Variable Frequency Drive

New booster pump (2000 gal/min) system

New pump and switch

Melted 200 Amp Circuit Breaker

There was a report that half the electrical in the house was not working: no swim pool pump; dryer; half the lights not working; etc.... Turns out that the original main breaker was not installed tightly and there was arcing at one of the poles that melted right thru. We managed to fix this by the next day...

Guidelines for wiring homes

Basic rules for residential wiring...

Kitchens Lighting Opportunities

With all the task lighting in kitchens, a general background light may not be needed. For example, well placed recessed lights over the counters may provide ample general light. On the other hand, fluorescent lights mounted under the cabinets may leave the kitchen in need of more general light. If installed, the general light should use a fluorescent lamp and have a separate switch. It could be a surface-mounted fixture, a "cove" light mounted on top of the cabinets or a luminous ceiling.
Lighting Controls

Imagine that you had only one light switch for the whole house. That would force you to use too much light in the wrong places. Good lighting controls allow you to put the right amount of light in the right places.

Local Codes, Inspectors and California Title 24 Energy Code compliance mandate certain features.

Accent Lighting

For lighting objects on a wall, the wall itself, or any vertical surface, position the track and the fixtures as shown at right.

1. Generally, fixtures should be aimed at a 30 degree angle from the vertical to prevent light from shining in anyone's eyes and to avoid disturbing reflections on the surface of the object. Usually, one fixture is required for each object being accented.
2. Measure the distance ("B" to "C") from wall, on ceiling as shown in the table below.
3. Mount track at "Location" ("A" to "B") from wall, on ceiling, as shown in the table
   
   

   (Example: The distance from the ceiling to the center of the painting is 4 ft. Mount the track on the ceiling 27" away from the wall.)

   A to B Location in inches B to C Distance in feet 13" 20" 27" 34" 41" 2 feet 3 feet 4 feet 5 feet 6 feet

Q. How much does it cost to replace knob and tube wiring?

When installed correctly knob and tube wiring was, in some ways, superior to current wiring practices. Unfortunately, this system is rarely intact after 80 or so years of use. Things that happen well after the original installation can cause major problems. For this reason, knob and tube will normally need to be replaced, especially if the insurance company requires it!

Basically there are two ways to replace knob and tube wiring. The first method is to waste no time trying to preserve walls or ceilings and run the wires in the fastest and shortest route. After the electrical wiring is installed and inspected, the damage needs to be repaired. The cost for this type of electrical work is lower if it's completed faster. Although you will save on electrical costs, you need to factor in the cost of repairing and repainting the walls and ceilings. Just remember there will also be a lot of inconvenience due to dust and dirt. The second method is much slower and cleaner and involves looking for ways to fish the wiring through the walls and ceilings. Because this process is so time-consuming you will pay more for the electrician's time. The up side is that you'll have little or no damage and only minor disruptions to your home.

The other question is the size of the main at the meter. Old K&T installations were typically undersized by today's standards.

Time, heat, and hungry critters stripped insulation here.

Our advice about improving the safety and reliability of knob and tube electrical wiring

• Inspect the whole electrical: An expert should inspect the condition of the building electrical wiring, including the wires, connections, devices like receptacles, switches, and overcurrent protection by fuses or circuit breakers.
• Replace bad circuits: Knob and tube circuits that have been modified, damaged, or covered with insulation should be replaced with a modern grounded electrical circuit.
• Ground fault protection GFCI circuit protection and possibly arc fault protection can be added on two-wire un-grounded electrical circuits to reduce the chances of electrical shock or fire - steps that we recommend.