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Criggie

05:23

What's the SE-acceptable way of saying "you're not up to this task, either give up this idea or call a pro"

Or should the question be left with explanation of all the problems?

Specifically referencing this wiring question:

Q: AC can only go one direction

I'm currently sending grid power from my house to a shed, and I'm now trying to send solar power from an inverter back to the house. I'm confused because the house can power the shed (120V AC displaying from an outlet in the shed, but when I connect an inverter to the shed outlet, I am reading ne...

whatsisname

06:22

Shopping/product question:

I have a three-way switched circuit. I want to add another light fixture to it. Connecting a wire to one of the existing light fixtures would be a huge PITA

Is there a wireless switch that I could install at the existing three way switch locations that would switch the third fixture accordingly?

searching for such a product has an awful signal to noise ratio trying to sift through the many wireless switch devices that do all sorts of other different things that are irrelevant to my situation

any of you know of such a product off the top of your head

7 hours later…

Criggie

13:25

Sorry I have no idea - replying so you know you're not ignored.

Personally I think fancy switches are to be avoided without excellent reason.

Could you run mains cable from an existing light fitting to the new light fitting ? (gonna have to get power there somehow)

So rather than messing with the traveller wire etc, you simply have the new fixture paired with an existing one.

Not sure if this is legal in your location either.

7 hours later…

whatsisname

20:17

I have no problems running mains to the the new fixture location, in fact that is already wired up

the challenge is going from either of the existing fixtures or switches to a spot I can bring the new fixtures wiring to

at least, without cutting a bunch of holes in the walls to route the wires

2 hours later…

Shalvenay

22:35

@whatsisname do you know where power is brought into the 3-way circuit at?

whatsisname

23:07

@Shalvenay: likely on the 2nd floor, the less accessible switch location. I looked in the switch on the first floor and there were only three wires going into it, and I went "ugh" and closed it back up and haven't looked at the second floor yet

ugh partly because only three wires and partly because it's old asphalt-cloth insulated wire I want to avoid messing with too much

Shalvenay

@whatsisname I take it the fixtures also connect in at that 2nd floor box?

whatsisname

no idea where the wires to the fixtures go, but given the 3-wire situation in the 1st floor box that's what I would suspect

and let me check something real quick brb

yeah just as I suspected, the circuit it's on has outlets on both the 2nd and first floor so its anyones guess how its routed

I haven't had a chance to take out both switches and figure out exactly how its wired up

Criggie

If its shitty old wiring, might be best to bite the bullet and rewire the whole thing.
Sure its a giant PITA but at least it'll be done, and you'll have a whole plastering/mudding job after to practice :)

whatsisname

F that

aintnobodygottimeforthat.gif

Criggie

23:23

-grin- that way leads to the bodge side of the force, mmmm

whatsisname

I have toddlers to wrangle, my free time is very limited

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