Wire size question for washing machine, 14 guage?

[camp guy]

OMG, what are we talking about. The more I read the more I am scared to death I am going to read abut this in the paper as a tragic house fire with loss of life.

Please, please, get a licensed electrician involved immediately, before someone does something well-intentioned but terribly wrong.

There is no substitute for safety, and you can't save enough as a homeowner doing it yourself if the whole house burns flat.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, but please, get the pros involved.

[NoBozo]

Originally Posted by camp guy

OMG, what are we talking about. The more I read the more I am scared to death I am going to read abut this in the paper as a tragic house fire with loss of life.

Please, please, get a licensed electrician involved immediately, before someone does something well-intentioned but terribly wrong.

There is no substitute for safety, and you can't save enough as a homeowner doing it yourself if the whole house burns flat.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, but please, get the pros involved.

One can Never be TOO Careful. We are talking about total mayhem here. A house fire can be devastating...PETS..LOVED Ones..Collectibles...all gone...

Remember the old days when ALUMINUM wire was all the rage..gotta have it. OOPs. That didn't work and...we went back to ..DAM.. OLD Fashioned copper wire. But I digress.

Actually, I think Really Cool Decorator CANDLES cause more fires than anything else. NB

[Kamper]

Well we heard back from the seller's electrician. The two main problems I had with their job are items PSNH is going to handle. Then the building inspector will sign off.

She also got a quote from them on updating some of the circuits and will get another bid from my guy.

Thanks to all who have added informative comments.

And to the panic mongers... "Lighten up Francis!" You remind me of the guy who told me my home-made dock lines would get me a ticket because they aren't certified "Marine Rated." I welcome all additional constructive comments but if all you are gong to write is how you are peeing your pants at just the thought of this job, well... Please (quietly) enjoy yourselves in private.

@R2B: Open ground is a yellow light (center), red is hot attached to neutral or ground.

[ITD]

I always do my own wiri

[SIKSUKR]

Originally Posted by NoBozo

Remember the old days when ALUMINUM wire was all the rage..gotta have it. OOPs. That didn't work and...we went back to ..DAM.. OLD Fashioned copper wire. NB

Aluminum wire is still all the rage. All the high power wire you see on poles and the ones that come right to your house are aluminum. Nothing wrong with it at all. The problem with it is the connection points when aluminum oxidizes and these connections can start arcing. Use of a proper conductive grease coating these connections work great. The problem is that so many connections are made in a house it makes it pretty tough to inspect and monitor them all. Also, aluminum weighs 1/3 the weight of copper and can transmit twice as much power per lb as copper. FWIW

[Kamper]

@Siksukr

This wire is probably pre WWII. It looks 'white' to me. I was thinking aluminum, what's your guess?

[SIKSUKR]

Originally Posted by Kamper

@Siksukr

This wire is probably pre WWII. It looks 'white' to me. I was thinking aluminum, what's your guess?

I'm thinking I would want to replace that circuit with new 12-3 romex.

[NoBozo]

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

Aluminum wire is still all the rage. All the high power wire you see on poles and the ones that come right to your house are aluminum. Nothing wrong with it at all. The problem with it is the connection points when aluminum oxidizes and these connections can start arcing. Use of a proper conductive grease coating these connections work great. The problem is that so many connections are made in a house it makes it pretty tough to inspect and monitor them all. Also, aluminum weighs 1/3 the weight of copper and can transmit twice as much power per lb as copper. FWIW

I think part of the problem..maybe most of the problem (at least in residential applications) was..as you said..at the connection points. The problem at the connection point was the fact that the aluminum wire "Relaxes" under the pressure of clamp down screws, etc and results in a Not So Tight connection. When this happens, the connection becomes a high resistance connection and gets HOT under load and can cause a fire. NB

PS: I think there was a Retro-Fix for this...a short copper pigtail spliced onto the end of each aluminum wire so the connection point was copper.

[tummyman]

When dealing with aluminum wire, there are some things that you should consider. First, they make a special wire nut connector with a gel liquid inside than is specifically designed for aluminum connections. Secondly, there are specific receptacles and switches designed for aluminum.....they are specially coded. You will pay more for them, but it is well worth the investment. If i were dealing with aluminum wiring , I would hire a licensed electrician to make code connections. If there is aluminum wiring in the house, I would change out every plug and switch. I would also try and remove as much of it as possible, to be replaced with copper, especially on circuits that have a lager load on them.

[TNT Electrical Contractor]

Keep in mind it is illegal to install any NEW circuitry in the state of NH Per RSA 319.C -- Unless it is your own primary residence

[ITD]

Originally Posted by TNT Electrical Contractor

Keep in mind it is illegal to install any NEW circuitry in the state of NH Per RSA 319.C -- Unless it is your own primary residence

I'm not a lawyer, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express once,

From RSA 319 - C:15, the exact wording, please post if there is other wording I missed:


" II. Nothing in this chapter shall prevent a homeowner from making electrical installations in or about a single family residence owned and occupied by him or her or to be occupied by him or her as his or her bona fide personal abode."

[Kamper]

Thanks. We are still waiting for PSNH to do their bits. After that I wil tell her I can only "help" her install it herself.