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  1. J

    Need help wiring 2 separate photocells for a billboard

    Sidebar before I get too far - what's with every different manufacturer's circuit breaker in the panel? What do each of the 3 breakers feed? Here is what I suspect - one feeds North, one feeds South, and one breaker feeds the photocell that in turn feeds a contactor that takes the...
  2. J

    Antique Cutler-Hammer Panels

    Top panel is a split bus - no main breaker that shuts off everything, just multiple 2 poles for the large loads and a 2 pole 60 that feeds the lower half. 100A and 200A main breakers must have been incredibly expensive back in the day as I think I've seen all of the major brands with a split bus...
  3. J

    EV charger on/off switch?

    Completely disregarding the vampire energy waste/power savings argument, one way to cut power would be to use a 2 or 3 pole contactor to remove power. The coil of the contactor could be driven by something as simple as a light switch, a start/stop button combination, a timer switch, and anything...
  4. J

    Generator interlock location?

    The breaker in the sub/house panel can be the same size or larger. Its purpose isn't to act as a breaker but rather a mechanical disconnect. A 100A main breaker is probably the easiest and most common breaker you'll find for this use, so I would use that. The outside 90A is the breaker providing...
  5. J

    Help...R22 a/c died (100 deg) oil furnace...time to jump into the new millennium help

    Do you have natural gas available in your area?
  6. J

    High amp occupancy sensor for lights

    What make/model number of garage door opener?
  7. J

    A Simple WiFi Question or Two

    You could reuse the existing DirecTV coax to handle communications, using either MoCa or DeCa. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AYMGPIO/?tag=atomicindus08-20
  8. J

    Dimmer/Timer light switch Automatic Porch and Garage outdoor lighting.

    This sounds easy to solve with home automation, but a nightmare to initially configure/setup if you don't already have a setup.
  9. J

    Partial Spray Foam?

    My old attached garage (torn down to replace with a slightly bigger one with a 2nd story addition) was built in 1995/6 and had the same fiber board stuff. The old garage was unfinished, so leaning a bicycle against the fiber board would punch holes in it and you could see the backside of the...
  10. J

    nest vs ecobee vs ?

    Are you sure about that?
  11. J

    "Hybrid" heat pump water heater recommendations

    From what I can tell, the Nyle heat pump add-on is no longer available. Such a shame, too, as it allowed a ton of flexibility in where to mount it and what fuel source (gas or electric) to use on the connected tank.
  12. J

    Which Generator for $1000???

    It appears the 240VAC inverter generators don't have any provisions to parallel them with other generators. I think that would be a nice feature to have, if you wanted to start an A/C or some other large load.
  13. J

    Heat scavenging systems ... for an A/C

    Home Depot has a ZeroEnergy Heat Recovery device. No experience, the idea intrigues me but natural gas is so cheap these days it makes it hard to justify the expense. https://www.homedepot.com/p/ZeroEnergy-Heat-Recovery-Water-Heater-System-Zero-Energy-ZE-TSHRU/203715807
  14. J

    Simple Wireless Switch

    There is a plug in dimmer module, if the undercabinet lights just plug in (and are dimmer capable).
  15. J

    Simple Wireless Switch

    Lutron Caseta seems to be one of the better ones out there: https://www.casetawireless.com/
  16. J

    WiFi controlled electric garage heater?

    Don't run a neutral off of the ground in the heater! You can use a variety of home automation services to have a thermostat indirectly drive a WiFi plug. For instance have Alexa turn on the plug when the thermostat reaches a certain threshold and off when it reaches another set point.
  17. J

    Need 12vdc for benchtop car radio/ FM antenna

    Works when you can actually get into a Goodwill or thrift store...
  18. J

    Using 3 way switch as a power source selector

    Just to be sure we are talking the same thing, is this what you are referencing for $40? https://www.chamberlain.com/smart-light-switch/p/WSLCEV-P1 It just replaces your light switch. No extra wiring, it just programs the same as a remote. Garage opens, lights go on. Garage door closes...
  19. J

    Using 3 way switch as a power source selector

    $40 seems dirt cheap once you factor in everything you will need to do what you want - new 3 way switch, NM-B running from the opener to the switch location, light bulb sock adapter to get the opener light power, the inlet box detailed above, etc. Keep in mind the Chamberlain/Liftmaster switches...
  20. J

    Water heater

    If you already have the propane for floor heat, why not a combo boiler that can do both hot water and heat? Then do a small 5 or 10 gallon electric for normal sink use. Or a 40 gallon propane water heater? A power vent wouldn't use much energy.
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