Adding electrical Outletts... need help.
#1
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Adding electrical Outletts... need help.
OK, so i am moving in with my grandmother in law and we are going to the basment problem is there are only a few outlets not in use and they are on the other side of the basement from where we will be. I have some one who will add outlets if i get the stuff but i need to know what to get. the types of things i will be running are ::
computer
wii
dvd player
radio ( not a huge one)
space heater ( a large one that says not to use an extension cord)
tv
blow dryer
a hair flat iron
and a couple cell phone chargers.
now i need to know what kind of plugs and wireing to buy for this man to come help us out, but i have no clue what i need. can anyone help?
computer
wii
dvd player
radio ( not a huge one)
space heater ( a large one that says not to use an extension cord)
tv
blow dryer
a hair flat iron
and a couple cell phone chargers.
now i need to know what kind of plugs and wireing to buy for this man to come help us out, but i have no clue what i need. can anyone help?
#2
We could only guess what he needs. The person doing the install needs to buy what he needs then you pay him back or go with him.
You should not use a portable electric space heater as your primary source of heat. You need a hard wired 240v electric heater.
You should not use a portable electric space heater as your primary source of heat. You need a hard wired 240v electric heater.
#3
Unless the person who does the work is a licensed electrician in your state, he is almost certainly working illegally. If he is a licensed electrician, then there is no reason for you to be buying supplies unless he provides you with a detailed list. I would strongly encourage you to seek out a qualified electrician for this job.
#4
With this now sounding like a habitable room you will need to meet the receptacle spacing requirements commonly known as the 6/12' rule. Under the 08 NEC you will also need AFCI protection of the circuits. How the room is framed or furred out will determine the types of boxes needed.
Smoke alarms may need to be added also. If any part of the basement will become a bedroom you will have issues like egress windows to deal with also.
Smoke alarms may need to be added also. If any part of the basement will become a bedroom you will have issues like egress windows to deal with also.
#5
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More Outlets
Looks like a significant additional load here. The electrical panel has some more breaker spaces available, and the load from a large space heater (use a hard-wired baseboard heater or somesuch), blow dryer, iron, etc. is within the electrical panels' capacity?
I will agree with another post, "hire a good, licensed electrician".
Jerry 814
I will agree with another post, "hire a good, licensed electrician".
Jerry 814
#6
Welcome to the forums.
As other have said, you need to hire a licensed electrician.
However, there are several items on your list that should not be used even temporarily:
-- space heater ( a large one that says not to use an extension cord)
-- blow dryer
-- a hair flat iron
Adding receptacles won't solve these overload problems if the "guy who wants to help" is planning to just add wiring and receptacles to the existing circuits.
Please don't cut corners here. You could burn the house down.
As other have said, you need to hire a licensed electrician.
However, there are several items on your list that should not be used even temporarily:
-- space heater ( a large one that says not to use an extension cord)
-- blow dryer
-- a hair flat iron
Adding receptacles won't solve these overload problems if the "guy who wants to help" is planning to just add wiring and receptacles to the existing circuits.
Please don't cut corners here. You could burn the house down.
#7
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its not that im looking to cut corners per say and the breaker hasn't been tripped or anything there just arent enough plugs in my basement and there are none on the side where i will be living and i just need to know if i need a 15 amp or a 20 amp plug thingy and what kind of wire to buy and whats the name of the little metal boxes used to keep the outlets in that dont go into walls.
::edit::
the man doing the work is a retired. hes my grandmother-in-law's boyfriend im not paying him anything so illicit work isnt happening.
::edit::
the man doing the work is a retired. hes my grandmother-in-law's boyfriend im not paying him anything so illicit work isnt happening.
#8
You need new circuits and it isn't safe to use a portable electric space heat as your primary heat. Of course the 120v plug-in heater won't put out enough heat to heat the room anyway probably.
Retired from what? If he can't answer the basic questions you are asking here he shouldn't be doing the job. As others have said you need an electrician.
the man doing the work is a retired.
#9
Just because you are not paying him for the work I would not think that would alleviate the need for the person to be trained and licensed. You may end up paying more after someone else has to straighten out what they mess up.
#10
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see heres the thing the whole reason i posted on this web site is because the name is Doityourself.com i dont have alot of money i moved in with my G-in-law cause im broke looking for work and trying to keep out of a modern day poor house. if i had the money instead of google searching "how to-s" i would have looked up the yellow pages and called an electrician.
#11
We can walk you through it if you want to do it your self but first you need the basics. Pick up Wiring Simplified at Home Depot or Amazon or check out a similar book at the library.
From what you have said so far you will need to add at least one probably two breakers to the breaker box. Are there open spaces in the breaker box?
From what you have said so far you will need to add at least one probably two breakers to the breaker box. Are there open spaces in the breaker box?
#12
Your original post raised a flag because of the number of devices you want to connect, and the fact that you don't know the names of the parts.
This is not to say that you can't learn to DIY, and we're certainly here to help. But for any of us to provide a list of parts in answer to your question would have been irresponsible.
#13
Yes, but you aren't asking about doing it yourself. You're asking about two people who aren't the homeowner doing the work. This is an important point, because state laws only allow the home-owner to do electrical work on his or her own home with a permit and inspection. It is unlawful for anyone except a licensed electrician to do electrical work on anyone else's house. I'm sorry this isn't the outcome you were looking for, but it is against the policy of this site and many of our personal beliefs to give out any information which is in violation of the law or which may have a dangerous outcome.
If you call around your local area you will probably find many electricians who understand that times are tight and may be willing to let your grandma's friend do some of the work like drilling holes and pulling cables so you don't have to pay for that part.
If you call around your local area you will probably find many electricians who understand that times are tight and may be willing to let your grandma's friend do some of the work like drilling holes and pulling cables so you don't have to pay for that part.