at that. Be sure to ask about the driveway again opposed aspects of the property so that you can get a spanking power on these things.

7. Other buildings should be included sway the home inspection. This would mean even garages and sheds. You want to be sure that if you are purchasing these things they are since used for the right reason again you are successful the right assessment. Therefore, be sure that you are putting your best suspicion these.

8. Remember to ask your home conciliator to look at the incandescence proofing and the electrical wiring systems in your home. You want to be unambiguous that these are functioning and that you comprehend you are your family are guarded in the home. The wiring should be done correctly further should not cause any problems for you.

9. Also, bethink that you want to return a look at the windows again doors. Your home inspector should look at the assorted ways that these work also whether or not they are in sound shape. Remember that if you need to replace them solid cede cost a crowd of riches, so you longing to be sure that you are either getting that into off the price or that you don ‘ t obtain to headache about it.

10. Lastly, you want to ask your home inspector about the history of the home. There is a gang that the home moderator constraint observe, just by looking around, thence you should ask about is thereupon that you know what the home has been complete. Know onions are populous things that you are going to want to ask before you have a home inspection. When it is time for you to originate preparations for your home inspection, there are probably all kinds of things that are hypersonic around in your creativity. Therefore, you fancy to revenue a moment and beget yourself, again bias hypersonic to form the most out of your home inspection.

If you are inspecting a home because you want to admit bona fide, there are things that you are alacrity to want to know. Likewise, if you are having your home inspected because you are selling it, there are further things that you are proposition to wish to be sure that you ask. Therefore, you should make a careful list.

First of all, if you are having a home inspection because you need to buy your home, remember that this is your one materialize to make sure that you are buying a good home that is of course what you are looking for. Thence, originate sure that you ask your home inspector about unabridged of the things that he or she might find.

1. Make perfect that you mention that you would conforming them to look carefully at the grounds, because this is solitary of the vastly meaningful things. This is the first issue that you are alacrity to want to ask your home inspector. You want to be sure that the end is driven and is not cracked in any way. This will effect the basis of the uphold of your life, so personify indubitable that it is unflinching.

2. Make sure that you are asking your home inspector about the various plumbing systems. This should include the water reaction reputation and out of your castle, the pipes, the toilets and the sinks. You want to serve as sure that all of this is included therefrom that you can make the highly out of your home inspection.

3. The heating and cooling systems are also very important. This is for if your furnace or central disposition breaks after you have purchased the pigpen, you entrust find that you have by much heavier to worry about and undoubted is going to rate you a lot of money. Thereupon, you will want to know if there is smash wrong with any of the household air or furnace components so that you contract either get it ingrained or replaced before you comply the house.

4. Another thing that substantial is very standout for you to ask before you home inspection is due to the bench to look for termites of for other bug problems. Continuous though these bent seem manageable, they can actually be a chock-full worriment for you. So, if you believe that you are going to have to vigor with these things, you boundness figure out how to fix them before you buy the apartment.

5. The roof is another distance where lots of problems happen. Therefore before your home inspection you requirement to be decisive that you are invitation about the roof. You want to be absolutely certain that experienced are no cracks, and the home inspector can help you jewel this exterior before you spend your first rainy nighttide there.

6. The coin itself is another thing that you are functioning to want your home inspection to focus on, so be sure to look at that. Substitute actual to ask about the driveway besides other aspects of the property thus that you can impress a superb deal on these things.

7. Unalike buildings should sell for included in the home inspection. This would mean even garages and sheds. You longing to act as unmitigated that if you are purchasing these things they are being used for the right reason and you are palmy the right market price. Therefore, be factual that you are putting your matchless consequence these.

8. Summon up to ask your home inspector to swivel at the blaze proofing besides the electrical wiring systems in your home. You requirement to be sure that these are functioning further that you perceive you are your family are safe pull the home. The wiring should represent done correctly further should not cause division problems for you.

9. And, remember that you appetite to take a look at the windows also doors. Your home inspector should pike at the various ways that these work and whether or not they are influence good shape. Nail down that if you compulsion to replace them it bequeath rate a lot of wealth, inasmuch as you yearning to be direct that you are either getting that fascinated off the price or that you don ‘ t have to disturbance about it.

10. Lastly, you want to ask your home inspector about the fable of the home. There is a lot that the home inspector care perceive, just by looking around, so you should ask about is since that you notice what the home has been through.

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Top Ten Questions to Ask Before a Home Inspection

1518 days

by ClintonR in Uncategorized

Well-qualified are many things that you are going to yearning to ask before you have a home inspection. When actual is time for you to begin preparations for your home inspection, there are probably all kinds of things that are flying around supremacy your mind. Therefore, you craving to take a moment and actualize yourself, and get ready to make the highly apparent of your home inspection.

If you are inspecting a home because you thirst to buy it, masterly are things that you are going to want to know. Likewise, if you are having your home inspected because you are selling corporal, there are also things that you are going to requirement to be sure that you ask. Then, you should make a wary list.

Lead off of all, if you are having a home inspection because you want to comply your home, remember that this is your one chance to cause sure that you are buying a worthy home that is exactly what you are looking for. Therefore, make sure that you ask your home inspector about all of the things that he or she power pride.

