Fixed it .... the electricity pipe line that is.

[CrystalPistol]

I built my house in 1990-91, it's a log home, I contracted the log outer shell & rafter work, did all interior, wiring, plumbing myself, even roofed it. Was days I just knew I was in over my head, but I stuck with it.

In 2017 we had a new metal roof put on, it's a two story house with carport attached which I closed in on two open sides in 2004. I had plenty of spots in the breaker box so I wired it for lights, switches, & 7 outlets. I have outlets GFI protected. In late 2017, suddenly the 20A breaker for the carport wiring popped, just left me with one outlet that is on a separate line from 1991, and porch light at the door that is also original. I had much more pressing issues, so I left the breaker "off" and let it ride.

In 2018, I was recovering from a stem cell transplant, shingles, balance issues after cerebral surgery, so I just did what had to be done, I dreaded dealing with that carport. I did buy new switcghes (5) & outlets (7) with plan being to replace all. I spent a day before buying all that pulling devices out for a look, all looked well, no signs of shorts, hence my decision to replace all. I have looked at many pictures taken during construction & wiring with a thought to could a roofing screw have hit a wire, but no wires that close. I have climbed ladders (13 courses of block floor to sill plate, full size sawmill 2x12s above the sill) looking at routing in basement to exterior wall with it all looking great.

This year, 2019, between heat, still getting through shingles, other more important things, I have let it ride still trying to figure out what happened. Today, I pulled the face off my panel to maybe change out the breaker, then I saw "it", my mistake. The 20A breaker that tripped had two wires coming out, I can't believe I did that. Both were 12ga though. One was labeled for carport lights & outlets … but the other was labeled for a single outside receptacle in a "weathertight" enclosure on the opposite end of the house, all by itself. I had forgot about it. We never use that one. It is a GFI too. I removed the wire from the 20A breaker and retightened the screw with the one wire for carport, flipped breaker to "on" & it worked perfect. Went out and to far end of house and swapped in a new GFI outlet and come in and wired breaker end to a spare 15A breaker and put that in a open spot, PERFECT. Seen where that weathertight enclosure had a water line in it, so I'm gonna reseal it soon, maybe put a deflector "mini roof overhang" of sorts over top?

Then I seen some of the 6 screws holds the panel cover on were near stripped so I fixed all 6 with new fasteners but slightly bigger with new threads, made a new correct chart for the box, put it all together again, just felt good. Still hard to believe I did that, pulled two wires from same breaker that is … but it was done and I'm the only one ever done anything in that box, so it's my bad. Maybe I just thought as long as either line could handle 20 amps (they could have too) it'd be OK, maybe I was short a breaker?

Anyway, she's right now.



It did bring me a sense of relief.

[MikeyTX]

Love log homes. 35 yrs ago that's what I wanted to build. Nope .......... s/o thumbs down .......... https://www.satterwhite-log-homes.com/ in e TX makes some real beauties. My favorite ......... https://www.satterwhite-log-homes.co...lue-texan.html

[MikeyTX]

[Fearless]

I built my house in 1990-91, it's a log home, I contracted the log outer shell & rafter work, did all interior, wiring, plumbing myself, even roofed it. Was days I just knew I was in over my head, but I stuck with it.

In 2017 we had a new metal roof put on, it's a two story house with carport attached which I closed in on two open sides in 2004. I had plenty of spots in the breaker box so I wired it for lights, switches, & 7 outlets. I have outlets GFI protected. In late 2017, suddenly the 20A breaker for the carport wiring popped, just left me with one outlet that is on a separate line from 1991, and porch light at the door that is also original. I had much more pressing issues, so I left the breaker "off" and let it ride.

In 2018, I was recovering from a stem cell transplant, shingles, balance issues after cerebral surgery, so I just did what had to be done, I dreaded dealing with that carport. I did buy new switcghes (5) & outlets (7) with plan being to replace all. I spent a day before buying all that pulling devices out for a look, all looked well, no signs of shorts, hence my decision to replace all. I have looked at many pictures taken during construction & wiring with a thought to could a roofing screw have hit a wire, but no wires that close. I have climbed ladders (13 courses of block floor to sill plate, full size sawmill 2x12s above the sill) looking at routing in basement to exterior wall with it all looking great.

