Garage circuit breaker keeps tripping... [more inside]
posted on Jul 14, 2008 - 10 answers

My family's been wanting to upgrade to compact florescent for years, but we've always found they burn out quickly thanks to our flaky power surges. Would dimmable bulbs be helpful, or is there some sort of inexpensive power conditioning that can be added to light sockets? [more inside]
posted on Jul 10, 2008 - 9 answers

Help me diagnose repeated failure of my lighting dimmers. [more inside]
posted on Jun 26, 2008 - 20 answers

Help me understand electricity and physics and how they apply to motors. I have my head around electricity basics and electromagnetism, but I have a few unanswered questions about the more subtle aspects. [more inside]
posted on Jun 22, 2008 - 11 answers

What is wrong with my electricity? Lights started to flicker, circuit breaker didn't trip, circuit started to buzz, now afraid the house is going to burn down. [more inside]
posted on Jun 19, 2008 - 16 answers

I need to work out which of my DC adapters powers my devices - I don't want to damage anything. [more inside]
posted on Jun 14, 2008 - 13 answers

Another air conditioning question for the summer! 4.8 A *110V=515W? [more inside]
posted on Jun 10, 2008 - 12 answers

Can anyone help me figure out what kind of power source I need for my outdoor art project? [more inside]
posted on Jun 5, 2008 - 10 answers

Kinkyelectricsex: My partner wants to bring a TENS machine into the bedroom. How safe or dangerous are these things? [more inside]
posted on Jun 3, 2008 - 7 answers

How do I test a Hunter attic fan controller? I want to be thorough before I climb in the attic. [more inside]
posted on May 20, 2008 - 6 answers

I am new to renting and I just called the power company and they said that I have to pay a deposit no mater what my credit is. Is this normal practice? [more inside]
posted on May 16, 2008 - 31 answers

How does the button on the pedestrian crossing lights work? Does it actually send some sort of signal to the traffic lights, or is it just a psychological thing? It seems rather random timing-wise.
posted on May 14, 2008 - 21 answers

Should I have our small business switch to a third party green energy provider? We had a salesman for Accent Energy come to our door and he was a bit shady so I told him that I wanted to look into this on my own time. But from what I'm reading online it could be a great way to convert to a more environmentally responsible energy solution. And its Earth Day today too. Our company wants to do what we can to be "green" and we would even pay slightly more to do so, but if a switch to a third party will cost three times as much then we just cant do it. [more inside]
posted on Apr 22, 2008 - 2 answers

I'm an electrical engineering student/hobbyist looking to buy an oscilloscope. I'd like to spend around $200 ($300 max, probes/shipping included). What should I look for, and where? [more inside]
posted on Apr 16, 2008 - 10 answers

Has anyone tried using a third-party hydro provider? What are your experiences with it? [more inside]
posted on Apr 8, 2008 - 10 answers

Can you short connections on a PCB using a staple? [more inside]
posted on Apr 6, 2008 - 6 answers

If a plug is not fully in its outlet, and you touch one of its prongs, will you get shocked? [more inside]
posted on Mar 31, 2008 - 32 answers

How much current flowed through me when I was shocked? [more inside]
posted on Mar 14, 2008 - 19 answers

Plug adapter for Argentina and Uruguay? [more inside]
posted on Mar 4, 2008 - 7 answers

Help me clear up my understanding of how to ground myself when working on my computer. [more inside]
posted on Feb 28, 2008 - 14 answers

Working on DIY solar charger from modified garden power lamps. Of course the panels look different than the ones in the pictures! [more inside]
posted on Feb 17, 2008 - 6 answers

What should a homeowner know about electricity in the home? [more inside]
posted on Feb 12, 2008 - 12 answers

Why do some electrical appliances lack an on-off switch? [more inside]
posted on Feb 8, 2008 - 23 answers

Why won't CFLs work in my fixture? [more inside]
posted on Feb 1, 2008 - 9 answers

How much money am I costing, say, Starbucks if I charge my laptop there every day? [more inside]
posted on Jan 28, 2008 - 14 answers

My touch lamp has the same vibrating static electricity feeling that my massage clients used to have. Why? [more inside]
posted on Jan 28, 2008 - 7 answers

I need help sorting out an issue involving my electric company, my electric bill, and the other apartments in our building. [more inside]
posted on Jan 19, 2008 - 5 answers

