Re: Home and garden projects
 

If it's like one of our GFCI-protected circuits, it may be that the only one you need is the one outside, and either someone couldn't find/ wasn't aware of the one outside, and therefore added one in each bathroom, or, they didn't want to go outside to reset a GFCI, so added the indoor ones. .... My guess would be the former, as that's what we nearly did!

Re: Home and garden projects
 

I installed the one outside when I needed to plug in a pool pump, I wasn't keen on the idea of it tripping the sockets inside the house if something went wrong and then trudging outside in the middle of the night to unplug it as the same circuit powers the master bedroom. It's more out of convenience than actual need.

Re: Home and garden projects
 

It took me way too long when we first moved into our place to work out that the outlet in the backyard didn't work because it was protected by the GFCI on the outlet at the front of the house. I assumed there was a problem with the wiring somewhere and it had been disconnected, since clearly none of the circuit breakers had tripped but there was no power to the outlet. Not until I plugged something in to the front, realized that didn't work either, reset the GFCI, and (an embarrassing number of weeks later) thought to check the one in the back again, did it become apparent how they'd been wired together.

The bathrooms work on the same principle: the last one in the chain (the main bathroom upstairs) has a GFCI outlet that also protects the ensuite and the main floor powder room. After a major renovation/rebuild last year, we've acquired another two bathrooms - the outlet in the one in the basement was added to the existing circuit, but the accessible bathroom (in the new-build addition) is wired separately, with its own GFCI protecting two outlets, and a dedicated GFCI circuit for the hydrotherapy tub (effectively a medical-grade jacuzzi...). At my request, our electrician walked me through the whole house before it was all closed up, so that I could detail exactly what was on each circuit - even the best-labelled panel still holds a few surprise "why is that one on this circuit" moments, IMO. That can lead to weird, annoying and potentially dangerous anomalies like the one outlet in our dining room that used to be on the lighting circuit for the unfinished basement... I suppose that's OK in principle, but at some point in history it had been overlooked when the basement lights were all tied to a single switched circuit (in addition to their old individual pull-string switches), so turned on and off with the basement lightswitch. That one, too, confused the hell out of me for way too long.

Re: Home and garden projects
 

I recently had an electrician out to install some outlets. I asked him to help me identify every socket/switch in the house (I have several wall switches that do seemingly nothing) but to my dismay he said he didn't have any equipment capable of doing that! I was willing to pay him by the hour for this task so it was in his interest to do so. I guess the gear needed to do a serious 'mapping' is quite expensive (with the walls closed up - need wireless gizmos).

FWIW - this is a sample from a multi-page diagram I created to try to map out every switch, outlet, etc.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...4ec22ae6c7.png

My approach was to map out the physical layout, then number every 'item' (socket, switch, etc) according to the circuit-breaker panel number, and I came up with a 'key' for the different items: S=Socket; G = GFCI (with lines to show 'linked' sockets); L=light switch; B=Bulb (with lines to show switch/bulb connections); F=Fan. Obviously still not complete! There's probably a better way ... . I'm building a floorplan using the free 'Sketchit' program, but I'm struggling to link the two floors properly.

Re: Home and garden projects
 

For sure. Way easier when there's no drywall in the way of visually tracing the wires - and when you're talking to the guy who was pulling the cable!

Switches that do nothing: I was convinced I had one of those in our living room. Turns out it was a switched socket outlet intended for a floor/standard lamp, but that outlet ended up behind a bookcase when we first moved in. It was always annoying to me that the room had no overhead or wall lights for the switch to turn on and off! Again, it was months (actually, I think over a year) before curiosity got the better of laziness and I emptied the bookcase so I could move it and have a look behind!

Re: Home and garden projects
 

Well you can map everything (sockets, switches, lights, etc.) connected to each breaker, and although it would be tedious and time consuming, that would be nothing compared to trying to map each live wire and where it is threaded through the structure. I think that could be done, using a device that can find live wires without touching them, but that might be tricky where wires pass through adjoining walls or between floors, as you can't get close to the wire.

