Home Improvement22 Mar 2005 09:38 pm
I managed to install the new light fixture in the master bath, while only slightly electrocuting myself (twice). I also tripped a breaker, but not during one of the mild electrocution.
Now I have a working light that turns on and off from a light switch in the master bathroom. All of the problems started when my original wiring job had the light on at all times. Who in their right mind runs the hot side on a black wire?
March 23rd, 2005 at 11:13 pm
Who in their right mind runs the hot side on a black wire?
Um….everyone?
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/bhg/step-by-step/data/hie_369.xml&catref=cat250086
I’m about 80% done with completely rewiring our home from the panel onward. So far I’ve found plenty of live wires just cut off under the house, ancient doorbell transformers still live, cloth/paperwrapped wires, and a section of phone line that had current on it (fortunately we never used that outlet or it would have worked just like a model rocket igniter).
You’re not a wanna-be electrion until you reverse engineer a double-switch light circuit from a tangled mess of disconnected wires left by the previous owner.
March 24th, 2005 at 8:52 am
Well I’ll be damned (or at the very least shocked) I guess my distant memory of working with electricity reversed a few key things. Or maybe i just secretly like the mild shocks and have fooled myself into taking them!
Reverse engineering double switches is absolutely no fun we had to do that to the old house in Vienna with a set of switches that the previous owner had unsuccessfully tried to wire as a triple switch. It took four days just to figure out what they guy had attempted and another day to make it work as a double switch. But then I had my step-father and father-in-law to help out. One repairs and installs electric equipment for a living and the other is a retired Master HVAC tech. Definitely not something I plan on attempting myself!
March 24th, 2005 at 2:11 pm
I’ll send Paul up to do your electrical work if you’ll send Katherine down here to play.
March 25th, 2005 at 7:50 am
Having been zapped by a two way switch that I didn’t know was a two way was quite enjoyable - In a brand new house. Welcome to the wonders of electricity.
March 30th, 2005 at 6:48 pm
hunh. and here i thought you were supposed to turn off the circuit you were working on to avoid getting zapped….
March 31st, 2005 at 9:55 am
Turning off the circuit is for wimps!
Besides it is all the way in the basement.