Meh. Simple receptacle switch is turning into a nightmare

[mozirry]

Just wanted to replace some disgustingly loose-mounted receptacles in my covered patio (semi enclosed).

They were functioning but looked awful, wouldn't stay held in the concrete, and needed to be replaced. Only option is GFCI so that started the snowball

1. Needed to purchase an outdoor-flap to bring it up to code, before it was seriously just an indoor receptacle with no protection
2. Needed to purchase a whole new box because the old one was again a simple interior door box normally used on wall studs *EDIT and couldn't fit GFCI
3. Needed to run new conduit since the outdoor conduit is just a flimsy metallic race-runner type conduit sorta like this http://www.homedepot.com/webap...90401&locStoreNum=8125
4. Needed to re-splice and ensure conduit connections are winged together and grounded to BOTH metallic box and GFCI circuit. They were just both sorta rigged together before and grounded to the same screw...wierd.
5. Had to drill all new holes in concrete with a new drill, somehow the guy before managed to create this setup without using concrete screws/those plastic anchors.



AHHHGG, so basically I ran a totally new wiring outside when I just wanted new receptacles =I

At least I feel safer.....to the point that I am not an electrician lol



Oldf
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/235/dsc00038wpn.jpg

Vs

New
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/8738/dsc00039riy.jpg


Newer

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/1070/dsc00041hyl.jpg

What you dont see is the spot where there isn't any PVC Conduit that I had to replace =O

 

[Brutus04]

Sounds like a worthwhile project. I'm not an electrician either however, I picked up one of those wiring books at Home Depot and between it and the Internet am learning a lot...All the best!

 

[Billyzeke]

I know the feeling. It seems that nearly all my home renovation projects end up requiring more time, effort and expense than originally anticipated regardless of how small they are. But any job worth doing is worth doing right.

 

[Pheran]

:thumbsup: to you for taking the time to do it right. The retards that lived in my home before me screwed up every single thing they ever did, so whenever I do home improvement work it takes 200% more effort than necessary. One of the first things I had to do after moving in was replace a whole bunch of plugs because the geniuses painted over all of them and filled up the ground prong holes with paint. They also applied wallpaper to unprimed drywall in one of the bathrooms - getting that off was fun. :disgust:

 

[mozirry]

Originally posted by: Pheran
:thumbsup: to you for taking the time to do it right. The retards that lived in my home before me screwed up every single thing they ever did, so whenever I do home improvement work it takes 200% more effort than necessary. One of the first things I had to do after moving in was replace a whole bunch of plugs because the geniuses painted over all of them and filled up the ground prong holes with paint. They also applied wallpaper to unprimed drywall in one of the bathrooms - getting that off was fun. :disgust:

yep, Home ownership FTW! :laugh:

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: Pheran
They also applied wallpaper to unprimed drywall in one of the bathrooms - getting that off was fun.

You got that off??! HOW?!

We had the same problem, plus the old style of wall paper where the joints are overlapped, not butted. Even with a texture wallpaper, you can detect where the joints are (but you have to know it's like that.) When I did our dining room, I gave up & just tore out all the sheet rock & replaced it, along with rewiring that room.

 

[rgwalt]

Originally posted by: Billyzeke
I know the feeling. It seems that nearly all my home renovation projects end up requiring more time, effort and expense than originally anticipated regardless of how small they are. But any job worth doing is worth doing right.

Amen, I just bought my first house and the builder didn't finish out any of the ethernet, phone, or cable. Just bare wires coming out of the walls and terminating in the master closet. So, I did some reading and figured out what I would need to finish it all out. I bought the ethernet & phone patch panel as well as a wiring box to contain everything. Then I had to buy all the tools and supplies to put ends on the coax, bought jacks & wallplates for ethernet, phone, and cable. Bought a cable tester to identify everything. By the time it was all over I'm sure it cost me twice as much as I had originally anticipated and took me at least 3 times as long. Now that I know what I'm doing it wouldn't be nearly as bad.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

Originally posted by: mozirry
Just wanted to replace some disgustingly loose-mounted receptacles in my covered patio (semi enclosed).

They were functioning but looked awful, wouldn't stay held in the concrete, and needed to be replaced. Only option is GFCI so that started the snowball

1. Needed to purchase an outdoor-flap to bring it up to code, before it was seriously just an indoor receptacle with no protection
2. Needed to purchase a whole new box because the old one was again a simple interior door box normally used on wall studs *EDIT and couldn't fit GFCI
3. Needed to run new conduit since the outdoor conduit is just a flimsy metallic race-runner type conduit sorta like this http://www.homedepot.com/webap...90401&locStoreNum=8125
4. Needed to re-splice and ensure conduit connections are winged together and grounded to BOTH metallic box and GFCI circuit. They were just both sorta rigged together before and grounded to the same screw...wierd.
5. Had to drill all new holes in concrete* with a new drill,* somehow the guy before managed to create this setup without using concrete screws/those plastic anchors.



