Home Improvement Today?

lap joints where the decking ends meet?

 

Scarf joint. 20 degree.

 

I was just installing a new light fixture. I was screwing in the ground wire first and the GFI tripped. I haven't experienced that before. Any thoughts on why that would happen?

 

Got an electrical question...I was adding a new outside light and an outlet below it on my garage. Both were on separate circuits. I have the two circuits in my garage (lights & outlets) on switches so I can turn them off to work on the electrical.

I had both circuits turned off at the switches and had an outlet pulled out on the left of me and a light switch from the other circuit pulled out and I touched the metal frames with the back of each hand as I was working and I got a shock in the back of each hand. It was super mild and I barely noticed it the first time but then of course I told my wife I got shocked and showed her how it happened and it did it again. I went I side and turned the circuits off at the power box and the shocks stopped.

The only thing I can figure is I have an electrical leak going to ground somewhere since it was the metal frame of the outlet/switches that got me. But then why would it stop when I flipped the breakers in the basement?

Anyone have expertise in this area and know how to track down this fault?

 

Your lighting is on a GF protected circuit?

 

It's a switch/outlet combo.

 

Bugger.

Must have just been an imbalance

Depending on the light type this may continue to be a nuisance

 

did you touch the feed neutral as you were screwing in the ground?

that would cause the gfi to trip.

you need a volt meter to quantify the voltage that you felt with the switches off. then trace things back by the switch. if something else is being powered off one of those circuits(before the switch) and using the wiring you were messing with as a neutral return path, it would cause the shock you experienced.

 

Cooler today so I may attempt to finish up the ducting for my two upstairs bathroom fans. I’m using metal plumbers strap on 4” round sections with the adjustable elbows where needed. Is it a good idea to secure the strap to the duct with hex head sheet metal screws? The attic is rather tall and the runs are fairly long, the longer being almost 3 full sections, around 15’ total. Attic height may be about 8’ at the opening.

Or I could make some supports with lumber if that’s a better overall plan?

I’m replacing flex pipe which had separated at the taped joint, already replaced the two fans.

 

This would happen if the rest of the circuit was energized and just the switch for his light was OFF. IE path to ground imbalance.

 

you should have at least a short 2' section of flexible ducting right at the fans, otherwise they'll transmit vibration the entire length of the hard tubing.

it's always best to route the tubing either straight vertical, or straight horizontal, to minimize moisture pooling in the middle of the vent line. ideally, pitching the vent like plumbing towards the exterior vent outlet would be ideal, but rarely possible.

 

Good advice but not really my question. My question was support along the longitudinal axis of long runs of solid ducting which rises slightly steeper than the roof pitch. Is there a good way to do that, is lumber best or strap just fine, do I tape or should I use sheet metal hex head screws or is there some good way to ensure the weight of 2-3 sections doesn’t all end up on the elbow at the bottom?

I can post some photos when I get back up there later today and everyone can tell me the 50 things I did wrong

 

You can get some plastic pipe hangers from Oatey or Sioux Chief. Zip end goes around the pipe and then two screws through the plastic arm to hold it to the rafters.

https://www.siouxchief.com/products/support/dwv-hangers/extension-hangers/zip-hangers/zipstick

 

strap is really fine. i always avoided running screws into the duct to reduce dust balls from forming over time.

 

Thanks. I was concerned about the downsides to punctures but wasn’t sure if I was overthinking that one.

Zip ties are a good plan, thanks @theesotericone. Those specialty ones are super slick, I’ll see if I can find them. But I think hanger strap with zip ties could get it done, right now it slides through a bit too easily even though I wrapped it once.

 

When I upgraded to Panasonic whisper quiet exhaust fans I redid the ducting with new insulated/flexible and used Master Flow woven vinyl hanger strap to support the ducting. The strap was stapled into the rafters.

 

Yeah, these Panasonic fans are so awesome, quiet, modular, serviceable from below, move a ton of air. I love them.

why insulated? To keep hot air from leaking in?

I found exactly the ticket at the depot, thanks for the help on this.

 

And we have a new little challenge. Pizza oven at my bro in law’s. We cut a notch in the polycarb roof and now we need some sort of mini gutter below or dam above. Maybe out of downspout with a slot?

 

Dam and divert.

Need plans for pizza oven!

 

It’s a kit. He wishes he got the bigger one. I can ask for a link if you want it.

clear RTV in a triangular shape?