You are an electrician. But you are not my electrician. Question about low-voltage track lighting system inside. [more inside]
posted on Jan 17, 2008 - 9 answers

Looking for a smart surge protector that shuts down peripherals when a computer is turned off or asleep. [more inside]
posted on Jan 14, 2008 - 7 answers

I have a light switch on the wall that controls both an overhead light and an outleft. I'd like it to only control the overhead light, while still sending power on to the outlet. [more inside]
posted on Jan 3, 2008 - 16 answers

Residential Electricity: Is it possible to measure current flow through romex in a non-invasive manner? [more inside]
posted on Jan 2, 2008 - 16 answers

British appliance, US power: can they find happiness together? [more inside]
posted on Dec 9, 2007 - 15 answers

Anyone know a simple and cheap solar panel setup to run a small boombox about 9-12V DC? [more inside]
posted on Dec 4, 2007 - 3 answers

Amateur neurologists, please read! What is going on in my head?? [more inside]
posted on Nov 17, 2007 - 19 answers

Can I use a lightbox purchased online from the US, which includes an international voltage adaptor for 220v, in the UK? I think the UK mains voltage is 240v and have no idea whether I have to be bang on 240v or if 220v is good enough. [more inside]
posted on Nov 16, 2007 - 8 answers

When it rains / storms our power inevitably blinks out (usually comes right back online in a few seconds) and we have lost 1 TV and another one is now behaving erratically. Need help coming up with a plan of action. [more inside]
posted on Oct 9, 2007 - 8 answers

So the electrician said nothing was wrong. But something WAS wrong, only it fixed itself by the time he got there. Help me diagnose this maddening problem our tenant had. [more inside]
posted on Sep 21, 2007 - 17 answers

Why did my casserole just shock me? [more inside]
posted on Sep 15, 2007 - 7 answers

2 outlets & a ceiling light stopped working at the same time. None of the circuit breakers were flipped. What would cause this, and how can I troubleshoot it? [more inside]
posted on Aug 30, 2007 - 15 answers

We received a menacing letter today from our electric provider. They stated that since our last few bills have been late (which I don't dispute) we will now be required to pay a $200 "security deposit"... BUT... We have a 13-year payment history with them, at the same address, so where is the logic in suddenly requiring a "security deposit" that we obviously can't afford? Is there any way I can convince them to not do this to us? Please read the background info inside before responding. [more inside]
posted on Aug 18, 2007 - 30 answers

Which (American-style) electrical surge protector will most reliably and economically protect my precious computer equipment from unforeseeable disaster? [more inside]
posted on Aug 13, 2007 - 13 answers

Can I use a plug adapter and an American power strip to power multiple electronics in Japan? [more inside]
posted on Aug 10, 2007 - 17 answers

Is it possible to buy an exercise/stationary bike which generates electricity? If not, how hard would it be to build one or modify an existing exercise bike?
posted on Jul 25, 2007 - 5 answers

Lightning. Why does it always go to ground? [more inside]
posted on Jul 24, 2007 - 14 answers

Does anyone know what this piece of nyc infrastructure is? [more inside]
posted on Jul 19, 2007 - 7 answers

Bad wiring or defective PC power supply: Why am I getting shocked? [more inside]
posted on Jul 12, 2007 - 14 answers

Will the 65 watt apple adapter work if I plug it directly into a 220v (UK) current? Or will I fry it if I don't use a converter? [more inside]
posted on Jul 9, 2007 - 10 answers

Is voltage/frequency all I need to know to use my brazilian appliances in the US? [more inside]
posted on Jun 27, 2007 - 9 answers

Should I switch to green power, wind power, or whatever is cheapest? [more inside]
posted on Jun 25, 2007 - 24 answers

I have a table lamp that takes a three-way bulb. The lamp does not have a standard switch; rather, you adjust the intensity of the light and turn the lamp on or off by tapping the metal base one, two, or three times. Recently the lamp's bulb burned out and I replaced it with the same kind of three-way bulb that was in there before. But now tapping the base produces no effect - the lamp stays on its brightest setting and can only be turned on and off by plugging it in or unplugging it. What happened, and can it be fixed? I've only had this lamp for about six months, and it wasn't cheap. I've tried various different bulbs, but nothing seems to work.
posted on Jun 8, 2007 - 7 answers