Home Improvement

2:47 AM

@BMitch thanks

10:48 AM

@HerrBag Sorry, had a family emergency so I wasn't around yesterday. In the future, if you have a problem like that, just flag it with a custom flag and one of the mods will fix it.

BMitch

@Tester101 Does that mean Joel went all the way to your house for nothing?

Tester101

Yes. But he brought woven bacon tacos, so all was good.

BMitch

11:23 AM

So opinion time, do I match the brand or the look of appliances?

If I go through picking highly rated kitchen appliances, I end up with several different brands, but a similar look.

And if I match the brand and go with a single line of appliances, some have black handles on stainless steel, or have low ratings on one of the appliances.

Tester101

Look.

Unless it's not your house, then you put whatever crap the homeowner wants.

Don't buy low quality appliances, just because they look good.

BMitch

11:38 AM

Just worried about the appearance of a mish-mash of brands when I go to sell, comes across as everything being upgraded separately as they broke instead of done as a single project.

Tester101

Are you planning on selling soon?

BMitch

12:01 PM

Not in my immediate future, but I'd be surprised if I don't move on in 5-10 years.

Already been here for over 10 years, and I'd really like a garage, maybe even a single family instead of another townhouse.

Tester101

After 5-10 years the appliances will be outdated anyway, so I wouldn't worry too much about it.

BMitch

My current appliances are still original, built in '83, that's what's I'd consider outdated. :)

Tester101

I agree, appliances should last a long time. But styles, technology, and preferences change. This may be especially true when new owners move in, and see 5-10 year old appliances.

Tester101

12:25 PM

ARTICLE 400 Flexible Cords and Cables

400.8 Uses Not Permitted. Unless specifically permitted in 400.7, flexible cords and cables shall not be used for the following:

(6) Where installed in raceways, except as otherwise permitted in this Code

Raceway. An enclosed channel of metal or nonmetallic materials designed expressly for holding wires, cables, or busbars, with additional functions as permitted in this Code.

Raceways include, but are not limited to, rigid metal conduit, rigid nonmetallic conduit, intermediate metal conduit, liquidtight flexible conduit, flexible metallic tubing, flexible metal conduit, electrical nonmetallic tubing, electrical metallic tubing, underfloor raceways, cellularconcrete floor raceways, cellular metal floor raceways, surface raceways, wireways, and busways.

Is this a violation?

Does NEC even apply?

BMitch

I'm guessing the cover mounted on the wall doesn't count as a raceway. Otherwise the drive over covers that they install extension cords through as large events would be against code and you've be required to leave the cord exposed to traffic where it could quickly become frayed.

electriduct.com/cable-protectors.html

^ That's what I was talking about

Heck, just about every data center has power cables from each of the servers going through a raceway along the side of the servers. So I guess the question is what's permitted in other parts of the code like section 400.7?

Tester101

12:46 PM

400.7 Uses Permitted.

(A) Uses. Flexible cords and cables shall be used only for the following:

(1) Pendants
(2) Wiring of luminaires
(3) Connection of portable luminaires, portable and mobile
signs, or appliances
(4) Elevator cables
(5) Wiring of cranes and hoists
(6) Connection of utilization equipment to facilitate frequent
interchange
(7) Prevention of the transmission of noise or vibration
(8) Appliances where the fastening means and mechanical
connections are specifically designed to permit
ready removal for maintenance and repair, and the
appliance is intended or identified for flexible cord

(B) Attachment Plugs. Where used as permitted in 400.7(A)(3), (A)(6), and (A)(8), each flexible cord shall be equipped with an attachment plug and shall be energized from a receptacle outlet.

BMitch

My NEC-foo is weak, looks like as long as you plug it into an outlet, a raceway is allowed.

Tester101

I'm guessing this would not be covered by NEC, since they likely don't consider extension cords part of the electrical system.

However, most of the cord protectors I've seen, list them as "low voltage".

BMitch

Sounds about right, would UL come into play?

I really wish that rather than "low voltage" they would say "less than 50 volts" or something more explicit. The "low voltage" label means nothing unless you read a bunch of other documents that define low voltage.

Tester101

Yes. UL would likely tell you what "low voltage" means, and what types of cables were allowed in the raceway.

I agree, especially since "low voltage" could mean <600V

BMitch

Compared to lightening, everything in my house is low voltage. :)

Pet peeve, black handles on a stainless steel appliance: homedepot.com/p/…

Also, I'm seeing a lot of stainless steel where the sides are black, which means I now need to enclose my fridge or find a different model.

HerrBag

1:50 PM

@tester101 NICE cut and paste with the wagner sprayer. thanks! never considered an excerpt.

Tester101

2:06 PM

Some folks get a bit leery downloading files from the internet. Adding the info directly into answers, makes the answers awesomer.

lsiunsuex

@BMitch thats because their cheaper - they can advertise the appliance as stainless steel without it being super expensive because its not 100% stainless steel - its only partially

ours is "stainless steel" - but only the door and the top control panel - the sides and the cooking surface are black

BMitch

I don't mind the cooking surface being black too much, since it would be covered with the grates, But half the time the side of a fridge is exposed. I guess this is why everyone is building enclosures now.

Chris Cudmore

2:46 PM

No matter how long you braise your copper pipes, they're going to be too tough to eat.

HerrBag

@ChrisCudmore just put some of that chipotle-bacon salsa on it. I'm seriously going to try that recipe

Chris Cudmore

3:12 PM

Note on edit: " grammer correction"

HerrBag

3:28 PM

kelsey?

