Location Is Everything

[flatcat]

...and I'm in the U.S.

Just spotted this friendly-appearing site to ask a generic question.
When I get to asking how-2 questions, had I better find a U.S. forum because the grids are different, or are you-all either from all over or conversant with all over?

Thanks!
Flatcat

 

[High Tower]

Ask away, the science is the same and there are a few lads that are pretty clued up with the US systems, Engineer54 knows the systems and the NEC pretty much inside out. nice to have some US guys on here!, however be prepared for some gentle mocking of the US's methods and ways!

Welcome!

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Ask away, the science is the same and there are a few lads that are pretty clued up with the US systems, Engineer54 knows the systems and the NEC pretty much inside out. nice to have some US guys on here!, however be prepared for some gentle mocking of the US's methods and ways!

Welcome!

eh?......

 

[R G]

eh?......

watch out here it comes....

 

[flatcat]

Mock away...I am prepared with my International Book of Insults.
[They are all in Esperanto, however...]

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Mock away...I am prepared with my International Book of Insults.
[They are all in Esperanto, however...]

so...

what do you want?

 

[High Tower]

A few observations regarding our trade over here..........

there is no such thing as a "hot line" is either phase or line conductor
we work on 230v single phase or 400v 3 phase
we use RCD's
or testing is pretty involved and complicated
we hate wire nuts
we use ring circuits for mains power
we dont need consumer units (main panel) the size of a car to run a house

thats a start anyway

 

[Marvo]

so...

what do you want?

http://www.electriciansforums.co.uk...3v-out-ground-wire.html?highlight=#post890862

 

[telectrix]

he's got another thread running, glenn. about leading horses to water but they won't drink'

 

[GLENNSPARK]

what i really meant was is whats he after?

 

[GLENNSPARK]

A few observations regarding our trade over here..........

there is no such thing as a "hot line" is either phase or line conductor
we work on 230v single phase or 400v 3 phase
we use RCD's
or testing is pretty involved and complicated
we hate wire nuts
we use ring circuits for mains power
we dont need consumer units (main panel) the size of a car to run a house

thats a start anyway

so do them...

their called GFCIs....and are 15mA..for domestic use...

 

[High Tower]

so do them...

their called GFCIs....and are 15mA..for domestic use...

I know and they are crud and no where near as effectve as a RCD

 

[thekingiam]

world domination if hes a yank?.....tin hat on.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

he aught to get out now

 

[flatcat]

So I don't have to ask what an RCD is, nor tell you what Dorothy Parker said...
Actually, is an RCD something different/better than a GCFI?

OK, I'm going to try sorting out, separating the circuits in my house. The house is post-Civil War (ours, not the War of Roses or whatever), and the wiring is somewhat newer....
But it's 14 ga 15A, some Romex, some BX, and everything seems to have been afterthought and tack new stuff onto the handiest J-box. Fortunately it's all visible in the basement. But stuff crosses the space back and forth. Half the kitchen, some of the living room and dining room all seem to be on one breaker, which pops frequently.

I will be trying to run new wires in to split up the circuits into reasonable extents. There will be challenges with wire-fishing, I expect. Also possibly shoveling and bucket-carrying a lot of dirt out from under the kitchen...a late extension on the house with just a crawlspace in which there is no room to crawl.

I'll ask specific questions as I go.
And I was just starting to describe another mystery of my wiring when I realized I need to look at my notes from basement exploration and see whether it is indeed a mystery or just my head swimming, as it often does when I am trying to suss out wiring.

Hence, more later!