During the Process



Improve the power supply situation and the lighting.

Discovery
My brother in law, John (a union electrician for over 25 years), took one good look at our fuse box and told me to get an electrical building permit - NOW! As near as we can tell (no old records that can be checked) the Illuminating Company replaced the power cables to the house with 100 Amp service. The householder simply put 20 Amp fuses into 15 Amp sockets... and my brother in law wondered why the house hadn't burned down!

Solution

Step 1: Replace fuse box with new circuit breaker box.
Step 2: Pay the Illuminating Company to replace the mast, meter and wiring to the new box.
Step 3: Plan and wire office.
Step 4: Get Rough Out inspection by City.
Step 5: Finish office and installed all plugs and switches.
Step 6: Get final inspection by City.
Easier said than done, because you have to coordinate all the other work with your electrical.

Plan

Five 20 Amp circuits
Circuit 1: MaMaT's Computer circuit in Southwest corner, 3 double plugs.
Circuit 2: Utility circuit, 1 single plug for auxilliary Airconditioner, 1 double GFI plug outside new door, 3 x four outlet boxes on N and W and S walls for radios, lights rechargeable batteries etc.
Circuit 3: Lights, 2 3 way switches for 2 double flourescent lights and an automatic outdoor lamp.
Circuit 4: PaPaT's Computer circuit in Northwest corner, 3 double plugs on west wall. Circuit 5: Kitchen outlet and Office outlet on East wall divider.


Improve the weather sealing and heating.


Discovery
Air was blowing through the aluminum door, air was leaking in the corners of the room and above the dropped ceiling there was an open hole to the attic.

Solution

Step 1: Remove dropped ceiling.
Step 2: Install new furnace A/C unit and 3 new ducts in office area.
Step 3: Replace aluminum door with conventional door and window, framing in old door, insulating and finishing inside with drywall and paneling.
Step 4: Install pull down stairway to attic for better sealing.
Step 5: Hunt gaps in all walls and repair. In progress.


Get the cats off my %$#@*&^ desk!


Discovery

Cats only want attention when you do not need attention.

Solution

Step 1: Make a window two cats wide by 1 cat deep


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