Amp Nerd https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html Blog The Odd Screw on a Three-Way Switch Is the Common, Not a Traveler Half of That Outlet Is Dead Because Someone Broke a Tab Counter Receptacle Spacing Is Built Around Cord Length Putting a 20-Amp Outlet on a 15-Amp Circuit Changes Nothing A USB Receptacle Ages Faster Than the Outlet Around It A Flip-Up Outlet Cover Is Not Weatherproof with a Cord in It Weather-Resistant and Weatherproof Are Two Different Claims A GFCI That Refuses to Reset Is Usually Doing Its Job Line and Load on a GFCI Are Not Interchangeable Terminals A GFCI Can Protect an Ungrounded Outlet Without Grounding It Home Swapping a Two-Prong Outlet for Three Does Not Add a Ground A Self-Grounding Receptacle Still Needs a Grounded Box A Plug That Sags Out of the Wall Is a Failed Receptacle A Subpanel Feeder Is Not Sized by Counting Breaker Spaces Adding Up Nameplate Watts Is Not How Load Calculation Works GFCI Protection Follows the Location, Not the Appliance Fishing Cable Through a Wall Can Damage It Before First Use A Nail Plate Is Not Optional Because the Hole Looks Deep Boring a Stud Is Safer Than Notching It—Both Have Limits Running Cable Across Attic Joists Invites the Wrong Kind of Traffic Exposed NM Cable in a Basement Is Not Automatically Fine A Splice Wrapped in Tape Is Still a Splice Outside a Box A Covered Porch Is Damp, Not Dry—The Rating Words Matter UF Cable Is Not Just Romex with a Tougher Jacket Burial Depth Depends on What Is Above and Around the Cable PVC Conduit Moves with Temperature—Rigid Ends Will Crack PVC and EMT Are Not Interchangeable Because Both Are Conduit Conduit Fill Is About Pulling and Heat, Not Just Fitting Wires In A Ceiling Box That Held a Light Will Not Hold a Fan Aluminum Branch Wiring Does Not Need Ripping Out of the Walls Knob and Tube Wiring Is Not Automatically Unsafe—It Is Unforgiving One Terminal, One Neutral—Doubling Up Is Not Allowed AFCI and GFCI Devices Watch for Completely Different Faults Two Wires Under One Breaker Screw Is Usually a Violation Hand-Tight Is Not a Torque Spec—Loose Lugs Start Fires A Main Lug Panel Has No Off Switch—That Changes Everything Service Entrance Conductors Are Not Protected Like Branch Circuits Bonding the Water Pipe Is Not the Same as Grounding Through It Driving a Second Ground Rod Is Not About Chasing a Low Number The Ground Rod Is Not What Trips Your Breaker in a Fault A Tamper-Resistant Outlet Is Not a Childproof Plastic Cover An AFCI Breaker Does Not Protect You from Shock A Handle Tie on a Multiwire Circuit Is Not Cosmetic A Shared Neutral Does Not Carry the Sum of Both Hot Legs Running Power to a Shed Is Not Just a Long Extension Cord The Laundry Receptacle Circuit Is Not the Dryer Circuit Kitchen Counter Outlets Are Not Ordinary Receptacles A Dedicated Circuit Is Not Just a Circuit You Use Alone