This year, 2019, between heat, still getting through shingles, other more important things, I have let it ride still trying to figure out what happened. Today, I pulled the face off my panel to maybe change out the breaker, then I saw "it", my mistake. The 20A breaker that tripped had two wires coming out, I can't believe I did that. Both were 12ga though. One was labeled for carport lights & outlets … but the other was labeled for a single outside receptacle in a "weathertight" enclosure on the opposite end of the house, all by itself. I had forgot about it. We never use that one. It is a GFI too. I removed the wire from the 20A breaker and retightened the screw with the one wire for carport, flipped breaker to "on" & it worked perfect. Went out and to far end of house and swapped in a new GFI outlet and come in and wired breaker end to a spare 15A breaker and put that in a open spot, PERFECT. Seen where that weathertight enclosure had a water line in it, so I'm gonna reseal it soon, maybe put a deflector "mini roof overhang" of sorts over top?

Then I seen some of the 6 screws holds the panel cover on were near stripped so I fixed all 6 with new fasteners but slightly bigger with new threads, made a new correct chart for the box, put it all together again, just felt good. Still hard to believe I did that, pulled two wires from same breaker that is … but it was done and I'm the only one ever done anything in that box, so it's my bad. Maybe I just thought as long as either line could handle 20 amps (they could have too) it'd be OK, maybe I was short a breaker?

Anyway, she's right now.



It did bring me a sense of relief.

Wiring and Electrical work is in the details never! never! forget to get the ground wires tight very tight. Great detective work congratulations.... Travel safe Fred

[CrystalPistol]

Last night, "Wife Unit" thought I was crazy going out side just to see the carport lit up …

... but I explained that it was the first time in years, even if it had only been two.

[BillR]

Last night, "Wife Unit" thought I was crazy going out side just to see the carport lit up …

... but I explained that it was the first time in years, even if it had only been two.

No explanation needed. We Guys understand.

[rhino 2]

I always shock myself buy the amount of stuff that i don't know about electricity....

[ol' school]

Congratulations on fixing your problem. Electrical issues can be a pain in the to figure out sometimes.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Great Job .... I hate Tricity ... scares the snot out of me ... Dpn't get me wrong ... I'll do it if I need to, but I need to buy lots of screw drivers before I do ... Always seem to "accidentally weld" a couple of them ...

[trikeman]

AC electrical is relatively simply to work on. DC can be frustrating at times. The key is good ground and don’t overload.

[hogcowboy]

Great Job .... I hate Tricity ... scares the snot out of me ... Dpn't get me wrong ... I'll do it if I need to, but I need to buy lots of screw drivers before I do ... Always seem to "accidentally weld" a couple of them ...

I'm right there with you. I hate electricity of any kind. I always seem to let the magic smoke escape the covering on the wires. Then it simply doesn't work at all anymore.

[CrystalPistol]

AC electrical is relatively simply to work on. DC can be frustrating at times. The key is good ground and don’t overload.

But that 115v house AC will grab you …

... and oftimes not let go!

[FuzzyWuzHe]

But that 115v house AC will grab you …

... and oftimes not let go!

Not to mention it operates at a frequency very close to your heart, and can stop it ... well ... not mine when I work on it ... my heart rate usually gets much faster when I mess with tricity.

[trikeman]

A volt meter is a very inexpensive tool and simple to use. No need to get Energized

[Fearless]

When I had the garage built I asked a friend who does electrical work to give me a hand he no you can't afford him do it yourself. Buy a book and never never let the black and white wires touch. So that is what I did but he forgot to tell me to make very sure the main breaker is turned off. Well the short of it, I wired my entire garage hot not paying attention.

[trikeman]

As a friend of mine said. I’d rather be lucky than good.

[David357]

Great job and enduring perseverance to solve the problem.

Electrical work can be frustrating.

[hogcowboy]

When I had the garage built I asked a friend who does electrical work to give me a hand he no you can't afford him do it yourself. Buy a book and never never let the black and white wires touch. So that is what I did but he forgot to tell me to make very sure the main breaker is turned off. Well the short of it, I wired my entire garage hot not paying attention.

I would never had been that lucky. I would have fried my hair somewhere along the line. I did wire my new shop but only with the new main breaker for the shop in the off position. I hate electricity. It scares the heck out of me.