Finding and fixing a short in the electrical system

Рет қаралды 19,425

3 жыл бұрын

Finally, doing something!!
All the outside back lights went unexpectedly dark a couple days ago, and when I checked, the breaker was thrown. It was weird, but this whole house is weird.
When I flipped the breaker back on, there were sparks and it immediately went off again. My partner was outside at the time and saw sparks too, so she gave me a clue where to look.
I figured it was probably something with a leak or an unexpected rodent intrusion, but it turned out to be far more interesting.
Sorry it's so long, but some weird stuff happened along the way, and I didn't see it until I was editing.
Also, I am becoming quite facially hirsute. I've been taking the isolation and minimizing contact to heart and figure it's time to try and grow a righteous moustache. I also have dogs that love to lick my face and they both

Пікірлер: 25

@randyquincy4779 Жыл бұрын

Glad that you posted this. Upon your initial inspection of the first box you did not see anything suspicious but after finding the problem wire and removing the box you were able to find the issue. Good detective work.

@mxslick50 8 ай бұрын

You cannot use regular Romex (Type NM) outdorrrs, even under a deck. The moisture will wick into the wire and damage it. You Must use Type UF (underground feeder) style cable for wet or damp locations, like under the deck. You could also run Sealtite or Flexible plastic conduit, but UF cable would be faster and less expensive. Also, the connector clamps into the back of the boxes must seal the cable going in. So those you have now are also incorrect. This install your previous owner left you is a prime example of someone knowing just enough to be dangerous. The damaged wire shorted due to 1: Overtightening the wrong style clamp and 2: The very moisture ingress I mentioned causing the short. With the location of the fault, you were VERY lucky it didn't set that wood deck board on fire.

@PatrickPease 4 ай бұрын

I appreciate the video very much, thank you... Showing the entirety of the search was useful. The additional constructive advice im the comments was also helpful to me.

@magic.marmot 4 ай бұрын

Glad I could help. I screw up so you don't have to!

@Dunriteproducts 5 ай бұрын

Nothing like watching 25 minutes of video to extract 1 minute of relevant information. But I suppose on the up side viewing the amount of hoarded junk piled everywhere makes me feel pretty good about the amount of junk I have! 😂

@WiSeNhEiMeR-1369 11 күн бұрын

SUGGESTION: get a HEAD-MOUNT Camera ! COOP ...

@andrew_koala2974 Жыл бұрын

It is easy to calculate where along the wiring the S/C is When you know the resistance per x length - Then use a Milli-Ohm meter to calculate the distance from either one or both ends.. It will likely be easier to simply run a new length of wire and make sure it is in a PVC conduit.

@waynespoerre 3 күн бұрын

Violating the NEC using Romex, this is how you burn your house down.

@torro56 Жыл бұрын

I thought I was a hoarder.

@Dunriteproducts 5 ай бұрын

Lol I posted a similar comment 😂

@arturoangelsanchez 5 ай бұрын

Thats a whole mess in that house

@magic.marmot 5 ай бұрын

Yes, yes it is.

@everythinghomerepair1747 Жыл бұрын

Nice job finding the problem. How old was the installation? The “old” wire doesn’t look very old.

@allenjay6065 Жыл бұрын

From what I saw under your deck, the romex wiring is really poorly done. Romex should run through the center of the floor joists and be anchored with a romex staple within 6 " of the box. Also, new NEC code says wires shall extend at least 3" beyond the edge of a box. I HATE WIRES THAT ARE LEFT SHORT BY SOME IDIOT!

@magic.marmot Жыл бұрын

The previous owner was very "fixy". The house was a repossession and bought "as-is" after a rushed fix-and-flip back in the early '90s, before I even knew what that was.

@williamwarner2518 7 ай бұрын

Thanks Colonel Sanders

@magic.marmot 7 ай бұрын

Eat more chicken!

@lisasmith1850 Жыл бұрын

Dude you need a work platform.

@magic.marmot Жыл бұрын

I need several platforms.

@lisasmith1850 Жыл бұрын

@@magic.marmot Me too :)

@andrew_koala2974 Жыл бұрын

KZfaq is Not the platform for you. Be sure to study the English language first and become competent in the usage of the language, Undertake an extensive reading program to better educate yourself. The youngest students I taught are age 8 and they are academically more advanced than you. Get the point. You can barely manage to construct a meaningful sentence.