AHHHGG, so basically I ran a totally new wiring outside when I just wanted new receptacles =I

At least I feel safer.....to the point that I am not an electrician lol



Oldf
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/235/dsc00038wpn.jpg

Vs

New
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/8738/dsc00039riy.jpg

What you dont see is the spot where there isn't any PVC Conduit that I had to replace =O

Me,--- Honey, I'm afraid I'll need a new drill for this job.
She,--But you already have a drill.
Me,---Yeah but this job requires a new super-duper, heavy duty drill, with attachments.
She,--Well, OK if you really need it.
Me,---
Congratz on the new drill Mozirry.

 

[geno]

Originally posted by: runzwithsizorz

Me,--- Honey, I'm afraid I'll need a new drill for this job.
She,--But you already have a drill.
Me,---Yeah but this job requires a new super-duper, heavy duty drill, with attachments.
She,--Well, OK if you really need it.
Me,---
Congratz on the new drill Mozirry.

I LOVE that old trick...gets 'em every time

 

[mozirry]

Originally posted by: geno

Originally posted by: runzwithsizorz

Me,--- Honey, I'm afraid I'll need a new drill for this job.
She,--But you already have a drill.
Me,---Yeah but this job requires a new super-duper, heavy duty drill, with attachments.
She,--Well, OK if you really need it.
Me,---
Congratz on the new drill Mozirry.

I LOVE that old trick...gets 'em every time

Yeah, it sure as hell beats my 6v Craftsman :evil:

 

[DayLaPaul]

Cost?

 

[rudeguy]

Did you fix your siding yet?

 

[TheSiege]

I am an electrician and it looks great

 

[mozirry]

Bah, there goes the conduit!!!

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/1070/dsc00041hyl.jpg

GFCI works on everything, trips like it should


WHoohooo (find beer)

 

[mozirry]

Originally posted by: DayLaPaul
Cost?

2 GFCI receptacles + outdoor metal box w/ door = $60

50 ft. outdoor 12AWG $29.99

Screws/anchors $5

PVC conduit + elbows pieces, hanger etc. = $15.00

Misc. Junk that I probably should have had on hand

corded drill = $29.99
steel drill bit = $5
Concrete/masonry bit = $5
Conduit cutter = $7
better needle-nose pliers = $15
electric tape = $4
----------


This cost way more then I thought it would< I can't imagine how much it would have cost to pay an electrician to do it =o

 

[deftron]

Why'd you run it down to the floor?


Looked slightly raised (looks like 6 iches or so) before to remove any potential
water problems.

I know PVC should be water tight, but still... dont get why you ran it downwards first.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: deftron
Why'd you run it down to the floor?


Looked slightly raised (looks like 6 iches or so) before to remove any potential
water problems.

I know PVC should be water tight, but still... dont get why you ran it downwards first.

I thought the same thing.
Apparently, grape mimes shrink a lime. :laugh:

 

[mozirry]

Originally posted by: deftron
Why'd you run it down to the floor?


Looked slightly raised (looks like 6 iches or so) before to remove any potential
water problems.

I know PVC should be water tight, but still... dont get why you ran it downwards first.

Once the hooks are installed it will be 4'' above ground, I think the pic sorta messes with the dimensions.


the conduit and pipe I used are rated for underground use =)

they are about 4'' up off the ground right now

 

[DayLaPaul]

Originally posted by: mozirry

Originally posted by: DayLaPaul
Cost?

2 GFCI receptacles + outdoor metal box w/ door = $60

50 ft. outdoor 12AWG $29.99

Screws/anchors $5

PVC conduit + elbows pieces, hanger etc. = $15.00

Misc. Junk that I probably should have had on hand

corded drill = $29.99
steel drill bit = $5
Concrete/masonry bit = $5
Conduit cutter = $7
better needle-nose pliers = $15
electric tape = $4
----------


This cost way more then I thought it would< I can't imagine how much it would have cost to pay an electrician to do it =o

Ouch. Yea that's the way things are with electrical stuff. You go looking for a problem, you will find one, and more times than not, it will be an expensive one.

At least you have the satisfaction of a job well done. Each time you plug something into that outlet, you're enjoying the fruits of your labor.