This video was shot after Tim had a dream about wiring 3-way switches. Really! Read about this dream in the April 19, 2018 Newsletter. 3 Way Switch Troubleshooting is Simple - Play Musical Chairs Watch the above video to see how to troubleshoot a 3-way switch that you goofed up. Yes, I know you did. Read More »
White Salt on Brick and 3 Ways Question #1: Tim, I’ve got a mess on my brick home. I live in Houston, TX and have a sprinkler system for my lawn. The water sometimes gets sprayed on my brick exterior. White stains appear. I’ve tried scrubbing with water and a water/acid mix. Nothing is working. Read More »
Ring® Floodlight Cam Review - A Dream Security Spotlight My wife doesn't like our new Ring® Floodlight Cam. "You're a creeper," she says to me. That's because our Ring® keeps a vigilant eye on who comes down our driveway. She doesn't like to be watched so she's not happy with me. I tell her, "Just Read More »
Before getting into this review, check out Tim's November 23, 2018 and November 24, 2018 Newsletter and the story behind how this Doorbell solved the mystery of Tim's open front door. Ring® Video Doorbell Is Easy and Fast I installed my new Ring® Video Doorbell on a rare fair-weather December morning here in central New Read More »
Here is a great 3 way switch wiring diagram and 4 way switch wiring diagram. Never be confused about 3 way switches again!
IMPORTANT NOTE FROM AUTHOR: December 21, 2017 (see December 20, 2017 Newsletter) The following review was originally published on November 2, 2017. Within two weeks of publishing it, my Knock stopped working. The interior doorbell was the first thing to malfunction. A week later, the app failed to work if someone pushed the Knock button Read More »
Surviving the Storm A ferocious Nor’easter lashed central New Hampshire last night and my family and I did a good job of surviving the storm. The howling wind and rain knocked out my electricity before midnight. My cable Internet access was cut as well. It was impossible to get a good night’s sleep. Standby Generator Read More »
Most houses have a 3 way switch controlling three lights. If wired incorrectly the entire switch won't work. To find the problem, use a circuit tester on each wire. Turn the power off, first!
Follow the National Electric Code when dealing with outdoor lighting or residential wiring. Provide surge protection for your home with a lightning arrestor and protect yourself from electrocution with GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) devices.
Circuit breakers are primarily designed to protect the wiring in your home. They ensure the wires will not overheat which can lead to fires and they also detect short circuits. But if you plug cords into outlets that exceed the voltage the breaker protects, it can spark a fire.
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