John Kogel

A 3-hole receptacle on a 2-wire system gives people the illusion of a grounded electrical system. That is why those outlets should be labeled ungrounded, or have GFCI receptacles installed for a bit of protection. I understand an ungrounded GFCI receptacle will still trip, but I haven't tried it myself. If the house has exposed framing in the basement, it is fairly simple to install new receptacles in the first floor walls. They can go in a few inches above the floor. A hole for a receptacle is large enough that the electrician can reach in and pull the new wiring in from below. Then they can install a junction box that has clamps in it so the box anchors itself in the hole. Sometimes the new receptacles are installed horizontally in the baseboard trim. With wiring pulled in to the first floor to a hole for a receptacle, it isn't that hard to reach down from the second floor with a fish tape and pull a feeder up to the second floor. From there to the attic. Then you can run across from the attic to the other second floor rooms. That would be my recommendation. Pull in as much new wiring as possible. Buy a couple of electrician's fish tapes or maybe they are called something different down there. Stiff wire with hooks bent into the ends. If you don't rewire the home, then technically you should not blow insulation into the walls or the ceiling. Knob and Tube wiring is not designed to be covered by insulation, so it could heat up in an insulated wall. It's all very well for a guy to write an article saying K&T is OK left alone. It won't be his house that catches fire from undiscovered damaged wiring. The insulation on that old wire is rubber from rubber trees. Some of it is in excellent condition and some is dry and flaking off. Some of it has been attacked by rodents. We load the system down with 10 times more gadgets than our grandparents ever did. There are no enough receptacles in the house. Are you going to keep the old K&T and run extension cords around the rooms? Plugging in some space heaters, maybe?

Right, I was just carrying on the thought process of a rodent deterrent. Joke. It does seem like an awful lot of heat was generated by that incident. Yes, I can picture a squirrel with his hair on fire up there. []

They left out magnetic coupling. Either capacitive or magnetic coupling could induce stray voltages. Marc From the story attached by Jim, the Fluke Stray Voltage Adapter is a 3,000 ohm resistor. Not that complicated. A bit of resistance in the probe reduces the stray voltage but would not have that effect on a live circuit. Marc, I think magnetically induced voltage would be stronger and not affected by the little resistor. But not something we would encounter in residential, AFAIK.

Agreed. Bare wires would get the job done and survive to shock again. Smear them with peanut butter. []

It does. Maybe I'm overthinking again! I'm with Marc on this one. The plywood got rained on before the roofers arrived, a non-issue.

One night spent on a basement floor in BC will change your mind about that one. [] I would put a styrofoam pad under the battery. I put one under the cat's bed and she appeared to be grateful for it.

Yeah but a warm battery works better than a cold one.

It's done for job security.If everyone understood the rules and why they were written, there'd be no need for enforcers.

Perhaps-- I guess it depends on the company, individual and the type of training they get. We work on them daily, but I'm not sure what other utilities do. The reason I recommend the utility as a starting point is that they may send someone out for free, as we do. Yeah but you're in Oregon where they come out and pump your gas for you. Gasoline I mean. []

John, two mysteries in one week? Way to go. I can't help with the gremlins in the toilet tanks, but I have a possible answer for this one. Formosans. See some pics here. Scroll down to where they were found behind a furnace. http://termitemd.com/termite-pictures/ Some earlier docs state that they are not as far North as Maryland, but we know different here in 2013. []

First step off the front porch. That's scary. []

It will work as long as the caulking is maintained and there is sufficient roof overhang above to keep that wall dry. Yes of course we have seen this done and we all know it is wrong. I would report on whether there is visible damage or leaking. Then tell them it needs repair and constant monitoring until such repairs can be paid for.

http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infxtra/infmur.html

"Proud" nails gets my vote. Slide a screwdriver in there and you'll feel a nail not pounded down flush. It is caused by sloppy use of a nail gun. No need to tear the roof off, but get it fixed.

Bill and Jim are correct. The heat pump is still working as an air conditioner, pumping cold in. The backup heat system is trying to heat the place. Cut power to the outdoor unit until help arrives. There should be a disconnect out there. That ice will turn to water, so make sure your condensate pan and drain are clear.

Rodents? More info needed, Jim.

My previous neighbor had a propane-powered genset and one of those Fatboy propane tanks. I'll bet it would run for a month on that. He figured it would keep the place toasty while he was away on vacation, automatic start. When I see the home-brew generator hookups, I call them out as defects. Not because of the previous owners, but because of new people moving in, not understanding, and possibly shocking a linesman working down the street. Install a real transfer switch that cuts the main and accepts power from the gen simultaneously. Or stick with heavy extension cords through the cat door. Or Mike, in your case, through the Peanut door. [] Yes, you could make a simple transfer switch in a subpanel by hooking two opposing double breakers together by their handles. Or you could buy one of these Onans with automatic start and computerized transfer switching. This one is powered by natural gas, so it could run for years. It starts itself once a month, powers the house for a little while, then goes back to sleep. The house has hydronic heat supplied by a Viessmann electric boiler. Click to Enlarge 48.23 KB I just looked it up, 9 kw for $3800, not counting the transfer goodies. But it's just as quiet as you little portable, 10dB. On propane it puts out 11 kw, interesting.

I can only say what I see there, not being an expert or whizz. The Rating and Output appear to be saying the same thing - the charger puts out 30 amps of charging current. If the instruction manual calls for a 40 amp supply current, then that is what it needs to produce that 30 amps. A dead battery pack might draw 30 amps from the charger, but the breaker won't blow and the cable won't overheat because that house wiring is rated at 40 amps, for safety. I think. I wonder why they don't tell us that the output is direct current, which it needs to be AFAIK. Converting AC to DC has losses, which I will let Marc explain. So for an output of 30 amps DC the charger needs to recieve more than 30 amps AC.

Tod, why do you need this info? Because if you need to make money you need to find people who need something you can provide. If you don't know what that is, you are in no position to provide it, IMO. []

Hmm. Too bad. The only other connection I have is land use attorney Bob Browning, in Forest Grove, but he's currently in prison . . . . Mr. Browning will be easy to find, then? [] His prison term wouldn't reflect in any way on his legal expertise, would it? []

Could that be the scratch coat that never received the finish coat? I can't picture anyone doing that for looks. A dog-lover, maybe? Busted up wine bottles, now that would be rather attractive. []

Huh? []

He bought the place with your shed on it and said nothing until now? You are being Mr Niceguy to offer to move the shed. I don't think you need to. But every little burg has its own rules. I think first step is to measure from your corners to locate the true property line. Then if the neighbor agrees to let you have your shed up against his fence, get that in writing.

I would expect a light tube manufacturer to try for optimum efficiency, that's all.

Yes.