Replies

1. 
   4Lorn2 | Jun 30, 2003 07:06am | #1

   Sweet. I particularly love the arc marks on the frame. Always a sign of quality electrical work. Welcome to the wild and wonderful world of improvisational electrical construction. Every service electrician I know has tales of wonder and horror that our new construction brethren, and sistern <G>, only see in their dreams. You never know how HOs or neighborhood hacks will do things. Some get quite imaginative.

   I knew I was in a different world the day I opened a box and found connections made up by winding the connections with wire bread ties and insulated with band-aids. I have seen connections twisted together and floating uninsulated in the middle of steel junction boxes. Iron tie-wire used for wiring and cellophane tape used as insulation. I have also seen toothpaste used as an antioxidant used to make minty fresh CU/AL connections. Not knowing, or caring to know, any better people are limited only by their imagination and availability when considering the tools, techniques and materials used

   I was surprised to see that the Home Despot carried CU/AL rated and anti-oxidant filled wire nuts in handy packs. Given the availability of the proper connectors it is just a matter of pigtailing short leads and replacing the line. The best of luck to you.

1. 
   RichBeckman | Jun 30, 2003 07:51am | #2

   "Iron tie-wire used for wiring and cellophane tape used as insulation."

   On the last DW install I did I found wires in a juction box twisted together and wrapped with a blue cellophane tape. I told them they should have the entire house wiring checked.

   Rich Beckman

   Another day, another tool.

1. 
   TrimButcher | Jul 02, 2003 06:58am | #3

   I was gonna post this in the "World's worst hack job" thread, but I guess it got deleted for some reason? 

   Anyway, considering what 4Lorn1's seen, this is small potatoes.  Replacing a kitchen countertop outlet for a client.  Double box as there's a switch for a light over the sink.  Client has lived in house for 15 years, previous HO was an idiot DIY'er.

   I'm replacing outlet & switch for client because I advised them the current devices aren't rated for their aluminum wiring.  Open up box and realize:

   1) Light & switch aren't original, added by previous idiot HO.  How does he get power to light?  Why, by taking one of the hots from the split receptacle, of course.  20 watt fluorescent light now has 15 amp circuit all to itself, and the only useable kitchen countertop plug is no longer a split. 

   2) Hot and neutral reversed on outlet. 

   The big box stores up here keep advertising how all the HO's can be DIY'ers.  Please, somebody, make them stop.

   Regards,

   Tim Ruttan

   P.S. My favourite DIY job by aforementioned previous idiot HO was when he compressed the size of his 2 piece bathroom to make room for main floor laundry area.  Bathroom now so small, he had to use a sink from an RV.  This sink is so small, it's tough to get both hands under the tap. 

   Edited 7/1/2003 11:59:53 PM ET by TRIMBUTCHER

1. 
   Piffin | Jul 02, 2003 07:39pm | #4

   So!?

   Just wash one hand at a time!

   ;).

   Excellence is its own reward!

2. 
   jimmyk | Jul 02, 2003 07:53pm | #5

   Heh...maybe the jokes on you, maybe the house used to be an RV but he converted into a house and left the original bathroom sink for sentimental reasons. Did you ever consider that or were you too busy picking on the idiot, err...master craftsman?

1. 
   TrimButcher | Jul 03, 2003 03:28am | #6

   You're right, I hang my head in shame...shoulda thought of that!  I'll check the basement tomorrow for wheel wells or maybe a gray-water holding tank.  Now if I was changing from RV to a house, I'd be keeping the 454 motor as a Living room centerpiece!  Kewwwllllll...

   Regards,

   Tim Ruttan

2. 
   ProBozo | Jul 03, 2003 04:00am | #7

   My apartment in kollege was a conversion in a firetrap of a house.  My bathroom was built into a closet area, 7' long by about 28".  Shower was built into one end, was tiled in, so had about 25-26" of shoulder room side to side.  Toilet was at other end.  Where'd they put the sink?  Over the toilet, of course, a porcelain wall-hanger.  Had to kinda straddle the bowl of the can to brush your teeth at the sink.

   Why was I there?  in 8'x22' apartment, the 22' long wall faced the ocean, and was built of sliding patio doors.   :D

3. 
   jimmyk | Jul 03, 2003 05:21am | #8

   Wow! Prison cells are bigger, and free.

4. 
   caseyr | Jul 03, 2003 08:04am | #9

   Not necessarily free in all states - there seems to be a movement afoot to make convicts pay for their "accomodations".  Staying at the Mark Hopkins would probably cheaper under those circumstances...

3. 
   rasconc | Jul 03, 2003 08:34pm | #10

   Aside from all the other dumb things the diy did, what is wrong with taking line from that receptacle, using a jumper and powering both the outlet and light?  Assuming that you use the neutral and ground and put everything where it is suposed to be.  Does not sound like it would exceed wire fill for two gang box.  By split receptacle I trust you mean one circuit feeding half of duplex recpt and another circuit feeding the other with the tabs broken off.

   But hey, I am not an electrician.

   Sounds like that guy should have his strippers taken away.

2. 
   JohnSprung | Jul 03, 2003 08:52pm | #11

   > I have also seen toothpaste used as an antioxidant used to make minty fresh CU/AL connections.

   Looks like they didn't know what toothpaste is really for -- filling holes in the walls before you paint....  ;-)

   -- J.S.