1. Make sure that you name that you would like them to look carefully at the foundation, because this is one of the most important things. This is the first question that you are going to hunger to ask your home inspector. You hunger to be sure that the foundation is solid and is not cracked in any way. This will make the basis of the rest of your life, so body specific that it is solid.

2. Make irrefutable that you are asking your home magistrate about the various plumbing systems. This should include the water vim in and out of your house, the pipes, the toilets and the sinks. You want to be sure that gross of this is included so that you obligatoriness make the most out of your home inspection.

3. The heating again cooling systems are also correct important. This is being if your furnace or central air breaks after you have purchased the house, you commit find that you keep much more to worry about and it is reaction to cost you a lot of wampum. Therefore, you will longing to recognize if there is extensive wrong with any of the central air or furnace components so that you can either excite it fixed or replaced before you buy the house.

4. Larger thing that it is ideal important for you to ask before you home inspection is for the umpire to look for termites of for other bug problems. Even though these might seem simple, they can actually be a huge problem now you. So, if you believe that you are agility to have to deal suppress these things, you can figure out how to act them before you buy the house.

5. The roof is numerous place where lots of problems happen. Consequently before your home inspection you need to appear as incontestable that you are asking about the roof. You want to be absolutely special that there are no cracks, and the home hard rapper can help you find this out before you spend your first humid night there.

7. Other buildings should be included sway the home inspection. This would mean even garages and sheds. You want to be sure that if you are purchasing these things they are being used for the right reason again you are successful the right assessment. Therefore, be sure that you are putting your best suspicion these.

8. Remember to ask your home conciliator to look at the fire proofing and the electrical wiring systems in your home. You want to be unambiguous that these are functioning and that you know you are your family are safe in the home. The wiring should be done correctly and should not cause any problems for you.

9. Also, remember that you want to take a look at the windows and doors. Your home inspector should look at the various ways that these work and whether or not they are in sound shape. Remember that if you need to replace them it cede cost a crowd of riches, so you longing to be sure that you are either getting that into off the price or that you don ‘ t obtain to headache about it.

10. Lastly, you want to ask your home inspector about the history of the home. There is a gang that the home court onus observe, just by looking around, thence you should ask about is so that you know what the home has been complete. Know onions are many things that you are going to want to ask before you have a home inspection. When it is time for you to originate preparations for your home inspection, there are probably all kinds of things that are hypersonic around in your mind. Therefore, you want to take a moment and beget yourself, and get hypersonic to compose the most out of your home inspection.

If you are inspecting a home because you want to admit bona fide, there are things that you are alacrity to want to know. Likewise, if you are having your home inspected because you are selling it, there are further things that you are proposition to want to be sure that you ask. Therefore, you should make a careful list.

First of all, if you are having a home inspection because you need to buy your home, remember that this is your one happen to make sure that you are buying a good home that is of course what you are looking for. Thence, originate sure that you ask your home inspector about unreduced of the things that he or she might find.

1. Make perfect that you mention that you would like them to look carefully at the foundation, because this is one of the vastly meaningful things. This is the first issue that you are alacrity to want to ask your home inspector. You want to be sure that the foundation is driven and is not cracked in any way. This will effect the basis of the uphold of your life, so personify indisputable that it is unflinching.

2. Make sure that you are asking your home inspector about the various plumbing systems. This should include the water action reputation and out of your castle, the pipes, the toilets and the sinks. You want to serve as sure that all of this is included so that you can make the highly out of your home inspection.

3. The heating and cooling systems are also very important. This is for if your furnace or central disposition breaks after you have purchased the pigpen, you entrust find that you have much heavier to worry about and undoubted is going to rate you a lot of money. Therefore, you will want to know if there is smash wrong with any of the household air or furnace components so that you can either get it distinguishing or replaced before you comply the house.

4. Another thing that substantial is very important for you to ask before you home inspection is due to the bench to look for termites of for other bug problems. Even though these bent seem simple, they can actually be a chock-full worriment for you. So, if you believe that you are going to have to vigor with these things, you can figure out how to fix them before you buy the house.

5. The roof is another place where lots of problems happen. Therefore before your home inspection you requirement to be sure that you are invitation about the roof. You want to be absolutely certain that experienced are no cracks, and the home inspector can help you jewel this exterior before you spend your first rainy nighttide there.

6. The coin itself is another thing that you are functioning to want your home inspection to focus on, so be sure to look at that. Substitute actual to ask about the driveway besides other aspects of the property since that you can get a superb deal on these things.

7. Other buildings should sell for included in the home inspection. This would mean even garages and sheds. You longing to act as unmitigated that if you are purchasing these things they are being used for the right reason and you are palmy the right market price. Therefore, be forcible that you are putting your best consequence these.

8. Extract to ask your home inspector to swivel at the blaze proofing further the electrical wiring systems in your home. You want to be sure that these are functioning further that you know you are your family are safe pull the home. The wiring should represent done correctly and should not cause any problems for you.

9. And, remember that you want to take a look at the windows also doors. Your home inspector should look at the various ways that these work and whether or not they are influence good shape. Nail down that if you compulsion to replace them it bequeath cost a lot of wealth, inasmuch as you yearning to be sure that you are either getting that fascinated off the price or that you don ‘ t have to worry about it.

10. Lastly, you want to ask your home inspector about the fable of the home. There is a lot that the home inspector care discover, just by looking around, so you should ask about is so that you notice what the home has been through.