A couple of years ago I tried tracking a single coax cable using a click generator and a detector wand, and struggled to trace the path back from the wall coax socket much beyond where it was inside the ceiling and had crossed over the stairs. It appeared to head into the AC duct void that runs up through the upstairs to reach the attic space, but I could not find it in the attic and ultimately I concluded that it ran sideways somewhere, perhaps over the kitchen and into the bedroom wall over the kitchen. ..... But by then I had lost interest and decided that it was easier to invest in a MESH wifi with satellite range extenders. :lol:

Re: Home and garden projects
 

Speaking of Coax ... I am reluctantly considering re-arranging my living room which - if I go ahead with it - will require mounting the TV above the fireplace. I've never found that appealing from a practical perspective - it doesn't seem natural to be looking up when relaxing and watching TV - but it's the only logical place, given the layout of the room. Then I discovered this device - a wall mount that specifically lets you 'lower' the TV for actual viewing -
https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-Fireplace-Pull-Down-Full-Motion-Articulating/dp/B01GSRRIVM/ref=pd_cp_23_2/133-6595095-0057340?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01GSRRIVM&pd_rd_r=40a5d317-a95d-4b8f-8eab-4ead8e034d8d&pd_rd_w=7W5fZ&pd_rd_wg=0RP5W&pf_rd_p=0e5324e1-c848-4872-bbd5-5be6baedf80e&pf_rd_r=11JHFVXXJSSDPXM8Y6V6&psc=1&refRID=11JHFVXXJSSDPXM8Y6V6
This would let me pull down the TV for actual viewing, but 'park it' back up on the wall when not in use, or when I have visitors, etc. Has anyone else dealt with this issue? I hardly ever use my fireplace (in Arizona .. :) ) but it does look nice (it's gas, with real flames around a fake log, and manages to have 'embers' that seemingly glow). Temperature did drop to the 30's a few weeks ago and it was nice to crank up the fireplace for an evening :). Anyway, the alternative would be to rip out the fireplace and put the TV in its place - that would be at the perfect viewing angle IMO. Sadly, I've only been in this place 10 months and I'm already thinking I bought the wrong place ... it's too big and has two floors, which I'm just not keen on ... so everything I do now has to be with one eye on resale.

Re: Home and garden projects
 

Have you ever watched a TV mounted high on the wall, or always kept your TV on a low stand or table, because that's what your used to? :unsure:

Unless you sit on a dining chair to watch TV, the most anatomically comfortably place for a TV to be placed is high on the wall, then you can lean back in a comfy chair or recliner, and watch TV without tipping your head forward, which puts stress on your neck. Even back in the UK I had mounted my 20" CRT TV high in the wall, on a swing-out bracket, which created extra room in my small terraced house, but I immediately discovered the joys of relaxing to watch TV without putting stress on my neck. I was inspired to do so after reading comments from an orthopedic surgeon who had written about TV-watching creating neck problems.

I have seen those brackets that allow the TV to be lowered, and I wondered who dreamed them up. Presumably not someone used to the comfort of relaxing, properly relaxing and watching a high-mounted TV. :lol:

Re: Home and garden projects
 

TV's should be at eye level, measured whilst slouching in front of them on a big comfy recliner.

Wall mounted TVs are an abomination and should not be tolerated under any circumstances outside of an ICU. :p

Re: Home and garden projects
 

Everything you believe is unacceptable and wrong.

Re: Home and garden projects
 

@Nutek, I think Mrs P has hacked your account. :unsure:

FWIW Mrs P is persuaded of the orthopedically correct place for TV placement. :nod:

Re: Home and garden projects
 

It is fortunate that you have me here to present a reasoned and balanced view of the way things should be.

Re: Home and garden projects
 

Well it's a relief to finally realize how wrong I have been all these years. :rolleyes:

Re: Home and garden projects
 

My work here is done.

Re: Home and garden projects
 

Absolutely !