Slashdot Mirror
Solving a Wiring Mess?
FueledByRamen asks: "While trying to run a new power line for a large Sun mass-storage cabinet (located nowhere near a 220 outlet of course), I had the misfortune of needing to pop the lid on my main power distribution panel (previously opened in the late 80s). The whole thing is a rats nest and probably a fire hazard - old-style wiring with broken-down cloth/plastic insulation strewn everywhere, and the utility's incoming power cables have some sort of junction in them that's the size of a 1-liter bottle (on each wire) and is covered in layers of electrical tape. Even (gently) putting the panel back on jiggled something important, and there was a nasty cracking noise and half the breakers blew (all breakers in one of the 2 columns). I've worked with mains voltage in the past (wiring new rooms, installing lighting), but nothing on this scale, both in terms of complexity and potential for death. How do you industrious Slashdot readers go about fixing a mess like this (on a tight budget, no less) without getting a mains-induced glimpse at the great beyond?"
Yeah not the favorite option. Not the most time saving option. However, it is the safe option. Cut the damn power and start it from scratch. If you take it all apart and rewire the whole rig, then use some kind of an electric safe adhesive to keep all the cords arranged in a less-likely-to-tangle way, you'll never, ever run into this problem.
If I were you, I'd track down the original guy who wired it all and ask him what his damn problem was for creating such a mess.
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First off, you need to turn on as many downstream circuits as possible. This will lower the current levels in the upstream power box and make it safer or something.
Keep a bucket of water and an electric blanket handy! In the event of an electrical fire, you'll need to keep one foot in the bucket while you beat out the sparks with a blanket. Do NOT try to use a regular blanket - only electric blankets are designed for electrical fires. Do NOT shut off power in the event of a fire because the backblast of electrons through the damaged circuits would be... bad.
Do NOT have a buddy anywhere around. If you touch a main and begin to spasmodically jerk around with smoke coming off the top of your head, your buddy will try to push you away and he'll wind up grabbing you because prying won't work. Then you'd both be jerking and spazzing into each other and look totally gay.
Another reason for working alone is that when working around 220V wiring cabinets, you don't want to be wearing any clothes that might brush up against anything or catch on fire when large amounts of current are coursing through your appendages. Remember: The thinner the cross-section of your appendage is, the hotter it gets when it's carrying current. Have you ever seen a professional electrician at work? No - that's because they work naked for safety. The guys you see up telephone poles with all the gear are just trying to be noticed.
Good luck!
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Oooh - 220v ooh deadly ooh .. y'all have no idea what you talk about ...
Now, the FACTS for all the people posting bad advice - North American 220v is still only 110v (2phase) to ground or neutral. 220v is basically the potential difference between the 2 active phases. In other words, you are no more likely going to be killed by a North American 220v outlet (to ground) than you are 110v outlet to ground. WHAT ARE YOU GUYS TALKING ABOUT ?
Now, as to the danger: China, Australia, New Zealand ... EUROPE all supply 220v or 240v to the home as general purpose outlets. Most of these countries use 380v or 415v between the phases (3 phase). It's not the potential difference that kills you (only), it's if you touch the wires when they're turned on, 110v or 220v !
As some people allude to, using large guage wires of different metals causes all kinds of bad news and you had better know what you're doing but this is only for REALLY big panels. Most panels still use simple brass and copper junctions. Make sure you know what you're doing if you go there.
So, pulling 220v at 20 amps is no more dangerous as pulling 2 110v wires at 20 amps.
The most important point : IF YOU HAD TO ASK /. YOU'RE IN BUG TRUBBEL IF YOU DO IT YERSELF.
Advice in negotiating with your electrical contractor : Ask first now much it will cost to pull a 110v outlet. GET A PRICE. Then ask how much it will cost to pull a 220v outlet. If the price is more that 20% higher loose the contractor. Contractors regularly charge WAY more than they should for 220v work because they are "buisness rates".
Disclaimer - all voltages cited above are RMS (root mean square)- peak votages are normally 1.4x (sqrt(2)) higher.