Aaron

the wife has approved a mini bobcat rental to excavate earth for the driveway pad

This has potential

Chris Cudmore

Drag Racing!

lsiunsuex

@Aaron real men do it by hand

Aaron

no, I think I'd rather play in the skid steer

lsiunsuex

actually almost through it all - just a little more left

lsiunsuex

4:52 PM

businessinsider.com/north-carolina-may-ban-tesla-sales-2013-5

really dont understand this

thats like saying, dell can no longer sell laptops through its website and must go through best buy / walmart / cdw only

BMitch

"They took our jobs!" -- Car dealers

lsiunsuex

i understand why their pissed and trying to stop them for sure - i just don't understand how these people now adays think they have any case

BMitch

5:12 PM

Because unfortunately the government passes laws based on who donates the most money, and dealers are a bigger campaign funder than Tesla.

Aaron

5:38 PM

Car dealers and state governments have a particularly odd relationship

I'm not sure if it was because of monopolies, if the manufacturer sold them to the public as well, but there's a lot of history there

justice.gov/atr/public/eag/246374.htm

lsiunsuex

5:53 PM

the hotel i got married at, mandalay bay, its the 14th most expensive hotel in vegas (according to southwest sorted price highest to lowest)

when we got married, it was in the top 5- my how styles change in 3 years...

wax eagle

the dealers claim that car dealerships/license are huge capital investments and because of that they should be protected

it's hogwash, but that's the claim

and they and their car manufacturer parent companies have deep pockets

Aaron

and they're franchisees as well

lsiunsuex

so in the last 3 years, we went to vegas twice - not including the car, we averaged 1800, wedding at mandalay bay and last year at thehotel. searching today, same amount of days, same date range, looks like every hotel is just about 3-400 more

wax eagle

@lsiunsuex economy is improving, there has been some news out lately that hotel rates are up

lsiunsuex

must be

Chris Cudmore

6:39 PM

I'm not sure if that's not restraint of trade, and could fall under federal jurisdiction. All depends on how the law is worded.

But, All tesla needs to do is buy up an old photo-hut and wire it for internet. 1 computer, 1 employee. problem solved.

wax eagle

6:54 PM

@ChrisCudmore considering basically every state has a similar law, I doubt a challenge would get through the courts

@ChrisCudmore yeah, and honestly, they have a small enough niche right now, they probably only need to set up shop in a couple of states. Start in Cali and NYC and go from there

Adam Davis

8:00 PM

I realize it's not project update thursday, but I thought someone might have a thing for sandboxes here, and might be interested in this:

wait for it....

Bam! There, how's that for a sandbox?

wax eagle

@AdamDavis I dunno, can't see the images at work

Adam Davis

Well, rest assured they are very cool.

;-D

If you can see amazon images/listings, I based my design off this:

amazon.com/Badger-Basket-Covered-Convertible-Sandbox/dp/…

Only mine is 8'x6' and seats 8. Takes a lot more sand though...

Aaron

@waxeagle photobucket is blocked at work?

wax eagle

@AdamDavis ah ok, I've seen the plans on ummm anna white?

@Aaron yeah seems to be

Aaron

seems kinda over-reaching

wax eagle

8:05 PM

@Aaron I dunno, they block imgur too...but not i.stack.imgur :)

our filter is stupid

Adam Davis

Well hey, what do you know, they are on anna white

ana-white.com/2011/10/plans/sand-box-built-seats

BMitch

@waxeagle and anal

wax eagle

@BMitch more frustrating, it's inconsistent

Aaron

working for the ISP - rule #1 - there are no rules!

wax eagle

for a long time SO was blocked, but the SE sites were fine. which was just all kinds of wtf.

BMitch

8:07 PM

The client just started routing all VPN traffic through their network, so now I'm getting blocked going everywhere while I'm bored and waiting for them to give me work.

Adam Davis

Now I don't have to write up plans for the people who've asked me how I built it. Nifty! Thanks for the pointer, @waxeagle.

wax eagle

@AdamDavis np. you can thank pinterest

BMitch

Fortunately I can at least drop off the VPN

Adam Davis

My wife has gotten into pinterest something fierce. I'm trying to hold off, I have too many digital repositories already...

BMitch

I think all the techs at my client site know how to use tethering on their cell phones.

@AdamDavis It's a social network for house wives, you'd feel very out of place

Chris Cudmore

8:09 PM

I don't get the point of pinterest. It seems to be dumbing down the level of online social interaction even below that of twitter.

wax eagle

@ChrisCudmore shared, photographic, bookmarks.

I have no problem with anything that keeps me this well fed.

Aaron

yeah, the wife was all over pinterest

wedding ideas, house remodeling ideas, nursery ideas

Adam Davis

Yeah, as far as I can tell it's Delicious bookmarks with a tile interface, focus on images, and a stronger social component.

Chris Cudmore

I married a Polish girl. I'm already well (over)-fed.

Aaron

jquery 2.0 out

wax eagle

8:11 PM

@ChrisCudmore oh I married a dutch italian, no worries about getting fed. But new and interesting things often now come from pinterest instead of either A: random net searches or B: buying 100000 cookbooks

Chris Cudmore

Is this on topic?

1

Q: What is the proper personal protective equipment and procedures for removing mouse nesting that may contain Hantavirus?

Me and my uncle are working on cleaning stuff (various auto parts and tools built up over the last 60 or so years) out a garage on my parents' property prior to demolishing it. There are multiple obvious mouse nests of unknown age that we'll need to deal with either now or during the knocking do...