Forums Archive Index > General Chat > Electricity
Date: 19 Dec 2006 4:11 pm
Does anyone know if there is a forum like this that deals with electrical information and problems. I have a yard light that I want to have come on with two separate circuits.. The light in question is on one circuit but I want it to come at another time on the second circuit. Possible???
Date: 19 Dec 2006 4:16 pm
Date: 19 Dec 2006 5:04 pm
I went to school to be an electrician (and actually got a licence in PA that does me no good in CT)... maybe I can help.
What is on the circuits? Other lights? Is the wiring to the light in question accessible (like does the wire run right into a junction box in your garage or basement? Is there anything else currently on the circuit to the yard light? How about the wiring for the other circuit you want to add it to? A bit more info would be helpful.
Date: 19 Dec 2006 8:21 pm
Both of the circuits have other yard lights on them. They are on at different times and the light in question I want to come on with each bank of lights. Although I haven't yet crawled into the attic to check for sure, I feel pretty sure the wire to the light is accessible in the attic and passes a light on the second circuit so that access to bot circuits is at hand.
The reason for my wanting to do this is that I have circuit A on from 5 to 11 and has light all around the building. Circuit B comes on at 11 and just has 1 light on each side of the building save for the one I want to add. It would be easier, if possible to have one light come on twice than try to fish a wire down a wall and cut a hole in the siding and mount a receptacle to add another light.
Hope this makes sense.
Date: 20 Dec 2006 8:05 am
Beachboy,
From the description you've given it sounds like you'd like to have two power feeds for one light. That would be a big no-no in the electrical code I'm sure.
If both those circuits were on at once and coming from opposite phases of the power panel, you'd have 220 volts on the wiring and bulb. Very dangerous.
It would be dangerous for anyone working on the wiring since turning off one circuit breaker would give them the impression they were safe, but the wiring could be energized from the other breaker.
I use a timing system that communicates on my household wiring. It turns my inside and outside lights on/off according to a program I've put in. Gives the house that lived in look if you are away or come home after dark. Just change house light switches and wall outlets to their switches or add modules that plug into the normal outlets and plug a table lamp into the module. Program the main controller from your computer and then plug the controller into the wall. Computer isn't needed after its set up.
I've been using one for about 20 years. It comes from X10.com. Current version is called active home pro. But they have mini timer systems as well.
Date: 20 Dec 2006 10:26 am
Never thought of the possibility of 220 volts. I guess it was a good idea but not feasable. I will check out the programmed option you mentioned.
Thanks.
Date: 20 Dec 2006 5:25 pm
Windy is dead on.. no pun intended.
If the two ckts are feed by two different breakers, it's a complete no-no and at worse if each breaker is from a different side of the split... yup, you will have 220.
When I started reading I thought of other ways (with relays and bell transformers and such, but it's all dangerous and a fire waiting to happen if your not into engineering it.) The only safe way todo it is X10 stuff.
I use a bunch of it.
You replace the wall switches with X10 switches.
Use either a programmable table top timer, or their house software with a communucation module.
Easy to buy on line too.
http://www.x10.com/homepage.htm
It's addicting.
Date: 20 Dec 2006 5:39 pm
220 volts running through a fixture and bulb rated for 120 sounds really scarry!!! :shock: Don't you guys think thats more scarry than me running my BQ grill in a ventelated area of my shop? :?
Only few things in your house hold should run on 220. Stove, fridge, furnace. Usually washer and dryer run on 120 though.
Date: 20 Dec 2006 5:43 pm
WEll lets put it this way Termy, the bulbs wouldn't run for long on 220!
Date: 20 Dec 2006 9:05 pm
Termy wrote:
220 volts running through a fixture and bulb rated for 120 sounds really scarry!!! :shock: Don't you guys think thats more scarry than me running my BQ grill in a ventelated area of my shop? :?
Not really. People are dying in Washington state from carbon monoxide poisoning. All this due to the recent storms.
I haven't read about anyone dying from a 220 volt light fixture yet.
Date: 20 Dec 2006 9:12 pm
Termy wrote:
220 volts running through a fixture and bulb rated for 120 sounds really scarry!!! :shock: Don't you guys think thats more scarry than me running my BQ grill in a ventelated area of my shop? :?
Nope.
Not by a long shot.
Date: 21 Dec 2006 8:27 am
mrmom wrote:
Not really. People are dying in Washington state from carbon monoxide poisoning. All this due to the recent storms.
yea, geez, that made the news around here to a day or so ago.
Terrible.