David L. Farquhar, computer security professional, train hobbyist, and landlord
Code requires GFCI outlets in areas where water might be present. It’s a safety issue. But how much do GFCI outlets cost? And why are GFCI outlets so expensive relative to regular outlets?
GFCI outlets cost around $16 because they’re more complex than a standard outlet. But you can save money by taking advantage of a GFCI’s ability to protect all outlets downstream of it.
Is coupon a verb? Probably not. But someone asked the question, so let’s talk about how to coupon Harbor Freight, and if my former English teacher is reading, sorry, Mr. Reiss. Maybe he’ll forgive me when he sees how much money he can save, right? At any rate, the rules changed in 2021, so let’s talk about the new rules.
The rumor is that Harbor Freight doesn’t do coupons anymore. While they do a lot fewer coupons now than they used to, Harbor Freight does still issue coupons. That means there’s still opportunity for savings.
While an outlet or electrical appliance will work if you wire it in reverse, it’s a safety issue if you get it wrong. So which side of an outlet is hot? Here’s how to remember.
If your plug breaks and you need to replace it, you can get replacement three prong plugs at a hardware store. But it usually comes bare, without any instructions. So, I’ll write some for you. Here’s a three prong plug wiring diagram if you need it.
During the winter months, frozen pipes can be a problem. Fortunately they are preventable. There are several things you can do, both temporary and semi-permanent, to keep pipes from freezing. They’re all pretty cheap and easy and worth doing.
Frozen pipes are most likely to happen when the temperature drops to well below freezing and stays there for a sustained length of time. But a bit of heat and/or water movement is enough to keep indoor pipes from freezing.
There’s no official rule regarding how many outlets can be on a 20 amp circuit. And there’s no official rule about how many outlets can be on a 15 amp circuit either. But there are guidelines you can and should follow to avoid unnecessary breaker trips. And there’s another rule that’s much more important than the number of outlets.
The National Electric Code has no rules regarding how many outlets you can daisy chain off a single breaker. But generally speaking, it’s best to keep the number below 13 because of average current draw.
It’s hard to strip the insulation off wire without cutting or nicking the copper beneath.It’s frustrating when you cut through the wire, but nicking the wire is bad too. The danger when you do that is you weaken the wire. And then the end may snap off someday, causing a bigger problem. So here’s how to remove wire insulation without cutting the wire.
If you consistently cut through the wire, check your tool. Some wire strippers work with all types of wire, and some work with just one. If you have the kind for one type of wire, get the other one too, and learn to recognize which is which.
The contour gauge may be the best kept secret in carpentry. When you need to cut a piece of flooring to fit around a piece of trim, or copy a piece of trim that you can’t buy anymore, a contour gauge lets you do it. Here’s how to use a contour gauge.
I recently acquired a 3D printed door for my Commodore 1084 monitor. It was missing its original. Of course, it came in white. I can live without an imperfect match, but I want something closer than white. But can you paint 3D printed objects? Yes you can. Here’s how to paint 3D printed models.
Plastic can be tricky to paint, but 3D prints tend to have some texture, and that makes it easier for paint to bond to them than molded plastic. Still, some prep work is still a good idea.
Does paint have lead in it? It’s not supposed to anymore, because it’s a serious safety issue. But there was a time when it did, and people might even pay extra for more of it. So why did paint have lead in it, and what can you do about it now?
Ingesting lead lowers IQ and causes other health issues. That’s why the United States banned lead paint for residential use in 1978. However, certain industrial paints, such as the paints used for street markings, can still contain lead even today.