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Lots of things on my plate, and so far I've been, one way or another, getting through things.
I made it to pick up my friend an half hour late, as usual. The sitz-bath helped, but stretched my time. Then, on the way out, I realized the cats needed food and water, this had to be put up, the tux had to go in, the fluorescent system had to come in from the vehicle, and a dozen other things had to be done. And my mother called. Such as things go, and I don't mind any of them. My friend was just a little bent at first, but got over it with some successful shopping.
He bought 9 mm cases, .45 caes, bullets for each I believe, and a few other things. I happened to see, from where else I have looked, some good prices on new .45 cases and bought 500 myself, and some bullets. I have been looking at them online, same brand, double the cost plus shipping. I think we are getting ripped off on reloading supplies. I also got the unions and caps (and a few other) fittings that I needed, a heat shield, some extra piping of the correct size. I now have everything I need to begin sweating the pipes, taking off the valve, and whatnot.
On the way home I received a call from one of my neighbors, the one that plants with horses? They were working tonight, and will finish in the morning. I couldn't make it tonight but will be setting my alarm to get going in the morning. I really want to see how that works. Living history, and... very possibly a harrowing to most modern views but good future. When I got home I noticed that I had missed a call. Another neighbor called, probably to check to see if I had eaten. Being that it was just a short miss, I thought I would call him back. It was about food, but I told him about my water heater.
I think he misunderstood (though, the way guys talk, that is easy, heh!). In any case, he suggested he would come over in a bit. When he showed up I think he was a little surprised. He tinkered and looked and finally found two other home water shut-off valves. Only one worked for the on-suite bathroom. The valve I missed was a third valve under the sink in the on-suite bathroom. I simply didn't see it, back behind another (sink) shut-off valve. It has an odd configuration, but... It works. Took a bit of elbow grease to get it to move, and a big wrench, but it closed and well. Now, though, I have the water to the bathroom off and the rest of my home has water again! Plus, I got to flush the toilette in my on-suite, as we had water on everywhere for a couple of trials. It won't be seeing use again until I figure out the floor, water heater replacement, and such. It is great to have that extra bathroom functional without flooding, and the kitchen sink functioning. By the way, it helps a bunch to have two or three bodies to see different things at different places without having to run, flood, and such.
I have the heat shield in place. I had to, of course, cut it. And I have everything assembled in the bathroom for soldering. It is just too late and it has been too long of a day to tinker with it further tonight. I make huge mistakes when doing something while half asleep. If I can get up early tomorrow, as is the plan, and watch the planting, I will be ready to try my hand at soldering.
As for the tankless water heater? It is 220v, 54a. The current water heater is 240v, 4500 W. I think I can use the electrical wiring installed, and the switch (it was a double pull 30a, not double 20a as I remembered). The wiring seems funky though. If the color code is wrong I may pull the wires anyway, putting in correct to code wiring. It just makes it tons easier when you go to do anything else with it, me or others. Yeah, I suppose, if money is tight you do what you have to do. I just can't see, that if you can afford to do it at all that you don't (especially with the extra bathroom here) wait until you can do it right? Then again, it might be right. It just... doesn't initially look it (to me or my neighbor).
Oh, my neighbor brought over a home-made pizza! I have eaten, and twice, today. Not even that long ago. But I ate small, almost always do anymore (save at Madox, but they weren't open, Monday... doh! I knew that). So, I might just have me some pizza, set my alarm for 6:00 to give me time to shower and dress and be there by 7:00 or 8:00 (two mile drive or so, but you know me). And hope I get up. My life has become a rocket sled, comparatively. I am enjoying the heck out of it! A couple songs will follow, songs I don't have to get rid of from my lexicon of intent, mostly....
Good night.
As for the tankless water heater? It is 220v, 54a. The current water heater is 240v, 4500 W. I think I can use the electrical wiring installed, and the switch (it was a double pull 30a, not double 20a as I remembered).
ReplyDeleteNope. 54 amps is more than your current water heater by a large margin. 4500 watts at 240 volts is only pulling about 19 amps, and the breaker is set to trip at 30 amps. That means the wiring is only sized to handle 30 amps (probably 10 gauge). You will need a 60 amp breaker and suitably sized wire (probably 6 gauge IIRC) to run that puppy (the larger the gauge number, the smaller the wire).
They don't make romex that size, so you would also learn the joys of running conduit and pulling conductors, plus all the thrills of correctly interpreting the NEC to get the conduit size, conductor insulation type and rating, voltage drop calculations, thermal derating calculations correct, (and other miscellanea that slips my mind at the moment) and then the big IF. Can your existing main service entrance handle a new load this large and still meet code?
Plus the grommet-tightening experience of having a code inspector crawling through your abode looking for additional items that, in his oh so authoritative opinion, must be addressed at the same time.
Heebies!
A replacement water heater might not look so bad in comparison.
Okay, I didn't know how very deep that rabbit hole went, but I did the numbers and thought it wasn't going to work. I just wanted confirmation.
ReplyDeleteAs to my home, I suspect I have plenty of extra juice, though I can't swear to it. What you are telling me is that I need to hire an electrician and get a few quotes.
The odd thing is an inspector completely missed all of this while buying and house and might well just completely miss looking over anything else if an electrician does it, regardless of need. Odd, innit? Yeah, I'm a bit pissed.
I wouldn't say it was something missed. Just that when you're adding a significant load, there are calculations that must be done including all existing loads in the house plus the new loads you want to add.
ReplyDeleteThose pre-purchase inspections are of limited value. If there is any hedging whatsoever on his report, it is best to hire a specialist to take a look at the subsystem. Such as an electrician if the "home inspector" says anything about not being able to determine blah-blah-blah about the electrical system.
A building code inspector from the city or county having jurisdiction is a different animal entirely. They can become a complete pain in the ass if they want to be.
Here's a question for you: what is the rating on the "main disconnect" at your service entrance? If it is 100 amp, it is quite possible that adding this 60 amp intermittent load could trigger you needing to upgrade to a 200 amp service. Either hiring an electrician or learning the NEC would give you the answer.
This water heater just serves this one bathroom, right? If so, what I would do if I was in your shoes would be to install a small (20-30 gallon) "quick recovery" replacement water heater and add a single circuit 2 pole 30 amp breaker right there at the water heater. When I'm done with the shower, I'd flip it to "off" and leave it off until maybe a half hour before I intended to shower again, thus saving nearly as much electricity as I might save with a tankless heater.
Plus saving myself the huge headache and expense of major electrical upgrades.
The main disconnect is 125a, iirc (and I do, I am sure). As is, the old water heater IS connected to a double pole 30a. Still, it wouldn't be bad to add a bit too it. Remember I had hoped to bring the box inside, that would be the time to increase capacity. Though, do I want and can I afford to do all that in conjunction with replacing the water heater? I'll have to get some quotes and think on the tree of woe about it.
ReplyDeleteMy guess, from what I have seen, despite no problems so far, is that the panel is over capacity for code as is. Ugh. Aside from over a dozen mostly single 20a but some 30a, there are several double 20a and 30a, and a double 50a. So... Double Ugh.