Having too much fun wiring

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Gary, If your plan is to cover the inside walls you might take some pic's before doing so so you know where the wires are. I did this when I finished the basement walls in case I needed to refer back to where something was routed. And, it's always nice to look back at what you went through when the job is done. Kind of rewarding and with digital it's pretty cheap to do.

As far as lights. I assume fluorescent is you choice. Yes, zone them. Boxes and switches are prety cheap. And, if you have 4 bulb units you can always put just 2 bulbs from each unit on separate switches. Kind of like low light, high light. I mix my fluorescent lighs up. One cool white and one warm white. It gives a bright and soft light to the area. It really helps me since I have a problem with glare.

And, don't forget an outlet box in the rafters for a pull down trouble light. Gotta have one of them around.......

Enjoying this low humidity weather? Tom

 

[wasabi]

I can maximally relate.

At this very moment, I'm responding from our metal pole barn at Bearpen Farm. Last week I had high speed satelite put up, providing Directv feed as well so I can have the latest financial news while out here. There is pounding noise in the background...it is the Verizon guy putting in an 8' ground to finish up the "hard" phone line for voice and fax.

An electrician is on his way to move the elec meter from the old house we are about to tear down to the barn with 200 amp service. I've got about half the lights and plug boxes finished. Anout fifty feet away I'm in the process of building a rustic bath house with its own 100 amp panel for lights, washer, dryer, spa pump, heater, water heater and GFIPlugs.

So, I too have been a wiring fool...I agree it is pretty entertaining. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Golfgar4]

<font color=blue>"...I'm in the process of building a rustic bath house with its own 100 amp panel for lights, washer, dryer, spa pump, heater, water heater and GFIPlugs."</font color=blue>

RUSTIC?????? /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif

Did he really say RUSTIC?? /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif/w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif

If that's Doug's idea of rustic, I really want to see his idea of <font color=blue>LUXURIOUS</font color=blue>! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[MossRoad]

Yup, he said RUSTIC!

 

[Wingnut]

but probably hit the enter key for adding (rustic-)LOOKING

 

[patrickg]

All this wiring talk makes me jealous. I am about 2-4 weeks (estimated) away from electricity at construction site for new house. I asked if they would provide a standard 200 amp setup and the eng said yes, then explained that if I put the new integrated meter thingamabob on the house NOT ON THE POLE I could have 350 amp service. I like that! They are puting in 3 poles, two dead men, a transformer, and a couple hundred feet of underground cable. I pay $218 (includes joining co-op) plus $1.18 per foot for underground.

I asked how they read the meter, binocs or what, wanting to turn the meter so the reader could see it easily. Well, "Great Days in Science!" Their computer talks to the computer in the meter box via a modem working through the power lines like a "wireless intercom" and it reports the reading. It takes 8 seconds to query a specific box and get the reading back to the office.

Patrick

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I thought about CAT5 or CAT6 cable there but didn't think it would be necessary since I just have an uninsulated, dirt-floored pole barn now. It was built and used as a stable with ten stalls and an arena. I'm not a horse owner so I'd like to insulate it and pour a concrete floor. Maybe I ought to reconsider the CAT5 or CAT6 there.

As to the distance to the house, it's about 7 or 8 miles. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I may end up building there someday but right now the only structure on the property is the pole barn.

 

[Wingnut]

yep ... remote reading in various forms has been in operation for awhile already. I've heard of several cities where the water and gas meters are read automatically via RF while the meter reader slowly drives down the street.

 

[Bird]

Patrick, I hadn't heard about the modem, computer meter reading; sounds good. Of course, I am aware of the type that Wingnut mentioned and the few people I've talked to with any experience with it thought it was great. Yours sounds even better. And then of course there are still those of us out in the boondocks who have to read our own meters and mail in the readings each month./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

 

[MossRoad]

<font color=blue>As to the distance to the house, it's about 7 or 8 miles.</font color=blue>

Better go microwave! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Sorry, I forgot. /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif