Basic wiring: can I put a clamp light on a dimmer? I want a cheap means of fading in and out lights for my makeshift light kit. The dimmer I bought only has one pair of wires, plus an extra red wire and a green ground. I want to send power in and out of the dimmer. Is this possible? Photos inside. [more inside]
posted by davidriley on Sep 16, 2009 - 6 answers

I found a radiogram on the street. There are two short wires out the back, both stripped about 1/4" bare, and no plug. With regard to polarity, does it matter how I attach a new lead and plug? I'm in the US and will be plugging it in to 110V. [more inside]
posted by carter on Aug 14, 2009 - 12 answers

Calling all MeFi electricians: why does my light switch make a popping noise, and will it kill me? [more inside]
posted by feathermeat on Jul 1, 2009 - 12 answers

Light bulbs with short life spans + older house = scary wiring problem? [more inside]
posted by GuffProof on May 23, 2009 - 17 answers

Construction electrical: why is this service panel on sale at more than an 80% discount? [more inside]
posted by XMLicious on Mar 16, 2009 - 5 answers

I've tried two different generators, but still can't get my oil burning furnace to power up. Detail inside post [more inside]
posted by inthe80s on Dec 13, 2008 - 7 answers

Electrician Filter: Please help me connect wires on old table saw motor. [more inside]
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium on Aug 13, 2008 - 15 answers

My car stereo display went blank, and it's not the first time. Is my car striking my car stereos blind? [more inside]
posted by Uther Bentrazor on Apr 7, 2008 - 1 answer

How can I use the speakers in my TV as the "center" speaker on my receiver? [more inside]
posted by odinsdream on Apr 7, 2008 - 11 answers

Have I fried my car stereo? Exposed wires crossed, and then no more music... [more inside]
posted by robotot on Nov 22, 2007 - 8 answers

I've pulled an RF modulator out of an old VCR, but I don't know what some of the pins are for on the unit. Help me wire it up to modulate a composite video signal. [more inside]
posted by odinsdream on Feb 12, 2007 - 12 answers

One residential electrical junction box with wires coming into it from two different circuit breakers, is this to code or completely whack? [more inside]
posted by peeedro on Jan 8, 2007 - 8 answers

How can I wire a bunch of push lights together and run them off of regular power? [more inside]
posted by exceptinsects on Dec 27, 2006 - 11 answers

Why would the lightbulbs burn out much more frequently in one room of my house? [more inside]
posted by pornucopia on Feb 22, 2006 - 9 answers

yesterday i was wiring up a room(mains ring and sockets) for a friend. It turns out i did it wrong by thinking blue was live and brown neutral, but anything plugged into the sockets works fine.Is it safe to leave it like this? I can distinctly remember being taught in school bLue=Live browN=Neutral I'm 24 and from n.ireland, does anybody else remember being taught this or did i just make it up? [more inside]
posted by quantumonkey on Oct 4, 2005 - 16 answers

Is there a safe, easy way to ground a household outlet? [more inside]
posted by Gilbert on Sep 1, 2005 - 11 answers

My wife and I recently rented a house in the Phinney Ridge area of Seattle. When renting I saw that all of the outlets were 3 prong outlets and that there was a breaker box and not a fuse box, so I assumed it was all wired correctly. Now that we've moved in, I've found that 6 of the 10 outlets are coming up as "open ground" when using a grounding tester. [more inside]
posted by freshgroundpepper on Jul 4, 2005 - 13 answers

Can wiring (Romex - 12/2) be run through (perpendicular to) a cold air return? [more inside]
posted by shawnmk on May 3, 2005 - 5 answers

My house still has some knob and tube wiring. I am concerned, in particular, with the ceiling light fixture in my home office where I just installed a new light. Neither wire was marked as hot or neutral, and my voltmeter read the same thing no matter which way I touched the wires. So I figured I had a fifty-fifty chance of getting it right. Will anything bad happen if I got the lamp wires connected to the wrong source wires? How can I tell which wire is which in the future?
posted by booth on Mar 12, 2005 - 12 answers